Date: Feb 6, 2016 2:29 PM

Subject: Mr. Terry Adam

Cc:



Hello dear,





I am contacting you regarding our company urgent need for (Animal

Nourish) a raw material our company buy from India and Europe.



It is the major raw material our company buys from India and Europe,

It is use for the production of animal food and it is use here in the

United States of America and also for research since 2013. Our company

is currently buying this product at the rate of $100USD per seed from

some suppliers in India and Europe.



Recently, I found out that this same material is sold in Bangladesh at

the rate of $30USD per seed and I do not wish to let anyone in our

company know about this because of my interest in the business. And

God has provided you as my beloved one in that region; therefore, I am

giving you this business to run. You will have to contact our office

as a supplier in Bangladesh (You will be a Middleman between our

company and the local vendor in Bangladesh) so that my company will

not know the main-source of the material. This is just a kind of

buying and selling.



If you are willing to co-operate with me, I will send you my

director ' s contact details then you will send him an offer as a

supplier of this raw material in Bangladesh and as soon as he indicate

interest to buy, you will let him know that the stock is ready and you

are willing to supply at a reduced price (USD$50) per seed. As a

matter of fact it can provide a $20 profit per seed.



If our director agrees to run the business with you, I will then

forward to you the contact details of the supplier where you will get

the material in Bangladesh. Please, I don't want a third party in this

business, you will deal with the local supplier directly to avoid

involving a greedy person that might spoil or leak this source to my

company. The supplier selling price in Bangladesh is USD$30 per seed

and then you will give me 30% from the profit accrued.



This would be a long term business relationship between you and our

company, which you will supply to our company and receive your payment

in advance. My Email:



A waiting your reply, with best wishes.



Mr. Terry Adam

From: " MR TERRY ADAM" < mrterryadam@gmail.com Date: Feb 6, 2016 2:29 PMSubject: Mr. Terry AdamCc:Hello dear,I am contacting you regarding our company urgent need for (AnimalNourish) a raw material our company buy from India and Europe.It is the major raw material our company buys from India and Europe,It is use for the production of animal food and it is use here in theUnited States of America and also for research since 2013. Our companyis currently buying this product at the rate of $100USD per seed fromsome suppliers in India and Europe.Recently, I found out that this same material is sold in Bangladesh atthe rate of $30USD per seed and I do not wish to let anyone in ourcompany know about this because of my interest in the business. AndGod has provided you as my beloved one in that region; therefore, I amgiving you this business to run. You will have to contact our officeas a supplier in Bangladesh (You will be a Middleman between ourcompany and the local vendor in Bangladesh) so that my company willnot know the main-source of the material. This is just a kind ofbuying and selling.If you are willing to co-operate with me, I will send you mydirector ' s contact details then you will send him an offer as asupplier of this raw material in Bangladesh and as soon as he indicateinterest to buy, you will let him know that the stock is ready and youare willing to supply at a reduced price (USD$50) per seed. As amatter of fact it can provide a $20 profit per seed.If our director agrees to run the business with you, I will thenforward to you the contact details of the supplier where you will getthe material in Bangladesh. Please, I don't want a third party in thisbusiness, you will deal with the local supplier directly to avoidinvolving a greedy person that might spoil or leak this source to mycompany. The supplier selling price in Bangladesh is USD$30 per seedand then you will give me 30% from the profit accrued.This would be a long term business relationship between you and ourcompany, which you will supply to our company and receive your paymentin advance. My Email: terryadam99@hotmail.com A waiting your reply, with best wishes.Mr. Terry Adam If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more....
Serving God with all of our hearts no matter where we are
Mike Dunleavy the governor of the US state of Alaska is intending to introduce legislation that will repeal the two state boards which regu...
The government of Burundi says its ready for dialogue with the opposition leaders to resolve the conflict that has led to the death of hundreds of people since it broke out in April last year.

Widespread protests broke out in Burundi against president Pierre Nkurunzizas bid for another term in office which the opposition and some civil society organizations claimed was illegal.

Addressing a news conference in Kamapala this afternoon, The Burundian Ambassador to Uganda Jean Bosco Barege said they appreciate concerns from African Union, UN and EAC but the situation in Burundi does not warrant deployment of a peace keeping force.

We are very concerned. The government of Burundi is ready to sit and resolve this so that the people of Burundi can live in peace and harmony, H.E Barege told journalists in Kampala.

He said what is required is support to initiate and facilitate dialogue with the opposition to ensure peace is restored.

Earlier, the East African Community Heads of State Summit was asked to affirm that the community has a duty of care and responsibility to protect the people of Burundi from violence and to guarantee their safety and security.

This was after the regional parliament adopted a report on the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Burundi on Friday last week.

The report followed the recent Public Hearing workshop which delved into the Petition presented to the EALA Speaker by the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and other regional Civil Society Organistions on the subject matter in November 2015.

On January 14-15, 2016, the Committee received the oral presentation from the petitioners as well as the contributions from representatives of the opposition Political Parties and civil Society Organisations. On January 25th, 2016, a high powered delegation from the Government of Burundi, also came to Arusha to make their submissions before the Committee retreated to make its report.

The stakeholders who spoke on 15th January 2016 broadly agreed with the petition, elaborated arguments asserting that the crisis in Burundi was a political problem.

They further clarified how the situation had mutated into an ethnic problem, citing parallels with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Most presenters according to the Report gave a gruesome picture of the nature of the crimes and human rights abuses including details on refugees and internal displacements, arrests and detentions.

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) members; Hon.Abubakar Zein, Hon. Hafsa Mossi and Hon. Mumbi Ngaru now say action must be taken after the report showed that there are sufficient grounds showing gross human rights violations have taken place and continue in Burundi unabated.

Story By Catherine Ageno
The Catholic Church in Uganda is asking Police Force to conduct itself more impartially.

The message is contained in a pastoral letter signed by the chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Archbishop John Baptist Odama.

The letter is addressed to religious men and women, the lay faithful, Ugandan citizens and people of good will.

According to the letter, the church felt obliged to guide the nation as it prepares for the February 18 general election.

The police have in the past dispersed people who had gathered to listen to some of the candidates who want to unseat President Yoweri Museveni.

This has been interpreted by some stakeholders as implying that the police were protecting and promoting the agenda of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The church now says the police must be seen to account to the people, not to any political clique.

When contacted earlier to respond charges against police conduct, the forces deputy spokesperson Ms Polly Namaye told Daily Monitor the police were just doing their job, enforcing adherence to the various electoral laws and guidelines.

Story By Nelson Wesonga
Welcome! You have come to the right place. Khmerization is a home to the Cambodian daily news, which is updated twice daily. Please take a tour and enjoy yourself. Thank you.

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I have been with lots of Binary Option brokers so far, and only few of them were able to be what I expected them to be. Most of them will sc...
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Total Value RV of Indiana had one of its hottest selling products  the Axis Recreational Utility Vehicle  situated strategically where everyone could see it at the end of the main aisle of the Fort Wayne RV & Camping Show at Memorial Coliseum recently.

Representatives working the show for the nine regional RV dealers there were pumped up by Recreational Vehicle Industry Association data released earlier in the day, showing RV shipments had increased 5 percent in 2015 to 374,246 units from 356,735 the previous year.

Elkhart-based Total Value RV saw even more volume growth last year, selling 170 new recreational vehicles, compared with 112 in 2014, said Jeff Lemmon, its sales and marketing manager. Its sales benefited from some marketing it had underway, he said, and from product innovation, as well as demographic and economic factors that were helping the entire industry.

One thing that affected sales was the gas prices dropping. Theres more people who are finding they can get into something like this Axis, Lemmon said. They sell really fast. We dont have these on the lot all the time.

The Axis comes with an 8,000-pound hitch, so you can tow a vehicle, but theyre small enough that you can kind of drive these around town without much trouble, he said. Weve really stepped up how many we order at one time in the Axis line because its small and people are downsizing and yet the fuel prices are making it more attractive to buy a smaller, gas-powered RV.

The Axis is made by the Thor Motor Coach business of Elkhart-based Thor Industries. It is among the new recreational utility vehicle products Jeffery Tryka, director of corporate development and investor relations, said helped the companys motor coach business growth outpace that of the industry.

Thor is one of the worlds largest RV manufacturers. It operates on a fiscal year, and on Nov. 30 it reported its first quarter earnings grew 29 percent to $50.7 million from $39.2 million a year earlier, on 12 percent sales growth, with revenues increasing to $1.03 billion from $922 million.

Among the types of RVs Thor makes, its towables saw the greatest sales increase as a result of its $47.4 million purchase of former competition in that arena last year Cruiser RV and DRV.

The companys organic growth benefited from its introduction of recreational utility vehicles to the industry about two years ago, Tryka said.

He describes the relatively new product as a smaller class A motor home with better fuel economy that is easier to drive and provides a lot more flexibility.

The entire industry benefited last year from growth in the number of baby boomers reaching the prime age for RV purchasing, a strengthening of the economy and an increase in disposable income, which resulted from lower gas prices, he said.

Many RV manufacturers have major operations in northeast Indiana, and improving conditions for it have reduced unemployment for a number of its counties. It is a welcome change.

About one-third of Elkhart Countys workforce is employed by the RV industry and it was hit so hard by the Great Recession that President Obama visited the county in 2008 to call attention to its high unemployment rate and offer encouragement.

Without any kind of industry bailout, the county moved from having one of the highest unemployment rates to having one of the lowest, at 3.5 percent, said Mark Dobson, CEO for the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County.

The Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce has a push underway to get 500 families located in the county.

Thats symptomatic of where were at  the need to start recruiting work force from outside, Dobson said.

Not only have RV manufacturers been adding manufacturing positions, but they have needed more people in sales and marketing, information systems, and research and development, he said.
CASHTON  Jon Edward Miller, 66, of Cashton passed away Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse.

Jon was born April 20, 1949, to Clarence and Audrey (Ripley) Miller in Sparta. He graduated from Cashton High School in 1967.

Jon worked at General Motors in Janesville, Wis., following high school, until his enlistment into the U.S. Army. He served from Jan. 1968 to Jan. 1970, when he completed one tour in Vietnam. He worked at Northern Engraving in Sparta, and later as a supervisor at Webster Industries in Bangor. In 2010, he retired.

Jon had two children, Lisa and Todd, who were the loves of his life. He met Beth Frederick in 1997, and they were together until the time of his death. He also loved spending time with his fur child, Gibbs.

Jon had a business working on vehicles and that love continued his entire life. He would proudly restore vehicles to their original condition. Summers were spent going to car shows and swap meets. Jon also liked going to flea markets and surplus stores. Jon enjoyed a good card game with family and friends, and always had an open door policy for anyone to visit.

He is survived by his daughter, Lisa (Lance Lancour) Miller of Black River Falls; his significant other, Beth Frederick of Cashton; his dog, Gibbs; his brother-in-law, James Brueggen of Cashton; nieces and nephews, Christian, Nick, Thad and Sarah Brueggen of Cashton, Jamie Miller of La Crosse, and Amanda Miller of Cataract; along with other relatives and friends.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Todd; a sister, Donna Brueggen; and brother, Thomas.

A casual dress, come as you are funeral service with full military honors will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at Torkelson Funeral Home, Cashton. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Torkelson Funeral Home of Cashton, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be offered online at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Koreas west coast and tracked separately by the governments of Japan and South Korea, which immediately convened an emergency national security council meeting. South Korean media reported that the rocket may have failed, but provided no other details. The South Korean government couldnt immediately confirm the reports.

The launch came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning. It follows North Koreas widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington, Seoul and their allies will consider it a further provocation and will push for more tough sanctions in the United Nations.

A South Korean defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of office rules, said the rocket disappeared from South Korean military radars around six minutes after its launch. The official said there were no immediate reports of debris landing on South Korean territory or damaging property. The rockets first stage fell off South Koreas west coast, the official said.

Japans NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the Norths ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to lead to the collapse of Kims government.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region.

The United States and Japan requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council this morning. Their request said that North Korea has violated a Security Council ban on ballistic missile launches.
MADISON -- Gov. Scott Walker has begun trying to rehabilitate his political standing in Wisconsin.

Walker spent much of last year running for president, only to see his campaign disintegrate while racking up more than $1 million in debt.

The Legislature controlled the states political agenda, while Walker took lumps for cutting higher education funding, trying to gut the state Public Records Law and overseeing a job-creation agency mired in controversy.

A year after winning his third election in four years his job approval level had dropped more than 10 points to an all-time low of 37 percent.

But since exiting the presidential race in late September, Walker has redirected his attention to state governance while floating the possibility hell run for a third term in 2018.

In October he kicked off a Working for Wisconsin tour of factories, schools, and health care clinics to tout his policies. In December, he quietly launched a series of invitation-only meetings dubbed the 2020 Vision Project to solicit feedback on future initiatives from citizens in all corners of the state. And in a State of the State address devoid of major initiatives, he offered proposals to assist student loan borrowers and pledged any savings from potential changes to state employee health insurance would fund public K-12 education  two policy areas more typically linked to Democrats.

Reaching out to a broad swath of the public is what former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, who was elected a record four times to the post, said Walker needs to do to boost his appeal, but even that might not be enough to win a third term.

I would advise him not to even consider it, Thompson said in an interview. You cant win when youre at 38 percent approval rating. The state is divided. The hurdles are too high for him.

Walker shrugs off any pessimism about his prospects based on his low approval rating, noting hes been there before after tens of thousands of protesters bellowed against his changes to public sector collective bargaining only to come up short in the 2012 recall election.

In 2011 my poll numbers were so low that Time Magazine called me Dead Man Walker, Walker said last week, a reference he made during the presidential campaign when his poll numbers tanked. For us its just steady. We dont get too high when things are good, we dont get too low when times are challenging. We just persevere going forward.

Taking notes

After five busy years in office, Walker has entered the first stretch when hes not in the thick of a state budget, state or national election, or both. That has afforded him the opportunity to spend more time connecting with local officials and residents across the state.

At a recent invitation-only meeting in Kewaunee, Walker led the discussion in jeans and a plaid button-down shirt jotting down answers on a whiteboard, according to participants. The questions, they said, included: Whats good about Wisconsin and your community? What do you want your community to look like seven to 10 years from now? And what can be done to ensure that vision?

That Walker took notes and spent time after the discussion talking to each of the 34 participants impressed John Pagel, a Kewaunee County Board member and Walker supporter. Pagel also said he was surprised that Walkers job approval rating has dropped in the Fox Valley more than other areas of the state given the low unemployment in the area.

It was just a regular old Joe coming to the meeting, Pagel said. Hes just trying to show that he really cares. I think it will improve what his ratings are. Its easier to solve problems if youre doing it together rather than everybody pulling in the opposite direction.

Cathy Pabich, a retired librarian and environmental advocate from Algoma who signed the 2012 Walker recall petition, said she was disappointed the format didnt allow for more dialogue about problems facing the state. She said water quality issues have been a major concern in her area, but after hearing about those issues at the meeting, Walker didnt mention them in his State of the State address.

The governor didnt address what was being shared, Pabich said. He recorded it. He listened. But I cant say he gave us a response to any of the issues that were raised.

Pabich, who was referred to the governors office for an invitation by Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, said the audience was made up of mostly Walker supporters. Pagel said he didnt have a read on the political composition, but noted there were several local elected officials, business owners, school superintendents and four high school students.

Walker plans to lead a couple of similar meetings each week over the course of the year, spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said. The events are not open to the general public or the media, though Walker has touted their diversity, noting they include principals, farmers, small-business owners, local government officials, retirees, veterans, teachers, construction workers, union members, parents, high school students, nurses, charitable organization leaders, superintendents, insurance agents, ministers, college students, machinists, law enforcement and a librarian.

These meetings provide an opportunity for Governor Walker to listen to a diverse group of people in a setting that allows for a candid discussion about issues important to them and their communities, Patrick said. Our ultimate goal is for people to feel comfortable and not intimidated, so they provide honest and unvarnished feedback.

Kory Kozloski, executive director of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said Walkers invite-only events arent helping move the state forward.

With his approval record at all-time lows, Walker is doing everything he can to distract voters from the GOPs misplaced priorities, Kozloski said.

Approval drop widespread

Walkers efforts to connect with citizens have yet to show up in his job approval numbers, which were at 48.6 percent in a composite of the four Marquette Law School polls taken before the 2014 election. In a composite of the last four polls since August his job approval level is 38.2 percent. Last months poll found 61 percent of respondents do not want Walker to run for a third term.

Republican strategist Mark Graul didnt put much stock in Walkers current polling slump.

I dont think theres any question that his presidential run caused him some turbulence here in Wisconsin, Graul said. Part of the thing about Gov. Walker is he did so much, so fast, people are like, OK, whats next, guy?  When you get into the meat and potatoes of governing it doesnt get as exciting as some of the generational reforms he was able to enact.

Walkers job approval rating has dropped significantly among both Republicans and independents, though not among those who describe themselves as very conservative.

The decline in his approval is widespread, poll director Charles Franklin said. It crosses most political and demographic boundaries, though its larger in some groups than in others.

Among Republicans Walkers approval level dipped from 92.5 percent in fall 2014 to 84.2 percent more recently.

Walkers support has plummeted the most among self-described independents and independents who lean Republican. Among the latter group his approval level fell 22.3 points to 60.9 percent, though Franklin noted those voters are more likely than self-described independents  whose approval of Walker dropped 19 points to 23.2 percent  to vote for Walker if he runs again.

Walker also has seen his support evaporate in the northern part of the state, where his approval level is down 21.2 points, and the Fox Valley region, where it is down 16.5 points. In the conservative stronghold of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties, Walkers approval level is down 10 points to 54.9 percent.

The one place his approval level increased during the past year, by 5 points to 28.5 percent, was in Milwaukee County, though Franklin noted the increase was not statistically significant because of a smaller sample size. In September Walker signed a bill committing $80 million from the state over 20 years to a new Milwaukee Bucks arena, a move that was panned by some conservative groups.

Josh Robinson, a national Republican strategist who was the political director of the Republican Governors Association in 2011 and 2012 and involved in developing the get-out-the-vote messaging strategy for Walkers recall victory, said the key for Walker is to do what he does best: communicating directly with the voters.

As the presidential election clears out, voters in Wisconsin will be able to focus more on the governor, Robinson said. In the polling we did, leadership, making the tough decisions was something that independents were driven toward. They could possibly disagree with him on other issues, but him being a leader, making the tough decisions Wisconsin needed was what resonated with independents.
From 3 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday

Police calls

LA CROSSE

3:36 p.m., theft, 800 block of Monitor St.

3:47 p.m., domestic disturbance, Fourth and Jay sts.

4:22 p.m., entry to dwelling, 1200 block of Jackson St.

4:23 p.m., theft, 500 block of Cass St.

4:48 p.m., fraud, 400 block of Sixth St. S.

5:41 p.m., theft, 400 block of La Crosse St.

5:58 p.m., domestic disturbance, 800 block of 16th St. S.

6:33 p.m., domestic disturbance, 1100 block of Sill St.

9:28 p.m., domestic disturbance, 3300 block of Mormon Coulee Road

10:27 p.m., domestic disturbance, 600 block of Ninth St. N.

10:41 p.m., domestic disturbance, 900 block of Tyler St.

2:11 a.m., fight, Third and Main sts.

3:13 a.m., domestic disturbance, 200 block of Eighth St. S.

5:26 a.m., domestic disturbance, 1800 block of Loomis St.

11:56 a.m., domestic disturbance, 1900 block of Rose St.

11:58 a.m., domestic disturbance, 3100 block of 26th St. S.

1:19 p.m., assault, 1700 block of La Crescent St.

1:41 p.m., theft, 4500 block of Fireclay Court

ONALASKA

3:37 p.m., theft, 500 block of Court Road

4:11 p.m., theft, 1200 block of Crossing Meadows Drive

7:34 p.m., theft, 9400 block of Hwy. 16

11:16 a.m., entry to dwelling, 900 block of Tenth Ave. N.

11;45 a.m., fraud, 3100 block of Market Place

WEST SALEM

8:48 a.m., entry to dwelling, 800 block of West Ave. N.

Fire Calls

LA CROSSE

3:21 p.m., vehicle accident, Hwy. 16 and Gillette St.

3:53 p.m., vehicle accident, Fourth and Pearl sts.

3:57 p.m., structure fire or alarm, 800 block of Fourth St. S.

4:08 p.m., accident with injury, 2600 block of Rose St.

4:39 p.m., accident with injury, 800 block of Copeland Ave.

4:50 p.m., accident with injury, George and Palace sts.

5:05 p.m., first responder, 2000 block of Ward Ave.

5:48 p.m., vehicle accident, George and Sill sts.

7:34 p.m., first responder, 3100 block of Glendale Ave.

7:55 p.m., structure fire or alarm, 1200 block of State St.

11:05 p.m., first responder, 300 block of West Ave. N.

12:41 a.m., first responder, 1600 block of Palace St.

12:53 a.m., first responder, 1500 block of Pine St.

1:35 a.m., first responder, 5500 block of Hwy. MM

1:37 a.m., first responder, 100 block of Third St. S.

6:06 a.m., natural gas odor, 1900 block of Marco Drive

6:22 a.m., first responder, 2600 block of Birch St.

7:06 a.m., first responder, 3000 block of Cliffside Drive

7:07 a.m., first responder, 200 block of Sixth St. S.

7:33 a.m., first responder, 2500 block of George St.

8:06 a.m., first responder, 5400 block of Mormon Coulee Road

10:20 a.m., first responder, 1000 block of Front St. S.

12:40 p.m., accident with injury, Thompson St. and Losey Blvd. S.

1:13 p.m., first responder, 200 block of Eighth St. N.

1:15 p.m., first responder, 1900 block of State St.

2:47 p.m., first responder, 2000 block of Irish Court

ONALASKA

3:28 p.m., accident with injury, Hwy. 157 and Interstate 90

5:24 p.m., first responder, 1200 block of Tenth Ave. N.

6:17 p.m., first responder, 1000 block of Oak Ave. N.

7:28 p.m., accident with injury, 500 block of Second Ave. N.

8:42 p.m., structure fire or alarm, 3300 block of Kinney Coulee Road

9:06 p.m., first responder, 500 block of 13th Place N.

10:02 p.m., carbon monoxide report, 5500 block of Hwy. ZM

9:51 p.m., first responder, 1700 block of Franklin St.

12:39 p.m., first responder, 6000 block of Apple Valley Road

1:15 p.m., accident with injury, 9400 block of Hwy. 16

HOLMEN

7:53 a.m., first responder, 6900 block of Hwy. V

WEST SALEM

1:30 p.m., first responder, 3900 block of Wolter Road

1:45 p.m., first responder, 5100 block of Leonard St. N.

MINDORO

9:59 a.m., accident with injury, 3900 block of Hwy. D
WINONA, Minn.  Sisters Leo Tracy and Dominic Mahl came to Winona in 1894 to found a college  with $4.28, a horse and a mortgage.

In the years 1860 to 1900, close to 300 colleges and universities sprang up across the U.S. Some of these were state-sponsored public universities, but many were founded by the Catholic Church.

For the Sisters of Saint Francis, the fledgling city of Winona seemed a likely prospect. In 1884, Mother Alexia Hoell of Milwaukee bought 11 acres along Wabasha Street and immediately began construction of St. Mary Hall. In December 1885, St. Marys Academy, a girls boarding school, opened. The Academy was never able to support itself, and after two years of constant financial strain, the school closed and was sold to Archbishop Joseph Ireland for a $29,000 mortgage.

The building switched functions during the summer of 1888, when the Sisters of St Joseph from St. Paul established a hospital. Winona proved to be too healthy for the facility, and business shut down several years later.

In 1894, the building was sold again for $29,000, this time to Rochesters Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Sisters of Saint Francis. Sister Leo and Sister Dominic arrived in Winona later that year with their horse, Jim. Sister Leo had $3.53 in her pocket, Sister Dominic a whopping 75 cents. They shared a new mortgage, and there were expensive renovations to make, but the Winona Seminary opened yet that September to 59 students.

During the first year, $15 a month covered tuition, room and board, lessons, and instructions in needlepoint. Students were taught to act and dress in a manner of simple elegance, and the Sisters proclaimed that the work of the seminary was to give an education that would produce young women of the highest culture.

The inaugural year was a defiant success after the previous line of failed ventures, and the school began to flourish. The second year boasted an enrollment of 86 students, and it continued to increase every year.

By 1903 the academic department had expanded to include classes in science, English and classics. Departments in art and expression, physical culture, and household economy had been added, as well as a music conservatory. The school had enjoyed such success that its leaders were able to make the last payment on the mortgage by 1905.

In 1907, the seminary extended an invitation to Mary A. Molloy, the first woman to graduate from Cornell University, to come to Winona and help prepare the Franciscan sisters to instruct on a college level. The same afternoon she received another invitation to study Gaelic in Ireland, but when September rolled around, she packed her bags for Winona and after only one year with the school was made assistant principal.

The coming years brought the complete transformation from a girls boarding school to a womens college. In 1911, Molloy assumed the role of the schools first dean and Sister Leo, now known as Mother Leo, became the schools first president in time to award the schools first bachelor of arts degree.

In 1912, Bishop Patrick Heffron, who at the time was busy making plans for his own mens college, asked Molloy and the sisters what they planned on naming their new school. The name St. Marys had seemed like a natural choice since most of the college lay in St. Marys Hall, but Heffron was set on having the name for his school. The sisters next considered naming the school in honor of Teresa of Avila, and the name College of Saint Teresa was formally adopted. Also that year, the halls of St. Teresa and St. Cecilia were finished and dedicated.

The campus continued to expand over the next decade. In 1920, a nursing program was added, and Lourdes Hall, Alverna Hall, and the basilica-style St. Mary of the Angels Chapel were built. Molloy joined the order of her peers and became a Franciscan nun under the name of Sister Aloysius, and in 1928, she was named the schools second president. That year also brought the debut of an education program.

Sister Aloysius continued her presidency until 1946. She died in 1954. The College of Saint Teresa was formally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Enrollment continued to rise between 1965 and 1967, at one point reaching a peak of 1,350 students. The Mary A. Molloy library was opened in 1967, but the golden days were coming to an end.

In the wake of Vatican II, thousands of nuns left their orders. The loss of the religious order on the college faculty required hiring lay professors at considerably higher salaries than required by sisters vowed to poverty. Enrollment declined, as the prospect of four years of college without men had a diminished appeal for a generation on the front lines of the sexual revolution.

As the 1980s came around, people began to speculate that the foundering all-women college had fallen behind the times. In 1986, the school responded by officially allowing men, but it was too little, too late. A merger with Saint Marys College also failed. In 1988, the college announced that it was facing its last year. In spring 1989, the last commencement ceremony was held on St. Mikes field.
When Ka Vang came to America from a Laotian refugee camp as a teenager, he barely knew English -- or anything about America.

The Hmong-American struggled to learn the language and culture, and provide for his family. His struggle wasnt unique to the waves of immigrants who have settled in La Crosse, but attitudes toward immigration and assimilation have changed during more than a century and a half.

Some call for English to be the official language in America and raise concerns about recent immigrants desire to assimilate. Some politicians stoke fears of Muslim immigrants. Many governors, including Wisconsins Scott Walker, have promised to keep Syrian refugees out of their states.

Such worries stand in contrast to Wisconsin's early history of recruiting immigrants to the state. And neighbors were tolerant when newcomers held to the old ways. A despite changing political and social environments, the immigrant story in La Crosse follows a pattern.

Germans: The 1840s to 1924

For more than 60 years, German immigrants poured into the city. Up to 30 percent of the city's population was foreign-born from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, University of Wisconsin history professor Tiffany Trimmer said, with the German immigrant population carving out several niches for itself.

Many settled in Goosetown, first platted in 1855 and encompassing the north end of La Crosse's South Side. The old neighborhood got its nickname for the geese, ducks and chickens in backyard pens. UW-L's 1960s expansion displaced much of Goosetown.

German immigrants founded a number of organizations that catered to German speakers, including singing societies such as the Liederkranz, the Maermucher, the Mannerchor and the Frohsinn. They also built clubhouses and theaters such as Germania Hall, which was on Market Street from the 1870s until it was renamed Pioneer Hall during World War I.

German immigrants -- and their descendents -- had their own local German-language newspapers. Their influence echoes in La Crosse's annual Oktoberfest celebration and the Gund Brewery lofts, one of the many breweries founded by German immigrant and entrepreneur John Gund.

Banding together over a common culture is a survival strategy for immigrant groups, Trimmer said. Even those who are prepared struggle when they first arrive in a new place and have to adjust to a new way of life and culture. The immigrant-to-immigrant conversations were how people found jobs and communicated in the days before cell phones, radio and Twitter. Newly arrived Germans could tell each other who was good to work for and who wasnt, Trimmer said. Established immigrants helped new arrivals find the landlords who wouldnt cheat renters.

The sheer size of the German immigrant population helped protect it from some aspects of discrimination, but both World Wars changed the dynamic of the community. The first World War was the worst, according to a 1976 article in the Tribune, with Berlin Street renamed Liberty Street and rampant suspicion of all Germans as possible enemy agents.

"My mother didn't speak English, and speaking German wasn't allowed," said Walter Parnow, a La Crosse resident. "It sours you a bit on the country that you want to make a go of."

That attitude was a complete turnabout from the one Germans encountered in the 1800s.

In the 1850s through the 1870s, Wisconsin's commissioner of immigration was charged with attracting migrants from other countries. Pamphlets in different languages enticed migrants to settle in Wisconsin instead of Iowa or Minnesota.

At the very beginning of Wisconsin, there was this willingness to give migrants the sales pitch in their native language, Trimmer said. The change from that suggests something about the larger puzzle of immigration history."

Syrians and Lebanese: The 1900s to 1910s

Today's Syrian refugee crisis wasn't the first. During the first two decades of the 20th century, more than 130 Syrian and Lebanese immigrants and refugees came to La Crosse, according to the La Crosse Public Library archives' blog, settling mainly on Copeland Avenue on the city's north side.

Christians in the Muslim Ottoman Empire, many came to America to seek economic opportunity or flee religious persecution, Trimmer said. The Ablan family originally settled in the Twin Cities from what is now Lebanon, La Crosse attorney Mike Ablan said.

"My grandpa would tell me in his broken English that the family thought the streets were paved in gold," Ablan said. "That's the way word of mouth traveled during the start of the Industrial Revolution."

Ablan's family was a large one, and his grandparents' generation could only afford to send one or two people at a time, working long hours in America to afford to bring the next Ablans. Mike's grandfather James Ablan opened a grocery in the Twin Cities. His uncle, also a Mike, was a wealthy pack peddler, importing rugs and linens. His father, Charles, opened the Blue Moon where Coconut Joe's is located today.

Mike Ablan's four grandparents struggled with English in their new country. He remembers his grandfather talking about how hard it was to memorize the Pledge of Allegiance in English in order to gain citizenship.

"I remember Grandpa being so proud that they complimented him on his perfect English when he recited it," Mike said.

Even being the third generation of an immigrant family, Mike remembers facing prejudice and discrimination. He was called a "camel jockey" in school and even during his professional life faced the occasional racial slur.

Syrians in La Crosse also faced discrimination, suspicion and prejudice because of their Arabic language and origins in the mysterious Ottoman Empire. According to the public library archives, newspapers at the time used inflammatory language and exaggeration when reporting on the Syrians.

For example, on Jan. 5, 1905, the Tribune reported "wrangles over trivial things are common and bloodshed is almost a daily occurrence," even though police records cannot confirm that. Newspapers frequently referred to Syrians as swarthy and printed their statements phonetically to draw attention to their accents.

Tensions between the Syrians and other residents on the North Side also occasionally led to fights, the archives states, which the press sensationalized. For example, a fight erupted July 5, 1902, between two Syrians and several other residents.

According to the archives, the La Crosse Chronicle put the fight on page one, called it a race riot and placed the blame on the immigrants, whose regular midnight orgies were making life miserable for citizens. The newspaper also exaggerated the number of people who took part in the fight and added claims of shots being fired and people being stabbed, details not reported in other publications.

Like the Germans before them, the Syrians and Lebanese banded together over a common culture, their Orthodox Christian faith.

According to "Historic Churches of La Crosse," published in 1998, the St. Elias Orthodox Church first began as an Orthodox society formed in 1902 by members who met in private homes. The land for the church was purchased from the Gund family in 1912, and the basement of the church was dug by hand, with the church finished and dedicated in 1917.

The basement of the church was the "town hall" for Arabic people, Ablan said, where meals were shared, dancing took place and the immigrants were able to share and practice their culture. But by the 1920s, the church began a decades-long struggle to keep the doors open. During the 1970s, Ablan vowed to reopen the church.

After reaching out to Orthodox families in the community, Ablan was able to reopen the church in 1977 with first a part-time priest and then a full-time one. Today, St. Elias is sill welcoming immigrants from all over the Orthodox Christian world.

"And away we go," Ablan said. "Now we have a full house on Sundays."

Hmong: The 1980s and 1990s

When the Hmong started arriving, Trimmer said, they still faced the fallout of the Vietnam War. The memory of the war's end was just a decade old, and unlike the Germans and the Syrians before them, the Hmong had two more things working against them: their refugee status and thieir race.

When Ka Vang was very young, his family fled Communist persecution in Vietnam, ending up in the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Laos. Ka spent most of his young life there, where the family had few possessions and Ka had little access to eduction. When he came to America as a teenager, he only had the equivalent of a few months of schooling.

In America, you needed to know English in order to be able to work, he said, and as a result, Kas father wasnt able to work. His mom applied for jobs, getting one at the Occupational Resource Center, supporting the entire family on a single minimum wage.

It was hard to come from a totally different culture to here, Ka said.

Ka's experience was not isolated, Trimmer said. Many Hmong families relied on assistance from both government and private sources.

They didnt plan to come to the U.S., Trimmer said. They didnt have the skill set to hit the ground running right away.

Racism also was a factor, until 1980, Trimmer said, La Crosse was almost 100 percent white. It wasn't until the Hmong started settling here that the community started becoming much more diverse.

Dennis Tucker, Hmong Mutual Assistance Association executive associate director in the 1980s, wrote The History and Status of Indochinese Refugees in La Crosse, Wisconsin in part to combat racist stereotypes. The document explained Hmong culture in part to dispel fears that Hmong would steal pets and eat them.

There were so many people making assumptions, Trimmer said. The Hmong faced discrimination because whites didnt understand their situation and the culture.

Ka said he remembered his family being yelled at on the streets, rocks being thrown. Classmates at Central High School told him to go back to Asia. Things have gotten better for the Hmong, he said, but the rhetoric of some politicians brings back bad memories.

It is kind of sad when I see politicians saying that today, he said. "An immigrant like myself didnt choose to be in this position. I didnt choose to be an immigrant.

A future of immigrants

Each waves of immigration to La Crosse has followed the same pattern: The first generation tends to stick together, holding tightly to the language and culture. The Germans had Germania Hall, the Syrians St. Elias, the Hmong their cultural and community center.

Later generations become more Americanized and struggle to balance their heritage with their new identity. The Molzahn family of La Crosse, with roots in Goosetown, still speak their German prayer at important family holidays such as Thanksgiving, and Ablan has traveled to visit his family's old home in Lebanon and kept traditional Lebanese cuisine alive in his home.

The Hmong are still in transition. Hmong tradition is very old, Ka said, and doesn't always blend with the fast-paced modern culture of America. Traditional funeral rites can last from five to 10 days, and some second- and third-generation Hmong cut corners to fit in better in American society.

Immigration has been and will always be important to the city, even as the proportion of foreign-born residents wanes, down to 3.1 percent according to the most recent census data. In recent decades, La Crosse has embraced its multicultural heritage, establishing relationships with sister cities in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Manufacturing and health care will continue to rely on immigrant labor, Trimmer said, both at the entry level and among skilled professionals. That is why she said the cultural amnesia many have about immigrant history and assimilation is troubling.

Its one of the things that continues to puzzle me, Trimmer said. Many people think of being American as a zero-sum game.

Immigration to Wisconsin is not new. Since 1841, we have been populated by generation after generation of people who came here to call this place home," she said. "The state has a long history of figuring out how to welcome people here to build productive lives for themselves and their families.
The participation of two out-of-county Republicans in La Crosse County board races is raising concerns about partisanship in local elections.

Jeffrey Schultz of Madison and Jonathan Minneci of Lodi circulated papers to put four and six candidates on the ballot, respectively. There are no residency requirements for those circulating nomination papers, but it is extremely unusual for anyone from outside the county to circulate nomination papers on behalf of county board candidates, according to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor Joe Heim.

Ive never, never heard of people coming from Madison to gather signatures, Heim said.

Local politicians, including county board Supervisor Steve Doyle, are concerned about how the introduction of non-county residents as volunteers could change the tone of county politics.

I think it adds an element of outsiders meddling in our local government, and I dont think people appreciate that, said Doyle, a Democrat who also serves as the representative for Wisconsins 94th Assembly District.

Doyle said that Schultz and Minnecis positions in the offices of two Republican Assembly members  Ed Brooks and Bob Kulp, respectively  raised some red flags for him.

This also adds an element of what I would call unseemliness, where now you have paid professionals getting involved in what is usually referred to as citizen legislators races, Doyle said.

With his dual role as nonpartisan supervisor and Democratic representative, Doyle said he understands the importance of keeping party affiliations separate from local issues, which don't always fall along party lines.

This should not be bare knuckle politics. This should be public service, Doyle said.

The unprecedented help suggests county politics is becoming more partisan, Heim said.

Because of the small number of signatures required to get on the ballot  50  its unusual to have out-of-county friends gather those signatures on behalf of candidates for county board.

However, with several prominent members of the board being well-known Democrats, it suggests to the other side that they should get more involved in it as well, and thats what seems to be happening this year, he said.

Its unfortunate that partisan politics seems to be creeping into more and more things in the state, and this is just the latest manifestation of that, Heim said.

Schultz and Minneci, however, said they were volunteering to help friends in their spare time, rather than working in their professional capacity. Both men worked on Tony Kurtzs failed congressional bid, making local connections as they helped the Republican take on U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, in 2014.

When asked whether he would consider himself an outsider, Schultz said, Absolutely not. Im from Wilton. I went to school at (Onalaska Luther High School).

"No matter how anybody tries to portray it, its not a concerted effort by any party or anything. Its just people and a place Im interested in, he added.

Minneci said he volunteered to help six candidates as a friendly favor because of his interest in politics on all levels. Knocking on doors and chatting about local issues is important work that he enjoys, he said.

I dont see it as anything more than that, Minneci said.

Doyle was skeptical of their assertion that it was an innocent favor, calling it a little odd that they would travel so far to get involved in county politics. He pointed to the number of signatures gathered by candidates compared with the number gathered by Minneci and Schultz, including those of Kent Gabrielsen, who is running for the District 28 seat. Gabrielsen gathered three of his 67 signatures, with the rest gathered by Schultz, Minneci and Jason Knack of Onalaska, a member of the La Crosse County Republican Party executive committee.

Thats not friends helping friends. Thats somebody else simply taking over somebodys campaign, Doyle said.

Doyle questioned whether that assistance would affect the candidates priorities.

The candidates, however, say they have their neighbors best interests at heart, not their volunteers.

Gabrielsen, a real estate agent who lives in the town of Barre, said his main concern was keeping property taxes as low as possible, both for his neighbors and customers.

I just want to try to be more fiscally conservative, Gabrielsen said.

Gabrielsen hadnt met Schultz and Minneci before his campaign but has attended the same church as Knack for years. When Knack suggested Gabrielsen run and then offered to help gather signatures along with his friends Minneci and Schultz, Gabrielsen accepted.

Devin Schmidt, who gathered six of his own signatures and received help from Schultz, Minneci and Knack, said he appreciates the assistance but was running his own campaign against District 8 incumbent Peg Jerome.

Im not running as Devin Schmidt who is running with the rest of these Republicans, he said. Im just running as me.

Schmidt, who has known all three men since 2014, said Knack gave him the idea to run but he chose to take on the challenge because he views the board as a place where he can make a difference.

Schmidts focus is making sure that were not spending too much yet making sure the county is taken care of, whatever their needs might be, he said.

Knack suggested his friends run, then gathered signatures on their behalf, he said, because he believes they are the right people for the job.

Im proud to have helped them. Theyre really good people, Knack said.
Energy efficiency, once dismissed as Jimmy Carter trying to persuade Americans to wear an extra sweater and turn down the thermostat, is now a booming high-tech industry, according to a recent report in the Los Angeles Times.

This booming high-tech business has been building steam for many years. Its roots trace back to 1989, when a U.S. physicist noticed a misprint in a report of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission: negawatt for megawatt. He borrowed the word to describe power saved through conservation or efficiency measures and argued that these were the best way to meet rising demand for power, both for businesses and the environment.

A recent study by the global firm McKinsey and Co. supports this analysis, with estimates that $520 billion in investments would reduce U.S. non-transportation energy usage by 9.1 quadrillion BTUs by 2020  roughly 23 percent of projected demand. Energy savings on this scale would yield massive emission reductions about 700 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2020 alone, more than 30 percent of power sector emissions today.

Without a great deal of fanfare, this energy efficiency transformation already is happening, and local companies are leading the way. Gundersen Health System recently kicked off a project to replace more than 2,500 fluorescent bulbs with more efficient and longer-life LED lights. The estimated energy reduction will be 1.5 million kilowatt hours, with an annual energy savings of $150,000. In addition, with longer-life lighting, Gundersen expects to save $30,000 annually in maintenance costs.

The La Crosse YMCA recently replaced all of its pool lighting with high-efficiency LED lighting, improving the quality of light and lowering costs. Kwik Trip Inc. won a Focus on Energy 2015 Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award. According to Focus on Energy, the La Crosse-based convenience store chain completed more than 1,000 energy-efficiency projects at more than 250 locations and manufacturing facilities since 2006. In 2014 alone, Kwik Trip completed 771 measures at 229 locations, netting an annual savings of 6.9 million kilowatts per hour.

Xcel Energy, in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, is replacing tens of thousands of high-pressure sodium lights with high-efficiency LED lighting, cumulatively saving cities millions in energy costs. This avoided energy  the difference between the amount actually used each year and the amount that would have been used had there been no conservation  has enormous potential.

According to Kenneth Ostrowski, a senior partner at McKinsey, theres more potential for energy efficiency in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Improving energy efficiency is a key tool for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, alongside energy conservation, low-carbon energy sources such as renewables and a carbon-fee-and-dividend.

Not only is this a huge opportunity for business and industry, homeowners also are increasingly getting into the energy-efficiency game. Ive been a significant benefactor of this booming energy efficiency business.

After our natural gas water heater tank wore out this past summer, while searching for a replacement, I learned about new heat pump technology for water heaters. After additional research, we decided to install a heat-pump, hybrid electric water heater, and the performance has been exceptional. Not only does the water heater come with a 10-year warranty and have the ability to enable vacation mode (not heating water when we are away), but it has only added 30 kwh to our existing electric bill, costing about $4 more per month or $36 for the year. Since our old natural gas hot water heater cost $228 to operate each year, the difference is an avoided cost of $192 each year.

The market for smart appliances such as our heat-pump water heater, which save energy by switching themselves off when not needed, is almost doubling every year. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that a potential $600 billion boost in GDP can be achieved with widespread adoption of smart appliances.

The McKinsey report cited earlier reveals new possibilities for energy efficiency and will be instrumental in engaging consumers, businesses and everyone else to cut energy consumption, reduce harmful emissions and save money on electricity. The energy that most effectively cuts costs, protects us from climate change and reduces our dependence on foreign oil is the energy thats never used in the first place.

Energy efficiency should be part of the best system of emission reduction for existing power plants because it is adequately demonstrated, cost-effective, imposes minimal environmental costs, and reduces overall energy requirements.
When it comes to the current presidential campaign, the one thing everybody agrees on is that American politics is more polarized than ever before.

The causes of polarization are variously attributed to the rapid pace of social and technological change, global insecurity, the widening income inequality gap and the influence of large donors to political campaigns in the wake of Citizens United.

But one cause rarely mentioned by the political candidates themselves or their most ardent supporters is the gradual yet steady decline of middle distance institutions over the past 50 years.

Middle distance institutions are those places where people come together to voluntarily participate in a shared purpose. They are neither home nor work; they are a third place, where citizens get to know one another, learn how to disagree without hatred and develop a taste for collaboration. They are the places where civic participation is born, where people learn what it means to be a citizen.

Whether they are churches, service organizations, charities or sporting clubs, their cumulative effect on society is considerable. Such institutions are almost wholly responsible for what political scientist Robert Putnam has termed social capital  the reservoir of trust that builds up in communities over time and allows them to flourish.

Most importantly, such institutions are responsible for the formation of the social virtues: wisdom, courage, civility and respect. That is because the social virtues can only take root and be nourished in the context of a world in which how one lives matters to others, and that context can only be provided in the company of those who care about a common good and are willing to work together to accomplish it.

Although there are likely multiple causes of the decline in middle distance institutions, Putnam speculated that the chief culprit was the revolution in communications technology, particularly television.

In his 1980 essay The Context of No Context, George W. S. Trow noted that as the popularity of television increased, the middle distance fell away, so the grids (from small to large) that had supported the middle distance fell into disuse and ceased to be understandable. Two grids remained. The grid of 200 million and the grid of intimacy. Everything else fell into disuse.

This could explain why many Americans are more likely to think a celebrity would make a better president than someone who has spent a career doing actual work in the political realm. It is because the space in which political work gets done is, for many, a mere abstraction. A television reality show, however, seems more real, that is, more connected and relevant, certainly more familiar, to their everyday lives.

The cure for this is not better candidates, or campaign reform, or spending limits, but, quite simply, more active citizen participation in the life of communities.

Civic participation has a long history in our nation. Alexis de Tocqueville, on his tour of the United States in 1831, noted that Americans, when confronted by a significant social problem, would not turn first to government to solve it but would instead form some kind of citizen organization to deal with the problem directly. He suggested that this collective determination to continually improve society at the local level was the primary cause of American distinctiveness and success. The health of a democratic society, Tocqueville proclaimed, may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.

Participation in middle distance institutions strengthens communities across the board, effectively improving many of the functions for which we, in our day, expect government to solely accountable.

Take, for instance, education. States with high levels of civic participation invariably have better educational outcomes than states with low levels of civic participation. And that correlation remains consistent, regardless of differences in class sizes, curriculum or testing standards.

The same can be said for several other indicators of a healthy society. States with high levels of civic participation have better outcomes for childrens welfare, lower murder rates and fewer instances of tax evasion.

And that is why, regardless of the outcome of the presidential elections in November, the health of our nation remains largely in the hands of the people who reside in our communities.

A nation of people who take ownership of their communities, who put long hours into the hard work of serving on boards and committees, analyzing needs, reviewing financials, prioritizing budgets, negotiating, and compromising to get things done, are much more likely to know what to look for in a political candidate than a nation of people who are just looking to elect people to give them what they want.

This is the wisdom of Tocqueville, which is still as relevant today as it was nearly two hundred years ago:

It is indeed difficult to imagine how men who have entirely renounced the habit of managing their own affairs could be successful in choosing those who ought to lead them. It is impossible to believe that a liberal, energetic, and wise government can ever emerge from the ballots of a nation of servants.
Q: We have two girls, one in sixth grade and the other in fourth. The older one excels in all subjects. The younger one is more average. My spouse and I argue about how much we should push her to get better grades. I want her to have higher expectations so she gets into a good college. My spouse says, Why pressure her? What do you think?

A: I agree with your spouse. Too many parents think the road to college starts in preschool and that every grade along the way counts.

But as Paul Tough explained in How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, its the traits and habits of mind that children form in elementary school  self-control, goal-orientation, responsibility, persistence and resilience  that matter most later on.

I can usually predict which of my fifth-grade students will succeed in high school  not by their grades, but by how they assume responsibility for their own learning, said California educator Bill Laraway. Too often, parents focus only on grades and lose sight of how important social interaction and networking play in academic performance.

Kyle Redford, a teacher at Marin Country Day in Corte Madera, Calif., writes in a blog post for Education Week that she has seen a definite shift in parental attitude. Parents have gone from understanding that children have innate strengths and challenges to believing that their children should be strong in all areas, she said. This has led to a proliferation of tutors hired to give students an edge with any subject that doesnt come easy.

Assuming that your daughter is working to her potential, that she has no learning difficulties to be addressed, and that shes developing the self-management and study skills essential to becoming a successful student, embrace her accomplishments, Laraway said.

And, he emphasizes, never compare her performance unfavorably to her sisters.

Accepting a childs academic shortcomings is sometimes tough, Redford said. How much struggle or challenge should we accept? she writes. When do we allow a student to be satisfactory at a skill? How do we comfortably define satisfactory? If we accept average performance, are we giving up on the student, or, worse yet, applying a fixed mindset when considering their potential and possibilities?

Redford encourages teachers to have these messy but important talks with parents. When we push students to do better, she says, we need to ask at what cost.

Melissa Chen, a college consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area, tells high school students to forget perfection. In a piece for The Huffington Post, she says that if students can save hours by earning Bs instead of As in their hardest classes, they should. With the time gained, they should find out what their true hobbies are, to develop passions and intellectual curiosities.

This makes them more interesting, which can help their (college) application stand out in a crowd, adds Chen. Taking a step back has obvious intrinsic benefits, too, which will last much longer than any given application cycle.
Cars fall through ice at Lake Genevas Winterfest  LAKE GENEVA  A number of vehicles have fallen through the ice during Lake Genevas Winterfest. The unoccupied vehicles were parked on the ice near the shore of Lake Geneva for the annual celebration when they began breaking through Saturday. The Lake Geneva Fire Department confirms to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that staff are responding. No injuries are reported.

Charges: Ex-Capitol Police officer stole, sold painting  MADISON  A former Wisconsin Capitol Police officer is accused of stealing and selling a state-owned painting by Wisconsin artist Aaron Bohrod. The Wisconsin State Journal reports 32-year-old Travis Sackett of Tempe, Arizona, was charged Friday with theft and misconduct in public office. Hes scheduled to appear in court Thursday. According to the complaint, Sackett was a Capitol Police officer from March 2009 to February 2011. He worked nights at the governors mansion in Maple Bluff. A Bohrod painting called Gold Fantasy Box was discovered missing from storage at the residence last month and recovered from a Connecticut art dealer. The complaint says the painting was sold in February 2011. A state employee tracked the missing painting down on the Internet. Its unclear if Sackett has an attorney who could comment.

Man dies after apparently being hit by car in Winnebago Co.  TOWN OF RUSHFORD  Authorities say a 21-year-old man is dead after he apparently was hit by a vehicle in east-central Wisconsin. The Winnebago County Sheriffs Office was called late Friday night about a car-pedestrian accident in the Town of Rushford. Deputies arrived to find the man from Omro lying unresponsive in the road. First responders tried to save the man, but he died at the scene. The victims name was not immediately released.
Deal reached on provisional government  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  Top Haitian leaders negotiated an agreement to install a short-term provisional government less than 24 hours before President Michel Martelly was scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States and local authorities announced Saturday.

China charges pastor with embezzling  BEIJING  A pastor in a Chinese province where authorities have been cracking down on churches has been charged with embezzling funds, Christian rights group ChinaAid said. Chinas state-sanctioned Protestant church body announced a week earlier than Gu Yuese was under investigation for suspected misappropriation of funds and other unspecified economic crimes.

Four ex-soldiers arrested in massacre  SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador  Salvadoran police have arrested four former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests during the Central American countrys brutal civil war, officials said Saturday. Five of the priests were Spanish and their killings sparked international outrage. Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren called on the military officers still fugitive in the case to turn themselves in. The ex-soldiers were identified as Col. Guillermo Alfredo Benavides Moreno and soldiers Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, Angel Perez Vasquez and Tomas Zarpate Castillo.

Rescuers find signs of life in quake rubble  TAINAN, Taiwan  Rescuers early today found signs of life within the remains of a high-rise residential building that collapsed in a powerful, shallow earthquake in southern Taiwan that killed at least 18 people and injured hundreds. The emergency center in Tainan, the worst-hit city, estimated 132 people were still missing more than 24 hours after the magnitude-6.4 quake struck at dawn Saturday.

Two die on bobsled track  CALGARY, Alberta  Police say two young men died and six others were injured after using their personal sled/toboggan to go down a luge-bobsled track after hours at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Calgary police said Saturday that emergency crews received a call from an employee at the WinSport Canada facility in northwest Calgary at 1:30 a.m.
At the height of the Great Recession in 2009, many states were forced to cut funding for higher education as they struggled to cope with massive revenue shortfalls in the wake of a global economic meltdown. As the economy began to recover, however, most states began reinvesting in their public colleges and universities.

It was a smart move. Strong colleges and universities create the innovations that lead to new industries and educate the skilled workforce businesses need to prosper and grow. An investment in higher education is an investment in a better economic future.

Unfortunately, Wisconsin went in the other direction. In fact, according to the annual Grapevine Study issued by Illinois State University, Wisconsin is one of only nine states to cut funding for higher education in the 2015-16 budget year. Whats more, only one state  Arizona  cut higher education funding by a greater percentage than Wisconsin. At a time when the vast majority of states are strengthening their colleges and universities, Gov. Scott Walker and legislative Republicans handed our University of Wisconsin System another $250 million reduction even beyond the cuts they made in their previous budgets.

These cuts are doing real long-term damage to our universities. Just in my own senate district, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point lost its principal source of funding for its Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology. Budget cuts have led to the loss of research faculty who were doing cutting-edge research on polymers, nanotechnology, and helping to revitalize our paper industry by turning their industrial waste into profitable, high-value chemicals. These projects generated valuable patents and attracted millions in research contracts to UWSP, funding which is also now in jeopardy.

Wisconsins education cuts have not just hurt our economy; they are likely to make a university education less affordable and less valuable for students. As faculty numbers decline, students will end up having to wait to get into classes they need to graduate, which will increase the time and expense of getting a degree. Students will have fewer opportunities to work with leading researchers on cutting-edge projects. The University of Wisconsins sterling reputation as one of the best state university systems in the world will become tarnished, and having a degree from a UW campus on your resume will become less valuable.

Democrats have advocated a return to smarter public policies and getting back hundreds of millions of our federal tax dollars that this governor has unwisely turned away. This would enable Wisconsin to make the same financially smart investment in increasing higher education funding that 41 other states are doing. For example, using federal funds to strengthen BadgerCare would save Wisconsin over $300 million, which is more than enough money to restore the governors most recent cut to our universities.

Our Badger Blueprint also contains proposals like our Higher Ed, Lower Debt plan to make higher education more affordable and ease the crushing load of student debt. These proposals can make a positive difference; investing in quality, affordable higher education not only helps our kids and grandkids, it strengthens our businesses and leads to a stronger, healthier state economy. Rather than being in the minority of states still cutting education, Wisconsin should become a leader once again.

You can learn more about our proposals to strengthen education and Wisconsins economy by visiting legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/democrats/take-action/wisconsin-badger-blueprint.
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Sunday, February 7, 2016

Playing the word association game with Mardi Gras might yield a variety of results such as carnival, party, parades, beads, King Cake, and a host of things that I probably cant write on this blog. It might also conjure up another word: IP.

Intellectual property issues are rampant during Mardi Gras. Take, for example, the 2011 trademark infringement dispute between the Rex Organization and the Micro-Krewe of tit Rx (pronounced "tee Rex"). Rex is the Mardi Gras parade. It rolls on Fat Tuesday. The King of Rex is the King of Mardi Gras. Rex is king. All hail Rex.

Tit Rx is the antithesis of Rex. Its a parade of shoebox floats pulled by the makers of the floats more than a week before Mardi Gras day. The parade was named as an abbreviation of the French word petit and a humorous play on the giant dinosaur, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, more commonly called, T-Rex.



(Photo credit for tit Rx to Chris Graner at Nola.com; Photo credit for Rex to David Grunfeld at Nola.com)

Despite the vast differences between the two parades, in 2011, the big Rex informed the little Rex that the little Rex was infringing on the trademark the big Rex had in the name Rex. Daddy Rex threatened to sue baby Rex if the fledgling parade didnt change its name. To satisfy the demand, tit Rex became tit Rx. All of this happened, allegedly, quite amicably and the organizers of tit Rx said they understood that the Rex Organization had to protect its trademark. One of the more humorous aspects of the story is that every year a newspaper article about tit Rx runs in a New Orleans paper and the e is not turned upside down into a schwa (). Instead, the journalist includes a closing paragraph that says something like, For everyone's peace of mind, please imagine that the letter e in this story is upside down when legally necessary.

There are IP issues surrounding Mardi Gras music. John Lovett (Loyola) has a new book chapter that highlights this. The actual subject of Lovetts chapter is a comparative analysis of the revindication of movable property, but the story that is at the heart of Lovetts analysis is all about copyright law and the music of Professor Longhair, a pianist whose name is synonymous with Mardi Gras because of his songs Tipitina and Go to the Mardi Gras. In 1971, Professor Longhair recorded four tapes during a recording session in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The tapes were sent to a record company in New York, allegedly as demo tapes. For unknown reasons, the tapes were never returned. After Professor Longhairs death, the recording studio used the tracks on Professor Longhairs tapes to produce the Grammy-winning album, House Party New Orleans Style: The Lost Sessions 1971-72, and a few years later tracks were used on the album Professor Longhair: Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge. Unsurprisingly, Professor Longhairs heirs wanted the proceeds the tapes generated, but as Lovett discusses in his book chapter, copyright protection was unavailable. Instead, the heirs had to use the revinidicatory action to try and gain ownership of the tapes, thus giving rise to Lovetts comparative analysis of the revindication of movables.

Last years case Nola Spice Designs, L.L.C. v. Haydel Enterprises, Inc., 783 F.3d 527 (5th Cir. 2015) brought up IP issues of a unique variety. There is a thing in New Orleans called a bead dog. The basic procedure for making one is to break up a pair of beads into a group of four beads and three groups of two beads. Connect the three groups of two beads over the longer chain of four beads and, voila you have a bead dog. Kids make them regularly. My daughter made one for every child in her class last week.

(Bead Dogs made by my daughter while trying to catch shoes at the Muses parade.)

In 2009, Haydels Bakery, a very popular bakery in New Orleans that makes one of the best King Cakes in the city, commissioned for a mascot to be made. The mascot that was designed was a bead dog. Haydels had the phrase Mardi Gras Bead Dog trademarked and received a copyright for the Bead Dog work.



In 2012, the jewelry and accessory store Nola Spice Designs was created. Nola Spice sells, among other things, jewelry made out of Mardi Gras beads in the shape of, you guessed it, a bead dog, and advertises those pieces of jewelry as bead dogs.

You can all guess what happened at this point. Haydels sued Nola Spice for trademark and copyright infringement. Given that you can currently buy Bead Dogs jewelry on Etsy from Nola Spice Designs, you can guess the outcome of the litigation, but read the entire opinion if you want to see a very in depth discussion of the bead dog tradition, photos included.

IP issues involve Mardi Gras clothing. In 2010, the U.S. Copyright Office recognized the Mardi Gras Indian costume made by Howard Miller as a sculpture/3d artwork, thus giving the costume copyright protection which had the benefit of, in some situations, requiring photographers to pay to sell photographs of the costumes.

IP affects even the most sacred of Mardi Gras thingsliquor. In 2013, having settled its dispute with tit Rx, the Rex Organization sued King Rex Spirits for trademark infringement when King Rex Spirits produced vodka in Mardi Gras-themed bottles. Though you can still buy Nola Spice Bead Dogs, you cannot buy King Rex vodka in stores anymore, so you can all guess the outcome of this lawsuit, too.

Mardi Gras and intellectual property. They go together like red beans goes on rice, plastic babies go in King Cakes, and Professor Longhair goes with the piano.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/property/2016/02/ip-mg.html


The wife of a dead Islamic State fighter has voiced rare criticism of the terror groups leaders.

The woman, who calls herself al-Muhajirah, posted a letter online.

In the letter, she complained about the treatment of widows and families of dead fighters. The letter has been shared widely on pro-Islamic State social media sites.

Public criticism of Islamic State leaders is rare. Critics face severe punishment, including beatings, torture and execution.

The letter is titled, "A Reminder to the Leaders of the Islamic State." It was first posted on January 27 on JustPaste.it, says the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI. The Washington-based group monitors jihadist online activity.

Anat Agron is a researcher at MEMRI. She says that such criticism is almost never found in such a widely circulated document. In the past, IS members have publicly criticized aspects of life in the Islamic State, however, normally such posts were swiftly deleted.

Some men who have left the terror group also have recently criticized the poor treatment of widows of IS fighters. The men talked with researchers from the U.S.-based International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism. They discussed how widows were forced to marry other fighters soon after their husbands had been killed in battle.

The mens statements were published in the journal Perspectives on Terrorism in December. The article said the Islamic State leaders were not following the normal Sharia practice of having a woman wait before remarrying. The four-month, 10-day waiting period ensures that the woman is not pregnant by her former husband.

The Sharia practice, called Iddah, is considered a womans right, and allows her time to grieve.

In her online letter, widow al-Muhajirah tells IS leaders: Every wife of a martyr ... is under your care. ... Fear Allah in the way you cater for her needs. She is your responsibility and all her needs now rest on your shoulder.  This is your trust, she is under your care, so do not abandon her.

Observers say women are used as a form of currency by the Islamic State. Foreign and Syrian male recruits are told they will be given wives as well as homes and money. Observers say those promises can be a major reason for joining the Islamic State, especially for young men from poor communities in North Africa.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

VOA correspondent Jamie Dettmer reported this story from Rome. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

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Words in This Story

widow - n. a woman whose husband has died

torture - n. the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something

abandon - v. to leave and never return to (someone who needs protection or help)

currency - n. a specific kind of money


Floyd Bledsoe walked out of prison last December after 16 years in jail.

Bledsoe was freed after government lawyers in Kansas decided that a courts 2000 ruling against him was a mistake. The court found him guilty of killing his sister-in-law.

The U.S. National Registry of Exonerations says Bledsoe was one of 149 prisoners cleared of criminal charges last year. That is the largest number of exonerations ever, it reported this week. The registry is part of the University of Michigan Law School.

There is a growing awareness that false convictions are a substantial, widespread and tragic problem, the report said.

More than two-thirds of those cleared last year had been jailed for killings or drug cases, the registry said. Five people were sentenced to death.

Floyd Bledsoe was 23 years old when he was sentenced to life in prison in 2000. The courts decision was based largely on statements made by his brother, according to the Midwest Innocence Project. The group worked for years to free Bledsoe.

His brother, Tom Bledsoe, took his own life in November 2015. He left a note admitting he did the killing.

Floyd Bledsoes lawyers said the note and genetic evidence helped win his release from prison.

After he left jail, Bledsoe, now 39, asked the Kansas Legislature to abolish death sentences.

We must stop the death penalty today, he told legislators. Tomorrow, it might be too late for one person.

Im Bruce Alpert.

Chris Hannas reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page.

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Words in This Story

registry  n. a place that keeps records

exoneration  n. to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime

abolish  v. to end or cancel something


During the search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, experts have found lost shipwrecks and undiscovered volcanoes.

But they have not found any wreckage from the missing jetliner.

The passenger plane was traveling from Malaysia to Beijing, China, in March 2014. The flight disappeared over the Indian Ocean. On board were 239 people, and all are presumed dead.

An American company specializing in underwater searches will examine the waters off the west coast of Australia. The company will scan large areas of the ocean floor. A Chinese rescue ship will assist looking for MH370.

The Malaysian aircraft is thought to have crashed in very deep water. Parts of the Indian Ocean in the area are up to 6,000 meters deep. Searches have failed to find any debris.

The ocean floor in the search area is treacherous. An Australian search report mentioned underwater mountains, crevasses, ridges and 2,000-meter sheer cliffs, are making missions difficult.

An underwater sonic device collided with a tall mud volcano in January. The cable snapped, and the device sunk to the ocean floor.

But two shipwrecks have been found. Sonar photos found a ship made of steel or iron from the 19th century. Wreckage from another ship was located in May.

The only wreckage of Flight 370 found so far was a piece of the plane washed up on Reunion Island in 2015. Reunion Island is in the western Indian Ocean near Madagascar.

The search area is now limited to 60,000 square kilometers off of Australia. Investigators say they will end all search efforts in June.

Im Jim Dresbach.

Carolyn Presutti reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted her report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

jetliner  n. a large jet airplane used for carrying passengers

treacherous  adj. very dangerous and difficult to deal with

debris  n. the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed

crevasses  n. deep, narrow openings or cracks in an area of thick ice or rock

cable  n. a thick, strong rope made of wires that are twisted together

sonar  n. a device used for finding things that are underwater by using sound waves


Sierra Leone is releasing more than 70 people from quarantine after declaring them Ebola-free.

World Health Organization (WHO) official Anders Nordstrom reported on Wednesday that they were kept under observation in the countrys north. The Associated Press news service reported his comments.

All of the individuals were thought to be at risk of becoming infected with the disease. They were kept away from the rest of the population last month after two new cases of the Ebola virus were confirmed. They came in contact with a woman who died of Ebola. Doctors feared they might spread the disease to others.

Ebola virus was formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. It can affect many organs, damage blood vessels and affect the bodys ability to fight infection.

The quarantine period for Ebola is 21 days.

Doctor Nordstrom said the WHO is still looking for almost 50 other people who might have been exposed to the virus. He said 18 of those people are at high risk of infection.

The WHO says it will continue to investigate all deaths in Sierra Leone until June to watch for new cases of Ebola.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed over 11,000 people since 2013. Sierra Leone lost 4,000 people to the virus before the country was declared Ebola-free last November.

A public health spokesperson in Sierra Leone says his country will be able to control any new cases of the virus and prevent its spread.

Im Dan Friedell.

James Butty wrote this story for VOANews.com Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Do you think Sierra Leone will be able to find the remaining people who may have been exposed to Ebola? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

hemorrhage  n. condition in which a person bleeds heavily and cannot stop the flow of blood

quarantine  n. the period of time during which an infected person or animal is kept away from others to prevent a disease from spreading

expose  v. to leave something unprotected or uncovered
The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned North Koreas launch of a long-range rocket at an emergency meeting on Sunday.

All 15 council members, including China, approved the statement. The members pledged to quickly adopt a new resolution with significant new sanctions against North Korea.

After the meeting, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the resolution must include unprecedented measures.

Chinas Ambassador Liu Jieyi, however, said the new resolution should reduce tension, work towards de-nuclearization, maintain peace and encourage a negotiated solution.

China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It can stop council resolutions from being approved. China must support any sanctions if they are to be effective, because China gives large amounts of economic aid to North Korea.

Since 2006, the council has approved increasingly stronger economic restrictions on North Korea for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles tests.

North Korea said the rocket was carrying a satellite. It was launched early Sunday morning near the northwestern border with China.

The North said the launch is part of its peaceful space program to send satellites into orbit. But many experts said the space program is being used to hide its tests of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles systems.

The U.S. Congress is also considering measures to target companies and banks that trade with North Korea. Many of them are in China.

South Korea and U.S. will discuss missile defense

Meanwhile, South Korea and the U.S. announced a plan to begin talks on deploying a missile-defense system.

A joint statement by the militaries of the two countries said they will meet to talk about the possibility of sending the system to South Korea and begin operating it at the earliest possible date."

Yoo Jeh-Seung is South Koreas deputy defense minister. He said the system would strengthen the missile defense of the Korea-U.S. alliance. Yoo said the alliance is considering deploying the system because of the North Korean rocket launch. He said the North has refused to talk about removing nuclear weapons from the peninsula.

He spoke during a meeting with Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, the commander of the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea.

The missile defense is known as THAAD. The system is carried on trucks and can fire rockets than can destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere.

Three years ago, when South Korea talked about deploying it, China said it threatened its security. On Sunday, China again criticized the plan to discuss a possible deployment of the THAAD missile defense system.

A foreign ministry spokesman said China is, in her words, deeply concerned that the system may soon operate in South Korea. She said the system would increase tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the area.

Im Jonathan Evans.

VOAs Margaret Besheer at the U.N. and Brian Padden and Youmi Kim in Seoul reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the reports into VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

atmosphere  n. the whole mass of air that surrounds the Earth


Hours after talks to bring peace to Syria were stopped, the United States has promised almost $1 billion in aid for Syrian refugees.

International donors met in London to talk about Syrias political and humanitarian crisis. Fighting between the Syrian government, its opponents and Islamic militants continues. Refugees are fleeing the country by the thousands, most recently escaping fighting in the city of Aleppo.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the meeting was critical to helping solve the human crisis. He called on the Syrian government and its ally, Russia, to halt attacks so that aid could reach those who need it.

The donors conference opened Thursday in London. The goal was $9 billion, but more than $10 billion was raised, said British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Last year, donor nations agreed to raise $4.5 billion. The new amount is for support of people in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The neighbor countries are strained by a huge flow of people escaping the fighting.

Cameron said life-saving aid is needed to support international efforts to help people. If ever there was a moment to take a new approach to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, surely it is now, he said.

Migrant crisis

Last year, 1 million people, largely from Syria, moved into Western Europe. Estimates say that will grow to 4 million this year. Some European countries have said they will take fewer asylum seekers than before.

Geneva peace talks suspended

The peace talks in Geneva were suspended Wednesday after opposition members said the Syrian government continued to battle Syrian rebels around Aleppo. A rights group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said 40,000 people fled the area this week alone.

U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura said Wednesday that indirect talks could be suspended until as late as February 25.

It is not the end, and it is not the failure of the talks, de Mistura told reporters. He said the Syrian government and the opposition remain interested in having the political process started.

The opposition has demanded that Syrian and Russian governments end the airstrikes on civilians. It also wants barriers lifted on aid to areas held by rebels. And the group has demanded that Syria release thousands of detainees.

The head of the opposition delegation said the group would not return to the talks until we see positive steps on these issues.



Im Dorothy Gundy.

Caty Weaver adapted this story from VOA news reports. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Post your message in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

host  v. to hold an event

strain  v. to cause problems or trouble for (something)

approach  n. a way of dealing with something : a way of doing or thinking about something

envoy  n. a person who is sent by one government to represent it in dealing with another government

positive  adj. good or useful


Tensions continue to grow between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

As Iran rejoins the world community after reaching an agreement to limit its nuclear activities, some Saudis say Iran will threaten their country as it grows stronger.

Tensions increased between the countries last month when Saudi Arabia executed a well-known Shiite Muslim religious leader. After the execution, protesters attacked Saudi Arabias embassy in Tehran, the Iranian capital. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates either cancelled or limited diplomatic relations with Iran.

The Iranian government condemned the attack. It said more than 100 people had been arrested. But some Saudis still place responsibility for the attack on Iranian leaders.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have opposed each other for many years. Some experts say the tensions began more than 1,000 years ago, when the Muslim religion Islam split into Shiite and Sunni sects.

Iran is the worlds most powerful Shiite-led nation. Saudi Arabia is the strongest Sunni-led country. There are also ethnic differences between the two countries: Saudis are Arab, and Iranians are Persian.

The countries support opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Many Saudis say if the group supported by Iran wins in either country, it would threaten the kingdom militarily and psychologically.

Iran supports the Syrian government in its war against rebels and Islamic State militants. Many experts say Iran supports Houthi rebels fighting Yemens government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. Saudi experts say Irans actions in Syria and Yemen are an effort to create allies in the Middle East.

Jamal Khashoggi is a well-known Saudi journalist. He notes that there are Shiite militias in Iraq. And Egypt is growing closer to Russia -- which also supports Syria. He says Iran is trying to control the Middle East in the same way that Germany tried to control Europe in World War II.

Hamad al-Shehri is an adviser to the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs. He says Saudi Arabia believes its influence has declined over the past year as Iran has become more important.

As Iran negotiated an agreement to limit its nuclear program in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, it promised to be less militant.

Al-Sheri said Saudis were unhappy that during the negotiations, Western nations did not demand that Iran end its actions in Syria, Yemen and other conflicts in the area.

The United States are our allies, he said. We wanted them to send a clear message to the Iranians to stop their interfering and to stop supporting (the) smuggling (of) weapons to those militias.

He says Saudis are less worried about Iran building a nuclear weapon than about the threat of a war in the Middle East.

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Saudi Arabia to end what he called its hostile policies toward Iran. Saudis say Iran must change its policies before relations can improve.

One Saudi expert says good relations between Saudi Arabia and Iranis good for the Muslim world. It is good for the Arab world.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

VOA's Heather Murdock reported on this story from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

psychological  adj. of or relating to the mind

sect  n. a religious group that is a smaller part of a larger group and whose members all share similar beliefs; a religious or political group that is connected to a larger group but that has beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main group

smuggle  v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly
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I have decided I want to try yoga.I don't really know why but I want to. However I'm also pretty paranoid about going someplace and doing something like yoga in front of tons of other people.I don't even have the clothes for this adventure. I've got ONE pair of shorts that fit and no way I'm wearing those in front of people.So I decided to dip my foot into this pond solo, like with all my other work out stuff, and see what's up. Starbucks suggested YouFit yoga app so I downloaded it because HEY FREE. Yesterday I decided to try it out.However I also had lots of other things to do. This may be why yoga and I aren't meant to be because who has time to just give away doing ONE thing? I suspect that's an ideal situation for that but even working out at my house I've got 1 to 4 kids in the room talking to me if not my husband also.I ran Julia's bath and slathered on some depilatory and decided to check out the app.I sat on my bedroom floor, with my upper lip burning listening to a very nice lady explain the app set up. It really made a lot of sense. TRY each of the poses and then tap the screen and mark them too easy, just right, or too hard. As I gave them a try and tried to ignore the follicle mitosis killing field below my nose, I got kind of sad that oh 75% went into the TOO HARD category. (Or is it meiosis? I forget which is which.) I do want to mention I'm SUPER GOOD at this thing called Corpse pose. Second would be the sitting thing. I can sit. But it sort of hurts.But I did it. My back hurt like a mofo and my hips were screaming and really most of my body was saying hey that's stupid let's don't do that. My body, however, is a poor steward for what it needs. It tells me I need chocolate shakes on the daily.After her bath I decided that since Sunday is the Superbowl it means we're going to feast like we're Tudors and I've just gotten all the damn Vegas weight BACK off so there was nothing for it but to hit the total gym. My body was too shaking and achy for aerobics but laying on a slab I could do.My arms disagreed heartily about this whole working out business and this morning they're reminding me of their rancor. Too bad arms. You're flabby and gross.Post bath and post workout the girl decided to remind me we were going to paint our nails for the Superbowl. We're legally required to root for Manning around here if we can't root for the Colts or Falcons so Orange it was.I love painting her tiny toes. She says that proper ladies always paint their toes. This makes me smile because my own mother used to tell me that a lady always has her nails done. I'm trying Mom, I'm trying.I didn't have any orange so we had to use her polish.No regrets.I also am playing this stupid game on my phone and it's a collecting game but I don't know what the hell I'm doing is this good is this bad? I don't know I'm just playing it because other people are playing it and that makes me feel like a lemming but.....kitties!I cannot tell if I am doing well or poorly.The end of our day came later than usual and my tiny blonde companion brought a pillow and a blanket onto my lap for family time. Then promptly this happened.In the silence of Sunday morning I've fed those cats on my phone and am considering which workouts to do today, I would like to try to fit in two to combat that which I am about to consume.Who knows what I will get done. Maybe none of it.That's Mom life. I wouldn't trade it for the world, though.
An analysis of the latest happenings in the area of Elementary/Secondary education with emphasis on state level policies as they affect teachers and school administrators. Send any comments or suggestions to louisianaeducator@gmail.com By: Michael Deshotels
New Delhi: It was shopping time for Aditya Roy Kapur and Katrina Kaif. The actors, who are in the national capital to promote their forthcoming film Fitoor, went on a shopping spree here.

The actors went to the street shopping hub Janpath market in the capital on Saturday afternoon, and picked up some knick-knacks for each other.

According to a source, the actors got a window from their busy schedule, and they made sure they made the most of it.

It is a well-known fact that Katrina splashed colours of red to her tresses for the role as Firdaus in the film. And it seems that she was channelling her character during the shopping sojourn with her clothes.

The actress looked ravishing in a printed red jumpsuit, while Aditya sported a casual look. Aditya helped Katrina select earrings and bangles.

They even gifted each other. Katrina bought a smart stole for Aditya, while he picked up earrings for her.

The on-screen couple will be seen romancing in the Abhishek Kapoor-directorial, which will hit the screens on February 12.

IANS
New Delhi: A 21-year-old Delhi University student was killed allegedly by her lover in Model Town area, with the murder coming to light only after five days when the neighbours reported stench from his residence where he had dumped the body in a shaft.

The accused Naveen Khatri was on Sunday arrested. Police claim that on Tuesday, Khatri allegedly strangulated the woman, a final year student at Lakshmibai College under University of Delhi who was in a relationship with him.

He tried to dump the body somewhere else and also attempted to burn it once, but failed after which he threw it in a shaft as his residence in Gurmandi locality which comes under Model Town police station in northwest Delhi, police said.

During interrogation, it emerged that Khatri was to get married to someone else. The police are also probing the role of other members of the accused's family in the incident as they had apparently objected to their relationship and wanted Khatri to marry the other woman, they said.

They said several persons were questioned in the case.

The matter came to light on Sunday after neighbours complained of a "terrible stench" and the police was informed, they said.

"A case of murder has been registered and the accused has been arrested. Further investigation is underway," DCP, Northwest, Vijay Singh said.

PTI
Author Taslima Nasreen does not think India is intolerant.

The Bangladeshi author was speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode. Hitting out at "secularists", the writer who is living in exile in India asked why secularists were questioning Hindu fundamentalists and not Islamist fundamentalists. She added that democracy based on "pseudo-securalism" is not a true democracy at all.

Nasreen was quoted by The Hindu as saying: "I think most people are quite tolerant of each others faith. The laws in India do not support intolerance. But there are so many intolerant people in this country. You have to keep religion separated from government. Laws should not be based on religion. There is no need to practise 7th Century laws in the 21st century. In India, the laws are based on equality and hence the condition of women is much better."

Nasreen is the latest among a series of celebrities to jump into the intolerance debate. Over the past few months, from Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan to esteemed intellectuals, almost everyone has weighed in on the touchy topic. Firstpost brings you a list of things spoken on this issue:

Days after his visit to India as chief guest for the 2015 R-Day celebrations, US President Barack Obama delivered to India an embarrassing smack-down, saying Mahatma Gandhi would have been shocked at the acts of intolerance in the country famed for its diversity.

"Michelle and I returned from India - an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity - but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs - acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation."

Aamir Khan, in a conversation with Anant Goenka of The Indian Express. created a storm when he said:

(Wife) Kiran and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India? Thats a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers everyday. That does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet.

"As an individual, as a citizen, certainly I have also been alarmed, I cant deny it, by a number of incidents, he said, For us, as Indians, to feel a sense of security, two-three things are important. The sense of justice gives a lot of security to the common man. The second thing, that is important, are the people who are the elected representatives, at the state level or the level of the Centre when people take law in their own hands, we look upon these representatives to take a strong stance, make strong statements and speed up the legal process to prosecute such cases. It doesnt matter who the ruling party is."

Shah Rukh Khan joined the chorus against 'growing intolerance', and said that religious intolerance and not being secularis the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot.

It is stupid It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue, not just an issue Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot.

This is what Bibek Debroy, Niti Aayog's member and a prominent economist, in an interview with The Times of India said:

"If you tell me intolerance is increasing, it is purely anecdotal and is purely a subjective perception, there is no point in arguing with you because you will say it is increasing and I will say there is no evidence of it increasing. The only way I can measure something is that if I have got some quantitative indicator. If I look at any quantitative indicator, communal violence incidents, internet freedom, these are objective indicators, and I don't think it is increasing. In the intellectual circuit there has always been that intolerance. Let's not pretend otherwise."

RBI governor Raghuram Rajan appealed for tolerance of diverse opinions and challenges to established orthodoxies, warning that Indias long-term economic prospects depend on a climate of intellectual freedom. In his speech at IIT Delhi in October 2015, he said:

The first essential is to foster competition in the market place for ideas. This means encouraging challenge to all authority and tradition, even while acknowledging that the only way of dismissing any view is through empirical tests. What this rules out is anyone imposing a particular view or ideology because of their power. Instead, all ideas should be scrutinized critically, no matter whether they originate domestically or abroad, whether they have matured over thousands of years or a few minutes, whether they come from an untutored student or a world-famous professor.

Karan Johar, at the Jaipur Lit Fest

"The talk about freedom of expression is the biggest joke I believe in the world. Democracy is the second biggest joke I think. I really wonder how are we really democratic? How is there freedom of expression? As a filmmaker, I feel bound at every level be it what I put out on celluloid or what I say in print. I feel like there is always some kind of a legal notice awaiting me everywhere I go."

Noted lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar came out in support of writers and poet returning their Sahitya Akademi awards in protest of the growing religious intolerance in the country, saying this is the only way a writer can register protest.

"The murder that has hurt us all is somewhere the fault of the system or government... Returning the award was an act of protest. Writers don't have any other way to register their protest. We have never witnessed this kind of religious intolerance. At least, we were fearless in expressing ourselves."

Irrfan Khan, the latest star to join the ongoing intolerance debate, said shutting up one's mouth is not a healthy sign for a growing society.

"I find it very strange when few people say that actors should act and they should not express their opinions on issues. Everybody has the right to speak their mind and concerns. If you are told to shut up then this is not a sign of a growing and healthy society."

Sonam Kapoor, on the Aamir Khan backlash.

"Just imagine the way we are reacting to someone like Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan (their comments). They will be afraid to say or talk about things because of negative reactions. We should be supportive of people who have opinions -- good, bad or ugly. Everybody should have a right to speak."

While filmmakers, intellectuals and noted personalities were criticising the trend, international media also pitched in and did not keep mum about the issue.

In its November 2015 edition, The Economist said 'Intolerable' and said this:

"The uproar over the alleged spread of intolerance is remarkable. Many blame the 18-month-old government led by Narendra Modi of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Its most fervent members believe that India should be a Hindu state. But its priority was supposed to be rapid economic growth, not sectarian bickering. So it is puzzling that in a few short weeks it has alienated not just Indias non-Hindu minorities and its liberal intelligentsia, but broad swathes of domestic and foreign opinion."

The New York Times in an editorial called 'A Rebuke to Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi' said:

Poisoning politics with religious hatred is bound to squander the countrys economic potential at a time when India should be playing a bigger and more constructive role in South Asia and the world. Indias history is filled with examples of religious and caste-based violence that set the country back. Those conflicts subsided during Indias rapid economic growth, but many Indians now fear a resurgence.

Both the publications, however, mentioned that mixing politics with religion is going to hurt PM Narendra Modi's vision of development.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on 6 February, 2016. It is being republished in view of 23 January being Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. Firstpost had carried a lengthy exploration of the meaning Subhas Chandra Bose holds to Indians. Given the polarised views such an inquiry normally elicits, we received censure and praise in equal measure. One email was of particular interest, rendered thus by the scholarly nature of its contents, and the measured arguments it offered. We invited the author of the message, Saswati Sarkar, to present a counter to the piece in question. She sent us a response of impressive length and erudition, co-authored by Shanmukh and Dikgaj. Firstpost will reproduce it in two parts, over two days, beginning with this one. This is the second segment of that repartee. The first one is available here.

We have not busted all the myths concerning Subhas Bose, but only a subset of them, in particular those that have appeared in Firstpost, The abuse of Indian history: Obsession over Subhas Chandra Bose indicates that India suffers from a paucity of heroes by Rajeev Srinivasan, which has sought to propagate the same without a single evidence based on primary source, including Boses own writings, or contemporary history. We now examine the arguments put forward by Rajeev Srinivasan in support of the myths in question, which would in turn drive home much that is wrong in recent efforts in "popular narration of history". The arguments are worth analysing because we have been told (on social media) that Srinivasan is a long-time blogger, "the original Internet-Hindu" who has written extensively on contemporary issues from the right wing perspective. In the course of this analysis, it would then emerge how many in the right wing space slavishly emulate the vices of the contributors of persuasions in the other extreme, the left.

We first reproduce the arguments in Rajeev Srinivasan's article verbatim:

1. "Was he (Bose) a leftist? Yes, definitely. The party he formed, the All-India Forward Bloc, is totally leftist. If you look at his family (other than his German wife and daughter) the better-known ones are lunatic-fringe leftists. Of course, he's not responsible for them, and, to be charitable, Indian leftism then wasn't Stalinism yet, it was mostly anti-imperialistic; but he definitely was a leftist." Bose was indeed a leftist, but for reasons entirely different from those that Srinivasan gives. To the author, the evidence that Bose was leftist, does not come from Boses writings, speeches, but from the observation the party he formed ``is totally leftist and the ``lunatic-fringe leftism of visible faces in Boses extended family. To start with, the most insignificant point, is one of Boses grand-nephews Chandra Bose recently joined BJP, in presence of its president Amit Shah. Its unclear if the BJP president welcomes ``lunatic-fringe leftists or lesser-known ones of the Bose family, or the induction itself has cured Shri Chandra Bose of lunatic-fringe leftism. More pertinent points here are political parties often assume the persona of the leader, the Congress led by Lal-Bal-Pal substantially differed from that led by Gandhi in its relation to British, which then defined Congress party, similarly, the Congress government during the regime of Sonia Gandhi-Manmohan Singh substantially diverged from that during the regime of PV Narsimha Rao in its social and fiscal policies. Is it appropriate to deduce the inclinations of Lal-Bal-Pal from that of Gandhi, or Narsimha Rao from those of (the later de-facto PM) Sonia Gandhi?

Also, as we had pointed out Bose had not formed Forward Bloc as even a socialist party, but as an anti-imperialist one. Next, as to deductions on Boses politics based on that of his descendants, it is pertinent to note that Boses father, Janaki Nath Bose, had become a Rai Bahadur in the British regime, a title that was bestowed only on loyalists. So, can we infer that Janaki Nath Bose was an anti-imperialist based on the turn that his famous son took. Examples of similar divergences in political persuasions of family members abound. Nirmal Chandra Chatterjee, served as a President of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, and was a close associate and party colleague of Shyamaprasad Mookerjee, the founder of BJS, a precursor of BJP. Yet, an offspring of Nirmal Chandra Chatterjee, became a renowned Marxist, who opposed Hindutva in all its forms  Somnath Chatterjee  a former speaker of Lok Sabha. By the deductive logic Srinivasan, Nirmal Chandra Chatterjee, and by association Shyamaprasad Mookerjee, would be a ``definite leftist.

Closer to our times, Rajiv Shukla, a brother in law of the current NDA central minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, is a top Congress leader. So, by the same deductive logic. Rajiv Shukla is completely BJP, or Ravi Shankar Prasad is a sworn Congressman. Similarly, celebrated RW ideologue Arun Shourie, becomes a Congress man because of the persuasions of his brother in law, Suman Dubey. Last but not the least, since Maneka Gandhi has been a minister in successive NDA governments and Varun Gandhi has been a BJP MP several times, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Rahul Gandhis are BJP leaders, in reality  implying that Bharat is already Congress Mukt, retroactively, for several years now.

2. "Was he (Bose) a Hindu patriot? I doubt it. He was a leftist and a socialist, which was fashionable at the time, and he may have actually believed in it. He may also have been an atheist. He may have tried to appease Hindu sentiment to unite all Indians to fight against the British. (Rajeev Srinivasan) We have clearly seen that Bose was not an atheist in his personal faith, unless he was repeatedly lying about his faith in his personal letters to his close family members and his life-long (apolitical) friends, which were not written for public consumption. The author has either conjectured without perusing these letters that are available in public domain, or have bought into the latter (fraudulent conduct of Bose with his family and friends) without citing any reason for doing so. The first is textbook ignorance, while the second is bigotry. In the authors world, a ``leftist and a socialist is disqualified from being a Hindu patriot. Since socialism is considered to be leftism worldwide, and Bose had characterized himself to be a socialist, the operative word ought to be the latter. Unlike communism, socialism makes no statement on religion, so again unclear why being a socialist disqualifies one from being a Hindu patriot. In one stroke of his pen, the author has divested socialists like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, B S Moonje, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee of the honor of being called a Hindu patriot. Thus, in the world view of Anuj Dhar (read the article here), all that they did to protect Hindu interests would be attempts to appease Hindu sentiments possibly for objectives other than for fighting for Indian freedom.

"Did he (Bose) appease Muslims? Possibly. His excessive use of Urdu, even in all the forms used by the INA, and in the very words 'Azad Hind Fauj' and 'Ittefaq, Etemad, Qurbani' suggests this. He wanted the Muslims of what are now Pakistan and Bangladesh to support his struggle. There is a suggestion that the INA flag had a leaping tiger (instead of the Congress charkha) as a nod to Tipu. Besides, it is standard leftist behavior everywhere to be extra solicitous of Muslims (Rajeev Srinivasan) First, Bose was using Hindustani, not Urdu, and by the authors logic Patel, Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad and fierce Hindu nationalists like Lala Har Dayal who had seeded the Ghadar revolution, Arya Samajis who sought to convert Muslims, Pandit Lekhram who had contested the theology of Islam and was murdered for doing the same, were all appeasing Muslims through their usage of Hindustani and/or Urdu. Second, the author is factually incorrect in proclaiming that it is a standard leftist behavior everywhere to be extra solicitous of Muslims. For example, Stalin had crushed both the Chechens and the Crimean Tartars ruthlessly, when they opposed his collectivisation and/or collaborated with the Nazis. Similarly, during the revolt against the Nizam of Hyderabad, a considerable amount of resistance, especially in the initial stages, against Nizami atrocities came from the Communists allied with the Andhra Mahasabha. Finally, the way in which the erstwhile USSR dealt with the Hezbollah in 1985, during the kidnapping of the Soviet embassy workers, was exceptionally ruthless. The authors statement is true in the current Indian context, but is not substantiated worldwide and at all times (including in India). Third, the author does not bother to inform his readers who suggested that the leaping tiger of the INA flag was a nod to Tipu, but we will trace a possible source. What however the conjecture reflects is an acute bigotry whereby adoption of an ancient Indic symbol of valor will imply appeasement of Muslims only because that symbol (albeit in a different form) was usurped by a ruler who the author dislikes (with good reasons in this case). In the authors world, Hinduism must be defined, not by its intrinsic values, but by negation of those who opposed it.

3. "Did he (Bose) try to appeal to South Indians? Apparently not. Despite the irony that a large part of the INA that marched with him to India were Tamils from Southeast Asia (some of whom had never even been in India), he didn't feel the need to indulge them, even though all the Urdu would have been completely meaningless to them." As we have shown, Azad Hind publicity, including all the momentous declarations, were simultaneously made in Hindustani and Tamil, something that no Indian government has done till date. This accusation is therefore again a product of ignorance or bigotry.

4. "So, on balance, we need to deconstruct Bose carefully. In fact, to be cynical, I'd say that the principal value of Bose today is as a stick to beat the Nehruvian Stalinists with; the latter do have reason to be embarrassed. There are those who do not understand this, and indulge in absurd hero-worship. One possible reason is Bengali chauvinism. I was reminded of this when I had a brief Twitter argument with one Saswati Sarkar, a Bengali-American professor. Well, 'argument' is the wrong word, because she attacked me; I was polite, but she kept abusing me till I finally gave up in disgust. Sarkar's contention was that I was 'ignorant' and 'bigoted'. Ok, fine. She had written a very long essay on the Durga Puja where she quoted a few writings by Bose, and my crime was that I had not read it. But I did read it, and it did not change my mind. (Rajeev Srinivasan) We contend that a careful evaluation of all historical figures is of essence to get Indian history right, regardless of whether the truth glorifies or delegitimizes any historical figure, or any part of the polity, including the ``Nehruvian Stalinists. And that needs to be done using relevant primary sources and other documentation while scrupulously identifying the source of each. It is only a contempt for history as a scholarly discipline that sees the value of such rigorous studies in who it might embarrass. What if part of the truth that emerges is different from what one expects, and exonerate the ``Nehruvian Stalinists (albeit unlikely)? Should those parts be concealed then just as a lot of Indian history has been concealed from Indians by the ``Nehruvian Stalinists? Is the author seeking to replace one set ``distortians by another? Incidentally, BJPs political opponents like Nitish Kumar have been ascribing similar motive to BJPs declassification drive that the author believes is the principal value of Bose today. Nitish Kumar has said: ``The BJP whose leaders had no role in the Independence movement are basically interested in creating conflict between different ideologies for political gains. PM Modi has of course publicly asserted that a nation that does not know its true history, does not make one, and getting national history right is what the goal of studying Bose or any other icon ought to be.

As a point of fact, we had asked the author to read primary sources on Netaji before arriving at conclusions on him, our articles on Durga Puja is certainly not a primary source on Bose, but reproduces some of the primary content and could be used for the parts reproduced. If the author felt it important enough to cite our interactions with him, we would have hoped that he would have reported the same accurately:

Since the author refers to interactions with us, and mentions writings by Bose that we had reproduced that didnt change his mind, it would have been proper to reproduce the same or at least cite the articles so that the reader can decide for himself (a standard scholarly practice which deconstructions of value must follow). Next, the author brings in the ethnicity of one in our team, none of us have discussed our ethnicities with him, we take it that he has discovered the same owing to particular interests he takes in us. Incidentally, the phrase Bengali-American commonly denotes ``Americans of Bengali origin  for the sake of factual accuracy, the author should have pursued his interests in us to verify the nationality of the individual in question. But, the bigger issue here is the attempt to delegitimize arguments that contest his position by bringing in identities. If a support of Boses position by one who shares his ethnicity, becomes ethnic chauvinism, it would be legitimate to contend that the authors defense of Hindu interests, as he is supposed to have done in his blogs (based on tweets to us on him), is owing to Hindu supremacy or Hindu chauvinism, if he happens to be a Hindu which we have not sought to ascertain. Is his (now invalidated) concern that Bose has not reached out to South Indians also driven by the authors ethnic identity, if that happens to be South Indian? What the author needs to note is that Bose appealed to Indians of all ethnicities, he had strong support among the masses throughout India, particularly in Bengal, Madras Presidency, Punjab, rural united provinces, and had influential detractors in each of the above (Gandhian wing of the Provincial Congresses in each of these as also wealthy businessmen). The activists of Mission Netaji who are seeking to do justice to his legacy by uncovering the truth of his disappearance comprise of diverse ethnicities.

The concluding part of Srinivasan's The abuse of Indian history: Obsession over Subhas Chandra Bose indicates that India suffers from a paucity of heroes, as also the authors tweets actually explain where the authors conclusions are stemming from  intense reaction to buzzwords that he is phobic of  the words ``left and ``Urdu:

1) "If you are a committed leftist, by definition you are converted to that pseudo-religion, and you can no longer be a Hindu: I see daily the gyrations of communists in Kerala to pretend to be Hindus (especially now that they are concerned about losing the Hindu vote). What she quotes could well have been cynical and calculated for effect. (Rajeev Srinivasan)

We first examine if Bose's "Hindutva" statements/stances in Srinivasan's article can be dismissed on the assumption that he was doing it cynically and insincerely just as a manipulation tool to gather Hindu "sympathy". The logical fallacy with this line is that the hunger strikes where we find his statements were inside a British jail (Myth III), often far away (in Mandalay, Burma) from his native country of Hindu majority, surrounded by a largely non-Hindu (Buddhist) population outside the jail. His jailers were primarily British and hostile to Hindu feelings or interests, so internally where the British jail has full powers over him and his fellow Hindu detainees - raising the standard of Hindutva was unlikely to draw any sympathy or have any psychological pressure on the jailers. In the country where the jail was located there was a largely Buddhist population with, at that stage, still substantial but minority Hindu immigrant population, and thus regional-ethinic/national sentiments were unlikely to be aroused there either. Besides, when Bose issued these statements he would not have known if these would ever reach the outside world, or reach India, owing to British censorship, and if they did reach it would be after a substantial delay. Other than such public stances in jails, many of his statements of faiths were expressed in private letters to close family and friends which were not meant for public consumption at that stage. Hence wider social impact of his Hindutva call in these situations would have no "cynical/manipulative" value. If making personal belief statements along Hindu traditions is rendered cynical, politically manipulative insincere statements simply because in practical political steps the owner of the voice has apparently allied with Muslim groups in concrete political institutional framework - then both Shyamprasad Mookerjee and Veer Savarkar were insincere Hindus, since both justified their collaboration and participation in Muslim majority provincial governments as having benefited Hindus, all the while some of these governments were implementing discriminatory and repressive measure on Hindus, and the leaders of such Muslim groups having sponsored or promoted some of the worst perpetrators of anti-Hindu violence of the future. Since the collaborations and subsequent pogroms by Muslims happened within a very short span of 2-3 years, the allegation of cynical manipulation for Hindu sentiments would become applicable to the two acknowledged icons of Hindutva too.

As to the above statements in Srinivasan's article on left, the author does not know or does not care that that leftism encompasses several substantially different schools of thought, e.g., communism, socialism, anti-imperialism etc. One of these, that is communism does indeed come close to an organized religion, and so a confirmed communist may in theory be considered to be a convert from Hinduism, particularly as communism has denounced religion as a whole. In practice, most communists, junior level cadres and several leaders of Communist parties practice their respective religions including Hinduism. The author certainly does not have the mandate to define who is a Hindu, in fact one strength of Hinduism is that no one owns it and has the authority to excommunicate anyone else. But, that apart, there is some theoretical justification of considering a communist as a convert from Hinduism. But there is none whatsoever for considering socialists and anti-imperialists the same, the schools that Bose and many other leftists all over the world belong to. There is also no justification for equating leftism to communism (nor capitalism to Hinduism for that matter). It is only an ignorant and a bigoted mind that sees a socialist or an anti-imperialist as one who has converted out of Hinduism, and dismisses on that count the supposed converts defense of Hindu interest as cynical and calculated acts of appeasements:

Lastly, it is unclear to us if the author knows how closely he is emulating those members of the extended Bose family who he calls ``lunatic-left fringe  Sugata Bose. Sugata Bose posits that Netaji had died in an air crash in August, 1945, and dismisses contrary conclusions invoking ethnic identities as appropriate. An enquiry commission led by Justice Mukherjee, former Supreme Court judge, has negated the air crash theory altogether. As mission Netaji activist Chandrachur Ghose observes, ``Instead of making an effort to logically disprove Justice Mukherjees findings, he begins by calling him a retired Bengali judge, trying to give this issue a regional colour. Sugata Bose is more sophisticated in that unlike Rajeev Srinivasan, he does not explicitly accuse Justice Mukherjee of Bengali chauvinism, but does in effect insinuate the same. Not merely replicating Sugata Boses identity arguments, Srinivasan also echoes Sugata Boses opinions, knowingly or unknowingly, but without attribution. We reproduce Sugata Boses writing here: ``The Azad Hind government inculcated this spirit of unity with a subtle sense of purpose. ``Jai Hind! - ``victory to India  was chosen from the very outset as the common greeting or salutation when Indians met one another. Hindustani, a mixture of Hindi and Urdu written in the Roman script, became the national language; but given the large south Indian presence, translations into Tamil was provided at all public meetings. Even the proclamation of the Azad Hind government was read in Hindustani, Tamil, and English. A simple Hindustani translation of Rabindranath Tagores song ``Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak Jai He became the national anthem. A springing tiger, evoking Tipu Sultan of Mysores gallant resistance against the British, featured as the emblem on the tricolor shoulder-pieces on uniforms. Gandhis charkha continued to adorn the center of the tricolor flags that INA soldiers were to carry on their march toward Delhi. Three Urdu words  Itmad (Faith), Ittefaq (Unity), and Kurbani (Sacrifice)  encapsulated the motto of the Azad Hind movement. location 3424-3431, Kindle edition. The entire paragraph has one reference at the end  pp. 166-168 of [32], which states ``the Tiger will be Indias national emblem without giving any reason whatsoever for such a choice. So that the statement that the tiger was chosen to evoke Tipu Sultans resistance against the British is at this point an unsubstantiated opinion of the supposed ``loony-leftist fringe Sugata Bose; Srinivasan dutifully replicates the same opinion without citing any source, nor questioning the source that the author got it from. This then is the tragedy of the right wingers like Srinivasan, they despise the left for usurping all academic resources of the Indian nation, without ever pondering why the right could not build right-inclined intellectual institutions in the states they governed for substantial durations  but more they despise, more they seek to emulate those they despise  in all their vices, their hatred, bigotry and distortions in the name of scholarship. Who says the right-left twain can not meet  what is in a name after all?
New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday held deliberations with the party's Uttar Pradesh leaders as he seeks to firm up the electoral strategy for the politically crucial state, which goes to the polls early next year.

The party is yet to announce its state unit president as it grapples with the challenge of identifying a suitable candidate for the job.

Shah deliberated on several issues in his meeting with the core group of state leaders, including UP party chief Laxmikant Bajpai, whose term in the post had ended in mid-December, and Om Prakash Mathur, party sources said.

Shah is meeting party leaders from states where assembly polls are due next year. He had met Punjab BJP leaders on Saturday and will meet those from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the coming days.

UP holds the key to BJP's fortunes as its stupendous performance in 2014 Lok Sabha election paved the way for it to form its first majority government at the centre.

SP and BSP have recovered ground after being swept aside by the 'Modi wave' in 2014, making the assembly polls a tough battle.

PTI
A Facebook post with a hash tag #ironiesofIndia posted by The Indian Feed has a quote superimposed on a mug shot of Hardik Patel, who agitated for reservations for Patels or Patidars in Gujarat, that caught my attention. It sounded interesting, if not derisive. The quote was: India is the only country where people fight to be called backward.

While the agitation for inclusion of Kapus among the backward classes (BCs) has hit the headlines once again in Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party Government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu is caught in a bind. It is common knowledge that their inclusion in the BC list and providing them reservation cannot be done overnight. There is a well laid-down procedure by the governments and courts of law for fulfilling such demands.

Though Naidu is personally making a concerted effort in explaining to the people the procedural and legal intricacies involved in accomplishing one of his much-touted election promises  Kapu reservations  his unabated attempt to blame it on his bete noire and Leader of the Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy by holding the latter responsible for the unreasonable and violent agitation is not cutting much ice with the people. On 31 January, a train was reduced to ashes, amid the serene and otherwise cool and lush green paddy fields in the prosperous East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

While the Kapu agitation and the response from the government are completely political, the demand for the inclusion of Kapus in the list of BCs is an age-old one. It has a historic background, too.

Mudragada reclaiming lost ground

Former minister Mudragada Padmanabham, who espoused the cause of the Kapu community and launched an indefinite hunger strike on Friday morning at his residence in Kirlampudi village in East Godavari district, wants to assert his position in the community. This is the sixth time he is starting an indefinite fast since 1988.

He said there were only two demands for which the community is agitating: 1. Inclusion of Kapus in the list of BCs; 2. Grant of Rs 1,000 crore for the Kapu Corporation a year for two consecutive years.

But the inherent intent of Mudragada must have been to regain his lost ground. This agitation may not just be brushed aside as a comeback trail by Padmanabham, who with the backing of his community that enjoys the largest vote share (nearly 25 per cent) in Andhra Pradesh, may be eyeing a bigger target in the next elections. He was replaced by actor Chiranjeevi in 2009 and the actors younger brother Pawan Kalyan, who is also a tinsel town star, in 2014.

After all, Padmanabham was an MLA four times and a minister in the N T Rama Rao Cabinet twice and an MP from Kakinada (TDP) between 1999 and 2004. He was seen as the icon and champion of the community a few years ago. This is not the first time that Padmanabham, a maverick leader whose decisions are highly volatile, hogged the limelight by taking up the Kapu agitation. His hunger strike in 1993 led to the issuance of a Government Order (G.O. Ms No 30) by then Congress Chief Minister Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy. This GO included Kapus in the list of BCs.

History of Kapus as BCs traces back to 1919

In fact, Kapus were recognised as part of the BCs under the Montague Chelmsford reforms of 1919. BR Ambedkar and Kaka Kalekar Committee recognised them as BCs. They enjoyed BC status up to 1956 until the Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy government derecognised them from the BC list. However, Kapus were included in the BC list in 1961 by the then chief minister Damodaram Sanjeevaiah through a GO 3250, but in 1966 they were once again derecognised.

Since then, Kapus continued as an upper caste community. However, some castes like Munnur Kapu, Turpu Kapu and a few others have been enjoying the status of BCs. Though the Kapu Reservation Porata Samithi took up an agitation and the GO 30 was passed, it could not be implemented for two reasons: 1. It had not classified whether the Telaga, Kapu, Balija and Ontari castes had been included in the A, B, C or D categories of BCs; 2. The BC Welfare Committee approached the court and the issue remained mired in legalities.

Mudragada can precipitate the matter. Whether there is an intent or not, the surprise call to squat on National Highway No. 5 and the Kolkata-Chennai railway line on 31 January led to burning of the train and saw vehicles coming to a grinding halt for several kilometres.

Mudragadas hunger strike in 2005 demanding the BC status for Kapus had given some embarrassing moments to Chandrababu Naidu who had gone to call on him in Kirlampudi in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition. Mudragada had showed him the door without even demonstrating the courtesy of ushering him into his house.

Last ditch efforts

While kicking off the hunger strike on Friday, Mudragada made it clear that his intent was only to fight for justice for Kapus and he was ready to call off his agitation, if the government could come forth to reduce the timeline for the conduct of socio-economic survey from nine months to four months.

Telugu Desam MLAs Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and Thota Trimurthulu, and MLC Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao tried to use their good offices till Thursday, to persuade Mudragada to call off the hunger strike. Though the Kapu leader was willing to budge, he insisted on the Government coming forth to concede his demands.

Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa, who got the post by virtue of being a Kapu, has said that the government is ready to include Kapus in BC list and enhance funds to the Kapu Corporation. He has appealed to Mudragada not to precipitate the matter and remain calm and give the government an opportunity to fulfil its commitment. He, however, isnt ready for negotiations or talks with the agitating leader.

Naidu has been alleging that Mudragada and YS Jagan are on the same wavelength and that he has been trying to ensure that benefits given to Kapus must stand legal scrutiny, for which he needs time to complete the procedure.

YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy has said that the Government can adopt the Tamil Nadu model of 69 percent of reservations to accommodate Kapus among the list of BCs without meting out any injustice to the list of communities in the existing list of BCs.

Legal rigmarole

The entire activity has a legal rigmarole to pass through before the demands can be taken to a logical conclusion.

Justice Dalava Subrahmanyam, who had headed the BC Commission in undivided Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2011, said that a comprehensive socio-economic survey would be required to assess the quantum of percentage of reservation based on the percentage of needy people. This is how Tamil Nadu accorded 69 percent of reservations. Even for including Kapus and other communities in the BC list, a socio-economic survey of the communities needed to be completed. Only then the issues of inclusion and of widening the base of the reservations (in percentage terms) can be taken up.

Just because someone has launched a hunger strike, a few communities cannot be included in the list of BCs. These communities have applied for their inclusion in the BC list. They had applied before Justice KS Putta Swamy Commission and they set a timeline for the commission to fulfil their demand. Judicial commissions have a constitutional obligation and procedures to fulfil. Their recommendations to the government should have a legal and scientific basis. So, the commissions work accordingly, Justice Subrahmanyam pointed out.

Meanwhile, the AP government has appointed Justice Manjunatha to head the BC Commission. The government is trying to set a deadline for the commission to complete the socio-economic survey for ensuring Kapu reservations.

However, Justice Manjunatha said that the BC Commission headed by him would not confine itself to Kapu reservations alone. It was a BC Commission, he asserted. And, the other members of the Commission have yet to be appointed. He met the chief minister and also a six-member cabinet sub-committee, consisting of three Kapus and three BCs, on Thursday.

Justice Manjunatha feels that it is not as easy as it is being talked about. The procedures take a very long time and the state government has yet to issue the terms of reference to the commission. He said that he was ready to start work, provided the government could provide clarity on what exactly it wanted from the Commission within the constitutional framework.

Chandrababu to blame

The last president of undivided Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Botcha Satyanarayana, who is currently sailing with YSR Congress, said that Kapu reservations, by including them in the BC list, was a commitment given by the Telugu Desam Party. Every party, including the YSRC, put this in their election manifestos. But apart from waiver of farm loans and DWCRA loans, the next big assurance of the TDP was Kapu reservations, he said.

Botcha hauled Naidus government over the coals for trying to blame others for its failures. There were set Constitutional procedures, but the government did not seem to commence any activity in that direction of fluffing its poll promise, hence the agitation, said the YSRC leader. He alleged that the TDP was trying to derive political mileage by creating a rift between BCs and Kapus, like it had done between malas and madigas through SC reservations.

Former Congress minister and senior Kapu leader Kanna Lakshminarayana, who is now with the BJP, said that it was wrong to throw the blame on the courts of law saying that the courts would strike down the reservations to Kapus. He pointed out that successive governments did not follow the procedures to legitimately accord BC status and provide reservations to Kapus, which has close to 100 years of history.

Whether or not Mudragada Padmanabhams attempt this time leads to the government fulfilling its poll promise, he is sure to regain lost political ground and be successful in his attempt to become politically relevant again.
Ottawa: One hundred days after Justin Trudeau's Liberal government was sworn in, the still-popular Canadian prime minister faces mounting criticism, against the backdrop of a floundering economy and terror fears.

The 44-year-old Trudeau  a former schoolteacher and the son of a popular prime minister  immediately saw his international profile rise upon taking office on 4 November 2015, and he still enjoys strong support at home.

He has touted a multilateral foreign policy, and a more transparent governing style than his predecessor Stephen Harper, who was seen as prickly, awkward and more at home plowing through economic theory than glad-handing voters.

"Canada is back!" the youthful-looking prime minister with a broad smile, a twinkle in his eye and a thick mop of curls told world leaders at summits, looking to recast the image of the world's fifth-largest oil producer from climate laggard to environmental champion.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon is expected to praise Canada's shift in a visit to Ottawa on Thursday.

The economy, however, has cast a pall over Trudeau's self-professed "sunny ways."

Canada emerged from a mild recession in September in the middle of the election campaign, but consumer confidence soon faded as oil prices and the Canadian dollar sank to new recent lows, leading to thousands of job losses in the country's oil and gas sector.

Attacks in Jakarta and in Burkina Faso in January that left seven Canadians dead, meanwhile, raised fresh security concerns.

The new government was forced to backpedal on its pledge to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 and on its fiscal plans, while taking heat over its climate and counterterrorism strategies.

In parliament, opposition leader Rona Ambrose accused the government of "stepping back from the fight (against the Islamic State group) when our allies are stepping up."

"The reality is that when we talk about Canada's new approach to fighting Islamic State, Canada is not back, Canada is backing away," she said.

The husband of a Quebec woman shot dead by Islamist gunmen last month in Burkina Faso hung up on Trudeau when he called to offer condolences, while criticizing the prime minister's dovish world view in the local press.

AFP
As to Kim Beazley, who has just returned from six years as our man in Washington, TFF dined with him and our wives on Tuesday at Machiavelli and he is in fine form, considering his next step. At 67 he has declined an approach from several people in WA to re-enter federal politics, and will put his considerable energies into academe, various boards, and perhaps, the speaking circuit. His major passion remains the Australian-American alliance. The equaliser Too long for quotes, but too strong to leave out, here is Senator Penny Wong, in an essay on how Australia's attitudes towards gay marriage and gay parents have changed for the better. "I can sense change ... in the thoughtful messages my partner, Sophie, and I received on the birth of our daughters; in the kindness of strangers stopping me in the street to ask after our family; in the attitudes of a man in work gear, extending a calloused hand, telling me how wonderful it is to be a parent, and a woman in the market handing our four-year old another biscotti ..." She also took direct aim, however, at those who still don't get it.

"The 'think of the children' argument is among the most hurtful in the marriage equality debate. It posits that gay and lesbian relationships harm children, that gay and lesbian parents are bad parents." Bravo. They said it... "I went off the rails." Nene King, giving evidence in the County Court trial of her former friend, Colin Hahne, who she accuses of taking more than $40,000 from her in 2009, about her life after her husband was killed.

"Sending 90 children to dangers of Nauru is child abuse. This is a big test for Malcolm Turnbull, will he authorise it or do the right thing?" Tweet from Senator Sarah Hanson-Young about the refugees, including babies and children, being sent back to Nauru. "That is this huge cloud hanging over him. That he will be returned to an absolutely traumatic and devastating environment for him." Paediatrician Karen Zwi, risking prison time to reveal the traumatic case of a five-year-old boy threatened with being sent back to Nauru, where his alleged rapist is still being held. "We hardly ever see young children and adolescents so traumatised by life that they would want to take their own life. But in Nauru and in detention centres where kids have been kept, sometimes for most of their life, we see very young children who just can't take it any more and try to kill themselves or wanting to hurt themselves, or saying things like, 'I may as well just jump off the roof'."

Paediatrician Hasantha Gunasekera, also in contravention of the Border Force Act, which stipulates that anyone working in an immigration facility faces up to two years imprisonment for publicly revealing the goings on inside the centres. "Quite frankly, I was shocked and surprised." Sussan Ley, Minister for Sports, about finding out that in many sports, female athletes travel economy class and stay in lower cost accommodation than male athletes, who travel in business class. "[A double-dissolution is a] live option." Malcolm Turnbull to Coalition MPs.

"And the Prime Minister is considering a double disillusion . . ." The admirable Carrie Bickmore, on The Project. "You know, if it gets a little boring, if I see people starting to sort of, maybe thinking about leaving, I can sort of tell the audience, I just say, 'We will build the wall!' and they go nuts!" Donald Trump on what gets his supporters going. "He's on a horse that's bolted and he might need to perform an awkward dismount."

A Liberal MP, feeling that Scott Morrison is stuck on increasing the GST and will have to back down soon. "Many of us are at the end of our tether as a result of what seems like the government's intention to send children to Nauru. So we're reinventing, or rediscovering, or reintroducing, the ancient concept of sanctuary as a last-ditch effort to offer some sense of hope to those who must be feeling incredibly hopeless." The Anglican Dean of Brisbane, the Reverend Dr Peter Catt, saying he was opening up St John's Cathedral in Brisbane to the asylum seekers faced with being sent back to Nauru this week. "Let's drop the bull shit not allowing deaths at sea = compassion. Slowly driving refugees to insanity and suicide also = compassion. OMG" Veteran political journalist Paul Bongiorno tweets.
All senate seats are up for grabs in a double-D, meaning the quota to get elected is halved. That makes it exactly half as difficult for Madigan, the slow-talking former blacksmith, to get re-elected in that scenario. In any case, Glen Lazarus, Jacquie Lambie, Ricky Muir and Nick Xenophon  the other critical missing votes for the government on the building watchdog  all called the PM's bluff on an early poll, inviting him to "bring it on". Turnbull's backfiring popgun on the ABCC was emblematic of a week in which the sunshine and "agility" agenda of 2015 was mugged by the much larger issues that will dominate election year 2016. Turnbull was still talking up the "frontiers of change" and "brilliant young men and women coming up with new applications" in response to his first question time Dorothy Dixers. But when pushed sideways on to the more dangerous terrain of tax reform and education funding, Mr Agility appeared to have a bit of concrete in the boots.

It must be tough for Turnbull to dismiss the landmark work into educational equity of his best mate and neighbour, David Gonski, to side with Tony Abbott. But that's exactly where Turnbull found himself in responding to Labor's election promise to fully fund the Gonski reforms, aping Abbott's past lines in question time that the Coalition is actually increasing schools funding. In case anyone was taking him seriously, Labor's Ed Husic noted from across the chamber: "You just plagiarised Abbott". Tony Burke later asked Turnbull to "table Tony Abbott's speaking notes he was reading from". All polling shows Bill Shorten is not even in the race in the head-to-head leader's battle and Labor MPs expect another term in opposition, but the education debate of last week delivered a rare glimmer of hope to them that Turnbull has vulnerabilities on election-deciding issues like education where the rebadged Coalition has little else to offer than the Abbott government's position. This was reinforced in a mood-boosting speech to the ALP caucus by Kim Beazley on Wednesday night at a private dinner function held at Canberra's National Press Club.

In an off-the-record address, the former Labor leader and Australia's returning Washington Ambassador spoke of the gloomy view average Americans have of their futures due to the threadbare social safety net available to them in the US if they stumble in life. Beazley urged the caucus to ignore the popularity and salesmanship of Turnbull and concentrate on the core issues like education and the GST. The tax debate is another area where Turnbull, under increasing pressure from his own backbench, looks increasingly unlikely to be able to deliver on expectations a significant reform package like a higher GST and income tax cuts. On Friday, the PM was still insisting that having "everything on the table" was positive for the nation but he and Treasurer Scott Morrison appear to have already gone round and round the table and could land back at the start without any change to the GST and income tax cuts. If backbench pressure results in a much less spectacular tax policy  likely with superannuation tax changes at its heart  as Turnbull's big election centrepiece, he could be left fighting a perception his action did not match the grand talk he arrived with as leader.
Rose Byrne has given birth to a baby boy, Rocco.

The Australian actor and her partner Bobby Cannavale welcomed their first child together on February 1, Cannavale confirmed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Byrne and Cannavale have been dating for three years and now have a baby boy. Credit:Getty Images

"I had a baby on Monday, yes," the Vinyl star told Colbert on Friday night (New York Time).

"You know, I didn't do anything. We [fathers] don't do anything and I'm so tired. I think I've gained 28 pounds since Monday," he joked.
Those are the words of Geoff Thorn, President of the Australian Window Cleaning Federation. You name it, it seems window cleaners have seen it and for good reason it is a trade that has earned the reputation for more than its share of 'wink, wink, know what I mean' humour.

The lyrics in one version included the lines: 'Now lots of girls I've had to jilt, For they admire the way I'm built, It's a good job I don't wear a kilt, When I'm cleaning windows!" No wonder the BBC banned it from the nation's airwaves with director John Reith dismissing it as a 'disgusting little ditty'.

But is the reputation still justified? Definitely if Ryan of Ryan's Window Cleaning is anything to go by. It is relevant to know he is 32 and single.

"Recently I was working a big home up in Vaucluse," he said. "It was one of those warm days the week before last. I was dripping in sweat. When it was time to pay the lady came over to me. All she could do was look at my chest," he said.

"She said would you like to go for a swim in the pool? I thought why is this woman flirting with me? I had met her husband. I said I needed to get home. She said: 'No, no, go for a swim.' I went for a quick dip and I noticed she kept looking out through the lounge windows."

Another time, Ryan recalled, he was in a house near Parramatta on the water and the woman was there by herself. I'd been there for an hour or two and I was doing the inside of the windows in her bedroom. She came in and sat down on the bed and said: 'Ryan, do you do any services other than window cleaning?'
A mother of five who was allegedly stabbed by her fiance had been the subject of many apprehended domestic violence orders dating back to the 1990s, including one that was taken out two weeks before her death.

This week those orders failed to protect Sharon Louise Michelutti when her partner, Gavin Debeyer, allegedly stabbed her in the chest at their home in Sydney's south-west.

He is allegedly one of thousands of men in NSW who continue to turn a blind eye to the law and breach the ADVOs taken out against them.

Mr Debeyer, 50, was arrested not far from the Riverwood home where his partner's lifeless body was found in a bedroom just after midday on Monday.
Australian woman Jocelyn Elliott has been freed, more than three weeks after she and her surgeon husband Ken were kidnapped in Burkina Faso by al-Qaeda militants.

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou presented Mrs Elliott to journalists at a news conference in Dosso, in southwestern Niger, and said authorities were intensifying efforts to secure Dr Elliott's release.

The couple, who have worked in Burkina Faso for more than 40 years, have three children. On Sunday the Elliotts' family released a statement saying they were "deeply grateful for the safe release of our mother Jocelyn".
A Reuters/Ipsos poll at the weekend suggested that 41 per cent of Americans who were aware of the Zika virus would be less likely to travel to Latin America or the Caribbean as a result. Daniele da Silva, who is seven months pregnant, is photographed in Recife, Brazil. Ms Da Silva had Chikungunya a few months ago. Mosquitoes are a vector for both Zika and Chikungunya. Credit:AP Experts called in to tackle the virus Dr Dobyns has spent 30 years researching and treating microcephaly, a condition defined by abnormally small heads in newborns that can lead to developmental disabilities, from mild to severe. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sought out his expertise to help understand the unfolding epidemic. It's Carnival time in Brazil, where officials say as many as 100,000 people may have already been exposed to the Zika virus. Credit:Mario Tama

With a small group of geneticists and other microcephaly specialists, he recently reviewed scans of a handful of babies sent by a colleague in Brazil. All the experts were struck by the scale of malformations, he said. "These children have a very severe form of microcephaly," Dr Dobyns said. "The brain is not just small, it's small with malformations of the cerebral cortex and calcifications. It has the appearance of a very severe, destructive injury to the brain." Particularly alarming, Dr Dobyns said, is the presence in the Brazilian cases of excess spinal fluid between the brain and skull of the babies. "If the brain is growing and then suddenly shrinks, then you'll see fluid between the brain and skull," he said. "It has a pattern that suggests that the brain has actually decreased in size."

Dr Leonardo Vedolin, a neuroradiologist and researcher at the Moinhos de Vento hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, has shared with Dr Dobyns the scans of two more microcephalic babies. The doctors belong to a brain defects study group that convenes via videoconference each month. The group is now focused on Zika. Neither Vedolin nor Brazil's Health Ministry were able to provide a breakdown on the severity of confirmed microcephaly cases. In general, Vedolin said, 5 per cent of microcephaly cases are severe. But the proportion appears greater among the cases in Brazil, he said. The caseload Public health officials in Brazil are investigating more than 4,000 cases of suspected microcephaly, and have confirmed more than 400. Prior to the Zika outbreak, Brazil saw on average 163 cases annually of microcephaly over the past five years, according to WHO. In 17 of the new cases, the presence of Zika was identified in the mother or the baby.

A study of 35 Brazilian babies born with microcephaly during the Zika outbreak reported by the CDC January 29 added strength to the suspected connection. The mothers of all 35 infants had lived in or visited Zika virus-affected areas during pregnancy, the report said. Twenty-five infants had severe microcephaly, and 17 had at least one neurologic abnormality. Dr Frank Esper, an infectious disease expert from Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, said he expects a steady wave of studies on Zika and microcephaly that will provide a much clearer picture over the first half of 2016. By the broadest definition, about 2.3 per cent of all babies are microcephalic, Dr Dobyns said. Some cases are so mild they involve no complications at all. About one tenth of one per cent of the cases are so severe that lifelong care is required, he said. There are many known causes, including a wide range of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, as well as oxygen deprivation to the fetus, cytomegalovirus and severe fetal alcohol syndrome.

Lifespan in severe cases can be months or as long as 10 years, depending on proximity to good medical care, Dr Dobyns said. Dr Dawn Nolt, a member of the American Association of Pediatrics' (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases, and other doctors, said more severely affected children often require treatment for epileptic seizures, as well as physical, respiratory and speech therapy. They may need help with everyday activities, such as eating or walking. "It's crucial to go to a care centre with good neurology and genetics teams that can evaluate the child comprehensively," said Dr Ghayda Mirzaa, a pediatric neurologist and colleague of Dobyns at Seattle Children's. Doctors in Recife, Brazil are sending mothers with affected babies for therapy to help stimulate eyesight, hearing and motor skills to minimize retardation in mental and physical development. There are a handful of centers of microcephaly research and treatment in the US, including Dr Dobyns' hospital in Seattle. The consultations of physicians like Dr Dobyns in the Brazil cases is informal at this point but could form the basis for an organized exchange of expertise that will inform the ongoing care of the children of the epidemic.
It should be noted that all politicians, of course, use talking points, whether on the campaign trail or the debate stage. Mr Christie, in criticising Mr Rubio for falling back on one, was actually using his own talking point about how scripted Washington lawmakers are.

As New Jersey Governor Chris Christie repeatedly hit him for relying too much on talking points, Mr Rubio repeatedly fell back on  his talking points. He repeated a version of his stump speech  President Obama is deliberately changing this country for the worse; Mr Rubio will get things back on course  three times.

One of the dangers of talking points, though, is that you get stuck on that message and can't think on your feet and offer unique thoughts. That's what seemed to happen to Mr Rubio on Saturday night in a very obvious way.

Marco Rubio makes his point  again  during Saturday's Republican debate. Credit:David Goldman

And Mr Rubio is arguably one of this cycle's most repeat talking-point offenders. As The Washington Post's Sean Sullivan noted during the debate: "Much of what Sen. Marco Rubio says in the debates sounds similar to what he says on the campaign trail. Very, very similar."

Still, Mr Rubio often delivers his lines with such conviction that they are generally well-received  even if some in the audience (and watching at home) have heard it before.

That's what made Mr Rubio's Saturday trip-up all the more interesting to witness. Prodded on by a passionate and on-the-attack Mr Christie, Mr Rubio simply seemed to short circuit. His almost rote, word-for-word repetition at these debates was suddenly, painfully on display.
The sweeping Russian-backed offensive in northern Syria by President Bashar al-Assads military and foreign fighters from Iran, Lebanon and Afghanistan is triggering a humanitarian crisis by propelling thousands of civilians to flee to the Turkish border, say political activists and rebel commanders.

And the daunting offensive is altering dramatically the balance of insurgent forces in the north of the country to the benefit of al-Qaida-linked groups and the Islamic State, they say.

Some forecast an implosion of secular and less religious-based militias aligned with the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) in northern Syria. This is the end of the FSA in northern Syria, Bassam al-Kuwaiti, a well-known figure in political opposition circles, told VOA.

Merge, disband

Al-Kuwaiti said some moderate militias will be forced to merge; others will have no alternative but to disband altogether and join either the powerful Islamist insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham, [Free Men of Syria] or enlist with al-Qaidas affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra.

They will have no other option, he said.

Al-Qaidas affiliate and Ahrar al-Sham are partners in an alliance known as Jaysh al-Fatah, or Army of Conquest, and have recently debated formally merging.

In villages and towns northwest and north of Aleppo, FSA militias are already relying on Ahrar al-Sham and al-Nusra to help them to try to survive a week-long Assad onslaught that has seen Russian warplanes fly hundreds of round-the-clock bombing sorties.

Ahmad, a rebel fighter, said he and his unit came under 400 airstrikes in four days

Regime forces have managed to capture a chain of villages that control the main rebel supply route for insurgent-held districts in Aleppo city.

The situation is disastrous, said rebel fighter Abu Zaid, who had just returned to Turkey from the front-lines. The Russians are flying six-plane sorties and we are being bombarded by artillery and coming under multiple rocket attacks.

Shi'ite fighters

Several rebel commanders say most of the ground forces against them consist of foreign Shiite fighters from Lebanons Hezbollah movement and from Afghanistan as well as members of Irans Revolutionary Guards. Afghanis and Iranians wear red headbands or armbands, and Hezbollah fighters yellow ones.

U.S. officials have told VOA Russian commandos, or Spetsnaz, are also in the regimes mix of forces and have been working covertly around Aleppo.

But Zakaria Malahefji, the political officer of the 3,000-strong Fastaqim Kama Umirt, a brigade aligned to the rebel alliance Jaish al-Mujahideen (Army of Holy Warriors), said they had not spotted Russians on the ground and few Syrian soldiers.

You hardly see Syrian army troops fighting, Malahefji said. We are fighting Iranians, Afghans and Hezbollah.

He was bitter about what he sees as a Western desertion of the Syrian revolution.

I have spoken with the ambassadors and their staffs of the U.S., Britain and France and asked them, 'What will you do other than just make statements? 

'We don't have weeks'

He said one message he got from a U.S. official read: God willing, we are working on changing the conditions on the ground in the next few weeks.

But we dont have weeks, snapped Malahefji, a former higher education teacher. We need portable anti-aircraft missiles if we are to persevere he said. And we need more anti-armor missile systems like anti-tank TOW missiles.

In the complex and multisided conflict in northern Syria, all nongovernment players are jockeying to survive or to take advantage of the sudden dramatic shift of battlefield fortunes.

The position of the Kurdish YPG, or Peoples Protection Units, which is dominated by Syrias Democratic Union Party (PYD), appears the most tortuous. Rebel commanders accuse the YPG of being two-faced.

Around the mainly Kurdish enclave of Afrin, YPG fighters have started to coordinate with rebel factions to keep open a humanitarian corridor for displaced Syrians from northern towns and villages who are stuck on the Syrian-Turkish border near the Bab al-Salamah border crossing close to the Syrian town of Azaz.

No border crossings

Turkey, despite claiming it has an open-border policy, has not been allowing refugees to cross.

YPG and rebel factions have been protecting civilians as they travel from Azaz. But at the same time the YPG has launched attacks on Islamist and moderate rebel factions around Afrin, seeking to expand the Kurdish enclave.

Russian airstrikes on Saturday helped Kurdish fighters alongside militiamen from Jaysh al-Thwar, a YPG Sunni Arab ally, to capture the strategic Tal Zinkah hill north of Aleppo.

Syrian rebels argue the YPG, the most effective ground partner for the U.S.-led international coalition fighting Islamic State militants, is a secret partner of Assad and directly and indirectly coordinates with Damascus.

YPG commanders have always denied the claim.

In an exclusive phone interview with VOA, PYD leader Salih Muslim echoed Assad and Russian officials.

The Russian airstrikes are targeting terrorists, Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra, Muslim said. The offensive wont impact Syrian Kurds.

Western analysts also warn the Assad offensive will weaken rebel moderate factions and force fighters to throw their lot in with the larger and more militant groups.

The renewed pressure being placed upon the opposition also risks driving opposition groups to deepen their coordination with Syrian al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra and other Salafi-jihadist factions, cautioned Christopher Kozak, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank.
North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket Sunday, carrying what it said is a satellite in defiance of U.N. sanctions barring it from using ballistic-missile technology, has led to calls for quick action against Pyongyang.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on the U.N. Security Council to quickly act.

With an understanding that North Korea's nuclear and missile threat is an actual threat against the international community and in opposition to world peace, the U.N. Security Council must make a strong measure immediately, Park said.

Rocket launch

The rocket was launched Sunday morning from North Koreas Tongchang-ri satellite launching facility near the northwestern border with China. The rocket headed on a southward trajectory passing over Japan's southern Okinawa islands.

North Korea later released a statement through its official state news agency KCNA confirming the launch.

Scientists and technicians of the DPRK have completely succeeded in entering an Earth observation satellite called Gwangmyongsong-4 into an orbit, which has been developed according to the nations five-year space development plan of 2016, said a KCNA announcer.

The launch prompted South Korea and the United States to announce Sunday they would explore the feasibility of deploying an advanced missile defense system in South Korea, which China and Russia both oppose, "at the earliest possible date."

US, South Korea reports

The U.S. Strategic Command detected what it called a missile entering space, also indicating the launch was successful. South Korea's Yonhap news agency had earlier reported the rocket failed to reach orbit and instead fell into the sea near South Koreas Jeju islands.

Japan reportedly did not take action to shoot down the North Korean rocket, despite warnings that it would and putting its ballistic missile defense units on alert.

U.S. defense authorities tracking the rockets trajectory say it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

In 2012, North Korea also successfully launched a three-stage rocket putting a satellite into orbit.

Launch denounced



Pyongyang says the rocket launch is part of its peaceful space program to deliver Earth observation satellites into orbit. The Norths space program, however, has been widely denounced as a hostile pretense to advance its nuclear and ballistic missiles technologies, which are banned by U.N. resolutions.

South Korea and the U.S. have decided to begin discussions about deploying a U.S. missile system to South Korea. The comment was made Sunday by Ryu Je-seung, a South Korean Defense Ministry official, in a joint news conference with Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army based in South Korea.

Vandal said, "It is time to move forward on this issue. We look forward to close consultation and coordination on that as well as dealing with the threat to peace and stability posed by DPRK."

The U.N. Security Council will meet Sunday to discuss the North Korean rocket launch at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was "deeply deplorable that (North Korea) has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement condemning Pyongyang for a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions related to the use of ballistic-missile technology.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also denounced the North Korean launch and promised to take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.''

China's official Xinhua news agency Sunday expressed concern that the North Korean rocket launch will worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula and urged "all relevant parties" to exercise restraint.

Increased sanctions

The long-range rocket launch follows North Koreas fourth nuclear test conducted on January 6.

In response to the nuclear test, the United States and its allies are already advocating for stronger international sanctions against North Korea to impose real economic pain by restricting shipping, aviation, and trade of resources, including coal and fuel.

The U.S. Congress is also working on unilateral sanctions legislation that would target third parties companies and banks - many in China - that do business with North Korea.

South Korea is reportedly considering closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to the Norths rocket launch. The jointly run Kaesong project, that employs over 50,000 North Koreans, is the last surviving inter-Korean development program. Virtually all other inter-Korean ties and assistance programs were severed in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a navy warship and killing 46 sailors.

For any sanctions to be effective Chinas support, as the Norths chief benefactor and trading partner and as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, is considered essential.

But Beijing has been reluctant to support harsh punitive measures on Pyongyang that that could lead to instability and further increase regional tensions. Instead it wants all sides to resume international negotiations.

Beijing responded to Sunday's launch, expressing "regret" the North disregarded the opposition from the international community.

Pyongyang says its nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense and non-negotiable.

In early 2009 Pyongyang withdrew from six party talks with Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic assistance and security guarantees

Sundays launch occurred in the first hours of an accelerated Feb. 7-14 launch time frame Pyongyang announced Saturday. Earlier it had alerted international meteorological and telecommunications agencies the launch would take place Feb. 8-25.

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.



North Korea is believed to have over 1,000 Soviet model missiles that can reach targets in South Korea and Japan, and enough plutonium to make eight to 12 nuclear bombs.



Last year U.S. military authorities said they believe North Korea has the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to fit on a KN-08 long range missile, although North Korea has not yet demonstrated this capability.
North Koreas latest long-range rocket launch is raising concerns in the United States and its allies that the communist country is moving forward with its ballistic missile program.

On Sunday, Pyongyang fired a long-range rocket from its west coast rocket launch site in Tongchang-ri. North Koreas state television said the launch ordered by the countrys leader Kim Jong Un was a complete success, and that Pyongyang will continue to conduct the launches.

Pyongyang insists the launch is a peaceful space mission. But its apparent noncompliance with international obligations raises questions about the purpose of the mission.

When Pyongyang notified the International Telecommunication Union, a U.N. agency that promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, of the latest launch last week, it said the move was part of its effort to launch an Earth observation satellite.

Controversial mission

Pyongyang, however, failed to provide some mandatory information required for the launch in its notification, according to the agency.

Sanjay Acharya, ITUs chief of media relations and public information, told VOA his agency had asked Pyongyang to provide the missing information, but Pyongyang proceeded with the launch without providing the information.

Pyongyangs long-range rocket launch drew wide international attention in December 2012, when the country succeeded in putting into orbit a satellite for the first time. A satellite launched at the time is believed to be in orbit, although whether it is functioning remains unclear.

I have not heard of anyone who has picked up radio signals from their satellite. My guess is that if that satellite worked at all, it didnt work very long, said Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, referring to the satellite that Pyongyang launched in 2012.

Cover for missile test

Many Western observers suspect Pyongyang is trying to advance its ballistic missile technology, noting the technology used to put a satellite into space also could be used to deliver a nuclear warhead.

U.S. military analysts say that whether Pyongyang has the capability to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the U.S. mainland is Washingtons primary concern. While many of them believe Pyongyang needs more time to reach full ICBM capability, some say Pyongyang might already have the ability to strike some parts of the U.S mainland.

Bruce Bechtol, a professor at Angelo State University in Texas, said the 2012 launch showed Pyongyang had the capability of hitting Alaska, Hawaii, or parts of the West Coast of the United States.

Strong condemnation

Washington condemned Sundays launch and stepped up diplomacy to take action against Pyongyang.

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State John Kerry spoke separately on Sunday by phone with his counterparts in South Korea and Japan. Kerry called the launch a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions that threatened international peace and security and emphasized the importance of a united international response to North Koreas provocations, including through a strong U.N. Security Council resolution, said State Department spokesman John Kirby in a statement.

The U.N. Security Council on Sunday vowed to adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution.

The latest move marked Pyongyangs sixth long-range rocket launch since 1998. The launch followed the countrys fourth nuclear test last month.

U.N. sanctions ban Pyongyang from conducting nuclear tests or any launches using ballistic missile technology.
The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned North Koreas launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday.

The rocket, carrying what Pyongyang said was a satellite, was launched from North Koreas Tongchang-ri satellite launching facility near the northwestern border with China.

In a rare Sunday session, Security Council members met behind closed doors for 90 minutes to discuss the next steps for dealing with the defiant Asian nation.

Afterward, Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Ramirez, who holds the Security Council presidency this month, read a statement from the council.

He said this launch, as well as any other DPRK launch that uses ballistic missile technology, even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle, which contributes to Pyongyangs development of nuclear weapon delivery systems is a serious violation of Security Council resolutions dating back to 2006.

The council said it is ready to develop significant new measures in response to North Koreas nuclear test of January 6, 2016 and Sundays missile launch.

The council has imposed four rounds of increasingly stronger sanctions on North Korea in response to various nuclear and ballistic missile tests it has conducted since 2006.

By now it is pretty clear that the existing sanctions have not stopped North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and delivery system further, said South Korean U.N. Ambassador Oh Joon.

WATCH: U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power

Tough, Unprecedented Measures

There can be no business as usual, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters. She said a new resolution must be quickly agreed to with tough, unprecedented measures, breaking new ground here, and exceeding the expectations of Kim Jung Un. A reference to North Koreas leader.

Chinas envoy, Liu Jieyi, agreed that a new resolution is necessary, but he did not indicate how tough Beijing is willing to be.

A new resolution that will do the work of reducing tensions, of working toward denuclearization, of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiating solution, Liu told reporters.

Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin said a new resolution must be weighty, but reasonable.

We believe we should not be looking at an economic collapse of the DPRK, we should not be of course looking toward some actions that would further heighten the tensions on the Korean peninsula and around it, he said.

Totally Outrageous and Unacceptable

Ambassador Oh said North Koreas actions are totally outrageous and unacceptable. He said Sundays launch would have cost close to $1 billion, which would have fed the entire North Korean population for a whole year.

Many North Koreans live in poverty and face severe food shortages. Government spending is directed toward military programs, and the country receives international humanitarian aid. Last year, the United Nations appealed for over $100 million to fund food, agriculture, health, water and sanitation programs.

Japans U.N. envoy, Motohide Yoshikawa, who along with the United States and South Korea called for Sundays session, said the time for dialogue is over and more pressure is needed in the form of a robust Security Council resolution to stop Pyongyang.

For the past month, council members have been considering details of a U.S.-drafted sanctions resolution in response to North Koreas January 6 nuclear bomb test.

Venezuelas envoy said everybody knows we are waiting for the agreement between two countries on that text.



The two countries are the United States and China.



China has urged more dialogue with its rogue ally, while the United States and other nations want tougher international measures.

Increased sanctions

The U.S. Congress is working on unilateral sanctions legislation that would target third parties companies and banks, many in China, that do business with North Korea.

South Korea is reportedly considering closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to the rocket launch. The jointly run Kaesong project, that employs more than 50,000 North Koreans, is the last surviving inter-Korean development program. Virtually all other inter-Korean ties and assistance programs were severed in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a navy warship and killing 46 sailors.

China support

For sanctions to be effective Chinas support, as the Norths chief benefactor and trading partner and as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, is considered essential.

But Beijing has been reluctant to support harsh punitive measures on North Korea.

Pyongyang says its nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense and non-negotiable.

In early 2009 Pyongyang withdrew from six party talks with Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic assistance and security guarantees.

Sundays launch occurred in the first hours of an accelerated February 7-14 launch time frame Pyongyang announced Saturday. Earlier it had alerted international meteorological and telecommunications agencies the launch would take place February 8-25.

Technology

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.

The reclusive state is believed to have over 1,000 Soviet model missiles that can reach targets in South Korea and Japan, and enough plutonium to make eight to 12 nuclear bombs.

Last year U.S. military authorities said they believe North Korea has the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to fit on a KN-08 long range missile, although North Korea has not yet demonstrated this capability.
A failure in the Singapore Turf Club betting system has caused bets associated with the live broadcast of races in Macau and South Africa to be canceled, Shin Min Daily News reported. According to the Singapore Turf Club, the betting system failed to stop accepting bets after the race had started. Despite the fact that the race had ended in both Macau and South Africa, the system continued to receive bets. Consistent with the Singapore Turf Club procedures, the bets will all be refunded. One of the punters revealed that he had bet on the horse Macau Spring, but the prize couldnt be delivered because the bets had been canceled. Some horseracing experts commented that if Hong Kong had been involved, the amount of bets cancelled would have been higher.
CHINA More than 120 people, including senior officials, were responsible for deadly blasts in the Chinese city of Tianjin last year, investigators have said. According to a Xinhua report the warehouse blasts were caused by hazardous materials improperly or illegally stored.

SOUTH KOREA says it has agreed to begin talks with Washington on possible deployment of a US missile defense system.

INDIAN authorities have deported an Australian man on suspicion of being an Islamic State supporter. The man was detained by Indias security agencies for questioning after he landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

AFGHANISTAN Taliban forces are on the verge of overrunning the key area of Sangin district in the north of the countrys notorious Helmand Province. Government officials in the country have repeatedly asserted that the opium-rich region is safe.

SYRIA The mother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Anisa, has died at the age of 86 in the countrys capital, Damascus, his office announced. Reports said she was ill for many years and travelled frequently to Germany for treatment before 2012, when she was blacklisted by the EU.

ALGERIA has reinstated a two-term limit on its presidency, seven years after it was lifted so President Bouteflika could run for a third term.

EUROPEAN UNION officials have urged Turkey to let in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees trapped on its border at Kilis, after fleeing fighting in the war-torn country in the Middle East. Turkey says the refugees are receiving food and shelter inside Syria and there is no need to allow them to cross.

USA A white Chicago police officer who fatally shot a black 19-year-old college student and accidentally killed a neighbor has filed a lawsuit against the teenagers estate, arguing the shooting left him traumatized.

HAITIAN leaders negotiated an agreement to install a short-term provisional government less than 24 hours before President Michel Martelly was scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States announced.

EL SALVADOR Police have arrested four former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests that sparked international outrage during the Salvadoran Civil War.
Mainland Chinese authorities confirm theyve detained three missing Hong Kong booksellers for an investigation into unspecified criminal activity, shedding more light on a case thats gripped residents with fear that Beijing is tightening its hold on the city.

Hong Kong police said last week they were told by police in neighboring Guangdong province about the men, who are among five people linked to a publishing house specializing in politically sensitive titles banned on the mainland to have vanished in recent months.

Its the latest development in a case thats sparked international concern that Beijing is backtracking on a promise it made when it took over from Britain nearly 20 years ago to let the city retain a high degree of control over its own affairs.

The five are associated with publishing firm Mighty Current Media and its retail outlet Causeway Bay Bookshop. The companys books on political scandals and intrigue involving Chinas communist leaders are popular with mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong.

The letter from Guangdongs public security department was the first time that mainland authorities had acknowledged holding Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee, who are shareholders or employees of the company.

It said the three are suspected of involvement in a case involving a person surnamed Gui, an apparent reference to Mighty Current publisher Gui Minhai.

The four went missing in October but Gui resurfaced in January, making a tearful appearance on Chinese state TV to say he surrendered over a 12-year-old fatal drunk driving case.

The three are suspected of being involved in illegal activities on the mainland, Hong Kong police said, citing a letter from Guangdong Provincial Security Departments Interpol liaison office.

Criminal compulsory measures were imposed on them and they were under investigation, it said. No details on the alleged crimes or their specific whereabouts were disclosed.

Gui, a Swedish national, disappeared from his holiday home in Pattaya, Thailand, while the three others went missing on the mainland.

Hong Kong police also said they received a handwritten letter from the fifth missing person, editor Lee Bo, in which he purportedly rejected a request to meet with them. Lee, a British citizen, disappeared on Dec. 30 and many suspect he was abducted by mainland Chinese security agents operating in Hong Kong, which would be a breach of the one country, two systems principle Beijing agreed to when it took control of the city from Britain in 1997.

The European Parliament called for the five to be immediately released, joining British, American and Swedish officials who have raised concern about the case.

The latest announcement appears unlikely to quell suspicions by human rights activists and pro- democracy groups that Lee and Guis statements were made voluntarily.

The latest official disclosures about the last three missing book publishers are anything but satisfactory, William Nee of Amnesty International said in a statement. The Chinese authorities need to end their smoke and mirrors strategy and come clean with a full and proper explanation. Kelvin Chan, Hong Kong, AP
The number of tourists traveling in tour groups is expected to slow throughout the ongoing Spring Festival holiday, according to travel agents interviewed by the Times.

The latest information released by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) indicates that the number of tourists dropped by 2.6 percent in 2015 (totaling 30.7 million). Of those, a total of 8.52 million tourists came to visit in tour groups, a year-on-year decline of 8 percent.

The drop in visitor arrivals on package tours is having repercussions for local travel agencies, although the agencies focused on daily excursions from mainland China to Macau showed little concern about the New Year traffic.

The number of groups will, for sure, shrink during the Spring Festival, especially right after the New Year, Miss Chan, from Macao Vacation Travel Services, told the Times, adding that 2015 was not a good year as a whole though.

Recent reports from Hong Kong media indicate that some Hong Kong tourism associations estimated a 70 percent drop in tourist group numbers during the big holiday. Correspondingly, Miss Chan said that people prefer to go to the southeast regions because they are very cheap now. Hong Kong is not doing well in travel services, which is definitely affecting Macau.

Nonetheless, companies from Guangzhou stated that they will still prompt tourist groups to visit Hong Kong and Macau. Mainland media acknowledged that one of the biggest travel agencies in Guangzhou claimed that 70 percent of its Hong Kong and Macau lines are full.

According to Macaus Statistics and Census Service, there were 237 travel agencies in Macau in 2014. Staff reporter
TWIN FALLS | Twin Falls could soon have new leaders in three of the region's major economic development groups.

The Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization completed a round of interviews this week for a director position that's been vacant since September. The City Council will hear an update Monday on what's to happen with its economic development leadership and Southern Idaho Tourism has opened applications for a new head.

For local development, there's much at stake in these positions. Former SEIDO director Jan Rogers left a legacy of over $1 billion in capital investments, 35 new businesses and 5,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Urban Renewal Agency's economic director will spearhead a major downtown renovation project, and tourism accounts for more than 10 percent of the area's economy.

While each of these groups have a flurry of activity, boards are holding off hiring until the right leaders can be found.

Were better off taking a little bit longer and making the right decision, not the easy decision, said Mike Schutz, board chair for SIEDO.

This is the board's second set of interviews. Those who applied last fall didnt align with the goals of SEIDOs stakeholders  which include cities, counties, utilities and the private sector, Schutz said.

The board collaborated with those groups to redefine the directors position. The new director will promote the Magic Valley as a destination for business, while providing existing businesses with opportunities to grow, he said.

He or she should also recruit talent for business, as the area sees a shortage of employees, Schutz said.

Rogers was director for 14 years until she left last fall. In her absence, others have stepped up to keep up with the needs of the organization, he said.

There continues to be interest in the valley, Schutz said.

He anticipates the new director will need to plan for growth management in the future.

A smaller pool of candidates has been selected from more than 20 who applied, and an announcement could be made in the next couple of weeks.

SEIDO is a critical partner in the city of Twin Falls economic development efforts, City Manager Travis Rothweiler said. The city will bring in a new economic development director and a new leader for the URA.

On Monday, Rothweiler will present to the City Council his recommendations for the positions. Both were held by Melinda Anderson until she stepped down in December  Rothweiler assumed Anderson's duties in addition to his city manager position.

Having examined the critical functions of each role, he recommends the city contract with a third party for an interim URA director during a critical phase of the Main Avenue Redesign Project.

The URA will have a special closed meeting Monday morning to discuss hiring.

In the meantime, the city will seek out an economic development director who could also take over the URA director position.

With the robust economic development program we want to have in the city  we may be looking at hiring other positions in that department to assist in that role, Rothweiler said.

An economic director would evaluate city needs like business retention, attraction, self-promotion and labor force.

Economic development is about creating opportunities, he said.

Another part of economic development, tourism, is also about to get a new face. Southern Idaho Tourism's director, Debbie Dane, has been at the job for 13 years and plans to retire in June.

I think the key thing for us is to have someone with a passion for the area to work with the industries we serve to promote tourism, Dane said.

Dane has seen tourism growth for the seven-county economy in the areas of recreation, culinary and academic interests.

Candidates who apply should have a bachelors degree, experience and skills in related fields. The deadline is Feb. 19.

Rothweiler hopes the city's new leaders will build on its prior success and prepare for unique professional challenges. The largest strength of the community, he said, is its quality of life.

"We don't do economic development for the sake of economic development  it has to add value to our local economy," Rothweiler said.

With new marketing, development and tourism leaders, there is an unknown potential for opportunities to improve that quality of life.
TWIN FALLS  Its that time of year when high school students across the country are taking their ACT in hopes of scoring high enough to impress colleges and universities.

At Canyon Ridge High School on Saturday, around 200 juniors took the test on the schools dime.

The college entrance exam consists of reading, English, math and science and costs $39.50$56.50 when a writing portion is included.

But through the Gaining Early Awareness and Reading for Undergraduates Program (GEAR UP), Canyon Ridge juniors tested the waters on ACTsome for the first timefor free.

I can focus on bumping up my score, said student Ryan Packham, who took the test back in December. Its nice theyre paying for it. Its a lot less stress.

Some students take the test multiple times, trying to get higher scores to show off when applying to universities. At nearly $40 pop, the bill can rack up.

Counselor Sarah Pehrson said the organizers of GEAR UP understand not all students have the means to take the tests. Thats why the program offers grants that help students begin their post-secondary education.

That includes covering a cohort of students through high school as they take their college entrance exams and visit college campuses.

Its used for opportunities for students who go on to college, Pehrson said.

Student McKayla Bulkley has already taken advantage of the program, visiting several campuses.

So far shes visited the University of Idaho, Washington State University, Lewis and Clark College and Boise State University.

Bulkley is still deciding on what to major in but has one school in mind.

I liked Washington State, she said. Its a pretty cool campus.

But getting there begins with entrance exams like the ACT, and at Canyon Ridge, juniors are encouraged to sign up and take advantage of the financial assistance from GEAR UP.

Its my first time taking the ACT, student Matthew Berry said. I dont really know anything about, scoring-wise, how Ill do. by the first one being free, I can know which (subjects) I can do better on.
Twin Falls County

Felony Sentencings

Michael Allen Keene, 44, Twin Falls, Possession of a controlled, $1,083.98 restitution, $285.50 costs, $250 public defender, $100 DNA, seven years penitentiary, two determinate, five indeterminate, sentence suspended, three years supervised probation.

Donald Ross King, 51, Twin Falls; possession of a controlled substance, $847.19 restitution, $285.50 costs, $100 DNA, seven indeterminate, credit for time served, sentence to run consecutive to other sentences.

Christopher William Mann, 26, Twin Falls; possession of a controlled substance, $946, 73 restitution, $285.50 costs, $500 public defender, $100 DNA, seven years penitentiary, one determinate, six indeterminate, sentence to run consecutively with other sentence.

Driving Under The Influence Sentencings

Jack Lowe Parker, 47, Twin Falls; DUI excessive, $1,000 fine, $700 suspended, $202.50 costs, $50 public defender, 180 days jail, 170 suspended, two months credited, 365 days drivers license suspension, 24 months supervised probation, attend victim impact panel.

Cecil Grover Hinton, 43, Jerome; DUI, $1,000 fine, $800 suspended, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 178 suspended, two credited, 12 hours community service, 180 days restricted drivers license, 12 months supervised probation, attend victim impact panel and court alcohol school.

William Riely McLain, 22, Jerome; DUI, $1,000 fine, $600 suspended, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 178 suspended, two days credited, 12 hours community service, 180 days restricted drivers license, 12 months supervised probation, attend victim panel and court alcohol school.

Gerardo Gutierrez Morales, 34, Shoshone; DUI second offense, 365 days jail, credit for time served, sentence to run concurrent with other sentences, 365 days drivers license suspension.

Hilario Vincente Alejo, 43, Twin Falls; DUI, $500 fine, $500 suspended, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, credit for time served, balance of sentence suspended, guilty withheld judgment, 180 days restricted drivers license suspension, 12 months supervised probation, attend victim impact panel and court alcohol school.

Divorce Civil Proceedings

Michelle Ferrie v. Kenneth Ferrie

Mariana Medrano v. Rigoberto Medrano

Corrin Deaton v. Daniel Deaton

Seth Featherston v. Cynthia Hite

Carla Lopez v. Angel Lopez-Lopez

Angie Mills v. Bradley Mills

Maria Soriano-Ortiz v. Efrian Soriano-Ortiz

William Dalton v. Alecia Dalton

William Haynes v. Pamela Haynes

Robin Freeborn v. James Freeborn
BOISE  A pair of Idaho lawmakers are pushing a plan for high schools built around science, technology, engineering and math that could exist both within and outside of the states traditional public education system.

Whos involved? State Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, House Education Committee chairman, and State Sen, Bob Nonini, R-Coeur dAlene, a member of the Senate Education Committee, spent part of this week meeting with the governor and lawmakers to pitch an idea for STEM high schools tucked within universities or affiliated with businesses.

They brought with them Chris Widener, a former Ohio state senator, and David L. Burns, STEM Innovations Networks director for Battelle, the contractor at Idaho National Laboratories. Both Widener and Battelle helped create similar schools in Ohio beginning in 2008.

Whats happening in Idaho now? Idaho is putting emphasis on STEM education as a way to increase the number of higher-paying jobs in Idaho. Gov. Butch Otter has proposed more than $14 million this year to promote STEM education. Burns said more STEM students are needed to enter the workforce and offset the number STEM-career employees who are retiring. Its critical to your survival as a business, he said.

How would STEM high schools take shape in Idaho? Details are sketchy. Both Nonini and DeMordaunt say the Ohio plan offers a good road map.

What happened in Ohio? One of Ohios 19 STEM schools, the Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield, has an agricultural science focus and would fit in well in Idaho, where agriculture is the biggest part of the states economy, Nonini said. Every legislator needs to ... be involved in it, Nonini said. Idaho should be doing this. The Global Academy is involved in what Widener calls lab-coat agriculture, not plows, sows and cows.

Do they work? The schools boast a 100 percent graduation rate; 44 percent of the students go on to major in STEM fields in college, compared to 14 percent nationally, said Burns. The schools are open to anyone, and students can earn college credit. Schools can be part of traditional school districts, but also included at colleges such as Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, Widener said.

STEM high schools drop traditional education methods in favor of problem-based learning, where students are educated as they solve real-world issues. They are in team-taught environments, Widener said. There are two or three teachers at a time working on math, English and science all at one time.

What are the drawbacks? The schools struggle to find teachers who are trained in problem-solving education methods, Widener said. And parental engagement needs improvement. Some families dont have the technology at home to help their students with their work.

How about Idaho? De Mordaunt would like to see schools launched first outside of Idahos traditional school system. The system struggles to change itself, DeMordaunt said. He said theres too much naval gazing and people saying Oh, we cant do that here. Traditional public education could see what is done in other settings, then begin to incorporate that into their instruction, he said.

What might have to change? DeMordaunt said funding for STEM high schools may need to move off Idahos traditional model based on average daily attendance toward money that supports students gaining mastery of subjects. Schools may need to scuttle the typical bell schedule for getting through the day, and consider bringing business people in to teach, he said.
TWIN FALLS  Andrew Vawser was four days into his Kickstarter campaign when he canceled its efforts.

It wasnt because he decided to forego his dream of making a documentary of how irrigation came to the Magic Valley. Instead, a local businessman liked Vawsers idea so much that he decided to fully fund the project.

Jim Paxton, owner of Snake River Pool and Spa, gave Vawser more than $4,000 to produce, direct and edit The Conquest of the Snake. Vawser also wrote and recorded soundtrack music for the film.

The Conquest of the Snake will premiere at 8 p.m. March 15 on PBS during the stations yearly fundraising efforts.

Vawser said his goal for the film was to teach the areas history in an engaging way.

Its important because it is our defining story, he said. If irrigation wouldnt have happened here there would be a few smaller farms. There are only a couple of creeks that run out of the hills, but even those run into the canyon. This is important for Twin Falls because its so relevant today. Without water, there is no life.

Following its premiere, DVD copies will be sent to local schools and libraries. If response is high enough, they have plans to start an online store to sell copies.

One of the difficulties of making an education film, Vawser said, is also creating an entertaining story line.

Once he started doing research he found the Magic Valleys history was full of interesting characters.

You have interesting characters like I.B. Perrine, who is an amazing character, Vawser said. Theres conflict around him, humor and you learn to care for this guy because hes such an enduring person.

In 1894, Congress passed the Carey Act, allowing states to request large tracts of federal land for investors. Irrigation systems were to be developed in accordance with approved plans, says the Twin Falls Canal Co. website.

This prompted the interest of I.B. Perrine and others and led to construction and development of the system, which the Twin Falls Canal Co. has operated since 1909.

Another compelling personality was Frank Buhl. The town of Buhl is named after him.

Frank Buhl is really interesting, Vawser said. This guy was filthy rich. This would not have happened without him. The unique thing about the irrigation systems in the Magic Valley is that they were developed with private funds. If Frank Buhl were alive today he would have been a multi-billionaire.

The relationship between Perrine and Buhl also determined whether the irrigation systems were successful or failures. Vaswer said other teams in the area were working toward the same goals, but they didnt make it because of disagreements and money.

Each character you could spend an hour on and not get it all in there, he said.

The Conquest of the Snake is Vawsers first full-length film. He doesnt plan to start his next project any time soon even though he has several ideas.

There is always lofty projects running through my head, he said. For now Im going to take some time and relax and clear my head and make recompense to my family because Ive been behind my computer evenings and weekends.
The Hillary Clinton email issue is developing into a real whodunit, complete with Clintonesque legal semantics. I never sent or received any material marked classified, she said with respect to the discovery of classified information on her private, unclassified email server. That surface denial nearly rivals Bill Clintons classic: I did not have sexual relations with that woman.

But this is no laughing matter.

There is nothing trivial about a secretary of state having top-secret information on an unsecured computer in her home. That appears to have been the case, based on the State Departments announcement last week that 22 emails, across seven email chains, containing top- secret information wereon Hillary Clintons private email server.

At issue is whether the information in the emails was classified when it was sent to her unsecured server. It was, after all, the State Department, upon review of the content by intelligence agencies, that upgraded the emails to top-secret and ordered them withheld from the public.

Now, it may well be that some of Clintons political opponents are out to derail her presidential campaign and are using the email controversy to do so. Or it could be the case, as Clintons supporters claim, that intergovernmental infighting over what is and isnt classified is driving this investigation.

The important nonpolitical question: Did the nations top diplomat or her State Department staff improperly handle extremely sensitive, top-secret information and do so in a manner in which the information could be compromised?

State Department rules are quite clear.

Top-secret information must not be placed on any unclassified systems. It must be accounted for and controlled. And no copy of a top-secret document can be made without the permission of the office or agency in which it originated.

In addition, any State Department employee who causes the compromise of top-secret information or makes a copy of a top-secret document or any portion of it without the originators permission is subject to administrative action.

There are also limited ways in which top-secret information can be transmitted. Sending top-secret information via a private, unsecured email server is not one of them. Transmitting top-secret information with the classification removed is also forbidden.

That makes it critical to establish whether Clintons private server contained information that was classified at the time it was sent or received.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said, She was at worst a passive recipient of unwitting information that subsequently became deemed as classified. In other words, Clinton is an innocent victim of bureaucratic infighting. If so, how did it happen?

Thats what makes this a Washington whodunit.

Someone inside the State Department transmitted the information to Clintons personal email account through a private server. That employeeor employees, as the case may beknows or should know whether the material was drawn from, was based on or included top-secret information.

Given that the information on the server has been upgraded to top-secret, another fear arises: Have unauthorized individuals, even foreign governments, gained access to highly classified information, to the detriment of the United States?

Its not as though clandestine attempts to penetrate government agencies have not been made.

In fall 2014, the State Department shut down and shored up its unclassified email system after detecting a possible hacker attack. A hacker also attacked the White Houses unclassified computer system around the same time.

Last year, Iranian hackers broke into the email and social media accounts of State Department officials who focused on Iran and the Middle East, according to the New York Times.

In July, The Post reported that hackers who attacked the Office of Personnel Management got the personnel and security files of at least 22 million people, including federal employees and contractors, as well as their families and friends.

The U.S. Postal Service was hacked in 2014. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations computer system was compromised the same year.

The nongovernment personal accounts of CIA Director John Brennan and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson reportedlyhave been hacked.

Its chilling to think of what a breach of Clintons email account might mean to national security.

Presidential election year or not, the Clinton email issue must be resolved. Just a thought: As a precaution, the manager in the White House dugout might consider telling the bullpen to start warming up Joe Biden.
In an astonishing report, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has accused Sweden and the U.K. of arbitrarily detaining Wikileaks founder Julian Assange because of a sexual-assault investigation against him in Sweden.

To be sure, its unknown whether hes guilty of the charges. Likewise, its impossible to know whether Assange criminally conspired with U.S. Army Private Chelsea Manning (then known as Bradley) to steal classified material, or whether Assange and Wikileaks simply published that material in a manner that should be protected by the First Amendment.

But what seems highly likely is that Assanges detention is anything but arbitrary  its because of the investigation of serious crimes.

The working group, which is under the high commissioner for human rights, only Friday made public the report it wrote in December.

It recites the basic facts: Swedish prosecutors began to investigate Assange in 2010 based on allegations of sexual misconduct, which is a bit of an understatement because the charges were for rape. The prosecutors issued an international arrest warrant. Assange was detained by British authorities in Wandsworth Prison, and apparently held in isolation for 10 days. Then Assange was put under house arrest in the U.K. for 550 days. Given that he was a flight risk, home detention seems like a proportionate and humane response to the situation, not a rights violation.

In the meantime, Assange sought asylum from Ecuador  not on the grounds that he shouldnt be prosecuted for rape in Sweden, but on the speculative grounds that from Sweden he might be extradited to the U.S. where he would be prosecuted for conspiring with Manning. Hes been in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London ever since.

To be sure, Assange isnt under indictment in the U.S.  not even a sealed indictment, federal prosecutors have said. A Department of Justice investigation of his conduct is ongoing. His Ecuadorean asylum is thus a way for him to escape the sexual-assault charges in Sweden.

So whats arbitrary about all this, according to the working group? Assange spent 10 days in prison, more in house arrest and is now in the Ecuadorian Embassy. But a legally legitimate arrest warrant was issued for him. And he was a flight risk. Under those circumstances, house arrest wasnt arbitrary, and was surely quite reasonable when compared with prison. His detention in the embassy is an attempt to avoid a valid warrant. Formally speaking, it probably isnt detention at all  and its certainly not arbitrary.

The basis for the working groups conclusion is that Sweden is obliged by applicable law and Convention obligations to recognize the asylum granted to Mr. Assange, and no exceptions apply. The reason Sweden is supposed to recognize Ecuadors asylum offer is that, in the judgment of the working group, Mr. Assange faces a serious risk of being extradited to the U.S.

What would happen to Assange in the U.S.? According to the working group, all that matters is that according to Ecuador, Assange faces a well-founded risk of political persecution and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

So theres the complete logic of a working groups report: Assange might be charged with a crime in the U.S. Ecuador thinks charging him with violating national security law would amount to political persecution or worse. Therefore Sweden must give up on its claims to try him for rape, and the U.K. must ignore the Swedes arrest warrant and let him leave the country.

Sweden responded to inquiries from the working group by explaining, very reasonably, that there was no extradition order before it. And if it had one, it would make sure it could extradite Assange to the U.S. in a way that was consistent with its international obligations before it did so.

Whats more, Sweden pointed out that international law doesnt recognize a right of diplomatic asylum in an embassy, like the one Assange claims. It added that no one thinks its a good grounds for asylum for someone charged with a nonpolitical crime like rape.

All this is legally correct. So is the British governments explanation to the working group that it doesnt recognize diplomatic asylum, and that Assanges residency in the Ecuadorian Embassy to escape arrest itself violates U.K. law.

Somewhat astonishingly, the working group says Sweden is wrong because it cannot ignore the fact that there has been an elaborate evidential determination that Mr. Assange faces a risk of persecution and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. But there hasnt been any such elaborate determination, unless you count the assertion by Ecuador.

From a narrowly American perspective, its troubling that the working group seems to say that the mere fact of a Justice Department investigation of Assange is grounds for supporting the asylum claim that hes going to be persecuted. Maybe itll turn out that Assange was just exercising freedom of the press, and maybe it wont. But the working group cant be the proper body to decide that. And neither can the government of Ecuador.

Everybody should be highly skeptical of the idea that someone like Assange can avoid being investigated and tried for rape because he might conceivably be charged with a crime in the U.S. The working group report says not one word about the interests of the victims. Thats frankly shameful  especially for a body thats supposed to be part of the UN office that focuses on human rights.

The working group criticized Sweden for not bringing charges against Assange already. But a government should have the capacity to investigate in all lawful ways, including having the opportunity to question suspects. The reason Assange hasnt been charged is surely that hes been evading arrest. Its preposterous to criticize the Swedish prosecutors for not bringing or dismissing charges against him when hes been trying to avoid them.

The upshot is that the working groups focus on Assange as some sort of political prisoner is thoroughly unjustified. It cheapens genuine instances of arbitrary detention. Assange should be tried for rape in Sweden. If the U.S. brings charges against him, he should be tried for those, too. If First Amendment protects him against those charges, Ill be the first to argue that they shouldnt sustained. But Ecuador shouldnt be the court of last resort  and the UN shouldnt be involved in protecting him, either.
About Me Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah I am Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah, who resides in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I hold a post-graduate law degree from the United Kingdom. I blog to tell MALAYSIANS THE TRUTH. View my complete profile

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Author- Emil Sanamyan





On his first visit to Beijing, then-Armenian defense minister Vazgen Sargsyan is said to have thrown the hosts into a state of mild confusion when he remarked that (paraphrased) as we say in Armenia, together with the Chinese there is more than a billion of us. Jokes and linguistic barriers aside, the comment reflected the main motivating factor behind Armenias outreach to China. When dealing with larger and often hostile neighbors, it is only natural for small countries to seek out support or, as a paper published by the Armenian governments think tank put it, a special partnership, externally.





The Caucasus, hemmed in by Russia, Turkey, and Iran, is particularly rife with conflicts. Armenia and Azerbaijan are engaged in low-intensity attrition warfare with non-existent bilateral relations. Turkey has largely sided with Azerbaijan and kept its economic ties with Armenia to a minimum. This leaves Armenia reliant on Georgia, itself in conflict with Russia, and Iran, which until recently faced international sanctions. While Azerbaijan is in much less restricted geopolitical position, its relations with Iran, as well as Russia, have also been quite testy.





Although Armenias, as well as Azerbaijans and Georgias, expectant gaze has historically been directed west and north, their long history includes important precedents for reaching out east as well. Perhaps the most remarkable episode is from the 13th century when in the aftermath of European setbacks in the Crusades and advances by the Abbasid Caliphate, the Armenian kingdom accomplished a quite dramatic diplomatic feat. Armenias defense minister and the kings brother Smbat Sparapet sealed a military alliance with the Mongol Khan after traveling more than 5,000 kilometers to his seat at Karakorum. Armenian King Hetum himself undertook the trek five years later. Although relatively short-lived, that pact resulted in the defeat of the Caliphate and the sacking of Baghdad, in which both Armenian and Georgian forces, along with Chinese artillery experts, aided the Mongol army.





Historical precedents like these are never far from the minds of both the Caucasus and Chinese officials. Chinese President Xi Jinpings major foreign policy and trade initiative in Eurasia recalls the ancient Silk Road. Incidentally, Armenian merchants played a prominent role in the history of China-West trade, both overland and through Canton and the Indian Ocean.





The current decade has seen China emerge as one of the top trade partners for Armenia and the other two Caucasus states. There has been a notable increase in Armenian exports to China, from just $16 million in 2011 to $171 million in 2014. By comparison, Armenias exports to neighboring Iran amounted to half of that volume. Also by 2014, exports from Georgia and Azerbaijan to China grew to $90 million and $46 million, respectively. Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian imports from China amounted to $820, $509, and $417 million, respectively.





While the combined $2 billion in trade turnover may only be a speck for the worlds largest economy, it is quite substantial for the Caucasus trio. Highlights of cooperation include Armenias chemical industry, automobile assembly in Azerbaijan, and banking and construction in Georgia.





Cultural and educational exchanges have also proliferated. Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes were established in Yerevan in 2009, Tbilisi in 2010, and Baku in 2011. The institutes have facilitated study in China and last year a Chinese Armenian organization began to offer scholarships for Chinese students to study in Yerevan. Construction of a Chinese language high school is currently underway in Armenias capital.





In 2015, the Caucasus states continued active courting of Chinese interest with leaders of all three countries visiting Beijing, while a delegation led by Chen Changzhi of the National Peoples Congress went to Tbilisi and Yerevan. In Armenia, the Chinese government supported the Armenian Genocide centenary commemorations by gifting 40 tons of equipment to ensure their live international broadcast. China had previously extended other forms of aid to Armenia, most prominently public buses and ambulances. Chinese aid has been extended to Georgia and Azerbaijan as well.





Perhaps the most symbolically significant technology transfer between China and the Caucasus occurred in the aftermath of the aforementioned visit by the Armenian defense minister. In 1999 Armenia acquired  reportedly on favorable terms  Chinese NORINCO WM-80 multiple-launch rocket systems in what became the first Chinese military sale in the Caucasus and also Armenias first major weapons acquisition from outside the former USSR. In 2013, reports surfaced of further Armenian purchases of Chinese missile artillery.





During his March 2015 visit to China, Armenian President Serge Sargsyan emphasized the importance of continued bilateral military cooperation. The point was also stressed by the presence of Armenias first deputy defense minister David Tonoyan at the sixth Xiangshan Forum, co-sponsored by the China Military Science Society (CMSS) and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS), in October.





Predictably, Azerbaijan has in the past protested this cooperation but more recently Baku has expressed its own interest in the purchase of Chinese weapons systems, particularly those already acquired by Pakistan and Turkey.





Both Armenia and Azerbaijan also expressed interest in becoming observers in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security forum led by China and Russia. This mutual interest is notable in particular since, unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan has so far declined to join Russian-led security and economic organizations, namely the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, instead joining the Non-Aligned Movement several years ago (Armenia and China have an observer status at NAM). Georgia, for its part, remains focused on working toward NATO membership.





In spite of their divergent foreign policies, all three Caucasus states are committed to the one-China policy and attempt to court Beijings political support. China has remained politically neutral in the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, pointedly abstaining during a vote on the Karabakh conflict at the UN General Assembly in 2008. The same year, China notably refused to back Russia in its conflict with Georgia. The Caucasus will certainly remain on the margins of Chinas interest, but will continue to receive some attention as Beijings global profile rises.





China is far enough from the Caucasus not to be perceived by its states as a security concern in the foreseeable future. Instead, with plenty of threats evident to leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia closer to home, China is pursued as a major global partner that could have a stabilizing regional effect. Military cooperation with China appears to be of greater interest to Armenia than the two other states, but attracting economic cooperation and investments remains an overarching priority in their relations with China for all three Caucasus countries.





About the author - Emil Sanamyan writes about the politics and security in Eurasia with a focus on the Caucasus. He is based in Washington, DC area and tweets - Emil Sanamyan writes about the politics and security in Eurasia with a focus on the Caucasus. He is based in Washington, DC area and tweets @armen_reporter





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From Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen:

Please clap, Jeb Bush wryly told a subdued crowd in New Hampshire last week, a moment that epitomizes his problem.

The pundits call it lack of traction. Among too many voters its lack of interest.

If Jeb bombs in New Hampshire, hes done. Even if he doesnt quit the race, its over.

A year ago this scenario was unimaginable. He had more money, more brains, more connections and more governing experience than any other Republican wanting to be president. Like many people, I thought his nomination would be a slam dunk.

The gaseous rise of Donald Trump upended everything, but not only for Jeb. The other candidates had to scramble, too. Some did a better job.

Sure, Iowa is a silly place to start a presidential campaign. Its demographics are freakishly white, and the GOP electorate is anomalously dominated by evangelical Christians.

Still, Jeb spent plenty of time and money there, and wound up with only 2.8 percent of the vote. Thats miserably weak, and theres no positive spin.

Whats happening? The answer is, for better or worse: Not much.

More here.
@PatriciaMazzei

NASHUA, N.H. -- For 50 years Cuban exiles have dreamed of the day they would elect one of their own to be president of Cuba.

This year they might actually see one elected  to be president of the United States.

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both sons of Cuban immigrants, head into Tuesdays New Hampshire primary as two of the Republican Partys top contenders for the 2016 nomination. That one of them could win marks an exceptional feat for a community only two generations removed from political exile.

This race could come down to the two of them, said former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, a Florida Republican backing Jeb Bush for president who was the first Cuban-American in the U.S. Senate. Its really remarkable.

Last week, Cruz became the first Hispanic in history to win the Iowa caucuses. Together, he and Rubio took more than half the vote nearly 51 percent  in a state not known for its ethnic diversity.

Yet there were few headlines proclaiming Cruzs win and Rubios third-place finish as a victory for Latinos.

Where is the media on this, right? Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Tuesday on Fox News. I mean, this is a big deal.

It is. But Cruz and Rubio themselves didnt play it up. They dont campaign as trailblazing Hispanics.

More here.

Photo credit: Chris Carlson, Associated Press
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Thoughts on the military and military activities of a diverse nature. Free-ranging and eclectic. Blog ego cogito ergo sum.
Relocated

Muse Comics and Games recently moved to 2301 S. Higgins Ave. and will celebrate its 20th anniversary Feb. 12-14 with prizes and presents for its customers. On Saturday, there will be a free Magic the Gathering Game Day to highlight to the new set Oath of the Gatewatch. There is no cost to participate. For more information, call 543-9944 or visit musecomics.com.

New associates

Mike DeGrosky has joined the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in Missoula at its new fire and aviation bureau chief. He has over 38 years of wildland fire and incident management experience including various positions with the DNRC from 1982 to 1995. A graduate of the University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation, DeGrosky holds a masters degree in organizational leadership from Fort Hays State University and a Ph.D. in business administration from Northcentral University.

Botanie Soap welcomes Adam Bucy as its new sales and marketing director and Amber Hernandez as its manager of lead generation. Both are new positions to the company. Bucy was a financial adviser for Edward Jones from 2003-15 and also oversaw his own branch office. He holds an MBA from Webster University in St. Louis and a B.S. degree in finance from the University of Montana. Hernandez previously oversaw the marketing department for Education Logistics and prior to that was marketing director for Alpine Foot and Ankle Clinic. She has a B.S. degree in web design and multimedia. Botanie Soap is located at 2901 W. Broadway St., Suite D. Bucy and Hernandez can be reached at 728-7627.

Lydia Bryan is the DoubleTree Hotels new director of sales.

Astrid Oliver recently joined the Missoula division of Opportunity Mortgage. Oliver has worked in the Missoula mortgage industry since 1998. Her experience ranges from working with first-time homebuyer programs to jumbo loan programs. Oliver can be reached at 550-3587.

Shawn MacDonald recently joined the Opportunity Mortgage team in Missoula. MacDonald has a background in commodities markets, and has been in residential lending since 2009. He is a fourth-generation Montanan, from Missoula. MacDonald can be reached at 546-9181.

The Nest, a home for pregnant and parenting young women in St. Ignatius, has hired Amy (Stiffarm) Tall Bull to be the resident advocate. She is pursuing her master's degree in public health from the University of Montana. In 2012, she was the first graduate of the Bachelor of Life Science program at Salish Kootenai College. Tall Bull has served on the leadership team for the Native Youth Leadership Alliance, and is president of the Breastfeeding Coalition of the Mission Valley. The Nest plans to open in March.

Kris Sweeney has joined the escrow department at First American Title after 17 years of working in the health insurance field. She started with First American this fall and is its newest escrow officer. Sweeney is a member of the Missoula Red Coats and the breast cancer fundraising group Chicks n Chaps.

Promoted

Brandy Fowler was recently promoted to business development director at First Call Computer Solutions. Previously, Fowler worked as the Florida Division director for Robert Half International's Salaried Professional Division before returning to Montana in 2009. Previous to that, she was employed by a New York marketing firm and at the Montana World Trade Center. Fowler has been at First Call for almost seven years.

Hollie Zeier was promoted to account resolution supervisor position at Missoula Federal Credit Union. She has been with the credit union since 2004, and brings over nine years of experience in the account resolution department.

Ciara Zacha of First American Title Company has been promoted to escrow assistant. She joined the First American team this fall after completing her B.S. in marketing from the University of Montana Business School.

D.A. Davidson has announced the promotion of John Passuccio, a member of its Individual Investor Group in Missoula, to vice president, financial adviser.

Certification

Kris Hawkins with Properties 2000 has earned her certified residential specialist designation. She has been licensed since 2002 and is a broker/owner of Properties 2000.

The following Your Best Interest Restoration employees recently completed training to be certified as meth cleanup contractors: Jeff Wilson, Dan Hirning, Forestt T. Cooper, Jaydn Wilson and Jen Thorne.

Recognized

Amy Johnson was the top residential producer at Properties 2000 for January. She is a sales associate and specializes in residential sales.

Jim Wilson was salesperson of the month for January at RE/MAX All Stars in Missoula. Wilson has been licensed for 10 years and specializes in residential real estate as well as farm and ranch. He can be reached at 546-8617.

Achievement

Charles Charman, M.D., at Community Medical Center has recently completed and passed the selective process to achieve the Fellow in Hospital Designation by the Society of Hospital Medicine. This highly selective process recognizes a high commitment to hospital medicine by demonstrating engagement and dedication to quality care.

New member

Seth Foster of Lolo is a new junior member of the American Angus Association. Junior members are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in association-sponsored shows and other national and regional events.
BUTTE  The inspiration to start his own literary press came after Butte-born novelist Matthew R. K. Haynes got rejected by a literary agent on the East Coast.

Haynes submitted a manuscript in 2008 to his New York agent, who thought well enough of his work that she took the manuscript with her to the Hamptons, an affluent vacation destination on New York's Long Island, east of New York City.

Haynes felt flattered because his agent wanted to read his work while she was away for the Thanksgiving holidays.

But after reading Haynes' submission, she contacted him to say she loved the work, but found it too literary. She couldn't sell it.

"She said 'There's no way in hell I can sell this,'" Haynes said. "It broke my heart for the literary world. That it can be too literary didnt make sense to me."

Coming home

So Haynes decided it was time to change things. He moved back to Butte last year after a 22-year absence and started his own literary press, called Educe Press. Haynes says hes undaunted by his lack of business experience.

"I know writing and editing and I want to publish writing I thought should be out in the world and not really care about money."

Haynes said his plan is to publish two to three titles a year.

Educe Press plans to publish an international work of poetry Feb. 10. The chapbook  a small collection of poetry about 40 pages long  is called Home, No Home. The author, Naoko Fujimoto, a poet from Nagoya, Japan, received her college and graduate education at Indiana University at South Bend.

The chapbook, written in English, is the first in the Oro Fino Chapbook competition. Haynes intends to have a round of chapbook submissions each year.

This is not the first publication for Educe Press.

Robby Nadler's full-length book of poetry, Jesse Garon Writes a Love Letter, became the first Euduce Press publication, arriving in readers hands last spring. The book was nominated for the prestigious Lambda Literary Award.

Haynes has gotten some assistance with his venture, both here and abroad.

For help reading the submissions, he brought in two editors, Idaho-based Carrie Seymour and Butte-based Colin Cote. Cote works at the Butte Public Library.

The trio received over 400 submissions.

Haynes found a designer, Igor Zelenov, who lives in St. Petersburg, Russia, to design the book cover. Haynes met Zelenov when he was traveling through Butte this past fall.

Poet Diane Raptosh, previously long listed for the National Book Award for her book of poetry American Amnesiac in 2013, also helped Haynes and added prestige to his venture by judging the final selection of submissions. Haynes said he chose Raptosh because he admires her poetry.

"I thought she'd be a person who would find something that sparkled a little differently," Haynes said.

Labor of love

The endeavor is a labor of love for all involved. No one has gotten paid for their work.

Haynes, who read his work in Missoula on Jan. 30, published his first novel, Moving Towards Home, in 1999. He was a State of Idaho Writing Fellow in 2010. He published a second novel, Friday, last spring.

Graduating from Butte High School in 1992, Haynes left Butte when he was still a teenager by hopping a Greyhound bus to explore the West. He got a scholarship to Boise State University, where he received a bachelor of arts, master of arts, and master of fine arts degrees. Haynes has traveled the world, spending time in such far-flung places as Paris and Hawaii, but he's happy to be back home. He left his job teaching creative writing at Boise State to return to Butte to be closer to his mother, Kuuipo Haynes, after his father died.

To anyone who scoffs at the idea that Butte residents are not interested in new writing, Haynes might disagree.

He says the monthly reading series he started at the Imagine Butte Resource Center in Uptown Butte last winter, when he first arrived in town, brought out as many as 52 people at one of the readings.

"It was amazing," Haynes said "We never had less than 10 (audience members)."

He added that he's attended readings in large cities where only a handful of people came out to hear an author read literary work. Haynes said listeners came from all over Montana, as well as Butte, to attend the monthly reading series.

Literary tradition

Butte-born writer Edwin Dobb, who also relocated to Butte in middle age, is not surprised to learn that there is an independent literary press and a literary reading series here. He says the Mining City has a long-standing literary tradition, which connected residents to their Irish roots.

"Miners read poetry and wrote poetry. They told stories. They sang songs. That love of language kept the culture alive," Dobbs said via a Facebook message.

Dobb calls the love of poetry and literature in Butte an extension of "the oral tradition of the Irish and other ethnic groups," who migrated to Butte to go underground and work in the mines.

Haynes, who is part Hawaiian and part Irish, said it's great to be back in Butte. He said he felt anxious at first, in part because he was leaving behind such a vibrant artistic community in Boise. But, in time, he found things to love about Butte.

Ive always been curious about the idea of returning home, Haynes said. You can never see home the way you see it the first time.
The path to passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement between the United States and 11 other Asia-Pacific countries just became more complicated.

The Obama administration clearly hopes to gain congressional approval of the TPP agreement before President Barack Obama leaves office. U.S. trade representative Michael Froman traveled to New Zealand for a Feb. 4 signing ceremony with his counterparts from other TPP countries. As of this writing, Obama plans to sign the agreement Feb. 5 and submit it to Congress in March, starting the official clock for a vote later this year.

A monkey wrench was thrown into the administrations plans on Jan. 6, however. On that day, TransCanada Corp. announced it will sue the Obama administration in federal court and in an international arbitration body under NAFTAs investor-state dispute settlement rules, in response to the administrations denial of the XL pipeline to carry Canadian tar sands oil to U.S. refineries.

In its federal lawsuit filed in Houston, TransCanada alleges that the presidents decision to deny construction of Keystone XL exceeded his power under the U.S. Constitution by interfering with Congress power to regulate interstate and international commerce. The company notes that both chambers of Congress passed legislation approving construction of the pipeline, which was vetoed by the president.

The companys NAFTA case alleges the administration treated its XL pipeline application in a discriminatory fashion when it denied a permit, even though TransCanadas application was similar to other applications approved by this and previous administrations, and even though the State Department determined the pipeline would not substantially increase global greenhouse gas emissions.

TransCanada is seeking $15 billion in costs and damages from the U.S. Government in its NAFTA case.

The NAFTA dispute shines a spotlight on controversial provisions in NAFTA and TPP which allow foreign corporations  but not domestic ones  to sue for damages in international arbitration bodies, over and above any relief they may seek in domestic courts. Under these international proceedings, three appointed arbiters rule on the merits of cases, with no appeal of their decisions allowed and no requirement that they respect precedents set in other similar cases.

The United States so far has won all cases brought against it by foreign investors in international arbitration bodies  13 in all. But past is not always prologue. In this case, attorneys for TransCanada present evidence of past pipeline approvals, including some from the same tar sands and involving the same companies. They also cite public statements from senior administration officials noting the politicized nature of the pipeline application. Of course, the administration will respond with arguments of its own.

This case could not have come at a worse time for Obama. Under the timetable set by NAFTA, TransCanada may formally submit its claim to international arbitration 90 days after its Jan. 6 notice, or in April at the earliest. Its impossible to predict the outcome, which could take years to resolve. But the case certainly will sharpen criticism of TPP by its opponents.

The TPP faces an uphill climb in Congress, even without the latest complication. Legislation to speed its consideration in Congress passed by a narrow vote  and even failed in the House before ultimately passing. All leading presidential candidates oppose the agreement. And the administration is taking a big risk by asking Congress to vote on a trade agreement in an election year, the most sensitive time for members facing reelection.

Moreover, the United States isnt alone in facing new challenges to domestic approval of TPP. Japans economy minister, who led negotiations on the politically charged agreement for Japan, recently resigned under allegations of bribery unrelated to TPP. His departure from Prime Minister Abes cabinet seriously complicates the path to passage in Japan as well.

Despite the controversies surrounding some aspects of TPP, the agreement would open markets in Asia and Latin America to U.S. exports of agricultural products, manufactured goods, and services. That explains why Montanas stock growers and leading agricultural producers support the pact. Of course, if Japan fails to approve the agreement, some of the hoped-for benefits for U.S. exporters would be reduced.

Failure to pass TPP would be a blow to U.S. leadership in trade matters. But I argued some months ago (Missoulian May 3, 2015) that Congress and the administration would be well advised to drop investor-state dispute settlement provisions in order to increase chances of TPPs passage in Congress and its adoption in other countries.

TransCanadas lawsuits may force much-needed rethinking of this increasingly controversial feature of U.S. trade and investment agreements.

***

Joanna Shelton was deputy secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris; held senior positions in the executive branch and Congress in Washington, D.C.; and teaches at the University of Montana. You can reach her through her website, joannashelton.com.
HELENA  The state of Montanas most recent economic development report paints a rosy picture  unemployment rates between 3.9 percent and 4.4 percent, more than 10,000 jobs added and wages up 3.5 percent in the last year.

But certain segments of the state  especially Indian Country  arent doing as well, state Sen. Lea Whitford, D-Cut Bank, said last week.

Unemployment in Glacier County, which includes the Blackfeet Reservation, last December was 9.3 percent. In Big Horn County, more than half of which is the Crow Reservation, its 6.3 percent.

Pointing to a map during a presentation on economic development Friday, Whitford asked one of the states top economic development workers: Are you getting out into these communities?

How do we close that gap? Whitford asked. We talk about the unemployment rate and how it is dropping, but something is missing in that formula.

Gov. Steve Bullock last month touted his offices 2015 Economic Development Report, citing positives like job and income growth, and a good business environment. The report included success stories like Boeing buying and expanding a facility in Helena, SeaCast Inc. in Butte's joint venture with GE Aviation and an expansion at Calumet Montana Refining in Great Falls, but it made no mention of tribes or reservations.

The governors office said the report was intended to provide a statewide overview of economic development as it relates to specific industries  the report is organized by industry  and not call out specific areas of the state, which is why reservations werent in their own section.

Patrick Barkey, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, has been traveling around the state holding economic outlook seminars and presenting the bureau's inaugural Montana Economic Report.

We were presenting our economic outlook, and the same comment was made about our stuff, he said. We're looking at that and plan to react to that by doing better in the future."

He noted that BBER has done studies of tribal economies, "but they tended to be specialized reports." And the last big one "is about 10 years old."

He said statewide analyses often don't include tribes simply because of the way the data is structured  by county. "It doesn't line up with reservation lands."

***

Whitford said at a meeting of the Economic Affairs Interim Committee that she wants to make sure tribes, reservations and the rural part of the state arent forgotten in these reports.

She spoke after John Rogers, chief business developer for the state, gave a condensed presentation of the economic report generated by the governors office.

When we are talking about economic development opportunities, where they are spending their time and their effort, its important to tap into those areas, Whitford said. I really think we need to be looking at some of those communities that are very high in poverty rates.

Equity and collateral are two of the biggest hurdles to economic development on reservations, Rogers said.

Sean Becker, administrator of the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development, said there is a collateral paradigm in Indian Country.

Typically, people acquire net worth through investment in their home and borrow against their home or own land and borrow against that. That doesnt work when your business is built on tribal land or your home (is). There is no collateral, and there is no equity.

Rogers said the difference in commercial codes on and off the reservation also makes it hard to get loans.

Its difficult to finance equipment for a manufacturer or a private individual ... when you cant go in and legally secure equipment like you could if its off the reservation, he said.

He pointed to S&K Electronics Inc., established by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on the Flathead Reservation more than 30 years ago. S&K employs about 95 people and does contract manufacturing.

Rogers also said tribal colleges can be the answer to an anticipated drop in the states workforce over the next five years. He said Montana could have 24,000 to 40,000 older employees retiring and leaving the workforce.

He also said that Montana is a national leader in people who work from home, an area where he said theres potential for our Native Americans.

A lot of Native Americans want to stay close to their land; thats where they want to be.

Whitford said part of the problem is people who live on reservations or in rural Montana might not know the opportunities are there.

You have to apply, she said. People just dont know they have the opportunity to apply.

***

Whitford said shes asked how the states various economic development agencies get information out to the public and whether theyre effective at getting tribal government involved. She said the regional economic development offices could routinely come talk with tribal councils about upcoming opportunities.

There needs to be more communication out there for a lot of people, she said. Sometimes people just dont know. I say look at the road map and ask, Are you getting this information out into these communities? 

Becker said theres a four-person team thats part of the states Office of Native American Development, a part of the Department of Commerce, that works on economic development in Indian Country.

On Friday, that team was traveling as part of a six-week tour to meet with all eight tribal councils in the state  the Blackfeet, Chippewa Cree, Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Crow, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Little Shell Chippewa and Northern Cheyenne tribes.

Becker emphasized that all the economic development programs offered by the state apply as much in Indian Country as they do in the rest of Montana.

He referenced the Treasure State Endowment Program, a state-funded program open to local governments that helps pay for local infrastructure projects. Tribal councils can apply for money as well, he said.

There are also specific programs targeted toward improving the economy on reservations administered by the Office of Native American Development.

The Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant is meant to help bridge the equity gap Rogers referred to and provides money to be used by the grant recipient as equity. Up to $40,000 is available under that program.

The team also will meet with the banks that serve Indian Country, to make sure when they are considering loans to Indian-owned businesses that there are opportunities for the Montana Department of Commerce to shore up that financing profile.

Becker called collateral a fundamental gap in finance for Native American businesses on a reservation.

The Native American Collateral Support program can put in a deposit for the bank to hold in place of traditional collateral like land or a home, Becker said. The Big Sky Trust Fund Job Creation Grant can offer reimbursement on new hires so the business can have accounts receivable on their balance sheet. Workforce training programs can guarantee employees with the necessary skills.

Though many of the statewide programs have been around for years, some of the programs specific to Indian Country are new, Becker said. He said they will help increase the net worth of both businesses and people on the reservation, but its not something that will happen overnight.

These programs are small compared to the underemployment epidemic in Indian Country, he said. But they have the full support of chief elected officials, full support of the Montana Legislature, all of the resources of state government.

This is the first time weve ever had a collateral support program, the first time weve ever had Native American Business Advisers. Were making tremendous headway.
Despite Montanas strong public information laws, news organizations in many Montana counties, including Missoula, have long fought for the publics right to access the photographs taken of accused criminals when they are booked into jail.

Thanks to a recent district court ruling, that fight has been largely settled. Not surprisingly, public access triumphed. News media across Montana, including the Missoulian, will soon be able to publish booking photos along with relevant crime stories.

Booking photos  or mugshots in news industry parlance - are important public information. For one, photos are an engaging visual device that catches readers attention. When law enforcement want help locating a suspect, they often release a photo because many more people may recognize someone by face than by name. Further, reader recognition may help investigators make connections that would aide in prosecution  or defense.

Moreover, mugshots are useful tools for identifying individuals accurately. Two different people may share the same name, but its highly unlikely two people will share the same name and face.

Hopefully, the publication of booking photos will prove useful to law enforcement in another way: helping to deter crime. Perhaps if more people are worried about having their photos appear in news stories, more people will opt not to break any laws.

But mugshots dont indicate guilt or innocence any more than a name on a jail roster does. It means the individual pictured has been arrested and charged with a crime. Guilt or innocence will be determined in court.

In the meantime, Montanans have the right to know who in their community has been arrested and what crimes they are being charged with. Paying attention to such things is part of being an involved member of the community. It helps us keep our neighborhoods safe and our criminal justice systems accountable.

***

Unfortunately, until recently Montana law has been somewhat fuzzy on whether mugshots should be treated as confidential or public criminal justice information, with the result that each county has decided for itself whether to release booking photos. Notably, in counties like Broadwater and Yellowstone where photos are routinely released, there havent been any significant problems arising from public access of mugshots.

But in counties like Missoula, Gallatin, and Lewis and Clark counties, where mugshots have more often than not been treated as confidential, its been an ongoing source of contention.

On the one hand, Montana code lists fingerprints and photographs among the items considered confidential criminal justice information. On the other, booking photos also fall under the category of initial arrest information, which is considered public. News media and other open records advocates often point out that county sheriffs can and do release these photos when seeking the publics help identifying or locating a suspect.

Public information experts have reasonably argued that the confidentiality of photographs referred to in Montana statutes concern only those photos gathered in the course of an investigation  crime-scene photos and the like. Indeed, it takes some stretching to cover mugshots under this definition, yet thats just what some county attorneys in Montana have done.

This past October, District Judge Jon Oldenburg brought some much-needed perspicacity to the argument when he ruled that Park County must release the booking photo of Jovanne Lee Ashley, a registered violent offender charged with attempted deliberate homicide and aggravated assault, to the Livingston Enterprise.

The ruling set a statewide precedent because following Oldenburgs decision, Montana Attorney General Tim Fox declined to issue his own ruling. Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert requested in September that the Montana attorney general provide an official opinion on the matter of booking photos, but Fox declined in December, citing the Park County ruling.

***

The Attorney Generals Office considers the issue decided, but the details remain to be worked out.

Gallatin County, for one, appears to be digging in its heels; Lambert appears to be under the impression that media must file a motion and obtain a court order on an individual basis in order to gain access to a booking photo. This process is likely to drag on past the time a defendant would make an initial appearance in court, which is open to the public and news photographers.

Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst is being much more reasonable. She acted quickly and decisively to change the countys approach to releasing mugshots, and she recently informed the Missoulians editor that she is writing a formal county opinion on the matter. Already, she has told Missoula County Sheriffs Department that booking photos are part of arrest records and should therefore be considered public criminal justice information.

Pabsts reasoning appears to align with that of Fox, who told the Missoulian editorial board last week that when it comes to releasing mugshots, counties should err on the side of disclosure.

In certain cases, counties may have a compelling reason to withhold a booking photo that has evidentiary value, for example. But for the most part, releasing mugshots should be the default, Fox said.

The issues somewhat settled, he added.

The next Legislature should take steps to settle the issue completely. Montanas legislators should make sure that when it comes to treating mugshots as public information, every county in the state is on the same page.

The district court ruling and the attorney generals supporting statements may fall short of a decisive statewide legal opinion that would settle any future arguments once and for all. They do, however, mark a major victory for freedom of information in Montana. Now, its all over but the shouting.
Sen. Jennifer Fielder showed up in some recent Montana newspapers justifying the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by members of anti-government militia groups (opinion, Feb. 1).

It is not surprising that Fielder would whitewash this unlawful takeover attempt. Fielder has introduced multiple land takeover bills in Montana. She is associated with the American Lands Council, a Utah group, ALEC and Americans for Prosperity, political groups that push to give away our public lands to controlling interests in states.

According to a 2015 news article, it was revealed that Fielder employed on her legislative staff an aide who was an American Lands Council-paid staffer and lobbyist for the council. The Center for Western Priorities details the overlap that Fielder's policy agenda has with extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, Militia of Montana and Council for Conservative Citizens.

Sen. Debby Barrett has said that one of the reasons she tapped Fielder as vice-chair of the Montana GOP was Fielder's stance on these very issues. We can expect more of this unconstitutional legislation from Fielder and tea party colleagues (see Rep. Kerry White, Bozeman) in the next session despite overwhelming opposition from Montana citizens.

Fielder's words stand with the radical ideology of the self-defined "patriots" who use their alternate interpretation of the Constitution with dangerous and criminal actions  even as they reap benefits from the government.

The wildlife refuge in Oregon, land in Lincoln and other public lands that they claim as theirs belong to all Americans. Please be alert to these troublesome and extreme movements and their supporting candidates as you go to vote.

Pat Bradley,

Twin Bridges
ST. LOUIS  Within days of the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014, Maria Chappelle-Nadal huffed amid a crush of protesters, waving a cardboard cutout of the white governors face above her head.

Black community! she shouted. This is your governor! This is your governor that cant care less about the black community!

In the weeks and months that followed, DeRay Mckesson, a public school administrator turned activist, frequently provided blunt Twitter critiques of the police response in Ferguson.

SWAT vehicle pulls up. Officer emerges. Points gun at us. America, he wrote in one post.

Now Ms. Chappelle-Nadal and Mr. Mckesson are among a number of activists nationwide attempting to turn their raw activism into political muscle.
HAVAT GILAD, West Bank  The studio house offered recently for $111 a night on Airbnb is a breeze-block building slightly apart from its neighbors in this illegal settler outpost deep in the occupied West Bank. There are several rooms, sparely furnished and not completely finished, and a lot of junk outside, including empty ammunition crates used for storage. The views over the hills are of a Palestinian village, Farata, and another hilltop Israeli settlement, Ramat Gilad.

Ilana Shimon welcomed me and a photographer when we arrived in Havat Gilad, west of the city of Nablus, for an overnight stay. She and her husband, Yehuda, had planned a dinner, and visits with some of the 30 families who live in its cement-block houses, many of them prettied up with tiles and modern appliances, much as they had given German and Dutch couples who booked the place before.

But as we chatted with Mrs. Shimon in her kitchen, with the washing machine running and two of her eight children running about, a member of the regional settlers council called and told her not to let us stay. Intimidated by the intervention, Mrs. Shimon apologized. Im 40 now and I can see everything, she said, wringing her hands. What can I do? We need to respect our leadership.
There are only two kinds of people in this world: People who want to live their lives by their own rules People who want to tell others h...
Warning. Many plot descriptions for every film contain spoilers. In case you have not seen the film, skip the first paragraph describing solely the plot, and just read the review below, in the second paragraph .

Grades:

++++ Masterpiece+++ Excellent++ Good+ Watchable- Bad
During last weeks Rail Jam  Buttes first-ever snowboarding competition  beanie-clad youth gathered beneath the Mountain Con headframe to watch snowboarders and skiers show off their acrobatic skills.

There were 43 participants in total, some of whom traveled from as far as Oregon and Minnesota to compete.

Matthew Boyle, Rail Jam co-founder, said the competition was designed to give people something to do in Butte during winter and to create a sense of community.

However, there was a time in the Buttes past when such an event may have seemed overly decadent.

Butte went through some trying times in the 1980s when the last of its mines closed for business. At that moment, people were more concerned with keeping their jobs than they were with finding the latest in recreation.

Without the economy to sustain what was once a thriving city, many of Buttes historic Uptown buildings fell into disrepair, leaving behind swaths of blighted blocks.

Rocko Mulcahy served as a county commissioner from 2000 to 2008, 20 years after the Berkeley Pit closed. During his time as commissioner, countless problems seemed to fall on his doorstep, including Superfund cleanup challenges, the legacy of a declining mining industry, and the demise of the Montana Power Co.

The community was really in a state of panic and a state of shock, said Mulcahy. There was a lot of negativity in the town.

But thanks to a concerted effort to create a more diversified economy and some key players who have taken important steps in community development, the face of Butte is gradually starting to change.

As executive director of Buttes Local Development Corp. Pam Haxby-Cote puts it, Butte was once a mining city, but now its a city with a mine in it.

The following represents a few highlights in the effort to revitalize Butte, the challenges the Mining City continues to face, and the aspirations the communitys leaders have for the citys future.

Urban Renewal and Beyond

Kristen Rosa and Karen Byrnes are administrators for Butte-Silver Bows Community Development Department. Rosa oversees Buttes Tax Incremental Financing Industrial District while Byrnes directs the Urban Revitalization Agency in Uptown Butte.

Both districts use tax incremental financing to fund infrastructure projects. These can include everything from installing new sewer pipes to helping businesses construct new facilities.

When asked what they do for a living, the two administrators often find themselves at a loss for words.

According to Rosa and Byrnes, community development involves many intersecting spheres, including economic development, cultural enrichment, infrastructure improvements and the recruitment of new businesses.

Were involved in so many things, said Byrnes.

Its completely diverse, Rosa added.

In both Byrnes and Rosas districts, some exciting developments have happened over the years, including the construction of the $27-million NorthWestern Energy Building, plans for a parking garage in Uptown Butte, the revitalization of key historic buildings, and the recruitment of businesses to Montana Connections Business Development Park.

But when it comes to discussing community development in the Mining City, one of the most often discussed topics is arguably the revitalization Uptown Butte.

As administrator of the Urban Revitalization Agency, Byrnes' job is to oversee urban renewal projects within her district. She said the redevelopment of the Sears Building, Metals Bank and Hirbour Tower are high points in her career.

As Byrnes pointed out, the three buildings were once neglected, dilapidated structures but are now trendy, upscale residential and retail properties.

These large buildings that were basically vacant are now full of life, said Byrnes.

According to Hirbour Tower investor Fran Doran, when she bought the seven-story building in 2010, its only inhabitants were a few dead pigeons.

Doran purchased the tower with her partner Neil Egan, and the couple eventually partnered with developer Nick Kujawa.

When work on the tower began, everything needed to be updated, down to the studs, Doran said. But after a lot of sweat and manpower, the building was finally completely renovated in 2014 and now boasts upscale lofts.

However, revitalization isnt just happening in Uptown Butte. Its also happening on the Flat and the TIFID district too.

As The Montana Standard reported in December, 2015 was a big year for construction, especially on the Flat. New buildings include Buffalo Wild Wings on Harrison Avenue, Fairfield Inn & Suites near the Interstate 15-90 interchange, and Lisac's Tire warehouse on Wynne Street.

Rosa said two new buildings also went up in the TIFID district, including a distribution center and a building for SepticNET, which has additional space to rent.

As for 2016, Rosa hopes to establish a new Targeted Economic Development District near the Butte Industrial Park and connect the already existing TIFID district to potable water and Buttes fiber-optic network.

Urban Living: A Growing National Trend

Projects like the redevelopment of Hirbour Tower mark a growing cultural trend where people are taking an interest in urban landscapes, said Rosa and Byrnes.

In 2014, Nielson reported that urban migration is especially prevalent among millennials, who are foregoing suburban life in favor of a more urban lifestyle.

Sixty-two percent indicate they prefer to live in the type of mixed-use communities found in urban centers, the authors wrote. As a result, for the first time since the 1920s, growth in U.S. cities outpaces growth outside of them.

Rosa and Byrnes agreed that Butte is well situated to take advantage of this trend, which is also prevalent among Baby Boomers who no longer wish to shovel snow or mow lawns.

Weve got the infrastructure, the resources and the opportunities for it to happen, said Byrnes. It can happen here much easier than it can happen in other places. We can grow back into ourselves.

Rosa and Byrnes hope to attract a younger generation to the Mining City, a sentiment echoed by Haxby-Cote:

I want to see young professionals walking up and down the street of Butte-Silver Bow, said Haxby-Cote. I want to see the top floors of buildings developed and have a healthy, thriving economy.

Another trend Byrnes and Rosa want to take advantage of is millennials lust for technology and access to high-speed Internet. The two hope that Buttes 2GB fiber-optic network can attract startup entrepreneurs and freelancing telecommuters.

You can work for Boeing out of your house in Butte as easily as you can work for Boeing living in Bellevue, Washington, said Rosa.

Butte-based company MERDI officially unveiled the fiber optic network in 2014 and cited the technology as the first of its kind in Montana. Since 2013, the Butte School District, public library and fiber-optic company Fatbeam have hooked up to the network.

Art and Science of a Diversified Economy

According to Haxby-Cote, the fiber-optic network helps diversify Buttes economy. However, another sphere contributing to the citys diversification is Buttes art and culture scene.

As Boyle pointed out, Butte boasts a plethora of festivals, including the Montana Folk Festival, Evel Knievel Days and An Ri Ra. Boyle said these cultural events are important for improving residents quality of life, but they also have an economic impact, too.

Its not just people playing music on stage, said Boyle. Its people staying at hotels and eating at restaurants.

In Olivia Everetts mind, however, art and culture create something much more intangible.

Everett is the creative director of Butte Art Works Project, which is housed in the Phoenix Building of the Imagine Butte Resource Center. She said having a place like Imagine Butte  which serves as a collaborative space for artists, writers and other creatives  helps people encounter a third place outside the realm of family and work.

She added that such spaces create a sense of community and ultimately enrich the lives of residents.

Ongoing Community Development Challenges

Community developers interviewed by the Standard had a lot to say about the exciting changes in Butte, and many of them expressed great optimism about the citys future.

However, what wasnt lost on them was Buttes ongoing challenges.

In Dorans mind, urban renewal projects are important because such efforts preserve the citys cultural history. For Doran, that history is encapsulated by a spirit of survival, from the Irish miners who migrated to Butte looking for a better life to the citizens who struggled to rebuild the citys economy after the decline of those very same mines.

However, Doran also said that Buttes citizens should match their nostalgia with a forward-thinking attitude if the city is to continue to improve.

Part of our problem may be that we look too much to the past instead of looking to the future, said Doran.

She thinks Butte is in need of more amenities, not only for local families and children but also for visitors who could potentially spread the word about Buttes recreational scene.

Several of the community developers cited Buttes reputation as one of the citys challenges.

According to Boyle, Butte has a bit of an image problem, given the Berkeley Pits Superfund designation and Buttes rough-and-tumble past as a mining town.

Boyle said he sees this roughneck image as a stereotype and believes that people have to experience Butte for themselves to see that its a friendly place.

Rosa, Byrnes and Haxby-Cote all said their challenge is raising awareness about Butte.

I dont have enough capacity to tell everyone what a good place Butte is to live, work and play, said Haxby-Cote.

The size of our community doesnt lend itself to people knowing what assets we have, said Rosa Its an education process.

Weve been working really hard to figure out how to educate, added Byrnes.

But for Everett, Buttes greatest challenge is its lack to safe, affordable housing for low-income families and renters.

Despite whatever challenges they face, a reoccurring theme among the community developers was a need for collaboration among Buttes citizens and leadership.

According to Haxby-Cote, such collaboration is needed for the continued improvement of the city.

Not one of these members can do it on their own, said Haxby-Cote, referring to the members of the Butte Economic Development Coordinating Council.

Its never just one entity that makes a project successful, said Rosa. Its always a partnership.
After meeting two years earlier while being seated next to each other on a flight from Bozeman to Denver, the setting for Lindee Peterson and Ben Englehart's wedding was "The Barn" at the scenic Evergreen Memorial Park in Evergreen, Colorado, on Nov. 21, 2015. Officiating the ceremony was their Denver minister and a friend of the groom, Scott McCall.

Parents of the bride are Gregg and Amanda Peterson of Butte, Montana, and the groom's parents are Ron and Catherine Englehart of Rochester Hills, Michigan. Grandparents in attendance were the bride's grandmother, Phyllis Burns of Butte and Montana and Elfriede Englehart of DeFord, Michigan. The groom's grandmother, LaVerne Szych, from Clinton Township, Michigan, was unable to attend but was certainly in the hearts of the wedding couple. Other guests who attended the ceremony came from Montana, Michigan, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Kansas, Alaska, Texas, Washington, the Marshall Islands and other locations.

Serving as maid of honor was Kristine Fader, and best man was the groom's brother, Will Englehart. Bridesmaids were Jodi Blixt, Jessie Looney, Maura Lynch, Callie Pomroy, Ana Schwander and Meghan Strozzi. Groomsmen were Tom Benedict, Jason Lewis, Evan O'Rourke, Andrew Rose, Nate Skinner and Parker Tipton. Guests were seated by the bride's brothers, Dustin and Geoff Peterson. The flower girl and ring bearer were a niece and nephew of the bride, cousins Aubrey and Quinn Peterson. Special readings were given by friends Kari Lee and Jason Williams.

Instead of a wedding cake, gourmet cupcakes were made as their wedding gift to the couple by the bride's roommates, Martine Gould and Joy Bamford.

The reception took place at The Barn in Evergreen, Colorado, with the bride's brother, Geoff Peterson, acting as the disc jockey.

Mrs. Englehart is a 2005 graduate of Butte Central High School in Butte, Montana, and the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Lindee graduated with a Bachelors of Science in nursing and currently works as a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado. Ben is a 2002 graduate of Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. Ben graduated with a Bachelors of Science in international business with a concentration in finance and currently works for the third-party administrator Gold Leaf Partners in Denver.

The newlyweds live in Denver, Colorado, and will take a honeymoon trip to Belize in February.
KALISPELL (AP)  Tyson Niewoehner simply smiles when asked how he and his wife Shelley will celebrate Valentine's Day this year.

He already demonstrated his love for Shelley in a way very few men ever have a chance to experience: He gave her a kidney.

The couple underwent the transplant operation Nov. 18, 2015, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, and the two continue to recover at their Bigfork-area home.

Tyson insists it was no big deal. You see a loved one suffering and you do whatever it takes to make it better.

"I think a lot of people would do it," he said about donating his kidney. "When you see what they go through on dialysis."

He had witnessed his wife transformed from an active outdoors enthusiast to a subdued patient going through dialysis three times a week.

"Her body was completely zapped," Tyson recalled. "I had this picture of her going through all that."

Shelley was born with reflux nephropathy, a condition in which the kidneys are damaged because urine backflows from the bladder into the kidneys. The condition didn't give her any trouble growing up  she didn't even know she had it  and she gave birth to two daughters, now ages 22 and 23, without any problems.

The condition gradually began to affect her health. She was diagnosed in 2007 and by June 2012 began dialysis.

"I was pretty sick," she recalled.

Shelley was immediately placed on the organ donor registry but knew the odds of finding a donor weren't in her favor. More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for kidneys. On average, 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

Even more sobering, 13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.

Tyson then began exploring whether he could be a donor and found he has O positive blood, which is compatible with Shelley's O negative blood. Through cross-matching, a sensitive test performed on both the kidney donor and recipient, doctors can determine whether or not the recipient of a kidney will respond to the transplanted organ.

Doctors at a Spokane hospital declined to do the transplant, taking a more conservative approach to the cross-matching analysis. The Niewoehners then went to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City where physicians gave a favorable nod to the transplant.

The couple wanted another opinion, though, and opted for the Seattle hospital where the transplant later was completed.

There was a time lapse of about eight months because Tyson's initial blood tests showed a small amount of blood was spilling into his urine. It's not an uncommon thing to happen and can be caused by a urinary tract infection or even heavy physical labor.

When Tyson's blood tests showed the condition had corrected itself, the surgery was a go.

Tyson underwent counseling and a psychological evaluation "to make sure you're in the right state of mind," he explained. "They want to make sure you're not pressured. The doctor said, 'You can stop any time you want to until you go under'" the anesthesia.

He never doubted he would go through with the organ donation.

"I came out of it feeling amazing," Shelley said about the surgery aftermath. "He came out looking pretty rough."

Tyson rebounded quickly, though, and learned afterward that doctors described the kidney he donated as "robust."

"They said it was a powerhouse kidney," Shelley beamed.

Instead of removing one of her kidneys, doctors spliced in Tyson's kidney, leaving her with three kidneys.

"I have a kidney bump," she said, showing a slight bulge on her stomach where her husband's kidney protrudes.

After the Niewoehners were released from the hospital, Shelley was re-hospitalized for several days after she experienced surgery-related intestinal problems.

The couple was able to come home for the Christmas holiday season but have traveled to Seattle every two weeks for checkups.

"After the three-month mark, they can release you to the local hospital," Shelley said.

In early February, Tyson will be able to return to his job with Halliburton. He works with an oilfield fracturing crew in the Williston, North Dakota, area.

Shelley's parents, Dick and Lillian Levi of Bigfork, traveled to Seattle to lend their support during the transplant surgery, and Shelley's daughters, Taylor and Riley, also were there to offer support.

"I had faith that everything would turn out," Lillian said. "I'd been praying for a long time for Shelley. If I didn't have a belief system, I probably would've been a basket case."

Both the Levis and Niewoehners are feeling blessed by the outcome.

"He's a pretty amazing guy," Shelley said about her husband. "He never had any doubts."
BOZEMAN (AP)  For a 19th century mountain man, Jim Bridger has been getting a lot of attention these days.

Depicted in the Oscar-nominated film "The Revenant," directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and based on the book by Michael Punke, a teenage Bridger plays a naive trapper immersed in a world of ruthless men and mountains on the Western Frontier.

Inarritu's sweeping vision of the American West plays a central role in the "The Revenant." Though much of the filming was completed in British Columbia, the stark landscapes will ring true for any viewer that has delved into Montana's backcountry.

Among the earliest of those explorers was Bridger, for whom the mountains looming north and east of Bozeman are named. Bridger's mark on Montana winds across the land like the wagon trains that followed him, but how much is really known about the man? Who did the young trapper portrayed in "The Revenant" become?

James Felix Bridger was born on March 17, 1804, in Richmond, Virginia. His father, Patrick Henry Bridger, was a land surveyor and a farmer. Bridger's mother operated a highway inn that catered to travelers.

In 1812, the Bridger family sold the farm and inn and moved west to a farmstead near St. Louis. The town was in its infancy in the early 1800s but provided a healthy amount of work for Patrick Henry. The country was not as kind to Bridger's mother, who was confined to the home in the winter of 1815 and died during the heat of summer of 1816. That winter, Bridger's youngest brother would join his mother in death. Heartbroken, Patrick Henry died in the summer of 1817.

At the age of 13, Bridger was forced to seek any kind of employment he could find. Adept with a paddle, Bridger began trapping from his canoe along the river near the family farm. The spirit of adventure that the river exposed him to would grip his spirit and develop a drive that would lead him West.

In 1822, Bridger, at the age of 17, was hired to support General William Ashley's Upper Missouri Expedition. It was on Ashley's expedition that Hugh Glass  the central character in "The Revenant"  was brutally mauled by a grizzly bear. Bridger and fellow party member John Fitzgerald would volunteer to stay with Glass until his death but abandoned him after an attack by Arikara Native Americans. Glass would survive and seek revenge. In what would become a recurring theme in Bridger's life  through cunning, luck or otherwise  Bridger was spared Glass' wrath.

Following the Upper Missouri Expedition, Bridger would become among the first white men to set eyes on the Yellowstone region. During the winter of 1824-25, Bridger set out on a trapping expedition north of Wyoming's Teton Range.

"Bridger, with a small party, followed the Snake River to its very source, and wandered around for some time in what is now known as Yellowstone National Park; and he evidently became fascinated with the wonders of the country," Charles G. Coutant wrote in "History of Wyoming."

Bridger led the party over Sylvan Pass to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. He was struck by the warm waters of the Firehole River, the expanse of Yellowstone Lake, and the unusual extrusion of Obsidian Cliff. His descriptions of the region's hissing fumaroles and spouting geyser were dismissed by many fellow trappers, but as more and more explorers visited the area his stories became accepted as fact.

Later in 1825, Bridger would become the first explorer to taste the waters of the Great Salt Lake in present-day Utah. He believed the lake may have been an inlet of the Pacific Ocean.

The following year, Bridger traveled north through Yellowstone. He followed the Yellowstone River, eventually making his way by the present-day mountain range that bears his name. His party headed west to the headwaters of the Missouri River near Three Forks. It was on this expedition that Bridger may have met Robert Meldrum of John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company.

Four years later, in 1830, Bridger and several other trappers would purchase the Rocky Mountain Fur Company from Bridger's former employer William Ashley. Bridger's involvement in the fur trade would lead him on expeditions across the West, and he acquired an intimate and rare knowledge of the land and the Native Americans that inhabited it. He learned to speak in several native tongues and married his first wife, a Flathead Indian woman, in 1835, and had three children with her.

In 1843, Bridger and his partner Louis Vasquez established a trading post on the banks of the Blacks Fork of the Green River in Wyoming. Later named Fort Bridger, the post would serve the wagon trains and settlers heading west on the Oregon Trail.

After the death of his first wife in 1846, Bridger would marry the daughter of a Shoshone chief, with whom he had three more children. She died in childbirth in 1849. Bridger married again in 1850, this time to Shoshone chief Washakie's daughter. The couple would have two more children.

As the Oregon Trail continued to see increased use, Bridger in 1850 sought a more direct route. He pioneered a trail over what would become Bridger's Pass, which reduced the distance of the Oregon Trail by 61 miles. Bridger's route was later used by the Union Pacific Railroad, and modern observers will recognize it as Interstate 80.

The discovery of gold in 1863 at Virginia City's Alder Gulch brought waves of pioneers hoping to strike it rich. The Bozeman Trail led to the gold fields but was notoriously dangerous, passing through lands treatied to the Sioux. The Bridger Trail, established in 1864, offered a safer alternative.

"The Bridger Trail went west of the Big Horn Mountains and passed through what is Bridger, Montana, the town southwest of Billings," Rachel Phillips of the Gallatin History Museum said Wednesday. "Then the trail went up the Yellowstone River and the Shields River by Wilsall and over the Bridger Mountains."

Phillips said Bridger's name now appears on many landmarks and place names in Montana but that the history of how those names came to be adopted is hard to know.

"A lot of place names have Indian origins, and a lot were named for early explorers like Jim Bridger and John Bozeman," Phillips said, "people that made their mark on the area early on."

Bridger's health began to fail him after serving as an army scout during the first Powder River Expedition against the Sioux and Cheyenne in northern Wyoming. He left the West for his boyhood home in Missouri in 1868, suffering from goiter, rheumatism and other ailments. Bridger died near Kansas City, Missouri, on July 17, 1881.

Known during his lifetime for embellishing some of his tales, Bridger's stature and status as a mountain man surely grew following his death, but his influence on Montana and the American West cannot be overstated.

"Lots of things are named for Bridger  Bridger, Montana, Bridger Creek  he came out West to be a fur trapper and looking for adventure," Phillips said.

He found it.
KALISPELL (AP)  After gaining recognition as Snowboarder Magazine's 2016 Big Mountain Rider of the Year, Jason Robinson celebrated the capstone in his career by settling into plush new digs  an aluminum box.

For Robinson, a 31-year-old Whitefish native who divides his time squarely between riding epic big-mountain lines in Alaska and British Columbia, train-hopping his way to the National Hobo Convention in Iowa, traveling internationally, and starring in high-profile film edits that anchor some of the industry's top-ranked productions, life inside the box isn't much of a departure from the one he's created outside of it.

The 8-by-16-foot repurposed storage container measures 116-square-feet inside. It sits on a trailer that Robinson tows behind his '91 Dodge Ram, which is retrofitted with a dual-fuel diesel line that runs on vegetable oil. A solar array affixed to the roof generates his electricity, and a shoebox-sized, hyper-efficient gas stove designed for a sailboat heats the interior.

To be sure, the new mobile abode is a step up from the tent he'd been living in on a friend's farm in West Valley. Having not paid rent in two years, it affords him the opportunity to travel at leisure, chasing snow and surf in classic dirt-bag style while mounting a professional snowboarding resume that is suddenly outpacing a magic beanstalk in its rise to prominence.

"Sometimes to think outside the box, you have to move into one," Robinson said on a recent January morning, a couple weeks shy of his planned departure for an avalanche-safety seminar in British Columbia.

Robinson's journey out of and into the box has been a tumultuous one, and at one point he nearly gave up on his dream to snowboard professionally, joining the humdrum of the rat race until his younger brother and best friend Aaron Robinson shook him out of complaisance.

It wasn't until Aaron's tragic death in a snowboarding accident in 2011 that Jason would begin to transcend the malaise that might have derailed his dreams. But in life, and in death, his younger brother has always pushed him.

"I went to school and was working a day job at Mount Shasta (California), and every once in a while Aaron would pass through on his way to some snowboarding event," Jason said. "His spirits and ambition were so high. That gave me the jump start to get back into snowboarding on a more committed level. He was living the life he wanted whereas I was living the life I felt like I should be living."

Perhaps it's not surprising that Robinson bootstrapped his professional snowboarding career out of humble origins. Born of a foundation that has endured cracks and fissures and unimaginable tragedy, its dazzling trajectory has also healed stronger over time, like a broken bone.

And Robinson has finally tapped its marrow.

On a recent powder day on Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort, Robinson's hometown ski hill that doubled as a daycare center for him and his brothers growing up, he effortlessly threw backflips off dump truck-sized cliffs, navigated tight tree lines with aplomb, and spun inverted circles off side-hit features that nobody else could see  literally. The terrain was obscured by an impenetrable fogbank, the contours blotted out by ice-encrusted goggles and a barrage of chalky face-shots.

But Robinson's intimate, intuitive knowledge of Big Mountain allowed him to peer through the miasma and envision the winter wonderland that sculpted his snowboarding talents and defined his formative years, scanning the slopes as though with x-ray vision, riding on instinct.

It's all about instinct. At times Robinson has ignored it, and at other times it's probably helped him avoid injury or even death  like when he's backed off a questionable line with a film crew on hand. But one thing is clear: instinct is a big part of what's led Robinson out of  and into  the box.

Robinson started snowboarding when he was 9 years old, and he and Aaron were quickly swept up in the sport's momentum, pushing one another while looking toward Big Mountain's old guard of talented snowboarders for guidance.

It wasn't long before the Robinson brothers were entering a league of their own, earning sponsorships from established and emerging companies and honing their freestyle skills at their local hill.

But as Aaron began to pursue big mountain riding and gain attention while competing at a higher level, Jason wasn't seeing the same results. He fell into the workaday grind and started planning for a future that wasn't dominated by snowboarding.

"I started thinking that maybe the moment had passed," he said. "But then I saw how much fun my brother was having pursuing his dream and it really pulled me out of my own head."

By 2010, Jason was riding for Lib Tech and Dakine, among other top names in the industry, being paid in the currency of free snowboarding product and admission to freestyle competitions. He had fallen in with film companies like Think Thank and People Films, specializing in urban missions, backcountry lines and everything in between.

Meanwhile, Aaron had just won the North Face Masters of Snowboarding, which he would go on to win the following year. As a team rider for K2 Snowboarding, Volcom and Airblaster, Aaron was also spending time riding big mountain lines in Chile, filming and shooting with K2.

On July 19, 2011, while on an expedition in Chile, Aaron died tragically in a snowboarding accident at a popular backcountry area known as Santa Teresita, adjacent to the El Colorado ski area. He was 24.

The shock of Aaron's death rocked Jason, who couldn't comprehend the loss. To deal with the grief, Jason committed himself to snowboarding more than ever before.

"The grief of losing Aaron definitely drove me deeper into snowboarding. It was so sudden and gnarly, and I didn't know how to channel those emotions. Snowboarding became like a drug. It was all I did," he said.

Jason threw himself further into snowboarding, pushing himself to ride harder than ever.

In 2013, he placed third at the legendary Mount Baker Banked Slalom in Washington, which put him on the map.

Still, Robinson  whose transient lifestyle occasionally takes him off the grid and had him spending one recent summer living on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation  almost missed the call from vaunted cameraman and director Justin Hostynek, of Absinthe Films.

Hostynek tapped Robinson to join the crew for two months in Haines, Alaska, heli-boarding big mountain lines for the upcoming production of the celebrated edit "Dopamine."

The only problem was that Robinson would have to come up with $20,000 to pay for the expedition.

"I didn't have the funds, so I asked Justin if he could front me," Robinson said. "It was scary, because I knew I might spend the entire two months tumbling down the mountains and I'd still be out 20 grand. Fortunately, I felt solid and ended up with the opening part."

After three seasons riding and shooting in Alaska, including parts in the praised Absinthe film "Eversince," Robinson said he's become addicted to heli-boarding and big-mountain lines.

But he's never lost sight of his roots, without which he wouldn't have developed into the same person, or the same caliber of snowboarder.

"More than anyone in my life, Aaron has had the biggest influence on me, as a snowboarder and as a human being. It's crazy to think about, but as much as he influenced me in life, his influence has probably grown in his death," Robinson said.

The recent accolades from Snowboarder Magazine were a welcome surprise, he said, particularly because the honor was bestowed on him by his peers - in addition to winning the Big Mountain Rider of the Year award, he also placed fourth overall for all-around Rider of the Year.

"J-Rob may be the most underrated snowboarder in history," pro snowboarder Eric Jackson said, employing Robinson's nickname.

"Jason is sick. I've traveled with him only a couple times and he's loose and it's rad to see him charge so hard after seeing how mellow and humble he is in real life," said Quebec-born snowboarder Louif Paradis.

Austrian powerhouse Wolfgang Nyvelt added to the kudos: "The first time I saw Jason ride in person I could see that he had some kind of special gift. He rips any kind of terrain but his approach to natural features and big mountains is so unique you never can tell what he will come up with," he said. "One of my favorite riders of all time for sure."

Reflecting on the past five years, Robinson acknowledges that the learning curve has been steep, both as a snowboarder trying to find purchase in a volatile industry, and as a person trying to pursue his dream.

As Robinson massages the final parts into his new home, affectionately called "Le Box," and prepares to embark on another winter's worth of travel, he's confident that moving into such a tiny space is going to allow him to live bigger than ever.

"What happens outside the box is going to be as essential to the adventure as what happens inside," he said.
Daniel C. Murphy died on Jan. 27, 2016, in Denver, Colorado, after a long and courageous battle with Lymphoma.

Dan was born on Dec. 18, 1948, in Butte, Montana, to Irene (McGee) and James "Jaula" Murphy. He was the youngest of three siblings. He was raised on the Flats and educated in local Catholic schools, where he was known as "Big Murph" to the grade school nuns. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Virginia in 1972, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana Law School in 1976.

Dan met success early in his career in private practice when he made partner in the Helena law firm of Gough, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman. In the early 1980's, Dan joined Meridian Minerals, a subsidiary of the Burlington Northern Railroad, where he served as general counsel. Most recently, Dan was general counsel for Tuff Shed, Inc., where he played an integral part of the team that grew Tuff Shed from a small start-up to a successful national company. Dan lived in Denver for the past 30 years, and though he greatly enjoyed the many friends and the big city lifestyle he had, he was always proud of his Butte, Montana heritage.

Dan's picture is in the dictionary under the definition of "history buff", as he was an avid reader with a passion for history. He was also a lover of the arts, especially classical music, and often traveled to hear symphonies in New York and other cities. He was a world traveler and had friends in many different countries.

A giving man, he supported a number of charities and community groups, including teaching English as a second language to those seeking citizenship.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Jaula Murphy.

Dan is survived by his brother, Jim (Sandy) Murphy of Mesa, Arizona; sister Luann (Bud) Petersen of Spokane, Washington; eight nephews and nieces and their spouses; and 14 great-nieces and nephews in Montana, Idaho, Arizona, Washington and Alaska.

Dan has been cremated and, by his request, no memorial will be held.

Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com.
Starfish fossil discovery focus of talk

The Montana Tech Public Lectures Series presents Starfish in the Sundance Sea: Jurassic Asteroidea Fossils from South Montana at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Mineral Museum on campus.

Jay Gunderson of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology will discuss his discovery of several Jurassic-age (approximately 160 million years old) starfish fossils in the Pryor Mountains in the summer of 2010.

Starfish fossils are rare, and few have been found in North America. The Pryor Mountain site produced over 20 specimens and at least four different species of starfish, representing one of the most diverse collections of Jurassic Asteroidea fossils in the world.

Gunderson, a research geologist, studies energy resources and regional subsurface geology. Previously, he worked 18 years as a geologist and petrophysicist.

Visitors may park beside the Chemistry and Biology Building and in the tiers the south. Handicapped parking is at the elevator access beside the Museum Building and beside the Chemistry and Biology Building.

Smart Driving Course offered at center

An AARP Smart Driving Course is being offered from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Belmont Senior Center, 615 E. Mercury St.

This includes one hour for lunch. For details and to register, call Nancy Gibson at 406-723-7773.

Dance planned Feb. 14 at Star Lanes

The Butte Dance Group is sponsoring a Valentines Day dance from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Star Lanes Family Center, 4600 Harrison. Music will be by The Highlites. The band plays all types of music, including waltz, Latin, polka, country and swing.

Tickets are $10. Everyone is welcome. Details: 406-494-3251.

Night of Old World Cuisine Feb. 20

The Circle of Serbian Mothers clubs annual Night of Old World Cuisine will be Saturday, Feb. 20, at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Parish Center, 2100 Continental Dr.

A no-host cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7. Music will be by Bob Kovacich. The menu includes salad, klobase, lamb, sarma, cicvara, bread and vegetables, apple strudel, povitica, baklava, priganica, and complementary wine with dinner.

The cost is $30 per person, and seating is limited. Reservations are due by Monday, Feb. 15, by sending payment to Rosalie Butorovich, 2225 Fairway Ave., or by calling 406-723-8233 or 406-782-4652.

Watershed committee to discuss elk wintering

Big Hole Watershed Committee will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Divide Grange, Highway 43, Divide. The topic will be elk wintering and private lands.

The speakers include Craig Fager and Vanna Boccadori of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. They will discuss the issue as well as potential management actions for landowners.

Details: 406-960-4855.

Library to host artists reception

A photographic exploration of reading by Larry Blackwood titled Lectio is on display at the Carle Gallery in the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway.

A reception for Blackwood is from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the library. The artist will talk at 2 p.m. Details: 406-723-3361.

Dillon library hosts Valentine party

DILLON  The Dillon Public Library is having a Valentine party from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. There will be cookies and punch, games, crafts, stories and more. If you're coming, call 406-683-4544, reply on Facebook, or stop by the library at 121 S. Idaho St.
Kathleen J. Bryan, criminal justice reporter for The Montana Standard, has won a fellowship to attend a symposium on crime in America.

The fellowship from the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City will enable Bryan to attend the 11th annual H.F. Guggenheim Symposium on Crime at the college later this month.

The fellowship was based in part on a proposal from Bryan to tackle a reporting project on the subject of methamphetamine. Bryans stories will run in The Montana Standard.

Bryan was one of 21 crime writers nationwide selected for fellowships.

The symposium, titled Making Room for Justice: Crime, Public Safety and the Choices Ahead for Americans, will explore the prospects for criminal justice reform as the country heads into a presidential campaign cycle.

The coming year is shaping up as another crossroads moment for reform in our justice system, said Stephen Handelman, director of the Center on Media, Crime and Justice. This years symposium will add an important dimension to the debate on where we go from here.

Bryan has been a Standard staffer for a year. Before coming to The Standard, she was based in North Dakotas oil patch for 18 months working as a reporter and photographer at a small daily and at Fargo, North Dakota-based Forum News Service.

A native of the nations capital, Bryan also worked as an editor for the Gazette newspapers, owned by the Washington Post Co. and shuttered in June 2015.

Bryan has a bachelors degree in photojournalism from Syracuse University and a masters in interactive journalism from American University.
A 25-year-old McAllister man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Montana Highway 84 in Bozeman over the weekend, authorities said.

Spencer Shrader was identified as the victim in the fatal crash, which was reported at 11:32 a.m. Saturday by a Montana Department of Transportation employee, according to a Gallatin County Sheriff's Office media release.

The Madison County man was traveling westbound on Norris Road outside the Four Corners area when his vehicle veered to the north side of the roadway, the Montana Highway Patrol reported. Shrader overcorrected, rolled down an embankment, and was ejected from the vehicle.

Shrader was not wearing a seat belt. The Highway Patrol said road conditions at the time of this year's ninth fatality were unknown. It is also not known if alcohol and speed were contributing factors.

The crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol and the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.
We heard some heartening statistics about Buttes economy at the Bureau of Business and Economic Researchs annual economic outlook seminar last week.

Population has risen  slightly but steadily  for the past nine years. Employment is showing similar modest growth, although our jobless rate remains slightly above the states healthy rate of 4 percent.

Our local economy is relatively diverse, with growth in health care  a trend mirrored at the state level  compensating for losses in some other sectors, including government.

Of course, the fact that the seminar was held in NorthWestern Energys new building is an encouraging sign in itself. The new corporate headquarters is a showplace, and what it represents  the companys long-term commitment to Butte  is the best sign of all.

Other projects currently under construction around town are also bright spots  including the expanded headquarters of Town Pump, the new Fairfield Inn and Suites, Montana Techs Natural Resources Research Center, a Pizza Ranch, and a much-expanded Mackenzie River Pizza.

But while were not losing economic ground, were not gaining a whole lot, either.

These things could speed us along in the right direction:

Short term: Gather Buttes disparate economic-development efforts behind the energetic leadership of Pam Haxby-Cote at Butte Local Development Corp. The more air beneath BLDCs wings, the better. The BLDC has the energy, know-how and know-who to take Buttes development to the next level. From its smart promotional campaign to its efforts to lure new business enterprises and nurture the ones already here, it must be widely supported.

Medium term: Take every possible step to integrate Montana Tech with the community as a whole. Techs goals should be Buttes, and vice versa. Its not just the students and facultys purchasing power we should covet but the brainpower too. The more Tech students fall in love with the Butte experience, the more of them will come back to start businesses. And Techs formidable faculty should be engaged in research that directly enhances the town  finding better ways to treat Berkeley Pit water, for example, or solving the hydrological puzzle of Upper Silver Bow Creek, from which must come both enhanced stormwater retention and a free-flowing stream.

Long term: Demand and secure from the Environmental Protection Agency the Superfund cleanup we need and deserve. Nothing is more pivotal to the long-term future of the town. We must maintain the momentum that has been developed over the past year in the community, and we should not back off one inch from demanding a thorough remedial cleanup and restoration that produces an outcome that draws visitors rather than repelling them.
Sen. Jennifer Fiedler showed up in some recent Montana newspapers justifying the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by members of anti-government militia groups.

It is not surprising that Fielder would whitewash this unlawful takeover attempt. Fielder has introduced multiple land takeover bills in Montana. She is associated with The American Lands Council, a Utah group, ALEC, and Americans for Prosperity, political groups that push to give away our public lands to controlling interests in States.

According to a 2015 news article it was revealed that Fielder employed on her legislative staff an aide who was an American Lands Council paid-staffer and lobbyist for the council. The Center for Western Priorities details the overlap that Fielder's policy agenda has with extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, Militia of Montana and Council for Conservative Citizens.

State Sen. Debby Barrett has said that one of the reasons she tapped Fielder as vice-chair of the MT GOP was Fielder's stance on these very issues.

We can expect more of this unconstitutional legislation from Fielder and tea-party colleagues (see Rep. Kerry White, Bozeman) in the next session despite overwhelming opposition from Montana citizens. Fielder's words stand with the radical ideology of the self-defined "patriots" who use their alternate interpretation of the Constitution with dangerous and criminal actions -- even as they reap benefits from the government. The wildlife refuge in Oregon, land in Lincoln, Montana, and other public lands that they claim as theirs belong to all Americans.

Please be alert to these troublesome and extreme movements and their supporting candidates as you go to vote.

-- Pat Bradley, Twin Bridges
When Democrats in the Montana Legislature started talking about goals for the 2017 session on Saturday, the first word to go up on the flip board was  predictably  Infrastructure.

But it was not the only word. The minority legislators were not short on ambition as they enumerated dozens of potential legislative goals  amounting to a full-throated endorsement of government as a force for progress.

The hard work would come later, as the group  consisting of about two dozen of the 41 House Democrats and half a dozen of the partys 21 senators  began to whittle the laundry list into a more focused set of priorities.

The six most urgent subjects for legislative action they came up with by Saturday evening: infrastructure, energy policy, business assistance, education, the justice system and workforce development/investment.

As the Democrats gathered at Fairmont Hot Springs Saturday morning, the vibe at first was more like a class reunion than a work session as members exchanged hugs and asked after each others families. Many had not seen each other since the Legislature adjourned last April.

The session began with a greeting from Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, who congratulated the legislators on what they accomplished in the last session and exhorted them to partner with us in the governors office to make the next session a success.

Look at all we accomplished, Cooney said, then corrected himself: I shouldnt say we, because I didnt have a damn thing to do with it. Cooney was appointed a little more than a month ago as Lieutenant Governor after the resignation of Angela McLean.

You have to run. You have to get elected. And nobody knows better than you the issues you have to focus on to do that, he said. But remember, in 1992 when he was working on Bill Clintons campaign, James Carville had a little sign in his war room that said, Its the economy, stupid.

Currently, our economy is very strong, he said. More Montanans are at work than ever before. We have been raising wages, and weve seen very strong business and labor growth. The state is No. 1 for entrepreneurial activity per capita for the third year in a row  Were no. 1 for fiscal prudence  Were the best state in which to pursue the American Dream.

Cooney said, Im sick and tired of the negative tone of politics. Its easy to be critical and hard to be thoughtful.

We Democrats take governing seriously. There is a role for government. We want government to do good things for people.

Ali Bovingdon, Gov. Steve Bullocks deputy chief of staff, and Dan Villa of Anaconda, the state budget director, also spoke briefly. To Cooneys list of accomplishments, Villa added the fact that the state has seen a 0.8 percent reduction in the growth of government. Were moving toward the session revenue-strong, he said.

The legislators then drew up a lengthy list of accomplishments to build on from last session and another list of assumptions regarding external factors they would be dealing with between now and the 2017 session before getting around to listing goals.

Among the accomplishments: Health care reform, dark-money bills, water compact, mental-health funding, holding our ground on charter schools, froze college tuition, balanced budget  state in the black. Also, the Dems said, they worked across the aisle, but also dominated the messaging on infrastructure, even though we lost the bill.

They also listed: Civil asset forfeiture reform, fended off assaults on reproductive rights, upgraded vaccination standards, guns on campus disallowed, suicide prevention bill, study on concussions, bill to preserve Native languages, Jonathan Motl confirmed, among others.

The Rs cant make a list like this, facilitator Beki Brandborg said.

Then came the list of goals: After infrastructure, the suggestions came thick and fast as Brandborg struggled to write them down in real time:

Support labor, reform justice system, fund public education, early education, workforce development investment, economic security for all, preserving access to public lands, equal pay for equal work, investment in Montana business, an energy policy to benefit the state, quality affordable child care, mandated paid leave, access to justice, extended education eligibility for children with disabilities, rural broadband, tax relief for low-income families, a clean and healthful environment, on and on.

While there was wide agreement on many goals, regional priorities occasionally came to the fore.

When Brandborg asked, Have you listed all the goals that you are most passionate about? Sen. Jim Keane shouted out, Economic development for Butte!

The Democrats caucus will wrap up with a three-hour session Sunday morning.
It is hard to believe it has been two years since the Old Family Photographs website was launched! The website was established to preserve ...
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
The City Press has reported that Vodacom and MTN have denied any wrongdoing in the music royalties row, where artists are accusing the mobile operators of violating copyright laws in South Africa.

This follows a report that the Composers Authors and Publishers Association (Capasso) accused MTN and Content Connect Africa (CCA) of outstanding royalties.

Capasso said that attempts to license and collect alleged outstanding royalties from MTN and CCA have been met with constant rate disputes and an unwillingness to enter into licence agreements.

The City Press said that DJ Cleo and Flavour Nabania now want sales data from MTN, CCA, and Vodacom for an audit to establish whether their copyrights have been infringed.

Vodacom has denied any wrongdoing. In particular, we reject any suggestion of criminal misconduct, the company said.

MTN has also denied any wrongdoing, saying that the allegations of copyright infringement are devoid of truth.

MTN has been working with Capasso to settle royalties for the current period, said MTNs Larry Annetts.

MTN has never disputed any royalty rates with Capasso or any other collecting society. Since 2014, MTN has required all content providers to obtain all necessary licences and engage directly with regulators.

The full report is available in the City Press of 7 February 2016.

More on MTN

MTN defends Zakhele share performance

WhatsApp is not Vodacom and MTNs doomsday: analyst

MTN should drop its legal case to help with a settlement
Early one morning, I met a young female fashionista in Napas Old Town. I was walking our two long-haired dachshunds on Franklin Street under the tall redwood trees.

I saw a woman dressed in black from her head to her toes. She slowly walked behind a tree in the side yard of a huge Victorian and did not reappear. It seemed strange, and I waited to see her again. Maybe, she used to live here and was now haunting this 100-year-old house. I just had to know.

The dogs and I turned at the corner and quietly walked down to the same tree. I was holding the dog leashes tightly as I slowly peeked around the tree. I didnt know what I was going to find but that was part of the fun too.

I saw this delightful young lady taking pictures of herself in her outfit of the day. This was her daily habit for her blog. She told me that she has hundreds of followers and never wants to disappoint her fans. Every morning, she follows the same routine, searching through her closet and finding the perfect look for the day.

This day, she had selected a beautiful heavy, floor length, black velvet coat with an exquisite large fur collar. Underneath, she wore the basic black clothing with tights and high boots. She had twisted her hair upon her head, covering it with a small black velvet hat with a black net flowing in the cool wind.

This young lady instantly became my inspiration for this story. She was a young thing but was so far ahead of me. I loved her sense of fashion and her open attitude. She was brave, putting herself out there for all the world to see.

Perhaps having a blog with followers would make us follow her example. But do we love ourselves enough? Do we have enough pizzazz to carry it off? Are you in the doldrums? How about adding a little flair to your life? We all would like to be known for something. Have you found your gift to the world?

Take a close look at yourself, dressed and undressed. Is it time for the gym, a daily walk, or maybe a new sassy hair cut? Check out your wardrobe. Is it time for an accessory update or maybe tossing out most of your clothes? Does make-up really last for 10 years? And what about all those hair products stashed under your bathroom sink?

After you have checked out these basics, ask yourself, How do I present myself to the world? It doesnt matter what our age. Vitality and a touch of glamour give you an attractive positive aura. Some of these attributes we can give to ourselves.

All it takes is an idea, a plan that makes people see you in a new light. Dont tell your family, friends, or people at the office. They might notice something different about you. Let them ask, but dont tell. This is your new secret. Just slowly smile, look them in the eye and sweetly say, thank you. Be bold. Keep doing it.

I am sure you have noticed women who naturally have this talent. They are confident, have an air, walk tall and come across as positive, interesting people. Perhaps they are good speakers, leaders, and give back to their community in different ways. There are many women in Napa we can try to emulate. For the rest of us, we might need a little assistance. Even the smallest thing can give us the confidence to carry off our new image.

Maybe you have inherited an antique adornment, a piece of jewelry, that is part of your family history. It could become your signature piece. You are so proud of it that you wear it almost every day. Barbara Bush wears her three strands of pearls. French women are known for wearing colorful expensive scarves as an accessory. Go through your things and see something in a new light. I love that line, Shop in your closet. I find new things all the time.

I have a friend who often wears shades of purple to soft lavender. They are her color as they match her skin tone, her gray hair and eyes. She follows through with matching make-up, lipstick and amethyst jewelry. These colors are becoming her trademark. Seeing her smile, we know she is having fun. Maybe this is an idea for you.

When a new female judge was appointed in Napa, she made a huge impression at her swearing-in party. Most of the women guests will never forget the red spiked high heels she wore that evening. Not only is she intelligent but she has a sense of style. She might wear the basic black judges robe but the red heels added so much. We all admired her fun, unexpected touch.

How about wearing a piece of costume jewelry that has been hiding in a white box for years? Many of us just do not bother. We dont take the time to dress up for the office or downtown shopping. When I see a woman wearing an attractive piece of jewelry, I often wonder why I dont do the same thing. Here is a new rule: Wear all your things before your children or family sell them at a garage sale for next to nothing after you are gone.

Do you feel the need to change or add to your basic style? Years ago, a woman came up to me when I was modeling in a fashion show. I was not sure whether she made my day or not. Lynne, it is nice to see you out of your tailored style, she said. Was that a big kick or a gentle push? It is a good idea but like everyone, I have a hard time doing it. We all like to feel comfortable or is that just a lazy excuse.

On our recent trip to Florida, my husband bought me a massive orange necklace with two flamingo birds, which wrap around my neck. I felt like Cleopatra on her barge trying it on. In spite of my tailored style, I wore it to a dinner and it was a huge hit. It is fun, a conversation piece, and it makes Philip happy that I wear it. Be prepared, you might see me wearing it in Napa.

Perhaps you are known for wonderful dinner parties. I think cooking and entertaining is a major talent. It is a gift to your family and friends. Your food, table and presentation are known all over town and everyone loves being your guest. Bringing people together and being a natural hostess is a talent. If you wish to be a hostess and serve wonderful meals, watch the movie, Julie & Julia for inspiration.

You know I read the obituaries. Well, I learned about a man who recently became a widower. He started cooking special dinners every Tuesday night and invited everyone. He filled his days looking for new menus to serve, planning and making lists, setting the tables, shopping and cooking. Soon, he was having fun in life again with his family, old friends and new friends. I wonder if he even knew he had a plan.

I gave up sewing after I made my senior ball gown in high school. That was the extent of my sewing ability except for a few maternity dresses in the early 1970s. I really admire women who can sew, knit or make quilts. This is their God-given talent to the world. They shine along with their beautiful items. I always enjoy seeing their displays at our county fair and at our motor home rallies. I must admit, I always feel a little jealous.

I hope some of you will think about these suggestions. I know it is hard, as I have my issues too. In my closet, I have a number of good looking boots I have never worn. I always wonder what they go with. Is it cold enough today to wear them? Perhaps someday, I will listen to my own advice.

So ladies, shall we all take stock, make our lists, go through our things. We should expand our ideas and wear our things or donate them. But if I see anyone sneak behind a tree, I will know that you, too, have a fashion blog.

It is nice to have our families, husbands and boyfriends love us on Valentines Day. I do hope you are showered with cards, candy, flowers and dinner reservations at one of Napa s finest.

But remember to love yourself, too!
Ah, life in a French chateau: the romance, the splendor, the history. The elegant, ivy-covered Chateau de la Barge has sat majestically amid the vineyards of Burgundy since 1679. Every time a floorboard creaks, it seems to be telling another tale of the past. Who else had trod up and down the grand staircase or wandered through the ancient trees on the grounds?

And there I was in the kitchen, peeling carrots. Carol from Cincinnati was plucking intestines from crayfish. Diane from Monterey was sauteeing chickens. Carol, from Denver, was doing something with a bowl of chocolate  mostly, we concluded, tasting it.

Was this like being invited to Downton Abbey, only to hang out with Mrs. Padmore and Daisy?

Not quite: In this case Lord Grantham  that would be Patrick Revoyre, the owner of La Barge  was part of the merry chaos in his kitchen; he had been the one to instigate it. He was getting tips on making gougeres, little cheese puffs, from his chef, Franz. His good friends Valerie and Florence, from the nearby village of Creches-sur-Saone, were peeling garlic.

Twice a year, in late spring and early fall, Revoyre opens his chateau, including the kitchens, to a small group of mostly American food enthusiasts, and then appoints himself their personal guide to Burgundy. The genial Frenchman (who, more than one guest has noted, bears a remarkable resemblance to actor George Clooney) declares this is his vacation from his year-round work as a hotelier.

Revoyre got the idea several years ago when he was a guest at the Tuscan Villa Campestri, where a Napa Valley foodie, Diane De Filipi, was leading a session of her Lets Go Cook Italian program. De Filipis lighthearted, small group style  If theres not laughter in the kitchen, then something is wrong, she says  appealed to Revoyre. When De Filipis guests had departed, he persuaded her to hop in his black convertible and drive back to France with him, to visit La Barge and discuss whether it would be possible to replicate her Lets Go Cook sessions at his chateau.

I was skeptical, De Filipi said. I know Italy. I know Italian. But France? I was just a little intimidated about the idea of going into a French chefs kitchen.

The Chateau de la Barge is in southern Burgundy, near the town of Macon, the famed vineyards of Pouilly-Fuisse, and a short train ride from Frances capital of gastronomy, Lyon. Revoyre, a native of Grenoble, who bought the chateau more than a decade ago, has turned it into a community centerpiece where clubs meet, and locals celebrate special occasions.

It draws scores of European travelers as well, but retains an off-the-beaten path charm.

A week at the Chateau de la Barge, exploring the countryside and getting know the specialties of Burgundian cuisine, changed her mind. Id never heard of Ouefs en Meurette (poached eggs in red wine with bacon), but oh, are they good, she said. Revoyre and De Filipi, a former innkeeper in the Napa Valley, discovered their notions of hospitality were in sync: If their guests are having a good time, theyre happy.

When Revoyre told his chefs he planned to bring a small group of Americans into their kitchen for tips on la cuisine Burgignonne, they were not initially overjoyed, according to De Filipi.

Equally baffled were locals: When De Filipi showed up with her first group, Revoyres friends asked if they might drop in to meet these Americans whose idea of a holiday was to hang out in a kitchen. The local paper sent a reporter and photographer to cover the event.

But, as Revoyre points out, barge is French slang for crazy; therefore his chateau could be considered a totally crazy house.

Three years later, De Filipi and Revoyre have become known as Lady Di and Georges (as in Clooney) to each other and to the groups who come with De Filipi to get a unique taste of Burgundy.

The format is free-spirited. Guests sign on for a six-night stay that begins with a welcome dinner, hosted by Revoyre, often joined by his daughter Juliette, and his partner, Cedric Garnier, in the private dining room. For four mornings, after a French breakfast, the participants gather in the kitchen to take directions from the chefs.

The chefs initial reservations have given way to a sense of adventure. More than once I detected a twinkle in chef Franzs eyes as he handed out onions to chop or flamed his sauces in spectacular fashion to much admiration. After an hour or so in the kitchen, Juliette generally turns up with a tray of wine and a sustaining snack, and the mood becomes even more prone to hilarity. De Filipi has been known to fashion headpieces for herself from cauliflowers and artichokes.

The arrival of the Americans is a sign for locals to show up for the cooking classes, too. On one day, for example, Revoyres friends Jacques and Jocelyn came in to show the group how to prepare Jocelyns specialty, sweetbreads, to be enjoyed with Jacques wine discoveries from the Jura. The kitchen sessions and subsequent meals become as much about friendship as cooking.

After a couple of hours in the kitchen, the group retires, and the chefs work magical transformations on the mornings work: When the group reassembles for lunch, plates appear of soups, snails and crayfish in cream sauce. The bounty of dishes begun in the morning provide both lunch and dinner for the group, unless they make other plans.

The afternoons are determined by the group preferences. When the Lets Go Cook group arrives, Revoyre rents a van and drives the group to destinations of their choice, whether its a hike up the famous rock of southern Burgundy, La Solutre, a visit to one of the castles that dot the countryside or a wine tasting with his friends.

During my stay, when some guests expressed interest in dining at George Blancs three-star Michelin restaurant in Vonnas, Revoyre made the reservations and carted the group off for a memorable meal (and none of us had to peel carrots, either). Another day it was off to the village of Chatillion sur Chalaronne to join with the locals for their market day.

Revoyre admits cheerfully to a great affection for Americans and America. For us, America is a dream, he said. Everything is so huge, so grand. I am still amazed that Americans want to come here. But I enjoy it.

For information on the Lets Go Cook classes in Italy or France, visit LetsGoCookItalian.com.
Outside the California Academy of Sciences, children struggled under the weight of overstuffed backpacks, and parents tussled with bulky sleeping bags and pillows. I was traveling much lighter - a nylon sack with a toothbrush and sweatshirt - but I also carried a load on my shoulders.

My burden: Would I choose penguins over my best friend from childhood?

The line moved up an inch. Through the glass entrance, I noticed a stuffed toy penguin on the check-in desk. A telling sign.

Nearly once a month, the natural history museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park transforms into a sleepover science camp. The Penguins + Pajamas event, now in its sixth year, starts after daytime visitors have departed and before most children's meltdown hour. In addition to apres-hour roaming privileges, slumber partiers can participate in special programs (including live animals) and camp out among the exhibits (ditto).

"Since the event takes place after normal hours, sleepover guests have a much more intimate museum experience," said Kelly Mendez, a spokeswoman. "We hope they leave inspired by the natural world."

Doors open at 6 p.m. However, a sentence in my confirmation letter - "sleep cards are handed out on a first come first serve basis for each area" - set off a warning bell. The museum offers five sleeping districts, and each has limited capacity. If I arrived too late, I could end up dozing with natural disasters (Earthquake) or an albino alligator (Lower Swamp) instead of with my preferred bedmates, African penguins (African Hall). In addition, the museum requires all members of your party to be present when selecting an area. The other members of my crew were wedged in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge.

I started polling other participants about their top two choices. A dad from Davis, Calif., whose son was splayed on a sleeping bag, said Aquarium and African Hall. I told him that I had heard that Aquarium was way cooler. I flagged down a staff member and asked him which sleeping chambers fill up first. He confirmed my fears.

I was all ready to sacrifice my friendship when I noticed two familiar faces by the T. rex in the lobby. Chrissy and Lindsay, my friend's teenage daughter, had accidentally entered with a Boy Scout group and were checking in - swing goes the karma. An employee stamped our hands with an inky penguin. I pressed the backs of my hands together to make a pair.

We dropped off our gear in the African Hall, a temporary storage unit for the 300 guests that mid-November evening. I noticed a barrier separating the sleeping space from the habitat where 15 penguins resided.

"You can't sleep up against the glass," a staff member said. "You have to stay 20 feet away. They need space."

I would give them their personal space, but not their privacy. I scanned the long, high-ceilinged room and located the spot with the closest penguin views: front-right corner, by the Hunter's hartebeest. According to the schedule, we could set up our permanent settlement at 10 p.m. Till then, we would prowl the halls like a pack of nocturnal animals.

"It kind of feels like we've broken into a museum," said Lindsay. "But that's cool."

We studied the list of activities and shouted out our favorites. Lindsay, a high school freshman in Marin County, Calif., was learning about the solar system and selected two planetarium shows. Chrissy chose the four-story rain forest, where she could face some of her phobias. I selected the Animal Color Encounter because, well, it was starting in five minutes.

In the Color of Life section, two staff members explained the concept of camouflage to a young, bouncy audience seated in bleachers. To illustrate their point, they produced a ball python as thick as a chunky scarf.

"The python uses its color to hide and eat mice," the expert said. "How wide does his mouth open?"

Hands shot up, then approximated a maw that could fit a bowling ball.

Halfway through the talk, I looked around and realized that two-thirds of my group had wandered off. I found them by an exhibit featuring California newts. My friend, clearly alarmed, urged me to read the informational sign, which explained how the toxin in a single newt can kill thousands of mice.

"Why haven't we heard about these?" she said in her protective mother voice.

We decided to look for critters with kinder dispositions.

En route to the rain forest, we passed a gaggle of dads tossing back bottles of beer.

"Is there a mom's wine corner?" she asked.

(Yes, in the Academy Cafe, which has a stocked cooler of reds and whites.)

On average, upwards of 4,000 people visit the museum each day. Entering the rain forest can require significant time and patience. We, however, breezed right in, pausing only to consider the photographer's question: "Do you want to take a penguin picture?" (Unfortunately, not a real bird but you in a penguin hat.)

We climbed the ramp, passing under a wireless mobile of butterflies. I peeked into glass boxes housing exotic creatures, such as Borneo gliders and golden mantellas, vibrant frogs from Madagascar that looked as if they had fallen into Benjamin Moore paint cans. Chrissy, meanwhile, was admiring a fluttery insect with a pair of trompe l'oeil eyes on its wings.

"I think I'm getting over my fear of moths," she said. "This one is so pretty and peaceful."

I didn't have the heart to tell her that her breakthrough moment involved an owl butterfly, not a moth.

A few minutes shy of 8 p.m., the staff started to clear the ecosystem. Its inhabitants follow the same sleep schedules as fourth-graders.

"The animals in the rain forest have an early bedtime," an employee said as we exited.

Before the first planetarium show, we ducked into the cafe for dinner. As a special treat, the kitchen staff allowed guests to make their own pizzas. A chef in a white coat invited me behind the counter and handed me plastic gloves, which I slipped on and plunged into bowls filled with olives, pineapple, spinach and zucchini. He seemed relaxed and good-humored, even as I was butchering flavors.

At "Tour of the Night Sky," a jocular employee read a few announcements. He told us that we would have to stow all flashlights and electronics at night, so as not to disturb the animals. A couple of youngsters gasped, but he assured them that none of the sleep areas would be cave dark. He also informed us that we would have to rise at 6:30 a.m., which caused this adult to howl. We also had to vacate the museum by 8 a.m. so the "biologists can begin their work," but we were welcome to return for free when the museum reopened later that morning.

Then the lights went down and the stars came up.

We learned about cosmic dust, or star dandruff, and that the Milky Way supposedly tastes like raspberries. We also viewed Orion, who "is a hunter, not a thinker." Throughout the presentation, a chorus of kids would sing out, "Black hole!" The educator swatted away the interruptions, but I could feel Lindsay rolling her eyes to the heavens above.

Bed assembly time was nearing. Chrissy ran down to the car to grab extra blankets, and Lindsay and I climbed to the rooftop to peer through a telescope at Capella, two polka dots on a velvet skirt. We arrived at the African Hall a few minutes before 10 p.m. An employee said we could sleep anywhere except under the tree with the leopard crouched on the top branch. A mother and her son had already nabbed the prime penguin spot. We walked through the gallery of dioramas, past a pride of lions, a pair of zebras and a cheetah hunting a Thomson's gazelle. We stepped around sleeping bags, air mattresses and a low wall of rolling luggage. We finally found a space in the back, under an empty vitrine. The only consolation: I had an outlet within arm's length.

For my evening ablutions, I went to the public bathroom and waited for a sink behind a girl in "Frozen" pajamas and a mom in yoga pants. Instead of heading right to bed, I crept downstairs to the aquarium, where rows of heads rested against tanks that glowed like lava lamps. I took the long route back. The California Academy of Sciences felt like my own private museum, and I wanted to prolong the fantasy.

In the African Hall, I tiptoed up to the penguins to say good night. Four birds stood like chess pieces, waiting for the next move. Eventually, the lights went out in their home, a signal that it was bedtime for all species.

Chrissy and Lindsay were fast asleep. I fluffed my blanket and pillow and closed my eyes. The room was silent until I heard a man trying to expel a warthog through his nose. The snoring was primal and penetrating. I jammed squishy earplugs, a gift from the museum, into my ears. Useless. I moved around the corner, cozying up with the African hunting dogs. I could still hear the loud snorts. I rolled up my bedding and embarked into the unknown. I walked over to Color of Life, but cocooned bodies occupied most of the nooks. Earthquake was too exposing; Aquarium was filled to capacity. I finally discovered a secluded corner shaded by two giraffes. I didn't have to worry about the pair snoring; their noses were stuffed.

The staff woke us up with a cheery camp-counselor announcement to rise and shine. We packed up our belongings and ventured over to the cafe for breakfast. Chrissy grabbed a table by the spotted cuscus, and we discussed the overnight-at-the-museum experience.

"I had a really good sleep. The floor wasn't as hard as I thought it would be," Lindsay said, adding: "It's funny that they call it sleeping with penguins. You're really sleeping with the Academy of Sciences."

Chrissy, who had been initially wary of the event, shared her epiphany.

"It's not all about your comforts," she said triumphantly. "This made me feel like I can go ahead with other adventures."'

My friends left shortly thereafter. I stayed behind and returned to the African Hall, now cleared of last night's evidence. I faced the penguins and watched them slowly come out to greet the new day.
Planning a crab feed takes more time and effort than most people would suspect. Members of the Kiwanis Club of Napa know all about what it takes to make a crab feed happen. After all, the club has been holding its annual fundraiser for the past 30 years.

Their 30th annual crab feed was held in Chardonnay Hall at the Napa Valley Expo on Saturday. The event, which lasts 5 hours, took months to organize and had members working all morning the day of the event to prepare the food, decorations and auction items.

Its a lot of work, said Julie Morales, Kiwanis board member and silent auction chairperson. Morales spent several nights leading up to the event staying up late, making sure she had auction item information entered into the computer as well as ensuring the items were bundled up and beautiful.

Its OK if Im losing a little bit of sleep because its all worth it in the end, she said. Morales and her team of helpers started sending out donation requests back in October. Many businesses donate to the auction every year, but Morales also tries to get new businesses to contribute. Not only does it raise money for a great cause, but it also promotes the donors business, she said.

The Kiwanis Club of Napa supports community children by providing things they need like playgrounds and scholarships.

I absolutely love this group, Morales said. One of her favorite things is building playgrounds for kids. Most recently the club replaced an old playground at Dos Mundos Preschool in Napa. Its so awesome to be able to build these playgrounds and then see these kids get so excited when they see their new playground, she said.

Kiwanis President Patty Garaventa said the club hoped to raise $30,000 at this years crab feed, which sold out of 744 tickets at $70 per person. Most of the money raised, though, comes through the auction items. Those things come to us without any cost, so we make a lot of money on the silent auction, she said.

Garaventa and many other Kiwanis members began decorating for the event at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. While listening to music, they blew up balloons, and set up the silent auction area and place settings. Everybody participates in some way, Garaventa said. Not all of the 117 Kiwanis members may be able to physically help, but the ones who cant have helped financially or donated items, she added. We really have great club members and they all pitch in and help  thats what makes it fun to do.

Even after everything is set up, there is still more work to be done. Members must run the show throughout the night by orchestrating several different auctions, running credit cards, serving dinner and cleaning up when its all over.

Mark Coleman, former Kiwanis president, said his day started at 6:30 a.m. and wouldnt end until at least midnight. Coleman has been working in the kitchen during the crab feed for the last 15 or 20 years. We used to start the day before, but now we do it all in one day, he said. Coleman and the kitchen volunteers also handle the ordering of the crab, which is done a month in advance, and prepares the pasta and special meat sauce. Salad, bread and oysters were also served.

Kiwanis Club of Napa gets its crab from a supplier who gets the Dungeness crabs from Oregon. The 2,200 pounds of crab was delivered the day of the event pre-cleaned and cracked.

Coleman said everyone loves a crab feed, which is part of the reason there are so many in the area throughout January and February. Its kind of crazy because they all sell out.

Each event supports a different cause and has a slightly different style, but theyre all good, Garaventa said. In order to help keep people interested and entertained, the Kiwanis Club tries to add something new to their crab feed every year. This year, she said, they added a dessert auction and brown-bag wines. Brown-bags full of wine, valued anywhere from $20 to $75, were for sale at the event for $20 a bag. We just try to add little perks and different little things every time just to enhance it a little bit, she said.

Kiwanis Club members will be discussing possibilities for next years crab feed as early as their next meeting, which is on Thursday, Garaventa said. Well get together and see what went right and what went wrong, she explained. But, she added, after 30 years, the club pretty much has it down.
Assemblyman Bill Dodd is close to being the million-dollar man in the race for the local state Senate seat on the June ballot, having raised almost three times the total of his three rivals combined.

Dodd, D-Napa, reported 2015 campaign funds of $985,633, and, after expenditures, began this year with a balance of $875,038. His fundraising equation includes $388,000 left over from his previous campaign.

His closest fundraising competitor in the 3rd District campaign is former Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, a Democrat from Davis. She reported raising $179,931 last year and having a balance of $158,028 at the start of 2016.

Gabe Griess, a Vacaville Democrat, raised $152,421 and has a balance of $78,156. Greg Coppes, a Dixon Republican, raised $15,758 and has a balance of $5,614.

Candidates for the Senate seat filed required campaign fundraising disclosure forms with the California secretary of state, as did candidates vying for the 4th District Assembly seat that also serves Napa County.

Dodds campaign issued a news release celebrating its fundraising success.

Our message of bringing more teamwork, listening more and talking less and principled leadership to the state is resonating with people and thats reflected in our fundraising totals, Dodd said.

David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, said the Dodd news release is meant to send a signal to potential opponents and donors.

That indicates the strength they believe they have in this race, he said. Normally, you dont gloat youre rich.

Dodd has the money momentum, McCuan said. He builds more dollars from an early base and donors flock to get on the train of a perceived winner.

Dodd is drawing donations of a few thousand dollars from across the spectrum: the Peace Officers Research Association of California, Monsanto Co., eBay, Wal-Mart, the California Dental Political Action Committee, PG&E, Pepsico, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Western United Dairymen PAC, California State Council of Laborers PAC, the San Francisco Bar Pilots PAC and Kraft, to name a few.

Plus, the former Napa County supervisor has retained his Napa fundraising base. Silverado Resort, Balloons Above the Valley, real estate investor George Altamura, vintners and county Supervisors Keith Caldwell and Mark Luce are among the local donors large and small.

McCuan said Dodds fundraising can leave him open to the charge that he is beholden to a large number of contributors.

But he can push back at that and say, This is a game for adults. You have to be able to take the money and vote against people. He can blunt that to a certain degree, McCuan said.

The details of Dodds fundraising are complicated. He reports receiving donations in 2015 to both his Senate 2016 campaign fund and a previous Assembly 2016 campaign fund  presumably started before he announced his intent to run for Senate  and transferring more than $600,000 from his Assembly fund to his Senate fund.

Yamadas largest single donation of $14,000 came as a loan from herself. She received donations in the low thousand-dollar range from the California Nurses Association PAC, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, National Association of Social Workers California PAC, Women in Power PAC, the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians and the American Sikh PAC, among others.

She reported receiving only $350 from Napa County addresses, though candidates have to report the identities of only donors who give $100 or more. But she received dozens of donations from businesspeople and residents in Yolo County, where she once served as county supervisor.

Yamada must find a way to compete against Dodds much bigger campaign war chest.

She can only do one thing, she can try to generate more hours in the day for retail politics, McCuan said.

Griess is a political newcomer who retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. He was his campaigns biggest contributor with two loans totaling $55,000. Virtually all his donations come from businesses and individuals.

Coppes, who served in the U.S. Air Force and advocates for veterans, received two donations totaling $8,400 from the Confederation of Northern California Club and $1,000 from the Confederation of Southern California Club. Both are motorcycle clubs.

Assembly race

The 4th District Assembly race has no candidate on par with Dodd when it comes to fundraising. All four candidates filing papers with the Secretary of State office are from Yolo County.

Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor reported receiving $141,598 and entering 2016 with a balance of $117,328. None of his contributions had a Napa address.

Davis Mayor Dan Wolk reported receiving $105,524 and started 2016 with a balance of $77,241. He reported about a dozen donors with Napa County addresses, though theres no indication he or anyone else is tapping into wine industry money.

Wolks campaign claimed the fundraising victory for the year because Saylor entered the period with money left over from previous supervisor campaigns.

Winters Mayor Cecilia Aguiar-Curry reported raising $74,347 and having a balance for $55,960. Charles Schaupp, an Esparto farmer, reported raising $6,960 and having a balance of $6,195.
AMERICAN CANYON  Children at Noahs Ark Christian School in American Canyon will celebrate Black History Month in February through poetry, thanks to a local poet.

The celebration was the idea of Genea Brice, who teaches preschoolers at Noahs Ark and is the poet laureate of Vallejo.

Last month for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Brice read an original poem of hers to students, If I Were Dr. King, which honors the teachings of the late civil rights leader.

The poem begins with:

If I were Dr. King, I would do the same thing .

I would stand tall and speak my mind.

Always be true  and strong  and kind

From there, Brice and school director Nora Ringler decided to continue the celebration by having the children participate in activities during Black History Month.

After MLK day we thought this would be a great opportunity to carry this over, said Ringler.

Each Wednesday during February, one of the classrooms at Noahs Ark will present Brices poem, along with something else, such as another poem, a song or a piece of art that represents diversity.

Ringler said Brice has been instrumental in teaching Noahs Ark students, who range in age from preschool to kindergarten, about accepting people from all walks of life.

Through poetry she has really gotten the kids to be socially aware and aware of the diversity in our community, said Ringler.

Brice wrote the King poem 14 years ago when she was working at another school.

I was teaching a group of first-graders at the time, said Brice, who was honored as Vallejos first poet laureate last summer. It was my attempt to make Black History Month palatable and memorable for young minds.

Noahs Ark is connected to American Canyon Community Church, which is part of American Baptist Church USA.

The Rev. Matthew Real, the head of American Canyon Community Church, loved the idea of honoring Black History Month and King, who was a Baptist.

Its part of our legacy (diversity), said Real, and encouraging all people to come together.

To read If I Were Dr. King in its entirety, go to NapaValleyRegister.com.
Wine is king not only in rural Napa County, but also in the south county industrial area near the airport.

A decade ago, 60 percent to 70 percent of industrial space rooftops were touched by wine, said William Kampton of Colliers International. By that, he means the buildings housed wine-related activities and services ranging from bottling to storage to production to labeling to marketing to supplying corks and capsules.

Today, its probably as much as 80 percent to 90 percent, Kampton said. Exceptions include the possibility that a large Internet user will move into a 660,000-square-foot distribution building in American Canyon that is an under construction.

Almost everything is being driven by the wine industry within the park at this point of time, Kampton said.

Kampton gave an update on the industrial area to the county Airport Land Use Commission last week. Most members of the commission are also on the county Planning Commission.

The talk focused on the area that runs from Kaiser Road south through Napa Valley Commons, the countys airport industrial area to American Canyons Green Island Road. This is a world not of wineries with elaborate architecture amid vineyards, but concrete tilt-up buildings with small planes flying overhead.

Commissioner Jeri Gill said ideas have risen to try to bring biotechnology and other technology businesses to the south county. She asked if Napa is ready for that type of development.

The hope was it would also diversify the economy and then bring with it higher-wage jobs, green-collar jobs, that kind of thing, she said. Are there opportunities for that?

Job diversity is a great thing to talk about, Kampton said, but its difficult to achieve.

As an example, he pointed to the former Dey Labs that Napa County owns and uses in part for its South Campus. One vacant building the county is trying to lease out has the capabilities for soups to nuts pharmaceutical manufacturing, Kampton said.

A half-year ago, the county announced the local start-up Brazos Bridge Pharmaceuticals would lease the building and expand there in phases. Kampton said that this deal is no longer going forward.

Nor have other efforts over two years succeeded to lease out this ready-made pharmaceutical manufacturing building for a relatively cheap rent, he said. The county had hoped to bring in some bio-company like Genentech or Bio-Rad.

They want to be down with their own kind, Kampton said. Thats the reason Santen left. They want to be in the brain hub down there trading biologists, chemists and all of that.

There is the thought that Napa might pull some distribution business from Tracy, Kampton said.

Well see where we can go on a distribution basis, because were removed from major interstates, Kampton said. If Im in the widget business, why do I want to haul my widgets to Napa, then to take them back out of Napa again? Why do I want to try to build them in Napa when labor is hard to find and Ive got to truck all my raw product here?

County Planning, Development and Environmental Services Director David Morrison said the Port of Oakland is increasingly busy, pushing distribution business farther inland. He expects that to have some impact on Napa, although how much remains to be seen.

I fully agree with the comments of Napa kind of being off the beaten path, which puts us at a competitive disadvantage, Morrison said. (But) distribution business usually takes up a lot of land, offers very few jobs and and not very high wages. Its not a great growth development.

Meanwhile, industrial space is tight in the south county industrial area. The vacancy rate is near zero, and a healthy rate allowing for movement and newcomers is 5 percent, Kampton said.

If you want 100,000 square feet, there is really nothing to show the client, Kampton said.

The wine industry has done extremely well, with a couple of robust crops, he said.

Just think about a piece of pipe, Kampton said. What goes in one end of the pipe for the wine industry, it will eventually come out the other end of the pipe. If its a big crop, its going to go big through the pipe and every step along the way in that pipe has to expand.

A lot of juice means a lot of barrels, storage, trucking. In addition, the pace of applications for new wineries is high, he said. Some wineries are moving various tasks from to their Upvalley locations to the industrial area.

The more we have in the wine industry, the more it sucks up this space, he said.

Kampton took the commission on a verbal tour of the industrial area, from land that could be developed to the site where Costco initially wanted to locate before settling on Napa Pipe.

Commissioners made no decisions. This was strictly a learning session focusing on a non-agricultural area that theyll have to make rulings on in the future, either as the Airport Land Use Commission or the county Planning Commission.

Napa is not along Interstates 80 or Highway 101, and its economy doesnt go crazy when those areas thrive, though it feels the boost, Kampton said. On the other hand, the countys industrial area wasnt hit as hard by the recession.

Were in a nice spot, he concluded.
Admiral: U.S. should now prepare for Chinese 'invasion' of Taiwan

Harutyunyan: I cannot imagine Artsakh's future without presence of Russia

Harutyunyan: Without questioning path of our independence, we must meet with Baku

Prime Minister of Finland does not think that Hungary and Turkey will block country's application for NATO membership

Iranian FM: U.S. made hasty statements in connection with protests

Former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim involved in car accident in Karabakh

Arayik Harutyunyan: Artsakh people's right to self-determination is non-negotiable

Iranian MFA calls it important to form platform with Armenia and India on North-South corridor

Details of EU monitoring mission in Armenia are known

Foreign Ministry: It seems Ankara is more interested in opening corridor through Armenia than Azerbaijan

Mirzoyan: Unexpected third countries support Azerbaijani interpretation of road to Nakhchivan

Foreign Ministry: Armenia, Iran and Bulgaria initial agreement on creation of Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor

Israeli Defense Minister to visit Ankara

Armenian Foreign Minister names main obstacle to solving problems with Azerbaijan

Erdogan once again raises issue of so-called 'Zangezur corridor'

Armenian and Iranian FMs to open Iranian Consulate General in Syunik province tomorrow

Abdollahian: Aliyev assured that he does not want border changes, Iran will prevent implementation of such idea

Iranian Foreign Minister in Yerevan supports '3+3' platform

Iranian Foreign Minister recalls Tehran's 'red lines' in regional issues

Mirzoyan: We highly appreciate Iran's principled position regarding territorial integrity of Armenia

UK imposes sanctions against Iran for alleged delivery of drones to Russia

Yerevan hosts meeting of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in narrow composition

Armenian and Iranian Foreign Ministers meet in Yerevan in extended format

Charles Michel: EU energy deal possible, but difficult

Erdogan says Baku should demand 'compensation' from Yerevan

Pashinyan: EEU mechanisms are of great help, trade turnover between Armenia and Belarus has doubled

Yair Lapid: Russia-Iran relations are serious problem for Ukraine, Europe, and whole world

Amir-Abdollahian: Iran is against presence of foreigners in this region, both in Azerbaijan and Armenia

Pashinyan at EAEU meeting: Fundamental principles of world economic system in question

Iranian Foreign Minister's official visit to Yerevan begins

Macron says Germany should not isolate itself in Europe

EU begins deployment of mission on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Trump's son made fun of Zelenskyy's ability to ask West for money

EU to provide emergency aid for Armenia residents affected by recent Azerbaijan military aggression

Azerbaijan army units fire at Armenia positions

Mikhail Mishustin arrives in Yerevan

EU approves new sanctions against Iran over alleged drone deliveries to Russia

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting begins in Yerevan

Baku calls OSCE mission to assess situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border 'private visit'

On fourth day of IRGC military exercises on border with Azerbaijan, artillery destroys planned targets

Liz Truss quits as UK Prime Minister

Turkey parliament to consider extending Turkish militarys mandate in Azerbaijan

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Russias Putin ratifies agreement on simplification of payments for goods transit within EEU territory

Stoltenberg: Almost all NATO countries have agreed to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance

Ombudswoman of Armenia: Azerbaijan prevents removal of remains of fallen soldiers

Zakharova: Matter of holding CSTO Collective Security Council meeting being worked out

Ombudswoman of Armenia: I received video materials from EU special representative about Azerbaijanis

Armenia Security Council chief, UK army general discuss cooperation in security

Armenia and Kazakhstan discuss bilateral military cooperation

Iran says U.S. and Israel won't be able to split the republic

201 bodies are identified of Armenia soldiers who died as result of September military aggression by Azerbaijan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia today

Turkey, Azerbaijan presidents officially open international airport in occupied Artsakh territory

Armenia President visits several leading Bulgaria IT companies

Ruben Vardanyan: I will assume Artsakh State Minister position at beginning of November

Armenia PM on making EU observation mission permanent: I'm not sure about that

US State Dept.: Our ultimate goal is peaceful resolution between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armenia, Qatar to collaborate in tourism sector

Turkey president travels to Azerbaijan

Bandits in Russia cut off Armenian man's hands, shoot him in legs

President of Armenia, mayor of Bulgarias Plovdiv discuss avenues for deepening of cooperation

Armenia has new customs attache at Upper Lars checkpoint on Russia-Georgia border

Karabakh official: Baku goes for gradual escalation, provocation of situation

Armenia to get 33mn grant from EU for police, migration service, business development in Syunik Province

Lacote: OSCE observation mission deployment will contribute to respect of Armenia territorial integrity

World oil prices going up

Russia extends flight restrictions at 11 airports

Newspaper: Karabakh delegation to head for Moscow, meeting with Putin considered probable

Newspaper: Azerbaijan aggression on September 13 paralyzes Armenia public administration for some time

Azerbaijan army opens fire towards Armenia positions at midnight

Retired US Air Force general is offered consulting job in Azerbaijan at rate of $5,000 a day

White House is puzzling over how to avoid meeting between Putin and Biden at G-20 summit

Eduard Aghajanyan: Once again I remind that Armenia was deprived of opportunity to protect rights of people of Artsakh

U.S. says that limiting Russian oil prices is not aimed at OPEC

OSCE sends mission to Armenia to assess situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Jeff Bezos warns that U.S. economy may face recession

Kiev says nearly 40% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been damaged

Raisi: Iran will use all its capabilities and potential to end war in Ukraine

Qatar gets first pandas in Middle East

Armenian president delivers lecture at St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia

More than half of Britons think Liz Truss should resign

Bloomberg: Putin and Erdogan's cordial relationship arouses Western anger

Dutch government invests up to 3.5 billion in military procurement

Erdogan discusses latest developments in Ukraine with Zelenskyy

School in Paris expels student from class for denying Armenian Genocide

Germany would like to participate in EU observer mission to Armenia

U.S. is considering plan to co-produce weapons with Taiwan

Poland to buy K239 Chunmoo from South Korea

Air defense system repels several missile attacks by Ukrainian troops at Kakhovskaya HPP

Baku court does not definitively terminate criminal prosecution of Yunus spouses

Liz Truss has no plans to resign

CSTO countries agree on draft agreement on standardization of military equipment

EU countries agree to sanction eight people and organizations over Iranian drones

Congressman David Price meets with rector of Yerevan State University

Chairman of Amsterdam City Court visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan

ASPU supports process of unification of universities

Deputy Chief of Police on new draft law: 'Citizen of Azerbaijan' is extremely relative notion

Benny Gantz: Israel will not supply weapons to Ukraine

Saudi Arabia lifts ban on Turkish soap operas
Posted by Mike Levine | September 26, 2010

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6.2-liter V-8 ($2,995 more than 3.7-liter V-6)

Fords 6.2-liter V-8 is the only engine that carries over from 2010, when it was only available with the F-150 SVT Raptor.

The single-overhead cam engine is rated at a brawny 411 hp and 434 pounds-feet of torque. But compared to the other engines for 2011, its a bit of a throwback. It has two valves and two spark plugs per cylinder, a cast-iron engine block and aluminum cylinder heads. It also features a cast-iron crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and cast-aluminum pistons.

Since it only has a single cam per cylinder bank, instead of Ti-VCT, the 6.2 uses dual-equal variable cam timing, where the intake and exhaust valve opening and closings are phased at the same time, so its not quite as efficient as the other engines.

The only opportunity Ford gave us to drive the 6.2 was in a drag-racing scenario with the F-150 Harley-Davidson truck, where we measured a zero to 60 mph time of 7.15 seconds  three-tenths of a second slower than the EcoBoost-powered F-150 FX2. But the Harley truck was rocking P275/45R22 tires on 22-inch wheels while the EcoBoost rig was shod with smaller P265/60R18 tires on 18-inch wheels.

The 6.2-liter V-8 is the only F-150 engine thats shared with Fords F-Series Super Duty pickups. In our experience testing the 6.2 during our recent Heavy-Duty Shootout, we came away impressed with its performance pulling trailers, especially when the engine worked hard.

Weve also been impressed with the 6.2-liter V-8 performance in the Raptor.

Zero to 30 MPH (SuperCrew): 2.84 seconds

Zero to 60 MPH (SuperCrew): 7.15 seconds

What We Like

If it tows in the F-150 like it did in the F-250 we tested in the Heavy-Duty Shootout, this is the engine to order if youre going to tow heavy trailers frequently

Excellent zero to 60 mph performance

What We Dont

Steep price tag even though its a 2-valve, SOHC design

Only available for Lariat, Platinum and limited-edition F-150 models

Other Changes

Other changes that we noted during our 2011 F-150 sampling were the handsome new gauges in the instrument cluster and the availability of the 4.2-inch productivity screen that debuted in F-Series trucks in the 2011 Super Duty. Hands-down, it's the best pickup truck trip computer, and it's the benchmark by which all others that follow will be measured. It has a fuel-efficiency monitor, pitch and yaw angles while off-roading and a robust set of towing apps that can store names and notes for up to 20 trailers, and provides a hitch checklist to help ensure you've hooked up the trailer properly.

Summary

Ford continues to set the pace in half-ton pickups. Chosen as our Best Overall Light-Duty Pickup during the 2008 Light-Duty Shootout, the new powertrain lineup answers nearly every weakness we identified during that test.

While traditional truck owners are likely on the fence watching how the V-6 EcoBoost engine performs before picking it to replace their current V-8 truck, technology like this represents the future of light-duty engines. Its amazing Ford can market a six-cylinder engine with 420 pounds-feet as environmentally friendly. Were certainly OK with it.

Non-EcoBoost buyers can find an engine to meet their needs, too. Especially when that engine is paired with Fords six-speed automatic transmission, which has more utility than any other gearbox available for a half-ton pickup.

After driving all four engines, what seemed originally to be a huge gamble on Fords part by making all of these changes in a single model year, might just be the safest bet of all.

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16:17

The charred body of a 20-year-old student of Delhi University's Laxmi Bai College has been found from the residence of her boyfriend in Rajpura Gurmandi area in New Delhi.



Arzoo was abducted and murdered by her boyfriend Naveen Khatri and his family on February 2 -- two days before his marriage to another girl on February 4 -- alleged the victim's kin, who lodged a complaint with the Model Town Police after she did not returned from the college on February 2.



The Model Town Police has arrested Khatri in this connection.



"Arzoo went to college on February 2 like any other day. Usually she returns home by 4-5 pm. but when she did not return in the night, we immediately lodged a report with the police. Police found her charred body stashed in an almirah in Khatri's house on Saturday night and called us to the police station for identification," Paayal, the victim's elder sister, said.



"Khatri and my sister were friends and wanted to get married. However, my sister was abducted two days before Khatri's marriage with some other girl on February 4. And, today we got the news that she was murdered. They were afraid that she could create some problem during his marriage and that's why they killed her," she alleged.



Akanksha, the victim's cousin, said that they lodged a police complaint on February 2 when Arzoo did not return.



"The next morning, we went to her college where we came to know that she used to meet Khatri, who lives in our neighbourhood, even after the talks of their marriage failed four months back," she said.



"Khatri's family (Jat) had said that they would not marry their son in the same village and community. But, her friends at the college told us that Arzoo (Rajput) used to meet Khatri, and had gone with him, which created a suspicion and we informed the police," she said.



"They carried out a search of Khatri's house and found her charred body inside an almirah. Police informed us about the body today (Sunday) morning and called us to the police station for identification. They killed her on February 2 and set her body on fire," she added.Kavita, the mother of the victim, said,



"Considering that she was late, I gave a call on her mobile phone, which responded switched off. One of her friends told us over phone that Arzoo could not disappear like this, and it is the work of Khatri. When I called Khatri, her sister responded badly. However, we got a call from Khatri's elder brother."



"Khatri's brother told us to reach a compromise -- you take care of our reputation and we will take care of yours," she said, adding that he threatened me that he could go to nay extent to save his reputation.



"I told him that we don't want anything from them except our daughter, but they killed her. If they feared some disruption by Arzoo during the marriage, they should have told us, and we would have ensured a peaceful marriage," said the mother.Naveen Khatri has been booked in connection with this case.



The police is also investigating into the role of his family members.
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The dead included three women, four children and three men, The Nation reported.

According to the police, the fire engulfed several makeshift houses. Several other persons sustained serious burn injuries, and were shifted to hospital.

The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, the police said.

We are investigating the incident and will share facts as soon we get them, said a senior police official.

--Indo-Asian News Service py/bg

( 98 Words)

2016-02-07-15:53:35 (IANS)
Actress Rachel McAdams says she loves getting involved in developing her characters and thinks simply being cute is "dull". "I love those preliminary conversations about who a character is. You try on wigs, shoes and clothes. It's preferable when it's not about looking pretty. It can get a little dull to just be cute," McAdams told LOOK magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "We talk about things, like maybe my character can't afford these Christian Louboutins. The stylist will say, 'No one will notice'. And I'm like, 'Everyone knows that red-bottomed shoe," she added. The actress plays Boston Globe reporter named Sacha Pfeiffer, who helped expose a child abuse scandal in the Catholic church in 2001, and was fascinated to have a real person to base her character on in the film "Spotlight". "I spent a lot of time with her. I've never played a living person before, so I tried to study her mannerisms, the way she walked and many small things - like how she spoke to her colleagues, how she dressed and the way she sat at her desk," she said. --Indo-Asian News Service dc/nn/ ( 195 Words) 2016-02-07-01:39:34 (IANS)
Despite light snowfall and rain, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was through for traffic with some restrictions. However, the national highway, linking the Ladakh region with the Kashmir valley and historic Mughal and Synthan-Kishtwar road remained closed since December last year due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions. A traffic police official told UNI that Kashmir highway was through though there was light snowfall at Patnitop and Jawahar tunnel areas this morning. Rain also lashed several places, but the vehicles are plying from both ways though some restrictions have been imposed to avoid any traffic jam or accident. He said all Kashmir bound passenger vehicles from Jammu will be allowed to move only between 0600 hrs to 1300 hrs while heavy vehicles, including those carrying essentials, will be permitted only between 0630 hrs to 1130 hrs. However, the movement of oil tankers shall be allowed upto 1300 hrs, he said adding no Srinagar bound passenger vehicle and oil tanker will be permitted to cross Udhampur (Jekhani Chowk) after 1430 hrs and no heavy vehicle will be permitted after 1330 hrs. Similarly Jammu bound light motor vehicles shall be permitted to move towards Jammu from Qazigund only between 0830 hrs to 1600 hrs while heavy vehicles shall be permitted only between 0900 hrs to 1400 hrs. He said the national highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir remained closed since December last year due to snow and slippery road conditions. However, the Drass-Kargil-Leh portion of the highway was through for traffic. There is several feet of snow accumulated at Zojila pass, Sonmarg, Meenmarg and India gate with the result traffic remained suspended on Kargil-Srinagar portion of the highway. However, the Central government has already approved construction of a tunnel at Zojila to make Srinagar-Leh highway all weather road. The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also remained closed due to accumulation of heavy snow. The 86-km-long Bandipora-Gurez road and Synthan-Kishtwar road also remained closed since December last year due to snow.UNI BAS SV PR1025 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-577732.Xml
The death toll in a massive head-on collision between a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Bus and a Truck in Madurai district yesterday has risen to sixteen while 41 injured were being treated. The casualty figure rose to 16 after two bus passengers succumbed to their injuries at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) overnight, official sources said today. Fourteen people were killed and 41 others injured, when the cement-laden truck rammed into the bus at Subbulapuram Vilakku near T.Kallupatti, about 50 kms from here. The government bus was proceeding to Kumili from Tirunelveli, while the Truck was going to Ariyankaavu from Karur, when the gory accident occurred. The impact was severe that the front portion of both the vehicles were mangled beyond recognition. Ten people, including the drivers of bus and truck were killed on the spot and four others succumbed to their injuries at the government hospital. Thirty seven persons were undergoing treatment at GRH, while four others were admitted to the government hospital at Peraiyur and a private hospital at Theni. Of the injured, the condition of two persons was stated to be critical. Though a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, a senior police officer quoting eye-witnesses and injured passengers said the truck came with high speed on the wrong side. Meanwhile, State Health Minister Dr.C.Vijaya Baskar, Minister for Cooperation Sellur K.Raju, Minister for Transport and Industries P.Thangamani, District Collector K.Veera Raghava Rao, Madurai City Corporation Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa visited the GRH this morning and enquired about the health condition of the injured people. Mr.Baskar said all the required medical treatment would be provided to the injured people. He also consoled the families of deceased people. UNI GSM CS 1131 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-577811.Xml
However, additional security force and state police personnel had been deployed in Pulwama main town and other areas to prevent any demonstration.

Shops and business establishments, which otherwise remain open on Sunday, were shut and traffic was off the road at Zadoora and adjoining areas.

Situation was very tense but under control, official sources said adding security forces and state police personnel remained deployed to maintain law and order.

Raqib Bashir, a resident of Zadoora, a former SPO had joined militants and was killed yesterday in a joint operation by security forces yesterday.UNI BAS SV PR1110

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-577769.Xml
The Madurai bench of Madras High Court has directed the Home Secretary to provide a government job to a Dalit woman, whose elder brother was mudered by a group of Caste Hindus. The petitioner was entitled to a government job on compassionate grounds in terms of Clause 21 of Annexure I of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, said Justice D.Hariparanthaman while disposing off a writ petition filed by the Dalit woman Sudha. The petitioners brother Muthukumar was murdered by four Caste Hindus at Manapparai Taluk in Tiruchirapalli district on April 26, last year. The Judge said Rule 12 (4) of the statutory rules mandated the District administration to provide immediate relief in cash and kind, including food, water, clothing, shelter, medical aid, transport facilities and other essential items to victims of atrocities, their family members and dependents. Further, Clause 21 of Annexure I lists out other reliefs to which victims of murder, death, massacre, rape, mass rape, gang rape, permanent incapacitation and dacoity and those benefits include paying pension to dependents or providing a government job, agricultural land or a residential house. Citing the rules, the Judge said employment to one member of the family of the deceased should be provided within three months of the atrocity. As such, the writ petitioner was fully entitled for a suitable government job as more than three months had passed since her brother was murdered.UNI GSM CS 1240 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-577884.Xml
After attacking the NDA Government on the issue of Lalitgate and the Vyapam scam, the Congress is now looking to intensify attacks on the Government on the issue of the Gujarat Land allotment scam in an effort to take the battle to the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress has charged that the Gujarat Government, under Mr Narendra Modis chief ministership, allotted public land to entities closely connected to the kin of the then Revenue Minister and present Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandi Ben Patel, in violation of procedures. Asking the Prime Minister to come clean on the matter, the Congress has demanded that an independent probe by SIT monitored by the Supreme Court be instituted in the allotment of the land. There was a deliberate conscious promotion of vested interests at the cost of the state exchequer,AICC spokesperson Anand Sharma said yesterday. Mr Sharma had, in a press conference earlier on Friday, alleged that Mr Modi, as Chief Minister of Gujarat, allowed nepotism, conflict of interest and brazen plundering of public land to promote commercial and business interests of entities closely connected to the kin of the then Revenue Minister and present Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandi Ben Patel, and demanded an SIT probe monitored by the Supreme Court for a time bound probe in the entire matter. The party has also demanded that Ms Patel must resign for a fair probe into the matter. Though Ms Anar patel, the daughter of Ms Anindi Ben Patel , yesterday brushed aside allegations of having enjoyed any favors from Gujarat Government, the Congress continued its attack on the Modi government on the issue. In fact, the Congress intensified its attack on Mr Modi by demanding that the SIT monitored by the Supreme Court should probe all land allotments by the Gujarat government when Mr Modi was the state's chief minister. Mr Sharma had, in a press conference earlier on Friday, demanded an SIT probe monitored by the Supreme Court for a time bound probe in the land allotments to Wildwoods Resorts & Realties Private Limited (WWR) for a pittance for setting up a resort. Mr Sharma said that no government agency could be trusted to conduct a fair probe in this matter: It would be in the interest of the institution of the Prime Minister that there is an independent probe by SIT monitored by the Supreme court,Mr Sharma said. The Congress has alleged that in gross violation of all known procedures and regulations governing allocation of public land in eco sensitive zones, the then Gujarat Government resorted to allotment of 250 acres of government land next to Gir Lion Sanctuary without any valuation or price determination for a pittance, allowed purchase of agricultural land by non-agriculturists as also change of land use of agricultural land for profiteering and commercial exploitation. MORE UNI AR SV 1345 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0386-577850.Xml
She has made a name for herself in the film and television industry in Pakistan at a young age. Mawra Hocaine, who is making her foray in Bollywood with 'Sanam Teri Kasam', says that she does not want to be just another pretty face in a film with a big star cast. The pretty actress says before getting 'Sanam Teri Kasam' , she received offers to work in several Bollywood films but had to turn them all down simply because she did not have much to do in these films. ''I have been offered a few Indian movies in the past one and a half years. As soon as my work started shining in Pakistan, I was noticed. . However, I had to turn down quite a few films since I didnt want to be an eye candy. I could be there next to a famous hero but then whats the point if he is the one doing everything and I am just sitting back and looking pretty? I had to turn down a few famous films,''Mawra said in an interview on the eve of release f her debut Bollywood film. Mawra said that when she was offered 'Sanam Teri Kasam', she grabbed it as it seemed like the perfect Bollywood debut for her. ''When I was called for the movie, I just decided to do it even though I didnt know who would be the hero in there. The role in the film seemed to be a tailor-made one for me. To my best of knowledge, I dont know if there has been any other actress from Pakistan who has done a dominant lead role like this in a Bollywood film. It is very rare to find a film like Sanam Teri Kasam and make a debut in it,''the actress said. Describing the film as a perfect Bollywood debut for herself, Mawra said,'' the film has everything that I wanted in my Bollywood debut. There, are seven brilliant songs in there. Also I am glad to have pulled off the performance needed for the part since I have two looks in there. One, which is not so fancy and another, which is quintessentially Bollywood. My directors knew that I could pull it off. I too was sure that I will nail it. '' She is specially effusive in her praise for the directors Vinay Sapru and Radhija Rao. ''The way they ( Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru) have made the film look is amazing. The way they work, everything looks so grand on screen. It is all very real with a piece of heart. Talking about the film, she says,''At the core of it all, Sanam Teri Kasam is a heart-wrenching love story.. She is also full of praise for the film's music.'' Speaking about the music of the film which has been composed by Himmesh Reshammiya Mawra disclosed that her favourite song in 'Kheench Meri Photo'. Its my DDLJ moment. It reminds me of 'Zarra Sa Jhoom Loon Mein.' I think we are incredibly lucky to have Arijit Singh (of Aashiqui 2fame), Ankit Tiwari (also ofAashiqui 2 fame) and Palak Muchhal (who has sung thePrem Ratan Dhan Payo andAashiqui 2 title songs) sing for us, she says. 23 year old Mawra is happy to be part of Bollywood as she has grown up watching the Hindi films and has always wanted to be part of it. I've been preparing myself for a debut in Bollywood since the last seven years,she says. . At the end of it, she says that the wait has been worth it. In the last one year, during the shooting of the movie, I have received a lot of love and I've learnt a lot. It's been a learning experience for me. Also, I have made some great friends here. I've found Harshvardhan who will remain my friend till I'm 70. The producers of my film have taken care of, protected and nourished me. So I never felt I'm here alone,Mawra said. While Mawra says that she is here to stay in Bollywood, she says that she will comntinue to do work in Pakistan. I've done good work in my country and people would want to see me there. I'd love to do something there as soon as I finish Sanam Teri Kasam. I always turned down Pakistani films saying that I wanted to do my debut in Bollywood. Now that I'm done with my debut, I think I'll go back and do a film there. I'm reading a lot of scripts there and here as well. So I'm going to try my best potential to manage both since both the audiences are valuable to me,she said. The movie features Mawra alongside South Indian star Harshvardha Rane. The film is slated to release on February 5. UNI AR SV 1356 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0386-577893.Xml
Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu today said quality education of International standards to rural children is a necessity as they are lagged behind in the global development race due to socio-economic imbalance. Speaking after launching of Sanskriti Global Pre-school'', probably, Indias first Pre-school chain initiated by a woman educationist here, Mr Naidu expressed hope that sanskritis initiative will also bring modernisation in rural education which has largely been in urban India. The challenges of remote geography, lack of pedagogical resources, poor infrastructure, and poorly skilled human resources will be managed through the initiatives like these. SANSKRITI will also promote the digital education initiatives by integrating m-SANSKRITI and e-SANSKRITI, he said, the former aims to promote the self-learning skill among students and integrates the role of parents in the education of child and the latter brings multiple stakeholders together in managing, monitoring and mentoring the education of child. 'Even so many programs and policies initiated by the government, we are still lagging behind in providing education to the girl child, the Union Minister pointed out and said that the problem here is not in implementation but in the level of commitment of people in general.' India holds a strong determination in educating all children, especially the girl child. By declaring education as a fundamental right, India ensures constitutional provisions for providing free and compulsory education to all the children between 6 to 14 years of age, Mr Naidu said. Even after declaring education as a fundamental right, there are numerous hurdles that prohibit a girl child from actually getting education. The biggest hurdle is the prejudices that families have about girlslike girls are slow learners, they are not rational; they are to be confined inside the domestic household, and why bother about educating them, he said.MORE UNI KNR CS 1313 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-577935.Xml
Mr Modi arrived in the pilgrim city at 1025 hours after dedicating the NISER campus at Jatni near the state capital this morning.

At the Lions gate, the main gate of the temple, highest body of temple servitors Chhatisa Nijog president Janardan Patjoshi Mohapatra, temple chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and

Mr Modis family priest Raghunath Gochhikar welcomed and escorted him to the temple complex.

The Prime Minister offered his prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord balavadra and Devi Subhadra inside the garba gruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.

The Archaeological Survey of India currently undertaking the repair work of the Jagmohan of the temple, today suspended the repair work in view of the visit of the Prime Minister to the temple.

Mr Modi went round the temple complex and offered prayers to Mahalaxmi and Maa Vimla and stayed nearly 30 minutes inside the temple.

The temple sevayats presented him khandua and patta bastra while the temple management presented the images of the trinity made in natural thermocol (locally called sola).

While coming out of the Jagannath temple, Mr Modi waved at the cheering crowds who gathered at the grand road in front of the temple to have a glimpse of the Prime Minister.

The Jagannath temple was closed for the devotees and the visitors two hours prior to the visit of Mr Modi. A thorough security scanning was carried out inside the temple.

Nearly 40 platoons of police personnel were deployed in the city with a five layer security for the visit of the Prime Minister. Scores of intelligence persons, bomb detection and disposal units dog units were deployed at strategic places along the route from Puri helipad to sri Jagannath temple.

The temple administration in view of Prime Ministers visit had rescheduled the nitee and rituals of the presiding deities.

The Prime Minister left for Paradip to dedicate the Rs.35,000 crore state of art technology Paradip Oil Refinery set up the Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL).UNI XC-DP AKM SV RK1345

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-577889.Xml
Delhi Police has worked out a case of dacoity and arrested three Nepal nationals in this connection. The accused have been identified as Dinesh Bahadur, Kamal Singh and Hikmat Khadka. All of them belong to Nepal. The incident took place on January 26 when the servant, identified as Dinesh, along with three others, tied the hands of 86-year-old Prakash Chand Jain, owner of the house, and assaulted him. They confined him to the washroom and committed theft of valuable items in the house, including a costly watch, golden chain and Apple I-6 mobile phone. It was also found that the assailants had tied the hands, legs and mouth of security guard Ashok Kumar. During investigation, it was found that one watchman of Nepal origin, identified as Dharma, was also involved in this case. He was found absconding immediately after the incident."A police team conducted raid at the place of the accused Dharma at Ashok Vihar, Delhi, and recovered a recharge coupon of mobile phone, along with one airline luggage tag," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Singh said. Acting on information, police conducted a raid at Uttam Nagar, Delhi, in the afternoon of February 5, arrested the accused and recovered the robbed articles from their possession. Further interrogation revealed that Dinesh came to Delhi last year in search of job and had been working as a domestic help or caretaker for Prakash Jain (the complainant) for the last four months. Search is being made for other accomplices and further investigation is in progress. UNI SM JW RJ 1507 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-578069.Xml
Nagaland Minister for National Highways and Mechanical Engineering Nuklutoshi has drawn the attention of Union Finance Minister on the acute resource constraints faced by state due to the alteration of funding pattern to Nagaland since 1990. Attending the Pre-Budget meeting with Mr Arun Jaitley in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Nuklutoshi, informed the ministry that Nagaland was perhaps the only state which was created out of a political agreement. The agreement provided special provisions with respect to governance and funding for the state, Nuklutoshi reminded. He, however, said the change in the funding pattern to Nagaland since 1990 was not in accordance to the political agreement. Nuklutoshi further said Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and some states of the Northeastern region should be treated more special than the other special category states. He also said that without taking into consideration the special status of Nagaland, the 13th finance commission had recommended normative funding to all the state restricting salary expenditure to 35 per cent of the total revenue expenditure, net of Interest payment and pension. If we have to go on the basis of the 13th finance commission recommendations, we would have to terminate the services of about 45,000 government employees, which is not possible, he pointed out. Although the central government had created the special window of special central assistance (untied) to cover the BCR gap, the distribution of the fund was neither proportionate to the BCR gap of the state nor sufficient, Nuklutoshi asserted. Because of this, he explained, the Nagaland state, at the close 13th finance commission period, ended up with a huge deficit of Rs 1,542 crore. The Minister, however, disclosed that the 14th finance commission understood the problem faced by the state and their recommendations are found to be more realistic as compared with the previous finance commissions. However, the backlog deficit created during the 13th Finance Commission period is so huge that even the award of the 14th Finance Commission is not sufficient to cover the pending deficit of the state, he informed the ministry. He further requested the Central government to give a one-time grant to waive the deficit to enable the state to focus on developmental activities. Mr Nuklutoshi attended the pre-budget meeting with Kikheto Sema, finance secretary to Nagaland government, the release said. UNI AS AKM SV RK1448 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-577914.Xml
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel have rescued 14 fishermen from a flooding fishing boat around 80 km off coast early today. According to a statement from Coast Guard Dist Headquarters 11 Goa, on receipt of a message from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mumbai (MRCC) at 2300 hrs last night regarding a fishing boat in distress, about 46 miles North West of Mormugao head, the Coast Guard operations team swung into action andcoordinated search and rescue operation. The operations room at Coast Guard was in constant touch with the fishing boat who informed that they were 14 crew and water was flooding in. They requested for immediate rescue as they feared sinking of the boat. Coast Guard ship C-140 sailed within minutes and rushed to the scene of action to render assistance. The CoastGuard ship reached near the distressed fishing boat at about 0300 hrs early today. Braving the adverse condition of the sea and night time, the Coast Guard personnel jumped into the boat to assess situation. On investigation it came to light that 02 forward tanks of the boat were flooded and water was also flooding in the engineroom. The Coast Guard team without delay tried to put a submersible pump to pump out water. However, the same was not possible due to the adverse sea conditions. Decision was taken to continue to bail out water and take the boat under row. Eleven of the 14 crew were evacuated onboard the Coast Guard ship. Indian Coast Guard ship C-140 with the fishing boat under tow along with 14 rescued fishermen entered Momugao Harbour in the early hours of today. In harbor the technical team of Coast Guard with the help of submersible pump de-flooded the compartments. The boat was later handed over to the local agent arranged by the owner who subsequently took the boat for repairs. The Fisheries Department of Goa was very proactive in coordinating relief to the fishing boat in distress, the statement added.UNI AKM SA AS1445 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0411-577912.Xml
She offered prayers and offered a 'chadar' at the shrine. Local guides said she tied a sacred thread and "prayed for the success of her forthcoming film Fitoor".

Kat earlier visited the shrine before the release of another Hindi movie 'Ek tha Tiger'.

Dressed in white, the Bollywood diva arrived before other visitors began to crowd the shrine at Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted capital of Mughal emperor Akbar.

--Indo-Asian News Service bk/tsb/bg

( 110 Words)

2016-02-07-15:49:34 (IANS)
The former head of Anglo Irish Bank will not fight being sent back to his native Ireland from the United States to face criminal charges related to the bank's collapse if he is granted bail upon his return, he was quoted as saying on Sunday.David Drumm has been in custody since he was arrested at his Massachusetts home on Oct. 10 after Irish officials asked that he be extradited to face a 33-count criminal indictment related to the collapse of the failed bank.Anglo Irish Bank was nationalised in early 2009 in a takeover that cost Ireland some 30 billion euros ($33 billion)."I have instructed my U.S. attorneys last week to explore all opportunities with the US and Irish authorities to expedite a return to Ireland," Drumm was quoted as saying in the Irish weekly Sunday Business Post, adding that he hoped to apply to a Boston court on Monday to achieve this."I have given clear instructions that all rights to challenge the extradition in the US should be waived and no other options available to me should be pursued in order to facilitate an immediate return to Ireland."Drumm faces charges in Ireland related to fraudulent loans the bank made in 2008 intended to help prop up its share prices, which was falling sharply during the global crisis, according to papers unsealed in Boston in October.The charges include forgery, conspiracy and false accounting. Drumm, who moved to Boston after the bank was nationalised seven years ago, has denied any wrongdoing.He is due to face the extradition charges on March 1. He unsuccessfully pleaded for his release on bail last year, saying he was not a flight risk.Drumm told the newspaper he was asking Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to oppose bail if he returned so he could work and participate fully in his defence."I understand that the DPP will not agree to our request, and will oppose bail. Although this is a disappointment and very perplexing, it does not diminish my desire to return to Ireland," Drumm said.The DPP could not immediately be reached for comment.REUTERS DS AS1553 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-578150.Xml
Three people from Odisha who have excelled and made the state proud of their achievements were today felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration ceremony of National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) campus. Mr Modi felicitated Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai, a young girl from Koraput for winning the Community Impact Award for her innovative project at the Google Science Fair held in California in September last year. She had developed a water purifier to clean waste water with the help of corn cobs. ASHA worker Jamuna Mani Singh from Balasore was felicitated for her launching an awareness campaign and educate villagers to fight malaria. She was figured in the Prime ministers monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat in November last year. Srikant Sahu, a youth from Nabarangpur who won All India Skill Competition in May last year, was also felicitated by the Prime Minister during the ceremony. He won the national level competition conducted by the Ministry of Labour under Directorate General of Employment and Training.UNI DP AKM JW RJ AS1700 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-578148.Xml
Alert BSF jawans noticed some suspicious movement of the smugglers near the MP base areaand challenged them. The smugglers opened fire and in retaliation BSF jawans also opened fire and shot dead four smugglers, including two Pakistani and as many Indian smugglers.

BSF recovered ten kg heroin from the spot. The value of the seized contraband is Rs 50 crore in the international market.

Indian smugglers went to the area to collect the heroin consignment from the Pakistan smugglers.UNI XC DB SHS RJ RK1626

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The Punjab government today urged the Centre to provide the State a financial package worth Rs 15,000 crore in the forthcoming Union Budget including a financial aid of Rs 100 Crore to check the cancer penetration in the Malwa belt of the state. The sufficient budgetary allocation for the payment CST compensation during 2016-17 was also requested. These demands were raised by the Finance Minister Punjab Parminder Singh Dhindsa, accompanied by the Additional Chief Secretary Finance, DP Reddy, during the pre budget consultation meeting of the Finance Ministers of the states with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi. Speaking at a meeting, MrDhindsa said Punjab has played a pivotal role in ensuring food security in the country and provided life line in the form of food grains to fellow countrymen. The states natural and environmental resources have not only been over exploited but also have been polluted beyond permissible limits. It is not that pollution and over utilization of environmental resources has adversely affected the human lives; the degraded environmental resources particularly quality of soil and water have also adversely affected the land productivity and hence the farming community and landless workers have been facing high degree of economic distress resulting in suicides by farmers. He said the state has not only been facing agrarian crisis but its industrial economy is equally in the grip of crisis mainly due to tax holidays given by the central government to the neighbouring hill states. The tax concessions given to neighbouring states have resulted in closure and flight of 274 industrial units involving investment of Rs 3,675 crore to tax favoured states. The combined slow growth of both productive sectors of the economy poses another serious problem of stagnation of jobs for the youth. Mr Dhindsa said Punjab earlier was declared as a fit case along with Kerala and West Bengal for debt relief. It was re/solved that the matter of debt relief would be taken care of by the Fourteenth Finance Commission. MORE UNI NC SHS RJ RK1635 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-578123.Xml
State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the judiciary system should give proper justice to every citizen of the society. Mr Fadnavis, who was addressing the inaugural function of district court building in Kasba Bavda, a suburb of the city this afternoon, along which Bombay High Court Acting Chief Justice Vijaya Tahilramani, in the presence of State Cooperation Minister Chandrakant Patil, who is also the District Guardian Minister, HighCourt Justices Ranjit More and Mahesh Sonak and District Judge Rajendra Avchat. In his speeach Mr Fadnavis said, every person including the downtrodden, should get justice through judiciary system as they have faith in law system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, created new opportunity for the people through his ambitious project 'Make in India', that encourages to make productions in the country for the world market. But in this concept it was needed to maintain law and order in the country, which would be useful for industrialists of our country and as well as for foreigners who want to invest here. He assured the judiciary institution that, government would give all possible help and would make financial provision to supply various facilities. On lawyers ongoing agitation for their demand to set up a circuit bench in Kolhapur and who had boycotted today's inaugural function, Mr Fadnavis expressed confidence over judiciary institution that it would take positive decision on this issue in early. The lawyers from six district jurisdiction including Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Solapur and Kolhapur boycotted the inaugural function to express their protest on delay of the circuit bench. UNI SSS RB RJ AS1732 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0411-578229.Xml
He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and captains of industry.

During the forthcoming visit, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi will call on President Pranab Mukherjee and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi on issues of mutual interest.

The visit follows the visit of Prime Minister Modi to UAE in August 2015, during which the two countries agreed to elevate the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

India and UAE have historically enjoyed close and friendly relations anchored on mutually beneficial commercial exchanges and extensive people to people contacts.

India's well-balanced bilateral trade amounted to US$ 59 billion in 2014-15, making UAE its third largest trading partner.

UAE is among the largest investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments as it contributes significantly to India's energy security and is the sixth largest supplier of crude oil to India in 2014-15.

About 2.6 million strong and vibrant Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in UAE. Their positive and well-appreciated contribution in the development of their host country has been an important anchor of our excellent bilateral engagement.

India has vital stakes in the security and stability of the Gulf region, which hosts over seven million Indians. This region is also the source of nearly two-third of India's crude oil requirements and is our largest trading partner. (ANI)
Pakistan's famous scientist, poet and patriarch Dr Pirzada Kasim disclosed that country's prominent daily "Dawn'' used to come out of Delhi before independence and used to be a weekly newspaper. ''My father used to be a reporter in the newspaper. I was born here and after 42 years of independence, my residence was found in Delhi, which is nothing short of a Bollywood movie'', he said. Mr Kasim is here to participate in an international Mushaira "Jaishney Bahar'. The Vice Chancellor of Nazir Hussain University in Karachi told Univarta that he was born in Walwale lane of Sitaram bazar in Delhi and after partition, when he was just four-and-a-half-year-old, his family migrated to Pakistan. He told that his father used to work with the "Dawn" newspaper, which used to come out of Delhi and was weekly at the time, but after partition, it started to come out from Pakistan and became a daily newspaper.The former vice chancellor of Urdu Federal University and Karachi University also said that 42 years after partition, he came to India to participate in a Mushaira in 1989 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.And that was his maiden visit to Delhi. Dr Kasim, lost in memories said,'' I thought when I have come to India, why not visit my ancestral home, which I had slight memory of. There were slight memories of the walls, which were a bit fading in my memory. There, I found two girls, who had come to the Mushaira and they were listening to me in rapt attention."Next day, when I set out to find my residence, I met the girls and they instantly recognised me.They told me that this is the very same house, where I was born and brought up as a kid and then I could recall a bit. This is just like a fairy tale, straight out of a Bollywoood masala movie. It was like as if a dream had translated into a reality. One of the girls was working with the Doordarshan and the other one was a college teacher. Its been almost 27 years since the incident'' , he reminisced. MORE UNI SY JW RJ 1810 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0093-578347.Xml
Police said that acting on a tip-off, raid was conducted at a hide-out in Dariyapur village, leading to the arrest of three criminals from there.

Those arrested were identified as Ram Sharan Yadav, Ravi Bhushan and Doodhnath.

"All the arrested criminals were wanted in connection with several cases pending against them", police said, adding that they were being interrogated. UNI KKS AKM DS RJ AS1835

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Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today said BJP cannot wriggle out of the mess it has created in Punjab in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal by simply walking out at the eleventh hour after having enjoyed the pelf and power for the last nine years. Capt Amarinder also demanded a white paper on the state of economy in Punjab. Reacting to the reports of the BJPs intentions to part ways with the Akalis, the PCC president said, although it was their internal affair whether to continue with the alliance or not, one thing the party cannot escape is the onus and responsibility for being partners in the sins of omission and commission of this government during last nine years. If the BJP thinks that by walking out of the alliance at the eleventh hour, people of Punjab can forgive it, the party is badly mistaken, he said, while pointing out, at no point of time did the party raise any objection to the rampant loot the Akalis resorted to. He said, rather they became the equal partners in everything.MORE UNI NC JW RJ AS1822 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-578301.Xml
In major move aimed at confidence building between border troops India and China' PLA held their first ever joint exercise in Ladakh, the region which had witnessed several eyeball to eyeball face-offs in the recent past. The path-breaking joint tactical exercise between border troops of both countries was conducted in the Chushul-Moldo area yesterday."This is a part of ongoing initiatives being taken by India and China to ensure greater interaction between troops stationed along the LAC, and thereby ensure peace and tranquility on the border," said a press statement issued by the defence ministry, announcing the exercise.As previously agreed by both countries, the exercise focused on actions to be coordinated to jointly tackle aspects of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief. The Indian Army team of thirty personnel was led by Colonel Ritesh Chandra Singh while the Chinese delegation of an equal compliment was led by Colonel Qu Yi. Lasting an entire day, the joint exercise was based on a situation of a national disaster occurring on the border and the subsequent coordination of rescue mission by joint teams of both countries. The exercise, codenamed Sino-India Cooperation 2016, compliments the Hand-in-Hand series of India-China Joint Exercises and the recently conducted border troops Joint Exercise in Sikkim. The increased interaction amongst Indian and Chinese border troops is a very positive step in enhancing confidence and building relations between the two armies.UNI MK AJ 2038 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-578708.Xml
: The allegation that a bar owner and a police official had conspired against KM Mani in the Bar bribery is very serious one , said Minister PK Kunhalikkutty. Talking to newspersons here, Mr Kunhalikutty said, Mr Mani, the senior most leader of the state politics had to face all kinds of torture due to this and it is nothing, but a cold-blooded lie. It is time to stop controversies, based on the allegation of a woman. The minister said after the meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the unity in UDF has improved. the attitude of the people that there will not be continuation of the regime in the state has changed. If UDF continues its performance Kerala will be saved, he said.-UNI XR/GS KVV ADB 2030 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-578684.Xml
Two persons have been arrested on the charge of fatally stabbing a retired teacher at his dwelling in Lahrouli Haal village. "On Tuesday afternoon, ex-educator Veerendra Rajawat was at the bus stand here, when he met the same villages Vikas Rajawat. While Vikas was being taken by Veerendra to the latters residence for unnatural sex, they came across Vikas friend Kaushal Shakya who also accompanied them. Following unnatural sex with Vikas, Veerendra unlocked a box to pay the youth. The accused got the impression that there was a considerable amount of money within. They targeted Veerendra, looted Rs 6,000, two bottles of liquor and a cellular phone," Superintendent of Police Navneet Bhasin said today. The duo was taken into custody and confessed during interrogation.UNI XC-AC DS RJ VN2012 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-578484.Xml
The chairman of the Nagaland Bio Resource Mission Longri has called for making the Milak river areas an economic zone which would be beneficial not only to the Changkikong people, under Mokokchung district, but to the entire population of Nagaland. Representative of the Jangpetkong Assembly Constituency legislator, Dr Longri was the chief guest at the 72nd CSM conference at Waromung village under Mokokchung district. During his address, the politician exhorted the citizens of Changkikong range on the importance of conserving biodiversity. According to him, Milak River, which transverses through the entire range, and its adjoining areas can be declared as an economic belt for the economic uplift of the people. In this regard, the legislator urged the people to look toward the development of fields as a recurring theme based on the slogan back to the land. Dr Longri asserted that the Changkikong range, with its rich biodiversity, has sufficient avenues for prospective farmers and entrepreneurs. He called for community efforts to engage in conservation. He advised against random coal mining (which is having adverse ecological effects on the local biodiversity) so that the dream of an economic zone along the Milak river belt can be a reality. About the pathetic road condition of Changkikong range, Dr Longri said," the Chief Minister and the departments in concern are keeping keen interest for the development of the road." He promised that the road will be developed during his tenure. Nonetheless, he asked for constant support so that his dream of developing the roads would be a success. An economic zone, or more commonly, a Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a countrys domestic economic laws. India has specific laws for its SEZs. The category SEZ covers a broad range of more specific zone types, including Free Trade Zones (FTZ), Export processing zones (EPZ), Free Zones (FZ), Industrial Estates (IE), Free ports, Urban Enterprise Zones and others. Usually the goal of a structure is to increase foreign direct investment by foreign investors, typically an international business or a Multi National Corporation (MNC). Currently, Nagaland has two approved economic zones, at least on paper. UNI AS AD PY AJ BL2105 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-578665.Xml
Altogether four youths were killed on the spot and another was injured critically when the car they were travelling in collided with a stationary truck at Khapri under the same police station area today.According to police, the youths, who were coming to Nagpur from Butibori after a picnic, were speeding when they met with the accident. The deceased have been identified as Saiyad Jisan, Sagar Surjuse, Sanjay Khushwaha and Akash George, the police said.The bodies have been sent for autopsy at a local government hospital and an FIR was lodged at the concerned police station. The injured has been admitted at a local hospital, police added.UNI RS NP AJ 2122 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0411-578744.Xml
Professor Vilakhjhan Ravidas, proctor of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur university in Bhagalpur and Kapildeo Mandal and Arjun Paswan were released after they filed a bond in a police station.

"Ravidas and others were released due to lack of evidence against them," said a district police official.

Ravidas, however denied any links with Maoists.

Police said Ravidas was arrested on information provided by suspected Maoist Ghanshayam alias Ghoghan Da. A pistol, mobile phone and Maoist literature were allegedly seized from Ghanshayam who gave information about the proctor during his two-hour questioning.

Police then raided several places and arrested Ravidas.

"We arrested Ravidas from his private residence for links with Maoists and for providing patronage to them," Bhagalpur Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar had said earlier.

The two suspected Maoists arrested from the varsity's welfare hostel, of which Ravidas is incharge, were Mandal, who is a visiting professor of Murarka college, and Paswan, who were also released.

However, police said investigation will continue in the case.

--Indo-Asian News Service ik/vd/bg

( 213 Words)

2016-02-07-22:27:34 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who dedicated the Paradip oil refinery to the nation today presented the symbolic keys for the five hi-tech ambulances to Odisha government, contributed by Indian Oil Paradip Refinery, under its CSR programme. Mr Modi also presented aids and appliances to three specially-abled persons, under the CSR initiative of Engineers India Ltd., supporting Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), for providing assistive aids and appliances to poor and needy people with disabilities. On his arrival, the PM was taken to the Main Control Room, which is the heart of a refinery where Director (Refineries), Indian Oil, Sanjiv Singh briefed him on the operation of the control room which is the biggest Control Room among Indian Oil refineries Mr Modi also visited the INDMAX unit, an in-house technology adopted in the refinery, the finest representation of Make in India campaign of the Government of India. The Prime Minister unveiled the glorious and illustrative symbol of Make in India- a sculpture of the in-house technical innovation of Indian Oils R&D- the INDMAX technology. The sculpture is a national salute to Mr Modi's initiative to take India to the next level of growth by attracting big investments in the country and giving a boost to Indian skill and trade for economic development. The INDMAX technology implementation will double LPG production. This will support the mission of union government for providing domestic LPG gas to every household in next three years. At present, approximately 50 per cent of LPG is imported in the country.Mr Modi also presented the domestic LPG connections to house-makers of three BPL families who were customers of the three oil marketing companies namely Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL, under the governments Give Back Scheme.UNI DP PY AJ 2217 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0335-578783.Xml
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) meeting of Select Committee on the Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015 has called for a meeting in Kohima. In a statement the Nagaland Assembly Commissioner and Secretary N Benjamin Newmai said the meeting of the Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015 has been fixed on February 10, at 1100 hrs in the Committee Room of the Assembly Secretariat and all the responsible committee members have been requested to attend the meeting. UNI AS AD PY BL2317 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-578666.Xml
Acting on a tip off, customs sleuths nabbed the smuggler under Raxaul police station area in the district when he entered into the state from Nepal with four kgs of Charas.

Official sources said here the smuggler identified as Ghulam Rasool, a resident of East Champaran district was intercepted and taken into custody while he was carrying the consignment on an auto rickshaw.

Later, customs officials handed over the smuggler to local police which were interrogating him to get vital clues from him.UNI XC DH AD PY AJ BL2259

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The Tirtol Police today arrested six supporters of ruling BJD MLA Pramod Kumar Mallick for ransacking the police station and seized the vehicle of the MLA. According to police station IIC Abhinav Dalua, the police were also looking for other supporters of the BJD MLA who went on berserk damaging the property of the police station on the basis of the CCTV footage. Tensions prevailed this morning at Balipatana near Jeypore on Cuttack-Paradip Road under Tirtol police limit following a group clash between the activists of BJD and BJP before Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Paradip to dedicate the oil refinery. As many as four motorcycles, two vehicles and a bus were damaged in the clash. Even, some BJP supporters allegedly obstructed the vehicle of Dr Mallick, assaulted him and his supporters while he was on his way to Paradip to attend the inaugural function. The supporters of the BJD MLA demanding action against the BJP activists came to Tirtol police station in motorcycles and went on rampage destroying the tables, chairs and threw the documents of the police station and later fled from there. Laxman Sethy, the ASI of the police station, who was on DCO duty at that time when Dr Mallick, Niali MLA, came with his supporters and went on rampaging the police station, lodged an FIR against the MLA and his supporters. The police also registered a case on the basis of an FIR lodged by Dr Mallick alleging that the BJP activists had destroyed his vehicle, assaulted him and his supporters. The six arrested will be produced before the local court on Monday. Meanwhile, the locals demanded the arrest of the MLA for his involvement in vandalising the police station.UNI XC DP AD PY AJ 2301 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-578770.Xml
The rocket was fired at about 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) from the DPRK's Tongchang-ri launch station on its west coast, Xinhua quoted a report by Yonhap news agency which cited South Korea's defence authorities.

The South Korean military detected the rocket just a minute after the launch with its surveillance assets, seeing the rocket succeed in its first-stage separation.

The first stage of the rocket fell on western waters of South Korea. Additional debris landed on waters near the country's southern resort island of Jeju.

The rocket disappeared from radars of the South Korean military at 9:36 a.m., the military said, noting that more verification will be needed to confirm the final success of the rocket launch.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) right after the rocket launch to discuss countermeasures.

Seoul's foreign ministry reportedly requested an emergency meeting of UN Security Council, which bans the DPRK from testing any of its ballistic missile technologies.

There has been no damage reported from civil aircrafts and shipping, South Korea's transport ministry was quoted as saying.

South Korea and the US are jointly assessing whether the DPRK's rocket launch succeeds.

--Indo-Asian News Service sku/

( 229 Words)

2016-02-07-07:05:39 (IANS)
An elderly Australian woman kidnapped with her husband last month in Burkina Faso by a group affiliated to al Qaeda has been freed, neighbouring Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said. Issoufou presented the woman yesterday, Jocelyn Elliott, at a news conference in Dosso, southwestern Niger, and said authorities were intensifying efforts to secure the release of her husband. The pair, who are in their 80s, were seized on Jan. 15. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said on Friday it had kidnapped the couple and would release the woman unconditionally due to public pressure and guidance from al Qaeda leaders not to involve women in war. The circumstances of her release and how she arrived in Niger were not immediately clear.Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thanked the governments of Niger and Burkina Faso for their assistance and confirmed that his government had spoken with Jocelyn Elliott following her release, in a televised interview early on Sunday. "We continue to cooperate with those governments and we thank them for their efforts," Turnbull told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from the capital, Canberra. For over 40 years, Dr. Ken Elliott and his wife have operated a 120-bed clinic in the town of Djibo near Burkina Faso's border with Mali. They were abducted from the town the same day al Qaeda fighters raided a restaurant and hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, and killed 30 people, many of whom were foreigners. REUTERS KU GC0535 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-577646.Xml
Haitian leaders have agreed to install a caretaker government to take over from President Michel Martelly when he leaves power this weekend without an elected successor, a move that failed to calm protesters who clashed with police again. The agreement was reached less than 24 hours before Martelly steps down. Under the deal parliament will elect an interim president for a four-month term. The temporary president, expected to be chosen in the next few days, will be committed to holding delayed presidential elections by April 24 and handing power to the winner the following month. A presidential runoff due to be held last month was scrapped after opposition candidate Jude Celestin threatened to boycott the vote over allegations of fraud in the first round, and protesters took to the streets in force. Port-au-Prince has seen almost daily protests by both opposition and government supporters since January, culminating in the lynching of a former soldier during a march on Friday. The agreement did not placate all sectors of the opposition. During the signing in an annex of the presidential palace that survived a devastating earthquake six years ago, small groups of anti-government protesters clashed outside with riot police who used a water canon and tear gas to disperse them. "Despite this agreement, we will need to continue to remain vigilant because there are people who won't agree," Martelly said at an event with foreign diplomats at the palace. "Every time they exercise violence Haiti makes one step backward," Martelly said of the protesters. Any caretaker government will have to overcome deep disagreements about how the election should be organised and which candidates can participate, since many opposition politicians are convinced the first round vote was riddled with fraud that favored ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise.The government denies the allegations. A senior adviser to Celestin, Gerald Germain, told Reuters his camp had yet to study the agreement in depth and would make its position known later. Martelly's own election five years ago was seen by many in the opposition as being facilitated by foreign pressure. His departure from office coincides with the 30th anniversary of dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier's flight from the country. Instead of stable democracy, the years since the end of the Duvalier family's 29-year regime on Feb. 7, 1986 have been marked by frequent coups and transitional governments. The impoverished country has had a chequered experience with caretaker governments, which in the past have lingered longer than expected. When Haiti was left without an elected president after Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced from power in 2004, it took the transitional administration two years to organize elections. The failure to organize clean elections before Martelly's term ended means Haiti is again left bitterly divided and beset by unrest. Sandra Honore, who heads the United Nations peacekeeping mission that has been in Haiti since Aristide's ouster, called on all sides to support the agreement. The US Ambassador to Haiti, Peter Mulrean, said the United States was fully supportive of the new election calendar and called for protesters to eschew violence. "The streets should not be deciding what happens next, elections should be deciding, and this agreement will allow the elections to go forward," he said.REUTERS KU GC0725 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-577663.Xml
North Korea launched a long-range rocket today carrying what it has called a satellite, but its neighbours and Washington denounced the launch as a missile test, conducted in defiance of UN sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test. The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit, quashing earlier media reports indicating the rocket might have failed in flight. "Everything we have seen is consistent with a successful repeat of the 2012 (launch)," said US missile technology expert John Schilling, referring to a previous launch of what the North said was a communications satellite. "But it's still too early to tell for sure," said Schilling, who is involved in the "38 North" monitoring project at Johns Hopkins University. The rocket was launched at around 9:30am Seoul time in a southward trajectory. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea. North Korea, which last month exploded a nuclear device, had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test. North Korean state television said it planned a "special announcement" at noon local time (0860IST). The UN Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the launch, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said. Isolated North Korea had initially given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but yesterday changed that to February 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather today. The United States was tracking the rocket launch and said it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies, defense officials said. 'FLAGRANT VIOLATION' The United States will work with the UN Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for its launch, US Secretary of State John Kerry said. Calling the launch a flagrant violation of UN resolutions on the country's use of ballistic missile technology, Kerry reaffirmed the "ironclad" US defense commitments to allies Japan and South Korea and called the launch a destabilizing and unacceptable challenge to peace and security. South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an unforgivable act of provocation.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch "absolutely unacceptable", especially after North Korea had tested a nuclear device last month. "To launch a missile after conducting a nuclear test goes against the UN resolution. We will respond resolutely, coordinating closely with the international community," he told reporters. Japan had said that it was ready to shoot down the rocket if it threatened the country, but did not take any action to do so, Japan's NHK reported. A commentary by China's state-run Xinhua news agency today called for calm. Beijing is Pyongyang's main ally, although it disapproves of its nuclear weapons programme. "The most pressing task at present is that all relevant sides should proceed from the standpoint of safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and deal with the issue calmly to prevent the situation from continuously deteriorating or even spinning out of control," it said. North Korea has said that its most recent nuclear test, its fourth, was of a hydrogen bomb. However, the United States and other governments have expressed doubt over that claim. North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology. It has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the US West Coast, but there is no evidence the missiles have been tested. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme.REUTERS SA PR1219 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-577860.Xml
South Korea said today it and the United States would begin discussion on deploying an advanced missile-defence system to South Korea to counter the growing threat of North Korea's weapons capabilities. US military officials have said the sophisticated system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was needed in South Korea, which faces the threat of an increasingly advanced North Korean missile programme. "If THAAD is deployed to the Korean peninsula, it will be only operated against North Korea," Ryu Je-seung, a senior official at the South Korean defence ministry said in a joint news conference with Thomas S. Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea. North Korea launched a long-range rocket earlier today carrying what it has called a satellite. South Korea, other neighbours and Washington denounced the launch as a missile test.REUTERS SA PR1226 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-577872.Xml
The arrested persons, include two men and three women, reported TOLO News.

The alleged spies were working in hospitals in Baharak and Keshm districts of the province, the officials added.

Badakhshan Police chief Ghulam Sakhi Ghafoori said the arrested persons were giving information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Meanwhile, the officials in the provincial directorate of public health said that the arrested persons had entered Afghanistan illegally. (ANI)
A Sudanese migrant stabbed and wounded a soldier in Israel today and was shot dead, police said, adding the suspect appeared to have lashed out in solidarity with the Palestinians.If that motive is confirmed, it would be the first such attack by a foreigner during a four-month-old surge of Palestinian street violence fuelled in part by Muslim anger at perceived Jewish encroachment on a contested Jerusalem shrine.Thousands of Sudanese have entered Israel illegally through neighbouring Egypt in recent years, some seeking work and others asylum. Israel's efforts to repatriate them have been hampered by the fact it has no ties with Sudan, a Muslim country.Today's incident in the southern city of Ashkelon, the suspect stabbed and lightly wounded a soldier at a bus station and fled, pursued by another soldier who shot him, police said."The behaviour, the location, the flight, the targeting of a soldier - all of these add up to a nationalistic attack," Ashkelon police chief Shimon Portal told reporters, using a term Israelis often apply to Palestinian violence.He said there was no indication of an event that might have precipitated the knife attack. Before he died, the wounded suspect "mumbled a few unclear statements in Arabic but otherwise did not say a word," Portal said.A police spokeswoman said efforts to identify the suspect "thus far" had determined he was Sudanese. She did not elaborate on what he had been doing in Israel.The wave of stabbings, shootings and car-rammings carried out by Palestinians has killed 27 Israelis and a US citizen since October. Israeli forces have killed at least 156 Palestinians, 101 of them assailants, according to authorities. Most of the others died during violent protests. REUTERS DS AS1733 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-578325.Xml
Algerian lawmakers passed constitutional reforms today proposed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after the 2011 "Arab Spring" uprisings, including reinstating a two-term limit for the presidency and boosting parliamentary powers. Government officials said the amendments fulfilled Bouteflika's promises to strengthen democracy, but opposition leaders dismissed them as superficial tweaks to a system long dominated by the ruling FLN party and the military. The FLN along with the RND and other pro-government parties hold a majority in both chambers of the parliament and 499 out of 517 lawmakers present voted in favor, with 16 abstaining. Several opposition parties boycotted the vote. "The reforms we have started allow us to move to a new political and constitutional phase, based on democratic principles," Bouteflika said in a statement read by the senate chief on his behalf. Approval of the reforms should prompt the naming of a new government cabinet by Bouteflika, an independence-era veteran whose has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 despite re-election in 2014 to a fourth term. The constitutional reforms were approved at a delicate time for the North African OPEC member, whose government is facing a sharp slide in oil prices that has slashed its revenues and forced it to trim spending. The amendments limit presidents to two terms in office, reversing a reform Bouteflika's government introduced in 2008, allowing him to be re-elected in 2009. According to the reforms, the president must now consult with the majority in parliament when choosing a prime minister, and create an independent election monitoring body. "The constitutional revisions contain some positive things and improvements, but they do not reflect any real political reform," Djelloul Djoudi, a member of the opposition Workers' Party, said. The amendments also officially recognise the Amazigh language spoken by Berbers, the original inhabitants of North Africa before the seventh century Arab invasion. In 2002, the government recognised Amazigh or Tamazight as a national language, meaning it could be taught officially in schools in Berber-speaking regions for the first time. But Berbers had pushed for Tamazight to gain official status, meaning it would also be used by the administration and appear in documents. REUTERS DS VN1915 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-578556.Xml
Ahead of four-cornered talks on Afghanistan, the former Afghan President Hamid Karzai today said India, Iran and Russia should also be made part of the ongoing process aimed at bringing peace in Afghanistan."Pakistan, China and the US are involved in the negotiations, making efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan. However, Iran, India and Russia, which are important regional states and neighbours, should also be part of the process," Mr Karzai said in an interview to Iran's Fars New Agency published Saturday morning.This came as Quadrilateral Coordination Group on Afghanistan comprising representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US were slated to hold talks in Islamabad today to continue work on a roadmap for peace talks with Taliban insurgents who have ramped up their violent campaign against the government in Kabul. The quartet has called on all Taliban groups to join peace talks.Several media outlets quoted officials as saying that direct talks with Afghanistan and Taliban leaders could take place in Kabul within weeks."If absence of peace in Afghanistan is because of internal disputes, then we, ourselves, should hold talks to settle our differences. However, the problem in Afghanistan is because of external factors. It is the interests of outside powers that have engulfed our country," Mr Karzai told the Iranian news agency.Mr Karzai remarks echo the importance Kabul lends to India for its role in peace and reconciliation efforts in war and terror-torn nation. On Wednesday, Afghanistan Chief Executive Officer Abdulah told Indian media that Kabul was keeping New Delhi in the loop of each and every development in Taliban reconciliation process.UNI PRA JN RJ 1914 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0384-578371.Xml
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today discussed a rocket launch by North Korea in violation of UN Security Council resolutions with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Russia's foreign ministry said. The ministry added in a statement on its website that the call had taken place on the initiative of the Japanese side. Russia stressed the importance of diplomacy in defusing tension in Northeast Asia during the phone call, the statement said. REUTERS DS BL2013 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-578649.Xml
Saudi Arabia's King Salman today called on other countries not to interfere in the kingdom's internal affairs in what appeared to be a rebuke to Riyadh's main foe Iran, which it accuses of attempting to stir unrest."It is our right to defend ourselves, without interfering in the affairs of others. We call on others to not interfere in our affairs," Salman said in a speech opening the annual Janadriya cultural festival in Riyadh, state news agency SPA reported."We cooperate with our Arab and Muslim brothers in all areas in defending our lands and ensuring their independence and guarding their government systems as sanctioned by their peoples," he added.Salman did not elaborate, but his remarks seemed aimed at Iran, which Riyadh accuses of destabilising Arab states and spreading sectarianism by backing militias in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen and fomenting unrest in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.Iran denies seeking to destabilise the region or incite sectarian hatred. It in turn accuses Riyadh of fomenting discord by backing rebels in Syria, going to war in Yemen and propagating an ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim school that declares Shi'ites heretical.The Saudi king, who succeeded to power a year ago after the death of his half-brother Abdullah, brought together a coalition of Arab states to back military action in Yemen to restore its government after it was ousted by an Iran-allied militia.REUTERS PY RAI2105 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-578746.Xml
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Red Cross said on Sunday it had delivered more food and hygiene kits for around 3,500 people in the besieged Syrian suburb of Mouadamiya near Damascus, expecting to send more in coming days. But no aid was sent to the neighboring, also besieged, southwestern suburb of Daraya, which was cut off from Mouadamiya on Friday when Syrian government forces took full control of a strip of land used as a supply route between the two rebel-held areas, tightening a three-year siege. This delivery to 700 families by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent follows a similar operation earlier in the week which provided food for more than 12,000 people and medical supplies for 10,000 people. The ICRC has said that regular access to this and other besieged areas in Syria is needed. Rebel-held Daraya borders a military airport used by Russian planes - which have been conducting air strikes for President Bashar al-Assad since September - and the Syrian government is keen to wrest back control of the area. The government offensive to take the land separating Daraya from Mouadamiya, which has a population of around 45,000-50,000, began in early December Speaking about the separation of the two suburbs, a rebel spokesman told Reuters that the government is now trying to starve out Daraya's population. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Stephen Powell)
By Morag MacKinnon PERTH, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Australia pledged up to A$500,000 ($354,000) in aid for its Pacific island neighbours on Sunday to help combat the spread of the Zika virus after an outbreak in Tonga last week raised concern in the region. The initial focus on strengthening the fight against the mosquito-borne virus would be in Tonga, Steven Ciobo, minister for the Pacific, said in a statement. Australia would work with World Health Organization (WHO) officials and the Tongan government to control the mosquito population and increase access to testing, he said. The tiny South Pacific island nation last week declared an outbreak of the Zika virus after five cases were confirmed and 259 suspected. "Stopping the spread of Zika in the Pacific is essential to protecting Australia from the virus, which has seen a resurgence in our region," Ciobo said. The WHO declared Zika an international health emergency last week, citing a "strongly suspected" relationship between the virus in pregnancy and microcephaly, a condition in which infants are born with abnormally small heads and can suffer developmental problems. There is no vaccine available to combat the virus. Some of Australia's aid would go to the WHO's Zika Virus Action Plan for the Pacific to ensure a coordinated response, Ciobo added. Until last week, Tonga had never had any confirmed cases of the Zika virus, its chief medical officer Dr Reynold Ofanoa told Reuters, so it was likely brought into the country by an infected person and then spread by mosquitoes. On Saturday, health authorities in the Australian state of Queensland confirmed that a child had contracted the virus after a family trip to the Pacific island of Samoa. Queensland's chief medical officer Jeanette Young said it was no surprise that the child contracted Zika in Samoa because it has existed in the Pacific "for decades". At the same time, Australia announced the expansion of its testing capabilities in northern Queensland where the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can transmit the virus, are present. (Reporting by Morag MacKinnon in Perth, with additional reporting by Matt Siegel in Sydney; Editing by Robert Birsel)
An elderly Australian woman kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in Burkina Faso arrived in Ouagadougou Monday after being freed following mediation by neighbouring Niger, which is now trying to secure her husband's release.

Jocelyn Elliott, 84, arrived in the Burkina capital aboard a Niger presidential plane at 0720 GMT accompanied by Niger's foreign minister, Aichatou Kane Boualama, to a welcome by Burkinabe Foreign Minister Alpha Barry.

She made no comment on arriving.

Elliott and her husband, doctor Ken Elliott, 82, from Perth in Western Australia, were abducted in Burkina Faso close to the Niger border on the night of January 15-16.

She appeared on Niger television alongside President Mahamadou Issoufou on Sunday evening, thanking the authorities for their efforts to free her and her husband.

Issoufou confirmed that Niger had mediated but did not give details on either the circumstances or the location of her release.

He paid tribute to the Elliotts for providing medical services to local people in Burkina, where they have run a clinic in the dusty town of Djibo, close to the border with Mali, since 1972

"I think those who abducted them should know the contribution this couple have made to the poorest people in our regions. I hope they will be back together soon and that Jocelyn's husband will soon go free," Issoufou said.

Barry said on Sunday that the focus was now on securing the release of Ken Elliott.

"For now we know that her husband is alive and well. Now further negotiations will begin for his release and we will do everything to secure it," said Barry, adding that "no ransom was paid or conditions imposed" by the kidnappers for the release of Jocelyn Elliott.

The Burkina government had said the pair were kidnapped in Baraboule, near the country's borders with both Niger and Mali.

Their abduction coincided with a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou that left at least 30 people dead, including many foreigners.

Malian militant group Ansar Dine said the couple had been taken by jihadists from the "Emirate of the Sahara" -- said by experts to be a branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
NIAMEY (Reuters) - An elderly Australian woman kidnapped with her husband in Burkina Faso by a group affiliated to al Qaeda has been freed, neighboring Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said on Saturday. Issoufou presented the woman, Jocelyn Elliott, at a news conference in Dosso, southwestern Niger, and said authorities were intensifying efforts to secure the release of her husband. The pair were seized on Jan. 15. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said on Friday it had kidnapped the couple and would release the woman unconditionally due to public pressure and guidance from al Qaeda leaders not to involve women in war. The circumstances of her release and how she arrived in Niger were not immediately clear. For over 40 years, Dr. Ken Elliott and his wife, who are in their 80s, have operated a 120-bed clinic in the town of Djibo near Burkina Faso's border with Mali. Their children in Australia said they were "deeply grateful for the safe release of our mother Jocelyn". "We are trusting that the moral and guiding principles of those who have released our mother will also be applied to our elderly father who has served the community of Djibo and the Sahel for more than half his lifetime, they said a statement. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thanked the governments of Niger and Burkina Faso for their assistance and confirmed that his government had spoken to Jocelyn Elliott following her release. The Elliotts were abducted from the town the same day al Qaeda fighters raided a restaurant and hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, and killed 30 people, many of whom were foreigners. (Reporting by Souleymane Ag Anara and Abdoulaye Massalaki, Additional reporting by Morag MacKinnon in PERTH,; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Toby Chopra, Robert Birsel)
Im not typically a fan of TV spinoffs, but Better Call Saul has seemingly broken the spinoff curse that plagues shows looking to capitalize off of the success of previous hits. To be sure, following up Breaking Bad would be a daunting task for any show, but Better Call Saul works precisely because its not trying to perfectly mirror all the elements that made Vince Gilligans meth-fueled drama so addictive and compelling. Rather, Better Call Saul seeks to carve out its own unique and independent nook within the larger Breaking Bad universe, and it does so quite successfully.

DONT MISS: Intern caught sleeping on his second day of work gets trolled by the entire Internet

At the same time, theres no denying that the two shows are inextricably intertwined. Indeed, one of the core threads that makes the show so appealing is the desire to witness the sequence of events which prompted Jimmy McGills transformation into Saul Goodman. With season 2 of Better Call Saul set to air on February 15, AMC yesterday published an easter egg video highlighting 17 Breaking Bad references hidden in Better Call Saul.

We try to call back to Breaking Bad every now and then on Better Call Saul, series creator Vince Gilligan explains, and that could be anything from the appearance of a prop, characters who are on Breaking Bad. Its a fun thing to do.

As highlighted in the video below, the biggest overlap between the two shows was the appearance of Tuco and his cronies. Of course, the biggest question mark is whether or not Gus Fring will ever make a cameo on the show, something which Giancarlo Esposito intimated was possible early last year.

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This article was originally published on BGR.com
Sarajevo (AFP) - Some 2,000 people, mostly women, protested on Sunday in downtown Sarajevo against a recent ban on wearing a hijab headscarf in the majority Muslim country's judicial institutions.

"We gathered to protest against prejudices, discrimination and marginalisation," Samira Zunic Velagic, one of the protest organisers, told the crowd.

"The ban of wearing hijab in judicial insititious is a serious attack against Muslim honour, personality and identity, a violation ... aimed at depriving them of their right to work," she added.

The protest was sparked by a recent decision of Bosnia's high judicial council, a body tasked with supervising the functioning of the judiciary, to ban "religious signs" in judicial institutions.

The decision which concerns judges and other employees in the sector, but does explicitly mention hijab -- a scarf which covers hair, ears and neck -- was strongly condemned by Bosnia's Mulism political and religious leaders as well as numerous local Muslim associations.

The protestors marched for around an hour through the capital's centre carrying banners that read "Hijab is my Daily Choice," "Hijab is my Right" or "Hijab is my Life."

"We came here to say that we are not the victims of this scarf. We came to defend our rights. It is our crown, our liberty, our honour," Elisa Hamovac, a 33-year-old stay-at-home mother, wearing a light blue hijab, told AFP.

Muslims make up around 40 percent of Bosnia's population of 3.8 million and are mostly followers of a moderate form of Islam. The others are mostly Orthodox and Catholic Christians.

Hijab was banned by the communist authorities while Bosnia was still part of the former Yugoslavia until 1992 when it proclaimed independence.

Today many Muslim women wear hijab, with some being completely veiled. However, most are not veiled.
London (AFP) - Britain strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday and warned of a "robust response" if Pyongyang continued to violate UN resolutions.

"I strongly condemn North Korea's ballistic missile technology test," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement.

"This is a clear and deliberate violation of a number of UN Security Council resolutions.

"North Korea's actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security.

"In conducting this provocation, North Korea has clearly demonstrated that it is intent on prioritising the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes over improving the well-being of its own people."

North Korea said Sunday it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards a missile capable of striking the US mainland.

"As North Korea is aware, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to take significant measures against any further launches or nuclear tests. We will now meet with our partners in New York to agree a collective response."

The Foreign Office said Britain would work with its allies to ensure a "robust response" if North Korea persisted in violating UN resolutions.

It said Pyongyang would be told that such actions would "only serve to isolate the country further".

Britain, which has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, is one of only around two dozen countries with an embassy in North Korea.
London (AFP) - The explosion of a red double decker bus in central London on Sunday alarmed witnesses unaware that it was actually a stunt for a Jackie Chan action film.

The bus was travelling across Lambeth Bridge not far from Britain's parliament when its top deck exploded with a large bang in a ball of flames.

One witness was the author Sophie Kinsella who said children in a park nearby had been "freaked" by the sight.

"I was freaked too. Looked very real," she wrote on Twitter.

In fact it was a controlled explosion for the action film "The Foreigner", starring actors Chan and Pierce Brosnan, which is due out later this year.

But for some it was all too reminiscent of the 7/7 attacks that killed dozens of people in London in 2005. One of those attacks targeted travellers on a red double decker bus.

John Taylor, whose 24-year-old daughter Carrie was killed in the 7/7 attacks, asked whether the stunt had been properly "thought through".

"You can totally understand why some people would be alarmed seeing this today," Taylor told the Daily Mirror newspaper's online edition.

"This seems particularly insensitive."

The bridge had been closed and the film producers had issued warnings of a controlled explosion to local residents and businesses before it was carried out.

Authorities, however, sought to reassure people afterwards.

"If you saw this on Lambeth bridge this morning don't worry it was for a film & not a real incident," wrote London Fire Brigade on Twitter.
Ottawa (AFP) - In his first three months as Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, 44, has traveled abroad extensively and has made symbolic changes in the way the government serves its citizens.

Here are the key dates in his first 100 days in office:

November 4: Trudeau, his wife and their three children arrive on foot at the swearing in of his Liberal government, and his cabinet composed of 15 women and 15 men is unveiled.

November 13: After the deadly Paris attacks left Trudeau "disturbed and saddened," he is criticized for showing a lack of compassion before embarking on a series of summits (G20 in Turkey, APEC in the Philippines, Commonwealth in Malta and climate talks in Paris).

November 24: The promise of resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees before December 31 is pushed back to the end of February.

November 30: At the climate conference in Paris, Trudeau agrees that his country, the world's fifth-largest producer of oil, must reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

December 4: Policy speech to parliament outlining plans for the legalization of marijuana, setting a carbon price and a tax cut for middle income earners.

December 8: The Liberal government announces a public inquiry into the killings and disappearances of 1,200 indigenous women.

December 11: With sleeves rolled up, the prime minister distributes coats to the first Syrian refugees who arrive by airlift in Toronto from the camps in Lebanon and Jordan.

January 16: Six Canadians are killed in the attack in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Trudeau, who waited 48 hours to call families to offer condolences, is accused by the mother of a victim of offering "empty phrases and platitudes."

January 22: From Davos, where he participated in the World Economic Forum, Trudeau is confronted with news of a deadly shootout in an aboriginal community in Saskatchewan that leave four people dead. He visits the scene of the shooting, the town of La Loche, on January 29.

February 11: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to meet with Trudeau in Ottawa and praise Canada's Syrian refugee intake and new, tougher climate stance.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korea on Sunday launched a long-range rocket seen by much of the outside world as a covert test of ballistic missile technology for a future weapons system capable of striking the US mainland.

These are key dates in the reclusive nation's missile programme:

Late 1970s: Starts working on a version of the Soviet Scud-B (range 300 kilometres or 186 miles). Test-fired in 1984

1987-92: Begins developing variant of Scud-C (500 km), Rodong-1 (1,300 km), Taepodong-1 (2,500 km), Musudan-1 (3,000 km) and Taepodong-2 (6,700 km)

Aug 1998: Test-fires Taepodong-1 over Japan as part of failed satellite launch

Sept 1999: Declares moratorium on long-range missile tests amid improving ties with US

July 12, 2000: Fifth round of US-North Korean missile talks ends in Kuala Lumpur without agreement after North demands $1 billion a year in return for halting missile exports

March 3, 2005: North ends moratorium on long-range missile testing, blames Bush administration's "hostile" policy

July 5, 2006: North test-fires seven missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 which explodes after 40 seconds

July 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1695, demanding halt to all ballistic missile activity and banning trade in missile-related items with the North

Oct 9, 2006: North conducts underground nuclear test, its first

Oct 14, 2006: Security Council approves Resolution 1718, demanding a halt to missile and nuclear tests. Bans the supply of items related to the programmes and of other weapons

April 5, 2009: North Korea launches long-range rocket which flies over Japan and lands in the Pacific, in what it says is an attempt to put a satellite into orbit. The United States, Japan and South Korea see it as a disguised test of a Taepodong-2

April 13, 2009: UN Security Council unanimously condemns launch, agrees to tighten existing sanctions. North quits nuclear disarmament talks in protest and vows to restart its plutonium programme

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May 25, 2009: North conducts its second underground nuclear test, several times more powerful than the first

June 12, 2009: Security Council passes Resolution 1874, imposing tougher sanctions on the North's atomic and ballistic missile programmes

Feb 18, 2011: Satellite images show the North has completed a launch tower at its new west coast satellite launch complex

May 15, 2011: North Korea and Iran are suspected of sharing ballistic missile technology, according to a UN sanctions report

March 16, 2012: North Korea announces it will launch a long-range rocket between April 12-16 to put a satellite into orbit

April 13, 2012: Rocket is launched from the Sohae satellite base but disintegrates soon after blast-off and falls into the ocean

December 1, 2012: North Korea announces it will launch another rocket in December

December 12, 2012: North Korea launches the multi-stage rocket and successfully places an Earth observational satellite in orbit. Outside experts say the satellite has never functioned, fuelling suspicion of the mission's scientific veneer

February 12, 2013: North Korea conducts its third underground nuclear test

January 6, 2016: North Korea conducts its fourth underground nuclear test, which it says was of a hydrogen bomb -- a claim doubted by most experts

February 7, 2016: North Korea says it has placed another Earth observation satellite in orbit with its second successful space rocket launch
It's tempting to compare Saturday night's GOP debate to The Hunger Games, but that really wouldn't be fair: The Hunger Games was far less violent.

The debate, held three days before the crucial New Hampshire primary, made the previous events seem like church socials. And why not? The stakes have gotten much, much higher, with Ted Cruz winning the Iowa caucuses even while being accused of dirty tricks; Marco Rubio declaring victory even though he came in third; Donald Trump  yes, he's back  threatening to sue (what else is new?); and the governors' troika of Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Chris Christie fighting for their political lives. As for Ben Carson, well, he certainly looked dapper in the "fresh set of clothes," as his campaign put it, that he recently picked up from his Florida home.

Speaking of Carson, what in the world was up with him during the candidates' introductions? Apparently either confused or miffed at the order, he simply refused to go onstage, with a stage manager desperately trying to wave him forward. Then Trump decided to hang with him, and for the longest time it seemed as if they were both going to blow off the event and go out for beers.

Read More: GOP Debate: Donald Trump Takes Shots at Jeb Bush, Picks Panthers to Win Super Bowl

Now that such candidates as Rick Santorum, Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee have dropped out, there was no preceding undercard debate. Not that one was needed, since more than half of the people onstage tonight were the undercard.

The evening began in relatively conciliatory fashion, with Trump refusing to counterattack Cruz for the comment that he would "nuke Denmark." Then, Carson, when asked about the Cruz campaign's dissemination ofinformation that he had quit the race, merely said that he was "very disappointed." A contrite Cruz blamed CNN for the snafu before turning to Carson and, mustering his most sincere insincere tone, said, "Ben, I'm sorry."

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But it wasn't long before the gloves came off. Rubio, who might as well have been wearing a target on his back, was asked about his qualifications for the presidency, with moderator David Muir citing Santorum's endorsement, probably the lamest ever in the history of political endorsements. Instead of directly answering the question, Rubio launched an attack on Obama.

And then Christie got all medieval on his ass. Like a starving pit bull, he bit into Rubio and simply wouldn't let go, citing his missed Senate votes ("That's not leadership, that's truancy"), deriding Rubio's "memorized 25-second speech" and declaring that being a senator doesn't prepare you for the presidency.

He was certainly right about that 25-second speech. As if his circuits had blown, Rubio went into a robotic loop, responding to every one of Christie's attacks with another and another attack on Obama, apparently forgetting that the year is 2016, not 2012.

Trump was uncharacteristically less blustery than usual, with the exception of his response to a question about eminent domain. He launched into a rhapsody about seizure powers that was practically orgasmic, providing Bush the opportunity to attack him for his efforts to use it to evict an elderly woman from her Atlantic City home.

"He wants to be a tough guy," barked Trump, before instructing Bush to be "quiet" as if he was Archie Bunker telling Edith to stifle. The crowd responded with boos, so Trump naturally attacked the crowd, claiming they were all "big donors" and he wanted nothing to do with them. Score that one for Bush, who seemed very high energy.

Trump later delivered another absurd moment when asked about whether the ability to make deals was a good thing in a president. He answered that it would be, the way he did it: "I'll grab 'em, hug 'em, kiss 'em" to get deals done, the Donald cooed.

A question about the possibility of resuming the use of waterboarding naturally raised the testosterone level on the stage. Cruz, after lengthily explaining that it was not really torture but really more like "vigorous interrogation"  don't go looking for classes in that at your local gym  finally admitted that he wouldn't return it to "widespread use," although he looked like he would happily make an exception for his political opponents.

Trump, of course, upped the ante: "I would bring back waterboarding, and I would bring back a whole lot worse," he proclaimed.

When asked about President Obama's executive orders, which he has described as illegal, Cruz defied logic by saying that if elected president he would use the same presumably illegal executive orders to undo Obama's.

When asked a foreign policy question, Carson beamed, joking that "I'm not here just to add beauty to the stage." But if he really wants to burnish his credentials, he might want to learn how to properly pronounce the name of the African country Niger.

After being asked the most important question of the night, namel,y who would win the next day's Super Bowl (Carson said it would be either Denver or Carolina), the candidates delivered their closing statements.

Kasich, who, like his fellow governors, had a stronger night than usual, repeated for maybe the millionth time that he had attended "over 100 town-hall meetings in New Hampshire." Christie followed through on the sucking up, commenting on the "70 days with you" that he's spent in the state, adding "you've gotten to know my heart" like he was on The Dating Game. Bush took the opportunity to celebrate Ronald Reagan's 105th birthday (does he know that "The Gipper" is no longer with us?). Carson, channeling Stephen Sondheim, declared, "I'm still here." Rubio modestly proclaimed that if elected he would be responsible for making America "the single greatest nation in the history of all mankind." Cruz crowed about winning Iowa despite his opposition to the ethanol mandate. But as usual, Trump had the last word. "That's because he [Cruz] got Ben Carson's votes, by the way," he sneered.

Read More: Donald Trump Says He Will Attend Next Fox News GOP Debate
Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian police raided a house south of Cairo on Sunday and killed four "terrorists" accused of carrying out attacks against the security forces, the interior ministry said.

Since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, jihadists have regularly attacked members of the security forces, mostly in the Sinai Peninsula but also in Cairo and the Nile Delta.

"The four terrorists were killed when police raided their hideout where they were manufacturing explosives" in a village south of the capital, a ministry statement said.

"During the raid the police team came under fire from the terrorists, and in the ensuing gunfight the four were killed."

They had been involved in "assassinating a soldier and two policemen" in separate attacks on the outskirts of Cairo, the ministry added.

It said the four were linked to Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt), a militant group that said it was behind several attacks on police in Cairo after Morsi's ouster.

Officials say hundreds of police and soldiers have been killed since 2013 in jihadist attacks, mainly in the Sinai where an Egyptian affiliate of the Islamic State group is spearheading an insurgency.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea's controversial rocket launch put two objects in space, according to the U.S. Joint Space Operations Center. It is unclear if either is sending out signals. Following is what is known about the launch so far. - North Korea launched what it said was its Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite earlier than expected. The launch took place at 8:59 a.m. local time on Sunday in North Korea. Pyongyang moved up its launch window, which was initially slated to begin on Feb. 8. - The U.S. Joint Space Operations Center (JSPOC), an arm of U.S. Strategic Command, said on the public website Space-Track.org that it is tracking two objects in orbit at an inclination of 97.5 degrees, a nearly polar, sun-synchronous orbit. - The launch vehicle was likely similar to the one used in North Korea's last launch in December 2012, since the satellite orbit and other details are similar, said John Schilling, an aerospace engineer and missile technology specialist contributing to the Washington-based 38 North project that monitors North Korea. - The satellite North Korea launched in December 2012 circles the earth every 95 minutes, but no signal has ever been detected from the 100-kg (220-pound) hunk of black metal the North said was equipped with cameras to send images back to earth. - U.S. officials and experts said it would likely take several days to determine if the satellite can stop tumbling in orbit and communicate with the ground. It is apparently intended to stay in orbit for about four years, Schilling said. - North Korea launched the satellite on an 80-ton rocket called the Unha-3, or one that was very similar. The United States and its allies believe the launch was cover for a missile test, but some experts question whether the Unha-3 can be converted into an effective intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), that is capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. - The long-range rocket flew over the airspace of Japan's Okinawa region, according to Japan's NHK television. Okinawa is home to the U.S. 7th Fleet, which includes some 70 to 80 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and about 40,000 troops. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Bill Rigby)
By Katy Migiro NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Heavy rains, flooding and a spike in new arrivals could threaten the lives of over 110,000 Burundian refugees in overcrowded camps in Tanzania, six aid agencies said on Monday, amid warnings of rising political tension in Burundi. Life-threatening malaria and diarrhoea have been spreading in Nyarugusu, the world's third largest refugee camp, since the rainy season began, and damage caused by a powerful El Nino has left aid agencies short of funds throughout east Africa. "Refugees are arriving in their hundreds every day," the agencies, which include Oxfam, Save the Children and HelpAge International, said in a statement. "Many people are still living in overcrowded mass shelters months after their arrival, where wet floors and cramped conditions mean that the risk of respiratory infections and waterborne diseases is high." The agencies also fear a fresh outbreak of cholera, which killed 33 Burundian refugees in western Tanzania in May, as heavy rain sometimes makes toilets overflow and flood shelters. In April there was an upsurge in arrivals in the camps, which host almost 180,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees, after Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza made the controversial decision to run for a third term. At least 240 people were killed and more than 200,000 fled to neighbouring states during the ensuing violence. Nkurunziza won a disputed election in July, since when there have been violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital, Bujumbura, and a series of targeted killings. "Reports of escalating political instability inside Burundi have prompted fears of a new exodus of refugees into neighbouring countries, which would push the current limits of the camps in western Tanzania to breaking point," agencies said. Burundians in the camps are more vulnerable because they live in fragile emergency shelters, whereas Congolese refugees have sturdier ones because they have been in the camps for many years. To reduce congestion in Nyarugusu, more than 50,000 refugees are gradually being moved to a second camp, Nduta, some 100 km north. A third camp, Mtendeli, is also planned. There were mass killings in Burundi in 1993, and the country's ethnic make-up mirrors that of neighbouring Rwanda, where a genocide took place in 1994. The current El Nino weather phenomenon is predicted to be the strongest on record, the United Nations says, causing flooding in east Africa, mainly in Kenya and Somalia, that has put two million people at risk of displacement and disease. (Reporting by Katy Migiro, editing by Tim Pearce. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, corruption and climate change.)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Two workers were killed and eight were injured when a fire broke out on a Pemex oil processing platform in the Gulf of Mexico, but the latest in a string of incidents is now under control, the Mexican oil giant said via Twitter on Sunday. A spokesman for Pemex said oil continued to be pumped but that the company was still evaluating any impact on production. The platform did not have to be evacuated, according to a tweet. The fire occurred on the offshore Abkatun A Permanente processing platform in Mexico's oil-rich Bay of Campeche where a fire claimed seven lives in April of last year, causing crude output from four nearby fields to plunge nearly 70 percent. Oil exploration and production is one of the most dangerous industries in the world and Pemex has one of the highest injury and fatality rates among oil companies, according to the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP). In December, five workers were hurt when a fire broke out at the Lazaro Cardenas refinery in Minatitlan in the Mexican Gulf coast state of Veracruz. Casualties of the Sunday fire include one Pemex worker and one employee of Cotemar, a firm based in Ciudad del Carmen that provides offshore services to Pemex, according to its website. (Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and Veronica Gomez; Writing by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Simon Gardner and Mark Potter)
Quietly tucked away in southern Africa, Botswana is a haven for animals and wildlife that's emerging as a top destination for visitors to discover. In fact, Lonely Planet picked Botswana as its must-visit country for 2016, ahead of Japan and the USA. Here's a look at what awaits in this year's destination of choice.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is nature at its finest. This breathtaking natural landscape is the world's second largest inland delta, stretching over 18,000 square meters (193,750 sq ft). Right at the north of Botswana, the delta's spectacular scenery is formed by the Okavango River, which, instead of flowing into the sea, finds its outlet in the Kalahari Desert, spreading its waters over 15,000 sq m (161,458 sq ft) of arid land. Over time, islands have formed and all manner of wildlife has found home in its fertile wetlands. It's a great place for photographers and wildlife-watchers to spot wading birds, elephants, wildebeests and hippopotamuses. The easiest way to visit the area is by joining an organized safari.

The Kalahari Desert

There's no way visitors can miss this huge desert, which stretches 900,000 sq km (350,000 sq mi) between Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. While temperatures can easily reach up to 42C (108F) in July and August, that doesn't stop vegetation from thriving. The site has several reserves, which are home to animals such as springboks, lions, hyenas, meerkats and antelopes.

The Thamalakane River and Maun

At the Southern end of the Okavango Delta, the Thamalakane River is an ideal spot for a romantic trip to watch the sunset. Visitors should also take in the nearby town of Maun, 19 km (12 miles) away, which is a popular destination for the country's tourists. It makes a good base for a trip to the Moremi Game Reserve.

Chobe National Park

In northern Botswana, near the town of Kasane, this national park is one of Botswana's key tourist destinations. It's a must for elephant-spotters, with a huge population of 40,000 living in the park. In fact, it's one of the best places in Botswana to see elephants. The Chobe National Park is the third largest reserve in the country and is home to over 250 species of animals.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Straddling the border between South Africa and Botswana, Kgalagali Park sprawls over 38,000 sq km (15,000 sq mi). It's the ideal spot for watching Africa's impressive birds of prey, but the star beast here is the gemsbok (Oryx gazella). "Kgalagadi" means "place of thirst," which is fitting for this park and its red sand dunes, located in the southern part of the Kalahari desert. Temperatures can reach up to 42C (108F) in the shade and up to 70C (158F) in the sun. Visitors follow a route alongside two dried up rivers, which are said to flow only once a century.
Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Flint, Mich., on Sunday for another fact-finding trip to highlight that citys tragic drinking water crisis.

More than 100,000 residents of the majority black and largely impoverished city have been forced to rely on bottled water since disclosure last year of a state government management scandal that resulted in the leaching of deadly lead into Flints water system.

Related: Flints Drinking Water Crisis Just Got More Toxic with Legionnaires Disease

Amid growing fears of widespread lead poisoning of children, Clinton took part in a recent town hall gathering in Flint, Jan. 27. Then she arranged with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, her rival for the Democratic nomination, to hold a presidential debate in Flint on March 6.

The fact that she is breaking away from campaigning today to visit Flint again, just two days before the crucial New Hampshire Democratic primary, underscores the political as well as human dimensions of the Flint drinking water crisis. Clinton is trailing Sanders in the New Hampshire polls and is almost certain to finish second, but she is trying to narrow Sanders current 20-point lead to beat expectations. Her appearance in Flint today is certain to draw widespread media attention in New Hampshire and throughout the country.

I absolutely believe that what is being done [in Flint] is not sufficient, Clinton said Thursday night at a Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire sponsored by MSNBC. We need to be absolutely clear about everything that should be done from today to tomorrow, into the future to try to remedy the terrible burden that the people of Flint are barring.

That includes fixing their pipes, it includes guaranteeing whatever healthcare and educational embellishments they may need going forward, she added. If Michigan wont do it, there have to be ways that we can begin to move, and then make them pay for it.

Related: Michigan governor to request federal aid in Flint water crisis

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Sanders has gone further, calling for the resignation of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a two-term Republican, who many blame for a slow response or even a cover-up of the problem.

Snyder has been a big proponent of placing financially troubled cities under the management of a state appointed overseer, as he did in helping Detroit get through bankruptcy. However, the state overseer of Flint forced the city to switch its source of water from Lake Huron to the Flint River to save money, only to have ancient pipes in the Flint River leach lead into the water supply.

The idea that there has not been a dramatic response is beyond comprehension, Sanders said at the Democratic debate. One wonders if this were a white suburban community what kind of response there would have been.

Flints environmental and public health disaster may eventually bring down Snyder, and many others in his administration as investigators and federal and state government officials try to find the underlying cause of the scandal. Just last week, members of the Senate and House oversight committees summoned state and local officials to Washington to testify on what went wrong and who to blame.

Related: Federal officials probe lead-tainted water in Flint, Michigan

Everyone from Michigan environmental and public health officials to the federal Environmental Protection Agency were on the hot seat and sharply questioned  although Snyder was not summoned by the Republican leadership to testify.

I dont care whether its the EPA, whether its local, whether its the state, said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, according to The New York Times. I want everybody whos responsible for this fiasco to be held accountable.

Amid widespread media reports about desperate Flint residents unable to sell their homes and struggling to come to grips with the possibility that their young children may have been brain damaged by exposure to lead in their drinking water, lawmakers insist that they are trying to address the crisis without politicizing the process.

Yet Democrats including campaign advisers to Clinton and Sanders likely would find it hard not to view the Flint saga as a political bonanza for their party -- or, as The Washington Post described it -- a potent symbol of the perils of Republican governance that is likely to be invoked many time throughout the 2016 campaign.

Related: How Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Both Won the Iowa Caucuses

And they have plenty of material to work with.

Last year, Michigan state officials brushed off warnings of higher rates of lead poisoning and Legionnaires disease, according to media reports. Those officials told Flint residents that their water was safe despite widespread complaints that it looked and tasted bad.

Flint residents first began complaining in April 2014 after the emergency financial manager appointed by Snyder ordered a switch from Lake Huron to the Flint River as the source of the citys drinking water.

When the highly acidic Flint River water wasnt properly treated, it resulted in the corrosion of old underwater pipes that began leaching lead into the water system. By last March  with residents up in arms  the city government voted to switch back to the old source of water used by the city of Detroit, but by then it was too late.

Clinton and Sanders are framing the Flint scandal not only as a terrible public health crisis but also as racial injustice to a predominantly black, economically depressed community that saw its once vibrant auto industry all but disappear.

Related: Why Trump and Sanders Share a Mandate for Universal Health Care

Clinton first raised her concerns during a Democratic presidential debate Jan. 17 in South Carolina, a state with a large number of black voters who will likely tip the scales of the primary election in Clintons favor later this month. The Flint saga is also certain to resonate in Nevada, with its large percentage of Hispanic voters who also are likely to give Clinton an edge over Sanders.

Gov. Snyder has repeatedly apologized to the residents of Flint and is leading an aggressive effort to remedy the situation. However, newly revealed emails show that an aide to Snyder learned nine months ago about an outbreak of Legionnaires disease connected to Flints water supply.

Ten people died from the bacterial infection, tragic news that the governor made public in mid-January, according to The Atlantic. Snyder insists that he only became aware of the outbreak a couple days earlier, but the emails suggest that he should have known or could have known before then.

While members of both parties have voiced outrage over the Flint situation, it became clear from maneuvering on Capitol Hill last week that the debate was suddenly taking on a partisan sheen. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, chair of the House oversight committee, and some of his fellow Republicans attempted to blame the Obama administrations EPA, while Democrats focused on the emergency manger appointed by Snyder.

Related: Plaintiffs' lawyers wary of taking on Flint water scandal

As it turns out, there was plenty of blame to go around. A report in The Detroit News explained that the EPA knew as early as last April that there were no corrosion controls in the Flint Water supply, which meant lead could leach into the water. The EPA stayed mum to the public but pressured the states Department of Environmental Quality to act, which kept delaying.

Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who won last Mondays Iowa caucuses, insisted that the lead poisoning of the water was strictly the fault of Democratic city officials. Youve got your own government poisoning your citizens, Cruz said during a campaign stop in Goffstown, N.H.

Finally, the Flint controversy triggered another partisan impasse late last week. Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan proposed to add $600 million of emergency aid to a major energy bill awaiting action. Most of the money would be used to replace the old lead pipes in the Flint River.

But Republicans have blocked the amendment for now, arguing that the federal government shouldnt be funding work that is clearly the responsibility of the state.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas accused the Democrats of grandstanding and being more concerned about scoring political points than working out a solution, according to the New York Times.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Prayssac (France) (AFP) - France's southwestern Cahors region is a new frontier for foreign investors, from Argentine winegrowers doing the "Malbec tango" to potential investor "ambassadors" from China.

Cahors is the new go-to destination for foreign investors as wine-growing land is becoming scarce -- and therefore exorbitantly expensive -- in other French regions.

"You can't afford anything in Bordeaux or the Rhone or even in the Loire anymore," says Chilean specialist Pedro Parra, who works for Argentine wine firm Altos Las Hormigas. "Cahors is all that's left."

Besides, Cahors -- whose dominant grape is the deep purple Malbec -- is attractive as a wine "that we can't make in our country", he said.

Also beating a path to the region are Chinese investors as the taste for French wines continues to grow exponentially in China.

"The Chinese are coming to see us soon to sign a partnership," says Sebastien Sigaud of the Cahors domain Metairie Grande du Theron.

The famous limestone plateau around Cahors is known for its high calcium content, which brings the freshness and minerality that define the region's wine.

"We don't have that calcium back home" in Argentina, said Parra, trudging through a path between rows of vines and stooping to crumble some of the distinctive white rock between his fingers.

"Up there, I can see 2,000 crates at $100 each," he said, pointing to the top of a steep slope where a stretch of woodland has just been cleared.

Altos Las Hormigas co-founder Antonio Morescalchi, after discovering Cahors' "extraordinary potential" in 2013, has created a joint venture with three local companies.

Under the deal, the Cahors vintners will produce the wine with advice from Altos Las Hormigas, which in turn will market the result.

"It's a win-win partnership," says Jeremy Arnaud, head of marketing for a Cahors winegrowers federation, with the region standing to gain in international status while piggy-backing on the vast sales network developed by Argentine Malbec.

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"The Argentinians have the potential to show our wine to a lot of people," said one of the partners, Germain Croisille of the Chateau les Croisille.

"Before, we used to make a retail wine that sold for 1-1.30 euros per litre. Now we'll be able to sell bottles for at least $16 (15 euros)."

- 'Malbec tango' -

The advent of the Argentines is in a sense a homecoming for Cahors, whose vintners introduced the Malbec grape to the New World in the 19th century after escaping the devastating phylloxera plague that devastated their vines.

This back-and-forth, dubbed the "Malbec tango", today sees Argentine oenologist Leo Borsi producing wine in France while Cahors counterpart Pascal Piero owns an estate in Argentina, which has the most extensive Malbec acreage in the world.

With the Argentine palate in mind, Borsi has selected his plots to make a Cahors he says is "a little more exportable", with 3,000 bottles destined for export to Buenos Aires.

Costing an average 11,000 euros per hectare (2.5 acres), land in the Cahors region "is three times less than in Argentina and three to four times less than a Cotes du Rhone village," Arnaud says.

Borsi and Parra are not alone in targeting the area, with Herve Joyau, a Malbec pioneer in Argentina, taking on an estate in the nearby Lot region.

The surge in enthusiasm for the Cahors region is a cause of concern for some.

"We are handing them history, (wine) DNA on a plate," warns Alain-Dominique Perrin, owner of the prestigious Chateau Lagrezette domain. "I do not quite see how that is to our advantage. "

Others are more optimistic.

"The Chinese are not predators," insists Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux, Cahors' foremost wine merchant and the owner of Chateau Haute-Serre.

"A Chinese investor can become an ambassador for Cahors wines."

In any case, Thomas Chardard, a vintner who is also president of the Lot chamber of commerce, asks: "How can we stop them?"
Because domestic violence is widely viewed as a womens issue, federal funds are typically funneled to organizations that cater to female victims. But when that happens, some of the most marginalized communities are left with nowhere to turn in times of crisis.

Broken Rainbow, the U.K.s only national LGBT domestic violence organization, can only afford to keep running for roughly seven more weeks as it waits to hear if it will receive government funding.

LGBT charities are at the forefront of service cuts affecting the communitys most vulnerable people, Jo Harvey Barringer, Broken Rainbows CEO, told The Guardian. This needs to stop.

The Manchester-based organization received its most recent round of funding last March, but it has not received a commitment from the government for support in the next fiscal year. It has faced an ongoing battle for financial aid.

Broken Rainbow has operated a telephone helpline and online chat services for the past 11 years, serving more than 42,000 people and saving thousands of lives in the LGBT community, according to its own figures.

Approximately one in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime, according to U.K. organization Life Without Abuse. Same-sex partners experience intimate partner violence at similar rate, with Broken Rainbow reporting the same figure for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.

When you look at domestic violence as a subject in this country, two women a week die at the hands of their male partners, Harvey Barringer told The Guardian. LGBT people die at the hands of their partners too, but when its reported in the press its much more sensationalized, or its not even recognized as domestic violence.

As domestic violence shelters cater primarily to female victims, male victims have few places to turn. More than half of the people Broken Rainbow helps, directing them toward the limited services in their areas, are men. There are only 35 beds in domestic violence shelters for men throughout the entire U.K., according to The Guardian.

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Transgender women and men experience higher rates of domestic violence than the rest of the LGBT community, with Broken Rainbow reporting that nearly 80 percent of trans people experience verbal or physical domestic abuse from family members or an intimate partner throughout their lives.

This high rate of abuse are supported by international studies, including U.S. reports. Researchers note that the rate is high in part because trans people are subjected to such increased rates of employment and housing discrimination, leaving them with fewer financial resources. Transgender women have reported discrimination within shelter systems, from being treated poorly to being turned away entirely owing to their gender identity.

But thats not a problem at Broken Rainbow. The thing Im really proud of is that everyone you speak to in our service identifies as L, G , B, or T, so the elephant in the room is taken away, Harvey Barringer told The Independent.

The charity will continue to operate its helpline and online services until the end of March, when funding runs out.

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 Swedish Clinic Opens Its Doors to Unseen Victims of Rape

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Original article from TakePart
Frankfurt (AFP) - German police on Sunday searched the homes of two men suspected of having ties to "a terrorist group" in Syria, federal prosecutors said.

The anti-terror raids took place near the western city of Mainz.

The federal prosecutor's office said the men were "suspected of having taken part in Syria's civil war as members of a foreign terrorist group" but declined to name the jihadist group involved.

"There are no immediate indications that a concrete attack was planned," the prosecutor's office said, adding that it was not yet in a position to say whether police had arrested the men or if any items were seized from their homes.

German weekly Der Spiegel said on its website that one of the two was a 32-year-old "suspected former commander" of the Islamic State group who had fought in Syria and arrived in Germany as a refugee late last year.

Spiegel Online said it had spoken to the man before the raids, and that he had denied any link with IS.

In a similar police operation on Thursday, German officers arrested three Algerians suspected of having ties to the jihadist group. Those arrests followed raids at several sites across Germany, including refugee shelters where some of the suspects lived.

Germany took in some 1.1 million asylum seekers last year, and fears are growing that jihadists have taken advantage of Europe's worst migrant crisis in decades to slip in undetected.

Security has already been tightened after a wave of sexual assaults in the western city of Cologne on New Year's Eve shocked the country. Many of the attacks were blamed on North African migrants.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korea hailed an "epochal event" but its latest long-range rocket launch Sunday sparked international anger and plans for talks on a US missile defence system for the peninsula.

Pyongyang's state TV announced the nation successfully put a satellite into orbit, "legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

Many others saw an exercise which clearly defied multiple UN resolutions -- a disguised test of a ballistic missile which could one day deliver a warhead as far as the US mainland.

The United Nations labelled the launch "deeply deplorable" and Japan termed it "absolutely intolerable". Even the isolated state's sole major ally China expressed regret.

The international community is still struggling to reach agreement on how to respond to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test -- of what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb -- on January 6.

After Sunday's launch, South Korean and US defence officials announced they would begin formal talks on deploying a US missile defence system in South Korea.

The US says the highly advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system would be a deterrent necessitated by the North's advancing ballistic missile programme.

But China and Russia fear it could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon called the North's actions "deeply deplorable" and demanded it "halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations".

At Seoul's request the UN Security Council will hold emergency talks on the launch later Sunday.

The United States and its allies want to intensify sanctions. But veto-wielding council member China, Pyongyang's main trading partner and oil supplier, has in the past blocked tougher measures.

Washington denounced the launch as "destabilising and provocative".

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"North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests -- including the security of some of our closest allies -- and undermine peace and security in the broader region," National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.

- 'Senseless provocation' -

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the North's actions "absolutely intolerable". Russia termed the launch a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang itself.

"It is obvious that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole...(and) inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

France condemned the launch as "senseless provocation" and called for a "rapid and tough" response from the Security Council.

Australia also urged a strong council response, while NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the rocket was a blatant breach of five UN resolutions.

The European Union lashed the launch as "yet another outright and grave violation" of the North's obligations.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Pyongyang had clearly shown that nuclear and missile programmes took priority over improving the well-being of its people.

China, in a more muted reaction, "expressed regret".

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pyongyang had "the right to the peaceful use of space, but that right is limited by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions".

Hua called for "all relevant parties to deal with the situation calmly" and for "dialogue and consultations".

Beijing is irritated by the North's nuclear ambitions. But observers say it is concerned that cutting off trade with its neighbour could trigger a flood of refugees across its border.

It also fears any collapse of the regime in Pyongyang may lead to a US-allied unified Korea on its doorstep.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The armed wing of Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said Sunday it had executed one of its members, with sources familiar with the case calling him a senior official accused of spying for Israel.

"The Al-Qassam Brigades announce that the death penalty pronounced against its member Mahmud Eshtawi has been applied today at 1600 hours," Hamas's armed branch said in a statement.

Executions have previously been carried out in the Gaza Strip, including in public squares in the Palestinian territory, but it appeared to be the first time Al-Qassam itself had sentenced one of its own through a court martial and executed him.

The statement did not provide details on the accusations against him other than to say that "the Brigades' military and Islamic judicial committee issued the sentence because he violated rules and ethics."

Eshtawi's duties included overseeing tunnels that have previously been used to store weapons and carry out attacks against Israel, the sources said.

According to the sources, he was in charge of a large unit and was previously a close associate of Mohammed Deif, the Al-Qassam chief who has been a frequent target of Israeli assassination attempts.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said in late December that nine death sentences had been issued in the Gaza Strip in 2015 and two in the occupied West Bank.

Since the start of 2016, four Gazans have been handed death sentences after being accused of spying for Israel.

The Gaza Strip has seen three wars with Israel since 2008.
Los Angeles (AFP) - Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's bid for Oscars glory was boosted Saturday as he took top prize at the Directors Guild of America honors -- seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards.

Inarritu was crowned best director for revenge and survival epic "The Revenant", three weeks ahead of the glittering culmination of Hollywood's annual awards season.

He becomes the first director in the Guild's history with back-to-back DGA wins, 12 months after picking up the prize for dark comedy "Birdman", and is vying to repeat the feat at the Oscars.

The 52-year-old has already scooped the Golden Globe for best director for "The Revenant", about 19th century fur trapper Hugh Glass, played by another Oscar hopeful, Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I feel humbled, I feel extremely lucky and more than anything, extremely thankful," Inarritu told his fellow filmmakers at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel in Century City.

"This feels like a hug from my peers which helps to make the winter feel warmer."

A tearful Inarritu paid tribute to his father who died two years ago, and to the many Mexican staff working behind the scenes at the hotel.

"That's not the people that Donald Trump has described at all, let me tell you," he said, in a swipe at the billionaire presidential candidate's views on immigration.

Inarritu pipped Britain's Ridley Scott, nominated for space thriller "The Martian" about an astronaut stranded on Mars -- another film seen as top contender for Oscar glory on February 28.

"The Martian", starring Matt Damon, won two awards at the Golden Globes in January -- best comedy film and best actor in a comedy for Damon.

The 78-year-old Scott has however never triumphed at the DGA awards or at the Oscars.

Also nominated were Tom McCarthy for "Spotlight", about Boston Globe reporters who uncovered sexual abuse in the Catholic Church; Adam McKay for "The Big Short", on the subprime mortgage crisis; and George Miller for dystopian action movie "Mad Max: Fury Road".

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The DGA awards are seen as a key predictor of Academy Awards success, particularly for the best director prize, as almost all recent winners have gone on to win the Oscar for best director.

Inarritu's success comes after fellow Mexican Alfonso Cuaron won the DGA top prize in 2014 for "Gravity", and went on to win the Best Director prize from the Academy.

American actress and comedian Jane Lynch hosted Saturday's star-studded event for 1,600 guests, while presenters on stage included DiCaprio, Damon, Rachel McAdams, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling.

The ceremony included a new award recognizing the directorial achievement of a first-time feature director, which went to British novelist and screenwriter Alex Garland for Ex-Machina.

"The Revenant" has been one of the big winners in Hollywood's annual awards season, having already picked up three Golden Globes and bagged the leading man prize for DiCaprio at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards a week ago.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - One of Iraq's most powerful Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias on Sunday warned that Arab forces sent to Syria or Iraq would "open the gates of hell", in comments clearly aimed at Sunni Arab countries that have said they might join such an operation. "The Arab kingdoms tried Daesh mercenaries to implement their malicious plans in Iraq and Syria, and they failed," a statement from Kataib Hezbollah said, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. It called on "the sons of Saud and those rulers who stand behind them not to take a risk and to learn (their) lesson," referring to the Saudi ruling family. Kataib Hezbollah, whose leader Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes heads the Baghdad-sanctioned coalition of mainly Shi'ite militias battling the ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim militants of Islamic State alongside Iraq's regular forces, has sent fighters to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's troops in that country's five-year-old civil war. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday it was ready to supply ground troops to help support and train an international military coalition against Islamic State in Syria provided such efforts were led by the United States. Saudi Arabia, one of several Sunni Gulf Arab states, including the UAE, who are opposed to Islamic State, said last week it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants decided to start such operations. Syria's foreign minister warned on Saturday that Damascus would resist any ground incursion into its territory and send the aggressors home in coffins. (Reporting By Stephen Kalin; Editing by Stephen Powell)
By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin DUBAI (Reuters) - The family of an Iranian-British former BBC journalist who was detained last week in Tehran were told on Saturday that he was in the capital's Evin prison, a friend told Reuters. Bahman Daroshafaei, 34, a translator and former BBC Persian service reporter, was detained on Wednesday at his home, according to the opposition website Kaleme.com. "His family went to Evin prison today. They managed to talk to someone on the phone who said Bahman was in Evin but he would not be able to contact his family for another week or so," said the friend, who was in direct touch with the family but declined to be named. Daroshafaei's family said they had not been informed what the charges against him might be. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in London on Thursday that he did not know about the case. Some opposition activists have suggested that Daroshafaei's arrest, on the eve of the first visit to Britain by an Iranian foreign minister in 12 years, might have been orchestrated by hardliners to thwart an improvement in relations as Iran emerges from international isolation under the moderate government of President Hassan Rouhani. After living in London for several years, Daroshafaei returned to Iran in 2014 to be near his family. His friend said six plain-clothed officers had arrested Daroshafaei at his home and confiscated his computer, hard drives and mobile phone. A few of Daroshafaei's friends in Tehran and London said they had received messages on social media in the last few days purporting to come from him. One said that she had been hacked after clicking on a link she received from Daroshafaei's account. Britain reopened its embassy in Tehran last year after Iran agreed with world powers to curb its nuclear programme in return for a lifting of sanctions. It has made no comment about Daroshafaei's detention. Another Iranian-British citizen, Kamal Foroughi, remains in detention after being arrested in 2011 while working in Tehran as a business consultant. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Athens (AFP) - Israel is looking to exploit its substantial natural gas reserves with two potential pipeline projects to Turkey and Greece, its Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz announced Sunday.

"If things improve with Turkey... gas could both be sold to Turkey, and to Greece via Turkey," Steinitz told Kathimerini daily.

Israel and Turkey have reportedly been working on a rapprochement after falling out over the deadly storming by Israeli commandos in 2010 of a Turkish aid ship.

Steinitz added: "If important reserves are discovered in Israel and Egypt, or even in Egypt, this could justify the construction of a long pipeline to Greece."

"At first we estimated that this would cost 15 billion dollars (13 billion euros), which is prohibitive. Now new estimates reduce this to around seven billion (dollars)," he said.

At a three-way summit in Nicosia last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel, Greece and Cyprus would form a committee to study plans to build a pipeline between Israel and Cyprus and on to Greece.

Israel has been trying to extract offshore gas since the discovery of the Tamar and Leviathan fields in 2009 and 2010.

Production has begun in Tamar, but the far larger Leviathan has been hit by a series of delays and anti-trust litigation in Israel.

The size of the Leviathan field is estimated at 18.9 trillion cubic feet (535 billion cubic metres, or bcm) of natural gas, along with 34.1 million barrels of condensate.

Tamar holds another 250 bcm of natural gas.

Israel intends to export gas from Leviathan to other countries in the region, which could grant Israel strategic leverage.

The three leaders also discussed plans for an underwater cable to connect the electricity grids of the three countries.

"It is a project estimated to cost four to five billion dollars," Steinitz said.

"The connection of Israel and Cyprus by 2019 has already been decided. And then it is important to connect to Greece," he said.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would advance legislation enabling the suspension of parliamentarians for "inappropriate conduct" after Arab MPs met relatives of Palestinians killed while attacking Israelis.

"In a meeting with heads of the coalition parties, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on formulating a bill that would enable the Knesset (parliament) to suspend a member over inappropriate conduct," a statement read.

Such a suspension would need the approval of 90 out of the parliament's 120 members.

Netanyahu's declaration came after three Arab Israeli lawmakers visited relatives of Palestinians killed after attacking Israelis, drawing harsh condemnation from most of the political establishment.

Basel Ghattas, Jamal Zahalka and Hanin Zoabi of the Balad party attended a meeting initiated by a Palestinian committee seeking to retrieve the bodies of attackers killed by Israeli security forces.

While the bodies of Palestinians from the West Bank killed attacking Israelis are returned within hours or days, Israel currently retains those from east Jerusalem, saying this discourages violence.

A wave of violence that erupted last October has claimed the lives of 165 Palestinians, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

Most of the Palestinians were killed carrying out attacks, while others died during clashes and demonstrations.

Of the Balad visit, Netanyahu earlier on Sunday said he would "examine new and reinforced legislative changes to ensure that anyone who acts in this direction will not serve in the Israeli Knesset".

He also asked that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit examine the legality of the MPs' visit.

The justice ministry said on Sunday that Mandelblit had requested that police collect information to determine whether a crime had been committed.

Channel 2 political reporter Amit Segal said he doubted the feasibility of legislation that would allow parliament to suspend a member.

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Such a provision already exists for the president and the Knesset speaker, but while the latter are chosen by parliament itself, "a Knesset member is elected by the public", he said.

"That's what the High Court of Justice will say when it strikes down the law," Segal wrote on Twitter.

The only way to currently suspend or disqualify a member of parliament is if he or she is convicted of a crime.

Also on Sunday, Zoabi was given a six-month suspended sentence for insulting police officers and ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 shekels ($770, 690 euros) for calling two Arab Israeli police officers "traitors" in 2014.

Arab Israelis hold Israeli citizenship but largely sympathise with the Palestinian cause.
Jerusalem (AFP) - A Sudanese man stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier Sunday before being shot dead in southern Israel, with police investigating whether the attack was carried out in solidarity with Palestinians.

Police initially said the incident near a bus station in the southern city of Ashkelon was suspected to be part of a wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks that erupted in October.

Later police said they suspected that the Sudanese national acted in solidarity with the Palestinians, but had not ruled out other potential motives.

The incident saw 32-year-old Kamal Hassan stab the soldier and flee, according to police. Another soldier in the area grabbed the lightly wounded soldier's gun and chased Hassan before shooting him.

A witness told Israeli public radio the soldier shot three times at the Sudanese man, but he continued to run. He then fired three more times, according to the witness.

A wave of violence that erupted in October has claimed the lives of 165 Palestinians, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

Most of the Palestinians were killed carrying out attacks, while others died during clashes and demonstrations.

Foreign nationals have not previously participated in such attacks.

A large number of illegal immigrants have arrived in Israel from Sudan through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, though the status of the person killed Sunday was not clear.

Official figures show 45,000 illegal immigrants are in Israel, almost all from Eritrea and Sudan. About two-thirds are Eritrean.

In October, an Eritrean migrant worker who was mistaken for an Arab attacker died after he was shot and brutally beaten at a bus station in the southern city of Beersheba.
By Yimou Lee TAINAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - Before their apartment tower collapsed in a Taiwan earthquake at the weekend, a young couple living on the 14th floor had already been given a clue that the building was unsafe. But it came too late. Chen Yi-ting and her husband bought the apartment in the center of Tainan city five years ago, having relocated from an outlying district. They had a small hiccup with the mortgage -- the first bank they approached had declined their loan application without stating why -- but they found another lender and moved in with their infant daughter. Soon after, according to Chen's mother, one of the couple's friends, who had ties to the first bank, told them that it had a policy of refusing loans to residents of the 17-storey Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building, due to its poor construction. Now, Chen, 35, and her husband, Lin Wu-chong, 38, are in intensive-care in two separate hospitals in the southern city. She has a cracked skull and he has damaged lungs. Their seven-year-old daughter is dead. "People from outside of the town, people like them, had no idea what was going on before they moved in," Chen's mother, Kuo Yi-chien, explained as she waited in a hospital corridor outside the intensive-care unit where her daughter is. "They did not know the building was completed by the second developer after the first one went bust. They only found out after they signed the contract." The two-decades-old building is at the center of rescue efforts after the 6.4 magnitude quake struck before dawn on Saturday, with at least 24 known to have died there and more than 100 still missing deep in the rubble. It was the only major high-rise building in the city of 2 million people to have completely collapsed. Its lower stories, filled with arcades of shops, pancaked on top of each other before the entire U-shaped complex toppled in on itself. Sixty-one-year-old Kuo said residents of the building had long complained of many problems before the quake, such as tiles falling from walls, malfunctioning lifts and blocked pipes. The couple paid 3.5 million Taiwan dollars ($105,000) for the apartment. "We are simple minded people. We did not think it (the initial loan refusal) might have been for some other reason," Kuo said. Tainan's government says the building had obtained its construction permit legally and withstood a much more destructive quake in 1999. Centred in central Taiwan, that tremor killed 2,400 people and caused damage across the island. "In the city government's record, there was nothing wrong with it," said Wu Chong-rong, chief of Tainan Public Works Bureau. Hsu Yin-hsuan, an architect hired by Tainan's government to investigate the collapse, said the government had spent money after the 1999 disaster to buttress official buildings so they would be better able to endure future quakes. But, Hsu added: "Nothing similar has been done to privately owned buildings." The Wei-guan Golden Dragon building secured its construction license in 1992 and building was completed in 1994, according to government records. Two main firms that built the tower, Wei-guan Construction and Da Hsin Engineering, have since gone out of business. Reuters witnesses at the scene of the collapse saw large rectangular, commercial cans of cooking-oil packed inside wall cavities exposed by the damage, apparently having been used as building material. This was a problem found in some of the buildings that collapsed in other parts of Taiwan in the 1999 quake. The destruction at that time revealed that cooking-oil cans had been used as filler inside the walls of some buildings. Tainan Mayor William Lai said he had asked prosecutors to investigate and that the government had hired three teams of civil engineers to inspect the building's structure. "When it's completed, we'll punish those who should be held accountable," he said. Seventy-year-old retiree Yang Shu-mei, who lived next to the building, said she had witnessed its construction and that she and other neighbors had always doubted the workmanship. "When it was being built, I looked at it and thought, only people from out of town would buy it. We local people would never dare to," she said. ($1 = 33.3 Taiwan dollars) (This version of the story was refiled to change the headline.) (Additional reporting by J.R. Wu, Jeanny Kao and Faith Hung; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Mark Bendeich)
Mexico City (AFP) - Worshipers will line the roadside holding up their mobile telephones to light the way for Pope Francis when he arrives on his visit to Mexico next week, organizers said Sunday.

The 79-year-old pontiff himself expressed "great happiness" at his looming visit, during which he will tour a major Catholic shrine in Mexico City and meet victims of violence and poverty.

Thousands of well-wishers are expected to come out to welcome the Argentine pontiff when he lands in Mexico City late Friday. They want to make the longest ever human light chain on record.

They plan to line the 19-kilometer route from the airport to the Vatican's diplomatic mission in the capital as the pontiff passes through in his "Popemobile."

"We want to receive the Holy Father with a special wall, what we call a wall of light and prayer," said Roberto Delgado, a member of the organizing committee for the visit.

"We hope that with mobile phones, which are something that most people possess, we can make this light along the route the Holy Father will take," he told a news conference.

Organizers played a video greeting from the pope himself.

"There is not long to go before my trip to Mexico and I am very happy. I feel great happiness. I have always had a special place in my prayers for all Mexicans," he said.

- 'Missionary of compassion and peace' -

The pope said he would fulfill one of his "greatest desires" by visiting the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

Organizers called on the faithful to bring rosary beads and pray for Francis as he passes along. They suggested bringing small electrical torches but no candles for safety reasons.

Delgado said they were aiming "to set a record by forming a human chain of light of 19 kilometers (12 miles)," said Delgado.

"If people fill both lanes, then we are talking about practically 38 kilometers... That has never been done before in any country."

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The pope's visit will run February 12-16 and is scheduled to take in several Mexican states crippled by violence and poverty.

"I wish to come as a missionary of compassion and peace," he said in the video.

His visit will include a mass in the city of Juarez, near the US border, plagued by violence and drug trafficking.

He will meet with indigenous peoples, prisoners and the families of victims of violence.

"I want to be as close to you as possible, but especially to those who suffer, to embrace them and tell them that Jesus loves them very much," the pope said.

On the way to Mexico, the pope will stop over in Cuba for a historic meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Brussels (AFP) - The European Union on Sunday lashed North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as "yet another outright and grave violation" of its obligations and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with the international community.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said the use of "ballistic missile technology" came on the heels of North Korea's "extremely serious and illegal nuclear test" on January 6.

"These actions represent a direct threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond, and they further aggravate tensions on the Korean Peninsula to the detriment of all," Mogherini said in a statement on behalf of the 28-nation EU bloc.

The operation "is yet another outright and grave violation of its international obligations, as set out in several UN Security Council Resolutions," Mogherini said.

North Korea earlier announced that it had placed a satellite into orbit under its right to the "peaceful and independent" use of space.

But the launch breached multiple UN resolutions aimed at preventing North Korea from acquiring a missile capable of carrying out a long-range strike, in addition to its suspected quest to build a nuclear arsenal.

"The DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] must comply with its international obligations and abandon its programmes to develop ballistic missiles, nuclear capabilities and weapons of mass destruction in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner," Mogherini said.

She added: "The DPRK must refrain from any action that could further increase regional tensions and I call once again for the DPRK to engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community, in particular in the framework of the Six-Party Talks."

The EU will work with the UN Security Council, which was to meet later Sunday to discuss the launch, she said.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the launch "deeply deplorable" while US Secretary of State John Kerry denounced a "flagrant violation" of UN decisions.

Among the other permanent Security Council members, Britain, France and Russia expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret".
The government of North Korea commenced with yet another missile test on Saturday, firing a missile into the ocean. North Korea described it as a peaceful satellite launch, but U.S., Japanese and South Korean officials told CNN it was actually a thinly-veiled excuse to test an intercontinental ballistic missile prototype.

BREAKING: North Korea has fired a long-range rocket critics see as cover for banned missile test.

BREAKING Pentagon confirms North Korea has launched a missile. They are tracking. Defense official says does not pose threat to US or allies

In a statement reproduced by CNN, U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the launch "yet another destabilizing and provocative action and is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions" and said the North Korean government's nuclear program would only serve to "undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Experts believe technology used in prior North Korean missile tests is based on the Taepodong long-range missile system, according to CNN, and that system has a range of up to 5,600 miles though prior launches have sometimes met with failure.

As ArsTechnica reports, the weight of the satellite system North Korea reports is aboard the craft is similar to that of a nuclear warhead. North Korea has an unknown number of nuclear bombs.

In January, North Korea announced it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, though experts were skeptical the country had actually engineered a device of such destructive power.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korea said Sunday it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards developing a missile capable of striking the US mainland.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, amounted to the North doubling down against an international community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test barely a month ago.

The UN Security Council met behind closed-doors in New York to issue unanimous condemnation of the rocket launch, but a new sanctions resolution under negotiation for weeks has yet to be put to a vote.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye urged the Security Council to respond quickly with "strong punitive measures".

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, as a major success.

There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although the US Strategic Command said it had tracked "the missile launch into space".

Condemnation was swift, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon calling the launch "deeply deplorable" and US Secretary of State John Kerry denouncing a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions.

Permanent Security Council members Britain, France and Russia all expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret".

A draft UN resolution prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations since the nuclear test carried out on January 6. But Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Korea's already weak economy.

"China calls for more dialogue. What we need is no longer dialogue but using the pressure", said Japan's Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikawa.

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China can use its veto power to block any resolution that would significantly scale up sanctions against Pyongyang by, for instance, barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.

A surge in military tensions on the Korean peninsula looked likely, with South Korean and US defence officials announcing talks on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system in South Korea to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

"It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea.

As well as North Korea, China and Russia are both strongly opposed to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the region.

"When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair others' security interests," said China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying of the defence system, adding such moves would escalate tensions on the peninsula and damage regional peace and stability.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, meanwhile, said upcoming South Korea-US military exercises, which infuriate Pyongyang every year, would be the largest ever held.

- Tightening sanctions -

Sunday's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time (0030 GMT) and, according to state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

Both South Korea and Japan had threatened to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Four UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of ballistic missile technology, and its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States and its allies had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with the launch, but analysts said the North's timing was intended to minimise the repercussions.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, placing a similar Earth observation satellite in orbit.

Western intelligence experts say that satellite has never functioned properly, fuelling suspicion of the mission's scientific veneer.

Despite Pyongyang's bellicose claims to the contrary, the North is still seen as being years away from developing a credible inter-continental ballistic missile.
BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea's long-range rocket launch on Sunday will worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula, China's official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary. The Korean peninsula cannot be nuclearized or descend into war, the commentary added, saying all parties should deal with the situation calmly to keep it from spinning out of control. Xinhua commentaries are not official statements from the government, but can shed light on official thinking. North Korea, which claims its rocket program is aimed at launching satellites, fired the rocket from its missile base on the west coast on Sunday in defiance of U.N. sanctions barring it from using ballistic missile technology. (Reporting By Megha Rajagopalan and Nick Heath; Editing by Mark Bendeich)
A Philippine town mayor was shot and wounded in an ambush in the conflict-wracked south on Sunday, two days before the official campaign for general elections in May kick off, police said.

A gunman riding a motorcycle opened fire on Mayor Jasper Que as he drove with his two bodyguards in the port city of Zamboanga at around 9 am, city police spokeswoman Senior Inspector Helen Galvez told AFP.

Que, who is not seeking reelection, is mayor of Bongao, a remote seaside town in Tawi-Tawi, an impoverished island chain on the country's southernmost tip. A relative is running to succeed him, according to election records.

Que, who suffered three gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and buttocks, is recovering in a Zamboanga hospital while his assailant escaped.

It was not immediately clear if the attack was election-related, Galvez said. The mayor is a member of President Benigno Aquino's Liberal Party.

Elections in one of Southeast Asia's most chaotic democracies are routinely marred by violence due to intense political rivalries. In 2010, 179 people were killed or injured in election-related attacks.

No election-related violent incidents have so far been recorded ahead of the May vote.

The official campaign for national positions including president and members of parliament will start on Tuesday while campaigning for local executive positions will start in March.
Paris (AFP) - France No.8 Louis Picamoles may play no further part in the Six Nations after pulling a hamstring, the national team said on Sunday.

Picamoles had to come off after just 15 minutes of France's tight 23-21 win over Italy in their six Nations opener on Saturday.

And the national team released a statement on Sunday saying he has a "pulled hamstring in his right leg" and "will miss France's next games and must rest for several weeks".

France's last Six Nations match is at home to England on March 19.

Picamoles, who has 52 caps for his country, will be replaced by Loann Gujon of Bordeaux-Begles in the squad that will prepare for next weekend's clash at home to reigning champions Ireland.

It's a huge blow for France, who began the Guy Noves era with a hard-fought victory against a surprisingly enterprising Italy at the Stade de France.

Picamoles, 30, who will leave Toulouse to join Northampton next season, was the most experienced player in France's starting line-up on Saturday.

He was replaced in the back row by young debutant Yacouba Camara against Italy and the 21-year-old Toulouse flanker may get his first start against Ireland.
By Steve Holland, Emily Stephenson and James Oliphant MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - Republican White House contender Marco Rubio struggled at a debate on Saturday at the worst possible time, potentially confounding his bid to emerge as Donald Trump's chief rival in New Hampshire and giving hope to three rivals desperate for a strong showing. Under assault from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over his level of experience as a first-term U.S. senator from Florida, Rubio retreated time and again to canned statements from his stump speech and looked uncomfortably rattled for the first time after seamless performances at seven prior debates. "Marco, the thing is this," Christie said during one heated exchange early in the night, "when you're president of the United States, when you're a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn't solve one problem for one person." While Rubio recovered later in the debate, the timing of his performance was terrible, coming three days before New Hampshire Republicans register their choices on Tuesday in the nation's second nominating contest. The debate at St. Anselm College was the last face-off of the candidates before the vote. Rubio's tough moments may breathe new life into the campaigns of Christie, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich, three experienced politicians who, like Rubio, represent establishment Republicans. All three have suffered from the dominance of front-runner Trump in the Republican race. They are badly in need of a breakout moment to change the trajectory of the battle in New Hampshire, where the polls show Trump in the lead, Rubio in second and Texas Senator Ted Cruz in third place. Trump did not have his best debate. He looked flustered in a fight with Bush over the use of eminent domain in advancing the interests of public use projects and private industry. But he seemed to do well enough to possibly win on Tuesday in what would represent his first victory of the 2016 race, erasing the pain from a loss in the Iowa caucus last week, where he finished second to Cruz and just ahead of the surging Rubio. A victory in New Hampshire could put Trump on track for more wins in South Carolina on Feb. 20 and beyond on the way to the Nov. 8 election. APPEALING TO ESTABLISHMENT For the second debate in a row, Bush looked polished and sounded like the candidate many establishment Republicans had pinned their hopes on. His problem is it may be too late. Kasich, likely to end his candidacy if he does not do well on Tuesday, delivered a positive message that could appeal to New Hampshire Republican voters, who famously make up their minds late and never seem in the mood to follow the lead of the Iowa caucuses, won by Cruz. The trouble for Rubio began soon after the debate started when the ABC News moderators asked Christie about Rubio's experience in the U.S. Senate, and Christie pressed his case. Rubio critics have made much of the fact that his experience is akin to that of much-derided Democratic President Barack Obama, elected in 2008 when a first-term senator. Rubio's defense was that his and Obama's world views are different, not that Obama has simply led the country down the path it is on because of inexperience. "Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing," Rubio said. When Rubio repeated the same line again, Christie sought to reinforce the charge that Rubio is so inexperienced that he relies on well-worn talking points and cannot think on his feet. "There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody," Christie said. Rubio repeated the line enough that someone created a Twitter profile called @RubioGlitch that repeated his line about Obama. BUSH TUSSLES WITH TRUMP Bush attacked Trump for using eminent domain, which allows governments to seize private lands for projects for the public good, to help him build casino complexes in Atlantic City. Eminent domain is a frequent target of criticism from conservative and anti-government groups. "What Donald Trump did was use eminent domain to try to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City. That is not public purpose. That is downright wrong, he said. Trump said eminent domain was a good thing and was necessary to building roads, bridges, schools and hospitals. Certainly, its a necessity for our country, he said. He wants to be a tough guy, and it doesnt work very well, Trump said of Bush, telling the son and brother of former presidents to be quiet. When the crowd booed, Trump said, thats all his donors and special interests out there. Trump, known for his tough stances with calls to ban Muslims from visiting the United States and deport immigrants without the proper documents, also called for a more empathetic view of the Republican call to repeal Obamacare insurance coverage for Americans. "There will be a certain number of people who will be on the street dying, and as a Republican I dont want that to happen, he said. Trump captured the biggest share of the conversation on Twitter during the debate, winning 33 percent of the conversation followed by Rubio at 20 percent and Cruz at 15 percent. (Additional reporting by Ginger Gibson and Alana Wise in Washington; Writing by Steve Holland and John Whitesides; Editing by Mary Milliken, Paul Simao and Robert Birsel)
When is it bad to be a frontrunner? During a presidential debate three days before the New Hampshire primary, evidently. At Saturday nights forum in Manchester, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump all hit rough patches, while three often-overshadowed governorsChris Christie, Jeb Bush, and John Kasichdelivered some of their strongest moments of the campaign so far.

Rubio, surging nationwide and in New Hampshire, believed he had a target pinned to his back coming in, and he was right. Christie was the hatchet man, coming after Rubio in the earliest moments of the debate and never letting up. (At one point, Christie even pivoted from responding to an attack by John Kasich to slam Rubio.) Christie jabbed that Rubio, as a senator, doesnt have the executive experience needed to be president, citing Barack Obama as a cautionary tale. Rubio was ready with an answer to that: This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing? he said. He knows exactly what he's doing. Rubio isnt the only candidate to suggest that Obama is more evil genius than bumbling foolTed Cruz has done the samebut the crowd wasnt buying it. Maybe Rubios phrasing was just too clever.

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But when Christie mocked the idea, Rubio started repeating itpaving the way for Christies most devastating line, an accusation that Rubio just repeats talking points: There it is, the memorized 25-second speech. Rubio has a tendency to revert to his stump speech during debates, a technique that earned him high marks in past debates. But Christies line was devastating. Rubio responded by, um, repeating the same line about Obama almost verbatim several more times within the next few minutes.

Rubio also hit a tough spot when discussing comprehensive immigration reform. The Gang of Eight bill, which he backed and then backed away from, has always been one of his greatest political vulnerabilities, but it caused him particular discomfort tonight. Rubio has been forced to admit that he helped push the bill while also acknowledging that it is deeply unpopular with Republican voters, so he says now that the border has to be secure before reform happens. That requires him to contort himself into nonsensical statements: The legislation passed, but it has no support." Here again, Christie jumped on Rubio for failing to deliver on a policy he pushed. I fought, and I fought, and I fought, and I won, the New Jersey governor said.

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Moderator Martha Raddatz prodded Rubio on his claim that ISIS is the most dangerous group to face the U.S., asking whether that means the U.S. should spend as much fighting ISIS as it did the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Late in the debate, Bush and Christie tag-teamed to criticize Rubio for saying that he opposed abortion even in the case of rape, incest, or the mothers life, a position they say is too extreme and would turn off voters.

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Ted Cruz won an upset victory in Iowa, but hasnt seen nearly as much loft as hed hoped, and New Hampshire is less-friendly territory for him. He also had a tough debate. Early on, the moderators asked him about rumors spread by his staffers on the night of the Iowa caucus that Ben Carson was on the verge of dropping out. Cruz apologized to Carson on stage, and he blamed the rumor on a CNN report. Carson, in perhaps his only display of killer instinct in any debate, nailed Cruz. He accepted the apology, invoked Reagans 11th commandmentThou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republicanthen pointed out that Cruzs claims about what CNN reported were wrong. (CNN eagerly did the same.)

Cruz stumbled again later when asked about ISIS. He has called for carpet-bombing, a tactic that most experts think wouldnt do much against ISIS, a diffuse, geographically scattered force. Cruz has no good answer to that question, and Raddatz kept asking it again, showing the flaws in his tough talk about terror. The real question for Cruz is what level of collateral damage hes willing to accept among innocent people held hostage by ISIS, and he doesnt want to answer it. Cruz also couldnt explain how he intended to deport the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country. Pressed on his deportation plan, he mainly just ticked off ways to secure the border.

Cruzs best moment came during a discussion of opiate addiction, as he told the story of his half-sister Miriam, who died of a drug overdose. The Texas senator is such a polished debater than he often leaves emotion behind, and this was a raw, genuine moment. (It would have been stronger if the concluding policy proposal for fighting addiction had been something more than simply securing the border.)

Recommended: Three Lanes to the Finish of the Republican Race

Trump, in his return to the debate stage after boycotting the last meeting, didnt have a great night either. In one of the debates more interesting moments, he was asked about past praise for eminent domain, a tactic hes used to gain land for his development projects. Trump argued that eminent domain is an essential tool for building roads, bridges, and hospitalstrue, but utterly beside the point, since he was using it for his own private gain. Bush leapt in to point out the inconsistency, irking Trump, who sniped, Let me talk. Quiet." The crowd booed lustilywhich Trump claimed was the result of a hall full of GOP insiders and special interests, which naturally only elicited more boos. (Trump might not be wrong about that.) It was one of Bushs most effective moments in any debate so far.

Discussing healthcare, Trump said, We're gonna take care of people who are dying on the street.... I think everyone on this stage would agree: You're not gonna let people die." Thats an interesting mirror image of the 2011 Tea Party debate, where members of the audience cheered the idea of letting uninsured people die. But otherwise, Trump was often a non-factor.

Viewers might have known that Ben Carson was in for a rough night from the start of the debate, when the retired neurosurgeon either forgot or refused to leave the wings as candidates were introduced and his name was called. Carson was often quiet for long stretches, and when he did speak, it was often borderline incoherent, whether he was discussing Libya policy or the Zika virus.

One reason that Carson was so often quiet, perhaps, was that the debate was surprisingly focused on foreign policy. In addition to the ISIS questions, the candidates weighed in on reports of a North Korean missile launch. Cruz said he couldnt say whether he would have preemptively attacked the launch site without having seen the intelligence the president had. (Raddatz, strangely, tried to make him answer anyway. It was a rare off moment in an otherwise stellar performance from Raddatz, who is cementing her status as the nations premiere debate moderator. Co-host David Muir could take some tips from her.) Jeb Bush, in an echo of his brothers eponymous doctrine, endorsed a preemptive strike. Kasich also suggested prodding Japan toward striking North Korea, which would be a violation of the countrys U.S.-backed post-World War II constitution.

Later in the debate, the moderators asked whether waterboarding is torture, as almost every legal authority holds, and whether they would employ it. Cruz, Trump, and Rubio all said they could imagine situations in which they would waterboard people; Trump, in fact, said he would do "a hell of a lot worse, arguing that ISISs medieval approach demanded that the U.S. adopt similarly medieval responses. Bush, however, demurred.

What does it all mean? Saturday nights debate was the revenge of the establishment governorsChristie, Bush, and Kasich. Those three have been battling for a lane in the nomination battleagainst each other, for the one spot (at most) for someone like them; against Rubio, still trying to lock up the establishment support; and against the outsiders Cruz and Trump. Can the debate change their fortunes? It wasnt a great night for the Trump-Rubio-Cruz triumvirate leading the polls, but will that stall Rubios rise? Will it accelerate Trumps slide? And will it vault any of the governors into the top tier? Well find out Tuesday.

David Graham

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10:51 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

This debate didnt seem very consequential to me. Everyone on TV is saying that Marco Rubio did terrible. That wasnt my takeaway. If anyone helped himself I would guess Jon Kasich, if only because he seemed to get more speaking time tonight than normal. I can imagine the Donald Trump exchange on eminent domain hurting him, especially if its packaged into television attack ads. And it seems perfectly suited for that.

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10:44 PM

Molly Ball

Trump: Cruz won because he cheated, by the way. (Boo!) We don't win anymore. CHINA. Trade. We will win, and we will win, and we will win.

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10:44 PM

Molly Ball

Cruz: When have any of you stood up to Washington? I won Iowa despite being against their precious ethanol. Let's get back to the Constitution

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10:43 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Marco Rubio mentions his kids. The camera flashes to them, reminding everyone in the audience how awful it would be to have their parent run for president.

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10:43 PM

Molly Ball

Rubio: I will unite the party and unite the country and defeat Hillary to make America great again.

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10:43 PM

Molly Ball

Carson: The pundits have tried to bury me. They say politics is too hard, but I'm still here. Faith, integrity, common sense.

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10:43 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

These closing messages, tonight, are substantially more upbeat than in some other recent debates, placing less emphasis on challenges or threats and more on possibilities and opportunities.

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10:41 PM

Molly Ball

Jeb Bush: Ronald Reagan was a great president. (Going out on a limb there.) We need a proven candidate.

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10:40 PM

Molly Ball

Christie: I was the governor of New Jersey. But I've spent a lot of time in New Hampshire lately! Let me solve your problems.

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10:40 PM

Molly Ball

Kasich: Town halls are fun. Im offering a conservative message, but a positive message. New Hampshire, please give me a chance!

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10:39 PM

Molly Ball

Closing statements!

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10:33 PM

Nora Kelly

Super Bowl predictions from the candidates: KasichCarolina, BushDenver, Carsonone of the two teams, RubioCarolina, TrumpCarolina, ChristieDenver

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10:33 PM

Matt Ford

Bad news, Peyton: Only Jeb Bush and Chris Christie are willing to say that Denver will win tomorrow, and Jeb only said so because Manning endorsed him.

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10:31 PM

Sacha Zimmerman

Christie brings up the false claim that Planned Parenthood is selling body parts on the open market.

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10:31 PM

Matt Ford

Multiple candidates have had a chance to discuss abortion and reproductive rights, and none have discussed their likely appointment of a potentially pivotal justice to the Supreme Court.

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10:30 PM

Molly Ball

As the moderator notes, Christie's campaign has been attacking Rubio for his no-exceptions stance on abortion. It's an oddity of the center-right electorate in New Hampshire that one Republican can attack another for being too conservative on social issues.

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10:30 PM

Nora Kelly

Jeb Bush says his view on abortion is in the "sweet spot" for a Republican nominee: He's pro-life, but believes in exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest.

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10:27 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

Donald Trump reminds us what he did instead of participating in the last GOP debate in response to a question about veterans, touting the nearly $6 million raised for them at an event he hosted.

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10:21 PM

Clare Foran

"We need to be a party and a people that make sure that our women in this country understand anything they can dream, anything that they want to aspire to, they can do. That's the way we raise our daughters, and that's what we should aspire to as president for all the women in our country," Christie says. It's a hopeful line made a bit awkward by the fact that Christie chose to say "our women."

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10:17 PM

Clare Foran

"I have no problem whatsoever with people of either gender serving in combat," Rubio says, "I support that." Rubio adds that if a draft is ever instituted it should be opened up to both men and women.

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10:17 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Judge our military by its size, do you? Theres a vigorous debate to be had about the proper size and scale of the American military, but it cant rest on facile claims like those offered by Senator Rubio, that the services are smaller than theyve ever been. A single Zumwalt-class destroyer packs more firepower than an entire World War Two task force. Does that mean our spending is adequate? Not necessarily. But it should be a debate about capabilities, not counting ships or planes.

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10:13 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Once again, we're seeing a split here between senators and governors, with those like Kasich and Christie, who've actually had to run a state, stressing the need for cooperation on matters from police violence to Islamaphobia.

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10:12 PM

Nora Kelly

Carson, a medical doctor, says "if we have evidence" that people are infected, and evidence that it can spread by individuals' particular behavior, those people should be quarantined. But "willy-nilly" quarantining isn't good.

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10:11 PM

Molly Ball

Christie said "build bridges.

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10:10 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

Martha Raddatz asks Chris Christie about the Zika virus, which the WHO has declared a public health emergency. Would he quarantine people? You bet I will, Christie says.

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10:10 PM

Clare Foran

David Muir offers a good line of questioning here, asking candidates to explain how they would bridge the divide between law enforcement and communities skeptical and suspicious of it. Much better than asking candidates to pick sides.

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10:08 PM

David A. Graham

Is Donald Trump of all people complaining about an excessively litigious society?

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10:07 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Donald Trump: The police are absolutely mistreated and misunderstood. I wonder how many former NYPD officers he has employed as private security.

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10:06 PM

David A. Graham

Trump: "There is a divide, but I have to say that the police are absolutely mistreated and misunderstood." He complains that police killings are overcovered. The crucial distinction here, as always, is that police are officers of the state, endowed with a monopoly on force. Trump also endorses the Ferguson effect as real.

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10:04 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Some Republican rapid-response operation is working particularly quickly tonight, setting up a new Twitter handle@RubioGlitchto mock the Florida senator for using versions of the same line four times in rapid succession. We're going to hear much more about this before the voting starts in New Hampshire on Tuesday:

This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing?? He knows exactly what he's doing.  Marco Rubio Glitch (@RubioGlitch) February 7, 2016

Here's the bottom line, this notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is just not true. He knows exactly what he's doing.  Marco Rubio Glitch (@RubioGlitch) February 7, 2016

Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing  Marco Rubio Glitch (@RubioGlitch) February 7, 2016

Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing.  Marco Rubio Glitch (@RubioGlitch) February 7, 2016

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09:58 PM

Molly Ball

To be fair, Conor, if I were running I'd also feel it was pretty important

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09:57 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

If theres one thing presidential candidates agree on its that the election theyre running in isnt just a normal presidential election, its a turning point election, or even the most important election in a generation."

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09:56 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

I dont think you can change the narrative that Hillary Clinton would be the first woman president. Its a fact!

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09:56 PM

Clare Foran

Trump makes an electability argument, saying that if you look at the polls he does very well against Hillary Clinton. How well does that line hold up though now that he lost in the first primary nominating contest in Iowa?

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09:55 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Pretty good question from Larry O'Connor: Hillary Clinton would be an historic candidate because she's a woman, and voters like historic candidates. How would you turn that narrative around?

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09:53 PM

Sacha Zimmerman

Mexican cartels are turning to opiates because so many states are legalizing marijuana. But the truth is it starts with prescriptions and ends with street drugs.

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09:53 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

A heartfelt answer by Ted Cruz, but theres no way anyone is going to secure the border so tightly that heroin is no longer present on Americas streets. To think otherwise is to have the same delusion as generations of drug warriors whove catastrophically mismanaged U.S. drug policy.

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09:50 PM

David A. Graham

This is a powerful story from Cruz, about his half-sister, who died of a drug overdose. I can't think of any moment when Cruz has seemed so human and real, instead of his typical polish.

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09:47 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

Bush lumps the governors together in their approach to infrastructure. I trust Kasich and Christie to build the roads in their states, Bush says, instead of the federal government.

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09:47 PM

Molly Ball

Kasich touts "pleading with people" to get things done, but he's also got an overwhelmingly Republican state legislature in Ohio.

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09:45 PM

Nora Kelly

Trump invokes Reagan's relationship with Tip O'Neill. It's hard to imagine a Democratic House speaker developing a similar rapport with the mogul.

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09:45 PM

David A. Graham

Smart point, Mollythough it's far more likely that President Cruz would have a Republican Congress than that President Sanders would have a liberal Democratic one.

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09:45 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

How would Trump work with Congress? Grab em, hug em, kiss em, and get the deal done! Well now, presumably, we know the methods Trump would employ that are worse than waterboarding.

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09:44 PM

Molly Ball

That was a remarkably Bernie Sanders-like answer from Ted Cruz on the question of how he'd get Congress to do his bidding: The people will give him a mandate by electing him in an overwhelming wave

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09:43 PM

Clare Foran

Bush makes the case for more surveillance: "What we need to do is make sure that we are kept safe by having intelligence capabilities, both human and technological intelligence capabilities far superior than what we have today. That's how you get a more safe place."

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09:43 PM

David A. Graham

Just to summarize, three Republican candidatesCruz, Trump, and Rubiowould bring back the use of waterboarding, a torture tactic. Jeb Bush would not.

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09:41 PM

Matt Ford

How do you not ask the obvious follow-up question: what would Trump bring back that's "a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding"?

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09:41 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Since Gitmo isnt closed Im curious to hear in what sense Jeb Bush thinks its a complete disaster."

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09:40 PM

Clare Foran

"I'd bring back waterboarding, and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding," Trump says to applause.

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09:39 PM

David A. Graham

Cruz says he wouldn't use waterboarding as a general tactic. The crowd boos. He pauses, regroups, then says that he would use it to prevent imminent attacks. Conor has written well about the falsity of the ticking timebomb scenario.

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09:39 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

This is the first question about torture that Ive heard in any debate so far. Cruz calls waterboarding enhanced interrogation. But hesitates in whether he would bring it back.

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09:38 PM

David A. Graham

Ted Cruz says waterboarding is not torture.

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09:38 PM

Clare Foran

Improbably, Trump manages to tie his strategy to defeat ISIS back to his Wall Street credentials. Trump claims there are "people that you think are our great allies, our friends, in the Middle East, that are paying tremendous amounts of money to ISIS." He says we have "to stop those circuits," promising "nobody knows banking better than I do." Who says domestic affairs can't double as foreign policy expertise?

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09:37 PM

Sacha Zimmerman

Carson explains that North Africa is under the Mediterranean. Quiz later.

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09:36 PM

David A. Graham

"I think I was the first one to start talking about [Libya]," Carson says, incorrectly.

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09:35 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

There are many things that Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump share this cycle--they're both outsiders, both successfully channel frustration, and they're both far ahead in New Hampshire. One less-remarked-upon similarity? They're both materialists. Trump, like Sanders, tends to think that economic factors are what really matter. His answer to ISIS? Cut off their funds, bomb their oil, and they'll run out of cash in a year. But unlike the other on the stage, he's conspicuously silent about religion and ideology.

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09:31 PM

David A. Graham

It's unfortunate to see Rubio committing himself to the purely sectarian explanation for Middle Eastern conflict.

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09:31 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

A fundamental challenge facing Rubio tonight? Even when he improvises, he sounds like he's delivering a practiced speech. That's often worked well for him, making him sound polished and mature. But with his rivals drawing attention to his affinity for practiced soundbites, it's now working against him, making him seem inauthentic.

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09:29 PM

David A. Graham

Good question from Martha Raddatz about why Cruz thinks carpetbombing would help defeat ISISa very different force from the Iraqi Army that it defeated in 1991. Experts widely agree that it wouldn't work against ISIS. Cruz has been asked the question before, but he still doesn't have a good answer. His plan for what to do against ISIS is almost exactly Obama's plan: Bomb oil refineries and military targets. The real question here is what risks you take about killing innocent civilians, and Cruz hasn't made any attempt to answer that question.

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09:28 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Some day, Ted Cruzs comments on carpet-bombing will be taught in courses on political communication. He shouldve walked them back shortly after they were originally made. Instead, hes persisted in his attempt to make carpet bombing mean something wholly novelmore closely resembling targeted strikes. And the harder he tries to do that, the worse he comes off.

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09:27 PM

Matt Ford

Cruz's argument that "carpet-bombing" can be precision bombing is self-negating.

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09:25 PM

Clare Foran

"I'd like to see more millionaires," Bush says. Wonder how that line strikes a typical middle-class voter.

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09:25 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

The way these Republicans are talking about Barack Obama approaches lunacy. Its as if theyve never encountered a very mainstream Democrat before.

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09:25 PM

David A. Graham

Another thing: Rubio's rivals charge that he's a robot who can't go off script, and in response Rubio is ... repeating the same talking point over and over again throughout the debate.

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09:24 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

There was a way for Rubio to pull off that argument, David, but hes botched it. By this time tomorrow, I fully expect the Granite States airwaves to be saturated with clips of Rubio saying, Obama knows what hes doing.

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09:23 PM

David A. Graham

I would have thought that Rubio's argument that Obama is an evil genius rather than an oblivious fool would go over well, but it doesn't really seem to be connecting with the audience in the houseor with his rivals, though maybe,_maybe_, they're being disingenuous.

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09:21 PM

David A. Graham

How single-minded is Christie's attack on Rubio tonight? Given a question premised on John Kasich insulting his record in New Jersey, he pivots to attack Rubio.

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09:21 PM

Molly Ball

Christie speaks to the veterans waiting for health care, asks them if they agree with Rubio that Obama knows what he's doing. Ouch.

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09:20 PM

Nora Kelly

Trump's jobs plan: Not so much creating new ones, but more like repatriating them from China, Japan, and Mexico.

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09:19 PM

David A. Graham

David Muir asked Trump to say how many jobs he'd create in his first term. Why? Whatever he says, the answer is out of his control; and besides, the only way to know whether it's true or not is if he gets elected.

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09:18 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Trumps redefinition of conservatism around the word conserveconserve our wealth, conserve our countryis an odd echo of Hillary Clintons move on Thursday to define progressivism around progress. Whatever the merits of their cases, they seem unlikely to win over those who adhere to more ideological definitions.

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09:18 PM

Nora Kelly

Trump defines "conservatism" using its root word: "We want to conserve our money, we want to conserve our wealth. ... We want to conserve our country, we want to save our country."

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09:18 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

I hate these what is a conservative questions. One lesson of this campaign cycle is that most Republican primary voters arent picking based on that metric. Cant we just part with the conceit and ask people, What personal philosophy will you bring to the job?"

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09:17 PM

Clare Foran

The moderators say they're going to "turn now to what it means to be a conservative." Should be interesting to see the Republicans put forward their own definitions of conservatism, especially given that on the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are currently fighting it out over what it means to be a progressive.

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09:17 PM

David A. Graham

Man, the Kasich quote that David Muir just read to himincluding a promise to change the definition of conservatismis pretty bad. Equal parts incoherent and calculated to turn off conservative audiences.

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09:11 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

The debate-as-football-game, cutting to the commentators during the timeouts to shape how the audience is seeing the drama on-stage, continues to feel bizarre. Why not let voters watch, and make up their own minds?

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09:07 PM

Clare Foran

Trump says we there's a lot of donors in the audience and that's why the audience isn't loving him. He's been getting booed quite a bit, including when he attempted to shush Jeb Bush just now.

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09:07 PM

Molly Ball

Pretty nice move by Trump there, turning the audience that's booing him into a proxy for the Republican establishment. (He's not wrong!)

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09:06 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

This is a debate version of eminent domainTrump is bulldozing Jeb Bush, and taking the time allotted to his fellow candidates, using it for his own purposes.

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09:06 PM

Matt Ford

You can almost hear heads explode at conservative and libertarian think-tanks across D.C. as the GOP frontrunner gives a rousing defense of eminent domain.

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09:05 PM

David A. Graham

Trump to Bush: "Let me talk. Quiet." Crowd boos at length.

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09:05 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Jeb Bush points out that Donald Trump used eminent domain for a real estate development, not a public purpose.

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09:04 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Donald Trump: The Keystone Pipeline without eminent domain wouldnt go ten feet. Take that conservatives! But the idea that everyone who is subject to it gets fair market value is nonsense.

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09:04 PM

David A. Graham

Trump defends eminent domain: "Eminent domain is an absolute necessity for a country. Without it you wouldnt have roads, you wouldnt have hospitals, you wouldnt have bridges." But of course that's beside the point: When Trump was using it (and praising it) it was for his own private development projects.

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09:04 PM

Clare Foran

"I was hoping to get a chance to talk about North Korea," Carson says, "I've got some stuff to say about it let me tell ya." Seems somewhat improbable for a candidate who has so often struggled to articulate a foreign policy agenda. Nevertheless, Carson leaves us in suspense, pivoting to health care instead.

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08:59 PM

Nora Kelly

Trump has to answer for a health-care plan that doesn't really exist. He's said in the past that government will pay for everyone's health care. Tonight, he says he'll repeal Obamacare, and replace it with something better. It'll be based on "free-enterprise" and "competition" and health-care savings plans. "We're going to take care of people dying on the street."

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08:59 PM

David A. Graham

Trump: "We're gonna take care of people who are dying on the street.... I think everyone on this stage would agree: You're not gonna let people die." Does he remember four years ago when, during a Republican debate, a crowd cheered specifically for that very thing?

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08:59 PM

David A. Graham

Sparse applause for Trump, even when he says that he's going to repeal Obamacare. Tough crowd for him tonight.

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08:59 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Trump: "Insurance companies are getting rich on Obamacare."

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08:58 PM

Molly Ball

That was some really tricky use of the passive voice by Rubio, who repeatedly argued that the legislation that he worked on was obviously doomed from the start.

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08:57 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

If I were a New Hampshire voter struggling to find an adequately paid job, or looking at a growing pile of bills, or worrying that my own children might not have the opportunities I enjoyed? I think I might be baffled by this debate. Its an hour in, and theres been some discussion of foreign policy, and a lot of discussion about politics and leadershipbut remarkably little effort to address the basic economic anxieties at the forefront of many voters minds.

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08:57 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

David Muir pushes Ted Cruz on immigration. What you do is enforce the law, Cruz says, but doesnt go much further than that. Its been a common theme in these debates. Candidates agree that something has to be done, but struggle with defining what exactly theyd do.

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08:57 PM

Molly Ball

"I fought, and I fought, and I fought, and I won." Strong Christie here.

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08:56 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Saying that the American people will support a reasonable but responsible approach is kind of hilarious.

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08:54 PM

David A. Graham

Every time the comprehensive immigration bill comes up, Rubio's answer is that the bill can't pass. That's clearly true, but it's an interesting attempt at a defense.

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08:54 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

President Obama has been jailing people caught illegally reentering the country in federal prisons at a much higher rate than any prior president.

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08:53 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

We have to have practical solutions, Kasich says, in regard to immigration, later invoking the pathos associated with immigration by adding he cant imagine pulling apart a family that hasnt committed a crime. His response exposes the principled disagreements in the immigration debate in the GOP , as it has in previous debates.

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08:52 PM

David A. Graham

Note that the question to Cruz was about how he'd go about deporting illegal immigrants. He offered a lot of ways to strengthen border security, but he offered no plan whatsoever for actually getting 11-plus million undocumented immigrants out of the country.

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08:52 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

John Kasich is the Jon Huntsman of this election: a perfectly conservative guy with a moderate temperament who values pragmatism. And the GOP electorate isnt much interested in him. It wants red meat.

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08:50 PM

Clare Foran

"Just like we lock our doors at night, the country has to be able to lock its doors," Kasich says, as he talks about securing the borders.

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08:49 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

It's a bizarre spectacle to see a stage full of Republicans first venerate President Ronald Reagan, and then announce that they would never ransom hostages. Was Iran-Contra really so very long ago?

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08:47 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Jeb Bush: America needs to get back in the game. Call it the battle cry of the National Greatness Conservatives.

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08:46 PM

David A. Graham

I can't believe Ben Carson doesn't want to jump in and share his views on this foreign-policy exchange!

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08:46 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

China feels about North Korea the way Margaret Thatcher felt about East Germany: they had no love for the regime, but feared what would happen after it fell more than the ongoing nightmare.

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08:46 PM

Sacha Zimmerman

Trump: China has "practically absolute control of North Korea."

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08:44 PM

Molly Ball

You can count on Trump to bring the brute force to an attempt at nuance. He begs to disagree with Rubio's idea that Obama knows what he's doing.

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08:44 PM

David A. Graham

There we go: a Bush calling for a preemptive strike!

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08:44 PM

Matt Ford

Kasich suggests letting Japan take the offensive against North Korean missiles, which would violate Article 9 of Japan's constitution that explicitly forbids aggressive military action.

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08:31 PM

Nora Kelly

Christie contrasts his governorship with first-termer Rubio: "You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable."

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08:30 PM

David A. Graham

Rubio is turning around a question about whether he's too inexperienced effectively, saying that Obama hasn't been ineffectivehe's been _too_ effective in passing liberal policies.

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08:30 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

Marco Rubio is asked about his inexperience as a first term senator as he stands beside Trump, Carson, and first-term Senator Ted Cruz.

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08:30 PM

David A. Graham

Carson just effectively debunked Cruz's excuse for the rumors in Iowa, noting that CNN quickly clarified it's report to make it known that Carson was simply headed home for a day, not quitting his campaign. Not a good exchange for Cruz, despite his apparently forthright apology.

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08:29 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

Carsons not buying Cruzs explanation about the CNN report. The bottom line is, we can see what happened, everyone can see what happened, and we can make our own judgement."

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08:29 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Ted Cruz gives a long, elaborate explanation of his Iowa teams conduct, pleading ignorance. But it wont wash. The senator is running for president of the United States, and blaming his campaign staff for the incident seems like less than a model of leadership. It was his campaign. It could easily have reached out to Carsons operation to verify the report. Instead, it seized the moment and ran with the report. And Cruz will ultimately answer for that to voters.

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08:27 PM

David A. Graham

Ted Cruz, who generally bashes the media, is now justifying his own team's credulous interpretation of news reports about Ben Carson, as justification for spreading a rumor that Carson was on the verge of dropping out.

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08:27 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

Ted Cruz apologizes to Carson. Ben, Im sorry, he says, looking directly at the neurosurgeon.

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08:27 PM

David A. Graham

Calling Cruz's trick "Washington ethics" is a pretty good line from Carson, given that Cruz has presented himself as the anti-Washington candidate.

Link

08:26 PM

Molly Ball

Wow, Carson brings up his Iowa staffer who died in a car accident, saying Cruz should not have doubted his supporters' dedication. Carson also slams "Washington ethics."

Link

08:26 PM

Molly Ball

Carson gets a question about the messages Cruz put out to Iowa caucus-goers saying Carson was dropping out. I've spoken to many New Hampshire voters in the past few days who viewed that as a dirty trick. Interestingly, Carson says he won't speak ill of Cruz, but says he's "disappointed" in Cruz's team.

Link

08:25 PM

Priscilla Alvarez

In response to Ted Cruzs actions in Iowa in suggesting that he was dropping out of the debate, Carson jokes about his awkward entrance, When I wasnt introduced number two as the plan, I thought maybe you thought I had already dropped out."

Link

08:19 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

And when Carson finally takes the stage, after hovering in the wings, the moderators try to start the debate without calling Ohio Governor John Kasich to the stage. The debate is off to a decidedly rough start.

Link

08:17 PM

David A. Graham

This debate is already bizarre: When his name was called for the intros, Ben Carson didn't come out, then feinted like he would come out, then stayed back. Ultimately he waited in the wings until the moderators specifically reminded him to come out.

Link

08:17 PM

Clare Foran

Jeb Bush usually doesn't shine in these debate formats, but he'll be one to watch tonight. Bush was effectively reduced to the status of "also-ran" in the Iowa caucus. If Bush can't endear himself to New Hampshire voters, it'll be hard for him to convince donors not to flee.

Link

08:17 PM

Conor Friedersdorf

I wonder if Donald Trump will be the center of attention again tonight. If the moderators dont ask him many questions, that could really hurt him. Hed seem like yesterdays news. And if he complained that could hurt him too.

Link

08:13 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

Guess whos back? Donald Trump skipped the last debate before the Iowa Caucus, and Ted Cruz came back to beat him. Did his absence from the stage matter? Probably not, but it was a narrow enough loss for even relatively small impacts to make a difference. Tonight, days before New Hampshire votes, hes apparently not taking any chances, despite his commanding lead in the polls.

Link

08:08 PM

Yoni Appelbaum

For much of the cycle, it was the Democrats scheduling their debates at inconvenient hours and odd times. Now the Republicans have scheduled a debate late on Saturday night, on Super Bowl weekend. (And, if youre just tuning in, youve probably noticed that the advertised 8 p.m. start time is going to draw fire from Politifact.) Thats sure to depress the national audience. But these candidates, right now, are talking to persuadable voters in New Hampshire, whore more likely to tune in. Thats not a large audience, but for several of the men on stage, its the only one that matters anymore.

Just how much did the results of the Iowa caucuses shake up the Republican race for president? The answer should become clear fairly quickly on Saturday night, when the contenders debate in New Hampshire three days before the Granite States primary.

The debate, televised at 8 p.m. by ABC, will mark the return of Donald Trump after he skipped the final match-up before Iowa because of a dispute with Fox Newsa decision he has acknowledged might have contributed to his defeat. But which Trump will show up? The shockingly-contrite runner-up who congratulated Ted Cruz on his caucus victory in his brief appearance Monday night in Iowa? Or the more familiar Trump persona that raged against Cruz the next day on Twitter, accusing him of stealing the win and demanding a re-vote?

Public polls have had a rough year, but if you still trust them, then Trump remains the front-runner in New Hampshire. While Marco Rubio has gotten a bounce from his strong third-place finish in Iowa, Trump retains a double-digit lead, and the polling average on RealClearPolitics has him with twice the percentage of any other Republican. Yet hell have to share the spotlight Saturday night with Rubio, who has been the target of aggressive attacks from Chris Christie and Jeb Bush in the days since Iowa. Christie has been particularly withering, describing the first-term Florida senator as the boy in the bubble and afraid to deviate from canned stump speeches. For the trio of establishment-friendly governorsChristie, Bush, and John KasichNew Hampshire has the same make-or-break status that Iowa had for social conservatives Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, who dropped out this week. A poor performance is likely to push at least one and possibly more of the governors out of the race. If I get snuffed out, I go homeend of story, Kasich told voters last week. Bush has the most money of the three, but Lindsey Graham, the longshot-hopeful-turned-Bush-surrogate, told The New York Times that if Rubio beats him badly in New Hampshire, Jeb is toast.

And then theres the actual Iowa winner, Ted Cruz, who is trying to avoid becoming the third consecutive Republican caucus victor to have a mediocre showing in New Hampshire. The polls there havent moved much for him this week, and like Huckabee and Santorum before him, Cruz is better positioned for a strong finish in South Carolina and the Southern states that make up to so-called SEC Primary on March 1, including his home state of Texas. Cruzs goal on Saturday is to blunt the momentum Rubio picked up in Iowa.

The sixth Republican candidate on the stage Saturday is Ben Carson, who seems to have entered the Is he still running? phase of his campaign. The neurosurgeon finished fourth in Iowa and then immediately had to fight rumors that he was dropping out of the race. (A brief detour to Florida, his spokesman famously said, was merely so he could pick up a fresh set of clothes.) Carson has never fared well in New Hampshire polling, and amid reports that he is laying off staff, its hard to see him as a big factor going forward.

The other drama heading into the debate is whether ABC would include Carly Fiorina, who was excluded despite finishing narrowly ahead of Kasich and Christie in Iowa. With Huckabee, Santorum, and Rand Paul having dropped out after Iowa, the network is not holding an undercard debate. (Sorry, Jim Gilmore.) Fiorina has been on the bubble for weeks, and she waged a fierce campaign for ABC and the Republican National Committee to include her, even securing support from the likes of Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich for her participation. The pressure campaign worked against CNN in an earlier forum, but ABC has held firm this time.

Entry into the debate might have helped keep Fiorinas fading hopes alive a little longer, but like Carson, her moment has likely passed. That is not the case for Cruz and Rubio, nor is it for Trump just yet, despite his disappointing finish in Iowa. Of the top-tier candidates, he now has the most to lose in New Hampshire, and the most on the line Saturday night.

You can follow every twist and turn of the race with our 2016 Distilled election dashboard, find out more about the candidates by using our Cheat Sheet, and see how viewers are responding to the candidates with our real-time emoji tracker. And follow along with us, as we live-blog all the action in Manchester.

Russell Berman

2016 Distilled

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Berlin (AFP) - Martina Hingis rolled back the years on Sunday as her doubles win alongside sealed a 3-2 win over Germany to put Switzerland in the Fed Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1998.

Teenager and Hingis, 35, who won her 12th Grand Slam doubles title in last weekend's Australian Open final alongside India's Sania Mirza, needed just over an hour to seal their 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany's Andrea Petkovic and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.

"I was cheering them on for the first four matches and then I had to go out there," said a delighted Hingis after the tie in Leipzig.

Bencic won three points at the weekend to secure a semi-final place where the Swiss will take on defending champions Czech Republic who edged Romania 3-2.

The teenager said she was delighted to have the chance to play alongside Hingis for her country.

"She did all the great volleys and all the doubles stuff. I was just happy I could play with her. I'm not a doubles specialist," said the 18-year-old, who is ranked 11th in the world for singles, but only 59th for doubles.

Switzerland's captain Heinz Guenthardt said the sky is the limit for his team with both Bencic and Hingis in top form.

"I have no idea where we can go but I'm excited to find out," he said.

"Martina is one of the best doubles players in the world right now and Belinda is very solid.

"This surface is good for Belinda, but we knew she had to play at the top of her game and she did."

Sunday's defeat was tough on Petkovic, who lost the opening rubber to Bencic on Saturday and was then stood down for Sunday's reverse singles when Annika Beck had levelled the tie at 2-2.

Beck's 7-5, 6-4 victory over Timea Bacsinszky had given the Germans brief hope before Hingis and Bencic sealed the Swiss win.

The 21-year-old Beck had rescued Germany after Angelique Kerber lost to teenager Bencic in Sunday's first singles rubber which had put the Swiss 2-1 up.

Just eight days after beating Serena Williams in the Australian Open final, Kerber had few answers as she lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to the 18-year-old.

It had finished all square on the first day after Bencic, the world number 11, swept past Petkovic, 6-3, 6-4, then Kerber, ranked second in the world, got Germany back on track with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Bacsinszky.
Manchester (United States) (AFP) - Last-minute voters cast ballots Tuesday in the small US state of New Hampshire in the second key test of the White House race, with Donald Trump chasing victory and Hillary Clinton looking to reel in local hero Bernie Sanders.

Nearly all voting stations closed, or stopped allowing voters to get in line, at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT), with a handful of locations open until 8:00 pm. Officials were predicting a record turnout, and results were expected within a few hours.

Once every four years, the nation's eyes focus like laser beams on New Hampshire, which holds the first state primaries after the Iowa caucuses kick off the US presidential nomination process.

The proud northeastern state, home to just 1.3 million people, sets the tone for the primaries -- and could whittle down a crowded Republican field as the arch-conservative Senator Ted Cruz and more mainstream candidates led by Senator Marco Rubio battle for second place behind frontrunner Trump.

But New Hampshire's primaries are known for their surprises, leaving several candidates hopeful that they can outperform the narrative established by months of polling.

In the picturesque town of Canterbury, population 2,000-3,000, sub-freezing temperatures and a thick coat of snow on the ground greeted early-risers who stopped by the town hall to vote before heading to work.

David Emerson, a wood worker set up outside with a Sanders poster, said he planned to stay all day.

"He's the only one that's worth supporting. Hillary makes it clear it's the same old, same old" with her, Emerson said.

"Bernie talks about all the things that need to be done. Hopefully he's really creating a movement."

For the past 60 years or so, most of the candidates who ended up winning the White House won their party's primary in the so-called Granite State.

But tellingly, the last three presidents -- Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton -- were all elected despite losing the New Hampshire primary.

Story continues

A RealClearPolitics poll average shows Sanders -- who has called for nothing short of a "political revolution" -- leading 54.5 percent to 41.2 percent for Clinton in the state.

Trump leads rival Republicans with 31.2 percent -- with no other candidate above 15 percent.

- Last-minute picks -

But everything remains in play in New Hampshire due to a high number of registered independents, who can choose to vote in either party, and the famous last-minute nature of voters here.

Exit polls conducted by CNN showed that nearly half of Republican voters did not make their final decision about whom to support until the last few days.

In early good news for Trump, who triggered global outrage in December when he called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, exit polls reported by NBC News show 66 percent of Republican primary voters support the ban.

Many voters said they were voting for Trump, the man who singlehandedly turned the 2016 presidential race on its ear with his bombast.

"He seems to be speaking for the silent majority," said auto mechanic Chris Skora after voting for the real estate magnate.

"A lot of us feel that way and it seems like in this day and age, we can't say these things with the PC police all around."

The New York billionaire has energized broad swaths of blue-collar Americans, angry about economic difficulties and frustrated at what they see as their country losing its global stature.

But Trump needs to turn his poll lead into a convincing win in New Hampshire if he is to recover from the embarrassment of finishing second behind Cruz in Iowa.

"Look, you know, I like to win," Trump told MSNBC as voting got underway. "I didn't go in it to lose."

The rest of the Republican pack has been fighting it out, hoping a strong showing can reinvigorate them for South Carolina and Nevada, the next stops on the long campaign trail.

A poor result would likely rupture the presidential dreams for former and current governors Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Chris Christie.

Rubio is hoping to match or better his third-place Iowa finish, despite taking a drubbing in Saturday's debate when Christie eviscerated the first-term Florida senator for robotically repeating the same talking points.

- Run for her money -

On the Democratic front, Clinton is looking to confound polls that predict a large victory for her insurgent challenger Sanders, who represents neighboring Vermont in the US Senate and is big on erasing economic inequality.

"You know, I just love the way New Hampshire does this," Clinton said as she and daughter Chelsea greeted cheering, sign-waving campaign volunteers at a school in Manchester, the state's largest city.

She also expressed optimism about finishing strong here.

"We're going to keep working literally until the last vote is cast and counted and we're going to go from there," Clinton said.

Clinton won Iowa by a hair, and remains the overall favorite to win the Democratic nomination. But Sanders' strong performance shows his campaign can give the former secretary of state a run for her money deep into election season.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday discussed a rocket launch by North Korea in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Russia's foreign ministry said. The ministry added in a statement on its website that the call had taken place on the initiative of the Japanese side. Russia stressed the importance of diplomacy in defusing tension in Northeast Asia during the phone call, the statement said. (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Mark Potter)
Rescuers searched through the night Saturday hoping to free residents trapped in buildings toppled by a deadly earthquake in Taiwan, as survivors recalled being plucked to safety from their ruined homes.

More than 250 people have been rescued from the Wei-kuan apartment complex in the southern city of Tainan since the quake hit at 4:00 am Saturday, killing 14 people and toppling four blocks of around 100 homes in total.

Over 150 people remain out of contact with their families in Tainan and surrounding counties, with at least 20 feared still trapped in the rubble of the apartment buildings.

Those who escaped told of their terror and relief.

"(When the quake hit) I slid down from my bed and was trapped between the bed and a closet," resident Su Yi-ming, 48, told AFP.

"I knocked on the closet to get the attention of rescuers who broke the window to get me at around 5:00 am. I think I was the first to be rescued," he said.

"My mind went blank when the quake struck, it shook violently and the house just came down. I couldn't react."

Su escaped uninjured, with his wife and their two children sustaining minor injuries.

They lived on the sixth floor of one of the collapsed blocks.

"We are very lucky that we are alive but I'm sad that some of my neighbours lost their lives. When I was brought out I saw many rescuers trying to find people," Su said.

Wang Chih-peng, 38, was rescued with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

"I was scared awake by the quake and I held my wife and child until it stopped shaking," Wang told AFP.

"We lay on our bed waiting for rescuers because we thought it safer. I heard the sound of rescuers approaching and screamed for help and they removed the window to pull us out. I saw the building had tumbled and luckily we were safe."

Rescuers were still freeing survivors Saturday night.

Footage released by emergency workers showed rescuers talking to one trapped 36-year-old woman through the rubble, where she had been pinned down by furniture for 16 hours, before digging her out.

Another woman was extracted alive from the ruins by crane late Saturday.
Beirut (AFP) - Syrian government troops advanced Sunday toward a rebel town near the Turkish border as they pressed a Russian-backed offensive that has prompted tens of thousands to flee, a monitor said.

The town of Tal Rifaat is around 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from the Turkish frontier, where Syrians who have fled fighting near Aleppo city have been gathering since the assault was launched Monday.

It is one of the last rebel strongholds in the north of Aleppo province and government troops are just seven kilometres away, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said regime troops want to push north to the border with Turkey to prevent rebels and weapons from entering Syrian territory.

Syrian pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said Sunday that Tal Rifaat would be a major prize for the regime.

"If it falls, the army will be able to progress and seize control of all of the northern part of Aleppo province," the paper said.

Regime forces backed by intense Russian air strikes have closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Moscow intervened in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city.

Opposition forces along with roughly 350,000 civilians are in rebel-held areas of the divided city of Aleppo and face the risk of a government siege.

Punitive blockades have been employed elsewhere in the nearly five-year civil war, causing dire humanitarian situations including starvation.

Since Saturday night government forces have surrounded the rebel bastion of Daraya in Damascus province.
Manchester (United States) (AFP) - Republican candidates for the White House held their eighth debate ahead of the all-important New Hampshire primary election, which takes place Tuesday.

Here are 10 of the most memorable quotes from the event, which took place late Saturday.

- Buckle up! -

"If I get elected president, head out tomorrow and buy a seat belt, because there's going to be so much happening in the first 100 days, it's going to make your head spin," Ohio Governor John Kasich told the audience.

- Winners all around -

Billionaire businessman Donald Trump: "If I'm elected president, we will win, and we will win, and we will win."

- Waterboarding -

How would Trump deal with suspected terrorists?

"I would bring back waterboarding, and I would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding," he said.

"You can rest assured that as commander in chief, I would use whatever enhanced interrogation methods we could to keep this country safe."

- 'Still here!' -

Ben Carson, after rumors circulated -- and were spread by during the Iowa Caucuses by the campaign team of rival Ted Cruz -- that he was pulling out of race.

"I'm still here, and I'm not going anyplace," the retired pediatric neurosurgeon said.

- 'Disappointed' Carson -

On the same controversy, Carson added:

"I was very disappointed that members of his (Cruz's) team thought so little of me that they thought after having hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers and college students who sacrificed their time and were dedicated to the cause... that I would just walk away 10 minutes before the caucus and say, 'Forget you guys.'"

- 'Tough guy' -

"Jeb wants to be a tough guy tonight," taunted Trump, in one of the testier exchanges of the night.

"How tough it is to take property from an elderly woman?" Bush retorted, slamming the real estate mogul for his defense of the policy "eminent domain," allowing the government to take an individual's property when building highways or other public projects.

Story continues

"Let me talk. Quiet," replied Trump to jeers from the crowd.

- The well-tempered politician -

"I actually think I have the best temperament," said Trump at another point in the debate.

- Truant Rubio? -

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie eviscerates Marco Rubio for a high number of absences in the Senate, including during key votes.

"That's not leadership. That's truancy," he said.

- Am I repeating myself? -

"Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing," said Marco Rubio, in one of the worst moments of night for the Florida senator.

The remark fueled accusations that Rubio merely regurgitates memorized talking points during the debates, since he gave, in quick succession, various versions of the above statement, almost verbatim.

- Replacing Obamacare -

Trump, like most of his Republican rivals, has vowed to end President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform plan, but said he would not leave Americans bereft of medical coverage.

"What I do say is there will be a certain number of people that will be on the street dying, and as a Republican, I don't want that to happen," he said.

"We're going to take care of people that are dying on the street because there will be a group of people that are not going to be able to even think in terms of private or anything else and we're going to take care of those people."
MANCHESTER, New HampshireThe Republican presidential race was in the process of consolidating when it hit a jarring speed bump in a debate on Saturday night.

After last weeks Iowa caucus, a growing number of Republican strategists had expressed hope that mainstream conservative voters would coalesce behind Florida Senator Marco Rubio in Tuesdays New Hampshire primary, allowing him to join Ted Cruz and Donald Trump to form a new top tier in the race.

But Rubios dizzyingly unsteady performance under sharp criticism from Chris Christie in Saturday nights debate has thrown those hopes into question. With Rubio staggering, and not only Christie but also Jeb Bush and John Kasich delivering strong showings Saturday night, the odds increased that the GOPs mainstream conservative lane will remain fragmentedproviding an edge to Cruz and Trump, the candidates relying most on disaffected and more ideological voters. The rush to coronate Marco Rubio is off, Mike DuHaime, Christies long-time chief strategist, exulted after the debate. I think its more likely after tonight that more people come out of New Hampshire [as viable] than people anticipated.

Heading into the debate, many Republicans saw a pathway developing for a three-way race between Cruz, Trump and Rubio, the top Iowa finishers.

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That by itself was unusual: Since 1976, the first race fought in a primary system broadly similar to todays process, Republican contests have almost always quickly consolidated into a two-person competition. As Ive written before, in almost every race since then, only two candidates generated enough support to carry as many as three states or more. The sole exceptions came in 1988 and 2008. And even then, the third man in the race (televangelist Pat Robertson in 1988 and Mitt Romney in 2008) fizzled far short of victory.

Story continues

But this years Iowa results etched the outline of a possible race shaped by candidates drawing on three distinct pools of demographic support. In Iowa, Cruz led among evangelical conservatives, while non-evangelical voters divided along class lines: Trump carried those without a college degree while Rubio lead among those with a four-year degree or more.

Rubios tough night in Saturdays debate, which left him literally sweating under pressure, was a reminder that for all his gifts, the Florida senator has often struggled on the field to match the expectations of his boosters. Rubio inexplicably repeated a sound bite criticizing President Obama four timeseven as Christie was deriding him as overly scripted. It was a moment nearly as dramatic as when Walter Mondale in the 1984 Democratic race staggered Gary Hart, another polished younger rival ascending in the polls, with the withering question: Wheres the beef?

Recommended: Bernie Sanders's Problem With Democrats

Heading into the debate, almost all Republican analysts believed that Rubio was better positioned than the three governors to emerge as a top-tier competitor to Cruz and Trump. Yet Rubios erratic performance is sure to rekindle fears among GOP leaders that no one will sufficiently consolidate the partys center-right block, leaving Cruz and Trump as the favorites.

The possibility of a rare three-way Republican race is rooted in the limits of the appeal that all of the major candidates have displayed so far.

Cruz won Iowa behind the model that worked for Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee in the past two Republican caucuses: consolidating evangelical Christians and maximizing their turnout. In Iowa, Cruz carried 34 percent of evangelical Christians, according to the entrance poll conducted on caucus night. That placed him about even with Santorums total in 2012 and behind Huckabees 46 percent in 2008. Cruz swelled evangelical turnout even beyond the levels seen in 2012 and 2008. That augurs well for Cruzs ability to compete for evangelical voters elsewhereand to become the candidate to beat in Southern and border states where evangelicals comprise a majority of the GOP electorate. That list that ranges from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi, to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.

But just like Santorum and Huckabee, Cruz failed to win voters in Iowa who were not evangelicals. Cruz only carried 18 percent of those votersactually not much better than the 14 percent of non-evangelicals that Santorum and Huckabee each attracted in their victories, according to entrance polls. In each case, those results foreshadowed the inability of each man to expand beyond his evangelical beachhead: in all the states that followed Iowa, Santorum won fewer than one in five voters who were not evangelicals and Huckabee only one in ten, according to the cumulative analysis of exit polls results from each race conducted by ABC pollster Gary Langer. Although Santorum and Huckabee each emerged, in effect, as the principal runner-up in their contests, that wasnt enough to seriously compete for the nomination.

Recommended: Chris Christie Comes Roaring Back

Most analysts believe Cruz has a more comprehensive message and broader reach across the GOP coalition than either man. And he certainly has much more money than either.

But the big test Cruz faces on Tuesday in New Hampshire is demonstrating that he can appeal beyond evangelicals, who will likely constitute only about one-fifth of the vote here. The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist Institute New Hampshire poll released last week found Cruz making very limited progress on that front: It showed him carrying just 10 percent of New Hampshire non-evangelicals with a college degree, and only 17 percent of those without one. The most recent NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll in South Carolina, although conducted before his Iowa win, showed Cruz not performing any better there among voters who are not evangelicals. Until the Texas senator demonstrates that he can reach beyond evangelicals, he will have difficulty moving much beyond the 11 culturally conservative states that Santorum won, or the eight that Huckabee carried.

In Iowa, both Trump and Rubio demonstrated a more balanced appeal across religious lines than did Cruz. But it was the results among the roughly two-fifths of Iowa voters who were not evangelicals that showed the distinct pools of support that could support Trump and possibly Rubio in a lengthy race.

Trump, whose campaign from the outset has been built on backing from blue-collar Republicans, won a solid victory among the non-evangelical voters in Iowa who do not hold a college degree. Those are the voters who most fit the definition of working-class Reagan Democrats and in Iowa the blustery businessman won fully 37 percent of them, far outdistancing Cruz (at 21 percent) and Rubio (at 18 percent), according to figures from the entrance poll provided by the CNN polling unit. These blue-collar non-evangelical voters are especially prevalent across the big Midwest battlegrounds, like Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

New Hampshire will offer the next test of Trumps connection with these blue-collar, non-evangelical, voters. The early indication is his hold remains strong: The NBC/WSJ/Marist poll showed him carrying 35 percent of those voters, about the same as his actual showing in Iowa, and more than Cruz and Rubio combined.

Because there are so few evangelicals in New Hampshire, the results here wont say much about another critical question facing Trump: whether he can restore his beachhead in the evangelical community. Before Iowa, Trump consistently trailed Cruz in polls among evangelicals who hold a college degreeand the Texan, in fact, comfortably carried those voters in the caucus. But polls in January, not only in Iowa but also South Carolina and nationally, often showed Trump leading Cruz among evangelicals without a college degree. Thats where Trump appeared to lose critical ground in Iowas final days: After lacerating Trumps New York values Cruz carried those blue-collar evangelicals by a solid double-digit margin, the entrance poll found.

Trump can remain a formidable candidate without the blue-collar evangelicals who apparently moved away from him in Iowas final stages. But if Trump cant reestablish his advantage among those votersthe key to his pressing Cruz in the Southhe wont be nearly as towering as he was before.

Rubios position in the races top tier isnt as solid as Cruz or Trumps. But with almost no attention, Rubio in Iowa identified a potential foundation for his candidacy: He carried the non-evangelical voters there who hold a four-year college degree or more. (The Florida senator took 32 percent of them, compared to 24 percent for Trump and 16 percent for Cruz.) Those white-collar voters, who usually focus more on economic than social issues, loom as a critical Republican constituency in affluent big cosmopolitan states (from California and New York to Florida and Illinois). In both 2008 and 2012, they were also the single-largest block of voters in New Hampshire. Cruz has shown only modest appeal for those voters. Trump has run better with them than Cruz, but the New Yorkers standing in polls with these voters is almost always weaker than his support among blue-collar Republicans.

The defining gamble of Rubios bid is that these mainstream conservative voters will ultimately consolidate around him, even though he has planted himself conspicuously to their right.

For both ideological and strategic reasons, Rubio has consistently struck more aggressively conservative and partisan notes than the herd of current and former governorsBush, Christie and Kasichrunning as relatively pragmatic problem-solvers able to reach across party lines. Rubios team is betting that those candidates will steadily fade after New Hampshire, and that that the voters drawn to them will view him as the only viable alternative to Cruz and Trumpeven as he devotes most of his energy toward courting the disaffected and ideological voters who comprise the core of support for Cruz and Trump.

The risk to Rubio is that his repeated tilts to the right on issues from immigration to abortion will prevent him from attracting enough of those center-right voters to drive the other candidates from the race after New Hampshire. In the NBC/WSJ/Marist New Hampshire poll, he drew 20 percent of college-educated voters who were not evangelicals. That put Rubio ahead of Kasich (at 16 percent), Bush (at 9 percent), and Christie (at 6 percent). But that also placed the Florida senator vastly behind the roughly 43 percent of those white-collar professional-type voters that Mitt Romney and John McCain carried during their 2012 and 2008 New Hampshire victories, according to exit polls.

Rubios odds of winning the nomination will increase significantly if the New Hampshire result allows him to clear the field of competition for these center-right voters. The cascade of endorsements Rubio has received since Iowa was clearly designed to hasten that process.

But Saturday nights debate meltdown diminished Rubios hopes of quickly achieving that consolidation. Not only did Christie bloody Rubio in their early exchanges over whether the Florida senator was overly scripted, but Bush and especially Kasich also turned in some of their strongest performances of the debate season. Rubios stumbles, and the persuasive performances by his rivals, both increase the odds that New Hampshires mainstream conservative voters in New Hampshire will remain divided on Tuesday.

If Bush, Kasich, or Christie, much less more than one of them, emerges from New Hampshire strong enough to remain viable in the race, they will continue to fragment the white-collar voters Rubio needs to grow. In particular, Bush appears likely to make a potentially final stand in South Carolina regardless of the New Hampshire result. There Bush, in a last act, could peel away enough white-collar voters to undercut Rubiomuch the way Fred Thompson, on his way out of the 2008 race, siphoned off enough evangelicals to prevent Huckabee from beating McCain in South Carolina that year.

New Hampshire will fill in more of this picture. But after Saturdays tumultuous debate, it may not provide as much clarity as many Republican strategists expectedor hoped. South Carolina, with its precarious balance between evangelical, white-collar, and blue-collar Republicans, might do more to determine who rises to the top of the thinning GOP field. Then again, this historically tumultuous GOP race could roll on into March not significantly more clarified than it is today.

2016 Distilled

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Sofia (AFP) - Two female migrants found dead in a mountainous rural region of Bulgaria died due to freezing conditions, authorities said Sunday, as asylum seekers continue to try to reach the EU despite harsh winter weather.

The women were part of a group of 19 migrants, including 11 children, found Saturday by border police near the southeastern town of Malko Tarnovo. Their nationality was still unclear.

"Two women have died -- one younger and another middle-aged. Our border guards made every effort to help them, carrying them in their arms to try to warm them up, but it happened because of the cold," Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova announced Sunday told private bTV television.

The area was under harsh winter conditions with high winds, some 30 centimetres (12 inches) of snow and freezing temperatures.

A ministry statement said one of the victims was a teenager -- aged between 14 and 16 -- and the other was between 30 and 40 years old.

All of the children, aged between 4 and 16, were taken to hospital with frostbite and two adults were in critical condition, a hospital spokesman told Focus news agency.

This is the second report in Bulgaria this winter of migrants succumbing to cold, after the frozen bodies of two men were found in a mountainous area at Bulgaria's border with Serbia in January.

As refugees continued to flow from Greece through the Balkans on their way to western Europe, aid workers have sounded alarms over inadequate shelter from the current freezing temperatures and snowy conditions, particularly for children.

In January, almost 62,200 migrants and refugees entered Europe through Greece, most of them from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, the International Organization for Migration said. Close to a third of them were unaccompanied minors.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Sunday condemned North Korea's latest rocket launch and vowed to take "significant measures" in response to Pyongyang's violations of U.N. resolutions, Venezuela's U.N. ambassador said. "The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this launch," Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, president of the council this month, told reporters. He said the launch was "a serious violation of Security Council resolutions." U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters: "We will ensure that the Security Council imposes serious consequences. DPRK's (North Korea) latest transgressions require our response to be even firmer." The United States and China began discussing a U.N. sanctions resolution after Pyongyang's Jan. 6 atomic test. (Reporting by Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will work with the United Nations Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for its launching of a rocket, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday. Calling the launch a flagrant violation of UN resolutions on the countrys use of ballistic missile technology, Kerry in a statement reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. defense commitments to Japan and South Korea and called the launch a destabilizing and unacceptable challenge to peace and security. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Writing by James Dalgleish; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Abu Dhabi (AFP) - An international campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria should include a US-led ground intervention, said Sunday the United Arab Emirates' state minister for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash.

"Our position throughout is that a real campaign against Daesh (Arabic acronym for IS) has to include ground elements," Gargash told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

"We are not talking about thousands of troops but we are talking about troops on the ground that will lead the way," he said. "And of course, an American leadership in this effort is a prerequisite."

In November, Gargash said that the UAE, a member of the US-led coalition against IS, would "participate in any international effort demanding a ground intervention to fight terrorism".

Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it is ready to join any ground operation by the US-led coalition against IS in Syria.

The Saudi proposal was welcomed by the United States but it was ridiculed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its key ally Iran.

Russia, another key Assad ally, accused Turkey -- a staunch backer of the opposition alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- of preparing for "an armed invasion" of Syria. Ankara dismissed the claim.

The United States has for weeks been calling on partners in the 65-member coalition bombing the IS group in Iraq and Syria to contribute more.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, who last month chastised some countries for doing "nothing at all", is meeting next week in Brussels with defence officials from Saudi Arabia and other coalition members to outline the next steps in the anti-IS campaign.

Gargash said Sunday that his country has been "frustrated at the slow pace of confronting Daesh" -- which controls parts of Syria and Iraq.

"We have always said that there are two things lacking -- a genuine political process in Baghdad that... (would) encompass the Sunnis and a ground presence for the operations against Daesh."

An Iraqi tribal leader told AFP on Wednesday that Sunnis must be given a greater role in the political process of the war-torn country where the government is led by Shiites, in order to prevent the possible rise of organisations even more extreme than IS.
The UN rights chief has said Tamil rebels still detained years after the end of Sri Lanka's bloody civil war should not be granted universal amnesty, a top regional official said Sunday.

More than 200 suspected Tamil separatists remain in prison, many without charge, following the country's bitter 37-year-war that ended nearly seven years ago.

Tamil political and civil society groups have long demanded their unconditional release, tough the government has rejected demands for universal amnesty.

Speaking on a trip to the island nation, UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said jailed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members should clear their names in court, according to the chief minister of Sri Lanka's former war zone, C. V. Wigneswaran.

"He (Zeid) said it is not the common practice of the international community to give common pardon to such suspects," Wigneswaran told reporters in Jaffna, where much of the fighting took place.

"The issue should be resolved through a legal process, but they should not be granted a common amnesty."

Wigneswaran's opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) party has repeatedly called for the prisoners to be released unconditionally.

Zeid visited Jaffna on the second day of a four-day visit and met with several women whose relatives remain missing years after the end of the conflict that left 100,000 people dead.

His visit comes after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution late last year calling for an investigation into wartime atrocities committed by both the government-backed military and Tamil Tiger separatists.

The aim of Zeid's trip is to gauge progress of the investigation ahead of a report to the UN rights council he is set to deliver in March.

"I have been looking forward to coming and I am looking forward to meeting both the highest officials of the state as well as representatives of all communities," Zeid said Saturday.

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Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has agreed to a domestic probe into allegations that troops killed at least 40,000 ethnic Tamils.

In contrast, his predecessor Mahinda Rajapakse had resisted calls for an investigation after maintaining that not a single civilian had been killed by troops under his command.

The UN report in September described horrific wartime atrocities committed by both the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council strongly condemned North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday and agreed to move quickly to impose new sanctions that will punish Pyongyang for "these dangerous and serious violations."

With backing from China, Pyongyang's ally, the council again called for "significant measures" during an emergency meeting held after North Korea said it had put a satellite into orbit with a rocket launch.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, was widely seen as an act of open defiance just weeks after Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test.

"What is at stake after this inadmissible provocation is the future of the international non-proliferation regime," said France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre.

"This is why weakness is simply not an option," he said.

A draft sanctions resolution prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations for weeks, but Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Korea's already weak economy.

The 15-member council said it would "adopt expeditiously" the draft text, but there was no indication that China would yield to calls for tougher measures.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said there should be "a new resolution that will do the work of reducing tensions, of working toward denuclearization, of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiated solution."

China can use its veto power to block any UN resolution that would significantly scale up sanctions by, for instance, barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.

US Ambassador Samantha Power stressed that fresh sanctions should "break new ground."

"There cannot be business as usual after two successive acts," she told reporters.

"China calls for more dialogue. What we need is no longer dialogue but using the pressure," said Japan's Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikawa.

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While the United States turned up the pressure to reach agreement on sanctions, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned: "We should not be looking at an economic collapse of DPRK (North Korea)."

While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.

- 'Epochal' launch -

Sunday's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time (0030 GMT) and, according to North Korean state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

There was no independent confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although the US Strategic Command said it had tracked "the missile launch into space."

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, as a major success.

North Korea insists the launch is part of its space exploration program but the United States and its allies view it as a disguised ballistic missile test.

A surge in military tensions on the Korean peninsula looked likely, with South Korean and US defense officials announcing talks on the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea.

"It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea.

As well as North Korea, China and Russia are both strongly opposed to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the region.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said upcoming South Korea-US military exercises, which infuriate Pyongyang every year, would be the largest ever held.

The United States and its allies had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with the launch, but analysts said the North's timing was intended to minimize the repercussions.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

At the United Nations, South Korea's Ambassador Oh Joon said it was "almost pathetic" to watch staged celebrations of the rocket launch on North Korean TV.

"The cost of this launch alone, estimated to be close to $1 billion, would have fed the entire North Korean population for a whole year," he said.
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Unidentified aircraft attacked the Libyan city of Derna early on Sunday, killing at least four people including a woman and her child, a witness said. The strike in the coastal city's Hay Bab Tubrok area damaged a medical facility, a mosque and nearby homes, Nabaa television reported, showing images of a crater in a road and smashed vehicles. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Libya is caught in a conflict between two rival factions backed by armed factions on the ground. A U.N.-backed unity government is trying to bring the factions together. Air strikes by unidentified jets often target suspected Islamist militant targets, including fighters loyal to Islamic State who have been present in Derna and have a stronghold further west along the Mediterranean coast in the city of Sirte. (Reporting by Ayman Al-Warfalli and Ahmed Elumami; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Washington (AFP) - The United States denounced North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as "destabilizing and provocative."

The unpredictable hermit state made good on its threat to launch a satellite-bearing rocket, an operation widely seen as a covert ballistic missile test despite Pyongyang's insistence that it is part of a purely scientific program.

A US defense official said the launch vehicle "appears to have reached space."

Pyongyang had already detonated what it claimed was a powerful thermonuclear bomb on January 6.

The rocket launch "represents yet another destabilizing and provocative action and is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.

"North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests -- including the security of some of our closest allies -- and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

On Friday, the US and South Korean presidents spoke with their Chinese counterpart in separate telephone calls to demand punitive measures against Beijing's close ally.

"We will continue to work with our partners and members of the UN Security Council on significant measures to hold the DPRK to account," US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

"Now is the time to do so in a firm and united way, with measures that make clear the determination of the international community to address the pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities by the DPRK and this most recent destabilizing and unacceptable challenge to our common peace and security."

- 'All necessary steps' -

The White House and its allies want to respond with a UN resolution that would slap more sanctions on the North.

But they must first win the backing of UN veto power China, which has in the past shielded its neighbor.

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"We condemn today's launch and North Korea's determination to prioritize its missile and nuclear weapons programs over the well-being of its people, whose struggles only intensify with North Korea's diversion of scarce resources to such destabilizing activities," Rice said.

"The United States is fully committed to the security of our allies in the region, and we will take all necessary steps to defend ourselves and our allies and respond to North Korean provocations."

She also urged the international community to "stand together and demonstrate to North Korea that its reckless actions must have serious consequences."

US Strategic Command said the missile launch took place at 0029 GMT Sunday and had a southerly trajectory over the Yellow Sea.

"NORAD determined that at no time was the missile a threat to North America," it added, referring to North American Aerospace Defense Command.

North Korea is already subject to numerous UN sanctions over previous nuclear and rocket tests, but South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said on Thursday its continued provocative behavior showed these had been ineffective.

The only solution, she argued, was to impose sanctions harsh enough "to make it realize that it will not survive unless it gives up its nuclear program."
Washington (AFP) - The United States voiced optimism Sunday that Argentina will be able to settle its long debt battle with "holdout" creditors, following a landmark offer from Buenos Aires.

Argentina's new government offered $6.5 billion Friday to settle the dispute and US court case that have roiled global sovereign debt markets while harming Argentina's ability to access international capital to fund its economy.

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew spoke by telephone Sunday with Argentine Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay, to express American support.

"Lew commended Argentina's good faith efforts to resolve this longstanding dispute," a Treasury Department spokeswoman said.

"Secretary Lew echoed (court-appointed mediator Daniel) Pollack's strong hope that all creditors will be able to resolve their differences and reach agreements in principle with Argentina."

The holdouts, whose decade-long court battle against Buenos Aires was led by two New York hedge funds, are a minority class of creditors that refused to go along with the restructuring of the country's debt after it defaulted on about $100 billion in 2001.

Buenos Aires said it was offering the creditors roughly 75 percent of what they were claiming, covering the face value and accumulated interest on the bonds.
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF GUERRERO STATE (Mexico) (AFP) - Deep in the southern mountains of Mexico, the cicada-like "tsk-tsk-tsk" of a water sprinkler broke the eerie silence as it sprayed a small parcel of opium poppies.

Wearing a straw hat, a polo shirt and jeans, Jorge slices the bulbs with a razorblade, releasing a sticky paste -- the raw material of a growing heroin epidemic feeding addicts in the United States and fueling violence in Mexico.

Jorge, 23, has two plots of land that he reaches on a donkey, a half-hour ride from his small home in the remote mountains of Guerrero state, a region torn by turf wars between drug gangs.

Some 80 other people, including women and children, live in the impoverished community, where each family tends to its own field of poppies, a much more lucrative option than legal crops.

The community has no town square or medical services, but there is a chapel. Children walk an hour to other communities to attend school. The few corn crops they grow are for self-consumption.

One recent night, gunfire was heard in the distance. But Jorge was unfazed. Such is life in the mountains of Guerrero.

"We grow (opium poppies) because there is nothing else. We sow it out of necessity," said Jorge, who declined to give his full name for security reasons. AFP also withheld the community's name for safety reasons.

"Although people say it's a drug, for us it's normal. It's like growing corn, tomatoes or chile," said Jorge, as he worked on his 1,600-square-meter (0.4-acre) field on a steep hill.

- Turf wars -

While residents refused to identify the gang they sell to, Guerrero is dominated by two criminal groups: The Guerreros Unidos and Los Rojos drug cartels.

Turf wars have transformed Guerrero into a dangerous region scarred by disappearances and the highest murder rate in Mexico, with 56.5 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015.

"A large part of the violence has taken place in this part of the country in recent years. It is generated by the production of opium poppies," Roberto Campa, the deputy interior minister for human rights, told AFP.

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Guerrero is the state where 43 students were abducted by crooked police officers in 2014 and handed over to the Guerreros Unidos gang, which allegedly confused them with Rojos, killed them and incinerated their bodies, according to prosecutors.

Authorities are also investigating whether the students were attacked because they may have inadvertently stolen a bus filled with drugs.

While opium poppies fuel violence in Mexico, heroin overdoses have skyrocketed in the United States, from 1,842 in 2000 to more than 10,500 in 2014, according to US government figures.

Jorge's field produces around two to three kilograms of the brownish gum every three months. A kilo sells for between 14,000 and 17,000 pesos ($760 to $925), depending on the availability of the product.

Sometimes, he pays someone up to $16 per day to help him slice the bulbs and gather the gum. The drug traffickers come to the mountain communities to buy the product.

Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence officer, said 15 to 25 kilograms (33 to 55 pounds) of gum are needed to make one kilogram of heroine. The kilo of "black tar" heroin is then sold for $50,000 or $60,000 in the United States.

Gerardo Rodriguez, a national security expert at the University of the Americas in Puebla, said Mexico is the leading exporter of heroin to the United States.

Drug cartels have built sophisticated labs to transform the raw material into heroin with high levels of purity, thanks to chemical precursors imported from China and India, he said.

"This has had an impact on the drug's price in the United States. Heroin and other opioids has fallen because the quality has improved and it has flooded the US market," Rodriguez said.

- Growing fields -

There are no official figures on the amount of opium poppies grown in Mexico, but drug seizures indicate that production is increasing.

The military seized 60 kilograms in 2000 and it rose in subsequent years, reaching more than one tonne in 2014, according to defense ministry figures obtained by AFP.

Antonio Mazzitelli, the Mexico representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said authorities destroyed 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) between 2014 and 2015, showing an increase in areas of cultivation.

Back in Jorge's village, residents said their community has avoided bloodshed because it is free of gang disputes.

Jorge, who is married and lives in the small house with his parents, said his 56-year-old father worked in opium poppy fields as a child.

"In the mountains, you learn from a very young age, before you go to school," Jorge said.

"Many young boys like me didn't think about studying. I only thought about growing opium poppies, buying a new car."

Sometimes, he said, federal forces fumigate the region, making farmers lose some of their illicit investment, but the business is not really interrupted.

"The government is political. At times, they let it go; other times, they don't," Jorge said.

"They know that they can't completely destroy the opium poppy."
SEATTLE (Reuters) - The head of Washington state's prison system resigned on Saturday six weeks after his agency said thousands of inmates may have been mistakenly freed early from state custody since 2002, including two men blamed for deaths when they should have been behind bars.

In a resignation letter to Governor Jay Inslee on Saturday, Dan Pacholke defended his three-month tenure as Department of Corrections Secretary and praised his staff's efforts to fix errors that have been blamed on recent deaths.

Pacholke, who had served as deputy secretary since 2014, began his career with the agency some thirty years ago as a corrections officer, Inslee's office said.

"It is my hope that with this resignation, the politicians who would use this tragic event for their political purposes will have satisfied their need for blood," Pacholke wrote in a letter provided by Inslee's office.

In December, state officials said as many as 3,200 inmates may have been mistakenly released early from Washington prisons since 2002 because of errors in calculating sentences.

So far, two deaths have been blamed on prisoners freed by mistake. One inmate was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder over an attempted robbery 12 days after he was wrongly freed. Another inmate was charged with vehicular homicide in November.

The status of these cases was not immediately known.

State corrections authorities learned of the problem in 2012 but failed to fix it, Inslee said. He has retained an independent law firm to investigate the problem, which he has called "maddening."

Republicans agree. A Senate panel in January hired their own lawyer for a separate probe after saying its committee would seek subpoenas in the case.

Pacholke in his letter said that the agency's leadership "failed in its response to a sentencing calculation error" in 2012, and he apologized for "the tragic consequences of this error."

Inslee, a Democrat who appointed Pacholke to the post in October, said he doubted the man's resignation would mollify Republicans, that a transition plan for the agency was in the works, and that he was "sorry to see a dedicated public servant end his tenure this way."

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Sydney (AFP) - Rieko Ioane scored after the final siren to deliver New Zealand a thrilling 27-24 win over Australia in the Sydney Sevens World Series final on Sunday.

The Australians led 24-22 into the final seconds but were unable to hold on to possession, giving the Kiwis the chance to snatch victory with player of the tournament Ioane finishing with his third try of the final.

New Zealand similarly snatched a last minute win at last weekend's Wellington Sevens, downing South Africa 24-21 with a try after the final hooter.

The Kiwis are now in a three-way share of the top spot in the World Series standings along with Fiji and South Africa on 69 points with Australia in fourth place on 54.

The final was a family victory with Ioane's older sibling Akira picking up his second Player of the Final award in as many weeks.

The 12-time World Series champions broke Australia's hearts on Saturday as well, again scoring after the final siren to snatch a 17-17 draw in their pool game.

"I just want to thank the Aussies for an awesome two games over the weekend, you guys played awesome and this is an awesome tournament that will just grow from year to year," New Zealand captain Tim Mikkelson said.

"We said it would take 20 minutes to win and we just kept on going and we got the victory in the end."

The Australians, who surprisingly left their new high-profile Wallaby recruit Quade Cooper out of the weekend squad, exploded to a 24-17 lead with a runaway try by Greg Jeloudev with 3:13 minutes left.

But Rieko Ioane scored his second try off an overlap with 1:20 minutes to go before his showstopper try after the siren.

New Zealand's All Black star Sonny Bill Williams was sin-binned for a high tackle late in the first half and played only a minor role in his team's victory in the final.

Australia were looking for their first tournament success at home since 2002 after holding on for a 12-7 semi-final victory over South Africa.

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Fiji, who won last year's Gold Coast Sevens in Australia, beat South Africa 26-12 in the play-off for third place.

Argentina won the Plate final, beating Kenya 24-0, while Canada took out the Bowl final 17-12 over Samoa and Wales won the Shield final 26-19 over Russia.

The fifth leg of the World Series Sevens takes place in Las Vegas on March 4-6.
Man stabbed to death

Police said Rajkumar of Standard Road, Fyzabad, was stabbed twice in the upper left side of his chest during an altercation outside the village bar located a short distance from his home.

According to a police report, at about 3.20 am yesterday, Rajkumar was stabbed twice during an an altercation with a man he knew outside the bar. Investigators believe the knife pierced Rajkumars heart and he collapsed, dying instantly.

His body was viewed by the District Medical Officer who gave instructions for it to be removed to the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital, then for transfer to the Forensic Science Centre, St James for an autopsy on Ash Wednesday (February 10). Relatives yesterday struggled to come to terms with his death.

His mother Pooloo Rajkumar, 59, said she last saw her son at about 5 pm on Friday and he told her he was going to lime at the bar. The next time I heard about him he was dead, she cried.

Another relative Nirmala Khadroo, 39, said patrons at the bar told them Rajkumar had been gambling before tragedy struck.

We dont know what happened but we heard that just as he walked outside the bar, he got killed, she said. And what is even worse we heard he had nothing to do with some argument that was taking place outside the bar at the time. The murder toll now stands at 49. Investigations are continuing.
Heathers kaiso ties that bind

JULIEN NEAVES FROM the age of seven, Heather Mac Intosh, daughter of veteran calypsonian Llewellyn Short Pants Mac Intosh, has been singing calypso. The two-time National Calypso Queen returns to the Dimanche Gras Calypso Monarch finals tonight, the culmination of three decades in the artform.

Sunday Newsday caught up with Mac Intosh last week about her career, the bond of young calypsonians and learning from veterans, and having four women in the finals.

She recalled that when she first started back in Junior Calypso Monarch she and the other young calypsonians were just doing it because we like(d) it without any other real goal in mind. She said most of the calypsonians who came from Junior Calypso had a bond with each other. She explained that despite competing against each other they would assist one other and provide back-up on their songs, specifically mentioning young calypsonians Devon Seale and Kerine Williams.

It was no big deal, she added.

Mac Intosh said the juniors carried forward the close relationship into seniors and continue to support one another.

She recalled a few years ago she was not in the Calypso Monarch finals and she assisted Seale on stage as a prop. She noted they also telephone each other and discuss songs.

We greet each other with a hug and a handshake, she said.

She said with maintaining that camaraderie they were able to look beyond the competition and get the artform to move forward. She noted she was grateful for the friendships she has made in the kaiso arena including Seale, Karene Asche and Victoria Queen Victoria Cooper.

Asked if there were negatives in her long calypso career, Mac Intosh said she was one of the lucky people who did not have many difficult situations.

A lot of time I was shielded because daddy was in the front and dealt with any issue, she explained.

Mac Intosh sings at the Icons Calypso Tent with veteran calypsonians, former monarch Weston Cro Cro Rawlins (also a finalist this year), Leydon Organiser Charles and Francis Tallish Adams who have always been supportive of her as a young person at the tent.

She noted Calypso Rose (Mc- Cartha Lewis) over the years has given her a lot of advice and shared her expertise. She recalled that she was in concert with Rose and Anne Fridal last September; the concert was entitled The Queen, The Princess and the Duchess.

Also, two-time Calypso Monarch Singing Sandra (Sandra DesVignes-Millington) has also given her advice and congratulated her on her performance.

On the 2016 Carnival season, Mac Intosh said she had a good airing at the tent, however she was not able to make it into any of the category finals this year having had the pleasure of placing in this leg of the Calypso Monarch competition over the years. She won best political commentary in 2005 and social commentary in last year.

Mac Intosh secured her spot in the finals tonight, for the ninth time, with her semi-final performance of the song By Other Mens Fault at Skinner Park, San Fernando. In the song she urges the current administration to avoid the mistakes of the previous one.

The song includes the lines: Dont go flying high like they did before The voters will kick you out of the door Forget Porsche and Range Rover, do differently The people want change, dont say you aint see When you going home take maxi or car For goodness sake leave the helicopter We dont want leaders who drunk with power

She explained the song includes recommendations and suggestions for the curremt Prime Minister from the grassroots and the grounded people as to what he should and should not do.

Mac Intosh said her preparations have been going alright so far and she is trying to have as many rehearsals as possible.

I feel confident about my possibilities, she added.

She expressed her belief that the finals will come down to the second song and people would be familiar with the first from the semi-final performance.

I feel the deciding factor will be how strong is the second song. I believe my second is as good as my first and because of that I want to think my chances are good, she said. Her second song will be about Pan Trinbago using funds to host the International Conference and Panorama last year.

I believe the funds could have been better spent dealing with the eyesore that is the Churchill Roosevelt Highway headquarters, she said.

She noted little has been done to improve it since the original structure was erected more than a decade ago.

Mac Intosh said she was proud of all the young people in the finals including Seale, Cooper, Asche and Helon Francis, the 2016 Young King Calypso Monarch.

Its quite laudable that a young person made it that far. Also nice to see four females in the finals, she added.

Mac Intosh, a former National Calypso Queen, noted that it is usually two or three women in the Calypso Monarch finals and to have four this year is positive and commendable.

I hope that I can take it home, she added.

To her fans, she thanked them for the support over the 30 years. She noted that when she meets them in the streets or hears them on the radio, they send her their prayers and best wishes.

I hope to do them proud on Sunday, she added.

Mac Intosh will be performing at position number 10 out of the 12 finalists tonight at Queens Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain and will be seeking to dethrone reigning monarch Roderick Chuck Gordon
WE ARE HORRIFIED

Additionally, he was the father of two children, both of them in the age range of the infant girl who was the victim of his recent horrific assault.

I cannot account for his actions, his distraught father, Franklyn Callender, a retired police constable, told Sunday Newsday yesterday.

He was a well-disciplined son and had a good upbringing. I was not aware of the relationship he had with the woman or knew exactly where he was living. The father, like other relatives at the family home at Gajadhar Lands, Princes Town, yesterday was in shock and disbelief over the stories surrounding Che and his ultimate end.

Callender recounted that he and the rest of the family had been reading about the sordid affair not knowing that Che, his son, was the suspect.

In the Thursdays Newsday newspaper, I read that the alleged offender was from Princes Town and was 31 years old, Callender recalled. My mind clicked because he came home on Monday and said he was not going back. The father recounted that Che visited his home on Monday morning last vowing not to return from where he came. It was last Sunday, the day before, that he fled the home of the mother of the fiveyear- old following the discovery of the lurid contents on Ches mobile telephone.

On Wednesday morning, Callender said he dropped Che off in the heart of Princes Town and that was the last time he saw his son alive.

Che was not living here, Callender told Sunday Newsday. He came, spend some days or weeks, and then we would not see him for months. I will call him from time to time. But since Thursday he stopped answering his phone. He acted normal. He was very quiet because he always kept to himself.

He never told us much. I cannot be responsible. Che was found hanging by his neck from a rope tied to a mango tree near Navet Public Cemetery at Cemetery Street, off Lotians Road, Princes Town, on Friday afternoon. Police found a laptop strapped to his stomach, and up to yesterday officers from the Cyber Crime Unit were continuing a meticulous examination of the contents of the machine.

Che became a fugitive after the confrontation with the five-yearolds mother after her relatives found on his cellular phone, video and photographic images of the child engaging in sex acts with him.

It was also revealed last week that Che was on $100,000 bail, after being charged in 2010 with the rape of a 50-year-old woman, stealing three DVDs and a Nokia cellular phone, and wounding.

These matters are still pending in the Princes Town Magistrates Court. He was also an ex-solider and a father of two children, ages eight and five.

Callender recalled that Ches life took a different turn a few years ago when he went to live on his own.

Since he met certain people, his life changed drastically, the father said. He started to stay away from work at the army. Once I went and carried him back in camp. Eventually they give him 47 days prison in the army. He was such a good soldier they decided to keep him.

But then he wrote them a letter stating he wanted to leave in 2007.

Che was not violent. He was a good tiles man, very neat. The mother of Ches two children was also visibly distraught yesterday, saying it was a blow to her family. She had learnt only hours earlier that he was the man suspected of committing the heinous act on the five-year-old girl.

Only this morning when I read the article, I knew he was the man police wanted, she said. I do not know why he committed suicide until today (Friday last). She remembered that in the early part of January and also for Christmas, Che came to look for his children. She said he was good to them.

Che was quiet, she recounted.

You could have ask him ten times to do the same thing, and he would not have complained. The woman admitted that though the relationship ended a few years ago, he always treated his children well. Like his father, the woman said she was not aware of his addresses or with whom he had a relationship.

Reports are that last week Sunday, the victims mother with whom Che shared a relationship, discovered the video of the child engaging in oral sex with Che whom the infant affectionately and trustingly called Uncle. The childs hysterical mother confronted him and showed him the video.

Che ran out of the womans house in Rio Claro and never returned.

Officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force were unable to provide any information about Che.

An autopsy is expected to be performed on his body on Wednesday.
Voice rules Soca Monarch

On his maiden voyage into the competition, Voice, whose name is Aaron St Louis, garnered strong support with his uplifting soca anthem, and fans had already crowned him even before the results were officially announced in a CNC3 television broadcast last evening Although the playing field had been levelled to any type of soca, with the elimination of the groovy and power soca categories, it was still a battle of catchy, easy-paced melodies as in the eyes of many Voice took the crown away for the competitions last Groovy Soca Monarch Olatunji Yearwood.

From the start, Voice was a clear favourite. When the time arrived for him to perform, in position 19, the crowd road and began singing the song before he did. Voice sang every note perfectly.

Asking the band to go low, he spoke to the crowd telling them it didnt matter the results, he just wanted to bring a message that Trinis were positive people. In the next verse, he sang, When I wake up in the morning with the crowd declaring, Yous the winner yeah! In a Facebook post before the show Voice shared this message, For every young person pursuing a dream; for every person facing a struggle; for all the people that felt like giving up on life...Tonight is about you. I claim success in His name. On Twitter, many said they had no doubt Voice was the winner with some saying if he had not they would have felt the show was rigged. Placing second was another newcomer, Preedy (Akeem Chance) who sang Veteran.

Before he began to sing, Preedy shared that there were many struggles leading up to the competition and even before he got to the stage he brushed it off. Dressed in a green suit, in the style of traditional calypsonians, Preedy opened by singing the late Nappy Mayers Bring Back The Old Time Days before belting out his tune. After praising the young artistes who were in the finals with him, Preedy brought out a veteran to the stage, David Rudder, a former Calypso and Road March monarch, who sang a line from his hit High Mas which the crowd loved.

Tying for third was Blaxx (Dexter Stewart) and Patrice Roberts. Blaxx surprised many as in previous years his performances at the competition were always disappointing as he often ran out of breath. However, this was not the case this year.

The music of a rhythm section started Blaxxs performance before blue devils and revellers covered in paint and oil joined him on stage.

Blaxx brought the heat with him as he sang, we bring the fire, four blue devils spit balls of fire. At one point, Blaxx took a flambeau and spit fire himself which the crowd lapped up.

During almost all the performances, confetti was sprayed into the air, however, Roberts, the only female finalist, added something extra. Singing Money Done Roberts thanked her fans for supporting her given the hard times some were now experiencing. She said because of that she had a gift for everyone and when the confetti went up so did dozens of $1 bills.

Many were seen collecting the bills, with one woman saying she picked up $46.

Although the crowd was smaller than previous years, a Fantastic Friday was had by all as they danced, sang, cheered and applauded the 20 performers who competed and it was obvious that the big name artists were not missed. Olatunjis performance was an enjoyable one as he sang his hit Oh Yay. With a large crown in the background, Olatunji danced and sang with precision.

At one point he spoke to the crowd letting them know that he came to beat everybody and they cheered him on.

Also giving a memorable performance was St Lucias Teddyson John with his hit Allez. John had everyone raising their hands and doing all the dance moves without hesitation. He told the crowd that allez (patois) meant to move and encouraged the crowd to dance.

Before ending his performance, a small drum set was placed on stage and John played it which everyone enjoyed.

A noticeable trend in Fridays competition was that many artistes brought other well-known artistes on stage. Starting it off was Sekon Sta (Nesta Boxhill) who sang Magic with Nadia Batson. Next was Third Bass (Adrian Hackshaw) who sang Bum Bum. He presented himself as a king in search of a queen that was not stush. His queen was none other than Denise Saucy Wow Belfon which the crowd loved. Lastly, Rikki Jai (Samraj Jaimungal) who slipped during his performance of Leh We Fete shared the stage with Barbadian songstress Alison Hinds, who sang a line from one of her hit songs.

Preddy, in the fashion style of a long-time calypsonian, sings Veteran to place second in the 2016 International Soca Monarch finals at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain last Friday.
Mack Music Express  Ital

Wave Swinger  Zierer

Two of Cedar Fair's parks are going to get a slew of classic flat rides installed sooner than later, the L.A. Times reports Some time ago the Times featured a story about Cedar Fair officials heading to Europe to find classic used flat rides that would be installed in the company's chain of parks.That mission, at least the portion taking place in Europe, is over and officials sat down again with the L.A. Times to go over their results.Many might wonder why the company would be so interested in 30+ year old rides, however the article features quotes from Monty Jasper, Cedar Fair's VP of Safety and Engineering, explaining how many older rides were built with such quality that they will stand the test of time of given the proper maintenance and care.The team ended up finding a total of seven rides to bring back, one in England, one in Germany, and five from a used rides dealer in Holland, the article reports.The rides listed include a Mondial Top Scan, a Music Express from Mack, a Zierer Wave Swinger, and from Huss Rides a Condor, Breakdance and two Trokias. All of the rides will undergo a complete refurbishment, including new paint and electrical systems, before being installed in their new homes.Jasper and his team are planning at trip to Japan in the near future to look for additional rides. The country is filled with older amusement parks that may prove a gold mine for them.This is all very interesting news, however what is ever better is that the article reveals which parks are receiving the used rides.Worlds of Fun is said to be opening a Trokia and the Condor attraction for the upcoming season, which is surprising since they already announced a small Planet Snoopy expansion last Fall.The story is a little less clear on when the remaining five rides will open (perhaps part of a 2017 expansion?), but they are headed to Carowinds. The story says that the ever-growing Southern park will be home to the Breakdance, Trokia, Wave Swinger, Top Scan and Music Express. Carowinds is already home to a great assortment of rides, but with growing crowds due to their large expansions, these new rides will help with overall capacity.
The USA Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) was set up four years ago to find and develop new uses for existing technologies, as well as making them cheaper and faster to get into service with troops.

One of the SCOs priorities was adapting technology from railguns. Such guns use neither explosives nor propellant, but instead rely on electromagnetic forces to fire projectiles at speeds of up to 4,500mph  50pc faster than conventional weapons  with greater range and destructive force.

The high velocity projectile is being adapted for Navy 5-Inch; Navy, Marine Corps, and Army 155-mm systems; and future electromagnetic (EM) railguns.

BAE has been working with the US Navy for years, and landed several development contracts to develop railguns and the so-called hypervelocity projectiles they fire. Mr Carter said some of the advances from the research are being used in existing weapons.

The SCO has got a project on gun-based missile defence, where were taking some of the same hypervelocity smart projectiles that we developed for the electromagnetic gun  thats the railgun, Mr Carter said.

He said that instead of using railguns projectiles for offensive purposes, they could be used defensively in conventional systems, for purposes such as shooting down other missiles.

Just over month ago the SCO had tested firing high-speed missiles from a Paladin self-propelled howitzer  a system built by BAE  and found that it significantly increased the weapons range.

The US military has hundreds of Paladins in its arsenal that could benefit from the advance, Mr Carter said.

AEs Paladin self-propelled guns have test-fired the hyper-velocity projectiles

The Hyper Velocity Projectile is basically a flying hypersonic spike and is launched in a similar fashion as the sabot rounds fired by Main Battle Tanks. The super low-drag spike of a projectile whizzes through the air at hyper-velocity speeds (around 5,600mph), hence its name. Oh yeah, and it is guided.

The HVPs sleek design allows it travel much farther than tradition naval gun shells, from 30 to over 100 miles depending on what its fired out of.

The HPV projectile will have different versions

* an air burst

* a kinetic energy penetrator

* high-explosive round.

Because of its high-speed and miniaturized and hardened internal guidance, it could be used against surface and a ground targets, but it could also be employed against air threats, as well.

If network connectivity is added to the HVPs design, it could be guided in-flight with command updates coming from external sensors. This means it can hit moving vehicles using a remote sensors data, such as from an unmanned aircraft or a ships radar system. Under such a scenario, a HVP could be launched from 100 miles away, toward an enemy land mass, and a loitering unmanned aircraft tracking a vehicle could provide the projectile with terminal targeting information. The whole engagement would last about one minute.

It also means that the HVP could one day become more deadly than a surface-to-air missile, as its speed makes it almost impossible to defend against.

BAE Systems is applying its expertise and technology to develop a hyper velocity projectile (HVP) using innovative and proven technologies, said Joe Senftle, vice president and general manager of the companys weapon systems business. The HVP is a next-generation, guided projectile that will give the US Navy increased velocity, precision and extended range to address a variety of current and future threats.
China and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR). It was one of 14 agreements and memoranda of understanding signed yesterday during a meeting in Riyadh of Chinese president Xi Jinping and Saudis Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

A demonstration HTR-PM unit is under construction at Shidaowan near Weihai city in Chinas Shandong province. That plant will initially comprise twin HTR-PM reactor modules driving a single 210 MWe steam turbine. Construction started in late 2012 and it is scheduled to start commercial operation in late 2017.

A proposal to construct two 600 MWe HTRs at Ruijin city in Chinas Jiangxi province passed a preliminary feasibility review in early 2015. The design of the Ruijin HTRs is based on the smaller Shidaowan demonstration HTR-PM. Construction of the Ruijin reactors is expected to start next year, with grid connection in 2021.

CNEC said it is actively promoting its HTR technology overseas and has already signed memoranda of understanding with Saudi Arabia, Dubai, South Africa and other countries and regions to consider the construction of HTR plants.

Although Saudi Arabias nuclear program is in its infancy, the Kingdom has plans to construct 16 nuclear power reactors over the next 20 years. A 2010 royal decree identified nuclear power as essential to help meet growing energy demand for both electricity generation and water desalination, while reducing reliance on depleting hydrocarbon resources.

Last September contracts were signed between the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and KA-CARE (King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy) to support their cooperation in developing KAERIs SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor). This is a 330 MWt (100 MWe) pressurised water reactor with integral steam generators and advanced safety features.
Northrop Grumman appears poised to show off its Sixth generation fighter during Super Bowl Sunday. The defense titan released a new commercial online Friday.

Northrop Grumman provided a first look at its vision for the sixth-generation fighter in December. One of the most complicated parts, analysts have noted, is that if the stealthy planes include lasers, they will need to be built in a way in which the heat doesnt give them away on enemy radar.

The United States Air Force and United States Navy are anticipated to field their first sixth-generation fighters in the 202530 time frame. The USAF is pursuing development and acquisition of a sixth-generation fighter through the F-X program to replace the F-22 Raptor, and the U.S. Navy is pursuing a similar program called the Next Generation Air Dominance to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

The sixth-generation fighters are expected to use advanced engines such as Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology to allow longer ranges and higher performance. Risk reduction began in 2012 so that engine development can start around 2020. An engine is to be ready when fighters are introduced by the Navy in 2028 and the Air Force in 2032

In September 2011, Boeing unveiled a sixth-generation fighter concept for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. It is planned to have supercruise and fly faster and further than the F-35 Lightning II. Boeing is self-funding the project until an official fighter program starts to have a design ready.

Lockheed Martins Skunk Works division has revealed a conceptual next-generation fighter design that offers the first hints of an ambitious, long-term technology strategy for the new class of tactical aircraft that will emerge after 2030. The concept was published in a 2012 calendar, which was distributed to journalists. Lockheed Martin has called for greater speed, range, stealth and self-healing structures.

In January 2015, Northrop Grumman revealed it had stood up teams dedicated to developing a sixth-generation fighter and that it would compete for the next fighter. Individual teams were created to focus on the specific separate requirements for the Navy and Air Force. The company indicates it is looking at a supersonic tailless jet, something never created before due to complexity; it may also be optionally manned.

SOURCES  Washington Post, Wikipedia, Youtube
A super-tall building is set to reach a height of 5,577ft and host up to 55,000 people in Tokyo bay, an inlet southeast of the Japanese capital.

If the plans are accepted  the Sky Mile Tower would be surrounded by a series of man-made hexagonal islands, Architectural Digest reports.

These islands are designed to protect Tokyo from flooding and act as foundation for homes for around half a million people.

In Japan, officials decided to launch an initiative called Next Tokyo, where architects would create a futuristic mega-city that is adapted to climate change in the year 2045. Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and Leslie E. Robertson Associates joined forces to propose a vision for a new city in Tokyo Bay. Their design incorporates elements that improve the bays preparedness for natural disasters (such as earthquakes and typhoons) as well as a mile-high residential tower and a public-transportation-friendly district. The water developments hexagonal-shaped structures, ranging from 500 to 5,000 feet in width, were imagined in layers to minimize the effects of intense waves from the bay, while also allowing ships easy access in and out of the busy harbor.

SOURCES  Independent UK, Architectural Digest
The prototype russian PAK DA stealth bomber may hit the skies before 2021. Russia is trying to spin this as a good thing.

The National Interest notes that his is a two year delay from a prior plan to fly in 2019.

The maiden flight should be performed in 2019. State tests and supplies will be completed in 2023, Russian Air Force chief Col. Gen. Bondarev told RIA Novosti in May 2014. Under the previous plan, the bomber had been expected to become operational in 2025. However, that timeline was always optimistic. With the first flight delayed, the rest of the PAK-DAs schedule is likely to shift to as wellwith operational testing and operational capability being delayed by several years.

The PAK-DA is expected to be a subsonic flying-wing aircraft that is roughly analogous to the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and the U.S. Air Forces forthcoming Long Range Strike-Bomber. Flying wings lend themselves well to low observable characteristicsparticularly against low frequency radars operating in the UHF and VHF bandsbut manufacturing could still be an issue. The PAK-DA will likely feature advanced avionicsincluding a new radar, communications suite and electronic warfare systems. Meanwhile, the PAK-DAs engines, which are being developed by the Kuznetsov design bureau, are an advanced derivative of the Tu-160s NK-32 turbofans.

The PAK-DA will not be a small aircraft. It is expected to have a maximum gross take-off weight of about 250,000lbsabout the size of a Boeing 757 airliner.

Field tests of the first prototype engine of the PAK DA long-range aviation aircraft were undertaken successfully recently, engine maker JSC Kuznestsov said. This marks another milestone in the development of the aircraft.

By 2014, the project reached development stages: the developers identified and formed the tactical and technical data of the PAK DA, including an approximate weight of 125 tons (with a combat load of 30 tons), a range of 12,500 km, and subsonic flight.

SOURCES  Russia and India Report, Sputnik News, National Interest, Wikipedia
Moroccos King Mohammed VI who is currently undertaking a tour in the Sahara provinces proceeded Saturday in Laayoune to the appointment of several officials to high ranking positions as well as a number of new ambassadors.

The appointments, announced during a Ministers Council, were made on the recommendation of the Ministers of the concerned departments as stipulated by the Constitution and the laws in force.

Before the Ministers Council, the Sovereign appointed Nasser Bourita Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Hamid Addou, former director of the National Tourist Office, as CEO of the Moroccan carrier, Royal Air Morocco, in replacement of Driss Benhima who was at the helm of the company since 2006.

After the Ministers Council and after he had launched the previous day very important economic and industrial development projects in Laayoune (a Technology Park in Foum El Oued and an integrated fertilizer production complex in the Phosboucraa phosphate site) King Mohammed VI headed to Dakhla farther to the south.

And again, the inhabitants of the city lined up all along the route of the royal procession to greet their king and renew their attachment to their Moroccan citizenship.

The royal visit, the fourth in the province of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab since King Mohammed VI came to power in 1999, is an event of great importance for the inhabitants who know that the sovereign will launch or dedicate several projects that will give a new momentum to the socio-economic development of their province.

Actually, King Mohammed VI had announced a new development model for the Sahara provinces and his decision to muster all the means available to implement a number of major projects as well as social, medical and educational programs in the regions of Laayoune-Saqia el-Hamra, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab and Guelmim-Oued Noon.

During the Ministers Council held in Laayoune Saturday, the Minister of the Interior made a presentation on the strategy followed to implement the new development model of the southern provinces and subsequently speed up the advanced regionalization process.
The nomination Saturday of career diplomat Nasser Bourita as Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation was greeted without surprise in Morocco and also abroad.

All those who are following the activities of Moroccan diplomacy know that Nasser Bourita has been for years an active player in all outstanding events and activities, conferring with high-level delegations visiting the North African country, making trips to world capitals as a messenger or as his countrys representative in international forums and meetings of international agencies.

On the morrow of his nomination by King Mohammed VI in Laayoune, many media outlets recalled his outstanding participation in many international conferences (nuclear terrorism, Climate, anti-terrorism struggle etc.)

Nasser Bourita, born in 1969, is a career diplomat who started working in the Foreign Department in 1992 shortly after his graduation. He worked his way up in the ministry to occupy the position of Secretary General in 2011.

Nasser Bourita will probably be an asset for the Ministry and for the country, thanks to his diplomatic experience, his expertise in security and terrorism matters and his deep knowledge of the department and of all the dossiers of interest to Morocco, the Sahara issue among others.

According to some of his colleagues, Nasser knows by heart all the UN resolutions concerning the Sahara issue. This hard, tireless working man also knows how to convince his interlocutors that Morocco is sincere and serious regarding its autonomy initiative as a solution to the territorial conflict and prepares the ground for a political solution within the framework of regionalization.

Besides, his appointment seems all the more relevant since Morocco is to hold legislative elections next October and since both the Foreign Minister Salahedine Mezzouar and the other Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs Mbraka Bouaida are affiliated to political parties. Both officials will therefore be busy with the electoral campaign for several weeks while Nasser Bourita, who is not member of any political party, will be there to ensure the proper functioning of the department. Also, if Mezouar and Bouaida leave the Government in case their parties rally the opposition after the coming polls, Nasser Bourita will be there to ensure continuity, irrespective of the results of the elections results.

The nomination of Nasser Bourita highlights the career of a multidimensional man, who will be the right man in the right place, who will consolidate Moroccos successes at the diplomatic, economic and security levels and with whom Moroccan diplomacy will surely be in good hands.
The Secret to Happiness is the Joy of the Lord;

and the joy of the Lord is His manifest presence in your life.





It is our Privilege and Responsibility to Glorify God;

and we glorify God by manifesting His character every moment and in every situation.





Humility and Pride

You can tell a humble man that he has a problem with pride and he will agree with you;

but if you tell a proud man that he has a problem with pride, he becomes your enemy.





This one thing I know for sure, that whenever there is a problem with my relationship with the Lord, it is not His fault.





Some people are just plain lazy;

some people are just overly sensitive to gravity;

others are simply economical with their energy.





It's not enough to preach the Gospel; you must be the Gospel.





If you can describe your life in a nutshell, there's a good probability that you're a nut.





As a good Canadian, I'd like to apologize in advance for anything I might say that offends you; sometimes my mouth hits high gear while my brain is still in low.





Never allow the thought, "I am of no use where I am"; because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Oswald Chambers





We cannot even begin to approach the Truth until we are willing to go wherever the Truth leads us.





The newest object of idol worship is 'my opinion'!





Suffering is the only experience we have in common with every other human who ever lived.




RICK WILKING

By Anjali Athavaley and Melissa Fares

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump lost his social media dominance for the first time during the Republican presidential debates as the candidates made their eighth showing Saturday night in New Hampshire.

Instead, many on Twitter took to mocking contender Senator Marco Rubio, who came under heavy attack on Saturday from rivals. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also saw a big bump in his share of the social conversation.

By the end of the night, Trump, who has the most followers, still received the largest share of mentions on Twitter Inc , with 33 percent compared to Rubio's 20 percent. Ted Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, came in third, with 15 percent.

But Twitter said an hour into the debate that Rubio was the most tweeted about candidate on the social media platform, marking the first time a candidate other than Trump came out on top within that time frame.

Overall, Rubio received 10 more mentions per minute on Twitter than he did during the last Republican debate on Jan. 28, according to social media analytics firm Zoomph.

Three days before New Hampshire's primary for the Nov. 8 election, many of the mentions were negative as Rubio became a target for continuing to repeat many of the same lines from his campaign stump speech.

"Marco, the thing is this," said rival Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, "when you're president of the United States, when you're a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn't solve one problem for one person."

That moment was measured by Twitter as one of the top social moments of the night.

Actress Mia Farrow, @MiaFarrow, tweeted, "Rubio keeps saying the same thing."

A Marco Rubio Glitch (@RubioGlitch) account also emerged, gaining nearly 1,200 followers as of Saturday night as it parodied Rubio as a robot in tweets in Spanish and English.

Rubio also had his worst performance yet with millennials on the popular messaging app Yik Yak, where he had a 44 percent disapproval rating. In contrast, Ohio Governor John Kasich had his best performance with millennials, earning a 41.4 approval rating, and maintaining the largest share of the conversation on Yik Yak.

The debate was also a big night on social media for Christie, who has rarely been a top contender in social mentions. According to Brandwatch, a social media analytics firm, he had the second highest percentage of positive social mentions, 61.5 percent, compared to Trump's 62.5 percent.

Tyler Freeman (@tyfreem) tweeted, "#GOPDebate Chris Christie has been most underrated candidate the whole campaign. He finally stood out tonight. One of the best performances."

(Reporting by Anjali Athavaley; Editing by Leela de Kretser and Mary Milliken)

SAP is the sponsor of this content. It was independently created by Reuters' editorial staff and funded in part by SAP, which otherwise has no role in this coverage.
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The familiar emergency alert system, the one where we in the U.S. occasionally hear a radio or television broadcast interruption that...
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Maintaining ones beauty regimen can be rough on the wallet, particularly if youre worried about keeping a golden tan through Canadas roughly ten-month winter. A Calgary man, Cody William Scott, came up with the perfect solution: just steal all the self-tanner youll ever need.

Scott allegedly made off with $1.5 million worth of merchandise, including beauty products, household appliances, snowblowers, and tires. To his credit, the multiple stashes of stolen items were neat and well-organized, like the den of a doomsday prepper exclusively worried about his tan. Scott was prepared in case he ever ran through all that Jergens Natural Glow  he also stole several tanning beds.
Where is that gif from?

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the show



watch it!

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Is the gif representative of the actual show or is this just a small part? Thanks!!

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i've been wanting to watch this because #the80s but i didn't know it was on hulu! time to go watch tbh

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it's SO GOOD. and they're totally into MCM design/furniture so the set designs are fab



Edited at 2016-02-07 02:58 am (UTC)

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dat german design aesthetic! fuck me up duetschland

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YAS! I loved this series.

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I just started rematching this on Hulu. It was my favorite show last year besides American Crime. I can't wait for the new season whenever it starts.

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I mean no wonder, it aired at the same time as the superior club der roten bander (red band society). D83 got so much promo, yet it was destroyed by a much smaller TVproduction.



#buyCdrBondvd Funfact: this show completely flopped in Germany.I mean no wonder, it aired at the same time as the superior club der roten bander (red band society). D83 got so much promo, yet it was destroyed by a much smaller TVproduction.

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how many times are they gonna try with Red Band Society jesus



it flopped in the US



I'm hoping since it was such a success in the UK and if they market it right I think they could get a decent following in the US. No offense but who gaf about Germany its not that big of a market.

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Red band society was a huge success here. I've read before that the US version sucks because they included a typical love story between the grown ups. The German version completely focused on the children, and the actors did a pretty good job. It instantly got renewed for a second season.





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Can't edit because iI'm on my phone but one more thing: the US should import more foreign TV productions instead of producing their own version. Happened so many times before and the US version sucks most of the time.

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No offense but who gaf about Germany its not that big of a market.



It's the third biggest TV market in the world, after the US and Japan.



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yeah i was talking about D83 on FB and all my german friends and Family were like 'WTF? it suuuucked' but i love it. I did love Club der roten Bander as welland more friends did so too.

I think the Problem for D83 was, that the style was very non German...it felt like i was watching a British or American Show and People didn'T like it.

BTW another good German Show if you don't know it yet was Weinberg!

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I'm German, but moved abroad a few years ago. I only watched the first episode and then stopped. The dialogue felt kind of stilted to me (something that wasn't noticeable from the English subtitles) and the main character seemed to make one stupid decision after another.

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I remember catching some of this on Sundance this past summer.

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I LOVED this. I need 100 more episodes

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Inspired by This Is England with the years? Anyway, I hope I can find this somewhere.

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Lol that was my first thought too.

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I've been recording this from the first episode to binge on when I have some free time, so I'm glad to hear that people like it!

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I watched this over the summer and really liked it. All the music in it was so good!

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I don't have Hulu but I'll probably binge watch it on Amazon prime.



I need to watch the returned again because I don't remember s1 very much

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I can't believe an English-speaking audience is responding positively to a show not in their native tongue. What a time to be alive!

Also, I love all the shit Owen Jones gets for apparently looking like a budget version of the main actor. He doesn't at all.



Edited at 2016-02-07 03:28 am (UTC)

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English-speaking audiences reacted well to "Borgen" which was all in Danish and about Danish government, so I think there is an audience for well-written, well-acted TV shows regardless of where they come from. Borgen hit both of those notes. UK audiences really seem to get the appeal of foreign shows, but thanks to Netflix and Hulu, people everywhere are finding out about shows like "Deutschland 83" and the French police drama "Spiral", or "Borgen".

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the past couple years that i have been living her they have been great at importing and actually watching foreign tv:

thanks to them i got to see one of best series ever-Spiral

plus there is the killing,legacy,the bridge etc etc

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UK have taken subtitled drama to their hearts. Inspector Montelbano last night was the highlight of my viewing week.



Spiral, Borgen, The Bridge, The Returned, The Killing, Wallander & Occupied are fabulous.



I've had to throw in the towel on Deutchland '83. The characters are a collective nightmare. And the wood paneling is killing me.

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Young or old Montelbano? ;)





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I didn't know this was good bc most german shows are downright awful.

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That's a sad truth esp. considering the budget German TV has compared to the BBC, it's so much more, they have no excuse for sucking so badly in the fictional department.

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This show had like zero ratings in Germany. I've downloaded the episodes to bingewatch one day, but I'm not even interested in the topic as much anymore, since this is what Germany gets over and over and over again.

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Mte

Guess thats also the reason why it flopped here - same story over and over again, its getting boring

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I really want to get Hulu for my birthday! Is it worth it? :0

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God "The Good Ship" was one of many reasons that R/Hr Stans were the most obnoxious.

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I still remember the ship wars of 07. They always like to say us H/HR shippers were the ones being awful, but damn to this day even when R/HR is canon, those "good shippers" ..they're still assholes. (not all of them) but enough lol.







Edited at 2016-02-07 08:42 am (UTC)

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Seriously, the idea that there weren't crazy or awful R/Hr-shippers is nonsense. I remember some literally posting things like, "your baby would be better off dead than raised by someone who likes H/Hr" to an H/Hr webmistress, or comparing her to David Koresh. Immaturity and nastiness was not confined to one ship.



I have been in a lot of fandom's over the years, and none has equaled the horribleness and meanness of HP fandom.



Edited at 2016-02-07 03:40 pm (UTC)

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MTE, Sev

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he was always shitting on ron/hermione.

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definitely true of movieverse ron and hermione.

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Lol, no. In the movies we don't see Hermione literally attacking Ron with birds in a way that makes him bleed, nor do we see Ron trying to seduce Hermione using a godsamn book (unless I blocked it out), or bitching about Hermione's cooking.



Really not sure where people are getting the idea that their relationship was less dysfunctional in the books.

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Srsly. Also, him treating her like shit for half of HBP, all because she dared kiss another boy in 4th year. That shit killed any sympathy I had for him.

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Going by the movies, he's right tbh.



And my mom, having just seen the movies (except for the last one--my parents and I saw them all in theaters together but somehow never got around to DH2, lol oop), always wondered why Hermione didn't get with Harry.

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Going by the books as well! ;)

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It would definitely be the most realistic outcome, lol.

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rme

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lol the harry/hermoine shippers are gonna have a field trip with this.

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MTE, lol

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he's always been a hating ass bitch when it comes to ron/hermione. it always got on my nerves.

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lol yup

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ikr

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Lmao, the whisper of the tween in me had a little moment to lord over it, but I realize as an adult I kind of don't give too much of a shit.

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Yassss. I would have cared during my HP shipping days, but now I'm just apathetic to everythinh

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i mean coming from rupert its good







but i still stand by my thoughts that harry and hermione would have been a better pair

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He speaks the truth. I didnt need anymore validation but this helps.



Edited at 2016-02-07 08:39 am (UTC)

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I'm having a field day with this tbh, and I don't even ship Harry/Hermione. Ron/Hermione is such a mismatch imo .

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Meh, I was more Harry/Luna than Harry/Hermione or Harry/Ginny.

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ily Rupert but no, Ron/Hermione forever!!! 

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nah true love will never die *wands up*

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except true love doesn't involve two people who find one another unbearable most of the time lol

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So true Rupert, except lbr, it would be Hermione divorcing HIS ass! Not the other way around.



But seriously, if there's one couple that is a recipe for divorce it's these two.

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lol, i actually really like ron but i never saw their relationship as a recipe for a long-term marriage



i just feel like hermione would get exasperated with him (or harry) eventually

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Why would you want everybody to be unhappy forever?

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idk probably got fed up with her bossying everyone around

my dad's like that idk how my mom does it

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oh

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I've already talked about this with friends. I call bullshit. There is NO WAY two people that passionate would give up that easily. They went through too much together to just give up. Ron would spend numerous nights on the couch because they're both stubborn as fuck but they love each other too much.

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mte. they were both messy and emotional people, but ultimately they did love each other and would have done everything they could to make it work.

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I think we read different books.

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They were disrespectful as fuck to each other but I think they had that 'deep down I respect you' kinda thing. Not that that would mean anything in terms of relationship longevity if they couldn't get their acts together as adults tho.

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Two passionate people wouldn't give up on a toxic fraught incompatible relationship that could ultimately just be hurting them both? If so, not a good thing.

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this statement is delusional. being passionate doesn't mean you're a good match, and doesn't mean that you won't have a negative, damaging relationship. i feel like all ya'll need a relationship counselor or smthn.

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I agree. I mean, you can interpret things however you want, but they are KIDS when they fall in love, they have time to mature. It is not like their behavior is year 6 reflects how they behave in their 20s/30s/40s.

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Nah, book Ron/Hermione works. Unless you ask delusional Ron stans or Hermione stans who think their fave is perfect and deserves idk what.



Harry/figuring himself or Harry/single for a while tho



Edited at 2016-02-07 04:35 am (UTC)

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MFTE.



JKR needs to stop baiting people by commenting on it after the fact too.

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yes yes

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All of this.

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cackling

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Most of our attention during the past 18-months of sliding oil prices has been on the impact on US unconventional operations, and for good reason. The very technological advancement that brings future energy security to our beck and call has a very specific price: cash money. For all the efficiencies that a modern pad-drill operation adds to the equation, each well drilled and zipper-fracked costs a not insubstantial amount of money. And even with the 30 percent cost reduction at the expense of oilfield service providers to do those frack-jobs, operators are still having to pay 70 percent of a lot of money for every horizontal multi-stage well.

Related: Global Oil Production On Pause, But Decline Seems Imminent

Market Realist recently pegged the total cost to produce one barrel of crude oil in the US at $36.20, which puts us unfortunately high on the chart versus most other producing countries and, for the past month or so, on the wrong side of the price of oil.

Now that most of the long term high-value hedges have expired, the reduction of OFS costs has been baked into the balance sheets, and Q4 2015s series of redeterminations and write-downs have taken their toll, what else are operators doing to keep costs down and output up?

We have explored conventional E&P a little bit recently  Glenn R. McColpines excellent piece on optimizing stripper well performance and Mark Nibbelinks great post on conventional E&P come to mind  but I thought it would be a good time to explore activity in the vertical/conventional realm.

Occasionally well use vertical wells as a proxy for conventional activity, though in the modern oilfield we see operators discussing combining multi-stage hydraulic fracture jobs and comingled production with less expensive vertical drilling, particularly in areas that have heavily stacked hydrocarbon formations  like the Permian Basin. Rather than split hairs today we will just discuss vertical activity.

Vertical Permits Are Visibly Down Related: The $2 Trillion Gift From Oil Companies To Consumers

The following two images show Vertical Permits for calendar years 2014 and 2015.

(Click to enlarge)

(Click to enlarge)

Year Over Year we see a fairly significant drop-off in Kansas, parts of the Permian, East Texas and Texas Gulf Coast.

Vertical Rigs Continue To Be Fairly Active

A quick look at current active vertical rigs in our Beta Production Desktop shows a lot of active rigs in the Permian, with a surrounding crescent of rigs starting on the lower gulf coast, swinging through Oklahoma, Kansas and ending in part of the Niobrara. Also we see some rigs in the Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Appalachian Basin, North Dakota, and California (where we discussed permits spiking last month) Related: Russia So Desperate It Could Sell Off State-Owned Oil Assets

(Click to enlarge)

In the following image we see how the decline in vertical rigs roughly matches the drop in the more directional brethren, while the chart on the right shows that the percentage of total active vertical rigs has also shrunk as a portion of the fleet.

(Click to enlarge)

By Eric Roach via DrillingInfo

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
THREE RULES FOR BETTER MARKETING

1. Develop a vibrant blurb to describe your book to someone in a couple of sentences. If you can't do that - revisit your work. The writer unable to do this often has a problem with their book - so see how well you can define (in selling terms) your work.

2. Establish "talking points" about your book: what sets it apart? what sets you apart? why should someone buy your work?

3. "Lattice" your work to other venues and events. Do a web of your book and identify all the parts and how you might market the book to those sub-sections.



NOTE:

Not just self-publishing authors are faced with the need to become better at marketing their own work - surveying the recent edition of WRITER'S MARKET shows even some "big name" houses are expecting their authors to be their own best promoters.


The musings & rants of 3 retired military (2 USAF, 1 USN), 1 former WSO, and 1 AF brat. Old AF Sarge, Juvat, Tuna, LUSH, and Beans.
- Ep.33: A big family of 13 that lives in Pyeongtaek. This family always draws attention when theyre out. The 5 performers from Ukraine and Belarus! Will their first underwater performance be successful?
Puerto Ricos unemployment rate has been stuck well beyond 10 percent since before the Great Recession. Today, it hovers above 12 percent. Puerto Rico has one of the lowest labor-participation rates in the west; less than half the population is working. Why? Well, it costs more to hire a worker in Puerto Rico that it does in some of the richest areas of the mainland United States. The minimum wage in Fresno, California is $9. However, the Puerto Rican minimum wage (which is enforced by Washington) is equivalent to 77 percent of the median wage of Puerto Rico, or $9.42 per hour.



The red-tape and overregulation of the island has eliminated jobs and increased welfare. Presently, nearly 35 percent of the island is on food stamps compared to only 15 percent of the population on the mainland.



Compounding Puerto Ricos labor market woes is the fact that those who are employed are likely to be on the government dole. Nearly one in four people work for the government in Puerto Rico. That is, of course, when they are working. Puerto Rico government employees receive a European-competitive 30 days of vacation  and of course, must not be productive beyond eight hours per day  anything more costs the government time and a half ...



The New York Federal Reserves assessment is even sterner:

The Island appears to face two alternatives: either manage its own economic adjustment and put the Commonwealth on a secure fiscal basis, or wait for outmigration and the discipline of the market to force an even more painful adjustment.

This is a Puerto Rican-created mess and, like other financially burdened states, it is a problem they must resolve.



But Washington is not resigned to let Puerto Rico fix its own problems. Instead, Republican Leadership has demanded that Congress draft legislation to facilitate the territorys budgetary troubles.



Democrats have been in favor of a Chapter 9 bankruptcy proposal, a legal status not currently allowed to any state or Puerto Rico. Republicans, on the other hand, have offered a financial bailout, while President Obama is looking for all of the above  additional welfare, a bailout, and a modified Chapter 9 bankruptcy option. Puerto Rico is looking for a bailout; they are after yerrr money!

Over the past few weeks, I've written twice about Venezuela ( here and here ) as the most recent example of the complete failure of socialist governance. But realistically, we have to look no further than Puerto Rico to understand that over the long term the big government model is a recipe for bankruptcy. John Gray provides the gory details:The "severe adjustment" that the fed is talking about is bankruptcygovernment pensions will go unpaid and chaos will reign.Gray notes the many reasons for Puerto Rico's dire situation. All boil down to government intervention, overregulation of the private sector, profligate spending to provide "free stuff" by the Puerto Rican government, an underfunded pension program, and a series of "distorted incentives" for doing business in Puerto Rico that did more harm than good. Sadly, it's the same blue model that has been used in places like Connecticut, Illinois, and Detroit.It should come as no surprise that Puerto Rico wants a bailout. Gray writes:Unfortunately, bailouts eliminate moral hazardthe notion that one must take responsibility for one's actions and suffer the consequences if those actions are irresponsible or stupid. The vast majority of U.S. mainland tax payers have never been to Puerto Rico. But their tax dollars will flow there as part of a bailout, as sure as the sun rises on the territory's beautiful Caribbean shores.
This is the third in a five-part series from Madison365 highlighting Wisconsin residents of Latino heritage who have accomplished great things in business, education, government, media and the nonprofit sector. Click here to read part 1 and part 2.

Para leer en espanol, haga clic aqui.

Lucio Fuentez

Lucio Fuentez founded Comunidad de Amigos in 1975 primarily to serve migrant farm workers in Sheboygan County. He remains executive director of the organization, which is now known as Partners for Community Development and which now provides a wide array of community services in six counties across East Central Wisconsin. He serves as a trustee on the Lakeshore Technical College District Board, chairman of the Sheboygan Civil Service Commission and treasurer of the Amigos Scholarship Fund.

Luis and Lupita Montoto

Luis and Lupita Montoto provide the 411 on pretty much everything in Madison on La Movida 1480 AM, a Spanish-language radio station that continues to be a vital resource for the local Latino community. The energy of the husband-and-wife duo, who have innumerable connections in Dane Countys Latino community, are what keep La Movida thriving. La Movidas goals are not only to entertain and inform but to make the community stronger. Originally starting out on just weekends 15 years ago, La Movida went 24/7 in 2002 and never looked back. The mark that they leave on the community goes well beyond radio; they host numerous events around town, including their very own annual Hispanic Heritage Luncheon.

Gerardo H. (Jerry) Gonzalez

Gerardo H. (Jerry) Gonzalez of Waukesha is the co-founder of the largest minority-owned law firms in the nation, and one of the largest minority-owned businesses of any kind in Wisconsin. The firm  Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan  books annual revenue of more than $30 million and employs nearly 200 people. He also co-founded the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).

At the recommendation of the White House, Gonzalez served on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Board of Directors. Gonzalez was appointed to high-level committees by two different governors: the Committee on Judicial Elections under Tommy Thompson and Scott Walkers Judicial Selection Committee. He also helped design a think tank to work on increasing racial and ethnic diversity among Wisconsin judges.

Teresa Tellez-Giron

Teresa Tellez-Giron has been a bilingual bicultural social services specialist for Dane County Human Services for almost 25 years. She has also played important roles in the Latino Support Network of Dane County (LaSup) and the Latino Children and Families Council, of which she is the co-founder. Through these organizations, Latino health and human service professionals come together to collaborate on events and projects designed to uplift the health and social well-being of the Latino community. Tellez-Giron is also a frequent speaker and facilitator for local and state-wide racial justice training programs.

Rebeca Lopez

Rebeca Lopez was named to the prestigious 40 Under 40 list from the Business Journal of Milwaukee for 2015. A humble woman, she describes herself as a "working wife and mother." However, her Rolodex is a "Whos Who" of the Latino community statewide. She previously worked as Senator Russ Feingolds regional coordinator and later graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University Law School, where she served as business editor of the Marquette Law Review. She is now an attorney with Godfrey & Kahn focusing on immigration and employment law.

Jessie Rodriguez

Jessie Rodriguez serves in the state legislature representing the 21st Assembly District, which includes Franklin and portions of other suburbs to the south of Milwaukee. She came to Milwaukee from war-torn El Salvador by way of Massachusetts, graduating from Hamilton High School and Marquette University. She joined the Assembly in a special election in 2013 and has become a leading voice on education issues as Outreach Coordinator for Hispanics for School Choice.

Dr. Enrique Figueroa

Dr. Enrique Figueroa serves as director of UW-Milwaukees Roberto Hernandez Center, which provides services for Latino students at UWM as well as the wider Latino population of southeastern Wisconsin. He is also assistant to the provost for Latino affairs. With a bachelors degree from Fresno State, two masters degrees and a PhD from UC-Davis  all in horticulture, agricultural education or agricultural economics  he served President Bill Clinton as undersecretary in the Department of Agriculture and was responsible for a workforce of 15,000 and a $2 billion budget.

Gloria Reyes

Gloria Reyes, hailing from the east side of Madison, is deputy mayor for Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Community Services. The former Madison police detective is also the board president for the Dane County Chapter of the Latino Peace Officers Association. She volunteers for many organizations including the Wisconsin Association of Women Police and the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. Reyes recently served as the president of the board of directors at Centro Hispano of Dane County where she oversaw the hiring of current Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller and the deepening of Centros commitment to youth programs.

Pablo Sanchez

Pablo Sanchez is nearing his tenth anniversary as vice president of Park Bank, one of the few banks that remains truly local to Madison. A leading voice on consumer credit, hes served on the Governors Council on Financial Literacy for many years. He also serves on the boards of directors of UW Hospital and Clinics Authority, Overture Center Foundation and Downtown Madison Incorporated.

Judge Juan Colas

Judge Juan Colas came to America from Colombia with his family at the age of five and grew up speaking both Spanish and English. His language skills landed him a job as a court interpreter, which led to a career first as a public defender, then assistant attorney general prosecuting sexual predators and ultimately to the bench when Governor Jim Doyle appointed him as the states first Hispanic judge in 2008. Hes been re-elected twice.
A gaunt man in an orange jumpsuit kneeling in an empty desert, accompanied only by his executioner. A brutal, horrific death, broadcast across the globe. These are the images that many people now accompany with Marquette alum and slain photojournalist James Foley  a cruel, grim irony hanging over the thought that a man, one who spent much of his life devoted to capturing peoples lives and struggles with his camera, suddenly being defined by someone elses uncaring lens.

Like many, Thomas Durkin saw those images, watching the video because he felt he owed it to his friend. But thats not the James Foley he chooses to remember. He remembers Jim, the fellow freshman he first met back in 1992 at ODonoghues Pub  thanks to some good fake IDs  and became fast friends with during his time at Marquette University and beyond.

The friend who later he went with on an adventure to Mexico, exploring both the tourist side and especially the local side of the nearby towns. The friend who would often drop by unannounced in between trips overseas much to Durkin and companys happy surprise. The friend who Durkin now helps pay tribute to by starting the James Foley Scholarship Fund at Marquette along with James brother Michael and another Marquette friend, Dan Hanrahan.

"He was interesting because he was interested in stuff," Durkin recalled. "He was always pushing to do anything different, like, Lets go; were going down to the South Side, and were going to find a Mexican restaurant. He was just willing to explore.

"The room was always lighter and happier when he was around it, because he had this good energy. Those are the things and stories I miss about him."

Thats the Jim Foley that filmmaker and friend Brian Oakes remembers as well, growing up together in their small rural New Hampshire hometown as close buddies and remaining tightly knit all the way through Jims capture in Syria and abrupt death. And its that James Foley  his life, not his death  that Oakes hopes to pay tribute to with his feature-length directorial debut, "Jim: The James Foley Story."

The powerful and intimately told documentary airs tonight at 8 p.m. on HBO coming hot on the heels of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Documentary.

The film comes 14 months in the making, starting as an idea in Oakes mind shortly after Foleys publically broadcast execution by ISIS in August of 2014, shortly after that gruesome image  one the film very early on tells the viewer will not be shown  became the unfortunate defining part of his close friends life.

"It started to become a symbol that was being used for many different things  from political agendas to a reason to go to war to sensationalistic articles and headlines  and I just became very protective of my friend," Oakes recalled. "A lot of those things made me uncomfortable, so I felt I had a responsibility to him and our friends and the family to show the world that there was a man behind this person, and he was extraordinary, and he was doing really amazing things."

Oakes ran the idea past Foleys family and friends, and they all gave their blessing, agreeing with Oakes' mission  and certain others were surely looking into telling Jims story as well with their own agendas for it. And so it was off to work, interviewing those who knew Jim well  family, friends and colleagues  to not only share the story of Jim's life but also his career as a war journalist, capturing human stories of conflict and struggle across the globe and bringing them to the eyes of those who might have blind to them before.

For Durkin, instead of feeling the pressure and weight of telling their friends story just right, the process brought a sense of relief.

"At times, you feel like youre bottling things up," he said. "It was frustrating; the image of Jim was everywhere, and it got really oppressive and felt very heavy. So to feel like you had a chance to say, I dont want that to be the image, that was a relief. And for us, I think it was nice to be able to talk to Brian, that he was the one asking the questions. You didnt feel like somebody was doing it for their own benefit, because I think a lot of that happened."

"I knew I could tell (Jims story) honestly," Oakes said, "and I know that it always became very apparent, for me anyway, that it was important for people to know who Jim was because of what he was doing."

In addition to chatting with family, friends and fellow war journalists  as well as considerable archival footage from a speech Jim gave at Marquette after his release from imprisonment in Libya  Oakes would eventually be able to interview several of Jims former fellow prisoners from his time held captive in Syria.

The resulting conversations, telling a part of Jims story Oakes and very few others knew, helped form the structure of "Jim," the first half lightly telling of Jims early life and career, while the second plummets into the darkness of life as a hostage  quite literally, with bleakly shot, "Man on Wire"-esque reenactments taking over for many of the talking head interviews.

"That part was a real exploration and discovery for me, and that was really powerful to find out what was going on and where he was and what he was experiencing, because for two years, we didnt know where he was," Oakes said. "That discovery process was very cathartic for me. So that two-half structure wasnt an intention at the beginning, but quite soon after I came from Europe interviewing the former hostages, it took that shape fairly soon."

The two halves come together to form a loving tribute, one that includes surprises, insights and revelations about their fallen friend even for those who knew him best and shared in his journey.

"Its hard to picture how he had that much time in the day," Durkin said laughing, "because it seems like so many people had close relationships with him. You talk to people who knew him for a week and you talk to people who knew him for five or ten years, and they feel the same way, this connection."

"Really discovering what Jim was doing as a journalist, I think, became the most interesting and powerful part of the filmmaking process for me," Oakes said. "A lot of peoples question was why did he continue to go back? Why did he continue to risk his life to tell these stories? Its a big question we all had, and I think by meeting his colleagues who all spent time with Jim in Libya and Syria, through them almost as surrogates of Jim, I really discovered how important their job is and why they choose to go back into these conflict zones to tell these stories.

"For Jim, it was really important to tell these stories of the Syrian civilians who were being decimated by their own government, and he needed to let the world know that this was happening."

After spending much of his life trying to bring peoples honest, real stories to light, now Jims family and friends have taken up the mantle, attempting to return the favor by telling his honest and real story.

Durkin admits that he feels a mixed sense of excitement and sadness for the documentarys premiere, a feeling that its still "the worst thing that could ever happen" but also a feeling of happiness and pride that Jims story  and the story of war journalists everywhere  will be told. The full life, not just the images at the end of it.

"It is important that people recognize that there are still people missing and still journalists around the world that are working their hardest to get us the stories and putting their lives in danger, and we have to at least be aware of it," Durkin said. "If we lose journalism, how are we going to know whats going on in this world?

"And in terms of Jim, I hope (the film) gives the understanding that a normal guy can do great things, can live a really good life and live for others. And that hes not that image. Hes not the ISIS image. Hes a fully formed individual that took on great risk, paid the ultimate price. But I know in my heart Jim would go back again. He would try to tell these peoples stories. He cared that much about it."
Reprinted from To The Point Analyses

Part I -- Krauthammer Conservatism

Charles Krauthammer is the most celebrated contemporary conservative thinker in the United States. However, let it be known that he is not just a theorist. He is man of political action who wants a conservative in the White House to line up with those already in control of Congress. Thus he supports Republican candidates such Marco Rubio and Chris Christie (Ted Cruz, while a "genuine conservative," is too "radical," and Jeb Bush isn't mentioned at all) as potential presidents who "would give conservatism its best opportunity since Reagan to become the country's governing philosophy." Those are the words of an unapologetic ideologue: what is good for the country is the Krauthammer philosophy of conservatism in control of the government.

What does this mean? For Krauthammer, as for so many other conservative thinkers who have never really evolved away from 19th century capitalist economic theory, conservatism in power means the "reform" of big government, or as he still describes it, "the 20th century welfare state." Reform essentially means significant downsizing of government in the name of individual "freedom," primarily in the market place, and, of course, a corresponding cut in taxes for the business class.

There are several things dangerously wrong about Krauthammer's simplistic approach to "conservative governing." One is that, in a country like the U.S. with approximately 320 million people (a considerable number of them getting steadily poorer), doing away with welfare state services and regulations seriously risks further impoverishment, increased economic exploitation in the workplace, an erosion of state and local infrastructures, and an explosion in business corruption. While Krauthammer would never agree, it is simply historically untrue that capitalism, without widespread government regulation and significant financial support for basic services, has ever brought prosperity to the majority of any population.

The second thing wrong with Krauthammer's thinking is his apparent inability to understand the difference between inefficiency and government size. Big government is necessary for the social and economic health of big societies. However, increased size does not automatically translate into government inefficiency. The need to monitor the efficiency of all bureaucracies so that they perform their jobs in a smooth and timely fashion is one thing. Downsizing to the point of near dismantlement of necessary government bureaus based on the conservative ideological assumption that they are chronically inefficient and overly expensive dead weight is quite another. The former will make things better. The latter will risk societal collapse.

Part II -- Populism and Socialism

Nonetheless, it is this downsizing "reform" of the welfare state that Krauthammer tells us is the answer to the "deep anxiety stemming from the secular (sic) stagnation of wages and living standards that has squeezed the middle and working classes for a generation." He juxtaposes this ideologically dictated answer against those he believes come from Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. The former offers "ethnonationalist populism." Krauthammer tells us what is already obvious, that Trump blames the nation's problems "on foreigners, most prominently those cunning Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, and Saudis who have been taking merciless advantage of us." (How anyone can put the Mexicans in with the Saudis is beyond me.) However, while debunking Trump's xenophobia, Krauthammer fails to mention that it is those conservative ideologues of his own camp who have pushed hardest for the sort of free trade agreements that have allowed Donald Trump to focus on outsiders.

Then there is the phenomenon of Bernie Sanders. As far as Krauthammer's understanding goes, Sanders is preaching socialism, and the apparent positive response to this baffles him -- "It is hard to believe that the U.S., having resisted the siren song of socialism during its entire 20th century heyday ... should suddenly succumb to its charms a decade after its intellectual demise." Only from behind the walls of Krauthammer's conservative ideology can socialism be considered "intellectually dead." It is certainly alive and politically competitive in western and northern Europe.

Of course, despite Krauthammer's failure to make the distinction, Sanders is nowhere near the kind of socialist found in the Soviet bloc during the Cold War. In truth, Sanders is closer to the prevailing social democrats of Western Europe or even the liberal wing of the Democratic Party prior to the coming to power of the Bill Clinton crowd. And, it can be argued, the success of Sanders's message is in direct proportion to the failure of Krauthammer's conservatism to bring lasting economic prosperity and secure social services to the people of the United States.

Nonetheless, Krauthammer cannot see this relationship. For him, Sanders's ultimate success is unimaginable. "The Dems would be risking a November electoral disaster of historic dimensions" if they nominated Sanders. Actually this might be so, but not because of any real socialist program on Sanders's part. Rather, disaster would be the product of relentless Republican red-baiting, to the point that the reality of Sanders's policy proposals becomes irrelevant. Indeed, Krauthammer's characterization of Sanders may well be the first shot in such a red-baiting campaign.

Part III -- Conclusion

Charles Krauthammer's conservative ideological outlook is every bit as destructive as Trump's "ethnonationalist populism." The reality is that Krauthammer's conservatism has been the guiding light of the U.S. economy since its inception and produced a history of continual booms and busts, the latter coming as ever deeper and prolonged depressions. This went on throughout the late 18th, 19th centuries and into the 20th century, culminating in the Great Depression of 1929. So disastrous was that crash, along with the fact of competition from the young Soviet Union, that there was finally some soul-searching on the part of the smarter capitalists, who then made the effort to rationalize their system. In the U.S. this came in the form of Roosevelt's New Deal. Franklin Roosevelt brought the necessary regulation and government expansion to semi-stabilize the economy and bring a modicum of security to the common citizen. Depressions were held down to periodic recessions while Social Security, unemployment insurance and other commonsense social programs made their debut.

It is a mark of the ahistorical nature of their ideological worldview that Krauthammer conservatives have been complaining about big government ever since, while apparently forgetting all about capitalism's original sins. Just to juice up their argument, they throw in talk of "individual freedom" in the marketplace while disparaging other freedoms and rights, such as those relating to healthcare, education, equal opportunity, and gender equality and the like as if they were not part of the mix that should make up a modern civilization.

There is something truly inhumane in the Krauthammer perspective. However, that does not mean that those politicians such as Marco Rubio and Chris Christie who espouse such bankrupt ideas are incapable of winning local, state and national elections. Never underestimate the ignorance and gullibility of conservative-minded voters. For them there will always be the siren song of a Charles Krauthammer. One is reminded of the description of a British conservative politician given by the English philosopher Gilbert Ryle, one that fits America's celebrated conservative thinker pretty well: "He stood like a light out to sea, firmly beckoning ships on to the rocks."
An article in the Guardian on bosses' pay by the director of the High Pay Centre, Deborah Hargreaves, presents the disparity between bosses' pay and the average wage in the UK thus:

"Chief executives in the FTSE 100 companies took home 4.96 million pounds in 2014 compared with average wages of 27,645 pounds. And, if anything, the pay gap is getting wider. A typical incentive award for a top boss increased by 50% of salary compared with the previous year, while workforce wages were up by 445 pounds. Bosses' remuneration has risen from around 47 times average wages in the 1990s to around 180 times today."

The pay gap shown by the above figures will be even wider if the salaries of bosses are expressed as a multiple of the median wage instead of the average wage. The average wage is skewed towards the top, thus most workers will earn below the average. The median wage is a better measure as it means half of the workers will earn below it and the other half above it.

Free-market ideologues would argue that salaries are fixed by market forces, and questioning such a disparity in income is tantamount to the politics of envy and interference in the freedom of markets. Such an argument is not really sustainable.

A company is a joint enterprise, and for it to be successful all its employees need to feel valued and justly rewarded. Such a disparity in income sends the wrong message to the many people who are working hard to make the company successful. It will lead to dissatisfaction and low morale amongst the workforce, and will eventually negatively impact the success of the company. A good boss will not accept such an obscene disparity in income between himself and his employees. Such salaries have become a virility symbol for bosses to compete with each other. It shouts - I am more important than you; just look at the size of my package!

If the wages paid by a company to its poorest employees are so low that it requires the state to top up their wages to provide them with the basics of life, then inflated salaries paid to the bosses are effectively being subsidized by the taxes we pay. It is a transfer of wealth from the many to the very few at the top. How can that be right? Where is the free-market in such practices?

If the income distribution is more equitable, the subsidy by the state to the low paid will be reduced, leaving more money for the government to spend on the National Health Service (NHS), infrastructure, police etc., things that are necessary for a civilized, functioning society.

Surely, then, that gives our elected government the right to enact laws and regulations to fix maximum salaries of bosses as a multiple of the lowest wage in that particular company. This will incentivize the bosses to increase the pay of their poorest employees to increase their own pay. The multiple should be certainly much lower than the figures quoted above.

Our taxation system needs to be overhauled to reflect the huge disparity in incomes; it is too narrowly set. Currently in the UK, we have a tax-free allowance of 10,600 pounds and then a jump to 20% up to 42,385 pounds then 40% up to income of 150,000 pounds, and a tax rate of 45% on income above 150,000 pounds.

A more progressive taxation system would start at a much lower rate and continue to rise incrementally well beyond the 45%. I am not a tax expert, so I leave it to those with the expertise to set the rates in such a way that we as a society ensure that the wealth of the nation is more equitably distributed.

Fairness and justice are the pillars on which successful, happy societies are built. The present system that siphons so much wealth to the top 1% to the impoverishment of the rest is neither fair, nor just. Failure to take action will result in the whole of society becoming the poorer; we will all suffer rich and poor.
The seven million strong American Muslim community has welcomed the visit of President Barrack Obama to Maryland mosque where the President called on Americans to embrace their common humanity and reject the inexcusable political rhetoric emanating from the presidential campaign trail.

The President said: "In this era of heightened rhetoric during the Presidential election season, along with the rise of anti-Islamic propaganda, it is important for our elected officials to stand with the Muslim community to show solidarity with the more than 6 million Muslim Americans. Our nation was founded on religious tolerance and common ethos which requires us to stand together as Americans."

Most Americans do agree that there is a lot of discrimination against Muslims. A Pew Research Center survey released the same day as Obama's speech finds that 59 percent of Americans say there is "a lot" of discrimination against Muslims today. In other words, Obama was right on point.

According to Baltimore Sun, though Obama touched on the presidential election only tangentially, White House aides say he decided to speak at the mosque largely to counter statements and policies floated by Republican candidates in recent months. Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump, in particular, has stirred controversy by proposing to bar Muslims from entering the country.

"Recently, we've heard inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim Americans that has no place in our country," Obama said. "We have to reject a politics that seeks to manipulate prejudice or bias, and targets people because of religion."

White House officials were quoted by CNN as saying that Obama was looking to issue a forceful counterpoint to the language favored by some Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump, who has proposed banning all Muslims from entering the country until tighter anti-terror measures are put into place. But they also hoped to counter GOP claims that Obama hasn't been forceful enough in demanding that Muslim leaders help root out extremism.

Republican presidential candidates, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump criticized President Obama's call for religious tolerance. The Christian Science Monitor reported that the GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump was among the first to criticize Obama for his visit to Mosque. When asked on Fox News Channel about the president's visit, he said, "Maybe he feels comfortable there." "We have a lot of problems in this country," Trump continued. "There are a lot of places he can go and he chose a mosque."

On his campaign trail in New Hampshire, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio accused the president of "pitting people against each other" by making an appeal to Muslim Americans. "Look at today. He gave a speech at a mosque, basically implying that America is discriminating against Muslims," Rubio said: "Of course there's discrimination in America, of every kind. But the bigger issue is radical Islam.

President Obama spoke warmly about Islam during his speech at the mosque, highlighting the contributions that Muslims had made to the fabric of American society. "Islam has always been part of America," he said, detailing the beginnings of the religion among African slaves brought to America. He also pointed out that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Virginia statute for religious freedom that the "Mohammedan" should have his faith protected in the United States.

During his speech, the President praised the religion for being a religion of peace -- not the hate preached by groups like ISIS."The very word Islam comes from 'Salam' -- peace," he said. "The standard greeting is 'As-Salaam-Alaikum' -- 'Peace be upon you,'" he explained. "Like so many faiths, Islam is rooted in a commitment to compassion and mercy and justice and charity. "Whoever wants to enter paradise, the prophet Mohammad taught, let him treat people the way he would love to be treated," he said as the audience applauded. "For Christians like myself, I'm assuming that sounds familiar," he continued.

During his speech, Obama praised Islam for being a religion of peace -- not the hate preached by groups like ISIS."The very word Islam comes from 'Salam' -- peace," he said. "The standard greeting is 'As-Salaam-Alaikum' -- 'Peace be upon you,'" he explained. "Like so many faiths, Islam is rooted in a commitment to compassion and mercy and justice and charity. "Whoever wants to enter paradise, the prophet Mohammad taught, let him treat people the way he would love to be treated," he said. "For Christians like myself, I'm assuming that sounds familiar," he continued.

Obama reminded the audience that political opponents of Thomas Jefferson accused him of being a Muslim. "So I was not the first," he said lightly as the audience laughed. "It's true. Look it up. I'm in good company." Obama pointed out that the founding fathers also supported the religion of Islam. "Jefferson and John Adams had their own copies of the Koran," he said. "Benjamin Franklin wrote, that even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach to us, he would find a pulpit at his service."

He demanded that Americans stop profiling Muslims and treating them differently because of their faith -- criticizing political rhetoric for inflaming hatred against the Muslim community. "We have to reject a politics that seeks to manipulate prejudice or bias and targets people because of religion," he said.

American Muslim groups have welcomed President Obama's visit to Baltimore Mosque.

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"How sweet it is" and "screw the UN" seem to be the major media tag lines to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's ruling in favor of political prisoner Julian Assange: The former from Assange himself, welcoming vindication of his claim that more than five years under house arrest and/or confined to Ecuador's UK embassy do indeed constitute illegal detention, the latter from British foreign secretary Philip Hammond and the London Metropolitan Police, neither of which apparently intend to abide by the verdict.

Less ballyhoo and nearly no analysis accompany another of Assange's statements. His legal team, he announced, is considering possible "criminal consequences" which might attach to the detention. Think he's blowing smoke? Think again.

The Working Group's rulings are not, per se, binding on any government. But the Rome Statute is -- at least on its signatories, which include Sweden and the UK.

When we consider the context and background -- namely that Sweden and the UK have served and continue to serve as proxies for the United States in its pursuit of Assange for his role in exposing US war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere -- an array of possible charges before the International Criminal Court quickly begin to look quite plausible.

Among those charges are the war crime of denying a fair trial, the attempted war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer, the war crime of unlawful confinement, and the offence against administration of justice of "obstructing or interfering with the attendance or testimony of a witness, retaliating against a witness for giving testimony, tampering with or interfering with the collection of evidence ""

Are these the possible "criminal consequences" Assange foresees? There's good reason to believe so.

In his speech, Assange notes that the ruling is based on "binding covenants which the UK, Sweden, and the United States (for the most part) have agreed to." That's clearly a reference to the US remaining non-signatory to the Rome Statute and holding itself out as beyond the jurisdiction of the ICC (it isn't, at least not entirely).

Prior to this ruling, Assange's persecutors might have been able to plausibly claim legal uncertainty as an extenuating circumstance. That defense is no longer available. Assange's continued confinement after the ruling constitutes the knowing and intentional commission of several prosecutable war crimes.

Assange is no longer the hunted, but once again the hunter. And his aim is true.
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'Pakistan on brink of debt default' Renowned economist Steve Hanke has warned that Pakistan was on the brink of a "debt default". "Its [Pakistan's] sovereign bonds have lost more than 60% of their value this year. I'm not surprised," he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Friday. Hanke said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government was failing to save the 'sinking ship'. Monday, October 17, 2022Renowned economist Steve Hanke has warned that Pakistan was on the brink of a "debt default". "Its [Pakistan's] sovereign bonds have lost more than 60% of their value this year. I'm not surprised," he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Friday. Hanke said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government was failing to save the 'sinking ship'.

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Pakistan, Indonesia delegations in Israel for secret talks - Jerusalem Post Diplomatic delegations from Pakistan and Indonesia are both in Israel for secret visits this week, according to Jerusalem Post. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Pakistani-American Nasim Ashraf, a former minister of state in former prime minister Pervez Musharraf 's government, the JP report added. Tuesday, September 20, 2022Diplomatic delegations from Pakistan and Indonesia are both in Israel for secret visits this week, according to Jerusalem Post. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Pakistani-American Nasim Ashraf, a former minister of state in former prime minister Pervez Musharraf 's government, the JP report added.

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Arab League declines to condemn Israel-UAE deal but denounce Turkey The Arab League on Wednesday refused to endorse a Palestinian draft resolution condemning the United Arab Emirates for its normalization agreement with Israel, Jerusalem Post reported Friday. Sunday, September 11, 2022The Arab League on Wednesday refused to endorse a Palestinian draft resolution condemning the United Arab Emirates for its normalization agreement with Israel, Jerusalem Post reported Friday.

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Three Arab states fail to denounce Israeli assault on Gaza Israel and Islamic Jihad have agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that came into force at 2030GMT. The death toll from the Israeli assault on Gaza has risen to at le ast 43, including 15 children, according to the Palestinian health ministry. More than 300 people have been injured. The ceasefire deal raises hopes of an imminent cessation of the worst fighting in Gaza since an 11-day war last year devastated it. Monday, August 8, 2022Israel and Islamic Jihad have agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that came into force at 2030GMT. The death toll from the Israeli assault on Gaza has risen to at le ast 43, including 15 children, according to the Palestinian health ministry. More than 300 people have been injured. The ceasefire deal raises hopes of an imminent cessation of the worst fighting in Gaza since an 11-day war last year devastated it.

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Kashmir three years after annexation by Modi regime The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Collective Voice of the Muslim World, in a statement said that August 5, 2022 marks the third anniversary of the illegal and unilateral actions taken in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which were followed by additional unlawful measures including illegal demographic changes. Sunday, August 7, 2022The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Collective Voice of the Muslim World, in a statement said that August 5, 2022 marks the third anniversary of the illegal and unilateral actions taken in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which were followed by additional unlawful measures including illegal demographic changes.

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Baloch Separatists Claim Shooting Down Pakistan Army Copter The Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), a coalition of Baloch separatists has claimed responsibility for downing a helicopter of Pakistan Army. The BRAS, in a statement delivered to Reuters, claimed its fighters had targeted the copter with an anti-aircraft weapon. Saturday, August 6, 2022The Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), a coalition of Baloch separatists has claimed responsibility for downing a helicopter of Pakistan Army. The BRAS, in a statement delivered to Reuters, claimed its fighters had targeted the copter with an anti-aircraft weapon.

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US-client Pakistan govt helped CIA operation against al-Zawahri The United States used Pakistan airspace for the drone which killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri in the Afghanistan capital Kabul, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported Tuesday citing security analysts. US President Joe Biden announced on Monday (August 1) that Zawahiri was killed in a "precision" strike. Friday, August 5, 2022The United States used Pakistan airspace for the drone which killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri in the Afghanistan capital Kabul, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported Tuesday citing security analysts. US President Joe Biden announced on Monday (August 1) that Zawahiri was killed in a "precision" strike.

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India's 200 million Muslims are marginalized by Modi's regime On Tuesday Masjid-e-Khaja Mahmood outside Hyderabad was demolished by the municipal staff amid heavy police presence. The Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjedullah Khan told media that the mosque was constructed three years ago and daily five times namaz including Friday prayers were being performed regularly. Friday, August 5, 2022On Tuesday Masjid-e-Khaja Mahmood outside Hyderabad was demolished by the municipal staff amid heavy police presence. The Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjedullah Khan told media that the mosque was constructed three years ago and daily five times namaz including Friday prayers were being performed regularly.

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Shanghai Cooperation Organization to expand membership The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have decided to grant Iran full membership of the group. The decision came during a two-day meeting of the SCO in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday, August 3, 2022The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have decided to grant Iran full membership of the group. The decision came during a two-day meeting of the SCO in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Thursday and Friday.

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Bangladesh sentences 6 to death for crimes during independence war of 1971 Bangladesh's war crimes tribunal sentenced six people to death on Thursday for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Thursday, July 28, 2022Bangladesh's war crimes tribunal sentenced six people to death on Thursday for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

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Oregon Senate Republicans

Salem, Ore.  Thursday, Senate Republicans called for the passage of a package of measures to strengthen ethics and increase transparency in Oregons government. The cornerstone of the proposal, introduced on the Senate floor Thursday, is a Senate Republican bill challenging Governor Browns apparent campaign kickback corruption that would prevent a Governor from receiving campaign contributions from organizations for which they secure pay raises.

The pervasive culture of corruption stemming from one-party rule in Oregon continues, explained Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). Its been nearly a year since Governor Kitzhaber resigned amidst an environmental policy corruption scandal, and despite several promises to strengthen ethics in Oregon from Governor Brown, the legacy of corruption lives on. This package of bills include tangible steps Oregon can take to prevent such corruption in the future.

2016 Senate Republican Ethics and Transparency Agenda

Corruption Crackdown

One Senate Republican proposal would prohibit state officials, including Governor Kate Brown, from accepting campaign contributions from organizations or businesses with which the public official negotiated a contract in the previous two years.

Governor Kate Brown recently negotiated a significant raise for state union workers that cost far more than the amount approved by the legislature. AFSCME has already repaid Governor Brown with a $100,000 campaign donation, saying the donation was because members appreciated Browns handling of contract negotiations. This apparent kickback corruption follows Governor Browns abandonment of a pledge to pass a transportation package in 2015 after California billionaire and Democrat megadonor Tom Steyer pushed back. Reminiscent of the Kitzhaber scandal, these ongoing apparent campaign kickbacks ruin public trust in our state government, add to the significant budget shortfall in the next biennium, and potentially allow state officials to pressure those they negotiate with to donate to their campaigns.

Regulatory Transparency

Public trust in state regulators is lower than ever due to corruption scandals in state agencies under Democrat leadership. Oregonians deserve better. It is time to ensure that all public officials are held accountable for their actions, and the first step is preventing them from hiding behind thinly-veiled legal privilege. Agency bureaucrats should be required to identify the information on which they base their decisions so that Oregonians can judge for themselves whether sound decisions are being made.

Legislative Transparency

A lack of transparency is eroding public faith in the legislature. It is time to ensure that all legislators are held accountable for their actions by requiring them to take responsibility for their work. A simple way to increase transparency is to require legislators to put their names on amendments they introduce. If they are really doing whats best for Oregon, what do they have to hide?
Prologue Around the time my husband was dying, I was chipping ice from the freezer in search of the ice cube tray wedged in the back. But only because I wa...

17 hours ago
Saudi King Salman meets with President Barack Obama at Erga Palace during a state visit to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 27, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

After Saudi-backed Syrian rebels balked at peace talks and the Russian-backed Syrian army cut off Turkish supply lines to jihadists and other Syrian rebels, the U.S. and its Mideast Sunni allies appear poised to invade Syria and force regime change even at the risk of fighting Russia, a gamble with nuclear war, writes Joe Lauria.Defense Secretary Ashton Carter last October said in a little noticed comment that the United States was ready to take direct action on the ground in Syria. Vice President Joe Biden said in Istanbul last month that if peace talks in Geneva failed, the United States was prepared for a military solution in that country.The peace talks collapsed on Wednesday even before they began. A day later Saudi Arabia said it is ready to invade Syria while Turkey is building up forces at its Syrian border.The U.N. aims to restart the talks on Feb. 25 but there is little hope they can begin in earnest as the Saudi-run opposition has set numerous conditions. The most important is that Russia stop its military operation in support of the Syrian government, which has been making serious gains on the ground.A day after the talks collapsed, it was revealed that Turkey has begun preparations for an invasion of Syria, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. On Thursday, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said: We have good reasons to believe that Turkey is actively preparing for a military invasion of a sovereign state  the Syrian Arab Republic. Were detecting more and more signs of Turkish armed forces being engaged in covert preparations for direct military actions in Syria. The U.N. and the State Department had no comment. But this intelligence was supported by a sound of alarm from Turkeys main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP).Turkey, which has restarted its war against Kurdish PKK guerillas inside Turkey, is determined to crush the emergence of an independent Kurdish state inside Syria as well. Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan stopped the Syrian Kurds from attending the aborted Geneva talks.A Turkish invasion would appear poised to attack the Syrian Kurdish PYD party, which is allied with the PKK. The Syrian (and Iraqi) Kurds, with the Syrian army, are the main ground forces fighting the Islamic State. Turkey is pretending to fight ISIS, all the while actually supporting its quest to overthrow Assad, also a Turkish goal.Saudi Arabia then said on Thursday it was prepared to send its ground forces into Syria if asked. Carter welcomed it. Of course Biden, Erdogan, Carter and the Saudis are all saying a ground invasion would fight ISIS. But their war against ISIS has been half-hearted at best and they share ISIS same enemy: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. If the U.S. were serious about fighting ISIS it would have at least considered a proposal by Russia to join a coalition as the U.S. did against the Nazis.The excuse of the Geneva collapse is a ruse. There was little optimism the talks would succeed. The real reason for the coming showdown in Syria is the success of Russias military intervention in defense of the Syrian government against the Islamic State and other extremist groups. Many of these groups are supported by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States in pursuit of overthrowing Assad.These three nations are all apparently poised for a ground invasion of Syria just as, by no coincidence, the Syrian Arab Army with Russian air cover is pushing to liberate perhaps the greatest prize in the Syrian civil war  Aleppo, the countrys commercial capital. The Russians and Syrians have already cut off Turkeys supply lines to rebels in the city.On Saturday, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates joined the Saudis in saying they would intervene only as part of a U.S.-led ground invasion. The Obama administration has maintained that it would not send U.S. ground forces into Syria, beyond a few hundred special forces.But these U.S. allies, driven by fierce regional ambitions, appear to be putting immense pressure on the Obama administration to decide if it is prepared to lose Syria. Though Carter said he welcomed the Saudi declaration he made no commitment about U.S. ground forces. But Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri told al-Arabiya TV that a decision could be made to intervene at a NATO summit in Brussels next week. Carter said the matter would be on the agenda.The U.S. cannot likely stand by and watch Russia win in Syria. At the very least it wants to be on the ground to meet them at a modern-day Elbe and influence the outcome.But things could go wrong in a war in which the U.S. and Russia are not allies, as they were in World War II. Despite this, the U.S. and its allies see Syria as important enough to risk confrontation with Russia, with all that implies. It is not at all clear though what the U.S. interests are in Syria to take such a risk.From the outset of Russias intervention the U.S. and its allies have wanted Moscow out of the Syrian theater. They seem to be only waiting for the right opportunity. That opportunity may be now  forced by events.Former U.S. national security adviser and current Obama adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said last October in the Financial Times that, The Russian naval and air presences in Syria are vulnerable, isolated geographically from their homeland. They could be disarmed if they persist in provoking the U.S.Turkeys downing in November of a Russian warplane that allegedly veered 17 seconds into Turkish territory appeared to be very much a provocation to draw Russia into a conflict to allow NATO to drive Moscow out of Syrian skies. But Russia was too smart for that and instead imposed sanctions on Turkey, while urging Russian tourists not to visit the country, which has hurt the Turkish economy.As a fertile crossroad between Asia and Africa backed by desert, Syrian territory has been fought over for centuries. Pharaoh Ramses II defeated the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh near Lake Homs in 1247 BCE. The Persians conquered Syria in 538 BCE. Alexander the Great took it 200 years later and the Romans grabbed Syria in 64 BCE.Islam defeated the Byzantine Empire there at the Battle of Yarmuk in 636. In one of the first Shia-Sunni battles, Ali failed to defeat Muawiyah in 657 at Siffin along the Euphrates near the Iraq-Syria border. Damascus became the seat of the Caliphate until a coup in 750 moved it to Baghdad.Waves of Crusaders next invaded Syria beginning in 1098. Egyptian Mamluks took the country in 1250 and the Ottoman Empire began in 1516 at its victory at Marj Dabik, 44 kilometers north of Aleppo  about where Turkish supplies are now being cut off. France double-crossed the Arabs and gained control of Syria in 1922 after the Ottoman collapse. The Nazis were pushed out in the momentous 1941 Battle of Damascus.We may be now looking at an epic war with similar historical significance. All these previous battles, as momentous as they were, were regional in nature.What we are potentially facing is a war that goes beyond the Soviet-U.S. proxy wars of the Cold War era, and beyond the proxy war that has so far taken place in the five-year Syrian civil war. Russia is already present in Syria. The entry of the United States and its allies would risk a direct confrontation between the two largest nuclear powers on earth.
Saudi Arabia said it was ready to send ground troops to Syria to fight . Saudi sources added that thousands of Saudi Special Forces could be deployed, probably in coordination with Turkey. Saudi gains in the war against pro-Iranian rebels in Yemen have freed Saudi resources to be directed to Syria, and the fact that Russia and the Assad regime focus their military effort on fighting the moderate rebels means that these rebels need more outside help to withstand the pressure both from and the Syrian regime and its allies.



Saudi armor ready to join the fight in Syria // Source: berkeley.edu Saudi armor ready to join the fight in Syria // Source: berkeley.edu

Saudi Arabia said it was ready to send ground troops to Syria to fight . The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against ) may agree to carry out in Syria, said Saudi military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri during an interview with al-Arabiya news.Saudi sources added that thousands of Saudi Special Forces could be deployed, probably in coordination with Turkey.News reports that Saudi Arabia and Turkey set up a military coordination body a few weeks ago.Saudi Arabia was among the first Arab countries to join the U.S.-led coalition against . The coalition launched its first attacks against in September 2014, and the Saudi Air Force took part in some of these attacks. Saudi Arabias contribution to the campaign against diminished after it began its own campaign, in March 2015, against pro-Iranian rebels in neighboring Yemen.As was the case with other Arab members of the U.S.-led coalition, the Saudi contribution to the war against diminished when it became clear that the campaign against was not part of a broader campaign to remove President Assad from power and replace his regime with a Sunni-majority government.Saudi Arabia has talked in the past about using it ground troop in the fight against , but observers note that the talk is more serious and more concrete now.General al-Asiri said that recent progress against Houthi rebels in the war in Yemen was allowing Saudi Arabia to free up forces for deployment in Syria. A decision could be taken at a summit in Brussels next week.There is frustration with the current efforts put in place to fight Daesh [], said the Saudi analyst Mohammed Alyahya.Increasingly, it seems that none of the forces on the ground in Syria (besides rebel groups) are willing to fight . The Assad regime, Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah are preoccupied with fighting Bashar al-Assads opposition with one ostensible goal: to keep Bashar al-Assad in power, irrespective of the cost in innocent Syrian lives.Source: http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20160205-saudi-arabia-to-send-ground-troops-to-syria
Army to sought additional funds from the finance ministry

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has sought additional funds from the finance ministry to raise a new security division and an additional 28 security battalions, it emerged on Sunday.



A statement released by the ministry of finance said senior officials from the army had a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at his ministry in Islamabad, where the demand for financing and the release of funds was made by military officials.



The statement quoted Dar as saying that the government attaches the highest importance to security matters and assured the provision of funds for the new security division and additional battalions.



Pakistan Army is currently spearheading a war against terrorism in Pakistan's northern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, where terrorists from militant organisations are believed to have taken refuge.



In June 2014, the army launched a comprehensive military operation  Zarb-i-Azb  against Taliban militants threatening the writ of the state by launching brazen attacks on government and military installations.



Since then, the military has claimed to kill thousands of militants in air raids in the north and through intelligence-based operations in various parts of the country.



But the threat of militancy and extremism is far from from over. Despite the military offensive and stringent counter-terror measures, Taliban terrorists managed to breach the security of a university in Charsadda last month, killing 21 students and professors in an attack that bore resemblance to the brazen Dec 2014 assault on an army-run school in Peshawar that killed 144.
FC ,Police arrested 35 militants

QUETTA: Frontier Corps and Police personnel arrested 35 suspects and killed two suspected militants during an exchange of fire on Sunday. The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) were conducting raids in various parts of the city following yesterday's bloody suicide attack.



Four security personnel and a 13-year-old girl were among those who lost their lives in the attack targeting an FC convoy.



Frontier Corps Spokesman Khan Wasey claimed two Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan members were killed during an encounter with security forces, and 35 people were taken into custody during raids at Sariab road and in surrounding areas.



The raids come as the death toll from Saturday's TTP-claimed suicide bombing targeting FC personnel rose to 11 after a person injured in the attack died while undergoing treatment. Some 35 people, including 15 FC personnel, were injured in the attack.



Wasey said an operation has been launched against miscreants belonging to a banned outfit.



The arrested suspects will be interrogated by security personnel with regards to their alleged links to outlawed militant groups, he said. "The innocent will be freed after interrogation."



"Such cowardly incidents will not stop us from acting against terrorists," Inspector General FC Major General Sher Afgun said, referring to the suicide attack in the vicinity of the Quetta district courts.
PIA brought back its passengers 07 February, 2016



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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry

Woke Bingo KARACHI: Four Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights departed from and landed at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) this morning after five days of stalled operations at all major international airports in the country.



Flights PK 4232 and PK 605 departed for Abu Dhabi and Gilgit from BBIA this morning, while flights PK 4231 and 606 arrived at Islamabad airport from Abu Dhabi and Gilgit and Jeddah-Islamabad flight PK 7330 landed at BBIA around 2:37pm, flight data shows.



Civil Aviation official Imran told Dawn.com it was unclear whether more PIA flights would operate at the airport the rest of the day.



Although the PIA employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) has resolved to continue their protest against the government's plans to privatise the national flag carrier, PIA spokesman Daniyal Gillani says flight operations are "partially on" and is optimistic they will pick up in the coming week.



"Some employees are willing to come to work. They operated the flights [that arrived and departed from BBIA] this morning," he said.



JAC members claimed the flights operated were 'illegal' as they weren't up to international security standards, DawnNews reported.



The Pakistan Air Lines Pilots Association (Palpa) on Saturday announced its withdrawal from the strike against PIA's privatisation, with the organisation head directing pilots to resume their duties. Palpa added in a a statement that pilots were neither instrumental in halting the flight operations nor could they alone resume it.



Palpa President Amir Hashmi earlier told DawnNews: "At least 410 out of 430 pilots in Palpa are in favour of resumption of flight operations," but that they should be provided adequate security as "we are receiving threats from the protesters". Palpa urged the government to resolve the issue so that flight operations could resume at the earliest.



PIA employees have also voiced concerns about security, a PIA official speaking on condition of anonymity told Dawn.com "PIA employees are afraid of going to work. Some security arrangements have been made for them," he said.



PIA JAC Spokesman Nasrullah Khan, however, told Dawn.com "We are not pressuring employees to stop working or calling them to protest... We are peaceful."



Television footage shows PIA employees protesting outside the country's four major airports as the strike against privatisation goes into its sixth day.



Nasrullah said protesters will hold a rally in Karachi on Monday near the PIA Head Office at around 12pm.



He said a petition submitted in the Sindh High Court regarding the 'mysterious' disappearances of four People's Unity members has been accepted for hearing, although a date for the first hearing is pending. "We haven't named anyone in the petition. Our workers were picked up from their houses. We want to know why," he said.



On Saturday, a First Information Report (FIR) were registered against key government functionaries and top PIA management regarding Tuesday's firing incident that claimed the lives of two PIA employees on the first day of the protest. No Rangers personnel was named in the FIR.



An inquiry committee set up to investigate the shooting of PIA employees has begun probing the incident, a Rangers press release said Sunday, adding that individuals highlighted in various media clips, including Rangers personnel, will be questioned during the investigation.



Talks between the federal government and protesting employees hit a snag on Saturday as both sides seemed unwilling to budge from their positions.



Federal Privatisation Minister Muhammad Zubair and JAC Chairman Captain Sohail Baloch, despite agreeing to continue dialogue in a meeting on Friday, did not meet again.



The government on Saturday insisted that the employees unconditionally resume flight operations before coming back to the negotiating table. The demand was immediately rejected by the workers, who instead asked the government to reverse the plan to privatise the national flag carrier if it wanted a dialogue.



The government has so far failed to evolve a strategy to resolve the impasse that has resulted in the cancellation of over 500 domestic and international flights, causing extreme inconvenience and mental agony to thousands of passengers.



The National Assembly on January 21 witnessed the passage of six bills, including one to convert the national flag carrier into a public limited company.



Under the bill, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) is to be converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL).



The government plans to split the ailing national flag carrier PIA into two companies and sell the control of its core business to a global airline, but the opposition to the sell-off has been intense.



Although the government has assured PIA employees that no one will be laid off after privatisation, PIA employees insist the government accept their four-point agenda and put off privatisation.



PIA employee's four-point agenda:



Government should immediately take back the bill passed on January 21 converting the national flag carrier into a public limited company.

PIA's employees be provided a chance to reform the airline. If the employees fail to do so, the government will have the freedom to do whatever it finds suitable.

Privatisation, in any form, whether it is in form of a strategic partner or selling of 36 per cent or 1pc of the organisation's shares, is not acceptable to the employees.

Government should immediately review the aviation policy and form a committee for this purpose comprising members from PIA employees' JAC along with PIA experts Khursheed Anwar, Kamran Hasan and Salahuddin.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world. E-mail: paleojudaica-at-talktalk-dot-net ("-at-" = "@", "-dot-" = ".")
We have options beyond resignation? complacency? or denial? By: Romeo O. Encarnacion
In this Wednesday, March 26, 2014, file photo, Chet Kanojia speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, in New York. Kanojia, the founder of startup TV service Aereo, has a new offering that could shake up the cable industry again. His new Internet service, Starry, would compete with cable companies in big cities. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Chet Kanojia, the founder of startup TV service Aereo, has a new offering that could shake up the cable industry again. His new Internet service, Starry, would compete with cable companies in big cities.

Across the country, only one-third of homes have a choice of broadband providers, according to government figures. Starry will use a wireless technology that has long existed, but hasn't been used extensively before. The service is expected to launch this summer, starting in Boston. Kanojia hasn't disclosed prices, though.

Kanojia's previous effort offered local TV channels over the Internet at a lower cost than cable, but broadcasters shut it down with a copyright lawsuit. Kanojia says he doesn't expect legal challenges with Starry.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Kanojia insists he's not going after the cable industrybut his service would compete directly with cable companies' residential and small-business offerings. Here's what he had to say. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Why go up against the cable industry?

A: People have a misconception that we're going against someone. Competition is not part of bringing somebody down. It's about better products, better prices. There's a lack of competition and there's pent-up demand.

Q: Do you expect pushback from cable?

A: It's not clear to me that we are a threat to anybody. Everybody wants more options. That includes the Federal Communications Commission. Tons of other companies are doing this. In rural areas and less-dense areas, there are things called WISPs (wireless Internet service providers). I think there's like a thousand of them, small operations, mom-and-pop stuff. Urban areas should have an option as well.

Q: Why go the wireless route?

A: It's a pretty interesting advantage compared with the wired approach, in terms of cost of construction, time to market. I don't think we would succeed if we were building out the same technology that current providers use. We think our technological approach gives us an advantage. My cost advantage is so dramatic, it's worth my while.

Q: Won't tall buildings in big cities be a problem for wireless offerings?

A: Millimeter waves (which Starry is using) have highly reflective properties. They bounce around between buildings, urban canyons and rooftops very well. You don't need a direct line of sight.

Q: Why aren't you offering video service, too, like cable companies do? Will that hurt you?

A: There is a market shift underway where people are streaming more and more. Second, you take a step back and see what other market segments are there, like small businesses that don't get TV. There are really large pockets you can service effectively and well without worrying about video packages and stuff.

Q: Where in Boston are you starting this?

A: We haven't finalized that. The initial focus is going to be in areas where there is a single provider.

Explore further Cable-industry disruptor is back with new Internet service

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
UPDATE 10:44 p.m. ET: SEOUL, South Korea (TheBlaze/AP)  North Korea state media says it has put a satellite into orbit on a successful rocket launch and vows to launch more satellites. The U.S. said its still assessing the situation.



UPDATE 9:49 p.m. ET: SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned North Koreas rocket launch as a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions related to Pyongyangs use of ballistic missile technology.

Kerry says this is the second time in just over a month that North Korea has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean Peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well.

He reaffirms Washingtons ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan.

He says the U.S. will continue to work with its partners and members of the U.N. Security Council on significant measures to hold North Korea to account.



UPDATE 8:46 p.m. ET: SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas Yonhap news agency is reporting that North Koreas rocket launch may have failed.

The agency provided no other details in a short dispatch.

The Souths Defense Ministry says it cannot immediately confirm the report. North Korea successfully put a satellite into orbit in its last launch in December 2012. But before that Pyongyang suffered a series of failures.

Original story below

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The launch, which South Korean officials confirmed about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning, follows North Koreas widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. It will be considered a further provocation by Washington and its allies and likely draw more sanctions and condemnation from the United Nations.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the Norths ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea says its nuclear and missile programs are necessary to defend itself against what it calls decades of U.S. hostility.

Leader Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the Norths four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the U.S., South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

The Korean border is the worlds most heavily armed and the rivals navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

It is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets.

Still, the Norths nuclear tests and steadily improving long-range rocket launches push its nuclear aims further along.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation.B
Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association

Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America.
A professor at an evangelical university near Chicago who got in trouble after saying Muslims and Christians worship the same God will leave the school, according to a joint statement released by Wheaton College on Saturday night.

Larycia Hawkins, a tenured political science professor, had been scheduled for a disciplinary hearing in five days to determine whether she would be allowed to remain at Wheaton.

A joint statement said Hawkins and the college had "found a mutual place of resolution and reconciliation" and that the two sides "will part ways" after reaching a confidential agreement.

The controversy began on Dec. 10, when Hawkins wrote on Facebook that she would don the hijab headscarf during the period of advent before Christmas as a sign of solidarity with Muslims.

"We worship the same God," she said in her post.

The post drew criticism amid a broader debate regarding the role and treatment of Muslims in the United States following the November mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, which U.S. authorities have said was inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

The college placed Hawkins on administrative leave as a result. Last month, the school's provost recommended Hawkins be fired.

The school previously said Hawkins was disciplined not because she chose to wear a hijab but because her "theological statements seem inconsistent with Wheatons doctrinal convictions."

Both sides struck a conciliatory tone in the statement, which also said neither Hawkins nor school officials would offer any further comment until a scheduled news conference on Wednesday morning.

"I appreciate and have great respect for the Christian liberal arts and the ways that Wheaton College exudes that in its mission, programs, and in the caliber of its employees and students," Hawkins said in the statement.

The college president, Phillip Ryken, said the school "sincerely appreciates Dr. Hawkins' contributions to this institution over the last nine years."

Many members of the faculty had expressed support for Hawkins. Bill Struthers, a Wheaton psychology professor, posted a photo on Facebook on Saturday night of himself holding a handwritten sign reading, "I support Larycia."

Wheaton, founded in 1860 and located in the Illinois town of the same name, has approximately 2,400 undergraduate students and 480 graduate students.

Reuters


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ST. JOSEPH, Louisiana  Im scared to take a bath, said Ethel Strum, who lives in St. Joseph, a community of barely 1,000 people in northeast Louisiana. She turned on the tap in the bathroom sink of her tidy one-story home and the water flowed clear for a second before fading to a milky brown. In her kitchen, a few cases of bottled water, which she uses for everything from brushing her teeth to cooking, are stacked on the table. I drive to Newellton to shower. Its a 20-minute drive but I can do it in 12, she laughed. But talking about the towns water issues makes her visibly upset. Among the many problems are frequent outages, water thick with iron sediment from the aging pipes, and poorly communicated boil-water advisories. Water should be free until its fixed, she said. Strum cant even wash her car with town water because it leaves a rust coating. Despite minimal use, she says she has received high bills and has to buy 20 cases of bottled water every month. While state officials and the EPA have deemed the water safe to drink, virtually no one risks it. Most here do not even use tap water to cook or brush teeth, and many, especially children, bathe with bottled water. Lots of residents spend several hundred a month on store-bought water. To add to the mounting frustration, $6 million of state funds allocated to St. Joseph for water line repairs in 2013 are still being withheld because the towns mayor, Edward Brown, has failed several times to turn in a mandatory financial audit on time. New Governor John Bel Edwards said this week his office was working with the town of St. Joseph and the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to fast track the allocation of at least some of that money to start system repair work. Mayor Brown said he expects to file the overdue audit by the end of February. What weve experienced here is policy failures that have allowed these communities to fall through the cracks, said St. Joseph resident Garrett Boyte, drawing a comparison to the disaster in Flint, Michigan. Boyte, along with colleagues in the Servant Leadership Corps of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, have sought to attract public attention on the issue through a recent social media push and an online petition to the Obama administration for federal assistance to St. Joseph. The effort has just over one-tenth of the 100,000 signatures it needs by Feb. 19 to reach its goal. The group notes, however, that with no evidence of lead contamination, the situation in St. Joseph is considerably less dire than in Flint. Nevertheless, the towns water woes illustrate a more slow-moving and commonplace catastrophe: failing infrastructure in small, impoverished communities that cannot afford to replace their systems, leaving residents with limited resources to cope on their own.

What weve experienced here is policy failures that have allowed these communities to fall through the cracks, Garrett Boyte resident, St. Joseph

Established in 1834, St. Joseph lies squarely in the so-called Black Belt, a term coined by Booker T. Washington at the turn of the century to refer to the swath of dark, fertile soil that spans much of the American south. It has evolved to describe the largely black, poor communities that have been in decline since the mechanization of farming drove out small farmers, with no industry to replace it. The town is the seat of Tensas Parish  one of the states poorest, with 34 percent of residents living in poverty and a median household income of around $27,000 (compared to $45,000 statewide). The least populous parish in the state, over half of its population is African-American. Unemployment in St. Joseph is likely higher than the official parish average of 9 percent, and the towns poverty is written in its shoddy roads and houses in dire need of repair. St. Josephs decaying water distribution system, installed in the 1930s, is the main cause of the towns water problems. Over time, these old cast iron pipes that convey the water, they deteriorate and start to crack and leak, said Davis Cole, a Baton Rouge-based civil engineer working on the redesign of St. Josephs water system. Leaks cost the town money; according to Mayor Brown, the system loses 50 percent of its water. And with resources already stretched thin, long-term repairs are out of reach. This is typical of communities probably all over the U.S., especially poor communities, Cole said. The waters rusty tint comes from naturally occurring iron and manganese sediment in the underground well that has built up in the water lines over the years. Every time the system has to be shut down for repairs, and then restarted, sediment is injected into the water flow. The problem started to become obvious over a decade ago, according to residents, but has gotten progressively worse. The water main reportedly broke four times last month alone. While the state does monthly bacterial tests, the last detailed analysis of St. Josephs water was in 2013. It showed 32 times the EPA-recommended level of iron and 9 times that of manganese, according to an analysis by the local Sierra Club. But the EPA considers these contaminants to have merely aesthetic affects on the water. They are not regulated by the EPA or the state. The states official approval of the water quality is of little comfort to most residents here. We dont know whats in that water. They say its rust but there are so many what ifs, said Marie, a grandmother and lifelong resident of St. Joseph who declined to give her real name because of the sensitivities around local politics. Whos more important: the people or the paperwork? asked Marie, implying that the audit issue was to blame. Get the water straight and then work on that. Its not the communitys fault, dont make it hard on us.

The predominantly black and lower-income community of St. Joseph is not alone in rural Tensas Parish. Lauren Zanolli

Iron contamination and aging infrastructure are not uncommon problems in the region. Dr. Jimmy Guidry, state health officer at the Department of Health and Hospitals, confirms that water discoloration caused by iron is a common complaint across the state. There are probably several hundred water systems that deal with this, Guidry said, out of approximately 1,360 local water systems in Louisiana. As a physician, Im not going to tell you a lot of iron in your system is not going to affect your health, Guidry said, when asked about the long-term effects of high iron exposure. But thats not something we regulate. In light of renewed attention on the issue, he said the DHH would be looking again at an iron and manganese water rule that was legislated in 2014. Of more pressing concern to Guidry was replacing St. Josephs decrepit water pipes, which pose a risk of bacterial contamination every time they break. Many Louisianans have been on high alert for water contamination after a brain-eating amoeba was found in four separate water systems last year. Guidry also noted that frequent leaks in the St. Joseph water main present another threat  they have started to erode the nearby levee. The Mississippi River has swelled to record heights in some areas this winter following heavy rainfall. I understand their urgency to [fix the water color]. That will take time, said Dr. Guidry. The urgency to get their system back to where they are not at risk of contamination is most important to me. He said that if they receive approval for two grants totaling around $600,000, the most-needed repairs on the towns storage tank and water pipes could begin in a matter of weeks. However, he noted that even with a full revamp of the system, which is planned once an additional $2 million in funding is secured, the brown water of St. Joseph might not disappear. It may not get rid of it completely, because it doesnt address the treatment part, he said. While there are expensive chemicals and filters that can get rid of iron discoloration, for a poor community, its not an easy option to address the iron, he added.

As a physician, Im not going to tell you a lot of iron in your system is not going to affect your health. But thats not something we regulate. Dr. Jimmy Guidry Louisiana state health officer

If you were born after 2000 in this parish, you were always taught not to drink that water, said Rosalie Bouobda, who moved to St. Joseph two years ago as a consultant for the Servant Leadership Corps of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana. That group has been meeting with state and local officials about the water issue for the past two years. Children are taught not to deal with [the water]. Its a reflex to themTheyve never known clean water. Bouobda, along with Garrett Boyte, who started posting pictures of the muddy water on Twitter, has been instrumental in garnering attention beyond social media. But many lifelong residents of St. Joseph have been reluctant to speak out, either because of a fatalistic sense that nothing will change, or out of deference to local politics in a town where so many people are related to each other. They just accept it as a fact of life, their water is dirty and there is nothing they can do about it, Boyte says of peoples perceptions. For St. Joseph, dirty water may be as much a fact of life as high unemployment and failing schools. Its like nobody cares. Thats how people in this town feel, Michael Thomas, Jr., a 25-year old father of two, said. His apartment in a small subsidized housing complex stands across from the overgrown ruins of a long-abandoned Tensas Rosenwald High School, one of many built in the early 20th century with funds from Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, to educate African-Americans in the South. We gotta boil the water just to wash the babies, he said. If I could afford it, Id move. He said he spends as much as $300 every month on bottled water. Sitting nearby, Kristi McWilliams, 23, and John Jackson, 24, echoed Thomas frustration. I think about moving all the time, but we dont have the jobs or the money, said McWilliams. There is more they could be doing, said Jackson of state officials. They could drop the water bill. Water should be cheaper in the stores.

If you were born after 2000 in this parish, you were always taught not to drink that water  Theyve never known clean water. Rosalie Bouobda consultant, Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana
QUEENSBURY | A New Jersey man who was found to have 180 packets of heroin when a car he was driving was pulled over on the Northway in Lake George one day last August is headed to state prison for two years.

Ethan T. Klemp, 24, of Clifton, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and driving while ability impaired with drugs, a misdemeanor, for an Aug. 16 arrest near Exit 23 of the highway.

Warren County Judge John Hall sentenced him to two years in prison to be followed by two years on parole, and recommended he be allowed to participate in the state's shock incarceration program. That program allows an early chance at parole if a bootcamp-like program that includes substance abuse treatment is completed.

The State Police and Warren County Sheriff's Office handled the case.
HUDSON FALLS  Village officials will hold an open forum to discuss plans for the former Washington County courthouse on Route 4 beginning at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at the courthouse.

Members of the group Phoenix Rising  Project Hudson Falls will be on hand to discuss various projects, including the villages option to purchase the courthouse, its annex and two parking lots for $300,000.

Village Trustee Bob Cook emailed invitations to various government officials and residents. Village Attorney William Nikas, who is also involved in community revitalization, invited others who have been involved with local projects.

The event is open to the public and is designed to bring residents up to date on the ongoing process to evaluate the feasibility of purchasing the courthouse and annex building. Cook and Nikas said they hope attendees will come prepared with questions and recommendations as to potential uses for these historic properties.

Fred Keil, the Plattsburgh architect who is working with the village on the project, will discuss the status and current condition of the structures, as well as what improvements may be needed. That will be followed by a tour of the courthouse and annex.

According to Cook and Nikas, the purpose of acquiring the properties is to prevent potential deterioration of important structures that occupy a highly visible part of downtown. Then, the general plan is to create a community facility centered on the courtroom space and to develop a youth center in the annex building.

The village has until June 1 to obtain funding for the purchase and is looking at state grants and aid. If it is unable to raise the full amount, the village will bond for the remainder of the sale price.

The property had been advertised for $499,000.

The purchase would not require a permissive referendum unless the village borrows money for five or more years.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, is assisting with the effort. Other officials associated with government, education, youth programs and community development will also be in attendance.

The project came under criticism at last months Village Board meeting from residents who feel the Village Board is acting too quickly on the project.
CLAYTON u Hundreds gathered at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel on Saturday to attend Save the Rivers 27th annual Winter Environmental Conference.

The event began with a welcome and opening remarks delivered by village Mayor Norma J. Zimmer and Save the River Board President Jeff Garnsey.

Several speakers from around the country and across the Canadian border addressed a variety of issues affecting the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River regions, including water levels, sewage treatment, tourism, oil transportation and others.

The event was attended by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, who provided an update on key political measures involving the waterways.

Stefanik, whose 21st congressional district covers the entire length of the St. Lawrence River in the United States, praised her fellow legislators for passing the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 in December.

The bill, which Stefanik co-sponsored, was signed into law Dec. 28. It bans the sale of rinse-off cosmetics that contain plastic microbeads, which can easily filter through wastewater treatment plants and into the Great Lakes, causing contamination and affecting wildlife habitats.

I was very pleased to help the House pass the microbead-free water bill, she said. It is a critical priority to protect the ecosystems along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

Stefanik also discussed her support of Plan 2014, which would update regulations on how water flows into the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. The Plan would update Plans 1958-D and 1958-DD, which have not been significantly updated in more than 50 years.

I am working to build support in the New York Congressional Delegation, Stefanik said. Were pressuring to try to get it done this year. One of my goals is to have clearer answers by the end of this year, if not before.

Stefanik said water levels on the river and the lake have a significant impact on the economies of the surrounding areas. Thus, she said she has been working to gain the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Secretary of State John Kerry.

D. Lee Willbanks, executive director of Save the River, was pleased to have the support of Stefanik on Saturday. He said the congresswoman has been a great advocate for Save the River.

We are very pleased to have our congresswoman speak to attendees at the 27th conference, he said. Rep. Stefanik has, in a very short time, become a knowledgeable and thoughtful supporter of policies that are important to the health of the St. Lawrence River and the communities that rely on it.

Other speakers at Saturdays event represented agencies in Ithaca; Buffalo; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Bristol, Pennsylvania, and Kitchener and Cornwall, Ontario. A student at Lafargeville Central School also provided a youthful perspective of the river.

For more information, visit www.savetheriver.org or call the organization at 315-686-2010.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Vermin Supreme is sidled up to a bowl of cottage pie in a dimly lit bar here in Manchester. A half-dozen ties dangle from his neck, and the black rubber boot he wears as a hat is resting in his lap. Suddenly, two young men interrupt him: Excuse us, Mr. President, can we get a photo? Supreme gladly obliges, hoisting the boot onto his head for the photo op. Sometimes, you get the feeling that it could happen, I could be president, just because of the excitement of people on the street, the Democratic presidential candidate says. It creates this incredible illusion that theyre joining my delusions. Its a beautiful thing that so many people are willing to suspend disbelief. Vermin Supreme is probably the most colorful candidate canvassing New Hampshire in advance of the presidential primary on Tuesday. But hes not alone on the undercard. Beneath the nationally televised debates and the front-page headlines lies a host of lesser-known candidates trying  with varying degrees of success  to get their message out to voters. Some are running for the Democratic or Republican nominations but dont have enough of a following to garner national attention. Others are running on third-party tickets, or positioning themselves as independent alternatives. As for Supreme, hell actually be on the Democratic ballot during New Hampshires Feb. 9 primary. He is under no illusions about making it to the White House, yet hes still optimistic. I think I can come out on top of the fringies this time, Supreme told Al Jazeera. To be sure, 2016 marks Supremes third New Hampshire primary. His campaign is less a serious electoral bid than protest or performance art. His platform includes a mandatory tooth-brushing law, zombie apocalypse preparedness and a free pony for every American. With all the money the United States spends fighting wars, Supreme asks rhetorically, why not buy every American a pony?

Jill Stein waits to speak before announcing that she will seek the Green Party's presidential nomination, at the National Press Club, June 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

But for other lesser-known candidates, this election is fully in earnest. They may not win but they  and their parties  are running to highlight issues of huge importance. Jill Stein is a Harvard-trained physician who was the Green Partys presidential nominee in 2012. A resident of Lexington, Mass., Stein also ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002 and 2010. Now shes running for the Green Partys 2016 presidential nomination. The Green Party is a left-wing political group that fields candidates for local, state and national office. Stein argues that the Democratic and Republican parties are too embedded with corporate interests, keeping them from really tackling urgent issues like income inequality and climate change. While there are differences between the two parties, theyre not enough to save your job or to save your life, Stein says. Steins platform includes single-payer healthcare, a $15 per hour federal minimum wage, public banks and utilities, cutting military spending by 50 percent, abolishing student debt and using the federal government to create jobs for the unemployed. Some of that bears more than a passing resemblance to policies proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. Stein called the independent Vermont senators campaign inspiring. But Stein is adamant about the need to step outside of the two-party system, which she says co-opts progressive campaigns into a Democratic party that ultimately serves its wealthy donors at the expense of working people. The Green Party itself came under heavy criticism after the 2000 presidential election, when many Democrats accused its presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, of splitting off a fraction of the progressive vote and handing the election to George W. Bush. Its a common argument  that elections are about deciding between the lesser of two evils. But Stein rejects the idea out of hand. Running against Republicans instead of for a vision of what America can be is a losing strategy in the long run, Stein says. The lesser evil paves the way to the greater evil, because people dont come out to vote against their fears, Stein says.

While there are differences between the two parties, theyre not enough to save your job or to save your life. Jill Stein presidential candidate, Green Party
Its only a few miles from Glens Falls City Hall to the Warren County Municipal Center, but from the difficulty that each municipalitys elected leaders have in communicating with the others, youd think they were separated by 10 miles of impenetrable forest.

The latest issue to illustrate this separation is police consolidation, which Glens Falls Mayor John Jack Diamond has been promoting as a way for the city, eventually, to save a lot of money.

From the mayors point of view, city residents already pay Warren County taxes, but they dont get what almost all other residents of the county do  full-time police coverage from the county Sheriffs Office.

Instead, city residents pay millions of dollars (the Glens Falls Police Department budget for 2016 is about $4 million) for their own officers.

From the mayors point of view, it would be fair for the county to absorb the citys force, hiring its officers and patrolling its streets. He sent a proposal to the county recently, saying the city would pay the county between $1.3 million and $1.4 million a year for 15 years to take over police service.

Warren County Sheriff Bud York last week told supervisors on the countys Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee it would cost the county about $1 million more than that a year  about $2.4 million  to pay the salaries and benefits of the extra officers. Swallowing the city department would add other costs, too, York said, such as costs of extra squad cars and equipment. Legacy costs, such as pensions, might also have to be paid.

County supervisors talked about the issue, which has already been studied once by a consulting firm, and decided to send the mayor and the city Common Council a letter. The letter says no to the about $1.4 million offer and insists the Common Council endorse consolidation before supervisors dive into the nitty-gritty of negotiations.

Its reasonable for supervisors to seek some assurance they wont be wasting their time, before taking up a detailed discussion of consolidation, and we urge the Common Council to give them that assurance. Consolidation cant happen without interest from both parties, although Mayor Diamond says he has the backing of the council to explore the issue. Perhaps the council can reiterate that support.

The Common Council should also come back with a counter-offer, since the about $1.4 million has been rejected. How much is the city willing to pay?

At the same time, we urge supervisors to be open-minded and to remember that more than the bottom-line expense must be considered. Glens Falls is part of Warren County, too, just like all the other communities that now receive police coverage for no extra cost. (Bolton does have its own very small department.)

Some supervisors, such as Jim Brock, Ron Montesi and Dan Girard, have expressed an understanding of the issue from Glens Falls point of view. Others seem to think that cost is the only thing that matters, and unless the city is willing to cover the full cost to the county of consolidation  or almost all of it  then there is nothing to discuss.

They should remember that, while other Warren County communities pay once for police coverage  through their county taxes  Glens Falls pays twice. Property owners in Glens Falls must pay county taxes, which include the cost of the Warren County Sheriffs Office, and must pay city taxes, which include the cost of the Glens Falls Police Department.

Queensbury, which is much larger than Glens Falls both in area and in population, does not pay one dollar extra for county police coverage. Queensbury property owners get full police coverage through paying county tax bills only.

When looked at from that perspective, Glens Falls offer, which comes to more than $20 million over 15 years, is generous.

Also, Glens Falls financial situation, which is precarious, should be considered. The city is too small to support the level of services it provides. In particular, its professional police and fire departments are large financial burdens on a small base of taxpayers.

The city cannot simply disband its department. First, as Mayor Diamond has said, that would be irresponsible. Also, cities in New York are required to maintain police departments.

But because Glens Falls serves as a downtown hub for the region, every taxpayer in the county has a stake in its prosperity. Just look at Troy for an example of the enormous burden a dysfunctional, impoverished city can be on the county where its located.

In contrast, look at Saratoga Springs for the benefits that can spread out from a thriving, prosperous urban center to the county that surrounds it.

Supervisors considering the countys long-term prospects for growth will be willing to do everything they can to make sure Glens Falls goes in the direction of Saratoga Springs and not Troy.

Everyone with a stake in this issue should be willing to move it forward, at least to the point where supervisors come up with a figure they feel would be fair for Glens Falls to pay, and Common Council members come up with their own figure.

Then, if the two groups are too far apart, perhaps consolidation is not meant to be.

Consolidation is not the only option, as Brock, one of the citys representatives on the county board, has pointed out. The city could save money by gradually shrinking the size of its police department through attrition and relying more often on help from the Sheriffs Office and State Police. No formal consolidation would be necessary.

We have heard that many city residents want to keep their police department, but as with the Civic Center, something has to be done to lessen the tax burden in Glens Falls. If taxes get so high that people start moving out, the city will go into a death spiral of the sort we have seen in other once-prosperous small New York cities such as Troy, Newburgh, Schenectady and Utica.

The stakes are high for the city, because Glens Falls does not have many places left in its budget where cuts can be made, and police service is one of its largest expenses.

The stakes are high for Warren County, because its prosperity is inextricable from the prosperity of Glens Falls.

The stakes are high enough that elected officials from both the county and city should be willing to cross those few miles that separate their meeting rooms, no matter how far apart they appear, and make an honest effort to work together.

Local editorials represent the opinion of The Post-Stars editorial board, which consists of Publisher Terry Coomes, Editor Ken Tingley, Projects Editor Will Doolittle, Controller/Operations Director Brian Corcoran and citizen representative George Nelson.
Regularly ahead of the curve, the Review has opposed federal drug policy for nearly 50 years, was a lonely media voice against the massive freeways planned for Washington, was an early advocate of bikeways and light rail, and helped spur the creation of the DC Statehood Party and the national Green Party,

In November 1990 it devoted an entire issue to the ecologically sound city and how to develop it. The article was republished widely.

Even before Clinton's nomination we exposed Arkansas political scandals that would later become major issues. .

We reported on NSA monitoring of U.S. phone calls in the 1990s, years before it became a major media story.

In 2003 editor Sam Smith wrote an article for Harper's comprised entirely of falsehoods about Iraq by Bush administration officials.

The Review started a web edition in 1995 when there were only 27,000 web sites worldwide. Today there are over 170 million active sites.

In 1987 we ran an article on AIDS. It was the first year that more than 1,000 men died of the disease.

In the 1980s, Thomas S Martin predicted in the Review that "Yugoslavia will eventually break up" and that "a challenge to the centralized soviet state" would occur as a result of devolutionary trends. Both happened.

In the 1970s we published a first person account of a then illegal abortion.

In 1971 we published our first article in support of single payer universal health care

In 1970, we ran a two part series on gay liberation.

i

n 1965 we called for the end of the draft.

In the 1960s we proposed community policing
The killing of 17-year-old Jessica Hernandez in Denver was one of the most notorious incidents of police shootings last year. Hernandez was shot four times after she allegedly drove a stolen car toward an officer. Her death sparked public outcry and protests, but the national media largely ignored the story.

The lack of national media attention to Hernandezs death was not surprising. Police kill Latinos at a higher rate than whites. Latinos were the second largest group killed by police in 2015 after blacks. The Guardian documented 194 killings but that number could be higher if all deaths were counted and if Hispanic were classified as a race. It is possible that several Latino deaths were added to white and black categories.

But few police shootings of Latinos make national headlines. The lack of national attention and outrage stems from the poor understanding of the history of state violence against them in the United States.

Police shootings of Latinos have generated outrage in Latino communities for decades, but this history tends to be ignored. For example, the Latino community in Denver has organized against police brutality since the 1960s, but the sparse coverage of Hernandezs death lacked this historical context.

The media interest in police killings of unarmed black men has picked up in light of the Black Lives Matter movement. As a result, several media outlets have asked why there is little to no public outrage over police shootings of Latinos. Some analyses have argued that this neglects results from the erroneous assumption that most Latinos are undocumented immigrants. In other words, police killings of Latinos spark less outrage because they are viewed as foreigners. These claims have merit, but they fall short of addressing a critical factor behind the neglect for Latino lives: Latino history has not been fully integrated into mainstream American history.

Latinos have formed organizations to address police brutality and other issues that affect their communities since the 1940s. These include the Brown Berets, Community Alert Patrol, Crusaders for Justice, Young Lords Party and Chicano Revolutionary Party. For example, the Community Alert Patrol was formed in 1968 in the eastside of San Jose, California, a predominately Mexican-American community. It challenged the nearly all-white San Jose Police Department to be more accountable. Activists followed cops around with cameras and tape recorders to document incidents of police abuse. However, the efforts of these groups remain largely erased from popular memory.

In the 1960s, incidents of police brutality sparked riots in poor and working-class Latino communities, primarily in Puerto Rican, Mexican and Central American neighborhoods. Several cities including Chicago and Hartford, Connecticut were hit by Latino riots. The protests continued through the 1990s: Camden, New Jersey, in 1971; Newark, New Jersey, in 1974; Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in 1988; Washington, D.C., in 1991; and Los Angeles in 1992. The most recent Latino protests over police violence occurred in Anaheim, California, in 2012 and Salinas, California, in 2014.

Yet these historic Latino riots were overshadowed by black riots, as they are now. The incidents in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Newark have gained a more prevalent focus from historians because of their African-American, racially charged nature that fall under the umbrella of race riots during the 1960s and 1970s, according to Yale doctoral student Pedro Regalado. If these riots remain in obscurity, Americans will struggle to understand the challenges that plague poor and working-class Latino communities.
To encourage knowledge of affairs at home and abroad; to cure the spirit of lying which prevails amongst us; to record memorable providences.-Publick Occurrences, September 25, 1690



Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. Revelation 1:19
Leo De Watts, aged 27, claims Britain boasts the  Louis Vuitton  of finest fresh air.

The smog-plagued elite in Beijing and Shanghai have already snapped up early

200 of his 580ml decanters of British air in just a few weeks.

Leo sends friends and relatives out into the countryside - as far away from pollution as possible - to bottle fresh air.

His team of air-gricultural workers carry the bottles in adapted fishing nets - which are held aloft as they stride through muddy fields to harvest fresh air.

Leo has been exporting bottles of fresh air from Dorset, Somerset, Wales, Wiltshire and Yorkshire to the Far East.

When customers open the bottle, the experience of inhaling the fresh-air lasts just a few seconds.

But some Chinese are also buying the air-tight bottles as novelty gifts that will never be opened.

Leo, from Gillingham, Dorset, claims each area of Britain has its own unique air aroma.

He said: I would say on the whole that Dorset air seems to pick up a few more scents of the ocean, as the breeze flows up the Jurassic Coast and over the lush pastures.

Whereas air from the Yorkshire Dales tends to filter its way through much more flora, so the scent captures the subtle tones of the surrounding fields, giving different qualities to the collection.

Our customers all have high disposal incomes and want to buy gifts for someone - or someone wants to use it.

There is a serious point to this though as Beijing, Zhuhai, and Shanghai are the major places where pollution is quite bad, whether it is the fault of the rest of the world or its Chinas responsibility, we have a case of people living in smog.

A firm in Canada sells bottled Rocky Mountain air to China but Leo is leading the British charge.

He said: I saw a few reports of people importing bottles of air and thought it was a bit ridiculous myself, and then I thought about it.

When someone bottled water everyone thought it was ridiculous, now you have Evian and Volvic - why not bottle air?

We are priced as a luxury item - it is not for every-day customers. If they want something that is cheaper they can buy it.

Think of us as being the equivalent of Louis Vuitton or Gucci, we are not likely to appeal to a mass market.
Mr. Speaker, there have been press conferences from various areas but I think that as representatives of the people, it is better if we will have the information from source. So, when the Finance Minister is invited, he should be able to tell us what actually happened and the way forward, he said.

On his part, the deputy minority chief whip Ignatius Baffour Awuah, said the situation in his home- region, Brong Ahafo, was alarming enough to warrant action from parliament.

The amount of money involved is within the range of GHc1billion and looking at a region with a relatively low income people, mobilizing a total of about GHC1billion is quite a huge sum of money. I think the honourable Finance Minister will do us a good service if he comes here and explains to us what led to that and what the Bank of Ghana is doing so that at least the people who invested in these micro-financial institutions will at least be assured of the way forward.

Pulse Business can therefore confirm that processes have been initiated for the minister of finance to address the issue next week.
He warned that if the government forcefully ejects these Fulani herdsmen, it will be breaking international conventions on stateless people.

For years, the residents of Agogo have been demanding the ejection of the Fulani herdsmen from the area.

According to the residents, the herdsmen have been destroying their farms with their cattle. They have also accused the herdsmen of raping their women and murdering any individual, who questions them on their activities.

A few weeks ago, the youth of Agogo threatened not to allow the chief of the area to celebrate his 40 anniversary as the omanhene of the area if measures are not taken to resolve the crisis.

This generated a public debate with some Ghanaians asking the government to sack the herdsmen.

However, contributing to a discussion on Radio Gold, Mr. Pratt pointed out that it is important for Ghanaians to know that these Fulani herdsmen are stateless people and therefore, they cannot be sacked.

He asked, do you know that these Fulani herdsmen are stateless people and do you know that under international conventions, you cannot expel them from your country? You cannot! Its against international law to be expelling stateless people and yet, people are asking for them to be expelled. Expel them to where? Where do they come from?

According to him, the practices and existence of Fulani herdsmen have defied colonial boundaries all this time. They are not Nigerians, they are not Ghanaians. They are nomadic people who keep moving all the time so more or less, they are stateless people.

Mr. Pratt acknowledged that indeed, these herdsmen are causing considerable damage to farming communities. Sometimes they have about 10, 000 cows so even if they go through your farm and even if they dont eat what you grow, everything will be destroyed in your farm.

There are farmers who have lost 20 acres. They go to adb, they take loans, they develop their farms and within a twinkle of an eye, they are all gone, he added.

He stressed that the solution to the problem is to find better methods of animal husbandry.

That is the only solution! he said.

Are we going to create a special corridor, are we going to use our savannah regions to grow grass which will provide employment for people who live in those areas so that these cows will be fed by that grass and so on?

He indicated that he is deeply worried about is the violence associated with it. Some of these herdsmen are heavily armed and they resist interference. That presents a national security situation which must be dealt with and so on.

He said the two recommendations given by the committee which was set up to investigate the Agogo crisis will not work.

The committee recommended either voluntary repatriation or forced eviction but Mr. Pratt insists that these solutions wont work!
He commended the staff of the 37 Military Hospital for their dedication and hard work in spite of the challenges they faced in their efforts at improving healthcare delivery.

The Deputy Minister gave the assurance during the annual end of the year dinner and dance ceremony of the 37 Military Hospital Officers MESS in Accra.

He said the past years has seen the nation experiencing its fair share of national disasters, disease outbreaks and strike actions, which to the large extent stretched the resources of the Hospital.

The hospital's ability to handle the situation despite all the challenges provides assurance to the people and government that the Military Hospital is capable of performing under the most challenging situations to ensure efficient healthcare, he added.

He said the staff's dedicated and endless hours of service, motivation and focus even in the face of several obstacles are very much recognised and appreciated.

Mr Adjei said the Hospital was the base hospital for the countrys Armed Forces, National Emergency and Disaster Hospital and the Level 4 Hospital for the United Nations deployment in West Africa.

It also continues its expanded role to cater for clients and patients from all parts of the country as well as serves as a referral centre.

The Deputy Minister noted that all these added roles calls for an improvement in infrastructure and logistics to assist in the smooth running of the facility, which the Ministry has plans for.

He said to extend and improve the quality of health of the citizenry, the countrys health sector has witnessed massive infrastructural development and retooling in the past few years which includes the construction of new hospitals which the Ministry was benefiting from.

Mr Adjei said the soon to be completed 500-bed Military Hospital in Kumasi would be the second largest hospital as well as improve access to quality healthcare to the people of the middle and northern parts of the country, while reducing the pressure on the 37 Military Hospital.
Last week, Mattel unveiled curvy, petite, and tall versions of its classic Barbie doll with different skin colors and eye shapes. The new dolls were released in hopes of revitalizing traditional Barbies uniform look (white, blonde and thin) and anemic sales, and, despite not doing anything particularly new, they got a lot of press.

Over the last two decades a kind of limited enlightenment has crept into marketing efforts aimed at women and girls. The Body Shop launched the zaftig Ruby doll in 1997 as part of its Love your body campaign, which was prompted by that companys plummeting US sales. Dove, a Unilever brand, launched its Campaign for Real Beauty in 2004. According to Dove, that campaign started a global conversation about the need for a wider definition of beauty. (Starting in the late 1990s, Doves beauty bar was described in ads as being for the beauty thats already there.) In December 2015, the editor-in-chief of Womens Health banished the phrase bikini body from the magazines cover.



Reading about the new curvy Barbie, I couldnt help wondering why she is still thought of as the toy for girls. Why not encourage girls to play with a wider range of toysincluding dolls, if they want to, but also chemistry sets and tools and building blocks? Even Legosperfectly gender-neutral, in theory have in recent years courted controversy due to silly, sexist marketing campaigns (in the early 90s, around age 9, I wrote a letter to the Lego company protesting their rollout of pink Legos for girls).

Marketing executives claim that women have more and better choices today than ever before, and thats probably true. Many brands in the United States have caught up with social and cultural trends in the last twenty years. They have realized that diversity and inclusion and women's empowerment are not just corporate buzzwords; they are real concepts that can be mined to move product. Just listen to these companies language.

From Dove: [Our] brand is rooted in listening to women. (Swoon! Tell us more!) From Mattel: Girls everywhere now have infinitely more ways to play out their stories and spark their imaginations through Barbie.

Few would object to the stated messages of these campaigns and marketing strategies: bodies come in different sizes; real beauty is within; a womans body is bikini-ready when she puts a bikini on it. And they certainly expand consumer choices. But are they actually transforming the world for women and girls?

I spoke to one mother of a teenage girl who described Mattels new campaign as a baby step in the right direction but not nearly enough. She said she knows from her own experience and from her daughter that girls will find ANY reason to be down on their faces and bodies, so the more variety we can put into dolls, the better! Its a fair point. As a recovering teenage girl myself, I remember how harsh I was about what I perceived as my many physical flaws, and how easily I transmitted that anxiety to my younger female cousins.
Communications Manager of GWCL, Stanley Martey indicated that the residents would have to deal with the situation a little longer because at the moment, there is nothing we can do.

Over the past few weeks, the residents of Nsawam Adoagyiri have been experiencing acute water shortage due to the drying up of the water treatment plant reservoir.

The residents according to media reports have now resorted to using polluted water from the Densu River.

Mr. Martey however, blamed the residents of polluting the river which has made it very difficult for his outfit to treat the water for human consumption.

The challenge is with the citizens of Nsawam themselves. They are polluting the Densu River so now we are unable to store enough water around that area, he said in an interview on Joy FM.

He admitted that the situation is terrible. We will plead with them to exercise patience because there is nothing we can do.

Meanwhile, Mr. Martey said his outfit is presently being supported by NADMO and National Security with their fleet of tankers so that we can supply the essential service providers like hospitals and schools.

With the schools for instance, we can only supply their kitchen and their infirmaries so that they can get good water in cooking for them and with the hospitals, they need water everything so we try to supply them.

According to him, Nsawam is a very big area so within the communities, it has become very difficult to supply them with water so we are being supported by assembly men and opinion leaders so that we mount these tankers at certain strategic locations so that people can fetch.
The law provided that hotels are to submit returns on all foreigners who lodge in their facilities to the GIS every Friday.

It further authorized the GIS to enter and inspect premises and records on foreigners periodically.

Head of Public Affairs at the GIS, Francis Palmdeti, who disclosed this at a press conference in Accra said the Service intended to strictly enforce the provisions, especially in view of emerging regional and national security threats.

He noted that officials of the Service have tried enforcing the law but they were always met with uncooperative reception from hoteliers because the hoteliers were ignorant of the law.

He said following the attacks in Ouagadougou and Mali it has become necessary to reactivate the hotel inspections to enforce the Aliens Registration Regulation, 1974, L.I. 856, to ensure that we step up security in those areas.

We are aware that those attacks in recent times were linked to terrorist element on the sub-region. We are also mindful that attackers on Ouagadougou lodged in hotels and we need to step up our security by reactivating hotels inspection, he added.

Mr Palmdeti said before they start enforcing the law, the Service will sensitize the public including hoteliers through awareness creation on the need for everybody to be security conscious.

He said keeping records on foreigners in hotels are not peculiar to only Ghana as it is being done all over the world. When you are a foreigner in a country before you book for a hotel, they will demand information on your nationality.

He said the inspection is in the interest of both the managers of hotels and the public, that we know visitors that are with us to step up security, and appealed for cooperation from all and sundry to make the implementation a success.

He said the burden to comply with the law is directed towards the hoteliers and failure to obey or comply with the regulation would attract a penalty or a term of imprisonment.

Mr Palmdeti said at the time law was made, it did not take into consideration electronic means of gathering information that is why we need to come out with a convenient way to ensure compliance of the provisions in the law.
He beat four other Nigerians to win the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) last year conferred on Mr. Nsia-Poku a Fellowship Membership status for his tremendous contributions to the Ghanaian pharmaceutical industry.

The celebrated pharmacist pursued his university education at Kwame University of Science and Technology, KNUST at the faculty of pharmacy.

He graduated honorably and as a distinguished alumnus of KNUST he was offered a teaching assistant post for four years at the department of Pharmaceutics.

Pharm. Nsiah Poku qualified as a Pharmacist in 1988. He then left the university to start growing his own business.

By dint of hard work his business grew from retailing into wholesaling and into a pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

During the year 1999-2001, he graduated from the Ghana Institute of Public Administration, GIMPA, Legon with an Executive MBA.

He is a seasoned Consultant Pharmacist in production of Pharmaceuticals and Food processing.

The latest award is an addition to numerous international and local awards.

KinaPharma and its affiliates are consistent top performers in industry categories at CIMG awards and Ghana Club 100 rankings in the last five years.

Pharm. Nsia-Poku is also the Chairman and Founder of XPERT Security Ltd a cutting edge electronic security firm headquartered in Ghana, as well as, Green Diamond Estates and Resorts Ltd, which is engaged in the development and running of luxury and premium rated residential complexes in first class neighbourhoods throughout the country.
The Executive Director of the IEA, Jean Mensah during the week stated that Ghana is not ready for the elections but the Electoral Commission (EC) in a rebuttal said, contrary to the Institutes claims, the Commission is strictly following its timetable to ensure smooth and fair elections come November 7.

Speaking on Radio Gold on Saturday, Mr. Pratt criticized the IEA saying, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)  all that they have been doing for some time is posturing as the alpha and omega of elections in Ghana and it should not be allowed to do that.

According to him, Ghana has the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) where all the political parties and the Electoral Commission meet constantly to review things.

That should become the forum for consensus building with regards to elections and so on and not the IEA.

Does the IEA have a bigger capacity done the IPAC or the EC? he asked, adding that on what basis does the IEA come to tell us that the Electoral Commission is not ready for the elections?

The other groups; CODEO and others have challenged them and said what the IEA is saying simply doesnt make sense and the Electoral Commission itself has come to say they are ready and they know what they are doing.
The reports from PM News says two victims were kidnapped on Saturday, 6 February at about 6:19 p.m. near Siat Palm Farm in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, and following a tip off by a witness who immediately report the incident to the police they were able to storm the kidnappers hideout and rescue the victims.

Fortunately, during their rescue mission the police also nabbed one of the suspects 23-years-old Kingsley Bassey who later gave up the names and location of the other culprits.

Read More:

Confirming the arrest of the seven suspects by the Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer in Port Harcourt, Ahmad Muhammad.

The police after recovering the vehicle got information that the victims were blind-folded and locked up in the house of Onyekachi Okpara, who is the leader of the gang in Omerelu town.
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In a statement on Sunday, the Lagos Police Spokesperson, SP Oladapo Badmos, gave the suspects name as Joseph David, 20-year-old.

The suspect was arrested in Ikeja at about 4:40 a.m. on Saturday, after he had allegedly burgled two flats in Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja.

According to the RRS, the suspect allegedly stole three laptops and five mobile phones.

``Investigations by the RRS revealed that there have been repeated cases of house-breaking around Gbajobi Close, Balogun, Ikeja.

``The residents around the area have reportedly lost several valuables and cash to burglars, the statement said.

It was also stated that one of the residents, simply identified as Daniel and whose belongings were stolen, claimed that house breaking had become regular occurrence in the area.

``The Lagos State Police Command would continue to work ceaselessly to ensure the successes recorded so far in the area of security is consolidated and improved upon.
In a lecture organised by the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA), Yusuf said that 62 per cent of Nigerian women were unfaithful.

In the lecture entitled "Honour in a Nation, Where Honour is a Luxury," Yusuf said that almost all aspects of the nation was unfortunate to be characterised with dishonest individuals.

"The issue of honesty has to do with ethos and integrity; even Allah had honoured man, it is man who therefore has degraded himself and brought himself low," he said.

According to him, God is divine and clean and does not accept any act except clean and honourable actions from his creations.

Earlier, the President of UNIFEMGA, Prof. Abdulwahab Egbewole, said the policy trust of the programme was to identify with members in realising a family centred mantra as a core value.

He pointed out that honour was a scarce commodity in the country where those perceived as honourable were indeed dishonest.

"As a policy, we do not honour members with political appointment and we only celebrate our members who are appointed to political office after their tenure," he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) said that the programme was about honouring Muslims who had achieved distinction, while recognising excellence and challenging others to offer their best to the society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was chaired by the Chief Judge of Kwara, Justice Suleiman Kawu.
The Chairman of the Osun State Association of Medical and Dental Officers, Dr. Isiaka Adekunle, made this known after a meeting with the state's lawmaker over their demands.

According to the statement the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Olatubosun Oyintiloye, Adekunle raised the hope of resumption during the meeting of the lawmakers with the leadership of the striking doctors.

It was also reported that the Speaker, Najeem Salaam, appealed to the doctors to suspend the industrial action, saying the masses were at the receiving end of the crisis and noting that they are stakeholders in the state.

Furthermore, Salaam assured the striking doctors that after calling off the strike, the assembly would ensure that none of them was victimised due to the industrial action.

Adekunle said, Members of the union were also ready to make sacrifices as done by other labour unions in the state but they only rejected the agreement between the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress because they (doctors) were not carried along during the negotiations.
I didn't check all the verification sites given here, but from what I see on the news, in newspapers, etc., it's probably mostly t...
Shehu said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday that such criticism would assist the government in fulfilling its promises to Nigerians, adding that ``it is the only way the change promised the country will have a meaning.

He said that it was on account of this and in line with established tradition that the president directed that the draft 2016 appropriation, now before the National Assembly, be put on the website of the budget office.

He said this would enable Nigerians to read the budget with a view to making their observations.

``In reaction to a newspaper story that said `2016 Budget: Buhari to spend more on State House Clinic than on all Federal Government-owned teaching hospitals, the Budget Office supplied a summary of the allocations to the various sectors under the ministry of health, which showed clearly that the published story was inaccurate.

``The Budget Office has affirmed that in terms of both capital and recurrent allocations, the draft budget has put far more money in the 17 teaching hospitals than it did in the State House Clinic.

``Having said this, we are not by any stretch of imagination suggesting that the draft budget is beyond comments or reproach. Nor do we wish to dwell on this simply to make a point.

``To do that will drive away good citizens from pointing out needed corrections and, ultimately defeating the change mantra of the administration.

``The budget is a Nigerian budget and citizens reserve the right to examine its content and provide their own perspectives.

``As the draft goes through the approval process, this and many other aspects will continue to generate interest, criticism, commendation and sometimes condemnation in discussions in the parliament, the media and the court of public opinion.

``We believe that the process of "change" will be affected by, and stands to gain from these debates, especially where there is good faith on all sides, he further explained.
Furo, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, said the affected persons were from seven local government areas of the state.

``Following recapturing of the areas and return of normalcy, about 90 per cent of the displaced persons in the camps have left.

``The displaced persons that remain in the camps are those whose villages are at the fringes of Sambisa, who felt it is still not safe to go back home, Furo said.

Also an official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the state, Sa'ad Bello, told NAN that the displaced persons that remained at the camps were those recently evacuated from Cameroon.

``With the return of peace in parts of the North East, many displaced persons have left the camps on their own; we assisted some of them with food and transport to go back home," Bello said.

Bello said some of the displaced persons were however staying with their relations and friends.

He said that NEMA in collaboration with the state government and other international organisations, have been working to put some basic things, such as hospitals and schools in place for the returnees.

``We are providing the returnees with little support, while resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected villages will be handled by the Presidential Committee," Bello said.

NAN recalls that the Adamawa House of Assembly had passed a bill establishing the State Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency.
Alhaji Ahmed Satomi, the Chairman, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this on Sunday in Maiduguri in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN).

Satomi said the gesture was aimed at catering for the education of the vulnerable children who did not have anybody to sponsor their education.

He said the orphans, who were unaccompanied children found in various Boko Haram liberated towns, would be engaged in meaningful activities that would make them forget their traumatic experience.

The SEMA official explained that the agency, in collaboration with other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) was doing everything possible to cater for the welfare of the orphaned children.

"The children are all Boko Haram victims; some of their parents were killed while some of them had fled without any traces.

"We are doing what we can through our Child Protection Centre that offers training, counseling and other psychosocial support for the children.

"The Ministry for Women Affairs is helping us a lot in this regard.

"We also have NGOs like Save the Children, UNICEF, Red Cross, UNDP and WHO which are working round the clock to provide good healthcare services and other supports, he said.

Satomi said SEMA had separate kitchen for children where good foods were prepared and served to them.

The SEMA chairman expressed the hope that the parents of the unaccompanied children would soon be identified.

"With the recent mop-up exercise by the military and the liberation of IDPs from Cameroon, Dikwa, Gwoza and Bama, we are sure that some of the parents of these children would be identified," he said.

In another news, The Borno Primary Health Care Management Board (BPHCM) says no fewer than 190,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 28 camps in the state had benefitted from its free medical outreach.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Sule Mene, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Maiduguri.

Mene said that 10,800 children aged zero to five were enrolled for management of varying degrees of malnutrition, while about 121,000 were given various immunisation antigen.

He explained that the agency had inaugurated about 240 Integrated Primary Health Care Teams (IPHCT) that would ensure availability of the relevant services to meet the demands of IDPs in camps.

According to him, 14 health officials posted in each of the camps would provide health care services like routine immunisation against preventable diseases for children aged zero to 11 months.

Mene listed other services enjoyed by the IDPs to include anti-natal health care to pregnant women, psycho-social services as well as child nutrition support for mothers.

He said the board, through its Community Management of Malnutrition Team (CMMT), had ensured frequent provision of clean and potable water in the camps.

According to him, the team was set up by the agency's department of Disease and Control.

The executive secretary mentioned some of the challenges faced by the agency to include increasing number of IDPs coming to the camps on a daily basis from the liberated towns.
A member of the board, Mallam Ali Sule, stated this on Sunday in Benin in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Sule said that government had not reneged on its promise to computerise the primary schools in the 192 wards in the state.``We discovered some security challenges that would militate against the implementation of governments computerisation policy.

``This act of vandalism has slowed down governments desire to provide schools with computers, to complement other state-of-the-art facilities already in place, he said.

He, however, said that the board had re-strategised, by getting the communities involved in securing the facilities, through the constitution of Schools Basic Management Committees (SBMCs).

``We have started the sensitisation campaign, using members of the SBMCs, and letting the people know the implication of allowing these facilities to be vandalised.

``We have also started experimenting with some schools, by providing them with computers and safes to protect them.We have also employed some security personnel to guard the premises of such schools.

``Once this experiment is seen to be working, the policy will be fully implemented to fulfill the state governments desire of ensuring solid basic education in Edo, he said.

The board member further told NAN that the state government had also approved the payment of 40 per cent increase in the basic salary for teachers willing to work in the rural areas.
Farinde made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

The scientist said that biotechnology method was an improved method to boost food production, stressing that it was reliable and fast.

``Although biotechnology is a bit expensive, it will make work easier for farmers as well as enhance production of more food in the country, she said.

She also urged the government to encourage patency of developed technologies so that farmers would have easy access to them.

She said that lima beans were rich in protein, can easily be digested and a good therapy to control diabetes, cholesterol, softer and smells better than that of locust bean.

``Daddawa, also called Iru in Yoruba, is a good flavour enhancer for dishes; it is a good source of carbohydrates, minerals, vitamin A, E and K.

``Daddawa is more than a condiment as it can serve as meat in dishes and also a good source of riboflavin, she said.
Mr Vincent Onyema, President of Abia State Union, South Africa, made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that Abia indigenes resident in South Africa rejoiced with the governor on his victory at the court and want him to see it as a call to serve the people.

`` Abia indigenes in South Africa urge Gov. Ikpeazu to rededicate himself to serve the people.

`` We urge the governor to restore Aba as the commercial and industrial hub of the South East and South South states.

`` In recent times, Aba`s status was at the lowest ebb because of neglect by past administrations. This is an opportunity to restore her lost glory,`` he said.

Onyema also urged the governor to pay attention to roads, education, agriculture, health and other critical sectors that would revive her economy.

`` We are blessed with experts and academics resident in South Africa. We are willing to use them assist the state in agriculture, education and other sectors where their services are needed,`` he said.

Onyema also urged the government to revive agriculture to create employment and wealth.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

``I still have confidence in our military. I want to believe that the military is on top of the situation, he said.

On last week's attack on Dalori, Mairi and Malari communities in Konduga area of the state, he said ``what we are witnessing these days are intermittent suicide bombings by the insurgents.``These are acts of desperation, because their supply routes have been cut off by the military.

Ndume said that the Dalori attack by the insurgents was basically aimed at getting food supply.

``They just went to cart away food and other items that could be useful to them.

``Insurgents always make use of Gorila war style when they are almost defeated in any society, he said, adding that the insurgents would likely resort to using more of such style in attacking communities.

``This kind of thing is natural to insurgents; even in developed countries like the U.S and even France, you witness these kind of attacks from time to time, he said.

Ndume expressed optimism that the insurgency would end in a matter of time, saying ``we are very hopeful that the whole thing will end soon.

``When you see people in Maiduguri now, they look more relaxed because the military has weakened the terrorists.

``We are looking forward to going back to Gwoza; just yesterday, three of my uncles told me that they wanted to go back home.

``Everybody wants to go back, there is no better place like home, he said.

Ndume, however, acknowledged that only local government areas headquarters were safe for the IDPs to return to.

``What we are trying to do is for Gwoza people to go back to Gwoza because you cannot go back to stay in bush.
A former army ruler from the 1980s who returned to power as a civilian after winning an election in March last year, Buhari has the image of an ascetic disciplinarian keen to tackle his country's persistent problems with crime and corruption.

"Some Nigerians' claim is that life is too difficult back home," he was quoted as telling the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"But they have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons around the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking," he said.

"I don't think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home, where their services are required to rebuild the country," Buhari was quoted as saying.

The newspaper said Buhari thought a minority of his countrymen could do with improving their behaviour.

"We have an image problem abroad and we are on our way to salvage that," he said.

Buhari first came to power when he led a military coup in 1983, ousting an elected government.

He ruled for 18 months, during which he imprisoned journalists and opposition activists without trial, executed drug traffickers by firing squad and ordered soldiers to thrash those who failed to queue in an orderly fashion at bus stops.

Buhari was himself ousted in the next military coup.
El Hadj Mohamed Diallo was killed at the headquarters of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) in the capital Conakry.

"He was shot at point-blank range. I'm here next to the body at the morgue right now," said Ibrahima Sory Traore, publishing director of Guinee7.com for which Diallo worked.

Violence broke out when Mamadou Oury Bah, a founding member of the UFDG who was excluded from the party earlier in the day, attempted to enter the party headquarters accompanied by his supporters to participate in a leadership meeting.

In a statement later, the government of Africa's largest bauxite producer confirmed it was opening an investigation for voluntary homicide.

Bah, commonly know as Bah Oury, spent four years in exile in France, during which time he was convicted in absentia for a 2011 assassination attempt against President Alpha Conde. Conde pardoned him recently and the UFDG vice president returned to Guinea last month.
A lower margin for gasoline and naphtha refineries globally was also seen as denting demand for Nigerian oil as its light, sweet composition

However, while sales of Nigerian oil were not as rapid as for recent months, a lower premium of Brent oil to Dubai and lower freight costs made cargoes of West African more attractive to Asian buyers.

Nigerian sales were not as slow as for much of last year, and Chinese buyers quickly ate into the available Angolan cargoes, and there were only a handful left.

Demand for cargoes from the United States eased. This was because Brent's premium to U.S. crude returned after it had been reversed last month, making it less attractive to U.S. buyers.

A tender by Indian refiner IOC helped eat into the store of Nigerian vessels for March loading.

NIGERIA

* Qua Iboe was last heard offered by Exxon at dated Brent plus $1.50. Traders said levels near $1 were more realistic.

* Around 25 March-loading cargoes have found buyers. The March programme, with just over 2 million barrels per day, is the largest since at least October.

* Traders said there were delays of around six to seven days for the Escravos grade of crude oil due to production problems. Chevron declined to comment.

ANGOLA

* Most of the March-loading Angolan cargoes have sold two weeks into the monthly trading cycle, but more cargoes have become available as traders are looking to re-sell.

* P66 is re-offering a mid-month Dalia and Vitol an end-March Nemba, a trader said.

ASIAN TENDERS

* Indian refiner IOC bought a cargo of Escravos from Chevron, A VLCC containing a Bonny Light and Kole from Shell and a second VLCC consisting of an Okwuibome and a Usan from Glencore.
The center of the Traditional Anglican Communion; adhering to the Holy Bible (KJV) in all matters of Faith and Doctrine, a strict reliance on the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Two Creeds, and the Homilies and formularies of the Reformation Church of England.
The move comes after the United States voiced concern that the electoral environment in Uganda was deteriorating in the run-up to the Feb. 18 elections.

Violence during an election cycle is common in many African countries where it may be triggered by political or ethnic tensions, or flawed electoral processes, with women and children the most likely to be affected.

Jessica Nkuuhe, the National Coordinator of the Uganda Women's Situation Room, said the control centre will be launched on Feb. 15 at a hotel in Kampala and run until Feb. 20.

Nkuuhe said there had not been reports of electoral violence targeting women in Uganda before but women did face more types of psychological violence, whether they are voters or candidates, and efforts to prevent them from voting.

"Incidences of domestic violence resulting from differences in the choice of party or candidates have also been reported," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

President Yoweri Museveni has governed Uganda for three decades since coming to power after waging a five-year guerrilla war. He is heavily favoured to win another five-year term but the election is expected to be his toughest yet.

The U.S. State Department last month said there had been numerous reports of police using "excessive force, obstruction and dispersal of opposition rallies, and intimidation and arrest of journalists", adding to "an electoral climate of fear and intimidation".

Patricia Munaabi Babiiha, the executive director of Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), said the control room would employ women and youth and also involve police representatives and officials from the Electoral Commission.

She said 450 women and youth observers have been trained and deployed in 15 districts considered as hotspots to observe and report on the elections from a gender and violence perspective.

Also 10 youth volunteers have been trained to work as call operators to receive and record incidents from the field for processing and intervention when necessary.

"We shall have lawyers, communication specialists, data analysts, who will be able to decipher the information and call the necessary officials to go and resolve the issues wherever the incidents are reported," she said.

The Women's Situation Room is a concept that was first implemented under the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) during elections in Liberia in 2011.

It started amid growing awareness that violence had become a norm of African elections and women needed to find ways to counter this.
The city of Rock Island's on-hold plans to sell the historic Hauberg mansion and surrounding acreage has stirred a lot of memories for Cynthia Burke, of East Moline. For her, the property and its former owners are not the long-ago stuff of history books, but part of her daily life.

Burke is the great-niece of John Hauberg Sr. and his wife, Susanne Denkmann, who were the original owners of the property and whose family gifted it to the city in the mid-1950s after their deaths.

Burke's middle name is Sue  after "Aunt Sue" Hauberg  and among her condo's furnishings is a walnut bedroom set that belonged to the Haubergs' daughter, Catherine. Burke uses it every day.

It consists of a bed, dresser with six drawers, dressing table with three mirrors and a bench, glass-fronted cabinet, writing desk with cubbyholes and small rocking chair.

Burke keeps photos of different family events, including those picturing John and Susanne, in her desk drawers, and she is in close contact with many of the elder Haubergs' grandchildren. Her memories are many.

As children, she and her cousins played "dress up" in the home, using clothes from a cedar-lined closet. Another time they played "hotel," assigning room numbers to the upstairs bedrooms and setting up a front desk on the main floor.

The home had an elevator and the girl relatives learned how to stop the car between floors if they were trying to get away from the boy relatives.

A special treat was sugar cookies with a pecan in the middle baked by a cook named Mrs. Carlson. And "out of the ice box we could have any pop we wanted but no root beer because that was Mr. Hauberg's favorite," Burke said.

Attending dinners there, she learned to eat chicken with a knife and fork because, even as a youngster, she perceived that picking chicken up with one's fingers was not the proper thing to do. She also learned the purpose of the little bowl of water next to the dinner plate.

Although visitors now reach the Hauberg mansion from 24th Street, the original driveway curved up the broad hill behind the house.

Burke says the 24th Street entrance was added in the late 1920s when the Haubergs were asked to host Prince William of Sweden who was visiting Augustana College. The new way was more convenient, she said.

Last major family function

The last major family function in the home was a reunion in 1998, attracting 50 to 60 relatives, some as far away as Australia.

They visited the original Hauberg farm near Hillsdale, established by John Hauberg's grandfather, who came from Germany, and the family mausoleum at Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island.

The hit of the reunion, though, was a scavenger hunt in the mansion.

"The younger generation didn't know that much about the house, so we had a scavenger hunt," Burke said. Teams were created of equal older and younger members and were given clues to find certain things in the house.

A year later, she drove John Hauberg Jr. to the home that he called "the great house" during what she believes was his last visit to Rock Island before his death in 2002.

The home wasn't open so "he peeked in the windows, wandered the grounds, reminiscing, took a lot of pictures."

The grounds belong to all

The grounds are particularly memorable to many Rock Islanders not related to the Haubergs because they were accessible any time of the day or night, and kids played in them.

The late writer David R. Collins, of Moline, wrote a piece about the property titled "Heroes in the woods." Here's how it begins:

"It was Sherwood Forest.

"It was the Sante Fe Trail.

"It was the sands of Iwo Jima.

"Yes, and it was in Rock Island, Illinois."

It was John Jr. and his sister Catherine  whose bedroom set Burke has  who decided to donate the mansion to the city.

"In its day, it was considered quite modern," Burke says of the house. "It was not what they were building."

Construction occurred just as the Victorian era was ending, and architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries, including John Spencer, were taking design in a different, more clean-line direction called the Prairie style.

The tendency for tulips

Which brings us to the tulips.

One of the hallmarks of the Prairie architects was that they incorporated stylized plant motifs in their work.

The Hauberg mansion is rife with the tulip motif  tulips are carved in stone, plaster and wood and melted in glass  because, as the story goes, tulips were Susanne Denkmann's favorite flower.

Several years after the Hauberg mansion was built, Spencer replicated the tulip motif in a house in River Forest, Ill. Tulips are used on the decorative panels above the exterior columns and front door, the indoor and outdoor light fixtures, the living room mantel and on 100 art glass windows, according to an online sales listing for the home from 2012.

Apparently Spencer liked tulips, too.
Adelaide Rhodes crawled through a colorful play tunnel that simulated the human outer ear  complete with a sheet of bubble wrap covering the tunnel's end like ear wax.

The 3-year-old Davenport girl may not have understood the scientific nature of "The Ear Experience" exhibit Saturday at Bettendorf Science Expo 2016, but she exclaimed "That was fun!" as she went back to crawl through again and again.

"She loves science," her father, Andrew Rhodes, said as he tried to get her to go see another exhibit. "I'm not worried about her (not having an interest) at all."

Building that excitement and interest in science was the quest of the Science Expo, which transformed Bettendorf Middle School's classrooms into more than 50 interactive science experiments and activities. With more than 250 volunteers  some in the fields of science and education, the event introduces elementary and middle school students to science-related fields.

"We want kids to find out about science, how cool it is and what you can do with it when you grow up," said Betsy Romano, one of the two co-founders of the expo. She and friend Wendy Haffarnan, a self-proclaimed "science nerd" and former genetics researcher, launched the event 10 years ago.

The expo has grown from a small PTA event at Paul Norton School to one that draws as many as 600 children a year. For the past seven years, it also has had support from the Bettendorf School District and the Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation.

More than 900 people attended Saturday's event, organizers said

"Everywhere we go we're constantly recruiting (new exhibitors)," Haffarnan said, adding they have picked up volunteers, speakers and exhibits from other shows such as Bald Eagle Days. "The DNA exhibit is something my husband Bob saw at the National Boy Scout Jamboree."

The DNA Extraction exhibit was one of the many experiments and exercises where kids got to have a truly hands-on experience. Assisted by volunteers, young children extracted their own DNA from their mouths. "They go away with a clump of DNA put in a plastic necklace,'' said Bonnie Smith, a retired microbiologist volunteering at the station.

Topics also included forensics, cockroaches, black lights, 3D printing, hips and knees, water quality, robotics, chemistry and more.

Dr. Molly Parker, of Parker Audiology, Davenport, who was in her fourth year at the expo with "The Ear Experience," hoped kids of all ages left with an understanding of the ear's anatomy. "The kids ask great questions ... the depth of their questions, even at the very young ages, is very neat," she said.

Julie Johnson, of Palmer College of Chiropractic, was on hand with Bettendorf High School science students who the Davenport college works with. They were demonstrating a model that the high school students built from PVC pipe and a bowling ball that shows the problems with forward head posture. She added that research is finding such posture is creating problems especially for those who spend excessive amounts of time looking down at cellphones and other technology devices.

But there also was just a lot of plain fun for children such as 6-year-old Isabella Wainwright, of Bettendorf. She spoke excitedly after riding a small Hovercraft across the gymnasium floor. Asked how it worked, she knew someone used a remote control to steer it and that air from the fan helped "it float." But mostly she said "It was super fun."

Isabella was joined by her sister, Sophia, 7; her mom, Chelo Wainwright; and the girls' cousin, Liala Moore, 6, who wore fake pink glasses "so she looks smarter," Chelo Wainwright said. "They love it. I don't think we're going to have to push (science) on them."

Chris Like, who taught physics at Bettendorf High School for 15 years before becoming the district's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) coordinator, has volunteered with the expo since the beginning. "This adds to what we do in the classroom. It keeps the awareness up," he said. "It's creating an excitement for science, that is what we really want."
Warning Davenport School Board members of the legal troubles they might face if they support his position, board president Ralph Johanson has penned a letter to the Iowa Department of Education.

The topic concerns Iowa's complex school funding formula that sets varied per-pupil spending limits. Some districts are able to spend more than others, up to $175 per student. In Davenport, that would translate to about $2.8 million more per year from the state.

Johanson's document was introduced as a draft letter in a committee meeting Feb. 2 and it was endorsed by all school board members. "I have two kids in Davenport schools, and my kids aren't worth less than students from other districts," board member Daniel Gosa said.

Johanson warned board members of legal complications in the future, and suggested the board's position might be considered "civil disobedience" for each of them.

The board will vote on the letter during its regular session Feb. 8.

Tate said the letter, signed by Johanson, is a response to a Dec. 28 e-mail from Tom Cooley, bureau chief of finance, facilities, operation and transportation services at the state's education department in Des Moines.

Cooley's e-mail is a projection that the Davenport district may have a negative unspent balance within two years if changes are not made in revenue and expenditures.

Johanson's letter in response is directed to Ryan Wise, director of the education department.

Johanson writes that the district's "unspent balance" will be negative by the end of this school year, and further, that is the result of deliberate plan.

Tate's budget plan includes $175 for each student, and the money is set to come from the district's cash reserves, which is not allowed by state law. Those cash reserves now total about $29 million.

The board has supported Tate since he announced this approach last March.

Johanson wrote that the district is awaiting action from the Iowa Legislature on the supplemental aid formula before finishing the 2016-2017 budget.

State Rep. Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, is on the house education committee. She said a couple of bills are under discussion, but noted that committee meetings have been disrupted by the caucuses, a blizzard, and the death of a former senator.

Winckler favors an equitable way to fix the problem, noting only six other school districts in Iowa are at the $175 per-pupil spending limit. In addition, 175 districts are at some level above the limit; including Bettendorf, $83 above, and Pleasant Valley, $138 above.

In the meantime, the Davenport staff, including Marsha Tangen, the district's chief financial officer, and board members unanimously intend to support the superintendent in his plans to use the funds in cash reserve "in order to assure equity of per pupil spending for this district," Johanson wrote.
President Barack Obama could keep it vague on Wednesday when he addresses the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield. Or the former state senator could walk into Speaker Mike Madigan's kitchen and rummage through the fridge. We're pulling for the latter.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama's address would be about what we can do together as a country to build a better politics and one that reflects our better self, reported The New York Times. It's likely to be a continuation of January's State of the Union address, which was remarkably light on specifics entering Obama's final year in office. It could be little but a lofty, yet vapid speech for a man in the swan song of his presidency looking to bring his career full circle.

But in Obama's final State of the Union, he made a pointed statement that resonates in Illinois.

"We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around," he said. "Let a bipartisan group do it."

No doubt, Czar Madigan cringed.

Illinois' speaker, you see, is fighting tooth and nail against a citizen-driven movement to end the gerrymandering that rendered voters utterly voiceless. Any political observer will tell you, Illinois isn't the land of contentious primaries and hard-fought general elections. Nope. It's a political fortress, built, manned and defended by the very elected state officials who now draw the districts for their own preservation. And Madigan, the chairman of the ruling state Democratic Party, is the resident commandant.

The Independent Maps coalition seeks to tear the ramparts down, since Madigan won't permit a vote in the House. The bipartisan group is nearing the 600,000 signatures needed to force the proposed amendment to the state Constitution on the November ballot, the organization's officials said. Republicans, Democrats and independents have all signed on, mind you. That's big news in a state where the election of a Republican governor results in instant gridlock.

Sure sounds a bit like Obama's statement in January, eh? He should double-down and urge Illinoisans to sign the petition.

Obama, a fellow Democrat and former colleague, could severely weaken Madigan's stranglehold on the party and the state with just a couple of sentences. And, for good measure, he should toss in something about drawing the lines for state offices, too. It's all rooted in the same philosophy  one based on accountability to voters over special interests.

This isn't about a dislike for one party or another. It's about fairness. Movements to strip self-serving lawmakers of redistricting power have been popping up throughout the country. And, in each case, the ruling party throws a tantrum and does everything it can to undermine the calls for basic good government. They slather the debate in subterfuge, such as the tired argument that nobody is truly "independent" so any change is pointless. They challenge it in court and lose, when it gets forced through.

Clockwork.

Obama gave a nod in January to a broken political system that robs all power from the voter. It isolates potentially troublesome populations. It assures that, once elected, lawmakers answer only to their special interest paymasters. No wonder Illinois is a broken, cash-bleeding mess.

Obama could play it safe for his farewell tour through Springfield. Or he could fight for meaningful change and potentially force Illinois's state and federal lawmakers to answer for their impotence.
SPRINGFIELD  Given the deep partisan divisions that have characterized his presidency, it strikes some as odd that Barack Obama is returning to Springfield this week to address the Illinois General Assembly on building "a better politics  one that reflects our better selves."

When the speech, scheduled for Wednesday, was announced late last month, state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, an Okawville Republican who served with Obama throughout his tenure in the Senate, said he doesn't think his former colleague has set a very good example as president.

And although Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner welcomed the visit and highlighted areas of common ground with Obama, he also told reporters, "I don't know who in Washington can look and say, 'Hey, follow our model.'"

But after Obama arrived at the Illinois Capitol nearly two decades ago as a political neophyte in the Illinois Senate's minority party, he built a reputation as a lawmaker who could work across the aisle to get things done.

"Mr. Obama was eager to work on legislation," said Kirk Dillard, then a Republican state senator from Hinsdale and now chairman of the Regional Transit Authority in the Chicago area, "so he had to cooperate with Republicans."

Dillard recalls being told not long after Obama arrived in 1997 that the young lawmaker from the South Side was someone he should get to know.

The two ended up serving together on a four-member bipartisan task force assigned to tackle ethics and campaign finance reforms being championed by, among others, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, then head of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University that now bears his name.

Dillard was the Senate sponsor and Obama the co-sponsor of legislation, approved in 1998, that banned lobbyists from giving gifts to lawmakers and enacted new campaign finance disclosure requirements, along with other reforms.

"One of the highlights of my legislative career was, in fact, working rather closely in a bipartisan way on legislation with a man who turned out to be president of the United States," Dillard said.

The two later worked together with then-Attorney General Jim Ryan, another DuPage County Republican, on a law that requires police to collect racial data during traffic stops. Dillard also signed on as a co-sponsor to an Obama-backed measure that requires interrogations in homicide investigations to be videotaped.

Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, also was involved in the ethics and campaign finance reform efforts of the late 1990s.

"When you're trying to make those kinds of changes, you've got people on both sides of the aisle that are kind of invested in the status quo," Redfield said.

The reforms they were pushing for required the lawmakers who were leading the effort to work both across the aisle and within their own caucuses, he said.

Redfield noted that Dillard appeared in an Obama campaign commercial during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In the ad, which drew criticism from many within Dillard's party at the time and during later campaigns for governor, he praises Obama for having worked "on some of the deepest issues we had" and being "successful in a bipartisan way."

"It certainly speaks to his ability to build relationships with members of the other party and work on issues," Redfield said.

But not all Republicans were so willing to work with Obama, said Denny Jacobs, a former Democratic state senator from East Moline. Many in the GOP caucus saw Obama as someone on the rise and tried to get in his way, Jacobs said.

"They really dropped that card on him quite a bit," he said.

From Jacobs' perspective, Obama's strength was not bipartisanship but his ability to stay true to himself.

"Win, lose or draw, he was going to put in what he thought was right," Jacobs said. "And if he got Democrat  he didn't always get all the Democrats, including me  and if he got Democrat and Republican support, so be it. And if he didn't, well, he still fought the good fight."

Obama's speech to the body where he launched his political career comes amid an unprecedented budget standoff between Rauner and the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Although he has been gone just more than a decade, it's an "entirely different world," Redfield said.

"I wouldn't expect that this is going to change the nature of Illinois politics overnight," he said. "That's certainly not going to happen."
CEDAR RAPIDS  Planning for the Iowa caucuses can be like preparing for a winter storm not knowing whether it will be ice or snow or how much to expect.

Its like inviting 150,000 of your family and friends to a party without RSVPs, former Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Sue Dvorsky says.

The first-in-the-nation caucuses are, by their nature, prone to chaos, according to people who have had a hand in planning and executing the once-every-four-years party functions.

Think of the challenges of hosting a party, and now multiply that by 1,700 events simultaneously statewide  all run by volunteers  and under the scrutiny of the national media, says Norm Sterzenbach, the Iowa Democratic Partys caucus director in 2008.

The 2016 caucuses were no exception.

Lena Gilbert, 57, a real estate agent from Springville, arrived at her Democratic caucus at Springville High School early because she had never caucused and wanted some directions.

There were no written instructions or complete verbal instructions to attendees, she said.

When the event started, she gathered with others who supported her chosen candidate, but the group didnt know if they were allowed to communicate with people in other camps. The number of people who signed in didnt match the number of people who counted off during the event, Gilbert said.

It doesnt seem like a process that was exact or accurate, she said.

Her expectations are not unusual but probably not realistic, says Steffen Schmidt, political science professor at Iowa State University.

We want (the caucuses) to function like a finely tuned machine  they were never meant to do that, he says. The people who are running it, theyre not professionals. Theyre volunteers, and sometimes, you have to pull teeth and beg people to do it. To expect it to be this finely tuned, sophisticated machine is unrealistic, but I guess thats where we are now.

It seems everyone who caucused Feb. 1 has a story about long lines, venues that were too small, confusion about locations with multiple precincts and volunteers who either were inadequately trained or unprepared for the turnout.

Its not for a lack of effort or planning, according to Sterzenbach and Matt Strawn, who was Republican Party of Iowa chairman in 2012. The state parties typically begin preparations at least a year in advance.

Although many of the precinct chairs are old hands, Strawn, now part of Next Generation Public Affairs, says considerable time is spent recruiting volunteers to set up and run each precinct caucus. A small paid staff relies on county party leaders to identify and peer recruit volunteers.

Its not easy, says Sterzenbach, now a principal at GPS Impact, a strategic planning firm in Des Moines, because serving as a precinct chair is not as sexy as being a precinct captain for a campaign and get to meet the candidate and have your picture taken with them.

Also, he says, its not as simple as pulling up the list of volunteers from the previous caucus. Its at least four years old, and if a party doesnt have a contested caucus, the list can be eight years old.

Finding volunteers to run the caucuses has become more difficult "because people are busier, they are less connected to the local party, Sterzenbach says.

This takes time, and people have jobs and families and others to take care of, says Catherine Crist, a 53-year-old Cedar Rapids resident and precinct captain at Cedar Rapids Washington High School auditorium where more than 400 Democrats completed the presidential nomination part of the caucus in about an hour. I have great respect for the fact that people come here to show their enthusiasm and commitment to this wonderful democratic process.

First-time caucus-goer Gilbert wishes every caucus ran so smoothly, and in an email to the Iowa Democratic Party, she offered her help if the party decides to revamp the process.

Its very sad because in Iowa we have this grand opportunity to draw all this attention, yet at the ground level, the administration of these events is very poorly operated, she said.

Thats in spite of hundreds of training sessions, including online training and conference calls, by the state Democratic and Republican parties. Sterzenbach says the biggest challenge for precinct chairs may be the hardest thing to train for: how to handle a crowd, how to organize a precinct with 500 people when less than half that number was expected, how to get them to stand in the right place and to be counted properly.

That was the case in for Doug Dorando, a veteran precinct captain from Iowa City, who reports that nearly two-thirds of the 646 people who turned out to caucus at the Iowa City Public Library were not registered or wanted to switch party affiliation.

It slowed down the process a little bit, he said.

Because there were so many people, Dorando had to move Hillary Clinton supporters and undecided caucus-goers to another room, which made some Bernie Sanders supporters think they were losing their opportunity to sway other camps.

It sucks because we werent able to stop Hillary Clinton from getting her delegate, said Mary Marturello, 21, of Iowa City.

But Dorando said he worked with candidate precinct captains to make sure rules were followed, despite the separation of the groups.

The Bernie caucus chair singled out 30 volunteers to have those negotiations with the Hillary Clinton supporters and undecideds, Dorando said.

Jeff Cox, a Sanders precinct captain, agreed with Dorando.

I have been going to presidential caucuses since 1980, but things have gotten out of hand because of the numbers, said Cox, a University of Iowa history professor. Doug certainly did his best, he really did, but no one can call this grass roots democracy, or even democracy, since participants cant be sure their preferences are counted properly.

Given that turnout of 171,000 Democrats and more than 180,000 Republican, space was at a premium, particularly in Johnson County, where University of Iowa students turned out in droves.

The Johnson County Democrats requested meeting rooms at the University of Iowa, Iowa City Community School District, community buildings, churches and other facilities, but because of the large groups expected, the party did not get permission in some cases, said John Deeth, data management director. Large meeting rooms at West High School that were used in the past were unavailable because of school events.

Not being able to use West High pushed the Democrats to Borlaug Elementary, which some Iowa City residents complained was discriminatory because the school isnt easily accessible by bus, Deeth said.

I understand the schools belong to the school district, but they also belong to the public, he said.

Deeth and Dorando said they think the Democrats did remarkably well considering the unexpected flood of university students, who havent been on campus for previous caucuses.

Dorando had advice for people running a caucus for the first time: Its not as easy as they tell you it is.

Sterzenbach agrees and says the parties may want to add crowd management to the training syllabus for precinct volunteers.

Lost in the crush of excitement about the presidential nomination contest is the fact caucuses essentially are a party organizing and building activity, says Brendan Summers, who worked with Sterzenbach on the 2008 caucuses.

The parties have caucuses every even-numbered year to bring people into the party, says Summers, who this year was on Sanders Iowa campaign staff. But when they take place in presidential election years, the focus changes. You lose some of the party-building.

Dvorsky acknowledges the bifurcated focus in presidential elections years, but she notes thats part of the ever-changing caucus landscape, including the impact of social media this year.

Imagine what 2008 would have been like if everyone had a smartphone and Twitter, she says about the record-breaking 240,000 turnout that year. Next time, if there is a next time, there will be utterly different conditions.

Despite the challenges inherent in successfully recruiting and training volunteers to oversee 3,362 meetings in nearly as many locations, she remains confident in the parties and the Iowans who pull it off.

Its the reason the party exists every four years, Dvorsky says.

(Gazette reporter Diana Nollen contributed to this story.)
views and poetry from an anarchist perspective.
Rats leaving a sinking ship [Feb. 7th, 2016|12:04 pm] rahere With a BREXIT vote headed towards victory, without any kind of leadership, every disreputable politician imaginable from Gove to Carswell are emerging from the woodwork claiming it was them all along. In fact, it wasn't: it was Europe itself, and partly Cameron, which did it, trying to insist on their right to tell us what we can and cannot do. It was clear from the start that the UK only ever accepted a Europe of collegiality rather than one of subsidiarity, subordinated to an unelected bureaucracy, where we contributed willingly. The legists in the Commission couldn't get their heads around it, now here's hoping they lose theirs.

The Eurocrats talk about years of uncertainty about what "out" would look like. I can tell them it's very easy, it's called go boil your heads, or rougher. They'll be left with an enormous hole in their projects, ripped out by force if necessary, and the harm may spread. Tell France it has to pick up the financial loss and Le Pen will win the elections. PIGS (including Malta and Cyprus), not a hope. Eastern Europe, faced with the return of all their expatriates here, will be in no better shape. Germany is barely able to carry itself with the refugees they've excepted. Which leaves BeNeLux and Sweden-Finland, and Ireland. The cross-border smuggling should help NI no end!



Mind you, given there's still no definitive date and the likelihood it's disappearing so far into the future it's likely to be 28th December 2017, if at all - perhaps in the good traditions of European Referenda we'll be told it was actually May 7th 2015, that DC was the elected spokesman for us all, and that he's casting the only vote which matters, to stay in.



And in the mean time, can we have a Referendum to get rid of all established politicians as a bunch of wastrel chancers, please?
WATSONVILLE, Calif. | A century ago, a sign hoisted above Watsonville's Main Street proclaimed it "The Apple City."

These days, however, berries dominate the fields around the city, the majority of the country's apples are supplied by Washington state, and the few apple growers remaining must contend with soaring land prices and winter temperatures too warm for their trees to grow fruit.

The farmers who tend the Pajaro Valley's orchards acknowledge that the apple industry is at a crossroads. As the world's climate changes, though, the apple growers are changing, too. To survive, they're doing everything from planting apple trees on lawns leased from homeowners to searching for forgotten apple varieties that thrive in warmer weather  to spraying their trees white to keep them cool.

"I don't foresee a bright future for apples in Watsonville. I really don't. But we'll be around," said Mel LaRussa, who with his wife, Carol, owns Clearview Orchards, a 7-acre organic orchard where people can pick their own fruit.

The statistics are stark. By the early 1900s, growers had planted apple trees on 14,000 acres around Watsonville, which is about 30 miles south of San Jose. But by the mid-'80s, apple orchards had dwindled to 5,000 acres in surrounding Santa Cruz County and about half that number of acres were dedicated to berries. By 2014, berries were growing on more than 6,600 acres in the county, while apples occupied less than a third of that area.

The "march of the berries" is probably the biggest threat to expanding apple production around the region, said John Martinelli, president of S. Martinelli & Co. The famed Watsonville apple juice company buys more than 90 percent of the apples grown in the region, Martinelli said.

Skyrocketing land values are the latest hurdle for apple growers. The U.S. Agriculture Department reports that the price to lease irrigated agricultural land in Santa Cruz County has increased by about 50 percent since the end of the Great Recession.

Local growers say the price ranges from $1,500 to $2,800 an acre each year, depending on the quality of the land.

"As you push land value higher, it becomes less worth it to waste your time trying to get an apple to grow on a tree if it doesn't want to," said Freddy Menge, who owns a small orchard where he grows heirloom apples to sell to specialty food markets and restaurants.

Here's why: An acre of strawberries or raspberries earns 10 times the gross revenue an acre of apples produces.

Economics is hardly the only obstacle apple growers in the Pajaro Valley face. Simply put: Many varieties of apples don't thrive when winter weather is too warm. Apple trees need a period of "winter chill" to reset their growth cycle, though the amount of cool weather they need differs by variety. Without enough chilly days, they won't blossom normally or produce apples the following season.

Last winter was unusually warm and sunny in Watsonville, with January temperatures about 5.2 degrees higher than the average from 1981 to 2010. Although this winter has been colder, local growers still fear that the global climate is shifting. They worry that balmy winters may become the routine rather than the exception.

"I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people just quit if we have another winter" like the last one, said Jim Rider, an independent apple grower in Watsonville. "Certainly the worst in the 40 years I've been doing it."

Still, amid the changes sweeping the Pajaro Valley, apple growers are finding reason for optimism, sometimes in surprising places. If California's 4-year-old drought lingers on, Martinelli said, the intense water demands of berries will mean that at some point farmers will have to devote more of their land to less thirsty crops such as apples.

"When we run out of water, they can't grow berries," he said. "At some point the berries are going to have to downsize."

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Q. I have excellent credit, but I just learned that the woman Im dating does not. Right now, I dont see this as a problem, since my good credit gives me access to what I need. Should I worry about someone elses credit?

A This depends on whether you want the relationship to progress. If so, youd be wise to consider your girlfriends credit scores, and heres why.

People who get married or have a committed relationship often acquire things with credit as they build their lives together  even if theyre not planning to do so at the outset. If you eventually decided to buy a home or car together, a prospective lender will look at your high credit scores  and your girlfriends low ones, too. As a result, your girlfriends poor credit may prevent you from qualifying for the loan you want or need.

If you need both your income and hers to qualify for a home loan, for example, her credit problems could prove so damaging that her income wouldnt be considered as part of the loan process. If this happens, then youd be left trying to qualify for a loan on your income alone, or forget buying a new home altogether.

Though youre working in smaller dollar amounts, the same scenario can play out for a new car, should you decide to buy one together. What happens if your girlfriend cant qualify for a car loan? Are you willing to buy a car together if it means that the loan will have to be in your name? What if the relationship falls apart, and youre stuck with all the payments?

Since your girlfriends credit could eventually have a negative impact on you, I think it would be wise for you to find out what caused her credit problems in the first place. Was it due to a one-time life event that was out of her control? (A serious accident, for instance.) Or are her credit problems a result of poor decisions, such as overspending or making late payments? What is she doing right now to improve her credit situation? The answers to these questions reveal information that will eventually affect your relationship.

In fact, research confirms that differing credit scores among couples can spell future trouble. In 2015, the Division of Research and Statistics and Monetary Affairs of the Federal Reserve Board of Washington, DC published a report titled Credit Scores and Committed Relationships. Based on data from 12 million Americans over 15.5 years, the report reflects that couples with differences in their credit scores are highly predictive of subsequent separation.

A couple with an initial difference in credit score of 66 points is almost 25 percent more likely to separate during the second, third and fourth year of their relationship. On the other hand, couples with higher credit scores are more likely to maintain their committed relationships.

People dont enter a relationship thinking it will end. We are optimistic about the future. But that doesnt mean we should overlook the signs that are before us if we want a relationship to last.
In her memoir, Piper Kerman reflects on her 13 months as a federal prisoner charged with money laundering, a crime she committed over a decade earlier. Her tales of bonding with fellow inmates explains the hierarchy seen inside Danbury  a low-security womens federal prison in Connecticut. Friends and family on the outside supported Kerman every step of the way. They even made sure to help deposit funds so Kerman could use the commissary to buy luxury items such as hygiene products and snacks. Her Smith College education prepared her for the shared living quarters, but not the emotional roller coaster of living within the prison walls.
PIERRE | The governor, a group of Republicans and a group of Democrats separately filed new legislation dealing with ethics, contracts and conflicts of interest last week.

The various measures, along with several others introduced earlier in the 2016 session, are responses to two scandals that unfolded over the past three years and raised questions about possible corruption in government and programs.

One involved the federal EB-5 immigrant-investment program that came under scrutiny after the shotgun suicide death of a former state official in 2013.

The other involved management by the Mid-Central Education Cooperative of the states GEAR UP program that helps Native American students and their families consider further education after high school.

Scott Westerhuis, the business manager at the cooperative, reportedly shot to death his wife, their four children and then himself at their home outside Platte last year. The house burned to the ground with their bodies still in it.

Various improprieties involving state, federal and other funds have come to light as a result.

The state auditor general has been conducting a deep investigation into how the GEAR UP money has been spent by Mid Central and its various contractors. Here is a look at proposed legislation that has resulted:

GEAR UP scholarships

A coalition of lawmakers from both parties led by Democratic Rep. Julie Bartling of Gregory is now taking aim at a specific shortcoming found in the GEAR UP programs operation.

Their measure, House Bill 1220, calls for the state Department of Education to redirect 50 to 75 percent of the federal GEAR UP funding toward scholarships. The grant agreement currently contains a waiver allowing the money to be used for purposes other than scholarships.

State Education Secretary Melody Schopp terminated her departments GEAR UP contract with Mid-Central in September. Within hours, the Westerhuis family was dead. The state Board of Regents, which governs the state university system, subsequently accepted responsibility for managing GEAR UP.

South Dakota receives $3.4 million annually from the federal Department of Education for the program that helps Native American children across the state, including a significant number in the West River region.

More internal controls

Gov. Dennis Daugaard assigned Lt. Gov. Matt Michels to look at state governments controls regarding pass-through grants such as GEAR UP. The result of Michels work is Senate Bill 162 that proposes a state Board of Internal Control.

It calls for seven members headed by the commissioner of finance and management to develop financial control guidelines, a code of conduct and a conflict of interest policy to be used by state agencies.

Each state agency would establish an internal control officer. The new board would receive copies of all audits and related correspondence from the state auditor general involving federal funding.

All grants, pass-through grants and any other money awarded by a state agency starting July 1, 2016, would be posted on the state government website. The grant agreements would include sworn statements by recipients or sub-recipients that a conflict of interest policy and internal controls are in place and followed.

Nonprofits also would have to post their IRS 990 filings for public viewing.

State employees suspicious of activities involving grants would be required to report to their immediate supervisor, the state attorney general or the auditor general. There would be protection against retaliation for reporting violations of state law.

Outing self interests

Rep. Paula Hawks, D-Hartford, has proposed restrictions against self-dealing by state board members in House Bill 1155 and proposes creation of a 12-member politically balanced South Dakota Government Accountability Committee to handle ethics complaints in House Bill 1227.

Her two bills have only Democrats on their sponsor lists. The Legislature has large, controlling Republican majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Listing contract recipients

Sen. Scott Parsley, D-Madison, heads a bipartisan coalition that wants the names and contracts of state contract recipients to be posted on the state website if the cumulative total of the amounts exceeds $50,000.

State law requires public posting of contracts if they are above $50,000.

Parsleys bill is Senate Bill 163. Hawks is his lead sponsor in the House. She is the only Democrat running for the U.S. House seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, who is seeking re-election this year.

Allowing officials leeway

Rep. G. Mark Mickelson, R-Sioux Falls, introduced a measure Thursday that would allow a public official at the local level or an appointed member of a state board, commission or authority to have an interest in a contract under certain circumstances.

The person would need to have provided written notice in advance to the agencys top person of the interest in the contract and receive written clearance.

The authorizations would be public records to be kept by the auditor general and reviewed annually by the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee.

The legislation lists 21 state boards, commissions and panels that would be specifically covered. Republicans are the only legislators on the sponsor list for HB 1214. Mickelson is expected to be a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018.

A few other measures

The House approved House Bill 1090 Thursday that requires local government insurance pools to receive annual audits and to file the audits with the state auditor general.

Sen. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell, introduced Senate Bill 143 that would assign the Legislative Planning Committee with the duty of reviewing each state department and agency at least once every three years and reporting publicly on the progress toward achieving up to six performance measures.

All of the proposals came at the deadline for individual legislators to introduce legislation.
In South Dakota, lawmakers want it known that not sleet, nor snow, nor dead of night  and not a tornado, flood, fire or other natural disaster  should ever block a municipal official from doing his or her job.

Under Senate Bill 74, any member of a county, township, municipal, school or special purpose board shall not be restricted from fulfilling their term of office if they are forced to move due to a natural disaster. The bill was passed 35-0 by the Senate and has now moved to the House for consideration.

If the measure becomes law, it means that if Rapid Creek were to flood, and force Mayor Steve Allender to move to a mobile home in Box Elder, he can still serve out his term. Or that if a tornado whipped through the area, and forced School Board President Jim Hansen to move into a tent in Buffalo Chip, S.D., that he could still preside over board meetings. Or that if a fire scorched the region and forced Pennington County Commission Chairman Lyndell Petersen to retreat to a waterfront condo in Florida, he could still run the commission meetings.

Phew! We can all sleep more soundly if this bill becomes law.

All joking aside, however, if  heaven forbid  this legislation is ever called upon due to a real disaster, it seems only fair and proper that an official should be allowed to continue to serve in their district if so inclined and able.
LEAD | The Historic Homestake Opera House proudly announces two live jazz concert opportunities on Valentine's Day Weekend featuring Dakota Jazz Collective and Jami Lynn on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Historic Homestake Opera House located at 313 W. Main Street.

Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for members, and $10 for students age 17 and younger. Dinner and show packages in Lead are available. Tickets are available by calling the office at 605-584-2067 or at the door.

Seating is general admission.

Dakota Jazz Collective (DJC) is a Sioux Falls-based ensemble rooted in the classic and contemporary sounds of jazz featuring the music stylings of Jim Speirs, trumpet; Joel Shotwell, saxophone; Jim McKinney, vibraphone; Daniel Heier, drums; Andrew Reinartz, bass.

DJC members formed in 2004 and have developed a strong reputation as some of the regions finest and most recognized jazz musicians. DJC features the classic jazz quintet instrumentation of trumpet, saxophone, piano, bass and drums, and serves as the exclusive band performing the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Societys informative jazz concert, the Jazz Diversity Project.

Patrons will hear many familiar tunes during a DJC concert along with a few new jazz classics. Their repertoire is a diverse mix of old and new, featuring several original arrangements by members of the band.

Concerts include favorites form Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly, Oliver Nelson, Neal Hefti, several from the American songbook, and contemporary jazz composers including Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, and Wynton Marsalis.

Jami Lynn is a northeastern SD native and began performing folk and bluegrass music at the age of thirteen. This versatile singer/songwriter attended USD majoring in vocal performance, studied briefly in Nashville.

Lynns second album, Sodbusters, is SD folk songs and the surrounding states and artfully crafted originals. It was played on SD Public Radio and caught the attention of international critics in France and the Netherlands.

Lynn is a member of the SD Artists in Schools & Communities Program, and was recently featured in the Smithsonians Shared Harmonies program.

DJC and Jami Lynn have toured extensively throughout South Dakota and are featured on the South Dakota Arts Council's touring artist roster.

For more information, contact the HHOH office Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 605-584-2067 or visit HomestakeOperaHouse.org.

Support is provided in part by the South Dakota Arts Council through the Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation, Mary Adams Mastrovich. The HHOH is a equal opportunity provider and employer.
Ellsworth Air Force Base has a new sexual-assault response coordinator, and statistics indicate she could be busy.

An Air Force report of sexual-assault court-martial convictions shows there were eight at Ellsworth from 2010 through March 2015, which was tied for the second most among the 72 installations listed in the report. Only Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland had a higher number, with 16.

Whether the Ellsworth numbers reflect a problem or progress is open to debate.

Eunice Bernadette Bernie McFarling, who recently succeeded the base's outgoing sexual-assault response coordinator, said the numbers are indicative of a military justice system that is growing more responsive to victims of sexual assault.

It doesnt necessarily mean more assaults are happening, McFarling said. With more education and awareness, folks are realizing now where to turn for help, and that message is going out to the airmen.

Don Christensen, a Sturgis native and former chief prosecutor of the U.S. Air Force, said its difficult to draw any conclusions from conviction numbers because the number of sexual-assault allegations filed at any particular base is not publicly available. The high conviction numbers could be the result of more sexual assaults or better responsiveness to victims, or they could just be a statistical anomaly, Christensen said.

Christensen, who retired from the Air Force in 2014, is president of Protect our Defenders, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for military sexual-assault victims. He said public scrutiny of the militarys handling of sexual-assault cases has produced some positive change in recent years, but not enough.

In some ways its getting better, but in some ways its not, Christensen said. One of the biggest problems we still have is the hostility toward people who report.

One way that the Department of Defense has tried to quell that hostility is with the 2004 creation of a task force that eventually became the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. At the base level, representatives of the office are called sexual-assault response coordinators and are popularly known as SARCs.

As Ellsworths SARC, McFarling heads an office that includes a victim advocate, an alternate SARC and 40 volunteer victim advocates.

McFarling said the offices mission is to educate the Ellsworth population, which includes 3,000 active duty military personnel and 730 civilians, to advocate for sexual-assault victims and to collaborate with other groups working on the issue in the broader Rapid City area.

The education comes in the form of training sessions with airmen and publicity campaigns and events on the base. For example, the SARC office runs a campaign called Start by Believing, which encourages people to pledge that theyll believe rather than blame a victim when a sexual assault is reported.

The advocacy for victims comes in the form of support given by the volunteer victim advocates. The volunteers are trained and assigned to help victims through the reporting, investigation and prosecution of an alleged sexual assault.

We feel like the stigma associated with sexual assault, were starting to see that diminish, McFarling said. People are starting to see that this can affect anyone.

And it continues to affect people at Ellsworth. The Air Force report detailing sexual-assault convictions from 2010 through March 2015 was the last to compile sexual-assault conviction summaries from all Air Force installations into one document. Since April of last year, the Air Force has included summaries of sexual-assault convictions in its broader monthly summaries of all court-martial convictions.

In that time, there have been no more sexual assault convictions at Ellsworth, but as of Friday, there were two upcoming sexual-assault courts-martial scheduled at the base  one this week, which an Ellsworth spokeswoman said was being postponed, and another next month. Additionally, a court-martial for an Ellsworth airman accused of raping a child younger than 12 is scheduled for May.

The efforts to prevent and prosecute sexual assaults at Ellsworth are part of a broader national effort to confront sexual assault in the military. Study findings published last year showed that about 18,900 military personnel were victims of unwanted sexual contact during the 2014 fiscal year, which was down 27 percent from 2012.

Meanwhile, the number of sexual-assault reports increased, indicating that victims felt more comfortable reporting the crimes. Still, only one-third of victims reported specific incidents to authorities, and many victims continued to say they experienced retaliation for filing a report.

At the national level, one of the main fronts in the fight to protect victims is legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to remove the decision to prosecute sexual assaults from military commanders and give it instead to military prosecutors.

South Dakotas senators split their votes on the bill in 2014, when it failed by five votes, and again in 2015, when it failed by 10 votes.

In 2014, then-Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., voted yes and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., voted no. In 2015, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who replaced the retired Johnson, voted no, while Thune switched his vote to yes.

Thune credited lobbying by Christensen, the South Dakota native, former Air Force prosecutor and current crusader for military sexual-assault victims, with persuading him to change his vote.

I sat down and spent a lot of time with him and kind of walked through those issues, and just came to a different conclusion, Thune said.

Military leaders have opposed the legislation, saying it would drain authority from the chain of command and hurt the militarys own effort to improve its culture. Christensen said the bill will be back, and he will lobby senators to support it. Having seen the military justice system from the inside, he said its crucial for people outside the system to push for reforms.

I knew change was never going come from the inside, because the Department of Defense is not open to change and will punish anybody who speaks out from the inside, Christensen said.

Nevertheless, there are some, including McFarling, who express faith in the existing efforts. She was a child of a military parent, was formerly on active duty herself and is now a civilian employee working to change things from within.

We want our airmen to know the office is here to support them, McFarling said, and we look forward to working with all of them to change the culture.
South Dakota House Bill 1158, whose goal is to empower the governor to close the state to incoming refugees, has been described as unconstitutional by a law professor, a political science professor and Gov. Dennis Daugaard, the man to whom the power to close the borders would be granted.

Even the sponsor of the bill, a Rapid City Republican lawmaker and Christian pastor, acknowledges that HB 1158 might not withstand a constitutional challenge.

But state Rep. Scott Craig believes in his bill because, he said recently, There are people who come in who have come in to cause acts of terror.

And state Sen. Bruce Rampelberg, R-Rapid City, who will try to guide HB 1158 through the state Senate, said something similar: Im concerned that when we have a large surge of people from Syria that want to come to the U.S., its pretty easy for people who want to do us harm, for them to blend into that process.

A report released last October by the Migration Policy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank, revealed that of the 784,000 refugees resettled in the U.S. since September 11, 2001, only three have been arrested for planning acts of terrorism, none of which were actually carried out.

Actual acts of terrorism by a refugee? law professor Stephen Legomsky said. I dont think theres been a single one.

A chorus of criticism

The bill, which is scheduled for a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee on Monday, would grant Daugaard extraordinary powers.

Nevertheless, he has spoken out against it.

The administration opposes (HB 1158), said Daugaards Communications Director Kelsey Pritchard in an email. Under the federal Refugee Act, governors do not have the authority to refuse to accept refugees.

Legomsky is a law professor at Washington University of St. Louis, and the former chief counsel of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, one of the main organizations resettling refugees in the U.S. He agrees with Daugaards conclusion that, if passed, HB 1158 would not survive a court challenge.

If the law means that South Dakota would refuse to accept refugees," Legomsky said, "that law would seem plainly to be unconstitutional.

Though he is the lead sponsor of HB 1158, Craig said Legomskys assessment is probably correct.

It may be proved unconstitutional, he said in a phone interview. Youve still got to do it. The federal government can say a lot of things, it doesnt mean its right.

Rampelberg said Its more of a token expression than something that would hold up in court.

Introduced by Craig, Rampelberg and 25 other state lawmakers, HB 1158 names the South Dakota Department of Social Services as the agency that would administer the provisions of the law.

But even the DSS isnt on board with Craigs proposal.

The sponsors of the bill, said the department's Communications Director Tia Kafka, did not contact DSS.

The bucket analogy

Based on a similar bill from the Tennessee legislature, HB 1158 is the latest example of political backlash against President Barack Obamas announcement last fall that in 2016, the U.S. would take in 10,000 Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war there. Last years terrorist attacks in Paris have stoked fears that incoming refugees might represent a terrorist threat to the U.S.

HB 1158 uses the term absorptive capacity to describe a situation in which a community or the state as a whole is unable to support a population of refugees.

If you start putting water in a bucket, at some point its going to spill over, Craig said. If were wise, were going to think as clearly as we can as to what we can feasibly, realistically accommodate.

Tim Jurgens is the executive director of the Center of New Americans with Lutheran Social Services, the nonprofit the federal government partners with and funds to resettle refugees in South Dakota. He said that if the U.S. is the bucket in Craigs analogy, then the number of refugees admitted into the state every year amounts to little more than a drop.

Were very small, Jurgens said, "less than 1 percent of what has been admitted nationally.

Most of the states refugee population is settled in Sioux Falls and Huron, where Lutheran Social Services has its offices. In 2015, Sioux Falls accepted 357 refugees, while Huron took in 137. Jurgens said he expects similar numbers for 2016.

For comparison, between October and January alone, the state of California accepted 1,325 refugees, according to statistics from the Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Office of Admissions.

Though Craigs bill does not describe a threshold at which absorptive capacity is reached, it would give the governor the power to issue an executive order declaring that the state, through any entity or designee, will not, until revocation of the executive order, participate in the resettlement of refugees.

The bill names the South Dakota Department of Social Services as the agency that would place and monitor refugees within the state, a function now performed by Lutheran Social Services. The DSS would also process requests for moratoriums from both the state and local government levels.

What we do in law, Craig said, "we simply assign the task, we dont spell it out. Our job is to give it to someone who has the brain, the knowledge, the experience. All we do is put the concept out. Were saying the (DSS) is best suited for the resettlement of refugees.

The department, through Kafka, the DSS communications director, disagrees.

Lutheran Social Services, Kafka said, has successfully operated refugee resettlement activities in South Dakota and has staff experienced in helping address the special needs of South Dakotas refugee population. She added that the DSS "believes the current program is effective and does not support the changes contemplated in the bill, which would shift the program back to a state agency as well as add additional requirements onto the state.

Craigs bill states that any moratorium on refugee resettlement  be it statewide or limited to individual communities  will last for only one year, though it provides for a year-long extension. The bill does not place limits on the number of extensions, nor does it identify the process by which an extension would be put in place.

The bill goes on to state that a moratorium on refugee resettlement would be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, and that once a moratorium is created, an emergency is hereby declared to exist.

Constitutionality in question

Legomsky, the law professor from St. Louis, is unequivocal: "As a legal matter, the state cannot unilaterally amend the U.S. Constitution.

The passage of the Refugee Act of 1980 made the federal government the pre-eminent authority of refugee resettlement within the states. The act established the refugee admissions program, which today draws from nine different agencies for the resettlement of refugees in states of the federal governments choosing.

It seems pretty clear, said Elizabeth Smith, an associate professor of political science at the University of South Dakota, that states dont have the power to control who settles within their borders. The federal government has authority over U.S. borders, not the states.

Which is precisely what Craig and Rampelberg take issue with. For them, HB 1158 has as much to do with state versus federal powers as it has to do with refugee policy.

We want to put the power back to the governor and allow him to call the shots in conjunction with the federal government, Craig said.

Last November Daugaard, along with 26 other Republican governors, signed a letter urging Obama to close the nations borders to refugees until assurances could be provided that the vetting process is secure.

A spate of lawsuits from both sides of the issue ensued.

This winter, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both signers of the letter to Obama, sued the federal government for not adequately consulting the states on the placement of refugees.

In Indiana in November, the American Civil Liberties Union sued Gov. Mike Pence, claiming that his decision to ban Syrian refugees from the state violated the U.S. Constitution, the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Refugee Act of 1980.

Libby Skarin, the policy director for the ACLU in South Dakota, said her organization is in the process of studying HB 1158 and declined a request for a comment on it beyond saying Obviously, I think its completely accurate to point out that in other states the ACLU has challenged this sort of legislation.

How refugee resettlement works

Rampelberg said one of the main reasons he co-sponsored HB 1158 is that he worries the federal vetting process for admitting refugees isnt stringent enough.

We have a suspicion, Rampelberg said, that the government might shortcut some things, and we dont want that.

Before they may resettle in the U.S., refugees have to receive clearance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, after which they are vetted by the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBIs Terrorist Screening Center, and the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security. From beginning to end, the process can last between one to two years, according to the October 2015 Migration Policy Institute report.

The risk can never be zero, Legomsky said. Any time a human comes into your territory, you cant say theres zero risk. But the refugee processes are so thoroughly vetted that its very difficult for a would-be terrorist to slip through. No competent terrorist would ever choose the U.S. refugee system as a preferred strategy for entry. There are so many easier ways.

Craig said the main reason he sponsored HB 1158 is that he doesnt think the federal government does enough to coordinate with the state on the placement of refugees.

This bill says that the federal government will work with the state, with the governor, with the state Legislature regarding the reprocessing or resettlement or refugees within the state, Craig said.

But Rampelberg said he doesn't think the state could create an extra layer of scrutiny for refugees to pass on the state level. I dont think were qualified or prepared to do something like that," he said. "Im a South Dakota banker. I dont know.

Once refugees are cleared for resettlement in the U.S., the federal government partners with state-based agencies like Lutheran Social Services in South Dakota to figure out where to place them. Lutheran Social Services maintains a consistent presence in the lives of the refugees it resettles for up to five years, Jurgens said, picking them up from the airport and helping them to find housing and jobs in their new communities.

The guiding principal, Jurgens said, is to place people in communities in which they have family members, or there is an already established cultural enclave. Sioux Falls and Huron, for example, are home to refugees from Somalia, Nepal, Ethiopia, Sudan and Iraq.

Has a refugee in South Dakota ever been involved in a serious crime or the planning of a terrorist attack?

I can tell you that our agency works very closely with local law enforcement, Jurgens said, but I am not aware of any situations that have arisen.
Critics might consider attempts to revive country-of-origin meat labeling as useful as beating a dead cow, but supporters of the repealed program believe it is worth it for South Dakota ranchers and members of Congress to keep pushing for its revival.

The formerly mandatory labeling program for beef and pork, known as COOL for country of origin labeling, was repealed by Congress nearly two months ago. But the topic continues to inspire passionate divisions among the otherwise uniform mass of cowboys, ranchers and meat producers who were in Rapid City last week for the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo.

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, headquartered in Rapid City, is advocating for federal legislation to bring COOL back, but in a modified form. The associations executive director, Silvia Christen, said queries about COOLs status and future are among the most common questions she has fielded at her stock show booth in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Christen said COOL was a good program that encouraged consumers to choose U.S. beef over foreign alternatives, just as is the case for labels on some other foods and consumer products.

I am confident that well eventually figure out how to make sure that we can get those labels on our beef products as well, Christen said.

Interviews with stock show attendees indicated that support for COOL remains strong among ranchers. Comments by LeRoy Kindler, who owns cattle near Newell, were representative of those interviewed. He called the repeal of COOL plumb ridiculous.

Why shouldnt we have country-of-origin labeling? Kindler said. They label our fruits, our vegetables, our clothes.

Some others, especially those higher up in the beef supply chain, want to keep COOL buried. Craig Uden, a Nebraskan and president-elect of the National Cattlemens Beef Association, espouses that view. He said COOL burdened the beef-production process with extra costs while providing no benefits to producers and angering foreign trade partners.

As a producer, Ive never seen any benefit to it, said Uden, who operates multiple cow-calf operations and feedlots.

Uden thinks COOL is gone for good, but the stockgrowers group and other COOL supporters hope it can be remade in a way that will not run afoul of international trade agreements, as the previous incarnation of COOL did.

Its unclear exactly what changes to the program might make it more palatable on the world stage. Christen said future labels could perhaps be more generic than the most recent versions, which consisted of small print stating the countries where an animal was born, raised and slaughtered.

That level of specificity angered some Canadian producers, whose cattle may have been fattened and slaughtered in the United States but were deemed foreign  and therefore potentially devalued by some consumers  because of their birthplace.

The World Trade Organization sided with that argument and deemed COOLs requirements to be discriminatory, and also authorized Canada and Mexico to impose more than $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports. The South Dakota Farm Bureau estimated that in South Dakota alone, $344 million worth of beef and pork could be subject to the tariffs.

Because of that looming economic threat, some members of Congress said they had no choice but to repeal COOL. They did so in December by including the repeal in a year-end spending bill, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture immediately stopped requiring the labels on beef and pork.

The congressional action seemed to put an end, at least temporarily, to a fight over meat labeling that dates to the early 2000s. Congress adopted COOL in 2002, partly as a response to fears of mad cow disease in Canadian cattle and with then-Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., as the primary legislative proponent. Lobbying and legal wrangling by COOL opponents, including meat packers, delayed implementation of the law until 2009.

Meanwhile, Canada brought its case against COOL to the World Trade Organization in 2008. The case played out to its end in early December last year, sparking the congressional repeal.

COOL supporters now find themselves without the assistance of one of their staunchest supporters in Johnson, who retired from the Senate last year. The stockgrowers and other COOL supporters are seeking new congressional leaders to draft legislation in a fight to revive the labels.

One of the members of Congress who is being courted is U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., who hosted a Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo town hall meeting Friday in a sale ring of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. She anticipated some questions and comments about COOL.

Its by no means dead, she said Wednesday from Washington, D.C., on a conference call with reporters. Were still looking at potential solutions that we can find that wont do damage to the markets or take money out of the ranchers pockets.

U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., also attended the stock show Friday and said he continues to support COOL, said he is open to suggestions for bringing it back in a modified form. But he did not sound optimistic.

"I just think those of us who are for it are vastly outnumbered now politically," Thune said, "and I think its going to be a much heavier lift this time."

Uden doubts that a modified COOL could win the World Trade Organizations blessing. Even if that happened, he said, he doubts consumer purchasing decisions will be significantly influenced by country-of-origin labels. He prefers private, voluntary, market-driven labeling programs such as Certified Hereford or Certified Angus, which he said are numerous, noticeable to consumers and capable of adding value to qualifying cattle.

Uden said the added steps and costs that came with COOL, including extra record-keeping and segregation of American and foreign cattle in feedlots and at packing plants, did not come with enough financial rewards. There are opposing claims about that, with each side having its own studies and statistics.

Those competing claims continue to be cited even after the repeal of COOL, and judging by the comments of stock show attendees such as Gayle Cerullo, a COOL supporter from Newell, the repeal has only caused each side to grow more entrenched and determined.

I try to be as educated as I can and look at all aspects, but this really bothers me, Cerullo said of the COOL repeal. Its flat-out scary. Theyre trying to ruin our beef industry.
Winner  Elderly residents

South Dakota lawmakers appear poised to add more protections for the state's oldest, and often most vulnerable, residents. A package of measures to expand legal and criminal protection of the elderly unanimously passed the Senate and is now under consideration by the House of Representatives.

The bills came about as a result of a summer task force that examined elderly abuse and ways to combat it. With criminal penalties already on the books for physical abuse, the package focuses now on enhancing penalties for emotional and financial abuse of the elderly.

We all hope these laws will not be needed, and that all state residents can live out their golden years in peace. But for those times when abuse does occur, these measures will give police and prosecutors more avenues to pursue to hold abusers accountable.

Loser  Married gay people

Whether lawmakers like it or not, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 made gay marriage legal in America. The highest court in the land made it clear that marriage is a man-made legal concept that cannot be denied to anyone.

And yet, here we go again with measures that some conservative lawmakers have put forward in the past, and again this year, that opponents say essentially legalize discrimination against gay people. Last year, a measure was floated, and eventually killed, that would have given protection against lawsuits to people who deny services to gay people or those in same-sex marriages.

This year, in a measure put forward by Rapid City pastor Scott Craig, the attempt to ding married gay people is more subtle, but no less troubling to opponents. Craig's bill would prevent state government from removing any public funding or tax-exempt status from any group or individual that acts upon their opposition to gay marriage.

Like abortion, gay marriage is now the law of the land in the U.S. But it appears clear that attempts to chip away at those legal rights will continue in the South Dakota Legislature  who knows for how long?
PIERRE | Every year, through hundreds of votes cast over eight or nine weeks, the 105 members of the Legislature decide for South Dakota just what is the greater good.

Theyve been at it for four weeks this winter. From now through March 11, the lawmakers will go through the hardest work of that process. Medicaid expansion, Indian Health Service reform, teacher pay, school funding, property tax relief, a sales tax increase and government ethics lead the agenda.

Many would say Gov. Dennis Daugaard put those topics up front. He did make the decision to work on them. But past actions and inactions put those topics in front of him.

There is desperate need for improvements in federal health care for American Indians. Our federal government made those deals more than a century ago. The horrible conditions have built for decades.

Daugaard might have found an answer in dealing with the federal bureaucracy. He is willing to accept Medicaid expansion for lower-income working people in exchange for the federal government paying the full bill for health-care services to American Indians. For many years, state government has paid part of the costs for the health care delivered outside the Indian Health Service system.

Daugaards plan calls for using the savings from IHS to pay the states costs of the Medicaid expansion. This might be called a greater good. There are plenty of doubters, in part because others have tried to correct this before and didnt meet success.

Now, we have a Democratic presidents administration serving its final year in office still seeking to spread Medicaid expansion to more states.

But the simple financial calculations of the Daugaard deal make sense to those who look at South Dakotas demographics. The birth rate for American Indian people in South Dakota exceeds the overall rate.

Reducing state governments exposure to a growing expense makes sense. Just as important, there appears to be significant service improvements planned as well, with the major private health-care systems planning to work more closely with IHS facilities.

One way to tell that Daugaard is on a smart path is to note the reactions of South Dakotas congressional delegation.

Reforms to the Indian Health Service system now have the attention of U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds and U.S. Sen. John Thune. Their press releases show it.

The other consuming issue of the next five weeks is school funding and property tax relief.

Can Daugaard succeed in the effort to get South Dakotas teachers out of last place nationally on their average pay? He wants to raise the state sales tax by one-half percent. His tax-increase legislation introduced specifically calls for $40 million for property tax reduction. A vote against a tax increase becomes a vote against a tax decrease.

Each decision for each legislator becomes a definition of the greater good  and a collision among them about how much each of their versions of the greater good matters.
When Robynn Welch drove by a Black Hills Energy billboard promoting the companys 5th Annual Walk for Warmth fundraiser, she started thinking about the people who cant afford heat.

We just dont remember those people that we need to help, those that need the help, Welch said. Because not everybody has all the, I want to say luxuries, but all the necessities that we take for granted.

Welch, office manager for a trucking company, was excited to be at Saturdays event, especially because the weather was perfect in the afternoon, around 53 degrees, for the mile-and-a-half walk.

Her first year participating in Walk for Warmth, Welch said she was drawn to the billboard and felt good about being able to give back and help out.

The 5th Annual Walk for Warmth fundraiser started at 2 p.m. Saturday. Participants met at Main Street Square and walked south to St. Joseph Street before heading west and weaving around downtown Rapid City, eventually making their way back to Main Street Square.

The Salvation Army and Church Response of Rapid City are the two beneficiaries of the walk. Black Hills Energy matches all of the proceeds up to $10,000.

The proceeds are then split between the two agencies and go toward their energy assistance programs. Residents who need help paying for heat or air conditioning apply through the agencies.

Theres a great need in this community for us to support organizations like the Salvation Army and Church Response," Marsha Nichols, chairwoman of Black Hills Walk for Warmth committee said. "We want to make sure that people who need a hand have those resources available.

Nichols said more than 400 walkers participated in last years event, which was on a colder and windier day. Last year's event brought in $22,000, including the matched funds from Black Hills Energy.

Were hoping that the nice weather will bring more people out and well have a few more participants, she said before the event.

The committee won't know how many people participated or how much money was raised until later this week.

Brian Iverson, senior vice president of regulatory and governmental affairs with Black Hills Energy, said part of the companys mission is to be engaged in the community they serve and to help those in need. Iverson, participating for the first time, said it was great to see so many participants and volunteers at the event.

It shows a lot of community spirit with everybody here in Rapid City, he said.

Volunteers, including employees and community members, help the event run smoothly. The crossing guards were all South Dakota School of Mines & Technology students.

Businesses in downtown also support the event by offering discounts to participants all day. The route, which has been the same for the past few years, allows participants to see what the event's business partners offer and to showcase downtown as a whole, Nichols said.

Julie Lacroix, accounting assistant with Coca Cola Bottling Company, wore a Coca Cola T-shirt to Saturday's event and met up with other Coke employees at Main Street Square. Lacroix said she and her co-workers try to attend as a group every year.

This year, Lacroix brought her son along and said participating in a good cause teaches him the importance of volunteering.

Its wonderful, especially when I get my son involved, she said. Just to do stuff for people in need, whatever the cause is for, I just try to get my family involved.
A kindergarten student at Washington Primary School had surgery on his heart in December.

He is now raising funds for the American Heart Association to help other kids who need heart surgery or other medical interventions in their life.

Easton Fryer, 5, said his heart had a hole it in.

He had surgery in December to have a Cardiform Septal Occluder installed. The shape is similar to a butterfly and it closed the hole in his heart.

The doctor put a butterfly in my heart, Fryer said.

Easton Fryers mom, Sarah, said there were no symptoms. They had just gone for a preventative check-up when the doctor noticed it did not sound right.

They heard a weird swishing sound that did not make any sense, she said. That had them look deeper and they discovered it was just an extra flap of skin that would be fine with time, but they did find a hole. The hole was 9 millimeters and so we had to have a device put in to close the hole.

Washington physical education teacher Erin Chapman said she is teaching students where their hearts and lungs are located and shows the images of Easton Fryers heart.

I just tell them this is an x-ray where you can see under the skin and see where the heart is and where the lungs are and where the heart got fixed, Chapman said. The students say it kind of looks like stitches or a flower.

As for the fundraiser, Washington School teamed up with the American Heart Association.

Kids get sponsors and tell people what they know about hearts and heart disease, Chapman said. They have strong healthy hearts and so will jump rope for kids that are out there that maybe cant. Weve been talking about how they can take care of their hearts, make heart-healthy habits, and tie that all in for heart month.

In physical education class next week, the students will visit different stations and jump rope (a newly acquired skill), hula-hoop and dance.

These are all heart healthy activities and weve been talking about how to keep your heart strong since we are so lucky to have healthy hearts, Chapman said. This helps special kids with heart problem to be like us. Maybe all they need is help from the doctor. Easton is good as new now.

Easton Fryer said he is eager to help other children with heart troubles by having this fundraiser.

So people whose heart doesnt work well can be fixed, he said.

Interested donors can contribute by sponsoring a Washington student or by visiting Easton Fryers fundraiser page social.heart.org/4K72R3j.
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The Department for Evaluation of New Areas at the Research and Exploration Company affiliated to ALROSA is based in St. Petersburg and deals with the forecasting and prospecting of diamond deposits in the North-East European Platform and in promising areas of Africa.

Viktor Ustinov, Deputy Director of the Research and Exploration Company affiliated to ALROSA, who is also heading the Department for Evaluation of New Areas told Rough&Polished about his companys latest achievements in the search for diamonds in Africa.

What major results achieved by ALROSA lately could you highlight in its African activities?

In summary, they can be formulated as follows:

1) On the basis of systematic case studies, which are carried out by geologists of the Department for Evaluation of New Areas, we are conducting a comprehensive analysis of diamond bearing potential in the territories of Botswana and Angola.

2) We have outlined areas, which are promising in terms of discovering primary diamond deposits.

3) Joint ventures are established in Botswana and Angola on the basis of the research.

4) Sunland Minerals started to work in Botswana and there have been completed four stages of prospecting, including primary concentrate sampling, ground geophysical surveys, drilling and others.

5) There have been completed four stages of field work in Zimbabwe under the Agreement on Technical Cooperation with DTZ-OZGEO.

6) An active licensing policy is being carried out in Botswana and Angola.

How do you assess the possibility of discovering new diamond fields in Angola?

The territory of the Republic of Angola is 1.2 million square km, which is close to the area of the Yakut diamondiferous province. Within it, there have been revealed about one thousand of kimberlite pipes, which are grouped into 11 areas and 35 fields.

It should be borne in mind that despite the number of identified geological bodies being greater than that in Siberia, the level of geological and geophysical exploration in Angola remains extremely low. The countrys potential in relation to bearing primary diamond deposits has not yet been revealed, and there are all the opportunities for finding new diamondiferous kimberlites. Only in 2012-2014, the geologists of Sociedade Mineira de Catoca identified such diamond fields as CAT 42, CAT 115, Luaxe 072 and Luaxe 071 in the area of the Catoca Diamond Pipe. The country has diamond resources belonging to the P1-P2 categories suitable for open-pit development and estimated at about 400 million carats.

What companies are you collaborating with in Angola?

Currently, working contacts between the geologists of ALROSA and Endiama are successfully developing within the framework of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the geological services of the two companies. Implementation of the existing agreements allows ALROSA to obtain valuable information on the geology, geophysics and diamond bearing potential of various territories, which makes it possible their quick assessment. As a result of the performed research, experts of the two sate-owned companies were able to update the Map of Diamond Bearing Areas in the North-Eastern Angola scaled 1: 500 000. Right now, we are mulling to establish mobile field teams, which will include experts from ALROSA and Endiama, for prompt assessment of diamond bearing potential in poorly researched or remote areas, which will lead to significant savings in time and money that is usually spent on licensing.

Interaction between the geologists of ALROSA and Catoca started in 2012 under the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the geological survey service of Catoca and the Research and Exploration Company affiliated to ALROSA. During this time, they selected rock samples for laboratory analysis and sent rock collections to the laboratories of ALROSA, as well as to contractors for further research.

During 2016, we intend working in team with the geologists of Catoca to analyze the diamond bearing ability of the upper layers of Luaxe 072 based on their mineralogical data. It would be important to continue the comprehensive research of diamonds from kimberlites and placers in Catocas collection, which we started earlier for the Kwango and Kasai areas.

We also cooperate with other companies, which have shown interest in establishing contacts, as for example, the Association of the Galangue Project Companies. Cooperation with companies holding licenses and entitled to carry out field works, probing and rock sampling proved to yield good results in Angola in previous years.

When will Kimang, which is a joint venture of ALROSA and Ediama, start its operations?

In 2015, we drew up The Project to Conduct Prospecting for Primary Diamond Deposits within the License Area of Kasango (Kwango) and estimates. We also made the necessary set of graphical supplements. As a result of studies carried out by experts of the Department for Evaluation of New Areas, there were identified areas to be explored for primary sources of diamonds in the North-Eastern Angola, as well as given recommendations how this to be done. There were also suggested the first and second stages of exploration. Exploration works within the licensed areas of Angola are scheduled to begin in 2016.

And what was done by your company in Zimbabwe in 2015?

In 2014, Zimbabwe produced 10.4 million carats of diamonds, which puts the country on the third place in Africa in terms of diamond production by volume, after Botswana and Congo. There are more than 120 kimberlite pipes identified in this country, of which four pipes are rated as diamond deposits. Three diamond pipes are part of the Murowa diamond field and one represents the River Ranch mine. Placers containing significant resources (about 260 million carats) were identified in Marange. In addition, there is a small diamond placer in Chimanimani.

As a result of research performed in 2015, the territory of Zimbabwe was split into zones based on their exploration conditions, with identified types and subtypes of the landscape and geological exploratory environments and corresponding prospecting systems considered to be the most rational and effective for these zones. We also produced a zoning map scaled 1: 1,000,000 for the whole territory of the country reflecting the exploratory environments.

We have also charted a structural-tectonic map of Zimbabwe scaled 1: 2000 with diamond bearing elements based on a target-specific analysis of geological and geophysical data.

Our company did not perform any field works in the Republic of Zimbabwe in 2015. During the year, we carried out laboratory analysis of materials which have been accumulated during the field seasons of 2013-2014. We systematized the existing array of data according to the composition of chrome spinellides from the modern alluvium within the Devure, Nianidze, Chiniadadze, Chimanimani and Kharoni areas. Using analytical methods, we identified minerals of kimberlite genesis among chrome spinellides. The question pertaining to the location of their primary sources is still open.

During 2016, we shall define areas promising for identification of primary diamond deposits in the territory of Zimbabwe.

Tell us how the company is carrying out its projects in Botswana.

In 2014, Botswana produced 24.7 million carats of diamonds, which had an average cost of $ 156 per carat. Both in terms of volume and value of its diamond production the country is definitely the second-largest producer in the world after Russia.

Botswana has 13 identified kimberlite fields, including about 500 diamond pipes. Eight among them are diamond deposits: Jwaneng, Orapa, Letlhakane, Damtshaa, AK6, BK11, Gope and Lerala. Every year, two of the world's largest mines, Jwaneng and Orapa, supply more than 20 million carats of diamonds to the world market. Four of the country's largest deposits (Jwaneng, Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa) are owned by Debswana, the main shareholders of which are De Beers (50%) and the State (50%). It should be noted that the share of Botswana in De Beers is 15%.

A diamond field of greater interest is AK-6 (Karowe), which is in the southern part of the Orapa kimberlite field and happens to be one of the worlds "youngest" mines being developed. The AK6 pipe was discovered in 1969 by De Beers and considered off-balance. At the beginning of the 2000s it was additionally explored by African Diamonds (the predecessor of Botswana Diamonds, ALROSAs partner) and then sold to Canadas Lucara Diamond Corporation. Ore reserves of this small diamond deposit totaled 38 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.22 ct/t. The average price of diamonds + 1.5 mm in size from this mine reached $600 per carat in 2014-2015 and was the highest in the world. In the second half of 2015, Lucara reported it had unearthed gem quality diamonds weighing 374, 873 and 1111 carats at Karowe.

The data on diamond-bearing potential of the Republic of Botswana point to high prospects of identifying new diamond deposits, even within the previously explored territories.

ALROSAs thematic works were carried out by experts of the Department based on a large number of geological and geophysical data, including materials from Botswana Diamonds database made available to us under the Agreement on Technical Cooperation.

Taking into account the mineralogical characteristics, structural and tectonic background and specific features of the deep structure it was possible to outline promising areas near the Orapa and Gope kimberlite fields. I would like to note that a large part of the countrys subsurface resources is in the distributed fund. More than 220 areas are currently licensed in the territory of Botswana, which means that its greater part is occupied by various companies and the possibility to have a desired area for exploration is to a large extent limited.

How do you assess the results of Sunland Minerals in Botswana in 2015?

Exploration works, involving geologists, geophysicists and mineralogists from ALROSA, Severalmaz and Botswana Diamonds, were carried out in two phases covering the March-April and September-November periods in 2015. Sunland Minerals experts completed a large amount of exploration on 7 license areas near the Orapa and Gope kimberlite fields. This included ground geophysical surveys, primary concentrate and crushed sample testing regarding the sediment formation of the Kalahari and Karoo Supergroup, as well as real-time mineralogical analysis, core drilling and other tests.

While drilling a geophysical anomaly for verification purposes within the PL 210 license area near the Orapa field it was found that its geological nature was conditioned by a body of pipe-shaped serpentinites uncovered at a depth of 90 m. Its source rock was represented by picrites, probably of Proterozoic age.

Based on the results of 2015, we shall compile a program of works for 2016. Currently, ALROSA and Botswana Diamonds are discussing the possibility of appraisal drilling on kimberlite pipes in the Orapa field. The license for the above operations was received by Sunland Minerals at a special tender organized by the Department of Mines in Botswana. The area is located within 8 km from the Karowe pipe noted for its most expensive diamonds in the world.

Field works in the first half of 2016 are scheduled to take place in the period from February to April. If the time given for planning and financing these works will be observed, we shall have the results by the end of June in 2016.

Thus, exploration in Botswana carried out by Sunland Minerals since 2014 include a wide range of prospecting operations. Employing skilled personnel working under contracts, as well as contractors from local companies to carry out drilling, repair and logistics services does not require a large camp or permanent staff.

And what can you say about other regions in Africa?

The aim of regional operations carried out in Africa is to ensure long-term planning for geological exploration performed by ALROSA and based on a comprehensive assessment of the diamond bearing potential incidental to promising areas of this continent. Therefore, our research embraces the West African, Central African, East African and South African sub-provinces of the platform.

In 2015, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of the deep structural and tectonic features of these territories, as well as space-geological, geophysical, mineralogical and other data for the explored areas and also the monitoring data on exploration and mining activities of companies specializing in diamonds. In addition to regional studies, we have researched the diamond bearing potential of Namibia and Sierra Leone.

Along with such areas as Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe, selected in accordance with the development strategy of ALROSA in Africa, areas promising in terms of primary diamond deposits can also be outlined in other regions, such as Congo and Tanzania.

An important aspect of ALROSAs operations in new promising areas is the companys interaction with the geological survey services in these countries and with those of major exploration companies. In 2016, ALROSA will continue its work in Africa.

Galina Semyonova for Rough&Polished




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Greetings! I am a political scientist , specializing in International Relations , my research and teaching focus on ethnic conflict and civil-military relations . I watch way too much TV, and I like movies as well so I tend to write about both and find IR stuff in pop culture. I rant alot about American politics and sometimes about Canadian politics. I like to take ideas I once learned a long time ago and apply them to whatever strikes my fancy.


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Ex-officer was a churchgoer, family man. Police say he may be a serial rapist.

The Allen family lived on the northwest side of Hutchinson, less than two miles from Rice Park, where several women said they were accosted.
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The EasySleeper Pillow seems to be the product of countless hours of R&D. And the price, what a bargain at 29.95 instead of the usual 48! Too good to b...

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This well-established Blog is worth visiting on a regular basis for a wealth of information of interest to Armenian nationals and to the Armenian Diaspora world-wide. Although it has a particular role in promoting international recognition of the Genocide, the Blog encompasses much more and includes many articles of general appeal to all those concerned with Armenian affairs. Much of the content is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere and the long list of links provided gives easy access to a plethora of material on social, political, religious, educational and cultural matters, and many news items from around the world.






It might be time for you to hold a vigil for your favorite a particular social media website. For many, Twitter appears to be on its deathbed.

Buzzfeed reported Friday night that the website would be introducing an algorithmic pattern (a la Facebook's newsfeed), writing "The timeline will reorder tweets based on what Twitters algorithm thinks people most want to see, a departure from the current feeds reverse chronological order." As we reported in December, Twitter had already been testing out an out-of-order timeline on random users, and then, the results were not good then.

.@twitter @Support Hey, WTF? I want my timeline in TIME order...that's chronological, from most recent to oldest.  Danielle Kenyon (@drkenyon) December 8, 2015

And with these most recent reports, the people...the people were outraged. Sad. Confused. Betrayed by the Facebookification of a website that could be as rogue as we wanted it to be. As the #RIPTwitter hashtag swept...Twitter...the website's CEO Jack Dorsey was bound to respond to the allegations, which he addressed this afternoon on....Twitter...where he assured the massed that everything's gonna be alright:

Hello Twitter! Regarding #RIPTwitter: I want you all to know we're always listening. We never planned to reorder timelines next week.  Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

Twitter is live. Twitter is real-time. Twitter is about who & what you follow. And Twitter is here to stay! By becoming more Twitter-y.  Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

Look at "while you were away" at the top of your TL. Tweets you missed from people you follow. Pull to refresh to go back to real-time.  Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

I *love* real-time. We love the live stream. It's us. And we're going to continue to refine it to make Twitter feel more, not less, live!  Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

Twitter can help make connections in real-time based on dynamic interests and topics, rather than a static social/friend graph. We get it.  Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

Thank you all for your passion and trust. We will continue to work to earn it, and we will continue to listen, and talk!  Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

Ok, ok! Not everyone believes you though, dude. Plus, we're not even sure what you really mean.

.@jack Trying to convince everyone that #RIPTwitter has been blown out of proportion https://t.co/gFNR8ZGw1P  Scott Monty (@ScottMonty) February 6, 2016

#RIPTwitter is still incredibly hot right now; a constant stream of tweets kept pouring in as I was writing this.

WWE star John Cena weighed in, too, naturally:

It's been a rough few months for Twitter. In January, several top executives left the company, and stocks plummeted. People freaked out earlier this year when Twitter said they'd be getting rid of the 140-character limit.

Do you care? If anything, the "outrage" indicates this might be as good a time as any to delete our social media accounts, throw our phones in a lake like they do in rom-coms and move to an internet-free yurt deep in the Sierras. #Bye
"Every picture has its shadows, and it has some source of light." - Joni Mitchell
Ketua Penerangan UMNO yang baru Tan Sri Annuar Musa telah mempersoalkan apakah bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tak faham undang-undang bila menulis perkara yang berbau hasutan dalam lama blognya.Beliau merujuk kepada tulisan bekas Perdana Menteri itu dalam blog chedet.cc dibawah tajuk AG to AG yang antara lain memperlekehkan Yang Dipertuan Agong melantik Peguam Negara Tan Sri Apandi Ali.Annuar juga mempersoalkan motif tulisan itu serta mendakwa ia usaha untuk mendapat simpati bagi menjatuhkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.BERIKUT IALAH TULISAN TAN SARI ANNUAR MUSA DI LAMAN FACEBOOKNYA MENGENAI HAL BERKENAAN:IS TUN DR MAHATHIR INCITING ACTION AGAINST HIM?I was surprised to read Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's blog posting entitled "AG to AG" dated 3 February 2016 as it is very clear to everyone with some basic knowledge of Malaysian laws that it contains words seditious in nature.Having known him for quite a long time, I don't really know what his real intention in writing such a posting as it could be that he, being a shrewd political strategist that he is, was merely trying to garner sympathy from the public and to mobilise support for his cause to get the PM removed by inciting the authority to act against him, hence garnering sympathy for him as a former Prime Minister and a former UMNO President.After all, having been a Prime Minister for a very long time, Tun Dr Mahathir must have known that those words are seditious in nature, what more when the Federal Government under his steward used to very frequently charge people for the same offence.But it could also be that Tun Dr Mahathir thinks that him being a former Prime Minister and a former UMNO President may make him immune from the power of law, hence his boldness in going against the law in his attempt to try to get the PM removed.However, whatever the case is, no one cannot deny that Clause 8 (1) of the Federal Constitution clearly stipulates that "all persons are equal before the law", hence the authority will still have to act against Tun Dr Mahathir if there are police reports lodged against him by the people lest it can be perceived as being selective if it fails to act.But it is all there in Tun Dr Mahathir's assertions about "the improper dismissal of the previous Malaysian AG just before he was expected to bring a charge against the PM" and that "the current AG was appointed by the PM through false representation made to the King".It is also there in his assertions that "clearly the AG does not want the Swiss AG to know whether the money in the PM's personal accounts comes from 1MDB or not", that "the new AG is not likely to prefer a charge against the PM" and that "he is therefore unlikely to provide the Swiss AG with any evidence which may incriminate his employer".All these assertions of Tun Dr Mahathir point out to just one thing, to "bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia", which is definitely an offence under Clause 3 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948.Moreover, Tun Dr Mahathir's claim that "the current AG was appointed by the PM through false representation made to the King" is also seditious, falling under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Sedition Act 1948, which is "to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government".This claim is indeed an insult to the King, making it appears as if the King is a foolhardy who can be easily deceived by the people. 06/02/2016, 11:23:08 AM: Tan Sri Annuar Musa: The claims about the improper dismissal of the previous AG and the improper appointment of the current AG are laughable at best, coming from someone who has been put on record, among others in Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim's PhD thesis entitled "The Rule of Law and Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy" (University of London, 1994), as having improperly sacked the then Chief Justice, Tun Salleh Abas, and his fellow Federal Court Justices, Tan Sri Wan Suleiman Pawanteh and Datuk George Seah, from their posts in 1988 in order to save his posts.And for his ruining of the Malaysian judicial and legal system during his time, Tun Dr Mahathir now has no moral standing whatsoever to preach or complain about it. If there's any fault with the current system, he shall blame himself for it as it was him who made and perpetuated it.Tun Dr Mahathir improperly dismissing people from their posts, or he instructing people to act in certain ways, doesn't necessarily mean that other people also do the same bad things as he did.For one thing, while Tun Dr Mahathir dismissing the former top judges was acknowledged as really improper, documented for the world to see among others in the most famous book of Tun Salleh Abas entitled "May Day For Justice: The Lord President's Version" (Magnus Books, 1989), even the usually pro-opposition law experts like Professor Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar of the Law Faculty, University of Malaya, and the fiercely independent law experts like Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi of the Law Faculty, MARA Institute of Technology, opined that the dismissal of the previous AG was constitutional.And unlike the dismissal of the top judges during Tun Dr Mahathir's time which was challenged by those involved and which resulted in the new Chief Justice not being recognised by the Bar Council, the previous AG never challenged his dismissal while the Bar Council also fully recognised the new AG. It naturally goes that if the previous AG's dismissal is constitutional then the current AG's appointment is also constitutional, as simple as that.
BISMARCK, N.D. | North Dakota and Minnesota are helping farmers with the three-year transition from traditional crops to organic production, an effort that the industry's main trade group says could boost the acreage of organically grown crops in the U.S. if it takes root beyond the upper Midwest.

Minnesota started its grant program first, in 2013, and North Dakota followed suit this year. Both programs assist with the transition costs  everything from soil testing to education. Minnesota farmers can get up to $750 annually and North Dakota farmers up to $1,000.

The expense of the transition, which bans farmers from using mainstream chemicals and likely leads to lower yields, is not prohibitive, but "there's a learning curve there that the farmer needs to go through," said Lowell Kaul, an organic farmer near Harvey, North Dakota, who serves on a board that advises the state agriculture commissioner. During the conversion, farmers can't sell their crops into the organic market until they are certified organic by a government-approved agency.

The Organic Trade Association is pushing for an industry-led, government-administered certification program for organic farmers who are still in the transition phase, to give them better support and possibly even premium prices for their crops, according to Nathaniel Lewis, the association's senior crops and livestock specialist.

The aid programs launched by Minnesota and North Dakota "dovetail really well with what we're working on," he said. "This is one tool that can assist farmers with transition. It's not a silver bullet (but) it's an appropriate role for agriculture departments to play."

Organic crops account for less than 1 percent of U.S. farmland, the association said, and federal Agriculture Department data shows there are only about 14,000 organic farms  a fraction of the 2 million total farms in the U.S. But the demand is high for organic products: Sales have increased from $3.6 billion in 1997 to nearly $40 billion in 2014, association figures show.

The gap is being made up for through imports, Lewis said, adding, "This is an opportunity and we don't want American farmers to miss out on it."

Jaime Good, a marketing specialist with North Dakota's Agriculture Department, said his department saw the grants as a "great opportunity for us to show our support to the organic industry and help people get started."

The two states' programs could potentially serve as a model for other states. If the organic industry gets a national transitional certification program established, it could "in turn fuel demand for cost-share help through the states, and help other states create programs," Lewis said.

Both state programs have limited money  $20,000 annually in Minnesota and $5,000 per year in North Dakota. Minnesota's program provided funding to only 10 farmers in its first two years.

"It really is a challenge to find and communicate with farmers while they're in transition. A lot of them do it quietly," said Meg Moynihan, administrator of Minnesota's program. "That is beginning to change. We're hearing from more and more farmers."
GILLETTE, Wyo. | Like a trusty pickup truck, Gillette has bounced through tough times before and pulled through, thanks to coal.

Lately the bumps for an industry that's brought wealth and jobs to this town are getting bigger  bankruptcies of major producers, pollution rules that have made burning coal more expensive and the decline of a once-promising export market.

Now, another threat has struck coal's remaining U.S. stronghold: A potential end to relatively easy and cheap access to billions of tons of the fuel held in publicly-owned reserves across the West.

President Barack Obama's administration has ordered a three-year moratorium on sales of federal coal reserves, and it's putting a rare mood on folks in Gillette, a ranching-turned-energy town of 32,000: pessimism.

"Most of the time it comes back. This time, I don't know," said Bobbie Garcia, watching her daughter summit a two-story climbing structure at the town's $53 million recreation center largely built with coal money.

Until recently, the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana remained a rare bright spot for the industry. Even as Appalachian mines shut down and cheap natural gas started crowding out coal as a power plant fuel, economies of scale kept the region rumbling.

Massive strip mines sprawled across tens of thousands of acres, much of it in the Thunder Basin National Grassland, produce roughly 40 percent of the nation's supply of the fuel.

For Gillette and other communities, that means more than 7,000 mining industry jobs. And not just fly-by-night, roughneck gigs, but the sort that sustain families year after year, pointed out Michael Von Flatern, a state senator who has lived in Gillette since the early 1970s.

"I cannot picture myself in Gillette without a coal mine," Von Flatern said. "That's a big part of it, the steadiness of it."

Coal's significance isn't easily overlooked here. Mining equipment businesses, offering everything from generators to front-end loaders for rent or sale, line the southern approach into Gillette on Wyoming 59 like a vast aisle of life-sized toys for boys.

Parking fine collection boxes downtown proclaim Gillette the "Energy Capitol of the Nation." Orange clouds of toxic gas released by mine blasting smudge the distant horizon.

Along with oil and gas revenues, coal has brought money for the state and local governments to build top-of-the-line schools and the rec center, which features a 200-meter indoor track and an aquatic center with a 3-meter diving platform.

Signs of economic troubles first appeared a few years ago, when drilling for natural gas trapped in water-saturated coal seams went bust. Thousands of wells were idled as companies shifted focus to fracking for gas in Texas and the Northeast.

Then last year, mining company Alpha Natural Resources filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Industry giant Arch Coal Inc. followed in early January. Each company has two major mines in Wyoming. Arch's Black Thunder mine ranks among the largest in the world.

Less than a week after the Arch bankruptcy came the Obama administration moratorium on new coal lease sales.

It targets an Interior Department program that's been criticized for decades by members of Congress, for allowing mining companies to profit off a taxpayer-owned resource they lease for just pennies per ton through a largely uncompetitive bidding process.

The projects are on hold for three years while the Interior Department reviews the leasing program.

To locals already reeling from the coal bust, the moratorium was the final straw.

"All these rules and regulations just make it harder to conduct business," said Susan Doop, owner of a local alternative therapy business. "Everything he (Obama) does to make it more costly to do business makes it harder. People are losing their jobs."

Doop and her husband, Marlin, who owns an auto body shop, already are seeing the changes. He just spent three weeks focused exclusively on repairing a Ford Super Duty pickup truck from a coal mine that had a crushed cab and bent frame.

A $15,000 check he got from Arch the same week the company filed for bankruptcy bounced. He said he can't afford health insurance and was going to use the money to pay for another round of treatments for advanced liver and colon cancer.

Now he's waiting in line with anybody else for recourse through federal bankruptcy court.

"Could be one to five years. And then when they settle, they always settle with the biggest companies first. And then the little guy gets stuck," Marlin Doop said.

Analysts say the moratorium will add to the uncertainty in Gillette. At stake are the industry's long-term prospects, and if it will be profitable to keep mining at current levels if costs increase after the review. It could apply to as many as 28 projects in nine states, although federal officials said they still were working out the full implications.

As it is, the coal companies themselves have been unwilling to lease any new coal in the Powder River Basin for the past three years, due largely to the uncertain market for the fuel.

"The damage has already done by current market conditions and a decision to regulate carbon dioxide," said Robert Godby, who directs the Center For Energy Economics and Public Policy at the University of Wyoming.

The leasing moratorium, he said, represents "more nails in the coffin. I don't want to say they're already dead, but you get the idea."
NEW YORK | As more requirements of the health care law take effect, income tax filing season becomes more complex for small businesses.

Companies required to offer health insurance have new forms to complete providing details of their coverage. Owners whose payrolls have hovered around the threshold where insurance is mandatory need to be sure their coverage  if they offered it last year  was sufficient to avoid penalties.

Even the most tax-savvy owners may find that do-it-yourself doesn't work when it comes to fulfilling the law's requirements. Many don't know about the intricacies of the new health care regulations associated with the law that affect employers, says Lydia Glatz, an accountant with the firm MBAF in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

"Most small businesses and mom-and-pop operations," Glatz says. "They're more involved in running their day-to-day business."

Here are some of the issues related to the health care law that small businesses need to be aware of:

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE?

Companies with 100 or more workers were required to offer affordable health insurance to employees and their dependents, but not their spouses, starting in 2015. Businesses with 50 to 99 workers must offer coverage starting this year; those with under 50 are exempt.

Owners who were on the hook for affordable insurance last year but didn't provide it may face thousands of dollars in penalties  $2,000 per employee per year, not counting the first 80 employees for the 2015 tax year, and the first 30 for 2016. So it's critical for them to know what their head count was  and many may not realize the calculations are based on a company's 2014 payroll, not 2015.

Here's where it gets complicated: Part-time workers and those fired during the course of the year can all be counted toward the threshold where coverage is required. So can some seasonal workers.

Part-timers work fewer than 30 hours a week under the health care law. They must be counted toward what are called full-time equivalent workers. If, for example, a company has two people who each work an average 15 hours a week, they count as one full-time equivalent employee working 30 hours. A company with 30 full-timers and 40 part-timers who average 15 hours a week each has 50 full-time equivalent workers and is required to offer insurance.

"The concept could potentially catapult what one believes to be a small business into a (large one)," Glatz says.

Another wrinkle: Owners with multiple companies that combined have 50 or more workers may be required to offer insurance, even if each of the individual companies has fewer than 50.

NEW TAX FORMS

Starting this year, businesses required to comply with the health care law must complete forms that detail the cost of their coverage and the names and Social Security numbers of employees and their dependents. The government will use the information to determine whether a company provided coverage that was affordable under the law, or whether it must pay a penalty.

Accountants have described the forms as labor-intensive, because they require information from a number of sources including payroll and health insurance records. Many companies have had to hire workers or payroll services to complete the forms.

The IRS, recognizing the forms' complexity, has extended the deadlines for the forms to be filed. Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, which must be given to workers, are now due March 31. Forms 1094-B and 1094-C, required to be filed with the IRS, are due by May 31 if they're not being submitted on paper, and June 30 if filed online.

WELL-INTENTIONED BUT ILLEGAL

Some employers with fewer than 50 workers and who don't offer insurance have tried to help staffers with the costs of coverage by giving them money toward their premiums, with the intention that the money will be tax-free. That could get owners into expensive trouble with the IRS  they can be fined $100 per day per employee receiving the money, a total of $36,500 per year for each worker.

The problem is that some employers treat this money as a health benefit, but it's not coverage that complies with the law. So they can be penalized.

Companies can help employees with their premium costs by giving them a raise or a more traditional bonus, says Mark Luscombe, a tax analyst with the business information company Wolters Kluwer. That means withholding income and what's known as payroll taxes  Social Security and Medicare  from employees' paychecks, and for companies to pay their payroll tax share.

Some of Megan Blair-Valero's clients in her bookkeeping company have given employees money for their premiums, wanting to help staffers out. When she finds out about it, she has to stop working for them rather than get her firm, Nantucket, Massachusetts-based Fogged In Bookkeeping, in trouble.

"We say, we can't be complicit in this," she says.
GREENSBORO, Vt. | In the snowy woods of northern New England and other forested parts of the country, the lumberjack is an endangered species.

As markets for forest products change and high-tech machinery replaces chain saws, which themselves replaced the ax, a generations-old way of life is disappearing, one that historically saw fathers pass on to their sons their love and knowledge of the woods and the independence that came from working for oneself.

Ken Davis feels this keenly as he reaches retirement age after a half-century career with no one to pass the torch to.

Davis once employed 19 people full-time to cut the wood, haul it and then truck it, sometimes to his log yard, other times directly to the now-disappearing mills across Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and upstate New York that would turn it into lumber or process it into paper. He now employs seven, and has no sons. His daughter and son-in-law tried it for a while, but they didn't keep at it.

"I've got the sawdust in my veins, and they don't make a dialysis machine to get it out, so I'm still here," Davis said recently at his log yard in the town of Hardwick, in an especially rural region Vermonters call the Northeast Kingdom.

None of Davis' employees are showing interest in taking over his business. It's the same story across the region, said Michael Snyder, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation.

"It's dangerous, it's hard to make a living and everybody hates you," Snyder said of logging. "Who's signing up for that?"

The arguments for not becoming a logger are solid.

For one, there's just not as much demand for paper and other wood products because of low commodity prices and international competition, making it less secure than it once was. It's physically and  yes  intellectually demanding work that increasingly requires special skills to run hugely expensive, high-tech machinery. And because of that machinery, capital investments needed to get started can be prohibitive.

The renaissance that farming has undergone in recent years, with an emphasis on food systems and sustainable agriculture, hasn't brought the same energy to logging. In many quarters, loggers are still seen as despoilers of the land. But Snyder noted that while forests can do just fine on their own, logging can support their health by weeding out infestations and invasive species.

Logging entails a number of jobs, including fallers, who cut down trees by hand  essentially, lumberjacks; operators of machinery used to fell trees; and graders and scalers, who check the amount and quality of the wood. The number of all logging workers is expected to fall only 4 percent from 2014 to 2024, from 53,700 to 51,700, according to Bureau of Labor projections.

Nationwide, the number of fallers is projected to decline 17 percent over the same period, from 8,200 in 2014 to 6,800 in 2024.

With the industry becoming more mechanized, the number of equipment operators is expected to stay about the same, with graders and scalers declining 2 percent and all other logging workers falling 7 percent.

"Today you are running a half-million, $600,000 machine, and not only do you need to operate it, you've got to read GPS and computer-based technology equipment, you've got to be able to service and maintain that equipment, you have to know forestry, environmental law, best management practices, tree identification," said Dana Doran, executive director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine.

Across the region, efforts are underway to bring along young loggers. The Vermont Technical College in Randolph helps train forest technicians. In Maine, the industry is backing a plan to train logging technicians in community colleges.

In the Northeast Kingdom, one of Davis' workers, 31-year-old Aaron Martin, said he likes the freedom of working outside in different places. He has been logging for 10 years, but few of his friends have been drawn to the life, he said: "They don't like being out in the cold."

But as much as he likes his work, he has no interest in being the boss.

"With that comes its own headaches," he said. "It's nice to be able to work for somebody else and not deal with all the stress that comes with paying all the bills and everything that goes with it, finding the next job.

"I just go to work and do what I'm told. It's a lot simpler that way."
We sat in the sun to talk, which made us both happy, since so much of what brought Eli Sanders and me to this meeting was steeped in darkness:

The sweltering July night in 2009 when Jennifer Hopper and Teresa Butz were repeatedly raped, tortured and knifed in their South Park neighborhood home by an intruder who had appeared in their bedroom at 3 a.m., naked and holding a large blade.

The death of Butz, who was stabbed in the heart and died in the street after throwing a nightstand through the bedroom window and scrambling out.

The mind of Isaiah Kalebu, the man convicted of the crimes, dimmed by dysfunction, mental illness and evil.

And the mental-health and judicial systems, poorly equipped to monitor the sick and dangerous, or to make the connections that could protect and save lives.

Sanders, the associate editor of The Stranger, has written about it all in his new book, While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Mans Descent into Madness.

Sanders, 38, covered the case for The Stranger from the beginning, and in 2012 won The Pulitzer Prize for The Bravest Woman in Seattle, a riveting narrative lynchpinned by Hoppers unflinching testimony at Kalebus murder trial.

Sanders brought Hopper with him to New York when he collected the Pulitzer from Columbia University.

That story could not exist without her testimony, Sanders said of Hopper, and without her having gotten up there and having the strength and will and capacity to speak so bravely.

He recalled being awe-struck at her composure, and how, at certain points during her testimony, he and others in the courtroom were moved to tears by what Hopper and Butz endured.

It was immediately clear that something needed to be written about it, he said.

The book goes beyond the courtroom drama  which ended with a life sentence for Kalebu, which he is serving at Clallam Bay  and delves into both womens background, through interviews with relatives and friends.

Butz, 39, was from St. Louis, and was raised in a large, boisterous, musical family. Her brother was a Broadway star, her parents devoted Catholics who struggled with her sexuality.

Hopper was from New Mexico, raised by a single mother and her grandparents in Seattle. She found stability and a sanctuary in singing. Her voice was noticed early on, and while her Broadway dreams didnt materialize, she continues to perform.

The book also chronicles Kalebus troubled childhood. His strict Ugandan father, who beat him. His mother, who suffered her own anguish.

Through the stories of these people, and that awful, fateful night, the book points out the flaws in the mental-health and legal systems that allowed Kalebu to slip far through the cracks. So far, that he made a court appearance on another charge just days after the attacks. He still had the womens blood on his jacket. And he remained free.

He had a very challenging path, Sanders said of Kalebu. And mental-health issues. And he encountered failure after failure of the system to help intervene.

These are our systems, he said. We can get mad at them, but we create them. We elect the people that run them. And we dont demand more of them.

If we did, they would change.
SIOUX CITY | Books turned into movies aren't really a new concept.

D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation" -- regarded as the first full-length movie when it was released in 1915 -- was actually a big screen adaptation of the Thomas Dixon Jr.'s novel "The Clansman."

Still, the trend is as strong today as it was more than a century ago.

Six of the eight movies nominated for Best Picture at the 88th Academy Awards -- to be held on Feb. 28 -- were originally adapted from books.

"The Big Short"

While director Adam McKay ("Anchorman," "Talladega Nights") chose to change names and fictionalize some of the incidents in his movie starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, "The Big Short" was actually based on the housing and credit financial bubble documented in Michael Lewis' nonfiction "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" (2010).

"Bridge of Spies"

Director Steven Spielberg's historical thriller tells the story of attorney James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), who negotiated the release of Francis Gary Powers -- a pilot whose U-2 spy plane was shot over the Soviet Union -- in 1962. Surprisingly, the big screen version isn't based upon Giles Whittell's 2010 nonfiction book of the same name. While recounting the same events, Whittell's "Bridge of Spies" focuses on the prisoners, the cinematic version focuses on Donovan. The screenplay -- written by Matt Charman, Ethan and Joel Coen -- uses parts of Donovan's 1964 book "Strangers on a Bridge" as its source material.

"Brooklyn"

"Brooklyn" -- a love story depicting a young Irish woman's immigration to Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1950s -- was a film adaptation of Colm Toibin's 2009 novel of the same name. In addition, the big screen version features a screenplay by novelist Nick Hornby ("High Fidelity,""About a Boy").

"The Martian"

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, "The Martian" -- which revolves around an astronaut mistakenly presumed dead and left on Mars -- was initially a best selling 2011 science fiction novel by Andy Weir.

"The Revenant"

Inspired by the experiences of fur trapper Hugh Glass in Montana and South Dakota in the 1820s, the semi-autobiographical "The Revenant" starred Leonardo DiCaprio in a movie directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu. The screenplay -- by Inarritu and Mark L. Smith -- was adapted from 2002's "The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge," by Michael Punke.

"Room"

The 2010 novel by Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue was the basis for the movie that starred Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay and William H. Macy. Donoghue -- who also wrote the screenplay -- told her story from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy who is being captive in a small room along with his mother.

While "Spotlight" -- which focuses on a child sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests -- uses newspaper accounts from Boston Globe reporters, the remaining Best Picture nominee ("Mad Max: Fury Road") features a story written expressly for the screen.
SIOUX CITY | Josephine Cain was living in Council Bluffs, Iowa, when her mother, Marie Cahill, fell ill.

Cain, a school teacher at the time, couldn't be there to take care of her mother, who died at age 87. This experience led Cain to volunteer with Hospice of Siouxland, something she and her husband, Lloyd "Bud" Cain, have been doing since 1998. The Dakota Dunes couple also volunteer at St. Michael's Church in South Sioux City.

"This is just one way that I can give back to other people that I couldn't give my mom," the 84-year-old said. "It's an experience of a lifetime. It's such a good feeling."

Donating time can benefit a person's physical and mental health. Studies have shown that volunteering can lower blood pressure and stress and prevent declines in functional health, such as walking speed and physical strength. Volunteers tend to be lower in weight and have more stamina and flexibility than their peers who don't volunteer.

Mortality rates are also lower for people who volunteer. According to a Harvard School of Public Health study, volunteers spend 38 percent less time in the hospital.

The Cains said they never thought about how volunteering might improve their health, but the couple say they're very healthy people. They walk 2 miles a day.

"I didn't realize that all those benefits might have something to do with hospice," Josephine Cain said.

Jane Metz, volunteer coordinator for Hospice of Siouxland, said a physician told one of her volunteers to keep volunteering because it was improving his health. Volunteering gives some people a reason to get out of the house and remain engaged, she said.

"I think people that want to volunteer have a need to volunteer. It tugs at their heart -- especially the spiritual aspect of it," Metz said. "We have people that sit with dying patients -- that's a very spiritual time."

Hospice of Siouxland volunteers provide respite for caregivers, they talk with patients, play cards and board games and read to them.

Lloyd Cain, 85, picks up patients' prescription drugs and delivers them to their homes. The Korean War veteran also presents other veterans with pins and certificates through the Vet to Vet program, which is sponsored by Hospice of Siouxland.

"In nursing homes in particular, you see so many people that have had bad things happen to them -- they're crippled or mentally impaired," he said. "You can't help but think, 'But through the grace of God there am I.'"

Josephine Cain recites the Rosary with patients who are Catholic. She said sometimes patients just like to be pushed up and down the nursing room hallways in their wheelchairs. She thinks she gets more out of volunteering than the patients do.

"You get to be really good friends with them. Pretty soon your hour's up and you just want to stay and keep on talking," she said.

Cain visited with the same "little old lady" for six years. She became like a daughter to the woman. She curled her hair, cleaned her refrigerator and ran errands for her.

"She just laid everything on me. I was kind of her spiritual guide in a way," she said. "We became very, very close."
SIOUX CITY | Journal reporter Ally Karsyn received two top awards for young journalists from the Iowa Newspaper Association on Friday.

Karsyn was the only Iowa journalist to receive both the Jay P. Wagner Prize for Young Journalists and the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists Award at ceremonies in Des Moines during the INAs annual convention.

Both awards are given to Iowa journalists under the age of 30.

Karsyn, 26, has been with the Journal since June 2012, covering the crime beat for a year before switching over to features.

In a personal statement for the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer award, Karsyn wrote, Im grateful for the people who have welcomed me, a storytelling stranger, into their homes and lives. Their stories of strength and resilience never cease to inspire. And Ill keep telling them as long as people keep letting me through their doors.

The judges comments said, Unusually strong storytelling skills and ability to move the reader along at a rapid pace. Short sentences, active verbs, simple words  Wow. Beautifully told stories.

Karsyn has a passion for narrative journalism and regularly covers topics related to gender, culture, entrepreneurship and social movements.

Sharing her love of the craft, Karsyn recently founded Ode, a storytelling series where community members tell true stories on stage to promote positive impact through empathy. Powerful first-person essays are written around a theme and shared with an audience on the last Wednesday of every other month. The next event is March 30, and the theme is inspirations and influences.

Karsyn, who grew up in Rock Valley, Iowa, graduated from Dordt College in December 2011. She studied abroad in London, spent a semester in Chicago and interned for the Des Moines Register, covering events leading up the 2012 presidential election.

I wouldn't be where I am today without my college instructor Jennifer Dukes Lee, a talented storyteller and all-around beautiful person who passed on her love of journalism to me, she said. Mentors make a difference.
Editor's note: Every other Sunday through the conclusion of this year's session of the Iowa Legislature, our local lawmakers will share their Statehouse views.

Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City

As the grind of the session churns, I want to share with you two pieces of legislation that I have been working on over the past few years, and that I believe are finally in a position to be passed. First, SF2072, an autism bill that would require Iowa insurance companies to recognize autism, and its treatments, as a chronic disease that requires chronic vs. acute treatment options. Second, is SSB1264, which is called a right to try law as pertained to terminally ill patient treatment opportunities. Both great life bills.

Right now in Iowa, insurance companies are only required to provide treatment coverage for autism in the short term - i.e., up to two years. Forty-three other states recognize autism as a chronic disease embracing the physical patient benefits and the overall health care savings of treating autism as a chronic disease. Its time Iowa does the same. Lets get it done.

SSB1264 would provide terminally ill patients in Iowa the "right to try an experimental drug that is in the early stages of industry testing. I know it is hard to believe, but state law restricts bio-tech companies from providing these treatment opportunities outside of a clinical study in which, because of timing, most terminally ill are ineligible to participate. These are patients that have exhausted all other approved treatments.

This is a narrow and cutting edge law that has begun to pass in a handful of other states that is producing life-saving results. I take it to committee on Tuesday. Please keep these two important pieces of legislation in your daily prayers.

Rep. David Dawson, D-Sioux City

During the 2015 session, the Iowa House passed House File 6, a bill sponsored by Rep. Megan Jones, to close the loopholes in Iowa law related to sexual exploitation by a school employee.

Fortunately, the Iowa Senate caught items in the original bill that needed to be addressed such as making sure it protected kids at public schools as well as those attending nonpublic schools who were not included in the original bill.

The Senate also amended the bill to add sweeping measures to prevent sexual and domestic violence in Iowa. Each of the components added to HF 6 passed the Iowa Senate with unanimous support and the bill was sent back to the House to consider the amendment. The issues now contained in the HF 6 include:

 human trafficking prevention and training;

 better stalking protection for domestic abuse victims and their children;

 stronger penalties for using GPS devices to track down and intimidate a victim;

 elimination of the criminal statute of limitation for sexual abuse of a child; and

 stronger protections for victims of trespassing and invasion of privacy.

The bill is still eligible for debate this year in the House. As an assistant county attorney for Woodbury County, I certainly hope House leadership will pass the bill and send it to the governor for his signature. It would be great to see both chambers and both parties come together to make Iowa a safer place for children and families.

Rep. Chris Hall, D-Sioux City

Following the caucuses on Monday evening, our legislative workweek was disrupted by the blizzard. Most legislators, including myself, were snowbound at home with meetings cancelled and debate for this week postponed. Thanks to our city officials, plow drivers and the DOT for working around the clock.

For years, Iowa has been known as a great place to "live, work and raise a family." This phrase was originally coined by former Gov. Tom Vilsack to describe the policies we should pursue and the environment we should strive to create. At present, policymakers are trying to foster the same conditions within Sioux City, to continue attracting families and a much needed workforce.

For most young families, the cost of living is heavily impacted by the cost of child care. According to data from 2012, the average cost of child care in Iowa was just over $7,000 per year. For a family earning the median income, that means they spend approximately 11 percent of their income on child care costs. Iowa also ranks near the top for states where both parents work and have children under six years old. As a result, there is a tremendous need for affordable and quality child care.

Some 40,500 children currently qualify for child care assistance in Iowa. The program offsets the cost to parents, while ensuring they meet firm employment requirements. The time has come to increase capacity for the program, restore wrap-around funding for preschool and keep strict employment checks in place. Families and workforce are essentially the same people.

Rep. Ron Jorgensen, R-Sioux City

The first funnel deadline is quickly approaching. In two weeks all policy related bills must be passed out of their respective committees to stay alive. Two major pieces of legislation I have been working on include setting the school funding rate increase for FY 17 (SSA) and securing an extension of the penny sales tax used for school infrastructure, which is set to expire in 2029.

The school funding increase bill has been assigned to a conference committee. The goal is to have a negotiated agreement in a timely manner, allowing districts the information needed to negotiate contracts and certify their budgets. Decisions on federal tax coupling will have ramifications on available funds. The House is awaiting action by the Senate. Regardless, I feel the initial discussions have been very productive and hopefully an agreement could be announced soon. I remain optimistic.

In regards to the extension of the statewide penny, the Education Committee this past week passed a bill out of committee which addresses this issue along with providing districts who are inequitably treated by the school funding formula some additional flexibility on the use of the infrastructure money it receives. This bill allows local school boards, who have funding inequities, to annually make a decision on whether they wish to use some of the sales tax infrastructure funds for inequity relief in addition to building projects and/or property tax relief. This bill will now go to the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.
SIOUX CITY | An armed suspect linked to a string of robberies and burglaries shot a Sioux City police officer early Sunday morning before shooting himself.

Isaiah Mothershed, 18, shot and wounded a 13-year veteran of the police force inside an apartment on the city's northside, according to a police department news release. The officer, who was not immediately identified, was treated and released at a local hospital.

Mothershed, who was wounded from his self-inflicted gunshot, was arrested and is in police custody. Mercy Medical Center would neither confirm or deny Mothershed was a patient there Sunday night.

The shooting occurred as police investigated numerous robberies and burglaries that led them to apartment C13 at 2947 Park Ave. Several neighbors declined to speak on the record to the Journal Sunday.

Mothershed was accused in July of kidnapping a man and a teenager at gunpoint and burning them with a heated object. The charges were later dismissed.

In September, Woodbury County Attorney P.J. Jennings said the charges could be refiled, and evidence had been submitted to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation laboratory for analysis.

At the time, Jennings said Mothershed was under investigation for drive-by shootings of the house where the kidnapping allegedly took place.

Sunday was the first shooting in Sioux City in 2016, and the first of a Sioux City police officer on duty since officer Jill Ohm was shot on Oct. 3, 2014.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa | Planning for the Iowa caucuses can be like preparing for a winter storm not knowing whether it will be ice or snow or how much to expect.

Its like inviting 150,000 of your family and friends to a party without RSVPs, says former Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky.

The first-in-the-nation caucuses are, by their nature, prone to chaos, according to people who have had a hand in planning and executing the once-every-four-years party functions.

Think of the challenges of hosting a party and now multiply that by 1,700 events simultaneously statewide  all run by volunteers  and under the scrutiny of the national media, says Norm Sterzenbach, the IPDs caucus director in 2008.

The 2016 caucuses were no exception.

Lena Gilbert, 57, a real estate agent from Springville, arrived at her Democratic caucus at Springville High School early because she had never caucused and wanted some directions.

There were no written instructions or complete verbal instructions to attendees, she said.

When the event started, she gathered with others who supported her chosen candidate, but the group didnt know if they were allowed to communicate with people in other camps. The number of people who signed in didnt match the number of people who counted off during the event, Gilbert added.

It doesnt seem like a process that was exact or accurate, she said.

Her expectations are not unusual, but probably not realistic, says Steffen Schmidt, political science professor at Iowa State University.

We want (the caucuses) to function like a finely tuned machine -- they were never meant to do that, he says. The people who are running it -- theyre not professionals. Theyre volunteers, and sometimes you have to pull teeth and beg people to do it. To expect it to be this finely tuned, sophisticated machine is unrealistic, but I guess thats where we are now.

It seems everyone who caucused Feb. 1 has a story about long lines, venues that were too small, confusion about locations with multiple precincts and volunteers who either were inadequately trained or unprepared for the turnout.

Its not for a lack of effort or planning, according to Sterzenbach and Matt Strawn, who was Republican Party of Iowa chairman in 2012. The state parties typically begin preparations at least a year in advance.

Although many of the precinct chairs are old hands, Strawn, now part of Next Generation Public Affairs, says considerable time is spent recruiting volunteers to set up and run each precinct caucus. A small paid staff relies on county party leaders to identify and peer recruit volunteers.

Its not easy, says Sterzenbach, now a principal at GPS Impact, a strategic planning firm in Des Moines, because serving as a precinct chair is not as sexy as being a precinct captain for a campaign and get to meet the candidate and have your picture taken with them.

Also, he says, its not as simple as pulling up the list of volunteers from the previous caucus. Its at least four years old and if a party doesnt have a contested caucus, the list can be eight years old.

Finding volunteers to run the caucuses has become more difficult "because people are busier, they are less connected to the local party, Sterzenbach says.

This takes time, and people have jobs and families and others to take care of, said Catherine Crist, a 53-year-old Cedar Rapids resident and precinct captain at Cedar Rapids Washington High School auditorium where more than 400 Democrats completed the presidential nomination part of the caucus was done in about an hour. I have great respect for the fact that people come here to show their enthusiasm and commitment to this wonderful democratic process.

First-time caucusgoers Gilbert wishes every caucus ran so smoothly and in an email to the Iowa Democratic Party offered her help if the party decides to revamp the process.

Its very sad because in Iowa we have this grand opportunity to draw all this attention, yet at the ground level, the administration of these events is very poorly operated, she said.

Thats in spite of hundreds of training sessions  including online training and conference calls -- by the state Democratic and Republicans parties. However, Sterzenbach says the biggest challenge for precinct chairs may be the hardest thing to train for  how to handle a crowd, how to organize a precinct with 500 people when less than half that number was expected, how to get them to stand in the right place and to be counted properly.

That was the case in for Doug Dorando, a veteran precinct captain from Iowa City, who reports that nearly two-thirds of the 646 people who turned out to caucus at the Iowa City Public Library were not registered or wanted to switch party affiliation.

It slowed down the process a little bit, he said.

Because there were so many people, Dorando had to move Hillary Clinton supporters and undecided caucusgoers to another room -- which made some Bernie Sanders supporters think they were losing their opportunity to sway other camps.

It sucks because we werent able to stop Hillary Clinton from getting her delegate, said Mary Marturello, 21, of Iowa City.

But Dorando said he worked with candidate precinct captains to make sure rules were followed, despite the separation of the groups.

The Bernie caucus chair singled out 30 volunteers to have those negotiations with the Hillary Clinton supporters and undecideds, Dorando said.

Jeff Cox, a Sanders precinct captain, agreed with Dorando.

I have been going to presidential caucuses since 1980, but things have gotten out of hand because of the numbers, said Cox, a University of Iowa history professor. Doug certainly did his best, he really did, but no one can call this grass roots democracy, or even democracy, since participants cant be sure their preferences are counted properly.

Given that turnout of about 171,000 Democrats and more than 180,000 Republican, space was at a premium -- particularly in Johnson County, where UI students turned out in droves.

The Johnson County Democrats requested meeting rooms at the University of Iowa, Iowa City Community School District, community buildings, churches and other facilities -- but because of the large groups expected, the party did not get permission in some cases, said John Deeth, data management director. Large meeting rooms at West High School that were used in the past were unavailable because of school events.

Not being able to use West High pushed the Democrats to Borlaug Elementary, which some Iowa City residents complained was discriminatory because the school isnt easily accessible by bus, Deeth said.

I understand the schools belong to the school district, but they also belong to the public, he said.

Deeth and Dorando said they think the Democrats did remarkably well considering the unexpected flood of UI students, who havent been on campus for previous caucuses. Dorando had advice for people running a caucus for the first time: Its not as easy as they tell you it is.

Sterzenbach agrees, and says the parties may want to add crowd management be added to the training syllabus for precinct volunteers.

Lost in the crush of excitement about the presidential nomination contest is the fact caucuses essentially are a party organizing and building activity, says Brendan Summers, who worked with Sterzenbach on the 2008 caucuses.

The parties have caucuses every even-numbered year to bring people into the party, says Summers, who this year was on Bernie Sanders Iowa campaign staff. But when they take place in presidential election years the focus changes. You lose some of the party-building.

Dvorsky acknowledges the bifurcated focus in presidential elections years, but notes thats part of the ever-changing caucus landscape, including the impact of social media this year.

Imagine what 2008 would have been like if everyone had a smartphone and Twitter, she says about the record-breaking 240,000 turnout that year. Next time, if there is a next time, there will be utterly different conditions.

Despite the challenges inherent in successfully recruiting and training volunteers to oversee 3,362 meetings in nearly as many locations, she remains confident in the parties and the Iowans who pull it off.

Its the reason the party exists every four years, Dvorsky says.

Cedar Rapids Gazette reporter Diana Nollen contributed to this story.
SIOUX CITY | Twelve years ago, Debbie Bernstein LaCroix, then pregnant with her son, William, talked to three other mothers about bringing a hub for education and creativity for youth to Siouxland.

Last week, William, now 12, saw the reality of more than a decade of planning and work by supporters of the LaunchPAD Childrens Museum.

On the night of Feb. 4, Debbie noticed William's big grin as he pulled a lever to operate a makeshift grain pit -- just one of the many interactive exhibits at the new museum in downtown Sioux City.

Its for people who like technology and working together, William said of the exhibit.

William and his mother were among 250 donors and supporters who attended a preview party for the museum last Thursday. The $6.9 million facility at 623 Pearl St. opens to the general public on Thursday.

Bernstein LaCroix, who lives in Dakota Dunes, brainstormed the initial idea for the museum alongside Brandy TenHulzen, Lily Higman and Jenny Uhl.

Its been really fun watching it come together, Bernstein LaCroix, 40, said. Its like having a baby and showing it off to everybody. Knowing we didnt give up is a very gratuitous feeling.

Bernstein LaCroix and TenHulzen, of Sergeant Bluff, both serve on the museums board of directors.

This is everything and more than we imagined it to be, said TenHulzen, 42, whose daughters were ages 1 and 3 when the mothers first began discussing a childrens museum in Sioux City. Her daughter, Madison is now 14, and daughter, Breanna, is 16.

Bob Fitch, the museums executive director, said the facility emphasizes agriculture, food sources and the environment. The focus alludes to Siouxlands agricultural industries and history.

As of Feb. 4, Fitch said, more than 400 families have purchased memberships. In the museum's name, PAD stands for "Play and Discover," which signifies the facility's opportunities for youths.

The $6 million museum also features exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering and math. Many were influenced by the community including members of the Sioux City and South Sioux City school districts.

One of the popular exhibits involves a moving stream of water with boats and bridges to show the impact of the Missouri River and how surrounding tributaries affect everyday life.

"Part of it is to just help teach kids the importance of water in our environment," Fitch said. "Then, also it helps kids learn how water moves and flows."

More than a decade ago, TenHulzen took her daughters to the Iowa Childrens Museum in Coralville, Iowa, and watched as they fell in love with the facility's educational exhibits. She said the childrens museum will help draw people to Sioux City.

Its going to keep young people in town and bring people here, TenHulzen said.

During the preview event last week, Matt Brossard, 39, of Orange City, Iowa, visited the museum with his son, Joseph, 11. Brossard said they have visited similar museums in Minnesota.

Its nice having something like this nearby, Brossard said. Its something you dont see every day.

Joseph said he enjoyed the construction of the water exhibits.

I like how its built, Joseph said. The water creates ripples and stuff.
Your Business Blogger has always been a peddler. A very lazy peddler, which meant two things:

1) I had to learn some shortcuts, and,

2) I was destined for management.

I started out selling vacuum cleaners cold-calling door to door.

Cold. Calling. O Joy.

So in the late 80s I sought out the smartest sales guy on the planet who had the same latitude for lazy as me.

I decided to meet with David Sandler, the founder of the Sandler Sales Institute.

After listening to him for a few minutes, I was intrigued by his system and his style, but I wanted to know more. I ventured a timid question.

He looked at me. Then he told me to get out of the room. I come, willing to sit through his sales pitch and he tells me, me! to get lost. The program was expensive and lightweight nobodies couldnt afford his sales program.



Those werent his exact words. But close.

And, of course, I couldnt afford it.

And, of course, I had to have it.

The Sandler Rules,

When faced with stalls, objections, or put-offs, you must eliminate them or its over. Inspect what you expect. You cant lose what you dont have. If you wait until the presentation to close the sale, you put too much pressure on the prospect and yourself.

It was the best 850 bucks I ever spent.

I learned to ask stupid questions (which came quite naturally) like,



What does that mean?



Why am I here?



It doesnt look like youre interested?

And when all else fails,

Is it over?

That last one is my favorite. When at the end of the sales process and it doesnt look like the sale is coming and you are about to get thrown out, ask,

Is it over?

In decades a-peddling Ive only had two prospects say yes, its over, now get lost.

(Hint: Guys, dont be asking this question when youre dating. You will get many, many yess. Not that Id know.)

Sandlers Sales System is not for everyone  but it works even for those who dont like it.

But I try to steer clients to Sandler because my small business owners work too hard. This is an unfortunate trend. The Boss should never work too hard.

The core concept of this sales program is of hyper-sales-qualification. Do not attempt without adult supervision.

I havent made a cold-call since.

My prospective clients call me.

This is an unpaid endorsement for continuing education.

###

David Sandler died in 1995. And left the world a better place.
If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Imagine  generating hundred and thousands of hits to your website a day. Those hits turn into email subscribers, and people buying your products.

This consistent traffic gives you the financial freedom you need to spend time living a life that brings joy and abundance to the world. This is the reality for many business owners and entrepreneurs just like you.

It doesnt happen over night, and it isnt easy  but it can be a reality for you.

If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, then this is the definitive guide to being an SEO expert.

Before I show you how to be the master DIY SEO expert, I want to lay some ground rules.

First, understand there are over 200 different signals that Google uses to determine ranking in the Google search engine.

Its not necessary to pay attention keenly to all 200 (unless this is your 24/7 occupation). There are some key signals and criteria to focus on and that we can easily control.

Second, understand that you MUST write and produce content for humans (not the Google bots). If you focus on producing content that humans enjoy you will win in the eyes of Google.

Lastly, nothing beats hiring a real SEO expert: someone like a WordPress developer who is versed in SEO. He or she can help increase your ranking within your website for optimal results.

Hosting

Before you start your website, the proper hosting service determines your website. Smaller hosting platforms that are niched may be more appropriate for you depending on your goals.

That being said I look at the hosting platform that the major players are using. One of them beats out the rest in the hosting world. Bluehost  It is the same hosting service Patt Flynn uses on most of his sites.

Bluehost has cheap hosting, great service, reliability, and awesome SEO components taken care of.

Obviously there are other hosting platforms to choose from. No matter the platform, youll need to secure a rock-solid host.

Website Theme

Finding a website theme for your business that has the design functionality you want (without a bunch of junk code) can be challenging.

There are many places to get themes for your website including Themeforest, MojoThemes, and Genesis.

For SEO purposes  Genesis is the winner. Their code is very clean (not a bunch of sloppy code). It is not image heavy, and it is maintained incredibly well.

The downside to Genesis is that it is a higher price point to customize. Plus youll need a coder to customize an themes. However if you can handle the out-of-the-box solution this may be great for you!

Otherwise, feel free to grab a clean looking template from Themeforest, and install the demo content onto your new domain name in WordPress (after installing WordPress.org of course!).

Site Speed

How fast your site loads is one of the key factors in determining your SEO ranking.

Plus for every second your website takes to load, your chance of a user abandoning your website increases.

The bottom line is faster = better.

Google has an amazing tool that is 100 percent free to test your site speed. Just go to Googles Site Speed Insights Page and type in your URL to test. It will let you know how fast it is on a ranking of 0-100 on mobile and desktop.

Plus it will also let you know what you need to fix and update to make the SEO rank higher.

The following plugins are geared to increase site speed as much as possible while minimizing unnecessary code.

Plugins for WordPress (to Increase Site Speed)

WorPress plugins are going to be the bread and butter of your DIY guide to being an SEO expert.

More plugins doesnt mean better. Your site can slow down with too many plugins (so be selective).

Focus on the most productive plugins for your stellar SEO driven website.

First download the Yoast SEO plugin.

Yoast SEO takes care of most of the SEO things you need done and they have an amazing blog article to walk you step by step through the key components of their tool and SEO in general.

Yoast SEO integrates perfectly with website tools like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. And it has an amazing section for social SEO, where you can turn on meta tags for open graph searches and much more.

Youll be pumped about the Yoast SEO plugin. Time saver, seriously.

WOT Cache

These plugins are kind of complicated to explain but simply it goes like this  HTML code is less resource intensive than PHP code.

If a website has to repeatedly call PHP code for a user, it slows down the load speed.

Caching plugins like these generates static html files from your dynamic WordPress blog.

After an html file is generated, your web server will serve that file instead of processing the comparatively heavier and more expansive WordPress php scripts.  WP super cache plugin description

If your technically savvy, use WOT Cache. It is superior and truly amazing.

Content Delivery Networks

A Content Delivery Network or (CDN) is a tool that saves all your static content across multiple servers around the world.

Static content, is content that rarely changes like images, videos, and blog articles. A CDN saves the static files on multiple servers all across the globe. This increases load time speed,because the information has to travel less literal distance.

Imagine your website is hosted in Austin Texas, and someone in New York City visits your website.

The information has to go from New York City to Austin, Texas and then back to New York City. This slows down the response time drastically.

Imagine though, if a server was set up with 90 percent of your content saved in Washington D.C. Instead of retrieving all the data from Austin, you can grab 90 percent it from D.C and the remaining 10 percent from Austin. This is what a caching plugin does (the plugins I recommended above).

It saves your content all around the world on a plethora of servers.

Bluehost has an automatic CDN built into it, and services like Squarespace do, too. That being said, if you dont have a CDN check out MAXCDN, this is the recommend CDN used by the Yoast SEO plugin.

Image Optimization

Images are the number one reason sites take so long to load. They are highly resource intensive and very rarely are optimized for web.

Most images can be optimize by 50 to 90 percent and still retain excellent quality. Here is the beautiful thing: there are tons of excellent plugins to use for image optimization.

I like to personally use the tools that have a bulk image optimization tool. That way my 1,000 images throughout my site can all be optimized in a matter of minutes.

This is why I recommend the tool Shortpixel. The user experience is top notch!

There is a free version that gives you 100 images for free (more than enough if you are just starting) or a small fee of $5 a month to process a 5,000 images at once. I have yet to see anyone need more than a few thousand images to optimize.

Image SEO

When creating image, there are 3 more SEO components to keep in mind.

The first thing is the file name. When you hit save does it save as xivasln32x.png? The generic file name gives you no SEO juice.

Instead save the file with the keywords you are looking to achieve. For example: DIY_Guide_SEO.png. That file will be crawled for the keywords DIY, Guide, and SEO by the Google bots.

Alt attributes: When an image cant render properly or when you hover over an image, what pops up in the dialogue box? xivasln32x.png Again?

Alt attributes add associated keywords with your image. Dont go spam crazy with a hundred keywords. Two or three will work perfectly.

Make sure your images are crawl-able by Google. Add a Google sitemap (covered later in the guide).

Headlines, Page Titles, and Meta Descriptions

These three component make up what you do every day to increase your SEO. Creating regular content for your readers and Google sends tons of signals to Google that your website is pertinent and important.

I have stated before how writing bad headlines is killing your business. It doesnt matter if your writing headlines for email, articles, social media posts. On average 5x as many people read headlines as compared to the body.

There is a dilemma though  writing headlines for Google can be boring.

Huffington Post created the headline What time is the Super Bowl and rocked a ton of hits but the article was less than 100 words. Did it convey the message and information? Yes.

Yet does it bring personality and style into the article? Nope!

SEO is about being literally conveying the information for Google, while also remembering ground rule 2: write for humans.

Here is how you can write for humans and Google bots.

There are three options when it comes to headlines, titles, and meta descriptions

1. Write headlines that pack an SEO punch AND a creative catchy headline. Check out Jon Morrows headline hacks to create an effective headline. The DIY guide to SEO is a long tail keyword that will rank well in google, #humblebrag.

2. The next option is a two part process. Write a different article title and a page title. An article title is what you show your reader. A page title is what you show Google bots.

3. Take the two step process and add a meta description for heavily searched terms. Meta descriptions can help visitors determine which site is best to click on. a well written synopsis or description to bait readers can add to more clicks and better overall SEO.

Sitemaps

A sitemap is a file that tells Google and other search engines like Bing where to go on a website. A sitemap is the GPS coordinates of your site.

If you are using the plugin Yoast SEO, creating and feeding Google is easy!

Click on the section that says XML sitemaps, follow the directions, and viola you are done. Now  Google, Bing, and any other search engines will crawl your site map.

Links

Links are the bread and butter of Googles algorithms.

Simply put, the more high quality links pointing into your site (from highly reputable sources) the better.

To achieve this, make great content, reach out to people and build the links over time. There is no quick fix to build massive amounts of links.

Outbound links are important too. Remember to link to high quality articles that pertain to your subject. This shows your readers and Google that you know quality content.

Overall SEO doesnt have to be complicated. The more time you spend learning and optimizing your website, the better your business will do.

Remember the guideline to make content for humans and you should be on your way to massively successful online business!

Make great content, promote it, and SEO juice will be flooding in  on stop.
Did you see the pictures of Ris Low in The New Paper on Wednesday? Those legs! That hair! The peek-a-boo panties! If the pictures wer...
There are many fitness goals out there that we desire. Some of us want to be leaner and others wish to put on muscle mass. The thing is, for you to achieve your fitness goals, you need to
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Legal Matters of Engineers, Climate Change, Environmental, Energy, and Regulatory. Also discusses updates on Construction Law, primarily environmental issues in construction. Discusses technical expert witnesses. Discusses renewable energy issues, with emphasis on wind, solar, geothermal. Discusses the disadvantages of nuclear power.
What books do you have on your shelf? Read on to find out Mark Wehling's book recommendations. by Ann Abbott



In last semester's "Business Spanish" class, student teams had to do a networking project that culminated in each team reaching out to one of my former students to ask for career advice. (We did the work over several weeks, but



My hope is that students learned about how to network appropriately. But of course the real gift was that all three former students answered the current students and gave them valuable advice. Such valuable advice.



I won't delay any further, just enough to say that I had goose bumps reading Mark's reply (below). He is truthful, inspiring and detailed. I think he should write a book.



Here's his email!



Hola Kristin, Shamir, Haley, Daniel, y Xuefei (quieren copiarl@s?)



Me da mucho placer poder contestar estas preguntas y ayudarles de esta manera! Pero lamento mucho que hasta ahora no les he podido responder. No me puedo disculpar, pero les cuento que este mes pasado fue una locura: me mude de Nueva York a Singapura, y al llegar a Singapura ya estuve viajando por la region con el trabajo. De todas maneras, que me perdonen y que esto aun les sirva bien! (Y perdonen la falta de acentos) In last semester's "Business Spanish" class, student teams had to do a networking project that culminated in each team reaching out to one of my former students to ask for career advice. (We did the work over several weeks, but here's a link with most of the information about the project .)My hope is that students learned about how to network appropriately. But of course the real gift was that all three former students answered the current students and gave them valuable advice. Such valuable advice.I won't delay any further, just enough to say that I had goose bumps reading Mark's reply (below). He is truthful, inspiring and detailed. I think he should write a book.Here's his email!



La verdad es que hay mucho que podria decir sobre sus preguntas (vuestras preguntas! si yo te respondiera en 2002 cuando estudie en Barcelona y me comunique asi - tal vez alguno/a de Uds es asi ;), pero voy a comentar con algunos puntos que veo como importantes.



1. How have you benefitted from working in a variety of sectors, including the energy effiency, legal services, and banking sectors?



It has been a really enlightening experience to work across several sectors, but challenging to be sure. To clarify in rough and very brief summary, I began my career in public health policy (classic DC-based international development). I was in that space roughly 4 years before transitioning to the (clean) energy sector as a result of the my Luce year in China, where public health => pollution => clean energy. I fundamentally care about human health, which is why/how I moved my career further "upstream" to the root of certain health problems: business. It touches CSR or sustainability in a sense, but really pure business in the energy sector.



The energy sector is broad and interesting, because it deals with everything we eat, do, use: raw material in our phones, computers, lights, vehicles, and more. No matter how much we dislike the global system we're in with corporations strong-arming their way to dictate policy, we are consumers providing the demand to their supply. Everything comes back to economics of supply and demand. And energy projects of any kind are large in scale and require considerable up-front capital (someone has to take that risk and finance it, hoping they get a return on it later when the project is in use by society, thus your alluding to banking, above). The energy sector around the world is undergoing a massive transformation and it is a really fascinating time to be involved in it.



So the benefit I have had is understanding the world and our challenges from a wide variety of angles, both sectorally and geographically. so I have familiarity with Washington DC institutions, developing countries, Latin America, Asia, public health, the energy sector, chemicals sector, and the banking and finance sector. But it is important to understand my challenge: that I am not deep in any one of those sectors or areas as a peer who is a Latin America expert, or a public health expert with an MPH would be. I can't match a peer who has focused 100% in that sector consistently over that same 11 year period since I graduated. I am fine with not having that depth, as I instead bring other skills to my work. But I do have to work harder to learn and "play" at the level of those who have been in that particular sector/field/space much longer and who may have a Masters in that field as well. My philosophy has been to maximize the return on my undergraduate investment without pursuing that next step of a Masters degree, instead building my value with experience. That is simply one perspective based on understanding perspectives of various employers and being in the position of hiring manager. I may likely return to school for that Masters, perhaps in Chinese or Spanish(!) or sociolinguistics at some point.



2. What have you learned while working in cross-cultural settings, such as your job in Peru and time spent in China with China Greentech Initiative?



I think about this in two ways:



One is that I worked in local offices in Rabat, Lima, Beijing, and Singapore and have learned some of the same things you are likely learning in your language and cross-cultural classes, and your Spanish for business classes you'll take with Ann. I've learned to approach any situation with humility, an inquisitive and listening ear, and respect for my counterparts and also for myself. When doing business in another culture, you adjust to their system and their work flow. Eat breakfast or lunch with your colleagues, in a way that they may. Be aware of personal economic differences. You are the adapter, not them, no matter what Harvard Business Review (HBR) advises as a best practice on a given matter (i.e. that you may otherwise know to be best for the situation). That said, there are ideas you can bring (only after listening and very openly absorbing theirs!) that can be interesting additions or even lessons for your host working culture.



The other way is doing business with another culture, where you are working in a Western office, but perhaps transacting with a client of another culture across the table from you. For this, you want to be aware of the same types of things, from customs of timeliness, to dress, to eating/drinking, hierarchical relationships, and more. Understanding your client's culture is important, whether it is of another culture or simply another US organization's own internal culture.



3. What made you choose to major in Global Studies and Spanish at U of I and how have they helped you in your professional life?



I like this question because when I transitioned back from China in 2012, and before taking my role at Bloomberg in early 2013, I stepped in temporarily for a previous Global Studies advisor's maternity leave for three months. I really enjoyed sharing with students, from Fresh/Soph navigating their courses, their study abroad options and internship opportunities, to Juniors and Seniors thinking about their career options. Just as you're well aware, the major is perfect in that it pulls on a rich variety of disciplines, but not perfect, because you still have to craft for yourself that unique skill you will bring to your work. Unlike accounting or engineering or CS, there is not a clear career path awaiting you as you step out the UofI door. Also, think again about supply and demand economics. You're aware that the supply of LAS students around the country is high compared to the demand for LAS talent right now. That doesn't mean an LAS degree is not a good one for the the job market. It just means you have to get more creative and work at crafting a unique "differentiator" in your story. Then tell that story to your prospective employer. Sell yourself, but built on your experiences during school and internships - and Ann's life-applicable classes in particular.



In overcoming this challenge, I suggest you first do what you can to really carve out unique technical strengths and skills where you can (more on that below) but also really think and write and process, and think and write again, and then reflect on what you care about, what you are good at, and what you love to do with your time. Think about these three items: what your talents are, what you love to do, and what issue or world problem motivates you.



When talent-passion-issue align, you can do great things. Pursue that issue/topic area with your passion and your talent. If you have the talent for the issue/problem but not the passion, it can become frustrating. If you have the passion for the issue but not that talent, you can imagine it also becomes frustrating. How can you align all three for yourself?





4. What do you think is the most important skill college students should gain to get their first job or internship after college?



I'll focus here only on one, but with three parts: communication skills.



1) Present, present and present some more so that it feels less and less stressful to do so, and less and less painful to prepare. You can never be too good at presenting, whether to one person at a table, or to a room of 5000 people. Steve Jobs is an example many refer to. When presenting, less is more. Make the complex simple.



2) Writing skills: The better you can write, whether in long report form or in short email form, the more value you will bring ANY employer. So much communication happens on email today - and not in short-form texting only! ;) - that you'll want to have an ability to write something that could take many paragraphs in just 5 lines of email. You have to convey complex ideas but in a way that in the first line says the purpose or point of the email (why should I continue reading your email) and also has an ask or a request for action. Nearly every email has a main point and a request for action - make sure yours grab attention, state the purpose, and leave the reader with an action.



3) Networking: This is very close to number 1 above, in that when you network, you are presenting as well. Know how to describe yourself or your goals or background in 10 second, 30 second and 30 minute form. You are presenting. But importantly, don't let this create a fear of networking. When you speak to your family or friends you are also presenting. You are listening and you are selling. You might be selling 4pm vs. 3pm to have that afternoon coffee together, or one movie vs. another movie to go and see together. You are selling and presenting yourself and your ideas always, without realizing...you're a sales person! So in networking, think of it not as a greasy sales pitch but instead remove the baggage of the word and think of it as purely making friends, helping someone out with something on their mind or that they're working on. In conversation over cocktails or coffee, be interested in the other person and be relevant for him/her and helpful where you can. Simple kindness, interest and generosity build relationships and that's all networking is. You each have a goal. How can you help one another reach them?

5. Tiene algunos consejos para estudiantes actuales?







And see



I hope that link is a good complement to this. It gets into the idea of having a technical skill alongside your liberal arts degree, among other ideas like visiting David Schug and making the most of the Illinois Scholarships office. I was a Spanish and International Studies (IS, now GS) major, but if I could do it again, I'd find a way to bite the bullet and add a few more tech/CS/math/engineering/finance/economics classes in (STEM, really). Frankly, just personal finance and the like have useful life lessons that should even be automatically built into undergrad curriculum or orientations in some way.



One final thought to to ponder: every one of my jobs has come from knowing a friend. I knew the friend in one setting and s/he later worked in the org and referenced me. None came from a generic online application without knowing someone there. Is there a lesson in that? Building friendships for your life = job networking? (Related to this see book one, below).



3 indispensable books:



1)

2)

3) Yes, read the above again and take notes on it as it applies to you and your situation.And see this link I wrote on the Global Studies website. It is a bit dated, but it is one I wrote up more than five years ago for Dean Hancin-Bhatt when she was building more alumni connections for GS students. For perspective, it was written after moving from my Lima/DC base to China for the Luce scholarship. Now you're catching me after several more years in China, that brief stint at UIUC/GS before three years in New York City, and now to a new place (for me) in Asia, Singapore.I hope that link is a good complement to this. It gets into the idea of having a technical skill alongside your liberal arts degree, among other ideas like visiting David Schug and making the most of the Illinois Scholarships office. I was a Spanish and International Studies (IS, now GS) major, but if I could do it again, I'd find a way to bite the bullet and add a few more tech/CS/math/engineering/finance/economics classes in (STEM, really). Frankly, just personal finance and the like have useful life lessons that should even be automatically built into undergrad curriculum or orientations in some way.One final thought to to ponder: every one of my jobs has come from knowing a friend. I knew the friend in one setting and s/he later worked in the org and referenced me. None came from a generic online application without knowing someone there. Is there a lesson in that? Building friendships for your life = job networking? (Related to this see book one, below).1) 2-hour job search , written by a Duke Univ MBA admissions officer (all you need to execute an effective, efficient job search)2) Delaying the Real World , this came out the year I graduated. Someone told me about it on the quad. I swallowed it whole and put stickies and notes all over it. The pages are thick and durable. It's a field guide to the non-conventional job, so buy it and mark it up if you're adventurous. Author Colleen Kinder is now a dear friend, introduced by accident by mutual friends in China.3) Interview like an MBA (this is gold when you are at the interview stage)




According to German newspaper Bild , about 6,400 Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians who actually should have been in their home countries a long time ago are still living in Germany as their countries refuse to take them back.

North African states turn a deaf ear when it comes to accepting their nationals and refuse to issue them documents despite the fact that they are obliged to do so. At the same time, these countries receive huge amounts of money as humanitarian aid from the West and Germany, in particular.

According to Bild, there were 900 illegal immigrants from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia living in Germany in January 2015. In December 2015, this number reached 26,000.
US President Barack Obama said in a statement that the TPP would give the United States an advantage over other leading economies, namely China. He also noted that the TPP allows America  and not countries like China  to write the rules of the road in the 21st Century, which is especially important in a region as dynamic as the Asia-Pacific, as reported in the newspaper Global Times.

As the publication noted it is not the first time Obama has spoken like this about China and it shows his narrow-mindedness as a leader of a world power.

The 12 TPP members account for some 40 percent of the world's economy, but they only account for 25 percent of global trade volume. The US seems to have an upper hand in rule-making but the TTP brings to focus only what US wishes for the Asia-Pacific economic landscape in the 21st century, the publication pointed out.
However, the article read, the political situation in Kiev is destabilizing despite the fact that the violence in eastern Ukraine has largely calmed since September.

Despite Kiev having repeatedly pledged its commitment to carry out structural reforms, the country's deeply corrupt political system has remained untouched, Joerg Forbrig, Central and Eastern Europe expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, wrote.

"Ukraine's fledgling democracy edged closer to dismembering itself this week, as one of the most reform-minded members of the government stepped down. In his resignation letter, Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius accused old political elites of systematically blocking much-needed reforms and paralyzing the fight against rampant corruption; and singled out a close confidant of President Petro Poroshenko as one of the main culprits," the expert noted in his article for Politico.

According to Forbig, Ukraine can still escape this political suicide, but its time is running out.

Speaking to Russian newspaper Svobodnaya Pressa, Dmitri Zhuravlev, the general director of the Institute of Regional Problems, underscored that Abromavicius resignation is an indication of Western political elites disappointment with the post-Maidan Ukraine.

"Foreigners do not simply come to Ukraine; they are sent there. Who sends them is another story. But it is hard to imagine that Abromavicius sat in Lithuania thinking about how to get a government post in Ukraine. If he came, it means someone invited him. And if he has decided to leave, it means that 'that someone' is extremely dissatisfied with what is happening in the country," he said.
Following the recent resignation of Ukrainian Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, Firtash stated that Ukraine is unlikely to carry out necessary reforms and come out of the current economic crisis.

"Aivaras' resignation showed me that the current government is politically bankrupt. There is no program of reforms. And it looks as if the most important thing for these politicians is to make profit out of state corporations," Firtash claimed.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, a Western-trained minister, resigned, saying he had been unable to fight corruption. His resignation is considered by a number of experts as another signal to Ukraine's Western partners that Kiev may not be able to implement the required reforms.
In Sweden, for example, the Migration Agency gives firms that house refugees 350 kronor ($41) for each asylum-seeker per day. The National Interest cited that per unaccompanied minor the Swedish Migration Agency pays between 2,000 and 7,000 kronor ($235 and $820) per child per day. That's some serious money.

According to the Swedish daily Aftonbladet, the top 30 refugee housing companies in Sweden are making profits above 10 percent, while many as much as 50 percent.

"It's a totally crazy situation, with gold diggers buying up conference centers far out in the countryside and stacking asylum seekers in corridor-style living with no access to activities, no access to infrastructure," former Swedish Employment Minister Sven Otto Littorin said, as cited by the National Interest.

Asylum-seekers used to be housed in the dorm-style residences of the Migration Agency, but starting from the 1990s, the Swedish government started to rely on the private sector for refugee accommodation as more and more refugees began to flock into Sweden. The ongoing refugee crisis, which brought over 150,000 people in 2015 into Sweden alone, forced the government to seek help from private companies, which were eager to help out for a good amount of money, of course.

The unfolding situation is not only bad for asylum seekers, who are forced to spend months living often in unsuitable conditions, but also for European tax-payers whose money could be spent more wisely, the National Interest said.
A report published on February 4 by USA Today suggests that statements made by US authorities contradict the actual state of affairs. It cites several episodes involving aerial strikes conducted by the US in the Middle East which killed dozens of civilians. Those killings were never officially acknowledged by the US, according to the newspaper.

One of the worst tragedies allegedly connected to the US anti-terrorist campaign is said to have occurred at Syria's Hasaka front in December. In that incident, 47 civilians in the tiny village of Al Khan were killed during an airstrike conducted by US air forces supporting Kurdish rebels. Reportedly, half of the victims were children.

One of the survivors, who introduced himself as Abu Khalil, acknowledged that Daesh militants were present in the village. However, there were fewer than ten, he explained, and they stayed at one place together with two locals. Meanwhile, about a hundred other residents who didn't flee the village confronted Daesh militants and tried to expel them. When one altercation escalated to an exchange of fire, Daesh apparently sent reinforcements to the village. This convoy was apparently spotted by the Kurds, who called in for air support.
Iran wants to expand the number of tourist exchanges with Russia and hopes to bring this matter up when the head of Russias Federal Agency for Tourism, Oleg Safonov, visits Tehran later this month to ink a raft of important cooperation deals with Iranian organizations.

In 2015 the number of Russian tourists in Iran was less than 50,000 people and we now want to bring this number to around 2 million. We have proposed a visa waiver program between our two countries, Masoud Soltanifar said.

In January, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei suggested that Tehran may unilaterally cancel tourist visas for Russian citizens.

Until very recently more than 4 million Russian nationals visited Turkey each year and around 2.5 million traveled to Egypt. After relations between

Moscow and Ankara soured in November, Masoud Soltanifar led a delegation of Iranian tour industry officials on a visit to Moscow to discuss with their Russian colleagues how best to organize direct flights by Russian tourists to Iranian resorts and pilgrimage programs for Russian Muslims.

Iran is a world leader also where it comes to the so-called medicinal tourism with some forty well-equipped sanatoriums and other health-building facilities ready to accommodate foreign visitors, Masoud Soltanifar said.

There are a number of specialized clinics for foreigners offering a wide range of affordable medical services, including heart surgery, organ transplants and plastic surgery all offered for just a fraction of what this would have cost you in Europe, he added.

With the banking sanctions expected to go within the next two or three months and Iran rejoining the SWIFT transaction system foreign tourists will no longer have to carry foreign currency in the form of cash. It wont be long before they are able to book hotel rooms in Iran and pay for other services by using internationally-recognized debit cards, Masoud Soltanifar said in conclusion.
A month ago, during a moment when the blockade of the area of Sur was lifted for a short while, Rozerin decided to go to Sur to visit friends and relatives. But the gunfire was suddenly resumed and the girl was left at the front line.

She was left there for a week in anticipation of when she can return but then a sniper shot her in the head. The mother said, 29 days ago, her friends told me that she was murdered.

Fakhri does not know where the body of her daughter is, nor does she know the exact date of her daughters death. Nevertheless, she hopes that her daughter was miraculously saved.

Turgai Girchek disappeared on January 15 when the Turkish army launched another attack on the area of Sur. There were tanks and helicopters everywhere. His father Girchek Murad and his large family (he has six children) tried to get out of the surrounded area.

Turgai was left behind and lost; he did not get out from Sur. Where is he now we do not know, but the next day his friends who remained in Sur, told me that he was killed. Perhaps he was shot from a helicopter, his father said.

Although one month has passed, he still does not know where his son's body is. Maybe he is still on the threshold of our house from where we wanted to get away, but I hope that his friends had hid it, Murad said.

In mid-January, desperate relatives even went on a hunger strike demanding the bodies of the dead to be returned or relatives access to Sur. They held out for 27 days, but did not get the permission.

On the 15th day of our hunger strike, the police agreed to a truce. Accompanied by members of the Parliament, we went to pick up the dead bodies of sons and daughters. We were so happy, as if we were going to take them alive, Zara said. But suddenly the shooting started again and the soldiers did not allow them to go into the district.

The number of killed teenagers keeps changing. More murders occur and then the terrible number grows. Or vice versa someone is managed to be saved. The bodies of two young people, Isa and Mesut, were picked up.

Their bodies have been in Sura for 28 days and we did not know where they are, a relative said. But we got a phone call from the police and they said that the bodies are in the morgue.

Now gathered in Sumer park people are demanding to give the bodies of seven young boys and girls. The gathered crowd not only consists of relatives but also many more, as the tragedy in Sur is considered mutual for all the Kurds.
The T-90A, one of Russias most advanced weapons, went through its baptism by fire in service with the Syrian armed forces. Earlier, it was reported by Turkish and Iranian media, and then the Russian Defense Minister confirmed the fact.

The Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak reported, citing a military commander, that over 80 T-72 and T-90 tanks were spotted in combat north of Aleppo. The report also read that Syrian forces backed by Russian jets took control over the towns of Nubul and Zehra, north of Aleppo.

Meanwhile, Syrian T-90s in action near Aleppo were then reported by Irans FARS news agency on February 2. According to the agency, T-90 tanks were deployed near the town of Khan Tuman, south of Aleppo, after the Syrian Army regained control over the town in December.
Desperate to salvage its position, US had to drop certain conditions that had hindered the initiation of peace talks between "unarmed" opposition forces and the Syrian government. However, now having Russia's aerial support, the Syrian armed forces will "not surrender the initiative and allow the insurgents to reestablish their positions". And from America's perspective that makes negotiations a non-starter.

According to Etler, the US has wanted to introduce ground forces to topple the Syrian government from the start of the conflict, but there were certain factors that didn't let Washington take action. The most significant would be war weariness on the part of the US citizens and promise made by the US military to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. Then there was the success of negotiations on lifting anti-Iran sanctions.

"Faced with the dilemma of seeing its influence in Middle East and North Africa begin to wane the US is resorting to its tried and true method of asserting control over a region that has begun to waiver, war." Etler said. "In order to do so however the US has to find a new rationale to intervene that will appease its critics at home and abroad. This is where US support for ISIL [Daesh] and other terrorist groups comes into play".

According to Etler, now that the US has unleashed Daesh in the Middle East and facilitated its spread into Libya and elsewhere, Washington has secured for itself "an excuse to re-engage in ground combat operations and enlist its allies in the fight". All for the sake of reasserting its power and consolidating geo-political control of the region.
Hence, the J-31 uses stealth technology, but its main units and components are borrowed from the 4+ generation fighters such as the J-10B, J-16 and FC-1, the Carnegie Moscow Center wrote.

As for J-20, which embodies the full potential of the Chinese aviation industry, the aircrafts potential combat readiness is not very clear at the moment. This is supported by all the available capability of similar technologies available in the US and other countries.

The publication taking note of the Russian Su-35, however, mentioned that the new jet is a maximum advancement of the earlier fighter jet the Su-27.

Therefore, the acquisition of the Su-35 would allow the Chinese military to assess the progress and development of J-11. The acquisition may act as a guide showing the Russian approach to problem solving in stealth technology making it easier to further enhance the capabilities of the Chinese aviation.

It is probable that with the supply of 24 Su-35s more contracts for units or various components for the new Chinese fighters, as well as technology transfer and R & D for the benefit of Chinese customers, may follow.

For Russia, the successful delivery of the fighter jets to China will further improve its position in foreign markets. It is expected that the next buyer of the Russian Su-35 may be Indonesia.
Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmad Asiri on Thursday announced the Kingdoms willingness to send troops into the blood-soaked battlefields of Syria, where Daesh has taken up territory and spread barbaric destruction.

The proposal was undermined in Iran by Maj. Gen. Ali Jafari.

They claim they will send troops (to Syria), but I don't think they will dare do so," Jafari told reporters in Tehran. "They have a classic army and history tells us such armies stand no chance in fighting irregular resistance forces. This will be like a coup de grace for them.
"RAND came to its 'unambiguous' conclusion after a series of wargames it conducted between the middle of 2014 and early 2015," Dave Majumdar, the Defense Editor of The National Interest, explains in one of his latest articles

However, RAND made a few recommendations on how to handle the "threat."

The study suggests that "a force of about seven brigades, including three heavy armored brigades  adequately supported by airpower, land-based fires, and other enablers on the ground"  is likely to prevent the rapid overrun of the Baltic states.

"In all, the report puts the figure for fielding seven brigades to deter potential Russian aggression at about $2.7 billion," Majumdar points out.

The study's authors, however, wasted no time in justifying the spending:

"That is not a small number, but seen in the context of an Alliance with an aggregate gross domestic product of more than $35 trillion and combined yearly defense spending of more than $1 trillion, it is hard to say that it is a fortiori unaffordable, especially in comparison to the potential costs of failing to defend NATO's most exposed and vulnerable allies  of potentially inviting a devastating war, rather than deterring it," the report says.

However ludicrous the scenario may be, the study reflects NATO's trend toward amassing military forces in Central and Eastern Europe, in close proximity to Russia's borders, under the false pretext of Moscow's "threat."
Political contacts between Moscow and NATO were suspended after Crimeas reunification with Russia in March 2014. Until that time, the Russia-NATO Council served as the main mechanism of cooperation between Moscow and the alliance. Amid the Ukrainian crisis, Russia-NATO relations deeply degraded. NATO members accused Russia of "annexing Crimea" and supporting "separatists" in eastern Ukraine.

Now, as the Ukrainian conflict has calmed and Russia has been engaged in a military operation in Syria the need for dialogue between Moscow and NATO has surfaced again.

Some NATO members, including Germany and France, have repeatedly called to restore dialogue with Russia. As for France, it has established military cooperation on Syria with Moscow. At a Defense Ministry meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Paris an ally in fighting terrorists. Deputy Defense Minister Antonov told journalists that Russia and the West still have military contacts.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that some cooperation is underway, there are a number of differences between Moscow and NATO, which are unlikely to be settled in the near future. One of the most difficult issues is the 2011 OSCE Vienna Document, binding NATO members to share information annually on military forces and spending. Currently, the alliance is insisting on updating the document for greater transparency in mutual control. Russia has said the move is impractical, citing "anti-Russian NATO military exercises and the suspended military ties between Moscow and the alliance."

According to Alexei Arbatov, an international security expert at the Russian Academy of Sciences, the 2011 Vienna Document needs modernization, especially taking into account the new developments in global security.

"Conflicts are growing more complicated, and greater mutual transparency is crucial. Only those having some secret plans want to avoid transparency. The point is that the modernization should consider the interests of all parties to the agreement," the analyst was quoted as saying by Gazeta.Ru.

One of the Russian main concerns is NATOs military buildup along its borders, particularly in the Baltics. Kremlin has said this violates the 1997 Founding Act regulating relations between Russian and NATO. NATO has responded that military equipment and personnel are deployed on rotation basis.

However, analysts have said that the possible reset in Russia-NATO ties heavily depends on the US, which dominates the alliances agenda.
"It is Russias aerial campaign of the past few months that helped the Syrians realize that they can fight on and destroy the international terrorists in their country," he said.

General Konashenkov added that before Russia launched its aerial campaign in Syria, NATO countries had spent almost three years imitating a fight against international terrorism.

"No one in the West then talked about a negotiated settlement in Syria. All they did was fixing the date of the countrys final breakup a-la Libya where the NATO countries felt so free to establish Western-style democracy," Igor Konashenkov said in conclusion.
Dein Spriggs has, literally, won the right to represent the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) and the U.S.A. as Pompano Park gets set to host the Isle International Amateur Series on March 12 and 13 at the South Florida five-eighths mile oval.

Spriggs will join Johann Preining Jr. (Austria), Ivan Serik (Russia), Nils Olav Holm (Norway), Andrea Fazekas (Hungary), Enrico Columbo (Italy), Jauma Bassa (Spain), Tapio Hoikka (Finland), Michael Holmer (Denmark), Michael Gutsche (Germany) and Danny Blakemore (New Zealand) in the extravaganza with a trio of races each night featuring 11-horse fields.

Spriggs, who has 412 career driving victories, has been involved in harness racing for some 40 years and enjoyed his best year ever as a driver in 2015, earning a career high $94,480 in purses on the strength of 27 wins in 82 starts and a batting average of .469.

He earned the right to represent the Florida Amateur Driving Club during a lengthy competition among its members.

Upon learning of his selection, Spriggs said, This is one of the greatest honours of my life in this sport, representing our club.

I am sure the competition will be spirited and the great thing about this is that many charities will benefit as we get to showcase our great sport throughout the world.

Indeed, the Florida Amateur Driving Club will be donating over $7,000 to charities on behalf of the visiting drivers.

Since their inception, the FADC has donated over $150,000 to worthwhile charities and causes.

Adding spice to the International event is the news that the voice of harness racing, Roger Huston, will be providing the race calls for the two-day extravaganza. Huston, who was Pompano Parks track announcer from 1967 to 1975, has called races at 134 venues, including tracks in Australia, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Wales.

(Pompano Park)
If he were to be named outstanding trainer in Canada for a third time at the 2015 OBrien Awards gala on Feb. 13, Quebec native Richard Moreau has a plan for the trophy.

If I win this year, Ill give it to a neighbour and family friend I had growing up (in Repentigny, Quebec), Robert Galardo. Hes the guy who brought me to the races in Montreal all the time when I was a kid. He got me interested in the sport. Through those outings, I had regular contact with my uncle, (horseman) Raymond Gingras.

Moreau studied finance in school but horse racing was his passion and hes made a successful living from it for three decades.

In 2015, he led all Canadian trainers in wins with 271 and was second to U.S.-based Jimmy Takter in accumulated earnings with $3.6 million. Takter, the other OBrien finalist for outstanding trainer, topped $4 million despite having few Canadian starts. Having a powerhouse stable that included the likes of Wild Honey, The Bank, Pinkman and Shake It Cerry - all OBrien Award finalists in their categories - made that possible.



Richard Moreau presented with O'Brien Award for Trainer of the Year in 2013 Richard Moreau presented with O'Brien Award for Trainer of the Year in 2013

In the history of the O'Brien Awards, no trainer has won for three consecutive years. Moreau, a finalist four years running and winner in 2013 and 2014, said OBrien voters again narrowed it down to a big-event trainer and someone who races all kinds of horses at a variety of Canadian tracks day after day.

You dont know how theyre going to assess it. Maybe they dont want to give it to the same person all the time, either. Even if I dont win, I appreciate being in the same category as Mr. Takter, whos in a class apart. I just hope my suit still fits, said Moreau, who trains a 40-horse stable in constant turnover, with about 15 horses coming and going every month. His heavy hitters in 2015 included Ms Mac N Cheese, Evenin Of Pleasure and Sandbetweenurtoes, just nipped by Colors A Virgin in the $324,350 Breeders Crown final for older pacing mares at Woodbine.

Now 51, Moreau said he enjoys the sport as much as ever, which is why he still operates at full tilt.

If I stopped to think about it, I might have second thoughts, so I dont. Im happy with what Ive accomplished and what I have. But I couldnt retire tomorrow if I wanted to...which I dont. I love what I do."

(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)
Hawthorne Race Course, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association and the Illinois Department of Agriculture would like remind horsemen that nominating payments for the 2016 Cardinal and Violet Stakes, to be contested at Hawthorne Race Course, are due to the Illinois Department of Agriculture by Monday, Feb. 15.

The three-year-old Violet and Cardinal Finals for trotters will be held on Thursday, July 14, with eliminations on July 7. The three-year-old Violet Final for filly pacers will be held on Friday, July 15, with eliminations on July 8. The three-year-old Cardinal Final for colt and gelding pacers will be held on Saturday, July 16, with eliminations on July 9. (Dates are subject to change). Purses for these races are yet to be determined.

The two-year-old Violet and Cardinal Stakes are tentatively scheduled for late September at Hawthorne as well and those nomination payments are due on April 15.

Staking payments for the Cardinal and Violent events are made to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Nomination forms and payment information may be found here.

Any questions can be directed to the Bureau of County Fairs & Horse Racing at 217-782-4231.

(With files from Hawthorne Race Course)
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The Longview School District is looking for host families for four Japanese high school students visiting the city this spring.

Families can take more than one student, but they must have beds for each girl. Families don't have to provide private rooms for each exchange student. A home visit and application is required to host students.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia condemns launch of ballistic missile by Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Armenpress reports, MFA Armenias Facebook page informs.

We condemn the launch of the ballistic missile by DPRK, which is a violation if UNSC resolutions and escalates the situation in the Korean Peninsula , reads the statement.

A North Korean carrier rocket earlier on February 7 took to the target Earth orbit Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite, KCNA reported, saying the spacecraft was launched from the Sohae pad in the countrys western region. North Korea "will continue in future taking satellites to the Earth orbit," the agency said. The local media reported the launch was made at 09:00 local time. Pyongyang reported that the spacecraft reached the orbit in 9 minutes and 46 seconds after the launch. The satellite makes a loop around the Earth in 94 minutes. North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un signed an order on the launch on Saturday, February 6.

Meanwhile, South Koreas National Intelligence Service said the launch is to be considered as a test of a combat intercontinental ballistic missile.

The United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibit Pyongyang to engage in any activities linked with nuclear and ballistic technologies. The North Korean authorities however are refusing to abide by the ban to launch long-range rockets claiming it violates their sovereign right to peaceful use of outer space, TASS informs.






KapStone has won a key legal victory in its ongoing dispute with the pulp and paper union, and it will not be forced to return to the bargaining table, at least for now.

The National Labor Relations Board agreed that KapStone acted in good faith when it declared a bargaining impasse with the millworkers union on Aug. 3. Thats when the company implemented its latest contract offer, even though the union had rejected it.

Separately, NLRB officials said Thursday that the unions 12-day walkout in August and September was an economic strike  one meant to force the company into contract concessions  and not an unfair labor practice strike. NLRBs stance means KapStone could have legally hired permanent replacement workers, although it allowed most workers to return to work once the union ended its walkout.

Its uncertain how much the NLRBs findings may constrain the union in its attempt to press for more concessions. At the very least, though, it may remove the companys incentive to bargain further and potentially solidify the stalemate.

The company insists on implementing a substandard offer that will only prolong the current labor dispute. Impasse wont bring labor peace to the Longview Mill, good faith bargaining will, said John Minor, spokesman for Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers, Local 153.

The company declared an impasse after several months of failed talks, union strike authorization votes and worker rejection of several contract offers. The union contended that KapStone illegally and prematurely declared an impasse because some contract terms had yet to been bargained and several union requests for information had not been fulfilled.

Ronald Hooks, regional director of the NLRB office in Seattle, dismissed that charge, saying there was substantial evidence to support the fact that an impasse had been reached.

Specifically, the investigation revealed that the parties bargained for 15 months, for a total of upwards of 20-30+ bargaining sessions, with very little movement occurring on either side on the key bargaining issues separating the parties over the weeks and months leading up to the employers declaration of impasse, Hooks wrote in a Dec. 24 dismissal letter to the union.

Although Hooks wrote that he has found merit in some of the unions other alleged unfair labor practice charges, none of these unfair labor practices were related to the core bargaining issues, and none of them caused the deadlock in contract talks.

Hooks told The Daily News Thursday that the union would face an uphill battle if it continued to press the same issues that deadlocked the two sides on the first place. However, theres nothing to stop the union to request a return to negotiations, he said.

The fact that the employer has implemented its offer does not mean that that it is cemented in stone forever, Hooks said.

In the event of any future walkout, he added, NLRB would have to judge the strike on its merits and would not automatically consider it an economic strike.

AWPPW representatives called Hooks dismissal of the impasse charge disappointing and defended their position.

The charge of illegally declaring impasse was only one of many unfair labor practice charges that had been filed against KapStone in the preceding year and a half, Minor said. The ULP strike on Aug. 27 was in response to a company pattern of continually thumbing their noses at existing labor law and violating the rights of our members.

At the time of the strike, the NLRB already had found merit in several of the unions charges, such as KapStones alleged failure to provide information, he added.

The union, which represents about 800 mill workers, has been in talks with KapStone since its before contract expired in May 2014. A major sticking points in bargaining talks has been whether workers can maintain their Kaiser Permanente health care plan at the previous level of coverage, rather than a high-deductible version the company has imposed.

The implemented contract offer included an immediate 4 percent general wage increase. After that, raises will alternate between 2 and 2.5 percent for each year of the eight-year contract. KapStone also will match each dollar an employee contributes to his or her 401(k) account, up to 3 percent of salary, and eventually, up to 5 percent.

Starting Jan. 1, union members lost their regular health care plan in place of a high-deductible plan, administered either through Kaiser Permanente or Blue Cross. Kapstone will pay the deductible in the first year by contributing to employees health spending accounts. The companys contribution will fall incrementally to 33 percent by 2022.

KapStone argues that its hands are tied by the Cadillac Tax  a provision in Obamacare that imposes a 40 percent excise tax on employer-sponsored health coverage that exceeds $10,200 a year for individuals and $27,500 for families. According to KapStone, that could amount to $2.7 million in taxes on the health plan in just two and half years.

But now the Cadillac Tax has been postponed from 2018 to 2020. Minor argued that KapStones analysis hasnt factored in that change.

And the union suggested that the company still has an incentive to bargain. Its stock price has fallen by half in the last year and the company likely cant afford another walkout again, Minor said. KapStone officials have previously said the strike cost the company $14 million, along with $24 million in lost shipments and $2 million in lost wages and benefits for Longview workers.

We would rather resolve our differences at the bargaining table and not on the picket line, but it will take both parties to make that happen, he said.

Minor said the two sides havent talked since workers rejected a KapStone offer for the fourth time two weeks ago.

Company officials said this week that it was unfortunate that their January offer was rejected by members.

The offer included a significant $2,200 lump-sum payment along with the other wage and benefits increases that the National Labor Relations Board recently ruled were legally implemented by the company last year following a bargaining impasse, KapStone officials said in a statement to The Daily News.

Irrespective of this ratification vote, the offer KapStone implemented in 2015 is very fair and competitive, particularly when compared with other contracts in our industry and our area, the company added.
A man convicted of two charges stemming from killing a dog in Woodland last summer was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison this week.

Last week, Cowlitz Superior Court Judge Michael Evans found Thomas Richard Nash, 64, guilty of first-degree burglary with a weapons enhancement and first-degree animal cruelty with a weapons enhancement. The sentence included more than six years in prison for the firearm enhancements. Nash also was sentenced to 18 months of community custody and $600 restitution.

He has filed notice through is attorney, Dan Morgan, that he will appeal the conviction.

Woodland police arrested Nash on June 28 after a report that he had entered a shop on the 9500 block of Old Pacific Highway South wearing a mask and shot a black lab twice. When the dogs owner came out to the shop to see what happened, Nash turned the gun on him, fired and ran, police said at the time.

Woodland police said the two knew each other and had been at odds recently over residency issues.
Parents, check your kids phones.

Earlier this week, we read about a middle school student, Nicole Lovell, who was allegedly stabbed to death by two Virginia Tech students. The 13-year-old girl was stabbed to death because she was going to expose the inappropriate relationship she was having with an 18-year-old male. Were not writing about the alleged killers. The story is disgusting and one well rehash at another time.

What we are concerned about are the kids and what theyre doing on their phones. More specifically, how do we keep them safe from predators?

Nicole reportedly met these two college students on a free app called Kik, a popular app with teens that allows users to send messages anonymously.

Kik is one of at least 40 apps that we found that allow users to send messages anonymously. This troubles us, especially as the apps typically dont require any kind of age verification to use.

Kids dont need to be sending anonymous text messages. Nothing good comes from an anonymous app like Kik; being anonymous likely promotes sending messages you wouldnt send if your name was attached.

Do you let your kids have a smart phone? If you do, do you let them have apps? What kind of apps do you let them use? What sort of limits do parents have?

For those parents that let their kids have apps on their smartphone, you do you let your kids download the apps or do you do take care of that? Do they use an adults account where downloads can easily be tracked or do you allow your kids to use their own account?

We asked a few parents of teen and preteen kids and got varied answers. Answers ranging from, I let them have all the apps they want, as long as they inform the parents of what they have, to no having phone at all. Most young people seem to have their own phones, many being expensive iPhones or Android models that run apps.

There are sites that allow parents to view their childs texts  including deleted SMS and iMessages  as well as call logs, contacts and web browser history. These sites also let you see your childs location, along with their location history, view Instagram posts and all installed third party apps. It might seem like an invasion of privacy, which may cause your child to be upset with you, but what are some hurt feelings compared to a missing or dead child?

According to loveourchildrenusa.org, one out of seven kids and teens are approached by predators every day. Many are abducted right from their own homes and front yards. One in five children will be sexually abused by the age of 18. These statistics are staggering.

If there is one thing we can do to lower our childrens risk of danger, it would be to check their phones. Check what they download, check their apps, keep them safe from predators.

Child predators can be young or old, rich or poor, near or far. But more than 90 percent of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way.

We urge parents to be vigilant, get involved, know who your kids are communicating with and keep an eye on their social media accounts. It seems the world gets a little scarier every day. We need to do all we can to protect our children.
BOW, N.H.  Marco Rubio is in an enviable position among mainstream Republican presidential candidates after his strong finish in Iowa. Yet the man is running scared.

The young Floridian is stumping through New Hampshire as if hes campaigning to win the Cautious Caucus. He gives the same speech everywhere. The most tightly managed candidate in the race, he shuns risk and appears to live in mortal terror of mentioning the man who dominates the race.

At a town hall event here in central New Hampshire on Wednesday morning, Rubio, as usual, didnt mention Donald Trump in his speech. But the first questioner, a businesswoman, practically begged the candidate to trash Trump, asking him to comment on Trumps very definite views of the disabled, including calling people stupid and attempting to remove disabled veterans from one of his properties.

Rubio demurred, saying only that he had already called out Donald for his distasteful mocking of a disabled reporter at an event. He then dropped the Trump talk and moved on.

Rival Chris Christie mocked Rubio on Tuesday as the boy in the bubble managed by his handlers. This criticism apparently smoked Rubio out, because he took a few questions from reporters before his event in Laconia, N.H., on Wednesday afternoon.

The first questioner noted that Rubio had poked other candidates, but not Mr. Trump. Why?

Donald hasnt really outlined any position on policies, Rubio reasoned. So when the time comes and its appropriate, well do so.

Why do you deliver the same speech wherever you go? the second questioner asked.

Cause its my message, he said. Its the reason Im running for president.

Rubios determination not to be taken off of this bland message, or to engage Trump, may give the impression that he is above the fray. But it also can make him look weak and callow.

While other candidates, particularly Jeb Bush, have denounced Trumps outrages, Rubio and allied groups have spent upward of $30 million on ads so far  some of them targeting Bush, Christie and Ted Cruz, but none targeting Trump. Rubio has mentioned Trump a couple of times on Twitter. In debates, he has frequently deflected questions about the mogul.

After the December debate, in which Rubio declined a chance to take on Trumps proposed ban on Muslims entering the country, Fox News asked Rubio why he hadnt gone after Trump. Rubio said he wasnt going to spend a valuable 75 seconds on a debate stage talking about something thats never going to happen.

Likewise, asked to comment on Trumps qualifications as a conservative, Rubio said that the billionaire is running as someone whos a populist whos upset about the direction of this country, as am I, as are millions of Americans.

On other occasions, Rubio declined to talk about Trumps mosque-closing ideas (well, I think we need to target radicalism) and Trumps plan for mass deportation of illegal immigrants (both sides have points to make here that are valid).

Asked back in September whether he would engage Trump, Rubio replied: No, Im ready to talk about who I am and why Im running. Its not as if Trump returns the politeness. Ann Coulter, warming up a Trump crowd Tuesday night, called Rubio a Cuban boy who wears high heels and has big ears. (Ever-cautious Rubio, ridiculed last month for wearing booties with thick heels, quickly retired the offending footwear.)

Rubios strong Iowa finish has brought new attention  and overcapacity crowds  in New Hampshire. But the would-be supporters are greeted by a robot.

The closest Rubio gets to Trump in his stump speech is observing, as he did here in Bow, that you have a right to be angry, but anger is not a plan. What exactly do you want to do? Or, as he put it in Laconia a few hours later: Anger is not a plan. Frustration is not a plan. You have a right to be frustrated. You have a right to be angry. ... But what exactly are you going to do about it?

Voters questions, rather than spurring spontaneity, inspire more caution. Asked Wednesday what hed do about the millions of illegal immigrants who otherwise havent broken any law, Rubio said, Well figure something out.

The logic behind Rubios candidacy, recited in his speeches, is that, as he put it in Bow: I give us the best chance to win, and if you dont believe me, ask a Democrat. They do not want to run against me.

If he keeps playing the boy in the bubble, they may reconsider.
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Vijay Shanker Sharma, founder of mobile wallet brand Paytm, said that after getting an engineering degree, he had a hard time finding a job and struggled for food due to lack of money.

After receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Amity University Gurgaon, Sharma said he faced many troubles during his studies and after completing his engineering but never gave up.

Sharma said his parents tried to force him to get married.

"I was facing a hard time without job. I was not in position to explain the situation to my family. I had to travel 14 km from Priya Cinema in Vasant Kunj to Kashmere Gate, my college campus, for a meal."

Coming from a Hindi background, he said he faced many challenges after taking admission in an English medium engineering course in electronics and communication in Delhi in 1998.

"I was nervous as I could not understand what was taught in class. I was always worried how I would pass my examinations," Sharma said.

He said when he thought of the idea of Paytm and discussed it with a few people, they termed it stupid and tried to demoralise him saying if it was effective, someone else would have done it long ago.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and CEO of Bharti Enterprises, was also conferred an honorary doctorate degree.

IANS
TERROR - RAMLA: Two 13 y/o Arab girls arrested after stabbing Israeli security guard at Central bus station. pic.twitter.com/j7hNnIcBSD  Israel News Flash (@ILNewsFlash) February 4, 2016

HONORABLE: PM Netanyahu pays respect to officer wounded yesterday while fighting off her Palestinian attacker. pic.twitter.com/Wgp96QUxhz  Israel News Flash (@ILNewsFlash) February 4, 2016

PAIN: Funeral of Hadar Cohen, ripped away from us while defending the state of Israel against Palestinian terror. pic.twitter.com/8yt0HDetS4  Israel News Flash (@ILNewsFlash) February 4, 2016

HEARTACHE: Losing a friend who was doing the same job as you can break down even the strongest amongst us! pic.twitter.com/LZ5EBPEgZ6  Israel News Flash (@ILNewsFlash) February 4, 2016

President Abbas met today with families of Palestinian 'martyrs' from Hebron.  Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) February 6, 2016

BREAKING: 65 y/o women moderately wounded after being stabbed by Arab at the street market in Rahat, terrorist fled. pic.twitter.com/3xEzERbxyo  Breaking Israel News (@BIsraelN) February 6, 2016

HORRIFIC: Jewish synagogue set ablaze by Palestinian mob in Gush Etzion overnight, burning dozens of prayer books. pic.twitter.com/vPOMMJM4r8  Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) February 6, 2016

BREAKING NEWS: IDF soldier wounded after being stabbed by Arab terrorist in Ashkelon, terrorist shot & wounded. pic.twitter.com/m0DUwU9lJH  Breaking Israel News (@BIsraelN) February 7, 2016

Initial Report: stabbing attack at Central Bus Station of Ashkelon. 1 Israeli wounded. Attacker apprehended.  IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) February 7, 2016

OUTRAGEOUS: Hamas terrorists release new video, Threaten Israelis & encourage intifada, Featuring bombed Egged bus. pic.twitter.com/YAbeK0uiaj  Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) February 7, 2016
Next Game: vs. Georgia College 2/12/2016 | 4 PM Next Game Full Schedule Feb. 12 (Fri) / 4 PM vs. Georgia College

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Bellarmine University softball started the home season off right with a sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday. The Knights (4-2) run ruled the first game against the Panthers (0-2), scoring eight of their nine runs in the second inning. Bellarmine did not seal the win in the second game until the top of the seventh, finishing 5-1.Game 1 BU 9, KWC 0 ( BOX SCORE 's grand slam to left field sparked the Knights early in the bottom of the second, pushingandacross home plate. Hammer would later get hit by a pitch, scoring. On the next play, Hammer advanced to second on a wild pitch, which sent Eric Knollman to home plate.Bellarmine was led by Ely's four RBIs (2-3), while Mader (2-3) earned two.pitched a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts.Game 2 BU 5, KWC 1 ( BOX SCORE Bellarmine carried the first game momentum into the second whensingled to left field to put the Knights on top in the home half of the first, with Fox and Ely making it across home plate.A hit fromwould add to the Knights' lead, making it 3-0 at the end of the first.knocked in the final two runs for Bellarmine. In the bottom of the second, she singled through right side of the inning, scoring Hammer. Then in the fourth inning Tevis doubled to right center field to score Fox.Sam Marksbury finally put KWC on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth with an infield single that sent Delaney Mixer home. Foster retired the next two batters to limit the Panthers to just the lone run.In the seventh, KWC threatened but did not score as Foster finished off her second complete game victory of the day.Tevis and Bretz each collected two RBIs, while going 2-for-4 and 1-for 2 respectively.Foster had an almost identical second game, throwing 10 strikeouts and allowing only four hits. Her pitching record improved to 4-0.The Knights will travel to Columbus, GA next weekend to compete against Georgia College, Columbus State University and Young Harris College in the Cougar Classic. Bellarmine will take to Knights Field on Feb. 21 in a doubleheader against Ohio Dominican University at noon.
In contrast to my last post, which showed mainly residential Pasko (Christmas) lights as well as decorations in the mall in Cebu City in the Philippines, here we'll take a look the Pasko lights at the park/grounds adjacent to the Misamis Occidental (a province in northern Mindanao) provincial capitol building in Oroquieta City. I had to look up the difference between "capitol" (the building itself) and "capital" (the city that serves as provincial center of government) in this context, because it's something that I was taught long ago but just couldn't remember. Oroquieta City, the provincial capital, is a small city of about 68,000 surrounded with beautiful rural views of rice paddies, mountains (Mt. Malinadang in particular, which is still mainly covered in tropical rainforest), the ocean/beaches, and coconut plantations, various fruit trees, mahogany timber, camote (sweet potato) root crops, etc. I have a number of other posts about Oroquieta and its surroundings in northern Mindanao if you are interested in checking them out.





These photos are from my last trip to the Philippines in Dec. 2014. In Oroquieta, the weather around Pasko was pleasant (cooler than summertime) and the vibe was laid-back and relaxed.





We took a little night-time excursion up to the Misamis Occidental provincial capitol building in Oroquieta to view the lights. Lots of families with children, including us with our 11-year-old daughter, turned out to see the nice display.





The beautiful Art Deco Capitol building in the background, decked out with lights for Pasko





Our daughter in the "Frozen" display on the Provincial Capital grounds. Does Olaf look friendly to you, or just a bit disturbing? Something about his eyes...

Our daughter with her two cousins in the Oroquieta City Provincial Capital grounds Pasko display

Nice decorations and parols

Beautiful lights

They had erected various (temporary) structures for the kids to explore, all with Pasko lights









Joint Philippine Red Cross/Philippine Army/Philippine Boy Scouts Christmas display. Complete with M-16!

Yeahhhh -- check out this T-shirt!





We also went over to the Oroquieta City Plaza to check out the lights. They had a really nice Pasko display there as well, and had snack vendors, too. Since it's adjacent to the sea, there was a nice cool breeze. A prominent feature of most town plazas or public squares in the Philippines is a statue of the national hero, Jose Rizal.





They had built a (temporary) footbridge underneath this beautifully decorated mango tree... I really like the lights on its trunk and in its branches.

Our daughter on that same footbridge. We thought this little guy was so cute; he was presumably with his Lola.

Nice Nativity scene at Oroquieta City Plaza.

Nativity Scene and the footbridge under the mango tree on the right

Hanging parol lamps

"Old-fashioned" bamboo and paper parols





Oroquieta City Plaza at Pasko, with Jose Rizal memorial just left of center

Jose Rizal memorial statue dedicated in 1917, Oroquieta City Plaza

Snack vendor, Oroquieta City Plaza at Christmastime

Snack vendors at Oroquieta City Plaza, Pasko

Checking out the goodies

The guy on the right was happy because my wife told him his photo would be on my blog

This photo and the two below it show fish vendors on the street at Oroquieta City Plaza at Pasko





We had a fun little outing, and enjoyed the beautiful lights and seeing lots of families out having fun being together. So I hope you've enjoyed getting glimpse of a small portion of the celebration of Christmas in a small city in the Philippines.
Volleyball results from Thursday

Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, 8:34 a.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- The Almont varsity volleyball team beat Madison Heights Lamphere and New Lothrop in a triple header at Almont Thursday. Dryden beat Bay City All Saints...

Golf and tennis regional results

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, 5:41 p.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- Boys' high school tennis regionals and girls' golf regionals took place yesterday. Lapeer girls' golf placed 11th at the Div. 1 regional hosted by Oxford...

Friday night football scores

Friday, September 30, 2022 10:15 p.m.  LAPEER COUNTY  Lapeer beat Grand Blanc 39-17 at Lapeer to remain undefeated at 6-0. Almont upset Croswell-Lexington 37-26 North Branch routed Richmond 62-10 Imlay City/Dryden fell to Yale...

Summer sports camps/clinics

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 4:40 p.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- Below is a list of the summer sports camps and clinics that will take place through early Aug. The regular sports update posting of high...
S Korea, US to discuss deployment of US missile system

There has been speculation for years about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, to South Korea.

AFP, Seoul :

South Korean and US defence officials said today they would begin formal talks on the deployment on the Korean peninsula of a US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

The announcement followed a North Korean rocket launch that the US and its allies condemned as a covert ballistic missile test.

"It has been decided to formally start talks on the possibility of deploying the THAAD system to South Korea as part of steps to bolster the missile defence of the Korea-US alliance," said Yoo Jeh-Seung, the South's deputy defence minister for policy.

There has been speculation for years about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, one of the most advanced in the world, to the South, one of Washington's main Asian allies.

The US insists that it is a deterrent necessitated by the North's advancing ballistic missile programme, while China and Russia argue that it would undermine stability and could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region.

"The Korea-US alliance had no choice but to take such a defence action because North Korea staged a strategic provocation and is refusing to have a genuine dialogue on de-nuclearisation," Yoo said in a joint briefing with Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the US Eighth Army based in the South.

Vandal argued that it was "time to move forward" with the THAAD issue, claiming there was "growing support" in the South for its deployment.

Pyongyang says any such move would be a Cold War tactic to "contain" China and Russia.

But Yoo stressed the THAAD system if deployed, would "operate only regarding North Korea"




SEU holds 5th Convocation

Campus Report :

The 5th Convocation of Southeast University (SEU) was held on Saturday at the International Convention City Bashundhara (Noborattri) Hall-4 in the city.

Md. Abdul Hamid, President and Chancellor of universities attended the convocation and conferred degree upon 5292 graduating students.

Amir Hossain Amu, MP, Minister, Ministry of Industries addressed the convocation as special guest.

Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank delivered speech as the Convocation Speaker. Chairman, Board of Trustees, SEU Trust Md. Rezaul Karim and Hon'ble Vice Chancellor of SEU Prof. Anwar Hossain also addressed the Convocation.

Md. Aynul Islam of Computer Science and Engineering and Sumaya Akhter of Islamic Studies were awarded Chancellor Gold Medal for their educational achievement for the years of 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Vice Chancellor distributed Gold Medals and degree certificates to the graduating students.

Among others, Members of Board of Trustees of Southeast University, educationists, teachers and officials of different universities and distinguished invited guests were present at the event.
Feb. 7, 1936

The Thomas Mott Osborne Memorial Committee tendered the gift of a bronze statue of the late Thomas Mott Osborne of Auburn to the city through its Board of Education. By unanimous vote they granted permission to the committee to place the statue on the grounds of the Senior High School in Franklin Street, at such location as may be chosen by the committee, to be without expense to the Board of Education.

Feb. 7, 1961

(Pictured)

MEDICAL SECRETARIES INSTALL  Mrs. Richard E. Opdycke, front center, was installed as president of the Medical Secretaries Association, Monday evening during a dinner meeting at Auburn Inn. The president and her staff here are conducting a business session. In meeting are: Front, Mrs. John E. Storrier, secretary; Mrs. Opdycke; Miss June M. Palmer, treasurer. Back: Miss Margaret F. Harris, Sunshine Committee chairman; Mrs. Louis J. McCarthy, program chairman; Mrs. Margit L. Skoggfeldt, historian, and Mrs. William J. Renslow, vice president.

Feb. 7, 2006

The village of Skaneateles Police Department received an AAA Platinum Award for community traffic safety Jan. 10. The award is the highest traffic safety award given by the automobile association in recognition of local police departments and other community efforts toward traffic, pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Eight platinum awards were given in the state.

Officer William Marventano was the department's top performer in enforcement of driving while intoxicated and speed limit. Officer Christopher Lukins was recognized for his efforts in seat belt enforcement.

Feb. 7, 2011

Many were eagerly awaiting the opening coin toss in Dallas for the Super Bowl to begin, but until that took place Sunday night there were no dearth of things to do with the rest of the day Sunday. Among the many opportunities was the soft opening of Hospice of the Finger Lakes' new Friends of Hospice thrift shop at Willard Chapel  an event that was playfully referred to as the Super Bowl sale.

Terry Kline, executive director of Hospice of the Finger Lakes, said it is a project that has been in the works for some time and been a labor of love for numerous volunteers. Among those who volunteered their time was Marge Crawford. Crawford said she is a neighbor to Kline's mother and Crawford was more than happy to give of her more than 40 years of experience in retail.
Ministry is to be blamed for fake freedom fighters

A REPORT published in the New Nation on Sunday said an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) now serving as a probationer in Mymensingh and recruited on freedom fighters quota is using the fake identify as the son of a former freedom fighter. He is not the lone person misusing the identity to exploit the enormous state benefits that the government has earmarked for freedom fighters and their children vying for government services. It is almost an open secret that the government is facilitating recruitment of party cadres into public services and in doing so candidates often use freedom fighters certificates to get the job under special quota system for freedom fighters.

But details of the concerned police officer showed his father who hails from Narsingdi district was not in the list of Upazila Freedom Fighters in 2010 and even was not known as a freedom fighter. The police officer, who earlier worked for National Board of Revenue (NBR) also did not claim as son of a freedom fighter in his bio-data. He did not take part in the special 32nd BCS exam for children of freedom fighters and appeared next year in 2014 when he was able to collect such a certificate from the Liberation War Ministry.

Everyone knows that such certificates can be easily bought now from the Ministry. But what appears highly disturbing is that by doing so the government, which is placing the dignity of the Liberation War above everything, is destroying the dignity of the freedom fighters, the greatest sons of our soil, by indiscriminate issuing of such certificates to dishonest fortune-seekers. It is not acceptable at all. When the Commander of the local Upazila Muktijoddha Command Council said he did not know how the police officer secured the certificate from the Liberation War Ministry as the news report said, the paradox becomes altogether clear. Freedom fighters' Certificates are now traded in the corridor of the Liberation War Ministry while the government itself is the biggest vendor of Liberation War in fixing its own politics.

It is no more secret that many people are already in the government service using fake freedom fighters' certificates collected by using money and political connection; least to speak about new recruits at entry level. Even some secretaries lost jobs in 2014 as they were using fake certificates but many others are still in service at different levels enjoying protection. What is at stake is that such officers - be it in police or at other places -- are recklessly using their power and position to show their loyalty to the government. But they are the ones also who are making the government highly reprehensive taking politicization of administration to the peak.

Many people made money by issuing false freedom fighter certificates.






Malaysian govt. step is welcoming



WHILE the economic impasse is entrapping Bangladesh, the good news of legalizing illegal Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia has come as a relief to the nation. As per the report carried by The New Nation, three lakh Bangladeshi nationals are among two million undocumented foreign workers in Malaysia who will get valid work permits from February 15 - a news that the families of the illegal workers here in Bangladesh were waiting for long. We welcome the move and hope that workers who were having very difficult time would be at peace and work routinely now to take care of themselves and their families back home.

While Bangladesh's remittance inflows show a decreasing trend in the current fiscal marred with falling revenue of oil producing Middle Eastern nations where Bangladeshi nationals work in large number, the news from KL is definitely welcoming. More remittance from Malaysia will now contribute to revamp the rural economy when remittance from oil producing countries is on decline. The Malaysian government decision shows that Bangladesh government may also take vigorous diplomatic moves with other nations in the Middle-East where manpower exports are on temporary halt to reopen those markets. The Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia should be more responsible now in their works and deeds and to satisfy the Malaysian government and their employers.

According to media reports, a total of 296,934 Bangladeshi migrants are legally working in Malaysia while around 300,000 are staying illegally who are now going to be documented and get valid work permits under the new "rehiring" programme. Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia has recently said they will implement the concept in phases to gauge the new programme's effectiveness which will ensures registration of workers online, without relying on agents. Prime Minister Najib Razak has announced that the programme would allow illegal foreign workers to be given valid work permits and the authorities to better monitor their numbers for security.

In 2011, Malaysia introduced an amnesty scheme allowing all illegal immigrants to be registered. About 1.3 million workers came forward at that time and 500,000 received work permits, while 330,000 were repatriated to the country of origin. About half a million who registered subsequently failed to show up later to be legalized fearing deportation. The authorities then launched a crackdown on illegal workers sending them home. The renewed amnesty will settle them and Malaysian economy will also enormously benefit from it.

Malaysian government should now ensure workplace safety most importantly human care to workers including regular payments and health insurance benefits. It is a good start for those who will become partners of Malaysian prosperity from now with this legalization by working hard for their host country.
HSC examinees block road for shifting centre

Untold sufferings of commuters for several hours in city

Vehicular movement from Science Laboratory to Kalabagan was seriously disrupted as Dhaka City College HSC examinees blocked the street in front of their campus demanding change to exam venue, causes sufferings to commuters on Sunday.

Sagar Biswas :The capital city Dhaka experienced severe traffic congestion on Sunday from morning to late evening due to demonstrations by students of City College causing untold sufferings to the commuters.The overall traffic jam situation aggravated further as Bangladesh Road Transport Authority [BRTA] started operation of mobile courts in different parts of the city to haul unfit vehicles as well as drivers without license. At first, hundreds of students of City College - examinees of HSC this year - put blockade on one portion of Mirpur Road at about 9:45 am disrupting vehicular movement towards Asad Gate, Technical Crossing, Mirpur. The vehicular movement from Nilkhet to Kalabagan particularly remained stopped completely. Tremendous gridlock choked space of the other side of Mirpur Road [towards Azimpur and Shahabgh] and the commuters had to wait hours together inside their respective transports. The road blockade was going on till the time of filing of this report at 8:00 pm yesterday."We have taken initiatives to change the exam venue by holding talks with Dhaka Board Controller and authorities concerned. At the same time, we have also asked the students to go back home and continue preparation for examination," Md Shahjahan Khan, Principal of Dhaka City College, said. But the situation was deteriorating rapidly. Long tailback of vehicles was spreading to every roads leading to Science Laboratory crossing.Md Nur-e-Azam Mia, Officer in Charge of Dhanmondi Police Station told The New Nation last night, "The students came down on street demanding cancellation of examination centre at Residential Model College and put blockade on Dhanmondi Road -3. Later, the jam was expanded to other roads and lanes in the area." "The number of agitating students is about 500 -600. Whereas, only 60 policemen were deployed in the area. The police did not apply force as students were continuing their protest in a peaceful way," the OC said. The demonstrating students said that the newly fixed examination centre of Residential Model College at Mohammadpur is distant place for them. The students will have to suffer a lot due to the distance, and it will deteriorate performance of the examinees, they added. The students raised demand to re-fix the examination centre near City College, especially at Science Laboratory College. They also said the blockade would continue until their demand is fulfilled.
Probe body finds 4 cops guilty

Joynal Abedin Khan :Police have found four of its members responsible for the death of Babul Matubbor, an owner of tea-stall in the city's Mirpur area. They are Sub-Inspector (SI) Mominur Rahman, SI Niaz Uddin Mollah, ASI Debendranath and Constable Jasim Uddin. A joint investigation report on the murder of Babul has been submitted to the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).The investigation committee led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Masud Ahmed submitted the report to the DMP commissioner on Sunday afternoon.The investigating officials have found the negligence on the part of the police personnel responsible for the death. They have recommended for the legal action on the charge of demanding extortion and burning the death of businessman to death, said the insider sources of the DMP. They also sought another probe-committee for further investigation to ensure departmental actions. Tutul Chakrabarti, Deputy Commissioner of Police and the DMP headquarters inquiry committee's head, on Sunday also justified the report, said Maruf Hossain Saruder, In-Charge at DMP (Media). He said that the four personnel were found guilty of neglect and Babul was burnt to death. Babul Matubbor succumbed to his injuries in an alleged scuffle with police, died at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Thursday afternoon.Babul's wife Lucky Begum said, "The police informer Delwar kicked Babul onto the stove and Babul instantly caught fire. Four policemen stood and watched it.Babul was rolling on the ground in order to extinguish the flames. She tried to take a bucket of water to pour on her husband to save his life but the police stopped her. When she cried out for help, the four policemen moved away. Babul's son Raju Ahmed said, his father had been cruelly burnt to death. When asked about the application, Kayumuzzaman Khan, Deputy Commissioner (Mirpur division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said "I cannot tell you about the investigation report right now."
United Air collapses!

Staff Reporter :

Private carrier United Airways is not able to continue its flight operations due to unavailability of aircraft, and, as a result, passenger with tickets are passing some anxious moments, knowing not what will happen to them next.

The aircraft are grounded for maintenance, but the airline does not have enough funds to do the sumptuous servicing, which is also a matter of time.

Source said that United Airways was desperately looking for funds from other sources. Unless the company can arrange the funds, it may not be able to resume flights.

The net operating cash flow of the airline also shows its financial weakness. The net operating cash flow per share was only Tk 0.26 during the July-December period of last year, and Tk 0.40 a year ago, according to data on the DSE website.

This is not the first time that the private carrier has suspended its flight operations. Domestic and international flights of the airline remained suspended for several days in September 2014 over a conflict among its directors.

Set up in 2007, the airline has 11 aircraft in its fleet viz two Airbus 310-325, five MD-83, three ATR-72-212 and one Bombardier Dash-8 100. It was listed on the stock exchange in 2010.

It has permissions to operate domestic flights between Dhaka and Chittagong, Sylhet, Jessore, Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi, Barisal, Syedpur and Ishwardi.

On the international front, it has permissions to land in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Jeddah, Bangkok, Muscat and Singapore.

Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director of United Airways said, "As soon as the aircraft become serviceable, flights will resume."

Meanwhile, share price of United Airways fell to its lowest level on Dhaka Stock Exchange since December last year.


Ministry to fix fees in pvt varsities to check edn business

M M Jasim :

The Education Ministry is going to fix the fees of all the private universities to check the education business in the name of higher education in the country.

The top bosses of Education Ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC) have already held several meetings in this regard, the ministry sources said.

The Education Ministry also directed the officials to collect the information about the present fee structure in the universities.

The ministry sources said, the authorities of 88 private universities charge admission fee, tuition fee, examination fee and other development fees whimsically. Even they do not follow the direction of the UGC.

The ministry officials said that the ministry was planning to fix the fees after the private university students protested against the government's move to impose 10 per cent value added tax (VAT) on private universities and colleges.

They also said that the government's initiative to fix the fees targeted to ensure quality education and to

check the education business. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told The New Nation that the private university authorities vowed that they would ensure quality education and to create scope for all classes of students. But most of the private universities did not maintain that.

He also asked the authorities of the private universities to keep the admission and the tuition fees within the limit considering the socio-economic condition of the people.

The Education Minster also said that the ministry was working to present an excellent private university Act.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has also formed a five-member committee to amend the Private University Act-2010 recently. Abdul Quddus, MP, has been made the Convener, Additional Secretary of the Ministry (University) Helal Uddin as Member-Secretary and Jahangir Kabir Nanok, MP, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan and a member of UGC are the three members. On January 12, the UGC arranged a top-level meeting in the UGC auditorium to discuss for amending the Private University Act-2010. The Educaion Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, UGC Chairman and other members of UGC and government were present at the meeting.

The top bosses of the education sector reached a consensus to fix the fees. And it will be included in the amendment private university Act.

They also highly criticized the present fee structure in different private universities.

The issue of the education business was also discussed in private universities in the name of higher education.


Climate adapted crops need more focus

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh needs to focus more on developing and selecting farming varieties that are adaptive to the country's changing climatic situation, a research carried out by the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) revealed this at a seminar on Sunday.

Besides, a highly optimized system needs to be put in place so that the climate-efficient varieties and technologies can be reached to the farmers in time, it said.

Eminent water resources and environment expert and Professor emeritus of BRAC University Dr Ainun Nishat presented a keynote paper in the light of the research outcome at the seminar styled 'Climate-adaptive technology: Opportunities and challenges' in the city.

The Advocacy for Social Change programme of BRAC funded the research carried out in 2015.

The government should also ensure that the country's farmers get fair price for their crops. Excavation of canals and ponds is urgent, while the entire irrigation system should be overhauled to optimise the use of water, fuel and power, the research said.

Anwar Faruque, director general, seed wing, also additional secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, attended the seminar as the chief guest, while Shykh Seraj, director and head of news, Channel i, was the special guest.

Asif Saleh, senior director, strategy, communications and empowerment, BRAC and BRAC International chaired the function while Dr Md Sirajul Islam, programme head, BRAC Agriculture and Food Security, gave the opening speech jointly organised by BRAC Advocacy for Social Change and C3ER.

Describing the challenges Bangladesh may have to face in the coming years in agriculture sector, Dr Ainun Nishat said, the country is gradually losing its attribute as 'the land of six seasons' that remained its usual climatic identity for hundreds of years.

The spring that used to fill up the space between the winter and summer is gradually disappearing. The late autumn season has become almost non-existing while the monsoon is setting in much later than when it is traditionally expected. The production of Aman rice is the most affected by the climate change impacts right now, subjecting the farmers to repeated loss. This may eventually compel the farmers to move from rice farming towards vegetables and other financially profiting crops, said Dr Nishat.

To keep the country's rice production going on the farmers need varieties that are tolerant to these climatic changes.

He also observed that the impact of drought has increased in recent years. Describing the scenario of Naogaon, the field of the research, he said, in this district and in some other areas in north Bengal the farmers are producing mango in the field where they previously grew rice. The research also focuses on the management gaps in the existing irrigation system.

Anwar Faruque, in his speech, observed that besides developing new crop varieties, fair price for the farmers must also be ensured. To do this coordination among the government, non-governmental actors and private sector need to be strengthened, he said.

Media personality Shykh Seraj, in his speech, called on BRAC and other non-governmental actors to strengthen their role in taking information on crops and technologies to the farmer.

Programme chair Asif Saleh observed that the marginal farmers in many cases become deprived of opportunities and services, owing to the procedural lingering of government departments and profit-centeredness of private agro-based companies. BRAC, as a development actor, is trying to work in this gap, he said.
The end result of what the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival does is art. It's subjective, personal.

But how the festival does what it does can be more like math: objective, impersonal.

Its annual auditions may be the best example of that.

Every January in New York City and Auburn, the festival sees thousands of performers vying for spots in the following summer's season. They file in at set times, cradling their paperwork and headshot through a series of checkpoints. Then, for a few minutes, they sing and dance their hearts out before the festival's audition committee  and that's it. How they spend their summer hangs in the balance.

To see how auditioning for the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival feels to those people  to see it at a personal level  The Citizen followed one performer through his audition Friday, Jan. 29 at the festival's Westminster Presbyterian Church offices.

Here's how it went:

1:50 p.m.

Our auditioner arrives. His name is Shane Heidecker, of Oneonta. A musical theater performer since he was 8, Heidecker graduated from Nazareth College with a B.S. in musical theater in 2015.

This is his third time auditioning for the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. He did not get parts the first two.

But he learned from them, he said. He learned how professional auditions work, and how high a level he has to rise to.

Being so close to the festival, Heidecker has seen a few shows at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Owasco. Whether it's "From Here to Eternity," "Oklahoma!" or any of the festival's other 2016 shows, Heidecker doesn't care which one places him on the Owasco theater's "gorgeous" stage.

"I just want to be a part of this theater organization," he says. "It's very positive and professional."

1:55 p.m.

Heidecker and the half-dozen performers in his time slot are called up from the holding room on the second floor of Westminster to the third floor, where the festival's audition space is located. They take their seats in the hallway leading to that fateful room.

Heidecker acknowledges some nerves.

"They're there, but they need to go away," he laughs.

He tries to clear his mind of everything, he said, particularly expectations that he will or won't get called back. He simply reminds himself that this is musical theater, and it's what he loves to do.

"There could be so many different factors if you don't get (a part) or if you do," he says. "It's out of your control sometimes."

Shortly after taking his seat, Production Manager Shannon Stoneham briefs the auditioners on the process. Those who don't belong to the Actors' Equity Association union, like Heidecker, are allowed 16 bars each of two contrasting pieces.

Heidecker will be performing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "What Is it About Her?" from "The Wild Party." Juxtaposing the basso profundo of the former and the soaring tenor of the latter will let him show off his baritenor range. However, he adds, he's "not the best dancer."

After finishing his paperwork, Heidecker chats with the woman seated next to him, a Nazareth classmate named Lainey Catalino. Others in line stand, staying loose, or just look into the distance.

2:07 p.m.

Heidecker enters the high-ceilinged antechamber to the audition room. He's on deck.

He's only recently learned that The Citizen will actually follow him into the audition room. However, he says the company helps take his mind off the task at hand.

"It's a party just for you," Stoneham says.

2:12 p.m.

It's time.

Heidecker walks into the audition room, greeting festival Producing Artistic Director Brett Smock and the four staff flanking him on each side of a 20-foot table.

He heads straight to the accompanist, whispering with her about his selections. Then he shuffles toward the orange "X" in the middle of the floor and looks forward.

"You're a mean one," he belts, eyebrows arched. The audition committee laughs  but in the intended way.

Heidecker pivots in both vocal style and demeanor when he gets to "What Is it About Her?" But he continues singing with confidence and poise  even after he's asked by Smock to restart.

After it's over, Smock yells "Nice!" and asks the performer how he's been. (He knows Heidecker through the festival's relationship with Nazareth, which will see it stage "Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice" at the Rochester college in July.)

Exhaling with relief, Heidecker answers, "I've been working on myself and making money so I can move down to New York."

The conversation, however, is short. There are many more performers to see.

Later in the week, Smock said of Heidecker, "I thought his audition was a great showcase of his vocal abilities and his dramatic range. ... Shane's got a bright future ahead."

Smock couldn't comment, however, on whether Heidecker's future lies with the festival's 2016 season.

2:17 p.m.

Heidecker is back in the holding room. His audition for the festival's youth theater program is at 3 p.m.

"I did OK," he said. "I was a little nervous, but it wasn't bad. I had fun."

He won't second-guess himself, though. He won't worry whether he picked the right songs, or hit their notes right. That's another thing he's learned from auditioning for the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival.

"If you do that, you'll drive yourself insane."
Monet rahapelien ystavat ovat viime vuosina loytaneet netticasinot ja olleet ihmeissaan. Verrattuna kotimaisen Veikkauksen kivijalkarahapeleihin puhutaan aivan eri tason palautusprosenteista ja lisaksi pelaaminen on aarimmaisen helppoa ja turvallista. Netticasinoiden maara on tana paivana todella suuri ja niita loytyy jokaiseen lahtoon, suurin ongelma aloittelevalla pelaajalla onkin tehda valinta siita, minka netticasinon valitsee. Kaikkien netticasinoiden mainospuheet naet lupaavat kauniita asioita ja niiden lapinakeminen on tietysti tarkeaa. Nyrkkisaantona voidaan kuitenkin jo kattelyssa todeta, etta jos valitsemasi netticasino on lisensoitu ETA-alueella, sen kanssa ei tule olemaan ongelmia, ellei niita itse jarjesta. Kay tutustumassa parhaisiin netticasinoihin osoitteessa www.ilmaiskierroksia.info!

Ensimmainen nyrkkisaanto on siis varmistaa, etta valitsemallasi netticasinolla on ETA-alueen lisenssi. Suurimmassa osassa tapauksista se on Maltan eli MGA:n lisenssi. Myos Viron, Englannin ja Gibraltarin lisensseja nakyy ja naissa valvonta on jopa Maltaa tiukempaa. Lopputulema on kuitenkin se, etta ETA-alueen lisenssi takaa suomalaisille verovapaat voitot seka sen, etta niita valvotaan kontrolloidusti. Maailmalla on iso nippu Curacaon lisenssilla toimivia netticasinoita ja niistakin suurin osa on laadukkaita. Ne eivat kuitenkaan ole suomalaisille asiakkaille verovapaita, joten emme suosittele niita.

Tana paivana markkinoille on ilmaantunut paljon ETA-alueella toimiva netticasinoita ilman rekisteroitymista. Jos tarkoitus on vain pelata yksittaisia pelikertoja, on varsin helppo suositella naita. Netticasinot ilman rekisteroitymista tarjoavat palvelun tunnistautumisen verkkopankin avainlukulistan avulla ja saman palvelun kautta tapahtuvat talletukset ja mahdolliset voittojen nostot silmanrapayksessa. Normaaleihin netticasinoihin pitaa asiakkaan rekisteroitya, tehda talletukset ja tunnistautua dokumenttien avulla. Tama on lisenssiehtojen mukainen kaytanto, eika kovinkaan monimutkainen, mutta silti monet asiakkaat haluavat yksinkertaista ja nopeaa palvelua. Toki normaalit netticasinot tarjoavat usein asiakkailleen laadukkaita talletusbonuksia ja erilaisia kampanjoita, joten kannattaa tarkkaan punnita, kumman ratkaisun valitsee. Kannattaa myos muistaa, etta tunnistautuminen tehdaan vain kerran, joten mikaan jatkuva riippakivi se ei ole.

Suomalaiset asiakkaat ovat netticasinoille tarkeita, joten kaikilla vahankin laadukkailla netticasinoilla on suomenkieliset sivut seka suomenkielinen asiakaspalvelu  suomenkielisyys kannattaakin ottaa netticasinoa valittaessa nyrkkisaannoksi. Vaikka tana paivana englanninkielisyys on harvoille ongelma, on suomenkielisten netticasinoiden maara niin valtava, etta suosittelemme niiden kayttoa. Rahansiirrot ovat tana paivana niin hyvassa mallissa, etta niiden kanssa tuskin tulee mitaan ongelmia. Kolme tarkeinta segmenttia: Suomalaiset verkkopankit, luottokortit (Visa, Mastercard) seka nettilompakot (Skrill, Neteller) loytyvat jokaisesta laadukkaasta netticasinosta. Viime vuosien trendiksi noussut verkkokauppa on kehittanyt rahansiirrot niin laadukkaiksi ja nopeiksi, etta niiden suhteen ei ole enaa vuosiin ollut ongelmia. Luonnollisesti netticasinot kayttavat naita samoja palveluita ja hyotyvat kehityksesta.

Naiden isojen linjojen jalkeen netticasinon valintaan vaikuttavat luonnollisesti tarjottavat tervetuliaisbonukset  uudet asiakkaat saavat tana paivana kovan kilpailun myota merkittavia etuja netticasinoilta ja niita kannattaa luonnollisesti vertailla. Erilaiset talletusbonukset, ilmaiskierrokset seka ilmaiset pelirahat tuovat suuriakin rahanarvoisia etuja ja niiden vertailu on ehdottomasti kannattavaa. Myoskaan useampien tilien avaaminen ja tervetuliaistarjousten kayttaminen ei missaan nimessa ole huono idea.

Kun edella mainitut asiat ovat mieleisia ja vaihtoehtoja on vielakin jaljella, mennaan jo nyansseihin. Toki pelivalikoima on yksi kriteeri, mutta taman paivan netticasinoissa tamakin asia on paasaantoisesti varsin samanlainen. Toki useamman samantasoisen netticasinon vertailussa kannattaa yleensa valita se, jossa on eniten peleja tarjolla. Vaikka omat suosikit loytyisivatkin useammasta, voi tulevaisuudessa mielenkiinto nousta joihinkin muihin peleihin ja silloin on tietysti mukavampaa, etta ne loytyvat valikoimista. Viimeisena voidaan nostaa esiin kaytettavyys  joidenkin netticasinoiden sivut ovat vilkkuvia, valkkyvia ja epakaytannollisia. Omaan silmaan ja kaytettavyyteen sopiva sivusto on luonnollisesti aina se paras valinta. Tarjonta netticasinoissa on tana paivana valtava ja jokaiselle loytyy varmasti se oma netticasino  onnea matkaan!
ALBANY | Reform advocates, most voters and Gov. Andrew Cuomo want to help clean up scandal-scarred Albany by prohibiting the state's 213 legislators from making serious money on the side.

But the most recent financial filings show that most lawmakers already get by without substantial outside income. In fact, a majority reported no earnings from sideline work. Those with other jobs included a pharmacist, a veterinarian and an insurance agency owner.

The disclosures filed last year show just 24 lawmakers, mostly lawyers, were making about as much or more in outside income as their $79,500 base annual pay from the state.

In fact, those 24 accounted for at least two-thirds of outside income reported for 2014, which ranged somewhere between $4.6 million and $7.1. In the imprecise system, income is reported in ranges.

In his latest ethics initiative, Cuomo proposed limiting legislators' outside income to 15 percent of state pay, similar to restrictions on Congress. That won prompt praise from reformers, who have been asking legislators to sign a "clean conscience pledge" supporting that and other measures including more transparency on state spending. So far, only 26 have signed.

Last fall, federal juries convicted both former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver of peddling their substantial influence in office. Both were lawyers reporting significant outside income. Prosecutors said Silver collected legal fees for influencing legislation and grants, while Skelos pressured companies with state interests to provide his son no-show jobs.

Last week, Siena College pollsters reported 60 percent of New York voters support making the Legislature full time and banning outside employment as a way of reducing corruption. An even larger group, 89 percent, said corruption is a serious problem in Albany. Most opposed giving lawmakers a raise.

The positions are currently considered part-time. The Legislature usually meets from January through June, though senators and Assembly members staff offices year-round.

Sen. John Flanagan, the Long Island Republican who replaced Skelos as Senate majority leader, said last week he would not support a ban on outside income. Flanagan himself, with his new Senate responsibilities, said he's stopped working privately as a lawyer, though he supports the right of others to do it. He reported $100,000 to $150,000 of outside income in 2014.

Flanagan did say, however, the Senate Republican Conference already has started discussing ethics issues.

The governor also proposed stripping pensions of legislators convicted of corruption, including those who have been in office a long time, and closing the campaign finance loophole that lets limited liability companies donate far more to campaigns than other business entities and without disclosing their owners.

Like his Senate counterpart, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat who replaced Silver, no longer has outside income. He had been an adjunct college instructor, reporting $1,000 to $5,000 of income in 2014. The majority Democratic Conference hasn't taken a position on limiting outside income.

"We've had some productive discussions with the members since the start of the session," conference spokesman Michael Whyland said. "And we're serious about strong ethics laws."

Base pay for the 213 legislators costs $16.9 million. Many also get additional stipends and all get certain expenses reimbursed.

Here are what others in the Senate reported in outside income:

 Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, Erie County Republican and attorney, $150,000 to $250,000;

 Sen. Marc Panepinto, Erie County Democrat and attorney, $150,000 to $250,000. Panepinto also reported a law firm profit of $750,000 to $850,000.

 Sen. Michael Nozzolio, Monroe County Republican and attorney, who says he's retiring after this year, $150,000 to $250,000;

 Sen. Philip Boyle, Long Island Republican and attorney, $100,000 to $150,000;

 Sen. Thomas Croci, Long Island Republican and Navy reservist called to active duty, $100,000 to $150,000;

 Sen. Kemp Hannon and Sen. Kenneth LaValle, Long Island Republicans and both attorneys, $75,000 to $100,000.

In the Assembly, reporting between $75,000 to $100,000 were:

 Brian Curran, a Long Island Republican and attorney;

 John McDonald, a Cohoes Democrat and pharmacist;

 Bill Nojay, a Livingston County Republican and attorney;

 Robert Rodriguez, a Manhattan Democrat and financial advisor;

 Luis Sepulveda, a Bronx Democrat, and attorney.

Assemblyman Michael Blake, a Bronx Democrat, reported consulting income between $80,000 and $165,000.

Reporting between $100,000 and $150,000:

 Jane Corwin, Erie County Republican and a director at Gibraltar Industries;

 Gary Finch, an Auburn Republican and funeral home owner;

 Mark Gjonaj, a Bronx Democrat and real estate broker;

 Anthony Palumbo, an attorney and Long Island Republican;

 Dan Quart, a Manhattan Democrat and attorney;

 Jo Anne Simon, a Brooklyn Democrat and attorney;

 Phil Steck, attorney and Albany County Democrat;

 Stephen Katz, a Putnman County Republican and veterinarian; and

 Carrie Woerner, a Saratoga Democrat and software executive.

Steve Hawley, a Republican from Batavia in western New York, reported income between $450,000 and $550,000 from the insurance business. He sees himself as a citizen-legislator, the way it was originally designed, mainly with farmers. He said he hasn't been conflicted in voting, even on insurance issues, and said the Legislature working hard could finish its annual session in 60 days and take a pay cut.

"Now we've got people, it becomes their sole source of income," Hawley said. "They'll do anything to keep that job. ... It shouldn't be about the money."
As regular readers will know, I've had a great deal of fun on my Twitter page on #GOPDebate nights. During the eight debates, I've posted between 20 and 50 sarcastic tweets at the expense of the seemingly endless candidates. This has resulted in a significant number of "likes," "retweets," compliments, multiple mentions on other websites, and yes, trolls. I guess it kind of comes with the territory, yet 99.9% of the time I read these trolls' comments, I can't help but shake my head and do my best Linda Blair impersonation, as my eyes roll back so far even she would be impressed.



Just last night, I received a few such comments, three of which stood out from the rest. The tweet which generated most of the trolls' comments was this one:



"Trump: 'Conservatives are all about conserving, except oil, the environment, money, & human life, you know, b/c of guns & stuff.'

#GOPDebate"



Responses:



1) "Your just projecting your anger, racism, and bigotry! Doesn't help your cause any lib!"



Say what?!? Does oil = anger, the environment = race, and money = bigotry? That's interesting... Oh, and not making any sense doesn't help your cause any either, Mr. Troll...





2) "Human life? Which party is responsible for all the abortions and selling fetus brains and body parts? Democrats!"



Actually, that Carly Fiorina claim has been debunked more times than Donald Trump has uttered the word "big." Even Fox News has confronted Ms. Fiorina on the matter (http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/20/fox-news-tells-carly-fiorina-to-her-face-no-actual-footage-exists-of-fetus-videos-video/). When a claim is debunked by multiple (reputable) sources, that doesn't make said claim a fact... As the kids nowadays would say, "Just sayin'..."



3) "Detroit, Michigan is what happens when Democrats get control!"



Seriously?!? First off, there's a great deal of blame to go around for Detroit's downfall. Conservatives can attempt to lay the entire blame on Democratic leaders, but they'd be inaccurate in saying only Democrats were in power during the city's downturn. Not only that, but they'd be failing to look at the bigger picture. As Richard Wolff explains in this article (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/23/detroit-decline-distinctively-capitalist-failure), "Detroit's decline is a distinctively capitalist failure: The auto industry Big Three were loyal only to shareholders, not the people of Detroit. The city was gutted by that social choice." Not only that, but from a logic perspective, the argument is a weak one, for it's a prime example of cherry-picking. The author of this post focused his attention on one example and attempted to cast that example as a trend rather than an aberration, yet provided no evidence to prove this. It'd be like if I pointed to the 9/11 attacks under then President Bush and said, "This is what happens when Republicans get control!" Pretty ridiculous, right? Perhaps this poster may want to look at and compare the economy under Republican vs. Democratic presidents in recent decades before making another such egregious mistake.



Then today, I posted a fact-check to Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. is the most taxed country in the world. The fact-checkers graded the statement as "false," provided evidence to support this grade, and to this, I received a response claiming Trump's claim was actually correct (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/feb/06/donald-trump/trump-calls-us-highest-taxed-country-world/). No matter what the poster wants to believe, here's what the report, conducted by Joshua Gillin and Louis Jacobson, said:



- "In OECD data from 2014, the most recent year available, the United States was far from the most highly taxed among this group.



Taxation accounted for 26 percent of GDP, which ranks America 27th out of 30 countries (the OECD average was more than 34 percent).The top five highest-taxed countries as a percentage of GDP were Denmark, France, Belgium, Finland and Italy, all topping 43 percent. Korea, Chile and Mexico were the only nations ranked lower than the United States."



- "As for tax revenue per capita, we move up a bit.



America is 17th out of 29 countries by this measure on the OECD list, with taxes totaling $14,994 per person. The top five were Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, which ranged from a high of almost $50,000 to to more than $23,000. Twelve nations were lower than the United States. The bottom two, Turkey and Chile, had tax revenues per capita of less than $3,000."



- "Industrialized economies are the best yardstick, but U.S. taxation as a percentage of GDP ranks 12th from the bottom if you compare it with a larger roster of 115 countries."



It's like the poster didn't even read the report. Shocking, I know, right? Trolls, please do me, and everyone else you attempt to anger, a few favors: Read the tweets before commenting on them, make certain you're responding to the right post, make sure your replies make some sense, don't resort to fallacies or debunked claims, and before clicking "tweet," as yourself this question: "Will posting this make me sound dumber than Rick Perry counting to 3?" Thanks a bunch! Have a nice day!

Labels
Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes.

What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection?

Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were.

Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property  there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection:

You get to see exactly what will happen to your money

When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor.

Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on.

A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with.

You find out about potential major repairs

Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing.

If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately.

You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on

One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home.

Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly.

You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for

While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best.

This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit.

Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home.

You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price

If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home.

You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price.

You can sell your home faster and for more money

If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are.

In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price.

Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for.

Your home will hold its value longer

As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property.

When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home.

You can make smart decisions about property investments

Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property.

If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal.

There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about.

If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage

If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing.

They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit.

You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors

If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for.

For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money.

You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition

Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building.

You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure.

Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so.

As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process.
AUBURN | An ongoing art exhibition organized by an Auburn religious society digs into personal expressions of love of all kinds.

Nine individuals have contributed to the second annual "Standing on the Side of Love" exhibit at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church. The showcase, which opened Sunday, brings paintings, crafts and other submissions together as artistic expressions of the titular phrase, according to Kathy Haendle.

"With 'Standing on the Side of Love,' we wanted people to reach into themselves and express what that meant to them," said Haendle, the exhibit's curator. "And each of these pieces is a reflection of what 'Standing on the Side of Love' means to that particular person. So it's very individualized."

"Standing on the Side of Love" is part of a monthly series of art showcases held by the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church. Organizers said the next in March will be an exhibit of artwork by Port Byron middle and high school students.

"Standing on the Side of Love" is the name of a nationwide social justice campaign by the Unitarian Universalist Association, affiliated with movements such as Black Lives Matter. However, the Auburn society's art exhibition is not entirely related, Haendle said.

Pieces in the exhibit may invoke humanitarian themes, but Haendle said the overall body of work broaches a wide variety of meanings depending on the artist  as well as the audience's perspective.

"It's really given people an opportunity to express themselves in a very intimate way," she said. "When you read (the captions for) some of these pieces, it's personal. For everybody else, they get to know the person a little more. That connection, person to person, is important."

For artist Sally Stormon, she said she presented multiple submissions to capture her meaning of "Standing on the Side of Love" for her second year of participation.

Two of those contributions are paintings of her own design representative of her love for creative expression, she said. A separate submission of a photo album and other materials shows Stormon's trip last year to El Salvador with the San Pedro Sister Community to meet the villagers of San Pedro  a personal, moving experience, she described.

"Everybody's work has a depth this year," Stormon said. "Everybody had a year to think about it  and it shows in the depth and range of expression."
The Grand Canyon, Saguaro and Petrified Forest. Joshua Tree, Yellowstone and Yosemite.

These parks, from California to the New York islands, offer people the world over a close-up look at some of the most storied land in the United States. And with Congress designating the National Park Service in 1916, the time is ripe for an anniversary party  Flagstaff style.

While the Super Bowl commands the spotlight this Sunday, the Flagstaff Public Library is pleased to offer a fun alternative through a look at some of the nations treasures in story and song with the New Years first installment of the Stories to Life series, This Land is Your Land.

This free event takes place today at 4 p.m. at the Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N. Fort Valley Road. To learn more, call 213-2369 or visit flagstaffpubliclibrary.org/services/stories2life.

Judy Finney, outreach manager at the library, doesnt hold back her excitement for this segment that pairs live readers with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra ensemble, the Ponderosa Players. The quartet will provide a diverse musical catalog from expressing a classical element in addition to riffing on the segments namesake, Woody Guthries This Land is Your Land.

We are producing this event in collaboration with National Park Services 100th anniversary, Finney noted. We wanted to pick a theme to support what theyre doing and also to do something on the National Parks because theyre so cool.

As the series project manager and a librarian, Finney hand-picks the programming. One story, she explained, comes from the Sierra Clubs iconic founder, John Muir, whos 1901 tale speaks of coming to Flagstaff by train and riding through the forest around the San Francisco Peaks to the Grand Canyon.

In it he says it should be a national park, Finney said. We do try to do the local connection in Stories to Life. So much happens in Flagstaff, and we all live here because we love Flagstaff, but it is an important place in the world. So many fascinating historical figures hold Flagstaff in their hearts.

That local connection has stayed vibrant in this program since the first installment in 2008. Jamey Hasapis, who has been involved in project development since the beginning, has assembled a crafty team of professional-level readers to tell more tales of exploration and adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the Everglades of the Florida panhandle and more.

Another, Finney said, will send chills down the spines of listeners with a message about a death in Yellowstone. The Wyoming park was the very first National Park, designated as such in 1872, and even has its own Grand Canyon.

And in keeping with the educational humanities aspect of the event, a uniformed Park Service ranger will be on-hand to discuss a little bit about life in the parks.

More stories from 100 rangers and volunteers in the park also come to life in the new travel book published by the Park Service called The Wonder of It All: 100 Stories from the National Park Service. With 100 years under the belts and thousands of rangers and volunteers whove seen it all from its infancy, trials and will be there well into the future.

In between musical interludes and the stories themselves, vignettes will explain the truths behind the pages, and recount moments in the authors and composers lives of each piece of music and text.

We will share a piece on Native Americans because social justice is a theme thats really important to us  that we tell a true story, Finney added. National Parks are ancestral homes to Native Americans, and its our obligation of librarians and as people who care about the humanities to tell these stories. The arts are so important, but they are real, too. Stories to Life is going to tell the truth, and weve always tried to do that.
Domestic violence gun homicides are rare within the city of Flagstaff.

According to annual CompStat data from Flagstaff Police Department, there were approximately 1,700 domestic violence incidents reported in Flagstaff in 2015. None was a homicide. Most years, less than 5 percent of all domestic violence calls FPD receives involve a firearm.

The Flagstaff Police Department has very few domestic violence incidents involving guns, said FPD spokesperson Sgt. Margaret Bentzen in an email. The majority of incidents classified as domestic violence originate as misdemeanors. The goal is to aggressively pursue these misdemeanor crimes to prevent them from escalating into felony crimes.

According to a new Associated Press analysis based on the FBIs Supplementary Homicide Reports, five domestic violence victims were killed with a gun in Flagstaff between 2006 and 2014.

In March 2009, for instance, Andone Hairabedian, 52, of California and his wife were found dead at a local hotel in an apparent murder suicide. Five months later, Allen S. Powers, 32, shot his girlfriend and then himself in a wooded area off Switzer Canyon Drive as police were trying to arrest both of them for speeding through the state in a stolen car.

The deadly streak continued in April 2010, when a Flagstaff-based agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shot and killed his wife, then turned a gun on himself.

Although there have not been any fatal domestic violence shootings in the city recently, there have been a number of cases just outside city limits, including the Sept. 9, 2015 murder-suicide of former Northern Arizona University professor Jeriah Hildwine, 36, and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Ashley Darby, in a wooded area near the Abineau-Bearjaw trailhead parking lot on the San Francisco Peaks.

When officers respond to a domestic violence incident involving a gun, Bentzen said, they will seize the weapon as evidence. Even on domestic violence calls that do not involve firearms, Arizona law allows officers to question the involved parties and witnesses regarding the presence of a gun.

We know that incidents of domestic violence typically escalate over a period of time, and without intervention, the violence can and does increase, Bentzen said.

That is why FPD officers are required to complete a Lethality/Coercive Control Risk Assessment for every domestic violence call they answer. It helps them determine if the relationship is high risk and is used to provide the victim with referrals to social services. Judges may also use the results of the assessment to determine release conditions after a domestic violence suspects arrest.

If police officers find a firearm in plain view or after obtaining consent to search the property following a domestic violence call, they can temporarily seize it for no less than 72 hours, provided they believe that gun would put someone in the household in danger.

In cases where the police or prosecutor do not think a few days without a gun in the home is enough time to keep everyone safe, the prosecutor can file a notice with the owner that he or she intends to let the police hold onto the weapon for up to six months, although the gun owner has the right to dispute that decision in court.

The law also allows a court to prohibit a domestic violence defendant from purchasing or possessing a firearm if there is an emergency order of protection or a regular order of protection against them. But if there is no order of protection, Arizona law only bars a person with a domestic violence conviction from possessing a firearm while they are on probation for the crime.

Still, enforcing the prohibition on purchasing or possessing a firearm can be difficult in Arizona, which boasts one of the highest gun ownership rates in the nation and allows private-party firearm sales.

If we are made of aware of any type of prohibited possession of firearms, we aggressively take steps to retrieve the gun and hold the possessor accountable, Bentzen said. We would encourage the public to provide this type of information if available and work with us on holding violators accountable.
Two members of the Arizona House of Representatives Appropriations Committee were peppered with pleas for additional funding at a state budget town hall Saturday at Flagstaff City Hall.

Reps. Justin Olson, the chair of the committee, and Mark Cardenas, a committee member, gave brief presentations on the Legislative budget and how it compares to Gov. Doug Duceys budget before fielding about two hours of questions from the public. The event was hosted by Flagstaff City Councilmember Jeff Oravits and Mayor Jerry Nabours. About 50 to 60 people attended the event.

Most of the questions and requests revolved around additional funding for education at all levels, medical care for low-income children, support for abused and neglected children, support for adults and children with disabilities and funding for a large animal veterinary program at the University of Arizona.

Members of the Northern Arizona University Student Council, graduate students, faculty members and NAU President Rita Cheng urged the representatives to consider additional funding for state universities.

The growth in the number of students since 2008 combined with budgets cuts has created a challenge for us, Cheng said.

The governor's budget next year adds $8 million to university appropriations after cutting them by $99 million this year. State appropriations per NAU student, according to university budget reports, have declined from $8,800 in 2008 to $3,600 this year.

Three members of NAUs student government spoke about how important the universitys tuition pledge program was to them and their family members. The program guarantees an undergraduate student the same tuition rate for four years.

One student said the program has allowed her and her two siblings to attend school with the security of knowing what their bill will be when they graduate.

All three students expressed concern that the program may disappear if state funding to universities is not restored or is cut further.

Olson said that he believed that the worst part of the states budget crisis was behind it and funding for education would increase in the future, but would take some time.

Cardena said he was concerned about increases in tuition.

Every time we cut funding to universities it prices some people out, he said.

The governor's proposed 2016-17 budget of $9.5 billion, according to a legislative analysis, would end up with an operating surplus of more than $600 million in addition to $400 million in the rainy day fund.

Kathryn Kozak, the president of the Flagstaff Unified School District Board, asked the representatives to preserve the desegregation funding the district uses to help Native American and English as a Second Language students make it to college.

Ninety-two percent of that funding goes to our classrooms, she said.

If Proposition 123 passes and the Legislature eliminates the desegregation funding to schools, FUSD wouldnt see a benefit from Prop. 123.

Prop. 123 would increase funding to schools by increasing the amount of money disbursed from the state trust land fund.

Cardena said he understood. There are three school districts in his legislative district that also benefit from the desegregation funding. One uses the funding to support a robotics team that beat MIT in a competition.

Without that funding we will see schools in the Valley that look more like public schools in Philadelphia or Chicago, where teachers act more like babysitters than educators, he said.

Shelly Hall, from the Northern Arizona Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging pleaded with the representatives to find $2.6 million in the state budget for home and communitybased services.

Monica Attridge and several parents asked the representatives to consider increasing funding for residents with learning or physical disabilities by 7 percent or about $30 million.

Were funded at about 78 percent of our cost, Attridge said.

She said the Hozhoni Foundation was struggling to keep employees because they couldnt pay them a decent wage for the work that they do.

We need help. Were drowning, she said. Weve got to do something.

Another resident spoke out about concerns for more funding for the states foster care system and better oversight.

Olson said he shared the mans concerns about the foster care system and the Legislature is working with the director Child Protective Services to come up with solutions.

Another man asked about funding for KidsCare, a program that provides medical care for children under the age of 18 in Arizona. The state ended the program in January 2014.

He said he had a 9-year-old grandchild whose mother could not afford to put her on her own health insurance and currently earned too much to put the child into KidsCare.

Cardenas said he would like to see the state restore funding to KidsCare.

The representatives also received a request from four ranchers from the Verde Valley to help fund the new large animal veterinary program at the University of Arizona.

One rancher said that the number of large animal vets in the U.S. had declined and more students were not moving into the program. These vets are important to the nations food security. They not only kept animals bred in the U.S. healthy but they checked to make sure animals coming into the U.S. for processing were safe.

The private sector, including ranchers and large animal associations, have already pledged $14 million toward the program. The state would only need to add $8 million to the program once to get it started, he said.

Olson said he had heard of the program and looked forward to discussing it more with its sponsors.
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By AM Sunday, February 7, 2016 Share Tweet Share Share Email









The Uri Avnery Column discusses how Israel is growing more internally extreme and dangerous by the week.well-known, Israel is a "Jewish and democratic state".That is its official designation. WellJewish, it's a new kind of Jewishness, a mutation.For 2000 years or so, Jews were known to be wise, clever, peace-loving, humane, progressive, liberal, even socialist.Today, when you hear these attributes, the State of Israel is not the first name that springs to mind. Far from it.As for "democratic", that was more or less true from the foundation of the state in 1948 until the Six-day War of 1967, when Israel unfortunately conquered the West Bank, the Gaza strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan. And, of course, the Sinai peninsula which was later returned to Egypt.(I say "more or less" democratic, because there is no completely democratic state anywhere in the world.)Since 1967, Israel has been a hybrid creation  half democratic, half dictatorial. Like an egg that is half fresh, half rotten.The occupied territories, we should be reminded, consist of at least four different categories:East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1967 and is now part of Israel's capital city. Its Palestinian inhabitants have not been accepted as nor applied to be Israeli citizens. They are mere "inhabitants", devoid of any citizenship.The Golan Heights, formerly a part of Syria, which was annexed by Israel. The few Arab-Druze inhabitants who remain there are reluctant citizens of Israel.The Gaza Strip, which is completely cut off from the world by Israel and Egypt, acting in collusion. The Israeli navy cuts it off at sea. The minimum the inhabitants need to survive is allowed to come through Israel. The late Ariel Sharon removed the few Jewish settlements from this area, which is not claimed by Israel. Too many Arabs there.The West Bank (of the Jordan river), which the Israeli government and right-wing Israelis call by their Biblical names "Judea and Samaria", home of the largest part of the Palestinian people, probably some 3.5 million. It is there that the main battle is on.first day of the 1967 occupation, right-wing Israelis were intent on annexing the West Bank to Israel. Under the slogan "the Whole of Eretz Israel" they launched a campaign for annexing this entire territory, driving the Palestinian population out and setting up as many Jewish settlements as possible.The extremists never hid their intent of cleansing this land entirely of non-Jews and establishing a Greater Israel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.This is a very difficult aim to achieve. In 1948, during our so-called "War of Independence", Israel conquered a far larger territory than allotted to it by the United Nations, but was forgiven. Half the Palestinian population of the country was driven out or fled. The fait accompli was more or less accepted by the world because it was achieved by military means in a war started by the Arab side, and because it happened soon after the Holocaust.By 1967, the situation was quite different. The causes of the new war were disputed, David had turned into Goliath, a world-wide Cold War was on. Israel's conquests were not recognized, not even by its protector, the US.In spite of several new Israeli-Arab wars, the end of the Cold War and many other changes, this situation has not changed.Israel still calls itself a "Jewish and democratic state". The population in "Greater Israel" is by now half Jewish and half Arab, with the Arabs gaining. Israel proper is still more or less democratic. In the occupied Palestinian territories, a dictatorial "military government" is in charge, with hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers trying to push out the Palestinian Arab population by all means available, including fraudulent acquisition of land and terrorism (called "retaliation").In Israel proper, the government belongs to the extreme Right, with some elements that would be called "fascist" anywhere else. The Center and Left are impotent. The only real political fight is between the radical Right and the even more radical extreme Right.a furious battle broke out between Binyamin Netanyahu together with his Minister of Defense, Bogie Ya'alon, both of the Likud Party, and the Education Minister, Naftali Bennett, the leader of the Jewish Home Party. Bennett, a wildly ambitious Rightist, makes no secret of his intention to replace Netanyahu as soon as possible.The kind of language used by the two parties would be considered extreme even if used between the coalition and the opposition. Between partners of the coalition government it is, to put it mildly, rather unusual, even in Israel.Compared to this, the language of the Leader of the Opposition, Yitzhak Herzog, is practically polite.Bennett said that Netanyahu and Ya'alon hawk old and obsolete ideas and suffer from "mental paralysis", thereby worsening Israel's already shaky standing in the world. Netanyahu and Ya'alon, a former Kibbutz member and army Chief of Staff, accused Bennett of stealing. According to them, whenever a good idea is aired in the cabinet, Bennett runs out of the room and proclaims it as his own. Ya'alon called Bennett childish and reckless.Who is right? Unfortunately, all of them.In between stands (or rather sits) the present army Chief of Staff, Gadi Eizenkot, son of immigrants from Morocco in spite of his German-sounding name. In Israel, curiously enough, the army chiefs are generally more moderate than the politicians.The general proposed ameliorating the conditions of the Arab population in the occupied territories, such as allowing the people in Gaza to build a harbor and come into contact with the world at large. Amazing.happened at a conference of so-called security experts where everybody had his or her say.The leaders of the opposition parties also took part. Yitzhak Herzog of Labor, Yair Lapid of the centrist "There is a Future" party and others had their say, but their speeches were so tedious that they were reported only for fairness' sake. They grabbed some ideas from here and there, called it "my plan" - with peace, if mentioned at all, deferred to the very, very distant future.Peace, one gathers, is something nice, the matter dreams are made of. Not something for serious politicians.What remains is a furious fight between the Far Right and the Even Further Right.Bennett, a former high-tech entrepreneur, wears a kippah on his bald head (frankly, I always wonder what keeps it there, perhaps sheer willpower). He does not hide his conviction that he must replace the stagnant Netanyahu as soon as possible, for the good of the nation.Bennett accused the incompetent political leadership of failing our brave soldiers and their commanders  an accusation straight out of Mein Kampf, which is about to appear in Hebrew.Netanyahu's only possible successor within his Likud party is Ya'alon, a man devoid of any charisma or political talent. However, to succeed, Bennett and his Jewish Home party must overtake Likud at the ballot box  a very difficult thing to do. That's where the kippah comes in - Divine intervention may be called for.Speaking about divine intervention: last week the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom, criticized Israel's legal system for having different laws for Jews and Arabs. Netanyahu reacted sharply, and lo and behold  by sheer accident, a few days later the Swedish press was full of stories about the corruption of Wallstrom, who did pay less rent for her government apartment than she should have.could be amusing, if it did not concern the future of Israel.Peace is a dirty word. The end of the occupation is not in sight. The United (Arab) Party is not even in the picture. The same (almost) goes for Meretz.On the left, despair is the synonym of laziness. There is a mild debate about the idea that only the outside world can save us from ourselves. This is now propagated by the respected former Director General of our Foreign Office, Alon Lyel, a very brave ex-official. I don't believe in this. The idea of running to the Goyim to save the Jews from themselves is not one to gain wide popularity.Bennett is right on one point: stagnation, both mental and practical, is no solution. Things must move again. I fervently hope that the young generation will give birth to new forces and new ideas that will push aside Netanyahu, Bennett and their ilk.As to our much-lauded democracy: it appears that a group financed by the government has for years paid a private detective, whose job was to rifle through the paper baskets of peace activists to obtain information on human rights and peace associations and personalities.(Fortunately, I shred everything.)
By AM Sunday, February 7, 2016 Share Tweet Share Share Email

writing for 107cowgate explains what 1916 means to him.is a former member of Anti-Fascist Action and author ofIt is a difficult task to comment on any aspect of politics in Ireland without wading into a swamp of conflicting emotions and perspectives. Ireland has been a crucible of grievances for hundreds of years and people have been prepared to kill and die for one cause or another - meanwhile academics and activists still argue over the minutiae of each and every political development. Indeed, many trees have been sacrificed in the study of Ireland, and engaging in various forms of revisionism is a scholarly skill which has been finely tuned and widely practiced when studying Irish history.This observation takes on a much greater resonance when talking about the extraordinary events of Easter 1916. Sometimes it is difficult to discern the truth through the foggy dew. In addition to the obvious fact that the Easter Rising was a defining moment in Irish history, it happens to be a matter of considerable personal significance.I am a Republican and my eldest son was named after James Connolly. As a consequence, for me, wearing the Easter Lilly is much more than the simple symbolic manifestation of respect for the people who gave their lives for a political cause - commemorating 1916 is about renewing a commitment to a living political ideology. I therefore confess that I am a partisan in the war being waged to wrest control of historical memory. I make no apologies for that  the idea that there is some lofty perch from which we can study history and society with detached objectivity is just positivist nonsense. I reject that fallacy with the same ardour that I embrace the Republican principles that provided the political impetus for the Rising in 1916.However, there is a difficulty - there were different types of Republicanism at work in 1916 and disentangling the various threads can be a complicated process. For the purposes of simplification we can identify the two most prominent perspectives which, although separate, are not entirely mutually exclusive. They both derived their dynamism from a belief that Ireland was oppressed by colonial overlords and had been denied its legitimate right to national self-determination. However there were very significant and subtle differences between them.Firstly there were those Republicans who were motivated by a strong sense of national, cultural and ethnic identity. This conception of Republican resistance was closely tied to romantic notions of Gaelic emancipation and the importance of the Catholic religion. This strain of Republicanism, saturated with the messianic imagery of Christ and Cuchulainn, was most clearly expressed by Padraig Pearse. In fact Pearses conception of nationalism was akin to a belief in a divine religion, and some of those who engaged in the Easter rebellion evidently saw themselves as fighting for a holy cause that was sanctified with reference to God. God is not only mentioned in the Easter Proclamation, some of the insurgents, inspired by zealous piety, actively sought His intervention via prayer and holy water. Indeed, prior to the Rising George Plunkett went to Rome to seek the blessing of Benedict XV for their efforts. During the fighting itself the rosary was recited regularly in the GPO and for some of the combatants the fight was evidently for 'faith' as well as 'fatherland'. For them the identification between Catholicism and Irish nationalism was axiomatic and doubtless accentuated by the possibility of a violent death.The historical reasons for this attachment to religion are obvious, of course, and owe much to the British (English) efforts to demonise and marginalise the Catholic faith in Ireland. Irish nationalism and Catholicism were fused together historically by hundreds of years of British misrule and oppression.However, the emphasis on faith and ethnicity marks a clear contrast to the motives of the original Republican Wolfe Tone, who aimed to curtail the influence of organised religion. This gives us a clue as to the second type of Republicanism, which was far more civic and secular in motivation. To this non-denominational approach was added, in subsequent years, a concern for social justice and economic liberty. This perspective is most explicit in the work of James Connolly. Connolly saw nationalism as a useful short-term mechanism to engineer much more dramatic social changes.The socialist Republicans who coalesced around Connolly might have used the same vehicle as the ethnic nationalists, but their eyes were firmly fixed on another destination, a further horizon. As the man said hang on to your rifles. In this sense the Rising was to be the catalyst for a more comprehensive and thorough-going social transformation. This is the Republican tradition of which I am a part. Perhaps my lack of commitment to the exclusively ethnic (Gaelic-Catholic) dimension derives from the fact that I was born and brought up in England. I understand the impetus for independence and autonomous cultural development, but I am always disappointed by its lack of ambition. It always seemed to me that if people were being asked to fight (and perhaps even die) for a political principle, then the prize should be a society worthy of the effort, and not vulnerable to subversion by reactionary social elements. For me a more equal society (which cherishes all the children) is non-negotiable. Why settle for less?The Easter Rising in 1916 reflected and reinvigorated both of these competing and complementary (but nevertheless authentic) strands of Republican praxis, and they have attracted adherents ever since. They can be clearly discerned in the history of Ireland since 1916 and were thrown into a much sharper light during the period of the so-called troubles in the north. That period of armed rebellion and political resistance against a sectarian state also threw up, eventually, what might be construed as a third strand of Republicanism.This mutated form of the genus is most explicitly expressed in the current political practice of Sinn Fein, which in many ways mirrors the rhetorical Republicanism of the Free State. This is a kind of pseudo-Republicanism, a political philosophy which pays lip-service to the ideals expressed in 1916 but whose attachment to them is, in effect, pragmatic and perfunctory.It is worth noting that in the north of Ireland there has been a distinct tendency to assume that Republicanism is what SF (or its leadership) says and does. This is a dangerous delusion. In fact the strategy of SF has led the Provisional movement into some very deep and treacherous waters. When ex-PIRA activists socialise with British Royalty, try to elicit financial support from business elites in the USA and work with the most reactionary elements of Loyalism in Stormont, it is clear that their grasp of Republican theory is tenuous to say the least. It is also important to make the point that this critique has absolutely nothing to do with the methods deployed.Republicanism and armed struggle are not coterminous. Indeed it is perfectly possible to be a Republican and a pacifist. Although it is undoubtedly useful in certain very specific situations, adherence to Republican principles does not require access to an Armalite. The emphasis on the issue of armed struggle is a diversion from the essence of the difficulty created by SFs perversion of Republican principles - those who ostentatiously cavort with billionaires and who openly consort with the most egregious reptiles in the ruling class have effectively forfeited their right to claim the epithet Republican. They are simply celebrating at the carnival which Connolly so accurately predicted - this is the Republicanism of cretins.When commenting on the utility of political theory E.P. Thomson once wrote, in another context, that Stalinism had turned historical and dialectical materialism into hysterical and diabolical Marxism. In effect the Provisional leadership has performed a similar trick by transforming Sinn Fein into a ruthlessly efficient mechanism designed to facilitate the retrospective justification of ideological apostasy. The post-modern Provisionals, in rejecting the meta-narrative provided by the other two inter-linked strands of Republicanism, have transformed its ideology into an empty and worthless catechism. It would make no material difference if they won a Free State election tomorrow because their political ideology has been eviscerated.Let us be absolutely clear here  Sinn Fein has every right to decide on its principles, policies and priorities. That is their prerogative. Moreover, the leadership and membership may genuinely believe that the SF strategy was/is the only viable and sensible political option. Certainly there have been some limited successes in terms of the more equitable distribution of inter-community rights within Northern Ireland.However, the reality is that SF have made a series of strategic and tactical decisions which have drawn them into compromises with some of the forces that Republicanism was designed to defeat. One thing absolutely certain  it is not Republicanism as conceived by those who engaged in the rebellion of 1916. Indeed, given the role SF has secured for itself in administering British rule, it might be argued that any attempt to arrogate for themselves the imprimatur of those who fought in 1916 is simply an act of symbolic and semiotic imperialism.As the centenary approaches it becomes all the more evident that the Free State rulers are more than a little embarrassed by the national foundation myth they have inherited. Politicians talk about respectful inclusivity and pluralism in an effort to sanitise an act of rebellion (they even considered inviting a British royal to the commemoration!) but they would much rather ignore the whole event. The terrible beauty evokes, even now, a fearful anxiety amongst the assorted arseholes who wield political power in the putrid plutocracy they have created for themselves. The ghosts of those mighty dead will stare down on them at Easter, and they know it. Commemorating the giants of 1916  some of whom (according to eyewitness statements) died like lions - can only ever highlight how absolutely miniscule are the contemporary leaders of Ireland.The comparison is telling because the current batch of social parasites are compelled to confront an epochal event of global significance when a small band of rebels resisted a massive Empire - this can only further expose the feeble futility of their own political endeavours. That is why the 2016 commemoration is being down-played or ignored, and that is why there is a systematic effort to mystify historical reality by the scribes and scholars of the Irish Establishment.Indeed, as the time approaches, we can see clearly that the clumsy attempts to distort history by assorted political gombeens and vacuous celebrity gobshites is actually about getting genuine Republicans to decommission the one weapon that worries our enemies the most  our minds. This is why 2016 is so extraordinarily important  it constitutes a massive opportunity, not only to re-dedicate ourselves to Republicanism, but to use our reason and intelligence to fashion a type of Republicanism we should aspire to, and to decide exactly how it can be achieved in the twenty-first century.One thing is absolutely certain, we will not have our critical faculties denuded by carefully choreographed political ceremonies, nor will we be swayed by the anodyne rhetoric of professional politicians or be seduced by the puerile imagery of public relations companies. You can bury bodies under quicklime, but ideals are not so easily disposed of. The actual principles which underpinned the events of 1916 should be re-examined carefully, and incorporated or discarded as appropriate to an ideology which aims to secure not only national liberation but social justice. As Connolly knew, carving a future in the absence of a class analysis is all but impossible, and national autonomy without egalitarianism would constitute a very hollow victory.Of course we need to be realistic but we should never be afraid to act, nor let our enemies dictate the terms of engagement. The Rising of 1916 took place in the most unpropitious of circumstances, but the participants felt that the risk was worth taking. It was. The activists of 1916 knew that revolutions are not like hanging fruit to fall into the lap of the people once they are ripe  the tree has to be shaken. The men and women of 1916 shook the tree. We owe it to them not to betray that legacy.So when I am asked what 1916 means to me my answer is straightforward  it is of the utmost significance because examining it carefully can provide us with an opportunity to learn important lessons for the future. We can take heart from the fact that the very memory of its ultimate purpose still precipitates fear and consternation in our enemies, because they know it can happen again....
PHOENIX -- Nearly two decades after voters blocked lawmakers from tinkering with ballot measures, the Legislature it trying to take the power back.

One measure crafted by Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, would allow lawmakers to update, alter and even repeal what voters enact as long as they do it by the same margin the measure was enacted.

So if a proposal gets the approval of 60 percent of voters, it could be repealed by 18 of the 30 senators and 36 of 60 representatives.

What it also means, said Mesnard, is if something was approved at the ballot by a bare majority, it then could be undone by a simple majority of lawmakers. Now it requires the consent of three-fourths of both chambers, meaning 23 senators and 45 representatives.

Potentially more significant, what would allow that to happen is the other half of what is in HCR 2043: It would remove the constitutional requirement that lawmakers can only make changes that "further the purpose'' of what voters approved in the first place.

Mesnard is not alone in his bid to undo some of the rights in the Voter Protection Act.

Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, has a similar measure. His HCR 2023 would both repeal the "further the purpose'' language and allow changes or repeal with a three-fifths margin instead of three-fourths.

But Thorpe also proposes to erect new hurdles in the path of those who want to propose their own laws.

HCR 2047 would allow measures on the ballot only if at least 25 percent of the signatures came from the 13 rural counties. Thorpe said it's not right that initiative backers can get all the signatures they need to propose changes in the law from the two urban counties.

And Thorpe is throwing a specific roadblock in the path of those now out gathering signatures to allow Arizonans to use marijuana for recreational purposes.

HCR 2024 would say that a simple majority of those who go to the polls in November would not be good enough to make that change. Instead, drugs considered illegal by federal law would be allowed in Arizona only if the measure gets a three-fifths vote, something the 2010 medical marijuana law did not get.

The safeguard in all this is that all four measures, if they survive the legislative process, could take effect only if approved by voters in November.

At issue is the ongoing tension between the century-old right of voters to make their own laws and the contention by some legislators that they need better control over the laws.

That tension came into focus in 1996 when voters approved the first medical marijuana law. But the following year, the Legislature, contending voters may not have understood the implications, effectively repealed it.

That so angered supporters of the law they got voters in 1998 to overturn the 1997 legislative repeal. More significant, they put another measure on the ballot to say that changes of voter-approved measure can be made only if they "further the purpose,'' and only with that three-fourths vote. That became known as the Voter Protection Act.

Mesnard said that's not workable.

He said he's not against the "direct democracy'' that allows voters to propose their own laws when the Legislature refuses to act.

"But there has to be an acknowledgement that times change,'' he said. More to the point, the current system under the Voter Protection Act means if lawmakers believe an initiative is no longer workable the only way to alter or repeal it is to take it back to voters. And Mesnard said that's not a practical solution.

"Our ballot is often one of the longest in the country,'' he said.

Mesnard also contends that many voters who support some change may not be aware that the Voter Protection Act means what they approve is "locked in stone for all practical purposes.''

His measure does retain the requirement for changes to further the purpose of an original measure -- but only if that was approved in the first place by two thirds of the voters.

That almost never happens.

In 2006, for example, voters overwhelmingly approved laws making it illegal to confine a pig during pregnancy or any calf raised for veal for the majority of the day in any manner that precludes it from lying down, fully extending limbs or turning around freely. It got close to 62 percent of the vote.

That same year voters created a state minimum wage higher than what federal law requires. But it goes just 65.4 percent.

Thorpe's parallel proposal says lawmakers can ignore the "furthers the purpose'' language even if something is approved overwhelmingly at the ballot. But he would keep the requirement for a supermajority vote, albeit just three-fifths of the Legislature versus the current three-fourths hurdle.

But Thorpe's proposal is more far-reaching in one respect.

What Mesnard wants would affect only future measures; Thorpe's is retroactive, allowing lawmakers to alter anything approved by voters in the past.

Like Mesnard, Thorpe says lawmakers need more leeway to make changes.

"We are the legislative branch of the government,'' he said. "That's our job to deal with legislation.''

And Thorpe contends it's far too easy for bad law to slip through.

"You could have a kid in sixth grade write a referendum,'' he said. "And if it's marketed correctly to the voters it could get passed without any kind of oversight, any kind of vetting.''

That ease of getting things approved is what's behind Thorpe's measure aimed squarely at the recreational marijuana initiative. He said anything that allows Arizonans to use drugs the federal government considers having no useful purpose should require more than a simple majority.

That hurdle could be impossible to overcome: The 2010 medical marijuana initiative passed with just a 50.1 percent margin. In fact, it was defeated in 13 of the state's 15 counties but carried only because of a large pro-marijuana vote in Pima and Coconino counties.

Thorpe said the supermajority requirement is appropriate because of "the huge negative impact to society.''
The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
To celebrate National Heart Health Month, the Community Education Committee is hosting a free "Love Your Heart" luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The luncheon is free to the public and will be in the classroom of Pinckneyville Community Hospital. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Seating is limited and reservations are requested by noon Feb. 12. Call Jennifer Barbour at 618-357-8898 to reserve your spot.

Dr. Muhammad Khan from the Prairie Cardiovascular will be speaking during the luncheon on how you can lower your risk or manage your condition

Complimentary blood pressure, oxygen saturation and blood glucose checks will be offered from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The luncheon is sponsored by the Community Education Committee at Pinckneyville Community Hospital.

 The Southern
THOMPSONVILLE  Ryan Davis wants to help parents during that terrifying moment when they realize their child may be missing.

Davis and his wife, Deanna, are from Thompsonville and their son Michael, 15, has autism. Ryan Davis is in the middle of developing an application for a mobile device that would send out an emergency warning to anybody within a selected radius that a child is missing.

The application is called The Whistle Network, and Davis said it acts as a social network with a built-in emergency function. For those who have the app, they can set the distance for how far they want the message to go out, and then a warning would flash onto those users' phone with a description and a photo of the missing child.

Davis said he has probably called 911 more than 10 times because his son has wandered off, and it is terrifying not knowing where he could be.

One particular time helped spawn the development of the app. The Davis's were attending Disney World a few years ago, and Michael got away. Instead of having a way to find him, the family had to ask each person they saw.

Meanwhile, there were several people with cellphones in their hands, he said.

According to autismspeaks.org, about 49 percent of parents reported that a child with autism had attempted to wander or run away at least once after age 4. About 53 percent of these wandering children went missing long enough to cause worry. In addition, 65 percent of these incidents involved a close call with traffic, and about 24 percent involved a close call with drowning, the autism website reports.

Davis said that's not the only use of the app.

If you are broke down somewhere and cant get ahold of anybody, the app lets people talk with others in that area, so you can send out a message saying you are stuck, he said.

Deanna Davis said the app is also meant to be enjoyable to use. She said users can chat with anybody who has the application within the radius set. However, the main function of the application is for safety.

We know that people like to use social networks," she said. "This just goes that extra step where if somebody needs help or you need help, it has the emergency function to reach out to people in the immediate area."

Ryan Davis said there is a block function to avoid talking with those who may be undesired. Users can also drop a pin to anywhere in the country and speak with users of the app in that location.

He said app will be free to download on the Android and Apple markets hopefully by the end of February, but the use emergency button will have a cost. He said it will be $4.99 per use.

Deanna Davis said they didnt want to charge for the emergency bottom, but they were worried that people would misuse it and then messages would be disregarded.

It is just a way to filter out the nonsense, Ryan Davis said.

He said the goal is not to get rich out of the development  he will donate a percentage of his earnings from the emergency button and donate it to autism groups.

Davis has teamed up with a Texas-based development company to help create the app. He said the company has developed several apps on the Android and Apple marketplaces and it knows to adhere to all guidelines to get approved.

Davis said he has set up a Facebook page called The Whistle Network that has all the information about the application.
Theres a new cash crop in Illinois. Good luck learning how to grow it.

The state is in the initial stage of legal marijuana production, and the producers are not forthcoming about their farms, where they raise medical marijuana in highly regulated grow centers.

Production and sale of cannabis for those with coveted prescriptions was authorized in 2014. The Illinois Department of Agriculture issued 17 licenses for cultivation centers. They are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

Illinois medical marijuana advocates push for expansion SPRINGFIELD  Illinois medical marijuana advocates say they delivered 25,000 signatures to G

Getting someone in the fledgling industry to discuss it is difficult.

Thats not always the case in Colorado. That could be due to the relative maturity of the industry and the fact it has transitioned from medical-only to general distribution.

One executive there discussed the ins and outs of growing marijuana.

In many ways, he is the same as corn and soybean farmers in the Midwest, always searching for that magic mix of low inputs, high yields and good prices that equal profitability.

Tim Cullen, chief executive officer of Colorado Harvest Company, oversees the production of 8,000 pounds of marijuana annually. He spoke about the agronomical aspects of growing legal pot.

No one ever asks about that part of it, Cullen said.

Many of the techniques involved in growing cannabis in Illinois have likely been brought over from growers in Colorado, where recreational use is legal.

The industry is vertically integrated there; by law, cannabis must be grown and sold in the same location.

By contrast, in Illinois, grow centers and dispensaries are separate facilities, operating like a typical  though highly regulated  industry.

Colorado Harvest Company  one of more than 300 marijuana farms in that state  has three facilities in Denver. They are warehouse-type buildings located in areas zoned for commercial use.

The marijuana plants  all cloned females  are grown in a drip-irrigation system, in a medium of coconut fiber.

We use that because it is pH-neutral and has nutrient value, Cullen said.

When plants are showing signs of stress, such as spotting on the leaves or the leaves curling down, its usually a sign of nutrient excess or nutrient deficiency. Its really hard to tell whether its too much or too little.

The company uses standard greenhouse computer technology to deliver nutrients and regulate climate.

Its a pretty simple computer, Cullen said. We change our nutrients week to week so that the plant has maximum availability of what it needs in any stage of its life. Its an environmental control.

Not only does it mix nutrients and pump to the reservoirs, it also controls temperature, humidity and CO2 introduction in these rooms.

Growers in Colorado get two crops a year, with maturities of about 165 days.

The summer months present the biggest challenges.

Everyone seems to think that would be easier, because thats during its natural growth cycle, Cullen said.

But its easier to heat something than cool something. At least, thats been my experience. Its easier to control the environment in the winter time.

Also, in the summertime we deal with more living pests like aphids, thrips and mites that are just not around this time of year.

Crop protection is certainly a sticky issue. Growers cannot use standard agricultural pesticides because marijuana is considered an illegal substance, and therefore not listed in labels approved by the EPA.

Cullen and other growers instead rely on an integrated pest management system that is heavy on prevention.

A lot of the pests we deal with are decomposers in the natural world, so we keep all the dead leaves off of the plants, he said. We keep all our trash cans covered. We bleach-mop the floors every night. ...

Molds and mildews occur when its cool and moist. As soon as the lights go off and humidity starts to rise, the system kicks on ventilation fans and gets extra humidity out.

Most problems are averted by application of a sulfur-based spray that slightly alters pH levels of the plants.

That spray pretty much eliminates molds and mildews from the plants and takes care of any fungal infections, Cullen said.

And it is apparently not very tasty to other critters, because it seems to really reduce the proliferation of any living creatures in there, too.

Problem pests can be controlled with the use of natural substances such as neem oil.

Cullens company began growing medical marijuana in 2009. The legalization of recreational marijuana use has brought a 400 percent increase in sales, he said.

The reticence of those involved in the industry in Illinois may change in time, as it has in Colorado.

Though none contacted agreed to talk on the record, a contracted security guard at one dispensary said his job is not a difficult one.

We dont have any problems, he said. Most people who come here are pretty mellow.
CHESTER  Franciene Sabens, 2014 Illinois High School Counselor of the Year and school counselor at Chester High School, was honored Jan. 28 by First Lady, Michelle Obama in the East Room of the White House.

Sabens was one of the finalists for National School Counselor of the Year, who were honored alongside the 2016 National School Counselor of the Year, Kat Pastor of Arizona.

Oh, wow! It was a lot of rules, but really exciting, Sabens said.

Two years ago, Michelle Obama was a surprise guest at the American School Counselor Association annual conference. She announced that she would host counselor of the year ceremony. This was the second year the counselors have been honored at the White House.

In 2014, I won the high school counselor of the year award from the Illinois School Counselor Association. Once you win at the state level, you can be nominated to be in the running for the national award, in my case the 2016 American School Counselor of the Year, Sabens said.

Finalists and semi-finalists, along with their guests, were invited to the White House ceremony.

Sabens said the group spent most of the day at the White House. They arrived at 9 a.m. and had sole access to the entire East Wing.

We got to take pictures of anything we wanted, use the bathrooms and touch anything we wanted to touch. We really had full run of the East Wing, Sabens said.

The first lady spoke privately with the national winner, her family and the student who introduced her.

Then she came into the Blue Room and met the rest of us. She gave us a pep talk and told us what she expected of us during the rest of our careers, Sabens said. After she left, we had a reception at the White House for the rest of the afternoon.

After the ceremony, the First Ladys staff, Acting Secretary of Education John King, ASCA staff, school counselor of year finalists and semi-finalists, and their guests spent the afternoon at a reception in the East Wing of the White House.

We spent the whole afternoon at the White House. We got to see parts that you dont normally get to see, Sabens said.

During the trip to Washington D.C., the group also attended a meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Jan. 29 to work with the First Ladys staff to further the efforts of the Reach Higher and Better Make Room initiatives and contribute to the work of the Teachers Guild.

The National School Counselor of the Year events concluded with an awards gala in historic Union Station, White House staff was in attendance at the event as well.

Leslie Goines of Massac County High School was Sabens guest at the celebration.
CAIRO -- Shanice Hardamon pointed to the two bullet holes in her apartment door.

After that incident, about a year ago, Hardamon said she asked to be relocated to the other side of McBride Place, to an area where she said gunshots are less frequent, but was told, no.

The broken locks on her windows also make her uneasy, as does the fact that a master key to the units has apparently fallen into the hands of people who do not work for the housing authority, according to Hardamon and several of the other residents. Still, she pushes onward, spending time at her kitchen table  just feet away from that bullet-riddled door  bent over her laptop completing homework from her classes at Shawnee Community College.

Hardamon, 23, aspires to earn an associates degree from the college in Ullin, and then continue her education toward an advanced degree in counseling.

And then leave Cairo and McBride Place far behind. Hardamon said perhaps she will move to Indiana where she also has family, and apply for jobs there. This is not going to be it anymore, she said. Its not safe here. Its too much.

Security is one of the primary concerns facing many residents who live at the Alexander County Housing Authoritys McBride Place and Elmwood Place  both 70-year-old plus complexes that are in extreme disrepair, besieged by infestation, surrounded with an unsightly chain-link fence and are hotbeds for criminal activity.

This past week, Hardamon relayed her safety concerns to an inspector from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Three HUD engineers were in town Tuesday and Wednesday to randomly inspect several dozen units at the various complexes under the purview of the troubled housing authority. HUD officials are expected to make a decision within the next few weeks about its future.

That could include placing it into receivership, and a third-party administrator appointed to take over operations, though conversations are ongoing about the most effective and responsible way to move forward. On Tuesday, officials from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbins office also were in Cairo and met with various people on the same topic, including a citizens group and housing authority Executive Director Jason Ashmore.

Members of a grassroots group, Cairo Public Housing Advocacy Group for Change, have called for HUD to appoint a third-party receiver to run the housing authority, and remove Ashmore from his duties. Ashmore, the mayor of Sesser, was hired by a 3-0 vote of the housing authority board on Jan. 19, but that decision prompted widespread criticism. That was because a HUD Fair Housing official had previously said he was not an appropriate choice. Also aggravating the situation, at the meeting where Ashmore was hired, the citizens in attendance, the majority of them black, were denied the right to speak at the meeting by three white board members.

After that, HUDs Region V Director of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity wrote a letter to board Chairman Andy Clarke, informing him the housing authority was in violation of its Civil Rights Act obligations. The reasons listed included the hiring of Ashmore, as well as other failures to comply with a voluntary compliance agreement inked in August aimed at improving the situation for public housing residents, and addressing allegations of discriminatory practices in housing and employment policies.

In the face of the uproar, Clarke canceled a regularly scheduled board meeting for Jan. 28, where there was expected to be a vote on a contract for Ashmore. As a result, Ashmore has been working in Cairo for roughly two weeks without pay. He said hes hopeful a board meeting is scheduled for this week where a contract can be taken up, as well as other routine business that needs addressed.

Theresa Delsoin, a citizen of Cairo who has been advocating for residents for months, was one of the individuals who met this week with Durbins state director, William Houlihan, and Brandi Bradley, a Senate aide.

Delsoin said she told Houlihan that she did not have an issue with Ashmore personally, but is troubled by the manner in which he was hired. It was done with total disrespect for the public housing tenants and HUD, she said.

Delsoin said the opinion of her and others who met with Houlihan was that receivership may be best, but at the least, the interview process should be re-opened, with controls put in place to ensure that the process is adequate and fair. That should include in-person interviews with board members along with residents of the community, she said.

After going through this process openly, if Ashmore is the best qualified candidate and is hired, our group would accept the decision, Delsoin said. She added that the honorable and respectful move by Ashmore would be for him to resign from the position, and apply again should he so choose.

This, in the opinion of the group, would have demonstrated that Ashmore respected and had some sensitivity for the public housing tenants and other residents who are working with them for justice and improved living conditions, she said.

Another Cairo citizen who met with Durbins staff, Linda Frazier, said she walked away with the impression that Houlihan was in town to help smooth over the situation so that Ashmore could retain his job, avoiding need for receivership, and that troubled her. Christina Mulka, a spokeswoman for Durbin, only said of the meetings in Cairo that Durbins office is continuing to play a role in keeping the lines of communication open between various people vested in the situation, and crucial to making a sound decision about how to move forward.

Meanwhile, Ashmore said Houlihan wanted to hear from him about the progress hes made thus far. Ashmore said hes working on drafting official letters outlining the achievements the housing authority has made since he was hired. Among those items, Ashmore said he has met with community leaders, organized trash pickup around the complexes, implemented a streamlined process for residents to submit work orders, put preliminary plans in place to reduce crime, is working on completing a budget, and is coordinating efforts to meet requirements of the agreement with HUD. While short on concrete details related to these items, Ashmore said more information will be released in the coming weeks.

Ashmore also said he, in the interest of transparency, created a Facebook page for the Alexander County Housing Authority. It has about 50 followers, and thus far, the majority of the people pushing the like button on his posts outlining areas where he sees progress are from the Sesser area.

Despite the criticism, Ashmore insists he is the right man for the job, and maintains that there is no reason to re-open the interview process because he doesnt see any problems with the way he was hired. As to critical questions raised about the interview process, including that it was conducted entirely by phone, Ashmore said he doesnt think it was unusual not to be asked for a face-to-face interview before finalizing a deal, and has no regrets about not seeking one.

As for claims the Open Meetings Act was violated the day he was hired, Ashmore said that he couldnt recall whether citizens were given time to speak or not, but that he doesnt believe the law was violated. Ashmore noted he did stick around and speak to residents after the meeting was called to close, and promised that all future agendas will include time for public comment.

Ashmore also said he continues to believe that approval for his hiring was not required from HUD Fair Housings Maurice McGough or his designee, even though that was one of the compliance agreement terms.

And Ashmore said he believes that, at the end of the day, HUD officials will have a change of heart and agree to work with him. He clarified that HUD has not revealed its intentions to him, but that is what he believes will happen.

In fact, Ashmore said he wasnt aware before the Jan. 19 meeting that HUD wasnt on board with the decision to hire him. And thats why, he said, he didnt make attempts to reach out to federal officials in an attempt to address their concerns prior to the vote.

When I took the job, I would never have thought that HUD would have an issue with my hiring because even after reading the agreement, Im 100 percent confident it was done correctly, Ashmore said. And I assumed the board was following their direction from HUD. So it wasnt until after the fact that we started getting HUD saying, you know, they werent going to recognize me and stuff like that.

Clarke stated to a reporter from The Southern Illinoisan in early January that a candidate had been tentatively selected by the board. And he added, We have sent a request to HUD that they approve this person, and we are awaiting their approval.

It was only after HUDs McGough denied that approval that Clarke and Ashmore began stating that they didnt believe the approval was necessary. Ashmore said he doesnt know why Clarke would have requested HUDs approval for his hiring if Clarke didnt believe that was necessary.

I might have missed that because I did not know that was done, Ashmore said.

The newspaper then reminded Ashmore that he was the one who had forwarded a reporter a copy of HUDs letter rejecting his hiring, and noted his comments made in a story published Jan. 8 where he discussed HUDs letter. Ashmore responded, via text message, that he also had reviewed his records and wished to clarify that he had made an attempt to reach out to HUD officials prior to his hiring.

Despite all the confusion, Ashmore said hes confident HUD will have a change of heart, and be willing to work with him as executive director, and hes confident hes the right man for the job.

We are trying to move past those issues and move the ACHA forward, Ashmore said, via text message after a phone interview. I truly believed and still believe that coming down there and doing good things would show the community we can do great things together.
CARTERVILLE  Enrollment at most Southern Illinois community colleges decreased this spring.

Official 10-day numbers (so called because theyre reported 10 days into the semester) show a steep fall off in enrollment at Rend Lake College and John A. Logan College, and smaller declines at Harrisburg-based Southeastern Illinois College and Ullin-based Shawnee Community College.

Enrollment has been declining at most Illinois community colleges since 2009.

At JALC in Carterville, enrollment fell 9.6 percent, from 5,825 during spring semester 2015 to 5,264 this semester.

Still, administrators positioned the news as a gain.

JALCs fall enrollment had fallen off 36 percent, from 6,718 to 4,313 students, this past fall. Thats in part thanks to a series of community education classes losing its for-credit status. The approximately 1,100 students who took those classes each semester werent counted in the fall numbers for the first time.

Vice President for Administration Larry Peterson said a decreasing emphasis on advisement and a class schedule that favored late-morning and early-afternoon classes, also contributed to the decline.

If you worked a full-time job or a part-time job, or whatever, every day  and you wanted to come out in the afternoon or night and take your general studies, there wasnt anything offered for you, he said.

To combat it, administrators ramped up advisement efforts this past semester, restored a more student-friendly schedule and encouraged students who had a balance going into the new semester to pay on time, thereby ensuring they remained enrolled.

Peterson said this months numbers would have been lower still without those efforts.

In total, the reduced enrollment this school year will lead to about $1 million in lost revenue at JALC. With state funding in limbo and budget cuts and layoffs on the horizon, its money the Carterville-based college sorely needs.

Its something that no one can ever be prepared for, said Brad Peterson, JALCs vice president for business services and college facilities. You cant be prepared for the state, who has pledged a commitment to higher education, to just tell you, This year, our commitment is not any good to you.

At Ina-based Rend Lake College, total student headcount decreased by 20.0 percent, from 3,324 students during spring 2015 to 2,658 students this semester.

Enrollment at Shawnee dipped from 1,800 to 1,679, a decrease of 6.7 percent. At Southeastern, the number of students fell out 3.9 percent, from 1,910 to 1,835.
Given the deep partisan divisions that have characterized his presidency, it strikes some as odd that Barack Obama is returning to Springfield this week to address the Illinois General Assembly on building a better politics  one that reflects our better selves.

When the speech, scheduled for Wednesday, was announced late last month, state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, an Okawville Republican who served with Obama throughout his tenure in the Senate, said he doesnt think his former colleague has set a very good example as president.

And while Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner welcomed the visit and highlighted areas of common ground with Obama, he also told reporters, I dont know who in Washington can look and say, Hey, follow our model. 

But after Obama arrived at the Capitol nearly two decades ago as a political neophyte in the Illinois Senates minority party, he built a reputation as a lawmaker who could work across the aisle to get things done.

Mr. Obama was eager to work on legislation, said Kirk Dillard, then a Republican state senator from Hinsdale and now chairman of the Regional Transit Authority in the Chicago area, so he had to cooperate with Republicans.

Dillard recalls being told not long after Obama arrived in 1997 that the young lawmaker from the South Side was someone he should get to know.

The two ended up serving together on a four-member bipartisan task force assigned to tackle ethics and campaign finance reforms being champion by, among others, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, then head of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University that now bears his name.

Dillard was the Senate sponsor and Obama the co-sponsored of legislation, approved in 1998, that banned lobbyists from giving gifts to lawmakers and enacted new campaign finance disclosure requirements, along with other reforms.

One of the highlights of my legislative career was, in fact, working rather closely in a bipartisan way on legislation with a man who turned out to be president of the United States, Dillard said.

The two later worked together with then-Attorney General Jim Ryan, another DuPage County Republican, on a law that requires police to collect racial data during traffic stops. Dillard also signed on as a co-sponsor to an Obama-backed measure that requires interrogations in homicide investigations to be videotaped.

Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, also was involved in the ethics and campaign finance reform efforts of the late 1990s.

When youre trying to make those kinds of changes, youve got people on both sides of the aisle that are kind of invested in the status quo, Redfield said.

The reforms they were pushing for required the lawmakers who were leading the effort to work both across the aisle and within their own caucuses, he said.

Redfield noted that Dillard appeared in an Obama campaign commercial during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In the ad, which drew criticism from many within Dillards party at the time and during later campaigns for governor, he praises Obama for having worked on some of the deepest issues we had and being successful in a bipartisan way.

It certainly speaks to his ability to build relationships with members of the other party and work on issues, Redfield said.

But not all Republicans were so willing to work with Obama, said Denny Jacobs, a former Democratic state senator from East Moline.

Many in the GOP caucus saw Obama as someone on the rise and tried to get in his way, Jacobs said.

They really dropped that card on him quite a bit, he said.

From Jacobs perspective, Obamas strength was not bipartisanship but his ability to stay true to himself.

Win, lose or draw, he was going to put in what he thought was right, Jacobs said. And if he got Democrat  he didnt always get all the Democrats, including me  and if he got Democrat and Republican support, so be it. And if he didnt, well, he still fought the good fight.

Obamas speech to the body where he launched his political career comes amid an unprecedented budget standoff between Rauner and the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Although hes been gone just over a decade, its an entirely different world, Redfield said.

I wouldnt expect that this is going to change the nature of Illinois politics overnight, he said. Thats certainly not going to happen.
Dear Gov. Bush: There are many ways to express your love of country. One is to serve as president. In your case, that path seems closed. Since April, you spent the better part of $15 million in Iowa, yet you came in sixth, winning just 2.8 percent of the vote and one delegate. At this rate, you'd need to spend $18,540,000,000 to win the nomination -- which is more than even Right to Rise can manage.

There is no shame in losing, of course, and it's always possible that New Hampshire will shock the world by giving you a victory, but let's face it, the RealClearPolitics average of New Hampshire polls has you at under 10 percent (under 5 percent nationally), and your donors are panicking. After what was supposed to be a reassuring post-Iowa conference call with your campaign, one donor told Politico, "Have you ever heard the phrase 'rattle of death?'"

Even stipulating that primary polls are notoriously poor, there are other reasons to conclude that this is not your year. It may not have much to do with you personally. There has never been a third president from the same family. Most Americans were fine with two Adamses, Harrisons, Roosevelts and Bushes. Three is pushing it. I know; I know. You're your own man. Of course that's true. Life isn't fair. But it goes both ways. You would almost certainly never have been governor if your name had been James Ellis instead of James Ellis Bush.

You seem to be a fine person and were certainly a superior and very conservative governor of Florida. For good or ill, gratitude for past service is not the mood this year, and, with all due respect, except at the last debate, when, freed from Donald Trump's bullying, you finally stood up straight, you've been an awfully dull candidate.

We cannot chalk it up to voter ignorance. Between your campaign and your super PAC, you've already spent $89.1 million on positive ads about yourself and negative ads about others.

One of the great traits about the Bush family, as about other great New England Protestant old-money families, is that you value good manners, courtesy and integrity. Those virtues are disparaged in our increasingly vituperative, bombastic and swaggering era. One senses that you find Donald Trump's conduct disgusting and even a little bewildering. Good for you. It is.

And yet, you've directed the overwhelming majority of your negative advertising (and you've led the pack on negative ad spending) not against Trump, who seems to represent everything you find destructive and dangerous in modern politics, but against your old friend and ally Marco Rubio.

Your ads have been embarrassing. You and Rubio agree on nearly everything, so you're dredging up long since debunked stories about credit cards and ridiculous accusations of missed votes in the Senate chamber. Really? Is that all you've got? No, you've also run ads attacking Rubio for taking the same position you took on illegal immigration.

You seem to believe, as many of us do, that in order to prosper, in fact, in order to survive, the Republican Party must look beyond its aging, white, rural and evangelical Christian core to welcome African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, urbanites and the young. Yet by attacking Rubio, you are attempting to sabotage the very best messenger the Republican Party has found in decades. As you yourself put it: "What Marco has, I think, is something that the Republican Party needs to have: a hopeful, optimistic message based on our principles. He's probably the most articulate conservative on the scene today."

After Iowa, Marco Rubio has an excellent chance of winning the Republican nomination. If he prevailed, he would be the most conservative nominee in decades and well-situated to win the general election. This is not to hurt your feelings, but your general election favorability ratings are the worst in the Republican field with the exception of Trump. Despite the avalanche of negative ads, Rubio's net favorable ratings are the best (with the exception of Ben Carson, and we know where that's going).

If you were to drop out of the race now and endorse Marco Rubio, or, at the very least, call off the attack dogs, you would be advancing everything you say you believe in except yourself. It would be a gracious and inspiring gesture. It would be a different way to serve your country -- and might even revive our faith in Yankee integrity.
Okay, I'll admit it. When choosing a candidate for The Southern to endorse in next month's Illinois Republican primary, we've got it fairly easy. By five weeks from now the field will have been further winnowed and culled with perhaps as few as three or four choices remaining.

Not so in Iowa. Newspapers there had to not only choose someone to endorse, but also whether or not to choose from among the ten, or merely from among the three who were polling better. It's not that easy a choice.

Should we use the newspaper's voice to endorse who we think is the best candidate? Or should we use our voice to endorse the best candidate that often-inaccurate polls indicate "have a chance."

In Iowa, the Des Moines Register and Sioux City Journal each endorsed Marco Rubio. You know the rest. Rubio received more support in the caucuses that the polls said he would, and ventured on to New Hampshire with momentum. (His campaign coined the term "Marcomentum", but really?)

The Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Quad-City Times each endorsed John Kasich despite his low single-digit, barely pulse-worthy polling numbers. You know that story as well: organized search parties are still trying to find Iowans who caucused for Kasich. In all, only 3,474 of over 185,000 Republicans stood with Kasich.

Now I need to point out that the support Kasich received in Scott and Johnson Counties, home to these two newspapers, was double that of the state as a whole.

But, does four percent support instead of a mere two percent create a statistically relevant sample when the numbers are so dismally small?

Did the Des Moines Register and Sioux City Journal take a more pragmatically correct approach?

Were the Press-Citizen and Quad-City Times exercising their voice or merely howling at the moon?

As I said at the outset, our job will be easier. And yet, sometime just before the March 15 primary, you will deserve to hear our thoughts on who we think is the best Republican choice. Not necessarily the most electable. Not necessarily the person ahead in the polls. Not necessarily someone who has won in Iowa or New Hampshire or South Carolina or Nevada.

Just the best choice for the nation. Sure this sounds arrogant, but The Southern Illinoisan, like newspapers throughout the country, have a legacy of using their voice to endorse, and I'm honored to carry on that tradition.

And one other thing. Many if not most endorsements have deteriorated into a series of sharp criticisms of the non-endorsed rather than building a constructive case for the preferred candidate. It's almost like we've watched one too many negative campaign ads throughout the years. We won't succumb to that temptation. Yes, we'll share some concerns, but the bulk of our endorsement will be just that - a positive statement of why we support the person that we choose. This whole "positive" thing has got to start somewhere.
"I think weve got to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters and not the other way around. Let a bipartisan group do it."

President Barack Obama

January 12, 2016 State of the Union address

"Just two weeks ago at his State of the Union Address, President Obama pressed for non-partisan redistricting reform I agree, and the people of Illinois agree. The only reasons not to do this are pure partisan politics, and a desire to cling to power."

Governor Bruce Rauner

January 27, 2016 State of the State address

You read those two quotes correctly; the Democratic President of the United States and the Republican Governor of the State of Illinois agree on something. And its absolutely the right thing to do.

When the President is in Springfield we would hope and expect him to include the call for independent redistricting. The push to place the Independent Map Amendment on the November ballot in Illinois is again sailing along with support from voters throughout the state.

Ironically, when the President addressed the topic at the State of the Union, Democratic Congressmen stood and cheered while Speaker Paul Ryan and his faithful Republican colleagues took a sudden interest in staring up at the heavens.

In Illinois the party loyalties are quite obviously reversed. Talk about underscoring the truth of the 150-year-old adage Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

On Wednesday the President will provide perfect political cover for House Speaker Michael Madigan to reverse his tenacious and self-serving opposition to the independent redistricting initiative. Madigan can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Obama on the very spot where the President launched his national campaign and simply state I was wrong.

Those three short words would signal a cataclysmic change to the Illinois political landscape. They would immediately catapult the public perception of the Democratic Speaker, completely bewilder his fellow Democrats and force Governor Rauner to immediately find an olive branch to extend in return.

We can envision the Speakers words already: Mr. President  and most importantly  voters throughout the great state of Illinois; I believe in the tenants of the Democratic Party and trust voters throughout the state to choose Democratic Party representatives over their opponents in an honest contest on a level playing field. I have fought for years to control power and exert influence as if I was afraid of a fair fight. I am not. I am thankful to the President of the United States for pointing this out.

But of course this will not happen. It will not happen on Wednesday. It will not happen ever.

But what a story it would be if it did.

Mr. Speaker, heres your chance.
It used to be that the New Hampshire primary kicked off newspaper campaign coverage in general during a presidential election year.

But that was before Donald Trump and the ratings bonanza that primary debates as early as August have become  who knew?

Here at the Arizona Daily Sun, we have tried to hold back the tide as long as possible  the perpetual campaign can be wearing on reporters and readers alike. We used to tell Flagstaff City Council candidates facing a March primary to wait until January before contacting us. They still abide by that rule  except now the primary isnt until August.

So here we are in February and there are already a half-dozen declared Republican candidates in CD 1 all set for next weeks Lincoln Day dinner in Flagstaff. After Tuesday, they might just outnumber their GOP brethren still standing in the race for president.

Thankfully, most state offices are not up for election in 2016  voters mailboxes can take only so much junk mail. But in addition to four spots on the city council, all five seats on the board of supervisors along with all elected county offices plus some school board seats are in play. LD 6 and CD1 will produce, in aggregate, more than a dozen primary candidates. And there are at least four candidates out there in the race for U.S. Senate. Throw in a school funding referendum on May 17 and the usual half-dozen citizen initiatives in November, and the Daily Sun could practically fill its front page every day just with politics.

The fact that we wont doesnt mean readers should wait until the last minute to do their homework. But with a limited newshole and staff, we will be picking our spots. In most cases, for example, well wait until a candidate has turned in sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot before doing a profile. Of the three staples in a profile  the candidates bio, policy positions and campaign tactics  wed hope to focus mainly on the first two. The qualities of leadership and the ability to weigh competing priorities are more important than horserace polls.

We will, however, publish lists of who is donating money to whom and how much, and well do those ever-popular Fact Checks after debates and the release of particularly contentious campaign ads or fliers. And with the candidates cooperation, well distribute questionnaires that we hope they will answer promptly and succinctly  the weekly question to council candidates in 2014 was well-received by readers. If we have time, we just might get them to record their answers on video  and maybe stage a moderated online Q&A, too.

As for endorsements, dont look for them from the Daily Sun during primaries unless the general election will be uncontested. Our longstanding position is that the editorial board should be recommending the best person for the job, not what the best matchup will be in November. Until then, we and readers alike have a lot of work to do. The midnight Monday ballot count in Dixville Notch, N.H., is only a day away.
Late physicist and NASA astronaut Ronald E. McNair may have been born in the small town of Lake City, but he made a huge impact on the world. He left an indelible impression on those who knew him, including several Orangeburg residents.

McNair died on Jan. 28, 1986 during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L. He had flown on STS-41-B aboard Challenger in February 1984 as a mission specialist, becoming the second African American to fly in space.

In 1971, McNair received a bachelors degree in engineering physics, graduating magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University.

He received a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976, and was nationally recognized for his work in the field of laser physics.

McNair was selected as one of 35 applicants from a pool of 10,000 to join the NASA astronaut program.

In 1975, he studied laser physics with several authorities in the field at Ecole Dete Theorique de Physique, Les Houches, France, publishing several papers in the areas of lasers and molecular spectroscopy. McNair presented many lectures in the United States and abroad.

He became a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California in 1976. His assignments included the development of lasers for isotope and optical pumping techniques.

He also conducted research on electro-optic laser modulation for satellite-to-satellite space communications, the construction of ultra-fast infrared detectors, ultraviolet atmospheric remote sensing and the scientific foundations of the martial arts.

Dr. Verlie Tisdale, dean of the School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and biology professor at Claflin University, took several high school classes and vied with McNair in a close race for valedictorian and salutatorian honors in high school. By just four-tenths of a point, McNair was the class of 1967s valedictorian of Carver High School in Lake City, making Tisdale the salutatorian.

It was a great victory because he challenged me to do well, she said.

The competitive honor students were very close friends, and often studied together.

We knew since 10th grade that we were like that. So it wasnt a big shock once we got to 12th, Tisdale said.

Both were also members of the National Honor Society.

"Our whole class was really, really close. We challenged each other to do well. Everybody wanted to be on top," Tisdale said.

We were always trying to get the highest grades. I played the clarinet. (McNair) played saxophone. He played sports, but I didnt play any sports, she added.

Tisdale describes McNair as a very mild mannered and easygoing person, noting that he was very friendly and got along with everybody.

She recalls when McNair and a few other guys went into a ditch to catch bullfrogs to dissect them and learn the anatomy of frogs.

I was almost like a girl hanging along with the boys. We were destined to be scientists because of the types of things that we did, Tisdale said. We were always adventurous.

Tisdale said she and McNair were definitely not the partying type but attended normal school functions such as the prom.

We were always asking each other questions -- testing each others intellect, she said.

In their adult lives, the two remained close and family oriented.

When McNair lived in Houston, Texas, Tisdale was also teaching in Houston at the time. She said she visited him often.

Although we were in big, ol' Houston, we remained true to our values that we were taught when we were growing up in small Lake City, Tisdale said. We had very dedicated teachers to ensure that we reached our potential.

McNair was a hard worker who was humble and cared about others, she said.

Ricky Harrison of Harrisons Paraphernalia in Orangeburg attended Wesley United Methodist Church in Lake City with McNair.

McNair carried himself extremely well. He was a brilliant young man, Harrison said.

He said one of the most memorable things about McNair is how he discovered an algebraic problem in a textbook with the incorrect answer when he was in the 10th grade.

When officials of the textbook company were contacted, it was determined their answer was indeed wrong, Harrison said.

I thought that was extraordinary because that happened at such a young age, he said.

Harrison said McNair was very normal and extremely humble.

He was not a very flashy person. He didnt flaunt it by any means, he said.

He said he didnt know much about McNairs brilliance until he left for North Carolina A&T State University, then received a scholarship to attend MIT.

Coming from a small town like Lake City, we thought that was extremely rare, Harrison said.

Orangeburg County Planning Commission member Jerry Hannah, who is also the owner of Goldsteins, says he remembers McNairs drive more than anything.

Hannah also attended Carver High School and lived on the same street as McNair.

He excelled in all areas that he touched upon. You didnt know which way that he was going because he had so many talents, Hannah said.

He just kept going, he added.

Lake City was a "monster" when it was announced that McNair had been selected to become an astronaut, Hannah said. Residents made phone calls over over town to spread the news and upon McNairs return to Lake City, the town held a parade in his honor, he said.

Hannah said he still tries to attend as many events in McNairs name as possible.

We all carry the same love and admiration for him. He was a very diversified fellow. He set examples. His bar was not reachable for many, he said.

Each year, an annual banquet is held in Lake City in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair. Many schools and other public buildings have been renamed in honor of him, including the McNair Building at MIT; the Ronald McNair Park in Brooklyn, New York; the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Memorial in Lake City.
You know your child is adorable; now you can prove it in the City of Orangeburg's Most Adorable Children of 2016 contest fundraiser. The contest is a photogenic fundraiser fully benefiting the Orangeburg Queen of Roses Scholarship Fund.

The entry fee is $20 for the first photo and $5 for each additional photo entered. You may enter as many photographs as you wish in each of these categories: most beautiful, funniest and messiest. One child per photo entry, please. Be sure to include your child's name, date of birth and category of entry on the back of each photo.

Children, both boys and girls, from throughout Orangeburg County and surrounding counties in South Carolina are encouraged to participate. The age divisions are as follows: 36-47 months; 24-35 months; 12-23 months; and birth-11 months. Your child's age group is determined by his or her age on Jan. 29, 2016. A copy of the child's birth certificate must be attached to the entry form.

Applications are available at the Orangeburg Parks & Recreation Office, 367 Green St. Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19.

For more information, contact Meredith Garris at meredith@worg.com or 803-516-8400.
A 23-year-old Orangeburg man is accused of trying to kill an Orangeburg County deputy in Santee.

Gino Shakir Brown of 211 Leisure Street is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry said.

Officers apprehended Brown on Friday night and an Orangeburg County magistrate denied his bond on Saturday morning.

"Our work is continuing," Berry said.

Both SLED and the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident which took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 in the parking lot of Coaster's, located at 9135 Old Number Six Highway in Santee.

According to arrest warrants, Brown allegedly used a rifle when he shot multiple times at Deputy Carl James "C.J." Quinlan, who was responding to a call for service at Coasters.

Quinlan observed a group of girls yelling and pointing toward two men who were running across the parking lot, the warrant states. The men entered a 1993 green Honda Accord and began to move in the deputys direction.

The passenger of the vehicle, Gino Shakir Brown, did open the passenger door and fire multiple rounds at Deputy Quinlan who was in a fully-marked uniform," the warrant continues.

The warrant also says, "Deputy Quinlan observed a conical shaped muzzle flash and heard a distinct crack off high and to the left of his head as a round passed his head."

At some point, the deputy returned fire and the two men in the Honda sped away from the scene.

It was South Carolina's first officer-involved shooting of 2016.

Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said Saturday he is thankful bond was denied on Brown.

"Although a charge has been made in this incident, it would be inappropriate to comment further since the investigation is ongoing," Ravenell said.

"Our officer remains on paid administrative leave until this investigation is concluded, he said.

The sheriff said the officer will not return to service until all issues have been dealt with, including emotional struggles connected to the shooting.
Februarys Black History Month observance is a fitting time to recognize that two South Carolina African-Americans of completely different political persuasions are history makers of note on the national level.

First there is 6th District Congressman James Clyburn, who has been a leader across decades and is the states most prominent Democratic politician.

In a tribute to Clyburn for Black History Month, S.C. Democratic Party Chairman and Orangeburg native Jamie Harrison cites the congressmans background, from president of his NAACP youth chapter when he was 12 years old to student leader at South Carolina State University, from election to Congress in 1993 to his rise to House majority whip when Democrats controlled the House in 2006.

Today, Clyburn is assistant Democratic leader in the 114th Congress, the No. 3 Democrat in the House.

More importantly, as Harrison notes, Clyburn represents the states most rural congressional district, which suffers from chronic underinvestment and poverty. Clyburn became a national leader for rural communities, especially in those counties in South Carolina and across the country that are categorized as "persistent poverty communities," those communities where 20 percent of the population has been stuck beneath the poverty level for the past 30 years.

Quoting Harrison: He got an amendment adopted in parts of the Recovery Act to direct at least 10 percent of the section's appropriations to these communities. He secured investments for regional water systems for South Carolina communities that had never before had access to clean water, ensured that community health centers were expanded to bring health care services to rural areas and championed federal investments in rural broadband.

He has been a staunch advocate for South Carolinas infrastructure needs, from securing new investments in its highways and bridges, to maintaining our ports. As companies are increasingly attracted to South Carolina, we must credit Clyburns efforts over his long tenure in Congress. Without his vision, bringing federal investment in the infrastructure needed to attract industry, the state would not be enjoying the successes it has of late, especially in those historically neglected and underinvested areas. 

As the highest ranking African-American in Congress, Jim Clyburn has taken a leading role in defending Democratic priorities in the federal budget fights of recent years. Specifically, he has helped lead the charge against Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, privatize Social Security, voucherize Medicare, block grant Medicaid and slash nutrition assistance for low-income American families. As a leading surrogate for President Obamas re-election campaign, Congressman Clyburn traversed the nation to secure the victory in 2012. He frequently appears on national television and maintains an active presence on social media to represent the Democratic Party, and he always does us proud.

President Barack Obama has said Clyburn is "One of a handful of people who, when they speak, the entire Congress listens."

But there is another South Carolina leader with an increasingly influential voice in Washington -- and he is on the opposite side of issues such as Obamacare. Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is a history maker too as the first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina in modern times.

He offered a message for Black History Month:

Each February, our nation takes time to recognize the contributions of African-Americans to our great country. Black History Month allows each of us an opportunity to learn the stories of so many African-Americans that sacrificed so much to contribute to that history -- our shared history. From slavery to freedom, and from segregation to full integration, and now from access to success in every part of our society, it is vital that people hear that beauty and that struggle.

The opportunity to learn more about the trailblazers, milestones and legacy that impacts history is why we continue to celebrate Black History Month. And while there are new challenges and opportunities to face, our nation has made tremendous strides forward in our quest toward equal justice for all.

As to his political positions, the conservative Scott states: I will continue to work to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their race or background, enjoy the same opportunity to achieve their God-given potential. I will use this month to continue talking about my Opportunity Agenda and how I believe it will lift Americans out of poverty, today which still affects African-Americans disproportionally. As we confront the challenges before us, we know that together, as Americans, we can positively impact individuals, families and communities.

Congressman Clyburn and Sen. Scott have major political differences, but those differences do not mean both are not working as they see fit for the betterment of South Carolina. And during Black History Month an in all months, South Carolinians should be proud of both.
CORDOVA -- Travel back in time to the dawn of aviation when the Wright brothers successfully built the first airplane.

See the planes used by the U.S. military for training pilots in World War II.

View a one-seat gyroplane that is perfect for the thrill seeker desiring to soar thousands of feet in the sky.

These and more opportunities can be found off the beaten path down an old country dirt road in the Orangeburg County community of Cordova.

The 5,376-square-foot Dorothy Burns Aeroplane Museum is located off of Cannon Bridge Road on Dry Swamp Road. The museum is a part of the Dry Swamp Airport.

"It is not the Smithsonian but it is the best I can do with very limited resources," museum curator Kurt Von Graff said.

Von Graff, 73, a pilot and retired construction worker from New Jersey, says the idea for an aeroplane museum just happened.

"I really had not planned this right away; it just sort of came about," he said.

Von Graff got the vision for the museum after he purchased his first plane -- a 1993 American Champion Super Decathlon Aerobatic Trainer.

"The idea occurred that I may be able to do something like this," he said.

The museum is named after his late wife, who died in 2005m only a year after they moved to South Carolina.

"She always liked antiques and old things," Von Graff said. "She was not a pilot but she liked airplanes."

The Dorothy Burns Aeroplane Museum houses four vintage planes as well as an Ultralight plane and and a gyroplane. A wraparound mural depicting aviation history surrounds the vintage planes.

Von Graff proudly shares information about each of the aircraft during a museum tour.

The planes on display include:

A 65-hp gyroplane (Ken Brock, model KB-1), which is just a seat with no cabin around it. Pilots go up on a good day and enjoy the earth below. The maximum cruising speed is 63 mph.

The plane can reach altitudes of 17,000-feet.

"You need oxygen up there," Von Graff said, noting the pilot who owned the plane had reached about 15,000 feet. He said at the time in the 1990s, the world record for altitude for a gyroplane was about 18,000feet.

It is the only plane in his collection that Von Graff has not flown.

"I am sure I could probably do it but I have never had any training in it, and it is a little scary," he said. "But the fella who owned it flew the heck out of it."

Von Graff said there were plans to modify the plane in order to help it reach higher altitudes but then the record soared to 23,000 feet.

"We were almost at the point of where we were going to start buying stuff to do it," he said. "Now it is way out of reach."

A 1940 46-gallon Stearman aircraft (model N2S-1 Navy primary trainer) built by Boeing. The 220-hp plane has a wing span of about 32 feet and a maximum cruising speed of 105 mph.

The Stearman served as the primary training plane for World War II pilots, Von Graff noted. He said the cadet would fly about 25 hours for training and would then fly solo after five hours.

"They really pushed them hard," he said.

Von Graff said about 8,000 of these planes were built. The aircraft had no electrical system.

"There were no lights, and the starter was started by hand," he said. "This was about learning to fly. Learning to take off, learning to land, learning to turn left and right."

Despite their age, it is believed there are well over 1,000 of the planes still in use today, Von Graff said.

"After World War II, the war assets got rid of all these things. They did not need them anymore," he said. "They sold the Spearman to the crop dusters. They took the front seat out and put a sprayer tank in there."

The plane was underpowered so the engines would be removed from the 1941 Vultee (model BT-13A) plane used by the military for basic training and used in the crop dusters.

"What happened was these (Spearmans) were preserved and these (Vultees) were mapped out just to get the engine," he said.

A 1941 Vultee (model BT-13A) World War II Basic Trainer, 450-hp, with a 42-foot wingspan.

Von Graff said the cadet would graduate to basic training during which he would fly the plane for about 75 hours, learning night flying, radio communications and navigation.

"What today we would call instrument flying, they would call cloud flying," Von Graff said. "They would fly as though they were engulfed by clouds."

The plane has an electrical system and a controllable propeller. Von Graff said the only thing the plane did not have was retractable landing gear.

"This is my prize," he said of the Vultee.

Von Graff estimates there are about 175 of the Vultee training planes in existence and probably less than 50 in flight. His is one of those 50.

A 1993 40-gallon American Champion Super Decathlon Aerobatic Trainer with 32-foot wingspan and maximum cruise speed of 152 mph and maximum dive speed of 200 mph.

This plane was a modern version of the Aeronca Champ, which is also display in the museum.

"It kept morphing into a larger more powerful (aircraft that was) faster and finally an aerobatic airplane," Von Graff said.

He said the plane today would probably sell for about $200,000, noting that it cost about $62,000 in 1993.

A 1985 advanced aviation model Cobra Ultralight, single-seat, 65-hp aircraft -- the first generation of Ultralights.

"The Ultralights really took off in the early '80s," Von Graff said. "There are not too many manufactures making them like this anymore. Now they have made them more into little cabins."

Von Graff said the Ultralight weighs about 250 pounds empty.

"It is basically designed for strictly recreational flights," he said.

A 1946 Aeronca Champ 7AC. The plane has a 35-foot wing span and a rate of climb of 500-feet per minute.

"This was what a pilot learned to fly in," he said.

The airport also includes civilian models that were in operation 50 years ago -- all serviced right up to date.

Mural depicts aviation history

For a proper background, Von Graff engaged Williston aviation artist Eddie Sutton to paint a pictorial history of aviation on three sides of the hanger housing the Dorothy Burns Aeroplane Museum

One includes the Wright Brothers taking to the sky in their primitive little plane in 1903.

The mural also covers the different theaters of war and ends with space travel. Many of the different theaters have the maps of the respective areas where fighting took place serving as a backdrop.

The mural depicts the first planes used in World War I, the first aircraft used in mail delivery and the first plane used to circumnavigate the world in 1919.

The piece also shows the first airliner, the Ford Trimotor, along with the Spirit of St. Louis representing Charles Lindbergh's first non-stop flight from New York to Paris.

In addition, the mural depicts the 1930s air racing era with Jimmy Doolittle's Super Solution.

A panel of the mural also showcases the Korean War, displaying a helicopter -- the first helicopter painted by Sutton, Von Graff said.

The artist, who served three tours in Vietnam, lists the number of lives lost in that war. Sutton is included in the mural dressed in U.S. Army uniform. Another segment of the work depicts local pilots.

The mural was started in 2009 and completed in 2014.

"A museum is never done," Von Graff said. "No museum is ever done. It is always in a state of trying to do better."

Von Graff said if he were to come into possession of another plane, he would either make room for it or move one of the existing aircraft out of the museum.

"Most of these airplanes fly on at least a semi-regular basis," he said. "The only one that doesn't fly -- not because it can't but because there is no pilot for it -- is the gyroplane. We don't have a gyroplane pilot here."

Von Graff's musuem is visited by an occasional school group and sometimes pilots who are in the area. The airport is full service.

For more information about the Dorothy Burns Aeroplane Museum or to schedule a tour, call 803-534-3157. The museum is free and open to the public. Drop-ins during regular business hours are also possible. Donations to the museum are accepted.
WASHINGTON -- Heading into New Hampshire, the race for the nomination of the once-genteel Republican Party seems to have entered a kind of Mad Max phase.

It is no surprise that Donald Trump is doing his best to create political mayhem. Trump was uncharacteristically subdued Monday night when he underperformed in Iowa, getting beaten by Ted Cruz and barely holding on to second place. But within 24 hours he was back in form, slashing and burning with abandon.

Trump seized on Ben Carson's complaint that Cruz's representatives at the Iowa caucuses had cheated, falsely leading Carson supporters to believe that their candidate was pulling out of the race; the message was that if they wanted their votes to count, they should cast them for Cruz. Trump thundered on Twitter that the "state of Iowa" should nullify the results and order a do-over -- never mind that it is the Iowa Republican Party, not the state government, that runs the caucuses.

"Oh that voter fraud, you know, these politicians are brutal," Trump said at a rally. "They are a bunch of dishonest cookies, I want to tell you."

Cruz accused his rival of throwing a "Trumper-tantrum" -- Cruz's wordplay is never quite as sparkling as he seems to think -- and his campaign maintained it was guilty of nothing except the practice of big-league politics.

The dispute doesn't amount to much, except in this one sense: Trump played it safe in the days before Iowa, even skipping a debate, but now he seems back to the hot-mess flamboyance that brought him this far. Polls show him with a 20-point lead in New Hampshire over all comers, according to the Real Clear Politics average. He needs to win big to remain the favorite for the nomination.

Cruz is riding high, of course, and can even dream of sneaking into second place in Tuesday's primary. But New Hampshire is unfriendly turf for him. Besides being the place where Trump hopes to get his mojo back, it is the state where the lagging establishment candidates -- Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich -- have to do well. If they don't, donors and endorsers may begin to coalesce around Marco Rubio, the only establishment hopeful who performed better in Iowa than the polls had predicted.

Indeed, such movement began Thursday when Rick Santorum, who didn't survive Iowa, gave Rubio his endorsement. Unhappily, however, Santorum struggled mightily when pressed by "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough to name one thing Rubio has accomplished in the Senate. After much hemming and hawing, Santorum acknowledged that "there isn't a whole lot" but protested that the question was unfair, since no one has accomplished much of anything in the Senate in recent years.

It is Christie, though, who has been sharpest -- some would say "most vicious" -- in attacking Rubio since the Iowa vote. Christie's campaign is running out of money and time, and he seems to have decided to leave it all on the field in New Hampshire.

"This isn't a student council election, everybody. This is an election for president of the United States," Christie said Tuesday, in an attack aimed at Rubio. "Let's get the boy out of the bubble, and let's see if he's ready to play next week in New Hampshire, I'm ready to play."

The boy-in-the-bubble charge was only the beginning. Christie later said that Rubio "acts like the king of England," called him "the master of the drive-by town hall," accused him of being overly scripted and claimed he "just doesn't have any experience."

Bush is taking a more indirect approach. As we have seen in the debates, he is not exactly a master of the frontal assault. But he has been cheering Christie on, calling him "a great campaigner ... a good friend ... an effective governor." And the Bush campaign bought a full-page ad in the Union Leader, New Hampshire's biggest-circulation newspaper, in which eight leading Florida Republicans charged that Rubio "is not the best choice to serve as commander in chief."

With all the slashing and bashing on the Republican side, the Democratic race in New Hampshire almost seems reduced to undercard status -- unless, of course, there is a surprise.

If Bernie Sanders -- from next-door Vermont -- wins the primary handily, as polls predict, nothing much changes. He and Hillary Clinton seem likely to wage a long battle of attrition.

For Republicans, however, New Hampshire is political life or death. Ronald Reagan's "Eleventh Commandment" -- not speaking ill of a fellow Republican -- is being honored more in the breach than in the observance.

Orangeburg native and Pulitzer Prize winner Eugene Robinson's email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com
If you ever wondered what it's really like to live in Italy this blog is for you.
To see our child's killer brought to justice and face Federal terrorism charges in a Washington DC court, two things need to happen.

One: The US has to explain to Jordan the imperative of the Hashemite Kingdom complying with its legal obligations under the 1995 Jordan/US Extradition Treaty whose validity Jordan has disingenuously denied since March 2017.

Two: Jordan must arrest Ahlam Tamimi who has lived free in Jordan's capital since 2011 and hand her to US law enforcement officials who will put her on a flight to the US.




*CYPRUS /   KIBRIS* Scenes and landscapes. *Sunrise at Protaras coast*. Eleventh stamp in a set of 15, issued on 18.03.1985. Face value: 25 Cyprio...

Il y a 3 heures
Please note that the poems and essays on this site are copyright and may not be reproduced without the author's permission.






I first discovered decorating blogs about 4 years ago and once that happened, my interest in decorating magazines waned. I found bloggers produced more content and captivated my attention more frequently. Ive read so many blogs now, that its always a delight when I discover someone new, or rediscover a blog Ive lost touch with. Such is the case with todays charming home tour  Nesting with Grace. I was on last years Holiday House Walk with Brooke and came across her blog again via Instagram. I love the charm and practicality of her beautiful Connecticut home.

Brooke recently moved across country, from Utah to Connecticut. She and her family planted new roots just a mile from the ocean and she quickly (and I do mean quickly) turned her Cape Cod house into a cozy home. Her living room oozes cottage charm (you know Im a fan of the blue and white color scheme!) and looks so inviting.

Im truly amazed how quickly shes brushed her style throughout her home and have enjoyed reading about her journey from the west side of the continent to the east. She didnt even see her current home in person until the actual move date. Hubby did a great job picking out a house Brooke would grow to love, and she set to work putting her decorative stamp on it.

The patterned floor in Brookes kitchen adds a lot of personality and aesthetic appeal.

The upstairs family room plays double duty. Behind the conversational area for adults is a play area for the kids. The couch blocks the view of the kids toys on the far side of the room. Genius!

A nautical bathroom hints at sandy beaches and ocean views outside, just a mile from home.

Dark walls create a cozy vibe in the master bedroom, where an upholstered bed takes center stage.

Youll find more cottage appeal in the girls bedroom. I love the big buffalo check comforters at the foot of the beds, and each girl has her own overhead lamp for reading.

Visit Brooke at Nesting with Grace where youll enjoy her creativity and resourceful, like this citrus vinegar water she uses for natural cleaning. I have to give this a try! Im sure it makes the entire house smell fabulous!

Or her decorating tips like how to style a bookcase.

Shes made great use of every square inch of her new home!

Visit more houses in the Charming Home Series!
Iraq's minister of water resources has played down warnings that Mosul dam will collapse, estimating only a "one in a thousand" chance of failure and saying the solution was to build a new dam or install a deep concrete support wall.



The US military has warned that a collapse of the 3.6 km-long (2.2 mile) hydroelectric dam located near Islamic State-held territory in the country's north would be catastrophic.



An Italian company has been awarded a contract to make urgent repairs to the dam which has suffered from structural flaws since its construction in the 1980s and requires constant grouting to maintain structural integrity.



"The looming danger to Mosul dam is one in a thousand. This risk level is present in all the world's dams", Muhsin al-Shammari said in an interview to al-Sumaria TV.



He said one solution was to build a concrete support wall 150 to 200 meters deep. In the meantime, workers are removing 5 to 6 tonnes of concrete a day at a cost of 7 billion Iraqi dinars ($6 million) a day, he added.



Islamic State militants controlling swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq seized Mosul dam in August 2014, raising fears they might blow it up and unleash a wall of water on Mosul and Baghdad that could kill hundreds of thousands along the heavily populated Tigris River valley.



Kurdish Peshmerga fighters recaptured the dam two weeks later with the help of coalition airstrikes and Iraqi government forces.



About 450 Italian forces will be deployed to protect the Italian Trevi Group contracted to repair the dam, whose deterioration has forced the US military to draft a contingency plan for its potential failure.  Reuters
The equity partners of Cluttons have elected Steven Morgan, their current Middle East CEO, as the business new senior partner, with the role to commence at the start of the companys new financial year in April.



Morgan, who is an existing board member of Cluttons and has been with the company for 13 years, will become the youngest senior partner in the companys 250-year history at 39 years of age, said a statement from Cluttons.



He will take on the role having successfully led the Cluttons Middle East operations since 2013, it added.



During that period he had almost doubled the Middle East business turnover, from Dh45.6 million ($12.4 million) in 2013 to an expected revenue in excess of Dh80.5 million ($22 million) during the 2016/17 financial year, said the statement.



Morgan will succeed the current senior partner Bill Siegle, who will be stepping down after seven years in the role and 19 years as an equity partner at Cluttons.



He started his regional career joining Cluttons in Bahrain as an associate in 2003 and then moved to Dubai, becoming head of office in 2008 and then head of UAE in 2009.



By the time Morgan became Middle East CEO in 2013, he had worked on some of the regions most exciting projects, it stated.



On his new role, Morgan said: "I am delighted to have been chosen to take on the mantle from Siegle who leaves us with a firm foundation for taking Cluttons forward. We are in a great position to build upon the business outstanding reputation, to continue to grow our successful UK business, our market-leading business in the Middle East and expand into new markets."



"The partners and I are looking forward to continuing Siegles excellent work in driving the firms development and growth," he added.



Dubbing Morgan as an exceptional member of the Cluttons team, Siegle said he had contributed significantly to the business growth and the development of its international platform.



"His drive for developing the business, along with his experience on the board, means hes perfectly placed to take Cluttons forward," he added.



Morgan, who is based in Dubai with his family, will now split his time across the international business which now covers more than 50 countries worldwide.-TradeArabia News Service
Germany-based Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing (MKM), a leading copper company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to invest 1 billion ($1.11 billion) in a number of projects in Iran, said a report.



MKM signed the deal with the National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) in this regard said the Iran Business News report, citing IRNA.



MKM plans to help Iran develop its downstream industries to obtain copper from copper cathodes, added the report.



The company also offered to purchase an annual amount of 70,000 tonnes of produced copper cathodes from NICICO, it said.
Update, February 10. I stand corrected. It was Mona Seif's sister, Sana, who was imprisoned and who protested in Tahrir on January 25th. My apologies for the error. However, this doesn't change the gist of the post. Both sisters have mutual feelings towards the current regime, and both are full of anger.

This is in response to your words pleading with foreigners not to come to Egypt Coz this country is so blood thirsty its feeding on peoples lives,

In a matter of seconds your words went viral on social media. The foreign press found it yet another opportunity to slander Egypt, while Egyptians fumed in anger at the thought that an Egyptian like them would utter such profoundly disturbing malice.

Im a bit perplexed at your inability to see the consequences of your words. It is terribly simplistic on your part to send out such a message without realizing its repercussions. Better yet, since you arent simplistic, you must have known how such words will resonate across the world and with foreign media, and yet you still went ahead and uttered them. So, what was your aim exactly? More notoriety or Egypts destruction? Before we delve into such matters, lets look at your perspective.

You have definitely suffered, imprisonment if nothing else. Your brother is serving a five-year sentence. Your nephew is growing having not known his father. Who wouldnt be mad at those who caused the suffering? Who wouldnt be mad at where she is?

Fair enough. Be mad. Cry out loud and tell the world it is not fair and that you and your loved ones deserve better. Call on justice to be served. Name the culprits and go after them. Go to Tahrir and become the lone protester; get your photo circulated around the world as the one and only person willing to protest a regime while the rest of us would have loved to, not true, and are afraid, and you arent. But.

But when you consciously and purposefully want to slander your country, when you knowingly go after your countrys welfare and your peoples livelihoods, when you hope to effect Egypts downfall, then you have gone beyond your rights.

Your words came after the Italian Ph.D. student, Giulio Regeni, was found dead having been tortured and stabbed. His tragedy is a terrible one, and our commiserations and condolences go out to his family.

However, neither your nor foreign medias focus is on the terrible tragedy. Its on accusing the security apparatus of the wrong doing. You say, The majority of us think the security apparatus is behind this. Not true, the majority of us dont believe that the security apparatus wouldve gone that route.

If your assumptions are true, then the security apparatus is dumber than dumb. Do you honestly believe that an officer, in his right mind, in todays ambience, would be stupid enough to torture an Egyptian, let alone a foreigner? Does he not know that he will be causing a domestic crisis if not an international one? And what official in his limited but evil scope of vision would throw the body of a foreign student along the side road, after having removed nails and the tip of the victim's ear, and left cigarette butt burns on his body?

My dear Mona, this is the work of either someone who is trying hard to slander Egypt or the work of a lunatic of menacing brutality. Regular human beings, like you and me, dont function that way. It could also be the work of an ISIS fanatic; havent we seen ten-year-olds kill? Havent we seen sons kill their mothers? And havent we seen dozens beheaded simultaneously? But you dont want to let a crisis go to waste; you come out with your bizarre conclusions and hope that, according to the Egyptian saying, The bullet that doesnt hit its target makes a lot of noise, and it has.

You realize, of course, that once you said these words, they were to immediately be used against Egypt. But maybe thats what you are after. Lets focus on one article: Betsy Heil's in TriLive. All what Hiel needed to do to slander Egypt was quote you and your family. She tells us that Giulio Regenis death chilled the expat community in Egypt, not because of the horror that he suffered but because who his abductees and murderers are.

Heil quotes you. Egyptians [must] be more vocal and  tell the world how dangerous it really is in Egypt and to put up warning signs so people are more informed before they decide [to come to Egypt]. These are the words of a person who hates Egypt so much that she is willing to see it crumble under the pressure of lost resources and a destroyed tourism industry. You actually want to see Egypt rot, and that goes beyond anything a true Egyptian may say. You, by saying these words, branded yourself a-Egyptian.

Then you go on to say, Even if security are not behind this, the fact that he faced that fate on that day  with the highest level of security preparations  shows a real deterioration of security, she said. This is proof that you dont know much; you are making up stories as you go along, and that the aim behind your attack is mere vindictiveness.

To the world out there, to expats in Egypt, and to tourists hoping to visit Egypt soon. Please dont believe this immature, simplistic, void-of-any-sentiment-towards-her-country woman. She is angry and is slashing blinding unaware of the consequences and has no evidence to support her case.

Egypt is safe, and Egyptians love their country wholeheartedly, with its oddities and its disparities. Egyptians hate what happened to the young student, but they refuse to fall into the prejudiced blaming trap.
Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co (JAC), plans to set up its first light-load truck assembly plant in Algeria, a report said.



The new plant is expected to be based in Algerias Ain Temouchent province, and will possess an annual capacity of assembling 10,000 light trucks, following the completion of the first phase, said the China Daily report.



The plant involved a total investment of $128 million and will be JAC's 19th vehicle assembly plant in the world and its first light truck plant in Africa, it said.



The company said it will be built through cooperation with Emin Auto, an auto dealer in Algeria.



JAC declined to reveal when the plant will be finished, added the report.



While speaking at the signing ceremony held recently in Algiers, Amar Agadir, director of the investment division of Algeria's Industry and Mining Ministry, said that the country has released new rules to encourage international automakers to found localised ventures in Algeria in cooperation with local companies.



JAC has witnessed rapid development since it first exported light trucks to Algeria in 2000.



From 2011 to 2015, JAC exported 94,000 light-load trucks globally. More than 30,000 of the trucks were delivered to Africa, and about 23,000 were sold in Algeria, further added the report.



Additionally, Zhang Peng, deputy general manager of JAC International Co Ltd, a JAC subsidiary based in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, added that the plant will the company achieve higher market shares not only in Algeria but also in neighbouring countries.
El Sewedy Power, a subsidiary of Egypts El Sewedy Electric, has signed a contract worth $484.5 million to build three power stations in Angola, said a report.



The deal signed with the Angolan government is yet to receive approval by Angola's president and a specialised court, added the Ahram Online report.



The contract involves supplying, building, operating, financing and maintaining the stations.



The project will be done during 2016 but the contract is not yet in effect and is suspended on certain conditions, including the president's approval, further stated the report.
Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) 2016, to be held in Bahrain this week, will offer Bahrains future working population insights into careers in the industrial sector.



GIF will run from the February 9 to 11 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain.



Industry Careers Day will take place on the third day of the Gulf Industry Fair (February 11) with the added support of Tamkeen.



The programme is primarily designed to promote Bahrains world-class industrial capabilities to young stakeholders, while highlighting the sector as a viable and rewarding career option for graduates and job seekers. These young people will form the backbone of future industrial and economic growth in Bahrain," said Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions, the event organiser.



The "Industry Careers Day" has received positive support from many of Bahrains educational institutions such as the Royal Womens University, Ahlia University and Gulf University. The day will consist of the Gulf Industry Fair Exhibition tour and a dedicated seminar organised by Tamkeen, who will be providing a workshop on ways to market oneself to industrial companies. The programme also features Bahrains leading recruitment consultants Gulf Connexions, who will provide their insight as recruiters into what employers are looking for.



We are supportive of the aims of the Industry Careers day because it is an important introduction for graduates looking at professions in various industrial sectors, said Bayden Tierney, business development director, Gulf Connexions.  Our company will be on hand to share our knowledge and insights for job seekers on a practical level on how to present themselves to future employers, whether on a personal level or through the drafting of their CVs, added Tierney.



The programme promises to add yet another important dimension to a show format that is already renowned as a valuable showcase for Northern Gulf industries - from world-scale manufacturing plants to specialist equipment suppliers, distributors and agencies representing the key segments of aluminium, energy and environmental protection, steel and alloys, industrial processes and manufacturing, ports, industrial facilities and logistics, training for industry; and industrial security and safety.



Promoting industrial career opportunities to the next generation is important. Industry should be seen as an opportunity for innovation and the development of society. Bahrains move towards an industrial base will require a new skilled workforce," said Abdulrahman. - TradeArabia News Service
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), a leading aluminium smelter in the world, has announced the appointment of four new managers in key departments of the company.



The new managers, who all have been promoted from within the company, are: Nezar Hameed Ali - manager, operation support services; Hussain Al-Malali - manager, customer technical support; Mohd A Rahim Zainal - manager, reduction line 5; and Khalid Ahmed Shareef - manager, reduction maintenance and services.



Alba chief executive officer Tim Murray said: As a priority, Alba always looks to promote from within the company. Alba believes in developing talented nationals by providing them with the necessary training and education which will translate into a successful, strategic leadership model for the company. The new managers have extensive expertise in the respective fields and bring a business mind-set through their MBA training. I am confident that they will bring continued success to Alba.



Ali began his career with Alba in 1997 as a senior operator in casthouse and has worked in departments including reduction lines and safety health & environment. He holds a BE Mechanical degree from the University of Teesside, UK, and is a certified lead auditor for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 systems. He is currently pursuing his MBA from ESSEC through the French Arabian Business School, Bahrain.



Al-Malali joined Alba in 1998 as a supervisor in carbon operations and served in departments such as carbon process control, carbon operations and customer technical support. He has a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University, US; an Associate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from University of Bahrain and an MBA from The College of William and Mary, US.



Zainal joined Alba in 1991 as a reduction potline operator and was tasked in process control and reduction relining and pot repair. In 2013, he was selected by Alba to undergo the TDP to take up a senior position in operations. He has a BSc in Information technology and computing from UK Open University incorporating with Arab Open University in Bahrain as well as an MBA from the University of Huddersfield, UK.



Shareef started in Alba as a vocational trainee (mechanical) in 1998 and was positioned in departments such as central workshop, reduction line 4 and 5 and reduction maintenance and services. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering along with an MBA from the University of Huddersfield, UK. - TradeArabia News Service


Steel galvanising specialists Al Ajab Group is set for a sizable hike in production capacity, foreseeing contracts from high-profile industrial and infrastructure projects involving bulk quality steel, the company said.



A new facility it is building in Dammam will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will reduce processing time by a huge margin and increase overall production capacity by 35 per cent, it said.



Saudi Arabia, despite lower oil prices, has decided to go ahead with vital and strategic projects including the Jizan Refinery Project, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)s combined cycle plant and the Riyadh Metro all of whom would need the services of galvanising companies such as Al Ajab.



The company currently operates two processing facilities, the first one located in Dammams Second Industrial City and having capacity of 24,000 tonnes annually and the second located in Jubail Industrial City with capacity of 34,000 tonnes. The third facility will become operational in mid-2016.



We expect that demand for galvanising services from future as well as ongoing projects will keep all three facilities working at close to capacity for the next five years, said Mohammed Zafrullah Khan, general manager of the Dammam plant and acting plant manager of the Jubail facility.



Saudi Arabia is seeing a boom in the construction of sport complexes and mega malls which will ultimately involve big quantities of galvanised steel, Khan told Gulf Industry magazine.



Galvanisation is the process of applying protective zinc coating to steel or iron to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanisation in which parts are submerged in a bath of molten zinc. Galvanising protects in two ways; it forms a coating of corrosion-resistant zinc which prevents corrosive substances from reaching the more delicate part of the metal and the zinc serves as a sacrificial anode so that even if the coating is scratched, the exposed steel will still be protected by the remaining zinc.



Al Ajab has been in the steel galvanising business since 1990 when it opened its first plant in Dammam. The company became successful in a very short period, adopting various standards and building a client base of over 400, a company statement said.



Khan highlighted: The company has adopted a high-tech method of galvanisation called High Velocity System (HVS) in order to ensure high quality, guarantee impeccable performance and conform to top international standards. Al Ajab is the only company in the Eastern Province which uses this technology.



The HVS in the zinc bath helps maintain uniformity in the temperature throughout the bath and ensures uniformity in the coating thickness of galvanised steel so that we will be able to give our clients desired coating requirement without any compromise.



In addition to galvanisation, Al Ajab introduced shot blasting at the Jubail Plant in 2011.



PROJECTS SUCCESS

Major projects for which Al Ajab has supplied galvanised steel include the Jubail United Petrochemical Company, United Ethylene Plant, Sulphur Recovery Unit of the Riyadh Refinery Projects and the Qatif II Expansion Project for Saudi Aramco.



Some 40 per cent of Al Ajabs galvanised steel entails projects located outside the kingdom. These include the Sawan Gas Field Project in Pakistan, RGX Project, Qatar, and power plants in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Iran.



We are involved with projects in and around the GCC through esteemed fabricators and we offer service and best quality which is our main objective and due to which we have been able to work with more than 400 valuable and active clients, said Khan.



The official added that Al Ajab is the approved vender for leading firms Saudi Aramco, Sabic, SEC and Sadara, among other parties, and is a member of the American Galvanisers Association and the Galvanisers Association of the UK while also having an ISO 9001 certification for its craft.



Membership of the key associations and the certification help it maintain the high standards required to be an approved vendor for such exacting firms and to be at the forefront of technology, commented Khan. - TradeArabia News Service


Qatar-based Ooredoo Groups fully owned subsidiary Ooredoo Myanmar has made funding arrangements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, to expand a nationwide modern mobile telecom network in Myanmar.



ADB and IFC will each provide $150 million loan to Ooredoo Myanmar.



Ooredoo Myanmar provides telecommunication services to its millions of customers in the country. Its leadership in 3G technology ensures that people of Myanmar benefit from the best data services and crystal clear voice services, said a statement.



Since Ooredoos entry into the market, more than 80 per cent of the population is covered by its 3G network with majority of the Ooredoo customers accessing this network via smart devices. Ooredoo Myanmar continues to invest in its infrastructure to benefit from the opportunity offered by low mobile phone and data usage penetration rates among the 51 million population of Myanmar, it said.



The financing will support Ooredoos strategy for Myanmar, enabling it to accelerate the reach of its modern telecommunications network. The deal also demonstrates Ooredoos long-term commitment to Ooredoo Myanmar, where it has been operating since its license was granted in 2014 and underlines Ooredoos investment in Myanmar, it said. - TradeArabia News Service


The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said it was ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of an international coalition to fight against Islamic State.



"Our position throughout has been that a real campaign against Daesh has to include a ground force," Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said at a news conference in Abu Dhabi, referring to Islamic State by its Arabic acronym. "We are not talking about thousands of troops."



Gargash added that "US leadership on this" would be a prerequisite for the UAE.  Reuters
Saudi Arabia's oil minister Ali Al-Naimi discussed cooperation between Opec members and other oil producers to stabilise the global oil market with his Venezuelan counterpart, state news agency SPA reported.



Venezula's Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino is on a tour of oil producers to lobby for action to prop up prices.



"It was a successful meeting and (conducted) in a positive atmosphere," SPA cited Al-Naimi as saying.



Both minister discussed the outcome of del Pino's meetings with other officials focused on "the cooperation of those countries to stabilise the international oil market," and the importance of the continuation of such consultations, SPA added.



Del Pino said he had a "productive" meeting with Al-Naimi, his ministry reported. The two discussed "the need to maintain cooperation between Opec and non-Opec members," the ministry added in a tweet. - Reuters


Sony has introduced the latest addition to its line-up of mirrorless cameras  the 6300, during an exclusive event hosted by Miami celebrity iconic portrait photographer Brian Smith.



Sponsored by Sony the event entitled Secrets to Great Portraits, demonstrated to guests how to engage subjects and capture the essence of personality in a single portrait, said a statement from the company.



Smith shared the keys to creating thought-provoking conceptual images to lift portraits to the next level, it added.



The 6300 boasts a 4D Focus system that can lock on a subject in as little as 0.05 seconds via 425 phase-detection autofocus points that are densely positioned over the entire image area, it said.



The versatile camera is equipped with a newly developed 24.2 MP APS-C sized Exmor CMOS sensor that works together with a BIONZ X image processing engine to produce outstanding image quality throughout the entire ISO sensitivity range ISO 100  51200 .



The new 6300 can also shoot and record high resolution 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in the popular Super 35mm format.



The new brand includes three E-mount full frame lenses including a 24-70mm constant F2.8 standard zoom, an 85mm F1.4 prime and a 70-200mm constant F2.8 telephoto zoom.



The 6300 with SELP1650 lens will be available in selected Middle East countries from March 2016, it said.



The camera is expected to be available in the UAE priced at Dh9,999 ($2,722) for body only and Dh4,699 ($1,279) for a single lens, it added. TradeArabia News Service
News coverage from Israel is often distorted if measured against the 'Code of Ethics' guidelines of journalism. The origins of bad news about a country thus lie with numerous foreign media. This project exposes one of many methods used.Bad News from the Netherlands has raised major international interest since it appeared on the web in October 2007. Many thanks are due to all those who have contributed news, ideas and financing. Support us to expand this project.Act against the biased media: start a bad news blog about another country. If you want to use this layout, please contact us at the e-mail address below.

Do It Yourself

The "Bad News Movement" is not a franchise, but consists of

independent initiatives of which Bad News from the Netherlands is the first. Yet as the initiator of the movement, we would like to make a few suggestions to those who want to establish similar projects:



1. Always keep in mind the target of the blog: showing only negative items about a country makes its society aware of how some of their media distort the image of Israel.

2. Focus on items from leading sources such as the government, major media, well-known institutions.

3. Do not concentrate on one or a few areas. Deal with as many major aspects of the country as possible: government, politics, justice, media, culture, civil society, etc.

4. Do not exaggerate issues beyond what is mentioned. A collection of bad news is bad enough without blowing up the facts. Let the facts speak for themselves.

5. While one can draw part of the information from the more sensational papers, let them not dominate the blog.

6. Do not emphasize ethnicity of people where it is irrelevant to the issue.

7. When necessary, provide comments on issues which require it, but try to present the majority of issues without comment.


So when they butt-stroked me to the head from an AK-47 and I was bleeding down the side of my face and they threw me back in the cell I could
The Southwest Chapter of the Muley Fanatic Foundation donated $1,200 to Wyoming Project WILD, a conservation and environmental education curriculum. The curriculum is designed for early childhood through grade 12, and includes science, technology, engineering and math, as well as art, physical education and language components.
Kudos to Vickie Diamond, Jason Mincer, Bob McNamara, dozens more; all of whom urged lawmakers to take the Medicaid funds. They didn't, of course. They're sending a message here, after all: It's far more important to the legislators to show how much they hate President Obama, than to do the job they were elected to do. Namely, make reasoned decisions that improve the lives of Wyoming citizens. All of them. Perhaps I just missed it, but one thing I haven't heard mentioned is the huge burden we're placing on our neighboring states. I live in the Kemmerer/Diamondville area, and personally, I'll be eternally grateful that we're close enough to go to Utah for medical treatment. The U of U and the Huntsman Cancer Hospital are both state-of-the-art facilities. They saved my life and the lives of many people I know, and they were kind and compassionate doing it. But an enormous amount of our unfunded care is being shoved off onto them. I'd guess that Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, would all tell similar stories. So far, they're still admitting Wyoming residents without insurance into their hospitals. I wonder if we would be that generous if the situation were reversed? People can Google: wy.state gov and link to a website that will tell you who your state Senators and Representatives are, based on where you live, (if you don't already know.) I urge you to contact them in the next week and tell them if you're for or against taking back some Federal tax dollars to help our state manage this budget crunch. After all, they work for us, don't they?
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  In a sign of mounting global concern over the Zika virus, health officials on Friday warned pregnant women to think twice about the lips they kiss and called on men to use condoms with pregnant partners if they have visited countries where the virus is present.

U.N. officials also called on many Catholic-majority countries in Latin America to loosen their abortion laws to allow women to terminate pregnancies if they fear the fetus may be at risk for a rare birth defect that causes brain damage and an abnormally small head, which may be linked to the virus.

The flurry of recommendations began in Brazil, where a top health official warned pregnant women to be cautious with their kisses.

Paulo Gadelha, president of the Fiocruz research institute, said at a news conference that scientists have found live virus in saliva and urine samples, and the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids requires further study.

He said that calls for special precaution to be taken with pregnant women, and suggested they avoid kissing people other than a regular partner or sharing cutlery, glasses and plates with people who have symptoms of the virus.

"This is not a generalized public health measure, for the love of God," he added, stressing both the seriousness of the discovery and reality that it was too soon to say how it could impact the epidemic.

Friday's announcement coincided with the start of Carnival, a five-day-long bacchanalia that sees millions of people take part in non-stop, alcohol-fueled parties where kissing as many people as possible is a top pastime. Gadelha underscored that the discovery needn't alter Carnival plans for anyone but pregnant women.

Gadelha also stressed that the Aedes aegpyti mosquito, which spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever as well as Zika, remains the virus' main vector and said the fight against the mosquito should be a top priority.

The Fiocruz team studied samples taken from two patients who showed symptoms of Zika and also tested positive for the illness. Tests on cell cultures showed the viruses in the samples were capable of damaging the cells, meaning that they were active.

Myrna Bonaldo, who headed the Fiocruz team behind the discovery, said she was particularly surprised the virus was found in urine because Zika is generally thought not to thrive in acidic mediums.

"Each discovery is a surprise and a new find for us," she said. "For us scientists, it's extremely challenging to understand Zika virus."

Meanwhile, in Geneva, spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights was asking governments in Zika-affected countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to repeal any policies that restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion.

"How can they ... not offer (women) ... the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish?" she said.

Pouilly gave the example of El Salvador, where about a quarter of women had experienced physical or sexual violence in the past year.

"So that also shows that many of these pregnancies are out of their control and countries obviously have to take that into account," she said. Pouilly said that safe abortion services should be provided to the full extent of the law. "The key point is that women should have the choice and (make) informed decisions," she said.

The National Conference of Bishops in Brazil, the South American country hardest hit by Zika, had no immediate comment on calls to loosen abortion laws. However, in a statement issued Thursday, the bishops said that the World Health Organization's declaration earlier this week that Zika was an international emergency didn't justify abortion.

Meanwhile, U.S. health officials said men who have visited an area with Zika should use condoms if they have sex with a pregnant woman  for the entire duration of the pregnancy.

The guidance issued Friday also says men might consider abstaining or using condoms even if they have sex with a woman who isn't pregnant.

Zika virus disease is mainly spread by mosquitoes. But U.S. health officials detected a case of sexual transmission of the disease in Texas this week and in Brazil, officials said they had confirmed the virus was contracted via blood transfusions. For most people who catch the virus, it causes mild or no symptoms.

U.S. officials have recommended pregnant women postpone trips to more than two dozen countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Several Latin American nations have urged women to postpone pregnancies.

To date, the mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas.

One of those is Colombia, where health officials announced Friday that three people had died of Guillain-Barre syndrome after contracting the Zika virus. The country's National Health Institute director, Martha Lucia Ospina, said all three victims were confirmed to have been infected with Zika. Their deaths, she said, shows the virus can kill.

Still, most international experts are cautious about whether Zika can trigger Guillain-Barre, a rare syndrome that causes complete paralysis, because other infections and conditions can lead to the illness.

___

Keaten reported from Geneva. Associated Press writers Maria Cheng in London, Mike Stobbe in New York, Stan Lehman in Sao Paulo and Peter Prengaman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.
A Tzotzil Indian lay woman distributes communion wafers during a Catholic Mass in honor of the Christ of Esquipulas in Chajtoj, Chiapas state. Pope Francis travels to Mexico Feb. 12-18, including a one-day visit to Chiapas.

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico  Pope Francis visit to the heavily indigenous Mexican state of Chiapas appears aimed at celebrating the regions Indian church, a mix of Catholicism and indigenous culture once considered a thorn in the side of standard liturgy by the Vatican.

The inclusion of pine boughs and eggs, the Mayan faithfuls references to God the Father and Mother and the use of indigenous elements in Masses long caused church officials to bristle.

Not so with historys first Latin American pope, who the Vatican said will present a decree during his Feb. 15 visit authorizing the use of indigenous languages. The Chiapas Mass itself would include readings and songs in three different indigenous languages.

Within the church there have always been errors, said Felipe Arizmendi, the bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas, the colonial city where Francis will preside over Mass. So we recognize that many times, we have not given them (the indigenous) their place.

Francis visit comes amid strong challenges to the church in the southern state, including huge inroads by evangelical Protestants and grinding poverty in a region rich with coffee, Mayan ruins, pine-covered hills and jungles. Chiapas has the high poverty rate in Mexico at 76.2 percent.

The challenges have always included the churchs relations with indigenous communities that have struggled for centuries to maintain their traditions and independence, sometimes embracing and sometimes clashing with the hierarchy.

Religious practices in some communities encourage rampant alcohol abuse, crushing debts and autocratic local bosses known as caciques.

Traditional Catholic towns often require impoverished residents to go into debt to pay for annual, alcohol-fueled festivals for the local patron saint. Most of the food, drink, flowers and fireworks for the festivals are bought from the local bosses, who sell them to residents on credit at usurious rates.

In some communities, residents have expelled or ostracized any inhabitant who converts to Protestantism, often taking their lands or possessions or denying them access to basic services like water or electricity.

Abdias Tovilla Jaime, an evangelical pastor at Chiapas Revived Presbyterian Church, said the tactic doesnt appear to work; only 58 percent of Chiapas residents said they were Catholic in 2010, well below the national average of 83 percent.

It is strange, we have seen the biggest growth in evangelical Christians in Chiapas in the towns where they are persecuted, Tovilla Jaime said.

Francis embrace of at least some of Chiapas indigenous versions of Catholicism is consistent for a pontiff who hasnt shied away from honoring causes and clerics who once ran afoul of Vatican authorities, often for putting into practice the churchs preferential option for the poor. During his 2015 visit to Bolivia, Francis prayed at the site where a Jesuit proponent of liberation theology was tortured and killed by paramilitary squads.

In Chiapas, Francis is scheduled to visit the diocese of San Cristobal, home to two of the most famed religious defenders of indigenous people in Mexican history: Bishops Bartolome de las Casas in the 16th century and Samuel Ruiz, who died in 2011.

Both were beloved by indigenous people and widely reviled among the wealthy classes and much of the church hierarchy. Many officials accused Ruiz of acting on behalf of the Zapatista rebels in their 1994 uprising for greater indigenous rights.

Part of the liberation theology movement that swept Latin America after the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s, Ruiz tried to fend off the rapid growth of Protestant denominations by adapting to indigenous customs.

One of his controversial measures was to rely heavily on married male lay workers because local culture granted more respect to men with children than to childless, celibate men such as priests. Some in the church worried the married deacons were taking on priestly functions.

In 2002, under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican council asked the Chiapas diocese to halt deacon ordinations. But under Francis, the ordinations were renewed.
PHOENIX  Geocaching is poised to make a comeback on Arizona trust lands after Gov. Doug Ducey recently ordered the reversal of a policy that banned the form of treasure and scavenger hunting in state parks and other public recreational areas.

The Arizona Republic reports the popular pastime was effectively prohibited on state land two years ago when the State Land Department ruled the practice of hiding caches for others conflicted with land permit rules.

Geocaching involves hiding trinkets and other items to find by tracking the objects' GPS coordinates with smartphones, clues or compasses.

But geocachers  who considered themselves stewards of the land because they pick up litter while out scavenger hunting  began meeting with the governor's staff and other officials, leading the governor to direct the policy change.

"Geocachers are ecstatic," Mel Hockwitt, a retired small-business owner, told the Republic. "We're basically offering hundreds of volunteers ... that will work for the state for the betterment of the land. If we're walking along anywhere going to find a geocache and we come upon litter, we take it back with us."

Ducey said the prior policy had misunderstood geocaching, which involves creating an account on geocaching.com where coordinates or clues are mapped out for others to find hidden objects, trinkets or logbooks.

There are more than 2 million geocache spots worldwide.

A memo issued Jan. 27 by Land Commissioner Lisa Atkins outlines new geocaching rules for state trust lands, saying:

 Geocachers will have to pay $15 for a recreation permit to go hunting for the small treasures on state land.

 Objects left behind on state land for geocaching cannot be bigger than a shoebox, hazardous or harmful, or considered high in value.

 The state isn't liable for reimbursing geocachers for lost items left behind.

 State officials can remove and destroy caches at any time.

 And they don't have to notify geocachers when land goes up for lease or sale.
Another mortgage firm is being held responsible for hurting homeowners during the housing crash. At least 3,335 Arizona consumers are now eligible for $6.6 million from a new national settlement with mortgage firm HSBC over bad foreclosure and loan operations.

The deal calls for $2.6 million in direct payments to current and former homeowners and another $4 million in loan modifications to people trying to avoid foreclosure.

Arizonas share is part of a $470 million multistate agreement with HSBC, announced Friday, that stems from thousands of complaints against the mortgage servicer.

Arizona homeowners on the verge of losing their homes shouldnt have to worry about mortgage companies taking advantage of them, state Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a statement. This settlement holds HSBC accountable for its abusive practices and ensures HSBC will treat its borrowers more fairly in the future.

This agreement comes four years after an announcement that Arizona would receive $1.6 billion in a $26 billion settlement over unfair lending and foreclosure dealings with five of the nations biggest lenders: Bank of America, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Ally Financial, formerly GMAC.

Part of that big settlement included lenders working directly with homeowners to modify loans to help them avoid foreclosures. More than half of the $98 million the state received in cash to help struggling consumers was taken by the Legislature to offset budget shortfalls.

Fridays settlement requires HSBC to issue direct payments, loan modifications and other help to borrowers it worked with during the crash.

Regulators say the deal mirrors the national mortgage settlement. Arizona borrowers with mortgages serviced by HSBC who lost their homes to foreclosure between 2008 and 2012 are eligible for direct compensation payments. Those payments will depend on how many borrowers file claims.
 Trico Electric Cooperative: Awarded a total of $40,000 in 2016 Power Grants to nine nonprofit charities:

Arivaca Helping Hearts received $2,000 to provide emergency assistance for basic needs including food, propane, diapers and formula; Arizona Youth Partnership received $3,000 for a holistic self-sufficiency program for families; Aviva Childrens Services received $5,000 for an abused childrens fund to provide food and shoe vouchers.

Also, Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona received $6,500 for emergency home repairs for low-income homeowners; Green Valley Assistance Services received $3,500 to give emergency financial assistance to families; Mentally Ill Kids in Distress received $5,000 for a mental and behavioral health support system.

In addition, Marana Unified School District Student Services Department received $5,000 for its Power Pack Program to provide food for students on weekends; Sahuarita Food Bank received $5,000 for backpacks and to provide food for students on weekends; and United Community Health Center received $5,000 to provide dental care for children.
Promoting the benefits of new homes and encouraging young people to consider a career in the homebuilding industry are among the top goals of the incoming SAHBA chair.

Amy McReynolds, senior vice president of KB Home Tucson, was recently installed as chair of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association and hopes to increase the number of homebuyers who choose new construction.

We need to raise awareness because right now new-home sales are only 10 percent of the market, she said. A market share of 20 to 30 percent is considered healthy for the homebuilding industry.

Taking a cue from an effort in Nevada, SAHBA will begin a Start fresh, buy new promotional campaign to highlight the benefits of buying a new home.

Things such as energy efficiencies, smartness of new homes and customization, McReynolds said. Its all stuff you cant get in resale.

As the millennials start home shopping, they are migrating toward resale and the campaign aims to get their attention before they head out to open houses.

Theres broader research and homework that people are doing online ahead of time, McReynolds said. Were going to try to market new homes with facts and pictures.

The campaign will provide real estate agents with information on developments under construction by adding a synopsis on the Multiple Listing Service.

A realtor will be able to click and see what is new in the market instead of having to visit each builders website to see whats coming up, McReynolds said.

A local website for the effort is being developed with sponsorship from mortgage companies, builders, developers and brokers.

Billboards as well as ads on television, radio and social media will start to pop up, promoting new homes. The cost of the campaign is still in flux as bids come in for the different components.

SAHBA will also focus this year on getting young people interested in the industry in fields such as welding, masonry and electrical.

Amy is a smart, funny and dynamic team player  and capable of leading SAHBA to greater heights, said David Godlewski, president of SAHBA. Shes focused on understanding the needs and interests of younger industry professionals while still ensuring all members get a high return on their investment.

McReynolds has 24 years of experience in the homebuilding industry, having worked 18 years for Pulte Homes. After some time off for her family, she worked for SAHBA for 3 years and has been with KB Home for 2 years.
One of Tucson's Finest Musical Treasures will be greatly missed. Born April 17, 1923 in Tucson, Arizona to Manuel and Jesus del Moral. Alfred was preceded to the next life by his loving parents, older brother, Manuel and younger brother, Gilbert del Moral. Alfred spent his pre-high school years at Santa Cruz Catholic School. He graduated Salutatorian from Tucson High School. Upon graduation, Alfred enlisted in the U.S Army Air Force serving three years. He was decorated with many honors including American Theater ribbon and the WWII Victory Medal. Following discharge he attended and graduated from Juilliard School of Music in 1950. Returning to Tucson he continued his musical career as piano accompanist for the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus under Founder, Director Eduardo Caso in a 50-City Concert Tour, 1953; a European Concert Tour, 1955; and 1956-57 performance season managed by Columbia Artists. Recognized with the Boys Chorus talents, one review in the Town Hall debut in New York February 1956 stated, "Mr. del Moral's accompaniment was perfectly tempered to the sweet tone quality the boys' achieved." Following was his completion of University of Arizona Music Studies. Longtime Member of the Tucson Music Teachers Association and MTNA, his enthusiasm shined through his students' successes which included First-Place winner/soloist in the Catalina Chamber Orchestra Young Artists Award two consecutive years, First-Place winners in the MTNA Baldwin Junior Keyboard Achievement Competition two consecutive years, Winners in the Tucson Symphony Young Artists Competition. Countless students excelled in piano ASMTA Honors Recitals and extensive competitions. With each lesson, he modestly passed to his pupils his passion for music with a life-long learning of ethics and kindness. Family, friends, and students fondly remember his wonderful life stories and caring quality. His musical spirit will continue to live in all of us. Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. followed by Visitation at 6:30 p.m. and Celebration of his life will be held from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12, 2016 at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd., in Tucson. Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Santa Cruz Catholic Church, 1220 S. 6th Ave., on Saturday, February 13, 2016. Committal service will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery, 3555 N. Oracle Road.
Glen "Bill" Stockton, 91, of Tucson peacefully passed away February 2, 2016 surrounded by his loving family in his home. He was born in St. Joseph, MO to Elmer and Lavonia Stockton. Bill was a WWII pilot and instructor in the USAF when he met his lovely Irish bride, Florence "Pat" Quaite in Europe. Married in the USA, then serving his country, they raised four children on many military bases around the USA and Canada. Bill received many military honors including the MacKay trophy in 1954. He loved every moment of the 11,000 plus hours he accumulated. After retiring and returning to Tucson, he was a realtor and active in the Full Gospel Business Men's Organization. His true joy was helping to raise nine grandchildren and supporting missionaries around the world. He was a caregiver for his wife with Alzheimer's the last decades of her life. He insured that all of his children and grandchildren had higher education. He is and always will be a hero and example of what we, left on earth, should emulate. Bill and Pat celebrated their 67th Anniversary shortly before Pat's passing in 2015. They were preceded in death by their beloved son, Dr. Glen Stockton Jr. and survived by daughters, Sharman Stockton, Karen Fritz and Dr. Diana Herman, all in Arizona. In addition nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren remain. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to TMC Hospice. A Visitation will be held Friday, February 12, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Fellowship Bible Church, 6700 E. Broadway Blvd.
age 98, of Tucson, Arizona passed away peacefully on February 2, 2016. Born in Rocky Ford, CO on September 7, 1917 to Isaac and Ada Wilson, he was the second of four children. At the age of two, John's family moved to Pekin, IL where he attended Pekin High School and excelled in track and softball. His education continued at Knox College in Galesburg, IL, followed by medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he graduated in December 1943. Within days of graduation John married Helen Schahrer, his beloved wife of 72 years. Following their marriage, John served in the Army Medical Corps during WWII. After the War, John completed his residency in radiology at Northwestern University in Chicago. He practiced briefly in Yuma, AZ, before settling permanently in Tucson in 1952. He was a founding member of Radiology, LTD, where he practiced for 31 years. At age 65, John joined Group Health HMO, working until his ultimate retirement at age 78. His medical career included serving as President of the Pima County Medical Society and Chief of Staff at Tucson Medical Center. John's greatest passion was spending time with his family, especially during their extended summer vacations. His love for travel eventually took him to all seven continents. John was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Tucson. Other interests included photography, reading, and ballroom dancing. John is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter, Margaret and her husband, Jim Sims; son, John Wilson; son, Jim Wilson and his wife, Lauren; grandchildren, Michelle and husband, Ben May, Bryan, Ashley and Kyle Wilson; sister, Grace Noreuil; brother, George and wife, Leona and numerous nieces and nephews. The best thing a man can give to the world is to be a good husband and father and John was the best! He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him. Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, February 12, 2016 at the Marshall Conference Center located in Tucson Medical Center (east side entrance), 5301 E. Grant Rd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made in John's honor to the TMC Foundation. These gifts can be made online at www.tmcfoundation.org or mailed to: The TMC Foundation, 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712. Arrangements by EAST LAWN PALMS MORTUARY.
Q: We bought a fixer-upper that has 2,300 square feet of Saltillo tile flooring that were going to replace. After remodelers removed the kitchen tile, we realized what a disaster this would be  dusty and messy. So how should we go about removing the rest  some thats on our concrete slab and some on an underlay? Some people say keep chipping away with a cold chisel; others say theres a machine that will do the job. We plan to remove the rest of the tile ourselves, but well have an expert put in the new flooring.

A: Saltillo tile is the messiest tile to remove of all. Id suggest renting an electric chipping hammer from a rental outlet. It will take you some practice though to figure out just how to hold the blade of this machine onto the floor so you will not chip up the concrete when you work on the tile. However, if you do chip up some of the concrete slab, it can be fixed with a concrete patch. Be sure to tell the rental company that you are removing Saltillo tile so that they give you the right type of equipment. While youre working, wear protective knee pads and dust masks, and protect your personal belongings and electronics from the dust that is created.

Q: What would cause a house to creak and pop when it is only two years old? We have tried to stop this problem by putting air vents into the roofing; we have had the AC and heating system checked; we had roofing and truss companies out to take a look. It only used to pop when the air conditioning and furnace heat came on, but now it seems to do it at random, especially during warmer weather.

A: Your problem is probably related to thermal and humidity issues. This type of popping tends to decrease as the lumber dries out and comes to rest in its final location; that might not have happened yet in your relatively new home. Another possibility is that this noise is due to having the roof sheathing laid so tightly that it creates this sound. If thats true, and the roof is covered with asphalt shingles, you might begin to see small visible ridges in the shingles along the plywood sheathing joint lines. Keep us posted on whether the situation improves.

Q: I live in a 1970s-era house retrofitted with can lights in the ceiling. Now Id like to blow insulation into my attic, but Im worried that those can lights might not be thermal-protected and could cause a fire in the attic if I go ahead with the insulation. Can that happen?

A: Yes, adding insulation could create a hazard if the can lights are not rated insulation compatible. Heres how to check: Remove the light bulb and look up inside the housing. There should be a label attached to the sheet metal with the rating of the fixture. If you see that IC rating, then the housing is approved for direct contact with insulation. But we like to err on the side of caution. So its best to build mesh cones as a protecting shroud around each fixture as well. Then leave an opening at the top of each cone so the heat can vent.

Q: I have a 5-year-old electrically powered air conditioner on my roof as well as having an electrically powered, forced-air furnace. Lately, the blower motor for this system seems to kick on and off 24 hours a day every five minutes. I have the fan set on auto. So whats causing this?

A: It could be that you have wiring that is shorting out or you could have a bad fan control. You need an HVAC contractor to find and correct the problem.
ARIVACA  This tiny town 11 miles from the border has become the face of growing frustration toward interior border immigration enforcement and checkpoints.

But when you get a group of independent-minded people in a close-knit community, nothing is simple.

Founded in the 1800s, Arivaca has been a haven for miners, ranchers, hippies, smugglers, addicts and retirees. In the past 20 years, people and drug smuggling has spiked.

That led to more Border Patrol agents, surveillance towers and checkpoints, which have come to symbolize concerns about civil rights violations and loss of privacy, the deaths of border crossers and the effectiveness of the Border Patrol.

For the last three years, a local group with outside support has called attention to the checkpoint in nearby Amado, where vehicles have to stop as Border Patrol agents ask about occupants citizenship. Opponents monitor the checkpoint and pass petitions, all in an effort to shut it down.

Regardless of whether they are for or against it, at the end of the day its a live and let live kind of town, residents say.

This is Arivaca; we all have different ideas, said Jim Chilton, a fifth-generation Arizona cattleman. We respect people with different perspectives. That doesnt make them not our friends.

Arivaca, nestled in the Altar Valley and surrounded by mountains, is one of the oldest towns in the state, formed during a short-lived mining boom, said Mary Kasulaitis, town historian and retired librarian.

Theres still the 1870 schoolhouse, the cemetery, and the now-named Casino Rural, which was a hotel in 1879. Theres also La Gitana, a bar and restaurant from the 1940s, the post office, an artist co-op and the Mercantile, a general grocery store with a gas station.

During the Mexican Revolution, middle- and upper-class Mexicans left their ranches and businesses and resettled in Arivaca.

Until WWII, most residents were Hispanic, but now they are older and white. About 700 people live here, Kasulaitis said, down from about 2,500 a decade ago.

Patty Miller, who was on her way to New Mexico from Oregon in 1978 when she stopped here and stayed, said it was easy to get by.

You could live with a minimum amount of money. My share was $50 a year, said Miller, who is part of the group organizing against the checkpoints.

It gave you the freedom from having to work in dreary jobs just to survive, she said. They lived in tepees, vans and school buses, and hauled water and wood to cook.

Initially there were Hippies not wanted and Go back to California signs, residents say, but they learned to live together.

They would tell me when they saw a problem with one of my cows. They looked after them, said Chilton, who works a 50,000-acre ranch south of Arivaca in the Coronado National Forest.

Chilton moved here in 1987 when he and his wife were looking to expand. The land was vast, had more than two dozen species of grass and a good amount of rain.

It was wonderful.

The areas relationship with contraband is almost as old as Arivaca.

Kasulaitis favorite quote is from E.B. Gate, a mining superintendent.

Theres a great deal of smuggling between Sonora and Tucson, which would naturally be done near the line if it could be, he wrote in 1878. In this respect it might not be profitable to have military posts too near us.

Smuggling continues, but the volume changed over time.

We didnt think about it then, said Gloria Williams, who moved to Arivaca in 1979 from Detroit. There were always people traveling through, but it wasnt a huge issue until they really started closing the borders in different areas and we had a huge wave coming through. She had two border-crosser camps on her 40 acres during the 2000s.

It was awful. Youd see people every day out on the rez (reservation), said Jill Farrell, You are seeing people who could be dead the next morning. Both Williams and Farrell are board members with the Arivaca Action Center, a nonprofit that includes a low-cost preschool program.

In 2008, the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, 117,000 acres of grasslands and mesquite-covered groves, was reported to be one of the busiest corridors for people and drug smuggling in the Southwest, with 100,000 to 300,000 people crossing through annually.

Stories of high-speed chases, drug busts and migrants dying became increasingly common.

Chilton estimates that up to 50,000 people went through his ranch in a given year. He installed drinking fountains in the water troughs.

No one deserves to die of thirst, I dont care whether they are druggers or an MS-13, he said, referring to members of a gang active in the U.S., Mexico and Central America. Life is important.

Many residents have a story of a time they helped someone who was lost or injured or when they found a body.

The Samaritans, a humanitarian group founded in Tucson, came out and hiked in the area in search of those injured or in need of help. Later, No More Deaths started to camp about 20 miles from the border on private land to aid border crossers in distress.

People would be led to Arivaca and abandoned, said Andrea Morondos, who has co-owned the Mercantile for 37 years, when her family moved from Hawaii.

They would get dropped off and told to wait for the bus when there were no buses there and they would ask, Wheres Florida?  she said. I felt sorry for them.

In 2005, the Border Patrol was arresting an average of 1,300 people daily in the agencys Tucson Sector, which covers most of Arizona from the New Mexico state line to the Yuma County line.

To counter the traffic, the agency sent more agents to the area, installed cameras and made the checkpoint on Arivaca Road permanent, one of two checkpoints residents must use in order to leave town.

Soon after, traffic decreased.

We have no abandoned cars, no more high-speed chases with cars turning over, said Sue Chilton. Now it doesnt happen next to ever.

Beth Lusby, who moved to the area from California in 1976 and supports the checkpoint, hasnt had to replace her fence in five or six years. Before, we would buy a roll of fencing every couple of weeks.

The number of calls also strained the resources of the volunteer fire department charged with covering more than 600 square miles.

But the increased law enforcement and humanitarian groups werent welcomed by all residents.

The aggravation of those against the checkpoints and what they call the militarization of the border culminated in People Helping People, a group founded in 2012.

We started talking about organizing because it was a source of constant frustration, said Peter Ragan, who grew up in Phoenix and moved to Arivaca in 2002 to get away from urban living.

He has been an advocate of civil rights and an outspoken critic of other enforcement measures, including the towers  part of the failed $1 billion virtual-fence program the government canceled because of glitches and major delays.

The amount of people they apprehend is pretty much negligible, but everybody who goes through there is checked out for drug enforcement, Ragan said.

The Border Patrol doesnt release checkpoint-specific statistics, but in 2013 less than 1 percent of all arrests in the sector were at a checkpoint.

The groups core members include several who moved here in the late 1970s. Others came as part of No More Deaths or the Samaritans and decided to make this their home.

For Miller, who has lived here for nearly 40 years, the checkpoints pose both humanitarian and privacy issues, and the people are sympathetic, good-hearted people, she said of fellow group members.

After the campaign to remove the checkpoint intensified, a sign in support of the Border Patrol popped up on the side of the road across from the checkpoint.

Williams, with the Action Center, has mixed feelings about it.

Its true that traffic definitely stopped, she said, but it also coincided with the faltering U.S. economy.

In the beginning, she got upset every time she had to go through the checkpoint.

Why isnt it at the border? she would wonder. Agents asked where she was going, what she had in her trunk, where she was coming from.

But then I realized it wasnt good for my health to be so angry, she said, so I had to let it go.

For Farrell, the number of agents and the helicopters hovering above the desert is a waste of money.

Its ridiculous that I have to check in with authorities to go to the grocery store, she said. What country am I living in? Its wrong.

Neither of them is involved with People helping People, though.

Ive given up thinking about stuff like that, Farrell said, Id rather do something now for whats in front of me.

Even some of those who agree the checkpoint has diminished traffic through the area are conflicted.

Its insulting you have to be asked whether you are a U.S. citizen, said Chilton, the rancher.

Insulting is not the right word, his wife, Sue, interceded.

It is for me. The idea that inside the United States, that we have to go through a checkpoint and say we are citizens, is a bad idea in my opinion, he said.

However, the trade-off to the horrible problem that existed before the checkpoint is such that I would rather say Im a U.S. citizen and go through the checkpoint than not have a checkpoint.

Today, arrests of those crossing the border illegally are about a tenth of what they were at their peak in 2000, when agents made more than 600,000 apprehensions in the sector.

Although there are fewer migrants coming through, Chilton and other ranchers who have cameras on their property are quick to show pictures of men dressed in camouflage carrying backpacks of marijuana.

A few months ago, Kasulaitis found marijuana on her property, apparently dropped from an ultralight.

They drove right to the fence, came in and picked up this load but forgot a brick, she said.

Arivacans cant agree on whether the checkpoint should stay or go, but most say that the Border Patrol should work closer to the border. The government should re-establish an effective guest worker program and try to reduce Americas illegal drug use.

While immigration, the Border Patrol and smuggling are part of life here, we are all trying to do other things, Kasulaitis said, trying to provide something this town needs.

There are more than a dozen grassroots organizations offering, among other services, help to pay a bill, provide medical care or serve a warm meal to the elderly.

On Sundays, many gather at the coffee shop to wait for Bob, who drives from Green Valley to deliver newspapers he buys at Safeway.

If he cant make it, we really miss him, Lusby said.

I dont like the protesting of the checkpoint, she said, but if I saw one of those people on the side of the road in need of help, I would stop. I dont care.
Pima County Supervisor Ray Carrolls impending retirement raises the possibility of something almost unimaginable before.

Some would call it a dream, others  a nightmare.

Are you ready for board Chair Ally Miller?

For three years, Carroll and Miller, the only Republicans on the five-member board, have been bitter rivals. Now, Miller is aligned with candidate Marla Closen, who hopes to fill Carrolls seat.

Two other candidates are challenging board members Sharon Bronson and Ramon Valadez. If Miller and two others win, they could create a sort of tea party majority, with Miller leading the way.

My experience and research tells me that would be a bad thing.

I have appreciated the best of what Miller has brought to the board in her stormy first three years after replacing Ann Day: Skepticism about business as usual in Pima County government. The latest example, of course, is her valid questioning of the plan to build a headquarters for World View Enterprises in a county-funded incentive deal that would be paid back in 20 years.

But the problem is her healthy skepticism comes wrapped in unhealthy cynicism, self-centeredness and paranoia that I think would make a Miller-run county board disastrous.

Consider the phrase damaging the brand. I learned of this phrase recently and it helped me understand previously incomprehensible aspects of Millers years  mainly, why she makes so many whacky accusations along with the handful of pointed, accurate ones. In other words, why shes so consistently negative about Pima County.

Its all about damaging the brand. The brand, in this phrase, is the county government in all its aspects. And the idea is that if she can adequately damage the countys image, voters will push out the board majority and longtime administrator Chuck Huckelberry with them.

Heres the first sentence of an email Miller wrote to fellow opponents of Novembers bond elections soon after those ballot issues lost.

Im still not sure they realize I have been setting the table for 3 years damaging their brand and setting the table for 2016, she wrote Nov. 6. I thought they were beginning to figure that o [sic] ... but it is good they seem to be oblivious.

I asked Jeannie Davis, whom Miller fired as chief of staff in late December, if damaging the brand was a phrase and concept used during her 21 months in the office. She confirmed that but would not elaborate, simply sending me this statement:

I loved my job, was dedicated and worked tirelessly to support Supervisor Miller in my role. While her management style was contrary to my professional experience, I look forward to new opportunities and wish her the best.

Former Miller aide Joe Cuffari didnt know the phrase damaging the brand, but when I spoke with him last week, he said the concept was very familiar.

The idea was there of Lets not work for the constituents, but lets try to bring Pima County down, he said. Her agenda was just to get herself re-elected and get the other supervisors out.

That single-minded focus has benefited us at times. She was right, I thought, when she successfully called for an end to supervisors using their office budgets as a sort of slush fund, passing on excess amounts as grants to favored local charities. I have also agreed with her that the county is buying up and accumulating too much real estate.

But more often, she has made accusations that caused some damage, and when they were proved groundless, simply moved on to the next accusation.

When I talked to him Friday, Carroll put it this way: She might have 100 conspiracies that shes thinking exist, but only one in 100 actually exists.

Miller, by the way, did not return my phone call or email messages.

One of my favorite conspiracies has been Millers repeated contention that Raytheon Missile Systems does not actually want the buffer zone that the county created through re-routing a road and buying property near the companys plant. The idea was to give the company room to expand so any future growth would not go out of state, as the last big project did.

Miller said this in 2014 but has made similar comments a refrain whenever Raytheon comes up: As a voting member of this board, one would think that the Raytheon members who want this road moved so badly would have contacted me directly.

But some accusations have gone further: Twice Miller has taken accusations of wrongdoing by fellow board members to the Arizona Attorney Generals Office for investigation. And twice, the Republican-run AGs office has said, No thanks.

Some of those employed by Millers office describe an erratic atmosphere. One moment, Miller would be happily working with the staff, the next minute, yelling at them and slamming doors.

It was a tough environment, Cuffari said. You never knew what you were going to get.

Cuffari said he worked with Miller for 45 minutes one morning, then a while later, she told him he was fired.

The turnover in her office has been astounding. As Carroll put it: Ive had less employees in 20 years than shes had in three.

These negative views of Millers performance as a boss are common but not universal. Sergio Mendez worked for Miller for a short time in 2014 and found a good atmosphere.

Everything was fine. I never felt like I was terrified to go to work every day, he said.

Mendez and others reported much of the work of the office consisted of going line-by-line through Huckelberrys memos, budget documents and county-board agendas. The accusations that those searches produced have been the substance of Millers tenure, allowing her to pursue a damage the brand approach.

Another of Millers supporters, Gini Crawford, received the post-bond-election email and didnt understand that reference to brand-damaging, but she does think the county has an image problem.

The difference between Crawfords view and mine is that she sees the problem as strictly the countys making.

That lack of trust in Pima County is something they have done themselves, said Crawford, who is also Closens campaign manager.

Crawford said Closen, Kim DeMarco, who is challenging Bronson, and Richard Hernandez, who is challenging Ramon Valadez, dont plan on running as a slate, but they are loose allies.

All it would take is two of those three challengers winning, along with a Miller victory to turn damaging the brand into something more consequential  undermining the operation of our local government.
Teen boys in tan and khaki uniforms crowded around a table at the Lutheran Church of the Foothills on Wednesday, each reaching for one of the blue, red and black plastic hands held together with strings and pins.

Those boys were members of the Boy Scouts of America Catalina Council Troop 100, and at the center was Vishakk Rajendran, 13, who explained to his fellow Scouts and their parents the mechanics of his creations: 3-D-printed prosthetic hands.

I was interested in how prosthetic hands worked, and I wanted to improve the technology, he said. On the other hand, I wanted to help people who cant afford them but need them.

The Basis Tucson North eighth-grader prints prosthetic hands using a 3-D printer, assembles them and works with a nonprofit organization to deliver them to Tibet, Haiti, Syria and elsewhere. It started out as Rajendrans Boy Scouts service project, but quickly evolved into a communitywide effort involving other troop members, parents and friends.

Rajendrans 3-D-printed prosthetic hands are free to those receiving them. Each costs about $30 to $40 to make, compared with about $3,000 to $5,000 for a cosmetic hand without function and $20,000 or more for a myoelectric arm, according to a Bioengineering Institute Center for Neuroprosthetics market analysis.

He works with e-NABLE, a global network of volunteers and the Enable Community Foundation, a nonprofit that supports e-NABLE.

There are 16 device designs and additional gauntlet options, available for free to volunteers as open-source contents online, said Melina Brown, the foundations director of case management and quality assurance. Anyone can download the designs and volunteer, but the network asks that volunteers first send a sample hand to make sure its functional.

Volunteers can make generic sizes or connect with families through the foundation to receive exact measurements.

For one of his 25 or so that he plans to make, Rajendran is working with a family of a 6-year-old in India that has been trying unsuccessfully for the past year and a half to get a prosthetic hand.

E-NABLE started out with a mechanical special-effects artist Ivan Owen posting a video of a metal hand he made as part of his steampunk costume, according to the networks history. His video caught the attention of a South African carpenter, Richard Van As, who lost his fingers in an accident.

Owen and Van As collaborated to make replacement fingers, and subsequent videos led to Jon Schull, a Rochester Institute of Technology professor and a founder of the Enable foundation in 2014.

The e-NABLE network has grown to include nearly 8,000 volunteers, one of who is Rajendran.

There are many Boy Scouts and young people who volunteer, Brown of the Enable foundation said. But few are as dedicated as he is.

Vishakk stands out as one of our Boy Scouts that has been very self-sufficient and very loyal to what hes doing, she said. He has stuck with it without needing a ton of guidance.

Rajendran said he first became fascinated with 3-D printers after attending a Scouts event at Raytheon. He then learned about e-NABLE from a Boy Scouts magazine by chance and decided he needed to help.

His family bought him a 3-D printer for $1,200, and he also gets help from a Tempe-based company called STAX3D.

When Rajendran approached his father, Rajendran Subramaniam, with the idea of working with e-NABLE, his father thought, Its a little expensive. But he decided that the good far outweighed the cost.

I always think spending on education is not an expense, he said. Its an investment for me.

Subramaniam said he had his son join the Scouts to teach him leadership and how to be a good citizen. Also, because Subramaniam is an immigrant from India, he wanted his son to have the experience of growing up in an organization emblematic of American culture.

Im very proud of what hes doing  both the technical part and the concern he has for others, he said.

But Rajendran could not do the project alone. Many Scouts and school friends helped him raise funds by selling wreaths and coupon cards during the holiday season and helped assemble the hands as well, Rajendran said. Parents and community members also donated money. Altogether, the project raised about $750.

He has made only two hands on his own, he said. Seven were made with friends on weekends and weekday nights. Through an event at Basis Tucson North on Feb. 13, Rajendran and other Scouts who are trained in assembling the hands will teach other students to make an additional 15.

Patrick Robinson, the scoutmaster of Troop 100, said Rajendrans project has ignited the interest in science for the other boys and had a positive influence on them.

Whenever you have someone who really pushes the boundaries in a good way, it helps other people to think, Maybe I can do that, he said.

The Boy Scouts of America is trying to incorporate more science, technology, engineering and math into its activities, Robinson said. Rajendrans project provides an opportunity for that, in addition to giving kids experience in collaboration, leadership, fundraising and benefiting the community.

With the Feb. 13 event at Basis Tucson North, Rajendrans project will officially be over, but he said he will continue to volunteer for e-NABLE and build prosthetic hands. In fact, the project inspired him to ponder a career in biomechanical engineering.

With his previous career interest in medicine and general interest in biology, biomechanical engineering would be the best of both worlds, he said.

I feel like this is what I would be doing in the future, he said. This project is kick-starting that career for me.
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WASHINGTON  Heres how Arizona members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Feb. 5.

HOUSE

UPHOLDING VETO OF HEALTH-LAW REPEAL

Voting 241 for and 186 against, the House on Feb. 2 failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to override President Obamas veto of a Republican bill (HR 3762) to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act while defunding the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for one year. The bill sought to effectively kill the 2010 health law by eliminating tax penalties necessary to enforce its individual and employer mandates and repealing taxes on medical-device manufacturers and high-priced health plans that yield revenue to fund the law.

A yes vote was to overturn the presidential veto.

Voting yes: Martha McSally, R-2, Paul Gosar, R-4, Matt Salmon, R-5, David Schweikert, R-6, Trent Franks, R-8

Voting no: Ann Kirkpatrick, D-1, Raul Grijalva, D-3, Ruben Gallego, D-7, Kyrsten Sinema, D-9

ROLLBACK OF IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

Voting 246 for and 181 against, the House on Feb. 2 passed a bill (HR 3662) that would require President Obama to receive detailed congressional approval of his steps to lift U.S. economic and trade sanctions on Iran as part of a six-nation nuclear deal with Iran now in effect.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it is likely to die.

Yes: McSally, Gosar, Salmon, Schweikert, Franks

No: Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema

UPDATE OF HOUSING PROGRAMS

By a unanimous vote of 427-0, the House on Feb. 2 passed a bipartisan bill (HR 3700) that is the first broad update of federal housing programs in at least 10 years. The bill is designed to improve dozens of programs in areas such as public and rural housing, rental assistance and housing for the homeless, while extending Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance to condominiums and allowing public housing authorities to reallocate some capital funds to operating expenses. The bills streamlining of Department of Housing and Urban Development programs would reduce federal spending by $311 million through fiscal 2021. HUDs overall budget is about $50 billion annually.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it is likely to advance.

Yes: Kirkpatrick, McSally, Grijalva, Gosar, Salmon, Schweikert, Gallego, Franks, Sinema

FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF BANK FRAUD

Voting 250 for and 169 against, the House on Feb. 4 passed a bill (HR 766) curbing federal authority to police suspicious banking activity under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). Backers said the bill is a narrowly targeted measure that would protect legitimate businesses from prosecutorial and regulatory abuse, including due-process violations.

Foes called it a broad assault on the Department of Justices main statute for combating financial fraud, including money laundering and terrorist financing.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

Yes: McSally, Gosar, Salmon, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema

No: Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, Gallego

FINANCIAL DEREGULATION

Voting 265 for and 159 against, the House on Feb. 3 passed a financial-deregulation bill (HR 1675) that would raise from $5 million to $10 million the threshold value of stock that companies can issue to employees without having to make certain public disclosures.

These disclosures, showing the companys worth, would enable employees to independently judge the value of the stock they are receiving, often in lieu of pay raises.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

Yes: McSally, Gosar, Salmon, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema

No: Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, Gallego

SENATE

DISCLOSURE OF POLITICAL SPENDING

Voting 43 for and 52 against, the Senate on Feb. 2 defeated a Democratic-sponsored amendment that sought to require public disclosure of federal political spending over $10,000 that oil and gas firms and their top executives have made secretly since January 2014 in keeping with the Supreme Courts Citizens United ruling on campaign finance. The amendment was offered to an energy bill (S 2012) that remained in debate. Under Citizens United, it is legal for businesses, unions and interest groups to make anonymous donations of unlimited sums to advocate the election or defeat of federal candidates.

A yes vote was to adopt the disclosure amendment.

Voting no: John McCain, R, Jeff Flake, R

WEAKENING OF ANTIQUITIES ACT

Voting 47 for and 48 against, the Senate on Feb. 2 defeated a GOP-sponsored amendment to S 2012 that sought to make it difficult or impossible for presidents to use the Antiquities Act of 1906 for preserving certain fragile federal lands in the West. The law was enacted to give presidents a quick means of preventing the looting of archeological and historical resources. This amendment would give Congress and state governments power to roll back presidential designations under the act.

A yes vote was to weaken presidential power under the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Yes: McCain, Flake
Winning approval for a new food code with updated safety measures, and working with the restaurant industry because our goal isnt to shut places down, are among priorities facing the chief of the Pima County Health Departments inspections team.

David Ludwig and his division hope to take the new code to the Board of Supervisors soon. He says it includes sharply higher inspection fees in some cases, but also incentives for restaurants to save money by self-inspecting, eliminating trans fats, donating unused food to food banks, and other steps.

Ludwig is entering his second year as program manager of the Health Departments Consumer Health and Food Safety division. He sat down with the Star to talk about his plans to reduce foodborne illness while leading the division to recouping 100 percent of its costs; to describe which parts of the new code may be controversial or popular with restaurants; and to detail his credentials.

Q: What have some of your priorities been here?

A: They gave me some things on my plate that they wanted taken care of right away. I was basically told to just move things forward. They told me they wanted a new food code in the near future, as well as a new general health code, which includes all the things we regulate, such as motels, hotels and trailer parks. I also have staff that work with mosquito surveillance and complaints for bedbugs and cockroaches.

Moving down from (my former) staff of 125 in Maricopa County to 32 people here, its been a change. We also want to upgrade the way we do inspections, meaning getting some computers into the field. Ive done all that before. I computerized Maricopa back in 1996.

They also told me to bring the staff back together as a team, and make sure were giving them the backing they need to go out there and do a good job, to be fair, to be consistent.

They also wanted me to really work with the industry, because our goal isnt to shut places down. I came from a restaurant family. Ive been there and I know running a restaurant is one of the hardest things to do. We want to educate operators, let them know what they need to correct and let them tell us how theyre going to correct it. If we do that, its safer for everyone, and thats what were looking for.

Q: What are your goals in the upcoming year?

A: Were looking at a new food code. Right now, the state of Arizona has a 2001 food code, which is basically the (U.S. Food and Drug Administrations 1999 code). Think back to 1999 and how much has changed, and in the foodborne illness world, a lot has changed. The state has told the counties that we can adopt new codes. I adopted the FDAs 2009 code in Maricopa County, and several counties in the state have updated to 2013, and were in 1999. Adopting a new code is also beneficial to the operators and there are many new industry-friendly guidelines.

The new proposed food code is posted on our website; so are the proposed changes to the food code, health provisions and fees. Were hoping to go before the Board of Supervisors with the proposal this month.

Q: What do you think the public response will be?

A: The fees could be the most controversial part. I know no one wants to pay more, but when I did the fees, theyre actual numbers. I went through 75,000 rows of data and pulled out times for inspections, reinspections, enforcements and put in that data to figure out costs. It boils down to the average inspection times, number of times a year it has to be inspected and what the staffing requirements are. Not only are we recouping inspector time, but also overhead and staff time.

Some fees actually went down, because those are quick inspections, and others went up a lot. But were coming up short in recouping our costs, and some of the money is coming from the general fund. Were recommending to the Board of Supervisors, 100 percent cost recovery on our end and they can better utilize (county) general fund money. How fast well recoup money, I dont know.

Q: Are there incentives for operators in the proposed fees?

A: They can reduce their fees by 25 percent if they develop a managerial performance plan and have managerial control. Basically self-inspecting, and keeping charts of temperatures. If they have written procedures in place, they can get 10 percent off their annual fee.

Were also looking at making Pima County healthier, so if they have a menu board with the calories up there, its 5 percent off. Eliminate trans fats in your restaurants  which the FDA is going to require in three years  thats a 5 percent discount.

The last 5 percent is if they make food donations of unused product and work with an area food bank. The Board of Health wanted us to do something with the food banks and not having this food going into the landfill when we have hungry people.

The operators control 25 percent of their fee. The cost to us is the same as the original fee, so how are we going to do that if were losing 25 percent of our costs? We need to be more efficient. Making sure our staff is properly trained, getting computers into the field.

Q: What is your background?

A: Ive been doing regulatory work for over 35 years, and started back in Illinois as a health inspector, straight out of college. I got my masters degree in public health while I was working in Skokie as the environmental health director. ... I landed in Maricopa County in 1991 and stayed there for 22 years before I retired.

Q: What brought you to the Pima County Health Department?

A: After I retired, I went on to consult nationally with environmental health programs about how to improve their food safety programs, as well as consulting with restaurants. But it just wasnt my cup of tea. ... Francisco Garcia, the director of the health department, is one of the reasons I came down here. ... I knew he has good, innovative thoughts and directions and I wanted to be a part of that.
As the midterm elections come ever closer, it can feel as if were stewing in a cauldron of tribalism, of our side vs. their side with no middle ground and little agreement on much of anything. That makes it a good time to take a breath and realize the consensus weve reached on some issues that were incredibly contentious not long ago. It gives us hope in the angry days ahead.
Most Arizonans share habitat with the mosquito that causes the Zika virus, whose possible link to babies born with small heads and brains in Brazil caused the World Health Organization to declare its spread a global health emergency on Monday.

So far, the Aedes aegypti mosquito has been simply an ankle-biting nuisance in Tucson, Phoenix and other urban areas of the state, despite its potential to spread the related viruses of Zika, Chikungunya and dengue fever.

Researchers at the University of Arizona have studied the pest for years, trying to puzzle out why the mosquito is endemic here but not the diseases it carries, despite their presence fairly nearby.

Outbreaks of dengue fever have occurred as close as Hermosillo, Sonora, 125 miles south of the Arizona border, but there have been no outbreaks in the border towns of Douglas or Nogales, and no reported local transmission of the diseases in Arizona.

Dengue outbreaks have occurred in the Texas/Chihuahua border towns of Brownsville and Matamoros in 2005 and in Key West, Florida, in 2010 and 2011.

Chikungunya has also been transmitted in Mexico, but not here.

Mexico has reported cases of locally transmitted Zika, but not in its border states.

Should we be worried about Zika?

Not right now. Mosquito populations are small. Its cold, said Kacey Ernst, a UA epidemiologist who studies mosquito-borne diseases.

The recent outbreaks of Zika center on South America, where its summer and mosquito season. For now, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against travel to affected countries by pregnant women or women contemplating getting pregnant.

If and when Zika makes its way to Arizona, it will do so in summer, probably late summer after the monsoon rains create conditions for increases in the population of Aedes aegypti.

Even then, past experience with dengue and Chikungunya suggest that the disease will not get established here  though health officials say there is no certainty that we are somehow immune from outbreaks.

That, however, has been true so far with dengue and Chikungunya.

Ernst, an epidemiologist and biostatistician with the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health since 2008, has concentrated her studies on dengue after earlier investigations of malaria in West Africa.

She said she at first thought lifestyle was the main reason for the lack of dengues spread northward. That was the case in Brownsville, where the 2005 dengue outbreak was mild compared to its cross-border neighbor.

As in Texas, most Arizonans live and work in screened, air-conditioned and mostly mosquito-free buildings.

In summer, when Aedes aegypti mosquitoes emerge after the monsoons, most of our daytime hours are spent indoors  in mosquito-free comfort. Most of our water is delivered in closed pipes. In Nogales, Sonora, said Ernst, 30 percent of the population collects rainwater, often in uncovered containers.

The chances of a mosquito biting an infected person and spreading the disease to an uninfected human by living long enough for the virus to make it to its salivary glands are lessened by our infrastructure.

But that does not explain the difference in disease spread between Hermosillo and Nogales. Ernst and UA entomologists Mike Riehle and Kathleen Walker continue to explore that angle, and in published studies suggest that climate plays a big role.

In an ongoing study funded by the National Institutes of Health, they have tracked the spread of the disease and collected mosquitoes from various locations.

Riehle and colleagues in the UA Department of Entomology developed a method for determining the age of the mosquitoes, discovering that the populations are older in outbreak areas.

Something in the climate of Tucson and Nogales is shortening the lifespan of Aedes aegypti or lengthening the incubation period needed to move the virus from its gut to its salivary glands.

There is some evidence to believe the mosquito doesnt live long enough here to transmit dengue. Were at the edge of its environmental range. They dont survive here the needed 10 to 14 days, said Riehle.

Of course, climate varies from year to year.

In 2014, as a series of late summer storms hit Nogales, the team found much older populations of mosquitoes and some cases of local transmission.

Normally, Ernst suspects, Nogales, at an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet, is not warm enough to be conducive to dengue spread.

How will we know?

Health officials plan to use the heightened awareness of the potential for outbreaks to educate Arizonans on what we can do to prevent them.

The desert is not a welcome habitat for Aedes aegypti, but the mosquitoes find refuge in our yards  they hang out in shady, moist spots in irrigated shrubs and find convenient breeding spots in dog dishes, flowerpots and uncovered water-harvesting containers.

The mosquito doesnt need much. A crease in a plastic trash bag left out in the rain provides ample space for eggs to hatch into larva.

People have done a really good job of allowing these Aedes aegypti to exploit our man-made containers, said Ernst.

Vigilance is required, and maybe a neighborly helping hand. The mosquitoes dont travel far, but you need to eliminate breeding areas in your immediate neighborhood. So help your elderly neighbor and dump their standing water for them, said Ernst.

Jessica Rigler, chief of the bureau of epiemiology and disease control with the Arizona Department of Health Services, suggests wiping that bowl or pot in addition to emptying it. Aedes aeguypti are floodwater mosquitoes. They lay eggs at the water line of a container, so that their offspring hatch into larvae with the next rain or overwatering.

The best protection from any mosquito-borne disease is simply to not get bitten, she said. The state Health Department recommends wearing long clothing and using insect repellent outdoors during times mosquitoes are active.

Not getting bitten also provides a type of herd immunity akin to that afforded by vaccination programs, Rigler said.

Rigler said the Health Department must walk a fine line between assuring people that diseases are not present and urging prevention strategies, as it watches for outbreaks.

The state Health Department works with doctors and health officials to educate them about symptoms and collect reports of infection, but it does not have active surveillance programs of the Aedes aegypti population.

There is this kind of issue with passive surveillance, said Ernst. You have to wait until somebody gets sick enough to go to the doctor. The doctor has to order the right tests and wait for the results.

By the time health officials know the disease is present, the outbreak could be already underway.

Ernst is working with the CDC and the Skoll Global Threats Fund to develop a social-media tool that could serve as an early-warning system  a symptom-reporting app for mobile devices akin to one already in use for influenza. The three related diseases share common symptoms  high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and sometimes nausea, vomiting and skin rash.

Ernst hopes to have the app ready for reporting of symptoms by June.

Outbreaks usually bring swift responses in this country. Riehle said when he and his fellow dengue researchers went to Key West during the 2011 outbreak to collect mosquitoes for aging, they arrived too late.

They basically carpet-bombed the place with insecticide. Once we got there, the mosquitoes were few and far between. It blew a hole in our study.

Thats the norm in the public-health world, said Heidi Brown, also of the UA School of Public Health.

That was certainly the case in the 1950s and 1960s when a nationwide response to the much deadlier yellow fever, also carried by Aedes aegypti, severely knocked back its population, she said.

Aedes aegypti basically disappeared from Arizona beginning in the early 1970s, only to re-emerge in Tucson in the early 1990s, when complaints from the midtown Sam Hughes Neighborhood led entomologist Henry Hagedorn to trap and identify the burgeoning Aedes aegypti population there.

But while the mosquitoes returned, yellow fever has not, and the United States has seen few local transmissions of dengue and Chikungunya.

Whether Zika will be different is still a question nobody can answer.

Ernst said the research literature about the virus is scarce.

She found 170 articles, compared to the thousands upon thousands of dengue studies.
The Tucson Theatre Announcements List is a monitored e-mail list. Notices from Tucson area theatre companies, filmmakers and others are forwarded to the list members. These notices include auditions, casting calls, openings and other announcements of interest to actors, directors, techies and theatre lovers in our community. This Blog contains an archive of recent posts to the list. For more information go to http://tucsonstage.com
Help India!

Lucknow/New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Saturday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met underworld don Dawood Ibrahim at the residence of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore in December last year. The government termed it as baseless, unfounded and totally false.

If the prime minister asks, I can show photographs as proof, Azam Khan told reporters in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh.

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The senior leader of the states ruling Samajwadi Party said Modi also met Sharifs mother at the Pakistani prime ministers residence in Lahore.

He claimed that Sharif sent seekh kabab for Modi.

Our prime minister sends pashmina shawl and Malihabadi mangoes for the Pakistani prime minister and in return, seekh kabab comes here from Pakistan. I have proof of this also, he said.

The government denied the claims.

There are reports in a section of the press that the prime accused of the serial Mumbai blasts Dawood Ibrahim was also present during Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on 25th December 2015. These statements are baseless, unfounded and totally false, an official statement said.

In December last year, Modi made a brief stopov
Help India!

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Fearing communal flare-up, Muslim residents from Dhar town have petition Madhya Pradesh High Court to ensure they are not prevented from offering weekly Friday prayer at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Masjid on February 12 as it coincides with Hindu Festival  Basant Panchami.

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Bhojshala is a notified Central Waqf monument that is protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The monument houses Kamaal Maula Masjid where Muslims are permitted to offer Friday prayers by the ASI. While an unused water tank meant for ablution at the structure is allowed for Hindus to celebrate Basant Panchami festival.



This year Basant Panchami corresponds to Friday on February 12 and therefore ASI in its order dated January 20, 2016 has allowed Muslims to offer Friday prayer at the structure from 1-3 pm and Hindus to observe customary religious practices from sunrise to 12 noon and 3.30 pm to sunset.

However, Muslims in the region are apprehensive due to the announcement by right wing outfits that they would occupy the structure for whole day indicating Muslims will be prevented from observing Friday prayer.

In 2013, similar situation had arrived as the festival fell on Friday and the town had witnessed violence after Hindu activists refused to vacate the premises or to honour the arrangement of allowing Muslims to offer Friday prayer between 1 pm and 3 pm.

Seeing the rising tension and fear of Dhar Muslims right being usurped to offer Friday prayer Arif Masood, executive member, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB) has moved MP High court to intervene and safeguard their rights alleging Hindu zealots want to occupy the mosque whole day.

Following the initial hearing on this petition, Masood said,  MP High Court has ordered the state Government to inform High Court as to what steps have been taken by it to ensure peaceful conduct of Friday prayers on ensuing February 12 by Muslims at the 11th century Kamal Moula Masjid in Dhar town.

Addressing a Press conference Arif Masood said that on the plea of AIMPB the High Court comprising of two member bench Justice PK Jaiswal and Justice J. K. Jain on Thursday further said what lessons it (state government) had learnt from the past mistakes made by it in the similar circumstances.

Masood in his petition has said that in 2013 when the similar conditions existed, the State Government had failed to comply with the court orders as the Hindu activists had refused to vacate the premises or to honour the arrangement of allowing Muslims to offer Friday prayer between 1 pm and 3 pm.

High Court has asked state government to file its reply on Monday when it shall again hear the matter.

During the conference Masood alleged that according to Hindu calendar Basant Panchami is scheduled to be celebrated across the country on February 13 but Some Hindutva organizations have announced to perform prayers of Basant Panchami on Friday February 12.

This step of the rightwing organisations to pre-pone the festival wilfully to harass the Muslims has created tension in the State. The BJP-ruled State Government seems to be under pressure of these outfits and is making arrangements to conduct Basant Panchami prayers a day ahead that is on Friday only. Seeing the negligent past record of the Dhar district administration the Muslims are apprehensive and dont trust the State Government, he added.

Meanwhile, right-wing hardliners of Dhar opposed and boycotted a Sadbhavana Rally (peace march) organised by the administration on Thursday ahead of Basant Panchami. The hardliners called a half-day bandh to oppose the rally. Shops and other business establishments remained closed till afternoon.

Hindustan Times quoted Gopal Sharma, convenor of Dharm Jagran Vibhag, an outfit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, as saying, We have opposed the Sadbhavana Rally and a majority of Hindus have not taken any part in this rally. This sort of rally is always organised on the occasion of Hindu festival and not during Muslim festivals. The aim of these rallies is to create fear in Hindu community. We have no acrimony against anyone or any community then why has the administration organised this rally.
Help India!

By Aijaz Zaka Syed

It is said that in his quest to establish a world-class university for Muslims, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan would stop at nothing. Like all men possessed, he lived, talked and thought about his dream until he realized it. Having invested everything he had in his life mission, he went around with a begging bowl to raise funds for the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, later, the Aligarh Muslim University. He pestered everyone, Muslims, Hindus, the rich and poor, men and women for donations, even visiting red light areas to persuade tawaif, courtesans, to contribute to the cause.

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A distinguished scholar, civil servant and reformer, Sir Syed concluded in the wake of the 1857 upheavals, which saw Muslims largely take the full blow of an angry empires wrath, that modern education was the only way ahead for the community.

From going hungry for days to staging plays and mushairas, traversed mountains of adversities, including fierce opposition from within the community, to reach his goal. He was even declared a kaffir for championing modern education, seen by many as a symbol of British tyranny. Nothing deterred him though. He went on to found the MAO College at Aligarh in 1875 against all odds. It was recognized as a Central University in 1920 through an Act of Central Legislative Council by the Indian Government.

Today, AMU houses more than 28,000 students on its campuses and offers more than 250 programs and courses. Despite all the controversies and disputes that have dogged it in recent years, it remains one of the top 10 universities in India and one of the most recognized around the world. Not bad for an institution founded by a voiceless, dispossessed minority.

The tiny plant that Syed watered with his lifeblood and sacrifices of thousands of Muslims has grown into a giant tree offering shade to many a weary seeker of knowledge. It introduced Muslims to modern education and transformed their educational and economic standards and outlook. AMU has also spawned a million tributaries in India, Pakistan and around the world. No wonder Gandhi hailed him as a prophet of education. AMU helped a voiceless minority rediscover its voice and self-esteem.

Aligarh has never stopped fighting its battle for survival though, defying adversity at every stage of its existence. However, what it faces today in the gauntlet thrown down by the Modi government, challenging its raison detre, the very purpose of existence, in the Supreme Court, is perhaps the greatest threat to its identity as Indias  perhaps worlds  first modern, world-class educational institution founded by Muslims.

After nearly a century and half of the universitys existence, its character as a Muslim institution is now being questioned by the BJP government. Its the stand of the Union of India that the AMU is not a minority university. As the executive government at the center we cannot be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi told the Supreme Court on January 11.

So a colonial power may have recognized Aligarh as a central university run by Muslims  such was the high benchmark that the university set that the Viceroy felt privileged to be its honorary patron and Visitor  but a government owing allegiance to the secular Constitution of free India promising equal rights to all cannot bring itself to do so.

Of course, India is a secular state. But its secular constitution offers minorities a fundamental right to practice their religion and educate their children as they see fit. The Article 30 (1) of Constitution unambiguously promises: All minorities whether based on religion or language shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

Aligarh is not merely a world-class university; it is movement for change. AMU has not just helped generations of Indias Muslims  and non-Muslims  empower themselves in terms of education, awareness and economic emancipation; it marked their coming of age. No wonder it has always been a favorite punching bag for the folks who are now in power in India and whore yet to accept minorities as legitimate citizens and equal stakeholders of the country.

Before Independence, AMU was often tarred as the laboratory of the idea of Pakistan. Post Independence, successive governments have tried to undermine its special identity as a minority institution.

In 1965, education minister MC Chagla first opened the Pandoras box when he amended the 1920 Act to reduce AMU to a government appendage, inflicting the body blow on Muslims proudest institution. The university court, the supreme governing body, was reduced to being a puppet of the government of the day.

When some Muslims approached the SC for help, the top court ruled on October 20, 1967, to their horror that AMU was not a minority institution and that a university which was founded through a central law cannot claim a special status.

It may be that the 1920 Act was passed as a result of the efforts of the Muslim minority. But that does not mean that the Aligarh University when it came into being under the 1920 Act was established by the Muslim minority, the court ruled.

Why? Because, the judges reasoned, It would not be possible for the Muslim minority to establish a university of the kind whose degrees were bound to be recognized by government.

In other words, no minority can establish a university even though Article 30(1) gives it the right to do so.

The top court ignored the fact that AMU preexisted the 1920 law in the form of MAO College and that the University was entirely financed and founded by Muslims. The community had only sought the government recognition for AMU. Universities have a legal standing which only a statute can confer.

Taking the SC verdict apart, legal luminary HM Seervai points out that Muslims founded the university in the only manner in which a university could be brought into existence; namely, by invoking the exercise by the sovereign authority of its legislative power. The Muslim community provided lands, buildings, colleges and endowments for the university, and without these the university as a body corporate would be an unreal abstraction.

Under pressure from the community, the Indian government tried to remedy the situation by bringing in an amendment in 1981 that clearly reaffirmed that AMU is the educational institution of their choice established by the Muslims of India, which originated as the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College and which was subsequently incorporated as the Aligarh Muslim University.

Yet a decade later, the Allahabad High Court, ignoring the Amendment, again junked the minority status of the university. The single judge ruled that the minorities cannot establish a university; at best they can establish a deemed university. The UPA government and the AMU appealed against the ruling before a divisional bench. But it ruled in 2006 that reservations for Muslims in AMU, a university founded by Muslims, were wrong.

Its hardly surprising that the Modi government has jumped on the opportunity provided by the UP court ruling, to argue before the SC that it does not consider AMU a minority institution.

Given the enduring Hindutva love of all things Muslim, this was only to be expected. Aligarh is not merely a university founded by Muslims. It remains the most potent symbol of their identity, an institution that inspires immense pride in a community that has been left with few of them. It is this pride and identity that is under attack, as has been the case with all other institutions and symbols of Indias secularism and diversity under this dispensation.

The Hindutva groups, whose very existence is based on perpetual Muslim bashing and crying about the imagined atrocities during the 1000-year long Muslim rule wont rest until they have obliterated it. Clearly, India of their dreams only has place for a Banaras Hindu University but not an Aligarh Muslim University or Jamia Millia Islamia, another proud institution of the community.

So the BJP government with the brute majority that it enjoys in Parliament may after all succeed in its attempts to divest Aligarh and Jamia of their special character. But a country in which religious minorities do not have the freedom to practice their faith and run their institutions could claim to be neither secular nor democratic. Without Aligarh, India will not be the same again.

Aijaz Zaka Syed is a Gulf based writer. Email: [email protected]
It would appear the Conservative Party has initiated a new policy in which only the fittest survive. Complimenting their historic conservative ideology of looking after number one, recent changes in how the most vulnerable in Society are treated by the State demonstrate a secret new policy in action.

Following on from the Iain Duncan Smith's back-to-work scheme in which 2,380 people died (many only weeks after being declared fit for work) having their benefits stopped, indicate a new policy is in full swing and achieving it's desired results.

Latest developments in Manchester, where the homeless are being forced off the streets, adds credence that a concerted effort from central Government to withdraw all help, compassion and assistance to the nation's most needy and vulnerable people is now being implemented nationwide.

Gandhi is credited to have said "The measure of a civilisation is how it treats its weakest members." This aged old wisdom appears to have been turned on its head by the Conservative Party in it's ever growing obsession to cut the nation's debt and disassemble the Welfare system.

What's next? In America, many States are making it illegal to even feed the homeless. No doubt the trend will cross the Atlantic and be implemented here. With the introduction of a privatised NHS, a privatised Police force and a dwindling Welfare state, it's inevitable that the weakest will die, deemed as collateral damage of a Conservative party policy in which only the fittest survive.

With a cabinet made up of multi-millionaire public schooled Bullington Boys famed for burning 50 notes in front of homeless beggars, it comes as no surprise that behind closed doors radical policies are being dreamt up without the constraints of their Liberal Democrat coalition partners.

In a golden era of Tory governance, the Conservative party are indulging in their wildest dreams of a country serving the interests of a select few, while disregarding the needs of the many.

Where it will end? Only they know...
LatAm reaps benefits of China's desire for 'luxury fruits' Updated: 2016-02-08 06:30 By SHU JIE and MAO PENGFEI in Mexico City For China Daily(China Daily Latin America)

Blackberries and blueberries from Mexico, bananas from Ecuador have become popular fruits among China's growing middle-income groups. They are ready to pay more for new flavors, better quality and health benifits. Photo by Mao Pengfei

In late January, a shipment of 173 kilograms of raspberries grown in Mexico's northwest region was transported to China through a new logistical route, which opened following the meeting of officials from both countries to speed up Mexico's berry exports to the Asian giant.

The route, consisting of highways carrying berries from the San Quintin Valley in Mexico's Baja California to Los Angeles and an airline destined for Shanghai represents a potential increase of berry exports to the Chinese market, the largest consumer of agricultural products in the world, according to the Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing, and Food (Sagarpa) of Mexico.

With rapid growth of the well-off middle class in China, the market for Latin American "luxury fruits" such as raspberries and blackberries is expanding quickly.

In addition, China's current development strategy, which seeks to transform the economy from an export- and investment-driven one to a consumer-driven one by boosting purchasing power, also greatly promotes the increase of the need for those fruits.

As the third-largest berry exporter in the world, Mexico is seizing the opportunity to benefit its growers.

In 2014, Mexico and China signed a phytosanitary protocol on export and import of the fruits, initiating the fruit exportation of Mexico to China since 2015.

Between January and April 2015, Mexican growers exported around 70 tonnes of raspberries and blackcurrants to China. The first-year results seemed to fall short as the trade opened when the production season was practically halfway completed in Mexico, which usually runs from October to April, according to Mario Andrade, the president of Mexico's National Association of Berry Exporters.

The exportation was achieved only via an air route between Guadalajara in western Mexico and Central China's Henan province, passing through Chicago.

The new route opened in time to boost Mexico's berry exportation to China, which will mainly benefit growers in the western states of Michoacan and Jalisco, the other two states with the highest berry production in the Latin American country.

During this year's raspberry and blackcurrant season, which runs from October 2015 to April 2016, 30 tonnes have been exported so far, according to Sagarpa.

Mexican producers hope to export 500 tonnes of berries to China in the current season, which will amount to around $50 million.

Although the sales are nowhere near the amount Mexican producers annually sell to the United States (which makes up 85 percent of Mexico's exports), 2016 is only the second year of Mexican exports of blackberries and raspberries to China.

The Mexican government projects that China could someday import 20 percent of Mexican berries sold.

Fruit producers from other Latin American countries also are looking to expand exports to the Chinese market.

In December, a Boeing 777 cargo plane carrying 100 tons of Chilean cherries and blueberries to northeast China's Shenyang province marked the first regular line of charter flights bringing fresh fruit from Chile to northeast China in only 20 hours instead of 25 days via shipment.

Air freight makes it possible for people in Northeast China to enjoy fresh blueberries, said Ji Bin, general manager of the Dalian Yidu Cold Chain Co, importer of the fruits.

Delivery of fresh fruits and other food products to Shenyang by air is becoming more common as the city strives to become a transit hub for imported goods.

Chilean blueberries are sold on Chinese fruit e-commerce platform fruitday.com at about 88 yuan ($13.60) per 500 grams.

It's relatively expensive for Chinese, who usually have local fruits like apples, oranges and pears. But more people will be able to afford the imported fruits, as the Chinese government aims to double the people's average annual income by the year 2020. That figure in 2015 stood at 21,966 yuan ($3,338).

Berries are not the only luxury fruits that have seen a sales boost in China. Mexico's avocado, known as "butter fruit" in Chinese because of its taste and texture, is also making inroads.

According to China Customs, China imported 31,800 kilograms of avocados in 2011, rising to almost 4.07 million kilograms in 2014.

The increased imports reflect the cosmopolitan tastes of China's middle class, who are ready to pay extra to sample new fruits, particularly those with health benefits.

China imported about $5.14 billion worth of fruit in 2014, up 25.4 percent year on year. The 2015 figures are expected to be higher.
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LIBERTY  The commander of the American Legion post in Liberty, the towns hub for community events, said he hopes to increase membership and continue to raise enough money to pay the bills and maintain the building.

Our main goal is to keep the doors open and the bills paid so we can have this building available, said Jim Barr, also mentioning repairs to the stucco, shingles and paint. Its a lot of upkeep.

The post hosts an annual shrimp feed (its main fundraiser), graduation ceremonies, wedding receptions, funeral luncheons and other community events. The building was built in the early 1900s and over the years has been remodeled and received an addition. The three rooms seat about 210.

About 1,000 people pour in and out of the building during the five-hour-long shrimp feed, which is scheduled for Feb. 20 this year.

Its a zoo, Barr said. Its a mad house in here.

Barr said the women of the local American Legion Auxiliary unit cook 400 pounds of their famous scalloped potatoes, prepare 1,200 pounds of shrimp and make other food for the mass.

We couldnt do it without the auxiliary women, Barr said. The women cook for all of the events with food at the post.

Without the post, We wouldnt be able to have a community building, a place to have functions, Barr said.

The 39 members of the post, called Huntington-Vasey-Young American Legion Post No. 346, are military veterans of Liberty, Barneston, Wymore and Summerfield, Kan. The post is named after three men from Liberty who died as American soldiers in World War I. Eight other men from Liberty also died in war.

Barr said there were 80 members in the post in 1979.

There are young people around who are eligible to join, but its not their thing, Barr said.

Barr said he joined the Legion to help take care of veterans and bury them.

Everyone in the Legion would say the same thing, Barr said. It takes at least a dozen veterans to (bury another veteran) right.

The Liberty Legion post also hosts a Memorial Day program each year, during which the veterans give programs and play the song Taps at five area cemeteries. It also hosts a flag disposal ceremony every two or three years.

Another major mission of the Legion is to support and encourage youth.

The American Legion has four pillars of interests it supports: children and youth, national defense, veterans affairs, and Americanism and community service.

The Liberty post sponsors a student or students each year to attend a state speech contest. The students are told to give a speech about a current event relating to the United States Constitution.

Its a darn good program, Barr said. They learn about government and leadership. Its just a good thing  Kids are our future, both in our military and our schools.

The population of Liberty is about 75. It was at one time about 470. Barr attributes the shrinking of small towns to advancements in farming and transportation.

This town was booming, Barr said of Liberty at one time. I remember taking a passenger train to Wymore as a kid. Theres not a railroad anymore. Semi-trucks and good roads ended that.

Barr called Liberty and small towns like it a bedroom community, meaning residents live and sleep there, but work and play primarily elsewhere.
Brody graduate, now art student, helps teach mothers in Africa to make shoes for barefoot children

Children often walk long distances in their bare feet in Mozambique, making them at risk for infection and disease.

MORE THAN SHOES

HELPING HANDS



Children show off their new, hand-made shoes in a village in Mozambique.





Chris Morgan, an ECU art graduate student, is shown in her studio space in the Jenkins Fine Arts Center. Morgan is involved in effort to make simple hand-sewn shoes for the children to improve their physical and economic condition by creating a cottage industry in the area.

Chris Morgan's lifelong interests in art and science converged in a tiny village in Africa this fall.The East Carolina University alumna and art graduate student traveled to Mozambique as part of a contingent from Arts to End Genocide, an eastern North Carolina-based non-profit that started a program called Heeling Our World.Through shoe-making, the effort aims to educate students in the United States about the physical and economic conditions of underserved children in Africa.said Mitch Lewis, executive director of Arts to End Genocide.Diseases often enter children's bodies through cuts in their feet. Jiggers, a parasitic sand flea, are common in the village. Once inside the skin, jiggers lay eggs and multiply. Children with jiggers are socially stigmatized, and worse, sometimes become paralyzed, lose limbs or die. A pair of shoes could prevent that outcome.Morgan said.Morgan said.Heeling Our World is helping parents and siblings in rural villages throughout Africa develop cottage industries for hand-sewing simple shoes with locally-sourced materials.The shoes are made with a fold-and-stitch process.Morgan said.Morgan was an obstetrician and gynecologist for 10 years in New Bern before a hand injury forced an early end to her medical career.It was during this time she became involved with Heeling Our World.Morgan said.She dedicated herself to helping others, particularly in rural and underserved areas, as a graduate of ECU's Brody School of Medicine.Morgan said.She had always wanted to go on a medical mission trip, but never had the opportunity with the demands of family and career. The Mozambique trip rekindled that interest.Morgan said.She earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from UNC before entering medical school at ECU. Her interest in science and art goes back to childhood. Morgan studied classical ballet in New York City after high school and performed with the Joffrey Ballet, the New Jersey Classic Ballet, Bronx Opera Company and a Hollywood-based jazz troupe that toured Europe. Morgan, whose master's concentration is in sculpture, has won awards from the ECU School of Art and Design and juried art shows in the area. She has pieces in permanent collections from North Carolina to Italy. She also is an accomplished potter, violinist and painter.Four hours from the capital of Maputo, residents live in thatched huts, have no electricity and cook outside.Morgan said.She and Lewis rode in a four-wheel-drive vehicle down a clay road clogged with rubble and potholes. Their team included two translators, social workers and a health care worker.Once in the village of Macuane, Morgan worked in a crowded hut, kneeling on a concrete floor, teaching mothers to make shoes for their children in temperatures that hovered near 107 degrees in October.Morgan said.Lewis said.Not only are village residents making shoes, a local shoemaker and artist at a vocational training facility in Mozarte is helping sustain the effort too. There, Morgan learned the dip-dying process for the shoe fabric, which she hopes to incorporate into Heeling Our World's educational awareness programs offered in North Carolina public schools.The shoe line will be made and sold at a shop outside the village in areas where tourists from South Africa and Europe head for vacation along the Indian Ocean. Students at N.C. State University also have designed a line of fashion shoes which will be sold in local African marketplaces and online. Sales will support existing cottage industries and fund new ventures in African nations.Locally, students in Pitt, Carteret and Craven counties have helped make shoes to send overseas.The Heeling Our World project also plans to expand its mission to an orphanage in need in Uganda, where they hope to travel this year, Lewis said.To donate, go to https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/http-making-shoes-for-barefoot-children-in-mozambique/ . For more information, visit http://www.artstoendgenocide.org/mozambique.html
RALEIGH The John Locke Foundation's First in Freedom Index ranks North Carolina No. 36 in the nation and No. 8 in our region in regulatory freedom. Even with regulatory reforms enacted every legislative session since 2011, there is still work to be done to ensure more freedom and less burden from government regulations.A legislative committee is taking an in-depth look at rules and rulemaking in North Carolina and will make recommendations for further reforms. A state-level REINS Act is worth careful consideration.As of March 2014, North Carolina had 21,751 rules in the Administrative Code, with 5,551 in health and human services, 3,253 covering occupational licensing boards, and 2,980 in environment and natural resources.Economists at the Beacon Hill Institute in Boston estimate that North Carolina's regulations cost our economy a minimum of $3.1 billion in 2015 and as much as $25.5 billion. That's larger than our General Fund budget this year.Think about it this way: Every rule has a cost associated with it. Multiply that cost by 21,751, and multiply that again by every person, business, or industry that has to comply with that rule.You see the impact rules have on North Carolina's economy. It's massive.When we're required to get a safety and emissions inspection on our car every year, it costs us $30. When an entrepreneur is required to install a sprinkler system in her facility, there is an additional cost of up to $7 per square foot to start that business.Think about the business owner who has to spend hours reading through red tape, comparing federal law with state law and local ordinances to ensure he is complying. That's time he could have invested into growing his business.There is a cost to the taxpayer as government grows bigger and bigger, hiring more staff to police and enforce more and more rules. A bigger government costs more as the layers of bureaucracy grow and those charged with enforcing the rules settle into jobs in ever-larger departments and agencies. And when more resources go to enforcing rules, there is less money to pay our good teachers and law enforcement officers, and to fund other core functions of state government.Often these costs are the result of outdated, unnecessary, duplicative, overly burdensome rules. Low-income families and struggling small businesses are hit the hardest as the rules grow.The biggest cost we pay is our loss of freedom. Whether it's what kind of bushes you can plant along the creek bed in your back yard; or time-sucking compliance with duplicative federal, state, and local rules; or restrictions on where you can park your food truck, every rule has a cost. Often that cost is our freedom to enjoy the fruits of our labor and to pursue our dreams.I'm not suggesting that we should have no rules. We need rules for order, consistency, and fairness, to protect public health, safety, and the environment. But what has happened over the years is that the authority has gone from the legislature to unelected government bureaucrats with no oversight and no accountability. As far back as 1978, the N.C. Supreme Court warned that the delegation of legislative rulemaking power should be "closely monitored."Under our state Constitution, the General Assembly has the authority and the duty to enact laws. Legislators study, debate, discuss, and take public comment. Bills go through numerous committees, votes, amendments, scrutiny, and analysis before they become law.From 2003 to 2010, 19 percent of the bills introduced in the General Assembly became law. During a comparable period - 2004 to 2009 - 99.9 percent of the rules written by unelected government bureaucrats went into effect.Our General Assembly has begun to address the regulatory burden, beginning with the Regulatory Reform Act of 2011 and with a Regulatory Reform Act every year since.We now have a regular review of rules and a cost-benefit analysis. We disallow state environmental laws from being more stringent than federal laws and offer guiding principles for new rules. Great progress has been made since 2011 in reforming burdens of overregulation in North Carolina. Moving forward, there are additional restraints that can be used.At the Locke Foundation, we propose a tool to return rulemaking authority to the General Assembly and increase accountability and transparency. Under a REINS Act, major rules would require a vote from the General Assembly and the governor's signature. Without that approval, the proposed rule would die. Major rules are those with significant economic impact.It's an idea that's passed the U.S. House of Representatives three times since 2011. Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and the American Legislative Exchange Council endorse a national REINS Act.With so much gridlock at the federal level, it's more and more likely that states will be the places where good policy happens. Policymakers and thought leaders in Mississippi, Florida, Ohio, and Utah join North Carolina in looking at adopting a state-level REINS Act.North Carolina has become a national model in tax reform, in education reform, in the restraint of government growth. North Carolina can become a model in rules and regulation reform as well. The adoption of a state-level REINS Act would increase accountability and transparency, restrain the burden of overregulation, and further enhance the freedoms of North Carolinians.
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02:28 Calls for Lidia Thorpe to quit politics There are calls for Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe to quit politics after she stepped down from the party's leadership team on Thursday over her...

Severe storm warnings for Eastern Australia 00:24 Severe storms are forecasted for Australias eastern states which is set to impact flood-affected communities.

Rebel Wilson breaks silence on Aussie journo who tried to out her Australian actress Rebel Wilson has opened up for the first time since being forced to "come out", revealing she was yet to tell some family and friends about her same-sex relationship with fashion designer Ramona Agruma.

WA cancer centre funding in doubt 02:04 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to confirm whether the federal government will support the proposed cancer centre in Perth.
Insurance commissioner expressed concerns in letter to federal HHS secretary

Teresa Parrott of Durham says she is unable to use the health insurance coverage she has purchased from the federal health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. (CJ Photo by Dan Way)

RALEIGH State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is concerned that insurers "have left health insurance markets in droves due to the increased burdens" of the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, and that insurers could completely pull out of North Carolina's individual health insurance market, leaving thousands uninsured.Goodwin offered that assessment in a letter dated Tuesday to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell.The news comes on the heels of reports that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina expects to lose $400 million on its Obamacare exchange policies for 2014 and 2015."According to my staff, North Carolina had 29 insurers offering individual health insurance coverage prior to the ACA. For 2016, North Carolina has only 8 insurers who still issue such coverage and a handful of others who provide transitional and/or grandfathered coverage only," Goodwin wrote in the letter."Similarly, for the small group market," he wrote,Goodwin ties Obamacare's impacts to a consolidation of health insurer groups in North Carolina.he wrote.BCBSNC, the state's largest insurer in the individual health insurance market, has cut back significantly the number of plans it offers, and narrowed the scope of networks in some. But it is not the only company to have done so.From 2015 to 2016, Goodwin wrote,Due to "large losses" in 2014 and 2015,Goodwin wrote.Compounding the hundreds of millions of dollars in losses are insurance companies' attempts to cut costs.The North Carolina Association of Health Underwriters told Goodwin "almost no insurers in the individual market [are] paying commissions," and agents may abandon the sale of individual products.Goodwin's dire assessment is unlikely to sit well with advocates of the troubled Obamacare health exchanges. As recently as November, Thomas Mills, a longtime Democratic political consultant and founder of the liberal PoliticsNC.Com Mills is the Democratic candidate for the 8th U.S. congressional seat held by GOP Rep. Richard Hudson.said Katherine Restrepo, health and human services policy analyst at the John Locke Foundation.But those states that have expanded Medicaid have found itRestrepo said.Medicaid expansion also increases the scope of the government safety net,Restrepo said.said Duke research scholar Chris Conover, who has been closely monitoring Obamacare, and its effects.Even so, fewer people have gained coverage than both the Congressional Budget Office and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projected. And those with policies are not always able to see a doctor, as some people on the North Carolina exchange have complained."Aggregate costs are lower," Conover said, but that's because fewer people have enrolled in Obamacare than predicted. Costs would have soared if the projected enrollment had been achieved.Conover said.Health care spending is down worldwide largely because of a weak economyConover said.Yet in the United States, he said, per capita health care expendituresConover pins some of the blame of insurers' plight on the companies themselves.their costs and premiums, he said.and they were trying to lose money in 2014,Conover said.While average premium costs among the three exchange insurers in 2016 went up between 20 percent and 32.5 percent,Conover said.
First of four parts

WATERLOO  An acute case of demand overwhelming supply has put nursing on the critical list.

Experts say there is a serious shortage of nurses, and things are only going to worsen as the baby boom generation retires.

I dont even want to think about that, said Kelly Richards, chief nursing officer for the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa, which includes Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls and Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein.

The shortage cuts a wide swath across the nursing category, embracing acute- and emergency-care, home health, rehabilitation and other areas.

Theres a statewide shortage of registered nurses, said Dr. Jerry Durham, chancellor at Allen College in Waterloo, the largest nursing school in Northeast Iowa. In the Cedar Valley, which I know more about, there are significant numbers of openings for nurses at all three hospitals.

Some areas of Iowa are worse off than the Cedar Valley, but the shortage stretches across the state, Richards said.

Ive talked with different colleagues in central Iowa, and they were really feeling the shortage, Richards said. They stressed that they had open positions and had a hard time filling them.

Locally, theres a little bit of a shortage, but recruiters have been active, Richards said.

Specifically, critical-access hospitals that arent affiliated with larger organizations may have had shortages, Richards said. One said theyve had one position open for a year. It doesnt seem like a lot, but for a small critical-access, 25-beds or fewer, thats a lot.

The shortage probably is most acute in the medical-surgical area, Richards said. Many nurses start in that area but later gravitate toward other areas.

At Wheaton, the specialty areas currently dont have many openings  some dont have any  because the nurse develops an interest in that area, Richards said. She mentioned the birth center, emergency rooms and operating rooms in particular.

Help wanted

Both Wheaton and UnityPoint Health recently held job fairs for nurses, and additional fairs are upcoming. Wheaton drew more than 50 candidates to a recent job fair, Richards said.

We hired about a third of them, she said. We try to fit the candidate to their area of interest.

Some not hired were qualified but interested in areas with no openings  the Family Birth Center, for instance. Shift preferences can also be a factor, Richards noted.

UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo, on whose campus Allen College operates, benefits from its proximity to the nursing school, Durham said.

The shortage hits close to home, said Jan Erpelding, manager of clinical recruitment at UnityPoint-Allen Hospital.

The most intense its been has been within the last 10 months, she said.

Allen has 65 RN openings. The clinics have 11 RNs and 11 LPNs open. Home health has nine vacancies. The hospital will hire some of Allen Colleges 50 December graduates, Durham said.

Theyre not all going to work at Allen; our graduates go everywhere, Durham said.

Most new nursing graduates want to work in a hospital setting, but only about 50 to 55 percent of the nursing workforce in the U.S. actually does, Durham said.

It has decreased over the years as job opportunities have increased in other settings, he said.

100 percent placement

Job opportunities locally abound for nursing school graduates of all stripes.

Any registered nurse, without or with experience, can find a job in the Waterloo area, Durham said.

Hospitals prefer experienced nurses or nurses with a four-year nursing degree.

However, I know employers are hiring brand-new nurses with two-year degrees from the community college, Durham said.

Allen College is doing what it can to recruit students to fill an increasing number of nursing vacancies, increasing enrollment in the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program. A student can complete the program in as little as 16 months. The program has grown from 40 to 64 students.

Allen College is looking outside standard classroom venues to bring in more students, Durham said, considering online study. We are moving in that direction for one of our accelerated programs, Durham said.

Allen Colleges enrollment for the semester that ended in December was 611 students  more than twice that of 10 years ago. The growth is the result of a number of initiatives.

In addition to offering more programs online, Allen has arrangements with several higher-education institutions, including the University of Northern Iowa, Wartburg College, Loras College, Simpson College and Central College. Students can go to affiliate institutions for three years and finish a BSN at Allen in 15 months, Erpelding said.

Nursing school grows

Ten years ago, there were 35 students in graduate programs at Allen College; today, there are 240 in masters and doctoral sequences, Durham said.

Two-year nursing graduates from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo also can move on to Allen College for further credit, Erpelding said.

The college has masters programs in nursing and occupational therapy and doctoral programs in nursing practice (DNP) and education in health sciences. The masters program has a total of seven options, including four nurse practitioner offerings, Durham said.

The accelerated program in nursing, which now enrolls 64 students, was introduced in the last decade. Allen College launched a masters in occupational therapy last fall and anticipates admitting 24 students per year. A doctor of physical therapy program will eventually be added, Durham said.

Undergraduate students are obtaining a four-year degree graduate with an average debt load of about $29,000, about the same as the national average. But the virtual certainty of landing employment can take some of that sting away, Durham said.

Erpelding said there are financial incentives available to recruits, including a $10,000 signing bonus that commits a nurse to the facility for three years. She said Allen Hospital also offers a very good support system, as far as forgivable student loans.

Wheaton Franciscan also offers tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness, Richards said.

Theres also a nurse residency program.

Within three months of hire, they get in and talk about a variety of topics, such as their professional journey as a nurse, legal issues, stress, prioritization, she said. Its kind of a nice area for the new hires to talk. Our orientation, when we hire a new nurse, its pretty comprehensive. It includes some classroom education and some hands-on training and time in our simulation lab.

Nurses with at least one year of experience also can participate in a career ladder program, Richards said.

Shortage to grow

The need for nurses is only going to increase, Durham said. The nation is going to need 1 million new nurses in the next decade, according to federally supported studies, due to retirements, an aging population and more access to health care through the Affordable Care Act.

A goal nationally is to fill 80 percent of those jobs with registered nurses who have four-year degrees, Durham said.

Some employers are compelling them to do it and also providing financial support for them to return to school, he said.

Monday: Men are becoming a larger percent of the nursing workforce.
Cop sues estate

of teen he shot

CHICAGO (AP)  A white Chicago police officer who fatally shot a black 19-year-old college student and accidentally killed a neighbor has filed a lawsuit against the teenagers estate, arguing the shooting left him traumatized.

The suit was filed Friday in the middle of the citys effort to grapple with serious questions about its police force.

Officer Robert Rialmo is seeking $10 million in damages. His attorney said it was important in the charged atmosphere to send a message police are not targets for assaults and suffer damage like anybody else.

The teens father, Antonio LeGrier, filed a wrongful death lawsuit days after the Dec. 26 shooting, saying his son, Quintonio, was not armed with a weapon and was not a threat.

Syrian refugees mass

at Turkish border

BEIRUT (AP)  Turkey came under mounting pressure to open its border Saturday as tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing a government onslaught sought entry and the European Union called on Ankara to grant them refuge.

As many as 35,000 Syrians have massed along the closed border, according to Suleyman Tapsiz, governor of the Turkish border province of Kilis. He said Turkey would provide aid to the displaced within Syria, but would only open the gates in the event of an extraordinary crisis.

Alabama boy, 3, shoots, kills sister, 9

IRONDALE, Ala. (AP)  A 3-year-old Alabama boy accidentally shot and killed his 9-year-old sister, police said.

Irondale police Chief Ken Atkinson said the shooting took place Saturday at their grandparents house in a Birmingham suburb.

The boy found a loaded pistol on a bedroom nightstand and shot his sister in the head.

Atkinson said the incident seems to be a tragic accident but an investigation is underway.

N.Y. targets gay conversion therapy

NEW YORK (AP)  New York is taking steps to stop therapists from trying to change young peoples sexual orientation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday, joining a number of states that have acted against whats known as gay conversion therapy.

The Democratic governors move comes as gay rights advocates have campaigned state by state with mixed results to try to ban a practice major mental health organizations have repudiated.

Using executive power in a state where legislative bids to ban the therapy have stalled, Cuomo announced planned regulations that would bar insurance coverage for the therapy for minors and prohibit mental health facilities from offering it to minors.

Afghans may need more U.S. support

WASHINGTON (WP)  The commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan has presented military leaders with recommendations to further expand the U.S. military role in helping local forces confront the Taliban and other militants.

Senior Pentagon officials are examining steps designed to enhance support to the Afghan military in what is expected to be a bloody 2016, including potentially allowing U.S. forces to accompany a wider range of Afghan units close to the front lines and expanding the use of U.S. air power, Gen. John F. Campbell said in an interview with The Washington Post.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Planning for the Iowa caucuses can be like preparing for a winter storm not knowing whether it will be ice or snow or how much to expect.

Its like inviting 150,000 of your family and friends to a party without RSVPs, says former Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky.

The first-in-the-nation caucuses are, by their nature, prone to chaos, according to people who have had a hand in organizing the quadrennial affairs.

Think of the challenges of hosting a party, and now multiply that by 1,700 events simultaneously statewide  all run by volunteers  and under the scrutiny of the national media, says Norm Sterzenbach, the Iowa Democratic Partys caucus director in 2008.

The 2016 caucuses were no exception.

Lena Gilbert, 57, a real estate agent from Springville, arrived at her Democratic caucus at Springville High School early because she had never caucused and wanted directions.

There were no written instructions or complete verbal instructions to attendees, she said.

When the event started, she gathered with others who supported her chosen candidate, but the group didnt know if they were allowed to communicate with people in other camps. The number of people who signed in didnt match the number of people who counted off during the event, Gilbert added.

It doesnt seem like a process that was exact or accurate, she said.

Her expectations are not unusual but probably not realistic, says Steffen Schmidt, political science professor at Iowa State University.

We want (the caucuses) to function like a finely tuned machine. They were never meant to do that, he says. The people who are running it, theyre not professionals. Theyre volunteers, and sometimes you have to pull teeth and beg people to do it. To expect it to be this finely tuned, sophisticated machine is unrealistic, but I guess thats where we are now.

It seems everyone who caucused Feb. 1 has a story about long lines, tiny venues, confusion about locations and volunteers who either were inadequately trained or unprepared for the turnout.

Its not for a lack of effort or planning, according to Sterzenbach and Matt Strawn, who was Republican Party of Iowa chairman in 2012. The state parties typically begin preparations at least a year in advance.

Although many of the precinct chairs are old hands, Strawn, now part of Next Generation Public Affairs, says considerable time is spent recruiting volunteers to set up and run each precinct caucus. A small paid staff relies on county party leaders to identify and recruit volunteers.

Its not easy, says Sterzenbach, now a principal at GPS Impact, a strategic planning firm in Des Moines. Serving as a precinct chair is not as sexy as being a precinct captain for a campaign. A captain gets to meet the candidate and have a picture taken with them.

Also, its not as simple as pulling up the list of volunteers from the previous caucus. Its at least four years old, and if a party didnt have a contested caucus it can be eight years old.

Finding volunteers to run the caucuses has become more difficult because people are busier, they are less connected to the local party, Sterzenbach says.

This takes time, and people have jobs and families and others to take care of, said Catherine Crist, a 53-year-old Cedar Rapids resident and precinct captain at Cedar Rapids Washington High School auditorium where more than 400 Democrats completed the presidential nomination duties in about an hour. I have great respect for the fact that people come here to show their enthusiasm and commitment to this wonderful democratic process.

Dvorsky noted the impact of social media this year.

Imagine what 2008 would have been like if everyone had a smartphone and Twitter, she said about the record-breaking turnout of 240,000 that year. Next time, if there is a next time, there will be utterly different conditions.

Despite the challenges inherent in holding 3,362 meetings in nearly as many locations, Dvorsky remains confident in the parties and the Iowans who pull it off.

Its the reason the party exists every four years, Dvorsky said.

Gazette reporter Diana Nollen contributed to this story
CEDAR FALLS  Twelve people attended the first broadcast of Garrison Keillors A Prairie Home Companion in 1974 at Macalester College in St. Paul.

Today, the legendary radio broadcast is heard by 4 million listeners each week on nearly 700 public radio stations, along with online streaming, the American Forces Networks, Sirius XM Radio and others. In 42 years, Keillor has broadcast from every one of the 50 states, as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, Iceland and other countries.

On Feb. 15, Keillor brings his farewell tour, An Evening with Garrison Keillor to the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. He plans to hang up the microphone at the end of this seasons APHC, and devote himself to writing. In the show, the storyteller and humorist shares personal anecdotes about growing up in the Midwest, as well as stories about Lake Wobegone, late-life fatherhood and more.

The acclaimed host, known for such witticisms as, They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad to realize that Im going to miss mine by just a few days, took time to share a few of his thoughts with the Courier.

Q. Why has a show that is so quintessentially Midwestern struck such a deep chord with listeners? What is it about the appeal?

A. Our best live audiences are in New York and New England  every year we do six shows from the Town Hall in Manhattan, and people come in by train from Connecticut and New Jersey, and its a noisy bunch, rather wildly enthusiastic. And Tanglewood is the same way.

A lot of people grew up with the show, forced to listen by their NPR parents, so maybe theres an element of the Stockholm hostage syndrome going on. I write the show, and I never think about what will appeal to people. Im delighted if it does, but its all a mystery.

Q. How do you plan to channel that wellspring of humor and witticism without a regular monologue to produce (after retirement)?

A. Im working away on a memoir that is rather shapeless and sprawling and needs to be brought under control. I wrote a Lake Wobegon screenplay that some people want to make into a movie, and that needs rewriting, too. And I want to resume my weekly newspaper column. Writing is my habit. I sit down every morning around 6 with a cup of coffee, boot up the computer, switch on a desk lamp, and thats what makes me happy. Looking at a blank screen and putting words together into sequence, and then throwing most of it away and reworking whats left.

Q. Whats the movie plot, if you can share?

A. A guy in his mid-40s comes back home for his fathers funeral and is surprised by an old classmate, a woman he was in love with once, and he wishes he could be in love again.

Q. How do you plan to spend your free time when you dont have to show up every Saturday at the Fitzgerald Theater (in St. Paul, Minn.)? Or as the executive producer, will you always be in the wings?

A. Executive producer is an honorary title. You put your name on the product, but you dont have to attend meetings or read the memos. Youre a gray eminence, and your main job is to stay out of the way. I plan to spend my time writing whatever I want to write, and the rest of the time Im going to ride trains. I havent ridden the Super Chief or the trans-Canadian, and I want to ride the California Zephyr again, which is the most fabulous ride in the U.S., and the Coast Starlight. Ill save that one for winter: spend a night seeing the Cascades of Oregon by moonlight.

Q. Most retirees cite travel as their retirement dream. Youve performed around the world any places you want revisit and actually tour? Or maybe something unexpected or crazy off the radar  fly fishing, snowshoeing, pie-baking, building rocking chairs?

A. I want to go back to places that meant a lot to me in the past, Copenhagen, London  Id like to spend a whole summer there and go up to Yorkshire and see where the Keillors came from  and the coast of Spain and Trastevere in Rome and the coast of Norway  take a ferry and stand on deck as it steers into a great fjords. If I were brave, Id take a train from Beijing to Moscow, which is about a three-week trip. I dont know how brave I want to be.

Q. How difficult is it to keep your emotions in check on your farewell tour? Are you ever overcome by a sense of nostalgia or surprise at outpourings from fans? Or do you even think about it when youre in the thick of things?

A. Im not nostalgic at all. Im very curious about the past, and Im terribly grateful if people tell me things I didnt know. Sometimes a stranger will walk up and tell me a story I told long ago that Ive completely forgotten, and Im glad to hear it, but it doesnt make me long for those days.

The show belongs to the listeners. Truly. Ive spent 42 years thinking one week ahead, and each show erases the previous one from my mind. I remember very little. Its odd.

In writing this memoir, I find that I have very clear memories from my childhood and teenage years, and I remember practically nothing about the show. I remember the people  Chet Atkins, Jethro Burns, Roger Miller, Phil Everly, Marshall Dodge, Odetta, Jean Redpath. But what we did on stage, and how and why  its vanished.
It has been far too many years since the Woke theology interlaced its canons within the fabric of the Indoctrination Realm, so it is nigh time to ask: Does this Representative Republic continue, as a functioning society of a self-governed people, by contending with the unusual, self absorbed dictates of the Woke, and their vast array of Victimhood scenarios?

Yes, the Religion of Woke must continue; there are so many groups of underprivileged, underserved, a direct result of unrelenting Inequity; they deserve everything.

No; the Woke fools must be toppled from their pedestal; a functioning society of a good Constitutional people cannot withstand this level of "existential" favoritism as it exists now, unending.
WATERLOO  Carly Lagerstrom is seeking adventure and a way to gain experience as she prepares for graduation from Michigan State University with a teaching degree.

The 22-year-old student teacher attended the University of Northern Iowa Overseas Recruiting Fair this weekend. Approximately 250 recruiters from 120 international schools in more than 65 countries are interviewing teachers, counselors and administrators at this years fair.

I just feel like I need to get out of Michigan and have something new, Lagerstrom said Saturday. This is the time.

Apparently, plenty of educators agree. Five hundred registered for this years fair, which started Friday at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center and wraps up today.

Lagerstrom considered looking for a job in another state, but believes beginning with some teaching experience abroad will mean greater opportunities later.

Its a stressful event, she admitted, following her first interview of the day. I had just heard about (UNIs fair) as the largest and longest running, where many people find positions.

Were celebrating our 40th anniversary this year, said Tracey Godon, the fairs director. It is the oldest international educator recruiting fair and one of the largest. Since 1976, 28,000 have used its services, and the need isnt subsiding.

There is an overwhelming need for teachers around the globe, said Godon, noting the number of international American schools associated with U.S. embassies and the Department of State is growing. Some of those schools primarily enroll Americans living in those countries while others include children from the local communities.

Its really driven by the American style of education, she said of the growth. Any teacher who is looking for the opportunity to go abroad, theres amazing opportunity right now.

Thats how roommates Jessica Campbell and Morgan Wagoner look at it. Both are teachers at an elementary school outside of Washington, D.C.

I always wanted to travel abroad, said Campbell. And, thank goodness, I got a degree that allows me to do that.

Its an amazing opportunity, added Morgan. After learning about the possibilities, she said they decided lets go and see what happens.

They didnt arrive with a location in mind, but do hope to get jobs together. We came in with a very open, very willing spirit to go where it takes us, said Morgan.

For the most part, Qatar Foundation Schools is looking for educators like them who already have some years of experience teaching. The organization operates eight schools in the area around Doha, capital of the Arabian Peninsula nation. Its a great place to start their international careers, said Peter Corcoran, executive director.

Some educators need to be convinced of that, though.

We often have to counteract the CNN effect, he said. Thats a heightened awareness of such events as terrorist attacks or other unrest in parts of the world due to media reports.

Qatar is incredibly safe, Corcoran said. The majority of countries who are represented here are incredibly safe to live and work in. The reality of most of these countries is they are safer than living almost anywhere in the United States.

There are about 20 fewer schools represented at the fair compared to last year, according to information on UNIs website, and almost 100 fewer participants registered. But Godon said interest in working overseas hasnt dropped significantly. And she believes the recruiting fair can counter many fears that might be associated with another country.

I think one of the beauties of an event like this is you get to meet people who live there, said Godon. The opportunity to have those personal interactions can transform such feelings.

Maria Motz, high school principal of the American School of Tegucigalpa in the capital city of Honduras, believes there is growing interest in international teaching. But that may not mean more people getting those jobs by attending recruitment fairs.

If I had to say, I think I see a little less recruits this year, she noted. Motz suspects, though, that more educators are using the internet to learn about schools and conduct interviews via Skype or other online communication. If hired that way, they avoid the need to attend a fair.

Despite the winter weather, she prefers coming to the U.S. to recruit teachers in person, particularly at the UNI fair.

Im always partial to this, because I like Midwestern teachers, said Motz.
DES MOINES  Iowa Democrats should alter their presidential precinct caucus to look more like the vote conducted by Republicans, a longtime party insider says.

The close and contested results Monday should cause soul-searching within the party, said Brad Anderson, a political consultant who directed President Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign in Iowa who has worked on the multiple Democratic campaigns here.

Anderson, suggests forming a commission to examine the Democratic caucuses. He made the comments Friday during taping of Iowa Public Televisions Iowa Press, which airs at noon today.

I think it is fair to say, OK, some of these things need to change moving forward, Anderson said. I think the Democratic Party honestly should consider, at least consider a straw poll format like the Republicans do.

The closest margin of victory and second-highest turnout combined to stress the Democratic caucuses statewide Monday night.

According to results published by the Iowa Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton edged Bernie Sanders, but Sanders campaign has expressed concern some precinct results are inaccurate.

Matt Paul, director of Clintons campaign in Iowa, wrote Friday on the social media website Medium that Clintons caucus victory is not in dispute, saying even if all the precincts being reviewed are overturned in Sanders favor, Clinton still will wind up with more delegates.

Paul said the party is reviewing 11 precincts, with about 1.8 state delegate equivalents at stake. The party said Tuesday Clinton defeated Sanders by about 3.8 state delegate equivalents.

Even if the Sanders campaign were to win all of their challenges  the marginal bump they receive in support would not be enough to overcome Hillary Clintons win margin. Those are just the facts, Paul wrote. It may be inconvenient for the Sanders campaign that Hillary Clinton won the Iowa caucus, but its the truth.

The Iowa Democratic Party confirmed it is examining results at some precincts. The party did not immediately respond to a question about whether Pauls accounting of the review is accurate.

Both the Sanders and Clinton campaigns have flagged a very small number of concerns for us, and we are looking at them all on a case-by-case basis, Josh Levitt, the partys press secretary, said in an emailed statement. We are still in the process of gathering information and speaking with local leaders.

The Democrats caucus-night procedures make it difficult to produce a traditional recount. Instead of casting a ballot, like Republicans do in their caucuses, Democrats organize into groups supporting each candidate, then reshuffle if some candidates do not earn enough support.

The one thing that is troubling is in a close race there should be some kind of recount procedure, Anderson said. And right now, because of the way it is done on the Democratic side, its just not possible. We dont have ballots. And so for that first alignment when you get in there, there is no official count.

Anderson also expressed concern some locations were too small for the number of Democrats who turned out to caucus. He said his precinct moved its caucus to an elementary school parking lot because the gymnasium was not big enough. He also said some precinct leaders were insufficiently trained.

So I think we need to form a commission that takes a look at it, the same way the Republicans did in 2012, Anderson said. I think they are very fair questions.

Roughly 170,000 Iowans participated in each of the parties caucuses; that is the second-most ever for Democrats, and the most for Republicans.

Craig Robinson, a former Republican Party of Iowa political director who also worked on Steve Forbes 2000 presidential campaign in Iowa, said on Iowa Press that the state parties should continue to work together to ensure a smooth caucus process for both parties and that work should start immediately, not in three or four years when the next caucuses are near.

Close elections always magnify the problems, and I would hope that, and I think that the parties need to work together for the next four years, not just in the year of the caucus, and I think there are things that they could do together, Robinson said. There needs to be some existing infrastructure built. Thats my problem is all the eyes of the world are on us for this one night, and were putting things together for one-time use. And I think there needs to be more of a long-term infrastructure built. What that looks like, Im not quite sure.
After two years off 24/7 political bombardment, I am firing back. We dont need just a new president, we need to replace everyone in Congress and the executive branch with independent people not bought out by our greedy oligarchy. I think we want people who have the guts to do the things our country needs to restore our forefathers destiny.

Simply on the financial side there is so much to be done. The following are a few examples.

Abolish trading in derivatives: Dont know what that means? Few people do. A derivative is a contract that derives its value from an underlying asset (as another security) or the value of a rate (interest or currency exchange) or index of asset value (as a stock index). Confused? Derivatives have no intrinsic value and simply are playthings for big banks and brokerages to bet with on their super computers. In our last major economic descent this kind of gambling nearly ruined the country. If perpetrators of these risky ventures have that much money to blow, let them put that surplus in taxes.

Clamp down on companies moving assets overseas. If they say our headquarters now is in some foreign country, declare them a foreign company and place a duty on all their products regardless of place of origin. However, if they come to their senses and realize their folly, let them bring back the over $3 trillion they now have stashed; start apprentice programs for American workers; and build new factories in labor surplus areas  all tax free! That could have an almost immediate economic benefit.

Deal with wealthy people renouncing citizenship. Yes, its happening. Some people are transferring their assets overseas and then are moving there. This includes immigrants who came here simply to get rich and never intended to become Americans. When we get wind of such moves, strip them of their assets before they leave, declare them as foreign nationals and forbid them, their families and their representatives persona non grata, never to return to the United States.

Handle our debt to China. This will blow some minds. The Chinese government has one goal, world domination. To do that they have become the most duplicitous thieves in the world. Issue an executive order to all U.S. companies who have been computer hacked, stolen from and harassed to figure what those actions have cost, are costing them now and will cost them in the future. Turn these figures over to the government and let the government deduct the gross amount from our debt. Of course there will be an uproar. They will blatantly lie and deny the damage to our economy, but this why I plead for politicians with guts.

Let Medicare negotiate medical prices. For years big pharmaceutical companies have financially raped the American public  and on medications we may have subsidized for development. This wont bring in any money, but it will save Medicare and us billions. Then, lets arrive at equitable hospital rates. Has anyone reading this analyzed one of their bills? Simply agreeing on rates would help hospitals and patients. No regional differences; those are ridiculous.

What you have read are only a few ideas for a limited space. Oversimplified? Maybe, but some good ideas start from a simple premise. Will these ideas be fought? Bet the farm on it. Tea party types and the super wealthy will come out of the woodwork beating their breasts, wailing mightily, gnashing their teeth and wearing sackcloth and ashes. But all we need to overcome this are politicians with vision and guts,

By the way, Im also thinking about taxes.
"He writes with sensitivity, passion, intelligence and with an eye to the common good."

"[He is] clearly one of those silly people who believes in 'civilization,' probably along with the Tooth Fairy and justice."

"He lives in a magical fantasy world."

"Powerfully spoken."

"A balanced and sensible view concerning the crazy ideas that often prevail regarding war and freedom."

"You do good work."



"Our political differences are vast and irreconcilable but he earnestly believes what he wants is best for the country; hes firmly committed to it, makes no apologies for it and wont settle for less."

"God bless you!"



"SHUT THE FUCK UP."
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If youre looking to try out an online casino, there are several things that will help you make a decision. Heres what you should look for when choosing an online casino

 Are they regulated? A lot of the larger ones have licenses issued by the authorities in their respective regions, so its worth checking this first.

 Do they offer games from different software providers? Some casinos just use one software provider and limit your selection. This is fine if you like playing those types of games but you may want to check other casinos as well.

 What does their payout percentage look like? The payout rate refers to how much money you can expect to win after every bet. A high payout rate means youll be able to play more often without having to worry about losing all your money. Its also important to know the minimum and maximum bets allowed on each game. If youre going to play roulette, for example, then you probably dont want a casino with a minimum bet of less than $2.50 or even lower than that.

The players used to play the game slot online in the land based casinos in the past time. But now with time after the invention of the online casinos players play the game slot online. Online platform provide the players with the convenience in playing and even better winning. Even after keeping a good percentage of the profits, they distribute good funds to players.

 How many games do they offer? There are lots of different types of games to choose from. Roulette, blackjack and poker are some of the most popular options, but you might find slots, video pokers, video bingo and others as well. You can usually filter these games down to only show the ones that interest you best, so make sure that your list isnt too long!

 Is there a bonus offer? Many online casinos offer free bonuses as part of their welcome package  which includes new players being awarded 100% up to $10 instantly, for example. These offers are great but not everyone has access to them all the time (and some require you to deposit real money). If youd prefer to avoid paying a fee, some casinos offer no-deposit bonuses where you can get a certain amount of funds before you need to put any actual money into the account. These are usually offered alongside welcome bonuses, so make sure you read both parts of the terms and conditions carefully before signing up.

 Does it offer live dealer games? Live dealers are much preferred by many over regular virtual versions, so it pays to check this option out too. Most online casinos now offer live dealer games in addition to their regular offerings, allowing you to experience the thrill of the real thing without needing to leave home.

Now that youve got an idea of what to look for when choosing an online casino, heres some tips for making the right choice

It really comes down to personal preference. No two people are exactly alike, so everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike about each casino. That said, here are some things to consider in order to narrow down your choices

 Popularity. Check out reviews, forums and Facebook pages to see what other people think of the casino. Also, ask around at work or friends houses who they would recommend to you. You could always take a look at the casinos website too, to see what kind of information they provide about themselves.

 Reputation. Find out what the general public thinks about the casino. Check out any customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Amazon and Google Play to find out more. As far as gaming goes, you can also check out the Better Business Bureau to see whether there have been any complaints against the casino.

 Security. Make sure the casino uses SSL encryption to secure its transactions, meaning that your private data stays safe during transactions. Other than that, look for security seals on the site itself and verify that theyre legitimate. You can also check out the casinos privacy policy to see how they handle confidential information.

 Payment methods. Its good to have multiple payment options available, especially if you plan to play frequently. Its also nice to find a casino that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. If youre worried about safety, you can always opt for a credit card or PayPal instead.

With all those criteria in mind, heres our top picks

Betway:

Betway is a relatively new UK casino offering online gambling to residents of the United Kingdom and European Union. They offer hundreds of games across both land based and digital platforms, with plenty of top software providers like Net Entertainment, Microgaming and Yggdrasil Gaming Network. With a generous welcome offer that gives players 100% up to 100, you really cant go wrong with Betway.

Coral Casino:

Coral Casino is operated by the same company that runs the famous Caribbean casino, Grand Reef. Like many casinos, Coral Casino offers a wide variety of games, including plenty of video slots and table games. New players can benefit from a huge 100% match bonus up to 1000, while existing customers enjoy 25% cash back on deposits made within 48 hours of opening an account.

Ladbrokes Casino:

Ladbrokes Casino is owned by the same company as the famous bookmaker that started life in 1921. With more than 500 games from leading software providers such as Amaya, NetEnt and Microgaming, you wont be disappointed by the quality of the games here. New players get a 200% match bonus up to 500, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits.

Paddy Power Casino:

Paddy Power is another Irish-owned casino that operates throughout Europe. Not only does Paddy Power Casino offer traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette and slots, but it also provides a full range of sports betting, including football, tennis, boxing and horse racing. New players can receive a massive 100% match bonus up to 200, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits.

William Hill Casino:

William Hill Casino is one of the biggest names in the industry, operating in Europe, Asia and North America. Founded in 1984, this online casino has more than 400 games to choose from, including slots and table games, with a wide array of software providers like WagerLogic, Big Time Gaming and Rival.

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If youre interested in trying out an online casino but arent quite ready to commit to one, why not try out one of the many no deposit casinos weve reviewed? You can test drive various casinos completely risk-free, so you can feel confident about your choice before you make a single penny deposit.
THE CONTINUED PC ATTACK ON THE SOUTH

by Diane Rufino

CONFERENCE EVENT: THE PC ATTACK ON THE SOUTH

It's coming up!! Friday-Saturday: February 26-27

In Charleston, S.C.

REGISTRATION @ abbevilleinstitute.typeform.com



PROGRAM:



FRIDAY EVENING. A panel discussion on understanding the PC attack on the South and how to respond to it.



SATURDAY: Lectures all day. Banquet Saturday evening with honored guest speaker Bertram Hayes-Davis, great grandson of Jefferson Davis, who will talk on Davis as an American president.

Speakers during the day include:

Clyde Wilson, "Why the War Was not About Slavery"

Thomas Fleming, "The Lef't's Jihad Against the South"

Brion McClanahan, "Tear Down Symbols of Slavery ....in the North"

Donald Livingston, "Why Slavery Was a National Enormity"

Carey Roberts, "The Changing Meaning of Confederate Symbols"

Barbara Marthal, "Avoid Cultural Suicide: Honoring Our Southern Tradition"

Banquet Speaker, Bertram Hayes-Davis: Jefferson Davis: Renaissance Man

The picture above is outrageous. Who were the real traitors to the Constitution? Who were the real traitors to the ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence? Ask yourself this: Who is telling the narrative about the Civil War? It is the US government, the victor in the Civil War. Victors always get to tell THEIR version. They always get to tell it in a way to justify their position and to vilify the opponent. The government was the one party that truly benefited the greatest from the War of Aggression. Make no mistake, it was the government's war. It was not the North's war. The North didn't benefit from it in any real tangible way except for the satisfaction perhaps of forcing the Southern states to remain politically connected to them. It's like a husband saving a marriage by beating his wife. But the government had everything to gain. With the Civil War, the government fundamentally transformed. It transformed into the type of institution a few ambitious individuals with a skewed understanding of our founding dreamed about. By shutting down the ability of citizens to oppose the war and journalists from telling citizens the truth, Lincoln violated the individual protections provided in the Constitution to wage his war. The government's war became the North's war, by association. In sheer numbers of men, the North suffered dearly. In a sense they lost as well. They were duped and were complicit in a corrupt war. We blame the Bush administration for the Iraq War because, as many believe, it was initiated under duplicitous circumstances, Were there weapons of mass destruction? The war was sold to Congress and the American people as necessary to stop Saddam from using his weapons of mass destruction. Lincoln sold the war on the South under equally duplicitous circumstances. His handling of the Fort Sumpter situation was for similar circumstances... to create a false scenario to win the hearts and minds for his plans. The North suffered because it was hijacked by a president who used the full forces (unconstitutionally) of the government for a personal war to bring states together who did not want the particular arrangement. Its men were the tools of a myoptic leader. It was an economic war - to continue the overwhelming economic benefits provided by the South to benefit the North. It was NOT a war to abolish slavery. It was a war of illusions, crafted by Abraham Lincoln, in order to preserve the "arrangement" and not so much the physical union, and for the purposes of garnering the sentiment of the powers in the North and of those remaining in the government. The North was an unwitting participant. Its men were drafted into fighting for Lincoln's crusade, under a false illusion, and suffered terrible losses. For years they died for the notion of a united nation and not for the abolition of slavery. History shows that they would have never fought and died for that end alone. This is not to say that slavery needed to be abolished. Indeed, the silver lining of that horrible 5-year war - that HUGE loss of life - is that the evil practice was ended. But most believed that slavery was on its way out and would have had a natural end, and in that natural process, terms would have been worked out that would have resulted in the situation that would not have resulted in the tensions and scheming that gave rise to Jim Crow, the KKK, etc etc.And so, the question is this: Who is the real traitor to the spirit of our American Revolution - under which our nation "conceived in liberty" and dedicated to the principle of self-governance and self determination - was born? It was the government. It was the North. The notion of secession, the notion of self-determination, and the notion of a free people deciding their form of government and deciding when that government has become destructive of the reasons for its existence, are precisely the notions our colonists, our Founders, and our militias fought for.Shame on us for being diluted by self-serving accounts of history.Learn the truth so you can help defend it and perpetuate it. The Abbeville Institute is offering a wonderful 2-day conference event to educate and train individuals to stand up for truth and for heritage.I have been following the Abbeville Institute for years, reading its articles, and listening to its presentations. Its contributing authors are historians and work with the real facts. They refuse to letThe politically correct assault on Confederate symbols now includes nearly all things Southern. The statue of John C. Calhoun in Charleston was vandalized. Southern founding fathers are rejected. Universities are removing or renaming buildings, monuments and symbols with links to the pre-1960s South. Not understanding the world-inverting character of ideological thinking, many well meaning people seek to appease these militant demands. They do so at their peril.The Southern vision of society was America until the War of 1861-65. Even into the middle of the twentieth century most Americans viewed Confederate heroes as American heroes. Southern statesmen largely shaped the destiny of the Union and formed the bedrock of the rugged individualistic American society. The popular film "Dixie" (1942), starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, described "Dixie" as a rousing song that "expresses the spirit of America."Join us for a discussion of what these politically correct attacks mean for the future of the South and America, and why we should continue not only to recognize but to honor the South's role in shaping America.. Crown Plaza Hotel, 4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd, North Charleston, SC. Rooms, single or double, are $129. The hotel is next to the airport and has free shuttle service. For reservations call 800-439-4745 and give the group code (AIE) for reduced rate. The cut off date for the group rate is February 21, 2016. Space is limited, so reserve now.. The fee is $150 which includes breakfast and Saturday banquet. A limited number of scholarships are available for students who are encouraged to apply. Payment can be made on line at www.abbevilleinstitute.org or mail a check payable to Abbeville Institute, P.O. Box 10, McClellanville, SC 29458. For schedule of program and other inquires check the Abbeville website or call
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Searching for the positive in everyday life
Feb 7, 2016 | By Tess

Whether shopping for sunglasses or prescription eyewear, finding the perfect frames to fit your face can be a tricky task, especially for those who are less at ease in spectacles. Fortunately, German 3D printed eyewear company Framelapp has developed a new 3D scanning technology that is able to design the perfect customized frames to fit your face.

The revolutionary technology, which was presented this January at Opti, the International Trade Show for Optics and Design, in Munich, consists of a 3D scanner that compiles measurements and data from scanning a persons head and face and from the data creates the perfect shape and size of eyewear for the person in question.

The 3D scanner takes into account such features as nose shape and size, distance between the eyes, and other distinguishing facial features to generate the perfect frames. Once the data has been used to create the glasses, the design is sent to a 3D printer which manufactures the spectacles.

The 3D scanning technology appears to be the next step in what has been a growing trend in 3D printed eyewear. Framelapp itself already manufactures several thousand 3D printed glasses on a yearly basis to supply to opticians. As Hendrik Wieburg of Framelapp expresses, 3D printing is going to revolutionize the industry sooner or later.

The scanning technology will surely give an extra edge to 3D printed eyewear, as it will truly allow for customization of frames, making perfectly fitted and styled glasses for the wearer, a big advantage especially in appealing to those who wear glasses on a regular basis. 3D printing is no longer treated as something exotic. Its going to establish itself in the market, explains Ingo Ruetten of ZVA, Germanys association of opticians.

While the business of 3D printed eyewear has been taking off primarily in smaller startups and companies, even some of Germanys biggest glasses producers are starting to see the light. Mister Spex, for instance, one of Germanys online eyewear retailers, is keeping a close eye on the technology. We dont have any glasses made using a 3D printer yet, but we regularly review the technology, says Dirk Graber, who founded Mister Spex.

Even Germanys biggest retailer of eyewear, Fielmann, are leaning towards 3D printing for the future, saying that they are keeping tabs on any developments and are considering the technology for designer eyewear and prototypes. For now, however, it is the cost of the 3D printed glasses, which can cost up to $300 to buy, that are keeping the retailers at bay.

3D printed glasses are undoubtedly gaining more popularity both amongst retailers and clients, and now with the added advantage of 3D scanning your face to perfectly match your spectacles to your features, we are sure the technology will really take off. Keep an eye out!

Posted in 3D Scanning

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A veteran of three wars, a frontiersman, a warrior, a scout, a national hero. A man who had pride in our state and all it has to offer. A well-traveled man who chose Montana as his resting place because he felt his body would rest better here. How would you picture the gravesite of a man described like this? Perhaps something stately, respectable and valued. Something that lends itself to showcasing what he saw in our state and why he chose Big Sky Country as his final resting place.

Regrettably, the reality is a neglected, abused, vandalized, forgotten slab of concrete atop the Rims.

Yellowstone Kelly deserves better.

Yellowstone Kelly was an authentic character of the American West  whose story makes that era come alive, explains Bill Cole, chair of the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site Project and resident Kelly expert. His real-life adventures inspired articles, books and even a Hollywood movie. He was a scholar and author, veteran, exceptional hunter and trader, and a key player in scouting and taming the Wild West. His friends and confidants included the likes of Col. Nelson A. Miles, Buffalo Bill Cody, and President Teddy Roosevelt. His travels and military assignments took him from New York to the Dakotas and Montana, and from Alaska to the Philippines before retiring to a quieter life in California.

And yet he chose Montana to be laid to rest. Kelly could have been buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but in his own words, I feel my body will rest better in Montana, the scene of my earlier activities, than it would in the vastness of Arlington.

The grave site, in its current state, is embarrassing, admits John Brewer, President and CEO of the Billings Chamber. Though his gravesite demands respect, currently it is less than dignified. But, with the help of donors big and small, it will be so much more.

The site, once completed, fulfills a promise made by the state of Montana, The city of Billings and the Billings Chamber of Commerce nearly 90 years ago. Brewer emphasizes that even though Luther Sage Yellowstone Kelly could have been buried in Arlington National Cemetery, he chose his final resting place to be among the rivers, trees, land and people he loved most. Resting atop Kelly Mountain in Swords Rimrock Park, the area and views are second to none. But the gravesite simply doesnt deliver on our promise.

We owe Kelly this investment. We owe our residents and visitors this investment, asserts Chris Dimock, head of the Kelly fundraising effort. The value is far reaching  restoring a historical site and honoring a figure who is key to our regions history. Once complete, the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site will be a regional icon, an attraction valued and visited by many as it tells the story of Kelly and the historic West. Preserving Yellowstone Kellys legacy while providing context and interpretation to everyone who visits lets us share the marvels and mystique of the history made here in the Yellowstone River Valley. This is a project worth investing in.

The end goal of this project is to create a place of respect and honor for Yellowstone Kelly and to link the site with great trails and views in the beautiful Swords Rimrock Park. To date, dozens of individuals, small businesses and major corporations have invested in this project to return the site to a place of honor. With half of the funds raised, the project is close to becoming a reality. Help keep the momentum going, preserve history and give Kelly the resting place he deserves. To donate and learn more, visit YellowstoneKelly.org.
A roundup of our favorite recent tax fraud cases.

Atlanta: Preparer Cheryl Singleton, 28, has been indicted for 10 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of aggravated ID theft and 10 counts of filing false claims against the U.S.

Singleton owned and operated Advanced Tax Services, where, beginning in 2012, she allegedly participated in a scheme with others to obtain refunds by filing false federal income tax returns. The indictment states that Singleton falsely advised individuals that they could apply for a government stimulus payment by providing their personal ID information to Advanced.

Singleton and the other participants in the scheme are also accused of using this personal ID information to e-file false returns in those individuals names without their knowledge or consent. These returns each claimed fraudulent refunds of at least $1,000.

If convicted, Singleton faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, five years for each false claims count and a minimum of two years for the aggravated ID theft counts, which will run consecutively to any other prison term she receives. She also faces monetary penalties and restitution.

Sabinal, Texas: Preparer Mary Davis Reyes, owner and operator of Fast Tax, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison and a year of supervised release and been ordered to pay $87,371.08 restitution for preparing a false return.

In November 2015, Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false return, admitting that in April 2009 she knowingly prepared a false income tax return that claimed a $5,673 refund for a client.

According to court records, during tax years 2007 through 2009, Reyes provided false information under EIC provisions to inflate clients refunds.

Pembroke Pines, Fla.: Preparers Walther Wilson Godfrey, 37 and Rhonda Peggy Gittens, 35, have pleaded guilty for conspiring to use stolen IDs to file fraudulent returns with the IRS.

According to court documents, between July 2009 and August 2014, the couple and others conspired to file false federal income tax returns using stolen IDs. Gittens owned and operated 2G Inc., a tax prep business, and G&G Check Cashing Inc. The pair obtained the personal ID information of actual individuals, some deceased, including names, Social Security numbers, addresses and dates of birth, without the individuals authorization and used this information to file false refund claims for 2009 through 2011.

Gittens and Godfrey recruited a co-conspirator to obtain EFINs in his name that would be used to file the fraudulent returns. In addition, they directed him to set up companies and bank accounts in his name to negotiate the stolen refund checks.

Godfrey and Gittens filed more than 700 fraudulent returns requesting more than $1.9 million in refunds. They also possessed device-making equipment including an ID card printer, a credit card embosser, hologram stickers for drivers licenses and credit cards and blank credit cards.

Godfrey and Gittens pleaded guilty to one count of a multi-object conspiracy to defraud the U.S., commit wire fraud and commit aggravated ID theft, one count of aggravated ID theft and one count of access device fraud. Both face a maximum of five years in prison and three years of supervised release for the conspiracy charge, two years in prison and one year of supervised release for the aggravated ID theft charge and a maximum of 15 years of prison and three years of supervised release for the access device fraud charge. Godfrey and Gittens must also serve the two-year sentence for aggravated ID theft in addition to any other sentence. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

Miami: Preparers Roland Alexis, 34, and Jim Joseph, 31, have been sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for their role in a stolen-ID tax refund fraud.

According to the indictment and information in court, Joseph and Alexis conspired to file more than 860 false income tax returns claiming more than $1 million in refunds. Alexiss conduct resulted in a tax loss of $1.8 million, Josephs in a tax loss of $1.2 million. They both pleaded guilty in November to one count of a multi-object conspiracy to defraud the IRS, commit wire fraud and commit aggravated ID theft, as well as to one count of aggravated ID theft.

Between 2007 and July 2014, Joseph, Alexis and others filed false federal returns using stolen identities including names, Social Security numbers, addresses and dates of birth without the individuals authorization. Much of the stolen information belonged to prisoners and deceased individuals. Joseph, Alexis and others recruited knowing co-conspirators and unknowing victims to obtain EFINs in their names to file phony returns.

In late 2009, Alexis and Joseph, along with a co-conspirator, formed Worldwide Income Tax Multi-Services LLC and North Miami Income Tax Services, companies that were created to file fraudulent returns using stolen IDs.

Joseph was also ordered to pay $1,225,686.12 restitution to the IRS; Alexis was also ordered to pay $1,805,332.71 in restitution, forfeiting two single-family owned properties in Miami and $369,776.18 in proceeds held in a bank account.

Phoenix: Preparer Linda Mary Anderson has been sentenced to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty last summer to filing false returns. She was also ordered to pay $692,206.47 restitution to the IRS.

Authorities said that from about January 2009 through about November 2010, Anderson prepared and filed federal income tax returns on behalf of more than 100 taxpayers that collectively claimed more than $63 million in false income and withholdings. Anderson prepared and e-filed more than 2,000 false tax documents with the IRS using 1099-As and 1099-0IDs to report false income and withholdings, authorities said in her original charges. She also did not register for or use an e-file account under her own name or her business name, but instead used two accounts registered to others.

Lake Worth, Fla.: A federal court has permanently barred preparer Wilfrid Antoine from preparing federal returns for others and from owning or operating a prep business.

The U.S. filed its civil injunction and disgorgement complaint against Antoine in September 2014, alleging that preparers in Antoines businesses targeted primarily low-income clients with deceptive and misleading advertisements, prepared and filed fraudulent returns to inflate refunds, and profited through unconscionable, exorbitant and often undisclosed fees.

The complaint alleged that Antoines preparers falsely claimed the EITC, claiming improper filing statuses, fabricated businesses and related business income and expenses, fabricated Schedule A, and falsely claimed fuel tax credits.

According to the complaint, Antoine owned and operated AWA Tax Inc., a corporation that operated seven tax prep stores in Florida. Those stores allegedly operated as LBS Tax Services in 2013 and began operating as AWA Tax Services in 2014.

Since September 2014, the United States has filed nine similar lawsuits in Florida against former LBS franchisor Walner Gachette and 12 former LBS franchisees and managers, many of whom have rebranded and continued to operate prep businesses.

Albuquerque, N.M.: Preparer Flora Mascarenas, 54, has been indicted for filing fraudulent returns using stolen identities.

In 2011 and 2012, Mascarenas allegedly e-filed false state returns with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department utilizing personal identifying information of individuals without their authorization or consent.

She was charged with two counts of ID theft, two counts of forgery and two counts of computer access with intent to defraud or embezzle, all felonies. These charges carry a maximum sentence of nine years in prison and $30,000 in fines.
In a bid to provide a whole new experience to its customers, Firefox Bikes, a leading Indian premium biking company, in collaboration with Swiss Military, one of the worlds fastest growing lifestyle brands in the affordable luxury space, launched a new range of FIREFOX SWISS MILITARY customized bikes at the ongoing Auto Expo 2016 in Greater Noida.

Firefox Bikes has joined hands with Swiss Military to co-brand four world-class innovative and creative bike models. Through their association with Swiss Military, Firefox aims to expand its range of bikes and accessories and reach out to the young and restless in India with this unique new introduction.

Shiv Inder Singh, CEO, Firefox Bikes said, I believe that our association with Swiss Military will offer Indian bikers a great new range of bikes made for the rugged mountains. We are planning to launch the news models by the middle of the financial year 2016-17 within the price range of Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 20,000. We aim to sell around 10,000 bikes in the first year of launch. We are specifically targeting the youth segment.

Commenting on the partnership, Anuj Sawhney, Managing Director, Swiss Military, said, "There is great synergy when two global brands combine their mutual strengths for a common purpose. This is especially true when both teams in question have a similar perspective of making world-class innovative products for the masses. In that respect Firefox / Hero, is the ideal partner for Swiss Military and we are bound to achieve great milestones together with this new association."

Swiss Military products are designed for perfection in style, aesthetics, usability and affordability and follow global Swiss quality mandates and precision standards. The brand is home to a variety of products namely hard and soft top luggage suitcases, laptop trolley bags, passport holders, universal adapters, travel organizers, multi-purpose tools, portable chargers and multi-utility keychains among other products. The brand has a pan-India footprint with presence in 57 cities across 23 states and 800 MBOs at present.

Firefox Bikes have been providing newer versions and variations of bikes for people to enjoy their ride and be a part of an environment friendly ride. With these bikes, Firefox Bikes is focusing on the mid-segment of city bikers. informed Ajit Gandhi, Marketing Head, Firefox Bikes.

Within a short span of time, Firefox Bikes has made a huge impact on the biking industry; it has over 200 exclusive bike stations strategically across Indian cities and 1 in Bhutan. As exclusive distributors, Firefox has also introduced the worlds number one bike  Trek Bikes (USA) - to India.
Fourth Dimension Media solution will be celebrating its 5th year anniversary on 7th Feb`16. The Chennai based media outsourcing company Fourth Dimension has strived it way to be countrys number one media outsourcing firm. The company with a national presence operates with offices in Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi.

It has marked its footprints not only in Television, radio and magazine but also in areas such as Outdoor, Cable, Digital, Youtube Channels etc. The firm currently handles the sales of Puthiya Thalaimurai (No.1 Tamil News channel), V6 (Leading Telugu News Channel), Maharashtra 1 (Marati News Channel headed by the most famous news man Nikhil Wagle), Puthu Yugam (Tamil GEC), Da Vinci Learning (International kids edutainment channel), aggregation of National Cable TV, Saamana (Marati Dailies) , Digital etc.,.

They have also successfully handled various events like Tamilan Awards, Veetukku Oru Vignyani, Agrifest, for 4 consecutive years and Shakthi Awards for 2 consecutive years. Some of the other successful events handled by them includes A tribute to Scorpions and Rolling Stones, Love Beats, A cooking show with Sanjeev Kapoor in multiple cities. Their recent events were Nadigavelin Rajapaattai (short play contest conducted in various districts all over Tamil nadu), Einstein (theatre play which was casted by the famous bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah reflecting the life of Albert Einstein).

On this significant occasion CEO Shankar and COO Bharath Viswanathan express their gratitude to all the key stakeholders and affirms the companys commitment to continue their tireless effort in providing effective, efficient and innovative media solution to key customers in times to come

Speaking on the occasion CEO Shankar said We dedicate our success to all the clients who have believed in us and stood by us throughout our growth. I also take this opportunity to thank my team members without their relentless effort this success would not have been possible.
Most recent bulletins on food and agriculture August 3, 2020 Africa/Global: Preventing the Next Pandemic http://www.africafocus.org/docs20/zoo2008.php

COVID-19 is just one example of the rising trend of diseases  from Ebola to MERS to West Nile and Rift Valley fevers  caused by viruses that have jumped from animal hosts into the human population.  The rising trend in zoonotic diseases is driven by the degradation of our natural environment  through land degradation, wildlife exploitation, resource extraction, climate change, and other stresses. - Press release from UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, July 6, 2020 July 29, 2019 Africa/Global: Agribusiness vs. Agroecology http://www.africafocus.org/docs19/ag1907.php

It is not surprising, of course, that those with financial interests in the current input-intensive systems are responding to growing calls for agroecology with attacks on its efficacy as a systematic approach that can sustainably feed a growing population. What is surprising is that such responses are so ill-informed about the scientific innovations agroecology offers to small-scale farmers who are being so poorly served by green revolution approaches. - Timothy A. Wise May 27, 2019 Africa/Global: World Bank Ramps Up Attack on Small Farmers http://www.africafocus.org/docs19/land1905.php

Enabling the Business of Agriculture, promoted by the World Bank, and now enhanced with a new sub-indicator on land policy, is presented as a way to advance agricultural development, particularly in Africa. In reality, notes a new report from the Oakland Institute, it gives an additional push to a land rush by mostly foreign corporate interests. This trend, notes Harvard land tenure scholar Pauline Peters, marks the most radical shift in the distribution and tenure status of land since colonial times. August 15, 2018 West Africa/Europe: From Cocoa to Chocolate http://www.africafocus.org/docs18/choc1808.php

"Cocoa growing communities, particularly in West Africa, are facing poverty, child labour and deforestation that have been made worse by a rapid fall in prices for cocoa. Widely touted efforts in the cocoa industry to improve the lives of farmers, communities and the environment made in the past decade are having little impact. In fact, the modest scope of the proposed solutions does not even come close to addressing the scale of the problem." - Cocoa Barometer, April 2018 May 8, 2017 Africa: World Bank Financing Land Grabs http://www.africafocus.org/docs17/land1705.php

"The World Bank Group has indirectly financed some of Africa's most notorious land grabs, according to a report by a group of international development watchdogs. The World Bank's private-sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is enabling and profiting from these projects by outsourcing its development funds to the financial sector." - Oakland Institute February 20, 2017 Africa/Global: Agribusiness Giants on Merger Path http://www.africafocus.org/docs17/ag1702.php

"If the Bayer-Monsanto merger is approved, the new merged company will control almost 30% of the global commercial seed market and 25% of the agrochemical market - making it the world's largest supplier of seeds and chemicals. In South Africa, it would control about 30% of both markets. Already today, Monsanto is one of two companies in South Africa that employs 80% of the private sector breeders in maize and 100% of the breeders in soybean and sunflower breeders. " - African Centre for Biodiversity January 19, 2016 Africa: Stealth Assault on African Seeds http://www.africafocus.org/docs16/seed1601.php

"There is a renewed and stronger assault on seed ... based on legal systems that permit exclusive rights over seeds on the spurious contention that plant varieties were 'discovered' and improved on. But these 'discovered' varieties are the product of the whole history of collective human improvements and maintenance carried out by peasants. To assert exclusive rights over the whole on the basis of small adjustments is nothing short of outright theft." - SouthSouth Dialogue, Durban, South Africa, November 2015 February 18, 2015 Africa: Privatizing Land and Seeds http://www.africafocus.org/docs15/ag1502.php

"The G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition was launched in 2012 by the eight most industrialised countries to mobilise private capital for investment in African agriculture. To be accepted into the programme, African governments are required to make important changes to their land and seed policies. ... [for example] Despite the fact that more than 80% of all seed in Africa is still produced and disseminated through 'informal' seed systems (on-farm seed saving and unregulated distribution between farmers), there is no recognition in the New Alliance programme of the importance of farmer-based systems of saving, sharing, exchanging and selling seeds." - Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and GRAIN, January 2015 July 31, 2014 Africa/Global: Talking Points on Common Issues http://www.africafocus.org/docs14/tp1407.php

As African leaders and corporate CEOs gather to meet with President Obama and U.S. government officials, a wide variety of civil society activists will also be meeting in Washington, some in officially recognized side events, others in alternative venues. Many more will be issuing statements and communicating their views, some appropriating the twitter hashtag #AfricaSummit used by U.S. government officials, thus inserting their views as well into that hashtag stream. March 17, 2014 Africa/Global: The Right to Food http://www.africafocus.org/docs14/food1403.php

"The right to food is the right of every individual, alone or in community with others, to have physical and economic access at all times to sufficient, adequate and culturally acceptable food that is produced and consumed sustainably, preserving access to food for future generations. ... Because of the various channels though which access to food can be achieved, the creation of decent jobs in the industry and services sectors plays an essential role in securing the right to food, as does the provision of social protection."- Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Final Report November 9, 2013 Africa: Monopolizing Maize http://www.africafocus.org/docs13/food1311.php

According to a new report from the African Centre for Biosafety, in South Africa, "Monsanto's Bt maize, MON810, has failed hopelessly in South Africa as a result of massive insect resistance, after only 15 years of its introduction into commercial agriculture." Yet the same variety is being promoted in other African countries by projects supported by Monsanto. And South Africa's supply of maize, a staple food, is dominated by a few large companies and consists almost entirely of GM crop varieties. June 12, 2013 Africa: Underdeveloping African Agriculture http://www.africafocus.org/docs13/ag1306.php

"These interventions from AGRA [Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa] and the G8 are, first and foremost, about opening markets and creating space for multinational corporations such as Yara, Monsanto and Cargill, to secure profits. ... As world leaders speak in philanthropic terms about 'ending hunger', behind the scenes Africa's seed and trade laws are being 'harmonised' to the whim of agri-business giants. The efforts of Africa's farmers over millennia stand to be privatised and expropriated, while traditional and vital practices such as seed saving and sharing stand to be criminalised." -- Francis Ngang, Secretary General of Inades-Formation (http://www.inadesfo.net/)
American Airlines will enter the Montana market this spring with non-stop daily, seasonal flights connecting Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport with Dallas-Fort Worth.

Summer service begins June 2, ending in October. Winter service begins Dec. 15 and ends in April.

Airport manager Brian Sprenger said the announcement represents the culmination of two decades worth of effort by officials from Gallatin County.

Obviously, it puts us on the map, particularly for the Dallas market, Sprenger said. The direct flights open up new opportunities for leisure travelers interested in visiting southwest Montana, he said.

Sprenger said a $650,000 federal grant is part of a $1.3 million financial package that aims to reduce the airline's risk.

"These flights would not be possible without community support from our partners, Big Sky Resort, Visit Big Sky, The Yellowstone Club, Spanish Peaks and Moonlight Basin, The Bozeman TBID and Yellowstone Country Montana," said Scott Humphrey, deputy airport director.

"Big Sky Resort is thrilled over this recent milestone in our air service development," said. Brandon Bang, Big Sky Resort's senor sales director. "The new daily seats, a new direct flight city and new American Airlines customers are each individually big steps in economic development, and all three together are a huge win for the economy, tourism, and accessibility."

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is Montanas busiest, by virtue of its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky and other tourist attractions. Last year, the airport handled more than 1 million passengers.

The single daily flight offered by American could eventually expand over time if market conditions justify it, Sprenger said. In the long run, it gives American an opportunity to have expanded in Montana and to understand the market better. As they gain experience, its more likely that theyll expand to other cities.

Another carrier, Horizon Airlines eventually expanded its service after entering the Montana market a few years ago, Sprenger said.

Billings officials traveled to Dallas-Fort Worth late last year hoping to promote Americans interest in serving the Billings market. Meetings have also taken place with officials from Delta Airlines and United Airlines about potentially expanding air service to Billings.

The airlines each know what Billings is looking for and we know what the airlines need to expand in our market, said John Brewer, president and chief executive of the Billings Chamber of Commerce. For example, American Airlines knows that Billings seeks to secure daily direct service to Dallas-Fort Worth and that our data and research indicate that service would be successful here.

We hope to see the flight in Bozeman go well, as that will ultimately speak to the success of the Montana market for American and feed our request for daily direct service in Billings, Brewer said.

Steve Arveschoug, executive director of Big Sky Economic Development, said he was somewhat disappointed that American plans only seasonal service. Billings will continue to make the case for adding new flights, he said.

Brewer said Billings has a lot of factors that make it a strong candidate for air service expansion, including a strong economy and a diverse business community.

This is exciting news for the Bozeman community and the thousands of Montanans who rely on Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport for reliable air travel, said Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. This new partnership with American Airlines wont just increase options for Montanans, but will also make it easier for Montanans to access global destinations at lower cost. It will further open Bozemans door to economic opportunities and job creation, unlocking markets for Montana small businesses.

We're proud to offer this new service to Bozeman, marking American's return to Montana," said Chuck Schubert, American's vice president of network planning. "Customers from around the world will now have access to Bozeman from our largest hub."

The new flight is scheduled to depart Dallas Fort Worth Airport at 10:15 a.m., arriving in Bozeman at 12:13 p.m., with the return flight leaving Bozeman at 1:02 p.m., arriving in Dallas at 5 p.m.

Americans service will be operated by its American Eagle regional partners, using Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft.
King Mohammed VI appointed on Saturday in the southern city of Laayoune, Nasser Bourita, as Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

The Moroccan diplomat Nasser Bourita was born May 27, 1969 in Taounate. After a degree in public law (international relations) from Rabat Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences in Rabat in 1991, Mr. Bourita earned a Certificate in International Relations (1993), then a Masters degree in Public International Law (1995).

In 2002, Bourita held the position of Head of the Principal Organs of the United Nations service before being appointed Adviser to the Morocco Mission to the European Communities in Brussels (2002-2003).

From December 2003 to 2006, he was appointed Chief of the Division of the United Nations and between 2006-2009 he was appointed Director of the United Nations and International Organizations at the Foreign Ministry .

Mr. Bourita held the position of Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador, Director General of Multilateral Relations and Global Cooperation.

Since 2011, he was appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, a position he held until his appointment by the King, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Bourita is married with two children.

The recent appointment was perceived by several observers as an promotion to the eminent diplomat Bourita  experienced and unanimously appreciated- has successfully accomplished his duties either as a director or a secretary general, but also a royal assessment to support the diplomatic policy making of the kingdom, by strengthening the proactive strategy of Moroccan diplomacy, and enriches the foreign policy making of the kingdom , since the nomination of Mr. Bourita alongside Mr Mezouar and Mrs. Bouaida would absolutely consolidate the restructuring of the Moroccan diplomatic apparatus.
A BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh has demanded that the party declare Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath as its chief ministerial candidate for the assembly elections slated for next year.

BJP has only two alternatives, Kalyan Singh and Yogi Adityanath, for the chief ministers post. Most of the MPs from the state are in favour of Yogi Adityanath, Salem MP Ravindra Kushwaha said in a meeting of party workers in his constituency.

He said BJP should declare Adityanath as the nominee for the chief ministers post at the earliest and start preparing for the polls.

Adityanath, 43, an influential religious leader known for making controversial comments, had last year said those talking about intolerance should go to Pakistan.
The Netherlands is probing two incidents in which civilians may have been killed or injured in air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq, the government has said.

Two incidents in which there may have been possible civilian casualties are being investigated in around 1,300 missions carried out by the Netherlands, The Hague-based government said in a letter to parliament late on Saturday.

Citing operational reasons, the Defence Ministry said neither details of the incidents nor the probe are being made public.

The probe was prompted by a raft of questions raised by lawmakers in parliament on the Netherlands role in the fight against IS after The Hague announced last month it would expand air operations into Syria.

Dutch F-16 fighters have been part of the US-led bombing campaign against IS in Iraq and The Hague said the expansion into Syria came following requests by the United States and France.

The incidents are being investigated by the Defence Ministry and details will be passed to the Public Prosecutors Office, said the letter, posted on the Defence Ministrys website.

Because of several reasons its impossible to determine the regrettable number civilian deaths as a result of coalition operations, it added.

The Netherlands is participating in the Iraq strikes with four F-16 aircraft specialising in close air support of ground operations by Iraqi forces.

Late last year in the wake of the November Paris attacks, the Dutch government received a request from American and French allies to broaden its campaign against the IS jihadist group also known by the acronym ISIS.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the extended air operations will now target eastern Syria in particular to stop the IS pipeline leading from Syria into Iraq.

US air strikes in Iraq began in August 2014 after IS captured a swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria in a lightning offensive.

Washington and Arab allies broadened the strikes against IS in Syria a month later in September 2014, with the US also leading moves to build an international coalition of some 60 nations against the jihadists.

The four Dutch F-16 jet fighters which have been pounding IS jihadists in Iraq since October 2014 will remain active until July 1 over the enlarged zone, the government said last month.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders has cautioned however that bombing was not the whole solution in a complex conflict in Syria.
Pakistans powerful intelligence service has long acted as the manager of international jihadi forces and it may have been involved in the rise of the ISIS, a leading U.S. daily on Sunday said, in a stinging commentary on Pakistans intervention in a number of foreign conflicts.

Underlining that experts have found a lot of evidence that Pakistan facilitated the Taliban offensive, an op-ed in the New York Times said, This behaviour is not just an issue for Afghanistan. Pakistan is intervening in a number of foreign conflicts.

Its intelligence service has long acted as the manager of international mujahedeen forces, many of them Sunni extremists, and there is even speculation that it may have been involved in the rise of the Islamic State.

It said that though Pakistan denies harbouring the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and points out that it, too, is a victim of terrorism, many analysts have detailed how the military has nurtured Islamist militant groups as an instrument to suppress nationalist movements, in particular among the Pashtun minority, at home and abroad.

Pakistan regards Afghanistan as its backyard. Determined not to let its archrival, India, gain influence there, and to ensure that Afghanistan remains in the Sunni Islamist camp, Pakistan has used the Taliban selectively, promoting those who further its agenda and cracking down on those who dont. The same goes for Al-Qaeda and other foreign fighters, wrote Carlotta Gall, the North Africa correspondent for NYT.

It said there are reports that Pakistan had a role in the rise of the Islamic State.

.it might come as a surprise that the regions triumvirate of violent jihad is living openly in Pakistan, Ms. Gall said as she listed out top terrorist leaders living openly in Pakistan.

First, theres Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani network, and second in command of the Taliban. He moves freely around Pakistan, and has even visited the Pakistani intelligence headquarters of the Afghan campaign in Rawalpindi, she said.

Then there is the new leader of the Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, who has openly assembled meetings of his military and leadership council near the Pakistani town of Quetta, the author said.

Finally, Al-Qaedas leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, enjoys sanctuary in Pakistan  one recent report placed him in the southwestern corner of Baluchistan. He has been working to establish training camps in southern Afghanistan, Ms. Gall wrote.

The daily alleged that the madrasas in Pakistan, a longtime instrument of Pakistani intelligence, has been training people from the ethnic minorities of northern Afghanistan alongside its standard clientele of Pashtuns.

The aim is still to win control of northern Afghanistan through these young graduates. From there they have their eyes on Central Asia and western China. Pakistani clerics are educating and radicalising Chinese Uighurs as well, along with Central Asians from the former Soviet republics, Ms. Gall said.

Pakistan, she alleged, was cooperating with Qatar, and perhaps others, to move international Sunni jihadists (including 300 Pakistanis) from Pakistans tribal areas, where they were no longer needed, to new battlefields in Syria.

It is just another reminder of Pakistans central involvement in creating and managing violent jihadist groups, she quoted an unnamed Pakistani politician as saying.
On 25 August 2015, Indrani Mukerjea was arrested by Mumbai Police in connection with the alleged murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora, in 2012. She was charged under sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Its almost six months of her arrest, many theories have erupted and many have been arrested after that. Police claimed that they have evidences with regards to the murder and Indrani also went through media trials too, yet there is nothing concrete in this case, except stories after stories, theories after theories. Indrani had, earlier, moved the sessions court seeking bail on medical grounds. Again with her 17-page bail plea, Indrani has moved the court and said that her medical condition was deteriorating and she was suffering from frequent blackouts. An annexure of medical reports that ran into 50 pages further states that Indrani is suffering from a life threatening disorder and it may lead to brain stroke. The court had extended judicial custody of Indrani Mukherjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai till February 12.

In the plea which has been moved through Indranis lawyer, the former media executive said that her medical condition is deteriorating and she has lost 18 kilograms in four months. She further wrote in the application that she wants to live in a stress-free environment. She (Indrani) is suffering from chronic small vessels ischemic changes and is life threatening.

In the application, Indrani said that it takes around 45-60 minutes to reach hospital from Byculla womens prison (where she is presently lodged now). Citing an instance, she said that in October last year when she fell unconscious, it took more than six hours to commence treatment on her. On October 2, 2015, Indrani had become unconscious at 5 am but was treated at 11:45 am.

CBI, while maintaining that financial transaction was the motive behind the murder of Sheena, had earlier said that Peter, during his interrogation, disclosed investments of crores of rupees made by him and Indrani and is expecting information from Interpol on the details of an account opened by Indrani in a bank in Hong Kong. Indranis present husband Peter Mukerjea, the former CEO of Star India, was also arrested in the case earlier.

For months preceding the arrests, Mumbai police had kept Indrani under surveillance. The surveillance was initiated after a tip-off from an informant that Indrani was involved in the disappearance of her daughter, Sheena. On August 26, 2015, Mikhail Bora, Sheenas brother, revealed that Sheena was Indranis daughter and not sister.

On 23 May 2012, Raigad police found a body at the crime spot after villagers complained of a foul odour. Police were unable to identify the body and sent the skeletal remains to JJ Hospital in Mumbai. Sheena Boras disappearance and murder and the disposal of her body went unreported for 40 months until August, 2015, and the skeletal remains found in Pen tehsil, Raigad were not linked with Sheena Boras case.

Quoting the First Information Report filed by Mumbai police, driver of Indrani Mukerjea, Shyamvar Pinturam Rai gave a statement to the police that the murder was planned by Indrani, who in turn had discussed the plan with her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna. Allegedly, Indrani had done a Reconnaissance of the dumping ground the evening before the murder. On 24 April 2012, Khanna had flown to Mumbai and checked into the Hotel Hilltop at Worli. Indrani allegedly had rented an Opel Corsa for the abduction and killed her and disposed the body. Indrani had earlier asked Sheena to meet her on the evening of 24 April 2012. Although Sheena was reluctant, she agreed. That evening, Indrani picked up her ex-husband from his hotel in Worli. Sheena was dropped off about 1900 hours by Rahul Mukerjea near National College on Linking Road at Bandra, where she met Indrani, Sanjeev and driver Shyamvar Rai.

The car was being driven by Rai with Indrani sitting next to him. Sheena sat in the rear seat with Khanna. Sheena was taken to one of the by-lanes in Bandra where Khanna allegedly strangled her. Police said that after the murder, Sheenas body was taken to Indranis house in Worli where it was put in a bag and stuffed in the boot of the car. Khanna later left for his hotel while Indrani stayed home and Rai slept inside the car with the body in the boot. The same night (the early morning of 25 April 2012), the three accused drove to the village of Gagode in Pen tehsil, Raigad. They allegedly wanted to avoid police checks on the highway and hence, to make it appear Sheena was sleeping, propped the body between Indrani and Khanna on the rear seat rather than putting it in the boot. At 0400 on 25 April 2012, the accused dragged the body out of the car in an isolated spot in the forest, stuffed it in the bag, poured petrol over the bag and set it ablaze. After the body was completely burnt, the accused returned to Mumbai. Khanna later that day left Mumbai.

In August 2015, Peter was questioned. He submitted a written statement to the police that was prepared in conjunction with his lawyer. His passport provided evidence that he was in Rome at the time of the murder in April, 2012. In November 2015, Peter was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 34 (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating and forgery), 364 (kidnapping) and 120-B (conspiracy). He was kept in CBI custody for two weeks during which period, he subjected to a polygraph test with his consent and in the presence of his lawyer. In December 2015, Peter was remanded to judicial custody in Arthur Road Jail. CBI officials were granted multiple extensions to his judicial custody based on their contention that Peter and Indrani Mukerjea siphoned off money from INX Media and parked it in an offshore bank account in Sheena Boras name.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Turkey is ready if necessary to let in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees trapped on its border after fleeing a brutal civil war, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.

Thousands of Syrians, mostly women and children, have fled toward the Turkish border since Friday from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to escape a major regime offensive backed by Russian air strikes.

The regime has now blocked a part of Aleppo Turkey is under threat, Erdogan told reporters on his plane returning from Senegal on Saturday, quoted by Anatolia news agency.

If they reached our door and have no other choice, if necessary, we have to and will let our brothers in, he said.

The governor of Turkeys Kilis border province, Suleyman Tapsiz, said Saturday that Turkey  already home to around 2.7 million Syrians according to the latest government figures  was taking care of 30-35,000 refugees who had gathered around the nearby Syrian city of Azaz in the space of 48 hours.

Another 70,000 may head for the frontier if Russian air strikes and Syrian regime military advances continued in Aleppo, he added.

Turkeys Oncupinar border crossing, which faces Bab al-Salama inside Syria, remained closed to thousands of refugees gathered there for a third day, an AFP reporter said.

They braved cold and rain waiting desperately for the moment the gate will open, as Turkish aid trucks delivered food inside Syria.

But the border keeps open for emergency situations, a Turkish official told AFP.

Seven injured were taken to Turkey on Friday and one on Saturday for treatment at Turkish hospitals, he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that his country would keep its open border policy for Syrian refugees.

The European Union on Saturday said it was Ankaras international obligations to keep its frontiers open to refugees while pressing the Turkish government to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe.
I didnt want to question why, but why? Why did these moms go from completely silent on whats become a controversial topic to linking these sorts of articles to their FB walls? And why all of a sudden now? My mind was spinning.

The posts that I saw were not being shared by moms like me. These moms were different. Their kids were different, too. The kids didnt have seizures. Their werent in therapy. They werent in self-contained special ed classrooms either. It was a different population of moms fairly new to the online vaccine scene who were chiming in, and I couldnt believe it. Typical moms of typical children were sharing articles about vaccine bills, about vaccine ingredients, and about the vaccine schedule. All out in the open and on Facebook!

Last week, logging onto Facebook was no different than other weeks. I saw posts about the Zika vaccine, about the Tdap vaccine, and about the DTP vaccine. I saw those being mentioned in some FB groups as well as on some of the autism advocacy and vaccine safety pages that I frequent. Not surprisingly, I saw those posts on friends walls, too. I expect to see that from certain friends, especially the ones who have a vaccine-injured child who is also on the autism spectrum. But last week when I saw that news pop up in my newsfeed, I didnt cringe like I sometimes do when I see a vaccine link. I did a double take instead.

I see vaccine-related posts all the time when I log in to Facebook. Not a day goes by that I dont see some vaccine link being shared. I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I see that topic in my newsfeed. Thats because some days, the news isnt good news - people are still being injured by vaccines, vaccine efficacy is waning (but we should still go out and get that bum vaccine anyway!), and mandates are looming. It can all be rather depressing. Ill admit that Im guilty of clogging my friends newsfeeds with all sorts of vaccine news and information, but thats because when youre a parent of a vaccine-injured child, being vocal about vaccines can easily become a habit.

Maybe they came to realize that following the vaccine schedule is not safe, is not effective, and in actuality, for some people, is downright dangerous.

Maybe they recently took a verbal beating from their doctor about declining some of those vaccines.

Maybe they realized that if they dont start being vocal now, theyll lost their chance to speak up in the future.

Maybe the reason these moms are sharing what they are sharing is because theyre finally ready to say enough is enough. Whatever their reasons are, I am glad to witness what I am witnessing.

A few of the women hail from states where vaccine bills were recently introduced. The bills, had they passed, would have taken away their parental rights. As former vaccinators who previously had a choice to vaccinate or not, these women would now be forced to have to vaccinate their children. No questions. No exceptions. No exemptions. That can be pretty scary to realize. Thankfully, these moms arent afraid to share their thoughts on the subject. I just hope that they are prepared for what comes next.

Waking up to vaccine reality isnt easy. People recognize how blind they were. They realize that theyve trusted the wrong people. Worse, the more aware and vocal they become, theyll begin to lose friends and others close to them. It can be a long, hard and sometimes lonely road to walk. As the mom of a vaccine injured child, I know this, and I feel for the moms on Facebook who are walking that path right now. Thats why Im cheering these women on as much as I can. Im liking their vaccine-related posts. Im commenting on it. Im adding to a conversation that they started, and Im sending them private messages of encouragement when that conversation, which inevitably draws their pro-vaccine friends in, gets heated.

At one time, I, too, was pro-vaccine. I created my own vaccine logic to justify my decisions. I refused to see the other side of the conversation  that vaccines were not always safe, effective or life saving and that the ingredients could cause more harm than good. It wasnt until my childs health started to go downhill that I realized that there was another side to vaccines. It took me watching his health worsen for me to wake up. While transitioning away from being pro-vaccine to being more informed, my eyes were opened but my heart was crushed. I was confused, angry, and lost. It was going to take time to heal, but I knew that something better would eventually be around the corner. And it was: freedom.

I was free. I was free from working with people who did not have my childs health in their best interest, and I was free to make better choices for my family and for myself. Im encouraged that some of my friends who have typical kids are starting to free themselves, too. This waking up period is exciting. I let one mom know that I cant even put into words how grateful I am to see her recent posts on Facebook. Shes coming out of the shadows. Shes tippy toeing into reality. Shes cautiously testing the waters and also bravely planting seeds of truth at the same time. One article. One link. One statement against vaccines in her Facebook status at a time. Its quite thrilling to see.

It takes courage to go against pro-vaccine logic, to speak up and say no way are all those vaccines ever going to go in my child. It takes even more courage to say all of that on social media. Juggling what usually comes next  the harsh comments and the personal attacks from others and dealing with any unsettled feelings of doubt after going public, can be a struggle. So can losing family and friends who cannot respectfully agree to disagree when it comes to discussing anything related to vaccines. Which is where we come in.

Those of us whove been vocal about the vaccine schedule before know what its like to be attacked. We know what its like to be ignored and discriminated against. I dont want these new moms to have to experience all of the harsh vaccine reality that many of us have endured for years, so lets welcome them to our online community with open arms. It may have taken some of them a long time to get here, but we can let these new moms know that were so happy to have them join us on this side of the vaccine conversation.

Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.
Shea Dawson developed his taste for craft beer during his college days in the Southwest.

During those summers, Dawson made frequent trips from his northern New Mexico home to Durango, Colo., the home of Steamworks Brewing Co., and discovered the appeal of well-made ales, lagers and stouts.

So when he moved his family to Billings about two years ago, Dawson, 32, had a natural interest in the citys growing brewery culture. He liked what he found, and the avid home brewer decided he wanted to join in.

It didnt take long to see theres great beer, Dawson said.

Dawson is opening Thirsty Street Brewing Co. Feb. 18 at 3008 First Ave. N., the site of the former Himmelberger brewery. Hes planning to brew about 500 to 600 barrels of beer annually, about one-third the capacity allowed by state law.

Dawson said hes invested between $200,000 and $300,000 on the brewery, which includes the purchase of Himmelbergers equipment, new furniture and signs.

Hes keeping his full-time job as finance manager at Phillips 66 and hiring three bartenders. His wife, Jill Dawson, is also involved in the business, and the couple have twin 15-month-old daughters, Gwenyth and Evelyn.

Weve been interested in the whole concept for years. And I ve always loved brewing beer, Dawson said.

Thirsty Street joins Angry Hanks, Uberbrew, Montana Brewing Co., Yellowstone Valley Brewing and Carters downtown. Another place, Canyon Creek Brewery, is on the West End. About 15 miles away, High Plains Brewing opened last month in downtown Laurel, making Thirsty Street the eighth Yellowstone County brewery.

So how will Thirsty Street find its niche? Dawson said he will feature his Belgian beers and keep six brews on tap while offering a relaxing experience inside.

Next to the taproom, hes converted the old coffee shop into a game room with a new pool table, dart boards and new shuffle board table on the side. Thirsty Street will also have a small menu with comfort food from Montana: sausages from Pioneer Meats in Big Timber, wrapped in buns from Grains of Montana.

The opening of Thirsty Street also elevates the profile of downtown Billings as a destination for visitors, said John Brewer, CEO of the Billings Chamber of Commerce, which oversees area tourism marketing.

A recent survey by SmartAssets.com identified Billings as the fourth-best beer city nationwide, and Brewer said the brewery culture is a big talking point for Billings promoters.

Its very popular. Its to the point where Visit Billings has developed a walking tour map of the breweries Its found its way into a lot of our marketing material Its an interest quality-of-life measure that people can enjoy, he said.

Statewide, the number of breweries has doubled over the last five years, and big beer companies are responding by promoting more of their own craft brands.

Dawson said hes thinks his location is great -- between Angry Hanks and a new motorcycle shop, the Twisted Spoke, and across the street from Pug Mahons. He added that the response from the brewing community in Billings has been positive.

Everyone is very welcoming and excited for us to get up and running, Dawson said.
The extermination of the Jews was not a means to any end; it was an end in itself.

You just cant, as they say, make this stuff up.

B.o.B., a rap performer, recently made news by implying that 1) Holocaust denier David Irving deserves reconsideration, and 2) that the earth is flat.

The entertainer didnt offer those two wise thoughts as part of a comedy routine, but in a serious, assertive manner, using the medium of rap.

Stalin was way worse than Hitler, the fellow also declared. Thats why the POTUS gotta wear a kippah. POTUS, of course, in secret service-speak, means president of the United States and kippah means well, you know. If youre looking for logic, even of the paranoid variety, you might wish to look elsewhere.

Someone else also recently made news about his own Holocaust views. That would be Professor Yair Auron, an Israeli historian several million light years removed, culturally, from the flat-earth rapper. In a way, though, Mr. Auron is the more hazardous of the two.

The professor is upset at the Israeli educational system for teaching that the Nazis determination to destroy every vestige of the Jewish people is something uniquely Jewish.

He accuses Holocaust educators of repressing or minimizing the suffering of others targeted by the Nazis, and is upset that other mass murders are not placed on a plane with the Nazis attempted destruction of Klal Yisrael.

It must be asked, he said recently, if, in Israel in 2016, instead of also shaping Holocaust commemoration through humanist and democratic values [is] fostering racism and xenophobia Ignoring the non-Jewish victims is perhaps the most concrete manifestation of this trend.

No one, of course, denies that the Nazis killed thousands of Communists, mentally disabled, Gypsies, criminals and others. Nor that mass slaughters of human beings were committed by Stalin in the Soviet Union, by Pol Pot in Cambodia, by the Turks against the Armenians and by the Hutu tribe against the Tutsi and moderate Hutus in Rwanda. And those outrages all deserve to be remembered.

Determination to create a world that would be Judenrein  free of Jews  was the Nazis first and foremost goal.

But to contend that its somehow wrong to stress the singular hatred Hitler had for Jews, and his determination to destroy our people in toto is to reveal the deepest of delusions. And fostering that delusion is a Holocaust revision of its own.

Determination to create a world that would be Judenrein  free of Jews  was the Nazis first and foremost goal. They may have had no compunctions about killing others they felt were detrimental to the Third Reich  political opponents, the non-productive, those they deemed asocial. But they didnt seek a Gypsyrein world or a disabledrein one. The Nazi quest was to clear the world, not just Germany, of Jews; and it was a deep and abiding obsession, a psychopathy clothed in philosophical/theological garb.

Hitler revealed as much in Mein Kampf, where he wrote: If the Jew is victorious over the other peoples of the world, his crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity and this planet will, as it did thousands of years ago, move through the ether devoid of men

Even as he and his companion were about to commit suicide, on April 29, 1945, at 4 a.m. the fading fuhrer issued a statement declaring Above all, I charge the leadership of the nation and their followers with merciless resistance against the universal poisoners of all peoples, international Jewry.

Scholar Steven I. Katz put it succinctly: The Holocaust is phenomenologically unique by virtue of the fact that never before has a state set out, as a matter of intentional principle and actualized policy, to annihilate physically every man, woman, and child belonging to a specific group.

Or, as the philosopher Emil Fackenheim wrote, The extermination of the Jews had no political or economic justification. It was not a means to any end; it was an end in itself.

And theres something more, too, a context that makes the Nazis Jew-hatred singularly significant. Here, perhaps, a non-historian may have said it best, and only last week.

Awarding a posthumous honor to Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, an American serviceman who protected Jewish captives in a German POW camp, the aforementioned POTUS recalled Mr. Edmonds words to the camps commander, who had ordered Jewish prisoners to come forward: We are all Jews.

We are all Jews, explained Mr. Obama, because anti-Semitism is a distillation, an expression of an evil that runs through so much of human history, and if we do not answer that, we do not answer any other form of evil.

Gut gezokt. Hear it well, Professor Auron.

This article originally appeared in Hamodia.
February 7, 2016

US lawmakers will get a firsthand account of the war in Syria this week as President Barack Obama's envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition briefs them on his recent trip there.

Brett McGurk will discuss "the way forward in Syria and Iraq" in a closed session of the Senate Foreign Relations panel on Feb. 9, his first visit to Congress since returning from a short visit to Kobani and other areas in northern Syria. He is scheduled to talk to the House Foreign Affairs Committee in an open hearing Feb. 10, with an added focus on IS expansion to Libya and beyond.

IS is also expected to be a key focus when CIA Director James Clapper and Defense Intelligence Agency chief Vincent Stewart testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on "worldwide threats" Feb. 9. And the House Foreign Affairs panel on terrorism holds a hearing Feb. 10 on "the future of IS-inspired attacks."

Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary panel on Feb. 11 marks up legislation from presidential candidate Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to strip US terrorists of their nationality. And the Senate Homeland panel has its own terror bills on the docket Feb. 10, including bills from Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, to combat terrorist use of social media and the "Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act" from Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

On Feb. 9, Obama unveils his annual budget blueprint, setting in motion a monthslong appropriation process.

The Iran nuclear deal remains a focal point as the State Department's point person on the agreement testifies Feb. 11 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Stephen Mull will be accompanied by John Smith, Treasury's acting director of foreign assets control.

Separately, the committee's Middle East panel on Feb. 11 will mark up a resolution calling on Iran to redouble its efforts to find missing American Robert Levinson. The full Senate committee will do likewise Feb. 10.

In other news, the House Middle East panel holds a hearing Feb. 11 on "Jordan: A key US partner." Administration witnesses include Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Gerald Feierstein and the US Agency for International Development's assistant administrator for the Middle East, Paige Alexander.

The House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11 will probe the troubled EB-5 investor visa program.

Finally, the bicameral Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on Feb. 10 will examine how the International Criminal Court can advance accountability in Iraq and Syria.
February 5, 2016

The pragmatic Arab countries are today mainly preoccupied with the rise in power and influence of Islamic fundamentalist movements, primarily the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda. That focus has shifted the governments' attention away from the Palestinian issue. The only exception is Egypt and its leader, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In his Sept. 28 UN speech, Sisi said the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital will effectively eliminate one of the most important factors contributing to the region's instability and one of the most dangerous pretexts used to justify extremism and terrorism.

Sisi's position is in line with the traditional leading role of Egypt on the Palestinian cause. President Anwar Sadat made dealing with it a condition for the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty in 1979. President Hosni Mubarak played a central role in backing PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat through the Oslo process and hosted most of the negotiations on the Interim Accords of 1995 on Egyptian territory (in Cairo and Taba). Today, Sisi is also preoccupied with Hamas becoming stronger at the expense of Fatah; this has to do with his anti-terror policy.

A senior Egyptian Foreign Ministry official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that ministry officials are contemplating an Egyptian initiative to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on a two-state solution in coordination with the French Foreign Ministrys initiative. Such an Egyptian policy proposal could include the following four elements:

A UN Security Council resolution coordinated with France. Such a resolution would address the illegality of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and call for a total settlement construction freeze.

Convening a regional security conference in Sharm el-Sheikh focused on fighting regional terrorism. The conference would include Gulf countries, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority (PA), Israel and the Quartet (United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations).

The French would be asked to use the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as the basis for their proposal for an international peace conference to renew Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Enhancing anti-terror cooperation between Egypt, Israel and the PA.

The official said the Egyptian president would decide if and when to make a public policy statement in that vein, depending on the situation on the ground. Egypt is extremely concerned about the possibility of an armed intifada that ultimately would strengthen the hand of Hamas.

According to the Egyptian official, Egyptian diplomats have been exploring the initiative with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli security officials, officials in the US National Security Council and, primarily, the French Foreign Ministry.

The main hurdle to such an initiative, the Egyptian official noted, is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus settlement policies and the nature of his current coalition. Yet as broader strategic regional interests are at stake, Egypt would continue to explore the value of such an initiative.

It seems the international community is coming to the conclusion that the Palestinian issue must be dealt with, despite current Israeli and Palestinian policies, parallel with the fight against IS. While the US administration has taken a back seat on the issue, the French have decided to take the lead in attempting to break the deadlock. Like most EU countries, France is concerned with the fate of the PA due to the lack of a diplomatic horizon.

A senior French Foreign Ministry official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that President Francois Hollande and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius have decided to launch their initiative to convene an international conference on a two-state solution mostly out of concern for the political survival of Abbas. In the official's view, without a viable and credible peace process backed by the international community, there is a real danger of the PA's collapse and the outbreak of an armed intifada. France is coordinating the initiative with Egypt and the PA and has also notified in advance the Netanyahu government, US Secretary of State John Kerry and France's European partners.

The Paris official claims no one in the French government is optimistic about their initiative succeeding in full, primarily because of the Israeli settlement policy. Yet the decision to launch the effort was made because international efforts are crucial in the case of Abbas and for the hope of avoiding greater violence. Furthermore, the French interest is, at the very least, to establish this year a platform for future negotiations on a two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 lines. Frances skepticism about Netanyahus response to an international conference was the reason Fabius announced that, should the effort fail, France would recognize Palestine as a state. That, in the French view, would lead other EU governments to do the same.

The Egyptian and French policy positions are very timely and not merely for the sake of strengthening Abbas. A two-state solution process is a must in any stabilization and anti-fundamentalist strategy in the Middle East. This is not only part of the Palestinian interest in reaching statehood, but also an Israeli basic interest of preserving the state's Jewish and democratic identity. As for the United States, this process should become part of its anti-fundamentalist extremism strategy.
"Three Ringlings in Montana: Circus Trains to Cattle Ranches"

By Lee Rostad

Montana ranchers are a hardscrabble bunch, down on their luck and living on a shoestring. Right? Not exactly. Lee Rostads "Three Ringlings in Montana: Circus Trains to Cattle Ranches" challenges this image by detailing how founder John Ringling and two heirs to the circus fortune felt completely at home in White Sulphur Springs.

Already wealthy, John began buying up land in Meagher County as early as 1903. In 1910, he initiated the White Sulphur Springs and Yellowstone Park Railway, which persisted in one form or another until the 1970s.

Johns nephew Richard, who, unlike his father and uncles, was born to wealth, followed the path to Montana improbably blazed by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 1915, Fitzgerald had found a  weather-beaten mining, ranching and farming community with 500 citizens and a thriving saloon and red light district. In 1917, young Richard Ringling discovered new friends and the allure of rodeo. He married a local girl, Aubrey Black, who would become a powerhouse in the rarified world of the Ringlings.

Aubrey and Richards son Paul grew up in New York and Florida, but found his true identity in Montana. He raised black angus cattle near the Crazy Mountains and Ekalaka, and served in the State Senate. As of the date of publication, Paul still lived on his own at the age of 93.

While Rostad has done considerable research into her subjects and packs "Three Ringlings in Montana" full of details, the book never provides an overview or theme to tie the facts together. Nor does Rostad explain why she focuses on the three male Ringlings rather than their wives and sisters.

It also seems a disservice to gloss over labor unrest during the Great Depression as it affected the circus industry. And opening the book with a jab at PETA seems nothing if not gratuitous. While it may be true that elephants and big cats are well cared for in high-profile companies (because my vet in Florida had trained with the Ringling Brothers animal acupuncturist, I happen to know that their elephants regularly receive acupuncture and herbal therapies), creatures (and human performers) in smaller shows often do suffer abuse and neglect. Bringing up these issues just to cavalierly dismiss them seems a lost opportunity for analysis. (Note: Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey recently announced the retirement of their pachyderm act.)

In addition to its pro-Ringling bias, the book relies on long, quoted passages, parts of which are often mysteriously repeated a page or two later. Sometimes it is hard to tell where a quote ends and the authors prose or another quote takes up again.

That is not to say that "Three Ringlings in Montana" is not a worthy book for those interested in Montana history. Rostad is at her best when she concentrates on Ringling associates. Most compelling is the story of Taylor Gordon, a White Sulphur Springs native who became John Ringlings servant and chauffer. According to Rostad, he suffered racial discrimination for the first time in the East and South, but he later went on to become a vaudevillian and an actor. On retirement, he often sang at weddings in White Sulphur Springs, where he died in 1971, just one of the undoubted millions  including numerous Montanans  touched by Ringling wealth, power and privilege.
February 5, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Palestinians are increasingly concerned about new confrontations in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel.

On Jan. 13, Israel shelled a group of Palestinians near the border fence in northern Gaza for allegedly attempting to plant explosive devices. The shelling broke a truce agreement that had been in place under Egyptian auspices since August 2014.

A week later, on Jan. 21, Israeli forces deployed heavy artillery batteries on the northern border with the Gaza Strip.

Gazans are in a state of despair and frustration in light of the poor economic situation and the disruption of the truce that ended the 2014 Israeli war on Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas is saying that Gaza may flare up again. Ismail al-Ashqar, Hamas leader and chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council's Security Committee, said in a press statement back in August that an explosion would be imminent if Israel did not abide by the truce agreements.

He added, The resistance has more weapons than Israel anticipates.

Political analyst Hassan Abdo said Israels deployment of heavy artillery batteries on the border with Gaza is a serious sign of the tense conditions and has alerted the resistance to any [potential] sudden Israeli aggression.

Abdo told Al-Monitor that both the resistance and Israel feel that the 51-day war in 2014 was cut short and did not produce meaningful results. The resistance feels that it did not achieve its goals, most notably ending the Gaza blockade. And Israel feels it did not weaken the capabilities of the resistance, especially the military tunnels. This is raising the chances that a new confrontation could break out.

Political analyst Eyad al-Qara told Al-Monitor, There are two main indicators that a new confrontation between Israel and Hamas may soon break out. The first is that, one year after the 2014 war, Israel has become bolder in targeting Palestinians, by continuously shooting at farmers on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip and by targeting fishermen near the Gazan coast. The second indicator is that the resistance is continuing its military preparations for the next confrontation.

The most recent shooting on farmers took place Jan. 31. Local news website Donia al-Watan reported that Israeli soldiers positioned in Israeli towers along the eastern borders of Gaza shot at a group of farmers along the borders east of Khan Yunis and Rafah. The farmers escaped without injury.

Qara said ongoing Israeli violations against Gaza show Israel is not interested in maintaining calm. He stressed that the failure to resume the truce talks is due to the rift between Egypt and Hamas and has made the resistance feel that it made a mistake by agreeing to postpone the truce discussion without specifying a [resumption] date.

Political analyst Talal Okal agreed with Qara that Israels noncommitment to the truce will accelerate the outbreak of a new confrontation with Hamas. The failure to implement the terms of the truce by Israel, most importantly the easing of the Gaza blockade and the opening of border crossings for the passage of goods, has contributed to the continued deterioration of the economic situation in Gaza, and this is pushing toward a new military confrontation, Okal said.

He added, Things are getting worse. When the war ended, people expected that the reconstruction of Gaza would be fast and that the unemployment problem  which is the worst in world  would be tackled. But this did not happen.

According to a World Bank report from March 21, the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is the highest in the world, as it reached 43% at the end of 2014.

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan did not rule out that Israel may launch a new attack on Gaza, saying that the deployment of heavy artillery on the Gaza border reflects Israels failure to deal with the current Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Jerusalem and is a serious threat [that could] spread the battle of the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.

Radwan told Al-Monitor, Israel wants to divert the worlds attention from the uprising in Jerusalem and justify an upcoming aggression on Gaza by drawing attention to the resistance preparation in Gaza and exaggerating its danger.

The Israeli media recently focused on Hamas growing capabilities and its quest to rebuild the tunnels to prepare for the next war. Such talk has increased since the seven Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades members died in a Jan. 28 collapse of a military tunnel north of Gaza as they worked to restore it.

Military analyst Amos Harel wrote in a report published Jan. 31 on Haaretz, It seems there is a race against time. Hamas wants to continue its preparations to be ready, while Israel is trying to find attack tunnels on its lands under the pretext that Hamas might use them soon.

Radwan warned Israel against embarking on a new folly in Gaza."

We say to the occupation, which has failed in all its wars on Gaza, that it should not try to go through the experience again," Radwan said. "But if it decides to, then we are ready to face it. And we will surprise it.

Hamas continues to dig military tunnels on the border with Israel to be ready for a future confrontation. In a Jan. 29 speech during the funeral of the seven al-Qassam Brigades members, the deputy head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said, The resistance will continue its preparations for a confrontation with the occupation by continuing its land and sea military preparations and by continuing to dig tunnels and develop its missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Jan. 31 by issuing a warning to Hamas.

If we are attacked through these tunnels, we will respond harder than we did" during the war on Gaza in 2014, he said.

During the July-August 2014 Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Israeli forces launched more than 60,660 land, sea and air raids, during which 2,147 Palestinians died, including 530 children. Around 17,130 houses were destroyed partially, while 2,465 houses were completely damaged, according to a report from the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor published early November 2014.

Qara said, I think that Hamas does not want war. But the warnings and threats being exchanged between Hamas and Israel are back, and they are bringing back the war atmosphere to the region.

He also noted Netanyahu's recent threats are very similar to those the Israeli leader made in January 2014, six months before the 2014 war: If Hamas forgot the lesson, we will teach them the lesson soon, and in a hard way.

The Palestinians, who are still suffering the effects of the previous war, hope that the mutual threats and warnings are just a passing cloud. But their fears of an outbreak of war are increasing because no peace talks between Hamas and Israel are underway.
February 7, 2016

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Feb. 4 that a recent US intelligence assessment showed a drop in numbers of those fighting on behalf of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq from 31,500 to 25,000, a sign that the Obama administrations strategy is working, as many of these foreign fighters seek a new base in Libya and elsewhere.

The second Week in Review column in December 2012 identified the role of Russia as one of the trends to watch regarding an endgame in Syria. The Russian trend is shaping a new phase in the Syrian war. As this column wrote last month, that endgame could begin with Aleppo, which is nearly encircled by Russian- and Iranian-backed Syrian government forces.

It might be fair to ask how much credit Russia should get in setting back not only IS, but al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra and its allies. Getting an answer might be difficult, however, for two reasons.

First, the Russian air campaign has been ruthless and often indiscriminate. The civilian costs of the war can understandably and rightly overshadow what we might call strategic gains. Mohammed al-Khatieb provides a firsthand account for Al-Monitor of a Russian airstrike on a school and the toll of the bombardment on civilians in towns surrounding Aleppo. US Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed to Russia to adhere to UN Security Council resolutions regarding the conduct of the war in Syria. We could not agree more.

Second, and more puzzling and problematic, is that many press accounts have referred to those armed groups on the receiving end of the Russian-backed Syrian offensive simply as rebels, implying these are all opposition groups backed by the United States and its Western allies.

Sam Dagher of The Wall Street Journal offered a more complete assessment Feb. 5, writing, About a half-dozen cities and towns targeted in the new regime offensives have one thing in common: All were held by a mix of Islamist and moderate rebel groups funded and armed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Complicating the picture is that some, but not all, of these groups collaborate with the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front. That gives the regime and its allies fodder for their claim that they are fighting terrorism.

This is a start, but there is more. A Feb. 5 report by the Institute for the Study of War shows the extent of the substantial Syrian military advances since Russias expanded military intervention. It also reveals that the Syrian government and its allies have battled IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and the radical Salafi group Ahrar al-Sham, which is often allied with Jabhat al-Nusra, in southern Aleppo province; battled IS in re-establishing a ground line of communication with the Quweires air base and in the Bab region; and battled Jabhat al-Nusra in the Latakia region.

Mustafa al-Haj explains that among the reasons that the Syrian military was able to retake Sheikh Miskin, north of Daara, after relentless Russian bombing, was internal differences among opposition factions. Haj reports from Damascus, The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has been at odds with the Muthanna Movement (which had secretly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in March 2015), as well as Jabhat al-Nusra, following attempts by the FSA to isolate radical Islamist forces, according to the pro-regime Al-Mayadeen news website. These factors weakened the factions resistance to the armys attacks and hampered the entry of FSA fighters from other areas to assist in defending the city. In other words, the FSA, IS-linked Muthanna and Jabhat al-Nusra were all targets of the Russian-backed regime offensive in Daraa.

Fehim Tastekin writes this week that Syrian Turkmen groups, which have been the target of Russian bombardment, have developed close links with Salafi jihadi organizations such as al-Qaeda franchise Jabhat al-Nusra.

So this is a more complex picture of what many in the mainstream media may be reporting about Russias intervention in Syria. It is worth recalling that entities associated with IS, al-Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nusra are also the target of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015), and that a cease-fire will not apply to actions against these entities. Resolution 2254 reiterates that member states should prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh), Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the ISSG and determined by the Security Council, pursuant to the Statement of the ISSG of 14 November 2015, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Syria, and notes that the aforementioned ceasefire will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against these individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, as set forth in the 14 November 2015 ISSG Statement.

Turkeys outrageous offer

Turkeys policies in Syria continue to border on the reckless, so excuse our skepticism on how the introduction of Turkish troops could play a constructive role, especially as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan risks escalation with Russia over alleged airspace violations. Ankara claimed that a Russian plane had violated its airspace Jan. 29. Metin Gurcan explains that the alleged Russian violation took place on the Turkish border region that faces the Azaz-Munbij front, which is currently controlled by the Islamic State. If this is accurate, Russia is telling Turkey openly that it seriously intends to maintain the de facto no-fly zone it has established over the Jarablus-Munbij areas, which are also of major concern for Turkey.

Semih Idiz reports that developments in northern Syria are aggravating tensions between Ankara and Moscow. Following the downing of its jet, Russia intensified its air campaign, particularly against the Turkmens, but also against radical Islamic groups supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar that are fighting the Syrian army. Russia has a particular ax to grind with the Turkmens because it was their fighters who killed the Russian pilot in his parachute after he ejected from the Su-24. Turkmen refugees have started entering Turkey as the Syrian army gradually takes control of the region with Russian air support.  Russia has an added incentive now to support the PYD [Democratic Union Party] and hit Turkey in its most sensitive spot, namely the Kurdish issue. Russia says it is unthinkable that the PYD can be kept out of the Geneva talks and insists the group will be part in these talks in the future. Meanwhile, the Turkish media is reporting that Russia had started to provide air support to the PYDs military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), west of the Euphrates River.

Fehim Tastekin writes that Turkish ultranationalists have rallied to the Syrian Turkmen camp, whose armed groups have links to Jabhat al-Nusra. Tastekin concludes, Many opposition groups labeled the Free Syrian Army have in time shifted to a Salafi mindset. How the war will transform Turkeys ultranationalists is an important question.  This will inevitably leave a residue.

Knowing all we know, the United States should therefore be adamant in rejecting any Saudi or Turkish offer to send its forces to Syria, if there is any seriousness to these offers.

On whose side, for example, would Saudi and Turkish forces be fighting? Radical Salafi groups Jabhat al-Nusra and the Army of Islam, which are often and intimately linked to Jabhat al-Nusra? Would such an intervention give a second wind to Jabhat al-Nusra itself? Our answer is yes.

And who would they be fighting against  IS? The Syrian Kurds who are allied with Russia and the United States? Or Russia itself, risking a NATO intervention?

We recognize the burden Turkey has assumed by providing relief to over 2.2 million Syrians, with tens of thousands more seeking entry. Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon deserve our thanks and assistance in managing this overwhelming humanitarian crisis, which received a commitment of over $10 billion from international donors last week. But if Turkey wants to further step up in Syria, it should stand down in its confrontation with Russia, and take unambiguous steps targeting IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and affiliated forces, as called for in UN Security Council resolutions.
Sutton Place Apartments at 701 S. University Blvd., in west Mobile, has sold for $8.1 million to out-of-state investors, according to court records. The two-story complex has 208 units and is across the street from the University of South Alabama. Sutton features one- and two-bedroom units and was built in 1977. Surety Land Title handled the closing transaction.

Zippy Shell, a moving and storage business, has leased an 11,000-square-foot warehouse at 5235 Kooiman Road in Theodore, according to Realtors. Mitchum Jackson of Heggeman Realty represented the landlord and Michael Taylor of Headwater Holdings Real Estate worked for local Zippy Shell franchisee.

Rock 'n Roll Sushi has leased space in Tanger Outlet on Ala. 59 in Foley and should open later this spring,according to center managers. Vera Bradley will also open a store at the outlet center in early March.

Sandy Shores Village, a new 108-unit apartment community under way off Canal Road in Orange Beach, has leased 1,200 square feet of space in Wolf Bay Plaza Shopping Center at 25637 Canal Road, and will use it as their leasing office, according to Michael Wilson of White-Spunner Realty.

Investors paid about $1.8 million for 42,817-square feet at Douglas Square on Douglas Avenue in Brewton, adjacent to T.R. Miller High School, according to court records.The space is anchored by Goody's, and has three spaces available for lease. Ralph Neal of Watson Realty and Andrew Dickman of Stirling Properties represented the buyers. Marcus & Millichap worked for the sellers.

Plans to build Ascension & Grace condominium towers in Orange Beach have been shelved, but local developers are working on a new condo project for the 6.63-acre site at Ala. 161 and Perdido Beach Boulevard, which will be introduced later this year. Ascension & Grace were proposed to be 35- and 36-story towers with a total of 276 units.

A new 21-unit condo complex on Ala. 59 in Gulf Shores, next to Waterville USA and across from Hardee's restaurant, is on the drawing board and developers will soon seek city planning approval. The units would overlook the lagoon and wetlands.

Chad Fincher, the executive director of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors, will be leaving the post to go to work for Zillow, and Butch Blum of Roberts Brothers will serve as interim director, according to Realtors.

Mobile restaurateur Chakli Diggs has opened Saisho at 455 Dauphin St., in downtown Mobile. Diggs calls the new eatery a modern American gastro-pub inspired by a Japanese kitchen and bar. It serves only dinner, but will soon add lunch and sidewalk and balcony dining. Diggs also owns NoJa restaurant at 6 N. Jackson St., in downtown Mobile.

Local Investors paid $1.135 million for 45 acres off Chumuckla Highway in Pace, Fla., and plan to develop 177 lots for D.R. Horton, according to the local developer Nathan Cox of Battle Plan Capital. Hawk's Landing will feature 78 homes in the first phase with homes priced in the high $200s.
Christy Watson described her 9-year-old niece, Kimberly "Kimi" Reylander, as a sweet girl who loved everyone.

"She was a sweet little girl," Watson, Kimberly's great-aunt, said. "She was very smart."

Family members were gathering at the home of Kimberly's great-grandparents on Monroe Drive in Irondale on Sunday morning to mourn the loss of the third-grader.

Kimberly was accidentally shot Saturday afternoon inside the Monroe Drive home by her 3-year-old brother, Irondale police say. The girl suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported by medical helicopter to Children's of Alabama where she later died.

Irondale Police Chief Ken Atkinson said on Saturday that the shooting is believed to be a tragic accident, but it remained under investigation.

Police received a 911 call reporting the shooting at around 2:10 p.m. Monroe Drive was closed for at least two hours while police investigated.

Atkinson said someone left a pistol on a bedroom nightstand not knowing the grandchildren were coming over that day. While the children were playing in the room, the 3-year-old picked up the weapon and shot his sister.

Watson said Kimberly and her brother lived nearby with their mother. With tears in her eyes, she said she couldn't imagine what the girl's mother was going through right now.

Watson said Kimberly loved art.

"She makes these clay figurines," the great-aunt said, while holding up a figurine of an angel.

Chrissy Coblentz, a neighbor of Kimberly's great-grandparents, set up a Gofundme account to help pay for the funeral and other expenses.

"My family is a next door neighbor of Kimi's great-grandparents," she wrote. "My children played with Kimi in our and her backyard every weekend, rode the same school bus, and celebrated birthday's together. We are shocked at this loss of this young life."

Kimberly's family will receive friends Tuesday evening at Ridout Funeral Home in Trussville. The funeral is the following day at the same location.
This Alabama couple had a very good reason for getting out of a speeding ticket on Sunday morning.

Danny Lowe, of Huntsville, wouldn't say how fast he was driving when Trooper Michael Kesler pulled him over for speeding in front of the Lowe's store on U.S. Highway 72 in Athens at about 6:40 a.m.

He was 2.3 miles away from getting his wife, Shawna, and his unborn baby to the Athens-Limestone Hospital.

But, the baby decided he couldn't wait, and the trooper assisted in the delivery of baby Barrett.

"He was awesome," Lowe said, of the trooper. "He settled me down."

Lowe said he appreciated the kindness Kesler showed him and his wife, Shawna.

"It was ridiculously fast," the father said, of how fast his second child was delivered.

After delivering the baby, Kesler helped clean the baby and keep the mom and baby warm until an ambulance arrived.

In a press release, Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier said Kesler also helped take stress off the family by coordinating with the mother's doctor via cell phone and ambulance personnel.

Shawna Lowe and the newborn were transported to the hospital by ambulance. Kesler accompanied Danny Lowe to the hospital to be with his family.

The trooper didn't stop there. He then went to a grocery store to buy flowers, cupcakes and a newborn starter kit to bring to the new parents.

Lowe said Kesler even came back by the hospital when he went off duty.

"Trooper Kesler's actions today exemplify the mission of the Alabama State Troopers -- to serve and protect," Collier said. "I want to personally commend Trooper Kesler for his swift actions and going above and beyond the call of duty."

Lowe said his baby boy and his wife are doing well.

"He is great," he said. "I am holding him right now. Everybody is perfect."
A Morgan County man was killed Saturday evening when his vehicle struck a tree and overturned in Lawrence County.

Stephen Andrew Smith, 32, of Danville was killed when the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer he was driving left the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned at around 6:15 p.m., according to Alabama state troopers.

Smith, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred on Lawrence County 200 at the intersection of Lawrence County 210, ten miles south of Moulton.

Troopers continue to investigate.
One person was killed and at least seven others were injured Sunday morning in an explosion at a Rockmart, Ga. feed mill.

The explosion, which caused a structural collapse, occurred at around 2:30 a.m. at JCG Farms, 11 Alive reported.

WSB-TV reported the fatal victim is a 24-year-old man. Another person was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Others were transported at a local hospital.

The fire at the facility has been contained. Structural engineers were called to inspect the buildings due to risk of additional collapse.

A portion of Highway 101 near the facility is closed as a precaution.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Authorities in Hinds County, Miss. seized $3 million worth of methamphetamine during a Wednesday traffic stop.

A K-9 unit located the drugs in a 2015 Toyota Corolla pulled over on Fortification Street in Jackson for erratic driving, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

According to the report, 30 kilograms of meth were found after a search.

The men in the vehicle said they were traveling from Jackson to Atlanta. Their names haven't been released at the request of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The men are charged with aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.

Authorities say this is the largest meth seizure in state history.
2c9312d1-181c-4331-a55b-d51649f23e7f-large16x9_Bentley.jpg

Gov. Robert Bentley

There have been a lot of meetings in the governor's office, located in the north wing of the Capitol since 1911. But last week Gov. Robert J. Bentley called a meeting there that may have made history.

He did it by simply asking the 20 women members of the Legislature to meet with him in his office the morning after his State of the State address.

Whether Gov. William W. Brandon asked the first woman elected to the Legislature in 1923 -- Hattie Hooker Wilkins - to meet him in his office, no one knows. Representative Wilkins would have represented the entire female membership of the Legislature.

Certainly governors have met with female legislators individually and in small groups over the years.

But an invitation to all the women to show up?

No one asked about the unusual meeting last week had ever heard of such a confab and that includes the female legislators who attended the meeting.

"No. I don't recall ever having just the women invited to meet with the governor and I was elected 14 years ago," said Rep. Merika Coleman-Evans, D-Pleasant Grove.

Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee is in her third term in the Legislature and she too could recall no such meeting.

"Oh no. I don't think that's ever happened. At least not since I've been here," said Warren. "But I'm glad a governor finally did it. And that he did it for the reason he did," added Warren.

The overall reason Bentley asked for the meeting was to seek support for his proposal to close and consolidate all of the state's prisons into four new prisons. But Bentley will need more than 20 women in a Legislature that is made up of 140 members.

The driving force behind the meeting is Bentley's decision to close Tutwiler Prison for Women which over decades has become infamous for inmate abuse, including rape and other forms of physical violence.

"I feel so strongly about closing Tutwiler and I particularly wanted to hear what they (women lawmakers) felt about it because I need their support," said Bentley.

Bentley wants the Legislature to authorize the borrowing of between $700 million to $800 million to build four new prisons. He said savings from no longer having to spend millions of dollars a year in constant maintenance and repair of the dilapidated current prisons and duplication of services and overhead at the prisons will generate enough money to pay off the debt.

But Bentley also knows that much of the savings in his plan comes from closing 15 or 16 men's prisons. There is less money to save in closing Tutwiler and that may pose a problem for some lawmakers. He hopes that will not be the case among the female lawmakers. He believes the female lawmakers may see the issues at Tutwiler with a different perspective than their male colleagues.

"Tutwiler is a whole different animal from the other prisons," said Warren. "It has been a concern for many years. What has gone on there has been so wrong for so long and now finally, finally we seem to be beginning to act."

Asked if Bentley's plan had not included closing Tutwiler what would have been her reaction, Warren rolled her eyes.

"I probably can't use the words here I would want to use had that happened," said Warren. "Certainly some of us would have fought against any plan to give the men new prisons and let Tutwiler remain open. Talk about injustice and inequality. But again that is the story of that place."

Rep. Becky Nordgren, R-Gadsden, said she was pleased Bentley asked the women lawmakers over.

"I was very pleased he asked us over," said Nordgren. "What the governor wants to do with all the prisons is an important issue that all of us in the Legislature - men and women - want to hear more about. But I think Tutwiler, because it is a women's prison and because of what has gone on there, I think that maybe we as women might have some ideas about it, some perspective that maybe men do not think about."

Nordgren said she is an early supporter of the governor's plan.

"We all need to hear more, see the numbers, the details. But I think if the savings we realize are there, yes I support it," said Nordgren.

Asked her reaction had Tutwiler not been included in the plan, Nordgren said she would have been disappointed.

"You would have heard about it over here. I think you would have heard an outcry in the Legislature and not just among the women. I also think you would have heard an outcry across the state given what has gone on at Tutwiler. I think the governor understood that."

Rep. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, said she was very pleased by Bentley's decision to particularly reach out to women lawmakers on the Tutwiler issue.

"I think that perhaps women do have a perspective on Tutwiler that most men may not have and by that I just don't mean the issue of violence that has gone on because men don't condone that any more than women do. But there are other issues - child care, trying to be a mother to your kids while behind bars, work training issues, healthcare issues for women - that we can offer some insights about," said Weaver. "I have not necessarily found that on a lot of issue the divide between men and women in the Legislature is that great but there are some differences in approach and sensitivity and perspective. I think what the governor did this week was very smart and wise."

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D- Birmingham, said she supports Bentley's plan to close and consolidate prisons and she is pleased Bentley understands that women may have a perspective on the subject men do not necessarily have, especially as it regards Tutwiler.

"Look, people make mistakes and do sometimes bad things and they go to prison to pay for them," said Givan said. "All of them who go - men and women - are somebody's son, daughter, husband, wife and I think we forget that and treat prisons and their families in ways that just make problems worse. I think women maybe get that a little better than the men. I think it's a good thing to bring women to the table, seek to include us because we might have ideas the guys have not thought of or the guys are so busy posturing about that it gets in the way of actually finding real solutions."

Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, said Bentley's invitation to the women was a real and symbolic move she welcomes.

"I've never been in a meeting where it was just the women and the governor to talk about an issue. It was special," said Collins. "And I hope it won't be the last. What the governor wants to do is a big and important thing and all of us will need more information to make the best decision we can. But Tutwiler is something while it is a concern to all of us, men and women legislators, I think maybe the women have a perspective that the men might not have. And I think that is probably true for a lot of the issues that come before us."

Some called the meeting between the governor and the women a meeting of the women's caucus. But in fact that is no such thing as the women's caucus.

"We don't have a women's caucus and I don't know why not. We all get along well and we all tell each other all the time that we need to get together more often for dinner or a meeting but the schedules are just always so hard to work out," said Collins.

Weaver joked that maybe Bentley could help the women form a caucus since he was able to get a lot of them together in one room at the same time.

Bentley said he thinks women lawmakers should in fact form their own caucus.

"The Congress has a women's caucus. We have the Republican caucus. We have the Democratic caucus. We have the black caucus. We should have a women's caucus. Maybe that's especially true when you have relatively few members who are women in the Legislature. I'd welcome the move."








SIDNEY  In 2008, a group dedicated to improving habitat for the pallid sturgeon decided to provide Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks with $185,000 to explore the possibility of establishing channel migration easements along the Yellowstone River.

Fish biologists say erosion of the river bank plays an important role in ensuring the survival of species like the pallid sturgeon, and the easements could help save the endangered species.

New easement program would allow Yellowstone River to roam A new program to give the Yellowstone River room to roam during high water was strongly endo

The easements were to be established in areas where the river roams most, which is also where landowners have the most difficulty managing this force of nature. The river brings not only powerful spring flooding, but ice jams that scour the shoreline. Attempts to armor the shore with rip-rap barriers has proven to be expensive and must be repaired or renewed regularly.

Instead, as a voluntary alternative, FWP is proposing to let some landowners sell a conservation easement to their property if they agree to let the river roam, since the erosion can help the young of species like pallid sturgeon survive.

The money for the idea, however, could be headed back to the Upper Basin Pallid Sturgeon Working Group after a recent public hearing on the first such channel migration easement in Montana drew fire not only from landowners, but from area legislators.

We have been working on this program for the better part of seven, eight years, said Mike Backes, Region 7 fisheries manager, during the public hearing at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center. If we cannot make this one work, Im washing my hands of the money. Im giving it back if its not usable in this context. The owner needs to decide where it will apply that money elsewhere. We cannot continue to sit on it.

The proposed easement is for 89.5 acres owned by Gerald and Maryellen Navratil in Richland County in northeastern Montana. The Navratils have lost an estimated 60 to 70 acres of land since 1938  about one-fourth of their farm  because of river scouring.

Rep. Scott Staffanson and Sen. Matthew Rosendale criticized the program for paying someone to not do something they arent going to do anyway.

When I look at the draft (environmental assessment) where it lists out the 11 practices that are going to be inconsistent and prohibited, the only one I see they have any hope of accomplishing is bank stabilization, and thats highly unlikely because of the cost, Rosendale said.

Landowners were concerned with the erosion eating the land where irrigation equipment has been placed, as well as the drop in property values they will experience from living adjacent to such an easement.

I will lose the ability to irrigate 100-some acres of ground, said Don Steinbeisser. Its going to drop my property values, and I dont have a choice in it. This is going to cost me thousands of dollars.

Doug Pust, who leases the Navratil land for farming, says the program will make it harder for the family to lease the property in future.

Im already losing money there, he said.

Tom Hinz negotiated the Navratil channel migration easement on behalf of FWP through the Montana Aquatic Resources Services and the Montana Land Reliance groups. He said the groups are seeking to negotiate other migration easements, though not necessarily funded by the Upper Basin Working Groups seed money. The mission of these groups is to save the Yellowstone River from more rip-rap.

Rip-rap is not only preventing the erosion that is crucial to the lifecycle of fish like the pallid sturgeon, it is speeding up the rivers velocity, which is also not good for the system. By purchasing perpetual migration easements in high migration areas, they hope to preserve the river and its wildlife and aquatic species.

The decision will ultimately rest with the Navratil family and the two private agencies involved.

It is our stated purpose to save this river, Hinz said. If FWP chooses, because of legislative reasons, not to move ahead with us, there are other funds to use to purchase this and other channel migration easements."
Rescue teams continue to look for survivors of the earthquake under the rubble of Wei Guan complex in southern Taiwan.

Tainan, Taiwan  Every half hour or so, someone offers you something.

As the rescue teams continue their efforts looking for survivors under the rubble of the Wei Guan complex in Tainan, southern Taiwan, a small community has sprung up around the edges beyond the cordon tape.

Groups of volunteers appear, handing out hot food and drinks to rescuers, media and local people, still trying to come to terms with Saturday mornings quake.

READ MORE: Powerful earthquake rocks southern Taiwan

On Saturday night, as darkness fell and the temperature plummeted  making conditions tougher for rescuers and more hazardous for those awaiting rescue  a soldier manning the perimeter handed me one of his small hand warming bags that he had just been issued with.

The arrival of Chinese Lunar New Year has been overshadowed by this tragedy  but it has probably contributed to the spirit of communal effort here.

It is at times like this that Taiwans plucky can-do streak manifests itself.

The idea that everyone here is embarked on a common goal. And with people trapped below the rubble, this particular challenge is literally a matter of life and death.

IN PICTURES: The aftermath of Taiwans deadly tremor

There is also a fiery, quick-tempered side to the Taiwanese character that you see when people talk about the builder of this complex.

Why did it collapse so quickly, they say in disbelief, when others are still standing?

It is called in the local Mandarin language a Tofu Building, named after the soft jelly-like bean curd dish. Like tofu, when the ground shook, this building simply toppled over with disastrous consequences.

Many tough questions will be asked of the contractor responsible, and of the authorities who oversee construction standards in this earthquake prone zone.

For the moment, its the generosity of spirit and selflessness that you see most in evidence as another change of crews move past our position at the edge of the site.

Sunday is Lunar New Years eve.

Families all over Taiwan are busy preparing their homes to welcome in the New Year with large family dinners.

Not the people here.

Their focus is the blocks that used to be home to the residents of Wei Guan  and trying to determine what has become to more than 100 of them still unaccounted for.
With most foreign press gone from Syria, local reporters serve as a crucial source of information during the war.

After shells slammed into Muhammad al-Abdullahs home in January, he was forced to move in with relatives rather than repair the home. The 20-year-old photojournalist has not been paid in more than a year.

In 2015, Syria was the deadliest country in the world for press workers and the top country from which local journalists fled and went into exile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found in a survey.

The journalists, photographers and media activists who stayed in the country are often the only sources of information to the outside world. Yet, on top of risking their lives, most reporters struggle to survive on sparse incomes in a war-torn economy.

Al-Sham Media Network, an outlet close to Syrian opposition groups, is meant to pay Abdullah $400 a month for covering events in his hometown of Saqba, on the outskirts of Damascus, and nearby areas, he told Al Jazeera.

My monthly salary isnt a lot, but they owe me $4,800 now, Abdullah said. I would need $2,000 to fix my home well enough to be able to live in it again, but I dont have the money to do it now.

INTERACTIVE: Syria  A Country Divided

In the Eastern Ghouta region of the Damascus countryside, Saqba has been the target of repeated air strikes by the Syrian government and attacks by armed groups loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.



Syrian refugees struggle to find work in Jordan

Every day, we cover massacres, attacks, clashes or battles, he said. We are putting ourselves in dangerous situations on the front line, while [news outlets] exploit us.

In November, Abdullah and his colleagues covered Russian air strikes in the nearby Douma area that killed dozens of civilians.

Only a week earlier, at least 61 people were killed in Douma when Syrian government air raids targeted a marketplace in the city.

As the uprising that started as unarmed demonstrations in March 2011 grew into a full-on armed conflict, there was an exodus of local journalists and press workers from Syria, according to the CPJ.

More than 250,000 people have been killed in the bloodletting throughout the last five years, according to statistics from the United Nations.

Throughout that time, the CPJ has confirmed that at least 93 journalists have been killed in Syria in direct relation to their work.

Most international agencies pulled foreign correspondents from the country due to the security situation, and the watchdog estimates that 87 percent of those killed were local journalists. Many more journalists have been abducted since the conflict started, while others cannot be accounted for.

Sherif Mansour, coordinator of CPJs Middle East and North Africa programme, explained that Syrian journalists in many parts of the country face the risk of bodily harm or death from government forces and opposition groups.

READ MORE: Syria journalists on the margins of history

European and North American governments, as well as international media outlets, have placed a heavy emphasis on foreign correspondents killed or abducted in Syria, such as James Foley and Steven Sotloff, both of whom were beheaded by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Despite all of these challenges and the fact that we believe in the importance of our work, we are still being exploited. by Muhammad al-Abdullah, Syrian journalist

Mansour, however, noted that the most vulnerable journalists in Syria are freelancers and local and citizen journalists who operate online, many of whom have been targeted by the Syrian government and armed groups like ISIL.

Civil society, journalist unions and support groups can help journalists in emergency situations by raising awareness, providing relief and, in some cases, preventing them from getting into trouble through training, he told Al Jazeera. Without them, we would not know about public lashings, crucifixions, beheadings and draconian social rules, thus providing the world with a counter-narrative to [ISILs] slickly produced version of events.

On January 1, Abdullah and two of his colleagues at Al-Sham launched an open-ended strike to protest the networks failure to pay them.

We are not doing this for money, he said. That is obvious. If I were just working for money, I would have quit journalism a long time ago. This is a national and moral duty for me.

Upon announcing their strike, Abdullah and his colleagues published a statement stating their grievances. The journalists detailed the salaries owed to them and the incidents they had covered thus far without pay.

We face many difficulties covering the situation in Syria, particularly here in Eastern Ghouta, where it is more challenging, Abdullah said.

One time in [Eastern Ghouta], a fighter pulled a pistol on me and tried to kill me because I was filming what was happening during a battle, he recalled. Despite all of these challenges and the fact that we believe in the importance of our work, we are still being exploited.

In a statement, Al-Sham said that it cannot always pay its employees in full or in a timely fashion because it is a revolutionary institution with a difficult financial situation.

The contract between members of Al-Sham is a contract connecting them to the revolution and its mission and not for employment and benefits, the network said.

Hassan Taqi al-Deen, a journalist and photographer who is participating in the strike, covers the fighting in Douma for Al-Sham.

Government forces and pro-Assad armed groups have besieged Douma, resulting in high food and medicine prices, he told Al Jazeera.

Every day, there are rockets and shells over our heads, he said. It is very upsetting that we live under threat of death and our efforts are being exploited.

Firas Alwani, 32, a freelance journalist from the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, said that the feeling of exploitation is common for reporters in Syria.

Alwani had spent two-and-a-half months in prison after Syrian police arrested him in July 2013 for articles about the uprising and criticising the governments crackdown on protests.

When you see death every day during the revolution, you feel compelled to get the information out, he told Al Jazeera. But it was impossible to survive in that situation. You risk everything for almost no compensation.

No journalist can make it on a local salary in Syria.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
New wave of social entrepreneurs employs refugees by utilising their Arabic language skills and cooking talents.

Refugees may lose essential belongings after fleeing their home countries, but they keep valuable knowledge and skills that often become unused due to a lack of opportunities and rights in foreign lands.

As the world faces one of the largest refugee crises in history, a growing number of initiatives are harnessing the talents and cultural heritage of refugees, which have the potential to enrich the lives of others.

Two of the initiatives, which are both based in the US state of New York, are NaTakallam  which means we speak in Arabic, and Eat Offbeat.

Food delivery services run rampant in the busy city, but Eat Offbeat stands out because all of its chefs are resettled refugees. Even their manager is a refugee.

But its founders  Lebanese immigrant siblings Manal and Wissam Kahi  point out that the social impact of their start-up was secondary to their main goal; giving locals the opportunity to enjoy authentic dishes without having to travel abroad.

We are not doing this just to help refugees  but to help the refugees bring delightful food to New Yorkers, they told Al Jazeera.

People will come to us when they hear about the refugees, but they come back because they love our food.

Their slogan is: Where the adventurous eaters find refuge.

Nidaa Al Janabi from Iraq, Rachana Rimal from Nepal and Mitslal Tedla, an Eritrean, are the chefs who cook traditional dishes from their home countries.

READ MORE: Eritreans flee dictatorship for Europe

They offer a variety of dishes which you wont often find at other delivery restaurants.

Manchurian: Nepalese cauliflower fritters in mild spicy sauce, Adas: Eritrean lentils puree with hot berbere spices and Iraqi Mahshi: Onions, zucchini, eggplants served with chard leaves, rice and minced beef stuffing.

The Kahis have plans to grow their business by hiring more staff, including an executive chef, as well as expanding outside the US.

We have received requests to open branches in Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, London, Paris and Berlin.

NaTakallam

Meanwhile, NaTakallam hires displaced Syrians in Lebanon, Egypt, Germany, France and the Turkish city of Gaziantep  many of whom struggle to find legitimate jobs  to provide Arabic language lessons focused on the conversational Levantine dialect to people around the world through Skype.

Aline Sara, a Lebanese American who founded the start-up, told Al Jazeera that at a very affordable price of $15 per hour, students can practise speaking Arabic without paying the ticket to the region.

Sara explained that she came up with the idea after realising that there was a high demand for affordable lessons in New York, where the cost of a single session at a university or from a private tutor average around $60- $70.

She also said that many students have highlighted the human experience when engaging and communicating with the refugees.

NaTakallam works with the Beirut-based NGO Sawa for Development and Aid to connect with refugees in need of job opportunities.

The refugees, especially those in countries neighbouring Syria  Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon  are stuck in difficult living conditions. They cant work in their fields of expertise and many of them are highly qualified  doctors, professors, and lawyers, she said.

RELATED: Syrian women share stories of resilience

NaTakallam also tries to pair students with teachers who share common interests or educational backgrounds, Sara noted.

For example we make matches based on interests in politics, the arts, a certain professional field  we pay attention to the individuals Arabic level, needs, and requests as much as possible.

Sara sees the initiative as part of a new wave of social entrepreneurship, which she described as an increasingly efficient way of bringing about sustainable social change.

We have some Syrians who are making the equivalent of a monthly salary, she said, adding that one of them is a physically handicapped woman who can work from home and is very popular among students.

It is great for her and her students love her.

Sara also said that there have been discussions to possibly expand the initiative to include other Arabic speaking communities  including Iraqis, Palestinians, Yeminis  or to other languages, such as the Persian language Farsi.

This could be a model that could work for refugee communities around the world, she said.

Even if we continue to grow  we will try our best to keep it a personalised experience.
After years of negotiations, the Philippines is now confronting the threat of renewed conflict.

The Philippines may have just lost its final chance to bring about peace to its troubled southern island of Mindanao, which has been racked by one of the worlds longest-running insurgencies. After eight months of consultations, 200 hours of debates and 51 hearings among lawmakers, the Philippine legislature failed to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which would establish a new autonomous Muslim-majority political entity in Mindanao.

With the Philippines entering a new election season, most politicians even failed to show up during the deliberations and crucial vote counts. But more than the chronic absence of quorum at the legislature, the peace agreement ultimately fell victim to politicking by opposition leaders as well as grandstanding among ambitious legislatures, who didnt share the Benigno Aquino administrations commitment to establish the foundations of peace in the conflict-stricken south.

With the Aquino administration entering its twilight months in office, there is little guarantee that its successor will build on recent gains and find a mutually-acceptable agreement with the countrys most powerful insurgency group, the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the leadership of which has favoured negotiations over war.

Uncertain about the prospects of newly stalled peace negotiations, the Philippine government is scrambling for ways to avoid a renewed eruption of conflict in Mindanao. Both the government as well as the MILF leadership also share concerns over the potential spread of radicalism amid the deadlock in peace process, especially since various extremist groups have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and declared their intent to establish a distant caliphate in Southeast Asia.

A tortuous history

For three centuries, Imperial Spain managed to conquer much of the Philippines, but the powerful Sultanate of Sulu always presented a formidable resistance against the European colonisers. It was not until the advent of American colonial rule in early 20th century that Muslim-majority Mindanao came rapidly under the command of Manila. The Moros were simply overwhelmed by the US modern military behemoth.

Amid the deadlock in the peace process, there is growing fear of potential fragmentation within the MILF ranks, as more hawkish members appear to be agitating for action. by

Yet, the early decades of the Philippines independence saw, albeit temporarily, the establishment of a multi-civilisational country, with both the Moro leadership as well as the Catholic-majority Filipino elite jointly exploring a vision of a unified, democratic and multicultural nation.

But Manilas quest for retaking the disputed province of Sabah from Malaysia inadvertently ended in a tragedy, the Jabidah Massacre, which re-ignited tensions between the Moro leadership and the Christian-majority elite in the capital.

Over the decades, what began as a (secular) quest for greater politico-cultural autonomy for the Muslim population of the Philippines, led by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), gradually morphed into a more religion-oriented demand for independence, led by the MILF. There is no way to understate the sheer devastation and misery brought about by the ensuing conflict in southern Philippines.

Stretching over four decades, the conflict claimed as many as 150,000 lives, mostly civilian casualties, and displaced as many as two million people. Despite its fertile soil, vast mineral resources (estimated at around $1 trillion), and traditionally typhoon-proof topography, Mindanao is host to among the poorest and least-developed provinces in the Philippines.

Quest for peace

The conflict in Mindanao also carried huge strategic costs for the Philippines. The Philippine government ended up dedicating the bulk of its limited military resources to fighting insurgencies in Mindanao. And this explains why an archipelagic country like the Philippines has disproportionately invested in its ground troops and army instead of navy. This precariously deprived the Philippines of much-needed resources to defend itself against external threats, especially in light of Chinese territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

Over time, however, successive Filipino administration managed to negotiate peace agreements with the key rebel groups. The Aquino administration, which came to power on the promise of change and genuine reform, embarked on a courageous and creative attempt to explore lasting peace in Mindanao.

OPINION: The Philippines delicately wedged between US and China

What began as low-key negotiations with the MILF leadership quickly evolved into comprehensive negotiations for eventual disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration of rebel groups in exchange for the establishment of a Bangsamoro (Moros nation) political entity in Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao.

Right until the beginning of 2015, the peace negotiations were on board, with the protagonists relishing massive support among external powers as well as the majority of the Filipino population. But the Aquino administrations decision to push ahead with a (botched) counterterror operation in a rebel-held area, however, scuttled the entire peace process.

Uncertain road ahead

The Mamasapano tragedy, which ended in the massacre of 44 members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF), soured popular mood towards MILF and the peace negotiations. And ambitious politicians were quick to tap into the new popular sentiment. It didnt take long before a growing number of legislators began withdrawing support for ratifying the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which represented the legal foundation of the whole peace process. The tragedy also led to growing calls for the resignation of top government officials, including the president.

OPINION: Chinas regional isolation

After more than a year of incessant lobbying, the government failed to achieve legislative support for the establishment of a Bangsamoro political entity, which became a subject of fierce constitutional debates and even quasi-fearmongering. Amid the deadlock in the peace process, there is growing fear of potential fragmentation within the MILF ranks, as more hawkish members appear to be agitating for action.

Even more seriously, there is an immediate concern over the emergence of a potential political vacuum that could facilitate the cause of radical splinter groups, which have begun consolidating their ranks in order to push for the establishment of a distant caliphate in Mindanao.

After years of excruciating negotiations, which temporarily held the promise of lasting peace, the Philippines is now confronting the twin threat of renewed conflict and re-emergence of extremist groups.

Richard Javad Heydarian is a specialist in Asian geopolitical/economic affairs and author of Asias New Battlefield: US, China, and the Struggle for Western Pacific.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
More than 500 years later, Spain offers citizenship to descendants of expelled Jews.

For many of Lebanons estimated half-a-million Palestinian refugees, life consists of confinement to squalid camps, where they are barred from performing most jobs, owning property, and accessing basic civil liberties.

The Lebanese governments excuse for condemning the Palestinians to such inhumane limbo is that any integration into society would jeopardise their right of return to Palestine.

This right has, of course, been categorically denied by the Israelis since the forcible establishment of the state of Israel on Palestinian land in 1948.

Interestingly, a new twist on the right of return concept is now being pursued by the Kingdom of Spain, which has decided to award Spanish nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492, provided they meet certain criteria.





The Associated Press reports that no one knows how many people might be eligible [for the citizenship], though some estimates run into the millions.

Never too many homelands

A recent article in the English-language version of Spains El Pais newspaper describes a ceremony held at the residence of the Spanish ambassador to Israel on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

In attendance were a dozen or so Jews of Spanish origin, up-and-coming citizens who swore allegiance to Spains king as part of the naturalisation process.

ALSO READ: The second coming of the caliphate in Spain

One of these was Tangiers-born Avner Azulay, who, the article specifies, was a former colonel in the Israeli army and a senior official in Mossad, the notorious Israeli intelligence outfit.

Why make a fuss about Spain's ostensible effort to atone for bad behaviour, even if it's about 524 years too late? by

El Pais quotes the Spanish ambassador as congratulating his guests: You now return to being Spaniards with a homeland.

Never mind the homeland already in said guests possession  the one seized from the Palestinians  or the substantial role played by the Israeli army and the Mossad in that whole project of permanent dispossession.

Apparently, one can never have too many homelands to ones name  especially when Spain isnt requiring its new citizens to renounce other citizenships, or even to live in the country.

At this point, one may still be asking: Why make a fuss about Spains ostensible effort to atone for bad behaviour, even if its about 524 years too late?

To be sure, atonement in itself is far from fuss-worthy. Goodness knows this world could use more apologies, reparations, and truth-telling  and in fact, 1492 is not a bad place to start.

That year happens to be rather synonymous with the decimation of indigenous populations in the Americas in the aftermath of a certain nautical expedition, authorised by the very same Ferdinand and Isabella who expelled the Jews from Spain.

This is not to say, then, that the repercussions of centuries-old injustice arent alive and well; its merely to point out the ironies of an international panorama in which Mossad officials are granted additional homelands in Spain while Palestinians languish in refugee camps for nearly seven decades.

More wrongs than rights

Beyond the discrepancies highlighted by the Palestinian predicament, the Sephardic naturalisation operation raises some other questions, as well.

For one thing, the Spanish government has in recent years proven itself decidedly uncommitted to taking proper care of its existing citizens  as was particularly clear during the home eviction rampage in the aftermath of the financial crisis, which prompted a spike in suicides among the Spanish population.

The current pursuit of an unknown quantity of new citizens who already have homes becomes even more curious in light of Spains less-than-receptive approach to refugees, who are often beaten back from the border by Spanish police.

ALSO READ: Reign in Spain: Can Felipe save the monarchy?

For the Sephardic recipients of Spanish nationality, the perks are varied: recognition of long-held grievances, affirmation of communal identity, a handy Spanish passport, physical and financial access to Europe.

Meanwhile, a 2014 article on BBC Mundo, the BBCs Spanish website, noted that some observers in Israeli and Spanish media had suggested that Spains historical debt to the Sephardic Jews was not the only factor motivating the Spanish government to consider extending citizenship to the descendants of the expelled.

According to these other interpretations, the article explained, the move was simultaneously an attempt to revive the Spanish economy [with help from] a community with a strong reputation in business and banking.

Some analysts, the BBC added, also saw the effort as a means of appeasing Israel following Spains support for the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.

Whatever the case, its perhaps worth pointing out that the Jews werent the only ones expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. As the Washington Post put it: Like Sephardic Jews, Muslims were an integral part of Spains society before being painfully uprooted by Christian rulers.

In an ideal world, at least, selective justice would be an oxymoron. And while two wrongs dont make a right, as they say, multiple rights of return definitely dont make a wrong.

Belen Fernandez is the author of The Imperial Messenger: Thomas Friedman at Work, published by Verso. She is a contributing editor at Jacobin Magazine.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Farmers in the Free State province say dry spells are common but current drought is unprecedented.

Senekal, South Africa  It is being described as the worst drought to have hit South Africa in 20 years.

Five out of the countrys nine provinces have been declared disaster zones as dry conditions triggered by the El Nino weather pattern continue to devastate the country.

Borrie Erasmus, a farmer whose family has worked and lived on the same land in the Free State province for the past five decades, told Al Jazeera he had not seen anything like it.

On our farm, there has never been a time when there has not been any maize in December. We could not even try planting seeds. It has been drier than ever, Erasmus said.

The drought is costing South African farmers more than an estimated $600m in lost crops. While the government says it will spend $19m on assisting farmers, it also suggested that farmers should start adapting to changing weather patterns.

READ MORE: Southern Africas drought leaves millions hungry

We cant continue relying only on dry agriculture, Senzeni Zokwana, South Africas minister of agriculture, told Al Jazeera.

We need to put more funding so that we can build our capacity to put most of our production on irrigation which will mean new dams, which will mean new infrastructure.

Al Jazeera weather presenter Richard Angwin says El Nino, which strictly refers to the surface warming of the eastern and central Pacific Basin, has had a knock-on effect across much of the world.

This phenomenon was particularly strong in 2015.

On Sunday, Bheki Cele, South Africas deputy minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries told the Reuters news agency the drought was still not a national disaster.

As we are experiencing this kind of drought, for some reason God has been kind and late rains did come, and we think the six million tonnes (of maize) we were looking to import  we have downgraded that to four, he said.

The only hope is that rains continue  if they do we might be out of the woods, Cele said, adding: We will not declare a national disaster.
Moscow deploys its most sophisticated warplanes to Syria as relations with Ankara continue to strain.

Over the weekend, four of Russias newest and most sophisticated military aircraft  the Su-35 Flanker E  arrived at the Russian airbase of Latakia in Syria.

This comes on the back of another alleged violation of Turkish airspace by a Russian Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber on Friday.

Relations between Ankara and Moscow remain extremely tense since Turkish forces shot down a Russian Su-24 jet after it allegedly violated Turkish airspace for under 20 seconds in November.

Although Turkey is within its legal rights to shoot down foreign military aircraft which violate its airspace and refuse to comply with warnings, Ankara deliberately took a very aggressive stand against repeated Russian violations by shooting down the plane.

This, in turn, seems to have prompted a dual response from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For his domestic audience  still the most important factor for the Russian leader  Putin has deployed the S-400 advanced air defence system and ordered that jets taking part in operations near the Turkish border are armed with live air-to-air missiles for self-protection.

Turkish aggression

Internally, such moves are likely intended as a show of defensive strength as a wronged party in the face of Turkish aggression.

However, on the international stage, Putin is determined to regain the initiative from Turkey.

Brief violations of NATO airspace, particularly in the Baltic States and Turkey, have been a common Russian tactic to exert pressure in recent years.

The gamble has always been that NATO members would not risk dangerous escalation by exercising their legal rights to fire upon such intrusions.

In November, however, Turkey called the Russian bluff  and in doing so Ankara seized the initiative away from Russia on the issue of airspace.

Whatever Russian media sources spin for internal consumption, the Kremlin understands exactly what happened and that Russia is now reacting to an external escalation  not the other way around.

To that end, Fridays violation by the Su-34  a much more formidable aircraft than the plane that Turkey shot down  and the subsequent deployment of four Su-35s is an aggressive message to Turkey and NATO that Russia is back on the offensive.

Russian message

Four Su-35s will add almost nothing to Russian air strikes in Syria, which continue to hit predominantly moderate rebel-held territory despite claims that they are aimed at the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group.

However, these are formidable air superiority machines which can significantly outmatch Turkeys own F-16C/Ds in any sudden confrontation at the border.

By continuing to violate Turkeys airspace, Russia is sending a deliberate message that it will not be intimidated and will retain control of escalation dominance in Syria and beyond.

And by sending its most lethal warplane to Syria at the same time, it is reinforcing that message with the implication that if Turkey were to dare fire upon another intrusion, the aircraft in question would likely respond and would be reinforced by jets more capable than those possessed by the Turkish Air Force.

ANALYSIS: Downing of Russian jet hardly a surprise

However, the deployment of the Su-35s may further reinforce doubts about the vaunted S-400 system in Latakia.

If fully operational, the S-400s long-range and advanced missiles can hold a large section of Turkeys airspace at threat  and, by implication, should deter any further shoot-downs of intruders by Turkish jets at the border for fear of immediate reprisal.

However, there has been speculation that there are only components of part of an S-400 battery in Syria at present, potentially due to a deal with Israel about not placing long-range missile systems there.

This would explain why Russia feels it is necessary to deploy Su-35s as well.

While domestic Russian audiences may be satisfied with the response they feel S-400 represents to the shoot-down, NATO, with its advanced surveillance and detection capabilities in the area, may be aware that the presence of the air defence system is not all it appears to be  and therefore is less intimidated than Russia would like.

The Su-35, on the other hand, is held in high regard as a threat by NATO air forces, including the US one.

It is considered a good match for the most modern European fighters  the Typhoon and Rafale, which are both taking part in operations in the region  and it is only really outmatched by the scarce American F-22 Raptor stealth fighter.

It is, therefore, an ideal tool for intimidating Turkey and NATO more widely.

Russia is thought to have no more than 40 Su-35 fighters in frontline service so the deployment of four aircraft with crews to Syria is also a fairly substantial undertaking for a Russian military which is struggling to modernise in the face of economic recession and very low oil prices.

It further illustrates how the confrontation with Turkey has become central to Putins campaign to force the West to recognise Russia as one of the worlds major military powers once more.

Justin Bronk is a Research Fellow in Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Tomorrow, 51 people, including 14 journalists who are guilty only of doing their job, will stand retrial on charges that are punishable by death.

Of course, I am speaking about the farce that is the Rabaa Operations Room trial in Egypt. This case is nothing but a deceitful attack on freedom of expression by the Egyptian government. I know this because I am a defendant in this case.

The government calculated that yet another implausible case against journalists, similar to the infamous Al

Jazeera staff trial, would cause an unaffordable international embarrassment. So, this case was cast as a terrorism trial and labelled with a frightening name: Rabaa Operations Room, a reference to the 2013 Rabaa al-Adawiya Square anti-government protests that were violently dispersed by Egyptian authorities.

To justify the label, former members of Egypts ousted government were arbitrarily added to the roster of defendants only days before a trial date was set. By attaching the absurd terrorist label, the government hoped to escape international scrutiny. It almost did.

OPINION: Death sentence for freedom in Egypt

But in its planning, the government did not account for a formidable resistance to its frail narrative.

During my time in prison, in retaliation against the unspeakable conditions and systematic torture that my friends and I were subjected to while we awaited trial, I decided to begin an open-ended hunger strike. Our story, our plight and our stance resonated with people around the world and crowded out the lies being propagated by the government.





The case became known internationally and quickly became a pain for the government; I was subsequently released. Since my release, this case has faded from the international consciousness, although the injustice remains as revolting as the day it began.

For the last for two-and-a-half years, innocent civilians have languished in underground dungeons with no end in sight to their suffering. Each has a story of hopes and dreams waiting to be fulfilled, of a life waiting to be lived.

Abdullah Alfakharany is a doctor-turned-journalist. In his late 20s, his dream of marrying the love of his life and starting a family was put on indefinite hold.

Samhy Mostafa, a journalist by profession, is an only child to a single mother. He is also a young father to two beautiful boys, one of whom was born months after his detainment.

Mohamed Adly is a young journalist who was forced to put his life on hold and break off his engagement while in prison because of the uncertainty of his future. His mother died without having the chance to say goodbye to her youngest child.

Omar Malek is a young and energetic entrepreneur with a promising future, whose only crime was being the son of his father.

For the last for two-and-a-half years, innocent civilians have languished in underground dungeons with no end in sight to their suffering.

These stories, and many others, are glimpses of precious lives being robbed. Their stories should not fall on deaf ears, and their voices should be heard. Their natural place is out here, with us; they should be sharing their lives with their families and raising their children, not worrying about how best to say goodbye.

FORUM: The many battles of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood

Fourteen people, including Malek, my father, and a journalist were sentenced to death last year by the notoriously politicised judge, Mohamed Nagy Shehata (aka The Butcher). The rest of us were sentenced to life in prison.

The retrial tomorrow will likely be just as lengthy as the first, just as politicised, and the outcome will be equally unjust, unless the conscience of the international community is awakened.

Like in my case and in the case of the Al Jazeera staff, NGOs, media outlets and governments have a responsibility to demand the immediate release of the journalists and other political prisoners. Anything short of that is a glaring betrayal of the values and principles that our societies are built upon.

At the end of the day, this fictional operations room is nothing but a disguise for an attack on the universal values of free speech.

Follow Mohamed Soltan on Twitter: @soltanlife
Council pledges to adopt new resolution with significant new sanctions following Pyongyangs launch.

The UN Security Council strongly condemned North Koreas rocket launch and said it would speed up work on a sanctions resolution in response to these dangerous and serious violations.

The statement on Sunday was adopted by China, Pyongyangs ally, and the 14 other council members during an emergency meeting called after Pyongyang said it had put a satellite into orbit with a rocket launch.

Sundays launch followed Pyongyangs fourth nuclear test on January 6, which drew international condemnation and prompted China and the United States to open negotiations on new, tougher UN sanctions.

READ MORE: North Korea launches long-range rocket despite warnings

A draft resolution prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations for weeks.

But Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Koreas already weak economy.

The 15-member council said it would adopt expeditiously a new sanctions resolution, but there was no indication that China would agree to US demands to include tougher measures.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said the council should adopt a new resolution that will do the work of reducing tensions, of working toward denuclearisation, of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiating solution.

Q&A: Does rocket launch bring North Korea closer to nuclear weapon?

China can use its veto power to block any resolution that would significantly scale up sanctions against Pyongyang by, for instance, barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.

US Ambassador Samantha Power stressed that the new set of sanctions should break new ground and appealed to China to recognise the grave threat to international peace and security posed by Pyongyangs actions.

There cannot be business as usual after two successive acts, US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters.

While the United States turned up the pressure to reach agreement on sanctions, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned: We should not be looking at an economic collapse of DPRK.

US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the launch as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions that threatened international peace and security, as he emphasised the importance of a united international response to North Koreas provocations.

The council has imposed four sets of sanctions on North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

There are 20 North Korean entities and 12 individuals on the UN sanctions blacklist, which provides for an assets freeze and a global travel ban.

Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Janes, told Al Jazeera: This second launch is likely to only incrementally change the UN sanctions [on North Korea].

Its important to keep up sanctions and communications with North Korea. The problem is there is not much left to sanction.

She added that China and the North were allies during the Korea War between 1950 and 1953.

Chinas greatest fear is that North Korea would collapse and there would be a flood of refugees into China.
Israeli PM announces bill to remove lawmakers from Knesset over visits to relatives of alleged Palestinian attackers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a bill that would suspend politicians who follow in the footsteps of three Palestinian members of the Knesset, including Hanin Zoabi, who visited relatives of alleged Palestinian attackers.

Netanyahus proposal on Sunday came after an Israeli court handed a six-month suspended sentence to Zoabi for insulting public officials in a separate case.

As part of Zoabis plea deal, the court also issued her with a fine of 3,000 Israeli shekels ($750), placing her on parole for three years and stripping her of parliamentary immunity.

The charges were levelled against Zoabi after she called Arab police officers traitors during protests held in 2014 in Nazareth, a Palestinian city in the Galilee region of northern Israel.



UpFront  Does the Israeli occupation fuel extremism?

Zoabi is a senior member in the Balad faction of the Joint List, a popular electoral coalition among the estimated 1.7 million Palestinians who carry Israeli citizenship and live across the country.

Hanin Zoabi was sentenced for protesting against police treatment of young people during demonstrations, against torture, against arrests, Jamal Zahalka, a legislator from the Joint List, told Al Jazeera.

It will not stop us from struggling for our civic and human rights, Jamal added.

During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said he would promote the bill that, if passed, would require 90 votes in order to expel Knesset members for unseemly behaviour.

He announced the bill after Zoabi, Zahalka and fellow legislator Bassel Ghattas met the families of Palestinians who were killed by Israeli forces while allegedly attacking Israelis.

Zahalka said the proposal would be anti-democratic and crazy by enabling Knesset members to throw democratically elected lawmakers out of the parliament.

Netanyahu is doing this because he wants to gain more cheap popularity points by inciting against Arabs, he added.

Netanyahu and Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein also filed a formal complaint against the three in the parliaments Ethics Committee.

Netanyahu accused Zoabi, Zahalka and Ghattas of comfort[ing] the families of murderers, people who murdered Israeli citizens.

Many Israeli citizens do not feel that these MKs represent them. We are making great efforts, a great investment to involve Arab citizens in Israeli society and [these legislators] do the exact opposite, they build walls of hatred, Netanyahu said in a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

I would like to examine new and reinforced legislative changes to ensure that anyone who acts in this direction will not serve in the Israeli Knesset.

Amjad Iraqi, an international advocacy coordinator at Haifa-based Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights, accused Israeli leaders of double standards.

READ MORE: Hanin Zoabi  Israels bad Arab

The key thing here is the pure double standard with which these kinds of measures are applied, he told Al Jazeera.

Iraqi alluded to Justice Minister Ayelet Shakeds recent visit to the the mother of an Israeli teenager accused of participating in an arson attack that killed three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank town of Duma last July.

In December, Shaked, a member of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, met with the unnamed suspects mother and Adi Kedar, a lawyer for Honenu, a group that provides legal support to Jewish settlers accused of attacking Palestinians.

Iraqi also mentioned that Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett employs Nathan Nathanson, an Israeli who was a member of the Jewish Underground, considered a terrorist organisation by Israel.

In 1985, Nathanson was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in three separate car bombings targeting Palestinian mayors in the West Bank five years earlier.

Regardless of what one may think of visiting families on either side, the fact that Netanyahu only sees a problem when Palestinians are the ones doing the visiting illustrates the very targeted and discriminatory nature in which the government approaches what Palestinian lawmakers can and cannot do, Iraqi added.

According to Adalahs online database, Palestinian citizens of Israel face dozens of discriminatory laws that limit their access to state resources and muzzle their political expression.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
Republican rivals question Marco Rubios readiness to be president in televised debate ahead of New Hampshire primary.

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, first-term senators on the rise in the US presidential race, faced a barrage of attacks in Saturday nights Republican TV debate ahead of the New Hampshire primary.





Rubio exceeded expectations to finish third in the Iowa caucuses and appeared to be gaining steam heading into Tuesdays primary.

His rise is a threat not only to frontrunners Donald Trump and Cruz but to several other candidates, including Jeb Bush, who need a strong showing in New Hampshire to stay in the campaign.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took immediate aim at Rubio on Saturday night, saying that the Florida senator has not been involved in a consequential decision where you need to be held accountable.

Bush, in turn, said Rubio was a gifted politician but warned voters against again putting the White House in the hands of a first-term senator: Weve tried it the old way, with Barack Obama and soaring rhetoric, he said.

Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher, reporting from the debate hall in New Hampshire, said the big story ahead of the debate was the momentum Rubio had generated after coming third in Iowa  but that made him the focus of attacks from his rivals.

Christie attacked [Rubio] quite early on in the debate, and he never really seemed to recover, Fisher said.

Rubio said he was proud of his service in the Senate and suggested that Obamas problems were less about experience and more about ideology.

He also defended his decision to walk away from the sweeping immigration bill he originally backed in the Senate and said he would not pursue similar legislation as president.

We cant get that legislation passed, Rubio said of the bill that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the US illegally.

Washington ethics

Cruz, who was the winner in Iowa, also faced criticism for messages his campaign sent to voters ahead of the caucuses, saying rival Ben Carson was dropping out and urging the retired neurosurgeons supporters to back the Texas senator instead.

READ MORE: Cruz takes down Trump to win Iowa caucuses

Cruz apologised for his campaigns actions on Saturday, but not before Carson jabbed him for having Washington ethics. Those ethics, he said, say if its legal, you do what you do to win.

Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses.

After finishing second in Iowa, he sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign, including blocking Muslims from going to the US and deporting all people in the country illegally.

Trump currently leads the polling in New Hampshire, but the debates have heavily shifted support for candidates in the past, Fisher reported.

Marco Rubio will spend the next 72 hours scanning the poll numbers to make sure no lasting damage was done at the debate here, Fisher added.

The debate began shortly after North Korea defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the UN and others call a cover for ballistic missile test.

Asked how he would respond to North Koreas provocations, Bush said he would authorise a pre-emptive strike against such rockets if it was necessary to keep America safe.

Cruz said he would not speculate about how he would handle the situation without a full briefing, whilst Trump said he would rely on China to quickly and surgically handle North Korea.
More winter fun and less travel disruption is the result of the latest winter storm.

When snowfall hit Turkey at the end of January, it was caused by air that had been brought down from the arctic, causing much disruption to normal life throughout the country.

This time, the air is nothing as cold, nor the snow as deep.

Istanbul avoided the snow all together, receiving rain instead: 19mm in all.

Nevertheless, there was a northerly wind blowing over the city, gusting to 80km/h, giving a wind chill of 0 degrees Celsius.

In Ankara, after 15C in the sun on Friday, things rapidly clouded up and cooled down. By Saturday, the temperature had dropped to just 2.5C, and it snowed for most of the day.

Snow depth this time is a only one-third of the late January figure, at 5cm  and it is warm enough to have fun outside rather than stay indoors.

As a favourable comparison, the temperature dropped to -4C on Saturday night in Ankara. During the arctic snowfall of late January, the thermometer registered -26C on the night of January 26.

Gaziantep in eastern Turkey fared better this time around, too, receiving rain, even at 700 metres above sea level. The city stayed above freezing, even by night, when the temperature was 3C.

Gaziantep is close to the Syrian border and conditions there reflect those experienced by the thousands of refugees living in nearby camps.

The forecast for the next few days is a sunny one and increasingly warm.
Suspect and 73 other passengers meant to board Turkish Airlines flight, which was cancelled, Daallo Airlines chief says.

The suspected suicide bomber who blew himself up aboard a Somali airliner on a flight from Mogadishu to Djibouti was meant to board a Turkish Airlines flight, the head of Daallo Airlines told Al Jazeera.

The explosion ripped a one-metre hole in the side of the Daallo Airlines jet on Tuesday, after which the suspect was reportedly sucked out of the decompressed cabin.

The 74 passengers aboard the flight were originally checked in with Turkish Airlines, which flies to Somalia three times a week, Mohamed Ibrahim Yassin Olad, Daallo Airlines chief, told Al Jazeera on Sunday.

They were not our passengers. Turkish Airlines cancelled its flight from Mogadishu that morning because their incoming flight from Djibouti could not come to Mogadishu because of what they said was strong wind, Olad said.

They requested we carry the passengers on their behalf to Djibouti where they would continue their journey on a Turkish Airlines flight, Olad added.

Turkish Airlines have not been in contact with us since the incident happened. You can say they are trying to distance themselves from the incident. Olad said.

Turkish Airlines suspended its flights to Somalia on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Somalia aircraft damage caused by bomb

Al Jazeera contacted Turkish Airlines for comment but so far has not received a response.

Olad said Daallo Airlines, Djiboutis national carrier, was working with the Somali government and security officials at the airport on steps needed to avoid similar incidents in the future.

We are going to introduce extra security measures. Things will not be the same and security is our priority. Olad said.

Deliberate terror attack

Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu on Saturday, Ali Ahmed Jama Jangeli, the Somali minister for air transport, said that the explosion was not the result of a technical failure but a deliberate terror attack.

After intensive investigation into this incident, it has been revealed  that a crude device caused the explosion. The intent was to harm the passengers on the plane. This was not a technical fault, but a deliberate terror act. Jangeli said.





The security authorities have arrested a number of people who are suspected of taking part in this act, the minister added.

Jangeli said his government has introduced additional security measures at the airport to strengthen security at the countrys main airport.

Somali state TV aired CCTV footage on Sunday showing what it said were the suspects behind the aircraft blast. The footage showed three men exchanging what appeared to be a laptop at a coffee shop at the airport.

Abdullahi Abdisalam Borleh, a Somali national, has been named by authorities as the man who was sucked out of Flight 3159. His badly burned body was found some 30km outside the Somali capital.

Somali government spokesman Abdisalam Aato told Al Jazeera on Sunday that more than 20 suspects were in custody in connection with the explosion.

No one has claimed responsibility for the plane blast.

Follow Hamza Mohamed on Twitter: @Hamza_Africa
Felony drug possession charges are way up in Yellowstone County, making up at least a third of the more than 1,600 criminal cases filed last year.

Most of those drug cases involved meth.

That hasnt gone unnoticed by the Billings Police Department.

Last fall, as homicides in Billings rose toward record levels, Chief Rich St. John said, Theres a common denominator, and its usually methamphetamine.

The chief insisted the city remains a safe community, saying most of the homicides involved people who knew each other.

But it isnt just murders that have law enforcement officials concerned. Its also the number of drug-related property crimes, such as break-ins, thefts and robberies, that often harm innocent victims.

Thats much of the reason why officials have been cracking down so hard on drug possession. Felony drug possession charges have increased in Yellowstone County from 171 in 2011, to at least 540 last year.

And drug users dont even have to be caught with much to land a felony. There have been plenty of convictions for trace amounts, like the residue left in a meth pipe or drug syringe. In fact, about one third of the drug cases sent from Yellowstone County to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis were for "trace" or what's called "no weight" amounts, said the lab's Administrator Phil Kinsey.

Getting drug users off the street, and hopefully into a successful treatment program, helps to prevent future crimes, said Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito.

But, even as more drug possession cases go through the courts, other crime rates have remained fairly steady. Aggravated assault filings decreased from 54 cases in 2011 to 39 in 2015. And filings for theft and burglary dipped as well, but by much less.

Easier to prosecute

Compared with property crimes like burglary or violent crime cases, possession charges are relatively easy to charge and get a conviction. In many criminal cases, investigators must hunt for evidence and suspects and then persuade a jury. With drug possession, the case starts with the evidence and the suspect in hand.

"Drug possessions are easy cases that land in the lap of law enforcement," said Yellowstone Countys Chief Public Defender David Duke. "And that's not a criticism. But the crime is dependent on evidence."

The spike in drug charges also got a boost last year when the County Attorneys Office hired interns to sort through a stack of backlogged cases, some of them two or three years old, Duke said. The statute of limitations on such cases is five years.

The County Attorney's office has the discretion to determine which cases are a priority, Twito said. He said there are stacks of uncharged drug cases in his office.

Stressing the cops, courts

A drug possession case frequently begins with a traffic violation or after someone is arrested on a warrant. This makes the cases an almost daily occurrence for the Billings Police department and the volume of possession charges puts a drain on resources.

The court system, where the consensus among judges is early treatment over incarceration, still only has limited courts to help get offenders out of the revolving door of the criminal justice system. Many of the people charged in Yellowstone County weren't new offenders, but the same offender being charged again.

Last year, the Billings Police Department responded to at least 83,000 calls for help, said Police Lt. Casey Hafner. During most of 2015 the police department was short-staffed down nine police officers, Hafner said.

The volume of calls is not decreasing at the same rate as the number officers. This leads to less proactive policing and less help in investigating more complicated cases, Hafner said.

In 2014, at least 700 of the 11,000 crimes the department considered more serious, were for drug possession.

A public safety mill levy proposed to voters in 2014 would have raised $117.6 million over 10 years to increase the number of police officers. A little more than half of voters said no.

"People don't want their taxes to go up, and that's not a bad thing," Hafner said. The City Council did have enough money in 2015 to hire one new officer, he said.

The police cannot ignore a crime when it happens, Hafner said.

Handling drug addicts

Nearly everyone in the Yellowstone County court system  from police, to prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges  seems to agree that treatment is better than incarceration for many drug offenders.

With that in mind, the county has two courts to deal specifically with drug users and treatment, with the goal of getting the person out of the courts forever and back to their family and their job.

District Judge Gregory Todd said he was skeptical of treatment courts before taking over the Yellowstone County Family Drug Court.

Drug courts specialize in cases involving people who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Drug courts were first developed in Florida in 1989 to decrease a backlog in drug-related court cases and reduce recidivism and substance abuse among participants.

Participants receive intensive alcohol and drug abuse treatment, mandatory and frequent drug testing, accountability through use of appropriate and quick sanctions for noncompliant behavior. There are also incentives and recognition for hard work, continuous judicial oversight and employment and other services needed in order to enter long-term recovery and become productive members of society.

Tougher laws may work for violent or repeat drug offenders, Todd said, but many people, especially young or first-time offenders, can be helped by treatment courts.

The growing number of drug related offenses in our society doesn't seem to be going down with tougher laws," the judge said.

Twito said people charged with possession are, by statute, given a deferred sentence if it is a first-offense charge. A deferred sentence means the charge can stay off the person's record if they comply with the conditions of the sentence and stay out of trouble.

Of the 250 or so possession cases that resulted in conviction during 2015, just fewer than half resulted in a deferred sentence.

More common was some type of Montana Department of Corrections commitment. This could include a suspended sentence, partially suspended sentence or full commitment to the Corrections Department.

Drug addicts as felons

Ingrid Gustafson is Yellowstone Countys chief district judge and runs one of the district's two felony drug courts.

She would prefer that in some cases first-time drug offenders be sent to treatment before being charged. If the treatment is successful, then no charges would be filed, she said.

Meth addicts are especially susceptible to relapse and the revolving door of jails and prisons, she said. Without proper treatment, recovering meth addicts have been shown to relapse within six months.

Drug addiction is a disease, Gustafson said. While she has seen addicts kick meth for a short time while on pretrial monitoring, true addicts will almost always use, even when wearing a court-ordered drug-monitoring patch.

It is not uncommon when a defendant is charged with a probation violation, that defendant is also charged with a new felony, she said.

And that often leads to jail or prison, where treatment options are vastly diminished.

"When dealing with defendants with drug addiction, although prison seems to have a good incapacitation effect, data suggests it doesnt have a significant effect on recidivism," the judge said.

This is another benefit of Gustafson's drug court. The drug court contract states that the results of any drug testing done while a person is participating in the drug court cannot be used for purposes or evidence in criminal prosecution. Drug testing and any statements related to continued addictive behavior can be made by the participant during participation in the drug court and will not be used to file new charges. If a participant is terminated from drug court, the participant generally has their sentence revoked and is brought back before a judge.

Gustafson sits on the Montana Legislature's Sentencing Commission, which studies, among many issues, the options for sentencing drug addicts. So far the commission is still in a "fact-finding" phase.

Duke, the countys chief public defender, agrees that felonies can over penalize a drug addict. For young offenders, a felony record is especially hard to overcome.

I do see some young people give up," Duke said. With a felony conviction, their hopes of higher education, of a job, of a nice place to live, usually go down. Many resign themselves to being criminals, he said.

It would be worth exploring the possibility of a felony being dropped from someones record after a certain number of law-abiding years, he said.

Felonies as an incentive

Twito, the county prosecutor, also supports treatment over incarceration for many drug addicts. He defends his practice of charging drug possessions as a felony, saying the increase in possible penalties adds an extra incentive for addicts with a suspended sentence to succeed in treatment.

Some addicts need to be locked up, he said. He pointed to incidents in which addicts land in court five or six times and the state needs to acknowledge the person "can't stop doing this. (They) can't stop getting in trouble."

By the time someone reaches the criminal justice system, Twito said, the person already is in pretty bad shape.

However, he acknowledges the current criminal justice system isnt ideal for treatment. There should be more of an initiative in the community for the families of addicts to help them before they get incarcerated.

Speeding up the process may be more important than changing how the offenders are sentenced.

This is part of the reason Twito pushed for the new Montana State Crime Satellite lab to be in Billings, so toxicology reports would come back faster, meaning less back log in cases.

"Get them pled, and get them help right away," Twito said.
Interior minister says construction of project marks important day for Tunisia in its fight against terrorism.

Tunisia has completed the construction of a barrier along its border with Libya, months after attacks on its capital and a beach resort that killed dozens of tourists.

Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told reporters on Saturday that the construction of the project marked an important day for Tunisia in its struggle against terrorism.

Two attacks claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group last year killed 59 foreign tourists, with Tunisian officials saying the assailants had trained in conflict-ridden Libya where ISIL is active.

Tunisia is capable of fighting against terrorism in an active and efficient way, Horchani said during a tour of the barrier.

System of obstacles

The barrier, which is composed of sand banks and water-filled trenches, stretches some 200km from Ras Jedir on the Mediterranean coast to Dhiba further southwest.

It covers about half the length of the frontier between the two neighbouring countries.

Horchani said a second phase of the project will include installing electronic equipment with the help of Germany and the United States.

He said the barrier, which Tunisia calls a system of obstacles, has already proven its efficiency.

On several occasions we have stopped and arrested people who were trying to smuggle weapons, he said.

In March last year, 21 tourists and a policeman were killed in a gun attack on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis, and in June, an attack at a beach resort near Sousse killed 38 holidaymakers.

READ MORE: Tunisia accuses dirty hands of fuelling unrest

ISIL also claimed a suicide bombing in Tunis in November that killed 12 presidential guards.

At the time, the interior ministry said the explosive used in the attack was the same used to make suicide belts illegally brought from Libya and seized last year.

After Novembers attack, Tunisia shut its border with Libya for a fortnight, while in December it closed its main Tunis-Carthage international airport to Libyan aircraft as part of increased security measures.

Official sources estimate that as many as 6,000 Tunisians have travelled to fight in Iraq, Syria and Libya, with many opting to join armed groups, including ISIL.
Thousands of Syrians, mostly women and children, remain stuck at border after fleeing offensive in Aleppo.

Turkey is ready if necessary to let in Syrian refugees trapped on its border after fleeing heavy fighting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Tens of thousands of Syrians, mostly women and children, remain stuck at the Turkish border after escaping a Russia-backed government offensive in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The regime has now blocked a part of Aleppo  Turkey is under threat, Erdogan told reporters on his plane returning from Senegal on Saturday.

READ MORE: Thousands of Syrians brave cold, rain at Turkish border

If they reached our door and have no other choice, if necessary, we have to and will let our brothers in, Erdogan added.

Completely emptied

The governor of Turkeys Kilis border province, Suleyman Tapsiz, said on Saturday that Turkey was taking care of the 30,000 to 35,000 refugees who had gathered around the nearby Syrian city of Azaz over the space of 48 hours.

Another 70,000 may head for the frontier if Russian air strikes and Syrian regime military advances continued in Aleppo, he added.

READ MORE: Syria says any foreign troops would return in coffins

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Gaziantep in Turkey, Fadi Hajjar, a Syrian activist with the Aleppo Media Centre, said there were between 30,000 to 50,000 people waiting at the border.

This number is likely to increase in the coming days, he said on Sunday.

Some villages in Aleppo have been completely emptied of people.

Turkeys Oncupinar border crossing, which faces Bab al-Salama inside Syria, remained closed for a third day, the AFP news agency reported on Sunday.

But the border keeps open for emergency situations, a Turkish official told the AFP news agency.

Seven injured were taken to Turkey on Friday and one on Saturday for treatment at Turkish hospitals, the official said.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, said on Saturday that his country would keep its open border policy for Syrian refugees.
Announcement comes after Syria issues threat, warning to send back any unwelcome foreign troops in coffins.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, a top official has said.

The announcement comes just days after Saudi Arabia expressed the same position, saying that it was prepared to deploy troops to fight ISIL in Syria if the US-led coalition were to agree.

Our position throughout has been that a real campaign against [ISIL] has to include a ground force, the UAEs Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said at a news conference in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Gargash added that US leadership on this would also be a prerequisite for the UAE.

He did not elaborate about how many troops the UAE could send  but added: We are not talking about thousands of troops.

Saudi Arabia, which has targeted ISIL with air strikes since the campaign began in Syria in September 2014, said on Thursday it was ready to provide ground forces to defeat the armed group.

READ MORE: Saudi Arabia willing to send ground troops to Syria

We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground, Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

Wooden coffins

Syria, however, responded by warning against foreign intervention, threatening all foreign army soldiers who enter the country without President Bashar al-Assads governments agreement.

Any ground intervention in Syria, without the consent of the Syrian government, will be considered an aggression that should be resisted by every Syrian citizen, Syrias Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Saturday.

I regret to say that they will return home in wooden coffins.

Muallem appeared to indicate a boosted confidence that the governments recent military advances against opposition fighters in Aleppo had put it on track towards winning the five-year civil war.

Like it or not, our battlefield achievements indicate that we are headed towards the end of the crisis, he said, before calling on rebel fighters to come to their senses and lay down their weapons.
We explore the demise of oil, from production companies in the North Sea to a former Caspian tiger fallen on hard times.

As the oil price has dropped more than 70 percent since the summer of 2014, the oil industry is facing its deepest downturn in more than two decades.

The price of oil has decoupled from the actual cost of production; it is becoming unprofitable and the effects are being felt across the globe.

Nigeria and Angola, Africas two biggest oil producers, are both in talks with the World Bank about support for their strained state finances.

Budgets in Russia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Canada are in deficit, which means cuts in public spending.

Big oil is cutting jobs and capital spending, in fact BP just reported its worst annual loss in 20 years, and Shell reported an 80 percent slide in profits for 2015.

But there are winners too: China, India, Japan, and South Korea are among the largest importers of oil, so they are benefiting from the dropping oil price.

We are backtracking the demise of oil  from production companies in the North Sea to a former Caspian tiger fallen on hard times, Kazakhstan, to find out who are the winners and losers of the oil price drop and what it means for the people.

Also on Counting the Cost: Ireland is now the fastest growing economy in the EU, but has its post-bailout success come at the expense of the countrys poor?

And how will it affect Irelands economy and its people if its closest neighbour, the UK, decides to leave the European Union?

Plus, after years of negotiations, the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) has been signed at a ceremony in New Zealand. But sealing the deal on paper doesnt mean an end to the opposition, so what is the future of TPPA?
Right up to the end Duke Ellington maintained an ability to surprise lesser mortals with his impish wit. In 1969 he visited the White House to celebrate his 70th birthday and kissed President Richard Nixon on the cheek four times. When Nixon asked why four times, Ellington replied, "One for each cheek."Tricky Dicky wasas they say nowadaystotally gobsmacked but regained his composure in time to present Ellington with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honour, proclaiming magnanimously, "In the royalty of American music, no man swings more or stands higher than the Duke."After these shenanigans in Washington, it was business as usual for the Ellington band. In November: a European tour, one of the highlights of which was this concert at the 2,200-seat Doelen Concert Hall in the Dutch port of Rotterdam. The De Doelen had reopened just three years previously after being rebuilt. The original hall was destroyed by a German bombardment in 1940 at the start of World War Two.The band still had plenty of great soloists. The saxophone section includedon alto,on tenor andon baritone. Lawrence Brown was still hanging in there on trombone and Wild Bill Davisfor good or illwas doing his thing on organ.In the brass section,was still hitting those "impossible" high notes,was growling away as he had done off and on for decades and there was the added attraction of Duke's sonThere was also a new but very good rhythm section, comprising Victor Gaskin on bass, Rufus "Speedy" Jones on drums and, of course, the pianistnow what was his name?Things get off to a wild, if somewhat ragged start with's "Take The A Train" married to a rocking "C Jam Blues." Cootie Williams is in fine form on this one but Paul Gonsalves is a trifle under-recorded.There's a mighty roar of approval for Ellington's intro to "Kinda Dukish" and "Rockin' In Rhythm" and Cat Anderson gets nicely stratospheric towards close of play. Next comes a "proper" version of "Take The A Train," which builds nicely to a climax starring Cootie Williams. Gonsalvesintroduced by his boss as "the hero of the Newport Jazz Festival"cuts loose as only he can on "Up Jump," which Duke describes as "tenor saxophonic callisthenics."Ellington wrote "La Plus Belle Africaine (The Most Beautiful African)" for the first International Festival Of Negro Arts held in Dakar, Senegal three years previously. At nine minutes plus, it's the longest but also most interesting track on the album, starring Harry Carney and Russell Procope. It's followed by an "African" drum feature by Rufus Jones, mercifully not overlong. There's a vocal medley by Tony Watkins, who spent seven years with the band and was by no means the worst vocalist Duke ever hired.The most moving number is the lovely ballad "Black Butterfly" starring Johnny Hodges. It was one of the last chances jazz fans had to hear this wonderful, inimitable soloist. He died six months later.
The piano and percussion duo may be two-thirds of that most ubiquitous trio formation, but it is not often heard. Among those who have tackled this duo format are former Yes members, keyboardist Patrick Moraz and drummerboth with solid jazz credentialswho had been down this road more than twenty years back with two E.G. Records releases, Flags and Music for Piano and Drums (1983, 1985) but with multiple keys and percussion instruments, their efforts were technologically embellished. Pianist Irene Schweizer has recorded duos with a number of drummers including, and. And, of course,andcaptured their 1979 Columbia University performances on Historic Concerts (Soul Note, 1980). A new release, Sitting Bull, with Italian pianist Federico Pozzer and drummer Aleksandar Skoric stands out in its diversity and approach to this setting.Pozzer had studied classical piano from childhood and into his time at the Conservatory of Vicenza. It may not be coincidental that his thesis was on the celebrated Ukrainian pianist, Misha Mengelberg who had also recorded with Bennink. Serbia born Skoric and Pozzer met in Holland in 2013 when both were attending the Conservatory "Prins Claus" in Groningen. The two had recorded as part of a self-titled quintet, Falga (Cantina, 2015). Their synergyand diverse musical interestsmake Sitting Bull an intriguing and unusual album.There are twelve pieces on the album, with nine of them being improvised, one ("Pigeons") composed by Pozzer and covers of Thelonius Monk and. Three of the pieces clock in around one-minute each; more sonic ideas than fully executed concepts. The opening "Hoka Psice" features dramatic washes of cymbals along with bells and rattles and what may be Pozzer tinkering with the inner workings of the piano. "Dakota" has Pozzer dropping in chords, then letting the silence settle in between. Monk's "Criss Cross" is somewhat true to the original albeit, a harder, more spikey interpretation. An oddand unintentionally humorousfire and brimstone preacher is the backdrop for "What is Your Life (Part 2)"; the speaker's high drama blending perfectly with the frenzied improvisations of Pozzer and Skoric. The last half of Coltrane's "Sun Ship" is given to an amazing and exhausting Skoric solo.There's not a lot of down time on Sitting Bull though "Crowded" and "Pigeons" are quietly melodic breaks in the hyper-complexity that pervades throughout this album. Despite the free nature of the music, there's a clear and consistent vision; Pozzer and Skoric finding an intuitive empathy as they trade-off between complementing each other and playing in near-seclusion. This album is as good as it is different and well worth the listening time.
           2005     ..        
The failure of Canada's majority Conservative government to win re-election on October 17, 2015 should serve as an object lesson to the Republican establishment in the United States. Among a number of reasons for the debacle, the abandonment or weakening of first principles in the name of pragmatic and ideological compromise was a major factor leading to the Conservative defeat.

The Tories attempted to cater to non-conservative voters, to appeal to a broad constituency, to be liked, to be moderate, by softening the party's message and gutting many of its programs. Perhaps most obviously, they drew back from significantly defunding and at least partially privatizing our deep-left state-supported national broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC is a cultural Marxist production that never met a Conservative policy it liked. It sees its mandate as constantly attacking every Conservative idea or piece of legislation while propagandizing on behalf of multiculturalism; Islam as a religion of peace; anti-Zionism; and radical movements such as Occupy Wall Street, Idle No More, and #BlackLivesMatter. It sided with Canada's two socialist parties, the Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP). But aside from legislating a small reduction in the CBC's operating budget, the Conservatives allowed the "MotherCorp" to continue shilling for the opposition. Afraid of giving its foes something to be offended by, the Conservative government funded its own demise.

No less catastrophic, the Conservatives failed to pass legislation to radically protect free speech across the country  legislation that would outrank our provincial kangaroo courts, known as Human Rights Commissions, whose mandate has been to prosecute individual citizens and groups on the flimsy grounds of "hate speech." Aside from the fact that leaving these provincial tribunals in place did not garner a single bit of support or sympathy from the social justice totalitarians, this signal failure guarantees that open discussions essential to Canada's future as a robust democracy  especially conversations about mass immigration, Islamic terrorism, and the relation between the two  will continue to be curtailed by the left-leaning proponents of censorship in the name of social "harmony." Such conversations are also, not incidentally, essential to the survival of a genuine Conservative party.

The Conservatives also implemented half-measures on the subject of gun control, failing to fully disband the despised Gun Registry that makes it almost impossible for people to defend themselves against criminals. Canadian gun control legislation prohibits individuals with gun permits from carrying guns on their persons except in narrowly defined circumstances, and elaborate storage protocols mean that a home-owner who experiences a home invasion by a burglar or worse would be unable to use his or her gun in self-defense.

Perhaps most damagingly, the Conservatives attempted to fight the election chiefly on the basis of fact and logical argument rather than engaging the passions and patriotic sentiments of the electorate. They were unable to rebut progressivist attacks portraying them as hateful, bigoted, backward, divisive, and exclusionary. They had no vision of Canada to offer that was not simply a less enthusiastic version of the feminist, multicultural, and "diverse" image championed by the other parties. In trying to play it safe, the Conservatives not only failed to dislodge Liberal and NDP voters from their political homes, but also alienated their conservative supporters.

The Conservatives might have used their parliamentary majority to enact truly decisive, game-changing pieces of legislation that could have consolidated a center-right political orientation not easily undone  even in the case of electoral loss. They didn't, and we are suffering for it now.

So much, then, for Canada's Conservatives.

The situation of the Republicans is structurally analogous. The GOP failed to use its congressional majority to assert its foundational doctrines on the misguided assumption that it could woo Democrat voters away from their traditional loyalties or perceived entitlement advantages by presenting itself as the lite version of the opposition. Denver-based radio personality Brian Joondeph cogently asks: "Where is the GOP's bully pulpit? No effort to rally the support of the millions of voters who gave the GOP large congressional majorities. Instead, the GOP happily signs on to the Obama agenda."

Stark examples of Republican surrender abound. Most recently, a Republican Congress signing on to Obama's omnibus funding bill has brought itself into tawdry disrepute. Another instance involves the infamous Corker Bill, which could just as easily have been engineered by Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi. Senate Republicans refused to deal effectively with the deficiencies of the Corker Bill  a bill, as Andrew McCarthy explains, that was totally inadequate from the beginning to counter the Iranian nuclear threat. The affair smacks of RINO business as usual.

As Andrew Bostom writes in a critical blog entry for April 15, 2015, Senate Republicans "have cravenly acquiesced to cynical, perverse Obama Administration bullying so as not to be labeled 'warmongers.'" Once again, we observe the standard right-wing capitulation from what should have been a position of strength.

One recalls, too, the shameful spectacle of John McCain, a Republican presidential candidate, and the bloviating Lindsay Graham doing Obama's bidding in Egypt in defense of the Muslim Brotherhood, or of McCain coming to the aid of Hillary Clinton's Brotherhood-tainted adjunct, Huma Abedin, when she was challenged by Michele Bachmann. Such complicity  voting with or parroting the enemy  is a surefire recipe for yet another Republican electoral defeat, just as it was for Canada's Conservatives.

In an interesting article for American Thinker, James Arlandson comes to the defense of the GOP establishment, which knows that society "moves by degrees," that "incrementalism is the only way to retransform America," and that the party must appeal to a majority of undecided voters. It is not an entirely convincing article. Such temperateness as Arlandson recommends sabotaged Mitt Romney's campaign and did not prevent the installation of the most radical president in American history, whose skin color did not overlay his bred-in-the-bone Marxism. And we recall that Ronald Reagan, arguably the best president of the 20th century, was anything but temperate.

It comes down to this: Republicans need to change their game plan and go on the attack, abide by their core tenets, use their congressional majority to stymie a rogue president on every front without fear of electoral blowback, take on a corrupt and partisan media (as Donald Trump is doing, and as Romney did not when he failed to rein in CNN's Candy Crowley's illegitimate intervention during the second presidential debate between Romney and Obama), and stop being polite to their political enemies. They must rally behind their nominated candidate, whoever that turns out to be, turn a deaf ear to the "strategies" of political advisers and so-called experts (who are habitually wrong about everything), counter the debilitating sickness of political correctness, tackle issues like Muslim immigration and cross-border infiltrations on a consensus basis, and, generally speaking, appeal to principle rather than to the opposition.

A tall order, but RINOs will not win the 2016 election. Blue Republicans will not convince a partisan, cynical, wavering, or undecided electorate. Canada's Conservatives lost the election in part because they shrank from being truly conservative. Similarly, should the Republicans lose in November 2016, it will be because they failed to be truly republican.
HAMILTON  A Florence man is facing 10 felony drug counts after a U.S. Marshals Service-led raid on a Florence home that allegedly found a variety of illegal drugs and six weapons, including a pistol with a round in the chamber hidden under a couch cushion.

Martin Travis Campbell, 33, appeared Thursday before Ravalli County Justice of the Peace Jennifer Ray on a charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, eight counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a charge of possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture, all felonies.

According to charging documents, a U.S. marshal contacted the Ravalli County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday to ask for assistance in the execution of an arrest warrant for Scott Lynn Porter, who was known to reside on Bow Drive in Florence.

Law enforcement officers from the sheriffs office, Montana Highway Patrol, federal wildlife agencies and the Stevensville police responded to the request.

The team converged on the residence, took position and announced their presence. When no one inside responded, the team entered the residence and arrested Porter.

Campbell was also inside the home.

The affidavit said a Smith and Wesson revolver was in plain view in close proximity of Campbell.

After Campbell stood up, officers also found a Steyr .40 caliber pistol tucked into a seat cushion on the couch. The firearm was loaded, with a round in the chamber.

The affidavit said it was later determined that the Steyr pistol was stolen from someone in Billings.

A search of Campbell allegedly yielded three glass pipes with marijuana and methamphetamine residue, as well as three small plastic bindles.

The affidavit said Campbell waived his right to remain silent and acknowledged his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine. Campbell also allegedly admitted to smoking methamphetamine earlier that day.

Officers also found seven types on controlled substances, as well as other drug paraphernalia in a backpack that allegedly belonged to Campbell.

In addition to the two pistols, officers also found two rifles  an Armalite AR-10 and aH7R 1871 Blackout  and three shotguns, including a 12-gauge rotary shotgun magazine.

Ray set bail at $15,000.
Every generation finds fault with the next, which finds fault with the one before. But sometimes a wave of mutual affection manages to skip generations, creating a surprising bond between the young and the old. Could this be a factor at play in the millennials' enthusiasm for 73-year-old Bernie Sanders? In the Iowa caucus, he captured that vote six to one over Hillary.

Children have been known to bypass parental advice in favor of the same from their grandparents, whom they find less judgmental  possibly because they 're not living under the same roof. Grandparents have been known to lavish an accumulation of disposable income on their children's children. Could this contribute to the reason why Bernie Sanders is being so unexpectedly overwhelmed by the empowering approval of the young?

America is hardly a country applauded for its veneration of the aged. So the affection of millennials for The Bern is probably due less to sentimentality than to pragmatism. Indeed, his age may not even be a factor for his supporters. But if one studies the actuarial tables, President Sanders would statistically be in the grave before the end of his second term.

The primary impetus for Bernie's support among the young is that he promises a vague "future to believe in," which translates into even more of the Moon than most liberal politicians promise. Free is good when you want stuff you can't afford. As one young Sanders supporter griped when interviewed, "why should I have to pay for my college education?"

Perhaps the next question he will ask is, "Why should I bother working, when I can't have the kind of job I want?" Countless unemployed or underemployed young people  and they are, indeed, uncounted  have already opted to exit the job market, at least for a while. Many of them are college graduates whose inability to find meaningful employment could be one of the strongest arguments against imposing even higher taxes on Americans in order to provide free college tuition. After all, glowing comparative stats about the enhanced earning power of a college degree are immaterial when you don't even have a job.

And if you don't have a good job, you can't have all of what millennials consider the necessities of modern life. For them, Bernie's freebies are an important part of the conversation. They cheer the idea that "paying one's fair share" can be accomplished by taxing the tar out of millionaires. They buy into the class warfare rhetoric that ripples through Socialist Sanders's sermons, expunging government of the blame for societal failures by placing that blame on the expensively clothed shoulders of the super-rich.

Liberals have always preached that money pumped into problems solves them. It becomes just a matter of what source can be legally squeezed. Our colleges and media outlets have made certain that the culprits are clearly identified, so that when their protegees go to the polls, casting votes is like casting stones.

An oddball like Sanders doesn't materialize as a political icon overnight. He's been operating in the shadows of politics for a long, long time. His surprising candidacy would have been impossible a generation ago, when most Americans were taught to think differentlyor for themselves. Nor were most young people's dedication to political candidates as intense as it is now. Technology is a great enabler in that pursuit.

But the major political impact on millennials has been wielded by liberals who dominate the faculties and administrative strongholds of college campuses across America. These are the real recruiters for Bernie Sanders's young army of supporters. The seeds of socialism are sown, nurtured, and harvested in a rarefied academic atmosphere, where popularity and even grades depend on one's willingness to mulch common ground.

By the time millennials ripen into voters, the path is cleared toward getting what they are told all Americans deserve. It is anticipated that they will register as Democrats  or maybe independents  just as workers are expected to become dues-paying members of a union.

Universities have become training venues for the art of marches, protests, political skulduggery, and general rabble-rousing. Unlike previous generations, millennials acquire the moxie to hustle off to rallies or hunker down in protest in cities they don't even know. One wonders how they get the resources to do this when they picture their lives in America as circumscribed and grossly unfair.

The left-wing college lesson plans begin with an assumption that it is okay to wage war on perceived rights violations here at home, but not overseas. We must stay out of other countries' problems, especially militarily, but we must accept the fallout of those problems when they show up at our borders. The crucible of liberal indoctrination is a fear of those who are not of like mind. Obama and Clinton, for example, both talk of Republicans as a great threat to America. "It's not who we are."

So liberal academicians have, in effect, provided a vital run-up to the viability of a Bernie Sanders. They laid the foundation for his war on Wall Street, his attack on the wealthy, his pledge to legalize drugs and decriminalize pushers, and his dream of making the United States of America more like Sweden.

Bernie owes one to these professors. That's why he's glad to promote free college education, which would insure the further growth of captive audiences in ivy-covered halls, leaving the power of leftist gurus unchecked.

Millennials are a dominant power in the United States. In 2013, they represented one-third of the total population. If Sanders falls by the wayside, what will his zealous young supporters do? One of them told me in no uncertain terms, "Anyone but Hillary!" But there are no absolutes in politics, and the scramble for the all-important millennial vote will remain a top priority.
So much of political talk in the last couple of decades has been about working across the aisle,  to get things done. These discussions have been filled with a sentimental, "Kumbaya" longing, Cant we all just get along? This recent Iowa caucus vote has brought us to the stark realization that concession and reconciliation is not at all what conservative voters want. Why? Because conservatives are logical people and the only compromise the left wants flies in the face of the third law of logic.

Logic isnt a high priority in liberal circles, though progressives like the word, they either dont know the rules of the reasoning game or they feel justified in breaking them.

Lets do a quick review:

Rule 1) The Law of Identity: a thing is what it is and is not something else. It is not what it is not. This seems obvious until you start looking at some leftist equations: financing ISIS = fighting ISIS; snow storms = global warming; voter ID = voter suppression. Obviously someone didnt get the memo.

Rule 2) The Law of Non-Contradiction: something cant be both true and not true at the same time. Example: There is no such thing as absolute truth. Thats wrong on so many levels, but according to the statement nothing can be true, so that very statement is also untrue. Which, of course, gets us back to the first law  according to that, truth has to mean truth. Enough. I can feel my gray matter circling the drain.

Rule 3) The Law of the Excluded Middle: something is either true or not true -- there is no middle ground. This is unfortunate because its comfy in that misty middle. No decisions have to be made, no ground defended, no friendships lost. Even sadder is the truth that the fuzzy middle is a Wile E. Coyote position which leaves a person frantically treading air until gravity finally wins. And it always wins.

What holy happy mediums are seeing the ground rush up at them these days? Lets look:

Religious neutrality: either we believe, and practice what we believe, or not. The left wants us to skulk around silently communing with our God, but never using Gods mandates as a guide to make our private and public decisions, never applying, never following Gods command to go tell it on the mountain. Our public schools are to be neutral on the issue of religious belief, but there is no neutral; a person either believes in God or he doesnt. Even an agnostic is not in the middle -- does he believe? A not yet is still a negative. He doesnt.

And what about Christ? Can we just agree to disagree (a senseless thought if there ever was one) and say that He was a good man, maybe even a prophet (whatever they think that means)? No. That wont work. He claimed to be the Son of God. He claimed to be deity. He claimed to be King of the Jews. That is why both the Saducees and the Romans conspired to kill him. So either He was the King of Kings, or he was a crazy crook; either way He wasnt just a nice guy. Theres no comfortable middle ground there.

Amnesty: Is sneaking across the border illegal or not? Sort of isnt an answer. Some folk like to divide illegal immigrants into two camps: those who have committed crimes, and those who havent, as if breaking the immigration law is acceptable. Which brings us back to the first law  illegal is illegal, is it not? Or the second law  can an act be both illegal and legal at the same time? Not if were being logical. Illegals are in the criminal camp because theyre illegal.

Gun control: do we have that right to own guns, or dont we? Since the early days of our country individual states have tried to find a middle ground on the 2nd Amendment. In fact, many of the earliest efforts to control gun ownership were in the South where people grew concerned about what would happen if their slaves acquired guns. Should this be an absolute? Ill admit that it might be odd for ones neighbor to own a tank and collect mortar rounds, but thats just it -- who would? These human rights we speak of are God-given, correct? Then can man, should man abrogate that right? Either the right to arm oneself exists or it doesnt. Theres no refuge lane.

Islamic immigration: Well, is Islam good or bad? It cant be both and there is no middle ground. Does the Quran promote violent aggressive proselytizing? Yes. When they say Death to America! are they saying it in a good way? Is there a centrist position between that statement and the American Constitution? Is there a point of compromise? From looking at the Iran deal recently hammered out by the intrepid John Kerry, Id say no, not really.

So does this mean that compromise is never possible? No. It means that conciliation on matters of principle cannot be an option. We all agree that immigration laws are necessary, but we can compromise on the number of people we allow in, on the attributes well find acceptable for entrance, on the issues of sponsorship, welfare access, etc. What we cant do is refuse to enforce a law that has been duly legislated. The law is the law, or its not, and if its not then we cant call it a law (see Rules 1 and 2).

Now look at the current presidential election. Where does the Law of the Excluded Middle apply here? The excluded middle has been the Republican election strategy ever since Reagan -- some brain-eating virus wormed its way into (by way of Ivy League academia, no doubt) the GOP election groupies and morphed into a dementia that demands that our candidates and our positions must try to stay afloat out there above no-mans land; that there is no way to amass enough votes unless we join our deluded counterparts, give a nod to Marx, embrace (pun intended) gay rights, and hate the rich.

It is no wonder that this hasnt worked. America is made up of very sensible people; we know in our heart-of-hearts that right is right, that what works, works and what doesnt wont. We find leaders who want to equivocate on rock solid principle completely disturbing. After seven years of Obama we find the unicorn-petting intolerable. We will have sensible, rational, logical governance.

In Iowa last week the middle-ground folk of the GOP grappled one last time for a shot at the White House, but Iowans were having none of it. They excluded the middle and went instead (over 60% of them) for the three most clear-voiced and insistent about righting the left-hand turns this country has taken. The clearest voice of all, Ted Cruz, came out on top, proving that Iowa knows its logic, knows that up isnt down; knows that evil isnt good, no matter how its dressed up; and knows that big government is not freedom and prosperity and never, never will be.

Deana Chadwell blogs at www.ASingleWindow.com. She taught high school English for 30 years and currently teaches writing and speech at Pacific Bible College in Medford, Oregon.
In recent years, the government of France has tried to play a role in Middle Eastern affairs and in the struggle against Islamist terrorism. It has been particularly eager to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. In December 2014, France proposed an international conference to discuss the issue within a two-year framework.

On Friday, January 29, 2016, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, qualifying the 2014 proposal, outlined the French position in two parts. One part was that France would organize an international conference, including the European countries, the U.S., and Arab countries, to agree on a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine. The other part, considerably more controversial, was that France would "live up to our responsibilities" by recognizing Palestine as an independent state if the conference was unsuccessful.

No one can doubt the good intentions of Fabius or the French hopes for a peaceful conclusion of the century-old conflict. However, both parts of his proposal are arguable in view of the reality in the area. Palestinian authorities are divided into factions, some of which are determined not to allow the State of Israel to exist. Although the Palestinian Authority exists, its ability to make decisions is challenged, and therefore it is unclear who is supposed to be the representative body at any peace conference.

Two issues are involved. One is that Hamas, the terrorist ruling group in the Gaza Strip, may insist on its own state, separate from that in the West Bank. The other is that the various Palestinian leaders will not or cannot control Palestinian violence or even incitement to violence.

That violence never stops. On Wednesday, February 3, 2016, two female Israeli Border Police officers were attacked by three Palestinians in Jerusalem near the Old City, outside the Damascus Gate. One of them, a 19-year-old woman, who had recently joined the Border Police, died. The attackers, who came from the Jenin area and who were armed with a rifle, knives, and an explosive device, were shot and killed by Israeli police.

Immediately, the mainstream media provided a misleading and anti-Israeli account of the attacks. In this CBS News was prominent. Its disgraceful headline was "Three Palestinians killed as daily violence grinds on." After protests were made about this prejudiced presentation, CBS changed it to "Israeli police kill three alleged [sic] Palestinian attackers." It then changed the headline again, this time to a more correct one: "Palestinians attack 2 Israeli officers before being killed."

This was an unhappy coincidence between the French proposal and initiative and the brutal Palestinian attack on two young women. Unfortunately, the Palestinian response to the proposal is not likely to limit the terrorist attacks or plans. A few days after the Fabius proposal, another two members of the military wing of Hamas were killed on February 2, 2016 while rebuilding one of the tunnels in the Gaza Strip, used as a launching pad for attacks against Israeli civilians. The Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismael Haniyeh, said the reconstruction of the tunnels and the digging of rocks must continue. The Hamas spokesperson, Hussam Badrun, called the February 3 attack a "severe blow to the security apparatus of Israel and as a turning point in [the] Al-Quds Intifada."

In their turn, the Fatah leaders have praised the acts of terrorists as "heroic" and honored them.

European countries have already started on the path of recognition of "Palestine." The European Parliament in December 2014 adopted a resolution recognizing a Palestinian state. So far, Sweden in October 2014 is the only EU country to grant official recognition of the phantom state. However, the U.N. General Assembly on November 29, 2012 decided by a vote of 138-9-41 that Palestine is a non-member observer state. All these actions in upgrading the U.N. status have bypassed the supposed negotiations on the issue. Nevertheless, neither the European decisions nor those of the U.N. have issued the birth certificate of Palestine.

The EU also in November 2015 issued guidelines that produce made in Israeli settlements must not be labeled "Made in Israel." This is tantamount to participating in the BDS movement.

There are therefore serious problems with the French initiative, helpful though it is intended to be. There are at least two factors. M. Fabius must first ensure that Palestinians are truly interested in negotiations and not dedicated to the elimination of Israel. The second is agreement on the basis of negotiations. President Mahmoud Abbas and his colleagues have insisted on conditions, such as Israeli full construction freeze in settlements and the release of Palestinian prisoners. In contrast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to enter into negotiations without preconditions and without dictated conditions.

It cannot be encouraging for Fabius, who has proposed the recognition of Palestine even if the negotiations fail, to listen to the ongoing utterances of Palestinian leaders. The adviser to P.A. chairman Abbas and member of the Fatah Central Committee Sultan Abu Al-Einein in January 2016 praised the Palestinian terror wave, in which Palestinians have murdered 28 Israelis and wounded 287. He bowed "before every drop of blood that has dripped from our children and women[.]  [T]hose seeking knives today will seek rifles and weapons tomorrow."

Once again this Palestinian leader uses the Palestinian Narrative of Victimhood. He falsely claimed that the terror wave began because of the deliberate falsehood that Israel was seeking to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque.

A more general problem, especially for France in spite of the efforts of French prime minister Manuel Valls, is the disturbing fact of the increasing number of anti-Israel and ant-Semitic views of citizens in European countries. A number of recent studies show that more than 40 percent of the population in the European Union hold that Israelis are behaving like Nazis, a view akin to anti-Semitic attitudes. As we know, the line between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism has often been blurred.

If an international conference is well and impartially organized by France, the issues are well-known. A two-state solution with various swaps of land, to which some political leaders of Israel have agreed, is acceptable to most mainstream, if not all, Israelis. The Palestinians, whichever group is in power, must end all violence, accept the legitimacy of the State of Israel, stop denouncing Israel in international forums, and end the BDS campaign. They must give up the concept of the "Right of Return" insofar as it applies to Israeli territory and accept the provisions that Israel has made for its security in border controls and fences.

Fabius might also insist that Palestinian gross violations of human rights cease. Even the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights exposed that torture, whippings, hanging a person from his hands, verbal abuse, and sleep deprivation are being carried out in detention centers.

One encouraging event is that a large vulture that had flown from an Israeli game reserve and landed in a Lebanese village, detained in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for Israel, was released after U.N. intervention. The vulture, part of an Israeli conservation project, had tags on its wings reading, "Tel Aviv University, Israel."

Laurent Fabius must tread carefully in the hunt  not for the vulture, but for the dove of peace.
There may be valid reasons for the United States to choose not to destroy ISIS at this time. After due consideration, the next administration may decide to focus our efforts on the much more dangerous enemy, Iran. If so, our new presidents first foreign policy priority in 2017 must be to eliminate any possibility that Iran can develop and field nuclear weapons of any type. Once Iran has deployed nuclear weapons, our options will be quite limited.

Our new president will have a legal free hand in revoking the Iran Deal by executive order. Neither the US House nor the Senate actually voted on the Iran Deal under the Corker legislation. On September 10, 2015 the House passed and sent to the president House Resolution 411, Finding that the President Has Not Complied with Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 [the Corker Legislation]. The following day, September 11, 2015, the House passed HR 3460, To Suspend Until January 21, 2017, the Authority of the President to Waive, Suspend, Reduce, Provide Relief from, or Otherwise Limit the Application of Sanctions Pursuant to an Agreement Related to the Nuclear Program of Iran. In short, the House did not vote approval or disapproval of the Iran Deal because the administration had failed to comply with the Corker legislation requirement that the full document be disclosed to Congress prior to its legislative consideration.

The Senate, due to Senate Democrats intransigence and the Senate rules, was unable even to bring the Iran Deal to a vote under the Corker legislation, and thus did not vote on the Deal either. Neither chamber having considered it, the Deal has no American legislative legitimacy at all. The Iran Deal continues to be what it was, an executive order, and another executive order from the new president can cancel it in its entirety. That is a start to ridding us of Irans nuclear threat, but it will not return the now-unfrozen financial assets that have been gifted to Iran by Barak Obamas action.

Lost amid the fog of years of Iran nuclear negotiations by both the Bush and Obama administrations, the furor over the present administrations abject surrender to the Iranians on this nuclear deal, and the subsequent release of sanctions, is the conclusion that was obvious from the beginning. When I first began lecturing in 2009 on the dangers of a nuclear Iran, I posited that no amount of sticks in the form of economic sanctions, or carrots such as sanctions relief, would deter the present Iranian regime from accomplishing its plan to pursue, and its goal to obtain, nuclear weapons. I discussed this with Ambassador John Bolton when he was presenting on the same subject, and he agreed with this conclusion. There are only two ways to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon (warhead and delivery systems). The first is by true regime change in Iran. The second is by application of military force to Irans nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure.

Regime change in Iran would have been much easier during the Green Revolution of 2009 than today. In 2009 we had time before the regimes acquisition of nuclear weapons to assist the Iranian students in getting regime change done and taking their country back from their theocratic supremacist totalitarian masters, cheaply and quickly. Michael Ledeen of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies wrote in Human Events on June 19, 2009 that the main support needed by these students was to get accurate information to the Iranian people about what is going on inside Iran.... [T]he regime is doing everything it can to shut down reliable tweeters and flood the network with disinformation. One of the methods proposed by Ledeen:

We should be able to get some working satellite phones into the country, so that people can call out with up-to-date information, which we could then turn around and broadcast back to the Iranians. Once upon a time there was a CIA that could do such things; I doubt they are up to it today, but there are lots of businesses that can do it. Ditto for laptops, servers, etc.

In a seminar in the same timeframe Ledeen stated that such a satellite phone assistance program would have cost the United States less than $2 million -- and the CIA probably could have done it. But we recently learned that in 2009 the Obama administration forbad the CIA from providing the students with any assistance. This best opportunity for both the Iranian people to remove its theocratic totalitarian regime, and for the United States to benefit from this change because a new Iranian regime would probably not continue the nuclear weapons program, was deliberately rejected by our president.

Military force is whats left. In 2015 the Obama administration, in pushing the Iran deal on the public, claimed that the only two alternatives were approval of The Deal on the one hand, or war on the other. We have The Deal, and it guarantees that there will be a war. The only question is whether this will be a conventional weapons war before Iran can field nuclear weapons; or a nuclear war after it has successfully done so.

Because doing nothing about this existential threat to the United States is unthinkable (although many in the administration have indeed thought about it and made its creation U.S. policy), eliminating the possibility that Iran can develop or acquire nuclear weapons is an end that would justify the expenditure of American blood and treasure. The alternatives: a nuclear arms race between Iran and Sunni Arab states in the Middle East which would almost certainly result in a regional nuclear war; the almost certain annihilation of Israel if it does not first stage its own pre-emptive military campaign against Irans nuclear weaponization program; and, most importantly for the United States, Irans development of long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to pair with its nuclear warheads. Iran does not need ICBMs to attack European cities; it can already strike most of them with the ballistic missiles it has now. Such ICBMs are needed for no purpose other than to perpetrate nuclear attacks against New York City, Washington, DC, Kansas City, Phoenix, and other American cities.

Iran with nuclear weapons will not be deterred by our own nuclear arsenal from attempting to conquer the West in the name of Islamic Jihad as we deterred the Soviet Politburo from using its nuclear weapons in the name of International Communism. We cannot afford to make the mistake of mirror imaging regarding Iran, projecting our own ideals, values, priorities and mindset onto others (definition thanks to Selwyn Duke), a sometimes powerful and critical error of intelligence analysts. Their civilization is not our civilization, and their actions will not be what we would do in similar circumstances. The prospect of world chaos and the coming of the 12th Mahdi will drive the Iranians to nuclear threats, and eventually to nuclear action, if the West does not first submit to Islam and Sharia Law.

We must strongly urge our presidential candidates to select the smartest and most experienced Middle East advisors, and task them to begin now to create the Grand Strategy for the Middle East which we will need to begin to implement in January, 2017. These advisors should include civilians and former military, and must exclude anyone who has had any connection with any of the approximately 250 Muslim Brotherhood organizations in the United States, including but not limited to CAIR and ISNA, which have been advising our current administration. Ben Carson pegged the Muslim Brotherhood perfectly during the January 28 debate, and readers should educate themselves further on the Brotherhoods infiltration of our government and our private institutions, at e.g., http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/the-muslim-brotherhood-in-america/; http://bethanyblankley.com/2015/03/04/the-muslim-brotherhoods-infiltration-of-the-american-government/; http://bethanyblankley.com/2015/03/05/muslim-brotherhood-civic-organizations-and-agents-in-u-s-government/; http://bethanyblankley.com/2015/03/18/the-betrayal-papers-part-iii-the-muslim-brotherhoods-expansive-network-in-america-from-common-core-to-amnesty-to-purging-the-u-s-military-of-christians/; http://bethanyblankley.com/2015/03/24/the-betrayal-papers-part-iv-obama-muslim-brotherhood-constructed-arab-spring-genocidal-isis-and-americas-self-destruction/.

If history is a guide, waiting until the inauguration to begin to plan this Grand Strategy would be dangerous. Most of the candidates have made promises about what they will do their first day in office, but they may not have the luxury of time to fulfill even a portion of those promises right away, let alone time to create such complex national security strategies. Crises will fly thick and fast from the word go.

It has happened before. When President Abraham Lincoln arrived at his White House office from his first inauguration ceremony in 1861, he found waiting on his desk a letter from Major Robert Anderson, the commander of Federal forces at Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Major Anderson reported that his command was very short of food and needed immediate resupply if he were to hold out against a probable attack by militia forces of that seceded southern state. The Fort Sumter crisis required almost all of the new presidents time and attention for weeks. Creation of his strategy to conduct the Civil War, which was most likely to begin soon, was pushed into the background, as were a host of other pressing issues.

One possible scenario for consideration by the committees our presidential candidates will create to determine our Grand Strategy for the Middle East: Realpolitik must be the basis of our policies with ISIS and Iran. A strong, resolute president who is willing to push both parties, with the help of a (very) reformed Department of State, which will not be permitted to undermine him, will be able to achieve our strategic goals in the Middle East. Iran will not be our ally, in spite of President Obamas previous policy. ISIS will not be our ally either, but rather our tool in countering Iran. If ISIS does not come around in the face of a then-credible U.S. promise of its destruction, that destruction by American military action will remain our alternative.

Michael S. Goldstein is an attorney in private practice in Ohio, a retired naval officer, and a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Mr. Goldstein is active with eGeneration Foundation, a charitable educational foundation in the Generation IV Advanced Nuclear Energy community, at www.eGeneration.org. Readers can contact him at michaelgoldstein3386@gmail.com.
The head of the German Roman Catholic Church has broken with most of the political elites in the country and called for a reduction in the number of refugees being allowed in.

Washington Times:

"As a church we say that we need a reduction in the number of refugees, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, chairman of the German bishops conference, told the Passauer Neue Presse daily on Saturday. He added that Germany cannot take in all the worlds needy, according to The Guardian. While many religious organizations have asserted it is the churchs duty to help the less fortunate, the cardinal asserted the migrant crisis should not solely be a matter of charity but also reason. Cardinal Marx also expressed concern over growing xenophobia in Germany amid the worst refugee crisis Europe has seen since the second world war. Germanys anti-Islam group PEGIDA staged rallies in several cities across Europe on Saturday to protest the influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Last week, Frauke Petry Germanys rightwing populist AfD party suggested that police if need be should threaten to shoot people seeking to enter the country. Referencing Germanys dark past, Cardinal Marx lamented such rhetoric saying, Sadly there has always been a certain potential for rightwing extremism and racism in Germany, according to The Guardian.

Nearly 30% of Germany is Catholic, making it the largest Christian denomination in the country. But the influence of Cardinal Marx and the Catholic church in general has declined in recent years as secularism/atheism has been on the rise - as it has in the rest of Europe. Still, it is a significant break with Chancellor Merkel who still insists on allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees into the country.

"Charity but also reason" is an excellent way to approach the refugee crisis. Unfortunately, Merkel's refugee policy has has seen little reason and far too much charity. As the refugee crime wave grows and the anti-iimigrant forces swell, the political fallout for Merkel and her dwindling number of allies could eventually result in not only Merkel's ouster, but an historic repudiation of Europe's open borders policy. And with another huge wave of refugees expected as a result of the Russian/Syrian/Iranian military triumphs in Syria, Germany especially will be forced to confront their open door policy and its consequences for the future of their country.
Saturday nights Republican debate could have made all the difference for any one of the candidates. Instead, it didnt make any difference at all, not for any of them. The men at the top of the polls didnt stand out, so nothings changed there. Yet the men at the bottom all stood out  all of them did about as well as they could have hoped  and each turned in his best performance to date. This means that none of them gained an advantage over his fellow low-polling contenders.

This means that the status quo will not be rocked, and the New Hampshire primary will turn out about the way the polls predicted.

The media, in the immediate aftermath of the debate, didnt think so  but they are wrong.

The big headline from the debate was the medias assumption that people would care about Marco Rubios repetition of the point he was trying to make  but they wont care, because it is irrelevant to the voting public. Its the kind of debating point that the media likes to jump on, but voters tend to ignore. As my wife said, when youre trying to make a point and nobody seems to be listening, you repeat yourself. In other words, it was no big deal.

But in tracking the news coverage after the debate, ABC, Politico, Fox and others were almost identical in their comments  even similar in their examples from the past of why it would matter.

One commentator compared Rubios repetition moment to the Reagan-Carter Debate moment when the Great Communicator said, there you go again. That was a decisive moment, but only because the two men were in a head-to-head battle for the Presidency, and this was the only debate between the President and his rival. However, in New Hampshire, it was a debate among seven men, each trying to score points.

Another commentator compared the repetition to that moment in the vice presidential debate in 1988 when Dan Quayle struggled to explain what a man as young and inexperienced as he was would do if he suddenly became President. In frustration, he eventually cited JFK, to which Democrat Lloyd Benston said, Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy. Everyone agreed that Benston won the debate  but lost the election. However, once again, this was the final head-to-head debate between two men running for the same office, rather than seven men trying to stand out from the crowd.

Heres how I see it.

Trump: It was his debate to lose, and after he absented himself from the last debate, a lot of attention was focused on him. However, he was  for Trump  low-key and fairly reasonable. His one hiccup was his shushing of Bush, which did not play well with either the live audience of those watching on TV. It was rude, and  for a man ranked 25 points ahead of the man who was challenging him  unnecessary. But it was a small thing, and wont cost him votes.

Rubio: His low point came in handling Chris Christies attack. However, for the rest of the debate, he was in top form, handling a number of controversial topics  abortion and gay marriage, among others  with grace and gravitas. The media believes this will undercut him  but I think theyre wrong. He may lose a few point  but then again, he may not.

Cruz: Trailing Rubio in most recent polls, and unlikely to trump Donald Trump again, Cruz did just what he needed to do. He was reasonable, non-confrontational and low-key. He is at his best, when dealing with crowds who are not all born-again constitutional conservatives when he is low-key. This debate will not propel him upward, but the New Hampshire electorate isnt as conservative or committed-to-faith as Cruz. This debate will not cost him votes, and thats about the best he could have hoped for.

Kasich: Kasich turned in his best performance, by far, in any of the debates. Apparently 100 town-hall meetings helped him hone his message and his delivery. Yet the other three governors also did well. If any of the governors picked up any points, it is probably Kasich  but it wont be by much.

Bush: Like Kasich, he delivered his best debate performance. Yet he still lacks energy and passion, and he remains too devoted to his I have a plan approach  an approach that hasnt worked all that well since Nixons secret plan for ending the Vietnam war turned out to be illusory. He scored a few points against Trump over eminent domain, but the men he needed to score against were his fellow governors. And that didnt happen.

Christie: From one perspective, Christie executed his best debate performance, demonstrating his strength in a leaders role. Yet his attack on Rubio was notably harsh  too harsh for some voters. Worse, from Christies perspective, he attacked the wrong man. He needed to take down Kasich and Bush  fellow governors with similar positions and similar track records. Those men he treated with kid gloves, gaining no ground. He may lose a few votes, which will probably go to Bush, but not enough to keep Bush in the race or keep Christie from having to bow out.

Carson: Ben seemed to get a bit more airtime than in other debates, but he hasnt yet realized that playing the victim card  I have to fight to get talked to  does not do him any favors. Maybe the first time, he might have gotten a bit of sympathy, but that can only work for so long. The reason the rumor that he dropped out seemed so plausible is because nobody can figure out why Carson remains in the race. He will lose ground, and probably to Kasich, because they both present the image of decent men who are in the middle of the road, despite Carsons sharply conservative platform.

Conclusion: This debate was informative and entertaining, but it didnt move the needle in any significant way. The three men at the top will remain at the top  with Trump strongly in the lead. The three governors all did well  but uniformly so, meaning that none of them broke out from the pack. Since breaking out from the pack was the only reasonable hope any of them had for remaining in the race, then  despite their best efforts  this debate was, for them, a failure.

Ned Barnett is a long-time issues management and campaign consultant. A leader in the Nevada Republican Party during the Tea Party Wave of 2010, he is the author of more than a dozen books on effective communications, and an adjunct professor at two universities. He has appeared on Neil Cavutos program, on the Imus radio program and has worked on three presidential campaigns as state-level media and strategy director. His clients have included the Air Force Academy Alumni Association and the Tea Party Expresss TV and publication divisions. He is currently writing a book on practical ways to win political campaigns.
Nate Cohn has outlined the election troubles for Mr. Cruz in the next several primaries.

First Cohn lays out why Cruz won in Iowa:

He won Iowa for one reason: He excelled among people who described themselves as very conservative. They voted for him by a big margin; he won 44 percent of them to Donald Trumps 21 percent, according to exit polls. He lost every other ideological category, and often by a lot.

After pointing out that the Republican party primary electorate is more moderate than that in Iowa, Cohn notes:

Even in primary states with well-justified conservative reputations, like Texas or Alabama, very conservative voters outnumbered the total of self-described moderates and liberals only by a four-point margin. In the north, moderate and liberal usually outnumber very conservative voters, and often by a wide margin. Thats why Mr. Cruz has so little traction in New Hampshire. He would be expected to win only about 15 to 17 percent of the vote given the ideological composition of the New Hampshire electorate, supposing he fared about as well among each demographic group as in Iowa. Current polls show Mr. Cruz earning nearly this exact amount.

The conclusion to draw in the generals is that in no way can Cruz bring the roughly forty-two percent who don't declare themselves liberal or conservative to the GOP if he gets the nomination. In short, nationally, America is right of center, not hard right. And Cruz has a narrow appeal among them, not to mention the persuadable left-of-centrists.

Enter Rubio, who does better than the other candidates among the forty-two percent and the smaller subset of the swing voters. He is not, politically speaking, a centrist or moderate, but substantively a conservative. So what is the difference between Cruz and Rubio? Tone and personality and image, in my view.

I trust the moderates and the somewhat conservatives and the very conservatives in the GOP primaries who want to win to spot Rubio's electability and turn away from Cruz (and Trump) and swing toward Rubio, a fine candidate and our future nominee.

James Arlandson's website is Live as Free People, which is updated almost daily and where he has posted How to read the Iowa caucuses, Five reasons not to vote for Cruz, and Twelve reasons to vote for Rubio.
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With Mobile World Congress 2016 creeping up in just a couple of short weeks, theres been lots of news regarding the upcoming devices from major manufacturers like Samsung and LG. This doesnt mean that older devices have been completely forgotten, of course, as this past week has shown some of 2015s flagship devices were starting to receive the latest version of Android through an OTA update, bringing them up to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and in line with the current crop of Nexus smartphones. Just this past week, the T-Mobile model LG G4 started receiving Android 6.0 for some users.

Also this past week, rumors surfaced regarding the Galaxy S7 from Samsung, following the FCC certification, displaying details and specifications from a leaked spec sheet of the T-Mobile model of the device, which stated that it had almost 4GB of RAM, a Qualcomm processor, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software. It was also rumored that Samsung may be looking to skip the Galaxy S7 Edge + in Europe and decide to launch the Galaxy Note 6 in the region only. Its also been rumored that Samsung may end showing off the Gear 360 VR at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event alongside the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. If youve missed any of the top stories from the past week. You can find them via the links below.

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T-Mobile Galaxy S7 Variant Pops Up On Geekbench

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Greg Gianforte, Republican candidate for governor, wants somebody from industry running the state's Department of Environmental Quality.

We have people running state agencies today who have never walked in the shoes of the people theyre trying to serve, he said in an interview this week. DEQ cant seem to say yes or no to permit applications. I dont think the answer to every application should be yes, but I do believe the DEQ should be able to say yes or no a lot quicker.

Asked about DEQs commitment to remove the Parrot tailings in Butte, for example, as something that might not have happened if the agency were run by someone from industry, Gianforte said, In Butte, for a long time we didnt have enough environmental oversight. Its a continuum  I think the pendulum has swung too far the other way.

He added, the DEQ just doesnt know how to issue a permit any more. Last Friday was the deadline for permitting the Montanore Mine near Libby. (The) DEQ says it needs more time. Its been 11 years. Isnt that long enough?

He also cited the Otter Creek mine situation as a prime example.

The state took $86 million from Arch Coal to mine the coal deposits on state land. Then they never gave them a permit to dig the coal out of the ground. How is that fair?

Environmental groups pushed back  hard.

Jim Jensen, executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, said, First of all, Montana DEQ is a regulatory agency. It isnt the Montana Department of Commerce, the purpose of which is to promote industry. (The) DEQs job is to regulate polluting industries to protect the public health and natural environment of Montana.

He added, Putting an industry representative in charge of the regulatory agency would destroy the credibility of that agency. The result, of which Mr. Gianforte is yet to be informed, would be that EPA would simply take away Montanas primacy,  The state is delegated to have clean air and water programs within the requirements of federal law. (The) EPA would then be in charge rather than the state.

Regarding the Otter Creek project, Jensen said, All that Arch Coal bought was the right to apply for a permit to mine those coal reserves. They didnt buy a permit  they bought a right to apply for a permit. If they could comply with Montana law and federal law they could get a permit.

Instead, what the company has done is ask (the) DEQ and the governor to change water quality standards in the Tongue River and Otter Creek. The EPA recently stepped in and said, The standards you are proposing are not legal under federal law.

Nick Gevock, conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation, said Thursday, Government has a regulatory role, and theres just a fundamental conflict with people from industry regulating the industry they came from. Its been shown time and time again  particularly with the environment. Its just a bad idea.

But Chuck Denowh, spokesman for the organization Count on Coal Montana, said Friday, "If we want our economy to grow and prosper, then we need consistency and predictability in our regulatory agencies. It's a real problem when the agency that that's supposed to fairly administer our air and water standards is led by individuals with backgrounds in environmental politics. We have some of the toughest environmental protection standards in the country, and industry is ready and able to meet those standards. It's the DEQ director's job to enforce those regulations, not pick and choose who should get to try. When that happens, all Montanans suffer from a smaller economy and fewer job opportunities."

Time frames

The Legislature has previously considered bills to mandate a quicker turnaround time for permitting  although the Montana time frames are quicker than many states. But the legislative efforts have failed after both industry and state representatives warned that permits that are rushed through are much more vulnerable to lawsuit and ultimately revocation.

Karen Knudsen, executive director of the Clark Fork Coalition, said Thursday, that a call for someone from industry to run the agency sets off a few alarm bells, for sure. As Montanans know, industry has often occurred at the expense of nature, leaving toxic messes behind for taxpayers to clean up. That said, it really doesnt matter what sector DEQs director comes from. What matters is that he or she leads DEQ responsibly, with an eye toward a sustainable future, and in a way that upholds our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.

Regarding the Montanore Mine, a DEQ spokesperson said the agency will soon publish its record of decision, which would include permitting for the mine expansion.

DEQ and Kootenai National Forest are co-lead agencies on the current EIS, the spokesperson said. The Environmental Protection Agency, Bonneville Power Administration, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are among the agencies that have permitting authority ... DEQ entered into this combined process at the companys request. DEQ is deferring to the federal process, which dictates the overall timeframes.

Regarding Otter Creek, the agency said, We are waiting on deficiency responses from (from Arch Creek Coal) on the coal permit and their surface water discharge permit. (They have a draft air quality permit.) Until we receive those responses from the company we cannot move forward. If we receive those deficiency responses, we cant stop processing their permit simply because they are in bankruptcy. However, we will not be able to move forward on the EIS until their bill is brought current and we have assurances from them that they will be able to pay for future EIS work. They will have to pay all permit fees and will be required to post a bond before they can receive their final permit.

We have met all our statutory deadlines. The company has no deadlines associated with their submittals.

It might be a convenient political line to take, to say were going to put industry in charge of Montana, MEICs Jensen said. One of the reasons it wont work is weve already lived that nightmare  when industry really did run Montana. When the Anaconda Copper Company, Montana Power and others controlled the Legislature, the Governor, the Supreme Court and the Public Service Commission. In large part, because of that, we have the 1972 Constitution.

If you want to see how it works when industry is in control, look at Libby. As far back as the 50s the state knew the dust from the mine was toxic, but they had a confidentiality agreement with the industry and their inspection reports were kept secret.

No one, myself foremost, is suggesting we get rid of every regulation, Gianforte said. Lets bring competency, common sense and balance to ensure a clean environment  and make sure we dont extinguish livelihoods in pursuit of that.

We need more high-wage jobs.
The presence of a police officer during Billings City Council meetings probably wont end anytime soon.

Billings resident Kevin Nelson brought up the topic during a recent council work session, suggesting that public safety might be better served having the officer out on patrol rather than seated at the back of council chambers helping ensure that participants stick to verbal exchanges rather than, say, fisticuffs.

Mayor Tom Hanel, a former police lieutenant, said in an email hes very uncomfortable with the idea of discontinuing the practice.

The presence is a deterrent for unruliness, not to mention for the safety of our citizens, the staff and the council members, Hanel said. On more than one occasion I have privately communicated with the attending officer regarding suspicious activity during the meetings.

Hanel said one man recently entered and exited the meeting two or three times carrying a backpack in an odd manner.

I alerted the officer, who monitored the person, Hanel said. It was determined the person was attending due to a zone change matter and was not pleased with the situation.

I respect that having an officer present can be costly, Hanel said. However, this may be minimal in comparison. My suggestion is that we as a council should keep this in mind and exercise better effort not to waste time for the benefit for all attending, not just the officer.

Councilwoman Angela Cimmino said she, too, opposed Nelsons proposal.

As we determined in our strategic plan, Cimmino said in an email, public safety is our number one priority, and that protection would include safeguarding our city staff, governing board elected officials, residents, business owners, consultants and other members of the general public who attend our public meetings and public hearings."

In an email, City Administrator Tina Volek said that according to Police Chief Rich St. John, the officer staffing City Council meetings is generally one of four lieutenants. Overtime is paid if the lieutenant scheduled for the meeting is not on duty, according to Lt. Casey Hafner, the department's spokesman.

There have been few incidents over the past years that required an officer, Volek wrote, although the chief says there has been one on duty as long as he can remember.

The police presence might well be a moot point, according to Volek.

I found that the officer at council meetings is required by City Code, Volek wrote in an email to council members.  'The police chief or his or her designee is appointed sergeant-at-arms and shall, by direction of the presiding officer, enforce order in council meetings by any means necessary to restore and maintain order. The police chief or his or her designee shall attend all council meetings.' 

If the City Council wants to delete this section of city code, Volek said that a council initiative to do so would be in order. Ordinance changes require two hearings, a majority vote of the City Council and a 30-day waiting period to go into effect.


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On Thursday Brussels confirmed its forecast for 2017 which predicts that Spains growth rate will slow down somewhat and cautioned Madrid that, once again, Spain is unlikely to meet its deficit target. On a more positive note, we had confirmation that last year Catalonias economy grew at a solid 3.4 per cent. That is 0.2 per cent higher than the Spanish average and much higher than the eurozones 1.6 per cent.

Despite the good news, the European Commission is adamant that the economy will slow down by 0.4 per cent this year, followed by an additional 0.3 per cent in 2017. Growth rate is not expected to reach pre-recession levels until 2017 unless, of course, there are any nasty surprises in Europe or the emerging economies.

The Commission was particularly harsh when it warned Spain that it will fail to meet its deficit target. Pierre Moscovici, the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, anticipates the overall deficit for 2015 to be 4.8 per cent of Spains GDP, which is 0.6 per cent higher than the initial target. This means that Spain will have failed to comply with the EUs directives for four consecutive years.

In 2016, the deficit is expected to reach 3.6 per cent, 0.8 over the initial objective, which will prompt additional cutbacks totalling 8.6bn.

Spains Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro put together and passed an election year budget which, despite the necessary caution that any election process requires, was slammed as unworkable and in need of realistic review. This budget sets a target deficit of 2.8 per cent (2.5 is allocated to the central government and social security, 0.3 to the regional governments; that is, Madrid holds on to 89 per cent of the deficit margin).

The experience of cutbacks in recent years is a source of concern, in that the Spanish government might once again attempt to balance their books by placing the deficit burden on Spains local and regional governments. In practice, this means setting unattainable objectives for them, which will eventually allow Madrid to blame them for falling short of their goals. Regional governments in Spain are being choked by a finance system that is insufficient, ancient and arbitrary. In addition, their cash flow is dependent on Spains regional liquidity fund, which is also arbitrary and isnt even in effect at present. When Brussels asks, will fingers point at Spains regions again?
The Bridge of Excellence Award was presented to the Mubadala subsidiary at the 2016 AmCham Abu Dhabi Excellence Awards Gala.

CEO Badr Al Olama said: We are honored to be recognized with such a prestigious award. Since Strata began operations, we have been committed to becoming a global leader in the aerospace industry. Through our collaboration with global partners and our commitment to technological innovation we have developed a strong, Emirati-led workforce, ensuring long-term competitiveness and reinforcing Stratas value proposition to its key customers.

Strata, along with other UAE aerospace companies, works in line with Abu Dhabis Economic Vision 2030 to support the development of a global aerospace hub for the Emirate. In doing so, Strata engages heavily with local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are driven by local entrepreneurs with the aim of building a robust local supply chain in the city of Al-Ain.


Taggert Blackmore's pickup now looks just like it did when his grandfather bought it 38 years ago.

Before, it was Blackmore's ranch truck at home in Roundup. He charitably characterized its condition as used. The paint had worn on the family rig, and some rust was showing.

Emotions bubbled up when Blackmore, 18, saw the 1976 Ford F-250  his "baby"  restored and looking as good as it ever did.

"You walk in, see your grandpa start crying, you start crying  the emotions," he said at an unveiling on Saturday.

Blackmore is the latest gift recipient from the Montana Hope Project, an organization that grants wishes to young people with serious medical issues. The effort is underwritten by the Association of Montana Troopers.

Blackmore lives with omphalocele, an abdominal birth defect. But it's not apparent when hanging around the friendly, hardworking guy.

"He's in a risky health situation," said Maryrose Beasley, the Roundup veterinarian who referred Blackmore to the Hope Project. "But he doesn't think about that. He thinks about others."

Beasley described Blackmore as a reserved and mature young man who's usually found helping out on one project or another, and those qualities extend throughout the family.

When Beasley brought up the Hope Project to Blackmore's family, she said that their initial reaction was that another kid would be more deserving. After some meetings, Beasley said that the family agreed to refer Blackmore as a recipient, asking only if it would be too much to put a fresh coat of paint on the beloved pickup.

The Hope Project took it a bit further. The F-250 was completely restored, keeping the original two-tone green paint. New lights, tires, parts and sound system were donated by local businesses. Chassis Works did the restoration.

Blackmore said that he never thought he'd see the truck look that good. His friends joked and had told him that they just buffed out a few spots. Now under his care, Blackmore will see that the pickup stays in the family.

"It looked just like this when I bought it," said Sam Ohanesian, Blackmore's grandfather.

Ohanesian purchased the truck in Great Falls in 1978 for $5,000. He said he had his eye on that model.

Now, Ohanesian said that he's proud that the truck is in his grandson's hands.

Representatives from the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office and Billings Police Department were on hand to celebrate the gift. Montana Highway Patrol Troopers were there as well, and troopers handed Blackmore the keys and a camera to document future trips.

And before posing for a few photos, Blackmore started it up. He said that it never before turned over so easily.
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At the Angelus Francis launches appeals also to eradicate new forms of slavery and sends greetings of peace and serenity for the Chinese New Year. He asks for prayers for the meeting with "my brother Kirill." "The essentials" of Christianity is "the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with attitude of welcome and mercy to everyone, so that everyone can meet the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis urged a political solution to end the war in Syria, called upon people to "dare" to have an inner change to defend life and stop and make every effort to eradicate new forms of slavery, during his Angelus address Sunday.

Following the Marian prayer he also appealed for prayers for his upcoming trip to Mexico "and also the meeting that I will have in Havana with my dear brother Kirill" and addressed wishes for peace and serenity to families who will mark the lunar New Year tomorrow.

Commenting on today's Gospel, he had spoken about "the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with a welcoming and merciful attitude towards all, so everyone may encounter the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life".



To 40 thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Marian prayer, Francis first recalled the call of the first apostles, as recorded in Luke's Gospel (Lk 5,1-11). Faced with the extraordinary event of the miraculous catch, the Pope said, "the fishermen are overcome with amazement. Simon Peter fell at Jesus' feet, saying: "Lord, leave me, for I am a sinner." The miraculous sign convinced him that Jesus is not only a great teacher, whose word is true and powerful, but that He is the Lord, the manifestation of God. And this close presence arouses in Peter a strong sense of his own unworthiness. From a human point of view, he thinks there should be distance between the sinner and the saint. In truth, his own sinful condition means that the Lord can not turn away from him, the same way a doctor can not abandon people who are sick. "



"Jesus' response to Simon Peter is reassuring and firm:" Do not fear; from now on you will be the fisher of men. And again the fisherman from Galilee, placing his trust in this word, leaves everything and follows Him who has become his Master and Lord. And so did James and John, Simons fellow workers. This is the logic that drives the mission of Jesus and the mission of the Church: to seek out, 'fisher' men and women not to proselytize, but to restore full dignity and freedom to everyone, through the forgiveness of sins. This is the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with welcoming and merciful attitude, so that everyone can meet the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life. And here in a particular I think of the confessors, who are the first to have to give the Father's mercy, following the example of Jesus as did the holy fathers, Leopold and Padre Pio.

"The Gospel challenges us today: do we truly trust the word of the Lord? Or do we let ourselves be discouraged by our failures? In this Holy Year of Mercy, we are called to comfort those who feel unworthy sinners before the Lord and weighed down by their mistakes, telling them the words of Jesus: 'Fear not', Gods mercy is greater than your sins, fear not! May the Virgin Mary help us to increasingly understand that discipleship means to put our feet on the footprints left by the Master: they are the footprints of divine grace that regenerates life for all".



Following the midday prayer the Pope made a series of appeals. "With deep concern - he said - I follow the dramatic fate of civilian populations involved in heavy fighting in the beloved Syria and who are forced to abandon everything to escape the horrors of war . I hope that, with generous solidarity, all necessary aid be provided to ensure their survival and dignity, and I appeal to the international community to spare no effort to urgently bring the parties involved to the negotiating table. Only a political solution to the conflict will be able to guarantee a future of reconciliation and peace in that beloved and martyred country, for which I invite you to pray hard, right now, all together. " The Pope then led the crowd in a recitation of a Hail Mary.



"Dear brothers and sisters - he added - Today, in Italy, we celebrate the Day for Life, on the theme 'Mercy makes life blossom'. I join the Italian Bishops to wish on the part of various educational and social institutions, renewed commitment in favor of human life from conception to its natural end. Our society must be helped to heal from all the attacks on life, daring an inner change, which is shown by the works of mercy. I greet and encourage university teachers in Rome and those who are committed to witness the culture of life ".

"Tomorrow - he continued - we celebrate the Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, which gives everyone the opportunity to help the new slaves today to break the heavy chains of exploitation to regain their freedom and dignity. I think in particular of so many women and men, and to so many children! We must make every effort to stamp out this crime, and this unbearable shame ".



"And again tomorrow - he concluded - in the Far East and in various parts of the world, millions of men and women celebrate the Lunar New Year. I wish everyone to experience serenity and peace within their families, which are the first place where you experience and transmit the values of love and brotherhood, coexistence and sharing, attention and care of others . May the New Year bring fruits of compassion, mercy and solidarity. And we greet these our brothers and sisters who tomorrow celebrate the Lunar New Year with applause ".
A relative of mine has been living in Australia on permanent residency for 47 years and has recently applied for Australian citizenship. The interview has been completed and the test has been passed. A few days ago a letter was received indicating that citizenship may be refused as they are unsatisfied with the results of the police check. The police check showed two petty crimes (shoplifting etc) that were committed almost 30 years ago and were failed to be declared as the relative had totally forgotten about them due to how long ago they were. Has anyone ever had to deal with this issue and was the citizenship then approved by sending in good character references? What are the chances of the citizenship being denied due to this?
A windy day in southeast Montana led to some fires and power outages, and some gusts reached nearly 60 mph in Billings and higher elsewhere.

Under a high wind warning that covered much of eastern Montana, the region's highest wind speed was recorded at Livingston, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts in the typically windy corridor reached 79 mph. Winds in Harlowton were close behind, recorded at 75 mph.

Other notable winds were 68 mph in Judith Gap and Baker, as well as 66 mph in Big Timber. Billings recorded its top wind speed at 58 mph on Saturday.

Dan Borsum, a meteorologist with the NWS, said that the Billings wind speed was the ninth-highest ever for the month of February.

"This is not a month that's normal to get these sort of winds," he said.

Saturday's wind also failed to surpass another event this season. In November, gusts reached 66 mph in Billings and higher elsewhere.

Still, the wind had emergency responders on the move for much of the day. On the plains above Billings, a destroyed shed was blown across Montana Highway 3 during the day, partially blocking the road at one point south of Broadview.

Grass fires sparked in rural areas, including one near Mailbox Road, northwest of Shepherd.

The Worden Volunteer Fire Department was also called to action when a grass fire started at Lower Canal and Highline Canal Roads near Ballantine. Fire Chief Carl Midgley said that a small, 5-square-foot shed was lost but no one was hurt.

"It wasn't in danger to any homes," Midgley said.

That fire burned about five acres. Midgley had also received reports of power outages from Huntley to the Pompeys Pillar area for a short time on Saturday.

High winds were expected to taper off late Saturday night, Borsum said. Sunday is expected to be more mild, relatively speaking, with winds in the mid-20-mph range.

Borsum said that higher wind speeds could persist in the Dakotas and far eastern Montana on Sunday, including Baker and Miles City.
For that mountain of green dollar bills, you could buy a fleet of 33 Nissan GT-R from the 2016 model year. But lets be frank here - the Vulcan shouldnt be judged by the amount of money one has to pay for it. The Vulcan is Aston Martins greatest work, even greater than the limited edition One-77 hypercar.With 800-plus horsepower churned out by its naturally aspirated 7-liter V12 engine and race specification Michelin rubber, the rear-wheel-drive Aston Martin Vulcan is as thrilling as driving gets. As for the design language of the Vulcan, this type of futuristic styling is what the Aston Martin brand needs to push forward into the 21st century. The exclusive Fiamma Red paintwork of this particular US-spec example isnt too shabby either, mind you.Because the Vulcan is in the same league as the Ferrari FXX K and McLaren P1 GTR, the Magnum Opus of Aston Martin is built around a carbon fiber tub thats stronger and lighter than the one employed by the One-77. That humongous rear wing? Its not for show. In fact, the GT3-inspired wing can generate as much as 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) of downforce if youre brave enough to max this thing.Another reason why you should spend your millions on the Aston Martin Vulcan rather than on the Macca or Fezza is that the Aston is rarer than its main rivals. While it may be more expensive than a Hollywood villa, this British interloper needs no excuses because its a proud and loud welcome into the jet set life.
TDI

Volkswagen and its premium branches are accused of perpetrating a massive fraud on consumers and violating state clean air laws. The case against Volkswagen is growing by the day, as the company admitted last year that it installed "defeat devices" on the ECUs of their vehicles fitted with diesel engines so that they could trick emission tests.Around 580,000 diesel vehicles sold by the Volkswagen Group in the United States of America since 2008 generate up to 40 times higher emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx gas) than the permissible limit.According to Automotive News , the state of New Jersey also seeks financial compensation for consumers. The other three states that are suing Volkswagen are Texas, New Mexico, and West Virginia. California has its legal battle with Volkswagen through its Air Resources Board, and the Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit against VW.Since Nitrogen Oxide has been proven to be related to respiratory illness, the German company and its premium subdivisions could receive a severe financial penalty from US courts.Even if Volkswagen does win some of the lawsuits filed against them, the company could still get a significant sentence in one of the other legal actions started against them.Over 500 civil lawsuits have been consolidated in California against Volkswagen, and 48 US State Attorneys General are investigating the company.The worst problem Volkswagen is facing at the moment is getting its proposed fixes approved by government authorities. If the fix suggested by Volkswagen is not approved, the company's sales would significantly be affected, and the fines against the company could rise even further.After all, some US states want to make Volkswagen pay for every day they breached their Clean Air Act. More days of delay will increase Volkswagen's penalty.The other issue with Volkswagen's fix for its diesels is that it needs to reduce the emissions of theengines without affecting performance, fuel economy or reliability.If either of those characteristics is affected by the fix, the company faces class-action lawsuits that could be filed by affected owners upset that the performance of their vehicles will not be the same as promised and advertised.In some cases, customers bought the diesel models made by Volkswagen and its divisions counting on the fact that the performance and fuel economy figures were better than those of the competition.
Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats will soon be the setting of an attempt to establish the world's fastest car.

Venturi Automobiles plans on setting this new record this summer with an electric "bullet car" called the Venturi Buckeye Bullet 3 (VBB-3), which they collaborated on with student engineers at Ohio State University, according to the Daily Mail. The Monaco-based organization previously attempted to establish the new record but had to put those plans off because of bad weather, which included flooding in 2013 and slush in 2015.

With nearly 3,000 horsepower and the ability to hit speeds as high as 372 miles per hour, the VBB-3 is the most powerful electric car in the world to date. The 12-meter vehicle can go from 0 to 60 mph in only two seconds, which puts it just ahead of Tesla's Model S, which can do the same in 3.2 seconds.

Venturi will attempt to beat the current land speed record for a battery-powered car of 307 mph, which the automaker set with its VBB-2.5 in 2010, CNN reported. The team is hoping for a dryer summer to avoid the problems it experienced in previously attempts.

"It's very exciting. The speed, for sure, is like nothing else on Earth," lead project engineer Delphine Biscaye said, adding that the team also hopes to develop new technologies out of the initiative. "All the knowledge we have learned from this project and the testing we've done with VBB-3 is now used by engineers in the industry that are doing production cars."

The Bonneville Salt Flats was where Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird became the first car to break 300 mph, which the vehicle accomplished in 1935.

Biscaye said that the technology in the VBB-3 is also being used in Formula E, the world's only electric car race series, and that many of the engineers that work on the project are now working for other automakers and even NASA, CNN noted.

"It's really motivating to see that it's not only the world of motorsport that is interested in our project," she said. "People everywhere see the importance of this vehicle for research and the development of electric vehicles."
The former president of Sikorsky Aircraft was killed along with his passenger when his P-51D crashednear Maricopa, Arizona, on Friday. Jeffrey Pino, 61, was head of Sikorsky from 2006 to 2012. He was flying the Mustang, named Big Beautiful Doll, when it went down. The passenger was identified as Nickolas Tramontano, 71, of Brookfield, Connecticut. There was an intense post-crash fire. The NTSB is looking for eyewitnesses to the accident. Pino had lived in Chandler, Arizona, since his retirement from Sikorsky. Tramontano was well-known in the pilot community at Oxford-Waterbury Airport, where he was affectionately referred to as the mayor.

Pino presided over some important developments at Sikorsky, including the Collier Trophy-winning high-speed X2 helicopter.During his six years as (president) of Sikorsky, Jeff brought personal energy and passion for aviation innovation to our industry, current Sikorsky President Dan Schultz said in a statement. We remember Jeff as a leader, pioneer, innovator and advocate. Pino was vice chairman of Colorado-based XTI Aircraft, which is developing a ducted fan VTOL aircraft called the TriFan.
7 February 2016 11:22 (UTC+04:00)

There is a great opportunity for expanding cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan, Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsun Pakain told journalists.

The two countries enjoy excellent relations. We plan to organize reciprocal visits of high-ranking government officials to further develop our ties, Azertac quoted Pakain as saying.

The ambassador said that lifting economic sanctions on Iran created a huge opportunity for broadening cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"The 11th meeting of the State Commission on economic, trade and humanitarian cooperation to be held in Baku this year will discuss ways of deepening the relations between the two countries," he said.

Azerbaijan and Iran are focused on expanding economic ties in various fields, including industry, agriculture, energy, alternative energy, and transportation.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $98.8 million in January-October 2015, more than $72 million of which accounted for imports of Iranian products, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the diplomat noted that the OSCE Minsk Group`s mediation mission has been unsuccessful over 20 years, blaming the group`s prejudice for this.

Pakain reiterated that Tehran recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Tehran has repeatedly offered to mediate in resolving the Nagorno - Karabakh conflict with the agreement of the parties.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 after Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.
7 February 2016 10:56 (UTC+04:00)

A number of Iranian companies have recently held talks with Apple, Sony, and HTC for direct representation branches, according to Chairman of Iran Telecommunication Devices Association Qolamhossein Karimi.

After the removal of sanctions off Iran, local companies have decided to use the opportunity and start connecting with the outside business. Iran's economy suffered a certain amount of hard blows, and it is now on the recovery path.

Qolamhossein Karimi stated that the mentioned brands had an indirect representation in Iran. The companies used to offer service to the Iranian market via Hong Kong or Dubai bases, Fars news agency reported February 5.

Huawei, ZTE, LG, and Samsung already have official representatives in Iran.

According to Karimi, the Iranian Samsung, LG, and Huawei branches are considering the import of parts in the form of SKD or CKD and then their assembly inside the country.

The official added that if the latter companies can provide for 20 percent of their market delivery in the form of production or assembly, Iran can consider cell phone exports to neighboring countries.
7 February 2016 15:20 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Lebanon Aghasalim Shukurov has met Lebanese Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon to discuss bilateral relations in the field of tourism.

The Ambassador briefed the Minister on the history of Azerbaijan, and noted that the country achieved the historical successes thanks to projects implemented in a short period of time as President Ilham Aliyev successfully continued the policy of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador also gave information about the charity events organized with the support of Azerbaijani First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva in Azerbaijan, as well as abroad.

Aghasalim Shukurov said Azerbaijan was keen to establish relations with Lebanon in all spheres, including tourism, and stressed the importance of the organization of reciprocal visits.
7 February 2016 14:25 (UTC+04:00)

Turkmenistan's GDP growth amounted to 6.5 percent in 2015, said the message of the countrys government.

Macroeconomic indicators of Turkmenistan over the last year were clarified during a recent meeting of the countrys Cabinet of Ministers.

In 2015, the growth in the industry sphere amounted to 3.1 percent, construction - 8.1 percent, transport and communication sector - 9.8 percent, trade - 10.4 percent, agriculture - 7.9 percent, service sector - 9.8 percent, according to the message.

After hearing the report, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov noted that the macro-economic indicators clearly show steady progressive development of the national economy and successful implementation of reforming programs.

The president also stressed the importance of adoption of comprehensive measures to use the full potential and maintain stable growth trends in all spheres, as well as the need for regular analysis and forecasting of the macroeconomic situation.

Ashgabat chose a course to diversify the local economy. The textile industry, as well as the area of petroleum products, advanced. The oil, gas and chemical industry and the production of building materials are being actively developed.
7 February 2016 17:07 (UTC+04:00)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on women to show high turnout in the upcoming elections to be held on February 26.

Rouhani said that we should accept the capabilities of women and we should accept that the women are capable of playing important roles in the society, science, economy, politics and art as same as men, presidents official website quoted him as saying at a national conference named women, moderation and development on Feb. 7.

President added that it is the governments duty to pave the way for women to take advantage of their capacities in the society.

Rouhani went on to criticize those who express extremist opinions and said he has received messages ahead of elections about the outstanding shortcomings in the country.

I am aware of all problems and I understand that many of peoples demands have not been fulfilled so far but we should have an eye on our long-term goals  we should not forget about our main goal, he added.

Although sometimes it is difficult to make a choice, everyone under any circumstances should go to the polling stations on 7 Esfand (Iranian calendar Feb. 26), Rouhani said.

Iranians are getting ready to elect both law makers for parliament and clerics for the Assembly of Experts on February 26.

Earlier in Jan 21, President Rouhani criticized the conservative-dominated vetting body of the Guardian Council for failing to qualify a large number of reformist candidates to run for the Feb. 26 parliamentary election.
At Skyview High School, social studies teacher John Simpson started the In-Flight program to help transfer students settle successfully into their new school, and recruited several other teachers as mentors for these students.

Principal Deb Black is mentoring 17 students identified as at risk for dropping out. All freshmen who failed most of their classes last semester have school administrators as mentors; teachers and counselors mentor other at-risk students.

I check on my kids at least once a week, and I see them in the halls, Black said of her mentees.

Principals Dennis Holmes of Senior, David Cobb at West and Scott Anderson at the Career Center all have similar mentor duties. They each meet regularly one-to-one with around 20 students who are at high risk for dropping out.

Most grads, dropouts

As Montanas largest high school district, Billings Public Schools graduated 1,092 students in the class of 2015. But it also had the largest number of students dropping out: 208 students left before they earned diplomas, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Educators in Billings and across the country know the dropout risk factors: Poor attendance, lack of connection to school, failing grades. They also know that although most students drop out in grades 11 and 12, the problem patterns are set years earlier. Students who missed a lot of school days in elementary and middle school are likely to skip high school classes, too. Students who dont earn enough credits as freshmen and sophomores give up when they see that they wont have enough to graduate with their class.

Every student needs to have a positive, healthy relationship with at least one caring adult, the principals said in a discussion last week. Thats why Billings schools are matching up students and mentors from administration and faculty.

I hope that all of our teachers are mentors, Cobb said. They need to be building those relationships.

That can be challenging when teachers see students for just an hour a day and at the same time they are teaching 25-30 other students.

Because Native American students have a higher dropout rate than the general student body, special attention is being given to mentoring these students. At West, mentors are provided to all freshmen who are identified as at risk in the spring of their eighth grade year. The principals mentee lists change as students make progress, and others are identified as being in greater need of guidance.

HiSET successes

Every year, Billings Public Schools Adult Education helps dozens of dropouts earn their GED, now called HiSET, but those certifications dont count as graduations. However, Billings also has a HiSET program at the Career Center, which requires students to take half a day of regular classes and half a day of classes to prep for the test. Those who complete that program and pass the test are counted as graduates.

Were graduating 30-plus kids a year that we wouldnt otherwise graduate, Anderson said. Each kid has a different need.

The Career Center HiSET program is highly individualized, and the district is seeking funds to double its capacity next year. Anderson has worked with local businesses to arrange internships that will give students real work experience and the credit they need for graduation.

Looking at the freshmen and sophomore classes, Black is hopeful that graduation rates will rise. Fewer underclassmen are failing classes, more are earning the credits they need for graduation.

"I know we're doing a better job," she said.

Billings schools reach out to struggling students who are overwhelmed by problems outside school. The schools work to meet the needs of students who are homeless, who have mental illnesses, substance abuse problems, lack food and other necessities.

Upgrades needed

Billings can do much better by:

Providing mentors for every student, according to their needs.

Creating a full-day alternative to the regular home high school for students who need it. Billings has a great half-day alternative program in Transitions, but capacity is limited to 22 students in the morning and 22 in the afternoon. Theres usually a waiting list and students still have to spend half a day in the regular high school.

Opening up the Career Center to younger students. Students who could benefit the most from the hands-on learning at the Career Center usually must wait till their junior year to take those classes. Opportunities for freshmen and sophomores would keep more underclassmen on track to graduation. The idea of making the Career Center a full-time comprehensive high school deserves serious consideration.

Offering more dual enrollment classes. Billings Public Schools has made progress, but has still barely tapped the vast potential for partnerships with City College, Montana State University Billings main campus and Rocky Mountain College.

Considering a transition to seven-period days, the schedule used by every other AA Montana district, except for Butte. The six-period day in Billings schools limits flexibility for doing mentoring, remediation and electives.

Helping parents monitor student progress online before report cards come out. Power School, the districts electronic data system, doesnt yet provide parent information. The system that parents can log onto isnt used by all teachers.

When Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau talks about the statewide results of improving high graduation rates, she usually points out the additional income that will be earned in the lifetime of a high school graduate that dropouts miss. She also talks about the fact that 75 percent of women in Montana prison and nearly 80 percent of Montana's male prison inmates are high school dropouts. Of course, not all high school dropouts end up in prison, but lack of that basic education vastly increases the risk. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, nationally, 56 percent of federal inmates, 67 percent of state inmates and 69 percent of local jail inmates did not complete high school.

The choice is stark: More diplomas or more inmates. The community must support dropout prevention for students sake and ours.
When someone says they are family, it carries weight. It means that you have a bond, a harmony and a responsibility for other people. It does not have to be by blood, but by conviction of a kinship.

There is no greater demonstration of what family means than being a caregiver. In Wyoming, more than 66,000 people personally exemplify being family each day by taking care of a loved one, whether it be their child, parent, friend, spouse or any other person that they consider family.

Someone so important to them that they are willing to sacrifice or meld their individual lives with that person so they can care for them through times of illness, financial hardship, aging, or disability.

Caregivers are superheroes. They are invaluable. They are nobility in our state for their commitment and dedication to taking care of those they consider family. It is estimated that they contribute upwards of 62 million hours of care each year that is worth an estimated $817 million in care.

But they dont ask for a paycheck. In fact, at times, some of them have forgone a paycheck to take care of their family.

As we begin 2016, it is time to ask how can we support or strengthen the efforts of these Wyoming caregivers. What can we do to help them succeed at caring for their family? There is a simple step that can be taken to start the ball rolling. To lead to a comprehensive system of resources that can support caregivers and their work.

That step is the passage of the Wyoming Caregiver Act. The Caregiver Act supports family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital, and it helps them learn what they must do to safely provide care when theyre discharged home.

The act requires hospitals to:

Record the name of the family caregiver when a loved one is admitted into a hospital.

Notify the family caregiver if the loved one is to be discharged to another facility or back home.

Consult and prepare the family caregiver on the medical tasks  such as medication management, injections, wound care and transfers  that the family caregiver may perform at home.

These three steps seem simple and some may wonder why we dont already do this. Generally, hospitals in Wyoming do. That is the reason the Wyoming Hospital Association stands in support of this legislation as well.

By putting these three provisions into law, we say as a state that we support caregivers and their devotion to their families. Family caregivers play a critical role in helping to keep their loved ones from being readmitted to the hospital, out of costly institutions and safe at home. This act can help support those efforts. And it requires no additional funding to be implemented.

Take the time to tell a caregiver you know whether it is a co-worker, neighbor or someone in your family, thank you. And tell your legislator that it is important to you and to our state that they support the Wyoming Caregiver Act.
A dispute over Red Lodge police officers recently executing a search warrant of a property in Bearcreek prompted the county attorney to advise law enforcement agencies of whats needed for the sheriffs assistance in county searches.

County Attorney Alex Nixon said this week he wanted to set a minimum requirement necessary for sheriffs office participation in out-of-city searches.

If were going to participate in a search, we want to make sure every precaution is made to preserve individual constitutional rights, but also that the search be conducted in a manner where information obtained can be used in a court of law, Nixon said.

Nixon and Sheriff Josh McQuillan recently sent joint letters spelling out administrative requirements to police chiefs in Red Lodge, Fromberg and Bridger. Similar letters also went to Carbon County Justice of the Peace Kevin Nichols and Red Lodge Mayor Ed Williams.

Search warrants originating from city police departments to be served in the county will need approval from either the sheriffs office or county attorney prior to application, the countys letter said.

Nixon said it wasnt our goal to stir anything up and that he and the sheriff want to work amicably with the Red Lodge Police Department. At the same time, he said, the county had some real concerns about the Bearcreek search.

'Serious concerns'

But things did get stirred up.

Red Lodge officials said this week they did nothing wrong regarding the Bearcreek search and are puzzled by the flap.

Were a little baffled and mystified at what the issue even is, said Red Lodge Police Chief Steve Hibler on Thursday.

Red Lodge City Attorney Joel Todd said Thursday that after the search, he and Hibler had meetings with the sheriff and Nixon to resolve and avoid any future misunderstandings. Todd said he and the chief thought the issues had been resolved.

Nixon then sent the mayor a letter dated Jan. 27 that was critical of the police departments actions.

On Wednesday, it all blew up. Were still trying to sort this out, Todd said. To some degree, part of this is a genuine misunderstanding, he added.

The city, Todd said, is not being critical of the county and is not interested in "getting into a back and forth.

Nixons Jan. 27 letter said he and the sheriff had serious concerns regarding the application and execution of the search warrant, which he said appeared to be founded on an implicit or intentional misrepresentation to the justice of the peace.

Nixon also questioned why the county was not involved in the application for the warrant. He said the justice of the peace issued the warrant based on the representation by Police Officer Greg Srock that he was in his capacity as a Carbon County sheriffs reserve deputy.

That was not true, Nixons letter continued. Srock acted as a police officer and wore his police uniform, he said. Based on the apparent misrepresentation, Srock would no longer work as a reserve deputy, effective immediately, the letter continued.

Because the search occurred outside of Red Lodge, the sheriffs office should have been involved, Nixon's letter said, but that the sheriff was unaware of the nature of the search and was contacted after Srock applied for the out-of-city warrant.

The sheriff also received reports from a reserve deputy and a Montana Highway Patrol trooper who were on the scene that the search was conducted in a haphazard and unprofessional manner and created a serious liability, Nixons letter said.

In addition, the county heard that a woman at the scene was injured during the search. Nixons letter sought to confirm that the city was taking sole responsibility for the apparent injury.

Nixon said in an interview that he had received a response from the Red Lodge mayor but that he couldnt release the letter because it contained confidential criminal information.

We received some information that counters what our beliefs were. The city rebutted it (Nixons letter), Nixon said.

City attorney Todd said he has reviewed the entire case and that Officer Srock did nothing wrong. "At this point, the city believes that our officer proceeded in a completely lawful and appropriate manner, he said.

Srock did not misrepresent himself as a reserve deputy when applying for the search warrant, Police Chief Hibler said. The justice of the peace instructed Srock to write on the document that he was a sworn reserve deputy for Carbon County and had been since 2010, which Srock did.

Hibler also said he notified the sheriff about the search, saying he called McQuillan and woke him up. The sheriff authorized two reserve deputies to go on the search, he said.

Both Hibler and Todd referred to a section of Montana law regarding the authority to issue search warrants. The statute, Title 46-5-220, says that,A peace officer, the city or county attorney, or the attorney general may apply for a search warrant. A search warrant may be issued by a city or municipal court judge or justice of the peace within the judges geographical jurisdiction; or a district court judge within this state.

There is no limit on the jurisdiction of the police officer, Todd said. Theres only a limit on the jurisdiction of the court, he added.

Responding to whether a citizen was injured during the search, Hibler said a woman at the property initially was detained until her involvement could be determined, and she was subsequently released.

As Srock was escorting the woman to a patrol vehicle, she slipped on ice and fell, he said. The officer helped her up, asked if she was injured and if she wanted medical attention. She declined, he said.

Hibler said he, too, followed up with the woman and that she again said she wasnt injured and declined medical attention.

Recordings of the conversations confirmed that is what happened, Todd said.

Later, the city learned the woman sought medical attention, Todd said. The city reported the matter to its insurance company and has an adjuster for a claim, he said.

The womans attorney also has notified the city that a claim is being asserted and to preserve all evidence, which is standard procedure, Todd said.

Bearcreek search

The Bearcreek search was part of an investigation into a series of crimes, including burglaries and thefts, in Red Lodge that involved a common suspect, Hibler said. Officers also received information that the suspect may have drugs, he said.

No, we dont routinely patrol Bearcreek. We understand Bearcreek is Bearcreek. But we have a crime spree in our city, and our citizens expect us to solve those crimes, Hibler said.

In this case the suspect was thought to be hiding in Bearcreek, he said. Officers recovered drugs in the search, he added.

Hibler and Todd said the case has been given to Nixon for his review and possible felony prosecution.
Dozens of Tampa Bay-area residents spoke out Saturday against a $6 billion project to add toll lanes and reduce congestion near the downtown interchange of Interstate 275.

Tampa Bay Express project "is a boondoggle. This entire project is the epitome of a boondoggle," Michelle Cookson said.

"You have something that's a tremendous amount of money and a waste of time, and people won't let go of that. They keep insisting it's the way to go. But when you examine this plan, it's a bad deal."

Area aesidents think the $3 billion should be spent on mass transit and safer bike and pedestrian lanes. They worry the construction will wipe out much of Tampas history.

Homes, businesses, apartments, trees, churches  there will be a really devastating swatch of destruction and to no good end, former council member and event organizer Linda Saul-Sena said.

Transportation officials said they are committed to working with the community to ensure they understand concerns but said the project is needed.

The downtown interchange needs to be completely rebuilt to relieve local and regional congestion and to accommodate transit. Express lanes are an integral part of the system and will help reduce traffic congestion for everyone, Florida Department of Transportation spokesman David Botello said.

Concerned citizens said they will host similar protests every month.

FDOT will host a community meeting about the project 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Childrens Board of Hillsborough County.




A popular festival that celebrates Native American culture went on as planned in Hernando County, despite the wet and cold weather this weekend.

The sun came out on Sunday and the singing and dancing heated up.

Native American culture, history and more, were all on display near Brooksville.

"Today we have the wind but we do have the sun out, so that is a good thing," said Native American dancer John Moore.

The third annual Brooksville Native American Festival did not skip a beat, even though this weekend's weather was not ideal for being outside. It was cold and windy Sunday and rainy most of Saturday.

"We were sweating it there a little bit," said festival co-organizer Paul DeLuna. "Last year, I think it was 75 degrees the same weekend. You never know with Florida."

DeLuna said attendance is down about 10 to 15 percent compared to last year thanks to the weather, but he is still very happy with the turnout.

"People still come out," he said. "We dance and sing in the rain no matter what, all weather."

The trick is to bundle up, stay warm and enjoy the show.

"Little bit chilly, but should be good for us for dancing," said Moore.

Organizers say they plan to have the festival again next year.
KALISPELL  A 22-year-old Evergreen man charged in the death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old son has reached a plea agreement.

An attorney for Brandon Newberry filed a notice saying a change-of-plea hearing will be held on Feb. 10. The details of the plea agreement were not filed.

Newberry had pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide for the February 2015 death of Forrest Groshelle.

An autopsy determined the boy had been hit in the stomach, causing a lacerated small intestine that slowly poisoned him.

The child's mother told deputies that she had left Groshelle with Newberry during the day while she worked. Newberry reportedly told investigators he had been "roughhousing" with Groshelle a day prior to the child's death.
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Jacqueline Jossa is due to return to Albert Square later this year

Soap star and new mother Jacqueline Jossa said she is "itching" for a return to the EastEnders cast, having endured year-long speculation about her relationship with fiance Dan Osborne.

The 23-year-old, currently on hiatus in her role as Lauren Branning in the BBC series, said she has had to delete social media apps after responding to allegations about former The Only Way Is Essex (Towie) regular Dan.

Jossa, who gave birth to daughter Ella last year, told The Sun On Sunday's Fabulous magazine: "There are people who have always had it in for us, a million per cent. Definitely, and I know who they are. And then a lo t of people just jumped on the bandwago n and tried to create drama.

She said her family has become "an easy target" for online trolls, and added: "I' m a very outspoken person, so I have to delete tweets after I post them a lo t of the time.

"I deleted all the apps of f my phone for a coupl e of months when it was getting really bad and I just go t on with my life instead. Wh y am I even paying attention to 'Gaz1237' anyway ? Like, who the hell ar e you?"

Jossa is due to return to Albert Square later this year after taking a break from filming to have Ella.

She said: "I've been itching to get back, and I get jealou s when I see it .

"I love a big, angry storyline. I just want more pain. It's boring when they'r e happy.

"EastEnders is best at misery, sadness and anger, and I just miss screaming, crying - they're the scenes I am best at."
Actress Olivia Williams said her new drama Manhattan would show the "human side" of the scientists who manufactured the world's first atomic bombs.

She stars as Dr Liza Winter, the wife of the leader of a group of scientists working on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico, in a race to create an nuclear bomb before Germany during the Second World War.

The acclaimed drama is based on the testimonies of the scientists whose work eventually led to the nuclear bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 and who lived with their families on a government base so isolated and secret that the birth certificates of babies born there stated just a post office box.

Williams said: "The truth of Los Alamos and the first atomic weapon is so bizarre and crazy that if you proposed it as a sci-fi people would say don't be ridiculous, and the only reason it's not the stupidest thing the Americans ever did is because it actually worked."

But she said the idea was not to tell the historical story: " It's to tell the human side, not the big stars of the piece, not Roosevelt and Einstein and Oppenheimer, but these obsessive physicists, many of whom were profoundly shocked and permanently f*****-up by the fact what they had built was dropped on civilians without warning.

"They never recovered from the truth of what they had done."

She said she was drawn to the "agony" of playing the show's "Cassandra figure" - a biologist and woman with a history of mental illness who "has the power of prophecy to tell you what's going to happen but the curse of never being believed".

John Benjamin Hickey stars as her husband Frank, alongside Ashley Zuckerman, House of Cards's Rachel Brosnahan and British actor Harry Lloyd.

Far from being a period piece, Williams believes the story of the project still has cautionary political parallels today.

She said: "One of the wonderful modern parallels is the WMD fiasco that Tony Blair got involved in, with this belief that Hitler was about to build an atomic weapon and we had to build ours first.

"Why we all went to war in the first place in the Middle East is because we led to believe we were under immediate threat of WMDs and that's exactly what they told the scientists in Los Alamos."

Williams, who was a supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in her youth, said she struggled to reconcile herself with the conviction that dropping the bombs was the right decision.

She said: "There's a massive moral issue if you go the Los Alamos now. Anyone who shows you round the Bradbury Science Museum will say this is the bomb that brought us 50 years of peace, they so believe in mutually assured destruction as a form of deterrence and if you have any other view, they really can't hear it.

"I really don't know what the answer is, maybe the reason I do get to live in a nice house in relative peace is because of nuclear deterrents, I don't know. But I struggle with it."

:: Manhattan airs in the UK on BT's AMC on Tuesdays at 9pm.
Beasts Of No Nation star Idris Elba is nominated in the best actor category

The cream of British cinema talent was honoured at the Evening Standard Film Awards.

Luther star Idris Elba was named best actor for his role in West African civil war drama Beasts Of No Nation, while Dame Maggie Smith received the female equivalent for her performance in The Lady In The Van.

It is the fourth time she has picked up the honour, 37 years since she last won it with California Suite.

John Crowley's Brooklyn - about an Irish immigrant in the US in the 1950s - claimed the top prize in the category for best film, presented by former Friends star Matthew Perry.

It took the honour ahead of 45 Years, The Lobster and High-Rise.

The special award went to Alan Bennett for his contribution to film.

The awards were held in partnership with Television Centre, the former home of the BBC in White City.

The event was attended by the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, Stanley Tucci and Tuppence Middleton, and were hosted by comedian Simon Amstell.
When Millie Marotta takes a mug of tea into her studio, she is more careful than most not to spill it on her desk. Biscuit crumbs are gently brushed away, and she's resolved to eat lunch at the kitchen table on a more regular basis.

This is because her desk is frequently covered in her painstakingly detailed illustrations, which have been packaged into her massively popular adult colouring books to meet demand for a growing trend - one that looks set to continue this year.

"If I'm drinking tea or coffee at my desk, I make sure it's far enough away that if I knock it, it's not going to go all over the drawings," she admits. "I'm quite careful!"

Each page takes her at least a day to create. She uses a Rotring Rapidograph steel-nibbed pen and marker paper.

What if she makes a mistake? "I wince," she says with a laugh. "If it's just a wonky line or slightly imperfect shape, it doesn't matter too much because it's a hand-drawing. But if I get half way through and mess up, I have to start again."

Her first book, Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom, was Amazon's bestselling title of 2015, outstripping E L James and Harper Lee, selling almost 500,000 copies by Christmas Day.

"It's still sinking in," she says of her colouring book success. "It's been such an incredible journey, but at the same time it's bizarre, because for me, day-to-day, I'm still doing what I was doing before.

"I work from the same room at home and I have to pinch myself sometimes, to remind me that actually, things have changed quite dramatically.

"I was surprised at the phenomenal success," she continues. "All I had in my mind with the first book was that I hope people enjoy it."

Animal Kingdom was followed by Tropical Wonderland, and now Wild Savannah makes it three, inspired by her love of the natural world, featuring swaying grasslands, birds and beasts - all waiting to be coloured in and embellished, to ease away the stresses of life.

Despite the positive reaction to these gorgeous books, Marotta (36) still seems a bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights and can't quite believe that all eyes are on her in the world of publishing, as she endeavours to continue her quiet life in her three-bedroom cottage in Tenby, south-west Wales, where she creates her bestselling illustrations.

She lives with her partner, Hiut Denim wholesale and repairs manager, Paul Anderson, in the same rented home they've shared for years.

"The spare room has become my studio. The second bedroom is where all the stuff gets dumped. The bank balance is much healthier now, which takes a little bit of getting used to, but it's amazing. I never anticipated the books doing as well as they've done."

She hopes they will enable her to buy her own house for the first time in her life, with more land and enough room to have pets. That's when the colouring success will hit home, she anticipates, although she says she's not a millionaire yet.

She may shy away from the spotlight, but her boyfriend is relishing Marotta's new-found fame.

"He's a big show off, he loves it. I've never been particularly comfortable with being the centre of attention, so this has taken quite a lot of adjusting for me, but he thinks it's fabulous."

Since her colouring books took off, she has received thousands of letters, emails and Facebook messages from people praising her illustrations, and thanking her for helping them relieve stress, or get through difficult times.

"Some of them are incredibly personal and catch me off-guard," she reveals. "Lots of people suffering from anxiety or depression find colouring to be a good distraction when they are feeling really low.

"Colouring is a way to slow down and switch off. Today, we lead such busy, fast-paced lives with multitasking and trying to cram so much in. The colouring books have just been an enjoyable and accessible way to encourage people to stop, slow down and switch off all the distractions."

Born in Bedfordshire, the daughter of Italian hairdressers Antonio and Lynne, her parents divorced when she was five. Along with her three siblings, Marotta's mother took them to live in a cottage in rural Wales, where they'd previously spent family holidays.

"My earliest memories are of growing up in the countryside on a smallholding.

"It was a very outdoorsy upbringing and I was a child who was nutty about nature. We used to go to Italy with my dad to visit his side of the family in school holidays.

"I remember spending our days on the beach and climbing hills, which we all really enjoyed."

Her mother would draw and paint as a hobby, which sparked young Marotta's interest in art. "I was a very creative child, always painting and drawing," she recalls.

She eventually studied wildlife illustration, before teaching art at a local comprehensive school for five years.

"I really enjoyed teaching, but as I was nurturing other people's creativity, I found more and more that I was missing doing that for myself. It got to a point where that balance tipped and I realised I wanted to spend all my time doing my own artwork."

So she quit her job. "Leaving a secure, relatively well-paid job was quite terrifying," she admits. "It wasn't a decision I took lightly and I saved money for a couple of years, in case I needed something to fall back on."

She didn't need a fallback plan, though, quickly landing work as a freelance illustrator, for brands including Virgin Atlantic, Penguin Books and Marks & Spencer.

In 2013, Batsford got in touch to see if she'd be interested in doing a colouring book.

"Animal Kingdom took me around eight months, although I was also working on other projects at the time."

Today, she doesn't have time for any other projects. Wild Savannah is about to be published, and she's already working on her fourth book.

"It doesn't feel like work," Marotta confesses.

"When I buy my first property and have a bit more space around me, and maybe have a studio that isn't part of the house, that will be when the success of the books will hit me."

Millie Marotta's Wild Savannah is published by Batsford, 9.99
Eamonn Holmes has proved that you can't keep a good man down as he shows that he's back on his feet three days after his double hip operation.

The top TV presenter from Belfast is proud of his recovery progress as he posted a photograph standing on crutches on his Facebook page to his fans.

He wrote: 'Post Op Day 3. On my feet . Thanks for all your good wishes and support. The fightback has begun.'

The 57-year-old who regularly visits Belfast to see his family went through the operation at a hospital in London last Thursday.

And he is using one of his all-time favourite sporting icons, Muhammad Ali to help take on the physical fightback to full recovery.

After the operation, he showed his fighting spirit when he posted a photograph of the great Ali with a slogan 'I hated every minute of training, but I said, "suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."

Eamonn added: 'New Hips in place... now I must make sure they work. This is going to be my motto for Rehab. Bring it on!

Eamonn, who regularly appears on This Morning with wife and fellow presenter Ruth Langsford, has previously said that he has been in pain for a considerable with his hips and is looking towards a more healthy and active future.
PLACID LAKE  Lake ice can creak and groan, pop and tinkle. And when it opens up underneath you, it may not make a sound.

Thats what Ryan Sokoloski learned on New Years Day while leading a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tour of Placid Lakes frozen surface. One minute he was inviting the half-dozen participants to listen to the eerie sounds, and the next he was up to his neck in freezing water.

If I had a bunch of first responders and guys with scuba tanks wanting to do a class in ice water rescue and they said stand over there and wait for it to break, Id say no way, Sokoloski recalled with a relieved laugh a few days later. But in a way, Im glad this happened. It was a great way to remind people to never take the ice for granted.

Sokoloski was on a FWP First Day Hike at the Placid Lake State Park, following a route hed tested the day before. He was about 15 feet away from a spot where ice fishermen had set up their shack on New Years Eve. A test hole hed made 15 minutes before showed between 5 and 6 inches of ice, the level typically strong enough to support snowmobiles.

No spiderweb of cracks gave any warning about the ice failure. As he fell, another member of the party tried to grab him, and the ice gave way beneath her, too. Only submerged to her waist, she was able to roll back onto the solid surface.

But Solokoski found the edge of the ice disintegrating more as he tried to grab it. While lake ice can be remarkably strong and flexible when solid, it loses most of its integrity when broken. Each time he tried to lift himself out, the hole became larger.

Then the totally unexpected happened. In an ice hole 30 feet from shore, over water he knew to be about 12 feet deep, Sokoloski found something to stand on. His boots were sliding on a surface about 4 feet down, but he wasnt sinking. Two other tour members extended a ski pole and a snow shovel, and pulled him out of the water.

The whole incident lasted about 90 seconds.

The ledge Sokoloski found himself on was likely a very unusual version of a common lake ice effect. After a layer of ice forms, additional snow or rain can weigh the surface down and allow water to seep up and over. A new top layer of ice forms, but the water between stays liquid or slushy, like the creamy filling inside an Oreo cookie.

Usually, its only 2 or 3 inches of water under that first layer, said Missoula ice fisherman Adam Krantz, who was trying his luck on nearby Salmon Lake on New Years Day. Thats scary. When you go in up to your knees, thats terrifying.

***

Ice travelers watch for several danger signs when determining whether to cross a frozen lake.

Its good to know the lakes warm-weather characteristics, because weedy places in summer become underwater compost piles in winter. They actually generate heat, which can weaken ice. Creek inlets and outlets have flowing water, which affects the thickness above their currents. Places exposed to prevailing winds tend to take longer to freeze than more sheltered bays.

And sometimes there are just thin spots, Krantz said, pointing to an odd grayish spot on Salmon Lake about 30 feet from where he was fishing. The hole he was working was about 7 inches thick. The ice in the gray spot was probably just 2 inches, not enough to support a single person on foot.

The type of ice also makes a difference. Safety recommendations are based on inches of clear, blue ice. Slushy ice with lots of cloudy bubbles has just half the structural strength, inch for inch, of blue ice. The strength of ice over a flowing creek or river is typically 15 percent less than the same thickness of ice over still water.

Sokoloski said when he got home to take a hot shower, he was surprised at the appearance of his body. Hed been wearing a moisture-wicking shirt under fleece and a synthetic parka on his torso, and his skin looked normal.

But below he was wearing cotton jeans, and his legs were white from restricted blood flow. He recalled thin sheets of ice breaking off his pants as he walked from his truck to his house. After he warmed up, he was relaxing at home when another thing hit him.

About 5 p.m., we were sitting watching TV and all of a sudden, I was really tired, Sokoloski said. By 5:30, I couldnt keep my eyes open. I think it was the combination of the adrenaline rush from the fall and being slightly hypothermic, I was just burned out.

Condon resident Rick Ferguson was at Placid Lake to learn about ice safety  a lesson that provided more than he expected.

Ive been on out on Holland Lake two times, Ferguson said, holding a pair of broom handles with nail points connected by a string. A friend from Sweden told me about these. Theyre good to hang around your neck so you can pull yourself out if you fall in. But I dont think Ill be using them. This is one winter course well never forget.
Professor Monica McWilliams played a key role in clinching the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troubles

A Northern Ireland peace negotiator is helping train women bidding to end the Syrian conflict.

Monica McWilliams said it was hugely important they were included in inclusive proximity talks which have been organised by the UN in Geneva in Switzerland. Three women from the strife-torn region are part of the 15-strong team.

Mrs McWilliams played a key role in clinching the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troubles.

She said securing the release of female detainees subjected to human rights violations after being captured during a devastating civil war was a priority for the women in Geneva.

"What they are desperate for is to get some recognition of the fact that it is really important that these women who have suffered so much are included now in these big negotiations.

"Fifteen years ago the UN said never again should there be negotiations like Bosnia that had completely excluded women.

"They are determined that there will be a proportion ... three out of 15 is a good start."

Mrs McWilliams co-founded the Women's Coalition as a new voice in Northern Ireland politics in the 1990s.

The party played a key role in the talks process leading to the 1998 Agreement which ended 30 years of violence and two of its members were subsequently elected to the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mrs McWilliams went on to lead Northern Ireland's Human Rights Commission.

She is now a professor at the University of Ulster.

She said women had an important part to play in ending the conflict in Syria.

Some 250,000 people have been killed and millions of refugees have been created in the five years of violence between the Government and a variety of rebel groups including Islamic State.

The academic added: "There is an awful lot of vulnerable women, women who are all widows with tiny children."

Mrs McWilliams has been teaching the negotiators how to lobby and talk to ambassadors in Geneva, how to get their support and how to establish back channels of communications, how to draft proposals and how to establish safe meeting places free from surveillance from President Bashar Assad's forces.

The women include lawyers, journalists and human rights experts. They are scattered all over the world, including the US, Canada, Germany, Syria but use social media to communicate.

A number of failed rounds of negotiations have already been held over Syria.

Mrs McWilliams said: "It is to be expected that they will have failed rounds of negotiations until people get serious.

"Sometimes the costs become so intense that people are driven to the table and the fact that an Iranian deal was negotiated with the US helps."

She said the geopolitics of the Syrian conflict was much more difficult and complicated than Northern Ireland's.

"It is a very complex, very difficult war, but it has got to end some time," she said.
A serving PSNI officer has gone on trial for driving over a pedestrian with an armoured police vehicle and fracturing his leg while attending the scene of an arson attack in Co Down

Two masked men - one armed with a suspected firearm - robbed a Co Antrim shop on Saturday evening.

Police believe that the men stole a sum of money and tobacco from a shop in the Scotch area of Carrickfergus before making off on foot in the direction of Taylors Avenue.

No one was injured in the robbery reported to have taken place at around 8.50pm.

The robbers were both masked and were wearing dark clothing.

Detective Constable Loreen Glenn said: I would appeal to anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area, or anyone who knows anything about this armed robbery, to contact detectives at Ballymena Police Station on the non emergency number 101.

"Or if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Ireland has expressed outrage at the launch of a long-range rocket by North Korea.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has added his voice to the growing number of expressions of condemnation.

In a hard-hitting statement Mr Flanagan described the move by Pyongyang as irresponsible and said it posed a serious threat to peace.

Mr Flanagan said: "The launch using ballistic missile technology conducted earlier today by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a serious and direct threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond.

"It is a flagrant violation of North Korea's international obligations as set out in several UN Security Council resolutions.

"I condemn these actions unequivocally and once more call on the DPRK to refrain from any action that could further increase tension or destabilise the region and to comply fully with its international obligations.

"These irresponsible actions demonstrate once again the urgent need for engagement on nuclear disarmament by all stakeholders.

"I urge the North Korean authorities to cease all nuclear testing and to re-engage with the six-party talks on the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, immediately and without preconditions."
The cash injection is the biggest ever investment in technology across the NHS

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will detail how the drive towards a "paperless" NHS will make services more convenient

Jeremy Hunt is to announce a 4.2 billion investment to bring the NHS into the digital age.

The Health Secretary will detail how the drive towards a "paperless" NHS will make services more convenient, help clinicians provide faster diagnoses and lead to more time spent caring for patients.

The cash injection is also expected to play a huge part in helping the NHS save 22 billion by reducing waste and increasing productivity.

Full details of the funding are being agreed between the Department of Health and NHS England, but are expected to include 1.8 billion to create a paper-free NHS and remove outdated technology like fax machines, 1 billion on cyber security and data consent, and 750 million to transform out-of-hospital care, medicines, and digitalise social, urgent and emergency care.

Meanwhile, around 400 million will enable the NHS to build a new website, NHS.uk, develop apps and provide free wi-fi.

Mr Hunt said: "The NHS has the opportunity to become a world leader in introducing new technology - which means better patient outcomes and a revolution in healthcare at home.

"On the back of a strong economy, and because of our belief in the NHS and its values, we are investing more than 4 billion across the health system to ease pressure on the frontline and create stronger partnerships between doctor and patient."

The funding will allow patients to book services and order prescriptions online, access apps and digital tools and choose to speak to their doctor online or via video-link.

Everyone will have access to their own electronic health record, which will be shared between professionals to prevent patients from having to repeat their medical history.

Patients will also be given the opportunity to upload and send real-time data to medical professionals on long-term conditions such as blood pressure.

By 2020, it is hoped that 25% of all patients with long term conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer will be able to monitor their health remotely.

Andy Williams, chief executive of the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) said: "Over the next few years HSCIC will be focusing on delivering technological solutions that enable better care and that free up time and resources to allow frontline workers to focus on their patients.

"We are committed to enabling patients to be involved with their care and to have secure access to their medical records, allowing them to take control of their own health and to work in partnership with care providers."

The Government is planning to roll out free wi-fi in all NHS buildings and is developing a new click and collect service for prescriptions.

It aims to have at least 10% of patients accessing GP services online and through apps by March 2017, and rivals Google, Apple and Microsoft will team up with the NHS to ensure the apps are fully supported across mobile platforms.

Examples of NHS-accredited apps include one developed by young people to help prevent self-harm, and another that can help care home workers identify the early signs of dementia among residents.

Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes- said: "This investment has huge potential to help our health and social care system deliver care that is tailored to the individual.

"With two thirds of people with dementia living in the community, health technology as part of a comprehensive care package can be invaluable in helping people to remain independent and in their own homes for as long as possible."

Shadow health minister Justin Madders said: "Any investment in technology is welcome but it's unclear how much, if any, of this money is actually new.

"Rather than re-hashing old announcements, Jeremy Hunt needs to be telling the public how he intends to sort out the crisis facing our NHS.

"The Tories cannot hide from the fact that the NHS is going backwards on their watch. Hospital departments have become dangerously full, patients are waiting hours in A&E, and the health service is facing the worst financial crisis in a generation."
The Davies Commission recommended a third runway should be built at Heathrow

Thirteen of Britain's largest construction and development firms have written to George Osborne urging him to live up to his declaration that "we are the builders" by supporting the building of a third runway at Heathrow.

The letter to the Chancellor stated that the west London airport has provided a "steady base of work" during the economic downturn and expansion would bring " a 15.6 billion order book to the UK supply chain".

It also noted last year's report by respected international economic thinktank the OECD which found that the UK has historically underspent on infrastructure, partially due to "long decision-making processes".

The signatories, including the bosses of Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Laing O'Rourke and BAM Nuttall, wrote: " At the Conservative conference in 2015 you announced 'we are the builders'.

"We congratulate you on your vision to build the important infrastructure the country needs and make the hard decisions. We represent some of the largest developers and construction companies in the UK. We applaud your ambition and stand ready to help you deliver it.

"We are writing to encourage your support for Heathrow expansion."

They added: "Let us help you build a better Britain by expanding Heathrow."

The Davies Commission recommended last July that a third runway should be built at Heathrow, at a cost of 18.6 billion.

But in December ministers postponed a final decision until at least the summer pending new analysis of the environmental impacts.

Other shortlisted options are extension of the existing northern runway at Heathrow - costing 13.5 billion - or building a second runway at Gatwick, which would cost 9.3 billion.
A bus explodes on Lambeth Bridge in London during filming for Jackie Chan's new film The Foreigner

A bus explodes on Lambeth Bridge in London during filming for Jackie Chan's new film The Foreigner

A double decker bus dramatically explodes in the heart of London - but it is all for a movie.

Londoners were left confused as they saw the bus go up in flames as it drove along Lambeth Bridge in central London on Sunday.

A spokesman for the Port of London Authority confirmed it was a stunt for a film and that the bridge was closed off.

But the scene took some by surprise.

Author Sophie Kinsella wrote on Twitter: "Hey film types, next time you blow up a bus on Lambeth Bridge maybe tell us first so children in park aren't freaked?"

Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston posted a video of the explosion on Twitter with the message: "Anyone worried about the exploding bus on Lambeth Bridge just now? It was just for a movie."

The controlled explosion was shot for a scene in new action flick The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan.

In a notice warning residents about it, film producers described the film as a "gritty action thriller". It is directed by Martin Campbell, who was behind James Bond films Casino Royale and GoldenEye.

The notice, posted on Twitter, stated: "The explosion is controlled and operated by our special effects team."

It added: "Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of the people in the area."
The Duchess of Cambridge (left) walks from St Clement Danes Church in Lonodn to the Royal Courts of Justice, for a reception to mark 75th anniversary of the forming of the RAF Air cadets. John Stillwell/PA Wire

Prince George has a passion for aeroplanes and could be set to join the air cadets when he grows up.

The Duchess of Cambridge, suggested she and the Duke of Cambridge, a helicopter pilot, could have another flier in her family as their two-and-a-half-year-old son is "obsessed" with the air cadets.

Kate was speaking as she stepped out in her first engagement as Honorary Air Commandant of the Air Cadets to mark the 75th anniversary year of the Air Training Corps.

Kate attended a thanksgiving service at the RAF church of St Clement Danes in central London and a special reception where she told Cadet Warrant Officer Lucinda Conder that she has shown George pictures of Spitfires.

Ms Conder, 19, the top female cadet, said: "He is now obsessed with the air cadets and wants to join. We are going to have to push that one when he gets to 12."

Kate assumed her new role with the Air Cadets in December, taking on the post from the Duke of Edinburgh who had been involved in the organisation for more than 60 years.

For the first time in the unit's history there is now a female Commandant in Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, a female ambassador to the RAF Cadets in TV personality Carol Vorderman, and a royal female patron in Kate.

Vorderman, whose daughter Katie joined the Air Cadets, believes Kate will be a big help in attracting women into what is often seen as a male-dominated sector.

She said: "I think it is fantastic. Obviously Kate is possibly the most famous woman internationally - I would imagine.

"Her husband is a flier. Her brother-in-law is a flier. Her father-in-law is a flier and her mum used to work in an airline. There is a strong aviation link there for her. She obviously has a great appreciation of the military and enthusiasm for youth.

"We have 42,000 Air Cadets now and they say it gives them a structure and something they are very proud to belong to and to serve in.

"It really does impact young lives very positively and I am just thrilled Kate wants to be a part of it."

Kate chatted to the cadets, veterans and adult volunteers about their many programmes and activities.

She wore a Wedgwood blue Alexander McQueen coat but also proudly sported the ruby and diamond Dacre brooch, awarded over the past 35 years to the best female cadet, on her shoulder.

To bring the women in line with the men, the brooch has now been retired from this use. Like their colleagues, the top female cadet will receive a sword to mark their achievements. Ms Conder, of Hammersmith, west London, is the current and final brooch winner.

The RAF Air Cadets comprises both the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the Combined Cadet Force (RAF).

The ATC was first established in 1941 during the Second World War, with the aim of training young men in aviation skills before they joined the RAF.
North Korea could face further sanctions after launching a long-range rocket, Philip Hammond said, as the Foreign Office summoned Pyongyang's ambassador in London for a dressing down.

The Foreign Secretary warned that North Korea's nuclear ambitions present a "threat to regional and international security".

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session and will "expeditiously" adopt a new resolution in response to the "dangerous and serious violations" by Pyongyang.

Setting out the UK's response, Mr Hammond said: "We will work with other partners, we have already strongly condemned North Korea's actions, we will be taking appropriate bilateral steps - summoning the North Korean ambassador as we always do when they carry out one of these tests.

"But we will be working with other partners, particularly the US, Japan, South Korea, in the United Nations, to take additional steps, additional measures against North Korea, stepping up the pressure on that country."

He added: "We are all focused on looking at additional economic sanctions which could be applied against North Korea."

Mr Hammond said the latest test did not mark a change in approach from North Korea, but was a continuation of "destabilising" behaviour.

North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse its government.

Mr Hammond said Beijing's response would be crucial to putting pressure on North Korea to change course.

China, normally North Korea's main ally, responded to the launch with a rare show of criticism of the country.

Mr Hammond said: "What we will be doing, the United States and Japan will be doing, is seeking to persuade the Chinese that it's in the interests of all the international community now to apply some more direct economic pressure on North Korea at this point."

Pyongyang defied international warnings in going ahead with the launch just over a month after the secretive state carried out what it claimed was its first successful test of a hydrogen bomb.

Following the Security Council talks, the Venezuelan representative Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno said the international community had vowed to develop "significant measures" in response to the earlier test.

"In line with this commitment and the gravity of this most recent violation, the members of the Security Council will adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations," he said.
Papers revealing details of key talks over Scotland's future funding arrangements are to be published before Holyrood breaks up for May's election, the country's Deputy First Minister revealed.

John Swinney is locked in crunch talks with the UK Treasury over the fiscal framework, which sets out how the Scottish block grant will be reduced after new powers over tax are handed to MSPs.

With UK ministers confident a deal can be reached, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands is travelling to Edinburgh for a day of talks with the Deputy First Minister on Monday.

But ahead of those negotiations Mr Swinney said people had a right to see "all the key documents" and he would publish them.

The Deputy First Minister said: " I agreed at the outset with Chief Secretary to the Treasury that the detail of our discussions, like any negotiation, should remain private while they are ongoing and that remains our position. There needs to be a private space in which talks can take place.

"Once this process has run its course, Scotland's Parliament and people have a right to see all the key documents. That's why I can give a commitment that I will publish these documents in time for Scottish Parliamentary scrutiny and before the Scottish Parliament dissolves."

Holyrood will be dissolved on March 23, ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on May 5.

The Scottish Government has already warned it will pull the plug on the Scotland Bill by recommending Holyrood veto the legislation if the two governments cannot strike a deal on the fiscal framework.

SNP ministers insist they are ''not bluffing'', claiming that a bad deal could cost Scotland billions of pounds in the long-term

Mr Swinney said: "People have a right to expect open and transparent government and will be able to see and judge for themselves the issues at stake.

"I want to agree a fiscal framework with the UK Government that is fair to Scottish and to UK taxpayers and allows us to properly exercise the new powers without fear of penalty.

"I am working flat out to get that and giving all of the time possible to do a deal. With time running out, we need to make substantial progress."

He stated: " The fiscal framework must remain true to Smith Agreement which said the Barnett Formula will remain and that Scotland should be no better or worse off as a result of having new powers.

"That cannot be undermined, and I will not sign anything that risks systematically cutting Scotland's budget, regardless of anything that this or future Scottish Governments do."

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said both governments had a "huge desire" to reach a deal, adding that is is "c onfident that we will deliver".

The two administrations are "not that far apart", he stated, saying they are " united in seeking a deal which is fair to Scotland - and also fair to the rest of the UK".

Mr Mundell said the public would be "mystified if politicians falter at the last fence when these sweeping powers and responsibilities are on the cusp of becoming a reality".

He added: "We must all go the extra mile and make sure we deliver what we were asked for, a powerhouse Parliament for Scotland."

The Conservative MP said: " The UK Government has already made significant efforts in trying to find compromise. We have moved our position to try to meet the Scottish Government's concerns about their ability to grow the economy.

"Ministers at Holyrood will be shielded from a significant amount of risk, while still keeping all the money they take in income tax from Scottish taxpayers. And we will review the framework after a few years to make absolutely sure it is delivering for Scotland and the rest of the UK."

But he insisted: " What we cannot do is agree a deal where ministers in a future Scottish Government are absolved from any risk at all if they take decisions which mean Scotland's economy doesn't perform as well as we know it can. That would not meet the commitment to fairness to all demanded by the Smith Agreement."

Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, Ian Murray MP, said: "Instead of waiting until after the talks conclude there should be full transparency now on what is happening behind closed doors in the Scottish and UK Governments, as Labour has been calling for since September.

"John Swinney obviously understands that there is value in transparency. At the very least he should explain clearly to people what is at stake on Monday, the issues under discussion and the sticking points.

"However, the absolute focus should be on making sure an agreement is reached instead of grandstanding about missed deadlines."
Labour's defence review is unlikely to support Jeremy Corbyn's idea of sending nuclear missile submarines to sea without warheads, according to a senior MP.

Shadow defence minister Toby Perkins said he suspected that the "final analysis" would not support the idea suggested by his party leader.

Mr Perkins said he had seen nothing so far to change his mind about his support for renewal of the Trident system.

The party's review of defence policy is being led by shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry, who has said she is "extremely sceptical" about Trident.

Mr Perkins told BBC 5 Live's Pienaar's politics: "My view going into the general election was that our policy was right. But Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party, his views on these issues are long held and well known.

"I think it's perfectly sensible for a party in opposition, thinking about why it lost, to review what it is doing. For all those of us who have historically supported multilateral rather than unilateral disarmament, it is worthwhile that we throw ourselves into the debate about whether or not Trident - which is a huge expenditure - is the right move for the country to have.

"I'm happy that we are having the review, but what the review comes out with - Emily has gone into this with an open mind, so have I, but I have not seen anything yet that's changed my view that our policy at the last general election was right."

In January Mr Corbyn reiterated his long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons but pointed out that the submarines which carry the Trident missiles could be deployed without their nuclear warheads on board.

"They don't have to have nuclear warheads on them," he said. "There are options there."

Ms Thornberry later confirmed she was looking at the "Japanese option" - retaining the capacity to build nuclear weapons without actually possessing them.

Asked about Mr Corbyn's suggestion, Mr Perkins said: "I suspect that won't be what the final result of the review is."

He added: "I suspect that won't be the final analysis that the review comes to but there are a number of different considerations here - what is the most important way to spend what are still, even in these times, limited defence resources, how do we best contribute towards multilateral global nuclear disarmament?

"There is a question about the jobs that are created and the huge importance of our defence capability in terms of industry."

He said that at the end of the process " I hope that we will come up with a policy the party can get behind".

Mr Corbyn has said he would not press the nuclear button if he was prime minister, but Mr Perkins suggested that the issue of nuclear capability should be separated from whether an occupant of Number 10 was prepared to launch a strike.

"The question of the capability we have is a different one to the attitude that an individual prime minister will take to how he manages the defence of the realm during the time he is in," Mr Perkins said.

The shadow minister's comments came after the Sunday Times reported that moderate Labour MPs could fight the next election on a separate, pro-Trident manifesto if Mr Corbyn changes party policy to oppose renewal of the nuclear deterrent.

Former frontbencher Jamie Reed told the newspaper he had spoken to dozens of colleagues who would go to the polls backing Trident renewal in defiance of their leader.

"The vast majority of Labour MPs are keen to listen to and represent the ambitions and views of Labour voters and ex-voters," the former shadow health minister said.

"It's entirely possible that MPs will react in a similar fashion to policy proposals with catastrophic consequences such as abandoning Trident renewal. It's ultimately about saving, not splitting the party."

But Mr Perkins said: "We have got a review, it's not wise to go into a review, particularly when you are a shadow defence minister, saying 'if the review doesn't decide what I want it to decide then I'm going to ignore it anyway'."

A vote on replacing the four submarines which carry the Trident deterrent is expected in the Commons, but the timing of it has yet to be confirmed.

Tory chairman of the Commons defence select committee Julian Lewis warned against playing politics with the timing of the Trident vote amid speculation it could be delayed until after the party conference season in order to maximise Labour's discomfort.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "I can only assume that the reason for this overdue vote being delayed until then (conference season) is that some of the so-called strategists who advise the Prime Minister are suggesting that it would be better for Labour to impale themselves further on the hook of unilateralism."

He went on: "So the fact is, party politics has been wriggling its way through this whole debate and it shouldn't. "
After giving it some thought, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, decided against sponsoring an anti-discrimination bill similar to the one that passed the state Senate last year but was defeated in the House.

I think well wait until next year to bring that one back, Rothfuss said. Im confident that when we do, it will do well. I think it even might have done well this session, but weve just got so much going on with the budget that I thought that might end up hurting the bill with as much attention as we have to bring to other things.

The legislative budget session that begins Monday comes amid an economic downturn brought on by a sagging energy industry. With a major budget shortfall looming, other issues seem unlikely to be the focus of the Wyoming Legislature this year.

But even with a short session and a two-thirds vote necessary to introduce nonbudget bills, some state legislators have still decided to take on other issues they see affecting the Cowboy State.

Hate crimes

A shooting in Riverton last summer could result in a hate crime bill in the state Legislature.

Roy Clyde shot two male members of the Northern Arapaho Tribe at a Riverton detox center last July. One man died, and the other was critically injured.

The shooter later said he was targeting transients, according to the Associated Press. A month after the shooting, Gov. Matt Mead said the state didnt need a hate crimes law.

Rep. Charles Pelkey, D-Laramie, said hes still in the process of drafting a bill to add a hate crimes penalty in Wyoming. The bill would allow prosecutors to seek longer sentences for hate crimes.

Economic class, perceived race, religion, color, gender, nation of origin and religion are some of the groups Pelkey is considering including for protection in the bill. The shooting of the two Native American men last summer, Pelkey said, underscores that people are targeted because of their membership in a particular class.

I dont think this will be a tool used by prosecutors very often, Pelkey said. I think its just in a case as extreme as Riverton where people are specifically targeted. I know people have objections to it, civil liberties objections to that. There have been numerous attempts in the Legislature for hate crimes legislation. This is a slightly different approach and I just want to see what sort of support it generates.

Marijuana

Democratic Rep. Jim Byrd has sponsored two bills this session dealing with marijuana in the Cowboy State. The first bill would decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, while the second would allow medical marijuana reciprocity in Wyoming.

The conversation has to keep going, Byrd said. If I dont bring them forward, the conversation dies.

If someone has a valid ID and a medical marijuana permit, and those two come from the same state, Byrd said the reciprocity law would act as a get-out-of-jail-free card. His bill would allow visitors to the state, with the valid identification forms, to carry medical marijuana in Wyoming for a brief time.

The Cheyenne Democrats other marijuana bill would impose fines for the first and second time someone is caught with a small amount of marijuana in their possession. Under the bill, possession of less than half an ounce would incur a $50 fine, while possession between a half ounce and an ounce would result in a $100 fine. Byrd compared the bills fines to that of a parking ticket or a speeding violation.

If someone is caught more than twice with a small amount, or is carrying more than an ounce, they still face court, higher fines and possible jail time.

I got it filed, I got it on the list, I got people talking about it, Byrd said. Budget session, thats pretty much all you can expect.

Asset forfeiture

A pair of asset forfeiture bills have also been filed for this year's legislative session.

Under existing law, money or other property that is believed to be associated with a crime can be seized by law enforcement officials in Wyoming, even if the owner of the property is not charged or convicted.

An asset forfeiture bill passed the House and Senate last year, but was later vetoed by Mead. The Senate then failed to override the veto. That bill would have required a felony conviction in a drug crime for the state to seize assets.

One bill sponsored by the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee has support from the Wyoming Attorney Generals Office and the Wyoming County and Prosecuting Attorneys Association. While it isnt as far reaching as the legislation the governor vetoed last year, the bill would raise the standard for civil asset forfeiture to clear and convincing evidence.

Another bill has been sponsored by four members of the House and one state senator. Rep. David Miller, R-Riverton, a sponsor of the bill and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the bill mirrors the legislation Mead vetoed last session.

The judicial system is of profound importance, more so than a lot of other things, Miller said. It has to operate properly and be fair to people.

Gender wage gap

Pelkey will also sponsor a bill with the Houses leading Democrat, Rep. Mary Throne, that would keep employers from firing staff if they talked about their wages.

Women in Wyoming earned 69 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2014.

Abortion

A bill sponsored by Rep. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, would make changes to state abortion laws.

Wyoming law already prohibits giving away a live or viable aborted child for experimentation, but Steinmetzs bill would also extend the felony punishment to the sale, transfer or distribution of any tissue or cells from an aborted child for experimentation.

The bill would also amend state law to include that an abortion would not be able to be performed if the fetus can feel pain.
Reports of rapes connected to online dating have increased six fold in five years.

The number of rape allegations linked to online dating websites has increased sixfold in five years, according to Britains leading crime-fighting body.

National Crime Agency (NCA) figures show 184 people made allegations they were raped by someone they met online in 2014  which is up from 33 in 2009.

Rape tends to be under-reported and those attacked by people they meet online may be less likely to come forward, meaning the actual number of attacks could be 10 times higher, the NCA warned.

Sean Sutton, head of the NCA's Serious Crimes Analysis Section, said: Part of our campaign is to encourage people to come forward. Our message is the police will take them seriously and deal with them sympathetically."

"You can't see a stranger rapist coming; they are going to be charming potentially they are going to be persuasive," he said.

"If you think you can see one from a distance or even up front, you can't - that's the issue."

More than nine million Britons have signed up to dating websites and the NCA is advising users to be more careful.

Some 85% of stranger rape victims are women of which 42% were aged between 20 and 29 and 24% between 40 and 49.

George Kidd, chief executive of the Online Dating Association, which is supporting the campaign, said: "Sexual assault or abuse is never acceptable. Even one incident of harm is one too many.

"The NCA is right to look at what happens online and the ODA are already working with them in getting the right messages out to people."

The news comes after an investigation revealed alleged crimes involving dating apps Tinder and Grindr increased sevenfold between 2013 and 2015.

Tinder has been contacted for comment.

Source: The Independent
The number of allegations of stranger rapes linked to dating websites has soared sixfold in five years, Britain's top crime-fighting body has warned.

National Crime Agency (NCA) figures show that 184 people reported being raped by someone they had met on a dating app or website in 2014 - up from 33 in 2009.

Sean Sutton, head of the NCA's Serious Crimes Analysis Section, said we could be seeing the emergence of a "new breed" of rapist as these alleged sex offenders are less likely to have a criminal record.

Twice as many people now report being raped by someone they met online dating than those who are attacked by a bogus taxi driver - a danger that has seen a huge public awareness campaign mounted to prevent it.

A new NCA report, Emerging New Threat In Online Dating, highlights the growing problem and the force is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of online dating.

It comes after an investigation by the Press Association revealed that alleged crimes potentially involving the use of so-called hook-up apps Tinder and Grindr increased sevenfold in two years between 2013 and 2015.

Rape is significantly under-reported, and those attacked by people they meet on dating websites may be less likely to come forward, meaning the actual number could be 10 times higher than the 184 figure, Mr Sutton warned.

He told the Press Association: "We think, anecdotally, that because of the nature of the cases being on a dating website where someone has put themselves forward, in their mind's eye in a position of vulnerability perhaps, they may feel more culpable than others in relation to the activity that may have led to the stranger rape case.

"We absolutely wouldn't see that, but we can understand the rape mythologies that might feed into that. So our concern is that they are even more under-reported in this area.

"Part of our campaign is to encourage people to come forward. Our message is the police will take them seriously and deal with them sympathetically."

Discussing what could be fuelling this worrying rise, Mr Sutton said online daters often swap sexualised messages and develop a "pseudo-closeness" that can skew expectations when they finally meet, but they do not actually know each other "from Adam or Eve".

"This pseudo-closeness can happen very, very quickly, and we are saying you could be talking to a 14-year-old boy or a 60-year-old woman", he warned.

"Come back a step and take it on a face to face basis when you meet in public for the first time."

Some 85% of the stranger rape victims are women, and of these 42% were aged 20 to 29 and 24% were between 40 and 49, meaning that middle-aged daters are more likely to be targeted by rapists online than in other arenas.

Police also warned their analysis suggested a new type of sexual offender could be emerging online.

Whereas 84% of people convicted of stranger rapes have previous convictions, for those suspected of doing this through a dating website the figure is far lower at 49%, while the convictions they do have are less severe.

"It is potentially quite a different type of character who is perpetrating these offences from our usual, if I can use that term, stranger rape case", Mr Sutton said.

"Is it displacement or is it a new breed? We couldn't say and we wouldn't want to conjecture."

But he warned the phenomenon highlights that it is impossible to spot a rapist.

"You can't see a stranger rapist coming; they are going to be charming potentially they are going to be persuasive," he said. "If you think you can see one from a distance or even up front, you can't - that's the issue."

More than 9 million Britons have signed up to dating websites, and the NCA stressed it is not claiming they are inherently dangerous. But they are warning users to take better safety precautions.

George Kidd, chief executive of the Online Dating Association, which is supporting the campaign, said: "Sexual assault or abuse is never acceptable. Even one incident of harm is one too many.

"The NCA is right to look at what happens online and the ODA are already working with them in getting the right messages out to people."

Katie Russell, spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England and Wales said: "This report tells us that dating websites and apps are now established among the range of means sexual offenders use to target and access women and girls in particular.

"Through our frontline experience of providing specialist support services, we know that online grooming, of adults as well as children, is a long-standing technique among sexual violence perpetrators.

"With one in three relationships now starting online, attention clearly needs to be focused on targeting the minority who abuse dating services to perpetrate rape and other forms of sexual violence."
Police appealed to witnesses of the attack to contact them

A teenager has been charged with the murder of a 27-year-old man in an east London park.

The victim, who has not been named, was found stabbed in Plaistow Park, Newham, on January 29.

He was taken to hospital for treatment but died of his injuries three days later.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was stab wounds to the abdomen.

Detectives investigating the killing charged Kaleb Amponsah, 18, of Canning Town, east London, with murder, on Saturday.

He will appear in custody at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Two 16-year-old boys were also arrested in connection with the incident.

They were later released on bail until a date in mid-April while detectives continue their inquires.

The victim's next of kin were informed and formal identification completed, but police withheld the victim's name at his family's request.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, of the Metropolitan Police's homicide and major crime command, appealed for any witnesses of the attack to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3775 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Sarah Lancashire said she needed convincing to take part in Happy Valley

Sarah Lancashire has said working on the much-anticipated second series of Happy Valley was "emotionally brutal".

The 51-year-old Last Tango In Halifax star has returned to her Bafta-nominated role as formidable police sergeant Catherine Cawood.

BBC One's Yorkshire Valleys-set series gave Grantchester star James Norton his television breakthrough as psychotic Tommy Lee Royce.

Written by Last Tango In Halifax's Sally Wainwright, Happy Valley drew an impressive consolidated audience of 7.8 million for its series one finale in 2014.

The broadcaster and viewers wanted the story to continue, but Lancashire admitted she had to be convinced by Wainwright.

"I was nervous and wasn't sure whether we should be doing it," t he ex-Coronation Street actress said.

She added: "But when I read them (the scripts), I thought - she's pulled it off."

The Corrie connection also sees former cast members Katherine Kelly, currently co-starring in ITV's Mr Selfridge, and Julie Hesmondhalgh, lately of Channel 4's Cucumber, join series two.

Dedication to her job masks Cawood's personal family tragedies: she believes Royce is responsible for her daughter's rape and eventual suicide.

Grandson Ryan (Rhys Connah) was conceived as a result of the assault.

The policewoman's marriage to Richard Cawood (portrayed by Derek Riddell) broke down and she is estranged from her son Daniel (Karl Davies).

As series two begins, Cawood's sister Clare (Downton Abbey's Siobhan Finneran) who was in recovery from heroin addiction, has fallen off the wagon.

Events have moved on by 18 months and Royce is in jail.

With little to do other than work-out, the imprisoned man's focus is on his nemesis.

The tense relationship between Cawood and Royce was a highlight of the first run, but the second will see a change due to Royce's circumstances.

"We meet face-to-face once," Lancashire revealed, calling Royce "an intrinsic factor" of Happy Valley's success.

"I can't see the show without him otherwise it's a cop show," she said.

"What sets this piece apart is that it should always be a good psychological piece of drama. They've ramped that up hellishly this series."

Lancashire, who revealed she was "very, very surprised" at the acclaim and popularity for Happy Valley, described working on the show in 2014 as "brutal".

"It's emotionally brutal again," she said. "T he whole thing is draining simply because of her disposition, because she wears her emotional state of mind everywhere.

"She carries it around with her all the time."

The first series contained disturbing scenes, in particular a bloody fight between Cawood and Royce which sparked some complaints to media watchdog Ofcom.

"I would never condone anything that I thought was salacious or titillating or gratuitous," Lancashire stated.

"Yes, it was a sustained attack against a woman, but she was a police officer. Now, I don't think any of the furore would've happened if that had been two blokes.

"You have to be honest and that was an absolute, honest portrayal of what a female police officer is subjected to."

Royce may be locked up, but Lancashire does not believe Cawood has won.

"Catherine's the mother of a dead girl. She'll never be a winner. It'll never be over for Catherine. She's a survivor, but there are no winners."

Viewers will have to steel themselves for what lies ahead over the next six weeks.

"By the end of the piece, you just know that the next 10 years are going to be hell," Lancashire said.

:: Happy Valley is broadcast on BBC One on February 9 at 9pm.
A meeting between Kabul and Taliban representatives within the coming weeks would be viewed as a huge step forward (AP)

The Afghan government expects to hold direct talks with representatives of the Taliban by the end of this month, an official has said.

Ahmad Shakib Mostaghani, the foreign ministry spokesman, said on Sunday that officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States had laid out a roadmap toward peace talks at their latest meeting in Islamabad.

He says representatives of the four countries, who met Saturday, stressed a political settlement to the war, now in its 15th year.

A meeting between Kabul and Taliban representatives within the coming weeks would be viewed as a huge step forward in a peace process that stalled last year.

The next four-country meeting is scheduled for February 23 in Kabul.
Kai Schon, an eight-year veteran of the Wyoming Secretary of States office, is the new chief election director of Wyoming, according to a statement from the secretary's office.

Schon replaces Peggy Nighswonger, longtime state election director who retired after philosophical disagreements with Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray.

Schon will be in charge of working with county clerks on voter registration and the 2016 election. The office is where candidates, political parties and political action committees report campaign contributions. Schon will oversee the election and ensure it complies with state and federal law.

In addition to electing a U.S. president this year, Wyomingites will vote for all 60 state House seats and 15 Senate seats and a handful of other state and federal offices.

Murray said Schons experience has proven he is prepared for the position.

Kai will be integral to the divisions goals and objectives, the most important of which is the formation of a new partnership with Wyomings county clerks to support them through the 2016 election, Murray said in a prepared statement. This will be followed by my initiative to increase voter turnout among our youth. Only 10 percent of Wyomings youth, aged 18-24, voted in the last election, so we are finally going to tackle this issue.

Nighswonger, the former elections director, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle in October that Murrays initiative was one of the philosophical disagreements. While she thought increasing voter registration was a worthy goal, she felt the Secretary of States office should have been doing more to help county election officials prepare for the 2016 election and ensure it will run smoothly.

Schon has worked with Wyomings county clerks to ensure they were in compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and its sweeping election reforms.

After working closely with Wyomings county clerks in all 23 counties on election technologies as Wyomings HAVA coordinator, I am excited to build upon these relationships and my past experiences in Wyoming by tackling new challenges as this division looks to prepare for 2016 and beyond, he said in the statement. Secretary Murrays goals and objectives for my division are taking our entire Office in a new and innovative direction, and I could not be more thrilled by this opportunity.
Senator Marco Rubio was criticised for being inexperienced, during the latest televised Republican Party debate (AP)

Rising star Marco Rubio faced a barrage of attacks in the latest Republican debate, with rivals challenging his readiness to be president and the depth of his expertise as they sought to salvage their own White House hopes.

Senator Ted Cruz, fresh from his victory in Iowa, also came under heavy criticism for controversial political tactics, with one candidate disparaging him for having "Washington ethics" and being willing to test the campaign's legal limits.

The focus on the two senators allowed Republican frontrunner Donald Trump to go largely untouched in his return to the debate stage in Manchester, New Hampshire.

His grip on the Republican lead has been shaken by his second-place finish in Iowa, though the next contest on Tuesday in New Hampshire is still his to lose.

In the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton is facing a strong challenge from liberal senator Bernie Sanders.

New Hampshire's primary could further narrow an already shrinking Republican field.

Hard-fought, expensive and far-ranging, the campaign has become a fight for the future of the party, though the direction it will ultimately take remains deeply uncertain.

Florida's Senator Rubio has sought to appeal both to mainstream Republicans and those eager to change the status quo.

But his rivals, particularly New Jersey governor Chris Christie, have been blistering in their criticism of what they see as his slim qualifications to serve as commander in chief.

"You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable," Mr Christie said. "You just simply haven't."

Mr Christie, as well as former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Ohio governor John Kasich, has staked his campaign on New Hampshire, pouring most of his resources into the state in recent weeks.

All three played a more substantial role in this debate than in earlier contests, though each is still likely to face intense pressure to end his campaign if he is unable to pull off a strong finish in New Hampshire.

Mr Christie has built his closing argument around his criticism of Mr Rubio, and he kept up that approach on the debate stage.

He accused the senator of being a candidate governed by talking points - then pounced when Mr Rubio played into his hands by repeating multiple times what appeared to be a planned response to criticisms about his qualifications.

"That's what Washington, DC, does," Mr Christie said. "The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorised 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him."

Mr Rubio has sought to deflect criticism of his relative inexperience and the comparisons it draws to President Barack Obama.

He argues the problem with the president is not that he is naive, but that he is pushing an ideology that hurts the country. He made that point repeatedly throughout the debate.

Mr Rubio wavered in defending his decision to walk away from the sweeping immigration bill he originally backed in the Senate - perhaps the legislation he is most closely associated with - and said he would not pursue similar measures as president.

"We can't get that legislation passed," Mr Rubio said of the bill that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the US illegally.

The senator found his footing later in the debate when outlining his call for more aggressive action to fight the Islamic State and emphasising his anti-abortion stance.

Mr Cruz was the victor in Iowa, triumphing over billionaire Mr Trump by drawing heavily on the support of evangelical voters.

But he has faced criticism for messages his campaign sent to voters ahead of the caucuses saying rival Ben Carson - another favourite of religious conservatives - was dropping out and urging the retired neurosurgeon's supporters to back him instead.

Mr Cruz apologised for his campaign's actions, but not before Mr Carson attacked him for having "Washington ethics".

Such ethics " say if it's legal, you do what you do to win", Mr Carson claimed.

Mr Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses.

After spending the past few days disputing his second-place finish in Iowa, he sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign.

They include blocking Muslims from coming to the US and deporting all people in the country illegally, while maintaining he has the temperament to serve as president.
Spanish police arrested seven suspected members of a jihadi cell linked to the Islamic State group and Jabhat al-Nusra militants during raids on Sunday in the eastern provinces of Valencia and Alicante, and in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said the cell had sent arms, bomb-making materials and electronic equipment to Syria and Iraq in shipments disguised as humanitarian aid.

In a statement, police said the cell was well-organized and coordinated by a ringleader who ran a business that enabled him to ship containers with technological supplies, weapons and military equipment from Spanish ports to armed groups in operating in Syria and Iraq. The cell is suspected of also supplying funds for IS and Jabhat al-Nusra and of money laundering, the statement said.

The ringleader was also contacted on several occasion by IS urging him to supply women for combatants in Syria and Iraq to marry, "following guidelines set down by the Islamic State group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi", the statement said.

Police said they began investigating the suspected cell in 2014 and the arrests took place early on Sunday.

It said the investigation has uncovered evidence that those arrested provided "logistical support that was essential for the maintenance of terror activities" in Syria and Iraq. Four of those arrested have Spanish nationality but are of Syrian, Jordanian and Moroccan ancestry. Two others are Syrian and Moroccan nationals living in Spain.

The Interior Ministry later said a seventh suspect was arrested Sunday but did not give further details.

The investigation, which is still going on, is being coordinated by Spain's National Court in conjunction with state prosecutors.
A group of participants called ''Txatxus'' take part in the ancient rural carnival (AP)

The inhabitants of a northern Spanish mountain village have taken part in an age-old festival that re-enacts a legendary confrontation between good and evil.

Sunday's festivities in Lantz celebrate a long-standing tradition in which the opposing forces challenge each other in a symbolic battle during which the colourfully-garbed villagers' thirst for justice builds up into fiery public rage.

Villagers from Lantz, on the western skirts of the Pyrenees mountains where highwaymen once threatened rural harmony and cross-border trade with neighbouring France, are reputed to have chased down Miel Otxin, one of most fearsome bandits of them all.

During the annual feast, villagers dress in colourful and jingle-belled outfits and act out the hunt, capture and death sentence by burning meted out to the evil "bandido" raider.
Rescuers search for the missing in a collapsed building from an earthquake in Tainan (AP)

Rescuers have pulled more survivors from the remains of a high-rise apartment building that collapsed a day earlier in a powerful earthquake that shook Taiwan and killed at least 26 people.

More than 100 remained buried in the building's rubble.

The government in Tainan, the worst-hit city, said that more than 170 people had been rescued from the 17-storey building, which folded like an accordion after the quake struck.

Mao Yi-chen, 20, was rescued soon after the magnitude-6.4 quake hit before dawn on Saturday, and her older sister Mao Yi-hsuan was pulled out on Sunday in a serious condition.

A rescue worker had handed over a photo album and homemade cards found next to her for her family to collect, said local official Wang Ding-yu.

"He said that 'maybe your home is damaged, but memories of the family can last,'" Mr Wang said.

Tainan mayor Lai Ching-te said authorities estimated that 124 people were still trapped, many at the bottom of the wreckage. He said rescuers were able to reach many people by using information from residents who got out about the possible locations of those still inside.

Two of the trapped, a male and a female at different sides of the building, were talking to rescue workers on Sunday evening, Mr Lai said. He told reporters that rescuers intended to pull them out, and then bring in heavier excavators to remove part of the structure on top to allow access to the areas at the bottom.

The spectacular fall of the high-rise, built in 1989, raised questions about whether its construction had been shoddy. Tainan's government said the building had not been listed as a dangerous structure, and Taiwan's interior minister, Chen Wei-zen, said an investigation would examine whether the developer had cut corners.

Eighth-floor resident Huang Guang-wei was pulled out on Sunday morning from a different section from where he lived, showing how distorted the building is, Mr Lai said. Rescuers could see Huang only through a 10-centimetre crack and it took eight hours to get him out.

Among the fatalities was a six-month-old baby girl who was pulled from the rubble and rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A deceased man believed to be her father was pulled out 40 minutes later, Mr Wang said.

A man in his 60s, whose son escaped and whose daughter-in-law was in serious condition, was trying to help rescuers pinpoint his grandsons. "My 11 and 12-year-old grandsons are still inside on the ninth floor," said the man, who gave only his surname, Huang. "I told my son not to buy an apartment here; it was suspiciously cheap."

Beside him, another man nodded in agreement as he waited for news of his own relatives on the seventh floor.

The city government said that 24 of the 26 confirmed deaths from the earthquake were from the building collapse. It said that 171 had been rescued from the building, 91 of whom were sent to hospitals. More than 100 people were rescued from other parts of Tainan, eight of whom received hospital treatment. Nine other buildings in the city collapsed and five careened.

On Sunday, thousands of rescuers worked on different levels of the folded building, which was supported by steel pillars. Rescuer Su Yu-min said they were trying to cut through walls and pillars.

"It takes a few hours to complete a search for just one household and sometimes it takes two hours just to go forward 30 centimetres" when the way is blocked by a wall, he said.

The quake came two days before the start of Lunar New Year celebrations that mark the most important family holiday in the Chinese calendar.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan, but most are minor and cause little or no damage, though a magnitude-7.6 quake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.
Turkey has reached the end of its "capacity to absorb" refugees but will continue to take them in, Turkey's deputy premier said.

His country is facing mounting pressure to open its border, where tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing a government onslaught have arrived.

Turkish authorities say up to 35,000 Syrians have massed along the border, which remained closed for a third day on Sunday.

The governor for the Turkish border province of Kilis said on Saturday that Turkey would provide aid to the displaced within Syria, but would only open the gates in the event of an "extraordinary crisis".

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN-Turk television that Turkey is now hosting a total of 3 million refugees, including 2.5 million Syrians.

"Yes, Turkey has reached the end of its capacity to absorb (refugees)," Mr Kurtulmus said. "But in the end, these people have nowhere else to go. Either they will die beneath the bombings and Turkey will ... watch the massacre like the rest of the world, or we will open our borders."

Mr Kurtulmus said some 15,000 refugees from Syria were admitted in the past few days, without elaborating. He put the number of refugees being cared for at the other side of the border at 30,000.

"At the moment, we are admitting some, and are trying to keep others there (in Syria) by providing them with every kind of humanitarian support," Mr Kurtulmus added. "We are not in a position to tell them not to come. If we do, we would be abandoning them to their deaths."

The deputy premier did not explain why the Turkish border gate at Oncupinar, opposite the Bab al-Salameh crossing in Syria, was being kept closed or why tens of thousands of refugees were not immediately being let in.

On Saturday, the European Union urged Turkey to open its borders at a meeting between EU and Turkish officials in Amsterdam, saying it was providing aid to Ankara for that purpose. EU nations have committed 3 billion euros to Turkey to help refugees, part of incentives aimed at persuading Turkey to do more to stop thousands of migrants from leaving for Greece.

Mr Kurtulmus estimated that - "in the worst case scenario" - as many as one million more refugees could flee the Syrian city of Aleppo and its regions.

The war between Syrian president Bashar Assad's government and Syrian rebels began in 2011. It has killed over 250,000 people and forced millions to flee the country.

In Syria, pro-government forces pressed ahead with their offensive in the northern Aleppo province, which has caused the massive displacement of civilians toward the Turkish border.

Syrian opposition activists said Syrian ground troops backed by Russian air strikes were engaged in intense fighting with insurgents around the village of Ratyan and surrounding areas north of Aleppo city.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Kurdish officials said the main Kurdish militia in the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, north of Aleppo, was taking in some of those stuck on the border.
Two young men died and six others were injured after using their personal toboggan to go down a luge-bobsleigh track after hours at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Calgary police said emergency crews received a call from an employee at the WinSport Canada facility in north-west Calgary at 1.30am local time after a report of several injured people on a closed track.

Inspector Kelly Campbell said that part way down the track the male teenagers hit a large gate that is used to separate the luge and bobsleigh tracks.

Police are investigating how they entered the property.

WinSport Canada owns and operates Canada Olympic Park, which hosted events during the 1988 Winter Olympics. Several World Cup events are held at the site as well.
North Koreans watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite at the Pyongyang Railway Station (AP)

The UN deplored a rocket launch by North Korea warning it was in violation of Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang's use of ballistic missile technology.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the launch came despite the "united plea of the international community against such an act".

He urged N orth Korea to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations.

The Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Sunday on the rocket launch, at the request of the US and Japan.

The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and its path was tracked separately by the US, Japan and South Korea, with no damage from debris reported.

At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the country's president called the firing an "intolerable provocation".

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space programme, trumpeted the beauty of the launch's "fascinating vapour" as the rocket cut through the clear blue sky.

It said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after lift-off, and pledged more such launches.

A US official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The firing came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened on Sunday morning. It follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb.

Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed missile that could hit the US mainland.

North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse his government.

Diplomats are also pushing to tighten UN sanctions because of the North's January 6 nuclear test.

The South Korean government could not confirm reports by Yonhap news agency and YTN TV that the rocket might have failed.

The US Strategic Command said it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japan's NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket.

The global condemnation began immediately.

South Korean president Park Geun-hye called the launch an "intolerable provocation" and said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe vowed to "take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people".

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the North's missile and nuclear weapons programmes a "serious threat to our interests - including the security of some of our closest allies".

The foreign ministry in China, the North's only major ally, expressed "regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies".

A senior South Korean Defence Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile defence system in South Korea.

China would see THAAD, which is one of the most advanced missile defence systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

Mr Yoo said the talks on THAAD are aimed at bolstering South Korea-US defence in the face of escalating North Korean threats.
I discovered this morning that a man whose life touched countless others, not merely by virtue of being shot up into outer space in Apollo 14 and land on the moon, but even more importantly, became an explorer of inner space, had died on February 4, 2016 at the age of 85. That was one day shy of the 45th anniversary of his moonwalk. Dr. Edgar Mitchell was one of a few astronauts who were outspoken about their experiences of having an epiphany; a spiritual awakening as a result of viewing the planet from space.

In 1992, while living in South Florida, my family and I had the opportunity to visit him in his home. My husband and I arrived earlier than anticipated and when we knocked on the door, accompanied by our five year old son, the esteemed Dr. Mitchell was vacuuming his living room floor, comfortable in Bermuda shorts. We thought he would be thrilled to meet a real live astronaut and shake his hand. Adam was more impressed with the fact that Dr. Mitchell had been a pilot, since at that time, our little guy was fascinated with planes. We lived near the Homestead Air Force Base at the time, so he got to see them daily. The other thing that had little impact on him was that we pointed out that even astronauts had to do their own house cleaning.

I interviewed him for the July, 1992 issue of our publication: Visions Magazine. Here are a few excerpts.

Imagine anticipating an interview with a person who has done what a select few individuals on the entire planet have been chosen to do.On the day I interviewed Dr. Edgar Mitchell, I found myself in the presence of a man who has seen and done a lot, but is an average family man and South Florida suburban homeowner with several cute terriers. The only evidence of his lunar stroll are pictures of him in uniform on the moon, with the lunar module in the background. As impressive is his considerable collection of books ranging in subject from philosophy to psychology, from quantum physics to ecology. Edgar Mitchell is a true Renaissance Man.

When asked how it felt to be part of that elite group whose footsteps traversed the surface of the moon, he responded, It was wonderful, but it was a planned career move in my case. I made the choice in 1957 when Sputnik was launched. I was a test pilot in California for the Navy. I was 27 years old at that point. I was too young for the astronaut program; they werent taking people until they were 30. I set my goal on additional education, ending up with a Ph.D. from MIT. I needed additional jet time to quality, so I spent the next nine years getting the flight time, education and management experience, so while I was still in the age zone, I was selected. My choice was to become a specialist in the lunar module, because it would enhance my chances of going to the moon. It was circumstances, accompanied by a helluva lotta hard work that positioned me.

From the perspective of the man who gazed at our big blue marble of a planet from from space, he had this profound description, Thats the big story and in my mind, the most powerful experience of our flight. I cant speak for anybody but myself, but the consensus seems to be that looking at Earth from space is the overwhelming psychological issue of the entire flight. We are explorers; I particularly am an explorer. Thats what I am, thats what I do. I try new things, see new places, understand what they are all about. We went into space as technicians. We came back as humanitarians. It was instant global consciousness to see the Earth that way. for me it happened on the way back. after the mission was completed and the heavy work was done. and there was time to be reflective. As I looked at Earth with the back drop of billions of stars and galactic clusters, which is 10 times more than you can see from Earth, I had a sense of being one with the universe, knowing that I was a part of the process, knowing that its an intelligent universe. Shortly after the flight, British scientist Jim Lovelock came up with the concept of Gaia; Earth as an organismic concept.

He expressed being proud of founding The Institute For Noetic Sciences , which was set up to do research into the nature of consciousness. It has pursued that goal for 20 years. Its very strong and forward looking. The idea has always been to sponsor new thought. We did work into the nature of healing. We did some of the first work in acupuncture.. We gave Carl and Stephanie Simonton their first research grant on the relationship between attitude and cancer.

Mitchell added that they were working on the concept of causality, which he defined as what makes things happen, and continued, Scientific causality means everything builds from the bottom up; from atomic structure, subatomic particles and thats the cause of things. Theological causality is from the top down; the Will of God. So what is the nature of causality? Science has not been interested until recent years.

Toward the end of our time together, he sealed the conversation with thoughts that remain with me all these years later. He spoke about the famous concept espoused by fellow scientist Albert Einstein, Almost to his dying day and only near his deathbed did Einstein accept the concept that quantum mechanics was real, saying God didnt play dice with the universe. Turns out that God does play dice with the universe. Where this all brings us,very simply is that instead of being physical beings looking for spiritual experience, we are eternal conscious beings creating physical experience. The consciousness that is us is the consciousness that is God.

Soar high into the wild blue yonder, Starman.
Offering aid

North Dakota Dollars for Scholars is accepting scholarship applications from North Dakota high school seniors and college students. A total of $100,000 in scholarships will be awarded, ranging from $500 to $2,500 each for the 2016-17 academic year. Applicants must be from a North Dakota community with an active Dollars for Scholars chapter to qualify. Students from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Scholarship offerings cover a variety of categories including vocational/technical schools, military family, community service and continuing college students.

The application deadline for all North Dakota Dollars for Scholars scholarships is April 1. Scholarship details and the online application are available at northdakota.dollarsforscholars.org. To apply, students must create, or update, a profile in the online student center. This profile allows students to be matched to scholarships based on their personal information. Students will also be able to use this profile to find future opportunities from their local chapter, North Dakota Dollars for Scholars and the national organization.

MSU scholarships

Minot State University is offering scholarships for the upcoming 2016-17 academic year. New, transfer and returning students are encouraged to apply soon, as applications will be accepted through Feb. 16. Scholarship application forms are available online at www.minotstateu.edu/finaid/scholarships.shtml.

Numerous scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement, leadership and service and legacy. New freshmen and transfer students can apply for the Great Plains Exceptional Scholar Award, which offers full tuition for four consecutive years to students meeting the scholarship requirements. It can have a value of more than $20,000 over years. Other scholarships offered to new freshmen and transfer students include the Distinctive & Engaged Scholarship and Service for Common Good Scholarship Awards, which offer awards up to $3,500, as well as the Transfer Student Scholarship Award for up to $1,500.

Students, who previously received an MSU Alumni Association Scholarship and are junior, senior or graduate students, can also apply for the Peggy Wittliff Memorial Scholarship. This $4,000 scholarship is paid over the full academic year, and is available online at www.minotstateu.edu/alumni/scholarship.shtml. Additional scholarships for children of MSU alumni can also be found here.

For questions about alumni scholarships, contact Janna McKechnie, director of alumni relations and annual giving, at 701-858-3234 or janna.mckechnie@minotstateu.edu. For other scholarship inquiries, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 701-858-3375 or financialaid@minotstateu.edu. Students should also check with their academic departments for additional scholarship opportunities.

UND graduates

Nearly 1,000 University of North Dakota students were eligible to receive degrees during this years winter commencement ceremonies held Dec. 17-18 at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on campus.

The following is a list of the area graduates:

Beach  Brandon Ekre (BSIT); Beulah  Andrew Heller (BSCSCI); Bismarck  Jennifer Albers (BSSW, cum laude), Lance Blumhagen (BBA), Hannah Brossart (BSN, magna cum laude), Andrew Brown (MBA), Andrew Carlson (BSA), Jared Connell (BSKIN), Trina Connell (BM), Jacqueline DeGraff (BFA), Alexa Ely (BBA, summa cum laude), Alek Haugen (BS, summa cum laude), Aaron Johnson (MPH), Jaime Johnson (MSW), Nicholis Johnson (BA), Christopher Klym (BS, summa cum laude), Maria Liebler-Irwin (BM, summa cum laude), Ross Lien (BA), Matthew Manders (BS), Drew Monson (BS), Aaron Neigum (BSA), Shawn Oban (EDD), Miriah Olzweski (BBA, cum laude), Deanna Rainbow (MSW), Wyatt Sabot (BA, magna cum laude), Elizabeth Schaff (BS, magna cum laude), Dakota Schell (BS), Robert Schneider (BSGEOL), Zachary Schuchard (BA), Emily Theurer (BM, summa cum laude), Brandon Wetch (BFA, magna cum laude), Bailey Wike (BA); Bowman  Kyle Palczewski (BACC); Burlington  Kathryn Kester (BA);

Carrington  Devin Barton (BGS); Center  Kaylee Lackman (BM, magna cum laude);

Dickinson  Timothy Brooke (BSED, cum laude), Justine Gab (BBA, summa cum laude), Billie Herauf (BSED), Billie Herauf (BS), Celine Marx (BSATSC), Ashley Schara (BS), Meagan Schlecht (MED), Brooke Sickler (BSN), Michael Tormaschy (BS);

Ellendale  Michael Redlin (BA); Michael Redlin (BSED);

Harvey  Chelsey Marchand (BA); Hettinger  Jerad Jacobson (BA), Nicole Johnson (BS, magna cum laude);

Killdeer  Nancy Hart (MS); Kulm  Amanda Lundgren (MS);

Lincoln  Jason Lawson (PHD); Linton  Margaret Burke Koepsell (BS), Kelsey Larson (BSKIN);

Mandan  Patrick Bair (JD), Braydyn Doerr (BSSW), Kara Haff (BA), Breann Harm (BACC), Alexander Lewis (BSCSCI), Emily Pogatshnik (BSATSC); Mandaree  Lisa Casarez (BA), Wind Spirit Spotted Bear (BFA); McClusky  Chance Faul (BSA), Daniel Lipp (BGS); Medina  Tara Hofmann (MED);

Riverdale  Taylor Sorensen (BSCJS, cum laude);

Strasburg  Sophia Lawler (BFA, magna cum laude);

Velva  Alexander Monk (BSPTE);

Watford City  Lisa Lee (MBA); and Williston  Mamadou Bah (BSPTE, cum laude), Sarah Brostuen (BA), Aaron Dye (BSATSC), Megan Fee (BSN).

Buchholz competes

Maria Buchholz, a North Dakota State University graduate student in criminal justice from Bismarck, has been selected to present her research in the Three Minute Thesis Competition at NDSU on Feb. 10.

It is the second time the NDSU Graduate School is hosting the event. Students were nominated by the faculty leadership in their majors to participate.

Buchholz's presentation is titled "Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs in the Prevention of Juvenile Crime."

The competition features graduate students from a variety of disciplines explaining the goals and value of their research in terms relevant to government officials, media, future employers and funding organization representatives.

A typical 80,000-word thesis would take nine hours to present; Buchholz and the 33 other competitors are given just three minutes. Community, faculty and graduate student representatives will judge the presentations. The winner will be awarded a $1,000 grand prize, with the top competitor in round one will receive $250.

Fiske graduates

James Fiske, Bismarck, earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from East Tennessee State University during fall commencement held Dec. 12 in Johnson City, Tenn.

On dean's list

Alexander Piyamahunt, Bismarck, has been named to the University of Minnesota, Morris dean's list for the fall 2015 semester. To be eligible for the dean's list, students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.66 or higher while taking 12 or more credits, two-thirds of these credits on the A-F grading system.

Kuntz gets degree

St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn., graduated more than 792 students during fall semester 2015. Commencement ceremonies were held Dec. 18.

Joshua Kuntz, Bismarck, earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting.

Mankato honors

The academic high honor and honor lists (dean's lists) for the past fall semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato have been announced.

Among 3,114 students, a total of 694 students qualified for the high honor list by achieving a 4.0 straight "A" average, while 2,418 students earned a 3.5 to 3.99 average to qualify for the honor list. To qualify for academic honors, undergraduate students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours for the semester.

Area students are: Bismarck  Aaron Nelson, high honor list; and Emily Nelson, honor list; and Williston  Kalli Kjos, honor list; and Jordan Nelson, honor list.

Earns degree

Malith Murukkuwadura of Bismarck is among Southeast Missouri State University's fall 2015 graduates.

Murukkuwadura graduated with a bachelor of science degree with a major in technology management: construction management and design option.

Scholarships

The North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation is offering seven $500 scholarships and one $750 scholarship in 2016.

Seven $500 scholarships will be awarded:

NDSF Legacy Scholarships are available to high-school seniors, college freshmen, college sophomores, or college juniors who have an interest in the beef cattle industry and are or will be studying any major at any college or university.

NDSF Junior Scholarships are available to college sophomores who, among other criteria, are enrolled in a beef-related major at an accredited North Dakota college or university.

The NDSF Endowment Scholarship is available to high-school seniors, college freshmen, college sophomores, or college juniors who are or will be studying a beef-related major at any accredited North Dakota college or university.

The Tokach Angus Ranch Memorial Scholarship is available to students who are or who will be studying an agriculturally related career at any accredited college or university. Preference will be given to students who have completed their bachelor's degree and who are pursuing a graduate education or professional school (i.e. veterinary or law school).

The NDSF will award one $750 scholarship:

The Jack and Vander Reich Memorial Endowment Scholarship is available to a high-school senior who is planning to major in an agriculturally related field at any accredited college or university.

Interested students may apply for more than one scholarship if applicable, but separate applications must be submitted. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the Foundation Luncheon during the North Dakota Stockmen's Association's annual convention Sept. 24 in Minot. The application deadline for each is March 1.

Students can find more information and applications for each scholarship http://ndstockmen.org/foundation/scholarship-release-2016/.

Derby awarded

Clara Derby has received an $8,000 Presidents Honors Scholarship from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is the daughter of Clayton and Michelle Derby, Bismarck, and intends to major in English.

The Presidents Honor Scholarship awards $2,000 for the freshman year and requires a high school class rank in the top five percent and a score of 28 or above on the ACT exam. Its renewable for four years with a 3.5 grade-point average.
Czech Radio car was attacked by anti-islamic demonstrators at Prague Castle on Saturday

7. 2. 2016

cas cteni < 1 minuta





A radio car operated by Czech public service radio was repeatedly attacked at the Prague Castle during the demonstration of the extremist "Anti-Islamic Bloc" on Saturday afternoon, says a press release published by Czech Radio on Sunday. Several agressive attackers were repeatedly trying to break into the radio vehicle, they tried to disrupt Radio Prague's live broadcast and eventually they managed to disable the radio car's power source. In this difficult situation, a Radio Prague journalist asked a group of policemen standing by for help but they refused to act. According to the journalist's testimony, one of the policemen said to him "You broadcast lies, so organise your own private security." It is well known that Czech police tends to side with extreme right wing demonstrators.

Czech Radio will lodge a complaint to the President of the Czech Police. It emphatically protests against all attempts to limit freedom of speech and to infringe democratic principles which it defends as a public service broadcaster.

Source in Czech HERE

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BISMARCK

Monday: All beef hot dog, soy butter and grape jelly sandwich, baked beans, fruit and vegetable bar, milk.

Tuesday: Taco salad, deli turkey sandwich, whole kernel corn, fruit and vegetable bar, milk.

Wednesday: Chicken chili crispito, soy butter and grape jelly sandwich, glazed carrots, pudding, fruit and vegetable bar, milk.

Thursday: Breaded chicken sandwich, deli ham sandwich, spudsters, fruit and vegetable bar, milk.

Friday: Egg patty with cheese and cinnamon roll, strawberry cream cheese bagel stick and string cheese, hashbrown stick, apple juice, fruit and vegetable bar, milk.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS, BISMARCK

Monday: Taco in a bag, orange chicken with rice, peas, pizza line, sub line, salad bar, milk.

Tuesday: Pulled pork sandwich, chicken Parmesan, glazed carrots, pizza line, sub line, salad bar, milk.

Wednesday: Cheesy enchiladas (two), breaded chicken strips with breadsticks, green beans, pizza line, sub line, salad bar, milk.

Thursday: Turkey and gravy, baked chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes with gravy, dinner roll, pizza line, sub line, salad bar, milk.

Friday: Pasta and meat sauce with garlic toast, quesadilla pizza, whole kernel corn, pudding cup, pizza line, sub line, salad bar, milk.

ST. MARYS CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, BISMARCK

Monday: Chicken and cheese quesadilla, corn and black bean salad, fruit, milk.

Tuesday: Potato nachos and toppings, vegetable sticks, fruit, milk.

Wednesday: French bread pizza, Italian salad, pineapple, yogurt parfaits, milk.

Thursday: Chicken Alfredo, dinner roll, peas, applesauce, milk.

Friday: No school.

CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL, BISMARCK

Monday: Corn dogs, oven fries, vegetables with dip, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Tuesday: Tacos with meat (shredded lettuce, shredded cheese), Mexican rice, refried beans, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Wednesday: Popcorn shrimp, cheesy potatoes, peas, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Thursday: Chicken and gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, dinner roll, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Friday: No school.

ST. ANNE SCHOOL, BISMARCK

Monday: Chicken strips, rice, turkey sandwich, vegetable, fruit, Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, salad bar, milk.

Tuesday: Sub sandwich, chicken noodle soup, turkey sandwich, vegetable, fruit, Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, salad bar, milk.

Wednesday: Popcorn shrimp, fried rice, turkey sandwich, vegetable, fruit, Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, salad bar, milk.

Thursday: Pizza hot pocket, lettuce salad, turkey sandwich, vegetable, fruit, Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, salad bar, milk.

Friday: No school.

ST. MARY'S GRADE SCHOOL, BISMARCK

Monday: Hot ham and cheese sandwich, potato wedges, vegetable, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Tuesday: Chicken strips, mashed potatoes with gravy, vegetable, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Wednesday: Cheesy breadsticks, tomato soup, vegetable, fruit, milk.

Thursday: Pancakes, sausage links, vegetable, fruit, salad bar, milk.

Friday: No school.

SHILOH SCHOOL, BISMARCK

Monday: Spaghetti, vegetable, fruit, soup of the day, salad bar, milk.

Tuesday: French bread pizza, vegetable, fruit, soup of the day, salad bar, milk.

Wednesday: Quesadilla, vegetable, fruit, soup of the day, salad bar, milk.

Thursday: Chicken a la king, vegetable, fruit, soup of the day, salad bar, milk.

Friday: No school.

MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL, BISMARCK

Monday: Tater tot hotdish, vegetable, fruit, milk.

Tuesday: Chicken fajita on soft shell, vegetable, fruit, milk.

Wednesday: Macaroni and cheese, sausage, vegetable, fruit, milk.

Thursday: Chili, caramel roll, fruit, milk.

Friday: Subs, chips, vegetable, fruit, milk.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MANDAN

Monday: Sweet and sour chicken, seasoned rice, Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, chef salad with breadstick, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, fruit, milk.

Tuesday: Hot dog, sub sandwich, chef salad with breadstick, green pepper strips, baked beans, fruit, milk.

Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, chef salad with breadstick, green beans, baby carrots, rice crispy treat, fruit, milk.

Thursday: Shredded beef sandwich, ham and cheese sandwich, chef salad with breadstick, cucumber slices, corn, snack mix, fruit, milk.

Friday: Sausage patty with pancakes and scrambled eggs, egg salad sandwich, chef salad with breadstick, hashbrown stick, cauliflower, fruit, milk.

JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS, MANDAN

Monday: Chicken Caesar salad with breadstick, soft-shell taco, corn, pizza line, deli sub line, salad bar, milk.

Tuesday: Turkey tidbits, chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner roll, hamburger with mashed potatoes, deli sub line, salad bar, milk.

Wednesday: Rib-b-cue sandwich, chicken ranch wrap, country trio, pizza line, deli sub line, salad bar, milk.

Thursday: Super nachos, chicken patty, baked potato, hamburger with baked potato, deli sub line, salad bar, milk.

Friday: Chicken nuggets, Philly steak sandwich, sweet potato fries, pizza line, deli sub line, salad bar, milk.

CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL, MANDAN

Monday: Chicken nuggets, seasoned rotini, lettuce salad, green beans, chilled fruit, milk.

Tuesday: Beefy nachos, black bean and corn salsa, corn chips, lettuce salad, chilled fruit, milk.

Wednesday: Toasted cheese sandwich, tomato soup, lettuce salad, applesauce, milk.

Thursday: Ham and cheese sandwich, chicken and wild rice soup, romaine salad, fruit, milk.

Friday: Pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs, tri-patty potato, lettuce salad, fruit, milk.

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL, MANDAN

Monday: Chicken strips, tater tots, green beans, fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk.

Tuesday: Hamburger gravy, noodles, corn, butter bread, trail mix, fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk.

Wednesday: Cheese pizza, lettuce salad with dressing, dessert, fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk.

Thursday: Pork roast and gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, butter bread, fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk.

Friday: No school.
Old Time Wood Creations & Things, a custom woodworking and reclaimed wood decor shop, is open in downtown Bismarck.

Co-owners Holly Berg and Donavan Hoffer opened the store at 222 N. Fourth St. four weeks ago.

Berg said, so far, feedback from customers has been good.

Berg and Hoffer make furniture of pipe and reclaimed wood, including doors, bars, end tables, coffee tables and bar stools. They are dealers of Rustica Hardware and sell antique and rustic metal pieces, too.

Berg said Hoffer had taken down several old barns this past summer and decided to start the side business. She also has experience decorating with old doors and windows.

"There isn't a whole lot of barn door places in town where you can have a hand in creating it and how it looks," she said, and Old Time Wood Creations fills that niche.

Customers can request a custom order or buy off the store's display floor.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 701-751-2252 or go online to http://oldtimewoodcreationsandthings.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/OldTimeWoodCreations/?fref=nf.

New radio station

KDAK 102.5 FM, a new low-power, commercial-free community radio station operated by Dakota Media Access is now on the air in Bismarck-Mandan.

KDAK airs "an eclectic mix of music and public affairs programming," according to a statement from Dakota Media Access.

The station already has 12 regular programs produced and hosted by organizations such as United Tribes Technical College, North Dakota State University Extension and Bismarck State College.

We want KDAK to be a refreshing addition of local and contemporary alternative radio programming to Bismarck-Mandan. As local public access radio, we value community input, KDAK Advisory Team Chair Shadd Piehl said in a statement.

KDAK also is another means for Dakota Media Access to provide the community access to live local government meetings, Dakota Media Access Board Chair Jack McDonald said. KDAK offers training, facilities and equipment to help with production.

In addition to radio broadcasts, listeners can stream the station at kdakfm.org.
"Captured" by Georgia Brulon is an adventure story for children able to read chapter books. The characters are men and boys with exceptions of minor roles by a mom and grandma. The hero, Micah, is an only child until his mom remarries and brings two new brothers into the household. He lives in his grandfather's home while his mother was in alcoholic rehab.

This often lonely boy would lay on the bed, looking at the wallpaper border of ships circling the bedroom ceiling. One day, he noticed a slight bulge by one of the ships that had a wavering movement. Micah stood on the bed to touch this phenomenon and found himself hurling through space, landing about 300 years in the past, on the deck of the pirate ship The Black Raven.

Now 13, Micah is back in his grandfather's house while his mother and new husband are on their honeymoon. Disappointed to learn that during his absence the bedroom had been repainted, he lay on the bed contemplating the absence of any evidence of the colorful border. He noticed a slight quiver in the paint, reached to touch it and rediscovered the magical portal that hurled him through time and space back onto the slippery deck of the Black Raven. It were as though time had stood still during his absence and nobody noticed that he had been gone and was back again.

Capt. One-Eye Nate, placing a hand on Micah's shoulder, said, "Son, our meal is ready." Captain Nate believed Micah to be his son and called him Li'l Capt. Micah was too fearful to question as they made their way to the captain's quarters where memories of times past crowded his thoughts.

Spotting the moving spot on the wall had seemed exciting a moment ago, but now he felt nervous and awkward as he toyed with his food while trying to think of something to say. Capt. Nate broke the silence by bringing Micah up to date on some recent happenings when he was abruptly called to the deck. A fire had broken out and all hands were to help put it out.

Micah was handed a bucket and told to fetch water from the sea. Sailors were running about and shouting. Micah leaned over the railing for water but the bucket and rope slipped into the sea. As he leaned over the slippery rail to grab for it, Micah tumbles into the water.

When he looked up at the fiery deck, he noticed Capt. Nate about to jump in to save his son. From previous excursions, Micah knew that a sudden fall into the sea would quickly transport him back to the present and then he remembered a fact about pirates that he had learned. Few of them could swim, and here was Capt. Nate risking his life. Micah tried to reach the captain but, before he did, Nate's long arm reached him just as they were suddenly both pulled under. Then they began to spin, first through the water and then into the air. They were traveling through space and time, back though the portal, to land on the bedroom floor in Micah's grandfather's house.

Now Micah's problems begin. He has to hide Capt. Nate, and, later, Capt. Nate, Micah and his brothers end up back at sea.

"Captured" is an adventurous tale that will capture the reader to the very end. It is also a story of learning to cope with a blended family, adversity and overcoming difficulties.

(Virginia Luger grew up in Bismarck. She enjoyed making up stories to entertain her children and grandchildren and was urged by a grandchild to write them down. She lives in North Carolina.)
Trump is immodest, arrogant, foul-mouthed, money-obsessed, thrice-married, and until recently, pro-choice. By any conventional standards, evangelical Christians should despise him.

That was the observation of blogger Jonathan Merritt as he looked at polls indicating a disproportionate number of evangelical Christians were flocking to Donald Trumps candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.

Many folks in the secular world share Merritts disbelief at the gap between what evangelicals preach and what Trump practices. As an evangelical Christian, I am more embarrassed than mystified.

Most of us who take our Christian faith seriously acknowledge that we have a gap between belief and practice. Our goal is to achieve a lifestyle beyond human frailties. That means we are always hypocrites to some degree. But Trump evangelicals seem to revel in it, making secular political pundits grope for explanations.

In the first place, not all Republican evangelical Christians are supporting Trump, even though polls indicate that a disproportionate share is in his camp. Trump folks come from the outer fringes of faith. Between 35 and 40 percent attend church only seldom, occasionally or never.

One writer summarized it this way: Lots of evangelicals  especially Trump supporters  simply arent that religious.

Evangelical support for Trump may be strong in the pews but not in the pulpits. With the exception of Jerry Falwell Jr., evangelical pastors almost unanimously reject his Bible-waving as political pandering.

In a World magazine survey of 100 evangelical leaders, only one pastor named Trump as a first choice for president.

Another explanation revolves around the anger of evangelical Christians over same-sex marriage, abortion, separation of church and state, and a host of other social issues. But the Bible expects more from Christians than anger. The Apostle Paul warned that the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

But Paul notwithstanding, Christians are angry, very angry, even though many of them believe that God controls all human activity. Apparently, the disgruntled dont like the way he is running things. So they are angry.

To vent this anger, the Trump evangelicals are attracted to someone who will strike out against society and the secular government. With Trump, they can vent their anger by proxy without being exposed.

To speculate further: Are Trump supporters the less-educated evangelicals frustrated in jobs that will not get them the American dream? We dont have the data to answer this question.

However, Stanley Greenberg, author of "America Ascendent," claims that Trump supporters have reason to be upset because economic changes have left the public angry.

The same is true about the general frustration over illegal immigration and the idea of giving illegal immigrants a shortcut to citizenship. And this is being aggravated by the proposal to absorb refugees from the Mideast. Is this a cutting issue with Trump evangelicals?

Here again, we would have to assume that Trump evangelicals are more concerned about immigration than other Republicans. We have no facts so all we can do is theorize.

A recent Gallup poll reported that race relations and terrorism are rated as the most pressing national problems. In many parts of the evangelical South, the Civil War is still being fought and latent racism still haunts society.

Racism has subsided in the South, but police shootings, protest marches, diversity conflicts and Oscar awards have all accentuated racial tensions. Is it possible that the Trump evangelicals are among those who feel most threatened by the economy, immigration and race?

While political observers attribute evangelical Trump support to religious beliefs, perhaps this support among peripheral evangelicals is based on secular considerations and has nothing to do with religion. After all, most evangelicals in America are as secular as everyone else.

(Lloyd Omdahl is a political scientist and former North Dakota lieutenant governor. His column appears Sundays.)
Gardai are investigating a fatal road traffic collision that occurred in the townland of Gooig, Castleconnell this morning.

A pedestrian was hit by a car at 6.15am and fatally injured.
The ISPCA made a horrific discovery in North-West Cork recently where 13 dogs were living in terrible squalor.

Nine greyhounds and four German shepherds were found locked in sheds and trailers lying in inches of their own faeces.

The dogs had no clean water available and were extremely underweight.

Three dead dogs were also discovered on the property.

ISPCA Inspector Lisa ODonovan said, The conditions these dogs were living in were horrendous. The smell was shocking, and the dogs were completely un-socialised.

It was a long difficult task removing them safely. Its difficult to try and get your head around how someone could force the poor dogs to live like this.

The dogs were transported to the ISPCA Equine Rescue Centre in Mallow, Co. Cork to receive the vet treatment they desperately needed.

The four German Shepherds were later transferred to the ISPCA National Animal Centre for rehoming.

Two of the greyhounds have already been rehomed, and the further 7 are still seeking loving, understanding homes.

Greyhounds make fantastic pets as they do not require very much exercise, have short hair and tend not to shed as much as longer haired breeds.

Their low maintenance nature makes them an ideal companion for older people, city dwellers, or other people looking for a sweet, laid back dog.

If you are interested in rehoming any of these dogs, please email mallow@ispca.ie or call 022 43218.
Seven years after the US banned waterboarding as an interrogation technique, Donald Trump admits he would revive its use if he were American president.

Waterboarding is a form of water torture in which water is poured over a cloth covering the face and breathing passages of an immobilized captive, causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning.
Gov. Jack Dalrymples decision last week to have state agencies pare their budgets by 4.05 percent wasnt a surprise. State revenues have been coming in below expectations for some time so the question was whether Dalrymple would seek a 2.5 percent cut or more. He went for more and thats the right decision.

It will be 11 months before the Legislature returns, so the budget cuts and money from the Budget Stabilization Fund should carry the state until then.

Theres still a sense of disbelief that the states fiscal landscape has changed so quickly. After 15 years of receiving almost entirely good news about the growth of revenues in North Dakota, it seems strange to hear that things have gone in the other direction, Dalrymple told legislators and state officials last week.

A revised revenue forecast released last week shows general fund dollars of $4.56 billion for the biennium compared to the March 2015 forecast of about $5.64 billion in general fund dollars. The majority of the shortfall comes from declining sales tax collections, largely due to the slump in energy production in the oil patch.

Lawmakers have congratulated themselves for maintaining reserve funds that will backstop the state. Those were prudent decisions, the kind legislators are elected to make. Most seem to believe state agencies shouldnt have too much difficulty making the 4.05 percent cuts. House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, described it as finding efficiencies.

Revised budgets from state agencies are due to the Office of Management and Budget by Feb. 17 and changes go into effect immediately. Dalrymple recommended that agencies review salaries and vacant positions and scrutinize travel, prioritize projects and find efficiencies within offices. The reductions were widely expected so the work had already begun.

So plans are falling into place for finishing the biennium. The state also needs to start planning for the next biennium. No one knows when oil prices will rebound, just as there is no assurance that we will have a good crop year with decent prices. That means a conservative plan will be necessary.

A debate can be expected over the use of the Legacy Fund, which had more than $3.5 billion in it on Nov. 30. Of this, about $191 million is net earnings. Of the net earnings $185 million are realized earnings, which can be transferred to the state general fund in 2017. The governor has suggested he might use Legacy Fund earnings when he develops his next budget. Others think there will be efforts to tap into the funds principal. Both of these approaches, if attempted, will be opposed.

Any spending proposals before the next Legislature will face scrutiny. That makes it important that local entities closely review any requests they plan to make. The first step in belt-tightening should come before a request is made.

Its going to be an interesting year, but the situation isnt dire. North Dakota has a reputation of being fiscally conservative, though we have spent money over the last few years while our coffers have been overflowing. We are, however, in a period of adjustment.
President Michel Martelly has made his farewell address to Haiti as he leaves office with no successor yet chosen.

In a speech before Parliament, Mr Martelly says his biggest regret is that the presidential election was postponed. He leaves office on Sunday.
The United Arab Emirates has said it is ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of an international coalition to defeat so-called Islamic State extremists.

But the U-A-E's Foreign Secretary admits they will not deploy forces unless the US takes a lead role.
The US Mint will feature an Asian American on its currency for the first time when it issues a coin next week...
LAHORE: While there is no let up in the spread of dengue, the Punjab government has increased the number of beds for...
GRAND FORKS -- It's unclear how much the University of North Dakota president search will cost when it wraps up this spring but recent searches at other schools in the state have cost on average about as much as a 2016 Porsche Panamera 4.

According to North Dakota University System data, the last four university president searches in North Dakota cost $83,505 on average. The most expensive recent search was the Minot State University president in 2013, which cost $87,759, while the least expensive search came in 2012 for the Lake Region State College president, which cost $78,962.

The cost of high-level searches in academia vary across the country but North Dakota's numbers appear to be on the low end of the scale. MLive reported the 2013 presidential search at the University of Michigan cost $320,000, the Gazette of Iowa reported the 2015 University of Iowa presidential search topped $308,000, the Journal Star reported the 2015 search for a University of Nebraska president cost about $260,000 and the Dayton Daily News reported Miami University paid a search firm more than $130,000 to search for a provost in 2014.

UND spokeswoman Billie Jo Lorius said the NDUS office didn't have invoices yet for the UND presidential search. Along with holding three meetings, the 12-person committee and 16 candidates met in at a hotel in the Twin Cities for two days in early February for face-to-face interviews.

Seven candidates are expected to visit campus through the remainder of February into early March. The search began in October and the group expects to forward a short list of finalists to the State Board of Higher Education for selection in mid-March.

The UND presidential search committee is also working with a consulting firm, AGB Search, which did not respond to interview requests.

According to the contract obtained by the Herald, AGB will be paid $70,000 for services and could be reimbursed for up to $16,750 for travel and other expenses. Lorius said the only invoice filed with the North Dakota University System office so far is an initial $50,000 paid to AGB.

AGB Search was also hired to work on several recent presidential searches as well as the NDUS chancellor search in 2015, which cost $83,943.
LONDON: Liz Truss said on Thursday she would resign as British prime minister, brought down just six weeks into the...
Queenslanders on Sunday got their first look at the new passenger trains to go into Queensland Rail's commuter fleet in the second half of 2016.

The state has paid $4.4 billion for the 75 new trains, each with six carriages.

Queensland's newest trains set to be added to the fleet in mid to late 2016.

The new-age trains include CCTV cameras, straps for bicycles and WiFi in every carriage.

The public can have a look through the new trains at an open day at the new rail maintenance workshop at Wulkuraka, west of Ipswich, on Saturday, February 13.
GRAND FORKS -- Facing a three-month wait to get fillings at another dental practice, Carolyn Reigstad found herself at Aspen Dental in Grand Forks Friday morning.

"I'm going to have it done here now," she said.

Aspen Dental, a national chain with more than 500 locations, cited dental health professional shortages in North Dakota for its decision to open a Grand Forks location. But researchers said population centers like the city of Grand Forks aren't where North Dakota's need for dentists is most pronounced.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designates roughly a dozen North Dakota counties as dental health professional shortage areas, and a 2014 report notes shortages tend to be in rural, underserved and Native American communities. Among the designated counties are Griggs, Steele and Nelson, which are south and west of Grand Forks, as well as the western portion of Grand Forks County.

Some dentists said the immediate area has plenty of providers, but researchers said the problem tends to hit rural areas. With just 50 percent of the state's population living in "urban" areas, 67 percent of dentists are located in Grand Forks, Cass, Burleigh and Ward counties, which include North Dakota's four largest cities, said Shawnda Schroeder, a research assistant professor at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota.

"What we have really is an issue of distribution of dentists," she said.

Urban vs. rural

Several dentists in Grand Forks said they don't consider the local community to have a shortage of dental professionals.

"There are plenty of dentists and plenty of dentists graduating," said Chelsea Erickson, a dentist at DeMers Dental in East Grand Forks, Minn. "The issue is there are certainly underserved areas -- Grand Forks just doesn't happen to be one of them."

Grand Forks, Walsh and Ramsey counties have at least five dentists each, while Pembina and Traill counties have between two and four each. Griggs County and Cavalier have one dentist each, and there are no dentists in Nelson and Steele counties, according a 2014 report by Center for Rural Health.

Lack of immediate access to a dentist can mean long commutes to a nearby town, which can complicate work schedules and other obligations, Schroeder said.

Health professionals said the cost of operating a dental practice means there needs to be an available patient population to draw from.

"Either way, you have to have a full schedule," said Rob Lauf, a dentist with Goose River Dental in Mayville, N.D., who doesn't consider the eastern part of the state to have a dental shortage. "There are some counties that don't have a dentist, but they also don't have the population to support a dentist."

But it appears many North Dakota dentists do have a full schedule. An American Dental Association survey showed that less than 10 percent of general and specialist dentists in North Dakota reported they are not busy enough and could see more patients in 2013, which was the lowest percentage of the 36 states included on the survey and well below the national average of roughly 35 percent.

Dental needs aren't limited to rural areas in North Dakota. Just 7.8 percent of Minnesota's dentists are located in the northwest portion of the state, while 61.7 percent are in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Other issues

In 2014, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggested it would take 7,300 dentists to eliminate health professional shortage area designations across the country.

But Marko Vujicic, chief economist with the ADA, called that a "highly flawed" figure. While he acknowledged rural areas face a lack of providers, he said the main reasons people don't seek dental care are cost and "a perceived lack of need" rather than an inability to get a dental appointment scheduled.

"So that gives me an aggregate picture of, 'Wait a minute, more dentists isn't going to solve that,'" he said.

Still, the national supply of dentists is expected to grow in the next 15 years. A 2014 report from the ADA that Vujicic co-authored predicted the number of dentists would increase to 63.3 per 100,000 people in 2033, up from 61.7 in 2013.

Dental care access isn't just a matter of location and supply of dentists, Schroeder said.

"Access to care is absolutely an issue, more significantly for those who are low-income, those who are on Medicaid, those who are rural, those who are aging, and American Indian," she said. "Those are the populations that are having worse oral health outcomes, and they are not utilizing dental care as readily."

The portion of North Dakota children with Medicaid coverage who have visited a dentist in the past year grew from 13 percent in 2000 to 33 percent in 2013, although it has dropped slightly in the years leading up to 2013, according to the Center for Rural Health. North Dakota is below the national rate of 48 percent of children with Medicaid coverage who recently saw a dentist in 2013, according to the ADA.

Complicating North Dakota's supply of dentists is the lack of a dental school in the state. North Dakota instead relies on students trained at schools like the University of Minnesota and Creighton University in Nebraska, according to the Center for Rural Health.

To recruit dentists to North Dakota, the state offers a student loan repayment program for up to $100,000. Traditionally the program only receives a handful of applicants every year, but the state has become more aggressive in marketing it with the help of the North Dakota Dental Association, said Mary Amundson, associate professor at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Last week the City of Sydney released a report on the Late Night Management Areas Research (LNMAR) project. A selection of the findings have been rapidly leaped upon by alcohol industry advocates and others as demonstrations that the liquor trading restrictions introduced in 2014, after following the deaths of Daniel Christie and Thomas Kelly, have been unsuccessful and have devastated the city's nightlife.

Such claims will always be made by those with vested interests, but it is important to check whether the report is well conducted and the conclusions are justified. In this instance, this is definitely not so.

The City of Sydney report highlights figures like an 89 per cent reduction in foot traffic in Kings Cross - but for foot traffic at 4am, when the venues are shut. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The report comes in the context of continued evidence from agencies such as NSW Police, St Vincents Hospital and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics Research all showing massive reductions in alcohol-related harm.
In contrast, the liquor industry prefers to emphasise that most drinkers at any specific time do not have a drinking problem.

The alcohol industry has known for a long time that consumption is very uneven but has been loathe to have this pointed out. This is because the super-consumers of alcohol are the industry's economic lifeblood. Without them, that industry would earn just a fraction of the massive profits it enjoys today.

According to a recent report of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, a fifth of all Australian drinkers consume three-quarters of the grog. The heaviest-drinking 5 five per cent  about 1 million Australians  consume more than eight standard drinks of alcohol every day, and the proportion of alcohol being consumed by heavy drinkers is increasing.

This perspective is misleading for several reasons. If we look at drinkers over a period of years, a much higher proportion will have had a serious health, social or financial alcohol problem at some stage. The proportion of drinkers who have had a serious problem increases the longer they are studied. About one in every eight male drinkers and about one in 12 female drinkers will develop a serious problem with alcohol in 10 to 15 years. Some studies report even higher figures. Also, some of the problems from alcohol are not primarily experienced by the drinker but by their family, friends or even complete strangers.

Another way the industry's spin misleads is that most alcohol problems experienced in the community are actually accounted for by the people who only drink moderately heavily over the course of a year, compared to the much smaller number of super consumers.

In the same way, a small number of motorcyclists ride at much higher risk of death or serious injury than the large army of car drivers. But it's the car drivers who still account for the vast majority of road crash deaths because there are so many more car drivers than motorcyclists.

Many people who drink moderately heavily over the course of a year consume spectacular quantities in short bursts and this is often when their problems arise. About half the problems we associate with alcohol are caused by heavy binges, while the other half are caused by continuous, relentless drinking.

Like the tobacco industry, the liquor industry knows it is selling an addictive product. Each year in Australia, alcohol causes between 5000 and 6000 deaths and directly results in more than 150,000 hospital admissions. In 2004-05, alcohol cost the Australian economy an estimated $15 billion.
There was every reason to think the story would have some promise as musical theatre. Regrettably, Ghost the Musical isn't a patch on the movie it trades off. You know you're in trouble when, on opening night, a not insignificant number of freeloaders wanders away at interval.

Fizzle not sizzle: Jemma Rix and Rob Mills lack the erotic frisson that Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze captured in the film. Credit:Claudio Raschella

With its unusual blend of romantic tragedy, supernatural comedy and crime thriller, the 1990 film Ghost achieved instant popular success. Each ingredient struck a perfect balance, from the sizzling erotic chemistry between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore (whose embrace over a potter's wheel became one of Hollywood's iconic love scenes) to Whoopi Goldberg's Oscar-winning performance as charlatan psychic Oda Mae Brown.

Superficially, the musical plays from the same book  Molly (Jemma Rix) and her fiance Sam (Rob Mills) have their dreams shattered when Sam is shot and killed during a back-alley mugging. Caught between this world and the next, Sam persists as a ghost, discovering the identity of his murderer in co-worker Carl (David Roberts), and harassing a psychic con artist (Wendy Mae Brown) into warning his lover she's in danger.

Unambiguously funny: Oda Mae Brown (Wendy Mae Brown) with Sam (Rob Mills) and Molly (Jemma Rix) in Ghost the Musical. Credit:Jeff Busby

Humour is the one part of the show that unambiguously works. Wendy Mae Brown channels Whoopi's comic sass with aplomb, and the natural transition of the character into a soul queen, complete with backing vocalists (Evette Marie White and Lydia Warr), provides rare moments of musical splendour.

Romance, however, is seriously short-changed, and at one level that's down to the sheer blandness of the songs. The odd harmony aside, Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) and Glen Ballard have churned out a conveyer-belt of pop ballads too melodically and emotively insipid to make the show's extremities of love and grief feel authentic.

It doesn't help that Mills and Rix lack chemistry. Their love scenes are implausibly tentative, and you can plaster the stage with erotic video projections all you like, if the acting isn't secure, the technical wizardry comes across as desperate decoration.
Leading scientists will use a national conference on Monday to appeal to the Turnbull government to intervene to reverse plans by the CSIRO to eliminate most of its climate roles amid claims the Prime Minister was "blindsided" by the move.

The cuts, that will cleave about 110 positions from the CSIRO's 140-odd strong Ocean and Atmosphere staff and a similar number from its Land and Water division, were announced in an email from chief executive Larry Marshall on Thursday.

There are claims Malcolm Turnbull was blindsided by the news. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Turnbull and his staff "didn't see it coming", a senior CSIRO researcher has been told. The PM "blanched" when given a copy of the news of the cuts, and asked his staff to investigate, another source tells Fairfax Media.

Fairfax Media has sought comment from the PM's office.
In September 2014, Julian Assange filed a complaint against Sweden and Britain with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD).

In a landmark opinion issued on February 5, 2016, WGAD upheld Assanges complaint that he is a victim of illegal and arbitrary detention, and thereby dispelled the myths that Assange chooses to remain in the Embassy or that he is a fugitive from justice.

Julian Assange, pictured on the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, with the UN report that says he is being 'arbitrarily detained' by Britain and Sweden. Credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth

This opinion is a victory not only for Assange, but for the right of whistle-blowers everywhere to be protected from persecution, and for the victims who benefit from their work.

WGAD affirmed that Assange had been detained continuously for more than five years: first in isolation in a prison, then under house arrest, and finally, under Embassy arrest which was comprised of continuous confinement and police surveillance.
Queensland will join Victoria and New South Wales in calling for the federal government to stop asylum seeker children and their families being sent back to immigration detention centres.

On Wednesday the High Court upheld the legality of detaining asylum seekers on foreign shores, dashing the hopes of 267 asylum seekers, including 37 babies born in Australia, that they would be resettled here.

"Samuel" soon after he was born in Australia.

On Saturday Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews posted an open letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on twitter that said Victoria would take full responsibility for the families who were brought to Australia from Nauru.

"I write to inform you that Victoria will accept full responsibility for all of these children and their families including the provision of housing, health, education and welfare services," Mr Andrews said.
Four people will appear in court charged over a bomb hoax at a school on Brisbane's southside.

Calamvale Community College was one of more than 20 Queensland schools to receive threatening calls last week, and the call sparked an evacuation before police determined there was no danger.

Four people face charges over a bomb hoax call to a Calamvale school. Credit:Louie Douvis

A man, 22, and a 17-year-old girl were charged on Saturday with using a carriage service for a hoax threat, falsely stating a bomb was present and wilful disturbance.

Police allege a threatening phone call was made to the school about 12.40pm on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnball's comments on tax reform have been welcomed by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Speaking on ABC's Insight program on Sunday, Mr Turnbull said he was unconvinced raising the GST would deliver economic growth.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed Malcolm Turnbull's stance on tax reform. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"At this stage, I remain to be convinced or be persuaded that a tax mix switch of that kind would actually give us the economic benefit that you'd want in order to do such a big thing," he said.



It is a position, Ms Palaszczuk said, that was closer to her own thinking on tax reform.

"I have been saying this for months," she said.
Beijing: North Korea has declared the successful firing of a long-range rocket and flouted international condemnation of the launch by promising "many more".

In defiance of international warnings, North Korea fired the rocket on Sunday morning in what it said was a mission under the direct orders of lead Kim Jong-un to put an Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong-4, into orbit.

But the United Nations deplored Pyongyang's move, widely seen as part of its program to develop intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles (ICBMs).
Port-au-Prince: Haitian leaders have agreed to install a caretaker government to take over from President Michel Martelly when he leaves power this weekend without an elected successor, a move that failed to calm protesters who clashed with police again on Saturday.

The agreement was reached less than 24 hours before Mr Martelly steps down. Under the deal parliament will elect an interim president for a four-month term.

A human skull and bones are placed on the ground in a voodoo ceremony before the start of a protest to demand the president's resignation on Saturday. Credit:AP

The temporary president, expected to be chosen in the next few days, will be committed to holding delayed presidential elections by April 24 and handing power to the winner the following month.
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A leading trial in the fight against antibiotics resistance, which could potentially save thousands of lives a year, is being launched in Bristol.

Professor Matthew Avison has developed a pioneering method to help doctors identify the best antibiotics to administer for individual infections.

Most doctors are forced to guess which type of drug to prescribe at the beginning of an illness until more conclusive testing can take place.

For every hour that passes for patients suffering from serious infections their chance of dying increases by seven per cent.

Dr Avison's new method, using a detailed computer system, identifies not only what type of bacteria is causing the infection but also what antibiotics are already resistant to the drugs.

Antibiotics have saved the lives of millions of people, making infections including pneumonia and meningitis treatable.

But some strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to even the strongest pills, which could have a huge impact on he nation soon.

The resistance is being accelerated by health professionals over-using antibiotics when they are not necessary.

Dr Avison, who is a senior lecturer in microbiology, said his 200,000 Government-funded trial is being launched at Bristol University before being taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

He said: "Most bacterium are resistant to something, very few are resistant to everything.

"How to work out which is resistant or not currently can take doctors at least a day.

"Someone with an infection might not have a day to wait or that time could make a big difference

"At the moment doctors tend to prescribe the strongest, newest antibiotic they have available to them because they don't know which antibiotic would be the best for that particular infection.

"But the more it gets used the faster a resistance is built-up.

"The faster doctors knows which antibiotic to prescribe the better because during the time it takes to find out the infection will be spreading, But also the more a particular drug is prescribed the less effective it is likely to be in the future."

Once Dr Avison's method has been tested in laboratories at Bristol University, scientists will take the system to BRI's labs.

If these tests are successful then hospitals across the country are likely to use the technology.

"If our tests are positive then I'd hope we'd attract a lot more funding," said Dr Avison. "We'd have to carry out larger samples but potentially after that it could be rolled out at labs across the country."

The fight against antibiotics resistance has become a national priority.

Last year a potentially lethal strain of E.coli which is resistant to our strongest antibiotics has already been discovered in Britain.

And a highly drug-resistant gonorrhoea was also identified in Leeds, with the outbreak spreading to nearby areas.

"Untreatable infections are still something we don't see a lot of in the South West, " said D Avison. "Unfortunately they are becoming more regular around the world but with the public's awareness growing and the Government allocating more money to the area the speed of resistance has been slowing down.

"The less antibiotics are used unnecessarily the better in terms of slowing resistance down which is why I hope the new method will have a big impact."

A lethal strain of E. coli

Public Health England (PHE) has discovered cases of Salmonella and E.coli carrying a resistance gene in 12 people.

Bugs carrying the same gene have been found on three pig farms in the UK and also in chicken meat imported from Europe.

At the moment, a drug called colistin is used as a "last resort" when all other antibiotics have failed.

But the new bug which were discovered contained the MCR-1 gene, which disables colistin.
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In New York, our lives overlap on many fronts. Your car alarm goes off, your street wakes up. You overcook your fish, your neighbors gag. You hold the subway door open, you have saved the guy behind yous job. We are densely, intensely interconnected, but no place more so than on the sidewalk.

And no time more so than after a snowstorm.

As I waited my turn to traipse single-file through the Kilimanjaro of snow at my corner last week, my teeth gritted in fury even as I attempted a cheery, Were all in this together! grin. (Hard on the jaw.) The truth is, we are all in this together, but our sidewalks are like L.A.s freeways: A place wed all love to gun past absolutely everyone else, if only we could.

I hate slow people, says substitute teacher Elizabeth Atkinson Cuccia. Her strategy for avoiding them is the same used by NASCAR drivers. My eyes are always scanning for a potential opening so I can scoot around them. Im good at finding holes that I can worm my way through.

Its not that Cuccia, of College Point, feels no empathy for the slow. Her mother uses a walker and she herself broke her foot a few years back, hobbling so pitifully that strangers stopped to offer her a ride. (See? We may be impatient but were not heartless.) (Were scary people who offer rides to strangers who cant run away once we start driving them to the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge.)

Now, however, Cuccia is back to fighting trim, and when those in front of her are busy gaping at tall buildings, or wearing headphones, ambling in time with Adele, her sympathy gets displaced  as do those slow pedestrians. Whoosh! Shes on her way. Then, unable to stop herself, she turns around to see just how far behind they are.

Ive done that too.

We all have our favorite techniques for passing the pokeys.

On the street, I usually walk along the curb to go around the slow people. Or I huff and squeeze past them, sometimes with a little extra shoulder check action, says Kate Schliebin, a Brooklyn mom not to be messed with.

There are times when I will sneeze a big sneeze so they get grossed out and move out of the way, reports resourceful Freddy S. Zalta, an author. Another guy I know walks as loudly as possible. Me? I whistle, aggressively. Its part of that cheerful thing again  Were all in this together! (But you are in the way.)

About five years ago the group Improv Everywhere went down to the Flatiron District and painted a line down the middle of the sidewalk. They labeled one lane, Tourists and the other New Yorkers. Then, wearing official-looking vests, they queried pedestrians, Are you a tourist or New Yorker? directing the amazingly compliant folks to the right lane or left.

Excuse me, mam, one of the actors said (you can watch it on YouTube. Look for Tourist Lane), are you just going to stand there? Stand in the tourist lane. Thats for slow people.

A woman directed to the fast lane said, As a New Yorker, I appreciate this!

The Improv folks told her to thank the mayor  Bloomberg at the time, who later declared the project a nice thing to do. (Does he count as a New Yorker, considering hes from Boston?)

Another Improv Everywhere participant held a clipboard as she explained to passersby, deadpan, that, There are a lot of pedestrian accidents between New Yorkers and tourists. This lane initiative, she said, was just one possible way to keep everyone a little safer.

The lanes remained on the sidewalk for four days before they were removed. One wiseacre on the groups website suggested that next time, they should create a smartphone lane to make for a safe, obstacle-less, continuous walk.

But I guess its no surprise that the Improv folks had already tackled that problem: In another project they provided Seeing Eye People to help people text-and-walk safely.

Improv participants in bright orange vests cleared the way as people holding on with leashes followed behind them, texting. Watch out! Texter coming through! the guide-people shouted.

Its all really funny  except when Im texting. Or gawking, or gaping, or totally confused as to where Im going or where Ive gotten out of the subway. Then Im the speed bump and youre the New Yorker who cant give me one single second to get my bearings.

And I go home and over-cook my fish.

Lenore Skenazy is a keynote speaker and the author and founder of the book and blog Free-Range Kids.
Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure.

WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more.
Looking for the big games to watch in Week 9? We have them right here.

football
Home bakers are making South Jersey a butter place

New Jersey residents are pursuing their cottage food dreams following a year since the state removed its restrictions on selling home-baked goods.
ABB, the Switzerland-based automation and power technologies major, plans to consolidate its global back-office operations for human resources, accounting, and supply chain in India and Poland. This would help the firm cut annual costs by as much as $1 billion.

ABB, through its shared services unit, already has around 2,000 people working on technology and research in India, including services such as monitoring the working of about 3,500 robots at its customer factories globally.

ABB currently has 68 back-office centres globally providing finance, payroll and supply chain services. These would be consolidated into two large centres  India and Poland  and four regional ones over the next two years, Chief Executive Officer, Ulrich Spiesshofer said in an investors call last week.

The process is under way and will enable us to deliver higher-quality services at best-in-class costs, he added.

A spokesperson said the India unit would add around 1,000 people in the first phase, catering to its operations in South Asia, West Asia and Africa.

ABB joins global manufacturing firms such as Caterpillar, Denso, Shell, Siemens and John Deere to set up captive back-office centres that would service its businesses globally.

A 2015 Deloitte survey had said India emerged as the top destination for global firms to set up a shared service centre for their businesses, with cost as a primary driver, to shift and consolidate their back-office operations.

In October, ABB had elevated its India Managing Director, Bazmi Husain, as global chief technology officer, based in Bengaluru, where the company does significant work on building power and automation technologies for global markets.
This article has been modified. Please see clarification at the end.



Four-year-old Meghana Gowda loves her kindergarten classes. She introduces herself in clean English, and sings English rhymes fluently. Yet, Meghana does not stay in a city or even a town. Her father is a farmer and they reside at Gurudevarahalli, 92 km from Bengaluru. However, she has access to quality and affordable pre-school education in her village through Hippocampus Learning Centres (HLC).

Started by Umesh Malhotra, an IIT-Madras graduate, HLC tries to bridge the urban-rural gap in kindergarten education. With 250 centres in Karnataka alone. It claims to be the largest pre-school network in the state and targets the rural population.

The centres use local women as teachers and ride on community support. HLC's first centre was in Mandya and it scaled up to 17 centres in first year. "HLC takes pride on low establishment and material costs, both of which make our services affordable. We reach most rural areas where no such interventions are available," says Chief Executive Officer Malhotra.

While addressing pre-schooling needs, it also generates employment for women who are trained for 15 days. Things taught during six months of Montessori training and two years of experience are condensed into a two-week curriculum. The model is structured to provide both pre-service and in-service training to teachers. HLC has developed a method of assessment, termed STEP, through which children are rated according to their levels: The starter, tentative, excellent and par-excellent levels. An analysis of these every month highlights problem areas, then addressed by teachers.

Like any other new product, adoption and understanding were the primary hurdles for HLC, too. "People were sceptical about an urban concept that has come to change the rural pre-school learning. The teaching method was also unusual to what they have seen," Malhotra says.

HLC charges Rs 2,000 per year per child as fees. Partner schools buy the programme for a fee. The investment cost per centre is between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh and the operating cost about Rs 80,000 a year. While Malhotra did not disclose revenue figures, he says the institute expects to triple this in the coming financial year.

It has reached about 11,000 pre-school students and has a little over 600 teachers. Recently, it opened centres in Maharashtra - eight partner schools in Nagpur and five HLCs in Sangli.

HLC works on both a franchisee model and partnership with schools. The institute shares in-house developed content and pedagogy to these pre-schools, interested individuals and self-help groups. It has tied up with 50 private schools and Anganwadis each. The plan is to reach 700 centres by year-end. "We are planning to open 15 more Hippocampus centres in Kolhapur and Sangli and another 15 in and around Nagpur. This is in addition to expanding to two more states," adds Malhotra. It has raised Rs 21 crore in two rounds of funding that included money from the Asian Development Bank, Unitus Seed Fund, Khosla Impact, Acumen and Lok Capital.

"They invested in a business that is highly scalable and profitable, while serving a dire social need. It is a scaling model that embraces local communities and their needs, creates new teachers and delivers exceptional educational outcomes, making their programmes highly desirable country-wide," says Will Poole, co-founder and managing partner, Unitus Seed Fund.

What differentiates HLC from the likes of a TreeHouse or a Zee Kidz is its rural reach. Those two are confined to urban areas.

Also, unlike these training centres where the pedagogy is mostly in English, HLC offers bilingual training. "We teach the children English but our classes are primarily conducted in local languages. Lesson plans and activity sheets are also bilingual, so that parents can help children complete the activity," Malhotra explains. He says it's all about building a "brand out of rural India", bridging the Bharat-India divide.

FACT BOX

EXPERT TAKE

Hippocampus Learning Centres2011Pre-schools of rural kidsRs 21 cr in two roundsAsian Development Bank, Unitus Seed Fund, Khosla Impact, Acumen and Lok CapitalEducation in India is fraught with problems. Poor quality of teachers, lack of basic infrastructure and resources are alarming concerns. In rural India, a vast majority of parents are less exposed to education facilities and demand far less than their urban counterparts. Largely, we have government schools and a few private schools. Children need to travel long distances to attend these.

Pre-school education is extremely important to foster good habits, brain stimulation and cognitive development. Parents in rural India work in the fields. Hence, children do not get sufficient stimulation at home, their curiosity gets hampered and they are not actively engaged. This leads to long-lasting behavioural, development and education problems, due to lack of stimulation. Hence, they miss out on a huge developmental part in their lives.

Institutions like Hippocampus Learning Centres run with the right intention of providing fun and activity-based learning outcomes. With their engaging curriculum, trained teachers and centres at accessible locations, Hippocampus is making a difference in the lives of the children and parents. Its intention to run these centres in vernacular and English language makes sure children get a head start.

Maya Menon is founder-director of The Teacher Foundation



CLARIFICATION

This version corrects earlier one that said HLC raised $21 mn in five rounds. It indeed raised Rs 21 crore in two rounds. We stand corrected with the update.
This article has been modified. Please see clarification at the end.



Tata Marcopolo, owned partially by Tata Motors, Indias biggest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has declared a lock-out at its bus manufacturing plant in Dharwad, Karnataka following continued strike by workers.

Dissatisfied with the revision in wages and subsequent suspension of a dozen staff members, a section of workers at the plant are alleged to have incited others to disrupt work. The company decided to shut down operations on Saturday at the plant, which makes buses under the Tata Marcopolo brand.

"Every year, the company undertakes an upward wage revision and has continued to do so even in adverse market conditions. Some dissatisfied workers had incited fellow workers to disrupt work, causing substantial financial and customer confidence loss but we continued discussions with them in good faith; despite substantial loss to the company, we took a lenient view of these actions when the workers resumed work," said a company spokesperson in an emailed response.

"However, with continued disruption, jeopardising the company's operations and reputation," workers resorted to an "illegal strike again on January 31. Considering these, we were compelled to resort to a temporary suspension of operations on February 1. In view of not improving the situation, and our apprehension of a congenial peaceful working atmosphere not prevailing, we were forced to declare a lockout from February 6," the statement said.

The Karnataka labour commissioner has called for a meeting on Monday with trade unions and Tata Motors Marcopolo to revoke the suspension of production at the factory, according to sources.

This is not the first time the plant witnessed labour trouble. In April last year, the plant faced a similar situation but the issue was resolved amicably.

Abhishek Desai, president, Tata Motors Marcopolo Workers Association, said, "We want to resolve the crisis. If there is no production, thousands of workers would lose jobs and harm industrialisation of the Dharwad region." The plant produces 60 buses a day for both the local market and markets such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"We did witness a considerable drop in average production. However, the plant is equipped to manufacture 15,000 units a year and we are confident of catering to market demands," said the company spokesperson. Dharwad is one of the youngest plants of the Mumbai-based company which began operations in 2009. The plant makes fully-built buses for intra-city and inter-city transportation that include 16 to 54-seater standard and 18 to 45-seater luxury and low-floor city buses.

Desai blames an external union - Trade Union Centre of India. The union and workers of the plant had carried out a mass protest on January 31.

R Manasayya, president of the Trade Union Centre of India, who led a rally against the company on Saturday, declined to comment.

When asked when the issue was expected to be resolved, the company spokesperson said, "The company will not tolerate any coercive methods for pressurising with unreasonable demands and indiscipline."



Tata Motors has had peaceful labour relations at all its plants compared to other automotive companies, like Mahindra & Mahindra and Hyundai to name a few, which have experienced similar strikes in recent years, leading to loss in production.

Despite laying off 4,500 non-permanent employees from its truck-making plant in Jamshedpur, during the peak of the slowdown months in 2013, according to reports then, the company did not have to face a backlash from its workforce.

IN A NUTSHELL

Dharwad unit is one the youngest plants of Tata Motors



It began operations in 2009



Firm makes fully-built buses for intra-city and inter-city transportation

This is an updated version. Earlier one said Tata Motors declares lockout at Dharwad plant. It is Tata Marcopolo that has declared the lockout. We stand corrected with the update.
Maharashtra governments City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) will be asking this week to be allowed to move on with the process of getting bids for the proposed Navi Mumbai international airport.

Cidcos aim is to get the Request for proposals (RFPs) out by early March and the final contract issued by June. Four bidders had qualified but one of these, the consortium of the Hiranandani Group and Zurich Airport, was denied security clearance to proceed by the Union home ministry (first reported in Business Standard).

That leaves the GMR group, the GVK groups Mumbai International Airport, and the Tata Realty-MIA Infrastructure consortium.

Cidco, nodal agency for the airport project, will be asking the Maharashtra chief secretary-led project monitoring and implementation committee (PMIC) for approval to proceed with the issue of a formal RFP to the bidders.

Sanjay Bhatia, vice-chairman and managing director of Cidco, told Business Standard: Well seek PMIC approval and then the state Cabinets clearance will be sought. We expect to issue the RFP to the three qualified bidders by the first week of March.



The Union aviation ministry, he said, had already given its go-ahead.

The ministry has said the airport will be developed as a joint venture between Cidco and the private developer. The Airports Authority of India will have an option to hold five per cent stake in the project. Bhatia also said technical bids for pre-airport development were under scrutiny and the financial bids of the qualified parties would soon be opened.

The state government and Cidco hope, as mentioned earlier, to award the contract by June.

The objective is to get the first phase with passenger handling capacity of 10 million to be commissioned by December 2019.
With the announcement of 20 names to be developed as smart cities, the process of giving a facelift to crumbing urban infrastructure in certain pockets is set to begin yet again. The Centre proposes to give Rs 200 crore to each of the selected cities in the first year and Rs 100 crore in subsequent years. Each city will have a special purpose vehicle in place to implement the scheme.

Even as the work is about to begin to develop smart cities, it is high time we looked at how similar projects fared in the past. A review of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by two Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad scholars show the implementation was slow, resulting in several instances of time and cost overruns.

"It seems like the small and simple projects get done, whereas the complex projects are not performing as expected in terms of time and cost efficiency," write Vidhee Kiran Avashia and Amit Garg in a recently published report. One of the handicaps of urban bodies when it comes to executing complex projects is the lack of executional capability, particularly in non-metro cities, to implement such projects. The absence of trained manpower does not help either.

The IIM scholars examined around 500 projects across nine sectors related to urban infrastructure and governance and they found "the average completion rate in most of the sectors is 600-65 per cent. Only the heritage, parking and urban renewal projects show a lower rate of progress at five per cent, 40 per cent, and 53 per cent, respectively."



On key parameters of cost management and timely completion, urban renewal mission projects fared badly. Of the 538 projects examined, 294 suffered from cost overruns, 303 from time overruns, and 166 projects suffered both time as well as cost overruns. "A combined cost and time delay analysis indicates 36 per cent of the urban renewal projects suffer from both time and cost overruns," the authors argue.

The proportion of projects impacted both by time and cost overruns is even higher in some states. In Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, for instance, there are as many as 55 per cent such projects. In Karnataka, it stands at 40 per cent. Delhi seems to have done well on this parameter as only one of 23 JNNURM projects suffers from both cost escalation and delay in execution.

Experts say poor urban governance structure is to be blamed for the tardy implementation of JNNURM projects. A 2011 planning commission report says: "A common refrain in urban governance is the problem of fragmented and/or overlapping institutional responsibilities... A large number of parastatals, including development authorities, water supply & sewerage boards, slum housing & development boards, public works department, etc have been performing various functions The multiplicity of agencies providing various services in the urban sector has led to overlapping, ambiguity and wastage of resources."



Multiple agencies sometimes act at cross-purposes, causing considerable delays in routine work such as road repair, restoration of water pipelines or digging holes, say experts. "A few years ago, at a construction site in south Delhi, a stretch of road caved in. It remained so for nearly a year as there was a fight among departments as to which one was responsible for this lapse. Finally, the urban development ministry had to intervene and bring all stakeholders together to undertake the repair work," said a Delhi-based commentator who stays in south Delhi.

According to Jaijit Bhattacharya, partner (cities and innovation) at KPMG, Mumbai and Chicago municipal corporations operate with almost identical amount of fund, but the structure of governance is very different in both the places. "In the case of Chicago, you know the city mayor is responsible for all the work, but in the case of Mumbai, you don't know which agency is responsible for a particular piece of work."



He says poor urban governance is partly to be blamed for below-par performance of JnNURM. He adds the smart cities project, which he says is "an area-specific approach compared to the project-specific approach of the JnNURM" is also likely to suffer if the much-needed reforms are not introduced in urban governance model.

Incidentally, states were asked to reform urban governance structure to avail funds for JnNURM. The IIM scholars cited above argue "the state governments, many of whom were reluctant to implement reforms but eager to get money from the Centre, undertook reforms 'on paper', and the Centre, faced with spending pressures, was willing to accept the 'on-paper' reforms as achievement of milestones required to release funding".
In a first, two companies in Rajasthan have shut down their units and retrenched around 100 employees without prior permission of the state government. The units belonged to ADM Agro and Isuzu Garments in Kota and Tonk districts, respectively. The state government said the closure of these units and retrenchment of employees took place under the amended Industrial Disputes Act.

The Rajasthan government had amended the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Contract Labour Act, 1970, and the Factories Act, 1947, as part of its drive to introduce industrial and labour reforms to attract investment in the state. The amended Industrial Disputes Act allows companies to retrench up to 300 employees without prior permission of the government and makes it more difficult for workers to create unions. The Act prescribes a union can be formed only if it gets 30 per cent of the workers as members, against the earlier requirement of 15 per cent.

The amended Bills had received President Pranab Mukherjee's approval in November 2014. The two companies shut operations in the second half of 2015. Senior Rajasthan government officials said the closure of the Isuzu Garments' Tonk unit was a result of a long-standing dispute between the management and labour unions.

"The labour department could not resolve the matter between the two and the matter was referred for adjudication. The unions went on a strike and the management declared a lockout, saying it was unable to meet workers' demands," said a government official. Following a court case and failure of talks with the unions, Isuzu's management shut down the operations in August 2015, laying off 53 staff and 180 workers. The state government said the retrenched employees were intimated 60 days in advance and fully compensated under the Act. Business Standard could not reach the management or unions for comments.

"The oilseeds market in India has become increasingly challenging and we have not seen adequate returns from our Indian oilseeds operations in several years. These challenges are affecting the entire industry; several other companies have had to close their plants as well," ADM Agro stated.

"ADM Agro will be offering retrenchment compensation for 101 employees in Kota, as per law established. The company also offered outplacement services for them to find suitable alternate employment. This was a difficult decision that was carefully considered, as we do not take lightly the impact it has on our employees," the statement added.

While the amended Act might have served the purpose of helping the companies carry out operations with much ease in Rajasthan, it would be too early to say whether such reforms are resulting in more flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the state. Data from the department of industrial policy & promotion suggest that in 2012-13, a year before Vasundhara Raje took over the reins from the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state, the FDI equity inflow in the state was Rs 714 crore. It fell to Rs 233 crore in 2013-14, the year Assembly elections took place and Raje was sworn chief minister in December. Next year (2014-15), FDI equity inflow rose to a record high of Rs 3,237 crore. In the current financial year (2015-16), the FDI inflow was Rs 117 crore till September 2015.

The record increase in 2014-15 is largely attributed to a couple of big-ticket deals, which might have materialised earlier.

"The FDI inflow doesn't give a trend of improvement in the state's effectiveness of getting foreign investment barring FY15 when equity inflows increased to Rs 3,000 crore. During the rest of the years, inflow remained lacklustre," said Devendra Pant, chief economist, India Ratings & Research, adding, "The state can attract a higher investment inflow by aligning its policies, which are conducive for investment."



Another trend of investment could be gauged from the data related to the implementation of the Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM). It is a form, which is filed by the entrepreneurs with the Centre on completion of their projects in the state.

A total of 30 IEMs with an investment of Rs 3,173 crore were filed in 2013. It was followed by 13 with an investment of Rs 1,544 crore in 2014. Till March 2015, seven IEMS worth Rs 3,022 crore have been filed.

The government is expecting to convert Rs 3.5 lakh crore worth of MoUs, which it signed over the past year, into reality. Among the major investment promises are Sun Edison (Rs 30,000 crore), Cairn India (Rs 12,500 crore) and SoftBank (Rs 60,000 crore). The Union government, watching the impact of these industrial and labour reforms in Rajasthan, is also contemplating similar amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act in Parliament.
Text of PM's address at International Fleet Review 2016

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Honourable Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Chief Ministers .

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My Cabinet colleagues; .

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Delegates of Foreign Navies; .

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Brave and proud men and women of the Indian Navy; and .

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The resolute people of this great city- Visakhapatnam. .

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I am privileged to visit Visakhapatnam. The city has a special place in the heart of all Indians. .

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My last visit to Vishakhapatnam was in October of 2014. .

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At that time, Cyclone Hudhud had left the city shattered in pieces. .

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But, the people of Vishakhapatnam smiled in the face of adversity. .

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It is a tribute to the city that within 14 months, you have risen against all odds to welcome the Navies from across the continents in this International Fleet Review. .

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A little over a year ago, we saw the full fury of the ocean. Today, thanks to the spirit of the people of Visakhapatnam, we are discussing how the oceans can be a source of economic prosperity for all of us. .

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For its courage and resolve, we all salute the city of Visakhapatnam. .

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My profuse thanks to the men and women of the Indian Navy for their tireless dedication for making this Fleet Review a truly historic success. .

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My sincere gratitude also to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naiduji for his strong support for this international event. .

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For me personally, witnessing the harmony among the best of International Navies here has been a rewarding experience. .

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Just over three months earlier in October, we welcomed in Delhi, for the first time ever, all the 54 African nations, including over 40 Heads of State for the 3rd India-Africa Summit. .

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A few weeks earlier in August 2015, India had hosted in Jaipur 14 Heads of the State for the Second Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation. .

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Just day before yesterday, we welcomed all the SAARC countries for the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati. .

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And today it is our pleasure to welcome 50 foreign Navies from every corner of the globe at India's second International Fleet review- the first one on India's East Coast. .

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Your participation is a message of cooperation and friendship that we deeply cherish. .

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On behalf of my countrymen, I thank you all for accepting our invitation and joining in this event with such spirit. .

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To build on the gains from today's gathering, India would host the first ever Global Maritime Summit in April this year. .

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Its priority would be to scale up and strengthen the vibrant trade / investment / technology and commercial linkages between India and other maritime nations. .

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Friends, .

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The oceans and worlds waterways are global commons. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam the concept of whole world as a family is perhaps most vividly witnessed on the oceans of the planet, that connect us all. .

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The last time India hosted the International Fleet Review was in the year 2001, in the city of Mumbai. .

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The world of 2016 is vastly different. .

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Its politics is turbulent, and its challenges complex. .

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At the same time, the oceans are the lifelines of global prosperity. They present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations. .

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Over 90% of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans. .

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Over the last 15 years, its value has grown from about 6 trillion dollars to about 20 trillion dollars. .

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Oceans are critical for the global energy security as over 60% of worlds oil production moves through sea routes. .

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Our ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rests on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain. .

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The threat of sea borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger the regional and global peace and stability. .

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Piracy too remains a strong challenge. .

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The threat of natural disasters like tsunamis and cyclones is ever present. .

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Manmade problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain. .

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A peaceful and stable maritime environment is, therefore, critical for the regional and global security. It is also a must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems. .

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Given the scale and complexity of modern day challenges, the international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of a single nation. .

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It has to be a shared goal and responsibility of all the seafaring countries. .

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To this end, the Navies and maritime agencies of the world need to work together, and engineer virtuous cycles of cooperation. .

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But, where necessary, they also need to act to secure the international sea lanes of communication. .

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I believe that if oceans were to propel our economies, then we must: .

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Use seas to build peace, friendship and trust, and curb conflict; .

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respect and ensure freedom of navigation; and.

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cooperate, not compete in responding to the challenges in the seas. .

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The large presence of foreign Navies at this Fleet Review is a confirmation of our shared urge to walk the pathways of peace and cooperation to keep the maritime domain safe and secure. .

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Friends, .

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India is, and has always been, a maritime nation. .

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India's ancient Sanskrit texts also refer to the oceans as the storehouse of Chaturdashanam Ratnanam, the 14 gems. .

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Surrounded by sea from three sides, India has a long coastline of over 7500 kilometres. .

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We have been blessed with a rich maritime heritage ever since .Lothal in Gujarat became one of the earliest sea ports of the world. .

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Indias central location in the Indian Ocean has connected us with other cultures, shaped our maritime trade routes, influenced Indias strategic thought, and defined our maritime character. .

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Since the days of the Indus Valley Civilization, India has maintained an extensive network of maritime links, including with Africa, Western Asia, the Mediterranean region, the West, South East Asia and the Far East. .

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We are delighted that the Navies from all these regions have joined in this Fleet Review. .

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The Photo Essay book on the Maritime Heritage of India, that I have just released, showcases this glorious maritime tradition. .

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Friends, .

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In moderntimes too, the oceans, especially the Indian Ocean, occupy a vital place in Indias national security and economic prosperity.The waters of the Indian Ocean touch the shores of over 40 countries. .

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About half of world's container traffic; and close to one-third of world's cargo traffic passes through this region. .

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90% of our trade by volume and 90% of our oil imports are carried on the seas. .

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Indias 1200 island territories, and our huge Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million square kilometers makes clear the economic significance of the Indian Ocean. .

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For us, it also serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. .

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In March last year, in Mauritius,I had spelt out our vision for the Indian Ocean. .

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The Indian Ocean Region is one of my foremost policy priorities. Our approach is evident in our vision of Sagar", which means Ocean" and stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region. .

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We would continue to actively pursue and promote our geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, in particular the Indian Ocean. .

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To this end, India's modern and multi-dimensional Navy leads from the front. It is a force for peace and good. .

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A network of growing political and economic maritime partnerships, and strengthening of regional frameworksalso helps us pursue our goals. .

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Friends, .

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Indias quest for economic prosperity through oceans is a part of our larger efforts to transform India. .

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We are not just a bright spot in the global economy. Regionally and internationally, we are a pillar of stability and an important growth centre. .

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India's rise is in harmony with the goal of maintaining the regional and global peace and security. .

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Within the country, there is great optimism, enthusiasm and a can do" mindset. .

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This optimism comes from the energy and enterprise of our confident youth. .

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It also comes from our bold and sustained measures to transform our country, improve our laws, processes and institutions. .

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We are launching new initiatives and creating opportunities to empower people, and give them a sense of ownership in nation's progress. .

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Make in India", which has re-ignited our manufacturing sector is one such initiative. .

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Defence manufacturing and ship building are among its focus areas. .

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In a week from now, on 13 February, we would hold 7 days of global engagement under "Make in India" in Mumbai. .

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During this time, the best in the global industry would link up with the innovation, design and manufacturing opportunities of India- the world's fastest growing economy. .

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We want to invite the world to Make in India, Make for India, and Make for the World. .

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We take pride in the fact that of all the Indian Naval ships participating in this Fleet Review, at least 37 are Made in India" a number that will surely rise in the coming years. .

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Our Skill India" program is building institutions that train, support, encourage and guide our 800 million youth on the path of entrepreneurship. .

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Our skilled youth are ready to respond to the national and global manpower demands of the 21st century. .

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An important part of Indias transformation is my vision of Blue Economy" in its widest sense. .

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The Blue Chakra or the wheel in our National Flag, represents the potential of the Blue Economy. .

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An essential part of this pursuit is the development of India's coastal and island territories: but, not just for tourism. .

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We want to build new pillars of economic activity in the coastal areas and in linked hinterlands through sustainable tapping of oceanic resources. .

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Strengthening our marine research, development of eco-friendly, marine industrial and technology base, and fisheries are other elements of our goal. .

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In this endeavour, I see youth in the coastal areas as our true assets. They have a natural and deep understanding of the Oceans. .

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They could lead the way in the development of blue economy in India. .

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In partnership with all the coastal states of India, I want to shape a special program of skilling India's youth in the coastal areas of the country. .

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Friends, .

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In the end, let me once again congratulate the Indian Navy for the flawless conduct of this grand event. .

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For the homeward journey of all our Naval friends from across the world, may you always have fair winds, following seas, and many a fathom below your keel. .

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Thank You. .

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Jai Hind! .

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Defying warnings of tougher sanctions from Washington, North Korea launched a rocket on Sunday that Western experts believe is part of a programme to develop intercontinental ballistic missile technologies.

The rocket blasted off from Tongchang-ri, the North's main satellite launch site near its northwestern border with China, a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry said.

President Park Geun-hye of South Korea called an emergency meeting of top national security advisers on Sunday to address the launch, her office said. South Korea, the United States and Japan also requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry called the launch a "major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean Peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well." Susan E Rice, the national security adviser, said it was "a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions."



North Korea earlier notified the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency overseeing navigation safety, that it planned to launch a rocket between Sunday and February 14 to put a satellite into orbit. After the launch on Sunday, North Korea said that it had succeeded in doing so, and South Korea acknowledged that it appeared to be the case.

The United States and allied nations had condemned North Korea's plan because they consider its satellite program to be a sort of cover for developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear bomb.

Under a series of Security Council resolutions, North Korea is prohibited from developing nuclear weapons or ballistic-missile technologies. Sung-Yoon Lee, a professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, said the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whose family has ruled the country for seven decades, wanted to show off advances in his missile and nuclear programs just before the February 16 birthday of his father, Kim Jong-il, who died in 2011. Pyongyang has timed some of its earlier nuclear and rocket tests to major national anniversaries.

North Korea insists its space programme is peaceful, intended to put scientific satellites into orbit. It has attempted several launches since 1998, finally succeeding in putting a small satellite into space in 2012.

But the United States and its allies consider the program a pretext for developing technologies that can also be used to build an intercontinental ballistic missile. The North's launch of a three-stage rocket on Sunday, after a similar test in 2012, showed that the country was determined to acquire them despite sanctions imposed by the Security Council.

With the launch, North Korea was also defying China, which had issued strong appeals not to proceed. In flouting China, the North's only treaty ally, Kim was showing the ultimate disrespect to the government that has continued to trade with him, including sending oil that keeps the military and the rudimentary economy working.

A senior Chinese diplomat, Wu Dawei, traveled to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, early last week with the specific message that the launch should not go ahead. Chinese analysts conceded that Wu had an impossible assignment, and he returned to Beijing on Thursday night unsuccessful.

Kim appears confident that he can continue to show contempt for his ally, believing, it seems, that China fears his ability to turn on it. Beijing has resisted Washington's effort to place tough sanctions on the North since a nuclear test last month, concerned that the move might destabilise its neighbour.

In a statement released on Sunday after Japan, South Korea and the United States pressed for firmer action, China called for calm and said the major powers should "act cautiously."



The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said, "China expresses regret over the launch with ballistic missile technology carried out by North Korea despite wide opposition from the international community."



Dialogue was the best solution, the statement said, echoing a long-held position by Beijing that talks with North Korea that include the United States and China should be resumed.

South Korea said the launch on Sunday showed that efforts to end the North's nuclear and missile programmes through dialogue no longer worked.

"They just gave North Korea time to advance its nuclear capabilities," Cho Tae-yong, first deputy director of national security of the South Korean presidential office, said in a statement.

Cho said "the only way to make North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons development" was through "effective and strong sanctions."



"We will continue to apply pressure so North Korea has no option but to change," he said.

The North's latest move is sure to add impetus to the United States' call for tougher sanctions and for a more vigorous missile defense for its allies in the region.

Hours after the North declared the success of its launch on Sunday, the United States and South Korea jointly announced that they had begun discussing deployment of the American Thaad ballistic missile defense system. China, the South's largest trade partner, has warned it would consider the system's presence in the South a threat to its security.

Washington and its regional allies, South Korea and Japan, deployed Aegis destroyers and PAC-3 missile interceptors in case debris from the rocket hurtled toward them. North Korea is widely believed to have at least several nuclear weapons. Although North Korea can learn much about the technology to build ballistic missiles from satellite launches, putting a satellite into orbit does not guarantee an ability to deliver a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

North Korea has never tested a ballistic-missile version of its Unha-series rockets. After four nuclear tests by the North, Western analysts were still unsure whether the country had mastered the technology to build a warhead small enough to mount on a long-range missile.

They were also debating how close the country had come to acquiring the ability to build a warhead that could survive the intense heat while re-entering the atmosphere, as well as a guidance system capable of delivering a warhead close to a target.

The Unha-3 rocket, if modified to carry a 2,200-pound warhead instead of a satellite, could have enough range to reach Alaska and possibly Hawaii, David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote in his blog on Friday.

2016 The New York Times News Service

Security Council holds emergency session on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council began an emergency meeting on North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday and diplomats said they expected the 15-nation body to condemn Pyongyang and redouble efforts to agree on new sanctions. Speaking to reporters ahead of the closed-door session, France's UN ambassador, Francois Delattre, described North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday as an "outrageous provocation."
Avaya, a global provider of business communications services, has appointed Vishal Agrawal as managing director, India and SAARC. Agrawal will focus on aligning Avaya more closely with India's digital transformation initiative. With more than 10 years' experience at Avaya, Agrawal has played a critical role in the company's development in India, scaling the India services operations, setting up the operations leadership team, and driving revenue growth. Agrawal has recently launched Avaya's cloud strategy in India to help accelerate the country's digital transformation and Make in India initiatives.

Marketing decor



App technology



Cash and carry


How complex would it be to develop an information architecture in a diversified group spread across geographies? A financial services conglomerate in the Middle East was grappling with this issue some time ago. The conglomerate had grown through acquisitions, and hence it had acquired a myriad pool of information technology (IT) platforms and systems.

A retail bank of the group based in Kuwait was using Tandem servers and associated devices for its retail, wholesale and investment banking services along with a banking solution developed by a Singapore firm. An asset firm of the group based in Kuwait was on Unix servers while an investment banking arm in Bahrain was running its systems on Midas-Kapiti (Misys) on the AS/400 platform. The group had at that point acquired financial services institutions in Dubai, Jordan and Tunisia besides a hotel and diary business in Saudi Arabia, a boutique bank in Belarus and an investment firm in the US. The Dubai-based bank was using IBM RS/6000 servers on AIX for its retail and wholesale banking applications. The Jordanian bank had a home-grown banking application on Unix servers while the export-import bank in Tunisia was using Midas-Kapiti (Misys) on the AS/400 platform.

The group financial controller (GFC) was having a challenging time in collating timely information across the various banks and instituting metrics and triggers. Some banks were efficient while there were laggards who were even missing their local central bank reporting deadlines. The challenge for the group was that despite investing in high-end computing and well-known banking systems, the primary objective of seamless information dissemination seemed like a pipe dream. A large part of the problem was due to the disparate systems that had come together, due to the group's peculiar nature of growth which would not readily communicate with each other.

The GFC was part of the group steering committee responsible for developing operational road maps. Given the challenges faced by the group, an implementable IT road map seemed to be the need of the hour. The GFC engaged consultants from India, the UK and the US. The various broad options the GFC developed from the different pieces of advice he received was along the following lines:



nMake Midas-Kapiti banking solution a group standard: The impacts would be more than $5 million invested on the Tandem platform, the IBM/other Unix servers and banking applications across the group; long gestation and high cost conversion/integration of banking applications across at least three of the group's banks; reskilling/training of more than 100 full-time skilled employees.

nMake Unix servers-based platform a group standard: The impacts would be over $5 million invested on Midas-Kapiti contracts; long gestation and high cost conversion/integration of banking applications across at least three of the group's banks; reskilling/training of more than 100 full-time skilled employees.

nDevelop service-oriented IT architecture for the group: The impacts would be - Simple Object Access Protocol wrap-around projects could potentially exceed $5 million given the scale and diversity of systems; protect the major IT investments made by the group; add a systems group at the head office along with the required IT infrastructure.

The GFC needed a convincing assessment of the broad options to present to the steering committee. He chose a complexity modelling firm, which presented him some uncanny insights. He was told that irrespective of any of the broad choices the group made, they would need to make investment and IT reorganisation decisions in the short term that would affect customer and investor service, probably affect client acquisitions, and likely lead to legal issues.

The long-term impact of achieving an overarching IT architecture, besides significant investments, would be uncertain or partial success of implementation, and the potential lack of flexibility to acquire banks with disparate IT systems.

The complexity modelling firm had developed the above scenarios using a multi-level influence and impact modelling approach. The key intervention stages involved the starting stage, followed by a series of stages determined by the management's decision based on changing trends in business climate. They advised the GFC to hold the status quo for the next six months and just add a systems group at the head office for collation, dissemination and other coordination activities. They further advised him to take advantage of changing business decisions to streamline the IT systems across the group during the subsequent six to 12 months while at the same time incorporating a systems policy in the group's growth decision-making process.

GR Chandrashekhar

Associate professor, Complexity Research Group, Institute for Financial and Research
The government is considering a proposal to set up a gold exchange, said sources, and the approval is expected in a month. It has been proposed by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) and the BSE stock exchange, in a 70:30 equity partnership.

Initially, traders and high networth investors would be allowed to buy and sell gold. After two months, smaller investors would also be permitted to transact on the platform. To start, the minimum lot size will be 1 kg; smaller denomination contracts will then be introduced.

Buying gold from the exchange will be beneficial on various fronts. Pricing will be transparent and deals at almost wholesale prices. Investors would also not have to worry about purity and settlement, as both will be guaranteed by the exchange, which will develop the infrastructure, including proper storage. Investors will also be allowed to keep gold in electronic form with repositories. The exchange will also develop products for investors which are not available currently.

Ibja and BSE had appointed EY as consultant to recommend a road map and operational areas. EY has given an interim report that this could be developed on the lines of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, and act as an official platform for all types of trade in the yellow metal, including sale of imported gold. The three-phase roll-out plan includes bringing smaller investors in the second and third phases.

Based on this report, Ibja sent the formal proposal. BSE, with 30 per cent equity, will have control of the management and operations. Ibja would lower its stake in the exchange at a later date.

Investors would also be able to lease their idle gold holdings for the short-to-medium term on the exchange's platform and earn interest on it, said a person familiar with the plan. Currently, banks lease out gold to jewellers. It would be possible for willing investors to lease out their holdings on the exchange, on similar lines to their lending of shares on stock exchanges. This will help jewellers get gold, while investors will earn lease rent, without losing the opportunity to hold physical gold. Retail (small) investors, once allowed, will be able to buy even smaller denomination coins at market price without worrying about the purity.

And, all local trades in bullion will shift to the exchange platform, with the minimum trading lot of a 1-kg bar. In subsequent phases, small lots would be permitted, if the proposal is accepted in its current form. In the next phase, the exchange would consider investment products such as e-gold for retail investors.

PROPOSED

The gold exchange, once approved, will change the way the yellow metal is traded in the country OWNERSHIP 2-level regulatory structure: First will be exchange and the second is government, for broader regulation

Equity: BSE (30 per cent )

IBJA (70 per cent)

BSE will have control of the management and operations

IBJA will further divest stake and its members would be eligible for exchanges membership INFRA Exchange will develop a system surrounding gold business

Exchange will recognise refineries, to get pure gold

Give membership to bullion traders and banks

Make efforts to bring bullion trade on exchanges platform TRADING Import gold and sell on exchanges platform only

All other traders/jewellers/ goldsmiths and refineries will buy-sell gold through exchange members

Exchange will recognise refineries, voults, assayers and agencies for keeping gold in electronic form INVESTORS Can buy and sell gold from exchange without worrying about purity

Exchange will also develop investment products for retail investors

Can lend gold on the exchange and earn interest on such lending

Gold will be kept in electronic form and trades will be exchange-guaranteed Note: These are based on EY recommendations

In line with the Shanghai bourse, the proposal envisages gold-importing agencies to sell gold only on the exchange's platform, bringing transparency in pricing and premiums, and leading to a formal mechanism to measure the flow of imports into the country.

At present, gold spot trading is not regulated, and trade is informal and spread in the country. There is no mechanism to record these transactions. The proposal, however, will require the government to make buying and selling of gold compulsory on an exchange's platform. IBJA will give membership for trading on an exchange. If implemented, the proposal will also bring opaque trades on official books, an achievement given the parallel/cash market for unofficial gold in India.

For spot trading in gold, the exchange might require regulations. BSE has been a regulated entity but its regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, does not have powers to regulate spot trading. The government is considering ways to solve this issue. Most stakeholders in the gold business and academia have proposed a National Bullion Board for regulating all gold-related policies.

Sources said it could take a while before a full-fledged gold exchange starts functioning, with participation of retail investors but when it happens, it would make the bullion market far more transparent.
Quick Heal Technologies provides security software products for personal computers, laptops, mobiles, and tablets, and enjoys leadership position (market share of 30 per cent) in the Indian retail segment. The company also exports its products to Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kenya and the United States but 95 per cent of its revenue comes from India. Apart from the retail-oriented business, it now plans to focus on enterprise and government segments, grow its exports (three per cent of the total revenue currently) and strengthen its research and development (R&D) capabilities to drive future growth, for which it is raising funds. While its long track record, strong brand and domestic market share, foray into enterprise segment and immense potential for growth bode well, high valuations are a hurdle.

On a fully diluted basis, the initial public offering (IPO) is priced at 37 times its FY16 estimated earnings (after assuming 20 per cent earnings growth over FY15). While Quick Heal's leadership in the domestic market partly justifies the premium valuations, it is still high. Its global peer, Symantec, trades at much lower multiple of 14 times CY16 estimated earnings. Symantec enjoys much higher revenues, albeit at similar earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margins (34 per cent) due to its global scale of operations and has 26 per cent share in the domestic market. Investors with a long-term perspective might, thus, apply for the IPO. The Rs 451-crore IPO includes Rs 250 crore of fresh sale of shares with the rest being an offer-for-sale by Sequoia Capital and promoters.

Of the Rs 250 crore, the company plans to deploy Rs 111 crore towards advertising and sales promotion activities, Rs 42 crore towards R&D and the rest for purchase and renovation of its various offices.

Quick Heal is now looking to increase its presence in the corporate segment, which forms 13 per cent of its revenues and has launched Seqrite brand of products for this segment in 2015.

Also, though Quick Heal is well established in the retail segment (87 per cent of revenues), stiff competition from Symantec, Kaspersky and McAfee, among others, means that success in the enterprise segment might not come easily.

Its track record of two decades lends confidence. Quick Heal had 7.13 million active licences at the end of 2015 catering to home users, small offices, enterprises, educational institutions, and government. Its products are available across high and low price points. Healthy cash generation and a zero debt balance sheet reflect strength of its financials. Strong brand name, experienced management, healthy return ratios and 25-30 per cent future dividend pay-out policy are the other strengths.
Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor, who is gearing up for the release of his most anticipated flick 'Ki and Ka,' has revealed that he is a fan of Kareena Kapoor's work.

In an interview with a leading newspaper, the 30-year-old actor applauded his 'Ki and Ka' co-actress, saying she is an amazing actor and that he has always been a fan of her work.

The 'Gunday' actor added that he was very excited to share the screen with the 35-year-old actress so that he could become a better actor.

Directed by R. Balki, the upcoming rom-com that will also star veteran actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan in cameo roles, is scheduled to hit the theatres on April 1, 2016.
The Congress and Janata Dal (United) have demanded a fair probe into the death of Divyansh Kakrora, whose body was found floating in a water tank at Ryan International School, so that those responsible are brought to book.

Both parties backed the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Government's decision to recommend a CBI probe into the matter.

Congress leader Shobha Oza dubbed the incident to be 'horrifying' and said the demands and queries of the parents must be addressed.

"There should be a very fair probe so that all the issues related to the death of this innocent child are brought to the forefront and then the action is taken against the people, who are responsible so that such horrifying incidents do not get repeated," Congress leader Shobha Oza told ANI.

"If the parents are demanding a CBI inquiry, it should happen because it's a great loss for their family," she added.

Echoing similar sentiments, JD (U) leader K.C. Tyagi said that it was a good step taken by the Delhi Government as it would help uncover the truth.

"I back the Delhi Government's move to recommend a CBI probe into the death of Divyansh," he said.

Meanwhile, Divyansh's parents met Delhi's Women and Child Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar and submitted a memorandum to him expressing their concerns.

"He (Sandeep) assured us that he will recommend a CBI probe into the matter," Divyansh's father said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Manish Sisodia earlier today said the Delhi Government would send a recommendation for CBI probe into the death of Divyansh.

Sisodia's announcement came a day after the six-year-old boy's parents wrote to Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani, demanding a CBI probe into the death of their child on the school campus.

The Delhi Police yesterday said they would probe all angles and theories concerning the death of the boy, whose body was found in a water tank under the school's amphitheatre on January 30.
Disappointed with the Delhi Police's refusal to provide data on crimes against women, the DCW on Sunday wrote a letter to Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi and said that it was not a 'battle of supremacy'.

The DCW has summoned Bassi on Monday and issued a warning, saying it would exercise its powers of a civil court if the data on crimes against women is not provided.

The police had earlier refused to give the data putting forward the argument that giving information to the DCW on crimes against women will create a law and order problem in Delhi.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal had earlier alleged that the Delhi Police was not cooperating with the judicial body with its rigid stand of not sharing the data regarding crime against women in the capital.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Manish Sisodia on Sunday said the Delhi Government would send a recommendation for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of six-year-old Divyansh, a Class 1 student at Ryan International School in Vasant Kunj area, here.

"I have spoken to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over phone, who is returning to Delhi; we will send the recommendation for a CBI probe into the matter," he said.

"The Delhi Government expects that the CBI will take the case to its logical end by probing all aspects (including sodomy charges) by taking into consideration views of the child's parents and other people concerned," he added.

Sisodia's announcement came a day after the parents of Divyansh wrote to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, demanding a CBI probe into the death of their child on the school campus, whose body was found in a water tank under the school's amphitheatre on January 30.

Hinting a possible sodomy in the case, Divyansh's father claimed that injuries were found on the body of his child and accused the school authorities of shielding the accused in the case.

When asked that Divyansh's father claimed that there was negligence on the part of the Delhi Police, he said, "The negligence is visible. I saw Divyansh's parents saying on TV that no police officer even met them. A child has died on the school campus, and his parents are levelling serious allegations against the school management, even then a police officer did meet the child's parents. This insensitive attitude is visible in the probe."

The Delhi Police on Saturday said they would probe all angles and theories concerning the death.
David Coleman Headley had reportedly started his deposition before a special Mumbai court by video linka. He is expected to reveal the sequence of events and planning behind the 26/11 terror attacks, senior Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Sunday.

"It is for the first time in the Indian legal history, one foreign terrorist would give his evidence through video link and his evidence will be recorded. And I feel his evidence is most useful because that may unfold many things behind the terror attack of 26 November," Nikam had said.

Highlighting the importance of the evidences that are expected to be brought to fore by Headley, Nikam said, "The evidence of David Headley is important for two reasons - One of the Indian terrorists Abu Jindal who was in Pakistan and against whom the trial is pending. So, David Headley may give the broader aspect of the criminal conspiracy. The second aspect of the evidence of David Headley would be that why the conspiracy was hatched, who were the persons behind the criminal conspiracy and how it progressed with ultimately a huge death toll of 160 persons."



"We expect that David Headley would give his revelation. Because on oath he is going to give the revelation as he has made a commitment before the American court," he added.

Headley (55) was pardoned on December 10 and made an approver by Additional Sessions Judge G A Sanap who presides over special cases related to terrorism, including those under the now repealed TADA.

Headley's maps and videos helped ten Pakistani fidayeens land by sea on Mumbai's shores and launch one of the audacious attacks on the financial capital, killing over 166 people and injuring 300.

Between November 26 and 29, 2008, terrorists rampaged through two five-star hotels Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace, Jewish outreach centre at Nariman House, Cafe Leopold, all in Colaba, besides Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Cama and Albless Hospital.

While nine terrorists were killed during the response operations, a lone gunman Ajmal Kasab was tried and hanged on November 21, 2012 at Pune's Yerawada jail.

The FBI arrested Headley in October 2009 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago while on his way to Pakistan. US District Judge Harry Leinenweber of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago sentenced him to 35 years in prison for his role in Mumbai attacks on January 24, 2013.
The first joint tactical exercise between border troops of India and China was conducted on Sunday in the Chushul-Moldo area.

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This is a part of the ongoing initiatives being taken by both the countries to ensure greater interaction between troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control, and thereby ensure peace and tranquility on the border.

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As previously agreed by both the countries, the exercise focused on actions to be coordinated to jointly tackle aspects of humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

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The Indian Army team of thirty personnel was led by Colonel Ritesh Chandra Singh while the Chinese delegation of an equal compliment was led by Colonel Qu Yi.

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Lasting an entire day, the joint exercise was based on a situation of a disaster occurring on the border and the subsequent coordination of rescue mission by joint teams of India and China.

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The joint exercise, codenamed "Sino-India Cooperation 2016", compliments the Hand-in-Hand series of India-China Joint Exercises and the recently conducted border troops Joint Exercise in Sikkim.

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The increased interaction amongst Indian and Chinese border troops is a very positive step in enhancing confidence and building relations between the two armies.
Highlighting the importance of innovation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that innovation is the need of the hour, for every society and every era.

Prime Minister Modi, who was addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Jatani, Bhubaneswar, said that the campus must focus on contributing to saving the environment.

"Let us make this campus India's greenest campus. Apart from greenery, this campus should think about solar technology, zero discharge," he said.

The Prime Minister also lauded scientists and professors for innovating newer ways of doing things.

"Our scientists and professors are always thinking about doing something or the other that is new. They are researching and innovating always. India's space mission has made a mark across the world. The moment innovation stops, systems lose their life. Innovation is the need of the hour, for every society and every era. Innovation is a need of every society and every generation," he said.

"It is important to develop scientific temper among our school students. This institute can play a major role in this," he said.
Hitting out Azam Khan for claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met underworld don Dawood Ibrahim during his recent visit to Pakistan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday advised the at Uttar Pradesh Government to get the Urban Development Minister 'treated' in Agra.

"It's very unfortunate and stupid of him that he is making such allegations. He should be behaving like a responsible leader from a ruling party in UP. Azam Khan is known for such statements but I never thought he could fall to such depths," BJP leader Zafar Islam told ANI.

Asserting that Samajwadi party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav need to take cognizance of Khan's repetitive jibes at the Prime Minister, he added that the latter's statements were always an insult to the nation.

"The Samajwadi Party senior leadership should take him for treatment. Agra is not far from where he lives," Islam said.

Earlier, Khan claimed that he had proof of India's most-wanted gangster Dawood Ibrahim being present during Prime Minister Modi's surprise meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore last year.

However, the government has rubbished Khan's allegation as 'false and baseless'.

"There are certain statements in a section of press that prime accused in serial blasts in Mumbai, Dawood Ibrahim, was also present during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on December 25, 2015. These statements are baseless, unfounded and totally false," said a clarification issued from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan has started farewell meetings with the officials and his well-wishers.

This came following his decision to vacate office by the end of second week of February.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is busy trying to find a suitable candidate for the post.

Sharif has, however, asked Mehtab to stay in office till his replacement is nominated, the Express Tribune reported.

Mehtab, who met the Prime Minister in Islamabad on February 4 to discuss his resignation, has expressed his willingness to participate more actively in politics.
The 2014 rom-com 'Hasee Toh Phasee,' starring Sidharth Malhorta and Parineeti Chopra, has clocked two years today and its producer Karan Johar is celebrating it on social media.

Taking to his Twitter handle, the 43-year-old film director shared a poster of the flick, captioning it as, "Some films continue to breathe and garner LOVE...#2YearsOfHaseeTohPhasee and its continuous trend tells me that.."

The film, helmed by Vinil Mathew, was released on 7 February 2014 and had collected around 9.1 million USD worldwide.
It has been a month since Mufti Mohammed Sayeed passed away and Jammu and Kashmir has remained headless since then. There seems to be serious reservations between the alliance partners - People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - to take a shot at government formation again.

While the BJP would like to continue with the alliance, it is the PDP which is weighing its options to enter into an unholy alliance again. Mehbooba Mufti, the political heiress of Mr. Sayeed, is in a quandary. She was dead against her father's decision to join hands with the rival BJP. Both parties had spoken ill against each other when the state went to polls in 2014. In fact, Mehbooba was the most vitriolic against the BJP. But the fractured verdict saw the birth of an alliance whose survival was in doubt from the very first day.

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There has been nothing in common between the two parties. The two share extreme opposite views on important issues, on which the PDP fought the elections and emerged as the single largest party. The PDP favours immediate resumption of a dialogue with Kashmiri separatists. The BJP is opposed to it.

In fact, the days-old alliance had run into rough weather after the release of Masarat Alam and his subsequent arrest under pressure from the BJP. Expressing his anger in the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Mufti of not consulting his government before releasing Alam, unaware of the fact that the state home department had taken a decision much before the formation of the government.

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The PDP wants the controversial AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) to be withdrawn, at least from some areas, one of its major election promises. But the country's ruling party feels that the withdrawal of AFSPA entails security risks at a time when incidents of militancy have increased since both parties came to power. Such has been opposition to the alliance that several angry youth from Mehbooba's stronghold South Kashmir have picked up gun again and have hoisted Islamic State flags, causing alarm bells.

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For the BJP, the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is part of its core ideology. For the PDP, it is an article of faith. The two parties don't see eye to eye on hoisting the state flag alongside the tricolor. The controversy over beef consumption has also created a divide between the two parties. In fact, it was a BJP member who filed a PIL against the sale and slaughter of beef in the state where Muslims are in majority in the Kashmir Valley. The fault lines are too many to be ceased soon.

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There is palpable anger among the PDP cadres over the government's failure to rehabilitate the 2014 flood victims. The PDP has lost its face considerably in the Kashmir Valley as the relief has barely trickled in. The rehabilitation of flood victims was one of the main issues on which Mufti had decided to join hands with the BJP in the hope that its government at the Centre would be more sympathetic and release a healthy package. But the state government was left sulking when Modi announced the package last year.

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Unlike Mufti Sayeed, who was mature in dealing with such irritants, Mehbooba is very vocal. Having seen collapse of governance in the first 10 months of the coalition rule, she wants written assurances from Modi, who is loathe to such an idea. With both parties playing hard ball, it is unlikely that any of the two will blink first not before extracting its pound of flesh. In the death of Mufti Sayeed, the BJP sniffed an opportunity to increase its stake in the state cabinet and rotation of the post of chief minister by putting pressure on young Mehbooba. But that gamble not only went horribly wrong, it also backfired. Such pressure tactics further led to widening the chasm between the two parties. The trust deficit between the two parties has since widened.

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Mehbooba does not have many political choices. Either she continues with the alliance, risking her party's popularity, or calls for fresh elections. In going for elections, both the PDP and the BJP will suffer the most as their stocks have gone down considerably in the state and the likely beneficiary will be the Conference. Mehbooba can still run the government after snapping ties with the BJP with the help from the Congress and independents. The Congress with 12 seats and five independents can bail out the PDP which has 28 seats in the 87-member assembly. This is a possible scenario. But will Mehbooba be prepared to suffer the humiliation as her party had snubbed the Congress when the latter had offered its unconditional support to it to form the government after no party got enough seats to form the government on its own? Politics is a strange theatre where unthinkable can also happen. Divorce and remarriage is not a taboo anymore in Indian society and certainly not in politics. Will Mehbooba opt for divorce? Only time will tell.

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Hitting out at the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) over assertions that the law and order situation was deteriorating in Bihar under the rule of the grand alliance, Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday said that the opposition was trying the create the illusion of 'jungle raj' and asserted that the state had no room for violence.

"Four months ago, they kept chanting that 'jungle raj' was prevalent here and you saw how the people of Bihar responded to that. Somehow they keep testing our limits. Bihar is the land of ahimsa, there is no room for violence here," Lalu told ANI.

Talking about the murder of LJP leader Brijnath Singh, he added that he had complete faith in the law and assured that the guilty would not be spared.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also slammed the LJP for 'creating issues out of nothing' and accused them of creating unwarranted confusions to divert public attention from their failures.

"They want to twist the situations according to their convenience and create an issue because they have lost their visibility here. Instead of dealing with issues which are relevant to the public, they are trying to create unnecessary confusions to divert attention," Yadav told the media here.

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Condemning the murder of Brijnath Singh, LJP leader Chirag Paswan had earlier said that President's rule is the only option left for Bihar, considering its deteriorating law and order situation.

"The grand alliance of the Government of Bihar has been a failure at every step. If the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister are unable to provide a sense of security then what about the rest of the state? The only option left with us right now is President's rule because this government is a complete failure at every step," Paswan told ANI.

"Brijnath ji was shot dead within 10-15 km of the Chief Minister's house. He was shot dead only because he and his family fought elections against Lalu ji in the assembly election. I would definitely want to ask the Chief Minister of Bihar, who also happens to be the Home Minister of Bihar, if this is not political rivalry," he added.

Brijnath Singh was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Patna on Friday. AK-47 shells were recovered from the spot.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the Paradip refinery here on Sunday, said this is the 'Vikas Deep' for the state.

"This Paradip refinery is the Vikas Deep for Odisha and the youth of Odisha. People of Odisha know the importance of this refinery and how this refinery will contribute to the development of Odisha. You have come here in large numbers. You are supporting such an important development initiative," said Prime Minister Modi.

The Prime Minister said that he has set a target to reduce oil import dependence by 10 percent by 2022 and added that this refinery would help greatly in terms of the economy.

Prime Minister Modi further said the initiatives have to be futuristic and completed before the designated time period so that delays don't occur.

" Paradip refinery has established a records of sorts when it comes to Make in India. I am sure the Paradip Refinery will unleash a new wave of industrialisation in hydrocarbon sector and enhance economic progress in Eastern India. This will take gas cylinders to the homes of the poor," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the permanent campus of Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Jatani near Bhubaneswar.

The Prime Minister called upon the students of NISER and scientific community to develop scientific temper among the school students.

After inaugurating NISER, the Prime Minister flew to Puri and paid obeisance to Lord Jagannath.
A Shiv Sena delegation will meet Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik over Pakistani ghazal maestro's concert in Lucknow and convey to him that the performance was an insult to Indian martyrs.

"The wounds from Pathankot are still fresh and the UP Government has rolled out a red carpet to welcome Ghulam Ali. This is an insult to the martyrs and it is hurting the sentiments of the entire Hindu community," Shiv Sena's UP Chief Anil Singh told ANI here.

He demanded that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav call off the concert immediately as it was an insult to the faith of crores of Hindus.

"The Shiv Sena leaders will meet the Governor tomorrow and protest about this. We will keep protesting against this until he leaves," Singh added.

Meanwhile, Anil Singh has been put under house arrest ahead of Ghulam Ali's concert in Lucknow.
The BJP on Sunday took potshots at the West Bengal Government over the arrest of a youth for posting a Facebook status against local TMC leader in Jalpaiguri and said this episode is 'not just intolerance but beyond it' under the sycophant rule of Mamata Banerjee

BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh highlighted the past incidents to justify his point.

"This is not the first case that has happened. Since Mamata Banerjee has come to power, a number of such cases have happened. If you remember, a cartoonist was also picked up and jailed because he had posted a cartoon which Mamata Banerjee didn't like. There was a case where a farmer raised an issue and he was called a Maoist and put under arrest. This goes to show that this is not just intolerance, it is beyond intolerance in Mamata's rule of law," he told ANI.

"And that rule of law has got nothing to do with India. It is to do with Mamata and her sycophancy. It shows that it is not just autocratic or dictator, it is beyond what can be explained in words. That is how Mamata Banerjee wants to rule West Bengal," he added.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and senior lawyer Majeed Memon called the incident very sad and said that it was the democratic right of the people to express their views with regard to their likes and dislikes.

"This is very sad. If it is true, then the democratic right of the people to express their views with regard to the likes and dislikes, and governments and the political leaders. It must not be taken in a manner as we are hearing. If someone criticises you and you are in power, that does not mean that you will abuse your power and then resort to this kind of activity of getting the person kidnapped or assaulted," Memon told ANI.

"This is clear breach of law and I think the chief minister would examine if there is any truth in this happening then she must take stern action to prevent this," he added.

A man from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district was reportedly arrested and made to serve a bond under a CrPC Section for allegedly commenting against a TMC leader on social media.

Rohit Pashi, a resident of Mal, had said in a Facebook post that "a local leader was making rounds of the court to secure bail for a murder accused". Although the person did not clarify who this "local leader" was, Mal's municipal councillor Pulin Goldar took strong exception to the post and filed a police complaint against Pashi.

Soon after, the police picked up Pashi and made him execute a bond, prompting the opposition leaders to target the ruling TMC.
Security forces killed 10 separatist guerrillas in Kashmir in the last two weeks while ensuring there was no civilian casualty in different operations, the army said on Sunday.

"Undeterred by inhospitable weather conditions, the army and the state police have upped the ante in their counter-terror operations. It is clearly manifested in the clinical, intelligence-based operations over the past two weeks that led to the elimination of 10 terrorists across Kashmir," Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of the army's Udhampur-headquartered northern command, told IANS here.

"Conscious efforts are being made to ensure no collateral damage, which can be gauged from the fact that there has been no civilian casualty in any of these operations," he added.

"The army always makes it a point to evacuate occupants of affected house(s) and adjacent areas at the scene of action to ensure public safety, often at cost of risking their own lives," Colonel Goswami said.
Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife on Sunday continued their indefinite fast for the third day in support of the demand for reservation for the community in education and jobs in Andhra Pradesh.

The former minister and his wife Padmavati have been fasting at their house at Kirlampudi in East Godavari district since Friday. The couple locked themselves up and refused to undergo medical check-up.

Though Joint Collector Satyanarayana and district Superintendent of Police Ravi Prakash along with a team of doctors reached Mudragada's house on Sunday, the couple sent them back. The officers made a similar attempt on Saturday night as well.

The Kapu leader said there was no need for check-up since the couple had decided to dedicate their lives for the Kapu community's cause. He also accused police of preventing people from visiting his house.

Meanwhile, police and paramilitary forces were deployed near the house amid indications that the fasting couple may be forcibly shifted to a hospital to break their fast.

They are demanding inclusion of the Kapus in a list of backward classes and reservation for the community in education and jobs. They are also seeking Rs.1,900 crore for a Kapu corporation.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu earlier appealed to Mudragada to call off his fast and assured that the Andhra Pradesh government was committed to fulfil its promise to include the Kapus in the BC list.

The government has said a commission will make a detailed study of the socio-economic status of the Kapus and recommend the quantum of reservation to be provided.

Meanwhile, police have made tight security arrangements across the district and enforced orders banning assembly of 10 or more people.

Deployment of security forces has been made in Tuni town that witnessed large-scale violence last Sunday when protestors set afire a train, two police stations and several vehicles.

The Kapus account for 27 percent of nearly five crore population of Andhra Pradesh.
From the Brahmi script of the Gupta age to the rock inscriptions and copper plates dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries, Assam has much to persuade the US-based Unicode Consortium to give it a separate slot for its script and remove the computational intricacies in using it in the digital age. The Unicode Consortium, that gives languages a set of universal characters for use in computers, identifies Assamese as another form of Bengali script, making its use difficult in the digital world.

The Assam government recently submitted to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that Assamese is a historically evolved script with its own set of characters and symbols representing written texts. But the non-inclusion of this in Unicode and ISO standards has triggered problems in using the language in computers. During the initial days of digital standards for the Indian Languages in the first Indian Script Code for Information Interchange (ISCII) released by BIS in December 1991, a clear mention was made of the Assamese script. The ISCII document released by BIS clearly mentioned that the northern scripts are Devnagari, Punjabi, Gujarati, Oriya, Bengali and Assamese, while the southern scripts are Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil, an official said.

"However, in all subsequent standards like ISO and Unicode, Assamese script has not been included," said the official, who is on the panel constituted by the Assam government to push its case for a separate slot on the Unicode, but who did not wish to be identified.

Literary bodies, academicians and researchers in Assam had objected to the Unicode Consortium move and written to the union government. The Assam government was then asked to submit a detailed proposal that would subsequently be referred to the US body.

While literary bodies such as Asom Sahitya Sabha (ASS) had maintained that the Assamese language was being neglected, Satyakam Phukan, a surgeon who has researched the origin of the Assamese script, said it could be due to lack of knowledge of the US-body about uniqueness of the script.

"The Assamese alphabets were not separately encoded by Unicode. Following their policy of unification, the Assamese script was eclipsed into Bengali. The uniqueness of the Assamese script was perhaps unknown to the mainly American experts of Unicode," Phukan told IANS.

The Assam government's proposal to BIS went deeper into the origin of the script to push for a separate slot for Assamese.

"The Assamese script is one of the important scripts of Eastern India. Assamese script is originated from the Brahmi script of the Gupta age. Studies of the rock inscriptions and copper plate inscriptions of the 4th, 5th and later centuries, discovered in different parts of Assam, clearly indicate that the Assamese script is the evolutionary resultant of the scripts used in rock and copper plate inscriptions and other objects like coins and clay seals of Nalanda," the Assam government's proposal to the BIS said.

"The evolution of this Assamese script can be divided into three different stages: Old Assamese script or the Kamrupi script (4th/5th to 13th century); Medieval Assamese script (13th to early part of 19th century) and Modern Assamese script from early part of the nineteenth century," the proposal said.

It further said that the Assamese script started to take its modern form in the early part of the 13th century as evident from the Kanai-Barashibowa rock inscriptions in north Guwahati.

The Assamese script received its modern form when the missionaries started printed books and magazines in the early 19th century. The first printed book in Assamese was "Dharmapustak", a translation of the Bible by Atmaram Sarma from Kaliabar in Assam, published in 1813.

"In the digital world, to use a language as the medium of information, we must have all the characters and symbols with proper codes. The Assamese script has got its own set of characters and symbols, and these are required to have assigned codes for proper usage in terms of computational tasks, application development etc. The Assamese language, a major Indian language recognized in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India, has got its own script, the Assamese Script, having its own historical evolution," the proposal mentioned.

Ranjan Kumar Baruah, a Guwahati-based social entrepreneur, said a separate slot for the Assamese script was necessary for promoting the language in the digital age.

"This is necessary at a time when our state government asked all business establishments, government and non-government organizations to use Assamese in hoardings and banners and for other official purposes," Baruah told IANS.
Atletico Madrid played a lacklustre first half but stormed back in the second to cruise past Eibar 3-1 in La Liga.

The turning point at Vicente Calderon Stadium here on Saturday came in the 46th minute when Eibar midfielder Sergi Enrich scored. But Atletico then took charge of the match and completely dominated the contest from that point onwards, reports Efe.

Atletico were out of sorts in the first half, lacking precision and under pressure from Eibar's midfielders.

Then at the start of the second half, midfielder Saul Niguez lost the ball just outside Atletico Madrid's penalty area and allowed striker Enrich to take possession and score in the 46th minute.

But the goal seemed to be what was needed for Atletico, who turned on the aggression and began their assault on Eibar.

That determined play led them to win three corner kicks in just 10 minutes, the last of which was perfectly executed by midfielder Koke and headed home by Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez in the 56th minute.

The second goal was an almost identical strike, with Koke setting up Saul, who made up for his earlier blunder by heading the ball in.

The final score of the match came shortly before the final whistle, when veteran striker Fernando Torres notched his 100th goal for Atletico when he stretched to get his foot on a well placed cross by Belgian midfielder Yannick Carrasco.

The 31-year-old striker starred for Atletico Madrid between 2001 and 2007 and returned to the club early last year for a second stint after competing for Liverpool, Chelsea and A.C. Milan.

"It's an honour and a prize to have scored my 100th goal and to be among the club's greatest goal scorers," Torres said.

Atletico Madrid now has 51 points and once again is tied with FC Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings, although the Catalans, who square off against last place Levante on Sunday, have played two fewer games.
In an upshot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE, home to 2.6 million expatriate Indians, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will arrive in New Delhi on February 10 on a three-day visit.

The crown prince will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, officials and captains of industry, an external affairs ministry statement said on Sunday.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed $75 billion to India's infrastructure sector, the highest by any country, during Modi's visit in August last year, the first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years to the Gulf nation.

The UAE's investments will specially focus on railways, ports, roads, airports and industrial corridors and parks, according to the bilateral agreement signed between the two countries during Modi's visit.

"India and the UAE have historically enjoyed close and friendly relations anchored on mutually beneficial commercial exchanges and extensive people to people contacts," the external affairs ministry statement said.

"Our well-balanced bilateral trade amounted to $59 billion in 2014-15, making the UAE our third largest trading partner."

The UAE contributes significantly to India's energy security and was the sixth largest supplier of crude oil to India in 2014-15.

India has vital stakes in the security and stability of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which host over seven million Indians.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
BSF troopers on Sunday shot dead four smugglers, including two Pakistanis, in Punjab's Ferozepur sector and seized nearly 10 kg heroin, a senior BSF officer said.

The Border Security Force troopers also seized arms and ammunition from the spot. These included two 9 mm pistols, one locally-made pistol and 54 rounds of ammunition, a Pakistani SIM card, a knife, a PVC pipe and other things.

A search of the area, about 300 km from Chandigarh, later led to the seizure of the contraband.

"Around 4.30 a.m., Pakistani and Indian smugglers (total numbering four) opened fire on BSF troopers near Border outpost (BoP) Mehndipur in Ferozepur sector. The BSF troopers returned the fire in which two Indian and two Pakistani smugglers were interdicted. The bodies were recovered later during a search of the area. The local police was informed," said BSF Deputy Inspector General R.S. Kataria said.

The seized heroin is valued at Rs.50 crore in the international market.

The BSF has recovered nearly 18 kg heroin in the Punjab sector, comprising the 553-km long international border with Pakistan in the state, this year.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for an urgent reconsideration of the way the prison system in England and Wales treats pregnant women and mothers with babies, the media reported on Sunday.

At present, when a woman gives birth while serving a custodial sentence, she is usually transferred to a prison's mother and baby unit (MBU) for an initial period, BBC reported.

MBU policy requires that these units should be available to accommodate babies up until the age of 18 months.

"It's time to think seriously about whether this is the right approach," Cameron said.

The review will look at whether female offenders with babies could be dealt with by special problem-solving courts, housed in resettlement units or electronically tagged, rather than being locked up.

Justice ministry figures suggest 100 babies spent time living with their mothers in prisons last year.

Cameron said it was "absolutely terrible" to think of infants spending time behind bars.
China has expressed regrets on the launch by North Korea of an earth observation satellite on Sunday morning, calling for calm on the Korean Peninsula.

China regretted that North Korea insisted on the launch using the ballistic missile technology despite universal opposition of the international community, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

"The DPRK (North Korea) should be entitled to peaceful use of outer space, but this right is currently restricted by United Nations Security Council resolutions," Xinhua quoted the spokesperson as saying.

"Scientists and technicians of the DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration succeeded in putting the newly developed earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into its orbit according to the 2016 plan of the five-year programme for national aerospace development," North Korean state media KCNA reported.

Seoul has denounced the launch, calling for stronger sanctions against Pyongyang, and the US also condemned the launch, saying it represents "another destabilising and provocative action" and is "a flagrant violation" of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

The UN Security Council is to convene a closed-door emergency session to discuss the launch.

The launch, the first since December 2012, came one month after North Korea tested what it claimed to be its first hydrogen bomb. Countries including the US and South Korea have sought fresh sanctions since the nuclear test on January 6.

Hua called all sides concerned to "remain calm, act cautiously, take no moves that could escalate tension on the peninsula, and make joint efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability."
The Communist Party of India was yet to receive any proposal from the CPI-Marxist regarding any tie-up with the Congress for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls, a senior CPI leader said on Sunday.

Gurudas Dasgupta, a former CPI parliamentarian, said the matter was yet to be discussed in any meeting of the Left Front, of which both the communist parties are members.

However, Dasgupta said his party was prepared to do whatever was needed to protect democracy and end the "misrule" of the Trinamool Congress in the state.

"We are for strengthening Left unity, which should not be compromised under any circumstances. We also feel that democracy has to be protected in West Bengal. And the people have to be saved from the misrule of the Trinamool. In that regard, we have to do whatever was needed."

"But so far, we haven't received any proposal from any party (read CPI-M) regarding any alliance with the Congress. No one has discussed the issue with us. It has not been discussed in the Left Front meetings also.

"First, let us receive the proposal, then we will take a call on this," said Dasgupta after the party's state council meeting.

With the polls less than three months away, the state leadership of the CPI-M has been making overtures to the Congress for a joint fight against the Trinamool.

Recently, a majority of state Congress leaders conveyed to party vice president Rahul Gandhi their desire to team up with the CPI-M at the hustings.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision on the possible alliance.

The Marxists have announced they would formalise their stand at a two-day state committee meeting from February 13.

The state committee's decision would be conveyed to the CPI-M central committee, which is scheduled to hold a three-day session beginning February 16 to take the firnal decision on the alliance.
An Egyptian court on Sunday imposed a travel ban on Habib al-Adly, who served as interior minister under ousted president Hosni Mubarak, over a corruption case.

Al-Adly and the other 12 defendants were accused of misusing public money and making illegal profits of over two billion Egyptian pounds (about $253 million) from the interior ministry funds, Xinhua news agency reported.

Al-Adly, whose institution's perceived harsh practices, among others, triggered the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak, had been acquitted in 2015 of corruption charges related to profiteering and squandering public funds.

In late November 2014, Al-Adly together with ousted president Mubarak and his six aides was acquitted in the killing of peaceful protesters in early 2011.
Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali will perform at the Lucknow Mahotsava on Sunday night, and officials said they were taking no chances on the security front.

The ghazal maestro arrived in the Uttar Pradesh late on Saturday. He is here after a gap of four months.

Officials said elaborate security arrangements were in place as right-wing groups have been opposing performances by Pakistani artists in India.

Authorities fear that some people may try to disrupt the event.

The state president of the Shiv Sena, Baldev Singh, who had threatened to disrupt the concert, has been detained by police till the time the concert ends, an official said.

Soon after arriving here, Ghulam Ali said bringing politics into music and art was unfortunate and regretted that his Mumbai concert was called off due to threats of disruption.

He said he could not turn down the request to perform in Lucknow due to the request of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Ghulam Ali, whose concerts in Mumbai and Pune were called off after Shiv Sena threats, will also attend the music launch of "Ghar Wapsi" on March 5 in Delhi.

He is making his acting debut with the Hindi feature film "Ghar Wapsi" for which he has also composed and lent his voice.

Ghulam Ali, however, performed in Kolkata on January 12 and in Kerala three days later.
The government has studied representations from the armed forces vis-a-vis the 7th Pay Commission and their concerns will be addressed "in the near future", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday.

"I have interacted with the three service chiefs and discussed the concerns of the forces. The concerns will be addressed in the near future," he said on the sidelines of an International Maritime Conference here.

The concerns include the way in which pensions were calculated on the basis of number of years put in at a particular rank.

Another grudge is the risk-hardship matrix. While a soldier posted in the Siachen glacier gets Rs.31,500 as allowance per month, a civilian bureaucrat draws 30 percent of his salary as "hardship allowance".

About the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue, he said concerns of ex-servicemen will be addressed by a one-member judicial committee headed by L. Narasimha Reddy, a retired chief justice of the Patna High Court.

Parrika said the Narendra Modi government had fulfilled its promise on the OROP which had been implemented after 43 years.

"As promised by the BJP, we have already issued a table of various pensions as per the OROP scheme.

"The community of retired servicemen is large; one formula cannot solve all issues. Any contentious issues will be referred to the one-man committee," Parrikar said.

As for the protesting ex-servicemen's stand on approaching the court on the OROP issue, the minister said: "Fundamentally, every person has the right to approach a court.

"To the best of our understanding of the issues, we have fulfilled our promise."

He said the expenditure on OROP of Rs.7,500 crore each year was much larger that what the previous government had allocated for the scheme. The arears total Rs.10,900 crore.

The previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had allocated Rs.500 crore for the OROP.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was widely expected to unfurl its flag on the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). But the scale of victory it scored was something which even its leaders had not anticipated.

Winning 99 seats in the 150-member municipal body was no mean achievement for a party which had no presence in the previous body. In 2009, it had stayed away from the elections because it felt it did not have a mass base.

The performance was also unprecedented given the fact that no party in the past could get a majority on its own in the previous municipal bodies in Hyderabad and in doing so, TRS virtually wiped out the TDP-BJP alliance and the Congress.

In the 2014 general election, despite getting a majority in the Telangana assembly and forming the first government in the new state of Telangana, TRS could win only three out of 24 assembly seats under GHMC limits.

Ever since its formation in 2001 to revive the demand for a separate Telangana state, TRS was considered weak in Hyderabad because of considerable population from Seemandhra or Andhra Pradesh settled here.

Seemandhra people were opposed to the bifurcation of the state. The Telangana slogan had also failed to fire the imagination of urban voters in the 2004 and 2009 elections.

Thus it was not surprising that the TDP-BJP alliance had bagged 14 out of 24 assembly seats in the 2014 polls.

Not disappointed over this, but upbeat over achieving its main goal of a separate state and forming its first government, TRS adopted a meticulous strategy to win the last bastion - Hyderabad. It successfully wooed five out of nine MLAs of TDP, strengthening the party base.

While dealing a big blow to its number one political rival TDP, TRS also softened its stand visa-a-vis people from Seemandhra, often described as 'settlers'. TRS leaders, especially Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who used to target Seemandhra people for 'usurping' resources of Telangana, buried the bitterness of the movement after achieving his goal.

With Seemandhra people accounting for more than 25 percent of 7.4 million voters in GHMC, TRS also reached out to them and dispelled all apprehensions they had about their safety in Hyderabad.

With not a single incident of any attack on Seemandhra people in the last 20 months, they had reposed their faith in the ruling party, say political observers.

As Hyderabad is the engine of Telangana's economic growth, TRS was more careful about the impact any incident would have on the city's brand image. The end of uncertainty, prevailing in this technology hub since 2009, also revived the city's growth.

The TRS government also focussed on further attracting investments into information technology, pharma and other sectors based in Hyderabad.

Information Technology Minister K. Tarakarama Rao, who is son of the chief minister, aggressively marketed Hyderabad and convinced IT majors to expand their operations. The articulate and affable minister charmed the IT sector and launched some initiatives like T Hub, an incubator for technology startups.

It was not surprising that KCR gave his son the charge of the party's campaign for the crucial polls. As the results show, KTR, seen as heir-apparent in the party circles, fulfilled this task effectively.

Led by KTR, several ministers visited every part of the city for the aggressive campaign and promised to turn Hyderabad into a global city, with best infrastructure and civic amenities.

The government also laid special emphasis on the law and order situation by providing more vehicles and equipment for the police. The police constituted several teams for protection of women and installed CCTV cameras to improve policing.

Various welfare and development schemes launched by TRS since June 2014 appear to have turned the tide for TRS. The social security pensions for aged, widows and physically handicapped, scholarships for poor students, 6 kg rice per person per month at one rupee a kg, schemes for financial assistance for marriage of girls belonging to poor families all helped in winning it the votes.

However, it was the scheme for construction of double bed room houses for poor, regularisation of land, waiver of property tax, electricity and drinking water arrears of poor that appear to have made its impact.

The government also succeeded in overcoming electricity shortage and improved the supply. It also initiated efforts to solve the drinking water problem in the city by diverting more water from the Godavari river.
The Indian and Chinese armies have held their first joint tactical exercise in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior defence official said on Sunday.

"The first joint tactical exercise between the border troops of both the countries was conducted in the Chushul-Moldo area on Saturday," Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of the army's Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command, told IANS here.

It was part of the ongoing initiatives to ensure greater interaction between the two countries' troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control and thereby ensure peace and tranquility on the border.

"As previously agreed by both countries, the exercise focused on actions to be coordinated to jointly tackle aspects of humanitarian aid and disaster relief," Col. Goswami added.

The Indian team of 30 personnel was led by Colonel Ritesh Chandra Singh while the Chinese side was led by Colonel Qu Yi.

"Lasting the entire day, the joint exercise was based on a situation of a national disaster occurring on the border and the subsequent coordination of rescue mission by joint teams of both the countries.," he said.

"The joint exercise, codenamed 'Sino-India Cooperation 2016', compliments the hand-in-hand series of the India-China joint exercises and the recently conducted border troops Joint Exercise in Sikkim."

The spokesperson said: "The increased interaction among Indian and Chinese border troops is a very positive step in enhancing confidence-building relations between the two armies."
The Japan Automatic Machine (JAM) company, which has been selling its auto components in India, said on Sunday that it is currently in talks to set up a joint venture project in the country.

"We are now looking for a major joint venture project and have already initiated the process of discussions for this purpose," JAM chief executive Masafumi Mizuno told reporters here at the components part of the ongoing Auto Expo.

"We are doing a business of around $150 billion world-wide...the markets are growing at a very rapid speed and logistically it is not possible to support that demand from overseas," he said.

The India production centres would help reduce product prices by at least 20 to 30 percent, he added.

Mizuno said the company, which set up an India office in September last year, has already identified sites for two units, one in Manesar in Haryana and for a second unit to be set up near Bengaluru in Karnataka.

The JAM chief executive, who is also the company president, said it is keenly watching the India's upcoming budget to see whether some of their requirements will be met so as to unplug the firm's investment flow into India.
THE source for news of bluegrass and old-time music events in Ireland - and more

Send in news or queries to the Bluegrass Ireland Blog (BIB) by e-mail , please; we can't send a direct reply to a comment on a post. The BIB does not do reviews or accept posts with 'marketing messages'. Thinking of touring in Ireland? Look at the BIB's THINKING OF TOURING IN IRELAND? page.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed on Sunday morning that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had launched a rocket from a site in Pyongyang.

Abe quickly condemned the launch stating that it was in clear violation of UN resolutions, Xinhua reported.

Japan's top government spokesperson, Yoshihide Suga, confirmed however that while the long-range rocket may have flown over Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, no damage had been reported.

Defence ministry officials said that no measures were taken to intercept the missile.

The launch has defied international warnings and Japan has maintained that such a launch would be in clear violation of UN resolutions and a provocative act that threatens its national security.

The DPRK had said it plans to launch an earth observation satellite, but Japan and the US, among other nations, believe the launch was a test of a long-range ballistic missile.

The DPRK is banned from test-firing any rockets based on a ballistic missile technology under UN Security Council resolutions.

It is the first time since December 2012 that the DPRK has conducted such a test.
Jharkhand's main opposition party JMM on Sunday demanded a probe by a Special Investigation Team into the brutal murder of a Class 7 student inside a private school campus in the state capital.

The body of Vinay Kumar was found near the teachers' hostel at the private school. Police said he was murdered around 1.30 a.m on Thursday.

Police sources said the boy's liver was damaged as he was beaten up, while his head injuries indicate that he was hit by a hard object. His face was also disfigured.

Police detained a few teachers and a security guard of the school, while a police source said the art teacher was under suspicion.

"Even after two days, police have failed to crack the case. An SIT should be instituted to probe the case. Even young boys are not safe in the state," Jharkhand Mukti Morcha general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya told reporters.

He said Chief Minister Raghubar Das has not even bothered to meet the parents of the victim.

The Congress also questioned the role of police.

"Police seem to be clueless about the incident. The state government is in deep slumber. The chief minister, who holds the home department, seems least bothered about the case. A young boy is murdered in the school campus and the chief minister does not bother to speak to the parents," Jharkhand Congress leader Shashi Bhushan Rai told IANS.
Farmers, traders and Kerala government officials are meeting on Sunday in a 'Pineapple Fest' to find ways to better produce and market the fruit which fetches the state Rs.750 crore annually.

The state accounts for 70 per cent of India's pineapple production, but has yet to make a mark in the overseas market and has not had much success in value added products like juice concentrate, candies, halwa and dry fruits.

At Pineapple Fest, held over February 5-7 at Vazhakulam in Ernakulam district here, the state government has invited potential buyers from South-east Asian and Middle Eastern countries to see for themselves the business opportunities inherent in Kerala's annual production of 3.5 lakh tonnes of pineapples.

A big boost to Kerala's pineapple farmers and traders came in 2009 when a particular variety of the fruit grown in Vazhakulam got the Geographical Indication (GI) label.

Since then most of the state's pineapple output benefits by the name of 'Vazhakulam pineapple'.

Experts said that further branding of GI-labelled Vazhakulam pineapple is the first step to boost the market for the fruit in India and abroad.

"Our product is far superior in taste to others and we have decided to give this product a branding. Unless we do it, we just cannot compete and for that we will soon look out for a brand ambassador," Ismail Rawther, director, Kerala Pineapple Mission, told IANS.

He said the Kerala Agricultural University is also ready with new technologies to increase the shelf life of fresh pineapples.

One big impediment in better marketing of Kerala's pineapples overseas is the cost of production as compared to South East Asian countries, Jose Kalapura, the president of the Pineapple Farmers Association, told IANS.

"While the market price for the farmer here ranges between Rs.15 and Rs.25, the cost of production hovers around Rs.20. In South East Asian countries, the cost of production is just Rs.10," said Kalapura.

Rawther said pineapples from South East Asia have a much longer shelf life than Kerala's, giving them an advantage in the export market.

An Amul-model of farmer ownership collective would give a fillip to Vazhakulam pineapple in the global arena, said Navas Meeran, chairman, Eastern Group of Companies, which is into the spices and condiments business.

"Instead of waiting for the industrialists to chip in, the farmers should take initiatives in making value-added products from pineapple with the help of global consultancy agencies," said Meeran.

P.P.Joy, director, Pineapple Research Station, Vazhakkulam, said embracing newer technologies to make value-added products like juice concentrate, candies, halwas and dry fruits would go a long way in cracking the global market.

Just penetrating the Middle Eastern market could increase the state's pineapple business five times from its current turnover, added Rawther.
India's ratification of an international convention on nuclear energy accident liability has removed a major irritant in India-US relations and would help them unleash the full potential of the landmark India-US nuclear deal.

The US was quick to welcome the development removing the last hurdle in the way of US firms to build nuclear plants in India and generate an estimated $100 billion in business seven years after the deal was signed with much fanfare.

A deal between Toshiba Corp's Westinghouse Electric to build six nuclear reactors in Gujarat may well be signed in time for a possible visit by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi to Washington to attend the March 31- April 1 nuclear security summit.

Westinghouse is reported to be negotiating with the state-run operator Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) with the hope of making a "commercially significant announcement" during Modi's expected US visit and sign a final contract later in the year.

Another US company GE Hitachi is said to be in talks about the techno-commercial viability of its reactors at sites in Andhra Pradesh.

American firms had been allocated sites in the two states under the nuclear deal signed in October 2008 after the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh staked his government over it.

However, the two US companies were reluctant to go ahead in the face of India's tough 2010 nuclear liability law that made the suppliers of nuclear plants liable for damage in the event of an accident.

Though the deal otherwise transformed India-US relations, Washington was sore that while it had done the heavy lifting to get India a waiver from the

48-nation Nuclear Supplier Group to do nuclear business with other countries, it had been left high and dry.

Finally, it was during President Barack Obama's historic visit to New Delhi last year as chief guest at India's Republic Day that he and Modi reached what was described as a "breakthrough understanding" to allay US concerns about industry liability.

The understanding sought to resolve India's concerns about inspections and US concerns about liability for a nuclear accident with Washington saying India's laws and regulations do not meet international standards.

On the first, with India agreeing on 'administrative arrangements' providing

for tighter checks by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Washington dropped its insistence on 'flagging', or tracking, fuel consignments.

On the issue of liability, the understanding endorsed the principle of strict liability, which 'channels' costs arising from a nuclear accident to the plant operator and requires it to pay no-fault compensation.

To address another issue posed by India's 2010 nuclear liability law that allows a plant operator to seek secondary recourse against a supplier, an India Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) with a liability cap of 15 billion rupees ($222 million) was launched in June 2015.

Now with India agreeing to ratify the IAEA Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), it would also gain access to international funds with risk shared according to how many nuclear plants a country has.

The Feb 4 submission of the instrument of ratification to IAEA in Vienna, according to Indian officials "is the conclusive step in the addressing of issues related to civil nuclear liability in India."

State Department spokesman John Kirby Friday acknowledged that Indian membership in the CSC will "facilitate participation by companies from the United States in the construction of nuclear reactors in India."

And as he noted it will also reduce "India's reliance on carbon-intensive sources, that will benefit the environment, and will offer India greater energy security for its large and growing economy." And that makes it a big deal.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a two-day visit to Odisha on Sunday called for innovation in every field, and said th e country's young scientists should take up the great challenge of tapping solar energy.

"The moment innovation stops, systems lose their life. We have to create environment for innovation. The innovation should be affordable and sustainable," Modi said inaugurating the permanent campus of the National Institute of Science and Research (NISER) here.

He said manufacturing should have "zero defect" so that products are not rejected in the global market and "zero effect" so that no negative impact is left on the environment.

The prime minister cited the innovation embodied in LED bulb as an example of affordable and sustainable technology, and said, "We can save 20,000 MW energy by using LED bulbs in 100 cities across the country."

Innovation for clean energy is the need of hour, such as technology that needs to be developed for coal gasification to ensure minimal effect on climate, Modi said.

He reiterated his concept of colour revolutions, calling for green revolution in agriculture, blue revolution in water and sky, saffron in energy, and white in dairy farming.

Modi said India's young scientists must take up the great challenge of tapping solar power.

"If we have mastery over storage of solar energy, then I don't think we would need to depend on any other energy source," he said, noting that India, France, America and the Gates Foundation together have decided to invest in research on solar energy at the Paris COP21 climate summit.

The prime minister also exhorted the NISER scholars to help foster scientific temper among schoolchildren.

After inaugurating the NISER campus, Modi visited Srimandir to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dedicated to the nation a 15-million tonnes a year refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) here, and expressed regrets over delay in execution of different projects.

"Projects are marred by delays due to legal and tender processes and local agitations, resulting in cost overruns to the country. Initiatives have to be futuristic and completed before the designated time limit so that the country does not sustain cost overruns due to delays," the prime minister said.

He said a new work culture is being developed to materialise the projects within fixed time frame that would benefit the country.

Modi also took a dig at the Congress after inaugurating the Rs.34,555-crore refinery project of 15 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) capacity, saying: "Nowadays, whenever I go to inaugurate any project, the friends in Congress party say it was started during our time."

Describing Paradip refinery as Odisha's 'Vikas Deep', Modi said it will fulfil the aspirations of the state's bright youngsters. He said it will also take gas cylinders to the homes of the poor across the country.

Modi said the Paradip refinery has set a record of sorts when it came to 'Make in India' initiative -- the refinery will become a source of jobs for lakhs of poor since several downstream industries will come up after its commissioning.

The prime minister said the central government had distributed about Rs.1 lakh crore in recent months under the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) scheme to make the youth self-employed.

"MUDRA Yojana has given an opportunity to India's youth to stand on their own feet and become job-creators, not job-seekers. We don't want the youth to be job-seekers; they should be job-creators," said the prime minister.

He said effort was on to decrease oil imports and make India self-reliant in petroleum sector.

"I have asked the petroleum ministry to decrease oil imports by 10 percent by 2022, when India will celebrate 75 years of Independence. The ministry will try hard to be self-reliant in oil," Modi said.

He said the government was also emphasising on solar energy so that it does not depend on other countries for its energy needs. The Indian Oil Corp's refinery was a step towards that goal, he added.

Modi also congratulated the scientists for developing indigenous technology for the refinery project.

"Paradip refinery is made in India, for India and by Indians, using indigenous technology and this has amazed the world," the prime minister said.

The refinery at Paradip would produce 78 crore kg liquefied petroleum gas, 500 crore kg petrol, 680 crore kg disel and 120 lakh quintal petroleum coke.

The project will primarily produce BS-IV fuels and serve the eastern and south-eastern markets, apart from exports.

The refinery is the largest on the country's eastern coast, and is equipped with the latest technology, including IOCL's own patented IndMax technology for better and higher output of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Modi to ask the Indian Oil Corp. to fulfil its commitment in creating jobs for the region's people.

He also urged the prime minister to grant special category status to Odisha for its further development.
Two Naga organisations on Sunday slammed a rally held in the Manipur valley on Saturday purportedly for the "common future of Manipur" and to reaffirm and strengthen the integrity of the state.

The Naga People's Union for Civil Liberties (NPUCL) and Forum for Understanding the Naga-India Conflict and Human Rights (Funich), in a statement slammed the rally organised by the the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (Amuco), Committee of Civil Societies, Kangleipak (CCSK) and United Committee Manipur (UCM).

They said it was "a motivated reaction to sabotage the tireless efforts of the NSCN and the government of India to bring long lasting peace and development not only in the Naga areas, but for the entire northeastern region".

The statement issued by Kahorngam Zimik, president of NPUCL, and Lakpachui Siro, convener of Funich, said the hills of Manipur were "never a part of the valley kingdom".

"But by coining the slogan that the 'hills and the valley people are one and can never be divided', Amuco/UCM/CCSK's project is nothing but another majoritarian attempt to deconstruct the history of hill-valley disconnect so as to muzzle the legitimate aspiration of the Nagas and other tribal communities in the state," it said.

Tension has been simmering in the state since August last year when the assembly passed three controversial bills following a months-long agitation by people demanding an inner line permit system (ILPS) akin to those in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland to check the inflow of non-Manipuri people.

Ostensibly to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people, the state government, bowing to the pressure, convened a special session of the assembly on August 31 and passed three controversial bills - the Protection of Manipur People Bill, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Bill (Seventh Amendment) and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill.

The very day the bills were passed, protesters, mainly from tribal organisations, torched five houses belonging to Congress legislators. Among them were the dwellings of Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing and Lok Sabha member from Outer Manipur Thangso Baite in Churachandpur district.

The violence and resultant police action left nine people dead. The bodies of the nine people are still lying in Churachandpur with the tribal people refusing to bury them.

According to the tribes inhabiting the hills of Manipur, the three bills would directly undermine the existing safeguards for the tribal hill areas regarding land ownership and population influx, as the primary threat for the tribal people came not from outside the state but from the Meitei people of the valley itself.

The tribal people's organisations say they do not trust the state government, and want the central government to convene a tripartite meeting, and have also demanded a separate administration for the hills.

"Since the invasion of Imphal valley or Kangleipak by the colonial force in 1891, it has become one of the focal points in spreading the colonial interest in the hill areas of the present state of Manipur," Sunday's NPUCL-Funich statement said.

"Unfortunately, even after India's independence, British colonial legacy and practice remain in the state of Manipur. It is disappointing to see the dominant community with the backing of the state government constantly trying to articulate history on the basis of colonial narrative."

According to the Naga bodies, for real peace and development, "the dominant community or the Manipuris must accept the fact that there are two equally proportionate voices of contradicting aspiration".

The statement said the Nagas wanted "complete separation from the state of Manipur" and that the position has been reiterated at various platforms by various legitimate bodies of Nagas like United Naga Council, All Naga Student Association, Manipur, Naga Mothers' Union, and tribal apex bodies like Tangkhul Naga Long, Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation, Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur and Naga People's Organisation, Senapati.

"If the dominant community is really for peace and development in the region and has concern for the hill people, then respecting the aspiration of the Nagas and other tribal people of the state and their aspiration is highly warranted," it said.

"Otherwise, it will continue to remain a hollow slogan of unity and integrity without the participation of any legitimate hill civil societies."

The statement also said that while all Manipuri civil societies went for the rally, the United Nagas Council observed a total shutdown in the four Naga-inhabited hill districts of the state.
Veteran Tamil actor Nasser will be essaying the role of a Superintendent of Police in upcoming Hollywood production "Solar Eclipse", which also features Indian actors Om Puri, Rajit Kapoor and Ananth Mahadevan in key roles.

"This will be his fourth English film and second Hollywood production. He will join the sets in Sri Lanka on February 17," Nasser's wife Kameela told IANS.

The film's story, a conspiracy theory, blended with fiction where facts are not available, but based on a solid fact that police were well aware of the plot to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

Currently busy shooting for superstar Rajinikanth's Tamil outing "Kabali" in Malaysia, Nasser will directly join the team of "Solar Eclipse" later this month.

"The principal shooting of the project starts on February 16. A day later, Nasser will join the team and shoot for one day, before returning back to the sets of 'Kabali'. He will shoot major portion of his role in March," she said.

In the film, Nasser will play a character called Ashok, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting Mahatma Gandhi from any attack by assassins.

The film, which will focus on the life of three police officers during the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, also stars Hollywood actors Vinnie Jones, Alessa Novelli, Bobbie Philips and Bo Svenson among others.

International actor Jesus Sans will play Mahatma Gandhi in the film, which will be directed by Karim Triadia.

Produced by Nugen Media, the film will have music by Prashant Pillai and choreography by Saroj Khan.

Nasser, who has over 200 films across multiple languages to his credit, has also worked in English films such as "Fair Game", "Nothing But Life" and "Morning Raga".
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Sunday suspended nine of its officers after they were caught red handed at a 'mujra' party.

GHMC commissioner and special officer Janardhan Reddy suspended the officials including three tax inspectors and ordered an inquiry by the additional commissioner.

The officers along with others including six women were arrested late on Saturday night during a police raid on a mujra party at Khanmet under Madhapur police station limits of Cyberabad police commissionerate.

Police said the raid was conducted following a tip-off about the party being held in a private building. Dancers brought from Mumbai were among those arrested.

Liquor bottles were also seized from the premises.

Taking a serious view of the incident, the GHMC commissioner suspended the officials.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday launched a long-range rocket as planned, media reports said.

The rocket was fired at about 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) from the DPRK's Tongchang-ri launch station on its west coast, Xinhua quoted a report by Yonhap news agency which cited South Korea's defence authorities.

The South Korean military detected the rocket just a minute after the launch with its surveillance assets, seeing the rocket succeed in its first-stage separation.

The first stage of the rocket fell on western waters of South Korea. Additional debris landed on waters near the country's southern resort island of Jeju.

The rocket disappeared from radars of the South Korean military at 9:36 a.m., the military said, noting that more verification will be needed to confirm the final success of the rocket launch.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) right after the rocket launch to discuss countermeasures.

Seoul's foreign ministry reportedly requested an emergency meeting of UN Security Council, which bans the DPRK from testing any of its ballistic missile technologies.

There has been no damage reported from civil aircrafts and shipping, South Korea's transport ministry was quoted as saying.

South Korea and the US are jointly assessing whether the DPRK's rocket launch succeeds.
Master of the World

Loosely based on a pair of Jules Verne novels featuring a megalomaniac with strangely admirable idealistic aspirations for the world, 'Master of the World' is a curious sci-fi drama from director William Witney, a talented filmmaker seldom known or talked about amongst contemporary moviegoers. Part of its curiosity stems from this self-important character, Captain Robur, a genius inventor of a massive flying machine with war-time capabilities. Played with darkly ambitious intrigue by the always delightful Vincent Price, the captain posits an interesting moral dilemma for creating world peace, that the only way to finally bring nations together and an end to war is to disarm them all. Unfortunately, since there isn't a county on Earth that would willingly surrender their military armament, Robur uses his "heavier than air" contraption to coerce world leaders into submission. Essentially, the character, along with Witney's film, exposes the irony of the path towards peace coming from war and the uneasy reality of needing a despotic leader for maintaining that peace.

Granted, the film doesn't really delve too deep into the subject matter or explore it with more substantial weight, but the script by legendary genre author Richard Matheson, at least, touches on the matter as the plot's significant focal point. A very young Charles Bronson also stars as government agent John Strock, one of four people kidnapped by Robur as witnesses to his questionable tactics for peace. The other three include prominent social figures Philip Evans (David Frankham), armaments manufacture Prudent (Henry Hull) and his daughter Dorothy (Mary Webster), who is also Philip's fiancee. While the latter is given a disapproving and condemning voice of Robur's ultimately villainous scheme, and deservingly so, it is Bronson's Strock that is of more interest because he's conflicted over Robur's hopeful idealism accomplished at a grave cost. It's only after some time with the Captain and witnessing the tyrannical flames behind his eyes, Matheson's version of Verne's novels unveils technology with both the potential for progress and destruction. (Movie Rating: 3.5/5)

Tower of London

Very loosely inspired by certain historical events, 'Tower of London' fictionalizes the sudden rise and even quicker descent of King Richard III of England, throwing a supernatural mix into the story through the lens of political intrigue. And to really make things juicy, legendary filmmaker of several B-movie cult classics Roger Corman intermingles the story with Shakespearean elements, most notably Richard III, which is to be expected considering the subject matter, and Macbeth, which is a bit more surprising but also put to excellent use. It's the sort of movie that strives from more than its parts with the lofty goal of being both a creepy chiller and a period-piece drama, which sadly it doesn't do very well, but it's those individual parts that ultimately make this little thriller a good deal of fun. The production is another prime example of Corman's notoriously economical approach to filmmaking, but he knows how to stretch that budget to limits which deliver results, such as the elaborate set pieces, the amazingly detailed baroque costumes and the amusing special effects.

The incomparable Vincent Price stars as the hunchbacked Richard, the duke of Gloucester, who is appalled and offended when his dying brother King Edward IV assigns their younger brother to a position he personally desired. His anger boils with an envious rage that drives him to murder those standing in his way for achieving what he covets most, including designing intricate conspiracies against his own family. Like the aforementioned plays, Richard's evil deeds slowly lead him into fits of madness as the ghosts of his victims begin to haunt his every waking moment, and Mr. Price does marvelously in his portrayal of a man's measured descent into lunacy caused by greed. Joan Camden also stars as Richard's equally eager wife, a Lady Macbeth type who spurs and endorses his decisions. It's not difficult to predict where and how it will all end, but the performances and Corman's interestingly methodical pace maintain a layer of fascination. The film is a highlight in both the careers of Price and Corman rarely talked about outside of the Poe features. (Movie Rating: 4/5)

Diary of a Madman

Based on the Guy de Maupassant's 1887 short story "Le Horla," 'Diary of a Madman' is pretty much as one would guess from the tittle  something having to do with a madman and his diary. Funny enough, that's precisely how producer Robert Kent opens his script  a roundtable reading of a dead man's diary. After a funeral for the local magistrate, a man who according to other characters either was hated or reasonably well-respected, those same voices of dissent gather at the man's house to read from his private journal, an apparent last-wishes request. At first, the thought that the magistrate is about to spill the beans on everyone's dirty secrets and reveal the culprit behind his mysterious death comes to mind, but such is not the case is this amusing sci-fi mystery chiller from director Reginald Le Borg, the Austrian-born filmmaker who made a name for himself churning out low-budget horror flicks for Universal Studios throughout the 1940s. The diary actually flashbacks to explain the magistrate's descent into madness and the dead bodies surrounding him when alive.

When it comes to telling the tale of a civilized gentlemen and public figure such as the reputable Simon Cordier slowly spiraling downward to the pits of insanity, who better to portray that decline than the inimitable Vincent Price. In another terrifically memorable performance, Price makes Cordier a likeable enough personality, a kindly and obliging court judge and amateur sculptor who reveals small hints of a darker side writhing beneath his seemingly good-natured temperament when he visits a criminal he recently sentenced to death. Interestingly, the story treats madness as a kind of infection or foreign entity that invades Cordier's otherwise healthy disposition, which also coincidentally happens when he meets artist's model Odette Mallotte (the stunningly beautifully Nancy Kovack). That's not to suggest the filmmakers meant anything intentional by this. It's just a fun coincidence that adds another layer to this delightfully amusing 1963 film where the mysterious entity known as "The Horla" represents a man of high-social status battling his dark inner demons. (Movie Rating: 4/5)

An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe

Not so much a movie in the traditional sense, but the teleplay 'An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe,' which originally aired in 1970 on ABC, is nonetheless quintessential Vincent Price  a must-have for any devoted fan and collector for The Merchant of Menace. And who wouldn't want a 52-minute film where the legendary actor and genre icon recites four stories by the Master of Horror, three of which are amongst his most famous works while the fourth is not exactly one of his better known. But rather than simply being some sort of 'Masterpiece' theater show, which coincidentally didn't air on television till the following year, or feature the dearly beloved actor on an antique chair reading from some dusty, leather-bound book, The King of the Grand Guignol stars as the untrustworthy narrator of each story. As though on a stage play, a one-man show, if you will, he performs as if a man battling his internal demons and clashing with his own insanity. In a way, we're watching as though he were an inmate confessing his sins and making a maddening attempt to purge himself of guilt.

Ultimately, this is what makes the hour-long show such a fascinating watch, from Price reading each story with feverish passion and incredible poignancy to the awesomely spooky atmosphere in the stage design and the enthusiastically creative directing style of Kenneth Johnson ('The Six Million Dollar Man,' 'The Bionic Woman,' 'The Incredible Hulk' and 'Alien Nation'). In fact, Johnson's direction is quite impressive for a television program, using interesting crane-shot movements and often dollying from one side of the room to the next, such as in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado." Several moments during "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Sphinx," it's easy to see that Johnson gives Price plenty of room to move about and utilize the entire stage, using more wide shots with a couple choice close-ups that effectively add drama to Price's electric performance. As is usual in his acting, the cherished actor of many B-movie favorites hams up in a couple areas, but in the way only he can, chewing up the scenery with a kind of urgent intensity and gravitas. (Movie Rating: 4/5)

Cry of the Banshee

Gotta a love movie like 'Cry of the Banshee' where blatantly anachronistic mistakes somehow add to the production's unintentional humor and enjoyment. In this case, we follow the sadistic and fiendish pursuits of a magistrate, as played by the always enigmatic Price, with a disturbingly bloodthirsty obsession for hunting witches. Set in an undisclosed small town of Elizabethan England, a brother and sister accused of witchcraft are bullied and harassed for sport during a large dinner party. Things soon escalate from bad to worse, as would be expected, and someone suddenly pulls out a gun, instantly shooting one of the siblings as if he were a gunslinger in the Old West. And before brushing the incident as an isolated mistake, other characters also use antique-looking handguns throughout the movie, which is as much a head-scratcher as it a hilarious goof. At most, if the story's setting is accurate, characters would be firing a matchlock pistol, which were still a bit large and clunky for a hand-held firearm. In spite of this glaringly oversight, the movie remains wildly amusing.

Much of this amusement also comes from the villainous caricatures of the Early Modern upper class, the animated dialogue and the near-lampoon action sequences feigning diabolic rituals of the occult. Price borders on the cartoonish in some spots in his portrayal of a sinisterly conniving justice of the peace who not only stops at nothing to maintain his fearful power over townspeople but genuinely and passionately despises witches to the point of knowingly killing innocents. There's really not much else to the plot, except an actual coven lead by Oona (Elizabeth Bergner) is discovered and they summon a demon to avenge the crimes committed against them. Although the story functions in similar vein to a mystery thriller, slowly building towards a showdown and a frankly silly twist, the story, honestly, would be improved if the magistrate's obsession unfounded, leaving the man's sanity to be questioned. Nevertheless, the movie remains an amusing watch, and for punk rock fans, it is all the more memorable as the inspiration behind the name 'Siouxsie and the Banshees.' (Movie Rating: 3/5)

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Shout! Factory brings 'The Vincent Price Collection III' to Blu-ray under the distributor's Scream Factory line as a four-disc box set with an attractive slipcover and cover art that reveals a cool effect. The first two films are given their own Region A locked, BD50 discs while the third Region A locked, BD50 disc contains the next two movies, and viewers are given a choice of which movie to watch at startup before switching to the standard static menu with music. The last Region A locked, BD50 disc comes with two versions of 'Cry of the Banshee.' All four discs come inside a blue case that is slightly thicker than normal, and the package includes a 12-page booklet with several color photos and reprints of art posters.
A senior official was injured in a roadside landmine blast in southern Somalia, military officials said on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner of Gedo region Mohamed Hussein's car was hit by the roadside bomb, Xinhua quoted the military commander of the region as saying.

"The deputy commissioner and his bodyguard were seriously wounded while heading to a meeting," he said.

"We heard heavy blast this morning in the town of Bardera. Government forces blocked the road leading to the site," said an eyewitness.

Bardera town of Gedo region, which was captured by Somalian troops and AU Mission to Somalia personnel in July 2015 has witnessed occasional attacks by Somali militant group Al-Shabaab.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees' strike and the suspension of flight operations continued for the sixth day on Saturday, affecting PIA passengers at home and abroad.

Over 2,000 Pakistanis were stranded in Jeddah due to the suspension of flights, and neither the government nor PIA itself has approached them since lodging them at a local hotel in the city, Dawn online reported.

Many of these passengers were particularly worried because their visas expire in two days' time.

"We fear that the Saudi police will arrest us on charges of visa expiry, as most people's visas will expire in a week, or three or four days," Usman Qureshi, a Pakistani stranded in Jeddah, said over phone.

He said he has been stranded in Jeddah for three days, and has not heard a response from PIA officials or the Pakistan embassy in Saudi Arabia.

"My flight, PK-7135, was scheduled to leave Jeddah on February 4, but flight operations were suspended. PIA brought me and my family, and 160 others, to a local hotel where 500 Pakistanis were already staying. Food is served three times a day, but people have to sleep in the hotel lounge because the rooms are limited," he said.

Qureshi said they have received no information regarding the next flight, and PIA officials have not come to the hotel or tried to contact the passengers in Jeddah.

"The PIA officials took our tickets and passports, so it's difficult for us to arrange tickets on other airlines to come back home," said Mohammad Adnan, who too is stranded in Jeddah.

He said it was also difficult to leave the hotel, as people could be arrested by local police for not carrying their passports. He said most people were concerned about their security in the absence of their passports.

PIA spokesperson Daniyal Gilani confirmed that over 2,500 Pakistanis who travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah were in Jeddah. He said the airline has made arrangements to fly them back home on Saudi Airlines.

"We brought back 700 Pakistanis, and the remaining people will be brought back in a day or two. We provided them food and residence free of cost," he said.

Gilani said there were limited officials in Saudi Arabia, and it would be difficult for the officials that are there to meet with the passengers. However, he added that efforts are being made to resolve their problems.

This is a difficult time for the airline, as flight operations are suspended and the government is trying to resolve the problems facing international and domestic passengers. The airline has suffered financial losses during this period, the spokesman said.
Terming the recent death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche on the Siachen glacier "painful", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that withdrawing troops from the world's highest battlefield could not be a solution.

"This incident is painful to me personally, but the solution that is suggested is not a proper analysis," he said, referring to demands that Indian soldiers be withdrawn from the glacier.

Asked if the proposal to convert Siachen into a "peace mountain" still exists, the minister said: "The decision (on deploying troops) on Siachen is based on the security of the nation."

He said the loss of human lives on the Siachen had come down in recent years due to improved facilities.

"We have lost thousands of soldiers to get control (of the glacier)... The loss of life is less in the last few years," he told reporters on the sidelines of an International Maritime Conference here.

He said the incident had nothing to do with preparedness. "I don't find any loose ends. It's an avalanche... These are unpredictable in nature."

Parrikar said the search operation was on though there was little hope of survival of the soldiers.

"The hope of any survival is nil. They are covered in tonnes of ice," he said.

Then prime minister Manmohan Singh suggested in 2005 that the world's highest battlefield be converted into a "peace mountain" without redrawing the boundaries between India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan maintain permanent military presence at heights of over 6,000 metres or 20,000 feet. Both have lost many men to extreme cold in the area where temperature can dip to minus 50 degrees Celsius.

The army has meanwhile deployed advanced equipment to search for its men. These include wall penetrating radars.

Ten soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were buried on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their post located 19,000 feet above the sea level on the southern side of the glacier.
With Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife continuing their indefinite strike demanding quota for Kapus, popular actor and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan on Sunday urged the Andhra Pradesh government to hold direct talks with them.

Under fire from sections of his own community for not coming out in support of the movement, the actor on Sunday said the government should hold talks with the leaders spearheading the agitation before it goes out of control.

"I request the TDP government to engage in direct talks with the Kapu leaders spearheading the ongoing reservation issue, which was an election promise originally made by the TDP," he tweeted.

"A group of balanced intellectuals should be entrusted with the responsibility of finding a mutually acceptable solution before it juggernauts into an uncontainable situation," Pawan added.

Members of Kapu community in parts of coastal Andhra had been protesting against the actor for last few days for not supporting the quota movement.

He had condemned the violence that broke out during a meeting by Kapus at Tuni town in East Godavari district on January 31, saying that anti-social elements were involved in burning a train.

Pawan had also said that the violence could have been averted if the government and the police were prepared to face a protest in which thousands of people were participating.

He had also asked the Telugu Desam Party government to implement its poll promise to include Kapus in the list of backward classes and provide them reservation.

Pawan, who floated Jana Sena before the 2014 elections, had campaigned for the TDP-BJP alliance.
The Punjab government has decided to re-introduce examinations for primary and middle standards to give a boost to the academic standards in government schools, a minister said on Sunday.

Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema said various stakeholders were consulted while taking the decision in the larger interest of the students.

"It has been conveyed to the government by the public, representatives of almost all the political parties and also the educational experts to re-introduce the examination system for these classes to ensure a better academic scenario in the government schools," Cheema said.

"The Punjab government is firm on the decision and all the formalities have been completed in this regard," he said.

Cheema said 225,786 students were enrolled in the 13,053 primary schools and 3,907 examination centres will be set up for the conduct of examinations.

Similarly, 2,347 examination centres will be set up for 233,013 students enrolled in 8th class of 6,286 of middle, high and senior secondary schools in the state.

The examination system for these classes was abolished some years back due to the 'no detention' policy of the central government.
Scientists at a US university have found a way to use an empty shell of a Hepatitis E virus to carry anti-cancer vaccines or drugs into the body.

Hepatitis E virus is feco-orally transmitted, so it can survive the passage through the digestive system, said Marie Stark, a graduate student working with professor Holland Cheng of the department of molecular and cell biology at the University of California-Davis.

Cheng, Stark and colleagues prepared virus-like particles based on Hepatitis E proteins. The particles do not contain any virus DNA, so they can't multiply and spread and cause infections.

Such particles could be used as vaccines that are delivered through food or drink. The idea is that you would drink the vaccine, and after passing through the stomach the virus-like particles would get absorbed in the intestine and deliver vaccines to the body.

But the particles could also be used to attack cancer. Stark and Cheng did some tinkering with the proteins, so that they carry sticky cysteine amino acids on the outside. They could then chemically link other molecules to these cysteine groups.

They worked with a molecule called LXY-30, developed by researchers at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Centre, which is known to stick to breast cancer cells.

The technique was tested in rodents as a way to target breast cancer.

By using a fluorescent marker, they could show that virus-like particles carrying LXY-30 could home in on breast cancer cells both in a laboratory dish and in a mouse.

The study findings were published recently in the journal Nanomedicine.
South Korea on Sunday denounced North Korea's rocket launch, calling for stronger sanctions against Pyongyang.

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae issued a statement, saying that it strongly denounces the long-range missile launch in defiance of repeated warnings from the international community, Xinhua reported.

The statement said the long-range missile launch clearly violates UN Security Council resolutions, describing it as an extreme provocative act for the single purpose of maintaining its regime while dismissing livelihoods of North Korean people and the international community's wish for peace.

Seoul said the rocket launch was conducted amid ongoing discussions in the UN Security Council about new sanctions against Pyongyang over its fourth nuclear test.

President Park Geun-hye presided over an emergency meeting of the national security council right after North Korea launched a rocket at 9.30 a.m. (local time) from its main Tongchang-ri launch station on the west coast.

The launch came a day after Pyongyang announced its revised plan to move up the launch window to February 7-14 from the previous February 8-25.

Pyongyang conducted what it said was its first H-bomb test on January 6. It was the fourth of nuclear detonations following tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

UN Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from testing a rocket by use of ballistic missile technology and from staging a nuclear test.

The South Korean government and the international community had encouraged North Korea to return to a dialogue table, such as six-party talks to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, but Pyongyang had made no response to such proposal, according to the statement.

The six-way nuclear disarmament talks, which involve South Korea, North Korea, China, the US, Russia and Japan, have been stalled since late 2008.

The statement said Pyongyang bought time to advance its nuclear capability while Seoul made dialogue overtures, calling for tougher new UN sanctions against North Korea.

The only way of making Pyongyang give up its nuclear ambition is to draft strong and effective sanctions against it, including UN Security Council resolutions, in cooperation with the international community, the statement noted.

South Korea said it will make all-out efforts to draw up strong UN Security Council resolutions and continue necessary pressures on North Korea to force change in the country.

The South Korean government will push ahead with effective actions with the US to strengthen its security capability, while maintaining a seamless defence readiness to respond to any North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
South Korea's unification ministry on Sunday announced that it plans to further restrict the entry of its nationals into a jointly-run factory park in a border town of North Korea.

The number of South Koreans to be allowed to enter the Kaesong industrial complex will be reduced to 500 from the current limit of 650, the ministry said in a statement.

The reduction came after Pyongyang earlier in the day put an observation satellite into orbit aboard a long-range rocket, which Seoul considers a long-range ballistic missile, Xinhua news agency reported.

North Korea is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from a test of ballistic missile technology.

It was an additional reduction made by the ministry following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test on Saturday.

The statement said the additional reduction will begin in consideration of safety of South Korean people working in the inter-Korean industrial zone.
South Korea's defence ministry on Sunday said Seoul and Washington have agreed to launch official negotiations on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), on the Korean peninsula.

Yoo Jeh-Seung, South Korea's deputy defence minister for policy, said Seoul and Washington have shared a view that Pyongyang's recent nuclear test and long-range missile launch show serious threats of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile to peace and stability in South Korea and the entire Asia-Pacific region.

To respond to mounting North Korea threats, South Korea and the US decided to start official negotiations on the THAAD deployment in Korea to enhance a joint missile defence posture, Xinhua quoted Yoo as saying.

The decision was made after US Forces in Korea (USFK)commander Curtis Scaparrotti requested it, Yoo said, noting that the official negotiation is aimed at jointly seeking the THAAD deployment and its possible operational capability at an earliest possible date.

The announcement came after North Korea on Sunday said it had successfully launched a Kwangmyongsong-4 Earth observation satellite into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 a.m. (local time).

Pyongyang claimed on January 6 that it had tested its first hydrogen bomb in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. It was the fourth of nuclear detonations following tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
South Korean's military has seen a rocket launched by North Korea successfully entering into space, regarding it as a intercontinental ballistic missile similar to the Unha-3 rocket test-fired in late 2012.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on the launch to the parliamentary defence committee on Sunday, according to Rep. Yun Hu-deok of the main opposition Minju Party, a member of the committee, Xinhua reported.

The South Korean military estimated that North Korean rocket was a three-stage ICBM similar to the Unha-3 rocket, launched by Pyongyang in December 2012.

The rocket is believed to have a range of about 5,500-10,000 km. The first stage of the rocket fell in waters near South Korea's western border island of Baengnyeong, with the second stage landing off the southwest of the southern resort island of Jeju.

Where the third stage landed has not been identified as it disappeared from radars of South Korea's military.

To track the North Korean rocket after the launch, South Korea had deployed surveillance assets, including Aegis-equipped destroyer, ground-based Green Pine radar and Peace Eye airborne early warning and control aircraft.

No civilian damage in South Korea has been reported from aircrafts and shipping. The rocket did not fly over South Korea's territory.

North Korea's state media reported on Sunday that it had successfully launched a Kwangmyongsong-4 earth observation satellite into orbit just nine minutes and 46 seconds after the launch at 9.30 a.m. (local time).

Pyongyang has claimed the rocket launch is a space programme for peaceful purpose, but Seoul has denounced it as ballistic missile development. Rockets and ballistic missiles have lots of overlapping technologies.

The launch came a day after North Korea announced its revised plan to move up the launch window to February 7-14 from the previous February 8-25.

On January 6, Pyongyang said it had tested what it claimed was its first hydrogen bomb in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

North Korea is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from testing a rocket by use of ballistic missile technology and staging a nuclear test. Pyongyang detonated atomic devices in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

South Korea's presidential office criticised the launch, saying that it came in defiance of repeated warnings from the international community. Seoul called for tougher new sanctions against Pyongyang at the UN Security Council.

President Park Geun-hye convened an emergency meeting of the national security council, and Seoul's foreign ministry requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss counter-measures.

South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo held a meeting with General Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of the US Forces in Korea (USFK), saying Pyongyang's missile launch was a direct challenge to the international community as it came amid ongoing discussions at the UN Security Council about new sanctions against Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test.

Han stressed the need for additional pressures on North Korea to make it recognise a fact that the country cannot survive unless it gives up nuclear weapons. He called for close cooperation between Seoul and Washington in response to a series of recent North Korean provocations.
Genres : Drama

Starring : Lukas Miko, Johannes Krisch

Director : Giulio Ricciarelli

Plot Synopsis

Germany 1958. In those years, "Auschwitz" was a word that some people had never heard of, and others wanted to forget as quickly as possible. Against the will of his immediate superior, young prosecutor Johann Radmann (Alexander Fehling) begins to examine the case of recently identified teacher who was a former Auschwitz gard. Radmann soon lands in a web of repression and denial, but also of idealization. He devotes himself with utmost commitment to his new task and is resolved to find out what really happened. He oversteps boundaries, falls out with friends, colleagues and allies, and is sucked deeper and deeper into a labyrinth of lies and guilt in his search for the truth. But what he ultimately brings to light will change the country forever.
South Korea on Sunday announced the start of official negotiations with the US on possible deployment of an advanced US missile defence system after North Korea's nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

The start of talks about deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system to US forces in Korea (USFK) came just hours after Pyongyang announced the successful launch of its Kwangmyongsong-4 Earth observation satellite into orbit in defiance of international warnings, Xinhua reported.

A rocket carrying the satellite was seen by Seoul and Washington as a long-range ballistic missile.

UN Security Council resolutions ban Pyongyang from testing a rocket by use of ballistic missile technology. On January 6, North Korea tested what it claimed was its first H-bomb.

Yoo Jeh-Seung, South Korea's deputy defence minister for policy, said Seoul and Washington had shared a view that North Korea's recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch are a serious threat to peace and stability in South Korea and the entire Asia-Pacific region.

To respond to the mounting North Korea threats, South Korea and the US decided to kick off negotiations on the THAAD deployment to enhance a joint missile defence posture between the two allies, Yoo said.

The decision was made after USFK commander Curtis Scaparrotti requested it, Yoo said, noting that the talks are aimed at jointly seeking possible THAAD deployment and its operational capability at the earliest.

Repeated tests by Pyongyang of its nuclear devices and long-range rockets are believed to have advanced its capability of miniaturising a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a long-range missile that can strike the US mainland.

Pyongyang had conducted nuclear tests and long-range rocket launches almost simultaneously. About a month after the fourth nuclear test, the Kwangmyongsong rocket lifted off from North Korea's main Tonchang-ri launch station on the west coast.

Two months before the third nuclear detonation, North Korea launched a three-stage Unha-3 rocket into space for the purpose of what it claimed was to deliver an observation satellite.

South Korea and the US will form a joint working group that would first review an appropriate site for the THAAD deployment.

If the THAAD is deployed in the northeastern coastal region of South Korea, it can intercept ballistic missiles launched from DPRK submarines, a South Korean defence ministry official said.

North Korea reportedly test-fired its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) three times in 2015.

The SLBM is seen by some as the most serious threat as a submarine-carried ballistic missile is much harder to detect in advance.

The THAAD is an advanced US missile defence system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km. A THAAD battery is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 missiles and airborne radar and fire control system.

The US had expressed its willingness to deploy one or more batteries in South Korea.

One THAAD battery, valued at about 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion), is capable of covering two thirds of South Korea, according to Seoul's defence ministry.

The South Korean military has no plans to directly purchase the US missile defence system, and possible deployment will be made to US troops stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.

If deployed, Seoul would bear the costs for the site and infrastructure, while Washington would cover costs for the deployment and maintenance.

The THAAD will be operated against North Korea alone, according to Seoul's defence ministry.

The ministry believes that it can shoot down an estimated 2,000 North Korean ballistic missiles, including Scud, Rodong and Musudan.
Spanish security forces detained six people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al Nusra groups in an operation carried out in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The arrests were carried out in the cities of Alicante and Valencia on the east coast of Spain and in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta, Xinhua reported.

The Spanish Interior Ministry said that four of those detained are of Spanish nationality but of Syrian, Jordanian and Moroccan origin, while the other two are a Syrian and a Moroccan resident in Spain.

The arrests come as part as a police investigation which began in 2014 and those arrested are described as forming "part of the exterior structure of the terrorist organisations with a jihadist character situated in the Syria-Iraq region," and they are accused of "supplying logistical material which is vital for maintaining terrorist activities."

Spanish authorities insisted the operation is "ongoing" and as such further arrests cannot be ruled out.
Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's upcoming visit to India was among the issues discussed when the Himalayan nation's Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel called on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here on Sunday.

"FM Poudel discusses reconstruction assistance. Briefs EAM on political situation, remaining constitutional issues & PM Oli's visit to India," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Poudel arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on a two-day visit to discuss reconstruction assistance following the earthquake in Nepal in April last year that claimed over 8,000 lives.

He is also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this connection.

There has been speculation about the possibility of Oli's visit to India after over 50 people were killed in the now more than five-month-long anti-constitutional protest by Madhesis in the southern Nepali Terai.

Most of the 41 transit and customs points along the southern portion of the Himalayan nation's open border with India have been besieged by Madhesi protesters who are demanding, among other things, a redrawing of the boundaries of the provinces in Nepal as proposed in the new Constitution -- promulgated on September 20 last year -- and representation in parliament on the basis of population.

Unnerved by the prolonged Madhesi agitation, the ruling coalition and the opposition last month approved two amendments to the four-month-old Constitution partly meeting the demands of the protesters.

However, the Madhesi Morcha spearheading the agitation has rejected the amendments and announced a fresh agitation besides calling for a broader alliance among all forces in the Terai-Madhes region.

The blockade of trucks from India to Nepal by the Madhesis has led to severe shortage of medicines and other essential supplies in the Kathmandu Valley.

Swarup, however, said in a media briefing here last week that now the situation has improved quite a lot.

"Now, about 1,300 trucks are passing daily. The waiting is down to about 300-400 trucks," he said.

The spokesman said that before this whole logjam started, about 1,500 trucks used to go daily.

"Now 1,300 trucks are going and this is despite (the major border crossing points) Raxaul and Birgunj being blocked by the protesters on the Nepalese side. This tells you that the situation has normalised to a large extent," he said.

Swarup said that as far as the constitutional amendments were concerned, India has welcomed those as good positive steps "and we hope that the remaining issues which the Madhesis have with the Nepalese government can also now be sorted out in a spirit of reconciliation, flexibility, compromise and dialogue".
The mother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad died on Saturday at the age of 86.

Anisah Makhlouf, born in Syria's coastal city of Latakia in 1930, married late President Hafez al-Assad in 1957 when he was a first lieutenant, Xinhua quoted a report by state news agency SANA as saying.

Makhlouf was interested in women issues and visited many foreign countries with her late husband when he took to office in 1971.
Manipur Police beefed up security measures on Sunday as Kuki organisations condemned the "unprovoked" gun attack on February 3 on Kukis in Molnom villagers near Pallel town along National Highway 2.

Several shots were fired at the terrified villagers in Molnom. One youth, Lunkhogin Haokip, sustained serious injuries, Kukis of the village said.

In a joint statement condemning the incident, the Kuki Chiefs' Association in Chandel district, the Kuki People's Forum, the Thadou Students' Association, and the Kuki Students' Organisation said that some cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) had opened fire at the villagers.

The Kuki Reformation Forum also condemned what it described as the unprovoked firing. In a statement it said the incident reminded the people of the "ethnic cleansing" started by the NSCN-IM.

Over the years of, more than 1,000 innocent men, women and children have died in the armed clashes between the two tribes.

The joint statement said that the NSCN-IM cadres surrounded the Molnom village on February 3 night and opened fire at three youths who had gone to a mountain stream. It appealed to the central and state governments to bring about a resolution to such unprovoked firing.

It said that on August 22 last year the Aimol Ngairong village was attacked with bombs and guns, which caused the death of one villager.

While a mass rally was organised on Saturday for the "integrity" of the state, the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) demanded an "alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur".

The long standing demand of the Nagas in the state is that since they no longer want to live under the "communal government" led by Okram Ibobi Singha, there should be a separate arrangement for them.

ANSAM, which claims to represent the Naga tribal youth and students in Manipur, has cited three incidents in which 13 tribal youths were killed as instances of atrocities committed by the state.

Though police said at times they opened fire to control unruly mobs, the ANSAM says the "communal government" of Manipur had committed these "excesses" to intimidate those demanding their constitutional rights and restoration of law and order.

The government, most of the political parties and civil society organisations assert that there cannot be what they call a "vivisection of Manipur" as an appeasement policy.
Ahead of Tuesday's crucial primary in New Hampshire, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump returned to the debate stage to assert that he has "the best temperament" to be America's next commander in chief.

Trump, whose absence from the last Republican debate apparently pushed him to the second place in last week's Iowa caucuses, had a relatively good time Saturday night as his rivals ganged up on newly resurgent Senator Marco Rubio.

And when Texas senator Ted Cruz who has been crowing about the real estate mogul's "Trumper Tantrums" since besting him in Iowa declined to repeat his attacks on the ABC News debate, Trump noted, "If you noticed, he didn't answer your question."

Rubio, on the other hand, was seriously rattled by the attack from his rivals, particularly New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who painted him as someone who delivers soaring speeches but has never made a consequential decision in his political life.

"Marco, the thing is this," Christie said=, "when you're president of the United States, when you're a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn't solve one problem for one person." Christie said.

Christie also slammed Rubio's poor attendance record in the Senate. "That's not leadership, that's truancy," Christie said.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, was booed during an exchange with Jeb Bush about eminent domain that allows a government or private entity to appropriate land or property in return for payment of compensation, when he asked the former Florida governor to be quiet.

The billionaire then turned on the audience, suggesting it was made up of party figures and big donors and was therefore biased against him -- and the booing escalated.

The tough talking Trump also got support on his stand on immigration from Cruz.

"We're going to build a wall. We're going to triple the border patrol," he said. "We're going to increase -- and actually, since Donald enjoyed that, I will simply say, I've got somebody in mind to build it."

Trump also vowed to bring back the outlawed controversial practice of waterboarding euphemistically called as enhanced interrogation. "I would bring back waterboarding and I would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding," he declared.

Bush also added to the Rubio criticism, saying that Americans shouldn't gamble on a candidate who doesn't have executive experience.

"Marco Rubio is a gifted politician and he may have the skills to be president of the United States," Bush said.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, meanwhile, laid into Ted Cruz for his campaign incorrectly telling Iowa caucus goers that Carson would be dropping out of the race after Iowa and asking them to instead support him.

Carson said Saturday that the actions of Cruz's campaign were an example of "Washington ethics" as he tried to portray himself and not Cruz as a true outsider candidate. Cruz tried to defuse the clash by saying, "Ben, I am sorry."

The latest CNN/WMUR tracking poll of likely Republican primary voters published Friday found Trump dominating the race.

There is a fierce battle for second unfolding between Rubio at 17 percent, and Cruz and Ohio governor John Kasich, who are tied for third place with 13 percent. The three, however, are within the poll's margin of error of 5.8 percentage points.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
The body of a 21-year-old woman student of Delhi University, who had gone missing a few days back, was on Sunday recovered from a shaft of her friend's residence, police said. The friend has been arrested.

Police said the body of Arzoo Singh was found in a semi-burnt condition from her friend's house in Model Town area of north Delhi.

The matter came to light after some residents of the area complained to police about some unpleasant smell coming out from the house of the accused -- identified as Naveen Khatri.

Police said Khatri, who was the victim's neighbour, was arrested after several people were questioned when the woman went missing.

The woman, a final year student of Lakshmibai College under University of Delhi, was reportedly in a relationship with Khatri for years and they wanted to marry.

But Khatri's family members were aginst this relationship and they fixed his marriage with some other woman, a police officer said.

The victim left her college on February 2 and was missing since then, the officer said.

Initial investigation suggests that the victim was strangulated by Khatri, who dumped her body in a shaft at his residence.

Khatri reportedly wanted to dump the victim's body at some other place but could not succeed in his attempt.

He also tried to burn it once to erase the evidence, but again failed in his attempt, the officer said.

"We are also trying to ascertain the role of other family members of the accused as they were not ready to accept their son's relationship with the victim. They had raised objections to the relationship and wanted Khatri to marry another woman," the officer said.
With an array of influences ranging from ska to jazz to funk, Australian band The Cat Empire has carved their own niche in the global scene. Now, lead vocalist and percussionist Felix Riebl says he would "love" to incorporate Indian classical music if he gets that opportunity.

"I'd love to work with Indian classical music, but I don't know how and when. I have also loved being in this band because it has introduced me to so many types of music and I really value that a lot. I would really like to do something with it. Some of it is so kicking. If I get the opportunity, I will love to come back," Riebl told IANS on the sidelines of the ninth edition of the SulaFest here, where the band made their debut Indian show on Saturday night.

Riebl confessed his love for Indian classical music, especially the timeless melodies of late sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar.

"I have listened to Indian classical music before. When I am on tour, I like listening to Pandit Ravi Shankar. It is very beautiful listening to it. It cleans my mind. It is more of an enthrallment right now. But I don't know much about it, so I'd like to explore it. This gig may be the first step towards getting more interested in it," he said.

However, Riebl confessed that fusing western forms of music with Indian classical style isn't an easy task and that it is "dangerous" to generalise some of the instruments like tabla and sitar.

"The very little I know about Indian classical music, like tabla and sitar, is that it works on cycles and takes a lot of time to learn and it is very intuitive with rhythms that come up based on a world that I don't know and I wouldn't to pretend to know," the 34-year-old said.

"I think it is too dangerous to generalise instruments. I would do my best to try and avoid that and try and learn something. Sometimes it is very nice to listen and learn and discover that the two styles don't want to marry as they do their own thing," he added.

Riebl also seeks pleasure in the diversity of the audience that usually attend The Cat Empire's show globally as it brings "together different people."

"One of the great things about this band is the crowd is very diverse. Not one type of audience comes. A lot of young people come and a lot of old people come. To me that is a nice musical atmosphere," the 34-year-old added.

The Cat Empire has existed since 1999 and after all these years of playing and recording music, Riebl admits he likes to "listen more" and release less albums.

"We live in a very noisy music landscape and maybe it is just being around for a long time, but I like listening to music. I only like the sounds that are really interesting, but sometimes the mistakes I have made is that I released something for the sake of it because you love. Now I really value listening more and not put out too much," he said.

Riebl, who is in India with his band for the first time, is "excited" and "thrilled" to be visiting the country.

"It is my first time in India and first time in SulaFest. I am very excited, it is an amazing country. Being here is a thrill," he said.

Riebl also confessed that he "never" associated India with wines, and SulaFest, which is happening at the lush green Sula Vineyards here, gives him the opportunity to explore this aspect of the country.

The Cat Empire has finished working on their new album "Rising With the Sun", which will release on March 4.

"We just finished a new album. The last time we made a record, we thought it was a return to form. The intent of the album is to create a festive atmosphere. We will do a world tour, but maybe we won't come to India this year," he said.

(The writer's visit was sponsored by the festival's organisers. Ankit Sinha can be contacted at ankit.s@ians.in)
Strategic debt restructuring' (SDR) is a new tool made available to banks and financial institutions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in June 2015 for the recovery of non-performing assets (NPA). The joint lenders forum (JLF), a consortium of bankers and financial institutions, can take the SDR route to recover the loan extended to the company. The SDR scheme aims to revive stressed companies and provide an option to the JLF to initiate change of management in companies, which fail to achieve the milestones under Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR). The JLF acquires the majority stake in the company by converting a part of the outstanding loan into equity. At a later date, it transfers the control to a new promoter, who has the ability to turn around the company.
Transfer of mining lease for financial consideration is not permissible. A lessee can either operate or surrender the licence or transfer it with the permission of the authority. But, a lessee firm cannot sell its rights by transfer of shares, the Supreme Court has stated in the judgment, State of Rajasthan vs Gotan Lime Stone Udyog Ltd. In this case, the partnership had a lease for lime stone mining. It turned itself into a company and sold its entire shareholding to another, instead of operating the mine. The authorities cancelled the licence alleging conspiracy and violation of the rules.
The name of this blog is from a line in Labour's constitution: "by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to cre...
Among the first important reform measures that the Narendra Modi-led government has taken is a bankruptcy Bill (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015), which will be tabled during the Budget session of Parliament. Most of the moves of the Modi government have been to preserve the status quo or simply bring a better version of the previous governments schemes. A comprehensive bankruptcy law is its own idea and it has moved with speed to formulate and implement it. I am not sure of the opposition it will evoke among the Congress and other parties, because they would perhaps have no vested interests to defend, or issues to capitalise on, just now. Bankruptcy is arcane stuff for them. Hopefully, the Bill will get passed. If it does, the government would have taken a big step to align India with the developed world in creating a better legal framework for doing business, at least on paper.
Political troubles for the proposed goods and services tax (GST) legislation do not seem to be ending. It is clear that the overtures made by the National Democratic Alliance government in November during the winter session of Parliament failed to persuade the Congress to reach an understanding on passing the Constitution amendment Bill on GST. As is evident after last week's meeting to decide the schedule of the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament, the Congress and other Opposition political parties are keen on cornering the government - particularly in the Rajya Sabha, where it is vulnerable because of its lack of majority - on issues such as the President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh and the death of a Dalit student in Hyderabad Central University. This has clouded the prospects of a smooth passage of the Constitution amendment Bill on GST in the Budget session, a critical requirement if the transformative tax reform is to take effect during the next financial year.
When an individual becomes a victim of card fraud, the issuer usually don't take any responsibility. The onus is on the cardholder to prove it didn't happen due to his or her negligence. Even approaching the police might not yield results. More than half these cases remain unsolved.

Card frauds will continue their relentless growth, according to McAfee Labs' 2016 Threats Predictions report. It says cyber criminals are directly targeting consumers, source of the credentials and weakest link in the payment process.

While it's not difficult to fall prey to card fraud, individuals can protect themselves against losses. For instance, CPP India, OneAssist and Tata AIG General Insurance have card protection plans that can cover you in most cases of fraud.

"It's a long battle to make the issuer reverse the charges in case of fraud. The person needs to go to the ombudsman or court and prove it was not due to his/her negligence," says M Ravichandran, president at Tata AIG General Insurance. With a card protection plan, the onus shifts on the company, to prove the fraud happened due to the customer's negligence.

How it works



OneAssist's WalletAssist and CPP India's Card Protection work in a similar way. Once a customer signs with them, he/she needs to add all the cards details to their accounts. These plans not only offer insurance for fraud but the expenses a person would incur on losing his/her wallet. Customers of these companies need to contact the call centre when they lose cards or detect a fraud. They can block all cards with one call.

Subrat Pani, co-Founder of OneAssist Consumer Solutions, says most customers in metro cities hold at least two debit and one credit card. If there's a fraud or they lose their wallet, it's a hassle to call each bank individually, go through the verification and ask to block the card. In card protection, these companies call the banks on behalf of the customer. "If issuers ask for extra information for verification before blocking, we take the customer on a conference call to help us with it," says Pani.

Both WalletAssist and Card Protection provide cover for fraudulent transactions conducted up to several days prior to reporting the loss or misuse of a card. For fraud protection, these companies have tied up with insurance firms. The customer needs to fill a claim form and attach the First Information Report filed with the police, along with other documents, to make a claim. The insurer conducts an investigation and disburses money once the claim is verified.

While an individual can take a cover from Tata AIG General Insurance, the company usually works with card issuers. The coverage, plan and premium are customised on the issuer's requirement. The company has four individual plans that can be bought together as one or taken individually. The plans include protection against identity theft, against fraudulent charges made on cards, ATM assault and robbery, and against a person losing his/her wallet.

Deepak Matai, country manager at CPP India, says it's not only fraud protection that people sign up for. The core product is meant to take care of someone who loses his/her wallet. A person can get emergency hotel and travel assistance anywhere in the world in WalletAssist and CPP's Protection Plan. The companies provide interest-free cash to the customer, pay their hotel bills and also arrange flight tickets, if the wallet is stolen and the person is unable to arrange funds. For this they have tied up with travel agents. To protect from online fraud, CPP offers a one-year membership of anti-virus security software F-Secure and also replaces a lost PAN card. WalletAssist also covers forex cards and offers to replace a lost driving licence.

Pricing



WalletAssist has a privilege plan for Rs 1,799 that offers fraud protection up to Rs 2.5 lakh, with blocking of the phone SIM card. The limit for emergency hotel bill settlement and return ticket is Rs 80,000 (domestic) or Rs 1.6 lakh (international). The company's power plan, for Rs 1,299, offers card fraud protection of up to Rs 1.5 lakh and does not offer SIM, PAN Card or driving licence replacement.

CPP has similar coverage. It has a Rs 1,499 plan for a single person, a Rs 1,999 plan for a couple and Rs 2,499 for four immediate family members. Matai says on weekends, the company gets a lot of calls from customers travelling within the country for emergency cash to continue their holiday and pay hotel bills.

Not all frauds covered



As these are card protection plans, they don't cover internet or phone banking frauds. Even when it comes to cards, a person is not covered for all types of fraud. Where fraud happens due to customer negligence, the claim may get rejected. For example, frauds where criminals call up a person and fool them into giving away their personal details and one-time passwords, termed vishing, can be rejected.

"Initially, all vishing frauds were rejected, as these happen due to customer negligence. Then, we got a cover for certain vishing frauds from our partner insurers. But, claims may get rejected, depending on the outcome of the insurance company's investigations," says Matai.

Pani says that processing of a claim is on the insurance company's discretion. If they reach a conclusion that the claim cannot be accepted because of customer negligence, OneAssist cannot do anything. Both also point to instances where customers write PIN on a card. If fraud happens in such cases, the claims are rejected.

OneAssist lists the fraudulent transactions that can be covered. Some include swiping of cards after customers lose them, online transactions where customer cards are fraudulently used by a third party, if cards without chips are swiped or used at ATMs, and when criminals acquire card information fraudulently through e-mail, phone calls, copying the card details and so on.

Also, if cards are used after blocking, which has happened, such cases are not covered. "The banks are liable for such transactions," says Pani.

Tata AIG covers charges made on the card only up to 48 hours prior to first reporting the loss of the card or cash withdrawn. In some covers, they have a deductible. For example, in identity theft, there's a deductible of Rs 3,000. Ravichandran explains this condition helps to do away with very small claims that are not feasible for the company. "The idea of the product is to protect the customer for the amounts that would really pinch him," he says.

Suits frequent travellers



If you hold many cards, by multiple banks, say in excess of three, it makes sense to go for these plans. These would work out the best for frequent travellers, especially those who often go abroad. Cloning and skimming of cards are common in many countries. Also, if you lose a wallet abroad, you can block all cards by dialling only one number in the case of CPP India and OneAssist.
Muhilan M, 48, a government employee at Pattukkotai, Tamil Nadu, began investing small sums with PACL in February 2009. In February 2015, he deposited all his bonds at their office and expected to be paid Rs 37,500 as the maturity amount. A year has gone by and he's yet to hear from the company.

PACL is said to have collected Rs 49,000 crore from around 50 million investors across the country. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested the company's founder, Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, in January. The Supreme Court has appointed a committee headed by former chief justice R M Lodha, which will take over the assets of PACL and its group firms, to reimburse investors through their sale.

News of investors losing money in illegal investment schemes hits the headlines with disconcerting regularity. While regulators tightening the law's loopholes to make it more difficult for fly-by-night operators to raise money, it is primarily the investor's responsibility to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes.

Ponzi schemes



Typically, a fanciful story is sold to the investor about how a company is earning very high returns from an exotic investment. The operators raise money from the first round of investors. The principal is used to pay these investors a high rate of return. When word of those high returns spreads, more gullible ones get drawn in. Again, money collected from the new investors is used to pay returns to older investors. This gets repeated a few times. When it becomes unviable to repay investors, or the promoters feel they have collected enough, they disappear with the money.

All investment scams share certain characteristics.

Guaranteeing a high return: An uncharacteristically high rate of return should serve as the first red flag. "When a personal loan costs around 14 per cent in interest and the rate on commercial loans is around 18 per cent, beware of any investment scheme that promises a rate of return of 20 per cent or more," says S G Raja Sekharan, lecturer on wealth management at Christ University, Bengaluru.

The promoters of such schemes also say their investment carries very little risk. "It is a fundamental rule of finance that investments which offer higher returns involve higher risk. The moment someone offers you high returns with no risk, stay away," says Anil Rego, chief executive, Right Horizons.

High returns that are also guaranteed should be viewed with suspicion. Normally, when returns are guaranteed, these are on the lower side. A traditional insurance plan might offer a guaranteed return but these usually don't exceed five-six per cent a year. High returns, on the other hand, tend to be volatile. They move up and down in line with market conditions, as in the case of equity mutual funds.

Unregistered investments: An investor is relatively safe when he puts money in a scheme run by a company overseen by one of the regulators - Sebi (for stock markets and mutual funds), Irdai (insurance companies), RBI (banks) and PFRDA (pension sector). The entity should also be registered under the Companies Act. "It is advisable to check if the company is registered and the investment scheme offered is approved by one of the regulators," advises Rego.

Fancy stories and swanky trappings: Most scamsters do not reveal how they will earn the returns. Stay away if the investment strategy is complicated or there's a veil of secrecy around it. "Ask the agent how the firm will generate such a high rate of return. If the agent is unable to give a convincing reply, shun the scheme," says Ashutosh Wakhare, managing director, Money Bee Institute. "Don't get taken in by swanky offices or the use of celebrities to promote a scheme," adds Raja Sekharan.

Irregular communication: The absence of regular updates about the performance of your investments and inconsistencies in statements should make you wary.

Irregular or late payouts: If the promised returns arrive late or not at all, that is usually a precursor to a scheme going bust.

What should you do?



Before rushing headlong to invest in a scheme, ask a few hard questions from the agent (based on above points). Verify his replies from independent sources. Bear in mind the adage that if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.

If you encounter a problem with an entity running a collective investment scheme, such as money not being refunded, first file a complaint with the company. If it does not respond, do so with Sebi (See box: How To Complain at SCORES).

PACL investors should also file complaints at the SCORES website or will not get back their money.

When it comes to financial scams, prevention is better than cure.

HOW TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AT SCORES
By-polls for assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tripura would be held on Saturday, days before Parliament meets for the Budget Session. Uttar Pradesh (Muzaffarnagar, Deoband and Bikapur) and Karnataka (Devadurga, Hebbal and Bidar) would see elections to three constituencies each and Telangana (Narayankhed), Madhya Pradesh (Maihar), Maharashtra (Palghar), Punjab (Khadoor Sahib), Bihar (Harlakhi) and Tripura (Amarpur) will have elections for one Assembly constituency each.

By-elections can sometimes throw up unexpected results, so, the contest would be watched closely. Though the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are not contesting the Khadoor Sahib by-polls, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal has targeted the two parties while campaigning for party candidate Ravinder Singh Brahmpura. Khadoor Sahib is frequently identified with a panthic character. Of the nine segments of the Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress won only three in the 2012 Assembly polls, and Khadoor Sahib was one of them. The Congress member of legislative Assembly (MLA) has resigned for panthic reasons. But the party is staying away from the elections.

In Karnataka's Hebbal constituency, the Congress has picked former Union minister and party veteran C K Jaffer Sharief's grandson Abdul Rehman Sharief over Chief Minister Siddaramiah's multi-millionaire friend, Byrathi Suresh. In Uttar Pradesh, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will contest two of three seats - Bikapur and Muzafarnagar - in a maiden attempt in UP. Watch these elections.

In Tamil Nadu, ahead of the Assembly elections in less than three months, realignments are happening: The coming week will indicate more clearly in what direction politics is going. Last week, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi invited the Congress to join an alliance with the DMK. The matter is on Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's to-do list. The invitation has come three years after the DMK snapped ties with the Congress. Will the Congress align with the alleged protagonists of the 2G spectrum scam again?



Packed week ahead for busy foreign ministry



Nepalese Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel started his two-day visit to India on Sunday. He met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and sought increased investments by Indian businesses and expeditious implementation of India-assisted projects including hydro-power ventures and road construction in the Terai region of Nepal, sources said. He would meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to discuss reconstruction assistance programmes. A PTI report said Nepalese Prime Minister K P Oli would visit India on February 19. Oli is scheduled to hold comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20 on key regional and bilateral issues, sources said.

The government would also be busy with preparing for the Make in India Week, to be held from February 13 to 18 in Mumbai. Those who have confirmed participation include the prime ministers of Sweden, Finland and Lithuania, and dignitaries from a large number of countries including Poland, Japan, Indonesia, Columbia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Mexico, Germany and South Korea.

The MEA had a busy last week. Swaraj was in Sri Lanka on Friday and Saturday for the ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission.

The 13th Round of the India-Iran foreign office consultations took place on Thursday in New Delhi. The two countries are looking at strengthening their economic cooperation after the economic sanctions against Tehran have been lifted. Chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administration, C Y Leung, came visiting as did Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

PM to address Odisha farmers' meet, return later



Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Odisha on Sunday to dedicate Indian Oil Corporation Ltd's Paradip refinery to the nation, will visit the state again on February 21 to address a farmers' rally in drought-hit Bargarh.

"The prime minister is concerned about farmers' condition. He has special attachment with Odisha. Therefore, he is undertaking two visits to the state in a fortnight," Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary and Odisha in-charge Arun Singh said.

Modi will address the Kisan Sammelan at Bargarh and would also interact with farmers and listen to their problems. The rally at Bargarh is part of BJP's plan to organise four mega farmers' conferences in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. The proposed second visit of the prime minister to Odisha assumes significance as the BJP has been accusing the BJD government in Odisha of failing to tackle farmers' problems which had led to alleged suicides by many, mostly in western region of the state.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief's tried and trusted political lieutenant is O Panneerselvam, current finance minister of Tamil Nadu. He was officially the chief minister (CM) after Jayalalithaa was convicted in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets corruption case by a Bengaluru court.

This was the second time he'd formally stepped into her shoes. She chose him in 2001 as her replacement when she had to step down as CM because of a land scam conviction. He was in the chair from September 21, 2001, to March 1, 2002. The second time, he stepped back in May 2015, when she was acquitted by the Karnataka high vourt in the disproportionate assets case.

Born in 1951 at Periyakulam, Theni district, Panneerselvam has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and his occupation is listed as 'agriculture'. He is married and has three children.

He chaired the Periyakulam municipality between 1996 and 2001, after which he became revenue minister. After resigning as CM in March 2001, he was minister for public works, prohibition and excise till 2006.

During the next regime, when the AIADMK rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ruled (2006-2011), he was leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. When the AIADMK came back to power in 2011, elected from Bodinayakanur of Theni district, he became minister for finance and public works, keeping the position along with being CM after Jaya was convicted in September 2014. During his tenure as CM, he did not use her office. He, along with all his 29 ministers, never hesitated to attribute all the good deeds and decisions of the government to Jayalalithaa, whom the party men refer to as Amma (mother). In almost all the public functions and in the Legislative Assembly and even in Parliament, the AIADMK members start any speech by praising the guidance of Amma and taking her blessings.
At least 10 people, including women and children, were today killed in Pakistan's southern Sindh province when a fire broke out at a tent, police said.

The fire broke out in the morning in a tent located in Keti Bandar area in Thatta city which engulfed several makeshift houses, local media reported.

Three women and four children were among the 10 killed, police said, adding that several others received serious burns.

The injured have been shifted to a Karachi hospital for treatment.

According to preliminary investigation, the fire broke out due to the presence of petrol and other lubricants in the tent house, which was used in fishing business.
Twelve persons were arrested and several others detained in various districts for allegedly duping candidates appearing for the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) by 'leaking' fake question papers for the test conducted today.

As of now, 12 persons have been arrested in Bharatpur, while seven have been detained in Jodhpur, one in Dausa and seven including a woman in Nagaur. They are being interrogated, said Additional DGP (SOG) Alok Tripathi, who is monitoring the operation.

These people are members of various gangs allegedly involved in leaking question papers through WhatsApp or circulating them in printed form among candidates on the night before or early morning on the day of the exam, he said.

"No question which they provided to the candidates matches with the original paper of REET therefore it was not leaked," Tripathi said.

Around Rs 7 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh, was recovered from the accused in Nagaur and Bharatpur, respectively, the Additional DGP said.

In Bharatpur, photocopies ofidentity cards and other documents of some candidates, laptop, scanner, mobile handsets, SIM cards were also recovered from the accused, Additional SP Bharat Meena said.
A shooting has erupted inside a nightclub packed with hundreds of people in the city's tourist district, killing two people and injuring 10 others, authorities said.

It was the second mass shooting at a Florida nightclub this weekend.

The shooting took place just before 1 a.m (local time) yesterday with about 300 people inside the Glitz Ultra Lounge. Three off-duty Orlando Police Department officers were working security at the club when the shooting started, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Police spokeswoman Michelle Guido said it's not clear what prompted the shooting or if any of the off-duty officers fired their weapons.

As many as three shooters are being sought.

One person was shot and killed inside the club, police said yesterday. Nine were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds.

Of those, one died at the hospital, one is in critical condition and the rest are being treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. Two including one with a gunshot wound were seen at another hospital.

In addition to the off-duty officers, the club has its own security, police said. Detectives are reviewing security video from the club in hopes of gleaning clues.

In Tampa, eight people were shot at a strip club on Saturday. A 21-year-old man died. No arrests have been made in that case.
Two persons were killed and three others seriously injured when the SUV in which they were travelling rammed into the divider on the Indore-Ahmedabad National Highway here today, police said.

The mishap occurred under the Nayagaon police station limits when the five were going to Ujjain district in Madhya Pradesh from Gujarat, Hospital police post Assistant Sub Inspector B A Kathha told PTI.

One of the deceased - Parth - died on the spot, while the other deceased - Jayant - succumbed to his injuries in a hospital during treatment, the ASI said.

He said the injured have been rushed to Indore for treatment.

Prima facie, the vehicle's driver dozed off and lost control over it, Kathha added.

A case has been registered in this regard and investigations are underway, police said.
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead four smugglers including two Pakistaini intruders and seized 10 kg of heroin, some arms and ammunition from their possession near the Mehndipur border outpost (BOP) in Ferozepur district today.

Besides the Pakistani intruders, two Indian nationals were also gunned down by the border guarding force, Deputy Inspector General of BSF, Ferozepur Sector, R K Thapa said.

BSF personnel belonging to 191 battalion deputed at BOP Mehndipur who were on patrol duty spotted some movement ahead of the fence near a border pillar at around 4:30 am today following which they challenged the intruders.

Thapa said that the Pakistani intruders had come upto the fence and their Indian counterparts had also arrived to receive the consignment.

The intruders opened fire towards the BSF post. Later, the BSF jawans retaliated and during the encounter two Pakistani nationals and two Indian smugglers were shot dead.

The DIG said that during the search operation which was carried out later after the operation ended, 10 packets of heroin weighing around 10 kg besides two 9mm Chinese made pistols, one local made pistol along with 54 cartridges, two fence cutters, some Pakistani currency and Pakistani SIM cards were seized from the spot.
Over 600 international and domestic flights of Pakistan's flag carrier have have been cancelled since the suspension of operations last week due to a countrywide strike by its employees over the government's plans to privatise the troubled airline.

"More than 600 international and domestic flights of PIA have been cancelled during the last five days or so. However, two PIA flights left for Jeddah today to bring back stranded passengers," Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesman Daniyal Gilani told PTI today.

He said the employees have been requested to resume duties and save the national carrier.

"Two planes will bring back 800 passengers stranded in Jeddah for the last few days," he said.

PIA had earlier requested Saudi Airlines to ferry its stranded passengers back. But it had run only one flight and brought back just 300 passengers, as a result thousands of PIA passengers faced great inconvenience because of the strike.

The PIA management had signed an agreement with Saudi Airlines and Eithad Airways as well as private airlines, Air Blue and Shaheen Airlines, to facilitate travel by its passengers with confirmed bookings.

But these airlines are reportedly not honouring the commitment, the PIA spokesman said.

The employees, who have been protesting for the last several weeks to stop the government from privatising PIA, suspended flight operations last Tuesday following the deaths of two senior employees allegedly in police firing.

Police filed a murder case against ruling PML-N senator Mushahidullah Khan, information minister Pervaiz Rasheed, and adviser to the prime minister on aviation Shujaat Azeem.

The FIR said the firing was a "well-planned conspiracy" hatched by Mushahidullah, Rasheed, Azeem and other senior members of the PIA management.

PIA has some 19,000 employees. The government says the carrier is facing an accumulative loss of Rs 320 billion. It intends to give a 'golden handshake' to at least 50 per cent of its employees who it says were hired on political grounds.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has saidthe government will not bow to any unlawful and unjustified strike.

"We want everyone, including PIA employees, to work for the betterment of the national flag carrier. If some parties are supporting them for the sake of politics, it's not fair," he said adding that the government would not be blackmailed by the protesting employees.
Eight militants were killed by army and police personnel in separate gun battles in Kashmir in the last two weeks.

"Undeterred by the inhospitable weather conditions, the army and police have upped the ante in their counter-terrorist operations.

"It is clearly manifested in the clinical, intelligence- based operations over the past two weeks that have resulted in the elimination of eight terrorists in all parts of Kashmir," an army spokesman said today.

While three militants were killed in a gun battle at Lolab in Kupwara district on January 30, three ultras were gunned down in an encounter at Hajin in Bandipora district on February 5.

Two militants were killed in separate encounters in Pulwama district on January 20 and February 6, he said.

No civilian casualty was caused in any of these operations. Army personnel always make it a point to evacuate the occupants of the affected house and areas adjacent to the scene of action to ensure safety of people, he said.

The security personnel seized weapons and ammunition including explosives from the militants, the spokesman added.
The AGP is unlikely to have any alliance with the Congress in the coming Assam assembly elections but may consider any "concrete" proposal of the BJP in this regard, senior party leader and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said today.

"In principle, we can't have an alliance with Congress. The AGP was formed on an anti-Congress plank. So, it is not possible to have an alliance with Congress," he told PTI.

Sixty-three-year-old Mahanta said the AGP has been in talks with a few smaller regional parties for an alliance but has had no discussion with BJP so far.

"There has been no discussion with BJP. If they approach us with a concrete proposal, we may discuss it," he said.

Mahanta, who became Assam's Chief Minister for the first time at an age of 32 in 1985 after leading a six-year-old agitation against illegal migration from Bangladesh as president of All Assam Students Union, said a committee has been set up by AGP to take a decision on joining hands with any other political party.

Mahanta was Assam's Chief Minister between 1985 and 1990 and again from 1996 to 2001.

Interestingly, Mahanta had met senior BJP leader L K Advani in New Delhi on Friday.

"I know Advani ji for a long time. His wife was unwell and so I had visited him. It was a courtesy visit," he said.

BJP and AGP had an alliance in 2009 in which the saffron party bagged four and AGP won just one Lok Sabha seat.

The two parties considered an alliance ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but the regional party had backed off, apparently with the assumption that such an understanding would not be beneficial for AGP.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won seven of the state's 14 seats and AGP drew a blank. BJP won in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Nagaon, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Mongoldoi and Guwahati, all considered to be once AGP strongholds.

Sources said AGP, led by its president Atul Bora, had few rounds of discussions with state BJP leadership on the issue of alliance and asked for at least 40 Assembly seats for AGP out of the total 126 constituencies.

However, the BJP is willing to give AGP lesser number of seats as the national party feels that the regional outfit is now on a much weaker wicket.

Sources said a few senior leaders -- Phanibhushan Choudhury, Pradip Hazarika and Durga Dasboro -- reportedly had met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and discussed with him the possibility of AGP-Congress alliance.

Election to 126-member Assam Assembly is expected to be held in April-May.
All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) an organisation of the displaced members of the Kashmiri Pandit community today said that the only acceptable option for the community's return is the creation of concentrated settlements for the community in the Kashmir valley.

"The only acceptable option for the KP community's return is the creation of concentrated settlements for the community.

"They should be self-sufficient in terms of overall infrastructure, economic avenues, adequate land, decent accommodation, educational institutions, health care, recreation centers, commercial infrastructures and security," a resolution passed by the AIKS during two day global conference held in Jammu said.

The AIKS said that the Kashmiri Pandit community demands political empowerment in order to protect their identity and promote their socio-cultural interests.

"As a microscopic minority, we are not in a position to send any of our representatives to the legislature on our own strength.

"Therefore, a statutory provision, through which our representatives can become members of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, needs to be institutionalised," the resolution said.

It said the Global Conference demands that adequate reservations for the community, both in the State Legislature and the local bodies, be provided through constitutional guarantees.

The community also demanded that the Government of India initiate steps immediately to set in motion the process of declaring the community as Internally Displaced People (IDP), as enunciated by the UN Human Rights Charter.

"To preserve the ethno-religious identity of this minuscule minority, the Global Conference calls upon the government, both Central and the State, to initiate necessary steps to grant minority status to Kashmiri Pandit community," it read.

It stated that the Government must immediately constitute a Commission of Enquiry headed by a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of India to probe into the circumstances of the KP community's ethnic cleansing from the Valley in 1989-1990, identify and bring to justice all those responsible for it.
Air force authorities have asked Pathankot district administration to remove "encroachments" near the airbase, in the wake of the last month's terror attack.

The Air force has written to Pathankot administration to remove encroachments near the airbase a couple of days back, a senior official of the Pathankot Municipal Corporation told PTI over phone.

As per rules, no construction can take place within 100 metres from the airbase and no structure can come up to 900 metres around the ordnance depot.

Though Pathankot Municipal Corporation has said that it was "not easy to remove old houses", it has initiated the process of surveying the area to identify the "unauthorized structures".

"We have launched a survey to identify structures around the air force base in Pathankot," the official said.

Pathankot Mayor Anil Vasudeva said, "We are looking into the matter. It is not easy to remove old houses. While taking any decision, the interest of all stakeholders will be kept in mind."



However, he said if there is any illegal construction in the area, it will certainly be removed.

The Municipal Corporation is trying to identify houses and other structures to ascertain how many had come up before the airbase was commissioned and how many after its commissioning.

"First we will see whether these structures (houses) fall in the municipal corporation jurisdiction. Then we will see if these structures were in existence before the Air force base came up here," the official said.

The authority will also ascertain whether the owners of buildings had got the maps passed before undertaking construction or not and if they had obtained an NOC from the Air force authorities, the official said.

"There is panic among people who have been living there for the last several years," the official said, describing the issue as "complicated".

Most of the areas of the airbase fall in Dhaki, Dhangu and Dhira villages and several villagers have been living there even before the Air force base came up.

The Pathankot authorities will also have to check records of Gurdaspur district from which it was carved out as a separate district in 2011.

Pathankot Air force station is one of the strategically most important forward airbases in India and houses fighter jets and helicopters.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today denied reports that Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Kangana Ranaut were brand ambassadors of the ongoing International Fleet Review (IFR), hosted by Indian Navy.

"Brand ambassadors have to sell brand right from the beginning. I don't think that there is any selling by these two (Akshay Kumar and Kangana)," Parrikar said.

"They were definitely invited (to the opening ceremony) but no contract or nothing has been paid to them," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

Earlier, there were some reports in a section of media that the two film actors had been roped-in as brand ambassadors of IFR 2016.

Kumar and Ranaut had taken part in the opening ceremony of IFR on Friday.

Nearly 50 countries have come together to participate in this show of prowess and preparedness by the Indian Navy.

This is the 11th fleet review after Independence and the second international one being conducted in India.

The review had a combination of ships from Indian Navy as well as frontline Navies from across the globe.
The Army observed 68th 'Nowshera Day' to commemorate the sacrifice of jawans who laid down their lives while fighting Pakistani intruders in the frontier town of Nowshera in 1947.

Nowshera Day was observed yesterday, Jammu-based defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

"Nowshera Day is the tall testimony of the supreme sacrifice and passionate love of the army and the locals of the area to their motherland," he said.

He said that in 1947-48 Indian troops and the locals fought together to defend Nowshera.

He said a number of events were organised in the past month in connection with the occasion and the main event was held yesterday which was attended by General officer Commanding-in -Chief of Northern Command Lt Gen D S Hooda, among others.

Lt Gen Hooda felicitated 'veer naris', 'bal sainik' and meritorious students.

"The army commander called upon everyone to actively participate in nation building by sincerely contributing their bit in their affiliated fields which he called a true tribute to our brave martyrs and our forefathers," the spokesman said.
Congress in Arunachal Pradesh today accused Governor J P Rajkhowa of conspiring to help the dissident MLAs form a government with the support of BJP without waiting for a decision of the Supreme Court which is hearing petitions challenging imposition of President's rule in the state.

Geetartha Darshan Barua, spokesperson for CLP leader and deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, said Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok, who is in the dissident camp, has sought the opinion of the state Law Department through the Governor asking if he can function as Deputy Speaker performing the duties of Speaker when President's Rule is in place in the state.

Following Thongdok's letter, the Governor sought a report from the law department on the subject.

"We have contended that the Governor is guided by malafide intention and he had taken all decisions keeping in mind vested interests. The Deputy Speaker's letter to the Governor reflects the nexus between the two. Their final aim is to lodge a government with the help of BJP without waiting for the Supreme Court order," Barua alleged.

In his letter, Thondok has contended that although a five member Constitution Bench is hearing matters related to the session held on December 16 and 17, 2015, the Speaker's office is vacant as per the Gauhati High Court order dated January 13, 2016.

Thongdok has sought to know whether Deputy Speaker performing duties of Speaker continues in office when the Proclamation under Article 356 is operative in the State.

In the letter, dated February 4, 2016 addressed to the Governor, Thongdok has referred to various articles with regard to his query.

Barua claimed, the Governor through his Deputy Secretary Minik Damin wrote to the Secretary (Law) on February 4, 2016 directing him to furnish a reply by February 5.

The details of the reply to the Governor's Secretariat in not known.

The query from Thongdok has come at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing the matter related to the Assembly Session having been advanced by the Governor in December 2015 without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

A revolt by the dissidents led to a political crisis in the state that finally resulted in the imposition of President's rule on January 26.

Congress party, which has 47 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled. Eleven BJP MLAs and two independents backed the rebels in a bid to upstage the government.

The Congress rebels had "impeached" Speaker Nabam Rabia and lated voted out Nabam Tuki as Chief Ministers.

The Supreme Court, which is considering pleas against imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, is hearing on petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor.
Authorities say at least three people were killed after a fight broke out among a group of people wielding sticks and bats at a large apartment complex in Marin City, north of San Francisco.

Marin County Sheriff's office spokesman Lt Doug Pittman tells the San Francisco chronicle that the fight broke out yesterday morning and that there may be more victims.

Pittman says three people were confirmed dead.

He says officers from multiple agencies are responding to the scene, which was not immediately secured.
In my own private version of REFORGER ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Reforger ), I have returned to Germany one last time before I retire from the Army.I am working at USEUCOM in Stuttgart, and enjoying Germany as much as I can during my time off. Since I returned in October, Ive thought from time to time about making blog entries, but never seemed to find the time.Ive felt the urge more and more lately, and so here I am, to make another effort.

One thing that I think seems to mitigate against taking the time to compose blog entries is Facebook.I spend a ridiculous amount of time on it, sometimes several times a day.It is very easy to enter quick comments and to share articles and links, which seems to satisfy some of the urge to be out there saying something.But when you get down to it, it is fairly superficial, and does not really permit the development of more complete trains of thought.While I value the newsfeed aspect of FB, and enjoy reading and sharing articles written by others, I also enjoy writing my own.So Im going to try to maintain a better balance between the two, and start writing again a bit more regularly.

Germany is an interesting place.In many ways, of course, its still the same country I came to know and love in my youth in the 1970s and 1980s, but its also changing rapidly.The most immediately noticeable change is the much wider inclusion of English words in everyday life.I noticed this when I was here in 2010, and its even more pronounced (no pun intended) now.

Another big change Ive noticed this time is the very high prevalence of foreigners here.Unlike when Ive lived here previously, I have found that it is almost unheard-of to be served at a restaurant by a native German.I speak German fluently, and can spot accents well.There are people here from all over Europe, particularly eastern Europe and the Balkans, and they seem to have taken over most of the service jobs.I guess this is not unlike the situation at home in the USA, but it means I have even fewer opportunities to speak with actual Germans.When I was here in the 1980s I made friends with some people through the Wirtin at the local bar where I spent a lot of time after work.But here, at least so far, my only encounters with Germans have been short casual conversations in passing.

Im not sure if Ill be able to change that or not in the short time Ill be here.But in any case, I plan to travel around and see and do as much as I can while Im here.And when it seems as if I have something interesting to say, Ill do my best to write about it.

Mood:HappyMusic:BAP, Lebenslanglich
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today said the wife of an elderly Australian doctor kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in Burkina Faso has been released.

Doctor Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, a couple from Perth in Western Australia, aged 82 and 84 respectively, were abducted on the night of January 15-16.

"Yes, that is true and we want to thank the government of Niger and the government of Burkina Faso, which of course is where the Elliotts were living when they were kidnapped," Turnbull told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sunday morning.

"I can confirm that our Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who's been closely on top of this situation, has been speaking with the Elliott family in Australia, spoke to Mrs Elliott just a little while ago.
The sister-in-law of dreaded Islamic State supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is being held in a Kurdish prison following a failed suicide bombing attack several years ago, according to a media report.

The 24-year-old woman, Duaa Amid Ibrahim, is the sister of one of Baghdadi's three wives, and has been held by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces since she was caught entering Erbil with a suicide vest beneath her burqa, the Fox reported.

Kurdish authorities say she was sent by al-Qaeda on a mission that long predated her brother-in-law's rise to power. With Baghdadi now becoming arguably the most dangerous terrorist in the world, Ibrahim appears to have major clout behind bars, the report said.

"Her mind might have changed from wanting to be a suicide bomber, but her ideology is still the same. She is very popular, the other women really like her," a KRG official, was quoted as saying.

Years behind bars has done nothing to soften her radical beliefs, the official said.

Ibrahim was a teenage widow of an al-Qaeda fighter when she was arrested.

A high-ranking intelligence and security official from Erbil's security agency Asayish was quoted as saying that Ibrahim's case is still proceeding through the legal system, although it is likely she will receive a life sentence.

Ibrahim is regularly monitored by the international Red Cross along with dozens of other jailed female jihadists in compliance with international laws.

She even has a television in her cell that allows her and other inmates to follow the bloody exploits of ISIS and the international community's efforts to stop the black-clad jihadist army, the report said.

ISIS' Iraqi stronghold in Mosul lies just about 90 km west of Erbil, and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces clash almost daily with ISIS along the frontlines.

Ibrahim's brother-in-law rose through the ranks of al-Qaeda's Iraqi arm following his release from the US-run Camp Bucca detention center in southern Iraq in 2004. Baghdadi announced his split from al-Qaeda and the formation of ISIS in August, 2013.

Even as the terrorist group seized power, land and international headlines, the Kurds had no idea that the failed suicide bomber they had captured five years earlier was a close relative of Baghdadi. The connection was made soon after the Lebanese Army detained Baghdadi's wife and son as they crossed from Syria in late 2014, the report said.

Despite periodic rumours of his death, Kurdish officials believe Baghdadi is alive and shuttling between the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Ramadi.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan today charged that Bihar was now passing through a 'jungle raj' and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should resign.

"The voters in Bihar have by now realised their mistakes by choosing the present government in power," Paswan, on a two-day visit to the islands told PTI here.

He alleged that the "deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar" indicated that the state was passing through "jungle raj" and the Chief Minister should have resigned.

In a dig at Kumar, the LJP leader said the Chief Minister did not have any right to speak about good governance "as murders are taking place in broad day light".

Notably, in past two months, ASI Ashok Kumar Yadav was shot dead in Vaishali district, two engineers of a construction company, Brajesh Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, were shot dead in Darbhanga; a Quality Engineer of Reliance IT, was found dead with injury marks on his body in Vaishali district, while a foodgrain trader was shot dead in Muzaffarpur district.
A BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh has demanded that the party declare Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath as its chief ministerial candidate for the assembly elections slated for next year.

"BJP has only two alternatives, Kalyan Singh and Yogi Adityanath, for the chief minister's post. Most of the MPs from the state are in favour of Yogi Adityanath," Salem MP Ravindra Kushwaha yesterday said at a meeting of party workers in his constituency.

He said BJP should declare Adityanath as the nominee for the chief minister's post at the earliest and start preparing for the polls.

Adityanath, 43, an influential religious leader known for making controversial comments, had last year said those talking about intolerance should go to Pakistan.
CPI(M) today accused BJP and RSS of mixing communalism with the Hindu Dharm for "petty political gains", saying it is dangerous for the society.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also alleged that the Modi government has failed on the economic front leading to drop in agricultural and industrial production.

"BJP and RSS are today mixing communalism with the Hindu Dharm for petty political gains which is dangerous for the society," he said while delivering a lecture here on the occasion of birth centenary of late CPI(M) chief Harkishan Singh Surjeet.

He said the freedom movement had defeated the hardcore ideology of communalism and RSS and that is why Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by fanatic Nathu Ram Godse.

"Today, RSS and its affiliates are trying to pose him (Godse) as a hero. This is unfortunate for the country," he said.

At present, the freedom of speech, writing and expression is under threat, the CPI(M) leader said.

The trio of anti-people economic policies, communalism and fascism were ruling the country today, he alleged.

"The Modi government has failed on the economic front and our economy is receding. Agricultural and industrial production is in the negative," Yechury said.

He also said the Modi government has surpassed the previous Manmohan Singh dispensation in allowing FDI in sectors like defence which, he claimed, is "dangerous" for the security.

"The people of the country and the Left shall have to stop this from happening otherwise it would be disastrous for the people," he said.

On Surjeet, the CPI(M) General Secretary said in Surjeet had specialised in the art of using contradictions of the ruling parties in favour of the masses and that is why he was called 'the Bhishm Pitamah' of .
Blackstone, GIC, Canada Pension Plan and Qatar Investment Authority are among the 25 global investment firms that have shown interest in buying DLF promoters' stake in its rental arm, a deal estimated at about USD 2 billion.

DLF, the country's largest realty firm, had in October last announced that its promoters will sell their 40 per cent stake in the DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd (DCCDL).

DLF owns remaining 60 per cent stake in DCCDL, which holds its bulk of office and retail complexes.

The promoters will re-invest a significant part of the amount realised from the sale into DLF.

According to sources, global investment firm Blackstone, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Singapore-based Mapletree, Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority are among the institutional investors that have evinced interest in taking part in the bidding process.

GIC recently invested nearly Rs 2,000 crore in DLF's two upcoming projects in the national capital. In 2011, DLF had sold its stake in IT SEZ at Pune to Blackstone.

"More than 25 global institutional investors have evinced interest in this proposed transaction. We expect to sign term sheet by end of March or mid-April," DLF's Senior Executive Director Finance Saurav Chawla had said last week. DLF is targeting to complete this deal by July.

Market sources had earlier said that the deal size could be about Rs 12,000-14,000 crore.

"With this proposed transaction, DLF will be able to achieve three of its main objectives -- removal of conflict of interest, creation of a rental platform with large financial investors and reducing substantial portion of debt," Chawla had said in October.

DLF has a net debt of about Rs 21,400 crore at present. DCCDL's debt is expected to be around Rs 12,000 crore by end of March. The annual rental income of DCCDL is about Rs 2,250 crore, while total expected rental income of the entire group is Rs 2,700 crore in this fiscal.

DLF's strategy is to grow its commercial business, organically and inorganically, in partnership with institutional investors which have a long investment horizon.

The company has a land bank of 281 million sq ft, of which 37 million sq ft is under construction.

Last week, DLF reported 24 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 163.95 crore for the quarter ended December against Rs 131.79 crore in the year-ago period. Total revenue went up by 43 per cent to Rs 2,981 crore in the quarter ended December from Rs 2,080 crore a year-ago.
RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) today said it will hold demonstration at all district headquarters on February 24 to protest against government's "anti-worker" policies and changes in laws through labour reforms.

"BMS National Executive has decided to hold demonstration at all district headquarters on February 24 to press government to implement agreed demands and stop labour reforms," BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay told PTI.

The decision was taken in an executive committee meeting in Hyderabad today.

Last month, 11 central trade unions, including BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), had decided to go on a strike on March 10, to protest against central as well as some state government's "anti-worker" policies and changes in laws through labour reforms.

The unions had also decided to organise a massive National Convention of Workers in Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi in the last week of March, 2016 to decide about the next course of united action programme.
Filmmaker Karan Johar says Bollywood is self-sufficient and is the only film industry that has not needed Hollywood backing.

The 43-year-old "Student of the Year," director said he feels proud that Indian actors and actresses are able to make a mark in Hollywood.

"I do not think, they (Hollywood stars) could do very much in our cinema. I am proud that there are more eyeballs to Indian actors and actress in Hollywood. This makes me feel proud of their achievements," Johar said in response to a question on the success of Priyanka Chopra in the American film industry.

The filmmaker was scheduled to deliver key note address on "The # (Hashtag) Democracy" at the annual Indian Conference 2016 of the Harvard University. He instead opted to address Indian students at a jam-packed auditorium at the Harvard Kennedy School on the Indian film industry.

"India is one of the leading film making nations of the world. It is the only kind of film industry of the world that has never needed any kind of Hollywood money or from the outside. We are self-sufficient. We have a great domestic film economy. We stand tall.

"They (Hollywood) came to India. All of them, Fox, Disney and when they came to India. I met them and told them things work differently in Bollywood. We are a proud film making nation," he said.

The producer-director said, "Bollywood sell dreams like no one does," but agreed that the Indian film industry does not acknowledge the writers.

"The most important thing to do in the film fraternity is to empower our writers. We do not empower our writers. We have the technology; we do not have the writing talent, because we do not empower our writers.

"We need to pay them much more. We need to give them that sense of power, entitlement. It becomes all about movie star in our country and that is not the right way forward."



Calling the hierarchy of Bollywood inaccurate, Johar said writer and director should come before the popular movie stars.

"If we want our cinema to progress, we have to empower the writer, then the director and then the movie star in that order. We do it all wrong. Our food chain is all wrong. And that's why our films suffer. When our focus becomes the movie star, our attempts fails. We need to go beyond that and push behind the tropes."



Replying to a query on why Bollywood movies are dominated by Hindu characters and have very less of Muslim leads, the filmmaker said his upcoming film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" has a Muslim female lead.

"I am going to reveal something to you today about my next film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' the name of the hero is Aayan he is Hindu in the film and she is Alizeh. She is Muslim in the film and there is no conflict in the love story.
Supporting the Maharashtra government's appeal for safer roads, CEAT Netranjali, a flagship programme of RPG Group, held a special eye screening for 1,970 drivers of Mumbai civic body's transport wing BEST.

The special screening was held in 25 camps across Mumbai in the last one year where 1,774 spectacles were distributed and 34 cases referred for cataract operations. They are now being treated or operated free of cost by a nearby hospital.

"As part of our social initiatives, we aim to prevent avoidable blindness through early stage intervention among the needy, specially the elderly, children and vulnerable communities such as truckers and drivers," said Anant Goenka, Managing Director of CEAT Limited, a leading tyre manufacturing company.

Explaining the objective of the initiative, Goenka further said, "The purpose of our existence is to make mobility safer and smarter every day. The BEST drivers' community plays a significant role in our lives and their health should be a matter of prime importance. CEAT Netranjali is one such step which will support them to diagnose and cure eye-related problems, thereby making public transport safer for Mumbaikars."



BEST has also acknowledged the initiative of RPG as an additional benefit to its staffers. "Though we do conduct periodical tests for our staffers, but RPG's initiative has definitely given an additional benefit to us which will ensure safer driving from our drivers," BEST spokesperson Manoj Varade said.

Furthermore, CEAT Netranjali also conducted eye check-up for 4,200 truck drivers at 50 camps across Bangalore, Navi Mumbai and Noida.
Nepal's first billionaire has constructed 1,700 transitional homes and 30 schools, out of the 10,000 promised with the help of different organisations including India's Tata group for the survivors of the two major earthquakes that rocked the country last year.

Chaudhary Group Foundation last month handed over 133 transitional homes to the quake-hit people in Hattitar and Gaikhura villages of Ramechhap district. It has so far constructed 1,700 transitional homes and 30 schools.

The group will finance the construction of 1,000 transitional shelters and 9,000 others will be built with the fund collected from different organisations, including India's Tata group, Nepal's first billionaire Binod Chaudhary said.

"We have reached some of the most impoverished areas of the affected districts and built transitional shelters," Chaudhary, whose grandfather had moved to Nepal one-and-a-half century ago from India, said today.

"In Dolalghat Village Development Community of Kavre district, where the whole village was destroyed, we (have) built 200 shelters. I feel so happy to see the whole village getting a new life. We also reached two of Gorkha's remotest villages - Gairung and Taklung to build shelters," he said.

"The happiness we feel when we see the smiles on the faces of the people in these areas is beyond measure. We are making our best efforts to bring smiles to the faces of more and more people who were rendered homeless by the earthquake," he said.

The group, manufacturer of popular Wai Wai noodles and part of a global hotel chains, is currently working in 10 districts which are Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Dhading, Nuwakot and Gorkha.

Dale Bahadur Bajgain, 85, of the Burun Chuli who had witnessed the 1934 devastating earthquake, is happy to live with his grandson in the newly constructed transitional shelter. "It gave us a new life and we are safe as well as comfortable here," he said.

Over 9,000 people were killed in the two major earthquakes that shook Nepal on April 25 and May 12 last year.
One way to do this, if you really want to know, is to assume what you currently believe is false. That is step #1. Step #2 is to demand the sort of evide...
Chhattisgarh Government today said stringent action has been initiated against those found prima facie guilty in irregularities in the purchase and distribution of grain, since the incident came to light.

"The government and the administration of Balodabazaar-Bhatpara district has taken strict action against those found prima facie guilty in irregularities which came to light in Kharif Year 2014-15.

"The investigation revealed the shortfall of 18,317 tonne of grain out of total 5,30,000 tonne of grain purchased from farmers under the 'Minimum Support Price' policy," State Food Minister Punnulal Mohle said today.

The opposition Congress alleged that a scam of Rs 130 crore had taken place at the grain storage centres in the district and that government avoided conducting probe in the same.

He said the probe has exposed irregularities in Alesur and Devrisuma storage centres in Kharif Year 2014-15.

"The probe detected shortfall of 8870 tonne of grain in Alesur Storage Centre and that of 9447 tonne in Devrisuma storage centre. The probe also detected instances like rice millers getting grain without posting orders, irregularity in weight of grains etc," he said.

Incharges of Alesur and Devrisuma centres, namely Ramanuj Singh Thakur and Mahendra Bareth, were suspended in July 2015 by the Chhattisgarh State Co-operative Marketing Federation in this connection, the minister said.

"An FIR was registered against the duo in Bhatapara police station in November 2015, besides a departmental inquiry is underway against them," Mohle said.

He said a district Marketing Officer and an Incharge Food Officer were also suspended in December last year.

"The action of recovering cost of (short-fallen) grain was initiated against officials concerned of the Markfed (State Marketing Coooperative Federation)," the minister said, adding that an FIR was registered against two rice millers while three rice millers have deposited the requisite amount.

He said the government is awaiting the inquiry report of grain stored in centres in Balodabazaar in Kharif years 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Mohle said the government will act swiftly against the guilty on receipt of the report in this regard.
China today "expressed regret" over North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, after Pyongyang said it successfully put a satellite into orbit.

China is North Korea's sole major ally and main trading partner, but relations between the two have been strained in recent years by Pyongyang's ongoing nuclear programme.

"With regards to the DPRK's insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of opposition, China expresses regret," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was quoted as saying on the ministry's website.

"The DPRK has the right to the peaceful use of space, but that right is limited by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions," she added.

Hua called for "all relevant parties to deal with the situation calmly" and for "dialogue and consultations" about the Korean peninsula.

China has been wary of provoking its neighbour by cutting off trade, and analysts say Beijing fears a possible influx of refugees across its border should the North Korean regime collapse.

China expressed "opposition" to North Korea's nuclear test last month.
China today asked both the US and South Korea not to "impair" its security interests after they decided to launch talks on the deployment of an advanced American missile defense system on South Korean soil, hours after North Korea's provocative long-range missile launch.

"China holds a consistent and clear stance on the anti- missile issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

Hua said China is "deeply concerned" over the decision by the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to launch an official negotiation on the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), on the Korean Peninsula.

"When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair other's security interests," Hua was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua agency.

THAAD system is a sophisticated US-developed one aimed at defending major population centres and key infrastructures from enemy short and medium-range missile attack.

She said moves to advance the deployment will escalate tensions on the peninsula, which will do harm to regional peace and stability, and set back efforts to address the current situation.

"We demand the countries concerned be prudent when handling the issue," Hua added.

Earlier, Hua had "expressed regret" over North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, after Pyongyang said it successfully put a satellite into orbit.

China is North Korea's sole major ally and main trading partner, but relations between the two neighbours have been strained in recent years by Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

"With regards to the DPRK's insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition, China expresses regret," Hua said.
A pastor in a Chinese province where authorities have been cracking down on churches has been charged with embezzling funds, a Christian rights group said.

China's state-sanctioned Protestant church body announced a week earlier that Gu Yuese was under investigation for suspected misappropriation of funds and other unspecified economic crimes.

US-based Christian rights group ChinaAid said in an email that Gu was formally arrested and charged yesterday by prosecutors in Hangzhou city in Zhejiang province. He has been in detention since January 28.

Its founder Bob Fu blamed Chinese authorities for engaging in "political retribution" for Gu's public opposition to a campaign by officials in Zhejiang to forcibly remove hundreds of rooftop crosses from churches.

ChinaAid said that in letters to his lawyers, Gu had urged the congregation at the Chongyi Christian Church where he was senior pastor to support his government-appointed replacement, Zhang Zhongcheng, and to remain calm by not "rallying around" for his case.

Fu said the statement made him concerned that Gu was under "enormous pressure."



Calls to the Zhejiang provincial branch of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement were not answered today, and a person answering the phone at Hangzhou prosecutors office had no information about the case.

For two years, the Zhejiang government in eastern China has been removing church crosses and other outward symbols of the Christian faith. They have said the crosses violate building codes, but critics say the rapid growth of Christian groups have made the ruling Communist Party nervous.

While authorities have long targeted unsanctioned "house churches," the current crackdown is remarkable because it involves members of the usually compliant official religious bodies.
All set to make its maiden foray into catamaran manufacturing, Cochin Shipyard will build four such popular vessels, used for cruising and other purposes, for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

This follows the state-owned company's recent feat under which it will build cryogenic carriers that transport natural gas frozen in liquid form after a pact with GTT France, the world leader in design and technology provider of containment systems for transportation of LNG.

"Cochin Shipyard is building four catamarans for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The vessels should be ready in about two to two-and-a-half years," Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari told PTI.

This is done under 'Make in India' drive and the vessels would be used for cruising and other purposes, Gadkari said.

The cost of the vessels, according to an official, is estimated at about Rs 1,400 crore.

The move will not only ease transportation hardships faced by the people of Andaman and Nicobar but would also give a fillip to cruising in the area.

No new ships were acquired during the last 10 years by Andaman and Nicobar administration and the situation led to difficulties for passengers as well as tourists.

Gadkari said the vessels built at Cochin Shipyard would be of international standards.

Catamarans are popular among charterers, cruisers, and even casual sailors and have a multi-hulled watercraft design featuring two parallel hulls of equal size with much space.

Cochin Shipyard, incorporated in 1972, can build and repair the largest vessels in India. It can build ships up to 1,10,000 DWT and repair ships up to 1,25,000 DWT. The yard has delivered two of India's largest double hull Aframax tankers each of 95,000 DWT.

Cochin Shipyard has secured shipbuilding orders from major companies from Europe and Middle East and is nominated to build the country's first indigenous Air Defense Ship.

Gadkari has recently urged US industrialists to invest in seaplanes in India, saying, "We want to encourage seaplanes. A small nation like Maldives has a fleet of 47 seaplanes but India despite having vast potential has none. I urge industrialists from the US to come to India in the area. Here is the potential."



He said developing waterways would be a game changer for the Indian economy and his government was according top most priority to develop inland waterways comprising rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and backwaters which extend to about 14,500 km across the country.

Gadkari said that a number of steps were taken to bring India among the league of advanced nations whose economy thrived on waterways development.

Despite waterways being a cleaner and cheaper mode of transportation, unfortunately only 3.5 per cent of the cargo is transported through this mode in the country as against 44 per cent in Japan and Korea, 40 per cent in Europe and 47 per cent in China.
Cognizant Technologies Services Pvt Ltd has sought government approval to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) in Telangana.

The Board of Approval (BoA), headed by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, will consider the application at its meeting on February 23.

Cognizant has proposed to set up in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, an IT/ITeS SEZ over an area of 2.51 hectares.

SEZs, which are major export hubs, have lost sheen after the imposition of minimum alternate tax. The Commerce Ministry has suggested to the Finance Ministry to remove the MAT.

The BoA will also consider eight applications of SEZ developers including that of Kandla Port Trust and G P Realtors which have sought more time to implement their projects.

ALSO READ: SEZs oppose govt move to phase out corporate tax exemptions

Kandla Port Trust, developer of multi product SEZ at Kandla and Tuna, has sought further extension of the validity period of formal approval, beyond May 6, according to the agenda note of the BoA meeting.

Similarly, G P Realtors Pvt Ltd have asked for more time to complete its electronic hardware and IT/ITeS special economic zone in Haryana.

In its last meeting on December 30, 2015, the board has given more time to developers of as many as 13 special economic zones, including Navi Mumbai SEZ, to complete their projects.

The BoA is a 19-member inter-ministerial body that deals with SEZ-related matters. It provides single window clearance mechanism to developers and units in these zones.

During the April-September period this fiscal, exports from these zones stood at Rs 2.21 lakh crore as against Rs 4.63 lakh crore in 2014-15.

During the first half of this fiscal, these zones generated 15.44 lakh jobs.
Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has said that there's no evidence Zika has caused any cases of the birth defect known as microcephaly in his country, though it has diagnosed 3,177 pregnant women with the virus.

Santos also announced yesterday that a US medical-scientific team will arrive in Colombia to help investigate the mosquito-borne virus.

Brazilian officials say they suspect Zika is behind a seemingly unusual number of microcephaly cases, in which children are born with unusually small heads. The link is not confirmed, but it has helped prompt the World Health Organization to declare an emergency over the virus.

Santos says Zika apparently has affected more than 25,600 Colombians overall.

Colombian officials said Friday that three people had died of the paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome they attributed to cases of Zika.

To date, the mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas.

With global concern over the Zika virus growing, health officials are warning pregnant women to be careful about who they kiss and calling on men to use condoms with pregnant partners if they have visited countries where the virus is present.

The flurry of recommendations began in Brazil, where a top health official said that scientists have found live virus in saliva and urine samples, and the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids requires further study.
A Saudi soldier and a civilian have been killed in cross-border shelling from rebel-controlled northern Yemen, authorities said.

A Saudi patrol was hit yesterday morning in the southwestern region of Assir, killing the soldier, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by state agency SPA.

Later in the day, the southwestern city of Najran was struck, leaving dead a foreign resident, a civil defence spokesman said in a statement on SPA last evening.

About 90 civilians and soldiers have died from shelling and skirmishes along the border since March, when a Saudi-led military coalition began air and ground action in Yemen.

The coalition is backing Yemen government in a bid to push back Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels who overran Sanaa in September 2014.

The United Nations says more than 6,100 people have been killed in the conflict since March, about half of them civilians, and some 30,000 wounded.
The Czech government paid a USD 6-million (5.4-million-euro) ransom to secure the release last year of two women kidnapped Pakistan, the Respekt weekly reports in its Monday edition.

Czech psychology students Hana Humpalova and Antonie Chrastecka, both 24 at the time, were seized by armed men in March 2013 in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province, near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

The pair had entered from Iran as tourists and were escorted into Pakistan by a tribal policeman.

In a video released shortly after their kidnapping, the two young women had pleaded for the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, jailed in 2010 in the United States on charges of terrorist links.

After two years in captivity, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced the women's release and return to Prague on March 28, 2015.

Negotiations with the kidnappers on the payment of a ransom were carried out by the Czech state's security council, according to Respekt.

"The talks weren't easy, but in the end, none of us wanted to assume responsibility for the death of two young girls," the weekly quoted an anonymous participant in the negotiations as saying.

"The decision to hand over the ransom was taken unanimously," the source added.

Government spokesman Martin Ayrer told AFP that Sobotka "will not be commenting on this report".

The Respekt report comes just days after five Czech men, who were kidnapped in Lebanon last July, were freed into the care of Lebanese security forces.

Their release appeared to be tied to the detention of a Lebanese man in Prague, with a Lebanese security official telling AFP: "The release of the five Czechs... Is the final part of an exchange deal, (that) includes the release of the Lebanese detainee in Prague, Ali Taan Fayyad.
"The X-Files" star David Duchovny believes there is a gender pay gap in Hollywood.

The 55-year-old actor's co-star Gillian Anderson was reportedly offered less money to reprise her role as Agent Dana Scully on the latest series.

However, Duchovny said he did everything he could to ensure his co-star was paid the same, reported The Guardian.

"I've done everything I can to help that whenever I could. I think we should be paid the same to do 'The X-Files'," Duchovny said.

"You can ask Gillian. She knows that I have always wanted us to be paid the same, for as long as I've known there was a discrepancy. Hollywood payment is not fair, and it doesn't always parcel on gender lines or race lines, or anything like that."



The new six-episode season of "The X-Files" has proved popular enough for Fox to consider another season.
Pakistani-American LeT operative David Headley will for the first depose before a Mumbai court tomorrow through video conference after being made an approver in the 26/11 attacks case which may further unravel the conspiracy behind the brazen terror strike.

The court is currently trying key plotter Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal.

"This is for the first time in the Indian legal history that a 'foreign terrorist' will appear before an Indian court and testify," Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

Nikam said Headley's evidence is important to unfold many facts behind the 26/11 attack. He, however, refused to divulge any further information.

He would depose before the court through video conference tomorrow and the day after between 7 AM to 12:30 PM.

Meanwhile, a Mumbai police official said that Headley can give broader aspect of criminal conspiracy and who all were involved in the attacks which had left 166 dead and 309 others injured.

"He may also bare the role of Pakistan in case," the official said.

The court had on December 10, 2015, made Headly an approver and directed him to depose before the court on February 8.

Headley, who is currently serving 35 years prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks, had told Special Judge GA Sanap that he was "ready to depose" if granted pardon.

Judge Sanap had made Headley an approver, subject to certain conditions and granted him pardon.

Presently, the court is trying the case against key LeT operative Abu Jundal.
Delhi Government today said it will recommend a CBI inquiry into the death of a Ryan International School student in view of "shortcomings" in the ongoing probe even as the distraught parents of the 6-year-old sought HRD minister Smriti Irani's intervention.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Delhi government will soon recommend a CBI probe into Devansh Kakora's death, a demand made by the boy's father who had yesterday alleged that the child was sexually assaulted before being done to death and that there were injury marks on his private parts.

"We have decided to recommend a CBI probe into death of Devansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe.

"Devansh's parents have levelled serious allegation," Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said.

Separately, the father of the child sent a letter to Irani, seeking her intervention in ensuring handing over of the case to the central agency.

A copy of the letter was also sent to Prime Minister's Office.

Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said CBI inquiry should be ordered into the case heeding to the demands of the parents while JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said he supports Delhi Government's decision to recommend handing over of the investigation to the central agency.

Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay said police should probe all possible angles.

In the letter to Irani, the parents alleged there was a "conspiracy" behind the incident and demanded action against the school management.

"Devansh's death was too suspicious and the reasons have still not been cleared by school authorities. I am sure about some conspiracy against my child.

"Being a father, I just request you to please try to hand over this case to CBI so that proper investigations can be made in this case, otherwise I know this case would suppressed by the school administration," Devansh's father Ramhit Meena said in the letter.

Meena today met Delhi Women and Child Welfare minister Sandeep Kumar and expressed concern "that police was not properly investigating" the death of of his son, whose body was found in the reservoir under the amphitheatre of the school located in south Delhi on January 30.

"So far the police has only been talking to the school staff and they have not recorded our statements," he said.

A magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi Government into the case said that "deliberate" inaction by the school authorities amounted to "gross criminal negligence" which led to the death of the child.

"Hoping for justice for my child through your cooperation, I also demand action against the school management," Meena said in the letter to Irani.

Meena had yesterday alleged that injury marks were seen



on the boy's body including on private parts and that he saw cotton swabs on the child's private parts.

He also alleged that the principal of the school has threatened the family to keep quiet over the issue.

However, a senior police officer, handling the probe, had ruled out sexual assault on the basis of the initial post-mortem report and investigation so far.

School's principal Sandhya Sabu and four other staff were arrested by the police in the case.

But all of them had got bail earlier this week.

The initial postmortem report suggested he died of drowning and no external injuries were found, police had said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the Delhi Police investigation so far in the case, Meena said that he wanted an



"independent" enquiry.

"I am demanding an enquiry by the CBI or an independent agency because there are chances that the evidences in the case may be tempered," he said.
The Delhi Police will soon start using space technology for live crime mapping and adopting a "predictive policing" mechanism being developed in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation.

"The Crime Mapping, Analytics and Predictive System (CMAPS) is being operationalised by Delhi Police in partnership with ISRO for effective use of space technology- based tools for ensuring internal security," a senior police official said today.

He said the system would help in crime control and law and order and security management through analysis of relevant data and patterns, leading to the optimisation of available resources.

The system will be complete with police officials being equipped with Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices connected to a central processor, which stores records of more than two lakh criminals.

The system will enable real time access to vital information at the crime scene itself so the officials do not have to go back to police stations for filing reports, the senior official said, adding the system will be capable of converting every distress call into a digital message with the location of the caller being flashed through global positioning system.

At present crime mapping is a periodical process which is conducted manually by gathering electronic data at an interval of 15 days. The reports are prepared by the Joint Commissioners and forwarded to Special Commissioner (Law and Order), who then briefs the police chief.

With the new space technology-based system, the police will also be able to identify gangs in specific areas real time.

The mechanism of "predictive policing" has been adopted by cities in quite a few developed nations.

For instance, if an official needs to know which area is witnessing a large number of chain snatching cases, the specific location can be quickly ascertained and police teams deployed there strategically so such crimes can be stopped. The specific prediction can also lead to arrest of criminals, the senior official said.

"The first version of CMAPS has been designed for standalone systems. This would be graduated to a web application during the second phase of the scheme," he said.
The demands placed by a trade union before its employer is submitted in fiduciary capacity exempting it from disclosure under the RTI Act, the Central Information Commission has held.

Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad rejected disclosure under the RTI Act the demands placed by each trade union for fresh ninth round of agreement of National Joint Committee for the Steel Industry along with file notings.

The case relates to R K Mishra who had sought the information from Steel Authority of India in his nine-point application.

Along with other information, he wanted complete information on demands placed by each trade union for fresh (after expiry of eighth round, MOA on April 29, 2010) round of agreement on NJCS.

He also demanded all the records related to nine round of agreement on NJCS.

"... Demands placed by each trade union for fresh ninth round of agreement of National Joint Committee for the Steel Industry and file notings...Can't be given as it holds information related to economic interests of state and the respondent is in fiduciary relationship with workers," Azad said.

He said demands place a trade union is a matter of concern between employer and employee.

"The divulgence of information on demands placed by trade union and minutes of meetings will prejudicially affect the economic interests of the public authority(SAIL)...Commission considers the information sought...Is exempted as per section 8(1)(e) (fiduciary clause) under the RTI Act," he said.

Azad also pulled by NJCS for its resolution passed in its 247th meeting in 2007 saying decisions taken at these meetings cannot be shared as they are for internal use of the member.

"The resolution taken by NJCS in its 247th meeting is not in conformity with the provisions of the RTI Act. Public Authority cannot deny information on the behest of any resolution taken by them unless it is exempted under Section 8 of the RTI Act," he said.
Reviewing the functioning of the lower level of administration, Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal today took to a clerk's job and suggested method to reduce time for completing the work.

In his two-hour visit to the legal cell of the Secretariat, Aggarwal found that 375 cases of stamp refund were pending which would take about two years to dispose.

But, the DM, who was transferred to the state capital in December last, found a way out to cut short the time and suggested how the work could be done in a month, an official statement said.

During the visit, the DM came across an employee who appeared over-aged while one of her certificates, alleged to be forged, stated that she was 55 years old. Aggarwal has instructed officials to constitute a medical board to verify her age, the statement said.

Starting today, the DM has decided to visit different sections of district administration once a week to improve the work culture at lower level.

He has also ordered Section, Block, District and Circle officers to do the same every Tuesday and review work, it said.

Aggarwal was recently awarded by the Election Commission of India for best electoral practices during his tenure as the DM of Gaya.
A 12-year-old German shepherd in the US state of Missouri is lucky to be alive after being buried in a sinkhole for 72 hours.

The hunt for Maverick started on February 4 after he wandered from his home in Parkville, north of Kansas City.

"He had on his invisible fence collar," said owner Lisa Van Valkenburgh. "But that didn't stop him from walking out of bounds."



Hours turned into days as the entire Van Valkenburgh family searched for their missing pooch.

One day while Van Valkenburgh was walking outside her home she heard a faint howl coming from under the ground.

At first, she thought her dog was in the ditch below, stuck in a drain pipe.

"I jumped down frantically searching," she said. "A man stopped to help me when he saw a sinkhole at the side of the road."



Her dog was buried alive, clinging on to life.

Van Valkenburgh's son and husband came to try to dig the dog out, but Maverick was sucked into the mud and very weak. The family then called rescue authorities for help.

It took rescue crews almost two hours to dig Maverick out.

"They had to dig out under Maverick to release the suction the clay had on him," she said.

Once he was rescued, the pooch was so weak and lifeless and had to be rushed to the local emergency vet hospital.

It took veterinarians nearly an hour to stabilise the dog as he was severely dehydrated.

One of Maverick's teeth punctured his lip and broke off as he fell through the hole. The dog also swallowed a large amount of clay, which showed up in his X-rays.

But Maverick gained enough strength to return home.

"His demeanor completely changed when he was reunited with his pack," said Van Valkenburgh on Maverick's homecoming on Wednesday to join her three other dogs a cat.

Maverick will no longer wander out of his yard since his electric collar has been traded for a tethered leash.
A 21-year-old Delhi University student was killed allegedly by her lover in Model Town area, with the murder coming to light only after five days when the neighbours reported stench from his residence where he had dumped the body in a shaft.

The accused Naveen Khatri was today arrested. Police claim that on Tuesday, Khatri allegedly strangulated the woman, a final year student at Lakshmibai College under University of Delhi who was in a relationship with him.

He tried to dump the body somewhere else and also attempted to burn it once, but failed after which he threw it in a shaft as his residence in Gurmandi locality which comes under Model Town police station in northwest Delhi, police said.

During interrogation, it emerged that Khatri was to get married to someone else. The police are also probing the role of other members of the accused's family in the incident as they had apparently objected to their relationship and wanted Khatri to marry the other woman, they said.

They said several persons were questioned in the case.

The matter came to light today after neighbours complained of a "terrible stench" and the police was informed, they said.

"A case of murder has been registered and the accused has been arrested. Further investigation is underway," DCP, Northwest, Vijay Singh said.

A relative of the victim claimed that she and Khatri



wanted to marry, but it was mutually decided that marriage can't happen as they were from the same village.

"We were not aware that they were in contact with each other. When police went to Naveen's apartment with warrant, they found her dead and recovered her charred body," she said.

Before she went missing, the victim attended all her classes and her phone was switched off 4 PM onwards, the relative said.
The Netherlands is probing two incidents in which civilians may have been killed or injured in air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq, the government has said.

"Two incidents in which there may have been possible civilian casualties are being investigated in around 1,300 missions carried out by the Netherlands," The Hague-based government said in a letter to parliament late yesterday.

Citing "operational reasons", the Defence Ministry said neither details of the incidents nor the probe are being made public.

The probe was prompted by a raft of questions raised by lawmakers in parliament on the Netherlands' role in the fight against IS after The Hague announced last month it would expand air operations into Syria.

Dutch F-16 fighters have been part of the US-led bombing campaign against IS in Iraq and The Hague said the expansion into Syria came following requests by the United States and France.

"The incidents are being investigated by the Defence Ministry and details will be passed to the Public Prosecutor's Office," said the letter, posted on the Defence Ministry's website.

"Because of several reasons it's impossible to determine the regrettable number civilian deaths as a result of coalition operations," it added.

The Netherlands is participating in the Iraq strikes with four F-16 aircraft specialising in close air support of ground operations by Iraqi forces.

Late last year in the wake of the November Paris attacks, the Dutch government received a request from American and French allies to broaden its campaign against the IS jihadist group -- also known by the acronym ISIS.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the extended air operations will now target eastern Syria "in particular to stop the IS 'pipeline' leading from Syria into Iraq."



US air strikes in Iraq began in August 2014 after IS captured a swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria in a lightning offensive.

Washington and Arab allies broadened the strikes against IS in Syria a month later in September 2014, with the US also leading moves to build an international coalition of some 60 nations against the jihadists.
One hundred days after Justin Trudeau's Liberal government was sworn in, the still-popular Canadian prime minister faces mounting criticism, against the backdrop of a floundering economy and terror fears.

The 44-year-old Trudeau -- a former schoolteacher and the son of a popular prime minister -- immediately saw his international profile rise upon taking office on November 4, and he still enjoys strong support at home.

He has touted a multilateral foreign policy, and a more transparent governing style than his predecessor Stephen Harper, who was seen as prickly, awkward and more at home plowing through economic theory than glad-handing voters.

"Canada is back!" the youthful-looking prime minister with a broad smile, a twinkle in his eye and a thick mop of curls told world leaders at summits, looking to recast the image of the world's fifth-largest oil producer from climate laggard to environmental champion.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon is expected to praise Canada's shift in a visit to Ottawa on Thursday.

The economy, however, has cast a pall over Trudeau's self-professed "sunny ways."



Canada emerged from a mild recession in September in the middle of the election campaign, but consumer confidence soon faded as oil prices and the Canadian dollar sank to new recent lows, leading to thousands of job losses in the country's oil and gas sector.

Attacks in Jakarta and in Burkina Faso in January that left seven Canadians dead, meanwhile, raised fresh security concerns.

The new government was forced to backpedal on its pledge to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 and on its fiscal plans, while taking heat over its climate and counterterrorism strategies.

In parliament, opposition leader Rona Ambrose accused the government of "stepping back from the fight (against the Islamic State group) when our allies are stepping up."



"The reality is that when we talk about Canada's new approach to fighting ISIS, Canada is not back, Canada is backing away," she said.

The husband of a Quebec woman shot dead by Islamist gunmen last month in Burkina Faso hung up on Trudeau when he called to offer condolences, while criticizing the prime minister's dovish world view in the local press.
Egyptian police raided a house south of Cairo today and killed four "terrorists" accused of carrying out attacks against the security forces, the interior ministry said.

Since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, jihadists have regularly attacked members of the security forces, mostly in the Sinai Peninsula but also in Cairo and the Nile Delta.

"The four terrorists were killed when police raided their hideout where they were manufacturing explosives" in a village south of the capital, a ministry statement said.

"During the raid the police team came under fire from the terrorists, and in the ensuing gunfight the four were killed."



They had been involved in "assassinating a soldier and two policemen" in separate attacks on the outskirts of Cairo, the ministry added.

It said the four were linked to Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt), a militant group that said it was behind several attacks on police in Cairo after Morsi's ouster.

Officials say hundreds of police and soldiers have been killed since 2013 in jihadist attacks, mainly in the Sinai where an Egyptian affiliate of the Islamic State group is spearheading an insurgency.
Salvadoran police have arrested four former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests in the Central American country, officials have said.

Five of the priests were Spanish and their killings sparked international outrage.

El Salvador's national police force yesterday said in a Twitter post that the four ex-soldiers were arrested at the behest of Interpol in an operation that began Friday night.

They were identified as Col. Guillermo Alfredo Benavides Moreno and soldiers Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, Angel Perez Vasquez and Tomas Zarpate Castillo.

It's up to El Salvador's Supreme Court to rule on the extraditions.

On Friday in North Carolina, a US judge cleared the way for a former Salvadoran colonel to be extradited to face charges in Spain in the case.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kimberly Swank ordered that US Marshals take custody of Inocente Orlando Montano Morales so he can be turned over to Spain, pending final approval by State Department.

The step is largely seen as a formality because lawyers for the diplomatic agency already reviewed the case before turning it over to federal prosecutors.

Montano, 73, has denied involvement in the killings. Court documents say that early on the morning of Nov. 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran military killed the six priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at a university in the country's capital. The priests had been calling for discussions to end the fighting, with one of them serving as an intermediary between the government and a leftist group.

The killings helped erode US support for the right-wing Salvadoran government.

While two officers served short sentences in El Salvador, Montano and other high-level officials were never charged by authorities there in the priests' killings.
Vehicles ferrying grooms and brides should be exempted from the odd-even car rationing scheme when its second phase is implemented, a Delhi resident suggested to AAP Government during public consultations that ended today.

The Arvind Kejriwal government held two-day public consultations in all assembly constituencies seeking people's opinion on the second phase of the odd-even scheme.

At a programme in West Vinod Nagar today, a resident, Satyadev Bhandari, suggested Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that Delhi government give exemption to vehicles ferrying marriage party.

"Exemption should be given by the government to those cars ferrying bride or groom with marriage stickers in the second phase of odd-even scheme," Satyadev said.

Son of Satyadev will soon be getting married to a girl from Uttarakhand and keeping in mind this, he suggested the government to exempt such vehicles.

In the public consultation meetings, a majority of residents voted in favour of the odd-even scheme.

Such meetings were today organised in Shakur Basti, Greater Kailash, Mehrauli, R K Puram, Ballimaran, Wazirpur, Karol Bagh, Jungpura, Chattarpur, Model Town and Kasturba Nagar.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting with his ministers tomorrow to discuss the next phase of the odd-even scheme, which is expected to be introduced in May or June after school and board examinations.

Delhi government has decided to gather public opinion on the proposed second phase of the odd-even scheme by directly reaching out to at least 10 lakh residents through "automated calls", supplementing a phone line and email address that are already in force.

Calls are also being made through Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, used by telecom companies among others, and are giving people a number of options on the proposed measure to choose from.

The government has already opened a dedicated phone line, a website, put up on line forms and launched an email address on a six-point questionnaire on the car-rationing measures.

"Over 10,000 on line forms have been downloaded in less than a week, more than 8,500 email responses have been submitted and around 45,000 calls made," a government official said.

The first phase of the plan was rolled out on January 1 and it stayed in force for 15 days.
Days after expelled AIADMK MLA Pala Karuppiah resigned from the membership of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, his resignation has been "accepted" and the Harbour constituency he represented declared vacant.

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in its website listed the Harbour constituency (number 018) in Chennai District as "Vacant" indicating that Karuppiah's resignation was "accepted."



A top Assembly Secretariat official confirmed that his resignation has been "accepted."



"We have accepted his resignation and the Harbour Constituency is declared vacant," he told PTI



Last month, after he was expelled from AIADMK by party supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for "going against" its principles, Karuppiah resigned his assembly membership.

"I wholeheartedly accept the decision of party chief Amma (Chief Minister Jayalalithaa)," Karuppiah had said commenting on his removal from the ruling party.

In an interview to Tamil magazine "Ananda Vikatan", in January he had strongly hit out at the State government alleging corruption.

He, however, had not said anything against Jayalalithaa or made any reference to her.

On previous occasions too he had criticised the government. Earlier this month, in the anniversary function of Tamil weekly "Thuglak" he had criticised the Ministers of the AIADMK regime.

Jayalalithaa had said that Karuppiah was removed for "going against party principles and bringing disrepute to it.
A noted fashion designer has allegedly been duped by a Nigerian national, posing as London couture week organiser, with the promise of allowing her entry in the purported international fashion extravaganza.

CBI sources said suspect John Morrison was arrested in a separate case of allegedly duping another woman and it was during this probe that the agency received another complaint against him from a noted fashion designer based here.

The sources said the fashion designer wants her identity to be kept under wraps because of security concerns.

They said Morrison allegedly met her through Facebook posing as citizen of the United Kingdom and the organiser of London Couture week and promised to promoter her creations at international level.

The sources said the two started friendship over the social networking site during which Morrison gained confidence of the designer and even told her that he would be visiting here soon.

They said one day the designer claimed to have received a call from a girl claiming to be Customs officer. The girl from Northeast, believed to be close associate of Morrison, told the designer that Morrison has been taken into custody.

She allegedly told the designer that she should deposit Rs 4.10 lakh in three different accounts if she wanted release of Morrison, they said, adding that transfers were made.

CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said a case under section 419 (impersonation), 420 (cheating) and 66-D of Information Technology Act has been registered against the main suspect and associate (presently under Judicial custody in Tihar prison).
Travel retail firm FCM Travel Solutions is looking to expand to five new cities and add around 250 employees by the end of the next fiscal as part of its expansion plans.

The company is into corporate travel services and retail and expects the latter to contribute almost equally to the overall business in India from the current 20 per cent going forward.

"We are aiming to add five more cities in India by the end of FY17 as part of our expansion plans. Currently, we are present in 13 cities," FCM Travel Solutions Managing Director India Rakshit Desai told PTI.

The probable cities we are looking at are Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Indore, Jaipur and Lucknow, he added.

At present, the company has around 1,200 people at its various offices in the country and is planning to hire up to 250 employees in the next fiscal.

"As we open offices in the five cities we would add up to 250 employees during the next financial year," Desai said.

The business of the company in India is mainly in two verticals -- corporate travel services called FCM and retail business called flight shop.

"Right now the corporate travel business of the company is a much larger segment contributing around 80 per cent of the business for the company, while the retail business is smaller but going forward a 50:50 balance is something we are looking at," Desai said.

Bullish on growth prospects in India as aviation market grows in the country and infrastructure improves, he said: "As air capacity increases we are growing our distribution network to have access to more customers."



The company is also in process of launching its new logo as part of re-branding exercises in global markets, including in India.

The company has its presence in thirteen cities across the country such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
King Momo Shalom Sardinha of the ongoing Goa Carnival has said state's popular drink 'Feni' should be promoted as a brew with medicinal value and not just as a hard drink.

King Momo's appeal to Goans comes after the state government decided to classify Feni as a 'heritage drink'.

Sardinha, who heralded the Carnival float parade in Panaji yesterday, appealed people to promote the local brew "as a drink with medical and heritage value" and just as liquor.

"Don't look at Feni as a liquor or a drink to get drunk. It is a unique drink with medical value and these properties of the brew are passed from one generation to another," Shalom told PTI today.

He said the carnival festivities with a message of "eat, drink and be merry" goes well with the concept of encouraging state's indigenous products.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had recently announced that feni would be classified as 'heritage brew', providing it market outside Goa.

The Goa Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association has said the government should promote feni through the popular carnival.

"We are happy that King Momo is endorsing Feni during the carnival. This will be a great push for this brew," association's President Mac Vaz said.

Vaz, whose company has recently launched feni product 'Lembranca' branding of which was done by famous cartoonist Late Mario Miranda, said it is the "spirit of the soil" that is promoted during such festivities.
Over 50 years after it was retired, Flying Scotsman, one of the world's most famous locomotives, is set to return to service this month in the UK after a 4.2 million pound revamp.

The engine started travelling from Carnforth on the West Coast Main Line on trial runs following the restoration project, which took 10 years.

The engine, which was retired from service in 1963, has been restored for York's National Railway Museum.

Low-speed tests have taken place along the East Lancashire Railway, the BBC reported.

"We have all been looking forward to the day when Flying Scotsman is once again running on Britain's tracks," Jim Lowe, head of operations at the National Railway Museum in York, said.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman emerged from Doncaster Works on February 24, 1923.

In 1934, Scotsman was clocked at 100 miles per hour - officially the first locomotive to have reached that speed.

The engine is 21 meters long, weighs about 96 tonnes. It has travelled approximately 2,500,000 miles.

By 1995, it was part-owned by record producer Pete Waterman.

The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 by the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York using 415,000 pounds in public donations, a 365,000 pound gift from Sir Richard Branson and a 1.8 million pound grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Tests began on January six at the East Lancashire Railway. Flying Scotsman returned to the tracks after a decade-long 4.2 million pound restoration.

The engine will be repainted in its traditional green livery on February 10 for its inaugural journey from London's King's Cross to York two weeks later.

Public services will begin in late February, alongside an exhibition at the museum, the report said.
A French general has testified for the first time in a probe into the role of French forces during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, sources close to the case said today.

General Jean-Claude Lafourcade was questioned in particular over claims that France's UN-mandated Operation Turquoise, which he led, left ethnic Tutsis to be slaughtered by Hutu killers in the western Bisesero hills in June 1994, the sources said.

French soldiers had been deployed in Rwanda a few days earlier under UN instructions to stop the genocide that had begun in April, and which three months later had left at least 800,000 people dead, most of them Tutsis.

In 2005 survivors filed a complaint in France, saying the French troops had on June 27 vowed to return to Bisesero, but when they came back three days later, it was too late for hundreds of Tutsis who were massacred.

Lafourcade, who appeared as an "assisted witness" - meaning he has not been charged but can be summoned for questioning at any time - again refuted the accusations during lengthy hearings on January 12 and 14, the sources said.

The retired general, now 72, also dismissed as "completely false" allegations that French soldiers supplied arms to the Hutu extremists.

His lawyer Pierre-Olivier Lambert told AFP that Lafourcade was "very glad to have finally been able to testify before the French justice system as he has been asking to do for many years."



Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused Paris of complicity in the genocide because of its support of the Hutu nationalist government that carried out the mass slaughter.

Paris has repeatedly denied the accusations and insists that French forces had worked to protect civilians. Bilateral relations, completely frozen from 2006 to 2009, remain tense.
German police today searched the homes of two men suspected of being part of an extremist organisation, prosecutors said.

Federal prosecutors said that the raid took place near the western city of Mainz. The two men are "suspected of taking part in the Syrian civil war as members of a foreign terrorist organisation," prosecutors' office spokesman Michael Neuhaus said in an email.

He declined to provide further details, including whether the men had been arrested, citing the ongoing investigation.

website Spiegel Online reported that it had tracked down one of the men - a 32-year-old suspected former commander in the Islamic State group - before the raid in Sankt Johann, a town about 20 kilometres south of Mainz.

The man had allegedly fought with IS in the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor before leaving via Turkey and claiming asylum in Germany.

Federal prosecutors declined to confirm those details.

On Thursday, German police conducted raids in Berlin and western Germany against four Algerian men suspected of having ties to IS and plotting an attack in Berlin. One of the men had registered in Germany as a Syrian refugee, police said.
New security measures were in place at cemeteries in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown after grave robbers used pickaxes and sledge hammers to pry open tombs and steal coffins and jewellery.

Around 250 graves were targeted in three of Freetown's seven cemeteries over the past two months, Freetown City Council said in a statement on Saturday.

At one of the cemeteries targeted, Kingtom, 60 per cent of the more than 6,000 graves were those of Ebola victims.

Twenty-four hour security was now in place at all the city cemeteries including armed police guards to foil the robbers, the council's environment and social officer Sulaiman Zainu-Parker told national radio.

The thefts were a "total disgrace to us as a nation... Why can't they leave the dead to finally rest in peace undisturbed?" he said.

Abdul Rahman, caretaker of Kingtom cemetery, told the radio station that the robbers forced "open concrete graves and vaults to steal ornaments, chains, wedding rings and clothes from the dead".

"The vandals sometimes remove corpses from expensive mahogany and polished coffins and I suspect the coffins are later sold off to some local undertakers," he added.

Relatives of the dead welcomed the move by the City Council to beef up security.

Raymond Taylor told AFP his family vault at Kingtom had been plundered.

"The mahogany casket of my late father which cost us about USD 1,000 was stolen by unknown persons and until this day has never been retrieved.

"It must have been sold to some unscrupulous undertaker for a pittance," he said.

Another relative, Fatu Sheriff, said the grave of his aunt who died in London but was buried in the city's Ascension Town cemetery was attacked and jewellery and her wedding ring stolen.

"I am certain that these were later pawned to the usual willing customers... It's about time these things should stop," he said.
The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat will open a convention centre here to tap the potential in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) segment, Gujarat Minister Saurabh Patel said here today.

Patel, who has Finance, Energy and Tourism portfolios, said this Rs 94 crore project will be raised in PPP (public, private, partnership) mode.

"We are coming up with a convention centre in Vadodara for which tenders will be floated within a week. The location has been finalised and the model is being worked out. There will be an auditorium with 2,000 persons capacity," Patel said on the sidelines of launch of an international exhibition 'Switch 2016'.

Presently, Gujarat has a large convention centre located in Gandhinagar - the Mahatma Mandir which can host up to 15,000 people, he informed.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has approved terms and conditions for transfer of those HUDA Sectors to the concerned Municipal Corporations where more than five years have lapsed after completion of development works.

He also approved the transfer of 33 such Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) Sectors to the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation, an official release said today.

Now, the Gurgaon civic body will look after water supply, sewerage, storm water, street light, roads, horticultural and sanitation services in these sectors, it said.

The move aims at ensuring better maintenance of amenities and greater satisfaction of the residents of those sectors.

Following the transfer, ownership of all open spaces in these sectors would vest with the Municipal Corporation, but the extension fee, transfer fee, other recoveries related to the plots would still be recovered by HUDA, the release stated.

However, 75 per cent of the recovery of the extension fee, building application fee, composition charges recovered by HUDA would be remitted to the Municipal Corporation, by the 15th of this month, and 25 per cent would be retained by HUDA.

The recovery of water and sewerage charges and property taxes would be made by civic body, the release said.

Development of essential infrastructure like provision of slaughter house, meat market, cremation ground, transport nagar, disposal land fill sites for solid waste management and sewerage treatment plants would be done by HUDA.
Continuing with its efforts to check gender discrimination, Haryana government today said it will hold a special monthly programme across all state-run schools to celebrate the birthday of girl students.

The programme 'Kanya Janamdin Utsav', to be launched on February 11, would celebrate the birthday of the girl students during which their parents will also remain present, a spokesperson for the state education department said.

The birthday of the girls falling in the same month would be celebrated as 'Utsav' on every second Tuesday, while announcement of the names will be made in the first week, the spokesperson said.

The function would be held during the mid-day meal, the official said.

During the morning assembly, the school head will call out the names of the girls to greet them while members of the panchayat will also be present to extend their wishes.

It is for the first time that a special programme aimed at putting an end to gender discrimination will be held for the girls studying in government schools in any state, the official claimed.

Infamous for a skewed sex ratio, Haryana recently noted improvement with the number of girls crossing 900 mark for December month, a development which happened for the first time in a decade.
In the backdrop of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula suicide case, the HRD ministry has convened a meeting of Vice Chancellors of all central universities on February 18 to discuss ways to end discrimination against disadvantaged sections.

The ministry has decided to call all VCs and heads of 46 central universities to Delhi for the meeting days ahead of the Budget session of Parliament where the opposition is likely to vociferously raise the issue to corner the government.

Opposition parties have repeatedly raised questions over the role of Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and also attacked HRD minister Smriti Irani over the incidents related to Vemula's suicide.

Earlier, after the massive outrage over the Vemula suicide incident at Hyderabad central university, the HRD ministry had said that a programme will be launched for sensitising academic administrators about understanding and handling problems faced by socially, educationally and economically disadvantaged students.

The ministry had also said that all VCs and senior administrators would be sensitised to reach out to such students.

The HRD ministry has also announced that all wardens, administrative staff and registrars would be compulsorily put through an orientation programme for which a special module will be prepared.

It had also declared that a special mechanism would be set up at the Ministry for receiving and taking expeditious action on the grievances from students belonging to disadvantaged sections.

Dalit scholar Vemula had earlier committed suicide on January 17, this year triggering protests and outrage across India and and bringing the focus on the problems faced by students of SC/ST and other backwards communities in institutions of higher education.
Bankers' body IBA has asked the government and the RBI to accord 'priority sector' status to road projects as they play a key role in nation building.

Considering the importance of road sector in supporting economic growth and nation building, it should be classified as priority sector, Indian Banks' Association said in a presentation to the government recently.

The proposal of the body of banks has also found favour of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and it plans to write to RBI to consider it, sources said.

Priority sector tag for road projects will help greater access to the bank funding. As per the priority sector norms, banks have to necessarily provide 40 per cent of its total lending to the sector.

The rate of interest for priority sector is lower than usual corporate loans.

Sector which presently qualifies for priority sector includes agriculture, education, renewal energy and MSME.

Besides, IBA has also suggested permitting flexible restructuring of long term project loans with debts below Rs 500 crore. Many road projects have debt below this level but have long concession period.

To give a fillip to the sector, RBI should also consider relaxing non-performing asset (NPA) norms for bank loans, it has suggested.

In case of stalled projects, where last mile funding has been given by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), any restructuring on account of the same shall not be classified as restructured or NPA, IBA has proposed.

As many as 19 projects entailing a capital investment of Rs 40,000 crore are stuck for long and the government is trying to revive those.

The stuck projects belong to players like Larsen & Toubro, HCC, Gammon, Madhucon, Soma and Essel Infra, among others, while the list of lenders includes top names like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of India.
Apex body of company secretaries ICSI plans to come up with initiatives to help enhance job skills of aspirants who fail to clear the company secretary examination.

The plan comes against the backdrop of a significant number of individuals enrolling for company secretary course. About four lakh students are pursuing the company secretaries programme at various levels.

ICSI President Mamta Binani told PTI that the institute is looking at having initiatives that would help aspirants who are unable to clear the examination boost their employability skills.

"The idea is to improve their skills and make them more employable," she said, adding that it is at a very initial stage.

For graduates, the course has two levels -- intermediate and final -- while those who have passed plus-two examination can start with the foundation programme.

There are around 42,000 company secretaries.

Binani, who took over as ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) President last month, said there has been a lot of changes in terms of regulations in recent times.

According to her, there is a lot to "unlearn, relearn and learn again and people (members) are on their toes".

Under the Companies Act, 2013 -- whose most provisions came into force from April 2014 -- company secretaries have increased responsibility with respect to ensuring that firms are in compliance with various norms.

A company secretary is a key managerial personnel and advises a company's board of directors on best practices in corporate governance.

Set up under an Act of Parliament, ICSI is headquartered in the national capital and has four regional offices.
Agrochemicals firm Insecticides India Ltd is aiming to double its turnover to Rs 2,000 crore in the next four years as it plans to launch more products and focus on exports.

The Delhi-based firm manufactures and markets agrochemical products ranging from insecticides to fungicides to 'weedicides'. It has 5 formulations and 2 technical facilities at Chopanki in Rajasthan, Samba and Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir, and Dahej in Gujarat.

The company has an annual capacity of more than 1.10 lakh tonnes of formulations and 13,800 tonnes of technicals.

It had posted a turnover of about Rs 1,100 crore in 2014-15 fiscal.

"We are working on to develop new and high margin products, including product extensions of established brands and expand the revenue share of current product portfolio at the same time," Insecticides India Ltd (IIL) Managing Director Rajesh Aggarwal told PTI.

Per capita consumption of crop protection products in India is amongst the lowest in the world at 0.6 kg per hectare as compared to 5 kg per hectare in the UK and 7 kg per hectare in the USA, he said adding,"so there is a huge scope for this sector in the country."



"We have been growing at 11-12 per cent and our turnover as of now is around Rs 1,000 crore, but we are confident that in the next few years our growth rate will rise with new product launches and rising exports.

"We are aiming to touch Rs 2,000 crore in the next four years," Aggarwal said hoping that IIL would be a USD 1 billion firm within next decade.

The company is exporting agrochemicals worth Rs 15-20 crore and plans to cross Rs 100 crore-mark in the next two years, he added.

It is pursuing registrations for its products in the Middle East and South East Asian regions and has international tie-ups with AMVAC and Nissan Chemicals for brand licensing.
Sumitra Singh, former speaker of Rajasthan Assembly, has called upon farmers to increase their participation in politics so that they can themselves represent their issues in state assemblies and Parliament effectively.

She stated this while addressing a farmers rally at the Dusshera ground here yesterday.

Singh also criticised the state government for signing MoUs worth Rs 90,000 crores with Ambani and Adani groups on solar energy projects allegedly proposed on farmers lands.

Singh asked the farmers to increase their participation in politics so that they themselves can represent their issues in state assemblies and Parliament effectively.

There should also be justified sharing of profit between producer (farmer) and trader, she added.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of farmers from across Kota, Bundi, Baran and Jhalawar districts assembled at Shahid Smarak, Antagarh amd marched to the Dusshera ground waving placards on their demands for adequate payment for crops and insurance.
With India placing high priority to cyber security, the government is in talks with a number of countries, including the US, for co-operation to check cyber espionage and other attacks, Union Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said.

"The Prime Minister himself has said, cyber security represents something like bloodless war. Therefore, cyber security is an agenda of great importance for our government,"

Prasad, who was here to attend the annual India Conference of the Harvard University, told PTI.

Emphasising that India is very particular on the issue of cyber security, the minister said the government is in talks with a number of countries including the US in this regard.

"Internet is the finest creation of human mind. It should not be allowed to be abused by a few. In that scenario there is greater co-operation among countries world over," he said.

The minister said the ambitious Digital India campaign has aroused great interest about the country across the world and the total digital economy being pursued by India is going to be $1 trillion in the next two-three years.

"I see a lot of digital delivery of services happening (in the next few years)," he said, adding that governance is gradually moving towards on the mobile phone.

Underlining that programmes initiated by India has "caught the fancy" of the world, Prasad said that American companies are "very keen" to partner in India's growth story.

"This shows the interest being reflected in India's turnaround story," said Prasad, who held meetings with a large number of academicians, research scholars and top business executives on India and India related issues.

"May be the personal chemistry of the US President (Barack) Obama and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, is also a reason for this kind of renewed interest," he said.
In a bid to strengthen its position in the e-commerce market, India Post has proposed to invest Rs 322 crore till 2019-20 to augment parcel handling capacity through which it projects to earn a revenue of Rs 1,608 crore.

An official in the Department of Post told PTI that with the current pace of growth in e-commerce segment, India Post would be handling 40 lakh parcels per month in the near future and the capacity needs to be augmented accordingly.

"The Department is proposing to invest Rs 322 crore in the period from 2015-2016 to 2019-20 to augment and develop parcel handling capacities," the official said.

He said India Post centres would be equipped with modern handling devices, conveyor belt and security systems to ensure faster and safe processing.

He added volumetric measurement system will also be introduced to ensure revenue based on volume of the consignment having lesser weight but occupying larger space in trans-shipment.

"With the proposed investments, the revenue projections from e-commerce in all segments is Rs 1,608 crore in five years," he said.

In order to cater to the parcel business, the department proposes to set up automated mail processing centres at Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad with mixed mail sorter and parcel sorter at each location.

The official further said the department is implementing a global positioning system (GPS) in its departmental mail motor vehicles in all the major centres.

The IT modernisation project for India Post is under implementation which would result in electronically connected urban and rural network.

"It would allow increased consistency and reliability in mail, parcels and logistics delivery system in line with global standards," he said.

The department has also initiated a project for parcel network optimisation for developing a comprehensive business and marketing plan based on current trends in the e-commerce market.

In e-commerce space, India Post is serving more than 400 small- and medium-level customers spread all across the country including all major players like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Snapdeal, Paytm, Shopclues, Yepme, Naaptol, Telebrands and Homeshop18, among others.
The irony is complete, India has no reported cases of the dreaded Zika virus infection, but is the first country in the world to have ready for testing not one but two vaccines against the virus that is causing nightmares in The Americas.

Whether the Zika breakthrough from India becomes a full- fledged vaccine or not will be known later, but for the first time an Indian company has been nimble, fast and foresighted to beat the western pharma giants on their own game. One will have to wait and watch to see how the patent battle is fought, on this occasion the dice is already loaded in India's favour.

This huge globally significant 'Zika biotech moment for India' could not have come at a more opportune time, the country is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the setting up of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) which started in 1986, under the leadership of the tech savvy late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The then land of snake charmers, elephants, and the 'Hindu rate of growth' has now transformed into innovation hub with current Prime Minister Narendra Modi another tech-savvy, science loving leader who has given the big challenge of 'Make in India' and 'Start-up India'.

The Zika virus vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad goes well beyond the prime minister's catchy slogans as it is truly a 'made in India' by Indians moment and the patent on the product is also Indian.

The unbelievable story of the Zika virus vaccine breakthrough actually begins in 1996 with the remarkable tale of a middle class Tamilian farmer's son who trained to be a molecular biologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in USA deciding to come back to India. Krishna Ella, now the chairman-cum-managing director of Bharat Biotech was then egged by his mother to return to his motherland from USA.

Ella recalls his mother saying, "Son, you only have a 9-inch stomach and how much ever money you make, you can't eat more than that. You come back and do whenever you want, I will see to it that you get food! As long as I am alive, you will not starve."



Then 'start-ups' were not sexy, yet Ella took the risks and today he commands a USD 100 million company that specialises in vaccine production.

Having mastered the making of the world's cheapest hepatitis-B vaccine and the bulk supply of the oral polio vaccine of which Ella says he has supplied 3.5 billion doses among several other vaccines. Ella's company also partnered with Indian government to make the first-ever Indian-made vaccine called 'Rotavac', a vaccine against an infectious diarrhoea disease caused by Rota virus that afflicts children.

Ella being a scientist himself invests a lot in research and development and that is probably what led him start work developing vaccines against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Chikungunya both viral diseases that are mosquito borne.

Ella says Chikungunya - the bone-breaking fever first



entered India in 2006 possibly from Africa and his company was the first to have isolated and characterised the virus. Since then he said he worried about dreaded infections jumping the depths of the Indian Ocean, and says he feared about the Zika virus - originally isolated from Uganda in 1947 - making the leap since the mosquito that transmits the virus is the same that carries in its lethal bite the Chikungunya, JE and dengue viruses.

Ella says about 18 months ago his research group headed by Dr Sumathy initiated a gentle paced work on making a vaccine against the infectious Zika virus. India had no live specimens of the virus so importing it through official channels his research team got cracking. Ella says his dream was to make a 'vaccine for travellers' that in a single dose would give people immunity against Chikungunya, JE and Zika.

In July 2015, his team has a Eureka moment on Zika and were able to make two vaccine candidates. Hurriedly patents were filed. By then Zika had not exploded as a troublemaker on the global horizon.

Bharat Biotech's vaccines now christened 'Zikavac' are ready for pre-clinical trials, this makes these two vaccines head and shoulders ahead of the other international efforts which are still literally efforts on the drawing board. The world is searching for an answer and the World Health Organisation (WHO) says "we have just been informed about the Zika vaccine candidate that Bharat Biotech has. We will examine it from the scientific point of view and see the feasibility of taking it forward."



Developing the necessary molecules that make up the vaccine is what this 1,000-personnel organisation based in the 'Genome Valley' of Hyderabad could do on their own. Here onwards the road is uphill. Ella says the struggle begins now as the Indian technocracy and the drugs regulatory system takes its own sweet time for approvals.

However, Ella's first hurdle is to convince an expert committee set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that the product and patent he is flaunting is scientifically worth pursuing since vaccine trials are not only very expensive but also need a lot of stamina to go through and failures are typical.

Interestingly, the government wing that should be most chuffed by this Zikavac development, the Department of Biotechnology has not even reacted and naysayers are already under cutting the Zika breakthrough.

Interestingly, India was the first country in the world that set up a separate Department of Biotechnology to nurture this sector three decades ago. Then the department had a modest budget of Rs 5 crore, compared to this fiscal's allocation of about Rs 1600 crore that amounts to a 320 times jump in 30 years.

Yet many believe the DBT has not lived up to its



expectation in recent times since the most urgently-needed National Biotech Regulatory Authority India Bill has been pending with the Parliament almost shackling the sector to a huge slow down. The one big success from the DBT was the piloting of the introduction of the genetically-modified variety of cotton called Bt Cotton more than a decade ago, the first and only GM plant India has embraced.

The country then dithered when it debated the introduction of Bt Brinjal but then taking a moral high ground placed a 'moratorium' on its introduction. Today the government technocracy of the biotech sector is unable to take a decision whether Indian farmers should be given an opportunity to grow GM Mustard, even as the country spends scarce foreign exchange importing edible oils.

The Indian biotech sector is today worth about USD 7 billion and according to the National Biotechnology Development Strategy unveiled a few weeks ago, the target is to make it into a USD 100 billion industry by 2025.

However, for that to happen relevant legislations need to be passed post haste. In addition, what needs to be ensured is that executive powers come back to rest with the executive. India may be the only country in the whole world where the Supreme Court has been deliberating for several years on whether genetically modified crops are good or bad for the country.

It is for governments to decide on such important national policies, not judges of the apex court howsoever learned they may be. Ultimately, trust has to be rested with experts by putting in place an impartial and transparent regulatory system.

The real test of the government on whether it truly supports the Indian biotech sector would become tangible if it understands the huge first mover advantage that Bharat Biotech has given to India through its foresight and disease forecasting ability to position a Zika virus vaccine well ahead of others.

As Union Science Minister Harsh Vardhan is fond of saying 'IT' meant 'India Today' and on the same lines 'BT' means 'Bharat Tomorrow' and for that to happen the ball is really in Prime Minister Modi's court who can use his good offices to push for early assessment of the Indian Zikavac vaccines.

Ella requests that Modi himself intervene by supporting a project which embodies all of what Modi stands for 'Make in India; Start-up India; healthy India', he believes the visionary prime minister that Modi is, could use the first mover advantage that Bharat Biotech has given to India for what he describes 'vaccine diplomacy'.

Ella suggests that if Modi, who is known for his out-of-box foreign policy initiatives, can now win lots of diplomatic Brownie points by transferring the technology to a friendly country like Brazil which is reeling under the impact of the Zika epidemic.

Since as they say 'a friend in need is friend indeed' and today both South and North America could hugely benefit by India's large hearted magnanimity to mitigate a global health care emergency.
Indian and Chinese border troops conducted the first 'joint tactical exercise' in Chushul-Moldo area of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, were they focused on aspects related to disaster relief and humanitarian operations.

The day-long exercise held yesterday "is part of the ongoing initiatives being taken by India and China to ensure greater interaction between troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control, and thereby ensure peace and tranquility on the border," Udhampur-based Defence spokesman Col SD Goswami told PTI.

He said that as previously agreed to by both the countries, the exercise focused on actions to be coordinated to jointly tackle aspects of humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

The Indian army team of 30 personnel was led by Colonel Ritesh Chandra Singh while the Chinese side of the same strength was headed by Colonel Qu Yi, he said.

"Lasting an entire day, the joint exercise was based on a situation of a disaster occurring on the border and the subsequent coordination of rescue mission by joint teams of both countries," Col Goswami said.

He said that the joint exercise, codenamed 'Sino-India Cooperation 2016', compliments the 'Hand-in-Hand' series of India-China joint exercises and the recently conducted border troops joint exercise in Sikkim.

The increased interaction amongst Indian and Chinese border troops is a "very positive step" in enhancing confidence and building relations between the two armies, he said.
Polaris India, which sells the luxury American bike brand Indian Motorcycle, aims to clock 50% growth in sales this year and corner 15% market share in the 1,200cc-plus segment, apart from doubling the sales network.

The company sells six models of these super-luxury bikes -- Indian Roadmaster, Chief, Scout, Chieftain, Chief Dark Horse and the Chief Vintage, with a price tag of Rs 13.8 lakh to Rs 38 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) in the domestic market since May 2011.

The 1,000-unit per annum domestic super premium bikes market is dominated by the American Harley Davison, the Japanese Honda and Yamaha and Suzuki, and also the European brand Triumph.

"Currently, we enjoy 10% of the 1,000 units per annum super premium bikes in the 1,200-cc category.

"We have set a target of growing our sales by 50% this year and the market share to 15% from the present 10%," Polaris India Managing Director Pankaj Dubey told PTI during the ongoing Auto Expo in Greater Noida near here.

He also said the company will be doubling its showrooms from the present six dealers in cities like Gurgaon (its first showroom), Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

"The new showrooms will come up in Kochi, Pune, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Indore and Goa this year," Dubey said.

At the Auto Expo, the company launched a new variant of the Indian Roadmaster Blue Diamond, which is the most high-end model of Indian Motorcycle priced at Rs 38 lakh. It also launched a variant of the Indian Chief Classic.

The new Blue Diamond Roadmaster is a 1,811-cc thunder stroke 111 engine and features LED lights, fairing mounted instrument cluster featuring electronic speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge with odometer, dual tripmeters, among others.

Polaris is the leader in off-road and all-terrain vehicles (for recreational and utility purposes), snowmobiles, motorcycles and electric-powered vehicles) in the country, serving the Army, BSF, ITBP and many state police forces since the past four decades.

It also launched the 110-cc ATV priced at Rs 3.7 lakh and the RacerTurbo at Rs 29 lakh.

On his expectation about the domestic market, Dubey said, "This country has become very important in our global plans and we are bringing in products that are built from the heart and have authenticity, grit and strength as additional bonus in its core. We are determined to bring the best to our customers here.

When asked about any plans to set up a local assembly to ramp up volume on lower costs, as has been witnessed by its homegrown rival Harley Davidson here, Dubey said not immediately.

"The market is too low now and does not justify local assembly. Also, we don't have local spare-parts suppliers, which in fact is the biggest hurdle. Importing all parts and assembling here therefore makes no sense," Dubey said, adding that currently the bikes are shipped in from the Iowa plant.

Similarly, he said there is no point in locally manufacturing the Polaris models as well.

Asked about the government's manufacturing push in the defence sector, he said the policy is one-size fits all approach.

"Our vehicles are very specialised and a strait-jacket policy will not work for us. We need specific policy support to think about local manufacturing," Dubey said.

Indian Motorcycle is one of America's most legendary and iconic brands due to its racing dominance, engineering prowess and creating many innovations and industry firsts.

It is the oldest American brand of motorcycles originally produced from 1901 to 1953 in Massachusetts. It was founded by Oscar Hedstrom as Hendee Manufacturing Co and went belly up in 1953.

In 1928, its name was changed to Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company.

In 2011, the American all-terrain off-roaders and leisure vehicles maker and parent-company of Victory Motorcycles, Polaris Industries Inc, bought Indian Motorcycle and shifted operations from North Carolina to Spirit Lake, Iowa.
The 39 Indians taken hostage by ISIS more than one-and-a-half-years ago from Mosul in Iraq were alive, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told their families here today, based on her recent meetings with Arab and Palestinian leaders who indicated to this effect.

Swaraj, who had sought a meeting with the families which is the ninth since the abduction of these Indians in June 2014, also assured them that the government was "fully and continuously engaged" and "every possible effort" was being made to ensure their release.

According to official sources, the minister told them that during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader informed her that the "Indians are alive and made to work" in war-torn Iraq as per his government's intelligence information. Swaraj had travelled to Palestine and Israel on January 17 and 18.

The minister also referred to her visit to Bahrain on January 23 for the first India-Arab League Cooperation Forum and said during the meeting, a declaration was adopted which said, "The two sides expressed concern at the kidnapping of 39 Indian workers in Mosul in Iraq in June 2014 and 3 Indian workers in Sirte in Libya in June 2015.

"The Arab side expressed full solidarity with India in all efforts for their early release from captivity."



The Indians were kidnapped by Islamic militant group ISIS from a construction site in Mosul.
French carmaker Peugeot is to provide Iran Khodro with 427 million euros in debt waivers, bonuses and discounts under their first post-sanctions deal, the Iranian manufacturer said today.

Iran Khodro signed a deal with Peugeot during President Hassan Rouhani's trip to France last month to form a joint venture that is expected to invest up to 400 million euros over five years.

Peugeot is the first Western carmaker to announce a return to Iran since many economic sanctions against it were lifted last month upon implementation of a landmark nuclear deal with world powers.

"To compensate for suddenly leaving Iran under sanctions", Iran Khodro CEO Hashem Yekkeh Zare said Sunday, Peugeot has agreed to waive 80 million euros of outstanding debts and provide free car parts worth 25 million euros, and a free production line for the Peugeot 207 model worth 11 million euros.

Peugeot will also offer 311.6 million euros in discounts, he said, including 140 million euros in royalty fees for cars made under Peugeot's name.

Instead of 100 euros, "Peugeot will receive 30 euros in royalty for two million cars," Yekkeh Zare said.

As part of last month's deal, Peugeot and its French partner Citroen will work with Iran Khodro to eventually produce 200,000 vehicles a year using parts manufactured in Iran.

The aim is to make the Peugeot 208, the 2008 sport utility vehicle and 301 compact models, with the first vehicles expected to roll off the production line in 2017.

The joint venture will export 30 percent of its production, and the remainder will be sold in the domestic market.

Peugeot spokesman Olivier Salmon told AFP the deal with Iran Khodro was "a balanced agreement".

"The joint venture that will be established will help to provide vehicles to Iranian customers for sustainable mobility," Peugeot added.

Yekkeh Zare added that talks were under way with Germany's Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen as well as Italian carmaker Fiat.

Iranian conservatives have been critical of Rouhani's government for restoring trade with Peugeot and other foreign firms whose departure under sanctions dealt a blow to the economy, saying the international partners proved themselves unreliable.
Iran has asked Indian refiners such as Essar Oil and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to clear its past oil dues amounting to over $6 billion in euros within six months.

With US lifting sanctions, Iran has told Indian authorities that the three-year old mechanism, paying 45 per cent of oil import bill in rupees and keeping the remaining 55 per cent pending for payment channels to clear, has come to an end.

The pending payments now total to over $6 billion which Iran has agreed to receive in installments over the next six months, sources privy to the development said.

Central Bank of Iran's vice governor Gholamali Kamyab has conveyed to Indian authorities that crude oil proceeds from now on would be in euro as Iran would not be able to undertake US dollar settlement through the US financial system.

Iran will be opening or re-activating euro accounts with Indian banks and would like to have the money transferred from refiners into these accounts.

The Persian Gulf nation is talking to State Bank of India (SBI) for the purpose and has also opened an account with IDBI.

Also, it wants settlement with India through the Asian Currency Union (ACU) and has written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in this respect, they said.

Kamyab stated that National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) would ask buyers of crude in India to open Letters of Credit (Lcs) in favour of Central Bank of Iran with SBI as was the case in past, sources said adding settlement could be done through the ACU and IDBI would be used for the purpose.

Since February 2013, Indian refiners like Essar Oil and MRPL have been paying 45 per cent of their import bill in rupees to UCO Bank account of Iranian oil company. The remaining has been accumulating, pending finalisation of a payment mechanism.

With the lifting of sanctions, the payment channels will reopen and Iran is seeking the pending $6 billion in euros. The payments would be done in installments to prevent a run on the rupee with MRPL likely to be asked to clear its outstanding of close to $3 billion first.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC), which owes over $400 million to Iran, may be the second in the queue followed by smaller payments by HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp.

Essar Oil may be the last to clear its about $3 billion dues.

Sources said Iran has not yet decided on utilisation of the $3 billion which has accumulated in the rupee account with UCO Bank.

It could use the money to make payments for imports of steel and other commodities from India.
While a defiant North Korea today claimed that its space programme is for peaceful purposes, many analysts worry that it is designed to mask testing of inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could threaten the US mainland.

Developing successful ICBM technology capable of transporting a nuclear payload accurately over vast distances is no easy feat. It demands sophisticated technology only achieved through intensive testing, experts say.

Testing rockets through satellite launches would provide invaluable data for potential future ICBMs, according to a 2015 report on Pyongyang's space programme by 38 North, an analysis website run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

"Even failed satellite launches would be a learning experience," CNN quoted aerospace engineer John Schilling as saying.

Schilling said that a key sign to look out for in future North Korean satellite launches would be attempts to test an advanced re-entry vehicle, vital for an effective ICBM.

North Korea's state TV today announced the nation has successfully put a satellite into orbit, "legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

Experts say a key step towards a successful ICBM programme would be miniaturising nuclear weapons, making them light enough to fit on top of a rocket.

Pyongyang claimed in May last year that it had successfully miniaturised a nuclear weapon, in an announcement that was met with skepticism from US officials.

While the White House was adamant that North Korea did not yet have the capability, other experts were not so sure.

US Army General Curtis Scaparrotti, the commander of US forces in Korea, had said in October 2014 that he thought Pyongyang was capable of miniaturising a nuclear device.

Miniaturising a nuclear weapon is one key part of building a nuclear-armed ICBM. The nuclear device also needs to be tough enough to be able to withstand the flight on a ballistic missile, experts say.

The Taepodong rocket, currently under development in North Korea and closely related to the Unha device used to launch Pyongyang's satellites, is believed to have a range of up to 9,000 kilometers, putting most of Western Europe, Asia and the western US under threat.

While an ICBM is vital if North Korea wants to threaten the US mainland, American military bases in Asia are likely well within range of existing technology, to say nothing of Tokyo or Seoul, the capital cities of two key US allies.

Analysts agree that Pyongyang already possesses a nuclear arsenal of around a dozen nuclear weapons.

North Korea has also carried out submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) testing, which would make it far more difficult to detect launch the vehicle. And it would also reduce the range its missiles would need to travel.

If confirmed, such a capability would threaten Hawaii and other US Pacific territories, the report said.
A number of Islamic State (IS) terrorists are believed to have left Syria and entered the UK with the ringleader of the Paris attacks in November last year, a media report said today.

According to 'The Sunday Times', counter-terrorism officials believe the suspects used the migrant crisis as cover to travel across Europe and passed through Turkey before entering the European Union by sea or land and eventually heading to countries including the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the Paris ringleader, had boasted in a recent video: "We are already in your lands".

It has now emerged that the 28-year-old was accompanied by up to 90 IS recruits when he left Syria last year to embark on attacks in Europe.

He told the friend of a relative in France that the group had mingled with refugees on their journey.

At least two of the Paris attackers used Syrian passports and entered the EU through the Greek island of Leros.

A western counter-terrorism official told 'The Wall Street Journal' that 50 to 60 members of Abaaoud's network travelled through Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, before fanning out to other countries, including Britain.

This weekend the German authorities said there was a "high risk" of a terrorist attack after the arrest of four suspected IS plotters - at least three of whom were posing as refugees.
Two pranksters sparked a scare after they broke into the conductor's booth of a Manhattan subway train and announced on the public address system that ISIS is "hijacking" the train and will blow it up.

The startling announcement aboard the Brooklyn-bound R train had riders scurrying out of the train when it pulled into the next stop. The suspects also slipped off the train at the next stop.

The two mischievous pranksters, in their 20s, broke into the conductor's booth last Thursday and announced over the loudspeaker that they were ISIS members set to "blow up the train", police sources were quoted as saying by the New York Post.

Passenger Lauren Crozier, a 30-year-old actor, was aboard the train heading to her home in Sunset Park when the declaration came over the loudspeaker.

"At first there was some singing, it wasn't really audible. Then we heard, 'All hail ISIS!'" Crozier was quoted as saying.

"Everyone took their earbuds out and stared at each other. I'm not sure any of us thought it was a credible threat. Not after the first moment, anyway," he said.

Crozier said the suspects making the announcement also said, "This train has been hijacked".

She said that once the train pulled into the next station, "the whole train emptied out".

The train was taken out of service and taken to the Jamaica Yards in Queens, where an investigation was conducted.

A police source was quoted as saying, "it was a hoax and there was no credible threat.
Government offices in Jammu and Kashmir will have Aadhaar based biometric attendance system in position by March 31 this year.

This was disclosed during the first meeting of the State Administrative Council chaired by the Governor NN Vohra today.

"It was decided that all the government offices shall have Aadhaar based Biometric Attendance System in position by March 31, this year", a Raj Bhavan spokesman said



The meeting was attended by Parvez Dewan and Shri Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Advisors to Governor, BR Sharma, Chief Secretary and BB Vyas, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development department.

The Governor stressed the need to ensure punctuality and discipline in attending offices by governmental functionaries, irrespective of their levels and proper functioning of all institutions, including schools, colleges, hospitals, ration shops, etc, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said.

Vohra said high priority must be given to ensuring that offices and institutions which are concerned with the delivery of public services run honestly and efficiently.

The Governor directed that technology should be fully leveraged to extend all possible benefits to the people in general and it was decided that the Aadhaar enrolment programme shall be completed in all respects by March 31.

The Administrative Council decided that all the Administrative Secretaries shall personally monitor the implementation of all State Plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, with a special focus on the Flagship Schemes of the Government of India.

The Governor directed that the established practice of touring, particularly in the remote areas and inspections of subordinate offices should be rigorously enforced and the institution of Additional District Development Commissioners posted in all the districts, shall be effectively utilised for monitoring developmental works.

The Council directed that all necessary measures shall be timely finalised for the conduct of elections to the Local Bodies and Panchayats.

It was also decided systematic attention shall be given to ensure the proper maintenance of official records and their time bound listing and digitalization.

The Governor laid special emphasis on timely dissemination and issuance of early warning being made available by SASE and IMD to people in regard to any extreme weather events like heavy snowfall, rainfall and avalanches.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket and said it was a violation of UN Security resolutions.

The launch was "absolutely intolerable," Abe told reporters as it came despite repeated protests by the international community. He also called it a "clear violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.
The lawyer fraternity and judiciary can play an important role in solving the disputes between India and Pakistan amicably, eminent lawyers from the neighbouring countries said here today.

Lawyers from India and Pakistan were attending a seminar on 'Role of Jurists in strengthening the democracy in Asia Pacific Region', organised by Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh.

Expressing the need for more such exchange programmes, Chairman Bar Council Rajat Gautam welcomed the delegation of 40 eminent lawyers from Pakistan, led by Farah Faiz Begh, first woman Vice-Chairperson of Pakistan's Punjab Bar Council.

Begh appealed to the lawyer fraternity to join hands for peace and harmony and make it a mass movement, giving a burial to the "artificial border" created by politicians for their "vested interests".

She also asked the gathering to inculcate human values and brotherhood in the new generation for a better and bright future free of bloodshed.

Senior High Court advocate R S Cheema said the IPCs and CrPCs of both the countries were same and even problems people of the two nation's faced were similar like honour killing and dowry.

He stressed on the need for strengthening democracy in Pakistan, apart from clearing misunderstandings between people of both countries, making the nations reduce expenses on weapons and army and instead establishing peace and harmony.

Mumtaz Mustafa, former Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council, said lawyers of both countries could work hand in hand and force their specific governments to come close and settle the disputes peacefully.

Senior Advocate Anupam Gupta said Indian lawyers must be allowed to fight cases in Pakistan courts and vice versa.

Gupta, former Advocate General of Punjab, raised the issue of free visa for at least 10 years to lawyers of both the countries.

Justice S S Saron, who was the chief guest, claimed that Chandigarh is a replica of Lahore and there are many educational institutions in India that still show their association with Lahore.
Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham's fast-until death in support of the demand for inclusion of the community in the Backward Classes (BC) category entered its third day today.

Padmanabham, who is sitting on fast with his wife Padmavathi at their house in Kirlampudi village, 60 km from Kakinada in East Godavari district from Friday, reportedly did not allow doctors or any officials to enter the house.

"I am prepared for any sacrifice as such and the question of calling off the fast does not arise," he said.

"My life is dedicated to my Kapu community and I will not rescind from my determination to fight through peaceful method of fasting till the demand for BC status to Kapus is considered," he added.

"We (myself and wife) are fine. Health condition is good and satisfactory. At present there (is) no requirement of any medical examination for us," he said.

The Kapur leader further said that state government should accept their demands.

"Now there is no place for any negotiations. If Chandrababu disclose the secret of becoming rich, our Kapu community people (will) also follow him to become rich with out seeking reservations," he added.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister N Chinnnarajappa today said CM N Chandrababu Naidu is only one person who can do the inclusion of Kapus in BC.

"AP CM (Naidu) is taking all steps to include Kapus in BC. Naidu is the only one person who can make inclusion of Kapus in BC," Chinnnarajappa was quoted as saying in a statement.

"Naidu is declaring his assets every year and was maintaining transparency in declaring his assets. Nobody has any right to question Naidu's assets as he was declaring his assets every year, without fail", he added.

A relay-hunger fast by local Kapu leaders in Rajahmundry continued for the second day today.

K Kumar Swamy, N Srinivas, P Srinivas, Y Rammohan and other local Kapu are undertaking the relay fast, in support of Mudragada's fast.

(REOPENS BES26)



Meanwhile, a large number of Padmanabham's supporters gathered at his residence in Kirlampudi after word spread that police were trying to make him break his fast.

Cars were parked at the main entrance of his residence, apparently to block any such bid.

Padmanabham's supporters alleged that police and revenue officials were trying to break his fast as government had not opened any negotiations with the Kapu leader.

East Godavari SP Ravi Prakash today appealed to activists and local political leaders to not visit Kirlampudi as it may lead to a law and order issue.

Padmanabham has refused to undergo a medical checkup.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today returned here from Bengaluru after undergoing 10 days of naturopathy treatment for his chronic cough at a private medical institute.

Within hours of his return, Kejriwal met his ministers at his official residence to discuss issues such as the strike by MCD sanitation workers and the death of a six-year-old boy at Ryan International School.

The Chief Minister had left for Bengaluru on January 27. A senior government official said that Kejriwal's cough had worsened in the winter. Also, Kejriwal's sugar levels were high.

In March last year, Kejriwal had undergone a 10-day course of naturopathy treatment for his high sugar level and chronic cough at a health institute in Bengaluru.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had taken care of the day-to-day affairs of the Delhi government during Kejriwal's absence.

Delhi witnessed the strike by sanitation workers, teachers and doctors of the BJP-ruled municipal corporations over non- payment of their salaries while Kejriwal was away in Bengaluru.

Kejriwal had announced that the AAP government would extend a loan of Rs 551 crore to the north and east municipal corporations for paying salaries to their staff, a move taken with a view to ending the stir by sanitation workers.

Six-year-old Devansh Kakora was found dead in a reservoir at Ryan International School in South Delhi on January 30. The Delhi government today said it will recommend a CBI inquiry into the matter in view of "shortcomings" in the ongoing probe.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly



Vijender Gupta attacked the AAP government and dubbed as "hollow" the achievements listed in the Lieutenant Governor's address.

"I have read the LG's speech several times. Can the two crore people of Delhi believe this government is doing something concrete for them? But with great sadness I can say that people are disappointed. There was no agenda in the LG's address. The government has strayed from its path," he said.

Replying to Gupta's charges, Kejriwal said he was "happy" that the opposition leader was not able to level any corruption charge against AAP ministers.

"I am happy that the leader of opposition has spent so much time studying it (the LG's speech). And all he could find wrong with it was that we could not fulfil all our promises made in our manifesto two years ago," he said.

"...BJP president Amit Shah said his party's manifesto was 'jumla' (election rhetoric). We take it (our manifesto) seriously and promise to fulfil all our promises by the end of five years," he said.

"Minimum wages should have been approved by August but the Prime Minister called former LG Najeeb Jung and said 'don't let anything happen' in Delhi," he alleged.

The Centre has not allowed the AAP government to function smoothly, he alleged.
Eyeing big-ticket investment opportunities in the defence sector under 'Make in India' drive, engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro sees huge scope in areas like submarines, nuclear power equipment and artillery guns.

The infrastructure major, which saw its bottomline surge 19 per cent to Rs 1,034.8 crore in the last quarter, has listed indigenisation thrust for defence equipment, interceptor boats, naval vessels and submarines for Indian Navy and Coastguard and artillery guns and other equipment for Indian Army as investment opportunities.

L&T, in an investor presentation, has also listed oil and gas equipment supply opportunities in India and key petroleum/petrochem producing regions, nuclear power plant equipment in India and components for Indian space program as potential areas.

However, the company has also underlined challenges in heavy engineering and defence segments as "shrinking spends on oil and gas with low crude price" and "reduced prospect base of nuclear power equipment post-Fukushima and consequent Indian civil liability overhang."



It also sees "very long prospect-to-award timelines and dominance of public sector and foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in Defence orders" as another challenge.

L&T Heavy Engineering manufactures and supplies custom designed equipment to critical process industries such as refinery, petrochemical, and oil and gas, as well as to sectors such as nuclear power, aerospace and defence.

Likewise, its shipbuilding arm has global scale heavy manufacturing facilities.

Heavy engineering segment of the company has achieved a customer revenue of Rs 884 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, registering growth of 9 per cent over the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal, mainly contributed by defence and aerospace business.

International sales constituted 52 per cent of the total customer revenue of the segment.

The order book of the segment stood at Rs 8,180 crore as on December 31, 2015.

L&T is India's largest E&C company with interests in projects, infrastructure, development and manufacturing, among others.

Its revenues stood at $15 billion last year and the company has a market cap of USD 18 billion as on December 31, 2015.

L&T is aiming to restructure its top management as part of its succession plan as well as making efforts to expand its global presence.

Group Executive Chairman A M Naik has recently said that the company is looking to expand its global presence.
RJD president Lalu Prasad's son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav today described senior JD(U) leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as his "political guru" from whom he is learning about good governance.

"I see Nitish Kumar as my political guru," Yadav said while delivering a speech on the occasion of 95th Foundation day of Bihar Legislative Assembly today.

"Nitish Kumar who is heading a secular coalition government has his own style of governance which me and other youngsters are learning," Yadav, a first timer in Bihar Assembly, said.

He hailed the leadership quality of the CM and said Bihar is marching ahead under his stewardship.

Portraying himself as a good learner, the Deputy Chief Minister said elderly members of the House are like guardians for youngsters like him



Yadav, younger son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, is the MLA from family bastion Raghopur in Vaishali district.

During the swearing in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan on November 20, he had touched Kumar's feet on stage before taking oath.

His elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav is number three in the government and Health minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet.

Later, Tejaswi Yadav, who is holding Road Construction Department portfolio, welcomed CM for inauguration of a flyover in the city.

Yadav said a two-day orientation programme organised on the occasion of Foundation day of the Assembly was important for young legislators like him.
With a view to ensuring that the Scheduled Caste and Tribal Sub-Plans are implemented in letter and spirit, a strong demand for a central law to enable it was made at a meeting of a panel comprising Union ministers set up to oversee the preparations for the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of BR Ambedkar.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee on the Nationwide Celebration chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh a few days back, members also raised objections over NITI Aayog's response to various proposals made by the panel and decided to call the plan body's representatives at the next meeting, official sources said.

The meeting also saw demands for a job quota to promote inter-caste marriage, issuance of coins of one rupee denomination entirely with Ambedkar's image and providing of one-time assistance to manual scavengers to free them from the inhuman practice.

The government had constituted a National Committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide guidance, advice and direction for the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of the Dalit icon.

The Executive Committee chaired by the Home Minister was also set up later to implement the decisions and suggestions of the National Committee.

At the first meeting of the National Committee on July 23, last year, it was suggested that a legislation be enacted by the Centre to ensure that the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan -- which aim at ensuring flow of targeted financial and physical benefits from all the general sectors of development for the benefit of SC/STs -- are implemented in letter and spirit.

In the action-taken report, NITI Aayog had recently said that it has issued fresh guidelines to the central ministries, departments, states and Union territories for proper implementation of the SCSP/TSP, the sources said.

NITI Aayog also suggested that the ministry may have a "rethink" on the draft Cabinet note on the legislation, thus indicating that it wanted a cautious approach on the issue.

At the Executive Committee meeting on February 1, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, however, stressed that a legislation is required to ensure proper implementation of SCSP and TSP and asserted that there is "no need" for a rethink on it.

He is learnt to have argued that the release of central funds to states under various schemes should be linked to proper implementation of the SCSP and TSP.

The Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan draft



Bill was pursued by the UPA government in 2013. Congress had committed itself to the Bill in its January, 2013, Jaipur 'Chintan Shivir'.

The proposed legislation, which was on the same lines as the Bill passed by Congress governments in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, aimed at preventing diversion of funds and ensure spending of the allotted funds for schemes that directly benefit SC/STs.

While the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office was for the Bill to be referred to a committee of secretaries for further examination, the then Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Kumari Selja, had opposed such a move, arguing that it could unnecessarily delay the landmark legislation at a time when the Cabinet note and Bill was under finalisation of the ministry of law.

She had wanted that the Bill be passed in the Budget Session of 2014.

The meeting also sought that reservation be provided to those marrying outside their caste.

While the July 23 meeting last year had seen the committee recommending that caste-less marriages may be encouraged by providing incentives to the eligible couples, the sub- committee meeting on February 1 witnessed a member insist that mere incentives would not do and the government should provide a certain percentage of reservation in jobs to those marrying outside their caste.

Paswan had demanded 10 per cent reservation in jobs under this head.

Suggestions were also made during the meeting by Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and others, including Narendra Jadhav and Milind Kamble.

With the Prime Minister having released commemorative coins of Rs 10 and Rs 125 denomination in December last year, the Home Minister is learnt to have discussed the idea of issuing all coins of a particular denomination with Ambedkar's image instead of a few thousand commemorative coins only.

Sources said that the committee has also requested the Ministry of Finance to examine whether a rupee note or coins of different denominations can be issued bearing Ambedkar's image.

A key suggestion of the committee was that a caste that has been declared as Scheduled Caste in a particular district of a particular state be considered for the same status all over the state.

In the action-taken report, the government, however, argued that territorial restriction has been imposed on the recognition of Scheduled Castes because of social disabilities attached to certain castes. In the sub-committee meeting, some members wanted that this restriction should go.
A leopard today entered a private school near Varthur here and attacked people, injuring three forest department personnel, including a veterinarian, officials said.

The feline has been tranquilised after a day long operation, and the three injured persons, including a veterinarian, have been shifted to a nearby hospital, they said.

It attacked a man trying to escape by climbing a gate. As he tried to ward it off, forest officials fired shots and the animal escaped.

The feline was first spotted by CCTV cameras inside Vibgyor School at around 4:13 am. The school was shut today as it was Sunday.

School authorities immediately informed forest officials and police who rushed to the spot.

The leopard had escaped from the school premises during the day and was hiding inside nearby bushes.

As authorities were in the midst of operations to capture it, it re-entered the school building by scaling a compound wall, officials said, adding that it has now been tranquillised.

The scene of the attack was captured by television channels which had arrived at the spot to cover the operation.

Police had a hard time controlling the crowd that had gathered at the spot.
Underscoring that he is not proud of the way Bollywood portrays the LGBTQ community, actor Imran Khan has said that the discrimination against them has the potential to embarrass India.

"I am not proud of the manner in which my industry portrays the LGBTQ community," Imran Khan said participating in a panel discussion on "LGBTQ Rights in India" at the annual India Conference 2016 organized by the Indian students of the Harvard University last evening.

"I would like where it is treated as equal. To me it is ludicrous that we have to discuss this at all. To me it is ludicrous that we have to talk about gay rights. It is human rights. It is basically an issue of civil liberties," Khan said at a packed auditorium of the Harvard University.

"I fear that this is one of those things that has the potential to embarrass our country on the world stage. When we are talking of India shining and there is a massive, unprecedented growth, then we are also under global spotlight. The world is looking at us on what we do on this," he added.

He hoped that time is not far away when this kind of divide will stop existing and will reflect in Bollywood films too.

"I do not want us to be standing there with egg on our face. It has to happen, in which Bollywood portrays LGBTQ as a normal person," he said.

Influential parliamentarian Jay Panda was of the view that with Supreme Court deciding to review its previous ruling on Section 377 of the IPC, the country is at a very delicate moment. Either it could be a historic moment for the country or end up being like two step forward and one step backward.

"We are at a potentially historic turning point," Panda said. Responding to a question, Panda said there is much greater acceptance and awareness of the issue not only in the society, but also among the parliamentarians and political parties. "I see this as a crack in the door," he said.

Ridhika Batra, director FICCI USA, said that the Indian industry has taken a number of measures to address the discriminatory policies towards LGBTQ community.

"But there is need to do more," she said.
A man, wanted in over 30 criminal cases in Delhi and its neighbouring areas and carrying a Rs 1.25-lakh reward on his head, was killed in an encounter with police here today.

The encounter took place around 11 AM at Airport Metro Hotel in suburban Andheri. The accused, identified as Sandeep Gadoli, received bullet injuries during exchange of fire with sleuths of Gurgaon City crime branch, a senior Mumbai Police officer said.

According to the officer, the crime branch team from Gurgaon arrived in the city based on a tip-off that the accused was hiding at a hotel in Andheri.

As soon as the team barged into his room, Gadoli opened fire on them, following which the police retaliated in which he suffered bullet injuries.

He was later taken to a hospital for treatment where he was declared dead around 12.55 PM by doctors, the police officer said.

Two policemen were also injured in the face-off, he said.

Gadoli had 36 offences of serious nature registered against him in Delhi and some areas near the national capital, he said.

(REOPENS BES16)



Meanwhile, the two policemen injured in the encounter were identified as head constable Paramjeet Singh and constable Vikram Singh.

They have been admitted to Cooper Hospital in suburban Vile Parle.

(Reopens BES 24)



Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar transferred the investigation into the encounter case to the city Crime Branch.
A day after a man was killed and three others were injured in a mysterious explosion in Vellore, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said it was a meteorite fall that caused the mishap.

"A mishap occurred yesterday when a meteorite fell in the campus of a private engineering college in Vellore district's K Pantharappalli village...," she said in a release here.

Condoling the death of a bus driver, Kamaraj, of the college in the incident, she announced a solatium of Rs one lakh to his family and Rs 25,000 each to the three injured persons from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

"I have ordered the Vellore district administration and hospital officials to provide them best treatment," she said.

Window panes of the college buses and several glass planes of the building were damaged when the meteorite fell.

Kamaraj lost his life after the meteorite fell near him as he was walking past the building.

The meteorite fall caused an explosion. It also created a small crater near the building complex.
Domestic handset maker Micromax is expanding its international business, foraying into markets like Middle East, Africa and CIS countries, as it aims to be among the top five global players in the next 3-4 years.

Micromax, which ranked tenth at the end of June 2015 quarter as per research firm Gartner, said it has a strong presence in markets like Russia, Bangladesh and Nepal.

We started our international business a few years ago with markets like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We have since then grown our presence to other markets as well. We have a 5% share in Russia, Micromax senior vice-president (international business) Amit Mathur told PTI.

He added that about 15-20% of overall volume comes from international business.

The ambition is to be a part of the top five (global players) in the next 3-4 years. We are exploring Middle East and a cluster of countries in Africa that will allow us to quickly expand. We will enter these markets in the coming fiscal," he said.

Mathur added that the company will enter markets like Armenia, Kazakhstan and Georgia in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.

According to Gartner, Micromax ranked at the tenth spot in June quarter of 2015 with a global market share of 2.2%. However, it slipped off the top ten tally in the September quarter. The research firm is yet to declare the numbers for the December quarter.

During the July-September 2015 quarter, the worldwide mobile phone sales to end users totaled nearly 478 million units, up 3.7% from the same period in 2014. Samsung, Apple,

Microsoft, Huawei and LG were the leading players in the tally.

In India, Micromax is the second largest player after Samsung.

Talking about the product portfolio in the international markets, Mathur said each country has its unique set of requirements.

"While 60% of the products are similar to what we sell in India, about 40% of these are specific to the requirements in those markets," he added.

Mathur said the international business has been profitable for the past three years and is close to hitting revenues of Rs 1,000 crore by March, growing 100% from 2014-15.

Overall, the Gurgaon-based company had clocked about Rs 11,000 crore in revenue last year. It declined to give estimates for the ongoing fiscal.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mobile phone manufacturing in the country may reach 500 million units in coming two years on the back of good base of talent and an incentive policy, a top Department of Telecom (DoT) official said today.

This year, India produced 100 million phones as compared to 45 million last year.

"The number of phones being manufactured was 10 million sometime back (which increased) to 45 million last year and 100 million this year. The time has come when we will reach 500 million, may be in 2 years," Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said here.

He was speaking on the second day of a seminar on Telecom and Broadcasting theme - ART (Adjudication, Regulation, Telecommunication) of Convergence, TDSAT.

He added that apart from phones, the differential tariff is helping domestic manufacturers to get into other areas like medical electronics, consumer electronics as well as broadband equipment, set up boxes.

"Today with base of talent and incentive policy, India is becoming a global hub for manufacturing of phones and specially low-end phones," he added.

The government is making efforts to reduce imports of electronic products and meet requirement of domestic market through indigenous production.

The government has received proposals worth Rs 1.13 lakh crore in the electronics manufacturing segment from major brands under the modified special incentive package scheme (M-SIPS).

M-SIPS has been extended till July 2020, which was earlier valid till July 2017. The scheme offers capital subsidies to large investments in electronics manufacturing and system design.

The Secretary also said that making high-speed broadband available to individuals in rural areas is a priority of the government.

According to a survey, he said, while Internet users may have touched 400 million, broadband users are in the range of 40-50 million and growing very slowly in rural areas.

"May be 7 per cent people in rural areas use Internet. More importantly, it's the issue of digital divide. We have only 14 per cent rural households which are digitally literate...This needs to change," he said.

SUC was earlier linked to quantum of spectrum holding of



an operator in the range of 3-8 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue.

After evaluating the impact on the exchequer, the government in January 2014 decided to cap SUC at 5 per cent on spectrum that were to be procured in future auction. The SUC collection was at 4.8 per cent level that time.

Telecom operators at that time were asked to pay the weighted average of their existing SUC (on old rate of 3-8 per cent), and 5 per cent if they acquire new spectrum.

Telecom regulator Trai has recommended SUC at uniform rate of 3 per cent across the industry and gradually bring it to 1 per cent.

"As per the GSMA report, even at 1 per cent AGR, tax neutrality will be achieved by 2017," COAI said.

Reliance Jio has contested this view as it pays only 1 per cent SUC on its spectrum in 2,300 Mhz band and proposal to levy 3 per cent fee would put extra burden on the company.

However, Bharti Airtel, also holding spectrum in 2,300 Mhz band, favours uniform levy, according to COAI submission.
Seeking to counter the growing tide of Islamophobia in the UK and across Europe, about 90 mosques in Britain hosted an "open day" today to explain the faith of Islam "beyond the hostile headlines".

The initiative, launched last year by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), attracted more than double participating mosques this year and is aimed at countering what the MCB describes as "hostile headlines" on the faith.

Mosques in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, Plymouth and Canterburyare among those participating in the #VisitMyMosque programme.

"The day seeks to provide a platform for Muslims to reach out to fellow Britons and explain their faith and community beyond the hostile headlines," the MCB said in a statement.

"Local mosques will also be inviting inter-faith leaders as well, and all will be asked to come together to demonstrate unity and solidarity during what has been a tense time for faith communities," it said in its statement last month.

During the open day, introductions to Islam and explanations on Muslim community activities were offered, as well as opportunities to see prayers and guided tours.

The latest census, from 2011, showed there were 2.7 million Muslims in the UK -- about 4.5 per cent of the population.

The 'Visit My Mosque' event comes amid rising anti-Muslim sentiments in Britain and all across Europe.

In December 2015, Scotland Yard recorded 158 Islamophobic hate crimes, more than double the figure of December 2014.
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has dispatched the first shipment of its premium hatchback Baleno to Japan where it will be launched next month.

It is for the first time that a model manufactured by Maruti Suzuki is being exported to Japan where its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) is based.

"I am convinced that the Baleno will be the success story of 'Make in India', and the significance of Maruti Suzuki as the global production base will further expand," said Suzuki Motor Corporation President and COO T Suzuki, who was here to take part in the Auto Expo.

The first consignment comprised 1,800 units and was shipped from Mundra Port in Gujarat, where SMC is setting up a manufacturing plant to supply cars to its Indian arm.

Maruti also plans to export the Baleno to over 100 global markets. The company and its supplier partners have invested Rs 1,060 crore in the development of Baleno, which is being manufactured at the company's Manesar plant.

Recently, around 200 dealers from Japan visited the Manesar plant to closely look at the manufacturing process of the product.

In the domestic market, the car has been well accepted and currently the company has over 80,000 bookings for the model.

It competes with the likes of Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo and is sold through the company's new premium network of showrooms, Nexa.
Muslim clerics have demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government should file an appeal in the high court against the acquittal of 10 people in connection with 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

Several clerics met here yesterday and expressed concern over "poor pleading" by the prosecution leading to acquittal of 10 people in connection with the killings of a woman and a boy during 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, Vice President of Uttar Pradesh Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Jamaluddin Qasmi said today.

"They also demanded the Uttar Pradesh government should file an appeal in the high court against the acquittal of 10 people," he told reporters here.

On February 5, a Muzaffarnagar court had acquitted the 10 people in connection with the burning of a 30-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy at Lank village due to lack of evidence.

District president of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind Mufti Bin Yamin Hashmi, Shahi Imam of Muzaffarnagar Idgah Maulana Zakir and other leaders from various organisations attended the meeting.
A Nigerian woman, who wanted to see Barbie dressed the way she did, has given the popular doll arguably its most surprising makeover yet - all covered up and wearing a 'hijab'.

The 'Hijarbie', created by 24-year-old Haneefah Adam, will be initially available in the US and will be sold in the UK from mid March at major toy retailers for 9.99 pounds each.

Adam said a look at the hugely popular Barbie Style Instagram "got me thinking about how I'd actually like to see a doll dressed up like I would have - covered up.

"I was mulling about the idea for about three months while I was still studying for my master's degree in the UK. When I got back to Nigeria, I went to the mall, purchased a doll, dressed it up, documented it and here we are," she told Style.Mic.

Adam, who currently owns and runs a lifestyle brand called Hanie, posts about her 'Hijarbies' on an Instagram account which already has over 17,000 of followers.

"My outfit is featuring Green Jumpsuit Denim long jacket with green threading details. Pearl brooch And a dazzling smile ?? #hijarbiestyle," reads one such Instagram post that shows one complete look of Hijarbie.

"I'd have loved to dress up a black doll myself too. I've ordered for some internationally and they'll soon be here. I basically started with what I had.

"When will purchase be possible: As soon as possible, we are in the process of building a website and working towards production and making hijarbie available for purchase soon," Adam said in an Instagram post along with a photograph of herself that shows her wearing a 'hijab'.

Complete with a tiny hijab on her plastic head, the miniature fashionista could not be further away from the blonde doll that has brandished the bedrooms of millions of youngsters for almost 60 years, Sunday Express reported.

Adam's creation comes just days after toy maker Mattel introduced a more realistic range of Barbie dolls in the biggest shake-up in the 57 year history of the model.

Besides including four body types - the original rail- thin Barbie, a taller Barbie, one with more curves and a petite version, the new line has seven skin tones, 22 eye colours and a number of hair styles. Some of the models are black, though there have been black Barbies since 1980.

Evelyn Mazzocco, global general manager for Barbie, had said following the January launch of the new body types: "We are excited to literally be changing the face of the brand. These new dolls represent a line that is more reflective of the world girls see around them - the variety in body type, skin tones and style allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them.

"We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty.
North Korea launched a long-range rocket today, violating UN resolutions and doubling down against an international community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for a nuclear test last month.

Pyongyang insists its space programme is purely scientific, but most of the world views its rocket launches as disguised ballistic missile tests aimed at developing a weapons delivery system capable of striking the US mainland.

There was no immediate confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, and an unconfirmed report from South Korea's Yonhap agency suggested the second stage may have malfunctioned.

A US defence official said the launch vehicle "appears to have reached space."



North Korean state television said it would make a special announcement at 0930 IST.

Condemnation was swift, with the United States calling the launch "destabilising" and provocative, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slammed it as "absolutely intolerable."



In New York, diplomats said the UN Security Council would meet in emergency session later today.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said the Council should respond quickly with "strong punitive measures" against what she called a grave challenge to global peace and security.

The rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, took off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time, according to the South Korean defence ministry which was monitoring the launch site.

Its pre-orbital flight arc was planned to traverse the Yellow Sea and further south to the Philippine Sea, with both South Korea and Japan threatening to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Multiple UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of its ballistic missile programme.

Despite Pyongyang's insistence on a peaceful space mission, its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States, along with allies like South Korea and Japan, had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with launch, but analysts said the North's timing was carefully calculated to minimise the repercussions.

With the international community still struggling to find a united response to the North's January 6 nuclear test, the rocket launch -- while provocative -- is unlikely to substantially up the punitive ante.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

North Korea's chief diplomatic ally, China, has been resisting the US push for tougher sanctions against Pyongyang.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg today blasted North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as a blatant breach of five UN resolutions and demanded Pyongyang comply with international law.

In a statement, Stoltenberg said he strongly condemned the launch, which entailed the use of ballistic missile technology and came after a widely-condemned nuclear test on January 6.

"This launch is in direct violation of five United Nations Security Council Resolutions," he said.

Those resolutions "repeatedly call for North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme, to re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching and not to conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology," he said.

"NATO continues to call on the North Korean authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, not to threaten with or conduct any launches using ballistic missile technology and to refrain from any further provocative actions."



North Korea earlier announced that it had placed a satellite into orbit under its right to the "peaceful and independent" use of space.

But the launch breached multiple UN resolutions aimed at preventing North Korea from acquiring a missile capable of carrying out a long-range strike, in addition to its suspected quest to build a nuclear arsenal.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the launch "deeply deplorable" while US Secretary of State John Kerry denounced a "flagrant violation" of UN decisions.

Among the other permanent Security Council members, Britain, France and Russia expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret".

The European Union described the launch as "yet another outright and grave violation" of North Korea's obligations and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with the international community.
North Korea today said it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as a ballistic missile test for a weapons delivery system to strike the US mainland.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, amounted to the North doubling down against an community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test a month ago.

There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although a US defence official said the launch vehicle "appears to have reached space."



An earlier unconfirmed report from South Korea's Yonhap news agency had suggested the second stage may have malfunctioned.

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, said the launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, had "successfully put our Earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4 ... Into orbit."



While stressing that the launch represented the legitimate exercise of North Korea's right to the "peaceful and independent" use of space, she also noted that it marked a "breakthrough in boosting our national defence capability."



The North's scientists would work towards further satellite launches in the future, she added.

Condemnation was swift, with the United States calling the launch "destabilising and provocative", while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slammed it as "absolutely intolerable."



In New York, diplomats said the UN Security Council would meet in emergency session later today.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said the Council should respond quickly with "strong punitive measures" against what she called a grave challenge to global peace and security.

The rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, took off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time, according to the South Korean defence ministry which was monitoring the launch site.

Its pre-orbital flight arc was planned to traverse the Yellow Sea and further south to the Philippine Sea, with both South Korea and Japan threatening to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Multiple UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of its ballistic missile programme.

Despite Pyongyang's insistence on a peaceful space mission, its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States, along with allies like South Korea and Japan, had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with launch, but analysts said the North's timing was carefully calculated to minimise the repercussions.

With the community still struggling to find a united response to the North's January 6 nuclear test, the rocket launch -- while provocative -- is unlikely to substantially up the punitive ante.
North Korea said today it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards a missile capable of striking the US mainland.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, amounted to the North doubling down against an international community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test barely a month ago.

There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although the US Strategic Command said it had tracked "the missile launch into space".

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, as a major success.

While stressing North Korea's right to the "peaceful and independent" use of space, she also noted that it marked a breakthrough in boosting national "defence capability".

Condemnation was swift, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon calling the launch "deeply deplorable" and US Secretary of State John Kerry denouncing a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye urged the UN Security Council to respond quickly with "strong punitive measures".

Permanent Security Council members Britain, France and Russia all expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret".

A surge in military tensions on the Korean peninsula looked likely, with South Korean and US defence officials announcing talks on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system in South Korea to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

"It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea.

As well as North Korea, China and Russia are both strongly opposed to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the region.

"When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair others' security interests," said China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying of the defence system, adding such moves would escalate tensions on the peninsula and damage regional peace and stability.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, meanwhile, said



upcoming South Korea-US military exercises, which infuriate Pyongyang every year, would be the largest ever held.

Today's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time and, according to state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

Both South Korea and Japan had threatened to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Multiple UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of its ballistic missile programme, and its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States and its allies had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with the launch, but analysts said the North's timing was intended to minimise the repercussions.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

China has been resisting the US-led effort to tighten the economic screws on its maverick neighbour.

While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, placing a similar Earth observation satellite in orbit.

Western intelligence experts say that satellite has never functioned properly, fuelling suspicion of the mission's scientific veneer.

Despite Pyongyang's bellicose claims to the contrary, the North is still seen as being years away from developing a credible inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM).

A key challenge it faces is mastering the re-entry technology required to deliver a payload as far away as the US.

"An ICBM warhead, unlike a satellite, needs to come down as well as go up," said aerospace engineer John Schilling, who has closely followed the North's missile programme.

"North Korea has never demonstrated the ability to build a re-entry vehicle that can survive at even half the speed an ICBM would require," Schilling said.

"If and when they do, what is presently a theoretical threat will become very real and alarming," he added.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today demanded special category status be provided to Odisha to fuel the state's growth and sought the Centre's cooperation for overall development of the eastern region.

"I expect the prime minister to accord special category status to Odisha so that we further fast track our growth momentum," Patnaik, who spoke before Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the IOCL's refinery project here.

The issue has been raised time and again by Patnaik's party BJD, which had also held a rally in Delhi to press for the demand.

Hoping that Paradip would emerge as the "industrial capital" of eastern India, Patnaik said the refinery will revolutionise the energy scenario in the entire region.

"I congratulate Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) for setting up this state-of-the-art refinery in Paradip which will go a long way revolutionizing the entire region's energy scenario," Patnaik said adding the state government had all along been proactively supporting the project and had extended various benefits including tax exemption and deferment of sales tax.

He said the local people will be benefitted when ancillary and downstream industries come up. For this, the commitment of IOCL to make adequate petro chemical feed stock available is critical.

Drawing the prime minister's attention, Patnaik said IOCL had announced four projects in 2014 of which work on one project had commenced. "IOCL should also start work on the other three projects," he pointed out.

Patnaik also remembered his legendary father Biju Patnaik's contribution towards development of Paradip and industrialisation of the state.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today visited his alma mater Bihar College of Engineering-NIT and promised its authorities to provide 100 acre land to shift the NIT to its own campus.

Kumar, who has been a student of BCE and graduated from it in 1973 in Mechanical Engineering, inaugurated the alumni meet of the institute for 2016.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM lamented that 100 acres of land was yet not made available to the NIT for shifting it into its own campus.

"We made available 500 acres of land to IIT Patna but yet not been able to make available 100 acres of land to NIT Patna," he said and directed his Secretary Chanchal Kumar and Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal to allocate land to NIT soon.

He thanked veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi who as a HRD minister in NDA government of A B Vajpayee had accorded the status of NIT to the BEC.

Kumar sounded nostalgic and said the occasion provides opportunity to meet old college friends and also teachers.

"During our time there were about 500 students in BCE which has gone up to 3500 now. At that time there were no girl student in the college. Now many girls are there and this is a matter of pride," the CM said.
Russia today condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, saying the move was a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang.

"It is obvious that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole...(and) inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia, which is one of the few backers of the isolated Stalinist country and with which it shares a border, said that Pyongyang had once again demonstrated "audacious disdain for the norms of international law."



"The course chosen by Pyongyang cannot but cause a decisive protest," the foreign ministry said.

"We urgently recommend that the North Korean leadership think whether the policy of placing yourself in opposition to the international community is in the country's interests."



North Korea said today it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as a disguised ballistic missile test for a weapons delivery system to strike the US mainland.

The launch violated multiple UN resolutions and diplomats said the UN Security Council would meet in emergency session later today.
North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket today triggered angry reactions from across the globe and calls for a "tough" response to its latest provocation with arch-rival South Korea saying it will begin talks on possible deployment of a US missile defence system.

A month after it claimed a successful hydrogen bomb test, North Korea announced it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, "legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

The development was hailed by Pyongyang as an "epochal event" but the rocket launch was widely condemned as a ballistic missile test for a weapons delivery system to strike the US mainland.

The US strongly condemned North Korea's launch of the long-range rocket, describing the move by the hermit nation as "destabilising and provocative."





"The United States strongly condemns today's missile launch by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) -- a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions related to its use of ballistic missile technology," US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

"This is the second time in just over a month that the DPRK has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," he said.

On January 6, Pyongyang claimed to have successfully detonated a powerful hydrogen bomb, prompting South Korea and Japan to demand fresh round of punitive sanctions on the country.

Kerry said the US will stand with its allies, including South Korea and Japan, and will hold the DPRK to account.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced North Korea's rocket launch while asking the country to halt its "provocative actions" and return to compliance with its obligations.

Condemning the launch as "deeply deplorable", the UN chief said it was in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

China "expressed regret" over North Korea's rocket launch after Pyongyang said it successfully put a satellite into orbit. China is North Korea's sole major ally and main trading partner but ties between the two have been strained in recent years due to Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Russia, considered of being soft on North Korea, also condemned the move, saying it was a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang.

France condemned North Korea's actions as "senseless provocation" and called for a "rapid and tough" response from the UN Security Council.

In the wake of North Korea's rocket launch, South Korean and US defence officials said they would begin formal talks on the deployment on the Korean peninsula of a US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea.
The 35-day 'Nyay Yatra', organised by the New Delhi-based Forum for Fast Justice to create awareness among common people about the judiciary, was today accorded a warm welcome in the mega-polis.

The Forum For Fast Justice is a trust working to accelerate the wheels of judiciary in the country.

Bhagwan Raiyani, a well-known face in judicial activism, is leading the march and he vowed to carry forward this cause of judicial reform to a logical end.

Last evening, the yatra had reached Nashik in Maharashtra.

The yatra, which began its journey on January 30 from Rajghat in New Delhi, is an attempt to sensitise the masses on the need of judicial reforms and to urge the concerned agencies to act swiftly for the same.

"Two teams are participating in 'Nyay Yatra'. One team is going from Kashmir to Kerala while another is going from Kutch to Kolkata. Both the teams will together cover 22 states and 175 districts in 35 days covering 17,000 km in its course to create awareness among common people on the present judiciary system by conducting corner meetings," Raiyani told PTI.

Both the yatras will culminate at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 4, followed by a two-day annual national convention in the national capital.

Raiyani, the Trust Chairman said, "We plan to give a big boost to the crusade for fair and fast justice delivery system, without which our democracy will not survive."



Raju Thakker, a senior associate of the Forum, said, "This march is aimed at generating public opinion and mounting pressure on the concerned agencies to bring in judicial reforms."



"The suppressive British legal system which was introduced in this country centuries back is still at work. Judiciary, one of the four pillars of democracy, is the only one with a silver lining of hope," Thakker said.

Among the main demands of the yatra are: All courts proceedings should be in national and regional languages, judgements be passed in time bound manner, judiciary be brought under the RTI Act, disclosure of assets by judges, and opening of additional courts to clear the backlog of three crore cases.

Volunteer Versha Vaidya said the Forum's 100-plus societies, activists and litigants would launch a countrywide 'satyagraha' if its demands are not heeded to within a stipulated period.

After interacting with Mumbaikars throughout the day, the team of volunteers along with Raiyani marched towards Pune from where they will proceed to Solapur.
'Nyay Yatra', organised by the New Delhi-based 'Forum for Fast Justice' to create awareness among common people about the judiciary, was accorded a warm welcome in the city.

'Nyay Yatra' (Justice March), which started its journey on January 30, reached here last evening.

"Two teams are participating in 'Nyay Yatra'. One team is going from Kashmir to Kerala while another is going from Kutch to Kolkata. Both the teams will together cover 22 states and 175 districts in 35 days to create awareness among common people on the present judiciary system by conducting corner meetings," Forum's National Convener Pravin Patel was quoted as saying in a release.

Both the 'yatras' will conclude at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 4, the release added.
Confident of significant benefits from India-Canada nuclear cooperation, a senior lawmaker from the North American nation feels the Indian nuclear liability law remains an issue and can adversely impact the investments.

"It could well be an impediment to investment," said Brad Duguid, the minister for economic development for Canada's largest province Ontario, when asked about the nuclear liability law.

Duguid however added that "this market (India) is going to grow and we need to be patient".

"We need to work through or give government the time," he told PTI here over the weekend.

Duguid was in India as part of a 170-member business delegation led by Ontario's Premier Kathleen Wynne. During the trip, they signed 65 agreements with Indian companies across sectors under which Indian companies will invest USD 240 million in Ontario.

Under a new pact signed in April last year, Canada will supply uranium for a period of five years.

The supplies will be under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. "There have been unnecessary frosty relations for too long (between the two countries) and it is time to move ahead," the then Canadian PM Stephen Harper had said at that time.

Canada had banned exports of uranium and nuclear hardware to India in the 1970s.

However, the two countries turned the page in 2013 with the signing of the Canada-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, paving the way for the uranium deal.

However, concerns have been expressed in some quarters about the Indian nuclear liability law, passed after the Indo-US nuclear deal of 2008 to safeguard the domestic interests.

To critics of nuclear power, Duguid said nearly half of his state's energy needs are met by nuclear power. He called it a better alternative.

"By comparison, it is affordable, it is clean, it is safe, does not contribute to global warming in any way," he said.

Duguid also said there can be an increase in the investments from the Canadian pension funds if there is a stability in the way infrastructure projects evolve.

"The more stability and certainty that projects that get started will get completed, the more pension fund commitments you will see," he said, calling India as a "juggernaut economy" which will grow in the long term.
Pakistan Army plans to raise a new security division as well as additional 28 battalions and has sought extra funds from the government for it, amid increasing terror attacks on the educational institutions in the country.

Top army officials yesterday met Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and demanded "financing and the release of funds", Dawn reported, citing a statement issued by the Finance Ministry.

The "government attaches the highest importance to security matters" and assured the "provision of funds for the new security division and additional battalions," Dar was quoted as saying in the statement.

The army launched a massive military operation in 2014 against Taliban militants who are blamed for brazen attacks on government and military installations.

Since then, the military has claimed to kill thousands of militants in air raids in the north and through intelligence-based operations in various parts of the country.

Despite the military crackdown, the Taliban militants continued their attacks, targeting public places and educational institutions.

The militants attacked a university in Charsadda last month, killing 21 people, including 19 students, in an attack that bore resemblance to the brazen December 2014 assault on an army-run school in Peshawar that killed 144, mostly students.
Pakistan's powerful intelligence service has long acted as the "manager" of international Jihadi forces and it may have been involved in the rise of the ISIS, a leading US daily today said, in a stinging commentary on Pakistan's "intervention" in a number of foreign conflicts.

Underlining that experts have found "a lot of evidence" that Pakistan facilitated the Taliban offensive, an op-ed in the New York Times said, "This behaviour is not just an issue for Afghanistan. Pakistan is intervening in a number of foreign conflicts."



"Its intelligence service has long acted as the manager of international mujahedeen forces, many of them Sunni extremists, and there is even speculation that it may have been involved in the rise of the Islamic State."



It said that though Pakistan denies harbouring the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and points out that it, too, is a victim of terrorism, "many analysts have detailed how the military has nurtured Islamist militant groups as an instrument to suppress nationalist movements, in particular among the Pashtun minority, at home and abroad."



"Pakistan regards Afghanistan as its backyard. Determined not to let its archrival, India, gain influence there, and to ensure that Afghanistan remains in the Sunni Islamist camp, Pakistan has used the Taliban selectively, promoting those who further its agenda and cracking down on those who don't. The same goes for Al Qaeda and other foreign fighters," wrote Carlotta Gall, the North Africa correspondent for NYT.

It said there are reports that Pakistan had a role in the rise of the Islamic State.

"....It might come as a surprise that the region's triumvirate of violent jihad is living openly in Pakistan," Gall said as she listed out top terrorist leaders living openly in Pakistan.

"First, there's Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani network, and second in command of the Taliban. He moves freely around Pakistan, and has even visited the Pakistani intelligence headquarters of the Afghan campaign in Rawalpindi," she said.

Then there is the new leader of the Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, who has openly assembled meetings of his military and leadership council near the Pakistani town of Quetta, the author said.

"Finally, Al Qaeda's leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, enjoys sanctuary in Pakistan - one recent report placed him in the southwestern corner of Baluchistan. He has been working to establish training camps in southern Afghanistan," Gall wrote.

(REOPENS FGN 19)



The daily alleged that the madrasas in Pakistan, "a longtime instrument of Pakistani intelligence, has been training people from the ethnic minorities of northern Afghanistan alongside its standard clientele of Pashtuns."



"The aim is still to win control of northern Afghanistan through these young graduates. From there they have their eyes on Central Asia and western China. Pakistani clerics are educating and radicalising Chinese Uighurs as well, along with Central Asians from the former Soviet republics," Gall said.

Pakistan, she alleged, was "cooperating with Qatar, and perhaps others, to move international Sunni jihadists (including 300 Pakistanis) from Pakistan's tribal areas, where they were no longer needed, to new battlefields in Syria".

"It is just another reminder of Pakistan's central involvement in creating and managing violent jihadist groups," she quoted an unnamed Pakistani politician as saying.

"No one has held Pakistan to account for this behaviour. Why would Pakistan give it up now?" Gall said.
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) today apprehended twelve fishermen and seized two boats off Gujarat coast, National Fishworkers' Forum said.

The fishermen had sailed off the coastal town of Okha in Gujarat's Dwarka district five to six days back and were apprehended by the PMSA near the International Maritime Border Line today, NFF secretary Manish Lodhari told PTI.

"We came to know about the incident from fishermen returning here. We were told that 12 fishermen on two fishing boats were apprehended by Pakistani Maritime Security Agency and were being taken to Karachi," Lodhari said.

The PMSA had last year apprehended as many as 198 fishermen from Gujarat and seized 35 fishing boats on four occasions in January, March, April and October, he said.

Yesterday, the Indian Coast Guard had apprehended a Pakistani fishing boat which had illegally crossed the Indian maritime boundary and arrested 11 Pakistani fishermen off Jakhau coast in Kutch district.

Nearly 440 Indian fishermen are at present languishing in Pakistani jails, most of whom are from Gujarat, and around 860 Indian fishing boats are in the custody of Pakistan.

The NFF had recently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to initiate efforts to bring back the jailed fishermen and the boats.
Opposition parties in West Bengal today slammed the Trinamool Congress government and the police for detaining a youth in Jalpaiguri district for criticising a local TMC councillor in a Facebook post.

Parties like BJP and CPI(M) branded the TMC as 'intolerant' while the TMC said none was arrested in Malbazar for a Facebook post.

Rohit Pashi of Malbazar was detained yesterday after councillor Pulin Goldar complained to the police that he wrote in a Facebook post that "Goldar had links with criminals." The youth, however, was released after executing a bond under Section 107 of the CrPC that he will not create trouble.

"TMC is tolerant towards criminals. Its MLAs, MPs and leaders are used to break laws. But the TMC government is intolerant towards any individual who tries to highlight the gory picture of the state of affairs in West Bengal," BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told PTI.

Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty too criticised the state government by stating that TMC is trying to "subvert democratic rights."



"From Ambikesh Mahapatra to Rohit Pashi, Mamata Banerjee's intolerance towards criticism is a sign of fascism. Perhaps Mamata Banerjee and her police don't know, India is a democracy. Freedom of expression is our constitutional right," Chakraborty said.

The TMC national spokesperson Derek O' Brien yesterday said no one was arrested for a Facebook post.

"Some local channels distorting without checking facts. Deliberate distortion? No one in Malbazar has been arrested for a Facebook post," Derek O'Brien had said in a statement.

The incident brought back memories of the arrest of Jadavpur university professor Ambikesh Mahapatra who was arrested in 2012 for circulating a cartoon of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Internet.
Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today strongly opposed NDA government's proposal to hand over substantial control of Indian airlines to foreign carriers, terming the suggestion "ridiculous" and saying such a move, if approved, would harm national interests.

Patel, during whose tenure the civil aviation policy was formulated, also stressed that the government should not be seen to be favouring select Indian carriers while bringing in a new policy and instead ensure a level-playing field for all of them, while continuing the "time-tested" route dispersal guidelines to ensure air connectivity across the country.

Asked about the proposal to raise the FDI cap in airlines from 49 to beyond 50 per cent, he said "all over the world, the issue of substantial ownership and effective control (of an airline) is very minutely scrutinised" as aviation industry is different from any other and is affected by several factors including external.

"I am surprised that the draft aviation policy carries a provision to increase the FDI limit over 50 per cent. That is ridiculous. You have already done 49 per cent. 50 per cent or more will hurt the country," Patel told PTI.

He said the United States does not allow more than 25 per cent voting rights by foreigners in an airline's board, while in Malaysia and Singapore, "you may not be allowed to buy into their airlines ... Do these countries have reciprocal policies (on FDI in airlines)?"



"If the country's carrier has to carry the Indian flag, its foreign ownership cannot be 50 per cent or more. It (increasing the existing FDI limit) will hurt the country," he said, adding that an airline that carries the national flag on its tail has to be substantially owned by Indians.

Stressing the need for having national flag carriers, he said "this template also goes against the spirit of the ICAO resolutions".

The UN body ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) has evolved a series of rules and procedures on various aspects of the aviation industry business which are being followed by all governments and their airlines.

Regarding the 5/20 norm which allows an Indian carrier to launch global operations after flying five years domestically and having a fleet of 20 aircraft, Patel said the government has to ensure a level-playing field vis-a-vis the existing carriers and "should not appear to favour the new entrants".

Patel, during whose tenure the 5/20 rule was brought in by the then Union Cabinet, at the same time said that "I don't think the government is interested in favouring any airline".

"The new carriers are the ones interested in change of these rules. They knew these rules when they came in," the former Civil Aviation Minister said.

The government has now proposed to either completely do away with 5/20, continue with it or tweaking it. Abolition of the rule is being sought by new airlines Vistara and AirAsia India, but the older airlines have opposed it strongly.

Observing that the government has not spelt out any formulation regarding this rule but given all three options to either continue with it, modify it or do away with it, he said it shows that the government was "obviously concerned that there is a need to have a policy which provides some kind of level-playing field for all airlines".

Patel also wanted the 20-aircraft criteria to remain, saying currently, Air India and Jet Airways deployed at least 90 aircraft each of their 100-plus fleets on domestic routes, while IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir also flew a substantial number of their planes within the country.

"So the 20-aircraft fleet norm is not sufficient. It is not a big number and in fact, it should be more," he said.

Patel said the route dispersal guidelines (RDG) should be respected as it was "already time-tested".

The RDG, which the government now wants to revamp into a credit-based system, mandate airlines to fly to economically unviable but socially important routes connecting cities in the north-eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
The pharmaceutical is expected to register muted export revenue growth and stable domestic revenue increase in 2016-17, a report said.

The overall pharmaceutical exports are expected to grow at about 5 per cent, while domestic pharma market is likely to grow at 8-10 per cent in the next fiscal.

"The recent increase in US regulatory actions against domestic pharmaceutical is likely to restrict growth of exports to the US.

"Higher depreciation of emerging market currencies is also likely to impact export growth to semi-regulated markets.

"We expect the overall Indian (pharma) exports to grow at about 5 per cent in FY17," India Ratings said in its report here.

The ratings agency has revised the pharmaceutical sector outlook for 2016-17 to 'Stable' from 'Positive', expecting moderation in the sector's growth momentum next fiscal.

The industry's muted export growth seen over FY14 and FY15 continued in the first half of 2015-16. The agency has revised down its growth estimate for this fiscal to 5 per cent from 10-12 per cent due to increased regulatory actions.

USFDA issued several warning letters and import alerts against Indian facilities on quality related issues.

As of 2015-end, as many as 42 Indian facilities of 28 were under import alerts, it said.

Pharmaceutical growth continued to decline in FY15 due to the slowdown in export growth, and revenue growth in 12 months ended September 2015 was a little over 7 per cent, lowest over the last five years.

However, the domestic pharmaceutical market is likely to sustain the recently gained momentum on the back of stable underlying growth drivers and grow at 13-15 per cent in 2016-17, it said.

However, the market will remain exposed to any expansion of the price control regime.

Overall, the sector growth is likely to be about 8-10 per cent in FY17, the report said.

The domestic pharmaceutical market grew 12.1 per cent in FY15 to Rs 90,000 crore.

Pharmaceutical exports reported modest y-o-y growth of 5 per cent in FY15 to Rs 94,200 crore.

The stable underlying drivers such as increasing healthcare spending by the government, demographic trends, increasing disposable income and higher incidence of lifestyle



Diseases augur well for the growth in the domestic market, it said.

Though expansion of the drug price control regime may impact the topline growth of temporarily, a likely improvement in volume sales over the medium term may offset the impact, the Ind-Ra report said.

It added that growth expectations also continue to rest on the USD 19 billion worth of drugs which are likely to go off patent in 2016.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged the threat of sea-borne terror and piracy as two key challenges to maritime security even as he pitched for respecting freedom of navigation against the backdrop of South China sea dispute.

In an apparent reference to the audacious 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Modi said, the threat of sea-borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger regional and global peace and stability.

He said piracy, too, remains a strong challenge against the backdrop of Somali pirates targeting merchant vessels, including those of India.

Addressing the valedictory function of International Fleet Review, the Prime Minister also made a veiled reference to the South China Sea dispute, saying countries must "respect and ensure freedom of navigation and cooperate not compete".

He said after hosting the 3rd India-Africa Summit and the India-Pacific Island Cooperation, the country would now host the first-ever global maritime summit in April.

Referring to his government's ambitious Make in India initiative, Modi said 37 of the Indian warships participating the Fleet Review were made in India and their numbers will surely rise.

He said the nation's ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rested on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain.

"The threat of natural disasters like tsunami and cyclones is ever present. Man-made problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain," the Prime minister said.

He said a peaceful and stable maritime environment is critical for regional and global security.

"It is also must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems," the PM said.

Modi said India's 1200 island territories, and its huge



Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million sq km makes clear the economic significance of the Indian Ocean.

"For us, it also serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. In March last year in Mauritius, I had spelt out our vision for the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Region is one of my foremost policy priorities. Our approach is evident in our vision of 'sagar', which means ocean and stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region," he said.

He said India would continue to actively pursue and promote its geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, in particular the Indian Ocean.

"To this end, India's modern and multi-dimensional Navy leads from the front. It is a force for peace and good. A network of growing political and economic maritime partnerships, and strengthening of regional frameworks also helps us pursue our goals," he said.

Modi recalled that the last time India hosted the International Fleet Review was in the year 2001 in the city of Mumbai.

"The world of 2016 is vastly different. Its politics is turbulent, and its challenges complex. At the same time, the oceans are the lifelines of global prosperity. They present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations," he said.

The Prime Minister noted that over 90 per cent of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans.

He said over the last 15 years, its value has grown from about USD six trillion to about USD 20 trillion.

Referring to the economy of crude, he said oceans are critical for global energy security as over 60 per cent of world's oil production moves through sea routes.

Given the scale and complexity of modern-day challenges, international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of single nation, he said, adding it has to be a shared goal and responsibility of all seafaring countries.

"To this end, the navies and maritime agencies need to work together and engineer virtual cycles of cooperation.

"But where necessary, they also need to act to secure the international sea lanes of communication."



As oceans today propel our economies, we must use seas to build peace, friendship and trust and curb conflict, he said addressing the gathering.

Our "Skill India" programme is building institutions that train, support, encourage and guide our 800 million youth to the path of entrepreneurship.

He said an important part of India's transformation is his vision of blue Economy. "The blue Chakra, the wheel in our national flag, represents the potential of the blue economy. An essential part of this pursuit is the development of India's coastal and island territories but not just for tourism.

"We want to build new pillars of economic activity in the coastal areas and in linked hinterlands through sustainable tapping of oceanic resources," he said.

Terming the youth in the coastal areas as country's "true assets", he said they have a natural and deep understanding of the oceans.

"They could lead the way in the development of blue economy in India. In partnership with all the coastal states of India, I want to shape a special programme of skilling India's youth in the coastal areas of the country," Modi said.

Chief Justice of India Justice T S Thakur, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Manohar Parrikar were also present on the occasion where the PM released a photo essay book 'Maritime Heritage of India'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today offered prayers at the 12th century Lord Jagannath Temple here and said he was touched by the warmth and affection shown by the people of Puri.

Modi, who was accompanied by priests and local BJP leaders, spent more than 30 minutes inside the temple and entered the sanctum sanctorum to seek blessings of the Lord.

"This is the first visit of Modi to the temple after becoming Prime Minister. Earlier before the 2014 general elections, Modi had vowed to come here again if his desires are fulfilled. As he has become prime minister, Modi came to express his gratitude to the Lord," said a priest accompanying him.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by SJTA Chief Administrator S C Mohapatra, priests and others at the temple's Lion Gate, while hundreds of people lined up behind barricades along the Grand Avenue and main roads to have a glimpse of the leader.

While returning from the temple, Modi, who was attired in an off white kurta with yellow 'Anga Vastram' on his shoulder, waved at people lined all along the Grand Road in front of the Temple.

"Touched by people's warmth and affection in Puri," Modi tweeted after having a darshan of the trinity - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.

A senior police officer said the Prime Minister stood on the foot board of the slow-moving car to wave at the people.

The Odisha Police made elaborate security arrangements by deploying more than 250 personnel for the Prime Minister's visit.

The security personnel were also deployed on roof tops of buildings on both side of the Grand Road in front of the Temple.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had vacated the temple for the VIP visit.
Chicago police said they believe six family members found dead in their southwest side home were killed in a "targeted incident," though they're still trying to determine a possible motive.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said late Friday that it's possible someone in the family "was involved in something that could have targeted them," or that the killings occurred during a robbery or a domestic incident.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office released the names of the victims, two boys, two women and two men - on Saturday. The boys were identified as Leonardo Cruz, 13, and Alexis Cruz, 10, and the women as Rosaura Martinez, 58, and Maria Herminia Martinez, 32. The men were identified as Noe Martinez Sr, 62, and Noe Martinez Jr, 32.

Their deaths were ruled homicides Friday by the medical examiner's office. Five were stabbed to death and the sixth died of multiple gunshot wounds, the office said.

Police found them all dead on Thursday after one of the men's co-workers called the emergency dispatcher to report he hadn't shown up to work for two days. Authorities initially said it was possible one person killed the other five before taking his or her own life.

Police have added extra patrols as a precaution, though Guglielmi on Friday repeated earlier police statements that they don't believe the general public is in danger. There was no forced entry into the home and the house wasn't ransacked. "This appears certainly centered and targeted on that family, and what we're trying to do is figure out why," he said. Officers are exploring the backgrounds of the six victims, including talking to other family members and friends, Guglielmi said.

A relative said six people lived in the home a couple, their son, their daughter and the daughter's two children.

"They were a normal family. Everything was fine," the relative, Noemi Martinez, 29, said from Dallas during a phone interview in Spanish. She said her husband was a nephew and cousin of the home's residents.

Martinez said the father worked at a factory in Chicago and the mother was a housewife. They were originally from the Mexican state of Guanajuato and had lived in Chicago for about a decade, Martinez said.

"Right now, we just want to know who did this. They didn't deserve this. We don't understand what happened," she said.
Pope Francis' visit to the heavily indigenous Mexican state of Chiapas appears aimed at celebrating the region's "Indian church," a mix of Catholicism and indigenous culture once considered a thorn in the side of standard liturgy by the Vatican.

The inclusion of pine boughs and eggs, the Mayan faithful's references to "God the Father and Mother" and the use of indigenous elements in Masses long caused church officials to bristle.

Not so with history's first Latin American pope, who the Vatican said will present a decree during his Feb. 15 visit authorizing the use of indigenous languages. The Chiapas Mass itself would include readings and songs in three different indigenous languages.

"Within the church there have always been errors," said Felipe Arizmendi, the Bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas, the colonial city where Francis will preside over Mass. "So we recognize that many times, we have not given them (the indigenous) their place."



Francis' visit comes amid strong challenges to the church in the southern state, including huge inroads by evangelical Protestants and grinding poverty in a region rich with coffee, Mayan ruins, pine-covered hills and jungles. Chiapas has the high poverty rate in Mexico at 76.2 percent.

The challenges have always included the church's relations with indigenous communities who have struggled for centuries to maintain their traditions and independence, sometimes embracing and sometimes clashing with the hierarchy. Religious practices in some communities encourage rampant alcohol abuse, crushing debts and autocratic local bosses known as "caciques."



"Traditional" Catholic towns often require impoverished residents to go into debt to pay for annual, alcohol-fueled festivals for the local patron saint. Most of the food, drink, flowers and fireworks for the festivals are bought from the local bosses, who sell them to residents on credit at usurious rates.

In some communities, residents have expelled or ostracized any inhabitant who converts to Protestantism, often taking their lands or possessions, or denying them access to basic services like water or electricity.
President Pranab Mukherjee today visited his ailing elder brother at a private hospital here.

93-year-old Pijush Mukherjee, who stays in Birbhum, is suffering from septecaemia and had been hospitalised on Tuesday.

The President reached Durgapur by a Navy helicopter from Kolkata accompanied by his son Abhijit and daughter-in-law this afternoon, officials said.

He was at the hospital for an hour and also spoke to doctors, who told him that his brother's condition was now stable, hospital sources said.

After the visit, Mukherjee left in the chopper for Kolkata on way to Delhi.
A Christian college near Chicago and a political science professor who wore a headscarf to show solidarity with Muslims have agreed to part ways.

Wheaton College said in a statement on its website yesterday that the college and Dr Larycia (lah-REE'-shuh) Hawkins "have reached a confidential agreement under which they will part ways."



Hawkins, who's Christian, was placed on leave in December when she posted on Facebook that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

College officials said at the time that her views were inconsistent with their "doctrinal convictions."



The college about 30 miles from Chicago said then that it would begin proceedings to dismiss her but the faculty protested.

Hawkins says in the statement released yesterday that she had great respect for Wheaton college.
State-owned banks are racing against time to install more than 5,500 ATMs in the last quarter ending March to meet the target for the current fiscal.

Of the 27 PSBs, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Vijaya Bank have exceeded their planned ATM installation while Dena Bank is yet to set up any against its target of 1,200 ATMs.

The public lenders have installed 10,447 ATMs so far against the total of 15,949 planned for 2015-16, according to the quarterly data of the Finance Ministry.

The country's largest bank, SBI, has put up 3,107 ATMs as against the planned 4,000 ATMs in April-December of the current fiscal.

Bank of Baroda, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, and State Bank of Travancore are close to their target at the end of the third quarter.

The youngest public sector bank, Bharatiya Mahila Bank, has 87 ATMs, up from 55 at the end of the last financial year.

At the end of December 2015, the public sector banks had a total of 1,39,366 ATMs.

Installation of automatic teller machines (ATMs), especially by public lenders, has been a major priority for the government to ensure financial inclusion.

Following the Budget 2013-14 announcement, these banks are required to have an onsite ATM at every branch.

Financial inclusion aims to extend financial services to the large, hitherto un-served population of the country. In addition, it strives towards a more inclusive growth by making financial avenues available to the poor.
Software provider Quick Heal Technologies will hit the capital tomorrow to raise Rs 451 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

The IPO consists of fresh issue of Rs 250 crore and an offer for sale of about 6,27 million equity shares by promoters Kailash Sahebrao Katkar and Sanjay Sahebrao Katkar, as well as Sequoia Capital India Investment Holdings III.

The company has fixed the price band at Rs 311-321 for its initial public offer (IPO), which will close on February 10.

Quick Heal has already raised Rs 133.9 crore from 10 anchor investors, including BNP Paribas Advantage and Reliance MF.

The company has alloted 41.70 lakh equity shares at Rs 321 apiece, the upper end of the price band, to 10 anchor investors.

ICICI Securities, Jefferies India and JPMorgan India are the book running lead managers while Link Intime India is the registrar to the public issue.

While the proceeds from the offer of sale would not go to Quick Heal Technologies, the Rs 250 crore funds raised from fresh issue of equity shares would be used by the company for advertising and sales promotion and capital expenditure for research and development.

The proceeds would also be invested to purchase, develop and renovate its office premises in Kolkata, Pune and New Delhi, as well as general corporate needs.

Quick Heal is a provider of security software products and solutions in India.

The equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE.
Asserting that use of galvanised rail tracks could result in savings to the tune of 4% of GDP, global zinc body IZA has urged Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to go for such technique to avoid losses arising out of frequent track replacement from corrosion.

This will also help in increasing longevity of rail tracks and ensuring passenger safety.

"Galvanising of railway tracks would not only be significant initiative towards safety of trains but would also give more life to the railway tracks," International Zinc Association (IZA) has said in a letter to Prabhu.

Urging Railways Minister to consider use of galvanised railway tracks for the safety of commuters and for longer life of rails, it said, "Experts estimate losses of almost 4% of GDP per year on account of corrosion and Railways is nicely placed to minimise this loss."





ALSO READ: Railways to build 500 private freight terminals in 3 years

IZA Director Rahul Sharma said that motivated by initiatives taken by the Railways Minister towards driving innovation and renovation in Indian Railways, the body has urged him to pay attention in this regard.

"Indian Railways requires corrosion-free tracks in case India is considering Bullet Trains. The entire change would not only be cost effective but India would also be the first country to initiate such step towards passengers safety," said Sharma.

He said as per reports by IIT Kanpur and Steel Authority of India Limited, large funds are invested to upgrade and maintain the railway track system in India.

One of the significant aspects of railway track maintenance is the detection of corrosion and the replacement of corroded rails.

Corrosion of rails causes huge economic loss because of frequent rail replacements, he said adding that rail failures due to corrosion affect the safety of commuters and disturb normal traffic.

"The economic cost due to corrosion of rails is very significant. The rails have a life of 800 gross million tons, which works to approximately 12-13 years under normal traffic conditions in India. Corrosion reduces the life of rail to nearly half its expected life," he said.

"The annual loss due to pre-replacement of corroded rails is huge about Rs 440 crore. We have requested the Minister for his time to explain the benefits," he added.

IZA, a non-profit association established in 1990 in Brussels, has been active internationally as well as in India for sustainable development of applications of zinc, including the essentiality of zinc in human health, crop nutrition and corrosion protection of steel.
Republican presidential candidates today lashed out at President Barack Obama and his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is aspiring to succeed him, for the latest North Korean missile test which they say is the result of their "incompetence".

"I think we have a president who is totally incompetent, and he doesn't know what he's doing. I think he has no idea what he's doing. And our country is going to hell," Donald Trump, the front runner Republican presidential candidate said ahead of the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.

Trump said he would get on with China, and solve that problem.

"China says they don't have that good of control over North Korea. They have tremendous control," he said.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who had an impressive performance in the Iowa Caucus and is being billed as the Republican establishment candidate, agreed with Trump that China does have a lot of influence over North Korea.

"And he (US President Barack Obama) should be leveraging our relationship with the Chinese to ensure that North Korea no longer has access to the resources that have allowed them to develop long range missiles already capable of reaching the west coast of the United States potentially," he said.

Rubio also demanded that North Korea be declared a terrorist state.

"The launch from a nuclear North Korea is the direct result of the failures of the first Clinton administration. The Clinton administration led the world in relaxing sanctions against North Korea. Billions of dollars flowed into North Korea in exchange for promises not to build nuclear weapons. They took those billions and built nuclear weapons," Senator Ted Cruz said.

Ohio Governor Kohn Kasich said that the US has to make sure that it intercepts North Korean ships and aircraft.

"Because what they're trying to do is to proliferate this very dangerous material, along with technology, the instruments that can be used for mass destruction," he said.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that the North Koreans do not understand anything but toughness and strength.

"They do not understand anything but toughness and strength, and we need to engage the Chinese to deal with the North Koreans," he said.

"This is unacceptable. And this is why this President is so weak and why the Secretary of State, who is embracing a third Barack Obama term, would be even weaker," Christie said.

Meanwhile, the Hillary Clinton campaign in a statement said that North Korea's nuclear breakout and first nuclear test occurred under the George W. Bush administration, which had been putting almost all of its effort into Iraq.

Clinton, who is now the Democratic front-runner for the White House, led the US' pivot to Asia, strengthening US alliances with Japan and South Korea and bolstering our defences in the region, it said.

"Clinton worked with our partners and allies and passed the toughest sanctions against the North Korean regime to date, even rallying the Chinese and Russians to the coalition," the campaign said in a statement.
Marco Rubio faced attacks from his rival Republican presidential aspirants as they tried to halt the first-term senator's campaign surge by branding him as too inexperienced and unaccomplished to be the next US president.

Young and energetic Rubio, 44, had finished third after Ted Cruz and Donald Trump in the Iowa caucus leaving other top Republican leaders far behind including the New Jersey Governor Chris Christies and the former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush.

Following the crucial Republican debate yesterday - three days ahead of the New Hampshire primary - The Washington Post reported that Marco became the "top target" of others.

Florida Senator Rubio looked "rattled" and faltered as he pushed back with scripted lines about President Barack Obama that Chris Christie mocked mercilessly, the New York Times reported.

"The fact is, Marco, you shouldn't compare yourself to Joe Biden and you shouldn't say that that's what we're doing. Here is exactly what we're doing. You have not be involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable. You just simply haven't," Christie said.

"I like Marco Rubio, and he's a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the US and make these decisions. We've watched it happen, everybody. For the last seven years, the people of New Hampshire are smart. Do not make the same mistake again," Christie said.

"You know what the shame is Marco? The shame is that you would actually criticise somebody for showing up to work, plowing the streets, getting the trains running back on time when you've never been responsible for that in your entire life," he said.

Meanwhile, Republican front-runner Donald Trump who returned to the debate stage faced a similar assault from a recharged Jeb Bush, the former Florida Governor.

"But what Donald Trump did was use eminent domain to try to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City. That is not public purpose, that is downright wrong," Bush said.

Trump said that the allegations were incorrect.

"Jeb wants to be a tough guy tonight. I didn't take the property," he said as the two engaged in a war of words on the Key Stone pipeline.
Actor Ryan Reynolds' daughter was left scared when she saw her dad in his "Deadpool" scar look.

The 39-year-old actor said his wife Blake Lively was blown away by the look, but 13-month-old daughter James did not approve of it and started crying, reported ET online.

" (Blake) was blown away by how much the suit was such a faithful adaption from comic book to screen... Probably the most faithful adaptation that's ever been done. And my daughter would cry when she saw me in the scar makeup.

"It was hard. She would hear my voice, but she'd see this guy... That's tough for a kid," Reynolds said.

"Deadpool" releases on February 12.
The Indian community in South Africa has sent 1.5 million litres of bottled water to three drought-hit provinces, prompting other communities, corporates and government to come forward to help the affected people, facing the country's worst drought in over 100 years.

Over the weekend, the efforts by the members of the community at mosques, community groups and shopping centres resulted in collection of 1.5 million litres of bottled water.

They sent 35 trucks with 1.5 million litres of bottled water to the provinces of North West, Free State and the Eastern Cape which were not having proper drinking water.

The efforts were part of 'Operation Hydrate', which was started by a group of young Indians on a WhatsApp platform.

The initiative prompted several companies, government and the Nelson Mandela Foundation to came forward and become part of it, said Yaseen Theba, spokesman for Operation Hydrate.

"Since we started the project early last month, the support has been overwhelming, with over Rand 61 million donated just last weekend," Theba said.

National Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane had announced that the National Lotteries Board had donated Rand 50 million to the project.

"One water company has also made available its stocks at cost price to help alleviate the water crisis," Theba said.

"All the vehicles in the six kilometre convoy that went from FNB Stadium on Friday were sponsored," he said.

South Africa is in the grip of its worst drought in over 100 years due to El Nino, with no immediate prospects of the situation abating.

The record-breaking temperatures in recent weeks have claimed several lives.

"While the country works on long-term strategies for drought relief and water provision, we felt that we could not just stand by and not look at some quick relief to avoid further loss of life just because the basic need for water was not being met," Theba said.
South Korean and US defence officials said today they would begin formal talks on the deployment on the Korean peninsula of a US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

The announcement followed a North Korean rocket launch that the US and its allies condemned as a covert ballistic missile test.

"It has been decided to formally start talks on the possibility of deploying the THAAD system to South Korea as part of steps to bolster the missile defence of the Korea-US alliance," said Yoo Jeh-Seung, the South's deputy defence minister for policy.

There has been speculation for years about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system -- one of the most advanced in the world -- to the South, one of Washington's main Asian allies.

The US insists that it is a deterrent necessitated by the North's advancing ballistic missile programme, while China and Russia argue that it would undermine stability and could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region.

"The Korea-US alliance had no choice but to take such a defence action because North Korea staged a strategic provocation and is refusing to have a genuine dialogue on de-nuclearisation," Yoo said in a joint briefing with Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the US Eighth Army based in the South.

Vandal argued that it was "time to move forward" with the THAAD issue, claiming there was "growing support" in the South for its deployment.

Pyongyang says any such move would be a Cold War tactic to "contain" China and Russia.

But Yoo stressed the THAAD system -- if deployed -- would "operate only regarding North Korea".

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye today urged a tough UN response to North Korea's long-range rocket launch that came barely a month after its fourth nuclear test.

"The UN Security Council should take strong punitive measures quickly," Park said in televised address following the morning launch.

Speaking in response to the North's rocket launch, Kim Yong-Hyun, chief operations officer at the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers today the upcoming annual joint US-South Korea military exercises will be the largest yet held.

The Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises, to be staged in March and April this year, will boast the "most cutting-edge" technology, Kim said.

The South's military will also set up more loudspeakers along the border to broadcast propaganda programmes to the North in response to the rocket launch, he added.
Buckling under pressure from distributors, mutual fund industry body AMFI is lobbying hard to dispense with a proposed move to make it mandatory to disclose individual agent commission in the account statements sent to investors, but regulator Sebi is firm on its stand.

Sebi is of the view that such disclosure will help boost transparency as investors have a right to know what portion of their money the mutual fund was giving to the distributor as commission, a senior official said.

The regulator also feels that the mutual fund industry would be a 'net gainer' in the longer term as voluntary disclosure of such kinds will help address 'trust deficit' with investors, the official said, while adding that Sebi would have to step in with an order if fund houses do not adopt this practice on their own.

While many fund houses were initially keen to adopt this practice, they developed cold feet after distributors and financial advisors reacted angrily and even threatened to boycott those MFs that were supportive of this proposal.

Despite repeated attempts, executives at all leading fund houses refused to speak on-record about the issue, saying it has become "a very sensitive matter" as any formal position against the proposal could be seen as 'anti-investor' while distributors would hit back if they support the move.

Repeated queries sent to AMFI (Association of in India) and its top functionaries, remained unanswered in this regard, as also on whether the industry body was buckling under pressure of the distributors.

When contacted, Foundation of Independent Financial Advisors (FIFA) Chairman Dhruv Mehta said:"We are not against disclosing individual distributor commission in the account statements sent to investors but all the expenses should be disclosed. Why there is selective disclosure?"



Playing it safe, AMFI has now approached Sebi but the regulator is firm on its stand that there is a need to making the distribution commissions more transparent.

The regulator feels that such a step will help address the issue of trust deficit about commission payouts, something which has been a matter of serious concern to the investors.

If the new decision gets implemented, it will force every fund house to add commission payout details - with names and amount - in every statement of account.

Till now, the Statement of Account sent to each investor includes details about their folio number, investment amount, gains/loss, and certain KYC details.

Earlier, Sebi had asked AMFI about fund houses' view on disclosing agents' commission in the investor account statement to boost transparency.

The matter was discussed by AMFI at its board meeting late last month, wherein it decided to approach the capital regulator to review its decision as some fund houses are believed to be opposed to the idea.
A security guard was shot dead by unidentified persons in Bareilly, police said today.

Som Prakash (45), deployed at the residence of the Principal of Barielly College, was shot dead by unidentified assailants last night, Superintendent of Police (City), Sameer Saurabh said.

Police is probing the matter and no arrests have been made so far, he added.
BJP Chief Amit Shah today held deliberations with the party's Uttar Pradesh leaders as he seeks to firm up the electoral strategy for the politically crucial state, which goes to the polls early next year.

The party is yet to announce its state unit president as it grapples with the challenge of identifying a suitable candidate for the job.

Shah deliberated on several issues in his meeting with the core group of state leaders, including UP party chief Laxmikant Bajpai, whose term in the post had ended in mid-December, and Om Prakash Mathur, party sources said.

Shah is meeting party leaders from states where assembly polls are due next year. He had met Punjab BJP leaders yesterday and will meet those from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the coming days.

UP holds key to BJP's fortune as its stupendous performance in 2014 Lok Sabha election paved the way for it to form its first majority government at the Centre.

SP and BSP have recovered ground after being swept aside by the 'Modi wave' in 2014, making the assembly polls a tough battle.
DCW chief Swati Maliwal today said that in case Delhi Police fails to submit data as sought by it on crimes against women, it will exercise its powers of a civil court.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) had last Tuesday summoned Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi to appear before it on February 8 at 4 PM for producing the required records and explaining the "unreasonable" delay in sharing the data.

"DCW does not intend to prove a point by ensuring the presence of the police commissioner at its office and has, in fact, informed he may send his deputy to the summons, but must under all circumstance provide the data else the Commission will exercise its powers of a Civil Court," Maliwal said.

"The failure to present data sought by the Commission constitutes an offence under Section 176 of the IPC, which is punishable with a jail term of 1 month and/or fine," she said, asserting that neither DCW nor the women of Delhi are "powerless".

DCW has powers to requisition data from police under Section 10 of DCW Act, 1994, for the purposes of investigating and examining matters related to women's safety, etc., Maliwal said.

The Commission had to resort to issuing summons to Delhi Police after repeated attempts to elicit data from the Delhi Police Commissioner proved futile, she said.

"In its letter, Delhi Police has stated that information sought on crimes against women was publicly available on its website, which is not the case," Maliwal claimed.

"Strangely, in the same letter, they have also stated that if the data is revealed to DCW, it would cause a law and order problem in Delhi," she said.

The Commission has informed Delhi Police that it is conducting a detailed study on women's safety in the capital for which it needs information to make recommendations to the government, she said.

Exercising the powers of a civil court, DCW can summon and enforce the attendance of any person from any part of India and examine him or her under oath. It can also requisition any public record.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today interacted with residents of Chembur in eastern suburb and heard their complaints on the recent fire and smog in Deonar.

"I have asked Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to initiate swift action and a time-bound plan for corrective steps," he said after the meeting.

Fadnavis said Mehta has informed about the action plan.

"The commissioner has informed that CCTVs will be installed, first lot of 12 are being installed tomorrow. For fire safety, 2 engines will be stationed there permanently. Boundary wall is broken and will be completed in next one month. Methane release is an issue. A committee under Ramesh Kumar, NEERI and IIT has been asked to study and suggest measures," Fadnavis said.

"Waste to energy tender is already out and consultants would be appointed at the earliest. Henceforth, as a strategic decision no landfill will be done in future dumping grounds. MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) has taken this decision in principle," he said.

Fadnavis said he has assured residents that a joint committee with representative of citizens, government and MCGM will be constituted to monitor these measures and for timely setting up of new facility at Taloja in Navi Mumbai.

The fire at Deonar dumping ground last week led the civic body to shut down 74 schools run by it, as the smoke from the ground veiled the area causing breathing difficulties.
Pope Francis today asked the world community to make every effort to revive the Syrian peace talks and appealed for unstinting generosity for civilians fleeing the conflict.

"I appeal to the community to spare no effort to urgently bring parties back to the negotiating table," the pontiff said at his weekly Angelus prayer.

"A political solution to the conflict is the only way to guarantee a future of reconciliation and peace for this dear, suffering country," Francis said, before asking worshippers in St. Peter's Square to join him in reciting the Catholic prayer "Ave Maria" for Syria.

The pope also said he was deeply concerned about the plight of civilians forced to flee their homes as fighting raged.

ALSO READ: Canada considers housing Syrian refugees at military bases amid shortage of affordable housing

"I hope that, thanks to generous solidarity, there will be the necessary help to ensure their survival and dignity," he said.

The Syrian peace talks were suspended on Wednesday amid renewed fighting on the ground, with advances into rebel-held territory by the Russian-backed regime in Damascus.

The negotiations were suspended until February 25.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura says he will meet in Munich, Germany, next Friday with countries that are part of an group seeking a solution to the five-year-old war.
A man who stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli soldier today in the southern city of Ashkelon before being shot was a Sudanese national who has since died of his wounds, police said.

Police initially said the incident near a bus station was suspected to be part of a wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks that erupted in October. The motive for the stabbing is now unclear.

The incident saw the Sudanese man, said to be in his 20s, stab the soldier and flee, according to police. Another soldier in the area grabbed the wounded soldier's gun and chased the Sudanese man before shooting him.

A witness told Israeli public radio the soldier shot three times at the Sudanese man, but he continued to run. He then fired three more times, according to the witness.

A wave of violence that erupted in October has claimed the lives of 165 Palestinians, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

Most of the Palestinians were killed carrying out attacks, while others died during clashes and demonstrations.

Foreign nationals have not previously participated in such attacks.

A large number of illegal immigrants have arrived in Israel from Sudan through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, though the status of the person killed today was not clear.

Official figures show 45,000 illegal immigrants are in Israel, almost all from Eritrea and Sudan. About two-thirds are Eritrean.

In October, an Eritrean migrant worker who was mistaken for an Arab attacker died after he was shot and brutally beaten at a bus station in the southern city of Beersheba.
Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher would have supported David Cameron's draft renegotiation of Britain's EU terms of membership, her closest advisor said today.

Lord Charles Powell said Thatcher, whose fevered hostility to Brussels in the latter part of her premiership led to her downfall in 1990, said she would have backed Cameron's new deal with the European Union.

Writing in The Sunday Times newspaper, Powell said Thatcher might have "raged more mightily" at Brussels than Cameron, the current Conservative leader and prime minister.

However, "She would have gone along with what is on offer, indeed negotiated something similar herself."



Thatcher stoked up animosity over Europe which helped wreck the premiership of her successor John Major as he tried to heal relations with Brussels.

"Margaret Thatcher's heart was never in our membership of the EU. But l am convinced her head would continue to favour staying in on the conditions now on offer," Powell wrote.

"There were certainly times as prime minister when her frustration with Europe boiled over.

"The one thing I never heard her propose was Britain's withdrawal from the EU. Perhaps she would have persevered for longer before settling than the present prime minister and raged more mightily.

"But... I am confident she would have settled, and for something very close to what is on offer now."



However her close cabinet ally Lord Norman Tebbit slammed Powell's view.

"I think it more likely that were she alive, then she would be saying: 'No, no, no'," he said, using her famous refrain on proposed greater European powers.

Thatcher, Britain's prime minister from 1979 to 1990, died in 2013 aged 87.

Cameron is allowing his Conservative MPs to campaign to either leave or remain in the EU.

But he will be mindful that divisions over Europe ripped the party apart in the 1990s.

The Sunday Times said it had heard back from 144 Conservative lawmakers (330 sit in parliament), of which 66 said they were committed to leaving the EU, while 50 said they would vote to remain in the bloc.

The Sunday Telegraph newspaper said Cameron was also facing a growing revolt from grassroots Conservatives who are angry that he told MPs they did not have to vote according to their local constituency association's views.

In a letter to the broadsheet, representatives of 44 local Tory associations said Cameron had "undermined" the goodwill of loyal members and warned him: "No prime minister has a divine right to rule."



A Downing Street spokesman said Cameron was "simply making the point that everyone should ultimately vote with their conscience.
The Proctor and a Professor of Tilka Manjhi Bihar University (TMBU) here were detained today for allegedly having connections with the Maoists, police said.

Superintendent of Police (City) Shahyrar Khan said acting on a tip off, police raided the residence of the Proctor at the welfare hostel in the university and also his residence in the city and detained him and a professor.

The professor was staying at the Proctor's residence at the hostel while the Proctor at his residence in the city, the SP said.

Huge quantity of naxal literature was seized during the raid, he added.

(REOPENS CES7)



Later, after questioning, the TMBU Proctor and the professor were released on personal bond, the City SP said.

Students of TMBU had gathered in large numbers at the University police station over detention of the duo.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said Tamil Nadu government has given in principle consent to go in for a joint venture company to develop new projects.

"The State government has offered in principle consent and we will be very happy to work with them. A proposal for such joint ventures in states has already been approved by the Union Cabinet," he told reporters here.

Assuring that all districts in Tamil Nadu would get their due share of development for better connectivity, he said since TN has ports too, its connectivity would also be a priority.

As regards "suburban system" (railway projects) (for the State), he said, "we are willing to look at collaborating with the state to take it forward."



Station development is also on the cards through the PPP model and with all projects put together, the State is poised for overall growth, he said.

Earlier, in his address, Prabhu said with the limited resources available, funds for railway projects in Tamil Nadu are sanctioned as much as possible.

"During the current railway budget, Tamil Nadu was sanctioned more funds compared with previous years," he added.

Railways was being innovative in providing improved passenger amenities like paperless ticketing and online complaints redressal forum, he said.

Claiming that railways was effectively using social media, he said it was earnestly working for Swachh Bharat Mission through "Clean Railways - Clean India."



Prabhu also laid the foundation stone for a new broad gauge line between Chinna Salem and Kallakurichi through video conferencing.

He flagged off the Chennai Central-Shalimar Suvidha AC express train at Chennai Central through video conferencing and commenced sale of 'personalised take away bedrolls' at Chennai Central and Thiruvananthapuram Central through video conferencing.

He also announced additional stoppage for Navjeevan Express (Chennai Central - Ahmedabad - Chennai Central) at Sullurupetta and for Pinakini Express (Chennai Central - Vijayawada - Chennai Central) at Nayudupetta.

Sullurpetta and Nayudupetta are about 85 and 110 km respectively from Chennai in Andhra Pradesh.
Actress Drew Barrymore says trying to be hot in Hollywood is "exhausting."



The 40-year-old actress said it is impossible to be at the top all the time, reported US magazine.

"Hot is a state of mind. It's an energy. You're hot when you're motivated... Hot isn't about being on the A-list or having a hot body. It's literally people who are on fire," she said.

The "Charlie's Angels" actress said that celebrities including Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer and Louis CK are currently hot.

Barrymore, who is happy running her business said one should realise as soon as possible that fame is temporary.

"I don't think I'm hot right now necessarily, because I have all my irons in a bunch of different fires. I'm writing. I'm doing makeup. I'm doing design. I'm expanding (my company) Flower into different categories.

I think it's a huge mistake to think you have to burn bright for your whole life. You cannot sustain it. It's exhausting, and it's not very realistic," she said.
Turkey said today it would not abandon thousands of Syrians stranded on its border after fleeing a major Russian-backed regime offensive, as aid agencies warned of a "desperate" situation.

Tens of thousands of people, including many women and children, have been uprooted as pro-government forces backed by intense Russian anti-rebel air strikes advance near Syria's second city Aleppo.

"Turkey has reached the limit of its capacity to absorb the refugees," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN Turk television. "But in the end, these people have nowhere else to go. Either they will die beneath the bombings... Or we will open our borders."



"We are not in a position to tell them not to come. If we do, we would be abandoning them to their deaths."



Turkey's Oncupinar border crossing, which faces the Bab al-Salama frontier post inside Syria, remained closed today to thousands of refugees gathered there for a third day, an AFP reporter said. They waited desperately for the moment the gate will open, as Turkish aid trucks delivered food inside Syria.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey was ready to open its gates to Syrian refugees "if necessary".

Carrying what few belongings they still have, Syrians queued in the cold and rain in squalid camps near the border, waiting for tents being distributed by aid agencies.

Others are reportedly sleeping in the open, in fields and on roads. The medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said camps for displaced people in northern Aleppo province were overwhelmed.

"From what MSF can see the situation in Azaz district is desperate, with ongoing fighting and tens of thousands of people displaced," said Muskilda Zancada, head of the group's Syria mission.

"We are still conducting assessments but so far have seen problems with lack of space to accommodate people, and insufficient water and sanitation in many areas."



It said three MSF-supported hospitals had been bombed in recent days although the extent of the damage was unknown because their proximity to the front lines made access too difficult.

More than 260,000 people have died in Syria's nearly five- year-old conflict, which involves a tangled web of mainstream rebels, Islamists, jihadists, Kurds and pro-regime forces supported by Russia and Iran.

More than half the population has been displaced and hundreds of thousands have tried to reach Europe, sometimes paying with their lives making the risky Mediterranean Sea crossing.
Turkey is ready "if necessary" to let in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees trapped on its border after fleeing a regime assault, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Thousands of Syrians, mostly women and children, have fled toward the Turkish border since Friday from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to escape a major regime offensive backed by Russian air strikes.

"The regime has now blocked a part of Aleppo... Turkey is under threat," Erdogan told reporters on his plane returning from Senegal yesterday.

"If they reached our door and have no other choice, if necessary, we have to and will let our brothers in," he said.

The governor of Turkey's Kilis border province, Suleyman Tapsiz, said yesterday that Turkey - already home to 2-2.5 million Syrians - was taking care of 30-35,000 refugees who had gathered around the nearby Syrian city of Azaz in the space of 48 hours.

Another 70,000 may head for the frontier if Russian air strikes and Syrian regime military advances continued in Aleppo, he added.

Turkey's Oncupinar border crossing, which faces Bab al- Salama inside Syria, remained closed to thousands of refugees gathered there for a third day, an AFP reporter said.

"But the border keeps open for emergency situations," a Turkish offical said.

"Seven injured were taken to Turkey on Friday and one on Saturday for treatment at Turkish hospitals," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said yesterday his country would keep its "open border policy" for Syrian refugees.
Two Afghan nationals have been arrested for allegedly possessing foreign currency worth Rs 1.28 crore at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.

The accused were intercepted by the customs officials when they arrived at the airport to board a flight to Kabul yesterday.

"During their personal check, officials seized USD one lakh and USD 90,000 from them.The duo have been arrested," said Vinayak Azaad, Additional Commissioner of customs at IGIA.

The market value of the seized currency is about Rs 1.28 crore.

During their interrogation, both the accused claimed to be traders and the money as their earning from goods traded here by them.

Both were later released on bail, he said.

As per customs rules, there is no bar in taking any amount of foreign currency abroad provided a person gives a valid proof of such money.

In another case, the customs officials have arrested a person for allegedly trying to smuggle in gold valued about Rs 47 lakh.

Acting on intelligence, the customs officials had stopped the person after his arrival from Dubai yesterday.

"The passenger had concealed four gold bars of 200 gms each in his rectum. Besides, he was carrying gold in form of chain and 'kada' weighing one kg.

"In all 1.8 kgs of gold was recovered from him," Azaad said.

The value of the seized gold is about Rs 46.80 lakh.

The accused has been arrested in the case.
Two workers were killed and at least seven injured today in an oil platform fire off the coast of Mexico, state petrol company Pemex said.

The blaze broke out in a "compression area" on the rig located off the southeastern state of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico, Pemex reported on Twitter.

It said nine injured workers were airlifted away for medical treatment and added later that two workers died.

The fire was brought under control and the platform did not need to be evacuated, Pemex added.

Two Pemex installations in the same area suffered explosions last year, one of which killed four people.

Pemex is a key source of income for Mexico's government. It has suffered lately from falling world oil prices and from theft of oil by criminal gangs.

The company's production plunged from 3.4 million barrels a day in 2004 to 2.2 million in early 2015.
Two persons were arrested here today after cannabis was recovered from their possession, police said.

The accused have been identified as Abbas Miyan, resident of Bihar, and Raju, from Uttar Pradesh, they said.

750 grammes of cannabis was recovered from the two, police said.

The duo has been remanded in police custody till tomorrow by a local court, police said.
Two female migrants found dead in a mountainous rural region of Bulgaria died due to freezing conditions, authorities said today, as asylum seekers continue to try to reach the EU despite harsh winter weather.

The women were part of a group of 19 migrants, including 11 children, found yesterday by border police near the southeastern town of Malko Tarnovo. Their nationality was still unclear.

"Two women have died - one younger and another middle- aged. Our border guards made every effort to help them, carrying them in their arms to try to warm them up, but it happened because of the cold," Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova announced today told private bTV television.

The area was under harsh winter conditions with high winds, some 30 centimetres of snow and freezing temperatures.

A ministry statement said one of the victims was a teenager - aged between 14 and 16 - and the other was between 30 and 40 years old.

All of the children, aged between 4 and 16, were taken to hospital with frostbite and two adults were in critical condition, a hospital spokesman told Focus agency.

This is the second report in Bulgaria this winter of migrants succumbing to cold, after the frozen bodies of two men were found in a mountainous area at Bulgaria's border with Serbia in January.

As refugees continued to flow from Greece through the Balkans on their way to western Europe, aid workers have sounded alarms over inadequate shelter from the current freezing temperatures and snowy conditions, particularly for children.

In January, almost 62,200 migrants and refugees entered Europe through Greece, most of them from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, the International Organization for Migration said. Close to a third of them were unaccompanied minors.
Four Iranian migrants making a rare attempt to reach Britain by boat from France were rescued in the nick of time after their vessel took on water and was close to capsizing, officials said.

Rescuers were only alerted after one of the migrants made it back to the beach at Sangatte in northern France before dawn yesterday.

He was in a dangerously cold state and asking for help for his four compatriots.

A search was launched and the boat with the four men was located with the help of a Belgian army helicopter, the French coastguard said.

"Around 5:30 am (1000 IST), a migrant on the beach at Sangatte in a hypothermic condition requested help and indicated that he had been on a boat with four other people," local authorities in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France told AFP.

The man told rescuers that he and the four others had been trying to make it to Britain.

"Shortly after 7:00 am (1130 IST) the little boat with the four men in it was located", the coastguard said.

"They were really in extremis, we saved their lives, because they were on the point of capsizing. There were terrible waves and the boat had filled with water," said Bernard Barron, one of the rescuers.

Gilles Debove, of the local police union, said it was "extremely unusual" for migrants to try to reach Britain by the sea route.

"This must be the second or third time in 1- years," he said. "Crossing is very dangerous because it's a maritime highway. The Channel and the North Sea, it's not the Mediterranean."



The president of a local organisation supporting migrants, Christian Salome, told AFP he feared a rise in the number of attempted Channel crossings due to tighter security around the port of Calais making it more difficult for migrants to smuggle themselves across in lorries.

Around 3,700 migrants, mostly from Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan live in the so-called "Jungle" shanty camp at Calais from where they hope to make the journey to Britain.

A further 1,500 live in a camp at Grande-Synthe near Dunkirk.
The UK today condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket and backed a collective response by the international community to Pyongyang's latest violation of UN resolutions.

UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond said: "I strongly condemn North Korea's ballistic missile technology test.

This is a clear and deliberate violation of a number of UN Security Council Resolutions.

North Korea's actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security.

"In conducting this provocation, North Korea has clearly demonstrated that it is intent on prioritising the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes over improving the well-being of its own people.

"As North Korea is aware, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to take significant measures against any further launches or nuclear tests. We will now meet with our partners in New York to agree a collective response. "



The rocket launch, a month after Pyongyang claimed a successful hydrogen bomb test, has been condemned by the US, Japan and South Korea, who have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the issue.

South Korea says it is to begin discussing with the US the deployment of a missile defence system.
The number of people in the UK reporting being raped by someone they met on a dating website or app has spiked six-fold in five years, latest official figures show.

There were 184 rape allegations in 2014, up from 33 in 2009, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

It said 85 per cent of the rape victims were women and of these, 42 per cent were aged 20 to 29 and 24 per cent were aged between 40 and 49.

The agency said it was concerned the number may be under- reported.

More than nine million people in the UK have signed up to dating websites, the BBC reported.

Sean Sutton of the NCA's Serious Crime Analysis Section said further work was needed to understand the increase in the number of rape cases due to online dating.

"This initial work clearly raises a lot of questions and we will be working with academia to build a more complete picture," it quoted Sutton as saying.

"Our aim here is to make people aware of the potential danger, so they can be better prepared and make the choices that are right for them.

"Sexual assault is a crime, full stop, and we want victims to feel confident reporting it to the police," Sutton said.

George Kidd, chief executive of the Online Dating Association (ODA), which represents online dating businesses and which is supporting the campaign, said: "Sexual assault or abuse is never acceptable.

"Even one incident of harm is one too many.

"The NCA is right to look at what happens online and the ODA are already working with them in getting the right messages out to people."



Earlier this month, security firm Symantec said online daters fell victim to blackmail, were subjected to revenge porn and were tricked by people who assumed fake identities to steal cash.
The UN human rights chief traveled to Sri Lanka's Northern Province today and met with ethnic Tamil leaders who sought his help in finding out the fate of over 4,000 civilians reported missing during the brutal civil war.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who is in Sri Lanka on a four-day visit, met Northern Governor HMGS Palihakkara and Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran.

"The discussions very much focused on the challenges and the problems faced, plans and achievements in connection with the region and people who aspire to see more information in terms of those missing and detained," Hussein told reporters.

During his meeting with Wigneswaran in Jaffna, the issue on political prisoners was discussed.

Wigneswaran later said Hussein's visit to the North has given some hope for the political prisoners. The UN official assured that he will raise their concerns with the government in Colombo.

"These discussions will continue today andtomorrowwith the highest positions of the state," Hussein said.

Hussein, on his first visit to Sri Lanka after succeeding Navi Pillay as UN rights chief to review measures taken by the government to investigate alleged war abuses during the war, was met with protest from the relatives of the missing people in North, the center of the civil war which ended in 2009.

The protesters sought urgent redress from him.

According to UN figures, up to 100,000 people were killed in the three-decade long civil war. Hundreds of people are still missing.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said most of those reported missing are probably dead.

Hussein's visit assumes significance in the wake of a UNHRC resolution last October mandating an investigation into the alleged rights abuses during Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict that ended in 2009.

In a hard hitting report, Hussein had criticised Sri Lanka's failure to deliver justice to the victims of the 26-year conflict. He has prescribed an international "hybrid court" with foreign judges, prosecutors and investigators.

Meanwhile, the opposition backing former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today said they would hand over a communique to Hussein protesting against the UN body's undue interference in the country.

Former foreign minister GL Peiris accused the government of lacking a coherent policy on the UNHRC resolution.

"They have no clear policy on the proposed international court," Peiris lamented.
The UN Security Council met today to condemn North Korea's rocket launch, just weeks after Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test.

"We have consensus to condemn this kind of violation of sanctions," Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez, who holds the council presidency, said ahead of the closed-door talks.

North Korea said today it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards a missile capable of striking the US mainland.

"This is a ballistic missile technology test and as such it is a violation of four Security Council resolutions," said British Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson, who called for a "strong and swift response".

Today's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time and, according to state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

Western diplomats and their Japanese and South Korean allies hope the latest launch will push China, Pyongyang's ally, to agree to a UN draft resolution imposing tougher new sanctions on Pyongyang.

The draft text prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations for weeks, but Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Korea's already weak economy.

"China calls for more dialogue. What we need is no longer dialogue but using the pressure" on North Korea, said Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa.

China has the power to block with its veto power any resolution that would contain such measures as barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.

France called for a tough stance after the rocket launch.

"What is at stake after this inadmissible provocation is the future of the international non-proliferation regime that we patiently built together over the last decades," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre.

"This is why weakness is simply not an option," he said.

The council has imposed four sets of sanctions on North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

There are 20 North Korean entities and 12 individuals on the UN sanctions blacklist, which provides for an assets freeze and a global travel ban.
The UN Security Council today strongly condemned North Korea's long-range rocket launch at an emergency meeting here and vowed to impose fresh sanctions in response to "these dangerous and serious violations."



The UNSC said the latest rocket launch by the country a day earlier was in violation of its previous resolutions.

Following a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Security Council members "strongly condemned" the launchwhich used ballistic missile technology.

The Security Council underscored that the launch, even if characterised as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle, contributes to North Korea's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.

"And as such it is a serious violation of its previous UN Security Council resolutions," the world body said in a statement backed by Pyongyang-ally China, and the 14 other council members.

They reaffirmed that a clear threat to peace and security continues to exist, especially in the context of the nuclear test weeks earlier. It was North Korea's fourth nuclear test.

The Security Council said its members restated their intent to develop "significant measures in a new resolution in response to the nuclear test conducted by North Korea on January 6, and in grave violation of its obligations."



The members of the Security Council also recalled that they have previously expressed their determination to take "further significant measures" in the event of another North Korean launch.

In line with this commitment and the gravity of this most recent violation, the members of the Security Council will adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations, the statement said.

North Korea said today it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as a defiant step towards a missile capable of striking the US mainland.
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today in New York over North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said.

The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States, which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today in New York over North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said.

The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States, which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Tokyo and Washington called the consultations over the launch of a "so-called 'satellite' by North Korea in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions," in a letter to the Venezuela mission currently holding the council presidency.

The resolutions bar Pyongyang from any ballistic missile or nuclear activity.

The unpredictable hermit state made good on its threat to launch a satellite-bearing rocket, despite US and South Korean warnings, the South Korean military confirmed.

The launch took place as the international community was still struggling to reach consensus on how to respond to Pyongyang's detonation of what it claimed was a powerful thermonuclear bomb on January 6.

The White House and its allies want to respond with a UN resolution that would slap more sanctions on the North.

But they must first win the backing of UN veto power China, which has in the past shielded its neighbor and close ally.

The North is already subject to numerous UN sanctions over previous rocket launches and three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has written to Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajpati Raju accusing the Airports Authority of India (AAI) of violating terms and conditions of MoU signed with his government by not taking up airport projects in Meerut, Moradabad and Faizabad.

In a letter to Raju, he has sought his intervention in the matter.

Yadav has said AAI presented an action plan to the state government in 2013 to develop new airports, besides some existing ones, an official spokesperson said here today.

Yadav said the state was asked to provide land free of cost for the implementation of these projects. The state agreed to give airstrips at Meerut, Moradabad and Faizabad for developing airports around them for which and additional land was made available.

The government also agreed to provide land for construction of civil enclave at Indian Air Force stations at Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur Nagar and Bareilly, the Chief Minister said in his letter.

A separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the state government and AAI for these seven projects. While AAI started work on Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur Nagar and Bareilly projects it refused to undertake three other projects claiming these were not financially viable.
Urdu as a language is growing at a fast pace but its script has not kept up and is shrinking, according to noted Urdu poets, who say the need of the hour is to start treating technology as a facilitator for preserving the language.

"We should stop treating technology as our enemy. Urdu needs to be inculcated into the youth and technology plays a very important role in it," says Amjad Islam Amjad, an Urdu poet, drama writer and lyricist from Pakistan.

According to Amjad, the use of technology can can be used to create a space, which could be used for propagating the language, and thus enable the future generation to relate to it.

Amjad was one of the many poets from India, Pakistan, Canada, the US and Dubai who participated in the 18th edition of the Jash-e-Bahar, one of the country's biggest unofficial mushaira.

"Urdu is growing at a very fast pace. But Urdu script is shrinking at an alarming rate and it needs to be preserved. Urdu script is like a seed and the language can only be protected if the script is protected," says Amjad.

The poet said there was a diminished interaction of the new generation with the Urdu language and pointed out that usually a language gradually fades out of existence once the existence of the script ends.

"The new generation's interaction with Urdu is reducing. This new generation is the future audience and it is required that they get proper training. So we need to decide on how to protect the script. To preserve the script, it is required that the script must be made technology friendly," he says.

"People are going for courses in Japanese because it boosts their career, we need to make Urdu technology friendly people start seeing Urdu as a way to boost their career too," he says.

Another poet from Pakistan said there was need to spread



awareness on how to propagate the language and the script.

"Social media is very active, so Urdu language can be propagated through that medium, spreading awareness over how Urdu connects people," says Pirzada Qasim, an Urdu poet from Pakistan.

There is a commercial angle to everything nowadays, if youth could connect to technology, it may get popularised among them, says Qasim said.

According to renowned poet Wasim Barelvi, Urdu is adapting with technology and Urdu poems propagates the language.

"Urdu is existing beautifully because it knows how to adapt, it changes forms and with time changes itself," says Barelvi.

Other languages are shrinking because they were not adaptable. And there is no danger to Urdu script as people will go to the source of the language and the language exists only through the script.

Another factor that is leading to the popularity of the language is the fact that now Urdu is getting written in Roman and Devnagiri form.

"That is increasing its popularity, people from across the border are curious about authors from the other side, this is not only leading to the propogation of the language but is also connecting the two countries," he says.

Kamna Prasad, Urdu activist and founder of the non-profit Jashn-e-Bahar Trust says Urdu is spreading through the Roman and Devnagiri script.

"The most important thing is that Urdu is spreading through these scripts and that is what we should keep in mind," she says.
The US today strongly condemned the North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket a month after it claimed a successful hydrogen bomb test, describing the move by the hermit nation as "destabilising and provocative."



"The United States strongly condemns today's missile launch by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) - a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions related to its use of ballistic missile technology," the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said in a statement.

"This is the second time in just over a month that the DPRK has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," he said.

On January 6, Pyongyang has claimed to have successfully detonated a powerful hydrogen bomb, prompting South Korea and Japan to demand fresh round of punitive sanctions on the country.

Kerry said the US will stand with its allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, and will hold the DPRK to account.

Stressing the need for a firm and united response, Kerry called for measures that makes clear the determination of the community to address the pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities by the DPRK.

Describing the move as "yet another destabilising and provocative action," White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice said that the launch undermines peace and stability in the volatile region.

"North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests--including the security of some of our closest allies--and undermine peace and security in the broader region," she said.

"We condemn today's launch and North Korea's determination to prioritise its missile and nuclear weapons programs over the well-being of its people, whose struggles only intensify with North Korea's diversion of scarce resources to such destabilising activities," Rice said.

"We call upon the community to stand together and demonstrate to North Korea that its reckless actions must have serious consequences," she said.

According to the US Strategic Command systems which detected and tracked the North Korean missile launch into space said the missile was tracked on a southerly launch over the Yellow Sea.

The improvised North Korea is already under numerous economic sanctions for its controversial nuclear and ballistic missile programme, and the latest move can invite more punitive sanctions by the UN.
The United States has denounced North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as "destabilizing and provocative."



"North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests -- including the security of some of our closest allies -- and undermine peace and security in the broader region," White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.
In a bizarre case, a teenager in the US has been arrested for pouring boiling water on a cat and posting the repulsive video on social media.

Leon Teague, 18, of South Side, Chicago, was charged with animal torture after he poured boiling water on a cat and posted the video of the incident on Facebook.

As the water cascaded down, the cat could be heard screaming before scurrying away, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said at Teague's bond hearing.

"The cat...Ran from one end of the porch to the other screaming in pain," according to the police report.

Authorities who came to Teague's apartment last week saw the scalded black and white cat in the back yard of the building. But they were unable to secure it, police said.

Teague has also been charged with misdemeanour depiction of animal cruelty.

The officers came to Teague's residence after they were alerted to the startling Facebook post that went up on the social media site last Tuesday.

Teague posted the video under his page with the name "Glock Boy MurDoc", Antonietti was quoted as saying by Chicago Sun-Times.

The video initially showed a pot of boiling water on the stove. Then, a male voice could be heard luring the cat on to the back porch into the camera's view, he said.

Next, an arm can be seen pouring the water on the cat as the same voice taunts the animal. The steam is seen rising from the water as it falls, Antonietti said.

He said when police came to Teague's door, he told them he knew they were there because of a video.

As he was being questioned, Teague admitted to sharing the video.

"The video was a cat that somebody poured water on...If you think I did it, lock me up," he was quoted as saying.

Judge Peggy Chiampas Chiampas ordered Teague held in lieu of USD 10,000 bail. If Teague cannot bond out with USD 1,000, he can be released on his own recognizance but must be placed on electronic monitoring if he qualifies, the judge said.

While he awaits trial, Teague has been barred from using any form of social media or have any pets or any access to animals.
He may be a fashion icon for many of his fans but actor Varun Dhawan says youngsters need to believe in their own style and be confident about themselves.

The 28-year-old "Dilwale" actor, who recently visited a college for a promotional event, was shocked when a fan refused to get clicked with him because she felt she was not stylish enough.

Varun took to Twitter to express his concern.

"Met some sweet fans here but realised one girl refused to get clicked because she felt she wasn't stylish enough near her friends... Got me thinking is social pressure on people now days getting too much to be a certain way and behave a certain way," he wrote.

"Why would a wonderful girl say 'I don't look good & stylish enough to be in the same photo as you?' Not able to get over it," he added.

The "Badlapur" actor posted series of tweets urging youth to follow their own style.

"Want to encourage every youngster to respect & follow their own style. When you believe in your own style you inspire others," Varun tweeted.

The actor will next be seen in his brother Rohit Dhawan's directorial venture "Dishoom."



Also starring Jacqueline Fernandez and John Abraham in pivotal roles, the film will hit the theatres on July 29.
Vyapam scam, the massive admission and recruitment racket in Madhya Pradesh, has ruined the quality of doctors in India, renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan has said.

"Vyapam scam has ruined the quality of doctors in the country," he said at meet-the-press programme of Central Press Club last evening here.

The students who got admitted to medical courses fraudulently have got license to play with people's life, the renowned cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon opined.

He said the government should toughen its stand and keep a hawk's eye on admissions in the medical colleges.

The 'Vyavsayik Pareeksha Mandal' had been in for the massive scam, popularly known as 'Vyapam' scam in conducting various examinations and recruitment tests. Top authorities and some politicians were allegedly involved in the scam. The massive racket is being probed by the CBI.

Trehan said that he wants to work for elimination of tuberculosis (TB) from Madhya Pradesh.

For this, he informed that he has submitted a proposal to state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Dr Trehan said Medanta has pressed into service five mobile lab vans in Haryana which go around doing free digital X-rays of people. Those who test positive for TB are provided Rs 6,000 treatment for three months, by Medanta, he said.

Trehan is Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta, a prestigious multi-super specialty medical institute at Gurgaon, a Delhi suburb in neighbouring Haryana.

He said that 50 per cent people don't test positive for TB as bacteria doesn't surface in their cough test, and such people spread the disease to others.

Digital X-ray is accurate in detecting TB case and we want to apply this methodology to eradicate the lung disease, he said.
Facing the ignominy of topping the chart on crime against women, West Bengal is facing a big challenge to tackle the issue as it lacks basic infrastructure including protection officers.

The state has only 21 women protection officers, all on contractual basis, for the entire state and that too without any support staff or basic infrastructure.

"It is true that we have only 21 women protection officers. We need more women protection officers. We do feel that infrastructure and support staff need to be increased. But that's a time bound process, which also needs clearance from finance department," Women Development & Social Welfare Minister Sashi Panja told PTI.

According to NCRB data of 2014, published in 2015, out of the 3,37,922 incidents of crime against women in the country, Bengal has the highest with 38,299 cases. Uttar Pradesh stood second with 38,467 cases.

And in terms of rate of crime against women, Bengal stood second with 85.5 per cent with Rajasthan topping the chart with 91.4 per cent.

While a decade has passed since the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005, was passed, but with lack of basic infrastructure and manpower, justice seems to be elusive for the women who are victims of domestic violence.

PWDVA was enacted primarily to deal with those assaulting or making life of women miserable, by such conduct even if it does not amount to physical ill-treatment. The act also has provisions which provides the woman to seek relief such as protection, shelter and medical facilities, activists say.

But due to lack of proper infrastructure, women who are victims of domestic violence find it tough to get justice due to procedural delays, they say.

Some of the women protection officers who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity pointed out their helplessness due to huge pressure of cases.

"We receive so many cases per month. And I have to tackle



all the cases of the district single-handedly. It takes a heavy toll on us. We are not even provided with a peon in many cases to help us in our job," a woman protection officer said.

Another officer said that recently they were provided with computers but without any proper Internet connection.

"We also have penalty to pay if there is negligence in duty. We are not even permanent staff and paid just a paltry amount of 12,000 per month and that too which is very irregular," Stuti Sarkar, a former woman protection officer of North 24 Parganas district.

Most of the districts have only one woman protection officer, barring few such as Kolkata, which has two.

State Women Commission chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee said, "The state should take steps to increase the status of women protection officers and increase their number," she said.

The Opposition parties came down heavily on the TMC government on the lack of infrastructure in tackling domestic violence against women.

"It is a shame that the state has a woman chief minister whose poll cry was 'Ma, Mati, Manush' (mother, earth and mankind). And women are most neglected and tortured in Bengal. How can only 21 women protection officers tackle domestic violence of the entire state? The state is ignorant towards the plight of women," BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said.

"This is what can be expected from a state government, which instead of taking action in rape cases tries to save the culprits. So in a state which had once topped the chart of rape incidents, it is expected the state will stay mum on the incidents of domestic violence too," said a CPI(M) leader.

According to NCRB data in 2012, Bengal accounted for 12.7 per cent of all crimes committed against women, including rape, in the country. Bengal reported 2,363 rape cases in 2011.
Patel quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel, who was brought here today for appearance before a court tomorrow in connection with a sedition case, said he will continue with the stir if he gets bail.

Hardik was lodged in Lajpore jail in Surat following a sedition case against him by Ahmedabad police.

Speaking to the media before being sent to Sabarmati Central Jail here, Hardik reposed faith in the judicial process and said he will keep trying for bail. "We will continue the agitation even after I get bail," he said.

He will be produced before the court of metropolitan magistrate tomorrow.

"The court had issued notice to Lajpore jail authorities, asking them to produce him in person in Ahmedabad as per the section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC)," his lawyer Rafiq Lokhandwala said.

The section mandates that an accused be produced before the court every fourteenth day after being sent to judicial custody.

"While the police had produced three other accused in the same case before the Ahmedabad metropolitan magistrate on earlier dates, Hardik was not being produced," his lawyer said.

Hardik's bail plea filed on January 22 in this case is scheduled to come up for hearing in the city sessions court on Tuesday.

Hardik and his aides are facing charges under IPC section 124(A) (sedition), 121 (A) (conspiracy to wage war against government) and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) in the case filed against them by Ahmedabad crime branch.

The police, in their chargesheet, had termed the quota agitation spearheaded by Patel as a "pre-planned conspiracy" that was hatched to put pressure on the state government to accept their "unconstitutional demand of quota.
A 21-year-old woman, student of Delhi University, was found murdered in northwest Delhi's Model Town area today, following which the accused has been arrested.

The incident came to light in the morning when the body of the woman was found in a shaft in the accused's residence, police said.

They said several persons were questioned after which the police zeroed in on a man, identified as Naveen Khatri.

During interrogation it emerged that the woman, a final year student at Lakshmibai College under the University of Delhi, was in a relationship with Khatri, who was to get married with someone else, they said.

On Tuesday, Khatri allegedly strangulated her and dumped her body in a shaft at his residence in Gurmandi locality which comes under the jurisdiction of Model Town police station.

The police said the accused tried to dump the body somewhere else and also attempted to burn it once, but failed.

The matter came to light today after neighbours complained of a 'terrible stench' and the police was informed, they said.

The police are also probing the role of other members of the accused's family in the incident.

It has emerged they had objected to their relationship and wanted Khatri to marry another woman, police said.

"A case of murder has been registered and the accused has been arrested. Further investigation is underway," DCP, Northwest, Vijay Singh said.
Actor Rajkummar Rao is a huge fan of American crime series "Breaking Bad" and says if the show is ever made in India, he would love to play the character of Jesse Pinkman.

In the original, Jesse is played by Hollywood star Aaron Paul.

The show tells the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, who, with his former student Jesse, turns to a life of crime, producing and selling crystallized methamphetamine to secure his family's financial future before he dies.

When asked if there is any Hollywood show, whose Indian adaptation he would want to be part of, Rajkummar told PTI, "I love 'Breaking Bad'. It would be great if it gets made here. I would want to play Jesse in it."



In an interview a few months ago, superstar Shah Rukh Khan had revealed he wanted to remake "Breaking Bad" in India.

Rajkummar said if it happens, he would definitely approach Shah Rukh to take him in the remake.

The actor, 30, also expressed his desire to go to Hollywood.

"I would love to go international, be it films or television. Hollywood brings more audience, wider reach... As an actor I want to work everywhere.
A 35-year-old youth died under mysterious circumstances after consuming medicine provided in a government health camp in Gharghoda town in the district, police said today.

The youth, identified as Santosh Das Mahant, was suffering from tuberculosis and attended the government health camp at Faguram village, Raigarh Chief Medical and Health Officer H S Urrav said.

After consuming medicine at the camp, he went home, where his health worsened. He was rushed to hospital, where he died, the official said.

He said the medicine and treatment given to the youth was not flawed and that his death was natural.

The deceased's family has alleged that he died after consuming the medicine given to him at the camp, he said.

Meanwhile, district Youth Congress members yesterday protested at the camp site. They alleged negligence on the part of the doctors who provided services in the camp, which was held as a precursor to an upcoming mega health camp to be organized in the memory of a BJP leader.

Congress MLA Umesh Patel demanded a judicial probe into the incident and suitable compensation to the kin of the deceased.
By Jessica Macy Yu

BEIJING (Reuters) - A new breed of small investor is riding China's rollercoaster stock markets, looking for a quick buck and thriving on the volatility that has sent others scurrying to the exit clutching their stomachs.

Last summer's 40 percent crash and a 20 percent drop so far in 2016 have sent trading volumes tumbling on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses, where retail investors account for 85 percent of the business, unlike more developed markets, where institutions dominate.

Many investors have not just been put off by the falls, but by the wild intraday swings, with sharp morning gains frequently swallowed by sharper afternoon losses.

Not Zhao De, The 26-year-old Beijinger only has around 55,000 yuan ($8,400) to play with, and he wants to make it work hard and fast.

He's currently out of the stock market, not because it's too volatile, but because it stops him making the most of that volatility. He wants to take bigger positions for shorter periods, but the stock market makes him wait a day for trades to be settled, which prevents intraday trading.

He's in commodity futures for now.

"If I buy futures, I can directly short sell," he said.

Liu Jingde, Cinda Securities analyst, said this growing new cohort of investors is more open to the opportunities to make money and has a greater willingness to take risks, using futures and options products.

"It could make the fluctuations of the market more extreme if these investors take more frequent short-term positions," he said.

China's securities regulator did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the implications for the market.

Rao Xianjun is another of this new breed, who typically have trading apps on their phones and bone up on opportunities through investor communities on media platforms such as QQ, WeChat and Weibo.

He's looking at stocks in the new energy, technology and medical sectors, but he doesn't want to tie up his money for long, and says he will be looking to make money by short selling, cashing in on the over-exuberant response of investors to government policies.

"The nation's leaders will obviously focus on new initiatives, and after the buzz of it all quietens down ... that'll be my time to move in."

GUT INSTINCT

Rao is dismissive of traditional investors, the "aunties and uncles" who follow the buzz.

People, perhaps, like the husband and wife team who turn up every morning at the China Securities brokerage in Dongzhimen on the east side of Beijing.

The husband, who gave his surname as Wu, said he had been investing since 2005, and had lost a lot of money on the start-up board in last summer's crash.

As a retiree in his 60s, he can ill afford to lose.

Unlike the younger generation of investors, he said he relies on state media for his information.

"I look at CCTV Finance, as they are the voice of the Communist Party. They don't dare talk nonsense," Wu said.

An octogenarian investor in the Founder Securities brokerage in western Beijing who gave his name as Zheng takes a similar approach. He was clutching a copy of Reference News, published by state agency Xinhua.

"I don't have any fixed plan for 2016," Zheng said. "I just look at the situation, and I look in the newspaper."

He shares a view with Wu that the best stocks are the ones that have already soared, that banks are not worth buying, and that gut instinct is the best guide.

This year they will be up against nimble young guns hoping to punish them for that instinct and make money even in the worst of times.

Rao thinks the vertiginous ride on Chinese stocks has been just the education he needed to achieve that goal.

"In a way, I feel lucky; I've experienced three bear markets that other investors take over a decade to experience," he said.

($1 = 6.5766 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Jessica Macy Yu; Editing by Will Waterman)
When Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu presented his maiden last February, he promised a freight growth target never achieved before in the national transporter's 160 year-old history. Railways was to carry an incremental 85 million tonnes (mt) of goods in 2015-16, against the traditional average loading of less than 50 mt annually. That was the biggest announcement of the .
The government might take a final decision by the end of this week on whether to stick to a fiscal deficit target of 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2016-17 or delay the fiscal consolidation road map by another year in the face of additional spending burden.

Senior policymakers from the finance ministry are likely to have a number of meetings with the Prime Minister's office in the coming days to discuss and finalise the Union 2016-17. Business Standard has learnt that the still undecided issue of the fiscal deficit target for next year will be part of the discussions..

Read our full coverage on Union Budget 2016 The existing fiscal consolidation road map aims at a target of 3.5 per cent of GDP for the upcoming financial year. However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley faces a substantial spending burden in 2016-17, primarily due to implementation of recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission; one rank, one pension scheme; maintaining capital spending levels; and boosting rural sector demand after two consecutive years of poor rainfall. It is for these reasons that Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian called for a re-assessment of the medium-term fiscal road map in December, in the mid-year economic review.

According to government sources, both the options were being discussed and a final view might be taken only after taking into account views from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier this month, Jaitley had said both the options - of keeping the fiscal deficit target and reworking it - had their pros and cons. Jaitley has reportedly had extensive discussions on the matter with his senior bureaucrats as well as independent policy experts and economists.

"A decision on the fiscal deficit target for the next year still hangs in the air. There has been a lot of deliberation on a number of Budget-related matters. There have also been meetings with the Prime Minister's office and other departments. The coming week will see the final such meetings before the goes to print," said a senior official who did not wish to be named.

Subramanian, in his mid-year review, had also cut the official GDP growth forecast for the current financial year to 7-7.5 per cent from the earlier 8.1-8.5 per cent. Subramanian also warned that if the government stuck to the current path for fiscal consolidation, demand would be hit. He had said GDP growth in 2016-17, based on an analysis of likely demand, was not likely to be significantly greater than in this year.

THE NATION IN NUMBERS NOMINAL GDP 2015-16 (budgeted): Rs 141 lakh crore

2015-16 (likely revised as per CEA's projections of 8.5% nominal GDP growth): Rs 136 lakh crore

nominal GDP growth): 2016-17 if growth stays 8.5% next year: Rs 147.5 lakh crore FISCAL DEFICIT 2015-16 at 3.9% (budgeted): Rs 5.56 lakh crore

(budgeted): 2015-16 at 3.9% (based on revised GDP number): Rs 5.3 lakh crore

(based on revised GDP number): 2016-17 at 3.5% based on above number: Rs 5.16 lakh crore

Going by this lower forecast, the nominal GDP for the current financial year is likely to be around Rs 136 lakh crore, lower than Rs 141 lakh crore projected in the last . If the next year, too, sees a nominal GDP growth of 8.5 per cent, then the nominal GDP for 2016-17 might be Rs 147.5 lakh crore. If the fiscal deficit target for the next year - 3.5 per cent of GDP - is maintained, that would come up to Rs 5.16 lakh crore.

That amount is only Rs 14,000 crore less than the possible revised fiscal deficit of Rs 5.3 lakh crore, which is 3.9 per cent of the likely revised nominal GDP of Rs 136 lakh crore for this year. Jaitley and other finance ministry officials have said this year's target of 3.9 per cent will be met. The budgeted fiscal deficit target in absolute terms was Rs 5.56 lakh crore.

The total expenditure burden due to the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission is likely to be Rs 1.02 lakh crore, of which around Rs 74,000 crore is likely to be the burden on the Union Budget 2016-17, with the rest of the onus on the Rail Budget. It has been reported earlier that some of the recommendations of the Pay Commission might be implemented on a staggered basis so as to reduce the one-time liability.

The defence ministry had said last week that the defence pension budget would be around Rs 65,000 crore for 2016-17, up 20 per cent from the 2015-16 budgeted estimates of Rs 54,000 crore. Jaitley had said on Friday that the Budget would need to provide around Rs 1.1 lakh crore combined for the implementation of OROP and the Seventh Pay Commission.

Additionally, the coming Budget will likely come good on Jaitley's promise to India Inc to continue the government's public spending push, with capital expenditure for the next year expected to come close to Rs 3 lakh crore for the first time. The Centre is also looking to boost allocation to various rural schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Krishi Vikas Yojana, Krishi Sinchai Yojana, among others.
Birla Corp buys Reliance Cement for Rs 4,800 crore

RCCPL acquisition will enhance Birla Corp's cement capacity from 10 mtpa to 15.5 mtpa, while it will help Reliance Infrastructure to reduce debt

RCCPL acquisition will enhance Birla Corp's cement capacity from 10 mtpa to 15.5 mtpa, while it will help Reliance Infrastructure to reduce debt

Reliance Infrastructure Limited (RInfra) has sold its subsidiary Reliance Cement Company Private Limited (RCCPL) to Birla Corporation Limited, the flagship company of the M P Birla Group, for Rs 4,800 crore. Anil Ambani-owned RInfra, which aims to become debt-free on standalone basis, will use the proceeds to reduce debt.



RCCPL has an integrated cement capacity of 5.08 million tonne per annum (mtpa) at Maihar (Madhya Pradesh) and Kundanganj (Uttar Pradesh) and a grinding unit of 0.5 mtpa at Butibori, Maharashtra.



Harsh Lodha, chairman of Birla Corp, said, "Reliance Cement fits our plans to grow the business profitably very well and offers lucrative prospects for creating synergy with existing operations. It provides an excellent platform for increasing our footprint in existing as well as new geographies.



RCCPL acquisition will take Birla Corps cement capacity from 10 mtpa to 15.5 mtpa strengthening its presence in the high growth central region. The company's expansion potential will also be enhanced - with mineral concession in states



Birla Corps expansion potential will also be enhanced - with mineral concessions in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh - to emerge as a pan-Indian player in the foreseeable future. Birla Corp will also benefit from Reliance Cement's strategically located raw material sources, captive coal mine, optimum manpower, efficient operating parameters and technical capability for producing top-end quality product.



Birla Corp, established in 1919, is has presence across cement and jute; with cement constituting more than 90 percent of its revenues. It has units in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.



The transaction is subject to approval of the Competition Commission of India and other applicable regulatory approvals.

BS B2B Bureau
FILE PHOTO

The Logan Tabernacle Concert and Lecture Series is hosting a program on Friday, February 12 in the Logan Tabernacle that deals with an important health issue in the local community. Committee Member Dr. John Bailey says the program starts at 7 p.m., everyone is invited and there is no charge.

Dr. Wallace Akerly is going to be presenting a lecture with questions and answers on Radon and its connection to lung cancer, explains Dr. Bailey. (He will be) talking about what Radon is, how we are exposed to it, why it is a particular problem in Utah and Cache Valley, and what residents in the valley can do about it.

Dr. Bailey is the former director of the Bear River Health Department and he is well acquainted with the Radon problem in Cache Valley. He says Dr. Akerly is the leading Utah physician/scientist treating radon-induced lung cancer patients.

Dr. Bailey says more than 100 people in Utah, including otherwise very healthy young adults, are needlessly dying each year from lung cancer caused by radon.

Dr. Akerly will explain that many Utah homes have Radon levels the equivalent of a person smoking one or two packs of cigarettes a day. This includes Cache County homes where approximately 53 percent of the 2,207 dwellings tested for or have had dangerous Radon levels.
When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas
That lady from Alaska who does the bad Tina Fey impression was ranting the other day on TV. Apparently Sen. Ted Cruz had done something that appalled her.

She had my attention. I've been appalled since 2012, when Cruz defeated then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the Republican primary for the Senate by labeling Dewhurst insufficiently conservative. It was a lie and I hate to see people get ahead at others' expense by lying. I also am appalled when a freshman senator misinterprets his job description to mean running for president full-time while leaving all of the actual work of representing my state's best interests to the senior senator. I'm kind of funny that way.

So I was looking forward to being riled by whatever riled Sarah Palin. Imagine my surprise when everything she said Cruz did sounded commendable rather than reprehensible.

Y'all probably have heard that Cruz had sent mailers to Iowa voters scolding them and their neighbors for not having voted often enough, giving them voter report cards with bad grades and telling them basically that they needed to do their duty as citizens. Palin wanted to know what kind of bad person would do such a horrible thing.

A real leader, that's what kind. It pains me to acknowledge who's doing the leading, but that's the right word for it.

A politician tells people what they want to hear and promises what he or she won't deliver. A leader tells them what they need to hear, even if it's all risk, no reward.

Palin sounded as if she thinks not voting ranks up there with free speech as a right worth defending with soldiers' blood. Actually it's a right that should be rescinded. Mandatory voting wouldn't meet the tyranny threshold. With our gamut of rights come a few responsibilities, like reporting for jury duty, paying taxes and stopping at stop signs. If voting were mandatory, people who consider not voting a statement still could make that statement by writing in none of the above or Donald Duck. And special interests would stop benefiting from low turnouts.

But Cruz didn't say voting is mandatory or that it should be. He just dared to hold Iowa voters to a higher standard than they've been holding themselves  kind of like when John F. Kennedy quoted the famous quote about asking not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.

Those "F" grades for not voting was one of two things Cruz did in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses that deserve an "A" for awesome. The other was his refusal to back off his opposition to the ethanol subsidy.

It's one thing to attack the ethanol subsidy in Texas, that place Cruz has been rumored to visit on occasion. Texans don't like their gasoline watered down or their deer corn artificially expensive. But attacking a government gimme to corn growers in the corn-growing-est place in the universe takes real courage.

By "real" I mean not the alleged courage Cruz displayed when he tried to filibuster the Senate into a government shutdown. That was calculated, selfish grandstanding at the country's expense in furtherance of his image-building. The repudiation by his Senate colleagues only helped him cultivate his reputation as an anti-establishment outsider.

There was no foreseeable similar payoff  in Iowa  to telling Iowans that the ethanol subsidy needs to be repealed. So, Cat-in-the-Hats off to Cruz for a genuine display of courage in standing up for free-market principle.

If I were Cruz and could handpick a Republican to vilify me  as if Donald Trump doing it weren't already enough of a gift  I just might gravitate toward an inarticulate yet verbose endorser of that bankruptcy-filing, debate-ducking serial insulter of women, immigrants, war heroes and the disabled.

Don't mistake any of this for an endorsement. It's just me making good on my commitment to search for truth. When I stumble upon it I ought to share it. I'm kind of funny that way.

The primary election is March 1. Early voting starts Feb. 16. Do y'all's duty and vote. You won't be arrested if you don't, but you should be.
Photo by Krista M. Torralva Friends and family take photos of Ray High School after the team was announced winner of the regional mock trial competition.

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By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

Their eyes were set on first.

After narrowly missing a state berth last year, the Ray High School mock trial team was determined to take the 2016 regional competition title.

"We were going to put ourselves in the position where that wasn't going to happen again," senior Holden Hopkins said.

The team took first place Saturday and Hopkins was named top attorney of the competition. Hopkins was awarded the coveted $3,200 Sico, Hoelscher, Harris scholarship.

In all, 10 teams competed.

State finals are March 3-5 in Dallas.

Teams from area schools were given a civil case a few months before the competition to prepare. Students then play the roles of attorneys and witnesses while being critiqued by professionals in the field.

Twitter: @CallerKMT

High school mock trial regional competition winners

Attorney Awards

First: Holden Hopkins, Ray High School

Second: Sofia Aguirre, Incarnate Word Academy

Third: JR Ramos, Incarnate Word Academy

Witness Awards

First: Jenna Thompson, Ray High School

Second: Sophia Lee, Ray High School

Third (three way tie):

Kesi Harris, Incarnate Word Academy

Marina Cantu, Collegiate High School

Daya Butler, Ray High School
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shares a laugh with news reporters during a round table talk in his office at the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

If Gov. Greg Abbott insists upon defending the display of cross decals on a West Texas county's patrol vehicles, he at least shouldn't resort to deception.

The cross is a symbol of  what comes to mind first? This is not a trick question.

At least, we thought it wasn't, until we read the brief Abbott submitted to Attorney General Ken Paxton. Abbott spent considerable time and verbiage pointing out all the things besides Christianity that a cross symbolizes.

To hear Abbott tell it, the cross is just one big history lesson about the traditions practiced in these here parts. Did y'all know, for example, that "the cross has a long history in America and elsewhere as a symbol of service and sacrifice"? Of course you did. You also knew that, as Abbott pointed out, military cemeteries are covered with rows upon rows of them. And you probably also knew that some of our military's highest decorations include the cross  the Distinguished Service Cross, for example.

So it only goes to follow that when a Jewish or Muslim or Wiccan or atheist motorist is pulled over in Brewster County for speeding and sees the 12-inch cross decal on the back of the patrol vehicle, his or her first thought should be of Arlington National Cemetery or, as Abbott's brief says, "the solemn respect all Texans should have for the courage and sacrifice of our peace officers."

Seriously, Governor?

Abbott asserts that the Constitution "does not prohibit local officials like the Brewster County Sheriff from publicly acknowledging the religious beliefs and religious heritage of their communities." OK, fine. When a deputy pulls over a speeding Wiccan, he or she can point to the church at the next intersection and say: "See that? That's First Pentacostal, established in 1872. It's where I go to worship." And it won't cost anything other than a half-minute of the Wiccan's time.

But nowhere does Abbott address the rights of the taxpayers who bought the vehicle not to have it used as a display of  what was it? Oh, yeah, West Texas history. Nor does it address the chilling effect on non-Christians who feel persecuted by Christians  or by West Texas heritage or whatever meaning one wants to affix to the cross other than the obvious one.

Nowhere in Abbott's brief does he address what Sheriff Ronny Dodson meant when he put crosses on vehicles. According to Dodson: "The cross just represents extra safety for these officers. Nobody is taking care of them, just me. And I can't be there all the time." Right, nobody can be there all the time  except the father of the son and the holy spirit.

Evidently the cross to Dodson is a protective talisman, which makes perfect sense to anyone who has seen a vampire movie. All joking aside, the intent of the cross-bearer is relevant, as our lawyer-governor knows but neglected to mention. How can that not be a sin of omission?

Abbott's motive is no big secret  he's trying to be a good Christian soldier. Playing lawyerly word games to separate Christ from the cross, in addition to not fooling anyone as to Abbott's motive, dishonors Christ and the cross. It's dishonest.

The job of governor being the light workout that it is, Abbott the immediate past attorney general apparently has more time than the attorney general to play attorney general. Texas leads the nation in percentage of population without health insurance, which Abbott didn't mention in his guest column on the facing page about the accomplishments of his first year as governor. Not having health insurance is a terrible cross to bear. Abbott's time and empathy would be better spent helping those folks than trying to help Dodson's deputies by arguing that their protective talisman doesn't establish a religion.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shares a laugh with news reporters during a round table talk in his office at the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Because the promise of the future in Corpus Christi knows no bounds, Texas remains the best place to raise a family, build a business and create greater opportunity.

The true secret to the robust strength of the Texas economy is our greatest natural resource: the hard-working people of Corpus Christi and of communities large and small across the state. It has been a privilege to serve you in my first year as governor, working by your side to ensure that the future is even bigger and brighter for generations to come.

After taking the oath of office in January of 2015, I promised to improve our public and higher education systems, build new roads, secure our border and chart a course that keeps Texas a beacon of individual liberty and economic opportunity.

One year later, I'm happy to report that we are following through on those promises and much more.

We've cut taxes, freeing Texas businesses and homeowners to invest more of their own money in new jobs, higher wages and stimulating the Texas economy.

We're investing more in our roads without raising tolls, fees, debt or taxes to keep Texas commerce and commuters moving.

We passed a critical legislative package strengthening the early education foundation on which our children will build their future.

We're making college more affordable for more Texas families and elevating our university research programs to attract even more of the brightest minds.

And we're addressing threats to our security  from within our communities, from across the border and from those who seek to wage war against our freedoms and our liberty.

I invite you to read about all that we accomplished together this past year in my first Report to the People of Texas found online at http://gov.texas.gov/2016Report.

In the Report, we look back at an incredible year. We celebrated so many Texas heroes in 2015. Among them: our law enforcement officers and first responders, our men and women in uniform, our students and educators, the entrepreneurs and innovators building their businesses and growing new jobs  and everyday Texans who went to work and to school each day, all to make tomorrow brighter for their families, their community, our state and our nation.

The Report is a celebration of our shared successes. We are the best state for business, the best state to make a living in and the best state for investments, both foreign and domestic.

This year Texas employers added 166,900 non-farm jobs across nine of 11 major industries. And we remain No. 1 in the nation for job creation with more than 1.85 million private-sector jobs added in the last 10 years.

Texas still leads in energy production and exports; we're also among the top states for technology, manufacturing and healthcare jobs.

This year we welcomed even more businesses and jobs to the Lone Star State including Kubota Tractors, Farmer Brothers and LiveOpsall from Californiaalong with Amazon, Facebook and GM Financial, to name just a few. Tech giants Apple, Oracle, Google and Microsoft are also expanding their corporate presence and jobs in Texas' innovation corridor.

The Texas model is proof that limited government encourages unlimited opportunity. Less government, low taxes, smarter regulations and right-to-work laws  these are the pro-growth economic policies that help free enterprise flourish in Texas.

Thanks to all of my partners in the 84th Legislature, much was accomplished this session.

We're keeping our state strong and prosperous with a budget below the state's spending limit.

We're removing barriers to job growth to unleash the power of entrepreneurs and innovators. We're keeping Texans safe from threats to our security  whether from within our communities or from across the border. And we're securing Texans' freedom to aspire.

But there's more work to do.

The only thing bigger than Texas today is Texas tomorrow. I look forward to the successes to come in the new year ahead.
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Gilberto D. Gallardo

Fireworks inappropriate on Memorial Day

RE: Caller-Times article "Fireworks sale expansion fails," on Feb. 4

I applaud the Nueces County commissioners for "non-action" by not deliberating on a new law proposal to expand the sale of fireworks, to include Texas Independence Day, San Jacinto Day and Memorial Day, by simply letting the proposal fade away. Especially the notion of authorizing fireworks during the Memorial Day weekends.

Fireworks are a form of celebration and festivity and send a wrong message that will lessen the purpose of Memorial Day to just another 4th of July. For more than 48 years I've seen "Memorial Day" become "Barbeque Day" and "Beach Day" and not the national holiday for solemn remembrance of those who have died in service to our country, in peace time and in time of war. At present, I see few American flags flying from front porches and low attendance at memorial ceremonies. What will the fireworks represent? It only reminds me of what comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say, "I don't get no respect." I commend the Commissioners Court and hope Nueces County will help place more emphasis on the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 7:38PM

In an effort to trim costs, BlackBerry is letting go of 200 jobs in its hometown headquarters in Ontario and Florida. This new round of layoffs with affect 75 manufacturing jobs in Sunrise, Florida, according to a state government site. Meanwhile, its rumoured that a lot of the job cuts in Canada involve people who are working on the BB10 device software. Gary Klassen, one of the companys longest-tenured employees and the inventor of the BBM messaging service, is also leaving the company with this latest rounded of cuts.

BlackBerry wont divulge the percentage of its workforce that has been affected by this latest round of layoffs. The Canadian company is trying to turn its fortunes around by putting its focus in its enterprise software business. BlackBerry let go of around 200 staff members back in September. The employees who were laid off then worked on the design and hardware of BB10 devices. But a spokeswoman for BlackBerry assures its users that they will still release updates for its BB10 software.

Source: Reuters
One of the best of them (can any readers identify it and its creator from my description of it?) was a witty, surreal bridge so positioned in the middle of the park's Nerang Pool that it wasn't a bridge at all, really. It didn't bridge anything or go to and from anywhere but arose in the pond and then descended into it. It was only accessible by dinghy. It was a visual oxymoron that played with the mind. Something like it by the same artist if he is still a'sculpting, sited somewhere in Lake Burley Griffin, would break up the lake's glassy monotony and would give joy to all who see it.
"Their role is to step into the shoes of the patient and try and evaluate what their best interests are in that situation," he said. "So it's a very skilled role and it's not something that you could easily imagine someone from the public trustee doing."
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Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

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You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
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The Dubai police force already has some of the rarest and most powerful vehicles on the planet at its disposal, but a Ferrari Enzo has left officials scratching their heads.



Originally abandoned in 2012 by a Brit who left the country for an unknown reason, the Italian supercar was found 20 months later, covered in dust, and it ended up being impounded when officers found out that it was wanted, part of an Interpol investigation outside the UAE, writes 7days.ae.

While its not uncommon for the department to sell seized cars, some starting from just Dhs10,000 ($2,700 equivalent), this Ferrari Enzo cannot be sold due to a complicated legal case regarding its ownership.

This legal dispute has delayed us doing anything with the car so its still in our detention center, said Colonel Saif Muhai Al Mazroui, director of Traffic Department at Dubai Police.

The supercar, which was produced in just 399 units, attracted significant interest over the years and just recently, an American enthusiast made an offer of Dhs6 million ($1.6 million), but he was turned down.

While the future of this prancing horse remains uncertain, officials within the law department transferred it to a warehouse, to prevent sun damage, until they will decide what to do with it.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Thinkstock.com

A Coquitlam man is $8,000 poorer after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating a Canadian Revenue Agency Officer.

The bogus CRA representative told the victim he owed money to the government and would be arrested by the RCMP if he failed to pay.

Const. Jamie Phillipson said the caller had also 'spoofed' the Coquitlam RCMP non-emergency phone line, leading the victim to believe the call had originated from the local RCMP detachment.

Spoofing is when the caller presents a fake number that will appear on the call display of the recipient.

Understandably, the victim felt threatened and was fearful of being arrested if he did not comply with payment, said Phillipson of the Coquitlam RCMP. Under no circumstances would the Canadian Revenue Agency or any law enforcement threaten arrest for money owed.

The CRA scam was one of the most popular ways to fraudulently obtain money in 2015 and continues to be an issue.

Police are asking the public to be aware of these types of phone calls. If you are the recipient of such a call, please hang up immediately and notify the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, said Phillipson.

For more information regarding the CRA telephone scam, please visit the Canadian Revenue Agency website.

The Coquitlam RCMP will continue to investigate in order to determine the source and identity of the caller.
Photo: Contributed - Wikipedia

By Dermod Travis

Last month, lobbyists gathered in Vancouver for The Future of Lobbying, a one-day conference put on by B.C.'s Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, Simon Fraser Institute's Governance Studies and Public Affairs Association of Canada (B.C. Chapter).

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there does seem to be a future for the industry. In fact, if we're not careful, B.C. could be overrun by lobbyists.

Last year, there were 2,502 in-house and consultant lobbyists registered in the province, up from 1,451 four years ago. Whoever said the B.C. Jobs Plan wasn't working?

While others do get some attention  political staff, deputy ministers and the like  that works out to 30 lobbyists for every MLA.

In Ottawa, there are 3,008 lobbyists or nine per MP.

As one of 14 panelists at the Vancouver conference, it fell on me to provide a bit of insight on the public's perspective towards the industry and a few ideas on how it might be improved.

Somehow, it has to rain on the parade of rainmakers. Not a tough task, though. There's no shortage of material.

Last month, Missouri state legislator, Bart Korman, tabled Bill 2059.

If it becomes law, lobbyists in that state would be required to disclose any sex given by a lobbyist to a lawmaker or their staff each month. A dollar valuation will not be required when reporting sexual acts. Be thankful for small mercies.

Closer to home, former B.C. lobbyist Marcella Munro found herself in a pickle after taking a post with Alberta's new NDP government.

The Wildrose party was only too happy to blast her appointment by pointing to some of Munro's B.C. blog posts, including: that saying no to projects like Kinder Morgan, to protect our environment and quality of life are things to be celebrated.

The posts were quickly taken down and replaced with Alberta-centric messaging.

My BMW 325i is my favourite possession was Munro's new riff, telling the Calgary Herald: there's no planet on which I could try to argue against the oilsands. I love all the good things petroleum does for me  including driving too fast on Highway 2.

As the Herald's Don Braid put it: If you have trouble reconciling the contradictions, you are most likely a regular human unconnected with the murky, interlinked worlds of lobbying, campaigning and government advocacy.

If the industry is an unavoidable evil of modern politics, it was then sacrilege time for the assembled.

First up: transparency.

Reporting only intent to lobby  as the legislation currently requires  isn't good enough. The if I'm really, really lucky the minister might open my email before he triple deletes it, isn't the best approach for reporting lobbying activities.

It's meetings that count and lobbyists should be required to report who they've met with as well.

Those on the other end of the bargain  MLAs, political staff, deputy ministers  should also disclose who is lobbying them.

Good way to check to see if everyone's reporting matches up.

Fees paid by clients should be disclosed, as is done in the United States.

Last year, 11,169 lobbyists working Washington, D.C. billed US$2.4 billion, an average of $215,000 each.

A provincewide registry for municipal lobbyists is long over due.

Contingency fee agreements need to be trashed, as is the case at the federal level today.

Public agencies and local governments should be prohibited from hiring outside lobbyists.

In B.C., some universities, local governments, professional bodies such as the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. and federal agencies like Via Rail and Port Metro Vancouver have all retained lobbyists in the past.

If there was an industry award for client development, it would have to go to Earnscliffe Strategy, who has represented Deloitte since 2013.

The goal: to raise Deloitte's profile and awareness about the services they bring to government. Who knew it needed raising?

Never let it be said that having a higher profile doesn't come with a price. For someone.

In 2010, Deloitte billed the B.C. government a little less than $20 million. By 2015, their billings had risen to more than $50 million.

Hope that wasn't a contingency deal.

Dermod Travis is the executive director of IntegrityBC.
Photo: Google Maps

UPDATED: 3:23 P.M.

Highway 1 has now been completely cleared, and both lanes of traffic are open.

UPDATED: 3:10 P.M.

Highway 1 has now been partially opened to alternating traffic two kilometres east of Chase, after a serious accident closed it for several hours Saturday.

DriveBC cautions drivers to still expect long delays in the area, due to heavy congestion.

ORIGINAL: 1:42 P.M.

Highway 1 is closed in both directions two kilometres east of Chase Saturday afternoon due to a vehicle collision.

There are reports one person was killed in the collision between a semi-truck and a motorcycle.

BC Ambulance Service responded to the incident with one ground ambulance at 9:30 a.m., but no one was transported to the hospital.

Highway 97 and Highway 97A or 97B provide an alternate route around the closure.

DriveBC estimates the highway will reopen between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Photo: Kate Bouey

The annual polar bear swim takes place at Kalamalka Lake main beach Sunday, as part of the Vernon Winter Carnival. The chilly dip takes place at 1 p.m.

For those less inclined to swim in February, there are plenty of other Carnival events.

The Feather Fancier Show and the Antique and Collectibles sale take place at the recreation centre, 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Kids Karnival, a fun festival for children and families, takes place at the Okanagan Boys & Girls clubs at 3300 37th Avenue, from 12 - 3 p.m.

The Ruth McGrath dance studio at 3011 28th Street is offering free lessons at 4 p.m.

Additionally, Appetizers and Art takes place at the Village Green Hotel, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Some tickets may be available at the door.
Photo: CTV

A cyclist struck by a semi-truck on Friday has died.

The male cyclist from Vancouver was hit near Brunette Avenue and Sherbrooke Street in New Westminster, about 3:30 p.m.

He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but succumbed to his injuries.

It is with great sorrow for us to confirm that the cyclist has passed away, said Sgt. Jeff Scott. We have spoken with his family who live in another province, and have offered local resources for their care, which includes victim assistance.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the collision to call Const. Heath at 604-525-5411.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
This photo of the Calumet River features the Aulwurm Drive Bridgealso called the Blue Bridge--over the Calumet River in Blue Island, Ill. Sometime after the Calumet Dam was destroyed, the bridge, now abandoned, was built in that location and used for access to the Calumet Woods. (Blue Island Historical Society / Post-Tribune)

Editor's Note: On Dec.11,1816, Indiana became the 19th state in the Union. Lake, Porter and Newton counties originally were one, but on Jan. 28,1836, Porter County was created. A year later, on Jan.18, Lake County became independent. As the state celebrates its bicentennial, the Post-Tribune will be taking a regular look back at the history of Northwest Indiana.

When a man-made dam on the Calumet River in Blue Island, Ill., threw water into Indiana and ruined miles of farmland for more than two decades, a group of Hoosiers took it upon themselves to fix the problem with dynamite in 1875, a local historian said.

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"When they put the dam at Blue Island  the whole area was all flooded and became a big, wide river, and farmers in Illinois and Indiana were angered because the dam destroyed the use of their property, and so they complained," said Dr. Kenneth J. Schoon, professor emeritus at Indiana University Northwest and author of "Calumet Beginnings: Ancient Shorelines and Settlements." "One of the problems of all of this, the dam was in Illinois, and the farmers in Indiana didn't vote for Illinois officials, so they didn't pay much attention to the Indiana farmers who were upset about the loss of their land."

The Calumet Dam had been a bone of contention between the property owners and Illinois for more than two decades.

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In 1849, as the U.S. geared up for industrialization and shipping became an important transportation mode, Indiana and Illinois agreed to permit construction of the Calumet Feeder Canal to use water from the Little Calumet River to augment the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The effort proved profitable by the end of its first season, as the Illinois and Michigan Canal brought in $88,000 in tolls, according to Illinois Gov. Augustus C. French in his 1849 message to the state and reported in the Indianapolis State Sentinel on Feb. 10, 1849. French said the amount was expected to increase each year.

The first time the Indiana property owners tried to destroy the dam was June 19, 1857, said Mike Kaliski, chairman of the Blue Island Historical Society. The story was told in a report of the Illinois & Michigan Canal commissioners for that year and repeated in "The First 100 Years: A Story of Blue Island 1835-1935" by John H. Volp.

"Some 50 or 60 or more evil-minded persons, inhabitants, principally of the State of Indiana, as alleged, came to the Calumet Dam and attempted to destroy it," the report states. The canal superintendent also offered a reward for the apprehension of the suspects, but none were found.

By 1857, the Indiana legislature was on board with its farmers and voted to repeal the act that authorized Illinois to maintain the feeder dam and use the waters of the Calumet River. As the years passed, the dam remained and the Hoosier farmers continued to have flooded fields. The use of shipping  the reason the dam was built in the first place  was changing.

"By 1872 the canal wasn't doing so well because the railroads were taking business away from the canal," Schoon said.

The Indianapolis News reported as much in March 1874, saying, "for the first time since the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, not even one boat freighted with corn awaited the opening of navigation on the great commercial thoroughfare this spring."

Meanwhile, the situation with the farmers was coming to a boil.

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In an article titled "That Dam," on Feb. 21, 1873, the Indianapolis Journal reported, "For nearly 25 years that dam in the Calumet River at Blue Island, Illinois has been flooding several thousand acres of Indiana land in Lake and Porter counties to the great annoyance and injury of the residents thereabout. The dam was built to supply water to the Illinois and Michigan Canal, but some two or three years since was rendered unnecessary for that purpose by a new cut that supplied (water) from the Chicago River. Being useless, the people of Indiana, who had been annoyed by it for so long a time, renewed their efforts for its removal and the 14th of March, 1872, the Illinois legislature passed a joint resolution to remove the dam."

"The Illinois General Assembly passed a bill that required the dam be removed," Schoon said. "Except for the fact that it wasn't removed."

Legal wrangling held up the project. The nearby mill owners filed an injunction barring the state from removing the dam as it would cause their business irreparable injury, according to an article in the Chicago Daily News on Feb. 4, 1873.

Following a visit to Springfield by Indiana officials, the Illinois legislature amended its instructions to the canal commissioners to remove 5 or 6 feet from the top of the dam, "in the shortest time possible and without regard to present or future consequences."

An attempt to take down the dam was made March 20, 1873, but the deconstruction plan was modified and didn't help. Another attempt was made July 16, which apparently failed.

Historians claim angry farmers living along the river ended up destroying the dam with dynamite in 1875, completing a task for Illinois.

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Nancy Coltun Webster is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
But I found myself enthralled by this take, or takedown, overwhelmed by the force of its determination to show that nothing ever comes of a dictatorial nothing, and its revelation of how characters like the ancient Gloucester (Pavel Radak-Haradnitski) get caught up in a powerful family's squabbles. This is a "Lear" that constantly strips away artifice, revealing all the tacky jiggles and flops of nudity and the doomed flailing around of those caught in the grip of a man who answers to no one but himself. Men like Lear are all the more dangerous when their powers are threatened. These actors have a real-life sense of that particular truth.
Five new American Airlines gates will be added to O'Hare International Airport as part of a deal inked between the airline and the city, the mayor's office announced Sunday.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration said the new gates will be built at O'Hare's Terminal 3 and are slated to be up and running by 2018. The project, which will be funded by American Airlines, marks the first major expansion of O'Hare since Terminal 5 was built in 1993, according to the city.

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The total number of gates at O'Hare is expected to grow from 189 to 194.

"O'Hare airport is moving into the 21st century with the addition of these gates," Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans said in a statement. "Passengers will see fewer delays, shorter taxi times and an overall improved experience when flying to or from Chicago, which is our top priority at both O'Hare and Midway airports."

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The move comes one week after the mayor announced an agreement between the city and the major airlines to build the final runway that was part of the ambitious modernization of the airport. That arrangement calls for spending $1.3 billion on a sixth, east-west runway, plus new de-icing pads and new taxiways.

Experts have said ongoing, sweeping infrastructural changes at O'Hare still have not managed to ease some of the worst flight delays of the country's large airports, and that new gates were key to addressing that issue.

But American and United Airlines long have resisted bringing in new gates because it could increase competition and threaten the stranglehold both companies enjoy at O'Hare. Reaching some kind of compromise was critical because the massive fees both airlines pay cover a significant portion of airport upgrades.

"These new gates, in addition to the airfield improvements announced already, signify a major investment American is making in our customers and employees at O'Hare," said Michael Minerva, vice president of government and airport affairs for American Airlines. "Growing our footprint will allow us to grow our operation and better serve the Chicago community."

The mayor and aviation department officials plan to continue negotiating gate expansions with other airline carriers at O'Hare, according to the city's statement.

"This agreement is a win for our city, our airline partners and most importantly, the thousands of passengers who rely on O'Hare on a daily basis," the mayor said.
Crumpled, bloody clothes and gloves lay inside a crime scene in the 4300 block of West 27th Street, where a man was seriously hurt in a shooting Feb. 7, 2016. (Alexandra Chachkevitch / Chicago Tribune)

At least nine people, including a boy, have been wounded since Saturday morning in separate shootings across the city, police said.

Most recently, a 32-year-old man was wounded in a shooting at about 6:10 a.m. Sunday in the Gage Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side, said Officer Janel Sedevic, a Chicago police spokeswoman.

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The man was in the 5800 block of South Albany Avenue when he was shot in the right side and in the lower leg. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in good condition, Sedevic said.

At about 3:05 a.m., a 38-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in the Little Village neighborhood on the South Side, said Officer Veejay Zala, a Chicago police spokesman.

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The man was walking west in the 4300 block of West 27th Street when an unknown attacker who was following him fired shots, Zala said.

The man was shot several times. He was taken in serious condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, Zala said.

Police officers blocked off part of 27th Street east of Kostner Avenue with yellow crime tape. Inside the crime scene, pieces of crumpled, bloody clothing lay in the middle of the road, along with at least two pairs of plastic orange gloves paramedics used to treat the man.

About 1:45 a.m., a 19-year-old man was wounded in a shooting on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side, according to Illinois State Police Sgt. Alexander Diaz.

The man was sitting in the back seat of a car traveling west on Interstate 290 near Racine Avenue when a dark vehicle pulled up to the driver's side of the car and someone inside it fired shots, Diaz said.

The man was shot in the right leg and was driven to Rush University Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized, Diaz said.

No one else was hurt as a result of the shooting.

State police closed I-290 near Racine for about two hours as they investigated.

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Shortly before 5 a.m., a vehicle managed to drive into the closed-off area of the expressway. It crashed into an Illinois state trooper's car, Diaz said. No one was hurt in the incident, and the driver of the vehicle was in custody. State police said the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol.

State police opened the expressway to traffic around 5 a.m.

About 11:30 p.m. Saturday, a 32-year-old man was dropped off at Presence Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, Zala said.

The man was shot in the back, and someone drove him to the hospital. He was transferred to Stroger Hospital, and he was listed in serious condition, Zala said.

The location of the shooting was not immediately known.

About 11:10 p.m., a 33-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in the Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side, Zala said.

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The man was in the 1600 block of South Kedzie Avenue when a male attacker in a black sweater came out of an alley and fired shots, striking the man in the right arm, Zala said.

The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in good condition, Zala said.

About 10:30 p.m., a 37-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, Zala said.

The man was on a sidewalk in the 7200 block of South Peoria Street when an unknown attacker emerged from a gangway and fired shots, striking him in the left foot, Zala said.

The man was taken in St. Bernard Hospital, Zala said.

About 10:05 p.m., a 20-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, Zala said.

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The man was in the 400 block of North Springfield Avenue when he was shot in the left foot. He was taken to Norwegian American Hospital, where he was listed in good condition, Zala said.

Police said the man was being uncooperative and was giving conflicting accounts of what happened to him.

In the 4800 block of West Monroe Avenue at 4:20 p.m., in the South Austin neighborhood, a 16-year old boy was shot in the right leg. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition had stabilized, police said.

Police said they had no information about the shooter and that the victim was being "extremely uncooperative."

Shortly after 8 a.m., a 24-year-old man walked into the emergency room of Mount Sinai Hospital and reported he had been shot in the 1800 block of South Central Park Avenue, Sedevic said.

The man, who suffered a wound to the right thigh in the Lawndale neighborhood shooting, was listed in good condition.

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Police were investigating.
A tenured professor at Wheaton College suspended for saying Muslims and Christians worship the same God has reached an agreement with the west suburban evangelical school to end her employment there, while the administrator who called for her termination has apologized for acting in haste.

Wheaton Provost Stanton Jones told professors in an email Saturday night that he had turned over the decision of whether to vacate the administrative leave of their colleague, Larycia Hawkins, to college President Philip Ryken. But two hours later, faculty received another email from Ryken, informing them that Hawkins would not return to teach.

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"The administration and Dr. Hawkins have come to a place of resolution and reconciliation," Ryken wrote. "With a mutual desire for God's blessing, we have decided to part ways."

Ryken invited faculty to a private worship service at Edman Memorial Chapel Tuesday night and a reception, where Hawkins will say goodbye.

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"This is a time for prayer, lament, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation," Ryken said.

The settlement agreement appears to bring to a close a drama that began in December when Hawkins announced on Facebook that she would don a hijab as part of her Advent devotion to show support for Muslims who had been under scrutiny since mass shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif.

"I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book," she posted on Facebook, along with a photograph of herself in a hijab. "And as Pope Francis stated  we worship the same God."

Within days, the college placed Hawkins on paid administrative leave through the spring semester, pending a review. According to the private evangelical college, not clarifying what makes Christianity distinct from Islam put Hawkins in conflict with Wheaton's statement of faith. Though she submitted a theological response to questions about her statement of solidarity, Jones said it did not resolve the issues.

Hawkins said the college had recommended that she resign. She said the college also proposed a two-year revocation of her tenure, during which time she would continue conversations about the theological implications of her statements and her decision to wear the hijab. Then, before students returned to campus from winter break in January, Jones took the first step toward firing Hawkins.

A few weeks later, the college's Faculty Council, a group of professors elected by their peers, unanimously recommended withdrawing Hawkins' suspension and halting termination proceedings against the associate professor of political science, "due to grave concerns about the process."

In his email to colleagues Saturday night, Jones said he stood by his concerns about Hawkins' theological statements but added that he apologized for appearing to question the sincerity of her Christian faith and acknowledged that he had failed to see her theological response "was a promising start toward answering satisfactorily some of the questions that I was raising at the time."

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"I asked Dr. Hawkins for her forgiveness for the ways I contributed to the fracture of our relationship, and to the fracture of Dr. Hawkins' relationship with the college," he wrote. "While I acted to exercise my position of oversight of the faculty within the bounds of Wheaton College employment policies and procedures, I apologized for my lack of wisdom and collegiality as I initially approached Dr. Hawkins, and for imposing an administrative leave more precipitously than was necessary."

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On Saturday, some faculty expressed anger and confusion. Given the proximity of both announcements, some questioned whether Jones' apology was merely a condition of a legal settlement. They also didn't like the political appearance of the college trying to appease both the conservative and progressive sides of its constituencies.

Ryken said because Hawkins' suspension raised concerns about academic freedom, due process, the leaking of confidential information, possible violations of faculty governance, and gender and racial discrimination, he has asked the board of trustees to conduct a review. He said he hopes that review will improve the way Wheaton College addresses faculty personnel issues in the future, especially when they relate to the statement of faith.

Shortly after Faculty Council called for Hawkins' reinstatement, Gary Burge, a professor of New Testament, said he looked forward to what he called "a restoration and reconciliation service" at Edman Chapel to celebrate Hawkins' return and repent for the way she had been mistreated. The service Tuesday only fulfills half of that aspiration.

"This decision by the provost is a tribute to his integrity and courage," Burge said. "But many of us are wondering why the president's reconciliation with Dr. Hawkins did not include her remaining on our faculty."

mbrachear@tribpub.com

Twitter @TribSeeker
KABUL, Afghanistan  Afghanistan expects to hold direct talks with the Taliban by the end of this month, an official said Sunday.



Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Shakib Mostaghani told reporters that Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States had agreed on a roadmap toward peace talks at a meeting in Islamabad the day before. He said the government hopes to "put an end to the futile violence which is imposed on our people."



The last direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban broke down after just one session last summer when Kabul announced that the Taliban's reclusive, longtime leader Mullah Mohammad Omar died two years ago.



The next four-country meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23 in Kabul. The Taliban are not taking part in those talks, which aim to lay the groundwork for peace talks.



The Afghan government has long accused Pakistan of granting the insurgents safe haven across the porous border, charges denied by Islamabad. But Pakistan is widely believed to have influence over the Taliban and is seen as a key player in any peace efforts.



At the Saturday meeting, the third since the peace process was relaunched last month, the four nations called for direct negotiations between the government and the Taliban to take place soon, despite an escalation in the war since the drawdown of the international combat mission in 2014.



Afghan forces have struggled to fight off the Taliban, who have spread their footprint across the country, leading to high casualties among Afghan forces and fear among the population that the insurgency is gaining strength.



Associated Press
JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on the world to condemn a suspected arson attack against a makeshift synagogue in the West Bank where Jewish Torah scrolls were burned.



The scrolls were stored inside a tent that was used as a synagogue near a West Bank outpost that overlooked the site where the bodies of three Jewish teenagers were found in June 2014. Their abduction and murder was carried out by Palestinians said by Israel to be members of the militant group Hamas and set off a series of events that ultimately led to that summer's 50-day war in Gaza.



Netanyahu said this weekend's desecration of the makeshift synagogue that was named after the teenagers was a result of the type of Palestinian incitement that has fed the current five-month-long wave of Palestinian violence.



"We will do everything to find who did this and bring them to justice but I expect all those, here and around the world, who justifiably condemn any desecration of a mosque ... to equally cry out about this heinous act," he said at the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting.



Israel has been coping for years with vandalism attacks against mosques and churches that have been blamed on Jewish extremists. But attacks on synagogues have been rare.



The Anti-Defamation League, a U.S. group that battles anti-Semitism worldwide, called the incident "an act of anti-Semitism." Education Minister Naftali Bennett said that "the images of burnt holy books in a synagogue are taken straight out of the darkest nights of our people's history."



The suspected attack comes amid five months of near-daily Palestinian assaults, mainly stabbings, against Israeli civilians and security personnel that have killed 27 Israelis. Some 155 Palestinians, the majority of whom Israel says were attackers, were killed by Israeli fire during that time. The rest died in clashes with Israeli security forces.



Israel says the violence is fueled by a campaign of Palestinian incitement. Palestinians say it stems from frustration at decades of occupation.



The violence continued Sunday with an Israeli soldier stabbed in the south of the country and his attacker shot dead.



Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the soldier was standing near the central bus station in the southern city of Ashkelon when he was stabbed in his torso and lightly wounded. The stabber was shot and apprehended. He later died of his wounds. Police said the stabber was a Sudanese foreign national but they still believe the attack to be politically motivated.



Associated Press
PITTSBURGH  A fourth transplant patient who contracted a fungal infection during a mold outbreak at a western Pennsylvania hospital has died, officials said Sunday.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center confirmed the death of Che DuVall, a 70-year-old retired glass cutter who was diagnosed with the infection in September, a month after undergoing a double lung transplant.

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"We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, as well as to our doctors and nurses who have worked with great compassion and skill to care for him," UPMC spokeswoman Allison Hydzik said in a statement. "We again want to reassure our patients that we have taken every possible precaution to make our hospitals as safe as is humanly possible and have followed all recommendations made by federal and state regulators."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said four organ transplant patients who developed a mold infection at UPMC likely got it from time spent in a "negative pressure" room normally reserved for those who already had infections. The hospital suspended its transplant program Sept. 21 but resumed it about a week later after a review of procedures and treatments.

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DuVall and his wife, Karen, had filed a lawsuit in Allegheny County last month against UPMC Presbyterian, alleging that the hospital recklessly housed him in a room that made him more susceptible to such an infection, which prompted removal of parts of his new lungs.

UPMC, which declined to comment on the suit, has maintained that the deaths cannot be directly attributed to mold because transplant patients with weakened immune systems are at risk of picking up infections that otherwise healthy people routinely fight off.

Family attorney Brendan Lupetin told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that DuVall died Saturday morning at UPMC Presbyterian. He had three children.

"Our thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time," he said.

Associated Press
The Serb pilot who landed a jetliner in Somalia with a gaping hole in its fuselage said Sunday he never doubted that it was caused by a bomb and described the security surrounding the airplane at Mogadishu Airport as "zero."

A suicide bomber is suspected to have set off the explosive inside the plane, Somali officials said Saturday. The blast sucked a male passenger out of the plane and forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing Tuesday in Somalia's capital, they said.

The explosion happened about 15 minutes after the plane, with 75 passengers on board, took off from the airport and was at 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) ascending toward 31,000 feet.

"When we went past 10,000 feet, we switched off the fasten belts sign and the cabin crew started serving passengers," pilot captain Vlatko Vodopivec told The Associated Press. "When we climbed past 11,000 feet, it exploded. At first, I thought it was a window breaking. However, we soon sensed the smell of the explosives when smoke came rushing into the cockpit."

"All lasted very shortly," he said. "We immediately demanded an emergency return to the airport because that was the only solution. With a heavy heart, because there the security is minimal and we had to remain there for a couple of days afterward."

If the explosion happened at a higher altitude, the hole in the fuselage might have caused more severe structural damage, he said.

"If we were higher, the whole plane could have disintegrated after the explosion," Vodopivec said.

Because the plane was at a lower altitude, he was able to land safely, he said. "The plane acted normally and we virtually returned normally. Engines and hydraulics worked normally."

The explosion killed one passenger, Abdullahi Abdisalam Borle, according to Somali officials who did not give further details. A man's body was found in the town of Balad, 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) north of Mogadishu, according to police who said he might have been blown from the plane.

Borle is suspected to have been the suicide bomber, the AP was told by a senior Somali civil aviation official, who insisted on anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. Six people have been arrested in connection with the blast after examinations of CCTV images in the airport, a senior Somali intelligence official said.

The pilot blamed the incident on the lack of security around the plane at Mogadishu Airport, describing the facility as chaotic.

"The security is zero. When we park there, some 20 to 30 people come to the tarmac," said Vodopivec, a veteran pilot who has made numerous flights to the airport. "No one has a badge or those yellow vests. They enter and leave the plane, and no one knows who is who ... They can put anything inside when passengers leave the aircraft."

Somalia's government has said it will tighten security at the airport to prevent other threats.

Somalia faces an insurgency from the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, which has carried out deadly attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries.

Daallo Airlines, which is based in Dubai, has temporarily suspended its operations in Somalia's capital following the incident but hopes to restart them soon, said Mohammed Ibrahim Yassin, the airline's chief executive.

Vodopivec also highlighted additional security concerns in the Somali capital, including some planes that are struck by gunfire on approach to the airport.

"You can land at the airport only from the seaside," he said. "On the other side of the runway is the city. Bigger planes don't land over the city because of security concerns. Some planes landed with bullet holes in their fuselage."

Associated Press
A target of bullying, Natalie Keepers cut her arms and harbored suicidal thoughts in middle school. She learned to cope through therapy and medication in high school. But moving to Virginia Tech for college triggered new emotional distress. She sought counseling, help that ended just four months into her freshman year, she said.

It is common for students to have challenges in transitioning to college, and many among the millions of students at the nation's schools seek counseling help as they move to adulthood and life on their own. But what happened next for Keepers is not: She allegedly helped a friend, also a freshman at Virginia Tech, plan the killing of a 13-year-old Blacksburg, Virginia, girl whom she had never met, according to prosecutors.

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Keepers's emotional travails -- and her claim in court Thursday that a Virginia Tech counselor told her that she "no longer needed therapy" in December, less than two months before the slaying -- have once again put the university's mental health services at the center of a grisly criminal case. The case also highlights the harrowing transition to college that has served as a backdrop for other acts of violence by troubled students.

Virginia Tech student Natalie Keepers, who was arrested in connection with the death of Nicole Lovell. (Blacksburg Police Department via AP)

It is not clear whether Keepers showed signs that might have forewarned university counselors of any trouble, let alone the alleged plot to kill Nicole Lovell. But her only public statements thus far have forced Virginia Tech to again confront questions about its counseling center, which has expanded its services and revamped its procedures since 2007, when the campus was the site of the deadliest shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history.

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Virginia Tech's Cook Counseling Center, where Keepers said she was treated and deemed no longer in need of therapy, was faulted for missing the dire warning signs before student Seung-Hui Cho massacred 32 people and killed himself nine years ago. Cho had an extensive history of mental health problems, and his writings in class had turned dark and violent, providing glaring signals that counselors and university staff missed or failed to act upon.

Tracy Vosburgh, a Virginia Tech spokeswoman, declined to address specifics about Keepers's treatment at the university's counseling center, as did other officials at the school. But she said that it is common practice "to have an ongoing dialogue between a doctor and a patient to determine a course of action."

"And it is a practice to provide service when asked," she said.

Attorneys for Keepers declined to comment, and her family did not respond to requests for comment. Tim Keepers, Natalie's father, spoke in court about his daughter's emotional frailty, saying that she would have panic attacks when she had too much homework. But he said she had never been in trouble and was part of a "pretty close, very strong Christian family."

Prosecutors said Keepers, 19, helped David Eisenhauer, 18, plan the slaying of Nicole, a middle school student who was bullied and survived cancer and a liver transplant. Nicole had met Eisenhauer online; authorities have said the two had an inappropriate relationship and that he lured her out of her home to kill her.

Keepers admitted to being part of the plot, helping to pick a spot in the North Carolina woods to dump the body and telling investigators she was "excited to be part of something secretive." She is charged with accessory before the fact to first-degree murder, accessory after the fact and concealing a body.

Tammy Weeks, mother of Nicole Lovell, spoke before reporters outside Blacksburg, Va. Two teenagers from Howard County are charged with killing her 13-year-old daughter last week and dumping the girl's body off a highway in rural North Carolina. (Tim Prudente, Baltimore Sun video) (Baltimore Sun)

At a hearing in Montgomery County, Virginia, on Thursday, neither prosecutors nor Keepers hinted at a possible motive for the killing, nor whether Keepers's mental state played any role in it. Instead, Keepers gave a detailed account of her mental health history in a bid to be released on bail so that she could get appropriate treatment at home with her family in Laurel, Maryland. She said she had been bullied in middle school and suffered depression and panic attacks. A judge denied the request.

Keepers said she was taking an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications and was working with a psychiatrist and a counselor at Virginia Tech as recently as December. Neither could be reached for comment Friday.

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She testified that the counselor decided "the counseling was no longer needed." Keepers originally sought treatment at the center in August because she was having problems with the transition to college, she said.

Aradhana Bela Sood, a professor of child mental health policy at Virginia Commonwealth University and an author of a report on Virginia Tech's response to the 2007 massacre, said a critical question is whether the therapy was discontinued because of a lack of symptoms or a lack of resources at the center.

There is no guarantee that a counselor would have seen the warning signs if therapy had continued, she said.

"Any honest individual who works in this field can safely say that we try to predict things, but we often can't," she said. "But it's unforgivable if you have red flags coming up and you don't do anything about it."

A review commissioned by then-Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) after the 2007 killings found that Cook had "failed to provide the needed support and services to Cho" in the two years before the attack. "The system failed for lack of resources, incorrect interpretation of privacy laws, and passivity," it found.

Since then, Cook has doubled in size and is now the largest university counseling center in Virginia, said Chris Flynn, the center's director. The center has 20 counselors, two psychiatrists, two nurse practitioners and four pre-doctoral interns.

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The school also has seen an increase in students' requests for help. In the 2015 fall semester, student appointments spiked 10 percent compared with the previous year; student appointments have grown by 24 percent during the past five years, Flynn said.

"This does not mean students are more distressed or disturbed, but rather that they have had services previously and are more likely to have been in counseling or on medication in high school," he said. The societal stigma about seeking counseling has dissipated, he said, creating more awareness among parents, more willingness to seek help and more services.

Students who go to Cook generally meet with a counselor for an individual assessment, Flynn said. Each student is screened for "distress," including depression, anxiety and hostility; during intake interviews, staff members assess students for the risk of suicide and potential for violence against others. Students can choose to continue in individual or group counseling or may request a medication evaluation, he said.

Schools nationwide are straining to provide mental health services to students who need them. Many have expanded counseling centers and outreach in recent years, but questions remain about whether staffing is robust enough to meet demand.

A 2014 survey of nearly 500 counseling center directors found that 150 used waiting lists for clients to receive ongoing treatment. At some large schools, those lists grew to have dozens of students, according to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors. The survey found that small colleges typically had fewer than 1,000 students for each counseling professional on staff. At large colleges, the ratio ballooned to 2,300 to 1.

"All of this comes to funding and the cost of higher education," said Gregory Eells, director of counseling and psychological services at Cornell University and a former president of the association. "Those are questions. Nothing is for free. There are costs to adding therapists to do this work. The demand is still clearly beyond the capacity of centers."

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Even when schools have adequate staff, it is a challenge to connect services to students. Often, those who need them don't seek help.

To overcome that obstacle, Marney White, an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale University, said schools should consider mandatory mental health screening for all students, to ensure early intervention.

"The problems with the mental health systems on college campuses parallel those of the mental health system in general: insufficient resources to provide affordable, effective, and immediate services," White wrote in December on The Washington Post's Grade Point blog. "Instead of providing care only in the case of crises, we should flip the emphasis - we need to provide mental health services early, before the onset of serious disorder, and we need to devote attention to mental health wellness campaigns."

Daniel Eisenberg, an associate professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan, said many colleges are training faculty advisers, residential assistants and others known as "gatekeepers" on how to spot students who might need help and provide them with referrals.

Early and effective treatment can prevent tragedies such as suicide or simply make the difference between whether a student stays in school or drops out.

"It's a key point in their lives," Eells said. "Their life trajectory is being set. You reach people now, and you can make a huge impact. It's like a moon launch. If they're off target now and they don't get a course correction, they're headed to Mars instead of the moon. That's part of why college mental health is so important."
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton peeks through signs of hers as she greets supporters during a campaign stop in a Manchester, N.H., neighborhood. (Jacquelyn Martin / AP)

HENNIKER, N.H.  Trailing rival Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton sought to summon another New Hampshire comeback on Saturday but faced blunt questions about her trustworthiness and explanation of the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi.

Clinton campaigned throughout New Hampshire's voter-rich southern belt in hope of overcoming Sanders' steady lead heading into Tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary. The former secretary of state claimed a razor-thin victory in Iowa earlier in the week but is guarding against a blowout that might reset the race for the Democratic nomination.

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"You vet us. You take second, third and fourth looks," Clinton told supporters during a rally in Concord. "And I hope you will look hard at this."

New Hampshire was the setting of Clinton's upset victory against then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 primary and it remains sacred ground for supporters of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, whose second-place finish in the 1992 primary led to his self-applied nickname of the "Comeback Kid." But Sanders, who as Vermont senator is no stranger to the state, has built a strong advantage here and hopes to push back against Clinton's argument that she would be most electable come November.

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Sanders headed to New York City for a cameo appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," appearing with comedian Larry David, who has portrayed Sanders as an impassioned underdog shouting for revolution.

Sanders joined David in a skit about saving passengers on the Titanic, where he railed against the 1 percent and poked fun at the difference between socialism and Democratic socialism. Introducing the show's musical guest, David asked Sanders how things were going in New Hampshire.

"Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good," Sanders said, imitating a line from David's HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Sanders, campaigning earlier in Rindge, expressed confidence in Tuesday's contest while noting that Clinton prevailed in the 2008 New Hampshire primary. "If we can bring out a decent vote on Tuesday, I am confident we're going to win," he said.

Clinton, meanwhile, faced a tough crowd of voters during an afternoon town hall meeting at New England College in Henniker.

Her first question came from a young man who asked about how she responds to people who distrust her in light of controversies over the Benghazi attacks and her use of a private email server at the State Department.

Clinton said she has had a long history of taking on the toughest issues while many of her opponents try to "sow doubts" about her. "I know that I am viewed as a direct threat to the forces that call a lot of shots in this country," she said.

A woman who said she worked for Clinton's 2008 campaign in New Hampshire told the ex-secretary of state her explanation of the Benghazi attacks "continues to give me some doubts." She also wanted to know why Clinton felt compelled to delete so many personal emails from her private account as secretary of state  "everybody knows you can't write 30,000 emails to your yoga instructor."

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Clinton said the attacks in Libya that killed four Americans happened under a "fog of war" and people on the ground had worked hard to understand what was happening as the attacks unfolded. Clinton said she regretted that it had been used as a "great political issue."

When another questioner asked why Sanders had so much momentum, Clinton said she was pleased he had attracted so many young people to his campaign but made the case that her policy proposals on health care and college affordability was superior.

Clinton said she respected the "very strong passion that Senator Sanders brings to his critique of the economy and his critique of Wall Street. I happen to share it." But she said "that's not the only problem we have in America," and the nation needed to address "all the barriers that are holding people back."

Her campaign said it encouraged pro-Sanders college students to attend the meeting through the social media site Reddit as a way to reach out to the senator's supporters.

Clinton's top supporters in New Hampshire said the state had a history of unpredictability and expressed hope that a major organizing push in the final weekend would make a difference. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was dispatching dozens of organizers to the state while a number of veterans of past Clinton campaigns, including many from Arkansas, were knocking on doors and staffing phone banks this weekend.

"We're not giving up at all. We're fighting to the end which is what Hillary does all the time. How it comes out is in the hands of the voters," said Billy Shaheen, a veteran of multiple New Hampshire campaigns and the husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Marco Rubio came under withering assault in a debate here Saturday night as opponents for the Republican presidential nomination sought to cut down the senator from Florida over his relative inexperience and for abandoning his push for comprehensive immigration reform.

Donald Trump, the race's national front-runner, also was put on the defensive by a newly invigorated Jeb Bush, who accused Trump of taking advantage of an elderly woman by using eminent-domain laws to take her Atlantic City, New Jersey, property as part of a casino development.

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But it was Rubio, riding momentum after a surprisingly strong third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, who became the top target in a rollicking ABC News debate that veered - sometimes chaotically - from Islamic State terrorists and North Korea to health care and immigration.

In an urgent bid to slow Rubio down ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie savaged the 44-year-old senator for never having made a "consequential decision," lacking principled leadership on immigration and being unprepared for the presidency.

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"I like Marco Rubio, and he's a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions," Christie said, reiterating points he has made all week on the campaign trail.

Likening Rubio to President Obama, Christie added: "We've watched it happen, everybody. For the last seven years. The people of New Hampshire are smart. Do not make the same mistake again."

Rubio appeared rattled by the assault, which came chiefly from Christie but was echoed by former Florida governor Bush. Rubio defended his Senate experience and suggested that Christie and other critics were discounting Obama's skill in navigating Washington.

In one damaging exchange, Christie pounced on Rubio for repeating talking points within minutes - seeming to support Christie's characterizations of Rubio as an overly scripted "boy in the bubble."

"Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing," Rubio said early in the debate. "He knows exactly what he's doing. He is trying to change this country."

Rubio repeated the same answer moments later - nearly verbatim, down to its cadence - leading Christie to mock him.

"There it is," the governor said. "The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody."

Rubio repeated similar phrasing two more times more during the night.

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He also came under criticism for his position on abortion. Rubio opposes abortion without exception for rape and incest, something Bush said was an extreme position that would make him vulnerable in a general election.

Rubio's retort: "I would rather lose an election than be on the wrong side of this issue."

It was a difficult night for the freshman senator, who has shown himself in the previous seven debates to be an agile and prepared performer but had never faced such an onslaught from Christie and Bush. Both are desperate to revive their candidacies in New Hampshire or face the prospect of dropping out.

Trump, seeking to rebound in New Hampshire after a humbling Iowa second-place finish, returned to the debate stage after skipping the last event in Iowa because of a feud with the Fox News Channel. He ran into an uncharacteristically feisty Bush, who lashed out at him over the eminent-domain issue.

Asked by co-moderator David Muir whether he supported the use of eminent domain, Trump said that he did. "The Keystone Pipeline, without eminent domain, it wouldn't go 10 feet, okay? You need eminent domain," Trump said, adding that "without eminent domain, you don't have roads, highways, schools, bridges or anything."

But Bush interjected to call out Trump for blurring the differences between eminent domain for public and private use.

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"What Donald Trump did was use eminent domain to try to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City," Bush charged. "That is not public purpose. That is downright wrong."

From there, Trump and Bush shouted over each other. "He wants to be a tough guy tonight," Trump said. Belittling Bush, Trump held his index finger over his lips and said, "Let me talk. Quiet."

The audience booed Trump.

"That's all of his donors and special interests out there," Trump said, noting that many debate tickets go to party benefactors. "The reason they're not loving me is, I don't want their money. I'm going to do the right thing for the American public."

Other candidates did not confront Trump as aggressively as Bush did. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has eviscerated Trump on the campaign trail, whiffed when Muir asked in the opening question whether he stood by an earlier comment that he thought Trump lacked the temperament to be commander in chief.

Trump pounced, suggesting America's adversaries would shrink as Cruz had should they face a President Trump.

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"If you noticed, he didn't answer your question," Trump said. "That's what's going to happen with our enemies and the people we compete against. We're going to win with Trump."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich - one of three governors clawing to get a ticket out of New Hampshire when the campaign moves next week to South Carolina and beyond - avoided confrontation with the other Republicans.

Instead, he sought to project a sunny disposition and talked about his record of cutting taxes and balancing the budget in his state. He also said conservatism should be defined by helping "people who live in the shadows."

"If I get elected president, head out tomorrow and buy a seat belt, because there's going to be so much happening in the first 100 days, it's going to make your head spin," Kasich said. "We're going to move America forward. I promise you."

The candidates reopened a polarizing debate over George W. Bush's counterterrorism policies, particularly the former president's authorization of waterboarding, which has been criticized as torture.

Trump defended his earlier vow that he would deploy the tactic to extract information from potential terrorists.

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"Not since medieval times have people seen what's going on," Trump said. "I would bring back waterboarding, and I'd bring it back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding."

Other candidates who were asked about the matter said they would abide by congressional restrictions on the practice, while Cruz said he "would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use."

Rubio embraced another Bush administration idea: opening the detention center used to house suspected foreign fighters at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Obama long has wanted to close the center, but Rubio said, "We should be putting people into Guantanamo, not emptying it out."

Cruz also was asked to explain his statement that he would authorize "carpet bombing" as a way of attacking Islamic State terrorists, which some have criticized out of concern that such action would kill innocent civilians.

Cruz stood by his phraseology but said that he meant he would authorize the bombing of targeted roads and other facilities as well as what he called a university for terrorists. He then said that he would wait until freshmen matriculated.

Early in the debate, Cruz was led by Muir to apologize for what Ben Carson viewed as dirty tricks at the Iowa caucuses. Cruz's campaign representatives suggested to caucus-goers that Carson was suspending his campaign minutes before the caucuses, which may have helped move some of Carson's supporters to caucus for Cruz.

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Cruz said he didn't know about the matter at the time. Turning to face Carson, Cruz said: "When this transpired, I apologized to him then, and I do so now. Ben, I'm sorry."

In the debate's later, more substantive exchanges, Carson, a soft-spoken retired neurosurgeon, was largely absent. At one point, he remarked, "I'm not here just to add beauty to the stage."

The candidates viewed Saturday night's debate, held here on the small campus of Saint Anselm College that has quadrennially hosted presidential debates going back decades, as their most urgent of their eight debates so far.

A discussion about the heroin epidemic that is especially destructive in New Hampshire elicited a powerful, emotional moment for Cruz, as he talked about his sister, Miriam, who died from a drug overdose.

His voice cracking, Cruz described how she was addicted to painkillers, went to bed one night and never woke up.

"This is an absolute epidemic," Cruz said. "We need leadership to solve it."
This photo provided by the Harmon family shows World War II veteran Elaine Harmon at the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2010. The ashes of Harmon are sitting in a closet in her daughters home, where they will remain until they can go where her family says is her rightful resting place: Arlington National Cemetery. (Bill Harmon, AP)

Here's a World War II story featuring an unsung protagonist: Jill McCormick was piloting an A-24 dive bomber/scout plane out of Baltimore when she heard the loudest sound ever  an explosion  followed by terrifying silence. "I got on the radio and yelled, 'Dingy, dingy, I'm gonna ditch it.' Then I put it into Delaware Bay."

Her distress call summoned an ambulance, which arrived just as McCormick emerged from the drink. When the driver asked McCormick if she was OK, the flier replied: "Sure, I always land this way."

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We can't vouch for the exact dialogue because the story was told with two different punch lines in a 1977 Tribune story, but McCormick flew  and on that day, swam  as part of the Army Air Forces. She was a WASP: one of 1,074 members of a female paramilitary air force who flew missions at home to free up more male pilots for war duty.

In their day the brave WASPs never got their due. They had to fight for recognition, and now here it is all these years later and they are still getting short-changed, even as the number of surviving Women Airforce Service Pilots dwindles to its last 100 or fewer.

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The issue is whether to grant departed WASPs the honor of having their ashes laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors. The Army has decided to keep them out. That's wrong.

WASPs were not combat-trained, but they took on a combination of dangerous flying assignments and grunge work that involved just as much risk and sacrifice as many a soldier, sailor or Marine faced. They ferried fighters, bombers and VIPs across the country, flew planes towing targets for live-ammunition gunnery practice, test-flew repaired aircraft and served as instrument instructors.

They also died in service to their country: 38 WASPs were killed in accidents. One of the biggest risks they faced was the condition of their aircraft, which were sometimes worn out from combat duty.

During the war years, the WASPs were civilian volunteers, not members of the military, meaning there was no official financial support or recognition for those killed on the job. In some cases fellow pilots helped chip in to ship the body home. There was supposed to be a deal with Congress during the war to get the pilots commissioned as military officers but it fell through. Only in 1977 were the WASPs granted veteran status. They got the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.

In 2002 Arlington officials said WASPs were eligible for burial with military honors, but last year the Army said the pilots' status gave them access to programs administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs, such as VA cemeteries, but not to Arlington. The concern is a lack of space, the Army told Tribune Newspapers. Over the years, 17 WASPs were laid to rest at Arlington, 15 of whom would have been eligible for other reasons. The Army says the remains of the other two can stay, but that's it.

The family of the late Elaine Harmon, a WASP, and others are pushing to overturn this slight and allow the remains of WASPs to be stored in an urn in a crypt at Arlington. Legislation introduced in the House and Senate would overturn the Army decision.

This Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), provided by the family, taken in the 1940s, shows Elaine Harmon. Harmon was a pilot in World War II under a special program, Women Airforce Service Pilots, that flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat. (AP)

If you're still not sure these WASPs earned this honor, consider Margaret Phelan Taylor, born on a farm in Emmetsburg, Iowa. She saw a Life magazine cover photo of a female pilot and joined up. While flying a transport aircraft out West, smoke appeared in the cockpit. She was trained to bail out in case of trouble, but her parachute was too big to fit, she told NPR in 2010. "I thought, 'You know what? I'm not going until I see flame. When I see actual fire, why, then I'll jump.' "

Turned out to be just a burned-out instrument. Those WASPs were some cool customers.
Members of the Illinois 36th Infantry relax in front of their winter camp quarters at the Military History Fest at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. (Denise Linke / The Beacon-News)

The scene looked like it came straight from the "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

The head of the household, sporting the latest in well-to-do men's casual wear, relaxes with his pipe in his streamlined '50s modernist easy chair as his devoted wife, still in curlers with a housecoat worn over her day dress, pours him a drink. Only the shelves crammed with canned food, the bunk beds in the corner and the large battery-operated radio by the "I Like Ike and Dick" poster reveal that Mr. and Mrs. 1961 are kicking back in their backyard bomb shelter, waiting for the government to broadcast the news that the radiation cloud is gone and life can return to normal.

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"People were given the expectation that they'd need to spend two to four weeks in their shelters if an atomic bomb fell in their area," explained Jeremy Lobbezoo of DeKalb, who portrayed the shelter owner along with his wife, Marie. "If an attack came, the government would broadcast updates on two dedicated AM channels to let people know how much radiation was still in the air and when it would be safe to leave."

The first-time exhibit at the Military History Fest at the Pheasant Run convention center in St. Charles was just one of several interactive displays featuring civilian life during war.

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Air raid helmets, radiation meters and other nuclear war survival gear on display at Military History Fest at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. (Denise Linke / The Beacon-News)

It also sparked a tide of reminiscences from middle-aged visitors who aren't used to seeing something at the festival that they recognize from their own childhoods.

"Usually there's nothing on display here past World War II, so a lot of older people really enjoyed seeing all the vintage furnishings we have from the early '60s," Marie Lobbezoo noted. "A lot of people grew up with cooler chests decorated with penguins, potato chips packaged in big round cans and moms who wore housecoats over their dresses while they cleaned the house."

In Pheasant Run's resort section, a long, narrow room was transformed into a 1940s USO canteen similar to the five that operated in Chicago. Fashionably dressed hostesses welcomed visitors as they stocked the buffet tables with free food prepared using "Liberty cookbook" recipes and adhering to rationing laws, with no eggs or butter in the cakes. Propaganda posters on the walls urged civilians to grow their own food, join carpools to conserve gasoline and buy war bonds.

"Part of the appeal of doing this is recreating something my mother told me about," said USO hostess Sue Finkle of the Chicagoland Costumers Guild, which organized the canteen. "All of us got into costuming by going through our parents' old clothes when we were children. Before this we ran a Victorian tea room at the festival for a few years, but this resonates more for me because I experienced those days secondhand through my parents' stories about the war years."

Christine Cross was one of several re-enactors portraying civilian women during World War II. Dressed in a denim jumpsuit and demure blouse with her rolled hair confined in a flowered snood, she drew cries of "It's Rosie the Riveter!" wherever she went.

World War II soldiers and their dates dance the swing during the Re-Enactors Ball Saturday at the Military History Fest at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. (Denise Linke / The Beacon-News)

"I like to educate people about the vital contributions American women made during the war," said Cross, the director of the New London Public Museum in Wisconsin. "There was a lot more to it than being Rosie the Riveter or Wendy the Welder. Women did fill the manufacturing jobs opened by the war, but they also did management work and civilian work for the military."

One little-known role that more than 1,000 women played in World War II was flying military planes on noncombat missions as part of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots, Cross said.

"WASP pilots would fly planes  including fighter planes  from the factories to the military bases. They would test-fly planes that had just undergone repairs to make sure they were safe," she recounted. "They also towed big windsock-like targets over artillery ranges so that the gunners could practice aiming. Thirty-eight WASP pilots were killed in action during the war when a repaired plane turned out not to be safe or an artillery team missed the target and hit the plane."

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Even Civil War soldiers adopted a more civilian lifestyle during the winter, when bad weather halted the fighting, explained Aaron Rowland of the 36th Illinois Infantry re-enactment group, which drew soldiers from Aurora, Rockford and other northern Illinois towns.

"There were a million different ways to establish winter quarters. We chose this version because it was fairly common and it transports easily when we go to festivals and encampments," he said.

Early 17th century mercenaries demonstrate sword and dagger techniques at Military History Fest at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. (Denise Linke / The Beacon-News)

The two-man tent labeled "Hotel Aurora" had a canvas roof and upper walls that attached to wooden lower walls that let the occupants set up shelves for their personal possessions. A tiny wood stove sat in a corner with a vent pipe leading smoke outside, while a clothesline suspended from the center poles held a collection of drying 19th-century "unmentionables".

While magazines, a deck of cards and a few letters from home cluttered the small table inside the tent, most soldiers spent as little time in winter camps as possible.

"The sanitary conditions were deplorable, and the camp was mired in mud most of the time," Rowland explained. "Plus, everything was so dirty that women didn't come to the camp unless they were on the arm of a senior officer. So the men went into town to drink and socialize whenever they could."

As a civilian Civil War re-enactor, Lara Burau of DeKalb said she enjoyed seeing portrayals of wartime civilian life from other time periods.

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"I'm farby [dressed in modern clothing] today because it's hard to drive a car in hoop skirts, but I love coming to this event to see what other re-enactment groups are doing. It's fascinating to see how many similarities there are between us all."

For information about future Military History Fest events, visit the organization's Facebook page, Military History Fest.
Six-year-old Hope Neloms portrays Viola Wheeler for Second Baptist Church of Elgins Sankofa Wax Museum during Saturdays Black History Family Festival at Gail Borden Public Library. (Gloria Casas, The Courier-News)

Hope Neloms became a living exhibit in her debut public speaking appearance Saturday.

"I am Viola Wheeler," the 6-year-old Elgin girl said, reciting highlights from Wheeler's life. Neloms was one of the children participating in Second Baptist Church of Elgin's Sankofa Wax Museum at Gail Borden Public Library's Black History Family Festival.

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Wheeler was born in 1890 and died in 1968. She and her husband owned one of Elgin's first black businesses, Neolms said, and Wheeler took over Elgin-Wheeler Trucking when her husband died.

"I was even known to put on overalls and work on trucks myself," Neloms said.

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Sankofa Wax Museum commemorates the lives of African-American Elginites. The festival's theme, "Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories," weaved together stories of Elgin families and important places that played a part in their history.

"Each of us remembers one place that is very, very special. It may be your grandmother's house or a fishing spot," keynote speaker Glennette Tilley Turner said, crediting her mother with helping her realize how important those special places can be for families.

Elgin was special to her mother, Phyllis, because it was where she was born in 1906, said Tilley Turner, author of numerous books, including "The Underground Railroad in Illinois."

Her mother grew up on Hill Avenue, she said. She went to church at the old Second Baptist Church and attended school at the old Sheridan Elementary School. Every year before school, her grandmother bought her a new dress at Ackman's department store in downtown Elgin, Tilley Turner said. Phyllis moved away after her father died. Sixty decades later, she returned to Elgin as a widow and lived here until her own death.

Elgin was also special to the Freedom Seekers, who escaped from plantations near Cherokee, Ala., Tilley Turner said. One Elgnite, William Bent, built an addition to his farmhouse to shelter a family, although not all Elgin residents were as welcoming, she wrote in "The Underground Railroad in Illinois," 800 copies of which were donated to the festival.

Every location where Freedom Seekers sought refuge was considered hallowed ground, she said.

There are many hallowed grounds around the Fox Valley, including the location where William and Carolyn Strong's home sat, which is now near Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, and the home of Dr. and Mrs. E.C. Guild in Wayne Center, Tilley Turner said.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Alaina Bottens, left, and Amelia O'Halloran, members of the Elmhurst Cyber Security Club, speak with their mentor, Dean Jensen, as they prepare for a cybersecurity competition Jan. 24, 2016, at Elmhurst College. A dozen students from York High School make up the club. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

The room looked like something you'd see in Palo Alto or Mountain View: pizza boxes strewn across a table at one end, young people clustered around computer screens at the other, working in near silence except for the occasional mumble or electronic bleep.

They were York High School students searching for viruses, malware, backdoors, password crackers and other Internet terrors on simulated computer networks. After scanning the contents of one folder, Amelia O'Halloran spotted an ominous file.

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"Keystroke logger?" she said.

"That's bad," replied Alaina Bottens.

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Their discovery came in the opening minutes of the CyberPatriot competition, in which students aim to lock down virtual computer networks from the threat of hackers and rogue agents. The team from York High in Elmhurst finished first in Illinois last year, and this year hopes to make it all the way to the national finals in Baltimore.

The contest is meant to interest young students in the booming and talent-hungry field of cybersecurity, where tens of thousands of U.S. jobs go unfilled each year despite a median salary of $88,000. As high-profile hacks proliferate, some say that schools, government and industry all need to do more to attract young talent.

"When you think about the 'Internet of things,' where cars and homes are connected, we're going to see an explosion of need (for security workers)," said Michael Kaiser of the National Cyber Security Alliance, an organization that promotes online safety. "We can't grow the Internet if we don't have the people to keep it secure."

The Air Force Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes technical education as a way to enhance national security, started the CyberPatriot contest seven years ago. Retired Air Force brigadier general Bernie Skoch said participation has shot up from eight teams during the first competition to nearly 3,400 teams this year.

They include middle schools, high schools and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units, Skoch said. They're given 10 instruction modules that include lessons on ethical online behavior as well as technical skills, and then the competitions begin.

The students are given access to simulated computer networks they must secure against attacks. When they do something right  say, establish a policy that requires sufficiently complicated passwords  a video game-style chime sounds.

But they aren't told when they overlook something, a practice meant to mimic real world conditions, Skoch said.

"We do not release the specific vulnerabilities, just like the SATs won't tell you which questions you missed," he said. "We don't want them developing a checklist mentality. We want them to learn analytical problem-solving as a team."

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CyberPatriot is just one of many security contests meant to interest students in the field, and for those who do catch the bug, college programs are proliferating. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has one that offers scholarships which students pay back with two years of government service.

Roy Campbell, a U. of I. computer science professor who leads the Illinois Cyber Security Scholars Program, said not all of its students come from the engineering school  the program is also open to those seeking law degrees.

"We have a litigious society, and whenever you get involved in looking for criminals and hackers, you must be careful you don't overstep the laws of the land," Campbell said. "You have to know the limits for what you can and can't do."

Kaiser said that's a sign of the varied demands of the cybersecurity industry.

"The technical piece can be taught," he said. "We want people who are excellent communicators, who can talk about what's going on in a system. We want problem-solvers, collaborators. Musicians actually make great professionals because they can see patterns. It's a mistake to think it's only a technical field."

But the York teens are, for the most part, a technically minded group. They created their team last year in the absence of a school coding club, and when they couldn't find an in-house adviser, joined up with Elmhurst College computer specialist Dean Jensen.

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They meet at the college on weekends for practice and contests, and one recent Sunday were huddled around a conference table, their laptops aglow as they carved up responsibilities for the upcoming competition.

"It's kind of like a puzzle," said Bottens, a 16-year-old junior who co-founded the team. "You have to find all the different parts. It's most fun if there's an attack on the computer, like a back door or a really big vulnerability that has multiple aspects to it, and you have to go through all the different layers of the computer to find it."

Lisa O'Halloran, Amelia O'Halloran's mother, said her daughter's involvement in the competition has rubbed off on the entire family, encouraging them to avoid downloads from sketchy websites.

"Here they learn a lot about ethics, and how (flouting) the ethics actually damages your computer," she said. "(Amelia) is more strict about that. And when my computer runs slow, she can fix it. She's our tech guy."

Last weekend's contest was a state-level competition pitting the team against others in Illinois. The official results likely won't be in until Monday, but Jensen was optimistic that York's showing was good enough to get them to the regional round later this month. The top three finishers there will win a trip to April's national finals.

Jensen said the York team aspires to reach the nationals this year, and perhaps win it all next year. Regardless of the results, he said the teens are already absorbing lessons from the competition.

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"These kids are vastly beyond where the general public is," he said. "You'll look at the studies that come out, and it defies logic that people still use passwords that are '123456' or 'password,' and they think it's perfectly acceptable. These kids would never do that."

jkeilman@tribpub.com

Twitter @JohnKeilman
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China's southernmost Yongxing Island in Sansha City is planning to launch commercial flights, after a civil aircraft for Spring Festival arrived on Saturday.

Hainan Airlines on Saturday provided the first civil flight for 150 passengers to Yongxing Island, the seat of the Sansha government.

Launching civil aviation on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea is considered vital to safeguard the islands and help provide supplies to the people living there.

Ren Jiaojiao went to the island to see her husband who has been stationed on the island with the navy.

They had not seen each other for a whole year and she felt lucky to get this chance.

"I think it's great as I can visit my husband. Also, I've never before been to Yongxing Island."

In the past, travelers had to spend about 10 hours on a ship to get to Yongxing Island.

Regular commercial flights to Yongxing and other islands will cut this time to about 90 minutes.

Local authorities say the launch of the civil aviation business is one of the city's many efforts to improve the quality of life there, and it will not be long before flights become routine for family members during the holidays.

Sansha City mayor Xiao Jie has spent all of his Chinese New Year holidays on the island since taking office.

"I hope living conditions on the island can be further improved in the future. And I wish through this visit, the people of Sansha can feel greater happiness in having a more festive New Year."

Yongxing Island Airport will serve as a crucial hub in the South China Sea.
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The death toll after a powerful earthquake struck southern Taiwan reached 24 by Sunday afternoon, the latest statistics from a local fire agency said.

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Kaohsiung of Taiwan at a depth of 15 kilometers at 03:57 am Beijing Time on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. [Photo/Weibo]

Twenty two of the dead, including six children, were found in the collapsed Wei Guan building.

At least 121 people are still waiting as 282 firefighters, 340 voluntary firefighters, 105 fire trucks and 44 ambulance trucks work around-the-clock at the scene.

The epicenter was monitored at 22.94 degrees north latitude and 120.54 degrees east longitude and the quake happened at 3:57 a.m. Beijing Time on Saturday at a depth of 15 kilometers, according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

Local monitoring authorities put the scale of the quake at 6.4 magnitude.

Previous reports said more than 460 people were injured in the quake.

In the historic city of Tainan, which bore the brunt of the quake, eight buildings collapsed and another five were partially damaged.

Among those killed are a 10-day-old baby girl. She was one of ten people killed in the collapse of the 16-story Wei Guan residential building in the Yongkang District of Tainan.

The Wei Guan building, left on its side with twisted metal girders exposed, was said to be home to 256 people in 92 households.

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Around 35,000 Syrian refugees have arrived at the Turkish border near the southern city of Kilis in the last 48 hours, with tens of thousands more to come, the local governor said on Saturday.

Suleyman Tapsiz, governor of Kilis province, told reporters at the Oncupinar border that the 35,000 Syrian refugees are being accommodated at camps on the Syrian side of the border.

Another 70,000 Syrians could be expected if Russian air strikes and Syrian army's advances continued, said the governor, adding that "our doors are not closed, but at the moment there is no need to host such people inside our borders."

The refugees had been given food, blankets and tents, he said.

Meanwhile, some 2,000 Turkmens crossed into Turkey Saturday to flee attacks by Russian and Syrian forces in northwestern Syria, according to the Turkish authorities. They have taken refuge in Guvecci camp near Yayladagi, a border town in the Hatay province in southern Turkey, while more migrants would be allowed into Turkey in the coming days.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that more than 5,000 Turkmens and Arab refugees had been accepted into Turkey in the last week alone, following the airstrikes.

Recent attacks in northwestern Syria have displaced thousands of Turkmens, a Turkic ethnic group mainly in Syria and Iraq, prompting many to seek refuge in southern Turkey.
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TAIPEI - The death toll after a powerful earthquake struck southern Taiwan reached 23 by Sunday noon, the latest statistics from a local fire agency said.

Twenty one of the dead, including six children, were found in the collapsed Wei Guan building.

At least 120 people are still waiting as 282 firefighters, 340 voluntary firefighters, 105 fire trucks and 44 ambulance trucks work around-the-clock at the scene.

The epicenter was monitored at 22.94 degrees north latitude and 120.54 degrees east longitude and the quake happened at 3:57 a.m. Beijing Time on Saturday at a depth of 15 kilometers, according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

Local monitoring authorities put the scale of the quake at 6.4 magnitude.

Previous reports said more than 460 people were injured in the quake.

In the historic city of Tainan, which bore the brunt of the quake, eight buildings collapsed and another five were partially damaged.

Among those killed are a 10-day-old baby girl. She was one of ten people killed in the collapse of the 16-story Wei Guan residential building in the Yongkang District of Tainan.

The Wei Guan building, left on its side with twisted metal girders exposed, was said to be home to 256 people in 92 households.
Firefighters enter a collapsed building to search for earthquake survivors in Kaohsiung, epicenter of the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that jolted Taiwan at 3:57 am on Feb 6, 2016. [Photo provided by China Times to China Daily]

Mainland offers Taiwan quake help

While addressing a Chinese New Year gathering on Saturday morning, Premier Li Keqiang sent condolences to the victims of the disaster.

The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) had been in contact with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) since 6 a.m., around two hours after the quake. The ARATS sent a letter to the SEF offering rescue assistance if needed.

The State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office meanwhile said the mainland is ready to provide all necessary assistance in quake relief. Office head Zhang Zhijun said so far no mainland tourists in Taiwan have been affected in the quake.

The mainland's Red Cross Society has offered 2 million yuan (306,278 U.S. dollars) of disaster relief funds to Taiwan.
BEIJING -- From the southernmost islands to the icebound provinces in the north, people across China are celebrating the lunar new year, or Spring Festival which falls on Monday.

Liu Chao and his wife from an impoverished village in southwest China's Guizhou Province have been preparing for the new year's eve dinner the whole day.

The couple cooked 18 dishes for the most important meal in the year, such as home-made smoked pork and pickles, fresh vegetables they planted and ham sausage bought in a supermarket. Fruits, candies and soda were also on the table.

Their children gathered around the table and waited eagerly for the dinner to begin. For the first time they were not scolded for sneaking food.

"As life is getting better, dishes are richer than before," said Luo Yanhong, the wife.

After the dinner, Chang Xiaolu in Shanghai began packing for a family trip to Hainan Province in south China. "The climate there is warm and pleasant, especially suitable for my aged parents, and we set out tomorrow," Chang said.

While in north China's Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, self-driving travellers have gathered to experience the feeling of snow and ice.

The regional tourism bureau said various options including winter sports, prairie customs performance and hot spring are offered for urban dwellers who want a city getaway during the holiday.

For most Chinese, the new year's eve is dedicated to the four-hour-long gala that started at 8 p.m. on the state broadcaster. This year, many of them held a smartphone in hand for "gift money".

Chinese Internet giants including Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu gave out more than 1 billion yuan ($152 million) as gift money on the night to woo as many mobile payment users as possible.

Villagers in Qingcheng Township, east China's Shandong Province, where smartphone are not so popular, however, preferred an original gala that was staged by themselves.
BEIJING -- On Sunday, the eve of the Lunar New Year, Shanghai downtown resident Wei said he was the 6,403rd person to promise on instant messaging app WeChat not to set off fireworks this year.

Wei's promise echoed many banners and short messages sent to residents by local police calling for no fireworks after a safety regulation was approved at the end of last year to ban fireworks within the inner-city ring area out of safety and pollution concerns.

Chinese authorities are on high alert for public safety as the country embraced the Spring Festival holiday, a joyous occasion also characterized by fireworks, mass celebrations and heavy traffic.

The Ministry of Public Security told police to step up fire safety management and emergency response as the holiday season means an increase in fires and other accidents.

Vice Minister Li Wei urged police departments at all levels to analyze and evaluate fire risks, increase enforcement of fire codes and improve emergency responses, keeping a closer eye on firecrackers, large-scale gatherings, galas and other mass activities.

Ministry data shows the number of people arrested for starting fires increased 124 percent year on year last year thanks to strengthened law enforcement. The ministry described the overall "fire situation" as stable.

However, the statement noted that fire code violations were still prominent in some venues and small but fatal fires occur regularly. It urged local governments to increase funding for fire prevention and control facilities and devices.

In August, two explosions in a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals ripped through nearby residences in Beijing's neighbor Tianjin. The blast claimed 173 lives, including 104 firefighters.

At the beginning of 2016, President Xi Jinping called for measures to stem the frequent occurrence of accidents arising from production safety risks at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday rapped a long-range rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying the launch is "unacceptable" and violated relevant UN resolution.

The DPRK launched the rocket at around 9:31 local time on Sunday, according to Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The defense ministry here said the Self-Defense Forces took no interception against the DPRK rocket.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will lodge a strong protest against Pyongyang's rocket launch, adding the move threatened international peace.

The DPRK had said it plans to launch an earth observation satellite, but Japan and the U.S., among other nations, believe the launch was a test of a long-range ballistic missile.

The Japanese government said the rocket was launched heading for the direction of Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa and flown over the prefecture at around 9:41 a.m. local time.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that Japan, United States and South Korea requested the UN Security Council convene after the DPRK's rocket launch.

It is the first time since December 2012 that the DPRK has conducted such a test. The DPRK is banned from test-firing any rockets based on a ballistic missile technology under UN Security Council resolutions.

The DPRK also tested its first hydrogen nuclear bomb last month which was also a violation against related UN resolution and was criticized by the international community.
SEOUL - South Korean military has seen a rocket launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) successfully flying into orbit, Yonhap news agency reported citing a military official.

The military estimated that the DPRK rocket had entered into orbit, indicating a high possibility for a successful launch.

The official was quoted saying that additional analysis will be needed to determine whether the launched vehicle operates normally.

A South Korean defense ministry official told Xinhua that the success of the launch hasn't been determined yet. He said the final determination will be announced later in the day.

Pyongyang launched a rocket at about 9:30 a.m. (0030 GMT) on Sunday, just a day after the revised notification of its plan to move up the launch window to Feb. 7-14 from the previous Feb. 8-25.

The launch came about a month after what it claimed was its first H-bomb test on Jan. 6 in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
A DPRK soldier stands in front of the Unha 3 rocket at the launch site in Tongchang-ri, on April 8, 2012. [Photo/IC]

Beijing voiced "regret" on Sunday at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's disregard of widespread opposition of the international community by launching a satellite with ballistic missile technology.

"China has taken notice of the DPRK announcement of launch of the satellite, and has also taken into account the reactions of the relevant parties," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters on Sunday.

Hua noted that the DPRK has a right to make peaceful use of the space, but this right is subject to restrictions of the Security Council resolutions.

China hopes that all the relevant parties would "react with a cool mind, act with discretion, refrain from any actions that might escalate the tension on the Korean Peninsula, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region," Hua said.

"China has consistently believed that the method for achieving peace, stability, long-term order and tranquility of the peninsula can only be found through dialogue and reconciliation," Hua said.

All the parties should restart contacts and dialogue as soon as possible to avoid further escalation of the situation, the spokeswoman added.

Related:

UN chief says DPRK's missile launch 'deplorable'

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said "It is deeply deplorable that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology," according to a statement of Ban's spokesman.

US condemns DPRK missile launch

The United States condemned the missile launch from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying it represents "another destabilizing and provocation action" and is "a flagrant violation" of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Saturday night.

DPRK's rocket launch unacceptable, says Abe

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday rapped a long-range rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying the launch is "unacceptable" and violated relevant UN resolution.

The DPRK launched the rocket at around 9:31 local time on Sunday, according to Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The defense ministry here said the Self-Defense Forces took no interception against the DPRK rocket.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will lodge a strong protest against Pyongyang's rocket launch, adding the move threatened international peace.

S.Korean president denounces DPRK's rocket launch

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Sunday denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s rocket launch, describing it an unacceptable provocative act, her office said.
BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who just concluded his visit to four African countries, has for three consecutive years chosen Africa as the destination for his first trip abroad each year. This shows the great importance China attaches to the vast African continent.

This year's trip took Wang to Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6. For 26 consecutive years, Chinese foreign ministers have visited Africa at the beginning of the year.

"Choosing Africa as the destination for the foreign minister's first trip each year is a fine tradition of China's diplomacy. It shows the importance attached to China-Africa ties," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said before the visit.

CHINA, FRIEND IN NEED FOR AFRICA

Wang's visit to Africa came at a critical moment against the backdrop of faltering global economic recovery, and the economic slowdown faced by African countries.

Indeed, China, the world's largest developing country, and Africa, a continent home to the largest number of developing countries, whose ties have been strengthened by shared historical experiences and struggles, had always been a community of common destiny.

"As a faithful friend of Africa, we insist that Africa must get out of its difficult situation through its own development," Wang said when meeting with his Malawian counterpart George T. Chaponda.

The international financial crisis, especially falling commodity prices, has adversely affected the African economy.

China, whose economy grew strongly for over 30 years and still registers a growth rate of 6.9 percent faced with the pressure of slowing global economic growth, remains the biggest driver of growth for the global economy, Wang said.

China is committed to African countries with their poverty alleviation efforts by helping improve their infrastructure, offering agricultural technology and equipment to support farmers and enhance their productivity, and supporting the industrial development of the continent.

China has provided African countries with loans worth over $20 billion since 2012 to support infrastructure, investment, small- and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and manufacturing.
(Photo : Photo by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images) Member of the EU European Parliament are seen in session in the building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. The assembly has called for the release of five Hong Kong booksellers held by Chinese authorities.

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The European Union (EU) has called for the release of five Hong Kong booksellers held by Chinese authorities for investigation into various criminal activities, according to a press statement issued by the organization.



Members of the EU's European Parliament on Thursday issued a resolution calling for the safe release of the booksellers even as it expressed the assembly's "grave concern" over their disappearance from Hong Kong territory.



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"The resolution calls for their immediate release," the assembly said in a press statement describing the issuance.



Domestic Concern



Hong Kong journalists and foreign critics of China's domestic policy say the detention of the five men is in breach of the "one country, two systems rule", the historic precondition under which the United Kingdom ceded administrative control of Hong Kong over to China in 1997.



The Chinese government has said it opposes foreign interference in the on-going criminal investigation surrounding the five men, arguing that -- while Beijing respects Hong Kong's autonomy -- the criminal cases against the booksellers are a domestic concern.



"Hong Kong affairs are China's domestic matter," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang when asked about the European Parliament's statement. "We firmly oppose any country interfering in China's domestic affairs."



Apprehensions



Reuters claims that diplomats from at least eight governments -- including Germany, Japan, the United States, Australia and Canada -- have quietly approached the Chinese government to discuss their apprehensions about the case. The news agency suggests that China may soon be facing a 'diplomatic crisis' over the issue.



Gui Minhai, Lui Por, Lam Wing-kee, Cheung Chi-ping and Lee Bo have been missing for four months. Their disappearance has made headlines around the world as diplomats and journalists in the Asian financial center have warned that Beijing may be moving to tighten its hold on the city.



Chinese authorities had earlier confirmed that two of the missing publishers, who are European citizens -- Gui Minhai, a Swedish national and Lee Po, a British citizen -- have been detained by police in mainland China.



On Thursday, Hong Kong police officials announced that they received a letter from law enforcement officials from nearby Guangdong province indicating that Lui Por, Lam Wing-Kee and Cheung Chi-ping were also being held by mainland authorities.



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TagsChina-Hong Kong, Hong Kong Bookseller, China-EU relations
Update (Feb. 10): Here's what Wheaton, Hawkins, and others said at their public reconciliation attempt.

-----

Two weeks ago, faculty leaders unanimously asked Wheaton College to drop its attempt to fire tenured professor Larycia Hawkins over whether her views on Islam fit the school's faith statement.

On Friday, 78 of the Illinois schools 200-plus professors publicly vouched for the orthodoxy of Hawkins's theology and requested the same.

On Saturday, provost Stanton Jones told faculty that he had revoked his recommendation that started the termination process.

Hours later, the college and Hawkins jointly announced a confidential agreement under which [we] will part ways.

[We] have come together and found a mutual place of resolution and reconciliation, the two sides stated in a press release complimenting each other and stating they "wish the best for each other in their ongoing work."

In a Saturday evening ...

1
1 million people join Rome rally against same-sex union, 'stepchild adoption' plan

At least one million people gathered at the Circus Maximus in Rome on Jan. 30 not to watch chariots roar around the racetrack but to defend family and children's rights against the proposed legalisation of civil unions for same-sex couples and the "stepchild adoption" which is set for voting by the Italian parliament.

The Italian government is pushing forward a civil unions bill after the European Court of Human Rights upheld complaints of discrimination by same-sex couples at the lack of legal recognition in Italy.

However, the bill has stirred up resentment between the LGBT community and country's powerful anti-gay Catholic lobbying groups, reports say.

The "Family Day'' mass rally was aimed to thwart an attempt by the ruling Democratic Party and its allies to grant legal recognition to gay unions the right to inherit a partner's pension and a controversial "stepchild adoption'' article which would allow a child legally to have same-sex parents in the case of a gay person adopting their partner's biologically child.

According to the protesters, such a measure "would enable homosexuals to contract with egg donors and surrogates to "synthesise" children who will never know their mothers and who lack any right to a natural family."

"The uterus is not a furnace in which a manufactured product is made!" said Massimo Gandolfini, the main spokesman for the march, to the assembled crowd, Lifesite News reported.

"[The proposed law] is destructive... There will be an enormous confusion in which the family will no longer exist, but rather various models and confusions of the family, and the victims will be our children, because the law has the power to change the culture of a people," he added.

Ida, another protester, also believes that the future of children and grandchildren is ruined if the proposed bill is allowed and marriage is destroyed.

"Children have a right to have a mother and a father. To grow up healthy, they need a male and a female figure,'' she said, according to the Guardian.

Other protesters say that same sex-marriage would be wrong even it was made legal in Italy. "I believe in Christian and family values. Our children are not for sale," said Gianluca, a participant, the Mail said.

The Committee to Defend Our Children, the organiser of the event, estimated that two million people attended the protest. The LA Times placed the estimate at "far fewer than a million'' while other estimates ranged from tens to hundreds of thousands.

Same-sex couples have already been granted rights in other Catholic-majority countries such as Ireland and Spain. The home of the Vatican remains the last country in Western Europe not to offer rights to gay couples, according to reports.
Belgian child abuse victims sue Vatican

Belgians who claim they were abused by priests in the Catholic Church are to take legal action against the Vatican.



Lawyers for the group of more than 80 victims announced on Thursday that they were filing a class-action suit against the Holy See, the first such legal action in Europe.



They accuse the Church of harmful neglect for failing to take action when suspected cases of abuse were brought to its attention.



A lawyer for the group, Christine Mussche, told reporters: There were instructions from the pope that said those things had to be kept secret and silent.



The group is pressing ahead with the case after rejecting offers from the Belgian Catholic Church to pay compensation to victims of abuse by clergy.



The text of the summons is to be translated into Italian before being delivered to the Vatican in the next few days.



The Pope enjoys diplomatic immunity but other Vatican officials and Belgian bishops will be summoned to appear before a court in Ghent.



Around 500 suspected cases of abuse have been registered in Belgium in the past year.



Last year, a lawsuit was filed against the Pope and the Vatican by a man in the US who said he had been abused by a Catholic priest.


British campaigner refuses to step down from Vatican sex abuse commission

A prominent and outspoken British member of a papal advisory commission on sexual abuse by the clergy on Saturday refused to step down despite a no-confidence vote and said only Pope Francis could dismiss him.

A statement issued earlier said that "it was decided" at a commission meeting that Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence. Saunders, head of Britain's National Association for People Abused in Childhood, would now "consider how he might best support the commission's work", it said.

But Saunders, who as a child was abused by two priests, told a hastily called news conference: "I have not left and I am not leaving my position...the only person who can remove me is the person who appointed me, the Pope."

Saunders said he had not been aware of the commission statement until after it was issued by the Vatican press office.

He had been publicly critical of the commission, which was set up in 2014. Made up of clerics and lay people from around the world, its task is to help Pope Francis establish "best practices" in dioceses around the world to root out sex abuse in the Church. Eight of its 17 members are women and two are themselves victims of abuse by clerics.

Saunders said that on Saturday morning the commission had taken a near-unanimous vote of no-confidence against him, accusing him of being hard to work with and a "campaigner", and of talking too much to the media.

Groups that track sexual abuse by the clergy rallied to his defence.

"The apparent attempt today by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to eject an outspoken survivor raises serious doubts about its integrity and independence," said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-founder of BishopAccountability.org in the United States.

'A disgrace'

"For me the commission is a disgrace, as a survivor," said Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of clergy sexual abuse in Chile who attended the news conference with Saunders. "They think that rape and child abuse in general is something that is behind us already but this is not."

Saunders said he had "made it clear that I would not be a member of a public relations exercise. The protection of our children is much more important than that."

Another commission member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was "deeply committed to the protection of children", but that its brief was to advise and not investigate or judge.

In a worldwide sex abuse scandal, which first became prominent in Boston in 2001, abusers were shunted from parish to parish instead of being defrocked and handed over to authorities.

A year ago, Saunders criticised Francis for appearing to endorse parents who spanked their children in order to discipline them.

And in April, Saunders and three other lay commission members met with a top Vatican official to complain about the appointment of a bishop in Chile who had been accused of covering up abuse by a priest.

Saunders said on Saturday that the pope should dismiss Juan Barros as bishop of Osorno, as a test of his "seriousness on stopping child sex abuse". Barros denies having known that abuse took place.
German Catholic leader calls for curb on refugee numbers

The Catholic Church in Germany has called for curbs on the inflow of refugees to the country in a further sign that Germany's ability to absorb hundreds of thousands of desperate people is being questioned.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference and the head of the Catholic Church in Germany, told Passauer Neue Presse yesterday: "As a church we say that we need a reduction in the number of refugees." Germany cannot "take in all the world's needy", he added.

Marx said that the question of how many refugees to take involved "not only compassion but also reason".

However, he made it clear he was not arguing for a total shutdown, saying: "Everyone who enters Europe should be treated fairly and with dignity." The borders of Europe should not be "the borders of death", he said.

He criticised the right-wing AfD (Alternative for Germany) party, whose leader Frauke Petry has said that police should "if need be" have the right to shoot people attempting to enter the country.

"Parties that suggest such ideas are no 'alternative for Germany'," Marx said in a play on the party's name. He warned against rising nationalism, saying: "Sadly there has always been a certain potential for right-wing extremism and racism in Germany" and that "this ideology has evidently been further consolidated" and "reached the middle class."

"The veneer of civilization is obviously not as thick as always thought," the Cardinal said.

Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA movement staged rallies in several cities across Europe on Saturday, including Birmingham in the UK, to protest against the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

The movement, whose name stands for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West, originated in the eastern German city of Dresden in 2014, with supporters seizing on a surge in asylum seekers to warn that Germany risks being overrun by Muslims.

After almost fizzling out early last year, the movement has regained momentum amid deepening public unease over whether Germany can cope with the 1.1 million migrants who arrived in the country during 2015.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Hijab row professor Larycia Hawkins is to leave Wheaton College

The American professor who was widely criticised after she wore a hijab throughout Advent in solidarity with Muslims and who stated that Muslims and Christians worship the same God is to leave her Christian college.

Wheaton College, a well-known private evangelical Christian college, and Professor Larycia Hawkins have announced that "they have come together and found a mutual place of resolution and reconciliation".

Wheaton College president Dr Philip Ryken said: "Wheaton College sincerely appreciates Dr Hawkins' contributions to this institution over the last nine years. We are grateful for her passionate teaching, scholarship, community service and mentorship of our students."

Dr Hawkins said: "I appreciate and have great respect for the Christian liberal arts and the ways that Wheaton College exudes that in its mission, programmes, and in the calibre of its employees and students."

In a joint statement they said that they both share a commitment to care for the oppressed and the marginalised, including those who are marginalised because of their religious beliefs, and to respectful dialogue with people of other faiths or no faith. "While parting ways, both Wheaton College and Dr Hawkins wish the best for each other in their ongoing work."

They will hold a joint press conference in Chicago on Wednesday.

Dr Hawkins was told by Stanton Jones, provost of Wheaton, that "termination-for-cause" proceedings would be begun against her after she made her statement on Muslims and Christians worshipping the same God. Then it was announced that this process had ended because of concerns about the process.

Evangelist Franklin Graham was among those who criticised the change of mind. He wrote: "This is no minor issue that should be debated. Islam denies that God has a Son. They deny that Jesus is God. They do not believe in a Triune God  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I can tell you  Islam and Christianity clearly do not worship the same God. How the faculty council can now support this professor being allowed to teach students is deeply concerning."

Dr Hawkins had written: "I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God. As part of my Advent Worship, I will wear the hijab to work at Wheaton College, to play in Chi-town, in the airport and on the airplane to my home state that initiated one of the first anti-Sharia laws (read: unconstitutional and Islamophobic), and at church."

After she was criticised by Graham, Dr Hawkins told Christian Today: "Samaritan's Purse, the organisation led by Franklin Graham, has demonstrated great compassion and care for Muslim refugees in Europe where their volunteers are working tirelessly to provide compassionate, humanitarian aid. I admire the organisation's efforts to love and care for Muslims and it was from similar motivations that I chose to don the hijab during Advent."

Faculty members have spoken out vigorously in support of her.

In an interview with The Wheaton Record, Hawkins said: "My understanding of when I entered the community of Wheaton College was that we all assent to the Statement of Faith, and I assent to working at a liberal arts institution  and that's of a particularly evangelical flavour  and I assent to that with the full knowledge that...we would have disagreements on theological specifics."

She also spoke to Sojourners about why she wanted to stay at Wheaton, saying: "The point to me of the liberal arts is that it's a freedom of thought, a freedom of ideas. What this could signify is that ideas or certain kinds of ideas are dangerous, and that's lamentable  all around, whether the Christian liberal arts or the liberal arts or other institutions of higher education."
Irish bishops meet to discuss child abuse report

Irish bishops are to consider the implications of a damning report into decades of child abuse by clergy within the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.



The Murphy report, which looked at abuse from 1975 to 2004, criticised the Archdiocese for putting its own reputation before the welfare of children by moving suspect priests to a different parish where they were free to abuse more children, instead of reporting them to the authorities.



The talks today come before the bishops are due to meet Pope Benedict at the Vatican next month over the report. The Pope is also preparing a pastoral letter outlining the Vaticans response and what measures the Irish Church should take in responding to the findings of the Murphy Commission.



It follows on from a meeting between Irish Church leaders and the Pope in December, following which the Pope was said to be disturbed and distressed.



Several bishops implicated in the report have since resigned, including the Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray, whose failure to report one case of abuse while serving as an auxiliary bishop in Dublin in the 1980s was branded inexcusable.



The Murphy report followed on from the Ryan report published earlier last year, which condemned more than 50 years of child abuse in industrial schools and orphanages run by Catholic orders in Ireland.




Minnesota public school bans Christmas, Thanksgiving, other holidays in the name of inclusivity

A principal at a Minnesota public school has decided to ban all major holidays including Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas to appease all religions and be "inclusive."

Principal Scott Masini of the Bruce Vento Elementary School posted a letter last week to a private Facebook group about his decision to ban the holidays.

"I have come to the difficult decision to discontinue the celebration of the dominant holidays until we can come to a better understanding of how the dominant view will suppress someone else's view," he said, according to the Star Tribune.

He added that one of his concerns "is whether or not this practice is encroaching on the educational opportunities of others and threatening the culture of tolerance and respect for all."

"I'm struggling with this and I don't know what the right answer is. But, what I do know is celebrating some holidays and not others is not inclusive of all of the students we serve," he explained.

He listed the banned holidays as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Masini has been with the district for about 20 years and said he expected that the ban "will be an unpopular decision with some of you."

Netizens criticised the decision.

"Ban Christmas??? What.....! This is very wrong. This is the USA and as I know it.... 'One nation, under God'. So sad of what this great country was and now what we have become...You sir, are a child's nightmare and Grinch," posted one commenter, according to the Gospel Herald.

"That is what we are missing today, and we are much the poorer for itwe are not a community any longer. There is no sense of 'us' as a family, a community, a nation. In our pell-mell rush not to offend anybody, we have abandoned the shared rituals that bind us," another wrote.

Saint Paul Public School told the Star Tribune that "because Saint Paul Public Schools is a diverse district that is filled with families from around the world we strive to respect all cultures and all students."

"We recognise that not every student celebrates or participates in some or all holidays. We have a board policy that discourages programs and festivities that celebrate observances unless they are required by law," the district said.

Fox News contributor Todd Starnes said the ban is "a case of ethnic sensitivity."

The school has diverse population such as Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Caucasian Americans.

"That's all well and good, but the children live in America now. They are presumably Americans. As such they and their families should be acclimating to the American way of life," he wrote. "They no longer live in Somalia. They live in the United States. And in the United States we celebrate St. Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving and Christmas."
Montana residents protest influx of foreign refugees, blame Muslims for rising crimes

More than 100 people rallied in front of Missoula County Courthouse in Montana on Monday to protest the influx of foreign refugees in the U.S. state. The protesters blamed Muslims for the rising crimes in cities across the United States, WND reported.

Montana resident Karen Sherman, who originally resided in Texas, told the crowd that "Amarillo is overrun with refugees."

"Our city is failing because of the refugees. We have 22 different languages spoken in our schools. We've got 42 languages being fielded by our 9-1-1 call centres, and crime is just through the roof. We need to exercise caution, especially for the sake of our children," she said.

One of the signs carried by protesters read "Christian Refugees 2 Christian Nations, Muslim Refugees 2 Muslim Nations, That's Only Fair."

The FBI named Amarillo as the fifth most dangerous city in Texas, and Sherman blamed the Muslim refugees for this.

"The rape epidemic in this world is becoming pandemic. It's not confined to one location. Fifteen years ago in Norway, rape was unheard of. Now it's an epidemic. The perpetrators are 100 percent Muslim males," Sherman said, according to WND.

She said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's call to prevent the entry of Muslim refugees is too late.

She said the U.S., founded on Judeo-Christian principles of tolerance and respect,, should not expect people from developing cultures to share its values.

"If people don't choose to follow the law, you cannot hire enough police officers," she said.

She said expecting Muslim refugees, "who have been taught for thousands of years of violence," to come to the U.S. and assimilate to the way of life is "dangerous and foolish expectation."

Since January 2002, 5,251 foreign refugees have settled in Amarillo.

The report said President Obama has increased the number of foreign refugees to the U.S. to 85,000 including 10,000 coming from Syria.

Soft Landing Missoula is working with city and county officials to resettle refugees in Montana while the Act for America chapter is moving to prevent it.

Mary Poole, who represents Soft Landing, Missoula, told KGVO News Radio that many immigrants have resettled in Missoula in the past 30 years.

"We've successfully resettled a Hmong community, as well as Belorussians and Ukrainians, who are now members of our community and part of the fabric of Missoula. We're just working on revamping the infrastructure that has already existed here," she said.
Syrians flee to Turkish border as government assault on Aleppo intensifies

Russian and Syrian government forces on Saturday intensified an assault on rebel-held areas around the Syrian city of Aleppo that has prompted tens of thousands to flee to the Turkish border to seek refuge.

The assault around Aleppo, which aid workers have said could soon fall to government forces, helped torpedo Syrian peace talks in Geneva this week. Russia's intervention has tipped the balance of the war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, reversing gains the rebels made last year.

Any hopes of a ceasefire were dampened by Assad's foreign minister, who said it would be all but impossible to stop the fighting while rebels were able to pass freely across the borders with Turkey and Jordan.

Advances by the Syrian army and allied militias, including Iranian fighters, are threatening to cut off rebel-held zones of Aleppo, still home to around 350,000 people, while more than a million live in government-controlled areas.

Further complicating the tangle of belligerents that has characterised the civil war, Syrian opposition officials accused the Kurdish YPG militia of coordinating attacks on rebels with Syrian and allied forces in the latest assault.

Taking full control of Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the civil war erupted five years ago, would be a huge strategic prize for Assad's government in a conflict that has killed at least 250,000 people across the country and driven 11 million from their homes.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, foreign minister of Turkey, which has already taken in 2.5 million Syrians, said up to 55,000 were now fleeing to the frontier.

Camps on Syrian side

Cavusoglu said the border was open, but at the Oncupinar crossing near the Turkish city of Kilis, which has been largely shut for nearly a year, refugees were being shepherded into camps on the Syrian side.

The local governor on the Turkish side of the border, Suleyman Tapsiz, said around 35,000 Syrians had reached Oncupinar in the space of 48 hours.

"Our doors are not closed, but at the moment there is no need to host such people inside our borders," he said.

A Turkish aid official said the refugees on the Syrian side were safe and being given food.

One camp was teeming with women and small children, some of whom carried bottles of water or played in the mud. Some of the tents were ripped and dirty while others, provided by a Turkish aid organisation, appeared new.

One refugee, Muhammed Idris, said he had fled from the nearby Syrian town of Azaz, counting on the open-door policy touted by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. After four days, he was still waiting to get in.

"Before, Tayyip Erdogan was saying on TV that Syria and Turkey are brothers, but now he is not opening the doors," he told Reuters. "Our houses are destroyed and we came to his house. Where else should we go?"

A Reuters reporter at Oncupinar could hear occasional shelling and saw several Turkish ambulances cross the border.

On the Turkish side, dozens of refugees who had already made it in queued up to beg the authorities to allow their relatives in, or to cross the border in the hope of bringing them back.

'Thousands waiting'

Sitting in his car with his four children just inside Turkey, Ahmet Sadul, 43, was hoping to get back into Syria to look for relatives from Azaz.

"Now there are thousands of people from Azaz all waiting on the other side. They escaped from the Russians. I want to go and get my relatives. They are bombing Syrians all the time."

Russia denies targeting civilians and says its actions are aimed at shoring up Syria's legitimate government and combating terrorism. The West and Turkey, which want Assad to step down, accuse Moscow of using indiscriminate force.

The United States has been a major backer of the Syrian Kurdish YPG in the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria. But now the opposition said it was being targeted by the Kurds.

"What is going on [north of Aleppo] is the regime advances with Russian air cover and support by Kurdish forces. They are trying to impose a new reality," said a rebel commander.

The Syrian Kurds have consistently denied opposition claims that they cooperate with Damascus.

What is clear is that Syria has been emboldened by Russia's intervention. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told a news conference on Saturday that Damascus would resist anyone who launched a ground incursion into its territory.

"Those [who do so] will return to their countries in coffins," he said, adding that no ceasefire would be possible unless borders were sealed.

The comments appeared to be aimed at Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which said this week they were ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria that the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq decided to mount.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collates witness reports, said fighting continued in areas north of Aleppo and that government and allied forces were also attacking villages to the east of the city and to the southwest, around the main highway to Damascus.
Tallest cross in Western Hemisphere and second largest in world rising in Texas

The tallest cross in the Western Hemisphere will soon rise in Corpus Christi, Texas. The city's Latin name fittingly translates to "Body of Christ."

The Corpus Christi Cross Project had its groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 31 at the Abundant Life Fellowship campus along Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi.

Pastor Rick Milby, who is spearheading the project, said the cross will reach 210 feet high and 95 feet wide and will be finished in a year.

Milby revealed that the project began in June 2013 when he traveled to Galveston, Texas and saw a massive white cross at Sagemount Church.

"For the next several months God began speaking to my heart about erecting a mega cross in Corpus Christi," he said, according to the project's website.

In a meeting with Sagemont Church, officials "shared story after story about lives that were changed, suicides that were aborted, relationships that were restored because of the influence of the cross, reminding them that the Redeemer could restore their brokenness."

He said the cross will be built using 5/8" thick cold rolled steel plate, mounted to a massive steel and concrete foundation which extends 48 feet below grade.

"This Cross will be visible up to 5 miles away by land, and 10 miles away by air. Every plane approaching Corpus Christi will descend approximately one half mile east of the Cross," he said.

Milby told KrisTV that "the cross is so massive and so tall it will have a two-foot deflection at the top, it will actually sway in the wind two feet back and forth."

"The cross is gonna be the second largest cross in the world. The largest cross in the world is in Madrid, Spain. It's 495 feet tall. This cross will be the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere. It will span 210 feet in the air," he added.
Will '19 Kids and Counting' go back on the air this year? Camera crews seen trailing Duggar family members again

Rumours are circulating that TLC network is planning to put "19 Kids and Counting" back on the air this year, and some Duggar family members have reportedly been seen having camera crews trailing them again.

But is there any truth to the rumours? According to the Hollywood Gossip, the crew were trailing "Cinderella Duggar" Jana, who was busy babysitting her other siblings while her twin brother John David went to Ridout Lumber to purchase wood for a tree house.

However, the Inquisitr noted that televiewers are not keen on seeing Josh appear on television again. The TLC network has tiptoed on Josh's sexual abuse and cheating scandals, but since cancelling the Duggar family show, the network still continued to work with the Duggar family by creating documentaries which starred sisters Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald.

The first documentary was called "Breaking the Silence," which showed the two girls talking about their child molestation ordeal. The second documentary was called "Jill and Jessa: Counting On," which featured the two girls sharing their motherhood experiences, new ministry, and Josh's infidelity.

TLC general manager Nancy Daniels told Variety that both documentaries "did very well" and only proved just how much the audiences care about the Duggar family.

Daniels refused to confirm then if "19 Kids and Counting" has a shot on the small screen once again. She said, "We're still talking and considering it, but we have not made a decision yet."

"Every decision we've made has been done very thoughtfully and very carefully about what is in the best interests of the people involved and the network," Daniels said. "Our first priority is making sure that there's a health and well-being of our families first and foremost. We feature stories of different families with real people and real things happen."
Beyonce loves to surprise her fans, and she has done it yet again.

The Houston native blessed her fans with new song "Formation," as well as an accompanying new video on TIDAL.com. And naturally, since Queen Bey is so generous, we can all download it for free.
A young man was struck and killed by a train Saturday morning in northeast Houston near the 6900 block of Rankin Road just on the east side of the Eastex Freeway.

The man, believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, was walking down the middle of the tracks when a southbound train approached from behind. The train conductor sounded the horn and whistle, but the young man didn't appear to respond, said Jeff DeGraff, spokesperson for Union Pacific Railroad.
Houston police released surveillance photos Saturday of the victim and three suspects in a possible kidnapping.

The suspects are thought to have taken the victim by force around 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday, from a Stop'In convenience store at 1900 Blalock, according to the Houston Police Department.
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Three people died in a pair of house fires overnight in Houston's suburbs.

The first fire erupted on Saturday night in Humble. Around 9:45 p.m., Northeast Fire Rescue responded to heavy flames consuming a one-story home on Lions Gate Court, near Huntermoor Circle. Firefighters entered the home after learning from neighbors that a couple was inside.

A man later died at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. A woman was transported by Lifeflight to the same hospital in critical condition. The Harris County Fire Marshal Office is investigating the cause of the fire, which almost completely destroyed the home.

The second fatal fire unfolded in the middle of the night at a Pasadena home. The Pasadena Fire Department responded around 1:45 a.m. to a home on Llano Street, near Allen-Genoa Road, where flames were visible through the front windows.

Upon forced entry, firefighters removed three people from the house. A boy in his late teens and a woman in her early 20s both died. A 25-year-old man was transported by Lifeflight to the hospital in serious condition, burns covering 30 percent of his body. A firefighter was also treated for a knee injury sustained during the rescue.

The Pasadena Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the fire, which caused extensive damage.
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Watch out, New Hampshire. The Republicans are in town.

On Saturday, the GOP presidential candidates took the stage in Manchester, N.H. to debate before votes are taken on Tuesday.

Before the debate even began, it seemed the candidates, specifically Donald Trump and Ben Carson, were either confused as to where to go after being announced or subtly protesting something.

More debate coverage: The Republican candidates duke it out in debate

This topic, among many others, including Ted Cruz's apology to Ben Carson for falsely cancelling his presidential campaign before the Iowa caucuses, were highlights among the social media universe during the debate. Click through the gallery above to see the top memes from Saturday's GOP debate.

Get the full story: Read the total coverage of the New Hampshire republican debate

Along with Trump, Cruz, and Carson, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and John Kasich debated on New Hampshire's stage.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
Twinsburg police

Twinsburg police are investigating who posted nude photos of Twinsburg High School girls on a Tumblr blog.

(File photo)

TWINSBURG, Ohio -- Police launched an investigation into how photos of nude Twinsburg High School students ended up on a Tumblr blog.

Twinsburg police found photos of 14 nude girls from age 15 to 17 on the site, according to court records. Police verified 10 of the girls are Twinsburg High School students.

Some of the photos attached the girl's first name to their photo, court records say. The blog, called "tburgnudez" with the headline "Only Girlz," is no longer active.

Twinsburg police first became aware of the blog Jan. 27, after a school official reported to the school resource officer that there may be a website posting nude photos of the students.

Police found the website and noted in court records that the site was open to the public and could be accessed by anyone at the time.

Officers noted a message on the site said: "This tumblr blog is a page where people from twinsburg, Ohio can look, see, and save twinsburg girl nudez. Twinsburg has a lot of sexy people but it's really rare to get there nudez if they send some out. Here is an ez way to et them without trading or buying them from someone. Please enjoy what I have worked so hard to make and expose. Thank you for your support. NUDE ON!!"

Investigators wrote they believe the photos were initially voluntarily sent to one person via text messages or Snapchat with the understanding the photos were not to be shared.

The person who received the photos sent them to someone, who took a screenshot of the photos and uploaded them to the website without the sender knowing or giving permission, according to court records.

Twinsburg police have requested from Tumblr: all archived posts, internal messages, deleted material, photographs posted on the blog, internet protocol addresses for the last five people to log into the blog and the IP address for anyone sending messages to and from the blog, according to court records.

No arrests have been made in the case.

"Once we receive the requested information from Tumblr, detectives will examine the evidence and begin the process of contacting parents to arrange for interviews of those teens we believe are involved," Twinsburg Police Chief Chris Noga said in an emailed statement.
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Coin tosses were used to award Democratic delegates in the Iowa caucuses.

CLEVELAND,Ohio -- In Saturday night's debate, Marco Rubio tossed away his momentum from the Iowa caucus, which also should be tossed from its position of importance.

The fact that it took more than a half dozen coin flips to award Democratic delegates in the Iowa caucuses is further proof the caucus is a flippin' joke being played on the candidates and nation every four years.

It was already absurd that a couple hundred thousand Iowans were setting the stage for the national presidential election. The caucus voters are not only not representative of the nation, they're not even representative of Iowa. Unless you think only a couple hundred thousand people live in Iowa and most of them are conservative evangelicals.

In one sense,Trump should actually be glad he didn't win in Iowa. Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum both won the Iowa caucus and lost the nomination. Bill Clinton, Mitt Romney and John McCain all lost in Iowa and continued on to become the Democratic and Republican nominees.

With its convoluted system that picks nominee losers, it's beyond me why the Iowa caucus continues to hold the campaign importance and media attention it does.

In the ABC Republican debate Saturday, Chris Christie husked Rubio like an Iowa corn cob, revealing him to be unripened.

Christie cast Rubio as a lightweight who excels only at giving canned "memorized 25-second responses." Rubio responded by robotically repeating the same Obama attack line. "Let's dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing," Rubio said four different times in the debate.

The main reservation voters have expressed about Rubio is that they fear he's still a little wet behind the ears. Last night he was wet on his forehead from sweating out attacks from Christie.

You don't need a to flip a coin to determine the winner of the Rubio vs Christie battle. It was Governor John Kasich, who by staying in New Hampshire and above the fray in the debate, may find himself staying in the race with a top three finish Tuesday.
First Energy Stadium construction

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has proposed increasing the income tax, and the Cleveland Browns are considering moving training camp to Columbus.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ready for Super Bowl 50?

The Browns may never get to the Super Bowl. But hey, they might move their summer training camp to Columbus.

That was big news last week, as was Cleveland considering raise its income tax from 2 to 2.5 percent and Cuyahoga County Council may raise members' salaries.

So while you're awaiting the big came, catch up on stories you may have missed.

(And if you need a big dose of cute, check out this adorable video of a baby polar bear at the Columbus zoo.)

Need money? Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is proposing the city increase its income tax to collect $83.7 million. About 87 percent of that money would come from suburbanites who work in Cleveland, reports Emily Bamforth.

Check out this clickable graphic, too, of how Cleveland spends its money.

Need a job? The average Cleveland job pays $43,900 annually. Here are 38 jobs that pay more than $100,000.

Need a raise? The majority of the 11 Cuyahoga County Council members favor increasing the salary for the part-time position from $45,000 to $52,000, starting in in 2019, Karen Farkas reports. The ordinance, which is slated for a vote Tuesday, states that starting in 2020, council members would receive the same percentage raises as non-union county employees, or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less.

Need to recoup your losses? Cuyahoga County's much ballyhooed legal effort to recover millions of taxpayer dollars lost in its purchase of the Ameritrust complex has been tossed out of court because it exceeded the statute of limitations, Sabrina Eaton reports.

Need to move? The Cleveland Browns are considering moving their training camp to Columbus for three weeks, at a cost of $5 million to taxpayers. Here's what training camp means to Cleveland.

Need weed? A investor-backed plan to legalize marijuana in Ohio is in the works. A proposed constitutional amendment -- separate from a medical marijuana push by the advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project -- would be written by marijuana business owners and industry professionals who contribute $25 million, Jackie Borchardt reports.

Need to see something spectacular? Northeast Ohio's population of bald eagles has soared in recent years, as improved environmental conditions along the Cuyahoga River and its tributaries has made the once-endangered species thrive, Eaton reports. Locally, the stately birds can be seen in places such as Liberty Park in Twinsburg.

Need someone to support? Donald Trump's got Sarah Palin. Susan Sarandon's siding with Bernie Sanders. Steve Koff has a slideshow of celebrities backing presidential candidates this year.

Need a new CEO? Leaders of United Way of Greater Cleveland said Friday the organization's annual campaign will finish strong, despite the abrupt resignation of the President and CEO Bill Kitson, Bob Higgs reports.
Guest columnist Jackie Stewart is the State Director for Energy In Depth-Ohio. She lives in Northeast Ohio, with her husband and son.

Ohio's anti-fracking activists, inspired by December's Paris Climate Conference, have been eager to push misinformation about fracking and greenhouse gas emissions and champion increased regulations on the oil and gas industry. But what they fail to acknowledge is that it's precisely because of fracking, and the increased use of natural gas, that the United States has achieved dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Even the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which activists have called the "gold standard" for climate science, has said, "the rapid deployment of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies...is an important reason for a reduction of GHG emissions in the United States." In fact, thanks to natural gas, carbon emissions from electricity production have declined to a 20-year low in the United States. Natural gas has reduced nearly 60 percent more carbon dioxide emissions than renewables since 2005.

It's no surprise that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Gina McCarthy said, "Responsible development of natural gas is an important part of our work to curb climate change."

Activists have tried to push the claim that methane emissions during oil and gas production cancel out the climate benefits of natural gas, but that's not what the science tells us. Dozens of recent reports have found that oil and gas methane emissions are very low - far below the threshold for natural gas to have significant climate benefits.

Ohio has been a leader in methane emission reductions. The EPA has noted that methane emissions in the Appalachian basin, which includes Ohio's Utica Shale, decreased by more than 55 percent from 2011 to 2013. These reductions occurred despite the fact that Ohio nearly doubled production from 2012-2013.

Ohio has already adopted statewide measures to govern air emissions stemming from oil and gas production in 2014.

Despite this successful track record, activists continue to call for more federal regulations on methane emissions from the production and transportation of oil and natural gas. These measures are not only a solution in search of a problem, but studies show that they will also be more expensive than the EPA claimed they would be. One study, conducted by NERA Economic Consulting, concluded that the economic price of the new rule would be hundreds of millions of dollars in net costs.

Ohio's state regulations, the industry's voluntary efforts, and advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology have all led to reduced carbon dioxide and methane emissions even as oil and gas production has soared. Politics, misinformation campaigns, and emotional claims from anti-fracking activists can't change those facts.

Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Linda Kinsey at lkinsey@cleveland.com. Essays must also include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting today's topics are also welcome.
Guest columnist Andrew R. Campanella is president of National School Choice Week, the nation's largest annual celebration of opportunity in education. A recognized expert on education reform, Andrew lives in Blue Mountain Beach, Fla.

When it comes to K-12 education, America's parents want more choices.

In fact, almost two thirds of parents - 64 percent - say they wish they had more options for their children's education.

In a society where Americans choose practically everything, from the brands of coffee they drink in the morning to the types of cars they drive, it is understandable that parents are demanding more of a say in where they send their children to school.

Parents understand that with greater options come better results for their children. Every child is unique, with distinctive interests and learning styles. Moms and Dads know that a school that might work for one student might not be a good fit for another.

In many states, Ohio included, lawmakers have taken action to provide a more diverse variety of school choices for families.

From Jan. 24-30, millions of Americans raised awareness about the importance of school choice at an unprecedented 16,140 events - including 719 events in Ohio. These events were planned to coincide with National School Choice Week, the largest celebration of opportunity in education in US history.

For families in the Buckeye State, National School Choice Week provided a good opportunity to review the six different types of education options available to their children.

Ohioans can choose traditional public schools for their kids, and the state allows parents, with some limitations, the ability to choose traditional public schools outside of their existing school zones. This process is called open enrollment, or public school choice.

The Buckeye State also allows for the creation of public charter schools, which are tuition-free public schools that are given the freedom to be more innovative. Magnet schools, which focus on themes such as math, science, technology, and the performing arts, also exist.

In addition, Ohio is one of 41 states with a tuition-free online academy, allowing students to go to school entirely online.

Of course, parents in Ohio can also send their children to private schools, and the state offers assistance, either in the form of scholarships or tax deductions, to qualifying families.

Finally, parents have the freedom to educate their children in the home - and more parents are homeschooling their children than ever before.

Parents who are not happy with their children's current schools, or would like to explore their options, should use January to consider the alternatives available to them. Families can use National School Choice Week as an opportunity to visit schools, ask lots of questions of teachers and administrators, and talk with other parents to find a school that may be a better fit.

Starting the school search process in January, rather than waiting until summer break, means that parents have more options available to them.

Why is this process important?

In addition to ensuring greater peace of mind, research has demonstrated that when parents actively choose the schools their children attend, or choose to educate their children in the home, high school graduation rates increase dramatically.

A student with a high school diploma will, over the course of his or her life, earn more than a quarter million dollars more than a student who has dropped out. High school graduates are far less likely to be incarcerated, and are six times more likely to participate in community and civic affairs, than individuals without high school diplomas.

Most importantly, though: school choice matters because every child in America has potential. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders, and together, we must do everything possible to prepare them for success.

Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Linda Kinsey at lkinsey@cleveland.com. Essays must also include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting today's topics are also welcome.
CANTON, Ohio -- A Stark County man was arrested Wednesday and faces child pornography charges, the FBI said Saturday.

Cole A. Wolack, 29, of East Canton was arrested Wednesday at his house on Lisbon Street East, FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson said. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Stark County Sheriff's Office and assisting local police departments executed a search warrant on the house.

The Stark County Sheriff's Office took Wolack into custody on local charges Wednesday before a federal arrest warrant was issued Thursday, Anderson said.

He faces charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Wolack made his initial federal court appearance on Friday, Anderson said.

No further information about the investigation was made available Saturday.
John Kasich, Jeb Bush

A joyful John Kasich shakes hands with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush during Saturday night's Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, N.H.

(David Goldman, The Associated Press)

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. - First the good news for John Kasich. Ohio's governor used the last Republican presidential debate before the pivotal New Hampshire primary to reinforce his experience, his compassion, and his role as the race's Happy Warrior.

And Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who could be on the verge of consolidating the GOP establishment around his candidacy, was at his sound bite-happy worst.

Now the potentially bad news for Kasich.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who like Kasich need a strong finish Tuesday, turned in solid performances, too. Bush's renewed confidence and willingness to take on front-runner Donald Trump and Christie's nothing-left-to-lose whacks on Rubio were equally memorable Saturday night at St. Anselm College.

We'll soon know which approach voters here prefer.

"New Hampshire," Kasich said straight to the TV camera in his closing statement, "please give me a chance to take this message forward to the United States of America."

Kasich has staked his campaign on an unconventional notion - that voters, despite favoring rhetorical bomb-throwers such as Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in polls, want a calm and steady hand. New Hampshire is the ideal testing ground for this strategy.

"I believe we need to help the mentally ill, the drug addicted, the working poor," Kasich said when ABC News' David Muir asked him to explain his definition of conservatism.

"We need to help the developmentally disabled to rise, and we need to help our friends in the minority community develop entrepreneurship," Kasich continued. "In other words, in America, conservatism should mean not only that some rise with conservative principles, but that everybody has a chance to rise, regardless of who they are so they can live their God given purpose. That's what conservatism should be."

The answer is familiar to anyone who has followed Kasich's rebranding from angry Tea Party banner carrier in 2010 to sunny Medicaid expander a few years later.

Veteran observers here estimate that about 40 percent of the voters are independents who can vote in either party's primary. Many do not make up their minds until the final days.

Kasich is unapologetically courting undeclared voters who lean Democratic. Before Saturday's debate he joked that he "ought to be running in a Democratic primary."

Bush and Christie also appeal to the more-moderate factions of the GOP, but neither has made a Kasich-like play for left-of-center voters. And neither of his gubernatorial cohorts is echoing Kasich's positive tone. Christie in particular seemed downright gleeful in his slashing attacks on Rubio, whom he called out for repeating talking points.

"Marco, the thing is this," Christie charged. "When you're president of the United States, when you're a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn't solve one problem for one person."

Kasich's approach has been described, accurately, as passive-aggressive. He brags that he is the only candidate keeping things positive. Yet in doing so, he is subtly casting aspersions on his rivals and judging them as detriments to the discourse.

"I've gotta say," Kasich said when being called on for the first time, after the first Christie-Rubio spat, "every one of my 100 town hall meetings in New Hampshire were a lot more fun than what I saw here today ... so much more positive."

Polls suggest that Trump remains the front-runner in Tuesday's primary, but they also indicate that his lead is shrinking. And given that the polls in Iowa proved unreliable with regard to Trump, who finished second to Cruz, the picture is murky in the closing days.

Kasich's future in the race depends on where he finishes in relation to Rubio and to Bush and Christie. Rubio's hybrid approach has him courting Cruz conservatives and mainstream Republicans who otherwise might align with Bush, Christie or Kasich.

Polls show Bush, Cruz, Rubio and Kasich all in the mix for a top three finish. Christie has faded in recent days, but he and Kasich have worked the state the hardest. Muir tried to draw Christie and Kasich into combat over their respective records as governors. It was a largely polite exchange, with Christie using most of his time to renew his attack on Rubio.

"I'm proud of my record," Christie said. "And by the way, I like Kasich's record, too."

Kasich cannot afford to place far behind Rubio on Tuesday.

He also cannot afford to finish behind Bush or Christie, no matter the margin.

His performance Saturday - by far the most confident and consistent Kasich has been in any of his eight debates - signaled he will stay positive until the end.
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The Garrett A. Morgan raw water pump station, part of the Cleveland Division of Water, photographed in 2012 as upgrades were being made. Water division officials take multiple steps to guard Cleveland drinking water from lead contamination, writes Interim Commissioner Alex Margevicius.

(Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer, File, 2012)

At Cleveland Water, we know that access to a reliable supply of safe drinking water is critical to keeping the people you care about safe. We work hard to make sure the water we deliver to the 1.4 million people who count on us meets and exceeds the highest standards for quality and safety.

With the current attention on risks associated with lead in water, we wanted to remind everyone that your water in Cleveland - and the 79 other communities we serve - is safe. We take multiple steps to make sure the water we deliver is safe from lead and other contaminants.

With 160 years in the business, we have learned that one of the most important things when producing safe drinking water is consistency.

In Cleveland, we are blessed to be on the shores of Lake Erie. Not only is Lake Erie one of our region's greatest assets, it is also an ample and consistent supply of source water for the Cleveland Water system. This consistency is critically important. The more consistent the water is that goes into our treatment process, the fewer adjustments we need to make when we treat the water, and the more consistent and safe the water is when it leaves our treatment plants.

Since your safety is our top priority, here are some other good things we do at Cleveland Water to make sure our water quality is as good and consistent as it can be by the time it comes out of your tap:

* Over the past 15 years, we have spent more than $650 million upgrading and modernizing all four of our water treatment plants. We employ a state-of-the-art treatment process.

* Specific to reducing the risks associated with lead, we include a chemical called orthophosphate, an anti-corrosive that creates a thin layer of film which acts as a barrier on metal pipes and fixtures to prevent lead from leaching into the water. This protection works not only on Cleveland Water's mains, but also on customer-owned plumbing.

* We know that this treatment is an effective preventative measure, but we still test for lead throughout our service area. The majority of potential lead contamination does not come from Cleveland Water's mains; instead, it comes from plumbing found at older homes. When testing, we go to single-family homes with lead service lines and/or plumbing with high lead solder, because this is where we would expect to find instances of lead contamination. Samples are collected from bathroom or kitchen sinks, as these are the areas where water is typically ingested.

* The results of our testing are reported regularly to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and we consistently meet and exceed their requirements for preventing lead, as well as all other potential contaminants. For more information, take a look at our annual Water Quality Report at www.clevelandwater.com. It shows we are consistently meeting and exceeding all of our water quality standards.

As we have mentioned, the greatest risk of lead contamination in water comes from plumbing at the home which contains lead or high lead solder. If you are worried about the risk of lead in your water, here are a couple things you can do:

* First, the Ohio EPA maintains a list of certified laboratories that can test for lead and other contaminants. Home test kits may or may not be effective.

* Second, if your home has a lead service connection, service line or plumbing, turn on the cold tap and let it run for 1 to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking, particularly if the water has been off and sitting in the pipes in your home for more than 6 hours. Boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in your water, and can, in fact, concentrate it.

We want you to feel confident that the water Cleveland Water delivers to your home is safe and free from contaminants. We are confident that your water is safe and are ready to answer your questions. If you want more information, start by taking a look at our Water Quality Report. If you have additional questions, call our Water Quality line at (216) 664-2639.

Alex Margevicius is interim commissioner at the Cleveland Division of Water.
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Vote-by-mail ballots arrive for shipment at the Main Post Office in Cleveland on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Changes in postmarking practices caused hundreds of 2015 absentee ballots to be invalidated last year in Cuyahoga County and have helped prompt a new directive from Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted to assure that more validly cast absentee ballots are counted this year.

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer, File, 2014)

A recent directive to Ohio's county boards of elections by Secretary of State Jon Husted, Ohio's chief election officer, should reduce the possibility that mailed-in absentee ballots might not get counted because of confusion or questions over postmarks.

Ohio's 88 county boards of elections must count absentee ballots returned by mail for up to ten days after Election Day. But such ballots must have been postmarked no later than the day before Election Day.

Trouble is, the U.S. Postal Service doesn't necessarily postmark envelopes much larger than a No. 10, or "letter size," envelope. And some elections boards use bigger courtesy-reply envelopes. Meanwhile, it's been unclear whether barcodes the post office adds during mail-sorting or Postage Validated Imprint (PVI) postage -- imprinted, label-like postage, sold at post office counters and kiosks -- are postmarks. PVI postage and barcodes include dates (although a scanner is needed to read barcodes).

So Husted issued a directive on Jan. 29 that requires elections boards, beginning with November's election, to include on absentee-ballot courtesy-reply envelopes a Postal Service "election mail" logo and a barcode containing a board's mailing address.

Husted also recommended that boards using envelopes bigger than letter size reconsider that practice. And he said PVI postage and barcodes the post office adds are acceptable postmarks. (Postage-meter postage or so-called PC Postage -- which the postage service defines as "USPS-approved third-party vendor software that mailers can use to pay for and print their postage using a computer, printer, and Internet connection" -- is not acceptable proof of postmark, however.)

Cleveland.com's Jackie Borchardt reports that some changes will be made in time for Ohio's upcoming March 15 primary, including making sure that counties "have access to a special scanner that can read the post office bar code" and requiring counties to "send a flier with the absentee ballot that instructs the voter how to obtain a legitimate postmark."

Pat McDonald, director of Cuyahoga County's Board of Elections, said in a statement lauding Husted's moves that after last November's election, the board had to reject more than 900 mailed-in absentee ballots because they lacked postmarks. If PVI postage or barcodes had been deemed equivalent, many of the 900 could have been counted, he said.

Rep. Kathleen Clyde, a Kent Democrat who's been one of her party's watchdogs on Ohio election law and voting rights, said that what Husted has done was helpful, but not enough. That's because some validly cast absentee ballots might still go uncounted, Clyde said. And Clyde questions as unfair why Ohio requires postmarks on in-state absentee ballots but not on absentee ballots cast by overseas and service voters.

Husted countered that his directive does plenty. "I think I've gone perhaps even further than the statutes," Husted said.

Ohioans may want to keep in mind that if a voter returns an absentee ballot in person to his or her board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, it will be counted.

But there's room for discussion about postmarks. Absentee ballots without postmarks mailed after the polls close in a close election could affect results. In the last three years, 98 Ohio elections (for candidates or issues) were decided by one vote or were tied, Husted said. Clyde's House Bill 309, to abolish the postmark requirement might, therefore, go too far, but it would be a good platform to debate the postmark question and other election issues - if, that is, the Republican-run Ohio House would seriously review Clyde's bill. In an election year, unfortunately, that may be asking too much.
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Precinct workers run the numbers at a Democratic caucus site in Indianola, Iowa, Feb. 1. Some are calling for a review of results given the closeness of the race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

(Max Whittaker, The New York Times)

A funny thing happened to Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump on their itinerary to the White House: Iowa's Democratic and Republican precinct caucuses. The presidential derby remains a horse race.

Clinton found herself only narrowly, very narrowly, declared the victor over her key challenger, Vermont's Bernie Sanders, elected to the U.S. Senate as an independent but, like Clinton, seeking 2016's Democratic presidential nomination. Clinton bested Sanders - microscopically -- and some, including the Des Moines Register editorial board, are calling for a "complete audit of results," citing the closeness of the Clinton-Sanders race and possible irregularities. What is clear is that, at the end of the night, the third Democrat contesting Iowa, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, ended his presidential campaign.

On the Republican side, Sen. Ted Cruz, a Canadian-born Texan, led the field with 51,866 votes or 27.6 percent of those cast. Trump, a New Yorker, placed second, with 45,429 votes, or 24.3 percent, and Florida's Marco Rubio was third, with 43,228 votes, or 23.1 percent. (Gov. John Kasich, whose Iowa campaign was at most nominal, was eighth in the GOP field, attracting 3,474 votes, or 1.9 percent). Meanwhile, Iowa's tallies thinned the list of GOP presidential hopefuls. Three Republicans struck their tents after the Iowa result: Kentucky's Rand Paul; Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum; and Arkansan Mike Huckabee.

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In that respect, Iowa's caucuses, like the presidential primary elections that follow, starting on Tuesday with New Hampshire's, did what they were supposed to do: thin the field, and test, in political combat, the mettle of those staying in the race.

Sanders, for example, proved that he is more than a distraction to Clinton's campaign; he's a threat, although Clinton remains the favorite for the Democratic nomination. But if Clinton was expecting Iowa Democrats to say thanks, but no thanks, to Sanders, they disappointed her big-time.

On the Republican side, Trump's insurgent candidacy proved itself vulnerable; Either his supporters didn't turn out in Iowa, or if they did, they were persuaded to comparison-shop, and bought into Cruz and Rubio

Either way, it's still a horse race for both R and D. Trump has challenges in turning out his voters -- and maybe showing this chink in his armor in Iowa could cause some of his supporters to look at other candidates.

And even though Iowa seemed in many ways tailormade for Sanders, Clinton may have been counting on her ground game to blow him out of the water, and she didn't, while Sanders appears to have polled well all over the state -- suggesting he has broader appeal and a better ground game than many estimated. Clinton likely will do better among African-American voters and that may help her prevail in the south, but the Democratic race is not over either.
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Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich takes a question at a town-hall-style campaign event at the Three Chimneys Inn Wednesday in Durham, New Hampshire. Ohio Republicans who hope to succeed Kasich will be watching the outcome of New Hampshire's Tuesday primary especially closely.

(Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press)

Gov. John Kasich's presidential future, and with it the Statehouse futures of other Ohio Republicans, may hinge on Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. If Kasich does move up nationally, at least one Ohioan in line behind him could move up in Columbus after November's election. But if, come Tuesday night, Kasich proves to have underwhelmed New Hampshire's voters, the governor may throw in the towel and return to Capitol Square.

That'd mean no White House and (probably) no No. 1 Observatory Circle (the vice president's house) for John and Karen Kasich. It'd also mean that Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, a suburban Akron Republican who'll be 50 next month, wouldn't succeed to the governorship before she runs in 2018 (if she does) for the 2019-22 term - unless, that is, Kasich stepped down early for some reason.

Besides Taylor, other Republicans assaying runs for governor in 2018 are Attorney General Mike DeWine of Cedarville and Secretary of State Jon Husted of suburban Columbus. Mary Taylor might be tough to beat in a three-candidate GOP gubernatorial primary if she had earlier succeeded Kasich.

Kasich's future is a big reason, though not the only one, that Ohio Republicans will be scanning Tuesday night's returns from New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

The roots of the New Hampshire primary's perceived importance are pretty deep. Countless books "explain" how New Hampshire's primary is supposed to be the test for presidential prospects.

One thing's for sure, though: You can forget quaint Currier and Ives prints and Grandma Moses paintings. Parts of southern New Hampshire could pass for suburban Ohio shopping strips, but with more pine trees. There's enough sprawl and so many Boston commuters that Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" might fairly be parodied as "Stopping after a Fender-Bender to Exchange Insurance Information."

And for all New Hampshire's perceived conservatism, its governor (Maggie Hassan) and one of its senators (Jeanne Shaheen) are Democrats. Bill Clinton (in 1992 and 1996) and Barack Obama (in 2008 and 2012) carried New Hampshire. And the state's GOP tradition is as much Bull Moose as Tea Party. Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, a prominent New Hampshire Republican, endorsed Kasich last week. Bass's grandfather was Bull Moose Republican Robert P. Bass, governor before World War I, who fought corporate domination of state government.

Still, New Hampshire's presidential primary remains an odd yardstick because the state is anything but diverse. The Census says about 12.6 percent of Ohio's 11.6 million residents are black. That's close to the national proportion, 13.2 percent. But only 1.5 percent of New Hampshire's 1.3 million residents are black.

Nationally, median household income is $53,482; in New Hampshire, it's $65,986. Granite State boosters will remind you New Hampshire has no sales tax and that the only income New Hampshire taxes - at a flat 5 percent - is on dividends and interest. They won't mention the state's steep property taxes.

The Tax Foundation reported last summer that, in terms of "the average amount of residential property tax actually paid, expressed as a percentage of home value," New Hampshire ranked No. 3 nationally at 2.15 percent. (Ohio was No. 12, at 1.55 percent.)

No matter: New Hampshire remains the "live free or die" laboratory that plays a big if outsize role in helping pick the presidential nominees Republicans (at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena) and Democrats (in Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center) will select this summer.

Surely it's a coincidence that both conventions will meet in halls named for big financial institutions. Depending on your point of view, that's irony - or it's truth in packaging.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@gmail.com, 216-999-4689
Can changes in the Polish media sector affect foreign investors?

3 February 2016

On 31 December 2015, the Polish Parliament ignored a letter of concern from the European Commission and passed an amendment to Polands media law that sacks the management of the public television and radio broadcasters, TVP and Polskie Radio, and empowers the Minister of the State Treasury to appoint their successors. The new law is just the start, according to its authors. The next step is to turn the public media into "national media".

Given the above, many questions may arise. Can the current tendency to "nationalize" media also have an impact on private media owned by foreign companies in Poland? Could it result in a reduction of the share of foreign companies in the media market? Which legal tools might be used by the current government?

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This week marked a special occasion for economy class airline passengers  the return of free snacks on some domestic carriers. Both United and American Airlines are winning praise from fliers who believed the small but key amenity had all but disappeared forever, along with pillows, blankets and added legroom. Last week, United Airlines began serving complimentary Dutch-style, caramel-filled waffle-shaped cookies (called a stroopwafel) with the morning drink service on flights within North America and Latin America. Discount domestic carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have always offered snacks on their flights. However, on flights departing after 9:45 a.m., a free packaged snack mix is now being offered by both United and American. Read MoreWeak Loonie fuels Canada tourism "We know even the smallest details can make a big difference in the travel experience," United spokeswoman Karen May told CNBC. "Our customers were telling us they missed the free snacks and were urging us to bring them back." United last served free snacks back in 2008, while its merger partner, Continental Airlines, dropped complimentary snack service in 2011 (both airlines had been doling out free pretzels and Biscoff cookies). When it made the cut, Continental cited an estimated yearly cost savings of $2.5 million. United won't say how much it expects to spend on reconstituting the free snack service, but the Chicago-based carrier estimates that, with 230,468 flights scheduled throughout the year, it'll be boarding about 40 million, 180-calorie stroopwafels each year on its planes.

This time it's different

Last week, American also brought back complimentary economy cabin snacks, and began serving Biscoff cookies and pretzels in the main cabin on its transcontinental routes (between New York's JFK and Los Angeles or San Francisco, and between Miami and LAX). The carrier said that it would begin offering an assortment of complimentary snacks in the main cabin of all domestic flights by April 1. American dropped its free economy class snack service in 2003, while merger partner US Airways, did the same in 2008. Travel watchers say the environment has changed from several years ago, when airlines were trying hard to cut costs. "If you look at the state the industry was in at the time, airlines were looking for survivability. We're now at a point where we're investing in the customer experience," said Fern Fernandez, American's vice president, global marketing. Industry watchers say a few other factors are at play  namely cheaper oil. "United is financially able to add snacks back thanks to low fuel prices, and doing so helps cement the narrative that they've turned the corner for their customers," said Gary Leff, a travel specialist at View from the Wing. American decided to offer complimentary snacks "since their major competitors do," he said. "It has the added benefit of differentiating their product from ultra-low cost carriers, like Spirit, with whom they increasingly have to compete."



Johnny come lately?

Source: United Airlines

Additionally, starting in May 2016 American Airlines will bring back something else economy class passengers have been missing: complimentary meal service  but only on flights between Hawaii and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. American and United are generating buzz for bringing back complimentary main cabin snack service, but other domestic airlines have been offering it all along. "Delta has been providing customers with consistent snacking options since the 1940s," Delta spokeswoman Catherine Sirna told CNBC. The airline now serves more than 235 million packages of peanuts, pretzels or Biscoff cookies, combined, each year. A spokeswoman for Southwest, which has always provided complimentary snacks to its passengers, said the carrier doled out more than 106 million bags of peanuts and more than 45 million bags of pretzels last year. On certain flights, Southwest offers a broader choice of snacks like cookies and crackers. Seattle-based Alaska Airlines offers main cabin passengers complimentary snack mixes, and its regional carrier Horizon Air also offers complimentary tastes of beer or wine made in California, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. On JetBlue, passengers are offered unlimited servings from a snack basket that currently includes Doritos tortilla chips, Keebler Elf Grahams, PopCorners popcorn chips and the airline's now-signature Terra Blues potato chips. In 2015, the carrier gave out about 9 million bags of potato chips and 8 million bags of chocolate chip cookies. A full meal on a flight, however, is still a dicey proposition, and most airlines don't give them out on domestic flights, or trips under a few hours. Yet Hawaiian Airlines remains the only domestic carrier to serve a complimentary, full-tray meal to all guests on its North America routes. As part of its beverage service, the airline also offers economy passengers a complimentary glass of red or white wine, and a complimentary Koloa Rum Punch.


Danny Santulli's siblings, cousins hold vigil for him in Peace Park

An end to hazing was the point of a Wednesday candlelight vigil in Peace Park organized by Danny Santulli's siblings and cousins.
June 18, 2015 - Resurrection Catholic School students Alesson Dayanara, 9, (left) and Ana Enriquez, 10, work on a Harry Potter-themed literary treasure hunt assignment during the school's English summer camp. RCS is a part of the Jubilee Catholic Schools system in Memphis which is transitioning to a year-round education model. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

I hope I'm wrong about school vouchers.

I hope legislators who are expected to approve the historic Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Act on Monday aren't merely trying to erode public support for public schools.

I hope they were influenced by the "core values" of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, and not its national right-wing funders who want to marginalize poor kids in public schools.

I hope vouchers will truly help the kids who receive them and not hurt the vast majority of those who won't.

The bill would make available up to 20,000 private-school vouchers for students in the lowest-performing public schools in the state.

Most of those schools serve low-income black students in Memphis.

"Black children are inherently intelligent and talented," the Black Alliance, a Washington-based group that has been lobbying for vouchers in Tennessee, declares in its "core values" statement.

They absolutely are.

"When engaged daily by caring and committed adults, black children can and will achieve at the highest academic levels."

They absolutely can and do.

"Black families and students cannot wait for schools to improve."

They should not have to wait one more day.

"Equal access to high-quality education options is essential to realize our nation's unmet promise of justice and equality and to enable Black children to fully participate in and benefit from economic and civic freedom."

Essential isn't a strong enough word.

"Wealthy families have always had choice in education."

Always.

"Low- and moderate-income families deserve the same choices."

Yes.

The children of the people who work for Walmart deserve the same choices as the Walton Family, big supporters of vouchers and one of the Black Alliance's largest funders.

Another big funder is the Bradley Foundation, which bankrolled the successful efforts to launch and expand the nation's first statewide voucher program in Wisconsin.

Bradley also underwrote "The Bell Curve," a controversial 1994 book that argued poor, minority students are innately less intelligent.

"Poverty, school dropout, unemployment, crime, welfare, illegitimacy, single-parent families, low birth- weight babies and deprived home environments are inevitable consequences of a growing lower cognitive class," co-authors Charles Murray and Richard Hernstein wrote.

They endorsed the use of vouchers and tax credits to shift government funds "from programs for the disadvantaged to programs for the gifted."

Public policies, they argued, "should make it as easy as possible for them (parents of gifted children) to match up with classes that satisfy their ambitions."

I hope that's not what Tennessee's voucher supporters are trying to do.

I hope churches and other faith-based organizations that use vouchers to support their own private schools will make it a priority to accept and support "the least of these" -- the poorest and lowest-performing voucher kids.

I hope business and civic leaders who support vouchers will work to ensure that every school is a school they'd pay to send their own children to.

I hope legislators who vote for vouchers will find ways to provide every low-income child the same educational opportunities their own children have.

"To be honest, most of these 'failing schools' are so because they are in failing communities; we recognize that it may be years to turn them around. And children don't have time," said state Rep. Bill Dunn, whose own children attended Catholic schools in Knoxville.

Dunn is the House sponsor of the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Act.

Such a hopeful name.

I hope all private schools, especially the best and most expensive independent schools, participate in the program and find a place for every low-income voucher kid, especially those from "failing communities."

I hope every low-income child who qualifies for a voucher is able to enroll in a great private school that gives him or her a real "choice and opportunity" for a better life.

I hope there aren't any leftover vouchers.

According to a paragraph on the last page of the bill, any leftover vouchers may be awarded to any student who lives in a school district "that contains at least one (1) school in the bottom five percent (5%) of schools in overall achievement."

Legislators say they hope to continue to expand the number of vouchers available statewide.

I sure hope the voucher bill isn't a Trojan horse designed to sneak only the most gifted low-income students out of public schools and into private schools.
In this Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 file photo, a health workers stands in the Sambadrome spraying insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Every few years it seems a new virus captures the public's attention. Over a decade ago, it was SARS, which had people in Hong Kong wearing masks, then it was avian flu, then H1N1, then the West Nile virus, and then Ebola, and now it is Zika.

We don't know for certain why a new virus emerges, but I can speculate. More on this later, but first let me share what we know about the Zika virus.

Over a half century ago, Zika virus was discovered in Africa (I found it mentioned only in a chart in my Tropical Medicine textbook). Now the virus has hopped across the oceans into the Americas. In Brazil alone, where the virus was discovered in May, a million Zika infections have occurred and the number may reach up to 4 million over the next year.

Understanding the chain of transmission is critical to controlling and preventing Zika infections. Transmission flows back and forth between mosquitoes and people. First, an infected mosquito bites a person, who becomes infected. The infection is spread when an uninfected mosquito bites that same person. That mosquito in turn becomes a carrier that goes on to spread the virus to other people. This is the same way malaria and other viruses, like dengue fever, cause infections in the tropics. West Nile virus is similar but it can infect birds as well.

Another route of transmission for the Zika virus that has been discovered is sexual contact. Recently in Texas, a traveler who had recently traveled to Venezuela infected his or her sexual partner, who had not left the country. Studies show that Zika can also be transmitted by blood transfusion.

At present, no Zika-infected mosquitoes have been found in the United States, and no non-travelers have reported infections, other than the Texas case. But it is only a matter of time until such cases will appear. Why do experts say this? Because the two types of mosquitoes which spread the Zika virus are present in the southeast United States from Florida across to Texas and up to Tennessee, Ohio and Connecticut.

For decades, the Zika virus has not been widely investigated or feared because it was known to cause only a mild infection with fever, rash, arthritis and red-eyes, which subsided within a week. However, last year health authorities in Brazil noticed a surge in cases of birth defects among newborns linked with infection of Zika virus. To date, a cause-and-effect relationship between the virus and the birth defect of microcephaly (small head) has not been proven. Also it is unclear if the virus has changed or if better monitoring in the Americas has led to its connection with birth defects.

Zika has no treatment and no vaccine, and none are available in the short term. Many are wondering if they should put their vacation plans, including going to the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, on hold. In time it is likely the outbreak will be contained, but for now, health agencies are recommending that pregnant women not travel to Zika-affected areas, which includes Brazil and many other South American countries, all of Central America, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For people living in these regions, local governments are recommending that women delay pregnancy. Some authorities advise women who are traveling to these areas to wait for one month after their return before getting pregnant. Those who must travel should use extra precautions to not become bitten by mosquitoes.

So, now to answer the question, why do more new viruses appear to be emerging? I believe there are three reasons: globalization, surveillance, and climate change. We need to only look at the flight destinations page in back of the airline magazine. In a single day millions of people connect to thousands of flights to hundreds of destinations. This is how quickly a virus such as avian flu can spread.

Secondly, we may be becoming more aware of virus outbreaks due to better global surveillance of diseases by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly every country has collaborations and disease surveillance posts for early detection.

Lastly, our environment is changing: global warming, deforestation, changing weather patterns and coastlines affect not only human patterns and habitat but also that of animals, primates, mosquitoes, birds  and even viruses who reside within them.

So, yet again, as a new virus emerges we need to be concerned but not panic. We need to use our knowledge to help overcome our fears.
SHARE The Commercial Appeal files February 7, 1954  Miss Barbara Leflar (left), Miss City Beautiful of 1953, welcomes the first entrant in the 1954 competition, Miss Beth Wagner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton J. Wagner of 941 South Perkins on Feb. 7, 1954. Miss Wagner, a junior at East High School, is being sponsored by the Junior Department of the Nineteenth Century Club.

Feb. 7

25 years ago: 1991

Danny Thomas, the cigar-chomping comic whose promise to a saint became a godsend for thousands of sick children, died Wednesday after a heart attack at his Beverly Hills home. Thomas, 77, had flown home Tuesday from Memphis, where he signed copies of his new autobiography. This weekend, he will come back to Memphis for the last time, to be buried in a pavilion at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The entertainer probably brought more national attention to Memphis than anybody except Elvis Presley. At the height of his fame, the Emmy Award-winning actor used his influence to establish St. Jude, which opened in 1962. It is now the world's leading center for research in cancer and other catastrophic illnesses in children.

50 years ago: 1966

Roasted egos will share the bill of fare with sumptuous food at the Memphis Press Club's seventh annual Gridiron Show April 26 in the Skyway of the Sheraton-Peabody. Details of the show, which pokes fun at Mid-South political, business and social leaders, were announced yesterday by Granville Allison Jr., the show's general chairman. This year's production, like the others, will be written, produced and performed by Memphis Press Club members. W.H. McGehee is production chairman of the 1966 show. Eugart Yerian, executive of Holiday Inns of America, Inc., and former director of the Memphis Little Theatre, will return to direct. Music will be furnished by Berl Olswanger, Memphis television personality and orchestra leader.

75 years ago: 1941

The Civil Aeronautics Administration at Washington has named the famed Memphis aviatrix, Mrs. Phoebe Omlie, co-ordinator of the aviation activities of such government agencies as the WPA, the National Defense Commission and the Department of Education. Some time ago, Mrs. Omlie was named by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt as "one of the 11 greatest women in the nation."

100 years ago: 1916

A children's choir with 48 voices has been organized at First Baptist Church by Mrs. Edgar Estile. She feels that by developing the voices of the youngsters she can be of valuable aid to those who will have charge of the music in the future.

125 years ago: 1891

Pittsburgh  The backbone of one of the longest miners' strikes in history has been broken. The 400 men employed at Turtle Creek have accepted the wage offer of 74 cents per ton of screened coal. The men have been on strike for nine months.
The Allen Fossil Plant, as it turns out, was the focus of many comments Thursday during the public listening session before the Tennessee Valley Authority boards quarterly meeting.

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By Michael Collins of The Commercial Appeal

WASHINGTON  A union representing TVA employees is calling for congressional hearings on proposed changes to the employee pension plan and is asking lawmakers to hold the utility accountable for its pension obligations.

But members of Tennessee's congressional delegation don't seem eager to take sides in the fight.

"We are well aware that TVA's pension system is significantly underfunded and reforms are necessary," a spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Chattanooga, said last week. "While we do not inject ourselves in the decision-making of the board, we do understand that we will be hearing from those affected by these proposals and look forward to those conversations."

Other lawmakers and their aides issued similar, noncommittal statements after union representatives made the rounds on Capitol Hill recently to lobby Congress to block the proposal.

"As the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors works to correct shortfalls in their pension plan, I have asked that they continue to strive to balance their concerns of rising costs for ratepayers with the promises they made to their retirees, employees and families concerning their benefits and future retirement," said U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis.

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-South Pittsburg, said he has faith that Bill Johnson, TVA's president and CEO, has been working "diligently" on the pension issue "with an eye toward balancing the needs of workers, ratepayers and retirees."

Union members don't see it that way.

"This is a federal government corporation, but those who work in the executive suite are lining their pockets like TVA is their personal business while forcing 'austerity' on frontline employees," said Gay Henson, president of the Engineering Association IFTPE Local 1937.

"It's wrong," Henson said. "It's shortsighted. It may be illegal  and if it's not, it should be."

The union, which represents more than 2,600 TVA employees, is objecting to a proposal TVA management says would bring the underfunded pension fund up to proper levels over the next 20 years.

The proposal includes freezing benefits for employees hired since 1996 and moving them into a 401(k) plan, as well as reducing cost-of-living adjustments for retirees who have been part of the plan since 1968. The changes would affect some 11,000 current employees and 24,000 retirees.

In an interview, Johnson called the proposal "a fair solution that can help us get to a better-funded status and bring long-term financial health to TVA and the pension system."

Right now, the pension fund has about $6.8 billion, roughly half of what actuaries estimate is needed. TVA is proposing to commit at least $275 million a year, or $5.5 billion over the next two decades, to help close the shortfall.

But union officials argue the proposal would cut employee benefits while preserving lavish pensions and perks for TVA's top executives  an accusation Johnson says isn't true.

"All of the executives here are in one of the three pension plans that everybody else is in," he said. "Changes in those plans will affect everybody, including the executives."

Union officials also complain the proposal was put together in secret without any input from those who will be impacted.

"I'm interested in working with TVA and coming up with solutions," Gay said. But, "It's difficult to know what's going on. We really need some transparency there."

Gay and other union officials had hoped their recent meetings with congressional staffers would lead to oversight hearings, at the very least, and maybe slow down the proposal until its impact on employees and retirees can be determined.

That seems unlikely given the reaction of Tennessee's Congress members.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Maryville; U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-Johnson City; and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, are all aware of the workers' concerns, their offices said. But they took no position on the proposed changes.

The board that oversees the TVA retirement system is expected to act on the proposal or a similar one by the end of February.

Michael Collins is The Commercial Appeal's Washington correspondent. His weekly Tennessee in D.C. column highlights Volunteer State lawmakers, causes and connections. Contact him at 202-408-2711 or michael.collins@jmg.com.
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By Noah Smith

Something is wrong with U.S. universities. Not catastrophically wrong, but wrong enough to warrant a push for reform.

The problem is cost versus benefit. Although net tuition has only risen for students from higher-income families during the last two decades (because students with wealthier parents receive less financial aid), costs for textbooks and room and board have soared for all students.

And parents, perhaps struck by the recession, or perhaps skeptical of whether college is worth the price tag, have been shouldering less of the cost, leaving students more deeply in debt than ever.

When education becomes more of a financial burden, it makes sense to ask whether students are getting their money's worth. Graduation rates have risen a bit since 2000, but are still fairly low. For example, of students starting at four-year public universities in 2007, only 33.5 percent graduated in four years, and only 57.2 percent within six years.

What's more, there's the question of how much benefit students derive from college. Sociologists Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa have found that more than a third of students at four-year universities showed no improvement on measures of critical thinking.

Given these concerns, it's natural that people are thinking about how college could be reformed. Steven Pearlstein, writing in the Washington Post, suggests four measures that could be taken to rein in costs. His first two ideas  capping the recent rise in administrative costs, and encouraging students to take more summer classes  would be good, though their impacts would probably only be marginal.

But his other suggestions are not as useful. He recommends having professors teach more and do less research, thus reducing the need to hire lecturers and adjuncts. But if most scholarly research is really as useless as Pearlstein suggests, an even better alternative would be to simply hire far fewer professors and far more lecturers. Lecturers, after all, are specialists in teaching, meaning they are probably better at it than profs (there is evidence to support this). They also cost much less to hire.

There is a reason we have professors do research. In science and engineering, university professors are one of the main forces behind the U.S.'s innovative edge. They produce important basic research and pioneering technologies, and attract top talent from all over the world. If you replace research professors with lecturers in science and engineering  or force professors to forgo research for teaching, which is the same thing  you remove a long-term driver of America's competitive advantage and productivity growth.

In the humanities, Pearlstein may have a point. Since humanities research doesn't produce technological advances, it's an open question whether humanities professors should be subject to the same high-output "publish or perish" culture that prevails in the sciences. Scholarship is still important, of course, but the relatively low citation counts for humanities papers suggests that professors in these fields might do better to revert to the old method of writing books over many years. Still, doing so would do very little to defray college costs.

Pearlstein's final suggestion  using more technology  sounds great, but isn't something universities have yet figured out how to do.

So something needs to be done about college costs, but all of the ideas on the table are marginal solutions at best. So here are two of my own.

No. 1: Increase supply. For some reason, for-profit college isn't really working out for American students. Student performance is very poor, and the price has soared. Unsurprisingly, that has led to large and rising numbers of for-profit college grads who can't pay back their mountains of debt.

Students need an alternative to failing for-profit colleges. Research shows for-profit schools exploded in popularity because rising demand for college wasn't met by an increase in supply at public and nonprofit schools. The solution is to increase the supply of public universities. That means building new branches of existing universities, increasing enrollment at existing branches, and/or creating entirely new public universities. More supply of high-quality public schools will mean more college graduates, but also lower prices for everyone.

No. 2: Protect students from taking on too much debt. Students who borrow tens of thousands of dollars at age 18 are not sophisticated consumers. They often cannot foresee the consequences of graduating in debt, since they have no experience with either debt repayment or the job market. Many entering college students would therefore benefit from mandatory counseling before they are allowed to borrow money. Of course, that would require the federal government to reduce one of its revenue sources.

But if students are protected from taking on more debt than they should, it will reduce demand for university spots. That will bring prices down while also preventing ill-prepared 18-year-olds from making decisions they will later regret.

If supply of good public universities is increased, and financial counseling is made mandatory, I predict we will see the college cost problem mostly disappear from our radar screens within a decade.

Noah Smith is an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University.
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By Matt Latimer

The other day Jeb Bush said something about the presidency so fundamentally wrong that it crystallized why his campaign has the vapors, sputtering to just 2.8 percent in Iowa.

During one of many harangues against Donald Trump, Bush told a small gathering in New Hampshire, "We're not electing a personality. We're electing someone who has to sit behind the big desk and make tough decisions."

Separately, he proclaimed himself an introvert, one who "would rather read a book than go out and get in a conga line and go dancing." (One wonders who gave him that choice of options.)

The thesis of the Bush campaign is that voters crave a competent manager to make reasonable decisions  not a celebrity or a personality. This, of course, is ludicrous, a total misunderstanding of the modern presidency. And I can prove it. My first witness is his father.

In 1988, when George H.W. Bush sought the presidency, he lambasted his opponent, Democrat Michael Dukakis, for claiming the election was about competence.

"This election isn't only about competence," the elder Bush declared. "Competence makes the trains run on time, but doesn't know where they're going. Competence is the creed of the technocrat who makes sure the gears mesh, but doesn't for a second understand the magic of the machine."

Bush understood that the American people wanted something bigger in their presidents. Which is why he created a persona that they might favor. In the 1980s, at least, the private Bush was a kindly aristocrat with moderate tendencies. The public one was a just-folks Texan who liked pork rinds and country music.

His son  and my former boss  George W. Bush was an even better political performer. In private, Bush was a pragmatic guy. But he ran for president as an even more macho version of his dad: the ultra-confident "decider" who would restore the Reagan Revolution and dismantle the legacy of Bill Clinton. He was dismissed by critics as an arrogant frat boy, which was fine with him.

"Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger," he acknowledged. "Which in Texas is called 'walkin'.'"

Sometimes, when I observed the president with his boots on the desk and his muscular syntax, I'd think, "This isn't really him." I thought he was putting on a show. At the time, I found that fraudulent. Now, I realize it was necessary.

There is no more important role for a president than that of a performer. A leader who will vow to avenge "a day that will live in infamy." Or go to Berlin and call on a Soviet leader to tear it down. Or stand on a pile of rubble with a bullhorn and promise to bring the bad guys to justice. The parent who drives through a blizzard, feeling the ice tug on the tires, the car shifting on the slippery road, while telling the kids in the back seat that everything is going just fine and getting them to sing a song.

In the modern era, the president is also celebrity-in-chief, expected to comment on the deaths of popular actors or to watch the latest "Star Wars" film or to appear on Jimmy Kimmel alongside beloved comedians.

Does anyone other than Jeb Bush believe Americans marvel at how efficiently the president cleans out his inbox? Or applaud him for successfully refereeing a dispute between the secretaries of commerce and agriculture? The voters aren't looking for an administrator-in-chief.

Last fall Bush gambled otherwise  and released a 644-page book of emails he wrote as governor of Florida. If anyone read it  and if Amazon is any guide, almost no one did  they would first have had to wade through six pages of acronyms such as the BOG and the DCA (not to be confused with the DCF).

That's why Bush, the guy who was supposed to win, is losing. Even if he does somehow negative-ad his way to the presidency, he's doomed to fail because he doesn't understand the theater of that office.

Which brings us back to Trump. Whether he makes it to the nominating convention or not  now a shakier prospect than it was just days ago  he's clearly figured out that this running for president thing has everything to do with creating a persona.

His jumbo jet, his photogenic family, his boasts, his feuds against powerful people, his efforts to tie himself to Ronald Reagan and John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger, all convey a message. He can handle anything people throw at him. He's a winner, even when he isn't, if only because he's ingrained that word in our heads over and over again.

"The final key to the way I promote is bravado," Trump wrote in "The Art of the Deal," his 1987 memoir-cum-advice manual. "I play to people's fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That's why a little hyperbole never hurts."

"The Art of the Deal," Trump tells us, is the best-selling business book of all time. It matters only to fact-checkers and the faltering campaigns of his rivals that this claim is demonstrably false.

Matt Latimer is a former speechwriter for George W. Bush. He is currently co-owner of Javelin, a literary and communications agency in Washington.
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SEVEN departments on the north-west coast of France are the latest to be place on an orange weather alert by Meteo France, with the forecaster warning of strong winds, high waves and the risk of coastal flooding.

The sea warning applies to the Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine, Cotes-d'Armor, Finistere, Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique and applies until 6.00 on Monday morning.

This is where the quote text goes.

There will also be strong winds inland in the Finistere, Cotes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, Manche and Calvados - with gusts up to 120kph.

It will be windy across most of northern France on Monday with gusts up to 100kph inland.

An earlier weather warning for the Rhone and Loire departments has since been lifted.
Question: On the basis of what you know about the Governments EU renegotiation plan, and your assessment of likely reactions to it here and abroad, are you more likely to vote to remain in or to leave the EU in the coming referendum?

The latest answer to this question is above.

When we last published results on our regular poll question to Party members about whether they are more likely to vote Remain or Leave in the EU referendum, 24 per cent lined up for Remain and 67 per cent for Leave.

Our last monthly poll was conducted the week before David Camerons negotiations with Donald Tusk produced draft proposals. It found 26 per cent for Remain and 67 per cent for Leave  in other words, no significant change.

So we re-ran the question in a special survey during the latter part of last week, after those talks, the publication of proposals, and the media reporting and commentary about both. We also put in, under the circumstances, a new it makes no difference category.

If you add the last figure to that for those likely to back Remain, you get 28 per cent (with rounding up)  pretty much the same figure as the Remain total last month.

That leaves the 71 per cent who are more likely to vote for Britain to leave the EU. This suggests that, in numerical terms, the Prime Ministers renegotiation has made no difference whatsoever to the views of Party members and that, in political terms, it has received an unequivocal thumbs-down.

A word of caution. We do not yet have a formal deal for Cameron to throw his authority behind. It is reasonable to expect one to whittle down the Leave figure somewhat. And my sense is that this two-thirds-plus intention to back Brexit is on the high side.

None the less, the Prime Ministers unfortunate remark last week about local Conservative Associations is in line with the headline point of our survey. More activists seem currently to be for Brexit than against it. It will be hard work for him to turn that round, if it can be done at all.
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Posey County

Annual Ag Day coming up Feb. 16

Purdue Extension, in cooperation with the Posey County Co-op, will hold the annual Posey Ag Day on Feb. 16 at the Posey County 4-H Fairgrounds Community Center building.

This year's program will focus primarily on cover crops and their uses and benefits in crop and livestock production. The featured speaker will be Jim Hoorman, an Ohio State University educator and assistant professor who studies cover crops and water quality issues.

Farmers who plant cover crops can expect to see lower input costs and healthier soils for both crop and livestock production, according to Hoorman.

The benefits include lower pesticide use and more efficient use of soil fertilizer and nutrients, and growing and harvesting more forages, improved pastures and an extended grazing period.

The day will begin with 9 a.m. registration. To register or for more information, contact Jon Neufelder at 812-838-1331 or email neufelde@purdue.edu.

Jasper

Economic forecast luncheon Feb. 25

The Rotary Club of Jasper will host its annual Indiana University Economic Forecast Luncheon on Feb. 25 at KlubHaus 61, starting at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Panelists will include Jerry Conover, director, Indiana Business Research Center, Kelley School of Business; Ed Cole, president, Dubois Strong of Dubois County; Charles A. Trzcinka, director, Indiana Business Research Center, Kelley School of Business; and Willard E. Witte, co-director, Center for Econometric Model Research, associate professor emeritus.

Cost is $25 (meal included). Reservations due by Feb. 19 to mary@sirs.org or at 812-305-8711. One CPE is available for CPAs through the Institute of Management Accountants.
A recent newscast from Henderson featured a red fox trying to survive a head wound caused by a gunshot blast. The fox was frolicking in the front yard of a private residence when it was shot, allegedly by someone who happened to be driving past.

Kentucky has tough penalties for goons misusing guns, so if the offenders get caught, they may find themselves without guns, gear and vehicle in addition to earning a bit of jail time. However, unless someone speaks up, they likely will escape and continue their random shooting sprees.

While foxes are currently legal game, shooting from a vehicle is usually not legal. Shooting at something near a house is definitely illegal and highly dangerous, so that also is a violation. However, a caveat of law regarding age the miscreants may shield them.

Unfortunately, juvenile offenders usually receive token punishment. Just being a "fun lovin' kid" usually nullifies more severe penalties from being handed down for violations that should draw serious rebuke.

Usually conservation violations don't make headlines, though, and all states have their share of punks that regularly go on "road trips" to satisfy their hunting interests. They leave a trail of dead animals  both wild and domestic  behind.

A few years ago, some Hoosier hoodlums were caught shooting deer out of season from vehicles. Some estimate they killed as many as 125 deer during their forays.

Did they pay fines for the few deer they were caught killing? Did they have to do three years of daily conservation community service? Did they lose their driving privileges until they turn age 25? Did they lose their vehicles?

You already guessed the answers, so what was the point of the arrests?

Any time anyone commits a crime with any type weapon, there should be penalties that causes them, and other "wannabes" to think twice.

Each week conservation officers investigate reports of illegal hunting. It has become a national epidemic because somehow, some way wildlife no longer seem to matter.

That's why in ever widening areas you rarely see wildlife standing in fields. It isn't due to legal hunting and it's not because animals decided to voluntarily vacate the premises.

Furthermore, when deer and wild turkeys aren't demonized by lobbying efforts, it makes it easier for those who do get arrested for hunting violations to plead they were "helping to control offending wildlife."

The only way to squelch such stupidity is through tough justice levied on all offenders, regardless of their age or social status. That's why the NRA long has maintained criminals using guns in the commission of any crime deserve tougher penalties.

Law enforcement authorities need to pursue sterner penalties for anyone who wrongly slaughter wildlife and desecrate residential areas without realizing the damage that could be done.
MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS Nour a Syrian refugee studying at the University of Evansville talks with his adviser Bev Fowler as he walks between classes Friday, January 29, 2016.

SHARE Photo by JESSIE HIGGINS Nour and Bev Fowler, the University of Evansvilles director of International Admissions, pose for a photo. Bev met Nour at an international university fair in Jordan in 2014, and was one of the driving forces for bringing him to Evansville. MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS Syrian refugee, 21 year-old Nour listens in a University of Evansville physics class, January 29, 2016. MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS Nour a Syrian refuge studying at the University of Evansville enters the Shanklin Theatre building for one of his classes Friday, January 29, 2016 MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS Syrian refugee, 21 year-old Nour waits for his First Year Seminary 112 class to start at the University of Evansville, January 29, 2016.

By Jessie Higgins of the Courier and Press

When Razan heard an explosion rock her Syrian city in the summer of 2012, she felt a pang of terror.

Frantically scanning news reports, she called her son Nour at school.

"Don't come home," she told Nour. Police were arresting young men along the road to their house. "Go to your grandma's. It will be more safe."

Nour, then 17, rushed out of the high school with his classmates. He saw police and ran.

War had reached Damascus.

"My friend was arrested that day," Nour, now 21, said recently at his Evansville apartment. "He didn't do anything, he was just in the wrong place. They held him for one month. They tortured him. They pulled off his nails, can you imagine?"

It was then Razan and her husband realized Syria was no longer safe for their son.

Escaping the war-torn country would be an agonizing and dangerous journey. The coming years would tear the family apart, scatter them across the world and eventually bring some of them back together in an unlikely place  Evansville.

"It's a long story about leaving Syria," Razan said. She sat in her Evansville apartment last month drinking tea with her son and daughter. The family asked that their last names be withheld. In Syria, criticizing the government is a crime, and they fear speaking about the conflict will endanger family still living there.

It wasn't always this way.

'HEAVEN'

When Razan's children were young, Syria was a near idyllic place, they said.

"I considered it heaven there," Nour said.

"We had no worries," his older sister Bayan said.

They were part of a large extended family. Nour remembers gathering at his grandparents' home every weekend. As the adults talked and prepared food, Nour and Bayan played with their cousins.

But in 2011, everything started to change.

Countries across the Middle East were rebelling against authoritarian governments. In Syria, the government arrested a group of middle school-aged boys for writing revolutionary chants they'd heard on TV on their school wall. The children were held and tortured for weeks, some died.

Thousands of Syrians in the city of Homs took to the streets in protest. The demonstration was peaceful, but the government opened fire on the protesters, killing many. Within a year, rebel groups formed to overthrow the government.

Syrian's once-peaceful cities became battlefields.

ESCAPING SYRIA

Razan's daughter, Bayan, was in her last year of university as the violence escalated.

"They used to have fights at the university," Bayan said. "They would come in with their tanks and guns and attack the students. If they started to have a fight, we learned right away to leave on the buses, or we would be trapped."

At the last attack, Bayan's bus did not get away in time. She and her friends watched in terror as men fought just outside their windows. Bullets flew, wounded men fell in pools of blood.

Soldiers attempted to board the bus. In a split second decision, the driver sped away.

"It was so scary," Bayan said, softly.

After she graduated, Bayan and her husband decided to move to the United States. It was still early in the conflict, before Syria's citizens began the mad rush to escape, so immigrating was simple.

By the time the family decided to get Nour out of Syria, leaving the country was more difficult.

In 2012, Razan and her husband enrolled Nour in a private high school in Jordan, a country just south Syria.

The border crossing between Syria and Jordan was clogged with people. When Nour and his parents finally reached the checkpoint, the guard announced that only Razan and her husband could cross.

"I was a little desperate, but what could I do?" Nour said.

After a moment of panic, Razan stood back and studied the guards. Many appeared unmoved by the family's plight. But she spotted one who she thought looked troubled by the scene around him.

This man was their best chance, she thought.

"I know you are a nice person," Razan told the guard. "You don't look like an evil person."

The guard's eyes were full of pity, so Razan charged on.

"I don't have any son but Nour," she pleaded. "I cannot leave him here. He is a good boy. Please."

To Nour's surprise, the guard agreed to help.

"My mother was the happiest person in the whole world when we crossed the border," Nour said. "I've never seen anyone so happy. Her face, it beamed."

EVANSVILLE

Jordan was not an ideal place for Syrian refugees. The country refused to give Syrians work permits, and often treated them as second class citizens.

Because Nour's family was educated and well-off, they escaped the worst treatment. But there was still no future for them there.

In 2013, he visited an international university fair.

"I went to the fair hoping I'd find a way to get out," Nour said.

He spoke with every university there, and found nothing. Disappointed, he was nearly out of the building when he spotted a table at the back of the room.

It was the University of Evansville.

"I almost missed it," Nour said quietly.

Bev Fowler, UE's director of International Admissions and Recruitment, still remembers meeting Nour that day. The university had just started offering scholarships for Syrian students  and he was a perfect candidate.

"I want to see you on campus in January," Fowler told him.

Those words stayed with Nour. The next year, he was in Evansville.

STARTING OVER

Nour and Razan live together here. His older sister lives in Ohio with her husband and baby. She is now an American citizen.

Their father is still in Jordan, waiting for a Visa to come to the United States. The family has not seen him in two years, and it could take several more before he receives a Visa  if he ever does.

"He really misses us," Nour said. "He really misses his family. He's never met his granddaughter. He always wants to see his granddaughter."

Across the room, Bayan quietly cried.

Razan and her husband planned to apply for Visas together and both move to Evansville to be with Nour. But, by chance, Razan came to the United States on a tourist Visa two years ago to visit with her pregnant daughter. She wanted to be there when the baby was born.

A few months after Razan arrived, Jordan all but closed its borders to Syrians. Around the same time, the United States seriously restricted Syrian visitors.

"We're just waiting now for the day he gets here," Nour said. "Hopefully, this day will come really soon. At least we have some hope."

Nour's voice trailed off.

The family is trying to build a new life in the United States.

Razan takes weekly English lessons. Though she was an electrical engineer in Syria, her certification means nothing here and it would take years for her to get the necessary American degrees and licenses.

So, she's starting over. Once her English is good enough, she intends to return to school in Evansville for interior design or to become an Arabic teacher.

Nour will soon earn a Bachelor's of Science in chemistry. He plans to become a dentist  like his father. His dream now is to attend Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

"We are so lucky to be here," Nour said. "But now that we are here, I have a bigger dream. And maybe it is bigger than me. But I have the dream."

From across the room, Razan shook her head.

"No," she said. "You can do it. You can do anything."
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House may not have been the most medically accurate show, but it got a few things right. As proof, we present the case of an unidentified 55-year-old German man whom we'll call Augustus, because it sounds like a friendly enough name. Augustus was suffering from a slew of symptoms, including fever, hormonal imbalances, loss of vision and hearing, and, to plop a cherry on the fuck-me sundae, heart failure. He had (presumably slowly) traveled down a long chain of doctors and specialists, only to have each of them give their shoulders an exaggerated shrug before extending a palm to collect his copay.

OJO_Images/OJO Images/Getty Images

"Not to sugarcoat it! Haha, kidding. That's just a little doctor humor. You have six months to live."

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Fortunately, Augustus eventually stumbled into the clinic of one Dr. Juergen Schaefer. In less time than your average commercial break, Schaefer had diagnosed him with cobalt intoxication and sent him off on the path to recovery.

So how did Dr. Schaefer immediately succeed where so many others had failed? Simple: He's a huge fan of House. So huge that he uses the show to teach medical students at the University of Marburg about diagnosing off-the-wall medical conditions. So huge that he wrote an entire book on how to apply the show to real-life medicine. So huge that at the first sight of Augustus's symptoms, he immediately recalled season seven, episode 11, wherein Candice Bergen portrays a woman whose faulty metal hip replacement pumps her full of obscene amounts of cobalt. Exactly like our pal Augustus -- who, after receiving a fresh ceramic hip, was feeling all better, and probably also more than a bit obligated to buy the complete House box set.
Greetings from Vietnam everyone!

I forget how difficult it is to update my blog while I'm here. With the turtle- speed internet connection and an adorable nephew trying to snuggle next to me, it's hard to get any work done. I'm fully aware of the long overdue blog post "Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016". I thought there is no better time to publish it than the first day of Lunar New Year (Lunar New Year is the first day of a secular, sacred, or other year whose months are coordinated by the cycles of the moon). That's when a New Year truly starts for us.





WORK perspective, I had incredible opportunities to collaborate with some amazing brands last year. 2015 was really an exciting adventure for me. I made 6 resolutions last year on this blog and I'm proud to stay that I've accomplished 5 out of 6 resolutions and achieved many other things that were not on my list. Keep reading and you'll find out what they are. I published 118 blog posts last year, many of them are beauty-related posts as promised. From theperspective, I had incredible opportunities to collaborate with some amazing brands last year.





Kicking 2015 off with a one-of-a-kind dinner with Grand Hyatt , a part of their global campaign #LivingGrand

















For the first time, I worked with an automobile brand and it's none other than Volvo . It was truly a surreal moment.









Not to mention some of my favorite fashion labels that I had an honor to introduce to you. From a local jewelry brand like Taula









to Icelandic jewellery brand Aurum









From a popular online-fashion shopping site like Revolve Clothing









to upcoming fashion houses like Styletribute

































2015 was also the year of TRAVELING and It wouldn't have happened without Mr. Bear. Knowing how much I love traveling, he really made an effort to bring me to many places, every time we had a long break from work.













visited Phuket in June and stayed at the Radisson Blu Phuket hotel.









We went back to Bali in July













and found our way to Perth in August for the first time.









I also flew back to Vietnam and spent a week there with my family before my Phuket trip. That's when I decided to have a change in my career. I needed a break. I left a company that I was working with for 5 years and tried something new. Life turned a new page. After months of brainstorming, discussing and crafting, my other "baby" was born. 511Styles , that's how I call it. It's a brand new fashion and lifestyle avenue for me to share a lot more content with you. Please do check it out and give me some feedback.





After Perth, I packed my luggage again and headed to New York for FASHION WEEK . It's that time of the year again. I didn't prepare for it as much as I did for the first year. No photo shoot pre-arranged, no itinerary booked, and no party confirmed. I decided to go with the flow and be a little more spontaneous this time. The best things always happen unexpectedly and that's the truth.

I have never thought, in my wildest dream, that I would have opportunities to interview so many amazing fashion designers backstage, at the parties, and at the events. One of them is the world famous fashion designer Zac Posen. I was shaking when I received an email confirming the news. It was a dream come true for me.





Watch the entire journey that I and my photographer Evelyn filmed it for you.













Vietnam International Fashion Week (VIFW) happened right after I came back from New York. I had only 2 weeks at home before boarding my flight to Ho Chi Minh in October. It was my first time attending VIFW and as usual, I kept my expectations low. It turned out to be more wonderful event than I'd ever expected.

I met many great designers including the renowned fashion designer- Kenzo Takada, Australia couture designer- Alvin Fernandez from Alkemi, Dubai couture designer- Ezra Santos and a few others.









Striking a pose with fashion designer Kenzo Takada on the last day of VIFW.









With Trang Le, president of Vietnam International Fashion Week.





Fashion weeks came and went as quickly as a storm but not as fast as time flew. My birthday was around the corner right after I came back from Vietnam Fashion Week. It reminded me that there were only 2 months left to the New Year. I still felt like I hadn't done as many things as I wanted to. Nonetheless, it's time for celebration.





I had the best birthday celebration this year. Special thanks to Radisson Blu Phuket hotel for arranging everything and Mr. Bear for flying me there.









I thought 2015 was already at its best for me, but I was wrong. Having won Her World Social Media Awards was something I'd never expected. It closed my 2015 on such a high note. If you read the blog entry about this award here, you'll know why it is so meaningful to me.









I'm at the stage where I feel so content and happy with what I have in life. Being able to do what I love and surrounding myself with many wonderful people make me appreciate life so much more. I used to have a list of 10 things I wanted to achieve in a New Year. Right now, I can't think of anything to put on my list, but I know for sure one of my New Year resolutions is staying happy, healthy, and positive. I believe that as long as we think positive, positive things will happen. As long as we are healthy, we'll be able to conquer everything. Don't ever lose HOPE and give up on your DREAMS.





I'm so excited for 2016 as I have already seen some great things in store. I can't wait to share with you about it. May this New Year bring many fantastic opportunities your way, explore every joy of your life, and turn your dreams into reality.





Thank you so much for being here with me. I couldn't have gone this far without your support.

Happy Lunar New Year to all my Chinese readers and a Happy New Year to all!




BRIDGEPORT  The city viewed through the lens of Joe Ganims successful comeback campaign last year was a dangerous one, plagued by homicides and nonfatal gunplay that required stronger executive leadership.

But dangerous enough that the returned mayor needs a seasoned city detective with 22 years on the force, earning more than $77,000 a year, assigned to his office  and at the wheel of his car?

Ganim was known to have a police officer as a driver when he last served as chief executive from 1991 to 2003. In fact, one of the men to serve in that role  Armando Perez, now head of detectives  remains a close confidant of Ganims.

Successors John Fabrizi and Bill Finch, the latter of whom Ganim ousted last year, would sometimes use drivers, but not as frequently as Ganim.

In 2014, Police Chief Joseph Gaudett said Finch would rather have more cops out on the street, keeping our kids safe.

Dangerous times

Now back in City Hall, Ganim has had Detective Ramon Garcia, a key campaign aide, temporarily transferred to his office by Gaudett.

Ganim said, Im driving myself a lot. Probably more than you think.

But, he said, Ive been pushed hard to have someone with me, preferably someone who knows how to handle a situation if one comes up.

That could range, Ganim said, from large crowds to being confronted by an intoxicated individual.

We live in some dangerous times, said Perez, who Ganim has given greater responsibilities battling violent crime and who is rumored to be in the running to replace Gaudett.

And I believe the mayor does deserve protection and should get protection, Perez said.

Just on Thursday, police said city activist Tony Barr threatened to Blow the mayors head off.

Barr, 51, was charged with threatening and disorderly conduct. He was later released after posting $25,000 bond.

According to Ganims office, Garcia continues to handle cases as a detective, while also dealing with security and police-related constituent matters.

Calling him simply Ganims driver is frowned upon.

His job title is not a driver, and thats not how we would characterize his duties, said Av Harris, Ganims spokesman.

Garcias salary of $77,312 is modest compared to dozens in the police department whose six-figure earnings make them among Bridgeports highest paid. It was not immediately known if Garcia has racked up overtime as a result of his new assignment with Ganim.

If Detective Garcia is working extra hours in addition to his regular duties, he will be paid overtime pursuant to his union contract, Harris said.

Besides pledging to reduce crime, Ganim also promised to restore department manpower sorely depleted in recent years under Finch.

Given Ganims and the police unions criticisms that there are few too officers, can Bridgeports Finest afford to have one of their own assigned to Ganim?

Perez said his detective bureau is well staffed.

I have a full complement of officers, Perez said.

$75,000-a-year aide

Ganim is not the rare elected official to have a driver in a day and age where technology has turned cars into mobile work spaces.

New Haven Mayor Toni Harps office said she has a security detail of two plainclothes officers who alternate shifts driving her to appointments.

And an argument could be made that, security issues aside, police officers might simply be better and more alert behind the wheel. While Fabrizi, who had a man-of-the-people reputation, was proud to drive himself around town, he also drew some criticism over a 2005 fender bender.

But in Hartford, where crime was also a hot issue in last years mayoral race, deposed incumbent Pedro Segarra did not have a driver.

Neither does new Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. Bronins office said at his request he has no assigned security detail or driver, though police are constantly monitoring Bronins safety and security and adjust as needed.

The question of whether a big-city mayor needs constant security aside, it is also hard to ignore the possibility that Garcias assignment to Ganim has to do with rewarding him for his work on the campaign.

Not only was Garcia reassigned to Ganims office, but the detectives daughter has been hired as a provisional accounting clerk in the comptrollers office earning $36,975 a year, Harris said.

And Ganim also found work for someone else who accompanied him and Ramon Garcia around town last year.

Danny Pizarro is a civilian who manages numerous properties in town.

Like Garcia, Pizarro was often at Ganims side during the campaign or behind the wheel. And, again, like Garcia, Pizarro often still accompanies the mayor.

Since Ganims swearing-in Dec. 1 it would not have been odd for the casual onlooker to assume Pizarro and Garcia together made up the mayors security detail.

Such loyalty pays off.

The drivers position is taken, so Pizarro was just hired as a $75,000-a-year mayors aide working on, Harris said, blight issues, updating the downtown parking meters and a variety of projects.
Contributed photo / Connecticut State Police

GREENWICH  A trio of New Haven men is facing drug charges after state troopers found cash and crack in their car.

Connecticut State Police announced Saturday that troopers had arrested 20-year-old Tyreese Little, 24-year-old Miguel Quinones and 28-year-old Jesus Torres after pulling them over for speeding on Interstate 95.
Raul Castro meets in Paris with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova

Submitted by: Juana

Europe

Personalities

Politics and Government

02 / 02 / 2016



Cuban President Raul Castro, and the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, held a meeting on Tuesday at the headquarters of the organization in Paris.

During the meeting, they discussed issues such as cooperation between the island and the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization.

The Cuban leader, who concludes on Tuesday a state visit to France, also signed the Golden Book of the institution.

Dulce Maria Buergo, ambassador of the Caribbean country to UNESCO, emphasized the importance of the meeting because in a way it summarizes 70 years of uninterrupted work between the two parties.

Cuba is a member of UNESCO since August 29, 1947. During 2015, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the creation of the organization, the island joined the celebration of the day with an intense plan of activities.



source: www.cibercuba.com
'Joe Biden can have them': Mastriano vows to bus migrants to Delaware

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Ex-sports minister Kate Hoey has walked away from Vote Leave, angering some on the Labour benches

It's not just the Tories who are tearing themselves apart over the EU referendum.

A spectacular bust-up between the fractious Brexiteer tribes of Labour Leave and Vote Leave has engulfed the centre Left.

I gather that many sceptics on the Labour benches are deeply unhappy at Kate Hoeys walkout from Vote Leave  and in particular, the Vauxhall MPs declaration that Labour Leave is no longer allied with it.

The net effect will be to weaken both, groans a senior Eurosceptic Labour backbencher.

Kate is highly principled, but she is often contrary and on this occasion, she speaks too much for herself.

Hoey has now said she is supporting Grassroots Out  along with the Right-wing Tory MP Peter Bone  in the hope of moving the campaign away from bitter Westminster infighting.

That leaves a vacancy for the role of most prominent Labour sceptic at Westminster.

And I hear the figure being mooted as a more cool-headed purveyor of the Out message is Gisela Stuart, the German-born MP who is well-liked among colleagues and proved an adept campaigner in her Birmingham seat, seeing off Tory challenges.

Stuart also has seniority on her side  she negotiated with the EU on behalf of Tony Blair and is now a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

This means she can speak with confidence on the broader implications of an Out vote.

Stuart tells friends that she wont hold back on criticism when the PM completes his renegotiation  and she is unimpressed by what he has achieved so far.

Less good news for the Outers is that Stuart is unlikely to ally herself with any of the internecine campaigns.

She is making clear that she wont be dragged into in-fighting  Im far too old for that  but will focus on how Britain could thrive outside the EU.

That leaves Vote Leave in a pickle: it badly needs to shore up its claim to be a cross-party organisation, after key Labour and Green figures walked away and divisions are deepening over the appointment of arch-Thatcherite Lord Lawson as chairman.

Compromises, such as removing Vote Leaves rebarbative campaigns director Dominic Cummings and low-tax crusader Matthew Elliott from the board, while allowing them to keep their existing positions running day-to-day matters, look rather cosmetic.

Really, this is a pro-Tory campaign with no understanding or empathy for Labour, says one disaffected ex-supporter.

Most blame for the mess has so far fallen on Cummings, whom John Mills, the top Labour donor to the Eurosceptic cause, blames for insensitivity in dealings with Labour Outers.

But at Vote Leaves headquarters, many point the finger at Nigel Griffiths, a former deputy speaker of the Commons and old ally of Gordon Brown, who they think stirred up petty quarrels which surfaced in newspaper leaks last week.

An insider at Vote Leave tells me that, He (Griffiths) has blown up the operation.

While the blame game goes into overdrive, the most pressing issue is how three separate campaigns  the pro-Ukip Leave.EU, Vote Leave and Grassroots Out  will be funded, and which will be crowned as the official Out campaign, bringing financial advantages and superior status in the Babylon of anti-EU voices.

I gather, however, that Cummings and Elliott remain bullish about Vote Leaves hopes of coming out on top.

We will get the (electoral commission) designation and win the referendum, Im told pointedly.

They have a useful weapon on their side: Cummings and Elliott are old allies of Michael Gove, the Tory the Out campaign would most like to recruit.

So long as there is even a glimmer of hope Gove will step up to the plate, his sidesmen are safe in their jobs.

But prepare for an explosion if, as Ministers predict, Gove finally sides with David Cameron and backs staying in.

Michael talks with a flourish  but he always wants to be part of the Establishment in the end, predicts a Cabinet colleague.

Theyd better get a move on. Tory MPs, unimpressed by the PMs trumpeting of a weak result on renegotiation, worry the rows are prompting Cameron to make what one calls a dash for glory while his opponents feud  holding the vote on June 23.

Wry Ruth masterminds a very unlikely comeback

Scottish Tories have long been a joke north of the border. But latest rumblings suggest they may emerge from Mays Scottish Parliament elections in perkier shape than their bruised Labour rivals.

Not long ago, a Tartan Tory revival was a risible notion. But I gather that two sets of private polls for Labour and the Tories show the Scottish Conservatives only four points behind Labour.

True, both are eclipsed by surging Sturgeon  its no surprise that indestructible Nicola is on course to win.

But the battle of the other two female Scottish leaders  Labours Kezia Dugdale and the Tories rising star Ruth Davidson  will be a hard-fought one.

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, is set for a hard-fought battle against Labour to be number two behind the SNP

My mole near the helm of the Scottish Tories confides that the party has brought in demographic experts to target winnable seats  ditching half of previous candidates to find SNP weak spots. Sceptics point out that with just 15 seats (to Labours 38 and the SNPs 64), any advance would be symbolic.

But Davidson, a gay Christian with a wry turn of phrase, is in the ascendant.

She can always seek asylum in a safe seat in the South, jokes a Central Office insider.

Her chances of doing well have just been enhanced by a hare-brained scheme from Dugdale to raise income taxes.

Now I hear that Camp Corbyn, having requested more granular analysis from pollsters, was dismayed to receive a paper commissioned by ex-Labour MP John Denham. Its killer fact?

That due to the Labour Partys wipeout in Scotland, it will now require a landslide on a scale exceeding Tony Blairs 1997 annus mirabilis in England if it hopes to win in 2020.

That, reflects a strategist advising Jezza, is like a minor county cruiserweight taking his chances in the ring with Mike Tyson.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK The thin gruel has been further watered down. Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg dismisses the Prime Ministers draft EU reform deal. Yet another Trumpertantrum. Republican hopeful Ted Cruz hits out at presidential rival Donald Trump, who had claimed Cruzs victory in Iowa was tainted by voting fraud. Hardly when a man is a Field Marshal is he likely to choose Remembrance Sunday for a sex party. Former Defence chief Lord Bramall says historic sex abuse claims against him are absurd. Dame Helen Mirren has blunt words for drink-drivers in a new US TV advert If you drive drunk you are a short-sighted, utterly useless, oxygen-wasting, human form of pollution, a Darwin Award-deserving selfish mountain of manure. Dame Helen Mirren is typically blunt in a new US TV advert shaming drink-drivers. Can Ronnie Biggss family now sue the British state for all the years he was detained in Rio? Comedian Mitch Benn ridicules the UN which says that Julian Assange should receive compensation for his self-imposed exile in Londons Ecuadorean embassy. Do I want my glass of wine or do I want to raise my risk of breast cancer? Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies on the question she asks herself every time she wants a tipple. Im wearing a bra because if I wasnt Id be tripping over them at this stage. Feminist author Germaine Greer admits that, at 77, her days of burning bras rather than wearing them are long gone. I ought to be on the edge of my seat but actually Im practically falling asleep. And if theyre having a drink on stage, Im thinking Oh God, I want a drink. War And Peace screenwriter Andrew Davies on why he prefers the small screen to theatre productions. Im delighted that the judges deemed there was sufficient snap in my celery. Actress Olivia de Havilland in her message of thanks after being awarded, at the age of 99, the Oldie Of The Year accolade. Advertisement

Boris Johnson, fresh from his in, out, shake it all about EU hokey-cokey, has matters closer to home to contend with.

I hear he is about to be pinned down tomorrow at a tense City Hall hearing over his decision to intervene in the approval of a giant The Office-style block overlooking a historic London burial site. Protesters, led by Labour peer Lord (Leslie) Griffiths, are furious.

Boris Johnson, pictured, could be set for a tense hearing over his decision to intervene in the approval of an office block that would overlook a historic burial site in Islington, London

It would see what one calls something more appropriate to Swindon overlooking Grade I-listed Bunhill Fields in Islington, where writers William Blake and Daniel Defoe are laid to rest.

Does culture-loving Bozza really want to take on the ghosts of the great and good?

Griffiths has, I gather, announced that he will sing Jerusalem from the rooftops to oppose Boriss bulldozers.

Last week I mistakenly said Bernard Jenkin had quit the board of Vote Leave following an unsuccessful attempt to oust the groups campaign director, Dominic Cummings. In fact Mr Jenkin remains on the board.
Referendums are held for the benefit of politicians, not for the good of the country. Like the super-oily Harold Wilson 40 years ago, the eel-like David Cameron is trying to slither out of an internal party crisis.

He hopes to neutralise for ever the annoying faction of Tory MPs called 'Eurosceptics'. I personally don't know why he bothers.

If these people haven't the guts to leave the Tory Party, the most pro-EU organisation in Britain, then why should we believe that they have the guts to leave the EU itself? Yappity-yap, they have gone for years, occasionally sinking their boneless gums harmlessly into the trousers of one Tory leader or another.

Like the super-oily Harold Wilson 40 years ago, the eel-like David Cameron (pictured) is trying to slither out of an internal party crisis, writes Peter Hitchens

The Tory Party loves the EU and wants to stay in it. Most Tory voters hate the EU and wish we weren't in it.

But Mr Cameron likes a tight ship  that is one in which nobody disagrees with him or criticises him. It's what he's like, and he's in charge.

So it's gallons of liquid engineering all round, as he tries to slide out of the ancient problem: the Tory Party loves the EU and wants to stay in it. Most Tory voters hate the EU and wish we weren't in it.

One way to solve this would be for the Tory voters to stop voting Tory and to find another party. But, for reasons which Einstein and Freud themselves probably couldn't fathom, they won't do this.

They prefer voting for people whose views they don't like, and who despise them back. This is, after all, England, where logic isn't rated highly.

So every few years we have a Tory Eurocrisis, and here's the latest one. You can count me out of it.

I'll be amazed if it results in a vote to leave. I'll be utterly astonished if we actually do leave. The best we can hope for is another round of 'negotiations', followed by a second vote in which we will be expected to come up with the right answer.

Ask the Irish, who were silly enough to reject the Lisbon Treaty. They were told they hadn't understood the question and made to vote again.

If this sort of thing goes on much longer, I might stop being so sweetly trusting of those who rule us, and turn cynical.

At least Dad Dave got something right

Actually, I think the Prime Minister genuinely hoped to send all his children to a comprehensive state secondary school, at least for a while. I think it was a key part of his reinvention of himself as the New Blair, and I even think I know which school he had in mind.

But I think he lost his nerve, and I don't blame him. The school concerned was run by a superb head, who left, which is always a worry. And I'm also not sure that Mrs Cameron was as keen on the experiment as her husband.

So instead they sent their daughter to a very different state secondary, a wholly untypical girls-only school very similar to the grammars which both parties have more or less stamped out.

And now the Camerons are looking at a private school for their son. Good for them. They can afford it, and by doing so they free a place in a good state school for a poorer family. In this the Premier is commendably unlike the egalitarian fanatic Jeremy Corbyn, who split up with an earlier wife because she wanted their child to go to a grammar school and he didn't.

I think the Prime Minister (right) genuinely hoped to send all his children to a comprehensive state secondary school, at least for a while, but I think he lost his nerve

Mr Cameron wouldn't sacrifice his child for his politics, and quite right too.

But shouldn't he then sacrifice his politics for his child?

If the head of the Government cannot find a state secondary good enough for his son in all of Central London, then what about the rest of us?

Since the Thatcher era, governments have been trying to fix the comprehensive school system without addressing its real problem  which is that comprehensive schools don't work.

They never will. Charismatic heads, piles of cash, freedom from local authority control, every one of these panaceas fails to deal with the problem that selection by ability is best.

The private school system, to which the Camerons have reasonably turned, works entirely on this principle and succeeds for that reason.

So let's bring it back to the state sector, where it worked brilliantly. Did you know that new grammar schools are actually illegal? This must end.

There's nothing wrong with going private  if you can. It's denying to others what you seek for yourself that's wrong.

Don't moan, 50s women were happy with their lot

I quite enjoy these programmes  such as the new series called Back In Time For The Weekend  where families are introduced to the food, clothes and customs of another era.

But the first episode  about the 1950s  annoyed me because the wife and mother moaned so much about having to grapple (briefly) with the housework and about going to church.

The first episode of Back In Time For The Weekend (pictured)  about the 1950s  annoyed Peter Hitchens because the wife and mother moaned so much about having to grapple (briefly) with the housework and about going to church

Look, if you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined. Women really did live like this and were often (oddly enough) happy and contented.

They might not have liked spending their days as wage-slaves in offices. They weren't like us. And our grandchildren may not be like us either.

Try to understand that the past is a foreign country, and so is the future.

Good luck to Lord Bramall, who is giving the police a good biffing for their absurd, credulous treatment of child abuse allegations against him. It's their job to investigate, not prosecute or persecute.

But things have been even harder on another man of courage, the late Bishop George Bell, condemned by many media (with police assistance) following a solitary uncorroborated claim of child abuse first made nearly 45 years after the offence allegedly took place, and 37 years after the Bishop's death.

Many journalists shamefully reported this allegation as if it were proven fact.

Good luck to Lord Bramall (pictured), who is giving the police a good biffing for their absurd, credulous treatment of child abuse allegations against him

Well, an astonishing admission in the House of Lords by Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham, shows that they shouldn't have done. He told fellow peers that the Church was by no means sure of Bishop Bell's guilt.

'If noble Lords read very carefully the statements that have been put out, they will see that there has been no declaration that we are convinced that this took place.'

If they're not sure, how can the media be?

I completely agree with moves to stop people smoking in Hollywood films. It is worth billions in free advertising to Big Tobacco.

It's all very well going on about how stylish the stars of yesteryear looked as they inhaled clouds of burning paper and vegetable smoke.

But people died (horribly) from doing just that. Humphrey Bogart was one of them (his ravaged body weighed less than 6st at the end). And the link between cigarettes and glamour is a big reason for keeping this disastrous habit popular among the young.

Yes, we do sometimes have to save people from themselves. It's not their own business. If they hurt or kill themselves, their families suffer terribly.
David Cameron has been accused of being a Prime Minister without clear principles. This is not true. He has always been clear that he believes this countrys future lies inside the European Union, despite having many criticisms of it. For better or worse, it is where he insists our destiny must lie.

Which makes his startling failure this week all the more piquant. Between the committed inners and outers, vast swathes of Britain have not yet decided how to vote in the EU referendum. Who can blame them?

For so many, the heart says leave, and recapture the spirit of independence which built our great nation but the head says stay: do not risk the economic uncertainties of a world in the wilderness.

Patiently we waited for him to lift a sleek, fat rabbit out of his magicians top hat  the moment when he showed he had won a new deal good enough to persuade us to stay in the EU, flawed, bloated, meddling but the devil we know, as opposed to the devil we do not.

Desperate: An emergency brake on benefits does not begin to address the issue of mass migration

And what did he produce? A shrivelled mouse, accompanied by a melodramatic roll of drums.

The polls showed that his vaunted achievement in Brussels had actually boosted the Out vote.

Which is why The Mail on Sunday today has a clear message for Mr Cameron: Your performance thus far is doing more to get us out of the EU than anything your squabbling, obsessive opponents could ever manage.

Indeed, we would go so far as to say his attempt to sell his renegotiation of our relationship with the EU has been one of his worst failures in office. It was oversold to begin with. Then, when he emerged from his voyage round Europe with a few pitiful scraps, it had to be oversold again.

On the simple grounds of competence, this entirely predictable failure fails most of the important tests.

Skilled negotiators talk down their prospects to start with, so that they can talk them up at the end.

The Prime Minister did the opposite, raising hopes of great and profound change, and returning with a sheaf of technical adjustments, some of them so vague as to be almost non-existent, which would not make anyones heart leap.

An emergency brake on benefits does not begin to address the issue of mass migration. A red card against unwanted legislation that is almost impossible to activate does not re-establish UK parliamentary sovereignty. And the EUs unceasing, organic greed for more power over its members will not be halted by forms of words.

The PM's 'achievement' in Brussels has boosted the 'Out' vote instead of persuading people to vote to stay in

Sometimes it looks as if Mr Cameron, who is after all a clever man and a skilled public relations operator, was plunged into this controversy by accident and without preparation.

This is all of a piece with his strangely unsubtle and counter-productive and clumsy handling of the anti-Brussels faction within his own party.

He has been blatantly unfair to those in his Government who want to campaign for a British exit  first trying to silence them, then telling them they must wait until the campaign properly starts while letting his own allies off the leash and missing no opportunity to make it plain that he wants this country to stay in the EU.

In one of the few parts of the strategy that has so far worked, Mr Cameron has cunningly put senior Tory waverers on the spot.

Several big beasts who have long posed as severe critics of Brussels have magically turned into Europhile pussycats when compelled to choose between leaving and staying.

Even Boris Johnson, who made his reputation by witty attacks on the EU and its ways, now declares that he has never actually believed in a British exit. And so he basks in the favour of Downing Street and is free to say so.

Not so the dogged few who have always hoped that we would leave.

This undeniable injustice has seriously tried the patience of anti-EU Ministers such as Iain Duncan Smith, who (as The Mail on Sunday reveals today) has protested personally against it.

Then there was Mr Camerons exhortation to his MPs to brush aside the concerns of their own grass roots, the constituency associations which are the chief link between Tory MPs and those who put them in Parliament in the first place.

Mr Camerons words came across as arrogant and scornful of ordinary Tories. And it is a fact that a politicians manner when he says something is often remembered for much longer than the words he actually spoke.

In: Boris Johnson has said he has never believed in a British exit unlike anti-EU minister Iain Duncan Smith

Battles of this kind do not win themselves. Referendums, mishandled, can easily become votes of confidence in the Government itself. Mr Cameron, as Prime Minister, is bound to dominate the debate.

What he says and does will be heard and studied far more widely than the speeches or actions of any other participant in this great debate.

Winston Churchill said of Lord Jellicoe, commander of the British Grand Fleet in the First World War, that he was the only man who could lose the war in an afternoon. Mr Cameron is the only person who could lose the referendum in an evening.

The country, and the Conservative Party, and the voters  and, come to that, the EU itself  all deserve better than this.

The preliminary skirmishing is over. The official campaign has yet to start, but this is a mere formality. After years of anticipation and preparation, the two sides in this enormous contest are now preparing for a decisive clash which will decide the issue for decades to come and perhaps longer.

Mr Cameron owes it to all of us to raise his game.

He should not try to fool us into thinking that small concessions are a great breakthrough.

Unfairness to his opponents will be seen as a weakness, not a strength. He should treat his own partys activists with respect, not scorn.
Two midwives from One Born Women were left in shock after visiting a maternity ward in Tanzania, where baby clothes are washed in dirty river water and poorly newborns are forced to share cots due to lack of space.

Delia Jepson and Cheryl Stanley from the Channel 4 show helped deliver babies in the on the life-changing trip to the impoverished hospital in East Africa, where access to clean water is a daily struggle.

The video, made by the charity WaterAid, shows how clean water is not available 24 hours a day in the area - leaving babies at greater risk of sepsis, a common infection that often proves fatal.

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Two of Channel 4's One Born Every Minute stars visited a Tanzanian maternity unit, above Delia Jepson assists with the delivery of Elizabeth Kitundu's baby at Kiomboi Hospital

Delia and Cheryl swapped the modern facilities of Liverpool Women's Hospital for the much more basic conditions of Kiomboi Hospital in rural central Tanzania.

Delia said: 'The midwives we were working with were amazingly dedicated and did their best to eke out the limited amount of water they had, trying to provide a safe environment.

'But the relatives looking after the new mothers had to do their washing down in a muddy pond meaning that the cloths used to wrap the baby were not clean.

'By trying to do their best and provide clean clothes, the relatives were actually putting them at great risk of infection and sepsis which can often kill newborns.'

Cheryl Stanley assists 24-year-old Faraja Daudi whilst she waits to have a Caesarean section at Kiomboi Hospital. Cheryl admitted she was shocked by the conditions, including the lack of 24-hour a day clean water

Conditions are cramped in the maternity ward and in these conditions infections can easily spread.

Delia added: 'I knew I would be shocked by the conditions that midwives, mothers and babies have to cope with in Tanzania - but what most moved me was the sight of two very poorly babies lying together in the same cot because there was no other space.

'One of them had an infection so there was a high risk that before too long, that infection would spread to the other baby.'

Both the midwives also accompanied newborn baby boy Ezekeli and his proud mother Elizabeth Kitundu home to their village, where the family gets their water from digging a hole in the river bed.

Delia explained: 'She dug a hole in the river bed and then carried a bucket so heavy I couldn't lift it, onto her head.

'I mean I knew that people in Tanzania often have to get their water from places like that, but it was truly shocking to see it happen right in front of you.

Delia sits with 33-year-old Elizabeth Kitundu whose baby she helped deliver. Cheryl and Delia then visited Elizabeth and her family. The pair sit with Elizabeth's and her new born baby outside their house in Kidalu

Delia and Cheryl, stars of Channel 4's One Born Every Minute, standing in one of the walkways at Kiomboi Hospital, above, went on the life-changing trip with WaterAid, a charity working to deliver clean water

WaterAid is working at the hospital to improve access to clean water and safe sanitation so that the taps will work no matter what time of day or night.

It is also providing hygiene training so that midwives can give every newborn baby and their mother the best possible start in their life together.

One mother even named her daughter Cheryl after the TV midwife helped deliver her baby.

Cheryl said: 'Seeing the broken down corrugated iron shack where the pregnant women washed with dirty water from the river before they gave birth was really shocking.

'The worst moment for me came when I had to fit a catheter on a woman which was too big and was causing her pain, but I had no other options.

'The trip made me realise just how much I take for granted in the UK.'

Cheryl and Delia walked with members of Elizabeth Kitundu's family as they carry water back to their home

Mary Samson Gunda, aged 21, holds her 12-day-old baby Lucy, suffering from sepsis - a serious infection that often proves fatal

At Kiomboi Hospital the two Liverpool midwives worked shifts alongside their Tanzanian peers Ester Manga, Julianna Msofe and Daniel Paul, gaining hands-on experience into how challenging it can be for midwives to provide a safe environment for mothers and babies when there is no running water.

Following her return to the UK, Delia said: 'I feel quite humble to have met such dedicated midwives who have had to work in such a challenging environments.

'The absolute highlight of the trip for me was taking Elizabeth and her baby Ezekeli back to their village.

A midwife's bond with a mother when she delivers her baby is indescribable anyway so going back with her, meeting her family and seeing where they collect their water was amazing.'

'I really saw how essential water is to midwives doing their job safely and how that if you can't keep things clean then you are really doing more harm than good to mothers and their babies.'

Cheryl and Delia gained hands on experience with midwives Juliana Msoffe, left, Ester Mongi, second right, and Daniel Paulo, right, during their night shift - learning how hard it can be to deliver babies without clean water

Cheryl collects water watched by Delia and members of Elizabeth Kitundu's family in Kidalu, left. Cheryl fills a bucket of water as she and Delia help 55-year-old Ester Daniel wash her clothes near Kiomboi Hospital, right

Cheryl and Delia met with Mary Samson Gunda, a young mother whose baby Lucy, born in Kiomboi Hospital, was recovering from sepsis - a severe infection that is caused by an unhygienic environment.

The hospital sees around one case a week of sepsis in newborn babies or their mothers, many of which prove fatal.

Every minute around the world a newborn baby dies from infection caused by a lack of safe water and an unclean environment.

Sadly the situation faced by midwives in Kiomboi Hospital is not unique - in Tanzania around one in three health care facilities do not have any access to safe water.

It is estimated that another third do not have water 24 hours a day. In Sub-Saharan Africa 42 per cent of healthcare facilities do not have clean water.

Midwives Cheryl and Delia walk out of the hospital in the East African country at the end of their shift

Barbara Frost, WaterAid Chief Executive, said: 'The arrival of safe water and sanitation at Kiomboi Hospital, backed up with hygiene training to staff, will transform conditions there and save so many mothers and babies' lives.

'Without clean water and safe toilets, a hospital just cannot provide a safe environment and so many lives are needlessly lost to infection.'

During the Deliver Life appeal which runs until 10 February, every 1 given by the UK public will be doubled by the UK Government, so WaterAid can reach twice as many mums around the world.
She has spoken candidly about sex in interviews and when it comes to Valentine's Day, Gwyneth Paltrow is clearly not bashful about introducing some risque items in the bedroom.

The Shakespeare in Love actress advises readers on her Goop lifestyle site not to save sexy lingerie for Valentine's Day and has introduced 'The Lingerie Drawer' - a page stocked with everything from silk and cotton pyjamas to risque lace sets.

On the site she suggests: 'Youll find a few foreplay-worthy things you might be too embarrassed to buy in a store.'

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The Oscar-winning actress stripped down to her smalls for the 2013 film Thanks For Sharing, a romantic comedy about a recovering sex addict

Couples are invited to try Moon Juice Sex Dust, left - an organic aphrodisiac warming potion that can be added to drinks. Goop says the 'warming elixir' is designed to 'stimulate and cultivate sexual flow' and will 'send sensitivity and power to all the right places, supporting primordial energy and vital essence'. The site also features racy underwear including this lace bondage triangle bra 86 by Fleur du Mal

Items that might make the more disconcerting reader blush include a 37.80 glossy silk Coco De Mer blindfold, which Goop describes as: 'luxurious to the touch and makes for a fun bedside table addition'.

Another black silk blindfold by the same brand features embroidery spelling out 'Always be desired but never possessed'.

Meanwhile a 27.50 Love Potion by Tata Harper - made up of 'ten of the world's most intensely aphrodisiac oils' including frankincense, jasmine, rose, grapefruit, and cedarwood - promises to put couples in a 'more sensual frame of mind'.

Goop says the Love Potion boosts beauty and confidence while heightening the senses and 'accentuating feelings of warmth and love'.

A Golden Key three-piece nylon underwear set, which comes in a pouch, is promoted on Goop for just over 90. The set is inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairytale of the same name

The Love Potion by Tata Harper - made up of 'ten of the world's most intensely aphrodisiac oils' which will 'accentuate feelings of warmth and love' and right, a Coco de Mer feather tickler

The Valentine's Day suggestions also include cat-motif underwear ('Every self respecting cat lady can appreciate the humor behind these') and 'hilariously self explanatory' ice cream emblazoned knickers.

Couples are invited to try Moon Juice Sex Dust - an organic aphrodisiac warming potion added to drinks.

Goop says the 'warming elixir' is designed to 'stimulate and cultivate sexual flow in both men and women'.

The Sex Dust is made up of ancient ingredients such as ho shou wu, a plant native to mountains in central and southern China, which has been used for centuries to maintain a healthy sex drive.

The site claims the active ingredients in the potion, which also include cacao and maca, will 'send sensitivity and power to all the right places, supporting primordial energy and vital essence'.

'Always be Desired' blindfold by luxury brand Coco de Mer, priced at around 37 on the lifestyle site

Left, 'hilariously self-explanatory' ice cream emblazoned knickers by Naja lingerie for around 12, and right, Miss Galour cheeky knickers, for every 'self respecting cat lady'

Bridget Jones would approve: A retro high waist brief and racer bra set, for just under 100 by Cypress Label, advertised on Gwyneth's site

The 43-year-old's website also advises men on the ideal Valentine's gifts, warning against heart-shaped chocolates and last-minute flowers, 'which don't exactly elicit fireworks'.

Instead, Goop makes its own suggestions such as a 600 lace-up cashmere jumper and floral arrangements starting from 170.

Paltrow first launched her lifestyle brand as a newsletter in 2008 and now operates through the website goop.com.

During a 2013 interview with her friend Chelsea Handler, Gwyneth blushed as the talk show host quizzed her about getting intimate, joking that she was 'addicted to sex'.
The campaign's release coincides with the store flagship's move downtown to Barneys' original location that first opened in 1923

The ads also star singer Cyndi Lauper and a host of prominent New Yorkers who, while not traditionally famous, are known for being leaders in their own industries

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Barneys is celebrating its 93-year relationship with New York City with a star-studded Spring 2016 ad campaign that features iconic city characters like Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper and Patti Smith, plus a host of celebrated local residents.

Titled 'Our Town' and shot by New Yorker Bruce Weber at quintessential local establishments like Katz's delicatessen and Central Park, the campaign, said the luxury retailer in a press release, serves as a 'love story' with the city.

Other celebrities included in the diverse campaign are actor Bobby Cannavale and designer Helmut Lang, as well as community leaders and figures like the New York Fire Departments first female battalion chief, Rocky Jones, and nightlife icon Ladyfag.

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Right at home: Lady Gaga is among the famous New York City residents starring in Barney's new campaign documenting the Big Apple

An ode to New York: The campaign, titled Our Town, pays homage to the store's 93-year New York history, as well as the city's diverse population

Modelling spring looks from designers like Dries van Noten and Isabel Marant in many of the images is Sudanese runway star Ajak Deng.

In one powerful image, Ajak poses in denim brand R13 outside of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York's West Village with LadyFag, transgender actress Mya Taylor and young center members.

In another, the model sits on a stoop in a Regulation Yohji Yamamoto jacket and 'boxer' shorts with New York female construction workers Priscilla Gibson and Shantar Gibson, who are dressed in uniform.

Sporting a shaggy blonde bob, Lady Gaga appears alone in a jean jacket, looking into Bruce's lens with a deep, expressionless stare.

Relaxed: 69-year-old Patti Smith features in a black and white portrait wearing a baggy white T-shirt with her long hair falling over her closed eyes

City icons: Singers like Cyndi Lauper (right) and simple signs of New York City feature in equal measure in the new campaign

Rich history: Some of Bruce's images - such as this one of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center - were photographed in black and white to reflect decades past

Model behavior: Sudanese model Ajak Deng (second from right) is featured in many of the images alongside New Yorkers like bandleader Dandy Wellington (far left), Thelma Washington (second from left) and milliner Evetta Petty (right) as seen here

To reflect decades past and the department store's storied history, some of the images - like Gaga's - were shot with black and white film.

In Patti Smith's featured portrait, the artist and poet is seen with her eyes shut and clad in a baggy white graphic T-shirt with her salt and pepper locks falling over her face.

Bruce also shot an accompanying short film that offers a perspective of the gleaming city from the subway platforms, highways and bridges.

Brothers Narayana, Eddie, Bhagavan and Angulo from 2015 documentary The Wolfpack - which told the story of a home-schooled set of seven siblings that were raised confined in a Lower East Side apartment - also feature in the images.

The campaign is especially significant because later this month, Barneys will re-open its original Chelsea neighborhood location as its flagship store.

The 17th street building served as the luxury retailer's home from its inception as a menswear store in 1923 until its move uptown to its current Madison Avenue address in 1993.

'Our heritage and DNA runs deep through New York,' said Barneys New York Creative Director Dennis Freedman in the press release. 'We approached Bruce with the idea of shooting a rich variety of people and places throughout New York, and the result is a poignant story told through his eyes.'

Moving on down: The release of the campaign images, like these featuring female construction workers (left) and paralyzed NYPD Detective Terry McGhee (right) coincides with the flagship store's move back downtown to its original location on 17th street

A good look: Brothers Narayana, Eddie, Bhagavan and Angulo are best known for featuring in the 2015 documentary The Wolfpack

Lounging away: Austrian designer Helmut Lang catches forty winks in this black and white interior shot

A classic: The campaign also took Bruce into Katz's Delicatessen, a New York City landmark made famous by film When Harry Met Sally
The country has been on tenterhooks waiting for news, and now Bhutan's royal couple have announced the birth of their first child, a baby prince.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 35, and Queen Jetsun Pema, 25, officially announced that they were expecting a baby in a statement in November.

And the newest royal was safely delivered at Lingkana Palace in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu on February 5, according to the royal media office.

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King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the then-pregnant Queen Jetsun Pema pictured at Paro Ugyen Pelri Palace in Bhutan, in a photo released last month

'Their majesties and members of the royal family are filled with profound joy on the birth of His Royal Highness,' they said in a statement.

'With the blessings of the guardian deities of Bhutan and protectors of the dharma (divine truth), and the prayers of the Bhutanese people, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness The Gyalsey (prince) are both in perfect health.'

The prince's birth was marked by sacred Bhutanese traditions with the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot and spiritual leader of the majority Buddhist nation, presiding over religious ceremonies, the office said. The baby's name is yet to be announced.

Known as the 'last Shangri-La', the South Asian kingdom, home to just 750,000 people, famously shuns conventional measures of economic wellbeing, instead compiling a Gross National Happiness index.

The King and Queen officially announced they were expecting a child in November

The couple announced they were expecting a boy four years after they tied the knot, in October 2011 (pictured). Their elaborate fairytale wedding ceremony was the biggest media event in Bhutanese history

Britain's own royals, Prince William and his wife Kate, are to visit Bhutan in the spring as part of an official trip that also includes India, British officials announced last month.

The hugely popular fifth Druk Gyalpo, or 'Dragon King', studied in Britain and the United States, and was officially crowned King in 2008 after his father abdicated two years earlier.

He married Queen Pema in 2011 in an elaborate fairytale wedding ceremony that was the biggest media event in Bhutanese history.

The pair, who have just welcomed their first child into the world, married in 2011 in an elaborate fairytale wedding ceremony that was the biggest media event in Bhutanese history

Bhutan had no roads or currency until the 1960s, and only began admitting foreign tourists in 1974 -- but the country has since developed rapidly.

This spring, the young King and Queen of Bhutan, dubbed the William and Kate of the Orient, will host the real Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on an official visit on behalf of the British Government.
The Duchess of Cambridge is considered by many to be a

She is considered by many to be a fashion icon.

But the Duchess of Cambridge wears boring clothes that are far too old-fashioned for her  and should look to Theresa May for inspiration, says one of the fashion worlds top model bookers.

Carole White  who discovered Naomi Campbell and managed some of the top supermodels of the 1990s  said: Its a bit old and safe.

But I suppose she is pitching it right to fit her role as a senior Royal.

She claimed Kate should be influenced by the Home Secretarys style, which includes bold colours and animal-print shoes.

Carole White claimed Kate, pictured left with husband Prince William, should be influenced by the Home Secretary Theresa May's style, which includes bold colours and animal-print shoes

The 64-year-old founder of Premier Model Management added: I admire how [Theresa May] dresses. Its bold, modern and fun for a politician playful yet stern.

Ms White  who once turned down Kate Moss for being too short  also revealed she believes the UK is unlikely to produce any more supermodels because British girls are too lazy and spoiled.

Instead, the best models now come from Eastern Europe.

They are more disciplined and have a hunger to succeed, she said. Its probably because they see it as a way out of poverty. Theyre tough and willing to put in the work to make it to the top. They are ready to do anything to achieve it.

British girls, she said, havent got the fire. They come from, say, Newcastle, and dont want to leave their family or boyfriend. They think its easy, but you have to look after yourself. Its hard work.
His recovery took several months and cost half a million euros, but he has since returned to work, showing off his scars with pride

on a cargo train, when a high-voltage cable caught the spray can he was holding, burning nearly his entire body

A model who suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body has described how he feels more confident than ever after returning to the catwalk.

Julius Gerhardt was already an established model with campaigns for brands such as Prada and Yves Saint Laurent under his belt when he was nearly killed in a terrifying accident in his hometown of Hamburg, Germany, while he was spraying graffiti on a cargo train with friends in Fall 2014.

'I finished very fast and my friends were still painting, so I decided to climb onto the train and make a tag on the bridge. I'd seen the big, high-voltage cables and thought,"You better not touch those,"' Julius told Cosmopolitan.com.

A different look: German model Julius Gerhardt has returned to modelling work after recovering from an accident that left him with burns over 90 per cent of his body

Before: The model, who had been discovered at 16, had already posed for campaigns for Prada and Yves St Laurent as well as walked fashion week for Pierre Cardin in Paris in 2012 (pictured)

'I didn't touch them, but I was holding the metal spray can in my right hand, and the electricity jumped from the cable to the spray can, through my hand, my arm, my chest, and out of my right foot.'

The shock knocked out the young model in an instant, and the next day and a half saw him remain in a coma in a hospital bed, with doctors doubting whether he would even live.

Eventually, he awoke to find himself in the hospital - his friends having rescued him by calling the police and carrying him to help - with his doctors informing him that they may have to amputate his right arm and leg because of the burns that now covered 90 percent of his body.

'I said, "No. No! Please give me more time,"' he explained. 'So they put me in a medically induced coma for a week so my body could start healing on its own.'

The tactic was a success. And though he had to spend more than three months recovering, he turned out to be one of the lucky ones. Half of the burns healed on their own and the rest were repaired over a series of ten surgeries and using skin grafts from his legs.

The moment: Julius was spraying graffiti on a cargo train in his hometown of Hamburg with friends when his spray can was caught by a high-voltage wire

Down and out: The shock knocked out Julius immediately and leaving him with burns covering almost his entire body, but he was saved by his friends who called the police and carried him to safety

Long road to recovery: Julius was in a coma for a day and a half after the accident, and awoke to be told he may lose his right arm and leg because of the burns

The whole process of recovery cost half a million Euros - around $561,000 at the time - which luckily his insurance covered.

'I just had to pay a penalty of 600 euros to clean the train car,' he said. 'The police could have fined me more, but they said my accident was payment enough.'

After the long recovery was complete, Julius thought that his modeling career was almost certainly over. But then, he received an incredible call.

'My agent, Christian, told me Prada had asked to book me as an exclusive for their show,' he said. 'After that, I was back into this Fashion Week thing again.'

Rather than be terrified of baring his new skin on the catwalk, Julius not only felt 'super confident to be alive', but he actually believed that his accident was the work of fate. The day before it happened, he said, he had written an open letter to the universe asking for the opportunity to 'fall down and grow again and become stronger'.

Forging ahead: After being put in an induced coma for a week and undergoing 10 surgeries over a period of months, Julius was eventually allowed to leave the hospital

Hitting the catwalk: Julius thought he would never model again following the incident, but was quickly booked for a Prada campaign and even walked the London Fashion Week catwalk for Xander Zhou (pictured)

In the early days of his return, he started with shoot in clothing that fully covered his body, exposing only his face, which appears to have been virtually untouched by the accident.

But since then he has had the opportunity to show off his changed form in full during the recent London menswear fashion week, where he walked shirtless for Xander Zhou.

Although many of the brands he previously worked for are no longer a part of his career, he harbours no ill will and has even found himself breaking even greater ground in the fashion world.
In an interview with Mail Today last month, Nobel laureate and president of the UK-based Royal Society, Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, explained why some people who occupy positions of power and responsibility are prone to biases and prejudices, despite the obvious harm their actions can cause to the society at large.

His reasoning was that people are not just defined by their profession alone, but also influenced by a host of factors such as family, culture, and religion, making any level-headed thinking difficult, especially on issues that are taboo or regarded as traditionally patriarchal in nature.

He cited how even Nobel laureates in Nazi Germany, despite their scholarship, used to look down upon Jewish science as inferior.

The Supreme Court recently referred the Naaz Foundations plea to reconsider the ban on gay sex to a five-judge bench. (File picture.)

Ramakrishnans assessment could not be truer in modern India.

Two words that hogged public discourse in the country in the last few weeks were "sexism" and "homophobia".

If the first was the fallout of a rude and outrageous interview with a former porn star on prime time television, the second was the result of a legitimate fight to repeal a law that criminalises an entire section of the population, roughly the size of England, for their sexuality.

Both homophobia and sexism reflect a larger societal trend, and undermine the fundamental rights and issues of both women and homosexuals, by trivialising, normalising or even dismissing them - by turning them into jokes.

A still from Sunny Leone's interview, which drew heavy criticism for the questioner's unpleasant tone

What do these jargons look like? Since homophobia and sexism can sound vague and abstract to many, the best way to understand these words are through examples of influential people and vested interest groups who perpetuate this culture. Here are some.

SEXISM IS

 When a senior journalist forgets basic professional etiquette and constantly mispronounces the surname of his female celebrity guest on television, and also makes a mischievous correlation between her entry into Bollywood and the rise in Indias porn consumption. (What the journalist didnt know was that mere association is not the same as evidence for a connection. It is like the stork theory, which correlates the rise in number of babies to the rise in number of storks, giving the impression that storks deliver babies!)

 When a senior politician tries to defend rapists saying that boys will be boys and that they will make mistakes.

 When a minister insists on boys and girls sitting on separate chairs and not together on the same bench in class as it could lead to unwanted desires.

 When a senior politician advises women to stay indoors to prevent rape and warns them not to venture out in the dark just because India has achieved freedom at midnight.

 When a best-selling womens magazine insists, rather strangely, on a written permission from family elders, for its adult women readers to take part in its contests.

HOMOPHOBIA IS

 When a little-known Christian group, unhappy with the latest Supreme Court decision to review Article 377, opposes it, saying that homosexuality is an abomination in the Bible, conveniently forgetting that Christians had also used the Bible to justify slavery in the past.

 When MPs make fun of their colleague Shashi Tharoor for introducing a private bill in Parliament seeking to decriminalise homosexuality, saying Tharoor ko zyaada zaroorat hai is bill ki (Tharoor needs this bill more) referring to his single status.

 When a court issues a verdict ignoring scientific evidence, leading to the criminalisation of over 50 million people in one fell swoop.

 When a minister offers to set up de-addiction centres on the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous to treat homosexuals.

 When a yoga guru invites gay community members to his ashram saying that he can cure the bad addiction.

 When a doctor of modern medicine talks like a politician and behaves like a yoga guru, offering complete side-effect free cure for homosexual disease within months.

Both the lists can go on and on, and are as repulsive as the Indian mentality that open defecation is the healthier and cleaner option. (Did someone say Indians have different standards of personal hygiene to Westerners?)
Sonam Kapoor, it seems, is out to explore every facet of the late Neerja Bhanot that may help promote her new film Neerja, which is based on the fearless air hostesss life.

After hoisting the Tricolour at Bhanots school on Republic Day, the Bollywood actor turned up at the air-hostess college on Friday.

The actress interacted with students and unveiled a plaque commemorating Bhanots brave act, which her film recounts.

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Sonam Kapoor looked stunning in a black shirt teamed with a dhoti pant while promoting Neerja

Sonam interacted with students in Xavier's Mumbai, where Neerja Bhanot studied

Neerja is a biopic that sees Sonam essay the titular role of the air-hostess who laid down her life trying to protect passengers aboard a Pan- Am flight from hijackers in September 1986.

Neerja Bhanot was only 22 when she died, and posthumously became the youngest recipient of Indias highest peace time military award for bravery, the Ashok Chakra.

On Friday, the 30-year-old Sonam must have felt a nostalgic surge about her student days, interacting with the young and restless crowd at Xaviers.

The actress was nattily dressed in a black shirt tucked into striped dhoti trousers and matching black footwear.

A few of the posters hanging from the walls of the dais reminded all that this was, after all, a film promotion event.

Sonam took to the stage and waved at the crowds and also reached out to shake hands with a few of the students.

The actress gave a well-rehearsed speech about Bhanots inspirational act. She also urged the students to watch her film because it shared a relevant message.

The high point of the do was the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Bhanot.

The Friday outing was Sonams first public appearance since being heavily trolled online in the wake of her blink-and-miss-it appearance in the British alternative rock band Coldplays new video, Hymn for the Weekend.

While Sonam had excitedly hyped her appearance in the video, fans were not exactly pleased to discover she only had a three second, two-scene-odd fleeting appearance in the song.

Soon after the release of the song, jokes about Sonam went viral.
Bollywood fans will remember the famous scene from Sholay, where the actor Dharmendra climbs on top of a water tank in protest.

Taking a cue from the memorable scene, some villagers in Aurangabads Marathwada district decided to protest the same way.

Of course, the villagers were not protesting against Basantis mausi, who in the movie did not allow Veeru (played by Dharmendra) to marry Basanti (Hema Malini) - these villagers were demanding the release of water from the Jaikwad dam.

Dharmendra as Veeru in Sholay's famous water tank scene. The villagers of Paithan tried a similar trick to press their demand for a reliable water supply.

Several residents of villages in Paithan tehsil climbed atop a water tank to demand a reliable water supply in their localities, which have been facing a water crisis for a long time.

These villagers demanded that water supply to the area, which was shut due to non-availability of water stock in the dam, be restored.

Summer is still months away, but the water situation in Maharashtra, particularly in Marathwada, is already a matter of concern with dams being shut out due to unavailability of water.

The demand for tankers has shot up in the area and the state is staring at an acute water shortage for the third consecutive year.

Many believe that water shortage in 2016 will be worse than what they faced in 2015. In Marathwada, the water level in dams has dropped to 8 per cent.

The Water Supply and Sanitation Department has recorded a five-fold rise (compared to 2015) in the number of water tankers being supplied to provide water in villages and hamlets.

The water situation in other parts of the state such as North Maharashtra, Amaravati and Nagpur division is also bad.

The current storage level in dams in these divisions is 31, 35 and 37 per cent respectively.

In 2015, Maharashtra faced severe water crises due to inadequate rainfall.

In September last year, the state government had identified 69 of the states total 355 talukas as areas facing drought-like situations - that was about 19 per cent of the state.
I am one of those Indians who loves India, cannot stay anywhere else, and yet will crib about it everyday.

"Indian" eludes me, though I watch it with ethnographic interest. I just cannot make sense of India, but I also know I do not want to make sense of any other country.

Sometimes when I sit in California or London, I try to imagine myself living there and I cannot, I miss India and I miss the smell of rain, the muck and the dirt, the incorrigible silliness of our VIPs, the taste of idlies, the sheer joy of sitting in a dhaba eating samosas with the gorgeous strains of chutney.

The impossible sense of India came through in the recent Sonu Nigam incident, when the Civil Aviation Authorities asked Jet to punish the entire crew and dispatch them for corrective training because the star sang a few of his songs on a flight from Mumbai to Jodhpur, and the passengers joined in.

India seems incorrigibly poor and yet improbably generous.

I was wondering the other day after a trip to Calcutta: In which other world can you order a half cup chai?

Impossible

Indians seem overwhelmingly silly and insanely wise in a way that is difficult to define.

In fact that impossible sense of India came through in the recent Sonu Nigam incident.

Sonu Nigam sang a couple of his songs while on a flight from Mumbai to Jodhpur. The passengers on the plane belted out the numbers with him. The joyful group landed to discover that the Civil Aviation Authorities had asked Jet to punish the entire crew and dispatch them for corrective training.

I was roaring with laughter at the incident and wondering what I found funnier - the grimness of the authorities or a crowd enacting songs on a plane.

I am sure Raja Krishna Menon, the director of Airlift, must be cursing himself for not including such a scene in his movie.

Airlift itself is a sign of the impossible Indian. Americans and the West, in particular, talk of the legendary Berlin airlift with awe, and yet the Indian airlift of our citizens was greater in scale and we seem indifferent to the heroism and organization it involved.

I was thinking of other such events.

The psychoanalyst Ashis Nandy, an acute watcher of people, told me two stories which fall in a similar league.

One is about the French movie-maker Louis Malle.

Malle was filming Calcutta. His lenses were focused on one of its proverbial lathi charges.

In fact, the policeman had taken out his lathi and was charging Malle when he stopped in full flight, bowed with pleasure and said: Ah Louis Malle.

"Only in India," was my murmur.

Nandy added another story of an English journalist who went to the police station to complain about being pick-pocketed.

The policeman listened to him attentively and then decided to go with him to the location.

They reached the place, an old street with an impressive building in front of it.

Suddenly the policeman rose imperiously and asked the journalist: Do you know what building this is?

The journalist pleaded innocence and the policeman told: that is where William Makepeace Thackeray was born. Be proud you got pick-pocketed here! - and he then dismissed the complaint.

I am not saying that India is a collection of Ripleys Believe it or not, or a seedbed for the Guinness Book of records, but it seems one place where the sublime and the ridiculous combine together.

We are a nation that produces solutions that appear like oxymorons.

Think of it, the goal of the Indian National Movement was to rescue the British from modernity.

We seem a collection of improbables.

Handle

We can run an organisation as huge as the Kumbh Mela, but we do not know how to handle a traffic jam.

We are often cruel to animals, yet our Jain Pinjrapoles are full of stories of farmers who loved their cattle so much that they committed suicide with them rather than abandon them during times of famine.

Our faith can drive us to extremes. We see Marwani women who will climb all the steps to Badrinath, but will not climb the stairs at home.

We seem to love the ridiculous and the contrary.

In a way, we are walking myths perpetually resolving the contradictions within ourselves.

Bollywood has the sensitivity to recognize this, and sense that the Indian personality is a collection of contradictions which we are in the process of resolving.

In fact if one looks at the newspapers, one sees them today as a landscape of such contradictions.

We are communal at one level, but one hears hundreds of stories of how Muslims have acted as custodians of Hindu temples.

We can be utterly provincial, but ordinary citizens will drive thousands of miles to provide food for a disaster-stricken people who are complete strangers.

Authoritarian

One sees this in politics, where Indians will vote for someone as authoritarian as Modi and elect someone as anarchic as Kejriwal.

It is like we are a nation of side-bets.

As someone once said, we believe in the citizenship of the lottery and argue that everyone needs a second chance.

We are a hierarchical society, absolutely sycophantic in our attitude to authority, and yet we see a fundamental equality of occupations.

I remember the film star Rajinikanth who began life as a bus conductor was once asked what would you have become if you had not become a star?

Pat came the answer: Oh a smuggler, or a bootlegger.

Indians seem to belong simultaneously to the caste system and be votaries of the Bhakti Movement.

We articulate a Cartesian being, which says: I contradict myself therefore I am.

I am not reeling off these stories as anecdotes to laugh at ourselves.

What I am suggesting more and more is a sense of doubt about our formal, official categories of understanding ourselves.

We are caught in the boring dichotomous drama of the opposition between town and country, tradition and modernity, the secular and the communal, the traditional and the rational.

I wonder whether we are a society that has a tacit grammar going beyond contradictions.

Maybe our models of governance are wrong.

Maybe what we need is a different definition of ourselves.

We have become boring by following the West.
For his followers, Gurmeet Ram Rahim is a spiritual leader who evokes the veneration of a saint.

On January 24, Rahim showed that he also has an entrepreneurial side.

The Haryana-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief launched a slew of organic products under the name MSG (Messenger of God).

Gurmeet Ram Rahim endorsing his line of 'MSG' branded products at the recent launch

The idea came after a visit to Jodhpur in Rajasthan, where he saw people exporting organic products to Germany and Japan.

All organic products were exported to foreign countries. Guruji wanted Indians to experience the same stuff, said Ajay Insan, spokesperson, MSG All Trading Company.

Since Dera Sacha Sauda fields were already into organic farming, it came as a beneficial business idea.

In fact, Ram Rahim - the brain behind the organic food chain - had been promoting farming by conducting farmer training camps.

Earlier, the products grown in the Dera-owned fields were used only to serve organic food for their followers. It has now hired an agency to design and brand its products.

We have not launched any specific marketing campaign, says Insan.

There is hardly any need to market the products which are already in short supply. We are not able to fulfil the demand, says Insan.

The size of demand for organic food items can be gauged from the fact that the entire stock at a Sirsa store was sold within two hours of the launch of the chain on January 24.

We have already opened a few stores and plan to have more in other places, says Insan, adding that people are interested in buying the products made of organic ingredients.

A total of 150 products have already been launched under the MSG brand and plans are afoot to introduce 250 more, in the near future.

The brand has three product categories, namely Organic, Premium and Standard. The products are classified on the basis of the grading and quality of grains and fruits.

We do not use any pesticides or chemical fertilizers in our fields to grow them, says Insan.

Like Baba Ramdev, Ram Rahim too claims to have no direct role in the business.

Guruji has been made the brand ambassador of the products, says Insan.

He is also not worried about competition from the bigwigs, including Patanjali Ayurveda.

We have not launched the stores to give competition to others, explains Insan.

As of now the Dera also has no plans to export its products.

It initially wanted to cater to Indian consumers only, though some have approached to take the business overseas.

Our tagline is Every Indian, Healthy Indian, says Insan.
For the first time, and after decades of delays and dead ends, there is now a deliverable alternative to the UKs air capacity question.

If we choose growth at Gatwick over inertia at Heathrow, 2016 can be the year Britain finally solves one of its longest running policy challenges.

The Government delayed its decision on expansion in December last year, showing once again that Heathrow is still dogged by the environmental problems that have stalled its plans time and again over the past four decades.

Grounded? Heathrow is still dogged by the environmental problems that have stalled its plans time and again

Last week Andrew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, made a significant intervention in a letter to the Chancellor questioning the robustness of the Airports Commissions conclusions on economic benefits. It is clear there is now a consensus that the commissions conclusions are seriously flawed and not a sound basis for decision-making.

It is no surprise that the Government has chosen to test the commissions work in the key areas of air quality, carbon, noise and local impacts, as these crucial environmental issues have prevented expansion at Heathrow in the past.

This is not merely politics, as some would have it, they are real issues that affect the health and welfare of hundreds of thousands of people. In fact, polls show that air quality is one of peoples top environmental concerns, so it is only to be expected that the Government should ensure that any infrastructure project meets legal limits during both its construction and its eventual operation.

The UK is facing the prospect of having insufficient capacity for its aviation needs, and we need action from the Government to address this. When you look at the analysis, it is clear Gatwick delivers an identical number of passengers, a similar number of long-haul routes, and the economic boost the UK needs.

Most importantly, it faces none of the problems associated with the alternative  it comes at a dramatically lower environmental impact, at less than half the cost of Heathrow, and with no public subsidy. Heathrow affects more people with noise than the airports at Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam put together.

The area round the airport breaches air quality limits today. A new runway can only make that situation worse.

Over the past five years, growth at Gatwick has been such that more than 40m passengers now pass through our airport in a year. Thats an increase of 10m passengers over the period  equivalent to a decent-sized new airport.

Our growing popularity is due to the billion pounds of investment weve made and to the improved services offered by our airlines. We maintain a competitive, cost-efficient culture while operating the busiest and most efficient runway in the world, flying passengers to destinations from China to Peru and more than 200 airports in between.

To keep up with demand well have to expand, and were ready. The good news is that we can expand without breaching air quality limits  we never have and we never will  and our noise impact is a small fraction of that facing Heathrow.

We have created Europes most innovative noise mitigation scheme and an action plan to reduce our noise impact on residents around Gatwick. We can get going as soon as the Government gives us the go ahead. We can deliver the growth the economy needs within a decade.

As a simple, lower cost, more efficient proposition, expansion at Gatwick would enhance competition and support the current trends in aviation  the rise of lower cost travel, and the growth of direct point-to-point flights  all at an environmental impact that is a fraction of the alternative.

The simple facts show that Gatwicks plan is not just the best but the only deliverable solution to the question of where the UKs next runway should be built.

Even Heathrows most ardent supporters must accept if it were capable of expansion it would have gone ahead by now. Thats not going to happen and it is time for a new solution. Its time to get on with Gatwick.
A secretive lobby group set up by Britains challenger banks will attempt to persuade the Treasury to back down over higher taxes at a crunch meeting next month.

Chancellor George Osborne has repeatedly clashed with lenders over his decision to impose an 8 per cent surcharge on their UK profits, on top of corporation tax.

The move, which was announced during the emergency Budget in July and came into force last month, has incensed executives at many firms, including TSB, Nationwide and Virgin Money.

Collision course: George Osborne has repeatedly clashed with lenders over his decision to impose an 8 per cent surcharge on their UK profits

The bank levy is being cut as part of the reforms, in a sop to High Street giant HSBC which has complained bitterly about having to pay far more than anyone else due to its size. But Nationwide has claimed the new surcharge will saddle it with a 300m bill over the next five years, while a succession of bank bosses have warned it will reduce their capacity to lend.

Representatives of 12 challenger banks will meet with Treasury officials to attempt to persuade Mr Osborne to water down the changes when he delivers his Budget on March 16.

The 8 per cent charge kicks in on UK profits of more than 25m, meaning even some of the smallest lenders are affected. This comes on top of corporation tax of 20 per cent.

The challenger banks are likely to argue that the threshold for the tax should be raised to at least 250m or that the levy should be phased in more gradually.

Charles Roxburgh, the Treasurys top financial services official, will host the meeting. He chairs the Challenger Bank High Level Advisory Group which was set up to discuss key issues affecting Britains challenger banks.

The challenger banks efforts will be spearheaded by Paul Lynam, the boss of Secure Trust Bank who also chairs the British Bankers Associations Challenger Bank Panel. Bosses of TSB, Tesco Bank, Shawbrook, Close Brothers and Paragon will also attend.

The boss of one challenger bank said he was stunned when a Treasury official informed him on Budget day last July that the new levy would kick in at just 25m. I assumed it was a mistake and that they meant to say 250m, he added.

The Treasury has so far refused to budge in the face of a growing backlash, but bank bosses remain hopeful of a reprieve. The Government is anxious to avoid being accused of stunting lending and has promised to champion challenger banks to help boost competition on the High Street.
Nurse Chantiel Cox, pictured, was arrested on charges of conspiracy and promoting prison contraband

A nurse at a New York jail has been charged with smuggling razors and synthetic marijuana to inmates.

Chantiel Cox was arrested on charges of conspiracy and promoting prison contraband.

She was arraigned Friday on Long Island.

The 25-year-old Amityville resident worked for an outside company providing medical services at the Nassau County Correctional Facility.

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas told Newsday: 'That gave her the opportunity and it gave her the ability to interact with inmates.

'So through the regular course of her duties of dispensing medicine... she was able to also dispense contraband.'

Cox's attorney, John LoTurco, denied the charges.

He told Newsday: 'We assert that Ms. Cox is being used as a scapegoat for a much larger institutional problem at the Nassau County jail.'

Two other women, 27-year-old Amanda Minnieer and 24-year-old Sharonda Hall, have been charged with supplying the contraband to Cox.

In a statement, Singas said: 'The alleged actions of the defendants endangered everyone at the jail and raise serious questions about security procedures and oversight at the correctional facility.'

The district attorney's office said in a Friday release that Cox was fired December 23, writing 'as she was entering the secure facility, was allegedly discovered to be carrying a cellphone and a lighter.'

Two other women, 27-year-old Amanda Minnieer (left) and 24-year-old Sharonda Hall (right), have been charged with supplying the contraband to Cox

Cox worked for an outside company providing medical services at the Nassau County Correctional Facility (pictured)

Prosecutors alleged that Hall and Minnieer had been in contact with Nassau County Correctional Facility inmates -- and that the two women were wired money and purchased contraband items with it.

'The goods were then allegedly turned over to Cox, who smuggled them into the facility,' the release said.

Prosecutors said Hall is scheduled to be in court again on Monday.
This is the sparkling booty  worth at least 700,000 and seen here for the first time  snatched in one of the biggest ever burglaries from a country house in Britain.

None of the Goodwood House haul has been recovered and insurers, who are facing a massive payout, last week announced a reward of tens of thousands of pounds for its return.

During the raid last month, Lord March  the founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed  and his wife were tied up and assaulted at their 17th century home in Sussex.

Precious haul: Pictured is the sparkling booty  worth at least 700,000 and seen here for the first time  snatched in one of the biggest ever burglaries from a country house in Britain.

Lord and Lady March enjoying The Cartier Style and Luxury lunch at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2014 (left) and with Hollywood star Tom Cruise (right)

The treasures include the fabulous emerald intaglio and diamond ring that King Charles II gave to his mistress Louise de Keroualle, the Duchess of Portsmouth.

It is central to the family history as Louises son was the first Duke of Richmond, who made Goodwood the family seat. It is engraved with the Duchesss coronet and monogram CL as a nod to the scandalous liaison between Louise and the King.

The ring has rarely been put on display and was last seen in public when Downton Abbeys creator, Julian Fellowes, was allowed to try it on for size while filming an ITV series on stately homes.

There is also the Richmond Tiara  a particular favourite of Lady March  which dates from 1820 and is made of diamonds. The central cluster forms a detachable brooch. Chris Monks, of the insurance adjusters Criterion, is now alerting antique dealers that a substantial reward is on offer to anyone who can assist in the recovery of the jewellery.

Goodwood House (pictured) has been home to the Dukes of Richmond for some 300 years, and lies within the 12,000 acre Goodwood Estate in West Sussex

The stately home: Lord March - the Earl of March and Kinrara - pictured with his wife in the grand house in the early 1990s

He said: We are talking about tens of thousands of pounds, subject to the right outcome being achieved. Anyone who knows what has happened to any or all of these items should contact Surrey and Sussex Police. It is thought unlikely that the historically important items will be melted down. Antique Rolex and Girard-Perregaux timepieces were also stolen in the raid on January 13.

Detective Inspector Til Sanderson, from Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: We are determined to find the offenders and urge anyone who may know anything to contact police on 101 quoting Operation Forster.

In relation to the reward, contact Chris Monks, the insurers representative, on 01483 891999.
Row: (left to right) Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, Tory Cheryl Gillan, Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko anad Tory Sir Edward Leigh

There was more war than peace when Tory and Labour MPs clashed over Vladimir Putin at a banquet hosted by the Russian president's London envoy.

Shocked Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko looked on as a Labour MP accused two Conservative colleagues of being 'gushing' in their support for Putin.

There were more red faces after MPs said they narrowly avoided drinking a toast to Putin.

The row flared when the Commons All-Party Russia Group attended a lunch hosted by hardline pro-Putin diplomat Yakovenko on Tuesday.

Its Tory chairman, Sir Edward Leigh, whose wife Mary is descended from Russia's Romanov royal family, showered praise on the country's 'language, culture, people and beauty', and repeatedly pressed diplomats to arrange a trip to Moscow for MPs.

In 2014, Sir Edward said the West should 'accommodate' Putin's occupation of Ukraine because it was 'part of the Russian soul'.

He was backed at the lunch by Polish-born Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, who sat next to the ambassador.

But the love-in ended when Labour MP John Woodcock launched a blistering attack on Putin's support for Syrian president Bashar Assad's treatment of civilians in the besieged rebel town of Madaya. Mr Woodcock asked the ambassador: 'Why haven't you stopped Assad using starvation as a weapon of war against his own people?'

Some witnesses say Mr Kawczynski interjected: 'It is more complicated and sensitive than that. Russia is on our side  we should be supporting them.'

But Mr Woodcock hit back: 'I don't care if you speak up for Russia in the Commons, but when we are here let them do it for themselves.'

One MP said: 'We had sat there for two hours and no one mentioned Putin's role in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, never mind Ukraine or his other outrages. Some of the fawning and gushing was excruciating.' Mr Kawczynski told The Mail on Sunday: 'Mr Woodcock had a go at the ambassador and I said we should not forget Russia's pivotal role in getting rid of Assad's chemical weapons.

'It is wrong merely to think of Russia as a menace that must be contained  we must engage with them.'

There was more drama at the lunch when MPs were asked to raise a toast. Fearing they were being invited to hail Putin, Conservative MP James Gray told Sir Edward: 'Hold on, we cannot possibly be seen to be toasting the president.' They toasted Anglo-Russian relations instead.
A dog in Duluth, Minnesota, helped save an injured bald eagle stranded in the snow last month.

Kenai the pup was on a walk with his owner Kerrie and her friend Pam on January 21 when he suddenly began barking.

Kerrie and Pan went to see was Kenai was barking at, and found an injured bald eagle, which hopped down near the water.

Kenai the pup was on a walk with his owner Kerrie and her friend Pam on January 21 in Duluth, Minnesota, when he discovered the eagle

Kenai began barking and brought his owner toward the injured eagle, which was sitting on a branch near the water (pictured)

When Kerrie and Pam approached the eagle, he began hopping down the shoreline. Because it was dark, the pair decided to return the following day

As they approached the bird, he continued to hop down the shoreline. Because it was getting dark, the friends decided to head home and return the next day.

They were able to track the eagles movement by its footprints in the snow and contacted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for help in rescuing the bird.

Two women from the DNR arrived on scene and the four worked together to capture the injured eagle.

When they finally caught him, he was chilled and his feathers were frozen, so Kerrie and Pam took the bird to Wildwoods, a wildlife rehabilitation organization in Duluth, where he was given pain medication and fluids and had his feathers thawed.

The following day, Kerrie and Pam were able to track down the eagle by following its footsteps in the snow

The friends found the eagle, which appeared to be injured, sitting in the snow further down the shoreline

They called the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and two women (pictured) helped them capture the eagle

When they finally caught the bird, he was chilled, his feathers were frozen, he was suffering from a shoulder injury and showed signs of lead poisoning

Our exam showed a shoulder injury, which we thought was likely fixable, Wildwoods said on its Facebook page. And of course, like most eagles we get this time of year (during and after deer hunting season), we strongly suspected lead poisoning.

Pam and Kerrie then took the eagle to the Raptor Center in St Paul.

Their exam showed lead poisoning (yes, again!), as well as a soft tissue injury of the left shoulder. The Raptor Center thinks his chances are fair, and we hope for his eventual recovery, Wildwoods said in the Facebook post.

Wildwoods thanked Pam, Kerrie and Kerries pooch Kenai for help in saving the eagle.

Kerrie and Pam especially credit Kenai and her sharp eyes for spotting this bird so that he could be rescued! Good dog, Kenai! the center said.

Kerrie and Pam took the bird to Wildwoods, a wildlife rehabilitation organization in Duluth to help the bird

The eagle was then given pain medication and fluids and had his feathers thawed, and was then transported to The Raptor Center in St Paul for more treatment
David Cameron has triggered a Cabinet row by drawing up plans to ban junk food adverts during programmes such as The X Factor.

The proposals to stop food giants advertising chocolate, crisps, sweets and pizza during peak television slots is understood to have infuriated Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, who believes that the move could seriously harm broadcasters.

Mr Whittingdale has told commercial channels such as ITV and Sky that he will fight their corner against the nannyish ban.

(Un)popular: David Cameron's plan to ban junk food adverts during adult shows before the watershed like The X Factor has caused a rift in Cabinet. Above: Rita Ora, right, with X Factor winner Louisa

Industry sources say the BBCs rivals could lose up to 200 million a year if Mr Cameron goes ahead with his plan. This could place the future of some smaller channels  such as those dedicated to history and arts programming  at risk.

Under the new rules, which have been drawn up by the Department of Health and Downing Streets policy unit, any products high in fat, sugar or salt could be banned from our screens until the 9pm watershed  if children are likely to be watching the programmes.

Although firms are already barred from promoting unhealthy products around shows specifically for children, the ban does not currently apply to adult programmes which youngsters may happen to see.

No 10 is planning to announce the proposal later this month as a key part of its childhood obesity strategy, which is intended to address the spiralling numbers of overweight youngsters.

According to some projections, three out of four British adults will be overweight or obese by 2035. A source said: This issue is being driven strongly by Jeremy Hunts Health department and by the No 10 policy unit, which thinks it is the only way to stop children from stuffing rubbish down them.

But if it is not carefully framed it could have a disastrous impact on the broadcasters.

Junk food outlets like McDonald's advertise during shows aimed at adults, but watched by children

It is not the only policy area in which Mr Whittingdale is at odds with Mr Cameron. Last week, the Culture Secretary strongly hinted in an interview that he would be campaigning for the Out side ahead of the EU referendum.

Mr Camerons move on junk food advertising follows a report by MPs on the Health Select Committee last year, which called for broader and deeper controls on marketing to children. It said restrictions should apply to social media and internet games, where food giants often promote their products, as well as TV.

Two-thirds of children watch television during adult viewing hours.

ITVs The X Factor alone reaches an audience of more than 1.2 million children aged four to 15. Recent research found that a single episode of the show was surrounded by 13 adverts for unhealthy foods.

Infuriated: Culture Secretary John Whittingdale believes the move could seriously harm broadcasters

Campaigners also point to programmes such as the soap Hollyoaks, shown at 6.30pm on Channel 4, which is watched by many children and is sponsored by Dominos Pizza.

Another idea linked to the anti-obesity strategy was a proposed 20 per cent sugar tax  but this is now thought less likely to be adopted.

Last night a spokesman for the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers said: Banning ads does not make children thinner, and the ban will help destroy many of the ad-funded TV programmes we all love. This will result in more and more demands for people to pay for the programmes which they currently enjoy for free.

Obesity is a serious issue  it needs real long term commitment to turn around the way we eat, drink and exercise. We have made it clear to the Government that the advertising world and the food and drink businesses are keen to work co-operatively with Government, the medical professions and campaigners. A lot hangs on Ministers decisions.
Two top secret British ghost ships carrying enough plutonium for a huge nuclear arsenal wend their way through the worlds oceans guarded against terrorists by 50 commandos.

It may sound like a tantalising target for a villain in a James Bond film, but what is potentially the most dangerous secret mission in history is deadly reality.

Two vast container ships  the Pacific Heron and the Pacific Egret  left Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, last month on the first leg of their incredible journey.

Pictured, the Pacific Heron, one of two ships whose mission is to sail to Japan and pick up 331kg of plutonium

Their mission is to sail to Japan to collect 331kg of plutonium  enough to make 80 nuclear warheads  which was leased by the UK to a Japanese research facility.

The ships are almost certainly shadowed by a Royal Navy submarine and surface vessels and are heavily armed with 20mm cannon.

They are sailing across the Atlantic before passing through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific on their way to Japan.

Their ultimate destination is a US nuclear storage facility in South Carolina, and the return journey to the American eastern seaboard from East Asia would normally again be made via the Panama Canal.

But this would leave the vessels vulnerable to attack  and their terrifying radioactive cargo could in theory devastate much of Central America.

So instead, they are likely to take the long and dangerous journey around the storm-lashed Cape Horn at the tip of South America, one of the most hazardous shipping routes in the world.

The Pacific Egret, pictured, is heavily armed and will be accompanied by military vessels on the mission

The Heron and the Egret, which each weigh about 6,700 tons when fully loaded, belong to the UKs Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). It is expected that each ship will be guarded by as many as 25 commandos.

Nuclear expert John Large told The Mail on Sunday last night: The cargo is invaluable and part of a secret trade in fissile materials between the likes of the UK and US. The biggest risk is a fire or an external missile strike.

This is bomb-grade nuclear material and a terror group or rogue state would want to intercept it.

The ships are operated by International Nuclear Services, an NDA subsidiary. A spokesman said: I can confirm that the specialist nuclear cargo vessels are currently taking part in a voyage but, in accordance with normal procedures, I cant disclose any operational details for security reasons.
Around 20 cars sank into a lake in Wisconsin Saturday after visitors to a winter festival parked on its frozen top.

Emergency crews had to pull the vehicles out of the water Saturday after the vehicles fell through the ice during Lake Geneva's Winterfest, according to TMJ 4.

Since parking was scarce in the area, officials had allowed people to park on the frozen lake, but the ice cracked under the weight of the vehicles during the judging of the the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition.

Several cars were parked on the ice at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin when they started sinking into the water (pictured) during the annual Winterfest celebration

Emergency crews were pulling vehicles out of the water using a tow truck on Saturday afternoon

The Lake Geneva Fire Department was working to remove seven remaining vehicles from the water using a tow truck around 6pm. No one was in the vehicles when the ice broke.

Though people have been known to walk atop the frozen lake, the lake wasn't frozen as solid as it was in previous years due to the mild winter, and gave way.

A woman from Woodstock, Illinois, told TMJ4 that she saw a whole row of cars in the water - and by the time she'd run to her car 'there was at least two rows of cars down in the water'.

Lake Genevas annual Winterfest also includes human sled racing and many more winter activities.

The festivities started on Wednesday.

Officials had told people they could park on the ice because parking in the area is scarce - but at least two rows of cars ended up in the water (pictured)

No one was inside the cars when they began to sink during the annual Winterfest




A smiling Tareena Shakil and her mother Mandy on a family weekend to Blackpool in 2010, four years before she fled the UK with her toddler son and joined IS in Syria

Its the quintessential holiday snap. Standing beside her proud mum, her younger sister and a furry fairground toy, a carefree Tareena Shakil beams at the camera during a weekend trip to Blackpool.

That was the summer of 2010. But just four years later, Tareena  by then a university drop-out and a married mother of one  abandoned her family home to join the murderous Islamic State in its war-ravaged Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.

It was from there she posted sinister images on Facebook wearing a black Niqab beside the terror groups flag. She is also pictured holding her toddler son, who is wearing an IS-branded balaclava.

In other photos, she posed with an AK47 assault rifle, holding a handgun and wearing an IS balaclava alongside Facebook messages saying: This is my jihad and encouraging others to take up arms.

Today, her British mother Mandy, 49, in an exclusive and harrowing interview with The Mail on Sunday reveals how her smiley eldest daughter, who loved the Spice Girls, ended up with the terror group before she fled and returned to Britain. And Mandy tells how she struggles to comprehend how her daughter could have taken her then 14-month-old son on a holiday flight to Turkey before crossing into Syria and posing him in an IS balaclava next to guns, in what the judge described as one of the most abhorrent features of the case.

A week ago, 26-year-old Tareena was convicted of being a member of IS and encouraging terrorism. She is the first woman to return from the so-called caliphate to be convicted of the offence and was jailed for six years.

Passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Inman said: Most alarmingly, you took your toddler son to Syria knowing how he would be used.

Though he said it was clear that she had been radicalised, she had shown no remorse and had actively embraced Isis knowing her sons future would be as a fighter for the group.

Her parents, however, find it difficult to believe their daughter acted of her own free will.

Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Mandy says: I still cant understand how my lovely, sweet and bright child ended up in a warzone with my grandson. It is beyond my comprehension.

She was such a lovely, smiley child. She loved to watch the childrens programme Rosie And Jim, was full of energy and always had a smile on her face.

I can only imagine that she was looking for happiness. Before she went to Syria, she was very unhappy because her marriage was a disaster. She thought she could find peace under sharia law  but when she got to Raqqa it was absolutely horrible. She hated it, but they refused to let her leave.

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Mandy has revealed how she believes her daughter, raised in a liberal home, did not act of her own free will. These photos were shown to the jury showing Shakil posing in an ISIS balaclava and with a Kalashnikov rifle

Mandy believes the 26-year-old, who also posed with her son wearing a black balaclava bearing the slogan of ISIS, was looking for happiness when she left to make a new life under the terror group in Raqqa

'They kept her in safe houses crammed with women and children.

She said it was dismally bleak  there was no electricity or hot water. There were women there from all over the world being offered up as jihadi brides to the male fighters. She was horrified and told them that she was already married.

I think she thought she was going to a place where woman are treated very well, but she felt she had been tricked.

Yes, it was wrong for her to take my grandson to such a dangerous place, but I still cant believe shes truly a terrorist. She was naive and gullible.

Counter-terror detectives, however, though admitting they have no idea why Tareena fled Syria, insisted she presented a real threat after returning to the UK. Before going to the Middle East she had changed her Facebook and Twitter profile photos to images of the IS flag.

In one of two notes she left behind, found by police, Tareena wrote: If you are reading this then I am long gone and you are clearing out the house. I love you all, never forget that... I wont say goodbye because this is not the end.

You may wonder how a mother could possibly have missed the warning signs that suggested her daughter was about to go abroad to join a terror group  a mission paid for from her student loan.

And now, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, she still displays a faith in her daughter that may seem naive but is perhaps an unwillingness to accept the truth.

Shakil has told her mother her time living in Raqqa was dismally bleak. Mr Justice Inman told Birmingham Crown Court she had shown no remorse and had actively embraced Isis knowing her sons future would be as a fighter for the group

She weeps for her daughter as she describes Tareenas Western upbringing with her younger two brothers and sister, learning dance routines to Spice Girls songs in her bedroom, watching The Only Way Is Essex on television and taking a Saturday job at Morrisons to earn money for clothes and make-up.

Sitting on a leather sofa in the living room of her tidy three-bedroom semi-detached home in a well-tended road in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, Mandy explains that although her husband of 26 years, Mohammed (known as Shak) is from a Pakistani background, they had never been especially religious and certainly had no ties to radical Islam.

She says: Were not even political. Shak and I met in a local nightclub. After our marriage we decided our children would be brought up in the Western culture and be able to choose what they want out of life.

I converted to Islam five years ago, but it was my own choice. My husband doesnt practice the faith. Given their relaxed attitude, it came as a surprise when Tareena, aged five, asked if she could learn the Koran and fast during Ramadan.

I think her fascination with the religion came from her paternal grandparents, Mandy says. Her dad was very proud of her desire to learn the Koran and bought her a gold necklace as a reward. We both wanted her to enjoy the best of both cultures  to be Western and know her own mind and get a good education, yet to also observe the moral values of a well brought up Muslim girl. Her father promised that she would never be forced into an arranged marriage.

Shakil's Facebook page under the name Tameena al Amirah, where she started posting extremist messages

These handwritten goodbye messages were discovered by police in Shakil's home after she left the UK

Tareena attended a mosque until she was ten, when a passion for the Spice Girls and an ambition to become an actress led her to spend more time with her non-religious classmates.

She won a talent competition with some of her friends. They performed as a tribute to the Spice Girls  she was Sporty Spice, recalled Mandy.

She could go out with her girlfriends and stay out late. All we wanted was for her to know right and wrong and to have a good heart. We gave her the freedom to enjoy her childhood and she did us proud. She was a good girl. She never gave us any trouble.

Academic and popular, Tareena became a prefect and took up after-school interests such as karate and drama. Later, she won a place at Birmingham University to study psychology and moved into the student halls of residence.

It was also about this time that she began to wear a headscarf. It was her choice, says Mandy, quietly. She told me it was because she wanted to be a good Muslim. But unknown to her parents, Tareena was being drawn to the conflict unfolding in Syria.

She started attending debates about the Syrian crisis and, says Mandy, it was at a demonstration during the second year of her studies that Tareena met the man she was to marry  a hairdresser whose Yemeni parents had emigrated to Britain.

While Tareenas parents had their reservations, Mandy says they didnt want to stand in her way and gave her their blessing.

Shakil, pictured at East Midlands Airport with her toddler before they boarded a flight to Turkey en route to Syria

She told me that she had fallen in love. I wanted her to continue with her degree, but she left because she said she wanted to be a good wife.She got pregnant very quickly after marrying and I looked forward to being a grandmother, says Mandy.

But the newlyweds began to row and the marriage faltered. At first Tareena kept it to herself.

Its as if she felt she had made her bed and had to lie in it, says Mandy, whose suspicions were confirmed with a distressing phone call at five one morning. Tareena had called from a police station to say she had had a row with her husband and that the police had been called.

It now seems clear, at least to Mandy, that her daughters turbulent home life left her vulnerable to the promise of a better life with a terror group masquerading as an Islamic utopia.

Trying to piece together what came next, Mandy realises that her daughter, then living back at home with her parents and with a demanding toddler to care for, must have felt isolated and looked online for a route to happiness.

By then it was 2014 and Tareenas estranged husband had returned to his native Yemen. He called to tell her that he had taken another wife. She was really upset, says Mandy. Sometimes I wonder if I should have done more to comfort her.

When Tareena told the family she was going to Turkey for a weeks beach holiday with her son, her parents thought it might do her the world of good. She Skyped daily as promised but on the third day she made a cryptic call home.

Her father said he became suspicious when, during their conversation, he saw the shadowy figure of a man in the background. I just knew that something was not right.

He contacted a friend who was a police officer but was advised to wait to see if she would return. But when her mother went to collect her from the airport, she was left waiting for hours with a growing feeling of dread.

Mandy and her husband called the police and reported their daughter as missing, little knowing that she had travelled to Syria. Weeks later, Tareena sent messages home saying she was settled and happy. In one, she said: This is my jihad, and urged people to take up arms for IS.

In a WhatsApp conversation with her father, who pleaded for her to return home, she wrote: I can leave, but I dont want to. I want to die here as a martyr.

But in January 2015, an unhappy Tareena claims she decided to escape Syria in a taxi, which took her to the Turkish border. She and her son then made a desperate dash towards Turkish guards, who locked her up in a detention centre where she languished for six weeks.

She was only released after her father made two trips to Turkey and paid a 5,000 bribe.

When she arrived at Heathrow in February 2015, she was arrested.

Despite Tareenas conviction for serious terrorist crimes, Mandy  her face clearly showing the strain  insists her daughter was either duped or lured into going to Syria only after travelling to Turkey, while her husband refuses to accept any other theory than that she was kidnapped and held against her will.

Indeed, Mandy is desperate to believe her daughters claim that IS minders told her what to write and forced her to pose with the rifle.

She had no choice, she says.

Shakil sent photographs of her son in Syria, including one image showing him sitting next to an AK-47 machinegun. The caption of the picture describes him as 'Abu Jihad al-Britani'

But Tareena has not always been truthful. After her arrest on returning to England, she told police she had been kidnapped, but in court she admitted this had been a lie. Tareena also told police that she went to Syria after developing a relationship with a man she met in Turkey, but during a raid on the home she shared with her husband in Britain, police found farewell notes she had left.

Ultimately, Tareena has paid an extremely high price for what her parents insist was a naive act. She has lost her liberty  and, for the present, her son.

For Mandy, the punishment has wider ramifications.

I only see my grandson once every fortnight for one and a half hours', she says. I cry every day. I miss her terribly. I dont know how Im going to get through the next few years. She was my best friend.

All I can do is hope that she will be cleared on appeal.
As many as 750,000 British men are potential child sex offenders according to the National Crime Agency (stock photo)

Police have been accused of putting children at risk after it emerged that paedophiles who look at indecent images of children online are being let off with just a warning  by officers who turn up on their doorsteps.

Even though viewing pictures of child abuse is punishable by jail, offenders are simply being visited at home  and told not to do it again.

Police have knocked on the doors of 24 suspects since last November thanks to surveillance powers to track computers used to download illegal images from the internet.

It is feared that the controversial pilot project by Sussex Police shows that forces are being overwhelmed by the sheer scale of child abuse pictures now circulating online.

As many as 750,000 British men are potential child sex offenders according to the National Crime Agency  the UKs equivalent to the FBI  while some police chiefs have suggested many paedophiles should receive medical help rather than prosecution.

Last night, Jim Gamble, the former chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, warned: How long will it be until one of these men whos been given a slap on the wrist makes a contact offence with children?

Sussexs Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, who is also the national lead for policing children, said the force was still arresting those thought to pose a risk to children, and that only those who had looked briefly at abuse images would be spoken to by officers.

She said: There are people who are curious and frankly would be horrified if anybody ever knew. And we are very quick with those people to say, Look, we know what you are doing, you know what you are doing and that is that.

There are others who are downloading images and then there is contact offending. It is all really awful and it is about where the threat and the harm is, and that is where we try to judge where our intervention is.

She added: We dont argue that because someone has not harmed a child, they are just looking at it, that thats safe. Of course it is not safe  that child was harmed. So we dont look at it lightly.

Under the scheme, Sussex Polices Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) tries to identify the unique IP address associated with an individual computer to work out who has accessed indecent images.

They will then carry out intelligence and background checks along with formal risk assessments to determine if the suspect has any previous convictions or any access to children, as well as establishing if the images depicted are the most serious types of sex abuse or not.

If they decide that no children are at risk and the images are the lowest level, the team may simply issue verbal advice or a warning letter.

Sussex Police said: One tactic available to POLIT officers is to visit some people whose internet addresses are suspected of being involved with images at the lowest level of seriousness, to show them the police are aware and are watching, and to deter continuance.

Sussexs Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said the force was still arresting those thought to pose a risk to children, and that only those who had looked briefly at abuse images would be spoken to by officers

Those visits, of which there have been 24 since November last year, sometimes include handing warning letters to the subject.

A National Crime Agency spokesman said: The NCA and its policing partners continue to increase their combined efforts to pursue individuals viewing indecent images of children, while being clear about the need to prioritise the offenders posing the biggest risk. There is a threshold test for charging suspected image offenders laid down by the CPS in England and Wales, and law enforcement bodies will take decisions on a case-by-case basis.

But Mr Gamble said: Anyone who makes a judgment that these people do not pose a risk is playing the lottery with childrens safety. It is sexually orientated behaviour that will lead them on a spiral of abuse.
A British man who spent ten months in Iraq fighting Islamic State was arrested on his return home.

Aiden Aslin, a care worker from Newark, was held for 30 hours after officers boarded his plane at Heathrow, where members of his family were eagerly awaiting his arrival on Wednesday.

But the 22-year-old was immediately taken to Nottinghamshire Police headquarters for questioning over a suspected terrorism offence.

His family and local MP, however, point out that like many British volunteers, Mr Aslin was fighting alongside a Kurdish unit, the Lions of Rojava, who have shown huge bravery in taking on IS.

Criticising the police, his grandmother, Pamela Hall, said: We just wanted to wave to him but we werent allowed to, and that felt inhumane.

Arrested: Aiden Aslin, 22, was held for 30 hours by Nottinghamshire Police on his return to the UK from Iraq

Fighter: He said he had been fighting ISIS with the Kurdish unit 'Lions of Rojava' after he flew to Sulaimaniyah (file photo above) in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq

It was heart-breaking knowing he was here but we couldnt speak to him.

At least we know he is safe back in Nottinghamshire.

Newark MP Robert Jenrick, who has been aware of Mr Aslins presence on the front line for many months, urged police to treat him sympathetically.

He said: Mr Aslin took an extremely brave decision to fight with our allies.

It is now Home Office and police policy to arrest such individuals under counter-terrorism legislation on their return to UK.

Even if, as is most likely, they are not charged, that will remain on their record and they will not be able, for example, to enter the United States for the rest of their lives.

Before his arrest, Mr Aslin described dodging artillery and incoming bullets as his unit played a key role in capturing enemy territory near Mount Sinjar  to which tens of thousands of refugees have headed after fleeing IS.

The Lions of Rojava were taking on gunmen from IS  also known as Daesh  in the Syrian village of al-Hawl when Mr Aslins makeshift armoured car came under direct enemy fire.

I was going towards IS fighters who were less than 60 metres away, he said. I was in a home-made tank. I heard the bullets hitting the outside of the tank and waited for rocket-propelled grenades to hit.

The village had a lot of improvised explosive devices too, so as well as looking out for Daesh, we also had to watch where we stepped. They also tried to counter-attack us using car bombs.

MP: Mr Aslin's Newark MP said the issue of arresting Brits volunteering to fight ISIS should be addressed

But mainly, they were driven out of the area by air strikes. We were able to find the frequency for their radios and heard a conversation between Daesh commanders. Our female fighters translated this and said the enemy were running out of food and water.

I support UK air strikes against IS. Anyone who doesnt, feel free to come over and see for yourself the difference the air strikes make.

Daesh is like a cancer. You leave it untreated and it is going to keep growing.

Anti-war protesters have no idea what kind of people Daesh are. They cant be negotiated with.

Mr Aslin volunteered to go to the conflict zone after seeing the atrocities committed by IS on television.

In April last year, he bought a ticket at Gatwick Airport to fly to the Iraqi city of Sulaimaniyah.

But before he could board the plane, he was stopped by UK Border Police who questioned his claim that he was going there on a backpacking trip.

Questioned: Nottinghamshire Police have released Mr Aslin on bail after arresting him on suspicion of engaging in conduct in preparation to commit an act of terrorism and weapons training

Eventually, when he admitting to officers that he was joining the fight against IS, he was allowed to continue his journey.

After losing his passport in Syria, Mr Aslin was helped to return home by the British consulate in Erbil, northern Iraq. He then flew back to the UK on Wednesday.

Speaking in the Commons last week, Mr Jenrick said: Hundreds  probably more than 1,000  British nationals have taken the very brave decision to go and fight against Daesh in Syria and Iraq.

Those people include my constituent, Aiden Aslin, a former care worker from Newark.

Mr Jenrick said the issue needed to be raised with the Home Secretary and the relevant authorities so that we adopt an appropriate policy towards these brave citizens.

The leader of the house, Chris Grayling, said he would make sure Mr Jenricks concerns were raised with Theresa May.

Mr Aslin has been bailed until April. A Nottinghamshire police spokesman confirmed last night:

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of engaging in conduct in preparation to commit an act of terrorism (Section 5 of the 2000 Terrorism Act) and weapons training (Section 54 of the 2000 Terrorism Act) after arriving back in the UK.

Regardless of whether an individual has joined or supports a proscribed group, police will take action, including arresting individuals involved in carrying out or planning any criminal or terrorist activity overseas.

The man is being questioned by officers, following reports he was fighting with a pro-Kurdish organisation against Daesh.
Said she supports 'capital punishment as a deterrent' on a TV panel show

Ms Patel, 43, is daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled Uganda in the 1970s

Rising Cabinet star Priti Patel is set to demand a meeting with David Cameron to tell him she will fight tooth and nail against his bid to keep Britain in the EU.

The move by Ms Patel, the telegenic Employment Minister, is expected in the next few days and is set to make her the poster girl of the 'Out' campaign.

It will come as a welcome boost for the 'Leave' movement following splits and feuds between rival groups and claims that its leaders are all 'pale, male and stale'.

Ms Patel, 43, is the daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1970s to escape dictator Idi Amin. They set up a chain of newsagents in the South of England  and their work ethic inspired her future political views.

Rising Cabinet star Priti Patel (pictured) is set to demand a meeting with David Cameron to tell him she will fight tooth and nail against his bid to keep Britain in the EU

After grammar school and university, she entered politics, working, appropriately, for James Goldsmith's Referendum Party, a forerunner of Ukip, in the 1997 Election.

In 2010 she became Tory MP for Witham in Essex, the heartland of white, working-class England, winning over the local party with her outspoken support for the return of the death penalty for murderers and rapists

Her stance  decidedly unfashionable for a trendy Cameron 'A' lister  led to a TV clash with Have I Got News For You panellist Ian Hislop. Ms Patel told him: 'I support capital punishment as a deterrent. Far too many politicians do run away from debating issues like this.'

She also opposed gay marriage, a reflection of her small 'c' conservative family background.

Her views have led some to call her a 'modern-day Norman Tebbit'  and it is no coincidence that she is deputy to Work and Pensions Secretary and fellow Right-winger Iain Duncan Smith, Tebbit's successor as MP for Chingford in Essex.

Ms Patel's energy and enthusiasm was quickly talent-spotted by Chancellor George Osborne, who ensured she was fast-tracked to the Cabinet.

Priti  who has a seven-year-old son, Freddie, by husband Alex Sawyer  has no-nonsense Thatcherite views on welfare, low taxes and immigration.

Ms Patel (pictured), 43, is the daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1970s to escape dictator Idi Amin

She says Tory core values of family, faith, hard work, education, community service, self-reliance and business mirror those of traditional Asian families.

'My parents persevered and prospered through sheer determination and a profound work ethic.

'Coming from a country where you're persecuted means that you want to work hard.

'You become patriotic because you make your new country your home and you live and play by its values.'
Prince William and Kate Middleton will reportedly follow in the footsteps of Princess Diana and visit the Taj Mahal when they travel to India in a couple of months.

The Duke of Cambridge's mother was pictured sitting on a bench in front of the landmark in Agra in 1992, in what became a symbol of her loneliness months before she and Prince Charles separated.

Now, reports in India have stated that Wills, 33, and Kate, 34, will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site in April as part of their tour of the country.

It's been said an 'advance team' from the British High Commission had held talks with officials in Agra on Thursday to sort out security arrangements for the royals.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - pictured here in Dundee, Scotland last year - will visit India for the first time in April

The Prince and Princess of Wales' trip was said to reveal cracks in the couple's marriage after Diana was photographed famously visiting the Taj Mahal alone in 1992

A senior official told the Times of India: 'The advance team did not disclose much information about the itinerary. Even the date was not shared with us.'

This will be the first time Kate or William have journeyed to the country before. The Prince of Wales visited as recently as November 2013, on a nine-day tour.

Despite no official itinerary, it's reported they will travel round the Asian subcontinent between April 10 and 17 without, George, two, and Charlotte, nine months.

MailOnline understands Wills and Kate felt the trip would be too gruelling for their children.

Instead the siblings will remain in the UK with their nanny, Maria Borallo, and maternal grandparents, Michael and Carole Middleton.

This will not be the first overseas visit the couple have taken without their children having taken a trip to The States without their first born at the end of 2014.

The couple spent several days in New York City in December 2014 without George who remained at home in the care of Borallo.

Prince George joined his parents on their tour of Australia and New Zealand last year but we can reveal that neither he nor his sister Charlotte will visit India

It is hoped that William's visit to the country frequented by his father will be a more unified one than what Charles experienced with Diana

Diana was often pictured alone without her husband during her visit to the country in 1992

It is hoped that William's visit to the country frequented by his father will be a more unified one than what Charles experienced with Diana.

Prince Charles had visited India as a single man of 32 in 1980. Sitting on a stone bench in front of the Taj Mahal, the iconic symbol of love, he had vowed to return one day with the woman he loved.

Twelve years later saw this happen as the Princess of Waless accompanied her husband on a joint tour to the country.

However, the media were not granted their 'money shot' as although the couple had planned to visit the Taj Mahal, Charles was committed to a business leaders forum 1,200 miles away in Bangalore, where he was due to give the only keynote address of the tour.

This resulted in the iconic image of the Princess of Wales sat alone on the very same bench which many critics hailed as symbolic of cracks in the couple's marriage.

The Queen is a another royal to have visited India with her last trip taking place in 1997

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a guest of the Queen at Buckingham Palace in November last year where they lunched together

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a guest of the Queen at Buckingham Palace in November last year where they lunched together.

It was the first visit by an Indian PM in a decade and the announcement of the royal couple's trip to India was made around the same time.

Kensington Palace declined to comment on the latest reports of William and Kate visiting the Taj Mahal.

In November last year, a spokesman for the couple told MailOnline: 'Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit India in the spring of 2016.
A three-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his nine-year-old sister in an Alabama home on Saturday.

Police said the girl was shot in the head.

She was flown by a medical helicopter to Children's of Alabama hospital, where she later died.

Detectives are interviewing the children's uncle and grandmother who were at the home (pictured) during the shooting to learn exactly what happened

Irondale police chief Ken Atkinson (pictured) said that the shooting took place at the grandparents' house in a Birmingham suburb. He called the shooting a 'tragic accident'

Irondale police chief Ken Atkinson told AL.com that the shooting took place Saturday afternoon at the grandparents' house in a Birmingham suburb.

He said the boy found a loaded pistol on a bedroom nightstand and shot his sister in the head with it.

Atkinson said the incident seems to be a 'tragic accident' but an investigation is under way.

He said detectives are interviewing the children's uncle and grandmother who were home at the time of the shooting to learn exactly what happened.

The grandfather had left the loaded gun on the nightstand not knowing his grandchildren were coming over that day.

Atkinson told AL.com: 'The lesson is you have to make sure those weapons are put up, out of sight and out of reach, really of anyone, but especially children.'

He added that the little boy has 'no idea what is going on right now' and it's just a 'horrible situation'.
A group of British expats arrested in Thailand after police raided their bridge club over suspicions of gambling are still facing court  on charges of using imported playing cards.

Government officials have admitted that last weeks episode in the beach resort of Pattaya  which attracted worldwide ridicule  was a misunderstanding after no money was found.

However, despite the gambling claims being dropped, and most of the players being told privately that they will get their bail money and passports back, officials yesterday insisted there would be other charges.

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'Gambling den': Thai police raided the ex-pat bridge club in Pattaya, east Thailand, on Wednesday night, arresting 32 foreigners, including 12 elderly Brits, who were released 12 hours later on a 100 bail

Illegal: Members of the bridge club, which has been openly meeting three times a week since 1994, are expected to be charged with using imported playing cards which are illegal in Thailand

One charge expected to be levelled at club president Jeremy Watson is that of using decks of cards manufactured abroad.

All official playing cards in Thailand are printed by the Department of Customs and Excise, and bear a government stamp.

Members of the club claimed Thai cards are of such poor quality that they had brought packs back from trips abroad.

The alleged organizer of the event, an expatriate Brit named in local media as Jeremy Watson, 74, was detained for further questioning

Mr Watson, who recently took over as president from its founder honorary consul Barry Kenyon, could also be accused of using unlicensed premises.

The pensioners  including 12 Britons  were held for up to a day in harsh conditions. Most signed false confessions under duress to ensure their release.
Malcolm Turnbull says he is not convinced an increase in GST would encourage economic growth.

The Australian Prime Minister says he's yet to be persuaded that an increase should be part of the tax reform package.

He said he's not convinced it would stimulate jobs and growth and unless it did 'it isn't worth the trouble and expense of making the change'.

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is not convinced an increase in GST would be good for Australia (stock image)

He said he was not convinced increasing GST would create jobs and stimulate growth (stock image)

If it would not stimulate growth and jobs then raising GST was not worth the trouble or expense, he said (stock image)

But he said the final decision on how the government proceeds with tax reform will be taken by the cabinet.

'I'm the Prime Minister of Australia, I'm not the President. I'm the first among equals and we are running a cabinet government,' Mr Turnbull told ABC television on Sunday.

Meanwhile, several state premiers have backed an increase, saying extra revenue could help them meet budget gaps, the ABC reported.

A senior Liberal senator said he would not support increasing the GST to 15 per cent.

But he said the final decision on how the government proceeds with tax reform will be taken by the cabinet (stock image)

Although the Prime Minister says he is not convinced, some state premiers have backed the idea (stock image)

Senator Ian Macdonald said he was one of the few members of parliament who was around when the 10 per cent GST was introduced in 2000.

'I won't be supporting it, and the main reason is that those of us who were there at the time gave a rolled-gold commitment that we would not be part of any increase beyond 10 per cent,' he told ABC television on Sunday.

Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos is saying 'nothing is inevitable'.

'I think it is correct to say that he hasn't been persuaded that the GST is some sort of silver bullet,' Senator Sinodinos told Sky News on Sunday.

But he said the debate over tax reform can't run too much longer.

'Clearly there has been a lot of discussion out there. The next stage people want to see the colour of our money, or the colour of their money, in a way we want to play with it,' he said.
David Cameron will tomorrow announce a major Government drive to cut the number of offenders who return to jail shortly after release, as experts warn that a rocketing prison population is creating '18th Century conditions'.

The Prime Minister wants to boost rehabilitation schemes and education programmes within jails to shift stubbornly high reoffending rates. Currently, almost 60 per cent of prisoners released after sentences of less than 12 months go back to crime within a year.

But Tory MP Philip Davies, a member of the Commons' Justice Select Committee, said he hoped the Prime Minister was not going to come out with 'trite nonsense' in his speech as an excuse for sparing serious offenders from long sentences.

The Prime Minister wants to boost rehabilitation schemes and education programmes within jails to shift stubbornly high reoffending rate

'No one could seriously object to people being rehabilitated, as long as it isn't a fig leaf for prisoners being let out early or not going to prison in the first place,' Mr Davies said.

'I hope that he isn't going to come out with a load of trite nonsense designed to dress up measures which will expose the public to risk.'

Mr Cameron's planned speech is the latest in a string of initiatives he has made since the New Year brandishing his social reform credentials, including backing 'tiger mum' parenting, calling for Muslim women to learn English and criticising Oxbridge for not accepting more black students.

The current prison population is a near-record 86,000 and some advisers fear it could hit 100,000 by the end of the decade. Each prisoner costs the taxpayer 30,000 a year to keep in a cell  a bill the Treasury is keen to trim.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove is also looking at a more flexible sentencing regime, the greater use of electronic tagging as an alternative to imprisonment and reducing the number of inmates who are recalled to jail for breaching the terms of their release.

But when Mr Cameron makes his speech on the issue, he is likely to place most stress on dealing with the social and psychological problems which draw people into crime in the first place, linked to drug addiction, mental health problems and childhood abuse.

Critically, nearly half of all prisoners enter jail without qualifications, making it almost impossible to find stable employment when they leave and driving them back into a life of crime.

The Prime Minister's comments mark a break with traditional tub-thumping Tory 'hang 'em and flog 'em' rhetoric, which Mr Cameron regards as lazy, populist vote-chasing.

Francis Crook, from the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: 'Something does have to be done about the ever-expanding prison population.
The U.S., backed by its Western allies, Japan and South Korea, has called for tough sanctions reflecting Kim's defiance of the Security Council, after North Korea hailed the launching of its long-range rocket over Japan as an 'epochal event'.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un went ahead with the launch just two hours after an eight-day window opened early Sunday, and a month after the country's fourth nuclear test.

He ignored an appeal from China, its neighbor and important ally, not to proceed and in another slap to Beijing, he chose the eve of the Chinese New Year, the country's most important holiday.

But diplomats say China, the North's key protector in the council, is reluctant to impose economic measures that could cause North Korea's economy to collapse.

Images have emerged from North Korean TV, who trumpeted the rocket launch as a 'epochal event'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un watched the rocket launch from an secret planning room

The 15-member Security Council strongly condemned the launch and pledged to 'expeditiously' adopt a new resolution with 'further significant measures' - U.N. code for sanctions.

The word 'robust' referring to the measures was in an initial draft, but was dropped in the final statement.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters that 'it cannot be business as usual' after two successive North Korean acts that are 'hostile and illegal.'

'What's important is that the Security Council unites,' Power said. 'China is a critical player. ... We are hopeful that China, like all council members, will see the grave threat to regional and international peace and security, see the importance of adopting tough, unprecedented measures, breaking new ground here, exceeding the expectations of Kim Jong Un.'

However, China's U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, made clear that unprecedented sanctions aren't Beijing's priority.

The U.S. has called for tough sanctions reflecting Kim's defiance of the Security Council. Pictured: US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power (C), Japanese ambassador to the UN, Motohide Yoshikawa (L) and South Korean ambassador to the UN , Oh Joon (R) brief the media after their emergency meeting on the situation

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters that 'it cannot be business as usual' after two successive North Korean acts that are 'hostile and illegal'

Japan's U.N. ambassador, Motohide Yoshikawa, told reporters the missile went over Japan and landed near the Philippines, 'a clear threat to the lives of many people'

He said a new resolution should 'do the work of reducing tension, of working toward denuclearization (of the Korean peninsula), of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiated solution.'

'I believe the council needs to work together for a new resolution,' Liu added, indicating that China may want negotiations with the United States to be widened

The U.N. Security Council also strongly condemned North Korea's launch.

The U.N.'s most powerful body pledged to quickly adopt a new resolution with 'significant' new sanctions.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, whose country is also a North Korean ally, said: 'It has to be a weighty resolution, but it also has to be a reasonable resolution' that doesn't lead to North Korea's economic or humanitarian collapse, or further heighten tensions.

Russia's goal is to see six-party talks aimed at denuclearization resume, he said, but in the current atmosphere that's unlikely because the North Koreans 'have been very unreasonable' and are challenging the entire international community.

'We think this is wrong for their national interests ... for the Korean peninsula ... for the region,' Churkin said.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff, and vowed more such launches.

A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

Japan's U.N. ambassador, Motohide Yoshikawa, told reporters the missile went over Japan and landed near the Philippines, 'a clear threat to the lives of many people.'

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch 'absolutely unacceptable' as he vowed to take action against North Korea.

'We absolutely cannot allow this. We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people,' he said.

The Security Council underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, 'even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle' contribute to North Korea's development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons and violate four Security Council resolutions dating back to the North's first nuclear test in 2006.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear-armed missile that could hit the U.S. mainland.

North Korea under Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government.

A camera filmed from the side of the rocket the successful moment of blast off in North Korea

In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defense Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile-defense system in South Korea.

North Korea has long decried the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and Beijing would see a South Korean deployment of THAAD, which is one of the world's most advanced missile-defense systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

In a statement, North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, praised 'the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star.'

Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the February16 birthday of Kim Jong Un's father, former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

All smiles on the streets of Pyongyang as North Korea celebrated the rocket launch as the United Nations labelled the launch 'deeply deplorable'

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an 'intolerable provocation,' saying the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were 'all about maintaining the regime' in Pyongyang and ignored the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to 'take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.' U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the North's missile and nuclear weapons programs 'serious threats to our interests - including the security of some of our closest allies.'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan and reaffirmed the United States' 'ironclad commitment to the security and defense' of its allies, the State Department said.

And condemned the launch as 'a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions' as he accused North Korea of a 'major provocation'.

The Foreign Ministry in China expressed 'regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies.'

Pyongyang's state TV said it successfully put a satellite into orbit, 'legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes'

Noting China's pivotal role in negotiating a new Security Council resolution, Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador, Peter Wilson, said: 'Today is Chinese New Year's eve and if I was a senior Chinese official I would be pretty annoyed at what's been happening here. I know what I feel like when I'm dragged out of bed on a major national holiday.'

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father in late 2011.

The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

North Korea's actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

'If North Korea has only nuclear weapons, that's not that intimidating. If they have only rockets, that's not that intimidating, either. But if they have both of them, that means they can attack any target on Earth. So it becomes a global issue,' said Kwon Sejin, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

But the secretive state claimed they were only launching a satellite into space and 'legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes'.

The country's broadcast service released footage of the missile being launched as residents were shown celebrating in the streets of Pyongyang.

The Pentagon confirmed the launch, which saw the rocket fly over Okinawa, where Patriot missiles had been stationed with orders to shoot it down if it threatened Japanese territory.

A crowd of residents in Pyongyang watch the news announcement from state television on a big screen

North Korean state television said the satellite successfully made it into space and that Pyongyang was planning further launches.

North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a 'complete success' and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes.

However South Korea and its allies declared the launch a clear defiance of multiple UN resolutions, insisting it was a disguised test of a ballistic missile which could one day deliver a weapon as far as the US mainland.

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the launch represented 'serious threats to our interests - including the security of some of our closest allies - and undermines peace and security in the broader region'.

The British Foreign Office 'strongly' condemned North Korea's latest rocket launch with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond claiming the country's actions were 'a threat to regional and international security.'

Kim Jong-Un pictured surveying the view and watching the rocket launch of earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4

Last month, North Korea tested a nuclear device for the fourth time, although the United States and other governments have expressed doubt over the North's claim that it exploded a hydrogen bomb

Mr Hammond said: 'I strongly condemn North Korea's ballistic missile technology test. This is a clear and deliberate violation of a number of UN Security Council Resolutions. North Korea's actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security.

'In conducting this provocation, North Korea has clearly demonstrated that it is intent on prioritising the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes over improving the well-being of its own people.

'As North Korea is aware, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to take significant measures against any further launches or nuclear tests. We will now meet with our partners in New York to agree a collective response.'

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We will also emphasise to North Korea through diplomatic channels that such actions will only serve to isolate the country further.'



A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: 'It is deeply deplorable that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions.'

Despite North Korea's insistence that they were testing an satellite launch, the move has been condemned as an act of aggression

The British Foreign Office has 'strongly' condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, thought to have been a test of its ballistic missile technology

North Korea is believed to have at least 12 nuclear warheads with the explosive power of up to 40 kilotonnes

North Korean TV released footage from inside Kim's war room where he watched the launch alongside his team of military advisers

The United Nations labelled the launch 'deeply deplorable' and Japan termed it 'absolutely intolerable'

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch a 'challenge to world peace'.

China expressed regret and called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from steps that might further raise tension. China is North Korea's main ally, although it disapproves of its nuclear weapons programme.

'China expresses regret that North Korea, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch,' foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

France condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday as 'senseless provocation' and called for a 'rapid and tough' response from the UN Security Council.

The course chosen by Pyongyang cannot but cause a decisive protest Russia have spoken out against North Korea after the rocket launch

'France condemns with the utmost firmness the new flagrant violation by North Korea of the resolutions of the Security Council,' the presidential Elysee Palace said in a statement.

'The launch... is a senseless provocation,' it added, saying: 'France calls for a rapid and tough response from the international community at the Security Council' meeting in New York later Sunday.

Russia also condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, saying the move was a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang.

'It is obvious that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole...(and) inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself,' the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia, which is one of the few backers of the isolated Stalinist country and with which it shares a border, said that Pyongyang had once again demonstrated 'audacious disdain for the norms of international law.'

'The course chosen by Pyongyang cannot but cause a decisive protest,' the foreign ministry said.

'We urgently recommend that the North Korean leadership think whether the policy of placing yourself in opposition to the international community is in the country's interests.'

SOUTH KOREA SET FOR U.S. TALKS OVER NEW MISSILE-DEFENCE SYSTEM South Korea said later on Sunday it would begin discussions with the United States on an advanced missile-defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD). South Korea had been reluctant to discuss openly the possibility of deploying THAAD, caught between its biggest ally, the United States, and its largest trading partner, China, which has expressed concern about a system whose radar could penetrate its territory. 'If THAAD is deployed to the Korean peninsula, it will be only operated against North Korea,' South Korean defence ministry official Yoo Je-seung told a news conference with Thomas S. Vandal, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army based in South Korea. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would work with the U.N. Security Council on 'significant measures' to hold North Korea to account for what he called a flagrant violation of U.N. resolutions on North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology. Kerry reaffirmed 'ironclad' U.S. defence commitments to allies Japan and South Korea and called the launch a destabilising and unacceptable challenge to peace and security. Advertisement

Large crowds gathered in the centre of Pyongyang to watch state television as the rocket launch was announced

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) called the launch 'absolutely unacceptable' as he vowed to take action against Kim Jong-un's (right) North Korea

The launch took place at about 9.30am local time on Sunday (7.30pm EST on Saturday) from a site in the west of the secretive state.

Tyrannical North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took the decision to fire the rocket in defiance of UN sanctions barring it from using ballistic missile technology

More international sanctions against the rogue state are now likely, with many considering the launch a secretive attempt to test its missile technology.

It comes just weeks after North Korea claimed it had tested a hydrogen bomb - claims which were called into question by military experts.

Japan's national broadcaster NHK broke into normal programming to alert the news of Sunday morning's launch and show live footage of Patriot missile batteries on the island of Okinawa deployed to shoot down any debris that might potentially fall on Japanese territory.

The rocket was launched on a southward trajectory as planned, passing over Japan's southern Okinawa islands.

It appeared to have successfully separated its first stage booster, South Korean Press reported.

Last month, North Korea tested a nuclear device for the fourth time, although the United States and other governments have expressed doubt over the North's claim that it exploded a hydrogen bomb.

Patriot missiles were stationed in Okinawa with orders to shoot the rocket down if it threatened Japanese soil

Visitors watch the North Korean side at the unification observation post near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.

It has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the U.S. West Coast, but there is no evidence the missiles have been tested

Isolated North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space program, but it is barred under UN Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology.

North Korea previously tested nuclear explosive devices in 2006, 2009 and 2013, and claimed it successfully delivered a satellite into orbit in December 2012, the last time it launched a long-range rocket.

The launch will amplify calls by the U.S. and South Korea for more stringent trade and financial sanctions against North Korea.

However, critics argue that economic sanctions have little impact on Pyongyang because it does very little trade with the outside world.

Millions of people live in poverty in North Korea and it has been argued that further sanctions only make this situation worse,

China, North Korea's only major ally, is unlikely to support stronger punishment against Pyongyang over fears of provoking a regime collapse, and potentially a stream of refugees across the border, analysts say.
Scotland Yard failed to tape-record its only interview with Leon Brittan concerning a rape allegation, according to a review that reveals yet more blunders in the controversial investigation.

Key questioning of the woman who accused the former Home Secretary of sexual assault was also of a poor standard, while files were left incomplete and important decisions made by junior figures, the report claims.

The errors will pile further pressure on the Mets beleaguered chief, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is facing growing calls to quit over his forces disastrous handling of historic sex abuse claims.

Scotland Yard failed to tape-record its only interview with Leon Brittan, left, concerning a rape allegation, according to a review that reveals yet more blunders and applies more pressure to the Mets beleaguered chief, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, right

He is already due to apologise personally to Lady Brittan for not telling her husband before his death that he had been cleared of the rape allegation dating back to the 1960s.

The Met has also faced accusations that it only pursued the witch-hunt against the Tory grandee because of pressure from campaigning Labour MP Tom Watson. But it can be revealed that a secret review of the case by a senior Dorset officer found several other weaknesses including:

The first interview with the alleged victim was of a poor standard while the second lacked sufficient probing;

The original officer in charge of the case admitted he was inexperienced in rape investigations;

He made an erroneous early decision that no offence could have taken place because of his perceived issues with consent, and there were ample grounds to interview Brittan;

The eventual interview with Brittan by a second team of detectives was not tape-recorded because of equipment failure  a regrettable mistake that had a significant impact on its depth and quality;

An independent assessment of the case should have been carried out to provide rigour and integrity as it involved very senior members of the British Establishment.

However, the review, ordered by the Met and carried out by Dorsets Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan, claimed the investigation broadly met police standards and was launched in good faith against a credible account provided by a compelling witness.

Some critics claim the review is a whitewash that clears Sir Bernard and instead blames the original detective, DCI Paul Settle, who was sidelined.

Last night David Mellor, who served as a Minister under Brittan in the 1980s, said: This is a cosy little set-up where a small county force is allowed to tell the Met they did a great job.
A police officer who had a wife and two children was shot dead as he tried to arrest a man who had been in jail 41 times.

Sergeant Jason Gooding, 39, died in Seaside, Oregon on Friday night while serving an arrest warrant for Philip Ferry, 55.

Gooding was patrolling downtown Seaside with another officer when they saw Ferry, who was wanted for felony assault. Ferry refused to show his hands when the officers tried to arrest him.

The other officer, who has not been identified, used a taser on Ferry, who went down on the ground. When Gooding tried to subdue him, Ferry produced a gun and shot the officer once.

Sergeant Jason Gooding (pictured), 39, was shot and killed while trying to arrest a man wanted for felony assault in downtown Seaside, Colorado

Philip Ferry, 55 (pictured), refused to show his hand when Gooding and another officer tried to arrest him

The other officer responded and fired three times, hitting Ferry in several places.

Gooding was taken to hospital, where the team tried to resuscitate him for 40 minutes.

Ferry was transported to another hospital, where doctors tried to revive him for 20 minutes. Both men were pronounced dead in hospital.

The second officer, who shot Ferry, was not injured.

Ferry, who was wanted for felony assault, had been to Clatsop County Jail in nearby Astoria 41 times, Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin told Koin6.

'This guy has been in and out of our jail numerous times... He has a vast record,' Clastop County Sheriff Tom Bergin told Katu.

Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said during a news conference that the shooting of Mr Ferry was justified.

An investigation will be carried out and reviewed by Marquis's office.

Gooding, who graduated from Portland State University, had worked at Seaside Police Department for 13 years.

He had a wife and two school-age daughters.

Police are looking for a fourth person at the scene who is being treated as a witness.

Footage from body cams worn by the officers are expected to give more information about the shooting.
A nuclear power plant north of New York City has leaked water contaminated with radioactive tritium into the groundwater below the facility, sparking an investigation by state officials, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday.

Cuomo said he learned on Friday of 'alarming' levels of radioactivity at three monitoring wells at the Indian Point plant in Buchanan, about 40 miles (65 km) north of New York City on the east bank of the Hudson River.

The governor has previously asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down the plant because of doubts over the safe evacuation of the area in the event of an accident.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched a state investigation into a nuclear power plant that has leaked water contaminated with radioactive tritium into the groundwater below the facility

Cuomo said in a statement the plant's operator, Entergy Corp, has informed him the contaminated water has not migrated off the site and poses no public health risk.

The governor said he has directed the state departments for the environment and health to investigate the leak.

'Our first concern is for the health and safety of the residents close to the facility and ensuring the groundwater leak does not pose a threat,' Cuomo said.

Entergy in a statement said the tritium likely reached the ground at Indian Point during recent work at the site.

'While elevated tritium in the ground onsite is not in accordance with our standards, there is no health or safety consequence to the public, and releases are more than a thousand times below federal permissible limits,' the company said.

Cuomo, in his letter ordering the state investigation, said Indian Point has previously had a problem with the release of radioactive water, and this time the levels of radioactivity reported by the company are worse than in past incidents.

One monitoring well showed a nearly 65,000 percent spike in radioactivity, from 12,300 picocuries per liter to more than 8million picocuries per liter, the governor said.

Indian Point nuclear plant (pictured) has had several issues and was ordered to be shut down by Cuomo. In May 2015 the plant was shut down following a transformer failure and fire

In May 2015, a unit at the Indian Point nuclear plant was shut down following a transformer failure and fire, in an incident that sent smoke spewing from the plant.

But the plant remained stable and the NRC that day said there was no threat to the public.

Another incident occurred in December 2015 when the plant was shut down after an unspecified 'electrical disturbance' caused by reactor three.

Investigators believed the problem was linked to a high-voltage transmission line which links the reactor to the rest of the electricity grid.
Donald Trump dove headfirst into the choppy waters of torture politics during Saturday night's Republican debate in New Hampshire, and doubled down Sunday morning on his call to return waterboarding to the stable of acceptable interrogation techniques.

Trump told CNN's Jake Tapper on 'State of the Union' that he wants to see the practice, which U.S. law considers torture and a war crime, reconsidered.

'I'd go through a process and get it declassified [as torture], frankly ... certainly waterboarding at a minimum,' the Republican presidential front-runner said.

'They're chopping off heads of Christians and many other people in the Middle East. They're chopping heads off, they laugh at us when they hear that we're not going to approve waterboarding and then they'll have a James Foley, and others, where they cut off their heads.'

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Double down: Donald Trump told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday that he's convinced waterboarding is a necessary part of America's anti-terror arsenal

Heck YES: Trump said on debate night that he'd bring back waterboarding and 'a hell of a lot worse' if he becomes the country's commander-in-chief

Foley was an American journalist who was abducted in 2012 and murdered by decapitation in a gruesome video distributed by the ISIS terror army in August 2014.

Trump insisted that enhanced interrogation techniques  what detractors see as torture  ahsve their place if useful information can be extracted that ultimately saves lives.

'You can say what you want,' he said on Sunday. 'I have no doubt that it does work in term of information and other things.'

'And maybe not always, not nothing works always. But I have no doubt that it works.'

'But more importantly, when they're chopping off the heads of people, and innocent people in most cases, "beyond waterboarding " is fine with me.'

He framed his position in similar terms during Saturday night's ABC News debate, saying: 'I would bring back waterboarding. And I would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.'

None of the other candidates on stage was willing to walk that plank with Trump.

Ted Cruz suggesting waterboarding should be used sparingly, Jeb Bush said it shouldn't be brought back at all, and Marco Rubio pivoted, complaining about President Barack Obama's move to close the military detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

While Donald Trump (left) said he supported bringing back waterboarding, Ted Cruz (right) gave a more nuanced response explaining why it wasn't 'torture,' but saying he wouldn't bring it back wholesale

When Trump was asked about waterboarding he immediately contrasted it with the brutal tactics groups like ISIS are employing in the Middle East.

'In the Middle East we have people chopping the heads off Christians, we have people chopping the heads off many other people, we have things that we have never seen before,' Trump began.

'We studied Medieval times, not since medieval times have people seen what's going on,' Trump said.

Cruz got wonkish with his answer and provided the debate audience with the night's most awkward pause.

Cruz explained that waterboarding didn't meet the definition of torture because prisoners were not in 'excruciating pain, which is equivalent to losing organs and systems.'

'So under the definition of torture it is not, it is enhanced interrogation, it is vigorous interrogation, but it does not meet the generally recognized definition of torture,' he said.

'I would not bring it back in any widespread use and indeed,' Cruz said and then stopped.

'I joined with Sen. McCain in legislation that would prohibit line officers from employing it, bad things happen when enhanced interrogation is employed at lower levels,' he finished.

Jeb Bush (left) and Marco Rubio (right) used the discussion of waterboarding to bring up President Obama's plan to close Guantanamo Bay, which they both said was a bad idea

He did say he would keep the tactic in his pocket as commander-in-chief if the country were facing an imminent terrorist attack.

When it was Bush's turn to chime in he assured the audience that waterboarding was used 'sparingly,' under his brother, President George W. Bush's, administration.

Bush said the real answer to combating terrorism would be to expand the nation's intelligence capabilities.

'This is why closing Guantanamo is a complete disaster,' Bush stated.

Rubio grabbed on to Bush's statement and didn't answer definitively the question about waterboarding.

'Here's the bigger problem with all of this, we're not interrogating anyone right now. Guantanamo is being emptied by this president, we should be putting people into Guantanamo, not emptying it out,' Rubio said.
The former NYPD officer who was dubbed the 'Cannibal Cop' over accusations he planned to abduct, kill and eat more than 100 women including his wife has spoken out about his sick fetish.

Gilberto Valle, 31, spent 21 months in jail before his conviction was overturned in 2014 after a judge ruled he was only role-playing on a cannibalism forum and posed no real danger.

The disgraced cop, who could rejoin the police now he has been cleared, grinned as he told CBS New York that he might return to the bloodthirsty bondage chat rooms.

Gilberto Valle, the cleared former NYPD officer dubbed the 'Cannibal Cop', grinned as he said he could return to the violent fetish websites he used to access

Valle (pictured with his ex-wife, Kathleen Mangan) spent 21 months in jail before his conviction was overturned in 2014 after a judge ruled he was only role-playing on a cannibalism forum, and posed no real danger

Valle was jailed in 2012 for kidnapping conspiracy after his then wife, Kathleen Mangan, told the authorities that he was planning to kill and eat more than 100 women, including herself.

She had grown suspicious of his late-night computer sessions and installed spyware on the PC, leading her to make the horrific discovery.

The FBI found a 'target list' of names, addresses and photographs of women on Valle's computer - and he had searched online for abduction methods, prosecutors said.

However, he insisted that his role as 'The Chef' on the fetish website was to create role-play scenarios for people interested in cannibalism, and his use of pictures and research on ways to kidnap people was purely to help his writing.

The twisted fantasies he wrote about included 'letting her bleed out then butcher her while she hangs'.

Now a free man following his successful appeal, Valle defended his use of the fetish websites.

The disgraced cop, who could rejoin the police now he has been cleared, spoke out about his fetish

Sick: This picture shows the front page of the website Dark Fetish Net, where Gilberto Valle expressed his violent fantasies

'I'm not so much into the whole cannibal part per se. It's more about, like, the bondage stuff,' he said.

'I'd send a bunch of pictures to someone I was role-playing with, and they would pick which one they thought was the prettiest, so that person happened to pick my wife. It wasn't like I was shopping her out or that I intended to do any harm to her.

'As time went on, you know, more and more people wanted to do these role plays with me because I was really good. I kind of wanted to provide and be a little more graphic and kind of not disappoint - again, the competitive side of me came out,' he added.

Valle said he did not know whether he would return to the cannibalism fetish forums but added that it would not be illegal for him to do so if he wanted to.

The former police officer's wife left him and he has not seen his daughter, who is now four years old, since his arrest.

'I wish I wasn't known this way. I wish I never went through this. I wish I still had my wife and daughter with me. I wish I was still a police officer. I miss that stuff every day,' Valle said.
A former president of a major aircraft manufacturer was one of two people killed after their World War II-era plane crashed and burned near the town of Maricopa.

Jeffrey Pino, 61, former president of Sikorsky Aircraft, a Connecticut-based aircraft manufacturer, was flying the plane at the time of the crash.

The second victim was identified as 72-year-old Nickolas Tramontano of Brookfield, Connecticut, according to Mark Clark of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

Jeffrey Pino, 61, was formerly the president of Sikorsky Aircraft, a Connecticut-based aircraft manufacturer. He was piloting the World War II plane with another man when the plane crashed in Arizona

'The Sikorsky family is saddened to learn of the sudden loss of former President Jeff Pino.

'We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers of sympathy and support to his family and friends during this difficult time,' current president Dan Schultz said in a statement posted on the company's website.

Schultz said Pino, who last lived in Chandler, Arizona, was Sikorsky's president from 2006 to 2012, during which he 'brought personal energy and passion for aviation innovation to our industry'.

Mark Clark of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said authorities responded to the scene of the crash and found two bodies in the wreckage

Preliminary information on Friday indicated the plane was a P-51D Mustang, a type of single-engine American fighter used during World War II

Firefighters drenching the remains of the plane after it crashed and went up in flames

'We remember Jeff as a leader, pioneer, innovator and advocate. May his family be comforted by the lasting impression and legacy Jeff has left behind,' Schultz said.

Last year, Lockheed Martin bought Sikorsky Aircraft, which, among other things, makes the U.S. military's Black Hawk helicopter, for $9 billion.

Preliminary information on Friday crash indicated the plane was a P-51D Mustang, a type of single-engine American fighter used during World War II, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The spokesman said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash in Maricopa, which is about 35 miles south of Phoenix.

The two men were flying a P-51D Mustang similar to the one pictured at the time of the crash (file image)

After leaving Sikorsky, Pino became CEO of Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing. He then moved to Colorado-based XTI Aircraft, where he was vice chairman. XTI confirmed his death on its website.

David Brody, founder and chairman of XTI Aircraft Company wrote: 'There are no words to express the grief and sadness we feel at the passing of our very dear friend and colleague Jeff Pino on February 5.

'As the former President of Sikorsky Aircraft, Jeff was a true leader, pioneer and industry legend.

'As the Vice Chairman of XTI Aircraft Company, Jeff was a brilliant strategist, visionary and expert in all things aviation. As our friend, he was all of that and so much more.

'Fly west, dear friend.'




The skit referenced Saturday's debate, the Iowa caucus and rumors spread about Ben Carson dropping out of the election

Cruz, played by Taran Killam, called himself the 'greased pig of politics'

They included his family, sense of humor and being a 'sneaky little stinker'

This week's Saturday Night Live kicked off with an opening sketch that poked fun at Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz in a mock political commercial.

In the commercial, the Ted Cruz character, played by Taran Killam, calls himself an 'unconventional candidate' and 'the greased pig of politics' who spread 'rumors Ben Carson had dropped out' of the election.

The skit opens with Killam as Cruz holding the constitution, saying he's reading his 'conscience a bedtime story'.

The skit featured a commercial where Cruz outlined his keys to success, including his family, sense of humor and being a 'sneaky little stinker'

The skit opens with Cruz, played by Taram Killam, holding the constitution, saying he's reading his 'conscience a bedtime story'

He then then gives a recap of Saturday's Republican debate and the Iowa caucus.

'If you missed it, here's a quick recap. I won. I also won the Iowa caucus, thanks to endorsements from strong conservatives like Glenn Beck and God almighty,' he says in the skit.

The skit goes on to say Cruz is 'not like any other politicians'.

'I didn't get where I am today because I was born wealthy or handsome or charismatic or nice. I am not cool or likeable or even fine,' Killam as Cruz says in the skit. 'I'm not young and hip. I am not off the chain.

'I'm not energetic and healthy. Physically, I'm not doing well at all. From the side I look like a Far Side cartoon. In other words, I have overcome perhaps the greatest political liability of all time: being Ted Cruz.'

He compares his 'triumph over adversity' to FDR's wheelchair, but rather his struggle is his 'personality and face'.

Cruz, performed by Killam, says in the skit: 'Folks, we've had presidents who were governors, generals. Isn't it time for a president who's just a nasty little weasel?'

He also references his own book, A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America, in the skit and jokes that the New York Times went out of its way to call it 'not a bestseller'

The mock commercial also features Cruz's daughter Katherine, played by Kate McKinnon, who refuses any affection from her father

The mock commercial credits Cruz's family to his success, mentioning his daughter Katherine, played by Kate McKinnon, who refuses any affection from her father.

Killam as Cruz goes in for a hug in the skit, but his daughter simply answers 'no'.

He also says a 'secret to success' is his sense of humor, saying he's 'very funny', and makes a joke about fellow candidate Donald Trump.

He says: 'I'm very funny. For example, what did Donald Trump do when he lost Iowa? He threw a Trumper-tantrum.'

He also pulls out a copy of his book, A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America, and makes a joke about New York Times calling his book 'not a best seller'.

He claims his final key to success is being a 'sneaky little stinker.

'From sending out bogus flyers in Iowa, to spreading rumors Ben Carson had dropped out, I'm like the greased pig of politics.'

Killam as Cruz ends the skit with a question for voters.

So when you go to the polls this primary season, take a good look at your choices, and ask yourself, which one of these guys would be played by Paul Giamatti?'

The real deal: Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz campaigning in Weare, New Hampshire, last week
A tenured political science professor has agreed to leave her position in a settlement with Wheaton College after she was suspended by the private evangelical Christian college for wearing an Islamic headscarf.

Dr. Larycia Alaine Hawkins announced on Facebook in December that she would wear a hijab over the holidays to show solidarity with other Muslims.

The Christian professor wrote that it was her duty to love others, adding that Muslims and Christians 'worship the same God'.

In the controversy that followed, the school suspended her and initiated termination-for-cause proceedings, but nearly 80 faculty members stepped in, asking Wheaton to restore Hawkins.

Tenured professor Dr. Larycia Hawkins had made a Facebook post in December, saying she would wear a headscarf in an 'act of embodied solidary' with Muslims (left). A statement released today announced she would be departing from her position after striking a 'confidential agreement' with Wheaton College

Hawkins, (pictured center) who had worked at the private, evangelical Christian college for nine years, previously said: 'Wheaton College cannot scare me into walking away from the truth that all humans, Muslims, the vulnerable, the oppressed of any ilk, are all my sisters and brothers. And I am called by Jesus to walk with them in their oppression.'

Because Hawkins failed to clarify the differences between the two religions, Wheaton found her to be in conflict with its statement of faith. The college then suspended her, reportedly suggested she resign, and then proposed they revoke her tenure for two years while she engaged in conversations about her faith. Wheaton initiated steps to fire her in January, but faculty stepped in

Hawkins issued a joint statement with the school today announcing her departure after finding 'a mutual place of resolution and reconciliation'.

The statement read: 'Both parties share a commitment to care for the oppressed and the marginalized, including those who are marginalized because of their religious beliefs, and to respectful dialogue with people of other faiths or no faith.'

College president Dr. Philip Graham Ryken said: 'Wheaton College sincerely appreciates Dr. Hawkins contributions to this institution over the last nine years.

'We are grateful for her passionate teaching, scholarship, community service and mentorship of our students.

In December, just weeks after the San Bernardino terror attack and the anti-Muslim sentiment that followed, Hawkins wrote a post on Facebook announcing her decision to wear a hijab in the spirit of Advent.

The post read: 'I don't love my Muslim neighbor because s/he is American. I love my Muslim neighbor because s/he deserves love by virtue of her/his human dignity.

'I stand in human solidarity with my Muslim neighbor because we are formed of the same primordial clay, descendants of the same cradle of humankind--a cave in Sterkfontein, South Africa that I had the privilege to descend into to plumb the depths of our common humanity in 2014.

'I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.'

She asked others to join her in solidarity, and three women responded with pictures of themselves in hijabs.

Three women responded to Hawkins' call to join her in solidarity. Jess Edelblut (pictured right) appears to be connected to Wheaton College

Hawkins' post drew immediate criticism from people who objected to her idea that Muslims and Christians share the same God. Just days later, Wheaton College placed her on paid administrative leave.

The Chicago Tribune reported that because Hawkins failed to clarify the differences between the two religions, Wheaton found Hawkins in conflict with its statement of faith.

Hawkins, who was suspended through the spring semester, said the college had suggested she resign and then proposed she continue conversations about her statements over a two-year period,. during which her tenure would be revoked.

In response, Hawkins said: 'The rules changing, the goal post keeps moving. And I said, 'I have dignity, I've answered your questions and my statement stands.

'Wheaton College cannot scare me into walking away from the truth that all humans, Muslims, the vulnerable, the oppressed of any ilk, are all my sisters and brothers. And I am called by Jesus to walk with them in their oppression.'

In January, the school initiated steps to fire the professor, but the Faculty Council unanimously stepped in, calling for her to be reinstated.

The Chicago Tribute reported that Wheaton Provost Stanton Jones then wrote an email apologizing to question the sincerity of her faith.

He wrote: 'I asked Dr. Hawkins for her forgiveness for the ways I contributed to the fracture of our relationship, and to the fracture of Dr. Hawkins' relationship with the college.

Wheaton Provost Stanton Jones wrote in an email: 'I asked Dr. Hawkins for her forgiveness for the ways I contributed to the fracture of our relationship, and to the fracture of Dr. Hawkins' relationship with the college'

In the statement issued Sunday, the school said: 'Wheaton College sincerely appreciates Dr. Hawkins contributions to this institution over the last nine years. We are grateful for her passionate teaching, scholarship, community service and mentorship of our students'

'While I acted to exercise my position of oversight of the faculty within the bounds of Wheaton College employment policies and procedures, I apologized for my lack of wisdom and collegiality as I initially approached Dr. Hawkins, and for imposing an administrative leave more precipitously than was necessary.'

During the controversy, a Wheaton College faculty diversity committee also found that the school was 'discriminatory on the basis of race and gender' towards Hawkins, who is the school's first tenured, black and female professor.

According to TIME, the memo stated: 'We believe that the college has demonstrated a pattern of differential over-scrutiny about Dr. Hawkins's beliefs.'

Hawkins, who was made to submit a theological statement, stood by her 'act of Christian embodied solidarity' and continued to wear a hijab.

Nearly 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend Wheaton College, which is roughly 30 miles from Chicago.
First it was Hillary, then it was Trump and on Saturday night it was Bernie Sanders' turn to appear on SNL alongside host Larry David.

While there were hopes Sanders would appear as himself and face off against David's incredible Bernie impression, the presidential hopeful instead featured in a Titanic-esque sketch as a Jewish socialist immigrant heading to New York.

After the ship begins to sink, the crew shout for everyone to get into the lifeboats starting with the women and children first - a statement which riles David's rich-guy character.

Bernie Sanders has appeared alongside Larry David on Saturday Night Live tonight - though the Democratic hopeful did not feature alongside David's impersonation of him, as many had hoped

Instead Sanders appeared to criticize David's rich-guy character trying to use his wealth to shoehorn his way into a lifeboat before women and children on board

Berating the ship's captain, he says: 'Really? Shouldn't it be just whoever's closest?'

David then objects to a woman being brought on to the life raft, asking whether or not she has been through the menopause, which offends her.

David's character then adds: 'That answers my question. Sharks are going to be following us for miles, if you catch me drift.'

Apparently in honor of his appearance tonight, Sanders also changed his official Twitter page picture to an image of David doing his impression

He also accuses a child of being a midget, and when the other crews members become offended at his use of the word, he shoots back: 'I can say it, it's olden times.'

When it comes to handing out the life vests, again David is upset by the suggestion that women and children should get them before him.

He says: 'Okay. I hate to pull this, but my father is rich. I come from a wealthy family. Technically, my life is worth all of yours put together.'

Right on queue, Bernie Sanders appears dressed in period costume and a flat cap to shout David down.

Poking fun at his socialist values, Bernie says: 'Hold on, wait a second. I am so sick of the 1% getting this preferential treatment.

'Enough is enough. We need to unite and work together if we're all going to get through this.'

David dismisses the suggestion, saying that it 'sounds a lot like socialism'.

Bernie retorts 'democratic socialism,' before insisting there is a 'yuge' difference - playing up his New York accent.

Asked what his name is, Bernie responds that it's 'Bernie Sanderswitzky', but says he plans to change it after arriving in America to make it sound less Jewish.

'Yeah, that'll trick 'em,' David shoots back to laughter and applause from the crowd.

At that point the captain of the ships realizes that the boat has actually crashed into Liberty Island, and they have arrived in New York, ordering everyone to disembark.

David did wheel out his Sanders impression during the show, but for a pre-recorded sketch which mocked Bernie's lack of appeal among minority voters

Bernie then asks David if he'd like to share a cab, to which he shrugs, before adding: 'I think we've talked enough.'

David also brought out his impression of Bernie in another sketch before the Titanic skit, in which he mocked Sanders' lack of appeal among minority voters.

Despite hopes that the real-life Sanders would face David's impersonation of him, the pair did not cross paths.

Sanders' appearance on the show mirrors that of Clinton where she starred as a barmaid named Val before speaking to Kate McKinnon doing her impression of Hillary.

The short sketch also poked fun at some of Clinton's campaign stances, such as her late adoption of support for gay marriage and opposition to the Keystone pipeline.

Departing from that scrip was Trump's appearance when he played host and featured in several sketches, both as characters and himself, plus appearing alongside impressionists.

Sanders' appearance follows on from Democratic rival Hillary who appeared in a sketch alongside Kate McKinnon last year in which she played a barmaid named Val
The head of Washington state's prison system resigned on Saturday, six weeks after his agency said thousands of inmates may have been mistakenly freed early from state custody since 2002, including two men blamed for deaths when they should have been behind bars.

In a resignation letter to Governor Jay Inslee on Saturday, Dan Pacholke defended his three-month tenure as Department of Corrections Secretary and praised his staff's efforts to fix errors that have been blamed on recent deaths.

Pacholke, who had served as deputy secretary since 2014, began his career with the agency some 30 years ago as a corrections officer, Inslee's office said.

Washington state's prison chief Dan Pacholke (pictured last month) resigned on Saturday six weeks after his agency said thousands of inmates may have been mistakenly freed early from state custody since 2002

'It is my hope that with this resignation, the politicians who would use this tragic event for their political purposes will have satisfied their need for blood,' Pacholke wrote in a letter provided by Inslee's office.

In December, state officials said as many as 3,200 inmates may have been mistakenly released early from Washington prisons since 2002 because of errors in calculating sentences.

So far, two deaths have been blamed on prisoners freed by mistake.

One inmate was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder over an attempted robbery 12 days after he was wrongly freed. Another inmate was charged with vehicular homicide in November.

Jeremiah Smith, 26, is accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Ceasar Medina at a tattoo parlor in Spokane, Washington state, on May 26 this year.

Smith had been serving jail time for robbery, burglary and assault and was due to be released on August 10, but was actually freed on May 14 due to a database error that miscalculated sentences.

He is now back in jail, charged with first-degree murder, burglary and other crimes.

Two of the men mistakenly released have been blamed for deaths that occurred when they should have been behind bars. Jeremiah Smith (left), 26, is accused of suspicion of first-degree murder and Robert Jackson Jr (right), 38, allegedly killed girlfriend Lindsay Hill, 35, in a car wreck

Robert Jackson Jr, 38, allegedly killed girlfriend Lindsay Hill, 35, in a car wreck.

Police say Jackson was high on drink and drugs when he got behind the wheel of his 1992 Lexus LS on the night of November 11 this year.

Officers accused Jackson of doing 60mph in a 25mph zone before losing control of the car and slamming into a utility box in Bellevue, Washington.

According to reports from the time, the impact ejected Hill from the vehicle and she died at the scene after slamming into the ground.

State corrections authorities learned of the early-release problem in 2012 but failed to fix it, Inslee said. He has retained an independent law firm to investigate the problem, which he has called 'maddening'.

Republicans agree. A Senate panel in January hired its own lawyer for a separate probe after saying its committee would seek subpoenas in the case.

Pacholke in his letter said that the agency's leadership 'failed in its response to a sentencing calculation error' in 2012, and he apologized for 'the tragic consequences of this error.'

Inslee, a Democrat who appointed Pacholke to the post in October, said he doubted the man's resignation would mollify Republicans, that a transition plan for the agency was in the works, and that he was 'sorry to see a dedicated public servant end his tenure this way.'
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Pictures of the apartment complex destroyed in the Taiwan earthquake on Saturday show that its walls appear to have been built using empty cooking oil cans.

Rescuers are racing against time to save more than 125 people stuck beneath the rubble of the block of flats in Tainan, Taiwan after a powerful earthquake struck the southern part of the island on Saturday.

The death toll for the 6.4 magnitude earthquake has now reached 24, with 22 of the victims found in the toppled Tainan building including a ten-day-old girl and two other children.

While Tainan's government says the building had obtained its construction permit legally, images show large rectangular, commercial cans of cooking-oil packed inside wall cavities exposed by the damage, apparently having been used as building material.

Pictures of the flats destroyed in the quake in Tainan, Taiwan, show cans of cooking-oil packed inside wall cavities exposed by the damage, apparently having been used as building material

Tainan's government says the building had obtained its construction permit legally, but an investigation has now been launched

Tremous: Two firemen carry a young child from the residential complex in Tainan, Taiwan, where 22 of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake's victims have been discovered in the past 24 hours

Tragedy: A man cries after his mother is confirmed to be one to the victims of the earthquake which shook Taiwan on Saturday

The mayor of Tainan said 126 residents were still missing, with 103 of them still trapped 'very deep' in the rubble mote than 24 hours after the 4am earthquake yesterday.

'There's no way to get to them direct, it's very difficult,' Tainan mayor William Lai said, adding that emergency workers were having to shore up the ruins to ensure they were secure before digging.

Around 200 people have been rescued so far, including a dazed-looking toddler who was lifted out of a collapsed flat by firemen, and more than 50 others were able to escape unaided.

Rescuers drilled down into the rubble Sunday, urging survivors to stay strong as they tried to reach them. Several residents of the 17-storey flats were pulled out alive after being buried for more than 24 hours.

By Sunday morning, the national disaster response centre reported 158 people - including at least 41 children, according to one broadcaster - still out of contact across the city of Tainan and neighbouring counties following the disaster which struck at 4am on Saturday.

Rescue efforts have been focused on the apartment complex in the city, which had been full of families who had gathered together to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Census records show around 260 people living in the blocks but Mayor Lai said it was now thought that more than 300 had been inside to celebrate the holiday.

Rescue mission: The mayor of Tainan said 126 residents were still missing, with 103 of them still trapped 'very deep' in the rubble underneath the 17-storey complex, more than 24 hours after the 4am earthquake yesterday

Around 200 people have been rescued so far, and more than 50 others were able to escape unaided

While this infant was lucky enough to escape with its life, another ten-day-old baby girl was reported to have been killed along with a 50-year-old man found inside the same apartment

Rescuers search for survivors from a collapsed building following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Tainan City on Sunday

Before their apartment tower collapsed in a Taiwan earthquake at the weekend, a young couple living on the 14th floor had already been given a clue that the building was unsafe. But it came too late.

Chen Yi-ting and her husband bought the apartment in the centre of Tainan city five years ago, having relocated from an outlying district. They had a small hiccup with the mortgage -- the first bank they approached had declined their loan application without stating why -- but they found another lender and moved in with their infant daughter.

Soon after, according to Chen's mother, one of the couple's friends, who had ties to the first bank, told them that it had a policy of refusing loans to residents of the 17-storey Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building, due to its poor construction.

Now, Chen, 35, and her husband, Lin Wu-chong, 38, are in intensive-care in two separate hospitals in the southern city. She has a cracked skull and he has damaged lungs. Their seven-year-old daughter is dead.

'People from outside of the town, people like them, had no idea what was going on before they moved in,' Chen's mother, Kuo Yi-chien, explained as she waited in a hospital corridor outside the intensive-care unit where her daughter is.

'They did not know the building was completed by the second developer after the first one went bust. They only found out after they signed the contract.'

A woman uses her phone as she walks out of an office set up to record numbers of missing persons and successful rescues in Tainan

Relatives of the missing have gathered at the buildings which collapsed after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday morning

A woman stands in front of a list of the missing and the rescue in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan

There were hundreds of people asleep in the residential complex, which had almost 100 homes, when the quake hit at 4am

A woman prays outside a room set up for families and friends of victims at the site of a collapsed residential building

Rescue workers have admitted the search is now 'a race against time' and is continuing through the night

Chinese lanterns hanging on the eve of Chinese Lunar New Year as rescuers continue to search for survivor

Sixty-one-year-old Kuo said residents of the building had long complained of many problems before the quake, such as tiles falling from walls, malfunctioning lifts and blocked pipes.

The couple paid 3.5 million Taiwan dollars ($105,000) for the apartment.

'We are simple minded people. We did not think it (the initial loan refusal) might have been for some other reason,' Kuo said.

Tainan's government says the building had obtained its construction permit legally and withstood a much more destructive quake in 1999. Centred in central Taiwan, that tremor killed 2,400 people and caused damage across the island.

'In the city government's record, there was nothing wrong with it,' said Wu Chong-rong, chief of Tainan Public Works Bureau.

Hsu Yin-hsuan, an architect hired by Tainan's government to investigate the collapse, said the government had spent money after the 1999 disaster to buttress official buildings so they would be better able to endure future quakes.

But, Hsu added: 'Nothing similar has been done to privately owned buildings.'

The Wei-guan Golden Dragon building secured its construction licence in 1992 and building was completed in 1994, according to government records.

Two main firms that built the tower, Wei-guan Construction and Da Hsin Engineering, have since gone out of business.

Witnesses at the scene of the collapse saw large rectangular, commercial cans of cooking-oil packed inside wall cavities exposed by the damage, apparently having been used as building material.

There are still 20 people trapped in one of the residential blocks, but there are more than 130 people missing across the area

Across Tainan and surrounding counties, more than 400 people were injured, with 100 still in hospital

Fire crews are pictured pulling a stunned infant from the wreckage of a 17-storey apartment building in the city of Tainan, Taiwan, after an earthquake struck this morning killing three and leaving hundreds more trapped

Another youngster wrapped in a pink blanket is carried from the ruins of the 17-storey building which is believed to have been home to 256 people living in 92 apartments

A young girl stares into the camera after being pulled alive from the remains of a 17-storey apartment block that collapsed in Tainan City

This was a problem found in some of the buildings that collapsed in other parts of Taiwan in the 1999 quake. The destruction at that time revealed that cooking-oil cans had been used as filler inside the walls of some buildings.

Tainan Mayor William Lai said he had asked prosecutors to investigate and that the government had hired three teams of civil engineers to inspect the building's structure.

'When it's completed, we'll punish those who should be held accountable,' he said.

Seventy-year-old retiree Yang Shu-mei, who lived next to the building, said she had witnessed its construction and that she and other neighbours had always doubted the workmanship.

'When it was being built, I looked at it and thought, only people from out of town would buy it. We local people would never dare to,' she said.

Eight hundred troops have been drafted in to help with the search at the flats in Wei-Kuan, using sniffer dogs to try to find signs of life in the mangled wreckage of the building. Emergency workers use cranes, ladders and sniffer dogs to trace and extract survivors.

Some 11 people are now reported to have died in the disaster - including four in the 17-storey apartment block, while another was killed by a falling water tower at another location (pictured, rescue workers carry the body of a victim out of an apartment)

As well as the baby girl and 50-year-old man, another man aged 40 was found dead inside the apartment block, with the body of a 55-year-old woman later discovered among the rubble

Emergency workers in Tainan City remove the body of another victim from the apartment block that collapsed this morning

A man breaks down in tears after the body of his relative is carried from the rubble after an earthquake in Taiwan killed 11 today

Among those injured in the disaster were multiple young children who had been looking forward to the start of the Chinese New Year holidays when the disaster unfolded this morning

The ten-day-old girl and 50-year-old man were reported dead at the scene, while another 55-year-old woman died before reaching hospital (pictured, fire crews take another infant from the rubble)

Multiple infants were pictured being pulled from the apartment today, including this child being passed out of a window by fire crews

Many of the injured were pictured being taken out on stretchers, while dozens more appeared bloodied and dazed from the wreckage

An elderly man with a badly bruised eye winces in pain as rescue workers attempt to lower him out of the rubble of a 17-storey apartment building that collapsed in Tainan this morning

Rescuers scramble through the ruins of the collapsed 17-storey building in the Yongkang District following the earthquake

This aerial shot shows two collapsed buildings lying across the road, with emergency services' vehicles surrounding them

A crane helps lift heavy pieces of concrete during the massive rescue effort currently underway in Taiwan

Rescuers climb up the mangled ruins of the apartment block to reach people trapped on the higher floor

As they worked, groups of people gathered to chant prayers at the site, accompanied by Buddhist monks.

Relative Huang Yu-liang, whose brother, sister-in-law and their two children lived in one of the flats, said: 'I was woken up by the quake and called my brother's mobile - no-one answered and I feared something was wrong.

'I rushed here and saw the collapsed building and I was in shock. Their building is at the bottom (of the wreckage).

'I am praying for miracles.'

Wang Chien-ming came from Yunlin county to the north of Tainan to find his sister and her family.

'My sister, her husband and their child live on the third floor and I haven't heard any news since I arrived here. I will keep waiting for as long as it takes.'

Liang Chuan-shun, deputy fire bureau chief for Tainan, said the search was now 'a race against time' and would continue through the night.

'Some rooms in the building were rented to students who would not register with the census authorities - we're not sure how many others might still be left within,' he said.

The initial quake, which struck just before 4am, was very shallow, at depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), which would have amplified its effects, the United States Geographical Survey said.

A man covered with dust is helped from the remains of a Taiwan apartment block that collapsed after an hit earthquake this morning

Residents help an injured man escape the rubble of this morning's earthquake in Taiwan. More than 350 people were hurt in the disaster

Rescue workers carry a woman on a strecher from a collapsed building after an earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, today

A badly injured woman is taken to hospital on a stretcher by rescue workers in Tainan City earlier today

Rescuers help a survivor out of a collapsed building following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the area in Tainan City, Taiwan

A man still dressed in his pyjamas is rescued from a collapsed building after an earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, this morning

A woman is helped out of a collapsed apartment block in the city of Tainan, Taiwan, this morning after a strong earthquake hit

An exhausted fireman takes a breather on the pavement outside an apartment block where it is thought up to 30 people could be trapped

Up to 1,200 fire crew and soldiers have been deployed in Tainan in order to help deal with the disaster which saw 378 wounded

The devastating quake took place just as the country was about to start its Chinese New Year holiday

One Tainan resident told MailOnline that the hospitals in the city are full, while water and electricity has largely been cut off

The earthquake was followed least five aftershocks of 3.8-magnitude or more, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Burea

Rescue crews are seen in front of the collapsed apartment building which folded in on itself after hitting the ground

A rescue worker standing in a crane cage is lowered into the collapsed apartment building in Tainan City in order to look for survivors

Rescue crews scramble over the side of a collapsed building in Tainan City, southern Taiwan, after it was hit by an earthquake

While several apartment buildings in Tainan were reportedly damaged, rescue efforts are now solely focused on the 17-storey building

It was followed least five aftershocks of 3.8-magnitude or more, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. Any earthquake which measures above 6 on the Richter scale is considered strong, with the most severe recorded measuring at 8.9.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters in the capital before leaving for the Tainan, said authorities were not clear on the extent of the disaster.

'The disaster situation is not very clear yet. We will do our utmost to rescue and secure (survivors),' Ma said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office, which in is charge of Beijing's relations with the self-ruled island, said China was willing to provide help if needed, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said. Beijing regards Taiwan as a wayward province.

Eight shelters have been set up around the city, with over 100 people taking refuge there.

Officials said several blocks had collapsed or half collapsed in other parts of the city, with some buildings left leaning at alarming angles.

The quake initially cut power to 168,000 households in Tainan. Later, utility Taipower said power had been restored to all but about 900 households.

A 71-year-old neighbour, who gave his name as Chang, revealed he was watching television when the quake struck.

'I was watching TV and after a sudden burst of shaking, I heard a boom,' he said. 'I opened my metal door and saw the building opposite fall down.'

As well as emergency workers, military personnel are also on site helping to rescue hundreds of people who are believed to be trapped

Another apartment building that has collapsed on the first floor, completely crushing the cars parked alongside it

Emergency workers peer into apartments after a 17-storey building collapsed in the city of Tainan this morning

Firemen have been using ladders and cherry-pickers in order to get into the ruined building, before carrying people out

Twisted metal cables and shattered concrete filled the street around this toppled apartment building in Tainan City, Taiwan, this morning

Cars are pictured buried underneath rubble from one apartment building that collapsed in Tainan city earlier today after an earthquake

Rescue personnel work on damaged buildings after an earthquake in Tainan, southern Taiwan

Rescuers work at the quake site in Kaohsiung, which was closer to the epicentre of the earthquake

A plumber, he said he fetched some tools and a ladder and prised some window bars open to rescue a woman crying for help.

'She asked me to go back and rescue her husband, child, but I was afraid of a gas explosion so I didn't go in. At the time there were more people calling for help, but my ladder wasn't long enough so there was no way to save them.'

One weeping resident told how she tried to smash her way out of her home.

'I used a hammer to break the door of my home which was twisted and locked, and managed to climb out,' she told local channel SET TV, weeping as she spoke.

Elsewhere in the city of two million people, several buildings tilted at alarming angles.

Dozens have been rescued or safely evacuated from a market and a seven-floor building that was badly damaged, the Central News Agency reported.

A bank building also careened, but no injuries were reported, it said.

A Tainan resident told MailOnline: 'The water supply has been cut off and the hospitals are full. It's pretty horrendous. Some people are trapped in collapsed buildings.'

Rescue personnel work at a damaged building - possibly an office block - in the hours after quake

The city has set up an emergency response centre to deal with the disaster

Some 221 people were rescued within four hours of the earthquake, 115 needing hospitalisation, and two in critical condition

Rescuers are seen entering an office building that collapsed early on Saturday morning

While several apartment blocks were damaged in the quake, rescue efforts are now solely focused on the 17-storey block in Tainan

A major rescue effort was underway following the 6.9 magnitude quake, which struck at 4am Taiwan time

'This has also taken place just before Chinese New Year, which starts on Sunday.'

Liu Shih-chung, an official with the Tainan City Government, said the city had set up an emergency response centre as it tried to cope with the disaster.

'I hugged the wall and put my face to the wall,' Pao-feng Wu, a Tainan resident, said after the quake hit.

The centre was located some 22 miles (36 kilometres) south-east of Yujing, and was felt as a lengthy, rolling shake in the capital, Taipei, on the other side of the island.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

A strong 6.3-magnitude quake which hit central Taiwan in June 2013 killed four people and caused widespread landslides.

A 7.6-magnitude quake struck the island in September 1999 and killed around 2,400 people.

'Multiple' buildings - including at least one residential block - are said to have fallen following the quake
The BBC's lavish adaption of Tolstoy's epic War and Peace has gripped the nation with its heart-wrenching scenes, breathtaking sets and star studded cast.

So fans will be delighted to hear the BBC has granted an extension to the finale of the lavish six-part serialisation, set to be aired this evening.

The denouement of the Russian period drama will be extended by some 20 minutes, in order to resolve the stories of the main characters Natasha, Prince Andrei and Pierre, while packing in 'an enormous amount of suffering'.

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Fans of the lavish drama have been gripped by the heart wrenching, romantic and emotive storylines - such as the love story between Natasha and Andrei (Lily James and James Norton), pictured here falling in love at the Tsar's New Year's Eve ball

Central character Pierre, played by Paul Dano, has kept viewers enthralled. Having been a huge boost for ratings, the BBC has allowed producers to extend the finale of the drama

The show's producer told The Telegraph there would be 'no Hollywood ending', and advised audiences to have a tissue at the ready as the thrilling drama comes to an end.

According to The Telegraph, this is understood to be the first time the BBC has granted a last-minute extension to a Sunday night drama.

'The BBC have been very generous and allowed us that bit of extra time,' Producer Julia Stannard told Hannah Furness of the Telegraph.

'I hope the audience will feel its a bit of a treat on Sunday night. It's an episode of extreme emotions. I'd really tell everybody to have a box of tissues.

'What's important is that it feels very real; there are no Hollywood endings here.'

Millions have been gripped by War and Peace, resulting in huge ratings for the BBC.

This is understood to be the first time the BBC has granted a last-minute extension to a Sunday night drama - in an attempt to cover as much storyline as possible. Pictured, Prince Andrei prepares for battle

War and Peace featured a star-studded cast, including Gillian Andreson who played Anna Pavlovna

In the tear-jerking final scenes, viewers will see a two-year-old dog called Samba stealing the show.

The cross-breed was found in a rescue centre in Lithuania.

In deeply emotive scenes, the dog comes to the aid of her owner Platon, a lowly soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, as he lies injured in the fierce Russian winter.

Samba, given the name Sashenka in the show, even gets a higher billing in the credits than Tuppence Middleton, who plays the scheming Helene.

Scriptwriter Andrew Davies, who adapted Tolstoys masterpiece for television, said: I think perhaps I made a little bit more of the dog than there is in the book because I am a great dog-lover myself.

Tolstoy did not name the dog, so Davies picked Sashenka after a romantic ballad sung by Russian troops.

But it wasn't just the human actors who kept viewers gripped - the scene showing the death of Nikolai Rostov's horse (left) had audiences in tears, while Sashenka the dog is also set to steal the show (right)

The writer also accepted that some viewers would care more about the fate of the dog than the human characters, but added: I have no problem with that. I just want viewers to be swept up in the emotion of it all.

Audiences will also see what happens to the dashing Prince Andrei (James Norton), Natasha Rostova (Lily James) and Pierre (Paul Dano).

The final episode of War and Peace will be on BBC One at 9pm tonight.
A former commander of the French Foreign Legion is facing prison for protesting against the number of UK-bound refugees in Calais.

Christian Piquemal was arrested after speaking in front of supporters of Pediga, an extreme right-wing anti-immigrant movement based in Germany, during a banned protest on Saturday.

Piquemal, 75, who led the legendary fighting force between 1994 and 1999, said he wanted to prevent the decline of my country during the protest in the French port city.

Ex-commander of the French Foreign Legion General Christian Piquemal addresses supporters of the Pegida movement during a banned demonstration in Calais

Piquemal was today charged with 'participation in an unlawful assembly which has not dissolved after warning'.

Four others with him were accused of possessing banned weapons including knuckle dusters and a taser gun.

All five men will face up to a year in prison when they appear in court on Monday.

Pegida had announced a protest against the migrant and refugee situaiton in Calais, where thousands are living in a camp known as The Jungle near the port.

Calais authorities had banned the Pegida [Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident] protest, but the group took to the streets anyway.

Arrested: General Piquemal was among around a dozen of Pegida protesters arrested in Calais

French Army Corps General Christian Piquemal stands in front of a French flag as he addresses supporters of the Pegida movement (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)

The retired army commander attacked police officers at the scene for not singing the French general anthem

General Piquemal said he wanted to prevent the decline of my country during the protest in the French port city, where protesters later clashed with police and a dozen people, including the general, were arrested

'This is our home - migrants get out,' they chanted today as they gathered by the port town's station.

As the general tried to rally around 150 supporters  many of them shaven haired skinheads  during the afternoon a squad of police surrounded him.

He was then bundled away along with around a dozen others who were all arrested, said a Pediga spokesman. It was a terrible day for democracy.

France has been on full security alert since last year, when 147 people were murdered by ISIS and al-Qaeda gunmen and suicide bombers in Paris.

Tear gas and baton charges were used against the protestors, prompting General Piquemal to say he was shocked by the behavior of the police.'

Addressing officers who attacked Pediga supporters as they sang Frances national anthem, General Piquemal said: There are things that have to be respected, including the national anthem - the Marseillaise - when it is sung.

I expected you to be at attention, singing with us but not one of you opened your mouth. And this is France - the great France, the eternal France, which used to be the lighthouse of the world.

Tear gas and baton charges were used against the protestors, prompting General Piquemal to say he was shocked by the behavior of the police'

Pegida supporters clashed with police as they defied a ban and rallied in support of a Europe-wide initiative by the Islamophobic movement

Anti immigration: Extreme right-wing activists shout slogans at police as they participate in the banned protest

Policemen arrest supporters of the Pegida movement during a demonstration in Calais, northern France

It is in decline. Decadent. I regret that you received these orders. You are forced to obey your orders, but you don`t have to behave this way in the field.

Far-right politicians came to General Piquemals support, with National Front MP Marion Marechal-Le Pen saying: Support to General Piquemal, unjustly and brutally arrested in Calais.

A spokesman for the Foreign Legion said he had no comment to make about a former officer who was now retired.

Pediga campaigns against the arrival of foreign Muslims in Europe, but the Legion is in fact mainly made up of soldiers from overseas, including many Muslims, said the spokesman.

A Calais police spokesman confirmed General Piquemal had been arrested, but said no charges had yet been brought against any of the Pediga supporters.

PEGIDA, which was founded in Germany in 2014, had announced today's march during the week, but the French government decided it was too big a threat to public order to go ahead.

The State of Emergency in France, triggered by last year's terrorist attacks on Paris, allows politicians and police to ban any public gatherings that they consider to be a security threat.
Number 10 pleads with Michael Gove not to campaign for Brexit

Furious local Tory chiefs piled the pressure on David Cameron today over his EU deal, telling the Prime Minister he has 'no divine right to rule' after he told MPs to ignore local parties' views on Europe.

Chairmen and activists from 43 local Conservative associations told Cameron to remember they were the 'loyal servants' who helped him win last year's general election.

They told him to stop showing them 'disrespect' and allow a balanced debate in the upcoming EU referendum.

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David Cameron, pictured in Warsaw on Friday, is facing a growing revolt from local Conservative party associations over his EU deal

Iain Duncan Smith, pictured left, confronted the PM on Wednesday over his handling of the EU referendum, while fears are growing in Number 10 that Michael Gove, right could join IDS in campaigning for Brexit

The angry intervention came after Cameron told Conservative MPs last week that they should not decide their view on the EU referendum 'because of what your constituency association might say'.

In the House of Commons, he said MPs should ignore members and not consider the implications of having to reapply for their seats following the forthcoming Parliamentary boundary review.

'If you passionately believe in your heart that Britain is better off out, you should vote that way,' he said.

'If you think Britain is, on balance, better off in, go with what you think. Don't take a view because of what your association may say, or a boundary review.'

But in a dramatic letter in the Sunday Telegraph today, 44 current and former chairmen, executives and activists from Conservative associations wrote: 'Grassroots Conservatives pounded the streets in all weather, knocking on doors, running street stalls and raising money to ensure that their Conservative candidates were elected and Mr Cameron would secure a Conservative majority.

Cameron is embarking on a two-week charm offensive to persuade EU leaders to agree to his EU reform deal, starting with Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo, pictured, in Warsaw on Friday

Cameron hopes to secure a deal with his 27 fellow EU leaders at a crunch summit in Brussels later this month

'It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister dismisses the very people who helped secure his victory, and he should remember that no prime minister has a divine right to rule.'

They added: 'We urge the Prime Minister to refrain from showing any disrespect to the loyal servants who helped him win a majority government.'

The letter shows anger at grassroots level is growing over the Tory leadership's handling of the EU referendum.

SIX IN TEN TORY MPS TO VOTE FOR BREXIT David Cameron faces the prospect of well over 100 Tory MPs campaigning to leave the EU Six in ten Tory MPs are set to vote for Britain to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum, it has emerged. A survey of 144 Conservative backbenchers found that 66 (57 per cent) are opting for Brexit, while just 50 said they would campaign to remain in the EU. A dozen said they were yet to decide which side to join, while 16 declined to comment in a poll of MPs by the Sunday Times. Six in ten MPs said Cameron's deal was bad, while 48 of the 144 said it was good. Advertisement

Just hours after Cameron told MPs not to listen to their constituency parties, party figures from across Britain told the Mail that his comments were annoying' and insulting.

They said it was an obligation of MPs to listen to their constituents opinions.

Responding to the letter today, a Downing Street spokesman said: 'The PM has the greatest of respect for Conservative associations across the country. He was simply making the point that everyone should ultimately vote with their conscience.'

Cameron is facing a growing battle with Eurosceptics over the EU referendum and reports claim he has begged his close friend Michael Gove not to join the Out campaign.

Speculation has risen linking the Justice Secretary to leading the Leave campaign but aides said he will wait until the renegotiation deal is signed by EU leaders before deciding which side to join.

And it comes as it emerged the Prime Minister was involved in an angry showdown with Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith over his handling of the referendum.

Eurosceptic cabinet ministers claimed that Cameron and pro-EU ministers had broken a promise to stay silent until the deal is signed and Duncan Smith challenged the PM over why his allies were openly campaigning to stay in the EU - while rebels had been gagged.

SO MUCH FOR BORIS'S ANTI-EURO TALK Last week: 'We must be more willing to say, 'Britain is an independent sovereign country, we want to stop this piece of legislation.' October 12, 2015: 'The price of getting out of the EU is lower than it's ever been.' October 6, 2015: 'It should be up to this Parliament and country - not to Jean-Claude Juncker - to decide if too many people are coming here.' June 2015: 'We should be prepared to strike out and forge an alternative future that could be just as glorious and just as prosperous.' Boris Johnson's (pictured) Eurosceptic credentials were thrown into question after he confessed that he has 'never wanted to leave the European Union' May 2015: 'If you don't have that basic willingness to walk away you cannot hope for a successful outcome in negotiations. We've got to make it absolutely clear from day one (of talks).' August 2014: 'When you look at the cost of EU social policy, the stagnation of the EU economies, the absurdities of Brussels regulation, we are plainly getting to the stage where it might well be better to quit an unreformed EU than stay in.' December 2015: 'The choice is very simple. It's between staying in on our terms or getting out.' October 2009: Boris leads Tory revolt forcing Cameron to pledge EU referendum. Advertisement

One source said: 'Iain was steaming. He told the PM he had broken his word and it was outrageous for him and other Ministers to promote the deal openly when dissidents like him had kept quiet as agreed.

'Iain made it clear that if it didn't stop, others would speak out too  then there would be chaos.'

The most senior Cabinet minister to signal he will campaign against the Prime Minister is Iain Duncan Smith, who told friends he believes Cameron's reforms will create an 'unbelievable mess' for the benefit system and would likely to be challenged in the courts.

He also described the deal as 'a load of rubbish,' according to the Sunday Times.

Cameron has embarked on a two-week tour to persuade his 27 fellow EU leaders to agree to the reform package ahead of the crunch summit in Brussels on February 18 and 19.

Announcing the deal last week, he claimed the renegotiation would 'substantial change' Britain's relationship with the EU, but he faced the wrath of backbench Tory Eurosceptics in the Commons, who labelled the deal as a 'sham'.

THE POSTER GIRL OF THE OUT CAMPAIGN: THE RISING CABINET STAR WHO WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST CAMERON IN BID FOR BRITAIN TO LEAVE THE EU Rising Cabinet star Priti Patel is set to demand a meeting with David Cameron to tell him she will fight tooth and nail against his bid to keep Britain in the EU. The move by Ms Patel, the telegenic Employment Minister, is expected in the next few days and is set to make her the poster girl of the 'Out' campaign. It will come as a welcome boost for the 'Leave' movement following splits and feuds between rival groups and claims that its leaders are all 'pale, male and stale'. Ms Patel, 43, is the daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1970s to escape dictator Idi Amin. They set up a chain of newsagents in the South of England  and their work ethic inspired her future political views. Rising Cabinet star Priti Patel (pictured) is set to demand a meeting with David Cameron to tell him she will fight tooth and nail against his bid to keep Britain in the EU After grammar school and university, she entered politics, working, appropriately, for James Goldsmith's Referendum Party, a forerunner of Ukip, in the 1997 Election. In 2010 she became Tory MP for Witham in Essex, the heartland of white, working-class England, winning over the local party with her outspoken support for the return of the death penalty for murderers and rapists Her stance  decidedly unfashionable for a trendy Cameron 'A' lister  led to a TV clash with Have I Got News For You panellist Ian Hislop. Ms Patel told him: 'I support capital punishment as a deterrent. Far too many politicians do run away from debating issues like this.' She also opposed gay marriage, a reflection of her small 'c' conservative family background. Her views have led some to call her a 'modern-day Norman Tebbit'  and it is no coincidence that she is deputy to Work and Pensions Secretary and fellow Right-winger Iain Duncan Smith, Tebbit's successor as MP for Chingford in Essex. Ms Patel's energy and enthusiasm was quickly talent-spotted by Chancellor George Osborne, who ensured she was fast-tracked to the Cabinet. Priti  who has a seven-year-old son, Freddie, by husband Alex Sawyer  has no-nonsense Thatcherite views on welfare, low taxes and immigration. Ms Patel (pictured), 43, is the daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1970s to escape dictator Idi Amin She says Tory core values of family, faith, hard work, education, community service, self-reliance and business mirror those of traditional Asian families. 'My parents persevered and prospered through sheer determination and a profound work ethic. 'Coming from a country where you're persecuted means that you want to work hard. 'You become patriotic because you make your new country your home and you live and play by its values.' 'Priti' impressive compared to the ugly 'Out' campaign so far. Advertisement

THE 44 TORIES FROM 43 LOCAL PARTY ASSOCIATIONS WHO TOLD THE PM TO SHOW THEM RESPECT Cameron was told to 'refrain from showing any disrespect to the loyal servants who helped him win a majority government' after telling Tory MPs to ignore their local parties' views Ed Costelloe, Chairman, Grassroots Conservatives Somerton and Frome David Allen, Gillingham and Rainham Colin Aylin, Stevenage Raymond Cade, Heathfield Diarmid Campbell, Bromsgrove Alan Chapman, Shipley James Cheetham, Orpington Andrew Clift, Orpington Paul Diamond, Cambridge Mary Douglas, Salisbury Stewart and Sheila Drennan, Bexhill and Battle Matt Ewart, South Staffordshire John Fifield, Weaver Vale Robert Flunder, Brentwood and Ongar Richard Fontes, Wrexham Guy Hordern, Edgbaston Kath Howell, Loughborough Ian Hunter, Colchester and North Essex Paul Jemetta, Horsham Ros Jump, Haltemprice and Howden Arthur Kay, Bexhill and Battle Anthea Kemp, Somerton and Frome Jeremy Knapp, South Suffolk Roger Lomas, Fermanagh and Tyrone Richard Mackenzie, Kingston upon Hull North Gladys Macrae, Chippenham Anne Meek, Rutland and Melton Delyth Miles, Clacton Bob Moore, Bexley Andrew Nicholas, Enfield Pam Notcutt, Beckenham Tony Partridge, Clwyd South John Sharp, Haltemprice and Howden John Sheldon, Esher and Walton William Stebbings, Tewksbury Peter Steveney, Thirsk and Malton John Strafford, Beaconsfield Tony Tucker, Edinburgh North and Leith Geoffrey Vero, Surrey Heath John Waine, Nuneaton John Wilkinson, Hastings and Rye John Winter, Scarborough and Whitby Ken Worthy, Esher and Walton Advertisement
Around 70% of Muslim prison chaplains teach a hardline fundamentalist interpretation of Islam which challenges British values and encourages radical thinking.

The findings are expected to be revealed in a new study by former Home Office official Ian Acheson, which is scheduled to be published next month.

Muslim prisoners represent just 10.8% of the total prison population in the UK, with 12,622 people in jail identifying as a Muslim, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Muslim prisoners represent just 10.8% of the total prison population in the UK, with 12,622 people in jail identifying as a Muslim, according to the Ministry of Justice

The Acheson study was commissioned by justice secretary Michael Gove. It examined 200 Muslim chaplains and found that 140 of the imams working in prisons, had previously studied Deobandi Islam, according to the Sunday Times.

Deobandi Islam first came to prominence in India in reaction to the measures imposed by its colonial British rulers. It takes its name from a madrassa in the Indian town of Deoband, located around 100 mile from the city of Delhi.

Its core elements claim to focus on purifying Islam through the banning of music and promotes gender segregation in an attempt to follow closely a literal interpretation of the Koran.

Ahtsham Ali, the Muslim adviser to the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), which works as an executive agency for the Ministry of Justice, was questioned for the Acheson study.

Mr Ali was the pioneer of the deradicalisation programme known as Ibaana, which was dropped by Michael Gove when he took over from Chris Grayling as Secretary of State for Justice.

NOMS' Muslim adviser's friends said they did not believe he held radical views and dismissed claims he followed any particular viewpoint.

'Ali doesn't particularly follow any denomination; he studied Islam at length but he doesn't follow any particular viewpoint or denominational background,' the friend told The Sunday Times.

Ahtsham Ali, the Muslim adviser to the National Offender Management Service, which works as an executive agency for the Ministry of Justice, was questioned for the Acheson study

Mr Ali was the pioneer of the deradicalisation programme known as Ibaana, which was dropped by Michael Gove (pictured) when he took over from Chris Grayling as Secretary of State for Justice

The former chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick had previously warned last year that there is a 'small number' of radical Muslims trying to convert prisoners.

'There are undoubtedly a small number of very dangerous men motivated by a religion or ideology who are trying to recruit other people so they will go on to commit offences linked to that ideology or religion,' he said.

The news comes after it was revealed by the Guardian last year that some Islamist extremists have deliberately gained jobs in prisons or be given a custodial sentence in an attempt to radicalise vulnerable prisoners.

Glyn Travis, the assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA) at the time urged the government to take a new, multi-disciplinary approach to preventing radicalisation in prisons.

'We have concerns that Islamist extremists are deliberately getting custodial sentences in order to target vulnerable prisoners,' he told the Guardian.

Travis also said that criticism towards the work of Muslim prison chaplains was unfair.

'All the imams I know are very good and decent people. I hope the Ministry of Justice utilises their skills in tackling radicalisation.'

MailOnline tried to contact Mr Acheson and Mr Ali for a comment.
A businessman sold a homemade bleach solution which has been controversially been promoted as a cure for autism.

Tony Taylor, 41, was selling Miracle Mineral Solution on his New Earth website.

But some health experts have claimed the 'miracle cure' is almost identical to industrial strength bleach.

The toxic substance Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is made from bleaching agents and is being peddled in the US by an organisation called the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing - which claims it can cure autism.

Tony Taylor sold the controversial solution Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) on his New Earth website

Mr Taylor sold two bottles to mix together to form the solution for 9.95.

According to the Sun on Sunday, Mr Taylor said he personally did not claim the mixture cured autism, but said: 'a lot of my clients use it for autistic children. It's helped a lot of people and if you get the dosage right there are no side-effects.'

A US-based church claimed MMS could cure autism

The newspaper launched a probe after speaking to an autism campaigner, who alleged Taylor was touting a cure.

After the newspaper confronted him about the claims, he said: 'Trading Standards are going to come round, take all the stock and close it off. I will probably just chuck my stock away and forget about it.'

However Mr Taylor told Mail Online he sold chlorine dioxide as an aid for water purification, but has since stopped selling it online and thrown remaining stock in the bin: 'I sold in total about 80 worth,' Mr Taylor said.

'I sold it for about two months. It is not illegal to sell.

'People have written books on treating autism with chlorine dioxide.

'I never claimed it would cure autism.

'If people use it to treat something it is out of my hands.'

The Food Standards Agency said: 'Our advice is MMS is not safe and should not be sold as a supplement.

'It is commonly used as bleach and can be harmful.'

MMS contains sodium chlorite, a toxic chemical usually used for stripping walls or for whitening paper.

American Jim Humble, an 'Archbishop' of the Genesis II Church, claimed the lethal blend of chemicals helped him recover from malaria. And he claimed the potentially fatal mix could also cure cancer, autism and HIV.

Experts strongly refute any healing properties the substance may have and the Food Standards Agency in the UK has warned it can cause 'severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea' and could lead to death.

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards issued a public warning about MMS in June 2015 after officials received evidence that it was going to be consumed and sold at an event in Farnham, Surrey.

Brighton and Hove City Council's trading standards department also issued a warning last year after it heard of a similar event being staged in the city by the 'Spirit of Health Congress'.

Speaking about previous concerns, Carol Povey, of the National Autistic Society, said: 'No evidence of any kind exists to support the preposterous claims made for MMS as an intervention for autism.

'It is shocking that dubious companies continue to promote potentially very harmful products like these.

'Autism is a complex neurological condition, without a cure.'
A British peer has sacked his handyman after he returned from holiday to find an antique mirror smashed.

William Humble David Jeremy Ward, the Earl of Dudley, told the workman, Andrew Hughes, to find another job when he discovered his five-foot tall mirror, shattered.

Mr Hughes, who denies involvement, has offered to take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

William Humble David Jeremy Ward, known as the Earl of Dudley, here performing as the Earl of Diddley

The mirror had been given to the Earl, 69, for his 21st birthday by his grandparents the 3rd Earl of Dudley and Lady Rosemary Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower.

He said Mr Hughes had been tasked to bleed a radiator while he was in his Spanish holiday home.

But he returned to find the mirror in pieces in a hallway sparking a huge row between the pair.

Mr Hughes, who has worked for the Earl for two years, says the mirror was fine when he left the property after fixing the bedroom radiator.

The late William Humble David Ward, the father of the Earl of Dudley with his wife, the Countess of Dudley

But the Earl has told him never to come back after the mirror smash. He also needs to focus on rehearsals as he is a musician who performs under the stage name Lord Diddley.

In an email letter, seen by the Mirror on Sunday, he said: 'Anyone with deductive reasoning would find it difficult to disassociate the ensuing damage with your visit to my room to assist with the radiator, via the upstairs landing  particularly in view of the many layers of clothing you were wearing, that served to pad out the width of your passing frame.

'You may wish to try to pull the wool over all eyes, and put it down to "coincidence", but I must suggest to you that this can only be viewed as dishonest. I must, accordingly, demand that you stay away from my home in future.'

Mr Hughes has hit back and claimed the Earl has not paid him his 400 euros bill for his four days work at the aristocrat's main home on the Gulf of Valencia, Spain.

He said the allegations were 'simply untrue'.

'I have told him I'll pay for a lie detector test, but he has ignored me,' Mr Hughes added.
The daughter-in-law of hate preacher Abu Hamza who cannot be deported from Britain because she is a mother is living in a taxpayer-funded council house, it was claimed today.

The Moroccan-born woman, who spent a year in jail for smuggling a mobile phone SIM card into Hamzas high-security prison under her burka, is said to be living in London.

The European Court of Justices top legal adviser has indicated that because she is the sole carer for her British son aged four she cannot be expelled unless she poses a serious threat to society.

Hate preacher: Abu Hamza spent years spouting evil on Britains streets and is now serving life in America

It is not yet clear if the woman - who has been identified only as CS - is receiving state benefits or if her legal case is publicly funded, reported The Sun home affairs correspondent Tom Wells.

But she was identified as the daughter-in-law of hook-handed Hamza  who for years spouted evil on Britains streets and is now serving life in America for terror offences  by a Conservative MP.

Using Parliamentary privilege, Shipley MP Philip Davies told the House of Commons on Friday that this was a very, very serious matter for the security of this country.

Raising a point of order, he said: You may have seen the reports in the newspapers that European judges have ruled that a Moroccan criminal cannot be deported from the country despite the Home Office saying that she committed serious offences which threaten the values of society.

Cleric: Hamza (left) had been detained as a Category A prisoner following his conviction for inciting murder

Surely this is something that should be raised in this House, that the Home Office minister should be making a statement about today?

Warning: MP Philip Davies said it was 'a very, very serious matter for the security of this country'

The case intensifies pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron, whose deal with the EU ahead of an in-out referendum did not even touch on the powers of the European Court of Justice over British law.

Vote Leave spokesman Robert Oxley said: This dangerous farce shows just how damaging the EU is for our security. The only way we can fight terrorism is to vote Leave and take control  its the only safe option.

The ECJs chief legal adviser dealt a blow to Theresa May on Thursday when he said non-EU offenders who are the sole carers for children with UK nationality could not be booted out simply because they have committed a crime.

But in a crumb of comfort for the Home Secretary, ECJ Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said expulsion could be allowed in exceptional circumstances.

He said a foreign offender who was sole carer of a British child aged under 16 could be flown home if they presented a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to society, including public security.

If the ECJ backs his preliminary opinion  and the judges rarely disagree  it potentially opens the door for hundreds of low-level foreign criminals to claim the right to stay in Britain.

Hamzas daughter-in-law married in 2002. In 2005 she was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Luxembourg base: The European Court of Justice's top legal adviser said non-EU offenders who are the sole carers for children with UK nationality could not be booted out simply because they have committed a crime

In 2011 the couple had a son who holds British citizenship. But the marriage ended in divorce, leaving her in sole care of the child.

In May 2012 CS was jailed after attempting to smuggle contraband  the mobile phone SIM card  into high-security Belmarsh prison in South-East London, where her father-in-law was being held.

Home Secretary: Theresa May wanted to deport the woman, who was jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court

Hamza was detained as a Category A prisoner at the time following his conviction for inciting murder and pending extradition on terror charges to the US.

CS was jailed for 12 months at Blackfriars Crown Court on May 4 after she was convicted of conveying a prohibited article into prison.

Mr Justice Openshaw said at her appeal against sentence that Hamza could have used the SIM card to convey messages of support to his followers outside, or use it to encourage or incite the commission of further offences.

Under current immigration laws, Britain automatically serves a deportation order against all non-EU offenders who are sentenced to more than one year in prison, irrespective of their family circumstances.

After completing her sentence, CS was given a deportation notice in 2013. But she appealed, claiming she could not be expelled because there would be no one else to care for the boy.

She won that case when immigration judges ruled that deportation amounted to constructive expulsion of her son from Europe  a breach of EU rules.
He suffered a cheek laceration and was taken to hospital to get stitches

Footage appears to show the man be pushed, punched and kicked

A 46-year-old intervened when a teen got in a fight at a convenience store

CCTV has captured the moment a good Samaritan was allegedly glassed by a teenager when the victim tried to step in and stop 'an attempted robbery'.

A 46-year-old man was taken to hospital, bloodied and in need of facial stitches, just after midnight on Saturday night after a brutal brawl broke out in Coogee in Sydneys eastern suburbs.

Footage shows a 17-year-old running into a convenience store on Coogee Bay Road while carrying a vodka bottle, according to Nine News.

The teen tries to buy a packet of cigarettes and a fight breaks out with the shop owner when the teen is denied service.

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A 46-year-old man was taken to hospital, bloodied and in need of facial stitches, just after midnight on Saturday night after a brutal brawl broke out in Coogee in Sydneys eastern suburbs

Footage shows a 17-year-old running into a convenience store on Coogee Bay Road while carrying a vodka bottle which it's believed was later used to hit the 46-year-old who tried to intervene

Footage shows a 17-year-old running into a convenience store in Coogee while carrying a vodka bottle

The teen and his friend are seen in the footage hurling punches and swinging the bottle at the man, who suffered facial lacerations when he was hit in the face

The 46-year-old man tries to intervene when he hears the argument from outside on the street, where he is eating a kebab.

Soon two people attack the 46-year-old and he appears to be pushed to the ground, with footage showing the boy with the vodka bottle kicking in his direction.

The teen and his friend are seen in the footage hurling punches and swinging the bottle at the man, who suffered facial lacerations when he was hit in the face.

The attackers fled but the 17-year-old was detained at the scene and taken to Maroubra Police station.

The victim was attended to by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital to receive stitches for a bloody gash on his cheek. He has since been released.

Soon two people attack the 46-year-old and he appears to be pushed to the ground, with footage showing the boy with the vodka bottle kicking in his direction. The shop attendant (in cap) tries to make the boys stop

The attackers fled but the 17-year-old was detained at the scene and taken to Maroubra Police station while paramedics attended to the injured 46-year-old (pictured)

The victim was attended to by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital to receive stitches for a bloody gash on his cheek
Pop legend Phil Collins says he's never been happier since reuniting with his third wife after 10 years.

He said they had a very happy life together, then 'just lost the plot'.

The 65-year-old former Genesis drummer said getting his family back has given him a new zest for life.

He said: 'It's great to be back with Orianne. We had a wonderful life when we were together. Then we lost the plot for a little bit and got separated.'

The pop legend said he and Orianne had 'lost the plot' when they split in 2006. Pictured, the pair had a lavish wedding ceremony in the Beau Rivage hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1999

The singer and his 43-year-old Swiss-born wife Orianne Cevey are now back living together in their Miami mansion. Pictured, Phil arriving at the BBC studios in January with a walking stick as he continues his recovery from major back surgery and Orianne going about her business near the couple's home last week

The Against All Odds singer and his 43-year-old Swiss-born wife Orianne Cevey, are now back living together in a magnificent mansion over-looking Miami's Biscayne Bay with their two sons, Matthew, 14, and Nicholas, 11.

When they split up in 2006 after 12 years of marriage, the couple's divorce settlement was the largest pay-out in U.K. showbiz history, at a whopping 25m (32 million euros).

Orianne later had another failed marriage to a Moroccan-born investment banker, but always remained on good terms with Phil.

Speaking in New York yesterday, Phil said: 'We went back because we realised we had made a mistake. A lot of people don't have that chance, or don't give themselves that chance.'

And it's not just the entertainer who is celebrating the reunion with Orianne.

'Our young sons Matthew and Nicholas are like a dog with two tails,' he told me. 'I mean, they're just so happy. They've got their mum and dad back together, so it's a good place to be at the moment.'

Although Collins is currently re-releasing his solo albums, he said he has no intention of doing a world tour again.

'I will do live shows, but I don't want to ruin this little rhythm I have in my life now,' Phil confided.

'I don't want to suddenly get back on the roundabout, say goodbye to my sons, and come back to find that they're now all grown up and driving.'

The biggest passion in his life these days, Phil said, is being a father.

'Having young kids keeps you young and keeps you in the moment because you're sharing their world with them,' he explained.

When they split up in 2006 after 12 years of marriage, the couple's divorce settlement was the largest pay-out in U.K. showbiz history, at 25m. Pictured, the pair in 1999

Phil (pictured here with Orianne in 1997), said they realised they 'had made a mistake' after they divorced

Despite the fact that he was recently pictured walking with the aid of crutches, Collins insisted he's in good health today.

'The reason you have seen me hobbling around with a stick is not old age, it's because I fractured my foot.

'I did have an operation on my back and, bless him, Larry Mullen of U2 got in touch with me to say he had the same problem from drumming.

'I've played drums since I was five and I'm 65 now, so that's a lot of wear and tear on your knees and your back.'

Collins said he was shocked by the deaths of David Bowie and Glen Frey of The Eagles in recent weeks.

'That's pretty close to home when you're their age,' he said.

'But I still feel like I did when I was 40, although I'm a wiser man, I have to say, at this age.'

Phil's various children from his three marriages are said to have played a big part in the reconciliation with Orianne.

His actress daughter Lily, by his second wife, is close to Orianne.

It's been an amazing life and Phil, who also acted in the lead role in the movie Buster, back in 1988, said that he's currently putting it all into a book.

'It'll be out in October,' he added.
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Petrified Londoners dialled 999 yesterday after a bus was blown up close to Parliament for a new movie stunt reminiscent of the 7/7 attacks, MailOnline can reveal today.

Scotland Yard has confirmed that two people contacted the emergency services fearing London was under attack when the red double decker burst into a fireball for Jackie Chan's film The Foreigner.

The bus was blown up on Lambeth Bridge but producers for the film also starring former Bond, Pierce Brosnan, failed to warned locals, meaning many including a group of children playing in a park nearby were terrified.

A Met spokesman told MailOnline that they received two calls at around 11.30am yesterday but their team knew there was filming on the bridge and were able to reassure the panicked callers.

The explosion will have brought back terrible memories for many who remember the 2005 suicide bombings, where 52 died including 13 in a bus on Tavistock Square.

John Taylor, whose daughter Carrie, 24, died at Aldgate tube in the suicide bomb attack, was working nearby at the Tate Britain art gallery. He said: 'You can totally understand why some would be alarmed seeing this. It seems particularly insensitive.'

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Terror: A bus exploded on Lambeth Bridge yesterday for the filming of new Jackie Chan movie, The Foreigner which features former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan - but witnesses ended up calling 999

Dramatic: The explosion caught the eye of passers-by who were in the area as fire and smoke rose from the bus on Lambeth Bridge

Chilling: The aftermath of the yesterday's explosion left many terrified and the result looked very similar to the 7/7 attack on Tavistock Square, right

Londoners were shocked when they saw the bus explode on the bridge - the drama 'scared the daylights' out of Alex Donaldson

This Twitter user asked that more warning was given to warn children what was about to happen on the bridge

Flames shot up in the air when the explosion broke the roof of the bus on the bridge. A large fire then engulfed the vehicle spreading debris across the road.

Shocked people took to Twitter, Sophie Kinsella wrote: 'Hey film types, next time you blow up a bus on Lambeth Bridge maybe tell us first so children in park aren't freaked?'

Alex Donaldson tweeted: 'Curious re who approved blowing up a #LondonBus...in the name of a movie #scaredthedaylights'

Another user said: 'Was far enough away from to see bus blow up but not why, genuinely felt it in pit of my stomach.'

LowriPeploe-Williams was scared when she saw the explosion, she said: 'Just watched a bus blow up on Lambeth bridge to find out its for a film.'

Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston posted a video of the explosion with the message: 'Anyone worried about the exploding bus on Lambeth Bridge just now? It was just for a movie.'

Tweets were posted and warning messages published on TfL's website informing people of what was planned for the bridge.

The message said: 'Filming will take place within the lane closure at the bus stop next to the palace from 11am-12noon.'

A spokesman for the Port of London Authority also confirmed it was a stunt for a film and that the bridge was closed off. But the scene took some by surprise.

The bus exploded on Lambeth Bridge today for the filming of new Jackie Chan movie, The Foreigner, which features the martial arts star and former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan

A close-up dramatic shot of the fire on Lambeth Bridge in London shows it fully engulfed the bus leaving just the vehicle's shell

It was a quiet Sunday morning before the explosion, fire and smoke caught the eye of tourists out and about in the Lambeth Bridge area

The Foreigner - a new film thought to being directed by Martin Campbell - shot on Lambeth Bridge earlier yesterday and exploded a bus

The bus after the explosion on the film set for the new Jackie Chan film, The Foreigner, which starts Mrs Doubtfire actor Pierce Brosnan

In a notice warning residents about it, film producers described the film as a 'gritty action thriller'. It is directed by Martin Campbell, who was behind James Bond films Casino Royale and GoldenEye.

The notice, posted on Twitter, stated: 'The explosion is controlled and operated by our special effects team.'

It added: 'Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of the people in the area.'

Brosnan's role in the film is as an ex-IRA government official who let Chan's family die.

And former Bond star Brosnan has been feeling nostalgic for his first team-up with director Campbell back in 1994, sharing a throwback shot on his Instagram page from around the time he wrapped filming on his Bond debut.

The stunning photo shows the handsome star posing with his then girlfriend and now wife Keely Shaye Smith, alongside the caption: 'I had just finished Goldeneye and we went Bora.'

Chan, 61, has in the last few days been seen taking to the streets of Balham where fans have been capturing photos of him on social media.



Work begins to clear the bus after the explosion on Lambeth Bridge which cause fire and smoke to rise in the sky in London

Transport for London officials warned tourists and travellers that the bridge would be closed between 11am-12pm for the filming

Crowds gathered for the filming on Lambeth Bridge where Jackie Chan was filming his new film, The Foreigner, which is estimated to have a budget of $35million

The police helicopter crew for the South East tweeted this photo taken from the air of the bus after the explosion on the bridge

A closer look onboard the police helicopter of the scene after the fire and smoke had cleared - the explosion was metres from Parliament
Jeremy Corbyn has been told to prepare for a snap General Election later this year amid fears that David Cameron could quit as Prime Minister following the EU referendum.

Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, warned that Labour would be 'hurtling towards catastrophe' if it faced an election soon - pointing to the Lib Dems as an example of the 'scale of devastation' that the party could face.

The party is currently 'under-prepared, divided and under-resourced' and could face an 'existential battle that may be upon us much sooner than some expected', he added.

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Jeremy Corbyn, pictured celebrating 'Visit Mosque day' in Finsbury Park today, should make sure the Labour party is ready for an election later this year, Labour MP Toby Perkins has said

The Labour leader, pictured above at Finsbury Park Mosque, would have no choice but to agree to an early election, Perkins added

An election later this year could pit Corbyn, pictured left, against London Mayor Boris Johnson, right

The Coalition government brought in a law to set five-year terms, meaning a General Election is not due until 2020 but an early election can be called if two thirds of MPs agree.

Mr Perkins predicted that Cameron could stand down as Prime Minister even if he is on the winning side and said an incoming leader would seek to exploit Labour splits by calling an election in the autumn.

Labour MP Toby Perkins says his party is currently 'under-prepared, divided and under-resourced' or a General Election

He said a new Tory leader would justify calling a snap vote by contrasting themselves to Gordon Brown, who was heavily criticised for refusing to call a general election after taking over from Tony Blair.

And he said Labour would have no choice but to agree to an election.

Writing on the LabourList website, Mr Perkins said: 'Cameron fired the starting gun on the race to succeed him when he announced that he will not fight another general election and, as Tony Blair can testify, once the lid is off the bottle it can be very difficult to re-seal it.

'In the event that Cameron goes, I expect his successor to look very keenly at whether the Labour party is capable of fighting a snap general election.

'If a new Conservative leader demanded a general election it is impossible to imagine how Labour could refuse to go to the country.

And he added: 'If Labour is confronted with a general election whilst intellectually and organisationally under-prepared, divided and under-resourced we would be hurtling towards catastrophe.'

The Coalition introduced the Fixed Term Parliament's Act in 2011 to ensure stability during coalition years and also prevents governments from calling an election when it has the best chance of winning.

But several senior politicians have attacked the Act since it was brought in, with former Chancellor Ken Clarke describing it as a 'mistake' and reveled there were 'tea room chats' about repealing it.

Last year Sir Alan Duncan, who served as a minister under David Cameron, said the fixed term law should be ditched.

Perkins said the Labour party is 'under-prepared, divided and under-resourced' under Jeremy Corbyn, pictured visiting Finsbury Park mosque to celebrate 'Visit Mosque day' today

Labour would be 'hurtling towards catastrophe' if an election was called this year, according to Perkins, a leading critique among Labour moderates of Corbyn, pictured above visiting Finsbury Mosque today

He described it as a 'recipe for political horse-trading and coalition maneuverings' and urged all parties to repeal it.

The Labour party was beset with more infighting today over Trident as the leadership tries to change party policy on the nuclear deterrent.

Former shadow minister Jamie Reed revealed that dozens of moderate Labour MPs are preparing to fight the next election on a pro-Trident manifesto if Mr Corbyn changes party policy, which is currently in favour of renewal.

'The vast majority of Labour MPs are keen to listen to and represent the ambitions and views of Labour voters and ex-voters,' Reed told the Sunday Times.

'It's entirely possible that MPs will react in a similar fashion to policy proposals with catastrophic consequences such as abandoning Trident renewal.

'It's ultimately about saving, not splitting the party.'

KEN LIVINGSTONE BACKS JOHN MCDONNELL AS LABOUR LEADER IF JEREMY CORBYN 'HAS A STROKE' Old friends: Ken Livingstone has backed John McDonnell to be the next Labour leader if Jeremy Corbyn is 'pushed under a bus' or 'has a stroke' Ken Livingstone has backed John McDonnell to be the next Labour leader if Jeremy Corbyn 'is pushed under a bus'. Red Ken, who once sacked Mr McDonnell in the 1980s for being too left wing, said his friend is more 'principled' than other MPs because he had 'never gone sucking up to Blair'. He said: 'If Jeremy was pushed under a bus being driven by Boris Johnson, it would all rally behind John McDonnell'. Mr McDonnell rose to prominence as Ken Livingstone's hardline deputy on the Greater London Council, but the pair fell out because he felt Red Ken's policies were not left wing enough. Mr Livingstone had accused Mr McDonnell, who was then in charge of the GLC's finance committee, of hiding its financial problems, while the new shadow chancellor accused Livingstone of 'bottling' the chance to oppose Margaret Thatcher's budget. But despite this bitter break-up Red Ken, speaking on RTUK on a show to be broadcast tonight he said: John McDonnell was my Chair of Finance at the GLC. And every year: A balanced budget: Never a penny of borrowing. You can't say that about b**** Osborne, can ya?' He added: 'John, like Jeremy, like me, he's been in this game for 45 years. [He's] always been serious, always been principled, never gone sucking up to Blair going 'please give us a job' or anything like that. And so, no. It would be John.' Advertisement




This sprawling townhouse in the most desirable part of Central London would be ideal for a Russian oligarch with a spare 30 million.

But not so long ago it was the rather less showy home where Margaret Thatcher spent the last years of her life after she and husband Denis paid 700,000 to the Duke of Westminster for a ten-year lease in 1991.

The Grade II six-bedroom, six- floor townhouse at 73 Chester Square, Belgravia, was bought by developers Leconfield for about 12million shortly after the former Prime Ministers death in 2013.

Premier: Margaret Thatcher in the house where she spent the last years of her life. Lady Thatcher and her husband Denis paid 700,000 to the Duke of Westminster for a ten-year lease in 1991

Serious: The study in the home is kitted out with extensive bookshelves and modernistic fixtures

Party HQ: The lavish ground-floor dining room, perfect to wine and dine ten guests

Now, after an 18-month, multi-million-pound refurbishment, it is on sale with Savills with a price tag aimed at a fortunate few. It includes a newly added lift, mews house to the rear and a private garage.

Yet friends and colleagues of Mrs Thatcher wonder if she would have approved of all the glitz.

Sir Bernard Ingham, Baroness Thatchers former communications chief, said: Margaret liked her homes to feel businesslike, but also homely.

'When she moved in to No 73, she wanted it to feel a bit like it was at No 10 in her day  comfortable, smart, but not a place of obvious luxury.

There is little Baroness Thatcher would recognise now, although the front door and the windows looking on to the square  both reinforced to withstand a terrorist attack  remain.

Home's imposing facade: There is little Baroness Thatcher would recognise now, although the front door and the windows looking on to the square - both reinforced to withstand a terrorist attack - remain

Prime position: The sitting room in the home, which is located in the luxurious Belgravia district

Luxury: The grand staircase in the house where Lady Thatcher lived for several years

The drawing room and library covering the entire first floor and featuring a pair of original Louis XVI fireplaces are now looking very much 'on-trend'.

Andrew Roberts, the historian who frequently dined with Baroness Thatcher at the property, remembers it as a place of understated, traditional furniture, a practical, but welcoming townhouse.

I suppose it was because of her own relatively humble background that she didnt approve of vulgar displays of wealth. The house wasnt ever what you remembered. You remembered her, he said.

After she left Downing Street in 1990, Mrs Thatcher moved with Denis to a 400,000 new-build home in a Barratt development in Dulwich, South London, but she felt too isolated there.
Over one-in-four Germans say they back a policy to open fire on unwanted illegal refugees at their borders.

The Alternative for Germany (AFD) party leader Frauke Petry caused a storm a week ago when she advocated the right of border police to gun down migrants. But her comments have struck a nerve in a country being pushed to the brink by the crisis with 29 per cent of respondents in a weekend poll backing her extremist plan.

This, say observers, is proof of the greatest fear among liberal politicians - citizens pushed into the embrace of the far-right and its intolerant attitudes which brought Hitler to power in the 1930s.

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Right-wing German politician Frauke Petry, pictured, said border guards should shoot illegal refugees

Liberals in Germany have expressed concern in a rise in right-wing sentiment demonstrated by this anti-Islam demonstration in Dresden yesterday afternoon by members of the Pegida movement

Almost 100,000 migrants arrived in Germany during January , such as these people queuing to register their applications for asylum in Berlin over the weekend. One third of the new arrivals have been from Syria

Every fourth German considers it justified to 'prevent unarmed refugees at gunpoint to cross the border' according to this weekend's survey by the Research Institute YouGov.

The poll was triggered by Petry's comments of a week ago when she incensed the ruling political elite by declaring: 'We need efficient controls to prevent so many unregistered asylum-seekers keeping on entering via Austria.

'Border police should be able if need be to have recourse to their firearms -- as laid down by law.No policeman wants to fire on a refugee and I don't want that either. But as a last resort there should be recourse to firearms.'

But while a considerable number of voters agreed with her gunfire policy, only 13 per cent of those quizzed believed that her party should not be spied on by the nation's intelligence services - something called for by SPD party chief and vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. One third of respondents considered this a good idea.

The poll came ahead of vital regional elections in Germany on March 13 in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saxony-Anhalt. The AFD - enjoying record highs of 12 per cent support among voters - are expected to gain big and Angela Merkel's CDU conservatives are facing a significant setback over her open-door policies which have seen over a million refugees pour into the country in the past year.

German chancellor Angela Merkel, pictured, is facing difficult regional elections next month in several states

German officials admitted there are up to 400,000 refugees in the country who are not yet officially registered

Although Chancellor Merkel sticks to her mantra that 'we can do this' the reality on the ground for those tasked to process all the migrants is chaos. Authorities are struggling to process hundreds of thousands of asylum applications, according to the head of the country's refugee office.

'Between 670,000 and 770,000 people who arrived in Germany in 2015 still had not received the final decision on their asylum applications and a majority have not even been able to file their applications,' said Frank-Jurgen Weise, who heads the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

'It's an unacceptable situation. It's serious and unacceptable for people to have to wait so long. It's bad for the prospects of integration and also bad for the job market when it takes so long.'

Weise said that between 300,000 and 400,000 refugees in Germany have still not even been registered.

In January, the number of new arrivals reached 91,674, about 28 percent fewer than in December. Syrians fleeing the civil war in their homeland remained the biggest group of newcomers with 35,822.

The violent sexual assaults against hundreds of women in Cologne on New Year's Eve, and on a smaller scale in several other cities the same night, which were carried out by gangs of immigrant men, went a long way in turning around public perception of Merkel's humanitarian mission.

In neighbouring Austria tensions are also rising. On Thursday an 18-year-old asylum seeker who raped a 72-year-old pensioner was jailed for 20 months.

At the same time, it was revealed that after serving his sentence he will not be deported as the sentence was not more than three years.

The pensioner, whose daughter was a refugee helper, had been walking her dog alongside the canal in Traiskirchen, where Austria's largest refugee centre is located, when the youth, then aged 17, attacked her last autumn.

Police admitted it was not reported at the time to local media because of the 'sensitivity' of the subject.
An eight-month-old baby is currently undergoing chemotherapy for a cancerous tumor constricting 85 percent of her spine just days after her symptoms were dismissed as 'misbehaviour' by a doctor.

Nora Holly was taken to a Perth hospital by her mother Holly after struggling to stand and crawl as usual, a doctor told her she was just 'misbehaving'.

She was taken to a different hospital days later  and the cancer was found.

Nora Holly is undergoing chemotherapy treatment after being misdiagnosed by two doctors

Hannan Holly, Nora's father, told Daily Mail Australia 'no parent should ever have to go through a situation like this'.

The baby has been going through her first round of chemotherapy since the tumor was found on Wednesday.

'It is hard to imagine what goes on in her little mind but hope her age is on her side and she will not remember any of it.

'She's in amazing care at Prince Margaret Hospital and everyone here has been great. We got so much support from family and friends what keeps us hopeful we can get through it.'

The baby was taken to St John of God Midland Public Hospital initially where after the initial diagnosis of 'misbehaviour' was rejected by Mrs Holly a senior doctor decided her leg was fractured.

The family were told something 'suspicious' turned up on an X-ray, and that they should give her Nurofen and keep her leg in a cast for a week.

The baby girl was taken to hospital by her mother Naomi Holly (pictured) when she couldn't crawl or stand

The next day  Sunday  the little girl had all but lost control of her upper body as well.

She was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and her leg-cast was removed as there was no evidence pointing to a leg fracture.

She was booked in to undergo MRI and CAT scans on Tuesday  and the cancer was revealed.

Mr and Mrs Holly have spent the days since at their daughter's bedside watching her undergo her first round of treatment.

Mr Holly said Sunday afternoon was particularly 'full on'.

'We are just struggling a bit after the first load of chemo.

'We have a whole lot of tests in the next couple of days  we will have more information as we get those results back.'

The Holly's have three children in total  Mrs Holly told Perth Now that she 'knew enough about her children to stand up a bit' but worries this could happen to other mum's who won't.

Within days she was struggling to use the top half of her body so she was taken to a different hospital where tests revealed a cancerous tumor

'Another 24 hours and she would have lost all movement to her legs, there wouldn't have been any recovery to them,' she said.

'I just don't want someone else's kid to go undiagnosed. That shouldn't happen.'

The baby girl has regained some movement in her legs since beginning treatment, but it is too soon to tell if the cancer has spread to her organs.
Three people have died after their car crashed and burst into flames during a police chase.

Cops were following a white sedan in San Francisco on Saturday night before it slammed into a taxi and exploded, hours before the Super Bowl festivities were set to begin.

The vehicle started running through red lights and sped up as the officers tailed them.

Three people have died after their car crashed and burst into flames during a police chase in San Francisco

Police decided to call off the chase, but just seconds later, the car slammed into a taxi and burst into flames.

Neal Taylor told KPIX: 'The whole car burst into such intense flames  bang  nobody could survive.

'There was no movement or sounds of any people so we couldnt help them. There was nothing we could do.

Two men died in the car and one body was found the street. It's not known if the man on the street was in the car when it crashed.

Witnesses say another car stopped and the women inside screamed for someone to help those in the burning car.

But moments later there was an explosion and the women got scared and drove away.

The wreckage of the burned out car was seen in the middle of the street in the aftermath.

The white sedan slammed into a taxi and running through red lights, seconds after cops had fallen back
Turkey should welcome Syrian refugees fleeing the siege of Aleppo, EU officials said yesterday.

As politicians in Ankara warned of a possible million-strong influx, Brussels chiefs called for the gates to be opened to the tens of thousands already at the border.

Crossing-points remained firmly shut for a third day yesterday as thousands more men, women and children arrived and set up makeshift camps.

Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, insists he is ready to open the gates if necessary.

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Crisis: Refugees and migrants arrive aboard the passenger ferry Nissos Rodos at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece

It is feared this could lead to an intensification of the refugee crisis in Europe, because Turkey has served as a stepping stone to the West ever since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

Following an attack on Aleppo last week by Russian-backed Syrian government forces, up to 70,000 people have fled for the border. Rebel-held districts in Syrias second city  once its commercial centre  have been reduced to rubble.

Numan Kurtulmus, Turkeys deputy prime minister, warned that in the worst case scenario as many as a million more refugees could flee the Aleppo area.

Yesterday warplanes  said to be Russian  continued the campaign by pounding villages along the escape route from Aleppo to Turkey, hastening the exodus.

Refugees fleeing the onslaught, their few possessions on their backs, spoke of the boom of exploding munitions along the road behind them.

The exodus has also been fuelled by German chancellor Angela Merkels statement in August that all Syrians would be welcomed into her country.

Fleeing: More than half the Syrian population has been displaced and hundreds of thousands have tried to reach Europe, mostly via Turkey and Greece

Looking for safety: Syrian refugees gather in a building as they wait for food near a refugee camp in Bab Al-Salama city, northern Syria

Long wait: Refugees are pictured in a camp near the city of Azaz, northern Syria, where some 30,000-40,000 people now hope to be able to enter Turkey

As aid trucks and ambulances rushed through the Bab Al-Salam border crossing near the Turkish town of Kilis, local governor Suleyman Tapsiz said Russia should immediately stop air strikes targeting civilians. He added: If this is done, the possible mass exodus here will be prevented.

He said up to 35,000 refugees had gathered on the opposite side of the border, around the Syrian city of Azaz, in the space of 48 hours  and that another 70,000 may head for the frontier if Russian and Syrian air strikes continued.

At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Amsterdam, Luxembourgs Jean Asselborn said: We face the very real prospect that there will be another huge influx of refugees.

But the EU said they should all be allowed in. EU nations including Britain are paying Turkey 2.3billion to help keep refugees safe on its soil. The lure of EU membership is also being dangled to keep migrants within its borders.

But once in Turkey, many migrants risk death to forge on, eager to settle in the UK and other EU countries.

Urging Turkey to open the gates, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said there was a moral if not legal duty to give protection. And Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders, whose country holds the EU presidency, said: I look at these images of people standing at the Turkish border and I just wanted to underline the message: people who are in humanitarian need should be allowed in.

Turkey, however, has kept the border tightly closed since Thursday, saying help was best given by keeping the refugees in a tented camp just over the border.

Yesterday, children there played in muddy lanes between rows of tents lashed by rain in minus 3C (27F) temperatures.

Closed: The Turkish border has been closed for three days where air workers warn of a mounting humanitarian crisis as more Syrian refugees arrive by the day

Thousands of Syrians have rushed toward the Turkish border, fleeing fierce Syrian government offensives and intense Russian airstrikes near Aleppo

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country would open the borders 'if necessary' in the event of an 'extraordinary crisis'

Some tents were ripped and caked with mud while others were being set up by aid agencies. Rebel fighters armed with Kalashnikovs stood nearby.

Tory MP Peter Bone ridiculed Mrs Merkel, saying: Unfortunately the actions of other countries in the EU such as Germany have acted as a pull factor for migrants. Bringing them into the EU ultimately leads to more of them wanting to come.

The United Arab Emirates yesterday joined Saudi Arabia in declaring itself ready to invade Syria as part of a US-led ground operation. Syrian president Bashar al-Assads foreign ministry vowed they would all go home in coffins.
An Australian bridge champion is among 31 westerners who were arrested in Thailand on February 3 after local police raided a bridge club in the popular beach resort of Pattaya.

Three time National Australian Bridge Champion, Avon Wilsmore, says police ordered the bridge players to sign false declarations to say they were gambling or they would be detained.

Mr Wilsomore told Fairfax he has an 'aversion to signing false declarations'.



'Her view was that this 'confession' was no big deal, we could retract and contest the matter in court,' Mr Wilsmore said.

'Getting home was preferred, so that's what we did.'

Two elderly Australians were among those detained.

The players were forced to pay $194 bail and had their passports confiscated.

Pattaya's police chief Sukthat Pumphanmuang said police were 'just doing their job' in defence of the raid which has been ridiculed globally.

'Gambling den': Thai police raided the ex-pat bridge club in Pattaya, east Thailand, on Wednesday night, arresting 32 foreigners, including 12 elderly Brits, who were released 12 hours later on a 100 bail

'There was a complaint and there is a law,' he told the Bangkok Post, adding that score books and evidence of prize-giving ceremonies from the club had been seized.

Mr Wilson says he hopes that his passport is returned to him quickly because he wishes to return to Sydney in February.

Over 50 police officers and military volunteers raided the ex-pat bridge club on Wednesday night, arresting 32 foreigners, and holding them until 3am.

Despite not playing for money, Thai police say the bridge club broke the law by 'possessing more than 120 playing cards at one time'.

Police said those arrested, 26 men and six women, included 12 British nationals, three Norwegians, three Swedes, two Australians, a German, a Dane, a Canadian, a New Zealander and a Dutch and Irish national. The other nationalities were not made public.

They were held in custody for 12 hours before being released on a a 5,000 baht (100) bail, which all but one of the 32 was able to pay.

Among those detained was Barry Kenyon, a former British Honorary Consul and MBE recipient, who revealed to The Telegraph it was an 'ordeal' for older members, but that a local convenience store had come to the rescue with supplies.

'We had done nothing illegal,' he explained. 'We do not play bridge for money, but the district officials insisted they wanted to do ahead with a case whatever.

'They saw the computer we had to record each players bridge records and must have thought something big was going on. It was all quite absurd.'

The alleged organizer of the event, an expatriate Brit named in local media as Jeremy Watson, 74, was detained for further questioning.

A police spokesperson said the Jomtien and Pattaya Bridge Club, which has been openly meeting three times a week above a restaurant since 1994, had violated the Playing Cards Act of 1935.

The law prohibits the possession of more than 120 playing cards at one time, and requires decks to have official government seals, local media reports.

Ex-pat arrests: Other nationalities of the arrested included Norwegians, Swedes, Australians, a Canadian, a New Zealander and an Irish national

The alleged organizer of the event, an expatriate Brit named in local media as Jeremy Watson, 74, was detained for further questioning

A British Embassy spokesman said officials were in contact with local authorities 'following the arrest of several British nationals'.

Pattaya One, a local English language newspaper, ran photographs of the raid showing groups of largely elderly foreigners gathered around tables holding playing cards as police looked on.

'There were 32 people, all of them foreigners arrested for gambling on Wednesday night,' Colonel Suthat Pumphanmuang, Pattaya police superintendent said.

He added that the raid had been sparked by a member of the public complaining to the junta's anti-corruption centre.

Almost all forms of gambling apart from the lottery and bets on some animal fighting is outlawed in Thailand, though underground betting is rampant.

Illegal: Members of the bridge club, which has been openly meeting three times a week since 1994, had violated the Playing Cards Act of 1935 by 'possessing more than 120 playing cards at one time'

'The chairman of the bridge club is arguing that they were not gambling (for money),' Suthat said.

Since seizing power in 2014, Thai junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha has vowed to crackdown on a raft of social ills including corruption and criminal networks, both foreign and domestic.

He has set up a corruption centre where members of the public can inform officials of alleged abuses or crimes.

The Immigration Bureau recently rolled out a new slogan: 'Good guys in, bad guys out'.

Pattaya, a town on Thailand's eastern Gulf coast, has long had a reputation for being a haven both for foreign criminals and ex-pat retirees.
Ms Michelutti reportedly took out a new ADVO two weeks before her death

The victim allegedly took out ADVOs against the accused since 1999

Her defacto partner, Gavin Debeyer was charged with her murder

The mother-of-five's body was discovered after midday on Monday

A woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by the father of her five children had allegedly been taking Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) out against her partner since 1999.

Tragically the victim, Sydney woman Sharon Michelutti, had reportedly taken an ADVO out against her defacto partner Gavin Debeyer just two weeks before she was killed at her Riverwood home in Sydney's south-west, according to Fairfax.

On Monday her lifeless body was found in a bedroom by her son and Debeyer was arrested and charged. The disturbing death distressed another of her sons so much he had to be restrained and treated by ambulance.

'My dad killed her, didn't he?' the young man was heard yelling in distress.

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Sharon Michelutti, 48, was found dead with stab wounds in the bedroom of her Riverwood, south-west Sydney home on Monday

Her 50-year-old defacto partner Gavin Debeyer was charged with her murder. Police (pictured) remain on the scene at the Kentucky Road property

The final ADVO which failed to protect Ms Michelutti is understood to have been one of many, put in place after a 2013 order expired, according to Fairfax.

The ADVOs had allegedly been 'rolling over' since at least 1999 to protect Ms Michelutti.

Debeyer was legally forbidden from approach Ms Michelutti or her home within 12 hours of drinking or taking drugs.

Neighbours claimed there were frequently violent domestic incidents at the home, Fairfax reports.

One of their five children was wrestled to the ground by police when the adult son tried to get under police tape and demanded to see his mother at the Kentucky Road home on Tuesday.

My dad killed her, didnt he? he called out, before he was restrained and taken away in an ambulance, Ten News reported.

When another of the sons made the discovery on Monday, he ran screaming down the street, a neighbour told Sydney Morning Herald.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Debeyer had reported to local police that Ms Michelutti made a suicide attempt, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Debeyer had a long history of violence, according to neighbours. He was charged with her murder when the grisly discovery was made

He appeared at Burwood Local Court dressed in a white forensic suit with the hood covering his face

Its believed she was murdered Monday morning

The pair had been dating since she was just 14-years-old.

Her body was found after midday on Monday, and its believed her murder occurred between 9.45am and 12.04pm, court documents alleged according to Daily Telegraph.

One of the defacto couples sons wrote to Facebook on Monday to express his grief, writing it was one of the toughest days off [sic] my life.

Neighbour Markita Galea, said the couple fought a lot, at least weekly.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said she heard them fighting at the home twice last week.

He appeared at Burwood Local Court dressed in a white forensic suit with the hood covering his face, Daily Telegraph reported.

He made no application for bail, and a legal aid lawyer request he be listed as a self-harm risk.

Mr Debeyer is next due to appear in court on March 30.

Ms Michelutti (pictured) was the mother of Mr Debeyer's five children. The defacto couple had reportedly been dating since she was 14

One of their five children was wrestled to the ground by police when the adult son tried to get under police tape and demanded to see his mother at the Kentucky Road home on Tuesday
A father has been found guilty of murdering his wife five years ago and hiding her body - but he still insists he didn't do it.

Nique Leili, 44, mysteriously disappeared from her Lawrenceville, Georgia, home on July 8, 2011, two days before her husband Matthew filed for divorce, insisting she had left town and cut ties with her family.

Her remains were found eight days later, decomposing, next to the entrance of her family's nearby subdivision.

Matthew, then 42, was publicly named as a suspect, but it wasn't until March, 2015, just shy of four years after Nique's body was found, that he was charged with her death.

On Friday afternoon he was found guilty of killing her and was sentenced to life without parole after the jury deliberated for three hours.

But shortly after the verdict was read out, a defiant Leili told the court: 'I'm innocent. I will be filing an appeal.'

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Matthew Leili has been found guilty of murdering his wife Nique, 44, (right) five years after her naked body was found covered in leaves in Lawrenceville, Georgia

'Shortly after the verdict was read out, a defiant Leili told the court: 'I didn't do this. I will be filing an appeal.'

Leili sat and shook his head as Nique's family members who were sat in the public gallery expressed their shock.

He was convicted despite the fact his two daughters, Amanda and Rebecca Leili, testified on his behalf, according to WSBTV.

They have stood by their father in the years since their mother's death and have consistently said he was innocent.

They recorded a video after he was arrested in April 2015, backing their father and insisting their parents were a happy couple.

Amanda says: 'My parents were married 13 years. My dad loved my mom and still does.

'We just need our dad home. That's where he needs to be.'

His daughters added that their mother hated members of her family and wanted some of them dead.

Matthew was arrested thanks to police re-examining evidence found on his computer, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

Shortly after the grim discovery, in contrast to his daughter's account, Nique's friends and family painted an unhappy picture of the couple's marriage.

Matthew (mugshot pictured) was charged win his wife's death almost four years after her body was found on July 16, 2011

That was backed up by a 911 call in which Nique told a dispatcher that Matthew wouldn't let her leave the house.

There was also an image of her with cuts and bruises to her face.

The injuries were said to have been caused by Matthew.

However some people have said Nique actually suffered the injuries after falling off of a Segway.

Before the end of July, Matthew and his wife's family were battling over her remains and custody of the couple's young daughters, who were 9 and 12 at the time of her death.

In the end, two funerals had to be held for Nique after an agreement reached between Matthew and her eldest daughter's lawyers.

However the couple's two children remained in his custody.

Around the same time, Matthew released through an attorney.

'Contrary to the allegations as reported, Mr. Leili cooperated with police and provided every known fact and circumstance regarding his wife's disappearance,' the statement said. 'Mr. Leili has done nothing wrong, and as such, is refusing to respond to allegations reported in the media.'

Nique Leili's death certificate was released in December of that year. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death inconclusive but did not exclude homicide by strangulation or asphyxiation.

In February 2012, Matthew Leili moved to Vermont, taking his daughters with him and, according to Nique's sister, eliminating all communication with other family members.

On March 4, 2015, Gwinnett County police suddenly announced they had charged Matthew with murder and eavesdropping.

A spokesman for the police said: 'This was not the magic bullet. This was enough to tip the scales.'

He was arrested following a court hearing in Atlanta, during which he was lobbying for the payout from his wife's life insurance policy.

Nearly two months later, the Leilis' daughters posted a video defending their father on YouTube.

'Because of all the lies and hate that the family has for my father,' the caption said, 'they have managed to get him arrested for a murder he did not commit.'

They also backed him during a bond hearing in 2015 and again during his two-week murder trial.

On May 27, a Gwinnett County grand jury returned an indictment charging Matthew with murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of unlawful eavesdropping and surveillance.

He was convicted despite the fact his two daughters, Amanda and Rebecca Leili, testified on his behalf. They have stood by their father in the years since their mother's death and have consistently said he was innocent

Shortly after the grim discovery, Nique's friends and family painted an unhappy picture of the couple's marriage. There was also an image of her with cuts and bruises to her face. The injuries were said to have been caused by Matthew (the date the picture was taken is not known)
Boris Johnson has given David Cameron a one-week deadline to unveil plans to guarantee the supremacy of the British Parliament over EU law, it emerged today.

In a bid to secure the backing of the Mayor of London, the Prime Minister told MPs last week that he wants to 'put beyond doubt' the sovereignty of the House of Commons and Downing Street said proposals will be introduced 'in the coming weeks'.

But a friend of Mr Johnson said: 'It will have to be next week if they are going to produce anything.

'They will probably ring him this week.'

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Boris Johnson, pictured left, has given David Cameron, right, a one-week deadline to unveil plans to guarantee the supremacy of the British Parliament over EU law

The friend, speaking to The Independent on Sunday, revealed that Mr Johnson was 'still deliberating' which side of the EU campaign to join, adding: 'He won't be bounced, he won't be bullied and he won't be conned.

'He was given assurances on sovereignty.'

The Prime Minister is expected to make clear the British Supreme Court outranks the European Court of Justice, making it similar to Germanys constitutional court.

The idea was first mooted by Mr Johnson and at a Chatham House speech in November Mr Cameron tasked Michael Gove with drawing up the new laws.

But the Prime Ministers plans were dealt a blow on Friday when a leading British law officer said the plans would not work.

Sir Francis Jacobs, a former British advocate general of the European Court of Justice, said EU law will always prevail as long as Britain remains in the 28-state bloc.

Boris Johnson, pictured with Cameron during the General Election campaign, said the PM had done the 'best out of a bad job' with his draft negotiation deal

He also said proposals to copy Germanys constitutional court, which judges whether EU laws is incompatible with German law, would only create another powerless talking shop and would only be able to raise doubts over EU law.

He said the German constitutional court simply raises doubts about European law and that can be very useful.

Asked whether EU law would remain sovereign under Camerons proposals, said: The answer is clearly yes. If the European Union is to work at all then European Union law has to prevail over the law over the member states.

If the 28 member states are each taking a different view of what European Union law should mean then it would be impossible for the European Union to function so it does require that European law should be recognised as prevailing over national law.

SIX IN TEN TORY MPS TO VOTE FOR BREXIT David Cameron faces the prospect of well over 100 Tory MPs campaigning to leave the EU Six in ten Tory MPs are set to vote for Britain to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum, it has emerged. A survey of 144 Conservative backbenchers found that 66 (57 per cent) are opting for Brexit, while just 50 said they would campaign to remain in the EU. A dozen said they were yet to decide which side to join, while 16 declined to comment in a poll of MPs by the Sunday Times. Six in ten MPs said Cameron's deal was bad, while 48 of the 144 said it was good. Advertisement

He added that the only way to regain sovereignty for the British Parliament would be to leave the EU entirely.

There is simply no alternative to the view that European law must prevail over national law.

Mr Johnsons stance on the referendum has attracted much speculation.

Eurosceptic Tory MP Bernard Jenkin revealed that the London Mayor had told him he had never been an Outer during an exchange last week.

Mr Jenkin told The Mail on Sunday: 'Boris was quite open and frank about it  it was no secret conversation.

He is genuinely torn but I hope he will change his mind because he is one of the few who understands that if we stay in Britain will be in a weaker position than ever before.'

The disclosure of the exchange is embarrassing for Mr Johnson, who has repeatedly kept his cards close to his chest over which side of the EU campaign he will join.

'Out' campaigners have begged him to join them, believing his charisma and Churchillian rhetoric could boost their lacklustre campaign.

Mr Johnson played a vital role in forcing Mr Camerons to call a referendum and has made a string of rabble-rousing speeches about quitting the EU.

Two years ago he said: 'It might well be better to quit an unreformed EU than stay in.'

Last year he claimed that Britain could 'forge a glorious and prosperous future' on its own, and last week he said that Britain 'must be more willing to say, 'We are an independent country.' '

However, some Tories have long suspected that deep down, Mr Johnson, whose father Stanley was an MEP, is a closet Europhile.

One Conservative MP said: 'His dad was a Euro-MP, Boris went to school in Brussels, he speaks several European languages, he worked in Brussels, he loves being part of any elite.

'If he ever became PM he'd be a star in Europe. Why would he want to leave?'

Securing the Mayor of Londons backing for the In campaign would likely guarantee Cameron faces few truly big beasts in the referendum race to polling day, expected on June 23 if the remaining talks go well.

He gave cautious backing to Mr Cameron after the Prime Minister unveiled his reform package on Tuesday, saying he had made the best out of a bad job, adding: Lets wait and see where this whole thing goes.

Securing the Mayor of Londons backing for the In campaign would likely guarantee Cameron faces few truly big beasts in the referendum race to polling day, expected on June 23 if the remaining talks go well

THE POSTER GIRL OF THE OUT CAMPAIGN: THE RISING CABINET STAR WHO WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST CAMERON IN BID FOR BRITAIN TO LEAVE THE EU Rising Cabinet star Priti Patel is set to demand a meeting with David Cameron to tell him she will fight tooth and nail against his bid to keep Britain in the EU. The move by Ms Patel, the telegenic Employment Minister, is expected in the next few days and is set to make her the poster girl of the 'Out' campaign. It will come as a welcome boost for the 'Leave' movement following splits and feuds between rival groups and claims that its leaders are all 'pale, male and stale'. Ms Patel, 43, is the daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1970s to escape dictator Idi Amin. They set up a chain of newsagents in the South of England  and their work ethic inspired her future political views. Rising Cabinet star Priti Patel (pictured) is set to demand a meeting with David Cameron to tell him she will fight tooth and nail against his bid to keep Britain in the EU After grammar school and university, she entered politics, working, appropriately, for James Goldsmith's Referendum Party, a forerunner of Ukip, in the 1997 Election. In 2010 she became Tory MP for Witham in Essex, the heartland of white, working-class England, winning over the local party with her outspoken support for the return of the death penalty for murderers and rapists Her stance  decidedly unfashionable for a trendy Cameron 'A' lister  led to a TV clash with Have I Got News For You panellist Ian Hislop. Ms Patel told him: 'I support capital punishment as a deterrent. Far too many politicians do run away from debating issues like this.' She also opposed gay marriage, a reflection of her small 'c' conservative family background. Her views have led some to call her a 'modern-day Norman Tebbit'  and it is no coincidence that she is deputy to Work and Pensions Secretary and fellow Right-winger Iain Duncan Smith, Tebbit's successor as MP for Chingford in Essex. Ms Patel's energy and enthusiasm was quickly talent-spotted by Chancellor George Osborne, who ensured she was fast-tracked to the Cabinet. Priti  who has a seven-year-old son, Freddie, by husband Alex Sawyer  has no-nonsense Thatcherite views on welfare, low taxes and immigration. Ms Patel (pictured), 43, is the daughter of Indian Gujaratis who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1970s to escape dictator Idi Amin She says Tory core values of family, faith, hard work, education, community service, self-reliance and business mirror those of traditional Asian families. 'My parents persevered and prospered through sheer determination and a profound work ethic. 'Coming from a country where you're persecuted means that you want to work hard. 'You become patriotic because you make your new country your home and you live and play by its values.' 'Priti' impressive compared to the ugly 'Out' campaign so far. Advertisement




The society has been forced to change their policies to make their selection process more inclusive

There were no pictures or identifying information of the cast, just names

When the names of those chosen was released, some were left furious

a part, but only a few are chosen for solos or small group performances

A burlesque society at Northwestern University has had to change its policies after students complained their wasn't enough diversity in their cast, even though they only had the names of the actors to go by.

Students felt their 'safe space' had been violated after prospective stars were invited to audition at the Illinois college for the performers' fourth annual show in April.

Everyone who attends is guaranteed a part in the production, but only a few are selected for solos or small group performances.

When the names of the students who had been chosen for the big parts was released, some were furious and claimed their 'safe space' had been violated.

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A burlesque society at Northwestern University has had to change its policies after students complained their wasn't enough diversity in their cast, even though they only had the names of the actors to go by. Co-director Avril Dominguez is seen promoting the show

There were no pictures of the cast members or any other identifying pieces of information, just their names.

The performance coincides with the university-backed sex week which includes performances by drag queens and a talk from a feminist 'pornographer' titled: Reclaiming Pornography One Orgasm at a Time.

Avril Dominguez, the co-director of the show, told The Daily Northwestern: 'It was brought to our attention that there are people in our community who feel that those solos and duets and trios are not best representing what the Burlesque community i.

'We do have a very inclusive and representative cast at large (and) were taking that criticism into account and really trying to reestablish a safe space.'

Some of the cast members left as a result of the scandal.

Genesis Garcia told the student newspaper she was only staying because she felt the society's management was taking action.

Students felt their 'safe space' had been violated after prospective stars were invited to audition at the Illinois college for the performers' fourth annual show in April. Members of the cast are seen advertising one of their performances

'I decided Ill stay because I want to see changes being made  I want to make sure people are being held accountable and to be held accountable myself,' she said. 'The biggest thing from here on out is accountability.

Dominguez and co-director Alaura Hernandez emphasized, however, they stand by the individual and small group performances they had selected prior to the complaints.

Hernandez said: 'People are upset because they dont think we have diversity in our small groups, but they dont know the people who got solos  all they see is a name, so they might have made an assumption based on those names.

'We see the diversity in our acts because we saw the auditions, but its not our place to broadcast what these acts represent.'

The society is now looking to bring in a constitution so their cast can be more inclusive.

The performance coincides with the university-backed sex week which includes performances by drag queens and a talk from a feminist 'pornographer' titled: Reclaiming Pornography One Orgasm at a Time (campus pictured)
A Missouri woman said her dream vacation turned into a nightmare after she was arrested on her way home and jailed for almost a week in a case of mistaken identity.

Cynthia Cindy Cheesbrough, 52, of Joplin, and her fiance Jason Istas, 46, had been traveling home from Cancun, Mexico, when authorities in Texas stopped the couple.

She said she was stopped by airport security on April 24 after getting off the plane for a layover in Houston, where authorities arrested her.

Cheesbrough spent five days in jail for a crime she did not commit  an ordeal she described as humiliating and degrading to the Huffington Post.

Cynthia Cheesbrough and her fiance Jason Istas' (pictured) dream vacation to Cancun turned into a nightmare when she was arrested on the way home in a case of mistaken identity

It was a nightmare, she told the website. I was hysterical, shaking, dumbfounded and pretty angry.

Authorities told her there was a warrant for the arrest of Cindy Bayless  Cheesbroughs maiden name - for more than $1,000 worth of insufficient funds charges out of Farmington, Missouri.

I havent used my maiden name in 30 plus years, so I really wasnt sure what was going on and I didnt even know where Farmington, Missouri was, she told KMOV.

What Cheesbrough didnt realize at the time was that an error about birthdates had meant she was confused with another woman who shared her first and maiden name.

Cheesbrough spent five days in county jail before Istas was able to secure her $3,500 bail and another two days in a hotel before a judge permitted her to travel.

Cheesbrough (pictured with Istas on their way to Cancun) spent five days in jail after an error meant she was confused with another woman who shared her name and maiden name

Cheesbrough had to drive five hours to Farmington, Missouri, where she was told her name had been cleared, but no-one had informed her. Pictured, the sheriff's department headquarters in Farmington

She began investigating and figured out that authorities had mistaken her for someone else.

Her year of birth was 1972 and mine is 1962, she added to the Huffington Post. They had mistakenly put a six instead of a seven in the computer, which caused my identification to be pulled instead of hers.

But when calling authorities to explain the situation yielded no results, she took a five-hour drive to Farmington.

There, she learned that the charges against her had been dropped. But no-one informed her of this, she said.

I had to drive all the way there to find out and when I did, there was no apology  nothing, she added.

She says St Francois County authorities refuse to compensate her for the expenses she incurred after being falsely arrested.

Daily Mail Online has contacted authorities for comment.
The 'world's best chef', who was found dead in his home last week, was the victim of a huge wine scam that put him in considerable financial trouble, according to reports.

Benoit Violier, 44, whose Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was awarded three Michelin stars, committed suicide last Sunday, leaving no note.

But it is now claimed he was in significant financial trouble, despite the apparent success of his restaurant in Crissier, near Lausanne in Switzerland.

According to reports, the renowned chef fell victim to a scheme where rare wines priced from 14,000 up to 27,500 were sold to restaurants - but never delivered.

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Benoit Violier, 44, whose Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was awarded three Michelin stars, committed suicide last Sunday. The chef is pictured here posing with his trophy for the best restaurant of the World in December 2015

Benoit Violier and his wife Brigitte, who found her husband's body at their home following a call from a concerned friend. It has been claimed he fell victim to a scam allegedly masterminded by Swiss wine comany Private Finance Partners

Swiss financial magazine Bilan claims he was the victim of a vast scam allegedly masterminded by Private Finance Partners, a Swiss wine company based in Sion.

In 2015, the company trading in rare wines sold expensive bottles that fetched thousands of pounds to a number of restaurants, including Violier's, but allegedly failed to deliver them.

The same bottles, priced between 14,000 and 27,500, were allegedly sold three or four times to various unsuspecting buyers.

According to Bilan, Violier's restaurant suffered losses due to the scam of between 554,700 and 1.37 million.

Private Finance Partners was declared bankrupt on November 30 last year.

The magazine claimed that one of the brokers, who remained anonymous in the article, was taken into custody in October.

It said: 'The last months of the famous chef were quite troubled.'

It has been reported the talented chef was the victim of a huge wine scam that put him in considerable financial trouble

Violier (pictured with his wife Brigitte) had been due to fly to Paris for a Michelin Guide awards ceremony, however concerns were raised when his friend arrived to collect him and there was no answer

Violier was laid to rest on Saturday in France. A service was also held on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland, where 1500 people attended.

He was buried in Montils, a town in the region of Charente-Maritime in France, where he was born and where his mother and one of his six siblings still live.

Violier's death came just weeks after his Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was crowned the best of 1,000 top eateries across 48 countries ranked by France's La Liste.

The ranking was seen as the French foreign ministry's answer to the Britain-based World's 50 Best Restaurants. Some saw it as launched out of pique after not a single French eatery reached the top ten of the UK-based table.

Violier said at the time: 'It's wonderful, it's exceptional for us. This ranking will only motivate our team more.'

The renowned chef was laid to rest on Saturday in France and some 1500 peope attended a service held on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland (pictured)

Known as a keen hunter, the Gallic chef was famed for his game dishes, including ibex or chamois.

Opened nearly 40 years ago, the restaurant offers menus starting at 134.

Louis Villeneuve, his maitre d'hotel, who has been in his post for four decades, was one of the last people to see Violier.

It was 11pm on Saturday night when the restaurant was closing for the usual two-day period of Sunday and Monday.

His final words to Villeneuve, as he said goodbye, were: 'See you Tuesday.'

On Sunday, Violier's wife and son Romain, 12, left the apartment at noon for lunch with friends.

Violier was due to fly to Paris later in the day for a Michelin Guide awards ceremony.

When his friend arrived to collect him there was no answer at the door or on his phone.

He called Brigitte who immediately made her way home. The pair then made the grim discovery.

Some 1500 mourners gathered to pay tribute to Violier during his funeral ceremony at the Cathedral of Lausanne in western Switzerland on February 5

The married father-of-one was found dead with a hunting rifle by his side at his home on Sunday. He leaves his wife Brigitte and their 12-year-old son Romain
I told you so - that was Chris Christie's message on Fox News Sunday as he took a victory lap following his take down of Marco Rubio last night.

Rubio stumbled in the Saturday evening Republican primary debate as Christie got the better of him, repeating canned talking points four times and leaning on a thin U.S. Senate resume.

'I felt justified because I've been saying this for a long time, and I don't think that people have really been listening,' Christie said this morning on Fox News Sunday.

He insisted he has no beef with Rubio, whom he spends most of his stump speech on the trail targeting. 'He's a good guy, but hes not ready to be President of the United States.'

'Do Republicans want to see someone who can absolutely answer Secretary Clinton's every parry in a debate in September so that we actually win the presidency?' Christie asked. 'Or do we want to see someone that will crumble under Hillary Clinton.'

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I told you so - that was Chris Christie's message on Fox News Sunday as he took a victory lap following his take down of Marco Rubio last night

'Do Republicans want to see someone who can absolutely answer Secretary Clinton's every parry in a debate in September so that we actually win the presidency?' Christie asked today. 'Or do we to see someone that will crumble under Hillary Clinton.' The governor is seen above at last night's match

UNPHASED: Marco Rubio arrives for a town hall meeting in the Londonderry High School in New Hampshire this morning. Hundreds of people came to the event to see Rubio in spite of last night's debate flub

Christie laid it on thick as he repeated the attacks he's been catapulting at Rubio from afar to his face in tonight's debate.

He hammered Florida's 44-year-old junior senator and said, 'When you're President of the United States, when you're a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn't solve one problem for one person.'

Governors are responsible for plowing snow and keeping schools open, he said, holding up his own leadership in New Jersey as a model.

'And when the worst natural disaster in your state's history hits you, they expect you to rebuild their state, which is what I've done,' he said. 'None of that stuff happens on the floor of the United States Senate. It's a fine job, I'm glad you ran for it, but it does not prepare you for President of the United States.'

Rubio gamely responded that last month as New Jersey faced a blizzard, he continued campaigning in New Hampshire.

'They had to shame you into going back,' Rubio told him. 'Then you stayed there for 36 hours and then...left and came back to campaign.'

Pushing back on Christie's contention that he'll be as bad for the country as Barack Obama, Rubio said more than once: 'This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is just not true. He knows exactly what he's doing.'

'There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody,' he interjected at on point.

A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee said Rubio the 'robot' needed a maintenance check. He laughed at the GOP infighting as he worked the opposing party's spin room and told DailyMail.com, 'I almost feel like I can just go home.'

It was a shaky moment in the campaign for Rubio, who was visibly thrown off his footing by the confrontation with Christie and booing from the audience after what he thought was a money shot.

His performance was negatively panned by the political class and armchair pundits on Twitter.

Clinton's attack dog super PAC Correct the Record had a video up before the end of the night mocking Rubio's four-peat response.

Democratic opposition research firm American Bridge posted its own 'Rubio on Repeat' video, in which it called him 'Rubi-uh-oh.'

'What happened to the RubioBot tonight?' Regan Page, communications advisor to the group, said in a statement to the press.

But Rubio said today that he raised more money in the first hour of the debate than in any other.

'As far as that message, I hope they keep running it and I'm going to keep saying because it's true,' he said after on This Week after host George Stephanopoulos played Correct the Record's clip.

'Barack Obama -- yes, has he hired incompetent people to implement laws and run agencies? Absolutely.

Rubio said he 'would pay them to keep running that clip because that's what I believe passionately.'

'It's one of the reasons why I'm not running for reelection to the Senate and I'm running for president. This notion and this idea that somehow, oh, this is an accident --ObamaCare was not an accident. Dodd-Frank was not an accident. The deal with Iran was not an accident.'

True to his word, Rubio stuck to his message as the ABC News anchor pressed him to defend himself from Christie's attacks.

'It's what I believe. And it's what I'm going to continue to say because it happens to be one of the main reasons why I am running...This is the greatest country in the history of mankind because of a certain set of principles.

'Barack Obama wants us to abandon those principles that he has spent seven years putting in place policies that rip them from us: undermining the Constitution, undermining free enterprise, undermining our standing in the world, weakening America, apologizing for us on the global stage.'

Rubio said today that he raised more money in the first hour of the debate than in any other. 'As far as that message, I hope they keep running it and I'm going to keep saying because it's true,' he said this morning on This Week

Appearing on Fox News Sunday after his rival, Christie said Rubio's reaction to his assault 'revealed something about what you need to be President of the United States.'

'You gotta be tested, you gotta be prepared, you gotta be experience, you gotta be ready. And quite frankly that's what I tried to show to folks last night that I am tested and prepared and ready.

'And what I've been saying all week about Senator Rubio was on full display last night. He's just simply not ready, Chris. '

Tuesday's New Hampshire primary is thought to be Donald Trump's contest to lose, but Rubio's strong third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses put him in the spotlight.

Now the momentum seems to be on Christie's side.

Christie and other Republican White House hopefuls have turned attacks on Rubio's habitual failure to show up for Senate votes or fight for contested legislation into a pillar of their stump speeches in New Hampshire.

Debate moderators brought up the accusations and Rubio parried concerns about his limited experience by reciting a list of accomplishments he's been touting on the campaign trail.

'If politics becomes, and the presidency becomes, about electing people who have been in Congress or in the Senate the longest, we should all rally around Joe Biden. He's been around 1,000 years,' Rubio said.

As a U.S. senator Biden passed 'hundreds of bills,' he said, and I don't think any of us believe Joe Biden should be President of the United States.'

UNDER FIRE: Christie has turned an attack on Rubio's habitual failure to show up to work in the U.S. Senate, let alone fight for and pass contested legislation, into a pillar of his stump speech in New Hampshire

He also said he's nothing like Barack Obama, another first-term senator who ran for president and Republicans say is running the country into the ground because he didn't have the necessary experience to be commander-in-chief.

'Let's dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing,' Rubio hit back. 'Barack Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world.'

Christie rejected that defense and said, 'Marco, you shouldn't compare yourself to Joe Biden and you shouldn't say that that's what we're doing. ....You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable. You just simply haven't.'

Invoking a bill Rubio regularly counts as a feather in his cap that put sanctions on Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terrorist group, Christie told him, 'You weren't even there to vote for it. That's not leadership, that's truancy.'

'And the fact is that what we need to do...is not to make the same mistake we made eight years ago,' he said, drawing a comparison between Rubio and Obama. 'It does matter when the challenges don't come on a list of a piece of paper of what to vote yes or no every day, but when the problems come in from the people that you serve.'

Christie said, 'I like Marco Rubio, and he's a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions.'

Rubio responded with a point of his own on Christie's record as a two-term governor.

Under his leadership, New Jersey has had its credit rating downgraded nine times, he said.

'This country already has a debt problem, we don't need to add to it by electing someone who has experience at running up and destroying the credit rating of his state.'

He then pivoted back to well-trod ground about Obama and his intentions to 'change' the country. And he repeated a long-running line from his stump speech about making America 'the single greatest nation in the history of the world.'

Christie pounced on the response and said, 'You see, everybody, I want the people at home to think about this. That's what Washington, D.C. does. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him.'

Rubio threw an elbow of his own, and said of the snowstorm, 'You didn't even want to go back. They had to shame you into going back.'

Christie wouldn't let it drop.

'You know what the shame is -- you know what the shame is, Marco? The shame is that you would actually criticize somebody for showing up to work, plowing the streets, getting the trains running back on time when you've never been responsible for that in your entire life.'

To that Rubio again, said, 'Chris, you didn't want to go back. You didn't want to go back.'

'Oh, so -- wait a second. Is that one of the skills you get as a United States senator ESP also? Because I don't think it is,' Christie said.

Rubio tried the line again, and said, 'When he decided to go back, he criticized the young lady, saying, "What am I supposed to do, go back with a mop and clean up the flooding?"'

'It gets very unruly when he gets off his talking points,' Christie retorted, getting one last jab in at his opponent before the debate moved on.

The New Jersey governor recalled the moment on Fox News Sunday and said, 'He tried to come back at me, and I answered him every time, because I've been tested.'

Christie is in sixth place in the race and is stuck at five percent in the polls. He predicted today that his numbers would go up after his appearance in last night's debate.
David Cameron was today warned that his plans to curb EU migrants' access to benefits could increase the surge of people coming to Britain.

David Davis, the former Europe minister, said media coverage of the PM's proposals for an 'emergency brake' would encourage EU workers to rush to the UK before the deal can be implemented.

He said Eastern European newspapers had written numerous stories about in-work benefits available to workers in Britain following Mr Cameron's announcement last week of plans to bar EU migrants from claiming benefits in the UK for their first four years in the country.

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David Davis, pictured right, said David Cameron's plans for an 'emergency brake' could encourage EU workers to rush to the UK before they are implemented

Brussels suggested the new rules could take 12 months to come into effect.

'Under such circumstances the incentive for anybody wishing to come to live in the UK will be to come as quickly as possible to beat the deadline when any such restrictions come into effect,' Mr Davis, a leading contender to head the Out campaign, said.

'Accordingly we are likely to see a surge in migrants in the next 12 months.'

He said very few workers in Eastern Europe had been aware of Britain's generous benefits system.

'That is why only 10% or less of new migrants to the UK claim in work benefits in the first couple of years after arrival,' he claimed.

BE ON POLL ALERT, CORBYN URGED Jeremy Corbyn has been warned to prepare for a snap General Election this year by one of his shadow ministers. Labour could be hurtling towards catastrophe if it continues to be intellectually and organisationally under-prepared, divided and under-resourced, said Toby Perkins. The defence spokesman urged the Labour leader to be on a war footing to take on David Cameron after the EU referendum. Writing on the Labourlist website, the Chesterfield MP said that even if Mr Cameron convinced British voters to stay in the EU, there would be a clamour among Tory MPs and activists for him to quit Downing Street. In the event that Cameron goes, I expect his successor to look very keenly at whether Labour is capable of fighting a snap General Election, he said, in a clear dig at Mr Corbyn. Advertisement

WHICH WAY WILL GOVE GO? Michael Gove will appear alongside David Cameron today amid reports that the Justice Secretary is wavering over whether to campaign for Britain to leave the EU. The PM has appealed to his friend and ally not to back Brexit but to support his renegotiation. Eurosceptic MPs still hope Mr Gove could back the campaign to leave. Reports suggest he is convinced of the merits of leaving but worried about joining a campaign that could damage Mr Camerons legacy. Mr Gove has been notably absent from TV interviews recently and did not appear on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday despite a major prisons policy announcement this week. His ex-special adviser Dominic Cummings will appear with him as Mr Cameron makes a speech on prison reform. Advertisement

Davis claimed that plans to curb EU migrants' access to benefits with an 'emergency brake' would have 'no impact whatsoever'

The Haltemprice and Howden MP said George Osborne's new minimum wage, which will rise to 9 by 2020, will encourage even more EU migrants to come to the UK

Mr Davis has been a leading voice against Mr Cameron's plans for a year 'emergency brake' - the most contentious part of the Prime Minister's draft deal to reform Britain's membership of the EU.

SIX IN TEN TORY MPS TO VOTE FOR BREXIT David Cameron faces the prospect of well over 100 Tory MPs campaigning to leave the EU Six in ten Tory MPs are set to vote for Britain to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum, it has emerged. A survey of 144 Conservative backbenchers found that 66 (57 per cent) are opting for Brexit, while just 50 said they would campaign to remain in the EU. A dozen said they were yet to decide which side to join, while 16 declined to comment in a poll of MPs by the Sunday Times. Six in ten MPs said Cameron's deal was bad, while 48 of the 144 said it was good. Advertisement

If agreed by the 28 EU leaders at a crunch summit in Brussels later this month, Britain would be able to impose temporary restrictions on EU workers' access to in-work benefits, including tax credits.

Under the plans, EU migrants would be barred from claiming in-work benefits for the first two years of arriving in the UK and would then see benefits tapered in over the next two years.

It led to accusations from Eurosceptic MPs that Mr Cameron had 'watered down' his manifesto pledge to ban benefits outright for four years.

The Prime Minister also came under fire after it was revealed EU migrants would continue to be allowed to send child benefit home - but only at the same rate of the equivalent benefit in their own country.

Mr Davis added: 'The so-called emergency brake that the Prime Minister is attempting to negotiate with Brussels is very likely to increase the number of people immigrating into the UK in the coming year,' Mr Davis said.

'To date very few would-be migrants would have been be aware of the British tax credits system, let alone understand its complexities.

'That is why only 10 per cent or less of new migrants to the UK claim in work benefits in the first couple of years after arrival.

'Since the Prime Minister attempted to promote his renegotiation deal last week, the Eastern European newspapers have carried numerous stories about in-work benefits and the plans to terminate them for the first four years after a migrants arrival in the UK.

'At the same time they have reported the statements emanating from Brussels that such a scheme would not be allowed to come into effect for at least 12 months, if ever.'
A woman claims her former boss tried to get her to have a threesome with him and a HR director who was obsessed with her breasts.

Arkell Cox, of Brooklyn, New York, said Craig Jerabeck, the former CEO of marketing firm 5Link Enterprises, invited her to join him and Denise Mooney on a private island, the New York Post reports.

In a federal lawsuit, Cox, who is listed as 'Platinum Senior Vice President' on the company's website, alleges Mooney, a HR director at the Rochester-based firm, and her paramour Jerabeck were fixated on her breasts.

Arkell Cox (pictured) claims her former boss tried to get her to have a threesome with him and a HR director who was obsessed with her breasts

In a lawsuit, Cox alleges Craig Jerabeck (left), the former CEO of marketing firm 5Link Enterprises, invited her to join him and Denise Mooney (right) on a private island

He reportedly also told Cox: Its just been she and I for so long but we think that youre beautiful so how about it?

Cox claims that during a company retreat to Cancun in Mexico last year, Mooney grabbed her breasts in front of 10 colleagues.

Oh, my God, I cant help myself, Mooney allegedly said at the time.

On a subsequent trip, Cox claims Mooney said I just love those things as she put her face close to her breasts.

Cox (pictured) alleges Mooney, a HR director at the Rochester-based firm, and her paramour Jerabeck were fixated on her breasts

She also says Jerabeck once told Mooney: I wish you had breasts like Arkell.

Mooney has branded the allegations complete nonsense.

Jerabeck, who left the company last year, told the Post that the claims are an attempt to extort money.
Seven people have been arrested in Spain on suspicion of supplying weapons and bomb-making equipment to ISIS leaders in Syria and Iraq.

Six men were held during dawn raids today in Alicante, Valencia and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta, with a seventh person was arrested later in the morning.

Spain's acting Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said they were believed to be part of a jihadist group that sent the weapons in shipping containers, disguised as humanitarian aid.

Arrests: Spanish policemen escort a man who was arrested during a operation against Jihadist terrorism in Ceuta, Spanish enclave in northern Africa

Police described the material, which also included cash, and electronics equipment,, as 'essential' to the sustainment of the activities of the two terrorist groups they are accused of supplying; ISIS and al-Qaeda-affiliated organisation Jabhat al-Nusra.

Four of those being held are Spanish but of Syrian, Jordanian and Moroccan origin. The other two, Spanish residents, are Syrian and Moroccan.

A spokesman for Spain's Foreign Ministry said in a statement: 'The head of the cell directed a network of firms which enabled him to send the logistical material in sealed containers from Spanish ports to the terrorist groups operating in Syria and Iraq without raising suspicion.

'These regular supplies directly benefited the continuity and strengthening of terrorist structures in Syria and Iraq.'

The seven men were arrested in Alicante, Valencia and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta, accused of sending bomb-making equipment to ISIS leaders in Syria and Iraq disguised as aid

Six men were held during dawn raids today in Alicante, Valencia and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta, with a seventh person was arrested later in the morning

A view of the apartment building where one of the men were arrested in Alicante, eastern Spain

This morning's arrests brought the total number of detentions since the start of 2015 in Spain of alleged jihadists to 82.

The suspects have been taken to Madrid for a private court hearing where a judge is expected to decide to remand them in custody.

Spanish police have led a series of operations against suspected Islamic terrorists since the January 2015 massacre in the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Four men were arrested in Ceuta shortly after the attack, with Spain's Interior Minister at the time describing them as having a 'very similar profile' to the French extremists who killed 11 people and injured another 12 during the Charlie Hebdo killings.
Case: Lord Brittan would not have been convicted of rape if he had gone before a jury, a report says

Leon Brittan would have been cleared of rape if the allegations made against him had come to court, a leaked report into his case has concluded.

The former Home Secretary was investigated on suspicion of attacking a woman in the 1960s, but the Metropolitan Police decided that there was not enough evidence to charge him.

An official review has found that Scotland Yard was 'fully justified' in investigating the allegations against Lord Brittan, it was reported today.

However, the report by a senior officer from another force also concluded that the evidence was more 'likely to lead to acquittal than conviction', according to the BBC.

The Met has been widely criticised for failing to tell Lord Brittan's widow that her husband was no longer under suspicion after his death.

Officials asked James Vaughan, Deputy Chief Constable at Dorset Police, to review the force's handling of the case.

His report has been sent to the Home Affairs Select Committee, but Scotland Yard is refusing to publish it, claiming that it contains sensitive personal information.

A version of the document leaked to the BBC apparently reveals that Mr Vaughan called the decision to pursue the allegations 'fully justified'.

He said that the claims made by the alleged victim, who said Lord Brittan raped her in 1967 when she was 19, were 'fairly compelling' and 'far from fanciful'.

But Mr Vaughan agreed with the assessment made by the Met that the Conservative politician would probably have been acquitted at trial if he had ever been prosecuted.

Row: Bernard Hogan-Howe is under pressure over the Met's handling of its child sex abuse investigations

The case against Lord Brittan was controversially re-opened by police in 2014 even though the Crown Prosecution Service had previously concluded that there was not enough evidence to proceed.

The peer was interviewed by officers while he was suffering from terminal cancer, and he died in January last year at the age of 75.

In April, police told his alleged victim that they would not have charged Lord Brittan with rape if he had still been alive.

However, they did not inform Lady Brittan, 75, that her husband had been exonerated for several more months, and later apologised for causing her distress.

Separate allegations of child abuse against the Thatcherite minister collapsed when one of the key witnesses retracted his initial claims.

Exonerated: Lord Bramall, pictured with the Queen, was also cleared of wrongdoing following a police probe

The Met is set to shut down one of its high-profile sex abuse probes, Operation Midland, in a humiliating climbdown after initially saying that claims VIP paedophiles murdered a young boy were 'credible and true'.

Last month officers told war hero Lord Bramall, 92, that he would not face charges after being accused of sexually abusing a boy on Remembrance Sunday.

Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has been under pressure to apologise to the former Army chief as the 2million abuse investigations unravel.

Sir Bernard will appear in front of the Select Committee on February 23 to answer questions about the controversy.
The proposed statue for Sir Nigel Gresley

The sculpture of a British transport engineering icon soon to be unveiled at King's Cross train station has caused an almighty row among his fans.

Sir Nigel Gresley is the famous transportation engineer who designed the Mallard, which set the record for the fastest locomotive in the world at 126mph in 1938, and the Flying Scotsman.

However, fans are up in arms over a recent decision to remove the mallard from the design of a station due to be unveiled at London's Kings Cross Station, in April.

The Gresley Society originally supported the inclusion of the duck, but when they removed it, another faction of fans threatened to glue their own duck tributes by the feet of the statue.

They have threatened to wear duck suits to the society's AGM, and the society even alleges that supporters of the duck have referred to them as Nazis.

The Gresley Society's trust, made up of fans of the famous designer, originally said that the inclusion of a mallard at his feet was 'no mere whimsy' when applying for planning permission.

It stated: 'It is an allusion to Sir Nigel's most famous locomotive, The Mallard, which holds the world speed record for locomotives. It is also an allusion to Sir Nigel's habit of feeding mallards at his pre-war home in Salisbury Hall.'

But the society has now dropped its support for the statue, to mark the 75th anniversary of his death, after 'extensive consultation', it says.

Although three members resigned over the removal, which is understood to be because two of the engineer's grandson's thought the duck to be demeaning, The Observer reports.

The society held a special meeting and decided unanimously, apart from two abstentions, to remove the duck from the feet of Sir Nigel on the Hazel Reeve's sculpture,

However, the decision has outraged a number of other fans, causing uproar on social media, with the tagline #savetheduck and a petition has even been launched to have it reinstated.

Some are posting pictures of duck tributes that they plan to leave at the statue's feet, many of which are rubber ducks, and even TV presenter Vanessa Feltz wading into the debate.

She said: 'Which is the statue that you are going to take your grandchildren to see; which is the statue that will make you take a pilgrimage to see; which is the statue that you will take your picture next to; the one with the duck or the one without it? I'm 100% pro-duck.'

Sir Nigel Gresley is the famous transportation engineer who designed the Mallard, which set the record for the fastest locomotive in the world at 126mph in 1938

But Sir Gresley's admirers have fallen out over the recent announcement that the mallard at the feet of his statue due to be unveiled at Kings Cross Staion (pictured) London, in April has been removed

The row has spilled out onto the pages of local newspapers, as a leading member of gresleyduck.org, Libby Razetta, in favour of the duck, wrote a letter to the Camden Journal.

She writes: 'One of the (many) odd aspects to this story is that Camden Council planners are apparently happy for the installation to go ahead without the mallard (Duck statue which caused controversy among railway buffs will be cut from Kings Cross station plan, September 3).

'Planning permission was granted in 2014, after public consultation, for man and duck, yet the Gresley Society have been given the all-clear by Camden to omit the mallard without fear of redress from the councils enforcement officers.

The Mallard being being prepared alongside the 1923-built A3 class Flying Scotsman, also designed by Sir Gresley, the 1st steam locomotive offically to reach 100mph

'I wonder if this laxity might be a cause of regret when people start leaving their own duckish tributes at Sir Nigels feet, as they surely will if the mallard is left out.'

Nigel Harris, editor of Rail magazine, expressed his concerns that if the protesters plan to use superglue to secure their tributes, it may damage the statue.

But Gresely Society chairman David McIntosh said he does not take the pro-duck lobby seriously.

He said: These people have got only a loose connection with reality. They make all sorts of idel threats. They call us Nazis, all because they can't win a vote.'
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, pictured, has been criticised over his handling of Operation Midland which investigated VIP child sex abuse claims

Britains top policeman could finally be ready to make a public apology to figures falsely accused of VIP child sex abuse after being asked to appear before a parliamentary committee.

In a desperate bid to keep his job, Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is considering saying sorry to war hero Lord Bramall and the family of the late former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, both wrongly alleged to have been part of an Establishment paedophile ring.

Sources said he was likely to apologise after Operation Midland, the Mets disastrous inquiry into claims of a VIP child sex ring, was formally wound up.

Yard chiefs are preparing to close the investigation, one of the most controversial inquiries in recent Met history. A statement is expected later this month.

Yesterday it was reported ministers have made plain to Sir Bernard that it was his responsibility to clear up the mess created by the investigation, which was widely criticised after detectives made a string of embarrassing gaffes.

Sources said Sir Bernard needed to make a public climbdown to have any chance of securing an extension to his contract, which ends in September, although a leading police figure told the Mail that he had been holed below the waterline and will never recover from the fiasco.

Speculation was mounting last night that the apology could come on February 23, the date on which Sir Bernard has been invited to appear before the home affairs select committee.

The Met refused to comment. Lord Bramall, 92, the former head of the Armed Forces, said he had yet to be told whether he will receive a formal apology from Sir Bernard.

He said he had not heard from the Met since it grudgingly notified him last month that he would not face any charges after a ten-month probe into abuse and torture allegations made by a suspected serial fantasist known only as Nick.

Lord Bramall, whose home was raided by 22 officers in the presence of his dying wife before he was interviewed under caution, said he had some sympathy for Sir Bernard, calling him a poor chap.

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Sir Bernard, pictured, wants an extension to his contract as Metropolitan Police Commissioner. His current deal is due to expire in September and any new contract will require the Home Secretary's approval

The Metropolitan Police announced last month it had dropped the investigation into Lord Bramall, pictured

I have always said that it is not me whos crying out to have an apology, it is everyone on my behalf, the peer told The Daily Telegraph.

If he does, I would be delighted to accept an apology, but Im not pushing for it myself. Everybody is at him, poor chap. I feel a bit sorry for him.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee, confirmed he had asked Sir Bernard to appear on February 23 but said he did not know what he intended to say.

However, Tory MP Tim Loughton, who sits on the committee, said: There is no doubt that he should apologise.

The longer he prevaricates, the less tenable his position becomes. This inquiry was clearly run incompetently and it is arrogant not to admit that mistakes were made and reputations left in tatters.

Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett yesterday put pressure on Sir Bernard to say sorry.

He told The Sunday Times: He would be extremely wise to offer an unequivocal apology for the way this has been handled.

Former Tory Home Secretary Ken Clarke told The Independent on Sunday that it was about time the Met apologised to Lord Brittans family for the torment the peer suffered before his death.
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Masqueraded revellers took to the streets of Cologne Sunday to celebrate the annual carnival season, amid increased security measures put in place to prevent a repeat of the string of robberies and sexual assaults that occurred in the city at New Year.

Sunday's carnival parade, called 'Schull un Veedelszoech', usually attracts about 250,000 visitors but this year fewer people attended due to strong winds and wet weather.

German men and women in clown costumes and bright wigs took part to the parade, a centuries-old tradition in western and southwestern Germany which culminates in Rose Monday celebrations when floats roll through the streets of Cologne and other Rhineland cities such as Mainz and Duesseldorf.

Sunday's carnival parade, called 'Schull un Veedelszoech', usually attracts about 250,000 visitors but this year fewer people attended due to strong winds and wet weather

German men and women in clown costumes and bright wigs took part to the parade, a centuries-old tradition in western and southwestern Germany

Celebrations culminate in Rose Monday parades when floats roll through the streets of Cologne and other Rhineland cities such as Mainz and Duesseldorf

Organisers are banning horses, large puppets and flags during the main procession on Monday because of a gale morning

Organisers are banning horses, large puppets and flags during the main procession on Monday because of a gale morning.

Alcohol-fuelled parties with fancy dress, popular songs and dancing continued over the weekend during what is called the 'fifth season' in Rhineland, which usually draws 1.5 million visitors.

Police in the city have said that 22 incidents of sexual assaults occurred in the city on the first night of the traditional Carnival street party.

That despite the deployment of 2,000 police officers on patrol by authorities in an effort to reassure the public.

Alcohol-fuelled parties with fancy dress, popular songs and dancing continued over the weekend during what is called the 'fifth season' in Rhineland, which usually draws 1.5 million visitors

Police in the city have said that 22 incidents of sexual assaults occurred in the city on the first night of the traditional Carnival street party.

Men and boys dressed in costumes wait for the beggining of the Carnival parede in Cologne

A Carnival reveller drives in an electric wheel chair during a carnival parade in Cologne

They have 190 people in custody and officials have described them as 'a cross section of the general public'.

Video cameras have been installed in the centre of Cologne and sales of pepper spray cans were brisk before the so-called women's carnival, the traditional day when women take over their towns ans symbolically castrate men by cutting off their ties.

A security point has been set up outside the twin-spired cathedral for women who feel threatened. Teams of people have been deployed around town to register any complaints.

Video cameras have been installed in the centre of Cologne and sales of pepper spray cans were brisk before the so-called women's carnival

A security point has been set up outside the twin-spired cathedral for women who feel threatened. Teams of people have been deployed around town to register any complaints

A girl with a coloured wig takes part to the annual carnival parade in Cologne

The carnival is taking place in a heightened atmosphere this year, after the New Year's Eve mob attacks, which sparked a nationwide uproar, the removal of Cologne's police chief

It comes as a Belgian journalist has told MailOnline how drunken German yobs whispered 'would you sleep with me tonight' into her ear and then sexually assaulted her live on air during Carnival.

Esmeralda Labye had been unaware of the young men making obscene gestures behind her back as she reported live from the German city.

But while the New Year's Eve assaults have been largely blamed on a mob of young migrant men, the assault on Ms Labye was carried out by Germans.

The shocking incident took place in the Alter Markt district of town as she appeared on air for the one o'clock news for Radio Television Belge de la Communaute Francaise (RTBF).

The carnival is taking place in a heightened atmosphere this year, after the New Year's Eve mob attacks, which sparked a nationwide uproar, the removal of Cologne's police chief and a heated debate about integration at a time when Germany has seen huge numbers of refugees come into the country.

Almost 1.1 million asylum-seekers arrived in Germany last year and most of the attackers in Cologne were described as being of Arab or North African origin.

Police officers hold bunches of flowers during a carnival parade called 'Schull- un Veedelszoech' as part of the carnival season

Police are on added alert this year, particularly in Cologne, due to the New Year`s Eve sex attacks on women that have been attributed to gangs of North African men, predominantly from Algeria and Morocco

Alcohol-fuelled parties with fancy dress, popular songs and dancing continued over the weekend during what is called the 'fifth season' in Rhineland, which usually draws 1.5 million visitors.

Police officers pass a clown during 'Schull- un Veedelszoech' as part of the carnival season

Cologne prosecutors say they have received 1,037 criminal complaints over the New Year's events, including 446 allegations of sexual assault, three of them rape.

Criminal proceedings have begun against 50 individuals, of whom 11 are in custody, said Cologne prosecutor Ulrich Bremer. Most of the suspects are from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, he said. Several are asylum-seekers.

Josef Sommer, who heads the city's tourism agency, said he was confident the additional security measures would prevent a repeat of the New Year's assaults and allay latent fears of Paris-style attacks by extremists.

'Everyone can celebrate Carnival the way they're used to, with the exception perhaps that people should follow police advice to refrain from wearing costumes that include realistic replica weapons,' Sommer said.

Josef Sommer, who heads the city's tourism agency, said he was confident the additional security measures would prevent a repeat of the New Year's assaults and allay latent fears of Paris-style attacks by extremists

Almost 1.1 million asylum-seekers arrived in Germany last year and most of the attackers in Cologne were described as being of Arab or North African origin

Children hold flowers as they celebrate the carnival Sunday during the carnival season in Cologne

Man begs for sweets during a carnival parade called 'Schull- un Veedelszoech' as part of the carnival season

People wearing costumes pose during the 'Koe-Treiben' carnival celebrations in Duesseldorf

Members of the German police walk past celebrating people wearing costumes during the 'Koe-Treiben' carnival in Duesseldorf

And from Spain to Hungary, the party goes on...

Crazy parties and celebrations erupted across Europe to celebrate Sunday carnival, a boisterous time before the traditional period of abstinence and piety of Lent.

In Spain's northwestern village of Laza Peliqueiros', or ancient tax collectors, pursued villagers through the streets ringing their cowbells and hitting villagers with their sticks.

Another traditional celebration takes place in the northern province of Burgos and is called 'El Gallo de Carnaval' or The Carnival's Cock.

The Gallo Carnival is a pagan festival in which people participate singing dancing and attacking the 'Gallo' that is defended by Zarramacos.

In Luzon, the 'Diablos' cover themselves in a mixture of soot and oil and adorn their heads with black-stained bull horns as they parade throughout the village with cowbells clanging around their waists to expel the evil spirits.

To make their appearance even more fearsome, the devils often carry fake teeth made out of raw potatoes. They dance around Luzon and smear their black grease on revellers' faces.

The only people free from the attack of the 'Diablos' are those who dress up as 'Mascaritas'. These are characters dressed in traditional women's clothing with their faces covered with a white cloth. To the beat of traditional music, the 'Diablos' and the 'Mascaritas' parade throughout the village in the afternoon in this carnival tradition that is thought to have pre-Christian origins

Carnival revellers dressed as 'Peliqueiros' run along a street in Spain's northwestern village of Laza

'Peliqueiros', or ancient tax collectors, pursued villagers through the streets ringing their cowbells and hitting villagers with their sticks.

A person performing 'Gallo' (Cock) character poses during the celebration of 'El Gallo de Carnaval' (The Carnival's Cock) in Mecerreyes, in the northern Spanish province of Burgos

'Zarramacos' walk the street during the celebration of 'El Gallo de Carnaval' (The Carnival's Cock) in Mecerreyes

Participants take part in 'El Gallo de Carnaval' (The Carnival's Cock) in Mecerreyes

A reveller (R), dressed as 'Diablos de Luzon' (Luzon Devils), stands next to a person dressed as a 'Mascaritas' during carnival celebrations in the village of Luzon

Revellers, dressed as 'Diablos de Luzon' (Luzon Devils), and others dressed as 'Mascaritas' pose during carnival celebrations in the village of Luzon

In Italy, the annual carnival 'orange battle' took place in the northern town of Ivrea.

Hundreds of people gathered in the small town on Sunday to take part in the traditional fruit fight that is part of carnival festivities.

Tonnes of oranges were hurled at this year's event between several organised groups of locals.

Dressed up as Middle Age kings' guards, a group of men ride in a horse-drawn carriage and pelt 'foot soldiers' with oranges as thousands of people gather to re-enact a Middle Age battle when the townsfolk of Ivrea overthrew an evil king.

In a strange twist, instead of swords and cross bows, these days the weapons of choice are oranges.

A participant is hit by an orange during an annual carnival battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea

Dressed up as Middle Age kings' guards, a group of men ride in a horse-drawn carriage and pelt 'foot soldiers' with oranges

In a strange twist, instead of swords and cross bows, these days the weapons of choice are oranges

Thousands of people gather to re-enact a Middle Age battle when the townsfolk of Ivrea overthrew an evil king

Tonnes of oranges were hurled at this year's event between several organised groups of locals

In Hungary, revelers burn a coffin symbolising winter during the closing ceremony of the traditional carnival parade in Mohacs, 189km south of Budapest.

The carnival parade of people, the so-called busos, dressed in such costumes and frightening wooden masks, using various noisy wooden rattlers is traditionally held on the seventh weekend before Easter to drive away winter, and is a revival of a legend, which says that ethnic Croats ambushed the Osmanli Turkish troops, who escaped in panic seeing the terrifying figures during the Turkish occupation of Hungary.

A reveler wearing sheepfur costume is seen in front of a bonfire on which they burn a coffin symbolizing winter

The carnival parade of people, the so-called busos, dressed in such costumes and frightening wooden masks, using various noisy wooden rattlers is traditionally held on the seventh weekend before Easter to drive away winter

It is a revival of a legend, which says that ethnic Croats ambushed the Osmanli Turkish troops, who escaped in panic seeing the terrifying figures during the Turkish occupation of Hungary
Army veteran Tyler Louis Lackey, 24, (pictured) was killed on Friday after being shot while taking money out of an Albuquerque, New Mexico, ATM

An Army veteran was shot and killed while stopping at an ATM after having dinner with a friend on Friday night.

Tyler Louis Lackey, 24, and his friend stopped near the man's house in southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, his aunt said.

Officers responded to the ATM in central New Mexico around 10pm where they found Tyler with one gunshot wound in the parking lot.

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Officers aren't sure what led to the shooting, but witnesses said an altercation between a man and Tyler took place before he was shot dead.

'We got a call at 9.52pm saying there were two male subjects in the parking lot and they were in a confrontation,'

'(The caller) heard a loud noise and then one man fell to the ground.' officer Daren DeAguero told the Albuquerque Journal.

Tyler was dead before paramedics and officers arrived.

Police found a gun next to Lackey and aren't sure if it belonged to him or the assailant.

The shooter was described as a Hispanic man with a clean-shaven face who was wearing a red track suit, according to witnesses.

Police released photos of a red-and-white sedan they believe the suspect was driving and of a woman who was with him who is wanted for questioning.

Tyler's (pictured, right) mother Liz Frank (pictured, left) was told Saturday morning about her son's death

Video surveillance captured this vehicle (pictured, right), believed to belong to the suspect, and a woman (pictured, left) believed to be in connection with the suspect. Police are looking to speak with the woman

Video courtesy of KOB

Tyler came from a military family and grew up in Albuquerque.

'Most of the men in the family go into the Army or one of the branches of the military,'

'His brother and him are very close in age, about a year apart, so he was not far behind.' Paula Frank, Tyler's aunt, said.

Tyler had just completed a five-and-a-half-year stint in the Army as a paratrooper medic in the 82nd Airborne Division.

'He worked in a field surgical unit during his tour in Afghanistan.

'He was honorably discharged in November of 2015,' Frank said.

Lackey was enrolled Central New Mexico Community College to continue serving in the medical field like Paula, who is a nurse.

'I'm a nurse practitioner, and he would say he wanted to be a nurse like me.

'He was just starting out at CNM, and he knew he wanted to do to something in medicine, but he didn't know what yet,' she said.

Although police haven't said why they believe Lackey was shot and killed, Frank believes he must have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

'He wasn't into gangs or into criminal stuff.

'He was just trying to move on after the Army, grow up and get on with his life,' she said.

Tyler had recently returned home after serving nearly six years in Afghanistan as a paratrooper medic
For more from the GOP debate visit www.dailymail.co.uk/GOPDebate

Marco Rubio has been mocked as a robot after he repeated the same line four times in Saturday night's Republican primary debate.

He then trotted out the same line again at a town hall Sunday in New Hampshire.

The presidential candidate was called out by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for giving a 'memorized, 25-second response' after repeating canned talking points.

Rubio fell right into Christie's trap as he struggled to respond, using the same line - 'Obama knows what he's doing' - over and over again.

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People depicting robots mock Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio's performance at the 06 February Republican debate

Debate? What debate? It was business as usual for Marco Rubio today as he defended his debate line about President Obama at one event and avoided talking about it at another

Marco Rubio has been mocked as a robot after he repeated the same line four times in Saturday night's debate (pictured)

IS RUBIO A STUCK RECORD? In Saturday night's GOP debate Marco Rubio said: 'This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he is doing is just not true. He knows exactly what he's doing.' He later said: 'He needs to dispel once and for all this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing.' He later said: 'This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is just not true.' He later said: 'Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing.' On Sunday afternoon's town hall he said: 'We have a president who is trying to change our country.' Then in response to criticism of his repetition he said: 'After last night's debate, [people said], "Oh, you said the same [thing] three or four times." I'm going to say it again. The reason these things are in trouble is because Barack Obama is the first president, at least in my lifetime, that wants to change the country. Change the country! Not fix it, not fix its problems.' Advertisement

Rubio attempted to brush off his critics at a Super Bowl 50 pregame rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, tonight.

Speaking to supporters, he attacked Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, saying: 'America cant be a socialist country like Bernie Sanders wants.'

When the crowd began booing, he added: 'You dont like socialism? Good. Neither do I.

He continued: 'I say Senator Sanders should run for president of Sweden and the Swedish get mad.

'I say he should run for president of Norway and the Norwegians get mad. Is Lichtenstein a socialist country? There cant be anyone here from Lichtenstein.'

Earlier the 44-year-old junior senator has been widely mocked for his 'robotic' responses online while one group turned up outside a campaign event at Londonderry High School in New Hampshire dressed as 'Marco Rubio robots.'

On Twitter, people branded the repetitive speech 'awkward' and 'disastrous', while others compared it to a glitch on the Matrix.

'News flash: Marco Rubio has locked up 'the robot vote,' tweeted one user.

Scott @ScottBLG added: 'MarcoRubio's disastrous debate performance leads Twitter to conclude he's a 'Glitchy' Robot #CCOT #TLOT #TCOT #PJNET.'

While Jeffrey Lieber, from Los Angeles, said: Marco Rubio's repeated Obama debate line was basically the deja vu moment in The Matrix where we realize there's a glitch in the system.'

Zoey Segriff even suggested turning Rubio's speeches into a drinking game: 'Take a shot every time Marco Rubio repeats himself. #GOPDebate.'

A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee said Rubio the 'robot' needed a maintenance check. He laughed at the GOP infighting as he worked the opposing party's spin room and said, 'I almost feel like I can just go home.'

With the robots hanging out outside, Rubio defended his robotic speech inside his Londonberry town hall.

'After last night's debate, [people said], "Oh, you said the same [thing] three or four times." I'm going to say it again. The reason these things are in trouble is because Barack Obama is the first president, at least in my lifetime, that wants to change the country. Change the country! Not fix it, not fix its problems,' Rubio said.

He said he would 'pay' for TV stations to keep playing the awkward clip 'because that's what I believe passionately, Mediaite reports.

'It's one of the reasons why I'm not running for reelection to the Senate and I'm running for president.'

Later this afternoon, at a town hall in Hudson, New Hampshire, Rubio stayed mum about the debate and charmed the audience with jokes about his kids.

'My kids are actually on the bus, they might come in, but when we pulled up we saw some dude out there dressed as Spider-Man, apparently some protester,' Rubio began. 'My kids are like Spider-Man is here, Spider-Man is supporting us.'

Rubio attempted to brush off criticism of his debate performance in Manchester, New Hampshire, tonight at a Super Bowl 50 pregame rally

Rubio took aim at Sanders while speaking to supporters this evening, telling them: 'America cant be a socialist country like Bernie Sanders wants'

Rubio is under pressure to close the gap on Trump in New Hampshire after finishing within a one percentage point margin of the business mogul in Iowa

Like the robots, the superheroes were at the event to troll the candidate.

'Those aren't very friendly Spider-Mans and Batmans,' Rubio told the crowd.

'I've never had a web shot at my bus,' he added.

'Welcome to New Hampshire,' a woman in the crowd yelled.

Rubio then attacked President Obama, again using his standard line: 'We have a president who is trying to change our country,' he said.

He then riffed on the superheroes one more time.

'Even Batman and Spider-man out there - I will cut their taxes too,' Rubio said.

Christie laid it on thick on Saturday as he repeated the attacks he's been catapulting at Rubio from afar to his face.

Snow! Marco Rubio joked that his kids were excited about Spider-man supporting their dad when they spotted a protester outside a rally dressed like the comic book character. While that same rally was going on, in Hudson, New Hampshire, Rubio's two sons made snowmen

Marco Rubio held a snow ball but did not throw while playing with his children after the campaign stop Sunday

Governors are responsible for plowing snow and keeping schools open, he said, holding up his own leadership in New Jersey as a model.

'And when the worst natural disaster in your state's history hits you, they expect you to rebuild their state, which is what I've done,' he said. 'None of that stuff happens on the floor of the United States Senate. It's a fine job, I'm glad you ran for it, but it does not prepare you for President of the United States.'

Rubio gamely responded that last month as New Jersey faced a blizzard, he continued campaigning in New Hampshire.

'They had to shame you into going back,' Rubio told him. 'Then you stayed there for 36 hours and then...left and came back to campaign.'

And pushing back on Christie's contention that he's be as bad for the country as Barack Obama, Rubio said more than once: 'This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is just not true. He knows exactly what he's doing.'

By the third time he said it, Christie was ready.

'There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody,' he interjected.

It was a shaky moment in the campaign for Rubio, who was visibly thrown off his footing by the confrontation with Christie and booing from the audience after what he thought was a money shot.

It wasn't just Rubio who got off to a shaky start. The debate descended into farce before it even began as several candidates didn't come on stage as ABC News moderators David Muir and Martha Raddatz called their names.

Dr. Ben Carson came to the mouth of a backstage hallway at St. Anselm College too early, as his name was to be the second called. With applause ringing through the hall for Chris Christie, he never heard his name.

Carson stopped just short of entering and was stranded in no-man's land and in view of a TV camera trained on the entryway.

Before he could figure out what to do, Ted Cruz's name was called. And then Donald Trump's.

Trump stopped to stand with Carson, seeming to tell him that he should already have been on stage.

When Marco Rubio's and Jeb Bush's names were announced, the two men were still blocking their way. They had to sneak past, with Jeb smirking and bumping into Trump on his way out.

John Kasich, the last person to be called, also never heard his name in the noise. But the moderators never noticed  only calling out for Carson to come to the stage.

'Dr. Ben Carson! Please come out onto the stage! He's standing there as well,' Muir said as Trump finally left Carson standing at the altar and took his place.

Marco Rubio and his family (L-R), daughters Daniella and Amanda, son Dominick, wife Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio and son Anthony pose for a photograph next to the snowmen the boys built following a town hall meeting at Hills Garrison School on Sunday in Hudson, New Hampshire

During the town hall, Rubio's repetition didn't seem to have put off his supporters, with many holding signs as they cheered for the candidate (pictured)

The under-fire candidate chatted affably to attendees at Sunday's event as if he didn't have a care in the world

After a calm and cool Carson finally took his place, Kasich was still left in the wings. He entered last instead of first  but Chris Christie had to remind the anchors that Kasich was still waiting.

'What about Kasich? Can I introduce Kasich?' Christie asked as laughs rang out.

'It was so noisy in here. Yes. Yes. We're going to introduce Ohio Governor John Kasich,' Muir said.

Carson later said he came out at the right time but seemed not to know that his name was called at the right time. 'I wasn't introduced number-two, which was the plan,' Carson said on stage.

With the shambolic introductions out of the way, the debate exploded into life, with feisty exchanges between Ben Carson and Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie, before Donald Trump and Jeb Bush squared up once again.

The candidates also tackled the issue of a nuclear North Korea after announcements earlier in the evening that the Communist state had conducted long-range missile tests over Japan.

Rubio was widely mocked on Twitter for his repetitive speeches, with some comparing him to a robot
Mohammed Faisal has complained that he is 'desperate to leave England' after his move to a jail in Pakistan was delayed

A drugs kingpin who was ordered out of Britain - and who is 'desperate' to leave - is being kept here because of a paperwork bungle costing taxpayers at least 100 a day.

Mohammed Faisal was due to be sent back to his native Pakistan under the government's Early Removal Scheme, designed to save taxpayer cash by deporting foreign criminals when they are nine months from freedom.

And last December he was taken from his cell at HMP Moorland to board a flight 3,700 miles back home - only for paperwork problems to leave him grounded at the airport.

Now the 41-year-old has lodged a complaint that he has not been booted out, and taxpayers have been saddled with a bill which has already topped 5,000 - and could continue for the remaining six months of his sentence.

The Early Removal Scheme was launched to save public money - by cutting the amount of time foreign national offenders spend in our jails.

According to the latest Home Office estimates, keeping a prisoner at an Immigration Removal Centre - where Faisal is now - costs just under 100 per night.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'What a complete mess where British taxpayers are having to shoulder the cost of imprisoning someone who is desperate to go home.

'This sort of incompetence is very difficult to stomach, particularly when hard-pressed families up and down the country are feeling the pinch and having to budget hard.

'The authorities need to pull up their socks and ensure the individual is returned home as soon as possible.'

Faisal was sentenced 16 years in 2009 after he was found guilty of setting up a 650,000 heroin smuggling deal and a money laundering plot.

He used a bogus college for overseas students - called Yorkshire College - in Bradford, West Yorkshire, as a front for the scam, the city's crown court was told.

Faisal, who was the 'principal' of the fake college was busted shipping in 13kg of heroin from Pakistan in parcels of clothing. More than 1 million was thought to have been laundered by Faisal and two cronies.

When cops searched the 'college', they found that tens of thousands of students were on its books - despite the fact the bogus college had facilities at its Bradford 'campus' for little more than 12 students.

Faisal, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to import a class A drug and money laundering and was jailed for 16 years in 2009.

In a letter from his cell after the airport mix up in December last year, Faisal moaned: 'I am desperate to leave England, but after repeated promises the Home Office is letting me down.'

Faisal, who was married and living in Bradford, claims the delay over being sent home has given him anxiety and stomach pains - and he says his wife has left him.

He wrote to prison mag Inside Time in the most recent February edition: 'I am a foreign national so this year immigration approached me, they told me if I want to leave voluntarily I will become eligible for nine months early release.

'I agreed to the proposal, because I want to see the other half of my family before it is too late. They started the process and after much hindrance they were able to book ticket for me on 7th of December.

'I was moved to detention on December 11. But when I reached the airport with high hopes, I found out they have not actually prepared my travel documents. So I was sent back to the detention centre.

'I got only six months to serve, but there is no light on the horizon.'

Faisal is currently being held at a Immigration Removal Centre, similar to this one located near Heathrow Airport

He added: 'I don't know even after expiry of my sentence if I will be released from prison, because I am a foreign national.

'Is there any conscience left here in this country? I have gone through a lot of stress, I am suffering from acute anxiety.

'I get sharp pains in my chest - I want the Home Office to listen to my plea before it's too late.'

Before being moved to the centre, Faisal was serving the final part of his sentence at HMP Moorland, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Some 1,791 foreign criminals were removed from he UK under the Early Removal Scheme in 2014/15.

A justice source said: 'It's a bizarre situation. You have a criminal who wants to leave - is not contesting deportation - and yet he's still here and the costs are stacking up.

'You'd think the opportunity to kick out a foreign drug dealer was something of an open goal. Now this is looking more like an own goal.'

A Home Office spokesperson said it did not comment on individual cases, but added: 'Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes in the UK should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them - and we have removed more than 27,000 since April 2010.'

Last year, 1,791 foreign criminals were removed from he UK under the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) in 2014/15.

Justice Minister Andrew Selous said earlier this month: 'Foreign criminals who break our laws should be properly punished but not at the expense of the British taxpayer.

'We are committed to ensuring that all means possible are explored to make sure that criminals who have no right to stay in this country are removed at the earliest opportunity.'
The editor-in-chief of a tabloid threatened to publish the names and addresses of every cop in San Antonio after police mistakenly took 36-year-old Antronie Scott's cellphone for a gun and fatally shot him.

KENS-TV reported that Stephanie Zarriello of the San Antonio Observer said: 'Like Ku Klux Klansmen with hoods, [officers] do everything they can in order to protect their identities for fear of being brought to justice.

'Just as the names and addresses of sex offenders are publicized in order to protect the public from their wicked behavior, we feel that our community has the right to the exact same level of protection.'

Antronie Scott, 36, was unarmed when he was fatally shot by police officer John Lee outside Wood Hollow Apartments in San Antonio, Texas

The San Antonio Observer threatened to publish all the names and addresses of cops serving in the department in a response to the shooting. Editor-in-chief Stephanie Zarriello (left) said: 'Like Ku Klux Klansmen with hoods (pictured right), [officers] do everything they can in order to protect their identities for fear of being brought to justice.'

Her comments were made at a press conference held by the newspaper Saturday, where the owners of the paper spoke on behalf of Antronie Scott's family.

The 36-year-old black man, who was wanted for felony firearm and drug warrants, was being followed by an undercover detective on Thursday night.

The detective wanted a uniformed officer to make the arrest and officer John Lee, who has served on the police force for 10 years, was called to the parking lot outside Wood Hollow Apartments.

According to police chief William McManus, Lee approached Scott, who turned around.

The officer thought Scott was holding a gun in his hand, feared for his life, and shot him in the upper torso, McManus said.

Scott, who died on the scene, was holding a cell phone. No gun was found.

Body cameras have yet to be distributed to Lee's precinct, and the shooting occurred out of the view of Lee's dash cam.

The camera did capture the audio, and McManus said: 'The officer shouted to 'show me your hands,' and as soon as that statement was made, you heard a gunshot.

'It was very fast, it was in the blink of an eye.'

Officer Lee has been placed on paid leave while the department carries out an investigation.

This is the latest string of events as protests over the deaths of unarmed black men have erupted around the country calling for an end to police brutality and racial discrimination.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has unveiled a four-point plan to increase safety when large construction cranes are operating

The 565-foot-long crumpled steel crane has now been removed from the New York street which remains closed

Authorities were lowering the crane to secure it; cell phone footage captures moment the crane breaks and crashes

The crane had a permit to move generators and air conditioning units at 60 Hudson Street in Manhattan

widow Rebecca Guttman-Wichs said the pain of losing her husband and best friend was 'unbearable'

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The heartbroken widow of a New Yorker who was killed when a Manhattan crane collapsed has paid an emotional tribute to her husband at his funeral.

Wall Street worker David Wichs, 38, was crushed to death as he walked down the street on Friday after the gigantic crane toppled over in high winds.

Today his family held a funeral service at Kehilath Jeshurun temple in New York for the 'generous' and 'brilliant' mathematics genius.

His wife, Rebecca Guttman-Wichs, told the New York Daily News she was 'devastated' to live life without him.

David Wichs, 38, was a Harvard graduate with a degree in mathematics. He worked for the financial trading firm Tower Research Capital, based in New York City

'This pain I'm feeling right now is unbearable,' she said through tears. 'When I met David, I felt something I never felt before. We had this instant connection. When I was with him, I felt like the most secure person in the world. He brought so much joy to my life.'

'I often thought to myself that I was living a fairy tale. That I was experiencing a storybook romance. He would remind me that he was the lucky one. We were each others' best friends.'

His younger brother Daniel said David has been his hero growing up.

'He was so generous, always wanted to take care of everyone,' he said. 'We loved David so much. He'll live in our hearts forever.'

His coffin was draped with a black cloth with a white star of David.

Wichs was born in Prague and immigrated to the US as a teenager, graduating from Harvard University with a degree in mathematics. He went on to work at the computerized financial trading firm, Tower Research Capital, and lived in New York's Upper West Side.

Friday night friends and coworkers paid tribute to the mathematics genius, with the family rabbi telling the New York Daily News: He was an angel, an absolute angel.

'He was a wonderful, wonderful person. He was the best, the absolute best, and that's what makes this tragedy that much greater.' The man, who would not give his name, spoke to the Post as he left the Wichs' apartment, where he had lived with his wife of three years, Rebecca Guttman.

Wichs, shown far right in both pictures, was born in the Czech Republic and immigrated to the US as a teen. His sister-in-law described him as 'the most special person ever'

The couple belong to the Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue on East 85th Street on the Upper East Side. Rabbi Elie Weinstock said: 'It's a terrible tragedy to lose such a young man like him. Right now it's just too much to process.'

Meanwhile Wichs's sister-in-law Lisa Guttman told the Post: 'He really created a life for himself. He literally took every opportunity he could find.'

His co-worker, David Faucon, said Wichs was 'genuinely nice in a way that was really stunning. It was a real tragedy.'

Wich's sister-in-law Lisa Guttman, who called Wich 'the most special person ever', said: 'He really created a life for himself. He literally took every opportunity he could find.'

A man who identified himself as the family's rabbi told the NYDailyNews: 'He was a wonderful, wonderful person. He was the best, the absolute best, and that's what makes this tragedy that much greater.'

Two buildings were clipped and more than a half-dozen cars were destroyed when the massive crane suddenly collapsed onto Worth Street between Broadway and Church Streets while being lowered during snow fall and strong winds at 8.24am on Friday.

The New York City street where it collapsed remains blocked off but the 565-foot-long crumpled steel crane has now been removed. Work crews had to slice it up into dozens of pieces. They used other cranes to load the pieces onto flatbed trucks.

Investigators questioned the crane operator, 56-year-old Kevin Reilly, who is said to be cooperating with officials. Reilly appears to have a colorful past as he has been arrested three times in the 1980s for driving under the influence, according to the Daily News.

The crane collapsed about 200 feet, clipping a New York Law School building as it fell on a line of parked cars. It caused a hailstorm of crushed bricks

The stability of nearby buildings was checked and ConEdison monitored the area for gas leaks every 15 minutes. The incident also caused a leak to the water main

Just moments after the crane collapsed, onlookers rushed to the scene to rescue a man trapped in his car (pictured left). The man clutching his head (right) is believed to be 73-year-old Thomas O'Brien, who was sent to Bellevue Hospital with a head laceration. One man can be seen climbing on the roof of the car and using his legs to kick the door open in order to free O'Brien.

Rubble and broken bricks cover the streets. The NYPD's Sergeants Benevolent Association was across the street, and Vice President Bob Ganley said: 'It was surreal. It was like a war zone when it first happened'

According to the Daily News, he has maintained a clean record ever since and blew a .000 on a breathalyzer test that was administered after the fatal accident.

He has not commented or spoken out about the tragic incident, in which Wichs, a Harvard graduate died on scene.

City officials say it might take weeks to determine why the crane crashed as it was being lowered during strong winds.

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that New York City is implementing a four-point plan to increase safety when large construction cranes are operating.

There will be new restrictions on crawler cranes during wind conditions, fines for failure to safeguard equipment will be doubled and there will be increased enforcement of pedestrian safety alongside crane sites.

On Friday, witnesses described watching in horror as the crane collapsed and landed on a pedestrian and a motorist.

Thomas O'Brien, 73, was sitting in his car waiting for his daughter to return from an appointment, when the crane fell on top of his car.

A video shows first responders rushing to the scene as O'Brien is trapped in his car clutching his head. The rescuer can be seen climbing on the roof and trying to kick open the door in an attempt to free him.

O'Brien suffered a head laceration and was being treated at Bellevue Hospital. One firefighter has also suffered minor injuries.

Video footage captured by Glenn Zito from a nearby building shows the crane gaining momentum as it was being lowered. The cameraman can be heard saying: 'It's moving fast now, he's dropping it really quick'.

The structure then loses control and falls more than 200feet before it lands with a loud thud, while onlookers express their shock and disbelief.

It is unclear why the crane fell, but de Blasio said officials are looking into the high winds as a possibility. Officials are also investigating an approved extension with a maximum boom length of 565feet, which was reviewed and added to the crane on Thursday.

Officials had already directed people away from the area as they were lowering the crane. One witness told CBS: 'I couldn't believe it. The other day, I was just thinking I hope this doesn't fall and then it happened. It bounced off two buildings and crushed every single car on that block.'

The married 38-year-old lived on the Upper West Side. Although initial reports said he was sitting in a parked car, Wichs was actually walking on the street. Pictured right, the crane chain made its way inside what appears to be an office building

Several witnesses initially thought the sound and vibrations from the impact were caused by a bomb or an earthquake

A permit was issued for it to move generators and air conditioning equipment at the former Wester Union building at 60 Hudson Street, and the crane had been parked on Worth Street since January 30.

The city requires that all crawlers are secured once winds reach 25mph, so authorities began lowering it Friday morning as a safety precaution. Winds at the time were blowing at about 22mph.

Officials had already directed people away from the area as they were lowering the crane, which minimized the number of casualties.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was a sad situation, but added: 'Thank God it was not any worse. It was something of a miracle that there wasn't more impact.'

The NYPD's Sergeants Benevolent Association was across the street, and members of the union rushed out, making them the first on the scene.
Jamie Oliver yesterday threatened to go ninja and try to get David Cameron out of power if the PM refuses to impose a sugar tax on fizzy drinks.

The celebrity chef and healthy meals campaigner said he would be really, really upset if ministers failed to tax sugar-filled drinks as part of efforts to cut child obesity.

Ministers are expected to launch their long-awaited childhood obesity strategy within weeks. Health officials have recommended a levy on sugary products of up to 20 per cent.

Critics say the move is nannying and would make food more expensive for poor families.

The celebrity chef and healthy meals campaigner said he would be really, really upset if ministers failed to tax sugar-filled drinks as part of efforts to cut child obesity. Pictured is Jamie Oliver speaking to Andrew Marr

Jeremy Hunt, pictured on the Andrew Marr Show today, accused the BMA of 'distorting' facts to win over public opinion

Yesterday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said a sugar tax was still on the table as he warned childhood obesity was a national emergency. He pledged to do what it takes to make sure children eat less sugar.

Mr Hunt told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 that by the time his one year old daughter reached adulthood on current trends a third of the population will be clinically obese.

Asked whether the strategy would involve a sugar tax, he said: It has to be a game-changing moment, a robust strategy.

The issue here is to do what it takes to make sure that children consume less sugar, because we have got this terrible problem - we are the most obese nation in the EU and it is getting worse.

He added: David Cameron has said if it isnt a sugar tax, it needs to be something equally robust, but he hasnt taken a sugar tax off the table.

MAJORITY BACK A SUGAR TAX More than half of voters support calls for a sugar tax, a poll has found. Some 55 per cent want a levy on sugary drinks, with 36 per cent opposed and 9 per cent who dont know, says the YouGov survey. The poll of 1,774 adults, commissioned by Cancer Research UK, found that 74 per cent also back a ban on any junk food advertising on TV before the 9pm watershed and 66 per cent support legal limits on price-cutting promotions for unhealthy food. There is evidence from abroad that a tax might be effective. The British Medical Journal says a 10 per cent levy on sugary drinks in Mexico led to a 12 per cent cut in sales in one year. In the UK, a 20 per cent tax on drinks with added sugar is backed by Public Health England, the British Medical Association and the royal medical colleges. Advertisement

We have got parents up and down the country who want to know that they are going to be given the support they need to make sure their children eat healthily.

Appearing on the same programme, Mr Oliver urged the PM to act as a parent, not a politician and be brave and be bold in order to shift Britain.

If he was unhappy with what came out, he vowed to change our strategy, get more ninja, go a bit more underground and a little bit less nice and try and get them out of power as soon as possible because child health has to be central to a healthy, prosperous economy.

Mr Oliver said the world was involved in a war against obesity and said the strategy needed to be a game-changing moment.

I dont mind not getting a tax if there is something better and more symbolic because what we need is a change, he said.

But last night Mr Olivers comments drew fire from Tory MP Andrew Percy, a member of the House of Commons health committee.

He said: We dont have Government in this country by TV chef, especially not when they issue threats. The British consumer has never been more informed about that they are eating and the evidence for a sugar tax simply isnt there.

Multimillionaire chefs might not be worried about their food bills going up as a result of this, but normal hard-working Brits will be.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver answers questions in front of the Health Select Committee at the House of Commons in October last year

Jamie Oilver said: David Cameron has said if it isnt a sugar tax, it needs to be something equally robust, but he hasnt taken a sugar tax off the table'

As well as a sugar tax ministers are thought to favour moves by food manufacturers to cut sugar content.

Mr Cameron ruled out a sugar tax as recently as October before changing his mind in the New Year in a surprise U-turn.

A quarter of children aged two to seven are classified as obese. One study published in the British Medical Journal found a 10 per cent tax on sugary drinks in Mexico has led to a 12 per cent reduction in sales one year after it came in.

Yesterday Mr Camerons former obesity tsar said it would be a mistake to concentrate on childhood obesity.
But government body said it was working hard to stop such schemes

Wise called the HMRC 'shameful' for 'lack of action' on tax dodgers

Actor Greg Wise, pictured, went undercover for Channel 4 to expose tax avoidance schemes

Actor Greg Wise has exposed amazing tax avoidance schemes after launching an undercover investigation.

The Sense and Sensibility star secretly filmed UK financial advisers while posing as a client seeking help to reduce his tax bill.

In a documentary to be broadcast tomorrow, he is told by one expert that 'tax is voluntary' and that he can avoid it by using a trust in Belize.

Wise, married to Oscar-winner Emma Thompson, was working with Channel 4's Dispatches team for documentary How the Rich Avoid Tax.

Speaking after filming, he branded the HMRC 'shameful' and criticised the body for not taking more action against tax dodgers and avoidance schemes.

He told the Sunday Times: 'There is one rule for the rich and another rule for everyone else. If you are rich enough, tax is optional.'

In the documentary, he is seen talking to Surrey-based financial adviser Tony Ashbolt, managing director of Connaught Corporate Solutions, who tells the actor he could help the actor protect his money from British authorities through the Belize trust scheme.

He said: 'Tax, as I say to all clients, is voluntary. You can choose how much you want to pay. It's pretty much down to your moral barometer.

'We use Belize because they are cheap [and] they will let you do this structure and let you in effect manage your own money.'

In a response to the programme, Mr Ashbolt said he was recommending a trust that is accepted as legitimate by the HMRC and 'similar to numerous plans available in the UK taxpayers'.

Meanwhile Wise also spoke to former tax inspector Peter Nichols, of Valhalla Private Client Services in Northamptonshire, who told the actor he was capable of 'zeroing' his tax bill using a government-backed enterprise investment scheme (EIS) which is eligible for tax relief.

He is also filmed saying he had people 'from No. 10' in some of his schemes.

Wise is married to Emma Thompson, pictured second right with daughter Gaia, far left, and adopted son Tindyebwa Agaba, right

Mr Nichols told Dispatches afterwards that the clips used of his conversation 'could not accurately reflect' the three-hour meeting.

In a statement he said: 'Valhalla promotes EIS schemes for genuine commercial reasons and does not make or recommend arrangement with lenders on behalf of EIS investors.

The HMRC said it was working to stop people profiting from tax avoidance schemes and added its accelerated payments regime which permits collection of tax upfront had secured 1.75billion in the past 18 months.

A spokesman added anyone who uses such schemes could face a 'potentially life-changing tax bill' as well as penalties.

As previously reported, Wise said he and his wife were 'disgusted' with the HMRC and HSBC over allegations that the bank's Geneva branch helped wealthy customers dodge taxes, and said he would not 'pay a penny more until those evil b******* go to prison'.
Republican Ted Cruz says it's dangerous and immoral to force women into combat roles in the military.

The Texas senator on Sunday lashed out at his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination who signaled support during Saturday's debate for including women if a draft is reinstated.

He made the comments during a campaign appearance in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Cruz says that including women in a hypothetical military draft is 'nuts' and a dangerous example of political correctness. He says forcing women into 'close combat...is wrong, is immoral and, if I'm president, we ain't doing it.'

Cruz has two young daughters, who, he says 'are capable of doing anything in their heart's desire.'

Ted Cruz said including women in a military draft is 'nuts' and a dangerous example of political correctness. He says forcing women into 'close combat...is wrong, is immoral and, if I'm president, we ain't doing it'

He says 'the idea that their government would forcibly put them in a foxhole with a 220-pound psychopath trying to kill them doesn't make any sense at all.'

The top U.S. Marine Corps and Army generals said on Tuesday that women should be required to register for the military draft, along with men, as the armed forces move toward integrating them fully into combat positions.

'I think that all eligible and qualified men and women should register for the draft,' General Robert Neller, the commandant of the Marine Corps, told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on women in combat.

General Mark Milley, the chief of staff of the Army, also backed registration for women, although two other witnesses, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy, said only that there should be a discussion of legislation requiring women to register for the Selective Service.

The U.S. military is currently an all-volunteer force, but young men are required to register in case the draft is reactivated.

The military leaders said it would take years for women to be fully integrated into combat units, although they generally voiced strong support for the plan to skeptical committee members.

Milley estimated full integration would take 'no less than one to three years of deliberate effort.'

President Barack Obama's defense secretary, Ash Carter, announced in December that the military would let women serve in all combat roles.

General Mark Milley, the Army chief of staff, seen at the Senate on Tuesday backing registration for women

The historic announcement was greeted with intense skepticism by many Republican members of Congress, as well as expectations it would require women to register for the draft.

Republican Senator John McCain, the committee's chairman, said at the time it would have 'a consequential impact' on U.S. forces and their war-fighting capabilities.

On Tuesday, McCain said he worried there had not been enough planning. 'I am concerned that the department has gone about things backwards,' he said.

Many Republicans said they fear the imposition of quotas mandating a specific number of women in some units, such as Marines in positions that might require hand-to-hand combat.

The military leaders repeatedly rejected that suggestion. 'It would endanger not only the safety of Marines, but also the safety of our nation,' Mabus said.

Obama's fellow Democrats expressed strong support.

Senator Jack Reed, the top committee Democrat, said physical abilities alone do not determine whether a military unit is effective.
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A Los Angeles bridge dubbed the most cinematic in the world after appearing in more than 80 music videos and dozens of movies is no more.

A 220ft section of the 6th Street Viaduct was ripped down by construction workers earlier today to make way for a new roadway.

While there is still another 3,300ft of bridge left to take down, today's demolition marks the beginning of the end for the iconic structure.

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End of an era: Heavy machinery moves in to help demolish the famous Sixth Street Bridge in Los Angeles, which has featured in countless movies, TV shows and music videos

The demolition marks the beginning of the end for the 3,500ft iconic structure, which is being demolished due to safety reasons

The 84-year-old bridge, which soars over the concrete-lined Los Angeles River, has appeared in countless Hollywood movies, including Grease and Terminator 2

GREASE The Sixth Street Viaduct is instantly recognizable from the movie, as the legendary setting for Danny Zuko's race against a rival gang for his group of friends the T-Birds. The boys turn up at the scene in LA and Kenickie, who is the driver, bangs his head, forcing best friend Danny (John Travolta) to take the wheel. There is an action-packed race with some dirty tricks, but Danny edges in front and finishes at the same place the race starts - underneath the viaduct. Grease Lightning: John Travolta, as Danny Zuko, raced underneath the Sixth Street Viaduct in the 1978 classic movie, and since then it has made regular appearances on the silver screen The beginning: It is instantly recognizable from the scene, as the racers start underneath it and then turn around and race back towards it Advertisement

The 84-year-old bridge, which soars over the concrete-lined Los Angeles River, has appeared in countless Hollywood movies, including Grease and Terminator 2.

Scores of music videos from the likes of Madonna and Kanye West have also been shot around the famous bridge.

It is part of a $449million construction project that will see it replaced by a new, more functional viaduct to take its place by 2019.

Traffic was diverted away from a section of U.S. 101 that was shut down while crews demolished part of the viaduct today, but is flowing again this evening.

Traffic woes: A 2.5-mile stretch of the Hollywood (101) Freeway in the Boyle Heights area was closed for 40 hours to accomodate demolition of the Sixth Street Viaduct

The $449 million project to build a replacement bridge, designed by architect Michael Maltzan, is expected to be completed by 2019 at the earliest

Debris from the bridge is piled up ready to be removed after the crossing started to be demolished over the weekend

Mary Nemick of the city Public Works Department said that thanks to quick work by demolition crews, the freeway reopened at 10 a.m. Sunday - four hours ahead of schedule.

It's Hollywood heritage was proven when John Travolta, as Danny Zuko, raced underneath it in 1978 classic Grease, and since then it has made regular appearances on the silver screen.

The viaduct is also the scene of the legendary motorcycle chase scene in Terminator 2 (1991), involving Arnold Schwarzenegger on a Harley Davidson.

Schwarzenegger also starred in another movie set in LA, Last Action Hero (1993) which features the bridge.

Construction workers began tearing down the 6th Street Viaduct in Los Angeles today - an iconic bridge that has featured in more than 80 music videos and dozens of films

Crews ripped down a 220ft section of the 3,500ft bridge, which will be replaced by a new roadway by 2019

Superstar: Made famous by classic films such as Grease and Terminator 2, and music videos from the likes of Madonna and Kanye West, the Sixth Street Viaduct has become iconic in LA

Fantastic setting: The Sixth Street Viaduct is in Los Angeles, the home of the world's biggest movie stars

Progress: It is making way for a new viaduct - a $450million project which is due to open in 2019. Above is a model of what the new viaduct will look like but whether it will appear in any movies like its predecessor remains to be seen

MUSIC VIDEOS - KANYE WEST, MADONNA AND FOO FIGHTERS The bridge isn't just in Hollywood blockbusters, it has also become prominent in music videos, lying in the home of many California-based stars. It plays a leading role in the Kanye West video for Jesus Walks, and the Foo Fighters filmed the video for Walk by the viaduct. Madonna's video for Borderline features the iconic cinematic scene, and Kid Rock has also filmed a video nearby. The Second Coming: The Los Angeles bridge features in Kanye West's video for single Jesus Walks Rock legend: Foo Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl walking along the viaduct in the video to Walk Pop icon: Madonna's video for Borderline features the iconic cinematic scene in the background, and Kid Rock has also filmed a video in which it features Advertisement

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY The bridge isn't quite so instantly recognizable in the Will Ferrell comedy classic, but it is part of one of the movie's best known scenes. Ron's (Ferrell's) news team take on a rival news crew in a brutal fight, with weapons - but it's a slapstick affair. There is an all-star cast, with Ferrell starring alongside Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carrell as his on-screen colleagues. Their opponents include Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson. Kind of a big deal: The viaduct can be seen in the background of Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, when (left to right) Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, David Koechner and Steve Carrell fight a rival news crew Advertisement

It has appeared in other chase scenes, including moments of Nicholas Cage's Gone In 60 Seconds in 2000.

The bridge made an appearance in cult comedy Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, in which Will Ferrell's news team fight a rival news crew in its shadow.

It also made an appearance in 1984 American comedy classic Repo Man, directed by Alex Cox and starring Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez.

But the bridge isn't just in Hollywood blockbusters, it has also become prominent in music videos, lying in the home of many California-based stars.

It plays a leading role in the Kanye West video for Jesus Walks, and the Foo Fighters filmed the video for Walk by the viaduct.

Madonna's video for Borderline features the iconic cinematic scene, and Kid Rock has also filmed a video nearby.

The bridge also plays a prominent role in the controversial video game Grand Theft Auto, LA Noire, in which players launch a one-man crime spree in the city.

Tomorrow, the city closed Route 101 for two days so it can demolish the viaduct - which is not technically a bridge as it crosses a railway, not just a river.

Officials say that it needs to be replaced because of chemical deterioration, which meant that by the early 2000s, it had a 70 per cent chance of collapsing during the next major earthquake.

SCHWARZENEGGER MOVIES The 84-year-old viaduct is also believed to be the scene of the legendary motorcycle chase scene in Terminator 2 (1991), involving Arnold Schwarzenegger on a Harley Davidson. Schwarzenegger also starred in another movie set in LA, Last Action Hero (1993) which features a car crashing through the bridge and onto the ground below. But Schwarzenegger, who later became a governor of California, did not oppose the demolition of the bridge, which officials say is now unsafe due to chemical erosion over the years. Last Action Hero: Arnold Schwarzenegger crashes through the bridge during an action packed scene in the 1993 movie, and it is believed to have also featured in 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgement Day Advertisement

In 2012, the city announced it would be replacing it, and the new $449million structure - called The Ribbon Of Light - and is part of a wider Bridge Improvement Plan in LA.

The city said some sentimental farewells to the bridge, with the mayor arranging a screening of Grease for the public one night, and on Tuesday, hundreds of people and cars gathered to say goodbye.

But it is hoped that the new bridge will be more functional than the old one, and the construction project will create jobs in the city.

Architects Michael Maltzan Architecture said: 'The structures generous spans create large areas of open space below that will become new recreational green spaces.

REPO MAN The viaduct featured in the race scene in Repo Man, the 1984 American comedy classic Repo Man, directed by Alex Cox and starring Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez. It has appeared in other chase scenes, including moments of Nicholas Cage's Gone In 60 Seconds in 2000. But it is famous for more than chase scenes, with some of its first appearances featuring in Film Noire movies. It appeared in Without Warning, a 1952 movie about a serial killer who murders women to reassemble into his estranged wife - then dumps their bodies under the bridge. In Roadblock, in 1951, a corrupt insurance agent meets his end under on the stretch underneath the viaduct. Fast and funny: It also made an appearance in 1984 American comedy classic Repo Man, directed by Alex Cox and starring Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez Advertisement

'There will be 5 pedestrian stairways along the length of the 3,500 foot Viaduct connecting the bridge level with the ground below. This strategy enables a more significant degree of connectivity with the ground plane and a less prescriptive approach to landscape that will allow for expanded flexibility overtime.

'A wide range of public activities and open space will be created under the eastern portion of the viaduct in what was an industrial zone.

'There are also two bike ramps for cyclists, with one ramp to the west and the Arts District, and one to the east and Boyle Heights.

'A new sloping River Gateway path will link the River to a future Arts Plaza at the terminus of the viaduct in the heart of the Arts District.'
Admits he won't put family through return to the ring and won't get licence

Claims he felt 'mugged off' by younger boxers saying they could beat him

Frank Bruno has asked fans not to worry about him in an emotional open letter after the shock announcement that he will return to the ring at the age of 54.

The British boxing legend wrote that the biggest fight of his life is against bipolar and vowed to win the battle, but reassured fans that he knows he will not be fighting for world titles again.

He also called on David Cameron to meet with him to talk about mental health services in the emotional letter, revealing his passion for helping others facing the same struggle as he has.

Shock: Frank Bruno has announced this week that he intends to return to the ring at the age of 54

Public: Bruno revealed his decision to This Morning hosts Phil Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Writing in the Sunday Mirror the 54-year-old told fans: 'It seems people are a bit worried about me, so I wanted to write this letter to my fans to make one thing clear... Im not down on the floor.

'From a very young age Ive had to fight. First as a kid to stay out of trouble and then to remain on the straight and narrow. Then, of course, there were the fights.

'Now I am in a whole different kind of fight  against my bipolar. But I will win, Ive no doubt about that.'

Bruno, who was sectioned in 2003, made the shocking announcement in a interview on ITV's This Morning, following comments from other boxers that they could beat him.

All the way: Bruno has struggled with mental health issues since his last fight with Tyson, but uses exercise to help him beat mental health problems. Recently, pictures of him training at Ricky Hatton's gym emerged

Athelte: At 54, the boxer still has an impressive physique that many fighters half his age would be envious of

Higglights: The British heavyweight fought the likes of Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in his career

Family man: In the letter, Bruno says he would not want to make his family watch him fight again, after his two daughters: Nicola Bruno (blue dress) and Rachel Bruno (light dress) voiced their concerns about a return

In the letter, he admits his pride kicked in as he felt 'mugged off' by what was said by the young boxers and their promoters.

Now I am in a whole different kind of fight  against my bipolar. But I will win, Ive no doubt about that Frank Bruno

His return to the ring has led many to voice their concerns for Bruno, who retired in 1996 after a career in which he won a world title and fought Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.

His daughter Nicola said she was worried that the announcement was down to his mental health issues, and said she hoped that no-one would let the fight happen.

She told The Daily Mail: I dont think anyone would be silly enough to try to arrange a comeback fight, but if they did I could never watch it. I can watch videos of Dads old fights and they still stir up some nice memories, but I think this talk of a comeback is just one of his lightning ideas.'

Arrival: Former boxer Bruno is pictured arriving at the ITV studios for a guest appearance on This Morning

Highlight: Frank Bruno on the night he won the heavyweight world title against Oliver McCall at Wembley

In the letter, Bruno confirmed that he had not been ill advised, but he said he has 'good people' around him and is 'my own person'.

want to reassure people Id never, ever want to put myself in a position where I would get hurt  I would not put my family and friends through any of that Frank Bruno

Pictures of the still ripped fighter training with Rick Hatton resurfaced that suggested Bruno was serious about making a return.

But he hinted that any return to the ring professionally is unlikely as the authorities have told him that he will not be given a licence to fight again.

And after her family voiced their concerns, Bruno confirmed he would not want to make them suffer for the sake of his proud return to boxing.

He writes: 'I want to reassure people Id never, ever want to put myself in a position where I would get hurt  I would not put my family and friends through any of that.'

Instead, the 54-year-old's next opponent could be the Prime Minister, as he called David Cameron to talk to him over improving mental health provision.

Bruno, who has spoken out publicly against his issues with mental health and encourages other young men to do the same, said he has serious misgivings about how it is dealt with in Britain.

In the letter, he criticises a policy of putting people with mental illness on drugs for years, rather than addressing the problem, and talks about how health and exercise have been key in his battle.

Finally, he says he will continue to train and stay healthy through boxing in order to help his mind stay fit, after admitting that any professional return would be impossible.
It's easy to forget that places get their names for a reason.

We were on mountain bikes hurtling down Beartooth Pass in Montana, a dizzying sequence of hairpin bends that descends from the top of the Rocky Mountains to the town of Red Lodge, 6,000ft below.

And then, almost at the bottom, not 20ft from the road, was not just a tooth, but a whole, furry bear.

It was an unnerving moment. That morning, the local newspaper featured a story about a hiker who had been killed and half-eaten by a grizzly just a few miles away in the Yellowstone National Park.

The Mail on Sunday's David Rose and his family encountered this black bear at Beartooth Pass in Montana

Descending from the top of the Rockies to the town of Red Lodge, Beartooth Pass is a stunning retreat

The beast eyeballing us was smaller: an adolescent black bear, it probably weighed no more than 25st. It snuffled, rooted around in some vegetation, then padded away.

This close encounter came halfway through a road trip last August. Having flown to Denver with my family  wife Carolyn and sons Jacob, 16, and Daniel, 11  we spent three weeks in the heart of the Wild West, cruising through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.

Colorados 14,000ft peaks loom close to downtown Denvers art galleries and boutiques. Should you get lost in the city, the easiest way to orientate yourself is by the line of mountains to the west.

Once outside the city limits, one is almost immediately in a land of plunging canyons, high, wide plains, huge forests and innumerable peaks and pinnacles.

Our first stop was the Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort near Buena Vista, an array of luxurious cabins by a mountain torrent warmed to bath temperatures by natural steam vents in the riverbed.

There was so much to do we could easily have spent a week there: we hiked, biked down trails in the pure clear air, and descended a mountain via a series of precipitous ziplines. At one point, this involved hanging by pulleys and harnesses as we whizzed across a ravine that was several hundred feet deep.

David Rose and family on the aquatic rollercoaster known as Browns Canyon - before flipping upside down

In the valley below the resort lies the Arkansas River, one of Americas best locations for white-water rafting.

Wed booked a two-day trip with a local firm, Wilderness Aware, which prides itself on its safety record and highly trained staff. They need to be.

When we misjudged a tight turn in the long, aquatic rollercoaster known as Browns Canyon, the boat flipped upside down  leaving Carolyn and me in the air pocket underneath it.

While we dived out from beneath the raft into the open air and swam for the shore, our guide Hannah righted the vessel again with impressive skill, leaving us gasping from the chilly water, but safe.

Having got back on board, we eventually camped for the night.

We were far from habitation, but for dinner the guides baked a delicious lasagne in special pots over charcoal embers, and served a cheesecake for dessert.

From Buena Vista we drove north into Wyoming, through country so empty we didnt see another car for an hour or more at a time.

Old Faithful is impressive but its surroundings have been ruined by a large and ugly visitor centre

We were headed for the mighty Tetons, perhaps the most spectacular saw-toothed range in all the American Rockies, and then the Yellowstone Park, with its sulphurous geysers.

The biggest, Old Faithful, which shoots steam 40ft into the air every hour, is certainly impressive. But its surroundings have been ruined by a large and ugly visitor centre, long, frustrating traffic jams, car parks and rampant commercialisation.

Yellowstone may still harbour grizzlies, but it was the holidays biggest disappointment.

Fortunately, it was followed by an absolute highlight  the Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana, a town that is well-named.

In this remote but very civilised outpost, we rode into magnificent hills on glossy horses, fished for trout in the Gallatin River, and climbed sheer granite precipices. And we returned each evening to eat sublime, locally sourced produce in the Ranchs superb restaurant.

But this trip wasnt only about natural wonders. Many people openly carry guns in the Rocky Mountain states, and their frontier past is still close to the surface.

The saloon bar at the historic Occidental Hotel, once the base for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

In Buffalo, Wyoming, we dined in the Occidental Hotel, once the base for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids Hole In The Wall Gang.

The Victorian paintwork and furniture have been lovingly restored, but the bullet holes left by the establishments occasional gunfights remain. In Red Lodge, a plaque on a bank records the fact that Butch and Sundance once tried to rob it.

Evidence of the tragic history of Americas native Indians also abounds. At the top of the Big Horn range, we hiked a skyline ridge to the Medicine Wheel, an ancient stone circle on a hilltop, which commands a vast panorama.

Like Stonehenge, the circle is aligned with the sunrise at the summer solstice. It lies at the hub of a network of trails thought to be 10,000 years old, and is still a sacred site.

Members of the regions tribes tie red cloths to the stones as a form of prayer for ailing loved ones. Nearby is the evocative Little Bighorn battlefield, where Custer fought his doomed Last Stand against the Sioux.

Cody, Wyoming, is the rodeo capital of the world, with shows featuring bull and bucking bronco riding

The history came together in Cody, Wyoming. Its Buffalo Bill Centre Of The West, an outpost of the Smithsonian, is truly a great museum, or rather five museums in one, and contains a huge collection of Western art and artefacts.

Cody is also the rodeo capital of the world. There are shows every night in summer, with bull and bucking bronco riding, breakneck slalom barrel races, and contests to catch, lasso and truss young steers.

To foreigners, rodeos rules are obscure: to score points on a bull or bronco the rider must last at least eight seconds before being thrown to the ground, but why one such feat deserves more points than another isnt immediately clear.

The sports excitement is more obvious, and watching it in Codys floodlit arena as the sun set behind the mountains was unforgettable.

But then so was the trip as a whole. After Cody, there was still more to come, including the arid Badland canyons of South Dakota, and Mt Rushmore, with its enormous stone sculptures of presidents.

By the time we got back to Denver, we had driven more than 3,000 miles. Having sampled many adventures, stunning scenery and the warmest hospitality, the effort had been well worth it.
Every year, holiday companies try to convince us that we need to book our summer break early to bag the best accommodation and deals.

This year, its looks like they have a point  at least if youre thinking of heading to western Europe. Heres why.

Terrorist attacks have resulted in dramatic falls in bookings to some popular destinations.

GfK says summer package bookings to Egypt have fallen by more than 50% (pictured: Sharm el-Sheikh)

Typically, more than 2.5 million Britons head to Turkey, mostly to resorts along its lovely Mediterranean coastline.

However, following deadly bombs in the heart of Istanbul last month and in Ankara last October, safety is a concern so significantly fewer tourists may well end up going there this year.

According to research company GfKs Leisure Travel Monitor, as of last week sales of UK package holidays to Turkey for this summer were down by a third on this time in 2015.

North African destinations are also out of favour or off-limits. GfK says summer package bookings to Egypt have fallen by more than 50 per cent.

This is hardly surprising given that no flights have been operating from the UK to Sharm-el-Sheik since November due to security concerns at its airport, and three tourists were stabbed at a hotel in Hurghada in January.

As for Tunisia, in the wake of the horrendous attacks in Sousse last summer, the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the country.

Travel companies say bookings to Spain have increased considerably (pictured: Costa Adeje, Tenerife)

Indeed, over the past fortnight, Thomson and Thomas Cook have cancelled all their 2016 summer holidays to the country.

Bookings for Morocco are also down by ten per cent, and the knock-on effect is a spike in demand for key countries perceived to be safe. GfK says package bookings to Portugal are so far up 32 per cent, by 27 per cent to Spain, and by 15 per cent to Italy.

Companies Ive contacted broadly confirm these figures. For example, Travelzoo (travelzoo.com) reckons bookings to Spain are currently up by between 30 and 40 per cent, while Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk) estimates its bookings to Portugal and Italy are up by about 20 per cent.

Demand for villa holidays in safe destinations follows a similar pattern. Spain-holiday.com reckons that since last autumn, bookings have risen by ten per cent, and Vintage Travel (vintagetravel.co.uk) says compared to this time last year, bookings to Portugal are up by 30 per cent.

And dont forget that the Germans, Scandinavians and Russians will also be less inclined to visit Turkey this year, so will be adding to the demand for sunbeds in the western Med. So what does all this mean if youve yet to book your summer holiday?

Availability in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France is set to be tighter, especially for the peak months of July and August, so book as soon as possible to get the accommodation you want. Expect higher prices if you leave it late.

You may find better availability in Greece, where demand for holidays has yet to soar in the same way as it has for western Med destinations.
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Iran regularly dominates news headlines for a range of reasons, from the recent capture of US Navy boats, to political battles surrounding oil drilling by foreign energy companies.

But change is afoot in Iran as far as tourism is concerned, with the country late last year saying it is preparing for a 'tsunami' of foreign visitors.

With improved relations, Iran's mesmerising beaches, breathtaking Islamic architecture and incredible food could see the country top the 'must-visit' destinations list for 2016.

Among its many jewels, Iran is home to 19 Unesco-registered sites, including the ancient city of Bisotun.

The large country is rich in historical and cultural treasures and an investment package of 1,300 projects was announced in October in a bid to attract foreign investment and boost the badly-hit tourism industry.

Despite the Foreign Office saying the application process for an Iranian visa can be long and unpredictable, these spectacular photographs demonstrate why the beautiful country is worth the extra effort.

Iran has many stunning treasures, including this vibrant turquoise coastline of south Iran near the Persian Gulf (sometimes called the Arabian Gulf)

As the sun shines through the stained glass windows at Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, its dominant red hue is highlighted in a kaleidoscope of colours

Intricate detail: The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is known as the Pink Mosque because of its rose-coloured tiles

Iranian women in black abayas stand out against the golden surroundings while strolling down the promenade

FOREIGN OFFICE'S ADVICE FOR TRAVEL TO IRAN There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners. Several bombings have taken place in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Be vigilant and keep your security arrangements under review. There is a threat of kidnap to foreign tourists in the border areas. The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking. There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time. Advertisement

A traditional tea house with pools and an elaborate interior where visitors can escape the heat to enjoy refreshments

A view over the Kashan City and surrounding hills from the roof top of the Hammam Sultan Mir Ahmad (bath house)

Beacon: The glittering Mausoleum of Shah-e-Cheragh in the city of Shiraz stands out against the evening sky

Skiing may not be the first activity that springs to mind when you think of Iran, but the country offers a number of spectacular slopes in the Fars Province

Evening sunshine bathes the ancient city of Bam in a dusky hue. The historic oasis town was all but flattened by an earthquake that killed at least 26,200 people in 2003, but is now being rebuilt

Worshippers attend an Eid al-Fitr prayer ceremony, in Tehran. Every year millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan

Household lights illuminate the Kurdish village of Palangan at dusk, which cascades down a steep hill

Tehran's Azadi Tower (also known as the Liberty Tower) is one of its most iconic structures, also marking the west entrance to the city

The lavish Golestan Palace is a masterpiece of the Qajar era with glittering golden accents lining the walls and ceiling

Iranians take part during the Eid-al Fitr prayer ceremony in the city of Chalus, Mazandaran province in northern Iran

The Shah-e Cheragh Sanctuary in Shriaz is an intricate funerary monument and mosque in Shiraz, Iran, housing the tomb of the brothers Ahmad and Muhammad, sons of Musa al-Kadhim and brothers of Ali ar-Ridha

A craftsman works the handloom to weave and create a vibrant, patterned silk in Yazd

Colourful surroundings: A group of men in a segregated hookah lounge in Esfahan unwind while smoking

Americans and Brits travelling to Iran to see sights such as the incredible Si-o-seh Pol Bridge at night will need a visa ahead of time to enter mainland Iran, according to their respective governments

The old Friday Mosque is the oldest in the country, dating from 1656. Its a beautiful structure made from coral stone with inscribed Quranic script

An Iranian Muslim tourist takes pictures inside Vank cathedral in the Julfa neighbourhood of the historic city of Isfahan, some 400 kilometres south of the capital, Tehran

Inside the vast galleries of the Great Bazaar of Isfahan, with tapestries and coloured items decorating the walls

An Iranian Armenian choir sings religious songs during a week-end mass at the Saint Stepanos church in the Julfa neighbourhood of the historic city of Isfahan

A relief sculpture of a sphinx on a balustrade of the Tripylon (Triple Gate), also known as the Central Palace or Council Hall in Persepolis

A parakeet awaits customers in order to choose a 'fortune' outside of the beloved Iranian poet Hafez's tomb in Shiraz

Inside the galleries of the Great Bazaar of Isfahan, with sellers displaying their colourful goods for passers-by

A jaw-dropping vast dome interior at the Mausoleum of Sheikh Safi-ad-din Arbabili in Ardabil

Tourists can see the ancient Persian capital, Persepolis, built by Persian emperors from Darius to Xerxes and construction ceased with the downfall of the Achaemenid dynasty

A family rides a motorcycle past the Amir Chakhmaq Hosseinieh worship site, one of the largest such structures in Iran
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An adventurous couple has embarked on a mission to travel the world in a refurbished van  and they claim theyre doing it while spending just 5.50 ($8) a day.

Travel bloggers Karol Lewandowski and Aleksandra Slusarczyk, from Poland, have visited more than 50 countries on five continents since their journey began six years ago.

The 27-year-olds have managed to keep their costs low because they dont have to pay for hotels or hostels, they look for cheap buys at the supermarket and they have been helped by sponsors and friendly strangers.

Karol Lewandowski and Aleksandra Slusarczyk, from Poland, have visited more than 50 countries (pictured: Horseshoe Bend in Arizona)

The Polish bloggers' travels have taken them to Iceland, where they relaxed in hot springs while the outsider temperature was zero

With 90,000 miles behind them, the couple has visited five continents in six years (pictured: a donkey they encountered in the US)

The 27-year-olds are travelling around the world in a refurbished van and say they are spending just 5.50 ($8) a day

When they bought the van it had more than 20 years worth of miles on it, was badly damaged, overgrown with grass and had no battery

Lewandowski and Slusarczyk have become popular bloggers in Poland and authors thanks to their travels to places such as Australia, the US, Mexico, Morocco and many countries in Europe as part of a project called Busem Przez Swiat, which means bus around the world in English.

With more than 90,000 miles behind them, they have had many memorable moments  from the time they visited a kangaroo orphanage in the sweltering heat at Coober Pedy, Australia, to the day spent in Icelands hot springs while the outside temperature was zero degrees.

Along the way they got engaged and slept under the stars in the Sahara Desert, toured the Ukrainian city of Pripyat, which was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, spotted whales in New Zealand and visited the casinos of Las Vegas.

Those experiences have outweighed the bad moments that threatened to hit the brakes on their travels.

Their luggage was stolen in Barcelona, someone tried to steal the van in Rome, and a stranger they encountered in Mexico wanted to kidnap them, but they escaped the situation thanks to the help of a friend, said Lewandowski.

In Australia, a breakdown left them stranded in the outback with no mobile reception and little water. And they were arrested and eventually released in Gibraltar, where police grew suspicious of the van and thought they were drug dealers.

Lewandowski and Slusarczyk have been joined by friends or strangers along the way, allowing them to keep their costs down

During their travels through Northern Africa, the couple was joined by a group of friends and got engaged in the Sahara Desert

At Coober Pedy, Australia, the travellers spent time at a kangaroo orphanage and encountered more of the animals in the wild

The trip has had its share of setbacks, including vehicle breakdowns, a robbery in Barcelona and detention in Gibraltar

Their journey began when they bought the seven-seat van for about 1,050 ($1,500) in a small village in Poland. It had more than 20 years worth of miles on it, was badly damaged, overgrown with grass and had no battery.

But with help from friends the pair fixed it up at a cost of 175 ($25) and installed a couch, carpet, a roof rack and interior lighting.

Since then, the pair has almost never travelled alone, which has helped to keep their costs down. For days or months at a time, they have been joined by friends, blog readers and people they have met during their travels.

Thanks to their thrifty ways, Lewandowski and Slusarczyk said their spending averages 5.50 ($8) a day, or 38.50 ($56) a week, and most of it is on fuel.

Lewandowski told MailOnline Travel: We share fuel costs. We travel slowly and often stay in one place for a few days, so we save on fuel.

We do not pay for accommodation because we sleep in the van or in tents  on beaches, cliffs, mountains.

Often, strangers invite us to their homes. Poles living abroad often help us. The food we buy in supermarkets and we eat what we cook  we do not pay for restaurants.

For example, in Australia we ate kangaroo steaks because it was the cheapest meat.

Aleksandra Slusarczyk, one half of the adventurous couple, feeds a kangaroo at an orphanage in Coober Pedy, Australia

During their journey across the US, the pair stopped at Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border to see the tall sandstone buttes

Over the past six years the couple, from Poland, has managed to tour many countries in Europe (pictured: Venice, Italy)

This amazing snap was taken while Lewandowski and Slusarczyk visited Norway's breathtaking Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

They have an electric shower and a water tank on the roof of the van, although they sometimes just bathe in rivers or lakes.

Lewandowski added: When the car breaks down we repair it because during the trip we have learned how to do this. And when we need mechanics help, they very often do not take money from us because they are impressed with our trip and want to help us and be a part of our adventure.

They have also received free tickets to attractions or events in return for adverts on the blog.

To earn money and cover expenses, the savvy travellers have written two books and sold postcards from their trip, in addition to their YouTube channel and sponsors logos on the van.

Lewandowski said: We sometimes have sponsors when we have to spend a lot of money on something.

For example, the transport of the van across the ocean to Australia and the US. Sponsors paid for it in exchange for their advertising on the van.

During their time in Africa, the travellers, who write about their experiences on a blog, went on a camelback tour of the desert in Morocco

Their 90,000-mile journey has taken them to many of the world's most famous attractions, including Route 66 in the US

Lewandowski and Slusarczyk said they have limited expenses because they avoid restaurants and sleep in their van or in tents

The bloggers buy cheap food from supermarkets and are helped out by the people who travel with them (pictured: Ayers Rock in Australia)

Known for its steep red cliffs and scenic drive, Zion National Park in south-west Utah was just one of the couple's many stops

Lewandowski and Slusarczyk are often joined by friends or blog readers and spend several days in each location (pictured: Albania)

Lewandowski said he and Slusarczyk wake up every morning feeling free and happy (pictured: a house in Iceland's stunning countryside)

Lewandowski said people in Poland told him he was crazy for wanting to go on such a journey, but he and Slusarczyk werent deterred.

He said: It was very simple  we just wanted to travel, we felt the inner need so we started to do it.

In Poland, travelling is not very popular because everybody thinks that you must have a lot of money to travel. Our blog and books show that is not true.

Our lives have become a journey. Every day we wake up in the morning feeling free and happy. Now we believe in that you do not need much money to start traveling and fulfil your dreams.

Now we know that each of our dreams can become a reality.

The couple has returned to Poland to take a break and finish its third book, but is planning to hit the road again and visit its sixth continent  South America.

Lewandowski said: We want to drive with our van through three Americas  from Tierra del Fuego [South Americas southernmost tip] to Alaska.

But the plans may change because very often they change, depending on who we meet and how we like the place where we are.
Model Liberty Rosss world was turned upside down when her 44-year-old husband was caught having an affair with Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who was just 22.

Heartbreaking photographs revealed the London-born models cheating husband, English film director Rupert Sanders, locking lips with Stewart who was starring in his blockbuster movie, Snow White And The Huntsman.

The embrace ended the marriage  and we revealed 18 months ago how Ross took Sanders to the cleaners as she walked away from him with a multi-million pound divorce settlement.

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Liberty Ross, pictured left with fiance Jimmy Iovine, split with ex-husband Rupert Sanders after he was caught having an affair with actress Kristen Stewart, pictured right with the director

Now the Vogue cover girls return to happiness seems complete  as she prepares for a lavish Valentines Day Beverly Hills wedding next Sunday to billionaire American music producer Jimmy Iovine.

Rock n roll royalty on the 200-strong all-star guest list includes Mick Jagger, Lady Gaga, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Dr Dre, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Ross, 37, began seeing Iovine, 62, a year after she broke up with her husband. Iovine, who produced albums for Springsteen, U2 and John Lennon, launched Beats Music with rapper Dr Dre, which they sold to Apple last year for $3 billion.

Ross, who had two children with Sanders, has spoken of her anguish over her 2012 marriage split, saying: I have no words to describe what we went through. I feel like Im going through a rebirth.

But she reveals how she is now looking forward to her new life.

I feel happier than Ive ever felt, and Im in such a great place.

She added: People need to learn to forgive. I have no problem with anyone involved.

TOM HARDYs decision to go AWOL from the publicity drive for blockbuster movie The Revenant just ahead of the Oscars hasnt gone down well with co-star and gong hopeful Leonardo DiCaprio.

I can tell Leo that Londoner Hardy  who is up for Best Supporting Actor  has been holed up in Wanstead, busying himself with his new project, a TV period drama called Taboo.

It could finally be Leos year for Best Actor  and I doubt he will forgive Tom if hes overlooked for a sixth time.

Leonardo DiCaprio, pictured, could finally snag his first Oscar for his performance in The Revenant
She's currently shooting her upcoming film John Wick 2 in Italy, but on Saturday Australian actress and DJ Ruby Rose took a break and enjoyed playing tourist in Rome.

The tattooed star shared various pictures online from her time exploring the idyllic Italian capital, including of herself standing near the famous Pantheon and Trevi Fountain and shots of the sunrise near the Colosseum.

For the day, the Orange Is The New Black star sported a comfortable pair of jeans and a long hooded jumper.

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Checking out the attractions: This week, Australian actress and DJ Ruby Rose, 29, had a break from the set of John Wick 2 which she is filming in Italy, to explore the capital of Rome. She is seen here near the Pantheon

The star teamed her look with black boots, a maroon beanie and a scarf and also had sunglasses at the ready.

In one image, she poses by the Trevi Fountain with her sunglasses on and her scarf covering her mouth.

She showed off her personality with the caption, writing on Instagram: 'Hashtag selfie Trevi Fountain.'

Selfie time: In one image, she poses by the Trevi Fountain with her sunglasses on and her scarf covering her mouth

In another shot, she sits down by an elephant statue.

She also shared another picture of the Trevi Fountain and gushed: 'Ok I'll stop posting 8000 photos but Rome you are soooo beautiful!!!! (sic).'

And clearly captivated by the city, she shared a picture of an orange sunset with the Colosseum in the background, writing: 'Wow Rome. Sunrise... Xo.'

See more of the latest news on Ruby Rose as she plays the tourist in Rome

Taking a breather? In another shot, she sits down by an elephant statue

In awe: She also shared another picture of the Trevi Fountain and gushed: 'Ok I'll stop posting 8000 photos but Rome you are soooo beautiful!!!! (sic)'

Breathtaking: Clearly captivated by the city, the star shared a picture of an orange sunset with the Colosseum in the background

Ruby has been busy filming John Wick 2 alongside the likes of actor Keanu Reeves and rapper Common.

The cast have also spent time last year shooting the film, which focuses around Keanu's titular character - a hitman who comes out of retirement - in New York.

John returns to his old ways after a mobster steals his car and brutally murders his dog who was given to him by his late wife.

The second film follows his next escapade.

Ruby also has another role in xXx: Return of Zander Cage due to start filming in the coming months.
Stacey Dash isn't taking Anthony Anderson's insults lying down.

The Clueless star fired back with biting sarcasm after the actor described her as 'just an Ann Coulter dipped in butterscotch' during his opening monologue at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday night.

Stacey, 49, likened the 45-year-old Black-ish star to 'grown a*s men' that 'act like little girls' in a message posted to Twitter.

Take that: Stacey Dash (pictured in 2014) responded after Anthony Anderson called her 'just an Ann Coulter dipped in butterscotch' during his opening monologue at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday

'Well it's funny how woman who weighs 105 wet! Can get grown a*s men to act like little girls! Haha,' the sultry beauty wrote.

Stacey also re-posted Anthony's tweet that seemed to insinuate that she had not been invited to the NAACP Image Awards.

'@REALStaceyDash Didn't get invited to the #ImageAwards ? (sic),' Anthony's message read.

Biting tweet: The 49-year-old actress likened Anthony to 'grown a*s men' who 'act like little girls! Haha'

Ouch: Anthony joked that Stacey was a presenter at the show then added, 'What the h*ll is she doing here? ... She's just an Ann Coulter dipped in butterscotch. That's all she is'

Stacey was the brunt of Anthony's joke on stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium when he told the audience she would be a presenter that night.

'Everybody give a round of applause for Stacey Dash,' Anthony began, then added with humour: 'What the h*ll is she doing here? Doesn't she know that the Fox network is using her? She's just an Ann Coulter dipped in butterscotch. That's all she is.'

He continued: 'Baby, don't let them use you. Come back to the black people.'

Stinger: The Black-ish star insinuated that Stacey wasn't invited to the NAACP Image Awards in a post that the actress re-tweeted

Come back: Anthony - who picked up the award for Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series for Black-ish - went on about Stacey: 'Baby, don't let them use you. Come back to the black people'

Dash obviously raised some ire when she suggested that Black History Month should be abolished along with BET and the NAACP Image Awards during a chat on the morning show Fox & Friends on January 20.

Stacey was speaking out about black actors - Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee among others - who were planning to boycott The Oscars over lack of diversity in the nominations list.

'I think it's ludicrous because we have to make up our minds,' Dash said.

'Either we want to have segregation or integration. If we don't want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards, where you're only awarded if you're black.

'If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It's a double standard,' she said, adding: 'There shouldn't be a Black History Month. We're Americans. Period.'
Days out from their annual Autumn/Winter collection launch, Myer is reportedly warning its models and ambassadors against being ultra slim.

The department store giant has relayed a mandate urging participants of their upcoming runway show to maintain a 'healthy weight', according to the Daily Telegraph.

It comes after attention was drawn to ambassador and former Home And Away actress Jodi Anasta's slender frame, and the much-publicised dropping of model Kate Peck from the brand.

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Concern: Myer has reportedly warned its models and ambassadors about maintaining a 'healthy weight' prior to their Autumn/Winter collection launch on Thursday

After announcing a separation from her former NRL star husband Braith in December, Anasta's gaunt appearance has been brought into the spotlight.

The mother-of-one was seen looking worryingly thin while at the beach last month prompting speculation the stress of the past few months have taken its toll.

It is still unclear whether or not Anasta will attend the much-anticipated Myer showcase, which is due to take place in Sydney on Thursday evening.

Worrying: The report follows recent attention about ambassador Jodi Anasta's slim figure

Long-time ambassador: It comes after model Kate Peck was dropped from the brand last month following headlines over the past two years about her waif-like frame

She has been a staple on the red carpet at previous runway shows and also represents the brand at social events such as the Spring Racing carnival.

Prior to being dropped by Myer last month, long-time model and ambassador Kate Peck had similarly drawn headline attention for her waif-like frame.

She was excluded from the brand's swimwear catalogue and likewise failed to model the collection during their 2014 and 2015 Spring/Summer showcases amid speculation she had been deemed too slim.

It had been reported that Myer bosses were concerned Peck might invite criticism by posing in swimwear given her slender frame.

But speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the MTV star explained: 'It wasn't in my contract to do swimwear modelling, I've never done it. It was never on the cards.'

Absent: Peck didn't model the brand's swimwear collections alongside fellow models Jennifer Hawkins and Rachael Finch during their 2015 Spring/Summer launch

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Myer for comment regarding this story.

It seems department store is keen to avoid a situation similar to that of designer Alex Perry in 2014 when he allowed a worryingly slender model to take to the runway for his Fashion Week show.

Concern was immediately raised by spectators and Perry was forced to apologise for his 'serious lack of judgement'.

Confessing he 'recoiled' while watching former Australia's Next Top Model runner-up Cassi Van Den Dungen on his catwalk, he told Sunrise at the time: 'It's not an image I think is good to put forward.

'I got distracted. I chatted to Cassi, I've known her for a long time. I should have made that call. I was off the ball.'
She's been at the centre of a Twitter storm after revealing her cleavage at the SAG Awards - and now Susan Sarandon's son has hit back at critics of his Hollywood legend mum.

Film director Jack Robbins has slammed the 69-year-old's haters 'ageist and sexist,' telling Sharon Feinstein for The Sunday Mirror newspaper: 'If she wasn't 69 no one would be saying anything.'

Jack, 26, said his Oscar-winning mum was 'right to be proud of her body' after she wore a bra top at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in LA.

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Hitting back: Susan Sarandon's son Jack Robbins, here with his mother at last week's SAG Awards afterparty has slammed people who criticised his mum's revealing cleavage in an outfit she wore to the bash

Susan's son specifically referred to a tweet by Piers Morgan, who originally said the revealing display was 'Inappropriate for an In Memorium tribute.'

Jack said: 'It's ageist and sexist to attack her. She's a beautiful woman.

'If Piers Morgan wants to make fun of my mother and focus his energy on that, then power to him. Aren't there a million other things he could be preoccupied with than my mum's breasts?'

Jack is Susan's son by second husband Tim Robbins, an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, with whom she spent 21 years and had a second son Miles Robbins before divorcing in 2009.

Susan also has a daughter, Eva Amurri, by Italian filmmaker Franco Amurri, who she met before meeting Tim but after her 12-year marriage to Chris Sarandon.

Controversial: The actress wore a white blazer with nothing underneath but a black bra to introduce a segment remembering those who passed away over the past year at the ceremony

Ageist: Susan, here with Kate Winslet and Michael Shannon, was publicly blasted, but her son says it's sexist

Jack's words come after Good Morning Britain host Piers and Susan engaged in a spirited Twitter exchange on Thursday after the former accused the latter of displaying a bit too much.

'Would Susan Sarandon wear this to a funeral? No.' he argued. 'It was thus horribly inappropriate for an In Memoriam tribute.'

The actress wore a white blazer with nothing underneath but a black bra to introduce a segment remembering those who passed away over the past year at the ceremony.

Sarandon responded to Morgan on Thursday by posting a photo of herself wearing nothing but a bra in a scene from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

'Today's #TBT is dedicated to @piersmorgan,' wrote Sarandon alongside the photo.

Thoughts: Piers Morgan came under fire after saying Susan Sarandon's choice to wear a blazer with just a bra (above) at the SAG Awards was 'inappropriate'

Response: On Thursday, Sarandon responded by posting a photo of herself in a bra from The Rocky Horror Picture show saying it was for Morgan

And another response: Morgan then responded with a photoshopped picture of himself in front of a fire with only a velvet drape covering himself saying it was for Sarandon

Piers responded almost immediately by retweeting the photo and writing; 'That's very disrespectful to nude male statues...'

The comment was a reference to a nude statute in the foreground of Sarandon's photo, and also included a winking emoji.

Then, as the piece de resistance, Morgan tweeted a photoshoped picture of himself laying in front of a fire wearing nothing but a Burger King medallion and what appeared to be velvet drapes covering his intimate parts.

'Today's #TBT is dedicated to @SusanSarandon,' Morgan joked.

He then clarified his statement from Saturday for those attacking him, and Sarandon herself, by writing; 'Just for the record, @SusanSarandon , I think your cleavage is magnificent. I'd just keep it hidden for 'In Memoriam' tributes. Love Piers x.'

Susan has yet to respond to Morgan's latest tweet.
They've been the hottest thing in music for the past few years, and now it seems that mash-ups are taking the literary world by storm.

A combination of a classic novel and zombie thriller, they fuse well-known literary fiction with an altogether more gruesome tale.

Loved for their wry tone and clever narrative, the works  known as twisted classics  are not only flying off the shelves, but being made into huge Hollywood blockbusters  as this weekends opening of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, starring Lily James, shows.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, published in 2009 and released as a film starring Lily James this weekend, was so successful it created a whole new genre of fiction, with publishers clamouring to sign up the next one

The film is based on the 2009 novel of the same name, which combines Jane Austens 1813 classic with zombie fiction.

Penned by Seth Grahame-Smith, the famous Austen tale of tangled relationships and social prejudice is given the shock horror treatment when the characters are faced with an army of garish zombies and their taste for regency brains.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. So goes the witty parody of Austens original line, It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

The book  the first of its kind  has been such a hit it has created an entirely new genre of fiction, with publishers clamouring to sign up the next monster literary mash-up.

Sense And Sensibility And Sea Monsters came next, which saw the Dashwood sisters evicted from their home and forced to live on an island plagued by a rampaging octopus and giant lobsters.

This was followed by Jane Slayre, a fusion of Charlotte Brontes classic Jane Eyre  but with vampires. It begins, Reader, I buried him.

But it is Pride And Prejudice And Zombies which promises to take the mash-up genre into the mainstream, and actress Lily James, with it.

In her latest role as a fearsome Elizabeth Bennet who ditches the pianoforte to despatch the undead with an arsenal of weaponry mostly concealed beneath her bloomers, James really puts the drama into period drama.

Sense And Sensibility And Sea Monsters came next, followed by Jane Slayre. Pictured: Jess Radomska in a scene from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

The ever alluring Mr Darcy, played in the film by Sam Riley, is also handy with a sword. And Jamess boyfriend, former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith, stars as clergyman Mr Collins.

James and her co-stars spent months learning complex martial arts moves  never easy to pull off when laced into a corset. James said: In costume fittings we kicked walls and lunged to see if we could do it.

It is Pride And Prejudice And Zombies which promises to take the mash-up genre into the mainstream

She admitted to being a fierce Elizabeth. All that inner frustration and sexual tension comes out in decapitating zombies and shes really good at it, she said.

Shes really strong and really bad-ass. We had daggers hidden absolutely everywhere. I think I had them in my pants.

There was also a bloody mishap that could have ended in disaster.

Everywhere you looked there were zombies both fake and human dripping in blood, she said.

I stamped on an extras head. I thought it was a dummy and it was a real person.

Quite how the 26-year-old actress has manoeuvred herself into the part from playing ingenue Lady Rose in Downton Abbey  via Disneys Cinderella and Natasha Rostova in War And Peace  is the topic of conversation at Hollywoods most exclusive dinner parties.

One of the secrets of her success is the fact that she has been championed by Hollywood super-producer Harvey Weinstein, who was involved in the BBCs adaptation of the Tolstoy epic.

An industry source said: Harvey just totally fell for her and got behind her and opened so many doors in Hollywood.

Shes an amazing talent and the irony is she wasnt really in Downton that much yet has become the breakout star of the show. Hollywood is just in love with her.

Shes the one who is going to have the biggest and longest career of any of them. Shes that classic English rose which America has always loved. With Harvey behind her, the skys the limit.
It's a case of another day another bikini for Bachelor star Zilda Williams as she continues her holiday in Bali.

The busty former glamour model was seen enjoying some time by the pool this week in a tiny multi-coloured top that could barely contain her ample DD size chest.

She teamed the skimpy number, that revealed a glimpse of the surgical scar from her recent breast reduction, with a tie-up pair of white bikini bottoms which she later covered up with a white skirt.

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Bikini babe: Zilda Williams was enjoying some time by the pool this week in a tiny multi-coloured top that could barely contain her ample DD size chest

What friends are for: The former Bachelor star was joined by her friend Sarah Robertson who took to hand-feeding her at one point

Zilda was joined on the occasion by her Playboy bunny pal Sarah Robertson who at one point took to hand-feeding the blonde some nibbles.

Reclining back on a day bed, the ladies were making the most of some appetisers that were doing the rounds when Sarah decided to pop one into her friend's mouth.

Also going for a mismatched look with her two-piece set, the brunette was wearing a very tight-fitting leopard print top and electric blue bottoms whose colour and clasp details perfectly co-oridinated with Zilda's bikini top.

Unlike her blonde companion, who had her hair pulled back into a messy up-do, Sarah left her choppy locks loose and shielded her gaze from the sun with an oversized pair of aviators.

Trading bikinis? The pair wore mismatched bikinis with the colour and clasp details of Zilda's top seeming to co-ordinate with Sarah's bottoms

Gal pals: Reclining back on a day bed the ladies were making the most of appetisers that were doing the rounds

Thanks: Sarah leant in and popped one of the nibbles into her friend's mouth

Healing: Zilda's skimpy bikini top revealed a glimpse of the surgical scar from her recent breast reduction

Wrapped up: She teamed the multi-coloured number with a tie-up pair of white bikini bottoms which she later covered up with a white skirt

Up-do: The one-time reality star's hair was pulled back away from her face

The duo were seen sipping on tropical drinks and later splashing about on inflatable pool toys as they enjoyed the summer sun.

They have been spending a number of days on the tropical island destination popular with Australian fun-seekers.

And the ladies certainly appeared to be having a ball with Zilda seen dancing and lifting her arms up into the air on a number of occasions.

The former reality star, who had modelled for a host of men's magazines, visited an Australia Cosmetics Clinic in Sydney at the end of October where she reduced her surgically enhanced FF breasts to her natural DD cup.

Shady lady: She wore a pair of reflective lens sunglasses while cooling off in the pool

Moving to the groove: She let loose and appeared to be dancing with her arms in the air

Cooling off: She and Sarah were seen sipping on tropical drinks and splashing about on inflatable pool toys

Fun times: She swapped inflatable, going from a pink to a yellow ring

Keeping an eye out: Zilda was seen ensuring everything was all in place as she leant back against the pool's edge

She hasn't been afraid of exposing the ensuing results - or scars - since, and regularly steps out in barely-there outfits.

She told Daily Mail Australia recently that she has no regrets about going under the knife, saying: 'I no longer get stared at and men are seeing me for who I really am.'

'It fantastic not waking up with back pain anymore and I can't wait to exercise properly once I am healed.

The socialite first opened up about her choice to undergo a breast reduction in April after getting fed up of convincing men to look into her eyes.

Laying back: Outside of the pool the girls relaxed on sun beds

Mixing it up: Sarah was wearing a very tight-fitting leopard print top and electric blue bottoms

Who likes short shorts? She later slipped on a pair of high-waisted cut offs

More comfortable? She later swapped her shorts for a sleeveless blue wrap that matched her bikini bottoms

A source revealed to Daily Mail Australia at the time that Zilda 'is naturally a big girl and says she is blessed with DDs but she got a boob job years ago and went up to FFs when she felt pressurised by the glamour modelling industry.'

'She now thinks bigger isn't always better and has decided it's time to downsize. She thinks she messed up and is fed up of getting the wrong kind of attention from men - DDs are still plenty.'

However, her decision left many of her 40,000 Instagram followers - mainly male - heartbroken at the very idea.

Not one to shy away from flaunting her assets, Zilda has graced the covers of Zoo magazine, FHM South Africa and Maxim UK and Portugal.

Girl chat: The pair have been enjoying some quality time together in Bali

Downsize: Zilda had her surgically enhanced FF breasts reduced in October to her natural DD cup

Bikini life: She hasn't been afraid of exposing the ensuing results - or scars - since, and regularly steps out in barely-there outfits

Changing it up: It's a case of another day another bikini for Zilda as she continues her island holiday
It was their first time in the kitchen cooking for My Kitchen Rules.

And during Sunday night's episode, South Australia's Paige and Rosie found themselves in tears after failing to produce restaurant quality dishes.

The two best friends served up a gingerbread for dessert modelled on Paige's grandmother's recipe, prompting judge Pete Evans to slam it for lacking in spice.

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First timers: South Australia's Paige and Rosie found themselves in tears during Sunday night's My Kitchen Rules' after they failed to produce a spicy gingerbread

The dish also featured a side of homemade rum and raisin ice cream.

Despite having the homely touch, the girls' dish received criticism by the show's judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

'Gingerbread can go really either way, you can do it as a biscuit or as a cake but I am glad you did it as a cake because it was cooked well,' Pete began praising their pudding.

A touch of home: For dessert they served up a gingerbread recipe which had been created by Paige's grandmother along with a side of homemade rum and raisin ice cream

Harsh: Despite judge Pete Evans praising the pair for successfully cooking the cake, he slammed the lack of spice in the dish

Rosie and Paige's Instant Resturant dishes ENTREE: Lamb backstrap with pickled beetroot and chive creme fraiche MAIN: Chicken, leek and zucchini pie with minted mushy peas DESSERT: Grandma's gingerbread with rum and raisin ice cream Advertisement

'It was moist and it was fluffy but when I see gingerbread on the menu I am looking for the spice, you didn't have that...it feels like you have pulled back,' he continued.

Manu was quick to jump in and label their ice cream a 'failure'.

'The second part of your dessert was a failure when it comes to taste,' the French-born chef bluntly stated.

'There was no rum in there whatsoever and I feel like I am having ice cream with a few raisins in there.

'It was a very simple dessert but it needs to be perfect when it is simple,' Manu finished.

Scoring: Their dish received a low five out of ten by both judges

First chance: Earlier in the night they served an entree of lamb backstrap with pickled beetroot and chive creme fraiche and received a six out of ten from Pete and a seven from Manu

Under the pump: Pete again knocked back the dish stating there wasn't enough flavour while Manu praised the best friends for cooking the lamb 'very well'

Despite their final dish receiving a low score of five out of ten by both judges their courses earlier in the night helped save them from the bottom place on the leaderboard.

While their entree (lamb backstrap with pickled beetroot and chive creme fraiche) received a six from Pete and a seven from Manu, both were less than impressed by the quality.

'When I think of Rosie and Paige, I think of fun, home cooking and full of flavour but I didn't get that on this plate,' Pete slammed.

'Eating this dish I am like, it is okay but there was no whoah for me. The dish lacked seasoning unfortunately and even the leaves werent dressed.'

Manu echoed his co-star's thoughts but insisted the lamb was 'cooked very well'.

'I think you concentrated more on the way it looks rather than the way it tastes,' he described to Rosie and Paige.

Nightmare: Following the harsh feedback from their first course the girls took it in as a 'lesson' despite it being a 'disappointing start'

Patiently waiting: After their fellow teams had to wait two hours for their main dish, they were served a chicken, leek and zucchini pie with minted mushy peas

Trouble: While preparing their pies the girls discovered they had not made enough pastry to form the sides and bottom of the dish

Following the harsh feedback from their first course the girls took it in as a 'lesson' despite it being a 'disappointing start'.

After a long two-hour wait between the courses the guest teams were finally dished their main course of chicken, leek and zucchini pie with minted mushy peas.

While the course looked appetising on the plate Manu insisted he felt like he was 'eating baby food'.

'When the pie was placed in front of me I was very excited. You have done a great job I think the pastry puffed really well,' Manu begun.

'Except I felt like the filling was a little bit like baby food because everything was chopped so small and when I bite into a pie I like to have chunks and I feel like the chicken is lost.'

The professional cook went on: 'After waiting for so long I was hoping for something like perfection.'

What age are you? Manu (left) insisted he felt like he was 'eating baby food' while consuming the dish which featured a golden layer of homemade puff pastry

Hard to impress: Pete said the team 'didn't hold back on the flavour' but insisted the beans were 'salty'

Have faith: Despite criticising their work Pete encouraged the pair claiming, 'I believe you ladies can cook...but I think stress has got into your kitchen'

Pete added that he was impressed with the course because the team 'didn't hold back on the flavour'.

But he was quick to fault the serving adding 'the mushy beans were salty. I was excited to try your filling and I won't say it was bad but there was an over-righting flavour of white wine.'

Despite criticising the work of the best friends Pete encouraged the pair saying: 'I believe you ladies can cook, and I believe you can cook really well, but I think stress has got into your kitchen and you need a little bit more attention to detail.'

He and Manu both scored the main course a five out of ten.

Rosie and Paige received an overall combined score of 60 out of 100, placing them in third place behind Cheryl and Matt.

My Kitchen Rules will return on Monday night at 7.30pm on Channel Seven.
While equally fashion-forward, the Delevingne sisters' style varies hugely.

And Cara and Poppy illustrated this as they took the Paris streets by storm for a dreamy shopping jaunt on Saturday.

The 23-year-old supermodel displayed her usual example of sports luxe in huge trainers and a skimpy crop top, while her older sibling, 29, oozed boho glamour in a suede coat.

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Contrasting looks: Cara and Poppy Delevingne illustrated their different styles as they took the Paris streets by storm for a dreamy shopping jaunt on Saturday

Cara, renowned for her insouciant regard to trends, showed off her trademark edgy look as she sported high-waisted black jeans and a scanty white crop top.

Sure to keep out the chill of the French capital, she slipped on a smart black coat with a monochrome cardigan beneath, adorned with large buttons.

Her black and white trainers tied in nicely with the subtly coordinated, yet sleekly laid-back look.

Cara looked youthful in the ensemble as she allowed her lustrous blonde locks to cascade from a side-parting, while shielding her face from the winter glare with Wayfarer sunglasses.

See more of the latest on Cara Delevingne as she flashes her taut tummy in Paris

Sporty spice: The 23-year-old supermodel displayed her usual example of sports luxe in huge trainers and a skimpy crop top, while her older sibling, 29, oozed boho glamour in a suede coat

Chic duo: Cara, renowned for her insouciant regard to trends, showed off her trademark edgy look as she sported high-waisted black jeans and a scanty white crop top

Blonde beauty: Poppy proved to be polar opposite to her younger sister as she slipped on a chic, tan shearling jacket with a white furry lining

Cara Saint Laurent: The ladies were shopping up a storm in Yves Saint Laurent, no doubt an exclusive jaunt to the shop as the luxury brand is one of the many fashion houses of which Cara fronts campaigns

Tummy time: Cara's taut tummy was the centre of attention in her laid-back yet edgy look

Strutting her stuff: Cara and Leo made the perfect pair as she walked adoringly with her new pet

Poppy proved to be polar opposite to her younger sister as she slipped on a chic, tan shearling jacket with a white furry lining.

She added a splash of bright colour to the neutral pallet of the ensemble as she draped a bright red patterned scarf around her neck.

Similarly to her sister, Poppy was sporting tight black bottoms yet her footwear was more dressy than Cara's as she sported pointed and buckled leopard print booties.

Her shock of peroxide blonde hair was worn dead straight while she plumped for barely there make-up - the perfect exhibit of her flawless complexion and dewy skin.

Share the joke? While Poppy chortled to herself, Cara remained calm and composed

Sisterly love: The girls appeared to be having a fantastic holiday as they drank in the sights of the city

Sharing a laugh: Similarly to her sister, Poppy was sporting tight black bottoms yet her footwear was more dressy than Cara's as she sported pointed and buckled leopard print booties

Puppy love: Cara brought along her beloved pup Leo for the trip, the pet she debuted to the showbiz world at the Chanel haute couture show in Paris last month

While the ladies were the fashionable addition to the party, which included Poppy's husband James Cook, there was an extremely cute and fluffy asset to the group.

Cara brought along her beloved pup Leo for the trip, the pet she debuted to the showbiz world at the Chanel haute couture show in Paris last month.

The ladies were shopping up a storm in Yves Saint Laurent, no doubt an exclusive jaunt to the shop as the luxury brand is one of the many fashion houses of which Cara fronts campaigns.

A delighted Poppy took to Instagram on Sunday to share an image of one of her new buys - a tropical print Yves Saint Laurent bag with a heavy gold chain strap.

She added the caption: 'sweet child of mine'

Brother and sister in law: While the ladies were the fashionable addition to the party, which included Poppy's husband James Cook, there was an extremely cute and fluffy asset to the group

Sister, sister: The ladies were shopping up a storm in Yves Saint Laurent, no doubt an exclusive jaunt to the shop as the luxury brand is one of the many fashion houses of which Cara fronts campaigns

Oozing style: The ladies were instantly recognisable as superstars as they treated the pavement like a catwalk
Courtesy of AXS TVAlice Cooper will be featured on two rocking shows that will get their premiere on AXS TV on Sunday night. First up, the legendary shock rocker will be a guest on Sammy Hagar's new reality show, Sammy Hagar's Rock and Roll Road Trip, which airs at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. That will be followed at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT by the concert film Alice Cooper: Live in Austin, which was shot at a February 2015 performance at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas.

On the latest episode of Rock and Roll Road Trip, the Red Rocker travels to Cooper's hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, and chats with his fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Hagar also pays a visit to Cooper'stown, the local rock-themed bar and eatery Alice owns, and he and Cooper hit the venue's stage together.

In a preview clip of the episode, Cooper discusses the excesses of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle he shared with some other famous musicians back in the day.

"I came up with the Jimi Hendrixes and Jim Morrisons, and you had to drink with them," he recalls. "You couldn't just sit there and have a Coke."

Alice also talks about paying his dues during his pre-fame days, noting, "I played in bars longer than anybody thinks, and that's how you get good."

A trailer for the Live in Austin special features audio of Cooper performing his classic song "No More Mr. Nice Guy," which accompanies a montage of highlights from Alice's theatrically macabre stage show. As if the rocking tunes weren't enough, Alice's performance includes such creepy props as a guillotine, an electric chair, a boa constrictor, some monsters and lots of fake blood.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
With a fashion designer mother and style icon father, Brooklyn Beckham is bound to borrow sartorial tips from his parents.

And the trendy teen proved he has inherited his dad's style as the duo stepped out in similar lounge wear during a trip to a skate store in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The 16-year-old star went for a casual vest and black shorts, while David, 40, opted for a soft cotton T-shirt and pulled up tracksuit bottoms.

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Cool duo: With a fashion designer mother and style icon father, Brooklyn Beckham is bound to borrow sartorial tips from his parents

David wore a baseball style T-shirt with green arms and piping and a white body, while he pulled his grey tracksuit bottoms up into a shorter style.

In the same style as his son, he slipped on a pair of flip-flops the same as Brooklyn's, although his were in a bright white hue.

Looking every inch the superstar, David pulled on a baseball cap while shielding his eyes with a pair of sleek aviator sunglasses.

The retired footballer's smattering of designer facial hair and inked-up body made him instantly recognisable as one of the world's biggest superstars.

Hunky star: David was looking ultra handsome in his laid-back ensemble

Hip daddy: And the trendy teen proved he has inherited his dad's style as the duo stepped out in similar lounge wear during a trip to a skate store in Los Angeles on Saturday

Laid-back and lovely: David wore a baseball style T-shirt with green arms and piping and a white body, while he pulled his grey tracksuit bottoms up into a shorter style

Brooklyn was clearly enjoying the balmy climes of his adopted home in Los Angeles, a world away from his native England, as he sported a scanty, weather-appropriate ensemble.

His retro style white vest was emblazoned with a faded slogan while his baggy black shorts screamed casual wear.

Inspired by his dad he went for black flip-flops, while accessorising with an array of delicate gold jewellery including two bracelets and a necklace.

Taking inspiration: Inspired by his dad he went for black flip-flops, while accessorising with an array of delicate gold jewellery including two bracelets and a necklace

Warmer weather: Brooklyn was clearly enjoying the balmy climes of his adopted home in Los Angeles, a world away from his native England, as he sported a scanty, weather-appropriate ensemble

Shop till you drop: The duo cut serious figures as they ambled along the street ready to hit the skate store

While the duo headed to the store, Brooklyn was potentially forking out his own cash after his first pay cheque, as he recently scooped his first photography job.

Proving to be just as professional as his famous father and mother, Brooklyn had a certain level of confidence about him last week as he got on with his first job as a photographer.

Taking to the streets of London, the teen was on the ball as he shot Burberry's latest This Is Brit fragrance campaign.

Handsome pair: The boys looked casual and cool as they sauntered along the streets

Payday come round? While the duo headed to the store, Brooklyn was potentially forking out his own cash after his first pay cheque, as he scooped his first photography job

Engrossed: Brooklyn couldn't resist checking his phone as he ambled along the sidewalk

On location, Beckham was focused as he captured his subjects as they stood on a cobbled pathway.

Earlier this week via Instagram, the 16-year-old son of David and Victoria Beckham revealed he'd been hired by the luxury brand to shoot their latest fragrance.

Posting a black and white photograph of himself holding onto a camera, the model wrote: 'Excited to photograph the @Burberry campaign tomorrow. Watch it live on their Instagram & Snapchat #THISISBRIT'.

However it's no doubt the star will be in safe hands with the brand who have a history with the famous family.

At the age of 10, Brooklyn's younger brother Romeo made his modelling debut with the brand, and has continued to work with the company on several occasions.

Snap happy: While the duo headed to the store, Brooklyn was potentially forking out his own cash after his first pay cheque, as he scooped his first photography job

Burberry boy: Earlier this week via Instagram, the 16-year-old son of David and Victoria Beckham revealed he'd been hired by the luxury brand to shoot their latest fragrance
She was one of Australia's most recognisable faces as a result of playing Neighbours' Jane Harris in the Eighties.

However, Annie Jones, who decided to sacrifice an international acting career to care for her sick mother, who died last month, now has plans to return to the small screen.

'Now that mum has passed on to a better place I'm kind of excited about the prospect of relaunching myself,' the 49-year-old revealed to news.com.au.

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'I'm excited about relaunching myself': Former Neighbours' star Annie Jones has plans to make a return to the small screen following the death of her mother last month. Pictured here with former co star Guy Pearce

Annie will return to the spotlight after 15-years thanks to her on-screen Neighbours' boyfriend Guy Pearce, who has given the actress a cameo role in his returning ABC drama series Irish Luck.

The pair have remained good friends since their time on the long-running soap, and the friendship has provided Annie with a career lifeline, albeit a small role.

'We have kept in touch and whenever he's in Melbourne we would catch up again. I've always been a fan of Guy's of course, but (Jack Irish) was really good fun,' she said.

Her mother Elizabeth passed away last month after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1994.

'We have kept in touch': Annie will return to the spotlight after 15 years, thanks to Guy , who has given the actress a cameo role in his returning ABC drama series Irish Luck

'I've always been a fan of Guy's of course': The pair have remained good friends since their time on the popular long-running soap

The pair also reunited in 2014 for the music video of Guy's song Fly All The Way.

The bizarre music video saw the pair playing a dysfunctional couple creating, just as the theme song chimes, 'the perfect blend.'

Showing versatile skills The King's Speech star portrays eight exaggerated characters, including a doting father with a Hollywood smile opposite his long-suffering wife played by Annie, to a doddery pensioner and obsessed body builder.

The actor-turned musician says the dysfunctional family was born out of a desire to channel their former soap characters Mike and brainy Jane.

'The perfect blend': The pair also reunited in 2014 for the music video of Guy's song Fly All The Way

Despite not regretting her decision to choose family over her career, the actress revealed she does have aspirations to find success again, half-joking that she was 'hoping to do a Jackie Weaver and come good in my fifties.'

She added the Oscar-nominated star 'is a great woman to aspire to in my sort of mature times and maybe a bit more work will now come my way.

'I'm really hoping that will happen. I'm ready and have no other commitments and as keen as mustard to work hard.'

While caring for her mother, Annie has dabbled in acting in short stints on productions in and around Melbourne.

She has also landed another guest role in the next series of Channel Seven's Winners & Losers.
She made her name as a television fashion expert.

So Trinny Woodall is rarely seen looking anything less than perfect - as illustrated when she headed to her favoured lunch hot spot Scott's on Saturday.

The 51-year-old TV star was joined by her businessman beau Charles Saatchi for their al fresco lunch in the Mayfair eatery.

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Stunner: Trinny Woodall is rarely seen looking anything less than perfect - as illustrated when she headed to her favoured lunch hot spot Scott's on Saturday

Trinny looked elegant in a double-breasted cream blazer with a long-line cut while rocking a cream, cropped shirt buttoned up to the neck.

She appeared to wear black trousers with the ensemble - keeping it classic and smart.

The What Not To Wear star wore her lustrous locks in a bouncy style cascading from a centre parting while her make-up was muted and simple.

The TV star puffed away at cigarettes alongside her boyfriend, who was looking suave in a suit, as they sat at their favourite table.

Laugh a minute: The 51-year-old TV star was joined by her businessman beau Charles Saatchi for their al fresco lunch in the Mayfair eatery

Puffing away: Trinny looked elegant in a double-breasted cream blazer with a long-line cut while rocking a cream, cropped shirt buttoned up to the neck

Her dinner could have been celebration as earlier in the week she announced her 'comeback' on British television screens after filming abroad for nearly seven years - but viewers watching her appearance on This Morning quickly took to Twitter to comment on how different the stylist looks.

Mother-of-one Trinny looked happy to be back on daytime television as she presented a section about how to best wear leather at any age.

She told the show's hosts, Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield, that she was 'so well' and happy to be back in the UK after seven years filming abroad with her presenting partner Susannah Constantine.

Up close and personal: Her dinner could have been celebration as earlier in the week she announced her 'comeback' on British television screens after filming abroad for nearly seven years - but viewers watching her appearance on This Morning quickly took to Twitter to comment on how different the stylist looks

Trinny appeared on This Morning earlier today to present a feature about wearing leather at any age. The stylist has been working overseas on television for much of the last seven years

Comeback: Trinny said she was delighted to be back on UK screens... but some viewers were quick to point out how different they felt the star looked

Trinny, who has admitted to being a fan of botox in the past, as she appeared on a preview for her fashion segment on This Morning today

'I'm so well', Trinny, who was wearing a black biker jacket with culottes and black pumps, told Holly and Phil. 'I've been out of England for seven years filming but I have a young child so it's nice to be back.'

After watching the segment, in which Trinny advised on how older women could best wear leather and pleather, viewers took to Twitter to remark just how different the star looked, with some suggesting the 51-year-old, who turns 52 next week, may have had cosmetic procedures.

@shez6000 wrote: '@trinnywoodall can hardly move her face. I'm mesmerised' while @NanakoParker remarked: 'There is something peculiar going on with Trinny Woodall's lips'.

@Sid_Ballot didn't hold back, suggesting that Trinny's 'grid' - her face - looked different

Something peculiar going on? Viewers who hadn't seen the star on UK screens for a while were surprised by her new look

@FieryTwoozles simply expressed surprise, saying: 'What has happened to Trinny Woodall' and @Sid_Ballot added: 'What's happened to Trinny Woodall's grid?' [meaning face].

The audience took to social media to suggest that the star had undergone cosmetic procedures to maintain her glamorous looks.

Parody account @HughieGreen wrote: 'Trinny Woodall is definitely an expert when it comes to leathery surfaces.

She doesn't look like Trinny! @jaydee_97 said the star looked different these days

Still looking great: Trinny pictured with Susannah Constantine in 2007 and, right, as she appeared on This Morning earlier today

Back in 2010, Trinny admitted that she was a fan of botox, saying: 'I would advise women not to be shy about admitting they've had Botox - it just shows you want to look your best - and there's nothing wrong with that. I judge when I need a top-up of Botox by looking in the mirror to see if I can move more than half my forehead.'

For her comeback appearance, Trinny sported brunette locks, a leather jacket, striped shirt and black patent pumps, with much of it coming from Spanish fashion chain Zara, she said.

After regaling Holly and Phil with tales of how she wore leather in her twenties...and ended up with a 'sweaty crotch', the stylist advised callers on how to master the art of both leather and pleather - a synthetic version of animal skin - in later years.

However, one particular piece of advice did appear to annoy a selection of the audience.

When asked by a caller what to wear on Valentine's Day, Trinny urged her not to dress for 'herself of her friends' but to 'dress for her man.'

Not impressed: Trinny's old fashioned advice about 'dressing for your man' didn't go down to well

Not her finest feminist hour: @Liverpoolshell simply repeated Trinny's words...

Going solo: Trinny looked happy and relaxed chatting to Holly on Phil on This Morning
It appeared that the Latin crooner is not a fan of billionaire mogul Donald Trump.

And on Saturday, during the close of his concert at Madison Square Garden, singer Marc Anthony had a few harsh words for the politically incorrect Republican presidential candidate.

The 47-year-old star wanted to end his performance on what he believed would be a high note.

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Something to say: On Saturday, during the close of his concert at Madison Square Garden, singer Marc Anthony had a few harsh words for the politically incorrect Republican presidential candidate

'...Before I leave, I want to say two things,' he began, speeding straight ahead to his point.

'F*** Donald Trump,' he said, as the audience roared with applause.

While the attendees continued to whistle and shout in agreement, the Vivir Mi Vida singer took a moment to soak in the environment before performing the sign of the cross.

Straight to the point: 'F*** Donald Trump,' he said, before performing the sign of the cross

Not done yet: 'And I wanna say, I want him to hear it in his house. Wake that motherf***** up! Mi Gente! (my people)' he yelled, as the crowd erupted in additional applause

But he wasn't finished yet.

'And I wanna say, I want him to hear it in his house. Wake that motherf***** up! Mi Gente! (my people)' he yelled, as the crowd erupted in additional applause.

The millionaire musician immediately began a Latin song a dance routine to his hit by the same name.

His reasoning: Marc's disdain for Donald Trump, 69, is most likely in reference to comments made by the presidential hopeful regarding his stance on illegal immigration. He is pictured on February 6

Marc's disdain for 69-year-old Donald is most likely in reference to comments made by the presidential hopeful regarding his stance on illegal immigration. In doing so, the former Apprentice host cited Mexicans as an example to support his stance.

'When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,' he said, during his presidential bid announcement.

The Republican candidate has received mixed reviews in regards to his many statements on the topic of immigration.

Some believe Donald's comment are downright racists against multiple groups of people, while others believe that he is not against immigration (in regards to any race) provided it is done legally.
She may have her hands full looking after new-born daughter Siera.

But Imogen Thomas was sure to spend some quality time with her eldest girl, Ariana, on Sunday, as the duo attended the London premiere of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.

Heading to the Vue Cinema in the capital's West End, the 33-year-old former reality star and her lookalike daughter looked delighted at the prospect of watching the chipmunks latest big-screen effort.

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Girls' day out: Imogen Thomas was sure to spend some quality time with her eldest girl, Ariana, on Sunday, as the duo attended the London premiere of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

Opting for an understated yet stylish ensemble for her trip to the pictures with her eldest daughter, the former Big Brother star donned an all-black ensemble.

Subtly concealing her curves and assets in a dark, shirt-style midi dress, the Welsh-born model and reality favourite channelled a stylishly demure vibe.

However she injected an understated sassyness into her look by teaming the dress with a pair of knee-high black suede boots.

The mother-of-two - Ariana, two and two-month-old Siera - kept her look uncluttered for the event, and only added a black leather handbag and dark overcoat to her wardrobe.

Happy times: Heading to the Vue Cinema in the capital's West End, the 33-year-old former reality star and her lookalike daughter looked delighted at the prospect of watching the chipmunks latest big-screen effort

Wearing her light brown tresses pulled back off of her face in a high ponytail, the fashion designer highlighted her pretty features.

Opting for a stripped back palette of make-up to match her wardrobe, the former Miss Wales showcased her natural and homely looks.

Meanwhile Ariana, Imogen's eldest child with long-term partner Adam Horsley, looked the spitting image of her mother.

Chic and understated: Subtly concealing her curves and assets in a dark, shirt-style midi dress, the Welsh-born model and reality favourite channelled a stylishly demure vibe

A hint of sass: However she injected an understated sassyness into her look by teaming the dress with a pair of knee-high black suede boots

And dressed in a cute all-pink ensemble, looked a match for the film's stars - the chipmunks - in the adorable stakes.

Wearing a pink fleece jerkin and dress, the youngster also wore a pair of brown boots and a pale blue ribbon in her long honey locks.

Obviously leaving her new-born at home with partner Adam, Imogen and her eldest child looked in high spirits as they posed up a storm with the three chipmunk brothers: Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip is the fourth big-screen adventure to star '80s cartoon stars The Chipmunks, and will hit cinemas nationwide on February 12.

Lookalike daughter: Meanwhile Ariana, Imogen's eldest child with long-term partner Adam Horsley, looked the spitting image of her mother
It's possible that she was in the mood for additional permanent ink.

And on Saturday, Sofia Vergara was seen visiting The Warren Custom Tattoo Shop in Los Angeles alongside a male and female companion.

The actress already has a tattoo on the inside of her wrist in honor of her late brother Rafael.

New ink? On Saturday, the beautiful Sofia Vergara was seen visiting The Warren Custom Tattoo Shop in Los Angeles alongside a male and female companion

The Brits Are Coming star donned a simple T-shirt and 7 For All Mankind jeans for her excursion, but stayed true to her signature style when she skipped a pair of flats in favor of high heels.

Sofia accessorized with a black purse, printed scarf and mauve-rimmed shades, before adding a black coat strategically placed over her shoulders.

The brunette beauty left her highlighted tresses down for the outing, allowing her locks to flow freely.

On the dotted line: Upon entering, Sofia appeared to either sign-in, or a document of sorts

Who's marked? Of her group, it is not known if she was the one officially receiving a tattoo, and whether or not any ink was given

Easy ensemble: The Brits are Coming star donned a simple T-shirt and 7 For All Mankind jeans for her excursion, but stayed true to her signature style when she skipped a pair of flats in favor of high heels

Upon entering, Sofia appeared to either sign-in, or a document of sorts.

Of her group, it is not known if she was the one officially receiving a tattoo, and whether or not any ink was given.

If the Colombian beauty did go through with a new body marking, it wouldn't be her first.

Inspiration: In 2005, the actress starred alongside late actor Heath Ledger in the film, Lords of Dogtown

In 2005, the actress starred alongside late actor Heath Ledger in the film, Lords of Dogtown.

On his left wrist, Heath had the acronym KAOS in honour of sisters Kate Ledger, Ashleigh Bell, Olivia Ledger, and mother Sally Ledger Bell.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Sofia revealed that she was inspired by her co-star to tattoo the initial of her late brother Rafael, who was shot dead in her native Colombia.

'...He [Heath] had a tattoo on his wrist of his sisters' names and after I talked to him I did a tattoo of my brother's name that passed away. That's how I got the idea to do his initial in my wrist, because of him,' she said.
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Angelina Jolie already has about a dozen tattoos on her body that she has been collecting since she was a teenager just getting her start in Hollywood.

But the 40-year-old Oscar winner is far from done with inking herself up, which she proved over the weekend.

On Sunday the wife of Brad Pitt debuted three more stamps as she was on the set of her new film, the war drama First They Killed My Father, in Cambodia.

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Look at what's new: Angelina Jolie debuted three new tattoos on her back when in Cambodia on Sunday. There are two ancient markings (top center and far right) and a Yant known as Paech chaluaek (center, bottom)

At work: The 40-year-old Oscar winner is directing the drama First They Killed My Father

Not wearing much: Jolie had on a silky tank top that showed off a lot of skin and several of her tattoos; she also wore red strings on her right wrist and her wedding band

The star was overseeing scenes shot in the Angor Watt Temple complex in Cambodia. She has been directing the saga all winter.

All three of the new marks are on her back, joining previous tattoos that say Know Your Rights, a traditional Thai tiger and Cambodian writings that have already been in place for years.

The new markings seemed to be done this year as they have not been seen on the red carpet yet.

Almost done: Jolie has been filming her new epic in Cambodia for several months already and is using mostly Cambodian crew

Good things come in threes: These are the three new markings on her back; two of them (top and right) are ancient Thai Buddhist symbols and mantras, which are thought to provide protection. The other one, a box, is a Yanta; there are joined by a dozen others

Old pal: The top center one and far right one are believed to have been at the same time in January by Bangkok-based artist Ajarn Noo Kanpai

Consistent: Kanpai also worked with Jolie in 2003 on her shoulder blade and in 2004 on her tiger. The artist uses an old method of inking by hand, not a machine

Now she has a lot of ink: Jolie already had about a dozen tattoos before she asked for more

This is what her back USED to look like: Jolie with only two tattoos on her back in 2014

The new tattoos include two ancient Thai Buddhist symbols and mantras, which are thought to help provide protection.

One looks like a temple while the other looks like a series of symbols.

They are believed to have been at the same time in January by Bangkok-based artist Ajarn Noo Kanpai. He also worked with Jolie in 2003 on her shoulder blade and in 2004 on her tiger. The artist uses an old method of inking by hand, not a machine.

Bold: Jolie has said she likes to mark her body with things that mean something to her

Stylish: While on set, Jolie went braless as she wore a spaghetti strap black satin tank top made by Katie Holmes' old design company Holmes & Yang

She sure knows how to dress light: The top did an excellent job of showing off her new markings

Hat's off to her: She paired it with a long black skirt. Jolie also wore a floppy cream colored hat to keep out the sun

Orange you glad you were cast?: There were several actors dressed as monks

The third tattoo is a box with symbols in it, and rests in the center of her back.

It is thought to be a Yant known as Paech chaluaek, which is a symbol of good deed. Chants are said to be performed after the tattoo is done so to help further the good deeds.

This seems to go in line with Angelina's UN efforts to help refugees around the world.

According to Australia's Woman's Day, Brad also got a new tattoo when Jolie got her two markings from Kanpai.

ANGELINA'S COLLECTION OF INK

So far Jolie has gotten over a dozen tattoos. Here are the ones we only know about: Her early ink: A look at the tiger on her lower back Know your Rights on her neck This Gothic letter tattoo between her shoulder blades says "Know Your Rights". It's the title of a song of her favorite band. Buddhist writings on her shoulder This tattoo on her left shoulder blade is a Buddhist Pali incantation written in Khmer script, the language of Cambodia. Arabic script on her right arm This Arabic script tattoo on Jolie's right arm means 'Determination.' It covers up the abstract lines tattoo she had done together with her ex Billy Bob Thornton. Roman number 13 on her left arm This tattoo on her left underarm is the Roman number 13. Later she had V MCMXL added to the tattoo. 13 May 1940 is the date when Winston Churchill said: 'I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.' Tennessee Williams quote on left arm This tattoo on her left arm is inspired by the words of Tennessee Williams: 'A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages.' Cross on her stomach This cross tattoo covers the little dragon with the blue tongue she had done in Amsterdam. Next to it is a phrase in Latin: 'Quod me nutrit me destruit,' meaning 'What nourishes me, destroys me.' Rune style mark on her wrist This rune style tattoo on Angelina's wrist is the letter h. It's either for ex boyfriend Timothy Hutton or her brother, James Haven. Numbers on her arms These numbers are the geographical coordinates (longitudes and latitudes) from the locations where her children first entered her life. She added Pitt later. Tiger tattoo on lower back This 12-inch long Bengal tiger tattoo on her lower back was done in Bangkok in 2004. Lines on her right arm This abstract lines tattoo design on her right arm is a custom tattoo created by herself and Billy Bob Thornton. Japanese symbol on left shoulder This tattoo on Jolie's left shoulder blade is the Japanese symbol for Death. Asian etchings on inside of left arm The ink appears to be in the style of the Southeast Asian sak yant style of tattooing, which is often constructed with lines of script, geometric patterns and animal shapes. Ancient Thai Buddhist symbols on her back Design has both swirl designs and writings Ancient Thai Buddhist mantras on her back Text that runs up and down on right side of her shoulder Yant on center of back Known as Paech chaluaek, which is a symbol of good deed. Chants are said to be performed after the tattoo is done so to help further the good deeds. The tattoo is a box with symbols in it Advertisement

His was a line from a Bob Dylan song that read: 'We live, we die but I know I'll be with you.'

The etching is believed to be a romantic note to his wife.

The publication added that Kanpai used the same ink for both tattoos, to further bond the couple.

In early December, Angelina showed off another new tattoo on her forearm when at the Cambodia Film Festival in Phnom Penh.

With the ink clearly visible on the inside of her left arm, a new addition to her ever-growing collection of body art.

All dressed up: Jolie and Pitt at the premiere of By The Sea at the 2015 AFI Fest in Hollywood in November

Complete with a thin, intricate outline in black ink it is thought the tattoo is an homage to the thousands who lost their lives during the country's Khmer Rouge reign, as she is currently in the country working on a film about the atrocities.

The ink appears to be in the style of the Southeast Asian sak yant style of tattooing, which is often constructed with lines of script, geometric patterns and animal shapes.

While on set of First They Killed My Father on Sunday, Jolie went braless as she wore a spaghetti strap black satin tank top made by Katie Holmes' old design company Holmes & Yang.

Wait, there's more: In early December, Jolie showed off another new tattoo on her forearm when at the Cambodia Film Festival in Phnom Penh. With the ink clearly visible on the inside of her left arm, a new addition to her ever-growing collection of body art

The top did an excellent job of showing off her new markings. She paired it with a long black skirt. Jolie also wore a floppy cream colored hat to keep out the sun.

First They Killed My Father is based on the 2000 book First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers.

It's a non-fiction account written by Loung Ung, a Cambodian author and survivor of the Pol Pot regime. It is a personal tale of her experiences during the Khmer Rouge years

Jolie seems to be doing well after a difficult few years with her health.

In May 2013 she announced she had a double mastectomy to prevent a cancer scare. Her mother Marcheline Bertrand died from cancer in 2007 at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer.
Freed Australian hostage returns to Burkina Faso

An elderly Australian woman kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in Burkina Faso arrived in Ouagadougou Monday after being freed following mediation by neighbouring Niger, which is now trying to secure her husband's release.

Jocelyn Elliott, 84, arrived in the Burkina capital aboard a Niger presidential plane at 0720 GMT accompanied by Niger's foreign minister, Aichatou Kane Boualama, to a welcome by Burkinabe Foreign Minister Alpha Barry.

She made no comment on arriving.

A video grab made on February 7, 2016 shows former Australian hostage Jocelyn Elliott (L) beside Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou in Dosso, Niger, after she was released Wendyam Valentin Compaore (AFP)

Elliott and her husband, doctor Ken Elliott, 82, from Perth in Western Australia, were abducted in Burkina Faso close to the Niger border on the night of January 15-16.

She appeared on Niger television alongside President Mahamadou Issoufou on Sunday evening, thanking the authorities for their efforts to free her and her husband.

Issoufou confirmed that Niger had mediated but did not give details on either the circumstances or the location of her release.

He paid tribute to the Elliotts for providing medical services to local people in Burkina, where they have run a clinic in the dusty town of Djibo, close to the border with Mali, since 1972

"I think those who abducted them should know the contribution this couple have made to the poorest people in our regions. I hope they will be back together soon and that Jocelyn's husband will soon go free," Issoufou said.

Barry said on Sunday that the focus was now on securing the release of Ken Elliott.

"For now we know that her husband is alive and well. Now further negotiations will begin for his release and we will do everything to secure it," said Barry, adding that "no ransom was paid or conditions imposed" by the kidnappers for the release of Jocelyn Elliott.

The Burkina government had said the pair were kidnapped in Baraboule, near the country's borders with both Niger and Mali.

Their abduction coincided with a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou that left at least 30 people dead, including many foreigners.

Malian militant group Ansar Dine said the couple had been taken by jihadists from the "Emirate of the Sahara" -- said by experts to be a branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

A video grab made on February 7, 2016 shows former Australian hostage Jocelyn Elliott in Dosso, Niger after she was released Wendyam Valentin Compaore (AFP)

Burkina Faso troops stand guard outside the Splendid hotel and the nearby Cappuccino restaurant following a jihadist attack in Ouagadougou on January 16, 2016 Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)
Kiwi Lee seizes three-shot Phoenix Open lead

New Zealand's Danny Lee nabbed six birdies in a four-under par 67 to build a three-stroke lead in the US PGA Tour's $6.5 million Phoenix Open.

Lee, seeking to add a second US tour title to the Greenbrier Classic trophy he captured last year, had a 13-under par total of 200 at TPC Scottsdale, where the PGA Tour said the crowd of 201,003 set a record for single day attendance on the PGA Tour.

"Two-hundred thousand?" Lee said. "Wow."

Danny Lee of New Zealand reacts after making birdie on the seventh hole during the second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 5, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona Scott Halleran (Getty/AFP/File)

It was "unfortunate" Lee added, that so many of them were cheering for his playing partner Rickie Fowler, the world number four who finished the day tied for second on 203 with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

"But I'm having fun," he said of playing in the raucous atmosphere. "Taking (a) slow breath out there really helps."

Matsuyama thrust himself into contention with a three-under par 68. His five birdies included a chip-in at the 14th.

His last birdie of the day, at the par-five 15th, moved him to 10-under for the tournament, which is where Fowler also finished up after a one-under par 70.

It was a further stroke back to Bryce Molder and Boo Weekley on 204. Molder climbed the leaderboard with a 64 while Weekley fired a 65.

Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, a three-time champion in Phoenix, also carded a 65 for 205.

Lee, a 25-year-old who was born in South Korea but moved to New Zealand as a youngster, started the day sharing second with Fowler, one shot behind Korean-American James Hahn.

He got off to a hot start with birdies at the second, third and fourth. He drained a 40-foot birdie putt at eight.

His first bogey of the day at the 11th saw him fall back into a tie for the lead with Hahn.

After saving par from a bunker at the 12th -- the same bunker from which Fowler and Hahn both bogeyed -- Lee tapped in for birdie at 13 after narrowly missing an eagle attempt.

Lee gave a stroke back with a bogey at the 15th, where he was in the water off the tee, but he added one last birdie at 17.

Hahn's challenge came unstuck with his bogey at 12, followed by back-to-back double-bogeys at 13 and 14. He finished with a 74.

Fowler had four birdies and three bogeys, parring his last five holes.

"I didn't have my best stuff out there," Fowler said.
N. Korea triggers fresh outrage with space rocket launch

North Korea said Sunday it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards developing a missile capable of striking the US mainland.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, amounted to the North doubling down against an international community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test barely a month ago.

The UN Security Council met behind closed-doors in New York to issue unanimous condemnation of the rocket launch, but a new sanctions resolution under negotiation for weeks has yet to be put to a vote.

Picture taken from North Korean TV and released by South Korean news agency Yonhap on February 7, 2016 shows North Korea's rocket launch of earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4 Yonhap (North Korean TV/AFP)

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye urged the Security Council to respond quickly with "strong punitive measures".

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, as a major success.

There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although the US Strategic Command said it had tracked "the missile launch into space".

Condemnation was swift, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon calling the launch "deeply deplorable" and US Secretary of State John Kerry denouncing a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions.

Permanent Security Council members Britain, France and Russia all expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret".

A draft UN resolution prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations since the nuclear test carried out on January 6. But Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Korea's already weak economy.

"China calls for more dialogue. What we need is no longer dialogue but using the pressure", said Japan's Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikawa.

China can use its veto power to block any resolution that would significantly scale up sanctions against Pyongyang by, for instance, barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.

A surge in military tensions on the Korean peninsula looked likely, with South Korean and US defence officials announcing talks on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system in South Korea to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

"It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea.

As well as North Korea, China and Russia are both strongly opposed to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the region.

"When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair others' security interests," said China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying of the defence system, adding such moves would escalate tensions on the peninsula and damage regional peace and stability.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, meanwhile, said upcoming South Korea-US military exercises, which infuriate Pyongyang every year, would be the largest ever held.

- Tightening sanctions -

Sunday's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time (0030 GMT) and, according to state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

Both South Korea and Japan had threatened to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Four UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of ballistic missile technology, and its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States and its allies had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with the launch, but analysts said the North's timing was intended to minimise the repercussions.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, placing a similar Earth observation satellite in orbit.

Western intelligence experts say that satellite has never functioned properly, fuelling suspicion of the mission's scientific veneer.

Despite Pyongyang's bellicose claims to the contrary, the North is still seen as being years away from developing a credible inter-continental ballistic missile.

The planned splashdown positions of North Korea's rocket launch Sunday, as registered by Pyongyang with the International Maritime Organization

A woman reads an extra edition newspaper in Tokyo about North Korea's rocket launch Yoshikazu Tsuno (AFP)
Rescuers race to save buried Taiwan quake victims

Rescuers raced Sunday to free around 120 people buried under the rubble of an apartment complex felled by an earthquake in southern Taiwan that left 34 confirmed dead, as an investigation began into the collapse.

The death toll rose as emergency workers dug for survivors of the 6.4-magnitude quake that toppled the 16-storey complex of almost 100 homes in the city of Tainan on Saturday.

Officials said an investigation had been launched as questions were raised over the safety of the residential blocks in the complex.

Two rescue workers bring down a victim from the collapsed Wei Kuan complex building in Tainan, southern Taiwan, on February 7, 2016 Sam Yeh (AFP)

Tainan mayor William Lai said survivors and relatives had reported "violations" but gave no further detail.

"I've contacted judicial units and prosecutors have formally launched an investigation," said Lai.

"We've also commissioned three independent bodies to preserve evidence during the rescue so we can assist the residents if they want to file lawsuits in the future. We will hold the builder responsible if they have broken the law."

Local media reported the construction company that built the complex had gone out of business and also raised questions over the quality of the materials used.

Yueh Chin-sen, whose mother-in-law's family of eight is still trapped, said the residents had complained of defects in the building.

"They complained that the building wasn't well constructed as there were cracks in the walls and tiles fell off after several quakes in recent years," he told AFP.

"I hope the government will prosecute the builder on criminal charges as people lost their lives."

Officials said 121 people are still unaccounted for, according to CNA news agency. Earlier, Lai said 103 residents were still trapped "very deep" in the rubble.

"There's no way to get to them direct, it's very difficult," Lai said, adding that rescuers had to shore up the ruins to ensure they were secure before digging.

Emergency workers used cranes, ladders and sniffer dogs to trace and extract survivors in their desperate search.

Several survivors were pulled from the rubble Sunday, more than 24 hours after the quake struck, as rescuers urged those still trapped to stay strong.

One 20-year-old man was freed from the ruins after emergency workers spent eight hours carefully digging him out.

- Agonising wait -

Around 300 have been rescued so far, CNA reported.

Among those confirmed killed by the quake, at least 27 died in the apartment complex collapse, including several children.

Tearful relatives huddled by the ruins, hoping for news.

Chen Yu-mei said her three-month-old son was trapped inside with her sister's family of seven.

"He's a small child, I'm worried sick," she told AFP, her voice cracking and eyes red from crying.

Another woman said her son had been found dead but she was holding out hope for her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren still trapped inside.

"I won't give up hope, I will wait here until I see them come out safe," she said.

Survivors spoke of their terror and relief.

One man told AFP how he was rescued after tapping on a wardrobe that was trapping him.

"I knocked on the closet to get the attention of rescuers who broke the window to get me," said Su Yi-ming, 48, who lived with his family on the sixth floor of the Wei-kuan complex.

Su escaped unhurt while his wife and their two children sustained minor injuries.

The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) at around 4:00 am Saturday (2000 GMT Friday), 39 kilometres northeast of the island's second-largest city of Kaohsiung.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

The island's worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6 magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people.

The epicentre of a 6.4-magnitude quake that hit Taiwan

Police direct traffic near a collapsed building on February 7, 2016, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan Sam Yeh (AFP)

A fireman (C) rests near a collapsed building in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan on February 7, 2016 Anthony Wallace (AFP)
Inarritu scoops top DGA prize for 'The Revenant'

Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's bid for Oscars glory was boosted Saturday as he took top prize at the Directors Guild of America honors -- seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards.

Inarritu was crowned best director for revenge and survival epic "The Revenant", three weeks ahead of the glittering culmination of Hollywood's annual awards season.

He becomes the first director in the Guild's history with back-to-back DGA wins, 12 months after picking up the prize for dark comedy "Birdman", and is vying to repeat the feat at the Oscars.

"The Revenant" director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu took the top prize at the Directors Guild of America on February 6, 2016 in Los Angeles Valerie Macon (AFP)

The 52-year-old has already scooped the Golden Globe for best director for "The Revenant", about 19th century fur trapper Hugh Glass, played by another Oscar hopeful, Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I feel humbled, I feel extremely lucky and more than anything, extremely thankful," Inarritu told his fellow filmmakers at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel in Century City.

"This feels like a hug from my peers which helps to make the winter feel warmer."

A tearful Inarritu paid tribute to his father who died two years ago, and to the many Mexican staff working behind the scenes at the hotel.

"That's not the people that Donald Trump has described at all, let me tell you," he said, in a swipe at the billionaire presidential candidate's views on immigration.

Inarritu pipped Britain's Ridley Scott, nominated for space thriller "The Martian" about an astronaut stranded on Mars -- another film seen as top contender for Oscar glory on February 28.

"The Martian", starring Matt Damon, won two awards at the Golden Globes in January -- best comedy film and best actor in a comedy for Damon.

The 78-year-old Scott has however never triumphed at the DGA awards or at the Oscars.

Also nominated were Tom McCarthy for "Spotlight", about Boston Globe reporters who uncovered sexual abuse in the Catholic Church; Adam McKay for "The Big Short", on the subprime mortgage crisis; and George Miller for dystopian action movie "Mad Max: Fury Road".

The DGA awards are seen as a key predictor of Academy Awards success, particularly for the best director prize, as almost all recent winners have gone on to win the Oscar for best director.

Inarritu's success comes after fellow Mexican Alfonso Cuaron won the DGA top prize in 2014 for "Gravity", and went on to win the Best Director prize from the Academy.

American actress and comedian Jane Lynch hosted Saturday's star-studded event for 1,600 guests, while presenters on stage included DiCaprio, Damon, Rachel McAdams, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling.

The ceremony included a new award recognizing the directorial achievement of a first-time feature director, which went to British novelist and screenwriter Alex Garland for Ex-Machina.

"The Revenant" has been one of the big winners in Hollywood's annual awards season, having already picked up three Golden Globes and bagged the leading man prize for DiCaprio at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards a week ago.
Global outrage over North Korea rocket launch

North Korea hailed an "epochal event" but its latest long-range rocket launch Sunday sparked international anger and plans for talks on a US missile defence system for the peninsula.

Pyongyang's state TV announced the nation successfully put a satellite into orbit, "legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

Many others saw an exercise which clearly defied multiple UN resolutions -- a disguised test of a ballistic missile which could one day deliver a warhead as far as the US mainland.

Picture taken from North Korean TV and released by South Korean news agency Yonhap shows North Korea's rocket launch on February 7, 2016 YONHAP (NORTH KOREAN TV/AFP)

The United Nations labelled the launch "deeply deplorable" and Japan termed it "absolutely intolerable". Even the isolated state's sole major ally China expressed regret.

The international community is still struggling to reach agreement on how to respond to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test -- of what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb -- on January 6.

After Sunday's launch, South Korean and US defence officials announced they would begin formal talks on deploying a US missile defence system in South Korea.

The US says the highly advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system would be a deterrent necessitated by the North's advancing ballistic missile programme.

But China and Russia fear it could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon called the North's actions "deeply deplorable" and demanded it "halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations".

At Seoul's request the UN Security Council will hold emergency talks on the launch later Sunday.

The United States and its allies want to intensify sanctions. But veto-wielding council member China, Pyongyang's main trading partner and oil supplier, has in the past blocked tougher measures.

Washington denounced the launch as "destabilising and provocative".

"North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests -- including the security of some of our closest allies -- and undermine peace and security in the broader region," National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.

- 'Senseless provocation' -

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the North's actions "absolutely intolerable". Russia termed the launch a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang itself.

"It is obvious that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole...(and) inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

France condemned the launch as "senseless provocation" and called for a "rapid and tough" response from the Security Council.

Australia also urged a strong council response, while NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the rocket was a blatant breach of five UN resolutions.

The European Union lashed the launch as "yet another outright and grave violation" of the North's obligations.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Pyongyang had clearly shown that nuclear and missile programmes took priority over improving the well-being of its people.

China, in a more muted reaction, "expressed regret".

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pyongyang had "the right to the peaceful use of space, but that right is limited by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions".

Hua called for "all relevant parties to deal with the situation calmly" and for "dialogue and consultations".

Beijing is irritated by the North's nuclear ambitions. But observers say it is concerned that cutting off trade with its neighbour could trigger a flood of refugees across its border.

It also fears any collapse of the regime in Pyongyang may lead to a US-allied unified Korea on its doorstep.

Picture taken from North Korean TV and released by South Korean news agency Yonhap shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) looking at the rocket launch YONHAP (NORTH KOREAN TV/AFP)

Pedestrians walk past a TV in Tokyo showing North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un (C) and a report on North Korea's rocket launch Yoshikazu Tsuno (AFP)
China forex reserves fall almost $100 bn in January

Chinas foreign exchange reserves have fallen to their lowest level in more than three years, the central bank said Sunday, as Beijing sells dollars to stop the yuan from depreciating further.

The world's largest currency hoard shrank by $99.5 billion in January to some $3.2 trillion, the Peoples Bank of China said on its website, the lowest since May 2012.

Worries about China's economy have pushed the yuan to a five-year low. The country saw its first-ever annual decline in foreign exchange reserves last year as Beijing tried to prevent a more drastic devaluation.

Worries about China's economy have pushed the yuan to a five-year low, with foreign exchange reserves seeing their first-ever annual decline last year as Beijing tried to prevent a more drastic devaluation

The PBoC is selling dollars to buy yuan amid a capital flight spurred by the slowing growth in the world's second largest economy.

But some analysts predict a more drastic weakening of the yuan this year and question China's ability to continue rapidly shedding the reserves.

"While the remaining reserves represent a substantial war chest, the rapid pace of depletion in recent months is simply unsustainable," IHS Global Insight economist Rajiv Biswas told Bloomberg News.

Outflows increased "as expectations mount that the PBoC will eventually be forced to capitulate once its reserves are sufficiently depleted", he added.

George Magnus, economic commentator and associate at Oxford University's China Centre, wrote on Twitter: "China's fx reserves fell another $100bn... clearly this can't go on for long."

The pace of decline in the reserves in January was slower than December, which at some $108 billion was the largest monthly drop on record.

China has also tightened some capital controls to try to curb outflows.

"The smaller decline in the reserves suggests that some capital outflow restrictions imposed in January worked," Shen Jianguang, chief Asia economist at Mizuho Securities, wrote in a note.

The drop in February will be much smaller, he added.

China has set its growth target for this year at between 6.5-7 percent, the top economic planner said Wednesday, an acknowledgement that expansion -- already at its slowest pace in 25 years -- will continue to weaken.
Sudanese man stabs Israeli soldier, shot dead: police

A Sudanese man stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier Sunday before being shot dead in southern Israel, with police investigating whether the attack was carried out in solidarity with Palestinians.

Police initially said the incident near a bus station in the southern city of Ashkelon was suspected to be part of a wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks that erupted in October.

Later police said they suspected that the Sudanese national acted in solidarity with the Palestinians, but had not ruled out other potential motives.

An Israeli soldier takes aim during clashes with Palestinian youths in the village of Qabatiya, near the West Bank town of Jenin Jaafar Ashtiyeh (AFP/File)

The incident saw 32-year-old Kamal Hassan stab the soldier and flee, according to police. Another soldier in the area grabbed the lightly wounded soldier's gun and chased Hassan before shooting him.

A witness told Israeli public radio the soldier shot three times at the Sudanese man, but he continued to run. He then fired three more times, according to the witness.

A wave of violence that erupted in October has claimed the lives of 165 Palestinians, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

Most of the Palestinians were killed carrying out attacks, while others died during clashes and demonstrations.

Foreign nationals have not previously participated in such attacks.

A large number of illegal immigrants have arrived in Israel from Sudan through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, though the status of the person killed Sunday was not clear.

Official figures show 45,000 illegal immigrants are in Israel, almost all from Eritrea and Sudan. About two-thirds are Eritrean.
Turkey sends in aid for stranded Syrian refugees

Turkish humanitarian groups set up camps in Syria and sent in truckloads of aid Monday for tens of thousands of people stranded on the border after fleeing a Russia-backed regime offensive on the northern region of Aleppo.

Turkey, which has long pushed for a safe zone on the border, has vowed to help an estimated 35,000 people amassed on the frontier, many of them women and children.

But so far it has has kept the border closed despite warnings from aid groups of the desperate situation the Syrians were facing.

Turkish humanitarian groups have set up camps in Syria and sent in truckloads of aid for tens of thousands of people stranded on the border Bulent Kilic (AFP)

"Turkey has reached the limit of its capacity to absorb the refugees," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN Turk television.

"But in the end, these people have nowhere else to go. Either they will die beneath the bombings... or we will open our borders."

Aid agencies have warned of a desperate situation among the crowds queueing in the cold and rain at Bab al-Salama frontier post, which faces Turkey's Oncupinar crossing, and begun setting up camps on the Syrian side.

Many refugees are reportedly sleeping in fields and on roads.

The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which is providing food for 20,000 refugees, said it had set up a new camp with a capacity of 10,000, in addition to eight it already operates near Bab al-Salama.

"Our operations are aimed at taking care of people inside Syria," Serkan Nergis, a spokesman for the foundation, told AFP by phone.

"The numbers could soar and we are looking at how we can provide shelter for Syrians in safe areas."

Despite already hosting over 2.5 million refugees from Syria's civil war, Turkey has come under pressure to take in those fleeing the latest flurry of bombardments, while also being squeezed by European leaders to prevent those who cross into Turkey continuing on across the Mediterranean to Europe.

A Turkish official said the border crossing was open only "for emergency situations," adding that several injured people have been taken for treatment to Turkish hospitals.

- Turkey will 'let brothers in' -

Dozens of aid trucks were seen crossing into Syria on Monday, along with medical teams and ambulances.

Mohammad Rahma, a 15-year-old who was blinded in a Russian air strike a month ago and wore bandages on his eyes, was among those allowed cross into Turkey for treatment, accompanied by his father Ahmad.

"We've been living out in the open because we don't have any place to stay," Ahmad, who came from Azaz, about 30 kilometres from Aleppo city, told AFP.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has received over one million migrants in the past year, many of them Syrian refugees, was due in Ankara Monday to press the government to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.

Merkel was to hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has warned that Turkey is "under threat" from the refugee tide but said that "if necessary, we have to, and will, let our brothers in".

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that Turkey had already received 5,000 people fleeing the Aleppo offensive and another 50,000 to 55,000 were on their way.

Medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said three MSF-supported hospitals in the Aleppo region had been bombed.

- 'Situation desperate' -

"From what MSF can see the situation in Azaz district is desperate, with ongoing fighting and tens of thousands of people displaced," said Muskilda Zancada, head of the group's Syria mission.

"We... have seen problems with lack of space to accommodate people, and insufficient water and sanitation in many areas."

The EU has promised three billion euros ($3.3 billion) of aid in return for Ankara's help in staunching the flow of migrants landing on Greece's shores in packed boats from nearby Turkey.

But residents of areas along Turkey's border with Syria -- where most of the Syrian refugees in Turkey are living -- fear being overwhelmed by a fresh wave of new arrivals.

"Life here would be paralysed in the face of a mass exodus," said Tugba Kaya, from the border town of Kilis.

- 'Survival and dignity' -

Top diplomats from countries trying to resolve Syria's five-year conflict, which has claimed 260,000 lives and displaced half the population, are set to meet pm February 11 after peace talks collapsed last week.

The latest crisis began as Syrian government forces closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Russia intervened in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

Regime troops advanced Sunday towards Tal Rifaat -- one of the last rebel strongholds in Aleppo province, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city.

Opposition forces and roughly 350,000 civilians inside rebel-held parts of the city face the risk of a government siege, a tactic employed to devastating effect against other former rebel bastions.

On Sunday an aid convoy entered the regime-besieged town of Moadamiyat al-Sham near Damascus, in a new joint operation organised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Syrian refugees in Turkey and other countries

Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu meet in Ankara on February 8, 2016 Adem Altan (AFP)

A boy arrives with women as Syrians fleeing the northern embattled city of Aleppo wait on February 6, 2016 in Bab al-Salama, near the Turkish border crossing Bulent Kilic (AFP)

Wet weather has made conditions muddy at the camp site in Bab al-Salama for people fleeing Aleppo Bulent Kilic (AFP)
New Zealand break Aussie hearts in Sydney Sevens final

Rieko Ioane scored after the final siren to deliver New Zealand a thrilling 27-24 win over Australia in the Sydney Sevens World Series final on Sunday.

The Australians led 24-22 into the final seconds but were unable to hold on to possession, giving the Kiwis the chance to snatch victory with player of the tournament Ioane finishing with his third try of the final.

New Zealand similarly snatched a last minute win at last weekend's Wellington Sevens, downing South Africa 24-21 with a try after the final hooter.

Rieko Ioane of New Zealand scores a try against Australia in the final in the Sydney Sevens tournament in Sydney on February 7, 2016 Peter Parks (AFP)

The Kiwis are now in a three-way share of the top spot in the World Series standings along with Fiji and South Africa on 69 points with Australia in fourth place on 54.

The final was a family victory with Ioane's older sibling Akira picking up his second Player of the Final award in as many weeks.

The 12-time World Series champions broke Australia's hearts on Saturday as well, again scoring after the final siren to snatch a 17-17 draw in their pool game.

"I just want to thank the Aussies for an awesome two games over the weekend, you guys played awesome and this is an awesome tournament that will just grow from year to year," New Zealand captain Tim Mikkelson said.

"We said it would take 20 minutes to win and we just kept on going and we got the victory in the end."

The Australians, who surprisingly left their new high-profile Wallaby recruit Quade Cooper out of the weekend squad, exploded to a 24-17 lead with a runaway try by Greg Jeloudev with 3:13 minutes left.

But Rieko Ioane scored his second try off an overlap with 1:20 minutes to go before his showstopper try after the siren.

New Zealand's All Black star Sonny Bill Williams was sin-binned for a high tackle late in the first half and played only a minor role in his team's victory in the final.

Australia were looking for their first tournament success at home since 2002 after holding on for a 12-7 semi-final victory over South Africa.

Fiji, who won last year's Gold Coast Sevens in Australia, beat South Africa 26-12 in the play-off for third place.

Argentina won the Plate final, beating Kenya 24-0, while Canada took out the Bowl final 17-12 over Samoa and Wales won the Shield final 26-19 over Russia.

The fifth leg of the World Series Sevens takes place in Las Vegas on March 4-6.

Kurt Baker of New Zealand scores a try against Australia in the final in the Sydney Sevens rugby tournament in Sydney on February 7, 2016 Peter Parks (AFP)
UAE says in favour of US-led ground troops in Syria

An international campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria should include a US-led ground intervention, said Sunday the United Arab Emirates' state minister for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash.

"Our position throughout is that a real campaign against Daesh (Arabic acronym for IS) has to include ground elements," Gargash told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

"We are not talking about thousands of troops but we are talking about troops on the ground that will lead the way," he said. "And of course, an American leadership in this effort is a prerequisite."

A US army tank takes part in the NATO "Wind Spring 15" military exercise at Smardan military shooting range on April 21, 2015 Daniel Mihailescu (AFP)

In November, Gargash said that the UAE, a member of the US-led coalition against IS, would "participate in any international effort demanding a ground intervention to fight terrorism".

Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it is ready to join any ground operation by the US-led coalition against IS in Syria.

The Saudi proposal was welcomed by the United States but it was ridiculed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its key ally Iran.

Russia, another key Assad ally, accused Turkey -- a staunch backer of the opposition alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- of preparing for "an armed invasion" of Syria. Ankara dismissed the claim.

The United States has for weeks been calling on partners in the 65-member coalition bombing the IS group in Iraq and Syria to contribute more.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, who last month chastised some countries for doing "nothing at all", is meeting next week in Brussels with defence officials from Saudi Arabia and other coalition members to outline the next steps in the anti-IS campaign.

Gargash said Sunday that his country has been "frustrated at the slow pace of confronting Daesh" -- which controls parts of Syria and Iraq.

"We have always said that there are two things lacking -- a genuine political process in Baghdad that... (would) encompass the Sunnis and a ground presence for the operations against Daesh."
UN condemns N. Korea rocket launch, vows sanctions soon

The UN Security Council strongly condemned North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday and agreed to move quickly to impose new sanctions that will punish Pyongyang for "these dangerous and serious violations."

With backing from China, Pyongyang's ally, the council again called for "significant measures" during an emergency meeting held after North Korea said it had put a satellite into orbit with a rocket launch.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, was widely seen as an act of open defiance just weeks after Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test.

North Korea's rocket launch of the earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4 at an undisclosed location in North Korea

"What is at stake after this inadmissible provocation is the future of the international non-proliferation regime," said France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre.

"This is why weakness is simply not an option," he said.

A draft sanctions resolution prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations for weeks, but Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Korea's already weak economy.

The 15-member council said it would "adopt expeditiously" the draft text, but there was no indication that China would yield to calls for tougher measures.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said there should be "a new resolution that will do the work of reducing tensions, of working toward denuclearization, of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiated solution."

China can use its veto power to block any UN resolution that would significantly scale up sanctions by, for instance, barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.

US Ambassador Samantha Power stressed that fresh sanctions should "break new ground."

"There cannot be business as usual after two successive acts," she told reporters.

"China calls for more dialogue. What we need is no longer dialogue but using the pressure," said Japan's Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikawa.

While the United States turned up the pressure to reach agreement on sanctions, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned: "We should not be looking at an economic collapse of DPRK (North Korea)."

While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.

- 'Epochal' launch -

Sunday's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time (0030 GMT) and, according to North Korean state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

There was no independent confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although the US Strategic Command said it had tracked "the missile launch into space."

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, as a major success.

North Korea insists the launch is part of its space exploration program but the United States and its allies view it as a disguised ballistic missile test.

A surge in military tensions on the Korean peninsula looked likely, with South Korean and US defense officials announcing talks on the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea.

"It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea.

As well as North Korea, China and Russia are both strongly opposed to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the region.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said upcoming South Korea-US military exercises, which infuriate Pyongyang every year, would be the largest ever held.

The United States and its allies had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with the launch, but analysts said the North's timing was intended to minimize the repercussions.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

At the United Nations, South Korea's Ambassador Oh Joon said it was "almost pathetic" to watch staged celebrations of the rocket launch on North Korean TV.

"The cost of this launch alone, estimated to be close to $1 billion, would have fed the entire North Korean population for a whole year," he said.

The planned splashdown positions of North Korea's rocket launch

A pedestrian looks at a television screen showing the Korean Central Television special broadcast on North Korea's rocket launch, in Tokyo on February 7, 2016 Kazuhrio Nogi (AFP)
UN against amnesty for jailed Sri Lanka rebels: chief minister

The UN rights chief has said Tamil rebels still detained years after the end of Sri Lanka's bloody civil war should not be granted universal amnesty, a top regional official said Sunday.

More than 200 suspected Tamil separatists remain in prison, many without charge, following the country's bitter 37-year-war that ended nearly seven years ago.

Tamil political and civil society groups have long demanded their unconditional release, tough the government has rejected demands for universal amnesty.

Members of a Sri Lankan fringe opposition group demonstrate outside the United Nations offices in Colombo on February 6, 2016 marking UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's first visit to Sri Lanka Lakruwan Wanniarachchi (AFP/File)

Speaking on a trip to the island nation, UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said jailed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members should clear their names in court, according to the chief minister of Sri Lanka's former war zone, C. V. Wigneswaran.

"He (Zeid) said it is not the common practice of the international community to give common pardon to such suspects," Wigneswaran told reporters in Jaffna, where much of the fighting took place.

"The issue should be resolved through a legal process, but they should not be granted a common amnesty."

Wigneswaran's opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) party has repeatedly called for the prisoners to be released unconditionally.

Zeid visited Jaffna on the second day of a four-day visit and met with several women whose relatives remain missing years after the end of the conflict that left 100,000 people dead.

His visit comes after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution late last year calling for an investigation into wartime atrocities committed by both the government-backed military and Tamil Tiger separatists.

The aim of Zeid's trip is to gauge progress of the investigation ahead of a report to the UN rights council he is set to deliver in March.

"I have been looking forward to coming and I am looking forward to meeting both the highest officials of the state as well as representatives of all communities," Zeid said Saturday.

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has agreed to a domestic probe into allegations that troops killed at least 40,000 ethnic Tamils.

In contrast, his predecessor Mahinda Rajapakse had resisted calls for an investigation after maintaining that not a single civilian had been killed by troops under his command.

The UN report in September described horrific wartime atrocities committed by both the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels.
Grave robbers plunder hundreds of tombs in Sierra Leone

New security measures were in place Sunday at cemeteries in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown after grave robbers used pickaxes and sledge hammers to pry open tombs and steal coffins and jewellery.

Around 250 graves were targeted in three of Freetown's seven cemeteries over the past two months, Freetown City Council said in a statement on Saturday.

At one of the cemeteries targeted, Kingtom, 60 percent of the more than 6,000 graves were those of Ebola victims.

Around 250 graves were targeted by robbers in three of Freetown's seven cemeteries, similary to the one pictured here on October 10, 2014 Florian Plaucheur (AFP/File)

Twenty-four hour security was now in place at all the city cemeteries including armed police guards to foil the robbers, the council's environment and social officer Sulaiman Zainu-Parker told national radio.

The thefts were a "total disgrace to us as a nation... why can't they leave the dead to finally rest in peace undisturbed?" he said.

Abdul Rahman, caretaker of Kingtom cemetery, told the radio station that the robbers forced "open concrete graves and vaults to steal ornaments, chains, wedding rings and clothes from the dead".

"The vandals sometimes remove corpses from expensive mahogany and polished coffins and I suspect the coffins are later sold off to some local undertakers," he added.

Relatives of the dead welcomed the move by the City Council to beef up security.

Raymond Taylor told AFP his family vault at Kingtom had been plundered.

"The mahogany casket of my late father which cost us about $1,000 was stolen by unknown persons and until this day has never been retrieved.

"It must have been sold to some unscrupulous undertaker for a pittance," he said.

Another relative, Fatu Sheriff, said the grave of his aunt who died in London but was buried in the city's Ascension Town cemetery was attacked and jewellery and her wedding ring stolen.
AP FACT CHECK: Skewed GOP claims on taxes, health insurance

WASHINGTON (AP)  Viewers of the latest Republican presidential debate didn't get a straight story from the candidates on U.S. taxes vs. the world, the state of the health insurance marketplace under "Obamacare" or what might happen if that law is taken away.

Among other fumbles:

Marco Rubio seemed unaware that Kurds are Sunnis.

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, answers a question during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In his zeal to condemn the Obama administration's immigration record, Ted Cruz once again vastly overstated deportations under the previous two presidents. And he continued, as in a previous debate, to struggle with the meaning of carpet-bombing.

Chris Christie misstated the U.S. policy on paying ransom to hostage-takers.

A look at some of the claims Saturday night and how they compare with the facts:

DONALD TRUMP: "Right now, we're the highest taxed country in the world."

THE FACTS: Far from it. The U.S. tax burden pales in comparison with that of other industrialized countries.

Taxes made up 26 percent of the total U.S. economy in 2014, according to the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That measure looks at the entire tax burden, which is different than tax rates that can be gamed through loopholes, deductions and credits.

In Sweden, the tax burden is 42.7 percent of the economy. It's 33.6 percent in Slovenia (Trump's wife, Melania, was born in the part of Yugoslavia that became Slovenia). Britain clocks in at 32.6 percent, while Germany's burden is 36.1 percent.

Where is the tax burden lower than the United States?

South Korea, Chile and Mexico.

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CRUZ, defending his vow to deport 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally: "I would note that in eight years Bill Clinton deported 12 million people. In eight years George Bush deported 10 million people. Enforcing the law. We can do it."

THE FACTS: Statistics from Immigration and Customs Enforcement show that roughly 1.6 million were deported under Bush, not 11 million. Under Clinton, about 870,000 immigrants were deported, not 12 million, according to the Migration Policy Institute. So far, about 2.4 million have been deported under the Obama administration.

To get the swollen figures, Cruz appears to be combining deportations with arrests made by the Border Patrol in the previous administrations, according to the institute.

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TRUMP: "The insurance companies are getting rich on Obamacare."

THE FACTS: Although some insurance companies are making a profit from their business under President Barack Obama's health care law, the industry's biggest player lost money.

United Health last year reported deep losses from its business on the health law's insurance exchanges and said it will re-evaluate whether it wants to continue in that market. Anthem, the second-largest insurer, said its enrollment in the law's markets fell, and the business has been less profitable than expected.

Aetna, the third-largest insurer, said it has been struggling with customers who sign up for coverage outside the health law's annual enrollment window and then use a lot of care. This dumps claims on the insurer without providing enough premium revenue to counter those costs.

Some industry analysts say insurers are struggling to attract enough healthy patients, and it's too easy for customers to manipulate the system by doing things like signing up for coverage, using health care, and then stopping premium payments.

A dozen of the 23 nonprofit health insurance co-ops created under the law have folded.

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RUBIO: "Under Chris Christie's governorship of New Jersey, they've been downgraded nine times in their credit rating. This country already has a debt problem, we don't need to add to it by electing someone who has experience at running up and destroying the credit rating of his state."

CHRISTIE: "Incorrect and incomplete information."

THE FACTS: Rubio is right that the state's credit rating has been downgraded nine times since Christie took office, a reflection of concern by the major rating agencies about New Jersey's fiscal health and pension system.

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CHRISTIE: "The president and his former secretary of state are for paying ransoms for hostages. When (you) do that, you endanger even more Americans around the world to be the subject of this type of hostage-taking and illegal detention."

THE FACTS: President Barack Obama said exactly the opposite in June, when the White House reaffirmed its opposition to paying ransom to terrorist groups that hold American citizens hostage.

The president said such payments only serve to endanger more Americans and finance "the very terrorism that we're trying to stop"  points that Christie actually echoed during the debate.

Though the new White House policy precludes ransom payments by the U.S. government, the Obama administration did leave open the door to communication with hostage-takers  whether by the government, families of victims or third-parties  and said relatives who on their own decide to pay ransom won't be threatened with prosecution.

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CRUZ: "We will adopt commonsense reforms, No. 1, we'll allow people to purchase health insurance across state lines that will drive down prices and expand the availability of low-cost catastrophic insurance."

THE FACTS: Allowing the interstate sale of health insurance policies is not a new idea, and not the straightforward solution that it may sound.

This long-standing Republican proposal has previously run into opposition from regulators in many states. State insurance and consumer protection regulators say such an approach could trigger a "race to the bottom," allowing skimpy out-of-state policies to undercut benefits that individual states require. Proponents of interstate competition say a basic benefits plan would be spelled out.

Some insurance industry insiders see another complication: Out-of-state companies may not have adequate local networks of hospitals and doctors.

It's a tricky position for Republicans in Washington, who argue broadly (Cruz included) that the federal government should defer to state and local decision-making. On this matter, many states don't want the solution that Republicans are pushing.

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RUBIO on fighting the Islamic State group: "The Kurds are incredible fighters and they will liberate the Kurdish areas, but Kurds cannot and do not want to liberate and hold Sunni villages and towns."

THE FACTS: The Kurds are overwhelmingly Sunni. Rubio did not distinguish between Sunni Arabs and Sunni Kurds. The areas predominantly held by IS fighters are in Sunni Arab territory. They did infiltrate Kurdish regions in both Iraq and Syria, but it is problematic to paint this picture with a broad sectarian brush.

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CRUZ, defending his vow to "carpet bomb" to defeat the Islamic State: "When I say saturation carpet bombing, that is not indiscriminate. That is targeted at oil facilities. It's targeted at the oil tankers... It's using overwhelming air power."

THE FACTS: Cruz is trying to rewrite the dictionary, which defines the term as dropping many bombs on a small area to prepare it for advancing ground troops. The U.S. military uses precision-guided bombs against the kinds of specific targets that Cruz is talking about, which also reduce the risk of killing civilians  a goal the U.S. military has embraced under Republican as well as Democratic presidents.

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Associated Press writers Alicia A. Caldwell, Deb Riechmann, Eric Tucker and Vivian Salama contributed to this report.

Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump answers a question during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
What N. Korea rocket launch may mean for region and world

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea launched a long-range rocket Sunday, the first day of its announced eight-day launch window and about a month after the country's fourth nuclear test led to international condemnation.

Already, world leaders are lining up to condemn the launch, which is being described as a potential threat to regional and world security.

For help on what it all means, some things to consider about the North's latest move:

North Koreans watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

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SATELLITE LAUNCH OR MISSILE TEST?

Washington, Seoul and others consider the launch a banned test of missile technology. That suspicion is based on the fact that Pyongyang has been openly pushing to manufacture nuclear-tipped missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland and that the technology used to launch a satellite-carrying rocket into space can be applied to fire a long-range missile.

Simply speaking, a rocket is called a space launch vehicle when it is used to send up a satellite into orbit, but it becomes a missile when its payload is a warhead.

Getting a rocket into orbit takes less than 10 minutes. A missile would take about 30 minutes to travel from North Korea to the continental U.S., experts say.

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WHAT'S NEW ABOUT THIS LAUNCH?

After several repeated failures, North Korea successfully put a satellite into orbit aboard its three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012. The North's space agency said Sunday that it successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff, and vowed more such launches. The United States and South Korea are still analyzing the launch.

South Korean defense officials say that a North Korean missile developed earlier than the Unha-3 rocket of 2012 has an estimated potential range of up to 10,000 kilometers (6,210 miles), which puts Hawaii and the northwest coast of the U.S. mainland within reach.

But critics say the North still has some technical barriers to surmount to achieve reliable nuclear weapons that can attack faraway targets. Among the important tasks facing North Korean scientists are thought to be building up a larger rocket that can fly farther and carry a heavier satellite or payload. This would be necessary if the North is going to develop a missile that can reach the entire U.S. mainland and be loaded with a warhead, which is several times heavier than the satellite the country launched in 2012.

The Unha-3 rocket from 2012 was about 30 meters (98 feet) tall and carried the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite, which weighed about 100 kilograms (220 pounds). The sizes of the satellite and the rocket used in Sunday's launch weren't immediately known.

Outside analysts say the successful flight of a rocket loaded with a satellite weighing about 1 ton (2,200 pounds) would mean the North could probably develop a nuclear-armed long-range missile.

The North has been upgrading its Sohae launch pad since its 2012 launch. Satellite imagery showed the country completed an expansion of its launch tower there in late 2014 to accommodate larger rockets.

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CONSEQUENCES

It's almost certain that the North will be slapped with fresh U.N. sanctions for the launch.

But critics are skeptical over whether any new sanctions can stop North Korea from continuing to pursue its nuclear and rocket programs because China, North's last major ally and biggest aid benefactor and a veto-wielding power in the U.N. Security Council, is unwilling to cooperate on any harsh punishment on the North.

Beijing fears too much pressure on the North could cause it to collapse, pushing swarms of refugees over the countries' border and establishing a unified Korea that hosts American troops on its doorstep.

The launch gives Kim, the North's young leader, a chance to burnish his image domestically ahead of a landmark ruling Workers' Party convention in May.

Because the North claims the launch as a success, it may think it has increased leverage in diplomatic negotiations and eventually propose talks with the United States and South Korea to try to win concessions, said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Seoul's Dongguk University.

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Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.

People watch a TV news program showing an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Koreans watch an electronic screen showing a signed document by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un regarding the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

People watch a TV news program showing the North Korea's statement saying it will launch more satellites at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Koreans applaud as they watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

Passers-by look at a TV screen showing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speak on North Korea's rocket launch, in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Bernie Sanders makes 'SNL' appearance with Larry David

NEW YORK (AP)  Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders made a cameo appearance on "Saturday Night Live" three days before the New Hampshire primary, appearing in a skit with host Larry David, the comic who has done a dead-on impersonation of him.

The NBC comedy show resisted the temptation to have the Vermont U.S. senator appear next to David as he was playing him, however. Sanders portrayed a passenger on an endangered ship who argued with David about who should be allowed on a lifeboat.

Sanders is the third presidential candidate to appear on "SNL" this season. Fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton made an appearance last fall, and Republican Donald Trump hosted in November.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign stop at the Franklin Pierce University Fieldhouse, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Rindge, N.H. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In Saturday's skit, David played a ship crew member angry about women and children getting the first seats in lifeboats. Finally, David said he deserved a seat because he was richer than the other passengers.

At that, Sanders appeared, saying he was sick of the top 1 percent getting all of the advantages, echoing his campaign's call for the super-rich not to get so many benefits in society.

"We need to unite and work together if we're all going to get through this," Sanders said.

"Sounds like socialism to me," David said.

"Democratic socialism," Sanders said.

Responded David: "What's the difference?"

"YUGE difference," Sanders replied, imitating how Trump often pronounces "huge" as though it begins with a Y.

Sanders said his name was Bernie Sanderswitzky but he was going to change it when he got to America so it wouldn't sound so Jewish. David suggested it wouldn't make much difference.

Later, Sanders stood beside David as he announced the show's musical guest, the 1975.

David had made two earlier appearances on "SNL" portraying Sanders in Democratic debate skits. He reprised his Sanders impersonation this time in a pre-filmed segment, "Bern Your Enthusiasm," which echoed David's character in the HBO comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Iraq says planned Baghdad wall not change demographics

BAGHDAD (AP)  A spokesman for Iraq's prime minister said Sunday that a security wall is being built around Baghdad but that it is "not politically motivated" or aimed at "achieving demographic change."

Saad al-Hadithi spoke to The Associated Press after an earlier statement from the prime minister's office seemed to dismiss the idea entirely. "Baghdad is the capital for all Iraqis and it's not possible for a wall or a fence to isolate the city," the earlier statement said.

The plan for the wall was originally drafted by the Interior Ministry as an effort to curb near-daily attacks carried out by the Islamic State group and cut down on checkpoints inside the city that snarl traffic.

The Interior Ministry's spokesman, police Brig. Gen. Saad Maan, told The Associated Press that the "wall" would be comprised of an increased number of checkpoints around the city cutting off routes that IS uses to smuggle car bombs in.

"It's not a wall exactly," Maan said. "We have reduced the number of attacks inside Baghdad, but we are working to prevent them completely."
New Year's fireworks a little quieter in Chinese capital

BEIJING (AP)  Much of China's population can expect sub-standard sleep after the country starts ringing in the Year of the Monkey. The rat-a-tat snaps of firecrackers, whistling rockets and mortar-like fireworks with possibly enough gunpowder to down a small aircraft will make sure of that.

But whisper it quietly: the skies this year might not be as spectacular, nor the streets so loud.

In Beijing, fireworks sales are down by a half this year after already falling a third in 2015. The central city of Zhengzhou is one of five provincial capitals outlawing firecrackers altogether. Shanghai is also banning them in the city center but, in a nod to marriage customs, handing out free electronic ones to newlyweds.

In this Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 photo, workers help their customers pack fireworks at a store ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing. Much of Chinas population can expect sub-standard sleep after the country starts ringing in the Year of the Monkey. The rat-a-tat snaps of firecrackers, whistling rockets and mortar-like fireworks with possibly enough gunpowder to down a small aircraft will make sure of that. Authorities in Beijing now seem set on the current policy of allowing 24-hour fireworks on New Years Eve and New Years Day and 18-hour windows every day for the following two weeks. But bursts of firework-related mayhem in recent years have prompted officials and media commentators to call for tighter restrictions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Whether it's due to expanding municipal restrictions, pollution concerns, a sagging economy or simply fading interest in a country that prides itself on having invented gunpowder, there's a growing sense, at least among Chinese urbanites, that setting firecrackers just isn't the essential tradition it used to be.

Wang Liwei, a 74-year old resident of east Beijing, said he's heard plenty of public announcements warning about the effect of fireworks on public safety and pollution. In Beijing, where residents often deal with winter smog, the government has blanketed the streets with bold-typed signs urging moderation while the subway system has rolled out posters showing a teddy bear hiding behind a gas mask, a string of firecrackers dangling from a paw.

"Everyone around me has seen on TV or heard the radio the last few years so we know what it does to pollution," Wang said. "My children and grandchildren don't shoot as many as we used to, and that's not a problem. Why do you have to go crazy with it?"

But he pointed out he opposed any official ban like what the city had during the 1990s - which many residents flouted anyway.

"You still have to shoot a few and show the tradition to the kids," he added. "It just wouldn't have any New Year flavor otherwise."

Nine years after Beijing lifted a decade-long ban, residents now seem to be voluntarily cutting back on firecrackers. Television stations have aired reports that fireworks stalls scattered around the city are offering 50 percent discounts if not closing early this year. With a few days left before the New Year, merchants at the historic Tianyi market in west Beijing grumbled about sales that were down by at least a third this year, with most blaming the poor economy rather than changing habits.

"I definitely think it's because of the economy," said Teng Qi, a 27-year old from Zhejiang Province who ran a shop in the basement floor. "It is very disappointing. We're now just blindly getting by."

Believed to ward off evil spirits and misfortune, firecrackers have long been purchased for events ranging from weddings and funerals. But for many Chinese, particularly of an older generation, the acrid smell alone is enough to recall joyful memories of the Spring Festival and all its trappings, from the round-table family feasts to the cash-stuffed red envelopes doled out by grandparents.

For police, though, it's something of a nightmare. There were over 15,000 fires related to fireworks during the 2015 New Year period, down 11 percent from a year prior, according to the public security ministry.

Last week, Beijing police began sending notices via text messages and issued pleas on social media.

"Please set as few firecrackers as possible during the Spring Festival Period, minimize air pollution and help keep the capital's skies blue!" said one such post by the police security bureau on Wednesday with a statement that detailed how many injuries Beijingers sustained in 2015.

Authorities in the capital appear set on the policy of allowing 24-hour fireworks on New Years Eve and New Years Day and 18-hour windows every day for the following two weeks. But bursts of firework-related mayhem in recent years have prompted officials and media commentators to call for tighter restrictions.

One such episode came in 2011 when revelers accidentally scorched a forest in Zhejiang, a five-star hotel in Shenyang and a 1,000-year old Buddhist temple housing holy scriptures in Fujian--all in the span of three days. And in perhaps the best-known instance, employees at Central China Television in 2009 burned down a newly completed tower adjacent to their Beijing headquarters, one of the capital's iconic developments.

But even if the densely populated cities were quieting down to the relief of authorities, many said the countryside won't be giving up their fireworks for a long time yet.

"Where I'm from, firecrackers are a must for all the big occasions," Chen Tang, a 28-year old restaurant worker in Beijing, said one day before he was due to take a train home to rural Anhui Province. "Weddings, funerals, even when someone buys something big, like a television."

Yet others shrugged off what they thought was a slightly fading tradition.

Hunched over his lunch at his stall, Deng Zhi, a 53-year old Tianyi merchant, said he associated firecrackers with his childhood in west Beijing, just a few blocks away. But that was a different time, he said.

"When I was little, of course I loved to set off firecrackers at New Year, but it's not a big deal that we don't use them so much now," he said.

He pointed his chopsticks at a pork belly dish.

"When I was little, I also loved being able to eat fatty meat at New Year," he said. "Now I can eat this every day if I want. Times change."

In this Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 photo, people buy fireworks for Chinese Lunar New Year at a store in Beijing. Much of Chinas population can expect sub-standard sleep after the country starts ringing in the Year of the Monkey. The rat-a-tat snaps of firecrackers, whistling rockets and mortar-like fireworks with possibly enough gunpowder to down a small aircraft will make sure of that. Authorities in Beijing now seem set on the current policy of allowing 24-hour fireworks on New Years Eve and New Years Day and 18-hour windows every day for the following two weeks. But bursts of firework-related mayhem in recent years have prompted officials and media commentators to call for tighter restrictions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In this Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 photo, a Chinese paramilitary policeman rides past a poster showing an image of masked teddy bear holding firecrackers with the words "A roll of firecracker carries off how many fresh air?" on display near the foreign embassies area in Beijing. Much of Chinas population can expect sub-standard sleep after the country starts ringing in the Year of the Monkey. The rat-a-tat snaps of firecrackers, whistling rockets and mortar-like fireworks with possibly enough gunpowder to down a small aircraft will make sure of that. Authorities in Beijing now seem set on the current policy of allowing 24-hour fireworks on New Years Eve and New Years Day and 18-hour windows every day for the following two weeks. But bursts of firework-related mayhem in recent years have prompted officials and media commentators to call for tighter restrictions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Storms may brew, but in N. Korea pride over new satellite

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  Hours after the rest of the world already knew, North Korea's state media triumphantly announced in a special news bulletin to the nation Sunday it had successfully launched a satellite into orbit, calling it a major milestone in the nation's history and the "greatest gift of loyalty" to the country's young leader, Kim Jong Un.

In a possible hint of what might lie ahead, however, North Korea's state media implored the nation on the eve of the launch to be prepared for whatever "violent storm" may be coming.

They may need to: the U.S., South Korea and Japan have strongly condemned the launch, and potential new sanctions over both the launch and the North's purported hydrogen bomb test just one month ago are now being discussed in the U.N. Security Council.

North Koreans applaud as they watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

North Korea's most famous and venerated TV newscaster, dressed in a traditional pink gown, proudly announced on the TV bulletin  reserved for extremely important events  that the Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 had been successfully put into orbit early Sunday morning. She called it an "epochal" moment.

The satellite's name means Shining Star.

The news Sunday was the first acknowledgment of the rocket preparations made to the North Korean public, even though the launch plan had been released in advance to international organizations to avoid accidents with commercial shipping or aircraft and had been closely watched by experts around the world for more than a week.

As the news aired, crowds in Pyongyang cheered and applauded as they watched the news of the launch, which was displayed on large screens at different places around the capital.

"As far as I know, there are few countries in the world that launched their own satellites," said one, Pyongyang resident Ri Hyon Gil. He added that he was proud of both the launch and the news of the H-bomb test because they demonstrate the North's scientific and technological progress.

North Korea claims to have successfully put four satellites into orbit. Foreign observers have confirmed only two  this one and a similar probe launched in 2012. They also question whether the 2012 probe ever transmitted any signals back to Earth, though the North claims it broadcast patriotic odes to the nation's leaders.

It may take several days to confirm whether Sunday's satellite is alive and transmitting signals to the ground.

North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, called the launch a "complete success" and said it marked a major advance in "developing the country's science, technology, economy and defense capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes."

The inclusion of "defense" in that statement could be problematic in the weeks ahead.

North Korea has resolutely denied claims by Washington, Seoul, Tokyo and the United Nations that its space launches are intended to test ballistic missile technology and thus banned under international resolutions. Instead, it has said its space launches are strictly for peaceful purposes.

It had also been careful not to trumpet this launch until after the satellite was confirmed in orbit.

But in another report just before the launch, which like the "violent storms" report made no direct mention of the rocket or the international condemnation it has received, noted that Monday is the anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army in 1948.

That, along with the birthday of former leader Kim Jong Il on Feb. 16, a major holiday called the Day of the Shining Star in North Korea, are likely why the North planned the launch at this time.

As KCNA put it:

"The fascinating vapor ... trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star, the greatest national holiday of Kim Il Sung's Korea, is a gift of most intense loyalty presented by our space scientists and technicians to the great Comrade Kim Jong Un, our dignified party, state and people."

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Jon contributed the local quote and reaction in Pyongyang. Talmadge, AP's Pyongyang bureau chief, reported from Tokyo. You can follow him on Instagram at @erictalmadge.

People watch a TV news program showing the North Korea's statement saying it will launch more satellites at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Koreans watch an electronic screen showing a signed document by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un regarding the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

People watch a TV news program showing an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands guard outside the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Passers-by receive an extra newspaper reporting North Korea's rocket launch in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A passerby reads an extra newspaper reporting about the North Korea's rocket launching Sunday morning in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

North Koreans watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)
UN condemns NKorea launch, pledges significant new sanctions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket that world leaders called a banned test of ballistic missile technology and another "intolerable provocation." The U.N.'s most powerful body pledged to quickly adopt a new resolution with "significant" new sanctions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un went ahead with the launch just two hours after an eight-day window opened early Sunday, and a month after the country's fourth nuclear test. He ignored an appeal from China, its neighbor and important ally, not to proceed, and, in another slap to Beijing, he chose the eve of the Chinese New Year, the country's most important holiday.

In a reflection of heightened hostilities between the rival Koreas, South Korea's Defense Ministry said a South Korean naval vessel fired five shots into the water as a warning Monday when a North Korean patrol boat briefly moved south of the countries' disputed boundary line in the Yellow Sea.

In this image released by Japan's Kyodo News agency, an unidentified object is photographed in the sky from Dandong, China, near the North Korean border, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the same time a North Korea rocket was allegedly launched. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (Minoru Iwasaki/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT

Since its Jan. 6 nuclear test, which the North claimed was a powerful hydrogen bomb, despite outside skepticism, China and the United States have been negotiating the text of a new Security Council sanctions resolution.

North Korean rocket launches and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward Pyongyang's ultimate goal of a nuclear-armed missile that could hit the U.S. mainland.

At the U.N., the U.S., backed by its allies, Japan and South Korea, wants tough sanctions reflecting Kim's defiance of the Security Council. But diplomats say China, the North's key protector in the council, is reluctant to impose economic measures that could cause North Korea's economy to collapse  and a flight of North Koreans into China across their shared border.

The 15-member Security Council strongly condemned the launch and pledged to "expeditiously" adopt a new resolution with "further significant measures"  U.N. code for sanctions. The word "robust" referring to the measures was in an initial draft, but was dropped in the final statement.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters that "it cannot be business as usual" after two successive North Korean acts that are "hostile and illegal."

"What's important is that the Security Council unites," Power said. "China is a critical player. ... We are hopeful that China, like all council members, will see the grave threat to regional and international peace and security, see the importance of adopting tough, unprecedented measures, breaking new ground here, exceeding the expectations of Kim Jong Un."

However, China's U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, made clear that unprecedented sanctions aren't Beijing's priority.

He said a new resolution should "do the work of reducing tension, of working toward denuclearization (of the Korean peninsula), of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiated solution."

"I believe the council needs to work together for a new resolution," Liu added, indicating that China may want negotiations with the United States to be widened.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, whose country is also a North Korean ally, said: "It has to be a weighty resolution, but it also has to be a reasonable resolution" that doesn't lead to North Korea's economic or humanitarian collapse, or further heighten tensions.

Russia's goal is to see six-party talks aimed at denuclearization resume, he said, but in the current atmosphere that's unlikely because the North Koreans "have been very unreasonable" and are challenging the entire international community.

"We think this is wrong for their national interests ... for the Korean Peninsula ... for the region," Churkin said.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff, and vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

Japan's U.N. ambassador, Motohide Yoshikawa, told reporters the missile, which went over Japan and landed near the Philippines, was "a clear threat to the lives of many people."

The Security Council underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, "even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle" contribute to North Korea's development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons and violate four Security Council resolutions dating back to the North's first nuclear test in 2006.

North Korea under Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government.

In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defense Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THAAD missile-defense system in South Korea. North Korea has long decried the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and Beijing would see a South Korean deployment of THAAD, which is one of the world's most advanced missile-defense systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

In a statement, North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, praised "the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star."

Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of Kim Jong Un's father, former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an "intolerable provocation," saying the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and ignored the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan and reaffirmed the United States' "ironclad commitment to the security and defense" of its allies, the State Department said.

The Foreign Ministry in China expressed "regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies."

Noting China's pivotal role in negotiating a new Security Council resolution, Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador, Peter Wilson, said: "Today is Chinese New Year's eve and if I was a senior Chinese official, I would be pretty annoyed at what's been happening here. I know what I feel like when I'm dragged out of bed on a major national holiday."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father in late 2011. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

"If North Korea has only nuclear weapons, that's not that intimidating. If they have only rockets, that's not that intimidating, either. But if they have both of them, that means they can attack any target on Earth. So it becomes a global issue," said Kwon Sejin, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

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Lederer reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Yuri Kageyama and Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Lolita Baldor in Washington and Louise Watt in Beijing contributed to this report.

In this image released by Japan's Kyodo News agency, an unidentified object is photographed in the sky from Dandong, China, near the North Korean border, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the same time a North Korea rocket was allegedly launched. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (Minoru Iwasaki/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT

In this image released by Japan's Kyodo News agency, an unidentified object is photographed in the sky from Dandong, China, near the North Korean border, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the same time a North Korea rocket was allegedly launched. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (Minoru Iwasaki/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT

South Korean army soldiers watch a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea's rocket launch at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Koreans watch a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea's rocket launch at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. The letters on the screen read: "The U.N. Security Council will hold a meeting on Feb. 7." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Koreans watch a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea's rocket launch at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Koreans watch a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea's rocket launch at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. The letters on the screen read: " North Korea launched a long-range missile." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A South Korean man watches a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea's rocket launch at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. The letters on the screen read: "North Korea launched a long-range rocket." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces stands near a PAC-3 Patriot missile unit deployed for North Korea's rocket launch at Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Divisive Polish party leader Kaczynski pulls the strings

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  When Hungary's prime minister had a secret five-hour meeting in a secluded mountain resort with the most powerful person in Poland, he didn't convene with his counterpart or the Polish president.

Instead he spoke with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Poland's ruling party, a man who has no official government position.

The mysterious meeting recently in a guest house on Poland's southern border enhanced the perception that Kaczynski, rather than Prime Minister Beata Szydlo or President Andrzej Duda, is the main decision-maker in Poland today, and that, like Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, he might steer his nation down an anti-democratic path.

FILE - In a Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 file photo, the ruling Law and Justice party head Jaroslaw Kaczynski addresses thousands of supporters prior to a march in Warsaw, Poland. When Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently had a secret five-hour meeting in a secluded mountain resort with the most powerful person in Poland, he didnt convene with his counterpart or the president, but with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the ruling party who has no official government position. The mysterious meeting enhanced the perception that Kaczynski, rather than strategically placed Prime Minister Beata Szydlo or President Andrzej Duda, is the main decision-maker in Poland today. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz, File)

The 67-year-old Law and Justice party leader, whose identical twin brother Polish President Lech Kaczynski died in a 2010 plane crash in Russia, has been in the Polish public eye since childhood. He and Lech first won fame as child actors in the 1960s. During the 1980s, they embarked on their political careers by joining Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walesa's anti-communist Solidarity movement.

But observers say Jaroslaw Kaczynski changed dramatically after the death of his twin.

"He hardened. He is a lonely man and this is very visible in the way he does politics. He wants to rule with a strong hand and it's clear that all the power comes from his office," says Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, who was prime minister in a Law and Justice government in 2005-2006.

Last year Kaczynski led his conservative party to two electoral victories, so it now controls both the presidency and the Cabinet and has a majority in Parliament. In Poland's 26 years of democracy, no other party has ever enjoyed so much power.

As the new government took office, it moved swiftly to consolidate that power, passing laws that gave the ruling party some influence in the Constitutional Tribunal and direct control over public media. It also strengthened the state's surveillance powers.

The European Union is alarmed, and recently opened a preliminary inquiry into whether the government is guilty of a "systemic threat to the rule of law." Liberal Poles are also furious at the changes, and have turned out for large street protests over the past two months.

Kaczynski is viewed as the mastermind of these changes.

"He has built himself into this head of state without any real position and this is very comfortable for him. He has no direct responsibility and is free to change the pawns on his chess board," Marcinkiewicz told The Associated Press.

Marcinkiewicz has his own experience taking directions from Kaczynski, who eventually took the prime minister's job from him in 2006. He says Kaczynski now gives instructions to the government on a daily basis.

Kaczynski mixes social welfare ideas with support for national and Catholic traditions and opposition to gay marriage and abortion. His party swept to power denouncing the inequalities of the previous government's liberal market policies, striking a chord with voters by promising to help those left out of Poland's economic success.

"He is an honest man who surely is not after private gains, but who really thinks about the kind of life people have," says one supporter, 42-year-old cook Agata Remisz.

Still, many are wary of the government's tactics.

Walesa, who fell out with the Kaczynski brothers in 1991, has denounced the Law and Justice-led government as a threat to democracy.

"Kaczynski is definitely a great intellect and his diagnosis of the situation in Poland is right, but the cure he applies is very disputable," the former president told the AP.

Never married, Kaczynski lives alone in a modest house in Warsaw, where he lived with his mother until her death in 2013. Since Lech's death, he only wears black in public and has said he will be in mourning for the rest of his life.

He rarely gives interviews and prefers adulatory Catholic outlets. According to a recent book, "Jaroslaw Kaczynski's Secrets" by journalist Michal Krzymowski, he only reluctantly watches TV news.

The same book describes how he took great pains to spare his ill mother the shock of his brother's death. For almost two months he told her the president was making a lengthy return from a visit to America by ship because of volcanic ash that had grounded many planes. He even had a fake copy of a newspaper printed with that story for her to read. Eventually, when his mother was better, he told her the truth.

In foreign relations, Kaczynski is distrustful of Russia, which he sees as a constant threat to Poland. He also cultivates resentment against Germany for its brutal World War II occupation of Poland.

The party also sows divisions inside Poland. The first government sought to purge communist-era collaborators, a key Kaczynski policy, but many said its methods were too vengeful.

During the 2015 election campaign, Kaczynski took an anti-migrant stance, saying they could carry threatening "parasites." He also denounced his pro-EU opponents as the "worst sort of Poles," ones that follow foreign values.

Marcinkiewicz believes Kaczynski's distrust of foreigners may come from his aversion to flying, which he had even before his brother died in the plane crash. Kaczynski has rejected the findings of Polish and Russian investigations that say the crash was an accident resulting from a string of human errors and has ordered repeat investigations, seen by some as an obsession.

Still, Marcinkiewicz says the party leader is a great interlocutor on many subjects.
Clinton calls Flint water crisis 'immoral' in break from NH

FLINT, Mich. (AP)  Taking a detour from New Hampshire's campaign trail, Hillary Clinton said Sunday that a water crisis in a Michigan city was "immoral" and demanded that Congress approve $200 million in emergency aid to address the community's battle with lead-contaminated water.

The Democratic presidential hopeful made a quick visit to Flint, an unusual stop for a candidate trailing in polls against rival Bernie Sanders in the first primary state. Clinton hopes to use a narrower-than-expected loss in Tuesday's primary as a springboard into contests later this month in Nevada and South Carolina.

Clinton said she was making a "personal commitment" to help Flint in a message delivered not only to the congregants at a local Baptist church but also a more heavily-minority electorate in Southern contests that could help her build a foundation for a delegate-by-delegate drive toward the nomination.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton meets members of the House Of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

"This is not merely unacceptable or wrong, though it is both. What happened in Flint is immoral," Clinton said at the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church. She added: "I will fight for you in Flint no matter how long it takes."

Aides said Clinton was invited by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver to address the crisis of lead-poisoned water, a case that she has cited in Iowa and New Hampshire as an example of racial and economic injustice. It is an issue that resonates among Democrats, particularly African-American voters who play a major role in later contests in South Carolina and a swath of "Super Tuesday" states on March 1; Michigan's primary is March 8.

From the pulpit, Clinton urged Congress to provide $200 million to fix Flint's water system, saying it was "no time for politics as usual."

Pastor Kenneth Stewart told the crowd, which greeted Clinton enthusiastically, that America will "give birth to a president" in nine months. "Most of us in here is praying that it be a girl," he said to loud applause.

Before her remarks, Clinton said she met with two mothers whose kids' health had worsened because of the water. She later met with a group of mostly government officials to thank them and discuss solutions.

The chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Ronna Romney McDaniel, accused Clinton of using Flint families as "political pawns" and said the visit was a "calculated campaign tactic  an attempt to grab headlines by a struggling campaign."

Clinton narrowly beat Sanders in Iowa's leadoff caucuses last Monday but has trailed the Vermont senator in New Hampshire by large margins. Her aides worry that a big Sanders victory in the state could help him make headway among women and minority voters, important parts of the coalition that twice elected Barack Obama as president.

Sanders' strength with younger voters only heightens the threat he poses to what was once Clinton's decisive national lead.

Stopping at a local Dunkin' Donuts before departing New Hampshire on Sunday morning, Clinton pledged to fight for every vote in New Hampshire, but at least some of her operation is moving on. This weekend, former President Bill Clinton wooed voters in Las Vegas, campaign surrogates knocked doors in San Antonio, and Clinton's aides announced an upcoming meeting with civil rights leaders in New York City.

Clinton aides are trying to make the case that the heavily white and liberal electorates of New Hampshire and Iowa make them outliers in the nomination fight. They say Clinton will find more success in the South Carolina primary on Feb 20 and the Nevada caucuses a week later, where polls show her with a wide lead.

In recent days, she has used the state as a testing ground for new campaign messages targeted at specific groups, with pledges to break "the highest and hardest glass ceiling" and promising young voters that she would "be for them" even if they support Sanders.

Sanders has worked to boost his profile among black voters who make up more than half of South Carolina's Democratic primary electorate.

He made only passing reference to the crisis in Flint at a campaign rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Sunday, rarely straying from the central economic themes of his candidacy.

"There is one area where not only are we not making progess, we are losing ground, and that is the economic struggle," he told 1,200 cheering supporters.

Sanders' backers believe that as African-Americans learn more about the Vermont senator, they will warm to his liberal message, pointing to a endorsement this week by former NAACP President Ben Jealous. Clinton is one of the best known political figures in the world and has strong backing among Latinos and black voters.

"Before a few weeks ago, I never gave Bernie Sanders the time of day," said South Carolina state Rep. Justin Bamberg, who recently switched his backing from Clinton. "But if you look at Sanders he has been solid as concrete with regards to his passion for racial, social and economic justice."

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Thomas reported from Manchester, New Hampshire. Associated Press writers Lisa Lerer in Manchester, New Hampshire and Bill Barrow in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

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Follow Ken Thomas and David Eggert on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/kthomasDC and http://twitter.com/davideggert00

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the House Of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton poses for a photograph at the House Of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appears with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver at the House Of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
3 killed after brief police chase in San Francisco streets

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Three people died in a fiery crash after a car fleeing authorities crashed into a taxi in San Francisco streets, officials said Sunday.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Vu Williams said the brief chase Saturday night began after an officer tried to pull over the driver of a white Chevrolet sedan seen rotating in circles in the middle of a neighborhood street.

The car drove away and the officer gave chase but stopped the pursuit after the car began racing through red lights. Moments later the car crashed into a taxi and burst into flames, killing all three passengers, Williams said.

This Feb. 6, 2016 image provided by KPIX CBS 5 shows police and fire officials responding after a car crash that killed a few people on a San Francisco street. California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Vu Williams said the brief chase Saturday night began after an officer tried to pull over the driver of a white Chevrolet sedan seen rotating in circles in the middle of a neighborhood street. (KPIX CBS 5 via AP) TV OUT

Williams said the officer made a judgment call to end the pursuit because of the people out on the streets due to Super Bowl activities. About 2 miles from where the chase began, thousands were in Super Bowl City waiting to see Alicia Keys perform and Metallica was playing at AT&T Park, six blocks from where the white sedan was first spotted.

"The risks to continue chasing outweighed stopping the car," Williams said.

He said the taxi driver had minor injuries.

The three people killed were not identified.

This Feb. 6, 2016 image provided by KPIX CBS 5 shows police and fire officials responding after a car crash that killed a few people on a San Francisco street. California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Vu Williams said the brief chase Saturday night began after an officer tried to pull over the driver of a white Chevrolet sedan seen rotating in circles in the middle of a neighborhood street. (KPIX CBS 5 via AP) TV OUT
Turkey: Reaching limits but will keep taking in refugees

KILIS, Turkey (AP)  Turkey has reached the end of its "capacity to absorb" refugees but will continue to take them in, the deputy premier said Sunday, as his country faced mounting pressure to open its border to tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled a government onslaught.

The United Arab Emirates meanwhile joined Saudi Arabia in saying that it was open to the idea of sending ground troops to Syria to battle the Islamic State group, raising the possibility of even greater foreign involvement in the five-year-old civil war.

Turkish authorities say up to 35,000 Syrians have massed along the border, which remained closed for a third day on Sunday. The governor of the Turkish border province of Kilis said Saturday that Turkey would provide aid to the displaced within Syria, but would only open the gates in the event of an "extraordinary crisis."

A man makes enquires regarding the opening of the closed Turkish border crossing with Syria, on the outskirts of the town of Kilis, in southeastern Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Turkey is facing mounting pressure to open its border as tens of thousands of Syrian fleeing a government onslaught and intense Russian airstrikes arrived at the frontier. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN-Turk television that Turkey is now hosting a total of 3 million refugees, including 2.5 million Syrians.

"Turkey has reached the end of its capacity to absorb (refugees)," Kurtulmus said. "But in the end, these people have nowhere else to go. Either they will die beneath the bombings and Turkey will ... watch the massacre like the rest of the world, or we will open our borders."

Kurtulmus said some 15,000 refugees from Syria were admitted in the past few days, without elaborating. He put the number of refugees being cared for on the other side of the border at 30,000.

He did not explain why the Turkish border gate at Oncupinar, opposite the Bab al-Salameh crossing in Syria, was being kept closed or why tens of thousands of refugees were not immediately being let in.

In Syria, pro-government forces pressed ahead with their offensive in the northern Aleppo province, which has caused the massive displacement of civilians toward the Turkish border. Opposition activists said Syrian ground troops backed by Russian airstrikes were engaged in intense fighting with insurgents around the village of Ratyan and surrounding areas north of Aleppo city.

The army has almost fully encircled Aleppo, Syria's largest city and one-time commercial center, preparing the way for a blockade. The main supply line to the Turkish border has already been cut and many residents of the city were looking to leave, anticipating severe shortages in coming days.

Dr. Ahmad Abdelaziz, of the Syrian American Medical Society, a humanitarian organization, said there were only four general surgeons for the entire city.

"The people there are very worried there could be a siege at any time. We expect a lot of people to get out of the city if the situation remains like this, if there is no improvement," he said.

Abdelaziz, who goes in and out of Aleppo but spoke to the AP from the Turkish city of Gaziantep, described a dire scene at the border and said it was difficult to get medicine to the people gathered there.

"There are so many old people and children in the cold weather... They are surrounded by ISIS from the east, the regime from the south and Kurdish forces from the west," he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

On Saturday, the European Union urged Turkey to open its borders, saying it was providing aid to Ankara for that purpose. EU nations have committed 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to Turkey to help refugees, part of incentives aimed at persuading Turkey to do more to stop thousands of migrants from leaving for Greece.

Kurtulmus estimated that "in the worst case scenario" as many as 1 million more refugees could flee Aleppo and surrounding areas.

The Syrian uprising began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests but escalated into a full-blown civil war after a harsh government crackdown. The fighting has killed more than 250,000 people and forced millions to flee the country.

The war has drawn in regional and international rivals, with a U.S.-led coalition launching airstrikes against the IS group and Russian warplanes backing Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces.

The Lebanese Hezbollah group has sent thousands of fighters to back Assad while Iran has dispatched what it refers to as "military advisers," many of whom have been killed in combat in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabia -- one of the main backers of the rebels battling to topple Assad -- said last week it was willing in principle to send ground troops to battle IS.

The United Arab Emirates' Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash echoed that pledge Sunday, saying "we have been frustrated at the slow pace of confronting Daesh," using the Arabic acronym for IS. He stressed that any deployment would be relatively small, saying: "We're not talking about thousands of troops."

Even a small force, however, could alarm Damascus and escalate regional tensions even further. On Saturday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said any Saudi or other foreign ground troops who enter Syria would "return home in wooden coffins."

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Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Dominique Soguel in Istanbul, Zeina Karam in Beirut, Malak Harb in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Joseph Krauss in Cairo contributed to this report.

A Syrian woman makes enquiries regarding the possible opening of the closed Turkish border crossing with Syria, on the outskirts of the town of Kilis, in southeastern Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Turkey is facing mounting pressure to open its border as tens of thousands of Syrian fleeing a government onslaught and intense Russian airstrikes arrived at the frontier. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Syrians wait for information, in front of the closed Turkish border crossing with Syria, on the outskirts of the town of Kilis, in southeastern Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Turkey is facing mounting pressure to open its border as tens of thousands of Syrian fleeing a government onslaught and intense Russian airstrikes arrived at the frontier. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

A youth uses his mobile outside the closed Turkish border crossing with Syria, on the outskirts of the town of Kilis, in southeastern Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Turkey is facing mounting pressure to open its border as tens of thousands of Syrian fleeing a government onslaught and intense Russian airstrikes arrived at the frontier. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

A man stands outside the closed Turkish border crossing with Syria, on the outskirts of the town of Kilis, in southeastern Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Turkey is facing mounting pressure to open its border as tens of thousands of Syrian fleeing a government onslaught and intense Russian airstrikes arrived at the frontier. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Extremists free Australian woman kidnapped in Burkina Faso

NIAMEY, Niger (AP)  Islamic extremists have freed an Australian woman kidnapped last month in northern Burkina Faso, although her husband remains in captivity despite pleas from the family and efforts by officials to secure his release.

Jocelyn Elliott and her husband  surgeon Ken Elliott  were kidnapped on Jan. 15 near the Burkina Faso town of Djibo, where they have run a medical clinic for four decades. Al-Qaida's North Africa wing claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, though the group said in an audio recording Friday that it would release Jocelyn Elliott so as "not to make women involved in the war." Both Elliotts are in their 80s.

On Saturday, Jocelyn Elliott was freed in neighboring Niger, where she appeared alongside President Mahamadou Issoufou in the town of Dosso, located about 90 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Niamey.

Issoufou worked with Burkina Faso intelligence services to secure her release, said Abdourahmane Alilou, a spokesman for Niger's president.

On Sunday, Australian media carried a statement from the Elliotts' family urging that Ken Elliott also be freed.

"We are trusting that the moral and guiding principles of those who have released our Mother will also be applied to our elderly father who has served the community of Djibo and the Sahel for more than half his lifetime," the statement said.

The militant group behind the kidnapping, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, rose to prominence in large part through kidnap-for-ransom operations targeting foreign aid workers and tourists.

In recent months, the group has grabbed headlines with claims of responsibility for high-profile strikes in West Africa, killing 20 people in an attack on a hotel in Mali's capital in November and 30 people in an attack in Burkina Faso's capital the same day the Elliotts were kidnapped.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged to continue working with regional governments to secure Ken Elliott's release.
Iraqi Kurds protest against Turkey, 3 police wounded

IRBIL, Iraq (AP)  Protests against Turkey in Iraq's northern Kurdish region have turned violent, with three police officers wounded.

Hundreds of protesters gathered Sunday outside the United Nations compound in the northern city of Irbil calling for an end to Turkish airstrikes against Kurdish militants. Local media reported that three police were wounded.

Turkey began launching airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in July 2015 as part of the U.S.-led coalition's fight against the Islamic State group. In Syria it has targeted the IS group, while in Iraq it has taken aim at the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara.

Protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)

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This story has been corrected to show that Turkey is striking the IS group in Syria and Kurdish militants in Iraq.

Police stand guard as protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)

Kurdish protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)

Kurdish protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)

Kurdish protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)

Kurdish protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)

Kurdish protesters gather outside the United Nations compound in Irbil, Iraq, on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Protestors supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) joined outside the UN compound in Irbil to demonstrate against the Turkish government and the international community. The protestors said they want the international community to stand up against Turkey and its fight against the Kurdish population in Turkey and Northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Alice Martins)
Slain Italian student in Egypt suffered 'inhuman' violence

ROME (AP)  A second autopsy on the body of an Italian found slain in Egypt reveals that the doctoral student suffered "inhuman, animal-like" violence, Italy's interior minister said Sunday as he pressed Egypt's president to fully cooperate with the criminal investigation.

Rome prosecutors have opened a murder investigation into the death of Giulio Regeni, whose battered corpse was found near a highway outside Cairo nine days after he was reported missing in the Egyptian capital.

Italy's ambassador, who viewed the body a few hours after Egyptian authorities told Italy about its discovery on Feb. 3, had already said the victim showed signs of a brutal beating and torture,

Mourners hold slogans at a vigil for slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. Arabic on posters reads, "Giulio is one of us and was killed like us" and "Giulio and El Gendi the same pain the same date." (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

A second autopsy, following one done in Egypt by authorities there, was performed late Saturday in Rome after the body was flown to Italy, concluded that Regeni died after a cervical vertebra was broken, said Alessandra Ballerini, a human rights lawyer appointed by the young man's family to follow developments in the case.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said on a Sky TV interview show Sunday that he still hasn't gotten his breath back after learning the shocking results of the latest autopsy.

Ballerini said full autopsy results won't be ready for a few days. Among those, crucially, are tissue and fluid samples that could determine just how long after Regeni's Jan. 25 disappearance he died.

The Italian news agency ANSA, citing unidentified sources close to the Italian coroners, said the findings led to the conclusion that Regeni's neck was twisted or struck, breaking a vertebra and leaving him unable to breathe. It said he suffered various other fractures as well.

"We had to view the results of the autopsy," Minister Alfano said, referring to Italian authorities. Regeni suffered "something inhuman, animal-like, an unacceptable violence," he said.

Alfano pressed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to ensure cooperation in the investigation, noting that Italian police dispatched to Cairo on Saturday started working with their Egyptian counterparts on the case.

"I am convinced that it is in the interest of el-Sissi to work together," Alfano said. "No one can bring Giulio back to life, but bring the truth to the surface will perhaps be able to save more lives."

For years, rights groups have accused Egyptian police of regularly torturing detainees. Over the past year, they have also accused them of using "forced disappearances"  detaining suspected activists or Islamists in secret without reporting their arrest.

The Egyptian Association for Rights and Freedoms documented 314 such disappearances in 2015, according to a lawyer, Halem Henish. Most later turned up in prison, but at least five were found at the morgue, including one with signs of torture like burns and electric shocks. He said the group has documented 35 disappearances so far in 2016, including at least two of whom have died.

News reports in Italy have said Italian authorities strongly suspect Egyptian security forces interrogated Regeni to learn about the contacts he made as part of his research with the labor world and other activists, and tortured and killed him.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Egypt's foreign minister vehemently denied those allegations as "judgments, accusations and insinuations, unjustified and without proof."

Sameh Shoukry also was quoted in the interview as denying that Egyptian security forces have a tendency to use violent methods.

"Any method against the law is totally condemned by the government and will be brought to justice," Shoukry was quoted as saying. "Are there sometimes individual excesses? Certainly there are, and we need to improve the culture against these excesses and have monitoring to assure they don't occur."

Separately, a spokesman for the Egyptian Interior Ministry dismissed allegations that security forces could have been responsible for Regeni's killing. Spokesman Abu Bakr Abdel-Karim called that theory "nonsense," the private Shrouq newspaper reported.

Regeni had been in Cairo for a few months, as part of his Ph.D. research into Egyptian labor movements. According to friends, Regeni was last seen entering a subway station to go meet a friend in downtown Cairo on the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. Security forces were on high alert and heavily present in the streets to prevent any demonstrations.

On Jan. 31, the Italian foreign ministry in an unusually candid statement, called on Egypt to put "maximum effort" into finding Regeni, after saying the young man "mysteriously disappeared."

After the body's discovery was first revealed, some Egyptian authorities initially attributed Regeni's death to a road accident.

The date for Regeni's funeral was still being decided, said family lawyer Ballerini.

"Giulio had a lot of friends scattered throughout the world" and they will need a few days to travel to his hometown of Fiumicello in northeastern Italy, she said.

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Brian Rohan contributed to this report from Cairo.

A mourner grieves at a candlelight vigil in memory of slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

An Egyptian policeman stands guard during a candlelight vigil for slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptian policemen watch as mourners gather at a candlelight vigil for slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptian policemen watch as mourners gather at a candlelight vigil for slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Mourners hold messages at a vigil for slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Mourners light candles and lay wreaths in memory of slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Regeni disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was found this week with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture on the outskirts of Cairo, Egyptian officials said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
The Latest: George W. Bush appears in TV ad for brother

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)  The Latest on the race for president in the window between the Republican and Democratic debates and the 2016 New Hampshire presidential primary on Tuesday: (all times local):

9:45 p.m.

Viewers watching the Super Bowl in New Hampshire and South Carolina have seen former President George W. Bush's first public appearance for his brother's presidential campaign.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush gestures for people to take their seats as he arrives for a campaign event in Salem, N.H., Sunday Feb. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The Right to Rise Super PAC supporting Jeb Bush ran the ads during the second half of Sunday's game on local television in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

With his recognizable Texas accent, the former president looks into the camera saying, "I know Jeb. I know his good heart and his strong backbone."

Images of the White House, airmen on the deck of an aircraft carrier and what appears to be a post-Sept. 11, 2001, candlelight vigil intermingle with the former president.

George W. Bush says that experience and judgment count and that his brother is a leader who will keep the country safe.

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7 p.m.

Hillary Clinton made a pre-Super Bowl stop at a popular Manchester, New Hampshire, restaurant frequented by presidential candidates.

Clinton dropped by the Puritan Backroom Sunday where she ordered a bucket of chicken tenders and four milkshakes and posed for photographs with customers who ordered ice cream and picked up takeout food before kickoff.

Co-owner Chris Pappas, a Democratic official, says 14 presidential candidates have stopped by the restaurant this campaign cycle and it was Hillary Clinton's third visit to the Puritan.

Clinton faces Bernie Sanders in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

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6:20 p.m.

Republican front-runner Donald Trump appeared a little off his game Sunday, holding a rally that many in the audience decided to leave early.

Trump's rally at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire, fell flat with many of the students and undecided voters in the crowd.

Forty-five minutes into his speech, a steady stream of attendees were seen leaving as Trump railed against U.S. trade policy.

Devin-Jean McCormack is an independent voter and graduate student torn between Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders. She called Trump's speech scattered. Her mother, Louise McCormack, agreed, but the professor at the college says she is leaning toward voting for Trump.

The billionaire businessman began his day with a stop at a Manchester restaurant. He spent less than five minutes greeting diners before sitting down for his own breakfast.

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5:55 p.m.

Jeb Bush is trashing Donald Trump as "not a serious conservative" and bashing rival Republicans for not taking the fight to the bombastic billionaire businessman.

Bush said at a town hall in Nashua, New Hampshire, Sunday that Trump is not a serious conservative or serious leader.

He asked why none of the other Republicans are taking him on and then said "I'm taking him on, brother" while taking questions from the audience.

The overflowing town hall crowd roared with approval.

Bush earlier called Trump a "loser."

Trump tweeted on Saturday that Bush's campaign is a "total disaster" and mocked him for bringing his mom in to take a slap at him.

He is the Republican front-runner heading into Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

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5:40 p.m.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich got into a brief, heated exchange with a voter over Planned Parenthood funding during a town hall meeting in New Hampshire.

Kasich said Sunday in Concord that federal funding for Planned Parenthood is never going to happen with a Republican-controlled Congress. That wasn't a satisfying answer for a female voter who asked Kasich whether he'd support funding for the organization if it were part of a balanced budget.

The woman charged Kasich with avoiding her question after he said he's a strong supporter of women's health.

Kasich got slightly testy and asked the woman if she thought he was avoiding the answers because she thought he was "mechanical."

He then gave the woman a more direct answer. He told her "we're not gonna fund it."

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5:30 p.m.

The former Florida GOP chairman and a longtime Jeb Bush supporter says questions about Marco Rubio's accomplishments have turned around Bush's struggling campaign.

Al Cardenas said in an interview while campaigning with Bush in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Sunday that the attacks on Rubio's lack of accomplishments as a freshman senator are not going to go away. He says that Rubio's scripted lines are no longer going to work.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rattled Rubio in Saturday night's GOP debate when he slammed the Florida senator as a scripted, inexperienced politician from a do-nothing Senate.

Bush has also hammered Rubio as a backbencher in Congress and a gifted speaker with no leadership record.

Cardenas says that the last 72 hours have been a dramatic turnaround for Bush's campaign and that he's in the hunt.

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5 p.m.

Hillary Clinton is accusing rival Bernie Sanders of using deceptive campaign tactics.

Her campaign is pointing to a report in a New Hampshire paper that says Sanders used the images of pastors and veterans in his campaign fliers without permission.

Communications director Jen Palmieri says the Sanders campaign "has shifted from insulting and dismissing people who don't support him to falsely claiming their support."

Sanders' campaign didn't immediately return a request seeking comment.

Rev. Stephen Silver, of Lebanon, told The Valley News (bit.ly/1QP6Q5f) that a photo of him with his 9-year-old son taken at a Veterans Day event was used on a mailer. He says he explained to his congregation that he was not taking a public stance on any candidate.

The Clinton campaign has also highlighted ads where Sanders touted newspaper endorsements he did not receive.

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4:40 p.m.

Some politicians run from polarizing endorsements. Ted Cruz seeks them out.

The Texas senator's strength in the 2016 Republican presidential primary is drawn, at least in part, from the backing of high-profile figures from his party's far-right fringe.

They are people who may be popular among the passionate conservatives who usually decide primary contests, but could turn off the swing voters and independents who typically decide general elections.

Cruz's national co-chairman, Iowa Rep. Steve King, is a leading voice on immigration. He has compared those who cross the border illegally to drug mules and livestock.

Cruz has also embraced endorsements from an evangelical leader who described Hitler as a hunter of Jews sent by God, and B-list entertainers like the anti-gay patriarch of the Louisiana duck hunting family featured on the popular cable show "Duck Dynasty."

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4 p.m.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie continues to tout his strong debate performance and takedown of Marco Rubio.

Christie returned to an Exeter pub on Sunday that he visited early on in his campaign and again argued that Rubio isn't ready to face Hillary Clinton in a general election or be president.

He says that when the lights are bright and hot, "we don't melt, we shine." He says that's what he's going to do in November when he beats Clinton.

Christie says that he was underestimated during both of his gubernatorial campaigns. He says it's annoying, but he's used to it. He says that his opponents who were on the debate state Saturday night don't underestimate him anymore.

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3:15 p.m.

Republican Ted Cruz says it's dangerous and immoral to force women into combat roles in the military.

The Texas senator on Sunday lashed out at his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination who signaled support during Saturday's debate for including women if a draft is reinstated. He made the comments during a campaign appearance in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Cruz says that including women in a hypothetical military draft is "nuts" and a dangerous example of political correctness. He says forcing women into "close combat" ''is wrong, is immoral and, if I'm president, we ain't doing it."

Cruz has two young daughters, who, he says "are capable of doing anything in their heart's desire."

He says "the idea that their government would forcibly put them in a foxhole with a 220-pound psychopath trying to kill them doesn't make any sense at all."

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This item has been corrected to show that Cruz said 220-pound psychopath, rather than 200-pound.

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2:20 p.m.

Hillary Clinton says the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is "immoral," and Congress should approve $200 million in emergency aid for the city grappling with lead-contaminated water.

The Democratic presidential candidate is visiting a Flint church on Sunday and tells the crowd she will not forget about them or their children.

Clinton is making a "personal commitment" to help Flint and says she is angry and heartsick about what happened. She says, "repairing trust is as important as repairing pipes."

Flint is under a state of emergency because the water supply is contaminated with lead from old pipes.

Clinton and Bernie Sanders will debate each other in Flint on March 6, two days before Michigan's primary.

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12:15 p.m.

Jeb Bush has called in the Bush family troops, but he says he didn't make a mistake by keeping them at a distance for so long in his presidential campaign.

The Republican candidate's mother  former first lady Barbara Bush  has been campaigning in New Hampshire. His brother, former President George W. Bush, plans to campaign in South Carolina ahead of the GOP primary on Feb. 20.

A super political actions committee that supports Jeb Bush is airing an ad that features his brother.

The former Florida governor says that when he started his White House run, it was important to first explain to voters his experience and ideas.

The candidate tells "Fox News Sunday" that "I'm a Bush, and I've never tried to disown that."

He says he thinks the timing of his family's involvement in campaigning "is appropriate."

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11:55 a.m.

Ted Cruz is opening up about how religion has transformed his life.

The Republican presidential candidate tells members of a New Hampshire congregation that his family's religious devotion is due largely to his father's conversion to Christianity decades ago.

The Texas senator says his father was a drunk who abandoned Cruz and his mother when Cruz was a toddler.

Then Rafael Cruz met a pastor who challenged him to stop resisting Christianity.

Ted Cruz tells worshippers at the First Assembly of God in Auburn, New Hampshire, that his father "literally fell to his knees and gave his life to Jesus."

Rafael soon returned to his family and raised Cruz as a devout Christian.

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11 a.m.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says "he felt justified" with his takedown of rival Marco Rubio in the latest GOP presidential debate.

Christie is looking ahead to the general election, and he thinks Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee.

On Sunday Christie was using Rubio's debate performance to speculate about how the Florida senator would fare in a debate against Clinton.

The New Jersey governor puts it this way during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday": Do Republicans want someone who can "absolutely answer" Clinton's "every parry" or "someone who will crumble in front" of the former secretary of state?

Christie and Rubio, along with Jeb Bush and John Kasich, are jockeying to become the preferred alternative to outsiders Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in the GOP race.

Rubio seems best positioned to seize that spot after his third-place finish in Iowa. But Christie says Rubio's isn't ready for the presidency. The New Jersey governor is seizing on Rubio's repetitious characterization of Barack Obama's presidency when Christie repeatedly challenged Rubio's executive experience: "There it is, the memorized 25-second speech. There it is everybody," Christie said at one point in the debate.

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9:55 a.m.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says she knows she's behind going into Tuesday's New Hampshire primary and doesn't know if she can win.

But she tells CNN's "State of the Union" that she's "a different person than I was back in 08." That year she won the New Hampshire primary but lost the Democratic presidential nomination to then-Sen. Barack Obama.

Once president, Obama named Clinton his secretary of state. She suggests that experience helped her understand people's anxieties.

She says that in 2016, people are concerned that the economy and the government "aren't working for them...and that's causing a lot of the anger and frustration."

She says she gets that, adding, "I feel it."

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9:50 a.m.

Don't like the Pacific Rim trade deal that President Barack Obama supports?

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders don't either, but Trump says only he would be able to "do something about it."

Trump says Sunday on CNN that, "Bernie can't do anything about it, because it's not his thing."

The billionaire developer did not specify what he would do to weaken or cancel the sweeping Trans Pacific Partnership between the U.S. and 11 other nations.

The oddball competition across party lines in New Hampshire is for the state's largest bloc of registered voters  those whose party affiliations are undeclared.

New Hampshire voters go to the polls for the nation's first primary on Tuesday.

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9:45 a.m.

Don't expect a one-term pledge from Donald Trump.

The Republican presidential candidate says there are "certain advantages" to such a declaration, but it's not for him.

Trump says if he was "lucky enough to win" the White House and "if we're doing a great job, then we'll keep going."

And if things aren't going so well?

In that case, Trump tells NBC's "Meet the Press," ''we have automatic termination. It's called, the voters will terminate"  the public version of a Trump signature line, "You're fired."

But, the billionaire businessman adds, "That won't happen."

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9 a.m.

Hillary Clinton is detouring from New Hampshire to Flint, Michigan, on Sunday for a quick visit.

Aides say she was invited by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, and that Clinton plans a town hall meeting with Flint residents before returning to New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

Clinton has pointed to the crisis of lead-poisoned water in Flint as an example of racial and economic injustice. That's an issue that resonates among Democrats, particularly African-American voters.

The Democratic presidential candidate said in Thursday's debate that the federal government needs to hold Michigan responsible for the situation in Flint, while finding ways to remedy the "terrible burden" that people in Flint are facing, such as helping to pay for health care costs.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks with an audience member at the House Of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures to the crowd as he signs autographs at a campaign event at Plymouth State University Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Plymouth, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Republican presidential candidate Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, speaks during a campaign stop at the high school before next Tuesday's first in the nation presidential primary Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., holds a snow ball and does not throw while playing with his children after a campaign stop Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Hudson, N.H. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign stop at the Franklin Pierce University Fieldhouse, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Rindge, N.H. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a town hall-style campaign event, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Peterborough, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

The Flint Water Plant tower is seen, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 in Flint, Mich. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday defended how his office responded to an email flagging a potential link between a surge in Legionnaires' disease and Flint's water, saying an aide asked for further investigation but a state agency did not bring forward the issue again. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, answers a question during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Heroin scourge changes role of police in hard-hit areas

CINCINNATI (AP)  Forehead furrowed, a woman drags on a Camel cigarette, admitting she has only vague memories of nearly dying five days earlier.

Some flashes of images of being inside an ambulance. Waking up in a hospital bed. No recognition, though, of the solidly built, 6-foot-4 blue-uniformed police officer now leaning against a wall in her kitchen, having returned not to arrest her, but to help with her battle against heroin.

The officer, David Hubbard, a veteran narcotics detective, is part of the "Quick Response Team" formed last July in Colerain Township, a sprawling suburb of some 60,000 people 15 miles northwest of Cincinnati. Police, paramedics and addiction counselors combine to quickly steer users into treatment while their overdoses are still raw and frightening.

In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, photo, Colerain Township Police Det. Dave Hubbard, left, and Nan Franks, CEO of Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council, center, meet with a heroin user, who requested to remain anonymous, five days after she nearly died from a heroin overdose in Colerain Township in Hamilton, Ohio. I could be dead, the woman, in her 50s, said as Judy Garlands voice warbled poignantly in the living room: Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

It's among new approaches, some that are redefining police roles, being tried in hard-hit communities across the country. While some critics ask whether police are putting social work over law enforcement, authorities say that while they are stepping up efforts against dealers, they can't arrest their way out of such a pervasive epidemic.

"There were some naysayers who say these are nothing but junkies  lock them up," said John Tharp, sheriff in Lucas County, home to Toledo, Ohio's fourth-largest city. "We may think this is soft (for police), but when you have a crisis in your community, you need to be proactive. We're being aggressive."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports heroin overdose death rates more than tripled since 2010 as powerful, cheap forms swept America. Ohio ranked among the top five states in drug overdose deaths in 2014, including 1,177 linked to heroin, and had one of the biggest increases.

In Massachusetts, Gloucester's police chief famously pioneered a program last year to help get addicts into treatment if they turn in their drugs and drug equipment, no questions asked. Departments in other states have adopted aspects of the program.

Tharp's Drug Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.) was formed in June 2014 amid rising overdose deaths in the Toledo area. Police, accompanied by counselors, meet with users and families as soon as possible after overdoses, even providing rides to treatment. Hundreds have entered treatment through the effort.

In Colerain Township, Public Safety Director Dan Meloy said the program launched last July appears to be having an impact already. On pace to top 200 overdoses when it started, the township ended 2015 with 167.

The programs help reduce other crimes, police say.

"They're not breaking into their neighbors' sheds, they're not robbing the local stores, they're not stealing from their families trying to feed their habit," Meloy said.

Ohio officials are battling heroin on other fronts, too.

Gov. John Kasich's office last month announced the latest in a series of guidelines aimed at reducing prescription painkiller abuse often linked to leading to heroin use, this time promoting alternative pain relief methods. Attorney General Mike DeWine convened a statewide summit and spotlighted "holistic approaches" being tried. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, has been building bipartisan support in Washington for a bill that focuses on making sure patients get optimal treatment.

Some black Americans long involved in the criminal justice system point out that gentler responses to the heroin use rising sharply among whites weren't so available when the crack cocaine wave swept into urban neighborhoods.

"I applaud law enforcement agencies for treating the heroin epidemic as a public health, rather than criminal justice, problem," said David Singleton, a veteran attorney who's executive director of the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, in an email. "At the same time, it is deeply troubling that we are shifting our approach from incarceration to treatment for an epidemic that primarily affects white people."

Near Colerain Township, Hamilton city police work with Fort Hamilton Hospital, where chief medical officer Dr. Marcus Romanello said the emergency room has repeatedly seen cases in which overdose patients were saved there, then ended up dying at home in a subsequent overdose. F.O.R.T (Fort's Opiate Recovery Taskforce) began late last year, involving police and other first responders, therapists, a social worker, and a hospital pharmacist to help steer them into treatment and provide families with resources.

Overdose tolls have been aggravated by the spreading use of fentanyl, a strong painkiller that can be combined with heroin or snorted alone. In Lucas County, the number of overdose deaths again rose last year, complicating evaluation of the new program's success.

Police said their helping programs often lead to valuable anti-drug intelligence as they target suppliers.

"We're still arresting people," Hubbard said. "But now we're fighting it from all angles."

He continues to be amazed that drug users, including some he has arrested in the past, will open their doors to him after an overdose. He said they often break down, grateful to be offered help.

"I was skeptical," he said. "It's changed my mind."

The woman Hubbard helped in early January agreed to speak to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because she didn't want people she knows to hear about her heroin use.

"I could be dead," the woman, in her 50s, said as Judy Garland's voice warbled in the living room: "Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high."

A $10 shot of heroin sent her plunging toward death. Emergency crews responding to a 911 call injected the overdose reversal drug naloxone but took her to a hospital when she remained unstable.

She wants to stop using drugs, she said, but "I need help."

Hubbard also recently visited with Damon Carroll, 23, showing off fishing photos from a Florida vacation. Carroll was found overdosed on his bedroom floor last summer, just as the Colerain program was beginning.

"It's a big thing to me," Carroll said. Officers stop by his home just to see if he's doing OK. He's been in treatment and is doing well in a restaurant job.

He said hearing other success stories from the program encourages him: "It lets me know that I'm not alone."

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In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, photo, Colerain Township Police Det. Dave Hubbard, left, and Nan Franks, CEO of Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council, drive through a suburban neighborhood before a visit at the home of a heroin user who five days earlier nearly died from a heroin overdose in Colerain Township in Hamilton, Ohio. A new program in Colerain Township has police more focused on helping addicts than arresting them. Theyre trying to quickly steer those who overdose into treatment before they relapse into their dangerous lifestyles and help them through recovery. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In this Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, photo, pharmacist Julia Landis, of Fort Hamilton Hospital, displays an opioid overdose kit in Hamilton, Ohio. Chief medical officer Dr. Marcus Romanello said the emergency room averages more than an overdose patient a day. F.O.R.T (Forts Opiate Recovery Taskforce) began late last year, involving police and other first responders, therapists, a social worker, and a hospital pharmacist to help steer them into treatment and provide resources to their families. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In this Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, photo, Fort Hamilton Hospital chief medical officer Dr. Marcus Romanello, right, speaks during an interview, in Hamilton, Ohio. Romanello said the emergency room averages more than an overdose patient a day. F.O.R.T (Forts Opiate Recovery Taskforce) began late last year, involving police and other first responders, therapists, a social worker, and a hospital pharmacist to help steer them into treatment and provide resources to their families. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, photo, Colerain Township Police Det. Dave Hubbard, center, speaks to a reporter alongside Nan Franks, CEO of Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council, right, and Shana Merrick, director of youth services for Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council, left, in Colerain Township in Hamilton, Ohio. Were still arresting people, Hubbard said. But now were fighting it from all angles. He continues to be amazed that drug users, including some he has arrested in the past, will open their doors to him after an overdose. He said they often break down, grateful to be offered help. I was skeptical, he said. Its changed my mind. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, photo, Colerain Township Public Safety Director Dan Meloy speaks to a reporter in Colerain Township in Hamilton, Ohio. Meloy said the Drug Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.) program launched last July appears to have at least slowed a years-long rise in the number of overdoses. On pace to top 200 overdoses when the program started, the township instead ended 2015 with 167. The programs also help reduce other crimes in the communities, police said. Theyre not breaking into their neighbors sheds, theyre not robbing the local stores, theyre not stealing from their families trying to feed their habit, Meloy said. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, photo, Colerain Township Police Det. Dave Hubbard, left, and Nan Franks, CEO of Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council, center, meet with a heroin user who requested to remain anonymous five days after she nearly died from a heroin overdose in Colerain Township in Hamilton, Ohio. She wants to stop using drugs, she said, but I need help. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, photo, Nan Franks, CEO of Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council, left, meets with a heroin user, who requested to remain anonymous, who nearly died five days prior from a heroin overdose in Colerain Township in Hamilton, Ohio. A $10 shot of heroin had almost immediately sent her plunging toward death. Emergency crews responding to a 911 call injected the overdose reversal drug naloxone but took her to a hospital when she remained unstable. Police found a syringe and other drug paraphernalia. She wants to stop using drugs, she said, but I need help. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Airstrike hits college in eastern Libyan city, killing 4

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP)  A Libyan parliamentarian says an airstrike hit a medical technology college in a populated area of the eastern city of Darna, killing four people, including a woman and her son.

Hamid Albandag, a member of the internationally recognized parliament, says the early Sunday airstrike hit near a hospital. It was not immediately clear who carried out the strike.

Darna is controlled by an alliance of Islamic militant groups which have been defending the town from Islamic State militants. Albandag says the IS group is 6-7 kilometers (4 miles) outside the city.

Libya has fallen into chaos since the 2011 toppling of longtime dictator, Moammar Gadhafi.
Bautista-Agut downs Troicki to win Sofia Open

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP)  Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Viktor Troicki to win the inaugural Sofia Open on Sunday for his fourth career title.

The top-seeded Spaniard downed the second-seed Troicki 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour, 22 minutes.

The 27-year-old dominated, not losing a single set in three matches en route to capturing the first Sofia Open.
Spanish village of Lantz celebrates clash between good, evil

LANTZ, Spain (AP)  The inhabitants of a northern Spanish mountain village have taken part in an age-old Carnival festival that re-enacts a legendary confrontation between good and evil.

Sunday's festivities in Lantz celebrate a long-standing tradition in which the opposing forces challenge each other in a symbolic battle during which the colorfully-garbed villagers' thirst for justice builds up into fiery public rage.

Villagers from Lantz, which is located on the western skirts of the Pyrenees Mountains where highwaymen once threatened rural harmony and cross-border trade with neighboring France, are reputed to have chased down Miel Otxin, one of most fearsome bandits of them all.

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. A group of participants called ''Txatxus'' pose for a photo, during the ancient rural carnival in the small Pyrenees village of Lantz, northern Spain, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. A long-standing rural tradition in which the forces of good and evil confront each other in a symbolic battle, during which the thirst for justice stirs up public rage. From Sunday to Tuesday, during carnival week, in the little village of Lantz, the legendarily evil bandit Miel Otxin is imprisoned and sentenced to death by fire. AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

During the annual feast, villagers dress in colorful and jingle-belled outfits and act out the hunt, capture and death sentence by burning meted out to the evil "bandido" raider.

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. A participant called ''Txatxus'' takes part in the ancient rural carnival in the small Pyrenees village of Lantz, northern Spain, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. A long-standing rural tradition in which the forces of good and evil confront each other in a symbolic battle, during which the thirst for justice stirs up public rage. From Sunday to Tuesday, during carnival week, in the little village of Lantz, the legendarily evil bandit Miel Otxin is imprisoned and sentenced to death by fire. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. A giant called ''Miel Otxin'', a symbol of the carnival is carried during the ancient rural carnival in the small Pyrenees village of Lantz, northern Spain, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. A long-standing rural tradition in which the forces of good and evil confront each other in a symbolic battle, during which the thirst for justice stirs up public rage. From Sunday to Tuesday, during carnival week, in the little village of Lantz, the legendarily evil bandit Miel Otxin is imprisoned and sentenced to death by fire. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A giant called ''Miel Otxin'', a symbol of the carnival is carried during the ancient rural carnival in the small Pyrenees village of Lantz, northern Spain, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. A long-standing rural tradition in which the forces of good and evil confront each other in a symbolic battle, during which the thirst for justice stirs up public rage. From Sunday to Tuesday, during carnival week, in the little village of Lantz, the legendarily evil bandit Miel Otxin is imprisoned and sentenced to death by fire. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Hamas kills a local commander for unnamed 'violations'

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, said Sunday that it has killed one of its own commanders over unnamed "moral and behavioral violations."

Hamas said in a short Twitter statement that Mahmoud Eshtewi, a local member of the group's military wing, was killed after he confessed. It said the decision to kill Eshtewi, who was detained in January 2015, was taken by its "military and religious judiciary," a previously unheard-of department.

Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from forces loyal to the Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007. During periods of fighting against Israel, Hamas has killed dozens of Palestinians it accused of spying.

The group is not known to have killed its own members during peacetime, and the vague language used in the statement indicated Eshtewi was killed for reasons other than spying.

"We are shocked," his sister, Buthaina, screamed over the phone. "He can't be executed based on the reasons they provide."

She said Hamas officials had met the family in the morning and told them that they were considering his release. "They tricked us," she said.

Eshtewi's relatives said they had only been allowed to visit him three times during the year he was detained. They said he was not found guilty of spying, without elaborating.

Human Rights Watch said it was following Eshtewi's case "with concern" after his family told the New York-based group that he was arrested and tortured for criticizing more senior Hamas commanders.

Sari Bashi, HRW's Israel-Palestine director, said the rights group was unable to visit him, but that his family's claims were "consistent with persistent and credible reports that Hamas security forces have been arresting and torturing those who express criticism."
German police search homes of suspected extremists

BERLIN (AP)  German police on Sunday searched the homes of two men suspected of being part of an extremist organization, prosecutors said.

Federal prosecutors said that the raid took place near the western city of Mainz. The two men are "suspected of taking part in the Syrian civil war as members of a foreign terrorist organization," prosecutors' office spokesman Michael Neuhaus said in an email.

He declined to provide further details, including whether the men had been arrested, citing the ongoing investigation.

News website Spiegel Online reported that it had tracked down one of the men  a 32-year-old suspected former commander in the Islamic State group  before the raid in Sankt Johann, a town about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Mainz. The man had allegedly fought with IS in the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor before leaving via Turkey and claiming asylum in Germany.

Federal prosecutors declined to confirm those details.
AP FACT CHECK: Fumbles from the Republican field

WASHINGTON (AP)  What happened in Iowa didn't stay in Iowa. And when it reached the stage in the latest Republican presidential debate, Ted Cruz had some explaining to do.

Cruz wasn't quite square with the facts Saturday night when he explained why and how his campaign spread the false insinuation that rival Ben Carson was quitting the race after the Iowa caucuses. The episode was among a number of fumbles from the field in the intense confrontation before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

Among them:

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, answers a question during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Chris Christie misstated the U.S. policy on paying ransom to hostage-takers.

Donald Trump botched tax numbers.

In his zeal to condemn the Obama administration's immigration record, Cruz once again vastly overstated deportations under the previous two presidents.

Some of the claims and how they compare with the facts:

CRUZ on why his campaign spread inaccurate suggestions to voters on Iowa caucus night that Carson was quitting: "My political team saw CNN's report, breaking news, and forwarded that news to our volunteers."

THE FACTS: Cruz's campaign took accurate reports from CNN and twisted them to make it appear that Carson was quitting. The motive: to convince caucus-goers that support for Carson would be wasted and they should back the Texas senator instead. Even while apologizing to Carson for the tactics, Cruz tried to deflect blame.

CNN on air and in tweets said Carson, in an unusual move, planned to go home to Florida after the caucuses, instead of directly to New Hampshire to campaign for the next contest. But that information was coupled with assurances from the Carson campaign that he was not getting out of the race, but rather planning to attend the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington after Florida.

Based on that, the Cruz campaign pushed out its own story line, saying Carson would reportedly "stop" campaigning after Iowa and would be "making a big announcement next week." In addition, a key Cruz supporter, Rep. Steve King, tweeted that Carson was planning "the equivalent of suspending." Candidates who quit a primary race "suspend" their campaigns.

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TRUMP: "Right now, we're the highest taxed country in the world."

THE FACTS: Far from it. The U.S. tax burden pales in comparison with that of other industrialized countries.

Taxes made up 26 percent of the total U.S. economy in 2014, according to the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That measure looks at the entire tax burden, which is different than tax rates that can be gamed through loopholes, deductions and credits.

In Sweden, the tax burden is 42.7 percent of the economy. It's 33.6 percent in Slovenia (Trump's wife, Melania, was born in the part of Yugoslavia that became Slovenia). Britain clocks in at 32.6 percent, while Germany's burden is 36.1 percent.

Where is the tax burden lower than the United States?

South Korea, Chile and Mexico.

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CRUZ on whether waterboarding is torture: "Under the law, torture is excruciating pain that is equivalent to losing organs and systems, so under the definition of torture, it is not. It is enhanced interrogation, it is vigorous interrogation, but it does not meet the generally recognized definition of torture."

THE FACTS: One generally recognized definition, the United Nations Torture Convention, does not limit the meaning of torture to physical, disabling pain. It defines torture as "severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental," and mental anguish is at the core of waterboarding, which simulates drowning and now is banned by the U.S. Even so, there is no consensus that waterboarding, for all its severity, constitutes torture in legal terms.

The U.N. convention, for example, says suffering inflicted as part of "lawful sanctions" may not fit the definition of torture.

Cruz would not rule out restoring waterboarding as president. He said it would not be commonplace, and he would not let low-level officers do it.

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CRUZ, defending his vow to deport 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally: "I would note that in eight years Bill Clinton deported 12 million people. In eight years George Bush deported 10 million people. Enforcing the law. We can do it."

THE FACTS: Statistics from Immigration and Customs Enforcement show that roughly 1.6 million were deported under Bush, not 11 million. Under Clinton, about 870,000 immigrants were deported, not 12 million, according to the Migration Policy Institute. So far, about 2.4 million have been deported under the Obama administration.

To get the swollen figures, Cruz appears to be combining deportations with arrests made by the Border Patrol in the previous administrations, according to the institute.

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RUBIO: "Under Chris Christie's governorship of New Jersey, they've been downgraded nine times in their credit rating. This country already has a debt problem, we don't need to add to it by electing someone who has experience at running up and destroying the credit rating of his state."

CHRISTIE: "Incorrect and incomplete information."

THE FACTS: Incomplete, perhaps, but Rubio is right that the state's credit rating has been downgraded nine times since Christie took office, a reflection of concern by the major rating agencies about New Jersey's fiscal health and pension system. It did not go down nine notches, however. Each of the three major agencies downgraded the state's rating three times.

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CHRISTIE: "The president and his former secretary of state are for paying ransoms for hostages. When (you) do that, you endanger even more Americans around the world to be the subject of this type of hostage-taking and illegal detention."

THE FACTS: President Barack Obama said exactly the opposite in June, when the White House reaffirmed its opposition to paying ransom to terrorist groups that hold American citizens hostage.

The president said such payments only serve to endanger more Americans and finance "the very terrorism that we're trying to stop"  points that Christie actually echoed during the debate.

Though the new White House policy precludes ransom payments by the U.S. government, the Obama administration did leave open the door to communication with hostage-takers  whether by the government, families of victims or third-parties  and said relatives who on their own decide to pay ransom won't be threatened with prosecution.

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RUBIO on fighting the Islamic State group: "The Kurds are incredible fighters and they will liberate the Kurdish areas, but Kurds cannot and do not want to liberate and hold Sunni villages and towns."

THE FACTS: The Kurds are overwhelmingly Sunni. Rubio did not distinguish between Sunni Arabs and Sunni Kurds. The areas predominantly held by IS fighters are in Sunni Arab territory. They did infiltrate Kurdish regions in both Iraq and Syria, but it is problematic to paint this picture with a broad sectarian brush.

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Associated Press writers Jim Drinkard, Alicia A. Caldwell, Jill Colvin, Eric Tucker and Vivian Salama contributed to this report.

Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Pope Francis visit to celebrate Mexico's indigenous church

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico (AP)  Pope Francis' visit to the heavily indigenous Mexican state of Chiapas appears aimed at celebrating the region's "Indian church," a mix of Catholicism and indigenous culture once considered a thorn in the side of standard liturgy by the Vatican.

The inclusion of pine boughs and eggs, the Mayan faithful's references to "God the Father and Mother" and the use of indigenous elements in Masses long caused church officials to bristle.

Not so with history's first Latin American pope, who the Vatican said will present a decree during his Feb. 15 visit authorizing the use of indigenous languages. The Chiapas Mass itself would include readings and songs in three different indigenous languages.

In this Jan. 16, 2016 photo, Tzotzil Indians participate in the procession in honor of the Christ of Esquipulas in Chajtoj, Chiapas state, Mexico. Pope Francisi visit to the heavily indigenous Mexican state of Chiapas appears aimed at celebrating the regionis iIndian church,i a mix of Catholicism and indigenous culture once considered a thorn in the side of standard liturgy by the Vatican. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

"Within the church there have always been errors," said Felipe Arizmendi, the Bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas, the colonial city where Francis will preside over Mass. "So we recognize that many times, we have not given them (the indigenous) their place."

Francis' visit comes amid strong challenges to the church in the southern state, including huge inroads by evangelical Protestants and grinding poverty in a region rich with coffee, Mayan ruins, pine-covered hills and jungles. Chiapas has the high poverty rate in Mexico at 76.2 percent.

The challenges have always included the church's relations with indigenous communities who have struggled for centuries to maintain their traditions and independence, sometimes embracing and sometimes clashing with the hierarchy.

Religious practices in some communities encourage rampant alcohol abuse, crushing debts and autocratic local bosses known as "caciques."

"Traditional" Catholic towns often require impoverished residents to go into debt to pay for annual, alcohol-fueled festivals for the local patron saint. Most of the food, drink, flowers and fireworks for the festivals are bought from the local bosses, who sell them to residents on credit at usurious rates.

In some communities, residents have expelled or ostracized any inhabitant who converts to Protestantism, often taking their lands or possessions, or denying them access to basic services like water or electricity.

Abdias Tovilla Jaime, an evangelical pastor at Chiapas' Revived Presbyterian Church, said the tactic doesn't appear to work; only 58 percent of Chiapas residents said they were Catholic in 2010, well below the national average of 83 percent.

"It is strange, we have seen the biggest growth in evangelical Christians in Chiapas in the towns where they are persecuted," Tovilla Jaime said.

Francis' embrace of at least some of Chiapas' indigenous versions of Catholicism is consistent for a pontiff who hasn't shied away from honoring causes and clerics who once ran afoul of Vatican authorities, often for putting into practice the church's "preferential option for the poor." During his 2015 visit to Bolivia, Francis prayed at the site where a Jesuit proponent of liberation theology was tortured and killed by paramilitary squads.

In Chiapas, Francis is scheduled to visit the diocese of San Cristobal, home to two of the most famed religious defenders of indigenous people in Mexican history: Bishops Bartolome de las Casas in the 16th century and Samuel Ruiz, who died in 2011.

Both were beloved by indigenous people and widely reviled among the wealthy classes and much of the church hierarchy. Many officials accused Ruiz of acting on behalf of the Zapatista rebels in their 1994 uprising for greater indigenous rights.

Part of the liberation theology movement that swept Latin America after the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s, Ruiz tried to fend off the rapid growth of Protestant denominations by adapting to indigenous customs.

One of his controversial measures was to rely heavily on married male lay workers because local culture granted more respect to men with children than to childless, celibate men such as priests. Some in the church worried the married deacons were taking on priestly functions.

In 2002, under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican council asked the Chiapas diocese to halt deacon ordinations. But under Francis, the ordinations were renewed.

"Still today, and not just in Chiapas but in other parts of Mexico and Latin America, some people don't take into account their (indigenous) languages, their customs, their rites, they despise all that as if it were something backward, when in fact they have a great wisdom. You just have to get close to them to know it," Bishop Arizmendi said.

In this Jan. 17, 2016 photo, a Tzotzil Indian man prays in front of a religious image at the Church of San Pedro in Chenalho, Chiapas state, Mexico. The Vatican said Pope Francis will present a decree during his Feb. 15 visit authorizing the use of indigenous languages. The Chiapas Mass itself would include readings and songs in three different indigenous languages. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this Jan. 19, 2016 photo, Dominga Santiz wears a crucifix and a corn necklace in Oxchuc, Chiapas state, Mexico. Santiz a Tzeltal Indian, is one of the eight indigenous people from the southern Mexican state of Chiapas who will have lunch with Pope Francis during his Feb. 15 visit. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this Jan. 16, 2016 photo, a Tzotzil Indian prays during a Mass in honor of the Christ of Esquipulas in Chajtoj, Chiapas state, Mexico. Pope Francis Feb. 15 visit to the Mexican state of Chiapas comes amid strong challenges to the church in the southern state, including huge inroads by evangelical Protestants and grinding poverty. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this Jan. 16, 2016 photo, Tzotzil Indians attend a Mass in honor of the Christ of Esquipulas, in Chajtoj, Chiapas state, Mexico. The Vatican said Pope Francis will present a decree during his Feb. 15 visit authorizing the use of indigenous languages. The Chiapas Mass itself would include readings and songs in three different indigenous languages. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this Jan. 16, 2016 photo, a Tzotzil Indian lay woman distributes Holy Communion during a Catholic Mass in honor of the Christ of Esquipulas in Chajtoj, Chiapas state, Mexico. Pope Francis travels to Mexico Feb. 12-18, that includes a one-day visit to Chiapas, where he will celebrate Mass and lunch with indigenous people. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this Jan. 17, 2016 photo, a Tzotzil Indian man plays a violin during a Mass at the San Pedro Catholic Church, in Chenalho, Chiapas state, Mexico. Pope Francis travels to Mexico Feb. 12-18, that includes a one-day visit to Chiapas, where he will celebrate Mass and lunch with indigenous people. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Haiti's president departs to make way for interim government

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  President Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to Haiti as he departed office Sunday with no successor yet chosen because a runoff election was delayed for a second time last month amid violent protests and deep suspicions about vote rigging.

In a nearly 20-minute speech before a joint session of Parliament, Martelly said his "biggest regret is that the presidential election was postponed." Addressing the Haitian people, he said he worked as hard as he could to improve the country and was "ready to answer before the court of history."

Martelly, who took office in May 2011, is departing on what was scheduled as the first day of Port-au-Prince's annual three-day Carnival celebration. However, authorities called off Sunday's festivities because of a tense atmosphere amid the political uncertainty.

Haiti's outgoing President Michel Martelly delivers a goodbye salute to supporters before tucking into his vehicle outside the parliament building in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Martelly made his farewell address to Parliament Sunday, leaving office with no leader yet chosen to fill the void left by his departure. Lawmakers are beginning a process to patch together a short-term interim government. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Lawmakers are beginning a process to patch together a short-term interim government to smooth political divisions and fill the void left by Martelly's departure. Prime Minister Evans Paul remains in office for now, awaiting a provisional president to be chosen by Parliament in the coming days.

Haiti last created a transitional government in 2004. That interim administration, which lasted for two years, took power in the chaotic days after President Jean Bertrand-Aristide was ousted by a rebellion and a U.N. peacekeeping force came to stabilize the country.

This time, with quarrelling political factions throwing Haiti into an electoral and constitutional crisis, a last-minute deal was forged by Martelly and lawmakers less than 24 hours before his scheduled departure from office. A special mission from the 35-nation Organization of American States was in Haiti to observe last week's negotiations and help foster dialogue.

The deal announced Saturday says an interim government will rule until an elected leader can take office May 14. The twice postponed presidential and legislative runoff is rescheduled for April 24.

Martelly expressed satisfaction with the agreement, saying lawmakers "gave me a guarantee that the country is going to be stable."

He handed over his presidential sash after his address and embraced many of the 23 senators and 86 deputies in the National Assembly. The senators wore black suits and hats while the deputies wore white. Seven legislators were absent.

Senate President Jocelerme Privert said Parliament will accept nominations for a provisional president over the next five days. Legislators are expected to vote for a leader of the caretaker government a couple of days after the nomination period ends.

Some opposition lawmakers disagree with the accord reached by Martelly and legislators, but Privert said they will have to accept the majority's decision. "This is the democratic way," he said.

In a Sunday statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Haitian authorities to implement the accord "in order to ensure the democratic transfer of power to elected officials."

About 100 government supporters gathered outside Parliament wearing pink T-shirts emblazoned with the words: "I am Martelly." Pink is the color of his Tet Kale political faction. Martelly greeted his supporters and waved from a car before his convoy sped off.

It was not immediately clear what his immediate plans were. The pop star-turned-president repeatedly said he wanted to depart office singing on a Carnival float under his pop singer stage name, "Sweet Micky." But another anti-government protest by rock-throwing young men disrupted life in downtown Port-au-Prince on Sunday and some Carnival stands were destroyed.

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David McFadden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dmcfadd

Haiti's outgoing President Michel Martelly, left, returns the presidential sash to Senate leader Jocelerme Privert, after Martelly delivered his farewell speech at Parliament in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Martelly left office Sunday with no leader yet chosen to fill the void left by his departure. Lawmakers are beginning a process to patch together a short-term interim government. Pictured at right is Haiti first lady Sophia Martelly. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Haiti's President Michel Martelly stands with his wife Sophia before they leave Parliament chambers, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Martelly made his farewell address to Parliament Sunday, leaving office with no leader yet chosen to fill the void left by his departure. Lawmakers are beginning a process to patch together a short-term interim government. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

An anti-government demonstrator holds up a picture of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide as he demand the president's resignation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Top Haitian leaders negotiated an agreement to install a short-term provisional government less than 24 hours before President Michel Martelly was scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States and local authorities announced Saturday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Demonstrators try to pass a police barricade during a protest to demand the president's resignation, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Top Haitian leaders negotiated an agreement to install a short-term provisional government less than 24 hours before President Michel Martelly was scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States and local authorities announced Saturday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Demonstrator throws rocks at the police during a protest to demand the president's resignation, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Top Haitian leaders negotiated an agreement to install a short-term provisional government less than 24 hours before President Michel Martelly was scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States and local authorities announced Saturday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
Rubio fends off withering criticism from Republican rivals

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (AP)  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio tried to blunt efforts by his rivals to slow his rise in the Republican presidential contest, while on the Democratic side Hillary Clinton looked to close the gap with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire just two days before the state's pivotal first-in-the-nation primary.

Democratic and Republican candidates alike tried to lower expectations on Sunday for the second contest on the election calendar and position themselves for South Carolina and Nevada, more diverse states where voters next get their say.

On the Democratic side, polls show Sanders leading by double digits in New Hampshire, but Clinton hopes to close the gap to single digits and split the state's delegates to the national nominating convention.

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., answers a question as Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump listens during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

"I know I'm behind," Clinton said on CNN's "State of the Union." Asked if she can win, Clinton answered, "I don't know."

Clinton, a narrow winner last Monday in the leadoff Iowa caucuses, has said Sanders has a natural advantage in the northeastern state because he represents the neighboring state of Vermont in the Senate, while Sanders has pointed out that Clinton herself came back to defeat then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 New Hampshire primary.

While her husband, former President Bill Clinton, campaigned for her in New Hampshire, Clinton took a detour Sunday to visit a church in Flint, Michigan, which is under a state of emergency because the water supply is contaminated with lead from old pipes. She called the water crisis "immoral" and urged Congress to approve $200 million in emergency aid for the city whose population is predominantly black, saying that "repairing trust is as important as repairing pipes."

Among Republicans, real estate mogul Donald Trump was looking for a first win in New Hampshire after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz upset him in Iowa. Rubio was working to maintain momentum after a close third in the caucuses and rivals such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich were banking on a solid showing Tuesday to propel their campaigns forward  and avoid pressure to quit the race.

Whether or not he wins New Hampshire as the polls suggest, Trump said Sunday that his campaign will continue.

"I don't think I have to win it," Trump said on CNN of Tuesday's vote.

Bush, who entered the race last year as the presumptive front-runner but came in sixth in Iowa with 2.8 percent of the vote, insisted his campaign would continue regardless of the results in New Hampshire.

Rubio, meanwhile, stuck to the talking points on Sunday that drew criticism during his uneven performance in Saturday night's Republican presidential debate. Christie, in particular, pilloried Florida's junior senator. Rubio repeatedly answered questions Saturday and Sunday by saying President Barack Obama is intentionally trying to change the country to suit an agenda.

"It's what I believe," Rubio said on ABC's "This Week." ''It's what I'm going to continue to say, because it happens to be one of the main reasons why I am running."

Rubio's uneven debate performance could hurt his bid to emerge as an alternative to Trump and Cruz. Rubio has sought to appeal both to mainstream Republicans and those eager to upend the status quo. But his rivals, particularly Christie, have been blistering in their criticism of what they see as his slim qualifications to serve as commander in chief.

"You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable," Christie said.

Christie accused Rubio of being a candidate governed by talking points  then pounced when the senator played into his hands by repeating multiple times what appeared to be a planned response to criticisms about his qualifications.

Cruz drew heavily on the support of evangelical voters for his victory in Iowa. But he's faced criticism for messages his campaign sent to voters ahead of the caucuses saying rival Ben Carson  another favorite of religious social conservatives  was dropping out of the race and urging the retired neurosurgeon's supporters to back him instead.

Cruz apologized for his campaign's actions Saturday, but not before Carson jabbed him for having "Washington ethics."

Those ethics, he said, "say if it's legal, you do what you do to win."

Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses. He sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign, including blocking Muslims from coming to the U.S. and deporting all people in the country illegally, all while maintaining he has the temperament to serve as president.

Kasich, who has staked his White House hopes on New Hampshire, offered a more moderate view on immigration, saying if elected president, he would introduce legislation that would provide a pathway to legalizing immigration status, though not citizenship, within his first 100 days in office.

The debate began shortly after North Korea defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

Asked how he would respond to North Korea's provocations, Bush said he would authorize a pre-emptive strike against such rockets if it was necessary to keep America safe. Trump said he'd rely on China to "quickly and surgically" handle North Korea.

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Associated Press writer Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
Sheriff: Texas teen kills mom, 2 neighbors, then himself

McALLEN, Texas (AP)  A 19-year-old killed his mother and two neighbors before turning his gun on himself in a shooting that brought SWAT and various emergency vehicles to a rural area in Texas, authorities said Sunday.

Uvalde County Sheriff Charlie Mendeke said Dylan Westerburg gunned down his mother Friday afternoon in their home near Uvalde, about 85 miles west of San Antonio. He then went next door and killed two brothers, Arthur and Phinny Norton, Mendeke said.

Mendeke said investigators haven't determined a clear motive for the shootings. Westerburg lived with his mother in a small cabin about 20 yards from the Nortons' mobile home on the brothers' property.

In this Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 photo, Uvalde County Sheriffs Deputies talk with an individual while guarding the intersection to a neighborhood several miles outside of Uvalde after a standoff resulted in multiple deaths. The incident started on Friday. (Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News via AP) RUMBO DE SAN ANTONIO OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT

Phinny Norton, 60, had some "sort of romantic relationship" with Westerburg's mother, 42-year-old Jennifer Diane Jacques, Mendeke said. Deputies had been called out to the property in the past because of domestic disputes but "nothing violent," Mendeke said.

Authorities arrived at the scene after a teenage witness called them. The teenage boy was with Arthur Norton, 58, when they saw shotgun shells and broken glass as they approached the Nortons' mobile home, Mendeke said.

"Mr. Norton enters the house," Mendeke said. "The kid who was with him hears and sees a gun blast and sees Mr. Norton fall to the floor" before running to call authorities.

When officers arrived they heard another gunshot. Not knowing whether there were multiple gunmen or whether the gunman was dead, authorities surrounded the homes and began evacuating people nearby.

It was during that search that they found Jacques' body. The family's dog had also been killed.

Mendeke said he called in about 50 to 60 officers from different agencies as well as a Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT team out of caution. Authorities closed the road leading to the property and they stayed there overnight.

"I didn't know how many shooters I had in the Norton residence when I found the mother," he said. "You're looking at farm- and ranchland. You could get into a dangerous situation."

The SWAT team finally entered the Nortons' mobile home on Saturday afternoon and found the Norton brothers and Westerburg dead inside. Mendeke said Westerburg had shot himself in the head.

In this Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 photo, a SWAT-style vehicle passes along Pearsall Road in Uvalde, Texas. Uvalde County Sheriff Charlie Mendeke said Sunday, Feb. 7, that 19-year-old Dylan Westerburg gunned down his mother Friday in their home near Uvalde, about 85 miles west of San Antonio. He then went and killed two brothers who lived next door. (Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News via AP) RUMBO DE SAN ANTONIO OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
David Cameron asked to address plight of Syria's orphaned refugees

David Cameron has come under fresh pressure to allow 3,000 orphaned Syrian refugees in Europe to come to the UK.

The Prime Minister has a "moral duty" to accept the unaccompanied children, with families and councils waiting with "open arms" to welcome them, Liberal Democrat peers said.

Mr Cameron has insisted that Britain should concentrate on re-settling orphans from the camps in the region rather than those who had made the crossing to Europe.

David Cameron pictured at the Supporting Syria And The Region conference

In their letter the peers, including former Lib Dem leaders Lord Ashdown and Lord Campbell, told the Prime Minister: "We welcome the Government's latest announcement that it will give 10 million additional funding to help European efforts to handle the refugee crisis and strengthening family reunion; however, we strongly believe that the British Government must do more and take its fair share of the most vulnerable refugees.

"Many will have made the treacherous journey alone whilst others will have lost family and loved ones on the way."

They highlighted Europol figures suggesting more than 10,000 children have vanished since arriving in Europe and could now be in the clutches of criminal gangs "subject to sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking".

The peers wrote: "We urge the Government to reconsider its offer and open the United Kingdom to 3,000 unaccompanied children. This requires political will and bravery but amounts to only five children per parliamentary constituency, an amount a country as economically prosperous and generous as Britain can easily manage.

"There are families, councils, individuals and organisations in the United Kingdom waiting with open arms to welcome these children."

The letter was organised by Lord Roberts of Llandudno who said: " It is outrageous that David Cameron does not step in to properly protect these children. Instead he offers a shadow of what he should which leaves children suffering and dying across the European continent.

"There are calls for him to do more in the Commons and there are calls for him to do more in the Lords.
4.2 billion investment to bring the NHS into the digital age

Jeremy Hunt is to announce a 4.2 billion investment to bring the NHS into the digital age.

The Health Secretary will detail how the drive towards a "paperless" NHS will make services more convenient, help clinicians provide faster diagnoses and lead to more time spent caring for patients.

The cash injection is also expected to play a huge part in helping the NHS save 22 billion by reducing waste and increasing productivity.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will detail how the drive towards a "paperless" NHS will make services more convenient

Full details of the funding are being agreed between the Department of Health and NHS England, but are expected to include 1.8 billion to create a paper-free NHS and remove outdated technology like fax machines, 1 billion on cyber security and data consent, and 750 million to transform out-of-hospital care, medicines, and digitalise social, urgent and emergency care.

Meanwhile, around 400 million will enable the NHS to build a new website, NHS.uk, develop apps and provide free wi-fi.

Mr Hunt said: "The NHS has the opportunity to become a world leader in introducing new technology - which means better patient outcomes and a revolution in healthcare at home.

"On the back of a strong economy, and because of our belief in the NHS and its values, we are investing more than 4 billion across the health system to ease pressure on the frontline and create stronger partnerships between doctor and patient."

The funding will allow patients to book services and order prescriptions online, access apps and digital tools and choose to speak to their doctor online or via video-link.

Everyone will have access to their own electronic health record, which will be shared between professionals to prevent patients from having to repeat their medical history.

Patients will also be given the opportunity to upload and send real-time data to medical professionals on long-term conditions such as blood pressure.

By 2020, it is hoped that 25% of all patients with long term conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer will be able to monitor their health remotely.

Andy Williams, chief executive of the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) said: "Over the next few years HSCIC will be focusing on delivering technological solutions that enable better care and that free up time and resources to allow frontline workers to focus on their patients.

"We are committed to enabling patients to be involved with their care and to have secure access to their medical records, allowing them to take control of their own health and to work in partnership with care providers."

The Government is planning to roll out free wi-fi in all NHS buildings and is developing a new click and collect service for prescriptions.

It aims to have at least 10% of patients accessing GP services online and through apps by March 2017, and rivals Google, Apple and Microsoft will team up with the NHS to ensure the apps are fully supported across mobile platforms.

Examples of NHS-accredited apps include one developed by young people to help prevent self-harm, and another that can help care home workers identify the early signs of dementia among residents.

Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes- said: "This investment has huge potential to help our health and social care system deliver care that is tailored to the individual.

"With two thirds of people with dementia living in the community, health technology as part of a comprehensive care package can be invaluable in helping people to remain independent and in their own homes for as long as possible."

Shadow health minister Justin Madders said: "Any investment in technology is welcome but it's unclear how much, if any, of this money is actually new.

"Rather than re-hashing old announcements, Jeremy Hunt needs to be telling the public how he intends to sort out the crisis facing our NHS.

"The Tories cannot hide from the fact that the NHS is going backwards on their watch. Hospital departments have become dangerously full, patients are waiting hours in A&E, and the health service is facing the worst financial crisis in a generation."
Oscars diversity row may provide drama at Evening Standard film awards

There may be awkward scenes at the Evening Standard British Film Awards later - should Idris Elba and Charlotte Rampling find themselves sharing a stage.

The pair have been nominated for leading role gongs at the ceremony and both have taken strikingly different stances in the diversity row sparked by this year's Oscars.

Rampling, who is up for best actress for her performance in 45 Years, sparked controversy when she told a French radio station that criticism of the Academy was "racist to white people" - words she later claimed had been misinterpreted.

Beasts Of No Nation star Idris Elba is nominated in the best actor category

Her comments came after a number of Hollywood stars led by Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith declared a boycott of the Academy Awards later this month.

Elba, who is nominated for best actor for boy soldier drama Beasts Of No Nation, has held back from publicly speaking at length about the row.

However he quipped "welcome to diverse TV" at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, whose nominees included a number of stars of colour, and the actor collected awards for his roles in the gritty war film and BBC drama Luther.

When he joins the great and good of British and Irish cinema at BBC Television Centre he will have to fight off stiff competition in the best actor category from stars including Michael Fassbender for his performance as Apple founder Steve Jobs, Mad Max: Fury Road star Tom Hardy and Rampling's co-star Sir Tom Courtenay.

The actress is nominated in the leading woman category alongside Dame Maggie Smith for The Lady In The Van, Tilda Swinton for A Bigger Splash and Kate Winslet for her perforamcne alongside Fassbender.

In the best film category 45 Years is tipped again, alongside Brooklyn, High-Rise and Olivia Coleman's film The Lobster, which is also nominated for best comedy.

Coleman and co-star Colin Farrell go head-to-head in the comedy category with Emma Thompson for her performance in The Legend Of Barney Thomson and the team behind Shakespeare film Bill - Richard Bracewell, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond.

Game Of Thrones actress Maisie Williams is nominated for the rising star award in recognition of her performance in The Falling alongside Tom Browne, the 48-year-old director of Radiator, model-turned actress Agyness Deyn and X+Y actor Jake Davies.
Construction firms urge George Osborne to support third Heathrow runway

Thirteen of Britain's largest construction and development firms have written to George Osborne urging him to live up to his declaration that "we are the builders" by supporting the building of a third runway at Heathrow.

The letter to the Chancellor stated that the west London airport has provided a "steady base of work" during the economic downturn and expansion would bring " a 15.6 billion order book to the UK supply chain".

It also noted last year's report by respected international economic thinktank the OECD which found that the UK has historically underspent on infrastructure, partially due to "long decision-making processes".

The Davies Commission recommended a third runway should be built at Heathrow

The signatories, including the bosses of Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Laing O'Rourke and BAM Nuttall, wrote: " At the Conservative conference in 2015 you announced 'we are the builders'.

"We congratulate you on your vision to build the important infrastructure the country needs and make the hard decisions. We represent some of the largest developers and construction companies in the UK. We applaud your ambition and stand ready to help you deliver it.

"We are writing to encourage your support for Heathrow expansion."

They added: "Let us help you build a better Britain by expanding Heathrow."

The Davies Commission recommended last July that a third runway should be built at Heathrow, at a cost of 18.6 billion.

But in December ministers postponed a final decision until at least the summer pending new analysis of the environmental impacts.
Double decker bus explodes in heart of London - for new action film

A double decker bus dramatically explodes in the heart of London - but it is all for a movie.

Londoners were left confused as they saw the bus go up in flames as it drove along Lambeth Bridge in central London on Sunday.

A spokesman for the Port of London Authority confirmed it was a stunt for a film and that the bridge was closed off.

A double decker bus explodes in the heart of London but it all for the sake of cinematic art

But the scene took some by surprise.

Author Sophie Kinsella wrote on Twitter: "Hey film types, next time you blow up a bus on Lambeth Bridge maybe tell us first so children in park aren't freaked?"

Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston posted a video of the explosion on Twitter with the message: "Anyone worried about the exploding bus on Lambeth Bridge just now? It was just for a movie."

The controlled explosion was shot for a scene in new action flick The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan.

In a notice warning residents about it, film producers described the film as a "gritty action thriller". It is directed by Martin Campbell, who was behind James Bond films Casino Royale and GoldenEye.

The notice, posted on Twitter, stated: "The explosion is controlled and operated by our special effects team."

It added: "Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of the people in the area."

The controlled explosion was shot for a scene in new action flick The Foreigner

The film stars Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan

The bus went up in flames as it drove along Lambeth Bridge in central London
Haiti leaders agree to interim government amid protests

By Joseph Guyler Delva

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Haitian leaders have agreed to install a caretaker government to take over from President Michel Martelly when he leaves power this weekend without an elected successor, a move that failed to calm protesters who clashed with police again on Saturday.

The agreement was reached less than 24 hours before Martelly steps down. Under the deal parliament will elect an interim president for a four-month term.

The temporary president, expected to be chosen in the next few days, will be committed to holding delayed presidential elections by April 24 and handing power to the winner the following month.

A presidential runoff due to be held last month was scrapped after opposition candidate Jude Celestin threatened to boycott the vote over allegations of fraud in the first round, and protesters took to the streets in force.

Port-au-Prince has seen almost daily protests by both opposition and government supporters since January, culminating in the lynching of a former soldier during a march on Friday.

The agreement did not placate all sectors of the opposition. During the signing in an annex of the presidential palace that survived a devastating earthquake six years ago, small groups of anti-government protesters clashed outside with riot police who used a water canon and tear gas to disperse them.

"Despite this agreement, we will need to continue to remain vigilant because there are people who won't agree," Martelly said at an event with foreign diplomats at the palace.

"Every time they exercise violence Haiti makes one step backward," Martelly said of the protesters.

Any caretaker government will have to overcome deep disagreements about how the election should be organised and which candidates can participate, since many opposition politicians are convinced the first round vote was riddled with fraud that favored ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise.

The government denies the allegations.

A senior adviser to Celestin, Gerald Germain, told Reuters his camp had yet to study the agreement in depth and would make its position known later.

Martelly's own election five years ago was seen by many in the opposition as being facilitated by foreign pressure. His departure from office coincides with the 30th anniversary of dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier's flight from the country.

Instead of stable democracy, the years since the end of the Duvalier family's 29-year regime on Feb. 7, 1986 have been marked by frequent coups and transitional governments.

The impoverished country has had a chequered experience with caretaker governments, which in the past have lingered longer than expected.

When Haiti was left without an elected president after Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced from power in 2004, it took the transitional administration two years to organize elections.

The failure to organize clean elections before Martelly's term ended means Haiti is again left bitterly divided and beset by unrest.

Sandra Honore, who heads the United Nations peacekeeping mission that has been in Haiti since Aristide's ouster, called on all sides to support the agreement.

The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Peter Mulrean, said the United States was fully supportive of the new election calendar and called for protesters to eschew violence.

"The streets should not be deciding what happens next, elections should be deciding, and this agreement will allow the elections to go forward," he said.
Ex-Anglo Irish CEO says will waive extradition to Ireland if granted bail - report

DUBLIN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The former head of Anglo Irish Bank will not fight being sent back to his native Ireland from the United States to face criminal charges related to the bank's collapse if he is granted bail upon his return, he was quoted as saying on Sunday.

David Drumm has been in custody since he was arrested at his Massachusetts home on Oct. 10 after Irish officials asked that he be extradited to face a 33-count criminal indictment related to the collapse of the failed bank.

Anglo Irish Bank was nationalised in early 2009 in a takeover that cost Ireland some 30 billion euros ($33 billion).

"I have instructed my U.S. attorneys last week to explore all opportunities with the US and Irish authorities to expedite a return to Ireland," Drumm was quoted as saying in the Irish weekly Sunday Business Post, adding that he hoped to apply to a Boston court on Monday to achieve this.

"I have given clear instructions that all rights to challenge the extradition in the US should be waived and no other options available to me should be pursued in order to facilitate an immediate return to Ireland."

Drumm faces charges in Ireland related to fraudulent loans the bank made in 2008 intended to help prop up its share prices, which was falling sharply during the global crisis, according to papers unsealed in Boston in October.

The charges include forgery, conspiracy and false accounting. Drumm, who moved to Boston after the bank was nationalised seven years ago, has denied any wrongdoing.

He is due to face the extradition charges on March 1. He unsuccessfully pleaded for his release on bail last year, saying he was not a flight risk.

Drumm told the newspaper he was asking Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to oppose bail if he returned so he could work and participate fully in his defence.

"I understand that the DPP will not agree to our request, and will oppose bail. Although this is a disappointment and very perplexing, it does not diminish my desire to return to Ireland," Drumm said.
UK PM Cameron rebuked by party members for ignoring their views on EU

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron is facing a revolt from among his Conservatives for encouraging lawmakers to ignore their local party's views on an upcoming European Union membership referendum.

Cameron has said he will back staying in the EU if a draft deal on Britain's future relationship published this week is agreed by other EU leaders, but many in his party, which is deeply divided over Europe, do not plan to back his position.

Earlier this week Cameron told parliament that lawmakers should not decide which side to campaign for based on what their local party group might say, instead telling them to do what they think "is right for Britain".

The comments have provoked an angry response from party members, who said they had undermined the goodwill Cameron had gained from promising the referendum in the first place.

"We urge the prime minister to refrain from showing any disrespect to the loyal servants who helped him win a majority government," representatives of more than 40 local party associations wrote in a letter to the Sunday Telegraph.

"It is deeply regrettable that the prime minister dismisses the very people who helped secure his victory, and he should remember that no prime minister has a divine right to rule."

A survey of 144 of the Conservative's 330 lawmakers conducted by the Sunday Times newspaper found 57 percent of those who had made up their mind planned to campaign to leave the bloc.

Cameron, who promised the membership vote in part due to pressure from eurosceptic members of his party, hopes it will help settle the long-running splits within the Conservatives over Europe.

The internal rifts over Britain's involvement in the European Union have dogged the party for decades and contributed to the downfall of two previous Conservative prime ministers, Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
Sudanese migrant stabs Israeli soldier, is shot dead - police

JERUSALEM, Feb 7 (Reuters) - A Sudanese migrant stabbed and wounded a soldier in Israel on Sunday and was shot dead, police said, adding the suspect appeared to have lashed out in solidarity with the Palestinians.

If that motive is confirmed, it would be the first such attack by a foreigner during a four-month-old surge of Palestinian street violence fuelled in part by Muslim anger at perceived Jewish encroachment on a contested Jerusalem shrine.

Thousands of Sudanese have entered Israel illegally through neighbouring Egypt in recent years, some seeking work and others asylum. Israel's efforts to repatriate them have been hampered by the fact it has no ties with Sudan, a Muslim country.

In Sunday's incident in the southern city of Ashkelon, the suspect stabbed and lightly wounded a soldier at a bus station and fled, pursued by another soldier who shot him, police said.

"The behaviour, the location, the flight, the targeting of a soldier - all of these add up to a nationalistic attack," Ashkelon police chief Shimon Portal told reporters, using a term Israelis often apply to Palestinian violence.

He said there was no indication of an event that might have precipitated the knife attack. Before he died, the wounded suspect "mumbled a few unclear statements in Arabic but otherwise did not say a word," Portal said.

A police spokeswoman said efforts to identify the suspect "thus far" had determined he was Sudanese. She did not elaborate on what he had been doing in Israel.
Air strike kills mother and child in Libya's Derna - witness

BENGHAZI, Libya, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Unidentified aircraft attacked the Libyan city of Derna early on Sunday, killing at least four people including a woman and her child, a witness said.

The strike in the coastal city's Hay Bab Tubrok area damaged a medical facility, a mosque and nearby homes, Nabaa television reported, showing images of a crater in a road and smashed vehicles.

No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Libya is caught in a conflict between two rival factions backed by armed factions on the ground. A U.N.-backed unity government is trying to bring the factions together.
Several dual citizens in Iran face espionage charges - official

DUBAI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - There are several detained dual citizens in Iran, most of whom face espionage charges, the judiciary spokesman was quoted as saying on Sunday, although he did not give details of any individual cases.

The comments come after an Iranian-British former BBC journalist, Bahman Daroshafaei, was detained last week in Tehran. His family said on Saturday they had not been informed of any charges against him.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in London on Thursday that he did not know about the case.

Tehran released four Iranian-Americans on Jan. 16 in a prisoner swap deal with Washington, including Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's Tehran bureau chief who was arrested in July 2014 and accused of espionage.

"We have several dual citizens in jail. Their charges are mostly the same (as Rezaian's)," the judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.

Ejei said that no verdict had been reached on Rezaian's espionage charges.

"It is still important to know what he and those related to him were doing in Iran. So their case is still open."

The prisoner swap was announced as world powers, including the United States, implemented a landmark nuclear deal with Iran. In exchange for the release of five Americans from Iran, the White House offered clemency to seven Iranians who were convicted or facing trial in the United States.

Another Iranian-British citizen, Kamal Foroughi, remains in detention after being arrested in 2011 while working in Tehran as a business consultant.

Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi, who was detained by Iranian authorities in October while visiting relatives, is still in jail.
France's Picamoles sidelined with hamstring injury

PARIS, Feb 7 (Reuters) - France number eight Louis Picamoles's Six Nations campaign is in doubt after he siffered a torn hamstring during their 23-21 win against visitors Italy on Saturday.

Picamoles limped off after less than 20 minutes and the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Sunday that he would be "out for the next France games", without elaborating.

"He must rest for a few weeks," the FFR statement added.
India may be the only place on earth where a proudly anti-racist intellectual elite decides to fight racism with  more racism.

The mob attack on a Tanzanian student who stumbled into a fatal car accident scene in the outskirts of Bangalore has rightly raised concerns about the many acts of harassment and even violence that have taken place against Africans in India, mostly in Delhi, and now in Bangalore.

Concerns have also been raised in recent reports about the harassment often faced by Indians from north-east India in some parts of the country - in Delhi once again, and in Bangalore.

There have also been several acts of regional, linguistic, casteist, or religious harassment and violence between various communities in India over the years. We remember some riots and displacements, we dont really talk so much, in the mainstream media at least, about others.

We have had freedom movements where whole communities were driven out of their ancestral homeland, and our intellectual elite said these communities were non-elites, and therefore, perhaps, it was okay for them to be treated that way.

We have had nativisms where politicians openly promise to destroy settlers who might have come from as near as two or three districts away, or even fellow local-borns whose parents or grandparents came from two or three districts away, and our intellectual elites said it was not just okay, but even progressive.

After all, some of the members of the said settler groups had indeed been guilty of mocking the local population for the way they spoke their (shared) language. All of this happens, and has happened. India has every kind of identity squared off against each other in every inch of land. Some bear long and deep historical burdens, and others dont. Some breed rancour, and some only a stoic indifference.

And yet, for all of its complexity, diversity, and history of grievances, real, exaggerated, or imagined; one billion Indians do not kill or even hurt each other merely because of having encountered a shade of skin different from theirs.

In many parts of India, especially the cities, difference and diversity are existential realities for every single inhabitant. An Indian sees and hears more diversity in an hour than some other people in a whole lifetime perhaps.

We do not operate through race, and we are not racist in the sense of the Western experience of the word. We have serious and systemic problems in terms of class, caste and gender, and we still face a need for self-examination, critique, and change.

But we are not what the strange fantasy borrowed by some Indians now from the minds of far-out scholars in far away lands and times has made us out to be. This may really be news for the anxious commentators throwing every high concept they have at this tragedy, like the proverbial ambulance chasers of America: Indians are not Europeans.

We are not whites. We did not colonise, enslave, torture, lynch, imprison and execute people on the grounds that they are not white.

And no, Hinduism is not a European racial supremacist religion invented to justify colonisation of people because they looked different either. And yet, the whole discourse about Indian racism we have seen in the last few days seems to rely heavily on a pseudo-scientific 19th century racial colonisers myth of the Aryan Invasion Theory.

We have been told that Indian racism, of the sort that a few African victims have faced in India, goes back to the Vedic age.

We have been told that there is some sort of a Indo-European versus non-Indo-European faultline in India, where almost everyone to me seems some shade of Indian and no more, and almost everyone I know hasnt had anything like the privilege level (or culpability) of the European colonisers power over the world.

And as if the race bogey wasnt enough, we have also been told that Hindu iconography portrays and depicts almost all of the Hindu pantheon as fair and that almost all the deities are white - leading thereby to the deep racism and sexism of the Indian male.

And we were told, in several headlines and reports, that the unfortunate student had been stripped and paraded naked when her own account states that her clothes were torn in the assault. There is no excusing the crime, but we cannot ignore the vastly different implications of the inaccurate headline either.

Does the paraded naked exaggeration not invoke a ceremonial or ritualistic humiliation, as if it were some sort of a cultural or religious ideology at work here?

Is this how desperate the media is to smear India, Hinduism and Hindus as a whole group for this crime?

White Hindu deities.

Indo-Europeans.

Really?

And why does the same discourse that condemns the whole of Indian culture as racist not pause to consider that some of the same so-called racist Indians in the crowd also tried to speak up for her, according to her account? India has its faults, and what Africans and others face are part of them.

The tragedy in Bangalore was clearly one that involved many reasons: a fatal accident, tensions of class, nationality, and indeed colour, and most of all, the growing power of the mob in India and the seeming inability of the government to provide security.

As Indians, we must ask her forgiveness for what happened to her in our country. And we must also learn our lessons.
One of the largest events of its kind, Big Bird Day, is all set to kick off on Sunday. And city teams are excited. In fact, it was a team from Hyderabad that won the event, last year.

So, whats Big Bird Day? Started in 2004, in Delhi, BBD is a day-long search by photographers to both shoot and catalogue various species of birds in and around their cities.

Over 100 teams across the country are expected to participate in this years event and Hyderabad Birding Pals  2015 winners  are confident of winning again, and are hoping to spot and catalogue over 250 species this time around.

variety: Last year, close to 700 new species of birds were spotted across India during Big Bird Day, including these which were spotted in Hyderabad

The data collected goes into the India chapter of open-for-all portal ebird.org  ebirdindia. Last year, over 700 birds from across the country were added to the online catalogue.

Rajeev Khandelwal, a member of the group says, We have a checklist in place and wish to identify more species this year. We have added another team and have a total of six teams now  each named after a bird  who will be scouting and scanning for birds at six different hotspots across the city, the entire day.

variety: Last year, close to 700 new species of birds were spotted across India during Big Bird Day, including these which were spotted in Hyderabad

The areas we will be scouting will include Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, Icrisat campus, Narsapur forest, Ameenpur Lake and Ananthagiri Hills.

Although its great to win this competition, the fact that it helps document the migrating patterns of birds as well as help identify new species in the city is a major driving force.

He adds, If all teams from all over the subcontinent watch birds at multiple locations on the same day, the data becomes very valuable for measuring actual bird diversity of the region. It can form a rich database, especially if accumulated over several seasons or years.

Long-time bird lover and member of the group Mulagala Srinivas feels they might be in for some surprises this time.

variety: Last year, close to 700 new species of birds were spotted across India during Big Bird Day, including these which were spotted in Hyderabad

He says, With the climatic conditions changing so drastically owing to global warming, the migrating patterns of these birds have also changed. So, we wouldnt be surprised if we see new species.
PM Narendra Modi, accompanied by AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, goes around the stalls at the IFR Village, set up as part of IFR-16, in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.(Photo  DC)

Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the demonstrations at Maritime Exhibition and the IFR Village at AU Engineering College Ground here on Saturday.

The expo was restricted to the public and even media for nearly three hours, in view of the PMs visit. He spent more than an hour going around the stalls and witnessing demonstrations at the IFR Village.

Firstly, he visited the thematic light and sound show depicting the roles of Indian Navy, both in war and peace time, and then went through the handicraft and handloom stalls at the IFR Village, according to sources.

He also visited the Maritime Exhibition, which is based on indigenisation and innovation concept, and which exhibited the self-reliance of the Indian Navy. The people showcasing their products said the PM was happy over the arrangements at the expo.

Acchese banao or bechte jao (make your products properly and keep selling). Though he did not speak much with anyone, he was happy seeing our products, said an ecstatic handloom stall owner from Uttar Pradesh, Radhey Shyam.

An artist, Satish Mahanti, presented an egg sculpture to the prime minister featuring the latters image.

A large number of people gathered at the AU Engineering College Road to catch a glimpse of the PM. The police found it tough to manage the crowd.

There was tight security around the venue and all the roads leading to it.as per the security protocol.

Many people were ready with their cameras and mobile phones to ensure a photo of the prime minister. The crowd shouted waving their hands at Mr Modi when he left the venue in a Range Rover.

Modi sips Araku coffee at IFR village

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sipped Araku coffee at a stall set up by the Girijan Cooperative Corpora-tion at the IFR Village.

Appreciating its taste, he also enquired about the projects taken up by the corporation.

He liked the rich aroma of the organic coffee grown by tribals in the Araku valley and wanted to know more about the coffee from Chief Minister N. Chan-drababu Naidu, who accompanied him to the stalls at Maritime Exhibition.

Minister for tribal welfare Ravela Kishore Babu handed over the cup of coffee to the PM. The coffee is grown by over 1 lakh tribal families. Soon as the news spread, many visitors also wanted to sip the Araku coffee.
Indian women hold placards during a protest against the alleged molestation of a Tanzanian girl, in Bangalore. (Photo: AP)

Hyderabad: Ibi Dola, 27, the MBA student from Nigeria, alleged that 30 locals had attacked him on Thursday night, but only two had been held.

On Saturday, scores of Nigerian students protested the attack in the city and the assault on the Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru earlier in the week, at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park.

We came here to study and make our future better, but we are labelled drug peddlers and criminals. If anyone of us is found guilty, we will cooperate with the police, we are ready for any legal action. said one of the students at the protest.

Many a time, the police treat us differently and do not respond properly, said another student at Dharna Chowk.

Earlier in the day, police increased security at Paramount Colony at Tolichowki, Mr Dola was attacked, and intensified patrolling in the area.

Police also started an initiative to interact with Nigerians and other nationals residing in the area, to avoid a repeat of Thursdays incidents.

Police denied allegations that Mr Dola had been threatened with a knife and a shotgun during Thursdays attack.

After inquiry, we arrested two youths. But we did not find a shotgun or a knife, said Banjara Hills inspector P. Murali Krishna.

Sohaib and Faisal, who were arrested on Friday for attacking Mr Dola, alleged that they were also attacked by the Nigerians.
The Tanzanian High Commissioner to India, John W.H. Kijazi, on Saturday reviewed the incident that occurred on January 31 night with the Tanzanian students, including the victims, at Acharya College.

Bengaluru: The Tanzanian High Commissioner to India, John W.H. Kijazi, on Saturday reviewed the incident that occurred on January 31 night with the Tanzanian students, including the victims, at Acharya College.

Mr Kijazi met the 21-year-old girl victim in private and discussed the incident, and later with the other three student victims.

The meeting went on for around half-an-half hour and Mr Kijazi assured the students that their safety and security concerns in the city had been addressed. He asserted that the students make peace with the local communities and to coexist with them abiding by the laws of the land.

The students shared their experiences with the High Commissioner on the animosity between the local residents and the African community in the city. They told him that African students in East Bengaluru were being treated better, but not Hesaraghatta.

Mr Kijazi told the students to behave well with locals, respect their leadership.

He said he was very sorry for us, and the government has decided to give us full security. He asked us if we liked to continue with our studies and we said yes, said a student who did not want to disclose his name as the High Commissioner had asked them not to talk to the media.
A hole is seen in a plane operated by Daallo Airlines as it sits on the runway of the airport in Mogadishu, Somalia. (Photo: AP)

Mogadishu: A blast that punched a hole in the fuselage of a plane this week was caused by a bomb meant to kill everyone on board, Somalias minister for transport and aviation said on Saturday.

One passenger died and two were injured in the explosion on the Airbus A321, operated by Somali company Daallo Airlines. It was forced to make an emergency landing at Mogadishu airport on Tuesday.

United States investigators believe the attack was carried out by Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab, but there has been no comment from the organisation.

We have confirmed that it was a bomb that exploded in the Daallo Airlines flight. It was meant to kill all aboard, the minister, Ali Ahmed Jamac, told a news conference.

He said authorities were pursuing suspects, without going into further detail.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Esmeralda Labye, the Belgian journalist was groped by three men amid tight security by police. (Photo: YouTube Video Grab)

Cologne: A journalist working with RTBF Television Network was groped and abused by men while she reporting live. The journalist was in the city for covering live updates on the Cologne carnival that takes place every year.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Esmeralda Labye, the Belgian journalist was groped by three men amid tight security. More than 2000 police officials had been deployed in the city following the multiple sexual assaults on women during the New Year's eve.

Though the New Year's assaults on women were blamed on migrants of North African and Arab origin, the attack on Labye was carried out by Germans.

Labye was unaware of the men standing behind her and making obscene gestures as she reported live from the carnival. The incident took place in the Alter Market district of Cologne as she went on air for Radio Television Belge de la Communaute Francaise.

In an interview with MailOnline, Labye said that most of men in the carnival were drunk. Even someone who has flu could smell the alcoholic fumes around the place.

'While reporting live, I got a kiss on the back of the neck,' said Labye. Since it was Women's Day in Cologne, Labye did not bother much and continued with the report.

Soon after, a young man whispered in my ears, 'Would you like to sleep with me tonight,' said Labye adding 'I could feel two hands rest on my shoulders.'

Later when Labye saw the footage, she realised that the men standing behind her made obscene gestures. The men were mimicking sexual intercourse, even though there were a lot of police officials around.

The broadcast lasted for about 90 seconds, after which Labye had to wait for a couple of seconds to allow those in the Television office's studio to thank her, before she went off air.

'That was the time when I could feel one of the men touching my breasts,' revealed Labye.

"I lost my temper. knowing that I was not live, I angrily turned back and told them: You did that twice, not once! Dont touch me, dont touch me." Although the men were too drunk to understand why Labye was angry, they quietly left the place, added Labye.

Police officials said that nothing serious happened during the day. Labye told him that she was assaulted and had sufficient evidence to file a criminal complaint.

The police are investigating the matter and are on the lookout for the men. About 22 sexual abuse complaints were filed on the first day of the carnival. Cologne has long been in the news for sex assaults on women during the New Year's eve, followed by the resignation of police chief.

Watch the video here:
The sensitive state of Arunachal Pradesh on the India-China border has once again

witnessed political crisis, following a rebellion against the Congress chief minister leading to imposition of Presidents Rule amid controversial decisions by the governor. But the crisis is on  the Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions, while some of the MLAs who crossed over have indicated they will come back to the Congress fold.



The political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh has caught the nations attention for about two months now, and more after a series of high-pitched political drama.From the Special Assembly session in community halls and banquet halls to sacrificing Mithun, a local bison, at the gates of Raj Bhawan in capital Itanagar, the crisis had all the ingredients of a sensational story.



A series of petitions before the Gauhati High Court and later the Supreme Court turned the issue into a complex legal battle, and the climax was perhaps the imposition of Presidents Rule. But observers believe the anti-climax is yet to arrive.



The roots of the two-month old conflict dates back to 2014 when the Congress won the Assembly polls convincingly under the leadership of Nabam Tuki, the former chief minister. So mighty was the Congress that they won 11 seats in the 60-member Assembly unopposed, and won a total of 42 seats. The BJP also made inroads, winning 11 seats, while two independents, too, managed to win. The regional party, the Peoples Party of Arunachal, managed to win five seats, only to later defect to the Congress, taking its tally to 47.



Right after government formation, Tuki was a bit unstable. To being with, he started sidelining some of the senior members of his Cabinet like Chowna Mein and Kalikho Pul. Discontentment against Tuki and his way of functioning had been brewing within the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh for a long time.



But the recent political impasse has risen from the decisions taken by Governor J P Rajkhowa, now being examined by a five-member Constitution bench of the Supreme Court.



It all began on December 9 when Rajkhowa, a former chief secretary of Assam, sent a one-page note to the Assembly under Article 175 (2) of the Constitution, asking for advancing the session to December 16 from January 14, 2016. In that note, the governor had also ordered that a resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia shall be the first item on the agenda of the House and the Deputy Speaker shall preside over the House from the first moment of (its) first sitting.



The crisis began as the Congress said some of its MLAs had given a notice last month seeking removal of the Deputy Speaker, also of the Congress, accusing him of anti-party activities. Soon afterwards, MLAs from the BJP gave a notice for the removal of the Speaker. The governor apparently acted on the resolution given by the 11 BJP MLAs.



A meeting took place between the governor, chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues at Itanagar on December 14, where there was heated exchange of words, the video of which went viral on social media. The same evening, Speaker Nabam Rebia disqualified 14 Congress MLAs, but Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok overrode the decision.



The next day, December 15, the gates leading to the state Legislative Assembly were locked, as per the Speakers order. The rebel Congress camp held the Assembly session in a community hall and impeached Speaker Rebia. The next day, December 16, the rebel camp organised a Special Assembly session at the banquet hall of a hotel in Itanagar and passed a no-confidence motion against Tuki and `elected Pul as the chief minister. The governor approved the proceedings held on both these days. Pul would have been sworn in chief minister if not for the Gauhati High Court stay order.



It is true that the Congress has been a divided house in Arunachal Pradesh for over a year since Pul was dropped from the Cabinet. The rebel camp has 21 of the 47 Congress MLAs and they are backed by 11 BJP and two independent MLAs, while Tuki has only 26 Congress MLAs with him.



Tuki shot his own leg



Even as the dissidence was brewing, Tuki kept dropping ministers and parliamentary secretaries and appointed those who supported him. One of the major allegations against Tuki has been that he is corrupt and his family members are landing government tenders. The RTI replies from the state government to a few anti-corruption activists back these allegations. The activists then moved the Gauhati High Court against the Tuki government for corrupt practices and the court had ordered a CBI probe against the then chief minister, only to be stayed by the apex court a few months ago. Tuki has also been criticised for only favouring the Nyshi tribe, to which he belongs.



Pul has used the corruption allegations, worsening financial situation and clan favouritism to build up a rebellion against Tuki, but for over three moths, the Congress high command did not meet them and this perhaps allowed an internal feud within the party turn into a huge political crisis.



The situation is not new to Arunachal politics. The first chief minister P K Thungon and the Gegong Apang who served as chief minister for the longest period, have earlier been arrested on graft charges. Also, whosoever becomes a chief minister tends to care more for his clan and community. This is more of a political compulsion as elections are won by thin margins of single-digit difference. This, political observers say, leaves little choice for the Arunachal Pradesh politician but to first remain loyal towards his tribe.



But this time around, what perhaps made the mess ugly is the involvement of the high office of the governor and a kind of behind the curtains play by the BJP, both at the Centre and the state. Many observers believe that Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju is a key player who tried to fish in troubled waters and they see him as the chief minister in the waiting as well.



While the Centre is sticking to its claims that it had no option but to recommend Presidents Rule after the governor reported breakdown of law and order, it seems like the apex court is taking its time to understand if the governors moves were politically-motivated or not. The Congress high command has finally woken up, a damage control exercise has begun and attempts are being made to broker a piecemeal deal.



Still, the fact remains that a divided Congress, a belligerent BJP, an over-active governor and an opportunistic Central government have turned Arunachal once again into a politically volatile state.


Being the Constitutional head of the state, the governor in our scheme of administration enjoys wide powers to ensure that the states are governed as per the law.





The Constitution also guarantees immunity to the governor under Article 361, which states that he shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in exercise and performance of those powers and duties.



But of late, following the advent of coalition politics in the absence of a clear mandate by the electorate, the office of the governor is adroitly used to foster particular political interest and, at times, itself becomes the primary reason for political instability. Exploiting such a situation to the hilt, the Union government, through the gubernatorial office, tries to step in by invoking power under Article 356 to impose President's Rule in the state.



It is no doubt true that the governor is appointed by the President which means in effect and substance the Government of India, but that is only a mode of appointment and it does not make the governor an employee or servant of the Government of India, the Supreme Court held in Hargovind Pant vs Dr Raghukul Tilak & Ors(1979).



So the governors office is to be an independent constitutional office which is not subject to the control of the Union government. Though treated as representative of the Centre, the mode of appointment can never legitimise any form of interference in the working of the governor, else the concept of judicial independence would not be tenable, as even the judges of the high courts and the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, said jurist V R Krishna Iyer.



In the past, some governors faced considerable criticism for utterly failing to show the expected impartiality, prompting the Sarkaria Commission to state: A procedure must be devised which can ensure objectivity in selection and adherence to the criteria for selection and insulate the system from political pressures. Also, the new procedure must not only be fair but should be seen to be fair.



It recommended that the Vice-President and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha should be consulted by the prime minister in selecting a governor which will greatly enhance the credibility of the selection process.



However, a change in government at the Centre has invariably seen several governors quitting office, fortifying the apprehension that they are appointed under the patronage system. As the NDA government took charge on May 26, 2014, 13 governors and one Lt Governor of a Union Territory tendered their resignations in no time.



Some of the governors demitted their office shortly after they were appointed by the previous UPA regime. That is despite the fact, that a governor under Article 156(3) has a term of five years. One wonders, whether all these resignations were voluntary. The above depiction is not to cast any aspersion. As a matter of fact, its predecessor, the UPA government, had done just that in 2004, noted the Supreme Court, while dealing with the case relating to judges appointment in 2015.



In this way, as the very appointment of governors comes under the cloud, it goes without saying they misused the emergency provision under Article 356 even on the slightest opportunity. B R Ambedkar believed that Article 356 would remain a dead letter, but it has been used over a 100 times since 1950, the latest being Arunachal Pradesh, bringing to the fore its misuse.



Cracking the whip



During the Constituent Assembly debates, Ambedkar said: I feel that it (Constitution) is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace time and in war time. Indeed if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is, that man was vile.



So when Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy, UP Governor Ram Naik cracked the whip on the state governments, they faced howls of protest and were branded as agents of the Centre.



Among the criteria suggested by the Sarkaria Commission was that the governor must be a detached figure and must not have taken part in politics in the recent past. This has been totally breached by political parties, posing a serious threat to the federal structure and the Centre-state relations.



The Supreme Courts judgments in S R Bommai v Union of India (1994) and Rameshwar Prasad v Union of India (2006) have laid down detailed guidelines to be followed by the governor and the Centre before dismissal of state governments and imposition of Presidents Rule.



If the mandate suggested in the Bommai case that the majority enjoyed by the council of the ministers must be tested on the floor of the House is applied sincerely, there would be no occasion for the court to examine the materials behind the decision to impose Presidents Rule.
Apparently depressed due to financial crunch, a couple committed suicide by consuming poison at their house in east Delhis Mayur Vihar on Saturday.





A suicide note has been recovered in which Sudhanshu and Jyoti stated that they were depressed due to heavy debt. They, however, did not blame anyone for the extreme step. The note said they were unable to pay off heavy debts incurred from banks and some money lenders, a police officer said.



Initial probe revealed that Sudhanshu was under debt since early 2015 and was unable to pay off the loans due to his weak financial condition.



The incident was reported by Sudhanshus neighbours at around 1 pm. Sudhanshu and Jyoti were taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.



The bodies have been preserved for post-mortem which will be conducted on Sunday. Their family members have requested police not to conduct post-mortem. The local Assistant Commissioner of Police will take a decision, as he has the power to do so.



Sudhanshu and Jyoti hailed from Uttarakhand and got married in 2014. It was a love marriage and they came to the capital last year, the officer added. Locals told police that they shifted to the house in January.



Sudhanshu worked with a private company in Noida, while Jyoti was a homemaker.


Three persons, including a domestic help, have been arrested for robbery at the house of a 86-year-old freedom fighter in northwest Delhis Ashok Vihar in January, police said.

Dinesh Bahadur, Kamal Singh and Hikmat Khadka hail from Nepal.





On January 26, Prakash Chand Jain had approached police informing that he was robbed by his servant Dinesh and three others.



Prakash was bound and gagged. They fled after locking him in the washroom, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest), Vijay Singh.



The assailants had also attacked security guard Ashok Kumar.

Prakash told police that he was alone at home, as his son Sukaran had gone to Bangkok with his family.



The probe revealed that a watchman of Nepal origin, Dharma, was also involved.

Dharma was absconding after the incident, Singh added.



During investigation, a police team was immediately sent to Anand Vihar ISBT as buses are available from there to India-Nepal border.



The details of buses which departed on January 26 were obtained along with mobile numbers of drivers and conductors. Contact numbers of concerned police stations on India-Nepal border were also obtained.



The concerned police officers, drivers and conductors were contacted and all the buses on that day were checked on the way to Nepal border, Singh said.



A police team was also dispatched and stationed at Sonauli border in Uttar Pradeshs Maharajganj district. Search was made for the whereabouts of Dinesh and Dharma.



Dharma was living at Wazirpur village in Ashok Vihar. A raid was conducted, but he had already left the room.



A mobile phones recharge coupon was recovered from there.

Technical analysis was made with regard to the recovered recharge coupon. Raids then led to the arrest of Dinesh, Kamal and Hikmat from Uttam Nagar, Singh added.


The Supreme Court has expressed its concern over the unauthorised occupation of substantial portion of the land in the precincts of 14th centurys Tughlakabad Fort, constructed by Sultan Giyasuddin Tughlaq here.





It also expressed its surprise over the failure of the Archaeological Survey of India to even identify the illegal occupants and take subsequent action in removing them.



A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur directed for providing police protection and other cooperation from Delhi government or any other authorities to the ASI to enable it take an action for removal of unauthorised construction and the encroachers from the public land.

The court said its direction passed on October 14, 2011, directing the ASI to file an affidavit indicating how many people were living in the protected monument of Tughlakabad Fort, on the basis of the aerial survey conducted in the year 1993 was yet to be complied with.



Tughlakabad Fort is a protected monument and this Court has held in these proceedings that protection and preservation of the said monument is imperative. Repeated orders are passed to the effect that there would not be any further construction in the protected monument. The effect of the said orders is that ASI is to take an action for removal of unauthorised construction as also the encroachers from the public land, the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, said.



The court said it is the legal as well as ethical obligation of the concerned authorities to protect the heritage site and to properly maintain the historic fort built during the Tughlak Dynasty in 1321-1325 A.D. The monument spread over an area of about 3000 bighas is considered one of the largest among all the forts in Delhi. It is also regarded as the third major in the city after Kila Rai Pithora, which was built by the Rajput Anang Pal Tomer, and the Siri Fort, which was built by Allaudin Khilji.



The court asked the Delhi HC to ensure implementation of its orders.
Republican presidential candidates today lashed out at President Barack Obama and his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is aspiring to succeed him, for the latest North Korean missile test which they say is the result of their "incompetence".



"I think we have a president who is totally incompetent, and he doesn't know what he's doing. I think he has no idea what he's doing. And our country is going to hell," Donald Trump, the front runner Republican presidential candidate said ahead of the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.



Trump said he would get on with China, and solve that problem.

"China says they don't have that good of control over North Korea. They have tremendous control," he said.



Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who had an impressive performance in the Iowa Caucus and is being billed as the Republican establishment candidate, agreed with Trump that China does have a lot of influence over North Korea.



"And he (US President Barack Obama) should be leveraging our relationship with the Chinese to ensure that North Korea no longer has access to the resources that have allowed them to develop long range missiles already capable of reaching the west coast of the United States potentially," he said.



Rubio also demanded that North Korea be declared a terrorist state.

"The launch from a nuclear North Korea is the direct result of the failures of the first Clinton administration. The Clinton administration led the world in relaxing sanctions against North Korea. Billions of dollars flowed into North Korea in exchange for promises not to build nuclear weapons. They took those billions and built nuclear weapons," Senator Ted Cruz said.



Ohio Governor Kohn Kasich said that the US has to make sure that it intercepts North Korean ships and aircraft.



"Because what they're trying to do is to proliferate this very dangerous material, along with technology, the instruments that can be used for mass destruction," he said.



New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that the North Koreans do not understand anything but toughness and strength.



"They do not understand anything but toughness and strength, and we need to engage the Chinese to deal with the North Koreans," he said.



"This is unacceptable. And this is why this President is so weak and why the Secretary of State, who is embracing a third Barack Obama term, would be even weaker," Christie said.



Meanwhile, the Hillary Clinton campaign in a statement said that North Korea's nuclear breakout and first nuclear test occurred under the George W. Bush administration, which had been putting almost all of its effort into Iraq.



Clinton, who is now the Democratic front-runner for the White House, led the US' pivot to Asia, strengthening US alliances with Japan and South Korea and bolstering our defences in the region, it said.



"Clinton worked with our partners and allies and passed the toughest sanctions against the North Korean regime to date, even rallying the Chinese and Russians to the coalition," the campaign said in a statement.




In an apparent reference to the audacious 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Modi said, the threat of sea-borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger regional and global peace and stability.





He said piracy, too, remains a strong challenge against the backdrop of Somali pirates targeting merchant vessels, including those of India.





Addressing the valedictory function of International Fleet Review, the Prime Minister also made a veiled reference to the South China Sea dispute, saying countries must "respect and ensure freedom of navigation and cooperate not compete".





He said after hosting the 3rd India-Africa Summit and the India-Pacific Island Cooperation, the country would now host the first-ever global maritime summit in April.





Referring to his government's ambitious Make in India initiative, Modi said 37 of the Indian warships participating the Fleet Review were made in India and their numbers will surely rise.





He said the nation's ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rested on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain.





"The threat of natural disasters like tsunami and cyclones is ever present. Man-made problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain," the Prime minister said.





He said a peaceful and stable maritime environment is critical for regional and global security. "It is also must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems," the PM said.





Modi said India's 1200 island territories, and its huge Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million sq km makes clear the economic significance of the Indian Ocean.



"For us, it also serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. In March last year in Mauritius, I had spelt out our vision for the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Region is one of my foremost policy priorities. Our approach is evident in our vision of 'sagar', which means ocean and stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region," he said.



He said India would continue to actively pursue and promote its geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, in particular the Indian Ocean.



"To this end, India's modern and multi-dimensional Navy leads from the front. It is a force for peace and good. A network of growing political and economic maritime partnerships, and strengthening of regional frameworks also helps us pursue our goals," he said.



Modi recalled that the last time India hosted the International Fleet Review was in the year 2001 in the city of Mumbai.



"The world of 2016 is vastly different. Its politics is turbulent, and its challenges complex. At the same time, the oceans are the lifelines of global prosperity. They present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations," he said.



The Prime Minister noted that over 90 per cent of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans. He said over the last 15 years, its value has grown from about USD six trillion to about USD 20 trillion.





Referring to the economy of crude, he said oceans are critical for global energy security as over 60 per cent of world's oil production moves through sea routes.



Given the scale and complexity of modern-day challenges, international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of single nation, he said, adding it has to be a shared goal and responsibility of all seafaring countries.



"To this end, the navies and maritime agencies need to work together and engineer virtual cycles of cooperation. "But where necessary, they also need to act to secure the international sea lanes of communication."





As oceans today propel our economies, we must use seas to build peace, friendship and trust and curb conflict, he said addressing the gathering. Our Skill India programme is building institutions that train, support, encourage and guide our 800 million youth to the path of entrepreneurship.





He said an important part of India's transformation is his vision of blue Economy. "The blue Chakra, the wheel in our national flag, represents the potential of the blue economy. An essential part of this pursuit is the development of India's coastal and island territories but not just for tourism.



"We want to build new pillars of economic activity in the coastal areas and in linked hinterlands through sustainable tapping of oceanic resources," he said.

Terming the youth in the coastal areas as country's "true assets", he said they have a natural and deep understanding of the oceans.



"They could lead the way in the development of blue economy in India. In partnership with all the coastal states of India, I want to shape a special programme of skilling India's youth in the coastal areas of the country," Modi said.



Chief Justice of India Justice T S Thakur, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Manohar Parrikar were also present on the occasion where the PM released a photo essay book 'Maritime Heritage of India'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged the threat of sea-borne terror and piracy as two key challenges to maritime security even as he pitched for respecting freedom of navigation against the backdrop of South China sea dispute.
Moving to a different country and representing your country is never easy. It takes a lot of patience, courage and support from the country that you are representing. But Jun-ichi Kawaue accepted the position to do that when he was asked to come to India. Working as the head of the Consulate of Japan in Bengaluru, Kawaue has been living here since April 2015, and he says hes having a great time.





He shares, When the Japanese government asked me to work in India, I had no idea what I was walking into. I didnt know anything about the country or its culture. Most of my work has revolved around South-East Asia and that was the area I was familiar with. But Im glad that I was given a chance to experience this country; its a great one.

Born and brought up in Hiroshima, he graduated from the Osaka University of Foreign Studies and then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1993. Hes worked across a lot of places from there and finally came to Bengaluru with his family.



Though he initially moved with his wife, she had to go back to Japan for some personal work. He says, It was nice when she was here because we were discovering the place together. This gives me a good excuse to visit home whenever I can. Kawaue also has two children  one son and a daughter  back home.



One of the hobbies that he has picked up in the City is to solve the Sudoku puzzle every morning.



I love solving the puzzle. Ive been doing it everyday! Its absolutely relaxing and so much fun. It also makes me feel like Ive accomplished something great once Ive done it.

Talking about his experience in the City, he says, Bengaluru is a great city to be in as its one of the most advanced and developing cities in India. The climate is also a great advantage. I would choose Bengaluru over any other city just because of its weather. Its also one of the safer cities in terms of natural calamities  I almost feel at home here.



He adds, Its almost impossible to call someplace else your home after experiencing this weather. Also, according to the Indian statistics, Bengaluru is the cleanest capital and Mysuru is the cleanest city. So that is one of the other attractions that brings more people here.



Like every other citizen, he complains about the traffic congestion and wishes it could have been better. As a solution to this problem, he suggests, The traffic here is quite interesting. When theres heavy rain, you often witness trees falling and causing more chaos. Its absolutely annoying. But Im glad that the government of Japan is working with India and talking about improving the traffic system. There could have been more peripheral roads and the completion of the Metro project should offer a solution.



He also recommends that if any other type of traffic rule is implemented, it must be followed by everyone without exception. Japan has quite a bit of population and traffic does get bad sometimes, but weve never had to implement a particular rule for it. But here, even if a rule is being regulated, it must be done without any clause attached to it. Everyone must adhere to it and there must be no exceptions depending on the status a person holds in the country. That could help run things smoothly, he adds.



When hes not on official duty, he likes to visit some of his favourite restaurants like Harima, Matsuri and Edo. However, he says he misses the small-grained rice that he used to get back home.



I know its not possible for me to get the food that I used to have back home but I wish we had the small-grained rice, especially when making sticky rice. Its usually the long basmati rice and that doesnt taste as great as the other one, he shares. Hes looking forward to indulging in the food that he missed when he visits home.



With his work in the consulate, he says that hes happy to see the Japanese community grow in the City. There are almost 11,000 people from Japan residing here and most of them have moved for better business opportunities and livelihood. Jun-ichi Kawaue hopes to find more time to explore the City and learn more about it. As of now, hes happy with the way things are and hopes to work together with the country for a better future.




YouTube is back in Pakistan, with a localised domain and a provision that Islamabad can ask for access to material it deems objectionable to be blocked.





This has sparked fears of censorship among digital rights activists, who say that what started as a move to curb blasphemy may now extend to curbing political dissent.

It is too early to see whats missing and whats not on YouTube.com.pk.



The Innocence of Muslims, an amateur film about the Prophet Muhammad which was widely seen as derogatory to Islam and which sparked Pakistans YouTube ban in September 2012, is not available for viewing.



But much of the other material, such as songs by a Pakistani band called Beygairat (disgraceful) Brigade which are highly critical of Pakistans powerful military, are still available.



So was Pakistans three-year YouTube hiatus really just about preventing riots over a film deemed blasphemous?



Farieha Aziz, journalist and co-founder of a digital rights and advocacy group called Bol Bhi (Do speak up), says the YouTube ban went into effect days before protests over the film actually broke out.



This would mean that the Pakistani authorities were aiming for something more than just that, she says.



Also, now that YouTube is back online, there are fears over the lack of transparency on the part of both the government and Google.



Google has not offered any details of the agreement with Islamabad, but in private discussions they have indicated that as and when Pakistan requests for the blocking of certain content, Google will remove it after vetting the request in accordance with international standards, says Farhan Hussain of another digital rights group, Bytes for All Pakistan.



YouTube has denied claims that the authorities can filter content, saying all takedown requests were subject to its own reviews.



In a statement it said: We have clear community guidelines, and when videos violate those rules, we remove them. In addition, where we have launched YouTube locally and we are notified that a video is illegal in that country, we may restrict access to it after a thorough review.



Hussain said: The problem is, we dont know what their vetting process is, and what those international standards are. Googles annual transparency reports only provide statistics - such as how many requests for a ban were made by a country, and how many of them were accepted. But we would like to know the details of those requests.

And what about firewalls?



Digital rights activists are unanimous that localisation of a website has full potential to become a tool for censorship in the hands of a country.



In Pakistan, where so-called national security interests have dominated the basic rights of citizens, the tendency to control religious, gender and political diversity may continue to fuel a restrictive approach to information.



Already, the country has invested heavily in firewalls to block dozens of websites, particularly those run by ethnic Baloch separatists.




The countrys largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has dispatched the first shipment of its premium hatchback Baleno to Japan, where it will be launched next month.





It is for the first time that a model manufactured by Maruti Suzuki is being exported to Japan, where its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) is based.



The first consignment comprised 1,800 units and was shipped from Mundra Port in Gujarat, where SMC is setting up a manufacturing plant to supply cars to its Indian arm.



Recently, around 200 dealers from Japan visited the Manesar plant to closely look at the manufacturing process of the product. Maruti also plans to export the Baleno to over 100 global markets.


The London donors conference for Syria has received pledges for $6 billion for 2016 and $5 b through 2020, the largest sum ever raised in a day. Organisers Britain, Norway, Germany, Kuwait and the UN have congratulated themselves on this breakthrough. However, the pledges for this year are still well below $8.5 billion the United Nations says is needed for this year since the refugee crisis is growing and increasing demand for life saving aid.





The test of the intentions of the international community is whether donors deliver. Four previous appeals have secured substantial pledges but in all cases, funding fell far short. The sum received was 38 per cent short in 2012, 32 per cent in 2013, 49 per cent in 2014 and 43 per cent in 2015. Combined unpaid pledges from nine countries reached $384 million, incl-uding from the US. Oil rich Ku-wait, the host of earlier pledging meetings as well as the London event, was the main defaulter.



It is significant that countries fuelling the war in Syria  the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates  give less than those receiving refugees as asylum seekers.

During the London gathering, Western donors maintained a proprietary colonial attitude. Syrian civil society organisations complained they were invited late, ignored, and under-represented. Syrians are the primary stakeholders in the Syrian conflict and should be treated as such in all processes devoted to addressing the Syrian conflict, the six attending groups stated.



In an effort to secure funds urgently required to save Syrian lives and provide for the future, the UN agencies and international aid organisations designed a new strategy for dealing with the impact of the Syrian war on Syrians and their hard pressed neighbours.

In previous years, we focused on just the humanitarian component while responding to this crisis, but now we have adopted a much bigger approach, John Ging, operations chief of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told Deccan Herald on the sidelines of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva before their suspension by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura.



This approach involves not only the provision of shelter, food, and health care but also education for Syrias children, jobs, and support for countries hosting 4.5 million refugees. The donor summit called for and received pledges for $7.73 b for assistance to 13.5 m needy Syrians at home and in exile and $1.23 b to build schools, hospitals and infrastructure in regional host countries challenged overnight by the influx of refugees. The funds are to be allocated to a range of UN and other agencies.



On the failure to honour pledges, Ging said, We have had only 50 per cent and that means we have been meeting only 50 per cent of the most urgent needs (resulting) in hunger, loss of life because we do not have enough medicine... children are not being vaccinated causing outbreaks of preventable diseases...Mobilisation of new funding for education and other activities cannot come at the expense of food and medicine.



The running shortfall, he argued, Compounds the suffering of people already in mortal danger, people who have had their lives and livelihoods destroyed. The international community must not feel fatigued by the duration of this conflict but energised by our responsibilities.



Economic impact



He had expressed hope that support commensurate with the wealth of countries [would] be forthcoming. However, the US, the richest country in the world, donated $925 m, less than Norway's $1.1 b. Under the threat of an influx of Syrian refugees, European Union donated $3.35 m for this year and a similar sum for 2017. The country accepting most Syrian asylum seekers, Germany provided $2.6 b through 2018.



Donors were spurred to be generous by the presence of Lebanons Premier Tammam Salam, Jordans King Abdullah and Turkeys Prime Minister Ahmet Devutoglu whose countries host the overwhelming majority of Syrian refugees and cannot afford to continue. The World Bank says the economic impact of the war on the region has been $35 b.



Lebanon  where 1.5 m Syrian refugees constitute one quarter of the population  has restricted entry to Syrians transiting through the airport, obtaining visas, and requiring health care. The cost to Leb-anon, the most affected neighbour of Syria, is fixed at $13 b.



Jordan  with 1.27 million Syrian guests  has left 16,000 Syrians stranded at the border and offered to fly them to any country that would receive them. King Abdullah warned his country could be forced to take painful measures that will lead to a greater influx... to Europe if Jordan is left on its own to deal with the consequences of the... crisis.



Turkey where 2.5 m Syrians have registered as refugees and hundreds of thousands more are residing among 78 m Turks has introduced visas to stem the flow. Ankara claims it has spent $6 b on the refugees and argues the situation is not sustainable.
Superintendent of Police Annamalai said women, who constitute half of the worlds population, should make up their mind to contribute to growth which would result in absolute wonders.





Speaking after inaugurating the two-day Power Parba here on Saturday, the marketing festival organised by the Power, a platform for the women entrepreneurs, he said, Women are capable of creating incredible things. But they should make up their mind to come out of isolation. Annamalai said many instances show that men are behind successful women. Equality and acceptance are important, he observed.



Quoting former UN secretary general Boutros Boutros Ghali, he said womens participation in socio-economic process is vital to ensure the growth and development as they make up half of the worlds population.



Annamalai said, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts offer platforms to aspiring women to reach greater heights. The conducive ambience here helps women to cross restrictions and chase their dreams.



The women-oriented organisations should set up a corner and once it is done, there is a straight road ahead. Women are not inferior. Kiran Bedi was the lone woman IPS officer in 1975. But the situation has changed today and more women are joining (police) service today.



Attractive items

At Power Parba, various items like decorative terracotta products, handicrafts, hand-made jewellery, decorative items from silk cocoons, khadi clothes, varieties of delicacies, greeting cards, plastic items and saplings of various species were displayed in 113 stalls.



Nayan Bendre, who heads a team of hand-made jewellery and show items, told Deccan Herald that they invest on raw materials and income generated from the sale of products will be directly given to Anandavan, social activist Baba Amtes charity home.



She added the team comprises women aged between 40 and 80 years who contribute during the leisurely time. The initiative was taken up ten years ago. Since then, the income is being donated to Anandavan. At least, Rs 25,000 to 30,000 income is being generated from the sale of items every year, she added.



Girija from Mysuru, who had displayed terracotta products, said she is into this business from the last 15 years.



I have been slowly and steadily growing in this business by selling the products without governments support. Initially, I had to struggle to establish myself, she added.



A wide variety of decorative flowers, gift cones, garlands, bouquets, wall hangers and flower jars made out of silk cocoon attracted the attention of the visitors. Kamala from Salem in Tamil Nadu said the items are non-perishable commodities. She said she has trained more than 80,000 women in making these items. The cocoon silk, which is considered as useless to produce silk, is being used to manufacture these items, she added.


The condition of 13-year old Bhargavi R, who attempted suicide on Saturday, continues to remain critical. Her family said she was not given appropriate treatment at St Philomenas Hospital and they were unable to get the 108 ambulance service on time. According to her uncle K P Mani, the family was called for counselling, where they were told that the chances of her survival were minimal and that her condition was the same as on Saturday.





Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Health and Family Welfare conducted an enquiry about the incident at the hospital.



Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr N H Vijay Mohan Reddy, district health officer, Bengaluru Urban, said that he - along with Dr Vijay Kumar, deputy director, Reproductive Child Health (RCH), Department of Health and Family Welfare and Dr Mahesh, RCH Officer, Bengaluru Urban - have been conducting the enquiry. We have gathered details and have had a series of meetings. The reports will be submitted to the principal secretary of the Health department, he added.



Bhargavi was rushed to the hospital on Saturday afternoon after her mother found the girl hanging from the ceiling.
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry is set to review functioning of the grievance redressal mechanism created at the central universities to deal with the complaints of discrimination by students belonging to disadvantaged and weaker sections of the society.





It has called a meeting of the vice-chancellors of all central universities later this month to discuss the issue of discrimination with students in campuses and find ways to effectively deal with such cases. The meeting, which is likely to be held on February 18, has been called ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament as the Opposition is expected to try to corner the government over Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula suicide case in the Central University of Hyderabad.



The government may have to face tougher questions from the parliamentarians on the steps taken by it to check discrimination in campuses, as the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities in 2012 to set up an equal opportunity cell in their campuses to check caste and community-based discrimination but hardly later checked for their implementation.



In a letter to all universities on January 29, the UGC asked the vice-chancellors to provide it with details within 15 days on how grievances of students belonging to marginalised and disadvantaged sections of the society were being addressed at the cells.
President Pranab Mukherjee will preside over a two-day conference of governors on February 9 and 10 where several issues including the role of governor in the Centre-State relations, their privileges and powers are likely to figure.





Mukherjee is expected to urge the governors to follow the rule book in the backdrop of crisis like the one in Arunachal Pradesh and instances of sharp differences between the Governor and State governments of Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal and Assam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Cabinet ministers will participate in the conference, which will also discuss the governments mega schemes and flagship programmes like Make in India, Start up, Digital India and Swachh Abhiyan (Clean India Drive).
Ruling out any possibility of an alliance with the BJP, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Sunday asked the PDP to be bold enough in breaking alliance with the saffron party if it was not ready to form the government.





The PDP cannot keep the issue open-ended under the garb of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), which even the coalition partner BJP doesnt know, least to speak of the people, Omar told mediapersons on the sideline of an event in Jammu.



He said there has to be a time-frame to announce the so-called CBMs as the people and the state were not going to wait forever. The PDP, Omar said, should fix a deadline and if no reply was forthcoming, they should tell the BJP straight away that the alliance is over and go to the people.



We are also waiting for thatto go to the people, said Omar, working president of opposition National Conference.



He also asked why the issue of CBMs was not raked up when Mufti was alive. She (Mehbooba Mufti) didnt remember the CBMs then, he said.



When alliance is intact and both the partners have numbers as well, where is the hitch in forming the government, he asked, saying that the Agenda of Alliance had been formed by late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed before taking over as the chief minister.



Asked whether the PDP chief was scared of continuing alliance or facing the people, Omar said, I would not like to comment on that but if she is a leader, she should lead and not follow. If she is not ready to lead the state with conviction, she should announce it and not keep the state guessing.



On other options about government formation, Omar declared, We have time and again made it clear that our doors to BJP are closed; we dont want even to discuss this; we had closed our doors a year ago and these continue to be closed even today.



He said his party was being told about the alliance with NDA during the times of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said there was a huge difference between BJP of then and the BJP of now.




Acting on a complaint, election officials on Sunday visited Kaggalipura village in Bengaluru South taluk where a Congress nominee for the zilla panchayat Parveez was accused by rival parties of violating the election code of conduct.





They said he was distributing drinking water cans to villagers from a water purifier plant installed on the gram panchayat property.



A team of officials, including returning officer Raghumurthy and executive officer Dyamappa, accompanied by the police succeeded in handing over the water purifier plant to the gram panchayat. Earlier, it was being operated by Parveez.



According to officials, Parveez installed a water purifier unit on the gram panchayat land three months ago at a cost of Rs 15-20 lakh and started distributing drinking water to villages in cans for a nominal charge.



Water cans

With the elections to the zilla panchayat approaching, rival candidates said that Parveez violated the election code by distributing water cans with his photograph on them. They also accused him of misusing the water plant which was supposed to be operated by the panchayat.



Officials told Deccan Herald that no complaint was registered against Parveez. Just as the plant was handed over to the panchayat, an FIR was filed against panchayat development officer (PDO) Fatima for failing to take action despite direction from higher-ups to ensure handing over of the water plant to the panchayat.

DH News Service
The decision of the Indian armed forces to throw open the doors of top military hospitals to doctors specialising in Ayurveda and other alternative systems of medicine has brought joy to the practitioners.





City-based AyurVAID Hospitals had launched an online campaign four years ago. It received the support of more than 10,000 people via change.org.



We urge the Armed Forces Medical Services not to be patronising and restrict access of these specialists only to terminally ill patients. We take note with concern the approach of AFMS that specialists of Ayurveda will be provided access to only terminally ill patients, said AyurVAID Hospitals CEO Rajiv Vasudevan.
A 21-year-old Delhi University student was strangled to death by her boyfriend in northwest Delhi. Police said Naveen Khatri kept the womans body in his house for four days.





The incident came to light on Saturday evening when the body of Arzoo Singh was found in a shaft in the accuseds residence.



The accused, Naveen Khatri, is a property dealer who lives with his family in northwest Delhi. The deceased was a final year student at Lakshmibai College in Delhi University. She lived in the same area where Naveen lives.



Police claimed that the duo knew each other and prima-facie the case suggests that the reason behind the murder was a love affair.



The police said Naveen tried to dump the body somewhere else and attempted to burn it once. But he failed.



The victims family members said that the woman was missing since February 2. We last saw her around 8:30 am on Tuesday. She said that she was going to college and assured us that she will return soon, family members said. She did not return home till evening and they filed a police complaint, said the family members.



Sources said the victims family members was suspicious of Naveen. Naveen was called to the police station on Saturday and his house was searched.
Faced with criticism for roping in actors Akshay Kumar and Kangana Ranaut as brand ambassadors of the International Fleet Review (IFR), the government on Sunday denied the duo had any role to promote the mega maritime show.





Brand ambassadors have to sell a brand. I dont think they sold anything. There was no contract with them (Akshay and Kangana) and there was no payment. They were invited as guests. Ask the Navy for details, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here on Sunday.



Naval officials on Sunday claimed the actors were not brand ambassadors of the international fleet review, where navies from 49 countries are participating. But a government press release issued on Friday, described them as brand ambassadors of the event and their presence as the highlight of the mega maritime show. While Akshay was present on the Presidential yacht INS Sumitra during the fleet review on Saturday, the actor and Kangana attended the inauguration a day before.



Akshay tweeted photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi having a lighthearted moment with son Aarav, who accompanied his father. A second photograph showed Kumar taking a selfie with the Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh.




India on Sunday has favoured creation of a new international redress mechanism to tackle disputes in the high seas.





Because of the changed economic scenario and discovery of new resources in the sea, the old laws and treaties may not of much use. New mechanisms need to be found out for resolving the dispute, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said at an international maritime conference on the sidelines of the International Fleet review here.



Though Parrikar did not mention the South China Sea, the reference is to the controversies surrounding the South China Sea where China had made territorial claims, annoying other nations and triggering an international tension.



While Beijing claimed islands in the South China Sea were reclaimed from Japan after World War II and there was no claimant over it until 1970, when hydrocarbon was discovered, Vietnam  one of the nations contesting the Chinese claims  has a different view.



Vietnams ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh had stated in a seminar in Delhi in December that his country had full historical evidence and legal foundation to reaffirm its sovereignty over the Paracels Islands and the Spratly Islands, which was owned and controlled peacefully and continuously by Vietnam since the 17th century when no countries claimed their sovereignty over these islands.



We are now facing a very complicated and even dangerous situation in the East Sea (same as South China Sea), as large-scale land reclamation and construction of the artificial islands have been accelerated in this area. The concern is about the pace and scope to the militarisation of the East Sea, which could create a new armed race in the region, he stated.



Rear Admiral Yu Manjiang from the 21 Task Force of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy, who is leading the Chinese delegation at the international fleet review said, South China Sea dispute is a historic problem, which we need to resolve peacefully.



Parrikar suggested creation of a new international authority for dispute redress to avoid conflict situation.

DH News Service
Buoyed by its success in Bihar, the Congress is expected to take up the offer of a pre-poll alliance made by erstwhile partner DMK for the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.





The offer made by DMK chief M Karunanidhi in late December was discussed by Tamil Nadu Congress President E V K S Elangovan with Rahul Gandhi on Friday. In a follow-up meeting with AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik, Elangovan is learnt to have discussed the modalities of the seat-sharing they are expected to hold with the DMK leadership.



Congress leaders were keenly watching the moves of Chief Minister J Jayalalitha with the hope that she would drop hints for a pre-poll understanding. However, with AIADMK more inclined towards the BJP at the Centre, the Congress is understood to have decided to take up the DMKs open offer.



The Congress has been out of power in Tamil Nadu for more than five decades and is seen as a five percent party having little influence on local politics. This is perhaps the reason that it has left it to the senior partner DMK to make the announcement about a pre-poll alliance.



The DMK is also in talks with DMDKs Captain Vijaykanth, who had contested the 2011 elections along with AIADMK. Soon after the poll results, Vijaykanth had a fall out with Chief Minister J Jayalalitha.



Congress leaders said Rahul are keen on replicating the Bihar experiment by striking alliance with regional parties to keep the grand old party relevant.



The DMK which has shared power at the Centre with the Congress since 2004 had quit the UPA in 2013 over the mistreatment of Sri Lanakan Tamils by the island government, and the arrests of DMK leaders A Raja and Kanimozhi in connection with the spectrum allocation scam.



The Congress contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on its own and had drawn a blank. It had contested the 2011 assembly polls along with the DMK but managed to win only five seats.


Home Minister G Parameshwara has said that he has instructed the officials concerned to identify foreigners, including students who are overstaying their visas, and deport them.





A foreigner can stay for 15 days to a month after the expiry of visa, but not beyond that. Officials will collect information about overseas students and foreign nationals from the embassies of respective countries. Necessary measures will be taken to deport the foreigners who are overstaying their visas, the minister told reporters here on Sunday.



A media report claiming that over 30,000 foreigners are overstaying in the State is false and baseless, he said. He refused to answer queries on the racist attack on a Tanzanian student. To a query on Prime Minister Narendra Modis comment blaming Nehru family for the deterioration of Parliamentary system in India, Parameshwara said, Narendra Modi is the prime minister. He should refrain from making distasteful comments.



Sudanese was overstaying



The Sudanese national, who mowed down a pedestrian near Hesaraghatta main road on January 31,2016, was staying in the City on an expired visa.



A police source said Mohammed Ahad Ismails visa had expired on December 31, 2015. The jurisdictional police had asked him to get his visa extended leave the country but he hadnt responded. As per rules, he should have applied for the visa extension in November 2015.



We had summoned several students in Soladevanahalli, including Ismail, and told them that they were overstaying, the source said. We will ask Acharya college for a list of students who are overstaying.
North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday, carrying what it called a satellite but its neighbours and the United States denounced the launch as a missile test conducted in defiance of UN sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.





North Koreas embassy in Moscow said in a statement that the country would continue to launch rockets carrying satellites, according to Russias Interfax news agency.



The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space while South Koreas military said the rocket has put an object into orbit.



North Korea said the launch of the satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a complete success and it was making a polar orbit of earth every 94 minutes. In its previous long-range rocket launch in 2012, North Korea put what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but no signal has ever been detected from it.



The rocket lifted off at around 9:30 am Seoul time (6 am IST) on a southward trajectory, as planned. Japans Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at Chinas border with North Korea.



Serious consequences

The United Nations Security Council on Sunday condemned the rocket launch and vowed to take significant measures in response to Pyongyangs violations of UN resolutions, Venezuelas UN ambassador said. The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this launch, Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, president of the council this month, told reporters. He said the launch was a serious violation of Security Council resolutions. US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters, We will ensure that the Security Council imposes serious consequences.



North Korea had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.



If (North Korea) can communicate with the Kwangmyongsong-4, North Korea will learn about operating a satellite in space, said David Wright, co-director and senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Even if not, it gained experience with launching and learned more about the reliability of its rocket systems.



UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the launch and urged North Korea to halt its provocative actions.



The UN Security Council, which met on Sunday at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, condemned the violations committed by North Korea



We have consensus to condemn this kind of violation of sanctions, Venezuelas Ambassador Rafael Ramirez, who holds the council presidency, said ahead of the closed-door talks.



Isolated North Korea had initially given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but on Saturday changed that to February 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather on Sunday.



The launch and the January 6 nuclear test are seen as efforts by the Norths young leader to bolster his domestic legitimacy ahead of a ruling party congress in May, the first since 1980.




The COMEDK and the ERA Foundation will conduct one combined entrance exam for various undergraduate courses such BE/BTech, MBBS and BDS courses on May 8.





The COMEDK Uni-Gauge 2016 and EMed 2016 under Era Foundation that used to be conducted separately in previous years will now be one exam. It will be a computer-based test and conducted at over 150 cities across India. TCS is the technical service provider.



Online application forms for the test will be available from February 8 onwards, with the last day for applying for the exam being April 4. The entire application and exam process will be made available to students on www.comedk.org and www.unigauge.com.



Students will be offered mock tests to familiarise them with the online exam process. Features like online exams, challenge verification opportunity will be made available to the candidates.
Retired military personnel can expect to receive their first tranche of enhanced pension as per the governments new one-rank-one-pension (OROP) scheme before March 31, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday.





Arrears would be paid in four instalments in every quarter. The first instalment, which will cost about Rs 3,700 crore in total, would be given before March 31, Parrikar said here on the sidelines of the International Fleet Review, 2016.



The family pensioners and recipients of gallantry awards will be paid their arrears in one instalment. Almost 18 lakh retired soldiers and several lakhs of widows are expected to benefit from the new pension package.



As the scheme is being implemented from July 1, 2014, total arrears up to December 31, 2015 would be in the tune of Rs 10,980 crore. The government issued pension calculation tables for each rank earlier this month.



According to the Defence Ministrys calculation, implementing the OROP scheme would cost the exchequer Rs 7,483 crore every year.



It is 15 times more than what the UPA government had provided in its budget (Rs 500 crore). OROP was a promise of the BJP and the prime minister. To the best of my understanding, we fulfilled it after 43 years, he said.



A section of the ex-servicemen, who were agitating against the governments version of the OROP, however, rejected the tables and threatened to exercise legal action.



We unanimously reject the tables as it does not remove any of the anomalies pointed out by the ex-servicemen. It short charges widows, battle casualties and the ranks of havildar, subedar and subedar major, said Col Anil Kaul (rtd), one of the veterans protesting against the OROP.On the protests, Parrikar said these were minor issues raised by few people from the retired community, who can have a dialogue with the government to resolve them.



As much as 86 per cent of the total expenditure on account of OROP will benefit the junior commissioner officers and other ranks, said a Defence Ministry spokesperson.



The total increase in the defence budget for pensions is estimated to go up from Rs 54,000 crore (budgetary estimate 2015-16) to around Rs 65,000 crore (proposed in 2016-17), thereby increasing the defence pension outlay by about 20 per cent.



Asked about the anomalies in the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, Parrikar said he met the Service Chiefs and sought a report analysing the concerns, which would be addressed.



One of the key concerns of the military is lowering of the hardship allowance as the Seventh Pay Commission recommended higher risk allowance for IAS and IPS officers posted in Guwahati than the Army officers posted in Siachen glacier, the worlds highest battlefield.




by Kendra Kloster

Dear Governor Dunleavy,

Improving the safety of all Alaskans is an issue that we can all get behind. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and their community, no matter where in Alaska they live. The creators of our constitution felt so strongly about this and agreed that it needed to be explicitly stated in the constitution. However, despite these founding statements upon which our State of Alaska government is built, and all the discussion focused on public safety last year, funding was still cut from the Village Public Safety Officer program, and we are not seeing improvements in public safety for ALL Alaskans.

Only one in three villages have a public safety officer. Alaska continues to shamefully rank highest for rates of domestic violence, assault and missing and murdered Indigenous women in the Nation. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women and that rates of violence on reservations and rural areas can be up to ten times higher than the national average.

As we talk with people in communities across Alaska, we are overwhelmed by the expressed concerns for life and safety, and the testimonies of rural residents who had to wait hours (and in some cases up to days) for troopers to respond to distress calls. It has been up to community members without any formal safety and mediation training to police others and respond to calls of distress of their family and friends putting themselves at great risk as well  this is not a system that serves us well and we demand better.

A better system includes working more closely with our tribal governments, building up and truly supporting our Village Public Safety Officers by providing adequate funding and removing barriers that exist to hinder this program from protecting Alaskans.

We know there are recruitment and retention problems for public safety officers across Alaska, as acknowledged in recent years by Commissioner Walt Monegan. He listed multiple reasons preventing successful officer recruitment and retention, including but not limited to salary and benefit packages.

While we understand the challenge of balancing a budget and eliminating the deficit, we also know that the solution is not to cut funding for public safety. There are times when investments need to be made for the greater good, and this is one of those times. All options and out of the box solutions should be on the table.

We cannot continue to fail to protect Alaskans. One of our main goals is to advocate for the wellness and protection of Alaska Native peoples. We need partners across the state from the Governors office to troopers and police, to non-profits, tribal governments and communities to come together to find the solutions to make Alaska a safer place.

We are reaching out to seek your assistance and leadership in helping us to address these issues. We need to end the high rates of violence and lack of public safety and protections for Alaskans across the state, and to stand up for Alaska Native women and children who are going missing and being murdered. Collectively we need to send a clear message that this norm will no longer be tolerated and we will do everything we can do end it.

We urge you to include funding in the state operating budget to support the needs of Village Public Safety Officers and review the statutes that govern them to ensure any existing barriers to their success are removed.

We appreciate your consideration and hope that we can work together to solve this crisis. Please do not hesitate to contact us, we stand ready and able to help in any way possible.

Gunalcheesh/Hawaa/Quyana/Mahsi/Baassee/Maasee/Dogedinh/Thank you.

Kendra Kloster is the Executive Director for Native Peoples Action.

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by Maggie King

A $1.9 million federal grant will support University of Alaska Fairbanks programs that focus on Indigenous food and energy system development and sustainability at the institutions five rural campuses.

The UAF College of Rural and Community Developments project, Place-Based Solutions for Alaska Native Food and Energy Sovereignty, is funded by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The institute has a competitive grant program for institutions serving Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students.

The project is driven by Indigenous values of responsibility, relationship, redistribution and reciprocity. The main goals of the project are to promote equal access to education in rural Alaska and provide sustainable food and energy solutions for Alaska Native communities.

The funding will support academic programs, including ethnobotany (Kuskokwim Campus), food security and sovereignty (Chukchi Campus), high-latitude range management (Northwest Campus), tribal governance and stewardship (Interior Alaska Campus) and sustainable energy (Bristol Bay Campus).

The programs use place-based, culturally relevant and experiential learning models. The content of each program will emphasize the relationships between Alaska Native peoples and the natural world, Indigenous knowledge and Alaska Native languages.

Northwest Campus looks forward to growing our high-latitude range management program and our partnership with the Sami Education Institute, said Barbara QasuGlana Amarok, the campus director in Nome. This grant will extend the accessibility of food sovereignty programs focused on Indigenous lifeways, wellness, decision-making power and management to students in our region and throughout the state.

The USDA grant is double the amount previously awarded to UAF, in part because of the continued success of its programs in uplifting Alaska Native community practices to enhance food and energy systems, security, and sovereignty through education.

For example, sustainable energy students created a prize-winning new design for rural Alaska housing construction at the 2022 National Renewable Energy Laboratory Solar Decathalon. A group of four Bristol Bay Campus students placed third in the New Housing Division for their innovative and sustainable rural Alaska housing design, the first-ever UAF team to place in the competition.

The continued support of this grant will promote collaboration between UAFs campuses to enhance local food sovereignty and energy sustainability initiatives while improving student recruitment and retention in food, agriculture and natural resource sciences.

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U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today (July 2nd, 2019) welcomed an announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the agency approved $53.8 million to restore losses for Alaska fisheries impacted by the 2016 Gulf of Alaska pink salmon fishery disaster.

NOAA approved and transferred the funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the agency tasked with distributing the relief payments to fishermen and their deckhands, processors, and for salmon research in the affected regions.

This funding has been a long-time coming. We are pleased that Alaskans who have been waiting for this economic relief that was promised to them will finally receive it. By restoring losses incurred during the 2016 pink salmon disaster, our federal government is following through not only on the commitment we made to Alaskas commercial fisherman, but also to their families, processors, and coastal communities who were hit hard by this disaster, said the Alaska Congressional Delegation. We pushed hard to secure this relief for those whose livelihoods depend on the health of our fisheries. And we will continue to stand up for Alaskas fisheries to ensure that this industry that is so vital to our state remains strong and vibrant for generations to come.

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HSBCs board is expected to come to a decision on the location of its headquarters in the coming days after an unexpectedly long-running review of the future of the British-based bank. Bosses launched the review last year and initially expected to reach a conclusion by the end of 2015. Investors are increasingly convinced that the bank will not quit the UK. - The Sunday Telegraph

Glencore is set to unveil a deal to bring in at least $500m as part of its frantic efforts to slash its debt. The commodities giant is in advanced talks on a streaming deal, under which it would hand future precious metal production from a mine in Chile to American gold specialist Franco-Nevada, in exchange for an upfront payment. The agreement could be unveiled as soon as this week. It is part of a $13bn (9bn) fundraising campaign that Glencore launched last year to scotch concerns over its $30bn net debt. - The Sunday Times

Shareholders in easyJet have rejected calls by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the carriers founder, for the budget airline to boost its dividend, just days before he plans to stage a protest over its pay-out policy. Sir Stelios, whose family owns almost 34% of easyJet and so receives the lions share of its dividends, has urged the airline to lift its pay-out from 40% of post-tax profits to 50%. As a token protest, the outspoken founder plans to vote about 5% of his familys stake against the re-election of John Barton, easyJets chairman, at Thursdays annual general meeting. - The Sunday Telegraph

Stricken mining giant Anglo American has been forced to revamp a two-month-old restructuring plan after pressure from disgruntled shareholders. Anglo is expected to cut deeper into costs and slim its sprawling range of products to focus on just three commodities  diamonds, platinum and copper. It may also say that it has begun the hunt for a successor to Rene Medori, the companys long-serving finance director. - The Sunday Times

The billionaire owner of Iceland and New Look considered a bid for Argos before J Sainsbury sealed its 1.3bn takeover of the catalogue retailer last week. Christo Wiese, a South African tycoon whose British empire includes Virgin Active gyms, is understood to have looked over the company with Andy Bond, the former chief executive of Asda. Bond now runs Pep & Co, a discount clothing start-up that is backed by Wiese. He also advises the 74-year-old on new opportunities. A well-placed source said the pair had stalked Home Retail Group, Argoss parent company, but decided to focus on other deals. - The Sunday Times

The owners of BHS are planning a radical overhaul of the struggling high street chain that is expected to trigger significant store closures, the restructuring of its massive pension scheme and further job losses. The management team has appointed KPMG to draw up options that will enable the retailer to drastically reduce its 170-strong store estate, as it wrestles with attempts to turn the ailing retailer around. - The Sunday Telegraph

Rolls-Royce is due to stun the stockmarket by issuing its sixth profit downgrade in two years, and taking the axe to its dividend. It is thought Rolls, a FTSE 100 company, could even halve its final dividend, after it reports an anticipated 300m drop in profits as the companys problems spread to its power systems unit. The division, which makes diesel engines, is the only part of the company yet to be downgraded in previous alerts. - The Sunday Telegraph

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester is on course for a final payout from the bailed-out organisation of up to 500,000  more than two years after he left. RBS will also confirm next month that it awarded Hester 1.7m in shares last March under a previous incentive plan, taking his total pay for five years at the helm to around 13m. The payouts come despite an expected eighth year of losses at the Edinburgh-based bank and with the taxpayers stake worth less than half the amount the Treasury paid for it. - The Mail on Sunday
Tritax Big Box REIT is well-placed to capitalise on the trend towards more centralised logistics in the retail sector.

The FTSE-250 listed outfit owns and develops the huge and strategically-placed distribution centres which big chains such as Sainsburys and Argos are increasingly using to gain a cost advantage in the logistical battle with their rivals.

Since floating on the stockmarket, the shares have done handsomely, rising from 100p to 131.5p and paying out some generous dividends along the way.

Now Tritax is asking shareholders for another 100m in cash to continue growing and the fundraising, which closes on Thursday, is worth a closer look.

It is the only-listed operator in the UK in the highly-specialised big-box market, running 25 mega-properties in its portfolio with several more in the pipeline.

Competition for new sites is increasingly tough and prices have risen substantially.

Nonetheless, the companys bosses have been working in the sector for years and are well-connected, often allowing them to buy sites before they come to the market and hence at lower rates.

Demand for big boxes continues to grow and the firm has only 10% of the market so there is plenty of room for growth with the dividend payout expected to continue growing.

"Existing shareholders should hold. New investors may find the fundraising offers a good opportunity to buy," says the Mail on Sundays Midas column.



Victoria has seen its shares rocket after embarking on a debt-fuelled acquisition spree in the last two years that is thought to have led to a more-than-doubling of its sales in its last full fiscal year.

There is nothing inherently wrong with debt-financed acquistions, the Telegraphs Questor team admits; but at 18 times forecast earnings shareholders in the AIM-listed carpetmarket may be failing to price in any of the risks in the company, the tipster added.

In just two years, the company shelled out up to 135m hoovering up rivals such as Westex, Abingdon, Whitestone Weavers, Quest and Interfloor.

The firm also paid out a special dividend of 21m financed by debt.

That last acquistion, of Interfloor, pushed its net debt to 81m at the end of October 2015, versus 1.5m in March 2014.

A lease-back operation on some property has also left the company with 14.5m in lease commitments.

Management is confident that its cash generation will allow it to cut the pile of debt to below 70m by the end of March.

Nevertheless, risks remain, so Questor recommends investors 'sell'.
Circleville Pumpkin Show 2022: What you need to know if you plan to go
McGettigan's hotel group in talks with bank over 67m loan

McGettigan's hotel group in talks with bank over 67m loan

A property investment firm owned by Donegal hotelier Jim McGettigan is in talks with AIB about its 67 million borrowings after a repayment deadline expired.

Bonnington Group's loans were due to be renewed or repaid by November 30th, but the date passed without a renewal being agreed.

AIB has not sought repayment of the loans, but the Sunday Business Post has reported that McGettigan's group warned that it would cease to be a going concern'' if it could not renew its banking facilities with AIB or find a new source of funding.

The directors of Bonnington, which has hotels and other properties in Ireland, Britain and Dubai, said they expect that a formal renewal of the facility will be agreed'' with AIB.

The bank holds a legal charge over the group's properties and the assets of four group companies, as well as an unlimited cross company guarantee'' to several other firms.

Through Bonnington, McGettigan also owns interests include the Regency and North Star hotels in Dublin ,the Royal Hotel in Bray, the Cavendish Hotel and Bonnington Rooms in London, and Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai. The 73-year-old Kilmacrennan native was Donegal person of the year in 2004.

The Bonnington group is also developing a 300-bed four-star hotel and business park at Gillette Corner in west London.

According to new accounts, Bonnington had turnover of 2.4 million in the nine months to the end of 2009, and made a loss of 3 million. The company said the losses were due to loan impairments, exchange rate fluctuations, interest costs on the Gillette Corner development and losses following an abortive project in Glasgow''.

However, the accounts do not include the results from the group's interests in Dubai, which include land at Jumeirah Village. It was intended for a large commercial and residential scheme, but Bonnington pulled back from the project in 2008 and put the site on the market. It is considering plans for the land with a view to generating operating profits''.
Why would the government destroy an industry that is absolutely essential to the quality of life of American seniors and those with physical handicaps? Why would you close down an industry that represents only 1.25 percent of the overall Medicare budget? Why would you destroy the essential element in what Medicares overall Healthcare objective is: Reduce spending by getting the patient out of the hospital as soon as possible and send them home to recover? If there is not a company to provide the hospital bed, wheelchair, supplemental oxygen, etc. how will this be possible?

Congress move to reduce by 21 percent the amount paid for items in the home that are crucial in the recovery process on Jan. 1 this year and reducing the remaining amount by another 21 percent six months later will mean the end of the in-home medical equipment industry as we know it today. Ask any business owner Could you survive if you had a 42 percent reduction in your revenue? Could you maintain the same level of customer service? Would you have the same number of employees? Would your service area remain the same or will it become the city limits sign?

If you are currently on Medicare or expect to be on Medicare and you expect it to meet your future needs you are going to be sadly disappointed. What will I do? You can expect to pay cash if there remains a local company still in business to provide the equipment or service your doctor wants you to have.

Even worse is Medicares new rule effective late this month. Besides having to have both a prescription and a copy of the doctors chart note; now the in-home medical company must obtain prior authorization for over 300 items before they can be delivered to the patients home. Imagine needing oxygen, a hospital bed or a wheelchair so that you can be sent home after surgery or an accident and the in-home medical equipment company having to wait 10 days to get prior authorization from Medicare before the equipment can be delivered. No hospital would dare release a patient under these conditions. The cost to Medicare again would soar.

Wake up America! Your healthcare system and your support network are moving in a direction that is not designed to serve your needs. Only you can change this direction by calling your elected Representatives and tell them to fix it or put someone in office who will.

Robert E. Harry

Ozark
dpa ElectionsData

With dpa ElectionsData you get access to a unique collection of data. Via a programming interface (Rest-API), your developers can access detailed information, candidate profiles and live results for all national elections in the European Union and important international elections, like the US Midterm elections etc.

The data pool also includes all heads of state and government as well as about 20,000 elected members of parliament throughout the EU. In addition to their data (name, party, constituency or list position), we collect social media profiles and official websites of individuals and parties.
FRESH from his success of winning the 2011 ICA celebrity boot camp, former Irish International rugby prop Peter Clohessy paid a visit to Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian Centre the very next morning.

FRESH from his success of winning the 2011 ICA celebrity boot camp, former Irish International rugby prop Peter Clohessy paid a visit to Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian Centre the very next morning.

Clohessy (pictured with Niall Connolly and Loesje Jacob) travelled from An Grianan, the ICAs headquarters in Termonfeckin to Ravensdale Lodge to see his hunting horse Ben being worked on by Loesje Jacob of Full Circle.

The hunting horse was being worked on in a Linking Awareness Workshop, which was taking part at the North Louth venue over the weekend.

Clohessy was capped 54 times for Ireland and played over 100 times in the famous red jersey of Munster in a successful career which spanned nearly 25 years.

He retired from professional rugby in 2002. Looking for something to fill the gap after his retirement and provide him with an adrenalin rush, Clohessy took to the hunting field where he and Ben can be seen regularly with the Scarteen hunt in Limerick.

When asked to take part in this years celebrity boot camp which was televised weekly on RTE, Clohessy had no hesitation in taking on the challenge for his chosen charity Aware, which supports people suffering from depression.

He was a favourite up to the very end with the voting public. Narrowly beating the very popular Jessica Kurten to the top spot, Clohessy got an added bonus when he visited Ravensdale Lodge as the Centres fee for the two-day clinic was donated to his chosen charity Aware.
Island Records launches Session IPA beer with its own playlists

Legendary record label Island Records are launching an exciting new music inspired beer to the UK craft beer market. The 4.5% Session IPA beer is bursting with juicy hop aromas with flavours of citrus and tropical fruits, brimming with positive vibrations and even accompanied with its own Island Records playlist.

Brewed by Two Tribes and marketed by Boutique Bar Brands Island Records Session IPA is a wonderful addition to the craft beer scene.

In November 2014, Robin Pearson, an aspiring brewer and music lover was signed by Island Records to design and brew a signature Session IPA beer. Robins hoppy creations, brewed under the SoundWaves Brewing brand set up earlier that year had caught the attention of Island Records Senior Marketing Director, who asked him to design and brew a signature beer for the Label.

I was approached and asked to design a beer that would reflect the brand, the history and the artists on Island Records said Robin. I decided on a Session IPA to give the beer a bright tropical and citrus fruit flavor that picks up on the Jamaican heritage and the palm tree logo that defines the label. I also thought the idea of a Session  IPA sits well with a beer for a record label. Obviously the word session itself has musical connotations that fits well with the project.

The first batch brewed in his converted shed in Hove last December was an instant hit with Island Records artists, suppliers and friends of the label, as well as pubs, clubs, bars and specialist shops around Brighton which sold out in a matter of days, so due to increased consumer demand Robin needed to find an independent commercial brewery to help scale production. He partnered with Two Tribes brewery which is owned by Justin Deighton, a producer / remixer and founder of iconic independent label Pacific Records with a string of remixes under his belt. After djing worldwide in the early 90s, Justin landed in the Mash Tun in Brighton and set up Two Tribes brewery with the aim of working with like-minded creatives to produce outstanding craft beers.

Island Records Session IPA is Best Served With Music so the team behind it have created bespoke Spotify playlists to deliver the perfect soundtrack for your drinking pleasure. Whether you are relaxing after a stressful day, hosting a party or looking for some new music or a lost classic from the eclectic and diverse Island catalogue, there is music for every mood or occasion. Consumers are also able to shazam the beer can to access the playlists using the new Visual Shazam technology, so you are connected to the music in seconds.

As a lover of music and craft beer and understanding our heritage of pushing boundaries and innovation it seemed the most natural thing to create our own beer and accompanying Spotify playlists. Partnering with a talented local brewer is an extension of the A&R process for us and an example of how we nurture and invest in the creative community  Glenn Cooper, Senior Marketing Director  Island Records

The groundwork has been laid and the excitement and energy around the beer is building. Boutique Bar Brands, a London based drinks agency at the forefront of the UK craft beer industry, will be responsible for developing sales of the beer in the UK and export markets. Boutique Bar Brands specialise in marketing drinks brands and have extensive experience seeding brands into the UK market.

We are very proud that Boutique Bar Brands have been involved from an early stage on this exciting project. It was very interesting to understand, and help shape the vision, that Island Records had for the beer. After months of hard work with Robin, Two Tribes and the Island Records team we feel as though we have got a beer that can really go places both here and abroad. The response so far to the beer and the branding has been great and we will hope to have major wholesalers stocking soon." Phil Harding, Director  Boutique Bar Brands

Island Records Session IPA will be available in selected pubs, bars, restaurants. For more information and a list of stockists go to IRSIPA.com

Island Records IPA is available to buy at alesbymail.co.uk/island-records-session-ipa for 2.75

IRSIPA.com
Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o...
Airport development adding to economy, jobs in the region

Pittsburgh may always be known as the Steel City, but a wave of new industries are popping up near its airport to redefine business in the region.
Quote: blackbird Currently the jobmarket is pretty tight, even when you got a c permit.

When you don't fit in the description (profile) at least at 90 % it does not make sense, to apply.

The other factor is the age of the applicant, most jobs are offered unti you are 35, less up to 45 and only a few up to 50.

If he is on an F-Permit, how are his language skills ?



Quote: Mullhollander As the OP didn't mention whether the F permit holder has any marketable skills and interests and also whether he speaks a national language, it is difficult to point him in a specific direction. However, would suggest googling on "jobs fluchtling schweiz", "jobs asylant schweiz", "praktikum asylant schweiz", etc. to locate at least some jobs being offered specifically to asylum-seekers/ refugees.



If your friend is not well-integrated, e.g., doesn't speak a national language, lack of marketable skills, he might want to enroll in an "integrationskurs". SRF broadcast a documentary on one for the gastro industry at this link:



http://www.srf.ch/play/tv/dok/video/...0-14947e483e21 He is in good in speaking german and was able to work as a kitchen helper for the last 4 years. he is only 26 years oldHi, thank you for responding. He is good in speaking German and was able to work in a restaurant and pizza store for 4 years. Last edited by 3Wishes; 07.02.2016 at 14:06 . Reason: merging consecutive replies
Re: When can I open a bank account and where?



The postcard is a real pain in the backside as it isn't issued by one of the bigger brands and thus it isn't universally accepted (particularly online)... makes me feel like I am 16 again! I am having to rely on my UK credit cards for most online transactions.



I will probably be switching to UBS/CS pretty soon as the packaged deal seems to be well worth it when I take into account the postfinance monthly fees and the additional fees + crappy exchange rate that I get when using my UK cards. PostFinance will open an account with just a confirmation that you have registered. However, you will be subject to a CHF15 fee for their basic account. This will drop to CHF5 per month when you get your permit and send it to them. You will not have access to a credit card (unless you opt for a prepaid credit card) till you have been here for at least 1 year.The postcard is a real pain in the backside as it isn't issued by one of the bigger brands and thus it isn't universally accepted (particularly online)... makes me feel like I am 16 again!I am having to rely on my UK credit cards for most online transactions.I will probably be switching to UBS/CS pretty soon as the packaged deal seems to be well worth it when I take into account the postfinance monthly fees and the additional fees + crappy exchange rate that I get when using my UK cards.
The Red Sea is known as one of the best tourist destinations for good relaxation and scuba-diving, but no one can even imagine that this place is inhabited by many sea creatures that are still waiting to be discovered. An international team of biologists, which included researchers from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, found and explored a new kind of beautiful luminous creatures. For the first time they showed that the localization of glow in certain parts of the body can help to distinguish different species of organisms that have identical structure. The collections of the MSU have been enlarged by these new fauna species and their DNA. The results of the study are published in PLOS ONE.

Mollusca decorated with Christmas lights

During the investigations of the biodiversity of coral reefs of the archipelago Farasan (Saudi Arabia, south of the Red Sea), biologists observed marine life under the UV-light with yellow filters. As a result they found "fluorescent lanterns", that were very similar to hydrae from the Biology school textbooks. But unlike their distant relatives who lead a solitary life in fresh water new species from the Red Sea form spreading colonies decorating miniature shells of gastropods Nassarius margaritifer (20-35 mm in length) with garlands of green lights. These molluscs bury themselves in the sediment during the day and at night crawl out to the surface to hunt other invertebrates.

"Sea hydroids, unlike hydrae, are often found in colonies and canbranch off tiny jellyfish", -- says Vyacheslav Ivanenko, one of the authors of the research, the leading researcher of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. "The unusual green glow of these hydrozoas (presumably, a new species of the genus Cytaeis, whose body length reaches 1.5 mm) was revealed in the peristomal area of the body".

Such unusual symbioses are poorly studied, and the role of the glow has not been investigated yet at all. The zoologists suggest that glow around the mouth of polyps may attract prey. "Fluorescent flashlights" may be visible to other invertebrates in the moonlight, and at sunset and sunrise. The discovery raises new questions. It has yet to find out how much these polyps are "fussy" choosing their host, how the activity of Nassarius snails and luminous hydroids change during the day, and how the fluorescence varies within species and between closely related species of hydrozoa.

The green glow of the Nobel Prize

Fluorescence is a glow of some proteins or pigments under light illumination, fading instantly after the end of the illumination. Fluorescent proteins are widespread among the corals Anthozoa and hydroid jellyfishes, and also were found in some lancelets (Cephalochordata) and combjellies (Ctenophora).The scientist Osama Shimomura was the first who isolated the famous green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria that was later widely used in experimental biology as a glowing marker for the study of protein work in cells. In 2008, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Osama Shimomura, Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien "for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP".

According to zoologists, the fluorescence of hydrozoa is studied only in case of six species, in some cases -- even at the early stages of development (eggs or jellyfishes before their attachment to the substrate). The fluorescence of some of them is localized on the tentacles or stalk, and not around the mouth, or shifted to another part of the spectrum. The maximum of fluorescence emission of the new species of the genus Cytaeis is at 518 nm.

"The comparison of the fluorescence of hydroid found in the Red Sea to those of other hydroids of the same genus, analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of the hydroid and evaluation of the data presented in the gene bank allowed to reveal the species-specific fluorescence of morphologically indistinguishable species of Cytaeis. Thus, using hydroids as an example, the researchers first demonstrated the ability to use peculiarities of the localization of the fluorescence for discrimination of similar invertebrates. The fluorescence can be useful for quick identification of hardly recognizable species and for the studies of ecological peculiarities and distribution of hydroids and their hosts -- molluscs", -- says Vyacheslav Ivanenko.

So close to wonders

According to Vyacheslav Ivanenko who discovered unusual polyps, a great number of new species with unusual features are still waiting for the researchers in the shallow waters of seas, accessible with scuba gear, including Russia.

###
Hi All,



Kindly help in calculating my ACS points. I have graduated in Computer Science and started my career in June,2006 as a software engineer and worked in 5 different organizations. As per my understanding, ACS will deduct first 2 years of my experience, so with that i will be getting 10 points as on date. Total points would be 55. I will be completing 10 years this June. So i will be getting extra 5 points, which then would be 15 points and total would be 60.(as per my knowledge)





1. For eg., I have left company on 21st May,2011 and joined company B on 6th June,2011, so gap of 2 weeks here will be deducted while assessing my experience?

2. When would be the appropriate time to apply for EOI? (Now or in June after completion of 10 years)

3. Even after completing 10 years, Do i need to consider those 2 weeks mentioned in point 1 and plan to apply by extending two more weeks?

4. I am yet to apply for ACS. Should i apply now or wait until June,2016?



Kindly help me in knowing the above points.



Thanks Alot!!

Kumar
In the year since my mother-in-law's passing, my wife has discovered many hidden treasures including a certificate of marriage with information confirming that her parents were married in San Antonio. My wife's mother, Marjorie Brown, was from Harlingen; and her father, Weldon Lee Jordan, was from Stockdale, and they met in 1937 while both were attending Alamo Business College. The certificate shows that they were married on July 3, 1938, by the Rev. L.E. Craig, but has no information identifying Rev. Craig's church, although a slip of paper in the envelope with the certificate shows his address as 442 Cumberland Road and what appears to be a telephone number of "G 1559." From an Internet satellite view of the Cumberland Road address, it appears that a small apartment complex may now exist there, so we have concluded that at the time of the wedding, that address was the home of Craig and his wife Marcia, who signed the certificate as a witness.

From my mother-in-law's "Brides Book" that was found with the certificate, we also learned that on July 8, 1938, upon their return from a short honeymoon trip to Harlingen and Stockdale, they were treated to supper by "Mr. Hankins at the Gunter Cave" which we assume was a cafe located in or near the Gunter Hotel. An Internet search found a San Antonio Evening News advertisement dated August 1, 1919, for "The Cafe" located in the Gunter Hotel, but I saw nothing identifying a cafe referred to as "The Cave." Any additional information that you may be able to provide regarding the Craigs or "The Cave" will be greatly appreciated.

Marcus D. Williams, Jr., Charlotte

The Rev. Lee Everett Craig, born in 1896, served from 1935 through 1942 as pastor of the Pruitt Avenue Baptist Church, formerly the Hill Crest Baptist Church on West Theo Avenue. It was built in 1923 at 802 Pruitt Ave., at the intersection of Pruitt and Edwards Street (a location since disrupted by the construction of Interstate 35). The ministers wife was Ann Haislip Craig, a pianist who sometimes played for weddings and other church services. The couple had three children, sons Lee Jr. and Billie and daughter Marcia, who would have been 18 years old when she witnessed the Jordans wedding.

A volunteer at the San Antonio Conservation library checked the 1938 city directory and found the Craigs residence listed at 442 Cumberland Road. The addresses of Craigs home and his church are only a few blocks apart  two minutes, according to a Mapquest search of the approximate contemporary locations.

So young Marcia Craig could have been pressed into service for what used to be called a parsonage wedding  a simple ceremony in the officiants home attended by few guests, if any  or might have gone with her parents to witness the nuptials in the nearby church.

Lee Craig Sr. held the Pruitt Avenue pulpit for nearly eight years; the family had moved a few blocks from their former residence to 158 South Park Blvd., even closer to the church. After Lee Jr. was killed in an electrical accident while on duty at Kelly Field (later AFB), on Aug. 5, 1943, the elder Craig became an Army chaplain, serving for six months on and near the front lines with the Third Army in France without a scratch, according to the San Antonio Light, Feb. 25, 1945. He was then transferred to the Army and Navy Hospital at Hot Springs, Arkansas, for treatment of arthritis.

Craig later served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Leakey, retired to Kerrville and died at age 100 in 1996. His wife had preceded him in 1979. It appears that both the Craigs home addresses during his Pruitt Avenue pastorate were rental properties, rather than parsonages owned by the church, but that doesnt mean the pastor couldnt have chosen to perform small weddings in his own home. Neither his church nor his house at the time of the Jordans wedding were close to their alma mater, Alamo Business College, established in 1885 and then located on the fifth floor of the Hicks Building on the northwest corner of Broadway and East Houston Street. An ad for the college in the San Antonio Express, 1936, says it was under the direction of Wilson M. Shafter and W.C. Hankins. The latter was described as the schools president in an Aug. 4, 1940, advertorial in the Express, in which the school promoted its individual attention and individual progress that made it possible for students to finish the course faster than they might in some other schools.

The restaurant Hankins took them to must have been The Cafe at the Gunter Hotel in idiosyncratic penmanship that made the F look like a V. When the hotel opened, it boasted a Grande Cafe on the ground floor off the lobby with Pompeian pillars, oak ceiling and Caen stone (French limestone) wall (opening) upon the terrace and garden, says the Light, Nov. 7, 1909, On the second floor, there was a Japanese tea garden, offering dainty viands, beverages and delightful sun baths nine months out of the year. The hotel promised to serve three meals a dayclub breakfast, businessmans lunch (and) table de hote dinners in the evening.

Starting in 1915 and continuing through the 1920s, the Gunter Cafe as such advertised in both daily papers, reaching beyond hotel guests to invite local families to forget the worries incident to dinner at home and enjoy roast beef and other prime cuts from a kitchen inspected and OKd by the state health commissioner, in a refined atmosphere of flattering lighting and conditioned air.

The Gunter Coffee Shop opened under that name in 1936, but it seems to be a renovated version of the cafe, since an announcement in the Express, Sept. 27, 1936, says that 600,000 people a year patronize the newly opened eatery, already nicknamed The Center of Everything. Open 24 hours, the coffee shop was more than the name implies, serving Irish stew, steak, lamb chops, Long Island duckling and more - a variety of selections at sensible prices. A congratulatory ad from a local bank offers sincere good wishes for continued success.

It sounds like the cafe redux and a nice place to take two young people embarking on married life. Despite the grand reopening hoopla, the cafe/coffee shop probably was so well-known under the original name that whoever wrote it in the brides book  sometimes filled out by a helpful church lady  could be forgiven for reverting to the old name with a quirky flourish.
South View football playing for volunteer coach with cancer

John Bell was given 60 days to live in August, but he was determined to rejoin South View football. The volunteer coach accomplished that goal in Week 9.
Cindy Crawford worried about looking "frumpy" in front of Prince William.

Cindy Crawford

The 49-year-old supermodel was invited to meet the prince when he was a teenager and his mother Princess Diana - who died in a car accident in Paris in August 1997 - at Kensington Palace and she struggled to decide what to wear in order to project an appropriate image.

She said: "I was like, 'What do I wear?' because Diana had a teenage son and I didn't want to be too frumpy, but this was Kensington Palace and I wanted to be invited back."

Cindy was stunned when Diana - who also had younger son Prince Harry with her ex-husband Prince Charles - herself invited her to visit her and William, who famously had a crush on the supermodel.

Cindy recalled to Britain's HELLO! magazine: "She was so lovely because she actually called my office herself.

"She said, 'Hi, it's Princess Diana' and my assistant was like, 'Yeah right'. But it actually was.

"I was going to London to do a thing for Pepsi, so I arranged to meet them at Kensington Palace. It was cool for me."
Bobby Davro would like to return to 'EastEnders' - but only for a "few little episodes" and "not too regularly."

Bobby Davro

The 57-year-old comedian walked away from the BBC One soap in late 2008 following 14 months portraying the lovable cabbie Vinnie Monks but he has admitted he hasn't ruled out a return in the future but it will only be temporarily.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: "I would go back in, I'd love to go back in for a few little episodes and come back out again. But if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen, and if they ask me I'll go. That's what I rather like, I don't want to be there for another year or two.

"I've done that, I've got that T-shirt. Last time they saw me off in a car and they said you can always come back if you want to and maybe I will come back if they ask."

However, the talented actor doesn't know where he'd slot into the storylines if he was brought back in as Vinnie because he doesn't make the effort to watch the soap - and never has.

He explained: "I never watched it, I never watched it when I was on it and I never do now. Occasionally I will, if I'm having my tea. I like the show, I liked being in it. But I wouldn't go in that regularly. I wouldn't want to be typed cast."
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday, claiming it carried a satellite into orbit. But the launch was denounced by North Korea's neighbors and the U.S. as a long-range missile test that challenges the international community. The rocket was launched around 9.30 am local time from North Korea's northwest Dongchang-ri launch site in a southward trajectory and reportedly dropped its first stage into the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula. Three hours after the launch, North Korea said through an official broadcast that it succeeded in placing the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite into orbit. The satellite is named after the country's late leader Kim Jong Il. This is North Korea's first long-range rocket launch since December 2012. Under U.N. Security Council resolutions, the country is banned from conducting any launch using ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, following a joint request from the U.S., Japan and South Korea. North Korea has claimed it carried out a successful test of a hydrogen bomb on January 6, its fourth nuclear test, also in violation of the U.N. resolutions. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Mumbai: Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines hit another air pocket with two real estate developers slapping eviction notice on it for allegedly defaulting on rent payments since last November.

The airlines sources confirmed the development and said the management is negotiating with the developers to resolve the deadlock.

The cash-strapped airline has a rented property in the Andheri suburb of the city, from where it is running a part of its operations, while the main administrative office is located at the Kingfisher House, which the promoter Mallya has been planning to monetise to raise some working capital funds for the airline.

"Senior airlines representatives are in talks with some of the developers for quite some time now to resolve the deadlock and arrive at a solution," Kingfisher Airlines sources told PTI here today.

The airline spokesperson, however, was not available for comment.

The notice by city-based developers - Samruddha Realtors and Dhruvam Realtors - is understood to have been served on 11 April through their solicitors, giving a month's time to vacate the space held by the airline at Andheri (East).

Kingfisher has been struggling for survival for nearly a year and has been defaulting on payments against lease rentals, oil purchases, landing and parking fee and even service tax and TDS.

The airline has a debt burden of over Rs 7,000 crore, and accumulated losses of Rs 6,400 crore. It also owes around Rs 280 crore towards the Airports Authority of India and Rs 518 crore to Hindustan Petroleum in fuel dues.

In the absence of any succour from lenders, the airline has reduced its operations to one-third from 400 flights a day with just 20 aircrafts.

Income and service tax authorities had many a time frozen its bank account for defaulting on tax payments.

PTI
Visakhapatnam: Terming the recent death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche on the Siachen glacier "painful", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that withdrawing troops from the world's highest battlefield could not be a solution.

"This incident is painful to me personally, but the solution that is suggested is not a proper analysis," he said, referring to demands that Indian soldiers be withdrawn from the glacier.

Asked if the proposal to convert Siachen into a "peace mountain" still exists, the minister said: "The decision (on deploying troops) on Siachen is based on the security of the nation."

He said the loss of human lives on the Siachen had come down in recent years due to improved facilities.

"We have lost thousands of soldiers to get control (of the glacier)... The loss of life is less in the last few years," he told reporters on the sidelines of an International Maritime Conference here.

He said the incident had nothing to do with preparedness. "I don't find any loose ends. It's an avalanche... These are unpredictable in nature."

Parrikar said the search operation was on though there was little hope of survival of the soldiers.

"The hope of any survival is nil. They are covered in tonnes of ice," he said.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh suggested in 2005 that the world's highest battlefield be converted into a "peace mountain" without redrawing the boundaries between India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan maintain permanent military presence at heights of over 6,000 metres or 20,000 feet. Both have lost many men to extreme cold in the area where temperature can dip to minus 50 degrees Celsius.

The army has meanwhile deployed advanced equipment to search for its men. These include wall penetrating radars.

Ten soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were buried on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their post located 19,000 feet above the sea level on the southern side of the glacier.

IANS
New Delhi: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin says she did not criticise Islam in her controversial novel Lajja and the fatwa against her is because of her criticism of the religion in many of her other books.

"Many believe that I have criticised Islam in Lajja and the Muslim fundamentalists of Bangladesh have issued a fatwa against me - both untrue. I have not criticised Islam in Lajja and the fatwa is not because of Lajja. The fatwa is because I have criticised Islam in many of my other books," she says.

"Lajja can be seen as a symbol of protest. It is a protest against the violence, hatred and killings that are going on all over the world in the name of religion," Nasrin writes in the preface of a new English translation of "Lajja" brought out as a special 20th anniversary edition.

The fresh edition, translated by activist-writer Anchita Ghatak, is published by Penguin Books India.

52-year-old Nasrin says Lajja will remain relevant as long as the incidents described in it continue to happen and as long as there is conflict between people of one religion and another. According to her, Lajja does not speak of religion or hate, it speaks of humanity and love.

A savage indictment of religious extremism, Lajja, written in 1993, was banned in Bangladesh but became a bestseller in the rest of the world.

It tells the story of the Dattas who have lived in Bangladesh all their lives. Despite being members of a small Hindu community, they refuse to leave their country. But their world begins to fall apart after the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

Nasrin had to leave Bangladesh in 1994 in the wake of death threat by fundamentalist groups for her alleged anti-Islamic views. She is now a citizen of Sweden. She has been getting Indian visa on a continuous basis since 2004.

She had been living in exile since 1994 and has lived in the US, Europe and India in the last two decades. However, on many occasions she had expressed her wish to live in India permanently, especially in Kolkata.

The writer had to leave Kolkata in 2007 following violent street protests by a section of Muslims against her works. Earlier this month, the Centre gave a one-year visa to Nasrin allowing her to stay in India till August 2015.

Nasrin says even today, the "politics of religion does not allow the subcontinent to become civilised" and its people to become truly educated.

"My book is primarily a testament to the savagery of religions in the Indian subcontinent. Relgion drives people to madness, at which point they do not hesitate to bandon even basic humanity."

Some of her other works include Dwikhondito, Oporpokkho, Amar Meyebela and Utal Hawa.

Nasrin's works have won her the prestigious Ananda Puraskar in 1992 and 2000. She has been recognised with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Parliament, the Kurt Tucholsky Award from the Swedish PEN, the Simone de Beauvoir Award and numerous other awards and doctorates.

PTI
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has come under attack from Islamist parties and groups supporting militancy in Kashmir that accused him of being soft on India and advocating peace.

The groups led by Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed held a conference outside National Press Club here to mark 'Solidarity Day' with Kashmiris on Saturday.

It was Saeed's first major public appearance in the capital after three years, showing defiance towards the government.

While taking to task the government, Saeed praised army chief General Raheel Sharif.

"The Prime Minister is bound to follow the path of Quaid-i-Azam (Mohammad Ali Jinnah), Liaquat Ali Khan and the founding fathers. He should not betray the Kashmir cause," Saeed said.

He asked Sharif to own the "Kashmir cause" and praised the United Jihad Council (UJC) which had claimed the Pathankot attack.

"They (UJC) came to the rescue of Pakistan after the Pathankot attack and it is time that we too own the Kashmiris," Saeed said.

He also stated that the army chief was right when he said "Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition".

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman Khalil of Ansarul Ummah, Mian Aslam of Jamaat-i-Islami, Senate Deputy Chairman and central leader of JUI-F Abdul Ghafoor Haidary and a former legal aide of former president general Pervez Musharraf -- Ahmad Raza Kasuri -- also participated in the conference.

Haidary said there could be no peace in the region without resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"Both India and Pakistan are pitching their resources in defence while hundreds and thousands of citizens do not have food and shelter," he said.

Criticising Pakistan, Kasuri said the country had confined the Kashmir cause to a ceremonial day only.

"We need to look ahead and after developing a consensus among political parties there should be a full-fledged assault by Foreign Office against India," he said.

Dawn reported that not only was the conference heavily attended by workers and followers of JuD, it also showcased the high degree of technical advancements made by the group.

JuD security personnel stationed at various positions wore jackets of different colours -- clearly defining their duties.

Last year, only a few rallies were organised to mark the Kashmir Day and JuD held a rally from Zero Point to Aabpara chowk led by its leader Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki who criticised the UN and the US for their indifferent attitude towards alleged Indian human rights violations in Kashmir.

PTI
BRUSSELS The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) condemned North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday, saying it was in direct violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"I strongly condemn the launch by North Korea of a rocket using ballistic missile technology today, which follows the North Korean nuclear weapons test on January 6," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.

"This launch is in direct violation of five United Nations Security Council Resolutions, which repeatedly call for North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme, to re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching and not to conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology," he said.

He called on North Korea not to threaten with, or conduct any launches using ballistic missile technology and to refrain from any further provocative actions.

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Mark Potter)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Every country has a long list of days when it pays lip service to a cause or remembers a politician by garlanding their statue and removing bird droppings.

For Pakistan, one such occasion for ritualistic lip service is the Kashmir Solidarity Day, which falls on 5 February every year since 1932. On that day, politicians in Pakistan reiterate their commitment to the Kashmiri cause and the militants who operate from its territories renew their vows of a long struggle, terror attacks on Indian soil and lambast their own government for betraying Kashmiris.

This year was no different.

Like Indian politicians of all hues, faiths, ideologies and histories contradictory to the Mahatma's who rush to the Raj Ghat to remember Gandhi, on Friday Pakistani leaders and militants made the perfunctory gestures and noises about Kashmir.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the lead: Resolution of all issues lies in mutual dialogue. India and Pakistan will have to think about the well-being and progress of their peoples, he said.

Sharif was addressing a joint session of the Pak-occupied Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly and Kashmir Council on the Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Kashmir, he said, is a permanent part of Pakistans national policy and no Pakistani could ignore Kashmiris as this relationship was based on history, geography, region and culture. Kashmir has always been in our minds, he added, terming the issue a test of vision for the regional leadership.

A day later, Radio Pakistan radio quoted Sartaz Aziz, Sharif's advisor on foreign policy, saying, "Islamabad is urging the international community to fulfill its responsibility towards implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir."

Though Pakistan appeared keen to raise the ante on Kashmir with well-timed ritualistic statements, very few people in the Valley believe that its current stand is to be taken seriously.

"Pakistan has to maintain consistency and firmness in its Kashmir policy so that the world could know about the sufferings of oppressed Kashmiris and their right to self determination demand is achieved, Hurriyat (Geelani) spokesperson Ayaz Akbar said in a statement.

The Hurriyat, however, was happy that Pakistan is trying to bring Kashmir back on the diplomatic table. The way Sharif reiterated his stand and advocated the right to self determination for Kashmiris, it has definitely encouraged the Kashmiri nation and instilled a new lease of life to the struggle," Akbar said, a sentiment that was echoed by separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Farooq, chief of Hurriyat (M) called Sharif's statement historic and based on political realities of Kashmir. (Sharif's statement) not only speaks of a courageous approach to end the present confrontation and distrust between the two countries but also reflects the sincere intentions of Sharif about a just resolution of the Kashmir issue, Farooq said.

Many feel Sharif's statement is a ploy to address the domestic constituency and militants and to keep the Hurriyat on its right side. Sharif is facing the heat from hardliners for his peace gestures towards India and his recent camaraderie with Indian Prime Minister, who made a surprise pit-stop in Lahore in December, indicating his desire to restart dialogue between the two countries.

Modi's proactive diplomacy, however, suffered a setback when terrorists from across the border attacked an airbase in Pathankot within days of the visit, leading to cancellation of talks between foreign secretaries of the two countries scheduled in January.

While Modi was applauded for the bold gesture, Sharif got mixed reviews. "The credit for this ingeniously choreographed Bollywood-style venture goes entirely to Narendra Modi, who from the very first day after assuming his office has been in the drivers seat, not only controlling the temperature in Islamabad by keeping it constantly in a reactive rather than active mode but also managing almost every development in India-Pakistan relations. Modi is a master of creating illusions that only a seasoned chess player would make against an amateur rival. He knows when to move his chess pieces and when to readjust them. He also knows when to checkmate and how to reposition his piece without even being seen doing so," Pakistan-based The News International argued, summing up the mood among Nawaz's critics.

Others in Pakistan believe that Kashmiris may have lost their faith in Pakistan because of its history of vacillations and about-turns on the issue. The mood on the ground, The Dawn said, may not be entirely pro-Pak now. So, Sharif may have been tempted to discard his "reactive diplomacy" on Kashmir Day by trying to bring the Valley back on top of the agenda.

Sharif's next move will indicate if he is indeed serious to create diplomatic problems for India on the Kashmir front or was just performing an annual ritual.
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Pardon the pun, but you could say expectations are high around the country that this could be the biggest year ever for marijuana legalization.

Consumers and legislators are seeing green

To recap, the past two decades haven't been too shabby for marijuana supporters. Some 23 states, as well as Washington, D.C., now allow for physicians to prescribe medical marijuana for specific ailments, and four states -- Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska -- plus D.C. now allow for the sale of recreational marijuana to adults ages 21 and up. Even a decade ago the thought of marijuana being legal anywhere would have been somewhat far-fetched, but it's a reality now in four states, and perhaps more by the end of the year.

Being an election year, multiple grassroots campaigns are working hard to obtain the appropriate number of signatures and support to get a cannabis initiative or referendum on their states' ballots for November. Nevada has already obtained enough signatures to get a ballot initiative in front of voters, and it seems likely that Ohio, California, and perhaps as many as a dozen additional states may do the same.

At the same time, legislators in recreation-legal states appear to be happy -- the sale of marijuana is generating much needed tax revenue that schools, law enforcement, and drug abuse education programs can use. Colorado looks to be on pace for more than $80 million in tax revenue for 2015, up considerably from the $52 million reported in 2014. Proposition BB wound up apportioning schools about $40 million from the state's 2014 tax haul, meaning the education system in Colorado could wind up with around $60 million when the next budget is drawn up.

Legal marijuana's surprising twist in Oregon

Despite Colorado's success, it's Oregon that most people are looking to as the leading "green" state. Oregon had the largest legal shop infrastructure in place when recreational marijuana was legalized in a November 2014 vote, thus it was widely believed to be the state most capable of challenging black market prices. However, an interesting twist has emerged, at least since recreational marijuana first became available in October 2015.

Like other recreational marijuana states, Oregon boasts a marijuana tax designed to raise revenue. About 40% will go to schools, 35% to police and law enforcement causes, and the remainder to mental health and drug programs. Following a three-month tax holiday, a 25% tax went into effect on recreational sales Jan. 1, 2016. As noted by The Oregonian, when the Oregon Liquor Control Commission assumes control over the recreational marijuana industry later this year, taxes will drop to 17%.

Oregon's tax is a bit of a wild card. Whereas some states impose taxes on various levels of the retail marijuana process (such as growers, processors, and retailers), dispensaries in Oregon are free to pass along the taxes to their customers, absorb some or all of the costs of the tax, or ask growers and processors to share in the tax. State regulators aren't involved in marijuana pricing one bit, but are content as long as they get their fair share of tax revenue.

As The Oregonian pointed out after interviewing several dispensary owners, the responses from consumers and shop owners to the tax have been mixed. Some consumers buy the legal product without balking, while others have returned to the black market to purchase marijuana. Similarly, some shop owners are taxing their customers, and others are attempting to absorb the tax in an effort to establish a loyal customer base.

But it was comments from one shop owner, Brad Zusman at Cannadaddy's in Portland, which were eye-opening. Zusman pointed out that recreational consumers are spending an average of $38-$45 per transaction, compared to $100-$110 among medical marijuana patients. Why the difference? Medical marijuana patients don't pay Oregon's 25% tax, and these patients are allowed access to pricier concentrates and edibles -- something recreational customers aren't allowed to buy.

In Zusman's words, "It's really hard for any dispensary to survive just on recreational sales."

What a twist. Recreational sales, once believed to be the kingpin of success in the marijuana industry, are taking a backseat in profitability to medical marijuana patients in perhaps the most widely followed marijuana market in the United States.

It's tough to read too deeply into these figure considering that recreational marijuana has only been legal for a matter of months in Oregon and is still maturing, but it certainly adds fuel to speculation that medical marijuana may eventually be legalized at the federal level, or at least in a majority of states.

Twist or not, this remains a near-certainty

If we look at individual polls concerning medical marijuana, support among the public is overwhelming. CBS News' 2015 poll showed that 84% of respondents were in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. National polls tend to show a much slimmer majority in favor of legalizing the drug for recreational purposes.

Despite this support, the only near-certainty we have is that the federal government isn't planning to do anything anytime soon when it comes to marijuana's scheduling. President Obama has made it clear that marijuana reform isn't on his agenda in his final year in office, and it's unlikely that Congress will act during an election year when its members are busy garnering votes. Furthermore, many presidential candidates and lawmakers have expressed concerns over marijuana's safety profile. Until lawmakers believe they have a more encompassing profile of the drug, they're unlikely to alter their stance.

This indecision is what makes investing in marijuana businesses so potentially dangerous. Regardless of being legal in certain states, most banks simply won't deal with marijuana businesses for fear of federal prosecution. This means no access to loans, credit lines, or even checking accounts. Having to deal with cash also means extra security expenses for most dispensaries.

Marijuana businesses are also required to pay federal taxes, despite the irony that marijuana isn't legal at the federal level. U.S. tax code 280E ensures that they don't have the ability to take normal business deductions either, since they're selling a federally illegal substance. All told, it's a lose-lose situation for marijuana businesses, and it places their long-term survivability in doubt.

It'll definitely be worth keeping an eye on other states to see if their medical marijuana industries continue to bloom, but for investors wanting their piece of this rapidly growing pie, I'd suggest staying on the sidelines until we see changes at the federal level.
Able to spot enemies beyond line-of-sight, haul supplies, and with a little help from iRobot, to disarm improvised explosive devices, for years, robots have been a boon to soldiers on the battlefield. This year, they may become more of a nightmare.

In 2016, Russia's state-owned weapons dealer, RosOboronExport (literally, "Russia Defense Export") will begin producing and selling a new weapons system to client states around the world. The weapon in question, though, dubbed the Uran-9, isn't a tool to save soldiers' lives -- but to take them.

Uran-9 you see, is a tank. A robot tank.

Discovering Uranus

Uran means "Uranus" in Russian, and also "uranium" -- either way, a curious name for a tank. But Uran-9 is no ordinary tank. Smaller than a full-size battlewagon, but larger than the Izhevskiy Radiozavod mobile robot system MRK-002-BG-57 "Wolf-2" that we told you about last year, Uran-9 is operated by remote control, and thus does not need to be as large as a "real" tank -- because it carries no crew. What it does carry is a lethal weapons load:

Coaxial 7.62mm machine guns

30mm automatic cannon

"Ataka" anti-tank missiles

While no price has been announced for the weapon, Uran-9 is likely to be very cheap indeed -- much cheaper than a main battle tank. Judging from photos of the weapon, Uran-9 weighs only a few tons at most. It's clearly larger than iRobot's PackBot, for example, and Izhevskiy's Wolf-2, as well -- which has been said to weigh 1.1 tons.

But it's much smaller than Russia's new 48-ton T-14 Armata tank:

Paid by the pound, that suggests that Uran-9 will cost somewhere between the $150,000 sticker price on an iRobot PackBot and the $4 million to $5 million that Russian media report for the Armata's cost. Ballpark guess? I'd guess Uran-9 will retail for under $1 million.

That's a small sticker price on a very powerful small robot tank, and less than the American military pays for an MRAP, with less offensive capability. In addition to the small price tag, RosOboronExport touts the Uran-9's small size as a selling point.

Smaller size means a smaller silhouette, after all, and that makes Uran-9 harder to hit. Plus, Uran-9 is designed from the ground up for use in "local military and counter-terror operations, including those in cities." As RosOboronExport representative Boris Simakin explains: "This is a fast-growing segment of the arms market, so RosOboronExport will develop and implement a long-term marketing strategy for promoting such pieces of hardware, including as part of integrated security projects."

What it means for investors

It's also a description tailor-made to appeal to buyers in countries like Syria and Iraq, where urban warfare has become a fact of daily life, and to other potential buyers engaged in (or seeking to engage in) combat in densely packed urban environments.

As such, Uran-9 is likely to compete for sales against established U.S. weapons exporters such as General Dynamics (GD -0.81%), which seems particularly at risk. General Dynamics has had a hard time finding a market for its powerful, but pricey, Abrams main battle tanks in the past. Demand is so slack, closing down its Lima, Ohio, Abrams plant is a possibility reviewed almost annually.

While the lightly armored Uran-9 might not be a match for General Dynamics' Abrams on the battlefield, in the war for global arms sales, Uran-9's low cost could make this weapon a winner.
Republican presidential contenders led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie went on the attack against fast-rising rival Marco Rubio in Saturday's presidential debate, accusing the first-term U.S. senator from Florida of being too inexperienced for the White House and walking away from comprehensive immigration reform.

Christie and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who are vying with Rubio for support from establishment Republicans in Tuesday's New Hampshire nominating contest, compared Rubio's experience in the Senate to that of President Barack Obama, who also was a first-term senator when he was elected.

"He simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions," Christie said of Rubio. "We've watched it happen, everybody, for the last seven years. The people of New Hampshire are smart, do not make the same mistake again."

Rubio said he had shown in the Senate that he could get things done, and questioned Christie's record. "I think the experience is not just what you did but how it worked out. Under Chris Christie's governorship of New Jersey, they've been downgraded nine times in their credit rating," he said.

But Christie accused Rubio of resorting to "a memorized 30-second speech."

"We tried it the old way," Bush said of electing Obama, saying the country got "soaring eloquence" but few results.

Christie also led the charge against Rubio on immigration, criticizing him for backing a comprehensive reform bill in the Senate but then walking away from it when it foundered in the House under heavy conservative opposition.

Rubio said the legislation was never going to pass without popular support, and that the United States needed to begin enforcing immigration laws and improve border security before the public would have the confidence to back it.

"The question is did he fight for his legislation. It's abundantly clear that he didn't," Christie said.

Billionaire real estate tycoon Donald Trump holds a solid lead in polls in New Hampshire, with Rubio rising quickly into second place after a surprisingly strong third-place showing, behind U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Trump, in Monday's first nominating contest in Iowa.

The debate comes just three days before New Hampshire goes to the polls in the state-by-state battle to pick the candidates for the Nov. 8 presidential election.

Cruz bypassed an early chance to tussle with Trump, refusing to repeat his criticism from earlier this week that he did not have the temperament for the White House.

Trump noted that Cruz did not want to take him on.

"He didn't answer your question, and that's what's going to happen with our enemies and the people we compete against," Trump said. "We're going to win with Trump and people back down with Trump, and that's what I like."

Trump and Rubio have become the favored targets of the other Republican candidates this week as the candidates launched an all-out offensive across New Hampshire.

A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll on Friday found Trump leading with 29 percent, followed by Rubio and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Not on stage was businesswoman Carly Fiorina, who failed to meet host ABC's qualification debate requirements. Fiorina released an open letter excoriating the debate process as "broken."

(Additional reporting by Ginger Gibson and Alana Wise in Washington; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Mary Milliken, Paul Simao and Robert Birsel)
Saturday night at the GOP debate in New Hampshire belonged to the executives: the governors and the businessman.

Indeed, if Saturday is any indication of what kind of debater Donald Trump can be, then its safe to say that it really was a mistake for him to skip the Fox News debate before the Iowa caucus. He may very have won it if he had shown this kind of strength and adeptness just days before Iowans went out to vote.

With the exception of the moment when the crowd booed Trump during an exchange with Jeb Bush over eminent domain and stacking the audience with supporters brought in by the Super PACs backing him, he was unwaveringly in charge. His answers on how important being an effective dealmaker is as a leadership quality, his stance on increasing our use of torture tactics, forcing China to rein in North Korea and support for our veterans, Trump was measured and thoughtful.

It certainly helped that he wasnt that target on the stage since Marco Rubio filled that role on Saturday evening. As the candidate with the most momentum going into the debate  Rubio just moved into second place in New Hampshire  all eyes and attacks were on him. And he wasnt ready.

In the first third of the debate, Rubio repeated himself four times with the line this fiction that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing with only slight variations. Chris Christie called him out on it and Twitter noticed, too. It was a clear indication that Rubios surge isnt complete and that hes still green. And though he finished strong with his answers on how he could beat Hillary Clinton and why hes pro-life, the lasting memory will certainly be of him tripping over his words.

For the first time in any of these GOP debates, it was the governors who put in uniformly strong performances.

Christie didnt mince words. He touted his strong record in New Jersey of creating jobs, cutting taxes and the prison population by supporting drug treatment programs  all critical issues for New Hampshire voters. And he continued with his relentless attacks on Rubio as someone who has no experience  something that has become a serious issue since Rick Santorum endorsed Rubio and couldn't name an accomplishment of his  and he was definitely the winner on that issue. His attacks even prompted Bush to jump on board when he offered that Rubio has never faced a real challenge in his life.

Rubio had no serious reply to either candidates charge.

Bush was the most energized that weve seen him yet. He was bold and declarative in discussing the support he has from over 30 generals who believe hed be the strongest commander-in-chief and his plan to combat ISIS. He also discussed his strong conservative record in Florida wherein he cut taxes and dramatically reduced the size of government -- arguing persuasively for the importance of trusting the states to be the source of reform and innovation.

The third governor on stage, John Kasich, showed why hes so well liked in New Hampshire. He was personable and compelling in talking about the 400,000 jobs hes created, his work to make a deficit into a surplus and all while cutting taxes. He also continues to be the most balanced on immigration reform, arguing for the importance of keeping families together and finding a way to create a pathway to legal status.

It was a bad night for Ted Cruz who was a virtual non-factor on Saturday evening. He was hurt initially by the back and forth with Ben Carson over the fact that Cruzs campaign circulated a rumor that Carson had dropped out before Iowa voters went to caucus. He looked small and dishonest and the audience noticed.

For his part, Carson had a few good lines, but nothing substantial that will resonate with voters.

I would expect to see Trump stay on top after this debate and that there will be some upward movement for the governors. We do know that 40 percent of New Hampshire voters dont decide who theyre voting for until they walk into the booth so its still anyones game, but we may have very well seen the end of Marcomentum on Saturday night.
Members of the Border Security Caucus bashed the Obama administration on Friday for dismantling immigration policies.

Five Republican representatives spent the day touring the Rio Grande Valley section of the U.S.-Mexico border. They said that in speaking with U.S. Border Patrol agents and the Texas Department of Public Safety, they had learned details about illegal immigration the White House has been reluctant to share.

"Despite the story the Obama administration is telling, illegal border crossings remain abnormally high," Caucus leader Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas said in a press conference after the tour.

The Department of Homeland Security's latest numbers show a 150 percent increase in the number of migrant families apprehended from fiscal year 2014 to 2015.

Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com
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The clock is ticking toward the Feb. 23 deadline for the administration to provide Congress with details of how it will close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But it's still unclear where detainees who can't be released will be sent.

Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, sent a letter this week to President Obama reminding him that lawmakers expect a plan on their desks in just over two weeks, as mandated by the defense policy act. By Feb. 23, Congress should have specific details and cost estimates to close the military prison.

"Press reports suggest that the plan will not include many of the details required by law to be submitted to Congress, such as listing the specific U.S. facilities where detainees would be held and a full cost estimate," the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee wrote in the letter. "To be clear, failing to comply with the law would not advance [the president's] objective of closing the detention facility at GTMO."

Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com
strong>BEDFORD, N.H.  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scaled back his explicit attacks on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and instead needled Donald Trump in advance of Saturday's presidential debate.

Flanked by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Christie told a standing-room-only crowd gathered in a frigid warehouse that "showtime is over, it's game time."

"We got a debate tonight here in New Hampshire  I am so thrilled and happy that none of you people, I appreciate your restraint, none of you people made enough fun of Donald Trump to make him not come tonight," Christie said. "He's going to actually show up. Very excited about that to have Donald back. All the rest of us will be there to welcome him with open arms, we're really happy that he'll be back tonight.

The governor then compared the U.S. Senate to a grade school in a veiled shot at Rubio and Cruz.

Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com
Democratic and Republican presidential candidates and their campaigns on Saturday spread across New Hampshire, holding rallies and knocking on doors to sway voters before the GOP debate this evening and the primaries Tuesday, which appear make or break for several candidates.

Its really important, New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie said about his Saturday blitz. Thirty to 40 percent of these people are undecided, and they are going to be watching tonight.

Christie is among several Republican candidates who will have to do well tonight and in the primary to keep their campaign alive.

He along with fellow moderates Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are counting on appealing to the more independent-minded New Hampshire voters, compared to the social conservatives in Iowa who helped Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz win in Iowa earlier this week.

Weve knocked on hundreds of doors already, Kasich told Fox News early Saturday.

Roughly 250 Kasich volunteers were campaigning across the state and making thousands of phone calls this weekend, the campaign said.

Standing outside his Manchester headquarters, Kasich said a quick smile and conversation with a voter can make all the difference in the primary.

On the Democrats side, Hillary Clinton held a get-out-the-vote effort in Concord.

Clinton narrowly defeated primary challenger Bernie Sanders in Iowa but trails the Vermont senator by roughly 17 percentage points in New Hampshire.

You have to help Hillary Clinton. Shes always there for you, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told women at the Clinton rally. There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other.

Clinton was introduced by New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, who quoted from Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise."

Clinton played off that mantra and told voters that "we will rise once again to more prosperity."

Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, reminded ralliers at Franklin Pierce University, in Rindge, that Clinton won the state in 2008. But he also expressed confidence about winning next week if his team can bring out a decent vote."

Sanders offered his plans for a "political revolution," which includes single-payer health care, free tuition at public universities and Wall Street reforms.

Bush spoke and took questions from town hall participants for 90 minutes and showed energy and emotion in front of the more than 700 people, who attended the event inside a Bedford school. The crowd was one of his largest so far in the state.

He was introduced by former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, who told voters to choose "George Bush -- I mean, Jeb Bush." Ridge, a former Pennsylvania governor, was appointed to lead the agency by President George W. Bush.

Bush blasted billionaire businessman and GOP national front-runner Donald Trump for what he described as disparaging remarks.

He also said fellow primary challengers Cruz and Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio are gifted speakers but have no leadership experience.

Christie is marking his 70th day in New Hampshire and continues his criticism of Rubio and Cruz as first-term senators who aren't ready to be president.

He said debate viewers will see a clear difference between those who are prepared to lead and those who are just continuing to talk.

The ABC debate for GOP candidates is at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester.

Christie was joined at an event in Bedford by two Republican governors, Larry Hogan of Maryland and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, who share his experience of leading heavily Democratic states.

Hogan said all three are conservatives getting things done in their states. Baker praised Christie's determination, toughness and ability to advance his agenda by working with people who disagree with him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Obama is set to propose a $2.5 billion tax credit for businesses that invest in local community colleges and their graduates.

The Community College Partnership Tax Credit, which will be part of the president's fiscal 2017 budget plan unveiled Tuesday, would require businesses to donate funds for equipment, instruction or internships related to programs at local community colleges in areas such as healthcare, energy and information technology.

The $2.5 billion tax credit would be given over five years.

"Employers can define those skills and help colleges develop the curriculum that teaches them," James Kvaal, White House deputy director of domestic policy, told Reuters.

Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump mocked Jeb Bush Saturday for bringing in his mother to help his campaign.

"Wow, Jeb Bush, whose campaign is a total disaster, had to bring in mommy to take a slap at me," Trump tweeted. "Not nice!"

Barbara Bush, former first lady and mother to Jeb and his brother former President George W. Bush, had called out women who support Trump for president on Friday.

"I don't know how women can vote for someone who said what he said about Megyn Kelly," Bush said on CBS' "This Morning," referring to Trump's various attacks on the Fox News anchor. "Money doesn't buy everything. It's accomplishments and what you're doing and giving. It's incomprehensible to me."

Late last month, Bush released a campaign ad for her son in which she swiped at Trump. Trump responded by tweeting that Jeb "desperately needed mommy to help him."

Despite the back and forth between the two candidates, Trump continues to dominate while Bush's campaign lags behind. Trump placed in second in the Iowa caucuses, while Bush came in sixth. Trump leads in New Hampshire polling ahead of the state's primary Tuesday. Bush is currently sixth in the Washington Examiner's presidential power rankings, while Trump sits in third.

Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie roared into Sunday after a fierce debate performance hours earlier in which he slowed rising, fellow GOP presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, with the New Hampshire primary ahead.

Hes a good guy, but hes just not ready to be president, Christie told Fox News Sunday, after attacking Rubio for his inexperience in running government. I felt justified because Ive been saying this for a long time.

Christie is one of three GOP candidates with governor experience competing with Rubio for the so-called Republican establishment vote and trying to stay alive in the race, with insurgents Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also in the top tier.

I am tested and prepared and ready, said Christie, arguing that Barack Obama becoming president as a one-term senator, like Rubio, has been a disaster for the country.

We dont need another on-the-job training, he said. Im glad the American people saw (Rubios debate performance) before they made another mistake.

In response to Christies attacks at the ABC debate Saturday night in New Hampshire, Rubio, R-Fla., stumbled and repeated himself several times about Obamas running the country.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who like Christie is banking on a good showing in independent-minded New Hampshire, dismissed the notion that hes competing with Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for the establishment vote, despite having a career that includes 18 years in Congress.

I am not an establishment candidate, he told Fox News Sunday. And Im not an anti-establishment candidate.

He cited his individual efforts to reform welfare and the Pentagon and repeated that his 2016 platform includes a path to legalization for illegal immigrants in the country, while also calling for the completion of a wall along the southern U.S. border.

He also dismissed the notion that New Hampshire is do-or-die for his campaign.

All I have to do is finish well, he said. I have the best ground game.

Bush, who like Rubio is from Florida, and was considered a mentor to the senator, on Sunday continued his efforts to move ahead of Rubio.

The simple fact is, Im a leader, he told Fox News Sunday. Marco Rubio is a gifted speaker. But were competing for president of the United States, not the back bench of the Senate.

Trump was hit hard by Bush in the debate for his support of eminent domain, with Bush pointing out that Trump tried to take property for an "elderly woman" in Atlantic City for a casino parking lot.

"Shush," Trump said to Bush as he tried to respond to the attack.

Trump said several times Sunday that he thought he won the debate.

He also told Fox News that he has a good team in New Hampshire and called last weeks Iowa Caucuses, in which he lost to Cruz, complicated.

The billionaire businessman also suggested he would like to challenge Democratic presidential candidate Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the general election.

Trump suggested that Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, is perhaps a Communist.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Sunday touted his debate performance, amid criticism about scripted responses and him needing to repeat his opposition to President Obama to defend a sustained attack by GOP presidential rival Chris Christie.

Christie, the governor of New Jersey, argued during the Saturday night debate that Rubio would be like Obama if elected -- a freshman senator leading the country with essentially no experience running a government.

Rubio said several times during the attack that Obama indeed knows exactly what he's doing," which is trying to make the country like the rest of the world.

On Sunday, Rubio defended his response.

I would pay them to keep running that clip because that's what I believe passionately, he said on ABC's "This Week." It's one of the reasons why I'm not running for re-election to the Senate and I'm running for president."

In the debate exchange, Rubio also said that Christie could barely pull himself off the campaign trail to return to New Jersey to deal with last months blizzard.

They had to shame you into going back, Rubio said. You stayed there for 36 hours. And then he left and came back to campaign. Those are the facts.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor, accused Rubio of distorting the facts about his governorship, including some about the states financial problems.

That's what Washington, D.C., does -- the drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech. That is exactly what his advisers gave him, said Christie, who repeated a version of that response several times as Rubio continued.

Rubio is now in the top tier of GOP White House candidates with billionaire businessman Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

His recent rise has resulted in efforts by those in the GOP field, including Christie, to slow his momentum. As a Republican governor leading a Democratic-leaning state, Christie hopes to appeal to independent-minded New Hampshire voters in the state primary Tuesday to keep his campaign alive. He accused Rubio of scripted responses in the days leading up to the debate, too.

Rubio also argued Sunday, as proof his debate remarks resonated with supporters, that his campaign raised more money in the first hour of the debate than in any other debate.

As far as that message, I hope they keep running it. And I'm going to keep saying because it's true," he said. "Barack Obama  said he wanted to change the country. He's doing it in a way that is robbing us of everything that is special.
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton was on the defense again Sunday for her Wall Street connections, insisting the millions she has received in campaign contributions and speaking fees have never influenced her political stances and suggesting shes being unfairly targeted.

The campaign of primary challenger Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is now accusing Clinton, as a New York senator, of changing her position on a 2001 bankruptcy bill because of such contributions.

This is one of these innuendo insinuation charges that the Sanders campaign is engaging in, Clinton said on ABCs This Week.

The campaign is using a quote from Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren about the bill in which she suggests Clinton had taken money from such groups.

And more to the point, she worries about them as a constituency, Warren, an outspoken Wall Street critic, also said at the time.

Clinton argues she got the bill changed to be more favorable to women and children in cases such as divorce and bankruptcy.

So I did go to work on behalf of all these women's groups and children's groups because they needed a champion, Clinton said. It had nothing to do with any money whatsoever. And I resent deeply any effort by the Sanders campaign to so imply otherwise.

Clinton also said Sunday that she would release the transcripts of her Wall Street speaking engagements, following a question during a CNN televised town hall event Wednesday about getting paid $675,000 for three speeches to Goldman Sachs after she left her post as secretary of state.

That's what they offered, Clinton said in response to the question.

Clinton made the comment amid an ongoing battle with Sanders over their respective progressive credentials following her narrow victory in Monday's Iowa Caucuses.

I dont know any progressive who has a super PAC and takes $15 million from Wall Street, Sanders, whose campaign has been driven by modest contributions, said at the town hall event.

An Associated Press analysis of public disclosure forms and records released by the Clinton campaign found that she made $9 million from appearances sponsored by banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, private equity firms and real estate businesses.

Clinton said Sunday that shed release the transcripts but that others, including 2016 White House rivals, must do the same and suggested that shes being unfairly targeted, as she has in the past.

Let everybody who's ever given a speech to any private group under any circumstances release them, she said. I don't mind being the subject in Republican debates, the subject in the Democratic primary.  But at some point, you know, these rules need to apply to everybody.

In 1998, Clinton, as first lady, suggested her husband, President Bill Clinton, was the target of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

And she has more recently suggested that Republicans and other critics are grabbing at straws over her use as secretary of state of a private server and email accounts for official correspondence.

Sanders on Sunday declined to call for Clinton to release the transcripts.

I have no idea what she said, and I think the decision as to whether or not to release it is her decision, he said on CNNs State of the Union.
The top tier in the Republican presidential race endured hard-hitting and sustained attacks on the debate stage Saturday night, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in particular getting pelted by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for skipping Senate votes and leaning on anti-Obama talking points on stage.

The debate in New Hampshire  their last before the states upcoming primary  saw the middle-tier candidates scrapping to gain traction, frequently putting the top three finishers in Iowas caucuses on defense over their records. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz faced renewed criticism over his campaigns questionable caucus-night tactics, while billionaire businessman Donald Trump took heat from his old sparring partner Jeb Bush  and even the audience  over a development project.

But it was the clashes between Christie and Rubio that became most heated, and Rubio seemed to struggle at times to push past the tough-talking governors critique of his record.

You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable, you just simply havent, Christie said. Pointing to a sanctions bill, Christie said Rubio skipped the vote, adding: Thats not leadership, thats truancy.

Rubio fired back that Christie didnt return to New Jersey during the recent snowstorm until he was pressured. They had to shame you into going back, Rubio said.

But Christie seized on a recurring effort by Rubio to look past his GOP rivals by repeating a line about President Obama trying to change this country.

There it is. The memorized 25-second speech, Christie said, mocking Rubios allegedly rehearsed talking points on Obama. When Rubio again accused Christie of not wanting to return to New Jersey for the storm, Christie shot back: Is that one of the skills you get as a United States senator  ESP?

With the polls tightening ahead of Tuesdays primary, several Republican contenders on stage were looking for a late breakout, and Christie was unquestionably one of them. Whether his debate-stage attacks can knock Rubio off his stride and hurt his momentum going into Tuesdays primary remains to be seen. But Christies attacks were aimed squarely at questioning Rubios experience, an issue that the governors in the race have raised before.

Christie later went after Rubio for backing away from immigration reform legislation he once co-authored, saying he didnt fight for it. Rubio countered that the plan has no chance of passage until the American people are convinced illegal immigration is under control.

Cruz, too, was sharply criticized by Ben Carson over representatives of his campaign incorrectly spreading rumors on Iowa caucus night that he was dropping out of the race. It was a rare moment, as the normally non-confrontational Carson detailed the resources that have gone into his White House bid and questioned why Cruzs team would say he was suddenly leaving the race on the night of the first contest.

To think that I would just walk away just 10 minutes before the caucus  I mean, who would do something like that? he said. Carson called the rumors a good example of certain types of Washington ethics  Washington ethics basically says, if its legal, you do what you need to do in order to win.

Cruz, the Iowa caucus winner, insisted he knew nothing about the election night rumors, and again apologized.

Ben, Im sorry, he said.

Trump needled Cruz on the same controversy in his closing remarks, saying of his Iowa victory, Thats because you got Ben Carsons votes, by the way.

Cruz also had an awkward moment toward the end of the debate, when asked by the moderators about his stance on waterboarding. He said its enhanced interrogation and not technically torture, and he would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use. He then paused for several seconds, before resuming to recall legislation he backed prohibiting line officers from employing the technique  and say hed use whatever enhanced methods needed to protect America.

Trump was unequivocal. Id bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding, he said.

The Saturday night debate, hosted by ABC, was the candidates last before the New Hampshire primary. It also marked Trumps return to the stage  after he sat out the last debate over a dispute with debate host Fox News. But he returned for the face-off in Manchester, N.H., with his front-runner status now in jeopardy, after Cruz bested him in the leadoff Iowa caucuses and Rubio pulled off a strong third-place finish that has given his campaign fresh momentum.

Yet it was former Florida Gov. Bush who put Trump on his heels at Saturdays debate, in a dispute over eminent domain  the government power to seize property that Trump has supported.

Its a necessity for our country, Trump said.

Bush then accused Trump of using eminent domain to take property from an elderly woman for a project in Atlantic City. After Trump denied it and then accused Bush of trying to be a tough guy, Bush asked, How tough is it to take property from an elderly woman?

Trump at that point essentially took on the audience, which booed him repeatedly as he then accused them of being Bushs donors and special interests. Trump got the final word, telling Bush that the Canada-to-Texas Keystone pipeline they support is a private job that needs eminent domain to be completed. (According to local reports, the New Jersey woman in question ultimately kept her home by fighting the city in court, though she moved out several years ago.)

Despite being jeered by the audience for his donor charge, Trump did receive applause for his explanation of his position on health care. He vowed to repeal ObamaCare and replace it, but said, Were going to take care of people that are dying on the street.

Trump, earlier, also defended his temperament, challenging criticism from Cruz that Trump would be a trigger-happy commander in chief.

I actually think I have the best temperament, Trump said.

Earlier this week, Cruz responded to Trumps criticism of his Iowa caucus tactics by questioning his temperament and joking that with Trump in charge, Americans could wake up and find hes nuked Denmark.

Trump reminded the audience at Saturdays debate that he did not back the Iraq war.

I was the only up here who said dont go, dont do it, Trump said.

He also mocked Cruz, after the senator did not respond directly whether he stands by his words.

He didnt answer your question, Trump noted. People back down with Trump, and thats what I like, and thats what the country is going to like.

Trump still leads in New Hampshire, but recent polls show Rubio surging in the state, which votes Tuesday.

The debate at St. Anselm College featured the seven top-polling candidates. Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore did not make the cut.

It started with a hiccup, as the moderators appeared to, temporarily, forget to invite Ohio Gov. John Kasich to the stage. He then walked on. Still, Kasich fielded several questions at the debate, challenging his GOP rivals on suggestions they would deport millions of illegal immigrants.

He also talked tough, as other candidates did, about North Korea on the heels of reports that they launched a long-range missile.

We cannot continue to be weak in the face of the North Koreans, Kasich said.

Unlike in Iowa, the battle for the not-Trump vote is crowded and competitive in New Hampshire. Aside from Cruz and Rubio, Kasich and Bush are also polling well in the state. Christie had been running strong as recently as January but has seen his numbers slide in recent weeks.

Cruz, later on in Saturdays debate, was by turns tough and tender. He reiterated his goal to use overwhelming air power to take out the Islamic State. Citing reports about the emergence of a jihadist university in ISIS territory, he said that building should be rubble but added hed wait until freshman orientation to destroy it.

Later, he told the story of his half-sister Miriam who died of an overdose, speaking about addiction in a state where the problem is at crisis levels.

This is an absolute epidemic, we need leadership to solve it, Cruz said.

Fiorina, and even some rival candidates, had lobbied ABC and the Republican National Committee to let her debate Saturday despite the criteria disqualifying her. But ABC stood firm in its decision to stick by criteria announced before Mondays caucuses, after which three GOP candidates dropped out.
Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks about deploying the THADD missile defense system in South Korea, a defense official told reporters Sunday.

Yoo Jeh Seung, a senior South Korea Defense Ministry official, told reporters that the talks on THADD are aimed at bolstering South Korea-U.S. defense ties in the face of escalating tension with North Korea. The move is expected to raise tensions with China.

The announcement "is made in the context of a recurrent and continuing threat to peace and security to the Republic of Korea, to our Japanese friends, to the whole region. To the United States as well," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said Sunday.



North Korea defied international warnings earlier Sunday and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. The rocket was fired from North Koreas west coast and its path was tracked separately by the U.S., Japan and South Korea.

In response to the launch, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday. The group said in a statement that it "strongly condemns" the rocket launch and would respond with "significant measures."

The statement was approved by all 15 council members.

"There was a sense of the clock ticking and the need to move more expeditiously than the council had been able to do up to this point," Power said. "We will come up with something touch. We will come up with something comprehensive."



"This is a clear threat to the lives of many people."  Motohide Yoshikawa

Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Rafael Ramirez, the council president for February, told reporters an agreement on a new sanctions resolution could come next week.



Japan's U.N. Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said before heading into the closed council meeting that the missile passed over Japan and landed near the Philippines.

"This is a clear threat to the lives of many people," he said.

Motohide said "China calls for more dialogue," but what's needed now is pressure and speedy adoption of a robust sanctions resolution.

Britain, France and Ukraine also called for swift and tough new sanctions.

North Korea launched the missile after announcing an eight-day window in which the rocket would be fired. Washington and its allies consider it a further provocation and are pushing for tougher sanctions.

Pyongyang praised the launch, saying in a statement "the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star." Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

Japan televisions NHK reported the debris had fallen 155 miles off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula into the East China Sea, according to Sky News. It also showed footage of an object visible in the skies over Okinawa which was believed to be the rocket.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an "intolerable provocation." She said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people."

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that "North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of Pyongyangs four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The North's recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.

Fox News Jonathan Wachtel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 21-year-old male student at Cornell University has been charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity house.

Wolfgang Ballinger of New York City faces felony charges of attempted rape, criminal sexual assault, and sex abuse, all felonies. He was arraigned Thursday evening in Ithaca City Court and sent to Tompkins County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

The alleged assault reportedly occurred around 2 a.m. last Sunday. Following the incident, the fraternity Psi Upsilon was suspended.

It could not immediately be determined if he has an attorney.
The Coast Guard on Saturday suspended the ocean search for three persons missing after a mid-air collision involving two small planes off Southern California.

The search from 3:30 p.m. Friday to 9:15 a.m. Saturday with two 87-foot cutters found no survivors, the Coast Guard said.

Searchers were going to turn their attention to a recovery operation, hunting for bodies and wreckage with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department leading the effort with divers and sonar.

The collision occurred near the Port of Los Angeles at about 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. There was no word on what may have caused the accident.

Men ages 61 and 81 were believed to be aboard one plane, a Beechcraft. Coast Guard Capt. Jennifer Williams said wreckage and a pilots logbook have been found from that plane.

The other plane  a Citabria  was being flown by a 72-year-old woman. Air traffic controllers saw two aircraft apparently run into each other on radar, leading authorities to believe they may have collided. There forecast for Friday was clear and sunny.

"We don't want to give up until we really feel that there's no chance," Williams said, "that we haven't scanned the area, searched the whole area and looked for survivors."

The collision occurred about two miles outside the entrance to the port, where water depths were 80 feet to 90 feet. The LA Daily News reported that two identification numbers were recovered.

The crash site was near the Angels Gate light, a lighthouse at the San Pedro Breakwater that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The area is popular for flight students.

Richard Garnett, chief flight instructor with the Long Beach Flying Club, said the pilots practice in an area that is 10 to 20 square miles and at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. On a typical day, there will be three or four planes in the air at the same time.

"So with the amount of activity, actually, I think we've been fortunate," he said. "We are really diligent. I don't know why, what happened in this situation."

Friday's midair collision was not the first in the area.

In 2001, four people died when two Cessna airplanes carrying instructors and students collided 1,000 feet above the harbor. In 1986, two small planes flown by students collided. But the aircraft managed to return to their airports, and the four people on board escaped injury.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 19-year-old killed his mother and two neighbors before turning his gun on himself in a shooting that brought SWAT and various emergency vehicles to a rural area in Texas, authorities said Sunday.

Uvalde County Sheriff Charlie Mendeke said Dylan Westerburg gunned down his mother Friday afternoon in their home near Uvalde, about 85 miles west of San Antonio. He then went next door and killed two brothers, Arthur and Phinny Norton, Mendeke said.

Mendeke said investigators haven't determined a clear motive for the shootings. Westerburg lived with his mother in a small cabin about 20 yards from the Nortons' mobile home on the brothers' property.

Phinny Norton, 60, had some "sort of romantic relationship" with Westerburg's mother, 42-year-old Jennifer Diane Jacques, Mendeke said. Deputies had been called out to the property in the past because of domestic disputes but "nothing violent," Mendeke said.

Authorities arrived at the scene after a teenage witness called them. The teenage boy was with Arthur Norton, 58, when they saw shotgun shells and broken glass as they approached the Nortons' mobile home, Mendeke said.

"Mr. Norton enters the house," Mendeke said. "The kid who was with him hears and sees a gun blast and sees Mr. Norton fall to the floor" before running to call authorities.

When officers arrived they heard another gunshot. Not knowing whether there were multiple gunmen or whether the gunman was dead, authorities surrounded the homes and began evacuating people nearby.

It was during that search that they found Jacques' body. The family's dog had also been killed.

Mendeke said he called in about 50 to 60 officers from different agencies as well as a Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT team out of caution. Authorities closed the road leading to the property and they stayed there overnight.

"I didn't know how many shooters I had in the Norton residence when I found the mother," he said. "You're looking at farm- and ranchland. You could get into a dangerous situation."

The SWAT team finally entered the Nortons' mobile home on Saturday afternoon and found the Norton brothers and Westerburg dead inside. Mendeke said Westerburg had shot himself in the head.
A former commanding officer could be dismissed from the Navy over numerous misconduct allegations after a night of heavy drinking with his crew while he was in charge of the guided missile cruiser the USS Anzio.

Officials relieved Capt. Brian K. Sorenson of command in September, according to a report from the Virginian-Pilot. On Thursday, the newspaper obtained a report from the Navy on its investigation.

According to the report, Sorenson was drunk in public, used alcohol and had personal firearms aboard the Anzio, created a hostile work environment, used indecent language, sexually harassed female officers and misused government vehicles.

Sorenson's attorney, Greg McCormack, said his client looks forward "to this legal process, which will provide a forum for the truth to prevail."

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus ultimately will determine whether Sorenson remains in the Navy.

The incident in question occurred in late August when a party was planned for 10 recently promoted officers, the report said. Sorenson arranged for government vans to transport sailors from the Anzio to a Yorktown pub, even though some subordinates found it inappropriate.

Multiple officers drank to excess, the report said, including Sorenson. At one point in the night, Sorenson was allegedly sitting alone with a female crew member outside the pub and asked her multiple times to perform a sex act on him. The report said Sorenson later offered to give the crew member a surface warfare officer pin if she had sex with him.

Throughout the night, Sorenson reportedly continued to use vulgar language. He told investigators any inappropriate comments would have been in the context of what the Navy is demanding from its crew and weren't intended to be sexual.

Sorenson later pledged to his chiefs and officers he wouldn't have another drink while he was the commanding officer. However, the report said he told the officers that they all shared responsibility for allowing him to drink too much.


Federal prosecutors in Ohio want a judge to revoke the bond for one of four men accused of raising money for a former al-Qaida leader.

Court officials say Sultane Room Salim has twice violated terms of his release. They say he once briefly left a Columbus mosque while attending prayer services while out on bond.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday in Toledo.

U.S. marshals took Salim into custody Friday.

A federal judge in November released Salim from prison on a $500,000 property bond. He was ordered to live with his mother in eastern Ohio while he waited for a potential trial.

His attorneys have denied his involvement in what prosecutors say was an effort to raise money for former al-Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki.
A Midwestern community has united in a show of patriotism after an atheist organization targeted a local post offices God Bless America poster.

Freedom from Religion Foundation cried foul after the group noticed a God Bless America banner that employees at a post office in Pittsburg, Kan., had erected after Sept. 11, 2001. A lawsuit filed by FFRF on behalf of a Pittsburg resident forced the banner down in late January, The Christian Post reported.

But the signs removal after nearly 15 years of display had an unintended effect.

When news of the banners banishment spread, a business in the area, Jakes Fireworks, printed 1,200 God Bless America yard signs and 300 banners. Jakes gave away all of the signs within 45 minutes, according to the Post.

Obviously, were among the majority that didnt agree with the decision to take the sign down, retail sales director Jason Marietta told The Morning Sun.

But not all residents supported the post office flying the banner.

Lets call a spade a spade, Bert Patrick wrote in a Letter to the Editor for The Morning Sun. The sign was removed because the postal officials realized, most likely after consulting legal counsel, that the signs message violated the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from supporting any religion.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., however, said the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

It is outrageous that some would aim to divide a community over a banner that has been proudly displayed since Sept. 11, 2001, Moran wrote on Facebook. I commend the Pittsburg community for rejecting this decision and I stand with them.
New York officials will investigate an upstate nuclear power plant after radioactive water leaked into the groundwater below the facility, the governor said Saturday.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the water was contaminated tritium in the groundwater at the Indian Point Energy Center located in Buchanan. Cuomo called for the investigation after he said Entergy Corp., the plants owner, reported alarming levels of radioactivity at three monitoring sites, according to The Journal News.

The facility said the contaminated water didnt leak off site and didnt pose an immediate threat to public health, according to the paper. Cuomo has insisted a full investigation to take place.

Jerry Nappi, a spokesman for Entergy, said in an email to The Journal News that drinking water sources onsite and offsite were not affected and that tritium levels are more than a thousand times below federal limits.

While elevated tritium in the ground onsite is not in accordance with our standards, there is no health or safety consequence to the public, Nappi added.

Buchanan Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker said Entergy told local officials Friday about the tritium scare. Residents were not informed about the finding because there was no threat to the public, Knickerbocker told the paper.

The Indian Point Energy Center has been under close watch by New York officials since December. Cuomo ordered an investigation into the plant after a series of unplanned shut downs. A month later, Entergy filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Cesar Perales, seeking an order to toss out New Yorks unwillingness to give the plant a certificate to operate in the Hudson River.

The plant was shut down several times in 2015 due to numerous malfunctions. Opponents of the power plant have speculated the numerous shutdowns are a sign of the facilitys old infrastructure.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from The Journal News.
One of the first women to register as an Army combat engineer is under investigation after she disappeared from her post for a month and was designated a deserter.

Pvt. Erika Lopez turned herself into authorities Thursday night, the same day she was officially classified as a deserter, the Army Times reported. The Army has not yet publicly identified a reason for her absence.

Lopez, married with two children, was the first woman to register as an Army combat engineer in Tennessee and the fourth to register in the nation, according to The Washington Times. Overall, more than 150 female soldiers have shipped to training since the combat engineer position was opened to women in June, and almost as many are waiting to start training, according to The Army Times.

Lopez was supposed to report to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri on Jan. 4 after convalescent leave, but failed to show up. Lopez was first considered absent without leave on Jan. 5 and was dropped from the rolls Thursday, earning her deserter status.

After 30 days in AWOL status, a soldier is considered a deserter, and a federal warrant is issued for his or her arrest, a spokeswoman for Fort Leonard Wood said in a statement to the Army Times.

Lopez initially arrived at Fort Leonard Wood on Sept. 22, began training on Oct. 5 and was on week 11 when she was sent home on convalescent leave, the spokeswoman said. The complete training is almost 15 weeks long, according to the Army Times.

Pvt. Lopezs unit will look at all the facts and circumstances surrounding the situation and take appropriate action, the spokeswoman said.

Lopez appeared excited for the endeavor in an interview with WVLT before shipping out.

You make sacrifices your whole life for your children and for your family; this will be a sacrifice, she said in July. Women can do anything they set their mind to just as well as men. I dont really see any difference at all. I hope women will want to join.
One of Hawaiis most wanted criminals was shot and killed by police early Friday after he was spotted with a woman in a car at a shopping center, authorities said.

Ronald Barawis Jr., 38, of Kaliua-Kona, and a female passenger received multiple gunshot wounds at Puainako Center, according to Island Police. KHON2 News reported the incident started at 12:20 a.m. as police investigated the report of the sighting and later identified the individual as Barawis.

Police said he was spotted at a drive-thru and when officers approached him, he stepped on the accelerator and slammed into two police cars. Hawaii Police Assistant Chief Henry Tavares said police discharged firearms at the vehicle accelerating towards the officer.

One witness told the station police fired about a dozen shots at Barawis.

Those shots killed Barawis and injured the female passenger. The woman was flown to Queens Medical Center on Oahu where she was in critical but stable condition. Police havent released her identity and she wasnt arrested, according to KHON2 News.

Police said officers saw that Barawis had a shotgun, assault type rifle and semi-automatic handguns within his reach in the vehicle. Officers said they also saw a bulletproof vest on the backrest of the drivers seat, according to KHON2 News.

Barawis was wanted on two outstanding warrants for a parole violation and contempt of court, as well as resisting an order to stop an automobile, reckless driving and reckless endangering. He was also being sought for questioning for his alleged involvement in an attempted murder incident in December 2015.

Barawis was also recently featured on a Crime Stoppers television show, according to Big Island Now.

The two officers involved in the shooting are under investigation by Hawaii police as is practice in any officer-involved shootings. The officers were placed on administrative leave, according to KHON2 News.

Click for more from KHON2 News.
It's been eight years since California voters approved funding for the nation's first real high-speed rail system.

It promised to whisk travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours compared to six hours or more by car.

Eight years later, construction is years behind schedule, and the project has been plagued by legal, financial and logistical delays.

The $68 billion project is back in the spotlight this week as Central Valley landowners argue in court that the state can't meet those promises made to voters.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is also set to release its 2016 business plan this month.

Officials say they are considering extending the line north before it heads south. But opposition has grown in Southern California as the state studies potential rail routes.
California voters embraced the idea of building the nation's first real high-speed rail system, which promised to whisk travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, a trip that can take six hours or more by car. Eight years after they approved funding for it, construction is years behind schedule and legal, financial and logistical delays plague the $68 billion project.

The bullet train's timeline, funding and speed estimates are back in the spotlight for a longstanding lawsuit filed by residents whose property lies in its path.

In the second phase of a court challenge filed in 2011, attorneys for a group of Central Valley farmers will argue in Sacramento County Superior Court on Thursday that the state can't keep the promises it made to voters in 2008 about the travel times and system cost. Voters authorized selling $9.9 billion in bonds for a project that was supposed to cost $40 billion.

In recent months, rail officials have touted construction of a viaduct in Madera County, the first visible sign of construction. Though officials have been working for years to acquire the thousands of parcels of land required for the project, they currently have just 63 percent of the parcels needed for the first 29 miles in the Central Valley.

And as planning continues, opposition has mounted in Southern California, where bullet train officials are weighing four potential routes.

"You can't build a 520-mile system like this and not have some impacts somewhere," said Dan Richard, chairman of the politically appointed board that oversees the rail project. He said officials have tried to work with community leaders to solve problems when they arise.

Money remains the biggest challenge, but there are political hurdles, too.

As part of a deal with the Legislature to secure funding from California's fee on polluters, Gov. Jerry Brown's administration agreed to extend the rail system south to Burbank before it heads north. But at a recent legislative hearing, rail officials indicated that they may reverse course when the rail authority releases its new business plan later in February.

On the money side, California has the voter-approved bonds, $2.5 billion in federal stimulus funds that must be spent by September 2017 and a quarter of fluctuating revenues from the state's cap-and-trade program, which could eventually hit $500 million a year. Each of those funding sources carries political and legal risks, the state's independent legislative analyst has noted.

"What people are now talking about is we're going to end up with a 130-mile mound of dirt. They're going to run out of money sometime by 2017," said Stuart Flashman, an attorney who represents the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the state. "At that point they're not even going to be starting laying tracks. They're certainly not going to be having anything usable for trains."

The board chairman, Richard, said this month that the upcoming business plan could lower the project's overall cost, as the authority has inked contracts at lower-than-expected rates.

In responses solicited by the rail project, private companies earlier this year indicated strong interest in construction, supplying infrastructure such as train cars and operating the line. But virtually none said they were willing to take the financial risk until passengers are actually riding, which won't happen until at least 2022.

Also, an independent peer review group that oversees California high-speed rail added: "It is not uncommon for most new services to face initial losses, which could conflict with another mandate in the bond financing that states the rail service would not require an 'operating subsidy.''"

Other terms of that initiative also will be before Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny this week. A group of landowners in the Central Valley filed suit over the project, arguing that compromises made to cut the price mean the train won't be able to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in two hours and 40 minutes as voters were told. Critics argue trains cannot traverse the steep Tehachapi Mountains in Southern California at the necessary 220mph.

"I have never had one of our engineers or anybody come to me and say we're not going to be able to make the 2:40," Richard said. "We are committed to it, that is the law, that's what we're building."

Kenny previously ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, agreeing the state had failed to meet the mandates that it identify funding for the first useable segment before starting construction and have all the needed environmental clearances in hand. But an appeals court reversed the ruling, saying the lawsuit was premature.

Political winds could be shifting, too, depending on the details of the rail authority's anticipated business plan.

Republicans in the Legislature have always opposed the project, and support among Democrats has sometimes been tepid, though the Democratic governor has been a consistent advocate.

Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, has promised "a broader range of oversight actions in 2016" on high-speed rail, which will include a hearing next month by the Assembly Transportation Committee.
A Texas newspaper announced its plans Saturday to publish the names and addresses of every San Antonio police officer following a deadly officer-involved shooting last week.

Stephanie Zarriello, publisher of the weekly tabloid San Antonio Observer, said Antronie Scott had been unjustly murdered, Fox San Antonio reported. She described Scott as being in a position of surrender when he was shot and killed on Feb. 4 by Officer John Lee, a 10-year veteran of the police force.

"Like Ku Klux Klansman with hoods, [officers] do everything they can in order to protect their identities for fear of being brought to justice," Zarriello said during a press conference the paper held on behalf of the Scott family, according to KENS 5.

"Just as the names and addresses of sex offenders are publicized in order to protect the public from their wicked behavior, we feel that our community has the right to the exact same level of protection," said Zarriello.

On Feb. 4, undercover officers were following Scott, 36, who was wanted for felony warrants, said San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus, KENS 5 reported.

As Scott exited his white Mercedes, an officer reportedly told him to show his hands. When Scott quickly turned around, an officer fired one shot, striking Scott in the chest and killing him, McManus told the station. McManus reportedly said the investigation to date has revealed that Scott was not armed and was holding a cellphone when the officer fired his weapon.

The department said in a statement sent to Fox San Antonio: "The San Antonio Police Department is continuing its investigation of the officer involved shooting. We will continue to provide the public with updates into both the criminal and administrative investigations as information becomes available. We are committed to conducting an unbiased and transparent investigation into this matter.

Another fatal shooting involving a San Antonio police officer occurred on January 17, according to a document posted on the SAPD website. In that case, a 27-year-old white man who was carrying or exhibiting a deadly weapon was shot and killed by a 26-year-old Hispanic officer.
The names of thousands of New York State sex offenders are due to come off a public registry, prompting demands for a change in the law.

State law requiring Level 1 offenders to report their whereabouts to the registy for a 20-year period was up Jan. 1, News 12 Long Island reports. The law took effect in 1996.

Laura Ahearn of the Long Island advocacy group Parents of Megans Law told the station about 60 to 70 Level 1 sex offenders in Nassau and Suffolk alone will come off the registry this year.

We have a stack of Level 1 offenders that have committed serious offenses against young children  as young as 2 years old  and they are going to be dropping off that registry, Ahearn told CBS New York.

The Level 1 designation can include child molestation, rape in the first degree and sodomy, according to the station.

Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are required to register for life.

The registry is publicly accessible online.

Long Island Republican Dean Murray has introduced a bill in the Assembly that would extend the 20-year requirement to 30 years.

But he told News 12 that he needs a Democratic sponsor in the Democrat-controlled chamber to get the bill passed.

I don't know if this is a leadership issue, or what it is, but I'm continuing to push very hard, Ahearn told News 12.
The Veterans Affairs Department refuses to pay benefits to a World War II vet in his 90s who was wounded in combat and earned a Purple Heart.

Fox 2 Now in St. Louis reports that after Emil Limpert submitted an application for benefits to the Department of Veterans Affairs he was told he needed to provide more proof that he was in the military.

I get this letter that says we cant accept it because weve got no record of you being in the service, he told the station. I guess Im the unknown soldier.

He was wounded in a foxhole in the Philippines in 1944.

There were four guys in there, and two guys got killed, he told the station. And then the other guy, he got his leg Oh, hell. I guess he lost his leg. It was slit in four places where a grenade hit between us and I got one in my leg.

Limpert said he waited until now to apply for benefits because he is down to nothing.

He and his wife live in an assisted-living facility outside St. Louis.

We got rid of our car, we got rid of our house, he said. I got rid of money I had in bonds and stocks and now I need help.

His application included plenty of documentation, including discharge papers, the names of his foxhole pals and the X-ray of his wounded leg. The proof also included his Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars he received in the Pacific.

Fox 2 reported the VA letter asks Limpert to submit affidavits from fellow service members, most of whom are dead, or the location of the hospital where he was originally treated.

There aint no hospital, he told the station. We were in the jungles.

The station reported that Limperts military records were apparently among the millions destroyed in a massive fire in Overland, Missouri, in 1973.

The station also reported that it sought comment from the VA in Washington without success.

Limpert has now turned to his local senator for help in the matter.

Click here for more from Fox2 Now.


United Nations Security Council diplomats told Fox News late Saturday that the United States, Japan and South Korea have requested an emergency meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday in response to North Koreas long-range rocket launch.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, will take part in the Security Council session, which will be chaired by the Venezuelan Ambassador, likely Rafael Ramirez, in his capacity as president of the council this month.

Pyongyang has once again defied Security Council resolutions that ban the hermit nation from using ballistic technology. North Korea claims that the rocket is delivering a peaceful Earth observation satellite.

The launch comes as the Security Council debates a U.S.-Japan sponsored resolution condemning North Korea for its January 6 nuclear test, which Pyongyang claims was a hydrogen bomb test.

China, Russia and Venezuela, North Koreas allies on the Security Council, have slowed the pace of bringing the draft resolution, which would impose further sanctions on Pyongyang, to a vote.

The January nuclear test was North Koreas fourth. The other tests took place in 2006, 2009, and 2013. Each test was followed by long-range rocket launches, raising concerns that North Korea is perfecting its military arsenal with the intention of producing warheads for intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the United States.
The sister-in law of self-professed Islamic State "caliph" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is being held in a Kurdish prison following a failed suicide bombing attack several years ago, and FoxNews.com has obtained an exclusive photo of the VIP terrorist.

The 24-year-old woman, Duaa Amid Ibrahim, is the sister of one of Al Baghdadis three wives, and has been held by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces since she was caught entering Erbil with a suicide vest beneath her burqa. Kurdish authorities say she was sent by Al Qaeda on a mission that long predated her brother-in-laws rise to power. Now that Baghdadi is arguably the most powerful terrorist in the world, Ibrahim appears to have major clout behind bars.

Her mind might have changed from wanting to be a suicide bomber, but her ideology is still the same.  Kurdish official on Duaa Amid Ibrahim

She is very popular, the other women really like her, said a KRG official, who said years behind bars has done nothing to soften her radical beliefs. Her mind might have changed from wanting to be a suicide bomber, but her ideology is still the same.

Ibrahim was a teenage widow of an Al Qaeda fighter when she was arrested, and bears a tattoo of his name on her right index finger. When a FoxNews.com reporter recently visited Erbil, Ibrahim refused to leave her cell to be interviewed. Kurdish authorities did provide FoxNews.com with a photo of her.

A high-ranking intelligence and security official from Erbils security agency Asayish who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Ibrahims case is still proceeding through the legal system, although it is likely she will receive a life sentence.

Ibrahim is regularly monitored by the international Red Cross along with dozens of other jailed female jihadists in compliance with international laws. She even has a television in her cell that allows her and other inmates to follow the bloody exploits of ISIS and the international communitys efforts to stop the black-clad jihadist army. ISIS Iraqi stronghold in Mosul lies just 55 miles west of Erbil, and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces clash almost daily with ISIS along the frontlines.

Ibrahims infamous brother-in-law rose through the ranks of Al Qaedas Iraqi arm following his release from the U.S.-run Camp Bucca detention center in southern Iraq in 2004 when he was known as Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badry. It is not known if he played a role in the plot that would have killed his sister-in-law, the sibling of Saja al-Dulaimi. Al Dulaimi is one of three  and the most prominent - of the terrorist kingpins wives and has been referred to in local reports as caliphess or calipha.

Al Baghdadi announced his split from Al Qaeda and the formation of ISIS in August, 2013. Even as the terrorist group seized power, land and international headlines, the Kurds had no idea that the failed suicide bomber they had captured five years earlier was a close relative.

The connection was made soon after the Lebanese Army detained Al Baghdadis wife and son as they crossed from Syria in late 2014. While there were conflicting reports at the time about whether Al Dulaimi was still married to the ISIS chief, she was seen as a crucial source of intelligence about the mysterious Al Baghdadi, whose history and current movements are so mysterious and guarded that they have taken on a mythical aura.

Al Dulaimi was released late last year in a prisoner exchange in which the Lebanese government brought back Lebanese soldiers imprisoned by Al Nusra Front, Al Qaedas Syrian arm. No such exchange has been proposed for Ibrahim.

Authorities would not say what, if any, information Ibrahim has provided about her brother-in-law. Given the duration of her captivity, whatever information she may have may be of little use. Despite periodic rumors of his death, Kurdish officials believe he is alive and shuttling between the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Ramadi. He has not been seen publicly since the summer of 2014, when video surfaced of him speaking at a mosque in Mosul and demanding all Muslims obey him.

Were getting some more source information, but it is not easy to find him, said a Kurdish official.
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that toppled a high-rise apartment building in Taiwan rose to at least 34, according to government figures Monday, with rescuers digging through rubble for survivors more than 48 hours after the quake struck.

More than 100 are believed to be still buried in the collapsed building from a disaster that struck during the most important family holiday in the Chinese calendar  the Lunar New Year holiday.

The government in Tainan, the worst-hit city, said that more than 170 people had been rescued alive from the 17-story building, which folded like an accordion after the quake struck.

Mao Yi-chen, 20, was rescued soon after the magnitude-6.4 quake hit before dawn Saturday, and her older sister Mao Yi-hsuan was pulled out Sunday in serious condition. A rescue worker had handed over a photo album and homemade cards found next to her for her family to collect, said local official Wang Ding-yu.

"He said that 'maybe your home is damaged, but memories of the family can last,'" Wang said.

The extended Lunar New Year holiday officially started Monday, but celebrations were subdued and both President Ma Ying-jeou and President-elect Tsai Ing-wen canceled the handing out of envelopes of cash in their hometowns, a holiday tradition for Taiwan's leader.

The Tainan Disaster Emergency Center estimated that 118 people were still trapped at the site of the collapsed building, many at the bottom of the debris. Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te said rescuers were able to reach many people by using information from residents who got out about the possible locations of those still inside.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan, but most are minor and cause little or no damage, though a magnitude-7.6 quake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.

The spectacular fall of the high-rise, built in 1989, raised questions about whether its construction had been shoddy. Tainan's government said the building had not been listed as a dangerous structure, and Taiwan's interior minister, Chen Wei-zen, said an investigation would examine whether the developer had cut corners.

Eighth-floor resident Huang Guang-wei was pulled out Sunday morning from a different section from where he lived, showing how much the building twisted when it fell, Lai said. It took rescuers eight hours to get Huang out, hei said.

Among the fatalities was a 6-month-old baby girl who was pulled from the rubble and rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A deceased man believed to be her father was pulled out 40 minutes later, Wang said.

A man in his 60s, whose son escaped and whose daughter-in-law was in serious condition, was trying to help rescuers pinpoint his grandsons. "My 11- and 12-year-old grandsons are still inside on the ninth floor," said the man, who gave only his surname, Huang. "I told my son not to buy an apartment here; it was suspiciously cheap."

Beside him, another man nodded in agreement as he waited for news of his relatives on the seventh floor.

The emergency center said 171 people had been rescued from the building, 92 of whom were sent to hospitals. More than 100 people were rescued from other parts of Tainan. Nine other buildings in the city collapsed and five careened.

Taiwanese broadcaster EBC showed video of volunteers trying to comfort the mother of a missing 20-year-old man, Chen Guan-yu. "He always thinks of me," said the woman, whose name was not given. "He worries about me being single and lonely and that no one is taking care of me."
Turkey came under mounting pressure to open its border Saturday as tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing a government onslaught sought entry and the European Union called on Ankara to grant them refuge.

As many as 35,000 Syrians have massed along the closed border, according to Suleyman Tapsiz, governor of the Turkish border province of Kilis. He said Turkey would provide aid to the displaced within Syria, but would only open the gates in the event of an "extraordinary crisis."

The Norwegian Refugee Council said thousands of Syrians have arrived at seven of the main informal camps close to the Turkish border. The group said the camps were already at capacity before the latest influx, and that aid groups are working around the clock to deliver tents and essential items to the displaced.

Filip Lozinski, an NRC supervisor in the area, told The Associated Press that many refugee families were forced to sleep out in the open, some under trees, because they could not find shelter.

At a meeting in Amsterdam between EU foreign ministers and their Turkish counterpart, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged Turkey to open its borders to "Syrians in need for international protection," and said the EU is providing aid to Ankara for that purpose.

EU nations have committed $3.3 billion to Turkey for helping refugees as part of incentives aimed at persuading it to do more to stop thousands of migrants from leaving for Greece.

Turkey already hosts some 2.5 million Syrian refugees.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that his country maintains an "open border policy for these people fleeing from the aggression of the (Syrian) regime as well as airstrikes of Russia."

He said Turkey had already allowed in more than 5,000 recently displaced Syrians, but did not address the restrictions along the border.

Some of the refugees found shelter in Afrin, a Kurdish enclave to Aleppo's north controlled by a militia known as the YPG, said a Kurdish official, Idris Naasan. The militia hoped to prevent a humanitarian disaster and help those stuck at the border, he said.

Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces have been advancing across the north in recent days behind a curtain of heavy Russian airstrikes, and could soon encircle rebel strongholds in Aleppo, once the country's largest city and commercial hub. This week alone, Russian warplanes hit close to 900 targets across Syria, including near Aleppo.

Those living in parts of the city held by the rebels since 2012 fear they could be the next victims of siege tactics used across Syria by all sides in the war, which have caused widespread malnourishment and starvation.

"There is a big wave of people leaving Aleppo City because they are scared Al-Castello Highway  the only way out  will be cut off," said Osaid Pasha, an Aleppo-based activist who recently fled to Turkey.

"There are still a large number of civilians inside the city," he said.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem meanwhile said government forces were "on track to end the conflict" following the recent gains around Aleppo.

"Like it or not, our battlefield achievements indicate that we are headed toward the end of the crisis," he told a press conference in Damascus. He called on rebel fighters to "come to their senses" and lay down their weapons.

The advance of Syrian troops and the blistering Russian airstrikes in Aleppo and elsewhere led to the breakdown of indirect peace talks launched earlier this week in Geneva, with the opposition saying there was no point in negotiating under fire. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura hopes to resume the talks by Feb. 25, but it's unclear if either delegation will return.

Saudi Arabia, a key backer of the opposition, meanwhile said it is ready, in principle, to send ground troops to Syria, albeit in the context of the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State group.

But al-Moallem warned that Saudi or other foreign troops entering his country would "return home in wooden coffins," a line he repeated three times during the one-hour press conference.

Russia's Defense Ministry has said it has "reasonable grounds" to suspect that Turkey, another opposition ally, is preparing for a military invasion of Syria.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking during a visit to Senegal on Friday, dismissed the Russian claim as "laughable" and blamed Moscow for the deaths of civilians in Syria.

Iran, another military ally of Syria, ridiculed Saudi Arabia.

The semi-official Fars news agency quoted Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, as saying he didn't think the Saudis were "brave enough" to send ground troops.

"They talk big," Jafari said. "But even if it happens, it won't be bad because they would be definitely defeated."

Iran on Saturday held funerals for six soldiers, including a senior Guard commander, Gen. Mohsen Ghajarian, who were killed in northern Syria while fighting alongside government troops.

Iran has said it has dispatched military advisers to Syria, but denies sending combat troops. A number of Iranians have been killed in recent months, including several high-ranking commanders.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, an ally of Iran and Syria, has also sent reinforcements to Syria.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported Saturday that a member of Hezbollah's "war media" department, which films military battles for the group, was among those killed in fighting north of Aleppo.
The walls were up. The roof was framed. The house in North Stafford was almost finished.

But as he applied a thin coat of gray paint to a bedroom wall, Alphonse Habonimana couldnt picture living within those walls.

My brain stopped working, he said. I dont believe this. I dont believe, maybe next year I will have this house.

Two weeks later, Habonimana and his family moved in.

He was astonished at how quickly the Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity built his home, expecting it to take a year or more. From the moment the footings were poured, Habonimana waited 10 weeks for his house to be complete, but his path from refugee to renter to homeowner was long and winding.

At times, living in a refugee camp in Tanzania, Habonimana didnt have a roof over his head at all. He couldnt imagine a life as a homeowner in America. But Habonimana had faith in God and plenty of experience with fresh starts.

He doesnt like to relive his past.

I try to forget, I dont talk about it, its too hard, Habonimana said. Its hard for talking. Life in camps is no good; its a bad life. I cant express it.

He was about 6 years old when his parents fled Burundi, a central African country that has been plagued by civil wars and violence for the past four decades.

He grew up in a refugee camp, married and had six children. He started a business sewing clothes.

In 1993, he and his family heard the news theyd been waiting for: Burundi was safe. Refugees could go home.

Habonimana and his family moved to their homeland, hoping to start a new life. He planted a large garden, learned to build houses, sewed clothes, raised animals.

Four years later, Habonimana fled Burundi with his only surviving child on his back. His wife, his other children, his parents and several siblings died in fighting that broke out again in Burundi.

He carried his 6-year-old daughter through Burundi to Tanzania. He tried to create a new life for her, but it was difficult to build a future in a Tanzanian refugee camp.

If he crafted a dwelling from trees and bricks, it would be destroyed within months. It seemed pointless at times.

He met Analissa Kabura, a fellow Burundian, in the camp. They fell in love and married in December 1998.

They had three children: Nishimine, Samwell and Estelle.

And then, nine years after they wed, Habonimana and Kabura learned that they would be resettled in the United States.

I couldnt even hope for it. I never think of it, Habonimana said. Its a miracle.

A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA

Since Burundians began fleeing their homeland in 1973, their goal was simply to return to their country. Many died in camps, waiting for Burundi to be safe.

Refugees from other countries were resettled in America and other nations. But not Burundians.

Around 2005, the United States started making Burundians a priority group for resettlement. After three decades, many in the international community decided it was time to offer these refugees a new life.

In July 2007, Habonimana and his family moved to Fredericksburg. They were among a group of about 100 refugees who were resettled in the area through the Refugee and Migration Services of the Arlington Diocese of the Catholic Church.

The family settled into life in the city. The children enrolled in Fredericksburg schools and the parents started working at Walmart.

Getting adjusted to America took time. No one in the family spoke English. The children enrolled in English for Speakers of Other Languages classes at school. But the parents were busy going back and forth to work and taking care of their children. Learning the language wasnt as easy for them.

Habonimana had owned his own business in Africa. He knew how to build houses and sew clothes and had studied theology. But those experiences were meaningless when he searched for jobs.

Basically in America, you have to start over, daughter Nishimine said. And its really hard to start over. But my parents are really hard-working and they provide for us.

Habonimanas oldest daughterthe child he carried on his back to safety years agosettled in Kentucky.

A COMFORTABLE PLACE

The family grew to include two more childrenMelanie and Jole. Their apartment grew cramped, and a friend told Habonimana about Habitat for Humanity.

He and his wife volunteered with the local chapter and took classes in home ownership and budgeting.

They helped build their new home, alongside other volunteers and Construction Manager Amber Smith. They watched the house take shape.

Im thankful for Miss Amber, Analissa said. Im going to think about what she did for the rest of my life.

She and her husband chose muted colors for the walls, installed siding, hammered boards on the front porch, planned who would sleep in each of the five bedrooms.

But the house didnt seem real.

Smith promised the couple the new home would be ready by Christmas, and Habonimana and Kabura got their keys early that week, though they waited to move, settling in on Dec. 27.

With their children, they are setting up the rooms and getting used to their home.

Its good, its good, Habonimana said. To be like this, its good. This is a comfortable place.

The children are anxious about starting new schools in Stafford County, worried about taking new classes and making new friends.

And the parents are learning that traffic on State Route 610 means planning an extra 30 minutes for every trip.

But the family knows a lot about fresh startsand they look forward to this one.

This life, I didnt see before, Habonimana said. Im very happy. Its good things I have today.
AREA BOARDS of supervisors, planning commissioners and staffs should be watching the progress companion bills in their respective General Assembly chambers that would hamper or effectively end localities ability to seek proffers from residential builders.

The legislation, Senate Bill 549 and House Bill 770, is courtesy of the Home Builders Association of Virginia, which claims it is merely out to level the playing field between builders and local government officials.

How does the organization really feel? It has referred to the proffer procedure legalized extortion.

The House has already passed its version. But waitDels. Mark Cole, RSpotsylvania, Mark Dudenhefer, RStafford, Bobby Orrock, RCaroline, Margaret Ransone, RWestmoreland, and Speaker Bill Howell, RStafford, who could have derailed the bill at the outset, voted against it.

Proffers are widely used in growing counties such as Stafford and Spotsylvania, whose leaders consider them as a key revenue source. They seek proffersthe money developers put up for needed roads, schools, parks and public safetyin exchange for rezonings that allow increased housing density because theyre a fair way to pay for the direct impact new subdivisions have on local services. Local officials also know, thanks to the car-tax fiasco, that the General Assembly has no problem taking away local sources of revenue while ignoring the resulting void.

Among the four Senate patrons is Spotsylvania County Republican Sen. Bryce Reeves. The sole House patron, Republican Del. C. Todd Gilbert of Woodstock, has called proffers a barrier to building affordable homes. That is misleading to the extent that $95the monthly cost of a $20,000 proffer at 4 percent over 30 yearsis an affordability barrier.

The tenor of the legislation nonsensically suggests that the need for infrastructure upgrades is justifiably borne entirely by the taxpayers at-large. And it would proceed to virtually absolve the builders of any responsibility for it.

The legislation does this in at least two ways. First, it would require localities to substantiate the obvious by providing unequivocal proof of the burden that new development will put on schools, roads, parks and emergency services. They would also have to prove that the proffers would cover only those costs specifically attributable to the particular project, rather than meet reasonably related standard they do now.

If a locality turns down a project because the builder objects to proffer guidelines, the legislation allows the builder to sue the locality. If the court agrees with the developer that the proffer is unreasonable, the developer can then be awardedfrom the localitylegal fees and court costs. Compensatory damages, removed from the House version, remain in the Senate bill. Thats a scary prospect for local governmentsand their taxpayers.

Second, the legislation would do away with proffers that include land and/or any construction funds for libraries or community centers. In Caroline Countys Ladysmith Village, for example, the library and YMCA exist thanks to proffers, improvements for which the legislation would prohibit the use of proffer funds.

Local leaders are already expressing concern that some of the proffer-added projects theyve previously approved would not have passed muster under the proposed legislation.

The speed with which the legislation is sailing through the legislature gives one pause. What could possibly be greasing the wheels of the usually contemplative body? The answer may well lie in the reported $140,000 the home builders association donated to both Democrats and Republicans in last years legislative elections, sort of like proffers that pay for votes.

State legislators who support this bill should consider the measure for what it posesa de facto tax increase on residents in growing localities.
Fan art that represents not only Friday The 13th, but the horror genre as a whole is always satisfying to view. Knowing that someone took the time to create a unique piece to show off their love of film characters is truly appreciated and very much welcomed.Jean Paul Medellin is an artist from the Czech Republic and is one of those fans that has expressed his love of horror in a new illustration that has a number of famous screen villains in pint size form on their way to grade school at Crystal Lake Elementary. We have Jason Voorhees leading the pack of horror icons and on their way to school they pass by Norman Bates' house. Jean Paul has also created small backstories for each of the grade school slashers.-Jason is the defacto leader of the group, always the adventurer, ready to jump to an adventure, specially in the forest, he loves them. (after Jason Voorhees from Friday The 13th)-You can have J without his best friend, Freddy, the prankster of the group, always with dark circles below his eyes, he's such a maniac of watching movies at night.(after Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street)-Mike is a huge fan of Halloween, always eager to trick or treat, and for a strange reason, he really likes to use a clown costume.(after Michael Myers from Halloween)-Tommy is the biggest of the group, he's not to happy with the math assignments, but whenever sport are involved, he's your man...well, kid he he. And boy does he loves beef! (after Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre)-Elliot is always solving rubic cubes, every day he's getting better at it, one time he even said that he would like to create a cube of his own (after Pinhead from Hellraiser)-The inventor of the group, you can count that John is helping Tommy with his math homework, and trying to make the rest of the gang to play a game with him. (after Jigsaw from Saw)-Murphy is a big fan of Star Wars, huge, his biggest dream is to become a member of legion 501, he even has Elliot and John making him a helmet that will fit him. (after the xenomorph from Alien)To see more of Jean Paul's work, visit his gallery of artwork and let us know what you think of his Crystal Lake Elementary piece!
A Pinch of Salt: To vote now or to vote later  that is the question
Philomath Police took a 15-year-old Nebraska teen into custody without incident Monday morning in a case involving a boy who stole a neighbors vehicle, snatched his fathers pistol and headed 1,300 miles west only to be apprehended while using free wi-fi.

The call came in at just under 10 a.m. Monday as a runaway juvenile, possibly suicidal, armed with a 40-caliber automatic pistol and driving a stolen 2001 Honda Accord. Within approximately 35 minutes, the boy was arrested just coming out of Philomath Community Library.

The teen, whose name is being withheld by police because of his age, had been using a smartphone chat application called Kik when police were able to pinpoint his location.

It sounds like one of the dispatchers from Morrill County, Nebraska, was texting with him posing to be somebody else and learned that he was in the Philomath area, Philomath Sgt. Dave Gurski said. He had stolen a 40-caliber firearm from his father out of their house and then was going to take stepmoms car but the keys werent in it and so he then went three houses away and found the neighbors car had the keys inside and so he took it.

The teen left Bridgeport, Nebraska, Friday evening sometime between suppertime and bedtime, heading west on Interstate 80 in winter driving conditions. On Monday morning, he had given away the fact that he was in Philomath.

He had taken a picture and I dont know if he posted it on this Kik app or not, but somehow dispatch had some information that he had been at the McDonalds, Gurski said, mentioning that a Redbox kiosk could be seen in the background. I think everybody knows McDonalds has free wi-fi and so thats kind of a draw and then again at the library and thats where we located him.

The trip from Bridgeport, which is located in the Nebraska panhandle, all the way to Oregon could not have been an easy drive for the youngster. The trip takes just under 21 hours if driven straight through in cooperative conditions.

He had packed some clothes, packed some food and I think had about $122 cash with him, Gurski said. There was at least one closure on I-80 because of weather and it was indicated that he went from I-80 to I-84 and then Highway 20 from there trying to avoid the Portland metro area and some of the bigger cities.

Police originally didnt know if they were possibly encountering a death by suicide situation based on the preliminary information they had received. In those cases, suicidal individuals will try to stage their own death through the use of police force.

But that scenario did not unfold and he was nabbed at 10:37 a.m.

The one thing I will say is the juvenile was very cooperative, Gurski said. He was totally honest about the whole thing and it sounded like he just made a mistake with regards on how to deal with a bad situation.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on the vehicle Wednesday and Gurski said stolen property, a computer tablet, from a Bridgeport, Nebraska, school had been found.

He admitted to doing a burglary there last Saturday, so we recovered the tablet and recovered the firearm out of the vehicle, Gurski said. The victim of the stolen car was concerned about a checkbook, Denver Broncos hat and some other items  and we recovered all of those from inside the vehicle.

Arrangements were made through those families and law enforcement to allow the seized vehicle to be released to the suspects parents so they could drive it back to Nebraska and return it to their neighbors.

As for the teen, he remains in custody on unspecified charges in a juvenile correction center with a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 12.
Twitter shuts down over 125,000 terrorist accounts News oi -GizBot Bureau

In its bid to curb the spread of terrorism-related tweets on its platform, the micro-blogging site has suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts, primarily related to the Islamic State (IS).

"Like most people around the world, we are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups. We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service," Twitter said in a blog post.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Implantable Wearables Soon To Be In Your Body

According to a latest study by the US-based Brookings Institution, IS supporters may be operating over 46,000 active Twitter accounts. "As the nature of the terrorist threat has changed, so has our ongoing work in this area.

Since the middle of 2015 alone, we've suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts, primarily related to IS," the post added. In the recent past, Twitter has partnered with organisations working to counter extremist content online globally.

"We partnered with People Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue to empower credible non-governmental voices against violent extremism.

We also attended summits hosted by the White House, the Australian Attorney-General's Department, the UK government, the French Prime Minister, the European Commission, and the United Nations," the blog posts said.

Twitter also highlighted its cooperation with law enforcement, citing comments made by FBI Director James Comey last year.. "In July 2015, Comey recognised Twitter's commitment to blocking terrorist content, praising us as "very good and thoughtful and hardworking at trying to shut down [terrorism-related] accounts," it added.

The San Francisco-based company has increased the size of its teams that review terror-related accounts and leverage proprietary spam-fighting tools to surface other potentially violating accounts for review.

SEE ALSO: 10 Free Things on the Internet Everyone Should Take Advantage Of

As many experts and other companies have noted, there is no "magic algorithm" for identifying terrorist content on the internet, so global online platforms are forced to make challenging judgement calls based on very limited information and guidance.

"In spite of these challenges, we will continue to aggressively enforce our Rules in this area, and engage with authorities and other relevant organisations to find solutions to this critical issue and promote powerful counter-speech narratives," Twitter noted.

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Pentagon releases detainee abuse photos

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 5, 2016 11:51PM

The US Defense Department has released a series of photographs, showing injuries inflicted on detainees by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Many of the 198 carefully vetted images that were released on Friday, are close-ups showing cuts, bruises, swollen joints and relatively small wounds, without providing the men's identity, according to AFP.

Moreover, there is little or no context to suggest exactly how the detainees might have been injured or what led to their detention.

In one of the cases, at least one service member was sentenced to life in prison as a result of investigations, the Pentagon said, declining to provide more information as to which images were connected to that case, or whether the detainee involved had survived the abuse.

The photos were released as part of an ongoing legal fight between the Pentagon and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed a freedom of information lawsuit in 2004 seeking access to some 2,000 photographs, purporting to show detainee mistreatment.

'These photos come from independent criminal investigations into allegations of misconduct by US personnel,' a Defense Department spokesman said.

'The investigations substantiated approximately 14 of the allegations, while approximately 42 allegations of misconduct were unsubstantiated,' he added.

The spokesman added that 65 service members had received some form of discipline, ranging from letters of reprimand to life imprisonment.

The administration of President Barack Obama first pledged to release the images in 2009, but Congress passed an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act allowing the photos to be kept secret in case they were deemed by the defense secretary as a threat to national security.

However, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter in November declined to recertify that the released images posed such a risk.

The ACLU pledged to continue seeking the remaining 1,800 or so images, saying the release was long overdue and its "selective" nature might mislead the public.

'The still-secret pictures are the best evidence of the serious abuses that took place in military detention centers,' ACLU deputy legal director Jameel Jaffer said in a statement.

It is not yet clear if any of the photographs originate from Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison, where US soldiers were implicated in the torture and sexual humiliation of local prisoners in 2004.

Several court martials between 2004 and 2006 found 11 soldiers -- including Lynndie England, who was seen smiling beside naked prisoners being subjected to sexual abuse -- guilty of torturing the local detainees.

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Coalition Strikes ISIL Targets in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, February 6, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted two strikes in Syria:

-- Near Ayn Isa, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and four ISIL buildings.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 14 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Mosul, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and eight ISIL command and control nodes.

-- Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Ramadi, three strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, and an ISIL fuel transporter, six ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL command and control node, an ISIL front end loader, and an ISIL vehicle borne bomb facility.

-- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations conducting strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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Afghan interior minister offers resignation amid worsening insecurity: Sources

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 7:0PM

Afghanistan's Interior Minister Noor-ul-Haq Olomi has offered his resignation amid growing criticism over the deteriorating security situation in the war-wracked country.

According to government and diplomatic sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Olomi tendered his resignation to President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday.

The sources said the resignation has not been accepted by Ghani yet as he is still looking for a replacement.

Asked whether the interior minister had offered his resignation, Ghani's deputy spokesman Sayed Zafar Hashemi said that bringing "reform" to government entities, including the ministry of the interior, "to increase efficiency has been a government priority."

Afghan news agency Khaama Press quoted sources as saying that Olomi resigned from his post after his appointment of deputy interior minister was rejected by Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah.

The spokesman for the Interior Ministry Sediq Sediqi, however, dismissed the reports on Olomi's resignation.

Afghanistan is gripped by insecurity for more than 14 years after the United States and its allies attacked the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. Although the 2001 attack overthrew the Taliban, many areas across Afghanistan still face violence and insecurity.

Moreover, some districts in Afghanistan, including the volatile Nangarhar Province, have been witnessing a rise in the number of Daesh terrorists in recent months as the terror group, which is mainly operating in Iraq and Syria, is making inroads into Afghanistan with the number of its followers growing across the country.

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Al-Qaeda overrun police headquarters in southern Yemen

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 6:19PM

Al-Qaeda militants have taken control of a police headquarters in southern Yemen, amid the chaos that has gripped the country following the onset of Saudi Arabia's deadly aggression.

The militants on Saturday overran the headquarters in Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan Province, after forces loyal to fugitive former president of Yemen, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, reportedly escaped the area.

The terrorists have been in control of other government buildings in Zinjibar for weeks while retaining a large presence in the nearby town of Jaar. They have also taken control of the town of Azzan in Shabwa Province and seized the towns of Shoqra and Ahwar, which enable them to completely control the coast road between their stronghold city of Mukalla in the southeast and Zinjibar.

Zinjibar is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Yemen's major city of Aden, which houses elements of Yemen's former government after the capital, Sana'a, was taken by the Houthi Ansarullah movement's fighters in September 2014.

Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since March 26, 2015. The campaign has been meant to bring Hadi, a Riyadh ally, back to power.

Over 8,270 people, among them more than 2,230 children, have been killed and some 16,000 others injured since. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has exploited the volatile conditions and the breakdown of security in Yemen since the beginning of the Saudi war to tighten its grip on parts of southeastern Yemen.

The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has also gained ground in and around Aden.

Ansarullah fighters, along with allied army units, are fighting the Takfiri militants. They are also engaged in retaliatory attacks targeting positions of Saudi forces.

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Afghanistan peace meeting urges direct talks with Taliban

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 4:41PM

Representatives from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States have concluded their talks aimed at drawing up a roadmap for putting an end to the Afghan war with a call for direct negotiations between the Kabul government and the Taliban militant group by the end of February.

The Afghan peace talks, which are part of the latest efforts to finalize a peace plan in Afghanistan, opened in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Saturday and concluded later in the day.

In a statement issued at the end of the talks, the participants said they agreed on a roadmap for peace but provided no further details.

'The Group stressed that the outcome of the reconciliation process should be a political settlement that results in the cessation of violence, and durable peace in Afghanistan,' the statement said.

They also emphasized that the Taliban, who did not participate in the meeting, should join the fourth round of the peace talks which will be held in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on February 23.

'Towards this end, the QCG (Quadrilateral Coordination Group) countries agreed to continue joint efforts for setting a date for direct peace talks between the representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban groups expected to take place by the end of February 2016.'

Pakistan mediated the first round of the peace talks between delegates from the Afghan government and the Taliban last summer, but a planned second meeting was canceled after news broke that Taliban's founder and long-time leader Mullah Omar had died two years ago.

There have also been growing differences among Taliban elements over the negotiations, with some vowing to fight for power instead of taking part in the talks.

Afghanistan is gripped by insecurity more than 14 years after the United States and its allies attacked the country in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror.

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Somali, AU forces retake key city from al-Shabab

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 11:30AM

Somali and African Union (AU) forces have retaken the major Somali port city of Merka a day after the Takfiri al-Shabab militants overran it.

Merka was retaken on Saturday, hours after the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab announced that it had established control on the city.

One day earlier, AU troops had fled the city as the heavily armed militants had swept in.

"The Somali forces and AMISOM peacekeepers secured control of Merka again and now the situation has returned to normal," a Somali military official identified as Abdirisak Mohamed said.

"There was [a] brief exchange of gunfire, but the [Shabab] militants have fled," he said.

The AU troops had held Merka, the state capital of the Lower Shabelle administrative region in southern Somalia, since 2012; and its capture by the armed terrorist group was described as a major setback for the multi-national force in their almost a decade-long battle against al-Shabab.

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Saudi airstrikes kill six Yemeni civilians

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 10:53AM

At least six more civilians have lost their lives in two separate Saudi aerial attacks against residential neighborhoods in Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz.

Saudi warplanes bombed a number of houses in the Mawiyah district south of Sana'a on Saturday, leaving a woman and her three daughters dead, Arabic-language al-Masirah television reported.

Two more civilians were killed and three others injured when Saudi jets struck the Dhubab district of the same Yemeni province.

The deaths came a day after Yemen's army snipers fatally shot nine Saudi soldiers in Midi in the Hajjah province. The district lies on the border with Saudi Arabia's southwestern Jizan region.

Yemeni forces also killed two other Saudi soldiers in the Math'an area of Jizan.

Some regional reports also said more than 100 Saudi-backed militiamen had been killed, and 150 others injured in a ballistic missile attack in the central province of Ma'rib. The claim cannot independently be verified.

The deaths reportedly came when Yemeni soldiers fired an OTR-21 Tochka ballistic missile at the Mass military camp in the al-Jada'an district of Ma'rib.

The report said eight officers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and nationals from other Arab countries were among those killed. Scores of vehicles belonging to the militiamen and a sizable cache of munitions were destroyed.

Almost 8,300 people, among them 2,236 children, have been killed and 16,015 others injured since March 2015. Saudi strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the Yemeni infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

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Pentagon to buy 404 Lockheed F-35 jets: Sources

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 1:40AM

The US Defense Department will buy 404 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets during the next five years, according to sources familiar with the plan.

The purchase will be equal to approximately $40 billion in new revenue for Lockheed, which is the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, and engine maker Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp, Reuters quoted the sources as saying on Friday.

The Pentagon will disclose the revised procurement numbers on Tuesday, the day when it also issues its fiscal 2017 budget as well as the new five-year plan.

According to the plan, the Air Force will buy 243 F-35 jets through fiscal 2021, which is 45 fewer than what was decided since the service juggles funds to pay the cost of a new long-range bomber which will be built by Northrop Grumman Corp as well as KC-46A refueling planes which Boeing Co will build.

Also, the Navy and Marine Corps will buy 64 F-35C jets, which are capable of taking off and landing on aircraft carriers, over the next five years. In addition, the services will purchase 97 F-35B jets, which are able to land like a helicopter.

The plan would mean a net drop of 5 to 7 percent from that of 2015, a change in the Pentagon's plan for the $391 billion weapons program.

The plan defers orders for 45 Air Force jets in comparison with that of last year, but it speeds up orders for the Navy and Marine Corps models of the aircraft, according to the sources.

The Pentagon still has its plan to purchase a total of 2,457 jets for all three military services in following years, they noted.

However, the plan excludes the approximate number of 260 international F-35 orders over the five-year period, the sources added.

They said that those orders might increase even more over the period considering potential orders from some countries including Finland, Denmark, Belgium and Singapore.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this week that the department plans to buy 13 more F-35 fighter jets for the Navy and Marine Corps than planned in 2015, but he did not give details on the total number of jets.

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Nations To Press For Direct Peace Talks With Taliban By End Of February

February 06, 2016

by RFE/RL

Representatives from four nations involved in talks aimed at ending the violence in Afghanistan have agreed to continue to push for direct peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government by the end of the month.

Official from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and China made the announcement on February 6 at the end of their third round of talks in Islamabad.

They said the countries 'agreed to continue joint efforts for setting a date for direct peace talks between the representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban groups expected to take place by the end of February 2016.'

'The group stressed that the outcome of the reconciliation process should be a political settlement that results in the cessation of violence, and durable peace in Afghanistan,' the statement added.

The statement also said that the group would hold its next meeting in Kabul on February 23.

Pakistan has called for an 'actionable road map' for the peace process between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

'In our view, a clear, well-defined, and actionable road map for the peace process between the Afghan government and Taliban groups is important,' Pakistan's adviser for foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said at the start of the talks.

Islamabad is expected to have a key role in bringing the Taliban, which is based in Pakistan, to the table eventually.

Kabul, too, expressed its eagerness for results.

'We are desperately waiting to see the immediate effects and results of our quadrilateral meetings and the progress we have made in the two previous meetings,' Javed Faisal, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, told AP.

Aziz said the road map should be 'aimed at persuading the maximum number of Taliban groups to join the peace talks.'

'This will contribute to imparting a momentum to the process offering the incentive of political mainstreaming to the insurgent groups, and gradually shrink the space for the irreconcilables,' he added.

Aziz said a joint effort by the quartet would help persuade the Taliban to join the process and lead to a 'significant' reduction in violence.

The first round of talks was held in Islamabad last month and a second round was held in Kabul on January 18. The talks urged the Taliban groups to enter into early talks with the Afghan government without preconditions.

The Taliban has not participated in any of the talks yet.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghan-peace-talks-to- resume-february-6-islamabad-taliban/27535515.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Intense Clashes Erupt Between Turkish Army, Kurdish Fighters in Diyarbakir

Sputnik News

13:30 06.02.2016(updated 13:36 06.02.2016)

Intense clashes involving machine guns and artillery is ongoing in the center of the Turkish city of Diyarbakir, which has witnessed clashes between the army and Kurdish fighters, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Saturday.

DIYARBAKIR (Sputnik)  The central Sur district of Diyarbakir, which houses historic monuments dating back to 400 BC, has been rocked by fighting between Kurdish fighters and the Turkish armed forces in recent months.

The district was cordoned off by the military firing alongside Kurdish militants, the correspondent reported. Several ambulance crews have arrived at the scene to pick up the wounded.

Earlier, the city mayor told RIA Novosti that out of the 70,000 Sur residents, 50,000 had left their homes.

In December, the Turkish authorities declared a curfew in a number of southeastern regions where armed clashes between Ankara forces and PKK fighters continue.

Tensions in Turkey escalated in July 2015, after 33 Kurdish activists were killed in a suicide blast in the city of Suruc and two Turkish policemen were later murdered by the PKK, which led to Ankara's military campaign against the group.

The Kurds, Turkey's largest ethnic minority, are striving to create their own independent state. The PKK was founded in late 1970s to promote the self-determination for the Kurdish community.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his New Year's statement that Turkish security forces killed 3,100 PKK militants in 2015.

 Sputnik

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4-Party Talks Agree on Afghan Peace 'Roadmap'

by Ayesha Tanzeem February 06, 2016

Representatives of United States, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan adopted a road map Saturday in Islamabad to facilitate direct peace talks between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban.

A joint press release, issued after a meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, announced that the four countries were trying to set a date for the talks, which were expected before the end of the month, and called on "all Taliban groups" to join the talks.

The statement indicated that the roadmap has stipulated "the stages and steps in the process."

The group of four countries stressed that the process should lead to a political settlement and an end to violence in Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban's position

Afghan Taliban sources contacted by VOA called this a "one sided affair" which would "not produce any results."

"Foreigners are continuing their war and killing innocent Afghans," they said, adding that the only solution was for the foreign forces to withdraw from the country.

"We have no other option but to continue the war under these circumstances," the sources added.

Earlier, they had also demanded a release of their prisoners, including those held by the U.S., and removal of their senior leaders from the United Nations sanctions list as preconditions to ending hostilities.

Afghanistan claims the top Taliban leadership operates out of Pakistan and wants Pakistan to take stern action against those who refuse to negotiate. Pakistan has pushed back against that idea.

"Threats of the use of military action against irreconciliables [factions that refuse to enter into peace negotiations] cannot precede the offer of talks to all the groups and their response to such offers,' Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Pakistan's prime minister on foreign affairs, had said in his opening statement to the first meeting of the QCG.

Human rights concerns

Meanwhile, Afghan human rights groups, particularly women's rights activists have expressed concerns that the government may ignore the gains made during the last 15 years in favor of making peace with the Taliban.

Afghan government has tried to ease some of those concerns.

The head of the Afghan delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, in a statement in Germany a few days ago, had promised that Afghanistan would stick to the "values enshrined in Afghanistan's constitution" particularly regarding women's rights once the talks with Taliban commenced, and would have a "a woman member in the negotiating team."

However, that may not be a deal breaker with the Taliban who have already indicated in a statement after an informal conference on Afghanistan in Qatar last month, organized by a Nobel peace prize winning group called Pugwash, that they are flexible on women's rights.

"The Islamic Emirate is committed to civil activities; to the freedom of speech and to the women's rights in the light of Islamic rules, national interests and values," their statement said.

The QCG group, launched in December in Islamabad on the sidelines of a regional conference on Afghanistan, is comprised of senior diplomats from the US, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

For this third meeting of the group, the U.S. delegation was led by the U.S. Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, China's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Deng Xijun, Pakistan's foreign secretary, Aizaz Chaudhry, and Afghanistan's deputy foreign minister, Hekmat Khalil Karzai.

The next meeting of the group will be on February 23 in Kabul.

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US Drones, Afghan Forces Kill 28 IS Fighters

by Ayaz Gul February 06, 2016

Authorities in Afghanistan said Saturday national security forces and U.S. drone strikes have jointly killed at least 28 Islamic State (IS) fighters in a restive eastern region bordering Pakistan.

The overnight attacks happened in Achin and Kot districts of the province of Nangarhar, said local officials.

Achin's chief, Haji Ghalib, told VOA 16 Daesh (Arabic acronym for IS) militants were killed when missiles fired by unmanned American aircraft struck a vehicle and a gathering of the group in a remote part of the mountainous district. He identified the dead as Pakistani militants.

Separately, provincial officials say Afghan security forces in the nearby Kot district killed 12 IS fighters and wounded several others in overnight clashes. They say two civilians caught in the crossfire were also killed.

Counterterrorism strike confirmed

A U.S. military spokesman, Colonel Michael Lawhorn, confirmed American forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike in the Achin district Friday. 'For operational security, we will not discuss the details of this event,' he told VOA.

Achin is where Afghan authorities say Islamic State has established its stronghold for attacks in and around Nangarhar.

In recent weeks, the U.S. has carried out frequent airstrikes in the province and used drone attacks to destroy an FM radio station broadcasting Islamic State propaganda. The air raids killed 29 militants, including five staff members at the so-called "Voice of Caliphate" broadcast facility.

The outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Campbell, has warned that IS continues to conduct brutal attacks against Afghan civilians.

"They have focused their efforts on establishing a presence in Nangarhar and recruiting in other areas," General Campbell told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington Thursday.

Noting that the U.S. counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan has recently been authorized to launch direct strikes against Islamic State militants, Campbell added: "Since then, we have had considerable success in degrading their capabilities. The strikes have been effective in mitigating their growth."

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Airport Staff, Airline Employees Detained Over Somali Plane Blast

by Mohamed Olad Hassan February 06, 2016

Somali authorities have detained at least five people for questioning about a midflight explosion aboard a passenger plane this week that killed one person and wounded two others, Somali intelligence sources said Saturday.

At a news conference in Mogadishu, Somali Aviation Minister Ali Ahmed Jangali confirmed the arrests and said the explosion that ripped a hole in the side of the Daallo Airlines Airbus was caused by a bomb, not mechanical failure.

A senior Somali security official told VOA that the FBI is helping Somalia with the investigation.

The blast forced the pilot of Flight 159, bound for Djibouti with 74 passengers on board, to make an emergency landing about 15 minutes after takeoff from Mogadishu.

'At least five people are being held. Two of them are suspected of assisting the suspected bomber,' an official of the Somali Intelligence Agency told VOA.

Mogadishu airport staff and Daallo employees were among those detained, and more arrests might be forthcoming, according to the official, who declined to be identified.

Security camera video recordings showed suspicious activity by two airport baggage handlers and by members of the airline's staff, the government official said.

The man who was killed was pulled out of the plane as the cabin depressurized, through the hole in the fuselage left by the bomb explosion. He was identified as Abdullahi Abdisalam Boorle.

The aviation minister would not say whether Boorle was linked to the attack, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Somalia's former director of national intelligence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, told VOA earlier that the nature of the attack and evidence pointed to "a planned bomb attack' against the airliner.

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U.S. officials say North Korea may be nearing launch

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 6, IRNA -- Satellite images taken this week of North Korea's Sohae rocket launch site show apparent fueling activity seen in the past shortly before a rocket launch, a U.S. think-tank said, as U.S government officials signaled that a launch could occur as early as Monday.

North Korea has told U.N. agencies it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25, triggering international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test, according to Reuters.

On Friday, U.S. government sources said U.S. intelligence agencies believed North Korea could be ready by the U.S. Super Bowl kickoff on Sunday, which will be Monday in Korea. Activity at the site was consistent with a launch in the time frame given by Pyongyang, U.S. officials said.

Commercial satellite images from Wednesday and Thursday show the arrival of tanker trucks at the launch pad, said Washington-based 38 North, a North Korea-monitoring project. It said the presence of the trucks likely indicated the filling of tanks within bunkers at the site rather than a rocket itself.

On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with President Xi Jinping of China, North Korea's main ally and neighbor, and agreed that a North Korean launch would represent a 'provocative and destabilizing action,' the White House said.

9376**1771

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D.P.R.K. Missile Launch

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

February 6, 2016



The United States strongly condemns today's missile launch by the D.P.R.K. -- a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions related to the D.P.R.K. use of ballistic missile technology.

This is the second time in just over a month that the D.P.R.K. has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well. We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan. We will continue to work with our partners and members of the UN Security Council on significant measures to hold the D.P.R.K. to account.

Now is the time to do so in a firm and united way, with measures that make clear the determination of the international community to address the pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities by the D.P.R.K. and this most recent destabilizing and unacceptable challenge to our common peace and security.

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North Korea Rocket Launch Deemed Successful and Deplorable

by Brian Padden February 06, 2016

North Korea launched a long-range rocket Sunday, carrying what it said is a satellite in defiance of U.N. sanctions barring it from using ballistic missile technology.

The rocket was launched Sunday morning from North Korea's Tongchang-ri satellite launching facility near the northwestern border with China. The rocket headed on a southward trajectory passing over Japan's southern Okinawa islands.

North Korea later released a statement through its official state news agency KCNA confirming the launch.

"Scientists and technicians of the DPRK have completely succeeded in entering an Earth observation satellite called Gwangmyongsong-4 into an orbit, which has been developed according to the nation's five-year space development plan of 2016," said a KCNA announcer.

The U.S. Strategic Command detected what it called a missile entering space, also indicating the launch was successful. South Korea's Yonhap news agency had earlier reported the rocket failed to reach orbit and instead fell into the sea near South Korea's Jeju islands.

Japan reportedly did not take action to shoot down the North Korean rocket, despite warnings that it would and putting its ballistic missile defense units on alert.

U.S. defense authorities tracking the rocket's trajectory say it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

In 2012, North Korea also successfully launched a three-stage rocket putting a satellite into orbit.

Launch denounced

Pyongyang says the rocket launch is part of its peaceful space program to deliver Earth observation satellites into orbit. The North's space program, however, has been widely denounced as a hostile pretense to advance its nuclear and ballistic missiles technologies, which are banned by U.N. resolutions.

The U.N. Security Council will meet Sunday to discuss the North Korean rocket launch at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was 'deeply deplorable that (North Korea) has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement condemning Pyongyang for "a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions" related to the use of "ballistic missile technology."

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on the U.N. Security Council to quickly act.

"With an understanding that North Korea's nuclear and missile threat is an actual threat against the international community and in opposition to world peace, the U.N. Security Council must make a strong measure immediately," said Park.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also denounced the North Korean launch and promised to "take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.''

China's official Xinhua news agency Sunday expressed concern that the North Korean rocket launch will worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula and urged 'all relevant parties' to exercise restraint.

Increased sanctions

The long-range rocket launch follows North Korea's fourth nuclear test conducted on January 6.

In response to the nuclear test, the United States and its allies are already advocating for stronger international sanctions against North Korea to impose real economic pain by restricting shipping, aviation, and trade of resources, including coal and fuel.

The U.S. Congress is also working on unilateral sanctions legislation that would target third parties companies and banks - many in China - that do business with North Korea.

South Korea is reportedly considering closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to the North's rocket launch. The jointly run Kaesong project, that employs over 50,000 North Koreans, is the last surviving inter-Korean development program. Virtually all other inter-Korean ties and assistance programs were severed in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a navy warship and killing 46 sailors.

For any sanctions to be effective China's support, as the North's chief benefactor and trading partner and as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, is considered essential.

But Beijing has been reluctant to support harsh punitive measures on Pyongyang that that could lead to instability and further increase regional tensions. Instead it wants all sides to resume international negotiations.

Beijing responded to Sunday's launch, expressing 'regret' the North disregarded the opposition from the international community.

Pyongyang says its' nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense and non-negotiable.

In early 2009 Pyongyang withdrew from "six party talks" with Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic assistance and security guarantees

Sunday's launch occurred in the first hours of an accelerated Feb. 7-14 launch time frame Pyongyang announced Saturday. Earlier it had alerted international meteorological and telecommunications agencies the launch would take place Feb. 8-25.

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.

North Korea is believed to have over 1,000 Soviet model missiles that can reach targets in South Korea and Japan, and enough plutonium to make eight to 12 nuclear bombs.

Last year U.S. military authorities said they believe North Korea has the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to fit on a KN-08 long range missile, although North Korea has not yet demonstrated this capability.

Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

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DPRK launches satellite amid fears of escalating tensions on Korean Peninsula

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:11, February 07, 2016

SEOUL, Feb. 7 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launches a long-range rocket Sunday morning, according to a report by South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Regardless of its true nature, the launch marks a negative development of the situation on the Korean Penisula as it has sparked extensive world anxiety and concern.

China on Friday said it opposes unilateral sanctions against the DPRK, for efforts to avoid complicating the situation.

'China is against any unilateral sanction in international affairs,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing in response to possible U.S. sanctions against the DPRK.

Expectations emerged for the Sunday launch as the DPRK moved up its rocket launch window to Feb. 7-14 from the previous Feb. 8-25. Pyongyang informed the International Maritime Organization on Saturday of the revised plan, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

In May 1993, the DPRK test-fired a medium-range Rodong ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.

In August 1998, the DPRK launched the first man-made satellite Kwangmyongsong-1, which it said was successful. But the United Statesand South Korea said what the DPRK had fired was an intermediate-range Taepodong-1 ballistic missile, part of which flew over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean.

In July 2006, the DPRK launched several ballistic missiles, including an advanced long-range Taepodong-2 missile. But the launch of Taepodong-2 was an apparent failure, and the missile landed in the Sea of Japan. In October that year, the country said that it had conducted a successful underground nuclear test.

In April 2009, Pyongyang said it had launched a Kwangmyongsong-2 communications satellite with a three-stage Unha-2 rocket, though U.S. military and South Korean officials said it had failed to put the satellite into intended orbit.

Washington also said the DPRK launched a 'Taepodong-2 missile' in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which forbids the country from using ballistic missile technology.

The launch was followed by the DPRK's second underground nuclear test, which happened in May and was declared successful by the government.

In April 2012, the DPRK launched a rocket carrying the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, but the Earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit, its official KCNA news agency reported.

In December 2012, two months before its third nuclear detonation in February 2013, the DPRK successfully sent a Kwangmyongsong-3 Earth observation satellite into orbit, delivered by a three-stage Unha-3 rocket.

In March 2014, the DPRK launched short-range missiles for two straight days amid continued joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.

The DPRK fired 16 short-range rockets, possibly FROG surface-to-surface missiles, from the Wonsan area on the DPRK's southeastern coast toward the eastern open waters.

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DPRK's rocket launch unacceptable, says Abe, gov't to lodge strong protest

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:47, February 07, 2016

TOKYO, Feb. 7 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeon Sunday rapped a long-range rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying the launch is 'unacceptable' and violated relevant UN resolution.

The DPRK launched the rocket at around 9:31 local time on Sunday, according to Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The defense ministry here said the Self-Defense Forces took no interception against the DPRK rocket.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will lodge a strong protest against Pyongyang's rocket launch, adding the move threatened international peace.

The DPRK had said it plans to launch an earth observation satellite, but Japan and the U.S., among other nations, believe the launch was a test of a long-range ballistic missile.

The Japanese government said the rocket was launched heading for the direction of Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa and flown over the prefecture at around 9:41 a.m. local time.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that Japan, United Statesand South Korearequested the UN Security Council convene after the DPRK's rocket launch.

It is the first time since December 2012 that the DPRK has conducted such a test. The DPRK is banned from test-firing any rockets based on a ballistic missile technology under UN Security Council resolutions.

The DPRK also tested its first hydrogen nuclear bomb last month which was also a violation against related UN resolution and was criticized by the international community.

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S.Korea sees DPRK rocket's successful launch into space

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:22, February 07, 2016

SEOUL, Feb. 7 -- South Korean's military has seen a rocket launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) successfully entering into space, regarding it as a similar intercontinental ballistic missile to the Unha-3 rocket test-fired in late 2012.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on the launch to the parliamentary defense committee on Sunday, according to Rep. Yun Hu-deok of the main opposition Minju Party, a member of the committee.

The South Korean military estimated that the DPRK rocket was a three-stage ICBM similar to the Unha-3 rocket, launched by Pyongyang in December 2012.

The rocket is believed to have a range of about 5,500-10,000 km. The first stage of the rocket fell in waters near South Korea's western border island of Baengnyeong, with the second stage landing off the southwest of the southern resort island of Jeju.

Where the third stage landed hasn't been identified as it disappeared from radars of South Korea's military.

To track a DPRK rocket after the launch, South Korea had deployed surveillance assets, including Aegis-equipped destroyer, ground-based Green Pine radar and Peace Eye airborne early warning and control aircraft.

No civilian damage in South Korea hasn't been reported from aircrafts and shipping. The rocket didn't fly over South Korea's territory.

The DPRK's state media reported Sunday that it had successfully launched a Kwangmyongsong-4 Earth observation satellite into orbit just 9 minutes and 46 seconds after the launch at 9:30 a.m. (0030 GMT).

Pyongyang has claimed the rocket launch is a space program for peaceful purpose, but Seoul has denounced it as ballistic missile development. Rockets and ballistic missiles have lots of overlapping technologies.

The launch came a day after the DPRK announced its revised plan to move up the launch window to Feb. 7-14 from the previous Feb. 8-25.

On Jan. 6, the DPRK said it had tested what it claimed was its first hydrogen bomb in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The DPRK is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from testing a rocket by use of ballistic missile technology and staging a nuclear test. Pyongyang detonated atomic devices in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

South Korea's presidential office issued a statement to criticize the launch, saying that it came in defiance of repeated warnings from the international community. Seoul called for tougher new sanctions against the DPRK at the UN Security Council.

President Park Geun-hye convened an emergency meeting of the national security council, and Seoul's foreign ministry requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss countermeasures. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m. (New York time), according to the ministry.

South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo held a meeting with Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), saying the DPRK's missile launch was a direct challenge to the international community as it came amid ongoing discussions at the UN Security Council about new sanctions against Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test.

Han stressed need for additional pressures on the DPRK to make it recognize a fact that the country cannot survive unless it gives up nuclear weapons, calling for close cooperation between Seoul and Washington in response to a series of recent DPRK provocations.

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North Korea launches long-range rocket: Reports

Iran Press TV

Sun Feb 7, 2016 12:42AM

North Korea has launched a long-range rocket despite warnings by a number of neighbors and world powers.

The missile was launched from the North's Dongchang-ri missile base located in the country's northwest at around 0030 GMT, a South Korean defense ministry spokesman told South Korea's official news agency Yonhap on Sunday.

Pyongyang says the rocket is carrying an earth observation satellite; however, some believe the claims are a cover for testing an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Following the launch, South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on the Security Council to "take strong punitive measures quickly.'

The missile is thought to have a range of over 10,000 kilometers, putting it in range of US mainland.

The US has referred to the launch as 'destabilizing and provocative.'

'North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests -- including the security of some of our closest allies -- and undermine peace and security in the broader region,' said White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice.

A senior US official has also confirmed the launch, saying that it was towards the south over the Yellow Sea.

'Based upon its trajectory, it was determined that it did not pose a threat to the US or our allies,' the official said. 'The launch vehicle appears to have reached space.'

This is the North's sixth long-range missile test, its previous attempt being in December 2012 when a communications satellite was reportedly launched into orbit.

South Korea and Japan have threatened to shoot the rocket down if its trajectory passes over their territories.

The missile's initial launch window had been announced as between February 8-25.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the launch as 'absolutely intolerable,' adding that it was a 'clear violation' of UN Security Council's resolutions.

According to Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga, a strong letter of protest has been sent to North Korea via the two countries' embassies in Beijing while Japan is considering imposing sanctions on Pyongyang.

Pyongyang is under UN sanctions over launching missiles considered by the US and South Korea as ballistic and aimed at delivering nuclear warheads.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting over the incident following requests by Tokyo, Washington, and Seoul.

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North Korea Rocket Launch Raises Nuclear Concerns

February 07, 2016

North Korea launched a long-range rocket into space early on February 7, raising nuclear concerns in neighboring countries and in Washington.

North Korea's state television said the launch -- ordered by leader Kim Jong Un to put a 'satellite' in space -- was a "complete success."

It said a North Korean satellite called Kwangmyongson-4 is now orbiting the earth every 94 minutes, and that the North would continue to launch satellites in the future.

South Korean and U.S. military officials have said the launch was a cover for testing a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead  a test that is banned by multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the launch "deeply deplorable" and said the rocket used ballistic missile technology.

Ban said North Korea must stop "provocative actions" and reaffirmed what he called "a commitment to working with all sides in reducing tensions and achieving the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.'

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council -- at the request of the United States, South Korea, and Japan -- has schedule an emergency closed-door meeting on February 7 to discuss the possibility of more UN sanctions.

The launch follows North Korea's claim in January that it tested a hydrogen bomb.

Condemnation was swift, with Washington calling the launch 'destabilizing' and provocative, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described it as 'absolutely intolerable.'

China's foreign ministry said it 'expresses regret' about North Korea's 'insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition.'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry responded to news of the launch by reaffirming Washington's defense commitment to Japan and South Korea.

Kerry said the United States will work with the UN Security Council on "significant measures" to hold Pyongyang accountable for violating UN resolutions.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Strategic Command said that its systems had detected and tracked what it believed to be a North Korean missile launch into space.

In a statement, the U.S. Strategic Command said defense officials tracked the launch in southern trajectory from North Korea over the Yellow Sea.

It said the North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, "determined that at no time was the missile a threat to North America.'

Japan's national broadcaster, NHK, broke into its normal programming to quote a Japanese government statement that said the rocket passed over the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.

Japanese television broadcasts showed U.S.-supplied Patriot missile defenses on Okinawa poised to shoot down any debris from the launch that might fall on populated areas of Japan.

But authorities in Tokyo said no defense missiles were fired.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, BBC, CNN, NHK, and Yonhap

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/north-korea-rocket- launch-nuclear-concerns/27536603.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UN Chief Condemns N. Korea Rocket Launch as 'Deplorable'

Sputnik News

07:07 07.02.2016(updated 07:13 07.02.2016)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned North Korea's long-range rocket launch and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  Earlier Sunday, North Korea fired a long-range rocket, defying a UN Security Council resolution banning Pyongyang from launching rockets that may be used as long-range ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

'The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the DPRK to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations. He reaffirms his commitment to working with all sides in reducing tensions and achieving the verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,' the UN Secretariat said in a statement.

The United Nations stressed that the 'deeply deplorable' launch was a breach of Security Council resolutions.

An emergency UN Security Council meeting on the issue will take place in New York at 16:00 GMT.

 Sputnik

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Iran's policy is based on not sending forces to Resistance Front, says IRGC Cmdr.

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat 6 Feb 2016 - 13:50

TEHRAN (ISNA)-A senior Iranian military official said that the country's policy is based on not sending forces to Resistance Front.

Policy and wisdom is based on not sending individuals for fighting in the Resistance Front, said Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, adding young Iranians are eager to defend the Islamic Revolution and Islamic Resistance.

Iranian officials have always emphasized that the country has not deployed forces in Syria and its presence in friendly Syria is limited to a counseling role.

But Hezbollah resistance force sent its fighters to Northern Syria to help the country's army and popular forces take back the strategic province of Aleppo from the terrorist groups, including the al-Nusra Front and ISIL.

In a surge of power, the pro-government troops that are backed by the Syrian and Russian air forces have earned an increasing number of battlefields across the province in the last few months.

End Item

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Iran currently exporting 300,000 bpd of oil to Europe: Zangeneh

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 5:36PM

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh says the country is currently exporting 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil to European countries and the figure will rise when new contracts are signed with European oil majors.

According to Iranian Oil Ministry's official SHANA news agency, Zangeneh noted that the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) will soon finalize a contract with the French Total to sell 160,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the company.

He added that the Total contract will be officially singed on February 16.

In addition to buying oil from Iran, "Total has indicated its readiness to take part in the development of South Azadegan oil field and Iran LNG project," he added.

The Iranian oil minister said necessary information with regard to the two projects will be provided to the French company, after which it will offer its proposals to the Iranian side.

"This means that we have not reached an agreement to put them in charge of the project, but the agreement is for Total to carry out necessary studies on these projects," Zangeneh said.

Elsewhere in his interview, Zangeneh said officials of Italy's Eni have also indicated their willingness to work in the Iranian oil sector.

The Iranian oil minister stated that no contract was signed between the two sides during a recent visit to Rome by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, but "the company's officials are to visit Tehran soon in order to sign a contract for purchasing Iran's crude oil."

Zangeneh added that Eni has also indicated its interest in taking part in development of one of the Iranian oil fields.

"In addition, Italy's Saras refinery has demanded to buy between 60,000 to 70,000 barrels of Iran's crude oil per day," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Zangeneh was quoted by SHANA as saying that Iran is putting finishing touches to the new format of its oil contracts, known as the Iran Petroleum Contracts, to attract more international investment in the country's oil sector.

"So far, no contract has been signed and even the text of this model of contracts has not been readied yet," Zangeneh said, adding, "The drafting of the contracts is under way and we will negotiate with [foreign] companies after finalization."

IPC is replacing buyback deals. Under a buyback deal, the host government agrees to pay the contractor an agreed price for all volumes of hydrocarbons the contractor produces. However, under the IPC, the National Iranian Oil Company will set up joint ventures for crude oil and gas production with international companies, which will be paid with a share of the output.

More than 100 energy companies, including Britain's BP, France's Total, Italy's Eni and Spain's Repsol attended a conference in Tehran last November to hear about the IPC.

Under the IPC, different stages of exploration, development and production will be offered to contractors as an integrated package, with the emphasis laid on enhanced and improved recovery.

Architects of the new contract say foreign companies can no longer dash out of their contractual obligations if sanctions are ever re-imposed on Iran. But critics cite numerous shortcomings which seriously plague the new formula.

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Iran eyes 1.8-billion-euro oil refinery in Spain: Report

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 6:54AM

Iran has announced a plan to build a 1.8-billion-euro oil refinery in Spain as recent sanctions relief allows Tehran to resume oil delivery to Europe, Spain's foreign minister has said.

Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, quoted by the Spanish newspaper El Pais, said the planned refinery would produce 120,000 b/d of oil.

The paper said an Iranian delegation travelled to Spain on January 28 and held talks with Spanish officials for future cooperation.

National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) plans to team up with Spain's Magtel for the construction of refinery in the southern port city of Algeciras.

NIORDC and Magtel have signed a memorandum to assign feasibility studies on the project to an international auditing firm.

Last November, Abbas Kazemi, Chief Executive of NIORDC, said Iran was mulling a plan to build or buy refineries in other countries in order to guarantee long-term sale of its crude oil.

He noted that investing in overseas refineries is one of the most common ways used by oil producing countries to boost crude exports.

At present, some littoral states of the Persian Gulf, which are among world's major oil exporters, own a remarkable number of oil refineries in American, European and Asian countries, which has greatly increased their clout in global energy markets.

Iran has likewise received proposals for buying or building overseas refineries in Asian, European, African and American countries, none of which has been finalized yet.

The lifting last month of sanctions on Iran following the implementation of Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers enables the country to resume crude oil exports to Europe, which had come to a halt in 2012.

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No security wall around Baghdad, Iraqi PM says

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 7:4PM

The Iraqi prime minister denied Saturday reports of plans to construct a concrete wall around the capital Baghdad to fend off attacks by Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Haider al-Abadi in a statement described Baghdad as the capital of 'all Iraqis,' adding that there can be 'no wall or fence to isolate it or prevent other civilians from entering it.'

The comments came after Baghdad Operations Command said on February 3 that preparatory work for a security barrier had started without providing further details.

The prime minister further said the security for the city of four million would be provided by reorganizing checkpoints and closing gaps in the security perimeter.

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh Takfiris launched an offensive in the country in June 2014, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.

The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others.

The terrorists have claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in recent months in Baghdad.

On January 11, elements with the extremist group targeted a shopping mall in an assault that killed nearly 20 people.

Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.

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Iraqi forces recapture district in troubled Anbar

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 5:38AM

Iraqi government forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization units, have fully liberated a district in the conflict-ridden western province of Anbar from the Takfiri Daesh terrorists.

The Iraqi Joint Forces Command announced in a statement on Friday that the forces had managed to establish complete control over the al-Sijariyah district, which lies east of Anbar's provincial capital city of Ramadi.

The statement said Iraqi forces had also killed a large number of Daesh terrorists during the liberation operation, and dismantled dozens of improvised explosive devices planted by the Takfiris.

Additionally, Iraqi army artillery units pounded militant positions in the villages of Duwailiya, al-Ghoraf and Jazeera al-Jubbah, located on the outskirts of the western city of Khan al-Baghdadi, killing at least 17 Daesh militants.

Jabbar Ma'amouri, a commander of the Popular Mobilization units, said Iraqi fighter jets also thwarted a Daesh offensive against the oil-rich region of Haqoul al-Alas in the northern province of Salahuddin.

Elsewhere in the city of Fallujah, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad, at least 32 Daesh terrorists were killed when a car rigged with explosives went off inside a bomb-making workshop.

Violence has plagued northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh Takfiris launched an offensive in the country in June 2014, and occupied portions of the Iraqi territory.

The militants have committed various crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others.

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9 killed in bombing in southwestern Pakistan

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 2:29PM

At least nine people were killed and over 40 others injured on Saturday in a bomb explosion targeting a vehicle transporting security forces in southwestern Pakistan.

Police authorities said the attack was carried out when a bomber riding on a bicycle blew his explosives near a car belonging to the paramilitary Frontier Corps in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province.

The blast left seven civilians and two members of the security forces dead.

'Two of our soldiers were martyred in the bombing and 10 others were wounded,' said a paramilitary spokesman whose name was not mentioned in the report.

Pro-Taliban militants in a statement claimed responsibility for the blast without releasing further details.

Pakistan has been facing security challenges since it joined an alliance with the United States in the so-called war on terror in 2001.

Back in January, five soldiers and two coast guard members were killed in separate attacks in Balochistan, while a bomber killed at least 15 people outside a polio center in Quetta.

Thousands of people have been killed over the past decade as a result of a surge in violence in the country. Thousands more have been displaced by the wave of violence and militancy.

In the country's troubled northwestern tribal regions, Islamabad has been engaged in a major offensive against militant hideouts since June 2014, when a deadly raid on the Karachi International Airport ended the government's faltering peace talks with the pro-Taliban militants.

Pakistan's mineral and gas-rich Balochistan Province is rife with separatist, extremist and sectarian violence and has been the scene of numerous terrorist attacks over the past years.

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Syria forces liberate village in Latakia Province

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 5:46PM

Syrian forces have liberated a key village in the northern province of Latakia, dealing another blow to militants operating along the Turkish border.

Syrian media said on Saturday that the military and allied volunteer fighters seized control over Aliyah in the mountainous region of the northern countryside of Latakia.

Reports said the recapture came after fierce clashes between Syrian forces and militants operating in Aliyah. The village is said to have been used as a major conduit for terror groups enabling them to transfer weapons and militants from Turkey intro Syria.

Over the past few weeks, the Syrian forces have gained more ground against militants north of Latakia, a province where the government enjoys more support. Russian fighter jets have also contributed to the gains.

Syria has blamed Turkey for the bulk of the chaos in its northern provinces, including in Latakia and Aleppo, saying Ankara overtly trains and funds militants who enter those areas.

The key recapture in Latakia came on January 24, when the Syrian forces liberated the town of Rabia, which lies in the northern part of the province and close to the border with Turkey.

The conflict in Syria flared in March 2011 and has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 260,000 people.

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Saudi defeat in Syria definite: Iran's IRGC chief

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 12:5PM

A top Iranian military commander says a 'definite' defeat awaits Saudi Arabia if it sends troops to Syria.

"Sending troops by Saudi Arabia means a coup de grace for its regime which, of course, is not bad," chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Ja'afari said on Saturday.

In a surprise statement broadcast on the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news network on Thursday, a spokesman for the Saudi defense ministry suggested that the kingdom could send troops to Syria.

Gen. Ja'afari dismissed it as a "bluff," saying he didn't think the Saudis "would dare to do that because their army is a classical army and history has shown they are incapable of confronting Islam's fighters."

"Such an action will amount to a coup de grace for them which, of course, they apparently see no other choice to avoid but their defeat is definite," he told reporters in Tehran.

"They are bluffing. But if that happens, we think it's not bad from our point of view," Ja'afari added.

The commander said the decision has been prompted by "extensive and repeated defeats of those fighting against the resistance front which has disrupted all their calculations."

"They thought they could make a score in Syria through supporting and funding (militants) but recent victories of the resistance front disrupted all their plans," Ja'afari added.

The IRGC chief described recent military achievements in the Syrian province of Aleppo as "big" which had also made Israel "worried."

"One of the results of these victories was that Turkey and Saudi Arabia abandoned peace negotiations and claimed sending troops to Syria."

Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei warned any Saudi ground troops in Syria would set the entire Middle East, including the kingdom itself, on fire.

"If the Saudi government, which has a habit of taking insane actions, makes such a move, the whole region, including Saudi Arabia, will burn in fire. However, Iran would be far off from it," he wrote on his Instagram page on Saturday.

"After Daesh and al-Nusra Front suffered defeat in Iraq's Ramadi and Syria's Aleppo in particular, Saudi Arabia and the United States decided to deploy Saudi soldiers to Syria to save the remaining Takfiris and clash with the Syrian army," Rezaei stated.

Rezaei said such a deployment would set the stage for a confrontation between Russia and Syria on one side, and Saudi Arabia and Turkey on the other, a situation which could also drag the US into the conflict and trigger an all-out regional war.

On Friday, Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the Russian State Duma committee, warned Riyadh that any military ground operation in Syria without the Damascus government's consent would amount to a declaration of war.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the so-called US-led coalition that has been conducting air raids against what are claimed to be the Daesh terrorists inside Syria since September 2014.

Riyadh, Washington and their allies are staunchly opposed to the Syrian government, providing Takfiri militants with arms and funds to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

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Bahrain ready for Syria deployment under Saudi lead: Diplomat

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 6, 2016 6:12AM

The tiny Persian Gulf state of Bahrain says it is ready to deploy ground forces to Syria under the Saudi leadership as foreign-backed militants are losing ground in the face of the Syrian army advances.

The announcement by Bahraini Ambassador to Britain Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa on Friday came after Saudi Arabia said it was ready to send troops to Syria.

In a statement, Sheikh Fawaz said Manama would commit troops to operate "in concert with the Saudis" in Syria.

The Bahraini diplomat said the Saudi initiative was meant to combat both Daesh and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the [Persian] Gulf states are determined to take positive action within the region and globally to combat terrorism and extremism, from whatever quarter they emanate," he said.

Sheikh Fawaz said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was also ready to commit troops to Syria.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are members of the US coalition that has been conducting air raids inside Syria since September 2014 without the Syrian government's permit or a UN mandate.

They are staunchly opposed to the Syrian government, providing Takfiri militants with arms and funds to topple President Assad.

The Syrian army and allied fighters have made significant advances in recent weeks, especially in the areas near the second city of Aleppo.

In a surprise statement broadcast on the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news network on Thursday, a spokesman for the Saudi defense ministry suggested that the kingdom could send troops to Syria.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prepared to participate in any ground operations that the anti-Daesh coalition might agree to carry out in Syria if there is consensus among coalition leaders," the spokesman, Ahmed Asiri, said.

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter welcomed the offer, saying he looked forward to discussing it with the Saudi defense minister in Brussels next week.

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Kerry Says Russia Violating UN Cease-Fire But May Soon Comply

February 06, 2016

by RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia and Syria have been violating a UN resolution calling for a cease-fire in the civil war, but talks are under way to resolve the problem and revive peace negotiations.

'Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a cease-fire,' Kerry told reporters in Washington on February 5. 'The Iranians confirmed in London just a day and a half ago they will support a cease-fire now.'

'The modalities of a cease-fire itself are also being discussed and the Russians have made some constructive ideas about how a cease-fire in fact could be implemented,' Kerry said.

'But if it's just talks for the sake of talks in order to continue the bombing, nobody is going to accept that, and we will know that in the course of the next days.'

Peace talks sponsored by the United Nations in Geneva were halted on February 3 after the Syrian Army, backed by Russian air strikes, advanced against rebel forces north of Aleppo, choking off humanitarian supply lines to civilians.

The Syrian offensive has continued through February 5, with no evidence of any let-up in the fighting, which has forced an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 civilians to flee Aleppo and congregate on the Turkish border.

The Geneva talks were the first attempt to negotiate an end to the Syrian war in two years. Syrian opposition groups were unwilling to negotiate as long as the government kept bombarding civilian areas.

Kerry said Russia and Assad are not in compliance with a UN Security Council resolution approved in December, which calls for immediate humanitarian access to civilians and an end to aerial and artillery bombardment of civilians.

Moreover, he said there was evidence that Russia was using 'dumb' bombs, resulting in mass civilian deaths around Aleppo.

'They are not precision bombs, and there are civilians, including women and children, being killed in large numbers as a consequence,' he said.

He also accused Russia of targeting hospitals and returning to bomb people rescuing those wounded in earlier air strikes.



'This has to stop,' Kerry said, 'Nobody has any question about that. But it's not going to stop just by whining about it. It's not going to stop by walking away from the table or not engaging,' he said.

'The next days will tell the story of whether or not people are serious or people are not serious' about carrying out a cease-fire and allowing humanitarian access to civilians, he said.

Kerry travels to Munich next week for talks with Russia, Iran, and other parties involved in the Syrian conflict.

Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the UN, said Moscow plans to 'bring some new ideas to the table' at the Munich meeting to try to move the peace process forward.

Speaking to reporters in New York after a tense, closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council on the breakdown in the peace talks, Churkin said Russia will not stop bombing unilaterally. He noted that the United States and its anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition also have been bombing in Syria.

'What about this American-led coalition? Are they going to stop, too?' he asked.

Russia has insisted its air strikes are aimed at IS and Al-Nusra, Syria's Al-Qaeda affliliate, and says the peace talks should proceed even while such fighting continues on the ground.

But France's UN ambassador, Francois Delatte, said the peace negotiations 'cannot be a smoke screen allowing the regime to continue quietly its massacres.'

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kerry-says-russia-violating- un-ceasefire-syria-but-may-soon-comply/27535440.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Up To 35,000 Syrians Massed On Turkish Border

February 06, 2016

The number of Syrian refugees massed on the border with Turkey after fleeing a government offensive near the northern city of Aleppo has nearly doubled in the past 48 hours.

Suleyman Tapsiz, the governor of the Turkish border province of Kilis, said 35,000 refugees had reached the border area -- up from an estimated 20,000 on February 5.

Tapsiz told reporters that another 70,000 Syrians could be expected if Russian air strikes and military advances by the Syrian regime continued.

He said Turkey would provide aid to the displaced within Syria but would only open the gates in the event of an 'extraordinary crisis.'

Fierce fighting has been reported between the rebels and government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, who have virtually surrounded Aleppo, a rebel stronghold.

The Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said clashes on February 5 around Ratyan, a town near Aleppo, cost 120 lives on both sides.

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it estimated 'up to 20,000 people have gathered at the Bab al-Salama border crossing and another 5,000 to 10,000 people have been displaced to Azaz city' nearby.

Around 300,000 people are believed to be trapped in Aleppo after the rebels' main supply route was cut off by government forces in an offensive that scuppered UN-mediated peace talks in Geneva this week.

Based on reporting by AFP, BBC, and AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/syrians-fighting- turkish-border-aleppo/27535760.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Damascus: Ground Operation in Syria Without State Approval 'Aggression'

Sputnik News

14:31 06.02.2016(updated 16:54 06.02.2016)

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Saturday that any ground operation in Syria without Damascus' approval is an 'act of aggression.'

On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry said it was prepared to deploy ground troops to Syria to fight Daesh. On Friday, the White House welcomed the Riyadh's announcement.

Later, Bahraini ambassador to Britain Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa said in a statement that the kingdom would commit troops to operate 'in concert with Saudis.' He added that the United Arab Emirates, a member of the Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council, was also ready to commit troops.

'Any ground intervention on Syrian land without the agreement of the Syrian government is an act of aggression we regret that those [who invade] will return to their countries in coffins,' Reuters quoted Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem as saying.

The Syrian foreign minister also said during a press conference in Damascus that Riyadh-formed Syrian opposition delegation at the Geneva peace talks suspended the negotiations after Syrian army's advances.

'The opposition delegation from Riyadh decided to quit the dialogue after hearing about the advances made by the Syrian army.'

A Saudi-backed opposition group walked out of the negotiations in Geneva on Wednesday, after which UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced the intra-Syrian talks were put on a three-week pause.

The Syrian leadership has requested the United Nations to present a list of people who will represent the opposition at the Geneva talks.

'We demanded the UN special envoy for Syria [Staffan de Mistura] to give us the list of people with whom we will negotiate, since we do not intend to speak to ghosts.'

Muallem also said that the ceasefire in Syria cannot be reached until the country's borders with Turkey and Jordan are taken under control.

 Sputnik

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Bahrain Ready to Join US Ground Operations in Syria

Sputnik News

10:18 06.02.2016

Bahrain has said that is ready to send ground forces against Daesh militants, as part of the US-led coalition.

Bahraini ambassador to Britain Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa said in a statement that the kingdom would commit troops to operate 'in concert with Saudis,' Reuters reported.

He added that the United Arab Emirates, a member of the Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council, was also ready to commit troops.

On January 4, a Saudi military spokesman confirmed that Riyadh was ready to join any US-led ground operation in Syria against Daesh if the move is approved by the coalition.

'If there was a consensus from the leadership of the coalition, the kingdom is willing to participate in these efforts because we believe that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations,' Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri told al-Arabiya TV.

He added that a decision could be made at a NATO summit in Brussels next week. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter confirmed that he would discuss the initiative with Saudi representatives at the summit.

The US-led coalition has carried out airstrikes against Daesh since September 2014, but the campaign has proved ineffective to shatter the terrorists' positions. While US President Barack Obama has repeatedly said Washington will not place additional boots on the ground in the region, Carter recently announced the Pentagon may soon launch a ground operation in Syria and Iraq.

There are two different coalitions being established on the ground in Syria, military political analyst, Professor of Political Science and Sociology Andrei Koshkin told RT.

According to him, such countries as Saudi Arabia or Turkey are pursuing their own interests in Syria and are not really focused on eliminating Daesh.

Syria's neighbors have rushed in to grab a slice of the 'pie," the expert said, explaining that US-led coalition forces are in desperate need of a ground operation in the country to be able to "stake their claims" on the Syrian territory.

Currently, Daesh (also known as Islamic State/ISIL) is one of the most dangerous threats to global security. In three years, the militants have seized large parts of Iraq and Syria. In addition, the terrorist group is currently trying to establish influence in North Africa, particularly in Libya. According to estimates, Daesh controls an area of up to 90,000 sq km. The number of its fighters is estimated between 50,000 and 200,000.

 Sputnik

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Militants Ready to 'Switch Sides' as Syrian Army Advances on All Fronts

Sputnik News

10:10 06.02.2016(updated 10:28 06.02.2016)

Daesh and other terrorist groups have pulled back from their positions as the Syrian army, backed by the country's aviation and popular forces, continues its advance in several key provinces of the county.

Government forces have regained control over several more areas in Dara'a, Deir ez-Zor, Hama, Homs and Aleppo provinces leaving dozens of militants dead and wounded, Iran's Fars news agency reported on Friday.

In Dara'a province the Syrian Armed Forces clawed back more areas near Atman town, almost 4 kilometers north of Dara'a city, killing 30 terrorists and destroying their meeting centers equipped with heavy 23-mm machineguns.

In Deir ez-Zor several militant strongholds were destroyed by missile fire as Syrian Army jets targeted two Daesh outposts east of Deir ez-Zor airport.

The militants suffered heavy losses, leaving scores of their fighters dead and wounded, informed sources on the ground were cited as saying by the agency.

In Hama province around a dozen members of the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union militant group were killed as the Army and popular forces renewed their attacks on their positions in Kafr Zita town, north of Hama city.

One of the group's top commanders was identified among the dead.

The Syrisn Armed Forces have also made similar gains in central Homs province, killing a number of al-Nusra Front terrorists and severely degrading their military infrastructure and destroying much of their hardware.

In Aleppo province the Syrian Army, popular forces and allied Hezbollah units delivered food and medical supplies to the liberated Shiite towns of Nubl and al-Zahra.

After Syrian Armed Forces and their allies entered the two towns, a convoy of humanitarian aid arrived there.

Meanwhile, militant groups active north of Aleppo said that they were ready to fight alongside the government forces, Al Mayadeen television reported.

 Sputnik

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Syria Warns Saudi Arabia, Other States Not to Send Troops

by Edward Yeranian February 06, 2016

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem warned Saudi Arabia not to send troops to his country, threatening, during a press conference Saturday, that troops would be sent back home in coffins.

The audience of journalists, top government officials and other invitees applauded politely as veteran Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem spoke defiantly about U.N.-sponsored peace talks in Geneva and about continuing military operations "until terrorists are defeated."

Muallem insisted that the Syrian government would not agree to any cease-fire on the ground, despite U.N. efforts, so long as Islamic State, al-Qaida and other "terrorist" groups continued to fight in the country. He also warned Saudi Arabia not to send forces to fight in Syria.

He says that logic would preclude any (Saudi) ground intervention in Syria, but that the folly of the Saudi regime means that nothing can be excluded. He warned Saudi Arabia that any aggression on Syrian soil would result in the aggressors being sent home in wooden (coffins).

Saudi ready to send ground troops

Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman General Ahmed al-Assiri told Arab media Friday that his country was ready to send ground forces to fight in Syria.

He says that the Saudi Kingdom is prepared to participate in any ground operation in Syria that is agreed upon by the (U.S.-led) anti-Islamic State coalition.

U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the Saudi offer to send troops, during a press conference in Washington, Friday.

Geneva talks

Foreign Minister al-Muallem went on to criticize U.N. envoy Steffan de Mistura for conducting talks with Syrian opposition leaders whom he claimed "don't represent the Syrian people." He also blasted armed groups fighting the government and thanked Russia for its military help:

He says that Russia's role won't end until the defeat of the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra and other groups tied to al-Qaida, which is in accordance with U.N. resolutions.

Worsening situation

Nadim Shehadi, who heads the Issam Fares' Center at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Diplomacy, argues that the situation in Syria will continue to get worse, so long as the Syrian government and its allies are not met with an adequate counter-response.

'There is now increasing recognition that Russia, Iran and the [Assad] regime are pursuing a military solution in Syria and that this is not being confronted by the U.S. and its allies and that this will lead to more frustration and radicalism in the region," he said.

Dubai-based Middle East analyst Theodore Karasik contended, however, that interventions by U.S. allies and Syrian government foes Saudi Arabia and Turkey would be "madness" given the "the highly charged atmosphere," but "nothing should surprise us anymore."

Veteran U.S. Mideast envoy Richard Murphy, a former ambassador to both Syria and Saudi Arabia, told VOA that 'the hostility of the Saudi regime for the Syrian regime is public knowledge' and that 'Riyadh [has the] conviction that the Syrian regime has become a puppet of Tehran,' its regional nemesis. But, he argued, the U.S. has nevertheless 'been urging Arab states to concentrate on fighting Islamic State [rather than the Syrian regime].'

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Taiwan's status not diminished in any way by U.K. position

ROC Central News Agency

2016/02/05 16:02:05

Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) The Republic of China is a sovereign independent democracy, and its status will not be diminished in any way by the stance of the British government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

The British government, in response to an Internet petition to demand official recognition of Taiwan as a country, reiterated its official position of not recognizing Taiwan as a country and said that the issue of Taiwan's status should be resolved through dialogue based on the wishes of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

'The 1972 Joint Communique between the United Kingdom and China set forth that: 'The U.K. acknowledges the Chinese position that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China and recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China,'' according to a response prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the U.K. government department responsible for foreign affairs.

'The United Kingdom believes that the Taiwan issue should be resolved through dialogue, in line with the views of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,' it said.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Eleanor Wang () said that 'since the Republic of China was established in 1912, it has been a sovereign, independent country, and has developed relations with other countries independently.'

'In addition to close diplomatic relations with its allies, it has also developed substantive relations with other countries. It is also a member of many international organizations and is actively taking part in international affairs, such as rescue missions, by shouldering responsibility in the world community,' Wang said.

British citizen Lee Chapman, reportedly married to a Taiwanese woman, initiated the online petition in January.

He said in his petition that because of its one-China policy, the U.K. does not recognize the government of the ROC and all relations between the two countries must take place on an unofficial basis.

'It's time to change this,' Chapman argued. 'Taiwan is an independent country.'

As of Feb. 4, 20,855 people had signed the petition.

The U.K. government's policy is to respond to all petitions that garner at least 10,000 signatures. With 100,000 signatures collected within six months, a petition must be considered for debate in Parliament, according to British law.

Meanwhile, Premier Simon Chang () said that substance is more important than face, when he was asked to comment on the stance of the British government.

'What can you expect the British government to say?' Chang asked, noting that China is helping the U.K. to build nuclear power plants.

'How else can it respond to such a petition?' he asked.

'Faced with a tough international situation, if we have to make a choice between substance and face, we think the former is more important,' he said, citing the substantive measures of free-trade treatment and industrial cooperation.

(By Tang Pei-chun and Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J

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UK restates position on Taiwan in response to petition

ROC Central News Agency

2016/02/05 09:37:03

London, Feb. 4 (CNA) The British government on Thursday reiterated its official position of not recognizing Taiwan as a country and said the issue of Taiwan's status should be resolved through dialogue based on the wishes of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Responding to a petition that demands official recognition of Taiwan as a country, the British government began by saying: 'The longstanding position of Her Majesty's Government is that we do not recognize Taiwan as a state.'

'The 1972 Joint Communique between the United Kingdom and China set out that: 'The UK acknowledges the Chinese position that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China and recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China,'' according to the response prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the government department responsible for foreign affairs.

'The United Kingdom believes that the Taiwan issue should be resolved through dialogue, in line with the views of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, (which lies between Taiwan and China).

'Recent years have seen a substantial increase in transport, tourism and trade links across the Strait, which have contributed to peace and stability. We hope that this trend will continue.

'The United Kingdom and Taiwan have a strong but unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties and facilitated by The British Office, Taipei, and the Taipei Representative Office in London.

'This relationship delivers significant benefits to both the UK and Taiwan and has featured a wide range of exchanges and visits, for example on environmental, judicial and educational issues.

We encourage British companies to take advantage of Taiwan's thriving economy, favorable business environment and close trade and investment links with the wider region.

'Taiwan is the UK's 6th largest market in the Asia Pacific region. Two-way trade reached a historic high of 5.8 billion (US$8.45 billion) in 2014 with the total value of exports of UK goods and services to Taiwan standing at 1.96 billion. UK exports to Taiwan grew by 2.3% in 2014.

'The United Kingdom and Taiwan also enjoy a constructive relationship in a range of multilateral organizations for which statehood is not a requirement, such as the WTO (World Health Organization), and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.'

Commenting on the official response, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to London said the fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign, independent nation is not diminished in any way.

The British government did not break any new ground but was merely restating its longstanding and consistent position, said Liu Chih-kung (), Taiwan's representative to Britain.

The petition was initiated in January by Lee Chapman, a British citizen reportedly married to a Taiwanese woman.

He said in the petition that, because of its One- China policy, the United Kingdom does not recognize the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and all relations between the two countries take place on an unofficial basis.

'It's time to change this,' Chapman agues. 'Taiwan is an independent country.'

'...But China states that Taiwan is just another part of China,' he said in the petition. 'The consequence is that the USA, UK and most countries in the world don't want to upset China, therefore do not recognize Taiwan as a country.'

As of Feb. 4, 20,855 people had signed the petition.

The U.K. government's policy is to respond to all petitions that garner at least 10,000 signatures. With 100,000 signatures collected in six months, a petition will be considered for debate in Parliament, according to British law.

(By Jennifer Huang and Jay Chen)

ENDITEM

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Turkey's Kurdish Fight Complicates IS Battle

by Kasim Cindemir February 06, 2016

Turkey's complicated and controversial fight against Kurdish factions at home and in Syria is making its battle against the Islamic State group more difficult. It also leaves Ankara in a weakened stance to combat terror, analysts say.

'That position leaves Turkey less able to devote resources to fighting IS and halting the flow of fighters across its border, even if it is inclined to do so,' said Alan Makovsky, a former U.S. State Department official and Turkish affairs expert at the Center for American Progress.

Turkey is reeling from recent terror attacks blamed on IS militants. In all, more than 150 people have died in IS-related terror incidents in the last six months. Turkey has tightened its borders against IS infiltration and has stepped up arrests of IS suspects.

At the same time, Turkey has been fighting against Kurdish militants known as the PKK in eastern Turkey, where battles reignited last July. Across the border, Turkey sees Syrian Kurdish forces associated with the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), as enemies, even though these forces are helping a Western coalition fight IS in Syria.

Human rights issues

Ankara is facing international criticism from human rights groups over its harsh crackdown on Kurds in eastern Turkey.

And Turkey's leaders are facing strong internal pressures from opposition groups who claim they have not done enough to combat IS. In some instances, opponents claim, Ankara's policies have supported IS aims and left Turkey vulnerable to IS terror.

Makovsky told VOA that Turkey's first priority is fighting the PKK and, to the best of its ability, limiting the expansion in Syria of the PYD, which it considers largely an extension of the PKK.

And that leaves Turkey with a diminishing capability to combat IS, said Ali Akel, a journalist and commentator in Turkey.

'The Turkish government seems to think that it has to fight the PKK. So the IS issue gets moved aside,' he told VOA.

Strategic US ally

Still, Turkey is an important ally in the Western coalition's fight against IS in Syria and Iraq.

Ankara allows coalition warplanes to conduct bombing missions from a Turkish airbase. And coalition forces have been working with Turkey to tighten its borders.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Istanbul last month to urge Turkish officials to continue their fight against IS despite Turkey's political and military dilemma.

IS fighters are "not the only existential threat to the people of Turkey,' said Biden. 'The PKK is equally a threat and we are aware of that."

The PKK, branded a terrorist organization by Ankara and Washington, has been fighting for Kurdish political and cultural rights in Turkey since 1984. But the U.S. supports Kurdish forces fighting IS in Syria.

"There is a terrible gap and differences of opinion between the U.S. and Turkey regarding what should be the priority with respect to Syria and IS," said Bulent Aliriza, the Turkey program director at the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington. "For Turkey the priority is the PKK and the PYD. For the U.S., the priority is IS."

Discrepancies underscored

That difference is affecting Turkey's ability to help the U.S.-led Western coalition fight IS, analysts say.

"If Turkey does not solve the Kurdish issue peacefully and keeps attacking the Kurds, the U.S.'s Syria policy in general and the IS policy in particular will be more difficult to implement," Gonol Tul, the founding director of the Middle East Institute's Center for Turkish Studies, told VOA.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said recently that Turkey needs to change its aims.

'They have to shift their priority from considering the Kurds as their problem to IS as their major problem,' he said, according to the Kurdish Rudaw website.

Ankara has long been criticized for 'looking the other way' with respect to IS activities and networks in Turkey. But as IS terror has increased, so has the need for Turkey to fight IS, he said.

"IS is the first enemy of Turkey in Syria," Yasin Aktay, a member of the Turkish parliament from the governing AKP party, said this week in Washington.

Turkey's fight

The U.S. says Turkey is a willing and cooperative partner in the coalition's fight against IS.

And Ankara says the U.S. must understand the Turkish dilemma.

'We will always listen to the opinions of our allies and friends,' Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after meeting with Biden. 'But no ally, no friendly nation, should expect us to tolerate any armed forces other than the legitimate armed forces of the government, on Turkish territory."

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Colourful curries at Babu Ji New York. Photo: Supplied

Indian-born chef Jessi Singh, his Brooklyn-born wife Jennifer, and their two small daughters moved from Melbourne to New York in December 2014.

They opened Babu Ji NYC in May, designing, painting and furnishing the small East Village shop themselves, cramming in 50 seats and a help-yourself beer fridge, hoping that the style of fresh, freewheeling Indian cuisine they developed in Melbourne would find an audience in New York.

"We had three quiet days," says Jessi Singh. Then Adam Platt, the critic from New York Magazine, arrived. He enjoyed Singh's goat curry with blackberries, the hung yoghurt kebab and the potato croquettes in pineapple sauce.

Indian-born chef Jessi Singh, and his Brooklyn-born wife Jennifer, opened Babu Ji NYC in May. Photo: Supplied

"He tweeted about it and that was it," says Singh. "We had a line down the street the next night and no quiet days since."

Other write-ups followed: The New York Times and Wall Street Journal blessed the restaurant, taste-making website The Infatuation named the little eatery the city's best new restaurant for 2015, The New Yorker enthused about the Indian-Chinese cauliflower, and restaurant guide Zagat declared the gol gappa, a spherical one-bite street snack, one of the best things it had eaten in 2015. "We were stoked," says Singh.

However, more than any of the accolades and attention, it was during the recent late January blizzard that Babu Ji NYC's success really sank in.

"The whole city shut down," says Singh. "Cars were off the road. There were no buses, no taxis, no trains. But we had a line in front of the restaurant and an hour wait for a table. In a blizzard. We couldn't believe it."

The Singhs owned two Indian restaurants in Melbourne  Horn Please in Fitzroy North and Babu Ji in St Kilda  which they sold to their staff when they left. These places (and their first one, Dhaba at the Mill, in Kyneton) were well-loved and earned solid reviews but no one would suggest that they took the city by storm.

"We were busy, we were happy, we were just doing our own thing but we wonder about the difference in how our food was received," says Singh. "Indian food hasn't made it that big in Australia  same with Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian and African. Maybe people take it for granted, they just think of it as a local curry house. In New York, they have big respect for all different cuisines."

Respect doesn't necessarily mean New York has great food. "There are so many bad restaurants here," says Singh. "There are 15 million people on this tiny island every day. No matter how bad you are, you don't need a repeat customer so everybody can still make money."

Singh thinks the runaway success of Babu Ji NYC is in large part thanks to the schooling Melbourne gave him.

"Melbourne is a great foodie city with very high standards," he says. "I always tell people that a hole in the wall in Melbourne can beat any restaurant in New York. We thought, if we can make it in Melbourne, we can make it anywhere."
Bluefin tuna belly at Minamishima in Melbourne. Photo: Anu Kumar

Chef Hajime Horiguchi has left the double-hatted Minamishima restaurant in Melbourne for much more breezy digs at Hervey Bay's Coast restaurant.

Horiguchi originally hails from Kyoto in Japan, and was head chef at Wasabi at Noosa before he left Queensland to join the kitchen at Sake in Melbourne in 2014. He then took up a position working alongside owner and sushi-master chef Koichi Minamishima at the Richmond sushi restaurant when Minamishima opened in December 2014. The Melbourne restaurant was awarded two hats in The Age Good Food Guide.

So what's made him return to the Queensland coast? Sun and seafood, Horiguchi says. "I couldn't stand the cold weather. And the seafood here is so much better."

Hajime Horiguchi, Julia Paussa and Nick Street-Brown at Coast restaurant in Hervey Bay.

The now keen fisherman got into fishing while working at Wasabi. "There are many fishermen here, especially being so close to Tin Can Bay, and so it's easy to make those relationships and get the best seafood, which is not the case in Melbourne."

Horiguchi plans to scope out the town's growing restaurant scene with the intention of opening something of his own in the near future.

In the meantime, he's joined chef Nick Street-Brown in the Coast kitchen.

"It's a bit surreal actually," says Coast owner Julia Paussa. "We feel like we've won the lotto or something." While Coast boasts it's own hat, it's a far more casual experience than Minamishima where the omakase (chef's choice) menu costs $150.

"The staff are all really excited to have him," Paussa says.

Horiguchi started this week, but Paussa says once they've introduced him to the local seafood and fishermen, she expects that he'll put his mark on the menu.
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Supply vs. demand ratio sustains drag

By Texas Alliance Of Energy Producers

Texas wells yielded an estimated 1.27 billion barrels of crude oil in 2015, according to the Texas Petro Index, defying severe curtailments of permitting, drilling and completions by producers all over the state in response to crude oil prices that at year-end 2015 were down by as much as 70 percent since mid-2014.

Compared with peak levels established in 2014, the rig count is down by 68 percent, drilling permits are off 70 percent, and oil and gas well completions have each declined by about 60 percent.

Karr Ingham, the economist who created the Texas Petro Index and updates it monthly, said the steep declines of upstream activity resulted in massive layoffs that caused total oil and gas industry employment to decline from a record 306,330 in December 2014 to about 246,150 in December 2015  more than 60,000 jobs lost and counting.

Despite those desperate measures, the price of crude oil fell to a daily posted price of $23.25 per barrel Jan. 20 before pulling back from the $20 per barrel cliff later that week. The statewide rig count fell below 300 in January for the first time since March-April 2000.

"We've not begun the year moving in the right direction, and the continued deterioration of market conditions likely signals additional industry downsizing and job loss in the coming months," Ingham said.

"If, indeed, over 60,000 industry jobs have been lost since December 2014, we're probably looking at least another 10,000 per quarter in the first half of 2016, for a total of at least 80,000 jobs lost over the 18 months from December 2014 through June 2016. And even that may not be the end of it. The last time the price of crude oil was below $30 per barrel, statewide direct industry employment was about 135,000. That is more than 110,000 jobs fewer than estimated industry employment at year-end 2015. The last time the rig count was below 300, oil and gas industry employment was below 125,000 jobs."

An anticipated decline in Texas, U.S. and North American crude oil production has failed to materialize. The TPI estimates crude production in Texas in 2015 outpaced the 2014 total by 11.5 percent  1.267 billion in 2015 compared with 1.136 billion barrels in 2014. Statewide crude output in each month of 2015 exceeded output in the same month a year earlier, although the margin of year-over-year growth decreased from about 24 percent in March to 1.9 percent in December.

In 2016, Ingham sees a global market glutted with supply: crude production at unexpectedly elevated levels, large volumes of crude in storage and the imminent return of Iranian oil to the marketplace.

"At this point," he said, "it seems quite safe to assume the Texas Petro Index will remain in decline for at least the first half of 2016 and perhaps most of the year."

While global oil supplies are likely to continue exceeding demand in 2016, Ingham said prospects for a recovery of oil markets are better this year than in 2015. The first sign of recovery will be significant production decline in Texas and the U.S.

"The pace of production decline in Texas and the U.S. should accelerate in 2016, and when that begins to occur we should start watching for crude oil in storage in the U.S. to decline on a real and sustained basis, not just seasonally," Ingham said.

"In the big picture, crude supplies continue to outpace global demand, and the unfortunate likely outcome is relatively low prices in 2016," he said.

"But that doesn't mean prices can't be higher than they are right now, and at this point some measure  any measure  of price increase would help to stop the bleeding."

Highlights in 2015

The statewide working rig count averaged 430, 51.3 percent less than in 2014, when on average 882 rigs were drilling.

The Texas Railroad Commission issued 10,549 drilling permits, 59.1 percent fewer than in 2014, when 21,792 permits were granted.

Producers recovered an estimated 1.267 billion barrels of crude oil, an 11.5 percent year-over-year increase and the eighth consecutive year in which statewide production increased.

With crude oil wellhead prices declining 49.3 percent to average $45.35 per barrel, the estimated value of Texas-produced crude oil declined 43.1 percent to about $57.5 billion.

With natural gas prices declining 20.5 percent to average $3.45 per thousand cubic feet, the estimated value of Texas-produced natural gas decreased 39.5 percent to an estimated $22.4 billion.

About 263,105 Texans on average were employed in the oil and gas production, drilling and service sectors, about 10.9 percent fewer than in 2014.

Highlights in December

Crude oil production in Texas totaled an estimated 107.8 million barrels, 1.9 percent more than in December 2014. The value of Texas-produced crude oil totaled more than $3.64 billion, 38 percent less than in December 2014.

Estimated Texas natural gas output was nearly 750.5 billion cubic feet, a year-over-year monthly decline of about 0.5 percent. With natural gas prices in December averaging 1.91 per thousand cubic feet, the value of Texas-produced gas declined 42.4 percent to about $1.43 billion.

The Baker Hughes count of active drilling rigs in Texas averaged 324, compared with 872 in December 2014. Drilling activity in Texas peaked in September 2008 at a monthly average of 946 rigs before falling to a trough of 329 in June 2009. In the most recent economic expansion, which began in December 2009, the statewide average monthly rig count peaked at 932 in May and June 2012. The statewide rig count was at 906 as recently as the third week of November 2014.

The number of Texans on oil and gas industry payrolls averaged an estimated 246,150, according to statistical methods based on the Texas Workforce Commission's Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, about 19.6 percent less than in December 2014, in which the TPI estimate was based upon the TWC's Current Employment Statistics series. According to calculations based on CES data, a record 306,000 Texans held oil and gas industry jobs in December 2014. Using the CES as a benchmark, Ingham calculated the nadir of upstream oil and gas industry employment in Texas before the December 2014 record to be 175,700 in October 2009. During the previous growth cycle, industry employment peaked at 219,900 in October 2008.
<p>City of San Angelo logo</p>

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By Rashda Khan

The city of San Angelo is owed more than $3 million in unpaid water bills  a nice chunk of money that could help pay for improvements and resources to meet local water needs.

The Water Utilities staff is asking city council on Tuesday to approve a contract with Round Rock-based collection agency  McCreary, Veselka, Bragg and Allen  that will allow the company to go after the delinquent accounts in return for a 20 percent cut of the collection amount.

"It's important that citizens who are paying their bills don't have their rates go up because of people not paying," Councilwoman Elizabeth Grindstaff said in a previous discussion on the matter.

According to city staff, the money owed is from accounts that have been delinquent for some time and may also involve people who have moved away from San Angelo. "The reality is some will never be recovered, but even if we get 20, 30 or 80 percent we're good," said Assistant City Manager Michael Dane. He added that using a collection agency is "a strategy that has proved effective."

San Angelo's Municipal Court has used this same agency since 2005 to collect on unpaid tickets and other owed money. Dane said the judge spoke highly of MVBA's services.

Currently, the Water Utilities department sends out letters to residents who are late paying their bills. Two collection letters are sent to those that have been delinquent for two months in a row. The process in place is not able to keep up with the growing number of delinquent accounts, according to city staff. A more effective strategy  such as using a company which specializes in collecting  will reduce the city's collection loss.

If the contract is approved, Water Utilities will turn the delinquent accounts over to MVBA. The company will pursue the collection and also report the owed amounts to the credit reporting agencies. The city will use an online portal to check progress of the agency and to see what the status of collection is on individual accounts.

The council will also hear:

An update on the Red Arroyo Trails and Dog Park project;

An appeal to the Planning Commission's denial to allow a property at 1218 Martin Luther King Drive and 225 West 13th Street to operate as a bar;

Items that impact the city's Water Reclamation Facility

And there will be closed session to deal with legal matters pertaining to:

2013 Sealcoating Program Contract

Martifer-Hirschfeld Energy Systems, LLC ET. AL;

Templeton Constructions Inc. and;

SAP Hospitality Inc. doing business as Knights Inn

The Tuesday city council meeting is at 9 a.m. at the McNease Convention Center, 501 Rio Concho Drive.
Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times A guest holds a memorial program in her hand during Saturday's service for Phil Neighbors.

SHARE photos by Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times Janet Abernathy, daughter of Phil Neighbors, and her two children, Mary-Kate and Kaden, share happy memories of their father and grandfather during a memorial service in his honor at Southland Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon. Neighbors died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack last weekend. Susan Neighbors, wife of Phil Neighbors, is greeted by friends of her late husband after Saturday's memorial service. Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times Tim Lyles, choir director at Southland Baptist Church, leads guests in song with How Great Thou Art during a memorial service honoring Phil Neighbors, president of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, who died Wednesday. Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times Jeff Neighbors leads guests in a celebratory round of applause at the end of a memorial service at Southland Baptist Church honoring his father Phil Neighbors.

By Federico Martinez

Hundreds of grieving family and friends  and even strangers who had never met Phil Neighbors but appreciated his community leadership turned out to honor his memory during a service Saturday at Southland Baptist Church.

Neighbors, 64, president of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, died at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday after suffering a heart attack last Sunday. He had been hospitalized in critical condition at Community Medical Health after suffering a heart embolism.

"Many people this past week have told Phil's family that they are 'sorry for their loss,' " Pastor Taylor Sandlin said during the service. "Although we will all miss Phil, it doesn't mean we don't know where he is. He is not lost. He is in heaven."

Neighbors is survived by his wife, Susan, and their children, Jeff Neighbors and Janet Abernathy.

Neighbors was hired as chamber president in 2006, a post he used to champion San Angelo, community and religious leaders said

Longtime friend Rick Mantooth told the audience of more than 600 that Neighbors had a gift for bringing people together.

"He was able to work with those who might have developed a rift and brought them all together," Mantooth said. "He was able to develop a relationship with the Goodfellow Air Force Base and the San Angelo community.

"He was perpetually positive and believed anything could be accomplished. 'Can't' wasn't in his vocabulary."

In honor of Neighbors, Goodfellow flew its flags at half-mast Saturday, Sandlin noted. Members of the Color Guard also performed a posting of colors ceremony during Saturday's memorial service. It's rare that the military honors civilians in that manner, he said.

Neighbors' two oldest grandchildren, Kaden Abernathy, 9, and Mary-Kate Abernathy, 7, shared special memories of with their grandfather, including a trip to Disney World where he sat next to them on the rides.

"I remember when his hat flew off his head," Kaden Abernathy said, which prompted him and the audience to laugh together.

Neighbors' daughter, the Rev. Janet Abernathy, recalled how her father doted on her as a child and made her feel like a "princess."

Mantooth and other speakers noted that Phil Neighbors "somehow seemed to make time for all of us" without losing focus of his two top priorities: God and family. He also had the ability to make people feel like they were "the only person in a room" when he was speaking to them, other people said.

Church pews were a sea of green as most attendees, as requested by the family, wore green in honor of Neighbors, who often said it was his favorite color. Overhead screens replayed images of Neighbors' life  his wedding day, holding his newborn grandchildren, church activities, snuggling and mugging for the camera as he posed with Susan, his wife of 41 years.

Jeff Neighbors credited his father for "leading him to Christ" and setting a good example of how a Christian's behavior is framed more by actions than words. Phil Neighbors was an active member of Southland Baptist Church, where he worked with college and career young adults and served as a deacon.

Neighbors began his chamber career in July 1976 on the staff of the West Texas Chamber of Commerce in Abilene, with primary responsibilities in economic development, tourism development and water resources, Jeff Neighbors said. His father also spent six and a half years as chief executive officer of the Kerrville Chamber, and 13.5 years as president of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce before coming to San Angelo.

A native of Pomona, California, Neighbors was a 1974 graduate of Angelo State University, with studies in government and English. He was a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organization Management at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Phil Neighbors' greatest testament was his dedication and service to God, said Sandlin and Jeff Neighbors.

"So many people believe being a Christian means burying your head towards your neighbor and then go to church and sing hymns," Sandlin said. "Phil did his best to help all his neighbors.

"Friends, God doesn't just stay in church. He's all around."

Unwilling to allow Saturday's program to end on a somber note, Jeff Neighbors asked the large audience to give his father a cheerful send-off. The audience heartily cooperated, standing and loudly cheering and clapping for nearly two minutes in honor of Neighbors.

600 people give fond farewell to Phil Neighbors with outpouring of love@gosanangelo #philneighbors pic.twitter.com/N5IuVGZihz  Federico sast (@Federico_SAST) February 7, 2016

During his life, Phil Neighbors served on many boards and committees.

In San Angelo, Neighbors served on the boards of Howard College-San Angelo Foundation, the San Angelo Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Concho Valley CARES Coalition. He is immediate past chairman of Workforce Development Board of the Concho Valley and chaired the Angelo State University Small Business Development Center Advisory Board, as well as the Project Janus board.

He served on the South-West Texas/Border Region Small Business Development Center Advisory Board and was Vice Chairman of the Texas Association of Workforce Boards and a member of the Texas Economic Development Council, where he chaired committees and conferences.

He served as 2006 Chairman of the Board of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, which honored him with its distinguished service award in 1990. Neighbors received the Chairman's award from the San Marcos Chamber in November 1997 and was named Outstanding Chamber Executive of the year by the Texas Association of Business in January 2000.
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Here is another amazing dog from our Prison PAWS program. Meet Axel, an absolutely amazing shepherd/Rottweiler mix. Axel is 18 months old and incredibly smart. He has been an excellent student and will leave Prison PAWS with good manners and social skills. He will know several basic commands. Axel will make a great addition to your home. Fill out an application for Axel today; he graduates Tuesday!

Neutered

Microchipped

Current on vaccinations through date of adoption

This feature brought to you by Concho Valley PAWS, 653-8056 or 656-7387. Visit us on Facebook or log on to conchovalleypaws.org to view all of our adoptable animals. Several other dogs will also graduate from Prison PAWS with Axel on Tuesday, and they will all be ready for their forever homes. They will make excellent family pets. Call PAWS to find out about these amazing canines, or visit our website to access an adoption application. You'll be glad you did!
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By Marcy Bosequett

There's been a growing hum of excitement and activity deep in the basement of Stephens Central Library. Women with packets of papers, supplies and plans have been seen coming and going for weeks. Who are they? They are the very talented, whimsical and sweet members of "Brush n' Brag."

These decorative art painters have been concentrating their efforts and considerable abilities on turning a hulk of fiberglass into the library's beautiful and well-read ewe. This ewe is going to stand at the corner of the Stephens Central Library, her nose pointed determinedly toward the courthouse as she welcomes all to her library.

So now dear readers, it is up to "ewe" to give this sheep-gal a name. Come and meet her at the corner of Irving and Beauregard and be inspired. Your name suggestions can be made in person or on the library website. The deadline for entries is Feb. 29. The name will be chosen from entries by a committee of ewe experts and the winning submission will receive a wonderful basket, filled with items and gift certificates from the Library, Brush n' Brag and downtown businesses; Concho Valley Winery, Signature Art Gallery, Be Theatre, Fuentes Cafe and Casa Decor.

During February we are joining the international celebration of "Take Your Child to the Library" day on Feb. 6, and we are expanding to celebrate all month. There will be special activities and small presents for children at all three libraries in February. This day was proclaimed five years ago by a children's librarian in Connecticut and it has grown every year. There are many initiatives that aim to increase awareness in parents to read to their babies, such as the early literacy program, 1,000 books by Kindergarten.

Reading to babies has proved to have positive effects on social skills, imagination and creativity and the development of speech and reading. Reading aloud exposes children to proper grammar and phrasing and helps them to express themselves verbally. Starting even younger, recent studies on reading in utero have found that babies are calmed by the rhythm and melody of songs or poems heard from the womb and when read to in the last trimester, they can remember it for up to four weeks after birth and continue to be soothed by the rhythm and melodies.

Stephens Central has four programs for lap-sitters each week; at 10 and 10:30 Wednesdays and Thursdays. West Branch has a session for preschoolers every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. and the North Branch has story time and crafts at 2 p.m. every Saturday. Stephens Central also has a story time in American Sign Language on the third Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. Of course our staff welcomes our youngest visitors anytime and each library has all sorts of activities and materials to inspire their imagination, creativity and play.

There will be an important workshop for parents of special needs children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 11, presented by the PEN Project. Topics include a brief overview of the rights of children, the parents and the rights and responsibilities of the schools. They will review the Procedural Safeguards that are provided during annual ARD meetings and there will be time for questions at the end. The workshop will be on the third floor of Stephens Central.

Teen Republic at Stephens is starting a new Minecraft Club on the second Saturday of each month. The Club is for anyone eight years old and older. Meetings will begin at 1 p.m. and will be in the Computer Lab on the second floor. Seats are limited so sign-up is required. The first meeting will be on Feb. 13.

Table Games at Stephens Central will be on the third Saturday, at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 featuring games from around the world. They are all designed or published outside the North American continent or feature exotic locations around the world.

The San Angelo Symphony continues to bring great music to our libraries twice a month. Ben Settle will play violin and read "Mole Music" at Stephens Central. On the Feb. 27, Tim Bonefant will feature the book "Jazz Cats" and will get the children dancing with his saxophone and clarinet at West Branch. Each program begins at 2 p.m. We cannot thank the symphony enough for bringing these inspiring programs to our children.

Another happy collaboration is with the San Angelo Civic Ballet. Little ballerinas will dance in the children's story room at Stephens Central at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 and at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 23. There will be stories about princesses and seven virtues. The dancers are from the "Seven Princesses and a Bear" production.

Not to leave out the visual arts, stop by and see the beautiful watercolors of JoNell Richardson and her students in the display cases in the Stephens' lobby during February.

In observance of President's Day, the North and West branch libraries will be closed on Feb. 13 and all library locations will be closed Feb. 15.

For more information go to www.tgclibrary.com.

Marcy Bosequett is the community relations coordinator for the Tom Green County Library.
Associated Press file Cabins are set up inside Hanger 4 of the former airport Tempelhof to be used as a temporary emergency shelter for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin, in December.

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European countries rethink rules

By David Rising

BERLIN  Germany is mulling taking away benefits from asylum-seekers if they refuse to try to learn the language and integrate; Denmark has just approved a measure to let police seize valuables from migrants to help cover their housing and food costs; and an Austrian province this week is expected to more than halve payments to many refugees.

As Europe struggles to cope with the influx of more than 1 million migrants in 2015 alone, countries are increasingly coming up with new procedures to cope with them  sometimes even at the risk of clashing with national constitutions and international agreements.

Germany's high court in 2012 ruled that the benefits the country paid to asylum-seekers were far too low, and violated the constitutionally guaranteed "fundamental right to a minimum existence." That forced the government to start calculating payments along the same lines as those to Germans receiving social assistance.

It's the comparison with what Germans receive that Labor Minister Andrea Nahles pointed to on Monday as she explained her plan to cut benefits for migrants who don't want to integrate into German society.

Just as long-term unemployed are obligated to take jobs if they're offered, asylum-seekers should be expected to take German language and integration classes, and also start working when they're able, Nahles said, while also stressing immigrants wouldn't be asked to give up their religion, views or traditions.

"Whoever needs help will get it," she said. "But you can't get support for nothing."

She now plans to propose a change to Germany's asylum law to allow the changes she wants, but whether that will be enough remains to be seen.

Germany is party to international agreements that compel nations, among other things, to provide refugees with an adequate standard of living, said Verena Haan, an Amnesty International economy and human rights expert in Germany. And according to national law, the high court has ruled "migration criteria" cannot play a role in assessing social benefits, she said.

"How much a person needs in order to live, your actual necessities, have nothing to do with whether you're 'willing to integrate,' " Haan said. "Therefore considering coupling benefits to behavior rather than to needs is problematic."

Changing attitudes

The plans for benefit curbs come amid a steady souring of the mood and tone in Europe toward the ongoing influx of migrants. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday of refugees: "We expect that, when there is peace in Syria again and IS has been beaten in Iraq, you go back home with the knowledge you gained here."

Merkel stressed last fall that there is no limit to the number of people who can be granted asylum, but she faces increasing pressure to curb the number of newcomers.

Another idea being floated at top levels in Germany is to force newcomers to live in a particular place, in order to spread out the burden evenly among communities. Opponents maintain that would violate constitutional guarantees of freedom of movement.

Germany took in the largest number of migrants in 2015 with nearly 1.1 million newcomers, but it is not the only country scrambling to deal with them.

Denmark last week passed a measure to let police seize valuables worth more than $1,500 from asylum-seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases are being processed. That brought regulations in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner ($1,500) before they can receive social benefits.

Denmark received about 20,000 asylum-seekers last year, one of the highest rates per capita in the EU. It already tightened its immigration laws last year, reducing benefits for asylum-seekers, shortening temporary residence permits and stepping up efforts to deport those whose applications are rejected.

Some German states also take assets from refugees, also in line with laws regulating Germans receiving social assistance, and Switzerland requires asylum-seekers to hand over cash of more than 1,000 francs ($996) for similar reasons.

On Thursday, the provincial parliament of Upper Austria is scheduled to vote on a measure that would reduce living payments to those granted asylum after November last year to 440 euros instead of the current 914 euros. The proposed cut, which is expected to be adopted, would also be effective for those whose request for asylum is denied but who are tolerated in Austria because their homeland is deemed unsafe.

In addition, those whose asylum request was granted after November will enjoy this status only for three years, after which they would be up for review of whether their homeland is safe enough for return and other factors, including integration.

Austria took in some 90,000 migrants overall in 2015.

National measures

In the Netherlands, the government is working on a plan to scrap a rule that gives migrants who have been granted refugee status preferential treatment in waiting lists for subsidized housing. Opponents of migration in the Netherlands often complain that refugees are able to effectively jump queues for a new home while Dutch citizens sometimes have to wait years for a house or apartment.

Changes haven't entirely been focused on refugees, with countries also seeking new regulations for other migrants.

Part of Merkel's plan to deal with the influx, for example, is to accelerate sending home those people from the Balkans and other countries that are considered safe even though they may provide poor economic opportunities.

In September, the European Court of Justice ruled that European Union migrants can be denied unemployment benefits even after six months' residence in an EU country, upholding Germany's decision to cut off social assistance for a Bosnian-born Swedish mother of three.

The ruling was widely seen as a vindication of British Prime Minister David Cameron's push to persuade fellow EU members to let his government ban European migrants from claiming some state benefits and access to social housing until they have been resident for four years.

While Britain has only agreed to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees from the current flood, its Conservative government has been aggressively pushing for measures to limit welfare handed out also to EU migrants arriving in the U.K. Officials say that hundreds of thousands of migrants from poorer European countries who have flocked to Britain are straining schools and public services.

As countries, worried about a timely European solution to the refugee emergency, resort to national measures, it's even raised questions about the future of Europe's passport-free travel area known as Schengen  one of the jewels of the EU crown.

"We have no more than two months to get things under control," European Council President Donald Tusk warned EU lawmakers last month.
Plaque being placed in honor of Uziyah Garcia at San Angelo Kid's Kingdom

A plaque will be placed in the San Angelo Kid's Kingdom in honor of Uziyah Garcia, a San Angeloan who was killed in the mass shooting in Uvalde.
The New York State Office of Information Technology Services has a staffing problem, CIO Maggie Miller testified before the state Legislature during a joint budget hearing on Feb. 4. Within the next few years, she said, the agency expects to lose 25 percent of its staff to retirement -- and those officials cant be replaced because union rules prohibit the hiring of anyone from outside government but entry-level workers.Impending retirements will reduce the average level of experience for senior state technologists from 40 years to 11 years, Miller explained. To compensate for an impending dearth of expertise and to circumvent union rules, ITS was forced to raise the number of third-party contractors from 164 to 849 -- a huge funding sink, both Miller and the legislative panel agreed, given the relatively high cost of outside contractors at $245 million annually.The skills of our staff are locked into skill silos," Miller said, "leading to excessive spend on third parties and an inability to offer the most exciting career paths to our brightest and best, many of whom are stuck supporting legacy technologies."Miller suggested several possible solutions to this problem, including an in-sourcing agreement, as was used in years past, or by the transfer of existing contractors into state government as full employees, both solutions that would reduce reliance on relatively expensive contractors. Some union representatives, however, were unwilling to consider these options the last time they were presented, Miller told the panel.One of the ways we will address this is to focus and standardize on a smaller number of technologies, which will make it far easier for us to share expertise across all agencies.  Im open to suggestions on how to fill that gap, Miller said. Given the restrictions we work within, its very difficult.The 2016/2017 budget for ITS includes $587 million to be allocated to statewide consolidated technology services and an additional $85 million in capital funding for enterprise-level applications and programs. Much of the state funding, Miller testified, will go toward the states continued technology transformation. Within the past few years, more than 50 disparate technology agencies began consolidation under ITS through Gov. Andrew Cuomos IT transformation program.Having made significant progress with building a sound technology and infrastructure foundation," Miller said, "were beginning to shift our focus now to transforming the whole lifecycle experience of our citizens to one they have the right to expect in the digital era."Consolidating the states IT infrastructure has provided ITS with a view more clear that allows the agency to understand where their risks and vulnerabilities lie.During the consolidation and stabilization phases of the IT transformation, it became clear that a significant technology debt had accumulated over many decades of underinvestment, Miller said, adding that about $40 million of their 2016/2017 budget will be allocated to repair that debt.Though the state has come a long way in its IT consolidation efforts, she said whats left is an organization whose structure is informed by a fragmented past.The resulting environment is massively complex to support reliably and securely, she explained. Most importantly, this complexity leads to a negative citizen experience.Miller outlined initiatives intended to address this problem, such as building a set of strategic platforms comprising a portfolio of tools and services, which not just individually, but as an integrated set, will deliver an enhanced citizen experience across all agencies.Cybersecurity was the topic lawmakers asked about most during Millers testimony, and Miller herself stated that cybersecurity is her agencys top priority.Two 2015 frameworks from the National Institute of Standards and Technology will carry into the coming budget to inform new guidelines that ITS will create around a risk-based investment and cybersecurity best practices improvement program that will protect the states data this year and beyond, Miller said. She added that the consolidation of the states IT function under ITS makes cyber efforts, led by Chief Information Security Officer Jim Garrett, much easier than in the past. Because ITS now manages the infrastructure that houses the data theyre trying to protect, their security experts are able to view attacks across the entire lifecycle and ensure that new systems are compliant with best security practices.After questioning by Sen. Michael Nozzolio, Miller listed the steps ITS is taking to ensure the security of sensitive data, which include the remediation of outdated software and hardware, the employment of Deloitte consultants who assess the states cyber control risk related to regulated data and third-party controlled data, a revamp of legal language used for contractors to ensure best practices are used for regulatory control, the instatement of a comprehensive risk management program, and process improvements in the states enterprise cyber command center, enterprise risk assessments and identity management program.Nozzolio said he was doubly concerned that those charged with protecting the states data within each agency were not qualified to do so. Miller ensured him that the cybersecurity representatives embedded within each agency focused solely on cybersecurity, that they were members of a centralized cybersecurity team led by the CISO, and that they were qualified cybersecurity experts. The benefit of this organizational structure, she explained, was that each embedded official was able to become familiar with the unique security challenges of their assigned agency, but maintained a centralized command posture.Nozzolio continued pressing Miller on the controls in place, emphasizing the importance of protecting state data. Government, thank God, has not been a recipient of major attacks yet at the state level, Nozzolio said.After his line of questioning, Nozzolio called for further investigation into the matter on another day.In several cases, questions put to Miller by the legislators had already been comprehensively answered at an earlier point in her testimony, but she remained poised, affable and well-spoken throughout.Weve encountered and continue to encounter challenges in this multi-year journey, but those challenges dont deter us, Miller said. Rather, they inspire us to be even more creative, innovative, and deliver service excellence and the best possible experience for our citizens.
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Jeffrey P. Pino, who led Sikorsky Aircraft during the Stratford-based manufacturers wartime expansion and development of a revolutionary high-speed helicopter, died Friday after a World War II-era fighter plane he was piloting crashed near Maricopa, Ariz. Pino was 61.

Nick Tramontano, known to some as the mayor of Oxford Airport, was also killed.

Pino led Sikorsky between 2006 and 2012, a period in which the company bid successfully for multiple contracts totaling billions of dollars, including a new helicopter to replace the aging Sikorsky fleet used by the White House.

Sikorskys Stratford plant is the single largest manufacturing plant in Connecticut; under former owner United Technologies, the company has long been Fairfield Countys largest employer, with new parent Lockheed Martin having committed to maintaining the Stratford plant following its acquisition of Sikorsky last year.

More News Ex-Sikorsky chief joins rival developer

The cause of the crash had yet to be determined as of Saturday; Pino owned a P-51D Mustang fighter named Big Beautiful Doll, with the Associated Press citing a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman saying the aircraft that crashed appeared to be a Mustang and the Arizona Republic reporting that Pino was the registered owner of the plane that crashed.

Sikorsky released a statement on its website from Dan Schultz, whom Lockheed Martin named in November as president of the manufacturer.

During his six years as (president) of Sikorsky, Jeff brought personal energy and passion for aviation innovation to our industry, Schultz said. We remember Jeff as a leader, pioneer, innovator and advocate.

David Faile, president of the Friends of Sikorski Airport, identified Tramontano as the second man killed in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media.

Nick, known as the mayor of Oxford Airport ... was a key member of the aviation community known and befriended by many, wrote Faile. He will be sorely missed.

On Saturday, employees and others reflected on Pino on Sikorskys Facebook page, including Charles Romano Jr.

The coolest president we ever had, Romano wrote. The only president that would actually stop in the hallway or the shop and say hello and ask how you were doing.

After retiring from Sikorsky in 2012, Pino moved to Chandler, Ariz., where in 2013 he became CEO of Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing. Later, Pino became vice chairman of Colorado-based XTI Aircraft, which is planning an experimental aircraft called the TriFan 600, designed with ducted fan engines to take off and land vertically, reminiscent of the aircraft in the movie Avatar.

In a statement on XTIs website, the companys founder called Pino a brilliant strategist, visionary and expert in all things aviation.

Jeff loved flying and he was genuinely excited about what the TriFan 600 will mean to the future of flight, stated David Brody, founder and chairman of XTI. As a man with big ideas, and even bigger dreams, Jeff was committed to bringing the TriFan 600 to market, and now, more than ever, so are we.

Pino joined Sikorsky in 2002 from Textron subsidiary and rival Bell Helicopter, and in March 2006 was promoted to president even as Sikorsky was in the throes of a strike that would last six weeks. Major Sikorsky milestones during his tenure included the acquisition of PZL Mielec in Poland to serve as a secondary manufacturing plant for international variants of Sikorskys Black Hawk helicopter; a huge expansion driven by Pentagon demands for helicopters and parts for combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; and competitions for massive contracts, including a new helicopter for White House use as Marine One, combat search-and-rescue helicopters for the U.S. Air Force, and the heavy-lift helicopter CH-53K King Stallion for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Pino also oversaw the final development of the Sikorsky X2, a high-speed helicopter designed with stacked rotor sets that rotate in opposite directions and a rear-mounted pusher prop to help the aircraft achieve speeds a third faster than the Black Hawk and other traditional helicopter designs. Sikorskys successful design and flight of the X2 would win it the 2010 Robert J. Collier Trophy from the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, the top prize in U.S. aviation awarded annually. Sikorsky hopes to sell the Pentagon on the design as the base platform for a new generation of fast scout helicopters.

During Pinos years, Sikorsky also saw its share of challenges as well, the worst being the crash of a Sikorsky-built S-92 helicopter off the coast of Newfoundland that killed 17 people, the cause later determined to be a gearbox failure that resulted in the loss of oil. Sikorsky saw other setbacks as well, including a Department of Defense reprimand for quality issues in the months after the 2006 strike that prompted UTC to dispatch future CEO Louis Chenevert to Stratford to get production back on track; and technical problems that resulted in delays delivering new maritime helicopters to Canada, sparking criticism in Ottawa and losses that hit UTCs bottom line.

If Mick Maurer, the man who succeeded Pino as president in 2012, won wide respect at Sikorsky for his engineering acumen, in Pino the company had a leader who had spent plenty of time in the cockpit, dating back to his days as a U.S. Army pilot after graduating in 1976 from the University of Arizona with a bachelors degree in psychology. While serving in the Army, he would obtain an MBA through a distance learning program offered by Webster University.

Pino often appeared animated when talking about flight, including at a 2012 ceremony commemorating the installation of the Black Hawk fuselage outside the companys plant in Stratford, when he jocularly referenced his own skills.

I want to dispel a myth that our chief test pilot landed it on the pedestal, Pino said at the time. He didnt. ... I could have.

One individual eulogizing Pino on Sikorskys Facebook page noted an entry on Pinos own page from October, in which he posted a video taken while aloft, catching an expanse of clouds below and blue sky above, while quoting from the poem High Flight penned by aviator John McGee just a few months before his death during World War II.

I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, Pino wrote.

Staff writer Alex Gecan contributed to this report.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-964-2236; www.twitter.com/casoulman




Haiti - Politic : The details of the agreement from A to Z





Saturday at the National Palace, took place the signing of the political agreement between President of the Republic, Michel Martelly and the Presidents of both Houses of Parliament: Senator Jocelerme Privert (Senate) and Deputy Cholzer Chancy (Lower House) for institutional continuity at the end of the mandate of President of the Republic in the absence of an elected president and for the continuation of the electoral process begun in 2015.



This Sunday, the President Martelly before the National Assembly will make an address to the Nation on the end of his tenure and his departure from power.



Text of the agreement :



"Political agreement for institutional continuity at the end of the mandate of President of the Republic in the absence of an elected president and for the continuation of the electoral process begun in 2015



Considering Articles 92, 92-1, 95, 95-1, 98, 98-3, 118, 134-1, 134-2, 134-3, 149, 149-1 of the 1987 amended Constitution;



Having regard to Article 134-1 of the 1987 amended Constitution enshrining the end of the five-year President of the Republic on February 7 of the 5th year of its mandate;



Having regard to Article 134-3 of the 1987 amended Constitution providing that the President of the Republic can not benefit from any term extension;



Considering the commitment of all stakeholders in the process to find a Haitian solution going in the direction of the higher interests of the Haitian people, the preservation of democratic gains and consolidation of national cohesion;



Considering the urgency to reassure and inspire more confidence to all stakeholders involved in the electoral process;



Considering the failure of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the need to revitalize to continue the electoral process;



Considering the term of office of the President of the Republic February 7, 2016;



Considering the obligation of the two (2) state powers, guardians of national sovereignty, to find a Haitian solution to ensure the continuity of the State on the basis of constitutional provisions by seeking a broad consensus of all forces of the nation, taking into account the exceptional situation;



Considering that it is imperative to reach agreement between the political powers of the State to create conditions of stability and social peace;



Considering the inauguration of Parliamentarians of the 50th legislature;



Considering that it is imperative to reach agreement between the political powers of the State to create conditions of stability and social peace;



Considering that it is necessary to set up a government with the confidence of Parliament;





After consultation initiated by the president with the presidents of two (2) houses,



THE REPRESENTATIVES OF TWO (2) POLITICAL POWERS, CO-DEPOSITORIES OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, HAVE COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTS AS FOLLOWS:



I. Of the departure of President from power on February 7, 2016



1. The President of the Republic, in front of the National Assembly made an address to the Nation regarding the end of his term and his departure from power on February 7, 2016. He informs the Parliament, as co-depositary of the national sovereignty, of the vacuum created by the situation in the executive branch.



2. The President of the National Assembly, by a responsif message says take note of the message of the President of the Republic and notes the presidential vacuum causing the dysfunction of the executive power.



3. The vacuum once observed, the President of the National Assembly instructed the Prime Minister in office of the management of current affairs and announces the election by the National Assembly of a Provisional President.



4. The President of the National Assembly took the opportunity to inform the holding within a period not exceeding five (5) calendar days of the presidential election by the National Assembly to fill the vacuum.



5. A bicameral committee is immediately formed to define and trace the procedure for the realization of these elections that have to be honest and transparent inclusive.



6. The election of the interim president will take place 48 hours after the close of registration.



7. The mandate of the temporary President is up to 120 days from the date of installation. If necessary the National Assembly will take the necessary arrangements.



II. By the Provisional President of the Republic :



1. To enter into consultation with the main political parties represented in Parliament, political groups not represented in Parliament and civil society in order to gather personalities names with the skills and qualities to fulfill the duty of Prime Minister.



2. Consult with the Presidents of the two (2) Houses of Parliament around the choice of a Prime minister to designate.



III. By Parliament



1. To confirm the eligibility of Prime Minister of consensus designated.



2. Invite the Prime Minister, accompanied by members of his government to stand by before the two (2) houses in plenary session in order to receive the vote of confidence in his policy statement. Once obtained the vote of confidence, the Prime Minister is immediately installed in his functions.



IV. The revitalization of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)



1. Convening at the initiative of the temporary President of the sectors that sent representatives to the previous Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in order to confirm or appoint new members to the resumption of activities at CEP, within a period does not exceed 72 hours.



2. Publication of the Presidential decree of appointment of new members of the CEP.



V. Continuation of initiated electoral process in 2015



1. Recovery by the CEP of the electoral process after evaluation of steps already taken:



a) Implementation of the technical recommendations of the Independent Commission of Electoral Evaluation



b) Completion and announcement of the results of the municipal elections.



2. Organization of the second round of presidential elections, by-elections and local elections (24 April 2016).



3. Proclamation of the final results (6 May 2016).



4. Installation of the elected President of the Republic (14 May 2016).





Made in good faith to Port-au-Prince, February 5, 2016, three (3) originals.



The president of the Republic

Michel Joseph Martelly



The President of the Senate of the Republic

Jocelerme Privert



The President of the Chamber of Deputies

Cholzer Chancy"



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2016/02/07 | Source

Youngsters learn to prepare a dish at a cooking class in Seoul.

With a growing number of students showing an interest in learning to cook, and in making careers as chefs, cooking classes have mushroomed recently.

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In a recent straw poll conducted by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, being a chef was among students' most-desired occupations.

Competition is also intensifying among students who apply for schools that offer culinary courses.

Private cooking classes are shifting their focus from housewives to students, holding seminars offering advice to students enrolled in their classes on how to get into culinary schools at home and overseas.

The boom has been attributed to the surging popularity of cooking and other foodie shows on TV, in addition to a newfound interest in cooking itself.

"As living standards increase, food becomes more than simply something to eat; it is perceived as part of a sophisticated culture. This has prompted many students to pursue a career as a chef", said Im Hyung-uk, who runs a private cooking school in Seoul.

However, some are concerned that students are simply drawn to the glamorous side of cooking, as personified by celebrity chefs.

It usually takes more than 10 years to become a chef, and only a fraction of those who do are able to open their own restaurants or work as a chief chef at a top-end hotel.
Published on 2016/02/07 | Source

Departing passengers wait in line for a security check at Incheon International Airport on Sunday.

Incheon International Airport was reeling on Friday after another serious security breach was exposed. Friday alone saw a hoax bomb being planted in the airport and a Vietnamese individual taking just two minutes to breach two separate security gates.

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Earlier this month a Chinese couple broke through several security gates at the airport in just 14 minutes.

The Vietnamese man forced open an automated immigration gate during the busy morning hours, but nobody even noticed that the alarm went off at the initial breach. No alarm sounded when he broke through the second gate.

When the Chinese couple breached security, a door that should have been shut opened automatically, and they easily removed a latch at another gate due to years of disrepair.

Experts blame lax security on years of focusing on service improvements alone. The airport has topped the international Airport Service Quality survey for the last 10 years, but the main criterion is how fast passengers are processed through immigration.

"The government's target for this year is to open the immigration gates at the airport 30 minutes earlier and make the processing time even shorter by setting up more automated booths", an airport staffer said.

The result was that the immigration official who should have been watching over the automated booth had to go to a non-automated booth when passengers rushed into the airport.

Following a spate of terror attacks by Islamic State, airports around the world are beefing up security at the expense of service points, but Incheon is heading in the opposite direction. Yet a recent baggage jam that caused thousands of passengers to wait days for their belongings threw a spanner in the works on that front too.

Former airport chief Kang Dong-seok admitted, "Stressing only customer service has ended up causing officials to overlook security".

The security breaches resulted from malfunctioning security systems, security staff who failed to follow rules and lax monitoring of surveillance cameras. If these problems are left unresolved, Korea's gateway remains vulnerable to terror attacks.

Critics say this glaring hole has grown even bigger after the top post at the airport was left vacant when former president Park Wan-soo quit late last year to run for the National Assembly.
Published on 2016/02/07 | Source

Left: The Encens Jinhae perfume; Right: Christophe Cervasel and Sylvie Ganter /Courtesy of Atelier Cologne

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French niche perfume house Atelier Cologne, established by Sylvie Ganter and Christophe Cervasel in 2010, will release a new perfume called "Encens Jinhae" in March.

The scent is named for the city of Jinhae in South Gyeongsang Province, which is famous for its cherry blossom, a main ingredient.

"Visiting Korea, a trendsetter in Asia, is always impressive. I came to love Korean culture and people thanks to the many friends I made there", Cervasel told the Chosun Ilbo in an email interview last week.

Encens Jinhae was not developed with a specific gender in mind. "We strive for a perfect balance between ingredients with feminine and masculine scents, because perfume diffuses different scent according to who wears it", Cervasel said.

He added the main challenge in completing Encens Jinhae was to find masculine ingredients that can be paired with cherry blossoms and Atelier Cologne's trademark citrus.

They settled on the dark and mysterious masculinity in Samarkand incense and the light, transparent air of Sicilian lemon.

Ganter and Cervasel assign a love story to each perfume they make. "We imagined kissing under blooming cherry trees in the streets of Jinhae", Cervasel said.
Published on 2016/02/07 | Source

When Joo Mi-hye was offered a job as a court interpreter during the infamous Itaewon murder trial in 1997, she turned it down. The crime, in which two young men with American backgrounds were accused of stabbing a Korean college student in a fast-food joint, seemed simply too grisly.

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But in the retrial that started last October, Joo (60) felt sufficiently weathered to accept the job.

She says that her work experience has taught her not to arrive at quick judgments about people.

Now a 19-year veteran, Joo is one of the longest-serving court interpreters in Korea. She came here in late 1997 after graduating from New York University and was asked by the Suwon District Court to interpret during a trial.

"I started off doing the work part-time but it has since become a full-time job", she says.

There are more than 300 court interpreters in Seoul alone. Demand has risen with the increase in crimes involving foreigners, from 13,000 cases in 2004 to 35,000 in 2013.

The nationalities of foreigners committing crimes here have also become more diverse. The Supreme Court has 1,734 court interpreters on its roster. Some 329 can speak Chinese, 314 English, and 224 Japanese. But there are also interpreters fluent in Bengali, Burmese, Hindi and Kazakh,

Interpreters say translating regional dialects is the most difficult. Nigerians, for instance, speak English, but there are 250 tribes using their own dialects. "It's English, but it gets difficult if it is mixed with local dialects and tribal languages".

She admits the words she fears hearing the most are, "That's not what I am saying".

Joo says she is proud of her work and feels she is serving as a civilian diplomat. She says her advice to foreigners in court is simple: "Be polite and tell the truth".
The prevalence of discrimination against working parents is still a key issue in the Australian workplace, despite advancements in parental leave policies and flexible working arrangements, experts say.



Employers need to get serious about creating flexible working environments and supporting individuals to access their parental leave schemes without judgment or discrimination, or risk losing their top talent.



A recent survey of more than 400 working mothers showed more than half said they have been discriminated against simply because they have children to care for, the Australian Financial Review reported.



It is the role of HR departments to ensure policies and procedures actually pervade company culture and the psyche of management and key leaders, says Dr Alannah Rafferty, Associate Professor at UNSW Business Schools School of Management.



Any time managers/leaders in an organisation dont actually follow-through on the HR practices and procedures that have been established in an organisation it is damaging to morale in the company, Rafferty told HC Online



She says management and leaders who do not follow through on existing policies and procedures can be causing irreversible damage to company culture.



This signals that management/leaders cant be trusted and is a big problem if we are going to establish a sense of psychological safety in a workplace, Rafferty says.



A second major issue is that it is also a big problem for organisational culture because it undermines peoples sense that leaders and credible and trustworthy, which is likely to lead to a negative organisational culture.



Australian Human Resources Institute national president Peter Wilson said company culture and management psyche has a major impact on creating supportive environments for working parents.



While larger organizations offered better working arrangements for working mothers, many medium to large size businesses dislike flexible working arrangements, Wilson told AFR.



"A lot comes down to the attitude of managers, and many don't want people working away from the office. However, companies are good at camouflaging this. They're aware it's politically incorrect to discriminate and it's against the law," he says.



However, companies are likely to lose some of their best talent if this issue is not tackled head-on, says Rafferty.



There is no doubt that a lack of consideration for working parents is a big problem for business today, Rafferty told HC Online.



It reduces the talent pool for key positions, it reduces the diversity of opinions and skills in the workplace, and it produces negative workplace cultures that alienate people, she says.

Patricia Ryan, Principal at The Workplace Employment Lawyers told HC Online that an increasing number of professional women are not returning to their jobs because they cant find the flexibility.

Longer term this leads to a scarcity of women in senior positions and on boards which perpetuates the problem, Ryan told HC Online.



Research commissioned by jobs website and training provider FlexCareers found one in four women resigned because their requests for flexible working hours were denied, while only 11 per cent reported having an ideal flexible work arrangement.



A separate report by Bain & Company showed that men who work flexibly feel unsupported and harshly judged, according to AFR.



And despite only taking short leave periods compared to their female colleagues, around 27 per cent of fathers and partners have reported experiencing discrimination relating to parental leave and return to work, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission.



Bain & Company partner Melanie Sanders, one of the report's co-authors, said employers that genuinely promote flexible working environments need to ensure it works for men and women.



"If we ever aspire in Australia to have women feeling they have equal opportunity to participate in the workplace, and men feeling they have equal opportunity to participate fully as fathers and care givers, as we see in some of the Nordic countries, we have to correct this imbalance," Sanders told AFR.



Discrimination (against both men and women) on the basis of parental responsibility is unlawful and HR needs to be aware of the legal ramifications and advise the business accordingly, says Ryan.



In one case, a female solicitor was awarded $95,000 in damages after the Fair Work Commission found that her firm had indirectly discriminated against her on the ground of sex.



In Hickie v Hunt & Hunt [1998], Hickie was a solicitor and contract partner at the law firm Hunt & Hunt who alleged that upon her return from a period of maternity leave on a part time basis, she was left with a significantly smaller practice than before her maternity leave.



The firms group meeting arrangements excluded her and no accommodation was made for her part time working hours. Her partnership contract was subsequently not renewed.



The Fair Work Commission found that there had been indirect discrimination and that the effect of the firms decision was to impose on her a condition that to maintain her position in the firm it was necessary for her to work full time. The commission said the condition was likely to disadvantage women and was therefore discriminatory.



Ryan says it is the role of HR to champion best practice parental leave policies and assist reluctant managers to work through any perceived obstacles associated with flexible working arrangements.



For example, a request for flexible work on parental responsibility grounds can only be refused on reasonable business grounds. HR needs to explain that to the business and assist managers to work through a positive business case for flexibility, Ryan says.



Employee productivity may actually be higher on a work from home day, and this can easily be measured in many occupations, such as by comparing billable hours or the number of sales made.



Individual managers may also take the opportunity to up-skill in technologies such as video conferencing, or using Skype to ensure employees who are out of sight arent also out of mind or off the grid, Ryan says.



And when a senior member of staff goes on leave, good HR processes and forward planning make the transition easier for everyone, says Barry Lehrer, Founder and Director of DiffuzeHR.

One of the biggest struggles for businesses is when senior staff members take an extended break, leaving a gaping hole in the business every-day running, Lehrer told HC Online.



Senior and longstanding staff are difficult to replace due to their intimate knowledge of the business and their expertise, making it an HR conundrum when they are legally entitled to take leave, he says.



Lehrer says the best HR strategies for a business to implement when a senior member of staff goes on maternity leave include:
A clear and well-enforced internet policy is critical to managing the vexed issue of employee internet usage, says Patricia Ryan, Principal of The Workplace Lawyers.



Overuse of the internet for non-work related activities is a form of under-performance or misconduct, as it is a dereliction of duty to take wages for not performing work activities, says Ryan.



As with all performance/misconduct issues, an employer needs to have warned an employee that it s not acceptable, given the employee an opportunity to improve and advise that if the behavior continues, termination may result, Ryan told HC Online.



It is advisable for employers to have a policy or policies in place, advising clearly what is acceptable, she says.



While many employers allow some personal internet use, such as for restaurant bookings and online banking, they must specify that it should not interfere with work activities. If the policy is non-existent or unclear, employees may not know what is acceptable.



Additionally, employees who work additional unpaid hours have a not unreasonable expectation that they should be allowed some personal use, Ryan says.



Also, employees tend to know who the high users are and expect the employer to intervene to stop that.



While employers can legally put in place policies forbidding employees from access social media sites during work hours, employees accessing certain internet sites at work can risk instant dismissal.



Generally, any porn site access will be unacceptable because if it causes offence, it will breach sexual harassment laws, putting both the employer and employee a risk of being sued, Ryan says.



Facebook can be a time waster, and some companies do not allow access to social media sites in work-time at all.



In the case of Richard OConnor v Outdoor Creations [2011] FWA 3081, the employee was dismissed for having 300 Google mail chats over two years. Despite Fair Work Australia saying the grounds for dismissal were reasonable, OConnors dismissal was deemed unfair due to lack of policy/training/procedural fairness on the part of his employer.



In Gmitrovic v Australian Government Department of Defence [2014] FWC 163, the employee won his unfair dismissal case after being sacked for using an anonymous search engine and software disguising his browsing history, as the commission found no evidence that his work suffered as a result of his internet use.



Ryan says HR can take practical steps ensure employees are not using the internet for non-work- related activities in the workplace, including:
A few years ago, I made a series of documentaries about quota refugees for the Finnish TV. My crew and I followed the whole process. We travelled to Iran with the 14-member selection committee and filmed the lives of some of the Afghan refugees in Tehran, the selection process and the cultural orientation course arranged afterwards, their trip to Finland, and settlement in their homes. We then followed their lives for the first five years.

Quota refugees differ from those who apply for asylum at the border or after entering the country. Quota refugees are selected from refugees who are already in a safe third country and have registered with the UNHCR. They are granted asylum immediately upon selection and transferred directly to houses prepared for them in Finnish municipalities. There, they start a normal life; the kids are put to school or daycare, and the adults start the integration process by learning Finnish.

At the time, more than 2 million Afghan refugees were living in Iran. They lived not in refugee camps but among the local population, earning a living as cheap labour.

The UNHCR's office in Tehran is situated in the wealthy northern part of the city, far away from the poor south, where all the Afghans were living. The UNHCR did not actively search for the most vulnerable refugees or advertise the program in any way. In fact, the knowledge of the resettlement programme was a protected secret and an intentional puzzle impossible to decipher for the vast majority of the refugees. When I asked the Italian director of the UNHCR office the simple question of who is entitled to apply for resettlement? she asked me to turn off the camera; We cant say that, because if everyone would learn what the conditions are we will have too many applications with the right criteria, and we would not be able to handle them, she said unabashed.

The gateway to heaven was thus hidden from the masses. Only those who happened to have relatives who had already been resettled through the quota programme knew about the system and the criteria. Once registered, the applicant could list the countries they preferred to go to. Finland was hardly on anybodys list at the time. After USA, Sweden, Germany and Norway had chosen their quotas, those who were not selected were offered to the Finnish delegation. Would you like to go to Finland? I asked a group of Afghan families outside the UNHCR before they were interviewed. Yes, they all were sure about that. Do you know anything about Finland? No, they answered without exception.

In the selection process, the panel of migration officials from Finnish ministries were trying to balance between who could integrate and who needed help most urgently, while a representative of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) was trying to identify those who were potentially a threat to national security.

At the same time when the lucky chosen ones were having their cultural orientation course on the second floor of the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) building, other Afghan families unaware of the quota programme were queuing for a repatriation program one floor below. Most of Afghanistan had been safe already for a couple of years. They were given 100 US dollars per family to go back home.

Each quota refugee, on the other hand, costs the host country much more. A group of 750 quota refugees will have cost the taxpayers about a million euros by the time they land at the Helsinki Airport. From there, the Government pays all expenses for the next 5 to 10 years. Because of its relatively small quota, Finland has accepted more refugees with chronic illnesses and disabilities who, as a result, are more costly. According to a report ordered by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy in 2013, the Government reimbursed municipalities an average of 75 million euros per year for the costs of receiving and integrating refugees between 2010 and 2012, roughly half of which arose from quota refugees.

Despite financial incentives from the government, municipalities do not want to take refugees, and when they do, they want to select the least visible kind, often meaning those with lighter skin. That's why it took years to find housing for Sudanese quota refugees. This, in turn, steers the selection trips away from Africa, where the most vulnerable refugees live in miserable conditions. The integration process is also slow and has its first bottleneck right in the beginning: there is a six to twelve month waiting list for the Finnish language courses.

Dont get me wrong. The families resettled were good and decent people and deserved all the help they got. But as an example, there are still 1.7 million Afghan refugees living in poor conditions in Iran. Many of their kids cannot go to school and don't have access to proper health care. When I was filming the life of Afghan refugees in Tehran, I interviewed a local school principal on why they cannot accept Afghan kids into schools. The system would simply collapse, he answered. There are simply too many of them. He also mentioned that the Iranian government  to no avail  had asked for international aid amounting to a mere monthly ten dollars per refugee kid to be able to provide schooling for them. This means that Finland could have provided schooling for 50,000 Afghan kids every year with what is spent on only 750 refugees. In Afghanistan, where living expenses are much lower than in Iran and astronomically lower than in Finland, one can do miracles with 50 million euros. Alternatively, with this amount, 5,000 Ikea-designed top-notch shelters could be purchased for the refugee camps to provide decent housing for 25,000 people.

Taking in 600 or even 6,000 Syrian refugees also would not make a big difference when there are six million refugees or displaced Syrians living in harsh conditions. No matter how well the selection is done, it would leave lots of vulnerable people out. If the poorest and most desperate are selected, they would most probably be the least integrable, causing social problems and resulting in increased racism and xenophobia among the Finnish population. If, on the other hand, we select the most integrable, they would not be those in worst situations. Mixing humanitarian and labour migration is not only wrong, it also promotes none of the causes. Wherever the quota refugees are selected from, there would be many among the local population living in similar conditions who are not eligible for the program.

One major fallacy behind the quota system is the assumption that it could decrease the influx of asylum seekers into a country. Finland has promised to increase its quota manifold, if the illegal influx is restrained. In fact, there are indications of the opposite. The role of social networks in migration has been studied since the 1920s. The more quota (or other) refugees live in a country, the more they inspire and attract their relatives and friends to take the risk of coming. This is a major reason why Iraqis, and Afghans represent the majority of the recent influx into Finland. The most of them have relatives here.

The quota programme would be an excellent way of helping refugees if there were only 750 refugees in the world and if the system was really functional. In reality, the quota refugee program is an extremely unfair, selective and extravagant arrangement to wash away the guilt that is seldom worth the result. It's an irrational lottery scheme that should be abandoned as soon as possible.

At the same time, it's of utmost importance that the money is spent and used fairly on the whole refugee population. Even if the conditions are harsh in the neighbouring countries, they would be harsh for everyone. The cultures are also usually closer and the chances of going back home considerably higher.

Related article:

Forget integration: empower and repatriate them!

Alexis Kouros

Editor in Chief

Helsinki Times

picture: AFP / KHALIL MAZRAAWI - LEHTIKUVA
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BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. -- The first semester of Tennessee Promise at Northeast State Community College went well and led to a positive start to the second semester with an 83 percent freshmen retention rate, Northeast State officials said.

Tennessee Promise is a scholarship and mentoring program for first-time college freshmen in Tennessee that began in the fall of 2015. It provides students a last-dollar scholarship for two years, meaning the scholarship will fund tuition and fees that are not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or Tennessee Student Assistance Award funds.

Students may use the scholarship at the states 13 community colleges, including Northeast State, 27 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institutions that offer an associate degree program. After graduating from a community college, if students choose to attend a four-year school, the states Transfer Pathways program makes it possible for them to start as a junior. By getting their first two years free, the cost of a four-year degree is reduced by half.

The program is part of Gov. Bill Haslams Drive to 55 initiative. Its aim is for 55 percent of Tennesseans to have a degree or certificate by 2025.

Tennessee Promise students accounted for a 4.5 percent increase in enrollment at Northeast State, according to Josh Johnson, the colleges Tennessee Promise coordinator.

It has been a really successful program, he said. Our retention rates across the board have been very high and weve been first, second or third of every community college in Tennessee and TCAT [Tennessee College of Applied Technology] in the state since the beginning of the program so thats great news for us; that means were doing something good.

To be in the program, students must complete eight hours of community service every semester theyre enrolled, maintain a 2.0 grade point average, and attend mandatory meetings.

Johnson said he was surprised by how many high school seniors had already been doing community service.

Even though the first semester of the program went well at Northeast State, Johnson said there are some improvements to be made  most importantly communication with students.

The most difficult part about this program is that you have the state thats involved, Tennessee Achieves is a partnering organization, and then you have the school and then all of those have to communicate well and get that information to the student, he said. It gets to be difficult.

Throughout the first semester, Johnson said he realized that students are best reached through social media  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Students tend to not check or send emails or make phone calls anymore, he said.

Im not forcing you [students] to meet me face to face or call me on the phone or send me an email, Johnson said. If you feel comfortable sending me something on Twitter, fine, Ill reply. Social medias huge because we can sit here and do surveys all we want to but in reality how is it going to work? So I just figured this, I told my boss, I said, Im going to go ahead and put all the information out there and were going to see who uses it and who doesnt and who chooses to communicate that way.

Parents, he said, are the only ones who email and call him. Communication has also been helped by a new transfer advising center that opened on the colleges Blountville campus in the fall; its purpose is to assist students who plan to transfer to four-year universities. There is also an East Tennessee State University employee on campus to assist transfer students.

Students understand, unlike some of the people that have been in the establishment for a long time, how things are evolving, Johnson said. I give Dr. Gilliam [Northeast State President Janice Gilliam] a lot of credit for the iNortheast Initiative and getting the iPads in the hands of those students because that is where all the action is now. ...Theres not a single document that a student has to physically sign and turn in, everything is done online, including the application for admission, which theres no fee for now either. So for a student, really, theres no barrier to it; its just a question of how motivated are they to come to school and get things done? Were going to know that come next fall because well realize how many fall to fall students were retained and are still eligible for that program  I think its going to be a great deal.

iNortheast was created in conjunction with Tennessee Promise to provide an iPad mini 2 to every Tennessee Promise student to use during the 2015-16 school year. iPads will be required for every student beginning in the fall.

Student Gloria Bridges said she finds the iPad to be more convenient than a computer at home and the available apps are useful and helpful.

We feel very good about how that has enhanced the students communication and just being able to find information and being more engaged in the learning process, Gilliam said. The students can go out and discover for themselves the knowledge.

She gave an example of how the iPads can benefit students. Before the devices were available, students taking anatomy and physiology had to go to the colleges library to look at and memorize bones then take a test. Now, the bones can be studied in apps on the iPads.

Students and mentors

Gilliam said she believes students are taking college more seriously as a result of Tennessee Promise and some are attending college when, without the program, they might not be.

The culture of our classroom has changed, she said. Weve got students who seem to be more committed and we have a variety from top students as well as students who probably would have never gone to college had they not had this opportunity.

Bridges is one of those students.

For me, Tennessee Promise is an incredible, incredible blessing because I come from a family with three kids and were all in college right now, she said. This has definitely helped from a financial aspect, putting all of us through college, and has helped me just save money and put it toward nursing school.

Anthony Walls, a senior at Northeast State and a Tennessee Promise mentor, said nothing beats another students advice for freshmen.

Being a mentor was the perfect opportunity to take my experiences and my knowledge that I had learned being here and try to take out that initial step that most freshmen find, I cant do this or I dont know where to find this, he said. More than anything, I think we like to be the biggest cheerleader because youre telling them, I know what youre feeling right now, I felt it my first semester -- just keep going.

Walls mentored seven students during the first semester of the program. The average number of students mentored by each student mentor was five.

Mentors also constantly remind students of deadlines to meet and campus and online resources, Walls said.

Most of the time, I notice the students, if you have an adviser or a faculty member that tells you, Hey, this is when the deadline is, theyre like, Yeah, sure. Whatever, he said. But if it comes from another student, You must really know what youre talking about, and the opportunity to work with your peers one-on-one is great for study, its great for bonding; it builds that sense of community that we have at Northeast State. Thats what were hoping holds people and retains them and its what were hoping to continue on after I graduate.

Bridges said she hopes to mentor students next year.

It helps to ask another student and just get their perspective and input on it because theyve gone through it, they know, she said. You learn from other people who learn from other people. ... Im looking forward to becoming a mentor next year, hopefully.

According to Gilliam, 887 Promise students out of the 1,066 who attended Northeast State in the fall returned this semester  thats an 83 percent return rate.

Were very pleased, Gilliam said. Weve had the largest freshmen class ever with 1,500; with nearly 1,100 of them being Tennessee Promise students, so we had a 25 percent increase in our freshmen class. We have one of the largest returning classes for spring that weve ever had.

To handle the major increase in freshmen, adjunct faculty members were hired on to teach math, science and English. Gilliam said more full-time faculty will be hired for the fall semester to teach freshmen and sophomore classes. The toughest transition, according to Johnson, was for professors because theyre teaching more classes and more students, but it allows them to not have to take on a second job, he said. Northeast State has had to expand its online class enrollment. When asked how the governor feels about the program with the first semester completed, his office responded: Tennessee is at the forefront of innovation in public higher education, said Jennifer Donnals, press secretary for Haslams office. More than 16,000 students enrolled last fall under the Tennessee Promise. And of all the new FAFSA applications last year in the United States, 40 percent of them came from Tennessee. Tennessee Promise is changing the conversation of higher education for thousands of high school seniors and their families.

Tennessee Promise and four-year schools

While officials believe Tennessee Promise has been mostly positive for students, there has been a drop off in nontraditional student enrollment and enrollment at four-year schools is being affected.

We were happy to see the increase in enrollment from our first time, full-time freshmen, but we saw a decrease in our nontraditional students and we dont ever want to lose those students, Johnson said. Is that a sign of the economy getting better and more jobs becoming available? Possibly. ... Right now, were working on programs to provide opportunities to those nontraditional students.

High school students who receive a GED have also been at a disadvantage because they arent being informed of deadlines and requirements for the program, he said.

That is something that were going to address, Johnson said. I told a student that flat out. I said, I dont want to say that we failed you because we put that information out to that partnering organization, but weve got to do a better job of getting you guys some way, somehow.

The student was in a GED program at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. The program began in October and ended Nov. 19, which is two weeks after the Promise deadline. They would have had to apply for the scholarship before Nov. 2, but the instructor didnt tell the students about it until they graduated.

They thought, Whats the point in telling the student if they dont graduate? Well, if they dont apply then whats the point of going through the program? It doesnt make any sense, Johnson said. Its no different than if you just told a senior in high school, Dont apply for Tennessee Promise until we know youre going to graduate. Thats foolish. So for us, thats another one of those miscommunications. Weve got to get them the right information and weve got to basically teach them [GED instructors] how to teach those students. Its new, its going to happen. So far, Ive talked to two students that wouldve been eligible had they applied and gone through the program the way they needed to.

Making sure students receive money for college tuition is very important to Johnson.

If I knew that anything that I did impacted a students eligibility for college tuition I dont think Id ever sleep, he said. I take it that seriously. I was one of those students in their shoes and if I did not have the aid that I had I wouldnt be in school and I sure as heck wouldnt have the job Ive got now.

So whats the goal of the program? To Gilliam, its all about making sure students are employable.

The whole goal is to retain more of these students and to help them reach their goals and be employable whether or not theyre going on to a four year [college] and then seek employment or if theyre in a program that they can go and get a job right out of Northeast State, she said. The faculty and staff are very pleased with the services that weve provided.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The launch, which South Korean officials confirmed about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning, follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. It will be considered a further provocation by Washington and its allies and likely draw more sanctions and condemnation from the United Nations.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea says its nuclear and missile programs are necessary to defend itself against what it calls decades of U.S. hostility.

Leader Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the U.S., South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

It is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets.

Still, the North's nuclear tests and steadily improving long-range rocket launches push its nuclear aims further along.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation.
Hagerstown man found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in 2021 shooting

Hagerstown resident Gage J. Coles was convicted Thursday in the October 2021 shooting death of John A. Leonard IV and the shooting of Jaseye Stephens.
Recently, devastating floods hit some of Britains most scenic areas and among the first responders were many descendants of Punjabi immigrants.

As they do during most floods, Khalsa Aid volunteers turned up in the tiny, submerged villages. They brought with them hot curries, tea and sandbags. As a caller to a radio programme said, I lost almost everything I owned  the only bright spot was that I had the best Indian food of my life.

Alongside Khalsa Aid, 60 youth arrived and announced they represented the Caliphate. These young men came from the Ahmadiyya Caliphs operations in Britain and spent 14-hour days helping older people to move furniture, digging in the mud and clearing debris. One of the volunteers, Wadood Ahmad Daud, told the Huffington Post that he wanted to give back to a country that has given [me] so much .

However, as reporters filled endless hours of rolling news with dire interviews on flood barrier construction, the story of the British Asians and their faith-based charities went untouched. Social media users I spoke to had all seen posts about the young Muslims and Sikhs. Apart from the Guardian and the Telegraph, the traditional media had ignored them.

Political manipulation by media magnates explains some of the silence. Many use xenophobia to promote a wider agenda of isolation. Even The Times, under Rupert Murdoch, stokes fears about immigrants. But, this was not really racism. Ravi Singh of Khalsa Aid told me that he first encountered racism when he moved from a village in Punjab to Britain in the 1980s. I dont think the coverage was racist, he said.

The atrophied state of most news organisations too played a role. All British newspapers and broadcasters are losing audience and revenues. Most newsrooms cannot now cover much that isnt handed to them by an information officer or a PR agency. Neither Khalsa Aid or Muslims for Humanity funds any media outreach.

But the real reason for preferring tedium to news is linked to the kinds of people who still run the British media. As Singh pointed out, the media ignored the Christians too  churches ran feeding programmes and young evangelicals were in every flooded community.

In a leaked 2012 memo, the outgoing director general of the BBC said that he was disturbed by how many of the corporations employees came from the same, privileged Oxford and Cambridge elite. Most newspapers are worse. For this urban intelligentsia, religion is to be reported as repressive or ridiculous or anachronistic. As Singh told me, they seemed scared of covering faith communities altogether. Maybe they were worried they would betray how little they knew. Maybe they thought that covering one group would be taken amiss by the others. Maybe faith-based charities are too complex a concept to understand.

Mark Chataway is a UK-based consultant on communications and market research

The views expressed are personal
A daughter's online campaign for justice after the alleged murder of Samalkha ayurvedic doctor Sunita Arora on Friday by an official team raiding her clinic has evoked a massive response on the social media.

Taking on the health department and its five accused senior functionaries, Ishita Arora has gone on Facebook with allegation that on September 18 (Friday), her mother was tortured to death at her maternity clinic. In the September 19 post, she claims to have evidence, including footage from a surveillance camera. She rues that no arrest was made but hasn't mentioned why the health department team attacked Dr Sunita Arora.



By Tuesday evening, more than 2.57 lakh Facebook users had shared Ishita's post, more than 24,000 commented on it, and 1.42 lakh liked it. The district police accuse the Arora family for not cooperating with the investigators. "We are verifying inputs that Dr Sunita's clinic was raided at least once about five years go for alleged violation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act," said a police officer.

State health department deputy director (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostics Techniques) Renu Malik has said the raid was based on specific input that unauthorised activities were on at the victim's Samalkha clinic. "Police and the health department officials were together in this raid on Friday night to check an alleged case of medical termination of pregnancy that ayurvedic doctors are not authorisied to do. But before the inspection could be over, the doctor died," the officer said on Tuesday.

Samalkha deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Gorakh Pal Rana said officers on the five-member raiding party had been booked but autopsy had failed to pinpoint the cause of death. "We have sent the viscera for forensic examination. Contrary to the family's allegation, there is no mention in the autopsy repot of any injury mark on the victim's body. Initially, the doctor's family did not allow the police to get a copy of the CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera footage from the facility, but parted with it on Tuesday evening following the district authority's warning that a duty magistrate would be appointed to give police access to the crime spot.

DSP Rana said that on Wednesday, the video would be handed over to forensic experts, who would also be at the clinic to scan the spot where Dr Sunita was allegedly killed. "It does seem that the victim's family is trying to hide something. Else, when we had registered a murder case on its complaint, there was no reason to hesitate to share evidence," he added.

The doctor's husband, Ved Prakash Arora, said the police were trying to shield the accused officials, and the DSP and others had watched the footage on Friday night also. "We had locked the clinic room to ensure that no one destroyed the evidence. The footage was with our lawyer. We were open to sharing details but the police had not approached us for this," he claimed.
After its revolutionary move to introduce the third gender in its application forms in March this year, Panjab University took another progressive step in taking the conversation around LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) issues on to a more visible platform.

The Centre for Human Rights and Duties organised a film festival, in collaboration with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival and Chandigarh-based NGO Saksham, on Tuesday to raise awareness.

These films screened under the title KASHISH Forward were selected by LGBT filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan of Purple Skies fame, who started KASHISH in 2010, mainly to bring issues faced by the community into mainstream.

Our main motive was to bring such cinema on the big screen so that it reached everyone. In Mumbai, we are happy to say that at least 30% of the audience are not from the LGBTQ community, said Rangayan. He said KASHISH Forward was an initiative to reach out to youngsters to escalate the dialogue around gender identity and empowerment.

Renowned lawyer and activist Aditya Bandyopadhyay, an expert on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, talked about how the law criminalised a person for something they had no control over.

Homosexuality has been documented in our cultural history. The British came to India and imposed their religious values on our culture. If this has been around in the past, then we must analyse how our mindsets have changed leading us to term this as a modern perversion, he said.



Bandyopadhyays address was succeeded by the screening of seven award-winning Indian as well as international short films and documentaries on LGBTQ issues, mostly relating to gender identity and social acceptance, targeting the youth.

Notable among them was the short film Identity starring transgender writer and activist Gazal Dhaliwal from Patiala, who talks about her soul-stirring journey of transforming into a girl and her parents support throughout, reducing the pain of social stigma and isolation usually faced by those who choose to come out. Other Indian films screened were Tell Me A Story, four short stories on identity, A Love Such As This about acceptance by a mother of her gay son, and Because about pride march.

PU taking many initiatives



Panjab University, besides introducing the third gender in application forms, has also taken the initiative to build infrastructure such as separate toilets for transgenders. So are things looking up for the LGBTQ community in the academic scenario?

Namita Gupta, assistant professor at the Centre for Human Rights and Duties, said, Though we have taken such steps, we still have a long way to go when people from the community will finally come out in the open to register in colleges and universities. They still face a lot of stigma. The change has to happen in schools where they can be conditioned in the right way to accept their identities.

Talking about the scenario of LGBTQ rights in India as of today, Bandyopadhyay said, I am very optimistic. At times Ive felt frustrated. I question why am I doing this and for what. Will this hard work get me somewhere? But I know justice is on my side. So Ive stopped giving it a time frame.

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The true nature of an age is imperceptible most of the time. On occasion we see the fragments clearly, we see the issues, but the truth as always is in the assembly of the parts. We have suspected for some time now that we are in the golden age of organised compassion, which by another name is the age of victimhood, but what we may have missed is that it has infected all. We are, finally, a world filled with victims. Men and women and the ambiguous; blacks, browns and whites; paupers and millionaires; even billionaires (we will come to that); the oppressed and the oppressors, all victims. And nobody is lying. That much we can see in the rise of the new socialists and radical conservatives around the world. They derive their powers from hundreds of millions of people who claim they have been wronged by some dominant force. It appears that the whole world is awash with unprecedented humility.

If you do not believe you are a victim, you are probably arrogant, or it is just that you are yet to find the name of your group, your kind. Look carefully. Great compassion awaits you but to claim the consideration you must first prostrate before the world and accept your suffering. The age of the strong and silent has passed. These times belong to the fragile loud.

Barring impoverished tribal women, every other group in the pyramid of Indian life is also an oppressor or a potential oppressor, but they are also recognised, correctly, as victims. Dalits were victims long before the age of victimhood and urban compassion dawned. Brahmin students would say oppression is when you have scored 95% and cannot secure a seat in a university.

Affluent urban Indian feminists who as children received more opportunities than 99% of Indian males do believe, rightly, that they are victims too because of the nature of Indian society. Their husbands, brothers and fathers, too, are today recognised as modern victims. That is the inherent beauty of the age of victimhood and a phenomenon unique to our times. The upper-caste, rich, highly educated Hindu male has a claim to victimhood. His complaint is manifested in simple and complex ways. In the simplest terms he would say that the laws that are meant to protect women from sexual abuse or from her in-laws are so powerful that they terrify him. The elite Indian male, finally, is beginning to comprehend the miasma of discrimination. His more complex lament emanates from his perception of himself as an economic underclass. This view is similar to the modern western middle-class white males feelings of inferiority.

In the heart of the sudden moral war in the West against inequality is not the rage of the very poor, but of the middle class against the very rich. Across most major cities of the world the very rich have made prime real estate unaffordable to the moderately rich. In some places the very rich are displacing the mere millionaires. In South Mumbai too. If you listen to the millionaire entrepreneurs of South Mumbai talking about the very rich, you would think they sound a lot like Communists. They talk about the vulgarity of money, displacement and we need inheritance tax. And, there is the matter of Mukesh Ambanis gargantuan home blocking the sea views of hundreds of millionaires, and reminding them of their smallness.

Also, in the hierarchy among elite Indian youth, employment is today subordinate to valuation-seeking entrepreneurship. What the enthusiastic media coverage of young Indian entrepreneurs in the new economy often misses is that their entrepreneurship, often, is not great gambles but manifestations of privilege that come with elaborate safety nets.

The average upper-class Hindu male, standing many layers beneath the new high castes of wealth and enterprise, considers himself a victim of inequality.

Billionaires, too, consider themselves victims. But not the Indian variety, whose complaint that they are victims of the political system would elicit no sympathy. The victimhood of the rich men of Silicon Valley is more fascinating. To be precise, they anticipate their victimhood because they are used to anticipating everything. As they believe they are the peaks of human and intellectual evolution, they are not so threatened by humans as much as they are by machines. That is why some of the brightest minds of the Valley appear so irrational when they talk about the future of artificial intelligence and how the machines may one day colonise man.

The victim, who is today one of the most powerful concepts influencing politics, culture and economics, is real, was always real. He, or she, unlike the gods, was not the pure invention of ancient storytellers. But storytellers were enchanted by the idea of the victim. The proto-victim began life as the underdog in our stories, a character class who has not just survived the whole history of storytelling but thrived. It is now almost impossible to tell a glorious, captivating and moral story without the underdog whose progress towards justice or tragedy is what almost all stories are about.

It was inevitable that journalism would lift the idea of the underdog. The rise of modern activism, which is funded by trusts created by the excess wealth of capitalism, the tax structures of rich countries, including steep estate and inheritances taxes, and ideologies masquerading as philanthropy, has expanded the scope of victimhood. As groups of people gained their victimhood, and their laments were efficiently transmitted by journalism and the social media, similar sects and rival groups aspired to be so.

Have you, by now, found your wounds? If you still do not believe you are a victim, you are a part of such a minuscule minority that you are, by default, a victim of a majority in a glorious, perpetual crisis.

Manu Joseph is a journalist and the author of the novel, The Illicit Happiness of Other People

The views expressed are personal

The author tweets as @manujosephsan

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The Centre and the AAP government are slugging it out in the Supreme Court over who controls the Delhi Police.

Last week, Delhi governments standing counsel Rahul Mehra took strong objection to a central government appearing for the police in a custodial death matter. The assertion was strongly contested by additional solicitor general Maninder Singh who said Delhi Police was under the Centres jurisdiction.

The heated discussion between the two before a bench headed by justice JS Kehar ended only after the judges intervention. Fight where you want to fight. But here we will talk about law, the judge told them. The judge asked Singh to provide a copy of Delhi Polices appeal to Mehra who said he wants to get the matter probed as to how was the appeal filed without the states approval.

Mehra interjected as soon as Singh got up to defend Delhi Polices role in the case where the Delhi high court last month ordered the CBI to take over the probe and asked it to record statement of two witnesses before a magistrate. He said the HC order was dictated after the Delhi government counsel, appearing for the police there, conceded to the CBI probe.

Ever since AAP came to power in Delhi a year ago, it has been at loggerheads with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over a host of issues, including the control of Delhi Police and transfer and posting of bureaucrats. This has led to several court cases many of which still remain undecided.

In the incident that was reported from Nandi Nagri in North-East Delhi the HC had also directed the lieutenant governor and Delhi government to determine the compensation to be given to Rabia whose husband allegedly died in police custody. The Delhi Police had constituted the SIT headed by an ACP of the Crime Branch and monitored by the DCP, after Rabia moved the HC accusing the police of harassing her husband who died on September 7.

Mehra claimed police can file appeals only after getting appropriate permission from the Ministry of Law and alleged in the case at hand there was no approval. The appeal has no ground in view of AAP governments stand against the police before the HC, he said. The state had prosecution powers, he reiterated.

Singh shot back saying Delhi Police was not under the state s jurisdiction. The police department is not with you, he said.

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Delhi Police, after its initial investigations in the killing of 23-year-old DU student Arzoo Singh Chauhan, believe that the girls boyfriend Naveen Khatri, his father Rajkumar and some other members of the family may be involved in the crime.

Investigators suspect that Khatri murdered Arzoo at his Rajpura home in northwest Delhi in the presence of his family members. Arzoo had been abducted from outside Laxmibai College on February 2.

The involvement of Khatris father Rajkumar, a property dealer, has not been ruled out by senior police officers who said that the man had gone missing ever since the arrest of his son and recovery of Arzoos body from the ventilation shaft of their Rajpura home.

The police said that Rajkumar had a criminal history and was serving a jail term for the murder of a neighbour that had taken place a few years ago. He was currently out on parole for his sons wedding that took place on February 4.

The accused has confessed that after abducting Arzoo, he took her to Nangal Dewat in southwest Delhi. They had an argument in the car following he strangulated her inside using her dupatta. The girl had apparently threatened to ruin Naveens wedding by telling his to-be wife about their relationship, said an officer.

We have found some inconsistencies in Khatris confession. He has claimed that he left Arzoos body for the entire night in his cars boot and thrust it into the shaft from his first floor room around 5am the next morning. It is impossible for him to have heaved the body to the first floor without anyone noticing it. The house was full of wedding guests at that time, the officer said.

The police are also trying to figure out why Khatri risked himself by transporting Arzoos body in his car after murdering her in Nangal Dewat area. Instead of dumping the body at an isolated place, Khatri brought it to his house, which is baffling, said the officer.

Meanwhile, Arzoos family members have told police that the girl entered into a relationship with Khatri after he stalked her from their colony to college and back for almost a year. Nobody in her family was aware of their relationship for at least one year and came to know about it only four months ago.

I somehow convinced our family members to get them married. We contacted Khatris family and sought their consent, but they refused and said that my sister and Khatri should never meet. The two, however, continued meeting each other secretly, said Payal, Arzoos elder sister.

Arzoos family members claim that Khatri had visited their house in December and promised to marry her. But a few days ago, we learnt that his marriage had been fixed with another girl from his cast. My sister was upset over his decision to marry another girl, she said.
The semi-decomposed body of a 23-year-old Delhi University student was recovered from the ventilation shaft of her suspected killer and boyfriends four-storey home at Rajpura near Model Town on the northwestern parts of the Capital.

Police said Arzoo Singh Chauhan, a final-year Hindi honours student of Laxmibai College, was abducted on February 2 from outside the institution allegedly by her boyfriend from the same neighbourhood and strangled her with a dupatta inside the car.

She was apparently murdered at southwest Delhis Nangal Dewat. The man concealed the body in the boot of his car, where it remained till the next morning. In the meantime, he had driven the body to his Rajpura house and around 5am he took it out from the cars boot, heaved it to the first floor and thrust it inside a ventilation shaft when members of his family were fast asleep. The dupatta was still tied around her neck, an officer said.

Two days later, suspected assailant Naveen Khatri married another girl and spent his wedding night at the same room in which the body was dumped.Delhi Police, after its initial investigations, believe that Khatri, his father Rajkumar and some other members of the family may be involved in the crime.

Police sources said the woman was reportedly pregnant but it could be ascertained only after the autopsy report is out.

When Arzoo did not return from college till late in the night on February 2 and her cellphone was also switched off, her family reported the matter to the police.

The next morning, we went to her college where we came to know that she used to meet Khatri even after the two families decided four months ago against their wish to get married. The Khatris were Jats and they didnt want a Rajput bride for their son, that too from the same village, Arzoos cousin Akanksha said.

But her college friends told us that Khatri and Arzoo were still meeting secretly. She was seen with him on the day she went missing. That aroused suspicion and we informed police.

Based on the familys information, police picked up Khatri and he later confessed to his crime. He allegedly told police that his patience snapped because Arzoo was nagging him to marry her instead of the bride chosen by his family.

Read | Accused stalked DU girl, boyfriends father under police lens

Police said he could be lying because they have information, although unverified, that the woman and Khatri were still friends even after their marriage plans failed and she accompanied him to hand invitation cards for his wedding to some people on the day she went missing. But something went wrong between the two. We will have to find out that, an officer said.

Arzoos relatives accused Khatris family, particularly his father, of killing her.

He and my sister were friends for over a year and wanted to get married. Our family was ready but his family rejected the proposal, saying they were like siblings since they belong to the same village. My sister was kidnapped and murdered two days before his marriage. The Khatris were afraid that she could create some problem during his marriage. Thats why they killed her, Arzoos elder sister Payal alleged.

The police said that Rajkumar had a criminal history and was serving a jail term for the murder of a neighbour that had taken place a few years ago. He was currently out on parole for his sons wedding that took place on February 4.

His son was now charged with murder while police were investigating if any of his family members had assisted him or was directly involved.

If they feared some disruption during the wedding ceremony, they should have told us. We would have ensured a peaceful wedding, said Kavita, Arzoos distraught mother.

Read | Mystery behind Chennai actress headless body solved, husband arrested
The employees unions are now a divided house, with several unions also planning to call-off their strike amidst assurances from the municipal administration of immediate salary payment.

According to the unions leaders, which include those from the remaining 25 unions still on strike, including teachers, engineers and admin staff, a formal decision is likely to be taken on Monday.

The move, however, has not gone down well with the collection of unions who had called for the strike.

We have received support from several members of those associations claiming that their office bearers have been motivated due to personal reasons or were politically motivated. We will continue to protest and will even appear before the high court on Monday to put forward our problems, said Rajesh Mishra, president, United Front of MCD employees.

Others, however, claimed that the decision to call-off the strike was made after written assurances were given by the Delhi government and the municipal administration for salary payment.

The MCD director of hospital administration has assured that our pending salaries would be released within 23 days. We do not want to inconvenience the patients, especially after they have given the assurance in writing, said Dr Aditya Gupta, president of the resident doctors association at Hindu Rao Hospital, the biggest hospital run by MCD.
The principal and director of a private school here was arrested on for allegedly attempting to rape a nine-year old student, police said .

The complaint was lodged by the girls mother at Sector 5 police station in which she stated that her daughter was called by the principal and director to his office. He then allegedly committed the crime. He let her when she cried but threatened her not to disclose it to anybody, the police said quoting the complaint.

The woman said she came to know of the incident when her daughter refused to go to school and narrated the incident to her, they said.

We have arrested the accused identified as Ram Gopal, a retired air force personal and are investigating the matter, said Hawa Singh, the PRO of Gurgaon police.
The Zika virus has international travellers worried. So should you cancel your tickets or stay the course?

Heres what you need to know about Zika (and probably dont): The virus has claimed three lives (in Colombia); Its been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) but you are currently at no risk of contracting it in India; and there have been no outbreaks ever reported here.

There is, of course, another way you could be at risk: If you plan to head to South America either for the summer Olympics in Rio, or to see the sights, or both.

We have received frantic calls from people who are travelling internationally to know whether they will contract the illness. So obviously, there is some concern among people, says a senior doctor (name withheld on request, since he is not authorised to speak to the media) from the department of medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Among those making calls to their doctors was Bhavna Rujute, 38, and her husband Dheeraj, 45, who booked tickets to Rio just days before the Zika virus hit the news in May. The couple is headed there in August, for the Olympics.

Read: Heres why we should fear Zika virus

The Rujutes have spoken to doctors, both in Mumbai and in Rio, and to locals in Brazil whom they connected with online. They all agree that the real threat is to children and pregnant women, says Bhavna, a Mumbai-based finance consultant. So we thought, why not go ahead? Our tickets are refundable, but weve done our research and we see no need to cancel. There will always be some reason to not travel to an offbeat location, and you cant live in fear.

People tend to overstate a countrys problems, whether they are political or medical, she adds.

An informed decision is difficult, says Dr Om Srivastava, Jaslok Hospitals consultant for infectious diseases. There isnt enough information about the virus at the moment, he adds.

Read: India to step up Zika virus watch as WHO warns of explosive spread

Dr Jagdish Prasad, director general of health services in the union ministry of health and family welfare, says that the government has issued a set of detailed guidelines via the health ministry website.

Since the virus is suspected to be linked with birth-related defects in babies, we suggest that women, especially pregnant women, take necessary precautions, he adds. For our part, we have strengthened surveillance systems to ensure the virus does not enter or spread in India.

The number of people travelling to these destinations from India is already low, so travel companies are not seeing many cancellations, for now.

We do anticipate an impact in the long-term, but our summer 2016 departures have not seen any cancellations so far, says Rajeev D Kale, president and chief operating officer at Thomas Cook India. We continue to receive queries for the 2016 Olympics.

Sudeepta Sanyal, founder of travel start-up The Blueberry Trails, says that shes seen one cancellation by a customer who was planning to go to South America. She didnt want to take a risk with her health after hearing about the Zika virus, she says.

In this file photo from January 18, a female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquires a blood meal on the arm of a researcher at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Aedes aegypti can spread the Zika virus. (AP)

Back to the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, theres a reason it sounds familiar. This is the same mosquito also carries dengue and chikungunya, which are relatively common diseases in India during the monsoon.

WHO officials have expressed concerns that if the disease spread to Asia, the climate would promote its spread. The warm and humid climate of India, for instance, is an ideal breeding ground for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito that carries the virus.

And as a country with a very high birth rate, an outbreak would stand to affect far more pregnancies.

Since the start of this outbreak in Brazil last May, the disease is suspected to have caused babies to be born with microcephaly (an abnormal and incurable smallness of the head often accompanied by brain damage) and has spread to 33 countries and territories in South and Central America.

Some, like Venezuela, have advised women not to try to conceive until 2017.

The best way to prevent the outbreak is by stepping up the surveillance; not just at the international airports and ports but also at high-risk areas in the country.

We will be asking paediatricians from across the country to notify us if they spot any cases of microcephaly, says Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Read: Heres why people are panicking about Zika

ZIKA 101 *The Zika virus gets its name from the Zika forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.

*The disease is similar to dengue and chikungunya in that they all are borne by the same mosquito, Aedes Aegypti, and cause the same symptoms  fever, head and body ache, joint pain, skin rashes, conjunctivitis etc.

*The Zika virus also doesnt have a specific treatment course and, like dengue and chikungunya, doctors prescribe symptomatic treatment.

Symptoms

Headache

Conjunctivitis

Rash

Joint pain

Fever and body pain

Should you travel to an affected area?

The government advises non-essential travel to the affected countries to be deferred/cancelled, especially pregnant women or those expected to be.

Persons with diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory illness, or any immune disorders should seek advice from a doctor, before they travel to an affected country.

Pregnant women who have travelled to areas with Zika virus transmission should share with their gynaec during ante-natal visits in order to be assessed and monitored appropriately.

Travellers suffering from any kind of fever within two weeks of return from an affected country should see a doctor.

Precautions to take in case you do

Use mosquito repellants such as creams, gels, electronic mosquito repellants, patches, and incense sticks.

Use bed nets.

Dress appropriately and cover most of your body parts.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.
The arrested American operative of Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), David Coleman Headley, will depose before a Mumbai court via video conferencing from the US in the 26/11 terrorist attacks trials on Monday morning.

Chicago resident Headley alias Daood Gilani, arrested by US authorities in 2009, would be confronted with evidence gathered by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and police in connection with the conspiracy behind the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai that killed 166 people. He has been charged with playing a pivotal and active role in the criminal conspiracy.

The Mumbai court wrote to the special NIA court in Delhi seeking evidence gathered by the anti-terror agency against Headley. The correspondence took place between the two courts directly, an NIA official said.

The NIA charge-sheeted Headley for the larger conspiracy to attack a series of targets in India that began with the Mumbai attack but went beyond that. The Mumbai trials are associated with only the 26/11 attacks, an official said.

The American of Pakistani origin, who has been an LeT member since 2002, had told the Mumbai court last December when he was first produced via video conferencing that he was ready to depose and turn approver in the 26/11 trials if he was pardoned. The court granted his wish and accepted him as a prosecution witness.

The conspiracy was hatched outside India  No direct evidence is there so far for the offence of criminal conspiracy. In this case fortunately for the prosecution, David Coleman Headley has willingly decided to unfold the conspiracy which was hatched outside India, the court said.

Headley had also turned approver in the US in the trial against his former partner and friend Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani Canadian operative of the LeT. This helped him get a lenient sentence and a promise that he will not be sent to India or any other country to face trial. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison by the US court.

In his testimony, Headley told about his reconnaissance of the 26/11 targets and several other places in India under instruction from the LeT and two Pakistani spy agency, ISI, officers  Major Iqbal and Major Samir.

Headley travelled across India, mainly Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Pushkar, Goa and Pune on several occasions to scout for targets under the guise of a representative with a company  Immigrant Law Centre with its office at Tardeo in the Maharashtra capital.

He extensively surveyed Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, Hotel Trident, Sidhdhi Vinayak Temple, Phadke Temple, Mantralaya, the Harbour area, railway and bus stations, and the World Trade Centre before the 26/11 attacks.

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A man who claimed he was from Bangladesh has been arrested in southern Assams Silchar town after attending classes in a medical college with a fake identity card.

Silchar, the headquarters of Cachar district, is 343 kilometres southwest of Guwahati.

Sumon Aziz Laskar, 22, attended the fourth semester class in Silchar Medical College (SMC) for four days before the college authorities discovered he was an imposter.

The man claimed he had obtained a transfer certificate from (central Assams) Tezpur Medical College but theres no provision of inter-college transfers. We saw through his lies when he used different names to get introduced to some students, SMC principal Shilpi Barman said.

The SMC authorities informed the police who arrested him on Saturday. His erratic confessions have now sent the police on a wild goose chase.

We are searching for three of his accomplices who he claimed had come from Bangladesh. Laskar initially said he was a Bangladeshi but we found out he is an Indian from a nearby village, Rajveer Singh, Cachar district superintendent of police, said on Sunday.

The police said Laskar could be mentally unstable or inspired by actor Sanjay Dutts Munnabhai character to become a doctor. But they have not entirely given up on his claim of having been on a subversive mission.

A Bangladeshi SIM card and some documents in a code language seized from Laskar are keeping the terrorist theory alive.

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As the BJP readies for the crucial electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh next year, the ruling party at the Centre seems to be caught up in a Hamletian dilemma: to project or not to project a chief ministerial candidate?

A series of internal consultations in the past few weeks has not produced an answer.

According to the party leaderships assessment, the BJP needs to project a face to take on Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, who are most likely to be the respective chief ministerial candidates of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The BJPs electoral debacle in Bihar recently was attributed in part to its failure to project a chief ministerial candidate unlike the three-party grand alliance which went to the hustings with the face of Nitish Kumar.

Following the Bihar fiasco, the party promptly named Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its chief ministerial candidate much ahead of the assembly polls in Assam this year.

The problem for the BJP in UP, however, is that it does not have many credible options to choose from in the politically crucial state where the party got 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2014.

We are discussing two issues amongst us. Should we project a face in UP and if yes, who should it be? We will have to strike a caste balance between our CM face and party president. The two assignments have to be shared between a backward and an upper caste leader. Unless there is clarity on one issue, we cannot take a call on the other, a Union minister from UP who is part of the consultation process told HT.

According to sources, five-term MLA Dharampal Singh, a Lodh leader from Ruhelkhand, and junior railway minister Manoj Sinha, a Bhumihar leader from eastern UP, are the choices for the state presidents job. Who gets the job would depend on the partys decision about projecting a CM face, the sources added.

BJP chief Amit Shah is meeting UP leaders here on Monday to discuss the election of the state president. Ramlal and Sunil Bansal, the RSS representatives working in the BJP, would be part of the deliberations.

A formal decision on whether or not to project a CM candidate would be taken only after consultation among top BJP leaders and the RSS later. If the party decides to project a face, it will be announced at a later stage, a BJP functionary said.

Given the consolidation of backward voters against the BJP in Bihar, party leaders admit, the central leadership is wary of the political fallout of projecting an upper caste as its face in Uttar Pradesh. The backward communities hold the key to government formation in the state.

But the BJP is equally worried about the prospect of its upper caste support base drifting towards Mayawati if it failed to project itself a serious contender to form the government.

Rajnath Singh, now the Union home minister, was the last upper caste leader to occupy the post of UP chief minister between October 2000 and March 2002.

Also being the seniormost leader from the state, Singh is seen as the most acceptable face in case a forward caste leader has to be projected. Singh, however, is not willing to return to state politics, said sources.

Sultanpur MP Varun Gandhi could be another contender for the CM post, but he does not enjoy a rapport with party chief Amit Shah who dropped the young leader as national general secretary after taking over as partys national president in 2014.

The BJP had subtly projected Union minister Kalraj Mishra as the CM candidate in 2012, but did not do well. Given his limited mass appeal, Mishra is considered not suitable to become the face in the high stakes battle next year.

HRD minister Smriti Irani gave a tough fight to Congress vice-president Rahul Gadhi in Amethi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and her frequent visit to the high-profile constituency has set tongues wagging about the possibility of her taking up a role in UP.

But her lack of experience in electoral politics, especially in a caste sensitive state like UP, is seen as her disadvantage.

Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh and Union minister Uma Bharti are seen as possible contenders from the backward castes. Kalyan Singh, 83, however, is too old to take up that responsibility and Bharti is seen as an outsider.

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Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen does not feel that India is an intolerant country and wondered why secularists in the country were questioning only Hindu fundamentalists. She also said that a democracy based on pseudo-secularism was not a true democracy at all.

I dont think India is an intolerant country. Most of the people are quite tolerant for each others faith, I think, she said at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode on Saturday, joining the debate over intolerance.

The author, living in exile in India after incurring the wrath of fundamentalists back home over a novel written by her in 1994, said, The laws in the country (India) do not support intolerance. But there are so many intolerant people in the country.

Responding to a question, she said: Why secularists in India were questioning only Hindu fundamentalists while leaving alone Muslim fundamentalists. True conflict in India was between secularism and fundamentalism, between innovation and tradition and between people who value freedom and who do not, she said.

All religions were anti-women though distortions caused by fundamentalists added to it, Nasreen said explaining her struggle against fundamentalism.

Holding that religion should be kept separated from government, she said influence of religion in lawmaking has caused oppression of both Hindu and Muslim women in Bangladesh. More than 150 writers of national and international repute are taking part in the four-day festival which concludes on Sunday.
Rita was just 16 when she was trafficked to Kolkatas Sonagachi area and forced into sex work. For the past decade, she has dabbed gaudy cosmetics on her every evening, waiting for clients in the narrow bylanes that make up Asias largest red-light district.

But these days, she is putting on make-up for a very different dream  to become a TV serial actor  visiting a music teacher and taking language lessons to face the camera.

Reshmis story is similar. The 22-year-old was forced out of school when she was in class VI because her mother was a sex worker in Basirhat, on the outskirts of the city. But she has spent every evening the past week taking spoken English and dance lessons at an NGOs office in Sonagachi.

They arent alone. Hundreds of sex workers and their children are now trying to make the once-improbable journey from darkness to the arc lights, thanks to chief minister Mamata Banerjees pet project.

The scheme  called Muktir Alo (Light of Freedom)  aims to train sex workers and their children in acting, offering them a chance to share space with known artists on television serials and the silver screen.

The project is a part of rehabilitation package for those sex workers who are willing to leave the profession.

The chief minister has given us the nod to go ahead with the project. We have got positive response from producers and directors of teleserials. The state government will train sex workers and their children in acting and thereafter give them a chance to work in showcase their talent in the small and big screens, social welfare minister Sashi Panja told HT.

Apart from Muktir Alo, where adults have been trained in acting, we have another project Sabolombon Plus (Independent Plus) where even children can participate in television serials. We have identified some sex workers and their children who will be part of the initiative. We are finalising the training dates and schedule, added Panja.

During the training, project aspirants will be given a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500, apart from a daily allowance of Rs 200. The training will be of three months.

Didi said we have to learn English and Bengali properly. The script contains words of both languages. We also need to speak English, so that we dont fall behind normal girls who are opting for a profession in acting. This is a great opportunity for me and I just cannot wait, Reshmi told HT.

Even Basanti, a 45-year-old sex worker from Bowbazar, wants to try her luck.

I have been a resident of the red light area of Bowbazar since I was five. My sister, too, was a sex worker. There must be a role of a mother or mother-in-law for me? Basanti asked.

The project has generated tremendous enthusiasm among sex workers throughout the state.

They view it as a better option compared to making candles or sewing. I believe the initiative will be successful. The department should also ensure that those selected and trained get work, said Dr Smarajit Jana, chief adviser of the Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Samity, one of the largest sex workers organisations in the country.

Previous governments initiated several rehabilitation schemes  such as sewing and weaving  but got poor response from sex workers as the alternatives werent financially viable for them.

Doubts about the viability of the acting project also linger.

I earn Rs 18,000 per month as a sex worker. I am ready to give acting a shot. This is what I dreamed of. But I should earn at the end of the day to run my family. I have a child and an ailing mother to support, said Sushmita, a 32-year-old sex worker.

(names have been changed)

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An expert panel inventorying assets at Keralas famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple has approached the Supreme Court for permission to open a hitherto-untouched vault, a controversial move that may trigger a fresh face-off between the judiciary and religious authorities.

The 16th century temple that used to be the royal chapel of Travancores former rulers shot to fame five years ago when one of its six vaults (later coded as A) was opened, unearthing tones of gold coins, jewellery and diamonds worth over Rs 1 lakh crore.

The Kerala temple -- situated in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram and billed as the countrys richest -- is one of the several Hindu shrines that hold enormous amounts of gold and precious gems with a fierce nationwide debate raging on ways to utilise the treasure.

Many temples have refused to deposit their gold with authorities, citing religious restrictions and saying the wealth was accumulated by way of holy offering from devotees and couldnt be returned.

In 2011, the top court had deferred opening of the top secret B vault until the expert panel it set up under Velayudhan Nair, former head of the National Museums conservation department, finished inventorying other vaults  a task that has now been completed.

But the Travancore royal family that runs the temple, a section of devotees and the shrines administration stoutly opposed the opening of the B-vault.

The temple contains six chambers buried deep under its sanctum sanctorum. Two of them are opened during daily rituals and two more every six months. The remaining two  A and B  are secret vaults. (Vivek Nair/ HT Photo )

They even conducted an astrological examination (Devaprasnam to know the mood of the deity) and informed the court the opening of vault was against tradition and would invite wrath of the God. But the SC refused to buy the logic, chiding the royals for putting superstition before the law of the land.

Former comptroller and auditor general Vinod Rai has also favoured opening of the B vault.

The temple contains six chambers buried deep under its sanctum sanctorum. Two of them are opened during daily rituals and two more every six months. The remaining two  A and B  are secret vaults.

The expert panel has submitted a voluminous report with details of all objects recovered from the five vaults.

Sources close to the temple said antique coins found in the chambers alone weighed more than 600 kg. Around 200,000 items were documented, 600 of which were embedded with precious gems. One single locket alone was believed to contain 997 gems. Besides jewels, precious stones, necklaces, golden crowns and pots were also included in the list of inventory, sources said.

In 2010, the Supreme Court ordered inventorying and later divested the royal family from managing temple affairs.

An expert panel from the Centre for Earth Science Studies has also quashed rumours that the B vault has an underground tunnel linking the temple to the Arabian Sea. The team led by Dr Ajyakumar Verma detected small cavities and drains around cellars that they found insignificant.

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Authorities have rescued a raped and tortured Jharkhand teenager who was sold to a Haryana family as part of a bride business thats booming in the northwestern state because of its skewed sex ratio amid rampant female foeticide.

An agent sold 15-year-old Sunita (name changed) for Rs 1 lakh and she was forced to marry a man 30 years older.

Every night for nine months, her husband and father-in-law returned home inebriated, beat her with belts and shoes and sexually abused her, the girl said.

I woke up each morning with bruises on my body. I begged them to let me go back to my mother, but they just enjoyed my misery, she added.

The yawning gender gap and entrenched feudalism in states like Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are fuelling a flourishing trade in women trafficked from the poverty-ridden villages of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam and Odisha.

Sunita grew up in a Jamshedpur slum and never went to school. She lost her father early and her mother worked as a domestic help in the Jharkhand city to eke out a living.

Read | Minor rape victim raped again in Jamshedpur hospital by security guard

She was promised a happy married life in Haryana, but was subjected to torture by her husband on her first day in the state.

He and his father hit me on my private parts and laughed when I cried in pain. I was raped every day, said Sunita, who was rescued after a Jamshedpur-based womens police station contacted the NGO Shakti Vahini in Delhi.

An FIR was lodged on Sunday after Sunitas sister approached authorities for help, said Priyanka Anand, officer in-charge of the police station.

Sunitas sister learnt of her plight after paying a visit to Haryana, where the family allegedly also tried to hold her captive, but she managed to escape.

Read: Trafficked tribal girls from Jharkhand falling prey to pornographers

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 57% of the 1,423 abduction cases in Jharkhand in 2014 were carried out with the intent to get a woman forcibly married.

Now, it is the Jharkhand Polices duty to come here and arrest these animals who treat women like nothing more than pieces of meat, said Rishi Kant, founder-member of Shakti Vahini. The agent who made the deal should also be caught.

Sunita will be produced in front of a child welfare committee in Haryana and will be sent for a medical exam to determine if she was pregnant, he said.

Jharkhand Police, in 2014, arrested at least 10 such agents from rural Khunti and Simdega, two backward-, tribal-dominated districts of the state.

Aradhna Singh, officer in-charge of the anti-human trafficking unit in Khunti said, Agents from neighbouring Bihar and some northern states have been found a few times in Jharkhand sealing marriage deals with families of minor girls.

Compared to other trafficking-prone states such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, the percentage of women abducted for marriage is much higher in Jharkhand, the NCRB has found.

Read | Gurgaon: School principal held for attempting to rape 9-year-old

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Authorities captured a young leopard on Sunday that mauled half a dozen people after sneaking into a suburban Bengaluru school, typifying the growing instances of man-animal conflict on the outskirts of the rapidly expanding city.

CCTV cameras showed the animal entering the VIBGYOR school campus at around 4AM, but it remained undetected until late afternoon when it attacked an employee.

It later injured others including a photojournalist who got too close and environmentalist Sanjay Gubbi who was part of a rescue team.

Watch | Stray leopard sneaks into Bengaluru school

The leopard had escaped from the school premises during the day and was hiding in nearby bushes.

Read: In pics: When a leopard went to school in Bengaluru

As authorities were in the middle of operations to capture it, the animal re-entered the school building by scaling a compound wall, officials said.

Video footage also showed a forest officer grappling with the big cat at the side of a swimming pool.

Forest department representatives told reporters in the evening that the feline was captured after two tranquiliser darts fired at it found their mark.

Chief wildlife warden Ravi Ralf said the animal was taken to the Bannerghatta National Park to be revived.

(With inputs from agencies)
Investigators have raised serious doubts about the number of terrorists involved in last months deadly attack on Punjabs Pathankot air force station.

The National Security Guard (NSG) which led the counter-terror operation maintains it killed six militants.

After neutralising four terrorists, the second encounter with two more terrorists took place on the ground floor of a two-storey building at the airbase. Since the building was demolished, we could find only ashes which may have pieces of flesh from the bodies of the dead terrorists.

The ashes have been sent for forensic analysis to look for human DNA, said a senior home ministry official requesting anonymity.

But the question is why not even a single shred of cloth worn by the terrorists was found in the ashes? When the bodies of terrorists would have fallen, at least the pieces of clothes on the underside should have survived. During the mopping up operation, shreds of heavy bedclothes were found, but there were no fragments of garments like the military dresses that the other four terrorists were wearing.

Investigators are now waiting for the results of the forensic analysis that may finally set the issue to rest.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the case is planning to re-evaluate the evidence gathered so far to take into account the possibility that only four attackers may have been involved.

Read | Pathankot attackers may have destroyed navigation devices

NIA chief Sharad Kumar may visit the Pathankot airbase next week again to have fresh look at the evidence gathered in the case by his investigators, the official added.

Sharad Kumar could not be reached for comments.

On January 3, Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Air Marshal Anil Khosla had said that two additional terrorists were holed up at the air force station apart from the four terrorists who had been killed a day earlier.

Three prime witnesses in the case  Punjab police officer Salwinder Singh and his companions, jeweller Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal  have told the NIA that four gunmen overpowered them around New Years Eve. The gunmen snatched Singhs vehicle to reach the airbase.

Other indicators too point towards the possibility that there were just four attackers.

Investigators so far have recovered only four assault rifles and three pistols from the bodies of four terrorists who were killed in the first 24 hours of the encounter that began late in the night on January 1.

So, where are the rifles or pistols from which the two other terrorists were shooting? The second encounter went on for another 30 hours. No weapon was recovered from the second encounter site, said an investigator who spoke on condition of anonymity. We need to find answers to all these questions.

Read

Phone calls from Pakistan create panic in Pathankot border area

India protests after Paks Hafiz Saeed warns of Pathankot-style attacks

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate IOCLs oil refinery at Paradip to the nation on Sunday and will also inaugurate the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) near Bhubaneswar.

Modi landed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar on Saturday evening on a two-day tour of Odisha. Odisha hovernor S C Jamir, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan received him.

He is scheduled to interact with students and faculty members of NISER and will leave for Puri to visit 12th Century Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri at 11 am.

Am sure the Paradip Refinery will unleash a new wave of industrialisation in hydrocarbon sector & enhance economic progress in Eastern India  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 7, 2016

This is Modis first visit to Puri temple and second visit to the state after becoming the Prime Minister.

Will offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri during my Odisha visit on the 7th, Modi had tweeted.

Later, the Prime Minister will leave for Paradip to inaugurate IOCLs Rs 35,000 crore refinery at 1 PM and will address a public meeting there.

DGP K B Singh reviewed security arrangements at Paradip, while other senior officers are camping at Puri and NISER to ensure security of the Prime Minister.

All arrangements are made as per the rule book, Singh said, adding about one lakh people are expected at Paradip.

For the PMs visit, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration has decided to keep the temple doors closed for one hour. The Archaeological Survey of India, which is repairing the temple complex, will suspend work to facilitate entry of Modi into the sanctum sanctorum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged the threat of sea-borne terror and piracy as two key challenges to maritime security and pitched for respecting freedom of navigation against the backdrop of South China sea dispute.

In an apparent reference to the audacious 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Modi said, the threat of sea-borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger regional and global peace and stability.

He said piracy, too, remains a strong challenge against the backdrop of Somali pirates targeting merchant vessels, including those of India.

Addressing the valedictory function of International Fleet Review, the Prime Minister also made a veiled reference to the South China Sea dispute, saying countries must respect and ensure freedom of navigation and cooperate not compete.

He said after hosting the 3rd India-Africa Summit and the India-Pacific Island Cooperation, the country would now host the first-ever global maritime summit in April.

Referring to his governments ambitious Make in India initiative, Modi said 37 of the Indian warships participating the Fleet Review were made in India and their numbers will surely rise.

He said the nations ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rested on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain.

Read: Modi slams Congress for project delays, believes in timely completion

The threat of natural disasters like tsunami and cyclones is ever present. Man-made problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain, the Prime minister said.

He said a peaceful and stable maritime environment is critical for regional and global security.

It is also must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems, the PM said.

Modi said Indias 1200 island territories, and its huge Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million sq km makes clear the economic significance of the Indian Ocean.

For us, it also serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. In March last year in Mauritius, I had spelt out our vision for the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Region is one of my foremost policy priorities. Our approach is evident in our vision of sagar, which means ocean and stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region, he said.

He said India would continue to actively pursue and promote its geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, in particular the Indian Ocean.

To this end, Indias modern and multi-dimensional Navy leads from the front. It is a force for peace and good. A network of growing political and economic maritime partnerships, and strengthening of regional frameworks also helps us pursue our goals, he said.

Read:PM Modi dedicates IOCLs Paradip refinery to the nation

Modi recalled that the last time India hosted the International Fleet Review was in the year 2001 in the city of Mumbai.

The world of 2016 is vastly different. Its politics is turbulent, and its challenges complex. At the same time, the oceans are the lifelines of global prosperity. They present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations, he said.

The Prime Minister noted that over 90% of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans.

He said over the last 15 years, its value has grown from about six trillion dollars to about $ 20 trillion.

Referring to the economy of crude, he said oceans are critical for global energy security as over 60 per cent of worlds oil production moves through sea routes.

Given the scale and complexity of modern-day challenges, international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of single nation, he said, adding it has to be a shared goal and responsibility of all seafaring countries.

To this end, the navies and maritime agencies need to work together and engineer virtual cycles of cooperation.

But where necessary, they also need to act to secure the international sea lanes of communication.

As oceans today propel our economies, we must use seas to build peace, friendship and trust and curb conflict, he said addressing the gathering.

Our Skill India programme is building institutions that train, support, encourage and guide our 800 million youth to the path of entrepreneurship.

He said an important part of Indias transformation is his vision of blue economy. The blue Chakra, the wheel in our national flag, represents the potential of the blue economy. An essential part of this pursuit is the development of Indias coastal and island territories but not just for tourism.

We want to build new pillars of economic activity in the coastal areas and in linked hinterlands through sustainable tapping of oceanic resources, he said.

Terming the youth in the coastal areas as countrys true assets, he said they have a natural and deep understanding of the oceans.

They could lead the way in the development of blue economy in India. In partnership with all the coastal states of India, I want to shape a special programme of skilling Indias youth in the coastal areas of the country, Modi said.

Chief Justice of India Justice TS Thakur, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Manohar Parrikar were also present on the occasion where the PM released a photo essay book Maritime Heritage of India.

Read: PM Modi urges scientists to make innovation useful for masses
Chennai Police said on Sunday they have solved the murder of aspiring actress Sasirekha whose decapitated body was found near the city about a month ago, after arresting her husband and his alleged lover.

Police said Sasirekhas 34-year-old husband Ramesh Shankar was a struggling businessman who regularly duped aspiring artists by promising acting roles, cheating them to the tune of several lakhs.

Shankar has told the police that he assaulted and strangled her, severed her head and dumped it in a canal in suburban Kundrathur and wrapped the body in a bed spread and abandoned it opposite an IT Park in Ramapuram.

It was with an Aadhar card and the previous complaint against Ramesh that police obtained evidence against him and arrested him and his alleged lover.

Sasirekha used to live in Chennais Madipakkam suburb with her parents, two sisters and an eight-year-old son from a previous marriage.

She met Shankar  whose parents and previous wife committed suicide in 2011 due to financial troubles -- during the shoot of a film that is yet to be released.

Police also alleged Shankar would promptly take photographs of his clients under the guise of getting them film offers, and later misuse the photos.

In August 2015, Sasirekha and Shankar registered their marriage and began living in Madipakkam.

But in a few months, Shankar walked out of the marriage and started living at Valasaravakkam, where he met Lakhiya who had moved to the city to get a chance in tinsel town. Ramesh also acted as her guardian.

In November 2015, Sasirekha filed a complaint with the Madipakkam Police, alleging Shankar was getting married for the seventh time and had cheated other women in Coimbatore, Bengaluru and Chennai. She also claimed that he had kidnapped her son.

After counselling, the couple moved to Madanandapuram near Kundrathur but Shankar continued his relationship with Lakhiya which disturbed Sasirekha who often confronted them.
How many cooking gas cylinders did Prime Minister Narendra Modi use in October 2014? Whats the speed of his Wi-Fi? And the number of sick leave prime ministers took in the last 10 years?

A raft of barmy queries under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has swamped Modis office, underlining the often frivolous use of an otherwise empowering tool that helps hold the countrys vast and powerful bureaucracy and politicians accountable.

One applicant sought documents to prove Modi was the Prime Servant of India and not the Prime Minister, referring to a descriptor he often uses in political rallies. There is no proposal to change the official designation of the PM, his office replied. Other inquiries have ranged from Modis kitchen expenses and whether he has read the Constitution to the educational qualifications of his personal assistants and if his principal secretary had ever planned to take his subordinates on a picnic.

But such frivolity masks a serious debate over allegations that the government is seeking to weaken the RTI law by delaying appointments of information commissioners or stonewalling uncomfortable questions.

#HTPoll | 'Frivolous' RTI applications keep PMO busy: Does the progressive legislation need to plug loopholes?  Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 7, 2016

Inquiries about Modis staff, salaries and overheads have gone unanswered. His office refused to reply to a query about visitors at his home and office, saying an answer would have a prejudicial effect on Indias sovereignty and integrity.

Some 35,000 appeals under the RTI Act remain pending before the Central Information Commission which faces chronic staff shortage. Last month, the Supreme Court asked the government to fill the vacancies of commissioners quickly.

But an overwhelming majority of RTI queries before the prime ministers office appears to be the product of idle minds. How many sick or casual leave or health leave is availed by the PM in last 10 years? asks one. No leave has been availed by PM Modi ever since he assumed office.

Whats his education qualification? PMs highest qualification is MA in political sciences.

Whats the speed of the internet in the PMO? 34 MBPS, is the reply.

A few years ago, then chief justice of India SH Kapadia had observed that a very good law like RTI was being misused to ask irrelevant and intrusive questions.

But RTI activist Nikhil Dey said frivolous queries did not undermine the powerful law.

India is a big country. There may be harmless queries, he said. Whats wrong in giving the replies in a routine way?

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Sandeep Gadoli, a dreaded gangster from Gurgaon charged with a string of murders who kept the police on their toes for over two decades, was seriously injured in a shootout in Mumbai on Sunday.

Gadoli opened fire at two Gurgaon Police constables when they arrived at a hotel in east Mumbais Andheri around 11 am to arrest the gangster. All three injured people have been admitted to hospital.

Gadoli carried a cash reward of Rs 1.25 Lakh on his head and was wanted in connection with several murders, including the killing of municipal councilor Binder Gujjars driver in October 2015.

Police said Gadoli had 36 cases registered against him. His aide, Sonu, was arrested last year in Mumbai for sexually harassing a model in Bandra.

Reports suggest top Gurgaon Police officers collected millions of rupees every month in kickbacks from Gadoli, to turn a blind eye to a flourishing extortion racket that targeted prominent businessmen.
Attempts by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to mediate between the trustees of Shani Shingnapur temple and activists over the bar on womens entry at the shrine failed to make any headway.

During the meeting, Ravi Shankar  the founder of Art of Living Foundation -- suggested that only the priest should be allowed on the holy platform to which the women activists disagreed, saying there should be women priest as well.

Everybody, irrespective of gender, has equal right to worship and therefore there should be no discrimination. In the meeting I have suggested to both the parties that only priest should be allowed to be on the platform where deity is placed, said Ravi Shankar.

Ravi Shankar said nowhere in the scriptures is written that women should not enter inside the temples. If that would have been the case, women would have not been allowed inside Indias biggest temple-Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Responding to Sri Sris suggestion, Desai said, If both men and women are to be disallowed to have darshan by stepping on the chabutara in future, then activists of Bhoomata Brigade should have an opportunity to perform the last Pooja at the sacred platform in the presence of Sri Sri and Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis.

According to the current practice, neither women nor men are allowed to go on to the Chauthara (platform). However, during the morning and evening aarti, men are allowed on the platform provided they pay fee the trustees fix.

(With inputs from agencies)
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley was to depose before a Mumbai special court via video conferencing from the US at 7am on Monday in the 26/11 terror attack case trial

It is for the first time in the Indian legal history that a foreign terrorist will give his evidence through a video link and his evidence will be recorded. I feel his evidence is the most useful because it may help unfold many aspects of the terror attack, senior public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told ANI.

Headley was to depose before the sessions judge GA Sanap.

According to the prosecutions case, Headley played an important and active role in the criminal conspiracy. It will examine Headley, 55, as a prosecution witness and confront him with all the documents and evidence collected during the investigation by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) team as well as the Mumbai police.

Headley was for the first time produced before the Mumbai court on December 10, 2015, when he said he was ready to depose and turn approver in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial, if he was granted pardon.

After granting him pardon, the court then accepted Headley as a prosecution witness. While giving the order, the court had observed, The entire conspiracy could be unearthed and proved if one of the conspirators comes to court with the request of pardon.

The conspiracy of the 26/11 Mumbai attack was hatched outside India. Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari is facing charges in the Mumbai attack as a co-conspirator. There is no direct evidence so far for the offence of criminal conspiracy. In this case, fortunately, for the prosecution, David Coleman Headley, has willingly decided to unfold the conspiracy, which was hatched outside India, observed the judge.

In 2010, Headley pleaded guilty in 26/11, admitting he had carried out a reconnaissance of the targets for the LeT before a US court. He had allegedly provided videos of various locations to the LeT, where terrorist attacks were carried out. He had also provided useful information about the safe landing places, which the attackers had used on the night of November 26, 2008.

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The diesel-operated autorickshaws, which have often been signalled out for causing the maximum amount of air pollution among all vehicles plying within the holy city limits, may well make way for the non-polluting battery-operated e-autos.

The move for bringing in the e-autos has already been set in motion by deputy commissioner (DC) Varun Roojam and commissioner of police (CP) Jatinder Singh Aulakh. The move commenced after deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday asked the DC and the CP to take immediate steps to check vehicular pollution in the city. The deputy CM in particular signalled out the autorickshaws plying in the city as the main source of pollution and asked the two officials to find environment-friendly vehicles to replace the existing diesel operated autos.

Acting on the instructions of the deputy CM, the DC and the CP, on Saturday, set into motion the plan for bringing in the e-autos in the city. The two officials contacted the local dealer of Kinetic, a reputed company manufacturing two-wheelers and environment-friendly autorickshaws.

The dealer will make contact with officials of the company and will get back to us on Monday. We have sought four or five e-autos from the company, which we will ply on trial basis in the city by the end of this month and even demonstrate these to the existing autorickshaw drivers, Aulakh told HT.

Other than the CP and the DC, ADCP (traffic) Dhruman Nimble were given a briefing on e-auto and its features by the local dealer. This battery operated e-auto causes zero pollution and with a fully charged battery it can cover a distance of around 100 km. Like all other battery-operated vehicles, the battery of the auto can be recharged, the dealer said.

Though on official records of the administration, there are around 9,600 registered autorickshaws, including all categories, plying in the city, the police officials say the number was much higher. This number could be beyond the 15,000 mark. While some of the autos are operating on LPG used in kitchens for cooking purposes, there are others which use diesel as fuel. However, the maximum pollution is caused by those in which kerosene is mixed in diesel as this is a cheap fuel, they informed.

Low cost, employment generation factor

Aulkah pointed out that a brand new e-auto would cost around Rs 1.55 lakh while the diesel operated ones cost around Rs 2.10 lakh. This cost difference will help in popularising the e-autos, he said.

We will talk with the company officials to arrange for low interest loans from banks for buyers of e-autos. We have come to know that in some states, the governments there have provided some form of subsidies to those interested in purchasing the environment-friendly vehicles, he added.

Aulakh and the DCP (traffic) had a brief chat with a couple of autorickshaw drivers and members of some auto unions. According to the police commissioner, the response of the drivers and union members was quite positive.

If trial runs are successful, then we will begin replacing the existing autos with the battery operated ones in a phased manner, Aulakh added.

Pointing out that around half of the autos currently plying in the city were rented out by owners to the drivers, Aulakh was hopeful that the e-auto project would help break the monopoly of those who give out the vehicles on rent on a daily or monthly basis.

We will ensure that bank loans are given only to those who will be driving the e-autos themselves and not to anyone else. This will help in generating employment, as a majority of the present auto drivers are not financially well off and ply rented vehicles, the police commissioner said.
Backed by leftists, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) former state convener Sumail Singh Sidhu, who is contesting the Khadoor Sahib bypoll as an independent candidate, is confident about his victory in the assembly segment which is considered as panthic (rightists) stronghold.

Sidhu, who is a PhD holder from Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Delhi and has been a sympathiser of communist activism, is undertaking his poll campaign under the banner of Punjab Sanjhiwal Morcha to give an impression that struggle against the excesses of the established parties are sanjha (common).

Although the left parties, including Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Punjab) have announced to stay away from the fray, its cadres in the segment, silently, have been supporting Sidhu.

Meanwhile, farmer and labourer wings of some of these parties have even openly announced to support Sidhu. Jamhuri Kisan Sabha and Dihati Majdoor Sabha, which are connected with CPI (M-P) led by Mangat Ram Pasla, have not only backed the independent candidate, but have also joined his election campaign.

Jamhuri Kisan Sabhas district president Pargat Singh Jamarai on Friday conducted a number of gatherings in support of Sidhu at Munda Pind, Gujarpura, Bhail Dhae Wala, Johal Dhae Wala Failoke, Tur, Kot Mohammad Khan, Kahlwan and Bhatthal Bhaika villages and made an appeal to vote for Sidhu.

Talking to HT, Jamarai said the SAD-BJP and the Congress had always promoted and implemented neo-liberal policies, which were generally anti-people. So, we have been opposing these parties since long. Continuing our agenda, we have decided to back Sumail Singh Sidhu, whose thinking is pro-people and he is raising the basic public issues during the poll campaign, he said.

When contacted, CPIs district secretary Tara Singh Khehra denied any support to Sidhu, but admitted that they had a soft corner for Sidhu. Though our state committee has resolved to stay away from the bypoll and we respect its decision, Sumail Singh Sidhu is better than other candidates.

It is notable that as the assembly segment is known as a panthic stronghold due to the Sikh majority here, most of the times, the SAD candidates have won the seat. However, in 2012 assembly elections, Congress candidate Ramanjit Singh Sikki defeated Akali stalwart Ranjit Singh Brahmpura. As per political pundits, it became possible only as Sikki enjoyed a panthic image among locals.

Keeping these ground realities in view, Sidhu is also touching the religious concerns of Sikhs. He is taking up the issue of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, which took place across the state last year. Sometimes, he quotes Sikh scriptures and uses the terms from gurbani while convincing the voters.

In absence of another AAP dissident Bhai Baldeep Singh, whose nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer, Sidhu is also trying to get the AAP supporters into his fold. The AAP dissenter claims that he is not new for the local AAP volunteers, as he remained its state-convener and paid many visits to the constituency earlier.

Besides conducting street meetings, Sidhu and his aides are carrying out door to door campaign as well. Their way of campaigning is quite informal. Meanwhile, on Saturday, he went to Pandori Gola village.

Meanwhile, his office at Goindwal Sahib appeared as a camp for representatives of various protesting socialist groups, who have come from different places of Punjab to campaign for him. However, locals are few.

Distributing whistles

During the campaign, the volunteers of Punjab Sanjhiwal Morcha (PSM) could be seen distributing whistles (Sidhus election symbol), to the youngsters and children to make it popular among the voters.

Sidhus aide and former leader of left wing student outfit Punjab Students Union (PSU), Beant Singh, told HT that they had purchased as many as 20,000 whistles of black colour for distribution. Out of which, 5,000 have been distributed so far. We prefer black colour, as it is symbol of resentment against the government, he added.

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A day after Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleged discrimination and humiliation at the hands of their alliance partner in the state, the saffron partys national president Amit Shah has invited Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal for a meeting to convey the feelings of the state unit.

Sources in the BJP said Sukhbir was called by Shah on Sunday morning and was invited for discussion on Monday in Delhi.

The invitation to discuss some serious issues concerning the coalition in Punjab came a day after Shah and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, whos been having a say on Punjab affairs for many years, held one-on-one discussion with the core group members over whether to continue the alliance with the SAD or not.

The party is not in a hurry to reach any conclusion over the future of alliance in Punjab and wants to give time to SAD, said a senior BJP leader privy to the developments in Delhi.

State BJP chief Kamal Sharma, when contacted, confirmed that the meeting between Shah and Sukhbir was on the cards. Both the party chiefs will meet but I cannot disclose when, he said.

Sources said Jaitley is also likely to attend the meeting to discuss the political scenario in Punjab and the strained ties between leaders of the two parties.

After listening to the grievances of the 15-member core group on Saturday in Delhi, Shah and Jaitley had assured their party leaders that they would convey their (Punjab BJP leaders) feelings to the SAD leadership.

Sources said Shah is likely to put forward an agenda before Sukhbir suggesting some urgent measures that need to be taken at the government level and ensure respect to Punjab BJP leaders.

When contacted, media adviser to Sukhbir, Jangveer Singh, said the SAD chief is in Delhi and is set to meet political leaders. I cant confirm specifically if the deputy CM will meet BJP national chief. Meeting senior BJP leaders is a routine affair to hold talks on various issues, said Jangveer.

Punjab leaders surprised at high commands stance

Many leaders who attended Sundays meeting with Shah and Jaitley told HT that they were astonished at the sudden stand taken by the party high command over the prospectus of SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab.

We all were anticipating that the agenda of the meet would be discussing the new state party chief and other governance-related issues. But the way Shah and Jaitley asked specific questions about the SAD performance it shows that the party high command has finally started taking state unit leaders seriously, said a core group member.

Read: Will BJP stay SAD partner? Ball in Amit Shahs court

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It has been more than a year since Punjab health minister Surjit Kumar Jyani inaugurated the state-of-the-art eye hospital in the city, but the state government has failed to deploy adequate number of eye specialists, apparently failing to achieve its stated purpose.

The hospital, constructed at the cost of crores of rupees, has virtually become a white elephant for want of staff and required equipment.

In the absence of better facilities at government-run hospitals, the poor are forced to seek help from NGOs or look for private doctors in cities like Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar for eye-related complications with just two specialists at the local eye hospital failing to cater to a large number of patients.

Fe rozepu rh ad almost become orphan as there is nobody to raise voice in the state cabinet meetings since no minister represents any assembly segment from the border district, rued Naresh Sharma, a social worker.

What objective did it serve after spending the common mans hard earned money on the construction of such a large hospital if the authorities concerned cannot provide specialist doctors, questioned Amit Sharma, a local resident.

I had taken up the issue with the then health minister in the UPA government and got approved this state-of-the-art hospital under the National Rural Health Mission. It is sad that the SAD-BJP government failed to provide adequate staff and equipment, said local Cong ress MLA Par minder Singh Pinki.

I will raise the issue in the Punjab assembly to ensure that eye specialists are appointed here soon, the local Congress legislator further said.

I had successfully pursued the matter to get an eye bank and a mobile van for the eye hospital but the medical mobile van was sent to Fazilka, the hometown of health minister Surjit Jiyani, and the eye bank was shifted to Faridkot for the reasons best known to the authorities concerned, added Pinki.

As of now, there are two eye specialists but we need more of them to carry out cornea and retina-related surgeries. The demand to appoint specialists has been sent to the health authorities , said Fe rozep ur civil surgeon Pardeep Chawla.
Fresh spell of snow in Himachal Pradesh brought down the mercury and cheered farmers of the state on Sunday.

The temparature in the last 24 hours dropped by three to four degree C on average, while in Shimla, the night temparature was dropped by six degrees.

Higher regions of Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba, Sirmaur, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti received fresh snowfall.

Watch | Shimla continues to experience heavy snowfall

In Shimla district, Kharapathar received six-inch snow while Narkanda received 2-inches. Chopal, Rohru, Jubbal areas of the district received light snowfall.

Meanwhile, lower and mid hills had been experiencing rainfall since early morning.

Snow and rain elated farmers of the state. Long dry spell had casted shadow over winter crops.

In Apple growing areas, winter practices, including plantation, mixing of fertiliser and sprays had been delayed.

However, vehicular traffic was disrupted on national highway connecting Shimla to Kinnaur and in rural areas.

Shimla MeT director Manmohan Singh predicted light to moderate snowfall for few places in the higher and mid regions of the state in the next 24 hours.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is upset over the printing of photographs of the Golden Temple on the footwear and socks being manufactured by a private company in the US.

The SGPC took note of the shrines photographs after these appeared on the website of a US-based company. The site clearly shows imprints of the Golden Temple on socks and footwear manufactured by the company.

In a statement issued in Amritsar on Sunday, SGPC additional secretary Daljit Singh Bedi said SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar has demanded that the US administration should take immediate action against the company for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. He has also demanded that the entire stock of the company, that is the footwear and socks on which the photographs of the Sikh shrine have been printed, should be confiscated.

Not just the stock should be confiscated, but the photographs of the manufactured products of the company (socks and footwear) with the imprint of the Golden Temple should be taken off the companys website, he added.

Makkar has also called upon members of the Sikh community residing in the US to take up this issue at their level with the US-administration. In Sikh tenets such acts are not permitted as this amounts to showing disrespect to the holiest of all Sikh shrines, he added.
The lawyers fraternity from India and Pakistan can play an important role in facilitating normalisation of ties between the two nations, was the message at a seminar where a delegation of lawyers from across the border were present.

A team of 40 lawyers from Pakistan, led by the first woman vice-chairperson of Punjab bar council, Lahore, Farah Ejaz attended the seminar held at Law Bhawan, Sector 37.

On the occasion, Ejaz made an appeal, through a poem, to the lawyers to join hands for peace and harmony between the two nations, making it a mass movement. The border created by politicians is to perpetuate their vested interests, we should bury it she said. The session was held on Strengthening democracy in Asia-Pacific region.

Ejaz presented a poem based on revival of peace and harmony between India and Pakistan. She also appealed the lawyer fraternity to join hand for peace and harmony and make it a mass movement giving a burial for the artificial border created by politicians for their vested interests.

I believe it is possible to have a scenario, where there could be frequent exchange programmes between our countries for better ties. We can at least have a provision where India and Pakistan could easily provide visas to the scholars who frequently visit each other, added Ejaz.

Meanwhile, senior advocate R S Cheema, while addressing a gathering, said that the provisions in Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code of both the countries are same and the issues, like honour killing, dowry, others, afflicting both sides of the border are also same.

He stressed on the need for strengthening of democracy in Pakistan, and to clear misunderstandings between the citizens of both the countries. Efforts should be made to reduce expenses on weapons and army and peaceniks should have a major say in the discourse.

Former chairman of Pakistan Bar Council, Mumtaz Mustafa also shared his experienced in urdu couplets. He said that if lawyers of both the nation come together, the governments of their countries will be forced to come close and settle the disputes peacefully.

Also, senior advocate Anupam Gupta, in his comparative speech over democracy in India and Pakistan, highlighted the recruitment in judiciary and pointed to the sacrifices of Pakistan lawyer fraternity. He also opined that Indian lawyers must be allowed to fight cases in Pakistan courts and vice versa.

Former advocate general of Punjab called for free visa facility for at least 10 years to lawyers of both the countries.

Chief guest, Justice SS Saron, believed that Chandigarh is a replica of Lahore and there are many educational institutions in India that still have an association with Lahore.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Monir Hussain Bhatti, Mumtaz Mustafa, Rajat Gautam, chairman, bar council, PS Ghuman, vice-chairman, bar council, Ashok Aggarwal, advocate general, Punjab, Partap Singh, chariman, external affairs committee, Ashok Singla, member, bar council, gurinder Pal Singh, president, high court bar association, Amit Rana, member, bar council of India, among others present during the seminar.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court, Haryana, dismissed five applications of the accused and listed Ranjit Singh and Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder cases for final arguments on February 11. After final arguments, the orders will be pronounced in both the cases where Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is also an accused.

These applications were intentionally filed at the fag end of the trial to delay the pronouncement of orders. Similarly, in the rape case against dera chief, they have approached a higher court and are seeking adjournments to delay the order. Thirteen years have passed since the crimes took place. Now, the cases are in the final leg, said CBI counsel HPS Verma said.

There was an application from dera chief for postponing the Ranjit Singh murder case, saying high court had listed a connected petition for March 18, but it was dismissed.

Similar applications were also filed by Krishan Lal, former dera manager, who is an accused in both the cases, which were also dismissed. Also, he filed applications for getting examined three doctors as he wanted to prove that he was tortured in custody in 2005. These applications were dismissed.

Dera member Ranjit Singhs murder took place on July 10, 2002.

The CBI has been alleging that Ram Rahim suspected him to be behind circulation of an anonymous letter of a female Dera follower, levelling allegations of sexual exploitation against him, which led to the murder.

Ranjit Singh was shot in the head in Kurukshetra. Along with Dera chief, Krishan Lal, Jasbir, Indersen, Avtaar, and Sabdil are accused in the case.

Journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati was shot at on October 23, 2002. Along with Dera chief, Krishan Lal, Nirmal Singh and Kuldeep are co-accused in the case. The CBI alleges that he was murdered for publishing news about illegal activities inside Dera Sacha Sauda.

Dera chief is also facing a rape case where the Punjab and Haryana high court has put a stay on pronouncement of final order. The next hearing in this case in the high court is on March 18.
The 60s and 70s were professionally challenging and satisfying times for the Sikh Regiment. Its battalions showed their fighting skills at Bum La, Tongepen La and Richhmar Galli (1st Sikh). Raja Hill and Pul Kanjri (2nd Sikh), Walong, Burki and Siramani (4 Sikh), Chhamb (5 Sikh), Defence of Poonchh (6 Sikh), OP Hill (7 Sikh), Lippa Valley (9 Sikh) and Parbat Ali (10 Sikh). The key to all these successes, both on and off the battlefield was good leadership. The 40s through the 70s saw some of the finest fighting soldiers laying the ground for the regiments successes. Vikram Khanolkar, Ranjit Rai, Harbaksh Singh, Satinder Singh, Shamsher Singh, Karnail Sidhu, Gulcharan Singh, Trevor Morlin, NN Khanna, RG Mathur, Sammy Chengappa, Prem Vadhera, AG Inamdar are some of the names veterans recall with pride. The leadership of these outstanding officers motivated troops to give of their best.

Cast in the same mould of leadership is Krishen Khorana who served with the 1st, 9th and 4th Battalions. Belonging to Toba Tek Singh, now in Pakistan he was commissioned into the 1st Battalion in 1959. He served as adjutant during the 1962 war where the unit fought in the Kameng Division of NEFA. Graduating from staff college, he fought with 9 Sikh during the Lipa Valley operations in Western Kashmir which continued after the ceasefire well into 1972. Commanding the 4th Battalion, he next had a stint with military intelligence. Later commanding 202 Brigade that was tasked with the defence of Bhutan, he retired as chief administrative staff officer with Western Command as a major general.

A gentleman of the old school, he is highly intelligent and well-read with a ready wit. Its always a pleasure to joust with him on social media and face to face.

Blessed with good leadership, the Sikh Regiment will continue to train hard for war and perform well in counter-insurgency operations. Therefore, my dear countrymen do not read too much into their exclusion from this years Republic Day parade.

Lessons from Pathankot

Once again weve learnt that unity of command is fundamental to the success of military operations. If the GOC of 29 Division had been made the operational commander, he wouldve mobilised the resources of his entire formation and all the other troops in the Pathankot-Mamun complex. Instead of 150 commandos waiting to react to the terrorists moves, he wouldve deployed enough troops to cover the airbases perimeter, with patrols, ambushes and early warning elements and quick reaction teams in readiness. Other troops would have secured the aircraft, equipment and families.

The security bureaucracys running of the operation through remote control from Delhi was contrary to all the principles of asymmetric warfare. We must secure our borders through adequate deployment of force and enhanced electronic surveillance. The interior, between the border and likely targets must be patrolled vigorously both on roads and cross-country by the police and paramilitary forces. Ultimate security lies in being proactive and taking the war to the enemy, increasing his costs and neutralising existing or potential threats on their home ground. For that we need a reasoned foreign policy based on national interest. Are the powers that be listening?

(Write in with your narratives of war and soldiering to msbajwa@gmail.com or call on 093161-35343)
If you think your child is safe while travelling in school buses, think again. A special team formed by the district administration found most school buses violating the Supreme Courts guidelines for vehicles transporting school children.

The team, led by the district child protection office (DCPO) unit and comprising officials of the traffic, education and transport departments, inspected over 300 school buses in the district.

The team inspected the buses of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Public School; National Public School; Kidzee School; Ryan International School, Patiala; Tiwari Model School, Patiala; Stepping Stones Preparatory School, Patiala, and many other schools on Saturday. They found that the prescribed medicines were found missing in most of these school buses.

The buses of British Co-Ed High School, Guru Nanak Foundation Public School and Mount Litera Zee School that were inspected on Friday were found to be carrying expired medicines in their first-aid kits.

The buses of Bhupindra International Public School did not even have a first-aid kit, a DCPO official said.

District child welfare officer (DCWO) Shaina Kapoor said, Not just medicines, even fire extinguishers in school buses had crossed the expiry date in most cases. Ironically, all eminent private schools of the city are not following the high court directions, though the recently-established and small schools are abiding by the norms.

She said most school buses did not have female attendants for girl students, functional CCTV cameras, contact numbers of schools and the district transport officer, hydraulic doors and speed governors, even as a direction in this regard had been issued by the transport department to all schools five months ago following the high court.

This is a matter of childrens safety and the schoolw must cooperate with the administration and follow the mandatory norms, Kapoor said.

School principals and managements had also held a meeting with the district transport officer a few days ago, claiming the administration had launched the drive without any directions to schools.

However, district transport officer Gurpreet Singh Thind said the state government had implemented the Safe School Vahan Scheme about three years ago in the state and the schools had been directed to follow all the mandatory norms. He said that several meetings were also being held with the school management to make them aware about the norms.

The team is giving a period of one week to the erring schools to comply with the guidelines. Moreover, school principals have been made to sign affidavits in this regard. In case of non-compliance, strict action will be taken against them. The team will submit an affidavit to Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on February 8, who will in turn submit a state-wide report to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 15.

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In Chandigarh to promote his upcoming film on the challenging police-society relationship  Jai Gangaajal, in which he has also acted alongside Priyanka Chopra  film-maker Prakash Jha talks to HT about censorship, the debate on intolerance and why he loves Le Corbusiers organised Chandigarh. Known for his hard-hitting socio-political dramas like Raajneeti (2010), Apaharan (2005) and Gangaajal (2003), Jha feels he is yet to see concrete social change in society effected by films.

Q. As someone who has been very vocal about censorship, your upcoming film Jai Gangaajal was initially given an A certificate with 11 cuts. Nevertheless, you got it cleared. Did that form your opinion about censorship woes in India?

A. (laughs) The censor board was averse to words like saala and ghanta which have not only been used earlier in films but are also understood by kids. We went to the tribunal and the film was cleared. We can do censorship on our own, and dont need anyone to tell us what to do and what not to. We must understand that we place, or at least I do; we place a story in certain times and hence the language has to complement those times. Im a storyteller at the end of the day.

Q. Continuing with that, so do you think the censor board is intolerant? You are among the few people from the industry who has actually had quite the opposite view...

A. I like to relate the whole intolerance debate to the various pressures we face in society. It is a competitive world and one is pressurised to take positions and maybe thats where some of those who are in favour or oppose it, come to emerge. Young students committing suicide is a result of the pressure of development  these are all different kinds of ideologies in a changing world, all pressures or power. But, the fact that each of us coexist in a society means somewhere down the line, we are tolerant. Aamir opened the debate and he is still staying in the country. Shah Rukh has an opinion and thats fine. It doesnt make us intolerant as such.

Q. Would you say the same as far as the FTII protests are concerned, considering you too studied there briefly?

A. Yet again, people close to power attain positions of power. And thats always the case. So why must we take it as a singularly intolerant episode? Of course, I wouldnt want a politician or someone from a background completely oblivious of art and films to head the institution, but I dont think the protests should turn violent. But then, everyone has the right to protest.

Q. You are here to interact with female officers of the recently opened women police station in Chandigarh. Anything else you are looking forward to while here?

A. Im very excited to meet all of them and Chandigarhs beauty and organised approach always makes you look forward to your next visit here.

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A tantrik (occultist) blinded partially by militants 16 years ago and six years ago accused of rape was on Friday night murdered with sharp-edged weapons at his Jadhpur Sekhwan village house in the Ranger Nangal police jurisdiction of this tehsil in Gurdaspur district.

Victim Kamal Shamsher, who was in the magical cures business, had three visitors that night. They had come on a motorcycle and had drinks with him in his first-floor room. In the morning, when his wife, Kulwinder Kaur, went upstairs, she found him lying in a pool of blood. On the statement of his brother, Ranjit Singh, police have registered a case of murder.

Asked about the incident, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Daljinder Singh said superintendent of police (headquarters) Jagjit Singh Saroya had inspected the scene of crime and started investigation. We are trying to identify the three visitors, who it seems gagged Shamsher before killing him, which is why his wife hardly caught any noise from the room. Working on various leads, we hope to catch all the accused in the next 24 hours, he said. After murdering Shamsher, the killers deleted all the call details from his mobile phone.

Shamsher was still in touch with many old terrorists once active in this belt. In 2000, some of them had barged into his house and attacked him with acid, which gave him his partial blindness. After this, Shamsher became a tantrik.
Diamonds worth Rs 60 lakh were among the articles seized from the house of an income tax deputy commissioner posted at Sirsa in Haryana, who along with an aide has been arrested by the central bureau of investigation (CBI).

They were allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a private firm proprietor in lieu of giving relief while levying penalty. Sources in the CBI said the I-T deputy commissioner Nitin Garg was arrested late Saturday night from Bathinda, his hometown.

The agency said the proprietor of the private firm based in Sirsa had received an income notice seeking certain information for the assessment year 2013-14.

It was alleged that the complainant was threatened that in case the bribe was not paid, heavy penalty will be imposed on him. The deputy commissioner instructed his aide to accept the money, CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said in New Delhi.

He said Garg allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh for not imposing heavy penalty. The agency laid a trap and Garg, a resident of Batinda in Punjab, and his aide were arrested while allegedly accepting the bribe, he said.

Searches were conducted at the residential and official premises of the accused officer which led to recovery of Rs 15.6 lakh, besides 1.6-kg gold, diamonds worth around Rs 60 lakh, silver amounting to Rs 5 lakh, and 26 bank accounts in his name and that of his family members.
With the Union railway budget just around the corner, residents of Bhogpur town are hoping that their long-pending demand of constructing the Bhogpur-Sirwal junction, one of the stoppages for major trains that go through the area, would be fulfilled this time.

The residents have been running from pillar to post with the demand for the last 10 years but have received nothing but assurances from ministers and railway officials.

AK Puthia, general manager of Northern Railways, who visited the Jalandhar cantonment station in January, termed the demands of Bhogpur residents unsubstantial and non-feasible. People are now pinning their hopes on the politicians in the region for making their voice heard at the Centre.

We have requested MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary to hold talks with the Union railway minister and meet our demands on priority, said Rajesh Khosla, a local businessman who is representing the residents in the area.

MP to raise issue in Parliament

When contacted, Santokh Singh Chaudhary, member of parliament (MP) from Jalandhar, said he would raise the issue in the budget session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on February 23.

I am aware of the issue and have written to the Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu twice but nothing has been done so far, said Chaudhary.

I will raise the issue in the coming budget session and will question the minister as to why nothing has been done even after several intimations, the MP said. Chaudhary said he would also ask the ministry to upgrade Jalandhar city railway station as it would be competing for smart city tag in the second phase of the scheme.

Residents threaten rail-roko in February-end

Meanwhile, members of the Bhogpur-based Navyug Club informed HT that they would be staging a rail-roko protest by the end of this month if their demands were not met.

On December 30, Bhogpur residents had staged a rail-roko dharna for pressing the issue, following which railway traffic inspector Ashok Kumar had intervened and gave a written assurance saying that a decision in this regard would be taken within a month.

Some of the express mails whose stoppage the residents have been demanding are Kashmir Mail, Somnath Express, Sealdah Express, Dhauladhar Express, Madras Express, Hemkunt Express and Howrah Express.
Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur is among the few Pakistanis who have raised the issue of missing people or victims of enforced disappearances in the troubled province of Balochistan, making him a marked man in the eyes of the security establishment.

Talpur is watched constantly and his movements monitored. People who meet him too are marked by intelligence agencies. In April last year, he was on a panel that discussed the missing people at T2F, a Karachi cafe popular with rights activists, following which T2F founder Sabeen Mahmud was shot and killed while driving home.

Karachi Police arrested a man supposedly linked to the Islamic State for the murder. But Talpur, 65, says he has no doubt the killing was meant to send a message to every Pakistani to disassociate themselves from the Baloch cause. They dont want anyone to speak about it, he says.

Balochistan is aflame again with a full-scale insurgency being waged by several rag-tag militant groups. The army has conducted operations in the resource-rich and sparsely populated province for the past decade but with limited results.

Hundreds who opposed the military operation and the presence of outsiders have been picked up by intelligence agencies and, in most instances, never heard of again.

According to the group Voice for Missing Baloch Persons, about 18,000 people have been kidnapped in Balochistan over the past four decades. Since 2009, more than 700 bodies of missing Baloch activists have been found dumped across Balochistan and in Karachi.

The bodies are invariably mutilated, sometimes beyond recognition, and have marks of torture and bullet wounds. The killers usually tag bodies with slips of paper bearing the persons name so relatives can recognise them.

Repeated demands by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the countrys leading rights NGO, for the government to take notice of these killings have been met with complete silence.

Those, like Talpur, who raise their voice are regularly hounded by the army and security agencies. He says the issue of missing persons is not a recent phenomenon.

However, it is more systematic now and it is the main tactic of the dirty war being conducted against the Baloch people, he says, adding he has catalogued the cases of hundreds of people that have gone missing.

Talpur, whose hands were crippled by torture years ago, has been involved in the struggle for the rights of Baloch people since the 1970s. A student of journalism at Karachi University, he left studies to participate in the fight against government forces sent by then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Balochistan, Pakistans largest province, to quell disturbances.

After Bhutto was removed in a coup in 1977, the situation in Balochistan calmed down when military dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq withdrew government forces and freed all political prisoners.

The construction site at Gwadar port in the Arabian Sea. (AFP)

But the situation, Talpur says, has become grimmer since plans were unveiled in 2013 for the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which will run the length of Balochistan and end at Gwadar, a port on the southern-most tip of the province.

Talpur says the Baloch will resist its construction because the project brings little or no benefit to local people. The CPEC only benefits the Chinese and the Punjabis and will never be built as long as the last Baloch is standing, he says.

For its part, the federal government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has hinted it will quell any resistance with force. Troubled times lie ahead for the province that has been described by the media as an information black hole because of the way in which the security establishment prevents the coverage of disturbances.
Earthquakes and Del Bahadur Bajagain have a thing. The 84-year-old experienced the last two big temblors that rocked Nepal and lived to tell the tale.

The octogenarian was three years old when his house was razed by the 1934 quake. It took his family a long time to pick up the pieces. His house was destroyed in last years quake too, but this time there was help at hand.

Bajagain, who lives in Bhurungchuli, a small settlement 25km outside Kathmandu, is among the many beneficiaries of Nepals noodle king Binod Chaudhary.

The 60-year-old, listed by Forbes as Nepals only billionaire, has built 1,700 shelters for people whose homes were destroyed by last years quakes.

Bajagain is one of many who were lucky to have a roof over their heads within weeks of the disaster, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives and destroyed over half a million houses in 14 districts.

Unlike many others who are still living in tents, we were lucky to have a shelter that protected us from the monsoon and the winter, said Bajagain.

Chaudhary heads Chaudhary Group, Nepals biggest business conglomerate with interests in construction, cement, education, hospitality, banking and energy. But it was the Wai Wai brand of noodles, popular across South Asia, that catapulted his group into the big league.

Soon after last years quake, the Chaudhary Foundation announced it would build 1,000 transitional houses on its own and another 9,000 shelters with help from donors. It is also rebuilding 100 schools.

Each shelter made of bamboo, plaster and other locally available materials costs nearly $750 (about NRs 75,000).

With support pouring in from Price Waterhouse Coopers, Alibaba Foundation of China and Indias Tata and Shapoorji Paloonji groups, the goal of 10,000 homes is fast becoming a reality.

We moved into our new shelter seven months ago. It has really helped the family cope with the quake much better than others, said Kamala Goley, a 32-year-old housewife.

Goleys family lost its two-storey house in one of the quakes. She shares her new shelter with her husband and three children.

Like Bajagain and Goley, hundreds have moved into similar shelters in 10 of the 14 worst affected districts. Children in these districts have benefited from 30 schools built by the foundation.

In order to make quake survivors economically self reliant, our foundation has started vocational skills training programme in the affected districts, Chaudhary said last month.

Kamala Goley outside her transitional shelter constructed with help from Chaudhary Foundation at Bhurungchuli near Kathmandu. (Utpal Parashar/HT Photo)

The efforts by his foundation and other such groups to provide succour to the victims comes at a time when the government has failed to do enough for those in need.

According to the UN, nearly 200,000 families are still living in tents and many at higher altitudes are suffering from cold-related ailments.

A reconstruction authority to rebuild damaged structures was set up in December, but it has still not started working to use the money pledged by international donors in June last year.

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Past and present Republican governors running for president dominated the Saturday night debate, the last before the New Hampshire primary, overshadowing front-runners.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie provided what is being called the nights most memorable moments when he attacked Florida senator Marco Rubio, repeatedly and ferociously.

Ohios John Kasich, whose poll numbers are surging in New Hampshire  he is third now  took every opportunity to present his positive message, which put him on everyones winner list.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush turned in his best debate performance yet, according to multiple experts and pundits, attacking both Rubio and front-runner Donald Trump.

It was the revenge of the governors, said a news anchor at ABC News network, which was hosting the debate. And the phrase caught on, specially on social media.

It was not a good night for the front-runners.

Rubio, whose numbers have surged since the Iowa caucuses propelling him to the third position nationally and second in New Hampshire, had a rough night.

Christie went after the first chance he got, attacking the first-time senator for running without qualification or experience and as someone who doesnt stand up for his convictions.

You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable, Christie, a former federal prosecutor, turning to face Rubio. You just simply havent.

Rubio tried to hit back, and tried to direct the exchange away from himself with a scripted attack on President Barack Obama, which he kept repeating. Christie was waiting.

There it is, Christie jumped on him, renewing his attack on the senator for his scripted electioneering. There it is. The memorised 25-second speech. There it is, everybody.

Bush hit out at Rubio too. But his prized target was Trump.

He attacked Trump, who leads the national and New Hampshire polls, for trying to evict an elderly widow from her land near a casino he once owned in Atlantic City, New Jersey to make way for a parking lot.

Well, let me just  you know, he wants to be a tough guy, Trump said, jeeringly as he has tried to paint Bush as low-energy and weak,  and it didnt work very well.

Bush shot back, How tough it is to take away property from an elderly woman? Trump was rattled and vented his anger on a section of the audience booing him, calling them donors.

Ted Cruz, who is Number 2 in national polls but is running fourth in New Hampshire, had a rough start, when he was made to publicly apologise to Ben Carson, a rival for the party ticket.

Cruzs campaign had wrongly sent out an email during the Iowa caucuses earlier this week that Carson was leaving the race and that his supporters should support Cruz instead.

The Texas senator apologised to Carson the next day, but many, including the retired neurologist and Trump, have said that the outcome of the caucuses would have been different otherwise.
Turkey is ready if necessary to let in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees trapped on its border after fleeing a brutal civil war, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.

Thousands of Syrians, mostly women and children, have fled toward the Turkish border since Friday from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to escape a major regime offensive backed by Russian air strikes.

The regime has now blocked a part of Aleppo... Turkey is under threat, Erdogan told reporters on his plane returning from Senegal on Saturday, quoted by Anatolia news agency.

If they reached our door and have no other choice, if necessary, we have to and will let our brothers in, he said.

The governor of Turkeys Kilis border province, Suleyman Tapsiz, said Saturday that Turkey -- already home to around 2.7 million Syrians according to the latest government figures -- was taking care of 30-35,000 refugees who had gathered around the nearby Syrian city of Azaz in the space of 48 hours.

Another 70,000 may head for the frontier if Russian air strikes and Syrian regime military advances continued in Aleppo, he added.

Turkeys Oncupinar border crossing, which faces Bab al-Salama inside Syria, remained closed to thousands of refugees gathered there for a third day, an AFP reporter said.

They braved cold and rain waiting desperately for the moment the gate will open, as Turkish aid trucks delivered food inside Syria.

Refugees arrive at the Turkish border crossing gate as Syrians fleeing the northern embattled city of Aleppo. Turkey is willing to open up its border to allow Syrian refugees to cross into the country, if necessary. (AFP Photo)

But the border keeps open for emergency situations, a Turkish official told AFP.

Seven injured were taken to Turkey on Friday and one on Saturday for treatment at Turkish hospitals, he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that his country would keep its open border policy for Syrian refugees.

The European Union on Saturday said it was Ankaras international obligations to keep its frontiers open to refugees while pressing the Turkish government to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe.

Invader

Erdogan again dismissed Russias claims that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria, saying Moscow itself was an invader.

He also argued that Moscow and President Bashar al-Assad were together responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Syrian civil war.

We should ask Russia: What are you doing in Syria? Basically you are an invader, he said on the plane.

You are cooperating with a person (Assad) who is waging a state terrorism. You are cooperating with someone who has killed 400,000 people, and continuing to kill civilians.

Ties between Moscow, which supports the regime of Assad, and Ankara, which is a staunch backer of the opposition, have been in tatters since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on the Syrian border in November, claiming it had entered Turkish airspace.

Following a request from Assad, Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists like the Islamic State group before they cross into Russia. But air strikes have also hit the rebels opposed to Assad.

Erdogan said his country would do whatever necessary in the face of a threat, saying: Right now we, our security forces, are prepared for any eventuality.

Fear not.
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Dr. Hsiu-Ying Tseng, a doctor from Los Angeles, Calif., has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being charged of three accounts of murder for prescribing excessive amounts of painkillers, which led to the death of three of her patients.

Dr. Tseng, who specializes in internal medicine, prescribed "crazy, outrageous amounts of medication to patients who didn't need the pills," Deputy District Attorney John Niedermann said, according to USA Today. Niedermann went on to point out to the jurors that Dr. Tseng did not even stop her tracks even when some of her patients have already died.

"Something is wrong with what you're doing if your patients are dying," he added.

On top of her murder conviction, she was also charged with 19 counts of unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, Reuters reported.

"(She's) a person who seemingly did not care about the lives of her patients in this case but rather appeared more concerned about distributing dangerous controlled substances in an assembly line fashion so as to collect payments which amounted to her amassing several million dollars," said George Lomeli, the Superior Court Judge that imposed Dr. Tseng's sentence, according to Fox News.

During trial, Dr. Tseng tried to bargain the judge for a 15-year prison term and stated an apology for her victims. However, the judge was not swayed, and now the mother of two will have to wait 30 years before she even gets a chance to appeal for parole.

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One-half of the criminal couple nicknamed "a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde" was shot by police following a standoff early Friday morning, according to The Huffington Post. Blake Edward Fitzgerald, 30, was killed as a result of the confrontation.

Police engaged in a high-speed chase with the pair late Thursday night in the Florida Panhandle, which culminated in gunfire at approximately 12:30 a.m. Friday morning. They had attempted to enter a residential home but were met by police, leading to an exchange of gunfire between Fitzgerald and authorities, according to NBC News.

Fitzgerald reportedly used his girlfriend and partner in crime, 30-year-old Brittany Nicole Harper, as a human shield against police gunfire. Harper was wounded during the shooting but was not significantly injured. Authorities did not confirm whether Fitzgerald was the first to pull a weapon or whether Harper was armed at the time of the shooting, NBC News noted.

Fitzgerald and Harper have been wanted for their part in a spate of kidnappings and robberies across U.S., starting last week in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they allegedly stole a car and kidnapped a hotel clerk, Reuters reported. After abandoning their hostage, the couple reportedly broke into a residential property in Vestavia Hills and took a woman hostage before stealing her car.

The pair is then suspected of taking another hostage in a convenience store in Perry, Ga., and committing several additional robberies around cities in Florida on Wednesday. After Harper leaves the hospital, she will be arrested and charged with false imprisonment, grand theft auto and home invasion robbery.

Escambia County Sherriff David Morgan told reporters that it's possible that Fitzgerald and Harper were intending to go to Panama City and get married, according to NBC News. Morgan also warned against glamorizing the pair as "Bonnie and Clyde" after their story grabbed media attention.

"That only encourages people to be copycats," Morgan told reporters at a news conference. "There's nothing glamorous about death. There's nothing glamorous about taking hostages."

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Haitian politicians have reached a last-minute agreement to create a transitional government less than 24 hours before President Michel Martelly was constitutionally required to step down after his five-year term. The country's Provisional Electoral Council has postponed the vote three times due to widespread criticisms of electoral fraud, fear of violence and an independent commission's investigation into the process.

Under the agreement, as Martelly steps down on Sunday, the current prime minister Evans Paul will hold his position until a provisional president is elected by the National Assembly, according to The Guardian. The provisional president will then supervise the selection of a new prime minister by consensus, whose main role will be to administer the postponed legislative and presidential runoff elections within 120 days, The Toronto Star explained. The run-offs are now scheduled for April 24, and the new president to be sworn in on May 14.

The Caribbean country has faced political uncertainty and intensifying protests since the initial polls in October. During the first round of voting, the candidate backed by President Michel Martelly, Jovenel Moise, won a third of the vote, with opposition candidate Jude Celestin getting a quarter of the vote. Celestin called the vote a "ridiculous farce," and opposition protesters decried what they call an electoral coup-accusing Martelly of trying to stay in power, according to Reuters.

This past week, a man was killed during ongoing protests in the capital of Port-au-Prince when protesters mistook him to be a former military officer, BBC News reported.

Haiti remains the poorest country in the Americas during the ongoing political turmoil. The nation has relied primarily on foreign aid and international donations since the devastating earthquake of 2010.

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North Korea used a long-range rocket to launch a satellite into space on Sunday, sparking strong condemnation from the United Nations Security Council, which called the rocket launch a violation of multiple U.N. resolutions and moved quickly to impose new sanctions, reported AFP.

Pyongyang insists that the launch was peaceful and part of its space exploration program, but the international community largely views it as a covert ballistic missile test. It came after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test last month, which it claims was a hydrogen bomb.

The U.N. Security Council held an urgent meeting Sunday in response to the satellite launch and concluded that North Korea violated U.N resolutions banning it from developing its nuclear program. A U.N. statement noted that Security Council members have previously threatened "further significant measures" if North Korea conducted another launch and will now ""adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations," according to CNN.

The U.S., South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Britain, France, the European Union and NATO have all condemned the launch.

"This is the second time in just over a month that the [North Korea] has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement. "We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan."

North Korea's Kwangmyongsong carrier rocket took off from the western part of the country on Sunday at 9:29 a.m. local time, or Saturday at 7:29 p.m. EST, according to ABC News.

The missile flew over Japan and landed in the ocean near the Philippines, sending at least two new objects into Earth's orbit - the satellite and the final stage of the rocket booster.

The launch prompted the U.S. and South Korea to renew talks on deploying a controversial high-altitude missiles defense system in the region - the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD - which is adamantly opposed by China, Russia and North Korea, reported The Independent.

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Todays biggest event was the unveiling of Beyonces new single and accompanying video, Formation. Shortly after its release, it was revealed that the song was produced by Mike Will Made-It as well as Ear Drummers producer Apluss and that it was co-written by Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd. Seeing Mike and Rae Sremmurds name back in the headlines prompted a response from a known detractor of the group, HOT 97s Ebro Darden, who seemed to undermine Lees co-writing achievements.

At the end of last year, Ebro took issue with Complex for ranking Rae Sremmurds debut album, SremmLife, as the third best album of 2015. Ebros concern with the high ranking did not set well with Rae Sremmurd or Mike Will Made-It, the executive producer of SremmLife and the man who discovered the Mississippi duo. Brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi took many a shot at the radio host during their 20-minute freestyle session with Tim Westwood.

After Ebro suggested he wasnt impressed with Swae Lees co-writing credit on Formation, Slim Jxmmi, who wasnt involved in the making of the single, called him out on Twitter. After Ebro and Jxmmi sent a few jabs each others way, Mike Will chimed in, telling Ebro, You making ur self look lame as hell. See the entire exchange, as well as Ebros persistent efforts to make jokes using the co prefix, below.

Mike Will
I'm myriad things - some by birthright and others by chosen affiliation or even perhaps divine intervention. I'm honored to be many of these things in particular - a Texan, a soldier - the list could go on ad infinitum. Also on this list is my pride in being a Black American male who has garnered some successes and the father of a young Black American male who is in college, employed, has never been arrested or even detained, and who has never fathered any children out of wedlock. (Believe me, for young Black American males, these are milestones worth mentioning as they are either met or missed.)

But there exists in the shadows the ever-present knowledge that even with successes like these, there is an angst that exists in the hearts of young Black American males who feel disenfranchised and even endangered in their own neighborhoods, towns, cities and states, as they are continually confronted by individuals and institutions that seem to have a concerted agenda to impede their ability to not just succeed, but to subsist or even merely survive.

Because of this, there have been conversations that I've had with my son (as I suspect so many other dads have had with their sons of color) before either of us leave home that I would wager fathers of other ethnicities rarely if ever have with their sons: watch your tone when you are questioned or confronted; don't appear too aggressive; be mindful not to dress too "street"; don't stay out too late - even in our own neighborhood, which rests in an ethnically diverse middle-class community.

Sadly, however, the hardest conversation I have had with my son is that, when it comes to identifying and confronting the greatest threat to his survival, he is better served to be more watchful of the enemy within the ranks of the race as opposed to those outside.

Granted, it cannot be ignored that in 2015 there were 1,134 people in the United States who were victims of homicide at the hands of law enforcement officers, and Black American males between the ages of 15 and 34 comprised more than 15 percent of those deaths logged, according to the Guardian - despite making up only about 2 percent of the total U.S. population.

That's 170 Black American males between 15-34 years old who were killed by police in 2015. Paired with other official government mortality data, this indicates that about one in every 65 deaths of young Black American men was a killing by a police officer.

Yet, while this is alarming, the greater question becomes what - or even more importantly, who - is killing Black American men in this demographic at a higher rate than the police?

The "what" turns out to be homicide.

Of the 11,961 people killed in 2014 (2015 data is still being tabulated), the largest number of homicide victims - 5,209 - were Black males between the ages of 15 and 34. The most sobering aspect of this count is that, when it comes to perpetrators of this "what," the greatest "who" turns out to be other Black American males.

The vast majority of homicide victims are killed by people of the same ethnicity. The latest figures show that an estimated 90 percent of homicides against Black Americans were committed by other Blacks. This means that in 2014, about 4,688 Black American males between 15 and 34 were victims of homicide at the hands of other Black American males in the same age range.

When this count is compared to the estimated 170 Black American males killed by police officers in 2015, it reveals a disturbing trend: Over the past two years, Black American males between 15 and 34 were almost 28 times more likely to be killed by other Black males in that same age group than by a police officer.

I'm hard-pressed to think of any other ethnicity in this nation that would have to make this disturbing admission to its sons - that the greatest threat to their lives isn't disease, disaster or even accident. The greatest threat to their existence is themselves.

Make no mistake. There is a growing pandemic of excessive and homicidal abuses of force being committed by a small but seemingly growing number of law enforcement officers in this nation. These cruelties must be addressed, and reforms to use-of-force standards and the prosecution of abusers of these standards must take place.

But there are many - like those of the Black Lives Matter movement - who, while well-intentioned, empowered and passionate, are under the myopic misconception that our collective energies as a people are best spent defending the basic human rights and dignities of Black Americans as they are ignored or usurped by rogue police and other vigilantes outside the culture.

Instead, they should focus on the damage and destruction that is occurring at our own hands.

The present state of young Black American males is akin to being at war and shoring up the battlements against those outside the gates who are attacking while defenders kill their fellow soldiers, yet all the while ignoring the wanton fratricide that is going on within the ranks that is systematically destroying those who are most able to protect and defend their kinsmen.

Black Americans, regardless of our locale, capabilities or socioeconomic standing, must begin to see ourselves less as a multifaceted family comprised of millions of distinct and separate individuals and more as one body, a single organism where the sum of all of our parts makes one whole that is unable to function or thrive if fractured.

Under this premise, as a single body, we are wounded and hemorrhaging in several places and have long been close to succumbing to our wounds. Regrettably, if we were being triaged in order to identify and treat our life-threatening injuries, the more serious wounds that need to be immediately treated have been and continue to be those that are self-inflicted.

Do Black lives matter? Absolutely. But with that comes the more pointed question: What is the greatest matter when it comes to Black lives? The greatest matter with ourselves - is ourselves.

James, a Houston native, has served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and is currently stationed at Fort Hood.
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Argus Dental & Vision Awarded Partnership with Florida Healthy Kids CorporationArgus Dental & Vision, a premier benefits organization, is awarded a 2-year contract to administer dental plan benefits statewide for Florida Healthy Kids members.

Posted by Press Releases on Saturday, 02-06-2016 10:29 pm

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TAMPA, FL (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 02, 2016On January 27, 2016, Argus Dental & Vision, an incumbent Florida Healthy Kids provider, was awarded another 2-year statewide contract to administer comprehensive dental services for Florida Healthy Kids enrollees commencing on July 1, 2016. The Invitation to Negotiate 2015-02, had three scoring areas of Administrative, Networks, and Premium Rates. Overall, Argus Dental & Vision, scored the highest of all participants.CEO Nicholas M.Dr. Nick" Kavouklis, DMD stated: We are honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve the Florida Healthy Kids enrollees in this vital program to assure access to quality dental care services for Floridas children. The submission of such an ITN was a Herculean task containing an extensive and comprehensive due-diligence checklist. We are very proud our grade of 97% which was the highest of all applicants. I believe this highlights the hard work, diligence, and commitment of all our A...

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EzPaycheck 2016 Payroll Software Now Allows For Spreadsheet Data ImportNew customers are more likely to switch to ezPaycheck in 2016 with the new feature which offers employee data to be imported directly from spreadsheets. Potential customers can test dr

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SEATTLE, WA (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 03, 2016Most new business owners are nervous about processing payroll in-house due to doubting their ability in computer or accounting skills. EzPaycheck developers at Halfpricesoft.com have created a new and easier feature for importing employee data from spreadsheets into the software application. With this process, even customers with zero background in payroll processing can now produce paychecks less expensively.ezPaycheck 2016 payroll software entices new business owners to switch easily from expensive outsourcing to Halfpricesoft.com with the new data import feature. said Dr. Ge, the founder of halfpricesoft.com.The ezPaycheck payroll application is compatible with Windows XP, 2003, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 with .Net Framework v2.0 or later.EzPaycheck software is designed to automate paycheck processing for new and seasoned business owners in an effort to reduce the time spent on running payroll. The softwares graphical interface lea...

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SOLE Financial Partners With Sage Payroll Services to Offer Paycards to Sage's Business ClientsSage representatives will now offer the SOLE Visa Payroll Card to their commercial business clients in need of a paycard solution.

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PORTLAND, OR (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 02, 2016SOLE Financial, a leader in the prepaid payroll card market, has partnered with international accounting, HR and payroll giant Sage Payroll Services, to offer the SOLE Visa Payroll Card to Sages U.S. commercial client base. Payroll cards are the one of the fastest-growing payment products according to Aite. Offering the SOLE Paycard will enrich Sages suite of features while allowing the company to remain competitive and progressive in a marketplace where employers are increasingly looking to raise direct deposit participation. Sage, which prides itself on providing full-service payroll software solutions, has over 6 million commercial clients who will now be able to offer the SOLE Paycard as a payroll option for their unbanked employees.Payroll cards allow employees who are un- and underbanked to participate in direct deposit without opening up bank accounts. The unbanked employees who work for Sages clients will now ...

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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-07 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] PM Tsipras, government ministers begin two-day visit to Iran [02] Patriarch Bartholomew sends message of friendship between Greece and Turkey, through ANA-MPA [01] PM Tsipras, government ministers begin two-day visit to Iran ANA-MPA -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented what he called a framework of cooperation between Greece and Iran during his visit to the Tehran's Pardis Technology Park (PTP) on Sunday, the first day of his visit to Iran. He noted that the two countries could work together in the areas of technology, innovation, energy, trade, culture and shipping. Receiving the Greek prime minister, PTP President Mahdi Safarinia said that Tsipras was "the most independent leader in Europe" and explained that the PTP's membership included 30 hi-tech companies employing more than 3,000 scientists. Tsipras said that the Greek government had elected to develop ties of a strategic nature with Iran and offered assurances that Greece will act as a conduit for establishing economic, trade and energy connections between Iran and the European Union. The Greek prime minister, who departed for Tehran at the head of a large government delegation on Saturday, is to visit the Iranian capital for two days on Sunday and Monday. He is expected to have a series of significant meetings and discussions on bilateral and regional issues, being the first western leader to visit Iran after an agreement was reached on Iran's nuclear programme. The Greek government sees the visit as a "strategic choice" that will lay the foundations for expanding relations with Iran and also highlight Greece's positive role in the region. Officials in both Athens and Tehran have expressed an intention to give a powerful boost to bilateral relations and to act as factors for stability in a troubled region of the world. Government sources noted that Greece was proceeding to rekindle its relations with Iran, after reaffirming the strategic cooperation of Greece and Cyprus with both Israel and Egypt, and establishing relations with "a regional player having considerable influence, who is returning onto the global scene after having normalised relations with the west." The focus during bilateral contacts is expected to centre on energy and renewable energy sources, construction, water management, tourism (with a view to attracting Iranian tourists to visit Greece), culture, finance, food and the pharmaceuticals industry. Apart from the prime minister, the Greek delegation also includes Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Economy, Development and Tourism Minister George Stathakis, Environment and Energy Minister Panos Skourletis, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas and the foreign ministry's General Secretary for International Economic Relations and Developmental Cooperation Giorgos Tsipras. Starting the visit at the historic city of Isfahan, the Greek delegation will then have a series of meetings in the Iranian capital, including ones with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, leading to the signature of several agreements. [02] Patriarch Bartholomew sends message of friendship between Greece and Turkey, through ANA-MPA ANA-MPA -- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Sunday addressed a message of peace, friendship and cooperation between the people of Greece and Turkey, in a statement to the ANA-MPA from the Turkish coastal city of Izmir. The Patriarch was in the city in order to lead a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy for Saint Voukolos, the city's first bishop, on Saturday. "We remembered the old glorious days of Smyrna and Ionia generally but also the old, tragic days for our people. We remembered the victims of the tragedy of the 1920s and prayed for the refugees that facing such dangers cross the Aegean, trying to secure a better future for themselves and their children," he said. "And we especially wanted through our worship here and all that was said to contribute to further cementing relations between Greece and Turkey, two neighbouring and allied people. We are happy to be informed that the ANA-MPA shares the same convictions and the same goals and wishes to also contribute in the same direction of friendship and creative cooperation between Greece and Turkey," he said, expressing his best wishes for the success of these endeavours. Talking to ANA-MPA General Director Michalis Psilos, he also gave his blessing for the agency's recently launched new website in Turkish. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
All of this is happening because of corrupt politics and f***ing greed. And it has to stop.

Politicians are to blame for the water crisis faced by Flint, Mich.  and the rest of the United States, Erin Brockovich told Bill Maher on Friday.

We are having a national water crisis in this country, the famous environmental activist and lawyer said. I cant keep up with where the Flints are happening.

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Flint is just one of more than 1,000 cities with contaminated water, Brockovich said.

The Michigan city of just under 100,000 people has dominated headlines in recent weeks. Residents were drinking water with dangerously high levels of lead for years before officials did anything about it.

Flint resident Gladyes Williamson holds a bottle full of contaminated water, and a clump of her hair, alongside Jessica Owens holding a baby bottle full of contaminated water, during a news conference after attending a committee hearing on the Flint, Mich. water crisis on Capitol Hill Feb. 3, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

In April 2014, the city switched water sources to save money, the Guardian reported. But the water from Flint River, the citys new source, was corrosive and wore away at the citys lead pipes.

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In Canada, unsafe drinking water is a familiar problem for the indigenous population. Currently, there are water advisories in place for 92 First Nations communities across the country. The Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario has been under a boil water advisory for 20 years. Last year, a CBC investigation found that since 2005, water advisories had been issued for two-thirds of all First Nations communities in the country.

Experts have estimated that about 10 per cent of all Canadians are at risk of consuming lead through their drinking water. About 60,000 households in cities across the country still use drinking water that comes from lead pipes, Canadian Water Network researcher Graham Gagnon estimated. And the municipalities cant afford to replace the infrastructure, Gagnon said. Knowing some of these cities, they would be challenged to really take this on."

See Mahers interview with Brockovich below.

with files from the Canadian Press

Also on HuffPost
Britains foreign office has condemned North Koreas test of a long-range rocket. Despite international warnings and UN resolutions, Pyongyang carried out the launch on Sunday, displaying its ballistic missile technology. The launch comes a month after the state carried out the first test of a hydrogen bomb, though international experts remain undecided as to the nature of the explosion.

In a statement on Sunday, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We strongly condemn North Korea's missile launch. North Korea is fully aware that multiple UN Security Council Resolutions prohibit the use of ballistic missile technology.

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We will work with allies and partners to ensure there is a robust response if the DPRK persists in violating these resolutions," the statement added. "We will also emphasise to North Korea through diplomatic channels that such actions will only serve to isolate the country further."

North Koreans watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station

The US military said on Sunday the missile had entered space. South Korea confirmed the rocket had put an object into orbit. North Korea had notified international agencies that it would be launching a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite.

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"This is the second time in just over a month that the DPRK has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

The governments of South Korea and Japan also condemned the test. Park Geun-hye, South Koreas president, called the launch an "intolerable provocation," suggesting the test was entirely about the leadership of North Korean dictator Kim Jonh-un.

Her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe said, "we absolutely cannot allow this," noting that the rocket flight was visible from the island of Okinawa. We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people," he added.

The UN Security Council will meet on Sunday to discuss the launch. According to PA, the rocket was launched from the west coast of the hermetic state at around 9.30am local time on a trajectory over the East China Sea.

Pyongyang confirmed later on Sunday that the rocket had delivered a satellite into orbit. In a statement read on the state-run channel North Korean TV, the presenter said Kim had ordered the launch.

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Jeremy Hunt has condemned the junior doctors' union as "irresponsible" for "spreading misinformation" as its members prepare to go on strike this week for a second time over proposed contract changes.

The health secretary told Andrew Marr the British Medical Association was had "distorted" his words in the standoff over junior doctors' contracts he is trying to introduce to the NHS, prompting the BMA to hit back that his "shambolic mishandling" of negotiations had brought about the industrial action.

Junior doctors will walk out on Wednesday, following a strike in January over the the new contracts - the first of its kind in 40 years.

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Jeremy Hunt said the BMA was 'one of the cleverest trade unions around'

Hunt told Marr the BMA was "one of the cleverest trade unions around" and as it "knew" the public would side with doctors over health secretaries.

Marr read out the words of doctors to Hunt. One of them said the health secretary's actions left her feeling "demoralised and cheap".

Another said: "The profession is at absolute breaking point. I see doctors in tears because they are so despairing over what the future holds. Jeremy Hunt has done this. He's driving away a whole generation of doctors."

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Hunt answered: "It's incredibly disappointing, the totally irresponsible way the BMA has behaved in refusing to sit down and talk about how we can improve patient care and spreading misinformation."

He added: "One of the reasons for that anger is they were told by the BMA their pay was going to be cut, it isn't. They were told they were going to have to work longer hours, they aren't...

"If you're told by your union that the health secretary wants to do these awful things, of course you're going to feel devalued.

Junior doctors on strike in January

One of the main areas for disagreement is how doctors are paid for working unsociable hours, particularly on Saturdays.

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The government has tried to claim an increase in deaths at weekends is due to lack of staff, which others have disputed, saying there is not the data to support this.

Hunt told Marr: "Health secretaries have these battles but what history judges in the end is, have you done the right thing for patients?"

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said the strike had been "wholly avoidable" and was caused by Hunt's "shambolic mishandling" of the matter.

"[Hunt] risks alienating a generation of junior doctors and undermining the delivery of future patient care, which is why 98% of those junior doctors who voted, supported taking industrial action," he added.

The BMA has been clear throughout this process that we want to reach a negotiated agreement  no doctor wants to take industrial action, and our door has always been open to talks.

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"But the government is putting politics before reason, and their continued threat to impose a contract that junior doctors have roundly rejected leaves us with no option.

Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract.

"If the government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it."

After Hunt's comments, Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to him urging him not to impose the new contract

She said: "As you will appreciate from my comments in the House and to the media, I understand why a process to reform the junior doctors contract was initiated.

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Katie Hopkins asked a Syrian what he thought about the incidents in #Cologne. His passionate response was great. Posted by LBC on Sunday, February 7, 2016

Katie Hopkins has been schooled on how the mass sexual assaults in Cologne at New Year's were not the result of a "migrant invasion" by a Syrian man on LBC.

Hundreds of women claimed they were sexually assaulted by a 1000-strong mob of men of Arab and North African appearance in the Cologne city centre, and at least five rapes were reported. Similar attacks were reported in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart,and Bielefeld.

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Hopkins told Abdulaziz Almashi, the co-founder of Syria Solidarity campaign, that "many of us" fear for their safety because of the large numbers of migrants arriving in the EU who don't "understand our culture".

Katie Hopkins was schooled on the migrant crisis on LBC

She then went on to say the culture-clash was one explanation offered in the aftermath of the Cologne attacks, and asked: "How do you answer that, do you think people like me are wrong, to feel this way about migrants coming to Europe, to fear in what many cases has been termed a 'migrant invasion'?''

Almashi told Hopkins there is "no justification for those fears" and said it was "unfair to paint all refugees" with the same brush when there was a "very, very, tiny portion of refugees committing these crimes".

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Abdulaziz Almashi, the co-founder of Syria Solidarity campaign, appears on LBC

He said: "That doesnt mean all the refugees are the same. In Cologne, Germany, for example there has been a demonstration by Syrian refugees to say we dont accept those kind of acts. And the media didnt talk a lot about it. We dont accept that type of behaviour, it is absolutely unacceptable in our community, and in our culture.
Will Young has accused Education Secretary Nicky Morgan of "not giving a shit" about LGBT pupils' mental health because of her reluctance to tackle homophobic bullying in schools.

The singer has met with Morgan to discuss efforts to combat homophobic bullying in schools, specifically addressing the use of the word "gay".

But he said he left feeling disappointed and added he could not see her "addressing this at all".

"Nicky Morgan is shit. It honestly it breaks my heart... The only conclusion that I can draw is that she doesnt give a shit about it," he told the audience at the National Student Pride event in London.

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"It breaks my heart that there are going to be more and more generations of young LGBT people that are going to continue to have a lack of nurture and have this internalised shame which can be changed within the education system."

Will Young at the event

Will Young speaking at Student Pride

He said there was a "mismatch" between how teachers' felt about the use of the "gay" and how LGBT pupils felt about it.

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He added: "Sixty three per cent of secondary school teachers dont think that it is a problem that someone using the word gay in a derogatory sense cannot be harming.

"Yet in 2012 a study of just over a 1,000 young LGBT people found that 98% of young LGBT people found it distressing. So theres a mismatch.

"And I dont see... the education secretary, who Im not a huge fan of at all, I dont see her addressing this at all, and my only conclusion that I can draw is that she doesn't give a shit about it."

The pop star said he would "picket outside the department of education until [Morgan] gives me some answers".

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A Department for Education spokeswoman said Young was "utterly wrong" to suggest the department was "anything other than completely committed to supporting young LGBT people, and to ensure they can go to a school where they are happy, able to be themselves and fulfil their potential".

Nicky Morgan

In a statement, she added: "The Secretary of State for Education is personally committed to supporting all LGBT people and has made tackling bullying a departmental priority, with a strong focus on supporting LGBT people in particular.

To achieve this she has overseen 2million funding for projects to help build schools knowledge and capacity to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying  a significant step in our drive to ensure it is stamped out for good.

It is not the first time Young has condemned Morgan. In May last year, he told The Guardian she was "dead in the eyes".

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A source close to Morgan called Young's comments "very sad", saying he was "doing down those in government who are actually making a difference". They implored him to "focus on reviving his pop career" instead.
Pic: The team, Natalie Petrou, Corrina Antrobus, Nia

Childs and Simran Hans at Suffragette screening at Picturehouse Central.

This February, The Bechdel Test Fest celebrates its 1st birthday. It's been a tremendous journey and has somehow reached a level of interest that has surpassed the most arrogant of dreams. It has force-fed me lessons not only in the business of cinema but of my own life.

I've done numerous interviews explaining how and why I set up a film festival to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Bechdel Test and I've been humbled by these opportunities to reflect on its progress. I'm often asked questions I didn't realise needed answering; things like 'why does representation matter?' And 'why do we need more women making movies?' I'm also asked questions that back me into a hole where no diplomatic answer is available. How does one politely say; 'this army of old white guys is everything that's wrong with Hollywood?'

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As we celebrate our first anniversary I'm feeling reflective, and by combining my love of lists, writing, and because I'm often asked 'how do you do this alongside your full time job?', I'm sharing the things I learnt in the year gone by.

People Are Amazingly Helpful

The idea of slinging on a DVD and riffing on how good Thelma and Louise is in Pub On The Park was hardly going to be a huge chore but I knew I'd need a hand. I'd hoped a few people might like the idea (once they learned how to pronounce 'Bechdel') and through Twitter and chatting people up at networking parties found a wealth of enthusiasm.

My presumption of putting on yet another film festival in an already bustling calendar, and with feminism as a theme, struck me as a hard sell. However I was bowled over by seeing how many people; young, old, men, women, professional and aspiring people, were willing to muck in.

At the first volunteers meeting I arranged, I sat wondering if anyone would turn up and anxiously envisioned having to eat the entire bag of donuts I'd bought everyone. It was needlessly nerve-wracking.

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Now, with three lead programmers, 30 volunteers, a PR executive and sponsorship manager, I feel privileged to have such talented, passionate and professional people who want to see Bechdel Test Fest be a thing for the love not the money (but maybe the donuts).

Pic: Rocks In My Pockets at the ICA London in partnership with Little White Lies.

Look For The Half Up Hands

I love film Q&As and relish the opportunity to discuss what individuals got from communal cinematic experiences. I've noticed in post-screening question time, the space tends to be dominated by male voices but it's not that men are hogs, it's more that women don't always feel forthcoming.

BTF is all about creating discussion and in the 13 events we've hosted we've always held a panel, intro or chat. Now, with the wisdom of knowing that some women need a little coaxing, I look for the hands of women that are politely half up who often have the most valid things to say.

The Future's Bright. The Future's Female

There are a LOT of men making movies, but women are doing up the buttons and laying on the spreads when it comes to programming those films in cinemas and it's not just in the UK.

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I was lucky to land a spot on a Venice film programming course along with 40 international budding programmers. There were about 35 women and five men who thought they'd got off on a fantasy island inhabited only by tanned female cinephiles.

OK, so we were pitching our final project of a theoretical new cinema to two guys (Dragon Den style), but if the seeds of the industry are female and we continue to have brilliant women such as Clare Binns of Picturehouse, Carina Volkes of Film London, Jemma Desai at the ICO, Holly Tarquini of Bath Film Festival and Amanda Nevill heading up the BFI, I have faith that feminism will organically bloom within our cinemas and trickle into the films they want us to see.

Not Everyone Gets Diversity

Pic: Speakers Bridget Minamore and Isaura Barbe-Brown at The Feminist's Guide To Love: 'The Whitewash Of Romance' Talk at The BFI.

Women may be big in the cinema programming game, but people of colour are the scarce chocolate chip on this giant cookie.

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Conferences serve as the butterfly net of the cinema business and parade its demographic profile which is very, very white and when I see a fellow black person in the conference coffee queue I wonder if they too are on the diversity panel.

I'm always honoured to be invited to speak on panels, but feel an enormous responsibility being asked to comment on how to reach diverse and feminist audiences as if there's a secret pied piper tune I know the notes to. One answer, as journalist and programmer Ashley Clark shrugged in his Bamboozed intro last year at the Ritzy; 'just hire more people'.

Diverse programming comes naturally to people who are classed as 'diverse' but we don't want to only be wheeled out for panels or the odd commission to lament on being in the skin we're in; we want to wade in on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death or be asked if Orson Welles really is all that. We want full time jobs, in big time positions and a chance at calling the shots.

Fear of Feminism is a Thing

My feminist conscious was being tuned from an early age. I knew who Germaine Greer was way before I bought The Spice Girls album and 'feminism' was never a scary or ambiguous word. Naively, I thought this was standard, but now I see how many shy away from feminism contexts, and I'm not talking about men or people who are outright sexist. I'm talking liberal minded, intelligent people who aren't yet comfortable calling themselves a feminist despite honouring the values.

I realised this when a friend declined to come to a BTF event despite screening one of her favorite films. She thought it would be 'too intelligent'. Perhaps she thought the feminist undertones of our otherwise very giddy sold out screening of Magic Mike would wrench the fun out of what would otherwise be a gratuitous Channing Tatum carnival.

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Feminism is a political subject and politics isn't everyone's idea of fun times, but it's sad to think we're losing bums on seats because they feel it will be too intellectual or a guise to lure them into a bra burning cult.

The same goes for men. We love men, particularly ones that come to BTF events, but it startling to be asked if men are 'allowed' or can volunteer. Yes. Always. From day one some of our biggest cheerleaders have been men and I can genuinely say that's not just because they're on the pull.

I keep this in mind every time I program an event and aim to strike a balance between empowered, entertaining and welcoming to all.

New Emotions

Pic: Beyond The Lights London Premiere speakers: Cecile Emeke, Simran Hans, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jasmine Dotiwala

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Like doing a new exercise and discovering new muscles, I've unlocked emotions I didn't know I could produce. After our most high-profile events, and the neuroses that comes with publicly flaunting yourself in the media, I've had the overwhelming feeling of wanting to crawl under a rock. I guess it's what happens when you're not a natural extrovert and are bewildered by all the attention.

The work that's gone into BTF events, from giving Gina Prince-Bythewood's Beyond The Lights the cinematic outing it deserved, to proving Latvian animated films about mental health have an audience, has been well worth the weeks of insanity.

Personal satisfaction aside, nothing prepared me for the overwhelming gratitude received from audience members and filmmakers who might not have otherwise had their work discovered. Reading feedback forms and receiving such gracious thanks from my own personal heroes, has brought a new depth of thrill which feels like being hit with a truck of artisan marshmallows.

I've also had to learn how to pat myself on the back. It's perplexing how uncomfortable this is, but in the exciting year ahead (because there's still so much work to be done), I intend to try use some of the best advice I was given last year from Times Chief Film Critic Kate Muir and Women In Hollywood's Melissa Silverstien...'fuck humbling'.

To everyone who's come to a BTF event or helped out in any way - thank you. Here's to another exciting year of The Bechdel Test Fest.

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Currently the Office for National Statistics cap the number of crimes that one person can report at five. The Office insist the cap is necessary as

As research by Professor Sylvia Walby evidences, there is only one crime that would be impacted by lifting the cap: domestic violence. Lifting the cap would make the ubiquity of domestic violence and the consistent failure of successive governments and police forces to deal with the issue clear. It would have long-term consequences on financing of policing, housing, and healthcare and would make women's secondary status in political life obvious. The cap disproportionately impacts women who experience the vast majority of domestic violence and erases the sex of the perpetrator: who are overwhelmingly male. The decision to create a cap was not to make it easier for statisticians, but a clear policy of eliding the reality of all forms of violence against women and girls from public awareness.

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The cap also functions to inflate the number of men who experience domestic violence making the 1 in 6 men statistic a misnomer. It also includes incidences of retaliatory violence, aka self-defence, where a woman lashes out at the male partner who is physically harming her causing injury to his person, such as a woman scratching a man whilst he attempts to strangle her. The victim, therefore, becomes a perpetrator of domestic violence. In this case, the man's one experience (caused by a woman defending herself which should not included in statistics) is given more credence than a woman who may have experienced 365 separate incidents of which only 5 count in official statistics. Conflating retaliatory violence with the pattern of coercive control that is domestic violence harms women as a class and makes it more difficult to campaign for specialist services for women. The cap makes domestic violence look 'gender-neutral'.

Removing the cap is essential to change public perceptions of domestic violence, however domestic violence does not equal violence against women and girls. It is one part of the continuum that also includes rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, FGM, forced marriage, crimes in the name of 'honour', trafficking and so-called 'austerity measures'. Denying women physical and emotional safety whilst financially penalising them for being born female are acts of state sanctioned violence in and of themselves and make women more vulnerable to other forms of male violence. Austerity measures form the conducive context of male violence.

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When the media conflates the continuum of violence against women and girls with one form and uses gender neutral language, it puts all women's services at risk. Currently, the national organisation Rape Crisis England/ Wales has no guaranteed funding after March. Specialist services for Black, Minority and Ethnic women are being decimated. Cuts to ESOL and racist migration policies put women at greater risk because of state-enforced dependence on violent spouses to remain in the UK with their children.

The women's services that aren't closing due to lack of funding, like Eaves, are being replaced by 'neutral' services. Local authorities are increasingly giving funding for refuges to homeless services that do not recognise the gendered reality of domestic violence. In at least one recent case, a woman fleeing an abusive male partner found herself housed in the same homeless facility as the male perpetrator. There have been reported cases of men claiming to be victims of domestic violence solely to be housed in the same facility as their former partner, as well as men claiming to be transwomen to access vulnerable women. None of these are aberrations. They are a direct consequence of the failure to recognise and differentiate between the hierarchical power relations of the social construction of gender and the material reality of sexed (and racialised) bodies.

Women cannot identify out of the biological reality of their body. Pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause exist. Women do the majority of caring because our culture links having a uterus to doing this unrecognised and unpaid labour. Our culture assumes men's inalienable rights of sexual access to women's bodies and their control over (re)productive labour. The judicial system - family, civil and criminal - still view women and children as the possessions of men.

Ignoring the hierarchical social construction of gender makes it easier for local authorities to defund specialist women's services. After all, if anyone can self-identify as male or female, the sex of the perpetrator and of the victims becomes irrelevant. Claiming to be non-binary, however, will not suddenly erase the inequalities in pay predicated on sex (or race or class). Women who do not conform to the gendered identity coercively assigned them at birth have always existed and are always punished - from the 'witch' trials to the corrective rape of lesbian women. This is not a new phenomenon and queer theory is responsible for erasing the history of women's oppression by men. Obviously, this oppression is contextualised by historical location and cultural practice, as well as race, disability, sexuality and class, but the premise remains the same: women are treated as objects and possessions of men who believe they are entitled to control and harm women.

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The EU contains, as we all know, 28 countries. Twenty-eight countries that up until this day have not agreed on an EU-wide mechanism for relocating migrants. Twenty-eight members who have yet not created legal channels for humans to seek protection. Hungary fenced off its borders with Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia; meanwhile Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and France also reimposed border controls. Denmark approved legislation to seize the valuables of refugees in the hope of limiting the influx of migrants this week too. Sweden will be rejecting the asylum applications of up to 80,000 migrants and will be preparing to deport them all back from where they came from. What does the EU truly stand for?

As a Swedish citizen I am disappointed, hurt and ashamed. After this decision made to deny 80,000 refugees the police in Sweden will hunt down people who are not allowed to stay, according to the Swedish media. As of today around 1,000 police officers patrol Sweden's borders and they are expected to have doubled within a few weeks. This poses a major problem because it has been very difficult for countries to take back some of these citizens since ID documents are missing. They end up as stateless citizens.

The Probation Service staff in Sweden shall ensure that the expulsion decision refusing to travel, will be transported by charter or scheduled flights to their home countries. In 2015, 1,919 foreign travels were carried out by 2,810 people at a cost of $674,500,000. Some 10 % of the guarded trips were cancelled due to the resistance of the person that is being deported, or due to medical reasons. Sweden has money but not money to help those who have arrived? We have billions to give to countries like Turkey to help prevent refugees reaching Greece?

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Now this topic is extremely close to my heart as I was once a refugee myself. Let me tell you, you do not have a penny left once you have arrived to safety. The people that are coming are people who have invested a lot both humanly and financially to get to Europe. You pay thousands of dollars per person just to get on these small rubber boats from Turkey to Greece in hopes of not drowning. You become illegal. You are a crime. You hide in trucks filled with people dead and alive, all fighting for one thing: freedom.

I continue to see photos and videos of refugees fleeing war zones, seeking protection in the West and fighting to cross borders. The issue becomes even more personal for me when I know that my mother and I have walked the same path as these children have. I was lucky enough to have a different destiny. I remember all the stories my mother used to tell me about how we got to Sweden as political refugees and why we ran away in the first place.

We did not get to Sweden by plane or car. Nor did we get to ride fancy big boats to get across the seas and many lakes we had to pass. My mother made it to Sweden after five very long months by walking over mountains, hiding under big trucks, seeking protection in caves and small rowing boats with at least 20 other people on it. Like many Kurds had to do in order to get to Europe in the 90s. My mother did not do this journey entirely alone, there were hundreds of other refugees fleeing and they went in groups. My father stayed in Kurdistan to fight the war then and he sent us money as often as he could. We would live off of tomatoes and bread if we were lucky enough. We saw people who fled with us die in front of us. People were drowning, some were shot while running over borders and some starved to death. On our way to Sweden we experienced poverty, threats, harassment and many times we were close to death. How my mother made it after those five months on her own, I will never quite comprehend.

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We need the West to take responsibility for the disaster zones it helped create. We need to give communities with higher levels of both migrants and refugees extra resources and support. But people WILL flee as long as there is misery. For some, these people fleeing are an unwanted and uninvited swarm that we in Europe must keep out. In the hierarchy of death, anyone labeled "migrant" must take their place somewhere near the bottom. It is a dehumanised word. Migrant. Immigrants. Many see them as criminals. And who mourns petty criminals? I am not illegal and I am not a crime.
Fuse via Getty Images Young Woman Drinking Red Wine

Australian wines are the flavour of the year in the world's two largest populations: with China bestowing the highest honours on our reds and India looking to learn more.

Last year, Wine Australia figures showed Australian wine exports to China increased 66 percent, worth $370 million.

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The love affair continues this year with more Aussie wines being awarded in the China Wine and Spirits Best Value Awards this week than any other country.

The 2015 Taylors Estate Merlot won the top Australian award and managing director Mitchell Taylor said thei Chinese market had come a long way.

They have a real thirst for education and knowledge now, Taylor said.

You may have heard the stories than in China, its all about chins up, skoll the wine, mix it with soft drinks.

In the early days, that did sometimes happen but now, the Chinese market has become very sophisticated and very conscious of how to correctly serve wine, understand its flavour profiles and match it with Chinese cuisine.

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Taylor said that like China's obsession with Australia's milk products and vitamins, Australian wine was seen as being safe, pure and healthy.

"They have a lot of confidence in Australian wine's purity and quality," Taylor said.

"They also like family brands, consistency and a trusted reputation.

The Chinese market is hungry for knowledge. Picture: Jade Via Getty Images

"In China, red is a lucky colour but they're also interested in the associated health aspects of red wine, and they look to Australia as a place of purity."

He said the preferred Chinese drop was fruity without overbearing tannins.

"They like a soft, silky structure," he said.

Different Australian varieties are finding their own markets across the world, and Wine Australia's most recent export report for December 2015 showed the value of Australian wine exports had its biggest jump since October 2007, up 14 percent to $2.1 billion.

Wine Australia chair Brian Walsh said future growth would likely be spurred on by a new interest from India. He hosted an exclusive tasting in New Delhi of grange, port, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

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We need to keep engaging with markets like India where the potential for increased wine demand is strong," Walsh said in a statement.
Bernie is running a campaign that is inspiring women to stand up and take an active part, many of whom this is their first experience in the world of politics. With the exception of a select few, the majority of grassroots organizations I know of are run by women and this movement is about bringing people together and empowering all women not just the one. The ultimate goal of feminism is to take gender out of the equation and that's exactly what the women who are supporting Bernie are doing.


The New Hampshire Republican debate of February 6 likely accomplished something that few debates manage: It has probably shifted the dynamic of the GOP primary contest.

There are, at this moment, three lanes to the GOP nomination. There is the lane occupied by Donald Trump. Let's call it the populist/nativist lane. While other candidates, especially Ted Cruz, make the occasional dog whistles to Trump supporters, there is no other contender who looks likely to fill this lane (and for that we can be grateful).

Then there is the conservative hard-right/religious-right lane. Ben Carson and Ted Cruz are the main competitors here. Cruz looked for a while like he was going to seal the deal with this wing of the GOP, but his campaign's premature email announcing Carson's withdrawal from the race, published in the hours before the Iowa caucus, has hurt him. While I believe that Cruz will eventually occupy this lane to himself, he will have to deal with Dr. Carson politely and diplomatically. After all, when the time is right, Cruz will want Carson's endorsement, and right now he is very far from receiving it.

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Then there is the GOP Establishment lane. When Marco Rubio finished third in the Iowa caucus, many leaders in the Republican Party, and many members of the press, were ready to anoint him the Establishment standard-bearer. He began accumulating endorsements from former or sitting United States Senators (Rick Santorum and Tim Scott), and it looked like he would gather momentum. Doubtlessly, he was hoping for a strong finish in New Hampshire. A close second would allow him to declare himself a virtual victor, and his many Establishment enthusiasts were prepared to echo that acclaim.

It was Rubio's performance on Saturday night, however, that has now called into question his seeming inevitability. Let's begin by pointing out that the worst debating errors are those that seem to confirm negative perceptions about a candidate. And the charge against Marco Rubio has always been that he is an "empty suit." He tries to take both sides of important issues and he misses Senate votes that would force him to choose. Thus in December, 2015, he skipped the vote on the Omnibus Spending Bill. Why? To vote in favor of the spending bill would have meant siding with the Establishment, and to vote against it would meant throwing in with those, like Ted Cruz, who favored government shutdowns as a negotiating tactic. Best to be truant.

There is little doubt, furthermore, that Rubio is a carefully-rehearsed candidate. It took Chris Christie, however, to expose just how much this is so. Rubio, it seems, has a well-practiced applause line that talks about how President Obama has deliberately sought to change America, to make it more like the rest of the world, while Rubio wishes to restore an old-fashioned American exceptionalism.

The questioning began when David Muir asked Rubio to discuss his accomplishments in the Senate. Rubio tried to paper over his relative lack of achievement by saying that Vice President Biden accomplished a great deal in his decades in the Senate but that few Republicans would like to see him as President. And then he recited his well-rehearsed line about Barack Obama deliberately changing America.

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Called upon to respond, Christie pointed out that Rubio lacks managerial experience and that he has systematically avoided making tough decisions. Rubio answered awkwardly with his applause lines criticizing Barack Obama. Christie interrupted, observing that Rubio had become repetitive and robotic, and Rubio replied yet again by once more tediously reciting his applause lines. Long after this colloquy ended, Rubio was still repeating his rehearsed lines about President Obama. Fox News documented around five repetitions.

What impact will this performance have? I can foresee at least two negative consequences: First, voters are likely to take a close second look at Rubio. He will have to reintroduce himself to them as someone less programmed, more real. He will have to show himself as someone of substance. This slows his momentum. Secondly, Rubio's performance must leave the GOP donor elites rattled. After all, the donor elites want to invest in a winning candidate. They are not interested in ideology, but a return on their money. They must now be asking: Will Rubio really prevail against the rest of the field, and against the eventual Democratic nominee? Would you invest another ten million dollars in his Super PAC? Surely, some well-heeled members of the financial class are asking themselves these questions.

At the same time, the other Establishment contenders acquitted themselves well. John Kasich revealed a genuine sincerity in discussing hot-button issues. He stood against the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. He does not believe in a path to citizenship (I disagree with him, I believe a path to citizenship is mandatory). Nevertheless, Kasich at least gave voice to the immense human tragedy that would result from mass deportations (homes and families broken up, children or parents removed to live in foreign countries).

Kasich revealed a similar human touch elsewhere, as when he spoke about the need to reintegrate veterans into civilian life and in expressing his commitment to bipartisanship. Gone was the cranky shrillness of his early performances. Kasich has done his homework in New Hampshire, participating in 100 town halls. The question is, will it be enough?

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Jeb Bush also enjoyed a strong evening. He was on his game when he challenged Donald Trump on eminent domain. Trump had made a sound point -- eminent domain is a necessary public function. Bridges could not be erected, tunnels could not be excavated, highways could not be plotted, without the power of eminent domain.

But Bush came right back: He accused Trump of manipulating and profiting personally from the eminent domain laws in the construction of his casinos. He had sought to have a compliant local government condemn the property of an elderly widow for a limousine parking lot at one of his projects. In reply, Trump lapsed into sputtering incoherence.

What happens next? That question has embedded within it two components. What happens in the New Hampshire primary, now less than forty-eight hours distant? And what happens in the weeks to follow?

Regarding New Hampshire first. The polls more or less unanimously have Donald Trump running in a strong first place. I am not sure that anything topples him from his pinnacle, but I suspect that his margin of victory will be less than the polls suggest. He will win, but I don't think it will be by double digits. If, however, I am wrong, and he finishes strongly, he is well-positioned for South Carolina and perhaps Super Tuesday.

There were signs in a few polls late last week showing that Marco Rubio had some momentum on the basis of his third-place showing in Iowa. I was skeptical about these reports and I am now more skeptical. His debate performance was weak, and I will be surprised to see him finish much above 20 percent. Indeed, he may well finish in the teens. Ted Cruz, meanwhile, should outperform. He is running a quiet, well-organized campaign, and his voters will turn out. A strong second place would allow Cruz to seize the banner of momentum.

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Kasich, Christie, Bush? One or maybe more of these three should show well enough to keep the fight going through Super Tuesday and maybe beyond. My unsolicited advice to the Establishment -- look to one of these three, not Rubio, as your standard-bearer.
Political pundits have repeatedly referred to the "Black vote" as the the "fire wall" for a successful election with Hillary Rodham Clinton ascending to the presidency of the United States.

This means to me, and probably to any other person who reads or hears this spoken, that there is a certitude, or high probability, that the black community will vote in the several southern and urban state presidential primaries for Clinton.

So, I ask myself, if this is true, why? And, if not, why?

I have noticed over the past months, aside from the African-American vote, there is a recurring theme occurring in the Clinton campaign for president: On the basis of her years of community activity and her eight years as First Lady, and then, as Senator from New York, candidate Clinton, compared to Bernie Sanders, has more experience and more years of activity on matters affecting African-Americans.

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Throughout the Clinton campaign, there is also an additional under-lying theme: "Look how much WE have done for you in the past. Now, YOU owe us." They, of course, will deny this, but plain and simple, this is a thesis of an approach of "arrogant entitlement."

It poignantly indicates, that the Clinton campaign, with respect to TODAY'S African-American community, is like a deer in the headlights. It does not appear to reflect an understanding of the profound changes that have taken place among the mindset of a substantial segment of African-Americans, especially the younger current generation. They are interested, not only or primarily in what you did or claim to have done in the past, but in what do you propose to do TODAY that is generationally relevant and responsive to their needs.

Perhaps not intentionally, the Clinton campaign messages to TODAY's African-American voter, especially voters aged 18-34, appear and sound tone deaf to the major issues confronting African-Americans. Of these, no issue is more paramount than the systemic racism of the criminal justice system, and how that system impacts their black lives 24/7.

In a recent article in the New York Times, John Eligon wrote:

Protesters have called for systemic government overhauls -- from city halls to police departments to courts. They have challenged establishment politicians, even those with strong racial justice resumes. And they have demanded elected officials who not only look more like the communities they serve, but also will fervently push the issues they care about.



They are: "causing intraparty tumult, challenging incumbents who have bona fide liberal, racial justice credentials."

Adding fuel to the fire of push back to the Clinton campaign of "political paternalism" is the voice of acclaimed The New Jim Crow author and Ohio State University professor Michelle Alexander. She was the one who first to draw to the nation's attention the mass prison incarceration problem affecting the African-American community today.

On her Facebook page she recently posted:



If anyone doubts that the mainstream media fails to tell the truth about our political system (and its true winners and losers), the spectacle of large majorities of black folks supporting Hillary Clinton in the primary races ought to be proof enough. I can't believe Hillary would be coasting into the primaries with her current margin of black support if most people knew how much damage the Clintons have done -- the millions of families that were destroyed the last time they were in the White House thanks to their boastful embrace of the mass incarceration machine and their total capitulation to the right-wing narrative on race, crime, welfare and taxes. There's so much more to say on this topic and it's a shame that more people aren't saying it. I think it's time we have that conversation.

Candidate Hillary Clinton often recites her experiences as First Lady at the White House as providing her with a "leg up" on potential experience now needed to become President of the United States.

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The downside to this, however, says Professor Alexander is that Bill Clinton --

"More than any other president -- created the current racial under-caste. He signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which ended welfare as we know it, and replaced it with a block grant to states called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). TANF imposed a five-year lifetime limit on welfare assistance, as well as a permanent, lifetime ban on eligibility for welfare and food stamps for anyone convicted of a felony drug offense--including simple possession of marijuana."

In ethical fairness to Candidate Hillary Clinton, it may be unfair to hold her responsible for her husband's actions in supporting the legislation reference by Professor Alexander. On the other hand, before writing this, we found no instance in which candidate Clinton has disavowed her support for the laws enacted.
There are 42 million foreign-born persons in the United States, nearly 14 percent of the population. They come from virtually every nation in the world. If you add their U.S.-born children, the percentage jumps to 26 percent. Worldwide, there are more than 232 million international migrants and nearly 60 million forcibly displaced persons. What do we mean by integration and human development in light of these record numbers of migrants, particularly unaccompanied children, survivors of trafficking, refugees and other vulnerable persons?

To start, integration must be an inclusive process devoted to creating the conditions that allow all persons in a community flourish. This process cannot be limited to citizens or persons with immigration status. It must include the trafficked, persecuted and abused. Moreover, it should promote "integral development", which has been defined as the flourishing of each person and of the whole person. Nobody is expendable, and each marker of a person's identity -- as a member of a family, a polity, a faith community, a workplace or a school -- should be honored.

Immigrants must respect the core values and laws of their new communities. However, it does not follow that they should be required to abandon their cultures. Unity, not uniformity, should be the goal, and the foundation for unity should be a commitment to shared values like justice, the rule-of-law, civil rights, religious freedom, equality and the common good. Integration policies should also privilege participation and agency. Institutions can mediate the integration of immigrants into the broader society. That said, immigrants integrate, not institutions or nations, and integration works best if immigrants, in the words of the Aparecida document, become "agents of their own development."

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The United Nations defines human development, channeling Amartya Sen, as the process of building human capabilities and enlarging choices. A vision of integration which seeks to allow all residents to thrive would invariably advance human development in this sense. Thus, we might think of migrant rights, human development and integration as a kind of virtuous circle.

A key integration challenge is to align legal immigration opportunities with the family, employment, protection and other needs of a state and its residents. In the United States, there are nearly 11 million unauthorized residents. Nearly four million are parents of US citizens or lawful permanent residents. An estimated 1.9 million have resided in the United States for 20 years or more, and nearly 60 percent for 10 years or more. As of 2013, 4.4 million persons - most of them undocumented -- had been approved for family-based visas, but had not yet received them. The undocumented comprise more than 5 percent (a disproportionate share) of the US workforce, and are vital to many industries and economic sectors. The United States should expand the legalization opportunities for these family members, friends, colleagues, co-religionists, and long-term residents.

A second need is to allow persons fleeing persecution, torture, terrorism, and refugee-like conditions to reach protection. Access to a safe haven is denied to many of the world's 60 million forcibly displaced persons, including those dying in the Mediterranean, along the US-Mexico border, and elsewhere. Unfortunately, the response of developing states is too often to try to contain, block, deter, detain, criminalize and otherwise deny protection to vulnerable migrants. Developed states also fail to contribute sufficient resources to the states that host the overwhelming majority of the world's refugees. For present purposes, it is only after a forced migrant accesses protection that a durable solution can be found and the integration process can begin.

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Between 2012 and 2015, roughly 110,000 unaccompanied children from the Northern Triangle states of Central America were apprehended by immigration authorities. In New York City alone, a projected 11,000 thousand children and adults with young children will be placed in removal proceedings this year. Most of these children have witnessed or experienced extreme violence in their home states. Many have been robbed and sexually or otherwise abused during transit. Some have suffered disabling injuries.

The need to protect children does not end upon their arrival in the United States or Europe. During a January 26th conference on due process and access to justice in New York, a teen-age girl's attorney spoke of receiving her "green" card (permanent residence document) at his office, but months later she had still not picked it up. After repeated attempts, his office and law enforcement officials could not locate the girl. She had reportedly been passed from one "uncle" to another and presumably forced into prostitution. Europol reports that, during the past 18 to 24 months, 10,000 unaccompanied migrant and refugee children, after registering with government authorities, have disappeared in Europe. It fears that the children have been forced into commercial sex trafficking or otherwise enslaved by criminal syndicates. The United States has released unknown numbers of children to traffickers and other abusive sponsors.



The poverty, past traumas and untenable living situations of many migrant children impede their prospects for success in host communities. Thus, the best integration programs seek to address holistically the needs of vulnerable migrants, which include food, tutoring, housing, medical care, psychological counseling and case management services. Legal representation, in particular, makes an enormous difference in the case outcomes of children and, in fact, of all persons in removal proceedings.

A final integration challenge involves vision. Many of the world's politicians and opinion-makers and a large tranche of its citizens view immigrants as a problem, a burden, a threat or simply an exploitable labor source. For this reason, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) devoted its World Migration Report 2011 to the need for effective communication about migrants and migration. In doing so, it sought to promote a more "open, balanced and de-politicized migration discourse." Faith communities can play an indispensable role in this regard. They can educate their societies -- in word and deed -- on the need to see immigrants not as a burden, but as a font of innovation, work and cultural enrichment; not as a problem to be solved, but as an opportunity; not as a threat, but as a potential source of renewal.
What is the connection between Islam and terrorism and how can terrorism be vanquished?

Before attempting an answer, let's spill the beans. Islam has no connection to terrorism. It is the history of Muslims, colonial rule, human greed and the quest for political and economic control that have propagated terrorism as manifested in Al-Qaeda, Boco Haram, Al-Shabaab, ISIS (Daesh) and new groups to come unless the cause of the malignancy is correctly identified and addressed.

Islam was hijacked soon after its birth. As the Prophet Mohammad lay on his deathbed, his young wife Aisha and some of his companions plotted to take up his mantle. In short order, corrupt caliphs and their supporters abandoned Islamic teachings and embraced policies that contradict the Quran and the practice of the Prophet, fought unjust wars for power to gain control of resources and wealth, lived lives of luxury and used Islam as the instrument for political and economic control.

After WWI with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the victors carved up most of the Middle East -- installing and supporting rulers who did their bidding and furthered their national interests at the expense of the local population. The colonial masters did not shy away from using all options open to them -- intrigue, economic and financial pressure, threats and ultimately military force -- to plunder the region and subjugate its people. Over a period of about five decades they forced their will on the region, with Muslim frustration and anger directed against the colonial powers and against their rulers. But the colonial domination did not end there. Over the ensuing five decades, with rapid advances in communication technology, military force became less palatable and colonialists collaborated with tyrannical rulers who did their bidding -- colonialism was replaced by collaborative colonialism as rulers wrapped themselves in their own brand of Islam for legitimacy. The poisoned fruit of Western collaboration with corrupt rulers, though hidden in the past from Western eyes, has now permeated the world. [Collaborative Colonialism]

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Today, hereditary rulers, dictators and compliant clerics are the modern day caliphs. They have taken over the pulpit and "interpret" Islamic teachings to maintain their hold on power and to impede political, social and economic reforms. It is even a crime in some Muslim countries to question or discuss the teachings of the Quran, something the Prophet encouraged in the nascent Muslim community in Medina. All the while, Western powers, businesses and influential individuals continue to support illegitimate rulers in the name of stability but are doing so for national, corporate and personal gain. Westerners point to the violence brought about by the Arab Spring -- hope turned into calamity in a matter of months -- as a reason to revert to supporting dictators. These same Westerners, while supporting dictators to line their pockets, espouse democracy, political, social and economic reforms and respect for human rights and the rule of law -- displaying blatant duplicity that is obvious to all.

Is it a wonder that such conditions created by corrupt and greedy rulers and their Western backers provide a fertile medium for terrorists to propagate their hateful version of Islam for support, that Muslim masses feel disenfranchised, desperate and increasingly vulnerable to voices promising any brand of change, that conflicts within the Muslim World have become more violent, leading to horrendous casualties, human displacements and physical destruction, that these conflicts have increased and have spilled over into the non-Muslim World and that Muslims are fleeing their oppressive and conflict-ridden homelands? [Conflicts in the Persian Gulf]

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While placing the root blame of terrorism on Islam may be convenient, it is the wrong attribution, which, if not corrected, will only exacerbate matters and render the fight against terrorism hopeless by pitting non-Muslims against Muslims the world over. In fact the fight against terrorism can only be won if Islam is embraced in the solution. Islam is a way of life and will not be abandoned by Islam bashing. Islam is a rules-based religion, with the rules outlined in the holy Quran and interpreted by the Prophet Mohammad. Rules in turn provide the scaffolding for institutions that are necessary for reform and sustained progress. Although Muslims pray and uphold the Five Pillars of Islam in Muslim-majority countries, there is much more to Islam, and most Muslim societies do not reflect the characteristics one would expect of a rule-compliant Muslim society -- in other words, of a society that has adopted the rules and institutions recommended in Islam. [Islam and Development]

How can the world win the war against terrorists and eradicate terrorism? It will require a multi-dimensional approach, perseverance, patience and time.

Muslim leaders must be encouraged to embrace the important teachings of Islam from the Holy Quran, advocating freedom, effective and just institutions, equal opportunities for all members of society, gender equality, economic and social progress, representative governance and effective institutions -- institutions that are also compatible with the economic prescriptions of Adam Smith but with a heavier dose of morality and justice. Individual Muslims should be encouraged to study their religion, be free to debate its teachings, reclaim it from corrupt rulers and clerics and in turn hold their rulers accountable. If they don't, terrorists will increasingly fill the void in failed states created by false interpretations of the Holy Quran. Terrorists will point the finger at corrupt rulers and their Western supporters, promise a better life, if not in this world at least in the hereafter, espousing terror as the Islamic option for a turnaround. Disenfranchised Muslims with little hope -- in Muslim countries and in Western ghettos -- will be seduced into taking up arms and following terrorists.

Discussions on the philosophical foundation of Islam are necessary to establish the institutions envisaged in Islam. Because Islam is a rules-based system, it is possible to develop an objective benchmark to assess the legitimacy of rulers, a country's compliance with rules and the development of Islamic institutions, in other words the "Islamicity" of a country. Such a benchmark in turn facilitates the comparative assessment of rule compliance and institution building in Muslim countries and their progress over time. In turn, rulers can claim legitimacy by being the most rule-compliant members of society. [Islamicity Indices]

To affect change in Muslim countries, Western countries have a parallel responsibility. They can and should do a much better job of assimilating their Muslim communities and understanding what Islam teaches in the Quran. Extremists gain recruits when the young live in ghettos, have little hope for a better future and live marginalized lives, in communities where Islam is misunderstood and condemned. Western countries should come together and adopt a unified approach toward rulers in Muslim countries. Western democracies should not support dictators who contradict the teachings of the Quran and undermine Islam and its institutions. For international support, rulers must agree to adhere to a timetable to establish representative and accountable governance, effective institutions that include the rule of law and respect for human rights and dignity.

Time is the final dimension of a turnaround in the Muslim World. In the wake of the Arab Spring, Westerners expected an immediate transformation of countries plagued by nearly a century of external abuse on top of centuries of domestic deprivation and injustice. Even a country such as France, which was not colonized, did not immediately and peacefully transform itself through the French Revolution. Change in the Muslim World and in Muslim-Western relations will require sustained effort, cooperation and time. But before the world embarks on this transformation all sides must agree on the diagnosis and the path forward.
MANCHESTER, NH - FEBRUARY 06: Republican presidential candidates New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (2nd R) and Donald Trump visit as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) (L) stands close by during a commercial break in the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College February 6, 2016 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Sponsored by ABC News and the Independent Journal Review, this is the final televised debate before voters go to the polls for the New Hampshire primary on February 9. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie came out swinging in Saturday night's Republican debate on ABC. Florida Senator Marco Rubio looked like he was on the defensive for much of the night trying to protect the momentum he got with his third place finish in Iowa. Christie easily scored a TKO over the rattled Rubio and was the big winner among the debaters.

In his first response, Rubio introduced a new concept for Republicans, that President Barack Obama knows exactly what he is doing. "Barack Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world," he said. Appearing next, Christie directed his response directly to Rubio, "You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable. You just simply haven't." Christie wasn't through with Rubio, "And the fact is -- the fact when you talk about the Hezbollah Sanctions Act that you list as one of your accomplishments you just did, you weren't even there to vote for it. That's not leadership, that's truancy."

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Rubio, clearly shaken, threw a counter punch. "Under Chris Christie's governorship of New Jersey, they've been downgraded nine times in their credit rating," he charged. "This country already has a debt problem, we don't need to add to it by electing someone who has experience at running up and destroying the credit rating of his state."

Christie demanded to be given a response. "You see, everybody, I want the people at home to think about this," Christie said looking into the camera. "That's what Washington, D.C. Does. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him."

Rubio had a ready response, "Chris, your state got hit by a massive snowstorm two weeks ago. You didn't even want to go back. They had to shame you into going back." Christie jumped in, "You know what the shame is -- you know what the shame is, Marco? The shame is that you would actually criticize somebody for showing up to work, plowing the streets, getting the trains running back on time when you've never been responsible for that in your entire life."

Christie got the best of that exchange and went on to have a strong night just days before New Hampshire primary voters go to the polls in what will likely be a record turnout. His performance is not likely to vault him near the top of the field because he has been polling so far behind.

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The frontrunner in all the state polls is Donald Trump. His debate performance was strong. When booed for attacking former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, he noted, "The RNC told us, 'We have all donors in the audience.'"

When asked what he would do about North Korea's launch of a long range missile, he responded, "I would get on with China, let China solve that problem...They can do it quickly and surgically. That's what we should do with North Korea."

Bush had his best debate performance, but it is too late to have any impact on Tuesday's primary. On the other hand, Ohio Governor John Kasich's strong debate performance could help him because he has been doing well in the polls. He came off as the reasonable and practical conservative, for instance, on immigration. "I think Congress would pass a plan to finish the border, guest worker, pay a fine, a path to legalization, and not citizenship," he said. "And we've got to get this done. And I will tell you this, within the first 100 days that I am president, I will put that proposal to the Congress."

Texas Senator Ted Cruz looked like a professional debater, tapping the podium to emphasize points. He apologized to Dr. Ben Carson for messages his campaign sent out to Iowa Caucus goers as they gathered to vote that Carson was suspending his campaign. Cruz blamed it all on a CNN report. Later, CNN took the unusual step of responding, "What Senator Cruz said tonight in the debate is categorically false. CNN never corrected its reporting because CNN never had anything to correct," the statement read. "The fact that Senator Cruz continues to knowingly mislead the voters about this is astonishing." This incident plays into the perception some of Cruz's critics have that he is slimy.

For Ben Carson the evening started off badly because he was nearly stranded backstage when he was introduced and seemed lost. He went on to have the least response time and said nothing memorable -- except noting it was President Ronald Reagan's 105th birthday.

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Successful test of the Hatf-5B Pakistan ballistic missile

In recent years the concern over nuclear proliferation has centered on Iran's ongoing effort to develop a nuclear weapons capability. Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, however, may prove to be just as dangerous and just as destabilizing as that of Tehran's. That country is well on its way, within another decade, to amassing the third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. Moreover, its current focus on deploying theater nuclear weapons, so called (5 to 10 kiloton) low-yield battlefield weapons, represents a dangerous new strategy that has wide-ranging impact on both the stability of the Indian subcontinent and the threat that a militant organization will obtain a nuclear device.

For the last seventy-five years, the international politics of the Indian subcontinent, and, to a lesser extent, the broader south and central Asian region that surrounds it, have revolved around the continuing Indian-Pakistani conflict. The two countries have fought four wars since their birth, following the partition of British India in 1947. These wars, fought in 1947, 1965, 1971 (which resulted in the loss of East Pakistan and the birth of the new state of Bangladesh), and in 1999, all resulted in significant Indian victories.

The 1999 war, called the Kargil War, was fought in the Kargil district of Kashmir. This was the first Indo-Pakistani conflict following the deployment of nuclear weapons by both countries. At one point during the fighting, Pakistan's government ordered the arming of its nuclear missiles, potentially bringing the two countries to the brink of a nuclear conflict. Although a truce was later negotiated, the fate of the original princely kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir, a legacy of the 1947 war, has to this day still not been resolved and continues to be a major source of conflict between the two countries.

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The genesis of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program had a number of sources. In part it was a response to the defeat in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. It was also driven by Pakistan's realization that India was going ahead with the development of its own nuclear arsenal. Neither country is a signatory to the U.N. sponsored Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pakistan opted to try to develop both plutonium and enriched uranium-based weapons.

In 1985 the CIA warned of a Pakistani plan to build a "plutonium production reactor." Pakistan subsequently built, with Chinese help, the 40-50 megawatt heavy-water Khushab plutonium production reactor. The reactor went on line in 1998. Three additional heavy-water reactors were also built and are currently operational at the same site. Pakistan also built a plutonium reprocessing plant at the New Laboratories facility at the Pakistani Institute of Science and Technology. An additional reprocessing facility is being built at the same location and a third is under construction in Chasma.



Indian Army Agnil missile at Republic Day Parade 2004

Pakistan also began a program to produce highly enriched uranium (HEU) using gas centrifuge enriched uranium. The specially designed centrifuges spin uranium hexafluoride gas at high speeds to increase the concentration of the uranium 235 isotope. This is the same technology that Iran has been using in its nuclear weapons program.

The program got a significant boost when A.Q. Kahn, a metallurgist working in the Dutch subsidiary of the British-based Uranium Enrichment Company (URENCO Group) returned to Pakistan in 1975. Khan brought with him blueprints for various centrifuge designs and a broad array of business contacts. By buying individual components rather than complete gas centrifuges, he was able to evade existing export controls and acquire the necessary equipment.

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Khan would go on to establish an illicit nuclear weapons technology procurement and consulting operation, the "Khan Network," that would play a major role in the transmission of nuclear weapons technology to Iran, Libya and to a lesser extent, North Korea. The Pakistani government has denied that it had any knowledge of Khan's illicit side business but under American pressure arrested A.Q. Khan, sentencing him to house arrest, and dismantled his network.

There continue to be reports, however, that rogue elements of that network continue to operate clandestinely. In 1998 and then in 2001, for example, according to former CIA Director George Tenant, the agency obtained fragmentary intelligence that Osama bin Laden had dispatched emissaries to make contact with the Khan network, in order to discuss obtaining the equipment necessary for developing a nuclear weapons infrastructure, details of nuclear bomb design and information on how to construct radiological dispersal devices.

There are also unconfirmed reports that as recently as 2014, the Islamic State has also reached out to former members of the Khan network for assistance in securing atomic weaponry. While the design and construction of a nuclear device is very likely beyond the capabilities of Al Qaeda, ISIS or any other militant jihadist group, the use of radiological dispersal devices, so called dirty bombs, is well within their capability.



A. Q. Khan, fifth from left, at Pakistan's nuclear testing facility in the Ras Koh Hills, May 28, 1998

The Pakistani nuclear effort also received considerable assistance from China. It is believed, that starting in the late 1970s, Beijing supplied Pakistan with a broad array of missile and nuclear weapons related assistance. This assistance included warhead designs, highly enriched uranium (HEU), components of various short and intermediate range missile systems, gas centrifuge equipment and technical expertise. The A.Q. Khan network later transferred some of this technology to other countries.

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According to various intelligence sources, Pakistan currently has between 100 and 120 nuclear weapons under its control. It is believed, however, that Pakistan has produced and stockpiled around 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lbs) of weapons grade HEU and about 200 kilograms (440 lbs) of plutonium. Pakistan's HEU based warheads utilize an implosion design that requires between 15 and 20 kg of HEU. The current stockpile is enough for an additional 150 to 200 weapons, depending on the warhead's desired yield.

The plutonium-based warheads need between 6 and 8 kg of plutonium. The current stockpile would yield between 25 and 35 additional warheads. As of the end of 2015, Pakistan has enough HEU and plutonium to produce an addition 175 to 235 warheads. This number could be higher if Pakistan opts for smaller warheads intended for battlefield weapons. This would raise the Pakistani nuclear arsenal to between 300 and 350 nuclear warheads. Pakistan is adding enough HEU and plutonium to its stockpile to produce around 10 to 20 additional bombs a year.

According to the Federation of American Scientist's latest tally, there are 15,465 nuclear weapons in the world. The vast majority of those are owned by the United States and Russia. France has about 300 warheads, China has around 250 and the United Kingdom has about 215. Israel is widely acknowledged to possess a sophisticated array of nuclear weapons. Estimates of the Israeli nuclear arsenal vary widely, from as little as 80 to as many as 400, with at least 100 of those weapons being thermonuclear "hydrogen bombs."

Since the late 1980s, Pakistan has used a variety of militant organizations as proxies in its ongoing struggle with India over Kashmir and elsewhere. This strategy may have been a direct result of its success with "Operation Cyclone," the CIA and Saudi funded program to arm the Afghan mujahedeen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.



Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai under attack by Lashkar terrorists, November 2008

"Operation Cyclone" was also the code name for the terrorist attack in Mumbai. From November 26-29, 2008, ten members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani-based militant organization with long-standing ties to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency conducted a series of 12 coordinating bombings and shooting attacks across Mumbai. The attacks resulted in the death of 164 people and the wounding of at least 308. The fact that the Mumbai operation used the same code word designation is a disturbing parallel. It is hard to believe that its use was a coincidence.

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Sponsored, organized, trained and funded by Pakistan's ISI, Lashkar-e-Taiba is only one of several militant organizations that the ISI has used as proxies in its covert military operations. Other militant groups with documented links to the ISI include: Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Omar, Jaish-e-Monammed, Sipah-e-Sahaba, the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Jamaat-ud-Da'wah, Harkat-ud-Jihad al-Islami, the Haqqani Network, Jamaat-ud-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and of course its most famous creation--the Afghan Taliban.

Since 1990, given its record of defeat in conventional military conflicts with India, it appears that Pakistan's military strategy has relied on a threefold approach: use militant proxy organizations to strike at Indian military positions in Kashmir, specifically, and to attack Indian targets in general, rely on the threat to deploy nuclear weapons should India try to retaliate with a military invasion of Pakistan and rely on the U.S. and China, in particular, and world opinion in general, to restrain India from attacking Pakistan before the ponderously slow Indian Army can mobilize and be in a position to attack.

One of the lessons that India drew from the 1998 Kargil war was precisely that its slow mobilization and advance would give the Pakistani military plenty of advance warning of its intended strategy and military objectives. It would also give Pakistan plenty of time to mobilize world opinion to restrain India. Moreover, India found that it could not muster a strong enough offensive capability to do anything more than limited border incursions and low level attacks against border fortifications.



Surrender of Pakistani military forces in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, December 16, 1971

In response, the Indian Army undertook a comprehensive review of its military operations with the goal of developing a quick strike capability into Pakistan. The resulting doctrine, called "Cold Start," was designed to reorient India's military forces from their traditional defensive posture toward a more aggressive, offensive capability. The doctrine called for the formation of several eight division-sized, integrated battle groups that would combine infantry, artillery and armor. They would be on a standby alert, ready at all times to thrust deep into Pakistani territory along several possible lines of advance.

These battle groups would receive air support from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and, where appropriate, support from India's naval forces as well. The rapid deployment of these battle groups would allow India to seize Pakistani territory before the international community could mobilize a consensus to restrain India. The Indian military has continued to insist that there is no "Cold Start" doctrine and that the debate over military doctrine that has been swirling around India's Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses has been purely an academic exercise. Pakistan's military leadership and the ISI, however, believe that the "Cold Start" Doctrine is a fact.

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The Pakistani response to the Cold Start Doctrine has been to emphasize the development of battlefield, so called "theater nuclear weapons." The strategy is to meet India's rapid deployment forces with a series of limited nuclear strikes against concentrations of troops and armor and then rely on international pressure to constrain India from escalating the confrontation to a full blown nuclear conflict.

Battlefield nuclear weapons pose a whole different level of security risks than conventional nuclear weapons. Islamabad's current Strategic Command Organization for Pakistani atomic weapons relies on a threefold structure consisting of the National Command Authority (NCA), the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). The NCA and the SPD have operational control over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. The military's SFC has only day to day "administrative control" and technical support of these weapons system.

More importantly, Pakistan's nuclear weapons are kept disassembled, typically in three or four component parts with each of those parts kept in separate facilities. Thus the nuclear warheads are kept separate from the delivery vehicles. Moreover, the fissile cores of the warheads are separated from the conventional, i.e., non-nuclear explosives. Even if a militant terrorist organization was to penetrate a facility where the nuclear components are stored it could not obtain a functioning nuclear weapon.

The one drawback of this approach is that unless very close inventory control is maintained it is possible for component parts to go missing without being noticed. The combination of a multi-branch command authority and the fact that the weapons are kept in a disassembled state makes it extremely difficult for rogue elements within Pakistan or for militant organizations to secure or launch a nuclear weapon.



Pakistani, truck mounted Babur, 400 mile range, Cruise Missile

Battlefield weapons on the other hand, by their very nature, are more at risk to theft, diversion or unauthorized use. As battlefield weapons they need to be under the control of local commanders. While the decision to deploy them may still be under the national command authority, their actual use has to be left to the commander in the field. Although most of them can be kept disassembled, it is likely that some portion has to be maintained in a ready state if they are to prove useful in stopping an Indian incursion.

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At the very least, some portion would need to be assembled and deployed forward in anticipation of a possible Indian attack in response to a Pakistani operation. Typically, these battlefield weapons have short ranges. Since the facilities where the components of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal are stored are well back from the Indian frontier, this means that the weapons would likely need to be stationed relatively close to the frontline in a ready state. It is unclear how the Strategic Command Authority would exercise its control over such battlefield weapons once they were deployed or who would be responsible for guarding them.

In a positive development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met informally with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 30, during the Paris Climate Change Summit. The meeting was followed up by a surprise visit of Modi to meet with Sharif in Lahore Pakistan on December 26. This was the first direct meeting between sitting Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers in more than a decade.



Hatf 2, Pakistani Army Short Range Ballistic Missile
Seize the day!

Live each day as if it's your last!

Savor every minute!

"Yea, yea, yea", as we shuffle around in our robe and slippers, clutching our coffee as if it's our only hope for survival.

We know better. It's just that sometimes we don't do better. It's called being human.

Which is why, at this very minute, you need to drop whatever you're doing and start your very own, very personal Bucket List.

Why? I'm so glad you asked.

Because Life, that's why. It gets in the way. Life comes with stuff. Like schedules and responsibilities and deadlines and kids. Before you know it, everything that you wanted to do has been long forgotten, a lot like the fresh fruit you always made sure to include in the 12,000 school lunches you packed.

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No one is coming to save us, we have to save ourselves. In all my 50-mumble-mumble years, I've yet to meet the person who's job it is to make sure I have fun. As a matter of fact, a lot of people I meet seem to make my life less fun. Go figure. A healthy Bucket List is our answer to all those boring meetings, endless conference calls, whiney customers and disappointing friends. It's our moment to TAKE CHARGE!

To make sure your Bucket List items don't end up at the bottom of some school yard trash can like all those grapes and bananas, here's the official 'get off your butt and do it list':

Your WHY. Reach down deep and way back and get in touch with the joy that rose from you in your youth. What was your WHY back then? What made you happy and excited to greet each day? Find that person and ask them what they want to do. Write it down.

Build EXCITEMENT into your life. See a dream trip? Write it down. Always wanted to ice climb? Write it down. Become a Reiki Master? Write it down. All the fleeting dreams can now become a reality. Isn't that exciting?

REWARD yourself. With a healthy Bucket List you have the perfect reward system. Give yourself an incentive for major accomplishments, or even just a yearly trip, chosen from your Bucket List. You have an ongoing 'prize list' at your fingertips.

The Law of ATTRACTION. Just the simple act of writing it down and reviewing your Bucket List will work miracles in bringing it into your life. The law of attraction shows us that. The more often you review your list and imagine yourself actually participating in the activity, the easier and quicker the it will come to you. (it's science, people)

Keep 'em GUESSING. Who wants to grow old predictably? Not us! Let's have our kids wondering "What the hell is she up to now?". So much more fun!

While writing this article, I've added two more items to my Bucket List, a trip to Dubai and Calligraphy classes.

How about you? I hope you've at least started yours. Don't stop until you have at least 50 items listed. Keep adding every time you see something that sparks your fancy.

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After all, a sparkly fancy looks good on you!

Kimberly Montgomery is the creator of the Choices Notebook and blogger at FiftyJewels.com, where she encourages people to use their powers for good. Hop on over there to grab your FREE copy of the Choices Notebook Mini Kit.

Earlier on Huff/Post50:
I didn't growing up knowing I was Black or having to deal with the idea of Blackness because I was born and raised in Nigeria. In a country where "Black" is the default, it doesn't need to be defined or spoken about or made a topic of discussion. I knew I was Yoruba and Nigerian for the first 9 years of my life. I did not become conscious of my color and all that came with it until I moved to the United States with my family.

It was my first time feeling that being born Black could be a liability. It was my awakening to doubt. It was my introduction to race as an influence. Through my school years, I learned more about slavery, anti-Black racism and oppression in the US, and my Blackness could no longer be an afterthought. I started wearing it proudly and as my consciousness deepened, so did my love for Black folks.

Through the struggles, I see so much beauty, and the grace of melanin cannot be overstated. Plus, the work it does to keep us from cracking deserves all the praise. We stay looking 25 at 50 years old, thanks to the gods of moisturizer, shea butter and noir blessings! But most importantly, I am heartened by the connection of Black people everywhere.

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Being a global citizen and lover of travel has recently taken me to over 20 countries so far, and one thing that always moves me is how I see home all around me.

You can go to Brazil and find natives speaking a language close to Yoruba. You can be in Ghana and see someone who looks like someone you know in Chicago. My Trinidadian friends can suck their teeth in a way that makes me think of my Mom doing the same. Some of my Black American friends look like my cousins, betrayed by those high cheekbones that won't quit. I can go to a club in Nigeria and listen to Hip Hop and R&B. The way we move, the foods we eat, and our power connects us, and I carry that with me and it finds me wherever I go.

Similarly, our struggles are also parallel across the Black diaspora. As we hail #BlackLivesMatter in the United States, our skinfolks elsewhere are having to do the same, in different fights.

I was in South Africa in September 2014 and I had to visit Nelson Mandela's house in Soweto. The system of apartheid there has countless parallels to Jim Crow in the United States, so that was an important site to learn and take it all in. However, my most notable moment happened when I went a few blocks down to visit the Hector Pieterson Museum.

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In 1976, South African students were protesting the new mandate that Afrikaans (a Dutch-based language) would be what they used to teach in school. Police came and shot in the crowd, killing 200 students and 13-year old Hector was one of the first people killed. He became the symbol for the injustice that happened there. In that museum, I was stunned when I stood in front of a picture where protesters held up signs that said "Don't Shoot."

40 years ago, on the other side of the world, Black people used the same phrase we used in Ferguson, after Michael Brown was killed. I was stunned. Across the globe, we have to fight to have our full dignity recognized and our humanity acknowledged. In that moment, I felt more connected to Blackness as a whole. Our struggles are interchangeable no matter what languages we speak or where we call home. #BlackLivesMatter here, and in Haiti, and in Sudan, and in Cuba, and everywhere.

And we fight until we turn our trials into advancement. Why? Because Diasporan dopeness won't let us quit. We are manifested from ancestral excellence and we cannot be outdone. Being conscious of Global Blackness is knowing that we are not an island of our struggle, but a nation of our triumphs. That's Blackness to me.

Illustration by Alixa Garcia
In 1972 Tehran was named a "Sister City" to Los Angeles. It joined the likes of Athens, Bordeaux, San Salvador and Vancouver. The man who was responsible for the accolade died last week in Boston. Perishing with him were the memories and stories of a generation of statesmen from an era in Iranian history that can now only be found among old photographs of cherished exile, and memories half-written in book form.

A global man by any standard, Parviz Adl was born in 1923 to an Iranian father from a prominent Persian family and a British mother with ties to royalty. Such set the course of his future in a monarchical Iran on a march toward modernity and global inclusion.

I met Parviz in his late 80s. I knew of him from my own monarchist parents, whose pre-revolutionary trajectory was not dis-similar to the rise and fall of the likes of Parviz Adl. So when he came to me to help write a book chronicling his life story, I was only glad to oblige. Little did I know his would be a multi-national tale of perseverance, intrigue and romance unequal to any fictional screen play I've ever known.

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Parviz was a renaissance man. He had been whisked away soon after birth by his European mother who had chosen to leave Iran and take her son. Years later, he would be abducted by his father and brought back to Iran, where he would grow up in Khoy. His father was then the Director of the Customs Bureau and Parviz was not allowed to attend the local traditional school. An education in Math and the Sciences was not common in provincial Iran back then, so his father arranged for tutors to come to their home and educate a son destined for global leadership.

In 1946 he graduated with a BA in Economy and Law from Tehran University and headed off to Europe to find his then estranged mother, and to further his studies. He received a Masters in Science & Diplomacy and a PhD in Law with "great distinction" from the Catholic University of Louvain, in Belgium. A consummate communicator and master of messaging, he was commissioned as Press Counselor at the Iranian embassy to Cairo upon his return in 1956, and later to the Iranian embassy in Paris. By 1963 he had been appointed the plenipotentiary Minister to Head all Iranian press attaches in embassies across Western Europe. As one of his last official duties before transferring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he spent the rest of his professional years before the fall of the Shah, Adl accompanied French President, Charles Du Gaulle on his official trip to Iran.

In 1969 he was appointed Consul General in San Francisco. He founded the Iran & American Chamber of Commerce and inaugurated "Tehran Street" in Los Angeles. Then mayor of Los Angeles, Sam Yorty, presented Adl with the "Key to the City", and bestowed onto Tehran the accolade of "Sister City". During this tumultuous time in Iran, the residence of the Ambassador was targeted repeatedly by student protesters objecting to the rule of Reza Pahlavi, the Iranian King who represented a secular order rooted in globalized modernity, versus a clinging regression to the strict teachings of political Islam. Threatened often by phone and by mail, the demonstrators finally invaded the consulate in 1970, defacing walls and ransacking furniture, keeping the family hostage in a ground floor bedroom for hours until authorities intervened. A year later, the residence was bombed in the dark of night, damaging 50 houses nearby, and rooting the Adl family in the middle of the night - fleeing in Pajamas for a the nearby safety of a hotel willing to take them. Thus was the beginning of a volatile era, culminating in a revolution that brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini back to Iran from his exile in France, and ended the careers of many educated, well meaning, thoughtful and patriotic Iranians who had vested their lives in the modernization of Iran.

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In 1975 Adl became the Ambassador of Iran to Canada and in 1978, just six month before the revolution, he was named the Ambassador of Iran to Brazil. There again, he suffered through the terror of bombings and burnings, all the while attempting to protect his young family and his beloved homeland. In 1979 Parviz was finally removed from his post serving the government of Iran, as the newly minted Islamic Republic took over ministries and government posts with the unsteady hand of uneducated brutes infused with revolutionary zeal, and little else to help them govern responsibly.

Today, as Iran is again in the news, with the newly refined face of cleanly trimmed beards and white starched shirts, many find it hard to relinquish the memories of a brutal regime that took over following a revolution that showed no mercy for the old order. With a vehemence founded on vanquishing the West and all its influence, it is ironic to see the Islamic republic embrace it all back today, 37 years later. Having failed to govern effectively on the fervor of a defunct ideology that has been roundly rejected by even its own populace, Iran has ambled back to the negotiating table after crippling sanctions debilitated its economy, and is painstakingly re-opening the ties and the trade routes that once perched it on the brink of development.
Credit: Kyydaana Ignatieva (Instagram @kyydaana)

At the last TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, the tech entrepreneur shares his lessons and insights on startups, strategy and what it means to live a good life.

Pavel Durov is a brilliant individual with extraordinary achievements. He revolutionized the Russian Internet by founding VKontakte, Russia's biggest social networking app. He has led a life as an international nomad after a fall out with Putin when he was forced to sell his startup.

He also co-founded Telegram, a messaging app that is safer and superior to WhatsApp. Advocating for secure communication and libertarianism, Durov is a man who thinks independently and is as sharp in his thinking as he is in his execution.

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Where did you grow up?

I was born in Leningrad, USSR, before my father got an appointment at a university in Italy and we moved to Italy. I spend a few years there before my family returned to Russia. I sort of grew up in St. Petersburg.

Is there a pivotal moment in your childhood?

On the first trip to Italy when my family moved, I got left behind with my grandmother. I learned that I needed to rely on myself. I'm four years old, my parents are gone, my brother was also with them and I have to figure out how to spend my time. My grandmother is an old woman and she couldn't play and she was also working. It was an interesting moment in my life.

What were some of your early influences?

Obviously my brother is a big influence. My brother is a genius. When we went to Italy, he was on the local television channel as a prodigy, who could solve very sophisticated mathematical equations. He was only seven or eight years old but he could solve mathematical problems for fourteen year olds. He was really advanced in mathematics. He read a lot of literature and so he was extremely smart. When he was in school, he won pretty much every math competition. I learned a lot from him. I asked him questions about everything. I am very grateful for that.

What is a book you're most likely to give out to a friend?

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

On that topic, how do you manage your emotions?

First of all, I've been doing yoga for some time. Yoga and meditation. And you know, at some point you start to realize that our minds are in the neurological sense controlled by our bodies. We have to learn to reverse engineer our minds and our bodies, in order to identify the real reasons for our emotions. If you can do that, you can actually change the environment and get rid of certain factors that influence your decisions.

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How do you make sure that you think strategically?

It is thinking and evaluating different options, of what you can do today, next week, or this year. You shouldn't give up until you come up with something that really excites you. If you are in doubt about a decision, get some sleep and see how you feel when you wake up.

What thing do you attribute to getting things done?

I think passion, curiosity and the ability to simplify the process. Simplify means cutting everything that is redundant, superfluous, and just focus on the core.

What would you tell the man that is pre-occupied with many projects and needs to find focus?

I think I would tell him to keep looking. They should read books that have nothing to do with business and technology. Give your mind a break and give it time to just think about things.

This is a Peter Thiel question. What important truth do you believe in that few people agree with you on?

I think people should be allowed to self-organize more. Governments should be smaller. In fact, governments and countries in general are less important than we think they are. They take credit for processes they have nothing to do with. I believe in small governments or no governments. I think the majority of people want to have big government, a big brother taking care of them.

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What is success for you?

I think success is about being excited about the things you do and what you focus on.

What do you need to be happy?

People give too much attention to social status. For example, what difference does it make whether you live in London or in a small village? With the Internet, it doesn't make a difference. It is actually healthier to live in a village. Better air and it is much cheaper. People choose to live in expensive cities and then they pay enormous amounts of rent. The only reason they stay there is so that they get a job that will provide them enough money to pay for rent and pay for expensive stuff. It is a vicious circle.

How do you simplify your life?

You should get rid of other people's voices in your head. We're so much influenced by people around us. Our relatives, our friends, what they believe is success and not, and what is good and bad. We should get rid of that completely. In a way we should start to ignore everything that other people think or say about what we are doing. After that we should just focus on what we need.

How do you do that?

Spend more time alone or in silence and be happy about it and not in a miserable manner. People get addicted to the company of other people. For example, here in the US two people feel awkward when they sit in silence together. It is nice, people are nice to each other, but sometimes you have to have this space that is not affected by anyone else.

What was critical in making your companies successful?

Some people have this trait building things. They are curious what will happen after they build things. For me it even goes beyond that. The most exciting moment is when you build something, which could be used by other people to build something else. In other words, when you build a platform. When I first discovered the Internet, I was amazed by how you could build a website and other people would come and post their own content. I started my first project VKontakte with that in mind.

What are the most important traits for a founder?

One of those I already mentioned, the love for building things. Curiosity, self-discipline and passion. And persistence.

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How can you be focused yet still draw from many different insights?

What people don't realize about renaissance men or Julius Cesar is these people were not multitaskers in the sense that they were able to do several things at once. Some of them probably could do that, but the main thing about that is that they chose an area and they focused completely on building that. For example, building a sculpture. Then they switched to a painting, and did a great painting. At any exact moment in time they were focused 100% on one specific goal. They didn't try to do it all at once. One at a time. You can do many things, but in different moments of time.

How do you strike a balance between thought and execution?

I think there is a natural division between those things. On work days, you focus on execution and on the weekends you zoom out a bit and think about the whole picture.

When something is about to affect you how do you make sure that it does not affect you?

Typically, when something happens, something I cannot change, I prefer to focus on the good things, because there are always good and bad things for any events, even the most tragic ones. You just have to see them and focus on them. It is no use to keep being sad about something that you cannot change. You have to adapt to the situation and think what you can do with what you get.

How do you curate your relationships?

It is pretty simple for me. I communicate 90% of the time with the people that I work with. The rest 10% with my relatives, mainly my brother but I work with him.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Maybe the most important advice would be to not get too nervous about this. I am in a stressful business and now I understand better that you always need to stay calm.

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If could have dinner with anyone in history, who would you have dinner with?

Julius Caesar would be a nice person to dine with. This was a man who was a writer, a poet, and general, a politician, and a priest. I think that's a good combination. You could learn a lot from that multi-functional personality.
Pope Francis's dynamic papacy has been one of many firsts, the latest being the monumental meeting in Havana on February 12 with Russian Orthodox patriarch Kirill. A convergence of Francis's great emphasis on ecumenism with the geo-religious context of virulent persecution of Christians, both Orthodox and Catholic in Syria, and throughout the Middle East and North Africa have resulted in the unprecedented meeting in Cuba. The systematic slaughter of Christians at the hands of IS and emigration from their historic homelands in the Middle East unite the two churches in defense of Catholic and Orthodox populations that are in real danger of extinction.

Paving the way for the possibility of an historic rapprochement after a thousand-year divorce between Orthodoxy and Catholicism is the dire situation of Christians in Syria and Iraq and widespread Cristophobia throughout the Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East and Africa. Since both Christianity and Islam are proselytory religions that seek member-maximization, the myriad denominations of the world's two religions naturally compete for souls where national or regional conditions permit. For example, in Latin America where national governments allow for a relatively high degree of religious liberty, Catholics and Pentecostals compete vigorously for Mexican and Brazilian souls, among others. Indeed, the primary reason a Latin American was chosen pope was because of massive Catholics losses to Pentecostalism since the 1970s. The Catholic brand of Pentecostalism, known as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal has had some success in slowing the exodus to Pentecostal churches.

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While the Catholic Church complains vociferously about the poaching of members in Latin America, it attempts to convert Russians and Ukrainians to its brand of Christianity in lands that are historically Russian Orthodox. In fact, Catholic poaching attempts, which have been a spectacular failure compared to Pentecostal success in Russia and the Ukraine, have served as a major impediment to ecumenical dialog, until now. Beyond the initiative of protagonists such as Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill and Cuban premier Raul Castro, it is IS who has driven Catholicism and Orthodoxy into each other's arms.

Systematic persecution, including wholesale slaughter, of both Catholic and Orthodox communities in Syria and Iraq, has pushed historic Middle Eastern Christians to the brink of extinction, accounting for less than 4 percent of the region's population. A spokesman for the Russian Orthodox patriarchate, Father Vsevolod Chaplin recently spun Russian intervention in Syria in terms of a holy war. "The struggle against terrorism is a holy struggle and today, our country is the most active force in the world that is taking part in the struggle against [terrorism]. Not because she has any selfish interest in this, but because terrorism is an amoral force" http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2015/10/russia-syria-and-holy-war. Thus in the context in which the very survival of Middle Eastern Christianity is at stake combined with impressive Muslim growth in Africa and Asia gives common cause to two of the planet's largest Christian churches.

If the death cult known as IS sowed the seeds of ecumenical rapprochement in Havana, it was the bold initiative on the part of three world leaders that made it possible. First and foremost is Francis, the Pope of Peace who recently engineered the historic renewal of U.S.- Cuba relations. Ecumenism and interfaith relations have been a hallmark of his young papacy and his overtures to all denominations of Orthodoxy, of which the Russian is by far the largest, have been the sine qua non of making the unprecedented meeting at Havana's airport possible. As the head of the national church in Putin's Russia, Patriarch Kirill doesn't enjoy the type of autonomy that his Catholic counterpart does, but as the leading force for ecumenism even before he became the top cleric he astutely perceives the advantages of Christian unity in the face of Islamist aggression.

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He and I realized that negotiators in a very different realm  international trade  could benefit from observing the progress that was being made in the international climate policy realm in Paris. This led to a co-authored op-ed that appeared in the Boston Globe on December 7, 2015 ("What the WTO Can Learn from the Paris Climate Talks").

For many years, climate negotiators have looked longingly at how the World Trade Organization (WTO) was able to negotiate effective international agreements. But ironically, the Paris climate talks and the WTO negotiations, which were set to take place the following week in Nairobi, lead to the opposite conclusion. Trade negotiators can now emulate the progress made in the climate change agreements by moving away from a simplistic division between developed and developing countries.

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When developing countries accounted for a relatively small share of world trade, it was easy to grant all of them special treatment. But it has become impossible for developed countries to agree to additional liberalization without meaningful market-opening concessions by the large emerging economies, which will account for the majority of world trade growth in the future. Even though some have already liberalized unilaterally, many of these countries avoid making concessions at the WTO by claiming treatment as developing nations.

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In the trade sphere, a similarly nuanced approach with differentiated responsibilities that reflect different capabilities could be adopted by the WTO. Instead of all countries having to subscribe as either developed or developing countries, the WTO could finally move beyond the North-South divide that is embodied in almost every draft proposed in the current Doha round.
2016 Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, from left, Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, and Donald Trump, president and chief executive of Trump Organization Inc., talk on the stage next to John Kasich, governor of Ohio and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, right, at the end of the Republican presidential candidate debate sponsored by ABC News and the Independent Journal Review at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. The candidates are battling for next weeks primary in New Hampshire after Trump, the billionaire real estate developer and reality television star, finished second in the Iowa caucus on Feb. 1, behind Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Each of the candidates in Saturday's presidential debate boldly asserted that if elected, he would rebuild the U.S. military and restore its flagging morale. These assertions, however, rest on the mistaken assumption that the armed forces have actually been weakened. As always happens following a war, the U.S. military is undergoing a transformation that does require down-sizing some elements while building up others. Special Forces have been increased, and research and development of new weapons continues. There is no evidence that personnel in any of the armed services suffer from low morale. Fear-mongering of this sort may make for good politics, but it is a poor basis for strategy and a formula for wasteful defense spending.

Following every war in American history the U.S. military has downsized. The most dramatic cuts occurred following the American Civil War and World War I. The Pentagon was in the process of reducing its forces following the Second World War when the Korean Conflict and the onset of the Cold War led to a reversal of that trend. The forty-year stand-off with the Soviet Union and China required maintenance of a large standing force in peace time, an unprecedented situation that became the new normal. The end of the Cold War brought a new round of defense cuts as voters demanded a peace dividend. Viewed within this historical context, current proposed reductions do not seem so dramatic.

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Changes in U.S. military force structure should be viewed not simply as cuts, but as a re balancing of assets to meet contemporary threats with a leaner, more cost-effective defense establishment employing capabilities tailored to counter actual threats. The active duty army will be reduced from 490,000 to 450,000, but this reduction includes the short-term expansion required for the Iraq War surge. A reduction of 40,000 personnel does not, moreover, equate to the loss of 40,000 combat troops. The army has been working to improve its tooth-to-tail ration (the number of men and women in direct combat roles verses those in support functions). Conventional troops will be reduced, but Special Operations Forces, the personnel most likely to be deployed in today's security environment, will be increased from 66,000 to 67,900. The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force will experience much smaller force reductions without a loss of capability. High-tech weapons systems often require fewer personnel than traditional ones. Obsolete ships and planes will be replaced by new ones, which may require fewer people to operate them.

The military strength of a nation cannot be determined simply by counting the number of men and women in uniform and the ships, planes, tanks and artillery that they operate. A qualitative assessment needs to accompany any quantitative tally, and effectiveness lies in being able to match available assets to specific threats. By that standard, the U.S. military is as prepared as it has ever been to defend the homeland and protect American interests abroad. To take a single example, the U.S. navy will retain 10 carrier battle groups, as many as all other navies combined. In every other weapons category, the U.S. military enjoys a qualitative and/or quantitative advantage. Reasonable people may disagree about defense resource allocation, but to promise across the board increases without considering how personnel and equipment will be used or if they are even needed would be fiscally irresponsible.
Is Senator Bernie Sanders on the verge of morphing from protest leader into potential President of the United States? And would that be good or bad for what has been a strikingly successful cause-oriented campaign?

Hillary Clinton did what she needed to do last Monday; she won the Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses, something neither she nor husband President Bill Clinton succeeded in doing in their respective campaigns of 2008 and 1992. Had she lost, even by the very narrow margin by which she won, it would have been a disaster for her candidacy. With New Englander Sanders long slated to win the New Hampshire primary, the 0 and 2 start for Hillary would have been devastating. No one, and I mean no one, would have described a narrow Hillary Iowa loss as a "moral victory."

There are no ties in American elections. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were not co-presidents. If that's too ancient for the ahistorical, recall co-Presidents Al Gore and George Bush II.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders staged a very spirited debate Thursday night in Durham, New Hampshire, arguing, among other things, over whether or not Clinton is a "progressive."

Sanders, nevertheless, got a rush of mostly positive publicity from his powerful Iowa showing. His democratic socialist message, redolent with jeremiads about gaping economic inequality and a system manipulated by and for the super-rich, has tremendous resonance.

As a result, Sanders has shot forward in national polling, drawing nearly even with Hillary in one poll.

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On the other hand, Hillary, not exactly resting on her somewhat threadbare Iowa laurels, turned in a strong debate performance against Sanders Thursday night at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. And she has cut his big lead New Hampshire lead, going into the weekend before the primary, in half, in a daily tracking poll.

Talk about your mixed messages.

If Hillary does up a lot closer in New Hampshire than she was the day of the Iowa caucuses, does that mean she really won? Nope. Is it a moral victory? Kinda, for what little that's worth, not that Sanders enthusiasts will say it. Will a closer Granite State margin point up the limits of Sanders's post-Iowa surge? To an extent.

National polls always lag facts on the ground in the actual contest states. Underlying dynamics tend to trump, so to speak, seeming momentum.

The best question in the Democratic presidential race is still this one: Where will Bernie Sanders win outside of New England?

Of course, there is a a way to overcome underlying dynamics in a sequence of contest states that mostly favor Hillary -- more racially and culturally and ideologically diverse voters as we move away from the heavy fixation on the more activist-oriented Iowa and New Hampshire electorates.

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Put simply, the race is moving away from places where Hillary is not a "progressive" into places in which she is a progressive.

Sanders and Clinton had a big tussle over the term in the Thursday night debate. The media, true to form, shed far more heat than light on the argument.

If you think a progressive Democrat is a left-liberal or socialist -- and that's my experience with the term as it developed in the '70s and '80s -- then Hillary isn't really a progressive. Though she used to be one. (The American left, of course, repurposed the term from the early 20th Century usage, when a Progressive was a Teddy Roosevelt-style reformer.)

When Hillary calls herself a progressive, she's using another version of the term pertaining to a more pragmatic center/left approach, one which nonetheless does achieve some objectives associated with the left, though usually in more watered-down form. (Except when it comes to social liberalism like gay rights, which is not threatening to economic power elites.)

The question is whether or not many people believe that this latter version of "progressive" -- which the Clintons and their close ally, former "New Labour" British Prime Minister Tony Blair called "the Third Way" -- is too compromised to be credible.

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Which brings us to the potentially overriding dynamic of the Sanders message.

A rigged financial system, massive and growing inequality, a hollowing economy, anything-goes money politics ... What Sanders is complaining about is what is widely believed. It just hasn't had a tribune in presidential politics. In part, of course, because it is certainly not what most fundraisers want to hear. Sanders's democratic socialist solutions are against the grain but clearly what growing numbers of Democrats and independents are open to.

That goes double for much if not most of the young, among whom the curmudgeonly and avuncular Sanders is becoming a major cult figure. For them, free of Cold War conditioning, socialism is not communism but a real alternative to the bleak economy they face in the very uneven recovery of Barack Obama.

And, as I wrote seven months ago, with future technology likely to create even more "economically useless" people even as it solves the problem of scarcity, some form of socialism is a very live option. Especially when the alternative looks like more feudalism, albeit a technologized, socially mediated/narcotized, infotained feudalism.

In regard to which, it's interesting to note that broadcast network nightly news shows in 2015 devoted eight times as much space to the obviously spurious Tom Brady "Deflategate" scandalette as they did to Sanders's obviously rising presidential campaign.

Sanders has cracked the code of raising very big money online in small amounts. In January, he out-raised Hillary, $20 million to $15 million.

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So he's ready to roll with what he calls his "political revolution," with the message and the money feeding on one another synergistically to create, at least for now, a very neat perpetual motion machine.

With Democratic rules, unlike those of the Republicans, geared to proportional representation in delegate allocation, Sanders can run for a long time before being mathematically defeated for the nomination. Which also means that, if Sanders can find a way to start winning outside of New England, he is suddenly an actual threat to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

That is, paradoxically, a problem for him and for the Democrats. Because, make no mistake about it, Bernie Sanders is who the Republicans most want to run against. They've been chipping away at Hillary all this time to try to make the Democratic contest, well, a contest. Just check the constant framing on the Matt Drudge site.

Sanders's lack of presidential polish plays as authenticity for many, making a him a cult figure with the young and many others. But it also masks a lack of preparation and intellectual bandwidth to actually be the President of the United States. And his '60s alternative background may just provide a free-fire zone for a general election. But we're still a long way from that.

What we're not far away from is greater scrutiny of Sanders, and, with Nevada and South Carolina looming, learning how his support holds up absent a string of actual victories this month.

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images CHANDIGARH, INDIA - FEBRUARY 14: A young couple sharing a light moment in an open field on the outskirts of Chandigarh as they celebrated Valentine's Day, on February 14, 2015 in Chandigarh, India. Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a celebration observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a public holiday in most of them. (Photo by Keshav Singh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

MUMBAI -- With Valentine's Day round the corner, the country's financial capital Mumbai has topped the list of Indian cities for which couples looking for romantic escapades did online searches, according to a survey.

According to the survey conducted by leading hotel booking website Hotels.com, Mumbai has been the most searched domestic destination, followed by Delhi, by couples looking for some time together and to spend some cosy moments.

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Three destinations of Goa, namely Candolim, Calangute and Arpora, bagged the third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in the list, it said.

Karnataka capital Bengaluru was at the sixth position in the list, while 'Pink City' Jaipur in Rajasthan was at the seventh place.

Gurgaon (National Capital region), Chennai and Baga (Goa) stood at eighth, ninth and 10th positions, respectively, in the list, it said.

When it comes to overseas destinations, Dubai continues to top the list as the most searched romantic escapade, the survey said.

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Bangkok (Thailand) followed with second place, followed by Singapore, Patong (Thailand) and Bali (Indonesia) at the third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in the list.

In 2015, Dubai was the topmost foreign destination for Valentine's Day travel, followed by Singapore, Patong, Bangkok and Bali, the Hotels.com survey conducted last year said.

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MANJUNATH KIRAN via Getty Images India students from various colleges stage a candle light vigil in support of the Tanzanian nationals who were recently assaulted by a local mob, in Bangalore, on February 4, 2016.India police arrested five peole after an enraged mob attack on a Tanzanian student who was beaten, her shirt ripped off and car set ablaze in the city of Bangalore. India Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj branded the attack 'shameful' and demanded swift justice and punishment for those responsible, as she moved to defuse any diplomatic tensions over the incident. / AFP / MANJUNATH KIRAN (Photo credit should read MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images)

BENGALURU -- The Bengaluru Police has arrested eleven people till now in connection with the assault case on a Tanzanian student.

The police had arrested five accused on Thursday, four on Friday and arrested two more on Saturday.

Also based on the preliminary reports, the Karnataka Government has suspended five of its police officials for various charges of dereliction of duties.

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Scores of African students staged a protest yesterday against the attack on the Tanzanian girl student.

Also Read: Bengaluru Mob Strips And Parades Tanzanian Woman In A Case Of Mistaken Identity

The agitators raised slogans demanding justice for the victim and carried posters reading 'give justice to foreigners' and 'say no to violence'.

The victim, a BBA student and three of her friends were allegedly attacked by an angry mob after a 35-year-old female pedestrian was knocked down by a car belonging to Sudan on 31 January.

The mob beat up the students and set their cars on fire. The incident came to light on Tuesday when the victim approached the All African Students Union following which a complaint was made to the Tanzanian Embassy.

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National Women Commission Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam has registered a suo moto case and served a notice on the Karnataka Government. AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi also sought a detail report about the incident from the Chief Minister.

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Mario Tama via Getty Images RECIFE, BRAZIL - FEBRUARY 03: Mother Daniele Santos changes her baby Juan Pedro, 2-months-old, who was born with microcephaly, on February 3, 2016 in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. In the last four months, authorities have recorded thousands of cases in Brazil in which the mosquito-borne Zika virus may have led to microcephaly in infants. Microcephaly results in an abnormally small head in newborns and is associated with various disorders. The state with the most cases is Pernambuco, whose capital is Recife, and is being called the epicenter of the outbreak. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- The irony is complete, India has no reported cases of the dreaded Zika virus infection, but is the first country in the world to have ready for testing not one but two vaccines against the virus that is causing nightmares in the Americas.

Whether the Zika breakthrough from India becomes a full- fledged vaccine or not will be known later, but for the first time an Indian company has been nimble, fast and foresighted to beat the western pharma giants on their own game. One will have to wait and watch to see how the patent battle is fought, on this occasion the dice is already loaded in India's favour.

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This huge globally significant 'Zika biotech moment for India' could not have come at a more opportune time, the country is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the setting up of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) which started in 1986, under the leadership of the tech savvy late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The then land of snake charmers, elephants, and the 'Hindu rate of growth' has now transformed into innovation hub with current Prime Minister Narendra Modi another tech-savvy, science loving leader who has given the big challenge of 'Make in India' and 'Start-up India'.

The Zika virus vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad goes well beyond the prime minister's catchy slogans as it is truly a 'made in India' by Indians moment and the patent on the product is also Indian.

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The unbelievable story of the Zika virus vaccine breakthrough actually begins in 1996 with the remarkable tale of a middle class Tamilian farmer's son who trained to be a molecular biologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in USA deciding to come back to India. Krishna Ella, now the chairman-cum-managing director of Bharat Biotech was then egged by his mother to return to his motherland from USA.

Ella recalls his mother saying, "Son, you only have a 9-inch stomach and how much ever money you make, you can't eat more than that. You come back and do whenever you want, I will see to it that you get food! As long as I am alive, you will not starve."

Then 'start-ups' were not sexy, yet Ella took the risks and today he commands a USD 100 million company that specialises in vaccine production.

Having mastered the making of the world's cheapest hepatitis-B vaccine and the bulk supply of the oral polio vaccine of which Ella says he has supplied 3.5 billion doses among several other vaccines. Ella's company also partnered with Indian government to make the first-ever Indian-made vaccine called 'Rotavac', a vaccine against an infectious diarrhoea disease caused by Rota virus that afflicts children.

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Ella being a scientist himself invests a lot in research and development and that is probably what led him start work developing vaccines against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Chikungunya both viral diseases that are mosquito borne.

Ella says Chikungunya - the bone-breaking fever first entered India in 2006 possibly from Africa and his company was the first to have isolated and characterised the virus. Since then he said he worried about dreaded infections jumping the depths of the Indian Ocean, and says he feared about the Zika virus - originally isolated from Uganda in 1947 - making the leap since the mosquito that transmits the virus is the same that carries in its lethal bite the Chikungunya, JE and dengue viruses.

Ella says about 18 months ago his research group headed by Dr Sumathy initiated a gentle paced work on making a vaccine against the infectious Zika virus. India had no live specimens of the virus so importing it through official channels his research team got cracking. Ella says his dream was to make a 'vaccine for travellers' that in a single dose would give people immunity against Chikungunya, JE and Zika.

In July 2015, his team had a Eureka moment on Zika and were able to make two vaccine candidates. Hurriedly patents were filed. By then Zika had not exploded as a troublemaker on the global horizon.

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Bharat Biotech's vaccines now christened 'Zikavac' are ready for pre-clinical trials, this makes these two vaccines head and shoulders ahead of the other international efforts which are still literally efforts on the drawing board. The world is searching for an answer and the World Health Organisation (WHO) says "we have just been informed about the Zika vaccine candidate that Bharat Biotech has. We will examine it from the scientific point of view and see the feasibility of taking it forward."

Developing the necessary molecules that make up the vaccine is what this 1,000-personnel organisation based in the 'Genome Valley' of Hyderabad could do on their own. Here onwards the road is uphill. Ella says the struggle begins now as the Indian technocracy and the drugs regulatory system takes its own sweet time for approvals.

However, Ella's first hurdle is to convince an expert committee set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that the product and patent he is flaunting is scientifically worth pursuing since vaccine trials are not only very expensive but also need a lot of stamina to go through and failures are typical.

Interestingly, the government wing that should be most chuffed by this Zikavac development, the Department of Biotechnology has not even reacted and naysayers are already under cutting the Zika breakthrough.

Interestingly, India was the first country in the world that set up a separate Department of Biotechnology to nurture this sector three decades ago. Then the department had a modest budget of Rs 5 crore, compared to this fiscal's allocation of about Rs 1600 crore that amounts to a 320 times jump in 30 years.

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Yet many believe the DBT has not lived up to its expectations in recent times since the most urgently-needed National Biotech Regulatory Authority India Bill has been pending with the Parliament almost shackling the sector to a huge slow down. The one big success from the DBT was the piloting of the introduction of the genetically-modified variety of cotton called Bt Cotton more than a decade ago, the first and only GM plant India has embraced.

The country then dithered when it debated the introduction of Bt Brinjal but then taking a moral high ground placed a 'moratorium' on its introduction. Today the government technocracy of the biotech sector is unable to take a decision whether Indian farmers should be given an opportunity to grow GM Mustard, even as the country spends scarce foreign exchange importing edible oils.

The Indian biotech sector is today worth about USD 7 billion and according to the National Biotechnology Development Strategy unveiled a few weeks ago, the target is to make it into a USD 100 billion industry by 2025.

However, for that to happen relevant legislations need to be passed post haste. In addition, what needs to be ensured is that executive powers come back to rest with the executive.

India may be the only country in the whole world where the Supreme Court has been deliberating for several years on whether genetically modified crops are good or bad for the country.

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It is for governments to decide on such important national policies, not judges of the apex court howsoever learned they may be. Ultimately, trust has to be rested with experts by putting in place an impartial and transparent regulatory system.

The real test of the government on whether it truly supports the Indian biotech sector would become tangible if it understands the huge first mover advantage that Bharat Biotech has given to India through its foresight and disease forecasting ability to position a Zika virus vaccine well ahead of others.

As Union Science Minister Harsh Vardhan is fond of saying 'IT' meant 'India Today' and on the same lines 'BT' means 'Bharat Tomorrow' and for that to happen the ball is really in Prime Minister Modi's court who can use his good offices to push for early assessment of the Indian Zikavac vaccines.

Ella requests that Modi himself intervene by supporting a project which embodies all of what Modi stands for 'Make in India; Start-up India; healthy India', he believes the visionary prime minister that Modi is, could use the first mover advantage that Bharat Biotech has given to India for what he describes 'vaccine diplomacy'.

Ella suggests that if Modi, who is known for his out-of-box foreign policy initiatives, can now win lots of diplomatic Brownie points by transferring the technology to a friendly country like Brazil which is reeling under the impact of the Zika epidemic.

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Since as they say 'a friend in need is friend indeed' and today both South and North America could hugely benefit by India's large hearted magnanimity to mitigate a global health care emergency.

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Whether it's pizza or Chinese, Thai or Indian, everybody has their own takeaway favourite, but which are the favourites in Hull? Ben Blosse looks at the top 20, according to TripAdvisor.

1) Dope Burger

This "shack" in west Hull has long had a reputation for serving the juiciest burgers around at a tasty price.

One reviewer said: "Took the family as the hype had reached fever. Got a selection of different burgers and we were all blown away by the outstanding quality. I will be back."

13 Anlaby Road, west Hull. Call 07884 552426.

2) Ruby Spice

Ranked as the best Indian takeaway around, Ruby Spice stands out from the crowd in a busy corner of Hull and is regularly praised by customers as a "hidden gem".

"My family swear by it," one reviewer wrote. "Fantastic food and great prices. Highly recommended for a good night."

36 Cottingham Road, north Hull. Call 01482 492563.

3) Pie

The city centre branch of this Hull favourite is highly rated by customers, with one saying: "Good selection of pies. Favourite here is the jerk chicken. Always get some takeaways for later."

202 Newland Avenue, 408 Cottingham Road and St.Stephens Plaza in the city centre. Call 01482 224405.

4) Wokkas

Thousands have probably walked past this Chinese restaurant and takeaway, but fans say it is worth stopping for.

One reviewer said: "Although small in size it's big on taste and value. Everything cooked fresh and good portion sizes."

3 Brook Street, Hull city centre. Call 01482 329626.

5) Raj Pavilion

With a clutch of awards and hundreds of fans, this Beverley Road Indian is a familiar favourite.

"The food is great, never had a bad meal," one reviewer said. "I would rate it as the best Indian in the whole of Hull."

56a-58 Beverley Road, Hull. Call 01482 581939.

6) The Persian

The Persian's authentic Mediterranean mix has won a legion of loyal customers since it opened.

One reviewer said: "Fantastic little gem of a restaurant. Loved it, and will return."

Unit 1, Princes Court, Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 343442.

7) The Madras

Described as "honestly the best curry house I have been to", by one reviewer, this Indian is rated highly by TripAdvisor users.

249-251 Anlaby Road, west Hull. Call 01482 213321.

8) East Park Chippy

A Hull favourite, the highest rated chip shop on the list has dozens of fantastic reviews.

One reviewer said: "Well worth other good reports. Fish fresh and flavoursome, chips memorably tasty and a special patty included."

520 Holderness Road, east Hull. Call 01482 703730.

9) Maharajah

The high-quality food and cheap takeaway options keep its customers returning.

"Excellent tasty food, brilliant value for money, great atmosphere will definitely recommend it and will be going again," said one customer.

245 Holderness Road, east Hull. Call 01482 224647.

10) Go Dutch Pancake House

Bringing a taste of the continent to Hull, this restaurant has won a loyal following. A must-visit  especially so close to Pancake Day.

One reviewer wrote: "This is one of my fave places to eat in Hull. I'd encourage anyone who has not yet been to go."

Paragon Square, Hull city centre. Call 01482 223525.

11) Uno's

The highest Italian on the list, this Avenues eatery is well-known for its tasty and affordable pizza.

One reviewer said: "Great food and choice, specials usually available. This is one of our favourite places on the Avenue."

74 Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 348282.

12) Fish and Chip Kitchen

Although it is a new addition to Hull's restaurant scene, its fish and chips, available to take away, are already receiving rave reviews.

"The food was absolutely delicious," said one reviewer. "I will say the best fish and chips I have had in a very long time."

78 Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 440400.

13) Thai House

For something a little different, try this Thai restaurant and takeaway in the Avenues.

One reviewer said: "Excellent food, a good range of choices."

51 Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 473473.

14) Yinjibar

Praised by one reviewer as the best Chinese restaurant they have ever visited, this city centre eatery was described as having varied and unusual choices at the right price.

1 Charles Street, Hull city centre. Call 01482 228998.

15) Da Gianni

This popular Avenues Italian is always busy, but luckily it also offers takeaway options.

One reviewer said: "The food is wonderful, there is the usual range of pizza and pasta but, in addition, lots of tasty authentic dishes."

48 Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 343908.

16) Papa's Fish and Chips

The "biggest fish and chip restaurant in the world" has also garnered a reputation for its top quality takeout, with the quality of the food often mentioned by customers.

One reviewer wrote: "First time visit and won't be the last. Superb meals. fish excellent, very fresh. Great batter, and the doorstop bread a nice touch."

Great Gutter Lane West, Willerby. Call 01482 651255.

17) Le Crepier Papin

A somewhat different addition to the list, this French bistro does exactly what it says on the tin, with its crepes and baguettes always firm favourites.

One reviewer said: "I will be going again, and would highly recommend to anyone that wants a fantastic meal at a great price."

12 Newland Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 341535.

18) Bengal Lounge

This Indian restaurant's takeaway menu includes all the dishes you would expect, with a few house and chef specials thrown in as well. Enough to suit all tastes.

One reviewer said: "It's consistently really delicious food. The spices are perfect."

31-33 Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 473945.

19) Zaras

Known for its tasty Indian food at an affordable price, the second Zaras in East Yorkshire has proved a success after opening in 2014.

One reviewer said: "Food was excellent. All of us ordered different curries and tried all, best ever taste."

61 Princes Avenue, west Hull. Call 01482 446446.

20) A&M Fisheries

What better way to round off a Hull takeaway list than with a fish and chip shop?

One reviewer described A&M as a regular treat. They said: "We are never disappointed. The staff are always friendly and give the place a great atmosphere and the food is always great. They do the best fish in Hull."

1137 Hessle Road, west Hull. Call 01482 561150.
'Need to Take Clearance From Govt': BCCI President on Whether India Will Travel to Pakistan For Asia Cup
Stakes are high in Popes visit to Mexico

Notre Dame, Indiana - When Pope Francis travels to Mexico February 12-17, he will visit six cities - including two in the state of Chiapas, Mexicos poorest state - and will celebrate a Mass in Ciudad Juarez across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. The first pope from Latin America, where 40 percent of the worlds Catholics live, he will be touring the country thats home to the second largest Catholic population in the world.

According to Timothy Matovina, professor of theology and co-director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, the fervent response in Mexico during previous papal visits will no doubt be surpassed to welcome the first Latin American pope. This is a defining trip for the papacy of Pope Francis, as he will be able to address concerns ranging from immigrants to drug cartels to government corruption and the need for responsible leadership. He will also have ample opportunities to engage in his memorable gestures during visits to native peoples, to the U.S.-Mexican border, and to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the most frequented shrine in the hemisphere.

All in all, Pope Francis and the Mexicans both should be ready to be changed by this historic encounter, said Peter J. Casarella, associate professor of theology at the Notre Dame. Last March, Pope Francis spoke to the Mexican reporter Valentina Alazraki of Televisa and confessed his eagerness to enter Mexico through the U.S. border, his love for La Morenita, his concern about the growth of evangelical Christianity in Mexico, and his fondness as a child for the actor Cantinflas.

In the last 11 months, the expectations of the Mexicans and the world have only risen. Pope Francis knows that the stakes are high. The practice of Catholicism in many parts of the country is in need of renewal. His speech to civil society will allow him to speak about transparency and accountability in the public sphere. His visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe will confirm that the Argentine Popes heart is very close to that of the Mexican people, but the apostolic journey will be by no means sentimental and merely pious.

The cross-border Mass at Ciudad Juarez/El Paso, Texas, will symbolize the popes solidarity with those migrants caught in the desert between the two countries," Casarella said. "He will also be able to speak to the feminicide  the mass murder of innocent women  that has taken place in Ciudad Juarez. The homily of the pope when he is among the indigenous people in Chiapas could strike another note of solidarity, one which he has displayed, for example, in his speech last July in Bolivia at the World Meeting of Popular Movements.

Luis Ricardo Fraga, Arthur Foundation Endowed Professor of Transformative Latino Leadership, Joseph and Elizabeth Robbie Professor of Political Science and co-director of the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame, noted that Pope Francis visit underlines the historical complexity of the relationship between the Mexican people and the Catholic Church. It was Spanish colonizers who brought Catholicism to Mexico and used it to both justify the conquest of its indigenous peoples and to claim that the indigenous, as children of God, had the right to be converted to Catholicism, Fraga said.

The challenges that Mexico continues to face regarding economic development and income disparity are directly aligned with the agenda Pope Francis has established for todays Catholic Church. His messages of a preferential option for the poor and the need for greater stewardship of the worlds natural resources directly relate to the lives of the citizens of Mexico. These messages should be very well received by many of Mexicos Catholic faithful.

Moreover, it is important to see if his declaration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, a year of consolation and forgiveness, will have any impact on redirecting the ways that ever-growing narco trafficking has led to death, exploitation and fear for many Mexicans. Moreover, it will be just as important to see if his message of mercy will have any impact on the growing challenges that Mexican and Central American migrants face as they attempt to come to the United States to build futures for themselves and their families. His decision to visit Juarez, Mexico, will give him a direct opportunity to influence how governmental leaders in the U.S. and the general American public respond to undocumented immigrants.
Justice Department Reaches $470 Million Joint State-Federal Settlement with HSBC to Address Mortgage Loan Origination, Servicing and Foreclosure Abuses

Washington, DC - The Justice Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, along with 49 state attorneys general and the District of Columbias attorney general, have reached a $470 million agreement with HSBC Bank USA NA and its affiliates (collectively, HSBC) to address mortgage origination, servicing and foreclosure abuses.

This agreement is the result of a coordinated effort between federal and state partners to hold HSBC accountable for abusive mortgage practices, said Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. This agreement provides for $370 million in creditable consumer relief to benefit homeowners across the country and requires HSBC to reform their servicing standards. The Department of Justice remains committed to rooting out financial fraud and holding bad actors accountable for their actions.

This settlement illustrates the departments continuing commitment to ensure responsible mortgage servicing, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The agreement is part of our ongoing effort to address root causes of the financial crisis.

Even as the mortgage crisis recedes, the U.S. Trustee Program will continue to combat mortgage servicer abuse of the federal bankruptcy laws so that homeowners are given their legal right to try to save their homes, said Director Cliff White of the Justice Departments U.S. Trustee Program. Homeowners in financial distress sometimes depend on chapter 13 bankruptcy to help them catch up on their payments. When banks violate bankruptcy laws at the expense of homeowners and other creditors, they must pay a price. This settlement holds HSBC accountable for its actions and helps to protect the most vulnerable homeowners.

Mortgage servicers have a responsibility to help struggling borrowers remain in their home, not to push them into foreclosure, said General Counsel Helen Kanovsky of HUD. This agreement is another example of how multiple agencies in the federal government and state attorneys general across the country are working to make sure the mortgage industry treats consumers fairly.

This agreement not only provides relief to borrowers affected by HSBCs past practices, it puts in place protections for current and future homeowners through tough mortgage servicing standards, said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. For years weve worked together to hold mortgage servicers responsible for their past conduct. Were doing that here through this settlement and well continue to address bad conduct in the future.

The settlement reflects a continuation of enforcement actions by the department and its federal and state enforcement partners to hold financial institutions accountable for abusive mortgage practices. The settlement parallels the $25 billion National Mortgage Settlement (NMS) reached in February 2012 between the federal government, 49 state attorneys general and the District of Columbias attorney general and the five largest national mortgage servicers, as well as the $968 million settlement reached in June 2014 between those same federal and state partners and SunTrust Mortgage Inc. This settlement with HSBC is the result of negotiations that, as has been reported in HSBC Holdings plcs Annual Report and Accounts, began following the announcement of the NMS.

Under the agreement announced today, HSBC has agreed to provide more than $470 million in relief to consumers and payments to federal and state parties, and to be bound to mortgage servicing standards and be subject to independent monitoring of its compliance with the agreement. More specifically, the settlement provides that:

HSBC will pay $100 million: $40.5 million to be paid to the settling federal parties; $59.3 million to be paid into an escrow fund administered by the states to make payments to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure between 2008 and 2012; and $200,000 to be paid into an escrow fund to reimburse the state attorneys general for investigation costs.

By July 2016, HSBC will complete $370 million in creditable consumer relief directly to borrowers and homeowners in the form of reducing the principal on mortgages for borrowers who are at risk of default, reducing mortgage interest rates, forgiving forbearance and other forms of relief. The relief to homeowners has been underway and will likely provide more than $370 million in direct benefits to borrowers because HSBC will not be permitted to claim credit for every dollar spent on the required consumer relief.

HSBC will be required to implement standards for the servicing of mortgage loans, the handling of foreclosures and for ensuring the accuracy of information provided in federal bankruptcy court. These standards are designed to prevent foreclosure abuses of the past, such as robo-signing, improper documentation and lost paperwork, and create new consumer protections. The standards provide for oversight of foreclosure processing, including third-party vendors, and new requirements to undertake pre-filing reviews of certain documents filed in bankruptcy court. The servicing standards ensure that foreclosure is a last resort by requiring HSBC to evaluate homeowners for other loss-mitigation options first. In addition, the standards restrict HSBC from foreclosing while the homeowner is being considered for a loan modification.

The agreement will be filed as a consent judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Compliance with the agreement will be overseen by an independent monitor, Joseph A. Smith Jr., who is also the monitor for the NMS and SunTrust settlement. Smith has served as the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks and is also the former chairman of the Conference of State Banks Supervisors. Smith will oversee implementation of the servicing standards required by the agreement, will certify that HSBC has satisfied its consumer relief obligations and will file regular public reports that identify any quarter in which HSBC fell short of the standards imposed in the settlement. The parties may seek penalties for non-compliance.

The agreement resolves potential violations of civil law based on HSBCs deficient mortgage loan origination and servicing activities. The agreement does not prevent state and federal authorities from pursuing criminal enforcement actions related to this or other conduct by HSBC, or from punishing wrongful securitization conduct that is the focus of President Barack Obamas Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group. State attorneys general also preserved, among other things, all claims against Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems. Additionally, the agreement does not prevent any action by individual borrowers who wish to bring their own lawsuits.

The Department of Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Agriculture, the Veterans Administration and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program also made critical contributions to reaching this settlement.
D.P.R.K. Missile Launch

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "The United States strongly condemns todays missile launch by the D.P.R.K. - a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions related to the D.P.R.K. use of ballistic missile technology.

"This is the second time in just over a month that the D.P.R.K. has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well. We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan. We will continue to work with our partners and members of the UN Security Council on significant measures to hold the D.P.R.K. to account.

"Now is the time to do so in a firm and united way, with measures that make clear the determination of the international community to address the pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities by the D.P.R.K. and this most recent destabilizing and unacceptable challenge to our common peace and security."
Ambassador Richard Olson Travel to Pakistan

Washington, DC - Ambassador Richard Olson, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, traveled to Islamabad on February 6 to participate in the third meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG). The QCG is a partnership between Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the United States that seeks to promote a conducive environment for the commencement of Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace talks aimed at reducing violence and establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region.

Ambassador Olson also met with senior Pakistani government officials to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.
Shashi Tharoor, Cat or Lettuce? UK PM Liz Truss's Resignation Has Twitter Looking for New Contender
Business / Companies

by Ray Bande

Amalgamating diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa will benefit thousands of villagers in the district, Mutare West National Assembly representative Dr Christopher Mushohwe said on Friday.Government has a 50 percent stake in the five diamond miners firms operating there.The miners were supposed to contribute US$10 million each to the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Scheme to finance development projects, but none did.At a no-holds-barred meeting in Chiadzwa, Dr Mushohwe  who is Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister  commended Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa for restoring sanity to the sector.Village heads and officials from diamond mining companies, the Mines and Mining Development Ministry and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation attended the meeting.Dr Mushohwe said, "We are aware some people are still residing in this area because they have not been relocated. These people are now left without farming or grazing land. Some of them had their houses damaged because of the rock blasting done during mining activities."They are leading a miserable life, yet the companies operating here are paying a deaf ear to their plight. It is sad that this is going on after Anjin Investments, one of the companies here, handed over a US$1.5 million dummy cheque to the Head of State."He continued: "They lied to the President and it is now four years down the line; no money has been given to the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Scheme."We are now saying the consolidation of mines will help in terms of accountability. It was quite cumbersome for Government to monitor all activities in Chiadzwa as the companies were playing hide-and-seek. Now that we are going to be in control, as Government, we will ensure the people of Marange benefit from these God-given gems."In fact, there are 6 800 hectares reserved for the people of Marange as a mining concession that we hope will also be taken note of in the transition to consolidating mining companies. The good thing is that ZMDC actually noted that on their map and I was made to understand the area has not yet been mined."I have no doubt that this will see us benefit as locals. This is one of many measures that have been taken by Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa. He has done a wonderful job since he took over that ministry given that it was actually in shambles."Dr Mushohwe also said: "It is painful that wherever we travel, we see cities that have benefited from resources mined in that particular area, but the same cannot be said about this area. The city called Jo'burg was built from the proceeds of diamond mining in the area."Back here in Zimbabwe, you go to areas that are being (mined) by Mimosa or Zimplats, you can see real development coming from the companies operating there. Why do the rules have to change when it comes to Marange? That is unacceptable."ZMDC board chair Mr David Murangari said, "I am actually shocked by the state of affairs here. There is virtually nothing to show for the diamonds that the whole world was made to know were being mined here.''Not even the roads, nothing. It is shocking, to say the least."
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At long last Bernie Sanders and his Hollywood doppelganger Larry David came face-to-face on Saturday Night Live.

The show, which was hosted by the Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm comedian, featured a brilliant sketch in which David played his famously disagreeable character on the presidential campaign trail.

Bern Your Enthusiasm, as it's been called, hearkens back to David's celebrated imitation of the curmudgeonly Senator in October of last year.

Sanders, however, didn't feature until later in the show, starting by picking a fight with David on a steam ship destined for America way back when.

David, whose character is desperate to get a place on lifeboat as the ship is sinking, invites the wrath of Sanders' social justice warrior, who rants about the privelged 1 per cent and tries to distinguish 'democratic socialism' from regular 'socialism'.

Sanders jokes that he'll change his last name Sanderwitzky "so it doesn't sound quite so Jewish" to which David replies: "That'll trick them."

The popular left-winger isn't the first presidential candidate to drop by New York for an SNL appearance this campaign; Donald Trump danced to Drake's 'Hotline Bling' a few months ago; and Hillary Clinton played a tough talking bartender called Val not long ago.

Neither is this the first time that Sanders has tried his hand at comedy, appearing two low budget rom-coms in the 1980s and 90s.
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As viewers in their millions tuned in to find out what happens to Count Bezukhov and Natasha Rostova in the final episode of War and Peace, a relative of its author Leo Tolstoy joined in the chorus calling for more of the great novelists work to be adapted for the small screen.

Oleg Tolstoy, a photographer who lives in London and has released The Tolstoys in the 21st Century, a book of portraits of the modern-day Tolstoy dynasty, said when he started watching it was really exciting and hoped audiences would understand more about the author and his work. He hoped the door would open to more adaptations.

Recommended Read more Tom Harper on being nervous about directing War and Peace

The great thing about this adaptation is its now more accessible to the wider audience and might encourage people to read the novel that might never have thought of doing so before.

He did say the strong British accents began to grate adding: I could understand why someone would draw similarities to Downton Abbey.

His call came as the series producer said she hoped more television adaptations of classic literature in translation would follow, and not just the usual suspects.

Last night marked the sixth and final episode of the BBCs epic adaptation of Tolstoys 1869 literary masterpiece which follows five families through the trials and tribulations of the Napoleonic wars with Russia.

The producer Julia Stannard, who worked on the adaptation for three years, said the team was adamant it was not going to dumb down the book and called for more weighty foreign literature to be adapted.

We do all get, possibly tired of the same pieces of literature being adapted again and again, adding there was a whole world to explore, she told The Sunday Telegraph.

Ms Stannard called for adaptations of other Russian writers as well as Italian and French, and is herself keen to adapt existentialist authors such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus.

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The process of turning the 1,300-page novel into a popular Sunday-night drama made the producers realise they should never underestimate your audience, she said. Dont be afraid of things that feel inaccessible and impenetrable.

A total of 5.1 million viewers tuned in last week for the penultimate episode but with many storylines left unresolved the BBC took the unusual step of granting a late extension from an hour to 80 minutes.

Charlotte Moore, controller of BBC TV channels and iPlayer, said the last episode delivered beyond expectation and added the emotion will leave the audience pining for more.

There is more period drama heading to the small screen. Next month ITV is to broadcast an adaptation of Anthony Trollopes novel Doctor Thorne, while later this year on BBC1 is a three-part adaptation of Joseph Conrads classic novel The Secret Agent, set in 1886 in London.

The writer Tony Marchant said: Conrads depiction of 19th-century terrorists committed to the destruction of the West, with a suicide bomber in their midst, was not only prophetic but is undeniably contemporary and compelling.

Another recent costume drama success on the BBC was Poldark, which returns for a second series in 2016 starring Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson, after the first series peaked with 9.4 million viewers.

A literary adaptation that starts production in the summer is a four-part television version of Howards End, the E M Forster novel that was first published in 1910. It explores the changing landscape of social and class divisions through the stories of three families.

Whats next? Big ideas for the small screen

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The murder of landowner Fyodor Karamazov changes his four sons lives forever Written in 1880, it has been adapted before, though there have been no major productions in the UK.

The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Published posthumously in 1958, it is about the decline of an aristocratic family in Sicily, beginning with the landing of Garibaldi. Adapted for Radio 3 in 2008.

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Flauberts first novel, about a doctors wife who has adulterous affairs to escape the humdrum life in a provincial Normandy town. A mini-series in the UK in 2000.

The Red and the Black by Stendhal

Chronicle of the rise of Julien Sorel from carpenters son to the heart of Parisian society. It is a satirical take on corruption-riddled French society after Waterloo.
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One of the worlds oldest methods of transporting goods is making an unlikely comeback. Sailing ships, which kept the British Empire in tea, sugar and tobacco, are back in vogue as a green alternative to conventional shipping.

Wine, coffee, cacao beans and rum are among the items filling holds on a growing number of ships that are reviving old trade routes more than a century after the advent of steam engines ended the golden age of sail.

Restaurants such as Noma in Denmark and eco chef Tom Hunts Poco, which has branches in Bristol and London, sell wine that arrived under sail. New Dawn Traders, an organisation set up by Jamie Pike, a Bristol-based environmentalist, to transport goods using wind power, imports rum, chocolate and coffee on a Dutch ship, Tres Hombres. Our aspirations are beyond just trading. We want to inspire people; to reconnect consumers with producers, said Mr Pike.

Martyn Heighton, head of National Historic Ships, an advisory body that reports to the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, thinks the market will expand. There is growing trade for symbolic cargos, he said.

Five years after Guillaume Le Grand, who runs the French sailing freight company Wind Transport (TOWT), first spotted the possible marketing leverage, the 12 ships he uses carry 155 tons of cargo a year. Even with predicted growth of 50 per cent this year, he acknowledges their freight efforts are a drop in the ocean, but added: People have a growing interest in wind power.

The Cutty Sark was one of the last tea clippers to be built, and one of the fastest (Getty)

One of the ships TOWT uses is Grayhound, a lugger which was built by a British couple, Freya and Marcus Pomeroy-Rowden, in 2011 and can carry five tons of cargo. We work with small family businesses in France and the west of England. We take Devon and Cornish ale over to France and bring back wine, said Mrs Pomeroy-Rowden.

Jorne Langelaan, a former captain who set up the Dutch shipping company Fairtransport, which owns Tres Hombres, hopes that drawing attention to how goods are transported will prompt people to think more about how much they are buying. Pollution from motor shipping is enormous, but indirect environmental damage, because its so cheap to send goods by container ship [that people buy more and more products], is even worse, he said.

One of the ships his company uses, Nordlys, was built in 1873, which makes her the oldest cargo vessel still sailing in the newest business to be developed, he added. Although wind is free, the labour-intensive nature of the industry means goods imported under sail will always be more expensive. But Mr Le Grand estimates that the additional cost on a 6 (4.60) bottle of wine is only about 30 cents.

Freya Pomeroy-Rowden's Grayhound can carry five tons of cargo

It is way cheaper in the long run if you calculate the people who dont die because of lung disease caused by emissions and the possibilities of reducing climate change, Mr Langelaan said. Scientists have estimated that the biggest 15 container ships in the world create as much pollution as all the cars on the planet.

Other wind-powered cargo initiatives around the world include the Vermont Sail Freight Project and the Sail Transport Network in the US, and Fijis Greenheart Project.
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Parisians who need raw meat 24/7 are now well catered for after the city installed its first meat-dispensing vending machine.

The machine was installed outside a butchers shop in the 11th Arrondissement of the French capital and offers products including a faux-filet of beef, Bayonne ham from the Basque country, and beef carpaccio.

Local media report the machine sells products at market prices - with the cost of two pork chops around 3.85.accepts - and accepts credit and debit cards.

Owner of the Basque butcher's shop LAmi Txulette, Florence Pouzol, told the Telegraph: The vending machine offers a selection of our products which we prepare and vacuum-pack ourselves. We wanted to give our customers an additional service when the shop is closed.

The vending machine is not the first to dispense food other than snacks in Paris. In 2011, baguette vending machines became popular after a baker installed one next to his boulangerie.

The rise of vending fresh food from machines is a reaction to Frances reluctance to open stores seven days a week, coupled with the desire for easily accessible fresh produce.

The machine cost around 10,000, and follows the launch of four other meat vending machines in the French provinces. While a cheese vending machine opened in 2015 in the eastern town of Pontarlier, the rise of fresh-produce machines is concerning critics who worry for the state of the French high street.

Emmanuel Gripon, an official of the French Bakers Federation, told the Telegraph:I oppose these machines because they stop people coming into our shops. Its contributing to the desertification of the countryside and it harms the social life of communities.

Food and drink news Show all 35 1 /35 Food and drink news Food and drink news Healthy living makes us more inclined to binge, research suggests Gluten-free breads, dairy-free milks and other plant-based products have been some of the most favoured foods in British supermarkets this year. However, while were busy filling our shopping trolleys with gluten-free goodness, were also jamming it with junk food and alcohol, new research suggests Getty/iStock Food and drink news Growing list of Vegan celebs Making the switch to veganism is a major lifestyle choice, one that many claim can improve energy levels, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and clear up any skin issues. Beyonce, Natalie Portman and Jessica Chastain are among the growing list of Hollywood stars who have eschewed animal products from their diets in recent years. Theres also been an increasing number of professional athletes who have gone vegan, such as boxing champions Mike Tyson and David Haye, thus debunking the myth that following a plant-based diet will leave you feeling weak and malnourished. AFP/Getty/NARAS/iHeartMedia Food and drink news McDonald's has announced the launch of a new vegan burger on its menu in Germany This will mark the first time the German franchise of the fast food chain has offered a vegan burger to its customers. The Big Vegan TS burger consists of a patty made from soy and wheat. It is served in a classic sesame seed bun, and contains salad, tomato, pickles and red onion. McDonald's Germany Food and drink news Drinking too many protein shakes could lead to an increased risk of obesity and a reduced lifespan, a new study has claimed Researchers from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre carried out an investigation to determine the impact excessive consumption of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) has on the body. BCAA supplements are often consumed in the form of powder, which is then added to water to make a shake. Published in journal Nature Metabolism, the study found that while BCAAs help to build muscle, they can also negatively impact an individual's temperament, cause weight gain and lead to a shortened lifespan Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Britain consumes more chocolate than any other country Most people love chocolate but it turns out no one does more than the Brits  with the average Brit found to have consumed 8.4 kg of chocolate in 2017, according to new data. Chocolate consumption around the world is on the rise, according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), which found that in the past year alone, Easter chocolate production has risen by 23 per cent Food and drink news 'Easter eggs should be banned for children under four' Dr Becky Spelman, chief psychologist at Harley Streets Private Therapy Clinic, is calling for Easter eggs to be banned for consumption for children under the age of four, claiming that giving them the opportunity to binge on chocolate so young will give them an unhealthy relationship with food later on. "This is a nightmare situation for parents of this generation as they have no idea how to teach their children to delay their response to cravings, she said, explaining that too many young kids binge on these chocolates because their parents dont know how to stop them. "Once a child starts overeating behaviour at a young age its very hard to turn things around for them in terms of food and their eating habits moving forward, leading to obesity from at very young age," she added PA Food and drink news Pineapple overtakes avocado as the UK's fastest-selling fruit According to Tesco, pineapple has overtaken avocado as the UKs fastest-selling fruit, with sales increasing by 15 per cent in 2017. In comparison, avocado sales rose by just under 10 per cent last year. The popular supermarket says the surge in popularity comes as shoppers buying the versatile fruit are beginning to use it as a main ingredient in everything from curries and barbecues, to juices and cocktails Getty Food and drink news Marks & Spencers launches stoneless avocados Rather than the result of genetic modification, the avocados are formed by an unpollinated avocado blossom. The fruit develops without a seed which in turns stops the growth, creating a small, seedless fruit. Whats more, the skin is actually edible, unlike a regular avocado. The flesh is much like that of a normal avocado - smooth and creamy, pale in colour and rich in flavour M&S Food and drink news Office teabags contain 17 times more germs than a toilet seat, reveals study The average bacterial reading of an office teabag was 3,785, in comparison to only 220 for a toilet seat. Other pieces of kitchen equipment also stacked up highly in their findings, with the bacterial readings averaging at 2,483 on kettle handles, 1,746 on the rim of a used mug and 1,592 on a fridge door handle Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news New study shows drinking more coffee leads to a longer life There is good news and a final hope for coffee addicts and lovers. You will now be able to drink coffee for longer as new study shows its can lead to a prolonged life. Scientists showed that those who drank between two and four cups of coffee a day had 18% lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers. PA Food and drink news Coke Zero is replaced with Coke Zero Sugar Coca-Cola is pulling the plug on its Coke Zero. The much loved drink will be replaced with a new improved taste. The move, backed with a 10 million campaign, is said to come from Coca-Cola supporting people to reduce their sugar intake. Coca-Cola want people make this move while not sacrificing sugary taste of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Food and drink news Starbucks introduce new avocado spread The avocado craze has grown from hipster brunch restaurants to Starbucks. Starbucks have introduced their new avocado spread earlier this year and it has the internet in debate. Some argue that it not a spread but guacamole while others question if there is any avocado in there at all. When buying the new spread you can also buy an optional toasted bagel. It is a must try for all avocado connoisseurs. Starbucks Food and drink news New Mars chocolate bar The iconic British chocolate bar is about to get its partner in crime. The new bar, named Goodness Knows, will replace the gooey caramel goodness of the mars bar with oats. It is said to be more like a Florentine biscuit with a thin dark chocolate bottom. While being moderately healthy Mars says that is has good intentions. One pack has 154 calories and will sell for about 90p. Mars Food and drink news Wine prices could increase because of Brexit Wine lovers across the UK might soon have to shell out close to a quarter more for their favourite tipple after Brexit, as a weaker pound and sluggish economy takes its toll, a new study shows Rex Food and drink news Chocolate may be good for the heart A new study, published in the British Medical Journal: Heart, found that moderate chocolate intake can be positively associated with lessening the risk of the heart arrhythmia condition Atrial Fibrillation Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Brits throw away 1.4 million bananas each year British families are throwing away 1.4 million bananas that are perfectly good to eat every day at cost of 80m a year, new figures have shown PA/Armin Weigel Food and drink news Rosemary sales spike over exam time There has been a surge a surge in sales of the herb rosemary after a recent study found it helps improve memory. According to high street health food chain Holland & Barrett, sales of the herb have increased by 187 per cent compared to the same time last year Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Gluten-free diets 'not recommended' for people without coeliac disease Avoiding wheat, barley and rye in the belief that a gluten-free diet brings health benefits may do more harm than good, according to a team of US nutrition and medicine experts Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Starbucks launches two new coffee-based drinks Starbucks is launching two new coffee-based drinks in the UK, as it strives to tap into consumers growing appetite for healthy beverages. The Cold Brew Vanilla sweet cream and the Cappuccino Freddo, will both be available in stores throughout the UK from the start of May Twitter/@SbuxCountyHall Food and drink news Cadburys Dairy Milk Tiffin is making a permanent comeback after 80 years The Cadbury Dairy Milk Tiffin, first produced in 1937, is making a permanent comeback to the UK. The raisin and biscuit-filled chocolate bar is being launched after a successful trial last summer saw 3 million chocolate treats  at the cost of 1.49 for each 95g bar- purchased by nostalgic customers Cadburys Food and drink news Pizza restaurant makes worlds cheesiest 'Scottie's Pizza Parlor' in Portland Oregon has created the worlds cheesiest pizza using a total of 101 different cheese varieties. Facebook/Scottie's Pizza Parlor Food and drink news A pizza joint in Portland Oregon has created the worlds cheesiest pizza using a total of 101 different cheese varieties. Why not eating before a workout could be better for your health A study published in the American Journal of Physiology by researchers at the University of Bath found you might be likely to burn more fat if you have not eaten first Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news New York restaurant named best in the world A New York restaurant where an average meal for two will cost $700 has been named the best in the world. Eleven Madison Park won the accolade for the first time after debuting on the list at number 50 in 2010. The restaurant was praised for a fun sense of fine-dining, blurring the line between the kitchen and the dining room Getty Images Food and drink news Why you crave bad food when youre tired Researchers at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in Chicago recently presented their results of a study looking into the effects of sleep deprivation upon high-calorific food consumption. Researchers found that those who were sleep-deprived had specifically enhanced brain activity to the food smells compared to when they had a good nights sleep Shutterstock Food and drink news Drinking wine engages more of your brain than solving maths problems Drinking wine is the ideal workout for your brain, engaging more parts of our grey matter than any other human behaviour, according to a leading neuroscientist. Dr Gordon Shepherd, from the Yale School of Medicine, said sniffing and analysing a wine before drinking it requires exquisite control of one of the biggest muscles in the body Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news British dessert eating surges after people ditch healthy eating in February : In heartening news for anyone feeling guilty about quitting their New Year diet, it seems lots of us have given in to our sweet tooths once again. New data from nationwide food-delivery service Deliveroo reveals there was a surge in Brits ordering desserts in February compared to the first month of 2017 Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news US congress debates definition of milk alternatives A new bill has been created that seeks to ban dairy alternatives from using the term milk. Titled the DAIRY PRIDE Act, the name is a tenuous acronym for defending against imitations and replacements of yogurt, milk, and cheese to promote regular intake of dairy every day. It argues that the dairy industry is struggling as a result of all the dairy-free alternatives on the market and the public are being duped too Getty Images Food and drink news Cadburys launches two new chocolate bars UK confectionary giant Cadbury has launched two new chocolate bars, hoping to lure those with a sweet tooth and perhaps help combat some of the challenges it faces from rising commodity prices and a post-Brexit slump in the value of the pound.The companys new products will be peanut butter and mint flavoured. They will be available in most major super markets as 120g bars, priced at 1.49, according to the company Cadburys Food and drink news You can now get a job as a professional chocolate eater The company responsible for some of your favourite chocolate brands  think Cadbury, Milks, Prince and Oreo  have officially announced an opening to join their team as a professional chocolate taster. The successful candidate will help them to test, perfect and launch new products all over the world. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news MSG additive used in Chinese food is actually good for you, scientist claims For years, weve been told MSG (the sodium salt of glutamic acid) - often associated with cheap Chinese takeaways - is awful for our health and to be avoided at all costs. But one scientist argues it should be used as a supersalt and encourages adding it to food. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Lettuce prices are rising Not only are lettuces becoming an increasingly rare commodity in supermarkets, but prices for the leafy vegetables seem to be rising too. According to the weekly report from the Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a pair of Little Gem lettuces had an average market price of 0.86 in the week that ended on Friday, up from an average of 0.56 in the previous week  thats an almost 54 per cent increase. Getty Images Food and drink news Do-It-Yourself restaurant To encourage more people to cook and eat together, IKEA has launched The Dining Club in Shoreditch  a fully immersive Do-It-Yourself restaurant . Members of the public can book to host a brunch, lunch or dinner party for up to 20 friends and family. Supported by their very own sous chef and maitre de, the host and their guests will orchestrate an intimate dining experience where cooking together is celebrated and eating together is inspirational Mikael Buck / IKEA Food and drink news Ping Pong menu with a twist Gatwick Airport has teamed up with London dim sum restaurant Ping Pong to create a limited edition menu with a distinctly British twist; including a Full English Bao and Beef Wellington Puff, to celebrate the launch of the airports new route to Hong Kong Food and drink news Zizzi unveil the Maamgharita Unique pizza art has been created by Zizzi in celebration of the Queens 90th birthday. The pizza features the queen in an iconic pose illustrated with fresh and tasty Italian ingredients on a backdrop of the Union Jack Food and drink news Blue potatoes make a comeback Blue potatoes, once a staple part of British potato crops, are back on the menu thanks to a Cambridge scientist turned-organic farmer and Farmdrop, an online marketplace that lets people buy direct from local farms. Cambridge PhD graduate-turned farmer, Adrian Izzard has used traditional growing techniques at Wild Country Organics to produce the colourful spuds, packed with healthy cell-protecting anthocyanin, which had previously disappeared from UK plates when post-war farmers were pushed towards higher-yielding varieties

However, many people welcome the machines as a convenient source of fresh produce. Comments on Facebook have been overwhelming positive. User Veronique Houdebert said it was an excellent idea and that she would use it this weekend, while another customer said the butchers should be "very proud."
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Jeremy Hunt was made to sit and listen live on TV to the complaints of junior doctors who said they were despairing and close to quitting medicine  and that it was all his fault.

The Health Secretary was scheduled to speak on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show to launch a new initiative for a paperless NHS, but the interview was dominated by the still-raging row over the junior doctors contract.

Mr Hunt was doing a decent job, it seemed, insisting that the issue was largely one of misinformation spread by the British Medical Association (BMA) union.

He asserted that doctors were set to get more money and would actually be working fewer hours, despite the fact that they will be asked to cover more weekend shifts while the premium they are paid for working those shifts is reduced.

But he appeared to squirm in his seat when presenter Andrew Marr changed tack, opting instead to read out some of the letters the programme has received from junior doctors around the country.

He said: Rachel Clarke is a doctor in Oxford, she says: Mr Hunt has made me feel demoralised, insulted and cheap. He implies we are the problem  well I give my life to the NHS.

Its so grim on the frontline now, I sometimes work 14 or 15 hours straight without a second even to eat. I have never felt so despairing or so close to quitting medicine.

In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK 20,000 Junior Doctors marched through central London in protest at the new contract changes the government is trying to impose which they say will be unfair and unsafe In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors protest in London In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK 4 year old Cassius takes part in a demonstration in Westminster, in support of junior doctors over changes to NHS contracts, London In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Protest over proposed changes to junior doctors' contracts, Leeds In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors and NHS staff protesting against the health service cuts and the proposed contract changes offered by the government outside Parliament In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors and NHS staff protesting against the health service cuts and the proposed contract changes offered by the government outside Parliament In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Over 5000 junior doctors rallied in Waterloo place, before marching through Whitehall and onto Parliament Square, in opposition to Jeremy Hunt's new working conditions for doctors In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Demonstrators listen to speeches in Waterloo Place during the 'Let's Save the NHS' rally and protest march by junior doctors In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors marched in London to highlight their plight In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK A protester at a demonstration in support of junior doctors in London

Andy King, a registrar from Oxford, says: With so many patients to see I am absolutely petrified, Im too exhausted to look after them safely.

If we are stretched even more thinly over 7 days Im certain patients are going to die.

This is what they are saying. One final one, Jane Jenyon from Hereford says: The profession is at absolute breaking point. I see doctors in tears because they are so despairing about what the future holds.

Jeremy Hunt has done this. He is driving away a whole generation of doctors.

Those are the voices of doctors right now. Thats what they feel.

Mr Hunt was forced to accept that we need to do something to improve the morale of junior doctors, but he said the blame for that did not fall to him.

Clearly moved, he said: This is incredibly disappointing that [sic] the totally irresponsible way the BMA has behaved, refusing to sit down and talk about how we can improve patient care and spreading misinformation

Junior doctors are set to strike on 10 February after talks between medics and managers broke down last week, the BMA said. Doctors overwhelmingly voted to take action late last year by 98 per cent on a turnout of over 70 per cent.
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A Government health adviser personally commissioned by the Prime Minister to review benefit claimants has criticised his suggestion that people with obesity-related health issues should lose payments if they refuse treatment.

There is no evidence that cutting benefits  something David Cameron proposed last year  would work in making people lose weight and it could be counterproductive, warns Dame Carol Black.

One of Britains most senior medical figures, Professor Black is an expert adviser at the Department of Health. Last year Mr Cameron asked her to conduct an independent review on how to get people who are obese, or addicted to drugs or alcohol, into work. More than 9,000 people are on benefits because of obesity-related health problems, according to the Government.

It is not fair to ask hardworking taxpayers to fund the benefits of people who refuse to accept the support and treatment that could help them get back to a life of work, the PM said when announcing the review.

But speaking ahead of the publication of her report, Professor Black said: Theres no evidence that taking things away from people  will get us to where we want to be. On the contrary, there is some evidence that doing that may in fact have the opposite effect.

Her comments, on a review which has yet to be published, were made during an interview for BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs being broadcast on 7 February.

How do you trigger the right response in people, because lecturing people, bashing them on the head, on the whole we know doesnt get us there, Professor Black said.

And treatment alone will not succeed in getting people off benefits and into work: You need to ensure a person has a home, you need to ensure that there is in-work support, maybe support for up to a year, and I would like to see that support for work becoming part of treatment.

When asked this weekend for confirmation that the report was due to be published, a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson claimed no date had been set. Professor Black refused to comment when approached by the Independent on Sunday. It is understood her remarks came as a surprise to the DWP, which did not respond when asked whether it was aware that Professor Black would be appearing on the BBC programme, and which declined to comment on her remarks.
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Antibiotics that were banned on US chicken farms a decade ago over links to the spread of potentially deadly bacteria in humans are being used in significantly increased quantities by the British poultry industry, an investigation has revealed.

Industry figures obtained by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism show that UK poultry producers raised their use of a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones by 59 per cent in the latest 12-month reporting period  despite evidence that they could be fuelling drug resistant forms of dangerous food poisoning illnesses in humans, including campylobacter, salmonella and E.coli.

The antibiotics are used on factory farms where chickens and other poultry are intensively reared in crowded conditions that can encourage the spread of disease.

But serious problems arise because the same class of drugs are also used in human medicine to treat people who suffer severe cases of foodborne infections.

Experts warn that their overuse in livestock farming has encouraged the bacteria behind these infections to evolve and become immune to the antibiotics effects.

That means consumers who contract the bugs  often from infected poultry meat  and subsequently develop complications may not respond to antibiotic treatment.

Professor Mike Catchpole, one of Europes leading infectious disease experts and the chief scientist at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), told the Bureau there was already evidence of an association between drug-resistant salmonella and excess mortality  and that patients seriously ill with resistant forms of campylobacter were at greater risk of death or infections.

It is for these reasons that fluoroquinolones have been banned in poultry production in the US, as well as Australia, Finland and Denmark.

Yet unpublished figures compiled by the British Poultry Council (BPC)  which represents about 90 per cent of the UK industry  show that its members have increased their use of the drugs, using 1.126 tonnes of fluoroquinolones in 2014 compared with 0.71 tonnes the previous year.

The increased use of the antibiotics  which is not illegal in the UK  indicates that at least 20 million more chickens were given a dose of the antibiotics in 2014. The Bureaus revelations have prompted calls for fluoroquinolones to be immediately withdrawn from use in British poultry farms.

Coilin Nunan, a scientific adviser with the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, said the shocking and alarming 59 per cent rise was likely to have real consequences for human health.

He said: The Government should ban all use of fluoroquinolones in poultry because we know resistance is transferring from chickens to humans. This is why the US banned fluoroquinolone use in poultry a decade ago.

Labours shadow Environment Secretary, Kerry McCarthy, said: Experts have long been warning that widespread antibiotic use in farming risks undermining their effectiveness in human medicine. These figures show that more needs to be done to reduce their use.

Antibiotics are widely used in livestock production to prevent and treat illnesses. While farmers say their use is vital for animal welfare, critics say the drugs are often used to compensate for dirty, overcrowded conditions that can encourage the spread of disease.

The US Food and Drug Administration outlawed the use of fluoroquinolones in chicken farming in 2005 after resistance to the drugs was found to be developing in campylobacter samples in poultry flocks. Campaigners have for several years been calling on the UK authorities to follow suit.

They are also concerned about a lack of transparency about the level of usage on Britains farms. Although farmers are required to keep records of antibiotics administered to livestock, and vets should maintain details of antibiotic prescriptions, this data is not currently collated by the industry regulator, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

An agency in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the VMD publishes overall sales data for veterinary antibiotics annually but not details of antibiotic usage. This means health officials have little idea why  and in what quantities  the drugs are being used on individual farms.

In a statement to the Bureau, the VMD acknowledged that current data collection of antibiotic use on farms could be improved, saying it was a priority area of the VMDs work on antimicrobial resistance.

A spokesperson said: The overuse of antibiotics in farming is a major issue worldwide, and we are working closely with countries across the world to monitor it so that we can take action.

There is particular concern about antibiotic resistant cases of campylobacter, Britains most common type of food poisoning. The bug infects up to 300,000 people, puts 1,000 in hospital and kills about 100 each year. Contaminated poultry is blamed for four in five cases.

A major ECDC study that analysed human campylobacter cases in a number of EU countries from 2013 found that 60 per cent were resistant to ciprofloxacin. It also said 62 per cent of poultry birds infected with the bug were found to be carrying the resistant strain.

The ECDCs Professor Catchpole said: There are lines of evidence that strongly suggest that the use of antimicrobials [which include antibiotics] in food-producing animals not only results in the occurrence of resistant bacteria in the exposed food-producing animals but also in humans.

Despite cautioning that most food poisoning cases were self-limiting, with victims recovering naturally without the need for antibiotic treatment, he said that in some cases  primarily in patients with compromised immune systems  the infections can cause systemic disease with possibly fatal outcomes.

Drug-resistant bacteria have been associated with excess mortality for salmonella and with greater risk of death or invasive infections for campylobacter, he said.

Treating infections due to resistant bacteria is a challenge: antimicrobials commonly used are no longer effective and doctors have to choose other antimicrobials. This may delay getting the right treatment to patients and may result in complications. Also, a patient may need more care as well as alternative and more expensive antimicrobials, which may have more severe side-effects.

The British Poultry Council said that it had taken a leading role in reducing the use of antibiotics, with a particular focus on those drugs of critical importance for human medicine. A spokeswoman said: The BPC and its members recognise the importance of fluoroquinolones for human medicine, and we will continue to work with our members to significantly reduce the usage of all classes of antibiotics including the fluoroquinolones.

Additional reporting by Jack Serle

The drugs dont work: resistant bacteria

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics were developed in the 1970s and first used in human medicine in the 1980s.

The drugs are used for treating human food poisoning illnesses such as campylobacter, salmonella and Ecoli.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified fluoroquinolones as being critically important to human healthcare, and said the use of the substances on livestock farms should be curtailed.

This is because of growing global evidence that the overuse of the antibiotics on factory farms is fuelling the development of drug resistant forms of food poisoning bugs.

Concerns over the links between fluoroquinolone use on farms and antibiotic resistant bacteria were raised as far back as 1998, when a House of Lords committee urged the poultry industry to reduce its use of fluoroquinolones.
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There are more stillbirths per head in the UK every year than in Poland, Croatia and Estonia.

The figures, which will be published by the Office for National Statistics later this year, show there were 3,564 stillbirths in the UK in 2014 - and the stillbirth rate of 4.6 per 1,000 births has barely fallen in recent years.

The data was released early to the Sunday Times by the stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands to highlight the agony still suffered by thousands of parents every year.

A separate study in medical journal The Lancet found that Poland, Croatia and Estonia now have lower rates of stillbirth than Britain.

In addition, the annual rate in stillbirths has fallen just 1.8 per cent since 2000 - compared with 6.8 per cent in the Netherlands and 3.5 per cent in Poland.

The Royal College of Midwives said there were a critical shortage of 2,600 midwives in England.

It said a survey had found more than two-fifths of maternity units were forced to close temporarily on at least one occasion because they could not cope with demand.

Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave Show all 8 1 /8 Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8168.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8169.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8170.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8171.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8172.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8173.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 8174.bin Childbirth crisis: From the cradle to the grave 7363.bin

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said there were still very few hospitals that had an obstetrician or consultant present 24 hours a day despite a declaration it made in 2007 to have them in all hospitals by 2010.

One parent, Zoe Andrews, whose daughter Evie was stillborn in July 2011 after midwives failed to monitor her heartbeat properly, told the Sunday Times: It still haunts me to this day, seeing nurses hold and clean my daughter in a bucket after she was delivered.

Charlotte Bevan, of Sands, said: Our progress is way behind countries like the Netherlands, who are moving four times faster than we are to save lives.

Its devastating for families not just to think that their child might have lived if only theyd received the right care, but also to know that another child tomorrow will die in similar circumstances because units arent implementing guidance.
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Schools across England are still relegating timeless literature, scientific wonders and great historical events to a back seat in the classroom in favour of teaching pupils joyless skills and processes, the minister in charge of educational standards has warned.

In a robust attack on the teaching profession, the schools minister Nick Gibb said he had witnessed countless examples of pupils being taught in ways that systematically expunged subject content in favour of fashionable processes and concepts that denied children the joy of learning.

And he attacked educationalists who argue that learnt knowledge is less important in the age of Google, saying it is no more possible to think fluently on a given topic with the help of the internet than it is to talk fluently in a foreign language with the help of a bilingual dictionary.

Mr Gibbs comments, in a speech at Durham University, echo the complaints of the former Education Secretary Michael Gove who accused schools of spending too much time teaching children a disconnected set of topics with little understanding of how they fit together.

However, his remarks have infuriated teaching unions which pointed out the Conservatives have already made extensive changes to the curriculum since 2010.

Knowledge is a vital component of education, said Russell Hobby, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers.

You cannot be properly creative without it, nor can you solve challenging problems without mastering some basic skills first. The majority of teachers would actually agree with this, I think, so the minister should be wary of painting too bleak a picture.

Christine Blower, of the National Union of Teachers, said Mr Gibbs views were profoundly wrong (AFP/Getty)

Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, added: Nick Gibbs views are profoundly wrong. He is wrong about teaching and he is wrong about learning in schools.

In his speech, Mr Gibb said during his time in office he had visited around 400 schools and was often struck by the failure of teachers to instil robust knowledge and context into their teaching.

As schools minister I watched thousands of classes, and have seen countless examples of this philosophy in action, he said. It always saddens me to see the thrilling content of education, be it timeless literature, scientific wonders, or great historical events, being relegated to a back seat, so that these joyless skills and processes can come to the fore.

He added: This philosophy had a marked effect on the quality of education that generations of children have received in Britain. Mr Gibb said that despite attempts at reform there remained many working within education who challenged the assumption that a core academic curriculum is a valuable inheritance for all pupils.

Such figures think it superfluous to know, for example, Oliver Cromwell from Thomas, he said. These views are superficially appealing. But I believe them to be profoundly wrong.

Mr Gibb also attacked those who claimed that technology meant that remembering facts was less important than it was before the age of the internet. It is mistaken to believe you can outsource your memory to Google and still expect to think well, he said.

International evidence shows that increased internet use in schools does not lead to higher academic outcomes. The five countries where pupils spend the least time using the internet in school  Poland, Japan, Hong Kong, China and South Korea  are all among the worlds highest achieving jurisdictions in international tests.
Business / Local

by Enacy Mapakame

CFI HOLDINGS, which was suspended from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange on January 29, 2016, continues to flirt with controversy following revelations by its second-largest shareholder, Mr Nicholas van Hoogstraten, that the company is technically insolvent.And in yet another twist to the saga, Mr van Hoogstraten himself is being probed by the ZSE for allegedly purchasing the company's shares at a time when it was in a closed period.CFI was suspending from trading for failure to publish its financials for the year ended September 30, 2015 despite being granted permission to report them a month after the deadline.Documents at hand indicate that management pleaded with the ZSE to be allowed to release the results by January 31, 2016, which was granted.But the company failed to meet that new deadline.Attempts to get another extension to March 31, 2016 failed.Listed companies are supposed to report their earnings within three months of their half-year or year-end trading period.Mr van Hoogstraten, who has a 21,6 percent holding in CFI through Messina Investments, however contends that the company is reluctant to show the market that it is insolvent."The company is insolvent," he said, adding: "The auditors need to qualify the accounts, which will show the company is insolvent."Why wouldn't they publish the accounts? Why are they trying to avoid the inevitable? These are just delaying tactics."Curiously, CFI has written to the ZSE advising that its three major shareholders  Zimre Holdings Ltd (28,2 percent), Messina Investments and NSSA (12,9 percent)  are backing a US$10 million re- capitalisation plan. Through the plan, Zimre is expected to inject US$4,49 million, Messina Investments US$3,44 million and the National Social Security Authority US$2,05 million."The group is working on a scheme of arrangement in its efforts to address the group's recapitalisation.''The directors believe that the publication of unaudited results may cause unwarranted alarm as to derail recapitalisation efforts underway as engagement of creditors has just commenced," said CFI Holdings Ltd in a letter dated January 22, 2016.Mr van Hoogstraten, however, professed ignorance on the existence of the plan, claiming instead that injecting more money into the business was unhelpful as long as the current management remained in place.But despite his stated misgivings with the present management, Mr van Hoogstraten has been ramping up his shareholding in the business.It is understood that on January 21, 2015, he purchased 3,3 million CFI shares for US$165 000 through Messina Investments.That deal has attracted the interest of authorities at ZSE as it could have breached certain sections of the bourse's listing rules, particularly on insider trading.Insider trading occurs when individuals with access to privileged information concerning a publicly listed company use that information to trade in the company's shares before that information is made public."It appears that the buyer is also one of the parties cited to participate in the recapitalisation. However, the parties are not directors, and therefore, ZSE reported the incident for further consideration by the Commission in light of the proposed recapitalisation transaction and the 2015 audited results that have not been released by the issuer," said a source privy to the goings-on.CFI's proposed scheme of arrangement  managed by accountants Grant Thornton  hinges on two phases: recapitalisation and disposal of non-core assets.According to a November 27, 2015 letter to its creditors, CFI Holdings Ltd said it planned to offload US$19 million worth of assets.It said prospective buyers for properties valued at US$11 million had already been secured."The board believes that a scheme of arrangement with the group's creditors is now the missing link to completing the full turnaround."The shareholders are requesting for your support to afford the business a stay of execution and litigation" read the letter.CFI Holdings Ltd is saddled with a huge debt overhang.Last year it swapped its 834-hectare Langford Estate in Harare for the cancellation of a US$16 million debt to Fidelity Life.
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At 25-years-old Emma Watson can now add visiting fellow of the University of Oxford to her resume alongside UN goodwill ambassador and successful actress and model.

Similarly, Benedict Cumberbatch, 39, is another name among a list of eleven newly appointed visiting fellows at Lady Margaret Hall college.

Watson is best known for springing into the public eye aged 11 playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchises. Since then she has had notable other acting roles and devoted her time to feminism, launching the UN campaign He For She which encourages men to help in the fight for gender equality.

People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015.

Watson is not new to Oxford University having attended Worcester College in 2011 during her studies at Brown University in Rhode Island in the US.

As well as being famed for his roles in the TV series Sherlock and films such as the Imitation Game, in the past year Cumberbatch has used his platform to draw attention to the refugee crisis.

The principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Alan Rusbridger  the former editor-in-chief of the Guardian  also appointed author Malorie Blackman and one half of the Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant, as fellows.

A visiting fellows position normally lasts for around three years and fellows are encouraged to join the University for debates, performances and social occasions.

Rusbridger said his appointees are people drawn from a variety of backgrounds, callings and professions and we want them to form a bridge between our own academic community and the worlds they inhabit and represent.



Additional reporting by Associated Press.
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A second man from west London has been named as a member of the Isis execution squad spearheaded by so-called Jihadi John.

The group, known among their captives as The Beatles because of their British accents, were led by Londoner Mohammed Emwazi and have been described as some of the most brutal jailors in Isiss ranks.

A second man in the terror cell can now be named as Emwazis friend Alexanda Kotey, according to an investigation by Buzzfeed News and the Washington Post, which first named Emwazi as Jihadi John.

Kotey, a 32-year-old convert who attended the Al-Manaar mosque in Ladbroke Grove, west London, alongside Emwazi, has separately been named by ITV News. The mosque has condemned their actions. The UK Foreign Office has declined to comment on the latest developments.

But according to the Post, Koteys identity has been confirmed by a US official and other people familiar with British nationals in Syria.

It remains unclear whether Kotey was the jailor known as Ringo or George  significant because those were the names they have gone by in previous accounts of their atrocities from hostages who were released.

George, according to a memoir by Danish hostage Daniel Rye, was the most violent and dominant of the group of British-accented jailors. Ringo reportedly kicked Rye 25 times in the ribs as a gift on his 25th birthday.

Between them, the four members of the Beatles cell tortured dozens of hostages and beheaded 27, including seven British, American and Japanese hostages and 18 members of the Syrian army.

A third man who also attended mosque with Kotey and Emwazi, Aine Davis, has previously been named as another suspect member of the Isis cell.

Davis was detained along with a group of other alleged Isis militants by Turkish police in Istanbul at the end of last year, and intelligence services said the group may have been planning an attack similar to the Paris shooting elsewhere in Europe.

According to Buzzfeed News, Kotey is half-Ghanaian, half-Greek Cypriot and grew up in Shepherds Bush as a fan of Queens Park Rangers.

He reportedly converted to Islam in his early twenties, and left two young children in Britain when he travelled to Gaza in 2009 as part of a controversial aid convoy organised by George Galloway.

It is unclear when he travelled in to Syria, or his whereabouts now. When Emwazi was killed in a drone strike in November 2015, an associate reportedly died alongside him in the same attack  whether that was Kotey remains unknown.
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White men are among the worst in Britain when it comes to doing household chores, while black Caribbean men are the most likely to do their fair share, a study has found.

Compared to men from other ethnic backgrounds, black Caribbean men were more likely to share housework equally with female partners, as well as to have more egalitarian attitudes towards gender roles.

The study, conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, found white men were among the worst in Britain in terms of the hours of housework they put in.

White men were no more likely to share housework equally than men from other ethnic backgrounds, and tended not to have egalitarian views on statements suggesting a womans place is in the home rather than at work and vice versa.

The study looked at the behaviour of almost 30,000 married and cohabiting people from more than 12 ethnic backgrounds.

Results showed that, on average, men from all ethnic groups do about 30 per cent of the housework, with female partners picking up the rest. This amounts to about six hours of housework per week for men, compared to 14 for women.

Overall, the study found very little difference between ethnic groups in terms of what percentage of the housework is done by men  the majority hover around the 30 per cent average.

Black Caribbean men, who pick up 40 per cent of the housework, are the closest to doing their fair share. Men in the other Asian category (not Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian or Chinese) follow close behind.

Pakistani men have a notably smaller share in household chores  with an average of 17 per cent of the housework being done by men.

Though they are about average in terms of the percentage of the housework they do, in terms of actual hours spent on housework white British men are among the worst, with other Asian and black Caribbean men once again putting in the most work.

Out of the 12 ethnic groups looked at, only Pakistani and white other men spend fewer hours on domestic tasks than white British men.

Professor Heather Laurie, who co-conducted the study, told the Guardian: We found both differences and similarities among ethnic groups, but were surprised to see that in multicultural Britain today, white British couples are not necessarily the most modern and egalitarian in their outlook on housework.

The study also looked at participants attitudes towards gender roles, providing them with a series of statements such as a pre-school child is likely to suffer if his or her mother works and a husbands job is to earn money; a wifes job is to look after the home and family.

Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed to these statements on a five point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

Participants were then given a score corresponding to their answers, ranking on a scale between -2.5 (the least traditional views) and 1.5 (the most traditional).

Results showed that the majority of participants had a negative score, implying a more egalitarian approach to gender across ethnic backgrounds.

The most traditional views were found to be held by Pakistani men, who averaged a score of 1.26. Pakistani women were the only group of women who had a positive average score (0.708).

Black Caribbean men were shown to have the most egalitarian attitudes towards gender roles, with a mean score of -2.2. White British men, with a score around -1.4, have a significantly less egalitarian attitude in comparison.

This may reflect a strong history and culture of black Caribbean women being in paid employment, the study states, making combining family life and paid work the norm for this group.
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The number of rape allegations linked to online dating websites has increased sixfold in five years, according to Britains leading crime-fighting body.

National Crime Agency (NCA) figures show 184 people made allegations they were raped by someone they met online in 2014  up from 33 in 2009.

Rape tends to be under-reported and those attacked by people they meet online may be less likely to come forward, meaning the actual number of attacks could be 10 times higher, the NCA warned.

Sean Sutton, head of the NCA's Serious Crimes Analysis Section, said: Part of our campaign is to encourage people to come forward. Our message is the police will take them seriously and deal with them sympathetically."

"You can't see a stranger rapist coming; they are going to be charming potentially they are going to be persuasive," he said.

"If you think you can see one from a distance or even up front, you can't - that's the issue."

More than nine million Britons have signed up to dating websites and the NCA is advising users to be more careful.

Some 85% of stranger rape victims are women of which 42% were aged between 20 and 29 and 24% between 40 and 49.

George Kidd, chief executive of the Online Dating Association, which is supporting the campaign, said: "Sexual assault or abuse is never acceptable. Even one incident of harm is one too many.

"The NCA is right to look at what happens online and the ODA are already working with them in getting the right messages out to people."

The news comes after an investigation revealed alleged crimes involving dating apps Tinder and Grindr increased sevenfold between 2013 and 2015.

Tinder has been contacted for comment.
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In many respects, restaurateurs Jim Cowie and Melinda McRostie have little in common  one lives on the cold northern coast of Scotland, the other on a Greek island.

But an apparently trivial connection  Mr Cowie runs the Captains Galley in Scrabster, Caithness, while Ms McRostie owns The Captains Table on Lesbos  and a shared concern for the plight of refugees fleeing Syrias brutal civil war has given rise to a most unlikely global fundraising drive.

As hundreds of thousands of people poured through the northern port of Molyvos within sight of the harbourside Captains Table, Ms McRostie, originally from Australia, was moved to take action, providing food, blankets and other essentials to people who had survived the short but treacherous crossing from Turkey. She even set up her own refugee camp on land beside the restaurant and a charity, the Starfish Foundation, to raise funds for the relief effort.

More than 3,000 miles away in Scotland, Mr Cowie heard the story from a family friend in Canada, Karen Connolly, who happened also to be a friend of Ms McRostie. Although Mr Cowie has never met Ms McRostie and has never even spoken to her, he was so awed by what she was doing and the strength of the connection he felt because of their restaurants similar names that he felt he had to do something.

And now he is writing to every restaurant in the world with Captain in its name to ask them to host a special charity event in honour of The Captains Table on Lesbos and the Starfish Foundation.

I just feel Im in such such a privileged position. Id love to be able to help them [at The Captains Table]. Their lives have been 100 per cent turned on its head, he said. I wanted to see if we could raise the maximum to help the refugees. Id like us all to link up and do some theme nights.

Ive emailed 24 Captains Galleys and three Captains Tables and Im adding more as I go. Im explaining about the foundation and the people theyre helping, and just ask each person to do something.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

Because February is so quiet for Mr Cowie, he is waiting to get some responses before he holds an event at his own place. Were going to have Starfish as our preferred charity. But it needs more than just a wee collection box for loose change. It might end up with an auction night. Well see, he said.

As restaurant names go, Captains Galley might seem unoriginal, even hackneyed. But it was special to Mr Cowie, a former fisherman. When he was considering a name for the business, his thoughts turned to an old family favourite from Florida holidays past called, yes, Captains Galley. And for 14 years, one dish has provided him with a daily reminder of that original American incarnation.

Blackened saithe is his version of the cajun-spiced blackened grouper he would order every time his family visited Captains Galley in Fort Pierce. It was a dish chosen because of his love of the food there but also his commitment to sustainability  all the fish he serves comes from 50 miles of Britains most northerly mainland port. It helped him to win the top prize in the 2015 Sustainable Restaurant Awards.

With the amount of fish landed in Scrabster, I never wanted to fly grouper halfway round the world. Saithe, which the Irish call black pollock, ticks every sustainable box. It handles the hot cooking with the spice, he said.

In years gone by, The Captains Table would normally close in the winter. But this season it has remained open to feed the large number of volunteers who are helping to deal with the exodus. More than 500,000 refugees and migrants passed through of Lesbos last year.

Ms McRostie described how she would receive calls from overwhelmed port police, begging for her help. There they were, right in front of us. What do you do? You help, she said. The main thing is theyre freezing cold. We give them emergency blankets, if the port police havent, and sandwiches. The real problem is shoes; we never have enough.

Nominate your favourite ... and win

Today is your last chance to influence the Food Made Good Awards 2016, in partnership with The Independent on Sunday. Readers are invited to nominate for, and then judge, the Peoples Favourite category. We want you to tell us about the restaurant that leaves you with a full stomach, a happy heart and a great taste in your mouth.

By nominating, youll have a chance to win dinner, bed and breakfast at one of eight fabulous boutique Red Carnation hotels. The winner, chosen at random, can pick the hotel they prefer. You can see the hotels at redcarnationhotels.com

The shortlist will be published on 21 February; T&Cs apply. For more details and to make a nomination, visit foodmadegood.org/awards/peoples-awards/
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Apart from the white Renaults slow pace, and the occasional puff of something out of its window, the Oxitec frontline vehicle looks just like any other of the vans that criss-cross Piracicaba each morning, before the town is quite awake. It follows the same route most days: crawling down the Rodovia do Acucar, past the Unimep university and Delta Supermarket, until the sun is high in the sky, and all the cargo disposed of.

Then the driver  no longer carrying anything precious  hits the accelerator and turns back to a factory some 60km away. Curiously, the van doors never open. And a local not informed of what Oxitec does might be not only intrigued, but rather enraged, to see that  on closer inspection  those little puffs are formed of thousands of mosquitoes. Sitting in the back of the van, an Oxitec employee shakes pots of 1,000 mosquitoes each out into the street  via the medium of a cone and a bladeless fan  at release points signalled to him on an iPad. It is the creatures first breath of fresh air.

They hover for a moment, in something of a daze, before dispersing hither and thither to search for the particular sound of female wingbeats. So goes the release of the only genetically modified insects in existence: Aedes aegypti by appearance; OX513A, as they are titled in the Oxitec catalogue.

Aedes aegypti, in its natural form, is the vector for Zika, a virus that  like the insect itself  originated in Africa. The simplest way to stop Zika spreading is to remove its vector, and with the World Health Organisations (WHO) announcement earlier this week that Zika constitutes a public health emergency, suggestions for how to kill aegypti, quickly and in large numbers, have assumed vital importance. As with Ebola, the last public health emergency, old-fashioned methods top the pile. During the Ebola crisis, in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, people were warned not to shake hands or hug, and to burn the bodies of the dead. In Brazil, soldiers are going door to door, explaining that aegypti can breed in even the smallest of pools, such as the dregs in a can of Coke; women have been advised not to get pregnant; and fogging machines drive up and down city streets, pumping out insecticide.

 What is Zika virus?

It was in not altogether dissimilar fashion that the American epidemiologist Fred L. Soper chased a malaria-carrying mosquito out of Brazil in the 1930s (and other species in the decades that followed). Soper, though, was a rare kind of zealot, the sort of man who would have a mountain moved if it exposed a family of Anopheles Gambiae. He lost 27 pounds in three months on the job, as he climbed gutters and personally inspected homes. Also aiding the purge was the Brazilian brand of politics: the country was then under the control of Getulio Vargas and his military junta; personal liberties came a distant second to the war on the mosquito. It is impossible, Soper was known to say, to eradicate mosquitoes in a democracy.

The Zika virus - in pictures Show all 5 1 /5 The Zika virus - in pictures The Zika virus - in pictures A three-month-old, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil. A rise in microcephaly cases is thought to have been caused by the spread of the Zika virus in affected countries Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A mother holds her baby who has microcephaly Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A five-month-old baby, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A pediatric infectologist examines a two-month-old baby, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A baby affected with microcephaly

That sums up the task President Dilma Rousseff and her Partido dos Trabalhadores, or Workers Party, face. Modern cities have grown larger and messier than they were in Sopers day. And if an inhabitant of the Vasco de Gama neighbourhood in Zika-hit Recife would rather keep her dozen songbirds and the water bowls from which they drink (and in which aegypti will breed), there is not a great deal the government can do.

Perhaps the owner of the birds is no longer able to have children, so does not fear a bout of Zika, which leaves most adults completely unharmed. The risk then transfers to her neighbours. Aegytpi can fly around 200 yards. In November, an obstetrician in north-eastern Brazil, Adrianna Melo, confirmed that a surge in the number of children born with mis-shapen heads  a condition known as microcephaly  was linked to the Zika virus that had previously gone unnoticed in their mothers. The brains of these children do not develop properly, and they face severe learning difficulties, and the possibility of an early death. Some 2,100 Colombian pregnant women have been confirmed as having the Zika virus; thousands more do in Brazil, and across 20 other countries in the Americas. The Caribbean is another hot-spot, and cases of Zika have started to show up in the southern United States (and allegedly in Europe, through sexual transmission). In many Latin American nations, it is near-impossible to procure a legal abortion, so infected mothers to-be face months of wrenching panic.

We could do it, Hadyn Parry, the CEO of Oxitec, told me, as we stood among the Velcro and gauze mosquito cages in the companys Abingdon headquarters. If someone said that [ridding Brazil of Aedes Aegypti] is the plan, you would get on with it but someone has to say, Im up for it, Ill pay for it. What help do you need?

Oxitecs Hadyn Parry exposes his hand to the same strain in the Abingdon lab, to show they do not bite (Tom Pilston)

Parry is unruffled by the overnight transformation of his small company, which employs 100 people between Abingdon and Brazil, into a great white hope for Zika control. Dressed in a red protective coat over a blue-and-white striped shirt, he possesses a kindly, frank manner, talking more like a retired soldier than a biotech impresario (until 2013, he was also chair of the Help for Heroes charity, and comes from a military family, half army, half navy). The advantage of Oxitechs technology, he says, is that it removes the need for people to chase down straggling aegypti, which may lurk unobserved under a plant pot outside the window, untouched by any fumigation indoors. A single breeding female can lead to chaos. If one remains in one water bowl in Vasco de Gama, it could over its month-long lifespan produce 500 more mosquitoes, which  uncontrolled  could give birth to a further 125,000 before they themselves die off, producing millions more.

On the other hand, Parry explained, as a press officer standing to one side attempted to pincer a mosquito that had somehow extricated itself from the cages, if you release 100 of our males, those males are going to go anywhere, and go and find the girls, because thats what males are very good at.

Oxitec produces male mosquitoes with one key difference: they have been genetically engineered so that their children do not survive into adulthood. In the 20 or so cages in the Abingdon laboratory, thousands of OX513A brand aegypti were hovering about, or resting on a black rag hung from each cages ceiling. These were the breeders. Their eggs, which resemble a fine black dust, can be collected in Tupperware boxes and dispatched to anywhere in the world, before they are submerged in chemically treated water, and then turn into larvae. A simple sieve removes the females, too big to fit through the holes, leaving only the precious, feebler males behind.

A pregnant woman is checked by a doctor at the 'Alonso Suazo' clinic in Tegucigalpa (Getty)

Yesterday morning, as on every weekday, Guilherme Travellato and his two-man team released another 160,000 or so Oxitec males onto the streets of Piracicaba. Over the course of each week they free around 800,000. Compelled by evolution to find a mate, and by man to produce no heirs, these creatures carry out their dual role with abandon. Part of Travellatos job is to monitor local populations. Its not the only tool, but its a really efficient one, he said, talking over the phone from Campinas, in Sao Paulo state, where Oxitecs main factory is based.

Small-scale tests in Panama, the Cayman Islands and throughout Brazil consistently show a reduction of 90 per cent and above in the number of aegypti  a remarkable rate. Locals gather to celebrate the vans passage  though lately, the owner of a mini-mart in Piracicaba, Supermarket Valor, has complained that Oxitec has hurt his sales of Gatorade. (Those who contract dengue fever experience parching thirst  but with so many fewer falling sick, the demand for the Blue Raspberrys rehydrating power has fallen away.)

It took months for the international community to rouse itself against Ebola, months that allowed the disease to spread and eventually kill around 11,000 people. Lessons appear to have been learned. The emphasis with Zika lies on being prepared to do too much, rather than risk doing too little. And yet, in some ways, the world had a head start with Ebola. Although very little attention was paid to controlling its symptoms, since the disease affects primarily poor people in poor parts of Africa, researchers in the West had nonetheless focused on it as a potential weapon in bio-warfare, and witnessed a number of smaller outbreaks since 1976. Vaccines were produced relatively quickly. In comparison, very few epidemiologists had heard of Zika six months ago. A vaccine is at least a decade away. We learnt only last week that Zika can be transferred sexually, and still have no idea whether it is the virus that causes babies to be born with smooth, unfinished brains or some other factor connected to it.

A city worker fumigates in an effort to eradicate the mosquito which transmits the Zika virus (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Oxitec, at this very moment, is not in the position to be of great help. The company has yet to grow out of its own pupa. Live trials were first conducted in 2009, but its Campinas factory can only provide GM mosquitoes for an area that is home to 10,000 people. Though the technologys potential has been highlighted in editorials for the New York Times and the Economist, there is an element of hype to the coverage. Oxitec has so far operated in dengue-hit zones, not on to the frontlines of the Zika crisis, though the two are often contiguous, and what works for one will work for the other.

Still, another factory  capable of serving 300,000 people  is now under frantic construction. Zika has thrown all our plans into question, said Parry, as we walked from the lab to another warehouse containing R&D facilities. Should we build one new factory or 10? From scratch, it took three months to get this warehouse into an operational state. If the Brazilian government were to step in and centrally adopt Oxitec technology, rather than leaving it to local municipalities to decide, Parry estimates the country could be abuzz with OX513A aegypti within a year.

Even those open to GM may find a twang of alarm hard to suppress. Conspiracies  growing in puddles of ignorance, whirring like mosquito wings  have flourished over the past week. One poster on a Reddit forum dedicated to conspiracy theories argued that Oxitecs mosquitoes may be responsible for Zika itself, a supposition that has since been lent credence for its being republished on the websites of unscrupulous national newspapers (but loses any when you consider that the company was founded more than 50 years after Zika was first discovered).

In fact, the WHO and the Brazilian government agree that Oxitecs technology poses no risk to people or the environment. And there is remarkable consensus across the scientific community that Oxitec is safe. These people have spent months and years evaluating it, Parry explained, leading the way to a changing room, where green safety smocks were to be put on, and plastic bags wrapped over our shoes. Its a shame that a solution that could save a lot of lives is being questioned by some idiots.

The Zika virus has been linked with cases of microcephaly in Brazil (Getty Images)

At the end of a sparse, windowless corridor, we entered a research lab. In one corner a young scientist was intently probing at mosquito eggs with a minuscule needle. Four pupae lie under a high-powered microscope, looking like nothing so much as tiny, gelatinous Cornish pasties, one indistinguishable from the next. I am asked to guess which were Oxitec products. Then a light went on, a red filter was put over the lens, and the top two started to glow a startlingly iridescent red.

Research scientist Sian Spinner explained this is due to the second gene that Oxitec introduces into the DNA of aegypti  one transplanted from jellyfish, serving to permanently mark out the engineered creatures. Unless it glows red like this, Oxitec had nothing to do with a mosquito. Thus, monitoring teams can gather eggs and test them to see what proportion light up; since these will not make it to adulthood, the company can measure its success.

Still, not every citizen of Piracicaba can be shown the inside of an Oxitec laboratory, so the company ran outreach programmes for months before it started releasing mosquitoes. The key message to get across was that Oxitecs mosquitoes are friendly. Employees refer to them as our sons, and to their stillborn children, as our grandsons.

What seems to do the trick best, Travellato noted, is the cage of Oxitec mosquitoes that emloyees carry around, into which locals can put their hands and see that they are not bitten. This may not explain how the mosquitoes kill off future generations of aegypti, but at least it shows that the GM creations will drain no human blood. I put my hand inside a replica in Abingdon. The modified aegypti went into a flutter, attracted by the pheromones and warmth, which promised the arrival of females. One settled on my thumb. I could feel tiny currents of air from its wings  but that was the most of it.

When one is not under direct threat of contracting Zika or dengue, there is more time to ponder what effect eradicating large proportions of Aedes Aegypti will have on local ecosystems. Some argue that the mosquitoes should be left in place, and efforts diverted to speeding up the search for a vaccine. But even a total wipe-out of Aegypti would, Travellato said, leave little trace on the environment. It is an invasive species, and  in cities  mainly breeds indoors, so no predator relies on it as a sole source of food. You dont see fish on your roof, Travellato told me, you dont find dragon flies in your water tank.

If there is to be a stumbling block, it will involve money. Oxitec is a business, with shareholders. Trials so far have been run to establish that the product works; in future, local municipalities, or national governments, will have to purchase eggs from Oxitec, or pay for the establishment and running costs of their factory, where OX513A can be bred. Prices have not yet been declared, as Oxitecs new license is pending. But the question for politicians across Latin America and the Caribbean now is: how much are you willing to pay? If the virus continues to spread, or merely takes root, as experts suggest it will, the cost in lost tourism will be large. The cost for parents is frankly unimaginable.
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Former Conservative cabinet member Sir Eric Pickles will be unveiled on 9 February as the latest heavyweight Eurosceptic who, despite their doubts, has joined the campaign to remain in the EU.

The move is a sign of how the Remain campaign is galvanising ahead of the referendum on EU membership, expected in June, while the Leave organisations continue to be split by infighting. Nevertheless, those wanting to stay were spooked by a YouGov poll last week that showed 45 per cent of people are in favour leaving, while only 36 per cent said they wanted to remain in the 28-nation bloc.

Sir Eric, who once celebrated Europe Day by relegating the EU flag to the basement of his Communities and Local Government department, indicated last month that he was considering a vote to stay in the EU when he said that Brexit would be a very risky thing. On Tuesday he will chair an event for Conservatives for Reform in Europe, a Remain splinter group led by former policing minister Nick Herbert.

Mr Herbert, who will give a speech at the event entitled A leap into the dark: the real choice facing the UK over Brexit, told The Independent on Sunday: Our support is building and includes many Conservatives on the Eurosceptic wing who were expected to back Brexit but believe this would lead us into the dark.

Mr Herbert is runs the Conservative pro-membership campaign despite heading opposition to the UK joining the single currency as chief executive of the Business for Sterling group in the late 1990s, before he was an MP.

The speech is part of a broader effort to make sure that the Remain campaign appears united and gaining in momentum before David Camerons formal talks with the EU over his reforms on 18 and 19 February. The various groups are preparing to start properly wooing voters a few days after that summit, when they expect the Prime Minister to secure most of his demands and confirm 23 June as his preferred polling date.

Eurosceptic Sir Eric Pickles has joined the pro-EU campaign (Getty)

British Influence, a pro-EU group that has former cabinet minister Ken Clarke and Sir Anthony Bailey as its co-presidents, will be folded into the main Remain campaign Britain Stronger in Europe. Leading figures in these groups hope this will demonstrate the unity that has been lacking in the Leave campaigns, while Sir Anthonys renowned fundraising talents will help boost its coffers.

The Brexiters are split into two camps: Vote Leave, which has just appointed former chancellor Lord Lawson as chairman, and Leave.EU, which is bankrolled by Ukip donor and insurance tycoon Arron Banks. Both are vying to be named by the Electoral Commission as the officially designated Leave campaign, a status that brings access to 7m in public money and a free mailshot during the crucial final weeks before polling day.

However, Leave campaigners fear that the squabbling between the two groups could cost both the right to be named as the official campaign. The Electoral Commission must choose which of the two best represents the views of people who are against the EU but it also has the right to choose neither campaign if both are in disarray.

This would mean Britain Stronger in Europe would be at a distinct financial and publicity advantage, though it could add to the anti-establishment allure of an exit vote.

Vote Leave was considered the main group campaigning for Brexit but there has been a tremendous falling out during which Eurosceptic Labour donor John Mills was demoted to deputy chairman. Last week he sent an email to Matthew Elliott and Dominic Cummings, who were running Vote Leave but have now stepped down from the board, complaining they were generating more and more ill-feeling that was putting damaging and unnecessary strain on everyone in the group.

Britain Stronger in Europe was also stunned to see a tweet by Leave.EU that quoted Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances far-right National Front. A Remain source derided this as stupid people doing stupid things.

Lord Rose, the former Marks & Spencer chief executive who chairs Britain Stronger in Europe, insisted last week that his side will win the referendum by a substantial margin despite the gloomy poll predictions. He added common sense would prevail but others on his side are increasingly convinced that the UK could leave and are angry that Mr Cameron has held a referendum of his own volition.

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

Strange allies

Inners

Environmentalists for Europe was launched last week and counts birdwatcher Bill Oddie and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas among its members.

Scientists for EU were so worried about Brexit that they got going only a day after last years general election.

Students for Europe is angry that 16- and 17-year-olds cant vote in the referendum and claims to be active in dozens of universities.

Outers

Trade Unions Against the EU uses some of the boldest language, claiming the bloc is a neoliberal empire that is inherently disinterested in European harmony.

Farmers for Britain is potentially a powerful lobby, given the Common Agricultural Policy, but it is, to be generous, a bit niche with only 155 followers on Twitter.

Students for Britain has a less flashy website than its Europhile university opponents, but does have its own beer mats.

Henry Austin
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Jeremy Corbyn has demanded that David Cameron reveal the extent of Britains growing military preparations for war in Libya, amid concern that British seek and destroy drones may already be operating over the country.

The opposition leader intervened to demand the Prime Minister give MPs an unequivocal assurance that no decision has been taken to use drones in support of military operations in Libya.

The Labour leader said that Mr Cameron must also give a clear commitment to consult Parliament before any military intervention in Libya. This comes in defiance of the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, last week rejecting a demand to keep Parliament informed, sparking concern that drones are being used to gather intelligence for air strikes and a ground campaign later this year.

Reaper drones were used over Syria for up to a year before MPs authorised air strikes against Islamic State (Isis). They were also used to kill British militants fighting in Syria.

The Ministry of Defence has refused to comment on allegations published last week that a team of British military planners visited Libya to plan RAF air strikes against up to 3,000 Isis militants who have taken control of a stretch of coast around the city of Sirte.

Jeremy Corbyn said there were growing signs that the British Government may be preparing to intervene militarily again in Libya (PA)

A preliminary plan drawn up by Italy envisages a 6,000-strong force sent to Libya, including 1,000 British troops. Eugenio Cusumano, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Leiden, told The Independent on Sunday that Italy was using Reaper drones for target acquisition. He added: Italians are doing a lot of surveillance, identification of targets for possible bombing by the British and Americans.

A Government source said Isis in Libya had to be dealt with, but any military action had to wait until a unity government was formed to invite intervention.

Mr Corbyn said there were growing signs that the British Government may be preparing to intervene militarily again in Libya, adding: The Prime Minister should report to Parliament on what steps have already been taken  and, in particular, whether UK drones are being used to support armed forces or militias in Libyas civil war by gathering intelligence for one side or the other.

We need an unequivocal assurance that no decision has been taken to use drones, over which Britain has control or partial control, in support of military operations in Libya. And he must make a clear commitment that MPs will be given the chance to debate in advance any decision to renew British military intervention in Libya.

British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Show all 10 1 /10 British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Pilots and ground crew prepare combat aircraft Panavia Tornados at RAF Marham at RAF Marham, UK Getty British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Eurofighter Typhoon jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet ahead of taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The air strikes were carried out within hours of a vote by MPs in the Commons to back extending operations against Isis from neighbouring Iraq British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Personnel work on a British Tornado after it returned from a mission at RAF Akrotiri in southern Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Two RAF Tornado GR4's, both with remaining weapons ordnance, approach RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as they return to the base after carrying out some of the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado takes off from RAF Akrotiri, on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet leaving RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria AKA RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri, Cyprus. The RAF has sent two further Tornado aircraft and six Typhoons to bolster aircraft now flying sorties to both Iraq and Syria

In a parliamentary question from the Labour MP David Anderson, Mr Fallon was asked if he would guarantee MPs a debate in advance of any decision to deploy UK Reaper aircraft outside Syria and Iraq. The Defence Secretary replied: No.

The Ministry of Defence has insisted that Mr Fallons response doesnt necessarily mean Reaper drones are being used. But Admiral Lord West, the former head of the Navy, said this implied an intervention was in the offing. Lord West said: The Government could have come back and said there will be no action against Libya without full discussion in the House. It leads me to think they will use strikes from a drone in the same way they did in Syria. It would be good to get some clarity on this.

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said the use of drones in Syria was authorised to defend neighbouring Iraq, but questioned if it was legal to launch drones over Libya. If you are going to do it over the sovereign territory or airspace of another country, youve either got to do it because you are justified in doing it under the UN Charter and the right to self-defence, or you are doing it because there is an authorisation of the UN Security Council. The other base is that there is an internal armed conflict and that you are intervening at the request of the state concerned.

If Daesh [Isis] start to control an area of Libya in the same way they control a large area of northern Syria, from which they are directly threatening the UK  then exactly the same conditions may exist for attacks in Libya as currently exist in Syria.

In an interview with The IoS, the Conservative MP Ken Clarke admits the coalition has failed to plan for Colonel Gaddafis defeat in 2011. He says: With hindsight we shouldve put more effort into trying to help such reasonable people as there were in a position to form a functioning government. Plenty of what we did was quite inadequate. It had all the makings of a disaster and its continued to deteriorate ever since.

A Government spokesman said: The UK, along with international partners, is supporting the process to form a recognised Libyan government. No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces to Libya as part of an international coalition force.
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The Scottish government has launched an inflammatory campaign to poach junior doctors from England in the week thousands will strike over pay and conditions.

SNP ministers have signed off on a recruitment drive to attract more junior doctors to work in Scotland and have produced videos which will be shown on social media.

Recommended Read more Scotland opens doors to doctors angry at NHS contracts in England

Nicola Sturgeons administration has insisted the drive is designed to coincide with applications for medical training places which open across the UK on 10 February  the same day up to 37,000 junior doctors in England plan to strike. The campaign is likely to draw anger in Westminster ahead of the second of three planned NHS walkouts.

The 10 February action was originally set to be a full walkout  meaning medics would even have refused to staff emergency care. But the British Medical Association stepped back from the brink last week, promising to minimise the impact of the action. However, at the same time the union extended the walkout to 24 hours rather than the action from 8am to 5pm originally announced.

The Scottish governments campaign features a series of videos, with interviews with trainee doctors working in NHS Scotland. A government source said they had been produced to highlight the many positive aspects of training, working and living in Scotland.

The campaign will run until 9 March, the deadline for trainees across the UK to submit their applications for medical speciality training places. Adverts are also being placed in medical career journals to raise awareness with doctors across the UK of the opportunities that training in Scotland provides. One of the adverts, obtained by The Independent on Sunday, shows a picture of two doctors with the words I feel valued and the hashtag #juniordocscot.

Launching the recruitment drive, Scotlands Health Secretary Shona Robison, said: Junior doctors are valued members of our healthcare team here in Scotland and are integral to our continuing drive to improve care to the people of Scotland. In contrast to Westminster, Ms Robison said the Scottish government continues to maintain strong, positive relationships with the profession.

Pressure is growing on the health service, particularly in accident and emergency. Official figures reveal there has been a 29 per cent increase in two years in the number of people leaving A&E before being seen.

Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander said: This is yet another sign of the worsening crisis in A&E. Cuts to social care and difficulties in getting a GP appointment have left hospitals overwhelmed.
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Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is under pressure to oppose plans by EU member states that could criminalise individuals and charities who help Syrian refugees when they arrive on Greek islands.

A draft of conclusions reached last month by the Council of the European Union and later obtained by civil-liberties organisation Statewatch showed that Eurocrats could equate the smuggling of refugees with the far more serious crime of trafficking.

Recommended Read more Court victory could allow thousands more asylum seekers to come to UK

As a result, even holidaymakers who help refugees off boats might not be exempt from criminal charges on the grounds that they had provided humanitarian assistance.

The document was based on a meeting of ministers that included Ms May. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, and Catherine Bearder, the partys only MEP, have written to Ms May demanding that she oppose the policy at a further meeting next month.

The letter states: Up until now your Government has done everything it can to avoid helping refugees who have fled to Europe. Now you wish to stop others from doing so as well. This would be a morally reprehensible decision, punishing people for doing the right thing while the Government sits on its hands.

Theresa May: Should protect those helping refugees (AFP/Getty)

It is not too late for Britain to change track and lead a humane response to the refugee crisis unfolding on our continent. We urge you to think again and to strongly oppose these proposals when they are discussed at the next meeting of EU Home Affairs ministers on 10th March. European governments should be punishing the people smugglers who put refugees onto flimsy boats in Turkey, not volunteers in Lesbos giving out dry clothes and water.

Mr Farron added: The UK government has done everything possible to avoid helping refugees and now they are trying to stop anyone from volunteering. We should be criminalising people smugglers in Turkey, not volunteers in Lesbos. Lets put the effort into proper policing in Turkey and proper funding of refugee services in region.

Robina Qureshi, director at Positive Action in Housing, a homelessness charity that has raised 44,000 to help refugees, said: Around 4,000 people drowned crossing the Aegean; more than a third were children and a lot more would have drowned were it not for the humanitarian effort on Lesbos and other Greek islands. They pay $1,200 [1,000] per head for a journey that costs less than 5 on the ferry for western Europeans.

Now we are in danger of being criminalised and its being felt already in Lesbos, with the increased police presence. Theres a nervousness amongst volunteers.

The move comes even though a campaign is building for the people of Lesbos to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in helping refugees. Nearly 15,000 people have signed an online petition launched by Avaaz calling for the islands nomination.

However, the prize must go to an organisation or individual, so Greeks are pushing for two Greek islanders, 85-year-old Emilia Kamvisi, and fisherman Stratis Valamios to be nominated, and the US actress Susan Sarandon.
Business / Local

by Ngoni Dapira

A LOCAL consortium, Willowton Group, which recently acquired the liquidated Karina Textiles in Mutare has targeted setting up a state-of-the-art oil refinery and soap manufacturing plant by year end.The Manica Post reported that plans to get the project on track at the Karina Textiles premises were already at an advanced stage.An oil refinery is an industrial process where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful products such as petroleum naphtha, gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas.The line of business is considered an essential part of the downstream side of the petroleum industry. Impeccable sources within the Willowton Group that requested anonymity revealed that plans were already underway to set off the project."I can not disclose much for now but I can only confirm that Willowton Group, a local consortium, purchased Karina Textiles property late last year and part of our plans here (Karina Textiles premises) is to venture into refining crude oil and manufacturing soap, both laundry and beauty (bathing) soap."Until we bring in the machinery and settle other pending and critical issues concerning the project, I cannot divulge much on it for now," said one of the sources.Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Manicaland chairman Mr Richard Chiwandire said the Nyakamete Industrial Area needed such futuristic and new-line manufacturing industry, to breathe life in the city's industrial hub.He cited positives of how new-line industry like the frozen and dried foods distribution company, Mega Market had filled the void by leasing the property of the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Manicaland plant after it closed its operations in Mutare."I am happy that we are seeing new-line industries coming up to fill the void. "As CZI Manicaland chapter, we are optimistic that more of such futuristic industry will be seen in the province once the Special Economic Zones Bill is enacted with incentives to draw investors. Nyakamete (Industrial Area) may be in a poor state now but all hope should not be lost and as CZI, we implore Government to help facilitate the realisation of such big investment deals by local businesspeople that help create employment," said Chiwandire.
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The body of an Italian student found in a Cairo suburb  which officials have said shows signs of torture  was flown back to Italy as dozens gathered in Egypt to mourn his death.

Italian authorities carried out a second autopsy on the body of 28-year-old Cambridge University PhD student Giulio Regeni after it arrived in Rome, following one in Egypt. At the same time in the Egyptian capital, a group of friends and activists laid flowers and lit candles outside of the Italian embassy.

The circumstances surrounding Mr Regenis death remain unclear. He vanished on 25 January, the anniversary of Egypts 2011 uprising. His body was found close to the Cairo-Alexandria road on 3 February with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture, Egyptian officials said.

Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said that the Italian government had told Cairo it wanted the truth and complete clarity to emerge as soon as possible and that justice be done.

After viewing the body, Maurizio Massari, Italys ambassador in Cairo, said: I took note of the wounds, bruises and burn marks. There is no doubt the young man was heavily beaten and tortured.

Giulio Regeni disappeared in Cairo on 25 January

Italy sent a police and forensics team to Egypt to assist the investigation. Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that the Italian team was beginning to work with the Egyptian authorities, but there were early signs of confusion. Mr Gentiloni told reporters that preliminary arrests had already been made but this was later denied by Alaa Azmi, the deputy head of criminal investigations in Cairos twin province of Giza.

Mr Regeni had been in Egypt since September, conducting research on workers and labour rights. He wrote several articles under a pseudonym about Egyptian trade unions for the left-wing Italian newspaper Il Manifesto. The newspaper said Mr Regeni had published under a false name because he feared for his safety.

His last article, published after his death and run under his own name, detailed difficulties facing independent unions, including the Centre for Trade Union and Workers Services.

Simone Pieranni, Mr Regenis editor at Il Manifesto, said: For now, we dont know if his disappearance and death is connected to sources for his academic research or his articles.
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Members of the US Congress have called for a Department of Justice investigation into tobacco giant British American Tobacco (BAT) following allegations the company bribed officials and politicians in Africa to undermine UN health campaigns and put rival cigarette-makers out of business.

How The IoS broke the story about the bribery allegations in December

Eight congressmen  from both the Senate and the House of Representatives  have made a complaint about BAT, Britains fifth biggest company, calling for an investigation into whether it has violated the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The bribery allegations, first revealed by The Independent on Sunday and the BBC, are in a dossier of claims passed to the UKs Serious Fraud Office by Paul Hopkins, a BAT whistleblower who worked in Africa for BAT for 13 years. Experts described Mr Hopkins as the most significant whistleblower from the industry since Jeffrey Wigand, subject of the Oscar-nominated film The Insider, starring Russell Crowe.

Mr Hopkins, responsible for stopping the illicit tobacco trade in East and Central Africa when BAT made him redundant, said he facilitated payments on BATs account to cripple anti-smoking laws in several East African countries, payments to officials to undermine efforts by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to reduce deaths from smoking, ran a corporate spying operation, and conducted black ops to put rival cigarette-makers out of business.

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said: The allegations lodged against BAT are an affront to public health and US law. These allegations raise clear questions about whether BAT violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act  a question DoJ [Department of Justice] must answer. With tobacco companies exploiting growth opportunities in Africa, actions like BATs threaten to undermine the WHOs global tobacco treaty and condemn the entire continent to generations of smoking, cancer, and preventable death.

The DoJ confirmed a complaint had been received. BAT said the company does not tolerate corruption in our business anywhere in the world and its policy is to take all appropriate action on any allegations.
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The young people waiting to see Bernie Sanders speak at their college had no doubts as to why they were supporting a man old enough to be their grandfather. Age did not matter, they insisted, it was all about what he had to say.

I think he understands what its like to be a young person, said 18-year-old Shawn Titon. Its easy for adults to forget.

Megan Crossman, a 20-year-old psychology student said she liked that Mr Sanders was trying to make higher education more affordable. The middle class does not have a lot of money, she said. He wants to raise taxes but I dont think it will be a problem.

Mr Sanders told the audience at Franklin Pierce University to prepare for a political revolution (YouTube)

As the process for Americas two largest parties to select a presidential candidate plays out in an increasinglly hard-fought and intense campaign, one of the more remarkable aspects of Mr Sanders White House run has been his ability to connect with people 50 years younger than him.

Perhaps more than any other candidate - and certainly much more than his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton - the white-haired democratic socialist who sometimes appears angry and is never anything less than impassioned, has struck electoral gold among Americas youth. In last weeks Iowa caucus, Mr Sanders secured 84 per cent of support among voters aged between 17 to 29, with Ms Clinton getting just 14 per cent.

When he took to the stage in the gymnasium at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, an hour north of Manchester, New Hampshire, where the sound system had blasting David Bowies Young Americans, Mr Sanders received huge, roaring cheers. At one point during his 45 minute address, he became so energised that he was obliged to take off his jacket.

I feel like a rock and roll star, he said, to loud laughter. Dont worry. I wont be taking off anything else.

The Vermont senator, who has pushed Ms Clinton to a virtual tie in the latest national polls, urged his audience to ready themselves for a political revolution. He claimed a rigged economy, a skewed campaign finance system and a corrupt criminal justice system had created a national where ordinary people could not afford proper healthcare or education.

 New Hampshire explainer

He said Americans paid more than any other the citizens of any other country for prescription medicine. He claimed that one in five people could not afford to buy the drugs their doctors had prescribed.

The pharmaceutical industry has 1,300 lobbyists in Washington DC and they provide million of dollars in campaign contributions, he said.

His speech took in the need to reform the economy, to address a fairer system of college funding, to defend equality for same-sex couples, and to push for greater equality for women. At one point he turned to the problem of student debt and asked if anyone in the audience had such bills.

One women, a graduate student, lifted her hand to reveal she owed $300,000.

That young woman over there - $300,000 in debt. Heres the problem, said Mr Sanders. Why should young people go into severe financial pain for the crime of trying to get an education. Dont accept that reality.

Owen Hudson, 20 a student from Vermont, who was among those watching, said Mr Sanders policies had not changed throughout his career, unlike those of other politicians.

Eliza Giles, 20 a student of English at the University of Vermont, said his record on the issues gave him an authenticity that others did not.

He has been pro-women rights, and anti-racism for 50 years. His policies have been consistent, she said

Mr Sanders urged those in the audience, young and old alike, to ensure they turned out to vote on Tuesday. Polls have him far ahead of Ms Clinton.

If everyone turns out I think we can do it, he said.


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Donald Trump said he would bring back waterboarding, "and a hell of a lot worse", as Republicans clashed in their final vote before a crucial vote in New Hamshire.

In their fiercest showdown yet, Republican candidates for president turned on each other in a debate that ranged from torture to economic policy.

With several of those taking part in the deabte at Manchester's St Anselm College very much aware that Tuesdays vote may be the last chance if they are to stay in the race, and with others hoping to maximise the momentum they already have, the seven contenders spent as much time attacking each other as they did targeting the Democratic hopefuls, or the government of Barack Obama.

In early exchanges, on everything from immigration, to foreign policy and even the use of eminent domain to force people off their private property, among the sharpest of the back-and-forths were between Florida Senator Marco Rubio and New Jersey Gvoernor Chris Christie.

It was the final debate before the New Hampshire primary vote (AP)

He simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions, Mr Christie said of Rubio noting that his experience didnt extend much beyond serving since 2011 in the US Senate, the same body provided the springboard for Mr Obama.

Weve watched it happen, everybody, for the last seven years. The people of New Hampshire are smart, do not make the same mistake again.

Mr Rubio hit back, claiming that Mr Christie had almost refused to return to his state two weeks ago when it was hit by a large blizzard. You did not want to go back, he said. Wearing a face of indignant outrage, Mr Christie asked if ESP, extra-sensory perception, was now a part of Senate service also.

In a part of the discussion about the so-called enhanced interrogation practice of waterboarding, Mr Trump said he would have no hestitation as president.

I'll tell you what, in the Middle East, we have people chopping the heads off Christians. We have people chopping the heads off many other people. We have things that we have never seen before, as a group, he told the ABC News moderators.

I mean we studied medieval times. Not since medieval times have people seen what's going on. I would bring back waterboarding and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

 New Hampshire explainer

Mr Cruz said he did not believe waterboarding was torture but he said he was opposed to its use.

Under the definition of torture, no its not. It is enhanced interrogation. It does not meet the generally recognised definition of torture," he said. [But] I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use. And indeed Id join with Senator McCain in prohibiting line officers from employing it.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump also clashed with former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, a man whom he has routinely derided as a low energy candidate.

Mr Bush accused the billionaire of seizing land by means of so-called eminent domain to evict an elderly woman and turn the area into a limousine parking lot for his casinos. The clash between reach a new low when Mr Trump turned to the former governor and mocked him for being a tough guy and then trying to cut him off. Let me talk, quiet, he said, holding his finger to his mouth.

Booed for that, Mr Trump the did something surely no other political candidate has done before him. He turned on the audience asserting it had been padded by party elites with donors to Washington politicians. It was a strike that earned him more boos, but played to his supporters who love his fearlessness and willing to take on whomever and whenever.

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio have repeatedly clashed during the primary campaign (AP)

The hard-edged nature of Saturdays debate underscored just what is at count this coming week and what may be a make-or-break vote.

A poll released on Friday showed that Donald Trump remains the frontrunner in New Hampshire, despite him coming second in Iowa to Senator Ted Cruz and many speculating that his campaign could at least lose some air, if not being fully deflated.

The poll released by Quinnipiac University put Mr Trump on 31 per cent, with Mr Cruz on 22 percent and Mr Rubio, who came third in Iowa, on 19 per cent. The poll placed Ben Carson on six per cent, with nine percent undecided and no other candidate securing more than three per cent.

Despite the Iowa setback, Donald Trump is way ahead of his GOP opponents, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

But that's not the whole story nine months before Election Day. In mano a mano, or mano a womano, face-offs with all contenders, Sanders and Rubio would be the candidates left standing.
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TV debates for the Republican presidential candidacy have started to take on a predictable rhythm, with Donald Trump saying something outrageous about waterboarding, Ted Cruz attacking Barack Obamas healthcare reform and attacks from all sides on the rising force in the polls  this time Marco Rubio.

Yet no one could have expected the complete shambles that was the introduction the candidates received when they entered the ABC News stage.

The candidates were supposed to come out one by one in order of their positions on the podium  but it almost immediately fell apart when Ben Carson appeared to hesitate in the wings and missed his chance to come out.

He was overtaken by a clearly amused Ted Cruz, before Donald Trump emerged in an apparent attempt to usher him on stage himself.

In the end, Mr Trump and Mr Carson appeared to be vying for position as the last person to enter the stage. It looked like Mr Trump had succeeded in that goal, until the ABC hosts remembered to introduce Ohio governor John Kasich.

Once the debate actually got started, the highlight of the debate came when Mr Rubio suffered a scathing attack on his capability to offer the lead alternative to Mr Trump and Mr Cruz.

Mr Rubio, a first-term senator from Florida, has sought to appeal both to mainstream Republicans and those eager to upend the status quo. But his rivals, particularly New Jersey governor Chris Christie, have been blistering in their criticism of what they see as his slim qualifications to serve as commander-in-chief.

"You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable," Mr Christie said. "You just simply haven't."

Mr Christie built his closing argument around his criticism of Mr Rubio, and he kept up that approach on the debate stage. He accused the senator of being a candidate governed by talking points  then pounced when the senator played into his hands by repeating multiple times what appeared to be a planned response to criticisms about his qualifications.

"That's what Washington DC does," Mr Christie said. "The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him."

Mr Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses. After spending the past several days disputing his second-place finish in Iowa, he sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign, including blocking Muslims from coming to the US. He said he would bring back waterboarding, and a hell of a lot worse.

Read more about the latest on the US elections here.
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Hillary Clinton has cast herself as the underdog in her latest campaigning, admitting she may be defeated in Tuesdays New Hampshire primary even after her rival, Bernie Sanders, had taken a quick time-out from campaigning to appear in a comedy skit on the Saturday Night Live show.

With her own brief detour out of the state to Flint, Michigan, on Sunday to highlight the citys polluted drinking water crisis, Ms Clinton was casting her eye forward to the primary in South Carolina later this month where she is relying on African-American support to refloat her campaign. Those worst affected in Flint are black residents living in poverty.

The former First Lady, whose husband, President Bill Clinton, later travelled to Keene on the Vermont border to make her case, has been battered by claims from the Sanders camp that she is beholden to Wall Street and soaked in its money.

Buoyed by polls suggesting a roughly 20-point lead in this state, the Sanders campaign continued to hammer away at the issue, highlighting a report that since 2001 Ms Clinton and her husband have earned no less than $153m for making paid speeches, an average of $210,795 for each address.

I dont know, Ms Clinton told CNN when asked if she can claw back in New Hampshire this week, just as her husband did in 1992. Im just going to work as hard as I can.

Speaking in Keene, Mr Clinton said the campaign being waged against his wife is like my campaign [in 1992] on steroids, noting the attacks against her not so much from Mr Sanders but from Republicans.

It was a measure of Mr Sanders growing confidence that he flew to New York to make a cameo appearance on SNL alongside the comedian Larry David. He faces tough races in South Carolina and thereafter on Super Tuesday on 1 March, when several southern states with diverse populations will vote.
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Anxiety among top Democrats that Hillary Clinton may yet be felled by Senator Bernie Sanders in the scramble for the partys presidential nomination has unleashed a new round of speculation that it may yet not be too late for Vice-President Joe Biden to change his mind about running, and leap in.

Assumptions about Mr Sanders being too far to the left to prevail over Ms Clinton have started to look a little thin, with polls showing him on course to defeat her in the New Hampshire primary on 9 February. Mr Sanders is up by as much as 30 points in some polls  after fighting Ms Clinton to a near draw in the Iowa caucuses last week.

That is sowing panic among party elders as well as some donors who believe Mr Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, could be a disaster in the election in November. That concern has grown, with a new Quinnipiac University poll showing the two candidates almost statistically tied nationally. The poll found Ms Clinton leading the race with 44 per cent support, compared with 42 per cent for Mr Sanders  which is within the margin of error. A month ago, Mr Sanders was nearly 30 points behind.

Hillary Clinton drumming up support in New Hampshire on Friday (AP)

At a fractious debate in Nashua on late on 4 February Mr Sanders aggressively tackled Ms Clinton over her alleged close ties to Wall Street. She shot back, accusing him of an artful smear by implying that because she had accepted speaking fees from Goldman Sachs she was somehow beholden to it.

After flirting with running for the president for months, Mr Biden announced in October he did not plan to run, having shortly before seen his son die of cancer. On 5 February, however, a prominent party donor, Oklahoma businessman Bill Bartmann, wrote to other party backers suggesting that it might be time to prevail on the Vice-President. I would urge all of you to join me in keeping our powder dry until we see if for the good of the party and the country, we should resurrect the Draft Biden movement, Mr Bartmann wrote. We cannot afford to lose the White House.

For many, a run by Mr Biden now would be unlikely. Asked about a possible volte-face by Mr Biden, a spokesman for the Sanders campaign declared it impractical because of ballot-filing deadlines. He insisted that while Mr Biden could still get on the ballots of multiple states, there are still too many he would be too late for to allow him to assemble the delegates necessary to win the nomination. Its mathematically impossible at this point, he said.

After failing by a fraction of a percentage point to defeat Ms Clinton in Iowa, Mr Sanders has roared into the New Hampshire campaign as if hed been the winner. Last night he was due to take time out from the campaign to appear on Saturday Night Live.

His aides reject the narrative still being rehearsed by the Clinton camp that even if he wins in New Hampshire, he will falter when the nomination circus moves to southern states later this month, where high numbers of black and Hispanic voters are thought to favour the former first lady. Mr Sanders received a potentially important boost on 6 February when he was endorsed by Benjamin Jealous, the former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Critically, Mr Jealous vowed to help Mr Sanders overcome his deficit wherever the black vote matters. I intend to be very engaged and to help build the campaign in the South and, quite frankly, help to build it in the cities of the Midwest and throughout the country, he said.
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It has been grim for Jeb Bush these past months, his once high-flying hopes of winning the Republican nomination for the presidency battered by dismal polling numbers and by louder mouths. So a school hall filled to the gills here on 6 February  with another 200 unable to get in standing outside  was surely a boost.

The New Hampshire primary on 9 February may not be make or break for the former Florida governor. He has the money to keep going even if he flops again, having taken just under 3 per cent of the vote in last weeks Iowa caucuses. But its no wonder he is packing in as many events here as he can, pleading with voters finally to pick him from a still chaotic, unpredictable field.

Recommended Read more Jeb Bush asks audience to clap after speech is met with silence

I am working hard to earn your support . For those who are neutral, come on now, join the team, he said a little weakly. Anyone looking for someone with a proven record of fixing problems, running to the fire  who has the record of not cutting and running but solving problems, you are looking at him.

As for that one especially loud mouth, Mr Bush boasted that he had been willing before anyone else to take him on. I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist, but the guy needs therapy, he said of Donald Trump. Yet, in recent days, his more urgent target has been Marco Rubio, the US Senator from his own state.

Jeb Bush in Manchester, New Hampshire, last week. The former Florida governor is struggling in the race (AP)

Mr Rubio surprised with his third place in Iowa and thus positioned himself for mainstream Republicans as the least objectionable alternative to both Donald Trump and the winner in Iowa, the ultra-conservative Senator Ted Cruz. This means he has been getting it from all sides and he was braced for more as the candidates gathered for a last televised debate before the primary on 9 February.

Mr Trump, though he is still leading the polls here and nationally, is also under pressure after his second place in Iowa, raising questions about his ability to convert razzmatazz into actual votes. He has since admitted that his decision to boycott a final, eve-of-caucus television debate in Iowa may have hurt him. So many things to say, so much at stake! Mr Trump tweeted ahead of last nights crucial clash.

The campaigns of Mr Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have virtually joined hands to stunt Mr Rubio. Once a protege of Mr Bush, Senator Rubio has emerged as a grave, possibly mortal, threat to both men. Each had been banking on New Hampshire to ordain them the favoured establishment choice. The more conservative Mr Rubio has stepped in the way.

Mr Christie has been especially aggressive, branding Mr Rubio a bubble boy, protected by his aides from tough questions from voters. He continued in that vain in Bedford, saying that both Mr Rubio and Mr Cruz were first-term senators who werent ready to be president. He also said that Mr Trump would be welcomed back to the debate stage with open arms.

In pictures: US Elections 2016 Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: US Elections 2016 In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after rival candidate Hillary Clinton was projected as the winner in the Nevada Democratic caucuses Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photos with workers at her campaign office in Des Moines, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, second from left, prays before lunch with supporters at Drake Diner in Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Governor. Martin O'Malley, speaks during a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks, as his wife Jane OMeara Sanders looks on, at a campaign event at Iowa State University Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaks at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a campaign event at Fireside Pub and Steak House in Manchester, Iowa. Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum visiting supporters at a house party in West Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Ted Cruz campaigns at Greene County Community Centre in Jefferson, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Senator Rand Paul speaks during a Caucus rally at his Des Moines headquarters in Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Jeb Bush speaks at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa AFP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin introducing the arrival of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 A portrait of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders at his campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Campaign badges on sale ahead of a Trump rally at the Ramada Waterloo Hotel and Convention Centre in Waterloo, Iowa Getty

Meanwhile, Mr Bush released a tough new television advertisement this weekend showing former Senator Rick Santorum, a recent dropout from the race, struggling on television to name a single achievement of Mr Rubio in the US Senate even though he had just endorsed him.

Staying out of the bash-Rubio club has been John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio. Arguably the most mainstream of all the candidates, he must also do decently here to avoid being forced out of contention. Part of the campaign is not just about how you trash somebody else. The way you win a campaign is what youre for, your heart and your brain, thats what its really all about, Mr Kasich said on the campaign trail.

After insisting earlier in the race that he was his own man and would not lean on his family name for traction  as the son of one president and the brother of another  Mr Bush has recently invited his mother, Barbara Bush, on the trail with him. At 90 years old, the former first lady praised her son, but also offered some gentle criticism. Hes almost too polite  if I gave him advice, I would say, why dont you interrupt like the other people do?

John Louison, 51, an insurance adjuster, is one of the voters the Bush-Kasich-Rubio-Christie scrum is fighting over. He rejects Messrs Trump and Cruz out of hand and has jettisoned Mr Christie also. Hes too much of a big mouth, bullying wont work, he said. He likes Mr Bush but thinks that he is hurt by his name. In the last elections, it was anyone but Bush. I think there is still some of that feeling, he said.

And, indeed, when the former governor opened it up to questions here, along came precisely that one. The Bush thing, people will have to get over it, all right, he replied flatly  to rounds of laughter.
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North Korea has defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the US mainland.

The rocket, fired from North Korea's west coast and tracked by the governments in South Korea and Japan, came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened on Sunday morning. It follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. It will be considered a further provocation by Washington and its allies and likely draw more sanctions and condemnation from the UN.

A South Korean defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of office rules, said the launch from the North's west coast launching pad was made between 9:30am and 9:35am local time, but gave no other details. Japan's NHK broadcaster reported that debris from the launch was believed to have fallen about 250 kilometers (155 miles) off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula into the East China Sea about 14 minutes after the launch.

NHK also showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket.

Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye convened an emergency national security council meeting after the launch.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea says its nuclear and missile programs are necessary to defend itself against what it calls decades of US hostility.

Leader Kim Jong-un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong-il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the US, South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The UN Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity.

 North Korea allegedly test hydrogen bomb

The 6 January nuclear test has led to another push in the UN to tighten sanctions. In 2013 North Korea also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the US and Seoul.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

It is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets.

Still, the North's nuclear tests and steadily improving long-range rocket launches push its nuclear aims further along.

In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test A lab employee from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety's regional office in Gangneung, east of Seoul, checks for radioactive traces in the air, in Gangneung, soon after North Korea announced it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test. The office in Gangneung is the closest one to the site of the North's claimed test. Officials said it will take three to four days to analyze air samples in detail for any traces of radioactivity, the Yonhap news agency reported EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing a document of a hydrogen bomb test in Pyongyang In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's special announcement at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea AP In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test South Korean people watch TV news at Seoul station EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Japan's meteorological agency officer Yohei Hasegawa displays a chart showing seismic activity, after a North Korean nuclear test, at the agency in Tokyo Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Ko Yun-Hwa, administrator of Korea Meteorological Administration, briefs reporters showing seismic waves from the site of North Korea's hydrogen bomb test, at his office in Seoul Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korea's border county of Kaepoong is seen from a South Korean observation post in Paju near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas as North Korea announced it had successfully carried out its first hydrogen bomb test Getty Images

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation.

AP
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The launch of a long-range rocket by North Korea has heightened tensions in north-east Asia and pushed South Korea and the US into talks on the deployment of a controversial high-altitude missile defence system that China and Russia both bitterly oppose.

The announcement of talks over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) came just hours after North Korea announced that it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite into orbit. North Koreas adversaries believe the real purpose of the launch was to test a ballistic missile, just one month after its fourth nuclear test.

Following an emergency meeting on Sunday night, the United Nations Security Council condemned the rocket launch and said it would soon adopt a new sanctions resolution in response. A statement said that launches using ballistic missile technology, even if characterised as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle, contribute to North Koreas development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons. It added that using ballistic missile technology was a violation of four Security Council resolutions dating back to 2006.

The launch was widely condemned, including by the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who said North Koreas actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security. But China and Russia both stressed the importance of finding a diplomatic solution.

If deployed, THAAD would usher in a new era of Star Wars in north-east Asia. South Koreans have long been lukewarm about US insistence on the need to deploy multibillion-dollar missile launchers capable of shooting down enemy missiles hurtling more than 100 miles overhead.

 North Korea launches rocket despite criticism

One of South Koreas objections has been concern about offending Beijing, which has repeatedly expressed alarm about THAAD and its potential for use against China.

Graph demonstrates possible nuclear fallout from North Korean tests (GN)

But Chinas tepid response to North Koreas fourth underground nuclear test on 6 January as well as this weekend's missile launch has convinced South Koreas President Park Geun-hye of the need for strong measures, and South Korea and the US said they would seek to deploy the system at the earliest possible date.

China expressed regret over the launch, saying North Korea had ignored universal opposition of the international community. While North Korea should have the right to the peaceful use of space, an official Chinese response said, this right is limited by the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test A lab employee from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety's regional office in Gangneung, east of Seoul, checks for radioactive traces in the air, in Gangneung, soon after North Korea announced it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test. The office in Gangneung is the closest one to the site of the North's claimed test. Officials said it will take three to four days to analyze air samples in detail for any traces of radioactivity, the Yonhap news agency reported EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing a document of a hydrogen bomb test in Pyongyang In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's special announcement at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea AP In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test South Korean people watch TV news at Seoul station EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Japan's meteorological agency officer Yohei Hasegawa displays a chart showing seismic activity, after a North Korean nuclear test, at the agency in Tokyo Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Ko Yun-Hwa, administrator of Korea Meteorological Administration, briefs reporters showing seismic waves from the site of North Korea's hydrogen bomb test, at his office in Seoul Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korea's border county of Kaepoong is seen from a South Korean observation post in Paju near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas as North Korea announced it had successfully carried out its first hydrogen bomb test Getty Images

Analysts saw that statement as a pro forma reaction that indicated China would not support calls in the United Nations for strengthening current sanctions  or, indeed, for enforcing the sanctions already in place after the previous missile launch in 2012 and after North Korean nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

Nothings going to happen, said Tom Coyner, a Seoul-based business consultant. The debate in the UN will go nowhere. Nobody will do anything.

Ms Park reflected South Korean outrage as well as frustration, declaring that North Korea had committed an unacceptable provocation of launching a long-range missile after conducting a fourth nuclear test and demanding that the UN Security Council quickly come up with strong sanctions.

South Koreas Foreign Minister, Yun Byung-se, said he might go to New York to try to drum up support at the UN. He also planned to talk on the phone to the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and Japans Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida.

North Koreans watch news of the launch on a big screen in Pyongyang (Reuters)

In North Korea, the launch was met with praise, with the National Aerospace Development Administration, describing the fascinating vapour of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky. It said the launch was timed to coincide with the 16 February birthday of its former Dear Leader Kim Jong-il.

Japan threatened fresh retaliation against North Korea over the rocket, which flew over Okinawa in Japans far south-west, triggering a military alert.

We absolutely cannot allow this, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. We will take action to protect the safety and well-being of our people. Mr Abe said he had instructed his staff to prepare options for unilateral sanctions, a tacit admission that his governments policy of cautious engagement with the regime of Kim Jong-un has failed. Mr Abes government deployed destroyers and missile interceptors around Tokyo and on remote islands around Okinawa, in a largely symbolic show of strength against the launch.

In 2014 Japan relaxed what were probably the worlds toughest sanctions against the North, after Pyongyang promised to reinvestigate the abductions of Japanese citizens.

Tokyo also broke diplomatic ranks with Washington and Seoul by secretly sending an advisor, Isao Iijima, to Pyongyang in 2013.

Andrei Lankov, a veteran Pyongyang watcher, said Tokyos uncompromising stance on the abduction issue had essentially locked Mr Abes government out of debate over what happened to the reclusive pariah state.

Japans Defence Minister, Gen Nakatani, said the North was using the improvement in its technology for long-range ballistic missiles as a way of highlighting the achievements of Kim Jong-un. Its too early to tell if the North succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit, he said.
News / Education

by Staff reporter

Government will in coming weeks start providing meals to school pupils countrywide to shield them from drought-induced hunger and to promote high nutrition levels.It is also implementing multiple strategies to sufficiently feed needy communities following indications that the number of vulnerable people might double from the previously projected 1,5 million between January and March 2016.Among these strategies are grain imports, tapping from the National Strategic Grain Reserve, promoting water harvesting and Government/donor partnerships.Zimbabwe  like most Sadc countries - is reeling from a drought occasioned by climate change that has ravaged both livestock and crops.About 1,8 million tonnes of grain are required for human and livestock consumption annually.President Mugabe has declared the 2015/16 farming season a disaster. The worst affected districts have given up looking to the skies for rains and have turned to Government for assistance.Yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said authorities would soon give school children at least one meal per day.This programme, he said, will largely be funded by community share ownership trusts in resource-rich areas.US$200 million will be required to feed the four million-plus pupils across Zimbabwe.Dr Dokora told a CSOT conference in Harare yesterday, "The community leaders that are gathered here control local resources in terms of community share ownership of resources contributed by various mining companies."We, in the last Cabinet (meeting), were given the green light to begin exploration on setting up the National Schools Feeding Programme"We have an emergency; we have food deficit. The kids in our school system are eating once a day, but we still expect them to perform well."And last week, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira told The Sunday Mail that Government requires at least 25 000 tonnes of maize weekly to feed vulnerable households.She said preliminary results of an on-going Rapid Food Monitoring Assessment by Government and humanitarian organisations indicated that last year's estimates grossly undershot the number of food insecure people.Initial findings from an on-going Crop and Livestock Assessment also show that traditional bulk food producers Mashonaland East, Central and West, and Manicaland have been hit hard by the drought.Minister Mupfumira said: "For the 2015/16 consumption year, the (Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee) projected that 16 percent of the population, which translates to 1,5 million citizens, would be food insecure at this time of the year (January to March)."This population required an estimated 105 000mt of maize to go through the consumptive year until the next harvest. We discovered that some households were not classified as vulnerable, though in need of immediate assistance."She added, "Immediately, we activated a Rapid Food Monitoring Assessment which we expect to be completed before end of this month. This exercise will show us the exact number of people that are food insecure, including those that were left out during last year's exercise."This assessment will indicate whether the 1,5 million figure we came up with last year is still realistic. But from the preliminary findings, the answer to that is already a no! We expect the figure to more than double."Results from the Agriculture Ministry's first crop and livestock assessment are expected in a fortnight.Deputy Agriculture Minister (Cropping and Irrigation Development) Davis Marapira said: "We have sent teams across the country to conduct the first crop assessment. However, preliminary signs show that crops across the country are not that good."Generally, the crop situation in the country is bad; even our traditional maize belts like Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland are not as good as they are supposed to be."In Mashonaland West, some seeds that germinated were parched by the sun, and when the rain came, it was too late. Some crops are just write-offs."Deputy Minister Marapira said 20 irrigation schemes had installed equipment under the Brazil-Zimbabwe More Food Programme.Cumulatively, 64 schemes will benefit."We are assisting our farmers with irrigation equipment under the Brazil-Zimbabwe More Food Programme to take the edge off the perennial droughts that have affected the country in the past years."This scheme is mainly for commercial and small scale farmers with existing equipments. The programme is in full swing in most areas, and has the potential to irrigate up to 1 800 hectares of land."Oxfam International executive director Ms Winnie Byanyima, whose organisation is helping mobilise aid, weighed in: "We welcome the declaration of a national disaster. This is indeed a crisis. In some places, people have still not received any rains  some have not even planted and elsewhere, the crop is a write-off."We call on international donors to rapidly respond to this declaration and commit funding for an urgent and comprehensive response. Oxfam and our partners are ready to respond, and to scale up our current work."
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Despised by the British as a radical Indian nationalist so determined to liberate his country from colonial rule that he allied himself with the Nazis and imperial Japan, Subhas Chandra Bose is revered in India as an independence hero.

After leading the 40,000-strong Indian National Army into battle with Britain in 1944, Bose faced possible execution when the Second World War ended, though his supporters still hoped he would one day play a key role in a free India.

So when he was reportedly killed in a plane crash in Taiwan, just days after the surrender of the Japanese in August 1945, it was a relief for the Raj but a bitter blow for Indians, many of whom simply refused to believe that he was dead.

More than 70 years and three official inquiries later, the recent declassification of a cache of government documents on the revolutionary leader has only reignited the long-running debate about Boses death.

There is no need to strangle history, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he announced the secret files would be made public.

Mr Modi tried to seize the political initiative by promising what the opposition Congress Party had repeatedly failed to authorise while governing India for most of its post-independence years.

Its reluctance to disclose anything related to Bose only encouraged speculation that there was something to hide, and though nothing definitive has yet emerged from the 100 declassified files, the controversy has once again captivated the country. Bose  popularly known in India as Netaji (respected leader)  has been largely eclipsed in the history books by Mahatma Gandhi, the pacifist father of the nation, and Jawaharlal Nehru, the countrys first Prime Minister.

But Bose commanded a huge following during the 1930s and early 40s from his base in his native West Bengal. He was twice elected president of the Indian National Congress, the main political force for independence, and was prepared to use violence to secure Indias freedom.

A garlanded Subhas Chandra Bose surrounded by supporters at Victoria Station, London in 1939 (Getty)

He took to agitating from afar, first from Nazi Germany (after escaping from house arrest in India in disguise in 1941); and then from Southeast Asia, where he mounted his military campaign against the British with the help of Japan, and where he lived out his final days. The evidence of Boses death  including witnesses accounts of the crash and his treatment in hospital, has failed to convince many who argue that he was alive long after 1945.

The plane crash theory was planted by Bose and his supporters, to allow Bose to escape to Russia without being caught, said Anuj Dhar, founder of a group called Mission Netaji, which is dedicated to uncovering the truth about what happened. Mr Dhar, author of Indias Biggest Cover-Up, is among those who believe Nehru must have known that Bose was in Russia.

In declassifying the documents, Mr Modi was responding to long-standing demands from members of Boses extended family, but he also saw a political opportunity: his Bharatiya Janata Party has begun championing Boses legacy, to establish its connection to Indias freedom struggle; it accuses Congress, which lays claim to both Gandhi and Nehru, of steadily erasing Boses role from the historical record. Congress leaders dutifully paid tribute on the anniversary of Boses birth in January, when the government files were released.

With his disclosure, Mr Modi also somewhat trumped the regional party in charge of West Bengal, which released its own trove of documents in September. There was little in them, apart from the embarrassing revelation for Congress that the Bose family had been spied upon for 20 years, possibly out of fear of a new political faction emerging, though some smell a conspiracy here, too.

Netajis numerous descendants are divided in their reactions. The BJP has attracted into its ranks one of his grand-nephews, Chandra Kumar Bose who, like many of his relatives, believes there is no conclusive evidence of the crash. Other family members disagree. Netajis only child, Anita Pfaff, accepts the official narrative, but has called for DNA testing on the ashes held in a temple in Japan that are reported to be his. Another grand-nephew, Sugata Bose, a renowned historian and biographer of his great uncle, is frustrated that the supposed mystery has been allowed to obscure more valuable insights.

We need to focus on what the man stood for, he told The Independent, pointing to Netajis insistence on religious harmony and respect for minorities. His life is far more important than the circumstances of his death, he said.

If Boses presence in Russia after 1945 is the most widely accepted alternative account to his perishing in a plane crash, what happened next is far more contested.

Possible theories range from being held prisoner in a Siberian gulag before eventually being killed, to the more outlandish idea that he returned to India to live undercover as a reclusive holy man.

In 2006 the most recent commission set up to look into Boses death, led by retired judge Justice Mukherjee, concluded  contrary to the findings of two previous inquiries  that the Taiwan crash was a fiction. The government at the time chose not to accept his opinion, leaving the issue unresolved.

As the recently declassified documents are still being pored over, and with 25 more set to be released each month, many are hoping to find a smoking gun.

Make everything public and let the public decide, Mr Dhar said. We want the truth to come out  whatever it is.
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Turkey has warned that it has exhausted its capacity to absorb refugees amid mounting pressure to accept a wave of Syrians driven from their homes by a major Russian-backed offensive.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, is due to travel to Turkey on Monday in an effort to gain Ankaras help in slowing the tide of refugees entering the European Union. On the eve of her visit, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Numan Kurtulmus, said that his nation was now hosting three million refugees, 2.5 million of them Syrian. He said that, though it had reached its limits, Turkey would ultimately take more people because in the end, these people have nowhere else to go.

However, as darkness fell on Sunday Turkey had yet to open its Bab al-Salam border crossing to northern Aleppo province, where the United Nations estimates that 35,000 people are newly displaced. Though the UN has said that only 2,500 to 3,000 people remained at the border crossing itself, tens of thousands more were said to have sought shelter in nearby towns and camps that were bursting at the seams even before the latest influx.

Dr Osama Abo el-Ezz, a Syrian doctor who travelled to Turkey from Aleppo on Saturday night via a different crossing, told The Independent he had encountered many families who had taken refuge in the rural, rebel-held areas to the west of the city. They are hungry, they are sleeping on the ground, he said. They are waiting for some kind of help. Every day there are about 10 to 20 people killed in Aleppo city by the Russian planes and by bombing by the regime, he said. The situation in Aleppo is getting worse and worse.

With the help of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, the Syrian government has made a series of gains in Aleppo province. Last week it severed the sole main rebel supply line from Turkey. Heavy fighting has also been reported around the village of Ratyan as part of a campaign to slice rebel-held territory in two.

 Battle for Aleppo: Syrian government forces drawing closer

Those living in the eastern part of Aleppo, an opposition stronghold since 2012, fear that they are on the verge of being totally encircled and placed under siege.

Dr Abo el-Ezz warned of an impending crisis. The hospitals have been storing up some fuel and some medications  but not enough, he said. The people have no way to store anything because they are poor. Aid organisations have been storing food and water but I dont think it is enough for all the people in the city.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

He said that there were already shortages of food, medicine and clean water as well as near-constant bombardment.

Mr Kurtulmus estimated that in the worst-case scenario as many as one million more refugees could flee the Syrian city of Aleppo and surrounding areas. That would present a huge challenge both for Turkey and for Europe.

Ms Merkels visit comes amid reports that 70,000 migrants have entered the EU from Turkey via Greece since the start of the year, despite a 3bn (2.3bn) deal between Ankara and Brussels aimed at stemming the flow of people.

She is facing growing domestic pressure over her open-door policy that enabled more than one million refugees to enter the country in 2015. A recent German television poll showed that some 80 per cent of voters now think that her government has lost control of the situation.

During meetings with politicians and officials, she is expected to urge Turkey to police its maritime border with Greece more effectively and to halt migrant trafficking. But her visit is complicated by the latest wave of people displaced in northern Aleppo.
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Spanish police have arrested seven suspected members of a terror cell linked to both Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra.

Six of the men were arrested following raids in the eastern provinces of Valencia and Alicante and in Spains North African enclave of Ceuta on Saturday.

The Interior Ministry said a seventh suspected was arrested later on Sunday, but he did not give any further details.

Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said the cell had sent arms and bomb-making equipment to Iraq and Syria disguised as humanitarian aid.

The ringleader reportedly ran a business which enabled him to ship containers from Spanish ports to armed militants in Syria and Iraq.

The group is also suspected of supplying funds for Isis and their arch-rivals in Syria Jabhat al-Nusra, the police have said.

Police said they had been investigating the cell since 2014 and the arrests took place early on Sunday.

World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Show all 30 1 /30 World's monuments show solidarity with Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris National Portrait Gallery, London, UK World's monuments show solidarity with Paris London Eye, UK World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Sydney Opera House, Australia World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The HSBC building, Hong Kong, China World's monuments show solidarity with Paris California State University, Long Beach, USA World's monuments show solidarity with Paris US Embassy, Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Swiss Parliament, Bern, Switzerland World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Chhatrapati Shivaji train station building, Mumbai, India World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Eiffel Tower, Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Wembley Stadium, London World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The fortress 'Tsarevets', Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The SSE Hydro arena, Glasgow, Scotland World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Story Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Perth Council house, Perth, Australia World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Plaza Francia (France's Square), Caracas, Venezuela World's monuments show solidarity with Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Penshaw Monument, Sunderland, UK World's monuments show solidarity with Paris St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, Australia World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Chile's presidential palace La Moneda, Santiago, Chile World's monuments show solidarity with Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris World's monuments show solidarity with Paris De La Salle university, Manila, Philippines World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Greenland Centre, Jinan city, China World's monuments show solidarity with Paris Calagary Tower, Alberta, Canada World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Senate building, Mexico City Reuters/Tomas Bravo World's monuments show solidarity with Paris One World Trade Centre, New York, USA World's monuments show solidarity with Paris The Angel de la Independencia monument, Mexico City

In a statement the police said they had found evidence the men had provided logistical support that was essential for the maintenance of terror activities in Syria and Iraq.

The ringleader was also allegedly contacted by Isis who urged him to get women to travel to Syria and Iraq for their fighters to marry "following guidelines set down by the Islamic State group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi".

Four of those arrested were Spanish citizens but were of Syrian, Jordanian and Moroccan ancestry.

Two others were Syrian and Moroccan nationals living in Spain. The nationality of the seventh man is unknown.

Additional reporting by AP
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Two puppeteers in Spain have reportedly been charged with glorifying terrorism during a childrens show in Madrid.

Alfonso Lazaro de la Fuente and Raul Garcia Perez were arrested after staging a show featuring the hanging of an effigy of a judge, the stabbing of a nun with a crucifix and several police beatings, according to The Local.

Puppets in the show allegedly held up a sign celebrating ETA, a banned Basque separatist group responsible for killing hundreds and injuring thousands in northern Spain and south-western France.

The signs were reported to have included the made-up word alka, creating a slogan involving a play on words that combined the groups Gora ETA (Long Live ETA) chant to sound like Long Live al-Qaeda.

Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena issued a statement saying the infants show had not been previewed by the art director.

"During the workshop the artists hired carried out offensive actions, completely out of place in any context and totally disrespectful with the values of coexistence, respect and diversity proposed by Madrid City Hall, he said.

"The local police arrested those responsible and called in the national police, following normal procedure in these cases."

The puppeteers were working for Titeres Desde Abajo (Puppets from Below), c.

A Facebook post published by the company before the show said: We wanted to investigate the possibilities of the popular tradition of puppeteering to tell what you feel as urgent.

Throughout the show, and under different faces, Don Cristobal will try to crush a witch, but the nature of this takes her to love his freedom above all and not to be trampled by anyone.

The show had been commissioned as part of Madrids Carnival celebrations.
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The US has said North Korea will face "serious consequences" after launched a long-range rocket in defiance of international warnings.

Set off from the country's west coast only two hours after an eight-day launch window opened on Sunday morning, Pyongyang insisted the action was part of a peaceful space program and that it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite into orbit.

But Susan Rice, US national security adviser, labelled the launch "reckless".

North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests including the security of some of our closest allies and undermine peace and security in the broader region," she said in a statement.

"We condemn today's launch and North Korea's determination to prioritise its missile and nuclear weapons programs over the well-being of its people, whose struggles only intensify with North Koreas diversion of scarce resources to such destabilising activities."

According to North Korean state TV, the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite was now orbiting earth every 94 minutes.

The announcer added that North Korea - which carried out its fourth nuclear test last week - had a right to develop a peaceful space programme and that the satellite launch marked a breakthrough in boosting our national defence capability.

John Kerry, American Secretary of State, described it as a provocation and destabilising to peace. He said the US would work alongside the UN Security Council on significant measures to hold North Korea to account.

The rocket launched at around 9.30am Seoul time, and, according to Japans Fuji Television Network, a streak of light could be seen in the sky at Chinas border with North Korea.

North Korea had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, but the move was seen by opposition governments as a long-range missile test.

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea A man cuts the hair of a young boy at an apartment building in Pyongyang. High rise apartments are a common form of accommodation for people living in the capital city AP Photo/Dita Alangkara Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea North Koreans pause to give way for passing vehicles as they cross a road in Pyongyang. AP Photo/Dita Alangkara Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea North Koreans wait for public transportation at a bus stop in Pyongyang AP Photo/Dita Alangkara Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea A woman and her daughter walk past a North Korean flag hung on a utility pole as part of celebrations of the Liberation Day in Pyongyang AP Photo/Dita Alangkara Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea People attending the conference for national reunification as they observe their 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II, in Panmunjom AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea A man looks at items at a stamp shop in Pyongyang AP Photo/Dita Alangkara Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea North Koreans participate in a closing event for its celebration of the 70th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, at the truce village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides the two Koreas in Panmunjom, North Korea. The country changed it's timezone on the occasion. North Korea introduced 'Pyongyang time' and pushed back its clocks by half an hour on 15 August, the same as before the Japanese occupation when the standard time used by the Korean empire was eight and a half hours ahead of GMT, instead of nine hours, which is Tokyo time EPA/KCNA SOUTH KOREA OUT Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea People attending the conference for national reunification as they observe their 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II, in Panmunjom AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea Youths and students attending an evening gala at the Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures 'Ordinary life' in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to mark the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation REUTERS/KCNAATTENTION EDITORS

UN secretary Ban Ki-Moon called the launch deplorable and called on North Korea to halt its actions.

South Korea said that it would begin discussion on the United States on deploying an advanced missile-defene system to counteract North Korea's growing weapons capabilities. China, which considers North Korea an ally, also cautioned North Korea about its weapons and issued a statement saying it "expressed regret" over the launch.

Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the launch could not but provoke a "decisive protest", adding Pyongyang had once again demonstrated a disregard for norms of international law.

"We strongly recommend the leadership of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea think about whether a policy of opposing the entire international community meets the interests of the country," the statement read.

An emergency UN Security Council meeting was due to take place on Sunday in New York to discuss whether an international response is required.
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Travelling companion: My housemate

Trip: To Wolverton and Ploegstreet

As a man who I guess is Michelle's dad approaches through the Wolverton drizzle, his flat cap tipped down, I smile to myself. The number of people who have met and become friends in this way over the past 65 years, I think: strangers from random towns greeting each other on the street

Wolverton is a small town a stone's throw from Milton Keynes. My housemate Goodie and I are here as part of the UK leg of my town-twinning adventure. It's an adventure that started years ago, with a little curiosity, some booze and a challenge that took me 10,000 miles around Europe and is now taking me round the UK.

We parked up at lunchtime outside the town's Victorian bath house, ready to meet a local, Dave.

"Remind me who Dave is," said Goodie, as we wandered the puddled high street looking for a cafe.

"He's Michelle's dad. Michelle who I used to work with. She grew up in Wolverton and sent me to its twin town in Belgium, Ploegsteert. Dave's giving us a tour."

In full bloom: Wolvertons twinning sign

Goodie nodded and smiled as you do when you're speaking to eccentric nan at Christmas.

Before we can find somewhere to eat, Dave leads us into the Old Bath House to meet a local group of "yarn bombers"  a mysterious group of ladies who decorate Wolverton in knitwear. (They're very secretive. I daren't say more for fear of woollen reprisals.)

"So this building was the bath house for the railway works?" I ask Dave as we say goodbye to the Knit Wits. "It was, yes. Built for the town in 1890. The railworks were established here in 1838. We're halfway between London and Birmingham: a perfect location for railways."

Outside, we bump into Hilary, chair of the personnel committee for Wolverton West Ward. "Hilary, meet Rob and his friend. They're in Wolverton because of town-twinning and our friends in Belgium."

Hilary's eyes light up. "Rob, we have a visit to Plugstreet in the summer, as it will be 100 years since the death of Albert French."

Secretive: Wolverton's Knit Wits is a mysterious group

French was a young Wolverton lad who travelled to Ploegsteert ("Plugstreet" to the Allies) to fight in May 1916. A month later  as back home his sister May was writing him teasing letters, "soon to be sweet 17 and never been kissed"  Albert was killed by a bullet.

On 27 May 2006, almost exactly 90 years after Albert entered the trenches, a town-twinning charter was signed, close to where his body now lies, sparking a deep friendship between these two distant towns.

"More than 70 of us will drive to Ploegsteert," Hilary tells me. "Our brass band will perform a concert with our friends in the Ploegsteert band on the Saturday. Then on the Sunday there's a memorial service. It's always such a good visit. The Belgians are very hospitable."

Memorial: Albert Frenchs gravestone outside Ploegsteert

Next we meet Roger Kitchen, the man who discovered French's letters back to his sister. "I collect old embossed books," he says, pointing to encyclopaedias making the shelf bow in his living room. "When I unpacked those, there was an envelope at the bottom of the box. And there were the letters."

Standing beside Albert's gravestone outside Ploegsteert, close to the end of my European road trip, I remember thinking how difficult twinning must have been in the early days: visiting, in some cases, the "enemy"; walking into their houses; sharing their culture; eating their food; struggling with their language. Once upon a time, town-twinning had a heart and a purpose. In the 1950s, it played an important role in reconnecting a broken and distrustful Europe. In the 1960s and 1970s, it helped all generations reach out and cross borders.

Today, its spirit remains, but its popularity has stalled. With Facebook and Airbnb stealing the headlines, twinning is losing its place. I find that very sad. Because now, as the right begins to rise across our continent, as the European Referendum creeps closer, we need its heart and its purpose more than we have in a long time.

For more twinning tales, 'Twinned with...' by Rob Self-Pierson is available from waterstones.com and bowtiebooks.co.uk
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There are times in the Middle East when nightmares and delusions take the place of the real and growing tragedy which is consuming the Arab lands. More and more earnest are the calls for peace as more and more nations launch more and more air raids, from Kabul to the Mediterranean, and down through Sinai and Yemen and across to Libya. The bloodbath is real, yet no one plans for a future  for Life after Isis. By my reckoning, there are now 11 different national air forces bombing five different Muslim countries to degrade and destroy their enemies. But what comes afterwards?

History teaches us that for 100 years now, the people of this magnificent, dangerous region have sought justice and received only injustice. Foreign and proxy occupation, corruption and dictatorship  the hands of the torturer  have taken from them the one value which so many millions finally sought in the great Arab awakening of 2011: dignity. Yet what are we doing about this? Why have we never addressed the great historical injustices which have caused this human earthquake?

Instead, we conjure up imaginary armies  as if the real ones arent frightening enough. We dream up 35,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria when perhaps there are a thousand  and 20,000 Afghan Hazara Shia and hordes of Iraqi Shia militiamen in Syria and another 10,000 Hezbollah  and this is before we even remember David Camerons ghost army of 70,000 warriors ready to fight for democracy. The Turks are about to invade Syria, we are told, but they havent. Then there are the thousands of Saudi soldiers which our favourite Gulf monarchy is ready to send to Syria to fight Isis  although presumably theyll have to leave their air-conditioned Mercedes limousines back at the start line. As for the Russians, Im surprised nobody has yet suggested that they arrived in Syria with snow on their boots.

This is insanity. Europeans react with horror when a million refugees cross their borders  yet while its informative to know that Hungary thinks it is the frontier of Christendom, no one has suggested that we need to address the original problems of all these poor people. We obsess about persuading Turkey to stop the refugees and asylum seekers pouring into Europe, but without any long-term planning for a new Middle East which will reduce their numbers.

In pictures: The rise of Isis Show all 74 1 /74 In pictures: The rise of Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters of the Islamic State wave the group's flag from a damaged display of a government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from Islamic State group sit on their tank during a parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from the Islamic State group pray at the Tabqa air base after capturing it from the Syrian government in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from extremist Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping A video uploaded to social networks shows men in underwear being marched barefoot along a desert road before being allegedly executed by Isis Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Haruna Yukawa after his capture by Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Khalinda Sharaf Ajour, a Yazidi, says two of her daughters were captured by Isis militants Washington Post In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Spokesperson for Isis Vice News via Youtube In pictures: The rise of Isis A pro-Isis leaflet A pro-Isis leaflet handed out on Oxford Street In London Ghaffar Hussain In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Isis Jihadists burn their passports In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A man collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A woman collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid Local civilians queue for aid administered by Isis. Since it declared a caliphate the group has increasingly been delivering services such as healthcare, and distributing aid and free fuel In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces detain men suspected of being militants of the Isis group in Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Mourners carry the coffin of a Shi'ite volunteer from the brigades of peace, who joined the Iraqi army and was killed during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Samarra, during his funeral in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Shiite Turkmen family fleeing the violence in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, arrives at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi A photograph made from a video by the jihadist affiliated group Furqan Media via their twitter account allegedly showing Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at a mosque in Mosul. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamist caliphate in the territory under the group's control in Iraq and Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Smoke and debris go up in the air as Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul. Images posted online show that Islamic extremists have destroyed at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory - the city of Mosul and the town of Tal Afar - they have seized in northern Iraq in recent weeks In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq A bulldozer destroys Sunni's Ahmed al-Rifai shrine and tomb in Mahlabiya district outside of Tal Afar In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces celebrate after clashes with followers of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, in front of his home in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi at his home after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A vehicle burns in front of a home of a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman holds her exhausted son as over 1000 Iraqis who have fled fighting in and around the city of Mosul and Tal Afar wait at a Kurdish checkpoint in the hopes of entering a temporary displacement camp in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees Displaced Iraqi women hold pots as they queue to receive food during the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at an encampment for displaced Iraqis who fled from Mosul and other towns, in the Khazer area outside Irbil, north Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A militant Islamist fighter waving a flag, cheers as he takes part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic "caliphate" after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters travel in a vehicle as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade with a missile in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from an al-Qaida splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from the splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters hold a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A member loyal to the Isis waves an Isis flag in Raqqa In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi anti-government gunmen from Sunni tribes in the western Anbar province march during a protest in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. The United Nations warned that Iraq is at a "crossroads" and appealed for restraint, as a bloody four-day wave of violence killed 195 people. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that broke out in Sunni areas of the Shiite-majority country more than four months ago, raising fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces hold up a flag of the Isis group they captured during an operation to regain control of Dallah Abbas north of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Isis fighters parade in the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Isis group, demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Kurdish Peshmerga troops fire a cannon during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Jalawla, Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference Iraqi Prime Minister's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference about the latest military development in Iraq, in the capital Baghdad. Iraqi forces pressed a campaign to retake militant-held Tikrit, clashing with jihadist-led Sunni militants nearby and pounding positions inside the city with air strikes in their biggest counter-offensive so far In pictures: The rise of Isis A police station building destroyed by Isis fighters An exterior view of a police station building destroyed by gunmen in Mosul city, northern Iraq. Iraq's new parliament is expected to convene to start the process of setting up a new government, despite deepening political rifts and an ongoing Islamist-led insurgency. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a decree inviting the new House of Representatives to meet and form a new government In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Smoke billows from an area controlled by the Isis between the Iraqi towns of Naojul and Tuz Khurmatu, both located north of the capital Baghdad, as Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces take part in an operation to repel the Sunni militants In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An elderly Iraqi woman is helped into a temporary displacement camp for Iraqis caught-up in the fighting in and around the city of Mosul in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Christian woman fleeing the violence in the village of Qaraqush, about 30 kms east of the northern province of Nineveh, cries upon her arrival at a community center in the Kurdish city of Arbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman, who fled with her family from the northern city of Mosul, prays with a copy of the Quran AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq The body of an Isis militant killed during clashes with Iraqi security forces on the outskirts of the city of Samarra Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi civilians inspect the damage at a market after an air strike by the Iraqi army in central Mosul EPA In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Members of the Al-Abbas brigades, who volunteered to protect the Shiite Muslim holy sites in Karbala against Sunni militants fighting the Baghdad government, parade in the streets of the city AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Shia tribesmen gather in Baghdad to take up arms against Sunni insurgents marching on the capital. Thousands have volunteered to bolster defences AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A van carrying volunteers joining Iraqi security forces against Jihadist militants. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteered to fight AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters of the Isis group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle down a main road at the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An Islamist fighter, identified as Abu Muthanna al-Yemeni from Britain (R), speaks in this still image taken undated video shot at an unknown location and uploaded to a social media website. Five Islamist fighters identified as Australian and British nationals have called on Muslims to join the wars in Syria and Iraq, in the new video released by the Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Al-Qaida inspired militants stand with captured Iraqi Army Humvee at a checkpoint belonging to Iraqi Army outside Beiji refinery some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad. The fighting at Beiji comes as Iraq has asked the U.S. for airstrikes targeting the militants from the Isis group. While U.S. President Barack Obama has not fully ruled out the possibility of launching airstrikes, such action is not imminent in part because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground, officials said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants attacked Iraq's main oil refinein Baiji as they pressed an offensive that has seen them capture swathes of territory, a manager and a refinery employee said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants from the Isis group parading with their weapons in the northern city of Baiji in the in Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A smoke rises after an attack by Isis militants on the country's largest oil refinery in Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security forces battled insurgents targeting the country's main oil refinery and said they regained partial control of a city near the Syrian border, trying to blunt an offensive by Sunni militants who diplomats fear may have also seized some 100 foreign workers In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group stand next to captured vehicles left behind by Iraqi security forces at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province. For militant groups, the fight over public perception can be even more important than actual combat, turning military losses into propaganda victories and battlefield successes into powerful tools to build support for the cause In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An injured fighter (C) from the Isis group after a battle with Iraqi soldiers at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis aiming at advancing Iraqi troops at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group taking position at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group inspecting vehicles of the Iraqi army after they were seized at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq One Iraqi captive, a corporal, is reluctant to say the slogan, and has to be shouted at repeatedly before he obeys Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group force captured Iraqi security forces members to the transport In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group transporting dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members to an unknown location in the Salaheddin province ahead of executing them In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A major offensive spearheaded by Isis but also involving supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein has overrun all of one province and chunks of three others In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group executing dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants taking position at a Iraqi border post on the Syrian-Iraqi border between the Iraqi Nineveh province and the Syrian town of Al-Hasakah In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis rebels show their flag after seizing an army post AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants waving an Islamist flag after the seizure of an Iraqi army checkpoint in Salahuddin Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Demonstrators chant slogans as they carry al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad. In the week since it captured Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, a Muslim extremist group has tried to win over residents and has stopped short of widely enforcing its strict brand of Islamic law, residents say. Churches remain unharmed and street cleaners are back at work

We blather on about how we are suffering the greatest movement of refugees since the Second World War. But in the Second World War (the real one), Allied leaders were planning for the post-war world  a United Nations  years before the end of hostilities. Today, I cannot find in my files any record of a single Arab or world leader who has spoken of what the Middle East might look like in the future. Why cant we plan ahead now?

At the end of the First World War  the war which destroyed the Ottoman empire and crushed the last caliphate a few years later  many of the American diplomats in the collapsing empire and the NGOs of the time (they were missionaries then, of course) argued for one great Arab nation; one in which Muslims  and Christians and Jews and other minorities  would be citizens of a land which stretched from Morocco to the Mesopotamian-Persian border (the frontier of what is now Iraq and Iran). But of course the US lost its interest in such Wilsonian dreams, while the Brits and French had other plans and moved in to take the mandates of their choice.

Thus began the age of humiliation, of Western occupiers and local butchers and hangmen which stripped all these peoples of their honour. And now, 100 years on, we see its frightening apogee in the gruesome caliphate which is spreading Ebola-like around the world. But what the poor old Middle East needs now are not more air strikes, but an intellectual search by all those who still live there  and by those who have fled  for what kind of a homeland they want to live in.

What institutions can replace the broken ramparts of the old Middle East? What can replace, for example, the doggerel Arab television preachers who have so much to answer for, many of them encouraged by the Gulf rulers? How did Islam become so weakened by these people? An old friend of mine (a Sunni Muslim, if you want to know) put it very well to me at the weekend. Islam is afraid of Isis, he said. Isis isnt afraid of Islam.

So for starters, why not plan for a new Middle East founded not on oil and gas  though they will remain  but on education? Not on dictators palaces but on universities; not on torture chambers but on libraries. Islam lay at the heart of the ancient universities of the Middle East. Scholarship was not dominated by Islam  faith and religion were themselves enhanced and enriched by knowledge. From education comes justice. And justice  only justice  will destroy Isis. This may sound preachy but I suspect it would make a lot of sense to the Arabs  and the Jews  who lived in Spain, in Andalusia, 700 years ago (until, of course, we chucked them out).

I have noted before that Abu Dhabi  abjuring the madness of Dubai  has placed a special need on first-class university education for its citizens. And across the Middle East, lack of education  a policy fostered by dictators, of course  lies like a cancer. For lack of education actually is a substance that spreads. Look at the tens of thousands of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon who will one day return to their ruins without even the gift of literacy to pass on to their own future children.

I cannot stand the old cliches about when the guns fall silent. But schools and universities are going to be more deadly to Isis than any air-strike. Thats how you deal with nightmares.
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Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has backed the Independents Give to GOSH appeal with a heartfelt tribute to the generosity of reader and the great work of the hospitals staff and volunteers.

The endorsement from the former member of the Fab Four comes at the start of the final week of the appeal for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), which has already smashed all previous records for our seasonal appeal by raising more than 3m.

In a video message he has updated his 1967 hit When Im Sixty-Four in honour of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He said: This is Paul McCartney here and this is a message on behalf of the Great Ormond Street Hospital. I want to thank everybody who has donated to their latest campaign and has given money to keep this great hospital and the great work it does going.

Sir Paul has a long history of supporting GOSH, including a paying surprise visit to the wards, performing karaoke sessions with patients and attending the hospital's annual Christmas party for patients.

Great Ormond Street Hospital's history Show all 10 1 /10 Great Ormond Street Hospital's history Great Ormond Street Hospital's history 'Treating rickets, 1920': This image of two children in protective eyewear in front of an ultraviolet screen was used in the 1930s to encourage donations to the hospital's redevelopment Great Ormond Street Hospital's history The Childrens Hospital School, which had opened with just one teacher, 1951 Great Ormond Street Hospital's history Staff and patients celebrate Christmas on Dresden Ward, which opened in 1893 after a large endowment from a London businessman Great Ormond Street Hospital's history 'Lady Folkestone cot, 1880s' shows a child in a bed with the name of the viscountess who sponsored her cot. The idea of cot sponsorship had begun just over a decade earlier, in 1868 Great Ormond Street Hospital's history Mrs Francis Willey, the hospitals first matron, appointed two months before GOSH opened, 1851 Great Ormond Street Hospital's history The hospitals nurses home, 1914 Great Ormond Street Hospital's history An operating theatre, circa 1930 Great Ormond Street Hospital's history Patients with lung conditions or infectious disease were wheeled on to the balcony for fresh air, 1920s. 'Images such as the balcony scene would have been used to show that the buildings were becoming antiquated and in need of replacement,' says Baldwin. 'The idea was to encourage people to donate towards maintenance, which was a constant concern.' Great Ormond Street Hospital's history The RAF Cranwell cot, funded from 1920 by a base in Lincolnshire Great Ormond Street Hospital's history GOSH acquired its first X-ray machine in 1903

GOSH chaplain and Beatles fan Jim Linthicum said: Sir Paul McCartney is a genius as a musician and I have so much respect for him. He transcends the generations with his music and keeps us young. Its a real honour to to get a birthday message from such a legend . Sir Paul has touched so many people throughout the years with his music, a bit like GOSH which also touches everybody, so it seems fitting to have him supporting the Give To GOSH appeal.

The endorsement of the appeal from Sir Paul follows high-profile celebrity endorsement and corporate donations, including Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada and Trailfinders. It also comes as the campaign enters its final week, ending this Sunday on GOSHs 164th birthday. A party will be held this week for patients and the dedicated staff and volunteers who care for them.

Sir Paul continued: I also want to congratulate the hospital itself on its 164th anniversary. Wow. Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when Im 164?

The Beatles recorded When Im Sixty-Four for the 1967 album Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. At the time GOSH was already 115 years old and doctors at the hospital were leading the first UK clinical trials of the rubella vaccine. Within a year 110 children had been vaccinated and within three-years a UK-wide immunisation programme was rolled out for the disease. This is just one of the medical advances made at GOSH during its 164 year history, including major advances in paediatric heart surgery, gene therapy and the treatment of epilepsy.

Over the course of its 164 year history GOSH has been transformed from a 10-bed hospital for sick children into a world-leading medical-research establishment which deals with more than 255,000 patient visits every year.

Until the hospital was founded in 1852, when it was known The Hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, there was not hospital in Britain dedicated solely to the treatment of children. It started in a converted townhouse with just two doctors, but by the end of the hospitals first year, the number of beds had already trebled and throughout its history it relied on charitable donations to expand, including the 1986 Wishing Well Appeal for the hospitals current building.

To Give to GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1Mydxqt

To find out more about our appeal and why we're supporting GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1MycZkr
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Pamela Guyatt (letter, 5 February) can foresee fascism looming on the horizon of this country  now in the clutches of the most brazenly vicious government I have experienced since I was a child in Nazi Germany. But there are also likely to be other and equally ominous consequences of that distorted vision of the Big Society, and in particular on the young and the unqualified.

In France, 35 per cent of the countrys estimated jihadists are converts  young Europeans who have become totally embittered and enraged by that far from equitable society in which they have no stake. And our government too, in so ruthlessly slashing essential funds, crippling and destroying institutions that were set up to deal with Britains indecent inequalities, will inevitably drive those it disinherits into the arms of any body that will offer them a welcome and a purpose.

David Camerons canny political manipulation in changing Britains method of voter registration in order to deprive huge numbers of our citizens of a vote that would most probably have gone to one or other of opposition parties, might win this shameless government a stay of much deserved execution. It is also likely to bring about what Pamela Guyatt fears, and I foresee: the descent of this much-vaunted mother of democracy into an abyss if civil strife.

Carla M Wartenberg

London NW3

Matthew Norman (3 February) is incredibly depressed that no one gives a damn that the PM and Chancellor are out to destroy Labour for good and assure unbroken Tory rule.

I, for one, do care and recently tried to raise the issue at a local meeting with our MP, suggesting that constitutional changes should be subject to cross-party agreement and to a referral to the whole electorate. What is currently happening is not only undemocratic but also dangerous, especially when one considers the Tories strange bedfellows in Europe, the proposed scrapping and replacement of the Human Rights Act, the spotlight being increasingly shone on immigration and the threat of jail for peaceful environmental protesters (report, 3 February).

The incumbents for the time being may seem benign to some but, without a written constitution or reasonable checks and balances on manipulation by any one political party, there is no guarantee that this will always be the case. Germanys history in the 1930s is a good example of how quickly things can change.

Neil Kobish

Barnet, Hertfordshire

Lord Rennard boasts that the Liberal Democrats were central in trying to block changes to electoral laws (letter, 4 February). He clearly has a short memory, as his party promised to support reforming constituency boundaries when in coalition, even if it subsequently ratted on this after the Tories kept their side of the bargain and held a referendum on changing the voting system.

Under the electoral system endorsed in that referendum by a big majority of those of the electorate who voted, what is wrong with the constituencies as much as possible being the same population size? Yes, the Tories have a slim majority after winning less than 37 per cent of the vote. Yet they did not cry foul in 2005 when the Labour Party won a healthy overall majority with under 36 per cent of the vote in an election where the Tories actually won slightly more votes than Labour in England. They merely suggested boundary changes in the future.

Incidentally, as Lord Rennard feels so strongly about fair representation and reform of the House of Lords, which became his partys justification for pulling the plug on boundary changes, what has he to say about the gross over-representation of his party in the Upper House? Will he be a man of principle, and call for a sharp reduction in their numbers and far more peers for Ukip?

Rupert Fast

Esher, Surrey

Lord Rennard is right but the situation is even worse than he states. The 37 per cent of votes cast for the Tories was less than 25 per cent of the whole electorate. I was among the 75 per cent who no doubt feel like me  disenfranchised by a system that, dangerously, produced a majority government. Nowadays 75 per cent is a minority, it seems. Newspeak?

Fear cuts both ways in Europe vote

David Harvey (letter, 6 February) says fear is a rational response to the Leave option in the forthcoming European Union referendum, since we have no real idea of what an independent UK would look like. Actually, we do know because we have been there before. Our natural allies and trading partners among the democratic nations of the world, outside the narrow confines of the EU, are already there.

The real problem is that we do not know how politicians would choose to interpret a vote to Remain in the EU. Would it be a green light for a magical mystery tour leading, ultimately, to a dysfunctional, federal European super-state? We do not know, but, based on current evidence, we can only speculate.

Fear, you see, cuts both ways, whether, in the end, one votes to leave or remain in the EU.

Paul Wilder

London SE11

It is unsurprising that the national mood seems to be shifting in favour of Brexit despite David Camerons efforts. The approach of EU leaders seems to take the UKs remaining for granted.

It is not just the UKs financial contribution to the organisation that is at stake for them but the livelihoods of many of their citizens. The case of Donald Tusks Poland is glaring but other EU members such as France also depend on the UKs inclusion to provide a workplace for their citizens. They seem to be sleepwalking to financial ruin.

Carole Lewis

Solihull, West Midlands

Isabel Hardman pities those Tory MPs, torn between leader and local party (Voices, 5 February); she should not. Politicians and political parties trade on the faith and goodwill of their members and supporters. The time has come for Tory MPs to honour that trust and campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

Otto Inglis

Edinburgh

Wind farms dont kill whales

In your letters page on 5 February, a reader speculated whether offshore wind farms could be endangering whales in the North Sea.

Wind farms are not the problem. The wind industry undertakes extensive environmental assessments to anticipate and lessen any potential impacts wind farms may have on local wildlife long before they are constructed. Tragic as they are, cases of beached whales in the North Seas shallow waters are not uncommon.

Maf Smith

Deputy chief executive

RenewableUK, London SW1

No legal extortion on the high street

City lawyers dont act for small business (A legal extortion racket, 5 February); they act for large banks and major companies. High-street firms such as mine act for small businesses and we certainly do not charge anything like the rates you report.

In fact, our rates are less than one-fifth of those you refer to for a senior lawyer. We also offer fixed fees for smaller claims. The rates you refer are also no doubt charged for commercial work and not litigation.

High-street firms are fast falling by the wayside and these are the same people who provide excellent advice in the areas of family, criminal and probate law, which City firms do not. Hence any more ill-judged reforms drafted by overpaid Court of Appeal judges who have no experience of high-street firms could well lead to less access to justice.

Peter Stafford

Cartmel, Cumbria

End the university guessing game

Richard Garners expose The great university admissions charade (4 February), comes as no surprise.

This hugely expensive casino serves universities and students badly. That teachers should be obliged to give predicted grades after what is, in effect, no more three-fifths of the course can, despite their best efforts, be neither trustworthy nor reliable. It is hard to imagine a more stupid system than one where students apply to university before their results are known.

The universities claim that to change would mean an adjustment of their term dates. So what? The existing arrangements are a huge waste of time, talent and resources. The Government needs to knock heads together.

David McKaigue

Wirral

Make banking a profession

Old bankers linked to RBS now running new challenger banks was both predictable and avoidable (Meet the new bankers, same as the old bankers, 6 February). If bankers were required to be in a formal, registered profession similar to law, medicine, religion, architecture and teaching, they could be struck off.

Bill Summers

Sturminster Newton, Dorset
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The sporting shocks come not only thick and fast, but in fat. Within hours of Leicesters annihilation of Manchester City, the latest performance in the revival of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest  technically: Republican primary debates  found obese rank outsider Chris Christie destroying odds-on chance Marco Rubio. It was hardly the first cushion-biting debate humiliation of the kind. Four years ago, Texan eighth wit Rick Perry reacted to forgetting a key campaign pledge with a silky Oops!. In the 1992 vice-presidential debate, Ross Perots running mate Admiral Stockdale  a ringer for Victor Meldrews older brother, who set his hat alight with the contents of his pipe  started by asking Who am I? Why am I here? And in 1976, Gerald Ford assured Americans that there was no Soviet domination of eastern Europe, and under his presidency never would be.

Rubios humiliation came when, in response to Christie assailing him for robotically trotting out memorised 25-second talking points, the Cuban-American junior senator from Florida robotically trotted out the memorised 25-second talking point hed parroted often before. There it is, there it is, said Christie, beating Rubio (as The New York Timess Frank Rich tweeted) like a rented mule. How lethally defining it will prove for Rubio isnt clear, and making predictions about this nomination cycle is a fools game. In the Sunday Times, for example, Niall Ferguson, Emeritus Professor of Meretricious Historical Contrarianism at the University of Narcissism, has a Wacky Races-themed column headlined Peter Perfect Rubio has the Hispanic fuel to zip past Donald Dastardly. Exquisite timing there, albeit Rubios disaster is even more beautifully timed, with the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, for Trump.

Just when the tangerine-hued braggarts bubble seemed poised to burst, the boy in the bubble (as Christie calls Rubio) may have imploded to put him back in charge. If so, and if Trump goes on to win the nomination, he will turn to his vice-presidential pick. He could hardly go for Iowa champion Ted Cruz, whom many find viscerally revolting and whose own daughter was caught on camera recoiling from his attempted hug. Whether he would want the youthful Rubio for the Hispanic vote, Sarah Palin for the gun-clinging nutter vote, or even to reward the centrist Christie for taking out Rubio, is anyones guess. But so far as the latter, you have to believe that the very last thing Donald will feel he needs is an attack dog.

...And waterboarding for all

Speaking of Trump, he did well to resist any temptation to pander to that portion of the political Venn diagram where the Republican right and neo-fascism intersect. In a typically nuanced response when asked about reviving a popular George W Bush interrogation technique, Trump said he would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding. He didnt specify if that hints at medieval tongue-looseners like the rack, modern techniques like electrodes, or something wholly original, such as loosing The Thing On His Head to tickle suspects until their resistance breaks. Perhaps he will clarify in the next debate.

The reluctant Brexiters

While Republican nomination hopefuls tend to view every matter as black or white, here at home the EU referendum leaves two of our titans marooned in a quagmire of grey. The indecision must be tremendously exhausting for Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, but try as they might they simply cannot make up their minds. Govey is reportedly waging a destructive internal battle between his anti-EU principles and his touching loyalty to David Cameron. And Boris is just as high-minded. As an unnamed friend told The Independent on Sunday, Boris is still genuinely deliberating, and is not concerned about the impact it could have on his future leadership chances. The very thought of it.

Be Googles guest, Chancellor

Marvellous to find George Osborne enjoying a battery-recharging break from his duties ushering in the next recession. The Chancellor flew to California for the weekend, though not to LA for the Straight Outta Compton tour (you will recall that he is an NWA superfan), but to San Francisco with his son Luke to watch the Superbowl, as part sponsored by the good folk at Google. George apparently attended in a private capacity, though given that brutal tax demand  seven and thruppence hapenny a year for 20 years  that firm is in no position to comp air fares or match tickets. How it found even a fraction of the sponsorship money is beyond me.

Greg Wise atones for old sins

It isnt only internet goliaths who embrace creative tax avoidance, as the actor Greg Wise (Emma Thompsons old man) has discovered. After going undercover to research the practice for an edition of Channel 4s Dispatches, he writes about learning from specialist advisers that  despite Superbowl Georgies solemn oath to end this nonsense  paying tax still appears to be a matter of choice for those with access to offshore trickery. This is noble work. It doesnt remove the stain of appearing in 1999s Mad Cows, which has claims to be the worst movie yet made. But it is a step towards redemption, and hats off to Wise for that.
News / Education

by Thobekile Zhou

Lupane State University is bracing itself for mass production of graduates as it has introduced two intakes in a year.The university which mainly operates from Bulawayo has already informed prospective students of the development."Lupane State University would like to inform prospective first year students and the public that the institution will enroll two (2) intakes of first year students in 2016."The first intake will begin lectures On February 15 2016 while the second intake will commerce studies in July 2016" reads a notice seen by Bulawayo24.com.Scores of university graduates are jobless.Last week, the University of Zimbabwe also announced that it will this year double its intake as the institution aims to accommodate the growing number of students interested at studying at the country's oldest university.The two intakes are for 22 February and 22 August.The institution said additional facilities had been built to accommodate new students.
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The most important aspect of any complaints process is that each case should be judged on its merits. That may sound obvious, but it can require putting aside questions of tone in order to consider substance. It is easy enough to be riled when a complaint is primarily a rant  but all the effing and blinding in the world doesnt preclude the possibility of there being a valid point buried beneath.

When many people complain about the same thing, it is vital that weight of numbers is not regarded as an intrinsic marker of the strength of an argument. That isnt to say it cant be: if hundreds of readers were offended by a particular image, their concern might be a good indicator of an editorial misjudgement. On the other hand, mass complaints might be no more than an attempt by a lobby group to pursue a wider agenda.

Last week, we received 32 emails complaining about The Independents coverage of Saudi Arabia. Each message was from a self-professed Saudi citizen, and Ive no reason to doubt that they were sent with real feeling by actual people.

The 32 emails might, however, have made a stronger impact if they had they not all been identical, and expressing unhappiness at our inaccurate, misleading and erroneous allegations, which amounted to psychological warfare aimed at diminishing the Saudi society. We were, it was said, obviously intent on trying to shake the confidence of Saudis in the policies and wisdom of their government.

None of the people who wrote to us specified any particular articles about which they had concerns, nor identified any of the many inaccuracies we were supposed to have published. There was little that made me think that these complainants were habitual Independent readers.

In the absence of any specific errors, it was hard to avoid the conclusion that these emails were anything more than a concerted attempt to put pressure on The Independent to be less critical of a Saudi regime which, within its own borders, is subject to barely a murmur of criticism. The fact that there are no free media outlets in Saudi Arabia may have something to do with this. And, for outside observers, this is reason enough to condemn its government  not to mention its upholding of sharia through the stifling of womens rights, the beheading of criminals, and flogging of bloggers for the disgusting outrage of propagating liberal thought.

Perhaps there are Saudi citizens who would not feel represented by the 32 who emailed me last week  but it would be brave of them to say so. And that goes some way to explaining why The Independent will continue to question the wisdom of Saudi Arabias autocracy.

The intricacies of press regulation

A Macedonian journalist came to visit The Independent last week. He had a particular interest in media regulation and was intrigued by the ongoing debate here in the UK.

He noted how vital it was for the maintenance of a free press that it should not be subject to any state interference. Self-regulation, he said, was the best way to try to maintain a free but responsible media  and, of course, that can take many forms.

The consequences of the Leveson Inquiry here  the agreement to use a royal charter to establish a Press Recognition Panel, funded by the state, to grant recognition to would-be regulators (self or otherwise; fully functioning or not)  were mystifying to my guest. Then again, he may not be alone in that.

Will Gore is Deputy Managing Editor of The Independent, i, Independent on Sunday and the Evening Standard
Michael Nolan - In his first ever interview, the Transport Infrastructure Ireland boss outlines his plans to address congestion: Michael Nolan understands the capacity issues facing the country's busiest road, the M50, very well. He passes over it every day, travelling by bus from his home in Mullingar to the headquarters of Transport Infrastructure for Ireland (TII) on Parkgate Street in Dublin.

TII came into being last August with the merger of the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency. Nolan took over at the same time. His interview with the Sunday Independent is his first in this capacity. TII is responsible for building and maintaining the country's national roads network and overseeing the construction of light rail projects like Luas - it is in the middle of overseeing the Luas Cross City project which will connect its two existing Green and Red lines.

Nolan's budget is a fraction of what Ireland's road authority once enjoyed. In 2015 he had around 350m to maintain existing national roads and build new ones. At peak, around 2008, the national roads budget reached 1.8bn.

The Noughties were "an unprecedented time for road building in Ireland", he says. "At one point we had 560km of motorway under construction, more than anywhere else in Europe."

The end result was the Major Inter Urban routes, the motorways that connect Dublin with Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Work on these began in earnest early in the decade and the last contracts were signed around 2008, meaning these motorways were delivered even as the country's economy began to nosedive. The final piece was delivered in 2010 just as the IMF came to town. Unlike road building in the 1990s, which was heavily funded by Europe, Irish taxpayers paid for most of those routes.

That period of huge construction has left Nolan with a vast amount of road to maintain. Thus it is maintenance, rather than new road building, which seems to be his top priority. "We have 5,300km of national roads of which about 1,300km are motorways or dual carriageways. Most of that is new, built in the last 10 to 15 years. . . We have become an operator rather than a builder. Keeping that network open for businesses and citizens, and maintaining the value of taxpayers' investment - around 10bn - is our biggest concern."

To maintain the network properly - excluding any new building - costs around 300m a year. Given that his budget was 325m last year, Nolan estimates his organisation is underfunded by about 100m. "Government has acknowledged this and are doing their very best to address it," he says.

Despite being underfunded, new building is taking place and many other developments are at the planning stage. Five projects are in planning - two in Cork, one in Galway, one in Limerick and another in Donegal. Seven are preparing for construction; the top priorities among them are the widening of the M7 between Naas and Newbridge and work on the heavily congested Dunkettle Junction in Cork.

Three major schemes are actually under construction - the M17/M18 between Gort and Tuam, the M11 from Gorey to Enniscorthy, and the N25 New Ross Bypass. All are being funded via public-private partnerships (PPP), which cost less for the taxpayer upfront, but a change in government policy means future builds will be entirely paid for by the Exchequer.

The most congested city after Dublin is Galway, followed by Cork, Nolan says. "There are a lot of bottlenecks we need to free up at the moment."

The M50 is naturally one of his biggest headaches. Anyone who drives it early in the morning or between 5pm and 7pm will know that it is bursting at the seams during peak times. "The M50 has experienced unprecedented growth in the last few years," says Nolan, who has a background in civil engineering. The number of car journeys taken on the what was designed to be a strategic, radial route grew by 7pc in 2015, 5pc in 2014, 3pc in 2013 and 4pc in 2012. Average journey times have increased year on year. To drive the length of the M50 when it is quiet might take 35 minutes; that extends to about 75 minutes at peak, he explains.

The main problem facing the M50, Nolan says, is that too many people are using it for short journeys. "Last year it facilitated 350,000 car journeys every day, a lot of that hop on, hop off, non-strategic travel."

Adding more lanes is not an option, he says. "The M50 has finite capacity. We can't add fourth or fifth lanes, we don't have the land to do that. We did as much as we could do in terms of widening with the last piece of work in 2010."

TII has short-, medium- and long-term solutions to the M50's congestion problem. In the short term, it will revise the design of merging lanes. Two lanes currently allow drivers to merge on to the motorway at each junction and one of those is much shorter than the other, forcing the cars using it to merge into the slow lane very quickly. TII plans to extend that merging lane to give drivers more time, encouraging less braking.

In the medium term, the plan is to introduce variable speed limits via electronic signs dotted along the motorway. "This is a strategy used a lot on the continent and in the UK," says Nolan. Using the electronic signs, monitors could slow down traffic at busy times. At peak, they might drop the maximum speed allowed from 100km an hour to 60km an hour. "Slowing cars in times of high traffic reduces the frequency of incidents and prevents heavy braking coming to bottlenecks, which both improve journey times. Traffic is slower, but steadier," he says. Real-time management of traffic via electronic signs would also allow motorway managers to close the middle lane in the event of an accident, without closing the lanes on either side.

However, variable speed limits are only a medium-term solution; they will only give a degree of relief, he concedes. The long-term solution is demand management - meaning more tolls.

Multi-point tolling will be introduced, replacing the single toll currently in place around the Liffey Bridge part of the road. While plans aren't final, about five toll points are envisaged. "How else do you control access?" asks Nolan. "This is not a revenue-raising exercise. It is about addressing demand. The M50 currently costs about 100m to run - this includes the cost of paying off NTR, the windfarm company which owned the road until it was bought by the government in 2009, as well as the cost of motorway maintenance and running the tolling system. It is breaking even at the moment, solely from the revenue provided from the current single toll point.

The other long-term option is a second ring road around Dublin, but Nolan doesn't believe that is realistic. A route has been mapped "but there is no land available and it would be a huge investment," he says.

"At the end of the day you can't just keep building roads or widening the M50. It's got to be about public transport, an integrated public transport system." His organisation recently started working with the National Transport Authority on this, to make public transport planning one of the long-term solutions for the M50. Plans are not far advanced but at the centre of them is enhanced bus services on routes parallel to the M50, which may require building new or revamping existing roads.

In 20 years' time his wish is that Ireland's national primary and secondary roads are modernised, bottlenecks are removed and, crucially, major cities like Limerick and Cork are connected to each other by motorway, not just to Dublin, "with adequate funding to maintain it all".

Anne Graham - The head of the National Transport Authority, she is responsible for all public transport planning and delivery

The boom-time construction of an excellent motorway system highlighted by Michael Nolan is perhaps one of the reasons why car use has been on an upward trend in recent years, even during the recession. Total annual vehicle kilometres travelled increased by 1.2pc between 2011 and 2013, and three quarters of all journeys taken in 2013 used a car. There has also been a shift towards sole car use.

This means Anne Graham has a lot of work to do. "We believe policy priorities should now shift to public transport," she says.

Graham is head of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which was set up in 2009. Her organisation is responsible for public transport planning and delivery nationally. Its work includes doling out the taxpayer funds (the Public Service Obligation levy) which pay for Ireland's semi-state bus and rail companies and setting routes and service level expectations for those companies. It also licenses taxis and private buses, runs the Leap Card system and integrates different types of public transport so that users can move seamlessly from one to another.

Public transport usage fell in the wake of the recession, but recently returned to growth. Luas saw the biggest gains in passenger journeys in 2015 of any State-subsidised transport services, up 6.1pc; Irish Rail use was up 5.3pc, Dublin bus grew 2.8pc and Bus Eireann journeys were up 1.7pc.

This return to growth heralded price hikes. One of the NTA's more controversial roles is to set the price of public transport services. In 2015 it approved price rises across all types of public transport, bus, train and light rail. What is the justification for this if the NTA's aim is to increase public transport participation?

"The cost of operating public transport services is met by the fares revenue plus the subsidy that the government make available every year. The subsidy and fares were not sufficient to meet the operating cost for the services unless there was a small increase in fares even taking increased passenger numbers into account. In the case of Iarnrod Eireann services, the small increase still does not meet the deficit in funding the provision of the rail services" says Graham.

"We work very hard, when setting the rates, to strike a balance between fair fares for the customer and revenues required to maintain service levels for the travelling public. Some fares went down in the 2015 fares determinations, others went up. We are engaged in a multi-year process of simplifying the fares structures across all modes, so that they are easier to use and understand."

Funding is the NTA's biggest obstacle to the provision of public transport services, Graham says, followed by the difficulties associated with land acquisition for things like bus corridors, and planning permission obstacles. The NTA's budget was about 500m in 2015; this covered capital spending on new projects as well as the delivery of existing services.

Because it was originally conceived as a Dublin authority, the NTA has more responsibilities in the greater Dublin area, including Wicklow and Kildare, where it is responsible for strategic planning for all types of infrastructure including roads. Its latest set of plans for greater Dublin, a 20-year strategy running from 2016 to 2035, asks for a total of 10bn for a variety of new projects. Among them are the DART Expansion Programme (which will include DART Underground), a Metro North light rail line connecting Swords and Dublin Airport with the city centre, a rake of Luas extensions, new bus routes, a high-quality cycle network plan, pedestrianisation schemes and road upgrades. The implementation of its strategy, the NTA says, will decrease the percentage of people in greater Dublin driving to work from 62pc to 44pc and significantly increase the number of people living within one hour's journey time to the city centre by public transport.

Her priority is buses in Dublin. Dublin Bus is "the workhorse for the delivery of public transport in the region" she says, providing 120m passenger journeys a year.

The NTA has identified a number of corridors where buses need more priority, or new routes or extra vehicles should be added. Extra funding awarded by the Department of Transport this year for public transport, the first increase in the Public Service Obligation money available since 2008, is mainly going to buses in Dublin for fleet renewal.

Her second priority, she says, is the Luas Cross City project, work which is currently causing major disruption in Dublin city centre. Improving the integration of services and improved delivery of timetable information is her third - like the electronic signs popping up around the country which detail bus arrivals in real time.

Another NTA focus, Graham says, is the opening up of Public Service Obligation money to private companies. A tenth of the PSO must be made available to private bus companies by 2017. Private operators will be able to tender for the right to run services on routes of public interest, and receive a subsidy for doing so in the same way that Irish Rail and Bus Eireann do. Routes currently operated by Bus Eireann in Waterford and Kildare, and Dublin orbital routes operated by Dublin Bus, are already open. Arguably all of the PSO should be made available to private operators - but that would be damaging to those aforementioned semi-state companies. The National Bus and Railway Union threatened the NTA with a lawsuit on the matter, but it has been withdrawn.

"Please note that this is not 'privatising' routes; privatisation is about transfer of ownership and loss of public control" says Graham. "This is not the case here at all. The NTA is specifying details of bus services to be delivered - setting out fares, routes, frequencies, environmental standards, customer service standards - and is seeking submissions from the market on that basis. Any operator, including the current operators Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann, were eligible to participate from the outset. The successful tenderer will operate the specified services in return for an agreed fee, and will remit the collected fare revenues to the NTA. The NTA will maintain full control over service delivery and standards across all routes - in exactly the same manner as now applies to Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann."

Kevin Toland - The chief of the Dublin Airport Authority is in charge of the single busiest transport hub in the country

Foreign airlines interested in adding early morning routes to and from Ireland will struggle at Dublin Airport. The sole runway at the country's biggest air hub is already at full capacity between the hours of 6am and 7.30am; there's no more room at the inn. Airlines are being forced into taking later and later runway slots for early flights, with the result that many Irish travellers trying to make those flights are on the M50 just as it enters rush hour.

Other parts of the airport are filling up too. "We describe it like a factory with a number of different parts, you've got to break it down" says Kevin Toland. The former head of Glanbia's North American business took over the top job at Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) three years ago.

"You're full at different times in different places. We're full first thing in the morning at the peak hours on the runway. If you work back, Terminal 2 is pretty much full first thing in the morning in terms of based aircraft as well as keeping, with hotels, beds for people flying in overnight from America and the Middle East."

The cause is phenomenal growth in passenger numbers in the last two years, prompted by a marriage of economic recovery and a host of new routes. In 2015 the number of passengers passing through Dublin jumped by 15pc - three times more than the global average growth rate. The purchase of Aer Lingus by Willie Walsh's IAG - whose stated aim is to turn Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports into hubs for transatlantic travel - could push growth even higher next year. 11 new scheduled services have been announced for 2016 including flights to Hartford Connecticut, Los Angeles, Newark, and Vancouver, and charters to Cancun in Mexico and Montego Bay in Jamaica.

"We've had a number of years growth packed into the last two years" says Toland. "So, for example, Dublin grew last year at 15pc compared to airports globally which grew at 6pc and the EU which grew at 5pc.

"So we essentially had three years of growth last year. We now have very strong growth momentum in the business... We are quite literally growing in every direction.

"What we've been doing over the past number of years in response is gradually adding capacity, whether that's car park capacity - last year we added a number of floors to the multi-story carpark in Terminal 2; we've added additional security capacity each year in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; we've a programme where we have been adding on more stands to be able to service more aircraft, coming on this year and again next year. DAA hired an extra 170 employees last year and 180 more will join this year.

"And the big one, obviously, is we are updating our plans on when we want to bring forward another runway."

The long-discussed second runway is now a question of when, not if. A fresh review of the project is underway with the aim of speeding everything up, to be concluded by the end of March.

"A runway is a long-term project so you've got to make sure demand is sustainable and is going to continue to grow" says Toland.

"We are in a very, very fortunate position in that we have the landbank; unlike a lot of airports across Europe that are looking at issues like this."

Getting the right planning permission, however, is a challenge.

"We have planning permission from 2007. There are some issues in that planning permission that doesn't meet our needs today, particularly as we develop Dublin as a hub and we develop the long-haul piece of our business.

Planning permission for the second runway as it currently stands constrains the number of flights that can be made between 11pm and 7am, and prevents the airport from using both runways at peak time between 6 and 7am. "It would be like if I added a new lane to the M50, but I wasn't allowed to use it when the road was busy."

The night-time flight limitation is particularly problematic for international flights, he says, and international passengers want to use Dublin as a gateway to travel elsewhere in Europe - the model being pushed by IAG in the wake of its purchase of Aer Lingus.

One million people used Dublin Airport as a transatlantic hub to travel on elsewhere last year and DAA wants to grow that to two million in the next two to three years.

"We have a great opportunity, particularly with the acquisition of Aer Lingus by IAG, to further build that business out both from the UK, where the IAG brand is very strong, and in North America, where you'd have to believe the sales power of the IAG machine will be strong."

"We need to make sure that when we build our runway, it's one that will serve our needs for the next 20 to 30 years."

It's not just long-haul that is driving growth, Toland points out. "How many UK cities or towns can you fly to from Heathrow? Eight. How many can you fly to from Dublin? Twenty-five. We are connected to 17 more." The easiest way for people from those 17 cities or towns to get to North America is to go through Dublin, he says, and into Europe too.

"What's really important about the runway is that it is not just about Dublin Airport, it is about the economy. What is far more important is facilitating growth in the economy, whether it's in tourism or foreign direct investment. It's no coincidence - look at the level of connectivity between Dublin and North America, look at the number of multinationals here, look at the fact that Dublin is the number six point of connectivity to North America.

"It's a critical national issue in terms of underpinning the economy. . . If we don't move we will see the airport, particularly around airside and the runway, getting busier and busier, which will lead to delays which we obviously don't want. The challenge we are trying to do is to figure how can we bring on a new runway as quickly as possible."

A second runway will cost in the region of 300m to build, Toland says. The aviation regulator has given approval to a hike in airport charges - about 60c per passenger on top of a fee base of 10 - which would cover some of this.

"On the other side, as we grow and add more passengers, that has the capability of reducing the fees. So we think that it's a win-win . . . growth in passenger numbers generally pushes aircraft charges lower. I think over time that will get reduced down."

The cost of adding an extra runway to Heathrow is 18bn to 20bn by comparison, he adds, while at Gatwick it would cost 4bn to 5bn. "We have the land and we have less infrastructure to put in than you would somewhere like Heathrow."

When he's not focused on building the airport's infrastructure, Toland is working on adding more routes. First on the list is a flight to China. "I'm working very hard to ensure that we can get a flight to China either announced or commenced by the end of this year. It is absolutely critical that this country is directly connected to one of the most important economic regions in the world... We are going to be marginalised if we are not." A direct route to Russia, Israel and Mexico City are also top of his wish-list.

Toland's responsibilities don't stop at Dublin. DAA runs Cork Airport too, as well as a commercial property development business, duty-free business Aer Rianta International and airport consulting start-up DAA International.

Cork's passenger numbers declined by 73,000 last year, about 3pc. Passenger numbers are down about 35pc since 2008.

"Cork had declined for a number of years, as have all of the airports outside of Dublin. Our focus last year was to get Cork stabilised and get it back into growth - which we achieved in the last quarter - and be in a position to get very strong growth."

Cork has been slow to catch up partly because of the country's improved roads infrastructure, he says. "Better motorways have meant more people will use Dublin . . . that's a fundamental change that isn't going away, bar the M50 gets clogged.

"Secondly, the recession has been far more pronounced outside of Dublin. We've seen that starting to change now, it was quite clear in the second half of last year. Thirdly, we have had to do quite a job not just in Cork Airport but in the region, pulling together stakeholders to support the airport, work on the right routes, the right marketing of Cork Airport and the broader south of Ireland. Two weeks ago you would have seen the launch of a new tourism brand for Cork city and county. There's been quite a job of work pulling together local stakeholders to support the airport and develop it.

Several new routes were announced for Cork airport last year and that is only the beginning, Toland says. "We're forecasting growth of 8 to 10pc in Cork this year, including our first transatlantic flight with Norwegian."

"It's the second most important economic, tourist and business centre in the country with a very large hinterland, a very large number of foreign multinationals, a natural gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and so on.

"It has a lot of advantages."
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) will recommence paying a dividend to the State this year for the first time since the start of the recession.

DAA, which runs Dublin and Cork Airport as well as a commercial property development business, an international duty-free business and an airport consulting start-up, last paid a dividend of 19.4m in 2009.

DAA is wholly owned by the Government but is self-financing. It is not yet clear how much it will pay in a dividend this year.

Dublin Airport went through a period of unprecedented growth in 2015, with passenger numbers rising by 15pc. DAA chief executive Kevin Toland told the Sunday Independent that the airport had experienced three years' growth in the space of one.

A re-examination of proposals for a second runway is under way as a result, due to finish by the end of March. A second runway would cost 300m to build, Toland said.

Cork Airport also returned to growth in the final months of last year, although the airport is still down about 35pc since 2008.

Back in Dublin, DAA is also embarking on an ambitious plan to develop grade A office buildings for businesses who want to be located near to the airport. The first of these is at the old Aer Lingus headquarters in the heart of Dublin Airport, which has been refurbished. ESB International will soon become its first tenant.

"We are looking to slowly develop the rest of that area" said Toland. "We are going through the masterplan process with Fingal County Council at the moment."

The development is likely to exceed 200,000sq.ft in its first phase.
Stricken Irish oil and gas explorer Petroceltic is expected to announce tomorrow that it has received another waiver on bank repayments from lenders - this time for a fortnight.

The company, led by Brian O'Cathain, is on the brink after breaching bank covenants and has put itself up for sale.

Extending the waiver will give the company more time to try and complete a deal that will enable it to pay off its lenders.

Petroceltic's largest shareholder, Worldview Capital Management, a trenchant critic of the oil and gas explorer's management in recent months, has said it is mulling an all-cash offer for the company.

In addition, T5 Oil & Gas, which was set up by a number of veterans of Tullow Oil, has been preparing a bid for Petroceltic's Egyptian production assets.

Petroceltic has said it is in talks to sell those assets and it has already sold interests in Egyptian exploration licences to a joint-venture partner.

The Irish oil and gas explorer announced that it was up for sale in an explosive announcement released to the market days before Christmas. Since then, it has had a waiver on bank repayments extended on multiple occasions.

"The company's lenders have also indicated their willingness to consider such further waivers as may be required to continue the strategic review process, based on circumstances applying at the time of any application and with specific reference to the progress of the various initiatives being undertaken pursuant to the strategic review," Petroceltic said in announcing a week's extension on Friday, January 29.

"Further announcements on the company's financial position, and the status of the strategic review, will be made as and when appropriate."

On Friday, Petroceltic's shares closed at 18.75p in London, down from almost 1.26 a year ago.

"Throughout 2015, the group has been pursuing a number of debt and portfolio management initiatives to secure additional financing, create liquidity and/or reduce financial commitments, with a variety of counterparties, including existing shareholders, licence partners and other parties," Petroceltic told the market before Christmas.

"The board continues to believe that the value of the group's producing and development interests is materially in excess of its current borrowings... 2015 has presented a period of exceptionally challenging market conditions, especially for smaller oil and gas companies such as Petroceltic," the company added.
Turnover at renewable-energy firm Gaelectric more than doubled in its last financial year to 12.7m, but its operating loss widened to 7.3m, according to accounts just filed for the business.

The company posted a pre-tax loss of 8.6m after a large exceptional gain in the previous year was not repeated.

In its previous financial year, Gaelectric recorded a 16m exceptional gain from the sale of a financial asset.

With energy assets in Europe and North America, Gaelectric said that it generated 9.9m of its turnover last year from the sale of electricity and 2.3m from fee income. Those figures compared to 3.8m and 451,000 respectively in the previous financial year.

Gaelectric's net debt soared to 172m at the end of March last year from 68.7m a year earlier. It had net assets of 14m at the end of last March, compared to 26.4m at the end of the previous year.

"The directors believe that the group is well-placed to manage its funding requirements successfully," the accounts note. The company is headed by chief executive Brendan McGrath.

Last month, Gaelectric issued a 10m green bond to raise cash for its wind, solar and energy-storage operations.

That bond was issued via BCP Asset Management and offered investors a return of 28pc at the end of a three-year term, with a minimum investment of 25,000.

Mr McGrath said the response to the bond was "very encouraging".

As well as renewable-energy generation, the company is also involved in a number of energy-storage projects.

It has signed a deal with Elon Musk's Tesla to work on a battery-storage project and last week filed for planning permission for a massive compressed-air energy storage project in Co Antrim.

Storage projects enable energy produced from wind to power homes when wind levels fall.

The company hopes that the technology used in the Antrim project can be deployed elsewhere.

Gaelectric has been on an aggressive acquisitions spree in recent times as it aims to build a 400 megawatt portfolio by the end of 2017. One megawatt is enough energy to power around 1000 homes.

As of mid-December, the company had about 175 megawatts of operational capacity and expected a further 95 megawatts to come on stream by September of this year.
An image of what the proposed Shannon LNG terminal would look like

Hess Corporation, which has its headquarters in New York, has sold Shannon LNG, the Sunday Independent has learned. Hess confirmed that it has exited the business.

The identity of the owner of the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary in Co Kerry, and their plans for the long-delayed development, are not yet clear.

Shannon LNG's assets include options to develop land owned by the Shannon Group (formerly Shannon Development) and planning permission for the terminal.

Hess indicated that it was seeking to sell it late last year.

The company has spent more than 67m trying to progress the project but never made it to the point of construction. Completing it was expected to cost about 600m.

If built, the terminal could accept shipments of liquefied natural gas from around the world, which could be used by Ireland or sold to other countries.

Liquefied natural gas is formed when natural gas is cooled to minus 162C, which shrinks the volume of the gas 600 times, making it easier to store and ship.

The planned Kerry gas terminal was included on the European Commission's Projects of Common Interest (PCI) list late last year, following lobbying by Shannon LNG.

PCIs are eligible for EU funds totalling 5.35bn and accelerated planning and permit granting.

Hess was first granted planning permission for the terminal in 2006. The oil company said it would create around 650 jobs in construction and about 100 full-time positions when operational.

But progress stalled when the energy regulator ruled that Shannon LNG would have to contribute to the costs of two interconnecting pipes which transport gas between Ireland and the UK.

A series of legal wrangles ensued, with Shannon LNG claiming the tariffs would cost them tens of millions and subsidise their competition in the UK.

Some critics of the energy regulator's stance said the approach threatened the development of a secure supply of natural gas to Ireland.

Hess has sold Shannon LNG at a time when it is experiencing sharp declines in revenue and share price.

Its stock has fallen by more than 50pc in the last 12 months

Like explorers and producers of hydrocarbons companies around the world, the company's revenues have plummeted with the falling cost of oil.

Oil prices have tumbled from more than 70pc from a June 2014 peak.

Last month, Hess reported a net loss of $1.82bn (1.63bn) for the quarter and $3.06bn for the year, its first annual loss since 2002.

It will cut spending by two fifths this year as it pulls back in all regions and seeks further cost reductions and efficiency gains, is announced.
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

The Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo has expressed concerns over alarming rate of fire outbreaks.This was revealed in the latest council minutes."He said that Council was adversely affected as there was no revenue collectionduring this process. Affected residents were unable to pay call fees because of the current economic situation. He suggested that home owners should insure their homes/properties against disasters such as fire," reads the minutes."In response the Acting Town Clerk Sikhangezile Zhou advised that the authorised establishment for ambulances was 115 and the actual permanent establishment was 50. There was a variance of 65 hence the decline in service delivery. Most of the ambulances had reached their five year lifespan as they had been in service for ten years. Council had manpower, machinery and equipment challenges. In the current budget, provision was made to procure four ambulances which would improve the current situation."The minutes states that she confirmed that Council had in the past received requests from residents for write off of fire charges, however the requests had not been acceded to."Council had proposed the introduction of a fire levy to assist residents who had no insurance policies but the relevant Ministry had objected to/not supported this," reads the minutes.
What does Google actually do in Ireland? Is it some sort of innovation university? Or is it a giant call centre that is subservient to its London counterpart?

The issue cropped up last week at the Barrow Street European headquarters of the world's most valuable company.

Its Irish boss (and vice president) Ronan Harris was setting out what the company does here. For the first 45 minutes, the presentation went as normal. Sales. Language support. Education. Fostering start-ups. And more of the usual non-technical stuff.

But then the guy in charge of Google's European data centres got up to talk. Google, he said, has 400 engineers in Ireland. They work on a variety of things up to, and including, new ways of technically doing things for the company.

"Our data centre in Finland, for example, uses technology that was developed here in Dublin," he said.

Tech development? 400 engineers? Wait a second - what?

Some 400 engineers at Google Ireland might come as a pleasant surprise to some. Especially those who are used to hearing Google Ireland dismissed as a glorified sales-and-support centre.

But it is also puzzling. Why do we rarely hear about this type of activity at Google in Ireland?

In London, Google has built a palatial new office complex with 800 engineers. The average employee there earns 175,000, we are told. The facility is positioned as a brains trust, an elite work environment within the tech giant.

For those of us interested in Dublin's tech credentials, this contrasts with Google's Irish image in a slightly jarring way. While London boasts Google's R&D swagger, Dublin is the chirpy, plucky support and maintenance centre.

Terms like "talented workforce" and "highly educated young people" too often feel like a pat on the head rather than the terminology of peer respect.

But here's the thing. If Google really is bolting on intelligent layers to the core framework of its global services from Dublin, why isn't it telling anyone about it? Why is Dublin still publicly thought of by so many as London's low-end fulfilment centre?

That this is a view held by many is not in doubt. Indigenous start-ups talk about the multinationals as helpful but strictly middlebrow.

For example, Google is regularly talked about as operating a high-end sales operation in the UK, with order dockets filled out in Dublin to avail of lower Irish corporate tax rates. This is a largely unflattering portrait of Dublin's function. Ironically, it may now be a little off the mark.

As a company, Google can show enormous initiative when it wants to. Last week, in the same set of results that helped push it ahead of Apple to be the world's most valuable company, the tech giant revealed that it spent over 3.1bn in 'moonshot' research and development activities in 2015 with less than 500m in return.

This includes stuff like balloon-based broadband, self-driving cars and research into making human lives longer.

It's really interesting, visionary, fun research. Google, it turns out, has both imagination and guts. It's not in business simply to sell ads. And it's willing to bet large sums of cash chasing big ideas that could change the world.

Why, then, is it so conservative in characterising what it does at its Barrow Street facilities?

Is it afraid that Mountain View might think it is pushing the edges of its charter? Is it some sort of tax designation thing? Or what?

Google isn't alone in not wanting to go over the nuts and bolts of what it does within its Irish operations. But it's an opportunity lost.

Google needs talented engineers and thinkers every bit as much as any smaller company does. If there's a general impression that its technical jobs are more utilitarian than creative, that hurts its chances of recruiting the sharpest people.

Recruitment boards only get you so far. There isn't much buzz about the notion of being the digital engineering equivalent of a lift mechanic. So if Google is engaging in more than this - and it looks like it is - it should shout it from the rooftops.
Rory O'Sullivan says that he and his partners' new nuclear power technology could provide electricity more safely Photo: Getty Images

A Trinity College engineering graduate, who was named in this year's Forbes Europe Top 30 under-30 list, is raising 10m to develop a nuclear power technology that he and his partners claim could produce electricity more safely. It would also do so more cheaply than a new coal-fired power station or the latest nuclear one that Britain plans to build at a cost of up to 32bn, they say.

Founder of Energy Process Developments Rory O'Sullivan, 29, who has begun talking to a number of prospective Irish investors about the project, has partnered with British Moltex Energy founders environmentalist John Durham and scientist Dr Ian Scott, an entrepreneur and former chief scientist at consumer goods giant Unilever.

Cambridge-educated Dr Scott made a breakthrough in establishing that because of its design and how it works, by containing molten salt nuclear fuel in tubes, rather than hazardously pumping it around pipes, valves and heat exchangers outside a reactor, his stable salt reactor method, which keeps the fuel locked up in closed tubes, is far safer.

It also avoids the requirement for as much highly specialised, expensive and failsafe systems for cooling, containment and safety control, which raise new nuclear costs to levels that leave electricity billpayers and governments on the hook for tens of billions.

"We aim to win a slice of 250m funding the UK government has made available and have also established partners in Asia to develop the technology there. But we need further investment now to ensure we can take the lead internationally. Today's clean power technologies will not reduce global energy poverty at today's costs. Drastic cost reductions are required to implement clean power on a mammoth scale," O'Sullivan said.

Nuclear power is currently illegal here, but he added that the Moltex design could be used here in modular units that each generate about 150MW of power - enough for about 45,000 homes, potentially within the next 10 years.
The fashion calendar may never be the same again, thanks to Burberry.

The British fashion label is overhauling its runway show tactics, combining its men's and women's presentations, cutting its number of annual shows in half and shunning the traditional fashion calendar, the company announced on Friday.

It will hold two shows each year - one in September and another in February - and customers will be able to buy clothes, online and in stores, from collections immediately after they hit the catwalk.

Fashion has long maintained a wide fissure between runway shows and sales, leaving shoppers waiting months for clothes to hit store shelves when the next season comes along. Spring clothes are unveiled in autumn, autumn clothes are unveiled in spring. Lately, some have moved to change that.

Designer label Thakoon said in December that it was switching over to a similar show-and-sell model, while some bigger brands, such as Versace and Moschino, have experimented with the tactic, albeit only with small capsule collections.

Burberry, which hauled in 3.1bn in revenue in 2015, will be the biggest attempt yet to transform the fashion seasons. Ripples from Burberry's shift may call into question a schedule most have followed for an eternity.

"The changes we are making will allow us to build a closer connection between the experience that we create with our runway shows and the moment when people can physically explore the collections for themselves," said Christopher Bailey, the CEO of Burberry.

"Our shows have been evolving to close this gap for some time. From live streams to ordering straight from the runway to live social media campaigns, this is the latest step in a creative process that will continue to evolve."

It's the second big alteration at Burberry since Bailey took over in May 2014, following the departure of his predecessor Angela Ahrendts, who left to run Apple's retail operation. Last November, Bailey consolidated Burberry's fashion lines under one label.

"We believe this will make it simpler and more intuitive for our customer," Bailey said at the time. "This is certainly not cosmetic. It is a huge change."

As for men's fashion shows, Burberry won't completely abandon these events, but it will no longer hold typical runway shows at them.

The company said it was working with London Collections Men, hosts of Britain's major men's fashion events, to figure out what alternative role the label can play. (The brand is a huge anchor for the up-and-coming fashion week.) Burberry will follow the usual calendar for its spring show before taking the leap to its new schedule in September.

Buzz about changes on the runway has simmered for a while now. In December, the Council of Fashion Designers of America hired Boston Consulting Group to study the way it does fashion shows. All involved are seeking to make runways more consumer- friendly, rather than a trade event. And all will be watching Burberry come the autumn.
Benoit Violier, who is said to have shot himself last Sunday aged 44, was one of the world's leading chefs.

Violier was chef patron of Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville at Crissier in Switzerland, which holds three Michelin rosettes in recognition of "brilliant, subtle yet powerful dishes... worthy of the best classic cuisine [and] accompanied by exceptional service".

The restaurant had been named in December as the best in the world by La Liste, a French government-sponsored ranking of the world's top 1,000 eateries.

But Violier received the accolade with modesty: "The ranking that really counts is that my customers continue to enjoy coming here."

Founded in 1953 by the celebrated Swiss chef Fredy Girardet in the former town hall of a suburb of Lausanne, Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was already a celebrated temple of gastronomy when Violier joined its brigade de cuisine in 1996. Girardet handed over the following year to his long-time protege Philippe Rochat; Violier became executive chef in 1999, succeeding Rochat as patron in 2012.

Violier's cooking championed simplicity and strove for perfection in the balance of flavours, with seasonal ingredients and a traditional approach to saucing. He specialised in game, but his tasting menus, at prices up to 340 per head, were dazzling in their creativity.

One recent diner waxed lyrical over "an amuse-bouche of sea urchin from Galicia, served with fennel, resting in a rose Champagne sauce and topped with caviar", followed by "confit of foie gras with purple hibiscus flower jelly", perfectly sauced morels from the Auvergne, "frog leg crackers", John Dory from Quiberon Bay, langoustine tail with asparagus and Bresse pigeon - before finding room for "a vast cheese selection", caramelised pineapple, nougatine of red fruits, perfumed mango ice cream and petits fours.

Not every visitor was so satisfied. Crissier was not listed in the British-published World's Top 50, and a reviewer for a London paper - having paid almost 260 a head, not including service, for a disappointing meal - reported "an exceptionally anodyne" dining room under a maitre d' who "never once made us feel welcome". Among his peers, however, Violier's reputation was stellar: Paul Bocuse called him "a gigantic talent".

Benoit Violier was born at Saintes in the Charente-Maritime region on August 22, 1971 and grew up in the village of Montils, where his father was a winemaker and hunter. From 1987, Benoit was apprenticed to a local chef-patissier, Didier Stephan, before continuing his training in Bordeaux, Toulouse and Senlis and moving to Paris in 1991.

There he worked with a roll call of great names, Joel Robuchon among them, in establishments such as Lenotre, Fauchon, Le Tour d'Argent and the Ritz and also came to understand that maintaining a world-class reputation was a stressful business.

"I go to sleep with cooking, I wake up to cooking," he said. "Everything must be done all over again every day."

An ardent game hunter, Violier had recently published a book on game cookery running to more than 1,000 pages and dedicated to his father.

He declared mushrooms of all kinds to be his favourite ingredient, loved black truffles in winter and named his mother's version of poularde fermiere aux cepes as the dish he would request for his last supper.

Violier had been due to attend the launch of the 2016 Guide Michelin in Paris on Monday. He had been deeply affected by the deaths last year of both his father and his mentor Philippe Rochat, but those who knew him well were stunned by the news that he had apparently taken his own life.

He is survived by his wife Brigitte and by their son.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
The story by Robert Boynton is one that belongs in the box "you could never make it up". In the 1970s and early 1980s, the strange, secretive and paranoid regime in Pyongyang (or elements within it) masterminded the kidnapping of Japanese citizens and spirited them away to North Korea where they were housed in special "invitation-only" parts of town - and re-educated to serve the cause of Kim Il-sung. The subtitle, "The extraordinary story of North Korea's abduction project", is a fair summary.

The subject, says Boynton - an American journalist and now professor - became an obsession after he saw a newspaper picture of five of the abductees returning to Japan in 2002. And what continually spurred him on, even as the rest of the US was preoccupied with 9/11, was why.

It is the same question that probably bothers anyone familiar with these incidents - and, I have to admit, still bothers me, even after reading Boynton's 250 briskly-written pages. Why did North Korea go to all the trouble, and run the considerable risk, of abducting Japanese citizens, including fishermen, courting couples, students travelling abroad and a 13-year-old girl on her way home from after-school sports? And why did it then try to tutor, or brainwash, them to the point where they could "pass" as North Korean?

Boynton offers various explanations. Those abducted were to be sent back to their homeland as spies (but this seems not to have happened). North Korea wanted to use the Japanese to train its own spies so they would blend into the sophistication of Japan (but there is scant evidence of that, either).

North Korea wanted them to produce children - hence the young couples - who would be culturally North Korean, but genetically Japanese, so their Korean links would be deniable if Japan caught them and tested their DNA (yes, really) - except that this, too, seems not to have happened. Was there an element of payback for Japan's occupation of Korea? The world according to North Korea remains hard to fathom.

While rumours had circulated for years, Boynton says, Japan's difficult (to put it mildly) history of relations with Korea, and Tokyo's fear of even mentioning anything that might upset its post-war security, made the abductions taboo. It was only in 1987, when a South Korean plane was bombed out of the sky over Thailand and one of the bombers, a young North Korean woman travelling on a false Japanese passport, was caught, that the truth started to emerge.

The unravelling of the project, and the diplomacy that accompanied it, is perhaps the most fascinating part of the book.

For although Boynton structures the main part of his tale expertly, splicing the necessary history and politics with personal detail about individual abductees, any sense of how these summarily uprooted Japanese actually lived and coped with their situation is quite thin, and much of what he recounts is already known.

The final chapters seem fresher. The plight of Japan's chief negotiator, Hitoshi Tanaka, is particularly poignant. Having applied ingenuity to securing what once seemed impossible - not only an acknowledgement from North Korea that abductions had taken place but an apology - this one-time diplomatic whizz-kid was pilloried for not having extracted enough. The popular belief in Japan was that the real number ran into hundreds, not the 13 admitted by Pyongyang, and that the eight said to be dead were probably still being held.

In assessing the fallout, both political and personal, Boynton is at his most acute. In high politics, this strange episode seems to distil the sensitivities between Japan and both Koreas - people and cultures at once so like, and so unlike, each other. On the human level, the predicament of the Japanese who returned has no good solution: once kidnapped, now caught between two worlds, and even they do not understand why.
Charlene McKenna is in a sharing mood.

Since she first hit our screen in RTE's Pure Mule in 2005 - before going on to win over the nation with her role as feisty JoJo in restaurant drama RAW - the 31-year-old Monaghan actress has bagged some impressive roles. And, let's face it, some impressive men too, having previously dated Poldark star Aidan Turner and Love/Hate's Robert Sheehan.

Usually resolutely private about her personal life, today with an easy laugh and legs curled under her on the sofa, Charlene all but gushes about her new leading man.

For the past couple of years, she has been in a relationship with American actor Adam Rothenberg (40), who is best known for his role as Captain Homer Jackson in Ripper Street. Charlene plays former prostitute Rose Erskine in the drama mystery series, and in the time-honoured tradition of the acting world, romance blossomed on set.

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"It's a total cliche," she laughs. "We fell in love working together. Adam is just one of the smartest and most talented people I have ever met, and he's an amazing anchor for this acting world we're in. He's older than me so that's very grounding because he has no interest in the hype, as he has kind of been there and done that. I often think he would make a wonderful psychologist, as we have really good in-depth chats and he's a very good person."

Charlene and Adam found they had a lot in common; they are both one of six children and their mothers' families come from Scotland. Growing up, Adam felt such an affinity to Ireland, he had a map of the country on his wall. However, the thing that clinched it was that they both loved 1970s band Dr Hook and the Medicine Show. "They're not even cool so it's weird," says Charlene.

She feels that it's helpful to be dating someone in the business because they understand the madness of it all. On the unhelpful side, it obviously means that public interest in the relationship is amplified.

Charlene has learnt the hard way from past experience that discussing her love life can backfire. She previously spoke about how happy she was in her relationship with Aidan Turner in an interview, just a few weeks before the couple, who shared a flat in London, split up.

She has never discussed Adam before, so did that experience make her more wary of talking about romance? "It did," she smiles, "I normally never talk about it because it's nothing to do with what I do. I'm being a hypocrite now because I'm discussing it here, but I think you should hold some things back and keep them to yourself. If you are publicly talking about your relationship, then you have to be very public if it goes wrong, and trust me, it will go wrong for everybody at some point. Aidan and I were blessed though, because [the break-up] was before social media took over."

Turner was starring in The Clinic in the two years that they dated, 2007 to 2009, and his career has skyrocketed since with starring roles in The Hobbit, The Secret Scripture and Poldark. The latter - and in particular a scene where he went topless - put him on the map as an international heart-throb. It's a long way from their early days together at RTE, but none of Turner's success comes as a surprise to Charlene. "He's flying and I'm so proud of him," she says. "We still keep in touch and I knew he would do this well for himself. I always told him he would be a movie star."

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Charlene has also done extremely well, with roles in Pure Mule, Whistleblower, Ripper Street and RAW among her most notable achievements. While she moved to New York from London last year, ostensibly to be with Adam, they have spent a lot of time apart. When Charlene was starring in Richard Eyre's award-winning adaptation of Ghosts at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Adam was filming in LA, and when he came back, she was in Africa for the HBO drama, AD.

How do they manage then, as it must be almost impossible conducting a relationship under those circumstances? "Obviously we're together when we both do Ripper Street, but there's a lot of long-distance and maybe that's what gives us longevity. When we first met, we saw each other all the time, and then it was hard going long-distance and trying to figure it all out. The situation is totally not perfect and it's up and down and all around at times, but I have gotten very used to having a relationship with my phone, as the various people I love are inside it."

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Charlene has been living away from home since the age of 19, so she's somewhat experienced in the art of conducting long-distance relationships. In one way, she believes it lends a romantic glow to the whole thing. "You don't really have room to get slack or become complacent, because you have these short intense spells and then you're away again for a long time," she says.

Now that she's 31, what has she learned about love? "I've learned that I'm terrible at it," she jokes. "I always thought I would be more of a 'married with kids' type than I actually am. I don't know about marriage, but I do want kids one day and all the 'normal' stuff. I've also learned that you never stop learning with love, and you learn so much about yourself because of it."

Although she adores New York, Charlene has decided to buy a place in London as a base. She's built a community there and it's also closer to home. On the day we meet, she's in Dublin to launch Vodafone TV, and was a total pro working with her co-star, Piggy Sue, the famous pig from the Vodafone ad. Charlene herself grew up on a farm in Glaslough, Co Monaghan, albeit one that raised mushrooms rather than pigs.

The youngest child of Brendan and Josephine who now own a pub there, she has five older brothers. "I'm the reason there were five boys, as my parents were desperate to have a girl. When my brother Barry came along, I'm sure they had him in a few dresses, but he got over it! Growing up was a weird mix of always being surrounded by loads of people, and also being quite lonely because I came at the very bottom and there was a five-year age gap between me and Barry."

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Charlene credits spending so much time on her own with fostering her dramatic side growing up. Her dad had a low loader for diggers that she used as her stage to put on performances for her, er, captive audience. "I performed for the mushrooms," she laughs. "Being by myself gave me room for my fantasy head to go to town. I used to ask if I could change my clothes four or five times a day, as I needed several costume changes, and Mammy actually let me. I was a bit spoiled but was never allowed to act it. I was a weird mixture of being a girlie girl and a tomboy, which was due to Mammy so wanting a girl and giving me dresses and Daddy wanting me to know everything the boys knew too."

Despite winning her first professional job at 16, Charlene didn't think it was possible to pursue acting as a career, and vividly remembers crying her eyes out in the career guidance teacher's office because there was nothing else that interested her.

She tried studying property economics, but it wasn't for her, and then studied music and theology at Mater Dei in Dublin. When she got an audition for Neil Jordan's Breakfast on Pluto aged 19, her initial reaction was to cry. "I felt like I was getting a chance at something that could never happen, and that was just cruel," she says, although as we know now that she won the role and it became her first big break.

Even so, Charlene wasn't convinced and went back to college after filming ended, determined to become a teacher. "I had this 'get real' head on me," she says. "It was actually my parents who were saying, 'No, don't do that,' which is funny. They were very supportive and open to me acting, and I never felt mad because they just told me to go for it."

At 22, her agents told her she should move to London. "It was very urban and I was very naive, but I kept telling myself that I had to stick it out. I had myself in a heap from putting that much pressure on myself. It's difficult working up the nerve to text or ring someone and say, 'Hi, I know we only half met, but I don't know anyone here so can we have tea?' People were lovely though, and Barry Ward, who is in RTE's Rebellion, showed me around, although we hardly knew each other. You slowly build relationships and then you build a community."

She came home regularly, most notably for five seasons of RTE series RAW, for which she won an IFTA in 2009. "I was up against myself that year because I was nominated twice in that category, so I remember thinking that if I didn't win it would be mortifying because I would have lost twice, to myself and the other people."

Charlene is keen to clear up the often-quoted misconception that she went nude in the series. "That wasn't me and I get asked about it all the time so I don't know where it came from," she laughs. "I wouldn't have gone nude in something like RAW because it wasn't needed for my character, although I have done it before."

Charlene is referring to her roles in the TV programme Sirens and film Dorothy Mills. It must be nerve-wracking getting your kit off for the world to see? "When I did it, I was younger and I thought, 'Ah sure this is grand.' It didn't bother me, but as I got older, I was thinking, 'Do I really need to do this?' While I'm not against it, I'm not taking my clothes off for just anything. If it's appropriate, and you are with nice people and you feel safe and they close the set, then it's grand."

Charlene says that she doesn't think that she's beautiful, so when she's invited to audition for a character described as such, she presumes she won't get cast. This drives her friends mad because she almost talks herself out of roles, and if she gets the part, she always presumes that they have changed the character description.

"When I find myself thinking I'm not good enough or that I need to be perfect, I think of the people I admire. None of them are perfect, but they're perfectly imperfect and they own who they are. It's very hard with LA and Hollywood, because you do think: 'I'm not tall enough or skinny enough.' Most of the time the only one saying that is yourself though."

Charlene says she tries not to have regrets, even the ones that led to down times on the work front, because they were "important and humbling". Now that everyone is an actor with their iPhone and camera, she is proud of being from Ireland and booking jobs in London and America.

"When I first went to America, I kept saying to myself, 'It's far from Hollywood you were reared,' and I would have to tell myself to stop it. I'm always curious and have such a hunger to do more, and I got my drive from my parents.

"I'll keep going until I'm dead, and would like interesting projects to keep coming. As I get older, I realise that I'm much more flighty than I thought, not with Adam, but just in terms of wanting to keep going. Maybe it's my age and I might stop some day, but the main thing I've learned is that I will never stop learning."

Vodafone TV is now available in Ireland from 40 per month, see vodafone.ie/TV
Celebrity Big Brother star Jeremy McConnell has spoken about his feelings for fellow contestant Stephanie Davis and shut down cheating rumours.

The Bray man caused quite a stir in the Celebrity Big Brother house when he became romantically involved with former Hollyoaks actress, Stephanie David.

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Speaking to the Ray D'Arcy Show on Saturday night, Jeremy said he's 'smitten' with Stephanie after developing feelings for her in the house, despite the fact that the 22-year-old was in a relationship with model Sam Reece.

"If that was my girlfriend I'd have been devastated," he said.

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"I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. Of course it's a stupid thing that I've done but when you develop those feelings for a girl, you can't go back on it. You know, you wear your heart on your sleeve."

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"[Sam] has more Twitter followers than her so he's done alright," he joked.

However, the former MTV star said the pair need "breathing space" after their intense time in the Big Brother house but they are "working towards a relationship".

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The 23-year-old admitted that he "lost faith in monogamy" when his first relationship ended but after meeting Stephanie, he now believes the "world works in mysterious ways".

"At the moment I really like the girl and I haven't liked someone this much in a long time... so I just have to play it how I feel," he told Ray D'Arcy.

"She's smart, she's intelligent, she's funny, she's witty... she's the type of girl that I like" he explained.

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The tattooed star was recently accused of getting intimate with a 19-year-old club dancer named Caroline Pope during a night out in Newcastle on Thursday, causing the rumour mill to go into overdrive.

"I got into a picture with her," he said but claims he believes that girls are targeting him because of his newfound fame.

"Girls will do that, Twitter followers are coming up [to me] and girls will do stupid things like that."

He added: "I was talking to Steph about it today and we were laughing about the whole thing. She trusts me and I trust her."
US visits: Roger Casement and John Devoy in New York. Devoy was a key figure in providing financial support to help the rebels ahead of the Rising. He also founded the weekly newspaper The Gaelic American and became leader of Clan na Gael.

One of the most engrossing witness statements in Ireland's Bureau of Military History records is Diarmuid Lynch's day-by-day account of the Easter Rising.

A member of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), Lynch was the last person to evacuate the heavily damaged, still smouldering GPO after he tried to make sure that unexploded bombs wouldn't detonate when the rebels retreated.

Originally, as he phrases it, "sentenced to be shot", Lynch escaped the death penalty, receiving instead "10 years' penal servitude". He was released from prison in England a year later as part of the amnesty.

Lynch was a naturalised American citizen, where he had lived for over a decade until 1907. This biographical fact might seem a small point, but Thomas J Clarke was also a naturalised citizen of the United States, and he, too, had spent several years living and working there.

Take the two men together, and the last fighter to flee the GPO and the first signatory of the Proclamation (read by Padraig Pearse at the beginning of the Rising) had both declared allegiance to the US before returning to Ireland and becoming involved in the republican cause. Essential decisions leading to Easter Week of 1916 took place on Irish soil, but American connections to the Rising abound in the preparation and aftermath of the insurrection.

A key figure in providing financial support to help the rebels was John Devoy. Born near Kill in Co Kildare, Devoy was an unwavering Fenian from youth through to old age, and he spent his last 57 years scheming to launch an uprising while residing in his adopted country of America.

Founder and editor of weekly newspaper The Gaelic American, Devoy became a leader of Clan na Gael (the US counterpart to the IRB) and surreptitiously used couriers to send an estimated $100,000 (about 2.3m in today's money) to Ireland for the purchase of arms and other supplies for the Rising.

Remarkably, five of the seven Proclamation signatories travelled to America for sojourns. In addition to Clarke, Pearse, James Connolly, Sean Mac Diarmada and Joseph Mary Plunkett - all of whom fought in the GPO - crossed the Atlantic in the years prior to 1916 and learned from first-hand experience what it was like to live in a republic with its freedoms.

A century ago, around one-fifth of the entire US population claimed Irish heritage, according to census records. With first-generation or more distant Irish Americans numbering about 20 million people then (compared to nearly 4.5 million in Ireland), the Rising had explosive effects in the United States.

Almost immediately, associations and groups scheduled what the press termed "monster meetings" to support the Irish in their native land and to oppose British tactics and reprisals. A shrewd observer of the US then was Sir Cecil Spring Rice, Great Britain's ambassador in Washington.

After the rebels' surrender and the executions at Kilmainham Gaol, he sent a dispatch to superiors in London, which included this pointed assessment: "The attitude towards England is changed for the worse by recent events in Ireland... If we are able in some measure to settle the Home Rule question at once, the announcement will have a beneficial effect here, although I do not think that anything we could do would conciliate the Irish here. They have blood in their eyes when they look our way."

A major factor contributing to the change of attitude and producing the blood in American eyes came from the enormous attention Stateside journalism devoted to the story unfolding across the Atlantic.

Throughout the 19 days encompassing the Rising and the executions, news about Ireland and the Irish-American reaction was impossible to avoid. Front-page coverage appeared in The New York Times on 17 days, in The Boston Globe for 16, in The Washington Post on 13, and in the Chicago Tribune and The World (of New York) for 11.

Interestingly, The New York Times, striving at the time to become the country's newspaper of record, devoted front-page attention to news about Ireland for 14 consecutive days (April 25 through May 8). On April 29, the Saturday of the surrender, the Times published eight separate articles about the Rising on page one, with four of those jumping to the next page.

Eight other reports appeared on page two, and, except for three small ads, every word of news copy on that page concerned Ireland. In addition, an editorial and a column of commentary ruminated on Irish matters on the opinion page.

The extensive press coverage in large-city newspapers can be explained, in part, by the concentration of Irish-Americans in US urban areas - but there was another compelling journalistic reason.

Many people on the western side of the Atlantic seriously wondered whether a new front in the Great War was beginning to take shape.

Despite all the attention and interest, one significant American tried as assiduously as he could to keep from getting involved in what he considered an internal skirmish within what was then known as "the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland".

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson was seeking re-election to the White House, and he didn't want any foreign controversies to complicate his campaign. Neutrality for the US regarding the war was his lodestar, and voters kept hearing the slogan, "He Kept Us Out of War".

In front of certain audiences, Wilson made a point of emphasising his Irish roots - both of his paternal grandparents came from Co Tyrone. Given the devotion of Irish America to the Democratic Party, which he led as standard-bearer, it made political sense for Wilson to appear cordial and close to this sizeable constituency.

Behind the scenes, however, Wilson did next to nothing to solve the Irish Question. In the summer of 1916, as many Irish-Americans and others pleaded with him to intervene and stop the execution of Irish nationalist Roger Casement, Wilson's private secretary Joseph Tumulty, an Irish Catholic, instructed the White House secretarial staff to send a formal reply signed by him to people who wrote supporting Casement.

"The president wishes me to acknowledge receipt [of] your telegram in the case of Sir Roger Casement and requests me to say that he will seek the earliest opportunity to discuss this matter with the Secretary of State. Of course he will give the suggestion you make the consideration which its great importance merits."

Though non-committal and not specific, the message reflects an open-minded willingness to deal with the case at the highest levels of the administration. It really, though, was a facade.

When Tumulty gave Wilson a letter sent from London about Casement's trial, which reported "a personal request from the president will save his life", the president in his reaction of July 20 was emphatic.

The handwritten response said: "It would be inexcusable for me to touch this. It w'd [would] involve serious international embarrassment."

Wilson's hands-off approach with Casement foreshadows his refusal to introduce Ireland as a subject at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. Though he played his own Irish card to win votes, he avoided doing anything substantive.

Despite Wilson's decision to let Britain figure out the future of Ireland, the American people themselves took actions to assist the Irish. For instance, the Friends of Irish Freedom (FOIF) established what was called the Irish Relief Fund shortly after the last executions, collecting an estimated $350,000 in humanitarian aid, according to one account.

This was followed by the FOIF's 'Irish Victory Fund', which raised more than $1m and involved Diarmuid Lynch, who had returned to the US and become national secretary of the FOIF.

Among other benefactions, this fund launched the American Commission on Irish Independence, which dispatched three representatives to the Paris conference in an attempt, albeit unsuccessful, to convince Wilson to place the Irish Question on the agenda there.

However, another president, serving four decades later, put the contributions of Americans in a proper perspective with authority and eloquence. In June of 1963, John F Kennedy became the first White House incumbent to visit Ireland.

After a ceremony at Arbour Hill, where executed leaders of the Rising are buried, Kennedy travelled to Leinster House and told the Oireachtas: "No people ever believed more deeply in the cause of Irish freedom than the people of the United States. And no country contributed more to building my own than your sons and daughters."

Proudly American and Irish, Kennedy emphasised what the people in his republic, rather than its government, had accomplished decades earlier. Through his heritage and study of history, he understood the connections that bound the US and Ireland together during the Easter Rising and for the decades that followed.

Robert Schmuhl is professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and the author of Ireland's Exiled Children: America and the Easter Rising, which will be published in March by Oxford University Press. This article is adapted from his book.

Famous five and life in the US

A century ago, the US press dramatised comparisons between the Easter Rising and the revolutionary activities against British rule that exploded in the American colonies near the end of the 18th century. Parallels to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington appeared frequently, and Padraig Pearse was often likened to George Washington.

Of the seven signatories of the Proclamation announcing "The Provisional Government of the Irish Republic" on Easter Monday 1916, five spent time in the States.

Pearse voyaged across the Atlantic on a speaking tour in 1914 to raise money for the school, St Enda's, that he'd started in Dublin six years earlier.

In Patrick Pearse: The Triumph of Failure, Ruth Dudley Edwards calls Pearse's US sojourn "the most formative three months of his life", adding that he "discovered a natural aptitude for extreme rhetoric" in addressing Irish-American audiences.

Tom Clarke lived for a much longer period in America, emigrating twice: in 1880 (until early 1883) and then in 1900 (until late 1907). When Clarke returned in 1900, he worked on business affairs of the physical-force-minded US organisation Clan na Gael before becoming assistant editor of The Gaelic American, a weekly periodical based in New York City and strongly republican in its viewpoint.

James Connolly resided in the US from 1902 until 1910, dedicating most of his time to trying to develop a more powerful labour movement. A gifted speaker and writer with special appeal to Irish-American workers, Connolly travelled throughout the States on behalf of the Socialist Labor Party and later the Socialist Party of America.

Though well-known and respected in labour circles, Connolly never felt at home abroad, referring at one point to the US as "this cursed country".

Sean Mac Diarmada made his Atlantic crossing in 1912 to attend that year's Clan na Gael convention, which was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A close associate of Clarke in Dublin, Mac Diarmada was the delegate of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and stayed several weeks on the East Coast, getting to know some of the most fervent republican sympathisers.

Mac Diarmada travelled under the assumed name of "Burke" to maintain the secrecy that both Clan na Gael and the IRB tried to protect.

The fifth signatory, Joseph Mary Plunkett, arrived in New York during August 1915 to discuss specific Irish plans for the upcoming Rising. Plunkett, a poet who would later carry the title of director of military operations for the IRB, was suffering from tuberculosis at the time and was initially denied entry into the US at Ellis Island.

Besides reporting to Clan na Gael leaders that the uprising would take place in the near future and include cooperation from Germany - Plunkett had recently been in Berlin to talk about arrangements - he had an opportunity to spend time with some American literary figures.

All five rebel leaders knew and discussed republican dreams and activities with John Devoy, who had been exiled to the US in 1871 at age 28 but always referred to Ireland as "home".

Devoy is buried in the patriots' section of Glasnevin Cemetery. Under his name, there's one word, 'Fenian'. Another side of the headstone carries the description 'Rebel'. The third says simply 'Patriot'. A year before the Rising, Pearse wrote an essay that included the prediction that history would judge Devoy, a naturalised American citizen, "as the greatest of the Fenians".

Robert Schmuhl
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

Bulawayo City Council has expressed concerns over unfaithful developers who delay service delivery in the local authority.Latest council minutes states that discussion ensued and Councillor Collin Moyo was concerned about lack of commitment by some contractors whose progress was still at 5%."He sought clarification on progress with regards to servicing of Luveve 5 stands? The Mayor Martin Moyo said that developers had disadvantaged home seekers as the latter had occupied houses prior to servicing. In view of this developers should be engaged so that they honoured their contractual obligations," reads the minutes."In response the Director of Engineering Services explained that if contractors did not comply with Council's requirements, they were served with a warning prior to terminating the contract. GEC Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd had their contract terminated and Council was looking for a second bidder to complete the project. Council had financial challenges with regards to servicing Luveve 5 as some of the funds used to purchase equipment but there was still need to procure inputs. However a solution was being worked on and these would be serviced this year."The minutes states that council should ensure that contractors submitted performance bonds which would assist in recovering losses in the event that they failed to meet Bulawayo City Council requirements.
To have a relative who was 'out' in 1916 - that is, someone who took part in that mad assault on the British Empire - is something to be treasured.

Of course, there were plenty of other people 'out' in Easter Week - all of them risking life and limb, not for Ireland, though, but for themselves and their families as they smashed in windows and took whatever plunder they could carry from city centre businesses.

There were probably more looters out and about in Dublin that week than there were rebels holed up in the GPO. My granny, Maggie, was one of them - and we still have the dishes she 'liberated' to prove it: Four soup bowls with a Milan stamp on the back . . . they are testament to another, less noble side to the Rising.

Maggie was a teenager at the time, and a tenacious one, given that dishes weren't the only things she set her sights on that fateful week.

The story goes that she was looting a butcher's shop when she spied a prize shoulder of ham. Determined to get more than that and hauling the ham along, Maggie sought out more booty from the shelves. A man nearby kindly offered to hold the ham while she went foraging. Needless to say, that was the last time she saw that lump of meat.

Maggie was just one of many who ransacked city centre premises during the Rising. The first business to fall was Noblett's sweet shop on Sackville Street, the plate glass window of which shattered as the last words of the Proclamation were fading on Padraig Pearse's lips.

A shower of sweet stuffs, chocolate boxes and huge slabs of toffee were taken by the crowd in double-quick time, all the while ignoring pleas from Volunteers and from Fr Michael Flanagan, from the Pro-Cathedral, who had arrived on the scene.

Women and children were the first to start looting on Easter Monday. Businesses in Earl Street and Abbey Street were ransacked while Pearse and Connolly sipped tea and ate sandwiches inside the GPO. Clerys, Elverys and McDowell's jewellers all fell victim to looters, with the Illustrated Sunday Herald reporting: "McDowell's, the jewellers, was broken into and some thousands of pounds worth of jewellery taken. Taafe's, the hosiers; Lewer's, Dunn's hat shop, the Cable shoe shop, all were gutted, and their contents, when not wanted, were thrown pell-mell into the street."

One witness recalls seeing people in the Gresham Hotel with jewellery they had bought from the looters. In his memoir, On Another Man's Wound, Ernie O'Malley recalled arriving on to Sackville Street and being pestered by looters hawking their booty: "Diamond rings and pocketsful of gold watches were selling for sixpence and a shilling, and one was cursed if one did not buy."

Meanwhile, Volunteers with batons tried in vain to protect business, and the journalist Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, who would not survive Easter week, stood atop a tram car and pleaded with people not to steal.

One Volunteer described witnessing looters carrying a stolen piano from the direction of Mary's Lane. They ignored warnings to stop, and only did so after a volley was fired over their heads. The would-be plunderers scarpered, leaving the piano in the middle of the street.

The bizarre sights didn't end there. Several Volunteers broke into the Waxworks Museum and were soon to be seen parading up and down in all manner of outlandish costumes.

The looting lasted for most of the week. Citizens had gone mad and no manner of threats or impeachments would dissuade them from their path.

In his book, Dear, Dirty Dublin: A City in Distress, 1899-1916, Joseph O'Brien wrote that "according to police statistics for 1916, 425 persons were proceeded against for looting during the rebellion and 398 of these were either fined or imprisoned".

This paper reported on May 11, 1916 how a mother and daughter had been charged with being in illegal possession of "two mattresses, one pillow, eight window curtains, one lady's corset... one top coat, two ladies' coats, five ladies' hats and four chairs."

In the same news report, it was noted that two ladies from Camden Street had been prosecuted for being in possession of, among other things, "3lbs of tea, 12 boxes of sweet herbs some lemonade and cornflower." The constable told the court that the accused told him: "We were looting, like the rest. We had a bit out of it, too!" They were sentenced to a month in prison each.

The testimony of Royal Irish Regiment Sergeant Flethcher-Desborough, found in the Bureau of Military History, states that "months after the end of the Rising, flower sellers and paper vendors round the pillar, sported fur coats and bejewelled fingers, which they could never have bought with the profits from their flower selling".

The rebellion of 1916 highlighted two sides to the Irish coin - fearless patriotism and venal greed. We celebrate the patriotism and ignore the baser motives of those who were 'out' that week one hundred years ago. In my own family's case, were it not for four soup bowls from Milan, those darker deeds may have been lost to history entirely.

- David lawlor
Irelands ambition to launch Europes next generation of software coders via the Junior Cycle has taken a further step forward.

Over 50 junior cycle teachers, who will be among the first to teach the new Junior Cycle short course in Coding, spent a day exploring the subject at the Intel Ireland Campus in Leixlip this weekend.

The 19 schools participating in this initiative were chosen from over 120 entries from post-primary schools nationwide, with participating teachers receiving two days of initial training, and further online and regional support.

Intel has donated 900 Galileo Gen 2 Boards and teacher kits to the 19 post-primary schools.

The training day and donation are part of a collaborative initiative between Intel Ireland, Lero  The Irish Software Research Centre  and Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT).

The project is designed to support schools and teachers in exploring the Coding short course now available under the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015.

Students will engage in technology and design-related activities with the use of these state-of the-art resources.

This donation will support schools in this innovative and exciting Coding project, which we hope will produce Irelands innovators of the future, said Paul Phelan, Public Affairs Operations Manager, Intel.

Intel Ireland are delighted to give students an insight into technology, and allow the development of both logical and digital skills in a fun, collaborative, and innovative learning environment.

These digital skills are vital if Ireland, and indeed Europe, is to address the coding skills shortage which has led to in excess of 500,000 open job postings across the continent in 2015.

Participating teachers enjoyed specific training at the event to support their exploration of this new learning area in their schools. Both Intel Ireland and Lero support JCT in this work.

A career in computing can be interesting and creative. This project will allow students to take the first steps in exploring this potential, said Clare McInerney, who is Education and Outreach Manager in Lero.

We are very happy to help build capacity in schools to provide inventive short courses like Coding to their students.
The whistleblower who exposed how the Health Service Executive failed to protect an intellectually disabled woman from alleged sexual and physical abuse in a foster home will meet the head of the HSE this week, seven years after she first tried to highlight the scandal.

Tony O'Brien will meet the whistleblower - a social worker - to discuss the failings in her case and the care of vulnerable adults like her.

It comes after weeks of scathing criticism of the HSE's handling of Grace's case and by the treatment of the whistleblowers by the Dail Public Accounts Committee.

The whistleblower has spent years trying to highlight Grace's case and met Health Minister Leo Varadkar and the junior minister, Kathleen Lynch, last year.

Grace, who cannot speak, was allowed to remain in the foster home by the health authorities despite suspicions of sexual and physical abuse.

When allegations of sexual abuse were made by a former resident in 1995, the health authorities decided to place no more children there. A decision was also made to remove Grace from the family but this was "countermanded" by a three-person panel of health board employees.

The foster family wrote to the then health minister, Michael Noonan, in a bid to keep Grace. A spokesman said neither Mr Noonan nor the Minister of State "sought to direct or influence the decision of the health board in any way".

She remained with the family for 13 years until she was removed in 2009. She had little or no contact with social workers.

John Deasy, the Waterford TD for Fine Gael, told PAC that a senior social worker came across Grace's case in 2007 but "was ignored" by "HSE management". This social worker, and two others, then made "protected disclosures" under whistleblower legislation to raise concerns about Grace's care. Allegations of financial abuse were also raised. The foster family took in "70,000" in allowances for Grace, PAC chairman John McGuinness claimed last week. Other carers' allowances would have been available when the foster allowance stopped on Grace turning 18.

The woman who ran the foster home said allegations that children suffered serious sexual abuse in the house were "lies" in the Irish Times yesterday.

The HSE commissioned two external reports that cannot be published because of ongoing garda investigations. The health minister and junior minister received copies of the reports last week, after invoking Section 40C of the Health Act 2004.

The HSE has apologised to Grace and the other 47 people who passed through the foster service.

The Government has agreed to set up a Commission of Inquiry to find out what happened. Minister Varadkar told the Dail last week that there were conflicting accounts of what happened and the whistleblowers were "not aligned" in what they were saying.

It also emerged last week that a second woman, Ann, was privately placed with the foster family until 2014. The HSE said it could not inform her mother of investigation into alleged sexual abuse on legal advice.
STANDING UP: Chris ODowd has thrown his support behind the campaign against the proposed boundary change. Photo: Reuters

Up to 26,000 people and groups have officially lodged views on controversial plans to change a county boundary that would put 12pc of Roscommon people into Westmeath, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Under the plans, almost 7,000 residents of south Roscommon would suddenly become part of the Lake County.

The father of Hollywood actor Chris O'Dowd, from Boyle, says he was one of the first to make a submission against the new proposals.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Sean O' Dowd said: "There is no logic to these plans whatsoever, it's a land grab on behalf of Westmeath councillors.

"Where is the logic in taking a part of Connacht and giving it over to Leinster on the other side of the Shannon? The whole thing is ludicrous."

He said his son Chris, who has been tweeting about the saga, fully supports the 'Save Roscommon' campaign.

"Chris will never forget his roots. He is living in Los Angeles but he's a Boyle man and a Roscommon man to the core."

Despite living almost 50 miles away from affected areas, including Monksland, Rooskey Cross, Ballymulavill, Bogganfin, and Barrybeg, Mr O'Dowd felt compelled to submit his views to the Athlone Boundary Review committee.

"I'd say I was one of the first ones to get it in. The area has been part of Roscommon forever, since the counties were declared.

He continued: "I can't understand why that productive area of Co Roscommon, that has received multiple grants from Roscommon County Council and other agencies on this side of the Shannon, should suddenly be handed over to another administrative body in a different province."

Westmeath County Council has made a submission in favour of extending its boundary.

The council claims that this would be the most appropriate administrative arrangement for promoting the future development and prosperity of the Athlone area.

However, those fighting the proposal argue that any move to re-designate the area would have a devastating impact on Roscommon's infrastructure, finance, identity and sense of community.

They also criticise arguments that their position stems overwhelmingly from a GAA perspective.

Two of Roscommon's leading GAA clubs, Clann na nGael and St Brigid's, will be in the firing line if the boundary alteration goes ahead.

Members of the 'Save Roscommon' community group, who recently travelled to Mullingar to deliver several boxes of submissions, describe the GAA argument as "nonsense" and "a desperate attempt" by reeling opposition to deflect the debate, rather than focus on vital issues such as economics, finance and the future viability of Roscommon as an entity.

Ger Aherne, Kiltoom resident and Save Roscommon spokesperson said: "There has been an attempt by those in Dublin, the Department of Environment, the commission itself, some politicians and indeed Mullingar and Westmeath local councillors, to diminish and trivialise and marginalise our opinions on this issue and to associate solely with movement of the GAA".

The apolitical group claims that the GAA element of the 'Save Roscommon Campaign' is at the lower end of their spectrum of issues.

"The members of the Save Roscommon Committee come from community groups, local politics and a full range of sporting codes and individual citizens. It is a truly inclusive group, with one focus alone - to save Roscommon," said the spokesman.

An independent committee, appointed by Environment Minister Alan Kelly, is also reviewing local government boundaries in Drogheda, Waterford and Carlow.
HEALTH MINISTER: Leo Varadkar has a constituency map marked with all of the areas that he has to cover for the election. Photo: Collins

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar talks to Niamh Horan about politics, his ambitions and his one time experience waiting in an A&E department.

Leo Varadkar has an impeccable 'bedside manner'.

Soft spoken, super-smooth and confident - his doctor training has enabled him to deliver bad news - and stay removed from the situation. It preserves his popularity as waiting lists soar and an endless stream of personal stories flood the airwaves.

In the past year, among the hundreds of crisis cases, there was the 93-year-old 'Essie' who spent 29 hours on a trolley at Beaumont Hospital; 94-year-old 'Doris', laid up on a trolley for 50 hours at the same hospital; and the 102-year-old frail patient who spent 26 hours on a trolley at Tallaght. Afterwards, a consultant called it a "human rights abuse", akin to "torture".

I wonder how Leo felt, on a human level, reading the stories.

"Obviously, nobody likes to read or hear about anyone having a bad experience in our hospitals," he says, settling in behind his desk.

"I am not so naive to think that I can make every problem in the health service go away. No minister can. And never will be able to. But it does make you more determined to try and make things better."

After three days trying to pin the health minister down, he has finally agreed to talk. His press advisor places a dictaphone on the table and sits in on the interview, over my shoulder.

In the next room, a team of helpers are busy pushing his election campaign.

Varadkar shows me a map of his constituency area, West Dublin, which he has to cover in the coming weeks. Not unlike the strategy board game 'Risk', he has allocated a colour to each of his enemies: Joan Burton, Joe Higgins and Ruth Coppinger, while pinning his own colour to the estates he attempts to capture as he goes.

"We literally have half an hour" he reminds me, "I'm knocking on doors."

His work as a GP and as a doctor in an accident and emergency (A&E) units have tied in nicely with his meteoric rise in politics to award him the country's top job in health. He has previously worked 36-hour shifts as a doctor, often missing out on a night's sleep. But rather than finding it stressful, he says: "I quite liked the buzz of being busy."

Last year, he declined an invitation by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) to work a 12-hour shift alongside them in an A&E because "they never formally asked".

"I would have thought that rather than demanding I do something through the media - that they might have maybe written to me and asked me if I would like to."

He explains how, contrary to popular belief, more beds and more resources do not relieve overcrowding in some Irish hospitals. Instead, he says, it can cause staff to take their foot off the gas.

"What can happen in some hospitals is sometimes, when they have more beds and more resources, that's what kind of slows it down."

Why?

"Because they [hospital staff] don't feel as much under pressure. So when a hospital is very crowded, there will be a real push to make sure people get their X-rays, get their tests and, you know, 'let's get them out in four days'.

"When a hospital isn't under as much pressure, you start to see things slowing down and it might take five, six, seven days to get the person discharged and that's the length of stay, so it's all these different factors come into play all the time."

He has surveyed eight A&E wards in the past year. But I wonder if has ever been at the other side of the fence.

"As a patient?" he asks, surprised.

Yes. Waiting in a waiting room - beside everyone else?

"Well, I had a minor injury [once] and, as is often the case I was seen quite quickly."

How long was his waiting time?

"Less than an hour."

Which emergency department was it?

"I don't want to say," he replies. "That's the only time I've ever had to attend an emergency department as a patient."

I tell him he is lucky.

"[It is important] not to think that the worst case that always appears in the newspaper is the normal or average experience, because it actually isn't," he explains.

Have you ever had the misfortune of spending time on a hospital trolley yourself?

"No. I have never been admitted to hospital... I never needed to be. I am in very good health."

So what is his health insurance policy?

"I have Laya I don't know exactly what it is."

When I press him, he says he pays 700 a year for the package, which covers all of the public hospitals and several private.

Does it entitle him to a hospital room of his own?

"I don't know the terms and conditions."

One issue for which he has been widely lauded is his position during the same-sex marriage campaign. The 37-year-old was hailed as a hero and leading light for a generation of young people on the cusp of a social revolution. Many involved in the 'Home to Vote' campaign are gearing up to get behind the drive for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment - which equates the right to life of the unborn with the mother's right to life. Many pro-choice campaigners hope it will pave the way for full, safe access to abortion in Ireland.

On record, he has already stated he is "pro-life" and does not want abortion-on-demand introduced here.

"It would be weird to me if the right to property was there [in the Constitution] and not the right to be alive," he laughs.

Where does he believe life begins? He laughs again: "I'm not equipped to answer that. I honestly don't know the answer to that question."

Does he believe it is important we start an open and mature discussion on abortion in Ireland?

"Yeah, I do and that's what we intend to do."

Two minutes later - he shuts down a list of questions on his own views. Ranging from foetal abnormalities to cases of rape, incest and suicide - he pointedly refuses, saying he has agreed beforehand the interview wouldn't include the issue of abortion. [Although he was happy before the interview when informed that would be covered].

I explain that as the Minster for Health - a post in which he wishes to continue - it is important people know his views. It is on one of the biggest health and social issues of the next generation. And so, I kick off the list of 'yes or no' questions again.

Do you believe in abortion when the foetus isn't viable?

"Em I'm sort of conscious that we are going into a general election now and I am running in the general election as a Fine Gael candidate and I am asking people to vote for me as a FG candidate and I am not asking them to vote for me based on my personal or individual views."

He repeats the line eight times over the course of our conversation. I ask if his personal views affect his politics.

"Of course they do but the mandate I am seeking in the context of a general election is for Fine Gael's position."

Does he believe abortion in Ireland is a class issue?

"No," he laughs. "I don't know what that question means."

I explain that a woman who is wealthy and can afford to travel to the UK has greater access to a safe abortion and medical care than a woman who has no access to similar funds.

"No, I don't think it's a class issue."

And so I ask, as Minister for Health, what he would say to the 12 Irish women who have to travel to the UK every day for an abortion?

"It would depend on each individual."

Is there an indignity in these women having to travel abroad?

He sighs: "I really had understood this interview was going to be about health and politics."

I repeat the question.

"We are running [out of time]."

I move on to his political ambitions to which he tells me: "I would be very happy to stay in health but obviously, that is a matter entirely for the Taoiseach."

He would consider taking on the role of leader of FG in 2021, if the opportunity arises "and if I am still the same person then as I am now".

Would he like to be Taoiseach some day?

"It is a possibility," he says. "[I hope] it is not something that is even going to arise as a possibility in the next five years."

He doesn't intend to remain in politics past 50: "I would like to travel I have never lived outside of Ireland. I certainly see myself doing volunteer work maybe something in the World Health Organisation."

As health minister, people regularly approach him while out socialising: "It used to bother me but you kind of come to accept it. Particularly when you are a public figure and you stick posters of yourself up on poles the only thing is if people were aggressive or impolite."

Have you ever had that? "Oh yeah."

In what way?

"That's just politics every second day somebody will accost you with something."

He rejects Labour Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin's estimation that he is becoming a "social democrat". Instead, he sees himself as "either centre right or a higher class of liberal somebody who believes in personal freedom, someone who believes in a political economy and in a free market as the best way to create wealth."

He believes his views have become tempered in recent years: "As you get older, life experience allows you to see [things differently] As a minister, I have had to put myself in other people's shoes... that sort of decision-making process does soften me up a little bit."

What is his biggest strength? "I am willing to trust the public enough to be truthful with them."

On his biggest weakness, he is flummoxed: "What do you think?... My biggest weakness... I'm sure I've loads hmmmm."

After the soul-searching, his PR man jumps in: "Chocolate!"

"Yeah," Leo laughs. "Chocolate."

"That was a very bad idea," he mutters to his PR man afterwards. And with that, he is back to his group of minders.
More beds and additional resources can lead to a slower work rate among hospital staff, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has claimed.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr Varadkar, who confirmed that he would like to continue as Health Minister if re-elected to government, said more beds and resources can lead to less productivity.

"What can happen in some hospitals is sometimes, when they have more beds and more resources, that's what kind of slows it down."

When asked why, he replied: "Because they [hospital staff] don't feel as much under pressure.

"When a hospital is very crowded, there will be a real push to make sure people get their x-rays, get their tests and, you know, 'lets get them out in four days.'

"When a hospital isn't under as much pressure, you start to see things slowing down and it might take five, six, seven days to get the person discharged and that's [the] length of stay, so it's all these different factors come into play all the time."

The minister, who is currently canvassing in the Dublin West constituency, also explained why he turned down the offer by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) for him to work a 12-hour shift alongside them.

Mr Varadkar pointed out that the organisation had put the offer to him through the media.

"I was never actually formally asked. It was a challenge issued through the media," he said.

"I would have thought that- rather than demanding I do something through the media- they might have maybe written to me and asked me if I would like to do it."

Mr Varadkar also attacked Sinn Fein's "high-tax, job-killing policies", which he claimed would reverse the recovery.

He said anyone earning over 33,800 would be deemed a "higher earner" and be forced to pay a 50pc total tax rate if Gerry Adams's party was to take power.

The minister said Sinn Fein would cut tax relief on pension contributions, which will cost a nurse or guard on 40,000 around 800 a year.

He claimed that high earners would pay 62pc tax if Sinn Fein was in government and that this would "kill off" foreign direct investment.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced Fine Gael's plan to slash capital gains tax (CGT) for start-up companies to 10pc if it is returned to Government.

At an election event in micksgarage.com's headquarters in Park West, Dublin, Mr Kenny said his party would halve the current 20pc CGT rate on all gains up to 10m over the next five years.

"We have ambitious and credible plans to make Ireland an international start-up hub because start-ups are vital in a small open economy like ours," he said.

"Our small businesses and our young businesses are the heartbeat of the local and the national economy."

Speaking at the same event, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said: "Our plan will increase the numbers of start-ups by 25pc by 2020, or 3,000 more start-ups per year."

Fine Gael's election campaign had a bad start last week after Mr Kenny fluffed his line at the opening press conference and the first opinion poll showed Fine Gael's public support dropping.

Fine Gael sources claimed Mr Kenny's poor performance on the first day of the campaign was down to bad lighting in the Alexander Hotel in Dublin, which meant he could not read his script.

A senior Fine Gael strategist told the Sunday Independent the party will not change its campaign strategy despite criticisms over the strictly stage-managed nature of Mr Kenny's public appearances.

The Taoiseach has so far only appeared at carefully orchestrated events and has not been permitted by handlers to engage with members of the public.

However, a senior Fine Gael minister said Mr Kenny will meet more members of the public later in the campaign, adding: "The Taoiseach has never been afraid of going out and meeting people," the minister said.

Yesterday, Mr Kenny refused to comment when asked three times if he was concerned that Fine Gael's key election message is not reaching voters and if Ireland is ready for a political party styled on David Cameron's Conservative Party.

On each occasion he dodged the question and instead repeated slogans about "keeping the recovery going" and "making work pay".

Mr Kenny eventually said he believes that when the party carries its "message through the length and breadth of the country" people will see the "progress made and know the recovery is underway".

"The reason we are here is to explain why the recovery should continue what it means for individuals, what it means for communities and what it means for businesses.

"The people in Ireland are very well able to decide themselves and the decision they make on the February 26 will be the most critical they've made for 50 years," he added.

Fine Gael strategist insist they are not copying the Conservative Party's successful election campaign but rather its the Tories who have copied their job strategies over the last five years.
A landmark Sunday Independent/Millward Brown opinion poll will alarm the Coalition today and force Fine Gael and Labour to rethink their election strategies.

The poll finds support for the four main political parties either down or unchanged while support for Independents/others has risen.

In a series of significant findings, however, the poll shows that voters are demanding more spending on social services ahead of tax cuts.

The electorate believes that the health service, unemployment and the issue of homelessness and social housing are more important than "management of the economy".

Nearly two in five voters (39pc) believe that the next government should prioritise such services ahead of tax cuts (25pc). And the poll finds that only one in three (33pc) believes that a change of government would put economic stability at risk.

It also finds that half (50pc) of voters believe that a change of government would help create a "fairer society".

Today's poll explains why the Coalition's message has struggled to fully resonate with voters.

It will also give rise to concern within Fine Gael and Labour over the 'stability vs chaos' election strategy.

The poll finds that the combined support for both parties now stands at just 33pc and that dissatisfaction with the Government has increased.

It also finds that a massive 39pc of Labour voters and 20pc of Fine Gael voters are not at all certain how they will vote or have reservations about voting for those parties.

Almost one week into the campaign, the findings will come as a significant boost to the Opposition, particularly Independent/other candidates.

The state of the parties, excluding 'don't knows', is: Fine Gael (27pc), down two points; Fianna Fail (22pc), down two points; Independents/others (22pc), up three points; Sinn Fein (21pc), unchanged; Labour (6pc), down one point and Greens (1pc), unchanged.

Including 'don't knows' (25pc), the poll finds Fine Gael (20pc); Fianna Fail (17pc); Independents/others (17pc); Sinn Fein (16pc) and Greens (1pc).

The poll also finds that while Fine Gael is most trusted to manage the economy (24pc), it is not overwhelming trusted: 17pc trust Fianna Fail most, while Sinn Fein (31pc) is the least trusted.

Yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny refused to comment when asked three times whether he had concerns that Fine Gael's election message had not reached voters.

On each occasion, he dodged the question and instead repeated the party's election slogans about "keeping the recovery going" and "making work pay".

At the election press conference in Dublin, Mr Kenny eventually said he believed that when Fine Gael carried its "message through the length and breadth of the country" people would see the "progress made and know the recovery is under way".

Today's opinion poll also finds dissatisfaction with the Government (62pc) up two points and satisfaction (29pc) down three points since the last comparable poll in November.

The face-to-face poll was taken among a representative sample of 984 voters at 63 points nationwide between January 25 and last Thursday, February 4, the day after the election was called. The margin of error is 3.1pc.

In other key results, the poll finds Fianna Fail to be the most vote transfer-friendly of the main parties.

Asked which party they would not vote for, voters said: Sinn Fein (37pc), down one point; Fine Gael (34pc), up two points; Labour (31pc), up one point; Fianna Fail (24pc), down one point; Socialist Party (19pc), down one point; AAA-PBP (16pc), unchanged; Renua (12pc), unchanged; Social Democrats (9pc), down two points.

The poll also found that, overall, one in five voters could still change their voting preference.

While a massive 39pc of Labour voters and 20pc of Fine Gael voters are either not at all certain or have some reservations about voting for those parties, just 15pc of Fianna Fail voters and 12pc of Sinn Fein voters have such reservations, but a significant 24pc of Independent/other voters may change their minds.

Asked a range of coalition options which they "believe" will form the next government, voters said: Fine Gael/Labour (14pc); Sinn Fein/Independents (14pc); Fine Gael/Fianna Fail (9pc); Fianna Fail/Sinn Fein (7pc); Fine Gael/Labour/Independents (5pc); Fine Gael/Independents (5pc); Fianna Fail/Sinn Fein/Independents (4pc) and Fine Gael overall majority (3pc).

Disagreement that a change of government would put Ireland's economic stability at risk is higher in Dublin (50pc), among the farming community (49pc) and those aged 35-44 (46pc).

Agreement that a change of government would help create a fairer society is higher among the skilled working class (53pc), in Dublin (53pc) and in Connacht/Ulster (61pc).

Asked which important issues or problems would influence their decision, voters said: health service/hospitals (37pc); unemployment/jobs (13pc); management of the economy (11pc); crime/law and order (10pc); homeless/local authority housing (9pc); mortgage payments/house prices/rent (7pc); water charges (5pc); childcare (3pc); abortion (1pc); constituency issue (1pc).

When other issues of importance are added to the mix, homeless/social housing becomes more important and relegates management of the economy to fourth place.
This latest Millward Brown Poll, conducted over 10 days up until last Thursday, captured opinion during the long goodbye to the 31st Dail, but also covered the first two days of the campaign.

It provides for interesting reading. Taking a step back, this election is still Fine Gael's to lose, but the public is more nuanced in its opinions than some may have anticipated.

Firstly, headline figures: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have slipped back marginally, while Labour remain in the doldrums, and it's as you were for Sinn Fein. Independents and other parties have shifted up somewhat, reflecting potentially the most fractious election in recent generations.

Both government parties will be somewhat deflated, if not downright disappointed, by these latest results. Fine Gael, at 27pc, will be concerned that the momentum, apparent for the party in the autumn, has dissipated. For Labour, at 6pc, the situation is far more critical. They have less than three weeks to kick-start their recovery. Given that they have remained in the doldrums for the past two years, unable to reach the psychological barrier of 10pc in our tracking polls, it may well be that the tide has already gone too far out for them to muster any respectable recovery. Damage limitation may be key, with the party having to focus only on those seats it has a reasonable chance of actually winning.

For Fine Gael, the past couple of weeks have been less than stellar. Despite having the advantage of knowing when the starter's gun would be fired, they have still stumbled out of the blocks.

The opening days of their campaign have, at best, been lacklustre. Between the debate over the size of the already much-maligned catchphrase known as the 'Fiscal Space', and Enda Kenny's less than sure-footed explanation to it, the omens are not good.

When the central platform of your manifesto message is financial prudence, it is worrying to be caught with a sucker punch so quickly. When you are having to explain, you are losing. In addition, it will stick in both FG's and Labour's throats that it was Sinn Fein who were seen to display the most fiscal rectitude on this issue. Strategists will be seeking to move the debate on to other issues as swiftly as possible.

Vacillations over whether Fine Gael would seek the support of Michael Lowry or not have also done the party no favours. Both Fianna Fail (22pc) and Sinn Fein (21pc) will be happy with these results. They both have built a platform on which to build.

The main movers have been Independents/other parties. Looking at the "smaller" parties, one suspects that their branding is confusing: people are more likely to nominate individual (high-profile) candidates by name rather than the party they are linked to.

Taking a step back, the broader narrative of these results is that focusing too much on the economy is potentially a risky strategy - the public don't necessarily buy into the government argument of Stability vs Chaos - just one-in-three agree with the doomsday scenario put forward by FG/Labour that a change in government will put Ireland's economic stability at risk.

This approach may need to be revisited, especially if it does not gain traction with the electorate soon. The alternative is that the public will become irritated very quickly if the government parties don't adopt more agile strategies and communications over the next couple of weeks.

One landmark result from this poll is that for the first time since the crash, financial sentiment has crept into positive territory - that is, for the first time since 2008, more of us are upbeat about our financial situation over the next 12 months than downbeat. While the government parties would like to take credit for this, external factors also play a large part - something that opposition parties will be eager to articulate.

As it is, just over one-in-four (27pc) believe that either Fine Gael or Labour can be most trusted to manage the economy. Fianna Fail gets the nod from 17pc, while 13pc believe that Sinn Fein can be most trusted.

In addition, the preferred focus among the public for the next government (whoever it may be) is that public services should be improved (39pc) versus one-in-four nominating tax cuts, suggesting that hard-nosed economic policy communications may not be the best advised route - society and social issues may take centre stage after several year years of savage cuts.

But these are early days. Among decided voters, we asked how certain they were in their nomination. Nearly one-in-five (19pc) either have some reservations or are not certain at this juncture. There are plenty of potential switchers (unfortunately for Labour, 39pc of their current supporters, albeit of a small base, are potential waverers).

The ambition for all our political parties for the next two and a half weeks will be to actually understand what the voters want to hear.

Paul Moran is an Associate Director at Millward Brown
This election is different from any previous election since 1927. Never since then has there been an election in which Fianna Fail, the natural governing party from 1932 until 2011, was not campaigning with a realistic prospect of forming the next government.

It is also different because Enda Kenny has a much greater chance of doing what no leader of Fine Gael has ever done before: winning a second consecutive term as Taoiseach. His odds with Paddy Power to be the next Taoiseach are already shorter that the hottest Willie Mullins' odds on favourite at Cheltenham: a prohibitive 1/18. The downside of such a positive statistic for Fine Gael is that voters do not like being told, in effect, that there is no alternative Taoiseach on offer and that this may feed the momentum of the "Put Him Out" campaign even if the consequence is a chaotic inability to form a government when the Dail next meets on March 10. Last week's Irish Times/MRBI poll showing that 63pc of respondents would like to see a change of government as opposed to the 30pc who would like to see the present government returned points in the same direction.

In this sense there is some resemblance to the 1948 election when all the opposition parties coalesced in a campaign to "Put Him Out" as Eamon de Valera sought again to renew his mandate after 16 years in office. Yet, even in this case, the differences are more striking than the similarities because de Valera had by then won six general elections in succession.

But the most striking mark of difference in this election is that its defining characteristic is that it is not so much an election about who is to become Taoiseach, as about who will lead the opposition. So much became immediately apparent from the brief interviews offered to each party leader on RTE's early evening news on the first day of the campaign.

Enda Kenny was notable for his absence and Fine Gael was represented by Leo Varadkar, looking every inch a Taoiseach-in-waiting fit for any international stage in three shades of Tory blue. His message was as simple as it was predictable: the central issue was who could be trusted to keep the recovery going. Enda Kenny's absence inevitably incurred immediate criticism not just from political opponents accusing him of running scared, but from an irritated media.

What appeared to be the Taoiseach's strategy of invisibility on all but the most carefully stage-managed occasions threatened to become electorally damaging even in the course of such a short election campaign. But his first major interview of the campaign on Friday's edition of Morning Ireland suggests that he is alert to this danger and that such an episode will not recur.

Micheal Martin and Gerry Adams both used their interviews on the first day of the campaign to pose as standard-bearers of change. Mr Martin, when asked what a vote for Fianna Fail meant if it was not a vote for a Fianna Fail Taoiseach, said it was "a vote for change". Given his party's role and indeed his own senior ministerial role in the governments in power during the crash, that formula offers an obvious hostage to fortune as his opponents can readily dismiss the proposition that Fianna Fail would be more competent than the present government in keeping the economic recovery on track and cleaning up in the aftermath of the recession, which their opponents will keep accusing them of having created.

Gerry Adams painted change in terms of a vote for Sinn Fein being a "vote for fairness and decency" - not the first words that spring to mind when one thinks of Sinn Fein - but Mr Adams is oblivious to irony. Asked why the electorate should vote for a party untried in the business of government, he, too, gave a hostage to fortune with his claim that they had been tried and tested in the north. That may carry some resonance among republicans in his Louth constituency and in other border counties, but if Mr Adams believes that the template of Northern Ireland government is going to impress voters in this state as in any sense worthy of imitation, he is mistaken.

It is an early example of how Mr Adams's Belfast baggage will be an electoral liability. Another is the now notorious praise he lavished on Thomas "Slab" Murphy as "a good republican". Mr Adams's querulous complaints that "Slab" Murphy is not a candidate in his election are in vain and his spectre will continue to haunt Sinn Fein throughout the campaign.

The most recent opinion polls suggest that, barring a major shift before polling day, Fine Gael and Labour will at best fall short of winning enough seats to form a government but may have to seek support from like-minded Independents. The worst-case scenario for voters seeking stability and a continuance of the economic recovery is that Sinn Fein will become the largest opposition party and might be able to form a government with the support of those left-leaning Independents who have no ideological objections to serving in a Sinn Fein-led government.

That this is an election in which the key issue is the leadership of the Opposition explains why such voters who give their first preferences to Fine Gael or to Labour should unhesitatingly give their next preferences to Fianna Fail. The last Fianna Fail Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, when launching my biography of Eamon de Valera last October, spoke of the need for a dispassionate approach to the Treaty split and the civil war. It was time, he said, for all parties to take what he described as "an ecumenical attitude" to the events of 1921-22. This is the moment when Fianna Fail and Fine Gael voters alike have a chance to practise what Mr Cowen preached. If they seize the moment, the sterility of a party system that has scarred and debased Irish politics for almost a century will finally be dead and buried and the 2016 election will prove truly historic.

Ronan Fanning is Professor Emeritus of Modern History at University College Dublin
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

Harare business people are reported to have asked the council to ban vending in front of their business outlets.The Harare Residents Trust stated that Mabelreign Business people urged the City of Harare to ban all vending in front of shops, and requested the council to provide them alternative places to operate from."They said the vendors are obstructing people entering and leaving shops, and also negatively impact on their social status. They said this at a meeting organised by the Ward 16 Councillor Peter Manjoro," said the trust.Most shops in major cities are facing serious challenge and competition from the vendors who sell the same products that are in the shops.
There is a certain amount taken for granted ahead of the forthcoming General Election.

Most people accept Taoiseach Enda Kenny will return Fine Gael as the largest party in the country, while Tanaiste Joan Burton will guide the Labour Party through rough waters and most likely see a significant drop in seat numbers. Fianna Fail will return with more seats than it currently holds under the leadership of Micheal Martin, and Sinn Fein will also make gains with Gerry Adams at the helm of the party. But what happens after the votes are counted and the next government is formed is more interesting. Who are voters really voting for to lead their party of choice over the next five years, if the next government even lasts that long? Questions are hanging over the futures of each of the 'big four' party leaders as we get closer to election day. Some are in more precarious positions that others and much will be decided by how their respective parties perform once the votes are counted. But it is not unrealistic to suggest that all four may decide - or be forced - to step aside and allow a successor to take the reins in the coming years.

Enda Kenny

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has insisted that the next Dail term will be his last as leader of Fine Gael. But Kenny has been less clear on when his leadership of the party, now in its 14th year, will come to an end. If he does not intend to lead his party into the election after next, he will have to give his successor time to take charge and state his or her personal vision for Fine Gael.

There is an expectation, mostly among those who wish to succeed him, that Kenny will step aside two or three years into the next Dail term if re-elected to government.

Successive opinion polls have told us health minister Leo Varadkar is the clear favourite to take over. Varadkar has made a habit of upstaging his boss over the last five years - most notably around the Garda scandals and the recent GSOC controversy. The minister has so far managed to avoid too much reputational damage during his short tenure in health but he is unlikely to come out unscathed if he returns to the role after the election.

Varadkar's succession is far from a done deal and he will face tough competition from agriculture minister Simon Coveney, who is far less inspiring than the health minister but is admired by the Fine Gael membership as a team player who sticks to the party line. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is also touted as a future leader but her standing in the party has declined on the back of a series of justice crises.

Joan Burton

TANAISTE Joan Burton is faced with an unenviable task going into the General Election.

The Labour Party will somewhat unfairly be the Coalition's sacrificial lamb and the electorate's whipping boy when the country goes to the polls.

Burton, not even two years into the top job, may lead a depleted Labour Party back into Government but the number of seats she returns with will determine her future.

On an extremely good day, the Labour Party will hope for 15 seats, which will guarantee it around five Cabinet positions if Fine Gael also polls well.

Anything less than this - and according to most opinion polls it is likely to be less - will heap pressure on Burton.

Environment minister Alan Kelly has made no secret of his ambition to take over from the current leader should an opportunity arise.

Kelly's relationship with Burton is at best terse and at worst toxic and the Tipperary TD will be first out of the blocks to lead a heave if the Tanaiste falters after the General Election.

Kelly taking over from Burton is far from an open and shut case and the next Labour leadership race is likely to be a crowded field.

Ministers Brendan Howlin, Ged Nash and Alex White will also be seen as strong candidates for the role if they can return their seats.

Micheal Martin

IT is hard to argue against suggestions that Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was among the strongest contributors to debates during the 31st Dail.

Martin was not the first to raise concerns about the Government stripping medical cards from the disabled, allegations of misconduct in An Garda Siochana or the various Nama controversies.

But when he weighed into the debates, he added a certain credence which forced the Coalition into action.

However, his impressive public persona is tainted by poor political judgement and autocratic leadership, which has alienated key party members.

Should Martin fail to deliver at least 35 seats after the election, or indeed refuse to enter coalition talks with Fine Gael, he is likely to face a heave in the not-so-distant future.

Fianna Fail TDs - most notably John McGuinness and Eamon O Cuiv - are regularly at odds with their leader and both have ambitions to take charge of the party.

As it stands, neither would have strong support among the outgoing crop of TDs but an enlarged Fianna Fail party could pose problems for Martin as many of the new candidates are not necessarily as loyal to the leader as he would like to believe.

In fact, McGuinness is understood to be actively courting new Fianna Fail candidates likely to be elected later this month in the expectation that the party leader's days in charge may be numbered.

Gerry Adams

Gerry Adams's 32-year tenure as leader of Sinn Fein is a feat that would make most dictators in third-world countries blush.

Nonetheless, Adams, who will celebrate his 68th birthday later this year, has maintained an iron grip on the party his rivals describe as a "cult-like organisation".

But, as his deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said of Adams just after Christmas: "nobody goes on forever".

The longer Adams does stay around, the longer it will take for Sinn Fein to win over voters in Middle Ireland, where defending tax cheats like Thomas 'Slab' Murphy and allegations of child sex abuse cover-ups do not go down well.

Mary Lou McDonald, the privately schooled south County Dublin girl turned republican, is obviously best placed to succeed Adams and has received her party leader's blessing in the past. But there are doubts over how she will win over the Belfast membership or indeed the South Armagh brigade when the time eventually comes to vote for a new leader. The party may favour a compromise candidate, such as their justice spokesman Pardraig Mac Lochlainn, whose family's tradition is steeped in the republicanism of the Troubles.

Adams will lead Sinn Fein into the General Election but all eyes will then be on the party's ard fheis, scheduled for later this year, where the annual leadership vote will take place.
FOUR men have been arrested following reports of numerous burglaries in Monaghan town yesterday.

At around 7.30pm gardai recieved reports of suspicious activity in the Rope Walk and Belgium Park areas of Monaghan.

Garda units were sent to investigate and on arrival they spotted a number of men exiting a house.

The men then fled through nearby fields.

During a search operation involving local uniform and detective units assisted by the Garda Air Support Unit, four men were arrested a short time later.

A car was also seized by investigating Gardai during the operation.

All the men are aged in their late teens and early 20s.

All four were taken to Monaghan Garda Station where they are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

A technical and forensic examination has been carried out at the scene.
Burglar at work: He can get in your house in nine seconds

Burglars can break into most homes through the front door in nine seconds flat, a security expert has warned.

And criminals know the exact type of weak doors and fragile windows they can easily, and quietly, infiltrate with basic tools.

As the fear of robbery continues to blight the country, security experts are calling on homeowners to invest in "physical security" before they spend thousands of euro on house alarms, CCTV cameras, burglar alarms and guard dogs to protect their properties.

Security firms say some families are spending up to 10,000 on perimeter surveillance amid fears of being burgled by a violent gang.

However, experts argue that hard lessons learned by neighbouring EU states have been ignored by the Irish Government.

After a spike in residential crime across Europe in the 1980s, most member states introduced a policy of physical security first.

They strengthened their buildings by introducing specific standards for sturdy robust doors, high-specification locks, laminated glass and strong fastenings on windows to stop burglars gaining entry.

Ciaran O'Connell, of Burglarybusters, argues that the Government is taking the "completely wrong approach" to home security and is calling for new housing regulations to ensure the use of stronger doors, windows and glass.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Mr O'Connell, who has a background in building, believes "Ireland is now the residential crime capital of Europe".

"If people are seriously considering where to spend money to protect their home it should be on physical security first, separate to alarms and CCTV," he added. He says French doors, patio doors and sliding doors are the most vulnerable and houses built during the Celtic Tiger are particularly unprotected.

He is calling on the Government to analyse Ireland's home burglary performance compared with other EU member states.

Burglary expert Jim Toal, who advises gardai and Neighbourhood Watch schemes on burglary prevention, says some criminals can break through front doors in "nine seconds flat, whether or not an alarm is fitted".
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald last night described the gangland murder in the Regency Hotel as "sinister and shocking" and pledged to hunt down the gang behind the broad daylight killing.

Ms Fitzgerald said she spoke directly to Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan about the broad daylight killing and has been assured that Gardai will take "every possible action" to bring the gang to justice.

"People are rightly shocked at the callous and brutal fashion of what they've seen and obviously we won't spare any resources in pursuing relentlessly this gang," she told the Sunday Independent. "Any one murder is one too many and it will not be tolerated in a civilised society," she added.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny branded the murder as "appalling" and insisted that his party will not tolerate gangland violence.

"This is an appalling incident and there was deep trauma and deep shock for very many ordinary decent people, particularly young people who were in the Regency Hotel yesterday."

He said the Garda Commissioner will make extra patrols and emergency response units wil be made available as part of the investigation into the murder.

Mr Kenny also rejected Sinn Fein's election pledge to abolish on the non-jury Special Criminal Court, which recently convicted tax cheat Thomas 'Slab' Murphy.

"We reject that, because you have ample evidence of intimidation of witnesses being brought before the courts. Fine Gael in government will set up a second Special Criminal Court, making it perfectly clear we will not tolerate this kind of activity," he said.

Tanaiste Joan Burton lashed out at Sinn Fein's plan to abolish the Special Criminal Court, saying they see the justice system through the eyes of republicans, not as citizens.

The Labour Party leader said she was "absolutely horrified" by the pictures of the Regency Hotel murder and called on Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald to withdraw their manifesto promise of ending non-jury trials.

"We're living in Ireland, not Mexico. We have to ensure that we can deal with a small number of criminal gangs, and that the courts are able to prosecute and deal with the people who are responsible," Ms Burton said.

"Sinn Fein have to account for their call in recent days - again - to abolish the Special Criminal Court, particularly in light of the horrific and brutal murder in the Regency Hotel."

If elected to government, Sinn Fein plans to abolish the special court which was set up for cases where jury members might be considered at serious risk of intimidation.

Mr Adams' party have repeatedly condemned the non-jury system in recent weeks after his good friend and former IRA chief Thomas 'Slab' Murphy was convicted of tax evasion.

Murphy, who was described in a BBC documentary as a mass murderer, is to be sentenced on Friday.

"The Special Criminal Court was established during the Troubles to ensure that witnesses could give evidence free from intimidation and fear," Ms Burton said.
The scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this afternoon... Picture Colin Keegan

The burned out van which Gardai suspect was used by the gunmen in the Regency Hotel shooyting this afternoonthis afternoon. Photo: Colin Keegan

The scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this afternoon... Picture Colin Keegan

The body of one of the victim is taken from the scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this this evening.

Hotel owner James McGettigan has told how he repeatedly tried but failed to contact the gardai as he witnessed two hitmen gun down their gangland rival.

Mr McGettigan, owner of the Regency Hotel, Dublin, tried three times to raise the alarm, but when his calls went unanswered, he was forced to hang up and call a Garda friend instead.

The stunned businessman saw the assassination of David Byrne, from Crumlin, unfold through a window.

"He was shot three times, twice in the body and once in the head," he said.

"These guys made sure he was killed. There was smoke coming out of his body."

Mr McGettigan, whose family have run the business for years, told how he could not raise the alarm on the 999 emergency number, eventually making contact with a personal friend who is a garda.

"I ran out towards the exit and decided to go into a small residents' lounge. I saw a girl on the way there and I said to her: 'Ring the guards immediately.' "She said: 'The guards are here already.' That's how much confusion there was."

Inside the residents' lounge, he locked the door, took out his phone and dialled 999, but was either kept on hold or the line was engaged.

"I tried three times and eventually I got through," he said. "I told the man what had happened. He said he would have to put me through to the Dublin division. But that kept ringing and ringing. The man said they'll answer it any second now. Eventually, I just hung up. It could have been 25 seconds on the phone but it felt like two minutes."

He rang a detective friend instead: "I told him what was going on. He said: 'I'll get someone there immediately.'"

As gunfire raged, an unknown number of gunmen prowled calmly through terrified people, searching for their targets. "It was very hard to know who was a garda and who wasn't. I did not want to come out of that room unless I knew that there were genuine gardai in the lobby."

Around four minutes after his phone call, the first fire brigade arrived at the scene, followed by an ambulance and then the gardai arrived.

The attack has been widely condemned by senior politicians, whose parties have frequently used the venue for events and meetings.

While on the campaign trail yesterday morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: "It is an appalling incident that happened in broad daylight in a family-run hotel. I have spoken to the Minister for Justice this morning and she has assured the Garda Commissioner that whatever resources are needed will be provided."
The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica, seen through the famous keyhole at the the gate of the Priory of the Knights of Malta on Aventino Hill. Photo: Deposit

Nicola Brady takes a romantic look at one of Europe's greatest city breaks. Valentine's Day treat, anyone?

10am: Piazza di Spagna

Contrived? OK, maybe a little. But if you're after romance in the Eternal City, then you need to pay a visit to the Piazza di Spagna. While the Spanish Steps themselves are under renovation (due to re-open in spring), pay a visit to the Keats-Shelley House. Dedicated to the Romantic poets, there's no better place to set the tone of amore.

How: Admission to the museum costs 5, keats-shelley-house.org.

2pm: Gelato

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Let's face it - the direct route to anyone's heart is through their belly. And nowhere is this truer than in Rome. You can barely cross a street without passing a gelateria - its windows piled high with shimmering peaks of ice cream. But it's worth seeking out the goodies (who shun false flavourings and additives) for a traditional treat. Try Il Gelato di San Crispino, the ice-cream store made famous by Eat, Pray, Love.

How: See locations at ilgelatodisancrispino.com.

5pm: A keyhole view

Expand Close The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica, seen through the famous keyhole at the the gate of the Priory of the Knights of Malta on Aventino Hill. Photo: Deposit / Facebook

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Whatsapp The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica, seen through the famous keyhole at the the gate of the Priory of the Knights of Malta on Aventino Hill. Photo: Deposit

It's not tricky to find a good view in Rome. But it's tough to beat the 'keyhole view' you get from the Piazza of the Knights of Malta. The view isn't from the priory itself, but the nondescript doorway. Peek through the keyhole, and you'll be met with an incredible view of the city, with St Peter's Basilica smack bang in the middle. A spot to pop the question, perhaps?

How: The piazza is on Via Santa Sabina on Aventine Hill.

8pm: Dinner with Gusto

Roman evenings are made for leisurely meals in bustling piazze, glasses of wine in hand and tables laden with food (not to mention the perfect dining companion, of course). Check out Gusto (gusto.it) in Piazza Augusto Imperatore, home to impeccable pizza, prosciutto and an impressive Formaggeria. Pasta courses start from around 10.

How: Romantic rooms at the nearby Portrait Roma (above) start from 396 with boutique collection, mrandmrssmith.com

Get there

Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) fly direct from Dublin to Rome. All prices subject to availability.

Book the best hotel deals in Rome with Independent Hotels.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo City Council has been ordered to re-work its 2016 budget by Local Government, Public Service and National Housing Ministry.Also affected are Harare, Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru.However, Beitbridge, Chipinge, Gokwe, Kwekwe, Mvurwi and Rusape's budgets got the nod.In 2015, the prescribed a salary-service ratio of 30:70, setting an income ceiling of US$10 000 for town clerks.However, many of Zimbabwe's 32 councils tipped the scale in favour of salaries, and must now re-do their budgets.Chitungwiza, Ruwa, Plumtree, Norton, Hwange, Gwanda, Chiredzi and Chegutu are already redoing their plans.Bulawayo submitted a 'stand-still' $153 million budget of which $40 million of which would be channelled to salaries.It had budgeted $8,25 million for road, bridge and storm water drainage maintenance, and $6,93 million for solid waste management, refuse disposal and public conveniences.Local Government Deputy Minister Christopher Chingosho said residents "should get value for money"."The submission deadline for urban council budgets was October 2015, but 18 local authorities met it. Anyhow, we have approved the budgets of six local authorities, rejected eight and 18 are still being reviewed."For years, the ministry has been objecting to budgets, some of which were not in line with the 30:70 principle. The checklist we are using will ensure all councils comply with the salary rationalisation exercise."
Premium

Brendan OConnor Opinion The jig is up as Feis fixing has former winners like me reeling

As the holder of the Marie Cranny Perpetual cup for Extempore and Public Speaking (Under 15s) in Feis Maitiu in, of all years, 1984, I would like to use this platform to say this feis-fixing scandal has sullied my legacy, and that of all other holders of the cup down the years (you had to give it back at the end of the year).
Premium

New hospital for a tenner may come at too high a price

The Taoiseach is under a lot of pressure  the kind of pressure that leads to costly mistakes. It perhaps explains why he has been saying things that are not quite true. Micheal Martin is in a tight political corner. From all sides hes being told he has to get the contract signed for the new National Maternity Hospital.
Anything can happen during a general election campaign: it's what makes them so unpredictable - and so compelling.

After all the months of careful planning, strategising and obscene message management by high-octane Svengalis, candidates of all hues know that many of their number are hostages to fortune and potential victims to that infamous phenomenon attributed to Harold Macmillian, "events, dear boy, events".

It's hard to believe it is only four days since Taoiseach Enda Kenny "raised his sail" in the Dail and skulked off to the Aras, leaving a hipster video on Twitter in his wake announcing Friday, February 26 as the date of the election.

Yet in that brief period, there have been enough events and ghosts of statements past that could make that smooth path to a second term as Taoiseach for Enda Kenny a very rocky road indeed.

The dramatic storming of the Regency Hotel in Dublin last Friday night by gunmen dressed up as members of the gardai's armed Emergency Response Unit (ERU) will put Fine Gael - the self-declared party of law and order - under further pressure to address the seemingly endless crisis engulfing the justice sector.

Brandishing AK47s in broad daylight, the gang - one of whom was dressed as a woman in a blonde wig - murdered one well-known drug dealer before fleeing the scene in a Transit van.

The scene would have been shocking enough had it just been a fictitious episode of RTE's Love/Hate.

Yet almost 20 years after the callous murders of Det Garda Jerry McCabe and crime journalist Veronica Guerin, urban and rural crime gangs, as well as republican dissidents, are acting with a level of impunity that would make the likes of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan (happily now a spent force) blush.

From real AK47s to merely metaphorical ones, the petulant antics of Alan 'Jelly Bean' Kelly has overshadowed Labour's bid to present itself as the stable hand to curb Fine Gael's lust for power and keep it on the straight and narrow.

Alan's election campaign began in earnest last week when an interview he gave to Niamh Horan during a constituency walkabout in Nenagh, Tipperary, appeared in the Sunday Independent.

The interview, in which the Environment Minister spoke passionately about power - and himself - was comical, were it not so arrogant.

"It's [power] obviously a drug. It's attractive. It's something you thrive on. It suits some people. It doesn't suit others. I think it suits me," he told Ms Horan whom, I imagine, may have had to pick herself off the floor with laughter. Or shock.

Days later, Mr Kelly displayed what he described as the "ruthless" nature of politics when "stormed" into Newstalk's mobile studio in Thurles last Thursday demanding to know why Independent TD Michael Lowry was given a "prime time slot".

The foul-mouthed tirade against broadcaster Chris Donoghue dominated much of Friday's campaign launch by the Labour Party, which had no choice but to stand by its increasingly-erratic deputy leader.

It wasn't just Alan Kelly for whom Michael Lowry was causing angst: last Friday, the Taoiseach emphatically ruled out any deal with the Tipperary North poll topper and former Fine Gael minister.

The emphatic 'no' was classic Enda, for it was quickly followed up with a caveat that if the Taoiseach (as expected) did have to do any deals with any parties or groups - presumably including any independents - the terms of those deals would be published.

The findings of the Moriarty Tribunal and Fine Gael's inability to disown Lowry may return to haunt Mr Kenny.

It remains to be seen whether the sentencing of republican icon and tax evader Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, will have any impact on Sinn Fein, which is on course to increase its 14 strong complement of seats in the Dail.

On Friday, all eyes will be on the non-jury Special Criminal Court as it considers what sentence to impose on Mr Murphy, successfully named by the Sunday Times as the director of an IRA bombing campaign in Britain, who was convicted last December of nine charges of tax evasion.

Last week Slab was the absent star of a BBC Spotlight programme which aired an interview with a British soldier who said he will remember Murphy as a "mass murderer" who killed and ordered the killing of "many people".

For Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Mr Murphy is a "good republican" - for his deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, Slab is a "very nice" typical rural man. Whatever.

But what about those voters minded to give Sinn Fein their first preference or crucial transfers? Sinn Fein is, in the main, popular with young voters who (thankfully) have little or no memory of the Troubles and tend not to vote in great numbers.

But Sinn Fein remains toxic for many voters.

They are uneasy at Mr Adam's seemingly slavish devotion to Slab Murphy and to the Sinn Fein leader's fair-weather approach to the rule of law - he advocates the abolition of the Special Criminal Court without interrogating the main reason (the activities of dissident republicans) why it exists.

Many also give short shrift to Mr Adam's consistent denials that he was a member of the IRA.

Last week Mr Adams stonewalled questions on the Spotlight program as well as batting away legitimate questions about his relationship with Slab Murphy.

"He isn't to my knowledge standing in the election, is he?" fumed Mr Adams.

But in a manner of speaking, Slab is up for election.

Rather, it is his relationship with Mr Adams and the fact that - according to last year's reports on republican and loyalist paramilitary groups - IRA members themselves believed the army council "oversees both PIRA and Sinn Fein with an overarching strategy" which is up for scrutiny.

Relationships matter.

And as long as Gerry Adams stands by Slab Murphy and the violent past he represents, it will be harder to refute the proposition that a vote for Sinn Fein is a vote for Slab Murphy and the army council in all but name.
The Environment Minister only has himself to blame for his woes, writes Eilis O'Hanlon.

Lemony Snicket called his popular children's book sequence A Series Of Unfortunate Events, and the first volume was A Bad Beginning. As things stand, it looks as if Snicket may have unknowingly been writing the story of Alan Kelly's election campaign.

Of all the candidates, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government has had by far the worst start. It began with a car crash interview in last week's Sunday Independent, in which Kelly made the classic mistake of letting his hair down by confiding that power is a "drug" and that it "suits" him.

Ouch Number One.

To then follow that up by arguing the toss over whether Labour leader Joan Burton could technically be called his "boss" was inviting unnecessary trouble. Here's a quick rule of thumb: if they can sack you, they're your boss. The Tanaiste quickly asserted that she was indeed the guv'nor, after which, following what one can only assume were some awkward private exchanges, Kelly "clarified" his position - or "backed down", as it's more commonly known.

Burton, in turn, paid tribute to her esteemed Cabinet colleague with the words: "To be honest, I must say, he's an incredibly obedient employee." Ouch Number Two.

By the time the Taoiseach finally stopped teasing the country and named a date for the poll, Kelly must have been the most relieved member in the house. Unfortunately, things only got worse.

He must have realised he was losing the battle for hearts and minds when Independent TD Mattie McGrath accused him, during a live Newstalk debate, of having hidden in a van in Cashel to avoid angry water charges protesters in Tipperary North. The story wasn't true, Kelly insisted, telling his constituency rival to "stop telling lies", and McGrath later had to admit that it wasn't true.

But that misses the point. The minister's spokesman may subsequently have issued a brilliant putdown to the former FF man by saying "that only happened in the ice cream van that plays the music in his head"; but it didn't matter. What mattered was that observers didn't care if it was true or not, they still wanted to believe it anyway.

The saga of the van symbolises the transformation that Kelly has undergone from bullish shoo-in as next Labour leader, so combatively ambitious that he's earned the nickname "AK-47", to laughing stock. Kelly is losing respect with his self-inflicted pratfalls.

There is something about Alan Kelly which encourages such controversy. Newstalk's political editor Shane Coleman was even gently mocking the environment minister last week for making such a fuss of his role as the one who gets to sign off on the election date.

Coleman couldn't recall any of Kelly's predecessors being so pleased with themselves over this ceremonial formality. Indeed, it was even being put about that he signed the polling day order with a pen made from a yew tree in his native county. After signing it, he posted a picture of himself to Facebook, sitting at a desk, doing the honours next to a portrait of James Connolly, and then had further pictures taken at Labour HQ, holding up the order for the cameras.

It all looked rather self-regarding, conceited even, and in the week that a new screen version of sitcom Dad's Army comes to the big screen, it's tempting to think of Kelly as Ireland's answer to Captain Mainwaring, a character memorably described on the sitcom's Wikipedia page as a "pompous, blustering figure with an overdeveloped sense of his importance."

That impression was further cemented by news that, shortly before the infamous "Vangate" exchange with McGrath, Kelly had been involved in a confrontation with Newstalk's Chris Donoghue after being reportedly displeased that controversial TD Michael Lowry was interviewed first whilst on a walkabout in the constituency.

FF candidate Michael Smith Jr, who witnessed the exchanges, said "the language that was used was not appropriate as public representatives"; Mattie McGrath was blunter, calling it a "stand up row". Once again, Kelly was forced to deny that the exchange was anywhere near so bad, saying he was "astonished" at claims that he verbally abused the broadcaster, but the damage was done.

When you're explaining, you're losing - and again, there was that underlying question. If it didn't seem plausible, would the story have gained so much traction?

Within hours of the election launch, Kelly was looking like a man under pressure, which is absurd in one way, because, of all Labour TDs seeking re-election, he is among the most fortunate. His seat in Tipperary North is as safe as any Labour seat can be this time round, and there's no doubt that he's both clever and capable enough to stay on his feet despite the blows being rained down on him. He's not called AK-47 for nothing.

One senses, however, that Kelly's seat isn't his primary concern, and never has been. The Labour leadership is what's firmly in his sights, and it may even have been that it was daydreaming over that which made him lose focus in last Sunday's interview. The real problem in politics is that, once one thing goes wrong, it can all start to go wrong. You have to stop the rot fast

He's kicking himself, it's evident in his face, but he won't get past this obstacle until he also gets over it. No doubt he felt humiliated and disrespected by the fallout from his interview with Niamh Horan, and hates being laughed at, not least because it was all his own fault, which is always the hardest thing to accept; but if he doesn't find a way to stop brooding on it soon, he will simply end up gifting his opponents in Tipperary North and his enemies in the party even more opportunities to highlight his flaws.

He's not the only politician with defects. Nor is he the worst. Ambition is forgiveable. Getting trapped in his own easily avoidable series of unfortunate political events isn't.

Alan Kelly should take warning from Lemony Snicket. Further instalments in his sequence of grisly books chart the potential dangers ahead: The Slippery Slope... The Penultimate Peril... The End.
Actress Olivia Williams said her new drama Manhattan would show the "human side" of the scientists who manufactured the world's first atomic bombs.

She stars as Dr Liza Winter, the wife of the leader of a group of scientists working on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico, in a race to create an nuclear bomb before Germany during the Second World War.

The acclaimed drama is based on the testimonies of the scientists whose work eventually led to the nuclear bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 and who lived with their families on a government base so isolated and secret that the birth certificates of babies born there stated just a post office box.

Williams said: "The truth of Los Alamos and the first atomic weapon is so bizarre and crazy that if you proposed it as a sci-fi people would say don't be ridiculous, and the only reason it's not the stupidest thing the Americans ever did is because it actually worked."

But she said the idea was not to tell the historical story: " It's to tell the human side, not the big stars of the piece, not Roosevelt and Einstein and Oppenheimer, but these obsessive physicists, many of whom were profoundly shocked and permanently f*****-up by the fact what they had built was dropped on civilians without warning.

"They never recovered from the truth of what they had done."

She said she was drawn to the "agony" of playing the show's "Cassandra figure" - a biologist and woman with a history of mental illness who "has the power of prophecy to tell you what's going to happen but the curse of never being believed".

John Benjamin Hickey stars as her husband Frank, alongside Ashley Zuckerman, House of Cards's Rachel Brosnahan and British actor Harry Lloyd.

Far from being a period piece, Williams believes the story of the project still has cautionary political parallels today.

She said: "One of the wonderful modern parallels is the WMD fiasco that Tony Blair got involved in, with this belief that Hitler was about to build an atomic weapon and we had to build ours first.

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"Why we all went to war in the first place in the Middle East is because we led to believe we were under immediate threat of WMDs and that's exactly what they told the scientists in Los Alamos."

Williams, who was a supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in her youth, said she struggled to reconcile herself with the conviction that dropping the bombs was the right decision.

She said: "There's a massive moral issue if you go the Los Alamos now. Anyone who shows you round the Bradbury Science Museum will say this is the bomb that brought us 50 years of peace, they so believe in mutually assured destruction as a form of deterrence and if you have any other view, they really can't hear it.

"I really don't know what the answer is, maybe the reason I do get to live in a nice house in relative peace is because of nuclear deterrents, I don't know. But I struggle with it."

:: Manhattan airs in the UK on BT's AMC on Tuesdays at 9pm.
Stuck for Valentine's Day gift ideas? We've got you covered.

Independent Style has teamed up the gibson hotel to celebrate Valentines Day by giving one lucky reader the chance to win an overnight stay with dinner for two.

Located in Dublins famous Docklands , the hotel offers guests a contemporary and modern city break with luxury bedrooms; famed cocktail bar; large terraces from which to enjoy the Dublin skyline and well known coda eatery restaurant serving delicious Irish and European cuisine with a twist!

Executive chef Nicholas Woollard has created a special Valentine's three course menu that is sure to whet the appetite and tingle the senses. After dinner the lucky couple will be invited to enjoy a bespoke loved up cocktail such as sparkling fantasy, rose seduction or a secret kiss at the hemi bar created by the gibson hotels resident mixologist.

This prize includes a one night's stay for two people, dinner at the coda eatery, a special bespoke cocktail and breakfast the following morning.

To enter, head on over to the Independent Style Facebook page here, like the page and comment on the post. Simple!

Please note: Only one winner be will be chosen on Thursday, February 11. A room may not be available for Valentine's Day. Terms and conditions apply.
The most Irish town in the United States is in danger of losing its St Patrick's Day parade this year, due to funding problems.

Scituate, Massachussetts, a seaside town about 30 miles from Boston, was named the most Irish town in the US several years ago.

Census results revealed that 47.5pc of its population is of Irish descent, while the 20,000-strong community's lively St Patrick's Day carnival has grown five-fold in size over the past 20 years.

But cash-strapped organisers of the annual parade, due to be held on March 20, may be forced to axe this year's event, according to local reports.

The future of the parade has been uncertain since August of last year, when the event's long-time sponsor, the Scituate Chamber of Commerce, pulled out.

Parade chairman, Ed Kelly, said in an interview: "The parade will happen if we raise enough money. I've been running around doing the paperwork to possible corporate sponsors. Other people are out knocking on doors."

Fundraising issues have dealt a blow to a number of well-known St Patrick's Day parades.

Last week, it was confirmed that the Sydney event - the largest in Australia and the world's fourth-largest after New York, Dublin and Boston - has been axed due to financial problems, while major doubt hangs over its future.

Last year, close to 80,000 revellers turned up to the long-running St Patrick's Day and Family Day, after Ireland's Government and the Irish community in Sydney pulled together to help with funding.

But the event has been hampered with funding problems since 2014 when a storm whit the city just as the parade got underway.

The bad weather cost organisers of the usually popular Family Day concert a fortune, and exposed a funding shortfall from which there has been no recovery.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has welcome the abolition by the Constitutional Court of Section 96 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act which was used to detain and punish journalists for criminal defamation."It is declared that as inconsistent with Section 20(1) of the former Constitution in judgement of this honourable Court in Former Standard Editor, Nevanji Madanhire and Another Versus the Attorney-General CCZ 2/15, Section 96th Schedule to the Constitution of Zimbabwe."Accordingly, for the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act is void and not part of the said enactment, "the court ruled.This means that journalists will now conduct their professional business with less fear of being arrested because Section 96 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act is a dead law. The court ruled that suing for defamation damages at the civil court would adequately protect the masses from defamation.ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi said: "We have always said and insisted that the use of criminal defamation is an old fashioned and primitive way of resolving conflict. In the same vein we commit ourselves to ensuring that we will conduct ourselves professionally and ethically to retain the confidence and trust of those that consume media products."
Astronaut Edgar Mitchell on the moon on February 5, 1971. Mitchell, one of only 12 men to walk on the moon, passed away last Thursday in Florida Photo: REUTERS/NASA/Handout via Reuters

Edgar Mitchell, the Apollo 14 astronaut and sixth man to walk on the moon, has died at his home in Florida, aged 85.

Dr Mitchell is best remembered for helping Nasa restore its reputation after the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, the interest he developed later in life in aliens and his conviction that they had visited earth.

He said he had undergone an epiphany in space during the three days he spent returning to earth following the successful Apollo 14 mission in February, 1971.

"What I experienced during that three-day trip home was nothing short of an overwhelming sense of universal connectedness," Dr Mitchell wrote in his 1996 autobiography.

"It occurred to me that the molecules of my body and the molecules of the spacecraft itself were manufactured long ago in the furnace of one of the ancient stars that burned in the heavens about me," he wrote.

In one interview, eight years ago, Dr Mitchell said he had been aware of several UFO visits to earth, but insisted that they had been covered up.

He said that human technology lacked sophistication compared with that used by aliens, adding if the extraterrestrial visitors had been hostile "we would have been gone by now".

In an interview with Kerrang! radio, he said there was life elsewhere in the universe.

"Have we been able to identify where the other planets are?

"No, certainly not in our Solar System but we have been able to identify quite a number of planets that could be life-bearing planets," he said.

"I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we've been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real.

"It's been well covered up by all our governments for the last 60 years or so, but slowly it's leaked out and some of us have been privileged to have been briefed on some of it.

"I've been in military and intelligence circles, who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited."

Prior to his voicing a belief in extraterrestrials, Dr Mitchell had enjoyed a distinguished and not uneventful career at Nasa.

He had been picked to be a member of the Apollo 13 three-person crew, along with Alan Shepard.

But they were stood down until the next mission.

Apollo 13 was forced to return to earth after an oxygen tank exploded, without the astronauts - who were nearly killed - setting foot on the moon.

However the Apollo 14 mission was a success, with Dr Mitchell and Dr Shepard completing the longest-ever moon walk - which lasted exactly nine hours and 17 minutes. While Nasa hailed Dr Mitchell's contribution to space exploration, it distanced itself from his views on aliens.

"Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue," Nasa said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has condemned this morning's launch by North Korea of a long-range rocket, widely believed to be a test for ballistic missile technology which is banned under UN Security Council resolutions.

This follows a fourth nuclear test conducted by North Korea on January 6.

The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and its path was tracked separately by the US, Japan and South Korea, with no damage from debris reported.

The Minister joined the UN in condemning the launch.

"The launch using ballistic missile technology conducted earlier today by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a serious and direct threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond."

"It is a flagrant violation of North Korea's international obligations as set out in several UN Security Council resolutions. I condemn these actions unequivocally and once more call on the DPRK to refrain from any action that could further increase tension or destabilize the region and to comply fully with its international obligations."

"These irresponsible actions demonstrate once again the urgent need for engagement on nuclear disarmament by all stakeholders. I urge the North Korean authorities to cease all nuclear testing and to re-engage with the Six Party Talks on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, immediately and without preconditions."

The UN deplored the rocket launch by North Korea warning it was in violation of Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang's use of ballistic missile technology.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the launch came despite the "united plea of the international community against such an act".

He urged North Korea to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations.

The Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Sunday on the rocket launch, at the request of the US and Japan.

At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the country's president called the firing an "intolerable provocation".

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space programme, trumpeted the beauty of the launch's "fascinating vapour" as the rocket cut through the clear blue sky.

It said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after lift-off, and pledged more such launches.

A US official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The firing came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened on Sunday morning. It follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb.

Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed missile that could hit the US mainland.

North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse his government.

Diplomats are also pushing to tighten UN sanctions because of the North's January 6 nuclear test.

The South Korean government could not confirm reports by Yonhap news agency and YTN TV that the rocket might have failed.

The US Strategic Command said it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japan's NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket.

The global condemnation began immediately.

South Korean president Park Geun-hye called the launch an "intolerable provocation" and said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe vowed to "take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people".

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the North's missile and nuclear weapons programmes a "serious threat to our interests - including the security of some of our closest allies".

The foreign ministry in China, the North's only major ally, expressed "regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies".

A senior South Korean Defence Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile defence system in South Korea.

China would see THAAD, which is one of the most advanced missile defence systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

Mr Yoo said the talks on THAAD are aimed at bolstering South Korea-US defence in the face of escalating North Korean threats.
A Northern Ireland peace negotiator is helping train women bidding to end the Syrian conflict.

Monica McWilliams said it was hugely important they were included in inclusive proximity talks which have been organised by the UN in Geneva in Switzerland. Three women from the strife-torn region are part of the 15-strong team.

Mrs McWilliams played a key role in clinching the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troubles.

She said securing the release of female detainees subjected to human rights violations after being captured during a devastating civil war was a priority for the women in Geneva.

"What they are desperate for is to get some recognition of the fact that it is really important that these women who have suffered so much are included now in these big negotiations.

"Fifteen years ago the UN said never again should there be negotiations like Bosnia that had completely excluded women.

"They are determined that there will be a proportion ... three out of 15 is a good start."

Mrs McWilliams co-founded the Women's Coalition as a new voice in Northern Ireland politics in the 1990s.

The party played a key role in the talks process leading to the 1998 Agreement which ended 30 years of violence and two of its members were subsequently elected to the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mrs McWilliams went on to lead Northern Ireland's Human Rights Commission.

She is now a professor at the University of Ulster.

She said women had an important part to play in ending the conflict in Syria.

Some 250,000 people have been killed and millions of refugees have been created in the five years of violence between the Government and a variety of rebel groups including Islamic State.

The academic added: "There is an awful lot of vulnerable women, women who are all widows with tiny children."

Mrs McWilliams has been teaching the negotiators how to lobby and talk to ambassadors in Geneva, how to get their support and how to establish back channels of communications, how to draft proposals and how to establish safe meeting places free from surveillance from President Bashar Assad's forces.

The women include lawyers, journalists and human rights experts. They are scattered all over the world, including the US, Canada, Germany, Syria but use social media to communicate.

A number of failed rounds of negotiations have already been held over Syria.

Mrs McWilliams said: "It is to be expected that they will have failed rounds of negotiations until people get serious.

"Sometimes the costs become so intense that people are driven to the table and the fact that an Iranian deal was negotiated with the US helps."

She said the geopolitics of the Syrian conflict was much more difficult and complicated than Northern Ireland's.

"It is a very complex, very difficult war, but it has got to end some time," she said.
Capt. Vlatko Vodopivec, the pilot who landed a jetliner in Somalia with a large hole on its fuselage (AP)

The Serb pilot who landed a jetliner in Somalia with a gaping hole in its fuselage said on Sunday he never doubted that it was caused by a bomb and described the security surround the airplane at Mogadishu Airport as "zero".

A suicide bomber is suspected to have set off the explosive inside the plane, Somali officials said on Saturday. The blast sucked a male passenger out of the plane and forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing Tuesday in Somalia's capital, they said.

The explosion happened about 15 minutes after the plane, with 75 passengers on board, took off from the airport and was at 11,000 feet ascending toward 31,000 feet.

"When we went past 10,000 feet, we switched off the fasten belts sign and the cabin crew started serving passengers," pilot captain Vlatko Vodopivec said.

"When we climbed past 11,000 feet, it exploded. At first, I thought it was a window breaking. However, we soon sensed the smell of the explosives when smoke came rushing into the cockpit."

"All lasted very shortly," he said. "We immediately demanded an emergency return to the airport because that was the only solution. With a heavy heart, because there the security is minimal and we had to remain there for a couple of days afterword."

If the explosion happened at a higher altitude, the hole in the fuselage might have caused more severe structural damage, he said.

"If we were higher, the whole plane could have disintegrated after the explosion," Mr Vodopivec said.

Because the plane was at a lower altitude, he was able to land safely, he said. "The plane acted normally and we virtually returned normally. Engines and hydraulics worked normally."

The explosion killed one passenger, Abdullahi Abdisalam Borle, according to Somali officials who did not give further details. A man's body was found in the town of Balad, about 18 miles north of Mogadishu, according to police who said he might have been blown from the plane.

Borle is suspected to have been the suicide bomber, the AP was told by a senior Somali civil aviation official. Six people have been arrested in connection with the blast after examinations of CCTV images in the airport, a senior Somali intelligence official said.

The pilot blamed the incident on the lack of security around the plane at Mogadishu Airport, describing the facility as chaotic.

"The security is zero. When we park there, some 20 to 30 people come to the tarmac," said Mr Vodopivec, a veteran pilot who has made numerous flights to the airport.

"No one has a badge or those yellow vests. They enter and leave the plane, and no one knows who is who ... They can put anything inside when passengers leave the aircraft."

Somalia's government has said it will tighten security at the airport to prevent other threats.

Somalia faces an insurgency from the Islamic extremist group al Shabab, which has carried out deadly attacks in Somalia and neighbouring countries.

Daallo Airlines, which is based in Dubai, has temporarily suspended its operations in Somalia's capital following the incident but hopes to restart them soon, said Mohammed Ibrahim Yassin, the airline's chief executive.

Mr Vodopivec also highlighted additional security concerns in the Somali capital, including some planes that are struck by gunfire on approach to the airport.

"You can land at the airport only from the seaside," he said. "On the other side of the runway is the city. Bigger planes don't land over the city because of security concerns. Some planes landed with bullet holes in their fuselage."
SHARE Chelsea Clinton speaks about her mothers campaign to win the Democratic nomination for president at a forum presented by the Clemson College Democrats in the Hendrix Student Center at Clemson University. Chelsea Clinton speaks about her mothers campaign to win the Democratic nomination for president at a forum presented by the Clemson College Democrats in the Hendrix Student Center at Clemson University. Chelsea Clinton speaks about her mothers campaign to win the Democratic nomination for president at a forum presented by the Clemson College Democrats in the Hendrix Student Center at Clemson University.

By Kirk Brown of the Independent Mail

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY  Three weeks before South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary, Clemson University students quizzed Chelsea Clinton on Saturday about her mother's positions on numerous issues.

About 150 people turned out at the Hendrix Student Center on the Clemson campus to see the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The visit, which was hosted by the Clemson College Democrats, was the last of three stops Chelsea Clinton made Saturday in the state on behalf of her mother's presidential campaign.

Before fielding questions, Clinton took a few minutes to share her views on the race for the White House.

"I think this is the most important election of my lifetime," said Clinton, who is expecting her second child this summer. "Everything I care most about, I worry is at risk."

Clinton said the next president will have an opportunity to make critical Supreme Court appointments. While saying her mother would support raising the minimum wage and equal pay for women, she warned that a Republican president might seek to reverse the progress that has been made since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act.

Clinton also expressed concern about "hate speech" permeating the GOP presidential race.

The first question she was asked involved the criticism that her mother has received for her financial ties to Wall Street. Clinton said her mother favors "stronger regulation across-the-board" for mortgage companies, insurance companies, private equity firms and hedge funds.

Responding to another question, Clinton discussed a proposal by her mother's Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, to provide free tuition to college students. Clinton said her mother's plan to provide free tuition to students whose families earn less than $250,000 per year is a better approach.

Clemson junior Sydney Hamer was one of the students at the event Saturday. She said she plans to vote for Hillary Clinton and is most concerned about gun control and policy brutality.

Juniors Carson Glass and Gianna Alfonso said they also support Hillary Clinton. They cited her experience as first lady, a United States senator and secretary of state.

Sanders won a sizable majority among younger voters in last week's Iowa caucuses, and polls show he is receiving strong backing from that same group in New Hampshire.

"He's a dreamer," Glass said. "When you tell 20-year-olds that they can have free college tuition when they are already $50,000 in debt, that is something that will make them listen to you."

Sophomore Erin Moran, who has not decided which candidate to vote for, said she doubts Sanders will earn overwhelming support at Clemson because it is "such a Southern conservative school."

In a brief interview with the Independent Mail after the event, Chelsea Clinton said she hopes younger voters will eventually gravitate to her mother.

"My mom is a stronger candidate because of her plans but also because of her record," she said. "I think on any issue she has a stronger record of actually achieving what she said would achieve than Sen. Sanders."

Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM
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By Mike Eads of the Independent Mail

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY  The task force looking into ways to better present the good and not-so-good aspects of Clemson's history created opportunities to enhance the school's culture, according to some.

But others say the task force confirmed suspicions that the university's leadership is deaf to concerns about cultural insensitivity.

The school's trustees voted Friday to accept the final report of the Task Force on the History of Clemson, a study group made up of many of those same trustees. The report offers several general recommendations, such as creating more monuments, a history center and new, more complete accounts of university founders such as Benjamin Tillman, a post-Reconstruction politician and white supremacist. The report recommends a more comprehensive approach that doesn't oversell or underplay any part of Clemson's legacy.

The report also restates something that task force chairman David Wilkins told students and faculty a year ago in a letter to the campus when had McKissick's current post: Tillman's name will remain one of the oldest and most iconic buildings on the campus, as it has since Tillman's family successfully lobbied for the renaming of Old Main in 1946. Both Wilkins and the task force report insist the state's Heritage Act makes the change nearly impossible  the state's House and Senate would each have to vote at least 2-to-1 to approve the change. They also said Tillman is a part of Clemson's history  however ugly.

"The names of historical buildings are a part of that history," Wilkins said.

The Tillman name change has been loudly and persistently sought by many students and faculty members for a year and a half. Many of those students argue that black, brown, gay, disabled and other minorities feel excluded from campus culture that is overwhelmingly white and insensitive. They complain that Tillman's extensive record of advocating violence toward blacks was officially ignored by the university since the building was renamed, and say it's insulting that a building so central to Clemson's history is named for such a man.

Pauline de Tholozany, an assistant professor of French, echoed the sentiments of many who took to social media Friday to complain about the Tillman issue.

"By not considering to give back its original name to a building built in 1893, we are in fact privileging a very particular version of this story, one created by those that decided on a name change in 1946," de Tholozany told the Independent Mail. "How is our version of Clemson's 'complete history' different from the 1946 version? How is today's decision not corroborating a choice and a version of the story made in 1946, a version that silenced Tillman's racist writings and speeches and that did not mention that he was a white supremacist? A version that conveniently omitted the fact that he boasted on several occasions of having helped in the killing of black people?"

De Tholozany did commend the task force for recommending a new look at the biographies of Tillman and other notable figures.

"The task force correctly expressed our will, indeed, to update the biographies of Clemson's founders, so I want to think that we can do better as a community and as a university," she said.

Other faculty members, and one prominent Clemson graduate, were more encouraging.

"It's a good first step," said Mefford Thompson, faculty representative to the board of trustees and associate professor in the materials science and engineering department. "There are many more to come, and we've got a lot more work ahead of us."

Clemson President Jim Clements has been tasked with fleshing out the task force recommendations, which are all subject to board of trustees approval. He called it an opportunity to build on work started in August, when he launched several new diversity initiatives, including a speakers' series and the appointment of a new campus diversity council. The Gantt Multicultural Center, named for the man who integrated Clemson University in 1963, has been moved out of the student affairs office and given more autonomy.

Max Allen, Clements' chief of staff, has been the school's interim chief diversity officer since a new search for a permanent replacement was announced in August. Allen has become ubiquitous around the campus, engaging with students at a recent "Reclaim Old Main" protest in front of Tillman Hall, conducting open houses and taking in events aimed at promoting diversity  at times accompanied by other senior administrators.

Follow Michael Eads on Twitter @MikeEads_AIM

Clemson history task force recommendation

Short-term (within 6 months)

 Review and update biographies of Clemson University founders and other historical figures;

 Create markers and plaques to draw attention to sites like Gantt Circle Fort Hill and its nearby slave quarters;

 Better signage for historical buildings, like Tillman Hall;

 Use social media to share information about Clemsons history.



Medium-term (6-12 months)

 A website dedicated to Clemsons history;

 Establish a Clemson history week on campus;

 More monuments/statues of historic figures, to be determined by a committee of history faculty appointed by Clements.



Long-term (next 12-18 months)

 Establish an official historical narrative

 Establish a Clemson history center/museum on campus, in a new or renovated space;

 Introduce a Clemson history course as elective for students; and

 Offer historical tours.
News / National

by Desire Ncube

UNION for the Development of Apostolic Church in Zimbabwe (Udaciza) and Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (Accz) joined scores of people who marched in Harare last week as they celebrated last month's Constitutional Court ruling on child marriages.The Constitutional Court declared child marriages illegal and set 18 years as the minimum age of marriage.The solidarity march was organized by the Ministry of Woman Affairs Gender and Community Development.Udaciza and Accz are umbrella bodies that represent Apostolic and Zionist churches in Zimbabwe.It is estimated that most cases of child marriages are recorded within Apostolic and Zionist churches.Addressing a gathering of church leaders, parents, chiefs, school children, human rights groups and Government officials at Kaguvi building last Wednesday; the Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Nyasha Chikwinya said child marriage is a disheartening phenomenon that has been deprived children  both boys and girls  the opportunity to pursue their dreams.She said child marriage is a violation of the fundamental children's rights."It is very disturbing to note that Zimbabwe is among 20 countries in Africa with a high child marriage prevalence rate as reflected in the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2011."Thirty one percent of girls in Zimbabwe marry before they reach the age of 18 and 15 percent of these girls are married before they turn 15," Minister Chikwinya said.She said her ministry views the ruling as a major milestone in the campaign to end child marriages.Speaking to the media, Udaciza secretary general, Rev Edson Tsvakai said before the ruling their organization had already started a campaign aimed at ending early marriages."As a body we have a well documented Action Plan which clearly stipulates that it is illegal to marry children under the age of 18."He said now that child marriages have been declaled illegal, the organisation will work at complementing the work of law enforcement urgencies.Accz President, Bishop Johannes Ndanga concurred with Rev Tsvakai and said people should not abuse the Bible to quench their evil lust of abusing innocent children.He said the long arm of the law will soon catch up with those who dare stay in the past.The Constitutional Court declared that Section 78(1) of the Constitution sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage and therefore any law that contradicts this is unconstitutional.The operative part of the judgment reads:"It is declared that Section 78(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 of 2013 sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage in Zimbabwe."It is further declared that Section 22(1) of the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:11) or any law, practice or custom authorising a person under 18 years of age to marry or to be married is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 78(1) of the Constitution and therefore invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan held bilateral meetings with Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, BB, Energy Adviser to PM of Bangladesh and Dr Anoma Gamage, Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development of Sri Lanka in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. Both dignitaries are in India at the invitation of Sh. Pradhan to participate in the ceremony at Paradip where Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be dedicating to the nation the Indian Oil refinery tomorrow.

During his meeting with the Energy Adviser of Bangladesh, Pradhan conveyed Indias commitment to work with Bangladesh to further bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. He informed on the investment proposals of Indian Oil Companies in Bangladesh and said that their early implementation would create win win situation for both countries and sought cooperation from Govt. of Bangladesh. With the commissioning of the Paradip refinery, he added that India would be once again in a position to export petroleum products to Bangladesh. He also expressed keenness of India in setting up of marketing infrastructure in Bangladesh. He also sought favourable consideration for transit of LPG to Indias North Eastern region through territory of Bangladesh. Sh Pradhan noted that Indian PSUs were interested in participating in petroleum sector of Bangladesh, including in exploration, refinery expansion and related PMC works. Pradhan also expressed his appreciation for the valuable support of Bangladesh in implementation of Indian projects.

Pradhan during his meeting with the Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development discussed the issues such as expansion of activities of Lanka IOC, in Sri Lanka, including in the retail business, bunkering and marketing of ATF and LPG. Lanka IOC is a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation. He reiterated the commitment made by Honble Prime Minister to work with Sri Lanka to make Trincomalee a regional energy hub. He expressed Indias interest in establishing refinery and bunkering operations in Sri Lanka. He expressed confidence that both Sri Lanka and India will work in a spirit of partnership in the hydrocarbon sector.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will be dedicating the state of the art Paradip Refinery, Indian Oil's most ambitious project on 7th February, 2016. The foundation stone of this ambitious project was laid by former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 24th May, 2000. Set up at an estimated cost of Rs. 34,555 crore, this grassroots Refinery will further augment Indian Oil's refining capacity by 15 MMTPA.

Indian Oils 11th Refinery at Paradip, will help in meeting the burgeoning energy demands of the country. For better profitability, the refinery has been designed to process 100% high sulphur, including 40% heavy crude oil of low cost to produce various petroleum products like Petrol, diesel, kerosene, Aviation Turbine fuel, Propylene, Sulphur and Petroleum Coke.

Presently, Paradip Refinery will produce Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel of BS-IV quality and later will switch to BS-VI quality to comply with the Auto Fuel Policy of the Government of India. The refinery is also designed to produce Euro-V premium quality Motor Spirit and other green auto fuel variants for export to advanced countries. Paradip Refinery has a unique INDMAX Unit technology, which is indigenously been developed by Indian Oil's R&D Centre. The INDMAX Unit is designed to produce 44% LPG, the highest from such plants.
Before becoming Hollywoods megastars, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio starred together in 1993's popular film What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Shutterstock

While Depp was attending the recent 51st Santa Barbara International Film Festival, he made a very cute little confession. After almost 23 years, Johnny Depp revealed that he tortured DiCaprio on the sets of the film.

He confessed that even though he respects Leo a lot,', things appeared way different during the shooting of the film.

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This is how Depp spilled the beans about working with a 19 YO Leo:

"It was a hard time for me, that film, for some reason. I don't know why ... I tortured him. I really did. He was always talking about these videos games, you know? I told you it was kind of a dark period."

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"No, I will not give you a drag of my cigarette while you hide from your mother again, Leo."' On the other hand, Leo was totally in awe of working with Depp back then. For a 19 YO Leo, working with Depp was almost like 'winning the lottery'!

Somebody please sign them up for a film already?
It seems like potential foreign investments have made Manohar Lal Khattar government to re-consider the blanket ban on beef in Haryana.

PTI

Chief minister Khattar said the government is willing to create a special dispensation to enable foreigners to eat beef in the state.

tamingtwins

"If we have to work out some facility for them [foreigners] to be able to [consume beef] we will do it. It could be a special licence [as] whatever is licensed, no one can oppose [under] the law, The Hindu reported quoting Khattar.

Khattar who had courted controversy for saying that "Muslims will have to give up eating beef if they wanted to live in India" also reportedly told that the beef ban in Haryan was in accordance with the customs of the state.

Everyone has a personal lifestyle for eating and drinking, especially those who come from abroad  we dont have any opposition to that. In fact, we are not opposing this for anyone, Khattar said.

Incidentally his comments comes on his return from Japan. Haryan is hoping to get investment worth Rs.1 lakh crores in the coming years, mostly from China and Japan where beef is a popular item.

AFP

His government had introduced the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan legislation, which makes slaughter of cow a crime punishable by 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakhs.

Even sale, consumption or trafficking was made a punishable crime in the state.

Ever since the law came into force, a number of incidents were reported from the state, where the rumour of cow trafficking led to mob attacks on trucks.

This is not the first time foreigners have been exempted from bans in India. In Gujarat, where consumption of liquor is banned, foreign nationals, who have a government granted permit can have liquor.
There is lot of criticism going on around the ban on the sale of luxury diesel cars.

But now Tatas-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has claimed that the air sucked in by its latest technology vehicles on Delhi roads is "far dirtier" than what they emit.

Autocar

"The latest EU VI regulation schemes have got technical features, which (can) clean the air in Delhi. These kind of vehicles drive like a hoover... the air they suck in is far dirtier than the air which comes out of it," CEO of the UK-based JLR Ralph Speth said.

JLR is among the automobile companies hit hard by the Supreme Court order in December last year banning registration of diesel SUVs and cars above 2000cc in the entire National Capital Region till March 31.

Here's A List Of All Major Cars That Are Banned In Delhi

Lashing out at the order, he said: "If you ban these kind of vehicles, I don't understand. Sorry, it is over my horizon."

He said if the aim is to reduce pollution and improve air quality then a comprehensive measure has to be taken, including banning of old cars and controlling other sources of pollution and "not just come up with a single solution, exactly with wrong advice and wrong technology".

Expressing disappointment at the Supreme Court order, Speth said: "I am an engineer. It (the order) has nothing to with market and nothing to do with anything. What triggered such a decision from a technology point of view? From a technological point of view this kind of decision is unreasonable."

To overcome the ban, JLR is looking at bringing in more petrol variants of its different models.

Though we think, Speth was a little too bold with his emissions claim, we do think banning highly efficient cars while letting highly polluting commercial vehicles ply freely is a dumb move. But till our government can figure out a real solution, can't we just wait and watch.

As for now, whenever you are looking for a fresh breath of air, latch on to the exhaust of a nearby jag and take a puff.
It was in 2000, Israeli citizen Aviram Rozin first visited India. Wanting to get lost in the forest and greenery in India, Rozin was pained and shocked to see the rapid deforestation across the country.

umission.org

Wanting to do something to protect the forests, Rozin along with his wife Yorit and daughter Osher moved to India in 2003.

They family bought some 70 acres of barren land in Auroville, Tamil Nadu and started slowly transforming it.

umission.org

With the help of local volunteers, the planted the barren land with seeds of endangered plant specious and edible plants.

umission.org

In the next 13 years they transformed the place into a a forest, teeming with life and greenery.

auroville

auroville

Today the 'Sadhana Forest' founded by the trio has developed into a bustling eco-friendly settlement with thatched houses, wind pump, solar powered LED lighting, compost toilets and vegan kitchen with energy efficient stoves.

Some 18000 indigenous trees have been planted so far on 70 acre mostly eroded land.

umission.org

Sadhana Forest

More than 150 young volunteers from all over the world live in the settlement at any given time planting trees, building bunds and experiencing a simple ecologically conscious life.

After tasting success in India, Rozin has taken his Sadhana Forest model to countries like Haiti and Kenya where he get the local community to grow forests.

Sadhana Forest

Sadhana Forest

The mission at first was to plant trees. Now the mission is also to support people in terms of growing food on trees. We are also supporting the learning and transformation of young people that come to volunteer  which are many. Sadhana Forest has evolved into something more than we expected  which is beautiful, said Rozin who calls the volunteers, his family.
Police in Vienna said they have arrested a Iraqi national, who came to Austria as a refugee in September, of raping a 10-year-old boy.

Ruptly

The incident reportedly happened in December in a swimming pool in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Police said the 20-year-old Iraqi man dragged the victim from the pool into the changing room and raped him. The boy who was injured in the attack, informed the lifeguard, who immediately alerted the police.

What is even more bizarre is the rapist, instead of fleeing the scene the rapist was having fun by jumping from a three-meter board when the police arrived.

Dezeen/ Representational Image

The man whose name is not yet revealed was apprehended immediately.

He reportedly told the police that he was having a sexual emergency because he didn't have sex in four months.

The man who claimed to have a wife and children back in Iraq also said that rape was forbidden.

novinite/ Representative Image

The state prosecutor charged the man with rape and grave sexual abuse of a minor.
Follow us on bsf guns down four alleged drug smugglers in punjab 2 of them are indian nationals

New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) today gunned down four people, including two Pakistani intruders, believed to be involved in the smuggling of drugs at Punjab's Khem Karan sector close to the India-Pakistan border.

Deputy Inspector General of BSF R K Thapa said that apart from the Pakistani intruders, two Indian nationals have also been gunned down.

"Out of the four, 2 were recipients from Indian side and the other two were Pakistani smugglers who were to deliver contraband narcotics," said Anil Paliwal, IG, BSF.

BSF officials have also seized 10 kg of heroin from their possession, Thapa said, adding that two pistols and a motorcycle were also recovered from the spot.

BSF personnel belonging to the 191 Battalion spotted some movement near the Mehndipur border outpost in Ferozepur sector at about 4:40 am and opened fire, Thapa said.

One of the intruders is believed to have fled back to the Pakistan side, the DIG said, adding that the two Indian nationals are yet to be identified.

Latest India News
Follow us on shimla rejoices with season s first heavy snowfall

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla and its nearby tourist spots received a spell of snow today after a long dry weather, giving the resort and its neighbouring areas a picturesque look.

Towns in upper Shimla district were cut off with heavy snow cover piled on roads, officials said.

This was the season's second significant snowfall that froze the "Queen of Hills", as Shimla was fondly called by the erstwhile British rulers.

As news of the snowfall spread, tourists started arriving in Shimla and its nearby places like Kufri, Mashobra and Narkanda.

Hills overlooking Manali like Gulaba, Solang and Kothi have been experiencing moderate snow since early Sunday, according to a meteorological official here. Manali town, however, remained devoid of any snowfall.

Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of three degrees Celsius, while it was one degree in Manali and 0.9 degrees in Dalhousie in Chamba district.

"The higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Chamba districts have been experiencing snowfall since Saturday night while mid and lower hills are experiencing rain," the official said.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti have also experienced snowfall.

Dharamsala in Kangra district, which experienced 47.2 mm rain, recorded a low of 6.2 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, traffic movement beyond Dhalli, 10 km from Shimla, was suspended as a large stretch of the Hindustan-Tibet Road was under a thick blanket of snow.

The entire Kinnaur district and towns in Shimla district such as Narkanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Kumarsain, Kharapathar, Rohru and Chopal are cut off due to heavy snow, a government official said.

The Met Office said a Western disturbance - a storm system originating from the Mediterranean-Caspian Sea region and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region would remain active till Monday, bringing in its wake rain and snow.

Latest India News
Follow us on delhi girl murdered body found in ventilator shaft at male friend s residence

New Delhi: In a shocking development reported from north-west Delhi, the dead body of a 23-year-old Delhi University student named Arzoo Singh was recovered from a ventilation shaft at her male friend's residence in Rajpura area yesterday.

The girl, missing from February 2, was allegedly murdered by her friend who then burnt the body and dumped it.

A police case was registered at the Model Town police station following the disappearance of Arzoo, after which her friends from DU College had told the family members that she was last seen with Naveen Khatri, with whom she was also in a relationship.

The police then questioned Naveen which led to the discovery of Arzoo's dead body.

According to family sources, Naveen and Arzoo were in love and wished to marry each other. However, their families had objections and Khatri decided to marry another girl.

This, reportedly, led to a heated argument between the two and Naveen allegedly ended up killing his ex-lover, ahead of his marriage on February 4. The police are not ruling out the possibility of the involvement of family members in the murder.

He thought that my sister will create problems during the wedding and murdered her to remove hindrances, said Arzoo's sister Payal.

Latest India News
Follow us on health min set to introduce common entrance exam for medical colleges

New Delhi: The Union Health ministry has approved the Medical Council of India's (MCI) recommendation to amend Medical Council of India Act, 1956, paving the way to decide on the common entrance test format.

The amendments will lay out the direction to hold a nationwide common medical entrance test in all medical colleges, including private colleges and deemed universities, for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Union Health minister J P Nadda has also prepared a draft Cabinet note to be circulated among the other ministries. If the Cabinet approves the proposal, the common entrance may get implemented from this year.

The MCI has informed the government that it could either change the existing examination like the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) as the common test or introduce a new one, the report mentioned.

Under the current Act, its role is limited to finalising the medical curriculum, while the states and individual colleges can devise their own admission procedures.

The move to have a common entrance test for medical students across the country was first initiated in 2009, when MCI was headed by Dr Ketan Desai.

The Supreme Court had earlier in June 2013 ruled the MCI's notification for holding common entrance test for MBBS, BDS and post-graduate medical courses as 'invalid'.

The Medical Council of India, established in 1934, is the statutory body for setting up uniform and high standards of medical education in the country. The Council grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice in India.

Latest India News
News / National

by Tinomuda Chakanyuka and Lungile Tshuma

The United Nations plans to mobilise roughly US$15 billion to help Zimbabwe implement Sustainable Development Goals over the next 15 years.Government has stated its commitment to SDGs, prioritising health, education and food security.The UN has over the years mobilised humanitarian and development assistance for Zimbabwe on account of Western economic sanctions on the country.Last week, UN Resident Co-ordinator Mr Bishow Palajuli said development partners had injected about US$1 billion annually over the past 15 years for implementation of Millennium Development Goals, the SDG's predecessor international development initiative.Around 50 percent of this funding came through the UN.Mr Palajuli said the UN wanted to similarly mobilise US$1 billion annually for Zimbabwe's SDG implementation.He said, "As Zimbabwe implemented the MDGs, development partners injected approximately US$1 billion a year in official development assistance, of which close to 50 percent was channelled through the United Nations system to augment national resources."In fulfilling our shared responsibility to implement the SDGs, I can't over-emphasise the need to maintain, if not increase, the provision of official development assistance to support developing countries such as Zimbabwe to complement their domestic resources."He said Zimbabwe had previously done relatively well on international goals."With the strong commitment of the Government and support of the United Nations and development partners, Zimbabwe is well poised to implement the SDGs."In this regard, the country has had a series of consultations at both national and local levels on adaptation and implementation of the SDGs. The goals are ambitious, but achievable if we put our resources including time geared for action."Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Government spokesperson Dr Christopher Mushowe restated Government's commitment to the SDGs and thanked the UN and other partners for their support."Government is doing everything in its powers to ensure it achieves the Sustainable Development Goals. Health, education, food security and nutrition are the major areas of concern."On health, we have made sure every district has a hospital and clinics that are properly equipped and have qualified nurses."As from late 2015 to date, we have been installing state-of-the-art equipment in referral hospitals. This is to ensure that our people get all the services locally at an affordable price, too." Dr Mushohwe said more clinics would be built; adding that Zimbabwe's education system, he said, remains one of the best globally."A new curriculum has been reviewed. It takes into account psychomotor skills and this vindicates the President for setting up a Psychomotor Ministry. This curriculum will take Zimbabwe to a higher level and will also create a wholesome person who will be able to work and also create jobs for others."Government is also working hard to eradicate poverty. At the moment, the region is experiencing climate change challenges, and drought is threatening the population in the region. "However, no one is going to die of hunger in Zimbabwe as we are making all efforts to import maize."
Follow us on india deports australian for being isis supporter

New Delhi: An Australian national, suspected to be a supporter of ISIS, has been deported back home from IGI Airport here soon after his arrival.

Ahmad Fahim Bin Hamad Awang, a Malay-origin Australian youth, was first detained by security agencies when he landed at the Indira Gandhi International airport Thursday night.

After sustained questioning for a few hours at the airport, Awang was deported to Perth, official sources said.

Some jihadi literature, including ISIS propaganda materials, were allegedly recovered on his laptop, the sources said, adding photographs of him posing with firearms were also allegedly found on the laptop.

Among the photos found by security agencies was one of a bare-chested Awang brandishing an assault rifle. Another showed him sitting with a pistol on his lap, the sources claimed.

During questioning, Awang said he had come to attend a meeting in Delhi's Nizamuddin area but his replies were suspicious, the sources said.

After questioning for a few hours and scouring through the contents of Awang's laptop, security agencies decided against allowing him to enter the country and deported him to Australia in the next available flight.

The threat of 'lone wolf' attacks by ISIS supporters has been a matter of concern for security agencies in India.

A 'lone wolf' terrorist is one who indulges in violence in support of some group, movement or ideology but works alone, outside of any command structure and without material assistance from any group.

Awang's deportation comes amid a nationwide crackdown on ISIS supporters. 15 youths have been held from various cities for allegedly forming an ISIS-affiliate, called the Junood-Al-Khilafa-e-Hind, and planning terror attacks.

Latest India News
Follow us on sanitation workers seek permanent solution others call off strike in delhi

New Delhi: Refusing to end their stir, the sanitation workers unions today said they will seek a "permanent solution" for their grievances from the court, even as municipal authorities claimed that the strike has been called off by other employees of the civic bodies.

The Delhi High Court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for calling off the strike yesterday, had sought responses of the corporations and the sanitation workers unions in the matter.

"We have gone on strike for the fourth time in last one year because the corporations due to their financial crises have failed to pay our salaries and dues. We will urge the court for a permanent solution of our grievances," said Rajendra Mewati, general secretary of United Front of Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) Employees.

"The municipal corporations lack funds to pay salaries and pending dues of their employees. Even if the strike is called off now, it will take place again as there are no funds with the corporations," said Delhi Pradesh Safai Karmchari Sangh president Moolchand.

"We have got the High Court notice and we will appear before the court to get ourselves heard," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.

Municipal authorities claim that except for sanitation workers, the strike has been called off by other employees of the civic bodies.

"The doctors, nurses and para medical staff had called off their strike last night and now teachers and engineers too have ended it," said Harshdeep Malhotra and Ravinder Gupta, mayors of East and North Delhi Municipal Corporations.

However, the United Front of MCD Employees in a press statement claimed that the strike is still continuing.

"The strike started on January 27 is still continuing and has not been called off till date," said president of the association Rajesh Mishra.

"Some employees of Health and Engineering department have dissociated themselves due to fear or favour but they are not authorised to give any statement or to call off this strike," he said.

The Health Services employees including senior doctors, resident doctors, nurses and para medical staff have communicated their decision to call off strike, said a senior municipal corporation officer.

"The sanitation workers unions have been given notices to appear before the High Court to explain themselves for continuing the strike," he said.

The association of municipal corporation teachers too said that it ended its agitation following payment of salaries.

"We have received our salaries following which we have decided to call off the strike," said Ram Niwas Solanki, general secretary of Nagar Nigam Shikshak Sangh.

The commissioners of two civic bodies have directed the zonal deputy commissioners and heads of department to ensure that their staff performed duties as salaries have been disbursed.

List of the employees not performing their duties will be forwarded by the officials to the Additional Commissioner (Labour) so that it could be submitted before the High Court, officials said.

Latest India News
Follow us on tanzanian woman assault 6 policemen suspended so far

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government today suspended another senior police official in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian woman student in Bengaluru.

Assistant Commissioner of Police AN Pise of Yeshwanthpur Division was suspended for dereliction of duty, Police Commissioner NS Megharikh said, a day after a team of Tanzanian High Commissioner John WH Kijazi and External Affairs Ministry officials flew in the city and met state officials and African students.

So far, six policemen have been suspended in connection with the case, Megharikh said.

On a mission to get a first hand account and build confidence among African students, the Tanzanian envoy had backed the steps taken by the government in connection with the incident.

"We are very much impressed with the action already taken," Kijazi had said, dismissing the talk about racism.

Nine persons have been arrested in connection with the incident in which the 21-year old Tanzanian student faced mob fury in vigilante justice after a Sudanese driving a car in an alleged drunken state struck a couple, killing a woman on the spot.

Police have maintained it was a case of "mistaken identity" and racism was not involved.

Latest India News
Follow us on assam assembly polls agp may consider ties with bjp if proposal comes

New Delhi: The AGP is unlikely to have any alliance with the Congress in the coming Assam assembly elections but may consider any "concrete" proposal of the BJP in this regard, senior party leader and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said today.

"In principle, we can't have an alliance with Congress.The AGP was formed on an anti-Congress plank. So, it is not possible to have an alliance with Congress," he told PTI.

63-year-old Mahanta said the AGP has been in talks with a few smaller regional parties for an alliance but has had no discussion with BJP so far.

"There has been no discussion with BJP. If they approach us with a concrete proposal, we may discuss it," he said. Mahanta, who became Assam's Chief Minister for the first time at an age of 32 in 1985 after leading a six-year-old agitation against illegal migration from Bangladesh as president of All Assam Students Union, said a committee has been set up by AGP to take a decision on joining hands with any other political party.

Mahanta was Assam's Chief Minister between 1985 and 1990 and again from 1996 to 2001.

Interestingly, Mahanta had met senior BJP leader L K Advani in New Delhi on Friday.

"I know Advani ji for a long time. His wife was unwell and so I had visited him. It was a courtesy visit," he said. BJP and AGP had an alliance in 2009 in which the saffron party bagged four and AGP won just one Lok Sabha seat.

The two parties considered an alliance ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but the regional party had backed off, apparently with the assumption that such an understanding would not be beneficial for AGP.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won seven of the state's 14 seats and AGP drew a blank. BJP won in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Nagaon, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Mongoldoi and Guwahati, all considered to be once AGP strongholds.

Sources said AGP, led by its president Atul Bora, had few rounds of discussions with state BJP leadership on the issue of alliance and asked for at least 40 Assembly seats for AGP out of the total 126 constituencies.

However, the BJP is willing to give AGP lesser number of seats as the national party feels that the regional outfit is now on a much weaker wicket.

Sources said a few senior leaders -- Phanibhushan Choudhury, Pradip Hazarika and Durga Dasboro -- reportedly had met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and discussed with him the possibility of AGP-Congress alliance.

Election to 126-member Assam Assembly is expected to be held in April-May.
Follow us on to clear air on national herald issue congress posts faqs on website

New Delhi: Congress has come out with a set of 'Frequently Asked Questions' to present its side of the story regarding the National Herald issue as the party said that the Gandhis have not benefited financially from Young Indian Ltd.

The party also dismissed as "absolutely false" the claim that Young Indian (YI) Ltd, the company formed in the wake of financial troubles concerning Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), was a "real estate company".

Congress also underlined that there is no restriction in law on political parties giving loans and the Election Commission had issued a clear order in this regard in November, 2012.

"BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had sought derecognition of Congress on this ground but his complaint was dismissed by a full bench order of the Election Commission" at that time, AICC said.

ALSO READ: National Herald case: Sonia, Rahul Gandhi & two others move SC

On whether Sonia or Rahul Gandhi benefited financially from Young Indian, it said, "No. As directors or shareholders of Young Indian, a non-profit, Section 25 company, they are prohibited by law from drawing (and have not drawn) any financial benefits from the company." It also denied that any assets were transferred from AJL to YI.

"All the assets and the income of AJL remain with the company. Not a single paisa has gone to YI, YI Directors or YI Shareholders," it said in the FAQs on its website under the heading, 'National Herald'.

It rejected as "false" the claim that YI was created to usurp the property owned by AJL.

"On the contrary, Young Indian, being a non-profit Section 25 company, as the major shareholder AJL, in fact, enhances the safeguards on the properties of the AJL," it said.

On the claim by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that YI is a real estate company, it said the statement was "absolutely false".

"Absolutely false. YI does not own a single real estate asset or immoveable property. AJL continues to own all its assets. The allegation is, therefore, completely baseless," it said.

Congress also denied claims that YI now owns the property of AJL.

"No, both Young India and Associated Journals Ltd are separate entities. All assets and properties of AJL continue to remain with AJL. This allegation is akin to falsely alleging that a shareholder in Indian Hotels Ltd. Has rights on hotel properties of the Taj Group and owns a particular hotel or can move into it!" the party said.

On the justification behind Congress giving loans of Rs 90 crore to AJL, the party maintained it has financially supported AJL over several decades through the financial ill- health of the company.

"This reflected the party's commitment to support AJL, the voice of the freedom movement," it said.

No commercial bank was willing to lend a single rupee to AJL due to the negative worth of the company, its "meagre income and its over-leveraged" balance sheet, it said.

According to Swamy's complaint, all who are named in the case were directors of YI, a company that was incorporated in 2010 and took over the "debt" of AJL, the publisher of National Herald.

Sonia and Rahul last week moved the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of the criminal case and summons issued to them and five others on several grounds, including that the complaint by Swamy in the National Herald case was a "political move" aimed to "defame" them.
Follow us on pm modi inaugurates niser campus in bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked scientists to make innovation useful for the people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses with "zero defect" and "zero effect" on the environment.

"Everybody engaged in research may not get a Nobel Prize, but the real award for them is to make their invention useful for the common people," he said after inaugurating the new campus of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Jatni near here.

On the country's traditional knowledge, Modi said, "Dr Manjul Bhargava became one of the great mathematicians by gathering knowledge from scriptures. His father was a Sanskrit scholar. We should connect the traditional knowledge with science and technology."

"Our priority should be to make science and technology affordable to the masses with zero-effect and zero-defect," the Prime Minister said, adding that what he meant by 'zero-effect' was that it should not have any adverse impact on environment and be free from side effects.

He said Odisha had abundant coal reserve. Therefore, affordable, cheap and green technology should be developed so that coal gasification could be developed here.

Noting that India's ocean and sky remained untapped, Modi asked the scientific community to explore the resources and utilise them for the benefit of the people.

"Why did our forefathers describe the ocean as 'Ratna Garva'. This is because of the wealth in the ocean. The scientific research should be in the field of marine areas," he said.

On space research, he said India had already made its presence felt in space technology through the Mars mission. He recalled when scientists began research on space technology, there was no sufficient logistic to support them. Still they were successful.

While stressing on energy conservation and generation of cheap energy, the Prime Minister said it had been a great challenge for the scientists to produce cheap solar energy.

The technology should be developed for the same so that the poor people across the country could benefit.

"If 100 (smart) cities use LED bulbs, the country will save 20,000 MW of power. A small technological advance could save crores of rupees," Modi said and added that efforts were on internationally to further develop renewable energy. He also called upon the scientists to create wealth from the wastes being generated in cities.

Noting that scientific temper should be infused among the students, he called upon the authorities of NISER to interact with science teachers in schools and students so that they were attracted to the subject and could devote time on innovation.

Modi, however, expressed displeasure over not finding any greenery in the NISER's new campus though it has developed beautiful infrastructure and laboratories and libraries.

He asked the authorities to make the campus green.

Among those present at the function were Odisha Governor S C Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan.
Follow us on pm modi to inaugurate refinery science institute in odisha today

Bubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Odisha, will inaugurate the National Institute of Science Education and Research and Indian Oil Refinery today.

"In Odisha, I will dedicate the National Institute of Science Education and Research and Indian Oil Refinery, Paradip to the nation," PM Modi had tweeted.

PM Modi stayed at the Raj Bhavan overnight and will inaugurate the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Jatni on the outskirts of the state capital at 9 am today.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to interact with students and faculty members of the NISER and will leave for Puri to pay his obeisance to Lord Jagannath at around 11am.

"Will offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri during my Odisha visit on the 7th," PM Modi had tweeted.

Later, the Prime Minister will leave for Paradip to inaugurate IOCL's refinery project at around 1 pm and will address a public meeting there.

Director General of Police KB Singh reviewed security arrangements at Paradip, while other senior officers are camping at Puri and NISER to ensure full security for the Prime Minister.

"All arrangements are made as per the rule book," Singh said, adding about one lakh people are expected at Paradip.

For the PM's visit, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration has decided to keep the temple doors closed for an hour.

The Archaeological Survey of India, which is repairing the temple complex, will suspend the work to facilitate entry of PM Modi into the sanctum sanctorum.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) also reviewed the security arrangements at Paradip, Puri and NISER ahead of PM Modi's visit.
The Nigerian Army has said it will dialogue with communities in the Niger Delta region on the need to put an end to the bombing of oil installations in their domain whenever a disagreement ensues between them and oil companies operating in the region.

The Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig. General Stephenson Olabanji, disclosed this when members of the executive committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Port Harcourt.

The commander stressed that the meeting will afford the Army the opportunity to let members of the communities know that oil installations and other critical infrastructure in their domain are Federal Government assets, not those of oil companies operating in the region.

There is something that we are planning; this came from the fact that my interaction in the last six months with the communities portray a kind of image within the community that most of all these installations belong to the oil companies. You know most of the installation and critical infrastructure belong to the Nigerian government, they dont belong to the oil companies.

That is why you see that these restiveness in the communities, if they have a small industrial dispute with any of these oil companies or any issue that has to do with their corporate social responsibility, the next thing they do is to go and blow up the pipelines. As I speak now, in Bayelsa State, in the past three days, we have recorded about three blasts of pipelines, resulting from these community disputes with oil companies.

These oil facilities belong to the Federal Government of Nigeria; not Agip, not Shell, not Total. Whatever they do, any remedial work on these pipelines, they still surcharge the government and it affects the money accruing to the state. We dont know that if we do that, we are contributing to the problem of the economy of the state.

We want to carry this advocacy to the communities and we cannot do that alone. We have to engage journalists and the civil society, and some other leaders and stakeholders in the state. Most of these infrastructure belong to the state; as communities, we should protect them rather than vandalize them. That will bring more money to our state and more money to our communities, without negating the corporate social responsibilities the companies are supposed to do for the communities, Brig.-Gen. Olabanji said.

Speaking earlier, chairman of NUJ in the state, Mr. Omoni Ayo-Tamuno, called for the upgrading of the 2 Brigade to a full Division, considering the position of Port Harcourt as the capital of the South-South geopolitical zone of the country.

Ayo-Tamuno, who congratulated Olabanji on his deployment as the Commander of the 2 Brigade, commended the Nigerian Army for its contribution to the existing peace and security of lives and property in the state.

Insisting that kidnapping has nothing to do with poverty or unemployment, the NUJ chair called on the Federal Government to set up a proper corporal punishment for kidnappers in the country.
Violinist Rosemary Johnson has spent the last 27 years coming to terms with the reality she would never make music again, following a devastating car crash. A member of the Welsh National Opera Orchestra she was destined to become a world class musician before the road accident in 1988, which left her in a coma for seven months.

Rosemary at 19

Miss Johnson suffered a devastating head injury, robbing her of speech and movement which meant she could only pick out a few chords on the piano with the help of her mother Mary.

But now, thanks to cutting edge technology, she is creating music again, using just the power of her mind.

In an extraordinary 10-year project led by the Plymouth University and the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in London, her brain has been wired up to a computer using Brain Computer Music Interfacing software.

By focusing on different coloured lights on a computer screen she can select notes and phrases to be played and alter a composition as it is performed by live musicians. The intensity of her mental focus can even change the volume and speed of the piece.

It is the first time Miss Johnson, 50, has been able to create music in decades and has been an emotional experience for the her, and the scientists involved in the programme.

It was really very moving, said Professor Eduardo Miranda, Composer and Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research at Plymouth University.

The first time we tried with Rosemary we were in tears. We could feel the joy coming from her at being able to make music. It was perfect because she can read music very well and make a very informed choice.

The great achievement of this project is that it is possible to perform music without being able to actually move. She is essentially controlling another musician to play it for her. Its not yet possible to read thoughts but we can train people to use brain signals to control things.

Music is really her only motivation, she said. I take her to the grand piano in the hospital and she can only really play a few chords, but that was the only time she shows any interest. She doesnt really enjoy anything else.

But this has been so good for her. I can tell she has really enjoyed it. When she performed I went to the hospital and that is the first time I have heard her make music, other than the piano chords for a long, long time.

Miss Johnsons mother Mary, 80, of Hounslow, West London said the project had given her daughter new hope.

Source: The Telegraph
Nsukka-born Emeka Nelson claims to have invented a generator that runs on water, a machine for recycling non-biodegradable wastes. His third invention, a bio digester, is under development.

A graduate of the National Metallurgical Training Institute has started a fundraising campaign on social media trough his partner, Karo Kanye Akamune.

Apparently, the young man needs at least N1,000,000 (about $5,000) right now for continuation of his research and products improvements. The next step is to collect two million naira from angel investors.

Creative and inventive minds in Africa should be identified, supported and celebrated. Instead of marrying a third wife or building a forth house you would hardly ever sleep in, invest that money in people like Emeka Nelson, Karo Kanye Akamune urges Nigerians on Facebook.

Emeka runs his private company, Creative E Machines, based in Awka, Nigeria.

I can imagine a world where human feaces, urine etc are turned into cooking gas and best of fertilizers for our farmers.

I can imagine a society where this machine replaces all our soak away and pit latrine toilet systems. Creative minds tech team is working on it now, the scientist/engineer wrote in his post dated February 6, announcing the new invention.

Always remember, a country that does not produce man-made goods and services will always lag behind, Karo Kanye Akamune notes.

In your opinion, should these guys be funded or investigated?

Source: Naij
News / National

by Staff Reporters

Government is crafting a strategy to manage relations between media and the security sector following run-ins between the two establishments.It also wants journalists to reduce conflict through professional and ethical conduct.For some time, authorities have complained about publication of inaccurate and/or sensitive national security information, variably issuing warnings to the predominant culprit: the private Press.In January 2016, Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe warned against snooping on the highly sensitive sector after NewsDay claimed Government had secretly given bonuses to Central Intelligence Organisation operatives.Information Secretary Mr George Charamba added that culprits would be brought to book.Now the ministry has engaged the security sector to help smooth relations via dialogue. Preliminary work began two weeks ago when Mr Charamba met Zimbabwe Union of Journalists representatives in Harare to discuss these matters as well as the Information Media Panel of Inquiry report.Mr Charamba told The Sunday Mail, "In respect of security, we agreed that it is stemming from a few key areas: the lapse of professional conduct in newsrooms; the absence of a code of ethics; and the lack of sustainable communication between journalists and the various players including our security structure."I suggested to ZUJ that the issue of professional conduct will be addressed through rules and institutions coming from the Impi report. Such issues will be addressed in the context of what was raised by the panel."He went on, "I indicated that we will hold a series of meetings with sister ministries within the security organs to straighten out how they relate to media."These meetings will be held at the level of us, civil servants, as well as ministerial level. We will then have interactions at the level of the media and security command so that there is mutual understanding"There are really small areas of misunderstanding that if left unattended, might blow out of proportion. These meetings will include Zuj, editors and proprietors so that there is understanding of the role of the newsman in running the affairs of the State."This, I believe, will be easy because most of our ministries already have public relations departments  which shows awareness on the part of our security establishment to the role of the media."However, one thing is clear in any country in the world; that the security establishment is a very sensitive area  which is the reason why our Constitution qualifies media freedom. Our Constitution recognises this and establishes it as a basis for derogating against media rights."Mr Charamba also said, "There is no interest which is national to be got by pecking on the sensitive security structures of the State."If you are really in pursuit of national interest that cannot be realised by undermining the security structures of the State. To say so does not suggest that media should not report on errant behaviour by personnel within the structure."ZUJ secretary-general Foster Dongozi was pleased with the meeting's outcome."The Ministry of Media, Information, and Broadcasting Services is our parent ministry and plays a critical role in the safety of journalists and improving their working conditions."We do not want to be friends with the Government, neither should they befriend us. We want a professional relationship where Stone Age tactics of beating journalists on their heads are not used when there is a simple issue like an error."A lot of people make mistakes in their area of work, but hardly get arrested for the errors they make. The Permanent Secretary was very receptive of our agenda and agreed that the safety of journalists was crucial to their working without fear or threats."
Refugees from Burundi, who fled violence in their country to neighbouring Tanzania, have accused their government of sending armed men into a UN-run refugee camp to hunt down opposition supporters. Several refugees have told Al Jazeera that they fear for their lives and that there is no adequate security in the camps in Tanzania to protect them.

The camp is currently not safe. We live in fear of Burundian government militia [members] who are in the camp, one refugee said in a phone interview, after Al Jazeera visited a camp in north west Tanzania. The Burundian government has denied the allegations. More than 200,000 people have fled Burundi since the African country slipped into a violent political crisis, and half of the refugees have sought shelter in Tanzania.

Al Jazeera visited the Nduta camp, where over 40,000 refugees are currently staying.

But the team was only allowed to interview refugees who had been screened by officials from the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR. The UN said the screening was for the protection of refugees. However, other refugees in the camp who later spoke to Al Jazeera by phone said Burundi had dispatched agents who carried out attempted killings and abductions. One man told Al Jazeera that he narrowly escaped an abduction.
The Customary Government of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dissociated the group from a report linking its members to a threat to blow up a hijacked merchant vessel  which has since been released  together with its crew.

In a statement signed by Engr Anthony Aniebue, Administrator, Customary Government of Biafra, the group insisted that all pro-Biafra movements now being harmonized under IPOB customary government were non-violent, and devoid of criminal acts but peaceful in their approach for actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra.

The statement read in part: Our people have died enough in this our struggle to escape from Egypt, and we shall die no more.

It is therefore the decision of the Customary Government of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to dissociate herself and the peace-loving Biafrans from the recent attempt by some violent group to drag the Biafran people into violence by hijacking a maritime vessel off the coast of Republic of Benin.

The Customary Government of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) hereby call on all Biafrans, irrespective of ones ethnic nationality, through their traditional leadership, to rally round this Customary Government in order to restore Biafra peacefully as quickly as possible.

All the ethnic nationalities in Biafra: Igbo, Ijaw, Ibibio, Urhobo, Itsekheri etc are hereby advised to mobilize their communities and align themselves under the Customary Government in our current activities to organize a global Biafran community under one traditional government: The Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the statement concluded.
The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt by suspected sea pirates to hijack and abduct 25 foreign nationals aboard a Maersk merchant ship carrying general cargo to Nigeria.

Briefing journalists on Sunday at Onne Sea Port, Rivers, Capt. Olusegun Soyemi, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, said that the vessel berth safely with the rescued crew members unharmed.

Soyemi said the crew members, including the ships captain, were of mixed nationalities consisting of eight Philippines, eight South Africans, five Indians, two Britons and two from Thailand.

According to him, Safmarine Kuramo, a Maersk merchant ship registered in Singapore, was transporting general cargo from Port-Noire, Congo, to Onne Sea Port in Rivers.

On Jan. 5 at about 08:00 hours; Sufmarine Kuramo was attacked by sea pirates about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Bonny Island (in Rivers) Fairway Bouy.

We got may-day distress call that the ship was boarded by unconfirmed number of sea pirates after entering the nations territorial waters.

We immediately dispatched a warship (NNS Centenary) and attack gunboats led by Navy Capt. Chiedozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command to rescue the situation.

The sea pirates apparently on sighting advancing naval troops fled the scene for fear of being arrested by our operatives.

The operation was largely successful as all 25 foreign crew members, including the captain, are safe and unhurt, while cargo onboard the ship is intact, he said.

Soyemi said the pirates had fired several gunshots at the ships control room apparently to scare and subdue any resistance from the captain and crew members.

Also, the Commanding Officer of NNS Centenary, Capt. Chiedozie Okehie, who led the operation, said the crew members locked and hid themselves in the ships citadel (engine room).

He said the rescue was successful partly due to the courage and bravery exhibited by the ships captain  a woman.

According to him, in spite all odds, she covertly gave navy operatives briefs while pirates on board the ship made several attempt to break into the citadel.

Immediately we got to the ship, we carried out thorough searches of the compartments and cabins to check if any pirate had remained onboard.

Investigations are ongoing to ascertain what happened and who carried out the attack, he assured.

Okehie said the navy under the command of Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas remained fully committed to safety of the nations waterways and maritime environment.

Speaking, the Captain of Safamarine Kuramo, Ms Zetta Gous-Conradie, a South African, described the experience as horrific.

Gous-Conradie hailed the Nigerian Navy for its prompt response to her distress call.

We are very grateful when the navy came onboard because at some point we had thought the pirates would take us hostage.

The heat was stifling because the temperature was very hot at the citadel, and at some point my crew members and I had thought we would suffocate and die, she said.
OBASANJO, PROSTRATES BEFORE OONI,BACKS HIS PEACE INITIATIVES

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown his weight behind the move by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to unify the yoruba race during his reign. It would be recalled that Ooni Ogunwusi had been visiting Yoruba monarchs as a way of ensuring unity. Among those visited were the Aalafin of Oyo and Awujale of Ijebuland among others.

The Sun Senate threatens to revoke plots of land allocated to Jonathan, others A Senate panel, yesterday, threatened to order the revocation of plots of land said to have been allocated to former President Goodluck Jonathan and 29 others in Maitama district of Abuja. Thisday Police to Treat Domestic Violence as Criminal Offence The Inspector General of Police, IG Solomon Arase has said issues of gender-based violence and abuse of children would no longer be treated as domestic violence but criminal offences Daily Times

Kebbi state Governor Abubakar Bagudu on Thursday asked the federal high court in Abuja to dismiss a pre-election suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] governorship candidate Maj. Gen. Bello Yaki for April 11, 2015 election challenging his election.

Guardian

CHAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan was allocated a plot of land within an area in Maitama district of Abuja that was reserved as green zone.

Daily Trust

Ahead of the Rivers State House of Assembly and National Assembly re-run elections on March 19, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Rivers South-east senatorial district, Magnus Ngei Abe, has appealed to all contestants to dissuade their supporters from engaging in violence.
Some state governors have reacted to a statement credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that they are living like emperors while the people wallow in poverty.

They also denied the ex-presidents claim that they (governors) are hindering the local governments from carrying out their statutory functions.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Aniekan Umana, who spoke on behalf of Governor Udom Emmanuel, said the governor does not live an ostentatious life.

The Commissioner described Emmanuel as a very humble and God fearing person, very humane, a family man to the core who loves his people and is working assiduously to uplift the standard of living of every Akwa Ibom and other persons.

He said despite Udoms good fortune as a private citizen before becoming governor last year, he had been known to lead a simple life style and he has continued to do so.

The commissioner pointed out that until recently, Governor Emmanuel was still using his personal cars to go about his official duties and made no fuss about it.

Umana said with Wednesdays victory at the Supreme Court and the distractions taken off his way, the governor is going to focus on an unparalleled industrial and general development of Akwa Ibom State and its people.

In his reaction, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State said he has no business dictating to the local governments on the way and manner they run their affairs or use the funds allocated to them.

According to him, all statutory organs of government are allowed to carry out their functions without any let or hindrance.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jide Orintunsin, said he has never tampered with local government funds in the state adding that what belongs to the local government goes to them.

He further stated that the 25 local government councils in the state are given a free hand to carry out their activities and cited the example of the caretaker committee of Chachanga local government, who invited the governor to inspect projects single-handedly financed by them.

Speaking in the same vein, Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, said he is more interested in the welfare of the people of the state than living like an emperor as insinuated by the former president.

The Governor, spoke yesterday in Awka, the state capital, rough his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Mr. James Eze.

He said: it is a simple matter, we are in a democracy and democracy thrives on criticisms and pluralism of opinions from various groups and individuals.

In Anambra state, our realities are different, because Obiano is doing exceedingly well and meeting the yearnings and aspirations of those who elected him.

For instance, there are only three states namely, Anambra, Lagos and Kaduna that are continuously paying salaries of their workforce in Nigeria.

Not only that, Obiano is doing other capital projects and that is not how a Governor that lives like an emperor conducts his state, he also granted amnesty to 25 prison inmates and gave each of them one million naira to start their life afresh.

Is that how a man that lives like an emperor behaves? He is a listening Governor who has the interest of his people at heart and working for them and that is why the people are happy in Anambra.

Again, few days ago, he gave automatic employment to 13 medical doctors who just graduated, when some states are throwing out their workers into the unemployment world.

Obiano lives for the people and not living like an emperor or diverting local government funds as being portrayed by our revered elderstatesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State said he could not have been among those Mr. Obasanjo labeled emperors as he does not live or act like one.

Ikpeazu spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications Sam Hart.

His words: The Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is not and cannot be one of the Governors the former President is referring to.

President Obasanjo was in Abia just recently where he commissioned some of the projects executed by the Governor in a very short time he assumed office.

He was so impressed with what was going on in Abia within so short a time that he adopted Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as one of his political sons and also urged other governors to emulate him.

Dr. Ikpeazu lives in the Abia State Governors Lodge in Aba, which is a 3-Bedroom Colonial building with the barest minimum amenities. He is not in a hurry to complete the new Government House in Umuahia as there is no money to complete the project.

Surely, a person who wants to live like an emperor will not operate from such a building for 9 months now.

Moreover, by his very nature, he is not taken by the trappings of his office. He has maintained his pre-inauguration Spartan unassuming and no-airs life so surely, he is not one of those being referred to by the former president.

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has no business with Local Government funds in Abia State. The Chairmen receive their allocations and execute projects as they deem needful.
Rescue teams were racing to find survivors after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit southern Taiwan, killing at least seven people, injuring scores and trapping many under rubble. More than 1,200 firefighters scrambled with ladders, cranes and other equipment to the ruins of a 17-floor residential building in the city of Tainan that collapsed when the quake struck about 4am local time on Saturday.

The Tainan emergency response centre said a 10-day-old infant and a small child were among those killed in the disaster, which came two days ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, a major public holiday. Reporting from outside the collapsed Wei Guan residential complex in Tainan, Al Jazeeras Rob McBride said survivors were still being pulled out 12 hours after the quake destroyed the building.

The building is completely on its side, everything is down at ground level, McBride said. There are still finding survivors, the search and rescue operation is continuing, he added. There are teams crawling all over inside this main building  this is where most of the casualties it seems have occurred and most of the missing are still located  moving through floor by floor, going inside the structure.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that contrary to the claims by critics of his incessant foreign trips, none of the trips he had made so far can be said to be frivolous.

He said there were always political and economic justifications for his trip.

Buhari said this on Friday in London while answering questions from some Nigerian journalists shortly before he commenced a six-day vacation that would end on Wednesday.

Our correspondent obtained the transcript of the interview on Saturday.

It will be recalled that Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, had asked Buhari to stay at home and govern the country instead of junketing from one country to the other.

Fayose had said that the Presidents incessant foreign trips were already bleeding the economy with about $1m being spent per trip.

But Buhari said he did not know how Fayose arrived at the figure he gave.

He said, Every one of my trips can be politically or economically assessed. I recall that the first trip I had was to go to Chad and Niger. The trip was mainly because of Nigerias security.

We campaigned based on three issues -security, economy (employment) and corruption. And then the G-7 invited me to Germany. After that, I went to Cameroon. I then went to the United Nations General Assembly.

I have not seen any frivolous journey that I undertook. I understand that the governor of Ekiti State said that every trip I make costs Nigeria at least $1m. I do not know how he worked that out but every trip that I have made, there must be economic and political reasons that justified them.

Those who do not see it the way the government sees it have the right not to agree and say whatever they like. But we will try and give them the appropriate reply.

Buhari also promised to take his administrations ongoing anti-corruption war to all sectors of the economy.

We have to go the whole hog into other sectors because unlike what some people believe that the fight against corruption is selective, although they have failed to define the selectivity in their own understanding, there is no way we can get a public officer on record that has misappropriated public fund and we will leave him alone.

It is one of the undertakings that the Federal Government made and we are going to see it through, he said.

The President identified the need for firm evidences against corrupt persons as one of the main challenges facing the war.

The challenge mainly is to affirm evidence. If you just hear our story that somebody built 12 houses in Abuja, houses do not move. Do they?

It is for us to do verification. We need to verify and quantify before the man is invited to justify how he acquired those properties while he is a public officer, Buhari explained.

He promised to make a representation to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Muhammed, on the various complaints being made against judges in the country.

He recalled that a lot of allegations had been levelled against some of the judges who served on election tribunals.

He, however, declined to comment on the recent Supreme Court verdict that validated the elections of Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Governor Udo Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) until he holds a discussion with the Ministry of Justice.

Buhari insisted that despite the killings being witnessed in public places, his government is winning the war against terrorism.

He said, We are winning the war. I have said that Boko Haram used to effectively control 14 local governments, they hoisted their flag and declared a caliphate of some sort.

But now, Boko Haram is not holding any local government. They have been dispersed. They have reverted to technology.

They use Improvised Explosive Devices. They use cooking gas, some wires and metals, put them together and get girls from the age of 15 downwards and explode them in churches, mosques, markets or motor parks and kill people en masse.

Source: Punch
A group of northern youths has described those calling for the sack of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele as saboteurs, whose actions are capable of compromising Nigerias bid at recovery.

The youths, under the aegis of Arewa Youth Integrity Forum, AYIF, said such groups and individuals should be ignored as their call is not in the national interest.

Recall that a group, Advocates for Social Justice for All, had threatened to stage a nationwide occupy protest if Emefiele does not resign from office within 72 hours.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, national president of the group, Alhaji Audu Zakari, said those calling for the sack of the CBN boss are ignorant and lack understanding of the economy and are only trying to do the bidding of their pay masters

He said, What is worrisome, however, is that in this age that news have the potential to go viral, the verbal sabre rattling of groups like this have the potential to send the wrong message to the outside world. It is a matter of time before their counterpart paid analysts will make projections on the basis of such utterances and the Nigerias rating.

Should the markets be spooked on account of this kind of irresponsible behaviour, the economic fallouts will be felt by all of us. Jobs would be lost and those of us with jobs would be pushed into the unemployment market and would have thus fulfilled the wishes of these jobless youths who want the country to collapse.

Zakari noted that the insinuation the CBN Governor was complicit in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal is also an insult to the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an affront to the sincerity of its present occupant, President Muhammadu Buhari, who has consistently demonstrated commitment to stamping out the menace of corruption.

He said, It is insulting to suggest that Mr President is looking the other way in Mr Emefieles case. It is even more sickening to be asking President Buhari to sack the CBN boss to satisfy the whims of people who cannot even get the their facts right.

On the economic front, the group said while the economic environment is harsh, the situation is not peculiar to Nigeria as other countries around the world are experiencing the negative consequences of a threatened global economy.

He said, If things are exceptionally hard, it is because the previous government did not do enough to create an economic buffer but instead allowed a robbery bazar. Mr Emefiele has been creative enough under the current circumstances to prevent our economy from taking a full hit from the fall in crude prices. He should rather be commended for this even though currency speculators would want us to believe otherwise since he has refused to dance to their tune to effect a devaluation of the Naira.

We want to clearly put it in the right perspective for Nigerians to know that criminal elements who have taken so much from the treasury and stocked in foreign currency are attempting to use the backdoor to buy the country when the Naira is eventually devalued. When this is carried out they will surely have an upper hand in purchasing and holding the entire administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to ransom. Let it be known to them that Nigerians are eve sensitive more than ever before now.

Zakari, therefore, urged the CBN governor to disregard the purported 72 hours ultimatum to resign, whether from ASJA or any other entity, saying it does not reflect the wish of Nigerians.

We urge Mr Emefiele to press on with his programme for protecting the naira and the economy from those that want to benefit from their collapse. We will rather endure a few months of discomfort than allow the country to suffer a total collapse.

We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to discountenance fraudulent calls from paid groups. The mandate of these groups also include finding a roundabout way of sabotaging Mr Presidents government and part of the strategy is discrediting the leadership of strategic organisations in the country, AYIF said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, while speaking on the state of the economy during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the Supporting Syria Conference in London on Friday, pointed out some interesting facts about the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the bad state of the naira, bureau de change (BDC) among other things. INFORMATION NIGERIA has put together President Buharis thoughts on these very important issues in this piece

On Naira fall: The president said the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) which was initiated by former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, between 1986 and 1988 killed the naira. President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) which was initiated by former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, between 1986 and 1988 killed the naira.

On bureau de change (BDC): President Buhari said that his administration decided to stop the sale of foreign exchange to bureau de change (BDC) operators because of fraudulent acts perpetrated by some directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He said:

We found out that some directors of CBN owned bureau de change and when foreign exchange comes, they take it to their bureau de change and give government the change. We had to stop the federal government giving bureau the change. I am explaining this to give a tip of the ice berg of the problem we inherited. We are getting so hard because we have no other [option] than to make everybody accountable.

On TSA: Buhari revealed that his administration has so far saved 2.2 trillion naira using the Treasury Single Account (TSA).President Buhari faulted the past administration for operating several accounts with which they siphoned money belonging to Nigerians vowing not to relent in the fight against corruption.He said that he would make every Nigerian accountable and that money recovered so far can fund the countrys deficit and infrastructure development.

What do you think???
Minister says airport projects cater to the needs of the affluent in society, not the poor.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has advised state governments across the country to focus on projects that would benefit the generality of the nations poor and downtrodden, instead of pursuing ventures that further serve the interests of the elite.

The Minister specifically called for caution in the area of new airport, saying no governor should embark on such project now unless the socio-economic fortune of such a state and the country can support new or additional airport.

Mr. Amaechi made gave the advice at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, while fielding questions from reporters after he carried out an assessment of some projects executed by the state government on behalf of the federal government.

Despite the economic downturn occasioned by crashing price of oil in the international market, some state governors, precisely Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) have embarked on multi-billion airport projects in their respective states.

Stressing that airport project is elitist and would not relieve the poor of their suffering, the Minister said that Nigeria already has many airports that have proven to be unviable.

Governors should focus on those things that would improve on the lives of the poor, not the rich. Its the rich people that fly plane. How many poor people know where airport is much more fly an aircraft? he queried.

I believe that the construction of airport should be backed by the growth of the economy. There are some airports that are constructed just for the governors to land and take off. That wont be the idea for me as minister of transportation.

Id prefer that all airports that are constructed would be backed by economic demand. And when we look at the numbers, if the numbers add upWe would not discourage Ogun State if you like to construct an airport, but we would like to advise that they should look at the economics of an airport, Amaechi said.

The former Rivers State governor, however, assured of Federal Governments commitment towards the completion of new terminals of the nations four international airports in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

He also assured the Ogun State Government of the Federal Governments support if it wants to build an airport.

Mr. Amaechi, who disclosed that he was in the state primarily to ascertain some of the roads constructed by the state government on behalf of Federal Government, added that the construction of railway between Lagos and Calabar as well as Lagos and Kano would commence this year.

I am convinced that most of the roads have been constructed. By the time we write the report, we have engineers, we have people from the Public Procurement Department, they would assess the cost and put it in the report, he said.

Earlier, Governor Ibikunle Amosun solicited the support of the Minister in ensuring the completion of the abandoned airport project in Ewekoro local government area of the state.

He said: Its being built by Federal Government. In fact it is the oldest airport they have in Nigeria. It was done in 1940/41; that was what they were using during the World War and thats why we have the Commonwealth cemetery there. Somehow, after the war, nobody said anything about it.

But 12 years ago, Federal Government started again. Everything has been done. Contractors have even been mobilised to site before they stopped funding it.

Ogun State is the industrial hub of Nigeria. There is no nation that would develop if the industries are not there. Even in the radius of 5km, in US, we have even about four airports, we have even examples in London.

But for us, it is not just for the governor to land; people would want to move their goods and services, people will want to come and thats why we need an airport here. And in any case, the airport in Lagos, where can they expand to? Its congested.
News / National

by Lincoln Towindo

Zanu-PF will dump - without fear or favour - factionalists seeking to undermine President Mugabe's authority, a senior official has said.When the Politburo meets this Wednesday, said Zanu-PF spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo in an interview with The Sunday Mail, factional battles would be on the agenda. This follows a rabid attempt by some officials in the ruling party, using the private Press and via frenzied tweeting on social media, to demean President Mugabe's appointment of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as attempts to play the VP against First Lady and Zanu-PF Women's League boss Amai Grace Mugabe.There have been direct attacks on Mr George Charamba after he - in his capacity as Presidential spokesperson - made it clear that the President would not tolerate factionalist and successionist machinations.War Veterans Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa has also been targeted.Ambassador Khaya Moyo said, "We are still alarmed that this notorious practice is still going on. The President himself has condemned it, but it would appear that factions still exist."I cannot pre-empt what will happen in due course, but believe me that at our next Politburo meeting, these matters will be brought up with seriousness of purpose."We cannot go on with this disease called factionalism. It does not help us to attract investment and bring stability in the party unity, peace and development which is our motto as a party. It must be weeded out and those responsible must be dealt with without fear or favour."Ambassador Khaya Moyo added that the President's position was uncontestable as he was the only leader elected at Congress."The person who is at the centre of all party activities is, naturally, the President. He is the head of the party, the centre of power; the reason being that he is the only one, in terms of our amended constitution, who is elected at Congress."The rest of the people, including the VPs and the Politburo, are appointed by the President from elected Central Committee members."Given that scenario, naturally, he is the centre of power. This is why some of us have always been bewildered and surprised when we hear that there are factions in the party."A faction obviously has a leader, and if you are a leader of a faction, it means you are also a centre of power. This is totally unacceptable and abominable."In 2014, the Zanu-PF National People's Congress unanimously picked the revolutionary establishment's First Secretary and President as its sole candidate for the next Presidential election, constitutionally due in 2018.This was after President Mugabe led Zanu-PF to a resounding electoral victory in 2013.His position as the party's numero uno was endorsed by the 2015 National People's Conference.However, successionists within Zanu-PF have been working against these outcomes, rapidly pushing towards subverting the party constitution, Congress and Conference.Congress is Zanu-PF's highest decision-making body whose selected functions can be carried out by Conference.As stated by party Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo in his convocation at the December 2015 indaba, Section 33(3) of Article 6 of Zanu-PF's Constitution says the powers and functions of the National People's Conference shall be "to declare the President of the Party elected at Congress as the State presidential candidate of the party".Ambassador Khaya Moyo also said President Mugabe and Zanu-PF's position against abuse of social media platforms to attack fellow party members remained unchanged.But yesterday Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere was quoted in our sister paper The Herald saying the Politburo was unlikely to discuss social media abuses.Lately, Politburo member (science and technology) Professor Jonathan Moyo has been involved in bitter exchanges with Ambassador Mutsvangwa on Twitter.Ambassador Mutsvangwa has subsequently questioned Prof Moyo's loyalties.Yesterday, the War Veterans leader said Prof Moyo was "an aspiring tinpot dictator"."Professor (Moyo) extols Rambo, the celluloid American war hero shooting to smithereens lesser human minions. This is a minister from a land that produces immortal modern warriors like legendary General Tongogara."Clearly, a stranger to the history of a country he waxes lyrical about and aspires to emerge as its tinpot dictator. The scorn and irreverence of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde professor has paradoxically served to arouse the Spirit of Chimurenga and he better pay heed."Ambassador Mutsvangwa went on: "I have a modus vivendi with both Kasukuwere and (Youth Minister Patrick) Zhuwao. I am impressed by the youthful energy, and their zeal."I pray hard that it makes recourse to all the rich history of the party that has achieved so much. Jonathan Moyo is a different kettle of fish. A war deserter with a chameleon modus operandi, he is the Gregori Rasputin ghost of Zimbabwe politics and governance."He long ago sold his soul to the right wing regime change operatives of Uncle Sam. As a revolutionary cadre, I have no truck at all with such a life of compelling treachery."These stand out by refusing to submit to discipline by defying His Excellency's strictures as enunciated through his spokesman. On social media, while it is understandable to set party guidelines, the real focus should be on weeding out planted agents and foreign spies."
A man from Virginia who D.C. police said burglarized a hotel, a restaurant, the front desk of an apartment building and other Northwest Washington businesses has been arrested. Police said their investigation was helped when the man broke into the Bentley luxury apartments near Thomas Circle and at 3 a.m. signed on to his own Twitter account from a computer on the concierge desk.

Authorities said they linked Thomas Matthew Collodel, 33, of McLean to burglaries at the Bentley, the Iron Gate restaurant, a Homewood Suites hotel and two businesses. All are located near Thomas and Scott Circles. The burglaries occurred between Dec. 30 and Jan. 24. Collodel has been charged with five counts of burglary and was ordered detained until a preliminary hearing in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday.

Police said Collodel was arrested Saturday during what court documents describe as a violent struggle that left two District officers injured. Collodel was taken to Howard University Hospital, though his injuries were not detailed. Collodel also was charged with assault on a police officer. On Monday, police said in an affidavit that Collodel damaged a hospital bathroom and destroyed metal railings and water pipes, flooding the room.

The first burglary that police have linked to the spree occurred Dec. 30 at the Bentley, in the 1300 block of 14th Street NW. Police said a drawer behind the concierge desk had been tampered with, and surveillance video showed a man using the computer. Police said Collodels Twitter account had been accessed, which showed pictures matching the person seen on the video. On Jan. 7, police said, Collodel broke into the Homewood Suites in the 1400 block of Massachusetts Ave. NW. The arrest affidavit does not say what was taken.

Washington Post.
Foreign army soldiers who enter Syria without government consent would return home in wooden coffins, Syrias Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said, in a warning to Saudi Arabia. Muallems statement at a news conference on Saturday came two days after Riyadh said it would send troops to Syria if the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) rebel group would approve of it.

When asked about the possibility of Saudi ground troops entering Syria, he said although it was unlikely, with the crazy Saudi leadership nothing is far-fetched. Any ground intervention in Syria, without the consent of the Syrian government, will be considered an aggression that should be resisted by every Syrian citizen, he said. I regret to say that they will return home in wooden coffins.

He repeated the line three times during the one-hour press conference, saying it applies to anyone who attacks Syria with ground troops. Muallem also appeared to indicate a boosted confidence that the governments recent military advances against opposition fighters put it on track towards winning the five-year war.

Like it or not, our battlefield achievements indicate that we are headed toward the end of the crisis, he said, before calling on rebel fighters to come to their senses and lay down their weapons. Muallems comments follow the collapse of the latest UN-led Syria peace efforts and a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive near the city of Aleppo that sent thousands of residents fleeing toward Turkey.

Aljazeera.
Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have gathered near a border crossing with Turkey after fleeing a major government offensive on rebel-held areas in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that his country would keep its open border policy for the refugees, adding that 5,000 of them have already been allowed into Turkey.

Another 50,000 to 55,000 are on their way and we cannot leave them there, he said from the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, after holding talks with EU counterparts.

However, the governor of the Turkish province of Kilis, on the border with Syria, said thousands of Syrian refugees arrived at the Turkish border near Kilis City in the last 48 hours and were being accommodated at camps on the Syrian side of the border.

Suleyman Tapsiz also told reporters at the Oncupinar border crossing near Kilis that another 70,000 Syrians could be expected if Russian air strikes and military advances by the Syrian government continued.

Our doors are not closed, but at the moment there is no need to host such people inside our borders, he told Associated Press news agency, adding that the refugees had been given food, blankets and tents. The Syrian army, backed by Russian military support, is carrying out a major offensive that has sparked a severe humanitarian crisis in rebel-held areas of Aleppo.

Aljazeera.
Some top officials of the federal government who allegedly attempted to inflate the 2016 budget by over N1.7trillion may lose their jobs, The Nation reports.

According to sources of the popular newspaper, the unnamed officials smuggled into the budget proposals items such as vote for Aso Rock Clinic and some communications equipment.

The list of all the culprits was being compiled last night following a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, reports The Nation.

The newspapers sources said last night that the officials decided to jack up the budget proposal by N1.7trillion after learning that the budget for this year would be in the region of N8trillion. They were said to have recommended N3 trillion as overhead costs alone.

Some of the 6,000 items in the 2016 Budget were said to have been smuggled into the proposals by the cartel.

Some top civil servants sabotaged the presidency by including extraneous items in the 2016 Budget, a source told The Nation.

Members of the Budget Mafia are spread across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

When the budget was being compiled, they frustrated all the deadlines set by the presidency.

Despite the vigilance of Buhari and his cabinet, it was embarrassing to the government to hear of some smuggled items.

Bureaucratic resistance and entrenched systemic corrupt practices dogged every move of the presidency to produce proposals reflecting financial prudence and frugality, during the preparation of the 2016 Budget now before the National Assembly.

For instance, after learning that the presidency was considering a large budget of possibly N8 trillion in order to significantly increase capital expenditure, bureaucrats brought a proposal of N9.7 trillion for overhead and capital spending even without personnel spending.

Of the proposed N9.7 trillion, the bureaucrats planned to spend an alarming N3 trillion on overhead alone but the presidency eventually slashed this to N163b lower by 8% than 2015 budget which was N177billion, indicating massive cut of some of the main provisions by the Buhari presidency.

These bureaucrats also proposed to spend N2.1 trillion on personnel for the 2016 estimates compared to about N1.8 trillion in the 2015 budget.

But the presidency also cut this down to N1.7 trillion in the final estimates sent to the legislature, the source said.
A suspected burglar arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command has said that he moved out of his parents home because of the poverty-stricken condition of the environment.

Joseph David, 20, was arrested in Ikeja at about 4.40 a.m., Saturday, after he had successfully burgled two flats in Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja, where he allegedly stole three laptops and five mobile phones.

The police said in a statement, Sunday, that Mr. David was returning to his hotel (name withheld) at the Dopemu area where he had been lodging for over a month when he was arrested.

I was returning to the hotel when I was accosted on Awolowo Way by RRS operatives and they stopped to check my bag, Mr. David, who hails from Ekpoma, Edo State, said in his confessional statement to the police.

They found one Mac laptop; two HP laptops, two iPhone 5; one blackberry classic and two Nokia Touch phones.

The house I broke into is a two storey building behind Jabita Hotel in Balogun, Ikeja. I scaled its fence around 3:00 a.m. and I finished the operation around 4:00 a.m.

Mr. David said he had broken into other houses in the Balogun area in the past, and had stolen handsets and laptops.

He also said he pays N240,000 monthly to service his hotel bills.

I am into yahoo yahoo but money has not been forthcoming like before. I could barely make N100,000 and N50,000 like before. That is why I used break in and steal to augment my earning.

I stay in the hotel with my girlfriend and a couple of friends come around. Benjamin is the only buyer that I have. I have been an embarrassment to my parents.

The police said investigations revealed that there had been repeated cases of burglary around Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja.

Benjamin Odinaka, a phone repairer at the Computer Village in Ikeja, who was also arrested by the police said he usually buys phones and laptops from Mr. David at the latters hotel rooms.

This is the third time that I would be buying laptops and phones from him, said Mr. Odinaka, 18.

I have bought more than seven laptops and several phones. The last time I bought a Mac laptop, an HP laptop, an iphone 5 and a blackberry phone from him.

A resident of Gbajobi Street whose belongings were stolen said burglary had been on the rise in the area.

Daily, we hear report of burglars in houses around us. We dont know this guy and we have not met him before, said the resident who identified himself simply as Daniel.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, the Lagos State Police Command would continue to work hard to ensure the successes recorded so far in the area of security is consolidated and improved upon.

The suspects have been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SAS) for more investigation.

Source: Leadership
Noela Rukundo sat in a car outside her home in Melbourne, Australia, watching as the last few mourners filed out. They were leaving a funeral  her funeral. Finally, she spotted the man shed been waiting for. She stepped out of her car, and her husband put his hands on his head in horror. Is it my eyes? she recalled him saying. Is it a ghost? Surprise! Im still alive! she replied. Far from being elated, the man looked terrified. Five days earlier, he had ordered a team of hit men to kill Rukundo, his partner of 10 years. And they did  well, they told him they did. They even got him to pay an extra few thousand dollars for carrying out the crime.

Now here was his wife, standing before him. In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Rukundo recalled how he touched her shoulder to find it unnervingly solid. He jumped. Then he started screaming. Im sorry for everything, he wailed. But it was far too late for apologies; Rukundo called the police. The husband, Balenga Kalala, ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison for incitement to murder, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (the ABC).

The happy ending  or as happy as can be expected to a saga in which a man tries to have his wife killed  was made possible by three unusually principled hit men, a helpful pastor and one incredibly gutsy woman: Rukundo.

Here is how she pulled it off. Rukundos ordeal began almost exactly a year ago, when she flew from her home in Melbourne with her husband, Kalala, to attend a funeral in her native Burundi. Her stepmother had died, and the service left her saddened and stressed. She retreated to her hotel room in Bujumbura, the capital, early in the evening; despondent after the events of the day, she lay down in bed. Then her husband called.

He told me to go outside for fresh air, she told the BBC. But the minute Rukundo stepped out of her hotel, a man charged forward, pointing a gun right at her.

Washington Post.
Late Ebere Helen Peterss security guard conspired with a gang of kidnappers to have her kidnapped in order to extort money from her husband. Unfortunately, the plan went awryBelow is what her cousin Oby Ndukwe wrote on Facebook:

It was on a faithful day, January 19th when she was lured into rendering assistance to her security guard who claimed to be preparing for his wedding. He asked her to help him plan his wedding, claiming to have N200k.

While she had accepted to help, the guard asked that she followed him to the venue for the reception in order to sign a guarantors form, in the event that in the course of the reception, something goes wrong with the facilities. And off they went to the nonexistent reception venue. Unknown to her, it was a trap. She was to be used as a people bait to force her husband to part with some money. She had been kidnapped!

The wicked guard and his five man gang tortured her as she fought hard to resist being tied up. They so beat her that when she became weak, they got her tied up and called in an elderly untrained nurse to inject with some kind of anaesthesia. From the forced sleep, to a forced death. Death so cheap!

The assailants eventually took her to the hospital, hoping that she was not dead. But, truly, she was dead. Then the hospital management arrested the quack nurse and the guard. The rest is story.

She rose from abject poverty to wealth From the slums of Lagos to the high brow Gowon Estate in Lagos. Death so cruel. A husband, a mother, four children and siblings awaiting her return. But she died while fasting. She died while showing kindness.

Oh Death! why so cruel? Eby, Good night until we meet to part no more. May you find rest in the bosom of the Lord

Source: Facebook
Most people would love nothing more than to quit their jobs and travel the world, but they simply lack the courage, and most importantly, the funds to do so. A young woman from Alabama has managed to do it though, by meeting rich men on the internet and having them pay for dates in some of the most exotic places on Earth. Shes now in a serious relationship with one of them, and he might just turn out to be the one. It all started in December 2014, when 25-year-old Monica Lynn decided that her life was too boring and lacked adventure.

So she quit her high-flying job as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch in order to find something more interesting. Soon, she stumbled upon MissTravel, a website where people search for partners to go on holidays with. I came across Miss Travel in an article about weird websites, Lynn explained. I thought, Yes, that sounds weird  but also kinda cool. This website attracts very successful men who dont have the time to date in the normal way, so this allows them to accelerate the whole thing. Theyre going on trips anyway, and they can afford to search through profiles and afford to bring one they like with them.

Lynn claims that she did have reservations about the whole thing initially, but she signed up anyway and started chatting with a few guys. Within a month, she met a 31-year-old managing director who took her on a week-long holiday to Barbados in February 2015. He paid for everything  her flights, stay at a five-star resort, cocktails, and even gave her gifts including silver jewellery.

Lynn realises that people might get the wrong idea, but she explained that its just like regular dating, except in an exotic location. She stressed that theres no pressure or expectation that she would have to sleep with her sponsors on these trips. That depends on the person and how you behave, she said. Its like any other dating website, its just theres lots of travelling involved.

OC.
News / National

by Dumisani Nsingo

PRESIDENT Mugabe has issued Special Grants to four new companies to explore and extract coal and coalbed methane gas in Matabeleland North Province, bringing the number of firms to exploit the resources to 24.Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said the increase in the number of companies was likely to improve competitiveness in the coal sector which has been a monopoly of the Hwange Colliery Company Limited for over a century until the emergence of new entrants like Makomo Resources which has become the country's leading coal producer with only five years in existence."The President recently gave Special Mining Grants to four companies meaning things are going to get competitive in the coal industry," Minister Chidhakwa said although he could not name the companies.However, sources said one of the company belongs to Nigerian billionaire Mr Aliko Dangote. Mr Dangote has already lined up a number of business ventures in the country in cement production, coal mining and power generation. Last month, the Government confirmed that Dangote Industries officials including geologists were in the country collecting samples for analysis.Although the number of companies to be issued with Special Grants to explore and exploit for coal and coalbed methane gas has been increasing since 2010 only four players started extracting coal and these are Makomo Resources, Garlpex also known as WK Blasting, Chilota and Zambezi Gas. However, Chilota and Zambezi Gas are understood to have stopped operations while China-Africa Sunlight Energy, Discovery Investment and Liberation Mining are still to start operations.In 2014 Government threatened to seize unutilised mining permits through the "use-it-or-lose-it" principle, forcing licence holders to forfeit land as the Government was seeking to increase State revenue from the country's natural-resource wealth. However, the policy is yet to be effected to date. Coal Producers and Processors Association of Zimbabwe (Copaz) president Dr Cephas Mandlenkosi Msipa applauded the entrance of new players into the sector but hinted that the existing macro-economic environment has not been kind to companies operating in the country and naturally new entrants into the coal mining sector have been adversely affected."Copaz has identified five major areas that have impinged on the capacity of new entrants' performance and these are low industrial capacity utilisation and new technologies, introduction of new fuels, reintroduction of credit facilities for coal purchases, exchange rate movements in regional markets and infrastructure and logistic challenges," he said.He said with industrial and manufacturing capacity utilisation having declined from 36 percent in 2014 to 34 percent in 2015 as the combined impact of competition from imports, low local demand, high cost of doing business, capital constraints and antiquated machinery was affecting local industry."Demand for and usage of thermal coal has declined with the situation being exacerbated by the wider usage of new energy sources such as imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Another major factor that has adversely affected new entrants in the coal mining sector is the reintroduction of the 120-day credit facilities by some traditional players enjoying an initial cash flow windfall from the introduction of new contractors," Dr Msipa said.He said this marketing strategy has disadvantaged cash constrained new entrants and it remains to be seen whether the new players can hold on until the time when cash on delivery terms would be reintroduced as debtors were failing to honour their obligations to pay after the initial credit period."In the meantime new entrants to the coal mining sector had fled the local credit-based market and made major inroads into regional cash markets such as Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo. The price and payment terms for exports are on a more level playing field as every coal mining company's exports are regulated by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe."The decline in the value of the Zambian kwacha versus the US dollar from five to one to 10 to one in the second half of 2015 resulted in Zimbabwean coal becoming too expensive for northern markets. A similar phenomenon was experienced in the South African rand shift from 10 to one to 16 to one USA dollar," Dr Msipa said.He said the US dollar denominated costs of rail and road transport to these potential markets has added to the difficulties of the regional importers and ultimately new entrants to the coal mining and distribution sector.
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The Insurance Council of Australia has announced that it has appointed Anthony Day to its board of directors.Day, currently the CEO of commercial insurance at Suncorp , is a well-known figure in the Australian insurance industry and was appointed at a board meeting held in Sydney last week.President of the ICA, Andy Cornish, said that Days three decades of industry experience and knowledge will greatly benefit the organisation moving forward.Mr Day brings three decades of experience in the general insurance industry to the ICA, Cornish said.His fellow Directors look forward to benefitting from his insights and expertise as we seek to chart a path ahead for the sector.Cornish continued that as the ICA moves through 2016, insurers will face growing challenges and Days perspective will be valuable to the organisation.With insurers facing growing challenges from such issues as extreme weather events, disclosure and affordability, Mr Day will bring valuable perspectives to Board discussions and deliberations.Day has been CEO of the commercial insurance arm of Suncorp since October 2009, following a year at the businesses as executive general manager  intermediated distribution.Prior to his time with Suncorp, Day was general manager of general insurance for Zurich after holding various positions with the company and with Chubb Days appointment brings the ICA board to 10 members as leaders from IAG Munich Re , Hollard and others make up the board.
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The admiration the public have for Michael Collins seems unending but things are getting a little out of hand in West Cork where road signs to locations associated with the Big Fellas life are regularly being stolen.

Sadly this means that during the Ireland 2016 commemoration, in honor the centenary of the Easter Rising 1916, the road signs wont be getting replaced. It was hoped that during a year when then number of tourists visiting the site would be on the up that signs pointing the public towards Collins birthplace near Clonakilty and where he was shot, at Beal na Blath might be replaced.

Chairman of the Beal na Blath commemoration committee, Dermot Collins, called the news most disappointing. He asked that the signs be fast-tracked as visitors are often getting lost while searching for the spot.

He also commented on the fact the situation was being compounded by the fact that the few remaining signs are being stolen. Also A sign pointing to the Big Fellas birthplace, at Woodfield, west of Clonakilty, was recently knocked down.

Collins said Some years ago, people used to steal the old wrought iron signs and theyd end up in pubs in America. Then, they started stealing the newer tin signs. It got so bad, we used to put up aeroboard signs a few days before the annual commemoration, but they started disappearing too. Some people were taking them as souvenirs.

The Government has big plans for commemorations throughout the country and surely one of the most basic things is proper signposts to places like Beal na Blath and other Civil War and War of Independence sites, which are close by.

Independence Museum Kilmurry, just two miles from the Beal na Blath, is set to open this Easter. The museum will have a strong focus on the War of Independence and will feature artifacts connected to Beal na Blath and the Kilmichael ambush.

Read more: Site of Michael Collins assassination to be renovated

Chairman Collins said visitors, Irish and from abroad alike, are struggling to find these historic sites.

He said This isnt a good image for the country. People cant understand why these places arent properly signposted. We cant showpiece our history without them.

County Council Officials said they had mapped out locations for the new signs and some were ready to be erected on minor roads. However they told the Irish Examiner that to erect signs on the only national road, in West Cork, (N71) they would need permission from the Transport Initiative Ireland (TII). It could be 2017 before new signs are erected.

Fine Gael Councillor Noel ODonovan told the Examiner he is lodging a motion at the next full county council meeting. He is seeking backing to put pressure on the TII to install the main road signs. He said Its critical they are put up, because theyll point to areas of national importance.

Read more: Michael Collins Dublin walking tour through key locations in the Big Fellas life

The sites in question have major significance and are popular visiting sites for those interested in Irish history and Michael Collins life.

On 22 August 1922, during the Irish Civil War, Michael Collins, the Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-chief of the National Army, was killed in an ambush here by anti-treaty Irish Republican Army forces while travelling in convoy towards Bandon.

A memorial cross stands at Beal na Blath, the site of the shooting on a local road, 1km south of the village which was a dirt road when Collins was shot. A small white cross marks the spot where he fell.

Woodfield, near Sams Cross, Clonakilty, West Cork, is where Michael Collins was born and grew up. Their familys home was burned down by the British Army, in 1920. Their home was located behind the sheds are on the site.
David Drumm, the man long held responsible by many commentators for Irelands banking collapse will return to Ireland and will give up fighting extradition from the US.

Drumm made his intent clear in an interview with The Sunday Business Post reporter Tom Lyons. Im coming home to tell the real story,  he said.

He has been held in a Boston area facility after being arrested and charged on foot of an Irish government extradition warrant.

"As a consequence of my strong desire to get to Ireland, I have instructed my US attorneys last week to explore all opportunities with the US and Irish authorities to expedite a return to Ireland and I have given clear instructions that all rights to challenge the extradition in the US should be waived and no other options available to me should be pursued in order to facilitate an immediate return to Ireland. Im hopeful that I can apply to the court on Monday of next week [ie, tomorrow] to achieve this. I cannot indicate my determination to have these issues dealt with in Ireland any stronger than waiving all my rights to resist extradition."

Drumm who was head of Anglo Irish Bank when it was nationalized and left behind billions in debt has always accepted he had a role in the banking collapse but that others, some never mentioned publicly, have equal roles. He has long been the face put on the financial meltdown.

Part of his reason for returning was the suffering of his family, My detention has had a deep and lasting effect on my family and their sense of security, and indeed the shattering of the notion that every person has certain rights that cannot be denied to them. This is the hardest for them to understand. Despite the awful circumstances, my family have remained staunchly by my side and they support me with incredible dedication. This is far worse for them than it is for me, and yet they endure it with a determined sense that justice will prevail some day and this nightmare will end for all of us.

We have had extraordinary support from our local church and our parish priest, who has visited Lorraine (wife) and the girls at our home many times during this ordeal. This has provided great comfort to my wife and children. My family and Lorraines family in Ireland have disrupted their own lives to be by our side and support me, and I could not endure this without them. The support of my employer, friends and colleagues is a source of great comfort to Lorraine, our girls and me, and we are all incredibly grateful for this.

He denied he had fled Ireland after the crisis to save himself. I was available to the Irish authorities at any time, and indeed informed them in July 2013 that they should contact my US attorney should they wish to speak to me. I informed the local US authorities of the situation with Ireland in January 2015. These are not the actions of a fugitive, yet I am still regarded as having fled. It makes no sense, and I believe the Irish government constructed it.

He says he will name names when he returns of others involved: I have seen first-hand how the Irish government responded to the financial crisis, and this was my first indication that they were not to be trusted. In 2008, a wide group of government representatives were intimately involved in the efforts to save the Irish banking system, and to avert a potential collapse of the economy.

"This included senior civil servants from the Central Bank, Financial Regulator and Department of Finance. Their names have never been published and their roles never examined.

"Almost all of these people escaped any blame and are never associated with what happened in 2008, yet they were central to events. In fact, nothing that transpired could have happened without their involvement. Some remain in their posts, others retired on generous terms . . . none of them attracted the attention of Irish investigators into the banking crisis.

"When I suggest that the names, roles and detailed activities of each of these people will be a central part of my story, I get a ferocious reaction from the Irish government. They will never permit this, and will do everything in their power to silence me. This is a frightening position to be in: stay silent and accept all blame, or tell the story as it was and face the entire might of the Irish government bearing down on you.

"The Irish governments behaviour in all these matters has influenced my thinking, and made me very reluctant to take anything to do with them on face value."

Asked in return for flying home immediately, what he was offering to do? Drumm stated: "I dont see it as offering something in return, or some sort of bargain with the DPP. It is simply this: I have indicated many times my wish to return to Ireland to deal with these issues. I have done this informally for many weeks with the Irish authorities. On January 26, I made my position clear formally in order to prompt at least some response.

"On March 1, just three weeks from now, I will start my defence in the US, and I am strongly advised that I am very likely to get bail once we establish the depth and detail of my defence in the US against extradition. This will certainly take many years, as several commentators have indicated. And it is very likely that most, if not all, of the charges will be struck out in this process.

"Despite this, I want to deal with this in Ireland, and I feel that this would be the better course of action for my family and myself. Indeed, it would be better for Ireland, rather than me having to make my defence on an international stage. I feel very strongly about dealing with this in Ireland, not in the US.

"I understand that the DPP will not agree to our request, and will oppose bail. Although this is a disappointment and very perplexing, it does not diminish my desire to return to Ireland and deal with these issues rather than litigating them over many years in the US. Given the urgency that the Irish government suggests in their desire to see me return you would think that they would agree to this but they have not."
The entire population of a united Ireland would see the economic benefits, economist Michael Burke has said.

Speaking ahead of an appearance at the Strule Arts Centre for a debate on a united Ireland, the former senior international economist with Citibank in London provided a comprehensive case for what he says is the only way for the North to break from a stagnated economy.

The London-based Burke has become one of the leading proponents of the counter-argument that a united Ireland would collapse under the burden of the subvention the North receives from the British Treasury.

In general, in all matters of economics, one tends to hear the cost associated with something. But like any investment or balance sheet, there are two sides to the argument. There are huge opportunities associated with unifying the Irish economy, he said.

Describing Northern Ireland economy as one of the crisis economies in Europe, he said, It is not as bad as Greece, but it is worse than Portugal and worse than the Republic by far and there are no signs of any strong pick-up in the way there are in the Republic.

Burke, also criticizes the argument that a united Ireland could not cope because of the loss of a massive subvention from the U.K. public purse.

He claimed that the argument rests on gross distortion, while completely ignoring the growth potential of a unified economy.

Any deficit that does exist is a function of a long-term economic failure. The people who talk about subvention were talking about it 20 -30 years ago and there has been no one else in charge of economic policy during the entire period. So the failure is laid squarely at their door, Burke says.

They havent been able to develop the Northern Ireland economy and given the current structures, nor will they be able to. Its only a united Ireland economy that can break out of that stagnation by providing long-term prosperity.
The National Archives has released a list of documents related to John F Kennedys assassination that remain shielded from public view.

A list of the 3,063 documents that have been fully withheld since JFKs assassination in 1963 was released on Thursday in response to a Freedom on Information Act request from news organizations and researchers.

The files listed, which were collected by the Assassination Records Review Board, an independent panel created by the 1992 JFK Records Act, will be released by October 2017 unless the next president decides to keep them classified.

POLITICO reports that many of the files are expected to have no direct bearing on Kennedy's death in Dealey Plaza but could reveal intelligence operations involving Cuba, secret relationships between U.S. spy agencies and unsavory characters during the height of the Cold War, as well as other secrets the U.S. government might have resisted disclosing publicly as part of a full and open investigation at the time.

Although the documents may not necessarily reveal whether Lee Harvey Oswald alone, they could help explain why top officials at the time tried to prevent a thorough investigation.

When asked whether there might be any significant revelations about Kennedy's assassination, Martha Murphy, head of the Archives' Special Access Branch, told POLITICO: Ill be honest. I am hesitant to say youre not going to find out anything about the assassination.

According to the Archives, "certain information has been removed" from the list, such as titles and other identifying information, to protect national security, personal privacy and tax information.

The list of documents include CIA personality studies of Lee Harvey Oswald, as well as a telegram about him from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to the State Department a week after the assassination. Oswald is suspected of having visited Mexico City in the weeks before the assassination, reportedly to obtain a travel visa to Cuba. Also included is a pair of telegrams from 1959 regarding Oswalds brother Robert. One of the telegrams is from the State Department to Moscow and the other is from Moscow to Secretary of State Christian Herter.

There are a series of communications from FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, including one titled "Reaction of Soviet and Communist Party officials to JFK assassination" that he sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson's chief of staff, Marvin Watson, a week after the assassination, and another sent a few weeks later to the deputy secretary of state for security relating to Oswald. There is also a series of 1964 memos sent to J. Lee Rankin, the Warren Commissions general counsel, about Jack Ruby, the Dallas night club owner with mafia ties who killed Oswald two days after the assassination in the basement of the Dallas police station.

Also included on the list are at least five communications from Jacqueline Kennedy to President Lyndon B. Johnson in the days immediately following the assassination.

The files contain the top-secret testimony from James Jesus Angleton, chief of the CIA's counterintelligence branch from 1954 to 1975, before the Church Committee, which was convened by the U.S. Senate in 1975 to investigate abuses by the spy agency.

Former military officer and undercover operative Frank Sturgis testimony before the Church Committee in 1975 is also included. Sturgis was one of the five Watergate burglars whose break-in at the Democratic Party headquarters in 1972 led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Also there is longtime CIA officer David Atlee Phillips secret testimony before the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978. Phillips was involved in covert U.S. plans to assassinate Castro and is a person of interest in the JFK case for scholars and researchers.

Regis Kennedy (no relation to JFK) is one of several witnesses connected to the events in Dallas who died before they could be fully questioned. He reportedly suffered a heart attack the day before he was scheduled to testify before a grand jury on confiscated home movies of the assassination. POLITICO reports the documents contain an untitled communication from Justice Department files from Regis Kennedy to the special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans field office on May 18, 1967.

There are also several unidentified CIA documents that have been kept from the public to protect a still-living intelligence source.

A sizable portion of CIA documents related to the assassination have been deemed illegible, including one for the general counsel of the Warren Commission to Richard Helms of the CIA, who managed the agencys cooperation with the independent panel set up by President Johnson and concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin. Another unreadable document is a secret communication from the CIA to the Office of Naval Intelligence about Oswald a month before the assassination, in October 1963.

Also included are documents designated in the 1990s by the Assassination Records Review Board as "not believed relevant" to the assassination, but still of historical interest. These include the CIA "operational" files of E. Howard Hunt, one of the Watergate burglars and a career spy, and a CIA file on Jack Wasserman, a lawyer for New Orleans mafia boss Carlos Marcello and a longtime suspect in the assassination who was also involved in CIA plots to overthrow Castro in Cuba.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE War Veterans Midlands chapter has suspended two of its national representatives with immediate effect and replaced them with new representatives on allegations of holding an unsanctioned meeting in Harare denigrating the association's leadership.The suspended members are secretary for lands George Matenda and Mercy Mashunye, also a member of the national executive.In a statement, Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association Midlands spokesperson Lovemore Madhuku said the two were charged with gross misconduct after they held an unsanctioned meeting in Harare together with members from other provinces, denigrating the association's leadership.Though they did not specify when and what the two said, Madhuku said the two would be replaced by two other members from the province, Master Ndlovu and Joyce Makasa. Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association Midlands Province will today convene a meeting with the association's national chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa.
By Daniel McConnell Political Editor

Sinn Fein's deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she still thinks convicted tax evader Thomas Slab Murphy is a 'good republican', having refused to do so several times last week.

Speaking on Newstalk radio this morning, Ms McDonald became emroiled in a heated spat with Fine Gael MEP and Director of Elections Brian Hayes, whom she described as a gurrier.

Speaking in the context of the gangland murder at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall on Friday, Ms McDonald was pressed about Sinn Fein's call to abolish the Special Criminal Court.

Then Mr Hayes repeatedly asked her whether she still felt Mr Murphy was a 'good republican' and the exchange became very heated.

Do you still think Tom Murphy is a good republican, for the fifth time? Mr Hayes said.

At this point, Ms McDonald claimed she was being harrangued on air by Mr Hayes. She then called him a "gurrier" several times.

Sources have said that the heated exchange continued during a commercial break, and it has been claimed that an irate Ms McDonald left the studio without a formal goodbye.

The Irish Examiner has sought comment from Ms McDonald and from the Sinn Fein press office in relation to the exchange without success.
By Daniel McConnell Political Editor

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has strongly rejected claims he got his figures relating to his planned additional spending wrong, calling on his opponents and the media to prove him wrong.

Speaking at a press event in Dublin this morning, Mr Noonan has also revealed plans to abolish the USC over the lifetime of the Government, but said those earning more than 100,000 will be hit with a 5% clawback.

He said abolishing the hated USC has hampered job creation and is socially divisive.

He said he wanted to reduce the marginal rate to 44% and the top rate to 50%.

The clawback will be phased in over the lifetime of the Government to avoid people on high incomes benefiting disproportionately from the USC cuts, he said.

But it was as to the credibility of his numbers, Mr Noonan angrily said: I totally stand over my figures and I did not generate the figures generated in the Department of Finance.

He said that anyone who asserts his figures are correct and called on anyone who casts doubts on his figures to "Prove it, prove it".

Mr Noonan insisted his numbers do stack up and are not high maths.

He said in total Fine Gael is committed to an extra 12bn of spending, which includes 2bn which is already committed to paying public sector pay increases and spending on capital projects.

Speaking at Fine Gael's election HQ, Mr Noonan said that the plan is part of the Fine Gael commitment to 'Making work pay' strand of the economic plan.

He said that "this time five years ago, people were feeling for the first time the shock of the Universal Social Charge deducted from their pay checks.

The introduction of the USC by Fianna Fail was the last cat of a failed government and their economic mismanagement that ruined the country. It has become the most hated tax in the history of the state, he said.
The former Justice Minister  who had acted as a faithful lieutenant to Mr Kenny  yesterday said he was encouraged to resign from his ministerial position by the Taoiseach in May 2014.

The Taoiseach last night refused to comment on claims he pushed Mr Shatter to step down.

Mr Shatter was one of those who stood by Mr Kenny during Richard Brutons attempted heave in 2010. He was handsomely rewarded by Mr Kenny and given the responsibility of two ministerial portfolios  the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence.

But in politics it appears power and self-preservation trumps loyalty.

And Mr Shatter became a sitting duck when allegations that serious crimes were improperly investigated by the gardai surfaced.

According to Mr Shatter, the Taoiseach decided a sacrifice was needed when barrister Sean Guerins investigation into the handling of garda whistleblower Maurice McCabes allegations of malpractice in the force was published.

For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE

But even in the days after his resignation he remained loyal: I continue to regard the Taoiseach as a friend. I think this was a matter of great difficulty for him.

Although he claimed he was encouraged to step down, Mr Shatter is still holding onto the hope as only a self-assured politician can  of returning to a ministerial position if elected in this months general election.

This brash self-confidence was also seen when Mr Shatter took a High Court challenge in a bid to quash parts of the Guerin report.

His court challenge against the Government-sanctioned Guerin report was subsequently dismissed.

Later the Fennelly report, which looked into circumstances around the retirement of the former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, cleared him of wrong-doing, but he was already firmly seated in the backbenches by then.

During a podcast interview with the Irish Times, Mr Shatter yesterday said his party leader had his own perspective on these things and had put pressure on him to resign.

He said: I resigned for a number of reasons. There was an ongoing media frenzy we were heading into the local and European elections.

It seemed it did not matter if I told the truth or not about issues, it was never ending. I was concerned that it would be damaging to colleagues, good colleagues and friends who were running for local elections.

That weighed heavily on me. Quite clearly the Taoiseach had his own perspective on these things. If I could put it simply he encouraged me to resign in the circumstances as they arose. That is the simple reality and fact, said Mr Shatter.

His comments are at odds with the Taoiseach who back at the time of the resignation said he had no bearing on Mr Shatters decision to step down.

When [Mr Shatter] read the report and went through the relevant sections he made his own choice.

That was the decision that Alan Shatter came to himself and thats directly stated in his own letter, and [he stated] so to me, Mr Kenny said at the time.

However, as he continued his election tour to Cork yesterday evening, Mr Kenny said he would not comment on any conversation he had with any minister.

Mr Kenny said: I would say this, Alan Shatter in his carrying out of his duties as government minister was carrying two portfolios, Justice and Defence, and showed both a prodigious output in terms of work and veracious appetite to deal with many of the serious challenges that lay there.

I hope that Alan Shatter and Josepha Madigan are both returned in that constituency.

And last night Mr Shatter appeared to return to the fold telling the Irish Examiner he wouldnt be speaking further about his resignation.

I am not adding to that.

It is not an issue of any great importance in the context of the general election, he said.

But on the matter of the election, Mr Shatter said he is ready to fight to retain his seat in what he described as the constituency of death of Dublin Rathdown.

He hopes that by getting through the election he can also return to cabinet.

He said: This is the constituency of death. One or two current sitting TDs are going to lose their seat. There are good people who may not get elected.

There are good candidates and good sitting TDs who are not standing. My focus is to get re-elected. Would I like to find myself back in Cabinet? Of course I would. Do I believe that will happen? I simply dont know.

For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE
I wanted to do something music- related from an early age. My parents had tons of vinyl records. When I got older, radio was the only thing I had a huge interest in. Eighty eight percent of this country listen to radio every day because it is such a great medium. I love being on air. Especially when people say I brighten their day.

I dont know how many people find their true calling but I do believe it is never too late to pursue what you want to do.

Im from Castlebar in Co Mayo. My father left school when he was young as his own father passed away and there was no such thing as life insurance back then. He joined a health- care company, working his way all the way up to senior management.

I was a distracted, shy child. I dont think I was never in trouble. When I turned 17, I studied radio and journalism in Dublin for a couple of years at Ballyfermot Senior College. There was no work for me when I returned to Mayo so I borrowed 3,000 to set up my own radio station. Why not? It turned into quite a business, selling advertising, until I saw an undercover squad car outside.

They sat me down and started quizzing me about all the activity, the loud dance music coming from the apartment. In the end, they let it go but out of that, I got a job offer from Midwest Radio.

I wanted to be Mr Hot Jock, on air and playing music, from the start. Later on I realised that you also need to work in programming and to work towards senior management.

My idea of misery is doing something that doesnt challenge me creatively. I dont think Id do well working in a factory glueing handles onto cups all day.

I found being on air weird at first, like I was playing a role. It was a breakfast show, so I was expected to be Mr Sunshine, but when I closed the mic, I could be dying inside.

I have become more disciplined and organised in the last five years, once my children came along. When I was in my 20s, I was a disaster. I even got fired once due to lack of organisation, or lack of respect. I was 21, working on Galway Bay FM. Galway City, money and youth were a bad combination and I forgot to get up a few times. When they fired me from the early morning slot, I felt as if Id lost my legs, I felt that bad about it. But they rehired me to do the evening show.

My biggest fault is being over protective towards my kids. Im always freaking out and worrying about them and my wife Rachel. She is a montessori teacher with her own business in Douglas. We met on a night out in a Cork nightclub at an event for a friend who had passed away. She was there by chance. I was working at it. Rob was the friends name. Now, we have our own little Robin, who is five, and, Fia who is two.

One of my biggest challenges came recently when I was working in Dublin at Today FM. Id worked all my life to get to a job like the one I had there but Rachel wasnt happy. Cork women are hard to get out of Cork. So I said you go home with the girls and Ill commute. I did it for three years until it started to affect my head and my job. Deciding to move back to Cork was one of the toughest decisions Ive had to make. But now, I love being on Red FM.

I can be horrifically self critical. It goes with the job.

Im chilled out at home but can get a bit manic at work. I run and go the the gym twice a week. Im up at 4.15am but that means Im home at 3pm. Im pretty wrecked by evening and in bed by 8pm.

If I could be someone else for a day, Id be Barack Obama. Im a big reader of books on spirituality but Ive no idea if there is an afterlife.

KC (Keith Cunningham) is the programme director and Breakfast Show presenter on Corks Red FM
News / National

by Lincoln Towindo

ZANU-PF will dump - without fear or favour - factionalists seeking to undermine President Mugabe's authority, a senior official has said. When the Politburo meets this Wednesday, said Zanu-PF spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo in an interview with our sister paper, The Sunday Mail, factional battles would be on the agenda.This follows a rabid attempt by some officials in the ruling party, using the private Press and via frenzied tweeting on social media, to demean President Mugabe's appointment of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as attempts to play the VP against First Lady and Zanu-PF Women's League boss Amai Grace Mugabe.There have been direct attacks on Mr George Charamba after he - in his capacity as Presidential spokesperson  made it clear that the President would not tolerate factionalist and successionist machinations. War Veterans Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa has also been targeted.Ambassador Khaya Moyo said, "We are still alarmed that this notorious practice is still going on. The President himself has condemned it, but it would appear that factions still exist. I cannot pre-empt what will happen in due course, but believe me that at our next Politburo meeting, these matters will be brought up with seriousness of purpose."We cannot go on with this disease called factionalism. It does not help us to attract investment and bring stability in the party and the country. It does not promote unity, peace and development which is our motto as a party. It must be weeded out and those responsible must be dealt with without fear or favour."Ambassador Khaya Moyo added that the President's position was uncontestable as he was the only leader elected at Congress."The person who is at the centre of all party activities is, naturally, the President. He is the head of the party, the centre of power; the reason being that he is the only one, in terms of our amended constitution, who is elected at Congress. The rest of the people, including the VPs and the Politburo, are appointed by the President from elected Central Committee members."Given that scenario, naturally, he is the centre of power. This is why some of us have always been bewildered and surprised when we hear that there are factions in the party. A faction obviously has a leader, and if you are a leader of a faction, it means you are also a centre of power. This is totally unacceptable and abominable."In 2014, the Zanu-PF National People's Congress unanimously picked the revolutionary establishment's First Secretary and President as its sole candidate for the next Presidential election, constitutionally due in 2018. This was after President Mugabe led Zanu-PF to a resounding electoral victory in 2013. His position as the party's numero uno was endorsed by the 2015 National People's Conference.However, successionists within Zanu-PF have been working against these outcomes, rapidly pushing towards subverting the party constitution, Congress and Conference. Congress is Zanu-PF's highest decision-making body whose selected functions can be carried out by Conference.As stated by party Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo in his convocation at the December 2015 indaba, Section 33(3) of Article 6 of Zanu-PF's Constitution says the powers and functions of the National People's Conference shall be "to declare the President of the Party elected at Congress as the State presidential candidate of the party".Ambassador Khaya Moyo also said President Mugabe and Zanu-PF's position against abuse of social media platforms to attack fellow party members remained unchanged. But yesterday Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere was quoted in our sister paper The Herald saying the Politburo was unlikely to discuss social media abuses.Lately, Politburo member (science and technology) Professor Jonathan Moyo has been involved in bitter exchanges with Ambassador Mutsvangwa on Twitter. Ambassador Mutsvangwa has subsequently questioned Prof Moyo's loyalties.Yesterday, the war veterans leader said Prof Moyo was "an aspiring tinpot dictator"."Professor (Moyo) extols Rambo, the celluloid American war hero shooting to smithereens lesser human minions. This is a minister from a land that produces immortal modern warriors like legendary General Tongogara. Clearly, a stranger to the history of a country he waxes lyrical about and aspires to emerge as its tinpot dictator. The scorn and irreverence of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde professor has paradoxically served to arouse the Spirit of Chimurenga and he better pay heed."Ambassador Mutsvangwa went on: "I have a modus vivendi with both Kasukuwere and (Youth Minister Patrick) Zhuwao. I am impressed by the youthful energy, and their zeal. I pray hard that it makes recourse to all the rich history of the party that has achieved so much. Jonathan Moyo is a different kettle of fish. A war deserter with a chameleon modus operandi, he is the Gregori Rasputin ghost of Zimbabwe politics and governance. He long ago sold his soul to the right wing regime change operatives of Uncle Sam. As a revolutionary cadre, I have no truck at all with such a life of compelling treachery."These stand out by refusing to submit to discipline by defying His Excellency's strictures as enunciated through his spokesman. On social media, while it is understandable to set party guidelines, the real focus should be on weeding out planted agents and foreign spies."
President Barack Obama's $4 billion computer science initiative, announced Saturday, is getting financial help from two India-based IT offshore firms. They are joining other tech firms contributing to parts of this program.

The firms, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, sit at the top of the pyramid of IT services firms that rely on H-1B visas. They are among the most successful firms in the IT services business.

Infosys and Tata delivered IT services to Southern California Edison and Northeast Utilities (now called Eversource Energy). Employees complained of being forced to train foreign workers to take their jobs, often as a condition of their severance packages.

Most recently, Northeast Utilities IT workers hung small American flags on their cubicles. The flags were meant to protest the transfer of their jobs to the IT services firms.

"It's a no-brainer for Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services to contribute to this Obama administration-driven initiative," said Ron Hira, an associate professor of public policy at Howard University, who has testified on the H-1B use before Congress.

"For very little cost it buys both companies ... positive public relations, but more importantly a perception by those inside and outside of government that they have a close working relationship with the White House," he said.

TCS spokesman Benjamin Trounson responded with this statement: "Over the past five years, TCS has been a leading proponent of creating much needed and scalable STEM education programs in the U.S. We're delighted by President Obama's bold new initiative and our involvement in the National Science Foundation and NPower, in addition to being a founding partner of key campaigns such as Million Women Mentors and US2020. Moreover, TCS' own goIT program has already engaged 10,000+ middle and high school students in 27 cities via design, digital technology and career readiness workshops."

Under the new plan, the Obama administration wants to expand computer science training in elementary and secondary schools. The administration estimates that only about a quarter of all K-12 schools provide computer science instruction.

Infosys Foundation USA, the company's philanthropic arm, is contributing $1 million for computer science professional development programs for teachers, and Tata is providing an unspecified number of grants to teachers in 27 U.S. cities. The effort was described in a White House fact sheet.

The White House is also getting help from Microsoft, Google and Salesforce.com, among other tech firms. Congress will still need to fund $4 billion to pay for the program; the tech firms are contributing above and beyond that level.

Hira said it's "downright baffling" why the White House is partnering with Infosys and Tata.

"Whatever ethical judgment you make about their business model, it is clearly designed to undermine the objectives of the White House initiative," said Hira. "These firms employ a pure-play offshore outsourcing business, where their goal is to ship as many IT jobs offshore as possible," he said.

Tech industry trade groups run public relations campaigns that tout the benefits of raising the H-1B cap and deny, dismiss or minimize reports of U.S. worker displacements. Those most affected face risks in speaking out.

Severance agreements with non-disparagement clauses, along with fears of being blacklisted in a job hunt, make it hard to IT workers to tell their stories. Meanwhile, the tech industry's public relations effort continues, with handouts to lawmakers that say: "H-1B workers complement -- instead of displace -- U.S. workers."

The IEEE-USA, the largest engineering association in the U.S., is running a petition drive urging the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the H-1B program.

The tech industry says there is a skills shortage and it wants more H-1B visa holders to meet the need.

"This makes me angry," said Sara Blackwell, a Florida attorney representing some laid-off Disney IT workers, said of the involvement of the IT services firms with the White House initiative.

"Thousands of tech American workers are being fired and replaced" by firms "that are offering money to help educate Americans," said Blackwell.

"This puts out the message that Americans are not educated enough to do these IT jobs, which is wholly incorrect and offensive," said Blackwell,

The Disney employees Blackwell is representing have filed lawsuits against Disney and two IT services firms, Cognizant and HCL, which are not involved in the White House program.

The idea that there is a skills shortage is sharply disputed among independent researchers, but especially among U.S. IT workers displaced by foreign workers on temporary work visas.

Both Tata and Infosys are facing discrimination lawsuits from U.S., workers. Both firms have called the lawsuits groundless.

Infosys, in 2013, paid $34 million to the U.S. to settle allegations of visa abuse. The settlement, signed by both parties, included no admission of wrongdoing and imposed no limits on the firm's federal contracting. In the settlement, Infosys denied the claims, calling them untrue and unproven.

Last June U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) announced that the U.S. Department of Labor had opened an investigation into Infosys and Tata following the layoffs at Southern California Edison to determine whether there was any violation of the law.

In a joint statement, the two senators wrote: "A number of U.S. employers, including some large, well-known, publicly-traded corporations, have laid off thousands of American workers and replaced them with H-1B visa holders. To add insult to injury, many of the replaced American employees report that they have been forced to train the foreign workers who are taking their jobs. That's just plain wrong and we'll continue to press the Administration to help solve this problem."

In September, Infosys said the Department of Labor had concluded its investigation and found no violations.

If IT services firms "are off the hook, then it's open season to replace any and every American white-collar worker," said Hira. "That's not only disappointing, it is self-defeating since the best ambassadors to any profession are the workers who are already in it."

After reading this announcement, IT workers are "right to feel like the current government is working to undermine their careers," said Hira. "Any rational IT worker would tell young people to stay away from the IT profession," he said.
Do you guys know what next week is? It's the start of marathon training for me! Yes, after announcing that I am running the Chicago Mara...
News / National

by Staff Reporter

War veterans minister, Chris Mutsvangwa on Saturday labelled rival Professor Jonathan Moyo "an aspiring tinpot dictator".He suggested that Moyo was a planted agents and foreign spy."Professor (Moyo) extols Rambo, the celluloid American war hero shooting to smithereens lesser human minions. This is a minister from a land that produces immortal modern warriors like legendary General Tongogara."Clearly, a stranger to the history of a country he waxes lyrical about and aspires to emerge as its tinpot dictator. The scorn and irreverence of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde professor has paradoxically served to arouse the Spirit of Chimurenga and he better pay heed."Ambassador Mutsvangwa went on: "I have a modus vivendi with both Kasukuwere and (Youth Minister Patrick) Zhuwao. I am impressed by the youthful energy, and their zeal."I pray hard that it makes recourse to all the rich history of the party that has achieved so much. Jonathan Moyo is a different kettle of fish. A war deserter with a chameleon modus operandi, he is the Gregori Rasputin ghost of Zimbabwe politics and governance."He long ago sold his soul to the right wing regime change operatives of Uncle Sam. As a revolutionary cadre, I have no truck at all with such a life of compelling treachery."These stand out by refusing to submit to discipline by defying His Excellency's strictures as enunciated through his spokesman. On social media, while it is understandable to set party guidelines, the real focus should be on weeding out planted agents and foreign spies."
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

Under-fire Zanu PF Politburo Secretary for science and technology Professor Jonathan Moyo has vowed not to dump twitter.Moyo says the @ProfJNMoyo handler is a private account.Last year, President Robert Mugabe warned his fellow comrades not to attack one another on social media platforms.However, Moyo who has of late used his account to lambast top party members is defying the order.He posted on Saturday: "This is a private account. It can't be banned. Those calling for its banning are trolls or faceless columnists!".
Finding common ground between faith and reason can be a tricky task, but Religion and Science Lecture Series co-organizer Ed Womack said he embraced realms of thought  even while serving as a Methodist pastor for 60 years.



Ive never felt a conflict between science and religion, so when I heard about the Clergy Letter Project  pastors, churches and scientists who see no necessary conflict between science and religion  I decided to support its cause, Womack said. I was teaching Bible study at Mountain View United Methodist Church [in Cottonwood] at the time, and the pastor and church council decided to sign on with the project.

According to Womack, the project began humbly enough: With the help of Howie Usher, a member of the church and a teacher of biology at Mingus Union High School, Womack started hosting lectures on Evolution Sunday  that is, the Sunday closest to Charles Darwins birthday.

Howie had a lecture on evolution and I had one on the creation stories in Genesis, Womack said. Both were well received, except that people complained because they couldnt attend both lectures. A couple of years later, we decided to make the lectures more accessible by having lectures in the afternoon during each Sunday in February, as well as open to the public.

The lectures, which are sponsored by Mountain View United and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Clarkdale, are now celebrating their ninth year. Consciously, organizers have not emphasized evolution, opting instead to bring scientists from various fields to lecture. The majority of speakers use PowerPoint presentations and provide ample time for questions.

The lectures have been held at Mountain View United Methodist Church for the past eight years, Womack added. But when Pastor Mari Larson and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church signed on to the Clergy Letter Project in 2015, I asked if they would be interested in hosting the lectures in 2016, and they agreed. Therefore, the lectures will be held at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church this year.

- Advertisement -

Womack stressed that neither he nor Larson gather information from the 35 to 45 participants who attend each lecture.

The lectures have never been a tool to recruit new church members, Womack said. Thats why we do not keep a sign-in sheet or ask for contact information. By having science lectures in a church we hope that people will get the message that we see no necessary conflict between science and religion, and we hope that the church has helped them learn something new, whether it is religious or not.

Hopefully, we are inviting speakers people may not hear in other places . We are trying to present the church as a place where you can ask questions and learn new things.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Marco Rubio, a first-term senator on the rise in the presidential race, faced a barrage of attacks in Saturday night's Republican debate, with rivals vigorously challenging his readiness to be president and the depth of his expertise as they sought to salvage their own White House hopes.

Sen. Ted Cruz, fresh off his victory in the Iowa caucuses, also came under withering criticism for controversial political tactics, with one candidate disparaging him for having "Washington ethics" and being willing to test the campaign's legal limits.

The focus on the two senators allowed GOP front-runner Donald Trump to go largely untouched in his return to the debate stage. His grip on the Republican lead has been shaken by his second-place finish in Iowa, though the next contest Tuesday in New Hampshire is still his to lose.

New Hampshire's primary could further winnow an already shrinking GOP field. Hard-fought, expensive and far-ranging, the campaign has become a fight for the future of the Republican Party, though the direction the GOP will ultimately take remains deeply uncertain.

Florida's Sen. Rubio has sought to appeal both to mainstream Republicans and those eager to upend the status quo. But his rivals, particularly New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have been blistering in their criticism of what they see as his slim qualifications to serve as commander in chief.

"You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable," Christie said. "You just simply haven't."

Christie, as well as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, has staked his campaign on New Hampshire, pouring most of his resources into the state in recent weeks. All three played a more substantial role in this debate than in earlier contests, though each is still likely to face intense pressure to end his campaigns if he's unable to pull off a strong finish in New Hampshire.

Gov. Christie has built his closing argument around his criticism of Rubio, and he kept up that approach on the debate stage. He accused the senator of being a candidate governed by talking points  then pounced when the senator played into his hands by repeating multiple times what appeared to be a planned response to criticisms about his qualifications.

"That's what Washington, D.C., does," Christie said. "The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him."

Rubio has sought to deflect criticism of his relative inexperience and the comparisons it draws to President Barack Obama by arguing the problem with the president isn't that he's naive, but that he's pushing an ideology that hurts the country. He made that point repeatedly throughout the debate.

Rubio wavered in defending his decision to walk away from the sweeping immigration bill he originally backed in the Senate  perhaps the legislation he's most closely associated with  and said he wouldn't pursue similar legislation as president.

"We can't get that legislation passed," Rubio said of the bill that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the United States illegally. The senator found his footing later in the debate when outlining his call for more aggressive action to fight the Islamic State and emphasizing his anti-abortion stance.

Cruz was the victor in Iowa, triumphing over billionaire Trump by drawing heavily on the support of evangelical voters. But he's faced criticism for messages his campaign sent to voters ahead of the caucuses saying rival Ben Carson  another favorite of religious conservatives  was dropping out and urging the retired neurosurgeon's supporters to back him instead.

Cruz apologized for his campaign's actions Saturday, but not before Carson jabbed him for having "Washington ethics."

Those ethics, he said, "say if it's legal, you do what you do to win."

Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses. After spending the past several days disputing his second-place finish in Iowa, he sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign, including blocking Muslims from coming to the U.S. and deporting all people in the country illegally, all while maintaining his has the temperament to serve as president.

"When I came out, I hit immigration, I hit it very hard," Trump said. "Everybody said, 'Oh, the temperament,' because I talked about illegal immigration."

Kasich, who has staked his White House hopes on New Hampshire, offered a more moderate view on immigration, though one that's unpopular with many GOP primary voters. He said that if elected president, he would introduce legislation that would provide a pathway to legalization, though not citizenship, within his first 100 days in office.

The debate began shortly after North Korea defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

Asked how he would respond to North Korea's provocations, Bush said he would authorize a pre-emptive strike against such rockets if it was necessary to keep America safe. Cruz demurred, saying he wouldn't speculate about how he'd handle the situation without a full briefing. And Trump said he'd rely on China to "quickly and surgically" handle North Korea.

With fewer candidates, debate host ABC News scrapped an undercard debate for low-polling hopefuls. But their rules for the main event left businesswoman Carly Fiorina as the only candidate without a spot on stage, an exclusion she vigorously protested to no avail.
In Wisconsin, where Sanders and Clinton debate Thursday night, theres a simple shorthand for the contrast in their coalitions: Madison vs. Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Voter The Journal Sentinel's Craig Gilbert explores political trends in a purple state and beyond. SHARE Click image to enlarge.

By of the

Nashua, N.H.  Two different Democratic coalitions are lining up behind Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in this state and elsewhere.

Sanders does better with the young, the secular, the very liberal and men.

Clinton does better with women, older voters, moderates and African-Americans.

These patterns left their stamp on the Iowa caucuses last Monday. They'll help determine New Hampshire's presidential primary Tuesday.

And because each state has a different population mix, they'll influence the Democratic race in every contest ahead, including the April 5 Wisconsin primary.

In Wisconsin, where Sanders and Clinton debate Thursday night, there's a simple shorthand for the contrast in their coalitions: Madison vs. Milwaukee.

Sanders' demographic and political strengths within the party are tailor-made for one of state's two big Democratic hubs (Madison), and Clinton's strengths are tailor-made for the other (Milwaukee).

"I've always said demographics aren't destiny," Clinton strategist Joel Benenson told reporters here Friday.

"You can't take any of these states or any voters for granted, or assume these patterns play out state by state. But if you look at them as they line up, I think some of these (states) are going to pose challenges for (Sanders), some challenges for us," said Benenson, who worked for President Barack Obama's campaign in 2008 and 2012.

These fault lines do not represent warring factions in the party, at least for now. In New Hampshire, both candidates have very positive ratings from Democrats. The same is true in Wisconsin. But they do reflect competing views about the party's direction.

For a deeper look at these patterns, we examined national surveys and statewide polls in Iowa, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Six months of Wisconsin polling by the Marquette University Law School was pooled to provide more detail about the Sanders and Clinton coalitions.

Most of the Wisconsin numbers in this story understate Sanders' support because they combine surveys from the second half of 2015, when he trailed Clinton in Wisconsin by 10 or 12 points, with the 2016 polling, in which the two are roughly tied. But the focus here is on the fault lines themselves, which have been consistent over time. (The breakdowns below for different voting groups in Wisconsin refer only to Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, not to all voters):

Gender. In Iowa last week, Clinton won women by 9 points and Sanders won men by 8. A persistent gender gap in the Democratic race may have more to do with attitudes toward Clinton than with attitudes toward Sanders. In the Wisconsin polling, there's not much difference in how Democratic women and Democratic men view Sanders, the senator from Vermont. But there is a real gap in how they view Clinton. Clinton's positive rating among women is 10 points higher than it is among men (76% vs. 66%) and her negative rating is 10 points lower (14% vs. 24%).

Age. This has become a signature fault line in the race, as it was between Clinton and Obama in the Democratic primaries eight years ago. The age gap in Iowa was staggering: Sanders won voters under 30 by 70 points and Clinton won voters 65 and over by more than 40 points. The age gap is almost as big in Marquette's last poll. It's one reason Sanders has been leading in Wisconsin among unmarried men, while Clinton has been leading among married men.

But here are two things to keep in mind about the age gap.

First, in some polls, it's bigger among men than among women. In the Wisconsin polling, Sanders has averaged a more than 50-point lead among men under the age of 30. But his lead among women under 30 has averaged just 10 points. Young women, while they favor Sanders, still give Clinton very positive ratings. But young men are a different story. They are much more divided in their views of Clinton and their support for Sanders is overwhelming.

"So much is written about Clinton's trouble with young women," said Charles Franklin, who conducts the Marquette poll and provided the Wisconsin data used here. "But those women are supporting her at noticeably higher rates (than) young men. Age is driving them to Sanders, but gender is driving them to Clinton. There's a balancing act between these two forces."

A second point is that the age gap works both ways. The flip side of Clinton's disadvantage with young Democrats is her very large advantage with older Democrats. Clinton does well against Sanders with both sexes among older voters. And these voters matter because they turn out. In Iowa, there were many more voters 65 and over than voters under 30.

Ideology. Clinton does better with more moderate Democrats, Sanders with the most liberal Democrats. It's not that staunch liberals are hostile to Clinton. But they're crazy about Sanders. In Marquette's polling, 82% of "very liberal" Democrats have a favorable view of Sanders and only 3% have an unfavorable view.

The more liberal you are, the more likely you are to have an opinion of Sanders and that opinion is almost guaranteed to be positive. Less liberal voters don't know Sanders nearly as well.

"One of the (questions) for Sanders is, as he gets better known among non-liberal voters ... will their ideology make them less predisposed to support him?" Franklin said.

Partisan affiliation is another political fault line in the race. Clinton does better with partisan Democrats, Sanders with independents.

Church attendance. Clinton has enjoyed double-digit leads in Wisconsin among people who go to church with any frequency, while Sanders has led among those who seldom or never attend church. In a New Hampshire poll by NBC News, The Wall Street Journal and Marist, Clinton and Sanders were roughly tied with Democrats who practice a religion, but Sanders led by almost 30 points among those who don't.

Race. Clinton dominates the national polling among African-American voters, while white Democrats are much more divided. Neither Iowa nor New Hampshire has many African-American voters, a big help to Sanders, but that changes dramatically in the South Carolina primary Feb. 27. The large role the African-American vote plays in Democratic politics in many states may be the single greatest barrier that Sanders must overcome in his bid for the nomination.

In Marquette's Wisconsin polling, Clinton's numbers among black Democrats are superlative: roughly 90% have a positive view of her, hardly any have a negative view, and she dominates the matchup with Sanders, who isn't nearly as well known with African-Americans as he is with white voters.

Region. In Wisconsin, the byproduct of these political and demographic fault lines is a regional one. The Madison TV market is the only part of the state where Sanders has enjoyed a clear edge over Clinton in recent months, boosted by his strength among young and very liberal voters. But in the city of Milwaukee, Clinton has led Sanders by an average of more than 30 points, reflecting her strength among African-Americans and older and more moderate white Democrats. It made perfect sense that Sanders' first Wisconsin stop last year was Madison and Clinton's was Milwaukee.

The polling numbers reflect "divisions on age and ideology, especially, and race to some extent, and how that's embedded in our geography," Franklin said. "You see it dividing up right along I-94 between the state's two strong Democratic bastions."

Those two areas alone won't determine the outcome of the Wisconsin primary if the race is still going strong in April. "There rest of the state really does matter," Franklin said.

But they do symbolize the Democrats' two different and offsetting coalitions in the party. In Marquette's January poll, Clinton and Sanders were just 2 points apart in Wisconsin.

"If nothing changes between now and April, we're very much a state that (Sanders) has a chance to win," Franklin said. "The caveat is by April, he should be vastly better known in the state than he is now. The question is, does that help him or hurt him statewide?"

In New Hampshire, the Democratic electorate favors Sanders in ways that go beyond any "local" advantage he may have as a fellow New Englander. It's very white, very secular and very liberal. And the state's primary is open to independents.

That's why Sanders has enjoyed a sizable lead in the polls, is favored to win and cannot afford to lose on Tuesday.
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Madison A former Wisconsin Capitol Police officer is accused of stealing and selling a state-owned painting by Wisconsin artist Aaron Bohrod.

Travis Sackett, 32, of Tempe, Arizona, was charged Friday with theft and misconduct in public office, both felonies, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. He's scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

According to the complaint, Sackett was a Capitol Police officer from March 2009 to February 2011. He worked nights at the governor's mansion in Maple Bluff.

A Bohrod painting called "Gold Fantasy Box" was discovered missing from storage at the residence last month and recovered from a Connecticut art dealer. The complaint says the painting was sold in February 2011.

A state employee tracked the missing painting down on the Internet. Joan Sample, who works for the state Department of Administration, was hired to audit and catalog state-owned property at the governor's residence. All of the artwork was accounted for except a piece by Bohrod, a former UW-Madison artist-in-residence who died in 1992. The painting in its gold and velvet frame was missing from the security room of the residence, the complaint said.

Sample looked on the Internet and found the painting for sale by a Connecticut art dealer.

The art dealer who bought the painting said he paid "about $2,000" for it and had it for sale for $3,000. Donald Barese, of Don Barese Fine Art and Antiques in Hamden, Conn., said he had the painting up for sale for four years but, "It didn't sell."

The surreal-style painting features a bright gold-colored chest with gold-colored toys and a white glove. Barese said the man who sold the painting to him said he bought it at an estate sale for $400.

Capitol Police referred calls from the newspaper to a supervisor who would not be available until Monday. A spokesman for the Department of Administration, which controls the property, was unaware of the case. It was unclear Saturday if Sackett has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

WORLD Vision will this year import an estimated 4 210 tonnes of sorghum to distribute among villagers who assisted in the construction of seven weir dams in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.Manica Post reported that the USAID funded Non-Governmental Organisation is bringing foodstuffs to add on the existing 787 tonnes that are stocked at its Mutare warehouses.The consignment is expected to be delivered between February and May this year. Communities that will benefit from this programme include Chimanimani, Chipinge, Buhera and a few districts in Masvingo under the Food for Assets project. Food for Asset is a programme where participating villagers in drought prone areas are rewarded with sorghum and cooking oil among other goodies in view of their participation in community development projects.Notable projects that have been completed using this approach include Birirano Dam in Chidzadza area under Chief Mutema and other projects in Chimanimani, Chipinge and Buhera.Dams that are undergoing construction using the FFA are Maputo, Dzotiro Changadzi, Bangwe, Chinyamazizi, Tarwira and Gurupa.World Vision deputy chief of party for FFA, Mr Richard Ndou, commented villagers for the hard work."It is not only the direct beneficiaries of the structures being built who are coming in to work. Any other people in these areas are coming to work since they know that they will benefit at the end. This is making work easier," said Mr Ndou.He said the same approach would be used to undertake a total of 32 projects this year in Chipinge, Chimanimani and Buhera.
A Carnotaurus, a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the Late Cretaceous period, is on display. Credit: Mike De Sisti

By of the

Most scientists agree that dinosaurs once roamed the land now called Wisconsin: toothy Tyrannosaurus rexes, pointy-backed Stegosauruses, triple-horned Triceratops, vegetarian Brontosauruses. They were all here.

But they didn't stay here. At least their bones didn't.

Wisconsin's dinosaur record is nonexistent. No skeletons. No skulls. No giant tibias. Not even tracks.

Which is why dinosaur hunters head to Montana instead of Wisconsin.

When the giant asteroid slammed into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and sealed the fate of dinosaurs, the creatures clomping across Wisconsin most likely died like their brethren elsewhere, their bones eroding over the millenniums and eventually getting swept away in the glacier that covered much of the state.

But there are asteroid craters in Wisconsin. They're not as big as the one from the asteroid credited with the dinosaur demise, and they're not easy to spot.

"If we could do an X-ray of Wisconsin, we'd find lots of these impact events in the subsurfaces," said Peter Sheehan, Milwaukee Public Museum's curator emeritus of geology and an expert on dinosaur extinction. "But when it's eroded to the top it gets covered so you don't find a lot of them."

Part of Sheehan's research will be included in "Ultimate Dinosaurs," the Milwaukee Public Museum's new exhibit opening to the public on Sunday. The exhibit focuses on dinosaurs from the Southern Hemisphere and features the differences in the evolution of animals as Earth's land mass separated and shifted.

The museum is expecting large crowds for the exhibit, which runs through May 15, and a companion planetarium show, "Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?" produced by Daniel M. Soref Planetarium director Bob Bonadurer.

Even though it has been 65 million years or so since the dinosaur extinction, folks in the 21st century continue to be fascinated by them, probably because of their ferociousness and size.

"They're extreme beasts, they're terrible lizards," said Bonadurer. "They're so incredibly different from anything else. I don't think they'd be so popular if they weren't so fascinating for kids."

A few decades ago, some scientists theorized dinosaurs were killed by a single cataclysmic event.

The theory has gained steam since then and today it's generally accepted that the asteroid that punched a hole in Mexico was the trigger that felled the mighty dinosaurs.

By the time that asteroid hit, Wisconsin was already pock marked with meteor craters. The most well-known is a 4-mile wide, 3/4-mile deep crater in western Wisconsin near the small community of Rock Elm.

Bill Cordua, a University of Wisconsin-River Falls emeritus geology professor, began mapping the site near Rock Elm in 1983, drawn like other geologists to the unusually shaped rocks.

A scholarly paper he co-wrote in 2004 established the site as a meteor crater after sand-sized grains of fractured quartz were discovered.

"The rocks are messed up, and geologists like rocks that are messed up," said Cordua of the oddly shaped formation sticking up from the center of the impact site.

Western Wisconsin is made up of flat sedimentary rocks that haven't changed much since they were deposited 400 million to 500 million years ago. But at the Rock Elm site, rock layers that should be there are missing and layers that should be buried below the surface rise up like a breaching sperm whale. From above, it takes a keen eye to see the Lifesaver-shaped spot now covered in farmland, forest and a county park.

Geologists scouring the site determined the asteroid slammed into Wisconsin at 43,000 miles per hour with the energy of 63,000 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs. It would have flattened everything within a 45-mile radius.

Two years ago a University of Puerto Rico geologist discovered a very rare mineral  reidite  in a rock sample taken from the Rock Elm site. Reidite doesn't come from space; it's created when asteroids or meteors hit Earth.

Rock Elm is one of only four meteor craters on Earth where reidite has been found.

The difference between asteroids and meteors is basically size. Both are chunks of rock. Asteroids are bigger than meteors.

The dinosaur-slaying asteroid "was much bigger than any of the ones in Wisconsin," said Cordua.

"Ours were sort of small potatoes. They probably made things disastrous locally, but were not part of a global process."

When the Rock Elm asteroid hit 450 million years ago, the inland seas in this region were retreating and scientists debate whether western Wisconsin was dry land or a shallow sea. At that time, seas featured a diverse ecosystem with corals, trilobites, plankton, fish and worms while life on land was mostly lichens and other plants, Cordua said.

About 200 million years after the Rock Elm asteroid, the first dinosaurs appeared and all of the creatures seen in the "Jurassic Park" movies were most likely right here in Wisconsin. And when the Yucatan Peninsula asteroid hit, it was felt here, too.

"If you look at a world atlas, we're not far from Montana. That's where the best evidence of dinosaur extinction is in the world," said Sheehan, who led Milwaukee Public Museum dinosaur expeditions to Montana.

"Within a few hundred miles of the (Yucatan) crater, everything was pulverized by the blast. By the time you get into Wisconsin it's similar to what was happening around the world. Global fires do most of the initial killing. The second part is all the soot, dust and gases cause darkness and gives us the period of darkness where the plants die and the food chain collapsed," Sheehan said.
By of the

It's not often that Milwaukee residents can vote twice for the same person in one election.

But in the Feb. 16 primary, Ald. Bob Donovan's name appears on the ballot twice  he's simultaneously running for mayor and seeking re-election to his Common Council seat.

Neither race is expected to be easy for him.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who is seeking his fourth-term, was re-elected by an overwhelming majority in both 2008 and 2012. Ald. Joe Davis, who is not seeking re-election, and political newcomer James Methu are also running for mayor.

At the same time, Donovan is trying to defend his seat representing District 8 on the south side from two challengers, state Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) and Justin Bielinski, who works with special education students. In early fliers, Donovan urged voters in his district to back him for both offices  but a recent mailer to his constituents made no mention of his mayoral ambitions.

"Alderman Donovan pledges to continue his work to keep the 8th District strong and represent you at City Hall!" his latest flier reads.

Zepnick, who was first elected to the state Assembly in 2002, benefits from the name recognition that comes with being in elected office for more than a decade. And Bielinski has said that he's already finished up his fifth round of going door-to-door in the district.

Another City Hall veteran on the primary ballot is Ald. Robert Puente, who was first elected in 2004. Puente, who previously served 27 years with the Milwaukee Police Department, faces five challengers for his District 9 seat representing the northwest side. They include Frank S. Emanuele Jr.; David D. King, founder of the Milwaukee God Squad; Chantia Lewis, a board member for the worker rights group 9to5 Wisconsin; Penny Sikora, a former legislative director for the local transit union; and Milwaukee County Supervisor Martin "Mac" Weddle.

King has had some legal troubles. And Sikora has been convicted of theft, faced some financial problems and has been accused of domestic abuse.

The two open seats on the Common Council have also generated a flurry of interest.

District 2. Davis' decision not to seek re-election as he runs for mayor has triggered a five-way primary race in the north side district. Those five candidates running for the open seat are Keith Bailey, who works for the Department of City Development; community activist Tracey Dent; former Barrett staffer Chevy Johnson; longtime Davis aide Sherman Morton; and special education teacher Larresa Taylor.

Bailey, a city real estate coordinator who sells tax foreclosed homes, also founded Milwaukee Matters, a group focused on helping victims of violence and their families. He recently opened a campaign office on N. 76th St. Johnson worked as a staff assistant in the mayor's office, but left that position to run for Common Council. He traces his interest in politics back to Milwaukee's Sponsor-A-Scholar program, which he participated in at age 14.

District 7. The west side seat opened up when Ald. Willie Wade announced in November that he wouldn't seek re-election. He resigned on Feb. 1, saying he was accepting a job as vice president of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board. The five people running for the seat representing District 7 are Milwaukee School Board President Michael Bonds, County Supervisor Khalif Rainey, Randy Jones, David Crowley and Vivian Redd-Fehr.

Crowley is on the board of the Milwaukee chapters of the NAACP and the ACLU and also recently worked for state Sen. Nikiya Harris Dodd.

The Feb. 16 primary ballots will feature candidates in seven of Milwaukee's 15 Common Council races. In two-person races, there is no need for a primary, so both candidates will appear on the April 5 general election ballot. Early voting in the primary ends Friday.

The other aldermanic races with primaries:

District 3. Ald. Nik Kovac, who was first elected in April 2008, is facing a pair of challengers for his seat representing the city's east side, Riverwest and part of downtown. They are Shannan Hayden and Ira Robins, who worked as an investigator on the high-profile Laurie "Bambi" Bembenek case, pursuing it for more than 20 years.

District 4. Ald. Bob Bauman, who was first elected in April 2004, faces challenges from Monique Kelly and Andrew Shaw for his seat representing downtown and the west side. Shaw, an attorney, previously ran unsuccessfully for Milwaukee mayor and judge.

District 6. Ald. Milele Coggs, who was first elected to represent the near north side and part of downtown in 2008, faces three challengers: Ronny Thompson, Majungaray Watts and community activist Tory Lowe.

The top two vote-getters in primary races advance to the April 5 election.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will give his state of the city speech Monday morning. Credit: Mike De Sisti

By of the

The City of Milwaukee is fighting back.

That's the message Mayor Tom Barrett aims to deliver in his "state of the city" address on Monday.

In his speech, which will be at the Hmong American Peace Academy on N. 84th St., Barrett is expected to highlight the city's improving employment situation  saying that more Milwaukee residents are working than at any point since 2001.

He also will highlight the city's progress on foreclosed homes.

"We put in place an ambitious and aggressive effort to sell city-owned foreclosed homes to responsible owners. And in 2015, we sold 511 homes to new owners  and about 60% of the buyers are owner-occupants. We've reached an important milestone. Since my Strong Neighborhoods effort started in 2014, we now, just last week, have sold 1,000 improved properties," Barrett said.

He said, "I've got optimism in the future of the city."

The mayor said he chose the Hmong charter school, in part, to highlight the critical role immigrants play in the country at a time that some politicians are villainizing them.

But Barrett added that he also wanted to highlight his administration's work to boost education initiatives, such as building a stronger summer school program as well as renovating Milwaukee's libraries to become modern job and educational hubs.

"They're not your grandma's libraries," Barrett said.

The mayor is also expected to tout the city's declining teen pregnancy rate, economic development and Milwaukee's transitional jobs program aimed at helping those who've made past mistakes "get the momentum they need" to get on the right track.

"We know that there are barriers," Barrett said. "We want to make sure they don't fall into their old activities."

The speech comes as Barrett is facing three challengers for his job in the spring election. The primary is Feb. 16, and the top two vote-getters will advance to the election in April.

All three challengers  Alds. Bob Donovan and Joe Davis, as well as political newcomer James Methu  have criticized Barrett over last year's spike in homicides and a surge in car thefts and crashes involving stolen cars.

On Friday, Barrett said his address will "acknowledge the challenges" but also highlight the work being done to improve public safety, such as the plan to outfit more than 1,000 Milwaukee police officers with body cameras and efforts to train officers in mental health issues.

He added that the Milwaukee Fire Department also is shifting to a more proactive approach when it comes to addressing medical emergencies and has begun visiting frequent 911 callers to prevent future emergency room visits, which can be costly for patients and taxpayers alike.

He also will highlight the achievements of a number of city residents, praising the "magical" effect they can have on improving the city.

But Barrett also said he may have some harsh words for some, such as the Republican-controlled Legislature in Madison for its loosening of the state's gun laws.

"The fact is there's too many guns on the streets," he said.

He also slammed state officials for the crisis at Lincoln Hills School in Irma, which is facing an ongoing probe of its handling of juvenile inmates. He said he supported Milwaukee County's decision to withdraw some 170 young people from Lincoln Hills but added that he wants to make sure proper steps are taken to ensure the young offenders are in a safe situation where they can be rehabilitated.

"I lay the fault squarely at the state's feet," Barrett said. "But I don't want it to become a public safety issue (in Milwaukee)."

The mayor said he had raised the issue with County Executive Chris Abele and others and will meet soon with Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Maxine White.
SHARE Harold M. Rose was a professor at UWM from 1962 until 1995. Submitted photo

By of the

Harold Rose was a pioneer in the field of urban geography, the author of several books on race, segregation and violence, and one of the first tenured African-American professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Rose arrived in Milwaukee in 1962, at a time when African-Americans, even Hank Aaron, could live in only certain parts of the city, and he retired as a distinguished professor, the highest honor at the university.

"Everybody knew him, because he was one of the leading academics," said Walter Farrell, a retired professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. "But if you were African-American, he was the gold standard."

Rose died Tuesday. He was 86.

Rose, who taught geography and urban studies, was one of the first in his field to do research on urban segregation, crime and violence.

Farrell, who taught at UW-Milwaukee for 21 years, arriving in 1978, said several respected professors have cited Rose as a mentor.

One of them is Paula McClain, a professor of political science and public policy and dean of the graduate school and vice provost for graduate education at Duke University.

"Harold taught me how to be a scholar," said McClain, who came to UW-Milwaukee in 1977 after earning her doctorate. "His advice and guidance made me successful."

Rose and McClain co-authored "Race, Place and Risk: Black Homicide in Urban America," published in 1990.

"He was just a generous, giving person," she said. "But he was honest. He told me what I needed to hear. He didn't pull any punches. He wanted to make sure I was successful."

McClain dedicated "'Can We All Get Along?': Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics," co-authored with Joseph Stewart Jr., to Rose.

Although recruited by other schools, including UCLA, Rose spent his career at UW-Milwaukee.

"He liked the place," Farrell said. "He just liked UWM."

Rose, born Jan. 8, 1930, in Nashville, was raised by his grandparents  his grandfather worked in a phosphate mine, his grandmother as a domestic  in Mount Pleasant, Tenn. Although he skipped several grades, he went to college in some ways only by chance, applying to Tennessee State, a historically black college, after learning that a friend had applied and been accepted. Rose was 16 at the time.

He worked every day in the cafeteria for four years, said Marvin Pratt, a former acting mayor of Milwaukee and a friend who checked in on Rose in the last months of his life. When Rose graduated with a degree in history and geography in 1950, he owed the school $40.

After serving in the Army, Rose took some geography courses at Tennessee State and was encouraged by a professor to apply for the master's program at Ohio State. He then taught for a few years at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, also a historically black college, before returning to Ohio State to earn a doctorate.

Rose went on to build a national reputation in his field, focusing on how racism and racial policy affected urbanization. "The Urban Ghetto," a well-known book in the discipline, for instance, looked at how ghettos developed in urban areas.

"His research was driven by his passion for social justice," said Rina Ghose, a professor of geography at UW-Milwaukee, who described Rose as a role model. "He was a very meticulous scholar."

In 1976, Rose was elected president of the Association of American Geographers, the only African-American elected to the position. He was given the association's Lifetime Achievement Honor in 1996.

Farrell, the retired UNC professor, said he had pulled out some of Rose's books in past few days while reflecting on him.

"He was just a genuinely decent human being," Farrell said. "He was a class guy."

Survivors include his wife, Ann Louise; a son, Gregory; a granddaughter and three great-grandchildren.

Harold Rose

Services will be Friday, with a viewing from noon until services at 2 p.m. at Northwest Funeral Chapel, 6630 W Hampton Ave., Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. listens intently as Milwaukee County residents speak at the Milwaukee County Boards final public hearing on the 2016 county budget at the Domes at Mitchell Park in November. Credit: Michael McLoone

On the rare occasion, government can march forward almost eloquently in step, moving toward a goal that will serve the common good. More often, it moves like something out of Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks. Last week, the Milwaukee County Board offered citizens both.

In a proud moment last week, the board did the right thing in unanimously approving a resolution to help Milwaukee kids caught in what by all accounts is a horrific situation at the state's juvenile correctional facilities in northern Wisconsin. Yes, these kids are there for a reason and because of bad choices they made, but no one deserves what's alleged to have happened at Lincoln Hills School for boys and the adjacent Copper Lake School for girls north of Wausau.

An ongoing federal and state investigation detailed by the Journal Sentinel in a series of articles is looking into allegations of abuse, neglect, sexual assault and excessive use of force. The investigation was revealed publicly after an early December law enforcement raid of the prison.

Circuit Court Chief Judge Maxine White called the conditions at the facility "inhumane" after a recent visit to the facilities with County Executive Chris Abele, who has started to work on options to remove youths from the facility.

Last week, the board approved a resolution authored by Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr., and Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic and Supreme Moore Omokunde that would set in motion plans for removing nearly 170 county youths this year from the juvenile prison and place them in secure detention centers around Milwaukee.

At White's request, the resolution also urges the county Delinquency and Court Services Division to immediately send a team of human service workers and other staff to the prison.

This is good government at its best: the board, the judiciary and the administration putting aside politics and personal differences and all working toward the same goal in the public interest.

Then there's the other side, where politics and pettiness rather than good policies sometimes lead the board to look, well, silly.

In an effort to show up Abele in an election year  which many members of the board, especially Lipscomb, are ever eager to do  the board unanimously approved a resolution to protect county parks from possible sale because some don't have the proper zoning. In discussing the resolution, Lipscomb called the issue a "crisis" and Dimitrijevic said such sales "could happen tonight," as if Abele already had set up the auction table to get rid of Grant and Lake parks.

Yes, protecting the county parks is important; they really are among the region's treasures. But in fact, here the issue is essentially a technicality  unless you're a county politician trying to make political points.

Abele, who has repeatedly said he will not sell parkland, was already working on changing the zoning: he had sent out letters to local municipalities about the need to make zoning changes. Beyond that, as the Journal Sentinel reported last week, most parks in the City of Milwaukee are protected from possible sale by historic deed restrictions that require the properties only to be used as parks, ongoing research of parcel abstracts by the county parks department has found. The department is checking on whether deed restrictions or other protections are in place at county-owned parks in the suburbs.

So the board's resolution basically tells Abele to do something he was already doing, and may not even be necessary. To accompany that with overheated rhetoric designed to heighten the fears of citizens only points to the political motives of some of the resolution's supporters.

To be sure, what the board did on Lincoln Hills far outweighs the political potshots taken at Abele. But supervisors could serve citizens better if they avoided the silly walks.

Ernst-Ulrich Franzen is the Journal Sentinel's associate editorial page editor. Email: efranzen@jrn.com; Twitter: @efranzen1
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By of the

Gov. Scott Walker on Saturday signed into law a bill that legalizes switchblades and expands the ability to carry switchblades, bowie knives and other concealed knives without a permit.

Anyone who isn't barred from possessing a firearm is allowed to carry a concealed knife, under the bill that passed the state Assembly last fall and the state Senate this month.

Walker signed the bill during an appearance in Weston at the annual state convention of the National Rifle Association and Wisconsin Firearm Owners, Ranges, Clubs, and Educators Inc. (FORCE). The convention is taking place in Weston, near Wausau.

"Wisconsin citizens have the fundamental right to defend themselves and feel safe and secure in their homes and we remain committed to protecting those rights," the governor said in a prepared statement.

In 2011, Wisconsin became the 49th state to allow its citizens to carry undercover guns.

Backers have said the bill would clarify state laws that define some ordinary-looking modern pocketknives as illegal switchblades. The bill was amended to allow municipalities to enact bans in courthouses and other public buildings.
We Energies doubles rate increase sought for residential customers

We Energies is seeking a 13% increase in residential electric rates in 2023, about twice the increase it is seeking for large industrial energy users.
A number of vehicles broke through the ice near the shore of Geneva Lake, while parked on the ice for a Winterfest celebration, according to the Lake Geneva Fire Department. Credit: Mark Was for the Journal Sentinel

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By of the

No one was hurt, but 10 vehicles apparently are a total loss after 15 broke through the ice Saturday in Lake Geneva, bringing unexpected national and even international attention to the city's annual Winterfest.

Five of the vehicles that broke through the ice were able to be driven away, but the other 10 sustained severe water damage, Lake Geneva police say.

The 15 cars were parked on the ice of Geneva Lake when they began breaking through Saturday.

News of the local catastrophe has generated interest well beyond this Walworth County city.

A video of the incident posted on Facebook had been watched more than 100,000 times as of Sunday afternoon.

Crazy in lake geneva.. and I mean in Posted by Wendy Mueller on Saturday, February 6, 2016

CBS News and USA Today both posted short versions of the story. Even the U.K.'s Daily Mail picked up on the news.

Until this incident, one of the biggest draws to Winterfest, going on through Feb. 16, was the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition. But it was the cars breaking through the ice that turned #LakeGeneva into a hot hashtag on Twitter.

The cars in the lake drew a bigger crowd than the ice sculptures at #LakeGeneva pic.twitter.com/boljhvShsA  Milwaukee Media (@MediaInMilwauke) February 7, 2016

And not all of the reaction has been kind to folks here in Wisconsin. The Fox TV affiliate in Denver posted a Tribune wire service story on the incident with the headline "Oops! Cars show why you should never park on a frozen lake."

We should've paid for parking.... #iceparkingjob #elnino #winterfest A photo posted by Tina Simecek Lamkey (@tsimkey) on Feb 6, 2016 at 3:46pm PST

Seriously???!!! This is what happens when people don't want to drive around and look for parking. Let's park on the lake when it's 40 degrees. Yikes!!!! A photo posted by Ana Bentin (@mrsbentinsblackboard) on Feb 7, 2016 at 8:54am PST

But Matthew Demko told WTMJ-TV he wasn't concerned about parking on the lake Saturday.

"It was a great spot to go and park," Demko told the TV station. His was one of the cars that became partly submerged. "I seen all the people out there. I seen the cars on the there so for me it was OK."

By Sunday afternoon, that spot on the lake appeared to again be cleared of four-wheeled vehicles. Twitter user Dave Krug posted photos showing nothing but broken ice and sun: "Cars all gone. Ice looked 6-8" thick here, but thinner elsewhere along the shore," he said.

And with temperatures into the 40s on Sunday, there's even more reason to think twice before driving onto a lake in southern Wisconsin.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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By Lauren McCauley, staff writer | (Commondreams.org)

What the photos that the government has suppressed would show is that abuse was so widespread that it could only have resulted from policy or a climate calculated to foster abuse.

The record-dump was the result of a Freedom of Information Act request and nearly 12 years of litigation by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which fought to expose the Bush-era torture.

The images, the group says, prove that there was systemic abuse of detainees. And while troubling, attorneys say that even more problematic is the roughly 1,800 photographs that the government refused to disclose.

The disclosure of these photos is long overdue, but more important than the disclosure is the fact that hundreds of photographs are still being withheld, said ACLU deputy legal director Jameel Jaffer, one of the attorneys in the case.

The still-secret pictures are the best evidence of the serious abuses that took place in military detention centers, Jaffer continued. The governments selective disclosure risks misleading the public about the true extent of the abuse.

Eliza Relman, a paralegal with the ACLUs National Security Project, said that documents and emails that the government has been forced to release over the course of the litigation give an idea of what the remaining images may contain.

We have found more than 100 documents that either reference photos related to cases of abuse or actually contain photos that were redacted before they got to us, Relman said.

She continued:

The photos still being withheld include those related to the case of a 73-year-old Iraqi woman detained and allegedly sexually abused and assaulted by U.S. soldiers. According to the Army report detailing the incident, the soldiers forced her to crawl around on all-fours as a large man rode on her, striking her with a stick and calling her an animal. Other pictures depict an Iraqi teenager bound and standing in the headlights of a truck immediately after his mock execution staged by U.S. soldiers. Another shows the body of Muhamad Husain Kadir, an Iraqi farmer, shot dead at point-blank range by an American soldier while handcuffed.

The Department of Defense argues that the release of the remaining images would jeopardize national security and may incite others to violence against Americans and US interests, the ACLU explains.

What the photos that the government has suppressed would show is that abuse was so widespread that it could only have resulted from policy or a climate calculated to foster abuse, said ACLU staff attorney Alex Abdo, who noted that no senior official has been held accountable or even investigated for these abuses.

That is why the government must release all of the photos and why todays selective disclosure is so troubling, Abdo added.

The ACLU first filed its request six months before the notorious Abu Ghraib images were leaked by the press in March 2006.

In 2009, then-defense secretary Robert Gates issued a blanket certification preventing hundreds of photographs from being made public. An identical certification was issued in 2012 by Gates successor, Leon Panetta.

In March 2015, a U.S. district court judged ruled in favor of the ACLU, which argued that the certifications are unsupported and overbroad. Defense Secreatry Ashton Carter certified the photographs again last November, with the exception of the 198 now made public.
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Maan News Agency |  

BETHLEHEM (Maan)  Israeli forces on Wednesday began construction work on top of a historical site in the occupied West Bank town of Beit Jala, the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.

The PA ministry condemned the Israeli authorities for allowing work to begin on a road that will be built on top of Khirbet al-Najjar, a site that reportedly dates back to the Roman and Byzantine periods.

The ministry said that Israeli bulldozers began excavations in the area  the site of historical walls, water wells, presses and a cluster of graves  in what it said were the beginning stages of construction on a road to a nearby settlement.

A group sent by the ministry to document activity carried out by Israeli forces on the historical site was prevented from accessing the area, the ministry said, slamming Israel for its obvious violation of international law regarding Palestinian rights to heritage and culture.

Palestinian residents of Beit Jala and other villages in the Bethlehem area have long faced Israeli construction on their land, much of which has been cut off from them by Israels separation wall.

Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun said last month that the Israeli authorities have informed Bethlehem-district cities of their intention to confiscate land for 10 years in order to construct the separation wall.

Bethlehem district has fought the confiscation orders in the past, but Israeli courts have often upheld them, pointing to alleged security threats.

Nearly 60 kilometers of the wall already cuts through Bethlehem district and is built on Palestinian land, enabling the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the area, the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs reports.

Via Maan News Agency



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Ruptly TV from 3 weeks ago: State of Palestine: Clashes erupt in Bethlehem, 21 injured
News / National

by Staff Reporter

The Zanu PF provincial chairman for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira says three quarters of the resources needed for President Mugabe's 92nd birthday party to be held in Masvingo are now secured following a meeting in the city where individuals, party leaders, different organisations and business made huge pledges.Masvingo Mirror reported that there was a galore of pledges at Masvingo Polytechnic last Saturday as hundreds of guests tried to ensure that the birthday bash to be hosted by the province on February 21, at Mucheke stadium is a success.To start the ball rolling was Retired Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai who donated $1000 on behalf of Bikita district, $500 for his family and $1000 on behalf of Zimbabwe Sugar Development Association where he is the chairman.Masvingo Rural Districts chairman Killer Zivhu who is also secretary for finance for Zanu PF for the province poured in $10 000, secretary for commissariat in the province Jeppy Jaboon pledged $1000, Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association led by Tawanda Mafurutu chipped in with $2500 and also pledged sugar for the jamboree, Mkwasine Farmers donated $5000 and Bikita Minerals gave $5000.All the seven administrative districts donated $300 each, Bulawayo based transport company Drummond will provide all the chickens for the whole function, Edmund Mhere promised to provide buses that will ferry party goers on the day while Zuva Peroleum represented by Gutu born business mogul John Mushayavanhu will provide all the fuel to be used during the celebrations.Zanu PF Politiburo member Josaya Dunira Hungwe who chaired the fundraising meeting urged companies and individuals not to donate cash as it may be abused but to give donations in kind so that members are not tempted to steal.Rusike brothers from Gweru pledged to provide anything that may be required at the function which is in short supply, Masvingo land developers led by Godhati Dunira pledged 10 tonnes of mealie meal and transport, Gweru based livestock transport operator Kittos pledged four tonnes of meat, Gweru based business community four tonnes of meat, provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira pledged four beasts for meat, Mukumba who owns Intercape buses promised to provide five buses to ferry people and Lillian Muungani who was representing Greenfield Ethanol promised any quantity of game meat for the ceremony.Not to be outdone Mwenezi aspiring member of parliament Joosby Omar pledged five buses for Mwenezi district, Masvingo city council represented by the town Clerk Adolf Gusha promised to donate something after consultations, Mutendi did not commit themselves although they promised and sugar processing giant Tongaat Hulets promised to donate anything thai s in short supply at the function.When contacted for comment the provincial chairman Chadzamira said they have three quarters of what is required for the party."We have secured transport, enough meat and food for the celebrations, I can safely say we are three quarters through with everything," said Chadzamira.
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TeleSur |  

The Syrian foreign minister also accused Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar of undermining the U.N. peace talks.

Any ground troops who would attack or violate Syrias sovereignty would return to their countries in a wooden coffin, the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told reporters Saturday, a few days after Saudi Arabia said it was ready to send thousands of troops to Syria.

Let no one think they can attack Syria or violate its sovereignty because I assure you any aggressor will return to their country in a wooden coffin, whether they be Saudis or Turks, the top Syrian diplomat warned during a news conference in Syrias capital Damascus. .

Any ground intervention on Syrian territory without government authorization would amount to an aggression that must be resisted.

His comments came a few days after the Saudi military announced Thursday it was ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition may agree to carry out in Syria.

Also, Russias Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov claimed on the same day that Turkey was making preparations for an armed invasion of the country, an allegation Ankara rejected by dismissing any plan for staging a military incursion in its southern neighbor.

While saying it would be a longshot for the Turks or the Saudis to send troops to Syria, Muallem argued that due to the crazy Saudi decisions in Yemen and other places nothing can be ruled out, referring to the almost one year-long Saudi military campaign in Yemen.

Furthermore, the foreign minister accused Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar of sabotaging the United Nations Syria talks, which have now been suspended.

Everyone should realize, on top of all [the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan] de Mistura, that Syria is going for a dialog without any preconditions and will not comply with any precondition set by any party whatsoever, he said.

The U.N. talks, which kicked off late January, were suspended Wednesday after the Saudi-backed opposition group High Negotiations Committee (HNC) refused to join the talks before a halt to all military operations by the Syrian and Russian militaries.

Via TeleSur

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

Press TV: Russia: Saudi troop deployment to Syria declaration of war
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By Khodadad Rezakhani | ( Mizan ) |  

This essay is an attempt at collecting some thoughts on an important historical event and its related historiographical questions. It is not written with the intention of providing definitive answers to the larger questions surrounding the Arab conquests or the specific case of the fall of the Sasanians, but rather seeks to present a basic framework for thinking about the issues.1

Coin of Ardashir Ardashir the Unifier (180242 AD), founder of the Sasanian Empire.

Introduction

How did the mighty Sasanian Empire fall? This question is central to almost everything I do as an historian of the Sasanians. Like many, I have looked at the question in the context of administration, the Sasanian-Byzantine Wars, Sasanian-Arab relations, Zoroastrianism and other religious movements, late antique social changes, and finally economic history; my particular focus on the last factor is, I hope, my own little contribution to the greater debate. I also believe there are some answers that can be given from the point of view of Central Asia or East Iran, which is also an area I research.2 I have a feeling that when I am 80 and old, and have written many articles and books about the details of this subject, I will finally have something resembling a succinct answer to give to the question of what happened? Until then, I intend to avoid giving a straight answer when I am asked the question directly, because I think that our knowledge of the details of the period is quite incomplete. I do have ideas though; but ideas are sometimes mere fancies, and fancies are often wrong, or at least need to be seriously adjusted to be useful as real answers.

However, in the public realm, when the question of what happened? is asked, brazen, overconfident answers are often given, without much consideration for facts. Cocksure, self-proclaimed experts provide answers based on hearsay, middle school textbooks, and the words of such and such Ustad, or scholars who passed away in the 1940s. Naturally, a great part of the conversation happens in the Irano-Persian milieu, where it takes on a political guise and is made to address contemporary issues. In this setting, part of the problem of giving a proper answer to the question is the unavailability of many of the primary sources and secondary scholarship to Persian speakers, either linguistically or physically. Another part of the problem is the general attitude among said crowd that History is something that has happened already, and not much can be added to answer the question of what happened?  new sources only serving to re-confirm what we already knew, or any change in the established narrative capable of being dismissed as revisionism. Old information is repeated and any voice of dissent is considered treasonous. I have long been labelled a traitor, so I am used to it, but I do get annoyed at being dismissed as a puppet of Western Orientalists (bless Edward Said for giving a catchword to those who dont actually read his book).

So, I think here I may give some of the answers I already have when the question is brought up, and might even dare to suggest some of my ideas (or fancies), with the caveat that I am ready to be wrong about them. Yes, there are sources I have not yet checked, and there are of course many sub-fields in which I am not fully versed. But I like to think that I am at least partially conversant with most of the recent scholarship, and as a trained historian  world historian for that matter  I have some ability to put it all together to see what it might mean. As it stands, I am not giving definite answers; that goal is still several decades away, if it can ever be reached. All I will say is what we know now, and what we might anticipate we might know better in the future.

Who Says What?

So, the question is: how did the fall of the Sasanians happen? The way it is asked is often: How did the mighty Sasanian Empire fall? How did the Arabs, from the depths of Arabia Deserta, manage to overrun the prosperous Sasanian Empire, convert its (Zoroastrian) population to Islam, take control of its resources, and change its culture and language?

Answers to these questions have come from two main camps. The first group valorizes the coming of Islam, attributing the success of the Muslims conquest of Iran to the positive, world-changing ideas associated with it. These people tend to care more about modern history, have sympathies for the religion, and sometimes are even in line with certain political groups or ideologies. The second group is hostile toward the first group, and nostalgic for what they perceive to be the days of Iranian glory before the advent of Islam. They consider the Arab conquest of Iran to be the disastrous intrusion of uncouth nomads who destroyed a glorious civilization. This latter groups answer to the question of what happened, then, is that there was something wrong within the Sasanian system that allowed their downfall. Since the religion of Islam is often the cause of this groups immediate grievances, it is religion that gets blamed here too, except that it is the religion of Zoroastrianism which they tend to fault. Thus, a popular notion among this group says that the Zoroastrian clerical theocracy of the late Sasanian period caused great dissatisfaction among the people, thus handing an easy victory to the invading Arabs who met no resistance from the disenfranchised populace.3 The question of the relationship between this perceived failure of Zoroastrianisms institutions and this same groups nostalgia for Zoroastrianism as a national ideology, acting as a vehicle for a nationalist Aryanism, is among the many historical contradictions that are not really clearly addressed by the proponents of this explanation.

The narrative of both groups, based mainly on accounts of the conquests drawn from standard Islamic histories such as those of al-Baladhuri, al-Tabari, and so forth, considers the fall of the Sasanians to be the result of quick and successful campaigns by Muslim armies. These campaigns, exemplified by the battles of Qadisiyya and Nahavand, are considered to have caused the near-instantaneous fall of the Sasanians as an imperial and cultural unit. Furthermore, this fall is assumed to be the fall of Iran itself; as a result, it represents no less than a national failure, the beginning of Irans subordination to Arabia and/or Islam.4 I shall refrain here from getting into arguments of why the Sasanian Eranshahr cannot be equated  ideologically, geographically, psychologically, politically, economically, or culturally  with the current land of Iran, though I will talk about aspects of this later.5

Other than the popular understanding of the swiftness and effectiveness of the Arab campaigns, there are two cultural assumptions that are made in this regard. The first is the supposition that the conquests automatically resulted in the conversion of the entire society to Islam. Any survival of pre-Islamic religions, generally put under the overall rubric of Zoroastrianism, is assumed to have been an act of resistance and defiance that was heavily suppressed by the new masters, i.e. Arab Muslims. The second assumption is that the Arabic language was immediately imposed on the conquered populace as part and parcel of conversion. Consequently, the supposed survival or revival of the Persian language is presented as a miraculous event, a unique phenomenon in the Islamic world, where everyone else had to adopt Arabic. This miracle is either ascribed to the persistent and persevering nature of Iranians and the supposedly dominant and enduring culture of Iran. Alternatively, it is credited to Ferdowsi who, allegedly against all odds, composed his great masterpiece of the Shahnameh for the conscious purpose of preserving the Persian language, thus single-handedly saving Iranian culture.6

Any scholar seeking to respond to all this must inevitably adopt an apologetic tone. This, in fact, has been a major problem, because before any researcher has an opportunity to conduct research on the actual historical events and issues, he or she has to address these misconceptions, dismiss many of them, and then try to bring in enough facts and new interpretations to move the debate forward. The negligible number of people involved in the study of the actual issues means that those who are occupied with it in fact spend a disproportionate number of hours shaking their heads and trying to plough through the misconceptions. In what follows here, I attempt to do the same while presenting some of the new scholarship and narratives of the events. While the following is indeed my own interpretation of the issue, I can assure those readers not intimately involved with the debates that my presentation is not aiming to be revolutionary, and in fact reflects the middle point of current scholarship.

The Late Antique World and Late Sasanian Iran



We first have to view both the late Sasanian realm and the rise of Islam within the framework of a changing world. This is the framework that is now labelled Late Antiquity, which has been the chronological and methodological framework preferred by many scholars for decades now. The term was originally was applied to the Roman Empire, where it served to correct Gibbons narrative of the fall of the classical civilization of Rome and the descent into the Dark Ages that followed the transformation of Classical Rome into Christian Byzantium. In that context, the late antique framework bridges the gap between the Classical and Christian by arguing that Christianity in fact modified and adapted many of the institutions of the Classical world, allowing for their application to systems beyond the structure of an empire and creating the familiar institutions of medieval Christendom.7 Christianity was thus the means for turning the Roman Empire into a Christian commonwealth that adopted and made use of most of what was bequeathed to it as the Classical heritage.8 Since the 1990s, the framework of Late Antiquity and its emphasis on continuity has been adapted to the non-Roman world as well, as historians of Sasanian Iran and Islam have argued for a similarly changing world in West and Central Asia. A major characteristic of this development has been a tendency to see the Islamic conquests not as a radical break with the past, but rather as a transformation due to internal dynamics and phenomena of West Asia, reflecting the continuity of structures and institutions from the Sasanian to the Islamic world.9

Apart from Late Antiquity, another framework that needs to be considered  and I have been most insistent on its adoption  is that of world history. The gist of this approach is to ponder a greater, trans-regional context for both the Sasanian Empire and the rise of Islam. This is not to simply consider the broader history of the Mediterranean and West Asia, but to take contemporary political, cultural, and economic forces into account in a serious way. For example, the late antique idea of the rise of the holy man, other than an explanation for the interest in prophethood or sainthood, can also be considered within the context of the changing structure of social support around Eurasia and North Africa. Another example is that economic changes in West Asia, particularly in agricultural production, should be understood within the context of changing political attitudes in Central Asia.10 We need to be able to understand historical phenomena outside the given boundaries of textual interpretation and archaeological confirmations. Compound histories (e.g. political, economic, cultural, social, or gender history) have to become a reality in the study of periods of history far beyond the pre-modern one, their dominant playground. World history, as a methodology that can act as a cover for all these interdisciplinary approaches to history, needs to be applied so we can properly understand the period under discussion here.

Late Sasanian Iran, essentially the period after 484 CE, is a prime example of how we might put these methodologies to use. This date, chosen only partially at random, is the year in which Peroz, the Sasanian emperor or shahanshah (King of Kings), was defeated and killed by the Hephthalites somewhere near Balkh, in present-day northern Afghanistan. The Hephthalites, a newly formed political entity in the region, became masters of East Iran and imposed heavy reparations on the Sasanians. Moreover, for almost two decades, they became the kingmakers of the Sasanians, removing and installing Sasanian claimants to the throne, mostly indirectly. The heavy payments of war damages to the Hephthalites must have drained the Sasanian treasury, although no direct evidence is available for this. It did, clearly, turn the Sasanians into predatory actors in Syria, the eastern territories of the Romans, which Kavad I, the winner of two decades of royal musical chairs, invaded and from which he tried to exact as much cash as possible.

Their financial troubles aside, the defeat and death of Peroz left the Sasanian court in disarray, and probably devastated its nobility. The reparations to the Hephthalites were almost certainly not all paid from the treasury of the king; the coffers of the nobility and the pockets of the working man were also undoubtedly tapped. The loss of prestige must have made it quite hard for the nobility to keep a straight face when addressing puppet kings such as Walash and Jamasp, and Kavad himself in his earlier short reign, as King of Kings. This all resulted in a rebellion, the exact nature of which is not clear. Despite the later insistence of the Islamic sources that this was the initial phase of the rebellion of Mazdak, all evidence suggests that we should see these developments as an earlier reaction to the policies of Kavad himself.11 It seems as if the dissatisfaction of the nobility had forced Kavad, after his first accession in 488, to make certain, perhaps hasty, changes to his administration and court, changes that were not necessarily very popular. This, occurring around 496 CE, caused the removal of Kavad from the throne by his nobles and his quick retreat to the court of the Hephthalites. His restoration, backed by a sizeable Hephthalite army, meant not just a coup against the nobility, but also the beginning of a new regime. This regime must have come along with at least partial agreement of some of the noblemen, since shortly after his restoration in 498 CE, Kavad and his nobles set about on their aforementioned conquest of Roman/Byzantine Syria.

The prolonged war consumed all of Kavads reign, as well as part of that of his son, the famous Khosrow I Anushervan (531579 CE). However, Kavad had enough time to rejuvenate his administration by instituting some reforms. The extent of the reforms is not clear, but it did include a recalibration of the land-tax system, based not on products but on acreage (kharag, the later Islamic kharaj), and institution of a poll-tax (gizidag, the later Islamic jizya). It most likely also included a purging of the nobility, as well as military reorganization, which divided the empire into four zones of defense. Kavad and Khosrows reforms were happening at the same time that Justinian was re-establishing his rule in Byzantium following several early blows, and the two empires were engaged in heavy fighting on their borders. In the east, the Hephthalite power had slowly settled and was less influential in the affairs of the Sasanian court, although the Hephthalites were in charge of most of East Iran.

Kavads reign ended with what later historians called the Mazdakite rebellion, a socio-religious uprising that was brutally oppressed by Khosrow I, making him a hero in Zoroastrian texts. The Mazdakite revolt, whatever its religious concerns might have been, was mainly a social uprising. What the rebels actually desired is less clear to us, as we only know the rebellion from the sources hostile to it. The regular charges of the sharing of property and women have given it a proto-socialist overtone, something that was heavily exploited by Marxist historians.12 It appears, however, that this was only one facet of a larger religious and social movement. Later versions of the same movement, appearing in the Islamic period under the general rubric of the Khurramdiniyya, betray it to be a religious amalgamation, showing characteristics of many different doctrines. From a late antique point of view, alongside the Christian commonwealth, the Khurramdiniyya/Mazdakite religious movements might have been in the process of creating a socio-religious commonwealth.13

In contrast, Zoroastrianism, the dominant state religion of the Sasanians, shows less interest in playing such a role. The common charge of a Zoroastrian religious autocracy, presided over by a dominant priestly establishment and headed by a mobedan mobed, is more of a mirage, and based on little evidence. Apart from the absence of a sort of orthodox or mainline Zoroastrian doctrine in the Sasanian world, there is little evidence of the presence of such dominant clergy.14 Additionally, late Sasanian Kings of Kings are known for making clear and public overtures to their native Christian communities. In fact, Khosrow II Aparwez (591628 CE), the quintessential late Sasanian king, married a Christian wife (perhaps two) and had a Christian chief minister. Likewise, in the course of mustering support for his campaigns against Byzantium, he supported the Eastern Christian community of the Sasanian domains; buttressed the Nestorians of Syria; and, upon conquering and entering Jerusalem, moved the True Cross from Jerusalem to Khuzestan in order to provide much prestige for the Christians of his empire. A theocratic, dominant Zoroastrian religious structure, if it existed, would simply not have allowed the king to have open relations with members of another religion, let alone to promote their interests.

Christians, in fact, were the dominant population in the western regions of the Sasanian realm in this time period. Aramaic-speaking Christians and Jews were the main population of Mesopotamia, the heart of the Sasanian Empire (Middle Persian dil-i Eranshahr). South-western Mesopotamia was the realm of the Arab kingdom of Hira, the land of the Lakhmids, who ruled the Arab tribes of northern Arabia on behalf of the Sasanians. Eastern Arabia was also populated by Arabic-speaking tribes who were controlled via the Sasanian administration of Bahrayn, including all of Eastern Arabia down to Oman. Southern Arabia, the former kingdom of Himyar, had become part of the Sasanian Empire following its conquest about 570 CE in wars against the Axumites.15

In this environment, Khosrow II invaded Syria in 602 and defeated the Byzantine armies there. Soon, all of Syria, Palestine, and most of Anatolia had fallen into Sasanian hands. By 615, Egypt was also a Sasanian territory. For over two decades, a whole generation in fact, the Sasanians were masters of all of West Asia, and by having defeated the Hephthalites with the help of the Western Turks in the 560s, they were also in secure control of much of their lost territory in East Iran. When the prophet of Islam was migrating from Mecca to Medina to establish his religious state there, he was living in a world dominated by Sasanian power. The state that he went on to found, and which came to dominate the Sasanian territories, should not be seen as an element external to the Sasanian Empire that caused its fall. Rather, we can view the nascent Islamic state as an element internal to the Sasanian order that lent itself to furthering change that was already well underway, as will be discussed in the second part of this essay.

KHODADAD REZAKHANI is a Humboldt Foundation Fellow at the Freie Universitat Berlin and the webmaster of Iranologie.com, as well as the broadcaster of the History of Iran Podcast. He holds a Ph.D. in Late Antique History from The University of California, Los Angeles and an M.Sc. in Global History from The London School of Economics and Political Science, where he concentrated on medieval Scandinavia. His forthcoming book, ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity (Edinburgh University Press, 2016), is concerned with the history of East Iran and Central Asia between 100750 CE.

[1] The preference given here to an ethnic adjective in place of the cultural or religious one  i.e. Arab conquests vs. Islamic conquests  is in accordance with the conventions of contemporary scholarship in designating the earliest stages of the conquests. Neither the pure ethnic identity of the conquering armies in all stages of conquest nor their religious beliefs can be ascertained definitively, of course.

[2] I use the term East Iran instead of Central Asia or Transoxiana as a predecessor to the medieval term Khurasan, designating the separate cultural, political, and socio-economic identity of the eastern regions outside the direct control of the Sasanians and Eranshahr. For this, see the introduction to Khodadad Rezakhani, ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity (Edinburgh University Press, 2016) (forthcoming).

[3] This, like many other popular notions coloring this debate, is of course based on some (dated) scholarship, for example R.C. Zaehner, The Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1961).

[4] This conception, surprisingly, is shared by some modern scholars as well; see, e.g., the introduction to Patricia Crone, The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2012), where she considers the fall of Ctesiphon as a definite end to the Sasanians rule over their territories and a break in Sasanian defenses, contrary to much evidence including the continuation of Yazdgirds rule in Fars and the battle of Nahavand in 642 (on which see the second part of this essay). Ctesiphon, being located on the western edge of the Sasanian Empire, had actually been captured several times before, without this leading to any major collapse of the regime, state, or culture.

[5] This, of course, is first and foremost a problem of equating an empire with a nation-state. However, the issue of historical continuity, and particularly adoption of what are considered to be remnants of a Sasanian legacy in matters of culture and socio-economic life, will be the subject of the second part of this essay.

[6] In the narrative that assigns the creation of medieval Persianate culture to the perseverance of an older culture that survived external threats, Ferdowsi and his magnum opus are allocated various enemies, from the Arab administration of the Caliphate to the Turkic dominance of the Ghaznavids. For interesting remarks about this issue, see Mahmoud Omidsalar, Unburdening Ferdowsi, Journal of the American Oriental Society 116 (1996): 235242.

[7] A short introduction to this can be found in Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, AD 150750 (W.W. Norton, 1989). More details (but curiously missing a section on the Sasanians) can be found in G.W. Bowersock, Peter Brown, and Oleg Grabar (eds.), Late Antiquity: A Guide to the Postclassical World (Harvard University Press, 1999).

[8] I am borrowing this phrase (and parts of the concept) from Garth Fowden, Empire to Commonwealth: Consequences of Monotheism in Late Antiquity (Princeton University Press, 1993), although I do not agree with everything that Fowden says about the Sasanians.

[9] This is probably best discussed by Michael G. Morony, Iraq After the Muslim Conquest (Princeton University Press, 1984) and Touraj Daryaee, Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (I. B. Tauris, 2007); see also Khodadad Rezakhani, Empires and Microsystems: Sasanian Iran in Late Antiquity, 500750 (Ph.D. diss., 2010). General studies of the continuities between the pre-Islamic and Islamic Middle East include Robert G. Hoyland, Early Islam as a Late Antique Religion, in Scott F. Johnson (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity (Oxford University Press, 2012), 10531077 and Hugh Kennedy, Islam, in Bowersock et al., Late Antiquity.

[10] On this, see Rezakhani, ReOrienting the Sasanians.

[11] Patricia Crone, Kavads Heresy and Mazdaks Revolt, Iran 29 (1991): 2142.

[12] N. Pigulevskaja, Les villes de lEtat iranien aux epoques parthe et sassanide (Mouton, 1963) is a notable example, but see also J. Modi, Mazdak the Iranian Socialist, in Dastur Hoshang Memorial Volume (Fort Printing Press, 1918), 116131 for a more native take on the issue. Extreme cases even go so far as to describe Mazdak as a Bolshevik a good 1,400 years before the Russian political party was founded! See Paul Luttinger, Mazdak, The Open Court 11 (1921): 664685. See also W. Sundermann, Mazdak und die mazdakitischen Volksaufstande, Das Altertum 23 (1977):245249.

[13] For the latest scholarly opinion on this issue, see Crone, Nativist Prophets, 279388; see also Ehsan Yarshater, Mazdakism, in E. Yarshater (ed.), The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 3 (2): The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods (Cambridge University Press, 1983), 9911024. Zoroastrianism is commonly understood to lack the universalist aspirations of Christianity and Islam (see Fowden op. cit., 2436, with reservations). Instead, Mazdakism shows certain aspirations that can be fit within the general scheme of universalism in late antiquity, although it is often ignored because of its failure to attract political patronage. However, Crone argues for the existence of Khurramdiniyya as a larger socio-religious movement that extended beyond Mazdakism or Babaks revolts and in fact represented an alternative to Zoroastrian formalism, with aspirations to universal justice.

[14] Khodadad Rezakhani, Mazdakism, Manichaeism and Zoroastrianism: In Search of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy in Late Antique Iran, Iranian Studies 48 (2015): 5570.

[15] This subject has received a fair amount of attention lately and is one of the more interesting avenues of research. Among others, see Beate Dignas and Englebert Winter, Rome and Persia in Late Antiquity: Neighbours and Rivals (Cambridge University Press, 2007), 109112; George Hatke, Africans in Arabia Felix: Aksumite relations with Himyar in the Sixth Century C.E. (Ph.D. diss., 2011); and G.W. Bowersock, The Throne of Adulis: Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam (Oxford University Press, 2013).

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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The New Hampshire GOP debates most charged moments were probably more domestic, as with Chris Christie putting Marco Rubio in his place as not having actually done anything and as overly reliant on his single script. But inevitably with this gang, war, torture and sundry mayhem did make an appearance. Here are the five most cringeworthy moments:

1. Virtually the only good thing anyone knows about the sleazy Ted Cruz is that he came out against torture. Last night he took it all back. Muir asked him if waterboarding is torture (it is):

CRUZ: Well, under the definition of torture, no, its not. Under the law, torture is excruciating pain that is equivalent to losing organs and systems, so under the definition of torture, it is not. It is enhanced interrogation, it is vigorous interrogation, but it does not meet the generally recognized definition of torture. MUIR: If elected president, would you bring it back? CRUZ: I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use. And indeed, I joined with Senator McCain in legislation that would prohibit line officers from employing it because I think bad things happen when enhanced interrogation is employed at lower levels. But when it comes to keeping this country safe, the commander in chief has inherent constitutional authority to keep this country safe. And so, if it were necessary to, say, prevent a city from facing an imminent terrorist attack, you can rest assured that as commander in chief, I would use whatever enhanced interrogation methods we could to keep this country safe.

But the European Court of Human Rights has found that Bush-era enhanced interrogation techniques such as waterboarding are indeed torture. Moreover, the US Senate found that it hadnt even worked.

2. Then Muir turned to the one person on stage who is worse than Cruz. Another even worse cringeworthy exchange took place:

MUIR: Senator Cruz, thank you. Mr. Trump, you said not only does it work, but that youd bring it back. TRUMP: Well, Ill tell you what. In the Middle East, we have people chopping the heads off Christians, we have people chopping the heads off many other people. We have things that we have never seen before  as a group, we have never seen before, whats happening right now. The medieval times  I mean, we studied medieval times  not since medieval times have people seen whats going on. I would bring back waterboarding and Id bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

First of all, that some fringe group somewhere behaves barbarically does not require us to behave barbarically. In fact, the American advantage over the fascist mass parties of the 1930s and 1940s is precisely that for the most part we refused to become fascists to fight fascism. How could you defeat Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) in the eyes of the world if you are just as bad?

Second, what Trump is promising is to commit crimes . Promising to commit crimes against people even in the absence of practical action can be the basis for an arrest and for punishment. The Allies executed a Nazi newspaper owner who spread around horrible anti-Jewish propaganda. But that was all that he had done. Trump is in his league.

3. Then Ted Cruz was asked about his widely panned argument for carpet-bombing Iraq and Syria, which would kill perhaps tens of thousands of innocents.

As you know, in the first Persian Gulf War, it was 1,100 air attacks a day. Obama is launching between 15 and 30. Now, when I say saturation carpet bombing, that is not indiscriminate. That is targeted at oil facilities. Its targeted at the oil tankers. Its targeted at command and control locations. Its targeted at infrastructure. Its targeted at communications. Its targeted at bombing all of the roads and bridges going in and out of Raqqa. Its using overwhelming air power.

Carpet bombing does not, of course, actually refer to precision bombing. And in the Gulf War the US for the first time used a significant amount of smart weaponry, so that wasnt carpet bombing. Cruz just wants to impress his Republican audience with his bloodthirstiness and willingness to deploy massive force against enemies. But the officer corps has over-ruled him on his terminology and his plan, so he had no choice but simply to lie and mischaracterize his own argument so as to foil the critiques.

4. Then Rubio was asked about fighting Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). The fact is that Barack Obama is doing pretty much everything against it he can practically do, and all the plans put forward by his critics are basically just iterations of his plan. Rubio said,

RUBIO: Well, first, we need to understand who they are. ISIS is not just a jihadist group, theyre an apocalyptic group. They want to trigger a showdown in a city named  [Dabiq] between the west and themselves which they believe will trigger the arrival of their messianic figure. And Im not saying thats whats going to happen. The reason why its important to understand that is because these are not groups that are just going to go away on their own. They are going to have to be defeated. And I believe they need to be defeated on the ground, by a ground force, made up primarily of Sunni Arabs. It will take Sunni Arabs to reject them ideologically and defeat them militarily. That will require a coalition of Iraqis and Syrians, that are also Sunnis, but it will also require the cooperation of Jordanians, Egyptians. We should ask more of the Saudis.

That Daesh is an apocalyptic group tells us absolutely nothing about their longevity. Some apocalyptic groups collapse abruptly.

The Sunnis dont want to fight Daesh. Jordan is a tiny country and cant afford to get involved militarily with infantry in Syria, because the stuff would blow back on Amman. Bernie Sanders keeps talking about Jordan, too. If Jordan, which has a border with Daesh, were going to take military steps, it would already have done so.

Obama tried to recruit Syrian Sunnis to fight Daesh, and most of them turned out to want to fight Bashar al-Assad more. The program collapsed because of this. Iraqi Sunnis were already screwed over by the Sons of Iraq program and are reluctant to take the lead again, because Bush hung them out to dry by agreeing to leave Iraq without making any provision for them.

So it is nice that Rubio knows about Dabiq and that it would be good to have some Sunnis in the fight, but there is no way on Gods green earth that his vague imagining of an actual multi-country Sunni army marching on Daesh will become a reality. And anyway, this is just an element of the current Obama plan, not something new.

5. When Ohio Governor John Kasich was asked about North Korea, he suggested unleashing Japan on them:

KASICH: Weve gotta to be very tough on this. And frankly, I think we could have  I think we could have let the Japanese know that if you want to take action on that  on that missile thats rising, you want to take action  you will have our support, if thats what you think is the best thing to do. We cannot continue to be weak in the face of the North Koreans, or, frankly, in the entire rest of the world.

Even with the small changes in the legal interpretation of the pacifist Japanese constitution instituted last fall by PM Shinzo Abe, it would not be constitutional for Japan to simply go to war against North Korea. The Japanese public wouldnt put up with it. Kasich seems completely unaware of what talking about Japanese taking military action against N. Korea looks like to Asia, including to Beijing. All this is not to mention that North Korea has an atomic bomb, whereas Japan does not. Kasich is often forced by the bloodthirsty war cries of his rivals to pledge to do something completely unrealistic.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

ABC News: Republican Candidates Take on ISIS at ABC News Debate
News / National

by Staff reporter

87 farmers who were allocated land under the fast track agrarian reform programme at Greenland farm in Beatrice are facing eviction14 years after being given land.The farmers, who have thriving maize and tobacco crops, are appealing to the government to intervene after they were served with eviction letters by the Permanent Secretary for Lands and Rural Resettlement.The farmers are genuine holders of A1 offer letters and have built houses since they were resettled in 2002.To them, the eviction might be an illegal act and all they pray for is for the government to intervene.Others feel that allowing such evictions to take place almost a decade and half after the land reform will leave all resettled farmers in the country exposed to eviction at any given time.A landmark ruling made by High Court judge, Justice Francis Bere in 2013 in a similar case outlawed the unilateral withdrawal of offer letters by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.Justice Bere cited that if offer letters would be withdrawn unilaterally by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, it would make almost every citizen of Zimbabwe who benefited under the land reform vulnerable.
Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis Chronicles of the Uprising , and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.
Opinion / Columnist

MOSLEMS and Christians should work together as one family as they are creations of the same Almighty Father (Peace Be Upon Him), an Islamic leader has said.Sheikh Al-Hajj M K Jula said this on the sidelines of the Milad N'nabiy (celebrations held in honour of the birth of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) that were held at the main Islamic temple in the city of Kadoma recently."Christians and Moslems are people of the book. Moslems also believe in Jesus as a holy prophet of God. Christians should also believe in Muhammad as a holy prophet of God. The mission is to invite the people nearest to God.This is knowing God the Creator," Sheikh (pronounced Sher ) Jula explained.The celebrations are an annual event on the Moslems calendar to mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad (May Almighty Be Pleased With Him)"The Prophet (May Almighty Be Pleased With Him) was born in 570 A.D. Now there was a difference in opinion among the Moslem community with some saying that he was born on 12 Rabil' Awal while others are of the view that he was sired five days later, on 17 Rabil' Awal," he said.To avert unneccessary conflict among the Moslem community, both assertions were considered. The unifying decision was that the birth of Prophet should be celebrated from 12 to 17 Rabil' Awal inclusive.Said Sheikh Jula:" We celebrate the birth of our Prophet (May Almighty Be Pleased With Him) from 12 Rabil' Awal to 17 Rabil' Awal to accommodate the opinions of all Moslems. This was done as a way to unify the people and avoid unnecessary conflict."He revealed that the celebrations are held from one center to another during Shaban until Ramadan ( The month of Fasting).Moslems from various places converge at one mosque for the celebrations. The merry-making begins on the eve of the main day. Guests are warmly received and accommodated. There is general happiness and enjoyment until the next morning when the real celebrations are held.The head of that centre does not preach on the day. This is done as a way to show respect and appreciation of the other heads who would have come to their temple. A visiting head is given the chance to preach.This goes on on a rotational basis until all the temples have been covered. A guest head comes along with his congregation.Sheikh Jula quoted verses from both the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Bible which assert the view that surely Christians and Moslems are one. He cited Mark 12 v 28-30 from the Holy Bible which makes reference to Jesus Christ as a prophet of God.Furthermore, he made reference to the Holy Qur'an 112 v 1 to the end which show that Prophet Muhammad is a true prophet of God.He mentioned that both Jesus Christ and Prohet Muhammad were humans but had divine methods of doing things. Anything they did, said or preached was spiritual and from the Almighty God.To demonstrate the essence of unity between the Christian community and Moslem fratenity, Prophet Muhammad mentions the name of Jesus Christ more than his in the Holy Qur'an. On the other hand Jesus Christ is concerned about all of us as articualted in the Lord's Prayer."The history of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who recognized Jesus and accepted him thus were the Christians in the city of Medinna." he added."If the Christians understand this they should embrace the Moslems and vice-versa. We should understand that there were 23 999 prophets from Adam to Jesus Christ. Prophet Muhammad was number 24 000."Sheikh Jula revealed that he went on a pilgrimage to Mount Arafat in Mecca (Makah) in 1991 were Adam and Eve lived.He also explained the reason why Moslems face the same direction when they take their prayers."All Moslems in the whole world worship God facing the same direction. This is the direction where the House of God called Ka'ba built by Abraham is located,"he explained.
Opinion / Columnist

Last week, Noel Chikanya whose Chimurenga name was Roy Mudzingwa spoke about the clashes between Zapu and Zanu during the formatives days of the country's liberation struggle.He narrated how in the early 1960s, he went for military training in Russia. He also narrated a touching story in which he said the Zapu leadership in 1964 sent him and some of his colleagues into Rhodesia for arrest and slaughter by the notorious Rhodesian Special Branch.This week, Mudzingwa continues his story with our team comprising Munyaradzi Huni and Tendai Manzvanzvike.He tells us how he was captured by the Special Branch and how he broke down after they seriously tortured him.He recounts how he found love while in prison and this love will leave some people asking whether this was indeed true love or was a set up by the Smith regime. He narrates how he ended up joining Bishop Abel Muzorewa's party and how he was fired from the party after a few months.Read on ***SM: Ok. Now let's go back to your story. So Lawrence took you to this other whiteman?Mudzingwa: Yeah, he did. I can't remember the name of this whiteman. He said he could drive me out of the country via Victoria Falls, but the Special branch was all over the place. So I stayed with him for a while and during this time he bought me different suits to wear. I would burn the old suits so that there would be no trace. He even gave me some money to spend.One day ndakasangana nehanzvadzi yamai vangu in Highfield. I was in a beer hall and he was the first to see me. He came to me and whispered that police were looking for me. He asked me when I had came back into the country and I told him sasekuru vangu. I told him never to tell anyone that he had seen me and he said ok.He said let's go to my house and we went. I stayed with him, only going out during the evenings. One day I went back to that beer hall and I met Joseph Nyandoro who was looking for me. He said he had met a comrade Muzeza and so he wanted the two of us to go collect some guns hidden somewhere and go to train some recruits somewhere near what is Marimba now. Remember Harare was still a big bush.So secretly we started training some recruits there. We did this for a while. Unknown to me, the Special branch was closing in on me. They knew where I was staying, but they were not sure what exactly I was up to.If you know a guy called Konjwayo. He was assigned to track me but I didn't know. Sometimes I would actually meet him and we would greet like friends. He would actually buy me beer sometimes and I would do the same. After the declaration of UDI we carried out some sabotage activities.SM: You were now doing this, were you still in Zapu?Mudzingwa: Yes, I was still in Zapu. The whole of 1965, Konjwayo was tracking me. January 1966, it was time of the Special branch to move in on me. By this time, most of my comrades had been arrested.One day, very early in the morning, we woke up to see that the house had been surrounded by armed soldiers and the Special branch.Someone from outside started shouting my name. "Noel Chikanya, come out! Come out! If you try to run, we will shoot you!"Sekuru vangu went to open the door and I was arrested. Konjwayo was actually there. Ndakaiswa simbi mumakumbo and maoko.SM: Where you not surprised to see Konjwayo?Mudzingwa: I was shocked. He actually shouted to me kuti waifunga kuti wakachenjera? I was taken to Central Police Station. When I arrived there, the Special branch said Noel Chikanya, we don't want to kill you here. Just tell us your whole story. If you refuse to talk, you may not survive.I said hapana zvandinoziva ini. I however agreed that I had indeed gone for military training. They asked me the names of the other comrades I had gone for training with and I refused to reveal the names.I was taken to some house and the Special branch said, now you are going to reveal everything. There was a drum full of water. Ndakabatwa musoro ndiye nyuu in that drum. Its like I was drowning. They did that a few times, ndikati regai ndikuudzei.Ndakataura one or two comrades. They said hausati wakwana. They repeated that process. They even went to buy me some beer, but the torture continued. They bought me meat pies, saying uchataura hako zvakanaka. So these operatives would go and others would come.They tortured me including my manhood. It was excruciating pain. I screamed but all that didn't help me. In the end, I told them the comrades I had gone for training with.SM: You were now revealing all these names  during your training in Russia, you had not been prepared for this?Mudzingwa: The Russian instructors had told us about this and they were saying when you have been captured by the enemy, if you can kill yourself so that you don't release any information. But if you can't kill yourself, give them the information you have so that they don't continue torturing you.SM: When you were revealing the names, didn't you feel like you were now selling out the struggle?Mudzingwa: I got to a stage where I said I am not selling out the struggle. As they were torturing me, they were telling me that they knew a lot from the other comrades. They said they had arrested Luca Manyatela, Jeremiah Chamba, this one, and this one and this one. They said it was only me and Funny Maduwazi who had not yet been arrested. They said you see we now have lots of information.What they wanted from me was that as my fellow comrades were going to court, I would become a state witness. That's why it took them time to arrest me. When they discovered that I was a hot head, they went and arrested Funny Madowazi. He was told that if you don't want to die in jail, you should become a state witness. He agreed.In February, we were taken to High Court  about 23 of us. About 10 were from intelligence and other officers from different sections. I have newspaper cuttings to show this. The trial went on for three months.In court, we were refusing that we went for military training. We said we had been recruited thinking we were being sent to school.SM: Who was giving you this advice?Mudzingwa: One of our lawyers was Dumbujena. There was also some whiteman among our lawyers. These lawyers really stood for us. Some of them were even getting threats from the Special branch.In March 1966, we were sentenced to 10 years in prison, except one comrade called Bhebhe. There was no one akamira in court as State witness against him. He was sentenced to five years. The court advised him to appeal because there was no one who had proof that he had received military training.For some of us, Funny Madowazi did not waste time. He identified all of us and told the court that we had received military training. There was also another comrade, called Clement Dube from intelligence. He also stood as a State witness.These two comrades and I think a few others who stood as State witnesses really messed things for us. During court breaks, our lawyers would say, we are trying our best but with these State witnesses, the best we can try is that you don't get sentenced to 20 years. They told us that we should forget about being discharged.SM: After being sentenced to 10 years, what happened?Mudzingwa: We were taken during the night to Prince Charles airport. We were put into a Dakota plane and we were flown to Bulawayo. We were taken to Khami Prison.When we arrived we were told to remove all our clothes. We were walking naked. We were taken to what they called A Hall which had very small cells that could fit only one person. We were put in these single cells.The first person I saw, although I didn't know him at that time was the now VP Emmerson Mnangagwa. I think I was in cell 31 and he was in cell 32. What I know is that my cell was next to his. Akanga akaonda zvainzwisa tsitsi. I didn't even speak to him because we were not allowed to speak to fellow prisoners.SM: Explain exactly what you mean comrade?Mudzingwa: You could see blood in the veins. Waiti ukaiswa kuKhami Prison, unobuda chete kunogeza. All prisoners looked like they were coloured due to lack of exposure to the sun. This was not your normal kugeza, but kungopinda mumvura under a shower and you are out.The chamber yawaiitira weti or tsvina, in the evening you would clean it wocherera mvura. I was at Khami for about six years. We lost sense of time and some of us we even forgot kuti hembe inopfekwa sei.We also got so skinny such that we would see blood flowing in our veins. We were not exposed to the sun. Sadza raiitwa zvekukandwa in your cell. I don't think even the Nazi treated their prisoners like that.However, a few of us decided to protest against the treatment. It was me, that friend of our wekugona zvibhakera, then Barnabas Sithole, Wurayayi Muhwani and another Ndebele comrade, Richard Ncube, Benny Mutasa, John Mutuvha and others. We were between 10 to 20.We said let's fight these guards so that they kill us because this treatment is the same as being killed.SM: How did you communicate?Mudzingwa: There were some wardens who sympathised with us. We used them to communicate using letters. After some years, we were allowed to read books.So on this day, there was this warden I think he was called Musekiwa. This man was an animal. He was ruthless. So we decided that when they open the doors for us to go to the showers, that's when we should strike.We did that and Musekiwa was beaten thoroughly on this day. All the privileges like reading books were taken away from us. The treatment got worse.When the Red Cross and Amnesty International came, they said we were political prisoners and so we were not supposed to be treated this bad. That's when we were now allowed 30 minutes out of our cells but in those 30 minutes we were forced to run around the prison grounds, still naked by the way.After some time, we were called by some whiteman called Mr Clarke. He had been transferred from Harare. He said he was mixing us with other prisoners, but those with the appetite to fight should ask warder Musekiwa to come inform me. You will come to my office torovana. Kana wandirova ndizvozvo I won't charge you, but ndikakurova I will be very thorough.Now this was one giant whiteman and very strong. Sometimes he would clap black wardens vachidonha just to show us how strong he was. Zvekurwa zvakapera.SM: So you were in prison till when?Mudzingwa: Until 1973. We were transferred to the Gray Prison right in Bulawayo. We were taken back to Khami Prison where we got into a Dakota and were flown to Gweru. We were detained.SM: Why were you being detained? You had finished your sentence?Mudzingwa: Special branch actually told us that don't think we will release you. They said we would stay in jail till death.In Gweru, the conditions were much better. There was Christian Care, which gave us food and clothes. One person would have 10 to 15 suits.SM: Still under detention?Mudzingwa: Yes. They had organised with Amnesty International which had found us friends outside the country. These friends looked after us by sending money, food and clothes. We actually has bank accounts where these friends deposited the money and we were allowed to withdraw money from these accounts every Wednesday.We would send the chaplain to buy us whatever we wanted. We were living well. The family that was looking after me was from Switzerland. There was another lady from Holland called Erica.We would write letters to each other. I almost got married to Erica. Some of my comrades actually married these white friends that has been organised by Amnesty International.These white ladies would actually propose love to us even though there was this distance and even though we only saw each other through pictures. They would say, I can see you are being tortured in Rhodesia. I want to send you a ticket so that you come over tizochata.SM: Where these young white ladies or what?Mudzingwa: The majority of them were old white women.SM: As trained soldiers, how and why did you trust these white women? Didn't you think they were being used by the colonial system to distract you from the liberation struggle?Mudzingwa: We thought that because they had been convinced by Christian Care and Amnesty International, they would not do that. They were looking after us very well.We would even sit at the prison verandah drinking whisky some weekends. This was not allowed but we would give the prison wardens money to look the other way.SM: So you were in detention in Gweru for how many years?Mudzingwa: For about five years. We would be brought to a tribunal in Harare where we would be asked whether we still had interest in politics. This tribunal would decide whether you should continue living in jail or not.I was later released and was told to go stay in my rural area in Wedza.SM: So how did your relationship with Erica end?Mudzingwa: We were communicating with these friends and families through lawyers chosen by either Amnesty International or Christian Care. So my lawyer, told Erica that after my release, I had found someone to marry.Erica was very hurt. She wrote me a letter saying our relationship was over. She however surprised me. She said I know that you were in jail and I know that in your culture marrying means not only buying a ring. It means paying some money and buying some cattle.She asked me to sent her a list of what was required for me to marry. I replied her. I told her that I would need 600 pounds to marry and that I would need money to build my own house since I had spent all these years in prison. I said I would need about 2 000 pounds to build this house in Wedza. Then money for groceries and my upkeep. She said she would send me the money direct into my Standard bank account.She said she was going to send me 15 000 pounds. It was a lot of money. I became one of the richest man straight from prison.I then wrote to the Special Branch telling them that I now had lots of money and zvamuri kufungira zvese izvi kuti ndichaita, handichaita.I was then transferred from home restriction in Hwedza and put under home restriction in Mabvuku. The restrictions were that I should not go further than 10 miles from Mabvuku. I bought a new car, a Peugeot for 4 000 pounds. I later found a job.I married my wife kumaKwiro. I cant remember the exact year but kuma1970s. Roora rakaita 240 pounds. We were charged mombe six. We paid 160 pounds for four cattle because mombe two  yababa namai vakati vanoda dzinotsika. We paid another 80 pounds for hembe dzababa.This woman I married is still my wife today.SM: All these niceties, are you still thinking about the liberation struggle?Mudzingwa: I was still interested in politics. I decided to join Abel Muzorewa so that I could find time to organise people and send them to Mozambique. I was working with people like Issac Dambo, Musaka and others. We were about 10 or 15 comrades who came from Zambia after receiving military training. When Muzorewa discovered that we were recruiting people and sending them to Mozambique, his secretary, Evelyn Kaunza wrote us letters expelling us from the party.Muzorewa said muchiri nepfungwa dzehugandanga. You are terrorists. He said his party was against what we were doing. He said they were going to inform the Special branch about our actions.SM: You mean Muzorewa was against your recruitment of freedom fighters?Mudzingwa: We joined Muzorewa's party in 1978. You see Muzorewa started very well saying we want to continue politicising people so that they know kuti murungu akaipa. But pavakazoita Zimbabwe-Rhodesia with Smith, they enjoyed power. Power was very sweet to them.They were staying at State House, they had very nice houses in expensive suburbs. So vakabva vavhiringika pfungwa.So we were expelled from Muzorewa's party. By this time Chimurenga chakanga chapisa so we said to hell with Muzorewa.SM: Some people don't really know much about this period when Muzorewa comes into the picture. Tell us what kind of a person was he?Mudzingwa: He was a church person. A very good man. But the people around him had bad influence.SM: Who are these people?Mudzingwa: During that time there were people like Dr Mundawarara, Chris Mbanga and others. Quite a big number.SM: What did Muzorewa's part stand for?Mudzingwa: They were saying we want to take the country and rule it. Tikaipa vanhu vari kubva kuMozambique nyika inoparara. Hapana zvavanoziva. Havana kuenda kuchikoro.When I left Muzorewa's party, I never went into active politics again.
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Recently, the wife of a prominent Boston businessman  one of my many wealthy, white patients at Massachusetts General Hospital  greeted me this way: So what foreign medical school did you go to anyway?

For background, Im a petite, Middle Eastern young woman with a headscarf, and Im guessing I do not resemble her vision of what a doctor should look like. That image is probably taller, whiter, male and not Muslim.

My answer (in perfect, unaccented English) to her question about where I was trained? Harvard Medical School. After that, her lips remained pursed shut for the rest of our encounter.

As the daughter of Iraqi and Iranian immigrants, such interactions, unfortunately, have been common for me and my family members since we moved to America weeks before 9/11. When former President Bush declared war on Iraq the following year, for example, my sister and I heard classmates scream, Go back to your country! from their pickup truck on our walk home from high school.

I thought that attending college and medical school at Yale and Harvard, respectively, would be my golden ticket to Americas meritocratic dream, that my prestigious diplomas would shield me from future experiences with racism and bigotry. As a neurology medical resident in liberal Boston, (and working at a hospital ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report) I also thought that I would be judged based on my medical acumen, not by the color of my skin or the scarf I wear on my head. But I was wrong.

Another day, an 80-year old patient with dementia began hitting me on the head when I checked in on her for my daily visit. Pointing to my headscarf, she said, I dont want someone with that taking care of me. Despite her mental condition, the racism still stung as I continued to strive to provide her the best care possible. Another time in the hospital, a male patient told me that his religion is superior to mine. While I was listening to his lungs to help in the management of his shortness of breath, he added, Why do you wear that thing on your head anyway? Despite his abrasive behavior, I politely informed him of his treatment plan and told him that I am praying for his speedy recovery.

My experiences are not isolated. A recent study in the American Journal of Bioethics found that 24 percent of Muslim physicians have experienced religious discrimination in the workplace.

This election year has made it harder to be a Muslim in America. Republican front-runner Donald Trump has advocated for registering Muslims inside the United States and banning those of us who reside abroad. Unfortunately, the majority of Republican Party members agree with him and the number of hate crimes against Muslims have tripled in recent weeks. Yet, I also recognize that Muslims are just Americas newest outsiders. Throughout our history, Catholics, Irish, Italians, women, African-Americans, Jews, Latinos and gays have all been targets of nativist fear-mongering. Many of these groups still face significant prejudice today, and hospitals are not immune from such discrimination, whether implicit or explicit.

When I was a third-year medical student, it appeared to me that the pediatric residents and attending physicians would spend extra time caring for the white infants and children during morning rounds. The two African-American babies and one Arab infant admitted to the inpatient pediatrics service at the time were never oohed and aahed at and received noticeably less attention. Have you noticed that only the white children are called cute? I asked my friend after our third day on the pediatrics rotation. My friend, an African-American medical student, had his own grievance. He had overheard a doctor refer to an African-American father as an angry black man. I dont understand, my friend said. His daughter is dying, he is upset, and has questions. Hes not asking any more questions than the other parents.

Our observations were also not isolated incidents. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have shown that physicians unconsciously prefer and spend more time with white patients than African-American ones.

I also recall the occasional episode of overt racism in the hospital. One surgeon  prominent and stern in his crisp white coat  said the following about a Hispanic patient who was coming to have her melanoma examined for excision: I cant believe these people! They have been here for a decade, cant bother to learn English, and were stuck waiting for an interpreter.

But the episodes of implicit racism have been more commonplace.

Most episodes have gone unchallenged by my colleagues and me  medical students and residents who have rarely felt empowered enough to speak up against older (and usually whiter) established faculty members and physicians.

Some hospitals and medical schools have attempted to address these problems by creating a diverse physician population that will hopefully someday reflect the ethnic, religious and racial makeup of our patients. However, this is not enough. At the same time, we  as physicians and society more generally  must realize that the struggles of one marginalized community are struggles of all of us.

My fight as a Muslim-American doctor to serve my patients without fear of racism, and the fight of an African-American patient to be treated with dignity and respect, should also be your fights. Our national conversation needs to be less disjointed: It is not about Tamir Rice or Eric Garner one minute, and Donald Trumps comments about Muslims or Latinos the next minute.

In medicine, I find, it is often easier to look outside, at global or national health disparities, for instance, rather than look within our own communities, and in our own hospitals. These disparities hurt patients and doctors, too: Personally, when I am confronted with bigotry on the job I figure out ways to ignore it, reminding myself how scared patients must be in a state of sickness and vulnerability in the hospital. However, I also wish there was more conversation about it among physicians because it is hard to deal with prejudice on a continual basis, and it only adds to the stress of our inherently rigorous training and profession.

Overall, its about understanding that these challenges  global and local  are interconnected, and we will only be able to properly address the harmful prejudices in the medical profession, and throughout the United States, when we all come together and acknowledge each others pain and Americas pained history.

Altaf Saadi is a neurology resident. This article originally appeared in WBURs CommonHealth.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Opinion / Columnist

One of the pioneers of the armed struggle that freed blacks in this country from colonial bondage was Clark Mpofu (CM) an ex-Zipra combatant.Sunday News Correspondent, Dumisani Sibanda (DS), caught up with him at his home in Bulawayo's Nketa suburb, on Wednesday, and had an interview with the man- who in 1965 escaped from Grey Street Prison now Bulawayo Prison with three other comrades, the fiery Moffat Hadebe, Keyi Mpofu and Elliot Ngwabi. They had been detained for political activism and sabotage missions. Below are excerpts from that interview for your reading pleasure.DS:Thank you Mpofu for your time. Briefly, who is Clark Mpofu and how did he become part of the liberation struggle that led to the independence whose fruits we enjoy today?CM: I was born in 1938 in Nkayi and attended school at Zinyangeni Mission in the same district. When I was doing Standard Six our teacher told us that Gold Coast- that is what Ghana was called then- had become independent. Black people in Ghana could now rule themselves. This was inspiring and made some of us wish the same for our country.Later on in the 1950s, when I had moved to Bulawayo, my uncle-that is my mother's brother Alfred Mathendele Sibanda had been arrested at Marandellas now Marondera in 1959.DS: The one that was a builder by profession and was called Bhilida after his trade?CM: Yes. He was an ANC member and had been arrested for political activism in1959 and detained. So when the National Democratic Party was formed in 1960 led by Joshua Nkomo with Morton Malianga as his deputy and George Silundika as Secretary-General, I joined it as a youth. When the National Democratic Party came on to the political stage it electrified the atmosphere, it was very effective. We had people like now President Robert Gabriel Mugabe-coming from Ghana- as the spokesperson of the party. What followed were spontaneous riots and burning of property, the Zhii era. There were casualties some of our colleagues were killed. The whites would shoot to kill.DS:What then happened?CM: This forced the holding of a Constitutional Conference in Harare chaired by Duncan Sandys ( Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations) and it gave blacks 15 seats in Parliament while whites were allocated 50 seats. This was totally unacceptable because we were demanding one man one vote. This led to a stalemate and there was a referendum on the draft constitution issue and it produced a NO vote. Joshua Nkomo took the results to England and a British aristocrat, he met there said the country was "too industralised and could not be left to inexperienced hands''.DS: (interjecting) Inexperienced hands meaning blacks?CM: Yes. Nkomo came back and said if industry was going to stand on the way of majority rule then it would have to be destroyed. Just that statement, fired us up, the youths, destroy factories, burn things. Consequently, the National Democratic Party was banned in 1961. The party was proscribed.Zapu was then formed and there was a meeting first at MacDonald Hall in Bulawayo's Mzilikazi Township and then all the leaders had to take turns to address the crowd at Barbourfields. When the late First Lady, Sally Mugabe spoke, some of us thought she was Nkwameh Nkrumah's representative, not knowing (laughing)DS: (laughing) Not knowing what?CM: That she was Mugabe's wife. President Mugabe was eloquent too. What you admire now is nothing compared to then. Herbert Chitepo chose to speak in Shona. Takawira spoke so fiercely and charged who is Whitehead after the Prime Minister. After the meeting, some of the leaders Enos Nkala and Dumiso Dabengwa were arrested.DS: At that time how else were you fighting the enemy?CM: We were using petrol bombs. One of our cadres, Shadreck Nkomo, was attacked at night, his house in Makokoba was bombed- obviously by the enemy- because although he was injured in the blast he was arrested and charges preferred against him.DS: What happened to you then?CM: In 1962, I was sent to Zambia and trained in the use of explosives, landmines, hand grenades and spent the Christmas of 1962 being trained by Makhiwani of Umkhonto WeSizwe (ANC'S armed wing). In Lusaka, Sikhwili Moyo gave me a trunk full of materials for making grenades, parcel bombs , even time bombs. We were four ; Amen Chikwakwata, John Mondiya Ndlovu and Elias Ngugama. I travelled by train to Bulawayo.DS: There were no suspicions?CM: No. It was early 1962 and when I got to Bulawayo Railway Station, I was met by Gorden Butshe and Ethan Dube.DS: Where did you take the trunk with such dangerous things ?CM: We took it to R7 Mzilikazi, your grandmother's house, in other words my aunt's place.DS: You mean late liberation heroine Gogo MaSibanda, that is Bafazi Moyo, the daughter of Mathendele?CM: Exactly. The following day, we took it to Matobo Hills using the Old Gwanda Road and that is where we cached it.We then returned to Bulawayo via the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway.DS:So were the bombs used?CM: At night we would organise 40 youths for the operations. We were using gel- lite bombs.DS: How lethal were these Gel Lite bombs?CM: They could destroy railway lines.DS: What were the targets?CM: We had booby traps with electric detonators for the whites.DS: What were you hoping to achieve?CM:To instill fear in whites so they would succumb to our demands such as one man one vote.DS:Did you achieve your goal?CM:No. That is why we went to Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo to complain that we wanted to use guns now as they were more effective than our sabotage methods. I knew Moyo as he also lived in Makokoba, on 10th Street and I lived on Seventh Street. He used to give me books to read.DS: What type of books?CM: He would give me books on politics, on Mau Mau in Kenya for instance. Did you know Mau Mau means African Underground Movement? Other books were on how to organise the party, some by Adolf Hitler. Hitler said you go to the people if you want to win. In fact, I gave a transit camp in Zambia, which I commanded the name Dose House because Hitler who used to live like a vagabond. He used to call where he slept Dose House.DS: Back to your story on your disillusionment about your sabotage methods. What happened?CM: In 1962, Zapu was banned. At that time President Mugabe was the party's spokesperson deputised by Danny Ncube. In Zanu, Ndabaningi Sithole was National Chairman, Herbert Chitepo who was a lawyer by training had gone to Tanzania to be the Director of Prosecutions. But as I was saying we realised that sabotage was not working. In 1963, we were told to skip border, myself, Ethan Dube, who was chairman of Makokoba, Ackim Ndlovu, who was chairman of Mabutweni and Dumiso Dabengwa, who was chairman of Mpopoma. Myself and Butshe, slept at Dabengwa's house and then boarded a train and went to Chilenje in Zambia, there John Bhebhe had a dry cleaning shop at Materu suburb. After two weeks we were joined by Mbejelwa Moyo and within a week we were joined by James Chatagwa, who was brought to us by David Mpongo who was trained in Cuba.From there Mpongo, took Butshe, Chatagwa, Moyo and myself to Mbeya in Tanzania. The representative in Tanzania was Abraham Nkiwane. We met Joshua Nkomo who was accompanied by Chikerema. We held a closed door meeting and explained that the sabotage tactics were not working. We wanted war. After some arguments, Nkomo asked us where we wanted to go for training and we said Cuba because of the influence of Mpongo, who had been trained in Cuba. We told him we were not compromising on the issue of war.Life was tough. We would beg for food from Tanzanians. We left Mbeya for Dar-Es-Salaam each carrying just an orange. It's a long distance but we got there and met Nkomo with the rest of the leadership.It was arranged for us to go to China via Soviet Union with a stopover in Cairo, Egypt.DS: What happened when you got to Soviet Union?CM: We were taken to Kremlin, there we saw the body of Lenin, he was embalmed you know. They told us you waste a lot of land, why don't you build sky-scrappers because land is a finite resource. From Moscow, we flew to Peking in China, that is how it was known then not Beijing. We thought we would be taught how to fight there and then given arms but instead we were being taught history. We were told- now with a group of six which had Luke Mhlanga we were the first group to come in such a large number. They said we were more than Fidel Castro of Cuba who started his army with 12 guerillas. The Luke Mhlanga group found us having done a crash course in history. Instead of teaching us how to fight and giving us arms, they taught us agriculture. They told us when we become independent and rule ourselves, we would need to produce food. They said you can't develop if you have to buy food from other countries.DS: Why do that?CM: They said they had suffered. They would pick skins and eat without caring of what animal. They were poor even in the capital city you would see bicycles all over and a car was a rare commodity. But look at what China is today, an economic power house that can even bail out United States.We were taken to factories and we were told we would need industries when we become independent and only by getting the necessary knowledge and technology to produce capital goods for export would we prosper. We were also taken to a town where Mao Zedong was born.DS: At what point did the split in Zapu happen?CM: It happened when we had almost spent a year in China. Those who were Shona speaking like Dauramanzi opted for Zanu.DS: Are you saying people were split along tribal lines?CM: No, people would tend to align themselves to people they know. Zipra did have Shona speaking people like Rex Nhongo who was trained by Zipra. After a year in China, we went to Tanzania before some us proceeded to en-route to Zambia.Next week, we carry the second and final part of the interview, where Clark Mpofu relates how he, Moffat Hadebe, Elliot Ngwabi and Keyi Mpofu escaped from Grey Street Prison where they had been detained for political activism in 1965, in a jailbreak that hit headlines and attracted one of the biggest man-hunts in Rhodesia. Don't miss next week's copy of Sunday News as we take this historical journey.
Peter O Loughlin says the European Union experiment has failed. It is time for Ireland to strike out on its own, and use its natural resources for the benefit of the Irish people.

Peter O Loughlin says the European Union experiment has failed. It is time for Ireland to strike out on its own, and use its natural resources for the benefit of the Irish people.

I meet him on Monday afternoon on the Parade in Kilkenny City. The streets arent particularly busy, but people have time to chat to him, and have a look at the literature.

Living in Carlow, Peter is the co-founder of a new political party, Identity Ireland  borne out of a dissatisfaction with the way the country is being run. He describes the group as a pro-sovereignty party, advocating a withdrawal from the European Union.

We feel very strongly that the Irish people are being taken advantage of in many respects, he explains.

Our resources are being sold out. They are not going for our benefit, whether its fisheries, mineral extraction like zinc and lead, agriculture  obviously the sugar industry is a huge issue in Carlow. That was shut down, although it was viable.

The first person we stop is Roisin McQuillan, who politely listens to what he has to say. She asks him where the party is and how many members there are. He reveals that there are presently around 100 members, which it is hoped will grow moving forward towards the upcoming General Election. She wishes him well in his campaign.

Peter tells me it is difficult to pick out one single issue that is coming up a lot on the doorstep.

Jobs, really, is a huge one  the economy is very important, he says.

I think a lot of people realise that obviously if we arent making the money, we cant fund things. We can talk about individual areas like health, social housing, disability. But the simple fact is, if you ask people whats the major problem with all these areas, its lack of resources.

The next person we meet, Joe Moloney, is concerned about the economy.

Its a joke that we are in that situation, he says, agreeing that a lot of money is going outside the country.

I havent decided yet [who to vote for], but I will certainly consider it, he says.

One of the more divisive issues  but one that Peter says a lot of people are starting to talk about  is immigration. He is proposing new, stricter border controls.

Weve seen a massive rise in our non-national population, says Peter.

Since the turn of the century it has gone from 2% or 3% to around 17% or 18%. There has been no debate on that.

It is putting a strain on social systems, jobs, competition for jobs, driving down wages at a time when Irish people are forced to emigrate, are unemployed, under-employed or on training courses.

He says that Identity Ireland and its policies are being quite well received as an alternative to others  because of the vision they articulate as opposed to bland soundbites.

A lot of people know who they dont want to vote for, he says.

They tell you Im not voting for Fianna Fail, Im not voting Fine Gael  for obvious reasons. Most people will listen, and most people are actually quite receptive once they here what we have to say.
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Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Knoxville: presents a free small business Start-Up program 9 a.m.noon Monday at the Knoxville Chamber. Register under training at www.tsbdc.org.

Technical Society of Knoxville: meets 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Crowne Plaza. Lunch followed by tour of the KUB Water Quality and Regulatory Compliance Department at 835 E. Jackson Ave. RSVP to technicalsocietyofknoxville@gmail.com.

Anderson County Chamber: offers a free new business startup workshop 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at 245 N. Main St., Ste. 200 in Clinton. Jutta Bangs on includes the forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning and financing options. RSVP to accc@andersoncountychamber.org

Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association: meets noon Thursday in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Knoxville. Speaker Andy Long on Domestic Assault and Orders of Protection. One hour CLE available. For more information call 865-215-3676.

East Tennessee Meeting Professionals: meets 11:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Oak Ridge. Susanne Dalton Dupes presents "The Power of Motivation." Fee $25-$35 depending on membership. To register call 865-314-4839.
Rob Voigt, president and drone operator for real estate firm The Voigt Group, launches the DJI Phantom 3 Professional Drone in the back yard of Walter Cooks home in Farragut on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel)

SHARE A tablet works as a flight monitor via camera app for Rob Voigt, president and drone operator for his real estate firm, The Voigt Group, while he flies his drone around homeowner Walter Cooks home in Farragut on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) Rob Voigt puts away his drone after flying it around a clients home in Farragut on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) Rob Voigt flies the DJI Phantom 3 Professional Drone above Walter Cooks home in Farragut on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) Rob Voigt, president and drone operator for The Voigt Group. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel)

By Ali James of the Knoxville News Sentinel

When Brittany Voigt decided to start her own independent real estate firm, The Voigt Group, she knew she needed a point of difference.

That ended up being something quite different, and high-tech, as well: using unmanned aerial vehicles  UAVs, or drones as most people know them  to create compelling visual presentations of the properties her company offers for sale.

"We'd been talking about it for several years, in May last year we finally bit the bullet," said Voigt of the company she opened with her husband Robert.

"We really needed to find two or three things right off of the bat that someone else doesn't have," she said. "That was the one thing that was going to set us apart."

The Voigts knew that today's typical buyer wants an interactive online experience. Using a drone and other professional photographic equipment allows them to create engaging videos that lets buyers experience a home right from their own living rooms.

"You want them to fall in love with the home before they actually come and see it," she said.

Robert Voigt, the group's business manager, invested in a "practice" drone before his wife had finished detailing her idea.

"These cameras allow us to capture images not often seen in our market," said Robert Voigt, who takes all of the aerial shots of their listings using a DJI Phantom 3 Professional Drone. "Larger markets like Los Angeles and New York see brokers using this technology pretty often. We wanted to offer it here."

The aerial photography from a drone offers a unique perspective of the properties that Voigt markets.

"We capture the backyard, the front yard, and then you go up and we video your neighborhood, where you're at and what's around you," Robert Voigt said. He likened it to taking a virtual stroll on the street to see the neighborhood.

The Voigts say they really get to capture the essence of what East Tennessee is like. The Farragut-based firm also invested in the DJI Osmo, a high-quality video and still-image camera to shoot clear photos and video inside their houses.

The two are quick to point out that the "in-home video tours" that they share online are a far cry from the usual virtual tours real estate companies use that are more like photo slideshows.

"We actually video your home and let buyers imagine living there," Robert Voigt said. "We take it a step further and create a kind of 'movie' about the home."

"It's hard to understand the architecture or the layout of the house," Brittany Voigt said. "(But) with in-home video, you know what it's like to live there, you know that the dining room is off the living room, how spacious the kitchen is. A lot of what goes into buying a house is how it fits."

Even before their client Walter Cook's West Knoxville home was officially listed, the Voigts were able to get the attention of potential buyers.

"We took some aerial photographs (with the drone) when it was snowing; I posted those on various social media," Brittany Voigt said. "I reached about 8,337, with 1,367 clicks just on the Facebook post. I had a ton of people ask me about the property."

Cook is ready to downsize from his four-bedroom home, and interviewed a number of real estate agents before signing with The Voigt Group. He was drawn to the Voigts' marketing strategy and longtime familiarity with the area.

"The capability of this marketing, to make it stand out from other real estate companies," was appealing, he said. "Nobody else has the drone or the Osmo camera.

"When I made this decision to sell the home, I want it sold, because the 'for sale' sign is not the most attractive thing in the landscape," Cook said. "This location doesn't have the traffic, (so) it's very necessary to market it in the way they are doing it. A lot of real estate agents put their sign in the yard and hope that someone drives by and sees it. A lot of people want to list a home; I wanted someone to sell the home."

The Voigts made the investment of tens of thousands of dollars for the equipment despite seeing some negative stories about drones.

"When people saw that we weren't playing around, that we put everything that we had worked for over 15 years into it, then others started taking it seriously," Brittany Voigt said.

The Voigts say they feel that the FAA's new requirement that all drones be registered is reasonable.

"The entire purpose is to ensure the safety of those both in the sky and on the ground," Robert Voigt said.

The firm mostly works with residential clients, but has had some requests to do commercial projects.

Brittany Voigt generates lots of interest for her listings using Facebook and Twitter. She often uses Instagram and Pinterest, and even uses LinkedIn whenever necessary. Although Voigt does not expect to sell properties directly off social media, she said it definitely creates interest.

"They're excellent tools for displaying the videos and reaching a mass amount of people," she said.

The Voigts have four agents that work with them that share the firm's values.

"We offer the in-house video and drone services to our agents for free," Robert Voigt said.

He has taken the equipment as far as Oneida and Jamestown, spending hours producing each video.

"It's worth it though," he added. "It's about keeping real estate agents relevant."
SHARE Victor Ashe, former mayor of Knoxville and U.S. ambassador to Poland. Thomas Dickenson has been promoted to managing partner at Hodges, Doughty & Carson Don Edens has joined Techmer ES as emerging market manager, a new position created as the company expands into new growth markets. He was previously director of global business development at EcoTech Polymers. William Edwards has been promoted to member at Hodges, Doughty & Carson. He was previously an associate. Thomas Dickenson has been promoted to managing partner.

Victor Ashe has been named to the board of directors for the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor, state representative, state senator and U.S. Ambassador to Poland.

Michael Beehan has joined the law firm of Fox & Farley as an attorney. He will practice in the areas of serious personal injury, products liability, vehicle wrecks and immigration. He was previously the human resources director at an Oak Ridge engineering firm.

Mary Blair has joined Designsensory as an account manager. She was previously director of marketing solutions at AMG Solutions. Brandon Storz has joined the firm as a web developer. Hunter Foster has joined as public relations and media specialist following an internship with the firm.

Renda Burkhart, H.M. "Hash" Hashemian, and Hallerin Hilton Hill have been named to the East Tennessee Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of East Tennessee. Burkhart is founder and president of Burkhart & Co; Hashemian is president and CEO of Analysis and Measurement Services; and Hill hosts a talk radio show on Knoxville's WOKI and a television show on WBIR.

Don Edens has joined Techmer ES as emerging market manager, a new position created as the company expands into new growth markets. He was previously director of global business development at EcoTech Polymers.

William Edwards has been promoted to member at Hodges, Doughty & Carson. He was previously an associate. Thomas Dickenson has been promoted to managing partner.

The town of Farragut has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Fiscal Year 2016 budget.

Greg Coleman Law of Knoxville has received the 2015 Litigator Award for extraordinary achievement within the field(s) of: Asbestos & Mesothelioma, Class Action, ERISA, and Personal Injury Litigation from the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents Litigator Awards.

Jared Hubbard and Jason Hamilton have been named partners at Rodefer Moss. Hubbard was previously a senior tax manager and Hamilton was a tax principal.

Rebekah "Becka" Hurst has been named Staff Member of the Year at Tennessee State Bank. She is vice president of credit administration training and development manager at the bank's corporate office in Pigeon Forge.

Hyperion, a cyber security technology developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and licensed to Virginia-based R&K Cyber Solutions, has been recognized by the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) as a top example of moving technology to the marketplace.

Cristy Lockwood has been promoted to president of LHP Capital. She was previously senior vice president. Carey Parker has been named chairperson of the LHP Firm Council for strategic planning. She will also continue her duties as the company's senior vice president of finance.

Bart McFadden has joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley as president and CEO effective March 15. He was previously chief professional officer at the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Georgia.

David Reynolds has been promoted to president of Home Federal Bank. Dale Keasling will continue to serve as chairman and CEO. Reynolds was previously executive vice president and manager of commercial banking. Two other executive vice presidents have also assumed new roles as part of the bank's succession planning. Debra Smith, has been named chief administrative officer and Terry Rowland has been promoted to chief lending officer.

Dr. Herbert Ridyard, a general surgeon, has joined Tennova General Surgery - Jefferson at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City.

Adam Rust has joined Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan as a member of the Knoxville office, where he will focus on civil litigation.

Kim Spencer has joined the Nalls Sherbakoff Group as a financial planner and wealth manager. She was previously with Patriot Investment Management.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has been named one of Princeton Review's Best Value Colleges and is listed in "Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck."
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By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Agency accused of illegally keeping probationers on financial hook

A service organization is facing two federal civil rights lawsuits for allegedly padding its budget by illegally extending probationary sentences for clients.

The East Tennessee Human Resources Agency Inc. is named in two lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of two former clients, Corey Lawrence and Zachary Zapata, both of Loudon County. The lawsuits make the same claim  to continue to collect supervision fees, ETHRA kept the pair on a legal leash long after their probationary sentences had expired.

ETHRA contracts with Loudon County to provide supervision of probationers involved in petty crimes. ETHRA earns $45 per month per probationer for its services. The agency also earns money by charging probationers for drug tests. The lawsuits allege ETHRA makes sure its fees are paid before applying probationers payments to court costs and fines.

A judge can legally extend an offenders probation if he or she still owes court costs and fines, which boosts ETHRAs collection of supervision fees. But the lawsuits allege the agency has gone one step further  lengthening an offenders probationary period without legal authority.

These practices are done in order to continue collecting past, current and future fees from individuals, including probation supervision fees owed to ETHRA, the lawsuits state.

An attempt to reach an ETHRA representative was unsuccessful.

Although the lawsuits involve two Loudon County probationers, attorneys Alan Moore, Cameron Bell and John Stanford Young allege ETHRA carries out the same scheme in other counties with which it contracts to provide probation supervision.

According to the lawsuits, probationers are threatened with arrest if they dont sign an order extending their probationary period. The probationers are not given benefit of counsel, although most have lawyers assigned to their cases, or benefit of a hearing.

In Lawrences case, his probationary term legally ended in September 2012. ETHRA, however, had Lawrence sign orders extending his probation and the fees he paid the agency. In July 2014, ETHRA probation officer Nicci Smith issued a warrant for Lawrences arrest alleging he violated his probation, legally over 22 months earlier, and he was ordered jailed for 60 days. A month into his sentence, an attorney reviewing his case realized Lawrences probation had long run out, and a judge set him free.

Zapata, too, signed orders extending his probation without being afforded legal advice or a hearing. He also was arrested as a result of an ETHRA probation violation charge after his probationary sentence already had expired. He lost his job and spent 13 days in jail before a judge dismissed the violation as legally void.

Each lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction against ETHRA barring the agency from allegedly lengthening probationary periods without legal authority. Lawrence is asking for more than $13 million in damages. Zapata wants $5 million.
Beta Males Want To Kill Women Because They Cant Get Laid



For years, men on Internet message boards have been sharing revenge fantasies targeting the women whove rejected them. But what is motivating their repeated references to a violent Beta Uprising, and how dangerous are the guys who chat online about it?

ON OCTOBER 1, 2015, in a scene that has become depressingly familiar, 26-year-old Christopher Harper-Mercer walked into Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, and opened fire, killing nine people and injuring nine more. Like George Sodini, who killed three women and himself in an L.A. Fitness Center in Pennsylvania; like Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people and injured 17 others at Virginia Tech; and like Elliot Rodger, who killed 6 people and injured 14 others in Isla Vista, California; a large part of Harper-Mercers motivation was his toxic anger at women because of his lack of success with them.



Harper-Mercer was a virgin at 26, and not happy about it. According to police reports, his manifesto (which was not released to the public) contained complaints about how unfair it was that he didnt have a girlfriend. And, like many of these other killers, his frustrations played out onlinein blogs and on misogynist forumsbefore he ever took action.



In the hours prior to the shooting, a man believed to be Harper-Mercer posted a message on the anonymous bulletin-board site 4chan.orgs /r9k/ forumthe name stands for Robot 9000, and posters are often referred to as Robots statingSome of you guys are alright, dont go to school tomorrow if you live in the north-west. Happening thread will be posted tomorrow morning. So long space robots.





The very first response to the message was, Is beta uprising finally going down? You might want to chillax and not alert police. Other commenters assumed it was a hoax. But when word of the violence hit the news, commenters in the forum cheered the shooter on as one of their own. Some declared, OP [original poster] DELIVERED! while others noted that the massacre might not have had to happen if only OP had been luckier in love. This post proves the mindset behind these shooters, one user wrote. If only he had been con-soled or had a GF then maybe he wouldnt have went off the deep end like this and many lives would have been saved. Instead of making fun of the betas or calling them creepy nerds, we should have saved them. My heart goes out to the victims but our shooter here as this thread here shows was a victim too. Another poster wrote Harper-Mercer a poetic ode: society failed him/its not his fault/dont blame him/he was the hero we deserved.



The Internet-culture tracking website KnowYourMeme.com traces the earliest use of the term beta uprising to a 2011 post on a mens rights blog called Fight For Justice. However, it has since picked up steam and become a popular phrase used on misogynist message boards like 4chans /r9k/ and Sluthate.com. Beta uprising refers to a kind of revolution that will supposedly take place when all the unloved

beta males realize that theyve been kept down too long by feminists and alpha males, and rise up against them in order to create a glorious utopian society in which they all get girlfriends. For most of them, its just an inside jokealbeit a sick one.



4Chans /r9k/ board started out as an experimentit was originally a message board in which software prevented users from repeatedly posting the same image, in the hopes of fostering creativity and originality. That didnt work out so well, and the board was later deleted. When it was brought back, it became a home for green text storiesanecdotal stories, written in green text, told in a few short sentences.



As is the case with all 4chan boards, the line between trolling and sincerity on /r9k/ isnt exactly clear. One former 4chan user (who, unsurprisingly, wishes to remain anonymous) told me that the biggest mistake people make about 4chan is taking it seriously. Sure, most of the posters on /r9k/ have definite issues with women and socializing in general, he says, but for the vast majority of them, this is all talk, and the beta uprising stuff is just a joke. Theyre not actually going to go out and kill anyone.



The greentext stories /r9k/ users post vary, but not by muchpopular themes include depression, creeping out women, what they are masturbating to, and, of course, how easy things are for women, whom they hate and deeply resent for not sleeping with them. They express anger towards normies, aka people with functional personal and professional lives; Chad Thundercocks, a stand-in for the sort of alpha male/normie men who have lots of self-confidence and are popular with the ladies; and Stacies, the sort of shallow normie ladies who prefer Chad Thundercock and pass right over beta males like themselves. Particularly angry posts are often decorated with a picture of Angry Pepea variation on the Pepe the Frog character from the comic book series Boys Clubthat has become something of a 4chan mascot.

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They blame feminismand its encouragement of women to work outside the home, embrace sexual freedom, and reject patriarchial beauty standardsfor their lack of access to young, thin, submissive, virgin-supermodel wives

The other message board where talk of a beta uprising is most active is SlutHate. comwhich changed its name from PUA-Hate.com after one of its active posters, Elliot Rodger, went on a killing spree in 2014 in Isla Vista, California. Prior to his rampagein which 22-year-old Rodger stabbed three men to death in his apartment, shot three female students outside a sorority house (killing two), then killed a male student inside a deli before speeding through Isla Vista shooting and wounding several pedestrians and striking several others with his car before committing suicideRodger published his manifesto and uploaded a video to YouTube explicitly stating that he was motivated to kill people due to his lack of success with women.



Although the original intent of PUAHate was to be a message board for men burned by the advice of so-called Pick Up Artists, (aka PUAs), it had a reputation as one of the most misogynist sites on the Internet, even before Rodgers spree. Today, many posters in the forum consider him a hero, and use a picture of him as an avatar. They credit him for bringing the issue of involuntary celibacy and what it can do to a man to light. Others lament the fact that he killed his roommates rather than 200 sorority girls. That, they say, would have really taught those women a lesson for not sleeping with men like them.



George Sodini, who shot up an L.A. Fitness Center in Pennsylvania after spending months writing a blog about his involuntary celibacy and lack of success with women, is also admired and sympathized with on SlutHate, as is Cho Seung-Hui, who went on a shooting spree at Virginia Tech after being rejected by a woman.



Most of the posters on the /r9k/ forum and Sluthate refer to themselves as incels (involuntary celibates), beta males, and NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Trainingin other words, neither working, nor studying, nor preparing to work or study). Many identify as having Aspergers or as being somewhere on the autistic spectrum, but are primarily self-diagnosed. This feeds into their collective self-image as socially awkward, misunderstood geniusesalthough when you actually start reading through their posts, its pretty clear that they are vastly overestimating the genius part of the equation.



Talk of a beta uprising frequently appears on /r9k/ and Sluthate, as well as in certain other parts of the manosphere, with a casual regularity, and is usually intended as a joke. But, behind every joke, theres an ounce of truth. A truth that reflects a rising tide of anger echoed throughout many little man-niches across the Internet. That anger stems from the fact that these forum posters honestly believe that society drove the incel gunmen to do what they did. Again and again, these men say, I dont agree with killing people, but what does society expect when theyve left [us] with nothing? Unsurprisingly, this same sentiment was echoed by Christopher Harper-Mercer himself in a blog post he wrote about Vester Flanagan, the man who shot reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward on live television in Virginia this past August. People like him have nothing else to live for, wrote Harper-Mercer, and the only thing left to do is lash out at a society that has abandoned them.

When these men discuss killers like Harper-Mercer, they suggest that these tragedies wouldn't have "had" to happen, if only some woman would have stepped up to the plate, taken one for the team, and simply "given them sex."

To fully understand where these men are coming from, you have to understand their bizarrely skewed worldview. Incels believe that prior to the sexual revolution and feminism, women were distributed more evenly among men. Now, they claim, alpha males get multiple sexual partners throughout their lives, while betas end up with none.



They pine longingly for a time when women, due to having to rely on men for economic support, got married earlier and were looking to settle down more quickly. Betas are particularly embittered over the idea that attractive women will spend their 20s having sex with alpha males, and will only be ready to settle down with beta males (like themselves) once they are, in beta parlance, all used up.



Essentially, they blame feminismand its encouragement of women to work outside the home, embrace sexual freedom, and reject patriarchal beauty standardsfor their lack of access to young, thin, submissive, virgin-supermodel wives who are eager to wait on them hand and foot. They also, rather oddly, believe that women are only interested in having sex with physically abusive alpha males, which is their way of framing themselves as the heroes of their own bizarre narratives. What it boils down to, really, is, Im great and girls dont like meso obviously they prefer men who are terrible. The fol-lowing is an excerpt from the very first description of a Beta Uprising sce-nario posted to /r9k/ in 2013:



A 9/10 blonde, big titted attention whore was teaching a class at Beta University.

Before the class begins you should get on your laptops and like my Facebook updates and 50 new party and beach photos despite me never acknowledging your existence.

At this moment a robotic, NEET, virgin, who was out of his house for the first time in a week, and fully comprehended the scale of female privilege and the easiness of their lives, stood up and held a rock. What does this rock feel like?

The ego inflated lecturer smirked quite Jewishly and enthusiastically replied, It feels rough. It hurts my hand just by holding it!

Wrong. If it hurts you and treats you roughly...then why havent you let it cum

on your face yet?'"

The lecturer was visibly shaken and dropped her chalk and copy of 50 Shades of Grey. She stormed out of the room crying those white knight summoning tears. The betas applauded and realized that if 20% of the men get all of the women, then they outnumber [alphas] 4 to 1. After one week all women were enslaved by the beta uprising and distributed equally among the male population.



The lecturer lost her tenure and was fired the next day. She committed suicide after realizing that none of the hundreds of men that offered to marry her were millionaires, and that her life was too hard.

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"Normie" via KnowYourMeme.com

The kind of commiseration that happens over social media tends to have a normalizing effect, even on bizarre opinions like those expressed in the post above. Views that would be considered absurd, horrific, and frightening in real life are commonplace in these groups, helping like-minded individuals to develop a shared delusional view of the world. Despite their deep disdain for the political left (which they blame for giving women more independence from men), their posts have evolved into a twisted, sexualized rehashing of Marxist rhetoric. Except instead of workers and the poor rising up to demand a redistribution of wealth, betas are dateless men who believe they are rising up against women and alpha males and demanding a redistribution of sex.



On Sluthate, this ideology gets hashed out even further, as members like Omega-KV go so far as to justify rape in the name of a more equal distribution of sex:



Rape is wrong because it violates a girls chastity, he writes. If a woman is married to another man, its wrong to rape her because it taints her sexual bond with her husband. Similarly, raping a virgin girl taints her sexual bond with her future husband.



But when some slut gets raped, there is no chastity to violate. Rape is merely a discomfort for her. Someone incel enough to commit rape would have gone through much more pain from being incel than would his rape victim as a result of the rape. As long as the girl getting raped is an unwed non-virgin, a man raping her would be comparable to a starving man stealing a loaf of bread.



Along these same lines, many participants in these forums complain about how

unfair it is that they cant legally have sex with women under the age of 18. They also talk about how shallow it is when women reject men whom they find creepy. Its an echo chamber of extreme toxicity that only gets more toxic the more time posters spend in these closed communities.



Psychologist Kristin J. Anderson, author of Modern Misogyny: Anti-Feminism in a Post-Feminist Era, notes that some of this may be a reaction to the more disastrous economic changes that America has gone through in the last 35 years. Although its actually the one percent that these middle-and-working-class forum posters are legitimately losing out to, theyd rather see themselves as losing out to women, causing them to wonder, What has feminism done to the world I was promised?



Anderson also notes that many psychological studies show that men and women have very different ideas regarding entitlement. When women determine how much they should get paid for a task they complete, she says, they take into account their performance on the taskif they did well they believe they deserve more than if they did poorly. On the other hand, men tend to believe they deserve good pay regardless of their performancethey just think they are deserving. In other words, women base their perceived rewards on their actual work, men base their perceived rewards on their perceived worth.



These studies may begin to explain why these men believe they are entitled to have access to women. By simply existing, they deem themselves worthy. And they perceive women as things to be had rather than as individual people with thoughts, feelings, and preferences of their own. Theyve been taught this through television, film, and most other media. If they cant obtain a girlfriend, then something is wrong with the system, not with them.



When the men in these forums discuss killers like Harper-Mercer and Rodger, they repeatedly suggest that these tragedies wouldnt have had to happen, if only some woman would have stepped up to the plate, taken one for the team, and simply given them sex. Women, they rationalize, have brought these tragedies on themselves by cruelly denying these men what they believe they were justly owed.

In an oft-quoted post on Sluthate, user NewGenious119 explains why he believes he is entitled to sex with attractive women:



This idea that nobody owes anyone anything completely goes against the entire point of even having a society in the first place. If society doesnt owe an individual person anything, then the individual owes society nothing either, so dont be surprised when they take their frustration out on the world.



There is absolutely NO GOOD reason why, in the 21st century, every person shouldnt have their basic needs met. That means food, shelter, clothing, and transportation for all. And, yes, if you are a male, sexual access to attractive females as that is considered a basic need for men as well.



While the world at large doesnt have to become paranoid about a literal, coordinated Beta Uprising taking over the earth and enslaving all women, there is definitely reason for concern on a more individual basis. It is a fact that the toxic way the men in these communities are teaching each other to perceive intimacy has real-world consequences. As these attitudes proliferate, women do have to worry about a culture that validates male entitlement to sex. We do have to worry about acts of violence committed by those who take these beliefs too far.



There is no perfect solution to thisno real way of determining which men are just venting and which are likely to resort to violence. Ironically, however, if the real source of all this discomfort is the inability of beta males to conform to a hyper-masculine alpha-male ideal, then they should know there already is an established movement trying to dismantle those exact gender stereotypes in the name of a more equitable world for everyone. Its called feminismand it might just save us all.









By Robyn Pennacchia

Illustration by Daniel Zender

This article originally appeared in the February/March 2016 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!







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SHARE John Fugate, 2016 candidate for Knox County Commission, District 2. Michele Carringer Rick Staples Evelyn Gill

By Gerald Witt of the Knoxville News Sentinel

For a county that's overwhelmingly Republican, the two seats in Knox County Commission's 1st and 2nd districts are the faint pulse of the Democratic Party.

Knox County Democratic Party Chairman Cameron Brooks said the party is fighting especially hard this year to keep the commission posts the party holds.

See also: Knox County Voter Guide

"We're taking it very seriously, serious as a heart attack," Brooks told the News Sentinel. "It's absolutely essential that we hold on to those two seats."

Democrats in Knox County are hanging on after a couple brutal years in local elections.

And in 2014 the party lost a General Assembly chair when incumbent Gloria Johnson dropped the state House 13th District to Eddie Smith. Both are running again.

The party also dropped local judgeship when Republican and legal newcomer Eddie Pridemore beat Democrat Daryl Fansler for a Knox County Chancery court judgeship that Fansler had held for several terms. Many local politicos suspected that Pridemore won because he's a Republican.

Outside of the commission seats the only other elected Democrat is state Tennessee 15th District Rep. Joe Armstrong, who was charged last year in U.S. District Court with conspiracy to defraud the IRS.

The nonpartisan Knoxville City Council has officeholders who identify as Democrats including Daniel Brown and Finbarr Saunders, and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero in her nonpartisan office was a 2012 delegate for President Barack Obama.

But Democrats are scarce in county government. In 2014 Democrats fielded no opposition to Republicans in four commission races and few others elsewhere.

In 2016 Democratic candidates are running for every Commission race, except in the heavy-Republican 8th District in East Knox County. There, incumbent Knox County Commission Chairman Dave Wright is seeking re-election.

There is a Democratic primary in the 1st District race between Evelyn Gill and Rick Staples, who are both somewhat regular candidates for political office. Gill has previously run for state Senate in 2012; Staples has run for Knoxville City Council and an interim Knox County school board seat.

Both have trouble seeing the issue with party lines on Commission, and both say diversity is important to the elected body.

"It's unfortunate that you have to rely on party lines to be represented," Staples said, "but it's really important that Commission be balanced to do good work for the future of the county."

Gill said that the district, which has a great number of black voters and largely covers inner-city Knoxville, is very diverse and should be represented as such on commission.

"Whether it happens to be a woman or a minority, it has to be representing our perspective here," Gill said. "You clearly represent the most diverse area."

Both candidates seek to win the March 1 primary to advance to the Aug. 4 general election, in which Republican candidate Michael Covington and Independent candidate Tyrone LaMar Fine await.

Looking at the big picture, Brooks said a challenge lies ahead for Democrats in all races.

"I'm not going to sit up here and say we feel it's going to be an easy breeze," he said. "We're very aware what we face."

The challenge to hang on to a Democratic seat in the 2nd District could be tougher. The Republican primary includes two relatively-well known candidates in perennial local candidate Michele Carringer and recent interim school board member John Fugate.

The district that elected Democrat Amy Broyles has been altered to include more of Fountain City, which is generally more conservative than the traditional 2nd District voter base that includes areas such as Downtown North, and Old North Knoxville, which tend to skew more liberal.

With district lines redrawn  or gerrymandered, depending upon who you ask  Carringer is aware the 2nd District could be susceptible to fall Republican.

"When Amy Broyles was elected six years ago, all of Fountain City was not a part of her district ... the Norwood area is not in the 2nd District anymore," Carringer said.

The winner of the primary between Carringer and Fugate will face Democratic candidate Laura Kildare in the general election.

In Kildare, Brooks sees shades of Broyles from her wins in 2008 and then in 2010.

"Amy Broyles was not well-known, it's not like she was a famously-known commodity. She got out there and won two races," Brooks said. "Laura Kildare can do the same thing."

EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE

Dates

Feb. 10-Feb. 23

Times

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Exceptions

Hours at the City County Building will be noon-5 p.m. on weekdays;

4-7 p.m. on Feb. 23;

8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Feb. 20

On Feb. 22 and 23, hours at all locations, including the City County Building, will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Locations

City County Building, 400 Main St.

Love Kitchen, 2418 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

Downtown West, 1543 Downtown West Blvd.

New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane

South, 6510 E. Chapman Highway, Suite A

Carter Library, 9036 Asheville Hwy.

Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Dr.

Merchants Dr./North, 4952 Clinton Hwy.

Halls Recreation Center, 6933 Recreation Lane

Karns Senior Center, 8042 Oak Ridge Hwy.
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Engineering group joins consortium

A research group studying nuclear engineering and scintillation materials at the University of Tennessee is part of a new consortium by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The aim is to create a pipeline of new talent and create new ideas that can be transferred to national laboratories.

The $30 million consortium is backed by the National Nuclear Security Administration and funding to UT will be $4.25 million over five years.

UT Associate Professor Jason Hayward will be deputy executive director for the Nuclear Science and Engineering Nonproliferation Research Consortium, and it will be headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley.

Students honor Darwin's birthday

UT students are celebrating the 207th birthday of biologist Charles Darwin with events this week.

On Tuesday through Thursday an information booth will be on the Johnson-Ward Pedestrian Walkway 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Neil Shubin, a scholar from the University of Chicago, will speak in the Cox Memorial Auditorium of the Alumni Memorial Building, 1408 Middle Drive. He will discuss human evolution using ancient fish, reptiles and primates. The speech is free and open to the public and is followed by a book signing.

Darwin's birthday is Friday and there will be a birthday party 4-6 p.m. Friday at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture.

Vol Court kicks off its seventh year

The annual Vol Court Pitch Competition starts its seventh year on Feb. 17. Students, faculty, staff and community members can pitch business ideas to compete for $1,500 space in the UT Research Foundation Business Incubator and free legal and accounting services.

Vol Court has a six-week speaker series and will meet 5:15-6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Feb. 17 in room 104 of the Haslam Business Building, 1000 Volunteer Blvd.

There is no cost to participate.

Princeton review says UT is a value

The University of Tennessee is included in the Princeton Review's 2016 "Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck."

The guide is available now online and in bookstores and highlights colleges that excel in affordability as well as career preparation and placement.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shake hands during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire on Thursday in Durham, N.H. associated press

SHARE Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks as Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, and Republican presidential candidate and businessman Donald Trump gesture during the Fox Business Network Republican presidential debate at the North Charleston Coliseum on Jan. 14 in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) associated press Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Republican presidential candidate and businessman Donald Trump and Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, from left, participate during the Fox Business Network Republican presidential debate at the North Charleston Coliseum on Jan. 14 in North Charleston, S.C. Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Republican presidential candidate and businessman Donald Trump and Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stand on stage before the Fox Business Network Republican presidential debate at the North Charleston Coliseum on Jan. 14 in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Republican presidential candidates, from left, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush take the stage before the Fox Business Network Republican presidential debate at the North Charleston Coliseum on Jan. 14 in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

By Michael Collins of the Knoxville News Sentinel

WASHINGTON  New Hampshire may be ground zero this week in the race for the White House, but three weeks from Tuesday, Tennessee voters will help pick their parties' nominees for president.

So far, Republicans in the state have yet to coalesce around a particular candidate.

See also: Knox County Voter Guide

"The state of things is very fluid but also very competitive," said Brent Leatherwood, executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are all competitive in the Volunteer State, and any one of them could emerge the GOP winner when Tennessee holds its presidential primary on March 1, according to political operatives and other experts from across the state.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton continues to dominate despite a robust challenge from Bernie Sanders.

"Hillary has got good roots here, and I don't know that Tennessee is quite ready for Bernie," said Marcus Pohlmann, a political scientist at Rhodes College in Memphis.

Not much polling has been done on the state of the presidential race in Tennessee.

The most recent, released Jan. 28 by Middle Tennessee State University, showed Trump leading the GOP field with 32 percent, but with 28 percent of Republicans still undecided. Cruz was favored by 16.5 percent, followed by Ben Carson with 6.6 percent and Rubio with 5.3 percent.

Forty-seven percent of Democratic voters preferred Clinton, while nearly 26 percent were undecided. Fifteen percent backed Sanders.

The poll was completed nearly two weeks before last Monday's Iowa caucuses in which Cruz defeated Trump, and Rubio made a solid third-place showing. Since then, national polls have shown Trump's once-solid lead falling and Rubio's numbers rising as the candidates head into Tuesday's primaries in New Hampshire.

If Rubio does well in New Hampshire, the race could turn into a three-man contest between Trump, Cruz and Rubio by the time Tennessee voters make it to the polls. Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee.

"The Republicans in Tennessee do lean right of the midstream of the party," Pohlmann said, so "if it comes down to a three-way race between Trump, Rubio and Cruz, which it could, then I would say there would be a slight advantage to Cruz."

Rubio's showing in Iowa could help him in Tennessee, but "I'm not convinced it helps him as much as people are saying it helps him," said Anthony Nownes, a political scientist at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. "A lot of the narrative about how great he did comes from wishful thinking. A lot of Republicans privately  officeholders, Republican leaders, people that are called part of the Republican establishment  have been waiting for one person other than Trump or Cruz to assert themselves and show they have some staying power and be able to knock off one or both of those guys."

Rubio is seen as that alternative as a result of Iowa, but he still came in third, and "I still think he has an uphill battle," Nownes said.

While Clinton is regarded by many as the solid front-runner on the Democratic ticket, "we have Democrats all over the state that are enthusiastic about both candidates," said Mary Mancini, chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Sanders has risen in some polls after the Iowa caucuses, which he lost to Clinton by less than 1 percent.

"Tennesseans and certainly the Democratic establishment in Tennessee is waking up to find out this is a horse race, and it's a lot closer than anyone ever thought it would be," said Matt Kuhn of Memphis, the chairman of Sanders' campaign in Tennessee.

This coming week, Sanders' volunteers plan to open offices in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville and will conduct phone banks on the candidate's behalf in anticipation of the start of early voting, Kuhn said.

Clinton is winning the money race in Tennessee. The former first lady and secretary of state has raised more money in the Volunteer State than any other candidate, Democrat or Republican.

Clinton raised $819,465 in Tennessee through the end of 2015, the most recent period for which fundraising reports are available. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was second with $763,085.

Bush was the top fundraiser in the Knoxville and Memphis areas, collecting $191,425 in Knoxville and $70,125 in Memphis, according to the Federal Election Commission. By comparison, Clinton raised $44,650 in Knoxville and $69,544 in Memphis.

Statewide, Tennesseans have given $2.7 million to Republican presidential candidates and $1.02 million for Democrats.

Both parties say they expect several candidates to return to Tennessee before the state's primary, although probably not to the extent as last year. Tennessee is one of 14 states, along with American Samoa, that will hold primaries or caucuses on March 1, so candidates will have to cast a wider net in search of votes over the next three weeks.

"Senator Rubio, he's one of those presidential campaigns who's going to be very active in Tennessee," Leatherwood said. "We're seeing that on the ground."

Rubio spokeswoman Micah Johnson said she had no information about the candidate's travel plans for the next three weeks. But volunteers and delegates in Tennessee are working to connect with voters and lay the groundwork for early voting and continue to work to recruit more supporters each day, she said.

"We believe that Tennessee Republicans are looking for the candidate most capable of uniting the party, growing the conservative movement and defeating Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in November," Johnson said. "There's no question Marco Rubio is the candidate who can best achieve that objective."
Republican party volunteers, from left, Marilyn Zimny, Bev Bernholtz and Ella Mueggenberg count votes during a caucus held at Carroll High School in Carroll, Iowa, Monday, Feb. 1, 2016. (Jeff Storjohann/Carroll Daily Times Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

SHARE The Des Moines Register via The Associated Press Caucus-goers crowd through the entrance at Olin Hall at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday.

Strong showings in the Iowa caucuses by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio sent them roaring into this week's Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire with a head of steam at the expense of a deflated Donald Trump.

On the Democratic side, the virtual tie between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders puts intense pressure on Clinton to rebound and foreshadows a protracted struggle in a race she expected to dominate.

New Hampshire is renowned for its independence and contrarian voting habits, and anything can happen there. Trump and Sanders enjoy big polling leads they need to turn into New Hampshire victories. That will be a test of whether Sanders can retain the enthusiasm of his youthful supporters, and whether Trump fans still consider him a winner after he lost the first contest of the 2016 campaign.

Rubio didn't win Iowa, but he was a big a winner there. His third-place finish was closer than polls predicted, and he almost caught Trump. His challenge now is to persuade mainstream Republican voters to coalesce behind his candidacy to foil self-styled outsiders Cruz and Trump. To do that he'll need a strong showing in New Hampshire against Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Chris Christie  three other mainstream Republicans who are competing vigorously in the Granite State.

New Hampshire comebacks are not unusual. Clinton staged one after Barack Obama beat her in Iowa eight years ago. Ronald Reagan in 1980 and George H.W. Bush in 1988 scored critical New Hampshire wins after losing Iowa.

Of course, Clinton's New Hampshire victory in 2008 wasn't enough to propel her to victory over Obama for the nomination. This time she's counting on strong organizations and well-financed campaigns in later contests to overcome the unexpected early success of Sanders, a senator from Vermont.

New Hampshire's outcome is hard to predict because about 40 percent of its voters are independents who are allowed to decide on primary day whether to vote in either party's contest. A candidate who scores big with these voters can spring a surprise. And surprise has already been the story of this campaign, in which little has played out as expected.

On the Republican side there are several huge question marks, in addition to the overriding one of Trump's durability:

n Can Rubio, the Florida senator, get a bounce from his strong Iowa finish and thereby crowd out the other mainstream contenders? He will be the focus of a lot of fire from rivals over the next few days to prevent this. If he places first or second in New Hampshire he would become a top contender for the nomination.

n Can Kasich, Bush or Christie do well Tuesday? Each faces virtual elimination otherwise. And each probably has to finish ahead of the other two and Rubio for a plausible pathway to the nomination.

n Can Cruz ride his Iowa victory to a respectable showing in New Hampshire, a state he'd been inclined to ignore but now intends to contest? He'd planned to focus instead on South Carolina, where the third GOP contest takes place on Feb. 20 and where conservative voters are more of a force. His campaign manager has predicted that the Texan will prevail there, though polls show Trump ahead. Another factor may be whether Ben Carson, the retired pediatric neurosurgeon who finished a distant fourth in Iowa, stays in the race; he and Cruz compete for evangelical Christian voters.

Iowa took out Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee, winners of the last two Republican caucuses there, along with Rand Paul. New Hampshire is likely to winnow out a few more.
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In a law review article I wrote 15 years ago about cognitive decline on the U.S. Supreme Court, I predicted that, in the coming years, no one would take action to mitigate the problem. Instead, another half a dozen mentally decrepit justices would join "the roster of jurists who harmed their court and hurt their own reputations by remaining on the bench too long."

Although most justices who have retired since then left with their wits (more or less) intact, I'm concerned that my prediction is about to come true.

Today we have four Supreme Court justices who are superannuated: Stephen G. Breyer is 77, Anthony M. Kennedy will turn 80 this summer, Antonin Scalia will celebrate his 80th birthday on March 11, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg will celebrate her 83rd four days later. Both Clarence Thomas, 67, and Samuel A. Alito Jr., 65, also qualify for Social Security. None of these justices has indicated that he or she will step down anytime soon, even if a like-minded individual wins the White House this year. (Officeholders in the "apolitical branch" often time their retirements for when an ideological cognate sits in the Oval Office.)

In the past, once-revered justices such as William O. Douglas and Hugo Black could at least count on relative privacy when they doddered into senility; the press didn't check behind certain closed doors. But with Justice Breyer showing up on TMZ, Justice Alito and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. (age 61) regularly attending public sporting events, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor (age 61) getting spotted at Costco, a secret breakdown is no longer realistic.

That the two oldest justices, Ginsburg and Scalia, represent opposite poles of the ideological spectrum is a happy accident, as calls for reform must have a nonpartisan hue. Although neither has had a confirmed episode of cognitive decline, they're both putting themselves in the way of embarrassment. Ginsburg fell asleep during the State of the Union (twice), the papal address and even during an oral argument; she also speaks about pending cases, which, if not a sign that she's forgotten the rules, is an indication that she's beyond respecting them. Scalia once called himself an "old fogey" who doesn't understand the world in which he lives, and he sounds increasingly irritated in his opinions and public speeches.

The problem of an aging judiciary extends beyond the Supreme Court to the hundreds of elderly federal judges across the country. The average age of these jurists is now over 70, with many in their 80s and 90s. The 94 U.S. district courts and 13 courts of appeals decide more than 98 percent of all cases with federal jurisdiction, so the continued mental acuity of these jurists should be a concern for all of us who use interstate commerce or expect due process.

If there's a silver lining, no pun intended, it's that some of these jurisdictions have implemented programs to promote sharpness in judges as they age. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, for instance, offers a battery of mental health assessments, hosts discussions with neurological experts and has created a hotline where staff may report signs of cognitive decline in their colleagues. Such measures are necessary because it's hard for friends and family members, let alone the individual in question, to know if a tendency to, say, forget one's keys is innocuous or portentous.

Unfortunately, the 9th Circuit program and a handful of others across the country exist in isolation, as there is no judiciary-wide strategy to cope with cognitive decline. That should change. Chief Justice Roberts should use his authority as head of the federal judiciary to require his high court colleagues and others to undergo regular mental health checkups.

Further, he could recommend a judicial retirement age of 70 or 75, as is done in the rest of the Western world. He and future nominees to the bench could even pledge to serve for no more than 18 years, as has been suggested by constitutional scholars and interest groups on the left and right as a reasonable limit on judicial tenure.

Our court system and the law benefit from the wisdom of judges with many years of experience. But the federal judiciary, especially given congressional dysfunction, is simply too important to leave in the hands of old fogeys.
Today the News Sentinel begins another round of election endorsements, and as in years past, some readers will ask: Why?

Years ago, that question wouldn't have come up. Newspapers were partisan organs. It went without saying that they would back candidates in news columns as well as on opinion pages.

That started to change after the 1800s, thanks in part to a man who learned newspapering in Knoxville, then went on to buy the failing New York Times and build it into the nation's leading newspaper: Adolph Ochs.

Ochs believed in objective journalism, which became the standard for reporting in American newspapers. Still, throughout the 20th century, almost all papers published editorials, too, erecting barriers between their opinion and news departments. Those editorials included endorsements.

More recently, some newspapers have backed away from the practice, including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, one of our sister papers.

"We work hard to be open-minded and approach issues that we're going to editorialize on independently," said David Haynes, the Journal Sentinel's editorial page editor, in a 2012 interview. Why, then, "choose sides in a bitter partisan election?"

In one case, we agree. Several years ago the News Sentinel stopped endorsing in presidential elections. With no more knowledge or access than an average citizen, a presidential endorsement was merely an expression of partisanship.

But local races are different.

First, they aren't very partisan. School board and municipal elections are entirely nonpartisan, and primaries match candidates of the same party. Only a fraction of local elections pit Republicans against Democrats in competitive face-offs.

Also, our editorial board has the chance to interview the candidates face-to-face and examine their positions and backgrounds. Before every election, we invite all candidates in contested races to meet with the board, which consists of me, Editorial Page Editor Scott Barker and Publisher Patrick Birmingham.

We consider many factors: What is the candidate's experience, in life and public service? What level of integrity or political courage do they demonstrate? How committed do they seem to be? Are they representative of their communities? What will they bring to the mix of perspectives on a legislative body? Do their positions reflect special interests or the broader interests of the citizenry?

During these interviews, we try to represent our readers, most of whom will never have a chance to talk with a candidate at length. Then we deliver our report through our endorsements.

In some races, we find two or more candidates who would make fine public officials. In others, we may not like any. But we endorse in every race. The electorate, after all, has to make a choice, and it would be a cop-out if we didn't.

Many people disagree with our recommendations  of course  and we're perfectly happy if they do. All of our editorials are intended to foster public debate and discourse. That's an essential duty a newspaper owes to its community, never more so than during elections.
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Last Monday night, Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines, a suburb of Iowa's state capital, was repurposed as the 114th precinct for Democrats and Republicans to caucus for the first-in-the-nation presidential nomination contest. The Democrats' chaotic gathering was in the cafeteria; the more sedate Republicans were in the auditorium. Both spaces were chock-full.

Scott Hale, the chairman of the Democratic caucus who has been running such proceedings since 1992, said he'd never seen so many new voters. Despite his preparations, he seemed at risk of running out of registration forms at one point.

Pollsters and commentators had predicted that the enthusiasm of the previously politically inactive would benefit Bernie Sanders, and many of the 111 new voters made their way to the corner of the room designated for the Vermont senator (at Democratic caucuses, each candidate's supporters stand in their own corner of the room). "I like socialism," said Emma Griffiths, 21, a community college student. "I like what Bernie says about banks and about the minimum wage."

Like Griffiths, many of the Sanders supporters in the Stilwell cafeteria were young enough to enjoy the concert by the group Vampire Weekend the campaign had organized in Iowa City on Saturday.

Hillary Clinton's backers also turned out in force, though they were visibly older and many said they had caucused before. Hale announced a record turnout  344 people. Even in 2008, when Barack Obama's campaign mobilized an unusually high number of supporters, only 260 people caucused at Precinct 114.

The third Democratic contender, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, managed only 17 supporters. That wasn't enough to reach the threshold of at least 15 percent of the total turnout that is required to qualify for sending delegates to the Polk County convention. The weak showing meant that O'Malley's backers needed to choose between Clinton and Sanders. They, along with six unaligned caucus-goers, became the object of a propaganda battle waged by the supporters of the Democratic front-runners. (O'Malley suspended his campaign Monday night.)

Clinton ended up with the backing of 197 people out of 339. As a result, six of the 10 delegates from Precinct 114 will be for her. That showing was consistent with the results across Polk County, which is populous and relatively wealthy. But the statewide tally was far closer.

Down the hall from the cafeteria, Republican caucus-goers were experiencing a less emotional evening. That may be because their caucusing rules allowed them to stay comfortably in their seats to listen to neighbors who volunteered to speak for the candidates. If Donald Trump had staked his victory on getting a lot of new voters to turn out, the bet didn't pay off at Stilwell Junior High: Only 44 out of 280 caucus-goers were new or had decided to switch party affiliation.

Among these first-timers were Kris and Jenny Kunz, who had their two young kids in tow, and were looking for a candidate with strong Christian values and a firm stand on abortions. Trump didn't fit the bill.

Trump supporters weren't very visible in the audience. They had thronged his rallies across the state, decked out in campaign hats, T-shirts and other merchandise, but in the high school auditorium, they blended in with the crowd, and the pro-Trump speech didn't generate much enthusiasm. The audience laughed and clapped, however, when a backer of Sen. Marco Rubio who had served in the military in Germany derided Trump's plan for a wall along the Mexican border. "You can't build one as good as they had in East Berlin," he said.

Rubio carried Polk County and came in a close third to Trump statewide. Although Ted Cruz emerged as the overall winner thanks to his relentless campaigning and hyperactive canvassing, Rubio, the strongest performer in the last Republican debate, showed that he would be the one to beat as the campaign rolled on. Mainstream Republicans will have to pin their hopes on him.

As for Trump, he got his first hint that good poll results might not translate to votes. People like the show, but they don't necessarily want it to go on for the next four years. Not playing by the accepted rules is bold and flashy, but the rules weren't made by losers, either.

Like many at Stilwell Junior High on Monday night, I was a first-time caucus-goer. I saw a genuine democratic process. People cared, argued, despaired and laughed. I found myself hoping that my country, Russia, could elect its leaders this way, rather than accept dictates from above.
Gov. Bill Haslam's sixth State of the State address, delivered to the General Assembly last week, was a mighty fine political campaign speech that also displayed his knack for compromise on policy issues  at least on the big deal this year on divvying up a $750 million surplus of state money.

It was his most overtly boastful State of the State speech, with an official theme, very suitable for a re-election campaign and repeated a dozen times during his remarks: "This is what we do."

Sample quote: "Smart investments. Conservative budgeting. Holding in the reins during good economic conditions. This is what we do."

The way the governor does things, you see, has generated that big surplus that can now be spent  a great reason to re-elect him, except he can't run for re-election in two years. It's widely rumored, however, that he would like to go to the U.S. Senate at some point.

The policy aspects of the SOTS speech are, in many respects, admirable, even if the political posturing aspects are not. But the two things get intertwined, of course.

The way the governor's speech writers and messaging advisors do things, there is an official theme for every SOTS. His first was "The New Normal," then there was "Believe in Better," followed by "Tennessee is Different." In 2014, he used SOTS IV to unveil his most popular proposal as governor, free tuition at community colleges and technical institutes. The label for that program, Tennessee Promise, was also pretty much the speech theme.

Last year, it was back to a regular theme: "Full Speed Ahead." Maybe that was a bit ironic. The 2015 SOTS came just after the Republican supermajority had swiftly killed the boldest program Haslam has advanced as governor, the modified Medicaid expansion plan called Insure Tennessee.

There was nothing bold in SOTS VI. Just some campaign-style bragging and presentation of smart budget policy maneuvers to a bunch of legislators who are sometimes hostile to Haslam.

The address arguably was more notable for what Haslam did not say than what he did say. The most glaring example was that Insure Tennessee, which the governor has abandoned for the foreseeable future, was never mentioned  even though a hundred or so protestors outside the House chamber were calling for action on it. Full speed ahead? This is what we do?

The governor did mention  at some length, actually, as he has for several months  the need for more money in the state's highway fund, though he's not proposing to do anything about it this year. Instead, he's compromising in the budget with anti-tax members of the supermajority who want to spent $260 million of the surplus on roads. Haslam proposes giving the road fund half that amount, $130 million, as a compromise, while maintaining it really does nothing to solve the problem. This is what we do?

Also not mentioned were pending lawsuits accusing the state of shortchanging K-12 public education in local school districts, though the governor emphasized in remarks and in press releases how much new budget money goes into education ($261 million). A clever message of emphasizing the positive and ignoring the negative. This is what we do?

The Haslam budget plan otherwise spreads the surplus money around in diplomatic and politically astute fashion,. Some surplus money goes to make a dent in a $1.8 billion backlog of things that we need to do in state building and maintenance upkeep. There's $100 million to build new buildings at University of Tennessee and Board of Regents campuses.

He talked about the idea, popular among legislators generally, of creating new boards of trustees for six Board of Regents campuses. He gave only passing reference to new privatization efforts that remain the subject of some mystery and causes uneasiness in some quarters.

Omitted entirely from the speech: a couple of administration bills that could be seen as trying to shore up Republican primary support  or head off criticism in a future campaign. One is supported by anti-abortion activists, the other by Second Amendment advocates.

We can believe in better for the new normal, knowing that Tennessee is different and heading full speed ahead. This is what we do and that, maybe, is a Tennessee (campaign) promise.

Read more from Tom Humphrey at "Humphrey on the Hill:"
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A recent letter to the editor epitomizes the hypocrisy of Confederate sympathizers. The writer extols Confederate soldiers for fighting for freedom at a time when more than 4 million black people were held in slavery in the Confederacy.

The writer presents arguments claiming secession was constitutional and legal. He claims the government wasn't enforcing the laws. He is right about at least one law: The Fugitive Slave Act passed in 1850, which imposed heavy penalties on anyone interfering with the recovery of a runaway salve or aiding in his escape.

Is this the liberty the South was fighting for?

If the South had won the Civil War, would they ever have freed the slaves? They never showed much inclination for that before the war.

There are still many people who subscribe to the ideals of organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. We can't afford to let them take over the country.

William Zacchi, Clinton
With more than 3.0 million page views and more than 5,000 items, this blog provides news and commentary on public policy, business and economic issues related to the $3 billion California stem cell agency. David Jensen, a retired California newsman, has published this blog since January 2005. His email address is djensen@californiastemcellreport.com.
Chinese government expresses opposition





By Jun Ji-hye

South Korea and the United States agreed on Sunday to begin their official discussion regarding the deployment of the U.S. terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula.

The decision to bring Washington's advanced missile defense system into the Korean Peninsula comes as part of allies' efforts to address North Korea's defiant launch of long-range rocket earlier in the day, which followed its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.

"Allies decided to officially begin the discussion on whether the United States Forces Korea (USFK) will deploy the THAAD system," announced Ryu Je-seung, deputy minister for National Defense Policy of the Ministry of National Defense. "The alliance decision was made upon the recommendation from the Commander of the USFK and United Nations Command Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti."

Ryu made the announcement at a joint news conference with Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army of the USFK, at 3 p.m. at the ministry headquarters in Seoul, hours after the North announced that its "Earth observation satellite entered its preset orbit" in 9 minutes and 46 seconds after the lift-off at 9:30 a.m.

"Allies assessed that the North's recent provocative moves including the fourth nuclear test and the launch of the long-range missile have posed a serious threat of the North's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles to South Korea as well as the Asia-Pacific region," Ryu said.



Vandal said, "It is time to move forward on the issue," adding that the U.S. government fully supports the alliance decision.

Soon after the allies' announcement, China expressed its opposition, raising the possibility that the deployment could also influence the country's national security.



Military officials consider the North's launch of a satellite as the de-facto test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a range of some 10,000 kilometers, given that the technologies for both are almost identical












U.S. lawmakers called for stronger sanctions on North Korea after the communist nation flouted international warnings and launched a banned long-range rocket just a month after its fourth nuclear test.



"Kim Jong-un has taken yet another belligerent step threatening the interests of the United States and our allies," Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.



"As North Korea works to build a nuclear arsenal capable of hitting the United States, it is clear the Obama administration's policy of 'strategic patience' has failed," he said. "This latest aggression underscores the importance of enacting my legislation to strengthen targeted sanctions against this brutal regime."



Royce was referring to a North Korea sanctions bill that the House overwhelmingly passed last month. The legislation, which was combined with similar bills in the Senate, has since passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.



Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), one of the authors of the Senate sanctions bill, who is also chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, called for ending President Barack Obama's "strategic patience" policy with the North and pursue stronger sanctions on Pyongyang.



"North Korea's latest act of belligerence is further evidence that we must act to counter the Forgotten Maniac," Gardner said, noting that the launch came on the heels of "North Korea's fourth nuclear test, and third nuclear test during the Obama Administration."



"We must act swiftly to reverse the President's policy of 'strategic patience,' and pursue mandatory sanctions aimed at changing North Korea's pattern of illicit behavior and peacefully disarming the regime," the senator said.



Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU0) urged China and Russia to support stronger sanctions.



"North Korea's recent launch of a supposed space satellite is nothing more than a provocative act masked to test a long range missile with offensive military implications. North Korea's continued aggressive actions are dangerous and destabilizing to our region," Bordallo said in a statement.



"I ... urge China and Russia to support sanctions against North Korea. I am concerned that China and Russia continue to block efforts to impose sanctions or take other actions to get North Korea to stop acting in an aggressive manner," she said.



The congresswoman also said that the U.S. stands by South Korea.



"I am confident that our island (Guam) remains safe from any threats from North Korea. However, we must do more to encourage China and Russia to act responsibly and encourage North Korea to dial down their provocative actions," she said. (Yonhap)




South also says North's launch seems successful



By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea announced Sunday that its "Earth observation satellite" entered its preset orbit in 9 minutes and 46 seconds after the lift-off at 9:30 a.m.

Pyongyang made a "special announcement" at 12:30 p.m., saying that a report issued by the North's National Aerospace Development Administration stated that its scientists and technicians succeeded in putting the newly developed earth observation satellite "Kwangmyongsong-4" into its orbit according to the 2016 plan of the five-year program for national aerospace development.

South Korean military also said the North is believed to have succeeded in its rocket launch.

According to Pyongyang's state-run media, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued an autograph order on launching the satellite on Saturday.












By Choi Sung-jin



In the run-up to the parliamentary elections on April 13, the ruling and opposition parties have put forth their respective economic pledges to win voters' hearts over such issues as growth, redistribution, jobs and welfare.



The recent division of the opposition camp turned domestic politics into a three-party rivalry, forcing each party to differentiate its economic policies from the other two as distinctly as possible. For instance, both the conservative ruling party and the two liberal opposition parties place the term "growth" at the center of their platforms but use the word with somewhat different meanings.



The ruling Saenuri Party is sticking to its growth-oriented economic policy with particular emphasis on creating more jobs. The opposition parties criticize this as just "headline figure politics." Instead, the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) calls for "inclusive growth" while the splinter People's Party (PP) seeks "fair growth." Both emphasize the need to attain growth by redistributing wealth currently concentrated within a few large businesses.



The center-right ruling party and center-left opposition parties show wider difference on specific issues.



In childcare, for example, the MPK is promising the central government will shoulder the entire cost of raising children under five, while the ruling Saenuri says regional education offices should be responsible for childcare.



The ruling and opposition camps can't be more different from each other in creating jobs for the young unemployed. The ruling party is pushing to make the dismissal of underachieving employees easier to speed the restructuring of marginal companies and declining industries. The MPK is moving in the opposite direction, making it difficult for employers to sack workers under the pretext of managerial difficulties.



The oppositionists are also trying to win aged voters by promising to provide a basic pension of 200,000 won ($166) a month, one of President Park Geun-hye's campaign pledges in 2012 that has been kept only partially.



Saenuri for its part is seeking to sway female voters by promising to allow housewives who quit their jobs because of marriage and childcare to receive national pensions if they pay premiums after returning to jobs.



The rival camps are also poles apart from each other in their ideas of raising financial resources needed to fund their pledges.



The opposition parties are seeking to raise the corporate tax rate, which has been lowered since former President Lee Myung-bak, another conservative, took office eight years ago. An MPK policymaker said the party can create 7 trillion won of revenues by restoring the corporate income tax rate alone.



The ruling party opposes tax hikes but has yet to announce its funding plan.




By Yi Whan-woo

President Park Geun-hye denounced North Korea for its long-range rocket launch, Sunday, asking the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) to take tougher sanctions against the Kim Jong-un regime.

"North Korea has committed an intolerable provocation of launching a long-range missile after conducting a fourth nuclear test" Park said during a National Security Council (NSC) meeting at Cheong Wa Dae.

Park referred to South Korea and other U.S.-led allies who suspect that North Korea's rocket program is merely a cover for its ballistic missile tests.

"Such provocative acts bring challenge on international community because it came at a time when the UNSC has been discussing possible measures to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test," she said. "The Security Council should quickly come up with strong sanctions," Park said.












China's foreign ministry expressed "deep concern" as Seoul and Washington agreed to begin discussions on the deployment of an advanced American missile defense system to South Korea on Sunday following the North's long-range rocket launch.

After North Korea claimed it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, South Korea and the U.S. said that they would begin talks on the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to South Korea. The North's launch is widely viewed as a covert ballistic missile test to advance the development of delivery vehicles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

"China's position on the issue of anti-missile is consistent and clear,"said the Chinese foreign ministry in a faxed statement, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"Countries, when pursuing their own security, should take into account others' security interests as well as regional peace and stability.

North Korea's defiant launch of the long-range rocket and the Jan. 6 nuclear test proved that China's diplomacy again failed to change North Korea's provocative behavior.

China, North Korea's diplomatic and economic lifeline, has resisted calls to hand down crippling economic sanctions on North Korea following its latest nuclear test.
Major European countries condemned North Korea's long-range rocket launch in unison on Sunday, calling it a violation of U.N. resolutions and a "irresponsible" and "senseless" provocation.



"These actions represent a direct threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond, and they further aggravate tensions on the Korean Peninsula to the detriment of all," European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.



Mogherini also said that the rocket launch, which came after the North's "extremely serious and illegal" nuclear test, "is yet another outright and grave violation of its international obligations, as set out in several U.N. Security Council Resolutions."



Earlier Sunday, the North defied international warnings and fired the rocket in violation of U.N. resolutions just one month after carrying out its fourth nuclear test. The launch was believed to be successful as the rocket appears to have put what Pyongyang claims was a satellite into orbit.



It represented the North's sixth long-range rocket or missile launch since the first one in 1998 and once again demonstrated that Pyongyang is making steady progress in its efforts to develop nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles.



Britain also condemned the launch as a violation of U.N. resolutions.



"I strongly condemn North Korea's ballistic missile technology test. This is a clear and deliberate violation of a number of U.N. Security Council Resolutions. North Korea's actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement.



The provocation demonstrated the communist nation is in intent on "prioritizing the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes over improving the well-being of its own people," Hammond said.



"As North Korea is aware, the U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed to take significant measures against any further launches or nuclear tests. We will now meet with our partners in New York to agree to a collective response," he said.



Germany also denounced the rocket launch as an "irresponsible provocation."



German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement that the North "once again ignored the warnings of the international community" and the launch is a breach of U.N. resolutions that threatens regional security.



The minister also said that there should be "measurable consequences," saying Germany would support a strong international response to the provocation.



French President Francois Hollande condemned the launch as "a senseless provocation" and called for "a quick and severe reaction from the international community at the Security Council, starting today." (Yonhap)




Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed Sunday to step up diplomatic efforts to put together strong sanctions on North Korea for conducting a banned long-range rocket launch just a month after a nuclear test, officials said.

Yun and Kerry spoke by phone for about 20 minutes after the North defied international warnings and launched the rocket in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The successful launch showed the North is moving closer to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S.

It was their fourth phone conversation after the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test.

Officials said that the two top diplomats shared an understanding on the need for the international community to send a firm and united message to Pyongyang through a U.N. Security Council resolution and various unilateral sanctions, just as shown in the Iranian nuclear deal.

Kerry reaffirmed Washington's iron-clad commitment to South Korea's defense, saying the U.S. will safeguard the ally's security and take all measures necessary to cope with North Korean provocations, officials said.

Official said Yun plans to use his attendance at the Munich Security Conference and his visit to the United Nations next week to drum up international support for unilateral sanctions on the North.

Yun and Kerry also agreed to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. (Yonhap)
China should exercise regional leadership and influence with North Korea to help change the behavior of the "very unpredictable young man" leading its communist neighbor, the U.S. State Department spokesman said Thursday.



"We believe that as a strong leader in the Asia-Pacific region, and as a nation that borders the North, China has a unique role it has to play, has unique leadership that it can exert, and influence that it can bring to bear," spokesman John Kirby said at a Foreign Press Center briefing.



"As we said before, we'd like to see them exert that leadership and to bring to bear that influence on the North to try to alter the behavior of this very unpredictable young man," he said.



Kirby said the North should focus on efforts to "put food in the mouths of the North Korean people instead of spending money on dangerous military capabilities."



The U.S. has worked hard to drum up Chinese support for meaningful punishment of the North for its Jan. 6 nuclear test. Chinese cooperation is key to putting together strong sanctions on Pyongyang as China is one of the five veto-holding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the main provider of food and fuel for the North.



Beijing has condemned the North's nuclear test, but has been lukewarm about calls for stern responses. Analysts have long said Beijing fears that pushing Pyongyang too hard could lead to its collapse, instability on its border with China and the untimely emergence of a pro-U.S. nation.



Kirby said that sanctions are one piece of additional tough measures against the North, stressing the importance of rigorous implementation of the sanctions. In the past, he said, the enforcement of sanctions and measures "hasn't necessarily been evenly applied and that's been a challenge."



Asked if the U.S. has any intention to apply the solution used in the Iranian nuclear problem to the North Korean issue, Kirby said the two cases are different, and the North's problem should be resolved through six-party talks.



"We have long said, we are willing to resume this six-party process, but the onus is on the North ...They have not yet shown any inclination. As a matter of fact, they've gone quite the opposite way to show that they have no interest in returning to the six-party talks," Kirby said.



The already-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the North's nuclear test rose even higher this week as Pyongyang unveiled its plan to carry out a long-range rocket launch between Monday and Feb. 25 in violation of U.N. resolutions.



North Korea says its rocket launches are aimed at putting satellites into orbit, claiming it has the right to the peaceful use of space. But Pyongyang is banned from such launches under U.N. Security Council resolutions as it has been accused of using them as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles.



Kirby said the North's announcement "underscores the importance for a united international consensus to deal with provocative behavior of Kim Jong Un and the North." (Yonhap)




Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a group meeting on Friday with foreign envoys here to exchange views on North Korea.



Following a brief photo session, Yun went into closed-door consultations with U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert, Japanese Amb. Koro Bessho, Australian Amb. William Paterson and Amb. Gerhard Sabathil, head of the Delegation of the European Union to Seoul.



The rare session took place at Yun's office as the North is apparently gearing up to fire another long-range rocket within this month.



Pyongyang carried out its fourth known nuclear test in early January, prompting South Korea and other "like-minded" countries to seek tough punishment through the U.N. Security Council.



"For now, (we) are concentrating on imposing U.N. sanctions, but the meeting is also intended to discuss bilateral sanctions," a Foreign Ministry official said. "All the nations participating in today's session have actively joined the effort, and they are expected to do so down the road."



Yun and the ambassadors also pooled their ideas on ways to coerce the North into averting its rocket launch plan, according to a diplomatic source. (Yonhap)




The gig: Leura Fine, 29, is founder and chief executive of Laurel & Wolf, which specializes in residential and commercial interior design. Fine is also one of Forbes 2016 selections for 30 under 30, young entrepreneurs who are rapidly climbing the ladder in their business sector or completely redefining it.

Finding your space: Redefining is what Fine has done, describing the traditional model of the interior design business as broken. It makes no sense. And 99% of the people who want to use it cant afford it. It was always something for the very wealthy.

The Fine way: There is a massive market of designers here who are usually struggling to find business and cant get connected to clients, Fine said. And there is this huge demand from potential clients who cant afford it. What I wanted to do was bring interior design to the masses, online, and empower designers to do the work they love to do.

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Digital design: Working with a cadre of about 800 designers, Fine offers a Classic option for customers ($299 a room), and Premium ($499 a room.) Customers are quizzed about the space they want to design. The designers review that online and an average of three to five will offer options on what might work. Once a design and designer have been selected, customers work one-on-one on the projects.

Diverse clientele: Fines company has worked on projects for fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff and actress Christina Applegate. Current projects include work for Night + Market chef Kris Yenbamroong as well as actress and model Jaime King.

Fast start: Fine launched her business at her home in 2013, running Leura Fine Interiors for a year before opening Laurel & Wolf. To date, she has raised $25.5 million in venture capital to build her business. Shes gone from one assistant to 55 employees.

Welcoming workplace: The company is based in a stylish and spacious West Hollywood office that reflects the companys millennial generation roots, with a cozy, coffeehouse atmosphere. No partitions. No cubicles. Wall art includes murals painted by employees to break up the rapid pace of business. There are bunk beds for naps or for folks who just need to lounge a bit with their laptops as they work.

Strong willed: I come from a long line of what we like to call Steel Magnolias, Fine jokes, referring to the 1989 movie of the same name in which five Southern women welcome a new member into their fold. Fines mother was an example, persuading her husband to leave Southern California, where Fine was born, to move back to the Gulf Shores area near Mobile, Ala. Fine said, She missed her family. She wanted to raise hers among relatives in the South and she got what she wanted.

No wallflower: After achieving National Honor Society status in her school work, Fine attended one of Canadas most prestigious schools, McGill University. But there were no freshman jitters. On her first day, Fine worked her dorm like a candidate in the Iowa presidential caucuses. I was never shy. I went floor, by floor, introducing myself to everyone, Fine said, starting to organize activities, like Hey, lets start a welcoming committee.

No legal eagle: There were many lawyers in Fines family, leading her to first consider a legal career. I majored in English literature and political theory to prepare for that, Fine said, and I interned with enough family members to realize that it not like Law and Order  99% of it is paperwork.

Strike two: Fines next career choice was public relations, figuring shed build on leadership roles for membership, public relations and recruiting for her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta as well as working with McGills student government and with Hillel, the Jewish campus organization. After earning her degree from McGill in just three years, I moved to L.A. and started working for a publicist, Fine said. For a year, she was the PR liaison to model and burlesque queen Dita Von Teese. Interesting, but I learned it wasnt the career I wanted to have.

Designing woman: I grew up around art and architecture and fashion, Fine said. I thought, Maybe I should look into interior design. So, I went back to school, at UCLA, to study interior architecture. She also worked for Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design for nearly four years, rising to the position of senior designer, before deciding to start her own company.

Parental support: Ardis and Rick Fine, her mother and father, always told her: Work hard. If you do that, there is nothing you cant achieve, Fine said. You can be anyone you want to be.

Advice: Play close attention to your bosses. Watch and learn and pick their brains. Youll learn a lot about what works and what doesnt work.

Personal: The company name refers to Laurel Canyon and a bit of an homage to famous interior decorator, Elsie de Wolfe. Fine refers to her employees as The Wolf Pack. Fine is engaged to be married.

ronald.white@latimes.com

Twitter: @RonWLATimes
Your hotels newest bellhop may be a robot.

A Santa Clara, Calif., start-up and its autonomous robot helpers received $15 million in new financing last month. Saviokes goal is to put robots in hotels across the country, building on its current stable of 12, including one near Los Angeles International Airport.

We have lots of robots that are ready to go, Savioke co-founder Tessa Lau said.

The 100-pound, 3-foot-tall Savioke robot, dubbed Relay, is built primarily to deliver extra towels, toothpaste or other necessities to guest rooms. The hotel staff punches in a room number on the robots touch screen and Relay rolls into the elevator and up to the designated room.

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The robot doesnt have arms and can communicate with guests only through typed messages that appear on its display screen. It uses Wi-Fi and 3-D cameras to navigate around the hotel.

The machines are probably the most Jetsons"-like facet of the hospitality industrys efforts to up its automation game.

Most new hotels have installed temperature control systems that shut off the heating and cooling when guest rooms are empty. A few hotels put computer tablets in the rooms that guests can use to order room service, request a taxi or close the blinds.

Major hotel operators such as Marriott International have created smartphone apps to let guests check in using their mobile devices. Hilton Worldwide now lets guests use their smartphones to open their hotel room doors in 112 hotels and plans to add the technology to its newest brand, Tru, which launches later this year.

Near Nagasaki, Japan, a hotel linked to a nearby amusement park is staffed entirely by robots. The guest room doors open using face-recognition software.

Still, hospitality industry experts disagree on how much automation U.S. hotel owners will accept, especially at high-end locations where guests expect staff to serve them with tailored attention and practiced obsequiousness.

With robots, you dont get personalized service, said Steve Choe, general manager of the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, a luxury hotel with 361 rooms, including 151 suites. Those are the touches people still want.

That may be true of most high-end hotels, said Lynn Mohrfeld, president of the California Hotel and Lodging Assn. But he suggested that robots would be popular at hotels that cater to millennials with a fascination for high-tech gadgets.

In a four-star hotel in Silicon Valley, this would be a nice novelty, he said.

Although Relay is primarily a novelty designed to attract tech-happy guests, hotel owners and managers say they are pursuing other automation technology to cut down on the industrys two biggest expenses: staffing and energy costs.

Phone apps and kiosks that let guests check in faster free up front desk staff to attend to other guest needs, while technology that shuts down air-conditioning units when rooms are empty can save on expensive energy costs.

Automating the heating and air conditioning makes sense, especially in places with wild swings in temperatures, Mohrfeld said.

Savioke received its latest infusion of capital from Intel Capital, EDBI, the corporate investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board and Northern Light Venture Capital. The seed money for the company came from Google Ventures, the investment arm of the search engine giant, and a venture capital group led by former Yahoo executives, among others.

Hotels that order the robot pay Savioke a monthly fee that includes maintenance. The company declined to disclose the leasing fee.

At the Residence Inn by Marriott on Century Boulevard, the robot has been rolling the halls for a few months and was recently upgraded to deliver orders for Starbucks coffee.

Although the robots factory name is Relay, each hotel has given its machine a unique moniker. At the Residence Inn, they call it Wally. Other hotels have dubbed it Dash and Botlr.

Other California inns that employ Relay include the Crowne Plaza San Jose-Silicon Valley in Milpitas, the Grand Hotel in Sunnyvale, the Aloft Silicon Valley in Newark, the Aloft Cupertino in Cupertino and the Holiday Inn Express in Redwood City.

The robot, shaped like a giant flower vase, contains an enclosed compartment where hotel staff can put drinks, snacks or other items that guests order from the front desk. Toothpaste makes the trip most often.

When the machine isnt in use, it can navigate back to the front desk to recharge its batteries.

Residence Inn General Manager Tom Beedon said the robot has been a big hit with guests, particularly young visitors who order things from the front desk just so they can post pictures of Wally on social media. (In lieu of tips, the robot asks for mentions on Twitter.)

The feedback on social media has been over the top, Beedon said.

On the Yelp review site, a guest who visited in October from Austin said: Oh, my goodness, I just have to start by gushing over Wally; I am completely enamored with that little guy!

The robot isnt expected to take jobs away from human employees, Beedon said. Instead, it is more likely to free up front desk staff to do more complicated hotel chores, he said.

There are drawbacks to a delivery robot. After Wally brought fresh towels to a room a few weeks ago, the guest dumped his used, wet towels into the robots compartment. Wally promptly short-circuited.

That was a sad day, Beedon said. It was like having an injured employee.

After the robot was repaired, the general manager made a suggestion to Savioke: They have to find a way to make that thing waterproof.

Savioke is working on a fix, Lau said.

The idea that someone would put wet towels in it never crossed our minds, she said.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

Twitter: @hugomartin

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The last time Congress convened a panel to look into competition and antitrust issues in the airline industry, carriers TWA, Northwest Airlines and America West were still operating.

That was more than 20 years ago, and a coalition of travel organizations thinks its about time for another review, especially because mergers and bankruptcies have put control of more than 70% of domestic travel in the U.S. in the hands of four major carriers.

The time has come to reexamine the state of competition in the U.S. domestic and international air travel marketplace, says a letter to four key members of Congress from a coalition that represents online travel agents, hotel operators and airport managers, among others.

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The group complains that fliers have fewer choices at some hub airports and service has been cut to many smaller airports.

Delta Air Lines, for example, carries about 74% of all passengers out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Southwest Airlines flies 95% of passengers out of Chicago Midway International Airport, federal data show.

At Memphis International Airport, the number of flight departures has dropped by almost half in the last eight years, according to federal statistics.

Airlines say there is no need for a congressional study because fares are low and airlines are investing heavily in new planes and remodeled terminals, primarily because of cheap fuel costs and high demand for flights.

The fact that demand is strong shows that passengers are making the connection between a healthy airline industry and a better flying experience, said Vaughn Jennings, a spokesman for Airlines for America, the trade group for the nations airlines.

To read more about travel, tourism and the airline industry, follow me on Twitter at @hugomartin.
About the same time a couple opened fire at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino in December, Barbara Holmes son, who suffers from autism, was on his way there.

As she watched the news unfold on a department store TV, unsure if he had arrived and unable to contact him, she felt helpless.

Holmes eventually learned that her son was safe, having been diverted from the center before arriving. But shes haunted by the powerlessness that overcame her that day.

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She was one of dozens to attend an active shooter training hosted last weekend by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department to teach the public what to do if confronted by a mass shooter.

We need to learn these things now, Holmes said. Every parent should teach their children.  Weve been living in a bubble.

In the weeks since the mass shooting that left 14 people dead and 22 wounded, the Sheriffs Department has held at least four active shooter trainings for the public and is planning more.

We need to learn these things now. Every parent should teach their children. ... Weve been living in a bubble.  Barbara Holmes, attending active shooter training

One recent event in Highland, a small city bordering San Bernardino that contracts with the Sheriffs Department, drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 60 people, deputies said. The training the following day, which Holmes attended, drew about 30.

Anxiety is up throughout the region, said Highland Police Capt. Tony DeCecio, People want to know what to do.

During the two-hour session, local deputies provided information about terrorist groups, tips on emergency first aid and offered the suggestion: Run, Hide or Fight if confronted by a shooter.

That advice has been promoted in recent years by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI as a way to respond to active shooters. A federally funded video based on it has been viewed nearly 4.5 million times, and an alert telling people to Run, Hide or Fight was issued recently by Naval Medical Center San Diego after someone mistakenly reported a shooting there.

In Highland, as attendees had coffee and doughnuts, many said they felt an urgent need to prepare for a future shooting.

Jason Asbury, left, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection demonstrates on San Bernardino County Sheriffs Deputy Kyle Glozer how to apply a tourniquet to stop major bleeding. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

I know a lot of times the difference between saving your life and not would be an understanding of what your best options are, said Jesse Carrillo, who attended with his wife, Angelina.

The training was led by a 14-year veteran, Deputy Danny Rice, who DeCecio said was asked to lead because he knows how to fight and survive.

In 2012, Rice was shot while on duty; he shot and killed the man who attacked him. He brought to the training the jeans he wore that day, which sat on a back table with two bullet holes in the right leg.

Toward the start of the session, a deputy asked the crowd if anyone wanted to know about carrying a concealed weapon. Several people raised their hands.

Since Dec. 2, the department has been flooded with applications and the wait to obtain a permit is now eight to 10 months, compared with two or three months earlier, he said.

Anxiety is up throughout the region. People want to know what to do.  Highland Police Capt. Tony DeCecio

Deputy Kyle Glozer offered a slide show on terror groups: white supremacists, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State and the Sovereign Citizens movement, whose members are anti-government.

Glozer urged the crowd to be vigilant and to speak up about suspicious things, showing photos of a backpack abandoned near an escalator and a parked car with a propane tank sitting on the passenger side.

Im paranoid. Openly paranoid, he said. Our No. 1 enemy is denial. You think its never going to happen to you.

He displayed the slick-looking covers of English-language magazines produced by ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terror groups.

If you were to see this on someones nightstand, you probably wouldnt think anything of it, he said.

Rice showed surveillance video of the shooter roaming the halls during the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting, in which 12 people were killed. It was followed by video of people running and crawling as attackers roam a shopping mall in Nairobi, eventually killing 67 people. Later, he showed footage of students hiding under tables during the 1999 attacks at Columbine High School in Colorado.

What are you going to choose to do? he asked the crowd.

Rice recommended learning combat tactical breathing to calm yourself in an attack, which, he explained, involves breathing in for four seconds, holding your breath for four and exhaling for four. He also offered tips such as wrapping a belt around the springs of a door to keep someone from coming in, and turning off lights and cellphones when hiding.

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Anything can be a weapon, he said  a chair, a book, a pen.

Finally, Deputy Cory McCarthy offered emergency medical tips, in which he emphasized using direct pressure to stop bleeding.

Control the bleeding and get out, he said. That shooter may be somewhere around.

After the training wrapped, Rice said he wanted people to open their minds to the possibility that this can occur.

Fires, earthquakes. Were prepared for that. But we want to deny this will ever happen, he said. It already has.

paloma.esquivel@latimes.com

Twitter: @palomaesquivel

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Getting onto Camp Pendleton just got a little harder for those without a military ID.

The changes, which took effect Feb. 1, require that visitors to the sprawling Marine base register in advance and be sponsored by an authorized unit or individual, such as someone who lives or works on base. The process also includes a background check that can take up to seven days to complete.

Base spokesman Carl Redding said the new rules were suggested during one of the bases periodic security reviews. They were not in response to a threat, but reflected a greater vigilance in light of incidents around the world, he added.

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We have a great positive relationship with the surrounding community ... and its important that we maintain a positive relationship, but we have to balance that with base security, Redding said.

People who have regular business on base, such as workers and military personnel, wont be affected by the changes. But those who want to attend special events or attractions  such as the Leatherneck Lanes Bowling Center, Marine Memorial Golf Course or Paintball Park  will need to be screened first.

In neighboring Oceanside, tourism officials said the tighter rules would take some getting used to but shouldnt pose big problems.

People will still be able to get on base to enjoy those amenities. But there is a process that they have to follow, said Leslee Gaul, president of Visit Oceanside, the citys tourism agency.

Veterans who have regular business on base or who visit the hospital for medical appointments are already cleared for that access, said Sandra Silva Fichter, vice president of the nonprofit Veterans Assn. of North County.

If theyre retired and need to access the hospital, they have a base sticker [on their vehicle] and should have no problems getting in, Fichter said. But if theyre a regular veteran without base privileges, theyll have to go through the procedure like everybody else.

Under the new rules, sponsors will have to fill out a form with information including name, address, drivers license or ID number and the reason for the visit. The form must then be submitted via email. Applications can take up to seven days to process, and those coming on base without prior approval may be turned away.

Once approved, the sponsorship will be good for up to 90 days. The program is for social visits only and not for business or employment dealings.

Huge annual events, including the World Famous Mud Run in June, wont be affected by the new policy, Redding said. However, bicyclists who want to ride the popular bike trail that runs through the base along Interstate 5 will have to register and undergo the background check. Registration for bicyclists will be valid for one year.

Redding said that only people with a U.S. or state ID will be allowed to register for bike-route access, but a person can be sponsored by someone who is authorized to do so.

edward.sifuentes@sduiontribune.com

Sifuentes writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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After the city of Los Angeles adopted a plan last summer to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2020, there was a burst of activity by neighboring municipalities.

Los Angeles County supervisors followed suit soon after with an identical schedule for unincorporated areas, where about 1 million people live. City and county officials expressed hope that the actions would prompt many of the other 87 independent cities within the county to follow their lead and avoid a patchwork system of different wage schedules throughout the county.

Some have, but with one, and possibly two, labor-backed statewide initiatives on the minimum wage planned for the November ballot, advocates and experts said they expect to see the movement of local initiatives slow to a trickle.

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Last month, Long Beach, the countys second-largest city, adopted a slightly more conservative timeline that will increase the base wage to $13 by 2019 and potentially to $15 two years later. Santa Monica  a smaller, but well-known and affluent coastal city  adopted a plan that mirrors L.A. city and county measures, but with additional requirements for added sick days and an exemption for unionized businesses. And most recently, the city of Pasadena adopted a similar wage increase this month, which will also put it on track to $15 by 2020, but with a mandatory review of economic effects midway through.

One ballot initiative would raise the statewide wage to $15 by 2021. Proponents submitted signatures last month to qualify it for the ballot. Voters could also end up being confronted by a competing proposal with slightly different terms, backed by a different faction of the same Service Employees International Union.

Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A., said the statewide effort is pretty much going to preoccupy all elements of labor for months, I would assume.

And cities that have not yet acted may decide its better to avoid a difficult vote, he said. Theres a lot of logic for something of a pause.

Rusty Hicks, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, acknowledged that local efforts are likely to slow.

Great progress has been made in the past year and a half with regards to the minimum wage, he said. Now I think there will be a question for some jurisdictions as to whether you move forward with a local program or simply wait for a state policy.

Hicks gathered with Pasadena city officials and labor activists at an area day labor center the weekend before that citys minimum wage vote. During a speech there, Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, praised the impending wage increase.

In an interview, Trumka said he is optimistic at the prospects of a statewide increase, and the action by cities such as Pasadena puts pressure on those who dont do it, because workers will go to the areas with the highest wages.

Some other cities have begun to explore the possibility of moving on their own wage increases, including West Hollywood, Malibu, Glendale and Pomona. But a majority of cities in Los Angeles County have made no move, and officials in some said they dont intend to.

Santa Clarita, the countys third-largest city, is surrounded by a county unincorporated area where the wage increase will take effect. Mayor Bob Kellar said the city had received inquiries from businesses in the county area interested in moving into the city limits to avoid the higher costs. No discussions of a wage hike in the city have occurred, he said.

I would certainly oppose anything of this kind, Kellar said. But he added, Lord knows whats going to come out of the state.

In Glendale, the fourth-largest in the county, city officials have begun studying a possible wage hike. But Mayor Ara Najarian said they will probably hold off on acting until the statewide question is decided.

If its something that could be settled by the voters in a statewide initiative, probably were not going to be too excited about going through the brain drain and the political capital expenditures of making a move on it, he said.

Najarian said Glendale has been getting pressure from both sides of the debate because other local cities have moved on local minimum wage ordinances.

I hope theres some action statewide, he said. It would really take the pressure off us as a city.

abby.sewell@latimes.com

Twitter: @sewella

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ABC News(MANCHESTER, N.H.) -- Republican presidential candidates squared off in New Hampshire one last time ahead of the primaries, hitting each other on everything ranging from temperament to foreign policy.

The debate, hosted by ABC News, the Independent Journal Review, and WMUR in Manchester, New Hampshire included seven presidential hopefuls.

Here are the best lines of the debate so far:

ON DONALD TRUMPS TEMPERAMENT

DONALD TRUMP: I think I have the best temperament.

TED CRUZ: I am convinced, every individual standing on this stage, would make a much better commander in chief than Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.

ON BEN CARSONS "CAMPAIGN BREAK"

TED CRUZ: I reached him the next day and apologized," Cruz said of his campaign staff sending a note that Carson was "taking time off" from campaigning and making a big announcement next week.

"He asked me then, he said, Ted, would you make this apologize in public. I said, yes, I will. And I did so.

BEN CARSON: The bottom line is, we can see what happened, everybody can see what happened and you can make your own judgment.

.@tedcruz apologizes to @realBenCarson for sending memo saying he was dropping out of campaign #GOPDebate https://t.co/2Ic4zQd2sC  ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2016

ON MARCO RUBIO

This is what Washington, D.C. does. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers game him, Chris Christie said about GOP rival Marco Rubio.

He continued, When the worst natural disaster in your state's history hits you, they expect you to rebuild their state which is what Ive done. None of that stuff happens on the floor of the United States senate. It's a fine job, I'm glad you ran for it, but it does not prepare you for president of the United States.

Rubio fired back, Chris, your state got hit by a massive snowstorm two weeks ago. You didn't even want to go back. They had to shame you into going back.

Christie interjected, There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech.

ON NORTH KOREA

DONALD TRUMP: I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent and he doesn't know what he's doing. I think he has no idea what he's doing. And our country is going to hell. So, I just wanted to say, we disagree on that. Is that okay?

ON IMMIGRATION

TED CRUZ: Were going to build a wall. Were going to triple the border patrol. Were going to increase -- and actually, since Donald enjoyed that, I will simply say, Ive got somebody in mind to build it.

Well, the legislation passed, but it has no support. In essence it couldn't pass in the house, it will never pass in the united States until we secure the border and it is not the way we're going to do when I'm president, Rubio said when asked if he fought for his gang of eight bill, that would have created a path to citizenship.

Christie argued, David, I just like you to listen, again, everybody. This is the difference between being a governor who actually has to be responsible for problems and not answering a question. The question was, did he fight for his legislation. It's abundantly clear that he didn't.

The fact of the matter is, a leader must fight for what they believe in. Not handicap it, say, maybe because I can't win this one, I'll run. That's not what leadership is. That's what congress is, The New Jersey governor continued.

ON HEALTH CARE

DONALD TRUMP: I think everybody on this stage would have to agree, you're not going to let people die, sitting in the middle of a street in any city in this country. What should we do on health care? If I'm elected president, we will repeal every word of Obama care, Cruz quipped.

ON EMINENT DOMAIN

JEB BUSH: The difference between eminent domain for public purpose, roads and pipelines, that's for public purpose. What Donald Trump did was use eminent domain to try to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City.

Jeb wants to be a tough guy tonight. I didn't take the property, Trump said.

Bush responded, How tough it is to take property from an elderly woman.

Trump hit back, Let me talk. Quiet. A lot of times that's all of his donors and special interests out there. So it's what it is."

ON BEING A CONSERVATIVE

DONALD TRUMP: I view the word conservative as a derivative of the word "conserve." We want to conserve our money. We want to conserve our wealth. We want to conserve, we want to be smart...We want to conserve our country. We want to save our country.

ON THE ECONOMY

JEB BUSH:  Id like to see more millionaires. I think we need to grow more millionaires we need to create a prosperity society where people can rise up.

ON THE WAR ON ISIS

TED CRUZ: We should use overwhelming force, kill the enemy, and then get the heck out.

I want to say something about this, because I'm not here just to add beauty to the stage, Carson quipped.

.@realDonaldTrump on ISIS: "4 years ago, I said bomb the oil and take the oil... I still say the same." #GOPDebate https://t.co/q34oJluvpk  ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2016

ON WATERBOARDING AND ENHANCED INTERROGATION

DONALD TRUMP: I would bring back waterboarding and I would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

MARCO RUBIO: Guantanamo is being emptied by this president. We should be putting people into Guantanamo, not emptying it out and we shouldn't be releasing these killers who are rejoining the battlefield.

ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS

TED CRUZ: I have pledged, on day one, I will rescind every single illegal and unconstitutional executive action Barack Obama has done.

DONALD TRUMP: You have to get people in, grab them, hug them, kiss them and get the deal done.

JOHN KASICH:  We have to solve problems in America by coming together, Republicans and Democrats, Americans first, party and ideology second.

ON THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC

.@tedcruz on heroin epidemic: "This is an epidemic. We need leadership to solve it." #GOPDebate https://t.co/juLaiM5lcE  ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2016





ON THE POLICE

DONALD TRUMP: The police are absolutely mistreated and misunderstood...the police in this country have done an unbelievable job of keeping law and order.

.@realDonaldTrump: "The police in this country have done an unbelievable job of keeping law and order." #GOPDebate https://t.co/RF01lYrk9D  ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2016

ON WOMEN SIGNING UP FOR THE DRAFT

.@ChrisChristie on women: "Anything they can dream... they can do. That's the way we raise our daughters" #GOPDebate https://t.co/D7X5FohQmt  ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2016





ON VETERANS

BEN CARSON: You know, 14-percent decrease in the number of people applying for voluntary military service, and I think part of it is because of the way we treat our veterans. You know, we wouldn't be a free country if it wasn't for them.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
After nearly a decade of delays, California educators released a draft guideline that will shape how history is taught to students across the state.

The nearly 1,000-page History/Social Science framework received little public attention and went largely unreported in mainstream media when it was announced in December.

But in multicultural California, that hardly means it went unnoticed.

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In Japanese and Korean communities on both sides of the Pacific, the guidelines have been breathlessly covered in news reports and generated rival petitions signed by thousands on each side.

The brouhaha concerns two sentences describing what will be taught in 10th-grade world history classes about the women known as comfort women, who were coerced into sexual slavery in wartime brothels for Japanese soldiers during World War II. The passage has been met with celebration among Korean American groups that have campaigned to bring attention to the issue in the U.S., and concern from some Japanese groups that consider it an unfairly negative portrayal of their home country.

The Japanese and Korean groups are only the latest to bring their historic contentions to California classrooms, where the subject of world history is increasingly entangled with questions of personal identity and family history rather than a set of supposed facts that designated experts hand down from ivory towers.

Until recently world history focused mainly on European history in U.S. high schools. As the scope expands to other parts of the world, California classrooms are becoming battlegrounds in which recent immigrant groups wrestle over whether and how their ancestors stories are told to the states next generation.

In the years that the committee of educators has been working on the guidelines, Hindu and Sikh groups, Polish Americans and Persian historic societies have each come before the authors of the framework with requests on how their history is depicted.

The community groups who spoke at public meetings about their history far outnumbered teachers or educational professionals, said Nancy McTygue, who co-chaired the committee crafting the framework until last year.

People were angry, people were pleading. People were excited, happy. Every emotion you can think of, said McTygue, herself a former teacher who has taught high school history. History is an interpretive discipline, and everybodys got their own interpretation.

James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Assn., said history should get revised as scholars and educators learn more about the world, and that the increased number of voices getting involved would ultimately be a blessing for California students.

The conversation is going to be a hell of a lot more interesting and more contentious, but thats a good thing, he said. The conversation is going to reflect a wider perspective on the past, wider number of sensibilities.

World historian Patrick Manning, a University of Pittsburgh professor, said the debates in California were a result of clashes between documented history and the communities collective memories, which inform questions of identity.

The depth and intensity of those debates is because of their memory  their feelings about the past  as much as it is about history, he said.

John W.I. Lee, a professor of ancient Greek and Persian history at UC Santa Barbara, reviewed the framework and submitted comments at the urging of a group of Persian parents. They were concerned that ancient history in the sixth-grade curriculum was told only from the perspective of the Greeks, demonizing Persians as barbarians without recognizing the political and cultural contributions of the Achaemenid Empire.

When you have a state thats as multicultural and multiethnic as California, of course it becomes an issue in the classrooms, he said.

One of the parents, Jaleh Niazi, said she and others asked themselves if they were being biased by pride for their own culture. But after consulting scholars, they concluded there were historic inaccuracies to be corrected in depictions of ancient Persia and modern Iran, she said.

We want our kids to take pride in what was good, and learn from what was bad, said Niazi, a pediatrician who has two daughters in the 10th and eighth grades. This is not only about my children. Its important for California as a whole to know the world they live in.

The new language on comfort women marks the first proposal to teach what has been a long-contentious political issue in East Asia in high school classrooms in the U.S. It has the potential to widely influence how textbooks address the topic.

The guidelines recommend that the subject of comfort women be taught to high schoolers as an example of institutionalized sexual slavery, and one of the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20th century.

The passages were incorporated into the draft framework at the urging of Korean community groups, authors of the guideline said. McTygue and Bill Honig, co-chairs of the History-Social Science subject matter committee, said they consulted the latest historical research and survivors testimony and concluded there was enough evidence for it to be taught in schools.

Honig said he believed the issue would be a valuable starting point for students to research and discuss the present-day problem of human trafficking.

Kids should know that this is a problem and its going on. Its not just in Japan and Korea during World War II, its a bigger problem, he said.

After the conservative Japanese newspaper Sankei reported on the new framework in December, under the tag History Wars, an online petition on Change.org has collected more than 5,000 signatures protesting the description. The petition asks that the passages be amended to also describe comfort women as well-paid prostitutes and that they also served Allied troops in Japan immediately after the war.

The petition, which is predominantly signed by Japanese residents but also a few dozen Californians, says school textbooks should not be used as propaganda advertisement.

Honig, who was sent a copy of the petition, said he was surprised the language would be controversial, especially given that the Japanese government has apologized.

Hiroyuki Miyoshi, a Culver City computer programmer who signed the petition, said he was concerned his children will face animosity in school based on what he believed was an unsettled point of history.

In this situation I dont think its fair to teach, when the conversation is still controversial, said Miyoshi, 50, whose two younger children are in the fifth and sixth grades and will be taught under the new framework. He said he believed the issue was a matter between the two East Asian neighbors and had no place in California textbooks.

If the framework is adopted, Miyoshi said he would probably urge his children to do their own research rather than take in what theyre taught as fact.

The U.S. has been drawn into this as a battleground for these memory wars, said Daniel C. Sneider, associate director of research at Stanford Universitys Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, who has studied depictions of World War II events in textbooks in the U.S. and elsewhere.

He said he was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of comfort women in the new California framework, and said it showed a broadening global perspective in how history is taught here.

Because California, along with Texas, is the largest buyer of textbooks, state guidelines will probably reverberate elsewhere, he said.

Phyllis Kim, an activist with the Korean American Forum of California, which has vigorously campaigned to bring recognition to comfort women, said the new framework was a step toward solidifying Korean Americans place in California.

When we immigrate, we bring our language, culture and history, she said. Thats the wealth that we bring into this state.

victoria.kim@latimes.com

Twitter: @vicjkim

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George Duf Sundheim, donning his Duf Sundheim navy blue fleece jacket and khaki pants, strode down the center aisle inside the Destiny Fellowship Church, wading into the crowded pews at a tea party meeting in the northern reaches of California.

Hed been asked about immigration. Sundheim, a Republican candidate for Senate and thoughtful lawyer from Palo Alto, carefully explained that he supported a path to legal status for the estimated 11 million immigrants in the country illegally.

A bearded man stood up from the back of the room and yelled an expletive. The seats began to empty.

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Obviously I cleared out the room tonight, Sundheim told the few who remained.

The heated exchange laid bare an uncomfortable reality facing Republican candidates running to replace the retiring Barbara Boxer as well as for other statewide political offices.

They need the votes of tea party loyalists, who are among Californias most politically active conservatives. But embracing them too tightly may drive away Republican moderates and independents, whose support is essential if they hope to have any shot at winning in a state thoroughly dominated by the Democratic Party.

Tea party supporters face an equally frustrating dilemma. They are often forced to vote for Republicans who, they believe, have failed to stand firm on the tea partys core beliefs of a limited constitutional government, free enterprise and fiscal responsibility in Washington and Sacramento.

We arent necessarily trying to build up the Republican brand, said Marilyn Snyder, 72, of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots, meeting at the Mill Creek Cattle Company restaurant in Mentone. There are a lot of people in this group who despise the Republican brand.

GOP Senate candidate Tom Del Beccaro spoke to the Redlands Tea Party at their monthly meeting at the restaurant Thursday night, and received a much warmer reception than Sundheim did up north. Del Beccaro preached about the benefits of a flat tax which, he said, would simplify the tax code, combat corporate welfare and allow for the Internal Revenue Service to be slashed.

Del Beccaro, a Walnut Creek business attorney and regular on conservative talk radio, criticized GOP rivals Sundheim and Assemblyman Rocky Chavez of Oceanside for supporting a pathway to legal status for immigrants here illegally and for refusing to sign a pledge not to raise taxes. Why vote for them, he asked, if they are just going to parrot the ideas of the Democrats in the race, state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County.

The Republicans trail Harris and Sanchez in the most recent polls and are far behind when it comes to raising money. Voters will get their first opportunity to compare the Republican Senate candidates side-by-side during a GOP radio debate on San Diego station KOGO-AM (600) Monday evening.

Both Del Beccaro and Sundheim are former chairmen of the California Republican Party, making it hard for them to avoid being yoked with the label of GOP establishment  an anathema to tea party loyalists.

Santa Monica businessman Al Ramirez, a tea party crowd-pleaser who challenged Boxer in 2010 and Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2012, falling far short both times, also jumped into the Senate race last week. Adding another Republican to the mix threatens to fracture the GOP vote even more, increasing the odds that Harris and Sanchez could be on the ballot in November. Under Californias top-two primary system, the two candidates who win the most votes in the June primary, regardless of party, face off in the general election.

The California Republican Party for years has weathered steady declines, and as of last year accounted for just 28% of the states registered voters, compared with 42% for Democrats, according to the secretary of states office. At the same time, the tea partys influence in the state GOP has become robust.

A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll released in September found that 48% of Republicans in California, and an equal number of self-identified conservatives, supported the tea party movement to some degree.

Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau, an active member of the Central Valley Tea Party, said the movement continues to grow across California, especially in the states inland midsection, but it still doesnt have the numbers to get an ideologically pure conservative elected as U.S. senator, governor or any other statewide post. So theyve switched tactics.

We were chasing our tails by getting involved in races that we had no chance of winning, Senate races, other statewide races. I think we learned our lesson from that, Brandau said.

Instead, grass-roots tea party groups are focused on city council and county supervisor races, raising money for presidential candidates and trying to mold the platform of the state Republican Party, which has a Tea Party California Caucus.

Brandau decided to run for City Council because just standing on the street corner complaining was not really working for me any more.

To the south, members of the Bakersfield Tea Party are lobbying the Kern County Board of Supervisors to privatize county libraries instead of imposing a sales tax increase to support them.

The tea party is alive and well. Its just in a different format, said member Tom Pavich. Youre not seeing large rallies.... That doesnt mean were not out there.

The loosely-affiliated, scattershot tea party movement born after President Obama was sworn into office in 2009, fueled in part by outrage over the Affordable Care Act and mounting federal deficit, has evolved into a more focused network of conservatives here in California, said John Barry, a state coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots.

Its kind of gone mainstream, Barry said. Weve moved from the angry conservative to having an organized organization.

Barry said Del Beccaro or Ramirez should get tea party support, as will Republican congressional candidate Paul Chabot, who narrowly lost to Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) in 2014 and is now shooting for a rematch.

UC San Diego political scientist Gary Jacobson said the rising influence of the tea party in the state GOP, even at the grass-roots level, will only accelerate the decline of the partys influence, because they are culturally, ideologically and demographically out of touch with a large majority of Californians.

This is a disaster to the Republican Party, Jacobson said.

Paty Newman, a former member of San Diego Countys Republican central committee, said she left the Fallbrook area tea party years ago after seeing members trying to elevate their political stature as well as party members rallying around issues outside the core ideals of the movement.

Her distaste only grew after tea party protesters in 2014 blocked buses filled with immigrants and their children bound for the U.S. immigration facility in Murrieta. Newman said the protest should have been focused on the Obama administration, whose policies allowed the influx to happen, not immigrant children.

It was just rude, Newman said.

Tea party firebrand and former state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a Republican from Twin Peaks, said the GOP leadership in California and Washington are the only ones responsible for any impending doom.

Donnelly ran for governor in 2014 against Democratic incumbent Jerry Brown, and he blames the Republican Party leadership for throwing its support behind GOP candidate Neel Kashkari. Kashkari gained his first big public notice as a leader of the Bush administrations bank bailout program, and spending $4 million on his campaign, only to be soundly defeated by Brown.

Now is not the time for California Republicans to back a politically safe candidate in the Senate race, Donnelly said. In the presidential race, GOP voters have been invigorated by New York real estate developer Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Its a missed opportunity. This is an insurgent year, Donnelly said. They want to hold a cross up, like to a vampire, if anything smells even a whiff of politicky.

phil.willon@latimes.com

Twitter: @philwillon

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The Supreme Court has often dealt a big blow to presidents in their second term.

Harry Truman was rebuked for claiming the power to seize strike-bound steel mills during the Korean War. Richard Nixon resigned shortly after the court ruled unanimously he must turn over the Watergate tapes.

Bill Clintons impeachment was triggered by the courts decision that he must answer questions under oath in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case. And George W. Bush lost before the court when he claimed his power as commander in chief gave him almost unfettered authority over prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

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Now, as President Obama begins his last year in office, the court is set to render a verdict on his use of his executive authority. The justices will decide whether he violated the law by authorizing more than 4 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally to come out of the shadows without fear of deportation and obtain work permits.

There are signs that at least some of the justices are ready to rein in the presidents ability to take such bold action without the approval of Congress.

Never before has the high court ruled that a president violated his constitutional duty to take care that laws are faithfully executed. Yet when justices agreed to hear the immigration case, they surprised many by asking both sides to present arguments on whether Obamas actions violated the rarely invoked take care provision. That question had not even been at issue when lower courts blocked Obamas plan from taking effect.

In a separate pending case this term, the court also will rule on whether the president and his healthcare advisors went too far by requiring Catholic charities and other faith-based employers to formally opt out of providing a full range of contraceptives to their female employees by citing their religious objections.

The faith-based entities argued that by notifying the government of their decision to opt out  which triggers a process under which employees would get contraceptive coverage by other means  they would be complicit in supplying abortion-inducing drugs.

The decisions, both due by summer, will help answer a question that looms over Obamas presidency. Has he properly used his power as chief executive to circumvent congressional gridlock on issues such as immigration, climate change and healthcare, or has he gone too far and violated his duty to enforce the laws as set by Congress?

The cases come before the court with a backdrop of Republican claims that the president has overreached and abused his power. Former House Speaker John A. Boehner said Obama was acting like a king and damaging the presidency when he announced the deportation-relief plan now before the high court.

On the campaign trail, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas promises GOP voters that, if he is elected president, his first task on his first day in the White House will be to rescind every illegal and unconstitutional executive action of Barack Obama.

White House officials and supporters of the president counter that Obamas actions are not only legal and well within his discretionary authority, but that Congress has left him no choice by refusing to take action on pressing national problems.

Conservative scholars think Obama has left himself vulnerable by announcing broad executive actions on policies that had been considered and rejected by Congress, and which even he once said were beyond his authority.

In his first term, Obama told Latino activists who were pushing him to take unilateral action that he could not waive away the laws Congress put in place regarding the removal of immigrants who entered the country illegally. But later the president decided he did have the power to suspend deportation and offer lawful presence and work permits to as many as 5 million of those immigrants.

So far conservatives have mostly failed to derail Obama in the Supreme Court. Twice, the justices upheld the presidents healthcare law against conservative attacks, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. casting his vote with the courts four liberals.

Four years ago, in a key test of state-versus-federal power, the court ruled for Obama after his administration sued to block Arizona from enforcing a law to crack down on immigrants in the country illegally.

In 2011, Obama and then-Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. raised ruffles on the right when they announced the administration would not defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act, which recognized only marriages between a man and a woman. House Republicans took up the cause, but two years later the high court agreed with the administration and struck down key parts of the law as unconstitutional.

But the new immigration and contraceptive cases pose a tough test for Obamas lawyers. In last years healthcare case, they were defending a law that had won approval in Congress, when both chambers were controlled by Democrats. We must respect the role of the legislature and take care not to undo what it has done, Roberts said in upholding its system of insurance subsidies.

This year, by contrast, Obama is defending an executive action on immigration that was taken without the approval of Congress and in the face of fierce Republican criticism.

Similarly, the contraceptive mandate was not spelled out in the Affordable Care Act, as lawyers for Catholic bishops often point out. It was adopted later in a regulation issued by Obamas healthcare advisors.

But Obamas defenders, including immigration law experts, say the critics are missing the crucial point that the deportation laws give the chief executive a free hand to decide how or whether to deport those living here illegally. Contrary to what many assume, the law does not say federal officials must arrest and deport such people. Rather, it says they are subject to removal, based on policies and priorities set by the executive branch.

Obamas administration says it wants to focus on deporting criminals, security threats, gang members and drug traffickers, not parents and grandparents who have children in the United States legally.

The administration can quote a powerful voice to back up its view of the matter. Aliens may be removed if they entered the country illegally and committed crimes, said Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, but a principal feature of the removal system is the broad discretion exercised by immigration officials.... Federal officials, as an initial matter, must decide whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all. As a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to remain present in the United States.

Kennedy spoke for the court four years ago in rejecting Arizonas claim that immigrants who could not prove their citizenship should be arrested, and Roberts agreed. Kennedys explanation of the deportation system may also defeat any claims that Obama is violating his duty to faithfully execute the law.

The president is not claiming a constitutional authority to not enforce the law. Hes claiming authority based on the immigration statute, said Walter Dellinger, a White House lawyer under President Clinton. And if the court says he is wrong, then he will comply with that.

On Twitter: @DavidGSavage

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A new state brought a new target as Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio was repeatedly thrown on the defensive Saturday night in an often-testy debate filled with needling exchanges over leadership and which candidate has the achievements and integrity to step into the White House.

Rubio, a freshman Florida senator who has been climbing in polls after an unexpectedly strong third-place finish in Iowa, faced rough going from the start when he was asked about what rivals said was a thin Washington resume.

Among his accomplishments, Rubio cited work for his constituents and support for legislation sanctioning terrorist groups, drawing a withering response from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

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You werent even there to vote for it, Christie snapped. Thats not leadership. Thats truancy.

The rejoinder and its whiff of condescension toward the 44-year-old senator  the youngest of the seven candidates on stage  demonstrated how much the race has changed since the Iowa caucuses Monday night and how the issue of experience has moved to the fore as some of the GOPs most seasoned figures have been surpassed by the suddenly rising star.

Three of them  Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush  have virtually staked their campaigns on strong showings in Tuesdays first-in-the-nation primary.

The evening made for the harshest assault Rubio has faced after shining in several earlier debates, and his anxiety often showed. He glistened with sweat and stumbled through some of his answers, often falling back on rote responses that Christie mocked.

The New Jersey governor, who has been sinking in recent polls, has taunted Rubio as an overly scripted boy in a bubble. When the senator fell back on familiar phrases Saturday night, Christie pounced.

Thats what Washington, D.C., does, Christie said with a sneer. The drive-by shot at the beginning, with incorrect and incomplete information, and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisors gave him.

Chris, your state got hit by a massive snowstorm two weeks ago, Rubio retorted. You didnt even want to go back. They had to shame you into going back. And then you stayed there for 36 hours, and then he left and came back to campaign.

After jeers from the audience faded, Rubio renewed a line of attack against President Obama and Christie again interrupted. There it is, the memorized 25-second speech, he scoffed.

Bush, Rubios onetime mentor, soon chimed in.

Marco Rubio is a gifted, gifted politician, said Bush, another of the Iowa also-rans effectively making his last stand in New Hampshire. He went on to compare Rubio to Obama, saying both were polished speakers with little preparation for the White House.

Weve tried it the old way with Barack Obama with soaring eloquence, and we didnt get a leader, Bush said. We got someone who divided the country up.

The Iowa results also boosted Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, another freshman lawmaker, who came in first there and took some of the gloss off national front-runner Donald Trump, who barely finished second.

Trump had a much easier time Saturday night than Rubio. After skipping the last GOP debate in a spat with the host, Fox News, the billionaire businessman reasserted himself with his trademark superlatives and bombast.

He and Bush traded barbs after the ex-governor accused him of using his clout to force an elderly woman from her Atlantic City, N.J., home to build a casino parking lot. That is downright wrong, Bush said.

I didnt take the property, Trump snapped, mocking Bush for trying to be a tough guy.

You tried, Bush shot back. How tough is it to take property from an elderly woman?

Let me talk  quiet, Trump told Bush, putting a finger to his lips. The crowd groaned.

Thats all of his donors and special interests, Trump said, triggering more groans, which grew as he asserted the GOP had salted the crowd with campaign contributors.

NEWSLETTER: Get the best from our political teams delivered daily>>

The debate, nationally broadcast on ABC from the campus of St. Anselm College, was the eighth of the Republican contests and the last chance for candidates to make their pitch to a wide audience before Tuesdays primary.

Much of the two-hour session covered familiar topics, including immigration.

Kasich said he would beef up border security and backed a path to legalization  but not citizenship  for immigrants in the country illegally.

I couldnt even imagine how we would even begin to think about taking a mom or dad out of a house, when they have not committed a crime since theyve been here, Kasich said. That is not, in my opinion, the kind of values we believe in.

Cruz, who has called for deporting the estimated 11.5 million people in the country illegally, was asked how he would do so. What you do is you enforce the law, he replied.

Rubio was asked about legislation that he supported and later backed away from that would have provided a pathway to citizenship. He said there wasnt enough backing for the bill and border security must come first, leading Christie to again attack, accusing Rubio of failing the test of leadership.

It is not leadership to continue to try something that has no chance of happening, Rubio replied.

The candidates took turns accusing the Obama administration of failing to take enough action against Islamic terrorists, but differed on whether to waterboard terrorism suspects.

I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use, Cruz said. He went on to pledge to use whatever enhanced interrogation methods we could to keep this country safe.

Trump said he supported waterboarding and would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

The candidates were also asked how they would deal with the news that North Korea was testing a long-range missile system that could ultimately reach the U.S. with a nuclear warhead.

Cruz demurred when asked whether he would launch a preemptive military strike, saying he could not answer without seeing the intelligence.

Trump said he would pressure the Chinese to solve the problem. They have total, absolute control practically of North Korea, he said. I would get on [the phone] with China  let China solve that problem.

Bush took the most aggressive stance, saying, if a preemptive strike is necessary to keep us safe, then we should do it.

The Iowa results, apart from shaking up the race, also gave the candidates something new to quarrel over.

Just before the voting began, the Cruz campaign spread a false report that Ben Carson, who was vying for the same conservative Christian support as Cruz, was quitting the race. Cruz later apologized to Carson, and Saturday night he apologized again.

See more of our top stories on Facebook >>

Ben is a good and honorable man.... He has an amazing life story that has inspired millions, including me, Cruz said. When this transpired, I apologized to him then and I do so now.

See more of our top stories on Facebook >>

Cruz said his campaign had merely relayed a report from CNN that Carson was going home after the Iowa caucuses, rather than straight to New Hampshire.

Carson said he was disappointed in the tactic.

Unfortunately, it did happen. It gives us a very good example of certain types of Washington ethics, he said. Washington ethics basically say, if its legal, you do what you need to do in order to win. Thats not my ethics.

Turning to an issue of acute local concern, the candidates were asked about the heroin epidemic ravaging New England.

Cruz talked about a half-sister who died of an overdose. He then tied the issue back to border security, citing Mexicans smuggling vast amounts of heroin into this country.

Christie touted his record in New Jersey, saying hed been able to divert addicts into treatment instead of prison. It is a disease, he said. We need to give people the treatment they need.

mark.barabak@latimes.com

michael.finnegan@latimes.com

Twitter: @markzbarabak, @finneganLAT

Times staff writers Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles and Chris Megerian in Manchester contributed to this report.

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Politicking pauses for Super Bowl

How does a presidential candidate campaign when the Super Bowl falls just before an election?

The short answer is: You dont.

Typically the Sunday night before the Tuesday New Hampshire primary would be prime time for last-minute rallies and get-out-the-vote efforts. But few of the nearly dozen Democrats and Republicans contesting the Granite State race has anything of that sort scheduled tonight.

The only event on the schedule past kickoff was a game-watch party with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in Manchester, New Hampshires largest city.

Hillary Clinton spent most of the day traveling to and from Michigan instead of campaigning in New Hampshire. But her campaign posted a video of the former secretary of State talking about what its like to watch football with her husband  a fanatic.

He really gets into it, she says. I am mostly a quiet watcher. But if something happens that I think is amazing, like an incredible over-the-shoulder flying catch, or something that I think is fair, I will yell a little too. But nothing like my husband.

Though the game did block out some key campaigning time, the candidates are lucky in this respect. If the New England Patriots hadnt lost in the AFC Championship game, voters attention would have been even more distracted in the days leading up to, and perhaps after, another title.
The occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Ore., is mostly over. Four militants remain inside the refuge; 11 have been arrested and charged, including the Bundy brothers Ammon and Ryan. Only Robert LaVoy Finicum made good on his promise to die rather than submit to the federal government. But if the tree of liberty is watered by the blood of patriots  the militia movements favorite Jefferson quote  then Finicums death is exactly the sort of martyrdom that law enforcement hoped to avoid and didnt. Now is a good time to ask: What exactly did he die for?

To patriots like Finicum and the Bundys, the movement to reclaim public lands from the federal government is a variation on Americas cowboys and Indians story, but in their version theyre the cowboys and the Indians. On the one hand, they position themselves as the descendants of men and women who first won the West, the settlers who originally built this country. On the other, they see themselves as the victims of a huge land grab, locals who have been forcefully dispossessed. That makes them both an oppressed minority and the conquering heroes of manifest destiny.

To understand this precarious and contradictory position  which sits at the radical edge of a larger, well-funded land-transfer, anti-environmental movement that seeks to privatize public property - we have to go back to this nations original sin. When the United States took the West from its first inhabitants  by treaty, deception and force of arms  the government put forward a consistent legal, moral, and political principle to justify the seizure. It is much the same doctrine that Finicum preached around the West to ranchers groups; he called it productive beneficial use. Put simply: the land belongs to those who use it productively, those whose ranching, farming and stewardship benefit the land.

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I have created a right when Im the first one in line, Finicum told an audience of cattlemen at a property rights workshop in Piute County, Utah, in November. As long as I use this for continuous beneficial use, I have it. (According to the Salt Lake Tribune, eight ranchers who were at the November workshop signed letters withdrawing their consent to be governed by the BLM and the Forest Service in late January.)

Finicums claims are a crude version of something the English philosopher John Locke argued in his second political treatise.

Finicums claims are a crude version of something the English philosopher John Locke argued in his second political treatise (one of the formative components of Jeffersons own philosophy). For Locke, property was a function of human labor. God gave the world in common to all mankind, as Locke put it, but He also commanded individual people to labour, and to subdue the earth. If a portion of the world in common were improved by an individual for the benefit of life, Locke reasoned, that individual had made it his personal property, which another had no title to, nor could without injury take from him.

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FOR THE RECORD, 4:40 p.m. Feb. 7: A previous version of this article said philosopher John Locke was Scottish. He is English.

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From this perspective, God-given land was only common until someone did something productive and beneficial with it; from then on, it was his or hers alone. Put more crudely: Use it or lose it.

When the United States pushed American Indians off the land, the justification was that Indians didnt use the land productively or beneficially. This required a very narrow and self-interested definition of productive and beneficial, of course: White farmers and ranchers believed they improved the land with their labor, regarding Indians as animals, having no more right to the land than a bear or a bird.

In 1812, the General Land Office began overseeing the disposal of the lands the United States government was busily acquiring in the West. The Preemption Act of 1841 and the Homestead Act of 1862 supplied guidelines for the disposal; the former gave land to those who were already farming it and the latter to those who applied to settle it. But the underlying principle was the same: having taken the lands from the native peoples, the federal government was to be only a temporary steward of the land until it was given to a productive beneficial user.

Over the course of the 20th century, the federal government changed its position in response to environmental degradation, overcrowding, the need for multiple-users to co-exist and a general demand that the public have access to public land. The General Land Office became the Bureau of Land Management, and after a piecemeal succession of laws and amendments, Congress convened a commission to reformulate the nations public land law, from the top down.

The commissions 1970 report  One Third of the Nations Land  argued that most public lands would not serve the maximum public interest in private ownership and urged the reversal of the policy that the United States should dispose of ... public domain lands. In 1976, Congress passed the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, repealing most of the old disposal laws and dictating that public lands would be retained in Federal ownership in perpetuity, except for special cases. Though the Bureau of Land Management leases the land for development and a variety of commercial uses, their official mandate is to keep the land open and accessible to all users, preserving it for the future.

The agrarian past is gone. The United States economy has not depended on farmers and ranchers for a very long time. Even LaVoy Finicum couldnt make ends meet as a rancher in the 21st century; his primary source of income, according to Oregon Public Radio, was the payment his family received for fostering children.

In the end, Finicum didnt die for the sake of liberty or the Constitution, but for an outdated, narrow and self-interested notion of how the West was won.

Aaron Bady is an editor at the New Inquiry. He lives in Oakland.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: Years ago as a young attorney, I represented a Mexican immigrant who had been arrested pursuant to a felony warrant issued in Los Angeles. He was held for several weeks and spoke no English. (Mistaken ID case: Man was jailed despite being 9 inches taller than the wanted man, Feb. 4)

He insisted he had not committed the crime, but his public defender, having heard that many times before, didnt believe him. The warrant described a person with the same name and very similar physical attributes.

I became his attorney and discovered he was undocumented and feared being sent back to Mexico. For some reason, I believed him.

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So I called the Los Angeles Police Department asking for the detective who had sought the warrant. I asked whether there was a photo of his suspect; he told me there was. I still remember how hard I had to work to convince him to go the county jail to see if the right guy had been arrested.

I must have pushed the right buttons. My client was released within a day or so.

I told him that he could sue for being wrongfully jailed for weeks. He thanked me and moved on with his life.

John ODonnell, Los Angeles

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Gio Zanecchia is so enamored of Bernie Sanders that he made a five-hour drive with his wife and infant son from South Jersey on Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of the progressive firebrand.

But what if Sanders loses the Democratic nomination? Asked whether he will be there to vote for the Democrat in November should Sanders falter, the 34-year-old union mechanic reacts as if the question is insane. There is not a chance, he insists, that he would ever support Hillary Clinton.

Shes establishment, Zanecchia said. Most of the guys I work with think shes a criminal.

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Usually, that sort of primary-season hostility means little when the general election rolls around. Even after bitter battles, voters generally coalesce around the goal of beating the opposing party.

Most of the guys I work with think shes a criminal.  Gio Vanecchia, union mechanic, on Hillary Clinton

But Sanders voters are a unique lot, and Clinton campaign strategists are growing concerned about whether they will be there for her should she be the Democratic pick.

This is not a group that is particularly loyal to the Democratic Party. While liberal Democrats make up a big chunk of Sanders support, many other backers are independents. Some mistrust the party so much that Sanders supporters booed the party chair when she took the stage Friday night at a dinner at which the candidates spoke.

Zanecchias second choice for president is Donald Trump.

Before a single ballot has been cast here, Clinton is already reaching out to the voters she knows will be deciding against her in Tuesdays primary, particularly the younger ones, who so far are showing her campaign little love.

At a rally in Manchester on Friday, Clinton had a message for New Hampshires young voters: I know you may not be for me now, but I am for you, she said. She made the same gesture Saturday at a town hall at New England College in Henniker, an event her campaign advertised on the Students for Sanders Reddit page.

But even such olive branches turn off some Sanders voters.

Its condescending, said Caitlin Conley, a 19-year-old student at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge. Its like she doesnt think young people can have an opinion and know what they are talking about.

Many are bothered by Clintons posture toward Sanders, whom she has accused of engaging in an artful smear of her reputation. Sanders supporters are protective of the 74-year-old democratic socialist, whose professed aversion to rough campaign tactics and poll-driven messaging are a big part of his draw. Hes been railing for decades against the billions of dollars Wall Street infuses into politics  not just since the matchup against Clinton got heated.

Some Sanders backers were put off when Clinton charged her rival with sexism. When Sanders said common-sense gun reforms were getting blocked by all the shouting between gun-rights and gun-control activists, Clinton framed the remark as a man accusing a woman of shouting. Unjust, Sanders supporters said.

Being ugly is not going to help her win support, said Michelle Boslun, a 49-year-old Vermonter who says she will vote for Clinton in November if it comes to that, but worries other voters in the Sanders coalition will not.

Even if she ends up winning the nomination, she is going to end up losing support in the long run. I hope she will back off, Boslun said.

Clintons tone certainly isnt endearing her to Sanders die-hards like Kerry West.

Id write Bernie in if Clinton is the nominee, the 43-year-old independent said while gassing up his car in Rochester. I dont believe anything she says.

At the state party fundraising dinner Friday night in Manchester, Sanders supporters occasionally booed as a procession of New Hampshires top Democrats explained on stage why they had endorsed Clinton.

It became too much for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to ignore during her remarks at a dinner that was named partly in her honor.

You know, one of the things that I really appreciate about New Hampshire is that we are respectful of other peoples points of view, the second-term senator, former three-term governor and schoolteacher said sternly toward the Sanders seating section. So I hope that everybody here will be respectful of whatever choices each of us make in this primary election. Because we need each other come November.

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That may be a tough sell for Casey Beat, a recent graduate of Franklin Pierce who came to see Sanders at her alma mater Saturday. The only way she might cast a ballot for Clinton in November, she said, is if the alternative is Donald Trump, whom she reviles more.

Hillary Clinton is a liar, and she is fake, said Beat. Shes been degrading toward Bernie. I think she is a terrible person.

For more on Campaign 2016, follow @EvanHalper and @MikeMemoli.

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Their campaigns hanging in the balance, the Republican governors running for president struck back in Saturdays debate, the last before New Hampshire votes on Tuesday. And Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was their primary victim.

Rubio entered the debate with momentum, having transformed his surprise third-place finish in last weeks Iowa caucuses into a surge in crowds, endorsements and polls here. For three governors who have been tightly packed with him behind Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Rubios success spelled an imminent demise, and they moved aggressively from the beginning of the Manchester debate to undermine him.

If they are rewarded by higher standing come Tuesday  and especially if Rubios momentum is stalled  then the struggling candidates will have won deathbed reprieves. And the Republican race for president probably will be headed for an extended and rancorous battle, rather than the quick consolidation behind an establishment favorite that many party strategists have hoped for.

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Before Saturday, New Hampshire polls consistently have found Trump far ahead and recently have had Rubio gaining ground behind him, with the governors trailing. But New Hampshire is notorious for last-minute flips, so all of the candidates were aiming at the huge chunk of the electorate here that is either undecided or willing to change its mind.

It was New Jerseys Chris Christie  the weakest of the governors, at least in polls  who struck first, brutalizing Rubio on his preparedness for the White House, then later adding attacks on his views toward Muslims and, time and again, his immigration position.

Rubio grew so rattled early on that four times he repeated the same line about President Obama knowing exactly what he was doing  in Rubios construction, weakening America by making it more like every other country. The line is one Rubio has used before, part of his defense against the charge that the GOP should not pick an inexperienced first-term senator as its nominee the way the Democrats did in 2008. Obamas inexperience isnt the problem, he argues.

But the utterance of the same phrase four times over a short span of time made Rubio appear to be mouthing talking points, as Christie was happy to point out.

There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech, Christie said after the third rendition. There it is, everybody. And then Rubio repeated it again.

By midway through the debate, Rubio was sweating visibly, wiping his face at one point. He rebounded later with forceful explanations of his foreign policy positions, but being on the defensive most of the night gave him little time to forward the themes that have animated his campaigning here: that he is the best situated to win the White House, and that he can do so by unifying Republicans.

The attacks hurt Rubio in part because they hit at a central problem for his candidacy: Much like Mitt Romney four years ago, Rubio cannot talk about his biggest accomplishment in office. For Romney, the taboo topic was the healthcare law he passed as governor of Massachusetts. For Rubio, it is his effort to push a compromise measure to break the long gridlock over immigration  a bill that passed the Senate but succumbed to conservative opposition in the House and is bitterly opposed by many GOP voters.

Yet if the battering damages Rubio, it also may boomerang against Christie. Voters with multiple options often punish the author of negativity even as they embrace the message. With Christie doing their work, the other two governors had more time to offer a positive frame for their own candidacies.

The Saturday debate was Rubios worst, and Jeb Bushs best. The former Florida governor chimed in on criticism of Rubio and once again was the chief provocateur toward Trump, and he did not fade when Trump argued back, as he has in the past. John Kasich of Ohio was a far sunnier  and vocal  presence throughout.

Kasich, Bush and, to a lesser extent, Christie all expounded on their individual records as governors, something they have not had much time to do in past debates. But they also were working in concert to shift a race that has, thus far, been in the hands of outsiders and the two senators, Cruz and Rubio. Repeatedly, each drew a contrast between governors who get things done  a chief desire among voters  and senators who make speeches.

The two outsiders in the race, meantime, had their best debates as well. Ben Carson, who has been nearly invisible in seven previous meetings, was a persistent presence. And as he has in recent weeks, Trump seemed to adopt a more balanced tone, more focused and less lackadaisical but still garnering whoops from the crowd with his positions on building a wall on the countrys southern border and rebuilding a nation that he says has been on the losing end of trade deals.

Throughout the campaign here, what Republican voters have said they want is an antidote to Obama, and the candidates have been split on how to become that. Some, notably Trump and Cruz, have tried to ignite voter concern over the economy and derision toward Obama into an electorally potent firestorm. Others, like the governors, have taken a more traditional tack to insist that they have the executive chops to do the job.

Rubio has had a foot in both camps. And so the criticism he met on Saturday suggested that he was not up to the job, and because of that, would not stem the anger.

You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable, Christie told Rubio. You just simply havent.

In a different political environment, Rubio would have been able to point to his role in pushing the immigration bill. Instead, it was his rivals who were eager to do so, while they accused him of flip-flopping when he saw that his support for the measure might endanger his presidential ambitions. They were helped out by the way in which moderator David Muir of ABC News asked the question.

Did you fight for your own legislation, Senator, or did you run from it? Muir asked.

Rubio would not directly answer, repeating his now-stock answer that Americans wont support an immigration measure until they believe the country is secure. That was not the question, however, as Muir noted.

Well, the legislation passed, but it has no support, Rubio said. In essence, it couldnt pass in the House, it will never pass in the United States until we secure the border and it is not the way were going to do [it] when Im president.

Muir then called on Christie.

I would just like you to listen, again, everybody, Christie said. This is the difference between being a governor who actually has to be responsible for problems and not answering a question. The question was, Did he fight for his legislation? Its abundantly clear that he didnt.

Christie pounced on Rubio again during his answer to an unrelated question, by bringing the conversation back to immigration.

He acted as if he was somehow disembodied from the bill. It was his bill, Christie said. He said this idea doesnt work. It was his idea. See, when youre a governor, you have to take responsibility for these things. You cant just act as if it happened out of nowhere.

With its raucous moments, the debate echoed the campaign, which above everything else has been unstable and surprising. Republicans gathered a formidable team of senators and governors to run for president, only to find them utterly overshadowed by Trump, a reality television star and businessman who has flouted nearly every political convention to reside at the top of the national and New Hampshire polls.

Carson, the retired neurosurgeon with no political experience save excoriating Obama at a prayer breakfast, rose high and now has fallen. Bush raised an astonishing sum of money that has done him almost no good. Kasich and Christie have virtually moved into the state of New Hampshire for months and yet have not been rewarded meaningfully.

It has been only Rubio who plotted a traditional course and seemed to find success, betting that a stronger-than-expected showing in Iowa would work to his advantage in New Hampshire, which so often quashes Iowas picks. It all seemed to be working until Saturday. The next three days will show whether the nights stumbles were temporarily troublesome, or something worse.

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

For political news and analysis, follow me on Twitter: @cathleendecker . For more on politics, go to latimes.com/decker.
Saturdays Republican presidential debate was one of the most contentious to date, not surprising given that several candidates are struggling to stay alive as the crowded field starts to winnow.

For several candidates, Tuesdays New Hampshire primary is a last stand. For others, it will determine whether they remain top contenders. Here are a few notable moments and themes:

Less talk of God, more establishment

It was clear the campaign has moved from Iowa, where conservative Christians and arch-conservatives dominate the Republican caucuses. In New Hampshire, establishment voters hold more sway.

Here's why: New Hampshire is Americas least religious state, according to Gallup, with only 20% of residents identifying as very religious.

Social issues that consumed debates and stump speeches in Iowa were barely mentioned for much of this debate, with the abortion issue only appearing near the end in response to a question.

Instead, there were several minutes devoted to eminent domain, the kind of libertarian property rights issue that plays much bigger in the Live Free or Die state of New Hampshire.

Candidates fighting for the establishment vote, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, looked much more aggressive and comfortable. They drew some of the loudest applause for their calls to take some of the harder edges off the GOPs message.

In America, conservatism should mean not only that some rise with conservative principles, but everybody has a chance to rise regardless of who they are, Kasich said.

At another point, Donald Trump embraced that definition as well. He said that, even as he opposed President Obamas health plan, he would not take away care from the millions of people now getting insurance as a result of the law.

Were going to take care of people that are dying on the street, he said.

Marco Rubio takes some hits

Almost everyone on stage was hoping to take down Rubio, whose late surge in Iowa and high standing in New Hampshire polls make him a strong threat to both the outsider candidates leading the pack and the establishment candidates making a last stand in New Hampshire.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is struggling in the polls, got the fight he wanted. When Rubio began to brag about his success in passing a sanctions bill in the Senate, Christie pointed out that he'd missed the vote for it.

Thats not leadership. Thats truancy, Christie said, in a dig that not only called attention to Rubios high absence rate in the Senate, but also tagged the youthful-looking senator as a school boy.

When Rubio tried to respond, Christie cut him off, pointing to Rubios reputation for sticking to a script and repeating it.

Thats what Washington, D.C., does, Christie said. The drive-by shot at the beginning, with incorrect and incomplete information, and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisors gave him.

Rubio tries to reframe Obamas faults to avoid comparison

The biggest knock against Rubio from fellow Republicans was the suggestion that hes another President Obama  a young first-term senator who gives a good speech but lacks experience.

Rubio tried to recast the debate: Its not about Obamas incompetence, but his bad intentions.

If its only about experience, Americans might as well elect Vice President Joe Biden, Rubio said.

Let's dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing, Rubio said. He knows exactly what he's doing. Barack Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world.

Republicans disagree on waterboarding, torture

For many, waterboarding became a divisive symbol of Americas war on terror in the George W. Bush administration.

Critics called it torture and said it didn't produce actionable intelligence. Supporters called it a legitimate interrogation tool, and insisted it helped.

The issue, even among Republicans, is not yet settled.

Trump not only endorsed waterboarding, but added, I would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tried to stake out some middle ground. I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use, he said, leaving open the definition of widespread.

Bush -- in the awkward spot of addressing one of his brothers most controversial policies -- asserted that it was used sparingly in the past, but added that he would not resume using it.

But, like others on stage, he said closing the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would be a complete disaster.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the GOPs biggest opponent of the CIA's now-banned enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, withdrew from the race this week after a dismal showing in Iowa.

After the debate, Trump declined to clarify.

Trump: We will win

Donald Trump took a blow in Iowa when he fell to second place, but he looked like his old pugnacious self again, for better or worse.

He was booed by audience members, then attacked them as donors and special interests. He insisted that he could quickly solve even complex problems such as North Korea  just make the Chinese handle it, he said.

Bush finally took the fight to him, accusing Trump of trying to use eminent domain laws to seize an elderly womans home so he could build a parking lot for limousines. But Trump didnt look deflated as he had in the days following Iowa.

If Im elected president, we will win, and we will win, and we will win, he said at the close of the debate.

We will see.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Follow me @noahbierman on Twitter.
New massage businesses in Glendale will now be required to get a permit before opening, following City Council direction on Tuesday.

The councils 5-0 vote came after some city officials said there was a proliferation of massage establishments in recent years, some of which harbor illegal activity.

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State law previously preempted municipalities from having authority over massage parlor openings, but that statute expired last year and control reverted back to cities.

Now, amendments to the city code mandate new massage parlor owners will have to obtain a conditional-use permit from the city, a process that entails a background check.

If they fail to get one, they will have to close, according to the upgraded language.

Massage parlors that opened before the code amendments were adopted will have one year to get a permit.

Glendale Police Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis said undercover investigations at some local massage parlors have resulted in arrests for soliciting prostitution.

Councilman Zareh Sinanyan said theres no room for that in Glendale, adding that those kinds of illegal operations have a negative impact on the quality of local life.

Im sure that attracts other crime and most of these massage parlors are in areas that are very close to dense residential neighborhoods, and thats unacceptable, he said in a phone interview.

During the time the code revisions were being drafted, the council enacted a moratorium on new openings, spearheaded by Sinanyan.

Some city officials put the count of massage parlors in Glendale at more than 100, with many of them along Colorado Street, which Sinanyan said caught his attention.

The code amendments also require all massage establishments to have transparent and unobstructed storefront windows in order to operate.

Being able to see inside will be an important part of enforcement, Sinanyan said.

Transparency is key, he said. The transparency of a massage parlor is much more important than looking into the lobby of a law firm or an accounting firm.

Sinanyan has said in the past, however, that illegal activity is not occurring in all massage businesses and has cited Massage Envy on Brand Boulevard as one thats done well with having a completely unobstructed storefront window.

To ensure compliance, Povilaitis said there will be inspections and enforcement by way of the police department, possibly in cooperation with the citys code enforcement department.

--

Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian
I enjoyed Christopher Reynolds article [Apres-Ski Zone, Jan. 24] but was disappointed that he missed a couple of important items about Salt Lake City. Although the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal nights are interesting, even more enjoyable are the free run-throughs for timing before its live radio broadcasts on Sundays.

Also, it would be interesting for readers to know that the light-rail system is free throughout the center of the downtown area. Ken Sanders Books is an excellent source of rare and Western books; theres also Weller Book Works, a longtime fixture in the area, equally as good and offering a wide selection of first-edition books.

Kenn Morris

Los Angeles

A nuns wisdom

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I read the article The Essence of Being by Jeff Spurrier in the Jan. 24 Travel section and had to write. A few years ago I too had the privilege of a one-on-one meeting with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo at her Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery.

I had heard about Tenzin Palmo through a short film that was shown at Tushita Meditation Centre in Mcleod Ganj, India. I couldnt believe there was a person who had chosen to live in a cave for 12 years. At the end of the film, the lecturer mentioned that Tenzin Palmo welcomed guests at her nunnery, a three-hour bus ride away. I knew I had to go.

The following week I was seated alone on a couch facing Tenzin Palmo, who asked questions about my life. Although much of what she said was completely over my head, she did tell me two things that I heard clearly and will stay with me forever.

First, that every person must find their purpose in life. It is not enough to just live and enjoy. We are on this Earth for a reason and must discover it.

And second, that the challenging people in our lives  the ones who are difficult or obnoxious or even our enemies  are our best teachers. They teach us how to deal with things, forcing us to become aware of our actions. Tenzin Palmo used the analogy that we are like rough pieces of wood. If we use silk to smooth he wood, it will never work. But if we have sandpaper to work with, soon the wood will be smooth.

Words to remember.

Ellie Shapiro

Los Angeles

Mountain view

The photo of the Organ Mountains in New Mexico jumped off the page; my eyes were riveted (Rugged and Right There, by Michael Mello, Jan. 24).

Many years ago I grew up, went to school and attended college at the base of the Organs. The mountains were always steady and calm, rising high above in the wind-swept Rio Grande Valley.

As teenagers we hiked their hills and climbed their escarpments. More recently, we viejos (long-ago graduates) sat at reunion picnics not far from the visitors center, marveling at the beauty wed missed in our youth.

Although the photo doesnt do the Organ Mountains justice, it opened the door wide enough for a score of welcome memories to tumble out. Thank you,

Charlotte Craven

Camarillo

::

I greatly enjoyed reading about the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Sadly, the article does not mention the Mexican restaurant in the area, La Posta in Mesilla. This landmark has been in business for 80 years, and the building has history possibly going back to Billy the Kid. It was a sad omission.

Clarke Morrow

Los Angeles
When Lee Nien-tzu arrived at the toppled apartment complex before dawn Saturday, she could have felt shock at the scale of the ruins, disorientation at having just experienced a major earthquake, or foreboding over the task that lay ahead of her.

Instead, she briefly reflected on the sadness of the situation, then scaled a wall, clambered up a heap of rubble and climbed into a gap in the buildings tangle of concrete, wires and reinforcement bars. Over the next 18 hours, Lee  a waitress at a hotel with only a cursory understanding of first aid  helped pull 10 to 15 people from the building, including three dead children.

I had hope the whole time, she said. And I felt that because I was being helpful, I didnt get tired.

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At 3:57 a.m. Saturday, a magnitude 6.4 quake struck Tainan, a quiet city of 1.8 million in Taiwans south, killing at least 38 people. Most of them were in the Wei Guan Golden Dragon Tower apartment complex, a 17-story U-shaped structure, when it collapsed.

By Sunday afternoon, a picture of the scope of the tragedy  and the challenges of the rescue effort  began to emerge. Rescue workers had used infrared sensors, metal detectors and fiber-optic cables in their search, Chen Mei-ling, the secretary general of Tainan, said Sunday. By Monday morning in Taiwan, 207 people had been rescued; 117 were still beneath the rubble. Many of them may still be alive.

Workers were racing against the clock as uncommonly cold weather (53 degrees on Sunday night) and a lack of food and water meant that the buried victims chances for survival were rapidly diminishing. We hope that within 72 hours, the golden period [for rescues], we can rescue all of them, Chen said.

Tonight is very cold, she said later, so I am not optimistic.

On Sunday afternoon, a few dozen family members of the trapped people gathered near the buildings wreckage, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. Many stood silently crying, their hands clasped in prayer.

Hsu Xiu-xiang, a 52-year-old factory worker from Taoyuan, a city near Taipei in Taiwans north, feared for the life of her son, a 20-year-old Wei Guan resident and junior at nearby Kun Shan University. She said her son and two of his three roommates spent Saturday night at a karaoke club and returned to the apartment just before the building collapsed.

They would have been parking their motor scooters in the basement or riding up in an elevator when it happened, she said.

Around her, scores of rescue workers and firefighters continued to scale the rubble. On Sunday, they found two additional survivors, both men in their 20s. They also found more bodies, including those of two sisters, according to local media.

Hundreds of volunteers handed out supplies such as blankets, bottled water and simple meals.

Few have braved the rubble. Lee was a dynamic exception.

On Sunday, she returned to the site to see how the rescue effort was proceeding. She wore camouflage pants, a camouflage jacket and bright New Balance sneakers with turquoise laces. She said her emergency rescue qualifications amount to a first aid license from a two-day Red Cross certification course that she attended in high school.

Lee said she awoke when the quake hit, saw on Facebook that the building had toppled and arrived at the scene an hour later. Although the surrounding streets were closed off, she told one of the guards that she was delivering supplies, and he allowed her to enter. Three or four survivors milled around, but information was scarce.

From outside, the building looks quite complete, but inside its completely broken, she said. The air was filled with dust, making it difficult to see, even with a headlamp. A lot of the spaces in there were made from walls that had collapsed in on each other, creating a warren of claustrophobic crawl spaces.

When I was in the building, Id listen for peoples voices, she said. Theyd say, Is anybody there?

The first person Lee rescued was a woman in her 30s. She carried the terrified woman, who was wearing pajamas, out of the building and handed her off to other rescue workers. She was put into an ambulance, and then I went back inside, she said.

I forget the second person I rescued, she said. There were too many.

Lee stopped pulling people from the debris at 11 p.m., she said, after one of her contact lenses fell out.

Zhuang Mei-xing, a volunteer at the Tzu Chi Foundation, a large Buddhist charity organization, said Lee performed most of her rescue work while wearing a flimsy pair of slippers. I just saw her storm in, she said.

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Lee said she planned to return to her nearby hometown, Kaohsiung, on Sunday night to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday with her grandmother, her mind still swimming with memories of the ordeal.

I feel so sad about them, she said, shaking her head. I held three children, and they were dead.

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A gang of about 50 masked left-wing extremists on bicycles torched or trashed nearly 50 luxury cars over the weekend in attacks to protest gentrification of the once-low-rent districts near the center of the German capital.

The attacks just after midnight on Saturday and Sunday mornings caused an estimated $1.1 million in damage and left behind the smoldering remains of 48 Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches. Some of the masked attackers smashed the windows of the cars; others threw plastic containers with flammable materials through the broken windows.

Were not going to let this left-wing mob take over our streets, said Berlins Interior Minister, Frank Henkel, who vowed the city would do everything in its power to stop the street terror before the arsonists struck again. The horrifying images show that these left-wing anarchists are bent on destruction and have no respect for private property.

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There have been isolated cases in the past of expensive cars being set on fire in Berlin, a city with a thriving counterculture where rents were once extremely low. They have been rising steadily in recent years, and the attacks on cars  about 250 are set on fire each year  are seen as political statements against gentrification.

A peak was reached in 2011, when more than 400 luxury cars were set on fire. But never before had there been such a coordinated and massive attack as this weekend.

This weekends attacks came in areas where rents have soared and property prices have skyrocketed more than five-fold in recent years to as much as $615 per square foot. Many squatters live in areas near the attacks. Last month, 500 police raided one of the largest buildings occupied by squatters after some of the residents had attacked and injured riot police. The illegal occupants are still there.

A left-wing group calling itself the Social Democratic Peoples Bicycle Commando claimed responsibility for the arson attacks. We wanted to remove the windows from the luxury cars and scrap them the warm way, the group said in its statement.

Many left-wingers in Berlin, where squatting has a long and vibrant tradition, feel they are entitled to defend their way of living and that burning the luxury cars will scare away yuppies and wealthy investors.

The vandalism recalled an arson attack on four car dealerships in Southern Californias San Gabriel Valley in 2003. A Caltech graduate student was convicted of arson in the attacks, which damaged about 125 vehicles valued at nearly $5 million. He said he was protesting the auto industrys contribution to pollution.

Kirschbaum is a special correspondent
An outspoken and critical member of Pope Francis commission on priestly sex abuse has said he will defy moves to oust him, claiming that only the pontiff himself can remove him from the panel.

In a move that will raise questions about Francis commitment to tackle abuse within the Roman Catholic Church, Peter Saunders, a British member of the commission who suffered abuse by priests as a child, was sidelined on Saturday.

In a short statement, the Vatican said that during a commission session hours earlier, it was decided that Mr. Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence from his membership to consider how he might best support the commissions work.

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But Saunders, who has advised the British government on abuse, told reporters on Saturday that he had been personally hired by Francis and could be fired only by him.

I have not left and am not leaving my position on the commission, he said, reading a prepared statement. I was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis and I will talk only with him about my position.

Saunders said he might even show up at the commissions Sunday meeting. I havent had a call from His Holiness, so the door is still open, he said.

Saunders has frequently argued that the panel is writing ineffectual guidelines instead of exposing predator priests who continue to molest children.

Last week, ahead of the three-day meeting of the commission that started Friday, Saunders challenged Francis to meet with members, saying it would be outrageous if the pontiff failed to show.

Saunders and Marie Collins of Ireland were handpicked by the pope to join the commission in 2014. As survivors of abuse by priests, they lent the panel credibility as Francis sought to show he was serious about tackling endemic abuse in the church.

But both Saunders and Collins objected last year to Francis appointment of Chilean Bishop Juan Barros to the Diocese of Osorno in Chile, in the face of accusations that Barros covered up for a proven predator priest, Father Fernando Karadima. Francis has dismissed the vocal protest in Chile against Barros as the work of lefties.

On Saturday, Saunders also claimed a Vatican tribunal set up last year to crack down on bishops who cover up for predators seems to exist in name only.

Saunders said that the commission had heard about two Italian priests who recently reported sex abuse by a colleague to their bishop, who told them to stay silent  news that rips my heart out, Saunders said.

When he asked the commission to make its discussions public, he said he was told all debate must remain behind closed doors.

At Saturdays session, he said, commission members reacted to my criticisms in a frightening way, acting as if dissent and free speech would make their work more difficult. This is exactly what created the child sex abuse crisis in the first place.

He said a vote of confidence in him had been taken, with all members voting against him, bar one abstention. But he claimed he had not been told he was being ejected before he saw the Vatican statement.

Marie Collins defended the work of the commission Saturday.

It is slow, she told the Associated Press. Its not going to make changes overnight. And there are frustrations in that, she added. But if we can change policy and get policies put in place that will stick around the world, that will make children safer in the future, then its worth making time to get it right.

Saunders addressed reporters in Rome alongside Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean man who has testified that Karadima abused him while Barros watched. Cruz was previously a candidate to join the commission, but leaked emails between Chilean cardinals suggest they worked to block his nomination.

For me the commission is a disgrace, Cruz said. It includes no abuse survivor from the Southern Hemisphere, which is a playground for pedophiles.

Kington is a special correspondent.

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North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Koreas west coast and its path was tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea; no damage from debris was reported. At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the countrys president called the firing an intolerable provocation.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, trumpeted the beauty of the launchs fascinating vapor as the rocket cut through the clear blue sky and said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

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The firing came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning. It follows North Koreas widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions. The United States and Japan quickly requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the Norths ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kims government.

North Koreas National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, said Sunday that ruling Workers Party policies were responsible for the rockets success.

The statement praised the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star. Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rockets first stage fell off North Koreas west coast at 9:32 a.m. and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

The South Korean government couldnt immediately confirm reports by Yonhap news agency and YTN TV that the rocket might have failed.

The U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

A member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces stands near a PAC-3 Patriot missile unit deployed for North Koreas rocket launch at Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. (Shizuo Kambayashi / AP)

Japans NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an intolerable provocation. She said the Norths efforts to advance its missile capabilities were all about maintaining the regime in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region.

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the Norths four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the U.S., South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

The Korean border is the worlds most heavily armed and the rivals navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The Norths recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Koreas nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.

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Salvadoran police have arrested four former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests during the Central American countrys brutal civil war, officials said Saturday. Five of the priests were Spanish and their killings sparked international outrage.

After the arrests were announced, Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren called on the military officers still fugitive in the case to turn themselves in.

There are people who have hidden; we dont know if they have left the country, but my recommendation is that they turn themselves in to justice, he said. We need to know the truth about what happened in the past, but we also need justice as well as pardon.

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In a Twitter post Saturday, El Salvadors national police said the four ex-soldiers were arrested at the behest of Interpol in an operation that began Friday night. They were identified as Col. Guillermo Alfredo Benavides Moreno and soldiers Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, Angel Perez Vasquez and Tomas Zarpate Castillo.

Its now up to El Salvadors Supreme Court to rule on the extraditions.

Lawyer Lisandro Quintanilla, who represents 13 of the military suspects indicted by Spanish judge Eloy Velasco, called the arrests of the four arbitrary and said authorities have 72 hours to present them to a Supreme Court judge.

Salvadoran police said an operation was continuing to find and arrest the remaining suspects.

The arrests in El Salvador came after a judge in North Carolina cleared the way for a former Salvadoran colonel to be extradited to face charges in Spain in the case.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kimberly Swank ordered that U.S. Marshals take custody of Inocente Orlando Montano Morales so he can be turned over to Spain, pending final approval by the State Department. The step is largely seen as a formality because lawyers for the diplomatic agency already reviewed the case before turning it over to federal prosecutors.

The unusual extradition fight began in 2011 when the Spanish judge issued an indictment charging Montano with the murder counts. Nineteen others were charged by Spain, with most still living in El Salvador.

Montano, 73, has denied involvement in the killings.

Court documents say that early on the morning of Nov. 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran military killed the six priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at a university in the countrys capital. The priests had been calling for discussions to end the fighting, with one of them serving as an intermediary between the government and a leftist group.

The killings helped erode U.S. support for the right-wing Salvadoran government.

An amnesty that followed the 1992 peace agreement ending El Salvadors conflict hindered prosecutions. Although two officers served short sentences in El Salvador, Montano and other high-level officials were never charged by authorities there in the priests killings.
Pope Francis travels to Mexico this week, saying he wants to live the faith of the overwhelmingly Catholic country but will not shy away from confronting issues of violence and corruption that could make his governmental hosts quite uncomfortable.

Historys first pontiff from the Americas will also stand on Mexicos border with the United States and make an impassioned plea for the plight of immigrants. His entire pilgrimage from southern to northern Mexico is meant to represent the perilous route that migrants take to reach the U.S.

This is the Argentine popes fourth trip to Latin America, home to Roman Catholic communities that are the largest in the world but have faced challenges from the spread of Protestantism, loss of faith and slowed population growth because of migration, homicide and lower birth rates.

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The Mexico that Francis visits, following the well-worn path of his two predecessors, is enduring a decade-old wave of brutal criminal and narco warfare, a spate of egregious human rights abuses, an economic slump and official corruption that has helped take President Enrique Pena Nietos approval rating to historic lows.

You are living your little piece of war, Francis said last week in a video message to Mexicans via the semiofficial Notimex news agency.

The Mexico of violence, the Mexico of corruption, the Mexico of drug trafficking, the Mexico of cartels, is not the Mexico that our mother [the Virgin Mary] wants, he added. I, of course, will not cover any of that up.

To the contrary, he added, I want to exhort you to fight every day against corruption, against trafficking, against war, disunity, organized crime.

Even before the pope sets foot Friday on Mexican soil, government officials were incensed by his comments.

Undoubtedly, he has certain information, Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said. The best information will be what he can see here.

Mexico was once a highly anticlerical country; after the 1910 revolution, the government confiscated church property and prohibited priests from wearing their collars and robes in public.

That trend has been reversed; diplomatic ties with the Holy See were established in 1994, and many clerics today tend to be supportive of the government of the moment. Despite losses and a strong secular strain, Mexico remains more than 80% Catholic.

The six cities that Francis has chosen to place on his itinerary speak volumes of his intended message.

He will come to this sprawling megalopolis, site of the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico and all the Americas; worship of her goes to the heart even of secular Mexicans here and in Southern California.

Just outside Mexico City lies the notoriously poor and dangerous city of Ecatepec, where nearly 2 million live. Part of the state of Mexico, governed by Pena Nieto before he became president, Ecatepec also has one of the countrys highest incidents of killings of women.

He will say Mass in Morelia, capital of Michoacan state, one of the top sources of migrants who live in the U.S. It is also a region that has been terrorized by a pseudo-religious drug gang, La Familia Michoacana, and its successor, the Knights Templar, and where rural priests have been killed, kidnapped and threatened.

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Francis gave Morelia a cardinal just last year, Alberto Suarez Inda, and he is expected to console and praise Suarez and the priests of Michoacan for doing Gods work ministering to the faithful in the face of such dangers. The government has already dispatched the army and navy to back up police in Morelia for the popes visit.

Francis will tread into the least traditionally Catholic state, Chiapas, on Mexicos border with Guatemala and home to many semiautonomous indigenous communities.

Protestant Pentecostalism has made significant inroads in Chiapas, and so has liberation theology, the pro-left version of Christianity that had fallen out of favor at the Vatican  until the ascension in 2013 of Francis, a vocal proponent of the doctrines emphasis on the poor.

Chiapas is Mexicos most impoverished and neglected state. In the picturesque, mountainous city of San Cristobal de las Casas, Francis will lead prayers using indigenous languages, such as Tzotzil and Chol, and will feature Maya dance and symbols, Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel said.

The pontiff will issue rules to formally allow the use of indigenous languages in church services, something that Francis predecessor, Benedict XVI, had discouraged.

Francis also chose Chiapas because it is the most common entry point for Central American migrants fleeing nightmarish bloodshed and crushing poverty and hoping to reach the U.S.

His final stop is the northern border city of Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, thus symbolically tracing the route of migrants.

Juarez once had the highest murder rate of the country and, possibly, all of Latin America. But a combination of developments, including the apparent victory of one drug gang over its rivals, as well as social programs launched by private business, has significantly reduced the killing.

In what is expected to be one of the most emotional moments of the popes pilgrimage, he will preside over a cross-border Mass on Feb. 17, with perhaps 200,000 on the Juarez side and others on the U.S. side. About 50,000 will watch a simulcast at El Pasos Sun Bowl stadium. The stage from which he will pray is only about 80 yards from the border fence, and he plans to ride along the barrier in his popemobile.

The Mass will be deliberately visible from both sides, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in a briefing for reporters in Rome.

The event follows a tradition started by U.S. bishops of saying Mass at the border fence in a show of unity and support for migrants.

Lombardi also said that victims of Mexicos conflicts, including relatives of some of the more than 20,000 people missing in the country, have been invited to attend the Juarez ceremony. Among them, he confirmed, will be relatives of the 43 Mexican college students kidnapped by police working with local politicians 16 months ago. The students were killed, a case that continues to roil the nation.

The families had requested a private meeting with the pope, but Lombardi said it could not be fit into the itinerary. It will not be an individual meeting, because of his timetable, but their request to participate has been met, he said.

With nonstop television coverage of the pope in Mexico, the Pena Nieto administration and his Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, may hope to score political points. Regional elections are taking place this year in 13 states, where the PRI will want to gain or expand its power.

Suspicion among many Mexicans that that is the governments ulterior motive has led to a lot of anger about what will undoubtedly be an elaborate and expensive spectacle. A Twitter campaign has grown in recent days with the hashtag yonoquieroquevengaelpapa (I dont want the pope to come).

But if favorable publicity informs the governments calculation, it may not work, especially if Francis holds true to his tendencies to chide the powerful.

The pope does not hesitate to speak frankly and directly to the communities he visits, said Father Kevin F. OBrien, vice president for mission and ministry at Georgetown University in Washington and, like the pope, a Jesuit.

He recalled the popes admonition of the Mafia during a visit to Sicily and denunciation of the treatment of immigrants at Lampedusa, the Italian island where many African and Middle Eastern refugees have washed ashore and often died.

On the eve of the popes arrival, the Catholic Church in Mexico issued a scathing editorial that in many ways sets the tone of the visit.

Mexico is facing violence and criminal phenomena that appear unprecedented in its modern history, the editorial, published in the Mexican Archdioceses Desde la Fe magazine, said. It makes us question the capability of authorities at every level of government.

Andrew Chesnut, professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, said Francis trips to Mexico and to Brazil in 2013 are the most important of his dynamic papacy  and Mexico even more so because the Brazil event had been planned by Benedict before his surprise resignation.

One of the main reasons a Latin American was elected pope was to try to reverse the sharp decline of the Catholic Church in the region over the past five decades, Chesnut said. In the context of the hemorrhaging of members  Mexico emerges as the most pivotal tour to date, also because several of the major themes of the trip echo his larger, global agenda, such as migrants, refugees, corruption and violence.

In his Notimex remarks, the pope also cautioned against exaggerated expectations: I am not going to Mexico as one of the Three Wise Men, loaded with [gifts], messages, ideas, solutions to problems.

I am going to Mexico as a pilgrim, to seek the wealth of faith that you all have. I want to become infected with that wealth of faith, to live that faith with you. I am going with my heart open so that it might fill with all you can give me.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

Times staff writer Wilkinson reported from Washington and special correspondent Sanchez from Mexico City. Special correspondent Tom Kington contributed from Vatican City.

Hoy: Lea esta historia en espanol

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Syrian officials and their Iranian allies on Saturday warned Saudi Arabia to drop any plans to send troops in support of retreating Syrian rebels facing a potentially shattering defeat in the northern province of Aleppo.

At a news conference in Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem declared that any foreign forces intervening against the government would not come out alive.

Those who launch an aggression against Syria will return in wooden boxes, be they Saudis or Turks or anyone, Moallem told reporters.

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The fast-deteriorating state of Syrian rebel forces in the north has led to speculation that Saudi Arabia and its ally, Turkey, might boost aid to the insurgents or even dispatch forces to Syria.

On Thursday, Riyadh announced that it would consider sending ground troops to assist a U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group, a suggestion welcomed by the Obama administration.

But Syria and its allies view any such move as a hostile act aimed at the Syrian government, not the Al Qaeda breakaway faction that controls territory in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

A child carries belongings as refugees from the Syrian city of Aleppo arrive at a Turkish border crossing gate on Feb. 6, 2016 . (Bulent Kilic / AFP/ Getty Images)

Russia, which has provided massive air power in recent months to help turn the war in Damascus favor, warned last week that Turkey may be preparing an armed invasion of Syria  a suggestion later dismissed as laughable by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey shares a more than 500-mile border with Syria.

Ankara, like Riyadh, is a major supporter of mostly Islamist rebel groups fighting to overturn the secular government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

While he called the idea of Saudi intervention far-fetched, the Syrian foreign minister added that the craziness of the Saudi regime makes me believe that anything is possible.

There was no immediate response from Saudi officials.

In Tehran, the head of the Revolutionary Guard mocked Riyadh, saying the kingdom lacked the resolve to fight in Syria.

If Saudi Arabia sends forces to Syria, that will be the end of Saudi Arabia, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari told reporters. That of course will not be bad.

Tehran and Riyadh are fierce rivals for influence in the Middle East and are backing opposite sides in the Syrian conflict.

The Iranian general spoke as the nation held a funeral Saturday for six soldiers, including another general, killed while fighting alongside pro-government forces in northern Syria. Tehran says it has sent advisors to Syria but insists it has not dispatched ground troops  though various Iranian-backed militias are also fighting alongside Syrian government forces.

Still, the toll of Iranian forces killed in Syria has been steadily rising, with reports of funerals of martyrs from Syria now a regular item on Iranian news broadcasts.

In his comments in Damascus, the Syrian foreign minister asserted there would be no cease-fire until Syrias borders with Turkey and Jordan  longtime corridors for arms and other supplies destined for Syrian rebels  were sealed to such clandestine traffic.

The Obama administration, which has funneled aid to antigovernment rebels and called for Assad to step down, has sought a cease-fire and urged Moscow to curb its bombing campaign. Russia says it is targeting only Al Qaeda-linked terrorists, but Washington says the countrys warplanes are also targeting moderate rebels.

The multi-sided Syrian conflict has drawn in an array of international powers. Most outside nations, including the United States and Russia, have refrained from dispatching ground forces to Syria and have instead acted through proxies or relied on aerial bombardment.

Syrian government soldiers celebrate after taking control of the village of Ratian, north of Aleppo, on Feb. 6, 2016. (George Ourfalian / AFP/ Getty Images)

Whether Saudi Arabia was being forthright about its willingness to send troops to Syria remained unclear. Riyadh is already bogged down in a costly war in neighboring Yemen that has achieved few strategic goals while leading to thousands of civilian deaths and wide-scale destruction, according to human rights monitors, and abetting the growth of extremist groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic State.

Recent Syrian government advances against rebel forces in northern Aleppo province have raised the prospect of Damascus regaining full control of the city of Aleppo, once the nations economic hub. Aleppo has been divided into opposition and government spheres for almost four years.

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Pro-government forces sweeping through towns and villages outside Aleppo are also seeking to cut off rebel supply routes from the Turkish border.

Antigovernment insurgents could now be facing a total defeat in the north, which, analysts say, would mark a major turning point in the Syrian war. The intense Russian bombing campaign, along with bolstered forces from Iran and Iranian-backed militias, appear to have helped turn the tide of the conflict, which is about to enter its sixth year.

Along the Syrian-Turkish border, tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing the latest fighting in the Aleppo area remained stuck in rough camps just outside the international gate as Ankara refused to let them in. Turkey, home to more than 2 million Syrian refugees, has tightened border controls with Syria amid security and other concerns. But Turkish officials told reporters Saturday that they were providing aid for more than 30,000 displaced Syrians on the Syrian side of the border.

As the Syrian government advance on Aleppo continued, reactions in the long-divided city tended to vary from one side to another.

In opposition-held eastern Aleppo, reportedly home to more than 200,000 people, a group of first-responder volunteers known as the Civil Defense Units of Aleppo issued a statement Saturday labeling as a disaster area the surrounding countryside, where most of the recent fighting has been taking place.

We demand the international community and relevant national organizations ... immediately and decisively intervene to stop the intentional killing and destitution, the group said.

In government-held western Aleppo, however, home to more than 1 million people, many were looking forward to the possible unification of the city after years of shortages, blackouts and bombardments on both sides.

We are hoping that this will end very soon, said Adel al-Jammal, a lawyer who heads a group seeking reconciliation in the divided city.

Peace talks in Geneva broke down last week amid deep divisions between the warring sides. The opposition delegation demanded an end to Russian and Syrian government bombing; Damascus said it would not accept preconditions. The talks are tentatively scheduled to resume Feb. 25.

Bulos is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report.

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Why the BMI is Wrong

media@latinoshealth.com By R.Robles Feb 07, 2016 06:30 AM EST

The widely-used BMI (Body Mass Index) scale is not reliable after all, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Obesity.

According to the study, some 54 million Americans who have been labelled as overweight or obese using the BMI are, in actuality, really healthy.

"In the overweight BMI category, 47 percent are perfectly healthy," notes researcher Jeffrey Hunger from the University of California, Santa Barbara as told by Science Alert. "So to be using BMI as a health proxy - particularly for everyone within that category - is simply incorrect. Our study should be the final nail in the coffin for BMI," Hunger adds.

To come up with the eye-opening conclusion, the researchers analyzed the most recent U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to define the relationship between BMI -- computed by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres -- and some known health markers. Blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol were some of the cardiometabolic assessments the scientists determined.

What the scientists discovered after analyzing the subjects' data is that BMI does not accurately determine a person's health at both ends of the weight scale.

"Not only does BMI mislabel 54 million heavier individuals as unhealthy, it actually overlooks a large group of individuals considered to have a 'healthy' BMI who are actually unhealthy when you look at underlying clinical indicators," explains Hunger. "We used a fairly strict definition of health. You had to be at clinically healthy levels on four out of the five health indicators assessed," he furthers.

While the BMI scale has its own known shares of limitations, the measure is still widely used by several U.S. companies to determine the cost of their employee's health insurance.

"This should be a final nail in the coffin for BMI," says lead author A. Janet Tomiyama, a psychologist at UCLA, as cited by The LA Times.

The findings might also open discussion regarding the new rule proposed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) which may penalize people with BMIs higher than 25 by making them pay higher premiums.

"We need to move away from trying to find a single metric on which to penalise or incentivise people and instead focus on finding effective ways to improve behaviours known to have positive outcomes over time," Hunger notes.

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Is Big Mac Healthier Than McDonald's Kale Salad? Find out Here!

media@latinoshealth.com By Christon Jervil Feb 07, 2016 06:26 AM EST

Taking it at face value, you'd probably go for a salad over a burger whenever you are feeling like some health buff, right? Those amalgamation of greens and whatnots is, for the most part, the only saving grace inside a fast food chain.

Turns out, the kale salad from McDonald's may not be the better option as compared to one of its most popular sandwiches. According to a report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), one of the new kale salads from the fast food chain giant's menu contains more calories, fat and sodium as compared to a Double Big Mac.

"McDonald's boasts on its site that the "Keep Calm, Caesar On" chicken salad contains "real parmesan petals" and "a nutrient-rich lettuce blend with baby kale," wrote CBC.

"But once you plop the accompanying Asiago Caesar dressing on the "crispy chicken" version, the salad's nutritional profile doesn't look so good. According to McDonald's own numbers, the salad tops up at 730 calories, 53 grams of fat, and 1,400 milligrams of salt."

The Double Big Mac, on the other hand, contains 680 calories, 38 grams of fat and 1,340 milligrams of salt.

Riding on the rise in popularity of kale, which is hailed as one of the superfoods, McDonald's decided to incorporate the green, leafy vegetable into its menu in 2015. This move was also done to offer healthier alternatives for the customers and change the notion of unhealthy eating linked with fast food items. McDonald's is hoping this could also help boost its lagging sales.

In another report from WTOP, the McDonald's Premium Southwest Salad was also compared to a Big Mac. The salad, which has black beans, roasted tomatoes and peppers all on top of romaine, baby spinach and baby kale, also prove to be a less healthier choice when the cheese, ranch dressing, and buttermilk chicken were all added into the mix.

The salad has 710 calories, 43 grams of fat and over 1,300 milligrams of salt compared to the Big Mac's 540 calories, 28 grams of fat and 970 milligrams of salt.

According to Adam Grachnik, spokesperson for McDonald's, the customers still have the option to choose items on their menu and modify them for a healthier choice. "[They] have the choice to have a salad with or without dressing, select a burger without the bun, choose their chicken protein crispy or grilled," he told CBC.

"Eating at McDonald's can fit into a balanced lifestyle," he added. "You just have to ask the crew to reduce sodium, fat or calories to best suit the customers' needs."

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Zika Virus Detected in Patients' Saliva, Urine in Brazil; CDC Released Safe-Sex Guidelines

media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Reporter Feb 07, 2016 06:17 AM EST

The Zika virus is being carried by mosquitoes. However, another concern regarding the possible transmission of the virus has surfaced when health officials in Brazil were able to detect Zika in the saliva and urine of patients.

According to one report from the Medical Daily, this idea of Zika virus infection via body fluids can only make matters worse in terms of the efforts to contain the outbreak.

In a press briefing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Tom Frieden said that one of their utmost priorities regarding the Zika virus outbreak is the welfare of the pregnant women. And, in line with this, the CDC released new guidelines for men who have partners who are pregnant with the goal of preventing sexual transmission of the Zika virus, according to a report from the CNN.

The U.S. health agency advised those men who were exposed to the Zika virus and who have a pregnant partner to practice safe sex by using condoms or, better yet, avoid having sexual intercourse with their pregnant partners until after giving birth to the child.

"Men who live in or travel to areas of active Zika infections and who have a pregnant sexual partner should use latex condoms correctly, or refrain from sex until the pregnancy has come to term," Frieden told CNN. "...or until a test is available to see if he could possibly infect her."

"We don't know how long Zika can persist in semen. We're doing those tests now, but it could be weeks to months before we have an answer. That's why we've issued these guidelines now, specifically for male sexual partners of women who are pregnant," Frieden also added.

The CDC director noted that, as days go by, the association between the virus and microcephaly is getting stronger.

Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. The brain could have some problem in its development during the baby's stay inside the womb, or it could also stop from growing after the child is born.

Brazil has seen the rise of microcephaly cases among newborns during the past few months. There were more than 400 confirmed cases since November of 2015; from which, 17 were proven to have been associated with the Zika virus. Five of those cases related to Zika resulted to death. Overall, 15 babies have been reported to have died from the condition and health officials in the country are investigating 3,670 suspected cases.

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Donald Trump and Marco Rubio led New Hampshire polls going in to Saturday night's Republican debate, but characterizations made by fledgling candidates may have swayed favor in Ted Cruz's direction.

The GOP's eight debate of the elections cycle came less than a week after Cruz's comfortable win at the Iowa caucus and just three days before New Hampshire voters participate in the first-in-the-nation primary.

Rubio's third-place finish in Iowa - just one percentage point behind Trump - made him a punching bag for Chris Christie and Jeb Bush throughout the week, both who questioned whether he's experienced enough.

Christie attacks Rubio's record

Christie challenged Rubio's knack for repeating rehearsed statements, telling Americans that the first-term senator isn't ready to run the country; each of Rubio's responses reverted back to President Obama.

Rubio insinuated that electing a politician with the most experience would mean Joe Biden would be best qualified to win the presidency.

Christie replied by telling Rubio "you shouldn't compare yourself to Joe Biden, and you shouldn't compare yourself to what we're doing."

Christie called Rubio out for his role in the Gang of Eight bill and made distinctions between a governing a state and being named senator, saying a senator can sit home and "watch a Mets game" during a major emergency while the govern helps in a hands-on role.

A shaken Rubio then recalled New Jersey's downgraded credit rating while under Christie, which gave Christie an opportunity to circle back to his first point.

"I want the people at home to think about this. This is what Washington, D.C., does-the drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him," Christie said.

Trump booed over eminent domain

Asked about eminent domain, which allows the government to take private property for public use, Trump called it a necessity for building roads, schools, and pipes. He chided every candidate aside from Christie for published attack ads questioning his support of it.

Jeb Bush said Trump abuses eminent domain, and in one instance tried "to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City."

The comment drew renowned boos aimed at Trump. He suggested that those booing were Bush's donors and special interest groups. "The reason they're not loving me is because I don't want their money," Trump said.

Cruz and Carson make amends

Cruz drew criticism this week for mailers his staffers and volunteers sent ahead of the Iowa caucus. They misinterpreted a CNN report that said Ben Carson was going to Florida instead of New Hampshire. Instead of specifying that Carson was only going to pick up a change of clothes, Cruz's campaign implied that the former neurosurgeon was dropping out.

Saturday morning, news broke that his campaign directly called caucus-goers and said Carson was suspending his campaign.

"I'm not going to use this opportunity to savage the reputation of Senator Cruz," Carson said, admitting he was disappointed Cruz's team thought so little of him.

"Unfortunately it did happen, it gives up a pretty good example of Washington ethics," he added. "That's not my ethics. My ethics is you do what's right."

Cruz apologized to Carson, defended his staff, and blamed CNN for reporting Carson's plan.

"They reported that on television," Cruz explained. "CNN's political anchors, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and Wolf Blitzer, said it was highly unusual and highly significant. My political team saw CNN report breaking news and they forwarded that news to our volunteers, it was being covered on live television."

Carson had the last word, saying a second message clarifying that he wasn't dropping out immediately followed CNN's initial report.

CNN issued a statement during the debate refuting Cruz's claims.

Cruz knowingly misstates CNN reporting at debate, explaining misleading statements his campaign made about Carson. https://t.co/GXfAdukMlI  CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 7, 2016

The New Hampshire primary

A CNN/WMUR poll released Friday had Trump garnering 29 percent of the vote; Rubio polled at 18 percent and Cruz at 13 percent.

About a third of likely Republican voters said they were still undecided, though most said they aren't leaning towards Trump. Still, 61 percent of participants said they still expect the real estate magnate to win the primary.
The numbered streets are names instead, hearkening back to the family of Thomas Penn's wife, Lady Juliana Fermor, daughter of Lord Pomfret from Easton-Neston, Northamptonshire, England.

Northampton Street is there, but no bridge where it meets the shore of the Delaware River. To cross, or get across the "Lehy," you took the ferry -- from Ferry Street.

Beyond John Street, now Sixth Street, there are just Nazareth Road and Bethlehem Road.

Forks Township residents Richard and Virginia "Ginny" Hope donated to the Marx Local History Room at the Easton Area Public Library this original, hand-drawn map of Easton lots from the 1700s, with notes dating from 1779 through the early 1800s. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Dating to the late 1700s, the oldest known map laying out Easton's town lots is on public display until Wednesday in the Marx Local History Room of the Easton Area Public Library. Then it will go to a conservator in Bucks County specializing in ancient paper, before returning for permanent exhibition.

Forks Township residents Richard and Virginia "Ginny" Hope donated the map to the Marx Room, after picking it up in 2010 for about $150 at the auction of Lou "Mr. Easton" Ferrone's extensive collection of Easton memorabilia.

"That is one of several pieces of my collection that I considered the crown jewels in my collection, and if I would have maintained the collection for a few more years, it's quite possible I might have done the same thing with it," Ferrone said Friday of the donation.

The Hopes wanted the map, a unique research tool, in public hands after all the help Richard Hope had gotten from the Marx Room in writing several books on Easton's history. Among them is his "Easton PA: Concordance of Original Town Lot Owners Sources" that correlates the 1700s map and updated versions produced in 1859 by C.G. Beitel and 1937 by A.D. Chidsey Jr.

Charles de Krafft hand-drew the oldest of the three, apparently to help the family of Thomas Penn -- son of William Penn -- recoup the value of land lost to the fog of the American Revolution. Thomas Penn had received the 1,000 acres comprising Easton in 1736, and it served as the government seat of a county created out of Bucks County by an act signed by Gov. Hamilton on March 11, 1752.

The Penn family had hoped to be landlords, renting out the land.

"But, of course, once people got on there they didn't pay, not during the Revolution -- conveniently they didn't pay," Richard Hope said.

De Krafft's map outlined who was squatting where, who was building what and who owed how much as the Penn family agents set out to collect money owed in arrears -- and, now, to find buyers instead of renters.

"I think they had this map made in preparation for that push," Hope said.

Notations on the map are painstakingly handwritten and detailed, with names and figures.

Lou "Mr. Easton" Ferrone, left, helps auctioneer Richard Dotta find the casting number on a copper Lafayette Leopard to be auctioned off in winter 2010. Along with the 1700s map of Easton, this statue is one of a handful of what Ferrone called the "crown jewels" of the collection he sold, (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

"There's indications on some of the lots as to which were occupied before the war, meaning the Revolutionary War, and also ... how much in arrears some of the lot owners were to the actual owners, which were the Penn agents," said Ferrone, who is a little more than a year removed from a devastating car crash that badly injured him and his wife.

"The best thing that my wife and I say is we survived and can be seen," Ferrone said.

After the interim exhibition of the map ending Wednesday, it is going to conservator Elizabeth Wendelin in Warrington, Pennsylvania, to have damage repaired and some of the faded print restored, said Easton's library director, Jennifer Stocker.

She presented the project last week to the Friends of the Easton Area Public Library, who agreed to fund the restoration and re-framing, by William Mutschler at the Blue Easel in Palmer Township. Past conservation of maps hanging in the Marx Room have cost about $2,000 to $3,000, Stocker said, and taken a few months to complete.

The Hopes said they are glad the map will be preserved and hung in the Marx Room, with its fire-suppression and other systems geared toward protecting the irreplaceable.

"We have to give Lou credit for finding this thing and preserving it so it didn't end up in somebody's trash bin," Ginny Hope said.

MARX ROOM SEEKS PHOTOS

The Easton Area Public Library hopes to use the map to highlight its collection of Easton artifacts inside its Marx Local History Room, open to the public within the library at 515 Church St.

Staff there are in the midst of collecting area residents' historical photos of the Easton area, either as donations or on loan to be digitized and added to the room's collection. Here is the library's flyer about the effort:

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
It's not long into a walk through Easton's police station that something becomes quite clear. If you were going to build a police station, you wouldn't build this.

Easton police moved into their 14,000-square-foot station at South Third and Pine streets in 1997, after the city sold its old city hall complex at Ferry and Union streets. Part of the current building used to be a bank.

It was a move that critics say has caused nearly 20 years of problems -- and was implicated in contributing to the accidental shooting death of Officer Jesse Sollman as officers were cleaning their weapons in 2005 in a tight space.

Police officials say there are reminders all around that the station wasn't built for police use. The evidence area hearkens to when that part of the building had a bank drive-up window, said police Capt. Scott Casterline.

"It's different than a purpose-built police station," he said.

But that's about to change.

The vault from the bank building is still evident in Chief Carl Scalzo's office, where he gathered last week with Casterline and Capt. David Beitler to discuss the past, present and future -- a future that within a year should include a new police station a few blocks away at 30 N. Fourth St.

"The way it's designed now (for the new building), (evidence is) deposited in one room, pulled through a wall into another room, processed and stored," Casterline said.

Creating a better space

That's just one of a multitude of changes planned for the new facility, which Casterline said was designed by an architectural firm with experience in public safety buildings.

Scalzo said it was created with input from every officer on the force.

"There were a lot of good ideas," Scalzo said. "I hope everyone feels they had some say."

During a brief tour last week of the bunker-like current space, lockers were in an upstairs hallway because the department ran out of locker room space, Casterline said.

Beitler added that a prisoner handcuffed to a bar in one room could kick a computer off a nearby desk.

The break room serves not only as a lunch area, but there are desks with computers where officers complete reports and two screens that show images from traffic and security cameras.

A holding cell for juvenile offenders is, as required, separate from the adult cells, but it's cold and barely insulated because it's next to the sally port -- the garage to bring prisoners into the station.

Two secure areas for processing prisoners are separated by a short hallway, and the prisoners must be walked past an open area where civilian employees work.

And this is after years of working to make sure the station is up to accreditation standards.

A new facility is a simple but long-awaited solution that took eight years and dozens of trips to look at buildings, open spaces and everything in-between, Scalzo said.

"The new station is something that's been a long time coming," the chief said. "We obviously need a station that's going to accommodate all the functions that we're required to accomplish daily in law enforcement.

"The facility that we're currently in has fallen short of meeting that goal and it was a retrofit going back almost 20 years.

"We're at the point now where a new facility is going to give us the ability to kind of separate the functions of the job, give us the space to secure evidence and to train and do the things that are going to make us a much more professional department as we continue to move forward."

After Sollman's death, the city began to take a clear look at how its police station functioned and what could be done to make it more efficient. Easton hired Keystone Municipal Services and also got an evaluation from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

"Those studies identified some problems," Casterline said. "Right about that time the decision was made to go for accreditation."

Working around deficiencies

So Easton used the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Accreditation Standards in an attempt to eliminate deficiencies in the building -- as well as the department, he said.

"A lot of stuff had to do with cellblock operations, evidence procedures, evidence storage -- a lot of things like that where the building was deficient," Casterline said.

"We were able to make the adjustment, but that didn't make procedures as fluid as they could have been.

"A lot of it has to do with workflow. With the different tasks that officers have -- bringing in evidence, packaging it, getting it handled properly, bringing in prisoners -- we don't have very good workflow here. Offices were put where they fit rather than the best place for them."

Full-staffing for the Easton Police Department in 2016 is 63 and the department is now one shy of that number.

"The current station was inadequate from the day it was built," Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said.

Adding 11 officers during his latest administration only contributed to the problems, he said. Police park their vehicles on the ground floor of a parking garage that's visible and accessible to anyone.

"They were loading and unloading their weapons in a public area," he said of police.

"The goal is to be more safe and more efficient," he said of the new building. "We are also saving money on overtime by having our own firing range. We will now schedule the officers on our time rather than overtime since the range will be available to us 365 days a year."

While the search for a new police station went on, city hall moved once again. It went in October from the Alpha Building on the north side of the police station to a combination office/intermodal space on South Third Street, a block south of the station.

Panto said officials explored options and used parts of a study conducted during the Mayor Phil Mitman administration to help search for new space.

They eventually settled on the North Fourth Street site on the old Express-Times property, after the newspaper and lehighvalleylive.com offices moved last spring to the first floor of the Alpha Building.

"The mayor's been saying since his first term that it's constantly on his agenda," Scalzo said of finding a new police home. "... The mayor and the city have been really great. He was trying to steer it. It's great when it comes to moving forward.

"... As far as the city doing something, everybody agreed. We looked at close to a dozen sites. (It's been going on) for the better part of eight years."

Room to grow

A three-story 25,000-square-foot new structure, which will cost $7.14 million to build and will be owned by the city, will be constructed in the corner of the front parking lot. It will connect to two sides of the existing structure.

It will have "much more space" than the current building, Scalzo said.

An initial image of the building, which police declined to release because it's not final, shows plenty of glass bringing natural light into the building -- something that's sorely missing on South Third Street.

The old printing press building will be knocked down to complete a vertical parking lot for 42 vehicles on the north side of the property, with seven more spaces in the loading dock area to the rear. A hoped-for city parking garage on the other side of North Fourth Street would be a benefit too, Scalzo said.

The first floor of the new building will house the traffic and records division and be where the public can interact with the department.

The second floor, which will stretch back to the former mailroom part of the newspaper building, will have the patrol division, booking and a sally port where prisoners can be driven into the building.

The third floor will hold the Criminal Investigations and Vice units, and the command staff.

A thin piece of the building that used to hold another printing press will be converted into a four-lane shooting range on the lower level and a smart classroom that can accommodate 50 people on the upper level.

Scalzo said the new space will be built with technology in mind.

Easton will save money by using an on-site firing range and will be able to host other departments for training in the classroom. Bringing that training to Easton is more efficient and saves money because the host department often gets the training for free, officials have said.

Officers will remain close to the city center but have easy access to the College Hill, West Ward and South Side neighborhoods, Scalzo said.

There will be major upgrades with individual spaces for gun cleaning, for example, Casterline said.

'Getting rid of the stigma'

And it's not just within the police department that the project will make a difference, according to Scalzo.

"Anywhere you put a police station, you would see developers coming into the neighborhood," he said.

Kosta Karaminas, a principal at Angelo's restaurant a few doors down North Fourth Street, said the new station couldn't come soon enough. And it's not just because officers often stop in for breakfast.

"I think it's a great idea," he said from behind the grill.

"I think with the police station coming down to Fourth Street, we can start getting rid of the stigma that we've had from the '80s and '90s of Fourth Street being dangerous and filled with prostitutes and drug dealers and drug users.

"I still see people kind of scared to come down to Fourth Street and a lot of them feel that it is kind of the undeveloped part of the Downtown area."

Scalzo said North Fourth Street is not a major crime area.

"We don't have a lot of calls," he said. "But there certainly is visibility" with a new station and so many police coming and going.

And "it's still close enough to walk to special events in Centre Square," Beitler added.

The excitement is building and the hoped-for move-in date is the end of the year. But as with any construction, it's more likely to be early next year, Scalzo said.

"This will last us many, many years," Scalzo said. "It's not over the top, but it's exactly what we need to provide professional service."

Casterline took the long view of a station "the officers and citizens can be proud of."

"It leaves us room to grow for the next 50 years," he said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Voting generic

Pennsylvania's April 26 primary ballots will include a constitutional amendment on raising the mandatory retirement age for judges.

(Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

You don't hear Pennsylvania's most experienced judges taking to the airwaves to campaign for "five more years." Or to tell us that "70 is the new 60."

And that's a good thing. Electing judges is already fraught with conflicts in raising money from political sources, leading to expensive campaigns that by law aren't allowed to delve into issues that come before the courts.

Judicial reform in Pennsylvania is still very much a pipe dream -- at least for those who believe merit selection is a better way of choosing appellate court judges.

But there is one change Pennsylvania voters can make this year.

In addition to casting ballots for presidential nominees in the April 26 primary election, voters should answer the question that asks whether judges should be allowed to serve until age 75, instead of 70.

Based on local experience with the courts and health and aging statistics, Pennsylvania's judges should be allowed to serve until 75, assuming they survive the retention votes that get them there.

Americans are living longer; many are working longer, whether by preference or necessity. With time on the bench, judges tend to develop skills and insight that make them better. Nothing about the job argues for forced retirement. Other elected officials and federal judges don't face a mandatory step-down age.

Opponents of this constitutional change say turnover of judges allows "new blood" into the judiciary -- yet many counties, Northampton included, turn to retired judges to work part-time to help with caseloads. They are recognized as valued assets who know the law and enable active judges to focus on other tasks. Northampton County Senior Judge Leonard Zito -- who was among a group of judges who challenged the mandatory retirement law in 2013 and lost -- is a good example. Some people reach the bench relatively late in their career, and are just hitting their stride in their sixties. New Jersey, which also has a mandatory retirement age of 70, last year authorized the recall of retired judges to help out.

Some argue that a retirement cutoff helps with the state's public pension crisis. It's hard to see how denying judges who can continue working, rather than collect a pension, helps that cause.

It's understandable that many Pennsylvania voters will have a hard time getting past the people who have disgraced the courts in recent years -- Joan Orie Melvin, Seamus McCaffery, the Luzerne County judges involved in the "kids for cash" scandal. All too true, but none of these corruptions had any correlation with age.

Is it fair to relegate judges to the pasture when presidential candidates face no such test? Consider that Donald Trump will be 70 on Inauguration Day next year. Too old to continue in office?

Hillary Clinton will be 69. In Pennsylvania's judicial sphere, that would afford her an 11-month term. Bernie Sanders, 75, would have been shown the door five years ago.

It's fair to demand experience of all candidates. It's unfair to disqualify competent judges simply because they've accumulated too much of it.
Paddy Fleming, 1894-1952, was a revolutionary, job creator and industrialist. The Swan man ended up in nine prisons, escaped three times, and in later years brought hundreds of jobs to his native county.

Paddy Fleming, 1894-1952, was a revolutionary, job creator and industrialist. The Swan man ended up in nine prisons, escaped three times, and in later years brought hundreds of jobs to his native county.

Paddy joined the Laois Volunteers in 1913 with his older brother Eamon. By 1915 he was in contact with Terence McSweeney, Thomas McCurtain and Thomas Kent in Cork. Eamon was living in Dublin and was in regular contact with the 1916 leaders. Sean McDiarmada was well known to the two brothers as he had inspected volunteers at the Swan prior to the 1916 Rising. The Laois Volunteers were given the job by Padraig Pearse to wreck the rail lines at Clonad, Portlaoise and at Ardreigh, Athy. It was successful at Clonad but less so at Athy.

After the Rising both men went on the run. Paddy spent a lot of his time in Cork, visiting home whenever possible. Early in 1917 well-placed sources told him that the authorities were out to get him. When he was in his home area he continued to recruit volunteers for the north Kilkenny Brigade of which he was Commanding Officer.

He was arrested in Kinsale on 16 February and brought to Cork where he was later charged with attempting to buy arms. His Court martial was held at Victoria barracks (now Collins). He completely denied the charge and stated he was being set up to be put away. Paddy had a witness that could have cleared him but decided not to use him as it would affect this mans business later. However, he was given five years penal servitude. This was seen at the time as being very harsh.

He was immediately transferred to Cork jail and some weeks later to Maryborough now Portlaoise Prison. Arriving there he demanded political status, but this was not granted as he had been sentenced to more than two years. Writing letters to Dublin Castle came to no avail. He refused to wear prison clothes and lay almost naked in his cell. He then refused food for over two weeks and came down with a bad bout of influenza. The authorities became concerned of his situation and released him under licence, whereby he could be arrested at any time.

Arriving home he was almost unrecognisable to his family. Immediately he became involved with his north Kilkenny Bridge again and by early 1918 was drilling over 300 men. RIC reports at the time complained that he was acting in a most dangerous fashion and that he was a bad influence in the area.

Dublin Castle ordered his immediate re-arrest. By June he was back in Portlaoise Prison again.

Total non-co-operation with the prison authorities was the order of the day. The only way they could contain him was to tie him up in a straitjacket. This went on for several weeks, but he broke free several times. They also tried muffs but they were unable to control him. His health became very poor and at one stage the prison doctor felt he had only 24 hours to live. Fearful of him dying in prison, his prison sentence was reduced to two years and on the P January 1919 he was moved to Mountjoy jail. He had achieved his political status.

Elected leader of the prisoners in Mountjoy he began further agitation there. This was resolved quickly as Michael Collins, Harry Boland and Rory OConnor were organising an escape for Paddy, Piarias Beaslai and others. On the 29 March 20 men got over the wall. This was the biggest breakout during the war of Independence. Paddy spent several weeks with two sisters of the Treaty Signatory, George Gavan Duffy in Dublin. By now there was a price of 1, 000 on his head.

Collins felt it would be better to get Paddy out of Dublin. Fr PJ Doyle was rector of Knockbeg College Carlow and was known to be sympathetic to republicans. Paddy dressed as a woman and was driven to the college in a taxi. During the following months the story of his time in Portlaoise unfolded to Fr Doyle. Collins realising the extent of what he had been through ordered him to put his experiences on paper. It was published under the heading In Maryboro and Mountjoy. It went on sale in bookshops, but was immediately withdrawn by order of the authorities.

While in Knockbeg he secretly made several trips to see his parents Andrew and Mary at the Swan, and kept in regular contact with his North Kilkenny Brigade. Michael Collins knew that Paddy was still in danger of recapture so he decided to get him to the United States to tell his story to the Irish American population. Dressed as a priest he made his way to Wales, where he remained briefly with his sister Madeline. Still in priest attire he sailed from Liverpool, arriving in Canada 10 days later. Crossing the border he made his way to New York where he met Eamon De Valera, Harry Boland and Liam Mellows.

It was almost 14 months since his break from Mountjoy. His memoir In Maryboro and Mountjoy  has gone into print and 50,0000 copies were distributed throughout the USA by the Friends of Irish Freedom and the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic. Paddy crisscrosses the USA with De Valera and Boland speaking at many meetings.

Shortly after the treaty was signed in December 1921 Liam Mellows asked Paddy to return to Ireland as quickly as possible. When the Four Courts and other buildings were occupied in Dublin by Republican Forces, the officers agreed not to fire on Free State Forces. Paddy was one of these who took that decision. When Free State soldiers bombarded the Four Courts there was nothing else for him to do but join his comrades there. He fought his way out and was then ordered by Ernie OMalley to take charge of the south Eastern Division of the IRA in Wexford. Sean Lemass was one of his associates there. Eventually captured in Enniscorthy after a number of gun battles with the army. Placed in New Ross jail he went on hunger strike for a brief period. Transferred to Kilkenny jail from which he broke out. Recaptured and a few weeks later escaped again. This time he made it to the Swan cross country, a distance of 20 miles.

However, his freedom was short lived. Picked up again by the military he was put into the Curragh detention camp. Rumours of a breakout and he was swiftly moved on to Mountjoy, due to be executed but due to various interventions this did not happen. After the Civil War he was released.

He married Rita Farrelly in 1925. She was a veteran of the War of Independence. They had three boys and two girls. He joined the Irish Sweeps in 1930 as Foreign Director. By 1935 he was in a strong financial position and with the help of some friends he opened Flemings Fireclays. By the 1960s there were 280 people working there. At the outbreak of World War 2 Sean Lemass urged him to open a Coalmine at Wolfhill. In a short time there were over 100 men working there. In 1940 he took over the running of Rossmore Collieries. He died in 1952 and is buried at Clogh Cemetary, Castlecomer.
A PORTLAOISE man with 77 previous convictions has been given two jail sentences having been convicted of numerous offences, including driving without insurance and assaulting a man outside a local pizzeria.

A PORTLAOISE man with 77 previous convictions has been given two jail sentences having been convicted of numerous offences, including driving without insurance and assaulting a man outside a local pizzeria.

Sean Coss, with addresses listed at 3 Lake Drive, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, and 10 St Anthonys Terrace, Knocknaheeny, Cork, appeared in custody at last weeks district court, charged with assault at the Top Sq, Portlaoise, on December 1 last year.

Inspector Declan Dunne gave evidence that Coss attempted to take a pizza away from a man outside a pizzeria at 2.50am. The injured party was punched and knocked to the ground.

Coss was also charged with theft from Aldi, Main Street, Portarlington, on April 9 this year, and two counts of threatening or abusive behaviour in public on the same date, at Ballymorris Manor, Port, and Kilnacourt Woods, Port.

Inspector Dunne said that Coss was acting in a threatening manner in Kilnacourt Woods at 4.15pm on the day and was ordered to desist by gardai. Coss then went to Aldi and stole goods. He was later approached by gardai at Ballymorris Manor and again became aggressive and resisted arrest.

There was a further charge of driving without proper documentation on July 30 last year, and handling stolen property on March 15 last year.

The inspector said that among Coss 77 previous convictions are six for no insurance and 12 assaults.

Defence, Ms Josephine Fitzpatrick admitted that her client, who is just 22, had amassed a huge number of previous convictions and his lifestyle is very precarious.

In relation to the assault, defence said that Coss accepted he had caused the injured party difficulty on the night, but words had been exchanged.

In relation to the charges in Portarlington on April 9, Ms Fitzpatrick said that Cosss brother was being questioned by the gardai at the time and Coss got agitated toward the officers.

Judge Catherine Staines imposed a six-month sentence for the assault and six months for the no insurance.

Coss was further charged at last weeks court with burglary from The Knackery, Kyletalesha, between January 11 and January 12 this year. Garda Tara Reddin gave evidence that when charged, Coss replied, I didnt do it; I was forced to say that I did.

This matter has gone back to June 19.
PEOPLE in north Kildare have been asked to become more aware of counselling services in the area following the death of Lara Gibbs-Burns (12) at the weekend.

PEOPLE in north Kildare have been asked to become more aware of counselling services in the area following the death of Lara Gibbs-Burns (12) at the weekend.

Lara, a first-year student at Maynooth Post Primary school, died on Saturday, in an incident which is being investigated by Gardai.

It is believed the young girl took her own life.

In a statement issued on Monday, Maynooth Post Primary school principal, Johnny Nevin said: We learned this morning of the death of one of our students, Lara Alice (Gibbs) Burns R.I.P.

This is a terrible tragedy for Laras family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by these events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with Laras family and friends.

Lara was a 1st year student and will be missed by all who knew her. We have been in contact with Laras family, and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time.

Psychologists attended the school yesterday (Monday) to assist the children grieving the loss of their classmate.

Mr Nevin said: Our school has implemented our Critical Incident Management Plan. Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), the VEC Guidance Support Service, together with the in-school Guidance and Pastoral Care team, have engaged in supporting and advising teachers in their efforts to assist our students at this time.

The various in-house support teams are helping students and parents to deal with the tragic event. The school will be open to parents, to support them and to offer them advice and guidance.

The school also asked that its privacy be respected.

Fr PJ Byrne, parish priest of Kilcock and Newtown, told the Leader the the local community of Grange, Newtown and Kilcock heard with sadness and dismay the family of another young innocent person  a girl  had become the latest to have unexpected tragedy visit their door.

Fr. Byrne also said: We would be hopeful that people would become more and more aware of counselling services now available in the community, particularly the Turas Le Cheile organisation, which serves the Kilcock, Maynooth and north Kildare area.

Fr. Byrne said he shared the concerns of parents who are doing their best to encourage, support and give their children hope, confidence and love.

Laras funeral will take place at 11am on Wednesday November 28 at Maynooth Parish Church.

Lara, of both Grange, Enfield and College Green, Maynooth, is survived by her mother Helene, father Robert, brother Brendan and stepfather Noel.

The Samaritans (samaritans.org) can be contacted at 1850 609090 (Republic of Ireland) or 08457 909090. Pieta House (pieta.ie), the centre for the prevention of self-harm or suicide can be contacted at 01 6010000.
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Many of us have family members or friends abroad. British citizens who emigrate, whether permanently or temporarily, retain their right to vote for 15 years. They need to register like all voters.

There is a lot at stake for British people abroad in the EU referendum.

For the 2.2m British citizens living, working or studying in other EU states there is the obvious point that if we leave the EU they lose their rights to be there. They would be exposed to risks such as having to leave, not being able to work, having to apply for a visa, having to pay extra taxes and charges, losing access to public services and so on.

For many millions of British citizens living elsewhere in the world, such as 1m Brits in Australia or 1.5m in the US and Canada (whose governments have said they hope the UK will stay in the EU) there is a lot at stake too. Many have been granted visas or work status as EU citizens and there may be difficulties (including new application fees) if a new visa regime has to be put in place with no guarantee that they will continue to have a right to live there. For British people in countries without a UK embassy, who currently can access consular assistance from another EU embassy, there are real dangers too.

Registering to vote can be done easily online

* Antony Hook was #2 on the South East European list in 2014, is the English Party's representative on the Federal Executive and produces this sites EU Referendum Roundup.
Below is Kirsty Williams keynote speech to Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference. Its a good read,

Dream

Conference: I had a dream

Okay you may have heard that one before, but as we head into our 5th set of elections since the start of the Assembly, I think back to the time it was first established

I was excited. Enthusiastic. Full of hope.

We had a dream.

Liberals had been fighting for Home Rule for over a hundred years. This was our chance.

You know, I made my first media appearance during the run up to the 97 referendum. I had the midnight shift  being interrogated by Andrew Neil.

Sure, I was nervous, of course I was.

I couldnt quite believe I was sitting next to these professional politicians, who Id only ever seen on the telly.

But what overrode my nerves was excitement.

We were on the cusp of achieving all that we had hoped for

Wed campaigned for over 100 years for this moment. For Welsh devolution. To bring power closer to the people.

Nearly two decades later, and ask yourself  has that happened?

The Welsh Government was meant to understand Wales needs better than Whitehall bureaucrats or politicians in London.

Meant to deliver Welsh solutions to our problems.

Meant to deliver for Wales.

Dont get me wrong: culture, sport, the arts  you name it, Wales punches above its weight. We have so much to be proud of, so much to offer.

But the truth is that creating the Welsh Government hasnt delivered for people. It certainly hasnt delivered high quality public services that people deserve  and expect.

I ask you: put your hand up if you can think of a single Labour policy for this Assembly election?

Theres nothing.

This government is tired. Has nothing to offer. Is bankrupt of ideas.

Wales now has the dubious honour of having the longest surviving Government in Europe.

[unless you wish to count Alexander Lukashenkos 20 plus years in power in Belarus].

In office for 17 years; yet leading for none.

Conference, let me be clear: the passion I felt on the night of that referendum has never died.

I still have that dream. I still believe. I still hope.

And I still know that Wales can achieve that dream.

But I say to people: dont blame devolution because the Welsh Government hasnt delivered.

Dont blame devolution for the fact that peoples voices remain ignored

Dont blame devolution for 16 years of falling standards

Blame Labour.

In creating Welsh government, we were promised a new politics: in touch with our communities; a politics in which Wales takes responsibility for its own decisions;

But above all else, we were promised better outcomes.

Yet this Government fails to even get the basics right

People dont expect the world. They just want their taxes spent on good public services. But these services are failing to meet our needs.

In the up and coming election, we Welsh Liberal Democrats will show our vision of a future Welsh parliament that finally gives people what they want 

Dewi Sant said, Do the little things  Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain

And it is the little things that add up to make a big difference

The nurse who gives that extra bit of care and attention to a frail, elderly person, making them feel like they matter, adds up to excellent healthcare for all patients

The teacher who goes out of her way to help a child read multiplied across Wales, adds up to great schools that all pupils and parents deserve.

The housing officer working with the homeless going the extra mile to ensure everyone can have a roof over their head, adds up to a country that cares about its citizens

For too long Labour has settled for second best

Well I wont. We wont

Well take us forward to a better Wales.

A small country that dares to think big

Hopeful, optimistic, pioneering

Full of belief in Wales future

That is what the Welsh Liberal Democrats will offer in this election.

I was struck recently when I read a speech by the Prime Minister of Canada  a fellow Liberal  who said this: Leadership should be focused on extending the ladder of opportunity to everyone.

Extending the ladder of opportunity to everyone  Such wise words, underpinned by the reality that being in Government is about setting priorities.

At home, like any mother, I am constantly fighting to give my children the opportunities I didnt necessarily have, always wanting more for them, striving for them to be the best they can be.

But the truth is, I feel that passion for my country too  always fighting for better, fighting for more, fighting for Wales to reach its potential

NHS

And for Wales to reach its potential, we must have the right priorities

Labours health minister, in what has begun to look like something of a vanity project, has spent a large proportion of the last year battling to ban e-cigarettes in public places  contrary to scientific evidence.

In the meantime, nearly two thousand people languish over 12 hours in A&E

Over a thousand desperate young people wait over 2 months to access mental health services

25,000 people wait over 8 months on a hospital waiting list

That is appalling.

The Government has lost its way. Welsh Labour just let stuff happen to them. They are not setting priorities. Theyve lost touch with what people need and want.

And the ministers crusade over e-cigs is the perfect example of that

A story involving Nero, Rome and a fiddle, springs to mind

Theyve forgotten Nye Bevans dictum about the language of priorities. They have so many priorities that nothing is a priority

In contrast, We are clear. We are focused. And We are in touch with what people want.

Our plan starts with improving access to GPs  something all families rely on

40% of people say it difficult to even see their GP

That is why we will introduce a fully funded Access to GPs Scheme, ensuring people get the appointment they need.

Investing in primary care and virtual wards, providing support in the community to people with the most complex needs, and therefore stopping avoidable admissions to hospitals.

By doing this, we would guarantee people the best treatment, in the right place, at the right time to meet their health needs.

We will also tackle the ever-growing crisis in our mental health services

I have recently been trying to help a lady whose ten year old daughter has been really suffering

Weve been working flat out, battling to get this poor girl therapy  yet no-one is willing to fund it

The council acknowledge that her mum is at serious risk of physical harm. yet the councils advice?

Phone the police

They would rather she calls the police than actually offer her daughter the support she needs

Conference: It is wrong that in this day and age such an illness is treated as secondary, as less important, as not serious

Well: we say no more. No more neglect. No more abandonment. No more sweeping it under the carpet.

One in four people will experience mental ill health, and its vital we fix this broken system

We will enshrine equal care for mental and physical health into law

Conference, be proud we have led on this issue,

Be proud we will do what is right.

You may have guessed the third part of our plan More Nurses.

On Wednesday, our More Nurses Bill faces its final hurdle on its way to becoming law  a Welsh Liberal Democrat achievement you have all played a part in

Under Labour, our NHS makes all the headlines for all the wrong reasons

Because of us, Wales will make the right headlines  being the first country in Europe with a legal duty on safe staffing levels.

And still more can be done. This is just the beginning.

My bill is currently for acute hospitals, but we will go further.

We will expand the power of this bill so that mental health wards, maternity wards, childrens wards will all benefit too

Plaid want another expensive NHS reorganisation by centralising hospital services to be run from Cardiff, thats not what people want

The Tories and UKIP want to take money from the front-line to fund more politicians to run our NHS, thats not what people want

And Labour will. well we dont know what they want!

But we are clear:

Better access to your GP, better mental health services, more nurses to support our loved ones.

We know what people want. We have the right priorities.

A vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats will be a vote to put patients first.

Education

Now, part of my job is to think about what the Wales of the future could be and ought to be.

It may seem obvious that the impact of new technology is all encompassing  disruptive  a revolution on a greater scale than that of the Industrial Revolution  we do not know how it will end but we know it is happening at break-neck speed.

This revolution, or, as I see it, the contemporary challenge, changes every aspect of our lives. From shopping or paying bills to watching films or planning a holiday, from learning new skills or gaining a qualification to complaining about potholes or sending a birthday card to a friend.

This, our contemporary challenge, includes future tests and changes to our democracy, to our taxation, changes to the way we educate our children and changes the environment for business.

Of course our contemporary challenge also includes anticipating the skills and competencies required of the workforce of the future, which means getting education right  today.

My husband and I live with our three daughters. Like all parents, we have aspirations for our children, we want them to have choices and do well in life  to be happy, intellectually curious, successful, healthy, fulfilled in their futures.

Which is why my husband and I want them, today, taught in good schools  by great teachers.

I dont want my daughters or anyone elses children to lose out in the future because they are in a failing school. Or in a packed, overcrowded class room.

How can you learn well in that environment? How can we expect our teachers to do their best, teaching our children, if classrooms are bulging at the seams?

The average class size in Wales is higher than nearly all other developed countries.

Over 71,000 infant pupils in Wales are taught in classes of 25 or more.

And these class sizes are growing. Parents calls for smaller classes have been ignored for too long.

And you know what really makes a parents blood boil? When those in charge just arent listening and just dont care.

Is anyone else fed up of having a First Minister that has the air of a man winging it?

Hes confessed he took his eye of the ball on education.

A generation of young people written off because of his governments complacency.

You know, I challenged him in the chamber only a few weeks ago

He responded by telling me his children are doing well, so hes happy.

Well thats great for him. But what about everyone elses children?

At the start of the year, over forty thousand children were taught in an education authority placed in special measures

Call me cynical, but its quite a coincidence that, a hundred days before the election, every single one has suddenly been taken out of these measures

What Welsh Government cant engineer is the findings from the recent Estyn report showing that the number of schools viewed as unsatisfactory has increased

Our children deserve better

Our number one education pledge in this election will be to deliver smaller class sizes for all children. We will work to ensure that infant classes normally contain no more than 25 pupils

This will be a key signal that we are the party that are on the side of pupils and parents.

And we wont just stop there:

We will extend our Pupil Premium, a policy we secured in budget negations, and a policy that is already achieving more in closing the attainment gap between poorer pupils and their peers than anything Labour managed in over a decade

The Welsh Liberal Democrats, the party of ideas, making a difference with a policy that fights the notion that if youre poor, thats how itll always be,

That combats that even in this day and age your background decides your destiny,

That gives people a chance and an opportunity

Be in no doubt conference: we are the party of education.

Economy/aspiration

And of course, liberals believe in good education  as that is what frees people to be the best they can be

Rose Schneiderman, in 1911, said: The woman worker needs bread, but she needs roses too,

For nearly half a century she campaigned for betting working conditions for American women. She fought for the bread: the basic human rights everyone should be entitled to. But she knew there must be more

There must be roses too: not only should people be surviving, but thriving

Wales was once the land of aspiration.

We can be again, creating a spirit that enables everyone, no matter who they are, to make something for themselves

Ambition, aspiration, opportunity  these words must be the foundation stone of a future Wales.

Whether people are on low or middle incomes, they share the same desire to see aspiration rewarded

And there is a giant space in Welsh politics for a party that will champion social mobility.

Conference: I claim that space for us

You know home ownership rates among under-25s have halved in just two decades

Labour appears to have a sneering attitude to the idea of home ownership  as if this is some sort of crass wish list. I cant understand that.

Who wouldnt want to have their own place, to sleep safe at night in, to start a family in, to celebrate the good times in, to grow old in  to call home?

We will build 20,000 extra affordable houses, while introducing support to help people achieve their dream of owning their own home,

Well also oversee an apprenticeship revolution, properly investing in people for the future

And we will support our small businesses, which can be one of the most powerful engines for social mobility

Wales is the only part of the UK where SME confidence is falling

Thats incredibly depressing, but we can turn it around

Small business is the lifeblood of our country. Its a cliche, because its true

I never cease to be amazed and impressed by people who have taken a risk by starting their own business  to go it alone in this competitive world

But Welsh businesses neednt be alone:

We will help them grow by creating a Small Business Administration, bringing independent advice and finance together, giving growing businesses the best chance of success,

Well empower councils to be flexible with business rates, encouraging them to invest in economic development,

And well campaign to slash VAT to support our tourism industry to thrive and create jobs for others.

Wales needs a government that business can trust in and that trusts in business.

#AskWales

Because we, Welsh Liberal Democrats, are ambitious for Wales, I have a big ask of you.

You know as well as I, we have to reinvent the way we do politics. People are sick to death of politicians telling them what is best for them.

Which is why in the run up to this election I plan to spend as much time as possible listening to the widest, not loudest, range of voices, here, in Wales.

Welsh voices  that is what I will be listening to, that is what I want hear.

To help me and my colleagues do that, I need your help. Conference, today, I am asking you to help me Ask Wales.

What Im proposing is a new type of political campaigning  pavement politics for the 21st Century.

There is no doubt in the election campaign later this year, all the political parties will seek to use digital technology as a marketing tool  pushing information out to defined groups of voters. Well, I want to turn that on its head.

I want us to use the power of digital technology to show that we are different to the other parties because we actively seek out the views of our fellow citizens. The people, who we seek to serve. The people we work for.

Just as once David Penhaligon inspired generations of campaigners with the simple mantra: If you have something to say, stick it on a piece of paper and stuff it through a letterbox, Im asking everyone in this hall who can, to go out from here today and ask your family, friends, neighbours, people you work with or pass in the street one question: if you were the First Minister what is the first thing you would change?.

Ideally film the person youve asked or take photo, then post onto Facebook or Twitter, or write what they say down and send it to me. But please dont forget to ask their permission first!

No doubt our opponents will try to sabotage our initiative. Who knows they may even copy us. I dont care about that. I want to know what people think the number one priority for the next government should be.

Theres no right or wrong answer to the question. But listening is the way we will do our politics. (PAUSE)

Conference, you trusted me with the leadership of this great party seven years ago. As I look around this hall today I see so many friends. People I have campaigned alongside. People who have helped the party through those years.

May I thank you for your hard work, energy and loyalty over those seven years.

You know as well as I, it hasnt always been easy!

I cant pretend that ever I imagined that we would end up in coalition with the Conservatives in Westminster.

I cant pretend that those five years were comfortable

I cant pretend either that last May wasnt anything but brutal.

But were Welsh Liberal Democrats, we dont take the easy route do we?

For me, growing up in Llanelli, becoming a Welsh Liberal Democrat wasnt the easy choice.

For the easy route, youd join Labour. But, that was unthinkable.

Were not here for ministerial cars,

Not here for fame,

Not here to give our mates jobs,

Not here to rule because its what we think is owed to us,

No.

We are here for people.

The outsiders, working on the inside

Working to keep the Assembly honest

Asking the tough questions. Raising the issues others would prefer us to ignore.

The only party with the guts to give people the power to recall their AMs if they abuse their position

And, never forget, the only party that voted against the unfair rise in AMs pay  because it was the right thing to do.

Record of delivery

But, we not in the Assembly just to oppose, but to deliver too

We used our influence in Cardiff Bay to secure millions of pounds of investment in schools the length and breadth of Wales.

For young people who need support to access training and higher education, we secured a scheme so they can travel for free and have better opportunities in life.

We supported our environment by stopping work on the billion pound M4 relief road, as public transport should be the priority.

We secured a further 5,000 apprenticeships so people can learn the life skills and training to secure themselves a good job

The list goes on. All achieved  with just five Assembly Members.

All achieved because we listen  and we act.

I ask the people of Wales to judge us on our record

Trust us to be on your side, trust us to fight for you, trust us to stand up for your communities

A better Wales was my dream in the 1997 referendum.

A better Wales is my dream now  we can fulfil it

Trust us and we can achieve that dream together.
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 449th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere (including for this week only a little glimpse of blogging beyond the LibDem universe) Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (31st January  7th February, 2016), together with a hand-picked quintet, you might otherwise have missed.

Dont forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox  just click here  ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, lets start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

1 @markpack s 20% strategy is not enough  The Liberal Democrats must develop a clear political strategy by Matthew on thinking liberal. Apparently, the party has to be public about its preferences between Britains two main parties. Pass the 24 year old Caol Ila and the pearl handled revolver.

2 Why the 2014 coup against Clegg was botched by Nick Barlow on What You Can Get Away With. A teaser from the latest edition of Liberator  available now.

3 Is it just possible the Tories want Zac Goldsmith to lose in London? by Nick Tyrone on Nick Tyrone. A possible cunning plan.

4 How Not To Deal With Activists, Courtesy the Britain Stronger in Europe Campaign by Andrew Hickey on Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! News of an utter shambles.

5 How Nick Clegg was nearly toppled in 2014 by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England. Do you mean to say that you havent got your latest copy of Liberator?!

6 Why unhappy Labour MPs wont split away by Mark Pack on Mark Pack. A lesson from history.

7 Jon Hunt is new leader of Birmingham Lib Dems by Mark Pack on Mark Pack. Congratulations to Jon.

And now to the five blog-posts that come highly recommended, regardless of the number of Aggregator click-throughs they attracted, and for this week only including a few Non-Liberal Democrat blogs. This weeks final five selection comes from An All Women shortlist (Warf! Warf!). To nominate a Lib Dem blog article published in the past seven days  your own, or someone elses, all you have to do is drop a line to [email protected] You can also contact us via Twitter, where were @libdemvoice

8. The Blood is the Life for 31-01-2016  A selection of articles hand-picked by Jennie Rigg on Jennie Rigg (I think) including  Mrs Slocombes Pussy, with handy downloadable graphics.

9. Necro-nonce policing and Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe by Anna Raccoon on Anna Raccoon. An interesting glimpse into police procedures.

10. Should men have their own equality movement? by Sarah Fletcher on The F-word. Music to the ears of the Lib Dem Voice What about men? fraternity 

11. Thousands of disabled people have lost their specialist Motability vehicles because of Conservative benefit cuts and many more are likely to be affected by Kitty S Jones on Kittysjones. Does what it says on the tin.

12, W H Smith and Edinburgh Airport by Lesley Riddoch on Another side of Lesley Riddoch. Lesley takes action about the lack of works by Scottish authors in a high visibility branch of the well known book store.

And thats it for another week. Happy blogging n reading n nominating.

Featured? Add this to your blog post!



<a href="https://www.libdemvoice.org/top-of-the-blogs-the-lib-dem-golden-dozen-25-49344.html"><img src="https://www.libdemvoice.org/images/golden-dozen.png" width="200" height="57" alt="Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice" title="Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice" /></a>

* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is currently taking a break from his role as one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Summating, @ElunedParrottAM says we all need to tell why we love the EU. #wldconf pic.twitter.com/wmxhvEpo15  Caron Lindsay (@caronmlindsay) February 7, 2016

Former MEP Peter Price kicks off the Europe debate saying Stonger In is an understatement. We cant be anywhere other than where geography and history has placed us.

Go home and start digging, he says  not the conventional way to open a debate  but see what continent you are in. Then he talked about how weve spent 20 centuries being interested in what goes on in Europe, so why would we opt out now?

The EU, he says, has come a long way since its foundation. Many people have forgotten its guaranteed the peace these last six decades. We have shared democracy, human rights and openness, research programmes in which UK universities lead, potential to halt climate change by working together, co-operation in fighting organised crime and opportunities for young people to travel and study.

He asks us to imagine if we were outside. Would we be more able to deal with these challenges. Get campaigning, he says, its not enough just to support the motion.

Alison Willott highlights that nobody is going to vote on figures, they are going to vote with their hearts. She says Nigel Farage is living in a fantasy land and we need to convince UKIP types what life would be like if we left  that they might need a visa to go on their Meditteranean Cruise, that they might not get healthcare as we do at the moment and nor will they be able to buy cheap booze and cigarettes on day trips to Paris.

Denis Campbell talks about how his family left Jamaica for the US, how he in turn left the US to live with his Dutch wife. They both now live in the UK and he is a British citizen. Where would a Brexit leave his Dutch wife and his dual nationality (Dutch/US) children who have their lives here. He also talked about how important being part of the EU is for trade.

Michael talks about why he joined the party because of its pro-European stance. It was the obvious choice for him. He came here from Greece in 2002. He studied here and works and pays taxes. His life, friends, family are all here. 2 million EU citizens live, work and contribute to the UK economy. He says he loves this country, and the 2 million British people who live in Europe love where they live.

He says he is very worried about possibility of Brexit, about what this will do to stability.

Amy from IR Cyrmu talks about science and how EU co-operation allows progress to be made faster. Being outside the EU would make scientific collaboration harder, due to restrictions on movement, it would make it harder to recruit top scientists if we were outside the EU. Her own university department is doing a research project funded by the EU but there is also participation from several other EU countries.

Britain, she says, receives more such science grants than any other EU nation. Britain stands out from the crowd but wont be able to continue that if we are outside it.

Summating, Eluned Parrott asks us all to get out there and talk about why we love the EU because the referendum will be won on hearts and gut instinct rather than figures. She jokes that she likes the fact that Lord Lawson can go and live in France while we get in Michael and intelligent, hard-working person to contribute to our economy.

We as Liberal Democrats have to get out there and make the positive case for Europe.

Peter Blacks speech



AM Peter Black talks about how the 5 Lib Dem AMs have punched well above their weight, making sure that the Pupil Premium gave disadvantaged kids extra help in school. He also highlighted the introduction of the young persons bus pass which came from a motion IR Cymru put to the Conference.

He also called for the Government to go ahead with the Swansea tidal lagoon to bring tourists, jobs and clean power to Wales.

Most Liberal Democrats are coming up with ideas to solve the housing crisis across the UK. Unsurprisingly, we see building more houses as essential and this is no different in Wales. Peter said we were interested in this because it was important for our values of fairness and ambition.

Announcing a major new commitment to build 20,000 new homes, he said:

Unlike Labours almost sneering attitude to the idea of supporting aspiration, the Welsh Liberal Democrats are offering real solutions and ideas so people can fulfil their dream of buying their own home. Prices have simply got too far out of reach for too many young families, with some first-time buyers saving for 15 years to get onto the housing ladder at all. Under our Rent to Buy policy, young people in Wales would be able to buy their own home without a deposit For too long Wales hasnt been seen enough as a place for young people where they can fulfil their dreams and ambitions: we will change that. Wales can reach its potential. We will support peoples ambitions so that if you live in Wales, were born in Wales, have moved to Wales, work in Wales  then you are part of our project to revitalise our great nation.

Another important aspect of housing policy is to standardise letting agency fees so that tenants dont suffer.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Welcome to the final open thread of this years Welsh Conference. The motion is printed in full at the end of this article.

Cadan ab Tomos proposes the motion, telling the story of why the 18 references to sex caused the Assemblys porn filters to have a hissy fit.

.@CadanapTomos makes case for better sex ed to reduce unwanted pregnancy, STIs & homophobic bullying. #WLDConf pic.twitter.com/REPpyQVRAH  Caron Lindsay (@caronmlindsay) February 7, 2016

He concluded:

Whether its someone who cant get an STI test because their clinic isnt open outside working hours. Whether its a young gay man who thinks he doesnt need a condom because you cant get guys pregnant or whether its a trans woman afraid to express her true self for the fear of not being accepted by her friends and family. We must accept that it is the attitude of our schools, our government, our society that is causing them these injustices, this enslavement of the people of Wales. And it is our duty as Liberal Democrats to see this injustice and to act to eradicate it.

The motion would remove the rights of parents to take their children out of sex education classes.

IR Cymru chair Sara Lloyd Williams proposes an amendment which would make free emergency contraception available. She described how a young person might be charged 20 to access it in a pharmacy, which could put it out of reach of many poorer young people.

Bridgend candidate Jonathan Pratt expressed concern about removing parents rights to remove their children from sex education, saying that this would force them to conform to something that may be against their religious beliefs.

Nathan Tarr argued for HPV vaccination to be given to boys as well as girls.

A young debut speaker made a strong case to pass the motion to ensure that young people had the knowledge to deal with the challenges that they faced. He talked of his concerns for a friend who came out at school and was subsequently bullied. His friend was scared to go to the toilets in case he was attacked. Sex education, he says, is as important as English and Maths.

Russell said that he was uncomfortable with the idea that parents should lose their right to withdraw their children from sex education and feels that they should request it and be able to request to withdraw them and for that to be decided on a case by case basis.

Leila talks about the importance of making sure that children understand about gender identity.

Robin Rea talks about the state having a responsibility to protect young people from bigotry and ignorance, which can lead to their ill health or death and urges people to vote for the motion as a whole.

Andrew Lye talks about the 80s and the AIDS campaign Dont die of ignorance. His sex education had been virtually non-existent. He also talks about how poor transport links can make it even more difficult for people to access sexual health services. We need to have more walk-in services.

I am surprised to hear that this is Hywel Davies first Conference speech. He talks about how his sex education was basically about avoiding pregnancy, which was irrelevant to him as a young, gay man. He is now part of that 50 million community of people living with HIV.

Michael Wilson, a fab Scottish export to Wales, makes a strong speech in support of giving children the education they need.

Gurleen Kaur made the point that year 10 is way too late to start sex education.

Charlie Kingsbury said that education is key. If you dont have the knowledge you cant make autonomous and free choices.

Chloe Hutchinson says that access to emergency contraception is vital and urges Conference to support the motion.

ELuned Parrott, on stage for the third time in two hours, summates. She jokes that she has still to have the chat with her parents and it could be a little bit awkward now.

She says that we fail children by not giving them an indication of what a healthy, balanced relationship looks like and they may not see for themselves what that is at home.

She adds that its so important to teach about consent early. Its fine to say no in a healthy relationship. The problems only occur in a manipulative relationships and they need to recognise when they may be manipulated or abused. Thats why they need to be taught about these issues before 15 years old.

And, so, with another display of how marvellous the young people in this party are, Conference comes to a close. Im off to enjoy a few hours exploring this beautiful city before heading home.

Conference notes that:

1. Basicsexeducationiscurrentlyofferedfromage11inWelshschools,andparentsorlegal guardians can exclude their children from any part of it.

2. AccesstosexualhealthclinicsinWalesispoor,particularlyinruralareas,duetolocation, restricted opening hours or a lack of capacity.

3. SomesexualhealthclinicsinEnglandoffersame-daytesting/resultsservices,whileno similar provision exists in Wales.

4. Therearestrictconfidentialitypracticessurroundingsexualhealthclinics,andthesharing of patient records with GPs and other health professionals.

5. ResearchbytheRoyalCollegeofPaediatricsandChildHealthfoundacorrelation between teenage pregnancy rates and increased deprivation in Wales.

6. FreeHIVhometestingkits,providedbytheTerrenceHigginsTrustandfundedbythe NHS, are available in England; while no similar provision exists in Wales.

7. StigmaandmisinformationsurroundingthetruenatureofHIVanditseffectsisstill widespread.

8. ClinicaltrialsofPre-ExposureProphylaxis(PrEP)medicationhaveshownsignificant success in preventing the transmission and contraction of HIV.

9. TheWelshGovernmentrecentlydecidedtoextendhumanpapillomavirus(HPV) vaccination to men who have sex with men (MSM) through sexual health clinics.

Conference believes that:

1. EverychildinWalesshouldreceivegoodqualitysexandrelationshipseducation(SRE), which is vital in improving sexual health, eradicating stigma and ending sexual violence.

2. Theissuesofconsent,sexualityandgenderidentityarenotdealtwithbythecurrentSRE curriculum in enough depth, nor early enough in a childs education.

3. EverypersoninWalesshouldhaveeasyaccesstotimely,non-judgementalsexualhealth and family planning services, regardless of personal characteristics or circumstances.

4. Thesevererestrictionsplacedonsharingpatientrecordsbetweensexualhealthclinics and other parts of the NHS can be problematic, and in some cases can harm patient care.

5. Aproactive,ratherthanreactive,approachtosexualhealthismorelikelytodecreaserates of STIs.

6. PersistentlyhigherHIVdiagnosisratesamongMSMandthecontinuedstigmatisationof people who are HIV-positive mark a failure of public health policy, and that the mistakes made in dealing with HIV must be learned from.

7. InordertofullyprotectMSMfromHPVanditsassociatedcancers,boysshouldbe vaccinated against it on the same basis as their female peers.

Conference calls for:

1. ThecreationofastrongerandmoreinclusiveSREcurriculuminWaleswhichproperly deals with issues of gender identity, sexuality, consent and healthy relationships at the earliest appropriate age.

2. Theremovalofaparentsorlegalguardiansrighttoexcludetheirchildfromanypartof SRE in any school in Wales.

Spring Conference 2016

Cardiff 21

Motions

3. Localauthoritiestosetasidespecificfundsallowingschoolstoinviteexpertspeakersfrom specialist third sector bodies, ensuring that no school is hampered by a lack of knowledge of SRE issues among its teaching staff.

4. WalesHPVvaccinationprogrammetobeextendedtocoveralladolescentboysonthe same basis as their female peers.

5. ApilotprogrammeofferingSTItestingatthesametimeasotherregularhealthchecks, upon admittance to hospital, in pharmacies, GPs surgeries and other community locations across Wales.

6. Anincreaseintheavailabilityandefficiencyofsexualhealthandfamilyplanningservices, particularly in deprived and rural areas, by:

a. extendingopeninghoursofexistingclinics;

b. establishingnewclinicswheredemandexists;and c. offeringsame-dayresultsserviceswherepossible.

7. BusinessestoofferSTItestingaspartofoccupationalhealthevents.

8. AreviewintotheconfidentialityofpatientrecordsinWelshsexualhealthclinicstoensure that health professionals who need patient records are able to access them, while maintaining a patients right to opt out of such sharing.

9. NHSWalestofundHIVhome-testingkitssimilartoexistingprovisioninEngland.

10.A public health information campaign explaining the true nature of HIV and its transmission, diagnosis and treatment, in order to reduce the stigma attached to the virus and reduce transmission rates.

11.PrEP to be made available by the AWMSG to those at high risk of contracting HIV.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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A MOTHER-OF-TWO was forced to jump from the first floor of her Limerick home along with her two children, after it was gutted by fire.

A MOTHER-OF-TWO was forced to jump from the first floor of her Limerick home along with her two children, after it was gutted by fire.

Natalie Murphy, 30, and her children Courtney, 11, and Jack, 3, have had their home and possessions destroyed following the blaze on Shelbourne Terrace, close to the High Road in Thomondgate, early on Sunday morning.

Three units of the fire service and five ambulances were called to the area at around 6am where the dramatic rescue took place.

Two other adults also escaped the premises.

Ms Murphy has been transferred to the burns unit at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin, where her condition has been described as stable.

Her children were taken to University Hospital Limerick, where they were treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

During the rescue, the young children were lowered to the ground and were helped by passers by, who noticed the fire before the adults jumped.

The mothers fall was broken by a taxi driver, who happened upon the scene. He suffered a broken leg as he caught the woman falling from the first floor window.

Two other male adults who were in the house at Shelbourne Terrace at the time also escaped the blaze.

Fire crews using breathing apparatus entered the house to check whether there was anyone else there and extinguished the blaze.

The area was sealed off for a forensic examination throughout Sunday.

It is not known what started the fire, but gardai removed some items from the premises to carry out further tests.

Ms Murphy - who turns 31 tomorrow - moved into her home in Thomondgate two years ago. Her father, Christy, works for Limerick City Council.

Local councillor Maurice Quinlivan said the incident has led to an awful lot of shock and grief throughout the area.

We need to be grateful for the people who helped and possibly saved many peoples lives in this fire, he said.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people. This is a long and well established Thomondgate family ,and people would be prating and thinking about them, hoping everyone recovers.

The fire, he said, highlights the poor condition some of the homes in Shelbourne Terrace are in.

Mayorstone Garda station are investigating the cause of the fire, and can be contacted at 061-456980.

In an unrelated incident on Saturday, a man in his 40s died after falling from the top floor of the Watergate flats. He was treated at the scene for severe injuries, before was taken to the University Hospital in Limerick, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Gardai are treating the matter as a tragic accident.
NOT many people can say they have met their hero on multiple occasions  let alone spent 45 minutes interviewing them.

But Clarina man Michael Potter has had that very honour, greeting the late Terry Wogan outside BBC Broadcasting House in London  and also chatting with him for West Limerick 102 back in 2007.

Michael has long admired the celebrated presenter, who sadly passed away this week, from early childhood listening to him on the wireless surrounded by family to laughing at his barbed commentary during the Eurovision Song Contest.

And so, after taking on a voluntary job as a presenter at the community radio station, Michael aimed high as he put it, and made contact with Mr Wogan in the faint hope of an interview.

He was delighted when the star  who at the time was presenting a daily show to millions of listeners on BBC Radio Two  accepted the invite.

I had done interviews with Dana, and I also interviewed Fr Brian DArcy, both of whom were good friends [of Terry Wogan]. So I wrote off to the BBC in London in July 2007, Michael recalled.

And he was delighted to receive a personally signed letter of acceptance from Mr Wogan, who agreed to take part in the interview on West Limerick 102.

Good as his word, Terry took a call from Michael, and chatted with him for the best part of an hour.

Michael recalled: It was amazing actually. I could not believe it when I put on the headphones, and heard Hello, this is Terry. After all these years listening to him, and suddenly I was talking to him  I was a bit wobbly actually! But he was so reassuring.

Over the course of the interview, the pair chatted about every subject under the sun, also playing some of Terrys favourite tracks.

Michael has built up a treasure trove of Terry Wogan memorabilia over the last few years, including the Wake up to Wogan clock, a feature of his signature breakfast show, as well as signed books and DVDs.

After interviewing him on West Limerick 102, Michael journeyed on a number of occasions to London to see the legends show live.

I always found him in reality the very same as you see him on the television. Very jovial, very bubbly, very polite. I think all the media over the last few days have suggested that in real life, he was just how you saw him on the television or heard him on the radio. There was nothing put on. He was a very nice man. He would always make time for you.

The last time the pair met was in late 2014 when Michael presented him with a copy of his brother Dr Matthew Potters book, the Curious Tale of the Limerick, and the latest edition of this newspaper.
THE BANKING inquiry interviewed 131 witnesses and sat for 106 public and private meeting days in under a year. There for every person and session was Limerick deputy Kieran ODonnell  one of 11 TDs on the committee.

The report into the banking crisis that brought to the country to its knees was published last week. The following day, he gave the Leader an insight into the whole process and its recommendations. As a chartered accountant, number crunching wasnt a problem for him but one criticism of the inquiry was that the interviewers, naturally, wouldnt have the skills of a legal professional.

He disagrees but does feel the structure of the inquiry was more in favour of the interviewee than the interviewer.

My work in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) prepared me for the type of questions we needed. You could make the point that under the legislation the questioning was very restrictive.

It would have been been different if you could do the style of questioning that you could do in the PAC. You couldnt express an opinion. It was very legally driven. These are probably issues that need to be looked at in terms of any further inquiry and certainly the legislation needs to be reviewed.

Obviously there has to be fairness and balance but I feel some witnesses exploited this to prevent them from being held to account. It was tilted more towards the witness than the investigator. There were areas we were restricted in going in terms of legal counsel, said Mr ODonnell.

He said former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave a typical Bertie Ahern performance. While he said Mr Aherns successor Brian Cowen had the opportunity to pull back back on the tax incentives when he came in as Minister for Finance.

He allowed them to roll onto 2008. He obviously was pushing his own position. I would have liked if both of them were a lot more forthcoming - in particular Bertie.

Former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton was described as streetwise.

Looking at the findings - the level of salaries top bankers were on was astronomical. In one year one of the bankers earned over 3m, for the ordinary person to see that

The nephew of former Minister Tom ODonnell said two of the most informative hearings - for different reasons - was the former secretary general at the Department of Finance, Kevin Cardiff and ex-financial regulator, Patrick Neary.

Mr Cardiff was a very comprehensive witness. He shed a lot of new light on the guarantee and the bail-out period. I found Mr Neary, in terms of the regulators dealings with the banks was very, very arms length and very loose. That shocked me. You heard it all in public. I would have asked him a direct question  If the banks breached guidelines were they aware?

What came out of it was the banks felt they could push the regulator without consequence, said Mr ODonnell. It is a myth that everybody partied during the Celtic Tiger, he said.

I never agreed with that sentiment because when it came down to it we found in the inquiry that the main reason the taxpayers ended up having to put money into the banks was because of their dabbling in terms of lending for commercial real estate.

How we saw that was when the loans were taken over by Nama from the banks they paid 32 billion for the loans. They were loans worth around 74 billion - a 42 billion write-off which would have been on the banks balance sheets.

Eighty three per cent of the loans taken over were in commercial real estate. I think what has really come out of the inquiry is a small number of individuals gave out incredible loans.

Gambles were taken by the banks in terms of extending commercial real estate property lending based on diversifying in geographical areas around the world. But prices tumbled everywhere.

That was a grossly inadequate measurement and misjudgment of risk. These were the so-called experts in the field and it was the ordinary citizen that ended up bailing out the banks. We have to ensure that never happens again.

Mr ODonnell said the party applied to a relatively small selection of big players.

The ordinary person was trying to buy a house while prices were going out of control. They were trying to get a home which in a lot of cases they couldnt afford.

They suddenly found that the price of property dropped a lot. Some may have lost their jobs, they couldnt afford to pay mortgages and they suffered. It put paid to the myth everybody partied. The ordinary person struggled, the big boys partied.

The late Minister of Finance Brian Lenihan was a big loss.

He was a very decent man. Various witnesses said that Brian Lenihan was overruled by Brian Cowen on the night of the guarantee. It would have been nice to hear that firsthand.

Now that the report is published Mr ODonnell says, in contrast to some, it was worthwhile doing and will stand the test of time.

I would have liked to have had it earlier. As a group we worked very well including the two members who didnt sign the report. We put in incredible hours and it was a privilege to do so in the public interest. The fact that the hearings were held in public allowed the public to see witnesses body language as they were questioned in real time.

That was important and the transcripts will be there for all time. The key thing that was new for me was it was a commercial real estate crisis for the banks not a residential one. It was a residential one for the ordinary citizen.

There is 30 billion gone into Anglo Irish Bank they will never see a red cent for - the other banks yes. If you look at Anglo, the loan books of banks in Ireland went up by 275% between 2000 and 2008 and Anglo went up by 800%, and virtually all their lending was commercial.

Mr ODonnell says the main recommendations are that salaries of bankers will have to be reviewed on medium term performance and management of risk must be the responsibility of the boards.

A commercial real estate price register to be maintained to ensure prices dont go out of control. An independent body to proof the manifestos of parties.

The bottom line, Mr ODonnell says is the report lays the foundation through recommended systems and controls so that the taxpayer is never exposed to pumping 64 billion into the banks to bail them out again.

The ordinary citizen had noth-ing to do with this crisis and yet they ended up paying for it. The enquiry has shed light on that.
Roy Exum continues to reload his poisonous pen. Yesterday he wrote some untruths about me and some of the other board members that just happen to be educators as well. For the record, one cannot run for school board if one is a teacher at the time of the election. He said that I was still teaching when I was on the school board-not possible. I retired in several months before having at that point no thoughts about running for school board. I retired with 20 years because I would not work under what I would deem a dictatorship, or even better put, under a bully, so I walked out three days short of retirement. I did not know Rick Smith at the time in any other capacity other than he was superintendent and I was a teacher.

That point being made, how would I fit into the GOB box that he is referring to? If anything, I was more of a concern to him than someone he would entrust because one of my missions had become to weed out ineffective administrations. I have worked very hard, everyday, during my term to represent my constituents, teachers, and especially our children, and I will not stand by and have someone cut me down with destructive words.

I resent that RE should put me into a category of which I do not belong, and I certainly do not belong into the category of Southern male. He does not know me or my history; we've never spoken two words, yet he tries to assassinate my character.

And for the record he should know that I am a female from New Jersey.

Why doesn't he write about my success in getting Paul Coughlin, the Protector, to come to the high school in District 7 to speak for two sessions to our children about bullying and hazing? He referenced the visit in his Feb. 4 mantra titling it "We Must Have Courage." Paul came and did an outstanding job and I have the folks at Silverdale Baptist to thank for loaning him out to us. It took me a couple of weeks to pull this together with Paul's busy schedule.

Here is a quote I'd like to share: "Hope has two beautiful daughters: Anger and Courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be."

And another-"It is better to be making the news than taking it, to be an actor rather than a critic." Winston Churchill

I hope in the future RE will be more careful about who he "calls out" while being more responsible in his reporting at the same time.

Girl from New Jersey,

Donna Horn, School Board Member District 7






The young and young at heart are invited to let loose and have some fun during Laredo Community Colleges 28th annual Fun Fest and Musicale on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Held from noon to 5 p.m. on the Fort McIntosh Campus grounds next to the Maravillo Gymnasium, this annual Washingtons Birthday Celebration tradition offers games, music, food and excitement for the whole family.
I fully believe that public education in Hamilton County is the single most important opportunity that challenges us today. Over the weekend the new website for the Chattanooga 2.0 initiative went up and every parent who has a child in our public system should make it required reading. You can find it at www.chatt2.org. Please sign up for updates because a lot of us need to get involved if, indeed, we want to get from worst to first in the state.



Whats more important today is that the biggest threat to public education has once again wormed its way into the Tennessee legislature. Vouchers, if approved by our state representatives, will cut $130 million out of our public education budgets and this must not be allowed to happen. A voucher enables a child at a poorly-performing school to go to a private school and we, the taxpayers, foot the bill. It is absolutely nuts.



This Tuesday at the state capitol, the Ways & Means committee of the legislature will vote on whether to allow the rich get richer, the poor get poorer scam into Tennessee when it has caused heartache in every other state it has been tried. Not only does it not work, but private schools are exempt from any state oversight. Imagine the cherry-picking of potential athletes by the private schools with public school dollars paying the way. It is patently absurd.



My two children went to private schools and, because of their mother, excelled mightily. But I went to three private schools in my teenaged years, and I hated every minute at each of them. Thats why I worked so hard, and successfully I might add, to get kicked out of all three. Thats right, you cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.



The biggest reason we must never let private schools scrape easy money at public schools expense is because  read this real slowly  the 44,000 children now in Hamilton County public schools are the backbone of our future. The private schools should never get taxpayer money when some of our public schools struggle to find money for paper  yes, toilet paper at that.



The three Hamilton County representatives seem to be split. Mike Carter (615/741-3025) can see the damage vouchers will do and has consistently voted against them. Gerald McCormick (615/741-2548), who was once solidly against vouchers, is now leaning towards the dark side and  unbelievably  Patsy Hazlewood (615/741-2746) has actually voted for vouchers in the past, much to the chagrin of Signal Mountains stellar public education community.



If Patsy votes for vouchers, I just may run against her in the next election out of spite and spite alone.

I think I could get enough votes over a pro-voucher dummy where wed split the conservative side and then both lose to some flaming liberal. The result? Everybody on Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain and points between would suffer for the next two years. And  get this -- it would all be Patsys fault! How on earth could she ever endure such pain and sorrow for 24 long months?



And whats up with Clevelands Kevin Brooks? With the just-ousted head of the public school in Bradley County shaming the city, why would Rep. Brooks (615/741-1350) slight his name and ride the voucher band-wagon? He shouldnt treat Clevelands public schools like this. Have some pride, man!

Heres what public-school activists need to do. Call Nashville  youve got the phone numbers  and be mindful that Mike, Gerald and Patsy are up for re-election this August if they decide to run.

Remind them that public education in Tennessee has never been as critical and, in Hamilton County, there is a great fear our public education structure can no longer meet the requirements of the technical skills needed in our evolving workplace. How could any legislator with a conscience take vital dollars away so some poor child can go to a private school at taxpayer expense?



Then remind each that when they took the oath of office, each pledged:



I (name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that as a member of this General Assembly, I will, in all appointments, vote without favor, affection, partiality, or prejudice; and that I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote or resolution, which shall appear to me injurious to the people, or consent to any act or thing, whatever, that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared by the Constitution of this state.



I believe that to divert a dime of public-school money is most definitely injurious to the 44,000 children our public schools must educate and  if youll read the fine print in the material the pro-voucher crowd is trying to spill without favor, affection, partiality and prejudice is pretty much off the table as well.



The voucher game in a nutshell: follow the money  where is it going and where does it come from?



royexum@aol.com






Nature & Weather, Local News, Seasonal & Current Events

By Cait Russell Published: February 07 2016

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Suffolk County, and a Winter Weather Advisory for Nassau County as Winter Storm Mars Approaches.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Suffolk County, and a Winter Weather Advisory for Nassau County as Winter Storm Mars Approaches. Both the Warning and the Advisory will go into effect at 3 AM on Monday morning, and stay in effect until 6 PM Monday evening.

In Suffolk, accumulations of 4 - 8 inches is expected, and in Nassau, accumulations of 2 to 5 inches is expected. Both Counties can expect winds of 10 - 20 MPH, which guys of 25 - 35 MPH during that timeframe.

The NWS advises drivers to stay off the roads if possible, as visibility will be significantly limited, and the high winds and heavy, wet snow have the potential to knock down tree branches. The heaviest snowfall is expected to fall during Monday morning's commute.

Although no School Closings or Delays have been announced yet, be sure to check our Long Island School Closures Page for the latest updates on your local district closings.



For the most up to date weather information, head over to the LongIsland.com Weather Center, where you can find the latest weather forecasts, advisories and more.



To get the latest traffic & road conditions before traveling, visit the LongIsland.com Traffic Center, and be sure to check out the live traffic feeds on our Traffic Cam Page.



[Source: NWS.]
Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com

Columnists Press Releases
China has taken concrete steps to reduce steel overcapacity, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Saturday, in response to encouragement from the European Union (EU).

After a string of measures to cut steel overcapacity, China has seen marked progress at considerable costs with the capacity growth having been curbed, the MOC said.

The State Council, China's cabinet, announced on Thursday the country will reduce its steel production capacity by 100 million tonnes to 150 million tonnes over the next five years, after a reduction of more than 90 million tonnes during 2011 to 2015.

"The moves and plan show China's resolution," the MOC said.

The EU has urged China to curb overcapacity as it worries steel imports from China may hurt its domestic interests. It announced it is considering new anti-dumping investigations this month, according to a Rueters report on Friday.

As steel overcapacity is a common problem worldwide and requires joint effort, China is willing to make contributions to the matter through sincere talks with members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the MOC said.

In addition, the MOC also said WTO members should stop using a "surrogate country system" on China's exports as the practice will lose its legal basis by the end of 2016, according to the agreement signed when China joined the WTO.

Under the "surrogate country system," importers use costs of production in a third country to calculate the normal value of exports from a non-market economy.

However, the system should no longer be adopted to trade with China which has successfully built a market economy after decades of reform and opening up.
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Investigators in northwest China's Gansu have accused a newspaper reporter Zhang Yongsheng of racketeering in response to the arrest of three journalists in January.

A file photo shows a bathhouse that Zhang Yongsheng, the detained reporter of Lanzhou Morning Post, is accused of frequenting. [Photo/Chinaso.com]

The procuratorate said Zhang, with the Lanzhou Morning Post, gained 5,000 yuan from blackmail by citing "clear evidence" such as a confession and video records.

Police in Wuwei city of Gansu earlier detained Zhang on Jan. 7 for soliciting a prostitute.

But due to lack of evidence, the procuratorate has ordered the charges of prostitution dropped.

The investigation found that since 2009 Zhang has used negative news to blackmail organizations and individuals.

Three reporters from local newspapers, including Zhang, had been reported missing in Wuwei on Jan. 7.

Responding to suspicions raised online, the procuratorate launched an investigation in late January.

The two other reporters have since been released on bail.
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Endangered animals in a northwestern Chinese protection center will be treated to a feast in the coming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 8, as breeders prepare a buffet of nutritious food to celebrate.

"We stored 100 tonnes of clovers during the holiday for the Przewalski's horses, wild camels and Saiga antelopes," Ma Jizhong, director with the Endangered Animal Protection Center of Gansu Province, said Thursday.

Breeders mixed clover, which contains high protein, with vegetables such as peas, corn and carrots to help the animals gain weight during the lean winter period, Ma said.

Veterinarians are also conducting health checks for the new year, helping them get rid of parasites and other conditions.

Prior to the chilling winter months, workers installed heating facilities in several of the pens housing monkeys and baboons. "If they feel cold outdoors, they can enter into their warm and comfortable houses," said Zhao Jianyou, a veterinarian with the center.

Established in 1987, the Gansu Endangered Animal Protection Center is located in Wuwei City and covers an area of 180,000 hectares.

Przewalski's horse was first brought to northwest China's Xinjiang and Gansu from Europe in late 1980s, back from the brink of extinction.

Between 2010 and 2012, the Gansu center freed 28 Przewalski's horses to nature.
Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here.
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 Flash

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday launched a long-range rocket as planned, Yonhap news agency reported citing South Korea's defense authorities.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday launched a long-range rocket as planned, Yonhap news agency reported citing South Korea's defense authorities.

The rocket was fired at about 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) from the DPRK's Tongchang-ri launch station on its west coast.

The South Korean military detected the rocket just a minute after the launch with its surveillance assets, seeing the rocket succeed in its first-stage separation.

The first stage of the rocket fell on western waters of South Korea. Additional debris landed on waters near the country's southern resort island of Jeju.

The rocket disappeared from radars of the South Korean military at 9:36 a.m., the military said, noting that more verification will be needed to confirm the final success of the rocket launch.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) right after the rocket launch to discuss countermeasures.

Seoul's foreign ministry reportedly requested an emergency meeting of UN Security Council, which bans the DPRK from testing any of its ballistic missile technologies.

There has been no damage reported from civil aircrafts and shipping, South Korea's transport ministry was quoted as saying.

South Korea and the United States are jointly assessing whether the DPRK's rocket launch succeeds.
 Flash

Israel and the United States, two long-time allies, will hold a joint exercise later this month, focusing on training in ballistic missile defense, the Israeli army said on Saturday.

The five-day exercise, titled Juniper Cobra 2016, is part of a regular training cycle focusing on ballistic missile defense, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

The exercise, as part of a "long-standing partnership," has been in the works since late 2014, which includes routine training cycles to improve cooperation between the Israeli and U.S. armies, according to the Israeli military.

The last drill was in southern Israel in October 2015 focusing on aerial capabilities.

The United States has recently implemented sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile program, shortly after lifting sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program in accordance with a deal reached in July 2015 between world powers and Iran. Israel was one of the deal's loudest objectors.

Israel is currently finalizing a 10-year memorandum of understanding with the United States regarding defense assistance. Israel is one of the biggest aid recipients in this field from the United States, receiving three billion U.S. dollars annually in defense aid.

Whereas both Israeli and U.S. official stress the strong cooperation between the two allies nowadays, the diplomatic relations between the countries are strained.

The U.S. government has recently deplored Israel for its policies towards Palestinians in the occupied territories in the West Bank, and criticized the expansion of Jewish settlements and Israel's recent legislative moves against non-governmental organizations that criticize the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
India must put quality control at the centre of its policies on IP filing if it doesnt want to deal with a mess of its own making later
Fifty-nine years is long enough for a country like Ghana to have overcome its energy sector challenges and to be in a position to export power to other countries in the sub-region.

With neighboring countries battling with power deficits, any power exports from Ghana would be received with wide arms --- and in good terms.

Unfortunately, however, this has not happened and Ghana is still struggling to overcome challenges in its energy sector, much to the chagrin of its citizenry.

Currently, the country has a combined installed capacity of 2,846.5 megawatts from hydro, thermal and renewable sources, and that is still not enough to meet demand, which is estimated to be growing at 20 per cent every year. Omane Frimpong, CEO of Wilkins Engineering, Ghanas world-class engineering company, sees clearly where the solution lies: To increase our generation capacity... we would opt for IPP, independent power producers. So the solution lies within the private sector.

The countrys electricity demand is expected to move from 2,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts in the medium term before peaking at 8,000 megawatts in the long run. This means that there is still room for investors in a sector that promises high returns. Over the years, the country's strong economic growth has combined with its rapid urbanization to quicken the pace of power demand and that has comfortably outstripped the supply.

Although it can be classified as a fast growing one, Ghanas energy sector has been bedeviled with a lot of challenges, mainly as a result of technical and financial reasons, the very challenges yield hunting investors can address. These notwithstanding, mention must be made that investors would have to play their cards if they ever plan investing their pennies in the sector.

Ghana's electricity demand is expected to move from 2,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts in the medium term before peaking at 8,000 megawatts in the long run. This strong growth in demand amidst a supply deficit present enormous opportunities for investors.

Changing energy mix, an investment clue to watch

Prior to 2010, Ghanas energy mix was largely hydro, with minimal additions from thermal and renewable energy sources. That trend is, however, changing, as the country capitalizes on emerging challenges and opportunities to diversify its energy mix and get value for money.

With water levels at the nation's biggest hydro station, the Akosombo Dam, dropping to 73.624 meters as of January 26, 2016, hydro sources are no longer economical for a country struggling to bridge a widening fiscal deficit. The Akosombo Dam, the biggest energy source, has an installed capacity of 1,020 Megawatts, although continues decline in water levels means that the dam will not be able to produce at peak amounts. This has prompted efforts from the relevant authorities aimed at diversifying the mix to be able to cut down costs and insulate the country from eminent challenges.

Players in the energy sector are, therefore, banking their hopes on other sources, as they work to find lasting solutions to the countrys energy deficit. While the Volta River Authority (VRA), the national power generator, is banking its hopes on thermal generation sources, the industry regulator, the Energy Commission is looking to renewable sources as the best bet to solving the challenge. So far, VRA has taken a front role in pursuing the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to generate electricity as a measure to secure future gas supply reliable enough to complement gas produced from the Ghana Gas Processing Plant at Aboadze.

The Energy Commission on the other hand is developing national policy and strategy that will serve as a roadmap to the proper harnessing of renewable resources such as biomass, solar, geothermal, water and wind. All these developments present enormous opportunities for the investor.

With the gas plant for instance, investors could set up plants to manufacture cylinders and accessories, which word be needed to boost the gradual shift from firewood use to gas in homes.

Another energy source that is getting wider attention and therefore an investment option for investors is the power barges.

To help plug the deficit in the sector, the government recently sealed some deals with two international power generators to generate power from sailing ships to be fed into the national grid.

The two deals, the Karpower Ship and AMERI, are expected to add a total of 500 megawatts.

So far, Karpower has started feeding into the national, resulting in the stability achieved in national electricity supply.

Petroleum finds boost energy prospects

A 2013 World Bank report on Energising economic growth in Ghana: Making the power and petroleum sectors rise to the challenge revealed the extent to which investment is in high demand in the energy sector. The diagnosis of Ghanas energy sector showed that it poses a great threat to economic growth. At a time when the Ghanaian economy is achieving sustained growth in excess of six percent annually, with ambitions to raise this further, there is a risk that misguided and inappropriate policies would lead to the power sector becoming a drag on the economy, the report said.

Added that although the problems and solutions of the sector were well known, what had been lacking was a decisive and timely decision making to break the tendency to adopt reactive measures that often came too late when proactive measures would have led to better outcomes. The challenges, the bank said, were lack of adequate and secure quantities of reasonably priced fuel for power generation, and the lack of adequate public funds to finance the sectors investment requirements. The huge indebtedness of the utility companies clearly confirms this.

These notwithstanding, bright prospects still remain. The coming in of the Tweneboa-Enyera-Ntomme (TEN) Project means that the government could have access to cheap fuel to power the thermal plants dotted across the country.

The America energy giant, General Electric, also has a project in the country to produce 1,000 megawatts of power by 2017.

These present investment windows for investors with interest in energy.

FAIR USE POLICY

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Western Double Standards on North Korea

North Korean military related activities are solely for self-defense - given longstanding US-led Western hostility and forced isolation.



Provocative US-led NATO military activities are far more extensive and menacing, preparing for premeditated wars alliance members frequently wage.

Throughout its history, North Korea never attacked another nation. It threatens none now. It remains justifiably concerned since Harry Truman launched naked aggression in June 1950.



A shaky, unprecedented in length, July 1953 armistice excluded a peace treaty. A state of war persists. Washington misportrays North Korea as a belligerent threat.



Any military related activity it undertakes is automatically called hostile, irresponsibly considered a threat to neighboring countries and America - despite no evidence proving it.



Longstanding US-led Western hypocrisy is notorious. Do what we say, not what we do is official policy. Pyongyang seeks normalized relations with all nations.



Washington wants its government used as a punching bag, a convenient enemy the way it treats all independent nations.



On Sunday, Pyongyang announced the successful launching of a long-range rocket, deploying a Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite (named after the late Kim Jong Il) into space, orbiting the earth every 94 minutes.



At the request of Washington, Japan and South Korea, an emergency Security Council session will be held later on Sunday, discussing a nonexistent threat, solely to beat up on Pyongyang like always.



Banning its use of ballistic missile technology is wholly unjustified. Western and regional nations feature it. North Koreas rights are no less than theirs.



Instead, its victimized by consistent US-led bashing. John Kerry duplicitously responded to Sundays launch as expected.



He lied, calling it major provocation, absurdly claiming it threaten(s) not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well.



Pentagon officials confirmed the launch posed no threat to North America. Pyongyang justifiably said its legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes.



It intends launching more satellites, what Western and many other nations do routinely, no criticisms heard about their activities, only against independent nations like North Korea - bashed for doing the same thing, with no evidence suggesting its space program threatens any nation.



Security Council resolutions unjustifiably prohibit Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology. No such ban exists against Western and numerous other countries - a notorious double standard.



Sundays launch was North Koreas sixth. Last month, it announced its fourth underground nuclear test, claiming it successfully detonated a small thermonuclear bomb, whether true or not isnt clear.



US-imposed sanctions on North Korea are longstanding. Congress is moving to impose new ones, including against Chinese companies doing business with Pyongyang, intensifying Washington/Beijing tensions.



Expect more international sanctions to follow. Washington and its Asian allies want tougher ones imposed - deepening longstanding US-led anti-North Korean hostility.



It bears repeating. Anything military related or technologically sophisticated Western nations and their allies undertake is OK.



North Korea doing some of the same things is irresponsibly called hostile and threatening. The double standard is glaring.

By Stephen Lendman

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com

His new book as editor and contributor is titled Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

He lives in Chicago and can be reached in Chicago at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.



Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday through Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national topics. All programs are archived for easy listening.

 2016 Copyright Stephen Lendman - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Why Crude Oil Prices Could Continue FALLING From Here

By Brett Eversole

Oil prices HAVE to go higher... Or do they? Crude oil is already down 17% this year. It broke into the $20 range last month. And the total fall since July 2014 is 72%. You (and nearly everyone else) expect much higher oil prices after a crash like we've seen. But that's the problem...

Everyone expects oil prices to rise from here. I'm not saying the crown can't be right. But when everyone believes something, the opposite tends to happen. And that means lower oil prices from here are entirely possible...

What's most incredible about the fall in oil is that investors are still optimistic today. Like I said above, nearly everyone expects higher prices right now.

In fact, speculative bets on higher oil prices through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have soared.

The chart below shows the shares outstanding for the largest three oil ETFs  the United States Oil Fund (USO), the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index Fund (OIL), and the PowerShares DB Oil Fund (DBO). These funds create and liquidate shares based on demand. So a rising share count shows investors are betting on higher oil prices.

Bullish bets soared in recent months as oil broke down to new lows. Take a look...



Combined, the three funds contain more than $4 billion in assets. That's real money betting on higher prices.

If we look at a larger market  the futures market  we again see that investors aren't at a negative sentiment extreme for oil. The chart below shows the Commitment of Traders ("COT") report for oil.

The COT report is a weekly report that shows the real-money bets of futures traders. It often acts as a contrarian indicator... When most futures traders bet against an asset, the asset is poised to bounce.

Today, the COT report shows futures traders are getting negative on oil. But they aren't at an extreme today. Take a look...



The chart shows "large speculators" in the oil market. They are considered the "dumb money" and are often wrong when they agree.

Obviously, bets have fallen dramatically from the mid-2014 extreme, which kicked off oil's dramatic fall. However, sentiment can still fall much farther before hitting a negative extreme.

Of course, none of this means an oil rally isn't possible. But right now, ETF investors are wildly bullish on oil. And futures traders aren't at a negative sentiment extreme.

The consensus on oil is that prices HAVE to go higher. I don't buy it. Sentiment is too positive. And that means the oil decline will likely continue.

Good investing,

Brett Eversole

Steve's note: As Brett mentioned, investors are still super bullish on oil right now... even though it's stuck in a downtrend. This is exactly what you want to see in a short trade.

And in our brand-new issue of True Wealth Systems  out today after market close  we've found the perfect way to profit. This trade could deliver 20% gains in the next three months. To subscribe  and get this issue in your inbox tonight  click here

Source: http://www.dailywealth.com/3198/why-oil-prices-could-continue-falling-from-here

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The DailyWealth Investment Philosophy: In a nutshell, my investment philosophy is this: Buy things of extraordinary value at a time when nobody else wants them. Then sell when people are willing to pay any price. You see, at DailyWealth, we believe most investors take way too much risk. Our mission is to show you how to avoid risky investments, and how to avoid what the average investor is doing. I believe that you can make a lot of money  and do it safely  by simply doing the opposite of what is most popular.

Customer Service: 1-888-261-2693  Copyright 2013 Stansberry & Associates Investment Research. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. This e-letter may only be used pursuant to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of Stansberry & Associates Investment Research, LLC. 1217 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




New partnerships are the key to several maintenance projects at Philpott Dam, according to Craig Rocky Rockwell, Operations Project Manager of Philpott Lake for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Were seeing more cooperation because we simply cant afford for every district to have the kind of apparatus to do all the different things that we need, Rockwell said. Because so many projects require expensive, specialized equipment, its more cost-effective for each district to have one unique skill set they can offer to their partnering agencies.

For example, he said, the Army Corps Wilmington District, which includes Philpott Lake, is the dredge king of the east coast, he said, and assists other districts when they need to dredge mud and debris from the bed of a body of water.

Everybodys kind of got their specialty, and it keeps us all from having to have all this different equipment, he said.

Similarly, other agencies are using their special skills to assist with projects at Philpott.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), for example, is assisting with an anchoring project at the dam, Rockwell said.

Weve got some cracks, and in order to keep them from getting any worse, were putting anchor rods through the dam to kind of tie it all together, he said. They drilled the holes through last fall, so now its just a matter of putting the rods in and tightening them down.

That project, he said, should be completed sometime this week.

Later this month, he said, the Army Corps Huntington, W.Va. district will assist with a project to cut new expansion joints in portions of the dams surface.

The dam has been expanding and contracting with weather, Rockwell said. Concrete tends to keep expanding because of a thing called ASR (Alkali-Silica Reaction). ASR is something that happens inside the concrete. Its a reaction between the silica in the sand and the alkali in the concrete mix. It continues to swell ever so slightly. After 65 years of the dam being there, we need to just relieve a little pressure so we dont start getting more cracks.

Another project currently underway, Rockwell said, is the construction of a new switchgear building in front of the dam to house electrical switches. That project is a collaboration between several different contractors, including local subcontractor Steve Martins Trenching.

Were moving all of the electrical switches into a separate building for safety, Rockwell said. The switch gear rooms that we have inside the power house are just antiquated. Its a chance to update at the same time as we increase the safety.

The new switchgear building will help minimize the risk of injuries from arc flash, Rockwell said, an extraordinarily dangerous form of electrical discharge that sometimes can occur when switching on an electrical circuit.

The construction of the new building is a year-long process, Rockwell said, and it still is in the grading phase.
State Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne Jr. will study whether an inland port should be set up in Southern Virginia to help improve commerce both regionally and statewide, according to Del. Danny Marshall.

Marshall, R-Danville, introduced House Joint Resolution 99, which asks the secretary to study the feasibility of establishing an additional intermodal transfer facility along U.S. 58 near Danville.

He said, though, that he would be happy to see it established in Martinsville-Henry County instead.

A House subcommittee is considering the resolution. However, Layne already has said that he will do the study, Marshall said.

Layne did not respond to a request for an interview.

An inland port already is operating in Front Royal, in Warren County about 60 miles west of Washington.

The proposed inland port would be similar to the existing one. At that port, freight in large containers is collected in large quantities and then transported by trains to coastal ports at Hampton Roads.

Inland ports help companies reduce their costs, and they help reduce the number of large trucks traveling on roads, according to Marshall and the resolution.

Marshall and Mark Heath, president and chief executive officer of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., think that having an inland port in Southern Virginia would help grow the regions economy.

It would make us more competitive in the global market, Heath said.

The port itself would create new jobs, although Marshall and Heath said they could not speculate as to how many.

People throughout the region could easily drive to jobs at the port, no matter where it is located, Marshall said.

But the main thing, he said, is that the port would make it easier and less costly for companies in the region to import materials from overseas and ship products to other countries, he said.

Shipping and delivering freight by rail generally costs less than shipping and delivering by truck, he mentioned.

The lower costs should help companies already in Southern Virginia create new jobs, Marshall said.

The presence of the port also would help attract manufacturers and distributors to the region, and those firms would create jobs, he said.

A state website shows that major companies such as Home Depot, a home improvement store chain; Rite Aid, a drug store chain; Kohls, a department store chain, and Red Bull, an energy beverage company, have established distribution centers that created jobs in Northern Virginia as a result of the inland port there.

An inland port would allow Danville to leverage itself for types of investment it today cannot easily attract due to the higher cost of freight transportation, Marshalls resolution states.

He maintains that the location near Danville was merely a suggestion, though.

Im aiming it to the region, Marshall said of the port. He said he would be pleased to see it set up, for instance, at the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre being developed off U.S. 220 south of Ridgeway in Henry County. Another potential site that he mentioned is off U.S. 29 near Gretna in Pittsylvania County.

Heath said he is not certain whether Commonwealth Crossing would be suitable for an inland port. He said he first would have to find out the states site needs for the facility.

I can tell you that wed consider having the port there if the state was to be interested, he said.

Another site that Heath mentioned is potentially suitable for the port is the former DuPont property just south of Martinsville.

Obviously, it (the port) is an idea with merit, he said. If the state wants to put one in this part of the world, wed do everything we could to accommodate it.

According to Marshall and the resolution, in conducting the study, Layne is to consider the inland ports benefit to the region and the rest of the state as well as the costs to establish it, potential funding sources (including federal ones), its effects on transportation-related state agencies and specific localities that would benefit from it.

Layne is to finish the study by Nov. 30 and submit to Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the General Assembly a report on the findings as well as an executive summary, the resolution shows. Those documents eventually will be posted on the legislative website.
BOSTON - An 80-year-old man who authorities said had been dealing marijuana for decades will be sentenced in a Boston federal court this week, according to court records.

Marshall Dion pleaded guilty in October to marijuana dealing and money laundering charges and faces up seven years in federal prison, according to a plea agreement on file in U.S. District Court.

According to the Boston Globe, Dion owned homes in Colorado, Massachusetts and Arizona and had $11 million in cash inside a North Reading storage facility.

The newspaper reports that Dion crashed a plane in 1985 in Wisconsin and denied owning $112,000 found at the crash site.

Records filed in court show Dion was pulled over in Kansas in 2013 for speeding and that traffic stop led to the discovery of cash, ledgers showing drug transactions dating back to 1992 and 400 pounds of marijuana in Massachusetts and Arizona.

Dion told the officers in Kansas that he had homes in Massachusetts and Arizona. Officers searched his truck and found two boxes filled with cash, according to court records. The truck, according to authorities, was filled with money.

Dion said someone loaded his truck in Boston, but he did not know what was inside the containers.

Authorities searched storage facilities in Massachusetts where they found over $11 million in cash and pounds of high-grade marijuana, records said. A search Arizona also resulting in the discovery of more money, authorities said.

Among the items seized during the searches were ledgers showing that "Dion has been trafficking in large amounts of marijuana since at least 1992," according to the records.

Dion is expected to appear in court Thursday for sentencing.
BOSTON - Over $25,000 in cash was seized during a Saturday night drug bust in East Boston after police saw two men allegedly involved in a drug sale in the area of Sumner and Border streets.

The officers were conducting surveillance in the area due to past drug and gun activity when, around 8:40 p.m., they saw two vehicles pull into the area, according to Boston Police.



Officers believe men in the two cars conducted a drug sale. Police stopped one car and arrested 26-year-old Joseph Maraio of East Boston on a possession of crack cocaine charge. Police said they found him with a bag of crack cocaine.

Police then stopped the second vehicle. The driver allegedly refused to listen to police and pushed the officers while trying to escape from his car. The man ran off, but police caught him.

"During the struggle, the suspect continually reached for his waistband and was observed placing an unknown white item in his mouth, chewing, and swallowing it,"police said. "Officers were finally able to apprehend the suspect and observed a white residue that smelled of cocaine around his mouth, lips, and on his tongue."

Police said the man, identified as 35-year-old Mark Yarde of East Boston, had $245 and knife on him. Officers checked his car and allegedly found $25,000, marijuana, acid and drug packaging materials.

Yarde was arrested on multiple drug charges, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and possession of a dangerous weapon.
drparker.jpg

Dr. Willie Parker speaks Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 to the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts at the Red Barn at Hampshire College in Amherst. Parker spoke of his work providing the procedures in the deep south and how his Christian faith leads him to do his work.

(JIM KINNEY/ THE REPUBLICAN)

AMHERST - Abortion provider Dr. Willie Parker played for his audience Saturday night video footage his arrival for work at an Alabama clinic several months ago.

He showed the crowd the protesters. He showed them their signs. He played for them the things those protesters yelled at him as he was driven up to the door.

When the tape was over, Parker told the attendees at the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts annual Roe v. Wade event that he didn't show them the tape so they'd know what he goes through. He showed them the tape so they'd know what the women who use the clinic go through.

Parker was the featured speaker at the annual event hosted by the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts in the Red Barn on the campus of Hampshire College. The fundraiser drew more than 150 people, said Marlene G. Fried, a member of the group's board of directors.

"What does the anniversary of Roe mean to a woman in America in 2016 with an unplanned and an unwanted pregnancy?" he said.

It doesn't mean much, he said, if that woman doesn't have access to the abortion she desires and that the Roe v. Wade supreme court decision in 1973 says she is can have under the Constitution.

Parker flies from his home in Chicago to perform the procedures a few days each month in clinics in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. For a time, he was the only doctor performing abortions in the state of Mississippi. There are two others now at the state's only abortion clinic.

What's added irony is that many of those protesters are praying and displaying signs citing Bible verses. Parker, a Christian who thinks of his work as a ministry, had an essay entitled "Why I provide abortions" appear in the New York times in November.

"First of all, abortion is health care," Parker said.

Secondly, the Christian faith means different things to different people. His calls his service to those in need.

"For me, my Christianity leads me to a place of non-judgment," Parker said.

An obstetrician, he refused to perform abortions for many years. But reading a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Bible story of the Good Samaritan changed Parker's mind.

In the sermon, King pointed out that the Samaritan in the parable acted out of concern for the injured man, not out of concern for what might happen to himself if he stopped to help.

Parker said he harbors no ill will toward those doctors who do not provide abortions.

"I respect my colleagues," he said. "I can respect their decisions if they come from the deepest part of their conscious."

What he can't respect is a doctor who says "no" out of fear or because it is simply easier to avoid the situation.

In attendance were state Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, Ellen Story and Megan Amundson, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts,

Fried said the event enabled her Massachusetts group to donate $7,500 to the clinic where Parker works in Mississippi.
The outcome of fight in Nevada could set the course for solar energy adoption across the country.

SolarCity, Americas largest manufacturer and leaser of solar panels, was welcomed into Nevada with economic incentives. But then Nevadas Public Utilities Commission started charging homes with solar panels more to use the public grid. This is bigger than a fight over solar energy  Nevada Energy, is part of Warren Buffetts business empire, and Elon Musk is behind SolarCity.

Video: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-01-28/musk-vs-buffett-a-solar-war-in-the-desert-heats-up
Governor and First Lady Bullock today announced that $100,000 from private funders will be made available to Montana schools statewide to implement Breakfast after the Bell. The announcement was made during the Governor and First Ladys visit to Kessler Elementary School.

The school recently implemented a breakfast in the classroom program. The funds announced today mark the fourth round of Breakfast after the Bell grants that have been made available to schools during the Bullock administration.

Total grant funds this cycle consist of over $100,000 with special thanks to Albertsons Companies Foundation, Jeff Bridges, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Round It Up Montana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Interstate Bank Foundation, Neptune Aviation Services, Smiths Food and Drug Stores, and FutureSync International.

Full Story: https://governor.mt.gov/Newsroom/ArtMID/28487/ArticleID/3099
The overarching theme emerging from Chinas ongoing Communist Party congress is one of continuity, not change. The weeklong meeting is expected to reappoint Xi Jinping as leader, reaffirm a commitment to his policies for the next five years and possibly elevate his status even further as one of the most powerful leaders in Chinas modern history. For many Chinese, weary of pandemic restrictions, the more immediate question is whether there will be any easing of zero-COVID after the party congress. The answer is probably not immediately, and when changes do come, they will most likely be gradual.
BLOOMER  As the 2016 presidential election rapidly approaches, opinions far and wide are being formed regarding a number of issues that find themselves in the national spotlight.

Citizens have ideas, questions and concerns, and many were more than willing to share them with Congressman Sean Duffy during his visit to Bloomer on Saturday morning.

Duffy, the representative for Wisconsins 7th district, primarily spent the hour-long session answering questions and replying to concerns.

The session took place at the Veterans Memorial Clubhouse, and Duffy expected a plethora of inquiries on veteran issues  a topic to which he said he has dedicated much time making sure veterans rights are secured and upheld.

Paul McElroy and Tommie Stuckert, both veterans, each expressed concerns and doubts about the current state of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If someone fights overseas for their country, Duffy said, They shouldnt come home to lose their life in the VA system.

While Duffy replied that some of the concerns cannot be solved or mandated by Congress, but rather are issues within the VA itself, he said he will fight like hell to help these veterans.

Our vets are getting hurt, Duffy said. Who are we looking out for? Our veterans, or our employees at the VA? It should be our veterans.

McElroy said he felt that Duffy did a very good job addressing their concerns.

Things arent perfect, McElroy said. They arent going to get done over night, but we can take things one step at a time.

Stuckert expressed his concern with the failures of the VAs new Veterans Choice Program  a program allowing for veterans to receive healthcare within their community.

To this, Duffy suggested that those experiencing problems with the VA to call his office, so he can attempt to at least make situations better.

I have worked with his office before and hes done a good job, Stuckert said. Ive called other congressmen and he is the only one who has ever done anything.

Though topics regarding veterans dominated the session, there were a variety of other issues that surfaced.

Duffy said he expects national issues featured lately in regards to the upcoming presidential election to be questioned at these sessions, and his expectations were met.

Planned Parenthood, border control and wages were all topics addressed at the session. Concerns were also voiced about the costs of dairy farming and the importing of beef from countries like Argentina and Brazil.

But with the issues of veterans taking center stage, the congressman said that getting information from people can help to push the VA into action.

It works well for some, Duffy said of the VA. But it should be great for everyone.
Over the past decade, social media has swept inexorably to the forefront of humanitys consciousness. A new study asks how these tools are being used to influence general thought on important scientific issues.

Share on Pinterest Can scientific discourse catch up with social media?

In 2003, Myspace took the internet by storm, swiftly followed by Facebook in 2004 and Twitter in 2006.

Today, there are an estimated 1.79 billion social network users worldwide; that equates to one third of the worlds population.

Around 73% of Americans have a Facebook account, and 70% of those access the site at least once a day.

Before social networks, people still had large circles of acquaintances, of course, but we had less insight into their lives, thoughts, politics and pet theories.

Individuals had little knowledge of what distant friends and relatives got up to in their spare time, let alone an obscure work colleague or that guy Jeff, who we met once, somewhere, 15 years ago.

Communication has changed beyond all measure. From a device we keep in our pocket, someone in Papa New Guinea can see what their cousin in Nebraska ate for breakfast, chat with an Irish uncle and like the color of Jeffs new carpet.

More importantly, people are now free to share political and scientific ideas in a way that could never have been imagined a few decades ago. Opinions on the most serious of matters are worn like badges of honor, displayed for the globe to see.


Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.
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President Juan Orlando Hernandez has allocated an initial tranche of $10 million in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. "The data is clear: each day, the number of cases of this terrible illness increases," Hernandez said Saturday as the massive eradication effort got underway.Hernandez urged his countrymen to be fully "conscious of the problem that we're confronting." Hondurans are called upon "to unite against Zika, our common enemy," he added.Zika causes flu-like symptoms and a rash, and is so mild that it goes undetected in 70 to 80 percent of cases. There is currently no specific treatment for Zika and no way to prevent it other than avoiding mosquito bites.The Honduran government said that among the 200,000 people enlisted to take part in the mosquito eradication effort were students, civil servants, soldiers and police, among other workers."My house is now clean," said Maria Martinez, a resident of the Hato de Enmedio neighborhood of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. "I'm afraid of Zika, and that's whey I've gotten rid of all receptacles containing water," she said.The nation's health minister Yolani Batres said that despite the high number of Zika infections, there are so far no confirmed cases of Zika-linked microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, which have been widely diagnosed in Brazil, the country hardest hit by the outbreak.Colombia, the country with the second-worst outbreak, has announced three deaths blamed on Zika. Colombia also has seen a sharp increase in a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis and even death.The World Health Organization, which has declared an international emergency because of outbreak, warns that Zika could infect up to four million people in the Americas and spread worldwide. Health officials in Honduras said 16 pregnant women are believed to have contracted the virus, and that officials are awaiting the results of testing on samples sent to the United States for confirmation.Source: AFP
As part of the Jordanian efforts to combat the phenomenon of young people joining terrorists organizations,[1] Jordanian artists Rania Isma'il and Hassan Sabaileh put on a play titled "Terrorism at the Door," which is now being performed to audiences of students at various universities throughout Jordan. The play deals with domestic violence and the social marginalization of young people, which drive them to embrace radical ideologies and join terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State (ISIS).[2] Every performance is followed by a discussion about the factors that impel young people to join terrorist organizations, during which members of the audience are invited to raise ideas and offer solutions.[3]

Jordanian author and journalist Hussein Al-'Amoush discussed the play in a December 22, 2015 article in the daily Al-Dustour, praising it and describing it as an effective means of delivering a social message to the younger generation.

Below are translated excerpts from his article:[4]



Poster for the play (Facebook.com/Zaal.khadra1, October 10, 2015)

"I had the opportunity to see the play 'Terrorism at the Door,' by artists Hassan Sabaileh and Rania Isma'il, at the World Islamic Science & Education University. The play, which is currently being performed at universities in Jordan, exposes [the phenomenon of] terror and the methods by which terrorist organizations recruit young Jordanians are while exploiting [their] weak psychological makeup. It touches on sensitive issues and diagnoses the situation and the harsh economic reality of Jordanians that make them succumb, like easy prey, to the financial inducements offered by the terror organizations. The play, which was metriculously written and performed, reflects our human, economic and collegiate reality. It places [this reality] on stage and points to a fact that we do not talk about, [namely that] one of our major problems is a lack of communication between fathers and their sons, to the extent that the father is surprised when his son becomes a member in a terror cell or organization. This shocks us and causes us to start seeking solutions, although the solution is within our grasp.

"The most important [part] of the play is the final scene, where the son reveals the explosive belt that he put on in preparation for blowing himself up. The play concludes with a major question that is presented to the students [in the audience], in the method of interactive theatre: 'And you, what is your opinion?' [Listening to the replies,] I heard diverse logical, clear and courageous views, indicating that the play managed to deliver its message quickly and easily. This means that we have excellent tools for delivering any social message to our sons the students, who are the target audience here.

"Time after time we can say that art creates politics... and effective performances of this sort can convey the message through humor, though [the topic] is a sad one. We have creative artists such as Hassan, Rania and the team of actors, but such a work needs a nourishing environment, tools and resources... In other words it needs state and government [sponsorship and assistance]..."



The final scene of the play, where the son reveals his explosive belt (image: youtube.com/watch?v=0yl9L0ksZdw)

Isma'il and Sabaileh also created two short animation films in the spirit of the play, also titled "Terrorism at the Door," which are posted to YouTube. These films likewise show a young man who feels neglected by his parents and even disrespected and humiliated by them, and therefore turns to ISIS websites that promise to transform him into a glorious commander..."[5]

To view excerpts from the films, click below.

Endnotes:
The Indian Army and badassery go hand in hand. Theres no dearth of gallantry tales of war heroism when it comes to the soldiers of our soil. From the treasure chest of valour, this is the story of Piru Singh who literally ran amuck on the Pakistani soldiers during the Indo-Pak war of 1947.

Born in Rajasthan in a family where joining the military was a tradition, Piru Sigh Shekhawat enrolled in the 6 Rajputana Rifles on 20 May 1936. The Jammu And Kashmir operation of 1948 saw the Pakistani army mount a strong counter offensive on the Tithwal sector. The Indian Army suffered another setback after they were forced to vacate certain forward positions at Kishanganga. The Indian Army buckled up to hit back with Rajputana Rifles soldiers called upon for action. The Pakistani army held a high feature (post) that gave them an eagle eyes view of our troops. To make any further progress, acquiring this post was a must. Sadly though, there was no other way but to run straight towards the post to launch an offensive.

The path to the post was about one metre wide with deep ravines on either side. The platoons were divided into D and C companies with Piru in lead of the D company. Unfeeling of the danger ahead, the D company launched its attack. As expected, they took heavy head on fire by a machine gun post and as many as 51 soldiers were martyred. Piru Sigh, enraged after the loss of his brothers, literally ran towards the havocking gun post with his sten gun taking down anything that came in his way. Enemy grenade splinters ripped open his clothes but he eventually took over the post silencing the machine gun. He looked back and realized that all of his companions were dead. Now he was to snatch the hill post all on his own.

He marched ahead and was soon hit by a grenade that almost tore open half his face blurring his vision. Ignoring the grueling pain, Piru hurtled on with 'Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai' as his war cry and lobbed grenades in three enemy trenches before finally taking a bullet to the head and giving the supreme sacrifice. Piru not only killed at least 10 Pakistani soldiers but also completed the mission he was assigned. The hill post now belonged to the Indian Army!
Fifteen students apiece in grades 6, 7 and 8 began the morning listening intently to words they were alternately familiar with or had never heard of before, and then deciphering them, as if by code, one letter at a time.

The first stage of the Scripps National Spelling Bee was on display Thursday at Chippewa Falls Middle School.

One by one, they dropped off until there were just three students still standing on the auditorium stage.

Dylan Brown, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, had been there before. The last two years he had finished in third place.

I play a lot of different games, and sometimes I play in-depth games, he said in citing that as a factor that has improved his spelling.

Ninth-grade students are ineligible to participate in the national contest, so this was Browns final shot at it, and once again, he took home third place.

That left a seventh-grader, Shelby Loebertman, and an eighth-grader, Riley Sheehan. Both are 13 years old, but Sheehan said he has a birthday in another week or so. Loebertman was a first-time participant, while Sheehan did not make it out of the preliminary rounds last year.

I enjoy reading and writing, said Loebertman, who took a more traditional path than Brown to the spelling bee. She said her parents read to her a lot when she was younger, and now likes to write in the science fiction genre.

She successfully spelled a number of words, but when longanimity was posed to her, Loebertman was in no better position than most people who have never used or probably even heard of the word, and was forced to guess.

For the record, longanimity is defined as a disposition to bear injuries patiently.

Still, she had far exceeded the expectations of some family members. My brother thought I was going to go out in the first round, she said.

Then it was up to Sheehan to correctly spell a final word for the title.

Minutes earlier, he had nearly been sidelined by the word architecture, and he aborted his first attempt to spell it and started again, this time making it all the way through without an error.

Sheehans biggest concern came earlier, with the Italian greeting ciao (pronounced chow). I almost gave up in the third round, he said after being asked to spell ciao.

But he got it right, which wasnt all that surprising considering he has always been a good speller, reading what he described as more complex books than many of kids his age and using bigger words in his vocabulary.

When Sheehan correctly spelled antibody, he triumphantly raised both arms in the air and couldnt contain a wide smile.

He now moves on to a regional competition Feb. 18 in Thorp, and as runner-up, Loebertman would be his substitute should he be unable to participate. The regional winners will compete at the state level March 18 in Madison.
The last thing Christina Wu expected on the morning of Feb. 5 was to be surprised by family, friends, news crews and elected officials.

Christina, a freshman at Monta Vista High School, has been chosen as the sole California finalist for the Doodle4Google contest. Her finalist status was announced as part of a surprise unveiling in the school theater with her parents, fellow students, Google representatives, Rep. Mike Honda, Fremont Union High School District Superintendent Polly Bove and Cupertino Mayor Barry Chang and Councilman Rod Sinks.

The contest sees students across the nation design and create a work of art for the Google home page to display. Students had to use the Google company name in their design and adhere to this years theme, What makes meme.

Christinas Google design was from nearly 100,000 submissions from across the United States. Now she is one of 12 students being considered in the grades 8-9 category, and one of 53 students total. The contest winner will get their design on the Google home page for a day.

As for what makes ChristinaChristina?

I am fascinated by Asian culture, she said in a press statement about her doodle. Whether its the food, the architecture, or the traditions, I feel drawn to them, especially a hot bowl of noodle soup.

Her design is a vibrant combination of standout Asian culture motifs, including a dragon, flowers and classic Asian architecture. The Google at the bottom of the design is spelled out in noodles submerged in broth, and the L is a pair of chopsticks.

For her winning California entry, Christina will receive an Android tablet and a T-shirt printed with her doodle on it, according to the Google website.

Voting

The next step in the process is choosing one national winner from each of five grade categories: K-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12.

The four finalists who do not get chosen as the overall winner will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and a trip to Google headquarters.

The overall winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 grant for his or her school, a trip to Google headquarters and a Chromebook.

The fate of the finalists rests in the handsor fingers, ratherof online voters who choose their design.

Voting is open until Feb. 22, and the national finalists as well as the overall winner will be announced March 21. The winners doodle will go up on Googles page that same day.

For more information or to vote, visit google.com/doodle4google.
MADISON  The Wisconsin Historical Society holds millions of items. They include Civil War documents, Wisconsin maps, Native American pottery, a carbon fiber Trek bicycle, Holocaust survivor oral histories, childrens clothing from the 1800s and a patch worn into space by Sparta astronaut Deke Slayton on the Apollo 13 mission.

So when Paul Bourcier, the societys lead curator, laid out boxes last week filled with wooden contraptions made more than 150 years ago by a Marquette County farm boy, it was clear that the pieces were of importance. Each box was affixed with an orange piece of paper that lets curators quickly know which item out of the massive collection should be saved first in the event of a fire or other calamity.

The boxes held the wooden and metal pieces of a clock fashioned in the shape of a scythe; a wooden barometer and parts to a thermometer made up of wooden sprockets that somehow, its not entirely clear, indicated temperature. There was also a less complex dolly jig designed to make a small doll dance.

He had a very scientific mind, said Bourcier. But he also had a sense of humor.

John Muir may be best known for his environmental activism that led to the creation of national parks and the founding of the Sierra Club, but his time in Wisconsin was consumed with farming and tinkering.

Throughout this year, Muirs story will be shared in 25 state communities that have agreed to host a traveling exhibit on the man credited with convincing the U.S. government to protect and establish Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mount Rainier as national parks.

Michael Edmonds, deputy director of the Historical Societys library and archives division, made a point of getting the exhibit into northern Wisconsin, home to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

The people who live there and care about history, and the local historical societies, often are neglected, Edmonds said. The number of exhibits they get asked to host are minuscule.

Wisconsins John Muir explores Muirs youth on two Wisconsin farms, his studies at UW-Madison, his advocacy for national parks and his views on environmental issues such as logging, hunting and climate change in an eight-panel pictorial.

Each community that takes part receives free copies of Muirs memoir, The Story of My Boyhood and Youth, for a book club discussion. The exhibit runs through Tuesday at the W. J. Niederkorn Library in Port Washington before it traipses through the state over the next 11 months.

Muir was born in 1838 in Dunbar, Scotland, and immigrated to Wisconsin with his father 11 years later. They first settled on a 160-acre farmstead they dubbed Fountain Lake Farm (now Ennis Lake and part of John Muir Memorial County Park) between Montello and Portage. This is where Muirs appreciation for nature began to take root, thanks to woods overlooking a flowery glacial meadow and a lake rimmed with water lilies, according to the Sierra Club.

In his later teens, Muirs family moved to Hickory Hill Farm near Portage where Muir continued making wooden mechanisms. But because his father was such a harsh disciplinarian, he ordered all of the family to go to bed after chores were completed at dusk. He also had little tolerance for his sons inventions.

His father didnt care what time he got up, said Matt Blessing, an archivist who has written about Muir. So what does Muir do? He goes to bed at 8 p.m. and quickly discovers he can get by on four or five hours of sleep. He gets himself up at midnight and goes down into the cellar and (by candle light) begins making inventions he thinks his father will support because theyre going to improve the efficiency of the farm.

One of his creations was a saw blade out of a womens corset that he used in a table saw. A Scottish neighbor encouraged Muir to take his inventions to the 1860 Wisconsin State Fair, at that time held near Camp Randall in Madison. This is where Muir is first publicly noted in an article in the Wisconsin State Journal.

That same year, Muir enrolled at UW-Madison where he lived in North Hall and his room became a curiosity.

Muir had a device that at a set time tipped him out of bed and then lit a lamp. He also invented a clockwork desk that automatically dispensed books from a rack below and kept them on the desk for a set a period of time before it would switch to another book. The unconventional-looking desk has been display in the lobby of the Historical Society since the 1920s.

Its very famous, Edmonds said. You would think the amount of time he put into building it should have been spent on studying.

In an effort to pay for his education, Muir, during the winter of 1861-62, taught in a small log schoolhouse at the intersection of Storytown Road and Sun Valley Parkway about two miles west of Oregon that would later be home to the Lake Harriet School. One of his students described Muir as having an ungroomed look with hair reaching to his shoulders, an unkempt bearing, and poor clothes, according to account by the Oregon Area Historical Society.

Muir left Madison in 1863 for the University of the Wilderness as he called it, and spent time in woodworking factories in Canada and Indianapolis and conducting botanical studies in his spare time. In 1867, he was nearly blinded in an industrial accident and bedridden for nearly a month. The traumatic experience led him to devote the rest of his life to the inventions of God, and to leave his days of inventing behind.

Its travel, its natural science, its the environment, its poetry and a lot of American and European history, Blessing said.

Muir walked to the Gulf of Mexico, before he sailed to Cuba and then to Panama where he crossed the isthmus of Central America and sailed up the West Coast, landing in San Francisco in 1868, according to his Sierra Club biography. Muir herded sheep in Yosemite and by 1874 had launched a writing career that led to hundreds of articles and several critically acclaimed books.

Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 and in 1901 wrote Our National Parks, a book that drew the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who signed legislation between 1901 and 1909 creating five national parks. In 1916, Congress created the National Park Service that now oversees more than 400 units.

Muir died in 1914 in Los Angeles.

These are in the crown jewel category for us, Edmonds said as he surveyed some of Muirs work, spread out on a conference table in the Sellery Room of the Societys grand building at State and Park streets and across Langdon Street from Memorial Union.

The walls of the room, named after George Sellery, a former history professor and dean of the UW-Madison College of Letters and Science, are covered with historic images. They include an H.H. Bennett photograph from 1880 of Stand Rock in Wisconsin Dells, a poster from the 1900 Wisconsin State Fair and a painting from 1833 of Nasheakusk, the son of Black Hawk.

John Muir didnt make the walls of the conference room but his years in Wisconsin are seen as formidable and allow us to claim one of the most influential environmentalists in history as our own.

Were trying to make Muir relevant for today, Edmonds said. The idea is to take history and use it to inform conversations today.
ROCHESTER, N.H.  The contrast couldnt be more striking.

No denunciations of immigrants or vows to build walls. No pledge to rip out Obamacare by the roots (though hed replace it). No denunciations of the Iranian arms deal or working with Democrats.

In a year when most Republican rivals have vied to match front-runner Donald Trumps often outrageous proposals, highly personalized attacks and establishment bashing, Ohio Gov. John Kasich stands out as a voice of moderation and compromise.

Anybody can come around and make a promise: were going to do this, were going to do that, were going to have a 10 percent flat tax, were going to abolish the IRS, Kasich told several dozen people who attended his 87th town meeting last Monday at an American Legion hall in this eastern New Hampshire town.

Thats not going to happen, he continued. So Im here giving you what I would need to do to govern, not to get elected. And he asked, You dont think we can solve these problems without both parties, do you?

But Florida Sen. Marco Rubios close third in Mondays Iowa caucuses threatens Kasichs hope of emerging as the top establishment candidate in this Tuesdays New Hampshire primary. Kasich, who largely ignored Iowa, was eighth of 11.

He professes to be unconcerned, telling a Bloomberg Politics Breakfast Briefing Wednesday, The media is going to pump this for a couple days and  then were going to see.

Later, at the governors 93rd town meeting in Newmarket, two likely Kasich voters dismissed the Iowa impact here. He didnt make much effort there, so I discount it, said Bill Healey, 78, a retired computer systems consultant.

Iowa is Iowa, said his wife, Crescentia Anne Healy, 79. Were so different.

Kasichs campaign, which stresses his conservative credentials in balancing the federal budget in Congress and governing Ohio the past six years, isnt totally positive. On Monday, he condemned negative crap in the media advertising of rivals Chris Christie and Jeb Bush. That night, his independent Super PAC, New Day for America, aired a television ad showing Bush encased in mud.

But his approach enabled the Ohio governor to rise in mid-January to second in the Real Clear Politics average of New Hampshire polls and he leaves many hitherto undecided voters with positive vibes.

He doesnt trash anyone, said Karen Merrill of Barrington, 59, an Air Force veteran and stay-at-home mother. Hes talking policies.

Im tired of angry men, said John Roese, 73, or Rochester, a retired Air Force officer and aerospace employee.

Most New Hampshire newspapers have endorsed him, as have The Boston Globe and The New York Times, which called Kasich the only plausible choice for Republicans tired of the extremism and inexperience on display in this race.

But Rubios strong Iowa showing has complicated Kasichs effort to beat the Florida senator, along with Bush and Christie.

They all have to beat each other to have an opportunity to consolidate mainstream voters and donors, said Fergus Cullen, a former state GOP chairman who backs Kasich.

However, even some past candidates who made unexpectedly strong showings in New Hampshire  like primary victors Democrat Gary Hart in 1984 and Republican John McCain in 2000  failed to sustain their momentum afterwards.

What we have to do is get to March 15, said veteran New Hampshire pol Tom Rath. Thats when the primary calendar moves to Kasichs home state of Ohio and other Midwestern bastions and when winning candidates can win all of a states delegates, rather than dividing them proportionally.

But that not only requires finishing second here, it means doing well in Massachusetts and Vermont and surviving primaries in such conservative strongholds as South Carolina on Feb. 20, and the many Southern states including Texas on March 1.

Still, even before Iowa voted, one veteran Washington analyst, Stuart Rothenberg, wrote in Roll Call that, even if Kasich beats Rubio here, the Ohio governor simply has not shown the appeal  or put together the campaign elsewhere  that he would need to become a true contender in the Republican race.

If I get smoked here, Kasich said in Newmarket, Im going (back) to Ohio.

He added he is also prepared to move forward. But its in the hands of the people of New Hampshire.
Air Force Gets Its Own Combat Dive Badge After Using the Navy's for Years

Air Force officials said there is a notable distinction between Navy divers and their divers, which was a key reason for...
Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks about deploying the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, a defense official told reporters Sunday.

Yoo Jeh Seung, a senior South Korea Defense Ministry official, told reporters that the talks on THAAD (Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense) are aimed at bolstering South Korea-US defense ties in the face of escalating tension with North Korea. The move is expected to raise tensions with China.

North Korea defied international warnings earlier Sunday and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the US mainland. The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and its bath was tracked separately by the US, Japan and South Korea.

In response to the launch, diplomats from the United Nations Security council told Fox News late Saturday that the US, Japan and South Korea requested an emergency meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday.

North Korea launched the missile after announcing an eight-day window in which the rocket would be fired. Washington and its allies consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions.

Pyongyang praised the launch, saying in a statement "the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star." Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

Japan television's NHK reported the debris had fallen 155 miles off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula into the East China Sea, according to Sky News. It also showed footage of an object visible in the skies over Okinawa which was believed to be the rocket.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an "intolerable provocation." She said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people."

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that "North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests -- including the security of some of our closest allies -- and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of Pyongyang's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, Kim Jong II, in 2011. The UN Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the UN to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the US and Seoul.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The North's recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.

Fox News' Jonathan Wachtel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The 2015-16 offseason may be remembered as the qualifying offers watershed. A record 20 qualifying offers were issued in November, and for the first time in the four years since the QO system was instituted, three players (Brett Anderson, Colby Rasmus, Matt Wieters) actually accepted the one-year offer rather than test free agency.

As we approach Spring Training, I suspect at least some of the other 17 players may be wishing they had also taken that one-year, $15.8MM deal. (Howie Kendrick and Hisashi Iwakuma come to mind.) The qualifying offer also may have impacted a couple of names in the upper tier of the free agent market, though Chris Davis and Justin Upton did end up landing huge multi-year contracts in the end.

The three players still facing uncertainty, however, are Ian Desmond, Dexter Fowler and Yovani Gallardo. It looks as if this trio will join Kendrick, Nelson Cruz, Kendrys Morales, Stephen Drew, Ervin Santana and others on the list of players whose markets were drastically affected by the QO, perhaps to the point of them eventually accepting a contract that wouldve seemed like a major bargain only a few months ago. At this point in the offseason, no team has been willing to meet the asking price and/or give up the first round draft pick necessary to sign any of three players.

While none of the trio have signed, there have been plenty of rumors surrounding each player. A recap

Gallardo: The Orioles, Rockies and Astros have been the clubs most recently linked to the righty, with the Blue Jays, Royals and Rangers also reportedly interested at earlier points in the offseason. We can probably cross off Kansas City and Houston in the wake of their signings of Ian Kennedy and Doug Fister, while Toronto likely doesnt have the payroll space.

The Os are very hesitant to give up their first-rounder (the 14th overall pick) to sign Gallardo. Colorados first-rounder is protected so they would only have to give up a second-round pick, though GM Jeff Bridich has downplayed his teams interest. The Rangers, of course, are the only team that can sign Gallardo without having to surrender a pick, though they may also be tapped out payroll-wise and they already have several rotation options on hand, albeit with question marks.

Fowler: The Cubs (his former team), White Sox and Rangers have all been rumored to be monitoring the outfielders market, with teams like the Indians, Angels, Giants and Cardinals also mentioned as speculative fits. In our last MLBTR poll, readers had the two Chicago teams as the clear favorites in predicting Fowlers landing spot. In my view, the White Sox seem like the best fit for Fowler since thanks to their protected first-rounder, the only pick theyd have to surrender is the bonus compensation selection they received from Jeff Samardzija signing with the Giants. The Sox heavily value their draft picks, however, and their low-rated farm system needs reinforcements.

Re-signing Fowler makes some sense for the Cubs but it would create an awkward time-share between Fowler, Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber (Jason Heyward, obviously, would play every day in either right or center field). I wonder if the Rangers interest in Fowler could be tied to Gallardos situation; if Gallardo signs elsewhere and Texas gets a compensation pick, the team could then be more willing to give up its first-rounder (the 20th overall pick) to bring Fowler into the fold.

Desmond: The former Nationals situation is at once both seemingly the most muddled yet possibly the most flexible of the trio. If reports of Desmonds ability and willingness to play elsewhere than shortstop are still accurate, then his market could be opened up to teams looking for help at second, third or even the outfield. In a recent edition of the MLBTR Newsletter, Tim Dierkes speculated that Desmond could be a good candidate for a contract with an opt-out after the first year, or perhaps even a flat one-year pillow contract to minimize the risk for teams uninterested in giving up a draft pick for a player coming off a tough season.

Dierkes cited the As, Braves, White Sox and Tigers as a few of the teams who could be fits for Desmond, with the Rockies also a maybe depending on Jose Reyes situation. The Rays have also been mentioned as a dark horse candidate to sign Desmond on a semi-hometown deal, though given how Tampa is so reliant on developing young talent, it would be a big surprise to see them give up their first-rounder, the 13th overall pick of Junes draft.

Lets open the debate up to you, the MLBTR audience. Who do you think will be the last qualifying offer free agent available this offseason? (MLBTR app users can weigh in here)
Wesley Skinner, 44

Family has identified the 44-year-old man killed outside of a house party in Ypsilanti Township on Friday.

Although police had not yet released a name Saturday, family said Wesley David Skinner was killed as he left his neighbor's home across the street on Feb. 5.

Police were called about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 5 to the 200 block of Kirk Avenue in Ypsilanti Township for a report of shots fired, said Derrick Jackson of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

Details of the shooting are still under investigation, but police believe the man was shot as he walked outside, Jackson said. He died at the hospital early Saturday.

Gathered outside the family home on the same block, Lamar Skinner, 47, and Kim Taylor, 41, said neither of them has slept since they got the call about their brother's death late Friday.

"It's just like I lost my breath," Taylor said. "It's just senseless, what's going on."

Although police have not confirmed the circumstances or any suspects, the two said they believe Wesley Skinner knew his killer.

Taylor said she overheard Wesley Skinner discussing a conflict on the phone in the days prior, but her brother simply told the person on the other end of the phone that he was too old for it.

"He didn't seem like he was worried about it," she said.

Otherwise, the two had no indication that their brother was in danger, they said.

Records from the Michigan Department of Corrections show Wesley Skinner was on parole for felonious assault, larceny and resisting, assaulting or obstructing a police officer.

However, Lamar Skinner said, "he mostly stayed to himself."

"My brother don't bother anyone unless they bother him," he said.

Residents at the home that hosted the gathering declined to speak on the incident.

Wesley Skinner previously worked at area fast food restaurants before a recent eye surgery, Lamar Skinner said.

He was a father of three children, one of four living siblings and a beloved uncle and son.

The two couldn't help but laugh as Lamar Skinner showed video on his phone of his brother dancing and Kim Taylor demonstrated his "jig."

Wesley Skinner loved "old school" music such as blues and funk and was typically the deejay for family and friends.

He also loved cars and cooking, though he often made more than his guests could eat, Taylor said. They had planned for him to make her lasagna soon.

"It's a shock to everybody," Lamar Skinner said.

Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran.
Police continue to seek information in the

shooting death of a 44-year-old Ypsilanti Township man

Friday night.

There were no arrests in the death of the man, officially confirmed to be Wesley Skinner, as of Sunday morning, said Derrick Jackson, of Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

Police were called about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 5 to the 200 block of Kirk Avenue in Ypsilanti Township for a report of shots fired, said Derrick Jackson of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

Skinner was leaving a house party at a neighbor's home when he was struck, police said. He died early Feb. 6 at an area hospital.

Although family members said they believe Skinner knew his killer, Jackson said no motive had been confirmed as of Feb. 7.

Skinner was on parole for felonious assault, larceny and resisting, assaulting or obstructing a police officer at the time of his death, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records.

Lamar Skinner, 47, said his brother "mostly stayed to himself" and "don't bother anyone unless they bother him."

Anyone with information on the death is asked to call 911, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SpeakUP.

Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran.
A snail, a giraffe and a leaping fish showed up at Saturday's inaugural Ice Carving Festival at County Farm Park in Ann Arbor.

From noon to 4 p.m., students from the University of Michigan Ice Carving Team created a series of sculptures from blocks of ice as members of the public watched, voted for their favorites, and enjoyed refreshments and kids crafts.

The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission organized the event and is planning to make it an annual competition going forward.

"It turned out to be a beautiful day," said Rhea Dreffs, the county's recreation superintendent for the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center.

"The University of Michigan Ice Carving Team was very beneficial in putting this together with us. We would like to turn this perhaps into a competition in the future and have the event grow. It was a lot of fun, a lot of participation."

Dreffs said public voting for favorite sculpture will continue online on the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center's webpage.

It's unclear when the online voting will begin.

The students who did Saturday's ice carving are part of an extracurricular club at the University of Michigan and come from a wide range of disciplines, including art, computer science, engineering, pharmacy and pre-med.

Dreffs said they had eight blocks of ice -- each measuring 40 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 10 inches thick -- shipped up from Ice Creations of Napoleon, Ohio.

Scroll through the photo gallery above to see the final creations after the students were done carving the blocks on Saturday.

Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com.
Women's rights supporters gathered Saturday in the University of Michigan Diag in Ann Arbor for an evening of support and empowerment.

The evening, initially planned in response to a planned meet-up of the "neomasculine" group Return of Kings, brought together members of the community for an open discussion of women's rights.

Return of Kings, touted as a blog for men, "aims to usher the return of the masculine man in a world where masculinity is being increasingly punished and shamed in favor of creating an androgynous and politically-correct society that allows women to assert superiority and control over men." The group organized meet ups for Saturday evening around the world that were later cancelled due to the lack of guaranteed safety. Ann Arbor's meet up had been planned within Nickels Arcade near the University of Michigan campus.



Women's rights supporters created a counter-rally aimed to "spread a positive, peaceful message of equality and social justice for all people" according to information posted on a Facebook events page.

The event began by joining in a few ice breaker-type discussions among the attendees. As the night progressed, individuals from the crowd were invited to present monologues of their experiences to an attentive crowd. Many presenters recounted their personal experiences with sexual assault and female inequality.

Lauren Rosen, organizer for the event and activist from Detroit, had previously been involved in a counter protest for a men's rights group visit to Michigan and came together with others to schedule the event for Saturday.

"Let's make it not about these men who have this terrible ideology. Let's make it about women who have been through what these men try to put on to women," she elaborated.
In mid-January, New York-based Namdar Realty Group announced it purchased and will rehab Ypsilanti Township's struggling and mostly vacant Gault Village Shopping Plaza.

But Ypsilanti Township is already prepared to sue the new owners if progress isn't made quickly.

The township says Namdar was unaware prior to the sale that it was preparing a legal operation designed to address the blighted 160,000-square-foot plaza once and for all. It has spent the last seven years in litigation with its former owner, Union Lake Associates.

Two days after Gault Village's mid-December sale, the township served Union Lake with a 1,000-page Notice Of Violation documenting the property's code violations. That's when Union Lake informed the township it had sold the property to Namdar.

Of the property's 20 units, six are occupied and 12 were condemned in December.

On Tuesday, the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees approved a request from staff to sue Gault Village's new owners in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, if the issues aren't addressed.

"This is only if absolutely necessary to move code compliance forward," Mike Radzik, Ypsilanti Township's director of the office of community standards, told the Board. "We would like to protect the community's interest and be prepared.

"They were aware that there were issues but unaware of the NOV and code violations. I'm hoping they have as much interest in meeting with us as we do meeting with them."

Complicating the situation is the unclear ownership situation and Namdar's refusal to talk to township officials. Previously, Peter Wilk, a media representative for Namdar, told The Ann Arbor News the New York-based company purchased the 13-acre property for an undisclosed amount of cash.

However, Radzik says the owner is Gault Village Realty LLC. State records show its resident agent is Jerome Frank, a Farmington Hills attorney, who Radzik said confirmed he is involved with Namdar.

Frank and Gault Village Realty have yet to file any title change with the township's assessing department.

"(Frank) explained that his client is Namdar out of New York and he would be able to arrange a meeting with the people we've been told intend to improve (the plaza). As of this moment, that has not occurred and the 1,000 pages of code violations have not been addressed," Radzik told the Board.

Since Frank is listed as Gault Village Realty's resident agent, Namdar is shielded from legal action and Frank will be named the defendant should the township proceed with a lawsuit. A clerk at Frank's office said the attorney is on vacation, and he didn't respond to emails from The Ann Arbor News.

A representative from Namdar also didn't respond to a request for comment.

Radzik previously said the township didn't know who the new owner was until Namdar sent a press release to The Ann Arbor News.

Despite the questions and fuzzy ownership picture, township officials remain hopeful that the company is sincere in its stated intentions to restore the South Grove Road and Emerick Street center.

Among more serious issues township inspectors cited in the December 16 NOV are roof leaks in occupied buildings, rotting metal roof structures, widespread mold, electrical hazards, failing entry overhangs, bricks falling from exterior walls, a failing exterior retaining wall, parking lot light poles that are tilted and structurally weak, and a crumbling parking lot.

The township has regularly been in court with the former owner, Union Lake Associate's Mike McGlothin, since 2009. In 2011 a Washtenaw County Circuit Court judge ordered a former K-Mart in the plaza demolished and a Value Foods to close over structural concerns, gaping holes in the roofs and mold.

The shopping center suffered since ramps to Interstate 94 were removed in the 1980s, but Joel Gorjian, a vice president of acquisitions with Namdar, previously told The Ann Arbor News the company is confident Gault Village is in a position to succeed. Although the exit ramps are closed, a Gorijan noted 91,000 cars still travel past the center daily, and 66,000 residents live within a three-mile radius.

He added that Namdar employs local and national brokers to attract strong tenants, and he said Gault Village's Family Dollar reports more revenue than the company's national average. The company has taken on multiple other distressed properties around the country, and it has the capital and resources to complete the project, Gorijan said.

Still, the township wants to have a back up plan in case Namdar doesn't follow through. That includes litigation.

"We need to do this. We don't know who the owners are, but they have to address the NOV regardless," Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said. "The Board and township is excited about Gault Village being sold ... and it's a great opportunity.

"There are a number of successful businesses that have been there in the past, and residents want to have a shopping center, but there's no relationship with the new owner, so it's prudent to make sure they understand that they have a responsibility."

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for The Ann Arbor News.
FLINT, MI - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's visit to Flint is drawing residents from around the state.

Clinton is expected to speak this afternoon, Sunday, Feb. 7, at the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church.

People interested in seeing the former First Lady and Secretary of State began arriving early Sunday morning.

Michael Cunningham said he took three different busses from Detroit to see Clinton speak. He said it would be the first time he's seen a First Lady speak in person.

The Clinton campaign said the candidate plans to use the stop to encourage support for a federal funding proposal to help the city deal with its water crisis.

Cunningham, who has been following the water crisis, said Gov. Rick Snyder needs to be held accountable for what transpired in the city and the government's slow response.

"He needs to be arrested," Cunningham said of the governor.

Local, state and federal investigations have all been launched to find if there has been civil or criminal wrongdoing.

"Gov. Snyder is committed to the people of Flint, and responded quickly and aggressively once he became aware of the elevated blood levels," said Snyder Press Secretary Dave Murray. "Under his leadership, lawmakers have unanimously approved nearly $40 million for recovery efforts, and the Governor's proposal for $30 million to provide water bill relief has already cleared the state Senate. The Governor's budget recommendation on Wednesday will include significant resources to address long-term health, education and infrastructure challenges created by the water crisis."

Flint resident Warner Houston, who attends House of Prayer, said he's interested in hearing what suggestions Clinton will have for the city's residents.

"I think it's wise anyone who has good to say come to say it," Houston said.

Clinton previously discussed the water issue during a debate in Charleston, S.C., and penned an op-ed for MSNBC. She has also previously sent top aides to the city to meet with Mayor Karen Weaver.

"We should use the spotlight of the presidential campaign to keep the focus on Flint, and to lift up the historic underlying issues that Flint and too many other predominately low-income communities of color across America are struggling with every day," Clinton campaign chair John Podesta said previously.

However, not everyone in the Flint-area is looking forward to Clinton's visit.

Two small Donald Trump campaign signs are set up across from the church and a semi-truck with a message supporting Trump semi-truck with a message supporting Trump written on the side has driven past the church on Carpenter Road.

Flint police, Genesee County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police all have a presence at the church.

Clinton is scheduled to begin speaking shortly after 1 p.m. She is expected to meet with local officials following the church visit.
handcuffs

(MLive file photo)

FLINT, MI -- An online article is claiming police in Flint are using the water crisis an a guise to execute arrest warrants, but local law enforcement says those claims aren't true.

The article was posted on The Ring of Fire Network's website on Friday, Feb. 6 and has been shared around social media.

The article claims inmates at the Genesee County Jail are reporting that police going door-to-door to aid in the water crisis are actually executing arrest warrants.

Flint Police Capt. Leigh Golden said the department is not conducting warrant sweeps while distributing water or filters.

"The only door to door operations that the Flint Police have been involved with is an escort with DEQ personnel who are collecting water samples for testing," Golden said. "The escort is to ensure the safety of DEQ personnel and to ensure residents that the DEQ personnel are legitimate. There have been no arrests made during these escorts."

Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser said troopers would not execute arrest warrants under false pretenses.

"The State Police has not and would not execute arrest warrants under the guise of distributing safe drinking water to the residents of Flint."

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said it is not true that arrests have been made as part of door-to-door water and water filter deliveries.

"I am really sorry to hear that that's out there because that's not true and in fact one of the things we told people is when they're coming, they're not even supposed to ask for identification," Weaver said. "There's supposed to give the water and filter and keep going, because that's not what this is about, we're supposed to be getting people the resources that they need, so that is not true."

Door-to-door deliveries of water, water filters, and testing kits began in early January.
FLINT, MI -- Congressman Dan Kildee held a community meeting Saturday to hear from residents affected by the Flint water crisis.

The meeting was held at Foss Avenue Baptist Church in Flint on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Kildee, along with Congressman Sandy Levin (D-Royal Oak), Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), Congress Woman Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn),Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, and Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson listened to the concerns and questions of Flint residents.

Flint resident Kerensz Harris said the question-and-answer formatted meeting helped answer many questions residents had. She said Flint needs more resources and aid.

"Residents addressed their concerns and then the need to get the information out in a synchronized manner in real time. They need more resources and it's about finances and the finances coming to the city of Flint," Harris said. "Some of the mayors said when they declared their emergencies the resources were there and sites for people to go to. That's one of the issues we're still having."

Kildee said much of what he heard from families he was left feeling shaken by their stories.

"The national discussion about what's been taking place in Flint doesn't even come close to the stories that we just heard. I want to thank those families for having the courage to sit down with us and tell us things that are hard for people to hear," Kildee said. "What we heard today underscores the fact that the state of Michigan which was controlling the city of Flint and had principle responsibility for enforcing clean drinking water laws, completely failed the people of this community and that failure has consequences. Unfortunately, so far anyway, the state response to this crisis has been in no way equal to the gravity of the problem."

Kaptur said Toledo, Ohio went through a similar water crisis more than a year ago. An algal toxin in Lake Erie contaminated the drinking water used by Toledo residents and many of its suburbs in 2014. At one point the water was shut completely off for three days.

The Ohio Congresswoman said she was surprised by the lack of response Flint has seen since the crisis began.

"We have actually lived through a different type of crisis and when we read about Flint we wanted to stand with you and walk with you." Kaptur said. "What has frankly been shocking to me in listening to the citizens who were kind enough to meet with us today is the lack of dispatch and an emergency coordinator and an emergency team that is fully at work 24-hours a day dealing with the people here, dealing with the health needs, dealing with the human need, dealing with the infrastructure planning that will be essential to help Flint meet a new future."

Kildee introduced legislation last week that would provide federal assistance and federal resources to Flint. The supplemental appropriations bill -- which requires state-matching funds -- would address four key areas of infrastructure repairs, wrap-around services for families and children exposed to lead, economic development, and health monitoring.

"This will be a $765 million investment to overcome this crisis," Kildee said. "Now I'm realistic about what it means to make that kind of request and introduce legislation of that magnitude...but I will say this, If the outrage we are hearing from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle is matched in any way with action, this is exactly what we need to have."

Here are the details of Kildee's legislation:

Infrastructure Repairs - $385 million -- $770 million total with state match:

Replacing Lead Service Lines

Direct grants would be awarded to the city of Flint for any activities deemed necessary by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the city of Flint's drinking water does not contain high lead levels. This includes repair and/or replacement of public and private water service lines, inspection of public and/or private water service lines, and corrosion control programs to optimization public and/or private water service lines.

Loan Forgiveness

Eliminates the current cap of 20 percent of state Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) that can be used on loan forgiveness

Allows the state of Michigan to forgive existing DWSRF loans made to the city of Flint

Wrap-Around Services for Flint Families and Children Exposed to Lead - $235 million -- $470 million total with state match:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - $135 million -- $270 million total with state match:

$125 million for Head Start and Early Start for Flint children exposed to lead

$5 million for school based health centers in all Flint schools

$5 million for mental health services for Flint families and children dealing with lead exposure

U.S. Department of Education - $90 million -- $180 million total with state match:

$25 million for reduced class sizes, hire additional school personnel, and fund improvements to Flint school buildings;

$25 million for city-wide after-school programs for Flint children exposed to lead

$25 million for expanded PELL Grants to support additional college access for Flint youth

$5 million for special education services

$5 million for career and technical education

$5 million to create a 'Promise Neighborhood' program in Flint

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Allowing the Agriculture Secretary to expand Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to areas where a federal state of emergency has been declared

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - $5 million -- $10 million total with state match:

$5 million for lead prevention programs

U.S. Department of Justice - $5 million -- $10 million total with state match:

$5 million for juvenile delinquency prevention programs

Economic Development - $45 million -- $90 million total with state match:

U.S. Department of Labor - $20 million -- $40 million total with state match:

$10 million for expanded youth employment opportunities for Flint youth

$10 million for workforce training, literacy and apprenticeship grants

U.S. Department of Commerce -- $25 million -- $50 million total with state match:

$12.5 million for economic development assistance programs for the city of Flint

$12.5 million for minority business development programs

Health Monitoring - $100 million -- $200 million total with state match:

Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure

Authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure in Flint, and appropriates funding over 10 years for the center's operation

The full text of Kildee's legislation can be viewed here.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A fight inside Yester Years Lounge left a man with life-threatening stab wounds in his upper chest.

Investigators are still looking for a suspect, police said Sunday, Feb. 7, hours after authorities were called to the 1901 S. Division Ave. bar about 1:10 a.m. on the report of a fight and stabbing.

A 47-year-old Wyoming man suffered critical injuries in the altercation, police said.

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police ask witnesses or those with more information about the dispute to call detectives at 456-3401 or Silent Observer at 774-2345.
Accra, Feb. 06, GNA - A book on industrial relations has been launched with a call for trust between the employer and the employees to boost productivity at work and avoid strike actions.

Opanin Patrick Obeng-Fosu, former Chief Labour Officer and author, who launched the book titled 'Industrial relations in Ghana', said it was a collection of lectures he has delivered since he was appointed the Chief Labour Officer in 1991.

Opanin Obeng-Fosu said the book was a collection of 68 lectures that covered the law and practice of industrial relations from Gold Coast to Ghana, adding that the lecture notes also covers all aspects during the colonial, civilian and military era.

The topics include: The History, Origin and structure of the International Labour Organisation; Industrial Relations Practice in Ghana during the Pre and Post Independent Era; The Legal and Institutional Framework of Industrial Relations; Tripartism and The Roles of the Social Partners in Industrial Relations; The Labour Act 2003 (Act, 651); Causes and Management of Industrial Disputes; and Mechanism of Industrial Disputes.

Opanin Obeng-Fosu explained that the book is expected to help practitioners, students and lecturers as a guideline because of its in depth information.

Mr Austin Gamey, Chief Executive Officer of Gamey and Gamey Academy, who chaired the occasion, urged lecturers to patronise the book to instill discipline in students and bring about productivity, indicating that employers in the private and public sectors would have to learn to consult and be guided to maintain mutual relations with employees to arrest strike actions.

Dr Yaw Baah, Deputy General Secretary of Trade Union Congress noted that the topics are relevant for the study and practice of labour relations in Ghana and therefore recommended the books to trade unionist, employers and students of labour relations.

GNA
06.02.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Feb 06, GNA - The Management of Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) has increased its number of buses on the various routes in the Greater Accra by an addition of over 100 buses.

A statement signed by Bernice Akologo, the acting Head of Communications of the MMT, and copied to the Ghana News Agency at the weekend said, in addition to the existing number of routes, MMT buses would begin operations on 14 new routes effective Friday, February 05.

It said the new routes are: From Mallam through N1, Accra Mall to Spintex, Sakumono; from Accra through Osu, La, Teshie to Nungua; from Mallam through N1, Motorway to Tema; from Accra through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Beach Road to Tema and from Accra through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua to Sakumono.

The rest are from Accra through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Beach Road to Tema Community 3; from Achimota through N1, Motorway to Tema; from Kasoa through Weija Junction, Mallam Junction, Odorkor, Kaneshie to Circle; from 37 through Airport, Shiashie, Banku Junction, American House to Adjinganor; and from 37 Military Hospital through Airport, shiashie, Okponglo, University of Ghana, Atomic Junction, Madina to Adenta.

Others are from Adenta through Madina, Atomic Junction, University of Ghana, Tetteh Quashie, Airport, 37, Ako-Adjei Interchange, GBC,Nima Junction to Circle; from Ashaiman through Motorway, 37 to Accra; from Trade Fair through El-Wak Stadium, 37, Kawukudi, Dzorwulu, Achimota forest to Achimota New Station and from La General Hospital through Labone, Danquah Circle, Sankara, Kanda, Ring Road, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Obetsebi Roundabout, Motuary Road to Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.

It observed that the MMT would soon launch intra-city route maps for Accra and Tema as part of measures to improve mass transit services in Ghana.

The statement announced to the public that the Management of MMT has maintained its fares on all its operational routes until further notice; adding that 'this is in line with the social policy objectives of MMT'.

'It is further announced that passengers without METRO CARDS can also patronize the new air-conditioned buses through the traditional ticketing system.

'All such passengers are advised to always insist on collecting their tickets when they pay cash to the conductors.

'Meanwhile, passengers who have METRO CARDS are to use their cards when boarding the new buses,' the statement added.

It said the MMT remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable mass transportation in all its aspects in accordance with Government's pro-poor policy; declaring that the object is to accelerate Ghana's socio-economic growth and development.

It said MMT would continue to support efforts by Government to transform the lives of Ghanaians. GNA
06.02.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Feb 6, GNA - A nationwide fire safety awareness programme for second cycle institutions aimed at educating students, teaching and non-teaching staff on how to fight fire at the early stage opened in Accra on Friday.

Dubbed 'Fire Safety Awareness for Second Cycle Schools' and organised by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) begun with the Accra Girls' and St Aquinas Senior High Schools.

The programme took the form of lectures and practical demonstrations to make students and staff aware of the dangers associated with fire in their daily activities at their various schools and work places.

Mr Charles Amoh, Assistant Divisional Officer of the GNFS, noted that fire, which was a combination of any kind of material that could burn through ignorance or carelessness among other things could be prevented when individuals knew how best to control it.

He explained that fire safety as well as the effective use of fire extinguishers should be the work of all, and not only for a selected people.

He, therefore, called on the students, staff as well as the public to be safety conscious.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Prince Billy Anaglate, Divisional Officer, GNFS said the exercise was part of efforts by the GNFS to address the current spate of fires at the second cycle schools.

He explained that the series of fire safety education and training was important and would be taking place in all the regions to sensitise students and staff to take immediate control measures in instances of fire outbreaks, before the firemen arrived.

'As we are here simultaneously, this exercise is also happening in the mosque,' he said.

He said though the exercise was the first time to be happening in second cycle institutions, it would help students and staff to take fire prevention and safety measures seriously.

Mr Anaglate told the GNA that it was the ultimate goal of the GNFS to achieve a zero fire outbreak after the exercise.

Ms Veronica Akapame, Headmistress, Accra Girls' Senior High School, lauded the GNFS for the training, which she described as timely and educative.

She entreated students and the public to get involved for their own benefit.

Some of the Accra Girls' students who spoke to the GNA said the training was appropriate especially when there were numerous fire cases in the country recently. GNA
Akwadum (E/R), Feb. 6, GNA - The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has increased its free distribution of cocoa seedlings to farmers from 50 million to 60 million across the country.

The move was to ensure that every farmer get access to these seedlings free of charge to replant as well as raise the country's cocoa output from the current 850,000 tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes.

Dr Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, said this when a two member delegation from DZ Bank, a German Financial Institution, visited the company to acquaint themselves with the operations as part of activities to mark farmer's durbar in the Eastern Region.

COCOBOD signed 1.8 billion dollars loan agreement with some 25 international banks to improve on its operations.

The entourage visited the Brekumanso cocoa hybrid seedlings and cocoa farms in Akwadum and interacted with the farmers on their operations.

Dr Opuni said the company was improving the cocoa roads to facilitate transportation and has embarked on free mass spraying exercise to get rid of diseases that affects cocoa.

He said their outfit had engaged the services of 500 extension officers to educate cocoa farmers on best practices in their field of farming and has supported wards of farmers with cocoa scholarship for better education.

Dr Opuni urged the farmers to take advantage of the opportunities given them and rehabilitate the abandoned cocoa farms for improved production.

He encouraged the youth to sign up to the youth in cocoa farming project initiated by COCOBOD to be productive in their fields of endeavour and enjoyed the benefits associated in cocoa farming.

He appealed to the traditional authorities to make land available for the youth to venture into cocoa farming and reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

The German delegation expressed satisfaction at the Company's output and initiative in improving seedlings for the farmers.

Nana Obeng Akrofi, Regional Chief Farmer for Eastern Region, has complained the activities of illegal mining which has affected the work of the cocoa farmers and urged authorities to help address the problem. GNA
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The Communications Director of gold mining company, Anglogold Ashanti (AGA), Mr John Owusu is reported dead.

He was said to have been ran over by a company vehicle during a swoop on galamsey operators in a concession of AGA at Obuasi on Saturday morning.

According to Graphic Online's Ashanti Regional reporter, Daniel Kenu, Mr Owusu was rushed to the AGA hospital, but was pronounced dead moments later.

He was among a team of officials from AGA which had carried out the swoop on the galamsey operators who had invaded a concession of the company in Obuasi.

According to our reporter, the AGA officials were being pursued by the galamsey operators and in an attempt to escape, the driver reversed without knowing Mr Owusu was behind the vehicle and ran over him.
Sydney (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Sunday said the wife of an elderly Australian doctor kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in Burkina Faso has been released.

Doctor Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, a couple from Perth in Western Australia, aged 82 and 84 respectively, were abducted on the night of January 15-16.

"Yes, that is true and we want to thank the government of Niger and the government of Burkina Faso, which of course is where the Elliotts were living when they were kidnapped," Turnbull told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sunday morning.

"I can confirm that our Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who's been closely on top of this situation, has been speaking with the Elliott family in Australia, spoke to Mrs Elliott just a little while ago."

Turnbull would not comment on the doctor's situation, saying "we're dealing with a difficult diplomatic situation and the Burkina Faso government is working very well on it and we'll continue to stay in touch with them".

The Elliotts had moved to the impoverished west African nation in 1972 ran a clinic in the dusty town of Djibo, close to the border with Mali.

The Burkina government had said the pair were kidnapped in Baraboule, near the country's borders with Niger and Mali.

It had coincided with a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou that left at least 30 people dead, including many foreigners.

The abduction has caused an outpouring of support, with the people of Djibo turning to Facebook to plead for the couple's release.
The meeting was very well attended with over one hundred (100) delegates from about fifteen (15) countries and all walks of life interested in the field of diabetes  politicians, clinicians, diplomats, charities and scientists to name a few. Keynote speakers were: Dr. Francisco George, Director General of Health, Portugal; Dr Pablo Kuri Morales, Minister for Health Prevention of Mexico; Hon Jane Ellison MP, Minister for Public Health of United Kingdom; Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair, APPG for Diabetes; Professor Jonathan Valabhji, National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes, NHS England and His Excellency, Ambassador Nabil Ammar, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tunisia.

Diabetes is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century and there are currently 415 million adults estimated to currently have the condition and another 318 million with impaired glucose tolerance and hence at risk of developing the disease in the future.

Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas doesn't produce any insulin, or not enough insulin, to help glucose enter your body's cells  or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).  Diabetes UK.

There are three main types of diabetes:



Type 1 diabetes: Sudden onset and not curable at present. Risk factors include: Family history of the condition, genetics, infections and other environmental influences. Type 2 diabetes: The body does not produce enough insulin or that the insulin produced is not working properly and hence glucose is poorly utilised by the body. Risk factors include excess body weight, old age, physical inactivity, family history of diabetes and poor nutrition to name a few. Gestational diabetes: This only appears during pregnancy and can lead to serious health risk for both mother and child. It usually develops around the third trimester (after 28 weeks) of pregnancy and disappears after the baby is born. It is associated with an increased risk of both mother and child developing diabetes later on in life.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF Atlas, 7th, edition, 2015), the estimated number of people with diabetes worldwide (20 -79 years) and per region in 2015 and 2040 are:

North America and Caribbean: 44.3 million in 2015 and 60.5 million in 2040

Europe: 59.8 million in 2015 and 71.1 million in 2040

Middle East and North Africa: 35.4 million in 2015 and 72.1 million in 2040

South and Central America: 29.6 million in 2015 and 48.8 million in 2040

Africa: 14.2 million in 2015 and 34.2 million in 2040

South East Asia: 78.3 million in 2015 and 140.2 million in 2040

Western Pacific: 153.2 million in 2015 and 214.8 million in 2040

World: 415 million in 2015 and 642 million in 2040

In 2015, one in 11 adults have diabetes and in 2040 one in 10 adults will have the condition.

In 2015, 215.2 million men has diabetes and in 2040 328.4 million will have it. 199.5 million women have the condition in 2015 and in 2040, 313.3 million will have it

Diabetes is more prevalent in urban areas than rural area with a ratio of circa 2:1 in 2015 and predicted to rise to circa 3:1 in 2040.

Type 2 diabetes explained above accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases. However, Type 1 is increasing by around 3% a year particularly in children and without insulin therapy, the life expectancy of a child with Type 1 diabetes is very short.

In 2015 the number of children with Type 1 diabetes exceeded half a million for the first time. According to International Diabetes Federation: IDF Diabetes Atlas, 7th edition, 2015, the top ten countries of children with type 1 diabetes (0-14) years are:

USA  84.1K India  70.K Brazil  30.9K China  30.5K United Kingdom  19.8K Russian Federation  18.5K Saudi Arabia  16.1K Germany  15.8K Nigeria  14.4k Mexico  13.5K

Again from the same IDF source, 5.0 million adults died from diabetes in 2015. And from World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Health Observatory Data Repository 2013, 1.5 million adults died from HIV/AIDS, 1.5 Million adults from Tuberculosis and 0.6 million from Malaria  all in 2013. So it can be seen that diabetes kills more people than HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria combined.

Virtually every region of the world has seen a continuous increase in Diabetes. The heavily populated Western pacific has 153 million adults with diabetes. North America and Caribbean Region has the highest prevalence per capita with one in eight adults with the condition.

Europe has the highest number of children with Type 1 diabetes; about 140k and see an increase of circa 21.6k new cases a year.

In South East Asia Region, 24.2% of all live births are affected by Gestational diabetes.

In Middle East and North Africa 20% of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed whilst in South and Central America, the number of people with diabetes will increase by 65% by 2040.

In the Africa Region, it is challenging to estimate the total number of people with diabetes as more than three quarters of countries lack nationwide data, according to IDF. Thus the regional estimate is produced using data from just 12 countries, the other 37 countries have no data hence blurring the true picture of the prevalence of the disease from the region.

The top ten countries for number of adults with diabetes according to IDF are:

China  109.6M India - 69.2M USA  29.3M Brazil - 14.3M Russian Federation  12.1M Mexico  11.5M Indonesia  10.0M Egypt  7.8M Japan  7.2M Bangladesh  7.1M

It is this author's view that Nigeria with a population of around 170 million people should be in the top ten but for lack of adequate data.

According to one of the keynote speakers, Dr Francisco George, Director General of Health, Portugal  Diabetes is the fastest growing health problem in Portugal with about 60k new cases diagnosed every year. This, the government has recognised and has deployed a couple of initiatives to address the problem. Initiatives like a web based tool to track glucose level between patients and clinicians, enforced by the state and funded via the national lottery. They are also addressing the issue of sugar consumption across board in the country by reducing the amount of sugar in sachets.

For Mexico, Dr Pablo Kuri Morales, Minister for Health Prevention of Mexico in his presentation pointed to obesity as a big cause for the increase in number of diabetics seen in the country with the country spending 0.4% of its GDP on diabetes treatment and management. Measures like sugar tax has been introduced to tackle the situation.

Hon Jane Ellison MP, Minister for Public Health of United Kingdom in her presentation said that about 3.2 million people are diagnosed with diabetes in the country and another 0.5 million, undiagnosed. The cost of treating diabetes and associated conditions to the UK National Health Service (NHS) is circa 10 billion pounds a year amounting to 10 percent of NHS expenditure.

For Tunisia, His Excellency, Ambassador Nabil Ammar, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tunisia painted the picture of diabetes in his country. According to His Excellency, Tunisia embarked on a free health program for its citizens since 1956. Birth control mechanism are in place and the country is currently recording a negative population growth. However, there is a 10.9 % prevalence in diabetes rise since 2005 rising to 15% in 2015. 50% of diabetics suffer from diabetes associated complications of blindness, kidney failure and amputation and 70% eventually die from these complications. Hence tackling diabetes is a priority for the government.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes, NHS England stated that patient education, awareness and active and not passive participation in managing their condition is the key in treatment and management of the condition for a better outcome.

In his welcome address, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair, APPG for Diabetes stated, Today's conference brings together Members of Parliament, health ministers, leading experts in diabetes care and research from the United Kingdom and the world. The conference will focus on sharing knowledge and best practices from a wide variety of stake holder, and it will reflect on diabetes from an international perspective, enabling delegates from to learn from other countries' different ways of managing diabetes.  The conference did just that.

The author, Mr. Chidi Anyaeche, the Business Development Director of JB Consulting (MDP) Limited (www.jbconsulting.co.uk), a UK based in-vitro diagnostic and pathology consulting company and member of British In-vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) was an invitee to the conference.
President John Mahama has reaffirmed governments commitment to prioritizing technical and vocational training in Senior High Schools as it offers opportunity for the youth.

He is therefore urging parents and students to consider the option to also feed the growing industrial sector.

The President was speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Akatsi Senior High Technical School in the Volta Region.

Government has been pursuing strong technical, vocational and educational training at the senior high school level. The purpose has been to equip students with the technical and professional skills needed for the world of work.

There has been the need however to renew and intensify our focus on TVET at the secondary and tertiary levels of education to equip products of our educational skills with practical and technical skills, the President added.

Government in his view cannot do all by itself if the technical, vocational and educational training is to improve in the country.

He said students must be ready and willing to take up these courses.

He advised that they ignore any notion which seek to suggest that those who take up these technical courses are drop outs or not good enough.

This mindset must change because Ghana is changing, he said.
Editor in Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper is pinching government over what he says is the "talk much do less" approach in dealing with the 'Fulani' crisis in Ghana.

Kweku Baako Jnr who made a return on Newsfile after a month long break said the Mahama government and those before him, have failed to address the teething challenges about the fulani crisis.

He was even more disappointed in the NDC government which made a categorical promise in 2012 to comprehensively deal with the problems of fulani herdsmen.

Quoting page 72 of the NDC 2012 manifesto titled Advancing a better Ghana agenda the NDC promised that "the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) will organise training for at least 2000 rapid response personnel at the national and regional and district levels and take appropriate steps in conjunction with national security council and the ministry of food and agriculture to address comprehensively and in a sustainable manner the menace posed by alien herdsmen especially the fulani herdsmen within the framework of the ECOWAS protocol."

Having spent more than three years of a four year mandate with the fulani menace still rearing its ugly head, Malik Kweku Baako Jnr wondered what the government has done about the campaign promise on the fulani menace.

He challenged the Deputy Minister of Interior James Agalga who was on the Newsfile show to tell Ghanaians what the NDC has done in respect of the promise with barely eight months for the tenure of the Mahama administration to come to an end.

James Agalga said the government first wants to restructure NADMO before going ahead to employ the 2000 people.

He said the government has brought a bill before Parliament seeking to restructure NADMO after which the 2000 personnel will be appointed.

But Kweku Baako retorted, stating at no point in the manifesto promise did the NDC talk about introducing a new bill before Parliament.

If at all the Bill was necessary, the avowed NDC critic could not fathom why the government waited till the final year of its tenure before attempting to pass the Bill.

Flush out

James Agalga said government will flush out all the fulani herdsmen whose cattle are left to stray in the area of Agogo

Even though he admitted that some herdsmen popularly referred to as Fulani are Ghanaians and are entitled to live within the community, he said the security forces will crack the whip on the others who invade the country and leave their cattle to graze on people's farms.
Dear Chief Justice of Ghana, a few days ago, I read a highly politically-charged article posted on the Modern Ghana website, written by Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah, and titled, President John MahamaA Perfect Candidate For Impeachment.

Unlike a male Ghanaian citizen I have heard many times jocularly describe himself as a political animal, I am unable to comprehend much of the political analysis put out by the writer as this political animal probably would!

However, upon reflecting on the numerous problems the writer catalogued as facing Ghanaians, and because of which he demanded opposition political parties to initiate impeachment proceedings against the sitting President, I count myself blessed to have been given a holy and heavenly solution to the myriad of problems that Ghanaians are facing today, and which we may yet face in coming years, if we remain spiritually lethargic.

My spiritual mind tells me that the solutions to our national problems are not in the impeachment of the President or even in a resounding election victory for another political party other than the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in this years Presidential and Parliamentary elections, as some are clamoring for!

Our problems are as a result of the inefficacy of the Presidential Oath, and all such other oaths, as they currently stand under The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. A properly sworn Presidential Oath must not only be seen as an indication of the spiritual force and backing of the Most High One behind the President, but also as an alliance of the Nation with Him, and, thus, it is justifiably expedient that all other Article 71 public office holders of this Constitution also properly swear their respective oaths of office before they start work in any administration.

In 1999, exactly seven years after the promulgation of this our 1992 Constitution, there was a big spiritual shaking of the universe that was meant to affect, direct, and control all activities of all the inhabitants of the Earth, including Ghana. This shaking, it seems to me, was to usher in the twenty-first century and catapult mankind into an era of prosperous health and wealth! Sadly, however, mankind neither felt this shaking at all, nor could it take advantage of it to reap its intended blessings!

And so, even after this shaking of the universe, there have come three Presidents of our Republic, each with a peculiar story of a John to tellJohn Agyekum Kufuor (JAK), John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills (JEFAM) of most blessed memory and John Dramani Mahama (JDM)all of whom have, for five cumulative times, sworn by a wrongly-worded Presidential Oath! What a tale of Ghanaian political succession and continuity!!

This is because, whenever any of these oaths was sworn, it was done without due recourse to and recognition of the cause of this shaking of the universe and was, therefore, wrong, illegal, ineffective, and thus without any spiritual blessings whatsoever, since it never took on board the Will of the Most High One!!

Since ignorance of a law does not excuse any violator of it from guilt and punishment, and also, owing to the fact that no one benefits from ignorance, Ghanas cup seems to have become full after the fifth swearing-in ceremony by a President to a wrong and ineffectual Presidential Oath!! For this error in oath-swearing, Christian clergymen in the Republic are blamable!

Swearing by a wrongly-worded Presidential Oath establishes allegiance to an unintended spiritual power; a spiritual power who may even be a disguised enemy of the State! Swearing, albeit ignorantly, in the name of a being that has lost its power, is to make the oath that is sworn as powerless as it can possibly be! Swearing, unaware, by a name which can be proven to be a source of confusion, anarchy and strife, is to invoke confusion, unconsciously, upon the one who swears it and also upon all those people represented by the one who swears the oath!!

The 1999 shaking of the universe came about as the result of a pack of powerful words that had been released from the Throne of the Most High One into the universe; words which have, ever since, been vibrating and echoing in the universe, and will continue to do so till the perfect Will of the Most High One is adhered to by mankind!!

This powerful sound vibe has so far only resulted in the publication of a very radical and unique English Bible which is currently the latest edition of the popular King James Version Bible (KJV)! This latest KJV Bible is the first phase of a project aimed at mending flaws in all versions of the English Bible. But, how can flaws be in the English Bible?? one may ask!

Well, this latest edition KJV Bible is titled, The Restored Names King James Version Bible (RNKJVB) and in it, the words, God, Jesus, Christ, Christian and Christians, found in the KJV Bible, are struck out and replaced with Elohiym, Yahushua, Messiah, Messianic and Messianics, respectively! The utterance of the words Elohiym and Yahushuathe two most powerful vibrations ever utteredbrought about the shaking of the universe mentioned earlier on!!

Unbelievable changes; yet, so! Also, all such words as Godhead, godliness, godly, Gods and God-ward, which were considered by mankind as holy words in the Old and New KJV Bible, have been struck out and are, thus, non-existent in the RNKJVB!! What a big shake up in the spirit world; and yet Ghana seems oblivious??

All English Bibles, just like the KJV, have in them all these words that have been replaced by the RNKJVB, and so must also go the same way of the RNKJVB, or else remain irrelevant forever! What these changes of the RNKJVB must mean is that, by a rare latest release from the Office of the Creator to mankind, the Creators name must never be thought by anyone to be God, as was in the days of ignorance, but Elohiym; and that the name of His holy son must forever be Yahushua, as was in the beginning, and never the JESUS of Goyim (Gentile) origin!!

Note that these are not name-changes; they are restorations to THE TRUTH which had in time past become lost to mankind, and hence the title, The Restored Names King James Version Bible of this latest KJV Bible!!

Compliance with the information regarding these restorations of names was meant to be prompt and immediate at the 1999 date of publication of the RNKJV. From the date of publication of the RNKJVB, the Ivrit name Elohiym of the Creator was restored to mankind and was NEVER to be thought of as being the Goyim word God, hitherto believed to be so by an entire Earth!!

So then, when President-elect John Agyekum Kufuor swore the Presidential Oath at his inauguration on 7th January, 2001, by the words of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, thus, I, John Agyekum Kufuor, . . . do in the name of the Almighty GOD swear . . . So help me GOD, while holding aloft in his right hand an English Bible with God repeated more than four thousand times in it, believing God to be the name for the Most High One, he erred!!

And this error of JAK was passed on to Prof. JEFAM, only to be inherited by JDM; and by their children and by their childrens children, until the error is righted! Could this be the reason for the numerous difficulties His Excellency JDM is facing in his rule??

So then, dear Chief Justice, let His Excellency John Dramani Mahama re-swear the Presidential Oath with the true nameElohiymof the Most High One in it, instead of the Goyim word of offence, God, that has hurt the fortunes of our dear country for so long! Please, let JDM re-swear so that Ghanaians may have the power of the Most High One behind us to give us the peace and prosperity He has determined by His Will to come to our nation.

Only when the sitting President re-swears the Presidential Oath, with the Almighty being referred to as Elohiym, will he sit securely, rightly and properly, and with the appropriate power backing him; and then shall all the citizens and the country prosper in every way!

My dear Chief Justice of Ghana: Please consider this issue very seriously, not forgetting the public outcry of Ghanaians against President Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills of blessed memory, who, at his inauguration on January 7, 2009, fumbled in uttering some words while swearing the Presidential Oath before the good people of Ghana, leading many citizens to demand that he re-swear the oath properly!

The mishap President-elect Barack Obama also suffered, when, on January 20, 2009, while being inaugurated as the 44th President of the USA, he too fumbled in uttering some of the words of his Oath of Office, must also give us food for thought! In that instance, President Obama was compelled to swear the oath a second time, the next day, so as to ensure that he brought the right effects of his oath upon the American people!

It would seem that these two incidents in Ghana and the USA were meant to draw our spiritual minds to what effects a wrongly-sworn Presidential Oath has on any nation! Sadly, we completely missed their spiritual import!

So then, dear Chief Justice, please let His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama re-swear the Presidential Oath; properly, and in line with current spiritual happenings in the universe. Then shall our dear President stand tall among his peers for showing holy leadership, courage, boldness and submissiveness to the Most High One; and also open the way for all our future Presidents after him to also swear correctly!

And then, as our dear country blazes the trail for the world to follow, will the Most High One shine his face upon the country, and pour out immeasurable blessings upon us by redirecting the wealth of the nations into our coffers!

Long live Ghana! Long live the President!! Long live all good citizens of our great Republic!!! Shalom aleikhem!

PS: Should readers of this and any of my articles have serious questions or suggestions, they may contact me via e-mail by clicking on Contact on the Home Page of my website, http://sbprabooks.com/BongleBapuohyele. You may also purchase a copy of my bookBeware of This False Doctrine: Of Reciting the Sinners' Prayer for Salvationvia the same web address so, together, we walk the narrow way to the presence of Elohiym. Shalom.
07.02.2016 LISTEN

Police in the Volta Region are cautioning motorist plying roads in the Peki area to be extra cautious to avoid accidents.

Peki District Police commander DSP Jonas Kofi Abganyosince said most of the roads are under construction and have become possible death traps

The warning comes a day after three military men lost their lives when a minibus they were travelling in collided with a passenger Benz bus.

According to a witness the soldiers were heading to Accra in a Toyota Hiace Hearse vehicle when the accident occurred.

The mangled Toypta Hiace bus

Their bus was said to have collided head on with an oncoming benz bus which was carrying some passengers as well as some roofing sheets, rice, bicycles and some cartridges.

According to a witness the soldiers were heading to Accra in a Toyota Hiace Hearse vehicle when the accident occurred.

Their bus was said to have collided head on with an oncoming benz bus which was carrying some passengers as well as some roofing sheets, rice, bicycles and some cartridges. - See more at: http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2016/February-7th/3-soldiers-feared-dead-in-horrific-accident-at-peki.php#sthash.TTJWRtsd.dpuf

DSP Jonas Kofi Abganyo who confirmed the tragedy to Joy News, said nine others who were injured, including the driver of the Benz bus are responding to treatment at the Peki Government Hospital.

DSP Abgeva is however asking motorists to be mindful when using the road.

We have been cautioning the drivers that the roads are under construction so the little mistake you do, youll be off the road and risk your life.

So the drivers should be very careful, very methodical when they are driving so that they can save lives. Life is precious, he added.
Accra, Feb. 7, GNA - Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Executive Director of Africa Centre for Energy Policy, has advocated for a comprehensive formula for the distribution of minerals revenues between the central government and communities affected by mining.

He said government must develop principles for applying mineral revenues to high impact public investment projects at the national and community level, and institute transparent and accountable governance of mineral revenues.

Dr Adam said this at a forum on the development of a mineral revenue management framework in the country supported by Education for Development.

The forum brought together stakeholders in the sector to build grounds on the best way to manage the country's mineral revenue.

The Centre is calling for the establishment of systems for assessing and collecting mineral revenues and mechanisms for insulating the economy from the effects of commodity price volatility.

Dr Adam called for a comprehensive mineral revenue management law to ensure the effective utilisation of the resources.

He said some of the problems in the mining communities arise from the rise of resource nationalism, which is driving people to struggle to earn a living from mining.

Dr Adam said during the recent global financial crisis, prices of gold, cocoa and oil reached their peak levels, yet the country did not benefit from the price hikes and that government has review the fiscal regimes and mining agreements to ensure the country benefits from gains in the sector.

Mr Suleimana Koney, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Mines, said the existing structures of the mineral revenue management needed to be looked at and called for a collaborative effort in ensuring effective use of the natural resources.

Mr Joseph Cudjoe, Member of Parliament for Effia Constituency in the Western Region, called for a mineral revenue management law to streamline the sector and ensure transparent and accountability in the revenue generated.

GNA
07.02.2016 LISTEN

Mpreaso(E/R),Feb. 7,GNA - A 31 year- old welder, Rexford Agyapong has been handed a seven year jail sentence for stealing Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) service wires at the cost of GH 6,000,00 .

His accomplice, a 41 year old scrap dealer, Paul Aben, has been given a GH10,000.00 bail with one surety by the Mpreaso Circuit Court.

Agyapong was convicted on his own plea of guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing.

The court presided over by Justice Mariam Sellah Snare granted bail to Aben upon pleading not guilty on three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, abetment of crime and dishonestly receiving.

Stating the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Benjamin Brew stated that, the victims are residents and natives of Kwahu Pepease and Abetifi respectively.

According to him, Agyapong resides both in Accra and Abetifi whiles Aben resides in Accra.

He said between the months of November, 2015 and January, 2016, there were series of theft cases of electrical cables within the Kwahu East District.

According to Chief Inspector Brew, luck run out for Agyapong when upon a tip off, the Abetifi Police impounded him at Nkawkaw transporting some items in a sack suspected to be stolen items.

A search was conducted on him, which revealed some quantities of burnt cable wires concealed in the sack together with pliers.

The prosecutor noted that upon further interrogation Agyapong claimed ownership of the cable wires and mentioned one, Paul Aben as the one who contracted and initiated him into the cutting and stealing of electrical cable in 2009.

Chief Inspector Brew said, an additional quantity of cable wires concealed in a sack was retrieved at his residence at Dome, a suburb of Abetifi.

He said Agyapong led the police to Agbogbloshie market in Accra where he identified Aben as his accomplice.

Aben was then arrested and he admitted to have received only one consignment of electrical cables from Agyapong, which he paid a sum of GH120.00.

According to the Prosecutor, Aben also mentioned one Kassim who is currently on the run as a co-recipient.

Aben is to reappear before the court on 24th February, 2016.

GNA
Madina, Feb. 7, GNA - Fourteen defiant petty-traders were on Saturday arrested and fined between thirty and one hundred Ghana Cedis for refusing to take part in the National Sanitation Day programme

The arrest was carried out by the La-Nkwananang-Madina Municipal Assembly/ Police Task force during last Saturday's National Sanitation Exercise led by LaNMMA with the assistance of the police within the Assembly's catchment area.

Mr. Joseph Quacoe, the Head of Environmental Health Unit of LaNMMA, said the arrest was because the petty traders refused to participate in the clean-up exercise.

The traders were therefore fined and warned.

Mr Quacoe said the 15th National Sanitation Day exercise in Madina begun with earnest at about 6.00a.m., with the participation of Madina Market women, traders at the roadside and the staff of LaNMMA.

Two organizations, the Madina Queen of Peace Catholic Church Marshallans and the Miss Galaxy Queens of Madina also participated. These groups were supplied with tools for the exercise by LaNMMA.

Mr. Quacoe described the sanitation exercise as successful but was quick to add that there were lots of challenges.

He explained that most residents had to be compelled before they embarked on the cleanup exercise.

The LaNMMA waste trucks supported by Alliance Waste carted the entire refuse for disposal at Nsumia near Nsawam and Kpone landfill sites.

The Head of LaNMMA Sanitation, complained about the lack of a final disposal site in the Municipality.

GNA
07.02.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Feb. 7, GNA - Mr Kenneth Adjei, the Deputy Minister of Defense has re-assured staff of the Ghana Armed Forces that government was working assiduously to improve their accommodation problems.

He commended the staff of the 37 Military Hospital for their dedication and hard work in spite of the challenges they faced in their efforts at improving healthcare delivery.

The Deputy Minister gave the assurance at the weekend to mark the annual end of the year dinner and dance ceremony of the 37 Military Hospital Officers MESS in Accra.

He said the past years saw the nation experiencing its fair share of national disasters, disease outbreaks and strike actions, which to the large extent stretched the resources of the Hospital.

'The hospital's ability to handle the situation despite all the challenges provides assurance to the people and government that the Military Hospital is capable of performing under the most challenging situations to ensure efficient healthcare,' he added.

He said the staff's dedicated and endless hours of service, motivation and focus even in the face of several obstacles are very much recognised and appreciated.

Mr Adjei said the Hospital was the base hospital for the country's Armed Forces, National Emergency and Disaster Hospital and the Level 4 Hospital for the United Nations deployment in West Africa.

It also continues its expanded role to cater for clients and patients from all parts of the country as well as serves as a referral centre.

The Deputy Minister said all these added roles calls for an improvement in infrastructure and logistics to assist in the smooth running of the facility, which the Ministry has plans for.

He said to extend and improve the quality of health of the citizenry, the country's health sector has witnessed massive infrastructural development and retooling in the past few years which includes the construction of new hospitals which the Ministry was benefiting from.

Mr Adjei said the soon to be completed 500-bed Military Hospital in Kumasi would be the second largest hospital as well as improve access to quality healthcare to the people of the middle and northern parts of the country, while reducing the pressure on the 37 Military Hospital.

GNA
Accra, Feb 07, GNA - ActionAid Ghana, a civil society organisation, has called for the intensification of education and the development of new advocacy strategies to fight the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The call comes as the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on Saturday, on the theme "Achieving the new Global Goals through the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation by 2030,'.

A statement signed by Mr Benjamin Tawiah, the Communications and Public Relations Manager, ActionAid Ghana, which was copied to the Ghana News Agency, said this year's FGM observation draws inspiration from the Sustainable Development Goals, to galvanise some campaign energy to increase and sustain the global fight against the practice.

It said traditional leaders, FGM survivors and victims, and community role models have become effective tools for successful advocacy; declaring that 'let's all join the fight'.

It said as the world gears up to mark the Zero Tolerance Day for FGM, troubling statistics from UNICEF reveal that we have been underreporting the huge numbers of victims worldwide who are cut daily under the barbaric ritual practice of FGM.

The UNICEF report shows that the 2014 statistics did not capture some 70 million girls and women.

It is estimated that at least 200 million girls and women today have undergone some form of FGM, with half of them living in three countries: Egypt, Indonesia and Ethiopia.

According to the report, out of top 10 countries that recorded the highest percentage of women and girls between 15- 49 who have undergone FGM, Somalia has the highest number at 98 per cent, followed by Guinea at 97 per cent, and Burkina Faso and Gambia coming 9th and 10th with 76 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

The statement said in Ghana, FGM is mostly practiced in the Upper East region, parts of Upper West, and among the Kotokoli people of the Volta Region.

'However, migration within Ghana makes FGM a national crisis. ActionAid Ghana and local partner, Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA) have been advocating and campaigning against the practice in affected communities in the Upper East region,' it said.

'In 2012, the two organisations conducted research to ascertain the prevalence level of FGM in some communities and made some worrying findings,' it added.

It said the study revealed that the practice was more prevalent in communities closer to the borders of Burkina Faso and Togo, and parents usually crossed borders to cut their girls for fear of prosecution.

The statement noted that the FGM Act 494 had been passed in Ghana since 1994, making the practice illegal, however, the practice still persists in some communities.

It said ActionAid and BEWDA have undertaken several advocacy and public education programmes in some of the affected communities. Some of the activities include public awareness creation through community durbars/forums; drama and other cultural displays have been used to portray the negative implications of the practice.

Others are radio discussions using health personnel and security agencies to highlight the dangers and legal consequences of the practice; and the formation and training of Community Based Anti-Violence Teams (COMBAT) in the communities, particularly those along the borders of Burkina Faso and Togo, to monitor and report perpetrators.

The rest include engagement sessions between traditional leaders, local government authorities and security agencies to support the elimination of FGM; and supporting the Paramount Queen mother and 26 Divisional Queen mothers of the Bawku Traditional Area with funds to conduct quarterly outreach programmes to increase awareness of the dangers of FGM in the communities.

It said while the practice still persists, these interventions have reduced the incidence of FGM in some communities; education and advocacy have been intensified to protect and promote the rights of vulnerable girls and women in affected communities.

It said to fight the cross-border cutting, ActionAid and BEWDA are working with a consortium of NGOs in Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana, to coordinate organizational efforts to eliminate FGM.

'However, there are challenges in tracking 'cross-border perpetrators' and it may also be difficult to invoke the FGM Act to prosecute Ghanaian perpetrators who are caught in Burkina Faso and Togo,' The statement said.

GNA
A 13 year-old girl, Afua Ansaa Manukure from the Ridge Church School, an international school located in Accra, has emerged winner of the 9 th edition of the Spelling Bee national finals held on Saturday 6 th February 2016.

She will be representing Ghana at the 89th Scripps National Spelling Bee in USA.

The Spelling Bee competition is a literacy programme for primary school children between ages 8 to 13 years with the objective of teaching students the proper and effective use of the English Language.

Ghana has been the only African country which participated at the global level but the coordinators of the Spelling Bee have revealed plans to extend to Nigeria, Namibia and Kenya in subsequent years.

According Mrs. Eugenia Tachie-Menson, the Country Director of Young Education Foundation (YEF), the 10 th edition of the competition will come with modification in organization and preparation to improve the performance of the students.

Mrs. Eugenia also mentioned that YEF has commenced with organization of the competition in Nigeria and is looking forward to seeing a race between Ghana and Nigeria in the upcoming edition of the Spelling Bee.

The Spelling Bee has been classified as a non-academic exercise which is not examinable, a situation which has led to rejections from some heads of schools and parents but Mrs. Tachie-Menson states that spelling has been proven to develop the intellectual abilities of children as they learn through fun activities.

She cited Ghanas educational structure and the media as the major challenge facing the cause of YEF adding that reporters always ignore using new words in writing articles which is mostly read by parents and students.

She therefore encouraged parents and schools to involve their children in the competition as it aims to teach them how to think critically.

The 10 th edition will definitely be a special one and we are presently in Nigeria running the same completion so we are hoping for a Ghana/Nigeria spell off. Our major problem is the educational structure which doesnt encourage student to think critically because the student has to do what is being thought by the teacher and also the media is not publishing new words for kids to learn, said Mrs. Eugenia.

Vishal Thakwani of the Delhi Public School International (DPSI), a world class international school in Tema, who won the 8 th edition of the competition was unfortunately knocked out in the final rounds of the race.

Vishal Thakwani who was ranked the 50th best speller globally out of over 11 million pupils worldwide said he is honored for the opportunity and really appreciate the support by Ghanaians during his race against world.

Speaking to the press, Afua Ansaa Manukure, winner of 9th edition Spelling Bee national finals, expressed gratitude to God almighty for a dream come through, adding that it was beyond her expectations.

She said this years contest was very challenging as other speller-brity gave her a tougher race but was able to stand out due to her ability to learn more root words.

Im feeling extremely happy now and tremendously grateful to God for bringing me this far. I think what made it for me was my knowledge of root words which are the building blocks of words that come together to form a word and that really help me. Afua uttered.

She received a gold medal, Certificate, products from Indomie, Club Muscatella, and Voltic, and a cash prize of $500 from Indomie.

The first runner-up, Lord Awingor Mba, student of Marys Child School, also received silver medal, products from Indomie, Club Muscatella, and Voltic, a certificate and an Ecobank Junior Saver Account.

The second runner-up, Emil Abagery, student of University of Cape Coast Primary was presented with a bronze medal, products from Indomie, Club Muscatella, and Voltic, a certificate and an Ecobank Junior Saver Account.

A 13 year-old girl, Afua Ansaa Manukure from the Ridge Church School, an international school located in Accra, has emerged winner of the 9 th edition of the Spelling Bee national finals on Saturday 6 th February 2016 and will be representing Ghana at the 89th Scripps National Spelling Bee in USA.

Vishal Thakwani of the Delhi Public School International (DPSI), a world class international school in Tema, who won the 8 th edition of the competition was unfortunately knocked out in the final rounds of the race.

Participants at the 9 th edition of the Spelling Bee national finals on Saturday 6 th February 2016 in Accra.

Judges of the 9 th edition of the Spelling Bee national finals on Saturday 6 th February 2016 in Accra.

Parents attending the 9 th edition of the Spelling Bee national finals on Saturday 6 th February 2016 in Accra.

Afua Ansaa Manukure, a 13 year-old girl from the Ridge Church School has emerged winner of the 9 th edition of the Spelling Bee national finals on Saturday 6 th February 2016 and will be representing Ghana at the 89th Scripps National Spelling Bee in USA.
Kwesi Pratt

07.02.2016 LISTEN

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has said, the Mahama-led government has done remarkably well in initiating infrastructural developments  but needs to do more.

Mr. Pratt commended the president for his developmental projects nationally when speaking on Radio Gold.]

When it comes to infrastructural development, I will always salute the Mahama administration because he is doing incredible things. This government has done remarkably well when it comes to infrastructural developmentand I am happy but there is still a lot more to be done even for education, He said.

According to him, even though the president's successes speaks for itself, government communicators sometimes exaggerate unnecessarily about the achievements; thus providing fodder to the opposition to capitalize on.

There is this talk about transformation; so much talk about transformation and sometimes I just wonder. Sometimes also, government communicators have the tendency to exaggerate and when you exaggerate, you give your opponent ammunition to you use against you, he noted.

In the course of the week, President Mahama commissioned a community day Senior High School at Kwaobaah Nyanoa in the Eastern Region  he also break grounds for the commencement of work on the Kasoa interchange in the Central Region.

But the veteran journalist maintained that - the expansion of access to education by building more schools is not transformation.

There can be genuine and real transformation only if there is a paradigm shift  complete and fundamental paradigm shift. If the fundamentals of our economy and so on do not change to the extent that Ghanaians begin to own their own resourcesand that we are exploiting all of these resources for the improvement of our lives that will be the transformation Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah envisaged, he said.

Mahama second to Nkrumah in education devt?

The Senior Journalist further touted the credentials of the Mahama administration saying the current administration is only beaten by the erstwhile Nkrumah government in the area of educational infrastructure development.

To him, it is an undeniable fact the NDC government has contributed more to the education sector than every other government since the 4th republic.

It is a fact that beyond Nkrumah this is the government that has made the most investment in education; that is the fact, he stated.
It is clear his excellence John Mahama has no idea of how to add value to governance and that spells out his "incompetence".

It is the duty of every government to construct roads,build schools and hospitals as well but when we talk of adding value to governance that's exactly what former president Kuffour left behind like NHIA,SCHOOL FEEDING,FREE MATERNAL CARE,METRO MASS TRANSIT ETC.

This means he added value to Ghana before ending his term not like what President Mahama is doing commissioning school buildings as if he is the Education minister or director general of Ghana Education service.

He should sit up and fight the chop chop in his governance.Ghana is devaluing,we need value.

Please Mr. President do something and add value to this country now so that more Jobs can be created because that's the only way our pocket can be full but not the devaluing messages we are hearing from you.

Nadee Ellembelle

[email protected]
Freetown (AFP) - New security measures were in place Sunday at cemeteries in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown after grave robbers used pickaxes and sledge hammers to pry open tombs and steal coffins and jewellery.

Around 250 graves were targeted in three of Freetown's seven cemeteries over the past two months, Freetown City Council said in a statement on Saturday.

At one of the cemeteries targeted, Kingtom, 60 percent of the more than 6,000 graves were those of Ebola victims.

Twenty-four hour security was now in place at all the city cemeteries including armed police guards to foil the robbers, the council's environment and social officer Sulaiman Zainu-Parker told national radio.

The thefts were a "total disgrace to us as a nation... why can't they leave the dead to finally rest in peace undisturbed?" he said.

Abdul Rahman, caretaker of Kingtom cemetery, told the radio station that the robbers forced "open concrete graves and vaults to steal ornaments, chains, wedding rings and clothes from the dead".

"The vandals sometimes remove corpses from expensive mahogany and polished coffins and I suspect the coffins are later sold off to some local undertakers," he added.

Relatives of the dead welcomed the move by the City Council to beef up security.

Raymond Taylor told AFP his family vault at Kingtom had been plundered.

"The mahogany casket of my late father which cost us about $1,000 was stolen by unknown persons and until this day has never been retrieved.

"It must have been sold to some unscrupulous undertaker for a pittance," he said.

Another relative, Fatu Sheriff, said the grave of his aunt who died in London but was buried in the city's Ascension Town cemetery was attacked and jewellery and her wedding ring stolen.

"I am certain that these were later pawned to the usual willing customers... It's about time these things should stop," he said.
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February 07, 2016 Why Kerry Blames The Opposition For The Continuing Bombing In Syria According to this report from Middle East Eye U.S. Secretary of State blamed the opposition for the continuing bombing in Syria: US Secretary of State John Kerry told Syrian aid workers, hours after the Geneva peace talks fell apart, that the country should expect another three months of bombing that would decimate the opposition. During a conversation on the sidelines of this weeks Syria donor conference in London, sources say, Kerry blamed the Syrian opposition for leaving the talks and paving the way for a joint offensive by the Syrian government and Russia on Aleppo. He said, Dont blame me  go and blame your opposition, one of the aid workers, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her organisation, told Middle East Eye.

...

"He said that basically, it was the opposition that didnt want to negotiate and didnt want a ceasefire, and they walked away, the second of the aid workers told MEE in a separate conversation and also on the basis of anonymity. What do you want me to do? Go to war with Russia? Is that what you want? the aid worker said Kerry told her. The hapless State Department spokesperson claimed that the story was wrong: John Kirby Verified account @statedeptspox

@Charles_Lister Story wrong. @JohnKerry didn't blame oppo for collapse of talks, doesn't have comms w/regime & hasn't wavered on Asad. But this lets me believe that the report of Kerry chastising the opposition is right on point: U.S. Embassy Syria @USEmbassySyria

#SecKerry on bombardment of civilians in #Syria: This has to stop. But its not going to stop by walking away from the table or not engaging So while the State Department spokesperson denies that the U.S. blames the opposition, another part of the State Department does exactly that: "its not going to stop by walking away from the table or not engaging". Kerry is clearly embarrassed that the Saudi opposition group ran away from the UN talks in Vienna. He should blame his "allies". The Wall Street Journal says the opposition group ended the talks before they began on Turkish and Saudi orders: The Syrian opposition abruptly withdrew from peace talks in Geneva this week under pressure from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, two of the main backers of the rebels, according to diplomats and at least a half-dozen opposition figures. After sabotaging the talks the Saudis came out with an offer to send ground troops to invade Syria if the U.S. would take the command of such an operation. No one is taking that offer seriously. The Saudi troops who try to invade Yemen get beaten to pulp. The Saudis themselves say they had to closed 500 school and evacuate 12 villages with 7,000 people in Saudi Arabia because the Yemenis are now invading them. Their army has lots of expensive toys but is clearly not able to put them to use. The offer to send troops is simply to goad the U.S. into starting a war with Russia. That is not going to work. The U.S. is now trying to find some end to the conflict in Syria. Someone finally told Kerry that Russia is not in a "quagmire" in Syria but is winning. The U.S. is in a hurry now as it knows that it will have zero influence left on the issue should the Syrian government and Russia have the time to kill off the opposition. It needs a ceasefire to stay relevant. As Kerry says himself that "whining" about the situation and skipping negotiations will not help the opposition. It will kill it. Secretary Kerry also called on the Russians to stop their bombing campaign in Aleppo province. But that contradicts the UN resolution 2254 under which the talks in Geneva are held. That resolution clearly calls for a continuation of the Russian and Syrian campaign: THE UNSC [r]eiterates its call in resolution 2249 (2015) for Member States to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh), Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups, [...] and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Syria, and notes that the aforementioned ceasefire will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against these individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, as set forth in the 14 November 2015 ISSG Statement; The insurgents in Aleppo province as well as in Idleb province are officially allied with the Nusra Front which is Al-Qaeda in Syria. They are clearly a target of the above resolution and thereby a legitimate target of Russian bombs. Indeed those who criticize Kerry for blaming the opposition because it ran away from Geneva ignore the resolution. It is the plan the U.S. and Russia have agreed to follow. That plan ends the war in Syria in a ceasefire but only when the opposition agrees to one AND cuts all ties with al-Qaeda and ISIS. As the opposition, and its sponsors, are unwilling to do so the Syrian-Russian campaign against them will continue, as agreed upon by the UNSC, until their end. Posted by b on February 7, 2016 at 15:59 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
President Obamas expected proposal for a $10 fee on each barrel of oil to fund research into clean transportation options, mass transit and new forms of mass transit is not expected to be enacted.

The proposal drew quick condemnation from Republicans and the energy industry.

Under no circumstances will I let President Obama put his unrealistic, unnecessary, and costly climate change agenda above hardworking Americans. This proposed fee is just yet another tax that will do nothing but raise prices for West Texas. The president is spending his final year in office proposing as many last-ditch radical policies as he possibly can, and Republicans in the House simply wont allow it. This ludicrous proposal is dead on arrival, said Rep. Mike Conaway, whose District 11 includes Midland, in a statement.

It shows our president is incredibly out of touch with how the business of energy works, commented Joseph Castillo, president of Bold Energy III.

George Rogers, chairman of the board of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, said in a statement, President Obamas proposed $10 tax on each barrel of crude oil produced in the U.S. is another needless attempt to strangle an industry that is critical to our nations economy and national security. A $10-per-barrel tax on an industry already in a deep decline would be a death sentence. The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers will vigorously oppose this tax increase.

He continued, A $10 tax on a barrel of crude oil that is selling for about $30 is ludicrous. President Obamas new tax defies economic logic and lacks common sense. This is not a tax on Big Oil, because 92 percent of the oil produced in the U.S. is produced by independent oil producers, not the major, integrated oil companies. It is an attack on small business and American energy security. In addition to crippling the country's independent producers, crude oil imports will increase, and consumer prices will rise.

Amarillo Economist Karr Ingham called the proposal a silly notion.

The tendency is a little misguided to think, when oil is at $30, why would you impose a $10 fee? Thats a third of the price in a new fee, never mind the other taxes producers already pay? But its a terrible idea at $30 oil, at any price. It doesnt make any economic sense whatsoever, he said.

If the goal is force consumers to change from fossil fuels to renewables to combat change, taxing the raw product  crude oil, in this case  would be ineffective. Imposing the fee at the refinery or at the distributor would be more effective, but that would mean the consumers would be paying the fee, he said.

That would draw widespread protests, whereas oil companies are an easy target that few would rally around, Ingham said.

Raising prices and incentivizing people away from fossil fuels is not the way to do this, he said. It would undo the benefits to the U.S. economy and U.S. consumers in the last five to seven years as domestic producers have almost doubled oil production, providing the nation with abundant, reliable affordable supplies. Imposing the fee would return the nation to its days importing crude, Ingham said.

It harms the consumer directly by raising prices and it harms in the long-term by robbing consumers of a fully-functioning market that operates in their best interests, Ingham continued.

That is being seen today as the market encouraged producers to find significant new supplies of crude by sending prices above $100 a barrel, and once supplies were abundant, sending prices lower, he said.

The domestic oil and gas industry has been a target of this administration, and this is the latest salvo in that long-running attack. This proposal makes no sense from an economic standpoint or a climate change standpoint, Ingham said.
Michelle N. Carbajal, 28, of Odessa was charged Jan. 29 with theft under $1,500.

Ronald J. Cypert, 63, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with failing to register as a sex offender.

Rafael A. Dominguez, 23, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with possession of a controlled substance under 1 gram.

Daniel G. Hernandez, 44, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with failing to register as a sex offender.

Johnny R. Jordan, 23, of Greenwood was charged Jan. 29 with possession of a controlled substance under 1 gram.

Christopher J. Martinez, 20, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with prohibited substance in a correctional facility.

Jeremy R. Mendez, 30, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with manufacturing/delivering a controlled substance under 200 grams and possession of marijuana under 5 pounds.

Maria G. Natividad, 36, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with aggravated assault of a date/family/house member.

John S. Robles, 36, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with failing to register as a sex offender.

Noah K. Seabourn, 19, of Midland was charged Jan. 29 with possession of a controlled substance under 1 gram.

Alicia A. Hamman, 28, of Odessa was charged Jan. 30 with theft under $20,000.

Michael A. Whiteside, 42, of Midland was charged Jan. 30 with assault of a family/house member impeding breath.

Decarlton D. Wilson, 36, of Midland was charged Jan. 30 with evading arrest/detention.

Salome Rubio-Medina, 44, of Midland was charged Jan. 31 with driving while intoxicated.

Debra K. Traylor, 19, of Midland was charged Jan. 31 with tampering/fabricating physical evidence.

Andrew M. Ortiz, 24, of Midland was charged Feb. 1 with possession of a controlled substance under 1 gram.

Cody R. Juarez, 22, of Midland was charged Feb. 2 with failing to register as a sex offender.

Ashlei J. Lashbrook, 32, of Midland was charged Feb. 2 with burglary.

Jaray T. Mims, 28, of Midland was charged Feb. 2 with burglary.

Ismael G. Monarrez, 49, of Midland was charged Feb. 2 with possession of a controlled substance under 1 gram.

Erik B. Rodriguez, 27, of Midland was charged Feb. 2 with burglary.

Geoffrey L. Goode, 38, of Midland was charged Feb. 3 with unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Charlie L. Jones Jr., 44, of Odessa was charged Feb. 3 with possession of a controlled substance under 4 grams.

Edurado F. Vazquez, 18, of Midland was charged Feb. 3 with possession of a controlled substance under 200 grams and tampering/fabricate physical evidence.

Juaquin A. Corella, 19, was charged Feb. 4 with burglary.

Roberto P. Espinoza, 32, was charged Feb. 4 with unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Brandon M. Garcia, 18, was charged Feb. 4 with a prohibited substance or item in a correctional facility.

Miranda M. Govea-Arenivas, 22, was charged Feb. 4 with unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Takeosha Q. Green, 24, was charged Feb. 4 with forgery using a financial instrument.

Andrew M. Ortiz, 24, was charged Feb. 4 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Juan P. Payen, 19, was charged Feb. 4 with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and for attempting to bring a prohibited substance into a correctional facility.

Thomas E. Rismiller, 44, was charged Feb. 4 with violating a protective order.

Source: Midland County Sheriffs Office
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders initially defended the Department of Veterans Affairs in Congress after conservatives criticized the agency for inefficiency, believing it to be a part of a partisan attack. Sanders said the criticism was meant to strip funding from the department.

As a Senator for Vermont and head of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Sanders said the allegations against the V.A. had been an overblown attempt to weaken one of the government's largest welfare distributors.

"There is, right now, as we speak, a concerted effort to undermine the V.A.," Mr. Sanders said, in the wake of national media attention given to the issue. . "You have folks out there now - Koch brothers and others - who want to radically change the nature of society, and either make major cuts in all of these institutions, or maybe do away with them entirely."



However, the criticism of conservatives in Congress proved to be more than conjecture, and the V.A. scandal only deepened. The chief of the V.A. resigned, massive delays for treatment compounded, and even President Barack Obama recognized the need for immediate action, reporting "significant and chronic systemic leadership failures" in the department.

Although Sanders changed his opinion after further examining the state of the department, some were disappointed in his governing abilities. Though his chairmanship of the Senate Veterans Affair Committee has been touted as a major accomplishment in the Vermont Senator's presidential campaign, some feel that his fierce partisanship blinded him from the truth while in office.

"His ideological perspective blurred his ability to recognize the operational reality of what was happening at the V.A.," said the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Paul Rieckhoff. "The reality was that he was one of the last people to publicly recognize the gravity of the situation."

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Florida senator and presidential candidate Marco Rubio has increased the number of personal anecdotes and revelations along the campaign trail as he tries to win the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

The candidate has been somewhat reluctant to talk about his personal life in the past, preferring to stick to policy proposals or government criticisms. However, as the fight for the Republican nominations becomes more competitive, the Florida senator has opened up to crowds about his childhood, family and financial situation.

Some have suggested that Marco Rubio is a bit "robotic," and that his campaign is simply an instrument of the Republican establishment. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has called the senator "constantly scripted and controlled," and referred to Rubio as "the boy in the bubble."

However, it appears Rubio is making a concerted effort to combat this perception. The candidate is making a personal appeal to voters, and attempting to show the nation his more accessible side.

Mr. Rubio attempted to relate with financially burdened voters by detailing the economic effects his neighbors' foreclosure caused on his family. "They sold it for $300,000 - half what I paid for my house," Mr. Rubio explained, according to the New York Times. "So that reset everyone's value for years."

Rubio also opened up about the troubles his brother has been experiencing in regards to benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The inefficiency of the V.A. has become a bi-partisan issue that both sides agree needs to be fixed. Marco Rubio says he has "seen this first hand," speaking of his brother's inability to obtain dental coverage from the department. He continued, "How do we really know it happened in the Army? He says, 'Well, it's the only time when I ever jumped out of a plane.' "

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Jay-Z's streaming service Tidal has donated $1.5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as a handful of other charities. The funds were raised at the Tidal X charity concert in October.

According to The Wrap, the donations were disclosed Feb. 5 -- the date that would have been shooting victim Trayvon Martin's 21st birthday. Trayvon, an unarmed teenager walking home from the store in Sanford, Florida, was fatally shot by self-appointed neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in 2012. Trayvon's killing, and subsequent deaths of other unarmed black civilians at the hands of law enforcement, spurred the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In addition to Black Lives Matter, Tidal announced it has donated to Opportunity Agenda, Hands Up United, Sankofa.org, Community Coalition, Dream Defenders, Black Youth Project, Baltimore Justice Fund, Empowerment Development Corp., Million Hoodies, New York Justice League, Ohio Students Association/Organizing Collaborative, the Trayvon Martin Foundation, the Michael O.D. Brown We Love Ours Sons and Daughters Foundation and the Oscar Grant Foundation.

"The process of acquiring recommendations [for nonprofits] was collaborative and inspired by the message that speaks to racial and social inequities and injustice in our society," Dania Diaz, Roc Nation's managing director of philanthropy, told Mic. "Each year we will support a different initiative. Our ideology is to have a hi-fi level of consciousness in everything we do."

Martin's birthday drew commemoration and remembrances from public figures and celebrities on social media. "Trayvon Martin would have been 21 years old today," Florida Rep. Alan Grayson said. "He may be gone, but we sure haven't forgotten."

Grayson has been a leading voice against gun violence and racial discrimination in the United States.

Today, Trayvon Martin would be 21 years old. Sending love to his parents, friends, and other https://t.co/RMrnXY5RUH  Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) February 5, 2016



"Today, Trayvon Martin would be 21 years old," Marc Lamont Hill of the show Our World with Black Enterprise. "Sending love to his parents, friends, and other... "

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
FPIO to host marriage scholar Brad Wilcox on the positive

impact natural marriage has on economic success

Contact: Timothy Tardibono, FPIO President at info@okfamily.org or 405.664.6514

OKCThe Family Policy Institute of Oklahoma will host marriage and family scholar Brad Wilcox in OKC on Tuesday, February 9 to discuss his latest research findings on why natural marriage matters for the economic success of states and the well-being of children.Timothy Tardibono, President of the Family Policy Institute expressed excitement about Wilcoxs visit, Professor Wilcox is one of Americas preeminent scholars on natural marriage and the positive impact intact families have on people, communities and states. At a time when Oklahomas budget continues to stagger, Professor Wilcox will elaborate on the economic benefits natural marriage promotes and why policymakers and community leaders should encourage natural marriage and stable father-mother parenting.Tardibono continued, In fact, Wilcoxs new report--Strong Families, Prosperous States--finds that if Oklahoma enjoyed 1980-levels of married parenthood, its per capita GDP would be 2.5% higher, its median family income would be 5.6% higher, and its child poverty rate would be 8.5% lower. Wilcox concludes Whats clear from the data is that Oklahomas economy would be in better shape if Sooner families were stronger.Wilcox will be speaking at 2:00pm at MetroTechs Springlake Campus at 1900 Springlake Dr. in OKC.Also at MetroTech at 3:30pm, Professor Wilcox will be presenting the findings of his new book: Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Love & Marriage Among African Americans and Latinos. Soul Mates is the first book to chronicle the vital role that churches are playing in contemporary America among Black and Latino families. Rather than focusing on whats wrong with American families, Wilcox shines a spotlight on the many happy couples that are benefiting from their regular participation in a spiritual community. Wilcoxs findings demonstrate that couples who attend religious services regularly, regardless of denomination, are much more likely to enjoy strong relationships.For more information and to register, visit: www.okfamily.org/events
Sarkodie should have been bigger than ...
Apparently you haven't really lived until you've experienced Carnival in Rio de Janiero. It's a party that well-known for its debauchery, but it's also an exclusive event that people, from heads of state to international superstars, take time out to enjoy.

While clothing is optional at some points along the celebration, not everyone takes it that far.
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Antronie Scott's family members made their first public appearance Saturday as community leaders offered their support for the unarmed man shot to death by an officer Thursday.

Scott's widow, Elena Sprawling-Scott, and his mother, Diane Peppar, held back tears at the Barbara Jordan Community Center on the East Side. They flanked a lectern at which community leaders and local activists took turns sharing their views on police in San Antonio.

"The Antronie Scott family demands justice. The Antronie Scott family deserves justice," said Terrence Coklow, vice president of the Greater East Side Coalition, later including the families of Marquise Jones and Gilbert Flores, who also were killed by law enforcement.

RELATED: SAPD chief: San Antonio police officer thought cellphone was gun before fatally shooting man

On Saturday evening, Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys announced in a news release that they are representing Scott's wife and his estate.

"To say this is disappointing is an understatement. This has become a serious concern in San Antonio," Henry said in the statement. "This is now the second family my firm represents who had a family member unjustifiably killed at the hands of law enforcement agents."

Scott, who was wanted on two felony warrants, had been followed by undercover officers to the Wood Hollow Apartments at 10362 Sahara St., near Isom and Ramsey roads, officials said. About 6:45 p.m., a uniformed officer was called to the scene to approach him.

Officer John Lee, an 11-year veteran, pulled up to Scott as he was exiting a white Mercedes sedan. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said that, according to Lee, he approached Scott and told him, "Let me see your hands," then almost immediately fired his service weapon because Scott spun around quickly. Lee told officers he feared for his life.

Hours later, McManus confirmed that Scott had been unarmed and was reaching for a cellphone, not a gun, when he was shot.

Mayor Ivy Taylor announced Friday night that she had met with McManus after concerns were brought to him by both the NAACP and the Baptist Ministers' Union in response to the shooting.

"The chief assures us that a full investigation is already underway by the Internal Affairs Unit and that the shooting will be reviewed by the District Attorney's Office," Taylor said in a statement. "I trust in the process and, as always, urge anyone with information to please come forward."

McManus issued a statement Saturday that said the department is continuing its investigation of the shooting and that information on both the criminal and administrative investigation will be released to the public as it becomes available.

"We are committed to conducting an unbiased and transparent investigation into this matter," he said in the statement.

In the meantime, Lee was placed on administrative duty, officials said.
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SAN ANTONIO -- ICE agents in San Antonio have deported a Mexican man who is accused in the stabbing death of another man in Mexico in 2006.

Authorities with the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removals Operations in San Antonio released a statement that said Juan Carlos Torres-Carcosa, 39, was sent back to his home country Friday.

According to the statement, Mexican officials said Torres-Carasosa was drinking alcohol and a friend's house and allegedly stabbed the man to death, stole the victim's pickup truck and left the scene.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents arrested Torres-Caracosa near Roma, Texas, on May 28, 2007, according to the statement. While in custody, he admitted that he was in the country illegally. Torres-Caracosa was convicted Oct. 4, 2007, for being in the United States illegally, was issued a final order for removal and was deported Nov. 15, 2007.

San Antonio ERO agents were informed Nov. 9 by Mexico's Procuraduria General de la Republica that there was an active arrest warrant issued by the government of Mexico for Torres-Caracosa, in the killing of the man with a knife in 2006.

According to the statement, Torres-Caracosa illegally re-entered the United States near Penitas, Texas and was arrested by the ICE Fugitive Operations Team. He was deported Friday and transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities at the Brownsville Gateway Port of Entry.

"Removing criminal foreign fugitives from the United States is a top ICE priority," Enrique M. Lucero, field office director of ERO San Antonio, said in the statement. "The cooperation between the governments of the United States and Mexico resulted in this foreign fugitive being turned over to this native country where he will stand trial for an alleged murder."

According to ICE data, in 2015, agents removed or returned 235,413 people who were in the United States illegally.

ezavala@express-news.net

Twitter: @elizabeth2863
Most recently we have been facing an increasing number of challenges as a country, including the health of our economy. As I have previously done and continue to do, I encourage the Liberal Government to seriously consider pragmatic solutions for dealing with our economic uncertainty.

As your Member of Parliament for Provencher, I am also concerned about the rapid change in direction that the new Liberal Government is taking our country. In addition to their reaction to the instability of the global economy, there are a number of issues that I believe are of concern.

One of these issues surrounds a promise by the new Liberal Government that could significantly change Canadas electoral system without consulting Canadians on the matter. I firmly believe that any decisions which can affect the future outcomes of Canadian elections must be made with the input of Canadian voters, not solely by politicians.

The Liberal Government has indicated that it would eliminate our first-past-the-post system. This is a method used in Canadian elections where each voter has one ballot. As a voter, you select your preferred candidate on the ballot and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Although the Liberals have promised to change this system, they have not made important details public nor will they allow Canadian voters to decide on the matter. If you agree that Canadians need a say in this important issue, I urge you to sign the online petition which calls on the Liberal Government to allow Canadians to vote through a referendum on any changes made to our electoral system. You can sign the petition found on Parliament of Canadas website.

During the previous election Mr. Trudeau campaigned on a number of issues, including transparency. If he is really serious about open and transparent governments, I call on him and his party to not only provide Canadians with details on their proposed plan, but to involve voters in this important decision. As taxpayers and voters, I believe that your voice deserves to be heard.
Posted on 02/07/2016, 1:00 pm, by mySteinbach

Four people have been charged with methamphetamine trafficking after a Steinbach RCMP GIS unit and Altona Police Service led investigation. Police officers from the Emerson and Morris RCMP detachments and the Winkler Police Service assisted in the investigation.

Police say that shortly after midnight on February 6, 2016, a search warrant was executed on a residence in Morris, Manitoba. As a result of the warrant, police arrested four people inside the residence for methamphetamine trafficking as well as seizing methamphetamine, scales, money and packaging materials from the residence.

Evidence gained by the police also lead to a second search warrant being executed on a vehicle from Lorette in which police found further methamphetamine, scale and packaging materials.

As a result of this investigation, Rachel Jacques and Jordon Demare of Morris, Travis St. Jacques of Steinbach and Rachel Morris of Lorette are all facing numerous drug trafficking related charges. Both Rachel Jacques and Jordon Demare had been arrested and charged on December 3, 2015, for several offences including trafficking methamphetamine following Project Doorman, an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in South Eastern Manitoba. Both are still currently on bail for those charges.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

I cant break out my Magic Markers for the Sanders v. Clinton debate last Thursday because theres not enough time in the world. So I want to look at three seemingly distinct topics: corruption, health care, and what the smart people who ride the Acela call theories of change. For each topic, I will compare and contrast Sanders and Clinton; and Ill weave the three topics together at the end.

Before I begin, though, let me set the context for the (truly great) debate: Elite panic at Clintons performance. McClatchy:

Dick Harpootlian, a prominent criminal defense lawyer in Columbia, South Carolina, and former chair of that key Southern states Democratic Party, said the addition of more debates reflects panic among Clinton and Democratic figures who support her in the wake of Sanders unexpectedly strong challenge. Hillary was against having more debates, now shes for debates, Harpootlian told McClatchy. This is whats wrong with our party. The minute shes in trouble, they decide they need more debates. If she had done much better in Iowa, there wouldnt be more debates.

Others agree. The Los Angeles Times uses more measured language than (Sanders supporter (!)) Harpootlian, which is not hard, but the conclusion is the same:

The fact the session took place at all was a reflection of the changed nature of the contest. Originally, Clinton agreed to just six debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, which has weathered criticism it tried to shelter the partys front-runner and stave off a serious challenge. Her willingness to join Sanders onstage  and agree to later debates in Michigan and California  was just one sign the race has grown much tougher than Clinton and her supporters had hoped.

Now, Im assuming Wasserman-Schulz is still di messing around with the schedule, and so a viewership ranked 17 of 19 debates, equivalent to a Republican undercard debate, wasnt a bug, but a feature. If thats true, Id argue that the Clinton campaign hoped both to keep Clinton wrapped in tissue paper and land a knockout blow in the form of an admission or a gaffe suitable for YouTube; Clintons diatribe on If youve got something to say, say it directly looks a lot like a setup for such a punch. If so, Sanders didnt fall for it and wasnt rattled, and he wins by not losing. (In fact, the Sanders campaign landed a solid counterpunch of its own, as we shall see under Corruption, below, and enabled Sanders himself to stay on the high road. Thats how its done.)

Corruption

Our famously free press doesnt like to use the word corruption  thats Third World stuff  but lets go ahead and call things by their right names. From the debate transcript at the Washington Post:

SANDERS: What being part of the establishment is, is, in the last quarter, having a super PAC that raised $15 million from Wall Street, that throughout ones life raised a whole lot of money from the drug companies and other special interests. To my mind, if we do not get a handle on money in politics and the degree to which big money controls the political process in this country, nobody is going to bring about the changes that is needed in this country for the middle class and working families. CLINTON: Yeah, but I  I think its fair to really ask whats behind that comment. You know, Senator Sanders has said he wants to run a positive campaign. Ive tried to keep my disagreements over issues, as it should be. But time and time again, by innuendo, by insinuation, there is this attack that he is putting forth, which really comes down to  you know, anybody who ever took donations or speaking fees from any interest group has to be bought. And I just absolutely reject that, Senator. And I really dont think these kinds of attacks by insinuation are worthy of you. And enough is enough. If youve got something to say, say it directly. But you will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received .  CLINTON: So I think its time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out

Shorter Clinton: You say Im corrupt. Prove it! In longer form, Clinton makes the strong claim that you will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received. This claim can be disproved with a single example. Here ya go.

Lets look at what Elizabeth Warren has to say on Clinton and the bankruptcy bill; note the appeal to those burdened with student loans. (Many of you may have seen this, but its well worth a second look. The video was blasted out to the press almost instantaneously by the Sanders campaign, to whom we should give credit both for being both better at oppo and more agile than we might think.) Here it is:

From the 2004 transcript at Bill Moyers:

ELIZABETH WARREN: One of the first bills that came up after she was Senator Clinton was the bankruptcy bill. This is a bill thats like a vampire. It will not die. Right? Theres a lot of money behind it, and it BILL MOYERS: Bill, her husband, who vetoed ELIZABETH WARREN: Her husband had vetoed it very much at her urging. BILL MOYERS: And? ELIZABETH WARREN: She voted in favor of it. BILL MOYERS: Why? ELIZABETH WARREN: As Senator Clinton, the pressures are very different. Its a well-financed industry. You know a lot of people dont realize that the industry that gave the most money to Washington over the past few years was not the oil industry, was not pharmaceuticals. It was consumer credit products. Those are the people. The credit card companies have been giving money, and they have influence. BILL MOYERS: And Mrs. Clinton was one of them as Senator. ELIZABETH WARREN: She has taken money from the groups, and more to the point, she worries about them as a constituency.

Well, so much for artful smear. (I saw that one go by on the Twitter, and thought Uh oh, but then it suddently died, as if some decision had been made no longer to propagate it. Perhaps this video was why.)

Note how narrow Clintons definition of corruption is: Money in exchange for a vote. That is the criminal definition of corruption  the quid pro quo  as weve seen from Zephyr Teachout, but corrupton as the Framers understood it, as an infection in the body politic, has a far broader definition: The self-serving use of public power for private ends.[1] Clearly, using ones official position as a former Secretary of State and a likely future President to collect $675,000 from Goldman is exactly that. And Im amazed how many Clinton supporters, at least on the Twitter, simply refuse to see this. Do they believe, as Yves asks, that Goldman is investing in Clinton with no thought of return? If so, Ive got a campaign headquarters Id like to sell. Transpose the example from high politics to local politics. Assume Clintons running for re-election as dog-catcher. She gives a speech at Premier EZ Catch, Inc. for $675, and then later awards Premier EZ Catch the contract for dog catching nets. Am I entitled to call that corrupt? Of course; Clinton would never have been offered the $675 had she not been, as a public official, in a position to award the contract. Would I vote to re-elect Clinton as dogcatcher? Of course not.

And now to compare Clinton to Sanders: Things are a lot simpler with Sanders; his net worth is $419,000[2]. Let me break out my calculator And so his lifetime accumulation of wealth is $256,000 less than the $675,000 Clinton made for three speeches at Goldman. And then theres the campaign fundraising model: 70 percent small donors. [T]he $20 million it reports to have raised in January came almost exclusively from online donations averaging $27 a piece. So, with Sanders, even if we use Clintons definition of corruption, the question of quid pro quo doesnt arise. Theres not enough quid.

Health Care

To health care. Rather than shredding Clintons false claims about Sanders on health care policy, I want to compare and contrast their health care policy successes. First, Clinton. The transcript:

CLINTON: Before it was called Hillarycare  I mean, before it was called ObamaCare it was called Hillarycare because we took them on, and we werent successful, but we kept fighting and we got the childrens health insurance program . Every step along the way I have stood up, and fought, and have the scars to prove it.

With kept fighting, Clinton is being a little disingenuous. The Clinton administration began their effort in 1993, and the Health Security Act was deep-sixed by the leadership in 1994. The State Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was only proposed in 1997; its not part of the Health Security Acts legislative history at all. That said, its a good program, and Hillary Clinton can take some of the credit for passing it. From Factcheck.org:

Hillary Clinton took a major role in translating the new law into action. The program leaves to the states the job of setting up coverage and getting children enrolled, a task that continues to be a struggle to this day.  In April that year the first lady gave a speech saying nearly 1 million children had been enrolled during the previous year, but that increasing the figure was one of the highest priorities of her husbands administration. She said the president would seek $1 billion to fund a five-year outreach effort, with a goal of increasing enrollment to 5 million by 2000. Our conclusion: Clinton is right [to take credit].

In 2014, over 8 million children were enrolled in CHIP.

Second, Sanders. The transcript:

SANDERS: And let me just say this. As Secretary Clinton may know, I am on the Health Education Labor Committee. That committee wrote the Affordable Care Act. The idea I would dismantle health care in America while were waiting to pass a Medicare for All is just not accurate.  So I do believe that in the future, not by dismantling what we have here  I helped write that bill  but by moving forward, rallying the American people, I do believe we should have health care for all.

Sanders, with I helped write that bill, is claiming at once too much and too little. Too much, because  thank heavens  Sanders didnt architect or draft the ACA; that was a job for Max Baucus and the insurance companies. Too little, because what Sanders did do was get Community Health Centers into the bill:

However, as negotiations were in their final stage, Sanders successfully pushed for the inclusion of $11 billion in funding for community health centers, especially in rural areas. The insertion of this funding helped bring together both Democratic lawmakers on the left and Democrats representing more conservative, rural areas. There was no one who played a more important role than Sen. Sanders in securing that funding, Daniel Hawkins, vice president of the National Association of Community Health Centers, told the Intercept last year. (Sanders camp forwarded PolitiFact the Intercept article as evidence for his statement.)

Community Health Centers, too, are a good program:

The new law provides an additional $9.5 billion in operating costs and $1.5 billion for new construction. With this additional funding, community health centers will be able to double the number of patients they serve to up to 40 million annually by 2015.

Thats 20 million.

Now lets step back and compare and contrast Clinton and Sanders:

1) Sanders, just like Clinton, is capable of being pragmatic, if thats defined as settling for a partial good. Clinton got CHIP initiated; Sanders got CHC expanded.

2) If we take coverage numbers as a metric, Sanders is a more successful pragmatist than Clinton; 6 million covered by Clinton, vs. 20 million covered by Sanders.

3) Sanders is most certainly capable not only of legislative achievement but of coalition-building. In a time of divided government and partisanship even more ruthless than under the Clintons, Sanders could bring together both Democratic lawmakers on the left and Democrats representing more conservative, rural areas.[3]

So one could certainly make the case  at least in health care  that Sanders is a more effective politician, and a more effective pragmatist, than Clinton. (Of course, Sanders didnt have to cope with the reputational effects of the HillaryCare debacle. So theres that.) Why would that be? I think there are two reasons (and Ill get to the second in the next section). First, Sanders had set high goals in the beginning of the legislative process. He didnt negotiate with himself, or start from the perspective that he had to ask for half a loaf because thats all he was going to get. Politifact summarizes the legislative history:

Still, when Sanders says he helped write the bill, it would be reasonable to imagine that Sanders was an integral player in the crafting of the bill over a long period of time  an insider in the process. And thats not the reality. Before the final bill was enacted, Sanders and his allies on the partys left flank regularly expressed frustration at the concessions they had to make during the legislative process. Public-option proponents, including Sanders and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, say they already have given up enough, Politico reported in late November 2009. They agreed to forgo a single-payer system. They decided not to push a government plan tied to Medicare rates. And they accepted (Harry) Reids proposal to include the opt-out provision. Thats it, they say. Politico went on to quote Sanders saying, I have made it clear to the administration and Democratic leadership that my vote for the final bill is by no means guaranteed.

If Sanders had started from Clintons perspective of fear of contentious debate and what is achievable, and made his first offer his final offer, would he and his allies have achieved even as much as the CHC? I doubt it.

Theory of Change

Elsewhere, I contrasted Clintons theory of change as trench warfare with Sanders theory of change as breakthrough. Here, I want to weave together theories of change with corruption, using health care as an example. Above, I presented one reason that Sanders is an effective and pragmatic politician: He set high goals. (Clinton characterizes having a high goal as an initial offer as Making promises you cant keep.) Heres the second reason: He had the right kind of outside pressure to help him. To see this, lets look at the what happened to single payer advocacy in the HillaryCare debacle. From Vicente Navarro, who was inside the process:

Jesse Jackson, Dennis Rivera (then president of Local 1199, the foremost health care workers union), and I went to see Hillary Clinton. We complained about the commitment to managed care competition without due consideration of a single-payer proposal supported by large sectors of the left in the Democratic Party. We emphasized the need to include this proposal among those to be considered by the task force. Mrs. Clinton responded by asking Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition to appoint someone to the task force with that point of view. And this is how I became a member of the White House task force. I later found out that there was considerable opposition from senior health advisors, including Starr and Zelman, to my becoming part of the task force. According to a memo later made public and published in David Brocks nasty book The Seduction of Hillary Clinton, Starr and Zelman disapproved of my appointment because Navarro is a real left-winger and has extreme distaste for the approach we are pursuing which was fairly accurate about my feelings, but I must stress that my disdain for managed competition and the intellectuals who supported it did not interfere with my primary objective: to make sure that the views of the single-payer community would be heard in the task force. They were heard, but not heeded. I was ostracized, and I had the feeling I was in the White House as a token  although whether as a token left-winger, token radical, token Hispanic, or token single-payer advocate, I cannot say. But I definitely had the feeling I was a token something.

(If only Jesse Jackson had run, and not Michael Dukakis!) This is the inside game: appoint someone to the task force Then comes the outside pressure:

It was at a later date, when some trade unions and Public Citizen mobilized to get more than 200,000 signatures in support of a single-payer system, that President Clinton instructed the task force to do something about single-payer. From then on the battle centered on including a sentence in the proposed law that would allow states to choose single-payer as an alternative if they so wished.

Now lets contrast the outside pressure  considering national union leadership as outsiders, for the sake the argument  for single payer when ObamaCare was being passed. There were petition drives, and also (some) unions, like National Nurses United, though shamefully not the SEIU. But there were also these forms of elite reaction to outside pressure (somewhat reformatted):

(It looks like the lesson the Democratic establishment took from the HillaryCare debacle was not to appoint single payer advocates at all, instead of putting them on committees and then shunning them.) All these examples exhibit outside pressure exerted by single payer advocates on elites in the Obama administration and its allies in the political class. Now review Navarros narrative. Do you see any similar examples there? (Its possible that such examples did happen  readers?  but it seems unlikely to me that Navarro would not have mentioned them). It could be that Im too close to the single payer battle to be objective, but this is a distinction. I dont recall people getting arrested on behalf of single payer in Senate hearing rooms when HillaryCare was going down, for example. So that, to me, is the second reason for Sanders success with CHC.

And where, pray tell, would such outside pressure on the political class come from, in a Sanders administration? Well, that would be the political revolution that Sanders constantly speaks of:

SANDERS Im running for president because I believe it is just too late for establishment politics and establishment economics. I do believe we need a political revolution where millions of people stand up and say loudly and clearly that our government belongs to all of us and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors.

And is there an example in recent history of a movement that could perform this task? Why yes. Yes there is. It was called Obama for America, and it was highly effective in 2008. Heres what happened to it:

As Jessica Shearer, a top Obama field organizer in 2008, who managed nine key states for the campaign, said a year ago at our PDF symposium on networked organizing after the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, the Obama team had basically kneecapped their grassroots after the 2008 victory. If Dean had been put in charge of the Democratic Party after that election, that list might have really built the democracy. It might have built a party. It might have allowed people a place to engage. Instead, it was this weak echo chamber, where they couldnt be one step to the left or one step to the right of anything the president said.

Marshall Ganz, who initiated and organized Obama for America, agrees with Shearer:

President Obama, Ganz says ruefully, seems to be afraid of people getting out of control. He needed the organizing base in 2008, but he and his inner circle were quick to dismantle it after the election. Yes, Ganz concedes, they kept Organizing for America, with its access to the vast volunteer databases, alive; but they made a conscious decision to neuter it, so as to placate legislators who were worried about the independent power base it could give Obama. Following a meeting of key members of the transition team, they placed it under the control of the Democratic National Committee.

So a Sanders theory of change doesnt have to be that hard: Dont replicate the Democrats strategic failure  Im being very charitable here  of gutting a movement once built. We know how to do the right thing; so do it. Change is hard; but the theory of change is not hard.

And this brings me right back round to corruption. The Democrat Party and, more importantly, its voters and constitutents, are not faced with a choice between Clintons incremental, insider-driven trench warfare strategy, and Sanders breakthrough, outsider, movement strategy. The first cannot work; the second can. Why?

The insider strategy founders on corruption. You saw that in Warrens video on Clinton and the bankruptcy bill. When Clintons private interests changed after her transition from First Lady to Senator, she flipped on policy to favor her new Wall Street contributors constituents; the self-serving use of public power for private ends. And exactly the same thing will happen with any insider strategy today; corruption will defeat it.

A movement strategy is the only way forward. And we already know how to do it!

NOTES

[1] Under oligarchy, we might ask ourselves if corruption is the normal  indeed, normative  interface between state and civil society, at least for elites.

[2] I know thats way above average for the United States; it seems like a lot to me. But its way below average for Presidential candidates and Senators. Sanders is the 86th poorest Senator in a Senate where the median net worth is about $2.8 million. Clintons net worth is estimated at 50 times greater than Sanders.

[3] So put that in your electable pipe and smoke it.
Submitted Divco Custom Homes has released five waterfront homes in Serrano on the River in Bonita Springs. The Opsrey model is shown.

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Submitted By Whalen Public Relations

Divco Custom Homes has expanded its Southwest Florida offerings with the release of five waterfront homes in Serrano on the River.

Serrano on the River is a private gated neighborhood along the Imperial River in Bonita Springs. Divco has five homesites that front the river and allow homebuyers to live directly on the Imperial River with access to Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Each site has a private boat dock.

"These unique homesites are among the finest waterfront sites left in this area," said Alan Foster, vice president of marketing for Divco Custom Homes. "Residents may enjoy boating on the river."

Divco Custom Homes offers the Osprey model, which has about 2,400 square feet. This island-style design includes a great room, three bedrooms, three baths and a study. Home and homesite packages are priced from the high $900s to more than $1.2 million.

Beyond the gated entry are two large lakes. There is a river park complete with a gazebo and picnic area, a riverfront dock and community boat ramp, and a canoe park and kayak launch. Another unique feature is a nature preserve.

Established in 1979, Divco has built an impressive portfolio consisting of nearly 1,200 distinctive luxury homes in nearly 60 Southwest Florida communities. Divco Construction Corp. has been widely recognized for design and construction excellence. The company is a recipient of numerous Sand Dollar Awards and Pinnacle Awards from the Collier and Lee County building associations. Its reputation for quality craftsmanship and commitment to customer satisfaction has also earned it the Diamond Builder and Elite Builder awards.

Divco Custom Homes is headquartered at 6628 Willow Park Drive, Naples. Online at divcohomes.com.
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Under federal and state fair housing laws, there are provisions stating that condominium, cooperative and homeowners' associations must make accommodations to owners or tenants that have the need for a service animal or emotional support animal. Although these laws make sense to accommodate a person, who really is in need of such animals to assist them in carrying out their day-to-day activities, the laws can be challenging to communities that prohibit pets or restrict pets to say small dogs or cats.

When these animals show up on properties where pet restrictions exists, many owners cry out "what about our pet restrictions  they are in violation." How come they can have a pet and nobody else?

This is usually not a problem with a service animal, such as a Seeing Eye dog or a dog that wears a service animal vest for people with epilepsy. It is probably apparent the person needs such a dog and all the person has to do is show that the service animal has been trained to do such a job and the assistant service animal will have to be permitted. Under the law, such a service animal can also be a miniature horse.

However, the big problem we are seeing is owners or tenants bringing onto the properties animals which look and act like regular pets (such as cats or dogs), where such pets are prohibited or restricted in the particular building or community. When asked, the animal owner says that the animal is an emotional support animal. Under the applicable federal laws, emotional support animals do not need to be formally trained at all and do not need to wear vests like service animals.

When the alleged emotional support animal shows up or is requested by the owner or tenant to be on property, the association should require the animal owner's doctor to fill out a particular form to provide evidence that the animal has been "prescribed" by the doctor to the patient as an emotional support animal. Most legitimate doctors will fill out the form when requested if the emotional support animal is a legitimate need of the patient.

However, there are some "online" so-called doctors from out of state who may write a letter saying the person needs the animal and the doctors may have not even know or have ever seen the patient. In this case, the association should be careful and go over with legal counsel what can and cannot be requested from the owner or tenant concerning the alleged emotional support animal.

If the person just wants to have their pet fluffy in a "no pet" building but really does not have any prescribed need of the animal for emotional support, careful inquiry can usually flush that out and if it is not a legitimate emotional support animal, the animal can be denied on the property by the association.

What kind of animals have been prescribed by doctors for legitimate for emotional support? We have seen two rabbits and, believe it or not, a live turkey, who got to fly on a commercial airline and be pushed through the airport in a wheelchair after the airline determined the turkey was a real documented support animal.
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Real estate show

Jim York, a local Realtor, hosts a real estate update show each week on current issues or trends. Join York every Thursday afternoon from 1:30 to 3 p.m. through the end of the year. There will be a different guest who specializes in a currently relevant topic each week. Any questions about upcoming topics or to be an audience guest, contact U.S.A. Marketing LLC by email: usamrktggroup@cs.com. All shows can also been seen at NaplesYorkRealEstate.com or their Real Estate News Blog: YorkRealEstateGroupSWFL.com.

Licensing courses

Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is offering a real estate licensing course. The eight-day, 63-hour course is required education to obtain a Florida Real Estate Sales Associate license. The course covers Florida real estate licensing requirements, responsibilities and liabilities and standards of conduct. To sell real estate in Florida, a person must have a license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Before obtaining a license, a person is required to attend this course, submit an application and pass the state exam. The eight-day class will be held February 15-19, 22-24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at 13040 Livingston Road, No. 12, Naples. Tuition is $369. Course materials are included.

Larson Educational Services is also offering a CAM licensing course. The two-day, 18-hour course is required education to obtain a Florida community association manager (CAM) license. The course covers Florida CAM licensing requirements, responsibilities, and liabilities and standards of conduct. A Florida CAM license is required when managing an association of more than 10 units and/or has an annual budget in excess of $100,000. Types of properties that hire CAM license holders are mobile home parks, planned unit developments, homeowners associations, cooperatives, timeshares, condominiums, or other residential units which are authorized to impose a fee that may become a lien on the parcel. The two-day class will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at 13040 Livingston Road, No. 12, Naples. Tuition is $279.

Register for these classes by calling 239-344-7510 or online at www.LarsonEd.com.

ULI to meet

The Urban Land Institute-Southwest Florida welcomes keynote speaker and ULI Senior Resident Fellow Ed McMahon to spotlight examples of successful thriving communities nationally and how those experiences can help guide other communities. The program will also have a Lee County focus on the emerging efforts of the city of Bonita Springs and the Village of Estero. Presenters include Dr. Paul Van Buskirk, Metro Forecasting Models; Steven Sarkozy, Estero village manager; Suzanne Bradach, Lee Memorial Health Systems; Carl Schwing, Bonita Springs city manager; and Paul Benson with EBL Partners will discuss the longitude mixed-use project. The meeting will be held Friday Feb. 19 from 7:45 to 11 a.m. at Florida Gulf Coast University, Sudgen Hall Ballroom, 10501 FGCU Blvd., Fort Myers. Cost: $40 for members; $55 for nonmembers; and discounted prices for students and public sector employees. A $10 increase for those registering on site. For information and registration, visit www.swflorida.uli.org. Registration deadline is Feb. 17.

CAM licensing courses

Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is offering a CAM licensing course. The two-day, 18-hour course is required education to obtain a Florida community association manager (CAM) license. The course covers Florida CAM licensing requirements, responsibilities, and liabilities and standards of conduct. A Florida CAM license is required when managing an association of more than 10 units and/or has an annual budget in excess of $100,000. Types of properties that hire CAM license holders are mobile home parks, planned unit developments, homeowners associations, cooperatives, timeshares, condominiums, or other residential units which are authorized to impose a fee that may become a lien on the parcel. The two-day class will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at 13040 Livingston Road, No. 12, Naples. Tuition is $279. Register by calling 239-344-7510 or online at www.LarsonEd.com.

Local WCR chapter to meet

The Naples-on-the-Gulf chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors will hold its February Business Resource meeting and breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Club at Olde Cypress, 7165 Treeline Drive, Naples. Networking begins at 8:30 with breakfast/meeting from 9 to 10 a.m. The topic is Speed Dating with New Construction. The reservation deadline is Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. Visit WCRNaples.com.

New website

Stevens Construction, with offices in Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando, has launched a new website designed to provide education on the company's construction management process and project experience with improved functionality and navigation. The enhanced corporate website offers simple access to the company's history, executive team biographies, project portfolio, client testimonials and recent news. The website features a unique homepage design and intuitive navigation system compatible with all devices including mobile and tablets; creating a user-friendly experience for those seeking further information on Stevens Construction's health care and commercial projects. Online at stevensconstructioninc.com.

New officers, board members

The Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) elected officers and the Board of Governors to lead the organization during 2016: President Amanda L. Brock, Esq., of Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt, PA; Vice President Karen Miller of GHD Services; Treasurer Bev Larson, CCIM, of Lahaina Realty; and Secretary Alexis Crespo, AICP, of Waldrop Engineering. The Board of Governors includes: Bob Bassett, of Branch Banking & Trust Co.; Noel Davies, of Roetzel & Andress, LPA; Mary Gentile, of LandQwest Property Management, LLC; Arleen Hunter, of city of Bonita Springs; Bill Morris, of Morris-Depew Associates; Chris Pacitto, of Velocity Engineering Services; and Peter Rossi, of Forge Engineering. The immediate past president, Matt Simmons, of Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons, LLC, remains on the board.

Transactions

Investment Properties Corp. (IPC) negotiated this deal:

Front Street Holdings LLC purchased 12,000 square feet of office space from Jermen Properties Ltd. at 8955 Fontana Del Sol Way, Naples. The purchase price was $2,360,209. Clint L. Sherwood negotiated this transaction.

Transactions reported by CRE Consultants:

Lupin Inc. leased 5,177 square feet in The Offices at Pelican Bay, 5801 Pelican Bay Blvd., Suite 205, Naples from Steelbridge Pelican Bay LLC. Dave Wallace of CRE Consultants represented the lessee and IPC represented the lessor in the transaction.

Summit Broadband leased 1,696 square feet at 860 Bald Eagle Drive, Unit 2, Marco Island from Joseph Zgonina. Dave Wallace of CRE Consultants represented the lessor and Kenneth Lowe of Berkshire Hathaway represented the lessee.

K Boutique LLC leased 1,200 square feet in Tanglewood Marketplace, 4910 U.S. 41 N., Unit 212, Naples from Tanglewood Naples LLC. Biagio Bernardo and Bill Young represented the lessor.

Loksak, Inc. leased 1,181 square feet in Collier Park of Commerce, 3500 N. Horseshoe Drive, Naples from Helios Colliers. Dave Wallace negotiated the transaction.
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By Daily News Staff

A 9-month-old pit bull puppy died of smoke inhalation after a Collier County man set fire to an East Naples apartment, Collier sheriff's deputies said.

Rolando A. Salguero, 28, of Golden Gate Estates, faces animal cruelty and arson charges following his arrest Thursday night.

Investigators said Salguero was at the Thomasson Drive apartment of his daughters' mother early Tuesday morning when he started a fire, apparently using a lighter in a bedroom. The suspected arson came after an argument between Salguero and the renter, who left the residence earlier for her safety.

Eight people and several pets were evacuated from the four-unit apartment building. The extent of the fire wasn't immediately available, but no injuries were listed in an arrest report. Investigators found all of the fire alarms in the woman's apartment removed from their fixtures.

Salguero remained in a Collier jail on $220,000 bond Saturday evening. He was detained on battery and resisting arrest charges Tuesday, then had the arson and animal cruelty charges added Thursday.
Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, presents a bill during session on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

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By Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News

TALLAHASSEE  Skyrocketing health care costs paid by taxpayers and minimal contributions from Florida's 173,000 state workers and retirees have prompted the Legislature to search for ways to bring down costs for health insurance.

This year, taxpayers contributed $1.7 billion toward the State Workers' Health Self-Insured Trust Fund to cover the health care costs of public workers and retirees  nearly double what they spent a decade ago. But state workers contributed only a fraction of that, $167 million toward their own health insurance coverage, according to a report prepared in August by the Legislative Division of Economic and Demographic Research. And state workers' contribution only increased about 11 percent over the past 10 years, from $150 million.

The staggering increase in the cost of health care has routinely depleted reserves in the trust fund, and lawmakers regularly add extra taxpayer cash for a quick fix, but now they are looking for a long-term solution.

One remedy is sponsored by Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, and would offer state workers options of less costly insurance with a much higher deductible than the most popular plans currently offered by the state.

"If you're 24 or 25, and you don't need a Cadillac plan like a full-blown HMO, then maybe you can save a little money and take a lower-level plan," Brodeur said. "The point is we want to give people a choice other than two plans that cost exactly the same."

Proponents of the bill say it could save state workers from facing increased premiums. Matt Puckett, director of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Brodeur's plan would allow the 4,000 law enforcement officers he represents to avoid seeing cost increases similar to the private sector.

"Eventually that problem will be passed on to our members," said Puckett, who represents 4,000 state law enforcement officers.

Opponents say the state was luring people into plans that would limit access to health care. Jamie Court, president of insurance advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said a high deductible plan that saves the state money may seem attractive on paper, but it may leave someone with few options when they get sick.

"Higher deductibles are usually a bad omen of things to come," Court said. "I think the higher deductibles are there to create a disincentive to not get medical attention, but what's worse is that the size of the network they give you."

Like the state, private employers paid more for health insurance over the past 10 years, but those increases were shared with employees. A report by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation showed the cost for health insurance carried by private employers nearly doubled for both the employers and employees from 2003 to 2013.

The state of Florida currently offers two plans  and HMO and a PPO  that come with the same monthly fees of $50 for a single enrollee, $30 for a spouse and $180 for a family. The HMO carries no deductible, but it will only pay for medical providers within a network. The PPO is more expensive with a $250 deductible for single enrollees and $500 for a family. Unlike the HMO, the PPO will cover some costs for visits with providers outside a network.

Both plans also include largely the same co-payments and prescription plans. The vast majority of the 360,821 enrollees and family members covered by the state's group insurance plan are in the HMO and PPO plans.

There also are high deductible versions of the HMO and PPO plans, but only 700 people have applied for them as of this year. Premiums for those plans paid by employees are about half as much but the state pays the same price.

"Something tells me that there's something wrong if no one is applying for those high deductible plans," Brodeur said. "That tells me we need a change."

HB 7089 offers four levels of plans  bronze, silver, gold and platinum  that are defined by cost. Platinum plans would be similar to the state's current HMO and lower level plans will offer lower premiums for less coverage and higher deductible. Prices for the plans will be determined by an Independent Benefits Consultant also proposed in the bill.

The State Employees' Health Self-Insurance Trust Fund serves as a clearinghouse for medical claims made by state workers, and it currently faces dreary predictions due to an unexpected 14 percent increase in claims for pharmaceutical drugs and an increase of about 1,000 dependents in the HMO plan. Those issues left the fund with no reserves for the coming fiscal year 2016-17, and a potential $76 million deficit in fiscal year 2017-18. Lawmakers each year regularly balance the fund with more cash from taxpayers, but the size deficit is still predicted to grow. It could face a $977 million deficit by fiscal year in fiscal year 2019-20. A decade ago, the projected deficit was about $200 million, according to a legislative report.

Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said the Legislature is on track to keep up with the fund, but change will be required for the long run. An option would be to offer plans that could slow expenses to the trust fund.

"Health insurance continues to go up whether it's Medicaid or private sector or state group health and the ability to fund them is getting much more difficult," Lee said. "I think there's a lot of smart ideas coming out of the House that will help people choose the best plans for themselves and their families."

Lee went on to say he has no interest in raising rates for state workers.

"While the cost of health care continues to go up, and there are some structural issues about the size of the burden. I think the idea is to make sure we don't raise the cost of the plans," Lee said. "There are other ways to address that type of problem."

Florida is not alone in its bid to revamp its state worker health insurance. Like Florida, other state see benefits as a way to keep employees on board. A stronger economy has led to more private sector jobs, which left public sector jobs struggling to convince employees to put up with notoriously low pay, said Joshua Frenzel, vice president of research for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence in Washington, D.C.

"If you look at the lower unemployment rate, the job market has become more competitive and so have some of the benefits packages," Frenzel said. "If you're a public sector employer, you're at a strategic disadvantage in the labor market, so it may be a way to retain some advantage."

An analysis Frenzel published in June showed that since 2011, 53 percent of 336 state and local hiring managers across the country switched from legacy insurance plans similar to Florida's for more comprehensive packages.

This is Brodeur's third try at the bill, which failed last year because it did not have a Senate companion. It's paired this year with SB 1434 by Jeff Brandes, R- St. Petersburg, which has yet to be heard in a committee hearing.

The bill passed its first hearing Jan. 21 in the House Health and Human Services Committee that Brodeur chairs with a vote of 17-3.

Contact Daily News reporter arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com or 850-559-7620
SCOTT MCINTYRE/STAFF In this file photo, Kenny Wigfals, right, and Eric Paul finish up painting strips in the private dining area while other members of the construction crew work to complete the final stages of Avenue 5, the restaurant that is taking the place of McCabes on Fifth Ave. South on Monday Jan. 27, 2014.

SHARE David Albers/Staff In this file photo, a construction crane peers over Fifth Avenue South on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in Naples. The crane is part of the construction for the Inn on Fifths expansion project across the street from its current location. SCOTT MCINTYRE/STAFF In this file photo, members of the construction crew install a section of the 450 light fixtures of Avenue 5, the restaurant that is taking the place of McCabes on Fifth Ave. South on Monday Jan. 27, 2014.2

By Joseph Cranney of the Naples Daily News

Often asked about concerns with a recent surge in downtown redevelopment, Naples mayoral candidates Bill Barnett and John Sorey have both taken a consistent stance  the plans to revitalize Fifth Avenue South have worked, and the city should be careful not to abruptly turn its back on those plans.

Their position stems from their longevity. They lived in the city in the 1990s when many stores on Fifth Avenue were boarded up. They remember the situation was so dire that a renowned urban planner, Andres Duany, was hired to study the avenue and offer a vision to save it.

Two decades later, Duany's plan has been realized. Fifth Avenue is now the city's prized business district, home to a working blend of window shopping, outdoor dining and mixed-use buildings with upper-floor condominiums.

But some argue the charm of Old Naples is being threatened. Last fall, the Naples City Council approved two condominium projects in a two-week span that propose to increase the number of residential units in the Fifth Avenue Overlay District by about 33 percent in the next two years. One of the projects, offered by local developer Phil McCabe, would install underground parking below the building, a first for Fifth Avenue. McCabe's project would also raze Cafe Luna and other popular restaurants.

Even as developers pump money into campaigns, McCabe's project and other recent redevelopments throughout the city have highlighted a divide among the candidates running for Naples mayor and the City Council.

In 2015, Sorey received more than $13,000 in campaign contributions from builders and real estate professionals, according to campaign finance reports. Among the same field, Barnett received more than $11,000.

Barnett and Sorey have consistently voted in favor of redevelopment and expressed support for connectivity for the city's walkers and bikers.

Sorey said he's worried about the future of such a policy, considering the controversy of recent projects and the lukewarm stances of council candidates. He also said redevelopment projects stand to lose one of their supporters on the council when either Sorey or Barnett vacates their seat after the election.

"The fact is we've had so many 4-3 votes, I think that's a real issue," Sorey said. "And I think it's unfortunate that one of us is going off council."

James Moon and Wynn Phillips, both running for the council, are against what they call too much development. Moon is an attorney who says the city's zoning, including Duany's rules, need to be updated. Phillips is a longtime Old Naples resident opposed to over-congestion downtown.

Council candidates Reg Buxton and Ellen Seigel have spoken favorably about redevelopment and voted to approve McCabe's project as members of the Planning Advisory Board. Similar to Barnett and Sorey, they praise the Duany plan for revitalizing downtown business.

Buxton received a $500 campaign contribution from McCabe's Inn on Fifth, according to campaign finance reports. Seigel's campaign received $1,750 from developers last year.

Michelle McLeod also received $500 from the Inn on Fifth toward her council run. But as the chair of the Community Services Advisory Board, McLeod has taken a broader look at redevelopment and suggested the city needs to update its comprehensive plan.

"What's happening now is we're approving site plan deviations and conditional uses without restrictions, which are getting us to a point where there are things that are happening that don't meet the vision of Naples," McLeod said during a council debate on Jan. 27.

Council candidate Terry Hutchison is running partly on a platform to conserve building design restrictions.

"My direction would be one that doesn't compromise on what we've built," Hutchison said. "If we start compromising, we start compromising ourselves right out of the uniqueness that we have. So let's be careful about that."

In the mayor's race, City Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann is concerned about the council's building-approval practices and developers who frequently request deviations from downtown building codes. She took a vocal stance on the issue during the mayoral debate on Jan. 25.

"To me, there has been a powerful group of developers that think that they are entitled to the favor of the council," Heitmann said. "And I think we need to stop and take a look at what we have approved, how it has affected the community and realize that people moved here because they don't want to be Miami. They moved here for the simple elegance that we are in this city."

Heitmann voted no to McCabe's project in November and another downtown development that was approved by the council in December. She also voted against Naples Square, the residential complex on Third Avenue South. The project was one of four high-value projects recently approved that will add more than 560 residences downtown.

But there is a worry the uptick in residences will have unintended consequences on downtown traffic and parking.

Moon said the solution is for the council to fully realize its vision of creating a more pedestrian-friendly city. Since Sorey has been mayor, the council has approved several projects that support the policy, including the redesign of Central Avenue and streetscape improvements in front of Naples Square.

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SHARE Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer. Marianne Rafter/Submitted

By Jacob Carpenter of the Naples Daily News

In a time like no other for Planned Parenthood, the women's health nonprofit has called on its supporters like never before.

On Saturday, an estimated 375 of them turned out in force at the Naples Grande Beach Resort for an annual Naples fundraiser, with organizers noting a palpable energy amid high-profile political and legal fights.

"Everybody is really geared up," said Barbara Teaford, a Naples-based board member for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. "To prove that we didn't do what (the state) said we did, that's a lot of time and money, and that should be going to the women for services."

The dinner event, featuring frank-talking sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer and protested by about 20 anti-abortion supporters, is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, though an exact total wasn't available. Tickets started at $350 per person.

Following the July release of secretly recorded videos in which a Planned Parenthood higher-up discussed the sale of fetal tissue, the nonprofit has become embroiled in battles with national politicians, the Florida Legislature and activists across the country.

Leaders of the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion group that recorded the videos, said the tapes showed Planned Parenthood administrators were illegally profiting off the tissue sales, prompting a national firestorm. Planned Parenthood's leadership said the videos were heavily edited to smear the organization, and a Houston-area grand jury cleared the nonprofit of any wrongdoing.

The videos prompted Gov. Rick Scott to order investigations into all 16 Planned Parenthood clinics that perform abortions in Florida.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement found no evidence of illegal selling of fetal tissue, but state health investigators accused three clinics, including those in Naples and Fort Myers, of performing license-violating second-trimester abortions. An administrative hearing, at which Planned Parenthood plans to fight the allegations, is scheduled for April.

Barbara Zdravecky, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida, said local affiliates have been hit financially by the controversy, but the nonprofit's supporters have responded in kind.

"I think we're seeing an increase and growth in people who are coming back to Planned Parenthood who have been dormant for a few years," Zdravecky said. "The legal activity, the smear campaign and the videos, they've brought a lot of people back and made them stand up."

Zdravecky said she couldn't yet estimate the financial cost to the chapter as a result of the state investigation, but legal fees have totaled about $150,000 this year. In previous years, the nonprofit reported legal fees of about $10,000.

In years past, before the July 2015 merger of the Collier County chapter with the Sarasota- and Orlando-area affiliates, fundraising accounted for about 25 percent of the nonprofit's revenues, according to federal tax returns. Zdravecky said she's aiming for $4 million in fundraising this year to match the 25 percent goal.

On Saturday, Dr. Ruth, who worked at Planned Parenthood in New York City upon arriving in the U.S. in 1956, encouraged the crowd in the face of recent controversy.

"You at Planned Parenthood helped make the point that there's nothing wrong with discussing this aspect of human endeavors," she said. "In history, they will talk not just about (Planned Parenthood founder) Margaret Sanger and her courageousness, but all of you standing up and being counted."
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Kenneth Wetcher, Naples

Cartoon's message

In his letter "Disgrace," Louis Herkalo presents himself as speaking for Jews throughout the United States.

He does not speak for me, nor for the many Jews who are appalled at this administration's anti-Israel positions, which are disguised as anti-Netanyahu.

The cartoon he questioned depicts accurately the joy Iran has expressed in its intention to destroy the state of Israel.

The true disgrace is this administration's anti-Israel positions most recently demonstrated by sanctioning the labeling of Israeli products coming from the disputed territories. No products from all the other disputed territories in the world require such labeling.

As a Holocaust survivor, I see no difference between such labeling and requiring Jews to wear a yellow star.
SHARE Nathan Nascimento is director of state initiatives at Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce.

By Nathan Nascimento

Many Floridians rightly blame Washington, D.C., for rising costs and fewer choices in health care. But outdated state laws and regulations also contribute to this troubling trend, including Florida's decades-old certificate of need laws.

These certificates slow progress in local physicians' offices and reduce the quality of patients' care. With state legislators now in session, repealing this unnecessary law should be a top priority.

The certificate of need process is the epitome of government red tape. Adopted in 1973, it requires Florida health care providers to obtain permission from the Agency for Health Care Administration before adding new medical equipment, opening a new facility, expanding a current practice, or even relocating.

In practice, certificate of need laws drive up costs and deprive people of more health care choices. It requires reams of paperwork  forcing health care providers to satisfy bureaucrats over their patients. This is all in addition to other licenses and training requirements physicians face.

Although 14 states have repealed their own versions of these laws, Floridians continue to deal with the negative impact of this red tape.

Just applying for a certificate often costs physicians thousands of dollars and many hours of time that should be reserved for their patients. Approval is hardly guaranteed, and years-long appeals are not uncommon. For example, a Virginia physician spent five years and $175,000 just trying to get permission to add one MRI machine.

Florida's certificate of need imposes similar obstacles.

Meanwhile, patients lose access to critical health care advances lost in bureaucratic limbo. This bureaucracy ultimately limits the health care options available in Florida.

Research from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University found that CON laws often reduce the availability of important medical technology, such as hundreds fewer MRIs and CT scan machines across a state.

The results of this are harmful on every level. Ambulatory surgical centers, for example, provide specialized care  often at significantly lower prices than traditional hospitals  yet are frequently denied CON approval. For communities with limited medical facilities, state bureaucrats' denial of a certificate could easily mean locals have to travel far out of the way for more expensive treatment.

Unsurprisingly, the bureaucratic CON process drives up the cost of health care. A study by the Mackinac Policy Institute found per-capita health care spending was 9 percent higher in certificate of need states.

Even the U.S. Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission publicly oppose certificate requirements. In a 2014 report, they urged states to reconsider these laws, noting CONs "can actually lead to increased prices." The agencies also warned that these certificates could prevent higher quality and more innovative medical services from making it to the market.

Although these laws are obstacles to physicians seeking to help more patients, large hospitals and other established health care companies frequently support this bureaucratic nightmare. They see these CONs as legalized protection against competition. As the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission note, these laws allow some to exploit the process "to forestall the entry of competitors in their markets."

When health care providers submit their applications for a certificate, competitors are often invited to weigh in, and frequently succeed in blocking the certificate from being granted. In fact, practicing physicians and hospital representatives even sit on many state CON boards, regulating the very industry in which they work.

With lives at stake every day, there's no industry where quality and competition are more important than health care. The certificate of need puts both in bureaucrats' hands.

For the sake of Floridians, all of whom deserve access to the best and most affordable health care, state legislators in Tallahassee this session should cut the red tape blocking the door to the doctor's office.

__ Nathan Nascimento is director of state initiatives at Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
Organisms also survive in space

2

Life already on Mars?

(NaturalNews) Fungi from the rocks of Antarctica may be tough enough to survive on Mars, according to the results of a study published in the journalThe research is part of an effort to discover what types of life forms may have previously lived on Mars, or may be there still."The most relevant outcome was that more than 60 percent of the cells of the endolithic communities studied remained intact after 'exposure to Mars', or rather, the stability of their cellular DNA was still high," said researcher Rosa de la Torre Noetzel of Spain's National Institute of Aerospace Technology.Researchers collected two species of "cryptoendolithic" fungi (and) from the McMurdo Dry Valleys in the Antarctic Victoria Land, a cold, dry area thought to be Earth's most similar environment to Mars. The strong winds and frigid temperatures of this region mean that almost nothing lives there except for tiny microorganisms inside rocks.Yet Mars is far more hostile to earthly life than even Antarctica, with an atmosphere high in radiation and lacking in oxygen. To discover how the fungi would fare in such an environment, the researchers developed a special platform called EXPOSE-E to be tough enough to survive exposure to extreme conditions. The fungi were paced in EXPOSE-E and then sent up to the International Space Station.For 18 months, one group of fungus was exposed to Mars-like conditions, including pressure of 1,000 pascals, ultraviolet radiation higher than 200 nanometers, and an atmosphere of 95 percent CO, 1.6 percent argon, 2.7 percent nitrogen, 0.15 percent oxygen and 370 parts per million of water.After 18 months, 60 percent of the fungal cells still had significant DNA integrity; 10 percent were able to proliferate and produce new fungal colonies, which the researchers considered surprisingly high.The research was part of the ongoing Lichens and Fungi Experiment (LIFE). As part of that experiment, the same species of cryptoendolithic fungi were also exposed to more intense conditions equivalent to those found in outer space. These included cosmic radiation of up to 190 megagrays and intense temperature fluctuations between -21.5 and 59.6 degrees Celsius. Even after 18 months of these extreme conditions, 35 percent of fungal cells were still intact.Another LIFE experiment, which only has preliminary results available, consisted of testing lichens from Spain and the Austrian Alps under Mars- and space-like conditions. The lichen also appeared to fare surprisingly well."The results help to assess the survival ability and long-term stability of microorganisms and bioindicators on the surface of Mars ," said De la Torre of the ongoing research. "Information which becomes fundamental and relevant for future experiments centred around the search for life on the Red Planet."Learning what sort of earthly organisms might survive on Mars doesn't just help scientists figure out what native Mars life might look like; it also gives them a sense of what earthly life might already have established itself on the Red Planet.Decades of unmanned trips to Mars have almost certainly seeded the planet with extremophiles from our own world, NASA has said. That's because Mars is much more conducive to life, and earthly organisms are also much tougher, than was previously assumed.Following the 2012 launch of theMars rover, scientists swabbed the cloths used to "decontaminate" the rover and discovered a host of fungal and bacterial DNA. They are now researching many of these species on the International Space Station, to see which of them are likely to have survived the trip. The unsurprising news: Probably most of them."We know there's life on Mars already because we sent it there," said John Grunsfeld, the associate administrator of the agency's Science Mission Directorate, in October, following the discovery of surface water on Mars.
'Bring back the guillotine'

The day before appearing to deputize every Maine citizen to shoot people they think are selling drugs, the governor joked that it's time to handle pushers like French princes.



LePage's trifecta of spicy January quotes about drug dealers contrast with his ideas for handling their customers. He says addicts should be sent to drug treatment rather than to prison, and has called for investing more state resources in such empathy-based responses to narcotics possession offenses.



'We need to do more'

Despite increased public efforts to combat opioid abuse, the number of deaths from heroin overdoses nationally surged by 28 percent in 2014, and fatal overdoses from prescription painkillers climbed by 16.3 percent, according to federal health officials.



The 10,574 heroin deaths and the 18,893 deaths from prescription opioids were two big contributors to a sharp increase in fatal drug overdoses last year  a total of 47,055, up 7 percent from 2013, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The heroin overdose figure was more than three times higher than the 2010 tally.



(NaturalNews) You have to hand it to Maine's unorthodox, independent-minded governor: He is unique, and his approach  while somewhat bizarre to some people  is a breath of fresh air to a majority of state residents who elected him.As noted by, an uber-liberal news site, Gov. Paul LePage, who is a Republican, said recently that he believes his state should revive the guillotine to decapitate drug dealers. But it was what he said after that which got the site's attention; he appeared to imply that Maine residents should attack drug dealers as well."I tell ya, everybody in Maine, we have constitutional carry," LePage said in an on-camera interview in Lewiston, in a reference to his state's protections for carrying concealed handguns without a special permit "Load up and get rid of the drug dealers. Because, folks, they're killing our kids," he said.The reporter to whom LePage was speaking asked quickly if the governor was implying that residents could anduse vigilante justice against drug pushers by saying that they could use their constitutional right to carry concealed to "get rid of" them when they encounter them.reported further:"What we ought to do is bring the guillotine back," LePage told WVOM radio, in a remark made in the context of him also stating that he would like to see dramatic increases in prison sentencing for drug trafficking in his state. Maine is one of several states that have seen a major increase in opiate addiction in the past few years While his reference to the famous French execution device was tongue-in-cheek, LePage appears to be deadly serious about making life much tougher for drug dealers in Maine, including wanting to prosecute dealers for murder when their customers overdose and die.Earlier this year at a town hall event, LePage also promised to push the legislature for tougher penalties against drug dealing. At the same event, he also warned residents that men with names like "D-Money, Smoothie [and] Shifty" were coming to Maine to sell drugs and get "young white girl[s]" pregnant.Notedfurther:That position is actually in line with a number of leaders in other states, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, scientists and many in Congress who have seen stiffer penalties for drug crimes lead to higher prison recidivism rates with no appreciable corresponding drop in drug-related crimes.The shift in attitudes among RepublicansDemocrats comes as deaths from opioids, especially, have skyrocketed. As noted by President Obama in October, the problem is getting out of hand As reported by thein December:"The bottom line is the opioid overdose epidemic has not abated and appears to have soared in 2014," noted Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . "It's clear that we need to do more."
"Taking food out of our mouths"

At the 3 p.m. shift change [recently], compact cars rimmed with road salt and dirt rolled up to the JBS Swift meatpacking plant, ranchera and salsa music trickling from a few rolled-down windows.



Hundreds of mostly brown-skinned men walked double-time into the plant, part of the wave of Latino immigrants who, over the last two decades, have transformed this city from a traditional farming community to what could be the most diverse municipality in overwhelmingly white Iowa.



We want to do better

(NaturalNews) Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump tapped into a vein of seething anger when, as he announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, he addressed the issue of illegal immigration.Trump's plan, in a nutshell, was radical but just what a vast swath of Americans wanted to hear from a presidential candidate: Build a "big, beautiful wall" along the Southwest border and put a single "shiny door" in the middle. Oh, and "make Mexico pay for it."We're a ways off from finding out whom the party's official nominee will be  and if it is Trump, there is no way to tell whether or not he'll actually be able to deliver on this particular promise. But regardless, Trump's bombastic candor on the issue has struck a nerve with tens of millions of Americans who are simply fed up with the way the Washington governing cabal of Democrats and Republicans are (not) handling the problem.Key to citizen angst over the issue of both legalillegal immigration, as well as purposeful overstays of visas by foreigners, is that U.S. companies are blatantly shunning American workers who generally cost more to hire in favor of lower-wage-earning migrants. And what turns the issue red hot for most is the fact that these companies are being allowed to get away with it because few in Congress and the White House have any interest in stepping in.Case in point, in Marshalltown, Iowa, a rising number of immigrants, mostly from Latin America and Mexico, are being given jobs that traditionally went to Americans. As reported by Philly.com recently:Liberals and the legacy media  as well as Republican leaders attempting to claim that "diversity" helps America, even if it harms American workers  have nothing but praise for what is going on. You can tell by the language they use when describing/reporting on what's happening.But there is no joy among a majority within the American electorate. Only 17 percent of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll, don't consider immigration and all of its related problems to be a major issue this election cycle.And with the real unemployment rate of 9.9 percent much higher than the "official" rate of about 5 percent, it is easy to see why Americans are fed up with being shunned by companies, ignored by Washington, and abused by a system that seems hell-bent on pushing national suicide."It's like they've got a sign on the border, 'Come to Marshalltown,'" said Mike Foreman, 66, who worked at the JB Swift meatpacking plant until 2000. A back injury forced him to retire, Philly.com reported."The company paid them less than they paid us," he said. "The way I look at it, they're taking food out of our mouths."To hear most immigrants tell it, they're not criminals and malcontents, like Trump and others have implied."I understand that Mr. Trump is talking about throwing people out, but this town has been growing because of the Hispanics," Luis Cisneros, 41, told Philly.com. "I know some do bad things, but we do good things, too. We're here because we want to do better."While many would agree with those statements, others have said it isn't a matter of wanting to do better or helping a community "grow"  it's about doing things the right way and about putting Americans first, two counter arguments that, in D.C. at least, increasingly fall on tone-deaf ears.
(NaturalNews) Despite all of the attention that the Ebola virus has received in the media, there has been very little reportage regarding the after-effects of the disease among its survivors.However, it is becoming increasingly evident that many surviving victims of the deadly illness are suffering from what has become known as "post-Ebola syndrome," a condition which involves a range of symptoms, including vision loss, body aches and severe fatigue.Due to limited health resources on the African continent where the disease originated and is largely contained, as well as the high mortality rate associated with Ebola, very few studies have been carried out to investigate its long-term effects.A high percentage of those who have managed to recover after contracting the Ebola virus are reporting similar symptoms, though it is unclear at this point whether the after-effects are directly related to the disease itself or may be due to other factors.For example, some of these symptoms may be attributable to the treatment of the disease -- often, there are extremely strong disinfectants used on Ebola victims to prevent contamination, which may or may not be the cause of some of the post-infection maladies being reported.Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Professor William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert, says that, although he was previously unaware of a post-Ebola syndrome, he is not surprised that recovering victims in West Africa are experiencing lingering health problems."You can imagine when people recover from Ebola there will be a period of time when they are fatigued," he said, "particularly if they have led a rough existence of poverty and poor nutrition."The lack of studies to date makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of the syndrome, but researchers are beginning to take notice of the need for further investigation into the long-term effects of the virus.Dr. Margaret Nanyonga, psychosocial support officer for the World Health Organization in Kenema, Sierra Leone, reports that around 50 percent of survivors are experiencing the symptoms."We are seeing a lot of people with vision problems," she said. "Some complain of clouded vision, but for others the visual loss is progressive. I have seen two people who are now blind."Along with the instances of uveitis (inflammation of the inner parts of the eye), survivors are also reporting symptoms of chronic arthralgia -- a condition which resembles arthritis and includes pain in one or more joints of the body.Nancy Writebol, the second American flown back to the U.S. for treatment of Ebola, and who is among the lucky few who have recovered from the virus, reports that it has taken some time to recover her stamina and is still experiencing some problems with neuropathy -- nerve damage -- in her feet:As we begin to learn more about the Ebola virus, including how to treat it and prevent its spread, it is also hoped that we will find out more about its long-term effects and what can be done to alleviate them.Nanyonga -- who has developed an assessment tool for tracking the post-viral symptoms -- and others like her are leading the way to a better understanding of post-Ebola syndrome and finding methods of treating it.
(NaturalNews) Like people in other states across the U.S., Minnesotans are concerned about their declining honeybee populations, and are pushing state regulators to take action. In October, the state Department of Agriculture released an outline on the study of neonicotinoids, a class of neuro-active insecticides similar to nicotine that are killing beneficial insects like honeybees.The state's overview of neonics quickly drew criticism, as the study did not include the possibility of banning the chemicals, according to a report by the. More than 400 upset citizens wrote the agency, complaining that the study made no mention of banning the chemicals, despite their known adverse environmental effects."Obviously people are very interested in this," said Gregg Regimbal, an official with the department's Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division. "It's a very complex issue and it's highly charged."Both Bayer and Shell assisted in the development of neonicotinoids, introducing them to the market in the 1990s. Praised for their ability to kill a variety of pests, neonics work "best" when applied to soil, which is then subsequently taken up by the plant.This is problematic for pollinator insects, as they become exposed to the chemicals through nectar and pollen. Neonics may not result in the bees' immediate death, but instead impact their ability to forage for nectar, learn and remember where flowers are located, and even find their way back to the hive, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.Honeybees are critically important to humans and the food that we consume. Without their existence, 80 percent of crops would not produce fruit, reported , and the beneficial honey produced by bees and used by humans in a variety of ways would disappear.When examining the science behind the effects of neonics, it's no wonder that the public is up in arms about its continued use. Nearly 60 million pounds of neonics were applied in the U.S. in 2011, compared to zero in 2002, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).Studies are also beginning to link the use of neonics to declining bird populations, as well as adverse impacts to aquatic life.So far, Eugene and Portland, Oregon; Tucson, Arizona; Seattle and Spokane, Washington; New York; Europe; and the Ontario government have either banned or proposed bans on the use of neonics.The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service also announced plans to eliminate the use of neonics on growing crops used to feed wildlife on federal refuge lands. The agency expects usage to be completely phased out by 2016 in Pacific Northwest areas.A suspension, restriction or ban in Minnesota is plausible pending a careful study on the effects of neonics, said Lex Horan, a Minneapolis-based organizer for Pesticide Action Network."The state needs to take this seriously," stressed Horan. "They put out a strong scoping document because of the feedback they received."Horan also believes heightened backlash against neonics stems from a U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finding that neonicotinoid seed treatments in soybeans "provide little or no overall benefits to soybean production for most farmers."The state's in-depth review is expected to take more than six months, reports the, a time frame much shorter than the EPA's review, which the agency says will be completed by 2019.Minnesota's insecticide use is governed by both state and federal law, making it more difficult to for amendments to be made.
The E. coli outbreaks at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in the United States appear to be over, but investigators have been unable to trace the cause of the sickness, federal authorities said on Monday. ...



The C.D.C. said in a statement that a common meal or ingredient served at the restaurants was a likely source of the outbreaks, but investigators were unable to specify the food or ingredient responsible for the contamination. [Note: Bold copy is Natural News emphasis.]



No surprise: CDC investigators "unable to specify" source of E. coli contamination

Natural News suspected biotech industry food terrorism from the start

Bullies will be bullies...

(NaturalNews) In news that just about left us falling off our chairs, the mainstream media seems to be leaning toward the conclusion that dirty games and evil tactics may be behind the massive string of Chipotle'soutbreaks.Specifically,recently published an article carrying the headline, "C.D.C. Ends Chipotle Case With Illness Still a Mystery." That "mystery," of course, is the fact that although investigations into theoutbreaks were conducted by the CDC, the real cause of them still remains unknown. This very well may be as close as we've seen mainstream media come to actually raising the possibility of biotech industry food terrorism in this particular case.The article states the following:With that, the CDC investigations are said to be over, after outbreaks occurred in 14 states, causing 60 people to become ill during the last few months of 2015. Although there weren't any deaths, dozens of people were hospitalized and consumer fears about setting foot in Chipotle restaurants grew. Still, let those words sink in: "unable to specify the food or ingredient responsible for the contamination."Hmmm.However, this "mystery" concept is nothing new. In fact, the issue that something more was at hand  something with evil intentions  was a topic thatraised immediately after the series of Chipotleoutbreaks. The slew of outbreaks was not a matter of careless Chipotle food practices but a planned attack against the health-conscious strides that the restaurant chain was making. Mike Adams, the Health Ranger , wrote an analysis about this, directly stating that the slew of outbreaks were due to biotech industry food terrorists who simply couldn't handle Chipotle's GMO-free menu and health-minded decisions."Chipotle's e.coli outbreaks are not random chance," Adams wrote in December 2015, well before this latest "mystery" conclusion mentioned by. "They are the result of the biotech industry unleashing bioterrorism attacks against the only fast food company that has publicly denounced GMOs."basically hit the nail on the head in the very beginning, having the insight to know that something was extremely suspicious from the get-go. Frankly, its not a shock that the CDC investigation ended with the inability to trace the cause of the sicknesses.called it way back when.In reaction to the finding that the CDC investigation couldn't pinpoint the true source of the outbreaks, Mike Adams expressed that it wasn't a surprise. "Why wasn't it found in any particular food source? The answer is simple: because E. coli didn't come from the food materials," he wrote. "It was sprayed onto the foods by bioterrorists working for the biotech industry who targeted Chipotle restaurants."By now, most people are aware that Chipotle Mexican Grill proudly announced their shift towards healthier foods, including an entirely GMO-free menu in 2015. It was a history-making move, as they became the first fast food chain in the world to so blatantly dismiss GMOs, letting the world know their stance that such foods "don't make the cut."Sadly, it would appear that the biotech industry, like a bully upset over another person's victory, was putting the wheels in motion to make Chipotle regret their healthy, well-received decision.
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North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea. At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the country's president called the firing an "intolerable provocation." North Korea calls its launches part of a peaceful space program and said its state media would soon make a "special announcement."

The launch came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning. It follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions. The United States and Japan quickly requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer deployed in the sea off the country's west coast detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rocket's first stage fell off North Korea's west coast at 9:32 a.m. and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

Yonhap news agency and YTN TV in the South earlier reported that the rocket may have failed, but provided no other details. The South Korean government couldn't immediately confirm the reports and said it was trying to assess what happened with the United States.

The U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to be quoted by the media, said it may take days to assess whether the rocket was a success.

Japan's NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an "intolerable provocation." She said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan "absolutely cannot allow this," and told reporters at the prime minister's residence: "We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people."

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that "North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the U.S., South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

It is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets.

Still, the North's nuclear tests and steadily improving long-range rocket launches push its nuclear aims further along.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The country is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs but there is debate about whether it is capable of building warheads small enough to mount on a missile that could threaten the United States.

North Korea has spent decades trying to perfect a multistage, long-range rocket. After several failures, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.

Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Yuri Kageyama and Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Lolita Baldor in Washington, and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Donald Trump was back, Carly Fiorina was out, excluded by the rules of the ABC News debate, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was drawing attacks after his strong showing in Iowa.

The GOP presidential candidates were on stage Saturday night for the final debate before the New Hampshire primary, where some of the Republicans must do well if they are to continue. Trump, who finished second behind U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the Iowa caucuses, returned after skipping the previous debate.

Here are some of the liveliest moments of the evening.

GETTING ON STAGE

The debate got off to an awkward start as Dr. Ben Carson hesitated going onto the stage even as he was waved on. Trump lingered with Carson until they both entered, but then Kasich was left behind. Carson later said that he did not hear his name called.

RUBIO ATTACKED FOR "30-SECOND SPEECH"

Rubio tried to defend his relatively short time in the U.S. Senate by saying if years spent as a senator were the measure of a candidate everyone on the stage should be rallying around Vice President Joe Biden. Biden represented Delaware for 36 years.

But New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie quickly attacked Rubio for failing to make a single decision of consequence in the Senate for which he was held accountable and mocked him for giving his 30-second prepared speech. Memorized speeches dont get the snow plowed or help rebuild a state destroyed by superstorm Sandy, he said. And he criticized Rubio for listing the Hezbollah Sanctions Act as an accomplishment but failing to show up for the vote.

Thats not leadership," Christie said. "Thats truancy.

Rubio rejoined by telling Christie he had to be shamed into returning to New Jersey from New Hampshire during the recent blizzard. And he brought up New Jerseys credit rating, downgraded nine times since Christie became governor.

But Rubio also continued to repeat himself several times with the same comments criticizing President Barack Obama.

"You see everybody. I want the people at home to think about this. That's what Washington, D.C., does," Christie rebutted. "The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech...Marco, the thing is this: When you're president of the United States, when you're a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn't solve one problem for one person."

"WASHINGTON ETHICS"

Carson was asked about messages sent by Cruzs campaign just before the Iowa caucuses, claiming falsely that Carson was leaving the race.

Im not going to use this opportunity to savage the reputation of Senator Cruz, he said.

Carson said he owed it to his volunteers, one of whom died in a traffic accident in Iowa, to stay in the competition. And he added that he was disappointed in the display of what he called Washington ethics  doing what is needed to do to win, not what is right.

Cruz apologized, and blamed CNN for reporting that Carson was taking a break from his campaign.

But Carson responded that CNNs initial tweet was quickly followed by a second one saying he was still in the race. Voters can make their own judgement, he said.

At the end of the debate, Trump got a dig in, saying Cruz had received Carson's votes.

"TOUGH GUY"

Trump and Bush got into a sharp disagreement over eminent domain, the process by which the government can take private property for public good. Trump, who has benefited from it, defended it as a way to build roads and schools.

Bush countered with a jab at Trump's attempt to take a womans house in Atlantic City to use as a parking lot for limousines, next to one of his casinos.

"Jeb wants to be a tough guy, Trump snapped.

The woman went to state court and ended up keeping her home.

TRUMP VERSUS THE CROWD

Trump at one point said his team was unable to get tickets for the audience because they had gone to donors, special interests, the people who put up the money.

As the audience booed, he added, The reason theyre not loving me is I dont want their money.

Trump makes a point of saying he is funding his campaign himself.

FEELING LEFT OUT

Carson showed his frustration at not getting as much time as the others.

"Im not here just to add beauty to the stage," Carson said as he jumped into a discussion about the Middle East.

In his closing remarks he said the media had tried to ignore him

"Im still here and Im not going any place either," he said.

HEROIN EPIDEMIC

Cruz, asked about the heroin epidemic in New Hampshire, talked about the death of his half-sister, Miriam, from a drug overdose. He and his father, Rafael, tried to rescue her from a crack house, but failed, he said. After his sisters death, he put her son, Joey, into a military school with a $20,000 loan on a credit card.

He joins Christie and Fiorina in discussing addictions from the vantage of their families.

Christie talks about a law school friend who died after injuring his back and becoming addicted to Percocet.

Fiorina's step-daughter, Lori, died at age 35 after a struggle with alcohol and prescription pills.
New York is taking steps to stop therapists from trying to change young people's sexual orientation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday, joining a number of states that have acted against what's known as gay conversion therapy.

The governor's move comes as gay rights advocates have campaigned state by state with mixed results to try to ban a practice that major mental health organizations have repudiated.

Using executive power in a state where legislative bids to ban the therapy have stalled, Cuomo announced planned regulations that would bar insurance coverage for the therapy for minors and prohibit mental health facilities under state Office of Mental Health jurisdiction from offering it to minors.

"Conversion therapy is a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice" that punishes people "for simply being who they are," Cuomo said in a statement to news media.

It's unclear how prevalent the practice is in New York. Cuomo's office didn't immediately respond to inquiries Saturday; nor did a handful of New York mental health organizations. A spokeswoman for the New York Health Plan Association, an insurers' group, was unsure.

Insurers will wonder whether the new regulations will obligate them to investigate whether any given mental health visit was for conversion therapy, spokeswoman Leslie Moran said.

Nationwide, there are no firm figures on the extent of conversion therapy. But proponents and critics have said it is not rare for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths to undergo some sort of program aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

The American Psychological Association and other mental health groups say conversion therapy, sometimes called reparative therapy, wrongly treats being gay as a mental illness and may make young people feel ashamed, anxious and depressed. President Barack Obama's administration called last year for an end to the practice.

Chad Griffin, president of the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, commended Cuomo's action.

"No young person should be coerced or subjected to this dangerous so-called therapy," Griffin said in a statement.

But supporters of the therapy say prohibiting it limits treatment options and undermines religious liberty.



California, Oregon, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati have outlawed the practice. But efforts to ban it have fallen short in several other places, including Colorado, Nevada and Iowa.



In New York, a ban has passed the Democrat-controlled state Assembly twice. But it has gotten nowhere in the Republican-led Senate.
He's a self-proclaimed anti-extremist Islamic warrior and Vladimir Putin supporter with a penchant for horse racing, wrestling, Hollywood celebrities  and, according to some, brutal repression, NBC News reported.

Now Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, looks to be trying to muscle into a bigger role on the regional stage, experts watching the strongman say.

The 39-year-old "is interested in being a deputy prime minister overseeing inter-ethnic relations, a job that the Kremlin would need to create specifically for him," according to Alexei Malashenko of the Carnegie Moscow Center think tank.

Kadyrov has a lot going for him. The scion of a powerful clan, Kadyrov battled the federal Russian government in the first Chechen war in the 1990s. The Kadyrovs sided with Moscow in the second war in the 2000s when the predominantly secular uprising was taken over by jihadists.
A former Rowland Heights doctor convicted last fall of second-degree murder for the drug overdose deaths of three of her patients was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in California prison.

Prosecutors asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli to hand down that sentence to Hsui-Ying "Lisa" Tseng for the deaths of Vu Nguyen, 28, of Lake Forest; Steven Ogle, 24, of Palm Desert; and Joseph Rovero III, a 21-year-old Arizona State University student from San Ramon, between March and December 2009.

Tseng's attorney, Tracy Green, asked the judge to sentence her 46-year-old client to the minimum 15-year-to-life term.

Tseng was convicted Oct. 30 of three counts of second-degree murder, 19 counts of unlawful controlled substance prescription and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. It marked the first time in California that a doctor was charged with murder for the deaths of patients given prescriptions for drugs.

In their sentencing papers, deputy district attorneys John Niedermann and Grace Rai wrote that, "While amassing a fortune of millions of dollars, and despite repeated warnings pertaining to the danger to her patients, the defendant's prescribing practices never changed and in some patients actually increased ... The defendant's concern was not for the well-being of her patients but rather the monetary benefits they provided her."

The prosecutors wrote that it was even more compelling that Tseng knew that three of her other patients had overdosed before Nguyen, Ogle and Rovero died and that she continued to prescribe controlled substances "in a reckless manner knowing the possible consequences of her actions."

Tseng's attorney said Thursday that her client had no prior criminal record and surrendered her license to practice osteopathic medicine before she was arrested.

"It's never going to happen again," Tseng's lawyer said.

At a hearing last December, Rovero's mother, April, said, "All of these tragedies were avoidable."

"I hope in time she will feel the remorse she should," she said.

Ogle's mother, Desiree Ogle-Spillman, spoke directly to Tseng.

"You froze time for all of us and the lives you so carelessly took," she said.

During Tseng's trial, prosecutor John Niedermann told jurors that she faked medical records to cover up her misdeeds. "She is warned again and again and again. They're dying, they're dying, they're dying," Niedermann told the jury. "She understands what she's doing, the harm of it, and she does it anyway."

Tseng had received calls from coroner's officials about deaths of some of the patients she had seen, along with fielding calls from family members who had told her not to prescribe to or see their loved ones, he said.

Tseng's attorney accused investigators of a "rush to judgment" and of singling Tseng out while failing to interview other doctors who may have treated the patients, who she said took "far in excess" of the dosages prescribed by Tseng.

The defense attorney contended that there was "no evidence" that her client was simply handing prescriptions to patients who asked for them, and that the doctor was trying to taper down the medication of some patients.

Tseng agreed in February 2012 to surrender her license to practice, just before being taken into custody in connection with the criminal charges. She has been behind bars in lieu of $3 million bail since her March 1, 2012, arrest.
The Republican debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, got off to a bit of an awkward start on Saturday.

It began on a high note, when ABC moderator David Muir introduced New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Ben Carson's name, drowned out by applause, was called second. But instead of making his way onto the stage, he stood off to the side as the moderators continued on down the candidate list.



Carson then started to make his way out, but suddenly stopped short when the moderators called out Ted Cruzs name.

Someone from backstage, who popped his head out from behind the curtain, tried shooing Carson to walk out, but to no avail.

Donald Trump appeared in the wings after his name was called, but instead of coming to the stage, he stood back with Carson. Marco Rubio barreled past the two other candidates, smiling as he walked past them. Next came former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who gave the two a quizzical look before leaving Carson and Trump behind.

Social media lit up with reaction to Carsons late entry onto the stage.

Ben Carson really messed up that entrance. #GOPDebate  Jerome Hunt, Ph.D. (@JeromeHuntPhD) February 7, 2016

Others were more sympathetic to the GOP candidate and laid the blame elsewhere.

[[ 367943891, C]]

But it didn't end there. Muir could faintly be heard calling out Ohio Gov. John Kasich's name, but that too, was drowned out by applause. Both Muir and fellow moderator, Martha Raddatz, who had their backs to the stage, then realized they were missing and gave Carson and Trump another call to the stage.

Dr. Ben Carson, please come out on the stage, hes standing there as well, Muir said.

And Donald Trump, Raddatz said.

As the moderators took their seats, Kasich was still missing.

Wheres Kasich? someone could be heard saying.

Yes, yes, were going to introduce Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Donald Trump said Sunday that he does not need to win the New Hampshire primary and that the Iowa caucus results were "very unfair" to him and Ben Carson.

"There are those that say I actually came in first, depending on how you want to count the votes, to be honest, because that was a horrible thing that took place," Trump said on "Meet The Press."

Iowa caucus winner Ted Cruz apologized to Ben Carson after supporters spread rumors that Carson was planning to end his campaign in an effort to get them to support Cruz. Trump has said it may have pushed Cruz over the top and caused him to fall to second.

Trump said he would like to do well in the Granite State, but dismissed the idea it is a must win.
Pope Francis brings his message of Christian hope and charity this week to Mexico, a country mired in crime and corruption, and to this border city once known as the worlds murder capital, where many residents are seeking renewal.

The trip will include the popes first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. It comes amid a divisive debate over illegal immigration, with the rhetoric of U.S. presidential candidates focusing on building walls, separating communities and expelling unauthorized immigrants.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso said he expects the pope to bring a different message.

Click here to read more from our partners at The Dallas Morning News.
A plan being considered by federal leaders could bring hydraulic fracturing to the northwest side of Lewisville Lake this spring.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the US Department of Interior, is in the process of determining whether to auction off drilling rights for the next 10 years to 259 acres in Hickory Creek on April 20 in Santa Fe, New Mexico as part of their quarterly leasing of federal lands for mineral extraction.

Donna Hummel, spokesperson for the BLMs New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas district, said that her office has received interest from members of the oil and gas industry to pursue drilling on that land, and under the Federal Mineral Leasing Act, the office is required to weigh those requests.

Starting last August, they began the process of deciding whether to move forward with that auction; a process the BLM website said will conclude in late March before that April 20 auction date.

In the process, the BLM had a 132-page environmental impact study completed on the projects up for consideration, including the one at Lewisville Lake, where the report determined that Proposed Action Alternative is not expected to have significant impacts on the environment.

Hummel said a number of factors go into that including requirements from the agency that owns the land; in this case the Army Corps of Engineers.

Clay Church, representative for the Corpss Fort Worth district said in the case of any projects that may impact the lake, safety is the top priority especially in relation to structures like the dam on the south side of the lake. Drilling has to be at least 1,000 feet from the waters edge (at the lakes usual 522 foot level) and 3,000 feet from critical structures.

Hummel said part of the process included a public review period on the project back in November for which they received no responses.

However some residents tell us they didnt respond, because theyre just now finding out.

Postings about the possible leasing appeared on the New Mexico districts website, which many said they never knew theyd have any reason to check out.

Jackie Vincent who lives further east along the lake shore said she only found out about the proposal this week when a friend shared an article from a local newspaper on her Facebook feed; an article that itself was only published late last week.

Nobody seems to know, said Vincent.

Rita Beving from the DFW chapter of the Clean Water Fund said she too is just learning of the situation, but has serious concerns about the safety of the environment near the important lake.

Lake Lewisville provides water for hundreds of thousands of people in the DFW area we cannot have that asset put at risk, she said.

Beving also expressed concern about the dam in Lewisville which is currently undergoing repairs for existing damage. She worries about unknowns like the seismic effects of the gas drilling and if that could create further issues.

Beving wants more studies targeted more specifically at this portion of land before the BLM makes any decisions.

The good news for her and others concerned is that there is still time.

The decision is currently in the public protest phase where anyone can send in letters of protest to the New Mexico office. Federal regulations require those only come in via fax or traditional mail though and that they are submitted by Feb. 19.

Protests can be sent to:

The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico Office

P.O. Box 27115

Santa Fe, NM 87502-0115

Or faxed to 505-954-2010

Hummel said those concerns will be taken into consideration, and at that point the BLM could chose to either send the land leases to auction, take no action on the request for auction, or determine (in rare cases) that the land never be available for auction.

However, Hummel stresses that there are definite benefits to the drilling leases her office gives out. Not only does the payment from the companies contribute to federal coffers, but a large portion also goes to the state of Texas.

Plus, the area in question does have existing drill pads that have been fracked in the past and many stress that operations are monitored closely and issues from the gas drilling method are unlikely.

Parts of Denton County have had issues with the gas drilling industry in recent years, especially the City of Denton where a ban on hydraulic fracturing was voted in by the people only to be overturned by the state last year.

To read the full environmental assessment click here.
A broad legal challenge has led more than 20 towns in Texas to ease restrictions over the last few months on where sex offenders can live instead of fight a costly battle in court.

While other states, including neighboring Oklahoma, continue to push offenders away from some neighborhoods, about 45 Texas towns received letters in November from the group Texas Voices for Reason and Justice demanding they repeal residency restrictions. The nonprofit, which is critical of sex offender laws it considers ineffective, also has sued 14 towns and has a powerful ally -- the state attorney general's office.

"We advocate an individual assessment on a case-by-case basis to determine if someone is a threat to the community," said Richard Gladden, an attorney for the group. "The myth that people who commit sex offenses just generally are unable to control their sexual conduct is just that, a myth."

At issue is how Texas' small towns are differentiated from larger ones. Communities with fewer than 5,000 people are "general law" towns, which can't adopt an ordinance that the Legislature hasn't permitted. Dozens of these smaller communities have restricted where sex offenders can live -- usually with the purpose of keeping them away from schools and other places children gather -- but only later learned they've run afoul of state rules.

"Unless the Legislature expressly authorizes it, a general-law municipality may not adopt an ordinance restricting where a registered sex offender may live," according to a 2007 opinion signed by then-AG Greg Abbott, who's now Texas governor. Larger cities fall under "home rule," which means they have "a constitutional right of self-government," Abbott wrote.

But the Texas Municipal League, which provides support services and lobbies on behalf of cities, is pushing for legislative action that reverses Abbott's decision.

"It's new where a general-law city has had its authority taken away by an attorney general's opinion," executive director Bennett Sandlin said.

The state allows leaders in general law towns to fashion municipal rules for "the good government, peace or order of the municipality," Sandlin said, such as zoning and noise control laws. But state officials can step in when local laws overreach.

Three cities have recently repealed their sex offender laws, Gladden said, and city leaders in Krum, which is north of Fort Worth, are considering doing the same.

Krum Mayor Ronald Harris Jr. said litigation prevents him from talking about whether his town will repeal its law, but he criticized the Legislature for not acting on behalf of small-town Texas.

"They're saying that we as a small town don't have a right to have an ordinance to protect our children and our residents, but larger towns do," Harris said.

The city manager of Alvarado, which is south of Fort Worth, told a Dallas-based TV station that although residents expressed concern about repealing the law, they know valuable town money could evaporate under the weight of a lawsuit.

"They're disappointed that we're not able to regulate our own town," said Clint Davis, who did not respond to a message left by The Associated Press for comment.

Other states have been looking to increase restrictions on housing for sex offenders. Last year, Montana lawmakers made it a felony for high-risk offenders to live or work in some areas, and Oklahoma added playgrounds and parks maintained by a homeowners association to the list of places prohibiting offenders, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Gladden argues myriad laws aren't necessarily benefiting public safety.

In many cases, he said, an innocent "Romeo and Juliet relationship" can result in a young man being prosecuted for having sex with a minor and labeled a sex offender for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, federal statistics show the overwhelming number of sex abuse cases involving children are perpetrated by a family member or friend of the family, and not an anonymous stranger, he said.

"Obviously, people are concerned about their kids and sometimes people are so overwhelmed by their natural instinct to protect their children that they don't necessarily use their heads and see what works and doesn't work," Gladden said.

But Sandlin argues the residency restrictions are common-sense measures to protect children and don't amount to an unwarranted hardship, as some would claim, because Census data shows more than 90 percent of land in Texas is outside incorporated cities.

"Cities are dense urban areas where it makes sense to regulate where sex offenders live," Sandlin said.
What happened in Iowa didn't stay in Iowa. And when it reached the stage in the latest Republican presidential debate, Ted Cruz had some explaining to do.

Cruz wasn't quite square with the facts Saturday night when he explained why and how his campaign spread the false insinuation that rival Ben Carson was quitting the race after the Iowa caucuses. The episode was among a number of fumbles from the field in the intense confrontation before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

Among them:

--Chris Christie misstated the U.S. policy on paying ransom to hostage-takers.

--Donald Trump botched tax numbers.

--In his zeal to condemn the Obama administration's immigration record, Cruz once again vastly overstated deportations under the previous two presidents.

Some of the claims and how they compare with the facts:

CRUZ on why his campaign spread inaccurate suggestions to voters on Iowa caucus night that Carson was quitting: "My political team saw CNN's report, breaking news, and forwarded that news to our volunteers."

THE FACTS: Cruz's campaign took accurate reports from CNN and twisted them to make it appear that Carson was quitting. The motive: to convince caucus-goers that support for Carson would be wasted and they should back the Texas senator instead. Even while apologizing to Carson for the tactics, Cruz tried to deflect blame.

CNN on air and in tweets said Carson, in an unusual move, planned to go home to Florida after the caucuses, instead of directly to New Hampshire to campaign for the next contest. But that information was coupled with assurances from the Carson campaign that he was not getting out of the race, but rather planning to attend the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington after Florida.

Based on that, the Cruz campaign pushed out its own story line, saying Carson would reportedly "stop" campaigning after Iowa and would be "making a big announcement next week." In addition, a key Cruz supporter, Rep. Steve King, tweeted that Carson was planning "the equivalent of suspending." Candidates who quit a primary race "suspend" their campaigns.

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TRUMP: "Right now, we're the highest taxed country in the world."

THE FACTS: Far from it. The U.S. tax burden pales in comparison with that of other industrialized countries.

Taxes made up 26 percent of the total U.S. economy in 2014, according to the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That measure looks at the entire tax burden, which is different than tax rates that can be gamed through loopholes, deductions and credits.

In Sweden, the tax burden is 42.7 percent of the economy. It's 33.6 percent in Slovenia (Trump's wife, Melania, was born in the part of Yugoslavia that became Slovenia). Britain clocks in at 32.6 percent, while Germany's burden is 36.1 percent.

Where is the tax burden lower than the United States?

South Korea, Chile and Mexico.

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CRUZ on whether waterboarding is torture: "Under the law, torture is excruciating pain that is equivalent to losing organs and systems, so under the definition of torture, it is not. It is enhanced interrogation, it is vigorous interrogation, but it does not meet the generally recognized definition of torture."

THE FACTS: One generally recognized definition, the United Nations Torture Convention, does not limit the meaning of torture to physical, disabling pain. It defines torture as "severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental," and mental anguish is at the core of waterboarding, which simulates drowning and now is banned by the U.S. Even so, there is no consensus that waterboarding, for all its severity, constitutes torture in legal terms.

The U.N. convention, for example, says suffering inflicted as part of "lawful sanctions" may not fit the definition of torture.

Cruz would not rule out restoring waterboarding as president. He said it would not be commonplace, and he would not let low-level officers do it.

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CRUZ, defending his vow to deport 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally: "I would note that in eight years Bill Clinton deported 12 million people. In eight years George Bush deported 10 million people. Enforcing the law. We can do it."

THE FACTS: Statistics from Immigration and Customs Enforcement show that roughly 1.6 million were deported under Bush, not 11 million. Under Clinton, about 870,000 immigrants were deported, not 12 million, according to the Migration Policy Institute. So far, about 2.4 million have been deported under the Obama administration.

To get the swollen figures, Cruz appears to be combining deportations with arrests made by the Border Patrol in the previous administrations, according to the institute.

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RUBIO: "Under Chris Christie's governorship of New Jersey, they've been downgraded nine times in their credit rating. This country already has a debt problem, we don't need to add to it by electing someone who has experience at running up and destroying the credit rating of his state."

CHRISTIE: "Incorrect and incomplete information."

THE FACTS: Incomplete, perhaps, but Rubio is right that the state's credit rating has been downgraded nine times since Christie took office, a reflection of concern by the major rating agencies about New Jersey's fiscal health and pension system. It did not go down nine notches, however. Each of the three major agencies downgraded the state's rating three times.

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CHRISTIE: "The president and his former secretary of state are for paying ransoms for hostages. When (you) do that, you endanger even more Americans around the world to be the subject of this type of hostage-taking and illegal detention."

THE FACTS: President Barack Obama said exactly the opposite in June, when the White House reaffirmed its opposition to paying ransom to terrorist groups that hold American citizens hostage.

The president said such payments only serve to endanger more Americans and finance "the very terrorism that we're trying to stop" -- points that Christie actually echoed during the debate.

Though the new White House policy precludes ransom payments by the U.S. government, the Obama administration did leave open the door to communication with hostage-takers -- whether by the government, families of victims or third-parties -- and said relatives who on their own decide to pay ransom won't be threatened with prosecution.

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RUBIO on fighting the Islamic State group: "The Kurds are incredible fighters and they will liberate the Kurdish areas, but Kurds cannot and do not want to liberate and hold Sunni villages and towns."

THE FACTS: The Kurds are overwhelmingly Sunni. Rubio did not distinguish between Sunni Arabs and Sunni Kurds. The areas predominantly held by IS fighters are in Sunni Arab territory. They did infiltrate Kurdish regions in both Iraq and Syria, but it is problematic to paint this picture with a broad sectarian brush.

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A bus has exploded in central London  but this time it's only for a movie.

City officials Sunday reassured the public that the explosion was a movie stunt for "The Foreigner" starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan.

The sight of the bus in flames and the twisted wreckage afterward caused consternation on Twitter from London residents who said the public had not been adequately warned about the stunt. Some complained that children had been frightened by the blast.

It reminded some of the 2005 attack on London's transport system that killed 52 civilians. That attack included the explosion of a bus in central London.

The Port of London Authority said Lambeth Bridge had been closed to the public prior to the stunt.
After a midair crash between two small planes Friday in San Pedro launched a water search for three, one pilot's husband was speaking out Saturday.

Mary Falstrom of Torrance, 72, was identified by her husband, Rich Falstrom, as one of the pilots involved in the crash.

"She was very proud of the fact that she was a female pilot because there aren't as many of those around," Rich Falstrom said.

Rich said he was proud of his wife too, and recalled what she said before taking off Friday.

"She more or less said, 'It's too pretty a day -- I have to go flying,'" Rich said.

Rich said his wife was a flight attendant when she was young and and an experienced pilot of more than 25 years.

Rich said she owned a two-seater aerobatic plane that she would fly once or twice a week, usually taking off from and landing at Torrance Airport.

"I'm sure she was just doing her normal routine and apparently didn't see the other plane, and they didn't see her," Rich said.

The Coast Guard called off a large-scale search Saturday morning for two men and Falstrom, but Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said the search would resume Sunday morning.

"I'm sad," Jim Gates, a fellow pilot in the flying club to which Falstrom belonged, said.

Gates said he watched Falstrom take off from Torrance Airport before the crash. He said her plane was designed for aerobatics.

A retired United Airlines pilot, Arvid Von Norden-Flycht, said he was looking at the radar trying to track the planes in the moments before the crash.

"It looked like at the last second somebody was turning," Norden-Flycht said.

The two small planes departed from the Torrance airport before the collision occurred.

A crew of a fishing boat reported that a plane had hit the waters near the Point Fermin Lighthouse Friday, officials said.

Debris and a log book was found Friday after a plane was reported down at 3:14 p.m., said Capt. Jennifer Williams of the U.S. Coast Guard.

"The rescue operation has transitioned to a recovery operation," according to a statement Saturday from the Coast Guard. The LA County Sheriff's Department plans to conduct diving and sonar searches to located wreckage, according to the statement.

Two men, ages 61 and 81, were aboard a plane that was seen on radar colliding with another aircraft assumed to be piloted by Falstrom on Friday. Both pilots were experienced, Williams said.

The identities of the two men were not released, but Williams said they were South Bay residents.

Crews were to resume searching Sunday at 6 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"I'm sad, but I'm also glad she died doing what she likes," Gates said.

City News Service contributed to this report.
Tiny sea lion, party of one. A 20-pound sea lion pup was found sleeping in a booth at a popular seaside restaurant in San Diego, likely searching for a cozy nook and, fittingly, a bite to eat.

SeaWorld San Diegos Rescue Team was called to The Marine Room restaurant on Spindrift Drive in La Jolla Thursday after staffers found the young sea lion curled up in a booth in the dining room, sleeping.



Somehow, the pup got into the dining hotspot and made his way into a booth with a scenic view of the beach below. Management wasnt sure how the sea lion snuck in, but it appears he spent the night inside the restaurant.

The Marine Room's executive chef, Bernard Guillas, shared some photos of the whiskered patron on his Facebook page. In one of the images, also seen in the gallery below, the sea lion looks as if she's longingly staring at the sea below the restaurant.

[[367827361,C]]

As of Friday morning, Guillas' post had been shared more than 1,600 times on Facebook and had nearly 3,700 "likes."

SeaWorld rescuers were able to safely corral the 8-month-old California sea lion and take her to their Animal Rescue Center. There, caregivers determined the pup was extremely malnourished and dehydrated.



Jody Westberg, a SeaWorld Rescue Team member, said her team considers the sea lion a micropup due to her small size and low weight.



She weighs 20 pounds, but should be about 40 to 50 pounds out in the wild, Westberg explained.



She said SeaWorld San Diego has been handling many unusual sea lion rescues lately in part due to recent El Nino weather conditions.

Southern California, and specifically San Diego County, has been having very high tides and very low tides, and also a lot of stormy weather. These pups are looking for high ground and warm areas for the night, she said.

[[367827921,C]]

Westberg said the El Nino event also appears to be impacting food sources for some sea lions in California.



Not only are they looking for high ground  theyre also searching for food, she added.



She said an ongoing unusual mortality event is also heavily affecting the California sea lion population throughout the state. Because sea lions are having a hard time finding food sources, many wind up emaciated. The fish they typically eat in the wild keep the animals hydrated but without fish to eat, dehydration is common.



At SeaWorld San Diegos Animal Rescue Center, the tiny pup was given fluids to rehydrate.

Animal experts were also keeping a close watch on the pups left eye, which remained shut and had some drainage coming out of it.



With proper care and nutrition, Westberg said the rescue team is cautiously optimistic the pup will be nursed back to health and eventually returned to the wild.



Over the past 52 years, SeaWorld San Diego has rescued more than 16,000 sea lions. So far in 2016, SeaWorld San Diego has rescued 47 marine mammals, including 40 sea lions, six harbor seals and one Guadalupe fur seal. In 2015, SeaWorld rescued a total of 990 California sea lions.



If you spot a sea lion or other animal that appears to be ill, injured or abandoned, you can call SeaWorlds Rescue Hotline at (800) 541-SEAL.

On Jan. 21, another sea lion was rescued in La Jolla. That pup had climbed 145 steps to get inside The Cave Store, a shop that acts as the entrance to a manmade tunnel which delves down the cliffside and into the Sunny Jim Sea Cave.


The U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket that world leaders called a banned test of ballistic missile technology and another "intolerable provocation." The U.N.'s most powerful body pledged to quickly adopt a new resolution with "significant" new sanctions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un went ahead with the launch just two hours after an eight-day window opened early Sunday, and a month after the country's fourth nuclear test. He ignored an appeal from China, its neighbor and important ally, not to proceed, and, in another slap to Beijing, he chose the eve of the Chinese New Year, the country's most important holiday.

In a reflection of heightened hostilities between the rival Koreas, South Korea's Defense Ministry said a South Korean naval vessel fired five shots into the water as a warning Monday when a North Korean patrol boat briefly moved south of the countries' disputed boundary line in the Yellow Sea.

Since its Jan. 6 nuclear test, which the North claimed was a powerful hydrogen bomb, despite outside skepticism, China and the United States have been negotiating the text of a new Security Council sanctions resolution.

North Korean rocket launches and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward Pyongyang's ultimate goal of a nuclear-armed missile that could hit the U.S. mainland.

At the U.N., the U.S., backed by its allies, Japan and South Korea, wants tough sanctions reflecting Kim's defiance of the Security Council. But diplomats say China, the North's key protector in the council, is reluctant to impose economic measures that could cause North Korea's economy to collapse  and a flight of North Koreans into China across their shared border.

The 15-member Security Council strongly condemned the launch and pledged to "expeditiously" adopt a new resolution with "further significant measures"  U.N. code for sanctions. The word "robust" referring to the measures was in an initial draft, but was dropped in the final statement.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters that "it cannot be business as usual" after two successive North Korean acts that are "hostile and illegal."

"What's important is that the Security Council unites," Power said. "China is a critical player. ... We are hopeful that China, like all council members, will see the grave threat to regional and international peace and security, see the importance of adopting tough, unprecedented measures, breaking new ground here, exceeding the expectations of Kim Jong Un."

However, China's U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, made clear that unprecedented sanctions aren't Beijing's priority.

He said a new resolution should "do the work of reducing tension, of working toward denuclearization (of the Korean peninsula), of maintaining peace and stability, and of encouraging a negotiated solution."

"I believe the council needs to work together for a new resolution," Liu added, indicating that China may want negotiations with the United States to be widened.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, whose country is also a North Korean ally, said: "It has to be a weighty resolution, but it also has to be a reasonable resolution" that doesn't lead to North Korea's economic or humanitarian collapse, or further heighten tensions.

Russia's goal is to see six-party talks aimed at denuclearization resume, he said, but in the current atmosphere that's unlikely because the North Koreans "have been very unreasonable" and are challenging the entire international community.

"We think this is wrong for their national interests ... for the Korean Peninsula ... for the region," Churkin said.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff, and vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

Japan's U.N. ambassador, Motohide Yoshikawa, told reporters the missile, which went over Japan and landed near the Philippines, was "a clear threat to the lives of many people."

The Security Council underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, "even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle" contribute to North Korea's development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons and violate four Security Council resolutions dating back to the North's first nuclear test in 2006.

North Korea under Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government.

In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defense Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THAAD missile-defense system in South Korea. North Korea has long decried the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and Beijing would see a South Korean deployment of THAAD, which is one of the world's most advanced missile-defense systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

In a statement, North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, praised "the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star."

Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of Kim Jong Un's father, former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an "intolerable provocation," saying the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and ignored the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan and reaffirmed the United States' "ironclad commitment to the security and defense" of its allies, the State Department said.

The Foreign Ministry in China expressed "regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies."

Noting China's pivotal role in negotiating a new Security Council resolution, Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador, Peter Wilson, said: "Today is Chinese New Year's eve and if I was a senior Chinese official, I would be pretty annoyed at what's been happening here. I know what I feel like when I'm dragged out of bed on a major national holiday."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father in late 2011. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

"If North Korea has only nuclear weapons, that's not that intimidating. If they have only rockets, that's not that intimidating, either. But if they have both of them, that means they can attack any target on Earth. So it becomes a global issue," said Kwon Sejin, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Lederer reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Yuri Kageyama and Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Lolita Baldor in Washington and Louise Watt in Beijing contributed to this report.
Thick smoke and flames created a chaotic scene in Millville, New Jersey Saturday night as a massive fire destroyed a former tavern.

The fire started at a three-story building on the 500 block of S. 2nd Street. The building was once home to the Gil Bear's Tavern. Residents told NBC10 the mix of smoke and fire looked like a volcano.

Millville Tavern Fire

"The next thing you know it just started smoking up real bad, all white and then black and then you started seeing the flames," said Lettuica Holloway.

Witnesses reported seeing small explosions during the blaze. At one point the entire third floor of the building collapsed on responding firefighters though they were able to get out. Firefighters issued a Mayday call after the collapse. At the peak of the fire, crews had to set up defensive positions around the block to stop the flames from spreading to any neighboring homes.

"We had the building surrounded when the collapse took place," said a fire official. "We immediately stopped all fire suppression operations and accounted for all our members and made sure they were accounted for and safe."

By the time the flames were brought under control, the building was completely destroyed.

Officials told NBC10 one person was inside the building during the fire but he or she managed to escape. No one was seriously hurt during the blaze.

Crews continued to work to suppress the smoke late Saturday night. Once all the smoke is gone they will begin to investigate the cause of the fire.
A Montgomery County town and supporters across the country are rallying behind a young girl who continues to fight for her life after nearly drowning in a bathtub last year.

On December 8, 2015, Bridget and Brad Turner were inside their Abington Township home when they heard a loud noise in their bathroom. When they went inside they found their 7-year-old daughter Allyson unresponsive and underwater. The parents quickly administered CPR and continued to do so until medics arrived. Allyson was then taken to Abington Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

Allysons family says she was placed on a ventilator and put into a medically induced coma in order to preserve her brain function and allow her lungs to heal. She was also placed on an ECMO machine, which drains blood from the body, adds oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, warms the blood and then returns the blood to the artery and pumps it through the body.

As the young girl remained in a coma, her parents constantly stayed at her bedside and repeated the words, "Just fight," a phrase that would ultimately be the rallying cry for Allys supporters. Allys 11-year-old brother Liam created a t-shirt with the words, Just Fight on it. Soon thousands of the shirts were delivered to Abington Township residents as well as people across the nation who were following Allys story. A Facebook page, website and GoFundMe page were also created for the girl, gaining thousands of followers who showed their support by wearing the Just Fight t-shirt.

Bob O'Brien

As the support for her grew, the young girl continued to fight through obstacles, including significant brain damage that was revealed in an MRI on December 19. On December 23, the Turner family received an early Christmas gift when Ally went off the ventilator and began breathing on her own. On Saturday, which marked 60 days since she was hospitalized, Ally showed remarkable improvement, according to her family, popping bubbles and using her right hand.

While Ally continues to show improvements in her recovery, her family acknowledges the fact that her future is uncertain. Yet one thing remains constant. With thousands of people in Abington and beyond in her corner, Ally will never have to fight her battle alone.

CLICK HERE to track Allys continued recovery and CLICK HERE to donate to Allys medical expenses.


An officer shot and killed a man early Saturday morning after he allegedly threatened police with a knife and held his girlfriend hostage during a standoff situation in Manchester Township, New Jersey.

Manchester Township Police went to a mobile home on the 1800 block of Route 37 West around midnight to issue an arrest warrant for 25-year-old Shyna Palmieri. When the officers tried to execute the warrant, Palmieri and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Michael Laniado, allegedly barricaded themselves inside the mobile home. Police say the couple then grabbed several large objects, including a spear, inside the home and began throwing them at the officers.

The responding officers retreated and called the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team. After the SWAT Team arrived a hostage negotiator tried to convince the couple to peacefully surrender but they allegedly refused. The officers then inserted a robot with a cellphone inside the mobile home and overheard Laniado threatening Palmieri, investigators said.

Police say they feared for Palmieris safety and fired tear gas into the home. Laniado then stepped out of the home while allegedly holding Palmieri at knifepoint and threatening to kill her. Police say Laniado then tossed the knife over his shoulder, indicating he would surrender. When officers moved towards him however, Laniado allegedly pulled out another knife and walked towards them.

Police say they fired several non-lethal dummy or bean bag rounds at Laniado but they had little effect on him. As Laniado continued to walk towards them with the knife in his hand, at least one officer took out a gun and fired several shots. Laniado was struck several times. He was taken to the Community Medical Center in Toms River where he was pronounced dead. The entire standoff lasted for nearly four hours, investigators said.

Palmieri was taken into custody. No officers were injured during the incident and both knives Laniado allegedly used were recovered at the scene. Police say one of the knives Laniado was carrying was a large karambit knife, a martial knife with a curved blade.

The Attorney Generals Shooting Response Team is currently investigating the incident.


With tears in their eyes, friends, family and musicians held a memorial service Saturday for a San Diego artist killed by a falling tree in Pacific Beach during a strong El Nino storm.

She was beautiful. She was fun; amazing. She was very, very talented  at everything she did," said Deborah Deroscher-Gil, referring to her beloved friend, Nicki Carano. "She was always fun to be with. She was always laughing. I will miss her laugh. I will hear it for a long time.



On Jan. 31, at around 3 p.m., as heavy rain and strong winds plowed San Diego County, Carano -- a professional drummer, vocalist and dance -- was on her way to a live music gig, set to perform with her bands.

As Carano drove on Ingraham Street near Crown Point, a huge tree at least eight feet in diameter came crashing down on the street, falling across the entire roadway. The tree toppled on Caranos car, crushing the vehicle and killing her.

Images: Giant Tree Crushes Woman on Pacific Beach Street

Emergency responders said there was likely not much Carano couldve done as the massive tree came barreling down.

Her death  and life  left an indelible mark on her loved ones, who are struggling with the sudden and painful loss.

NBC 7 spoke to fellow musician and friend, Stellita Porter, who said she was always taken aback by Caranos determination and talent.

Its been a while since Nicki and I worked together but when we did, it was just amazing, Porter said. There was nothing she couldnt do. She was always, I can do it. I can do it. And she just had so many talents. She could sing, she could dance, she could just do it all.

NBC 7s Liz Bryant reports on the death of professional drummed Nicki Carano who was on her way to play with her bands when she was struck by a falling tree.

On Saturday, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., loved ones gathered at Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach to share stories and memories of Carano.

Veronica Guzman, a friend of Carano's brother, said she'll never forget Carano's "mesmerizing" eyes and demeanor and memorable musical abilities.

"She will be surely missed by everybody," said Guzman.

Some of Carano's young drumming students also attended the memorial. They were saddened by their instructor's untimely passing and said they would always remember her as a nice, fun, caring person. Carano had been their instructor for the past four years.

"Nicki Carano wasn't only a drum teacher, she was also a friend," one boy said. "She taught me everything I needed to know to be a good drummer."

"Nicki was the best drummer I've ever met," another boy added.

All of Carano's students promised they would continue to pursue drumming with the skills she had taught them.

Earlier this week, Caranos brother, David, told NBC 7 his older sister as the glue that held their family together. He described her as a compassionate, funny firecracker.

A 48-year-old woman in a passing car died after a giant tree fell onto the car and three others in Pacific Beach Sunday. NBC 7s Matt Rascon reports.

Her bandmate, Matt Silvia, of the Christopher Dale Trio said Carano was one of the best musicians he had ever seen and a very sweet, kind person. Silvia said he didnt know how he and his bandmate, Christopher Dale, would move on without her.

On Thursday, Dale posted information about Caranos memorial service on his Facebook page, along with a video clip showing the band  including Carano rocking the drums  during a performance last December.

Thank you all for your love and support during this very difficult time, Dale wrote. See the clip below:



There will be a Celebration of Life for Nicki Carano this Sat (2/6) at Kate Sessions Park - 2pm to 4pm. Thank you all... Posted by Christopher Dale on Thursday, February 4, 2016

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The SoundDiego Record Club features some of the best new musical releases from around the county. Read on and listen in. As always, be sure to support our local artists and purchase their music when possible -- and if you can, go see them at a show.

"Phoenix Syndrome"

AJ Froman, self-released Jan. 26, 2016

OK, which one's Froman? Awesome jokes aside (high five!), the five-piece collective known as AJ Froman have already established themselves as one of the most wildly experimental bands on San Diego's music scene right now. Even if they didn't have a dude (local artist and unofficial sixth member, Jimmy Ovadia) literally painting on a large canvas emphatically to the band's music onstage during shows, you'd be hardpressed to tear your eyes off 'em when they're on it. Frontwoman Sarah Norwood hurls and twirls herself around the stage -- her dense mane of curls barely keeping up with her uninhibited, possessed movement -- propelled by a tremulous voice that frequently winds up howling operatically over the group's kaleidoscope-colored rock assaults. But those are shows, and "Phoenix Syndrome" is a record -- that is to say, the transfer of crazed onstage energy into the studio recording process has proven to be haphazard for countless bands. Thankfully, Froman's new album does a good job of capturing their raw, in-concert prowess. Channeling equal parts Mars Volta, King Crimson and Led Zeppelin, they deftly manuever through endless twists and turns in difficult time signatures and intricate song structures only they'd imagine. The eight-song "Phoenix Syndrome" LP sounds like the natural progession (and big brother) to 2014's "Nocturna" EP, which found the band charging through their four-part "Guarda Nocturno" rock concerto (with each movement affectionately notated with roman numerals, I might add -- prog-rock bonus points!). That particular song is revisited (for 13 minutes, no less) on the new album as well, putting their jam-band money where their jam-band mouths are. If untamed psychedelic experimentalism (think Yes, not Tame Impala) is your thing, AJ Froman's your guy, er, band. [Listen to/purchase the album here]

"Midnight Palms" EP

The Donkeys, releases Feb. 12, 2016, via Easy Sound Recording Company

The Donkeys don't pull punches: What you see is what you get. And simply put, "Midnight Palms," the band's new five-song EP will undoubtedly delight their fans. After delivering a beautiful collection of meandering '60s-esque beach-breeze pop (with a little ol' fashioned rock & roll thrown in) on 2014's "Ride the Black Wave," the band stays the course on their new record -- with a little refinement to boot. The group (which includes vocalist/keyboardist Anthony Lukens, drummer/vocalist Sam Sprague, bassist/vocalist Tim Denardo) is joined on these songs by a new guitarist, Steve Selvidge (on loan from the Hold Steady), which might explain their newfound focus. Whereas "Ride the Black Wave" had hypnotic forays into Middle Eastern music ("The Manx" and "Imperial Beach") and tropical-flavored hammock-rockers ("Brown Eyed Lady" and "Bahamas"), the new EP is all killer, no filler. That is to say, it's straight-ahead, blue-eyed soul/pop with all the chill, retro vibes you could ask for. "Hurt Somebody" is the obvious single here, a lax singalong with the chorus refrain of "It'll be all right" that could've easily been in a hit in 1972 for Stealers Wheel. The Donkeys don't slow down after that, offering up a bluesy, toe-tapping tambourine jangler with "Down the Line" before Selvidge ups the energy and channels his inner Keith Richards on the Stones-ish "Hold On to You." The gem, and possible sleeper, of the bunch is the slow, organ-led R&B ballad "Day By Day," with its deliberate guitar stabs and soulful vocals that easily reassure those commitment-phobes out there: "Forever's a long time, girl / But we'll take it day by day / That's the best way." May not look like much on paper, but it's a glorious slab of melodica to the ears -- just like the rest of "Midnight Palms." [Pre-order it here, and see them play it live on Feb. 11 at Soda Bar, with the Palace Ballroom and Oh, Spirit.]

Dustin Lothspeich plays in Old Tiger, Diamond Lakes and Boy King. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.
The call has gone out to those who are preparing to transition to college after serving their country in the armed services: The Warrior-Scholar Project Wants You!

Its aim is to immerse enlisted veterans in the university experience, to give them confidence and tools to undertake a bachelor's degree program.

"I tell people  even though it sounds cheesy  it changed my life. It really did," said Sarah Serrano, who participated in the weeklong Warrior-Scholar program last summer at the University of Southern California.

For enlisted veterans who remember the basic training required for military service, it's akin to returning to boot camp, but one designed to prepare them for the rigors of university level academic work.

"The more we can do for our heroes who serve all of us, the better for everyone," said Mark Todd, USC Vice-Provost who oversees the university's programs for veterans.

Serrano had taken some community college classes prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps, assigned to admin and making sergeant before returning to civilian life four years ago. She found some acting work, and took a position with the nonprofit networking organization Veterans in Film and Television. She also squeezed in more community college classes, and began realizing that her goal since childhood of attending USC was slipping away.

Then she heard about the Warrior-Scholar Project, and was accepted with 13 others. Serrano remembers them meeting with John Mork, the chairman of USC's board of trustees, and hearing him encourage all of them to apply to USC for undergraduate admission.

She took it to heart and hopes to be accepted for the fall semester.

"Just the idea of accomplishing this  a goal I had dropped a long time ago  was so exciting," Serrano said.

Launched at Yale University in 2012, the Warrior-Scholar Project spread to other Ivy League schools and across the nation. Twelve campuses will be offering programs this summer, including USC and the University of Arizona in the west.

The Project covers all costs of the program, including room and board at the university. Those accepted are responsible for making their own arrangements to get to campus at the beginning.

At most campuses, the program focuses on a humanities program. Serrano and her USC classmates studied a course on liberty and democracy, which included analyzing the 19th Century classic, "Democracy in America," by Alexis de Tocqueville.

This summer, Yale and the University of Oklahoma will offer two week programs, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) component. The participating universities benefit as well, said Todd, by attracting students who bring skills and perspective honed by their service.

Last summer, "the top professors were chomping at the bit" to be part of the program and work with the warrior scholars, Todd said.

Deadline for applications to be considered for this summer's Warrior Scholar Programs is April 15.
Gary Sinise, who has supported veterans causes since Vietnam, performed with his band for a festival at Naval Medical Center Saturday.

Sinise plays guitar in the Lt. Dan Band, named for his role in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. The band plays at three of four military festivals every year.

"I was making a patient visit, which I do quite often at our hospitals, and I was standing outside and I was about to get in the car to take off and I said to the admiral, you know, I bet we could put a stage right here, Sinise said about the inception of the festival. We could bring some food in, kind of get everyone out of the hospital and have some fun and do something, and he loved the idea, so we put that together and that began this festival circuit we're on."

Thousands of wounded vets and their families gathered for the fourth annual Invincible Spirit Festival for a day of music, food, and inspiration.

Lots of people having fun and enjoying themselves, Sinise said of the festival. Thats what its all about just making sure our military knows we appreciate them were not forgetting what theyre going through and we want to give them a good time.

Sinise and celebrity chef Robert Irvine hosted the event honoring the work of the navy medical staff for wounded service members.

Naval Medical Center is a wonderful hospital. The military hospitals that Ive been to, and Ive been to many of them, that medical system is doing very well by our wounded. If I was hurt Id want to be in one of our military medical centers.

Sinise, who began working with veterans in the 70s during Vietnam, said after service members started coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan it brought back memories of the hostile way soldiers were treated when they returned from Vietnam, reinforcing his interest in making sure that never happened again.

Thankfully the hospitals have fewer that are coming in fresh off the battlefield the way it used to be, but there are ongoing residual effects that our wounded are going to be facing for many, many years to come.

For his active involvement with wounded troops and the USO, some have called "The New Bob

Hope.

For me, military, Ive just been around it my whole life. I have military in my family, said said about why veterans causes are so important to him. Some of our military has just seen some things you and I will never see.


Police are investigating a triple shooting inside a restaurant in Baltimore's bustling Fells Point neighborhood.



City police say two men were shot in the head just after 1:30 a.m. at the Santa Clara Restaurant at Fleet and Bond streets. A third man was shot in the foot. The two men with head injuries were taken to a hospital in critical condition. Homicide detectives are investigating.



Police believe two men walked into the restaurant and opened fire before leaving in a vehicle.



Police also arrested the driver of a van that crashed into two vehicles and hit a woman on the sidewalk. The incident occurred nearby, but police say it wasn't related to the shooting.



Fells Point is known for its lively bar scene, and violent crime there is relatively infrequent.
The Baltimore-Washington Parkway was closed for hours Saturday night after a driver who was being pulled over by police apparently killed himself alongside the roadway, police said.

The incident happened near Riverdale Road.

The northbound lanes of the parkway between Maryland Route 410 and the Beltway reopened about 10:30 p.m., but the incident forced traffic to detour onto side streets.

Cars were backed up for miles. Some drivers said they were stopped for at least 45 minutes as traffic was re-routed.

Sgt. Anna Rose of the U.S. Park Police said she was first made aware of the incident at 6:40 p.m., and road closures quickly followed.
A new business opened its doors on Broad Street in Falls Church, Virginia, after its first location met with great success and protests.

When NOVA Firearms opened a location in McLean, Virginia, the move was met with protests. Opponents said while the location of the business was with the law, it was out of their comfort zone with a school nearby.

But owner James Gates said business was good enough that they needed to expand. He previously owned a gun shop in Falls Church and thought it would be a good choice for a second NOVA Firearms.

"We had a lot of our customers asking us to reach out down this way a little bit further so they don't have to sit in all the 495 traffic or the McLean traffic to get to our shop after work," said Gates.

News4s Derrick Ward said there were no protests at the new location, even though there is a school in sight of this shop. Gates said he is aware that some may, nonetheless, find the firearms store too close for comfort, so he's asking a little something of his patrons.

"We're going to encourage all of our customers coming in to come in the side door, park in the back so there'd be limited visibility," Gates said.

Ward said there are still those with ideological opposition.

"I think more guns (equals) more violence," said one woman. "There's no one person that's going to be the good guy and not shoot the wrong person."

Gates said part of his business mission is to help create responsible firearm owners armed with the proper safety and training.

"We are very heavily pushing training from basic all the way up to advanced," he said.

Much of his clientele are professionals, who appreciate what they see as a reputable inside-the-beltway location.
Stafford County, Virginia, police are searching for a man in connection with a shooting death early Sunday morning.

Investigators said Maurice Williams Scott, 33, of Stafford County was shot during an altercation with Chancellor Tolliver, 20, of Stafford County, around 5 a.m. Sunday in the Garrison Woods Apartment Complex. Scott was taken to the hospital, but he died on the way.

Detectives have an arrest warrant for Tolliver, charging him with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police said they do not know where Tolliver is located, and he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Marco Rubio, a first-term senator on the rise in the presidential race, faced a barrage of attacks in Saturday night's Republican debate, with rivals vigorously challenging his readiness to be president and the depth of his expertise as they sought to salvage their own White House hopes.

Sen. Ted Cruz, fresh off his victory in the Iowa caucuses, also came under withering criticism for controversial political tactics, with one candidate disparaging him for having "Washington ethics" and being willing to test the campaign's legal limits.

The focus on the two senators allowed GOP front-runner Donald Trump to go largely untouched in his return to the debate stage. His grip on the Republican lead has been shaken by his second-place finish in Iowa, though the next contest Tuesday in New Hampshire is still his to lose.

New Hampshire's primary could further winnow an already shrinking GOP field. Hard-fought, expensive and far-ranging, the campaign has become a fight for the future of the Republican Party, though the direction the GOP will ultimately take remains deeply uncertain.

Florida's Sen. Rubio has sought to appeal both to mainstream Republicans and those eager to upend the status quo. But his rivals, particularly New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have been blistering in their criticism of what they see as his slim qualifications to serve as commander in chief.

"You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable," Christie said. "You just simply haven't."

Christie, as well as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, has staked his campaign on New Hampshire, pouring most of his resources into the state in recent weeks. All three played a more substantial role in this debate than in earlier contests, though each is still likely to face intense pressure to end his campaigns if he's unable to pull off a strong finish in New Hampshire.

Gov. Christie has built his closing argument around his criticism of Rubio, and he kept up that approach on the debate stage. He accused the senator of being a candidate governed by talking points  then pounced when the senator played into his hands by repeating multiple times what appeared to be a planned response to criticisms about his qualifications.

"That's what Washington, D.C., does," Christie said. "The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him."

Rubio has sought to deflect criticism of his relative inexperience and the comparisons it draws to President Barack Obama by arguing the problem with the president isn't that he's naive, but that he's pushing an ideology that hurts the country. He made that point repeatedly throughout the debate.

Rubio wavered in defending his decision to walk away from the sweeping immigration bill he originally backed in the Senate  perhaps the legislation he's most closely associated with  and said he wouldn't pursue similar legislation as president.

"We can't get that legislation passed," Rubio said of the bill that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the United States illegally. The senator found his footing later in the debate when outlining his call for more aggressive action to fight the Islamic State and emphasizing his anti-abortion stance.

Cruz was the victor in Iowa, triumphing over billionaire Trump by drawing heavily on the support of evangelical voters. But he's faced criticism for messages his campaign sent to voters ahead of the caucuses saying rival Ben Carson  another favorite of religious conservatives  was dropping out and urging the retired neurosurgeon's supporters to back him instead.

Cruz apologized for his campaign's actions Saturday, but not before Carson jabbed him for having "Washington ethics."

Those ethics, he said, "say if it's legal, you do what you do to win."

Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses. After spending the past several days disputing his second-place finish in Iowa, he sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign, including blocking Muslims from coming to the U.S. and deporting all people in the country illegally, all while maintaining his has the temperament to serve as president.

"When I came out, I hit immigration, I hit it very hard," Trump said. "Everybody said, 'Oh, the temperament,' because I talked about illegal immigration."

Kasich, who has staked his White House hopes on New Hampshire, offered a more moderate view on immigration, though one that's unpopular with many GOP primary voters. He said that if elected president, he would introduce legislation that would provide a pathway to legalization, though not citizenship, within his first 100 days in office.

The debate began shortly after North Korea defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

Asked how he would respond to North Korea's provocations, Bush said he would authorize a pre-emptive strike against such rockets if it was necessary to keep America safe. Cruz demurred, saying he wouldn't speculate about how he'd handle the situation without a full briefing. And Trump said he'd rely on China to "quickly and surgically" handle North Korea.

With fewer candidates, debate host ABC News scrapped an undercard debate for low-polling hopefuls. But their rules for the main event left businesswoman Carly Fiorina as the only candidate without a spot on stage, an exclusion she vigorously protested to no avail.
Two people in southeastern Brazil contracted the Zika virus through blood transfusions, a municipal health official said Thursday, presenting a fresh challenge to efforts to contain the virus on top of the disclosure of a case of sexual transmission in the United States.

The two unrelated cases in Brazil may be the first of people contracting Zika via blood transfusions in the current outbreak, though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other health bodies, have said that Zika could be spread via blood transfusions.

That concern led the U.S. Red Cross to announce it is asking travelers to Zika outbreak countries to wait at least 28 days before donating blood. Canadian officials said that people who have traveled outside of Canada, the continental United States and Europe won't be able to give blood for 21 days after their return.

Brigina Kemp, a top health official in the Brazilian city of Campinas, told The Associated Press that a gunshot victim and a transplant patient each tested positive for Zika after receiving blood transfusions from different donors.

Kemp said staff at the University of Campinas' hospital first noticed something was wrong in the middle of last year, when Brazil's first cases of Zika were beginning to be reported. Generally so mild that it only causes symptoms in about one out of five cases, Zika began to raise alarm bells after doctors here started to notice a possible link between the virus  spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito  and the terrible birth defect microcephaly.

The hospital staff noticed abnormal blood work on a young gunshot wound victim who spent months at the facility. The patient received dozens of blood transfusions from 18 donors between February and May 2015, when he died.

Because the region was in the throes of a dengue outbreak at the time, the staff suspected that disease, which is closely related to Zika, and tested him for it, Kemp said. But the tests came back negative and the blood sample was shelved.

But when an organ transplant patient tested positive for Zika after developing a fever, the hospital's blood bank staff started looking for other possible Zika cases and tests on the gunshot victim's blood samples came back positive.

Transfusions in the two cases were traced to separate donors who had Zika, both of whom reported having suffered symptoms days after they gave blood.

The blood bank then informed Sao Paulo's Adolfo Lutz Institute, which also tested the samples and informed Campinas' health department of the results last month.

The Health Ministry said in an email to The Associated Press, that while the case of the gunshot victim was not yet part of a scientific study, "the case is among multiple investigations under way into the behavior of the virus."

Dante Langhi, president of the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy, told the AP that an academic paper about the transplant case was slated to be published shortly in a specialized medical journal.

Langhi said he had been told that researchers investigating the transplant case had determined that the patient contracted Zika through the transfusion, and not through a bite by the Aedes mosquito that is the virus' main vector.

"The situation must be evaluated and discussed by technical and government authorities," Langhi said.

Meanwhile, a Brazilian health workers union called off a strike set to start Thursday because it could affect the country's battle against Zika.

The union's members include workers who go door-to-door in Rio de Janeiro trying to eradicate the mosquito.

The union had threatened to strike if the national health ministry failed to meet demands for better work conditions by Thursday.
There have been no higher stakes on a Republican debate stage in the 2016 campaign for president than there were Saturday night.

Seven GOP Republican hopefuls faced off just three days before a make-or-break New Hampshire primary that some of them are not likely to survive.

Coming off a strong Iowa finish, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio tripped up early under attack from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who are jockeying for the same Republican voters.

At the same time, the candidates on the still-crowded stage seemed unwilling to mix it up with Donald Trump, the national front-runner for months who needs a win in New Hampshire on Tuesday to avoid starting the 2016 race with two consecutive losses.

And then there was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the champion college debater who shared a deeply personal moment during an otherwise forgettable night while trying to build on his victory in the Iowa caucuses.

Here are some takeaways from Saturday night's GOP debate:

RUBIO STUCK IN A LOOP

Rubio experienced his worst moment in a presidential debate at the worst time, stumbling badly when forced to answer the fundamental question posed by rivals of his candidacy: whether he has the experience necessary to lead the nation.

As a first-term senator with no executive experience, Rubio's resume is remarkably similar to Barack Obama before he became president. Rubio tried to turn the question around by charging that Obama "knows exactly what he's doing" by "undertaking a systematic effort to change this country."

The answer was quickly challenged by Christie: "I like Marco Rubio, and he's a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States."

A clearly rattled Rubio responded by delivering the same line about Obama not once, but twice. And Christie made sure New Hampshire voters knew it: "There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody."

It was a cringe-worthy moment for Rubio three days before a New Hampshire contest in which he hopes to knock Christie, Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich from the race. Even if it doesn't significantly change the contest in New Hampshire, the moment raises questions about Rubio's readiness to take on Democrat Hillary Clinton in a general election debate.

CHRISTIE PULLS NO PUNCHES

He is barely registering in recent preference polls, but the New Jersey governor was the toughest candidate on the debate stage Saturday night. And that's no small feat with the tough-talking Trump at center stage.

At seemingly every turn, Christie zeroed in on Rubio, pelting him with zingers about his inexperience and record in Washington. Calling out Rubio on his missed votes in the Senate, Christie charged, "That's not leadership. That's truancy."

And when Rubio didn't answer a moderator's question about why he backpedaled on an immigration proposal he'd helped write when it appeared to become politically unpopular, Christie called him out.

"The question was, did he fight for his legislation. It's abundantly clear that it he didn't." Then he twisted the knife: "That's not what leadership is. That's what Congress is."

It was a performance Christie badly needed as he teeters on the edge of irrelevancy in the crowded Republican contest. Is it too little too late to rescue his campaign?

TRUMP LEFT ALONE ... MOSTLY

Trump's rivals barely laid a glove on the frequent New Hampshire poll leader.

The decision to withhold fire was evident right from the start, when Cruz declined to repeat his assertion this week that Trump didn't have the temperament to be commander in chief. Cruz dodged, saying everyone on the stage would be better leader of the U.S. military than Obama and Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Pressed by a moderator whether he stood by his words that Trump was too volatile to be president, Cruz said simply, "I think that is an assessment the voters are going to make." Trump noted that Cruz refused to answer the question.

Bush was the only one who took it directly to Trump. After the billionaire real-estate developer defended the use of eminent domain as a necessary tool of government, Bush said the businessman was "downright wrong" when his company tried to use eminent domain to build an Atlantic City casino.

Trump scoffed, saying Bush "wants to be a tough guy."

Bush fired back, "How tough is it to take property from an elderly woman?"

It was the only moment in which Trump flashed any of the rhetorical jabs he's become known for on Twitter. For the most part, Trump was content to lay back and let those chasing him in the preference polls fight amongst themselves.

A COMFORTABLE CRUZ

The champion college debater wasn't much of a factor after a rough start to the debate, when he was asked about Trump's temperament and allegations his campaign team engaged in "deceitful behavior" by suggesting in the moments before the Iowa caucuses started that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was leaving the race.

"When this transpired, I apologized to him then and I do so now," Cruz said. "Ben, I'm sorry."

Cruz returned to prominence when asked about substance abuse, and gave an answer that will be hard for some voters to forget.

The Texas senator shared the deeply personal story of his sister's overdose death. He told New Hampshire voters, and a national television audience, that he and his father pulled his older sister out of a crack house. They pleaded with her to straighten out for the good of her son. But she didn't listen.

"She died," Cruz said.

It was a very human moment for a candidate sometimes criticized for not being likable.

And it was in line with his tone all night long, as he consistently rose above the mud-slinging, despite his near-daily attacks on his rivals on the campaign trail.
Police said the men involved in an armed home invasion were possibly impersonating police officers during their attack at a Lowell address Saturday night.

One of those men pointed a handgun at police and was shot by a responding officer, authorities said Sunday. Investigators said they recovered that gun, along with phony badges and handcuffs near the scene of the invasion on Pine Hill Street.

Police said the second suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended.

Christopher Covey, 46, of Groveland, Massachusetts, is being held at Lowell Police Station on charges of armed home invasion. Timony Berry, 48, of Harverhill, Massachusetts, is charged with armed home invasion and assault by means of a dangerous weapon and held under armed supervision at a hospital in Boston.

A statement from Lowell police said the two men had "lengthy criminal records."

A section of Pine Hill Street in Lowell remained taped off Sunday morning as police continue to investigate an armed home invasion that led to an officer-involved shooting Saturday night. Police said they later obtained a search warrant for that home and discovered "a large amount" of marijuana and cash.

Two residents in the home suffered non life-threatening injuries during the invasion. They were taken to an area hospital.

The names of the suspect have not yet been released.

"I was just shocked, one neighbor told necn. "I couldn't even look out my front door it was just police everywhere"
A man and a woman were struck from behind by a vehicle overnight in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and the driver fled, according to police.

Officers responded after 2 a.m. to a report that the two victims had been found near 55 Sycamore St.

When police arrived, a 50-year-old man who had been hit was up and walking. A 40-year-old woman, however, was unconscious.

Both victims were transported to St. Luke's Hospital with serious injuries. From there, the woman was airlifted to Boston Medical Center.

A snowplow driver found the victims unconscious and called police. Though the man regained consciousness, he could not explain what had happened.

Anyone with information is asked to call (508) 997-7421.
Bernie Sanders hosted a crowd of more than 750 people at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire, three days before the first-in-the-nation primary.

At times, it looked and sounded like your favorite concert.

"I feel like a rock and roll star," Bernie Sanders said to the crowd as he took off his jacket.

The headliner on Saturday morning was the Vermont senator himself.

"Bernie, Bernie, Bernie," the crowd chanted after Sanders tossed them his jacket.

Sanders will be on Saturday Night Live in New York City, but the show started early for him in Rindge.

"We are going to take on the billionaire class and create a political revolution," he said.

Stephanie Scherr of Fitzwilliam has seen a lot of candidates in person, but says not one compares to Sanders.

"There is just this feeling in the room that I have not felt at any other event," Scherr said.

Sanders plans for tuition-free college and a single-payer health care system have been criticized as radical and unachievable.

When asked is she was concerned about Sanders follow-through on his promises, Scherr responded, "no, not at all."

But not everyone in the crowd is so convinced.

"I'm a little tied between Hillary and Bernie," said New London resident Michael T. Brown. "Hillary has a lot behind her but also Bernie kind of speaks to my generation."

Rhode Island high school student Alex Azar was on a class trip to New Hampshire witness the run up to the First in the Nation Primary for themselves.

"I am concerned about Bernie Sanders' foreign policy experience, but I am a big fan of his domestic policy," Azar said.

Recent polls put Sanders ahead of Clinton by double digits in New Hampshire.

In three days, if those polls prove correct, Sanders says he could very well ride that momentum all the way to the white house.

"If we can win here, the eyes of the world will know this country is about to move in a new direction," Sanders said.

The campus has hosted 10 candidates.

Franklin Pierce Assistant Director of Admissions Bianca Acebon Peco tells necn that Sanders attracted a larger crowd than any other candidate by more than 500 people.

Acebon Peco says the school invited Clinton, but that her campaign only offered a surrogate. They say the offer is still on the table and there's three days left.
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Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
More than 15 years ago, David Warshaw, Ph.D., and coworkers discovered the precise malfunction of a specific protein in the heart that leads to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common culprit in cases of sudden death in young athletes.

Now, a team of scientists has used some of Warshaw's earlier findings to develop a possible treatment to prevent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an inherited disease that can cause the heart to thicken and stop pumping blood effectively, leading to heart failure. Warshaw, professor and chair of molecular physiology and biophysics at the University of Vermont (UVM) College of Medicine, wrote about the significance of this potential therapy for a "Perspectives" column in the February 5, 2016 issue of the journal Science.

"This may offer a generalized approach to solving hypertrophic cardiomyopathy," says Warshaw, who is also an investigator in the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont at UVM. "I think it's extremely promising."

HCM can result from different mutations of many proteins in the heart. One of those proteins, myosin, acts as a tiny molecular motor in every heart muscle cell. It pulls and releases on a rope-like protein, actin, in order to make the heart muscle contract and relax as it pumps blood.

A mutation of myosin can "alter the motor's power-generating capacity" and make the heart work improperly, which in turn causes the heart to enlarge, Warshaw says.

For many years, scientists assumed that the mutation caused the myosin to lose its motoring power, throwing off the whole heart engine. But in a study Warshaw published in 2000 in Circulation Research, he and colleagues found that the problem wasn't diminished power in the myosin; it was too much power with this mutation.

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"By analogy, placing the engine of an Indy race car (i.e., mutant myosin) in a stock car chassis (i.e., the heart's connective tissue matrix) could lead to internal stress and structural damage," Warshaw writes in his "Perspectives" article. "For the heart, this amounts to inducing cardiac fibrosis and muscle cell disarray that are characteristic of HCM patients."

The team of scientists who found a way to address this problem - which they report in the February 5, 2016 issue of Science - are from Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Colorado, and MyoKardia Inc. in San Francisco, a biotechnology company formed to develop such treatments.

Using mice bred with the mutation, the team tested a small molecule inhibitor that dials back the myosin motor's power generation to a more normal level. The mice got the drug containing the molecule as early as eight weeks old, and amazingly it prevented the HCM from surfacing, according to the study.

"When they gave the drug to a young mouse with the mutation, the mouse's heart developed normally," Warshaw says.

Because HCM runs in families, an infant who tests positive for the genetic mutation could receive the treatment and stave off the disease, Warshaw says. Development of a human drug, however, would require much more extensive testing and many remaining questions to be answered, he says.

Nonetheless, Warshaw sees great potential. In previous studies, he has found that mutations to other heart proteins also result in increased heart muscle power generation, in turn leading to HCM. The same molecule, he says, could still be used on the myosin motor to compensate and thus block the disease in those cases as well.
Chuck in battle to keep crown

The MP was reacting to the case of Princes Town ex-soldier and security guard, Che Callender, who was found hanging in a cemetery in his area last Friday after almost a week on the run from the law, following the discovery of mobile phone recordings of his acts on the infant by the childs mother with whom he had a relationship.

Padarath, speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday, said the incident which occurred in his constituency really hit home and he felt a sense of urgency to speak out about it.

Padarath recalled he felt a great sense of outrage when he heard about the case of child molestation, noting that over the past few months the country has been witnessing a growing series of similar cases. Many in the national community have felt a sense of outrage and hopelessness, he said, pointing out that his is not the first call for a Sex Offenders Registry and that the previous Peoples Partnership administration was putting together the framework for the legislation and empowering the Childrens Authority.

At this stage I am calling on the Attorney General to prioritise the establishment of it, he added.

Padarath said a lot of groundwork had already been laid, and he believes, when established, it will be a deterrent to sex offenders.

The Princes Town MP also called for dialogue on the publishing of the names of sex offenders, possibly monthly or quarterly within the media, while also taking into consideration the issue of privacy.

Once you over 18 and a repeat offender your name should be published, he stressed.

Padarath expressed hope that the registry will be a priority on the Governments legislative agenda and for the work of the Attorney General as it will protect not only children but persons generally from sexual abuse.

He said the registry is just one suggestion and he believes that through the Childrens Authority there will be several other ideas.

He recalled that the previous administration tried to empower the Authority including giving it additional resources, and he understands that since they left government, there has been a strain on the Authority in terms of support.

I hope the Government continues to give a greater sense of support so they can carry out their work, he added.

Padarath also raised the issue in a media release yesterday in which he lamented that too many children were becoming victims of sexual abuse in Trinidad and Tobago. He called on Government and civil society to work hand in hand to protect the nations children.

He stated that former Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had placed a lot of focus and attention on childrens issues and that the establishment of the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development under her administration was meant to streamline support for the most vulnerable.

He indicated that he was saddened that the current administration appeared not to have the political will to deal with matters that affected children the most and that the establishment of a sex offenders registry would yield real, tangible results and would be a preventative measure as opposed to reactionary.

He stated that once the list is compiled there should be a dialogue on publishing the names of sex offenders as he believes, we should not be protecting the identities of criminals.

In response yesterday, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi described the calls for a Sex Offenders Registry as only one sliver of what the whole solution requires. He explained that the registry presupposes a system where the offender can be known and that must happen after due process.

He stressed that this requires detection, prosecution, conviction and then establishment of a monitoring system.

Unless we tackle the first three we just playing a game with words, he said. Al-Rawi said it was unfortunate that the country is currently gripped by the resurgence of the underlying horror which has been a part of society for a long time.

He noted this is why the Government, when previously in opposition, clamoured for childrens legislation to be passed and more particularly operationalised after languishing for far too long.

He recalled that on the day he was sworn in as Attorney General, the first three matters he was concerned with were children- related. He explained that the Government has taken a multi-pronged approach to the issue.

He noted that firstly, they sought to make the laws technically comprehensive and in the course of finalising the last changes to the Children and Family Bill they amended 12 other pieces of law which had not been contemplated when first looked at by the last administration.

Secondly, they sought to immediately operationalise the new courts which would receive the legislation to carry it out and they are far advanced in securing a physical location and staffing arrangements.

Thirdly, he said they have engaged in heavy support of the Childrens Authority and, fourthly, they operationalised the system in support of what was previously called juvenile detention and rehabilitation.

Al-Rawi reported that there have been meetings with the core group of technocrats, the Authority, various ministries, NGOs and specialist consultants several days every week since September. He noted that it is all hands on deck and there is coordination among the Judiciary, the ministries that provide support, the Police Service, NGOs, the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs.

Many weekends spent between September to now and midnight hours burnt assiduously, he reported.

He explained that they had taken a holistic, comprehensive process focused on operationalisation.

This is a scourge that cannot be tolerated in any form or fashion and one we have absolute abhorrence for, he stressed.

On Padarath, he said the Oppositions cries are not far from our own but, in the face of five years of opportunity to have taken a deep multipronged approach, it is now for this Government to recognise continuity of governance to catalyse production of a solution.
Gypsy: Minshalls Swan fantastic

It is fantastic, Gypsy said when asked by reporters about the costume  which placed third in the King of Carnival competition on Tuesday.

Peter Minshall is a genius and I have nothing against that (costume). Gypsy was speaking moments after attending a TUCO draw for tonights Dimanche Gras finals at Kaiso House, Queens Park Savannah last Friday.

Gypsy said Minshalls critics could learn a thing or two from the legendary mas man.

Peter Minshall has brought about the changes that you see in Carnival here today, the calypsonian said. It is unfortunate that the people who complain about Peter Minshall on a Moko Jumbie, or stilt, are people who put wheels on their mas, and pull it all over. All it missing is an engine! And I find that is so unfortunate. Gypsy continued, Peter Minshalls mas is mas, and it harkens back to the time when Peter Minshall played this thing called Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright I wrote a song about it that most people dont even know. He then sang lyrics for that song, which included: Tiger, tiger burning bright / you never had a chance to see the light / they kept you off the stage but thats alright / youre still the prince of the jungle, and the king of the band / Tiger, we love you, youre the best in our land. Said Gypsy, I wrote that song when Peter Minshall did that because I love the mas.

Before they criticise Peter Minshall it will do them well to try to learn a couple of things from him.
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(Newser)  Could being a winner put you on the slippery slope to becoming a cheater? A new study out of Israel suggests it can. Researchers found a correlation between winning a competition and subsequently feeling entitled to win anotherand study participants were willing to cheat in order to do so, Phys.org reports. "When success is measured by social comparison, as is the case when winning a competition, dishonesty increases, researcher Amos Schurr says in a press release. When success is not based on beating someone elsesuch as reaching a personal exercise goal"dishonesty decreases," he adds. If the researchers are correct, it could mean that one way to curb corruption and cheating is for governments, businesses, and other organizations to focus less on "social comparisons" and more on "fixed goals," notes Scientific American.

In the study, researchers paired up 86 college students and had them compete against one another in a game that required estimating the number of objects on a computer screen. The "winners" were actually chosen at random, and they received a pair of earbuds. Next, the students played a dice game in which one rolled the dice and the other observed. Only the student rolling the dice, however, could see the result, which dictated how many shekels (worth about a quarter apiece) each student got. Students who had won the previous estimation game were more likely to lie and claim more shekels than they had coming to them, say the researchers. The takeaway: "Winning a competition engenders subsequent unrelated unethical behavior," says the study abstract in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (How's this for cheating: A pro cyclist had a hidden motor in her bike.)
(Newser)  A 31-year-old New Jersey man who killed his "longtime friend" after losing a Super Bowl bet in 2013 was sentenced to life in prison on Friday, the New York Daily News reports. Eddie Roberson bet his friend Talif Crowley $700 that the San Francisco 49ers would beat the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. The 49ers and Roberson lost, but Roberson refused to pay up. He was still mad about losing the bet two days later when he shot Crowley six times. According to NJ.com, Roberson and Crowley ran into each other on the street. When the father of five went to shake Roberson's hand, Roberson opened fire.

A witness to the shooting recalls hearing Roberson say "they cheated my team" before shooting Crowley. Many blamed the 49ers' narrow loss to the Ravens on the referees missing a holding penalty. The judge who sentenced Roberson on Friday described the crime as "brazen and cold-blooded," noting Roberson "has expressed absolutely no remorse for his actions." In fact, Roberson still denies he shot his friend, despite the testimony of multiple witnesses. Roberson was convicted back in December. (Read more murder stories.)
(Newser)  North Korea defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the UN and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the US mainland. The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and tracked separately by the governments Japan and South Korea, which immediately convened an emergency national security council meeting, reports the AP. South Korean media reported that the rocket may have failed, but provided no other details. The launch follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. This time, the North had said it was launching a satellite, reports CNN.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch and the weapons test violations of UN agreements. "We absolutely cannot allow this," he told reporters at the prime minister's residence. "We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people." A South Korean defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rocket disappeared from South Korean military radars around six minutes after its launch. The official said there were no immediate reports of debris landing on South Korean territory or damaging property. The rocket's first stage fell off South Korea's west coast, the official said. (Read more North Korea stories.)
(Newser)  The killing of a black teenager in Chicago in the final days of 2015 has a new lawsuit, and it's not from the side one might think: Officer Robert Rialmo is suing the estate of Quintonio LeGrier, the 19-year-old he says attacked him with a bat while he was responding to a domestic disturbance, prompting the fatal shooting and causing Rialmo "extreme emotional trauma." Rialmo's lawsuit is actually a countersuit in response to LeGrier's father's wrongful death claim, notes the Chicago Tribune; Rialmo is seeking $180,000 plus legal fees. Antonio LeGrier's lawyer had hard words in response: "After this coward shot a teenager in the back ... he has the temerity to sue him? That's a new low for the Chicago Police Department," says Basileios Foutris, calling the lawsuit "outlandish."

Rialmo accidentally shot and killed 55-year-old neighbor Bettie Jones as he fired at LeGrier. "He's got this extra added burden (with) the death of Jones," says Rialmo's lawyer, who notes that since the city of Chicago settled the case of Laquan McDonald for $5 million, "people are treating officer-involved confrontations like a lottery ticket and they're waiting to cash it in." (Read more Robert Rialmo stories.)
(Newser)  Bernie Sanders came face to face with Larry David on Saturday Night Live, the latest presidential candidate to meet up with the actor who plays him or her on the show. "Bernie Sanderswitzski" found himself aboard a sinking ship as David's 1-percenter character tried to weasel his way onto a lifeboat, notes NPR. The encounter went a little something like this, reports Rolling Stone: "I am so sick of the 1% getting this preferential treatment. Enough is enough," Sanders says. "We need to unite and work together if we're all going to get through this."

Responds David: "Sounds like socialism to me." "Democratic socialism," Sanders corrects. David asks, "What's the difference?" And in a nod to Donald Trump and David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sanders responds, "Huge difference." It wasn't the only nod to the show: David also starred in a sketch called "Bern Your Enthusiasm." Both clips are in the gallery. "Overall, there wasn't a lot of Sanders' performance to judge," writes Sam Sanders at NPR, noting that Sanders' cameo was shorter than both Trump and Hillary Clinton, but that he appeared at the end, "soaking it all in, smiling. No curmudgeonly 'Bern Your Enthusiasm' Sanders present at all." (Read more Bernie Sanders stories.)
(Newser)  An Italian minister says a second autopsy on the body of an Italian found slain in Egypt reveals that the doctoral student suffered "inhuman, animal-like" violence. Official results, still partial, are being relayed to Rome prosecutors who are investigating Giulio Regeni's death as a murder, reports the AP. Italian media, reporting on the autopsy completed Saturday night after the body arrived in Rome, say coroners have concluded that Regeni's neck was twisted or struck, breaking a vertebra and leaving him unable to breathe.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Sunday on TV that he saw the autopsy results and Regeni suffered "something inhuman, animal-like, an unacceptable violence." Italy's ambassador in Cairo has said Regeni had been badly beaten and showed torture marks. Alfano said it's in Egypt's interest to cooperate in the investigation. (Read more Italy stories.)
(Newser)  Robert Selland stabbed his wife to death in 2011, admitted doing so, and currently resides in a mental hospital after having been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Now, thanks to a Washington state judge who ruled on Jan. 22 that Selland falls under the state's "slayer statute," he's out about $21,000. Selland was set to inherit that money from Carol Selland's pension fund; the statute, which prevents murderers from profiting from the death of their own victims, didn't apply to him because he wasn't found guilty. "I said, Time out. Stop. That isnt right. He killed her. He shouldnt get a penny of it,'" Carol Selland's twin sister, Cheryl Gacek, tells the Olympian.

The money now goes to Gacek, who says she'll split it among Carol Selland's three adult children. One of those children, Nick Kilgore, told KVEW in April that his mom had wanted out of her 8-year marriage when she was killed. The station reports she was stabbed 17 times, and notes a brain lesion factored into Selland's insanity plea. Gacek's victory looks to be twofold: The state Senate last week unanimously approved a law that clarifies the slayer statute to include those found not guilty due to insanity; the measure is set to go before the House, reports the AP. "Sometimes it takes an appalling case for us to see the gaps in state law," said Republican state Sen. Bruce Dammeier, who introduced the bill, after the 49-0 vote. (Read more Washington state stories.)
(Newser)  The Army is investigating one of the first women to sign up as an Army combat engineer after she went AWOL last fall, Fox News reports. Pvt. Erika Lopez, who is married and has two kids, was the nation's fourth woman to register as an Army combat engineer. She showed up at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri on Sept. 22 and started training about two weeks later, but went home on convalescent leave on week 11 and didn't return on Oct. 5 as expected. "After 30 days in AWOL status, a soldier is considered a deserter, and a federal warrant is issued for his or her arrest," a Fort Leonard Wood spokesman tells the Army Times. Lopez turned herself in on Thursday night.

But she was enthusiastic after enrolling this summer and becoming one of over 150 women soldiers to start training since the Army position opened up to women in June. "You make sacrifices your whole life for your children and for your family; this will be a sacrifice," she said at the time, per WVLT. "Women can do anything they set their mind to just as well as men. I dont really see any difference at all. I hope women will want to join." (Read more US Army stories.)
(Newser)  Talk about a surprise: Two years ago, scientists researching avian malaria happened to learn that two strains of the parasite are infecting white-tailed deerpossibly 25% of those living on the East Coast, Smithsonian reports. Until then, no endemic malaria had been seen in North or South American mammals. "You never know what you're going to find when you're out in natureand you look," says lead study author Ellen Martinsen, per a press release. "It's a parasite that has been hidden in the most iconic game animal in the United States. I just stumbled across it." Her team was screening mosquitoes for avian malaria at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, when they stumbled across some surprise DNA and found that the insect had fed on white-tailed deer.

Researchers then screened more than 300 white-tailed deer and found the parasite in 41 of them, in roughly half the states studied, Science reports. None were in the west, but it was common in the east, particularly in West Virginia and Virginia. Seems the two malaria species pose little risk to deer or to people: Though humans haven't been tested for the strains yet, co-author Robert Fleischer says "if its getting into humans, which it probably is, it probably isnt able to reproduce. ... This is not Zika virus." The deer's ancestors may have brought the parasite into North America by way of the Beringia land bridge millions of years ago, researchers say. So how is it no one noticed malaria before in the much-studied deer? "This story suggests there is still much we dont know about the natural world," says a biologist not involved in the study. (Meanwhile, Lyme disease is spreading across US counties.)
(Newser)  Are young women supporting Bernie Sanders just to meet young guys? That's what Gloria Steinem seemed to be saying on HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday night, MSNBC reports. "Women get more radical as we get older," Steinem says. "Men tend to get more conservative because they gain power as they age, and women get more radical because they lose power as they age When youre young, youre thinking, 'Where are the boys?' The boys are with Bernie." Bill Maher appeared taken aback, the New York Times reports. "Oh," he said. "Now if I said that, 'Theyre for Bernie because thats where the boys are,' youd swat me." Steinem responded with a laugh, saying, "How well do you know me?"

Female fans of the Vermont senator responded pretty quickly, the Guardian reports. "Gloria Steinems statement was the worst kind of sweeping generalization Ive heard in years about women my age," says 25-year-old Moumita Ahmed. Another says "we should be allowed to support who we want without attacking each other." Seems Steinem got the message: "[I] apologize for whats been misinterpreted as implying young women arent serious in their politics," she wrote on Facebook. "Whether they gravitate to Bernie or Hillary, young women are activist and feminist in greater numbers than ever before. Meanwhile, Madeleine Albrightthe first woman secretary of stateintroduced Hillary Clinton at a New Hampshire rally Saturday and scolded women who don't back Clinton. "Theres a special place in hell for women who dont help each other!" Albright said. (Read more Hillary Clinton 2016 stories.)
The radical jihadist and self-styled Islamic State or ISIS is apparently taking advantage of the power vacuum that currently exists in post-Gadhafi Libya.

With its startling shock and awe campaign on the ground and cyberspace, ISIS managed to carve out sizeable pockets of territories across Syria, Iraq, and the rest of the Levant region.

Now, its global spread has taken a strong local foothold in an ongoing civil war in Libya. Recent Pentagon analysis points to a growing ISIS footprint in the North African country with a doubled increase in the number of fighters that joined its ranks. Current estimates put ISIS fighters at more than 5, 000.

"If we look at the raw numbers, the presence of ISIS [in Libya] is definitely strengthening and growing. I think the security threat they pose is definitely going up," remarked senior North Africa analyst Riccardo Fabiani of Eurasia Group as quoted saying by The Huffington Post.

By building localized branches in different countries and affiliating with existing local groups that espouse similar worldview, ISIS systematically expanded its politico-military reach as well as its recruitment machinery.

As ISIS threats become increasingly more dangerous, security officials are mulling on the possibility of sending boots on the ground or any other means of concrete military intervention by the United States and its allies.

"It's fair to say that we're looking to take decisive military action against ISIL in conjunction with the political process in Libya. The president has made clear that we have the authority to use military force," said Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. as mentioned in a report by The New York Times.

In a more positive development, another intelligence report indicated an overall decline of ISIS' military might. The White House said that the estimated 20% decrease in the number of ISIS fighters reflects the ongoing US-backed campaigns supported by other Western allies and a handful of rich gulf countries.

"The decrease reflects the combined effects of battlefield deaths, desertions, internal disciplinary actions, recruiting shortfalls, and difficulties that foreign fighters face traveling to Syria," said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne as stated by the Reuters.
Bhubaneswar:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here late this evening on a two-day tour of Odisha during which he will dedicate IOCLs oil refinery at Paradip to the nation and inaugurate the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) near Bhubaneswar.



Modi was received at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here by Odisha Governor S C Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan.



Besides two inauguration programmes, the Prime Minister will visit the 12th Century Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri, state Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy said.



This will be Modis first visit to Puri temple and second visit to the state after becoming the Prime Minister.



The PM would stay at the Raj Bhavan tonight and inaugurate the NISER at Jatni on the outskirts of the state capital at 9 AM tomorrow.



He is scheduled to interact with students and faculty members of NISER and will leave for Puri to pay his obeisance to Lord Jagannath at 11 AM.



Will offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri during my Odisha visit on the 7th, Modi had tweeted.



Later, the Prime Minister will leave for Paradip to inaugurate IOCLs Rs 35,000 crore refinery at 1 PM and will address a public meeting there.



DGP K B Singh reviewed security arrangements at Paradip, while other senior officers are camping at Puri and NISER to ensure security of the Prime Minister.



All arrangements are made as per the rule book, Singh said, adding about one lakh people are expected at Paradip.



For the PMs visit, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration has decided to keep the temple doors closed for one hour.



The Archaeological Survey of India, which is repairing the temple complex, will suspend work to facilitate entry of Modi into the sanctum sanctorum.

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Port Elizabeth :

Alex Hales fell one run short of a century but did enough to set up a five-wicket win for England over South Africa in the second one-day international at St Georges Park.

The victory gave England a two-nil lead in the five-match series after a game where batsmen from both sides struggled to play fluently on a slow pitch.

South Africa made 262 for seven and England needed a late flurry of strokes by Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali to reach the target in 46.2 overs.

England captain Eoin Morgan praised his players for adapting to conditions that were much-changed from those in Wednesdays first match at Bloemfontein which they won in a high-scoring clash.

They were completely different conditions, said Morgan. That is what has impressed me most. The challenge was adapting to conditions. Alex Hales was magnificent.

Captain AB de Villiers top-scored for South Africa with an unusually sedate 73, while Hales played a crucial anchor role for England before he was fifth man out for 99.

Hales and Joe Root (38) put on 97 for the second wicket and made sure England were always up with the required run rate.

They managed it very well and set it up for Jos Buttler, who played a magnificent knock, said De Villiers.

Hales looked set for his second one-day international hundred before he gloved an attempted pull shot against Kyle Abbott to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock with his side still 61 runs away from their target.

Buttler, who made a century in Bloemfontein, hit three boundaries in an over from Abbott, who finished with three for 58.

Then he put the issue beyond doubt by hitting three sixes off successive balls from leg-spinner Imran Tahir. He made 48 not out off 28 balls, while Ali was unbeaten on 21 off 15 balls.

A double strike early in the last ten overs of the South African innings prevented the hosts from making a bigger total.

De Villiers and JP Duminy were dismissed in the space of three balls after sharing a 107-run fourth wicket partnership.

The pair were threatening to go an all-out assault when De Villiers was superbly caught in the deep by a running, diving Chris Jordan off Ben Stokes.

In the next over Duminy was leg before wicket to left-arm opening bowler Reece Topley for 47.

We were about 20 or 30 runs short, said De Villiers. I tried to pick it up at the end but then I got out and we lost a couple more wickets.

The normally free-scoring De Villiers took 72 balls to reach his slowest one-day international half-century in eight years, with just three fours, two of them from reverse sweeps.

De Villiers edged another four and seemed finally to be taking control when he pulled Jordan for a six, only to fall in the next over. He faced a total of 91 balls.

Duminy hit only two fours in a 66-ball innings. The tall Topley took four for 50, the best figures of his seven-match one-day international career.

Stokes took two for 54 but Englands two slow bowlers, leg-spinner Adil Rashid and off-spinner Moeen Ali, were mainly responsible for South Africas innings becoming becalmed in the middle overs.

Both bowled their allocation of ten overs in single spells and they conceded a total of only 84 runs.

By contrast, England did not allow South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir to settle. He conceded 66 runs in four separate spells.
United Nations:

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today in New York over North Koreas launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said.



The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States, which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.



Tokyo and Washington called the consultations over the launch of a so-called satellite by North Korea in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, in a letter to the Venezuela mission currently holding the council presidency.



The resolutions bar Pyongyang from any ballistic missile or nuclear activity.



The unpredictable hermit state made good on its threat to launch a satellite-bearing rocket, despite US and South Korean warnings, the South Korean military confirmed.



The launch took place as the international community was still struggling to reach consensus on how to respond to Pyongyangs detonation of what it claimed was a powerful thermonuclear bomb on January 6.



The White House and its allies want to respond with a UN resolution that would slap more sanctions on the North.



But they must first win the backing of UN veto power China, which has in the past shielded its neighbor and close ally.



The North is already subject to numerous UN sanctions over previous rocket launches and three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

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Ranchi:

A 12-year old boy with grievous injuries to his face was today found dead in his residential school campus here following which the police detained three teachers for questioning.

The 12-year-old Vinay Kumar Mahato, a student class VII of Sapphire International School and son of Manbahal Mahato of Chandaghasi under the Jagannathpur police station area, was found dead in the school campus with injuries on face and the detained teachers were being quizzed, a police officer said quoting the FIR lodged by Manbahal Mahato.

A case has been registered under Bariatu police station area on the basis of the statement given by Manbahal, who said his son was studying in the school since 2007 and was meritorious.

In his FIR, Manbahal stated that he received a call on his mobile from the school at around 3.15 AM today. The caller asked him to reach the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, where Vinay was rushed to after he suffered minor injuries after he fell.

When he reached the hospital, he saw his son lying dead in a stretcher, the FIR stated.

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New Delhi:

Domestic handset maker Micromax is expanding its international business, foraying into markets like Middle East, Africa and CIS countries, as it aims to be among the top five global players in the next 3-4 years.

Micromax, which ranked tenth at the end of June 2015 quarter as per research firm Gartner, said it has a strong presence in markets like Russia, Bangladesh and Nepal.

We started our international business a few years back with markets like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We have since then grown our presence to other markets as well. We have a five per cent share in Russia, Micromax Senior Vice-President (International Business) Amit Mathur told PTI.

He added that about 15-20 per cent of overall volume comes from international business.

The ambition is to be a part of the top five (global players) in the next 3-4 years. We are exploring Middle East and a cluster of countries in Africa that will allow us to quickly expand. We will enter these markets in the coming fiscal, he said.

Mathur added that the company will enter markets like Armenia, Kazakhstan and Georgia in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.

According to Gartner, Micromax ranked at the tenth spot in June quarter of 2015 with a global market share of 2.2 per cent. However, it slipped off the top ten tally in the September quarter. The research firm is yet to declare the numbers for the December quarter.

During the July-September 2015 quarter, the worldwide mobile phone sales to end users totaled nearly 478 million units, up 3.7 per cent from the same period in 2014. Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, Huawei and LG were the leading players in the tally.

In India, Micromax is the second largest player after Samsung.

Talking about the product portfolio in the international markets, Mathur said each country has its unique set of requirements.

While 60 per cent of the products are similar to what we sell in India, about 40 per cent of these are specific to the requirements in those markets, he added.

Mathur said the international business has been profitable for the past three years and is close to hitting revenues of Rs 1,000 crore by March, growing 100 per cent from 2014-15.
World:

While hundreds of millions of his Chinese compatriots pack into planes, trains, and automobiles to return to their ancestral homes for the Lunar New Year celebration, Zhang Hao, 30, is getting as far away as he can.



I decided to go abroad this year because my parents are pressuring me to marry, he told AFP.



Instead of making the 1,200 kilometre trek from Beijing, where he works as a designer, to his icy northern hometown of Harbin, Zhang booked a 20,000 yuan ($3,000) trip to Thailand for February 6 -- one day before Chinese custom would dictate he ought to be with his parents.



The festival, which compares in importance to Christmas in the West, marks a time when far-flung family members return home for merriment and mealsaccording to tradition, they must be back by midnight on the eve of the new year.



But rising individualism and financial independence are seeing more and more young Chinese choose to defy custom, while at the same time tourism and outbound travel are surging.



There was no choice but to go abroad, Zhang said. Its mostly the generation who grew up in the 90s who are taking off because they were by their parents side the whole time they were growing up.



He is not alone. More than 30 percent of Chinese planning a break over the holiday, also known as Spring Festival, say they are doing so because they want to get far away from relatives or feel that spending New Year at home is getting boring, according to a customer survey by Chinese travel planning and booking website Mafengwo.



Growing numbers are also seizing the opportunity for tourism, despite slowing growth in the worlds second-largest economy.



The China Youth Daily devoted its entire opinion page to the issue on Friday, with writer Chen Fang saying that many people now resent going home because of boredom and stress, while children are less excited about customary gifts such as new clothing.

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New Delhi :

In a shocking murder case reported from Delhi's Shakti Nagar, a body of a third year student of Delhi University was recovered from her friend's house.

According to initial reports, police recovered Arzoo Singh's body from inside the shaft in ventilation area.

The Delhi police has also arrested Arzoo's friend Navin Khatri.



Arzoo had gone missing after attending college on February 2 and the family failed to search her.

According to a relative, both Naveen Khatri and Arzoo Singh wanted to get married but their relationship was objected by the respective families.

Notably, Naveen was going to get married to another girl on February 4.

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Los Angeles:

After the Creed team won big at NAACP Image Awards, Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram to apologise for a few spelling errors he made in his victory post.

The 69-year-old Rocky star congratulated Creed co-star Michael B Jordan on winning the events top honours, Entertainer of the Year, and director Ryan Coogler for taking home two awards, reported Variety.

Presenting CREED at the NASCP Image awards. Great night, great audience! Our director, Ryan Cooglar and Michael B Jordon won! Stallone posted on his account along with a photo of himself presenting the film at the ceremony.

Two hours after the initial celebratory post, Stallone apologised for is spelling mistakes.

Sorry for the miss spelling of NAACP and Jordan. Confidentially, besides everything else, I am slightly dyslexic, Stallone wrote.

This is not the first apology Stallone has issued to Jordan this awards season. He also repented for neglecting to thank Jordan and Coogler in his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, at which he took home the statue for best supporting actor.

Stallones Creed performance is recognised with a nomination for an Academy Award in the best supporting actor category.

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Seoul:

South Korean and US defence officials said today they would begin formal talks on the deployment on the Korean peninsula of a US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

The announcement followed a North Korean rocket launch that the US and its allies condemned as a covert ballistic missile test.

It has been decided to formally start talks on the possibility of deploying the THAAD system to South Korea as part of steps to bolster the missile defence of the Korea-US alliance, said Yoo Jeh-Seung, the Souths deputy defence minister for policy.

There has been speculation for years about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system one of the most advanced in the worldto the South, one of Washingtons main Asian allies.

The US insists that it is a deterrent necessitated by the Norths advancing ballistic missile programme, while China and Russia argue that it would undermine stability and could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region.

The Korea-US alliance had no choice but to take such a defence action because North Korea staged a strategic provocation and is refusing to have a genuine dialogue on de-nuclearisation, Yoo said in a joint briefing with Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the US Eighth Army based in the South.

Vandal argued that it was time to move forward with the THAAD issue, claiming there was growing support in the South for its deployment.

Pyongyang says any such move would be a Cold War tactic to contain China and Russia. But Yoo stressed the THAAD systemif deployedwould operate only regarding North Korea.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye today urged a tough UN response to North Koreas long-range rocket launch that came barely a month after its fourth nuclear test.

The UN Security Council should take strong punitive measures quickly, Park said in televised address following the morning launch.

Speaking in response to the Norths rocket launch, Kim Yong-Hyun, chief operations officer at the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers today the upcoming annual joint US-South Korea military exercises will be the largest yet held.

The Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises, to be staged in March and April this year, will boast the most cutting-edge technology, Kim said.

The Souths military will also set up more loudspeakers along the border to broadcast propaganda programmes to the North in response to the rocket launch, he added.

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Chandigarh:

District administration today busted an alleged sex determination racket at a private hospital in Gurgaon.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner, T L Stayaprakash, took a decoy customer to a Lady Health Visitor (LHV) at Primary Health Centre, Bhondsi, who allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 for getting an ultrasound done, an official spokesperson said.

After the sum was paid, the LHV took the woman to Bhatnagar Hospital on Railway Road, Gurgaon, where a receptionist conducted the ultrasound on the foetus, in violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.

The patient was not registered and Form-F, which is mandatory under the Act, was not filled prior to the test, he added.

The spokesman said an FIR was recommended to be registered against four persons, including the hospital owner B M Bhatnagar, a gynaecologist, receptionist and the LHV.

An ultrasound machine was sealed, he said.

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New Delhi:

Mediating on the issue of gender bias at Maharashtras Shani Shingnapur temple, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today claimed to have arrived at a solution that allows both men and women to have darshan of the deity some distance away from the sacred Chabutara (platform).

Citing two models of facilitating darshan, practised at Kashi Vishwanath and Tirupati Balaji temples, Ravi Shankar said, It is agreed that no one - man or woman - will step on the sacred Chabutara at the Shanti temple where oil is constantly poured as it can result in possible skidding.

This contentious issue has been settled. There will not be any discrimination based on gender and all will have equal right of worship, he told a press conference at Balewadi.

While the temple trustees present at the meeting agreed with Ravi Shankars formula based on the Tirupati Balaji darshan model, Trupti Desai, who led the recent agitation of the Bhoomata Brigade seeking womens entry into the temples inner sanctum, said, If nobody is to be allowed on the Chabutara, the priests who perform pooja of the deity at the sacred platform should include women.

Ms Desai said if both men and women are going to be banned from stepping on the Chabutara, activists of Bhoomata Brigade should be given an opportunity to perform the last pooja on the sacred platform in the temple in Ahmednagar district, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

She also said that it was wrong to disallow men to perpetuate ban on women.

Ravi Shankar said, It is not that you do not get blessings of god if you have a darshan from some distance.

According to the spiritual guru, all men and women could have darshan of the deity from a distance of three feet without any gender discrimination.

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The Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, has advised state governments to be concerned with projects that would profit the generality of ...

Amaechi specifically cited airport project as one example no governor should undertake to build now unless the socio  economic fortune of such a state and the country can support new or additional airport.The former Governor of Rivers state who gave the advice at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, while fielding questions from reporters noted that airport project is elitist and would not relieve the poor of their suffering.The Minister who was in Abeokuta on an assessment visit to some projects executed by the Ogun State government on behalf of the Federal Government, added that Nigeria already has many airports that have proven to be unviable.Governors should focus on those things that would improve on the lives of the poor, not the rich. Its the rich people that fly plane. How many poor people know where airport is much more fly an aircraft?I believe that the construction of airport should be backed by the growth of the economy. There are some airports that are constructed just for the governors to land and take off. That wont be the idea for me as minister of transportation.Id prefer that all airports that are constructed would be backed by economic demand. And when we look at the numbers, if the numbers add upWe would not discourage Ogun State if you like to construct an airport, but we would like to advise that they should look at the economics of an airport, Amaechi said.He however assured of Federal Governments commitment towards the completion of new terminals of the nations four international airports in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.The Minister also assured that the Federal Government would support Ogun state if it wants to build an airport though he was in the state to ascertain some of the roads constructed by the state government on behalf of Federal Government.According to him, the construction of railway between Lagos and Calabar as well as Lagos and Kano would commence this year.I am convinced that most of the roads have been constructed. By the time we write the report, we have engineers, we have people from the Public Procurement Department, they would assess the cost and put it in the report, he said.But Governor Ibikunle Amosun in his remarks solicited the support of the minister in ensuring the completion of the abandoned airport project in Ewekoro local government area of the state.Its being built by Federal Government. In fact it is the oldest airport they have in Nigeria. It was done in 1940/41; that was what they were using during the World War and thats why we have the Commonwealth cemetery there. Somehow, after the war, nobody said anything about it.But 12 years ago, Federal Government started again. Everything has been done. Contractors have even been mobilised to site before they stopped funding it.Ogun State is the industrial hub of Nigeria. There is no nation that would develop if the industries are not there. Even in the radius of 5km, in US, we have even about four airports, we have even examples in London.But for us, it is not just for the governor to land; people would want to move their goods and services, people will want to come and thats why we need an airport here. And in any case, the airport in Lagos, where can they expand to? Its congested.
Social networking platform, Twitter was turned into a battle-field on Sunday, as the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and a servin...

The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Don't be Bruce  JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) February 6, 2016

The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Don't be Bruce  JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) February 6, 2016

Your own minister spent 80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal February 6, 2016

A coward who is not bold enough to name the minister that he alleged criminally spent N80M on dinner is unfit to sit in our senate chambers  Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) February 6, 2016

When you have been Wike'd, you become wicked! But you will always be my beloved brother, no matter how much you transfer the anger on me.  Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 7, 2016

I will not respond to innuendos. Be courageous, name the minister. We know you talk here & do 'siddon' look where you are elected to talk  Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) February 7, 2016

Social networking platform, Twitter was turned into a battle-field on Sunday, as the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and a serving Senator, Ben Bruce engaged in a twitter fight over the activities of the current government.The fight was set off by a tweet posted by a popular tweeter user, Japhet Omojuwa, who tweeted that Ben Bruce should not be taken seriously.The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Dont be Bruce, he said.Responding, the Bayelsa Senator chose to use the recent comments credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that some Nigerians are giving the country a bad image by engaging in nefarious activities around the world.While condemning the presidents comments, Mr. Bruce wrote on his twitter page that Your own minister spent 80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal.The tweet seemed apparently targeted at Mr. Amaechi whose administration was accused of spending N80 million to organised a dinner for Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.Apparently sensing the jibe thrown at him by the Senator, Mr. Amaechi wasted no time in responding to Mr. Bruce; accusing him of being a coward.A coward who is not bold enough to name the minister that he alleged criminally spent N80M on dinner is unfit to sit in our senate chambers, he said.The Senator responded to Mr. Amaechi by referring to the recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld the election of Nyesom Wike as governor, thereby, stifling the hope of the APC candidate and Mr. Amaechis ally, Dakuku Peterside.He posted another tweet on his handle @benmurraybruce saying, When you have been Wiked, you become wicked! But you will always be my beloved brother, no matter how much you transfer the anger on me.The Transport Minister reacted by accusing the Bayelsa Senator of only finding his voice on twitter while he is hardly seen contributing to debates in the Senate.I will not respond to innuendos. Be courageous, name the minister. We know you talk here & do siddon look where you are elected to talk, he said.
The Borno Government says it will offer nursery and primary school scholarships to 23,000 orphans taking refuge in Internally Displaced ...

The Borno Government says it will offer nursery and primary school scholarships to 23,000 orphans taking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.Ahmed Satomi, the Chairman, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, disclosed this on Sunday in Maiduguri in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.Mr. Satomi said the gesture was aimed at catering for the education of the vulnerable children who did not have anybody to sponsor their education.He said the orphans, who were unaccompanied children found in various Boko Haram liberated towns, would be engaged in meaningful activities that would make them forget their traumatic experience.The SEMA official explained that the agency, in collaboration with other Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, was doing everything possible to cater for the welfare of the orphaned children.The children are all Boko Haram victims; some of their parents were killed while some of them had fled without any traces.We are doing what we can through our Child Protection Centre that offers training, counselling and other psychosocial support for the children.The Ministry for Women Affairs is helping us a lot in this regard.We also have NGOs like Save the Children, UNICEF, Red Cross, UNDP and WHO which are working round the clock to provide good healthcare services and other supports, he said.Mr. Satomi said SEMA had separate kitchen for children where good foods were prepared and served to them. He expressed the hope that the living parents of the unaccompanied children would soon be identified.With the recent mop-up exercise by the military and the liberation of IDPs from Cameroon, Dikwa, Gwoza and Bama, we are sure that some of the parents of these children would be identified, he said.Also, in Adamawa, Haruna Furo, the Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, said on Sunday that about 90 per cent of IDPS in the various camps in the state had returned home.Mr. Furo, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola, said the affected persons were from seven local government areas of the state.Following recapturing of the areas and return of normalcy, about 90 per cent of the displaced persons in the camps have left.The displaced persons that remain in the camps are those whose villages are at the fringes of Sambisa, who felt it is still not safe to go back home, Mr. Furo said.Also an official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the state, Saad Bello, said that the displaced persons that remained at the camps were those recently evacuated from Cameroon.With the return of peace in parts of the North East, many displaced persons have left the camps on their own; we assisted some of them with food and transport to go back home, Mr. Bello said.He said not more than 10,000 of the 30,000 affected persons were still at the camps, adding that most of them were from Borno.Mr. Bello said some of the displaced persons were, however, staying with their relations and friends.He said that NEMA in collaboration with the state government and other international organisations, have been working to put some basic things, such as hospitals and schools in place for the returnees.We are providing the returnees with little support, while resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected villages will be handled by the Presidential Committee, Mr. Bello said.The Adamawa House of Assembly had passed a bill establishing the State Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency.The agency, to be funded by the state government, would reconstruct damaged facilities and residential houses in Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Hong and Gombi.The bill, sponsored by Hassan Barguma (APC-Hong) is aimed at alleviating the suffering of the affected communities.
The Peoples Republic of China has said it will invest $60bn in Nigeria. Charge dAffaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Qin J...

The Peoples Republic of China has said it will invest $60bn in Nigeria.Charge dAffaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Qin Jian, who said this in a statement commemorating the 45th anniversary of its diplomatic activities in Nigeria, described economic cooperation between both countries as fruitful.Qin said China was willing to integrate its development with independent and sustainable development of Nigeria and other African countries, so as achieve common development.He noted that at the successful and historic second edition of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed five major pillars for China-Africa relations.According to the Chinese envoy, China and Africa should seek equality and mutual trust in politics, cooperation in economy, mutual learning in civilisation, mutual assistance in security and unity and coordination in international affairs.Qin said, (Chinas) 10 key cooperation plans with Africa in the fields of industrialisation, agriculture modernisation, infrastructure, etc. will serve as an all-around blueprint for Chinas cooperation with Africa in a period to come and symbolise that China-Africa relations will take a big stride and enter a new era.To fulfil the 10 plans, China has pledged 60 billion US dollars in development funding to Africa. When carrying out cooperation with Africa, China sticks to the principle of Four noes and three priorities.These include attaching no political conditions, interfering in no African countrys internal affairs, raising no demanding requirements and making no empty promises.Among the listed priorities of the Asian nation were Africas demands, improvement of African peoples livelihood and enhancement of Africas capacity for independent development.
Doctors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday, protested unpaid salaries and what they described as discriminatory tax ...

Doctors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday, protested unpaid salaries and what they described as discriminatory tax policy.At a press conference, the doctors, under the auspices of the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH-ARD, regretted that, despite the daunting challenges they face in their line of duty, the management of LUTH had failed to recognise their efforts and had continued to delay their salaries. The President of the association, Dr Akinkunmi Afolabi, who said health workers, including doctors in other Federal Government hospitals had been paid, lamented that no official reason had been offered yet for the delay of their salaries for over two months now.According to him, some doctors in LUTH were owed up to four months while some were owed two months. In a sad replay of the unfortunate events of December 2014, the December 2015 and January 2016 salaries have been withheld. Members have had to toe, once again, the un-dignifying path of borrowing money to pay house rent, examination fees, and childrens school fees, amongst other pressing needs while the management has cited the oft-repeated annual mopping up exercise by the office of the Accountant General of the Federal for the non  payment of December salaries through a circular reference N0. TH/ACCT/D.27/27.
The Senate and the House of Representatives on Saturday said they would go ahead with the purchase of exotics for its members. Member...

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Saturday said they would go ahead with the purchase of exotics for its members.Members of both chambers of the National Assembly, who spoke to our correspondent separately, stated that lawmakers needed the vehicles to function efficiently.The Senate plans to procure cars worth about N4.7bn, the House will spend between N3.4bn and N4.2bn on choice brands for its 360 members.The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, told one of our correspondents that the leadership of the upper chamber was expecting the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari over the plan to purchase project vehicles for the use of the various committees.Buhari had during the last presidential media chat pledged to initiate a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the issue but the parley had yet to hold several weeks after.But the Senate spokesperson said since the proposed meeting was an initiative of the President, the leaders of the red chamber would wait until they were invited.Abdullahi said, There is no way we wont buy the project vehicles for the use of the committees. It is the consideration of the 2016 budget at both chambers that has delayed it. The money has to be appropriated for. We are still buying the vehiclesHe added, There is no way we can exercise our legislative functions especially in the area of oversight, using our personal cars.We need official vehicles to move around the country because we do not have to rely on government agencies under our supervision for such logistics if we really have to carry out an unbiased exercise.Nigerians should also note that we are not asking for too much by requesting for Sport Utility Vehicles as official vehicles because there is no senator or members of the House of Representatives that cannot afford one. To us, its not a luxury but a necessity to do our work better.Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya, said it was important for the National Assembly management to buy the project vehicles for lawmakers who would need them to carry out oversight functions.He said,  I dont know what people mean by exotic cars because I have personal vehicles that are better than what the National Assembly is proposing to buy for us.You will find out that a minister uses four cars. They fuel those four cars for any of his trips. Senators get vehicles once in four years and any vehicle used on Nigerian roads for four years cannot be handed over to another senator to use. It is not possible.We are asking for only one car for our official use, to do our oversight, to go round the country. I dont see anything wrong with that.Also, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, said Buhari was not opposed to the National Assembly purchasing cars to carry out official assignments.He said, There is no way the executive will expect us to use our personal vehicles to do official work in the legislature.The problem is that the media is blowing the issue out of proportion. The amount being quoted was a far cry from what would be needed to purchase the vehicles.The Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Senator Bassey Akpan, also said the purchase of project vehicles was crucial to the success of the parliament, if the nation was really interested in quality legislative activities.He stated that a lawmaker needed more than a vehicle to effectively carry out his or her oversight functions across the country.For the House of Representatives, findings showed that aside the 360 units (one to each member), additional customised vehicles would be added to the fleet of the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara; the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yusuf Lasun; the Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila ; the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, and other principal officers in both the majority and minority caucuses of the House.A senior official of the House told one of our correspondents that it also depended on the passage of the 2016 budget by the National Assembly.The source said, We are waiting for the budget to be passed. All the votes for the year are captured in the budget. As soon as the budget is passed and funds are released, the issue of cars should become a thing of the past.We are over-flogging this car issue as if it is the most important challenge facing our nation today.The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, was emphatic that the House would buy cars for its members as it had been the tradition over the years.He confirmed that lack of funds had put the car project on hold for a while.Namdas said, There are no releases yet; we are waiting for money.What is a fact is that the House will certainly buy operational vehicles for members to use while going on oversight visits.We have explained repeatedly that these cars are the property of the National Assembly. We do not expect members to trek to project sites for inspection.Or, are we saying that the same agencies we are to oversight should provide vehicles to convey members to sites?We have to appreciate the need to seriously empower the legislature to function as an independent arm of government in a democracy.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Sunday raised the alarm that Nigeria alone cannot cope with the rebuilding ...

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Sunday raised the alarm that Nigeria alone cannot cope with the rebuilding of the areas ravaged by the terrorist war waged by Boko Haram.He said that the high level of destruction of lives and property as well as the displacement of millions of Nigerians in the north-eastern region of Nigeria requires foreign intervention.The Speaker who said this when he led a delegation of federal lawmakers on a visit to a centre for internally displaced persons located in Uhogua community, Ovia North local government area of Edo State, called on the international community to support efforts by the federal government to rebuild the region that has suffered tremendously from acts of terrorism perpetrated by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.According to him, the level of crisis in the region and its impact in the country required proper management in order to prevent a further spread to other nations, just as he hinted that plans were underway to organise an international donor conference, adding that the crisis was such that could not be handled financially by Nigeria alone but through collaborative efforts, like the recent intervention received by Syria.He said, As far as I am concerned, if it was the responsibility of the House of Representatives, we can do it tomorrow. But unfortunately, we need all the arms of government to make it happen. This, I believe, will provide a platform to further that discussion.But the important thing is that it has been done for Syria. So, I do not see why the international community will not respond to this crisis that we are faced with in Nigeria. The world is a global village; the problems in Nigeria, if they are not well taken care of, will have an international dimension sooner than later.Those countries in Europe who felt that they were detached from the crisis in Syria, were overrun by the massive influx of migrants. For us to deal with this, there must be an international response, so that we will be able to nip it in the bud in Nigeria and ensure that we supply the facilities they (IDPs) need.Dogara who expressed shock over the number of displaced persons at the centre, said to be over 900, announced the payment of their WAEC, NECO and UTME fees.He also donated several food items and assured them of the federal governments commitment to ensure that they are reunited wilfully with their families.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Sunday, said that the statement issued by the Presidency on President Muhammadu Buharis su...

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Sunday, said that the statement issued by the Presidency on President Muhammadu Buharis sudden vacation was vague, saying, Nigerians deserve to know the truth about their President because the President is an open book that every Nigerians should be free to read.The governor, who said he was aware of the high-wire plot to use the Supreme Court to upturn his electoral victory, insisted that nothing will stop him from speaking the truth concerning issues in the country.Fayose and Buhari He said it was suspicious that a president, who told Nigerians that he was embarking on official visit to France and Britain, last Tuesday, would suddenly commence a five-day vacation while still in the United Kingdom. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor, who prayed for safe return of the President, said Nigerians deserve to know where exactly their president is spending his vacation.He however commended the President for handing over to the Vice President as stipulated by the Constitution of the country. He said; We were told last Tuesday, that Mr President was travelling to France and from there to London to attend the Syria Donor Conference, and that he would return to Nigeria this weekend.All of a sudden, we were told that the President was embarking on a five-day vacation. Where and why? We were not told. Curiously, it was at this same period, last year that President Buhari, who was at that time the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, disappeared from public, with lies told about him granting interviews in London.It is therefore important that in future, the presidency should be more explicit in communicating with Nigerians on issues regarding the President because a nations president is an open book that can be read by anyone.
The Presidency on Sunday said the N6.08trn budget proposal for 2016 currently before the National Assembly is still open to comments and...

The Presidency on Sunday said the N6.08trn budget proposal for 2016 currently before the National Assembly is still open to comments and reproach from the public.The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday.Shehu said the Federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to welcome what he called well-meaning criticism of its policies, its budget and expenditure.He said that was the only way the change promised the country would have a meaning.He said it was based on this conviction and in line with established tradition that the President directed that the draft 2016 appropriation budget be put on the website of the Budget Office so that Nigerians can read it with a view to making their observations.The presidential spokesman said suggestions to the effect that the Presidency is misleading the public on any aspects of the budget cannot therefore stand the test of time.He recalled that based on a recent report on the allocation to the State House Clinic in the budget, the Budget Office supplied a summary of the allocations to the various sectors under the Ministry of Health, which showed clearly that the published story was inaccurate.He said office affirmed that in terms of both capital and recurrent allocations, the draft budget had put more money in the 17 teaching hospitals than it did in the State House Clinic.Shehu said, We are not by any stretch of imagination suggesting that the draft budget is beyond comments or reproach. Nor do we wish to dwell on this simply to make a point.To do that will drive away good citizens from pointing out needed corrections and, ultimately defeating the change mantra of the administration.The budget is a Nigerian budget and citizens reserve the right to examine its content and provide their own perspectives.As the draft goes through the approval process, this and many other aspects will continue to generate interest, criticism, commendation and sometimes condemnation in discussions in the parliament, the media and the court of public opinion.We believe that the process of change will be affected by, and stands to gain from these debates especially where there is good faith on all sides.Government has no reason whatsoever to mislead the citizens on the budget and on all other matters for whatever reason.
By lee seung A recent 'prophecy' by T.B. Joshua concerning North Korea appears to be one to be taken seriously after they laun...

TB Joshua

By lee seungA recent 'prophecy' by T.B. Joshua concerning North Korea appears to be one to be taken seriously after they launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has called a satellite, which its neighbors and Washington denounced as a missile test, conducted in defiance of U.N. sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.On Sunday January 3, T.B. Joshua gave a prophetic global warning on his Emmanuel TV station concerning North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He declared, I am seeing an arrow from there and it will affect the world,. He added that he saw, North Korea possessed weaponry that most countries were unaware of.A few days later North Korea not only carried out a nuclear bomb test on 6 January, it has now fired a long-range rocket, which critics say is a test of banned missile technology. The launch was detected to have taken place at 09:31 (00:31 GMT) by the South Korean Defence Ministry.T.B. Joshua further added during his prophetic declaration, The war we are fighting already in Syria is still there. We cannot afford another one again, he stated, calling for those involved to embrace peace.The US, South Korea and even ally China say the rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US; as a result, an emergency meeting on Sunday at the U.N. Security Council has been called for.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House Jan. 6 committee plans to unveil "surprising" details at its next public hearing about the 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol. The session Thursday afternoon is likely to be the last public hearing before midterm elections next month. The panel is expected to include new evidence from the U.S. Secret Service about its actions with Donald Trump that day. Ahead of a report later this year, the panel is summing up its findings. The committee says Trump, after he lost the 2020 presidential election, launched an unprecedented attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory. They say the result was the deadly mob siege of the Capitol.
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CLARINDA (AP) - The 128-year-old former mental health institute in the small southwest Iowa city of Clarinda isnt your typical real estate opportunity, and so far no one is rushing to move in.

More than seven months after the state closed the Clarinda Mental Health Institute, much of the sprawling building remains empty, including entire floors that havent been used in decades.

With its gothic architecture set amid lawns and tree-lined paths, the former institute is impressive, but its also a site that Iowas governor labeled as outdated and inefficient.

When it closed June 30, 76 people lost their jobs.

It really has been hard, just to watch all these people go out and staff lose their jobs and now we have this big building sitting here empty, said Meredith Baker, an administrator who oversees the institute and an adjacent state prison.

A state commission chose Clarinda for its third asylum in 1884, and it was completed four years later following a design thought to enhance mental health treatment, set on secluded grounds in rural settings.

Over the years, parts of the two bottom floors were modernized, while some sections of the building were closed, allowing dust to collect on elegant light fixtures and ornate carpeting along wide hallways.

Still, it was a surprise when Gov. Terry Branstad opted not to fund the center and ordered its closure, along with a similar institute in Mount Pleasant. Despite the objections from many lawmakers and state employee union leaders, the last remaining patients were transferred to other locations last summer and the hospital was closed.

The state also is looking to lease the former Mount Pleasant institute, which remains mostly empty.

The state now operates two mental health hospitals, in Cherokee and Independence.

Portions of the Clarinda building are being used as a private drug and alcohol treatment center and dorms for delinquent youth. The basement also shares maintenance and kitchens with the adjacent medium-security Clarinda Correctional Facility.

We have a prison on the ground, so whoever rents that space has to remember that theres going to be offenders out walking around, Baker said.

As part of her job, Baker has been tracking inventory and ridding the center of a huge inventory of bed frames, cabinets, desks and other items. A one-time patient commons area is now crowded with furniture being readied for removal.

Although some portions are modern, others give a glimpse back to the original decor, with white and red checkered floors and cage-like windows above hospital room doors.

The third floor is off limits, and Baker said she didnt even know how to reach that level.

When they talk about leasing out the building, local leaders focus on the modern sections and not the untouched parts.

John Greenwood, the director of the Clarinda Economic Development Board, has been working to find occupants for the former hospital. He said two mental health providers have expressed interest, but the recruitment process remained in its early stages.

In Clarinda, a city of 5,500 people and the county seat of Page County, the former mental health institute and adjacent prison are viewed by some as something of an oddity.

The citys town square, surrounding a historic courthouse, is only about a mile from the old hospital, but Marvin McKinnon, the owner of a downtown shoe store, said he steers clear of the site because of the prison.

A lot of people dont even go out there and I cant blame them, he said.

Adrianna Sickels, who grew up in Clarinda and now lives 20 miles away in Bedford, said she grew up hearing stories about the hospital and tunnels that enabled staffers to move patients through the complex without disturbing the peace.

A lot of people are scared to take it on because its such a big building, theres so much history and theres so many different suspicions about what happened there, Sickels said.

Baker said shes glad some mental health providers have inquired about the building, but she thinks it will remain largely empty for some time.

That will leave her among the few people who are roaming the old hospitals hallways.

Its definitely different. Youre used to the hustle and bustle of people in there, she said. Its just so quiet.
WOODBIBNE  The relationship between the Boyer Valley and Woodbine community school districts might best be described as its complicated on their Facebook profiles.

School board members in Boyer Valley voted late last month to stop sharing the school districts superintendent with Woodbine next school year, echoing a move made in 2014 when the sharing partners broke up following a vote of the Boyer Valley board.

They got back together last year when Boyer Valley Superintendent Doug Gee was brought into Woodbine for two days a week after the Harrison County school district hit a crisis point with its spending and administration. Woodbine had nearly run out of its spending authority, the legal right to spend tax dollars on general fund expenses, although it has since made reforms  including earning state incentives by sharing administrative positions  to move in the right direction.

When Boyer Valley, which serves portions of Crawford, Harrison and Monona counties, opted to go with a principal-superintendent combination after the retirement of Tom Vint, the shared superintendent with Woodbine who retired in 2014, Woodbine brought in Chuck Scott, a former Lewis Central superintendent, on an interim basis.

Scott announced Woodbines general fund was in terrible shape, and he abruptly resigned in November 2014 when the school board refused to back his decision to cut a staff position. Harlan Superintendent Justin Wagner stepped in to help the neighboring school district, named as Woodbines acting superintendent during the 2014-15 school year through a sharing agreement.

Wagner helped craft a corrective plan for Woodbines finances and worked to secure a new agreement to share Gee for the current school year.

Among other partnerships, Boyer Valley shares its business manager (20 percent of the position) and elementary guidance counselor (50 percent) with Woodbine, relationships that were extended through 2016-17 by the Boyer Valley school board at a special meeting Jan. 27, the same evening they announced they would discontinue sharing a superintendent.

The two districts also will continue with plans to share professional development opportunities as they launch a state-funded teacher leadership program together next school year.

Gee recommended Boyer Valley continue its sharing agreement with Woodbine, but board members decided on a 4-3 vote to reject that proposal. Gee told The Nonpareil on Friday that a joint school board meeting was planned members of the two boards discussing the possibilities of sharing. The meeting had been set for Tuesday but was canceled Saturday.

If they decide at that time not to share, then I expect Woodbine will look for other options to share with other schools, Gee said. They have not talked about who that would be or what positions that would be.

Beth Fouts, the Woodbine school board president, told The Woodbine Twiner that one potential option would be Sam Swenson, the assistant superintendent and secondary principal for the school district.

Fouts said the question is whats best for the school if Gee is unable to continue as the shared superintendent. She said everyone was running smoothly between the school districts, and she said she knew decision was difficult for the Boyer Valley board.

The split decision by Boyer Valleys board ultimately reflected a perception the district, which has schools in Dunlap and Dow City, needs a full-time administrator in both buildings. Mike Weber is serving as principal for pre-K through 12th grade, with Gee performing some principal duties on the days hes in the district.

With the boards decision, Gee would return to serving as superintendent and secondary principal at Boyer Valley South in Dunlap, which he did his first year in Boyer Valley, while Weber would become the pre-K through fifth grade principal at the elementary-level Boyer Valley North in Dow City.

What Im hearing from teachers is they need to see you more, board member Elizabeth Heistand said.

Board member Paul Klein said he preferred the original configuration when Gee was hired.

The first year you came, we had a lot of stuff going on, Klein said. This year, I dont feel like we are moving forward.

Also voting to stop sharing Gees services were board members Pat Putnam and Ken Dunham. Opposed to the change were board president Steve Puck along with members Mark McAllister and Kelly Garrett. Puck said he believes Gee needs to be the leader as the two school districts continue to work together.

If we go down this path of not sharing anymore, I think we burn a bridge and may not have another opportunity, Puck said. And I think thats unwise.

The current agreement has Woodbine paying for 30 percent of Gees salary in exchange for 40 percent of his contract time. Gee had recommended the districts look at a 50-50 split for the 2016-17 school year. Continuing the sharing agreement is worth $51,568 to each school district next year in state incentives, with Boyer Valley also bringing in $51,000 toward Gees salary through the contract with Woodbine.

The two districts have looked at sharing teachers and classes next year, in addition to the Teacher Leadership and Compensation program being shared between them, which will have staff from both districts training together.

Fouts said Woodbine will continue to look at such sharing opportunities.

If Boyer Valley and Woodbine dont change course for the superintendents job, Gee said he would recommend Woodbine look for a new sharing partner as well. His reasons come down to finances, with a shared superintendent costing about $40,000 instead of closer to the $175,000 range.

That is a savings of $135,000, which is three teachers, he said.That is a huge savings for your district, and right now school districts need to be fiscally responsible.
In the agricultural economy, declining commodity prices continue to be a concern. In corn- and soybean-rich southwest Iowa, this is of particular concern.

There is a proposed policy both producers and economic development leaders should rally around this session to support value-added agriculture in both rural and urban communities throughout the state  a tax credit to incentivize the development of renewable biochemical production facilities.

With uncertainty on the Renewable Fuel Standard, alternative value-added bioproducts are important for further growth of the agriculture and biomanufacturing industries within Iowa.

The biofuels industry has been successful for Iowa. However, the biochemical market is composed of hundreds of distinct products including materials, consumer goods, nutraceuticals, agricultural chemicals, therapeutics, specialty chemicals, polymers, etc. Overall, the potential for biochemical may be greater because product value per pound is higher for chemicals than for fuels.

Primary data recently made available supports the potential for this tax credit incentive. A recent white paper released by the Iowa Biotechnology Association and the Cultivation Corridor and written by Dr. Dermot Hayes of Iowa State University, shows this tax credit incentive for business surrounding a plentiful raw material makes good policy.

We have shown in our state how the government investment in such policy is a worthwhile investment. Iowas ethanol experiment in ethanol economic incentives serves as an example.

Dr. Hayes document shows that Iowas incentives to develop its ethanol industry yielded dividends.

The document shows that Iowas incentives to develop its ethanol industry were repaid within one to two years.

The Hayes report uses our successful growth of the ethanol industry as an example to show that tax credits can stimulate enough additional economic activity to offset the taxes lost due to the credit. The circumstances under which ethanol policy succeeded were as follows and would apply to a tax credit incentivizing renewable biochemicals:

 Iowa had a competitive advantage in the provision of raw materials.

 The industry was mobile and chose Iowa over other Midwest states.

 Other states in a similar position were not offering the same incentive.

 The incentive was one time in nature and expired once industry had matured.

 The industry had the potential to grow into a significant economic force before the market was saturated.

According to the Hayes report, a typical commercial-scale facility incentivized through this tax credit will employ 50 to 100 workers.

These workers will be highly skilled and well paid. Industries that require specialized workers often benefit from economics of agglomeration.

Workers are attracted to areas where they have a choice of companies and companies are attracted to areas where they have a choice of workers.

Iowa has more than ethanol facilities in both rural and urban communities that could support additional development with this tax credit. But this industry needs to attract large sources of capital due to the complexity and scale of the plants.

Owners of this capital are more likely to invest if they perceive that the industry is welcome and it can benefit from modest tax credits.

As the nations second leading producer of biomass materials, we are well positioned to leverage the benefits attached to this tax credit.

The ag community should encourage its elected representatives in Des Moines to pass this innovative economic-development policy to support these opportunities for value-added agriculture in our state.

Bob Mundt,

President/CEO

Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce/Growth Alliance.
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A polished effort from Parramatta, and a sixth and seventh try of the weekend to exciting youngster Bevan French, has seen them through to their first Auckland Nines grand final with a 17-8 win over Melbourne.

Storm try-scorer Tohu Harris was proud of what his side were able to achieve at the Nines, with few tipping Melbourne to make it deep in the tournament.

"Nobody sort of gave us a chance but we thought we had come up with a quality side, one that works hard for each other," Harris told NRL.com.

"I guess everyone else will think we're overachievers but we knew we were better than what we came up with in the last game. Unfortunately we faced an in-form Parra team and it just wasn't to be."

A relatively tentative feeling out period by both sides had the crowd getting restless with no attacking chances in the first few minutes. An Eels turnover looked like proving costly but a brilliant try-saver in goal from Ryan Morgan on the much bigger Harris somehow kept the scores at zero.

First points eventually came through future Eels star Bevan French who scored his sixth try of the weekend racing through on a Vai Toutai kick to ground it millimetres inside the dead ball line.

A long-range Richie Kennar try moments later squared things up at 4-all and despite one last play near the Storm line the Eels went to the break tied up.

Harris finally got his name on the board in the second half with a wide run splitting Semi Radradra and David Gower.

The blossoming combination between Toutai and French paid further dividends when the big winger offloaded to put the young fullback outside his man to streak 80 metres to score his seventh try of the weekend. More dangerous work from Toutai almost led to a try on the right but the ball went back left where Mitch Cornish provided a simple try to Radradra. Norman's sideline conversion removed any chance of the Storm levelling up and the score remained 17-8 as the Eels qualified for their first Auckland Nines decider.

Eels try-saver Morgan is confident of a tournament victory after accounting for a spirited Storm outfit.

"We had a bit of a slow start but I think we hit our stride and we're pretty happy with where we're sitting now," he told NRL.com.

"I think if we can keep playing the way we have been playing and turn up with our defence then we should be sweet and we should get the 'W'."

Parramatta Eels 17 (French 2, Radradra tries) def. Melbourne Storm 8 (Kennar, Harris tries).
The New Zealand Kiwi Ferns admit they were caught off guard by the tactics of the Australian Jillaroos in the opening game of their three-match series at the Downer NRL Auckland Nines.

After winning the inaugural series 2-1 last year, the Ferns struggled to find their way in an eventual 11-4 loss to the world champions at Eden Park on Saturday.

According to forward Kahurangi Peters much of that could be put down to Australia slowing down the ruck, which for most of the match meant New Zealand couldn't get their lethal backline involved in the contest.

"They were getting up to three in a tackle and really focussing on that area, and to be fair we struggled to adapt," Peters told NRL.com.

"We were busting ourselves trying to get out of our end and to get to a good kick, but Australia did it really well and kicked deep and made sure they got numbers in their tackles."

Despite leaking two tries the Kiwi Ferns looked well-organised in defence and did manage to propel a number of promising Jillaroos raids.

When Australia did eventually break through it came off the back of some brilliant team skill, with fullback Sam Bremner finishing off one of the best tries seen on Day One.

"There are some little things we can take from that game which we need to remember in our next one, things like making sure we complete the tackle the whole way through and knowing that they aren't' tackled until it's called," Peters said.

"But we give credit to the Jillaroos for the way they were able to keep the ball alive and make something out of nothing.

"I guess that is what is great about Nines, it's not over until you get the ball back, but we have to make sure we do our job and make it easier on ourselves.

"We had them down in their half quite a bit, but I guess they sort of put the cream on top when they scored a couple of tries off last tackles. We just need to make sure we eliminate the offload and make those first-up tackles."

The Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns resume their trans-Tasman battle with two games on Day Two, kicking off at 4.05pm and 5.45pm NZT.
Nashanta Robinson, an office manager from Gary, had been paying about a third of her salary for her and her husband, Earl, to have health insurance.

It eventually got to be too expensive, so she dropped him from the plan.

Earl Robinson made due by paying out-of-pocket for doctor's visits and going to a Lake Station safety-net clinic.

Last March, that clinic, NorthShore Health Centers, told him he had a new coverage option, the Healthy Indiana Plan, which had just been expanded under a provision of the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare.

For a small monthly contribution to a health savings account, Robinson, a student at Ivy Tech Community College, now receives medical, dental and vision care with no copay.

"Sometimes I forget I got insurance," the 38-year-old said. "That reminds me: I have to make a dentist appointment."

HIP 2.0, which went into effect a year ago, has brought health coverage to thousands of people in Northwest Indiana, many of them, like Earl Robinson, for the first time.

Indiana was eligible to expand Medicaid under Obamacare more than a year earlier, but Republican Gov. Mike Pence held out until the federal government would allow the state to charge recipients a monthly fee, as Indiana did under the original HIP. The program extended Medicaid eligibility to Hoosiers earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $11,880 for an individual or $24,300 for a family of four.

"What the governor fought for is the personal-responsibility part of the program," said Seema Verma, a consultant to the state on HIP 2.0. "Seventy percent of participants make contributions to the program, and 83 percent of them are below the federal poverty level."

People who put funds into the health savings account on a monthly basis are enrolled in HIP Plus, which has medical, dental and vision coverage. Those who don't contribute instead have HIP Basic, which only has medical coverage and requires a copay for services. The monthly payment averages $11, with 60 percent of people paying only $1.

"Once people start making their contributions, 94 percent maintain making their contributions over the first year," Verma said, estimating that the state's uninsured rate has fallen to about 8 percent, almost half what it was in 2013. "This is a strong testament to HIP 2.0."

In its first year, HIP 2.0, despite some initial issues with enrollment, has covered roughly 28,000 people in Lake County and 6,000 each in Porter and LaPorte counties, greatly reduced the uninsured rate in the Region and brought new paying customers to area medical providers.

Hospital charity care down, but problems remain

Several Northwest Indiana hospitals have reported seeing the amount of charity care they provide decline or level off, a likely result of HIP 2.0.

For instance, Methodist Hospitals, with campuses in Gary and Merrillville, has in the last year experienced a drop of about a third in its charity care, from about $80 million to $90 million, to roughly $60 million, said Matt Doyle, Methodist's chief financial officer.

However, he noted that as a safety-net hospital, Methodist was already being reimbursed by the government for its charity care. But for many other hospitals, HIP 2.0 has meant an increase in revenue.

That's a major reason the Indiana Hospital Association agreed to fund HIP 2.0. Under Obamacare, the federal government pays 100 percent of the expansion through the end of this year and 90 percent after that. The state plans to pay for the remaining 10 percent from a blend of cigarette taxes and funding from the hospital association.

Steve Jarzombek, 58, a HIP recipient from St. John, said he has been unhappy with some of the program's bureaucratic tangles -- he claims he was once dropped from the program incorrectly -- as well as the politics behind it.

"I don't need to be constantly worried every month that I'm going to be cancelled," he said. "And Gov. Pence wants to repeal the (Affordable Care Act). But if the ACA is repealed, there would be no funding for HIP 2.0."

The program also has changed the payer mix at Region clinics that serve people regardless of their insurance status. The uninsured rate at HealthLinc, with locations in Valparaiso, East Chicago and Michigan City, has gone to 18 percent from 39 percent in a year. More important than the numbers have been the personal stories, said HealthLinc CEO Beth Wrobel.

"People have cried when they've gotten it," she said. "We've had people in their 40s who have never seen a dentist."

The expansion of coverage has likely saved lives in Northwest Indiana. Gary-based Community HealthNet has diagnosed five cases of colon cancer in patients who previously wouldn't have been screened because of a lack of insurance. The clinic serves largely African-Americans, who have the highest incidence and death rate from colorectal cancer, in part because they've historically had less access to care.

"It's been great for the community, for individuals in the community who otherwise would have been a burden on the health care system," Dr. Janet Seabrook, executive director of HealthNet, said of HIP 2.0.

"It's been a positive for the economy. If you can keep people healthy and working, it also benefits society."

Other issues may take time to be resolved

Some lawmakers and health care executives would like to see coverage expanded even more. When he set out to make the state's Medicaid program available to additional Hoosiers, state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, had a goal of universal health care. Faced with a conservative legislature and governor, the result was the original HIP.

Eight years later, Brown is happy HIP has been extended but says it's still not a perfect program. He notes there are still too many eligible Hoosiers who for whatever reason -- whether it's because HIP is too confusing or a lack of outreach -- aren't enrolled in the plan. And he says he's heard from several providers, many of them dentists, that the reimbursements aren't high enough. They are, however, more than traditional Medicaid.

"So I guess the jury is still out," Brown said. "We will need more data in terms of making a definitive statement about the success or failure of the program."

State Medicaid Director Joe Moser noted 5,300 additional providers have joined the state's Medicaid program over the last year, largely because of the better reimbursement rates for HIP and corresponding increased rates for traditional Medicaid. And he said that under HIP, doctors and dentists can get paid in real time if patients use the debit cards linked to their health savings accounts.

"This is the only program like it in the country," he said. "We are extremely innovative. We are transforming the Medicaid program."

He pointed to other unique aspects of HIP, such as graduating copays at emergency rooms to discourage ER use and more money being rolled over in the savings accounts of patients who get preventive services.

One part of the program that has yet to take off is HIP Link, which offers the insurance to Hoosiers who can't afford their employer-sponsored coverage. So far, only 25 businesses have signed up.

As for the Robinsons, Nashanta, 37, recently joined her husband, Earl, in signing up for HIP insurance. And at a good time: She recently became pregnant. She just has to pay $18 a month into the health savings account.

"I think it's a great thing," Earl Robinson said of the new insurance option. "I think it's a great thing, because there are some people, because of where they work or they work part-time, they don't have health insurance. This is something that's actually affordable. Not only is it affordable, it gives you very good care."
In an effort to strengthen science, technology, engineering and math education in Northwest Indiana, local school systems have been taking exciting strides in providing adequate instruction to their students seeking careers in the fast-growing fields of STEM.

In 2014, Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Hebron, Hobart, Munster and Merrillville schools were collectively awarded a three-year Math Science Partnership grant, which provides for professional development for seventh, eighth and ninth grade math and science teachers. The MSP grant focuses on strengthening engineering instruction through the integration of math, science and engineering practices and process standards to develop STEM units of instruction.

After receiving the grant, the STEM Innovations Program was formed as a partnership with Purdue University North Central and the seven school districts to build the desired STEM content knowledge and strong teaching skills. The partnership strengthens STEM-focused middle- and high-school leadership and instructional capacity during the three-year professional development for 185 math and science teachers in 14 middle and high schools in Lake and Porter Counties.

The STEM Innovations Program has built a regional classroom teacher and school administrative network to promote partnerships with other schools, post-secondary institutions, communities and business. Additionally, the program has enlisted state and national experts, including the Science Outreach Team from Purdue West Lafayette, the National Science Teachers Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

The grant has helped implement STEM goals by creating a week-long STEM Innovations Summer Institute offered the past two summers. During the institute, math and science teachers are given the opportunity to focus on the Indiana Academic Standards for Math and Science as well as the Next Generation Science Standards to create engaging and interactive math and science lessons for students. They also focused on college and career readiness and STEM career options while discovering new ways to increase interest of female students and underrepresented populations in the STEM fields.

The results were a success. Teachers from the seven school districts said the modeled activities were helpful and could be easily implemented within their classrooms to engage students in STEM. Students who were in these classrooms felt more engaged in experiencing a real world problem and coming up with a product or solution for their clients.

The Center of Workforce Innovations and the Regional Education/Employer Alliance for Developing Youth (READY NWI) have continued to provide ongoing strategic support and networking opportunities during the implementation of the MSP grant. These efforts promote the importance of local and regional action to develop education and workforce partnerships, with the goal of creating and sustaining a college- and career-ready workforce aligned to employer skills and education needs.

With one more year of support from the MSP grant, and strong regional collaboration, the region has much to look forward to in further growth of STEM education programs.
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP has announced that attorney David T. McGimpsey has rejoined the firm and is now a member of the Economic Development and Corporate Transactional practice groups. He will continue his practice from the firms Jasper office. He is an experienced regulatory and transactional attorney on matters involving businesses, real estate, utilities and energy.

Red Gold recently honored Scott Rice, James Rice, and David Rice with the trio's seventh Master Grower Award for delivering quality production and exhibiting professionalism and industry leadership at their Rice Farms, in Wanatah. Red Gold, of Elwood, Indiana, is the leading tomato processor in the Midwest.

Franciscan Alliance has announced George DePhillips, MD, will join its northern Indiana medical staff in March. At first, he primarily will focus his duties at Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point and its sister facility in Michigan City. A neurosurgeon with 25 years in the health care field, he has performed more than 2,000 spinal procedures and 200 to 300 involving the brain.

Century 21 Executive Realty has welcomed Carol Dobrzynski as a Realtor in its Schererville office. Dobrzynski has 13 years of experience in the field and most recently worked for Re/Max. Dobrzynski specializes in all aspects of residential real estate.

The bi-state Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) has elected Lara Gonzalez, of Crown Point, as president. She is a communications specialist with the Field Museum. Alissa Finch, of Crown Point, and Debbie Lucia, of Glenwood, were re-elected treasurer and secretary, respectively. AWLI is a bi-state, not-for-profit organization and land trust.

Amanda Smith, of Valparaiso, a graduate student at Indiana University Northwest, has become the first Ford Motor Co. intern at the bi-state Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI). Smith, who is a student in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUN will become involved in the day-to-day management of the AWLI.
Jazz guitarist John Scofield went back to the future on his Grammy-nominated CD "Past Present," reuniting members of his acclaimed quartet from the early 1990s to play his new compositions.

Though nominated twice before, the 64-year-old Scofield has never won a Grammy. But at the Feb. 15 awards ceremony in Los Angeles, he's up for two Grammys  for best jazz instrumental album and best improvised jazz solo for the CD's title track, which the guitarist describes as "futuristic blues."

Scofield credits his wife and manager, Susan, for coming up with the album's title, which he says has multiple meanings.

Most of the compositions were written when Scofield's son, Evan, a writer and poet, returned to the family's home in Katonah, New York, while undergoing treatment for sarcoma, a cancer that claimed his life at age 26 in 2013.

The soul-jazz "Get Proud" and the breezy "Enjoy the Future!" take their titles from his son's favorite catchphrases. The mid-tempo ballad "Mr. Puffy" refers to a humorous nickname Evan used to describe his bloated appearance after chemotherapy.

"He's in the past but he's always present with me," said Scofield. "I feel his essence because he's a part of me."

To play his compositions Scofield reassembled his mostly acoustic quartet featuring tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano and drummer Bill Stewart, which combined post-bop jazz with blues, funk and R&B, a departure from his electronic jazz-funk fusion groups of the 1980s. Bassist Larry Grenadier replaced Dennis Irwin, who died of cancer in 2008.

"We do have this shared past, but it doesn't feel like retro to me," Scofield said in a telephone interview. "It's very much in the present when we play together. We're playing the same kind of music we were trying to play back then but we've gotten better at it."

Scofield and Lovano first got together in the early 1970s when they were students at Boston's Berklee College of Music. The guitarist likened playing with Lovano to his feeling when performing with Miles Davis from 1982-85, calling it "music communication on the highest level."

"John plays with a lot of feeling, he's soulful, funky and it's happening," said Lovano. "He's one of the most swinging accompanists on guitar in the rhythm section. ... But he's also a front-line player playing the melody. It's like playing with another horn player."

Scofield has performed with Grateful Dead electric bassist Phil Lesh, the Southern rock band Government Mule and the avant-jazz-funk jam band Medeski, Martin & Wood as well as his own groups. His eclectic tastes are reflected on "Past Present" through compositions with catchy melodies  reflecting his affinity for pop music  that each have a distinctive flavor yet remain jazz.

The opener "Slinky" is funky but its 5/4 rhythm references the Dave Brubeck Quartet's classic "Take Five." ''Chap Dance" is an Americana melody that Scofield says was inspired by the "faux Western music" of the Broadway musical "Oklahoma!" It presages his next recording that will feature jazz versions of country hits, from George Jones' "Just a Girl I Used to Know" to Shania Twain's "You're Still the One."

Scofield says the title "Past Present" also has a deeper meaning reflecting the essence of jazz: "We have to be absolutely in the present in order to have the music be spontaneous and feel like jazz, but everything we play is rooted in the past because it's a shared language and you have to know the music's history."
I was kinda hoping that all of you ladies would decide to come to our symphony concert Friday and be my valentine, but I might not be your type.

So instead, perhaps you could bring your son, or your father, your hubby, your grandson, or your boyfriend? What a classy date, what a thoughtful gift, what a great way to spend quality time together  experiencing something extremely beautiful and sharing this with so many our friends and fellow citizens.

I used the word "beautiful" as I have to say that the piece that concludes our concert is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I know. Whether we consider a sonnet of Shakespeare, a poem of Whitman, or a rose in bloom, there are some things in our human experience that can only be called beautiful. Such is the case with the last piece that Tchaikovsky ever wrote, his 6th symphony, his Pathetique."

Nine days after he conducted the premiere of this symphony, Tchaikovsky was dead and he knew this fate was awaiting him. He was only 53 years old. The Tchaikovsky 6th is THE piece to hear for Valentines Day. There is nothing more romantic. His composing of it could not have been more personal. I adore this creation of the sensitive, tortured Tchaikovsky. It is one of my five favorite symphonies in the world.

To begin the program, we are going to perform a piano concerto that we have never player before and written by another Russian genius, Sergei Prokofiev. Prokofiev was a prodigious pianist who possessed an inordinate technique. When I met with our soloist the other day in his Roosevelt University studio, Dr. Farouk said that he found the technical challenges of the concerto evil ! He did say it though with a big smile on his face.

Wael Farouk is such a wonderful man. Rarely have I enjoyed conversing with, working with a colleague as much as I have with him. He had a marvelous, old fashioned education in Egypt and he is a gentleman in the old sense of the word; so gracious, well spoken, so humble.

In addition to this, he owns a vast knowledge of all manner of music. I admire Wael greatly too, since he was born with shortened ligaments in his entire body. He cannot make a fist but brother can he play the piano! Holy moly! During our work-through of the piano concerto in his studio, he broke a string on the big Steinway!

We will have the piano cam focused on his hands and up on the big screens for at least part of the concerto so that you can witness Wael's mastery of this piece. I admire him very much for his tenacity, his work ethic and in the end, his enormous talent and virtuosity. He is a true artist. You are going to love him.

(I should also mention that Professor Farouk is going to be playing for 300 children at St. John Evangelist School in St. John on Wednesday the 10th!)

Valentines Day celebrations should have some ultra-over-the-top excitement and to this end,

we are going to conclude the 1st half of the concert with the 1812 Overture. There will be the full orchestra, the entire chorus and virtual cannons to take your breath away and get your Valentine's heart pumping full tilt!

Please stop by after the concert and to wish a Happy Valentines Day to our soloist and the musicians of our splendid chorus and orchestra. Oh, and me too, eh?

FYI: The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra presents Bing Bang Boom! with pianist Wael Farouk at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Auditorium at Bethel Church in Crown Point. There will be a free pre-concert discussion about the concert beginning at 6:15 p.m. for all ticket holders. Tickets are $25 to $45 and students are just $10. Call (219) 836-0525 or visit www.nisorchestra.org for tickets. This concert is sponsored by The Crown Point Community Foundation, Chase, the Dr. Henry Giragos Family and an anonymous donor.
LANSING  The compensation for Lansings village president will see a 280 percent increase after the next election despite opposition from the man currently holding the position.

The Village Board approved a raise to $57,000 on Tuesday. The words "parttime" also were removed from the ordinance but "full time" was not added. Village President Norm Abbotts current salary is $10,000 plus an additional $5,000 for being liquor commissioner.

By state statute, officials cant raise their own compensation during their current term in office. So, the salary ordinance wont go into effect until after the next election. Abbott cannot run again because of Lansing's term limits.

The fact that we shot at a $57,000 range, I thought it was too high. When the village administrator hopefully comes on one of these days, theres not a reason to pay the mayor a $57,000 salary, Abbott said. Unless somebody sitting on the board, here, is going to run for mayor here next time and doesnt want to work for the $15,000 that I get.

The terms mayor and village president are used interchangeably in Lansing.

The village has been without a village administrator since J. Wynsma resigned in May. Board members said Abbott presented them with three candidates for the job but wasnt content with the person preferred by the majority. All seemed to agree Tuesday that a hire wouldn't be made until an appointment could come from Abbott's successor.

(Abbott) agreed with me that the salary of $15,000 for (village president) is unreasonable. In fact, he told me that he thought it should be at least $40,000, Trustee Patty Eidam said. Even with a village administrator, the time demands on the mayor are unbelievable.

Trustees Tony DeLaurentis, Mikal Stole, Terry Kapteyn and Mike Manno each said they would not be running for village president in the next election. Trustee Mike Skrbina did not return emails asking if he would run but voted against the salary increase Tuesday.

Im happy with being a trustee. I feel that being a trustee and sitting on this board, I have more power than the mayor has because I can speak my mind and do what I need to do, DeLaurentis said. I will not be running for the position of mayor for the village of Lansing.

Eidam said she has been encouraged by some residents to run for village president but hasnt yet made a decision.

With the salary now at $57,000, hopefully, we have successfully raised the pool of potential candidates that have the desire, ability, means and time to devote to seek the office without it being a financial burden, Eidam said. At $57,000 with no benefits, I do not think anyone is going to get rich serving as mayor.

Abbott has tried to tie the village presidents salary issue to lowering the trustee salaries. He presented the board with a list of board salaries from surrounding municipalities provided by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association.

Abbotts list put Lansing near the top in board compensation.

Eidam presented her own list Tuesday, which she said she put together through Freedom of Information Act requests. Eidams list included communities she said were more comparable to Lansing in population and form of government. She included Lynwood and Calumet City, which like Lansing border Indiana.

Eidams spreadsheet featured 22 communities and Lansing.

Lansing trustee salaries were more in line with similar communities on Eidams list, but the $57,000 village presidents salary would still rank higher than most on the list. Some towns offer retirement, insurance benefits and reimbursement for expenses. Lansing offers neither retirement benefits nor insurance to its village president, even after the new ordinance.

Only Eidam and Manno, who are in their first terms, would be subject to any cuts or raises in pay approved during this term.

Stole praised Eidam for the list but said more should be considered when considering pay for public officials. Stole said hed be willing to have the discussion about trustee compensation but resisted connecting it with the village presidents pay.
Given the deep partisan divisions that have characterized his presidency, it strikes some as odd that Barack Obama is returning to Springfield this week to address the Illinois General Assembly on building a better politics  one that reflects our better selves.

When the speech, scheduled for Wednesday, was announced late last month, state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, who served with Obama throughout his tenure in the Senate, said he doesnt think his former colleague has set a very good example as president.

And while Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner welcomed the visit and highlighted areas of common ground with Obama, he also told reporters, I dont know who in Washington can look and say, Hey, follow our model. 

But after Obama arrived at the Capitol nearly two decades ago as a political neophyte in the Illinois Senates minority party, he built a reputation as a lawmaker who could work across the aisle to get things done.

Mr. Obama was eager to work on legislation, said Kirk Dillard, then a Republican state senator from Hinsdale and now chairman of the Regional Transit Authority in the Chicago area, so he had to cooperate with Republicans.

Dillard recalls being told not long after Obama arrived in 1997 that the young lawmaker from the South Side was someone he should get to know.

The two ended up serving together on a four-member bipartisan task force assigned to tackle ethics and campaign finance reforms being championed by, among others, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, then head of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University that now bears his name.

Dillard was the Senate sponsor and Obama the co-sponsor of legislation, approved in 1998, that banned lobbyists from giving gifts to lawmakers and enacted new campaign finance disclosure requirements, along with other reforms.

One of the highlights of my legislative career was, in fact, working rather closely in a bipartisan way on legislation with a man who turned out to be president of the United States, Dillard said.

The two later worked together with then-Attorney General Jim Ryan, another DuPage County Republican, on a law that requires police to collect racial data during traffic stops. Dillard also signed on as a co-sponsor to an Obama-backed measure that requires interrogations in homicide investigations to be videotaped.

Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, also was involved in the ethics and campaign finance reform efforts of the late 1990s.

When youre trying to make those kinds of changes, youve got people on both sides of the aisle that are kind of invested in the status quo, Redfield said.

The reforms they were pushing for required lawmakers who were leading the effort to work both across the aisle and within their own caucuses, he said.

Redfield noted that Dillard appeared in an Obama campaign commercial during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In the ad, which drew criticism from many within Dillards party at the time and during later campaigns for governor, he praises Obama for having worked on some of the deepest issues we had and being successful in a bipartisan way.

It certainly speaks to his ability to build relationships with members of the other party and work on issues, Redfield said.

But not all Republicans were so willing to work with Obama, said Denny Jacobs, a former Democratic state senator from East Moline.

Many in the GOP caucus saw Obama as someone on the rise and tried to get in his way, Jacobs said.

They really dropped that card on him quite a bit, he said.

From Jacobs perspective, Obamas strength was not bipartisanship but his ability to stay true to himself.

Win, lose or draw, he was going to put in what he thought was right, Jacobs said. And if he got Democrat  he didnt always get all the Democrats, including me  and if he got Democrat and Republican support, so be it. And if he didnt, well, he still fought the good fight.

Obamas speech to the body where he launched his political career comes amid an unprecedented budget standoff between Rauner and the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Although hes been gone just over a decade, its an entirely different world, Redfield said.

I wouldnt expect that this is going to change the nature of Illinois politics overnight, he said. Thats certainly not going to happen.
ST. JOHN  Voting regularly used to be about the only political activity Gerald Swets engaged in. That changed when he learned the town's comprehensive plan showed his home being demolished as part of a proposed town center.

Now, Swets is a member of the St. John Home Owners PAC, one of two groups, along with the St. John Home Owners Group, attending the meetings of the Town Council and other boards to protest the direction the town is going. The groups have promised they aren't going to go away any time soon.

"It seems like the expansion of the town isn't being managed very well," Swets said. "Until it starts going the right way, we are going to keep coming. We are not against everything. We just want to make sure things are done in good order."

At Thursday's council meeting, Swets again asked if Council President Michael Forbes planned to put Town Manager Stephen Kil on administrative leave or fire him for taking political signs, which called for the firing of Kil, Forbes and Councilman Mark Barenie, a couple of days before the election.

At that time, Kil said the signs were illegally placed on public property, and he acted after getting an opinion from the town's attorney David Austgen. Kil has been charged with conversion.

When Forbes said he could not comment because it was a matter in litigation, Swets asked if the town is seeking Kil's replacement. When that too was met with the same response, Swets repeated his request that Forbes resign as president "so the town can move forward under new leadership."

Several members of the audience brought signs to the previous council meeting urging the council not to re-elect Forbes as president. Newly elected Councilman Christian Jorgensen nominated Barenie, but Jorgensen was the only one to vote for Barenie. That hasn't deterred the homeowners' groups from their goal of removing Forbes.

"He's had his chance, and it's not working out very well," Swets said. "We've got a lot of unhappy residents from all sides of town. If those signs weren't taken, it could have switched a few votes and made a difference in the election.

"They've had a lot of meetings canceled or rescheduled at the last minute, and I don't think that's good business. They are just trying to do things so the residents don't realize what's being done until it's done and it's too late to complain or provide any type of input."

Tom Parada is chairman of the homeowners PAC. He called himself kind of the poster boy for the resident revolt that has risen in the last few months. His home was to be demolished to build a roundabout at the entrance to a new commercial development off of Joliet Street, but the town only offered him $31,000 for the property because it had deteriorated in recent years.

Parada has become the unofficial videographer for the PAC during the last few meetings, taping the sessions and placing them on the group's website.

"We're just trying to keep everybody honest," Parada said. "No matter who speaks, it will go on the website. We want to make people aware of the stuff that's bad that's happening in town and the stuff that is good. We are really looking to get more transparency. There was so little attendance at the meetings in the past that a lot of things slipped through. We bring up issues that are important."

Mary Therese Robert works with the homeowners' group but has been coming to the meetings for more than a year. She began demanding that Kil and former Police Chief Fred Frego last March, before the sign incident, because of allegations of sexual harassment in the Police Department and other problems.

"I have been a concerned citizen going at this alone, and finally other people are getting disgusted," Robert said. "Too many people keep their head in the sand and don't complain until it's too late. We can't be late now. I think we can do better than we have done.

"Illinois has beautiful parks and preserves, and we have nothing," she said. "Gary is getting a community center, and we can't get one here in St. John? There are so many things that could be done. This could be such a great town, but it's not going in the right direction. All they think about is build, build, build."

"We're just homeowners," Swets said. "We're not politicians. We just want to be treated fairly and honestly. During the election, when Forbes talked about transparency in government, we'd like to see that. That's not the way they've been operating."
Camp John Warvel offers traditional camp activities as well as constant medical assistance for children living with diabetes.

It is for children ages 7 to 15 with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Older teens with previous diabetes camp experience may participate as counselors-in-training.

This years camp will run from June 5 to 11. Registration is open at www.diabetes.org/adacampjohnwarvel. Last year, 176 campers attended Camp John Warvel, which takes place at the YMCA Camp Crosley facility in North Webster.

I encourage all my young patients living with diabetes to go, camp allows them the opportunity to see other children just like them living with diabetes, said Christina Pogue, nurse practitioner and mother to a camper.

My son came home and started using new injection areas. There are education points, learning daily life skills, team building and encouragement, Pogue said. Its about setting life goals  not just diabetes goals. Its a great way to get information on diabetes, have a lot of fun, and build friendships that last forever.

Diabetes education is the main focus for children attending Camp John Warvel. Camp activities such as water sports, rock climbing, high ropes courses, horseback riding, and more teach children how to manage their blood glucose levels during physical activity. Campers also learn a variety of techniques for managing their diabetes, including counting carbohydrates at meals. Camp John Warvel offers a nearly 1-to-1 ratio of camp staff to campers.

To help send a child with diabetes to camp this year, contact Carol Dixon, senior manager of Mission Delivery & Camp John Warvel for the American Diabetes Association  Indiana Area, at (888) 342-2383, ext. 6732, or cdixon@diabetes.org.
WESTVILLE  Purdue University North Central will have a FAFSA Weekend to help students and parents complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) paperwork on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 in the Technology Building, Room 265.

FAFSA Weekend is free and is open to potential Indiana college students of all ages. Students are not required to attend, or plan to attend, PNC in order to take part in the FAFSA Weekend activities at PNC.

Hours of assistance will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 20 and 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21. PNC will participate in the statewide College Goal Sunday activities. PNC will be one of 42 College Goal Sunday sites in Indiana offering students and their families the help they need in understanding, completing, and filing the FAFSA.

Students who attend a College Goal Sunday site and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship.

The winners will be notified in March. Prizes will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.

The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, loans and scholarships at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide and must be filed by March 10 to be eligible for state aid. During the FAFSA Weekend at PNC, PNC financial aid staff will be on hand to help students and their families file the form online.

Any college-bound student and their families may stop in to seek assistance or ask questions.

Those who intend to complete the FAFSA must have an electronic Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). An FSA ID can be obtained online prior to filing at www.fsaid.ed.gov, or can be obtained online at the FAFSA Weekend. Both the parent and the student will need an FSA ID in order to sign and complete the FAFSA.

Those who intend to complete the FAFSA at the FAFSA Weekend should be sure to bring:

A copy of students and parents completed 2015 Federal taxes  1040, 1040A, 1040EZ and 2015 W-2 forms.

If the tax forms have not been completed, numbers can be estimated for the FAFSA using the W-2, if necessary.

Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2014 income and benefits information.

Statements showing the value of investments such as stocks and bonds.

Statements of the students and parents balances of checking and savings.

Any other untaxed income.

Both the students and parents birth dates and Social Security numbers.

Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA

Call (219) 785-5493.
VALPARAISO  A love for dogs and working with dogs led Karen Land to compete in what has been called the Last Great Race on Earth.

Land, 44, of Indianapolis, will talk at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Porter County Public Library's Valparaiso branch about her adventures as a musher in the 1,150-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska.

The program is free and open to the public.

Land grew up in Indianapolis and later moved to Montana, where she earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Montana University.

In 1999, she took a job caring for Alaskan Huskies at the Montana kennel of 21-time Iditarod musher Terry Adkins.

She made her first appearance in the Iditarod in March 2002, and finished the race in just under 14 days. She also competed in 2003 and 2004.

On the trail, some of the biggest challenges Land faced included the cold, darkness and a lack of sleep. Temperatures also fluctuated greatly, from 40 degrees below zero to 50 above.

I certainly did not grow up in those kind of conditions, she said. I get cold really easily.

During the 2002 race, she lost 15 pounds because of having to wear 50 pounds of heavy clothing and running uphill, she said.

It really took a lot out of me, Land said.

She said her lack of sleep on the trail caused some strange moments.

Mushers end up hallucinating and having all kinds of crazy visions."

Yet she persevered, keeping her focus on caring for the dogs.

The dogs are incredible athletes, and they are the best cheerleaders you can have. They're always ready to go.

Getting to see the Northern Lights and experiencing a true silence in the Alaskan wilderness were among the rewards of the race, she said.

Today, Land gives dog mushing presentations in libraries and schools across the country. She is accompanied by Romano, her Alaskan Husky dog.

It really is a subject that draws people in and inspires them, Land said. I like to get people to think about being outdoors and all the different things they can do outdoors.

For more information, read Karen Land's blog at www.stringofdogs.wordpress.com.
PORTAGE  Discussion on the pros and cons of state charter schools versus public schools was just one of the hot-button topics discussed at a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA).

The event, which was held at Portage High School on Saturday, included a legislative update by ISTA President Teresa Meredith and a fishbowl discussion that included input by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz.

Those who took part in the fishbowl discussion panel included Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte; Rep. Chuck Mosely, D-Portage; Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso and Valparaiso School Superintendent E. Ric Frataccia.

Meredith, who led the discussion on charter schools, gave a brief history of the origins of charter schools in the state.

There are some good examples of charter schools, such as one in Evansville, where teachers have bargaining rights and where data collected is part of the public school corporation, Meredith said.

"It's the perfect model," Meredith said.

Some of the negatives about charter schools include sponsors of the schools being able to close up shop and have any debt forgiven under current state laws.

"Did the public schools get their debt forgiven?" Meredith said.

Frataccia said there is the mistaken idea, by some in the public, that charter schools are better than public schools.

"The truth is that the achievement level of charter schools is below ours consistently," Frataccia said.

Charbonneau agreed there is a perception about charter schools that isn't true when looking at collected data.

"We need to educate everyone. I'm a firm believer in collecting data to drive our decisions," Charbonneau said.

Other topics discussed by the panel included vouchers, school funding, school policy, pensions and collective bargaining.

Ritz said she is opposed to vouchers or the allowance of state money to go to students to attend private or parochial schools.

"We should demand a moratorium on vouchers. ... We need to stop vouchers and look at the impact," Ritz said.

The majority of the panel, including Ritz, said they are opposed to the continuance of giving letter grades to schools based on performance.

Ritz said that a student with a 3.7 grade point average from a school given an F grade will not be treated the same as a student with a 3.7 GPA from an A-graded school when applying for college.

"We need to wake up and see that we are labeling kids," Ritz said.

Moseley said he agreed with Ritz about eliminating the A-F grading of schools and directed his comment to teachers in the audience.

"We all know A-F is not about grading the kids but it's about grading you. It's your grade," Mosely said.

Meredith, in her update about legislation involving education, said one of the now dead bills that received the most opposition was House Bill 1325.

The bill, which would replace the rule of 85 to 95 (the retirement formula of age plus years of service), thus ending early teacher retirement, received hundreds of emails in opposition.
This month, Portage Township Schools is focusing on the core value of social intelligence. What is social intelligence?

A simple definition is the ability to get along with others. Since signing my first teaching contract in 1992, I have seen the meaning of this term change dramatically. Given todays students ability to be in contact with one another virtually 24 hours a day, I believe the importance of social intelligence has increased considerably.

Growing up in Merrillville in the 1970s and 80s, my interaction with other kids my age was pretty simple. We saw each other at school during the day and, unless we lived in the same neighborhood, that was about it once the school day ended. The internet, cell phones, texting and other means of social media did not yet exist.

While it was easy to stay in touch by making a simple phone call, this meant using the landline on a phone located in the kitchen, which was within earshot of the living room, my parents bedroom and the dining room.

Every conversation was easily monitored by not only my parents but also my older brother and sister. Social intelligence wasnt something we learned in school. It was more of an implied survival skill.

Todays kids live in a completely different world. Leaving school at the end of the day does not necessarily mean leaving their friends and social interactions behind. Many students have nearly limitless access to one another via cell phones, texting and social media.

The upside to this is that students have unlimited access to a wealth of information that can help them with their homework and the ability to develop deeper relationships with their peers.

Unfortunately, there is also a tremendous downside. A conflict that occurred during the school day 20 years ago would have been dealt with the next day, typically after both students had a night to calm down and reflect upon it.

Todays students do not have this luxury. More often than not, a conflict that occurs at school can be intensified in the evening when brought out on social media.

Instead of getting away from the problem at the end of the day, the stress on both parties is increased greatly as their troubles are aired for all to see.

This is where social intelligence is so important. Teaching our kids how to interact with one another, whether it is face to face or via technology, is a critical skill they will use throughout their lives.

Core tenets of social intelligence such as empathy and attunement, when developed correctly, can help our students better avoid conflict and learn to interact with others in a mutually respectful manner without hiding behind the perceived veil of social media.

It is important for parents to model proper social interactions for their children. It is equally important to provide feedback and guidance to them regarding their interactions with others.

Portage Township Schools takes great pride in teaching a wide variety of academic subjects in all of its schools. At the same time, we know how important it is to develop well-rounded individuals. This is why during February we are focusing on social intelligence.

Our goal is to work with parents in helping all of our kids grow into well-adjusted adults, to understand conflict and how to resolve it in a productive manner. Together we excel.
SOUTH HAVEN  Students of South Haven Elementary School were excited last month because their running club was honored as the Little Igloo Youth Dash Mayors Challenge winners for a second year in a row.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County held its second annual 5K Arctic Dash race sponsored by Northwest Indiana Clean Air. As part of this race, Aqua Indiana sponsors a Little Igloo Youth Dash One Mile Fun Run for children and their parents.

To encourage youth to participate in this activity, Portage Mayor James Snyder added a Mayors Challenge element to this fun run. As part of the Little Igloo Youth Dash, he encouraged a healthy competition between the Portage Township Elementary Schools encouraging students to run.

The elementary school that had the most youth race participants not only earn a traveling trophy declaring that school the champion of the race, but the city of Portage provides a $500 grant to the school for their healthy lifestyles programming, matched by another $500 from Aqua Indiana.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County believes in encouraging youth to be physically active at least 60 minutes a day, five days per week  whether that is playing outside, participating in sports, or engaging in fun family activities like the Little Igloo Youth Dash," said Ryan Smiley, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County. "We are proud to partner with Aqua Indiana who sponsors this youth fun run and Mayor Snyder who encourages all residents of Portage to get fit and stay active. We hope other communities this year will want to do something similar to what the city of Portage does for Portage Township Schools students.

Matt Lentz, of Aqua Indiana, agreed.

On behalf of Aqua Indiana, we are happy to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, and Mayor Snyder of Portage, to inspire the youth in our community to participate in events that promote a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully the Little Igloo Youth Fun Run and the Mayors Cup competition will be around for a long time, Lentz said.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County will host the 5k Arctic Dash and Little Igloo Youth Dash and One Mile Fun Run again on Dec. 3 this year. The race begins and ends at the Portage Club which is open to youth that day to have fun at the club. Northwest Indiana Clean Air will again be the presenting sponsor of this event, and Calumet Regional Striders of Northwest Indiana named this as a Gold Cup race. For more information, contact Stephanie Hamilton at shamilton@bgcpoco.org.
After two years of extensive planning, a proposal by Franciscan St. James Health to invest $137 million in the future of healthcare delivery in Chicagos South Suburbs comes down to one vote.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will hold a public hearing Feb. 9 before voting March 29 on our plan to consolidate all inpatient services under one roof at our Olympia Fields hospital while expanding outpatient services throughout Chicago Heights.

This move was not made lightly. The proposal Franciscan St. James submitted in support of our application for a certificate of need was created and refined during a process that spanned nearly two years. Every component was developed with the needs of our patients and the surrounding communities in mind.

While the plan has been greeted warmly by many communities, it has been met with resistance by a few. Change is inevitable. What we are proposing is a comprehensive strategy that improves patient access and care even as we respond to marketplace mandates and federal reform.

If approved, this plan will add services our population desperately needs by reducing the redundancies we can no longer afford.

Seeds of change

Like every other hospital system in the country, Franciscan St. James has been given a mandate to minister to the health of the community outside of the hospital setting -- to create healthier individuals who do not need to be hospitalized as often and manage chronic illnesses in the outpatient setting.

What that means for the communities we serve is a diminishing need for inpatient hospital rooms and a corresponding demand to increase the number of ways we can meet outpatient needs.

Investing in the future

Franciscan St. James examined every possibility to maintain both hospital campuses and found it wasnt economically feasible. Our choices were simple but not easy. Committed to the residents of the South Suburbs for more than 100 years, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration chose the plan that enhances our newest hospital in Olympia Fields while expanding outpatient services in Chicago Heights.

Driving the decision were two primary considerations  the exorbitant cost of maintaining the Chicago Heights hospital and a need to locate inpatient services more central to the market we serve.

The Olympia Fields project doubles the size of the Emergency Department, adds a new pavilion for inpatient rehabilitation and obstetrics, all-private rooms, expanded parking and includes plans for VITAS Healthcare to build a new inpatient hospice facility adjacent to the campus.

The Chicago Heights component doubles the size of our existing urgent care site, which will be staffed by physicians 24/7, adds outpatient behavioral health and neurorehabilitation. In addition, bariatric/weight loss and diabetes services along with expanded primary care and an outpatient pharmacy will be located on the existing Chicago Heights campus.

We have made choices we believe are in the best interests of our patients today and in the decades to come.

There are many avenues to deliver patient care in an expanded outpatient setting. We will continue to respond to the unmet healthcare needs of individuals as we invest in the south suburbs.

We believe the project that has been proposed does all that and more.
Among the top three priorities expressed in conversations hosted by Lake Area United Way throughout Lake County, residents were concerned that the rise in crime, drug and alcohol use, and gang and gun violence has put the publics safety and well being at risk.

It is perceived that some communities across the county are safer than others. Individuals that reside in high-crime neighborhoods shared that they live in a constant state of fear. Some residents indicated that interactions between police departments and community members, specifically young people of color, are not always safe. Also, they felt that channels of communication need to be developed to aid the police in developing strong relationships within the community.

Residents expressed worry and unease in regard to public school learning environments that are unsafe and jeopardize student and teacher safety.

As residents across the county talked more about these concerns, they specifically spoke about these challenges and barriers impeding progress:

 Fear: Fear is preventing residents from getting involved or taking action. Residents fear retaliation from gangs and/or offenders if they report suspicious or criminal activity to the authorities. Many residents also shared that often times they rarely interact with their neighbors and dont feel a sense of trust to work together to address issues that arise within their communities.

 Gun violence: Residents believe that drug use is one of the primary contributing factors to increased cases of gun violence. In some cases, young people are resorting to gun violence to resolve conflict. Youth in these situations lack the ability to deescalate tense situations through peaceful means.

 Crime and gang activity: The rise in crime and gang activity is preventing residents from enjoying community recreational activities, such as neighborhood parks and social events.

 Police and community relations: There is concern that some neighborhoods distrust their local police departments. This distrust leads to disengagement among residents and disconnects the community from supporting police-driven efforts to reduce crime and violence. There is a perception that lack of diversity within police departments is contributing to negative interactions between police officers and community members of color. Residents also expressed a desire to improve communications and dialogue between community members and local law enforcement.

 Apathy among community residents: Apathy among community residents is perceived as a growing problem. Many residents shared that they believe some community members seemingly do not take pride in their neighborhoods and are not actively engaged. These residents believed a lack of caring and involved citizens has propagated the rise in crime and violence in many communities across the county.

Residents support increased gun control policies, especially those that include extensive background checks for gun purchases. They expressed a desire to see a stronger police presence in communities that have higher incidents of crime and violence. Residents also wish to see police and community members engage in a more collaborative and productive fashion. Consistent and effective communication between police and the community would be necessary to foster this type of relationship.

Residents strongly urge local police departments to take steps to improve the diversity of their police forces, employ strategies to improve relations with community members and create environments in which community members and police officers can have open dialogue.

They also emphasized the need for education among community members, especially young people, on how to safely and respectfully engage with police officers in the event of an altercation. Lastly, residents give a strong call to action to all citizens. They deeply believe the only pathway to change is one in which community members themselves take responsibility, ownership and collective action to improve the safety of their neighborhoods.

The complete Lets Talk report is available at letstalknwi.org. Results will be used to support efforts to make positive headway in Indianas public safety sector.

This initiative was a collaboration between Lake Area United Way, United Way of Porter County, One Region and The Times Media Co.
There is a letter titled, "Isn't It Strange?" making the rounds in email boxes. It asks questions to which our fellow Americans should know the answers, save for those caught up in modernity.

It starts off asking, "Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, but...after a shooting, the problem is the gun?" In other words, after a shooting, it is the gun, an inanimate object, that is the culprit, but after a bombing, it is not the bomb that receives the blame but the evil individual.

Ronald Reagan had it right when he said, "We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker."

Speaking of guns, the letter has a 1950s photo of high school girls at an indoor shooting range. The photo caption states: "Back in the 1950s and even later, many high schools had shooting ranges. Students even brought their own rifles to school." It asks, "What changed in society that we could trust such activities then but not now?"

Youth involvement with guns has a long history. The 1911 second edition of the Boy Scout Handbook made qualification in NRA's junior marksmanship program a prerequisite for obtaining a merit badge in marksmanship.

In 1918, the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. established its own Winchester Junior Rifle Corps. The program grew to 135,000 members by 1925.

I would like to ask America's anti-gun fanatics what accounts for today's mayhem: Have guns become more evil, or have people become more evil?

The letter contains several photos under the caption, "These men support your right to bear arms." The photos are of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. Below it is the caption, "These men oppose it," with photos of Adolf Hitler, Fidel Castro, Josef Stalin, Idi Amin, Vladimir Lenin and Barack Obama. Then it asks, "Who do you trust?"

Later on in the letter, there is a statement asking us to rename government programs, saying, "Get it straight: Welfare, food stamps, WIC...are not entitlements. They are taxpayer-funded handouts and shouldn't be called entitlements. Social Security and veterans benefits are 'entitlements' because the people receiving them are entitled to them. They were earned and paid for by the recipients."

Then there is a warning: "No society ever thrived because it had a large and growing class of parasites living off those who produced."

John Wayne put it best, particularly for my colleagues in academia. "I'd like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living."

Toward the letter's end there is a statement that rings so true and beyond debate: "I vote Democratic, because I'm pro-choice...except on schools, guns, trade, health care, energy, smoking, union membership..."

Finally, there is a most important message from our 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower: "If all that Americans want is security, they can go to prison. They'll have enough to eat, a bed and a roof over their heads. But if an American wants to preserve his dignity and his equality as a human being, he must not bow his neck to any dictatorial government."
Benjamin Flores received a piece of mail on July 5, 1965 that would forever change his life.

Flores, a 1963 graduate of East Chicago Washington High School, had been attending Indiana University to become an engineer. But after about a year of studies, he had to drop out. His plan was to go to work for awhile to earn enough money to continue paying for his college education.

"On July 4, 1965, I was watching the parade and the next day I got my draft notice," said Flores, now of Portage.

Flores said he went to the post office in Hammond to report. He returned home, got his clothes together and the next thing he knew he was on a crowded bus headed to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training.

"They asked everybody what they wanted to go into," Flores said.

He told them he wanted to be a medic, figuring that after his service, he would have that training to fall back on.

"We had a lot of training, from how to treat different types of wounds and cuts to how to do sutures," he said. Two months later he was called out with the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry to report to Vietnam.

Flores said he spent his time on patrol with his platoon, sometimes coming under heavy fire, having to drop his medic's bag and firing back.

"I treated a lot of wounded," he said.

Flores said he'd treat them as best they could and if the wounded soldier needed to be removed, he'd call for a "dust off" or a helicopter to medevac the wounded out. Some, he said, would be treated and sent back to fighting.

"It was a lot of pressure. You have to go in to attend to the wounded. You don't think. You got the other guys to protect you," he said.

It was while he was treating a fellow wounded soldier Flores earned both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star medal with Valor.

"There was a company on the other side of the jungle that had been over run," he said. "The firefight was still fierce after we arrived," he said.

As he was treating one soldier, he felt a stinging across the back of his neck. He continued to move on from soldier to soldier until a sergeant came by and told him he was bleeding badly. This time they had to call a dust off for him.

His commendation for the Bronze Star read, in part, "Upon entering the dense jungle, his unit was engaged by numerically superior Viet Cong force. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Specialist Flores exposed himself to the intense hostile fire, advanced to his fellow comrades and administered medical assistance. While moving to another position to aid an injured soldier, Specialist Flores was wounded. Despite his painful injury, he continued to move about under the hostile fire treating and encouraging the injured until they could be evacuated from the area. ... Specialist Flores' actions saved the lives of numerous American soldiers."

Flores returned to East Chicago after months in the hospital, married his wife, Valeria, and they had four children. He never went back to school, but recently retired after spending 37 years as a diesel mechanic.

He also became active in local Disabled American Veterans and American Legion chapters, helping other veterans returning from the service.

And, while like many Vietnam veterans, Flores is still hesitant to talk details of his service to non-veterans. However, for the last 10 years, he's been writing his stories, he said, in hopes that others won't forget.

TODAYS QUIZ: What was the Trade Palace?

Learn about this part of Indiana's history and much more at nwi.com/history.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is banning health insurers from covering a controversial psychiatric treatment designed to change a person's sexual orientation.

As part of the governor's executive order, the practice known as "conversion therapy" cannot be covered for gay, lesbian and transgender people under 18 years old.

Any mental health facility licensed, funded or operated by the state's Office of Mental Health is also prohibited from providing conversion therapy to minors.

In a statement the governor said:

"New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decades  and today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example. We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being who they are."
An off-duty MTA officer is facing charges after police say he teamed up with his son to beat up a teenager in the Bronx.

Police say two boys got into a fight Thursday afternoon in Soundview.

That's when Ruben Caraballo is accused of stepping in, allegedly punching one of the boys in the ribs.

That boy's father says his son was defending another student from a bully when the fight started.

"His father got involved pushed his son on my son and told him to draw blood from my son and he also punched my son in the stomach very hard," said Sean Harris, the father of the victim.

"As a father, I didn't feel that that was the right action for him to do. I felt that it could've been mediated before."

Caraballo is charged with assault. He's a bridge and tunnel officer who has worked with the MTA since 2005.

The agency says he remains on active duty but is not allowed to carry a firearm.
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (2008) 8:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who wrote Superbad, also wrote this comic stoner caper directed by David Gordon Green. Mr. Rogen stars as a process server who loves to smoke weed to escape the tedium of his life. He witnesses a murder while smoking a joint of rare marijuana and throws it out the car window in a rush to flee the scene. He and his dealer (James Franco) become paranoid that the killer will be able to identify him as the witness because of the distinctive pot. Off they run, without confirming that they are being pursued. Danny McBride plays an eccentric, backstabbing midlevel drug dealer, and Rosie Perez portrays a crooked cop conspiring with the murderer. Writing about the film in The Times, Manohla Dargis said, In the tradition of Cheech and Chong, Abbott and Costello, Hope and Crosby, Ricky and Lucy, Martin and Lewis, Rowan and Martin, Smothers and Smothers, Sanford and son, Spicoli and Hand, Bert and Ernie, Riggs and Murtaugh, cops and robbers, dumb and dumber, right brain and left, peanut butter and jelly, bong hit, roach clip and Snoop Doggy Dogg comes Pineapple Express, a stoner comedy that partakes of a gentle indie vibe before hitting the hard stuff for a major Shane Black-style blowup and meltdown.



WORST COOKS IN AMERICA 10 p.m. on Food. The four remaining contestants have to replicate a dish with only their sense of taste and the skills they have picked up throughout the competition.
At Silliman, she offered tea, pulling piles of boxes of different kinds from a drawer in the kitchen. Her dachshund, Rudy, was excited to see her, but no students were in sight. The drawing room exuded a sort of Victorian upper-class taste  Persian rugs, carved chairs, a gilt-framed portrait of a fair-skinned woman in a flouncy dress, holding a chubby baby. None of it, of course, had anything to do with whatever Ms. Christakiss personal taste might or might not be.

In her role as associate master  an administrator and social and academic adviser  she became an almost generic target of student anger. Friends wondered why she had been rash enough to stick her neck out and take on a hot-button issue.

I see myself as very anti-establishment, in a sort of old-school, lefty way, she said. Besides, some of her students had asked her what she thought, and I cant accept the idea that we can only restrict ourselves to discussions of the weather.

The thing that shocked her most about the Halloween furor, she said, was that students would cede control over matters like how they should dress to the Yale administration.

Should we be talking more transparently about when its appropriate for administrations to insert themselves into issues that arise in students lives? Ms. Christakis asked. I think students are more capable than we give them credit for being to manage social norming.

She said in her email: Is there really no room anymore for a child or young person to be a little bit obnoxious?

After the uproar from students reacting to her email, dozens of Yale faculty members defended Ms. Christakis as an advocate of free expression.
Caroline Anne Seklir and Christopher Rogers Browne were married Feb. 6 at Home Studios, an events space in Manhattan. The Rev. Ann M. Kansfield, a minister of the United Church of Christ, officiated.

Ms. Seklir, 34, is keeping her name. She is a brand strategist at Yard, an advertising agency in Manhattan. She graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Me., and received a masters degree in fiction from Columbia.

She is a daughter of Nancy Reilly Seklir and Steven A. Seklir, both of Manhattan. The brides father retired as a real estate lawyer in Manhattan. Her mother, also retired, was the Lower School librarian in Manhattan for the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School.

Mr. Browne, 33, works in Manhattan as an art director in the advertising and publications department at N.Y.U. He graduated from the Art Institute of Boston.
Lauren Beth Cappell and Jason Adam Soloway were married Feb. 6 at their apartment in New York. Rabbi Stephen Wise officiated.

Ms. Cappell, 38, is keeping her name. She is the senior director of strategy in New York at Gwynnie Bee, an online subscription rental-clothing service for women. She graduated from McGill University in Montreal and received a masters and a law degree from Oxford University in England. She also received an M.B.A. from Insead, the French business school in Fontainebleau.

She is the daughter of Barbara A. Cappell and Franklyn E. Cappell of Toronto.

Mr. Soloway, 43, is an owner of two restaurants in New York, Wallflower in the West Village and the Eddy in the East Village. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario, from which he also received a masters degree in comparative literature. He received two masters degrees from Brandeis University, in management and in social policy. He also holds a degree in culinary management from the Institute of Culinary Education, and an advanced degree in wine and spirits from the International Wine Center, both in New York.

He is the son of Marion C. Soloway and Gerald M. Soloway, also of Toronto.

When Ms. Cappell and Mr. Soloway met in July 2013 at a hotel bar in New York, they were stunned to learn that they had grown up on the same street in Toronto.
Nan Min and Andrea Keely Christie were married Feb. 5 at Deity, an event space in Brooklyn. Kim Kirkley, a minister of the First Nation Church, officiated.

Ms. Min (left), 50, is an independent academic and test-preparation tutor in Bayside, Queens. She is on the board of Team New York Aquatics, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender masters swim team based in Manhattan. She graduated from Queens College, from which she also received a masters degree in psychology. She also has a Ph.D. in molecular neurobiology from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Ms. Mins previous marriage ended in divorce.

She is a daughter of Myong S. Min and Byong K. Min of Bayside. Her parents, who are retired, owned Olympia Footwear, a store in Manhattan.

Ms. Christie, 29, who is a classical pianist, is on the piano faculty at the Greenwich House Music School in Manhattan and Herald Music School in Flushing, Queens. She is also a member of the Parhelion Trio, an all-female Manhattan-based contemporary classical music ensemble. Ms. Christie graduated from the University of British Columbia and received a masters degree in music from Stony Brook University, from which she also has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance.
New York State will investigate high levels of radioactive contamination found in the groundwater at the Indian Point nuclear plant, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Saturday.

The governor said water contaminated with tritium had leaked into the groundwater at the plant, causing alarming levels of radioactivity to be found at three out of the 40 monitoring wells on the site.

One of the wells reported a 65,000 percent increase in the waters level of radioactivity, Mr. Cuomo said, citing a report by Entergy Corporation, which owns the plant.

Mr. Cuomo said the contamination appeared to be limited to the groundwater beneath the plant in Buchanan, N.Y., about 30 miles north of New York City in Westchester County. He nevertheless expressed his alarm, adding, This latest failure at Indian Point is unacceptable.
Saturday night was different. Christie, John Kasich (the governor of Ohio) and Jeb Bush (the former governor of Florida) all had stronger debates than Rubio or Cruz did. Its hardest to gauge the effect of Christies performance, which was at once the most commanding but also the most aggressive, even overbearing. His attacks on Rubio may have fallen into the category of murder-suicide.

But by and large, he, Kasich and Bush were more effective than they had been in drawing a contrast between being in charge of a state and casting votes in Congress.

They mentioned their gubernatorial records deftly and frequently (if selectively). They communicated a particular kind of confidence.

Will it be enough to lift one of them into the top three in New Hampshire? What about two of them? Thats probably a stretch, but if it happens, the big loser will be Trump or Rubio, both of whom are depending on impressive showings on Tuesday.

Did Donald Trump say the word win a few times too many?

Its his favorite syllable, and on Saturday night it was practically a mantra. He verged on self-parody when he ended the evening by saying: If I am elected president, we will win and we will win and we will win. Was this Trump or a Saturday Night Live skit of Trump?

Heres the problem: One of his main rationales for his candidacy, from the beginning until now, is that hes a proven winner, does everything better than everyone else and can take Americans along with him for a long, happy ride on his gaudy, gold-plated victory train (or plane, as the case may be). He quintupled down on that rationale Saturday night, and guaranteed that a loss in New Hampshire would be the death knell for his candidacy.

At the same time, he didnt have enough standout moments to safeguard his apparent (if polls can be believed) lead. His defense of eminent domain  an issue that many conservatives care about  was weak, and Bush got the better of him in an exchange about it.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  In the Republican race for president, Senator Marco Rubios soaring oratory, firm command of policy and steely unflappability are his sword, helmet and shield.

On Saturday night, Gov. Chris Christie seemed to rob Mr. Rubio of those armaments and turn them against him.

In the process, Mr. Christie accomplished something that the rest of the Republican field has repeatedly tried but failed to do so far: diminish and even embarrass Mr. Rubio, whose rapid rise in the polls, broad appeal and seeming imperviousness to attack have made impeding him his rivals most urgent mission.
100000004193062 Intros clip [TITLE: Analysis of the Eighth GOP Debate] 1) Donald Trump was back. And in case anyone wondered if he would be a little out of practice, he snapped right back to form  clipped sentences, vague promises of greatness and repetition, repetition, repetition. TRUMP: I hit immigration, I hit it very hard. Everybody said, Oh, the temperament, because I talked about illegal immigration.TRUMP: Now, everybodys coming to me, theyre all trying to say, well, hes right, we have to come to him. I hit other things. I talked about Muslims. We have a problem. 2) It was the moment Marco Rubio and his advisers knew was coming. Yet somehow he seemed ill-prepared, or perhaps over-prepared. Either way, Chris Christie got inside his head. CHRISTIE: Thats what Washington, D.C. Does. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him. RUBIO: This notion that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing is just not true. He knows exactly what hes doing. CHRISTIE: There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody. 3) Trump didnt quite call him Jeborah  as his Saturday Night Live character would. But when he tried to silence Jeb Bush in a dispute over eminent domain, the audience quickly turned on the billionarire developer. BUSH: What Donald Trump did was use eminent domain to try to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City. That is not public purpose, that is down right wrong. TRUMP: Well, let me just  you know, he wants to be a tough guy. A lot of times, youll have  youll have  and it didnt work very well. BUSH: How tough it is to take away property from an elderly woman? TRUMP: A lot of time  let me talk. Quiet. 4) Would President Cruz add waterboarding to carpetbombing as a part of his foreign policy? Mr. Cruz hedged. CRUZ: I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use // to, say, prevent a city from facing an imminent terrorist attack, you can rest assured that as commander in chief, I would use whatever enhanced interrogation methods we could to keep this country safe. 5) RUBIO ON CLINTON ABORTION STANCE she believes abortion should be legal on the due date RUBIO: The media has not asked them a single question on abortion and on abortion, the Democrats are extremists. Why doesnt the media ask Hillary Clinton why she believes that all abortion should be legal, even on the due date of that unborn child. Why dont they ask Hillary Clinton why she believe that partial- birth abortion, which is a gruesome procedure that has been outlawed in this country, she thinks thats a fundamental right. They are the extremists...
To make its case, the Sanders campaign is leaning on years-old criticism from Ms. Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat and liberal icon, over Mrs. Clintons vote in 2001 to make it harder for Americans to wipe out their debts through bankruptcy.

Mrs. Clinton, who has received millions from the financial sector in speaking fees and donations to her campaigns and charitable foundation, expressed regret over the legislation when she ran for president in 2008, though she had plenty of company among Democrats in voting for it.

And the Clinton campaign said the email from the Sanders camp was simply a veiled personal attack.

If Senator Sanders means to allege that Secretary Clinton ever changed her position because of contributions, he should have the courage to say it, rather than continue to assassinate her character through insinuation, Jesse Ferguson, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, said on Saturday.

Ms. Warrens critique had its beginnings in 1998, when Congress was contemplating an overhaul to the bankruptcy system. Ms. Warren, a Harvard law professor, wrote an Op-Ed piece for The New York Times warning that under such an overhaul, a woman owed child support could lose some of her ability to collect it if the childs father declared bankruptcy.
Heres how we analyzed the Republican debate and live fact check.

MANCHESTER, N.H.  With three days until the New Hampshire primary, the Republican contenders gathered Saturday night for a final debate before the vote. Donald J. Trump returned after skipping last weeks face-off. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas hoped to build on his Iowa win. And Senator Marco Rubio of Florida girded for attacks from just about everyone on stage. Here are the highlights:

 Mr. Trump said he had the best temperament, deflecting criticisms from Mr. Cruz this week about his readiness to be commander in chief. When Mr. Cruz declined to repeat the attack on stage, Mr. Trump noted, If you noticed, he didnt answer your question.

 Ben Carson criticized Mr. Cruzs campaign for suggesting to voters on the night of the Iowa caucuses that Mr. Carson would stop campaigning after the vote. It gives us a very good example of certain types of Washington ethics, Mr. Carson said. Mr. Cruz apologized onstage but chalked up the actions largely to a miscommunication over a CNN report.

 In a sharply personal exchange, Mr. Rubio and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey sparred over their qualifications for the job. Thats not leadership. Thats truancy, Mr. Christie said of Mr. Rubios voting record, before calling him overscripted. Mr. Rubio attacked Mr. Christie over New Jerseys credit downgrades. When the governor touted his experience with natural disasters, Mr. Rubio shot back that Mr. Christie didnt even want to go back to the state before a recent storm.

 Mr. Trump seized on a comment by Mr. Rubio that President Obama knows exactly what hes doing in executing his agenda. (Mr. Rubio added that he disagreed with that agenda.) I think he has no idea what hes doing and our country is going to hell, Mr. Trump said of the president. So I just want to say, we disagree on that.
The final Republican presidential debate before the primary on Tuesday in New Hampshire was marked by heated exchanges between Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. Voters also saw a more muted Senator Ted Cruz, and a Jeb Bush who seemed finally to have found his footing on the debate stage. For Donald J. Trump, the leader in state polls, Saturday nights affair was one in which he largely stayed above the fray, while delivering some crisp attacks without getting rattled. Commentators and critics agreed that it was his best debate to date. Heres what else they had to say:

If you liked Donald Trump going into this debate, the New York billionaire gave you no reason to change your mind. He was funny, over the top and refrained from cursing.  Matthew Continetti, editor of the conservative publication The Washington Free Beacon

Worst night: Rubio. Strong answers later in debate wont erase exchange with Christie, which has potential to change narrative of his candidacy. Trump rocky at times, but no one was going after him; Cruz solid and benefits from Marcos bad night; Jeb, Christie and Kasich all good.  Rich Lowry, editor of National Review

When the candidates took the stage tonight, Marco Rubio was ascendant in N.H. But he stumbled at a pivotal moment. Question is: Will N.H. care?  Rebecca Berg, political reporter for Real Clear Politics

Jeb is having a run here, but are garbage time points enough?  Adam Jentleson, deputy chief of staff to Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada
WASHINGTON  Younis Shokuri, a Moroccan detainee at the Guantanamo Bay prison, said he feared being repatriated to his native country. But the Moroccan government told the United States that it would probably release him without charges 72 hours after any transfer. So last September, Mr. Shokuri went home  reluctantly, but voluntarily.

But despite its assurances, Morocco has kept Mr. Shokuri in custody and is weighing criminal charges, apparently focused on allegations that he was involved with a Moroccan terrorist group before his capture in Afghanistan in late 2001. Mr. Shokuris lawyers have demanded that the Obama administration press Morocco to live up to what they thought was a deal.

Both governments have said little to explain the discrepancy.

Several officials familiar with behind-the-scenes legal and diplomatic discussions are now shedding light on the murky episode.

Beyond its importance for Mr. Shokuri, his situation illustrates how difficult  and messy  it can be to winnow down the ranks of detainees viewed as posing a lower-level security risk at the Guantanamo prison, which the Obama administration still wants to close in its final year in office.
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan  Farhad Azyanfar, a student of Dari literature at the university in Kunduz, watched in fear as a few hundred Taliban fighters overran and defeated a larger but demoralized government force to capture this northern city in September.

He was relieved several weeks later when the insurgents left the city after a combined American and Afghan counterattack, but the feeling was short-lived: He and many other residents fear the Taliban will be back soon.

You can see the white flags of the Taliban along the road as soon as you step out of Kunduz City, said Mr. Azyanfar, 20, who travels back to his district outside the provincial capital several times a week. The area controlled by the government extends only to the buildings in which they are based, he said. As soon as you step outside, it is totally a different picture: The Talibans presence and influence are much larger than the governments.

It has been more than four months since the Afghan forces crumbled as Taliban fighters overran Kunduz. But there has been no improvement in the conditions that made the two-week Taliban takeover of the city possible. Disillusionment with the government has only gotten worse; the Afghan forces are still overstretched and demoralized; and the Taliban still control much of the outlying areas and roads.
REGENSBURG, Germany  Udo Kaiser was 8 years old, brimming with energy and a bell-clear soprano voice when he arrived at the boarding school of the famed boys choir that bears this citys name. Before his first day ended, he had been struck by a teacher.

The months that followed brought twisted ears or slaps for disrupting the silence demanded in the classrooms, corridors and dining hall. Singing the wrong note earned a beating with a conductors baton. Fingers that missed notes at the piano were slammed with the fallboard.

But it was the night he was caught playing with marbles in his dormitory, and was called to the prefects room for punishment, that would later send him into years of depression and cause him to lose his voice.

There, a priest whom the boys called the pickle because of his long nose, ordered him to pull down his pajama bottoms and kneel. The priest, whom Mr. Kaiser declined to name but said had since died, then placed the boys head between his legs and took up his rod.
NASHUA, N.H.  On the campaign trail and beyond, there may be no larger caricature of New York City than Donald J. Trump.

The affiliation has proved problematic for Mr. Trump as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination. In Iowa, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas took aim at Mr. Trumps New York values, playing on the citys reputation for secularism and liberal politics. At home, top Democrats have disavowed Mr. Trump, calling his campaign a betrayal of the citys inclusive identity.

Mr. Trump has barreled over certain local sensibilities with his sheer New York-ness. At a rally in New Hampshire, deep in Red Sox country, he declared that George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner who died in 2010, had been a great personal friend. When Mr. Trump was forced to deliver his concession speech in Iowa, after a disappointing second-place finish behind Mr. Cruz, his profession of love for the state took the form of a real estate proposition.

I think I might come here and buy a farm, he said. I love it!

But with the Iowa caucuses completed, Mr. Trumps image as a populist strongman from Manhattan may find more receptive audiences. In New Hampshire, the next state to vote, on Tuesday, Mr. Trump has led the polls by comfortable margins, and supporters there say there is nothing distasteful or suspicious about their candidates political persona.
On Sunday morning, a womans voice filled Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, a synagogue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and spilled from a speaker outside onto 85th Street.

The voice belonged to the young widow of David Wichs, 38, who was heading to his job at a trading firm in Lower Manhattan on Friday when a crane collapsed onto Worth Street, killing him and injuring three others.

David was the happiest person I ever met, said his widow, Rebecca Guttman, 34. He wanted me to enjoy every day of my life, just as he did his.

In a seven-minute eulogy that captivated reporters gathered outside the synagogue to listen to a live broadcast of the funeral services, Ms. Guttman recounted her late husbands character, from the intimate perspective of their three-year marriage.
Fear and hatred stalked the Republican debate on Saturday night, aimed at every available target, including, as starkly as ever, the immigrant threat.

Donald Trump took credit for raising the alarm first  Now everybodys coming to me, he said. Senator Ted Cruz boasted that his immigration solution was the most detailed  11 pages, single-spaced  though it focuses so intently on criminalizing unauthorized immigrants that it seems more like a blueprint for keeping millions of people in prisons, rather than sending them out of the country.

The candidates kept summoning President Ronald Reagan, whose 105th birthday it was. If only Reagans ghost had risen up and driven everybody from the stage, to uphold his vision of a welcoming America that his party has abandoned.

Only Gov. John Kasich and Senator Marco Rubio tried to be hard-line without the hate. Mr. Kasich said, again, that deportation of 11 million people is unrealistic, a statement of simple fact that in this context counts as bravery.
In his two years as the F.C.C.s general counsel, Mr. Sallet, 63, has taken center stage in some of the most divisive debates in Washington. He helped shape and then defend the net neutrality law. His input helped kill the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger last year. In recent days, the cable industry has closely tracked his thinking about a merger between Charter and Time Warner Cable, concerned about a similar result.

Typically a general counsel is like an administrator, said Reed Hundt, a former Democratic chairman of the F.C.C. But in Jon you have an administrator who is also a policy maven and political strategist.

Mr. Sallet will draw more of the spotlight in coming months, a period that could shape the tech and cable landscape for years to come. The agency is set to take a position on the Charter and Time Warner Cable deal, as well as vote to open the market of set-top cable boxes to new competitors. And the decision in the net neutrality case, the one he prepared so long and hard for, is also expected.

Each weekday morning, Mr. Sallet is among a small cadre of top advisers who meet at 8:45 to discuss policy and strategy with Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the F.C.C. Mr. Wheeler, a former lobbyist for the cable and wireless industries, knows firsthand how the agencys actions can be derailed by the pressure of lobbying by the powerful businesses he used to represent.

He is a multifaceted talent with the ability to see all angles of an issue and provide sage counsel, Mr. Wheeler said of Mr. Sallet.
There is a red and blue political divide in the United States that this election is only exacerbating, with consequences for governing.

Presidential campaigns are about choices, differences, especially between the parties. The 2016 divide between Republicans and Democrats is more intense and polarizing than usual.

Two of the leading contenders, Senator Ted Cruz, on the Republican side, and Senator Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, openly declare that this is a base election focused more on bringing out hard-core committed supporters than on trying to persuade more independent-minded folks. Their impressive showings in the Iowa caucuses  Mr. Cruz won, and Mr. Sanders almost did  reinforce that. And among Donald J. Trumps attributes, political consensus-building doesnt seem to be at the top of the list.

Even after the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday winnows the field, Hillary Clinton will remain the favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and Marco Rubio will be one of the three or four Republican finalists.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  I did not expect to see Adam Hasner so far north, or sporting such an impressive beard.

But there he was, the former majority leader of the Florida House of Representatives, dining in a steakhouse downtown before a long weekend of campaigning in the cold.

I first met Mr. Hasner, 46, when he was a clean-shaven candidate for the United States Senate, at a 2011 Republican straw poll in sunny Orlando. This weekend, he is one of a horde of out-of-state volunteers  some with distinguished political careers of their own  flocking into New Hampshire to help their candidates in the final push.

These are not simply political tourists, gawking at candidates they have seen on TV: They are here to knock on doors, to make phone calls and to check in volunteers and voters at campaign events. In a close election, that kind of legwork can be worth a few crucial percentage points on Primary Day.
Robin Chandler Duke, a rags-to-riches grande dame who married an ambassador and became one of Americas best known advocates for women by championing reproductive rights and international family planning, died in Charleston, S.C., on Saturday. She was 92.

Her daughter, Letitia Lynn, confirmed the death, at Bishop Gadsden, a retirement community. Ms. Duke for many years had homes in New York and the Hamptons, on Long Island.

Ms. Dukes life was full of storybook improbabilities: a lawyers daughter left destitute, a teenage model who lied about her age, a reporter, the wife of a fading actor, a single mother of two who succeeded as a television newscaster, a stockbroker and a public relations executive when women in those roles were rare.

At age 39, she became the fourth wife of Angier Biddle Duke, the scion of two American dynasties. He was President John F. Kennedys chief of protocol, had already served as ambassador to El Salvador and would later become President Lyndon B. Johnsons chief of protocol and the ambassador to Denmark, Spain and Morocco.
The family of Hae Min Lee, whose former boyfriend is seeking a retrial 16 years after he was convicted of killing her, broke its silence on Sunday.

A State Circuit Court judge in Baltimore last week began reviewing whether the former boyfriend, Adnan Syed, should receive a new trial amid national interest in his case after it was featured on the popular podcast Serial. The hearing before Judge Martin P. Welch is scheduled to enter its fourth day on Monday.

The events of this past week have reopened wounds few can imagine, the family said in a statement released by the office of the Maryland attorney general. It remains hard to see so many run to defend someone who committed a horrible crime, who destroyed our family, who refuses to accept responsibility, when so few are willing to speak up for Hae.

Ms. Lee was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States with her mother and brother. Her mother, Youn Wha Kim, took the stand at Mr. Syeds sentencing and told the court through an interpreter that she had moved to the United States so that her children could have a decent education and a decent future, according to The Baltimore Sun.
I said I would not hand over power to those that dont believe in elections, but the Parliament guaranteed that they will do everything to make sure the process carries on, Mr. Martelly said in his last speech to Parliament, before handing the presidential sash to the leader of the National Assembly. I am leaving office to contribute to constitutional normalcy.

Mr. Martelly, a former pop music star, was criticized for failing to hold elections during his five years in office and for surrounding himself with cronies, some of them criminals. He never shed his garish style and was considered an autocrat who let Parliament expire during his tenure.

But Mr. Martelly said he had faced the impossible when he inherited pain and misery five years ago, a year after a huge earthquake killed hundreds of thousands of people and toppled sections of the capital.

What we consider before using anonymous sources. Do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process.

Haitis latest political crisis resulted from a presidential election held in October with 54 candidates and that critics said was riddled with fraud. Political operatives were able to vote multiple times, and the presidents handpicked successor came in first despite being a virtual unknown, leaving the 52 candidates who did not make the runoff vote to question the results.

The runoff was delayed twice as protesters demanded clarity.

Mr. Martelly insisted that there had been no fraud and that the runoff should take place, urging voters to choose his candidate, Jovenel Moise, a banana exporter. But a former government official who officially came in second, Jude Celestin, refused to participate in the runoff until a new electoral council was chosen and a thorough review of the first round was conducted.
TAINAN, Taiwan  Sophisticated sensors deployed at the site of a 17-story apartment complex that collapsed during a predawn earthquake on Saturday here in southwestern Taiwan detected faint signs of life on Sunday, including occasional cries, from some of the 117 people the authorities believed were buried deep under many layers of rubble.

Rescue workers tried to reach them through the shattered remains of elevator shafts and through underground water pipes that went through the area, but were unsuccessful every time, said Chen Mei-ling, the citys secretary general.

We dont want to use big drills to get down there because we might kill people, Ms. Chen said in an interview on Sunday night. So the debris field, the size of a large city block, had been divided into four areas, and large backhoes had begun trying to carefully remove the tangled layers of concrete, reinforcing steel bars and tiles.

Lai Shu-hui, one of two deputy secretary generals of Tainan, said on Monday morning that 36 bodies had been recovered from the apartment complex ruins and that two people elsewhere in the city had also died in the quake. Another 93 people are still hospitalized from injuries sustained in the earthquake, she said.
BEIJING  When the veteran Chinese diplomat Wu Dawei left for North Korea last week, he probably knew he had been dispatched on mission impossible: to persuade the countrys young leader, Kim Jong-un, to climb down from his threat to launch a rocket as part of his quest to develop ballistic missile technologies.

Not only did Mr. Kim ignore Chinas entreaties, sending Mr. Wu home empty-handed. He did so emphatically, ordering the launch a day earlier than expected so that it fell on one of Chinas most important holidays, the eve of the Lunar New Year.

It is unclear how long President Xi Jinping of China will tolerate what some analysts here are calling the humiliation of his country at the hands of a capricious Mr. Kim. But there are no immediate signs that Beijing will radically change course and turn away from its traditional ally.

Its a bad result, its a humiliation, said Cheng Xiaohe, an associate professor of international relations at Renmin University. I think Kim Jong-un made many mistakes, and this is one of his major mistakes. Even so, he added, Its hard to say what different approach China will take.
A top official on the committee that awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has resigned because he expects to be caught up in an investigation of a regenerative medicine researcher who was dismissed from Swedens leading medical institute.

The official, Urban Lendahl, a genetics professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, resigned Saturday as secretary general of the Nobel Assembly at the institute. Dr. Lendahl was among a group of Karolinska professors who in 2010 recommended the hiring of Paolo Macchiarini, a surgeon who performs experimental transplants involving plastic windpipes embedded with a patients own stem cells.

Dr. Lendahl resigns effective immediately and at his own request, the chairman of the 50-person assembly, Rune Toftgard, said in a statement, adding that Dr. Lendahl anticipates that he may be involved in the investigation of Dr. Macchiarini. Dr. Lendahl also resigned from the Nobel Committee, a working group within the assembly.

Dr. Macchiarini has been considered a pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine, in which the goal is to produce replacement tissues or organs. But two of three patients whom he operated on at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm have died, and the third has been hospitalized for more than three years.
RAMTHA, Jordan  When the Syrian refugees first started streaming into this bedraggled border town, Gassim al-Moghrebi was their tireless benefactor, distributing donations of food, money and clothes and sheltering as many as possible in two apartments he owned.

All of Ramtha was just like me, Mr. Moghrebi said, describing a good will rooted in family ties that spanned the border, and sympathy for the victims of a pitiless war. One man had 10 apartments. He gave them to the Syrians for free.

But now, as Syria witnesses a new escalation of violence, including waves of Russian airstrikes, and as Syrians flee again by the tens of thousands, neighboring countries are increasingly overwhelmed and reluctant to let them in. In many places, that early altruism has hardened into resentment  an ominous turn for those searching for safety from the war.

Desperate Syrians are backed up at the borders of Jordan and Turkey, barred from entering or else just allowed to trickle in. Increasingly, they find escape routes closing.
CAIRO  Diplomatic meetings in Cairo and Washington this week are likely to further focus international attention on the death of an Italian graduate student whose badly beaten body was found in Cairo last week.

A visit by the Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, to Washington and a trip to Cairo by Sarah B. Sewall, the State Departments top official for human rights, come amid mounting pressure by Italy for Egypt to find the killers of Giulio Regeni, 28, a doctoral candidate at Cambridge University who had come to Cairo to study informal labor movements.

The Italian interior minister, Angelino Alfano, citing an autopsy carried out after the body arrived in Italy on Saturday, said Mr. Regeni had suffered inhuman, animal-like, unacceptable violence before his death. A person close to Mr. Regenis family said the autopsy showed that he had died from a fracture of his cervical vertebra, most likely caused by a violent blow to the neck.

The Egyptian government, apparently alarmed by the angry reaction to Mr. Regenis death, has allowed Italian investigators to participate in the investigation into the killing, and officials have repeatedly emphasized their intention to cooperate with Italy.
LONDON  A member of the Islamic State extremist group who was part of a notorious quartet that orchestrated the beheadings of Western hostages in Syria has been identified, according to news reports.

The man, Alexanda Kotey, 32, is thought to be half Ghanaian and half Cypriot. He was part of the group nicknamed the Beatles, led by the Islamic States most infamous executioner, Mohammed Emwazi, better known as Jihadi John. Mr. Emwazi was killed in an American airstrike in November.

American officials could not be immediately reached to confirm the reports, which were published on Sunday by The Washington Post and BuzzFeed. A spokeswoman for Britains Home Office said she could neither confirm nor deny the reports.

The group is believed to have killed the American journalists James Foley and Steven J. Sotloff, and their beheadings were captured on videos in which Mr. Emwazi was seen reading a statement criticizing President Obama and the American military operation against the Islamic State in Iraq. The captors also beheaded the American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, previously known as Peter, as well as two Britons and a Japanese hostage.
After he ended the phone call an hour before midnight, Orange County sheriffs Lt. Dave Sawyer walked out into the darkness and considered the ordeal ahead.

His heart sank for the public, the department, his fellow deputies. Sawyer had handled escapes from the countys main jail before. But this was the worst. By far.

Not just one but three men were on the run and were believed especially dangerous. One was jailed in connection with a gang killing. Another was charged with attempted murder. The third was accused of torture.

Making matters worse, the escapees had a 15-hour head start before anyone knew they were gone. By now it was 11 p.m., Jan. 22, and this was catch-up time.

Regardless of how many men and and women in uniform joined the manhunt, Sawyer knew it would be like crawling up a hill of sand, constantly slipping backward while fighting to get ahead.

You know whats going to happen. Its very personal, embarrassing, Sawyer says. Its a heavy weight from the start.

Before all of the escapees would be captured, it would take eight days, thousands of man-hours, more than two-dozen agencies, 80 search warrants, some luck, critical help from civilians and a task force that would reach 300 law enforcement personnel.

Veteran deputies who were involved in trying to catch cop-killer Christopher Dorner two years ago say the search-and-capture was the most massive, technical, intense, complex, high-pressure effort they ever experienced.

The jail isnt just a division within the Sheriffs Department. It is woven into the tapestry of each deputys career. Sworn officers start in the jail, and every time they are promoted they return for a jail stint. For more than a week, the worst fear was that the escapees would hurt someone or worse.

Even a week after the men were caught, the strain is palpable during a series of interviews with more than a dozen key members of the task force, ranging from an emergency management civilian to Sheriffs Department captains.

Our discussions were especially tough because deputies feel that in a way the 15-hour gap was on everyones watch, the escape was on everyones watch.

Thursday night, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said the department was initiating an internal administrative investigation into the circumstances of the escape, unaccounted for maximum security inmates and inmate count procedures.

Still, the task forces stories bring to mind things like honor, commitment, service.

LOGISTICS

Sgt. Vanessa Anderson grew up in Irvine, went to University High, graduated from Cal State Fullerton. After college and the police academy, she became a cop in Arizona. But by the millennium, she returned to Orange County after accepting a job with the Sheriffs Department.

Just as she always does when facing a 4:30 a.m. shift start, Anderson went to bed early  before guards knew about the breakouts. When she arrived at work the next morning, she instantly knew the days ahead would be like nothing she ever experienced. But she didnt realize how different.

To soothe her soul, to support her uniformed brothers and sisters, she worked consecutive 16-hour shifts. She arrived at work in darkness. She left in darkness.

Her mother cared for Andersons 9- and 13-year-old daughters, helped keep house, did the laundry, bought groceries. But Grandma couldnt replace a mothers touch when it came to washing her youngest daughters hair, a practice the girl clings to and loves.

Known for her chops as an investigator and also for her organizational skills, Anderson was promoted to sergeant nine months ago. She arrived in charge of the intake and release center. In a flash, Sawyer told Anderson he needed her to coordinate all the surveillance teams.

By the end of that first Saturday, Anderson orchestrated more than a dozen teams. Four days later, she was conductor for more than 20 teams and 150 officers.

Her communication tools with field investigators included radios, cellphones, Internet chat rooms. Chat rooms? Anderson declines to reveal specifics. She allows only that the secure chat rooms were nothing like Facebook.

Later that Saturday, investigators got their first break. They found Loc Ba Nguyen, who is accused of picking up the escapees outside the jail. Sgt. Andy Stephens and his team followed up the interview by tracking down another person with information, then another and another.

Simultaneously, investigators sifted through phone records, set up witness protection for the ex-wife of one of the escapees, fanned out to interview gang members they believed one of the escapees associated with.

The week was so fluid, Stephens recalls.

But little by little, the work started to pay off.

TECHNOLOGY

On the first day in the command center at sheriffs headquarters, there was one white board with ever-changing notations. By midweek, three white boards  one for each escapee covered an entire wall.

U.S. marshals, FBI personnel and deputies moved into newly installed desks. As the days dragged on, desks multiplied across the floor of the command center. Laptops, big screens, special hotlines, touch-screens kept the team up to date round-the-clock.

With wires snaking every which way but loose, emergency management tech expert Raymond Cheung kept the constantly-running machines from breaking down.

Day and night, investigators pored over hundreds of hours of security video recordings, dozens of phone records. Then they got their second big break.

They discovered one of the escapees made 13 phone calls to a Los Angeles number. The number belonged to a man who was trying to sell a white utility van on Craigslist  and reported it was stolen during a test drive.

OPERATIONS

The plan wasnt simply to track down the escapees. The strategy was to keep pressure on, force them to move, flush them out.

Early on, the task force split into two major investigations with real-time communication. One team focused on how the men made their way through a labyrinth of tunnels and, hand-over-hand, lowered themselves from the jail roof to the ground. The other investigation focused on finding the men.

Lieutenants gathered behind closed doors in Sawyers office to sort out tactics. Often, the debate was heated. Should they keep secret the vans make and model so the escapees wouldnt switch vehicles? Should they tell the public and multiply eyes on the street a millionfold?

In the end, the decision was unanimous. Media and the public would be an asset.

Emergency management expert Ethan Brown oversaw thousands of phone calls. More than 400 produced leads solid enough to pursue.

With two of the escapees, Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong, connected to Little Saigon, the department by midweek decided to enlist the help of the Vietnamese community. Hutchens walked the streets of Little Saigon and went on local television asking for help. Deputies leaned on gang members with promises that any and all parole and probation violations would be followed up.

Still, the toughest pressure was the pressure deputies put on themselves.

You ask whats working, whats not working? Lt. Bill Baker says. Every night you go to bed thinking about it for hours.

Crediting pressure from the Vietnamese community, investigators got the biggest break late Friday morning, Jan. 29. At a Santa Ana auto shop, Duong turned himself in.

The celebration at the command center lasted three minutes. Then, investigators rushed to interview Duong. Without disclosing details, investigators say it went well.

Hours later, through undisclosed sources, investigators determined the van was in Northern California. With assistance from dozens of local officers, two teams of 10 sheriffs investigators hit the streets in San Jose and Fresno.

NO WINNERS

The next morning, Jan. 30, Brown staffed the telephone hotline. A woman identified herself as the San Francisco police public information officer and said that both remaining escapees, Tieu and Hossein Nayeri, had been captured.

Task force leader Capt. Stu Greenberg verified the call. Pandemonium broke out in the command center. Cheering, yelling, clapping.

But the celebration was less a victory dance than a reflection of relief about having the escapees back in custody.

Sawyer walked over to the jail. He faced a gathering of young deputies that reminded him of himself several decades ago. He thought to himself, theyre stressed-out kids. He felt bad.

The lieutenant told the guards, Im proud of you.

Reflecting back, Sawyer shares, It says deputy sheriff on all our badges.

Contact the writer: dwhiting@ocregister.com
In a sharp rebuke, a federal judge on Friday issued a preliminary injunction ordering abortion opponents not to release videotapes they had secretly made at meetings of abortion providers, adding that the opponents claims that such organizations were illegally selling fetal tissue were baseless.

In the ruling, Judge William H. Orrick of U.S. District Court in San Francisco also brushed aside claims by the abortion opponents that their use of fraudulent documents and violations of confidentially agreements to infiltrate meetings of abortion providers were protected because they were journalists involved in what they described as an undercover investigation.

The ruling marked the second major setback in recent weeks for the anti-abortion group, the Center for Medical Progress.

Late last month, the centers director, David Daleiden, and an associate, Sandra S. Merritt, were indicted by a grand jury in the Houston area on criminal felony charges of tampering with a government record  specifically, creating phony California drivers licenses. Daleiden was also charged with trying to buy human organs, a misdemeanor. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The little-known group leapt into headlines last summer when it released videotapes claiming to show officials of Planned Parenthood discussing how they profited from sales of fetal tissue. The disclosures set off investigations into Planned Parenthood and political efforts to cut off the groups funding. Planned Parenthood insisted it had not broken any laws and said that the abortion opponents had edited the tapes to create false impressions.

In July, soon after the first tapes were publicized, a group that represents Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, the National Abortion Federation, sued the Center for Medical Progress, Daleiden, and others in federal court in San Francisco.

The organization accused Daleiden and his colleagues of illegally gaining entry to its national meetings by falsely posing as executives of a company that procured fetal tissue. In the process, they also signed confidentiality agreements, agreeing not to divulge anything about the meetings, a practice that the federation said it adopted to protect participants from harassment by anti-abortion groups.

Orrick initially issued a temporary restraining order barring the group from releasing videos, transcripts or other material from the meetings pending his review of the legal issues involved. On Friday, he issued a preliminary injunction ordering the group not to release any material.

In his ruling, Orrick said that his review of hundreds of hours of videotape that was secretly shot by the Center for Medical Progress at meetings of abortion providers found no evidence that any of them had violated the law.

No one admitted to engaging in, agreed to engage in, or expressed interest in engaging in potentially illegal sale of fetal tissue for profit, he wrote.

Lawyers for the Center for Medical Progress argued in the case that the First Amendment protected the group because its members were informing the public about abortion providers  a defense that Daleiden has also raised against the recent criminal charges.

But Orrick said that the desire of the National Abortion Federation to have its members protected from unwarranted harassment by abortion opponents was paramount. And he questioned whether Daleiden and his colleagues were involved in journalism.

He wrote that the groups projects thus far have not been pieces of journalistic integrity, but misleadingly edited videos and unfounded assertions.
LOS ANGELES  Crews have begun demolishing a downtown Los Angeles bridge that played a supporting role in many Hollywood chase scenes.

Mary Nemick of the city Public Works Department says giant jackhammers reduced 220 feet of the roadway to rubble as of Saturday morning. Theyre now working on bringing down three massive support columns.

A stretch of U.S. 101 is closed through Sunday afternoon to accommodate the work. Laurie Wonder of Caltrans says delays of 15 to 25 minutes are reported on other freeways but many drivers seemed to have heeded warnings to stay away from the area.

The 84-year-old bridge has appeared in many movies, including Grease and Terminator 2.

Eventually, the entire 3,500-foot bridge will be replaced by a new roadway, which should open in 2019.
A plan to increase the number of immigrant detainees housed at the Santa Ana city jail was rejected by the City Council on Tuesday, after considerable public opposition. The pushback against the detention of individuals whose only wrongdoing was migrating without the proper paperwork is a positive development.

What makes it positive is that the city is moving away from a policy of doing the dirty work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and caging people who mostly dont need to be  all because the city needs money to pay down the debts it still owes on the jails construction.

While it was clear Santa Ana has done only the bare minimum in interacting with members of the public over whether or not their city should be engaged in this arrangement, what was on the agenda before the council was a recommendation to the partnership.

Before the council was a proposal to increase space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender detainees and increase the maximum number of detainees at the jail from 200 to 300. The city still owes about $27 million in debt payments, and the deal would have brought it a little over $2 million.

We would be in a better position, long-term, to repay our debts, City Manager David Cavazos told the council, a fairly straightforward conclusion from a financial perspective.

But as was made clear by the dozens of activists who packed the meeting, human dignity has to be considered as well.

We urge the council not to increase the fear in this community by increasing immigration detention bed space and deepening this very misguided relationship with ICE, said Christina Fialho, co-executive director of Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement.

Last week, Fialho filed a complaint over the treatment of immigrant women in the city jail on behalf of 31 women alleging invasive, degrading and arbitrary strip searches by jail staff. The complaint is disturbing, but unfortunately is just the most recent with regard to the treatment of women in the jail over the past several years.

Other speakers at the council meeting, like Valley High School teacher Benjamin Vazquez, called on the council to end the relationship with ICE, arguing it goes against the idea of community policing and distorts the dynamics of the city. Others noted the strange optics of a heavily Latino city, and government, working with ICE against the immigrant community.

The council clearly heeded the message and unanimously approved a motion by Councilwoman Michele Martinez to reject the extension and to ask the city manager to look at the phasing out of the ICE contract. I do not support the expansion of ICE here in Santa Ana, she said. I will not support a continuance. I would implore my colleagues to have the courage and stand up for whats right.

Her colleagues largely vocalized support for such a move. Councilman David Benavidez tried to introduce some nuance into the discussion, suggesting that since immigrants will be detained somewhere, it might be possible for Santa Ana to detain immigrants in a particularly humane, respectful manner. While that is certainly possible  in theory  it is a difficult idea to endorse, if only because the true discussion that needs to be had, not only in Santa Ana, is the extent to which immigration detention is necessary. The main roadblock to real, substantive discussions on this is that there is certainly a lot of money in caging people. And while it seems to be dying down, the country is just a few months removed from a Trump-induced nativist fervor.

Still, in the interest of and respect for the individual, it is important that communities think carefully about whether they want to be a part of a fundamentally flawed system.
In October 2011, a gunman walked into the crowded hair salon in Seal Beach where his ex-wife worked and opened fire, killing eight in the largest mass murder in Orange County history. The resulting trial, which would proceed over the next four years  and counting  would blow wide open a secretive and controversial jail informant program.

The handling of that program, and the web of cases that would become entangled in it, would have far-reaching consequences for law and order in Orange County. In recent months, the Register reported, prosecutors have dropped charges or reduced penalties in at least five murder and attempted-murder cases in the fallout from the snitch controversy.

In one case, gang member Eric Ortiz, convicted of murder, was granted a retrial after four sheriffs deputies invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and declined to testify over jailhouse informants. Meanwhile, in another high-profile case, that of double murderer Daniel Wozniak, the use of informants was in part responsible for five years of delays culminating in a guilty verdict and death sentence only last month.

Then, to add fuel to the fire, three inmates at Orange County Central Mens Jail escaped last month after cutting through half-inch steel bars, burrowing into plumbing tunnels and rappelling to the ground from the jails roof with a rope made of bed sheets. It took 16 hours before anyone realized they were gone.

The massive week-long manhunt only came to an end after one escapee turned himself in, and the other two were captured in San Francisco after citizens spotted a van the escapees stole.

Adding insult to injury, at the exact same time the escapees were being hunted, the Orange County sheriffs deputies union attempted to conceal from the public details of its contract negotiations with the county Board of Supervisors; the union had been pushing for a 6 percent raise.

Any one of the aforementioned actions alone is troublesome; combined, they signal tumult, if not outright crisis.

Orange Countys justice system needs reform. Scandals inside courtrooms and jail cells threaten to tarnish one of the most fundamental lynchpins of democratic governance  the rule of law  and further besmirch the reputations of the law enforcement agencies in our community and beyond.

Editors note: In the coming weeks the Registers Editorial Board will further investigate these issues and others, meet with leaders in public safety and offer reform recommendations.
As the national debt barrels toward $19 trillion ($153,000 per household), the Democrats solution is to make the rich pay for it. Sounds great, but what do presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders really mean when they call for an end to income inequality by making the rich cover their fair share of the federal income tax?

One of their plans is to raise the tax rate for long-term, capital-gains income, which is the profit an investor makes on the sale of an asset held for more than one year. The current rate most investors pay is 23.8 percent. Clinton wants to increase the top rate to 47.4 percent, while Sanders would bump it to 60 percent, the highest in history, according to Ryan Ellis, a leading Washington, D.C., tax expert.

By comparison, the current top tax bracket for ordinary income is 39.6 percent. In case the two presidential contenders havent noticed, the economy is already anemic, thanks to seven years of the Obama administration. Their proposed rate increases could have a disastrous effect on investments, which fuel the growth of American companies.

Clinton has pointed out that many rich people, namely investment managers for private equity, real estate and venture capital funds, pay a lower tax rate (capital gains) than teachers and nurses. This sounds absurdly unfair. But is it? Not really. Teachers and nurses receive salaries, based on the hours they work. Investment fund managers are compensated with a share of the profits (called carried interest), only if their decisions result in profits.

Their jobs require financial expertise, vision and sweat equity. They, along with their investor partners, are taking a risk, which potentially benefits the economy. In return, any profit is taxed at the lower capital-gains rate, which has been around since the tax code was enacted in 1913.

The purpose is not to line the pockets of the rich, but rather to reward visionary investors (including investment managers who work for private equity funds), thus ensuring the flow of capital to businesses seeking to grow and create jobs. In 2013, private equity firms owned 17,000 U.S. companies employing about 7.5 million people, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Private equity primarily partners with charities, universities and pension funds. The California Public Employees Retirement System, CalPERS, the nations largest public employees pension fund, uses private equity to invest $28.7 billion (10 percent) of its funds. Ironically, its members include some teachers and other educators, as well.

Over the past 20 years, private equity has been CalPERS top performer, returning more than 12 percent annually. By comparison, the total annual CalPERS return averaged 7.2 percent during the same period.

When Clinton and Sanders say the system is rigged in favor of the wealthy, they are simply hiding behind the fact that most people dont know anything about the beneficial investments made by private equity (and other) funds.

They would fix Americas economic malaise by increasing tax rates for investors and investment experts to historic highs. This plan betrays an alarming ignorance of American enterprise, which has created the most prosperous country in history. It is nothing more than income redistribution, which one would expect from an avowed socialist like Sanders, but not a supposed mainstream Democrat like Clinton.

Dave Bergs book, Behind the Curtain: An Insiders View of Jay Lenos Tonight Show, showcases his 18 years as co-producer for Jay Leno. He lives in Los Angeles.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  President Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to Haiti as he departed office Sunday with no successor yet chosen because a runoff election was scrapped last month amid violent protests and deep suspicions about vote rigging.

In a nearly 20-minute speech before a joint session of Parliament, Martelly said his biggest regret is that the presidential election was postponed. Addressing the Haitian people, he said he worked night and day to improve the country and was ready to answer before the court of history.

Martelly, who took office in May 2011, is departing on what was scheduled as the first day of Port-au-Princes annual three-day Carnival celebration. However, authorities called off Sundays festivities because of a tense atmosphere amid the political uncertainty.

Lawmakers are beginning a process to patch together a short-term interim government to smooth political divisions and fill the void left by Martellys departure. Prime Minister Evans Paul remains in office for now, awaiting a provisional president to be chosen by Parliament in the coming days.

Haiti last created a transitional government in 2004. That interim administration, which lasted for two years, took power in the chaotic days after President Jean Bertrand-Aristide was ousted by a rebellion and a U.N. peacekeeping force came to stabilize the country.

This time, with quarrelling factions again throwing Haiti into an electoral and constitutional crisis, a last-minute deal was forged by Martelly and lawmakers less than 24 hours before his scheduled departure from office. A special mission from the 35-nation Organization of American States was in Haiti to observe last weeks negotiations and help foster dialogue.

The deal announced Saturday says an interim government will rule until an elected leader can take office May 14. The twice postponed presidential and legislative runoff is rescheduled for April 24.

Martelly expressed satisfaction with the agreement, saying lawmakers gave me a guarantee that the country is going to be stable and I can leave office in peace.

He handed over his presidential sash after his address and embraced many of the 23 senators and 86 deputies at the speech in the National Assembly. The senators wore black suits and hats while the deputies wore white. Seven legislators were absent.

Senate President Jocelerme Privert said Parliament will accept nominations for a provisional president over the next five days. Legislators are expected to vote for a leader of the caretaker government a couple of days after the nomination period ends.

Some opposition lawmakers disagree with the accord reached by Martelly and legislators, but Privert said they will have to accept the majoritys decision. This is the democratic way, he said.

About 100 government supporters gathered outside Parliament wearing pink T-shirts emblazoned with the words: I am Martelly. Pink is the color of his Tet Kale political faction.

Martelly greeted his supporters and waved from a car before his convoy sped off.

It was not immediately clear what his immediate plans were. The pop star-turned-president repeatedly said he wanted to depart office singing on a Carnival float under his pop singer stage name, Sweet Micky. But another anti-government protest disrupted life in downtown Port-au-Prince on Sunday and some Carnival stands were destroyed.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Marco Rubio headed into the latest Republican debate ready for an onslaught of attacks about his experience and readiness for the White House, while a trio of his rivals sought a breakout performance before Tuesdays New Hampshire primary  an election critical to their presidential hopes.

Donald Trump also was rejoining his competitors in the debate arena Saturday night after having skipped the previous faceoff in Iowa. He finished second in the Iowa caucuses and has spent the past week complaining bitterly about the result.

While Iowa shook Trumps grip on the Republican field, he has led New Hampshire preference polls for months and the state is still seen as his to lose in Tuesdays voting. However, Rubio appears to be gaining steam following his stronger-than-expected third-place finish in Iowa, drawing big crowds across New Hampshire  as well as a flurry of criticism from other contenders who say the first-term Florida senator lacks accomplishments.

Hes a great guy, but hes not a leader, said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has repeatedly derided Rubio as a bubble boy whose staff protects him from having to answer tough questions about his record and what he would do as president.

Bush, Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have largely staked their presidential hopes on New Hampshire. Those falling short of a standout finish in New Hampshire will face party pressure to quit the race, particularly if Rubio has another strong night.

Bush in particular has struggled in many of the previous GOP debates. While many of his rivals spent Saturday huddled in debate preparations, Bush spoke to an overflow crowd in Bedford, where he thanked people for asking substantive questions.

The questions on the debate stage will probably be really stupid, he said. Im not very optimistic.

Rubio and the trio of current and former governors are fighting to emerge as the more mainstream alternative to Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the fiery conservative who won Iowa. Cruz is so loathed by GOP leaders that some have openly said they would rather see Trump win the nomination despite his inflammatory comments and sometimes erratic behavior.

For Cruz, New Hampshire is less of a natural fit than Iowa, where he had strong support from the states many evangelical voters. Still, he sees an opportunity for a strong showing that could send him into the coming Southern primaries in a commanding position.

The Republican field was for months a large and unwieldly collection of candidates seeking to put the party back in the White House for the first time in eight years. But the pack has already started to narrow following the Iowa caucuses, with Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum all ending their campaigns.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is fighting to avoid joining that group. After a disappointing showing in Iowa, he took time off from campaigning and hasnt been a major presence in New Hampshire this week.

With fewer candidates, debate host ABC News scrapped an undercard debate for low-polling hopefuls. But their rules for the main event left businesswoman Carly Fiorina as the only candidate without a spot on stage.

Fiorina, the only Republican woman running for president, has protested her exclusion, and party leaders such as 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney have come to her defense.
AL-RAMTHA, Jordan  When the Syrian refugees first started streaming into this bedraggled border town, Gassim al-Moghrebi was their tireless benefactor, distributing donations of food, money and clothes and sheltering as many as possible in two apartments he owned.

All of Ramtha was just like me, Moghrebi said, describing a goodwill rooted in family ties that spanned the border, and sympathy for the victims of a pitiless war. One man had 10 apartments. He gave them to the Syrians for free.

But now, as Syria witnesses a new escalation of violence, including waves of Russian airstrikes, and as Syrians flee for safety again by the tens of thousands, neighboring countries are increasingly overwhelmed and reluctant to let them in. In many places, that early altruism has hardened into resentment  an ominous turn for those fleeing war.

Desperate Syrians are backed up at the borders of Jordan and Turkey, barred from entering or else just allowed to trickle in. Increasingly, they find escape routes closing.

They have become a nuisance, Moghrebi said.

In Ramtha, the bulging population has set off a competition between locals and the refugees for resources, including housing, water, schools and work. When the border crossing was closed, Moghrebi was forced to shut down his decades-old money exchange business. Instead, he has to rely on the income of his 29-year-old son, the only one of his 10 children who still has a job, he said. Jordan would be better off if the refugees stayed in camps, he added.

The anger has left many Syrians further marginalized during the isolating struggle to survive. Mohamed, a 13-year-old Syrian who now lives in the northern town of Irbid, Jordan, said he did not socialize with the other children on his street and had made only one real friend in Jordan: another Syrian teenager who worked with him at a cleaning fluids factory, making the equivalent of $7 a day.

In his spare time, he said, he watched videos of the Syrian war.

Officials in Jordan, a longtime sanctuary for refugees from the regions wars, now put the number of Syrians there at about 1.4 million. They had been warning for years that the country had reached its limit. Last week, they made even more dire admonitions before a London donor conference on Syria, pushing for more aid while channeling the darkening mood at home.

There have been flashes of popular anger as the economy worsens, including a recent public protest by tomato farmers who destroyed surplus crops they could not sell for several reasons, including the closed borders. Some Jordanian political figures, echoing the discourse of anti-immigrant movements in the West, have tried to link the refugees to rising crime, terrorism or a threat to national identity. But others have blamed the government for mismanaging the crisis and revived longstanding complaints about corruption.

In an interview with BBC News before the London conference, Jordans monarch, King Abdullah II, said that the psyche of the Jordanian people, I think, it has gotten to the boiling point. If the country does not receive significant long-term support, he said, we are going to have to look at things in a different way.

How can we be a contributor to regional stability if we are let down by the international community? he asked.

The appeal, with its vague threat, had the intended effect: More than $10 billion was raised at the London conference, exceeding estimates. The largess was partly driven by the growing alarm in Europe over the number of refugees there and the desire to keep them in border countries.

But despite the ambitious proposals, the international aid is still widely regarded in Jordan as a short-term fix to a much deeper economic problem, as well as an attempt by Western nations to buy Jordans continued forbearance in order to ensure the refugees never reach their own shores.

The government promises to somehow lure new investment, but local and foreign funding are increasingly scarce because of regional turmoil, said Samer Tawil, a former economy minister.

We have five free economic zones, he said. They are not creating jobs. There is hardly an investor there. There are no shipping lines from here to the rest of the world. The Syrian border is closed. The Iraqi border is closed.

How can we find jobs for Syrians, unless we want to open our labor market and treat them as nationals? he asked. In that case, people will fire Jordanians to hire a cheaper Syrian.

Others have made more direct nationalistic appeals to warn about the dangers of the refugees, saying they will upset the already delicate balance in Jordan between so-called East Bank Jordanians and citizens of Palestinian origin. Bassam Btoush, a member of Jordans parliament, said that the government had been too flexible in accommodating the refugees and should have restricted them to camps.

They will settle here and become nationalized, he said, cautioning that such a move would further dilute the privileges of East Bank Jordanians.

Such warnings have put growing pressure on the government, and possibly put the refugees at greater risk, aid workers say.

Mohamed Masalmeh, 70, a Syrian refugee who has been waiting out the war with his family in Ramtha for four years, is barely scraping by, and hardly, it seems, straining the resources of the state. He supports himself, his wife and three granddaughters with the help of United Nations assistance that only just covers the rent.

We thought it would be six months, a year, he said. His granddaughters, whose father was killed in the war, barely know anything about Syria.

He does not intend on staying, as some Jordanians fear. If there is any peace, well go back, he said.
Sudden outbursts of song and dance set against a showy backdrop of lights and colors are the things we think about when someone mentions a classic movie musical. But Jean-Christophe Maillots newest work, Chore, challenges those conventions while still paying tribute to Busby Berkeley, Fred Astaire, Jerome Robbins and other artists from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts will present the U.S. premiere of this ballet by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo that features music by American composers Danny Elfman and John Cage. Maillot affectionately describes this project as his chance to work in a genre that expresses the necessity and love for dance.

I think we have to accept the idea that human beings need to move, to dance, to feel the heartbeat, Maillot said. Moving your body is something that is vital to the human being so thats a bit my ambition for this (ballet).  Its a big one, huh?

Chore, which is translates from French to mean choreography, is Maillots first abstract work in an existing repertoire of successful narrative ballets. He said that while he is known for the more traditional story ballets, its not for lack of wanting to create abstract work. He admits that while it is more difficult to sell, the abstracted form interests him because of its ability to redirect focus from story to the dance itself.

Of course there would be no story in the sense that there are no roles or names of people that you follow, but it can provoke feeling and emotion that cannot always be explained. It can provoke something in your heart or in your stomach that touches you, Maillot said. Maybe thats the beauty of watching a landscape sometimes. Its just beautiful to watch the sea, the sunrise. Can you explain that? No, but you know that you feel good when you watch it.

Rather than a through line that moves the story over a narrative arc, Chore is divided into different sections that each revolve around a theme or idea. The ballet begins with a duet by shadowy figures reminiscent of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and then moves through scenes that reference world events that occurred between 1929 and 1960, such as the Hiroshima bombing.

When all is said and done, Maillot aims to illuminate a section of dance history while also positing the question of what dance will become in the future.

The five sections tell in a way not the story of dance, but at least my story of dance, said Maillot. Narrative ballet, abstract ballet, theatrical work and maybe also just the rational way of dancing that you can have when you go to a nightclub at night because that dancing is also valuable.

Describing the final act as a tribute to those people who are dancing in their bathroom, just being free, Maillot looks forward to sharing Chore with a new audience and hearing their feedback.

Maillot is anxious to know how an American audience will react to his reverent departure from the American musical that, although doesnt include tap dancing or a romantically comedic storyline, still brings enjoyment through evocations of a lively dance era.

We have some perfumes from that time, there is a taste of nostalgia in it maybe that attracts some people, said Maillot.

But more than anything, Maillot hopes Americas introduction to Chore inspires conversation.

Its nice to imagine that we still can have some moment where one can discover maybe a way of thinking or way of considering things differently, said Maillot, who thinks people will be attracted to the premise of ballet about the Hollywood musicals. I think we are dying a little bit of not thinking enough lately, so I think its not bad if we can provoke that. Come because you probably will enjoy, and once youre there maybe you also will think a little bit.

Contact the writer: 714-796-6026 or kwright@ocregister.com
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  For North Koreas propaganda machine, the long-range rocket launch Sunday carved a glorious trail of fascinating vapor through the clear blue sky. For South Koreas president, and other world leaders, it was a banned test of dangerous ballistic missile technology and yet another intolerable provocation.

The U.N. Security Council responded at an emergency meeting Sunday by issuing a statement strongly condemning the rocket launch and pledging to expeditiously adopt a new resolution with significant new sanctions.

The rocket was launched from North Koreas west coast only two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning, its path tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea. No damage from debris was reported.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The launch follows North Koreas widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider the rocket launch a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions.

The U.N. Security Council held a closed-door emergency meeting at the request of the U.S. and Japan. The statement approved by all 15 council members underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle contribute to North Koreas development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons. It stressed that using ballistic missile technology is a violation of four Security Council resolutions dating back to 2006.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the Norths ultimate goal of a nuclear armed missile that could hit the U.S. mainland. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kims government. Diplomats are also pushing to tighten U.N. sanctions because of the Norths Jan. 6 nuclear test.

In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defense Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile defense system in South Korea. North Korea has long decried the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and Beijing would see a South Korean deployment of THAAD, which is one of the worlds most advanced missile defense systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

In a statement, North Koreas National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, praised the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star. Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rockets first stage fell off North Koreas west coast at 9:32 a.m., and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

The U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying that it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory, but that it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japanese broadcaster NHK showed video of an object visible in the skies from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. South Koreas Yonhap news agency later backed away, without elaborating, from a report that said the rocket might have failed.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an intolerable provocation. She said the Norths efforts to advance its missile capabilities were all about maintaining the regime in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people. U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the Norths missile and nuclear weapons programs a serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies.

The Foreign Ministry in China, the Norths only major ally and its protector in the U.N. Security Council, where Beijing wields veto power, expressed regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies. A statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the rocket launch, calling on the North Korean leadership to think about whether the policy of opposing the entire international community is serving the interests of the country.

South Korean opposition lawmaker Shin Kyung-min, who attended a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service following Sundays launch, said the NIS believes that the rockets payload satellite was about twice as heavy as the 100-kilogram (220-pound) satellite it launched in 2012. The NIS estimates that if the rocket would have been used as a missile, it would have had a potential range of about 5,500 kilometers (3,417 miles), Shin said.

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the Norths four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

If North Korea has only nuclear weapons, thats not that intimidating. If they have only rockets, thats not that intimidating, either. But if they have both of them, that means they can attack any target on Earth. So it becomes a global issue, said Kwon Sejin, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

In 2013, North Korea conducted a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons. It has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation.

The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The Norths recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Koreas nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.



Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Yuri Kageyama and Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Lolita Baldor in Washington; Louise Watt in Beijing; and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
After more than two years of conflict over wages, working conditions and patient safety, 150 registered nurses at Kindred Hospital Westminster, a 109-bed acute care facility, ratified a collective bargaining agreement this week.

The union contract, negotiated by the California Nurses Association, provides for a 10 percent wage hike over three years, a ban on mandatory overtime, guaranteed meal and rest breaks, and training to reduce patient falls and nurse injuries.

The agreement was the latest victory for the California Nurses Association, one of the nations fastest growing unions, with 96,000 members statewide.

In Orange County, the union represents 4,000 registered nurses at six hospitals, including UC Irvine Medical Center, Chapman Global Medical Center, Anaheim Global Medical Center, South Coast Global Medical Center, Los Alamitos Medical Center and Kindred.

The union is currently organizing at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, St. Joseph Hospital of Orange and St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton.

Kindred is owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare Inc., one of the nations largest operators of nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities.

Nurses at the Westminster facility voted for the union in December 2013 but negotiations had dragged on. The nurses staged a one-day strike last September, citing chronically short staffing, inadequate meal and rest breaks, and a high turnover rate, with experienced nurses quitting due to poor working conditions.

Winning this first contract has strengthened our ability to provide the highest quality care, said Kindred nurse Clarissa Bing Cruz, in a statement released by the union. Our nurses know we can move forward, better equipped to advocate for our patients.

In an email, Kindreds California Chief Operating Officer Brooke Saunders said, We highly value our employees, our direct relationship with them, and the excellent care they provide to our patients. We respect our employees and are pleased we reached an agreement.

Last month, the parent company agreed to pay $125 million to settle federal charges that it knowingly caus[ed] skilled nursing facilities to submit false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy services that were not reasonable, necessary and skilled, or that never occurred, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the DOJ, Kindreds RehabCare unit set unrealistic financial goals and scheduled therapy to achieve the highest reimbursement level, regardless of the clinical needs of its patients. The unit contracts with more than 1,000 nursing homes in 44 states to provide rehabilitation therapy.

The nurses union has been in the forefront of efforts to achieve better patient care. It drew national attention in 2005 in a battle with then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over his decision to suspend new state rules to limit the number of patients a nurse must care for.

At a Long Beach conference, the nurses provoked Schwarzenegger by unfurling a banner that read HANDS OFF OUR RATIOS  a brash reference to allegations of female groping by Schwarzenegger during his gubernatorial campaign.

Schwarzenegger responded, They are the special interests  I am always kicking their butts.

The union then ran full-page newspaper ads accusing him of kowtowing to the hospital lobby. The headline: Kicking butt or kissing up?

The nurse-to-patient ratios, the first in the nation, were eventually restored.

Contact the writer: mroosevelt@ocregister.com; Twitter @MargotRoosevelt
LOS ANGELES  With bright sunshine, warm temperatures and a deep blue sky, Friday was the kind of Southern California day made for just about anything. For Mary Falstrom, a longtime pilot, that meant flying.

She told her husband where she was headed, and that was the last he saw of her. Hours later came news that authorities believe two small planes collided in the skies off San Pedro, just outside Los Angeles Harbor.

A massive search was launched and some debris from a plane carrying two men was quickly found. But there was no sign of Falstrom or her plane.

The Coast Guard suspended the active search for survivors Saturday but sheriffs divers were in the water Sunday as part of the ongoing recovery effort. Richard Falstrom believes his wife died doing something that gave her great joy.

She loved flying. It was a passion, he told The Associated Press.

His wife was a member of The Ninety-Nines, Inc., an international organization of women pilots, and he said she volunteered at the Western Museum of Flight at Torrance Airport, from which she and the other plane took off Friday.

Authorities have not released any identities, saying only that a plane piloted by a 72-year-old woman was seen on radar colliding with a craft carrying men ages 61 and 81.

The plane carrying the men was a Beech 35 Bonanza and the second was a Citabria, said Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Falstrom said his wife flew a Super Decathlon, an aerobatic plane by the same maker of the Citabria.

On Friday, divers found wreckage and a pilots logbook from the Beechcraft, Coast Guard Capt. Jennifer Williams said. Falstrom said a Coast Guard representative told him crews found part of the tail number of his wifes plane.

Williams said both pilots were experienced and all three people lived in the area.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department was using sonar and remotely operated underwater vehicles to search the area where debris and oil were spotted Friday. Capt. Jack Ewell of the sheriffs Special Operations Bureau said the planes could have gone down in different areas or the ocean currents could have moved debris miles away.

The crash site was near the Angels Gate light, a lighthouse at the San Pedro Breakwater that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The area is popular for flight students.
The most interesting question this year for political junkies is who  if anyone  can rebuild Ronald Reagans electoral coalition. Plenty of candidates would like to do it, and plenty of them want to convince America right now that theyre already doing it. But the key group of voters who could make that happen are up for grabs  and theyre skeptical.

The big cultural story of the year, its now clear, is how elites and intellectuals now abruptly admit that downwardly mobile middle-class whites, especially men, have become an important constituency and a political problem. As we know, wrote R.R. Reno in a New York Times op-ed, the rich are now quite a bit richer. In itself, this need not disrupt the old political consensus. More decisive is the fact that the white middle class is in decline, both economically and culturally.

Reno is convinced, with reason, that politics cannot adequately bear the burden of restoring the white middle class to a place of well-being. But on the campaign trail, the political upshot is inescapable: Rebuilding the Reagan coalition depends on capturing these voters decisively. And Republicans  whatever their deep disagreements  are united in their conviction that without inheriting Reagans key constituency, their path to the White House is a rocky one.

Thats why Marco Rubio has pivoted away from his dovelike position on immigration reform  and toward a mix of Christian earnestness, foreign-policy bombast and economic optimism. But Rubio, for all his finesse, has not broken out to a big lead with beleaguered white voters. They are not the Moral Majoritarians of yesteryear, who were always cut from a different cloth than Reagan the cosmopolitan actor-cowboy.

Nor are they adventuresome interventionists; Reagan drew electoral strength from uneasy white voters more desirous of beating the commies than policing the world.

Finally, and perhaps more importantly, distressed middle-class whites have a hard time buying into the idea that upward mobility is theirs for the taking if only they put in the effort. For one, they believe the system has been rigged by elites who have pulled up the ladders on them.

Whats more, many of them feel as if they are already maxed out on the effort front. Lacking net worth, lacking job security, often lacking strong, peaceful and orderly families, theyre more interested in a kind of national greatness that can break their fall than one that keeps offering them a leg up.

Put it all together, and its no surprise that Ted Cruz is making headway where Rubio has yet to hit a home run. Cruz won Iowa as an insurgent true-believer conservative who wont give in to elites who think they can run the world and the economy well enough to make populism irrelevant. And, no surprise, he explicitly invoked Reagan as proof that he knows exactly what hes doing.

Do you want to know what scares the Washington cartel? He asked his supporters. What scares them is you. What scares them is that the old Reagan coalition is coming back together.

Cruz has publicly sounded the theme for months. In December, he told Breitbart News  a rallying point for distressed whites  that if conservatives continue to unite, we win. So that will remain our focus, bringing together conservatives to coalesce and reassemble that old Reagan coalition.

Last March, he spelled out the whole plan to the site. I believe we need to reassemble the Reagan Coalition, he said, to unite conservatives and libertarians and Evangelicals and women and young people and Hispanics and Reagan Democrats to build a grass-roots army of courageous conservatives[.]

But for all his Babe Ruth-like intentionality, pointing to the place where he plans to hit his home run, Cruz still hasnt delivered. In Iowa, he squeaked past the Reaganesque elephant in the room. In New Hampshire, Cruz is miles behind him. That candidate is the personification of the Reagan 1980s and the cocky-yet-dogged prosperity that todays America seems so divorced from: Donald Trump.

While Ted Cruz is far more comfortable in his skin than he looks, Trump, like Reagan, is so comfortable in his own skin he discomforts his competition. And, obviously, the comparison is more than skin deep. Although Trump is no Reagan, hes currently working the strongest play to reconstitute the Reagan coalition without any misty-eyed nostalgia for its past incarnation. Its hard for Cruz to effectively claim that only he can reunite the Reagan coalition when its Trump whos landed endorsements from Sarah Palin and Scott Brown alike  and ranked first among Republicans in partisan crossover appeal.

Although Beltway wags have joked that Palin and Brown are has-been peas in a pod, theyre representatives of two very different slices of the distressed white demographic  and the 21st-century Reagan coalition requires them both. Broadly, you could say that Palin represents disillusioned Western whites  rural and suburban types  while Brown tees up their Eastern cousins, old-line blue-collar types in cities and small-but-hardly-remote towns.

Trump has a long way to go to make good on the conceptual promise established by his big twin endorsements, but Palin herself put his fundamental appeal best. Sure, she explained, hes a billionaire. But because he roots for us, we root for him. No other candidate in the field has that kind of cross-class goodwill.

On the other hand, the good news for Trumps competitors is that a little Trumpism might go a long way. Rubio, for instance, owes his surprise success in Iowa to his willingness to toughen up his presentation and back off the establishment flavor while other mainstream candidates have doubled down on it. Cruz climbed to the top of the heap by cozying up as closely to Trump as he could; the question for Republicans now is whether they can bring back the Reagan coalition without disappearing into his shadow  or Trumps.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador  Salvadoran police have arrested four former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests in the Central American country, officials said Saturday. Five of the priests were Spanish and their killings sparked international outrage.

El Salvadors national police force said in a Twitter post that the four ex-soldiers were arrested at the behest of Interpol in an operation that began Friday night.

They were identified as Col. Guillermo Alfredo Benavides Moreno and soldiers Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, Angel Perez Vasquez and Tomas Zarpate Castillo.

Its up to El Salvadors Supreme Court to rule on the extraditions.

On Friday in North Carolina, a U.S. judge cleared the way for a former Salvadoran colonel to be extradited to face charges in Spain in the case.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kimberly Swank ordered that U.S. Marshals take custody of Inocente Orlando Montano Morales so he can be turned over to Spain, pending final approval by State Department. The step is largely seen as a formality because lawyers for the diplomatic agency already reviewed the case before turning it over to federal prosecutors.

Montano, 73, has denied involvement in the killings.

Court documents say that early on the morning of Nov. 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran military killed the six priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at a university in the countrys capital. The priests had been calling for discussions to end the fighting, with one of them serving as an intermediary between the government and a leftist group.

The killings helped erode U.S. support for the right-wing Salvadoran government.

While two officers served short sentences in El Salvador, Montano and other high-level officials were never charged by authorities there in the priests killings.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  (AP)

Former NAACP President Ben Jealous says Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has the best record and platform for black Americans.

Campaigning for Sanders in South Carolina on Saturday, Jealous called the Vermont senator a movement candidate.

Jealous said Sanders opponent, Hillary Clinton, offers a public career that is complicated and contradictory.

He said Clintons continued support of the death penalty, her Wall Street relationships and her vote for the Iraq invasion of 2003 each violated Martin Luther King Jr.s standard of judging politicians on their fight against racism, militarism and greed.

The daughter of Eric Garner, a black man who died in 2014 after a white New York police officer put him in a choke hold, is also campaigning on behalf of Sanders in South Carolina.

Erica Garner, a burgeoning civil rights advocate since her fathers death, said Saturday she wants voters to give Sanders a second look because of his ideas to overhaul the criminal justice system, combat institutional racism and expand economic opportunity.

Polls suggest Clinton leads Sanders by a wide margin ahead of the Feb. 27 primary here. The gap comes largely from Clintons overwhelming advantage among black voters.

Clinton says Americas history is about rising and knocking down barriers and shes asking New Hampshire voters to bring both their heads and their hearts to Tuesdays primary.

Clinton is trailing in the states primary against Sanders and is asking voters to take another look at her campaign.

Clinton was introduced by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker in Concord Saturday. He quoted from Maya Angelous poem Still I Rise. Clinton played off that mantra and told voters that we will rise once again to more prosperity.

She says voters arent asking for much but a president who knows what it feels like.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a special appeal to female voters. Albright says theres a special place in hell for women who dont help each other.

Sanders is expressing confidence about his chances in Tuesdays New Hampshire primary.

The Vermont senator addressed a crowded rally in Rindge, New Hampshire, Saturday.

He notes that Clinton won the state in 2008, but says hes confident hes going to win if we can bring out a decent vote Tuesday. Sanders leads Clinton in state polls.

Sanders offered his plans for political revolution to the enthusiastic room, including single-payer health care, free tuition at public universities and Wall Street reforms.

He says that the eyes of the world will know that the country is about to move in a new direction.
Kevin Jennings begins his class on cultural identity for African-American boys with a daily affirmation: I am focused. I am ready to learn. Lets turn up!

The subject is how society sees black men, and the lens is the Matrix, a metaphor borrowed from the sci-fi film. Students identify the negative cultural stereotypes and expectations for black men and boys  what the Matrix wants you to think  that wreak havoc on a youngsters self-image.

The Matrix is there to mess you up, Rahsaan Smith, a live wire of a 13-year-old, pipes in. Its a very, very dark world, but you cant be afraid to be a source of light.

Jennings class, at the Montera Middle School in Oakland, California, is part of a novel and ambitious initiative by the Oakland Unified School District to rewrite the pernicious script of racial inequality, underachievement and lack of opportunity for African-American boys.

The full-credit elective, Mastering Our Cultural Identity: African American Male Image (commonly referred to as the Manhood Development Program), is now in the daily curriculum at 20 schools throughout the district, tailored to age appropriateness for third- to 12th-graders.

While lower grades focus on the stories, legacies and images of black people, high school students take a deep dive into African-American history and culture, from ancient civilizations to the civil rights movement to contemporary media. All classes are taught by black male instructors whose own experiences and perspectives provide a multidimensional understanding of the students they mentor (in Oakland, as elsewhere, more than half the teachers are white and most are women).

Manhood Development is the flagship program of the Office of African American Male Achievement, the countrys first department within a public school district that specifically addresses the needs of its most vulnerable children: black boys, who have stubbornly remained at the bottom of nearly every academic indicator, including high school graduation rates in most states, according to the Schott Foundation for Public Education.

Begun unofficially five years ago, the office kicked into high gear in 2012. That is when the district signed an agreement with the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights to improve outcomes following an investigation into grossly disproportionate suspension rates of black males  42 percent annually, though they made up only 17 percent of the school population. A majority were for willful defiance, nonviolent infractions like texting in class or using profanity with a teacher.

When black children do what children do, the system reacts more harshly, said Christopher P. Chatmon, executive director of the Office of African American Male Achievement and its turbo-powered guiding force. The No. 1 strategy to reduce discipline issues is engaged instruction. In Manhood Development, he added, were talking about how to elevate their game academically through the lens of brotherhood.

In a city with a legacy of black political activism  where the unarmed Oscar Grant was fatally shot by a police officer in 2009 at the Fruitvale BART station and (hash)blacklivesmatter was germinated  the initiative begins with the premise that the words black male and achievement go together and that a college degree can be a part of their future. The philosophy might be encapsulated in a greeting scribbled on a whiteboard at Oakland High School: Welcome Kings!  the somewhat grandiose title a shorthand for holding oneself to a high standard and being responsible for others.

Think of it as (hash)blackmindsmatter.

The mission of the Office of African American Male Achievement is to support all of Oaklands black male students, which it strives to do through a variety of initiatives, including peer mentoring, a student leadership council and conferences that bring together role models and students  a sort of uber school assembly that has the cacophonous energy of a revivalist meeting.

In addition, two Afrocentric core courses have just been introduced  in English language arts and history  that meet the strict prerequisites for the University of California. And a career academy is in the works at Oakland High called the Khepera Pathway, which will steep African-American male students in entrepreneurship, social innovation and civic engagement, with help from a $750,000 grant from Google.

While the programs are too young to be assessed, in the last two years chronic absenteeism and suspensions have dropped for black males in the district (come July, defiance will no longer be a suspension infraction). Last year, more than half the 52 students who started Manhood Development classes as freshmen  the first graduating class  headed off to college with scholarships from the local nonprofit East Bay College Fund.

Perhaps most encouraging is the African American Male Achievements honor roll for black students, male and female, with grade-point averages of 3.0 or above  an accomplishment celebrated every year at a raucous event attended by thousands at a gospel church. The percentage of young men on the roll has risen from 16 percent to 25 percent over the past three years.

Each school day, Rahsaan Smith travels the citys vast economic, social and psychic divide, leaving the flatlands of East Oakland, synonymous with violence, for a middle school perched on a steep hill fragrant with eucalyptus. He is one of the few boys in Jennings class with both a dad and a mom at home.

Compared to a white child born in the Oakland Hills, a black child born in East Oakland is 21 times as likely to be poor and a third as likely to be reading at grade level in the fourth grade, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department.

In a survey of 250 boys in Manhood Development classes, Vajra Watson, director of research and policy for equity at the University of California, Davis, found that half of middle school students had seen someone shot; by 10th grade, two-thirds had.

More than anything, it is the deep relationships between instructors and students, many of whom grow up with no male figure at home, that hold the key to ending the soul-numbing disenfranchisement that so many young men experience at school. Teachers will often stop by to ask Manhood Development instructors for insights about particular students.

You have to have your hand on their pulse, said Earnest Jenkins III, who teaches the class at Oakland High, one of the citys most diverse schools.

Jenkins has seen it all  crack epidemic grandbabies, homeless students, the student who sells snacks at school as the familys only breadwinner, the parent who tells her son to go out and sell this weed to pay the bills. And worst of all, the trauma that nobody cares.

You have to erase eight or nine years of low or no expectations, Jenkins said. You have to make them un-believe what theyve been taught to believe.

Shawn A. Ginwright, a professor of education in the Africana studies department at San Francisco State University, noted that in cities like Oakland, what shows up in the classroom is often the disinvestment outside of it. Profound, meaningful relationships with teachers help students develop a sense of agency, he said. Young people are not going to school just to accumulate skill sets but also to broaden the vision for their lives.

That vision was nonexistent when Chatmon was in elementary school in South San Francisco in the early 1970s. The teachers didnt know what to do with my spirited energy, he recalled. In third grade, he was deemed so disruptive that the teacher moved his desk into the coat closet for two months, frequently shutting the door. In high school, he was told he didnt have what it takes to get into college (he attended San Francisco State) and probably wouldnt graduate (he would go on to earn a masters degree in education from Brown).

He vowed that, one day, he would be the best teacher ever to boys like himself rather than being undercut, demeaned and made to feel not smart.

Chatmons background includes a stint as the principal of an alternative high school for formerly incarcerated and truant youth. The father of three sons, he radiates a sense of urgency beneath his signature Kangol caps.

Our role is not to say, I caught you, he said. Its to ask, What is our moral imperative and how does it show up in the education of our children?

Lamar Hancock, an instructor at Oakland Technical, the citys highest-ranking public high school, tries to retrieve the spark hidden within recalcitrant young men.

I see students with passion burning in their brains whose parents are not academic, he said. Theyre looking for some kind of influence.

He stands outside the door of Room 141, shaking hands with each student as he enters class  a soft handshake or a lack of eye contact is a tip-off to something awry.

Some teachers dont take you seriously when you raise your hand, said Morris Jackson, a junior who is active in the Black Student Union and tutors at a local elementary school. They think youre just another ghetto black.

Not so in Hancocks class. What drew me was the unity of African-American men, Jackson said. When we disagree, we disagree respectfully. Coming to this class makes you want to stay and do better.

A recent class discussion ricocheted from Marcus Garvey to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., James Brown and X-Men comics and a vocabulary lesson set to a jazz standard by Wayne Shorter. On business excellence Thursdays, students dress the part.

Manhood Development students are typically an academic mix, including high achievers and those needing extra help. Some sign up for a class year after year; some move on and then come back.

Rickey Jackson, now a senior, almost failed his freshman year, burrowing into the school basement instead of attending class. At the time, his mother was in and out of the hospital with cancer.

I gave up, so to speak, he said.

Rickey Jackson and his siblings lived on their own, and when their mother died at age 57, Rickey Jackson called Hancock, who helped him make up nearly a year of school. He now has a 3.6 GPA and recently went on an airplane for the first time to visit colleges. So far, he has gotten into six historically black colleges and universities, which reviewed his transcripts at a college fair and rendered an on-site decision.

My goal for Rickey was to hear the words I got accepted, Hancock said.

Manhood Development strives to create a scaffold of resilience with a flotilla of black male professionals and college advisers who mentor high school students. It also organizes field trips to local colleges and universities.

Once a week, fellows with the UC Berkeley Destination College Advising Corps advise the classes. A recent session for Hancocks juniors and seniors took creative license with Jeopardy!

One category: Myths About Blacks in Education.

For $100: There are more black men where than in prison? Answer: College.

Work to elevate young African-American males is being done not just in Oakland but also in cities around the country. The Minneapolis Public Schools recently established its own Office of Black Male Student Achievement with a curriculum developed with the University of Minnesota. Last year, New York City, the nations largest public school system, announced plans to hire 1,000 black, Latino and Asian male teachers (black men make up just 2 percent of the nations teaching force).

Some of the most heralded models are all-boys schools. Among them: Urban Prep Academies, a Chicago charter school with an all-black student body that famously boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate. The school day on its three campuses runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., not counting time for required extracurriculars, and students wear jackets and ties. (Its not for everyone: The school loses about a third of enrollees.)

The District of Columbia Public Schools is working with Urban Preps founder and CEO, Tim King, to develop a similar all-boys school as part of its $20 million Empowering Males of Color initiative. As in Oakland, the secret sauce is high expectations and paying close attention, King said.

While admiring these efforts, some educators see potential pitfalls. Theyve done a lot to boost the self-esteem of these kids, said Pedro Noguera, a professor of education at the University of California, Los Angeles. But he added: What you dont want is for the other teachers to say, I dont have to worry about these students because the other instructor is taking care of it. Noguera would like to see a rigorous evaluation of the program. Understanding components that seem to be working would be beneficial to other districts grappling with equity issues, he said.

Being embedded in a district also means students may still encounter what some researchers call the soft bigotry of low expectations.

There has to be a focus on the cultural competence of white female teachers who work with black boys, said Shaun R. Harper, a professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Theres not enough focus on, dare I say, remediating schoolteachers to effectively teach diverse students.

To Shawn Dove, head of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, a national leadership network, the new programs are a result of Americas unfinished business, centuries old. When you start to shift the culture, climate and language of an entire school district, you begin seeing changes, he said. But it takes time. Its not Jack-in-the-beanstalk work.

At Montera Middle School, Jennings encourages his students to set goals for themselves, whether its straight As or simply handing in their assignments on time. He frequently tells his students that success is addicting and enjoins them: Speak loud and proud!

He writes their names on the board when they do something positive, instead of the other way around. He watches his young charges change not just academically, but their character  what they believe about themselves and what they want people to know about them.

Anthony Johnson, an Oakland Tech senior, recently won the Confidence Award at a national event for black men in Louisville, Kentucky. His goal is to be a pediatric nurse.

This is proof that what they teach us is not a myth, he said. We are the ones who are going to set the bar.
NEW YORK  New York is taking steps to stop therapists from trying to change young peoples sexual orientation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday, joining a number of states that have acted against whats known as gay conversion therapy.

The Democratic governors move, announced Saturday, comes as gay rights advocates have campaigned state by state with mixed results to try to ban a practice that major mental health organizations have repudiated.

Using executive power in a state where legislative bids to ban the therapy have stalled, Cuomo announced planned regulations that would bar insurance coverage for the therapy for minors and prohibit mental health facilities under state Office of Mental Health jurisdiction from offering it to minors.

Conversion therapy is a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice that punishes people for simply being who they are, Cuomo said in a statement.

Its unclear how prevalent the practice is in New York. Cuomos office didnt immediately respond to inquiries Saturday; nor did a handful of New York mental health organizations. A spokeswoman for the New York Health Plan Association, an insurers group, was unsure.

The planned regulation quickly raised a question for the association: Would the insurer have to investigate whether any given mental health visit was for conversion therapy or would the onus be on providers to attest that it wasnt?

Thats something that we think needs to be made clear, spokeswoman Leslie Moran said.

Nationwide, there are no firm figures on the extent of conversion therapy. But proponents and critics have said it is not rare for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths to undergo some sort of program aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

The American Psychological Association and other mental health groups say conversion therapy, sometimes called reparative therapy, wrongly treats being gay as a mental illness and may make young people feel ashamed, anxious and depressed.

Democratic President Barack Obamas administration called last year for an end to the practice. The White House had been petitioned after the suicide of a transgender teen who left behind writings mentioning religious therapy.

Chad Griffin, president of the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, commended Cuomos action.

No young person should be coerced or subjected to this dangerous so-called therapy, Griffin said in a statement.

But supporters of the therapy say prohibiting it limits treatment options and undermines religious liberty.

If you ban this, youre saying to people of faith who might have unwanted sexual feelings, Sorry, we cant help you, Jeff Johnston, an issues analyst with the conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, told Colorado lawmakers last year.

California, Oregon, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati have outlawed the practice. But efforts to ban it have fallen short in several other places, including Colorado, Nevada and Iowa.

In New York, a ban has passed the Democrat-controlled state Assembly twice. But it has gotten nowhere in the Republican-led Senate.

The new regulations wouldnt apply to counseling that discusses but doesnt try to change questions of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The global spread of a virus that deforms the wings of honeybees and kills them in droves was caused by humans, new research has found.

According to the study published this week in Science, the problem dates back to the mid-20th Century when Asian honeybees traded widely in the former Soviet Union were introduced to Europe and paired with honeybees there. For centuries, Asian honeybees had learned to fend off a mite that used them as a host while feeding on their blood, but European honeybees did not recognize them as a pest.

The mite compounded a problem that some European honeybee colonies had learned to live with for centuries, a virus that deformed their wings, now known as DMV. Before the introduction of the mite, the virus existed on the body surface of the European honeybees. But the biting mite picked up the virus and injected it into the bees bloodstream, making the problem far worse, said Lena Wilfert, a lecturer at the University of Exeter and the lead author of the study.

When European honeybees were introduced to the Americas and other parts of Asia in subsequent years, a localized endemic in Europe evolved into a global pandemic that led to bee colony collapse disorder and is threatening agriculture that relies on pollinating honeybees to grow food crops.

Making matters worse, honeybees are spreading the virus through their saliva and feces to plants used by other pollinators, such as bumblebees and other solitary bees. DWV has been detected in various insect groups that play dramatically different ecological roles, including insect predators and scavengers, pollinators, and pest species that live inside the colony, according to a Science article that announced the study.

We really see this as a multi-host problem, Wilfert said. Its really up to the beekeepers. When they keep their bees healthy, they also keep the wild pollinators healthy. The virus can be transmitted by a plant indirectly. Mites that leap from bee to bee quickly die when they slip or fall, but the virus can contaminate flowers through pollen, Wilfert said. Bees dont have toilet, so theres fecal transmission and oral transmission.

To better understand how the mites spread the virus, the researchers used molecular sequencing of the virus and mites from 32 locations in 17 countries. By studying how the host behaved in different geographic regions, they determined the major routes of the viruss spread.

The mite is a natural pest called Varroa thats native to Southeast Asia. The virus is a strain that emerged in Europe. Both existed separately as manageable local problems likely for eons. But human trade transformed them into invasive species that are wreaking havoc from the United States to Chile to New Zealand. Massive honeybee die-offs were first detected in the United States in 2006.

People didnt on purpose do this, said Wilfert, who authored her paper with seven colleagues. People dont go to the trouble of sending bee queens to the States for stupid reasons. They do it to get better hives or honey, to get more pollination. Until recently we didnt understand how common it is to spread diseases that way.

But humans wade into complicated ecosystems and disrupt them with little knowledge of how they work. Wilfert said the spread of deformed wing virus is a man-made thing mostly done without evil intent. However, she said, somewhere we have messed up the ecology. We need to be careful with this stuff. The more complex the systems are, the more unpredictable.

The spread of the deformed wing virus fits with a familiar global trade narrative involving animals and disease. There are invasive pythons from Burma destroying native species in the Everglades, invasive Asian stinkbugs laying waste to crops in the Mid-Atlantic, invasive zebra mussels and dozens of species of fish such as the Northern snakehead and Lionfish muscling out native fish in the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay.

Wilfert said her team has moved on to another study of islands around Great Britain and France to compare those where the Varroa mite exists and where they do not to determine how they affect different habitats.

The next step for the honeybee trade is clear, she said. Trade should be thoroughly policed at national ports to keep the problem from worsening.

If there are any mites around, theres no question they shouldnt be traded at all, Wilfert said. In general only trade queen bees. They need to all be screened for known diseases. Something thats perfectly fine in Europe might not be perfectly fine in Chile.
Microsemi, a major chipmaker, has no women among its highest-paid executives. And none on its board of directors.

Until recently, that wasnt an issue. Tech companies convinced ourselves, Oh, there are so few engineering-minded females, says James Peterson, chairman and chief executive of the Aliso Viejo-based corporation. But today in engineering, the best-in-class students are often female.

Now, he acknowledges, I feel guilty there are no females on my board of directors. As I look at the boards of other companies, I think its time.

Businesswomen may be leaning in, or pushing to get ahead, as Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg famously advised them to do. But in Orange County, even more so than in California and the nation at large, theyre only beginning to crack the glass ceiling.

At a time of increased scrutiny of corporate diversity, 9.5 percent of the highest-paid executives at the countys major publicly held companies were women, and women held 10.5 percent of board seats, according to an analysis of their most recent proxy statements by UC Davis School of Management.

Only one of those O.C.-based companies had a female chief executive: Lauralee Martin, CEO of HCP, an Irvine real estate investment trust.

Nine had neither a woman in any of the top positions nor on the boards of directors that oversee operations. Thats a larger proportion ranked zero by UC Davis than the statewide average.

We need to move faster, said Lucy Dunn, president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, which represents large local corporations.

The case for women at the top is compelling. If companies want to be stupid and not have women as a competitive advantage, it is at their own peril.

The UC Davis study examined the states 400 biggest companies by market capitalization  defined as the number of shares multiplied by their price  including 37 in Orange County. Seventeen of these big California companies, or 4.3 percent, had female CEOs, including such high-profile giants as Hewlett-Packard, Yahoo and Sempra Energy.

Ninety-two did not have a single woman among their highest-paid brass or on their boards  including such high-profile consumer brands as Skechers USA in Manhattan Beach, Habit Restaurants in Irvine and Stamps.com in El Segundo.

Southern California has not seen a lot of change in the percentage of women leaders relative to Northern California, said Amanda Kimball, the studys chief researcher. Orange County is toward the bottom of the list.

Microsemi may have begun to scout for a female director  Peterson says he has one in mind.

Russ Bendel, president and CEO of Habit Restaurants, which has 140 eateries in nine states, says his company, too, will be working to become more diverse. We think about it all the time. Over 45 percent of our consumers are women.

Bendel attributed his Irvine chains lack of female leadership to having been a public company only for about a year. So most of our board members are insiders and private equity partners which still own 40 percent of the shares.

Clean Energy Fuels, a Newport Beach company that builds natural gas stations for trucks, is another with no women at the top. Gender diversity is relevant, said President and CEO Andrew Littlefair. People with different backgrounds make for better management.

But he added, When you think about trucking, fuel stations, oil and gas, you can run into women with expertise, like my friend Debbie Reed, CEO of Sempra. But there arent too many.

Similarly, Greg Stapely, president and CEO of CareTrust REIT, based in San Clemente, cited a dearth of female experts in his field.

Women are underrepresented in our industry, he said. It is fairly specialized. You have to understand health care operations as well as real estate.

Nonetheless, a growing number of women executives have the expertise to serve as chief financial officers, often a steppingstone to the top job. Fifty-two of Californias 400 top companies have a female CFO.

Three are in Orange County: at Opus Bank in Irvine; the Ensign Group, a Mission Viejo-based chain of nursing homes and health care companies; and QLogic, an Aliso Viejo-based technology infrastructure company, where CFO Jean Hu is, for the moment, serving her second stint in less than three years as an acting chief executive, after top management upheaval.

The gender gap persists even as a raft of studies show higher shareholder returns, better decision-making and more innovation among companies whose leadership includes women.

In the latest report, MSCI, the global financial analytics firm, found that corporations with a strong female leadership  defined as either three or more female board members, or a female CEO plus a female board member  generate a 10.1 percent return on equity per year, compared with 7.4 percent for those that dont.

In California, UC Davis found that the 25 firms with the highest percentage of female executives and board members had a median return on assets and return on equity at least 74 percent higher than for the 400 companies overall.

UC Davis has analyzed Californias corporate gender diversity for about a decade, and its annual reports show improvement  albeit at a glacial pace.

The lean in movement has highlighted the need to encourage and assist more women to take a seat at the table, said Ann Huff Stevens, dean of UC Davis Graduate School of Management. Corporate leaders need to change their thinking, moving beyond close circles to find talent.

Among top companies statewide, the female proportion of highest-paid executives rose to 10.5 percent in 2015 from 7.8 percent in 2007, the first year those data were collected.

The percentage of women directors grew somewhat faster, to 13.3 percent from 8.8 percent in 2006.

In 2009, CalPERS and CalSTRs, the giant California public pension funds, launched the Diverse Director DataSource, a clearinghouse of qualified director candidates. The database includes 800 profiles, two-thirds of them female.

The two funds are part of the Thirty Percent Coalition, a national group of businesses, investors and nonprofits seeking to boost female board seats in public companies to 30 percent. In the past two years, the California, Massachusetts and Illinois legislatures passed nonbinding resolutions calling on public companies to adopt similar targets.

In California, 36 of the biggest public companies had three or more women directors on their boards, according to the UC Davis study. In Orange County, two did: Ingram Micro, an Irvine-based tech giant, and Kaiser Aluminum, a Foothill Ranch aerospace manufacturer.

The UC Davis report, with a searchable database, lists the states top corporate women by name, offering an easy-to-access Whos Who in the upper echelons of such global powerhouses as Apple, Chevron, Walt Disney, Intel, Visa, Google and Oracle.

And it lays out a road map for consumers who might want to comparison shop based on gender equity. San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma, for instance, ranks No. 1 on the UC Davis list, with more female leaders than any other company: 57 percent.

Wells Fargo, with 41 percent, has more than any other California-based bank, while Irvine-based Banc of California has none.

The proxy statements on which UC Davis bases its tallies are mostly filed in the spring, reporting on leadership in the previous fiscal year. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requires disclosure of the compensation of CEOs, CFOs and the three other most highly paid executives.

Despite the California Legislatures 2013 resolution, the latest UC Davis report shows that only 17.5 percent of the states 400 largest public companies met the resolutions goal of boosting the number of women directors.

By 2016, the resolution declared, California public companies with more than nine members on their boards should have at least three women directors. If a corporate board has five to eight seats, at least two should be held by women. If fewer than five, at least one should be female, the resolution stated.

Women have a different life experience, said Dunn, whose OCBC board includes executives from Experian, the Boeing Co., the Irvine Co. and other local giants. We are major spenders. The demographics with two-income families are clear. The more of us you bring into the boardroom, it will help folks see beyond their same-old, same-old vision.

Dunn added that if Orange County companies think they cant find qualified women, I am ready and available to suggest some.

Contact the writer: mroosevelt@ocregister.com; Twitter @MargotRoosevelt
Hillary Clintons older feminist supporters have a message for young women who are not backing her candidacy: Shame on you.

Women were expected to help power Clinton to the Democratic nomination, but as she struggles to overcome a tough challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders, her support among them has been surprisingly shaky. Young women, in particular, have been drawn to the septuagenarian socialist from Vermont, and the dynamic has disappointed feminists who dreamed of Clintons election as a capstone to the movement.

Two feminist icons of Clintons generation made their frustration known over the weekend, calling on young women who view Sanders as their candidate to essentially grow up and get with the program.

While introducing Clinton at a rally in New Hampshire Saturday, Madeleine Albright, the first female secretary of state, talked about the importance of electing the first female president. In a dig at the revolution that Sanders often speaks of, she said that the first female commander in chief would be a true revolution. And she scolded any woman who felt otherwise.

We can tell our story of how we climbed the ladder, and a lot of you younger women think its done. Its not done, Albright said of the broader fight for womens equality. Theres a special place in hell for women who dont help each other!

Clinton laughed, slowly clapped her hands and took a large sip of her beverage.

In an attempt to explain Clintons struggles with female voters in New Hampshire, Albright said during an NBC interview Saturday that women could be judgmental toward one another and that they occasionally forgot how hard someone like Clinton had to work to get where she is.

Albrights remarks were not the only instance of an older generation of feminist frowning on younger women who do not consider the potential election of Clinton a special moment.

Gloria Steinem, one of the most famous spokeswomen of the feminist movement, took the sentiment a step further Friday in an interview with talk show host Bill Maher. Explaining how women tend to become more active in politics as they become older, she suggested younger women were just backing Sanders so that they could meet young men.

When youre young, youre thinking, Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie, Steinem said.

Realizing that this was potentially offensive, Maher recoiled. Oh. Now if I said that, Theyre for Bernie because thats where the boys are, youd swat me.

But Steinem laughed it off, replying, How well do you know me?

Many female supporters of Sanders took issue with the remarks on social media, and Steinems comments, along with those of Albright, could set off an intense debate within the feminist movement. For many older women, Clinton represents the final and best chance to send one of their own to the White House, while young women think that should not be a decisive factor.

Albright and Steinem trying to undo Feminism with a vengeance today, Guen Page of Republic, Missouri, who described herself as a feminist for Bernie, said on Twitter.

With backlash growing, Steinem issued an apology for her comments Sunday morning.

In a case of talk-show Interruptus, I misspoke on the Bill Maher show recently, and apologize for whats been misinterpreted as implying young women arent serious in their politics, she said in a post on Facebook. Whether they gravitate to Bernie or Hillary, young women are activist and feminist in greater numbers than ever before.

According to a USA Today/Rock the Vote poll, Democratic and independent women ages 18 to 34 prefer Sanders to Clinton, 50 percent to 31 percent.

Even young women who would like to see a female president elected someday do not necessarily want to base their vote on that single factor.

At a rally for Clinton in Iowa in late January, Jaimee and Matthew Warbasse brought their 7-month-old daughter to see the candidate who could become the first female president. Womens rights were so important to them that they named their child Emmeline, after British suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst.

Still, Jaimee Warbasse said she was unsure that she would support Clinton, as she also found Sanders appealing.

What pulls me to Hillary is that shes a woman, and a strong woman at that, she said. But in the end its about who is going to beat the Republicans.
Stuffing ones face with gorditas from Taco Bell and deep dish from Pizza Hut helps fund the Fortune 500s most lavish CEO retirement account, according to a recent analysis that may feed fears of income inequality.

David Novak, erstwhile CEO and now executive chairman of the board for fast-food parent Yum Brands, had just $1.6 million socked away in his retirement account as of 2014, according to the companys public filings. But  thanks to tax code quirks available to top brass but not to Average Joes  he had another $232.6 million stashed in a tax-deferred compensation account, exempt from the annual contribution limits imposed on ordinary 401(k)s.

That put Novaks total nest egg at $234 million, enough to generate a retirement check of $1.3 million per month through his golden years.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of his Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC employees have no company retirement assets whatsoever, according to the Center for Effective Government and the Institute for Policy Studies.

Yum disputes the latter part of that accusation. More on that in a minute.

The center and institute want to end unlimited tax-deferred compensation for corporate executives, cap how much can be stashed in their retirement accounts and instead incentivize a dignified and secure retirement for ordinary Americans.

100 CEOS, $4.9 BILLION

Their study, A Tale of Two Retirements, examined data filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor and found that the 100 largest CEO retirement funds were worth a combined $4.9 billion  equal to the entire retirement savings of more than 116 million Americans.

These massive nest eggs are not the result of CEOs working harder or investing more wisely, the report says. They are the result of rules intentionally tipped to reward those already on the highest rungs of the ladder.

On average, those CEO accounts were worth more than $49.3 million, enough to generate $277,686 monthly retirement checks for each of them, the analysis found.

Its not just a case of pension envy  though there is always that. These tax-deferred nest eggs also cost the U.S. Treasury, allowing the CEOs to save some $78 million on their 2014 tax bills, the analysis found.

There are three main components that help CEOs feather their retirement nests. The least important is the regular employee pension plan (offered at fewer and fewer private employers these days, for workers at any level). The second is the controversial SERP  supplemental executive retirement plan  which has come under fire from shareholders and is falling out of favor.

The most important vehicle, the report said, was the executive tax-deferred compensation plans, similar to a 401(k). Thats where almost half of the wealth lived.

While Average Joes face limits on how much pretax income can go into the 401(k) each year ($18,000 for workers under 50, $24,000 for workers over 50), CEOs and other top executives face no such limits on special deferred compensation plans set up by their companies. Nearly three-quarters of Fortune 500 firms had them for their executives.

These privileged few are free to shelter unlimited amounts of compensation in these special pots, where their money can grow, tax-free, until they retire and start spending it, the report says.

YUM RESPONDS

Novaks ginormous nest egg is essentially the product of longevity, great performance and extremely good luck.

PepsiCo spun off Yum in 1997, and Novak was a senior executive with both companies for a combined 29 years, including 15 as CEO of Yum, said Yum spokesman Jonathan Blum in a prepared statement. The company declined to make Novak available for comment.

Novaks deferred compensation was directly linked to company performance, and it primarily consisted of bonuses he earned and deferred into Yum stock. That stock appreciated more than 800 percent since the PepsiCo spinoff, Blum said.

He chose to defer the majority of his compensation in Yum stock as he believes in the long-term growth of the company, Blum said. He noted that total shareholder returns for Yum were 1,100 percent while Novak was CEO, compared with the S&P 500s 190 percent return.

Yum also said that every company employee in the U.S. is offered a 401(k) that includes a 6 percent, dollar-for-dollar match, with no vesting period and low fees. That puts it among the very best in the industry and competitive to any employer.

Based on data the company provided to the U.S. Department of Labor, 8,828 of Yums U.S. employees had account balances in a 401(k) plan at the end of 2014, with average balances of $70,167, the Tale of Two Retirements analysis found. If converted to an annuity, that would generate about $395 per month.

At the global level, Yum employs 537,000 people, approximately 87 percent of them part-time, according to its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It does not provide country-by-country breakdowns.

HOW WE GOT HERE

This tale of two retirements is the result of good intentions.

In 1993, Congress responded to outrage over CEO pay by capping the deductibility of executive pay at $1 million. That cap, however, didnt apply to stock options and other performance-based pay.

So companies ramped up use of deferred compensation to beef up executive comp without running afoul of pay caps.

Companies began shoveling out huge amounts of stock-based compensation, which bloated paychecks and encouraged CEOs to fixate on short-term stock prices, the report says.

Depending on the employers plan, execs can often defer an unlimited amount of pretax salary or bonus into these accounts.

Such is the joy of trying to reduce CEO salaries, said state Sen. John Moorlach, a certified public accountant. Those running larger companies are always going to look at ways to transfer income from the corporation to those in the executive suite. The goal is to have a corporate deduction and have the funds transferred be tax-deferred.

There were laws on the books prohibiting executives from receiving a better retirement contribution than the rank and file, Moorlach noted; tax attorneys simply drafted techniques to get around them.

If Yums shareholders dont like it, they can raise a stink and/or try to remove its board of directors, Moorlach said. If Yum workers dont like it, they can organize boycotts  which could cost them their jobs, due to declining demand for their products  or work elsewhere. And if consumers dont like it, they can choose to eat someplace else.

Then the CEOs compensation will be adjusted accordingly, Moorlach said.

Contact the writer: tsforza@ocregister.com
TALENTED young Offaly actress Sarah White has landed a leading role as Sinead Moone in a new Irish comedy series which will air on Sky 1.

TALENTED young Offaly actress Sarah White has landed a leading role as Sinead Moone in a new Irish comedy series which will air on Sky 1.

Mountblous native Sarah is 13 years old and has been a student of the Midland Drama School for the past number of years. Sarah made her way through three rounds of a tough audition process before landing the role. Her parents Damien and Marguerite, her sister Emily and her brother Liam are delighted for sarah

Entitled Moone Boy, the six part comedy series is set in Roscommon. It is written by Chris ODowd and Nick Murphy and is being directed by Declan Lowney . Chris ODowd has starred in the popular movie Bridesmaids and TV series The IT Crowd. He will be playing the lead as the imaginery friend of Martin Moone the youngest member of the Moone family.

The series is about a large family in Boyle, Chris ODowds home town, and the first series is set in 1989/1990. The Moone Family live in a cramped house thats far too small for them. Its a loud, lively, chaotic, messy and very typical household where the parents and children are all pursuing very different lifestyles, all pulling in different directions.

Director of Midlands Drama School and Sarahs drama teacher Lorraine Wynne said it was an incredible opportunity for the talented young actor.

Sarah twas chosen after three rounds which was indeed was a challenging and tough audition process. Sarah has achieved first class honours in Drama and Speech and to date she has featured on childrens programmes on RTE 2. She is a very confident young lady, has a fabulous personality and is very focused on her career. She hopes to become as successful as Saoirse Ronan . We are very excited for Sarah as this series will open many doors for her we are very proud indeed.

The six part series is the first ever Irish series on Sky and is due to air over the summer.
A KILCORMAC student scooped a runner up prize in this years Take Me Away schools cookery competition organised by St Angelas College, Sligo.

A KILCORMAC student scooped a runner up prize in this years Take Me Away schools cookery competition organised by St Angelas College, Sligo.

Jordan Harrison, Colaiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac, secured the prize with a recipe for healthy lamb donor kebab with paprika sauce and salad was selected from almost 900 entries in the competition which challenged post primary students to take on their takeaway by cooking at home a healthier, cheaper version of their favourite takeaway dish.

The competition, now in its second year, and is sponsored by Safefood, the body responsible for promoting nutrition and food safety. It is designed to get children thinking about cooking and healthy eating and to give them a creative, fun and practical way put it all into practice. The year, the competition also challenged students on their ability to save money on the cost of the dish.

Congratulating this years entrants, Amanda McCloat, Head of Home Economics at St. Angelas college, said the competition showcased the emerging cooking talents of students across the island and their ability to create delicious take away dishes for themselves, their family and friends. With almost 900 recipes this year, it shows that students have the appetite to create healthier alternatives to take away foods that are tastier, cheaper and can be made without leaving home.

Fiona Gilligan, director, Marketing and Communications Director with Safefood, said they were delighted to sponsor the competition again this year and learning to cook and eat healthily were lifelong skills that can benefit students in many ways. We encourage, not only home economic students but all students to try their hand at this competition and are delighted to see entries coming in from all disciplines.
THERE was good news for an Edenderry family this week with the news that their daughter is to have a full re-trail in Australia where she was convicted of digital rape.

THERE was good news for an Edenderry family this week with the news that their daughter is to have a full re-trail in Australia where she was convicted of digital rape.

Anne Marie OLoughlin from Fann in Edenderry began her appeal against her conviction at the Court of Appeal in Brisbane last month, and received news last week that she had been successful.

She was released on bail last Friday until the re-trial which is scheduled for August 22.

Her delighted father Shay told the Offaly Express that the family were thrilled with the news.

We know that only 8% of appeals are successful. To get a unanimous verdict is brilliant, he said.

Mr OLoughlin said his daughter was in good spirits. She is being very well looked after in Brisbane, he said, saying there was a very active Irish community there. He said the family were very grateful for that. Mr OLoughlin said that his son John, who is working in Australia at the moment, headed straight for Brisbane on Friday when he heard of his sisters release.

He said the family hope to travel to Brisbane for the retrial itself. After hiring a new barrister to represent Anne Marie, Mr OLoughlin said they were now hopeful of a successful outcome.

We are quietly positive she will be cleared, he said.

The 26 year old had been working as a nurse in Australia for the past two and a half years and was due to return to Ireland last December

During a five day trial in Brisbane last December a 12 man jury convicted the Edenderry woman of two counts of digital rape and one of the deprivation of liberty of a woman in the female toilets in the Caxton Hotel in Brisbane on November 29 last year.

Last February prosecutor Chris Minnery called for Ms OLoughlin to be sentenced to three years with release on parole after she served 18 months.

Saying her behaviour was completely out of character Damian Walsh, defending barrister asked for a sentence of nine months.

Legal representation for Ms OLoughlin claimed at her appeal that she had not received a fair trial.

At the Brisbane Court of Appeal Jeff Hunter SC said the judge at the trial has misdirected the dury on the issue of mistaken belief of consent.

The complainants inability to set out how she ended up in the cubicle with a woman she didnt know is a significant matter, Mr Hunter said, highlighting that the victim had never explained the origins of the offence.

He also said the victim had given the police one version and her husband another version of what had happened.

In a case of word versus word a properly instructed jury should have had reservations about consent, said Mr Hunter.

However, Michael Copley, SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, denied that Ms OLoughlin had been disadvantaged by any direction given.

However the Court of Appeal unanimously agreed to the re-trial which will take place in August.
Omaha police are asking for help in identifying four juvenile suspected of vandalizing an officers cruiser Saturday night near 44th and Dodge Streets.

A sergeant noticed about 7:45 p.m. that someone had painted an expletive and "5-O" on the passenger side of her cruiser while she was in the Village Inn restaurant at 4416 Dodge St.

Investigators have posted a picture of the graffiti on the sport utility vehicle as well as photos of the four suspects on the Omaha Police Departments Facebook page.

"We are asking for the publics help to identify and locate these juveniles," a statement on the posting says. "These photos are pretty clear, and we are hoping to identify them soon. Please look at the photos and share them."

Police have been getting reports of other vehicles being vandalized in the same neighborhood. Anyone with information about the people in the photos or knowledge of the vandalism is asked to call the auto theft unit at (402) 444-5600 or CrimeStoppers at 402-444-STOP (7867).

All tips to CrimeStoppers remain anonymous, and you may qualify for a reward from CrimeStoppers if your information leads to an arrest.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com
Delhi air quality projected to cross 301 by Sat; GRAP stage II comes into effect ahead of Diwali

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince to begin India visit on Wednesday

India

oi-PTI

Dubai, Feb 7: The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will visit India this week to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries on "regional and international issues of mutual concern".

Sheikh Mohamed, 54, who is also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will begin his three-day- long visit to India on Wednesday along with a high-profile delegation of ministers, businesspersons and economists, and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.

"While visiting India, Sheikh Mohamed will discuss with senior Indian official ways to strengthen cooperation and friendship between the two countries in the light of continuous coordination and consultations regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern," the UAE's official news agency Wam reported yesterday.

Prime Minister Modi has visited UAE in August last year after a gap of 34 years, marking the beginning of a new and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

During the visit, the oil-rich Gulf nation has announced to enhance its investments in India to USD 75 billion (about Rs 5 lakh crore) including through a dedicated infrastructure fund.

UAE is also the largest Arab investor country in India and accounts for 81.2 per cent of the total Arab investments in the country.

The bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at around USD 60 billion, making the UAE, India's third-largest trading partner for the year 2014-15 after China and the US.

PTI
Court holds writ by Hindu petitioners in Gyanvapi case maintainable: What does this mean

WATCH | Varanasi declared as first ever SCO tourist and cultural capital

Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case: Court asks mosque management to file objections to plea for carbon-dating of 'Shivling'

On camera: Varanasi folks in panic as 'ghost in white' goes for a walk on rooftops

Goa governor Mridula Sinha reveals how her mother tried to 'abort' her

India

oi-Preeti

Varanasi, Feb 7: In India, female foeticide is still prevalent in many parts of India. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha recently threw light on her birth that how her mother wanted to abort her, when she got pregnant at the age of 40.

According to media reports, Sinha made the shocking revelation, while addressing a public rally at Varanasi. Sinha said that how her mother had consumed some pills, in an attempt to abort her, but her father had saved her from being killed before birth.

While praising her father, Sinha said that her father made sure that she gets proper education, to be self-reliant.

While talking about Modi government's "beti bachao, beti padhao" campaign, Sinha stressed that "parivar bachao" should also be added to this slogan.

She also highlighted the need and significance of having grandparents in a family.

73-year-old Sinha is a renowned writer in Hindi literature and she hails from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Sinha accomplished her post graduation in psychology and she was a school principal at a school in Motihari.

She was sworn-in as Goa governor on Aug 25, 2014. Sinha is one of the Swachh Bharat ambassadors appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 15:31 [IST]
'Is this the respect for women?': Mallikarjun Kharge asks PM Modi over release of Bilkis case convict

Government rubbishes Azam Khan's claim of PM Modi, Dawood meet

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 7: Government on Saturday dismissed as "false and baseless" the allegation of senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met underworld don Dawood Ibrahim during his Lahore visit.

"There are some statements alleging that the Prime Minister met Dawood Ibrahim in Lahore at the residence of PM Nawaz Sharif. It is unfounded, baseless and false," an official spokesman said on Saturday reacting to Mr Khan's statement.

While the BJP attacked Mr Khan, even a Congress spokesperson attached no importance to it saying it cannot be believed.

"Prime Minister visited Pakistan by breaking international laws. He also met Dawood there. Let him (Modi) deny. I will give evidence. Who all did he meet behind closed doors?" Mr Khan said.

He said besides Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, his mother, his wife and daughters, Dawood Ibrahim was also present when PM Modi met Sharifs during his surprise visit on Christmas last year.

BJP's Sudhanshu Mittal asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to "immediately" dismiss the minister. "If Akhilesh means business, he should immediately dismiss him for disturbing communal harmony and brining shame to the nation. I am shocked," he said.

Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said Mr Khan has been in public life for a long time and he should not have made the statement without substantiating it.

"We may have differences with a lot of personalities but that does not mean we believe in whatever is said," he said adding that Mr Khan is the same person who asked UP policemen to trace his buffalo.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 9:50 [IST]
Delhi air quality projected to cross 301 by Sat; GRAP stage II comes into effect ahead of Diwali

Sanitation workers seek permanent solution, others call off strike in Delhi

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 7: Refusing to end their stir, the sanitation workers unions today said they will seek a "permanent solution" for their grievances from the court, even as municipal authorities claimed that the strike has been called off by other employees of the civic bodies.

The Delhi High Court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for calling off the strike yesterday, had sought responses of the corporations and the sanitation workers unions in the matter.

"We have gone on strike for the fourth time in last one year because the corporations due to their financial crises have failed to pay our salaries and dues. We will urge the court for a permanent solution of our grievances," said Rajendra Mewati, general secretary of United Front of Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) Employees.

"The municipal corporations lack funds to pay salaries and pending dues of their employees. Even if the strike is called off now, it will take place again as there are no funds with the corporations," said Delhi Pradesh Safai Karmchari Sangh president Moolchand.

"We have got the High Court notice and we will appear before the court to get ourselves heard," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.

Municipal authorities claim that except for sanitation workers, the strike has been called off by other employees of the civic bodies.

"The doctors, nurses and para medical staff had called off their strike last night and now teachers and engineers too have ended it," said Harshdeep Malhotra and Ravinder Gupta, mayors of East and North Delhi Municipal Corporations.

However, the United Front of MCD Employees in a press statement claimed that the strike is still continuing.

"The strike started on January 27 is still continuing and has not been called off till date," said president of the association Rajesh Mishra.

"Some employees of Health and Engineering department have dissociated themselves due to fear or favour but they are not authorised to give any statement or to call off this strike," he said.

The Health Services employees including senior doctors, resident doctors, nurses and para medical staff have communicated their decision to call off strike, said a senior municipal corporation officer.

"The sanitation workers unions have been given notices to appear before the High Court to explain themselves for continuing the strike," he said.

The association of municipal corporation teachers too said that it ended its agitation following payment of salaries.

"We have received our salaries following which we have decided to call off the strike," said Ram Niwas Solanki, general secretary of Nagar Nigam Shikshak Sangh.

The commissioners of two civic bodies have directed the zonal deputy commissioners and heads of department to ensure that their staff performed duties as salaries have been disbursed.

List of the employees not performing their duties will be forwarded by the officials to the Additional Commissioner (Labour) so that it could be submitted before the High Court, officials said.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 10:35 [IST]
Delhi govt to recommend CBI probe, father approaches Irani

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 7: Delhi Government on Sunday said it will recommend a CBI inquiry into the death of a Ryan International School student in view of "shortcomings" in the ongoing probe even as the distraught parents of the 6-year-old sought HRD minister Smriti Irani's intervention.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Delhi government will soon recommend a CBI probe into Devansh Kakora's death, a demand made by the boy's father who had yesterday alleged that the child was sexually assaulted before being done to death and that there were injury marks on his private parts.

"We have decided to recommend a CBI probe into death of Devansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe. "Devansh's parents have levelled serious allegation," Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said.

Separately, the father of the child sent a letter to Irani, seeking her intervention in ensuring handing over of the case to the central agency. A copy of the letter was also sent to Prime Minister's Office.

Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said CBI inquiry should be ordered into the case heeding to the demands of the parents while JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said he supports Delhi Government's decision to recommend handing over of the investigation to the central agency.

Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay said police should probe all possible angles. In the letter to Irani, the parents alleged there was a "conspiracy" behind the incident and demanded action against the school management.

"Devansh's death was too suspicious and the reasons have still not been cleared by school authorities. I am sure about some conspiracy against my child.

"Being a father, I just request you to please try to hand over this case to CBI so that proper investigations can be made in this case, otherwise I know this case would suppressed by the school administration," Devansh's father Ramhit Meena said in the letter.

Meena today met Delhi Women and Child Welfare minister Sandeep Kumar and expressed concern "that police was not properly investigating" the death of of his son, whose body was found in the reservoir under the amphitheatre of the school located in south Delhi on January 30.

"So far the police has only been talking to the school staff and they have not recorded our statements," he said.

A magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi Government into the case said that "deliberate" inaction by the school authorities amounted to "gross criminal negligence" which led to the death of the child.

"Hoping for justice for my child through your cooperation, I also demand action against the school management," Meena said in the letter to Irani.

Meena had yesterday alleged that injury marks were seen on the boy's body including on private parts and that he saw cotton swabs on the child's private parts. He also alleged that the principal of the school has threatened the family to keep quiet over the issue.

However, a senior police officer, handling the probe, had ruled out sexual assault on the basis of the initial post-mortem report and investigation so far. School's principal Sandhya Sabu and four other staff were arrested by the police in the case.

But all of them had got bail earlier this week. The initial postmortem report suggested he died of drowning and no external injuries were found, police had said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the Delhi Police investigation so far in the case, Meena said that he wanted an "independent" enquiry.

"I am demanding an enquiry by the CBI or an independent agency because there are chances that the evidences in the case may be tempered," he said.

PTI
Support ban on women's entry at Sabarimala temple: Kerala in SC

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 7: The Kerala government has told the Supreme Court that banning entry of women of menstrual age in historic Sabarimala temple in the state, is a "matter of religion" and it is duty bound to "protect the right to practice the religion of these devotees".

In an affidavit, the state government said administration of the temple vests with the Travancore Devaswom Board under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act and the decision of the priests is final in the matter of worship.

"In the context of Sabarimala, the administration vests with the Travancore Devaswom Board under the provisions of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950.

"Under the Act, there is a statutory duty cast on the Board to arrange worship in temples in accordance with the usage. Therefore, in matters of religion, it is the opinion of the priests that is final," the affidavit filed by state chief secretary Jiji Thomson said.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana would take up the matter on February 8.

The Congress-led UDF government, while withdrawing the affidavit filed earlier in the apex court by the previous LDF government in November 2007 supporting entry of women into this temple, said, "the restriction on women between the age of 10 and 50 has been prevailing in Sabarimala from time immemorial. This is in keeping with the unique 'pratishta sangalp' or idol concept of the temple."

"The same is an essential and integral part of the right of practice of religion of a devotee and comes under the protective guarantee of the Constitution under Articles 25 and 26 which have been held to contain guarantee for rituals, observances, ceremonies and modes of worship which are an integral part of religion," it said.

Urging the court to dismiss the PIL filed by Indian Young Lawyers' Association, the affidavit said, "the present petition which seeks to change the beliefs and customs of crores of devotees by judicial process is wholly misplaced and liable to be dismissed".

It added that the state government is "duty bound to protect the right to practice the religion of these devotees".

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 9:11 [IST]
VC nominated 17 students to Jamia schools without power: RTI

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 7: In a violation of the university statutes, Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad nominated 17 students for admission to Jamia schools during 2015-16, an RTI query has revealed.

The varsity has admitted there is no resolution or circular empowering the Vice Chancellor to nominate candidates to Jamia schools.

In response to an RTI query filed by Sukhdev Jain, the varsity has said, "For the academic session 2015-16, total number of 980 candidates were admitted in Jamia schools of whom 17 were granted admission on recommendation of the Vice Chancellor".

In the same response, the university has also admitted that "there is no Circular/Order/Memo/Notice or Resolution explicitly empowering the Vice Chancellor, who is the Principal Executive and Academic Officer of the university, to nominate candidates for admission on rolls of Jamia schools".

There are five schools run by the Jamia administration- Jamia Senior Secondary School, Syed Abid Hussain Senior Secondary School (Self-finance), Jamia Girls Senior Secodnary School, Jamia Middle School and Mushir Fatma Nursery School.

The admissions to these schools are made on the basis of performance in a written test and an interview.

The RTI response maintained that the recommendations are "marginal" and have had no impact on the sanctioned strength of admissions.

"Admissions for sanctioned strength of intake of seats in the Jamia Schools is not disturbed by any marginal recommendations by the Vice Chancellor for admission over and above the sanctioned intake in any special exceptional cases," it added.

The university authorities, however, maintained that though there is no official rule, the Vice Chancellor has an "implied" discretion to do so.

"There is an implied discretion that the Vice Chancellor can recommend admissions in exceptional cases vis-a-vis students coming from exceptionally weaker sections of society or first generation learners in pursuit of community development," Jamia spokesperson Mukesh Ranjan said.

The issue of "backdoor entries" to Jamia schools also figures in the allegations raised by Obaid Siddiqui, a Mass Communication professor, in his petition to President Pranab Mukherjee, who is Visitor to the university.

Siddiqui, was suspended last week by the university for the "misconduct" of approaching the President without having articulated his concerns before the varsity administration.

PTI
Delhi air quality projected to cross 301 by Sat; GRAP stage II comes into effect ahead of Diwali

IRCTC update: 140 trains cancelled on October 20; here is the complete list

Partial solar eclipse on Diwali: Can you perform Lakshmi Puja on Oct 25?

Hafiz Saeed's JuD slams Nawaz Sharif for being soft on India

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Feb 7: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has come under attack from Islamist parties and groups supporting militancy in Kashmir that accused him of being soft on India and advocating peace.

The groups led by Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed held a conference outside National Press Club here to mark 'Solidarity Day' with Kashmiris yesterday.

It was Saeed's first major public appearance in the capital after three years, showing defiance towards government.

While taking to task the government, Saeed praised army chief General Raheel Sharif.

"The Prime Minister is bound to follow the path of Quaid-i-Azam (Mohammad Ali Jinnah), Liaquat Ali Khan and the founding fathers. He should not betray the Kashmir cause," Saeed said.

He asked Sharif to own the "Kashmir cause" and praised the United Jihad Council (UJC) which had claimed the Pathankot attack.

"They (UJC) came to the rescue of Pakistan after the Pathankot attack and it is time that we too own the Kashmiris," Saeed said.

He also stated that the army chief was right when he said "Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition".

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman Khalil of Ansarul Ummah, Mian Aslam of Jamaat-i-Islami, Senate Deputy Chairman and central leader of JUI-F Abdul Ghafoor Haidary and a former legal aide of former president general Parvez Musharraf -- Ahmad Raza Kasuri -- also participated in the conference.

Haidary said there could be no peace in the region without resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"Both India and Pakistan are pitching their resources in defence while hundreds and thousands of citizens do not have food and shelter," he said.

Criticising Pakistan, Kasuri said the country had confined the Kashmir cause to a ceremonial day only.

"We need to look ahead and after developing a consensus among political parties there should be a full-fledged assault by Foreign Office against India," he said.

Dawn reported that not only was the conference heavily attended by workers and followers of JuD, it also showcased the high degree of technical advancements made by the group.

JuD security personnel stationed at various positions wore jackets of different colours -- clearly defining their duties.

Last year, only a few rallies were organised to mark the Kashmir Day and JuD held a rally from Zero Point to Aabpara chowk led by its leader Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki who criticised the UN and the US for their indifferent attitude towards alleged Indian human rights violations in Kashmir.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 9:21 [IST]
Delhi air quality projected to cross 301 by Sat; GRAP stage II comes into effect ahead of Diwali

IRCTC update: 140 trains cancelled on October 20; here is the complete list

Partial solar eclipse on Diwali: Can you perform Lakshmi Puja on Oct 25?

Liability pact makes India-US nuclear deal a big deal

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Feb 7: India's ratification of an international convention on nuclear energy accident liability has removed a major irritant in India-US relations and would help them unleash the full potential of the landmark India-US nuclear deal.

The US was quick to welcome the development removing the last hurdle in the way of US firms to build nuclear plants in India and generate an estimated $100 billion in business seven years after the deal was signed with much fanfare.

A deal between Toshiba Corp's Westinghouse Electric to build six nuclear reactors in Gujarat may well be signed in time for a possible visit by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi to Washington to attend the March 31- April 1 nuclear security summit.

Westinghouse is reported to be negotiating with the state-run operator Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) with the hope of making a "commercially significant announcement" during Modi's expected US visit and sign a final contract later in the year.

Another US company GE Hitachi is said to be in talks about the techno-commercial viability of its reactors at sites in Andhra Pradesh.

American firms had been allocated sites in the two states under the nuclear deal signed in October 2008 after the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh staked his government over it.

However, the two US companies were reluctant to go ahead in the face of India's tough 2010 nuclear liability law that made the suppliers of nuclear plants liable for damage in the event of an accident.

Though the deal otherwise transformed India-US relations, Washington was sore that while it had done the heavy lifting to get India a waiver from the

48-nation Nuclear Supplier Group to do nuclear business with other countries, it had been left high and dry.

Finally, it was during President Barack Obama's historic visit to New Delhi last year as chief guest at India's Republic Day that he and Modi reached what was described as a "breakthrough understanding" to allay US concerns about industry liability.

The understanding sought to resolve India's concerns about inspections and US concerns about liability for a nuclear accident with Washington saying India's laws and regulations do not meet international standards.

On the first, with India agreeing on 'administrative arrangements' providing

for tighter checks by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Washington dropped its insistence on 'flagging', or tracking, fuel consignments.

On the issue of liability, the understanding endorsed the principle of strict liability, which 'channels' costs arising from a nuclear accident to the plant operator and requires it to pay no-fault compensation.

To address another issue posed by India's 2010 nuclear liability law that allows a plant operator to seek secondary recourse against a supplier, an India Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) with a liability cap of 15 billion rupees ($222 million) was launched in June 2015.

Now with India agreeing to ratify the IAEA Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), it would also gain access to international funds with risk shared according to how many nuclear plants a country has.

The Feb 4 submission of the instrument of ratification to IAEA in Vienna, according to Indian officials "is the conclusive step in the addressing of issues related to civil nuclear liability in India."

State Department spokesman John Kirby Friday acknowledged that Indian membership in the CSC will "facilitate participation by companies from the United States in the construction of nuclear reactors in India."

And as he noted it will also reduce "India's reliance on carbon-intensive sources, that will benefit the environment, and will offer India greater energy security for its large and growing economy." And that makes it a big deal.

IANS
Kolkata: Class 5 girl's essay on 'My Family' opens a can of worms

Kolkata

oi-Preeti

Kolkata, Feb 7: As a primary school student, most of us remember writing an essay on "My Family", in which children describe about their families.

Similarly, a 10-year-old Class 5th student at a school in Salt Lake in Kolkata was also asked to write an essay on "My Family". Her heart-wrenching words left the teacher astonished.

In the essay, the girl described her family as, "My dad is a bad man. He beats my mother regularly. Mom and I cry every night. No one cares for us. Even our uncles have turned a deaf ear to us. Dad beats me also. This is my family."

"When I will grow up, I will take my mother far away from my dad", the distraught girl further wrote.

The girl's English class teacher, who was left stunned by the content of girl's essay, took the matter to school principal and a counseller.

The school counseller summoned girls' parents to the school and advised them to either live separately or stay with harmony, for the better future of their child.

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2023: Wikes endorsement of Sanwo-Olu, pain in neck for PDP  Lagos APC

Webby - October 19, 2022

By Olasunkanmi AkoniThe All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos chapter has described the endorsement of the incumbent Governor of Lagos State,
After the recent New Hampshire Republican presidential primary debate, just before the New Hampshire Primary, who is the "best of the worst" when it comes to the abysmal set of Republican presidential candidates? Let us take them one-at-a-time and focus on some highlights (or, really, lowlights) of their debate positions, to answer that vital question. In no particular order, but ending with the "just barely tolerable", we have:

Donald the Trumpet -- after claiming in Iowa that he could shoot and murder someone on Fifth Avenue in New York, without losing any supporters, the Trumpet now advocates not just illegal and unconstitutional waterboarding of suspects, but even stronger forms of torture which he refuses to identify. His justification is the horrid atrocities of ISIS such as beheadings, under his "we need to be as despicable as the barbarians are" theory of government. On the other hand, if that hand has not yet been cut off, the Trumpet supports his own form of eminent domain -- not a unit of government taking land for a vital public purpose, but the Trumpet taking an elderly woman's land for a parking lot near his Atlantic City casino. Upon being "booed" by the audience, he said Jeb Bush had bought them all.

Speaking of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who came a bit nearer to having some charisma during the debate but still failed to achieve that minimum requirement, here is a candidate who has little to say himself, instead trotting out his brother, whose failed presidency led to two needless wars and the near-destruction of the American economy, and even his ninety-year-old Mommy. Sorry, Jeb, neither of those worthies can save your campaign, which appears to have little independent message at all. Nor are the vast sums you are spending on paid advertising likely to save it, either. You just don't seem to have what it takes. Two prior Bush presidencies were plenty.

Then there is Dr. Ben Carson, a man of noble sentiments not matched by much real knowledge of the world, or of governing. Even his answer about the major threat posed by viruses such as Ebola and Zika was a bit wishy-washy, even though medical matters, at least, should be within his purview. While the good Dr.'s outrage at the Cruz campaign's leaked story that Carson was quitting the race was well justified, in truth his sudden trip to Florida at the height of the Iowa caucuses was a bit strange, and the voters deserved an explanation, which they never received.

Speaking of the Cruz campaign, Senator Ted Cruz gave an elaborate -- and incomplete -- explanation of why his campaign erred by falsely announcing to their supporters, and the world, that Ben Carson was suspending his campaign. Ted the Unready said they were merely picking up on CNN speculation to that effect -- conveniently omitting that CNN had corrected the speculative report immediately. This might appear minor, did it not emanate from the candidate who tells primary voters that they cannot trust their government, but they can trust him. Judging from the evidence, that appears not to be the case

Then there is Senator Marco Rubio, who seems to have turned into the 2015 version of The Manchurian Candidate, a movie character who is turned into a roboticized assassin. Marco Rubio repeatedly, and ultimately unsuccessfully, tried to assassinate his own candidacy, by his fourfold-repeated mechanical assertion that President Barack Obama actually knows just what he is doing. While many people would consider that to be a compliment -- indeed, a desirable trait in a president -- not so, says Rubio, because everything Barack Obama does is wrong, evil, and bad for America. What would really be bad for America, though, is Marco Rubio -- when a candidates has to reiterate the same tired line over and over again, it usually means that he has little of substance to say. At least one of his sons gave him a "high five"; the electorate is not likely to share that positive sentiment.

Responding to the Rubio Repetitions was Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, always a real work of art, who has ignored the severe weather afflicting his home state in a futile campaign consisting mainly of puffing his past record. While no-one can deny that Chris Christie is the "heavyweight" among the Republican candidates, he has a short fuse and a shorter memory. His short fuse was demonstrated, perhaps appropriately, as he called attention to Marco Rubio's "broken record" attack on President Obama. His shorter memory was demonstrated by his omission of his own pettiness and spite in sanctioning the closure of lanes on the George Washington Bridge to New York to punish a mayor who had failed to endorse Christie, by punishing the residents of the mayor's city, and all those innocent souls traveling across the bridge from other locations. Chris Christie has all the style and grace of a juvenile bully.

That leaves my pick for The Best of The Worst Republican Candidates for President: Governor John Kasich of Ohio, a candidate with a positive and sincere message of bringing America togegther, reaching out to all of us and offering hope of real solutions to real, serious problems. What a breath of fresh air, blowing from John Kasich! Of course, he does not stand much of a chance of winning the Republican nomination for President. That sad reality sort of says it all -- the truth is that ultimately Republican and Tea Party voters will choose their preferred candidate from among the extremists, the distorters, the deniers of reality, the re-writers of history, and even those who advocate torture. 2016 may well mark the end of relevance for the Republican Party -- which is preferable to the end of the American nation.
Reprinted from Reader Supported News

Every pro-Clinton nomination argument contains or is built around the viability argument. Expressed by an inner-child, it goes something like this: "Bernie Sanders should stop causing trouble ... Hillary Clinton is more electable ... If Bernie Sanders doesn't stop it, he will open the door for the Republican nominee."

Or, to quote Clinton digital media strategist Peter Daou, "With Bernie Sanders As Their Nominee, Democrats Can Kiss the Presidency Goodbye."

That is fundamentally dishonest, and patently anti-democratic.

But that's not the most insidious thing about the viability argument. What really makes the viability argument so toxic is that it undermines the all-important ideological debate.

What the viability promulgators are saying, in essence, is you can't afford an ideological debate, you have to hide your political perspective away, because if you don't the Republicans will gain control of the country.

That, folks, is fearmongering at its finest. What a theft, what a denial of the democratic process. The fact of the matter is that both candidates, Clinton and Sanders, are quite viable -- as their polling numbers and the results in Iowa clearly demonstrate.

Now is absolutely the time for a contest of ideas. This is it: this is the moment when the candidates' viability must be put to the crucial and essential test. If one of these two candidates is more viable than the other, let them prove that now. The nominating process is designed, at its core, to be a forum for testing and proving the viability of the candidates and the veracity of their ideas.

If your voice matters, it matters now. If you believe your candidate's ideas are stronger, carry that belief onto the playing field of ideas and accept the outcome with courage. Whatever you do, never allow the democratic process to be subverted.

The Specter of Ralph Nader and 2000

To truly drive the stake of fear into the heart of every Democrat you have only to wheel out the specter of Ralph Nader's 2000 presidential run. Again, as it applies here, a categorically false and dishonest argument.

The truth is that Ralph Nader played a critical role in opening the door for George W. Bush in 2000. Certainly there were other major factors, but Nader absolutely had an impact. That, however, has nothing whatsoever to do with the 2016 Democratic nominating process, and the people dragging Nader out now know it.

Sanders is not running -- and will not run -- a third party campaign. He has been clear, consistent, and direct on that point from the beginning. So the entire Nader campaign comparison dies right there.

If you are looking for a 2016 spoiler, look no further than Wall Street magnate and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg's threat, which is what it really amounts to, is that he will only run if Hillary Clinton does not win the nomination. Again, fear and intimidation as primary instruments of control. Further, Bloomberg's apparent comfort with Clinton reinforces the notion that Clinton is influenced and accepted by Wall Street's financial elite. It's interesting to note that Clinton even went so far as to reassure her "good friend" that it would not be necessary for him to enter the race, because she would beat Sanders herself.

The Safe Bet Is the Democratic Process
Empty Desk.jpg

(Michael Lloyd / The Oregonian / 2013)

Oregon needs a comprehensive plan to reduce the state's high rate of chronic absenteeism, lawmakers on the House Education Committee decided this week.

The fact that Oregon schools do little to intervene despite having 94,000 students miss at least 10 percent of the school year is a huge problem, business and education leaders told the panel on Wednesday. That chronic absenteeism undermines student learning and contributes powerfully to the state's abysmal graduation rate, they said, so it urgently needs to be addressed.

Lawmakers on the committee readily agreed and on Friday approved House Bill 4002, directing the Department of Education to come up with that plan before December. Two Republicans on the nine-member committee voted against the bill, however, citing doubts that the education department is equipped to make a real difference on the ground in schools.

Frequent absenteeism has devastating consequences, an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive found. One Oregon study found that students who miss 10 percent of kindergarten lag, on average, almost a year behind in reading by third grade and are unlikely to ever catch up. Last year, 17 percent of Oregon kindergartners missed that much school. Studies from multiple states show that chronically absent high school students are unlikely to graduate. Yet last year, 24 percent of Oregon high schoolers, some 40,000 students, missed that much school.

The bill requiring Oregon to make a plan to address that problem is now up for consideration by the Joint Ways & Means Committee, which controls the Legislature's purse strings. One of the measure's sponsors, Rep. Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver, is on that committee.

Joe Gallegos is the lead sponsor of a bill requiring the state to take action to reduce chronic absenteeism.

The bill has sponsors from both parties, with Rep. Joe Gallegos, D-Hillsboro, as lead. He said research makes it crystal clear that missing too much school leads directly to students dropping out, and he noted that Oregon has a serious problem on both fronts. Some Oregon schools manage to effectively combat absenteeism, he said, and their methods should be spread.

If his bill is approved, the education department would have to spell out three things:

>> Proven techniques schools should use to curb absenteeism.

>> The method the state will use to identify schools where absenteeism is so bad the state needs to step in.

>> Details about what the state will do to help get student attendance at those schools back on track.

The Oregonian/OregonLive brought the state's terrible chronic absenteeism problem to public attention two years ago with a five-part series, "Empty Desks." That series explored what causes so many students to miss at least 10 percent of the school year. It also highlighted proven practices used in Oregon and elsewhere to get nearly all students to regularly come to school.

The Oregon Business Association, Oregon Stand for Children and the Chalkboard Project all urged lawmakers to require the education department to take action. Chronic absenteeism is a particularly pressing problem in rural Oregon, noted Chalkboard's president, Sue Hildick.

-- Betsy Hammond
glass.JPG

Bullseye Glass on Southeast 21st in Portland

(Steve Duin)

When inventive U.S. Forest Service researchers discovered frightening concentrations of arsenic and cadmium in moss samples from two Portland neighborhoods last May, they wasted no time alerting the state Department of Environmental Quality

You can understand the alarm. Arsenic may cause neurological problems in children, as well as skin and lung cancer. Prolonged exposure to cadmium is brutal on the kidneys and lungs.

As it turns out, DEQ had known these heavy metal carcinogens were fouling our air for years. As the agency's Sarah Armitage told Daniel Forbes at the Portland Mercury, the Department of Environmental Quality had been "hunting" for the cadmium source for three years.

What many families in southeast Portland can't understand is that lack of urgency, a tentativeness that sums up the agency's culture.

They are stunned the Department of Environmental Quality failed for years to isolate these airborne carcinogens in a neighborhood flush with schools, parks and private early childhood learning centers.

They are appalled the agency needed five months to simply deploy an air monitor near the hot spots identified by the Forest Service, and another three months to inform Bullseye Glass that its factory at 3722 Southeast 21st was the main source of the problem.

"I know I'm mad at Bullseye Glass," says Danyelle Prouty, who lives four blocks from the factory, "but who's responsible for monitoring their air quality? I'm mad at whoever is responsible."

Prouty says her neighbors have lamented for years the number of cancer diagnoses in Hosford-Abernethy. She has been diagnosed with Hashimoto's, an autoimmune disease that affects her thyroid.

"You're wondering if there's a correlation," Prouty says. "When you have this disease, everyone says, 'Detoxify your world.' I stopped dyeing my hair. I was always good about organic food.

"But when you're breathing toxic air? What can you do about that?"

On Thursday, Bullseye - an art and architectural glass manufacturer - suspended its use of cadmium and arsenic.

"While the DEQ has not required any action on our part, we decided to take action on our own," Bullseye announced on its Facebook page.

The Department of Environmental Quality has not required action for two reasons:

If the levels of cadmium and arsenic emitted at Bullseye exceeded the agency's safe-air goals by a factor of 200 on several days, DEQ's Marcia Danab reminds us, the company is still "in compliance with its permit."

And that's the case because Oregon has a half-hearted approach to air quality: "Our program is not as strong as Washington or California when it comes to regulating hazardous air pollutants at facilities," Danab acknowledges.

Worse, DEQ tends to safeguard the polluters, not the children at the KinderCare learning center at Fred Meyer's southeast Portland headquarters.

"The DEQ culture is not first about human health. It's polluter first," says Mary Peveto, president of Neighbors for Clean Air. "Their biggest priority is to ensure that the regulated facilities are in compliance."

Even when compliance, with minimal federal standards, threatens Chapman School in 2009 or Winterhaven School in 2015.

This is hardly breaking news, folks. In 2007, I described the agency as "an emasculated, isolated, compromised disaster," and far too little has changed.

The Department of Environmental Quality is still dependent on the industries it regulates, which - when I checked in 2009 - provide 70 percent of its funding.

Watchdog? "It always appeared to me that the DEQ was industry's lap dog," former state Sen. Charlie Ringo, D-Beaverton once told me. "During the '90s, the DEQ was so constantly browbeat by the Republican leadership that it got to acting in a subservient way toward polluting industries."

Recent Democratic governors and Democratic majorities at the Capitol have been content with that. At the end of DEQ's sophomoric 10-year search for "Portland Air Toxics Solutions," the agency couldn't even deliver a battle plan.

"Our intention was to have an action plan to reduce toxics," Danab says. "What we ended up with was a set of priorities. There was no funding to implement any kind of plan."

A plan to clear the air of arsenic or diesel fumes might cost industry a job or two. Our Legislature has decided we can't live with that.

We live, instead, with alarming amounts of toxic metal in the air we breathe. We live with the delusion that DEQ is protecting us, not business as usual.

So it is that at the Children's Creative Learning Center just downwind from Bullseye Glass, the staff is pulling grass from the toxic soil, removing planters, power-washing the center and, for the moment, keeping more than 100 children indoors.

Fifty miles to the south? Your Legislature is telling everyone to suck it up and carry on.

-- Steve Duin

stephen.b.duin@gmail.com
Oscars and black actors: A dreadful creature roams the Earth -- denounced, reviled and blamed for everything displeasing to minorities and women. His name is flung about by screeching tongues, rightly and wrongly, by haters, opportunists and the ignorant. He is "The Abominable White Male."

Certainly among his kind are those deserving of disdain, people we find in every race and gender. But as regards the motion picture industry, let's not forget that much of what exists, including all its opportunities, the fame and money it has generated for so many, and the sundry other attributes for which it is so coveted across the world, came into being through the efforts, creativity and ingenuity of that reviled beast. One must admit, there is an irony in that.

Contrary to frenzied media harping on the hot issue of blacks, the Academy has done a lot about which the black community is silent. What show, unless the subject matter precludes such, hasn't its share of representative minorities? There are exponentially more nonwhites than even 10 or 20 years ago.

Beyond that, many classically white characters have become black: Little Orphan Annie, Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four, Sgt. Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. and many others. The head of the public relations branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, known for its annual Academy Awards, is a black woman. The Academy Awards will be hosted by a black man. Oscar nominations and awards by blacks have steadily and rapidly increased. While prior to 2002 only 33 black actors had been nominated in the major acting categories, 29 have been nominated in just the past 15 years -- an astonishing increase by any measure.

But that just isn't fast enough. What do they want? Affirmative action in the industry? Much has been done to remedy the problem; more is coming. The trend is undeniable. But nominations and an Oscar must be earned for excellence, not for being a black or a white actor -- or an actor of any color.

Michael E. White

Brush Prairie, Washington
Oregonian/OregonLive file photo

Portland Public Schools shortchanges low-income students in classes and class time: Editorial Agenda 2016

Some low-income schools in the Portland Public Schools district dont provide classes designated as part of the core curriculum, while other schools offer significantly less class time, the Oregonian editorial board writes. The disparities reflect a district that has failed some of the most basic elements of providing an education.

'These are problems identified, researched and exposed by volunteers, not by anyone in the school district, which, one might think, should be tracking this kind of information,' the editorial states. 'But no one in Smith's cadre of top administrators, including Antonio Lopez, the head of the office of school performance who previously oversaw some of the schools mentioned above, addressed the deficiencies over the years.' Read the editorial here.

Don't Edit

Photo by Beth Nakamura/Staff

Sheriff Dave Ward, the true patriot in Harney County's spectacle: Editorial

The armed militants who took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and spewed a twisted view of the Constitution arent patriots as they kept claiming to be, writes the editorial board. If you want a true example of public service and standing up for constitutional ideals, look to Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward.

'All told, (Ward) performed a 21-year run of service comprising active duty, the Oregon Army National Guard and the Army Reserves,' the editorial states. 'In-between, he took a job in a mill in Drain but, boxed in by it, took a job as a ranch hand in Lake County, where years later he'd become a corrections deputy. Always he carried with him his churchgoing ways and other values of his upbringing, including respect for the foundations of government, among them the U.S. Constitution.' Read the editorial here.

Don't Edit

Photo by Ian Kullgren/Staff

Oregon doesn't need to revisit its minimum wage: Editorial

Oregon has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, the editorial board notes, and it is tied to increases in the cost-of-living. Yet legislators are weighing a big boost in the minimum wage without concern for the effects of such a hike nor consideration of other measures that could hit businesses.

'If lawmakers were inclined to tell their constituents the unvarnished truth, they'd also explain that this year's minimum-wage debate isn't happening in a vacuum,' the editorial states. 'Far from it, in fact. An 800-pound policy gorilla looms over this year's session in the form of a massive corporate tax hike sought by the state's public employee unions. The fact that Oregonians in November might vote on a $2.5 billion annual tax colors almost everything the Legislature touches this month  including the minimum wage.' Read the editorial here.

Don't Edit

Oregonian/OregonLive file photo

Legislature should extend school-choice law: Editorial Agenda 2016

Legislators should lift the expiration of the open enrollment law that allows students in one public school district to attend a school in another district that has space, the editorial board writes. The law means that families are not locked into a district due to their address.

'By exercising this choice, they don't pull money out of the state's public school system, as they could with, say, a voucher program,' the editorial states. 'Money simply moves, along with students, from one set of public schools to another. At least in principle, meanwhile, such competition within the public-education world rewards districts that provide programs that families want while giving other districts an incentive to improve.' Read the editorial here.

Don't Edit

Photo by The Associated Press

It's not too late for Klamath - not Congress - to manage its water: Editorial Agenda 2016

The failure of Congress to enact a compromise deal for water use in the Klamath Basin might not mean its demise, the editorial board writes. Backers of the deal hope to seek removal of four aging dams, a key component of the agreement, through administrative means rather than going through Congress.

'Conducting an administrative workaround on a reluctant Congress is no cynical action. It's practical and, if joined by the right package of congressionally approved water and habitat agreements  fashioned, again, by folks in Oregon and California  smart. It's called getting it done.' Read the editorial here.

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Public pension grasping continues, even during short legislative session: Editorial

Despite the massive deficit in funding public pension obligations that Oregon faces, a legislative bill looks to increase that burden by bestowing employees at the Oregon State Hospital with the benefits afforded to police officers, the editorial board writes.

'The testimony of hospital employees certainly suggested that their jobs can be stressful and, at times, dangerous. But changing pension law - and further increasing the cost of Oregon's highest-profile taxpayer burden  should require much more than a series of compelling anecdotes from sympathetic people who hold difficult jobs,' the editorial states. 'It should require petitioners to make a rigorous case that the correct policy response to the pressures of their workplace is early retirement on the taxpayer's dime. It certainly would do nothing to improve worker safety.' Read the editorial here.

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Pot-ad ban reversal; a new Cycle Oregon lady ride: Editorial peaks and valleys

Legislation to allow newspapers and others to accept ads for pot marks this week's peaks. The week's valleys include a new women's-only bike ride that promises chocolate and pampering and the admission that for some, early retirement with PERS benefits helps bankroll a second career.

What began as a benefit for those with truly dangerous jobs, in other words, has become a taxpayer-funded launching pad for a wider array of workers to pursue second careers, the editorial valley states. A reasonable person might ask whether public employees with this much gas in the tank need to retire five years early and earn enhanced benefits in the first place.
MidMichigan Health is offering community programs that will provide information on the maturing processes of adolescent males and females. Both seminars will take place in the Towsley Auditorium of MidMichigan Medical Offices - Midland, located on the Medical Center campus in Midland.

During the event, participants will learn key facts about the maturing process by MidMichigan health care professionals who will discuss the physical, emotional and social maturation of the adolescent male and female. The seminars will also include medically accurate, developmentally appropriate information sharing, questions and answers.
Voters go to the polls on March 8 to vote their preference for president.

A presidential primary requires voters to select a Democratic or Republican ballot. Each voters presidential selection will be on file to view for 22 months after the primary. However, the candidate each voter selects will not be made public.

The only exceptions to this are those residents living in Geneva and Mills townships, who both have ballot issues. Those voters may receive a ballot for the ballot issue, but would not be required to vote for a presidential candidate. Voters have until Feb. 8 to register for the primary.

But, after Michigan voters decide who to support for president, how does each party select the one candidate to run during the Nov. 8 general election?

DEMOCRATS

The number of delegates for each presidential candidate will be determined by the presidential primary. To receive delegates, a candidate must receive more than 15 percent of the vote in any given congressional district.

Michigan Democrats choose delegates to the national convention in one of two ways: During a congressional district convention on Saturday, May 21; or, at the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee on Saturday, June 11.

Michigan Democrats will be represented by 148 delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25-28. On May 21, district conventions will choose 85 delegates. June 11 will see 28 at-large delegates and 17 pledged party leaders and elected officials chosen. The other 18 delegates will be chosen by the Democratic National Committee.

Candidates for statewide and district level positions must pledge their support to a candidate. Each presidential campaign will have right of review over all pledged candidates and may choose to approve or disapprove prospective candidates.

There are expected to be 4,784 delegates in Cleveland. Therefore, a candidate must receive 2,383 delegates to win the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

REPUBLICAN

Michigans delegate allotment includes at-large delegates, congressional district delegates and national party representatives. Of Michigans 59 total delegates, 14 are at-large, 42 come from the states 14 congressional districts, and three are national party representatives. The 4th Congressional District, which includes Midland, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella and Saginaw along with nine other counties, will send three delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 18-21.

Because Michigans primary (March 8) falls between March 1-14, the state GOP uses the proportional method of dividing its delegates. This method is based on the results of the primary vote. To be eligible to earn delegates, a candidate must receive a threshold percentage (15 percent) of the vote. However, should a candidate receive over 50 percent of the vote, that candidate would receive all 59 delegates.

A total of 2,472 delegates is expected to convene in Cleveland to choose the GOP nominee, who must earn 1,237 delegates to win the nomination.
Perhaps there is hope for the Republican Party, after all.

The Iowa caucuses were not noteworthy because Ted Cruz won or because Donald Trump came in second. No, what was good to see and provides hope for the GOP is how Marco Rubio did, coming in third, but very close behind both Trump and Cruz.

This is important for a couple of reasons. First, it means when decision time came for Republicans in Iowa, many of them decided to back Rubio, who had been a distant third in polling before the caucuses. Second, in backing Rubio, Iowa voters threw their support behind the one GOP candidate who actually has a chance to win in November.

Let face it, even if you like Ted Cruz or Donald Trump they have little if any chance of winning in the general election. Cruz is too far right, too connected to the tea party movement and the obstructionist government that the nation has endured for the past several years. Voters nationwide are not going to provide Cruz with enough electoral votes to win. And Trump, well, he also appeals to a select audience, one that I hope will keep getting smaller as the Republican Party Convention approaches.

Then theres Rubio, a candidate that is more moderate than Cruz and Trump and more likely to do much better with all the demographics the Republican Party desperately needs to win in November: Women, minorities and younger voters.

As for the remaining candidates in the GOP field, such as retired American neurosurgeon Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and others, their time probably has passed. The New Hampshire vote will likely cement many of their withdrawals from the race.

Meanwhile, recent polling showed Rubio gaining traction in New Hampshire, though Trump still had a comfortable lead. Whether that lasts when people actually have to vote on the candidates remains to be seen.

Surprisingly, a question from an atheist concerned about Rubios Christian faith may have helped give his campaign a needed boost in Iowa. The atheist told Rubio at a town hall meeting that people like him are looking for somebody that will uphold their rights as Americans, and not pander to a certain religious group.

No one is going to force you to believe in God, but no one is going to force me to stop talking about God, Rubio told the man.

He went on to say that the atheist should not be worried that he is a Christian, because his faith teaches him he has an obligation to love his neighbor, to help those who are hungry or naked, to minister to those in prison and to serve others.

Rubio showed a lot of poise and compassion in answering the atheist. He wasnt confrontational, but honest and forthright. And a few days later, he found himself in a close race with the top candidates in Iowa. The more people find out about Rubio, the more momentum he will gain. And, perhaps, the GOP will have a chance when the general election rolls around this year.

Jack Telfer is editor of the Daily News.




The little store could no longer provide for the needs of the settlers, it was time for a town. There was town-building fever in the country in the early 1880s  Broken Bow in 82  Callaway and Gandy in 85  Merna and Anselmo in 86  but unlike her sister villages, platted by townsite companies, Arnold was established by one man, Richard Allen. It was September of 1883 when Allen called County Surveyor Bishop over from Broken Bow to plat six square blocks of his homestead for a townsite to be called Arnold after the post office by that name. His main street he called Walnut for the trees at his home.





Probably there was not much done on the new site that fall. Reports to the County paper told of fifteen inches of snow on the ground by late October and bitterly cold weather. In a November Storm, Oscar Howe was caught between Arnold and North Platte and had to leave his team and wagon and walk home. When he returned, he found the horses dead  frozen to death. The Kilmers, caught in the same storm while on a trip to the Dismal after cedars, lost four of their horses. A party in camp nine miles north lost eleven horses.





After a town is laid out, residents, and at least a few businesses, must be attracted. One way to do this was to give away lots and this Allen did. He offered free lots to those who would come, settle, and go into business. A residence lot would be included. But he was choosy, Only good, honest square-toed men of family are solicited, he wrote.





Another way was to have the new town boosted in an area paper. It is known Allen made several trips to the office of the County Republican in the spring and summer of 84, and from time to time this paper published such items as: Arnold is booming! 180 acres of prairie are broken out, the surrounding hills and valleys are dotted with houses, there are prairie chickens by the thousands and deer abound!





Other articles praising the country appeared  J. W. Brewer, up in Powell canyon, raised eight-pound turnips on ground from which the sod had been stripped for a house  deer were so plentiful Jeremiah Howe had killed two with one shot from the doorway of his house  one settler had already sold a claim for $500  the railroad was coming, maybe before the year was out  Arnold was almost certain to be the county seat of a new county that would be formed when Custer was divided. (Division had first been voted on in 1879, just two years after organization. Other elections on the matter were held in 86, 87, 88, 90, 92, 97, 1909 and 1910. The last division convention was held in 1916, but it did not come to a vote. With the advent of cars and passable roads, agitation ceased and residents became resigned to their giant county.)





Petitions were being circulated for a good road between Arnold and Broken Bow, suitable for teams pulling a loaded wagon. Travelers on this road were assured of food and lodging at the home of Samuel High, the half-way point. Mr. High promised plenty of water for teams from the two cisterns he would keep filled with lagoon water.





Spiritual needs of new townspeople would be met by Elder Correll of the Christian faith, Nathan English of the Methodists and Charles Kilmer of the Winebrenerians





And they came. That spring of 1884, wagons coming up the trail along the Loup carried not only land seekers but those with a vocation  blacksmith, printer, butcher, carpenter, lawyer, merchant, harness maker, doctor.





Building began almost as soon as the snow had melted enough to find the stakes in the buffalo grass.
CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii -- U.S. Department of Defense systems detected and tracked today what we assess was a North Korean missile launch into space at 2:29 p.m. HST. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to the United States or its allies. U.S. Pacific Command's joint military forces remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security in the region. For more information, contact the USPACOM Public Affairs Office at 808-477-1341 or -- U.S. Department of Defense systems detected and tracked today what we assess was a North Korean missile launch into space at 2:29 p.m. HST. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to the United States or its allies. U.S. Pacific Command's joint military forces remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security in the region. For more information, contact the USPACOM Public Affairs Office at 808-477-1341 or publicaffairs.pacom@navy.mil
SPRINGFIELD  Given the deep partisan divisions that have characterized his presidency, it strikes some as odd that Barack Obama is returning to Springfield this week to address the Illinois General Assembly on building "a better politics  one that reflects our better selves."

When the speech, scheduled for Wednesday, was announced late last month, state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, an Okawville Republican who served with Obama throughout his tenure in the Senate, said he doesn't think his former colleague has set a very good example as president.

And while Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner welcomed the visit and highlighted areas of common ground with Obama, he also told reporters, "I don't know who in Washington can look and say, 'Hey, follow our model.' "

But after Obama arrived at the Capitol nearly two decades ago as a political neophyte in the Illinois Senate's minority party, he built a reputation as a lawmaker who could work across the aisle to get things done.

"Mr. Obama was eager to work on legislation," said Kirk Dillard, then a Republican state senator from Hinsdale and now chairman of the Regional Transit Authority in the Chicago area, "so he had to cooperate with Republicans."

Dillard recalls being told not long after Obama arrived in 1997 that the young lawmaker from the South Side was someone he should get to know.

The two ended up serving together on a four-member bipartisan task force assigned to tackle ethics and campaign finance reforms being champion by, among others, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, then head of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University that now bears his name.

Dillard was the Senate sponsor and Obama the co-sponsored of legislation, approved in 1998, that banned lobbyists from giving gifts to lawmakers and enacted new campaign finance disclosure requirements, along with other reforms.

"One of the highlights of my legislative career was, in fact, working rather closely in a bipartisan way on legislation with a man who turned out to be president of the United States," Dillard said.

Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, also was involved in the ethics and campaign finance reform efforts of the late 1990s.

"When you're trying to make those kinds of changes, you've got people on both sides of the aisle that are kind of invested in the status quo," Redfield said.

The reforms they were pushing for required the lawmakers who were leading the effort to work both across the aisle and within their own caucuses, he said.

Redfield noted that Dillard appeared in an Obama campaign commercial during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In the ad, which drew criticism from many within Dillard's party at the time and during later campaigns for governor, he praises Obama for having worked "on some of the deepest issues we had" and being "successful in a bipartisan way."

"It certainly speaks to his ability to build relationships with members of the other party and work on issues," Redfield said.

But not all Republicans were so willing to work with Obama, said Denny Jacobs, a former Democratic state senator from East Moline.

Many in the GOP caucus saw Obama as someone on the rise and tried to get in his way, Jacobs said.

"They really dropped that card on him quite a bit," he said.

From Jacobs' perspective, Obama's strength was not bipartisanship but his ability to stay true to himself.

"Win, lose or draw, he was going to put in what he thought was right," Jacobs said. "And if he got Democrat  he didn't always get all the Democrats, including me  and if he got Democrat and Republican support, so be it. And if he didn't, well, he still fought the good fight."

Obama's speech to the body where he launched his political career comes amid an unprecedented budget standoff between Rauner and the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Although he's been gone just over a decade, it's an "entirely different world," Redfield said.

"I wouldn't expect that this is going to change the nature of Illinois politics overnight," he said. "That's certainly not going to happen.
In 1931, the great Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein had already made three phenomenal filmsStrike, Battleship Potemkin, and Octoberand traveled to Mexico to work on Que Viva Mexico! with the help of Upton Sinclair and his wife. Eisenstein in Guanajuato presents his days in Mexico as the 10 Days that Shook Eisenstein, as he explores his sexual liberation, discovering at the age of 33 that he is in fact gay. Yet Eisenstein in Guanajuato is less of a story of the infamous filmmaker and more a fantasized idealization of what director Peter Greenaway (The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, The Draughtsmans Contract) believes this mysterious time period might have been.

Played by Elmer Back, Eisenstein is a flurry of obnoxious insanity, almost like Roberto Benigni with the overenunciation of Borat and Eraserhead hair. In Eisenstein in Guanajuato, the eponymous character isnt the director who made montage famous or created the fantastic Odessa Steps sequence in Battleship Potemkin; hes the guy who has diarrhea in the street, pukes on his shoes and has entire conversations with his penis, where he describes himself as a boxer for the freedom of cinematic expression.

Eisenstein quickly forgets about making his fourth film, instead embracing his newly discovered homosexuality with his tour guide Palomino Canedo (Luis Alberti). During the films most shocking scene, Canedo pours olive oil over Eisenstein then proceeds to help him lose his anal virginity in graphic detail. Once finished and after having a Russian flag planted in his buttocks, Eisenstein proclaims, I had to come to Mexico to go to heaven.

Greenaway is far more interested in indulging his fantasies over what these 10 days in Eisensteins life might have included, which is mostly allowing Eisenstein and Canedo to ruminate in bed about each others bodies, mostly how Eisenstein is lumpy and more frank discussions with his own penis. Occasionally, Eisenstein tells tales of his days with Robert J. Flaherty, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin, but very quickly we return to Eisenstein jumping in his bed to espouse monologue after monologue about art.

Greenaways direction is filled with as much insanity as his main character, throwing in every stylistic choice at his fingertips; tossed-off symbolism, green screens, shoddy CGI and stream-of-consciousness images are mixed in liberally. Greenaway tries his best to do justice to the grandiosity of Eisensteins films, while also utilizing his own style. But the process only exhausts the audience and adds little to the story. Its visually interesting at times but otherwise empty.

Eisenstein in Guanajuato has Greenaway playing make-believe with one of his favorite directors, espousing fictionalized ideas of what delineated his career and wiping away Eisensteins childishness through a story of discovery. Yet the visual flourishes and overabundant, poorly told metaphors, constant lectures and a third-act character introduction for no other reason than to give some sense of plot to the proceedings make for a frantic, uncoordinated and substance-lacking what if? glimpse at one of the most important early directorsand one who deserves better.

Director: Peter Greenaway

Writer: Peter Greenaway

Starring: Elmer Back, Luis Alberti

Release Date: February 5, 2016

Ross Bonaime is a D.C.-based freelance writer and regular contributor to Paste. You can follow him on Twitter.
CORRECTION: The hiker who died Tuesday on Mount Baldy was from Garden Grove. Because of incorrect information provided to The Press-Enterprise, his city of residence was wrong in a previous version of this story.

Icy conditions on Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains led to 12 people being air-lifted off the mountain throughout the day Saturday, Feb. 6.

The ice is solid as a rock, Mount Baldy fire Capt. Gordon Green said.

After the San Gabriel Mountains were showered with snow Sunday, Jan. 31, rain followed, Green said. That combination caused trail conditions on Mount Baldy to become icy, which has resulted in people slipping and falling.

Green recommended hikers wait until at least the end of next week to hike above Mount Baldys 7,000-foot line.

Its too treacherous right now, Green said.

Authorities initially said 10 people were rescued Saturday, but on Sunday they revised that number to 12, and reported that one of the hikers had died.

UPDATE: Officials seek order to close trails after deaths

After a Garden Grove man fell to his death on the mountain on Tuesday, experts and authorities urged hikers to use caution when hiking trails this time of year. Casey Schreiner, editor of Southern California hiking blog Modern Hiker, urged hikers to bring crampons and ice axes, and to know how to use them.

Yet Green said the ice was so thick Saturday that crampons and ice axes werent preventing people from slipping on the ice.

The first incident was reported around 10 a.m., when two hikers fell down a steep incline along the Baldy Bowl Trail, San Bernardino County fire Battalion Chief Mark Peebles said. A female was found 300-500 feet below the trail. A male was found 40 feet down.

The hikers were taken by a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department helicopter to local trauma centers, Peebles said. Their conditions were not immediately available.

About 11:40 a.m., a woman was injured when she lost her footing on Ice House Canyon Trail, Peebles said. That hiker was also flown to a local trauma center. Her condition is not known.

At 6 p.m., two helicopters had been sent to the mountain for two separate hoist-rescues. A group of about five people  some of whom were injured  as well as a solo hiker were stranded up the mountain.

At least three other people were hoisted to safety as well, Mount Baldy Fire Department authorities said.

On Thursday, Feb. 4, three people were rescued after getting lost on the mountain after sunset.
An Indio man was arrested early Saturday, Feb. 6, in Palm Desert on suspicion of crashing into a bus stop while driving drunk.

Christopher Nielsen, 22, was booked into jail on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol, according to a Riverside County Sheriffs Department news release. Nobody was injured in the crash, which occurred about 2:30 a.m. on Cook Street near Joni Drive in Palm Desert.

Nielsen was driving south on Cook Street when his tan Chevy Silverado went onto the sidewalk and crashed into a Sun Line Transit bus stop.

The bus stop and vehicle both sustained major damage, the news release said.

Nielsen was transported to a nearby hospital where he was medically cleared before being booked into jail.
Hemet politicians will get their first look at how they may be elected to the City Council in the future.

Council members and city administrators will meet Tuesday, Feb. 9, to go over possible boundaries for the new voting districts the city will utilize in elections starting this November.

It was decided last month to elect council members by districts instead of at-large after the city was threatened with a lawsuit under the California Voters Rights Act, which was passed to help minority candidates get elected.

Beginning with the November election, candidates will have to live in a specific area and will be voted on only by residents of that area.

Tuesday, demographer Douglas Johnson of National Demographics Corporation will discuss the process and timeline to establish districts and look at demographics and conceptual boundaries.

Johnson has helped other boards establish districts and is currently working with Wildomar, which is changing its voting system after receiving a similar letter.

There are strict rules on districts, which must be set up based on population and race.

The seats of Shellie Milne, Robert Youssef and Bonnie Wright expire this year. Milne, who is running for county supervisor, said she will not seek another council term. Wright has said she plans to run again and Youssef has said hes undecided.

Youssef and Wright live about a mile apart and could be drawn into the same district, although cities are allowed to set up districts to separate incumbents.

The decision to go to districts came during closed session Jan. 12 and this will be the first open discussion on the matter.

There will be at least three public meetings to get input from residents before boundaries are finalized.

The day after Hemet decided to switch its system, so did Wildomar. Both received a letter from a Malibu law firm threatening a suit and they each changed to avoid the costs of a trial, which would be expensive, win or lose. The Temecula Valley Unified School District also is in the process of changing to trustee areas.

The California Voting Rights Act of 2001 was passed to assure minority voters would not be marginalized in elections. Hemet has a Latino population of nearly 36 percent, according the latest census numbers. There has been at least one candidate with a Latino surname in all but one election since 2000, but none have won.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@pressenterprise.com
A suspect in an attempted murder in Colorado was arrested just before midnight Friday, Feb. 5, after a seven-hour standoff in Palm Springs.

Michael Farrow, 29, of Denver, was booked into Bannings Larry D. Smith Correction Facility on an outstanding felony warrant for the Colorado incident, according to a Palm Springs Police Department news release. Farrow surrendered to police after holing up in a home in the 500 block of Skylar Lane.

Palm Springs police received information that Farrow was at the home on Skylar Lane about 5:02 p.m. Friday, the news release said. Officers attempted to contact Farrow, but he had barricaded himself inside the residence. Thats when members of the Desert Regional SWAT Team responded and the residents of two neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Other residents in the neighborhood were asked to remain inside their homes during the standoff.

Just before midnight, Farrow came out of the home and was arrested without incident. The evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes.
A house fire Saturday, Feb. 6, in Desert Hot Springs killed seven puppies and three cats, authorities said.

Eleven dogs survived the fire, which occurred about 2:20 p.m. in the 65000 block of Hacienda Avenue, according to a Riverside County Animal Services news release. Authorities said they were familiar with the property where the fire occurred, since the owner has been cited repeatedly for failing to have a proper kennel for the dogs.

Animal Services officers never knew just how many dogs were in the single family, single story home, since the owner would not let them in, the news release said. The puppies that died were being kept in a back room.

Over time, the property owner racked up thousands of dollars in penalties for not securing a proper kennel for the dogs, the news release said.

The owner has consistently failed to provide the animals with what we would describe as proper housing, Animal Services authorities said.

The surviving animals were transported to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms where they will be treated and cared for until a disposition is reached with the owner.

The fire was quickly put out by firefighters and no people were injured, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department authorities said.
A person suffered minor burns in an auto shop fire that engulfed multiple vehicles and left portions of a Moreno Valley business gutted Saturday, Feb. 6.

Cal Fire/Riverside County fire crews rolled to a report of a commercial fire around 11:30 a.m. at Autoshop Advance Mufflers in the 24000 block of Sunnymead Boulevard, where firefighters found multiple vehicles inside the single-story business fully engulfed in flame, according to a Cal Fire news release.

Fire had spread to other areas immediately south of the business and involved additional vehicles and debris, the news release states. The fire was contained by 12:20 p.m.

Firefighters and paramedics at the scene evaluated the person with minor burns, but that person declined transport to a hospital, the news release states.

No other information was immediately available on how the fire started or what was the value of the fire damage.
According to some manufacturers, an eight gigabyte mp3 music player can roughly store 1,600 songs. But, who needs a fancy piece of technology when youve got Antonio Castillo de la Gala?

The famed pianist estimates that he knows and can play more than 2,500 songs. That number, by the way, is always rising. Castillo de la Galas lengthy piano repertoire will be on display as he performs at Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa Thursday, Feb. 11.

Castillo de la Gala will be performing for the special Winemasters Dinner event, which revolves around Opus One Winery from the Napa Valley. The luxury wine was founded in part by Robert Mondavi in 1979. Venues are limited to two cases of Opus One per year. The night includes a gourmet dinner in the 360 Ultra Lounge in the Cabazon resort.

Finding the brain storage space to memorize 2,500 songs requires a lot of dedication and focus, according to Castillo de la Gala.

This is all I do! he said. Ive never had another job. The only way Ive ever even earned five cents in my life is playing piano.

His musical journey began in Veracruz, Mexico when he was three years old. His grandmother sat him down in front of the familys piano and he loved it.

Thats all I wanted to do, he said. I was always on it. We had a piano in the living room. We didnt have a TV or a telephone.

His love of the piano brought him to the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he earned the U.S. equivalent of a doctorate.

Out of my generation, I was one of one two people to finish the program to be a concert pianist, Castillo de la Gala said. It was tough. Its also tough to make a living as a concert pianist.

Castillo de la Gala found a way to make a good living by playing popular music at hotels and restaurants. He performed five nights a week at the Hotel Bel-Air for close to 13 years. For the last six years, hes been performing at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.

His nightly sets include what he calls the classic American songbook with songs like Cole Porter, Broadway show tunes and Hollywood soundtracks. His favorite song to perform is Somewhere in Time from the 1980 Christopher Reeve film of the same name. With the talent to play more than 2,500 songs on cue, he said he has a great track record when it comes to requests.

I know pretty much 95 percent of the requests each night, he said.

But, there are times when he gets stumped. Years ago, when the Disney animated film Frozen first captured the attention of children everywhere, he got a request from a family to play the song Do You Want to Build a Snowman? While he didnt know the song, it didnt take him long to add it to his list.

I went to YouTube, he said. When I was younger, it would take me two to three minutes to know the song. Now its much longer. I have to listen to the song a few times now. If I find the sheet music online, I can do it right away.

The Morongo show will highlight a different side of Castillo de la Gala. Instead of just playing standards and requests, his show turns more into a variety program that incorporates piano playing, comedy and storytelling.

I try to make it entertaining and unique, he said. Lets see how it goes!

Contact the writer: 951-368-9342, tguy@pressenterprise.com or on Twitter: @timwguy
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Koreas west coast and its path was tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea; no damage from debris was reported. At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the countrys president called the firing an intolerable provocation.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, trumpeted the beauty of the launchs fascinating vapor as the rocket cut through the clear blue sky and said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The firing came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning. It follows North Koreas widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions. The United States and Japan quickly requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the Norths ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kims government.

North Koreas National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, said Sunday that ruling Workers Party policies were responsible for the rockets success.

The statement praised the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star. Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rockets first stage fell off North Koreas west coast at 9:32 a.m. and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

The South Korean government couldnt immediately confirm reports by Yonhap news agency and YTN TV that the rocket might have failed.

The U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japans NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an intolerable provocation. She said the Norths efforts to advance its missile capabilities were all about maintaining the regime in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region.

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the Norths four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the U.S., South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

The Korean border is the worlds most heavily armed and the rivals navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The Norths recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Koreas nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.



Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Yuri Kageyama and Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Lolita Baldor in Washington, and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
In 1931-32, a robbery gone wrong in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles led to a Palm Springs doctor having a date with a Banning judge.

On Oct. 24, 1931, Leslie G. Smith and his two partners brother-in-law Alvin Kutzleb, 20, and youth parolee Eugene Casteig, 19  robbed three people in Los Angeles. The crime occurred in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue. That street still looks much like it did 85 years ago, and you still can imagine the event as it played out there that night.

Andrew Gillispie, 41, a private patrolman with the Nick Harris Agency, happened upon the robbery and, before he could grab his gun, was shot three times. Gillespie fell to the ground.

Though mortally wounded, he was able to get off some shots of his own. Smith was hit in the shoulder, the arm and the hand. Gillespie also put several bullets in the getaway car the men stole from their robbery victims.

Later that night, Smith was treated by a doctor in an apartment in Hollywood. That doctor reported to the police seeing a patient with a bullet wound. When detectives visited the apartment, they found Smiths wife there. A search turned up a card with a Palm Springs address on it.

The wife admitted that she and Smiths robbery cohorts took the wounded man to Palm Springs, where he had been left in the care of Dr. Victor Campbell.

Five Los Angles detectives and two deputy sheriffs headed off for Palm Springs, taking Mrs. Smith with them. There they found Smith being cared for by a male nurse, who said he had been told the patient had been in a car accident. Smith, still in serious condition, was taken by ambulance back to Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles detectives got their man. But Riverside County law enforcement was not impressed that Dr. Campbell did not report his treatment of a bullet wound. The California State penal code required  and still does  that a physician who treats a person injured by a firearm has to report that fact to the police immediately.

In January 1932, Campbell appeared under warrant in the San Gorgonio Justice Court in Banning along with a number of men and female friends.

When first arrested in Los Angeles, Campbell admitted to treating the criminal and not reporting it. But when he appeared before Justice Childers, Campbell changed his story. He said he thought Smith had been injured in an automobile accident. Childers sentenced Campbell to pay a fine of $250 or spend 125 days in jail.

Campbell couldnt come up with the money for the fine initially. Finally, on Feb. 9, after spending 10 days in jail, his wife, Verona, paid the fine and got a release order from Justice Childers.

What happened to Dr. Campbell after that is not very clear. He seems to have moved to Fresno to practice medicine in 1932 and stayed there for three or four years. After that, the trail grows cold.

Hopefully, no one with a bullet wound ever entered his office again.

The three men who killed Andrew Gillespie were sentenced to state prison on life sentences. Visits to Palm Springs were definitely no longer in the works for them.

If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at backinthedaype@gmail.com.
The happiest place in California  at least the happiest workplace  may not be the one with the slogan youre thinking of right now.

It might be the Riverside County Emergency Management Department.

Thats what an ongoing survey of employees in the new department reveals.

Employee retention consultant TINYpulse said the Riverside County department ranks No. 1 among California employers, and No. 4 overall, among more than 1,000 national and international private companies and public agencies surveyed last year.

Numbers 1, 2 and 3 were two tech companies and a national retailer (they declined to make public their names).

The results werent just a surprise to Riverside County government officials; they were a surprise to TINYpulse as well.

Typically, government ranks near the bottom for employee happiness: No. 12 of 13 sectors monitored by the consulting firm.

The happiest employment sectors are consumer products and services, real estate, and technology and software.

The unhappiest are manufacturing, government and nonprofit, and energy, mining and utilities.

Heres how the surveys work: Employees get one weekly question, either by email with an embedded link or through an app on their smart phones.

They are asked to rank their happiness on a scale of 1 to 10. For example, How happy are you at work? or Do you feel like youll have the opportunity to reach your full potential at our organization?

With one push of a button, they are done with that weeks survey.

If they have more to say, the platform allows employees to make comments, either anonymously or with their name attached.

The data is crunched by TINYpulse and forwarded to the employer without identifying information, unless an employee chooses to let his or her name be used.

The platform enables employers to keep a finger on the pulse of their workforces. And it enables workers to check in with a simple, quick response.

Great Silicon Valley-style innovation, right? But isnt it a little touchy-feely for government?

TINYpulse spokesman Neal McNamara told me employers often like to survey their employees when companies are growing rapidly (like high tech) or shrinking rapidly (like newspapers).

In Riverside Countys case, two separate departments with a role in disaster management were being brought under one umbrella: the Fire Department, which ran the Office of Emergency Services, and Public Health, which oversaw two units: emergency preparedness and response, and emergency medical services.

Last May, the Board of Supervisors decided to unify them for a single, integrated strategy so they can work the most effectively together.

It makes sense. The folks entrusted with handling major disasters from wildfires and earthquakes to floods and windstorms need to be able to function seamlessly. Any hiccups can have life-altering affects.

The director of the new department, Kim Saruwatari, was tasked with melding the two separate work cultures into one, building a cohesive team and creating an organizational structure to make it all work.

The survey indicates its working.

Weve been getting high marks, Saruwatari said. Employees are happy to come to work. To me it means theyre engaged in the department.

Health education specialist Jennifer Smith said the weekly surveys take less than five minutes to address, and she appreciates being able to bring up issues by commenting anonymously.

I asked her whether the issues get addressed. She said they do. One that she brought up anonymously was raised in a subsequent staff meeting and a solution found.

The surveys make her feel like she has a voice and that management cares, Smith said. I actually look forward to them, especially when I have something on my mind (that) I want to express.

These are the kinds of thing that give employees faith in their employers and make them happy about where they work, TINYpulse said in a summary of workplace rankings.

Liking your coworkers and feeling you have opportunities for career growth are also markers of workplace happiness, the firm said.

County Supervisor Chuck Washington was pleased with the survey results. They show restructuring Emergency Management could be a model for other county departments to reorganize to work better together, he said.

A retired airline pilot, he said hes seen surveys have important impacts; for example, gathering input from throughout the aviation system made air travel far safer than it was 30 or 40 years ago.

We need to leverage technology to gauge how we are doing, both for employees and customers on the other side of the counter, he said, adding TINYpulses platform rates high because its instantaneous and its easy.

Board Chairman John Benoit, a retired CHP officer who has managed emergency operations centers, said having watched Saruwatari in action over the past year, hes not surprised at the positive feedback.

Shes dynamic, shes very likable, he said, adding, I think their whole team is energized, and it showed in the survey.

The survey comes at a relatively small price. The department spent less than $6,000, Saruwatari said. She plans to continue the weekly questions as her team gels this year.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9470 or cmacduff@pressenterprise.com
Australian Jocelyn Elliott has been released by her captors in Burkina Faso after being kidnapped with her husband, Dr Kenneth Elliott, in the west African nation last month.

News Limited reports Nigers President President Mahamadou Issoufou presented Elliott at a press conference in Nigers city of Dosso Saturday afternoon. Dr Elliott has yet to be released.



Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also confirmed her release this morning on ABCs Insiders, saying we want to thank the Government of Niger and the Government of Burkina Faso, which of course is where the Elliotts were living when they were kidnapped.

We obviously continue to cooperate with those Governments and we thank them for their efforts.

The couple, who are both in their 80s, were reportedly captured by al-Qaeda affiliated militants in the town of Baraboule; while the exact circumstances of Mrs Elliotts release are currently unknown, it is reported she was relinquished by her captors after al-Qaeda heads pressured them over the belief women shouldnt be involved in acts of war.

Their capture followed a terrorist attack on Burkina Fasos capital of Ougadougou, which left at least 29 people dead.

While Dr Elliott remains in captivity, President Issofou has vowed to ramp up efforts to extract him from the neighbouring country.

Well update this story as it develops.



Source: News Limited / ABC.

Photo: Twitter.
bernie-sanders-tattoo-vermont-shop-free

One Vermont shop is offering tattoos of Bernie Sanders for free.

(Screen capture from video, Burlington Free Press)

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Fans of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders are wearing their support for him on their sleeves -- and on their rib cages, calves, necks and backs.

Several dozen people have flocked to Aartistic Tattoo in Montpelier, Vermont, to get a free tattoo of the senator, complete with his unkempt hair and thick-rimmed glasses.

The Burlington Free Press reports that the promotion began a week ago. Tattoo artist Chad Fay says it will run as long as Sanders does.

Tattoo artist Jessica Andrew tells the newspaper she inked Sanders' image on eight people in two days. Fay says he's done at least 15 tattoos of Sanders in the past week.
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Natalie Keepers told a judge that she was bullied -- just like the 13-year-old girl she is accused of plotting to kill.



And like seventh-grader Nicole Lovell, the 19-year-old Virginia Tech student had endured health challenges, though Keepers' were of the emotional variety: suicidal thoughts, cutting herself, stress and anxiety that required medication.



The similarities emerged in a Blacksburg courtroom Thursday as Keepers and her lawyer argued that she should be released on bail while she awaits trial for allegedly helping plan Lovell's slaying and then improperly dumping her body just across the state line in North Carolina, two hours south of Virginia Tech's campus, where she was a student. Bond was denied.



Keepers' classmate, 18-year-old David Eisenhauer, is charged with kidnapping and killing Lovell, who survived a liver transplant and other health scares only to have her life ended after apparently climbing out her bedroom window last week. Eisenhauer also is being held without bond.



In court, Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt described how authorities believe Eisenhauer and Keepers planned Lovell's stabbing death but left key aspects of the crime a mystery. She did not suggest a possible motive nor describe the killing itself.



But the prosecutor said messages on the girl's phone led to the suspects and accused the college students of deciding together in a fast-food restaurant that Eisenhauer would cut her throat.

Virginia Tech stabbing case is freaking out parents -- for good reason



Defense lawyers argued that Keepers' mental health could unravel behind bars.



"We understand the allegations are disturbing and serious," attorney Kristopher Olin said. "But they are just allegations."



Keepers told the judge that she began cutting her body and had considered suicide "a few times" after being bullied in school five years ago. She said she's been in therapy and taking Prozac since then.



She's also allergic to the gluten in jail food, Olin added.



Judge Robert Viars Jr. decided Keepers should remain behind bars after Pettitt said she "is in the same position as the person who carried out the murder."



The prosecutor said Eisenhauer initially denied his involvement when police found his messages on Nicole's phone, but eventually he said he drove to the girl's home, watched her climb out her window and greeted her with a "side hug" before they drove off to pick up Keepers.



Keepers insists she was not present at the killing itself but she went along for the ride, Pettitt said. And once Nicole was dead, Keepers helped load her body into Eisenhauer's Lexus, the prosecutor added.



Pettitt said Keepers revealed the plot after officers tracked her down but that she first tried to warn Eisenhauer, sending him a one-word text message reading "Police."



Nicole's parents, David Lovell and Tammy Weeks, attended the bail hearing but made no comments before leaving for their daughter's private funeral, where several hundred mourners paid their respects.



Friends and neighbors have described Nicole as a lovely if awkward girl, clinging to childhood ways while exploring older behaviors.



A neighbor said she told 8-year-old friends before she vanished that she planned to sneak out to meet her 18-year-old "boyfriend," a man she said was named David, whose picture she displayed on her phone. Authorities have not confirmed that this was Eisenhauer's photo.



A 911 call on Jan. 27 alerted police that Nicole was missing, Pettitt said. Weeks discovered that the door to her daughter's bedroom had been barricaded, and that her phone and her "Minions" blanket also were gone.



An examination of emails and social media showed that Eisenhauer and Nicole last made contact at 12:39 that morning, shortly before she disappeared, the prosecutor said.



Like others her age, Nicole was tech savvy, posting on Facebook and chatting using the Kik messenger app. Unlike other young teens, she had to take daily medicine to keep her transplanted liver from failing and endured bullying over a disfiguring tracheotomy scar in her neck, a reminder of the months she spent in a coma.



Keepers told the judge that she has problems, too. Shackled, handcuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit, she said she's not getting her full dosage of anti-anxiety medicine in jail.



"I've learned how to love myself and to take care of myself and deal with any stress that I have," Keepers said, describing how she had promised a friend that if she stopped cutting herself, she would get a tattoo of a semicolon, representing that her life was not ending, but taking a new path.



Her father, Tim Keepers, said he and his wife, Sara, first heard of Eisenhauer in October. He said the young man had "dropped everything" last year to rush their daughter to a hospital for an emergency appendectomy.



Eisenhauer and Keepers went to high schools five miles apart in Columbia, Maryland. Excelling in the classroom and on the track, Eisenhauer was focused on competing with top college runners while pursuing a career as an engineer.



Keepers, for her part, displayed a packed resume on her LinkedIn profile, including a summer internship with NASA, where she made how-to videos for engineers. Her father choked up in court Thursday when he said she had planned to follow his footsteps into aerospace engineering.



___



Associated Press writers Tom Foreman Jr. and Ben Nuckols wrote this report. Nuckols reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed in Blacksburg, Virginia; Jessica Gresko in Washington and Juliet Linderman in Columbia, Maryland; contributed to this report.
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton

Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton and Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, shakes hands as they greet the audience before the audience before a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Durham, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

By Tony May

Mark this date on your calendar: March 6.

Tony May

America's longest-running political reality show, the 2016 contest for president, will be entering its final episodes.

We won't know for sure who will be left standing, but plenty of pretenders will have been voted off the island or headed for the supply-boat pier.

It will be clear on the Democratic side whether Bernie is still viable or just the factional candidate that Hillary supporters say he is.

And if he is still standing, will Hillary be? March 5 and 6 will see caucuses in Kansas and Maine and primaries in Kentucky and Louisiana.

None is a key state demographically, but coming so soon after Super Tuesday on March 1 with its five caucuses and nine primaries it will be the political equivalent of Hitler trying to fight on two major fronts during World War II.

There's a strong chance that Sen. Bernie Sanders might falter today in New Hampshire, the first primary of the year.

The pundits have declared New Hampshire as his to lose because he lives next door in Vermont (suspect logic at best).

According to media-think, if he doesn't win by 5 points or more, he will have lost strategically heading into the South Carolina primary on Feb. 27, where Hillary Clinton is expected to do very well.

Clinton will be presumed the favorite because of her projected support among women and people of color.

Here Sanders doesn't have to win outright; he must outperform expectations.

The Nevada caucus on Feb. 20 will give some insight into which candidate has the greater appeal to Western voters.

Still, both candidates will be technically viable going into Super Tuesday, the real test of campaign organization and depth of staffing and message appeal over a broad reach of audiences, North, South, East and West.

Pundits are likely to accept a sweep of the 14 races as tantamount to delivering the party nomination.

The media are not likely to want to give up on the contention that has fueled the 24-hour news channels for over a year, so expect them to highlight a longshot comeback for either candidate.

But expect establishment Democrats to begin calling for a cessation of hostilities in the interests of gearing up early for a November fight.

The Republicans, by March 1, will be down to two serious candidates: Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

Doesn't mean some of the other candidates won't still be cluttering the field of battle.

But they will be dead men walking.

It's quite possible that some struggling candidates will seek to maintain viability by establishing strong beachheads in one or two states and concede the rest while hoping for a deadlocked convention.

But it will be a desperation move.

The GOP, the party that started the campaign season cheering candidates who called for the deportation of undocumented people of Latino heritage, will be making a choice between the son of Cuban immigrants or a Canadian son of a Cuban father.

Irony of ironies, two Cubans living the American dream in a new world shaped by the diplomacy of Barack Obama - a world where the first American president to have set foot on Cuban soil in more than half a century (when that eventual diplomatic visit occurs) would be the American son of a Cuban.

On March 5 and 6, voters in Kansas and Maine will caucus for their presidential preferences while Louisiana will hold a primary on March 5.

By the end of the evenings, 937 of 2,472 delegates will have been chosen for the GOP convention in Cleveland on July 18 through 21.

The candidate to aggregate 1,237 delegates wins. On the Democratic side, 1,425 of 4,764 delegates will have been chosen.

Who will have voted by March 6? Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine.

A good cross section of America; even if the selection is light on far West voters, you do have Nevada, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas.

The key is that the race nationally will be moving so fast from state to state that only the strongest will survive on the GOP side, and on the Democratic side, there will be enough diversity in the electorate to see if Sanders can make serious inroads into the African-American and Latino communities.

March 1, Super Tuesday, will be the biggest test for all of the candidates - the closest thing to emulating what candidates will face in November.

Campaigning across 14 states (about one-fourth of the nation geographically, from Alaska to Texas, from Massachusetts to Colorado.

We'll find out if each candidate has an organization strong enough to reach out simultaneously to a dozen states with an aggregate population of 82.5 million, nearly 25 percent of the nation's 330 million citizens.

We won't have nominated a candidate for the Democrats or Republicans, but the picture should be pretty clear March 2 on how things will play out.

The silly season should be over.

The next big test comes on March 15 with primaries in the populous - and diverse - Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. And that's less than six weeks away.
Winter Storm Jonas packed a powerful punch over the weekend, dumping more than two feet of snow over the Commonwealth and neighboring states. Pennsylvania food retailers worked hard to make sure the shelves were stocked with plenty of bread, eggs and milk, and gasoline retailers kept the fuel flowing to power automobiles, tractors, generators and snow blowers.

On Saturday, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) reached out to the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association to ask our members' assistance in providing meals to travelers who were moved to an emergency shelter after the turnpike was closed between Breezewood and New Stanton.

Sheetz and Sunoco readily answered PEMA's call. Employees at Sheetz' Bedford store, located off the Pennsylvania turnpike entrance/exit, made 250 subs and provided water to the stranded motorists. Associates at Sunoco A-Plus convenience stores in South Somerset and North Bedford prepared 100 sandwiches and donated several hundred bottles of water to the people stuck on the turnpike.

We offer our sincere thanks to Sheetz and Sunoco for providing those travelers with a little comfort and a meal as they waited out the storm.

More than 500 cars, trucks and buses were stranded from late Friday through Saturday. Thanks to assistance from PennDOT, the National Guard and law enforcement, no one was seriously injured.

As we shovel the snow off our cars, driveways and walk ways and get back to normal, we feel fortunate to be able to count on Pennsylvania's food retailers to assist their communities in times of need.

DAVID L. MCCORKLE, president & CEO, The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Wormleysburg.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Bishop Dennis Drainville stand inside the Holy Trinity cathedral Tuesday, February 2, 2016 in Quebec City. There are a lot of empty pews in the Anglican Diocese of Quebec's churches, but the treasury is fuller than it has been in years. As shrewd investing is replacing weekly parishioner offerings as a main revenue source, the diocese is looking to ethical investment to build its portfolio in a socially responsible way that better reflects its values. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
It seemed like less planning than one would normally do when traveling to another country, but I had already settled into my role. "Sure, sounds good!"

The weather was projected to be perfect for the foreseeable future, so we elected to attempt our highest and longest route. We packed up for a three day trip into the mountains.







It was hard to believe that only a century ago war raged in this beautiful basin, as is evident by the remaining shrapnel and fading fortifications. After a brief stop to reflect on the changes that this basin has seen throughout history, we continued on our descent to the inviting Rifugio below.

The terrain was very different than anything we've seen before, limestone karst formations created wheel and body-sized holes in the ground where you least expected them.

Yup. That's the trail up there.

To say the ride back down was exposed wouldn't adequately describe it. Even now, as I write this, my hands are becoming sweaty.

It's surprisingly uncomfortable railing a 120 mph concrete berm at only 20.

The trip back to the states was as uneventful as can be hoped for. Although the comparison of life to a journey doesn't elicit thoughts of stillness, solitude, and self-reflection I would argue that these things are integral in our journey. As I sat on the plane high above the seemingly still waters of the North Atlantic I thought of all that fell into place for this opportunity to present itself and how grateful I was that it had. I'm happy to still have bikes in my life, and can't wait to see where they lead me on my journey.

There are a thousand sayings which compare life to a journey. Sometimes it takes a literal journey to encourage yourself to self-reflect enough to see truth rather than cliche in these words.The story of mountain bikings positive effect on us isnt new, but it never grows tiresome. The area I call home isnt known the world over as a mountain biking mecca. The low elevation, surprisingly impenetrable rocky lumps we call mountains, and general lack of interest in all things outdoors doesnt lend itself to a thriving mountain bike club. Despite the fact that the cards are stacked against us, such a club exists. And like many of the clubs/teams/friends around the world, like-minded people are brought together. In my case, the somewhat unusual love of hoisting a bicycle onto my back and picking my way up an east coast boulder field with the hope of finding gem-like trail back down was shared with John Parker. I had been riding with John for a year or so, exploring the endless network of trails that weave through the small hills to the north and east of NYC when the opportunity arose to join him and his twin brother, Jesse, on a unique trip to the heart of the Italian Dolomites. Like all good stories, it started by me saying Yes.Yes, Ill fly across the world with you and your identical twin brother that Ive never met, to spend days looking for similar gems similar to what weve been seeking here in the USA."We spent an evening or two running our fingers over maps, trying to identify good routes. Although, Ill have to admit I was still playing the role of yes-man rather than shot-caller. If John thought it was a good idea, who was I to disagree? The first few days were planned out and a handful of other rides were identified. It seemed like less planning than one would normally do when traveling to another country, but I had already settled into my role. Sure, sounds good!Fitting in a full-sized adventure in the fold of a full-time corporate job, keeping up with the house, and spending time with the lady isnt easy. We elected to start the trip off with a half day at the office. Its amazing how much work you can get done when you have a hard deadline. We should all probably work harder, and less. After cramming what felt like a weeks worth of work into a few hours we jumped on the train to the airport where we met the other Parker twin, Jesse. Leading up to this point I had a bit of trepidation about being a third wheel to these two brothers. After a few overpriced airport beers served by a sour robot, it was clear that these fears were unfounded. This was going to be a good trip.After the disorienting saga of dragging bike boxes through stations, trains, and ports, fitfully sleeping on a trans-Atlantic flight, and driving a boxy white rental up into mountains we reached our first stop, Badia. We rolled up just as the late sun gapped the deep valley, slamming itself into the stark white cliffs of Monte Cavallo. We excitedly built our bikes and headed up towards this beacon of stone.The warm up ride had the group laughing and hooting. Corners were blown as we adjusted to our new terrain. I was impressed with the variability of the short ride, from a loose gravel path tucked under a massive cliff, to dark loamy forest trails where the trees reached in to tug at your arms, finally to open high-speed pastures full of fresh Kuhscheisse where we enjoyed the final rays of sun.After reaching our first Rifugio, we agreed that we had enough gas in the tank to do an evening ride. A relatively tame looking loop presented itself. After ditching some gear and grabbing the map, we headed up. The climb was brutal. We expected to be pushing and carrying but had no idea the trail would be a series of head-high steps that stretched up and on to near infinity. There were more than a few suggestions of turning back.As we reached the summit of our loop, the terrain thankfully changed and now appeared to be more of the bike heaven that we had hoped for.The following day would have us continuing to follow the footsteps of soldiers from the great war. We ground our way up an old military supply route to the top of Monte Vallon Bianco, where we explored some extremely stout military fortifications.As the trail became tamer and the consequences of a fall went from certain death to probable death, our greasy fingers released their death grip on the brake levers. The joy of ripping down trail in the pristine alpine smothered and melted the toxic fear that had locked up my veins only minutes before.The morning sun found us paying for our 1000 meter drop from the day before. Up and out of the valley, back into the rolling green pastures of Sennes, with stops for espresso whenever possible. The higher we went the more dreamlike the day became. Every bit of the land begged to be ridden and explored.By mid-day, we had reached our targeted ridgeline, a spot where we could gaze down on the path that had led us to this point. This ridgeline also allowed us to peer into our future as we saw our trail race down and out towards the village below. Being from an area where all of the trails hide beneath a tangled web of knotty trees, the ability to stop time and look forward and back on a trails length added to the feeling of significance. This effort, this time, these people were more than the sum of their parts.The trail down to St. Vigilio was the stuff of dreams. Everything a natural trail could have, it had.The next few days seemed to blend together as we found a rhythm. Our bodies quickly becoming accustomed to the physical challenge every day. Our minds relishing in the realization that our bodies were quite happy to indulge.Although the three of us call America home, we had a connection to a local Italian Mountain Bike Guide with the name of Matze based in the Vinschgau valley of Northern Italy. Matze runs Vinschgaubike.com and is essentially the Don of mountain biking in Northern Italy - exactly the man you want to be riding with. We all agreed that what seemed like an ill-advised trip west to meet this enigmatic man was a great idea.We had a few sketchy details as to where he could be found, and trusted that he would lead us to some prime riding. We drove into the night to Santa Caterina, where we were warmly greeted with food and drink by a welcoming group. The conversation was difficult to follow as I speak no German, and that was the language of choice. I was informed that the weather was of concern, there was expected to be low snow the next two nights.We woke to cold rain and a snow line just below the low clouds. There seemed to be some discussion about keeping our bikes in the rack for the day. I was disheartened. Fortunately a couple of Germans were able to rally the group into waiting shuttles for a ride up into the snow. As usual once we were riding there was no concern for the rain and snow. We put this on repeat for the remainder of the day.That evening, there was even more discussion of cold and snow on tap for the mountains. The grappa was flowing and we hadnt been stopped by weather today, so we slept easy. The sound of the rain eased through the night. As we looked up in the morning we saw a crisp blue sky and freshly covered hills. Our shuttle took us up to Rifugio Bonetta, unfortunately, the snow and rain had turned the trail to smooth ice. We were forced to take the road back down.The tour group was departing, we headed back over Passo Stelvio to the Vinschgau valley where we would spend the next two days riding shuttles on prime, purpose-built single track with Matze.The next morning we lost Jesse to reality, he had to get back to work. We dropped him off in Bolzano and headed back up into the mountains for one last ride before calling it quits. We picked an aggressive unaided loop starting from Passo Pordoi.
Crab Hut Shaftsbury Square Cyberjaya

This restaurant is CLOSED for good.

Remember Crab Factory in SS2? We went there two years ago and we were amazed by their concept as well as their food. Thus, we wrote a review on the restaurant.

Just a few months ago, we got to know the same owner opened a new restaurant in Shaftsbury Square in Cyberjaya. It is called Crab Hut and the best part it will be a HALAL restaurant.

The Shaftsbury Square is a new complex with many food and beverages outlets. It is located in Persiaran Multimedia and there are quite a number of restaurants in this complex.

Crab Hut is located on 2nd floor at P2-25 in Shaftsbury Square facing the main road. You can see their sign board from the main road and you can park in front of the complex or at the multi level parking complex at the back.

The restaurant is fully air conditioned and the interior is similar to Crab Factory in SS2. It comes with long tables and benches and it can accommodate quite a number of customers. Thus, Crab Hut authentic Louisiana Boil cuisine which is quite rare in Malaysia. In addition, the beauty of dining in Crab Hut is their range of variety of live seafood. You can find seafood like Yabbies, Japanese clams, French Brown Crab, Spanner Crabs, Freshwater Prawns and more.

For starters, we had garlic fried squid tentacles and fried enoki mushrooms.

The garlic fried squid tentacles

The garlic fried squid tentacles is the answer to fried calamari rings. You can find fried squid tentacles but many tend to over fried it. Thus, Crab Huts version is deep fried to perfection, the texture is still tender and we love the hints of the garlic.

Fried oyster mushroom

We love fried oyster mushroom. It is easily available in night markets or pasar malam in Malaysia. In Crab Hut, they deep fried another type of mushroom, the enoki mushroom. We often use enoki mushroom for soup or for stew dishes. Thus, the deep fried enoki mushroom is crunchy and addictive.

French Brown Crab with Mild Jamba-Jamba Sauce

The dinner was a seafood feast. We started the main dishes with French Brown Crab with Mild Jamba-Jamba Sauce. The XXL Brown Crab is imported from France and it comes with mild Jamba-Jamba sauce. The sauce is mild spicy and originated from America. Since it is authentic Louisiana Boil, it is cooked in plastic bag and poured it on the table covered with plastic. You have to use your hands to eat, no cutleries. Hence, there are plastic gloves provided or you can go naked with your hands.

We got lucky as the Brown Crab comes with heaps of eggs. The meat is fresh and juicy and you can taste the quality of the French Brown Crab. This definitely a must for crab lovers and remember to pick the sauce of your choice.

Red Lobster-M 2 in Signature Southern Bang Sauce Mild Spiciness.

Red Lobster-M 2 in Signature Southern Bang Sauce Mild Spiciness. This is real Red Lobsters and they are currently having Monthly Crazy Bag Promo until end of February 2016. Two pieces of Red Lobster (est 800 grams) at RM 155++ only.

The size of the Red Lobster is reasonably large and the Southern Bang Sauce Mild Spiciness is a great combination. Remember, you can choose the sauce of your choice.

Meat Crab-M in Garlic Butter Sauce

Meat Crab-M in Garlic Butter Sauce. This sauce is not spicy and the meat crab is fresh and tasty. This is the second crab dish of the night and even though this is as big as Brown Crab, this is fresh, tasty and juicy. Another type of crabs you can order in Crab Hut.

Spanner Crab & Mussels in Assam Pedas Sauce.

Spanner Crabs are not popular in Malaysia but they are in parts of Asia and Australia. It is one type of crabs and the meat is juicy despite its outlook. On top of authentic Louisiana flavours, Crab Hut also offers local flavours such as Assam Pedas sauce. You might try Assam Pedas fish dishes but it is better with crabs. Something you should consider while ordering your seafood here.

Freshwater Prawns & White Prawns in Spicy Plum Sauce

We love freshwater prawns especially Sang Har Noodles. You get reasonably freshwater prawns and also white prawns in spicy plum sauce. The sauce is sweet and spicy and we loved this very much.

Japanese Clams

The Japanese Clams is similar to our la la but the size of it is slightly larger. The beauty of this Japanese clams are the meat is larger and tastier. It is hard to find these Japanese clams in Malaysia. Thus, this is something you should order when you in Crab Hut as you wont regret it.

Fish and Chips

For the junior, Crab Hut offers fish and chips with fries. Deep fried battered fish with fries comes with tartar sauce.

If you want to visit them for lunch, currently they offer four types of lunch sets.

Thus, if you want to have great deal dining in Crab Hut, use our promo code and get 10% off of your food only. Promo excludes other offers and promotions. Save this image and flash to them to get your 10% discount.

What we like about Crab Hut is the variety of seafood available and most of them are fresh. Thus, we believe in paying in quality food especially the seafood available in Crab Hut. Remember to use our promo codes for the 10% off from your food billing. This place is definitely a must visit for those who stays in Cyberjaya and Putrajaya.

Crab Hut Asia Address, Contact and GPS Coordinates:

P2-25,

Shaftsbury Square,

Persiaran Multimedia,

Cyberjaya

GPS Coordinate: 2.923386, 101.661136

crab hut shaftsbury cyberjaya

Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts
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1). Ben Carson Busts Ted Cruz For Trying To Blame CNN For His False Dropout Claim

Ted Cruz was asked about his dirty tactic in Iowa of spreading the false report that Ben Carson was dropping out. Cruz tried to throw CNN under the bus by claiming that his campaign forwarded an inaccurate report on from CNN. Ben Carson stepped up and told Cruz that less than a minute after CNN tweeted the original report; they tweeted a correction of the report that Carson was taking a break from campaigning.

Cruz was an early punching bag, as he caught fire from all sides. Trump took on Cruz, and Carson while not personally attacking Cruz, busted Cruz for telling a total lie. Cruzs CNN excuse has been rejected by the network, and it was debunked on the debate stage by Ben Carson.

2). Chris Christie Blows Up The Rubio Bot

Things got ugly in a hurry between Chris Christie and Marco Rubio. Rubio was asked about his lack of experience and accomplishments that demonstrate that he is ready to be president. Rubio launched into a prepared talking point about Obama knowing exactly what he is doing with a systematic effort to change America.

Christie responded that being a governor is a different experience. Christie said that Rubio has not been involved in a single decision where he had to be held accountable. Christie called out Rubio for truancy and not showing up to vote. Christie said he likes Rubio, but he doesnt have the experience to make these decisions.

Rubio blasted Christie for destroying New Jerseys credit rating, then launched back into his talking point about Obama intentionally trying to change America. Christie responded and called Rubio out for using a memorized 25-second speech that was exactly what his advisers gave him. Rubio slammed Christie for having to be shamed into going back after the snow storm. Rubio launched into the Obama changing America talking point for the third time, and Christie said, There it is again.

Some in the audience began to boo Rubio when his talking point again. Christie said that Rubio has never been responsible for a decision a day in his life. The exchange was a disaster for Rubio as Christie exposed him as a preprogrammed robot who has no real answers.

3). Donald Trump Fights With Republican Donors

During a question on eminent domain, Donald Trump sounded like he knew what he was talking about when Jeb Bush jumped in and told Trump that he tried to use eminent domain to take an old ladys property so that he could build a limo parking lot for one of his casinos.

The crowd booed, and Trump said that they are all Jebs donors. Then Trump let the cat out of the bag. The entire debate audience is made up of Republican donors. Trump then told the Republican donors that he doesnt need their money because he is doing it on his own. Trump went to war with the Republican donor class, which will only help him with Republican voters.

4). Republicans tell 68% of Americans That They Are Wrong To Want Higher Taxes On The Rich

The Republican candidates flat out told the 68% of American voters that they are wrong to want to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Marco Rubio claimed that nothing could be helped by increasing taxes. Jeb Bush warned that instead of raising taxes on the wealthy we need to create more millionaires with what he called a prosperity society. Bush rambled on about rising up and generally avoided admitting that he wants to cut taxes on the wealthy. Chris Christie said that New Jersey raised taxes on the wealthy, and the state lost $70 million in wealth. Republicans made it clear that they are the party of cutting taxes for the rich, and raising taxes on everyone else.

Telling 68% of the country that they are wrong is not a winning strategy for November.

5). Cruz Promises To Get Rid Of All Of Obamas Illegal Executive Actions

Ted Cruz claimed that President Obama was engaging in an illegal use of his executive powers. He promised to get rid of President Obamas illegal, restrictions on the Second Amendment and illegal executive amnesty. Nothing that Obama did was illegal, but for the facts-optional Cruz making President Obama look like a criminal was an easy pandering tactic. Cruz also promised to repeal the ACA and take healthcare away from 22 million Americans and pass a flat tax that will be a huge tax cut for the rich and a tax hike on everyone else.
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Chris Christie obliterated the Republican establishments best chance of stopping Donald Trump and Ted Cruz during an ugly exchange at the ABC Republican presidential debate that had to leave Democrats smiling.

Video:

Things got ugly in a hurry between Chris Christie and Marco Rubio. Rubio was asked about his lack of experience and accomplishments that demonstrate that he is ready to be president. Rubio launched into a prepared talking point about Obama knowing exactly what he is doing with a systematic effort to change America.

Christie responded that being a governor is a different experience. Christie said that Rubio has not been involved in a single decision where he had to be held accountable. Christie called out Rubio for truancy and not showing up to vote. Christie said he likes Rubio, but he doesnt have the experience to make these decisions.

Rubio blasted Christie for destroying New Jerseys credit rating, then launched back into his talking point about Obama intentionally trying to change America. Christie responded and called Rubio out for using a memorized 25-second speech that was exactly what his advisers gave him. Rubio slammed Christie for having to be shamed into going back after the snow storm. Rubio launched into the Obama changing America talking point for a third time, and Christie said, There it is again.

Some in the audience began to boo Rubio when his talking point again. Christie said that Rubio has never been responsible for a decision a day in his life. The exchange was a disaster for Rubio as Christie exposed him as a preprogrammed robot who has no real answers.

Christie is kneecapping Rubio and blowing up the best change that the establishment of the Republican Party has to stop Cruz and Trump.
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One notices that it is becoming standard operating procedure for any opinion writer to note that they are not corrupt, not criminals, not Koch brother subversives, or paid Wall Street operatives every single time they write about Senator Bernie Sanders; unless they genuflect and while praising him as a messiah. Yesterday, Nobel Laureate, noted liberal economist, and New York Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman stopped short of issuing what is becoming a standard disclaimer that he is not a corrupt Wall Street activist, but he did spend his 800 words hitting back at Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) critics; particularly those on the extreme left.

Krugman took a fair amount of heat a week or so ago when he first defended Obamacare and explained, as an acclaimed economist, why scrapping the Presidents signature healthcare reform law for an already dead attempt at Medicare-for-all socialized healthcare. Krugman, like most liberals understands that single payer is one means of insuring most Americans, but he is also realistic enough to comprehend that in this, and the foreseeable future, political environment socialized medicine will not reach fruition.

What bothered Krugman, besides Obamacare not receiving adequate funding, is that besides single payers dead-before arrival chances, a fair amount of criticism is coming from the left. In fact, Krugman is puzzled why Senator Sanders is proposing re-litigating a hard-fought Democratic healthcare reform law for single-payer as a centerpiece of his campaign. Krugman rightly says that this fantasy has led to attacks on Obamacare from wrong-headed liberals. Wrong-headed may be too strong a word for sensitive emoprogs; politically ignorant and angry may be a more apt adjective.

Krugman did give the single payer proposal a fair hearing and noted that due to insufficient funding the ACA still leaves Americans uninsured. He also said that after a monumental battle, the biggest challenge for America is to address covering more Americans in a political feasible way that also continues bringing down healthcare costs; costs that he claims are being controlled much better than even reform advocates ever expected. Even Krugman hoping for more funding for Obamacare is likely wrong-headed as long as Republicans control the House, but he does acknowledge it may take many years before Republicans agree to provide more funding for a healthcare system; any healthcare system.

Krugman makes it clear that scrapping Obamacare and going to a single-payer is a pipe dream and asserts that the people on the left joining Koch Republicans condemning the ACA are Senator Sanders supporters. He wrote,

A lot of what I hear from the left is not so much a complaint about how the reform falls short as outrage that private insurers get to play any role. The idea seems to be that any role for the profit motive taints the whole effort. The point is to help the uninsured, not to punish or demonize insurance companies.

It is worth reminding Americans that if private insurance companies were not part of Obamacare, like they are part of Medicare and Medicaid, there would be no healthcare reform whatsoever. In fact, what seems lost on the EmoProg movement is that even with private insurance company involvement in Obamacare, Medicare, and Medicaid, Republicans have spent the past nearly six years doing everything in their considerable power to get rid of not only Obamacare, but Medicare as well. One is just baffled beyond comprehension why anyone in America would think for a second that any Republican will ever support raising trillions in taxes to fund a Medicare for all system; arguably a government socialized system when they want any healthcare system eviscerated.

Krugman ended his screed with a valid complaint about the manner in which anyone defending the current system is demonized by Sanders supporters. He wrote,

One unpleasant, ugly side of this debate has been the tendency of some Sanders supporters, and sometimes the campaign itself, to suggest that anyone raising questions about the senators proposals must be a corrupt tool of vested interests.

As a campaign ploy, Krugman joins many Democrats in fearing that it is precisely the kind of tactic that will do harm in the general election and divide people who are essentially on the same side. And, Krugman fears, may quite possibly harm the long-term prospects of preserving what he considers the single greatest achievement in social policy in decades.

This divisive ploy, and it is a ploy conservatives are aiding and abetting, is, like it or not, being promoted by the Sanders campaign just as Krugman intimates. Dont believe it? When House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said raising taxes on the middle class to fund a single payer was not going to happen, Senator Sanders responded that anyone who does not embrace his politically inviable plan is disingenuous.

Disingenuous means insincere and deceitful; typically by pretending to know less about something than one really does. Obviously, Nancy Pelosi was not being deceitful or pretending to know less than she really does; especially about the political environment she fought to enact a fifty year Democratic goal. For dogs sake even though Pelosi has wanted a single payer for thirty years, she was instrumental in helping push healthcare reform through considerable Republican and conservative Democrat opposition in the House in 2010. And, she knows that Americans, particularly Republicans, are not about to support massive tax hikes for socialized, government-provided, healthcare. But even that is not the point.

It is looking more and more like, according to Senator Sanders, not embracing his plan makes the likes of Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, Nancy Pelosi, House and Senate Democrats, myriad liberal websites and political experts all very insincere and deceitful Americans. That list also includes any American who has been conscious over the past three decades and aware that no Republican, and most Democrats, will not impose massive tax hikes on the rich and middle class to pay for socialized medicine; at least not in this decade or political landscape.

Being aware of that reality, and daring to vocalize it within earshot of a Sanders supporter, does not make one deceitful, or a paid shill of the Kochs, Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Wall Street. What it makes them is pragmatists who have sat and watched Republicans do everything in their power to wipe out Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, and now they are watching disgruntled liberals join Republicans in criticizing and hoping to scrap something Krugman rightly called the single greatest achievement in social policy in decades.
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The political spotlight is heading to Flint, Michigan as CNN will host a debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on March 6.

Video:

CNN announced that they will be hosting and internationally televising the debate from Flint:

The internationally televised event on March 6 will take place two days before the Michigan and Mississippi primaries and is part of a broader deal reached by Clinton and Sanders to add more DNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates to the schedule.

Our Democratic candidates have run spirited campaigns focused on how to best move our country forward, and our upcoming debate in Flint, Michigan is a critical setting to highlight whats at stake in these elections, said DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. This debate is an opportunity to elevate the very serious issues facing the residents of Flint, and its also an opportunity to remind voters what Democratic leadership can do for the economy  so that everyone in America has a fair shot.

This will be a rare presidential debate that is less about the candidates running for the presidential nomination. The debate will be used to bring pressure and attention to the crisis in Flint.

The Clinton campaign first proposed that Democrats debate in Flint. The Clinton camp suggested that a debate be used to bring attention to the crisis in Flint, Weve agreed to an additional debate in NH and are currently in discussions to agree to additional debates  we think one of them should be in Flint. We should use the spotlight of the presidential campaign to keep the focus on Flint, and to lift up the historic underlying issues that Flint and too many other predominantly low-income communities of color across America are struggling with every day.

Hopefully, Clinton and Sanders will get the chance to contrast themselves with their potential Republican opponents and show the world the difference between Democrats and Republicans on the basic issue of public health and welfare.

In less than a month, the eyes of the world will be on Flint as Democrats are using their presidential debate platform in an honorable way to call attention to the worst public health crisis in modern American history.
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Donald Trump told the world Saturday night at the GOP debate, in answer to an attack from Ted Cruz earlier this week, that he had the best temperament to be commander in chief.

Though Cruz declined to repeat the attack, there is no reason to believe his opinion has changed. Perhaps he just doesnt like to insult people to their faces. Because we know how he feels about that.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham would also beg to differ with Trump, and delivered his verdict on a Ted Cruz presidency Thursday for Wolf Blitzer on CNN. According to Graham, a Cruz foreign policy would be just as wrong as Obama, if not worse.

You know, because nobody likes peace.

Asked if Cruz was worse than Trump, Graham told Blitzer, I dont know if anybody is worse than Trump, whose worldview is complete gibberish. This has the virtue of being true, though it doesnt mean much when worldview of pretty much any Republican you care to name is complete gibberish.

Of course, the problem with Obamas foreign policy is that it is pragmatic, based on reality rather than on rigid ideology. How could it be anything other than gibberish as well? Reality? Seriously? Republicans cant comprehend reality.

You have to wonder how objective Grahams opinion of Cruz was, opining that In Ted Cruzs world, dictators do very well. In point of fact  and the historical record will bear this out  friendly dictators always do well with American foreign policy, because theyre usually seen as holding back forces that are far worse  for America.

Certainly Graham is right about Cruz being an opportunist and somebody who gets ahead at our expense (of people like Graham) and who will run down other Republicans to for self-aggrandizement. Weve seen plenty of evidence of that.

Nobody likes Cruz, not only Donald Trump, and CNN was already reporting in January that prominent senators are sharpening their knives against Ted Cruz.

Cruz only proved Graham right before the caucuses by lying about Ben Carson dropping out of the race, and then compounding that lie at Saturdays debate by trying to blame it all on CNN when he got caught. This is a truly despicable human being.

Still, you have to take Grahams opinions with a grain of salt, because out of the top 3 in the Iowa caucuses, Graham went with Rubio, the former Wunderkind who would be Wunderkind again if everybody else would just go away:

Marco, he said, has a worldview consistent with reason and reality versus the other two.

Um, no, actually he doesnt. This is the Rubio who claimed other nations would support him when he ripped up the Iran nuclear deal. You mean those nations that helped broker the deal in the first place? As The New York Times pointed out, this was pure wishful thinking.

And apparently it doesnt bother Graham that out of them all, Rubio seems to enjoy actually showing up to do the job he is paid to do, least of all. Cruz isnt exactly a workaholic, per his voting record, but its anyones guess what Rubio does when hes supposed to be in the Senate.

All this illustrates an across-the-board problem with Republican governance in the twenty first century: reality avoidance. Graham complains other Republicans are out of touch but he hasnt shown any of us where he is exactly in touch with our shared reality. None of them are. They cant be and claim to be Republicans.

Complete gibberish Trumps worldview is, and that of bomb till the sands glow Cruz too, but you wont find anything better than either of these in the entire Republican field. The GOP has wedded itself completely to something that can be defined and supported by the Fox News bubble, the math Republicans do to feel better about themselves.

None of this works in the real world: Carpet bombing, walls, invasions, nuking Denmark, letting Israel control Americas foreign policy.

Consider Trump and Cruz compared to some other GOP offerings: Rubio wants to enforce a Syrian no-fly zone even over the Russians, something of which Putin is likely to take a very dim view. Cant see where any risks are attached to that plan.

Its one very bad idea after another and its just a matter of sorting out which option is worse than the next. None of them will have happy consequences. And yes, Benjamin Netanyahu will remain a threat to any American foreign policy. That difference is, a Democrat will not let Netanyahu make his decisions for him.

The United States needs more than any Republicans campaign slogans and sound bites but were not going to get it from people in complete denial of reality.

Chris Christie told Marco Rubio Saturday during the GOP debate that Marco, the thing is this. When youre president of the United States, when youre a governor of a state, the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesnt solve one problem for one person.

Nor does it make a foreign policy.

Lindsey Graham complained Trumps worldview is complete gibberish, but the only thing any Republican promises us is a foreign policy cobbled together out of dishonest campaign slogans and sound bites. Dont expect more than that from any of them.
Yes, at the GEC voting center at the Westin.

Yes, at one of the satellite voting centers open on Saturdays.

No; I'm voting on Nov. 8.

No; I'm not voting in the general election.

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Interesting tidings in the media the last 24 hours that suggest a smoldering volcano of Democratic discontent and near panic. The Democratic establishment has cleared the field for Hillary, and shes having trouble putting away Bernie Sanders! If she cant handle Bernie Sanders, how will she match up with a Republican nominee?

Colbert King, a reliable liberal columnist at the Washington Post, sends out the message:

Clinton email scandal: Why it might be time for Democrats to draft Joe Biden The Hillary Clinton email issue is developing into a real whodunit, complete with Clintonesque legal semantics. I never sent or received any material marked classified, she said with respect to the discovery of classified information on her private, unclassified email server. That surface denial nearly rivals Bill Clintons classic: I did not have sexual relations with that woman. But this is no laughing matter. . .

After reviewing how problematic Hillarys account of the matter is, King closes with this:

Just a thought: As a precaution, the manager in the White House dugout might consider telling the bullpen to start warming up Joe Biden.

Hillary is also resisting releasing any texts of her Goldman Sachs speeches, which are bidding to be come the Mitt Romney tax returns of this cycle. From the New York Times:

In response to a question at Thursday nights debate, Hillary Clinton said she would look into the possibility of releasing transcripts of her paid remarks to banking, corporate and financial services companies like Goldman Sachs. But by Friday morning, it did not appear that much looking was underway. Joel Benenson, Mrs. Clintons pollster, gave little indication at a Wall Street Journal breakfast with reporters that the transcripts would be forthcoming. I dont think voters are interested in the transcripts of her speeches, he said. Whether they are made public is up to the Clinton campaign. Speaking contracts typically give the speaker the right to decide whether any material from a particular speech can be shared beyond the room. Goldman Sachs, for one, declined to make an on-the-record statement.

Ill bet these speeches include a lot of slobbering from the Dowager Countess of Chappaqua about the greatness and genius of Goldman Sachs. Over to you, Bernie.
The Rivers State Police Command has successfully rescued Austin Ajah and Winifred Frank few hours after they were kidnapped on Saturday at about 6:19 p.m. near Siat Palm farm in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area.

The victims were returning from Owerri to Port Harcourt after attending a wedding.

A patriotic citizen, who from a hiding place witnessed the incident, informed the police that kidnappers whisked away the victims abandoning their vehicle, Lexus jeep RX 300 by the road side.

The police after recovering the vehicle got information sequel to robust intelligence that the victims were blind-folded and locked up in the house of Onyekachi Okpara, who is the leader of the gang in Omerelu town.

They quickly mobilised and stormed the house at about 1:15 a.m. of 07/02/2016, rescued the victims and arrested Kingsley Bassey m 23 years, who was guarding the victims. A big locally made revolver pistol with four live cartridges were recovered from him.

Interrogation of Kingsley Bassey led to the subsequent arrest of his six other accomplices namely Nduzi Igoni m 25 years, Ogechi Onyeso m 24 years, Godbless John m 24 years, Saturday Isiah m 22 years, Gabriel Dimgba m 26 years and Onyekachi Okpara m 25 years

The rescued victims while describing their ordeal in captivity as a horrible moment they could not wish even their enemy to experience, expressed their appreciation to the police for fearlessly and timely coming to their rescue. They further urged for continued cooperation of members of the public to the police especially in terms of volunteering timely and reliable information to the police.

The suspects would be charged to court immediately after conclusion of the ongoing investigation.
A lawmaker has asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to resign while he faces his corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

Kabiru Marafa, a leader of the Unity Forum, a caucus of All Progressives Congress, APC, senators opposed to the emergence of Mr. Saraki as the Senate President, stated this on Saturday night in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

The caucus, which Mr. Marafa has emerged as its most outspoken member, also includes Suleiman Hunkunyi and Ahmed Lawan ,who was favoured by the party to become the Senate President.

Mr. Marafas statement, Saturday night, follows the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the trial of Mr. Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal CCT.

The apex court on Friday dismissed Mr. Sarakis appeal against the competence and constitution of the CCT to try him for a 13-count charge of false asset declaration.

Mr. Saraki, who was being tried at the CCT by the federal government, had asked to Supreme Court to halt the trial.

Although Mr. Marafa noted that Mr. Saraki had the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise; yet, he said before he is disgraced out he should honourably resign to save the image of the National Assembly and salvage national pride.

The Senate should have understanding with Senator Saraki, Mr. Marafa said. Whats happening at the Code of Conduct Tribunal has nothing to do with the Unity Forum; its between him and the State. And countrys law says hes presumed innocent until proven to otherwise.

However, he observed that the issue has reached a critical stage where Mr. Sarakis corruption trial had questioned the Senates credibility and Nigerias pride.

By reason of omission or commission, Saraki has pushed himself to a position of disadvantage. By moving from one court to the other up to the Supreme and got himself knocked out, what it portrays is that the Senate under Senator Saraki is fast losing credibility.

The most honourable thing for Saraki is to resign and face his prosecution. If he wins, the seat is always there and he can be re-elected again if those that supported him truly believe he is the best person for the position. And if not, he will remain a senator like he was in the 7th Assembly. Is it a must that he become Senate President?

Shortly after the Supreme Court judgement, Mr. Saraki announced his disappointment with the ruling.

Against this background, Mr. Marafa condemned the Senate President whom he accused of having no respect for the apex court as the chief lawmaker of the country.

Mr. Marafa (APC-Zamfara State), was also questioned on his statement that Saraki should go before hes disgraced out, and asked if there were moves by his caucus to remove the senate president.

I am sure you know theres something called national pride? he said in response. How do you feel to see your number 3 man being docked for corruption charges,

He has done a lot of damage to the Senate from the forgery of Senate rules to the illegal composition of the committees.

The Senate should lead by example. Nobody has the right to increase number of the committees. But Saraki just woke up one day to increase them to 65 to satisfy those that made him.

When I raised it, he said he noted it. We are still noting it till today. The committees are illegal.

When his reaction was sought, Mr. Sarakis media assistant, Bankole Omishore, said questions should be directed to the Like Minds caucus, a pro-Saraki group of lawmakers.

In his reaction, Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi State), who speaks for Like Minds caucus, attacked Mr. Marafa and said there was no case for resignation.

Marafa is a clown and perhaps lives on cheap drugs, he said.

The case at the CCT is not about Saraki; rather, its about the Senate. And we will not fold our arms to mess up with the Senate.

The Senate is stable and Saraki has the support of most of the Senators.
The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt by suspected sea pirates to hijack and abduct 25 foreign nationals aboard a Maersk merchant ship carrying general cargo to Nigeria.

Briefing journalists on Sunday at Onne Sea Port, Rivers, Olusegun Soyemi, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, said the vessel berth safely with the rescued crew members unharmed.

Mr. Soyemi said the crew members, including the ships captain, were of mixed nationalities consisting of eight Philippines, eight South Africans, five Indians, two Britons and two from Thailand.

According to him, Safmarine Kuramo, a Maersk merchant ship registered in Singapore, was transporting general cargo from Port-Noire, Congo, to Onne Sea Port in Rivers.

On Jan. 5 at about 08:00 hours; Safmarine Kuramo was attacked by sea pirates about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Bonny Island (in Rivers) Fairway Bouy.

We got may-day distress call that the ship was boarded by unconfirmed number of sea pirates after entering the nations territorial waters.

We immediately dispatched a warship (NNS Centenary) and attack gunboats led by Navy Capt. Chiedozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command to rescue the situation.

The sea pirates apparently on sighting advancing naval troops fled the scene for fear of being arrested by our operatives.

The operation was largely successful as all 25 foreign crew members, including the captain, are safe and unhurt, while cargo onboard the ship is intact, he said.

Mr. Soyemi,a Navy Captain, said the pirates had fired several gunshots at the ships control room apparently to scare and subdue any resistance from the captain and crew members.

Also, the Commanding Officer of NNS Centenary, Chiedozie Okehie, who led the operation, said the crew members locked and hid themselves in the ships citadel (engine room).

He said the rescue was successful partly due to the courage and bravery exhibited by the ships captain  a woman.

According to him, in spite all odds, she covertly gave navy operatives briefs while pirates on board the ship made several attempt to break into the citadel.

`Immediately we got to the ship, we carried out thorough searches of the compartments and cabins to check if any pirate had remained onboard.

Investigations are ongoing to ascertain what happened and who carried out the attack, he assured.

Mr. Okehie said the navy under the command of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas remained fully committed to safety of the nations waterways and maritime environment.

Speaking, the Captain of Safmarine Kuramo, Zetta Gous-Conradie, a South African, described the experience as horrific.

Ms. Gous-Conradie hailed the Nigerian Navy for its prompt response to her distress call.

We are very grateful when the navy came onboard because at some point we had thought the pirates would take us hostage.

The heat was stifling because the temperature was very hot at the citadel, and at some point my crew members and I had thought we would suffocate and die, she said.

(NAN)
The Presidency on Sunday stated that it will welcome well-meaning criticism of its policies, budget and expenditure.

Reacting to the mounting criticism of some controversial allocation in the 2016 Appropriation Bill currently being debated by the National Assembly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement that criticism is the only way the Muhammadu Buhari administration will achieve the change promised Nigerian.

He said copies of the budget were at the National Assembly and the website of the budget office and Nigerians who are interested can read it with a view of making observations.

However, in what is his second response to a report by PREMIUM TIMES that the 2016 budget proposal, currently being debated at the National Assembly, allocated more funds for capital projects at the State House Medical Centre than all teaching hospitals in the country, Mr. Shehu said the budget office confirmed that more money was allocated to the teaching hospitals than the State House hospital.

In reaction to a newspaper story that said: 2016 Budget: Buhari to spend more on State House Clinic than on all federal government-owned teaching hospitals, the Budget Office supplied a summary of the allocations to the various sectors under the Ministry of Health, which showed clearly that the published story was inaccurate. The budget office has affirmed that in terms of both capital and recurrent allocations, the draft budget has put far more money in the 17 teaching hospitals than it did in the State House Clinic, he said.

As explained after the original statement by Mr Shehu, PREMIUM TIMES maintains that at no time did our story compared both recurrent and capital allocations to the teaching hospitals with those of the State House clinic. Our report specifically compared the allocation for capital projects of the State House clinic to allocation for capital projects of the teaching hospitals.

Just like we stated in our story, we maintain that the presidency proposed to spend more on capital projects at the State House clinic than it proposed to spend in all teaching hospitals combined.

Budget not perfect

In the statement, Mr. Shehu admitted that the budget may contain some imperfection and that the government is open to corrections from Nigerian.

We are not by any stretch of imagination suggesting that the draft budget is beyond comments or reproach. Nor do we wish to dwell on this simply to make a point.

To do that will drive away good citizens from pointing out needed corrections and, ultimately defeating the change mantra of the administration, he said.

The budget is a Nigerian budget and citizens reserve the right to examine its content and provide their own perspectives.

As the draft goes through the approval process, this and many other aspects will continue to generate interest, criticism, commendation and sometimes condemnation in discussions in the parliament, the media and the court of public opinion. We believe that the process of change will be affected by, and stands to gain from these debates especially where there is good faith on all sides.

Government has no reason whatsoever to mislead the citizens on the budget and on all other matters for whatever reason, he added.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an appeal to Access to Information (AI) Appeals Board against the World Banks decision dated November 25, 2015 to provide patently insufficient information on the spending of recovered stolen funds by the late General Sani Abacha.

The organisation said it considered the decision a serious violation of the AI Policy, as it amounts to improper or unreasonable restriction of access to information.

In the appeal dated February 5, 2016 and signed by SERAP deputy executive director, Olukayode Majekodunmi, the organisation said, Following receipt of several documents from the World Bank totalling over 700 pages on the Abacha loot, SERAP commenced independent investigations and verification of some of the information supplied with appropriate agencies and institutions of government.

The appeal reads in part: SERAP is concerned that the World Bank failed and/or neglected to provide several portions of the information requested on the spending of recovered Abacha loot managed by the Bank.

SERAP notes that one of the guiding principles of the Policy on Access to Information (AI Policy) is recognizing the right to an appeals process when a request for information in the World Banks possession is improperly or unreasonably denied.

SERAP argues that there is a strong public interest case here to override the corporate administrative matters, deliberative information or financial information exceptions of the AI Policy if the information being requested falls under one of these exceptions.

SERAP believes that it is not harmful for the Bank to disclose specific details of the information requested. SERAP also notes that the sole remedy available to those who prevail in the appeals process is to receive the information requested.

SERAP therefore requested the Access to Information (AI) Appeals Board to exercise its prerogative and allow disclosure of the following specific information and any feedback from the World Bank Evaluation Team on the issues below:

1. Evidence and list of the 23 projects allegedly completed with recovered Abacha loot, and whether the 26 projects where actually completed; and what became of the 2 abandoned projects.

2. Evidence and location of the 8 health centres built with recovered Abacha loot reviewed by the World Bank

3. Evidence and location of the 18 power projects confirmed by the World Bank

4. How the $50million Abacha loot received before 2005 kept in the special account was spent

5. Evidence and location of schools which benefited from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in the amount of N24.25 billion

6. Evidence and location of the 13 road projects completed with the recovered Abacha loot, including the names of the 3 of the largest road and bridge projects in each geo-political zone.
The immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is not a fugitive but a lawfully retired officer of the Nigerian Army, his Lawyer confirms.

Mr. Dasuki legally left the Army in 1994 and his exit in the military was officially gazetted by the Federal government through the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1999.

Responding to an allegation that the Ex-NSA was a fugitive and being currently held by the Department of State Service (DSS) on alleged breach of army service rule, counsel to Mr. Dasuki, Ahmed Raji, claimed that the allegation was a fallacy and a concocted lie to confuse the court as the prosecution has no answer to the well-grounded objection raised by the defence.

The lawyer claimed that the allegation of fugitive against Dasuki cannot hold water or stand in the face of the law in view of the official gazette of the Federal Government that confirmed his retirement from the military.

It is curious that the prosecution counsel who initially claimed ignorance of the reason behind the denial of bail is now coming up with these excuses I am tempted to believe that my learned friend Mr. Rotimi Jacob SAN must be genuinely mixing-up facts or mistake of identity.

The lawyer further added that: The allegation is baseless, unwarranted and malicious because his exit was in the gazette of the Federal government. We accordingly urge those holding Dasuki in the custody in flagrant disobedience to the court order that granted him bail to have a rethink and respect the rule of law.

A counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the trial of Dasuki on alleged money laundering, Rotimi Jacob, had last Thursday told Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf that Mr. Dasuki was being detained by DSS in spite of the bail granted him by the judge because of his past in the military.

Mr. Jacob specifically told the court that Mr. Dasuki went on an exile for seven years and that during the period he allegedly breached the army service rules.

Meanwhile, PRNigeria gathered that former military dictator, late General Sani Abacha held Mr. Dasuki in contempt and marked him down for persecution, when he (Dasuki) opened up his mind on the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election and that the winner of the election, late Moshood Abiola, be installed as Nigerian President.

Mr. Dasuki was among the officers who confronted late Sani Abacha and insisted that late Abiola be freed and allowed to become President over the June 12, 1993 President election. This led to the premature retirement of Mr. Dasuki and other officers in 1994.

The persecution that followed forced him into exile where he joined forces with other patriotic Nigerians to claim for the return of democracy in Nigeria. Some top politicians in the current administration also fled into exile to sustain campaigns for the enthronement of democracy. Mr. Dasuki and others were declared wanted by the Abacha police.

Meanwhile in an official Gazette No 33 Volume 86, Mr. Dasuki was granted clemency and pardon along with others on March 4, 1999 by General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the then Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces for their innocence and meritorious service to their fatherland.
A suspected burglar arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command has said that he moved out of his parents home because of the poverty-stricken condition of the environment.

Joseph David, 20, was arrested in Ikeja at about 4.40 a.m., Saturday, after he had successfully burgled two flats in Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja, where he allegedly stole three laptops and five mobile phones.

The police said in a statement, Sunday, that Mr. David was returning to his hotel (name withheld) at the Dopemu area where he had been lodging for over a month when he was arrested.

I was returning to the hotel when I was accosted on Awolowo Way by RRS operatives and they stopped to check my bag, Mr. David, who hails from Ekpoma, Edo State, said in his confessional statement to the police.

They found one Mac laptop; two HP laptops, two iPhone 5; one blackberry classic and two Nokia Touch phones.

The house I broke into is a two storey building behind Jabita Hotel in Balogun, Ikeja. I scaled its fence around 3:00 a.m. and I finished the operation around 4:00 a.m.

Mr. David said he had broken into other houses in the Balogun area in the past, and had stolen handsets and laptops.

He also said he pays N240,000 monthly to service his hotel bills.

I am into yahoo yahoo but money has not been forthcoming like before. I could barely make N100,000 and N50,000 like before. That is why I used break in and steal to augment my earning.

I stay in the hotel with my girlfriend and a couple of friends come around. Benjamin is the only buyer that I have. I have been an embarrassment to my parents.

The police said investigations revealed that there had been repeated cases of burglary around Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja.

Benjamin Odinaka, a phone repairer at the Computer Village in Ikeja, who was also arrested by the police said he usually buys phones and laptops from Mr. David at the latters hotel rooms.

This is the third time that I would be buying laptops and phones from him, said Mr. Odinaka, 18.

I have bought more than seven laptops and several phones. The last time I bought a Mac laptop, an HP laptop, an iphone 5 and a blackberry phone from him.

A resident of Gbajobi Street whose belongings were stolen said burglary had been on the rise in the area.

Daily, we hear report of burglars in houses around us. We dont know this guy and we have not met him before, said the resident who identified himself simply as Daniel.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, the Lagos State Police Command would continue to work hard to ensure the successes recorded so far in the area of security is consolidated and improved upon.

The suspects have been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SAS) for more investigation.
The Buhari administration has been very embarrassed by criticisms that have greeted the proposed 2016 budget, and has vowed to deal with top civil servants responsible for smuggling frivolous allocations into the budget, a senior administration official within the presidency has told PREMIUM TIMES.

According to the official, those involved in the fraudulent padding of the costs of budgeted items, or wholesale injection of questionable line items into the proposed budget, face imminent sack.

The source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said top civil servants who have constituted themselves into a budget mafia were responsible for inserting over-priced line items into the budget, thereby exposing the presidency to ridicule.

Besides its huge deficit, the 2016 budget proposal has been widely criticised for its failure to depart from a well-known tradition of wasteful allocation of funds that characterised past budgets.

Several news reports have shown the proposed budget to be replete with over-priced allocations, repetitions of line items and spendings surprisingly skewed to the advantage of top government officials.

On Tuesday, a PREMIUM TIMES analysis of the budget revealed that the administration proposed to spend more on capital projects at the State House Medical Centre, than it would spend on all 16 university teaching hospitals in Nigeria.

The presidency proposed to spend N3.87 billion on capital projects at the hospital, which is only used by the families of the President and Vice President, their personal staff and few privileged government officials. The amount is N787million more than the cumulative capital allocation to all 16 teaching hospitals.

Our source said from the outset, the top bureaucrats, who are adept in systemic corrupt practices were bent on scuttling the President Muhammadu Buharis avowed financial prudence during the preparation of the budget.

After learning that the presidency was considering a large budget of possibly N8 trillion in order to significantly increase capital expenditure, bureaucrats brought a proposal of N9.7 Trillion for overhead and capital spending even without personnel spending, the source said.

Of the proposed N9.7 Trillion, the bureaucrats planned to spend an alarming N3 Trillion on overhead alone, but the presidency eventually slashed this to N163B lower by 8% than 2015 budget which was N177B, indicating massive cut of some of the main provisions by the Buhari presidency.

Bureaucrats also proposed to spend N2.1 Trillion on personnel for the 2016 estimates compared to about N1.8 Trillion in the 2015 budget. But the presidency also cut this down to N1.7 Trillion in the final estimates sent to the legislature.

According to the source, despite efforts by the president to cut out the excesses in the budget, these Budget Mafia were relentless in their resolve to smuggle in dubious items into the budget.

The situation and its fallout were so bad that it provoked the annoyance of the president who nonetheless kept his cool buying time so as to meet the target date for the presentation of the budget in line with extant laws and regulations governing the budget process.

For weeks after the minister was sworn in, the bureaucrats kept planning on the old budget model, stalling the decision to use the Zero-Based Budget until the new Minister found out from the presidency. This stalling led to the waste of valuable time and sources said the bureaucrats had calculated that once time becomes of essence, the presidency would be forced to abandon the Zero-Based Budget.

However, the presidency regrouped the budget planning efforts around the concept of Zero-Based Budget by early December when the Budget Minister now aware of the Zero-Based Budget took control and leadership of the process.

Experts and consultants disclosed over the weekend that even after that some of the bureaucrats did not cooperate taking longer than required time to come back with revisions to their estimates that were recommended and ratified by the presidency. In the process many of the provisions already marked down for revision simply got snuck in, effectively pushing the presidency in the defensive in the backlash in the public arena.
The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has assured his officers of the safety of their funds in the Nigerian Police Mortgage Bank.

Mr. Arase, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday, through the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, said the mortgage bank was in a sound condition and has since distributed shares certificates to investors.

The police chief was reacting to a complaint by a PREMIUM TIMES reader that long after money were deducted from the salaries of police officers, nothing has been heard about the funds.

The only money the police deducted from the police officers salaries was in 2013 and it was for the purchase of shares in the Police Mortgage Bank, the police chief said.

It was voluntary and meant for officers who were interested in buying shares from the bank. They were asked to fill forms indicating the amount they intended to buy.

However, N11,000 was the minimum amount any investor was required to buy the shares and the money was deducted from their salaries within a period of two months.

Some officers bought more than N11,000 worth of the shares and so it is not correct for anybody to say he doesnt know what is being done with the money.

Before the forms were distributed, Mr. Arase said, officials of the bank and relevant police officers carried out a sensitisation programme in police commands and formations across the country.

It was after officers and men were fully mobilised and sensitised that the bank started issuing forms for voluntary investment in its shares.

However, he argued that the officer who made the complaint might not have received his certificate.

Reminded that shares which were purchased in 2013 should have started yielding dividends, the police boss said he does not know whether dividends have been paid since he does not interfere in the banks operations.

I collected my shares certificate last year but I have not seen any dividend warrant. I dont know where the officer making the complaint is and why he has not gotten his certificate.

Police officers who have not collected their certificates should contact their Mechanised Salary Section, MSS, because I learnt some of the certificates were sent to the MSS across the country.

I think the person might have been posted away from where he had subscribed for the shares and so I would advise that the officer goes to his last MSS or the MSS in his present command and ask.

I am sure he will get it. The MSS will get to the bank and then advise him accordingly. I can assure our officers that the bank is functional and their investment is secure.
The Borno Government says it will offer nursery and primary school scholarships to 23,000 orphans taking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

Ahmed Satomi, the Chairman, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, disclosed this on Sunday in Maiduguri in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mr. Satomi said the gesture was aimed at catering for the education of the vulnerable children who did not have anybody to sponsor their education.

He said the orphans, who were unaccompanied children found in various Boko Haram liberated towns, would be engaged in meaningful activities that would make them forget their traumatic experience.

The SEMA official explained that the agency, in collaboration with other Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, was doing everything possible to cater for the welfare of the orphaned children.

The children are all Boko Haram victims; some of their parents were killed while some of them had fled without any traces.

We are doing what we can through our Child Protection Centre that offers training, counselling and other psychosocial support for the children.

The Ministry for Women Affairs is helping us a lot in this regard.

We also have NGOs like Save the Children, UNICEF, Red Cross, UNDP and WHO which are working round the clock to provide good healthcare services and other supports, he said.

Mr. Satomi said SEMA had separate kitchen for children where good foods were prepared and served to them. He expressed the hope that the living parents of the unaccompanied children would soon be identified.

With the recent mop-up exercise by the military and the liberation of IDPs from Cameroon, Dikwa, Gwoza and Bama, we are sure that some of the parents of these children would be identified, he said.

Also, in Adamawa, Haruna Furo, the Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, said on Sunday that about 90 per cent of IDPS in the various camps in the state had returned home.

Mr. Furo, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola, said the affected persons were from seven local government areas of the state.

Following recapturing of the areas and return of normalcy, about 90 per cent of the displaced persons in the camps have left.

The displaced persons that remain in the camps are those whose villages are at the fringes of Sambisa, who felt it is still not safe to go back home, Mr. Furo said.

Also an official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the state, Saad Bello, said that the displaced persons that remained at the camps were those recently evacuated from Cameroon.

With the return of peace in parts of the North East, many displaced persons have left the camps on their own; we assisted some of them with food and transport to go back home, Mr. Bello said.

He said not more than 10,000 of the 30,000 affected persons were still at the camps, adding that most of them were from Borno.

Mr. Bello said some of the displaced persons were, however, staying with their relations and friends.

He said that NEMA in collaboration with the state government and other international organisations, have been working to put some basic things, such as hospitals and schools in place for the returnees.

We are providing the returnees with little support, while resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected villages will be handled by the Presidential Committee, Mr. Bello said.

The Adamawa House of Assembly had passed a bill establishing the State Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency.

The agency, to be funded by the state government, would reconstruct damaged facilities and residential houses in Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Hong and Gombi.

The bill, sponsored by Hassan Barguma (APC-Hong) is aimed at alleviating the suffering of the affected communities.
The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and a serving Senator, Ben Bruce, on Sunday engaged in a twitter fight over the activities of the current government.

The fight was set off by a tweet posted by a popular tweeter user, Japhet Omojuwa, who tweeted that Ben Bruce should not be taken seriously.

The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Dont be Bruce, he said.

The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Dont be Bruce  JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) February 6, 2016

Responding, the Bayelsa Senator chose to use the recent comments credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that some Nigerians are giving the country a bad image by engaging in nefarious activities around the world.

While condemning the presidents comments, Mr. Bruce wrote on his twitter page that Your own minister spent 80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal.

Your own minister spent 80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal  Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2016

The tweet seemed apparently targeted at Mr. Amaechi whose administration was accused of spending N80 million to organised a dinner for Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.

Apparently sensing the jibe thrown at him by the Senator, Mr. Amaechi wasted no time in responding to Mr. Bruce; accusing him of being a coward.

A coward who is not bold enough to name the minister that he alleged criminally spent N80M on dinner is unfit to sit in our senate chambers, he said.

A coward who is not bold enough to name the minister that he alleged criminally spent N80M on dinner is unfit to sit in our senate chambers  Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) February 6, 2016

Mr. Amaechis spokesperson, David Iyofor, Sunday confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the twitter handle used in responding to Mr. Murray-Bruce (@ChibuikeAmaechi) belongs to the Minister of Transport.

He also said the Ministers response was triggered by Mr. Bruce.

The Senator responded to Mr. Amaechi by referring to the recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld the election of Nyesom Wike as governor, thereby, stifling the hope of the APC candidate and Mr. Amaechis ally, Dakuku Peterside.

He posted another tweet on his handle @benmurraybruce saying, When you have been Wiked, you become wicked! But you will always be my beloved brother, no matter how much you transfer the anger on me.

When you have been Wiked, you become wicked! But you will always be my beloved brother, no matter how much you transfer the anger on me.  Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 7, 2016

The Transport Minister reacted by accusing the Bayelsa Senator of only finding his voice on twitter while he is hardly seen contributing to debates in the Senate.

I will not respond to innuendos. Be courageous, name the minister. We know you talk here & do siddon look where you are elected to talk, he said.

I will not respond to innuendos. Be courageous, name the minister. We know you talk here & do siddon look where you are elected to talk  Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) February 7, 2016
Natives of the Nigerias capital, Abuja, have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately arrest the former Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed, and top officials of the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS, and Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, over the Senates revelations that they illegally allocated land to their cronies in green areas within Maitama district extension of Abuja.

In a statement on Sunday, the umbrella body of the natives, Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja, OIDA, said the allocation of land in green areas meant for natural conservation and tourism is a breach of public trust and gross violation of the Abuja master plan by the ex-minister, Bala, who coincidentally was charged with protecting such lands.

According to the statement signed by OIDA President, Danladi Jeji, this has vindicated our earlier stance against renaming of Maitama District Extension as Goodluck Jonathan District in 2012 because we discovered that it was meant to hoodwink ex-President Goodluck Jonathan into unknowingly validating massive corruption in the illegal sharing of land allocations in the district. We wondered then, why such a district was not named after the founder of the city, General Murtala Muhammed but named after a sitting president.

The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory chaired by Senator Dino Melaye had during the 2016 budget defence of the FCT on Friday, revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan and 29 others were allocated plots of land, in green areas meant for flora, fauna and tourism activities around Maitama district extension, in gross violation of the Abuja Master plan.

The Senate committee threatened to order immediate revocation of the affected plots of land located in the Maitama district extension. It said the plots of land deliberately allocated to Jonathan and others in a green area fell short of the expectations of the minister and other public officers in the FCT administration.

Senator Melaye listed other beneficiaries of similar plots to include late National Security Adviser, Andrew Owoeye Azazi; former Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke; former Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda; and the acting National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus.

He said the committee on FCT visited the area and saw workers erecting structures on the plots but directed that work should immediately stop on construction of buildings in the area.

OIDA expressed disappointment with AGIS and FCDA officials who kept mute while the rich and powerful violated the green areas but are quick to pounce on poor natives and residents who do same knowingly or unknowingly.

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack, order arrest and prosecution of the Director of AGIS, Jamila Tangaza, and Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Adamu Ismaila, for negligence of duty and failure to provide professional advice to the FCTA political leadership then.

The natives commended the Senator Dino Melaye-led Senate Committee on FCT for accurately unravelling the land fraud and urged them to be speedy in their investigation of the land swap, Centenary City projects and other land policies of the ex-minister, Bala Mohammed.

OIDA also says the directive by the current minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, that land allocation in Abuja should be issued only through the FCT Land Allocation Committee rather than his office, is in tandem with the act setting up the FCT, hence he should be encouraged.

The group also said it is compiling a dossier on serial violations of land allocation policies and Abuja Master plan by top civil servants and politicians in the FCT administration for purpose of sending a formal petition to the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday continued his peace moves in Yorubaland with a visit to the Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, and the Osile of Oke-Ona, Adedapo Tejuoso.

Mr. Ogunwusi, while speaking at the Alakes palace, said Ife belongs to all Yorubas, saying he was just selected as a custodian of the land. He also called on all monarchs not to arrogate power unto themselves.

He said his visits to his colleagues in Egbaland was a great opportunity he would forever cherish.

In my life I will continue to worship and praise God. Example of my praise is todays visit, I will continue to worship God.

God loves Yoruba more than the Hebrews. We Yoruba dont appreciate ourselves. I plead with all of us to always appreciate God. If there is love in Yoruba land, it is then we start appreciating each other, the monarch said.

Mr. Ogunwusi while describing love and peace as honey for any community, said he would continue to preach peace around Yoruba land. He called on other monarchs to join him in the crusade.

In his remark, the Alake applauded the peace moves of the Ooni. He said the Ooni of Ife remained the spiritual father of Yorubaland.

Mr. Gbadebo said the Ooni has started his reign well by preaching peace.

The Egba monarch also stated that by Yoruba traditional rulers ratings, the Ooni remained the number one, followed by the Alaafin of Oyo, Alaketu of Ketu, Alake of Egba and Awujale of Ijebu.

He said the recent visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Ooni where he prostrated was a signal to the leadership status of Mr. Ogunwusi.

I have no doubt that at your young age, God has chosen you. In your own time, Yorubaland will be great, Mr. Gbadebo said.

Also, the Osile of Oke-Ona while receiving the Ooni in his palace said he was happy for his intensive role towards ensuring peace in Yorubaland.

Mr. Tejuoso expressed confidence that Mr. Ogunwusis reign would bring permanent peace to Yorubaland.
The Lagos State Government has announced the introduction of Personal Identification Number, LASPIN, to capture the biometrics of students in all public primary and secondary schools.

This is contained in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Jide Lawal.

The statement quoted the Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, as saying that LASPIN would be a unique identity for each student throughout his or her study in the states education system.

Ms. Adebule, who supervises the ministry, said the transfer process of students in the state would now be streamlined, using the LASPIN.

According to her, LASPIN will control and discourage abuses and make the process of transfer from one school to another, more transparent.

The deputy governor was also quoted as expressing governments determination to improve on the pass ratings for Lagos State students in external examinations from three per cent to 60 per cent by 2019.

She said that government was committed to the adoption of e-curriculum platform/solution to assist teachers in accessing the subject curriculum and syllabus directly from the National Education Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The introduction and adoption of e-curriculum platform/solution will guarantee uniformity and ease the development of lesson plan and teachers guide from the ministrys portal, she said.

Ms. Adebule said that the intensive monitoring and supervision of teachings and learning activities in schools by the quality assurance office were aimed at meeting the set standards.

The deputy governor said the standards were set by both the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).

Government will undertake the systematic introduction and exposure of students to ICT- based teaching and learning tools (e.g. learning tablets) starting from the senior secondary level.

This is in order to make our teachers and students compete globally and be compliant with modern trend, she said in the statement.

(NAN)
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Udaipur : Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, and one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in the country, hosted the national launch of the first Captain 40iT tractor, from its popular Captain series of trucks in JaipurCo-created with drivers and users through an extensive study of their lifestyle, the new Captain 40iT has been designed specifically for Indian requirements. It has undergone more than 2.3 million kilometers of on-road testing, and extensive internal testing on Pave tracks and 6 posters, this new series of Captain Tractors offers a world class cab and innovative fuel efficient new drive train in the 40T / 49T range. It features an intelligent engine management system- the dual data switch  that ensures optimal fuel consumption on empty and full loads at the flick of a switch. A flat torque ensures lesser gear shifts, while the CRS engine ensures optimal performance. The new Captain 40iT offers better pickup, ease of repair, and the highest cab tilt angle in the industry.The Captain 40iT is powered by a turbocharged diesel engine that churns out 180 horsepower and generates maximum torque of 660Nm. The indigenously designed cab adheres to best ergonomic and styling standards, with spacious interiors, roof hatch and leg vent for ventilation and comfort in all weather conditions, lockers that can be opened from the outside for items required when the truck is parked, safe locker storage for valuables, comfortable sleeper berth, mobile charger, music player with a USB port, among others. It will usher in a new standard of driver comfort, and an optimal blend of performance and aesthetics.The tractor segment has seen very good growth over the last few years, and constitutes almost 12% of TIV. Rajasthan alone contributes nearly 21% of the Tractor TIV, with tractors constituting nearly 50% of all MDV vehicles sold in Rajasthan. The new range of Captain 40iT tractors is fitting extension of the Captain range of vehicles, and an important addition to the Ashok Leyland portfolio.Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajive Saharia, President  Trucks, Ashok Leyland, said, Captain 40iT reflects the same comfort, reliability, efficiency and versatility that the Captain series of trucks is renowned for, and comes to the market after extensive testing and proven reliability. It offers versatility and adaptability not experienced in the segment before. I am confident, the new Captain 40iT will maximise productivity and enhance returns on our customers businesses.Ashok Leylands latest product is being manufactured at the companys state-of-the-art facility in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.
( Read 4530 Times)

New Delhi, : Vedantas Aluminium and Power business in Jharsuguda honoured the families of six Indian Armed Forces martyrs from the region who laid down their lives in line of duty. The company felicitated the families with a citation and a financial assistance of Rs. 50,000.The glittering event was hosted in the Vedanta Township attended by senior citizens, intellectuals, Rotary Club, Round Table India, Principals and children of various Schools, NGO members, Bankers, Security personnel, company and partner employees and Vedanta Ladies club members. The event was followed by the 67th Republic Day celebrations, which witnessed a parade by security personnel and children.Speaking on the occasion Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO-Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd said, The nation stands obliged to the great sacrifice of the martyrs and their families, and hence we dedicate this day to them. All measures should be put in place to secure the future of these families. Mr. Pati also urged the corporate world to join hands to support more families of the Armed Forces to secure their future.Chief Guest for the evening, Commodore KK Panda (Retd.) lauded the effort of Vedanta and expressed that this initiative by a corporate should be emulated by other corporates. He also added that he will be communicating Vedantas efforts to the President, Prime Minister and Chief of Armed Forces.Families of six martyrs who were felicitated are Late Sourya Chakra Sepoy Durga Charan Oram of village Palkuda of Deogarh, Late Naik Blacious Alexender Kujur of village Olhen, Rourkela, Late Naik Karobin Tirkey of village Pindapatha near Birmitrapur, Late Lancenaik Kishore Chandra Mallik of village Shibtola,Bolangir, Late Sepoi Lotem Kerketa of village the Thaitang, Sundergarh and Late Subedar Braja Kishore Naik of village Nuapali of Laida, Sambalpur .Dassendri Toppo, wife of late Sourya Chakra Lt. Sepoy Durga Charn Oram said, I could not believe that even though so many years have passed, someone could knock at my door to felicitate my husbands martyrdom by honouring me. I am touched by the recognition more than the citation and the assistance given to me by Vedanta and I am thankful. The same sentiment was echoed by other felicitated families.The program started with National anthem, Silence of martyrs and ended with the mesmerising Vande Mataram by the voice of Odisha Junior Master Sourav Sarangi whose patriotic songs were the special attraction of the evening.
Watch Sweeney discuss meeting in video

It was early December and Frank Formica was working at his familys Ducktown bakery in Atlantic City when he got a call from Gov. Chris Christies chief of staff, inviting him to a meeting at the governors mansion, Drumthwacket.

What for? the Atlantic County freeholder director asked.

An Atlantic City intervention meeting, Formica recalls Regina Egea saying.

You mean you want to take over the government of Atlantic City? he countered.

Egea said they didnt want to use the word takeover, but rather a hollowing of city functions, according to Formica.

But to Formica, the third generation of his family to run the bakery that opened in 1919, the meaning was clear.

A few days later, on Dec. 10, he and Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson drove together to Drumthwacket, outside Princeton.

There, they met with state Senate President Steve Sweeney and the 2nd District legislative team, Sen. Jim Whelan and Assemblymen Chris Brown and Vince Mazzeo. Egea and Christie Chief Counsel Tom Scrivo were also there, along with Camden County insurance executive George Norcross and Morris County real estate developer Jon Hanson.

Christie wasnt there. Neither was Atlantic City mayor Don Guardian, or anyone else representing Atlantic City government.

For three hours, the group discussed Atlantic Citys issues, its problems, possible solutions and assets.

Its quite possible the word takeover was never used that day. And Whelan and Mazzeo have since said they were surprised when, a month later, a draft takeover bill was circulated in Trenton. But Sweeney, who ran the Dec. 10 meeting, scoffed at the suggestion that everyone didnt know what was being discussed, and what would happen next.

Think about who was in the room. How dramatic and how serious we were about the problem, Sweeney said. So anybody thinking this was a surprise as everyone acted, everyone knew about this. They might not have seen the bill. But we all had a conversation about it.

Parsing the guest list

A lot has happened in the nearly two months since the meeting at Drumthwacket.

Sweeney introduced legislation to take over Atlantic Citys governmental functions. Emergency Manager Kevin Lavin issued his final report on the citys fiscal crisis and identified what he said would be a $303 million budget shortfall over the next five years if no state rescue occurs.

Angry at being excluded from discussions about the citys future, Guardian and City Council threatened to take the city into bankruptcy.

Eventually, after the fingerpointing and posturing, city officials and state lawmakers started talking about what needs to be done. But resentment and distrust linger over how the citys fate is being decided.

How the hell is it that all white folks can go to Drumthwacket to decide what is good and bad for Atlantic City? asked Atlantic County Freeholder Ernest Coursey, who is black. Coursey, a lifelong city resident and former councilman, said he found most galling the fact that power brokers and businessmen such as Norcross and Hanson were there at the table.

To tell us what they cant do? Sweeney said when asked whether Atlantic City officials should have been at the meeting. To tell us, Just give us more money? Ive already heard their grievances.

Norcross was invited by Democrats and Republicans to talk about what has succeeded in Camden, where the state, county and city are working on redevelopment and public safety, his spokesman said. Norcross is the chairman of Cooper University Hospital, a major Camden employer.

Hanson declined to comment.

Its common for elected officials of both parties and representatives from the executive branch to meet when developing policy for complex issues, said Montclair State University political science and law professor Brigid Harrison, of Longport. Such meetings can be healthy and productive.

But she sees problems with the Drumthwacket meeting. The invitation of Norcross, a non-elected official with no relationship to the resort, and the exclusion of the citys elected officials were bound to raise suspicions, she said.

I think that when you look at how this takeover is occurring and how there are vested interests participating in the meeting in which this is planned, we know were in for another dose of the kind of corrupt and patronage-oriented development that tends to benefit a few vested interests but in the long term doesnt bring broad economic rewards, Harrison said.

Sweeney noted that Hanson was already involved in helping Atlantic City as part of the governors advisory commission on gaming, sports and entertainment. Norcross has helped in turning around Camden, which has similar issues as Atlantic City, Sweeney said.

Its not anything else but adding expertise and having someone that can help create a plan, Sweeney said.

The Governors Office wouldnt comment on the meeting, other than to say it was not a secret discussion, as Christie and Sweeney had announced they would meet with stakeholders about Atlantic City.

Its awfully smelly to me, like a dead cat on the lawn, said Coursey, who said Atlantic City residents fear that a state takeover will mean the loss of their water utility, sold for cash to some politically connected operator to plug a budget deficit.

On the table, at the table

On the drive to Drumthwacket, Formica and Levinson talked about what might happen and agreed not to commit the county to anything before seeing all the details.

They were the last to arrive, going through a State Police checkpoint at the gate and parking in front on the long horseshoe driveway.

It was about 1 p.m., but despite the setting in the mansions dining room, no food was served other than almonds and cashews. Formica had with him a package of cannolis he brought as a gift to Christie, who campaigned at his bakeries in past gubernatorial elections.

But when they got there, they learned Christie wouldnt attend, and that Egea and Scrivo would be representing the states interests.

Why are you here? Youre not an elected official, Levinson asked Norcross.

It was a tongue-in-cheek question. Levinson and Norcross recently had two get-acquainted lunches in Atlantic City, and Levinson had already said he welcomes Norcross business acumen and hopes hell get involved in the resort.

People remembered different details about those three hours, but most agreed Sweeney started the meeting saying outlining Atlantic Citys crushing debt and the $303 million deficit Lavin described in his report if no action was taken.

On the table was everything from the municipal utilities authority to police and public works, and selling assets to bankruptcy, Formica said. He argued for bankruptcy to restructure debt and lower the tax rate to attract residents and businesses, he said, but got pushback from Sweeney and Norcross.

Sweeney said more New Jersey cities would then move to file as well, Formica recalled.

We went around and around and around, talking about taking over parts of Atlantic City for hours, said Formica. The citys recent decision to buy two trash trucks rather than hire the Atlantic County Utilities Authority to collect its trash and recyclables irked some, he said.

Formica said Lavin, who was not at the meeting, had told him the city would only save about $5 million a year if the county took over administering its police department.

Im going, Thats like throwing deck chairs off the Titanic to stop it from sinking, Formica said. The citys annual budget is about $262 million.

Formica also recommended getting more aid for the citys school district and was told by others the timing was good. Formica said his read on the room was that North Jersey legislators were so anxious to get a posting for the North Jersey casino bill that they would be open to giving something to Atlantic City in return.

Whelan said a broad range of topics pertaining to Atlantic City and County were covered, but nothing was decided at that meeting. My sense was there were going to be further, broader discussions with more people.

Whelan declined to specify what was discussed but said the meeting did not lead him to expect a takeover bill to be thrust on the Legislature in the last days of its 2015-16 session.

What I can say is that the two bills  it was not just the takeover but the amended version of the PILOT bills  when they were presented to the caucus at 6 oclock at night in what was supposed to be the last session, it was a total surprise to me, said Whelan, particularly in context of, We have to vote on these tonight.

Mazzeo said he doesnt recall any idea or any talk about a state takeover, just about a lot of Atlantic Citys problems.

Levinson and Formica said that if the word wasnt used, it was clearly understood.

Brown said he was asked to hold hands with Whelan and Mazzeo in making the takeover a reality but said he could not commit to anything until he saw how the numbers worked for Atlantic Countys residents.

Formica, like Whelan, said he believed there was going to be more discussion on the issues, perhaps another meeting. That was one reason officials didnt actively go around talking about what happened, he said.

There have been more closed-door meetings when someone has complained about being left out.

After the takeover bill was introduced and after Guardian threatened bankruptcy, he met with Sweeney and Christie to work out plans for a new combination of state intervention in the citys finances and a new PILOT bill package.

Absent from that meeting was Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, D-Hudson, Bergen, who pointedly referred to the exclusion in a press release.

The fact is that no one speaks for the Assembly except for the Assembly, Prieto said in a recent statement. If the Assembly is not involved, then there is no agreement.

More recently, Atlantic City Council went into a two-hour executive session during a special council meeting called to discuss bankruptcy.

As residents, reporters and others waited in a packed meeting room, Guardian and council members disappeared briefly from the room to talk to Sweeney about a new bill for intervening in city finances.

Few details have been released about how the new plan differs from the old. But when council members emerged from the elevator, they said they were happy to finally have a seat at the table.

That table, however, was still behind closed doors. And a seat at the table still required an invitation.

Contact: 609-272-7215

Twitter @_Hetrick

Contact: 609-272-7219

Twitter @MichelleBPost
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Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Agartala, Feb 3 : The CPI-M central leadership would decide about the party's electoral alliance with the Congress in the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls during its three-day politburo and central committee meetings in New Delhi from February 16, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said here on Wednesday.

"The CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) politburo would meet in New Delhi on February 16 before the two-day central committee meeting on February 17-18. These meetings would decide the party's electoral pact with Congress in the ensuing West Bengal assembly elections," Yechury told reporters before leaving here for New Delhi.

He said "The politburo and central committee meetings would finalise the electoral strategies of the CPI-M in the upcoming Bengal elections."

Yechury came here on Tuesday to address a seminar, organised in connection with the centenary celebrations of former Tripura chief minister Dasaratha Deb, a father figure of the communist movement in Tripura.

The two-day West Bengal CPI-M state committee meeting would be held in Kolkata on February 12-13 to finalise the party stand on the alliance with Congress, a senior CPI-M leader said in Kolkata, adding that the state committee's decision would be conveyed to the CPI-M central committee.

The term of the 294-member West Bengal assembly ends on May 29 and elections are likely to be held before that.

A Congress delegation from West Bengal led by State party chief and Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on February 1 in New Delhi and discussed the possibility of forging an alliance with the Left Front in the state.

The majority of the Congress leaders in West Bengal, including Chowdhury, favour an electoral alliance with the CPI-M.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will take a final call on an electoral alliance with the Left parties in West Bengal.

However, three senior West Bengal Congress leaders -- Manas Bhuniya, Deepa Dasmunshi and Abhijit Mukherjee -- advocated that the party go it alone at the hustings.

The Tripura Congress leadership, however, opposed the move to work out an electoral deal with the Congress.

"The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) led by the party's state chief Birajit Sinha in its recent meeting discussed the issue and decided to strongly oppose the move," state party spokesman Tapas Dey said.

He said: "If the Congress allied with the CPI-M, then the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) would get the electoral benefit both in West Bengal and Tripura. We have communicated our decision to party high command Sonia Gandhi."

Former CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat recently said: "First, let the West Bengal CPI-M state committee come up with concrete proposals then the central committee would take the final decision."

Top CPI-M leaders in West Bengal including former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and politburo members Surjya Kanta Mishra (currently state party chief and opposition leader) and Mohammad Salim have openly asked the Congress to side with the Left in its battle with the Trinamool.
Washington, Feb 4 : President Barack Obama has sought to reassure the Muslim community amid an "inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans" that has seen Sikh Americans and others who are perceived to be Muslims targeted as well.

Visiting a mosque in the US for the first time in his seven years as president Wednesday, Obama described Muslims as essential to the fabric of America as he sought to rebut the rhetoric from Republican presidential candidates, particularly frontrunner Donald Trump.

"I know that in Muslim communities across our country, this is a time of concern and, frankly, a time of some fear," he said citing it as one reason for his visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore, a 47-year-old mosque in Maryland outside Washington.

"Like all Americans, you're worried about the threat of terrorism," said Obama. "But on top of that, as Muslim Americans, you also have another concern -- and that is your entire community so often is targeted or blamed for the violent acts of the very few."

"Since 9/11, but more recently, since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, you've seen too often people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith," he said.

"And of course, recently, we've heard inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim Americans that has no place in our country," Obama said without naming Trump, who has called for a temporary bar on the entry of Muslims into the US, or anyone else.

"No surprise, then, that threats and harassment of Muslim Americans have surged," he said. "We've seen children bullied. We've seen mosques vandalized. Sikh Americans and others who are perceived to be Muslims have been targeted, as well."

"Let me say as clearly as I can as president of the United States: you fit right here," Obama said. "You're right where you belong. You're part of America too. You're not Muslim or American. You're Muslim and American."

As he decried Republican counter-terror plans that would single out Muslims for extra scrutiny, Obama insisted that applying religious screens would only amplify messages coming from terrorist groups.

"We can't be bystanders to bigotry," Obama said. "Together, we've got to show that America truly protects all faiths. As we protect our country from terrorism, we should not reinforce the ideas and the rhetoric of the terrorists themselves."

Obama has visited mosques in the past, but never inside the US, which is home to 2.75 million Muslims, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Alluding to conspiracy theories that suggest he himself is a Muslim, Obama who is a Christian, said the same rumours had plagued Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third US president.

"I am not the first," he said. "I am in good company."

Later at the State department asked whether attacks on the Sikhs in the US were sending a wrong image about US overseas, spokesperson John Kirby described such attacks as "abhorrent."

"Attacks on anybody in the United States - whether they're verbal attacks or physical attacks - by virtue or due to a faith that they proclaim is abhorrent and not in keeping at all with American values or who we are as a country," he said.

"Obviously, we wouldn't want people to take away from that a wrong impression about who we are as America, because it doesn't represent American values," Kirby said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Jammu/Srinagar, Feb 4 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti's hardening of stand and seeking "confidence-building measures" from the centre has made the task of forming a new government in Jammu and Kashmir an uphill task.

Those thinking of alternate alliances to avoid mid-term elections in the state have also thrown up their hands, not exactly helping resolve the political gridlock.

Both the opposition National Conference (NC) and the Congress have ruled out any role in forming the new government.

"We are out. We will not support or align with any political combination to claim power in the state. We are not mandated to do so," said a senior NC leader on speculation about BJP feelers after the PDP's hardening of stand on government formation.

Mehbooba Mufti had earlier sought assurances from the centre on time-bound implementation of the agenda the PDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party alliance had workedd out.

"It is not a question of PDP and the BJP. The Centre must take confidence-building measures (CBMs) to address the peculiar problems faced by the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh," the PDP president told the media after meeting with Governor N.N. Vohra in Jammu on Tuesday.

She maintained that the void caused by the January 7 death of her father, chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, needed to be bridged through these CBMs.

Asked whether she had conveyed these CBMs to the centre, Mehbooba Mufti said she this had been done through appropriate channels.

PDP insiders said the centre had been told about these steps through union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav.

Mehbooba, however did not say the BJP-PDP alliance was over but only that "the alliance between the two parties has an agenda; we only want its implementation".

"Nothing has been heard from Delhi thereafter. Not even a phone call. How can she, under these circumstances, face the people as the chief minister," remarked a former PDP minister.

On the other hand, the BJP says 10 months is too short a period to revist the alliance agenda.

"The PDP itself has called the agenda a sacred document. How can a sacred document be revisited in just 10 months? We are committed to its implementation in letter and spirit, but trying to mount pressure on us by continuing the present uncertainty is expecting the impossible," a senior BJP leader said in Jammu.

Speculation about channels of communication open between the PDP and the Congress in case the BJP does not relent were trashed by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

"The PDP and the BJP have an alliance. It for them to give the people a government in the state. People want an elected government," the former chief minister said.

"So far as we are concerned, we will not be a party to any alliance or combination," Azad said in Jammu on Wednesday.

While the Congress and the NC have thrown up their hands on supporting any combination for government formation, the BJP has sought 10 days' time from Governor Vohra for its final decision on government formation.

Amid a political deadlock, Vohra cannot wait endlessly for different political parties or combinations to come forward and stake claim to power in Jammu and Kashmir.

(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)
Imphal, Feb 5 : The 48-hour national highway blockade called by the United Naga Council (UNC) began from Thursday midnight, affecting normal life in Manipur.

The blockade has been called in protest against the three "anti-tribal bills" passed in the Manipur assembly on August 31 last year and the killing of nine tribal activists, whose bodies are still lying in a morgue.

The blockade is supported by the Zeliangrong Youth Front, which said it was against the talks between the Indian government and the Nagas.

The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) and the All Naga Students Association, Manipur, (ANSAM) had also called for an indefinite blockade of the highways from February 1 midnight.

However, these organisations put off the blockade for 10 days after government assurances that their demand for regularisation of contract teachers would be looked into.

Meanwhile, the blockade could affect the success of a rally called on February 6 by civil society organisations in the four valley districts.

Organising committee convener Elangbam Johnson said the rally was in support of the future of indigenous people.

Anticipating a big turnout for the rally, the state government has made special security and traffic arrangements.
Shillong, Feb 5 : Two policemen were injured in a bomb blast triggered by Garo militants in Meghalaya on Friday, police said.

The incident took place in South Garo Hills district and the injured policemen have been admitted to hospital.

"Two policemen -- Robert Nonglait and Tennyson Ch. Marak -- were injured in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast. Militants of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) planted the IED by the roadside in Jadigittim area," Inspector General of Police (Operations) G.H.P. Raju told IANS.

He said the policemen were attacked while they were proceeding on bus to unload rations for the police personnel stationed at Baghmara, the district headquarter town of South Garo Hills.

"We have launched an operation in the area to flush out GNLA militants hiding in the area," the police official said.

Raju said one of the perpetrators has been identified as Rakkam, who was directed by Sohan D. Shira, self-styled military wing chief of GNLA.

The GNLA, which claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma, who is lodged in Shillong jail after being arrested from near the India-Bangladesh border in 2012.
Agartala, Feb 5 : Congress leaders in Kerala and Tripura are likely to ask the party's central leadership not to ally with the Left parties in the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls.

"Top state Congress leaders in Kerala and Tripura are now holding talks to jointly request the party's central leadership against possible electoral alliance with the Left parties in the imminent West Bengal assembly polls," Tripura Congress spokesman Tapas Dey told IANS here on Friday.

He said Congress leaders of both Kerala and Tripura were more or less agreed that if the party allied with the Left parties led by CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist), it would be the loser in the electoral battle.

Dey said Tripura Congress president Birajit Sinha on Thursday met All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of West Bengal C.P. Joshi in New Delhi and explained to him how an electoral alliance between the Congress and the Left would harm the party.

Sinha, a former Tripura minister, and Joshi are likely to meet Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi in a day or two to discuss the issue and would write a letter to him in this regard.

The Tripura Congress leadership earlier last month opposed the move to strike an electoral deal with the Left parties, dominated by the CPI-M.

"The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) led by the party's state chief Birajit Sinha in its recent meeting discussed the issue and decided to strongly oppose the move," Dey stated.

He said If the Congress allied with the CPI-M, then the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) would get the electoral benefit both in West Bengal and Tripura.

"We have communicated our decision to party high command Sonia Gandhi."

Meanwhile, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said here on Wednesday that the central leadership of his party would decide about the party's electoral alliance with the Congress in the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls during its three-day politburo and central committee meetings in New Delhi from February 16.

"The CPI-M politburo would meet in New Delhi on February 16 before the two-day central committee meeting on February 17-18. These meetings would decide the party's electoral pact with Congress in the ensuing West Bengal assembly elections," Yechury told reporters before leaving for New Delhi.

He said the politburo and central committee meetings would finalise the electoral strategies of the CPI-M in the upcoming Bengal elections.

The West Bengal CPI-M state committee meeting would be held in Kolkata over February 12 and 13 to finalise the party's stand on alliance with Congress, a senior CPI-M leader said in Kolkata, adding that the state committee's decision would be conveyed to the CPI-M central committee.

The term of the 294-member West Bengal assembly ends on May 29 and elections are likely to be held before that.

A Congress delegation from West Bengal led by state party chief and Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met Rahul Gandhi on February 1 in New Delhi and discussed the possibility of forging an alliance with the Left Front in the state.

The majority of the Congress leaders in West Bengal, including Chowdhury, favour an electoral alliance with the CPI-M.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will take a final call on an electoral alliance with the Left parties in West Bengal.

However, three senior West Bengal Congress leaders - Manas Bhuniya, Deepa Dasmunshi and Abhijit Mukherjee - advocated that the party go it alone at the hustings.
Visakhapatnam, Feb 5 : India may have 71 of its ships anchored off Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review (IFR), but that does not reduce India's preparedness, naval sources say, adding that "minimum force level" is maintained all along its maritime area.

Highly placed sources told IANS that the Indian Navy's submarines, which are absent from the fleet review, are on task, "lurking around" to keep an eye under the waters.

At the IFR in the Bay of Bengal, the largest military exercise organised by India with about 50 global Navies, 24 foreign naval ships and 71 Indian ships, security is tight and a constant vigil is being maintained from the water and the sky.

"Minimum force level is always in place. Guarding India's maritime interest is the first responsibility of the Indian Navy," a senior official told IANS.

Highly placed sources told IANS that as the bigger ships are here for the review, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8I are scanning India's maritime boundaries to detect any trespassing.

The patrol by the P-8Is is done in a manner that once an area is scanned, it is ensured there will be no boats entering that zone in the next eight hours at least.

To top that, coastal patrol vessels, Indian Coast Guard and maritime police are at their job as well.

About 100 vessels anchored off the Visakhapatnam coast are also "armed to teeth", said an official.

On deployment also for safety are mine sweepers, missile boats, and patrol vessels.

Fast Interceptor Crafts and Fast Attack Crafts are constantly moving around in the waters.

"The navy is the primary agency, we have the Coast Guard, maritime police, state governments, home minister, IB, RAW, and all other agencies coordinating to ensure a fool-proof security," an official told IANS.

A fleet review is a ceremonial and stately inspection of naval warships by the supreme commander of the armed forces, the President of India.

This is the second time an IFR is being held in India. The last was held off Mumbai in 2001 when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the President. Twenty-nine countries participated in that event.

(Anjali Ojha can be contacted at anjali.o@ians.in)
Bengaluru, Feb 6 : The vice chancellor of a private university here has been arrested for allegedly raping a 33-year-old woman, the police said on Saturday.

"We have arrested Madhukar G. Angur on Friday night on a complaint by the victim's mother, who charged him with sexually abusing her daughter over a period, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) M.B. Boraingaiah told IANS.

Angur (55), a divorcee, is the vice-chancellor of Alliance University, set up in 2010 at Anekal on the city's southern outskirts.

"The victim is the accused's niece, who has been working in the university's administrative office since 2011. As the complaint is filed by her mother, who is his sister, we are interrogating them and others in the family," Boralingaiah said.

Based on the written complaint, a first information report (FIR) has been registered against the accused under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to the complaint, the victim and the accused have been in relationship for a couple of years as Angur had promised to marry her but betrayed.

"The victim's mother said her daughter went into depression and is under counselling to recover from the trauma of betrayal and deceit by the accused," the IPS officer added.

The accused also threatened the victim against complaining to the police or anyone else and blackmailed her mother with threats to "expose" their family.
Beijing, Feb 6 : At least 11 people were killed and 462 others injured in a powerful quake that hit Taiwan early on Saturday, just two days ahead of the traditional lunar New Year.

Over 170 people were still unaccounted for after the 6.7-magnitude quake hit Kaohsiung city at 3.57 a.m. (Beijing Time), Xinhua quoted China Earthquake Networks Centre as saying.

The epicentre was measured at a depth of 15 km. Local monitoring authorities put the quake at 6.4 on the Richter Scale.

In the historic city of Tainan, which bore the brunt of the quake, eight buildings collapsed and five were partially damaged.

Altogether, over 240 survivors were pulled from the rubble, rescuers said.

The Wei Guan building, left on its side with twisted metal girders exposed, was said to be home to 256 people in 92 households.

Firefighters and soldiers used ladders, excavators and other equipment to pull survivors out of rubble and through twisted windows.

So far, 172 people, including 120 adults and 52 children, were still missing.

Rescuers on site said they could hear calls for help from inside the collapsed building, but have to consolidate the collapsed building parts first before saving the rest.

They were also not sure exactly how many people were still trapped under the debris, fearing there may be more people in the building than usual as families may have housed guests to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday next week.

A lady surnamed Cheng said her brother, sister-in-law and their two daughters were still trapped.

"Their mobile phones are disconnected," she said. "Their landline rings but no one answers."

Apart from firefighters, the island has dispatched about 850 soldiers for the rescue, said Chen Wei-zen, head of the island's interior affairs authority.

Tainan is the main focus of their rescue efforts, according to Chen.

While addressing a Chinese New Year gathering on Saturday morning, Premier Li Keqiang sent condolences to the victims of the disaster.

Japenese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe also sent condolences to Taiwan following the quake.

Earthquakes frequently hit Taiwan. Most of them are minor, but a 7.3-magnitude quake, the strongest to hit Taiwan in about 100 years, shook the island on September 21, 1999, leaving more than 2,000 people dead.
Madrid, Feb 7 : Two people were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion in a biodiesel plant in the town of Algemesi in east Spain on Saturday.

The explosion occurred around 11:00 a.m. local time in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Algemesi, 33 km south of Spanish port city Valencia, Xinhua reported.

The injured person had burns on 80 percent of his body.

The cause of the explosion is not known yet. Some believe the accident could be caused by people soldering a storage silo, which contained residual flammable gas.
Seoul, Feb 7 : The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday launched a long-range rocket as planned, media reports said.

The rocket was fired at about 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) from the DPRK's Tongchang-ri launch station on its west coast, Xinhua quoted a report by Yonhap news agency which cited South Korea's defence authorities.

The South Korean military detected the rocket just a minute after the launch with its surveillance assets, seeing the rocket succeed in its first-stage separation.

The first stage of the rocket fell on western waters of South Korea. Additional debris landed on waters near the country's southern resort island of Jeju.

The rocket disappeared from radars of the South Korean military at 9:36 a.m., the military said, noting that more verification will be needed to confirm the final success of the rocket launch.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) right after the rocket launch to discuss countermeasures.

Seoul's foreign ministry reportedly requested an emergency meeting of UN Security Council, which bans the DPRK from testing any of its ballistic missile technologies.

There has been no damage reported from civil aircrafts and shipping, South Korea's transport ministry was quoted as saying.

South Korea and the US are jointly assessing whether the DPRK's rocket launch succeeds.
Tokyo, Feb 7 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed on Sunday morning that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had launched a rocket from a site in Pyongyang.

Abe quickly condemned the launch stating that it was in clear violation of UN resolutions, Xinhua reported.

Japan's top government spokesperson, Yoshihide Suga, confirmed however that while the long-range rocket may have flown over Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, no damage had been reported.

Defence ministry officials said that no measures were taken to intercept the missile.

The launch has defied international warnings and Japan has maintained that such a launch would be in clear violation of UN resolutions and a provocative act that threatens its national security.

The DPRK had said it plans to launch an earth observation satellite, but Japan and the US, among other nations, believe the launch was a test of a long-range ballistic missile.

The DPRK is banned from test-firing any rockets based on a ballistic missile technology under UN Security Council resolutions.

It is the first time since December 2012 that the DPRK has conducted such a test.
Visakhapatnam, Feb 7 : Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday clarified that Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Kangana Ranaut "were not brand ambassadors" for the International Fleet Review (IFR).

Talking to journalists on the sidelines of the International Maritime Conference, the minister said no contract was signed with the two actors and they were merely invited to the event.

"Brands ambassadors have to sell a brand. They were not brand ambassadors. They were invited," Parrikar said responding to a question.

"There was no contract with them at the defence ministry level," he added.

Akshay Kumar and Kangana Ranaut participated in the opening ceremony of IFR at INS Sathavahana Stadium on Friday, leading to their description as the brand ambassadors of the event in some media reportage.

About 50 navies from across the world are participating in the IFR, the second of its kind and the largest military exercise by India.
Lucknow, Feb 7 : Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali will perform at the Lucknow Mahotsava on Sunday night, and officials said they were taking no chances on the security front.

The ghazal maestro arrived in the Uttar Pradesh late on Saturday. He is here after a gap of four months.

Officials said elaborate security arrangements were in place as right-wing groups have been opposing performances by Pakistani artists in India.

Authorities fear that some people may try to disrupt the event.

The state president of the Shiv Sena, Baldev Singh, who had threatened to disrupt the concert, has been detained by police till the time the concert ends, an official said.

Soon after arriving here, Ghulam Ali said bringing politics into music and art was unfortunate and regretted that his Mumbai concert was called off due to threats of disruption.

He said he could not turn down the request to perform in Lucknow due to the request of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Ghulam Ali, whose concerts in Mumbai and Pune were called off after Shiv Sena threats, will also attend the music launch of "Ghar Wapsi" on March 5 in Delhi.

He is making his acting debut with the Hindi feature film "Ghar Wapsi" for which he has also composed and lent his voice.

Ghulam Ali, however, performed in Kolkata on January 12 and in Kerala three days later.
Visakhapatnam, Feb 7 : The government has studied representations from the armed forces vis-a-vis the 7th Pay Commission and their concerns will be addressed "in the near future", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday.

"I have interacted with the three service chiefs and discussed the concerns of the forces. The concerns will be addressed in the near future," he said on the sidelines of an International Maritime Conference here.

The concerns include the way in which pensions were calculated on the basis of number of years put in at a particular rank.

Another grudge is the risk-hardship matrix. While a soldier posted in the Siachen glacier gets Rs.31,500 as allowance per month, a civilian bureaucrat draws 30 percent of his salary as "hardship allowance".

About the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue, he said concerns of ex-servicemen will be addressed by a one-member judicial committee headed by L. Narasimha Reddy, a retired chief justice of the Patna High Court.

Parrika said the Narendra Modi government had fulfilled its promise on the OROP which had been implemented after 43 years.

"As promised by the BJP, we have already issued a table of various pensions as per the OROP scheme.

"The community of retired servicemen is large; one formula cannot solve all issues. Any contentious issues will be referred to the one-man committee," Parrikar said.

As for the protesting ex-servicemen's stand on approaching the court on the OROP issue, the minister said: "Fundamentally, every person has the right to approach a court.

"To the best of our understanding of the issues, we have fulfilled our promise."

He said the expenditure on OROP of Rs.7,500 crore each year was much larger that what the previous government had allocated for the scheme. The arears total Rs.10,900 crore.

The previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had allocated Rs.500 crore for the OROP.
London, Feb 7 : British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for an urgent reconsideration of the way the prison system in England and Wales treats pregnant women and mothers with babies, the media reported on Sunday.

At present, when a woman gives birth while serving a custodial sentence, she is usually transferred to a prison's mother and baby unit (MBU) for an initial period, BBC reported.

MBU policy requires that these units should be available to accommodate babies up until the age of 18 months.

"It's time to think seriously about whether this is the right approach," Cameron said.

The review will look at whether female offenders with babies could be dealt with by special problem-solving courts, housed in resettlement units or electronically tagged, rather than being locked up.

Justice ministry figures suggest 100 babies spent time living with their mothers in prisons last year.

Cameron said it was "absolutely terrible" to think of infants spending time behind bars.
Seoul, Feb 7 : South Korea on Sunday announced the start of official negotiations with the US on possible deployment of an advanced US missile defence system after North Korea's nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

The start of talks about deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system to US forces in Korea (USFK) came just hours after Pyongyang announced the successful launch of its Kwangmyongsong-4 Earth observation satellite into orbit in defiance of international warnings, Xinhua reported.

A rocket carrying the satellite was seen by Seoul and Washington as a long-range ballistic missile.

UN Security Council resolutions ban Pyongyang from testing a rocket by use of ballistic missile technology. On January 6, North Korea tested what it claimed was its first H-bomb.

Yoo Jeh-Seung, South Korea's deputy defence minister for policy, said Seoul and Washington had shared a view that North Korea's recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch are a serious threat to peace and stability in South Korea and the entire Asia-Pacific region.

To respond to the mounting North Korea threats, South Korea and the US decided to kick off negotiations on the THAAD deployment to enhance a joint missile defence posture between the two allies, Yoo said.

The decision was made after USFK commander Curtis Scaparrotti requested it, Yoo said, noting that the talks are aimed at jointly seeking possible THAAD deployment and its operational capability at the earliest.

Repeated tests by Pyongyang of its nuclear devices and long-range rockets are believed to have advanced its capability of miniaturising a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a long-range missile that can strike the US mainland.

Pyongyang had conducted nuclear tests and long-range rocket launches almost simultaneously. About a month after the fourth nuclear test, the Kwangmyongsong rocket lifted off from North Korea's main Tonchang-ri launch station on the west coast.

Two months before the third nuclear detonation, North Korea launched a three-stage Unha-3 rocket into space for the purpose of what it claimed was to deliver an observation satellite.

South Korea and the US will form a joint working group that would first review an appropriate site for the THAAD deployment.

If the THAAD is deployed in the northeastern coastal region of South Korea, it can intercept ballistic missiles launched from DPRK submarines, a South Korean defence ministry official said.

North Korea reportedly test-fired its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) three times in 2015.

The SLBM is seen by some as the most serious threat as a submarine-carried ballistic missile is much harder to detect in advance.

The THAAD is an advanced US missile defence system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km. A THAAD battery is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 missiles and airborne radar and fire control system.

The US had expressed its willingness to deploy one or more batteries in South Korea.

One THAAD battery, valued at about 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion), is capable of covering two thirds of South Korea, according to Seoul's defence ministry.

The South Korean military has no plans to directly purchase the US missile defence system, and possible deployment will be made to US troops stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.

If deployed, Seoul would bear the costs for the site and infrastructure, while Washington would cover costs for the deployment and maintenance.

The THAAD will be operated against North Korea alone, according to Seoul's defence ministry.

The ministry believes that it can shoot down an estimated 2,000 North Korean ballistic missiles, including Scud, Rodong and Musudan.
Mogadishu, Feb 7 : A senior official was injured in a roadside landmine blast in southern Somalia, military officials said on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner of Gedo region Mohamed Hussein's car was hit by the roadside bomb, Xinhua quoted the military commander of the region as saying.

"The deputy commissioner and his bodyguard were seriously wounded while heading to a meeting," he said.

"We heard heavy blast this morning in the town of Bardera. Government forces blocked the road leading to the site," said an eyewitness.

Bardera town of Gedo region, which was captured by Somalian troops and AU Mission to Somalia personnel in July 2015 has witnessed occasional attacks by Somali militant group Al-Shabaab.
Seoul, Feb 7 : South Korea's unification ministry on Sunday announced that it plans to further restrict the entry of its nationals into a jointly-run factory park in a border town of North Korea.

The number of South Koreans to be allowed to enter the Kaesong industrial complex will be reduced to 500 from the current limit of 650, the ministry said in a statement.

The reduction came after Pyongyang earlier in the day put an observation satellite into orbit aboard a long-range rocket, which Seoul considers a long-range ballistic missile, Xinhua news agency reported.

North Korea is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from a test of ballistic missile technology.

It was an additional reduction made by the ministry following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test on Saturday.

The statement said the additional reduction will begin in consideration of safety of South Korean people working in the inter-Korean industrial zone.
London, Feb 7 : Humans are responsible for the spread of a virus that is killing global bee populations, a new research has found.

The populations of European honeybee called Apis mellifera is the prime source of the Deformed Wing Virus, and human trade and transportation of bees for crop pollination is driving its spread, according to researchers at Britain's University of Exeter and UC Berkeley.

Although separately they are not major threats to bee populations, when the Varroa mite carries the disease, the combination is deadly, and has wiped out millions of honeybees over recent decades. Varroa feed on bee larvae while the Deformed Wing Virus kills off bees - a devastating double blow to colonies.

"This is the first study to conclude that Europe is the backbone of the global spread of the bee killing combination of Deformed Wing Virus and Varroa," said study lead author Lena Wilfert from the University of Exeter.

"This demonstrates that the spread of this combination is largely manmade. If the spread was naturally occurring, we would expect to see transmission between countries that are close to each other, but we found that, for example, the New Zealand virus population originated in Europe," Wilfert added.

Researchers said that moving animals and plants around the world could have devastating consequences both for domestic animals and for wildlife.

"The risk of introducing viruses or other pathogens is just one of many potential dangers," said Roger Butlin, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Sheffield.

The study findings were recently published in the journal Science.
Hyderabad, Feb 7 : Telangana's Information Technology and Panchayat Raj Minister K.T. Rama Rao has been allocated additional portfolio of municipal administration and urban development.

State Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Sunday allocated the additional portfolio, which was held by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Rama Rao is son of Chandrasekhar Rao, who is also the president of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The development came two days after the ruling party achieved a historic victory in the elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), bagging 99 seats in 150-member body.

KTR, as Rama Rao is popularly known, had led the TRS campaign in the elections. His father had announced at an election meeting that he would be given the additional portfolio.
Hyderabad, Feb 7 : With Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife continuing their indefinite strike demanding quota for Kapus, popular actor and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan on Sunday urged the Andhra Pradesh government to hold direct talks with them.

Under fire from sections of his own community for not coming out in support of the movement, the actor on Sunday said the government should hold talks with the leaders spearheading the agitation before it goes out of control.

"I request the TDP government to engage in direct talks with the Kapu leaders spearheading the ongoing reservation issue, which was an election promise originally made by the TDP," he tweeted.

"A group of balanced intellectuals should be entrusted with the responsibility of finding a mutually acceptable solution before it juggernauts into an uncontainable situation," Pawan added.

Members of Kapu community in parts of coastal Andhra had been protesting against the actor for last few days for not supporting the quota movement.

He had condemned the violence that broke out during a meeting by Kapus at Tuni town in East Godavari district on January 31, saying that anti-social elements were involved in burning a train.

Pawan had also said that the violence could have been averted if the government and the police were prepared to face a protest in which thousands of people were participating.

He had also asked the Telugu Desam Party government to implement its poll promise to include Kapus in the list of backward classes and provide them reservation.

Pawan, who floated Jana Sena before the 2014 elections, had campaigned for the TDP-BJP alliance.
New Delhi, Feb 7 : In an upshot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE, home to 2.6 million expatriate Indians, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will arrive in New Delhi on February 10 on a three-day visit.

The crown prince will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, officials and captains of industry, an external affairs ministry statement said on Sunday.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed $75 billion to India's infrastructure sector, the highest by any country, during Modi's visit in August last year, the first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years to the Gulf nation.

The UAE's investments will specially focus on railways, ports, roads, airports and industrial corridors and parks, according to the bilateral agreement signed between the two countries during Modi's visit.

"India and the UAE have historically enjoyed close and friendly relations anchored on mutually beneficial commercial exchanges and extensive people to people contacts," the external affairs ministry statement said.

"Our well-balanced bilateral trade amounted to $59 billion in 2014-15, making the UAE our third largest trading partner."

The UAE contributes significantly to India's energy security and was the sixth largest supplier of crude oil to India in 2014-15.

India has vital stakes in the security and stability of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which host over seven million Indians.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Patna, Feb 7 : A proctor of a Bihar university was arrested on Sunday for alleged links with Maoists and two suspected guerrillas apprehended from the varsity hostel in Bhagalpur but all three were later released, police said.

Professor Vilakhjhan Ravidas, proctor of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur university in Bhagalpur and Kapildeo Mandal and Arjun Paswan were released after they filed a bond in a police station.

"Ravidas and others were released due to lack of evidence against them," said a district police official.

Ravidas, however denied any links with Maoists.

Police said Ravidas was arrested on information provided by suspected Maoist Ghanshayam alias Ghoghan Da. A pistol, mobile phone and Maoist literature were allegedly seized from Ghanshayam who gave information about the proctor during his two-hour questioning.

Police then raided several places and arrested Ravidas.

"We arrested Ravidas from his private residence for links with Maoists and for providing patronage to them," Bhagalpur Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar had said earlier.

The two suspected Maoists arrested from the varsity's welfare hostel, of which Ravidas is incharge, were Mandal, who is a visiting professor of Murarka college, and Paswan, who were also released.

However, police said investigation will continue in the case.
Guwahati, Feb 7 : Police in Assam's Cachar district have arrested a youth for using fake documents to attend classes at the Silchar Medical College and for claiming that he has links with Bangladesh-based jihadi outfits.

Police are on the lookout for three other accomplices of the man, identified as Suman Aziz Laskar.

"We arrested Suman Aziz Laskar after receiving intimation from the principal on Saturday. The youth was attending classes for the fourth semester of the MBBS course for the last few days. However, he had no documents to prove his admission," said Cachar Superintendent of Police Rajveer Singh.

During interrogation, he said he was involved with a Bangladesh-based terror group and that he hails from Bangladesh.

"However, we checked his credentials and found that he hails from a village near Silchar in Assam's Barak Valley," the police officer said.

Police were taking the matter very seriously, particularly after his revelations of a nexus with Bangladesh-based terror groups, he said.

College authorities said some students doubted his credentials after he started attending classes. Laskar told his classmates that he got a transfer to Silchar Medical college from Tezpur Medical College.

"We have contacted his parents. However, he is changing his statement every now and then," the police superintendent said.
Visakhapatnam, Feb 7 : Emphasising that a peaceful and stable maritime environment was "critical for the regional and global security", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it should be a "shared goal and responsibility of all the seafaring countries".

Addressing the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016 here, Modi thanked all participating countries, saying it was "a message of cooperation and friendship that we deeply cherish".

"On behalf of my countrymen, I thank you all for accepting our invitation and joining in this event with such spirit," the prime minister said.

About 50 navies from across the world are participating in the IFR.

Modi also announced that India will host the first ever 'Global Maritime Summit' in April this year.

"To build on the gains from today's gathering, India would host the first ever Global Maritime Summit in April this year. Its priority would be to scale up and strengthen the vibrant trade/investment/technology and commercial linkages between India and other maritime nations," he said.

Modi said world politics in present times was "turbulent", and its challenges were "complex".

Observing that a major part of the world economy was based on sea activities, the prime minister said the oceans were the "lifelines of global prosperity".

"They (oceans) present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations. Over 90 percent of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans," Modi said, adding that oceans were also critical for global energy security as over 60 percent of the world's oil production moves through sea routes.

Modi also spoke of terror and other threats which emerge from the seas. He identified sea-borne terror and piracy as major threats.

"The threat of sea-borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger the regional and global peace and stability," Modi said, adding that the threat of natural disasters like tsunamis and cyclones was ever present.

Modi expressed concern over manmade problems such as oil spills, climate change which continue to pose a risk to the stability of the maritime domain.

"A peaceful and stable maritime environment is, therefore, critical for the regional and global security. It is also a must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems," he said.

He called upon participating nations to start using seas to build peace, friendship and trust, and curb conflict.

Modi also thanked the men and women of the Indian Navy for their tireless dedication for making this fleet review a truly historic success and said that witnessing the harmony among the best of international Navies has been a "rewarding experience" for him.

India hosted the last International Fleet Review in Mumbai in 2001.
New Delhi, Feb 7 : Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's upcoming visit to India was among the issues discussed when the Himalayan nation's Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel called on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here on Sunday.

"FM Poudel discusses reconstruction assistance. Briefs EAM on political situation, remaining constitutional issues & PM Oli's visit to India," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Poudel arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on a two-day visit to discuss reconstruction assistance following the earthquake in Nepal in April last year that claimed over 8,000 lives.

He is also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this connection.

There has been speculation about the possibility of Oli's visit to India after over 50 people were killed in the now more than five-month-long anti-constitutional protest by Madhesis in the southern Nepali Terai.

Most of the 41 transit and customs points along the southern portion of the Himalayan nation's open border with India have been besieged by Madhesi protesters who are demanding, among other things, a redrawing of the boundaries of the provinces in Nepal as proposed in the new Constitution -- promulgated on September 20 last year -- and representation in parliament on the basis of population.

Unnerved by the prolonged Madhesi agitation, the ruling coalition and the opposition last month approved two amendments to the four-month-old Constitution partly meeting the demands of the protesters.

However, the Madhesi Morcha spearheading the agitation has rejected the amendments and announced a fresh agitation besides calling for a broader alliance among all forces in the Terai-Madhes region.

The blockade of trucks from India to Nepal by the Madhesis has led to severe shortage of medicines and other essential supplies in the Kathmandu Valley.

Swarup, however, said in a media briefing here last week that now the situation has improved quite a lot.

"Now, about 1,300 trucks are passing daily. The waiting is down to about 300-400 trucks," he said.

The spokesman said that before this whole logjam started, about 1,500 trucks used to go daily.

"Now 1,300 trucks are going and this is despite (the major border crossing points) Raxaul and Birgunj being blocked by the protesters on the Nepalese side. This tells you that the situation has normalised to a large extent," he said.

Swarup said that as far as the constitutional amendments were concerned, India has welcomed those as good positive steps "and we hope that the remaining issues which the Madhesis have with the Nepalese government can also now be sorted out in a spirit of reconciliation, flexibility, compromise and dialogue".
New Delhi, Feb 7 : The body of a 21-year-old woman student of Delhi University, who had gone missing a few days back, was on Sunday recovered from a shaft of her friend's residence, police said. The friend has been arrested.

Police said the body of Arzoo Singh was found in a semi-burnt condition from her friend's house in Model Town area of north Delhi.

The matter came to light after some residents of the area complained to police about some unpleasant smell coming out from the house of the accused -- identified as Naveen Khatri.

Police said Khatri, who was the victim's neighbour, was arrested after several people were questioned when the woman went missing.

The woman, a final year student of Lakshmibai College under University of Delhi, was reportedly in a relationship with Khatri for years and they wanted to marry.

But Khatri's family members were aginst this relationship and they fixed his marriage with some other woman, a police officer said.

The victim left her college on February 2 and was missing since then, the officer said.

Initial investigation suggests that the victim was strangulated by Khatri, who dumped her body in a shaft at his residence.

Khatri reportedly wanted to dump the victim's body at some other place but could not succeed in his attempt.

He also tried to burn it once to erase the evidence, but again failed in his attempt, the officer said.

"We are also trying to ascertain the role of other family members of the accused as they were not ready to accept their son's relationship with the victim. They had raised objections to the relationship and wanted Khatri to marry another woman," the officer said.
Kolkata, Feb 7 : Bengal Warriors pulled off a win in their very first outing at home in season 3 of the Pro Kabaddi League as they beat Puneri Paltan 33-28 at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

Nitin Tomar emerged hero for the hosts as he grabbed 11 points. Manjeet Chhillar's lion-hearted effort of 13 points for the Paltan thus went in vain.

His three super tackles in the first half kept his side in the fray at half-time with an 11-10 advantage at half-time. He even engineered super raid of five points in the second half.

At that time he put his team ahead at 24-23. However, all his hard work went to waste as Tomar came up with a two pointer and followed it up with a super raid of his own to make it 28-25 for the Warriors. That effectively took the match away from the Pune side.

For the hosts, it must be said that they played cohesively as a unit. In defence, Bajirao Hodage had four successful tackles. He nullified the threat of Deepak Hooda on three occasions, all in the beginning of the second half. They helped his side inflict the first all-out.

The 22nd minute all-out propelled Bengal Warriors to 15-12. The winners drew away towards a healthy 22-18 lead only to see Manjeet put a spanner in their works.

Bajirao's partner in crime Girish Ernak had three tackle points. The others to impress for the Bengal Warriors were Jang Kun Lee with three points and Mahesh Goud, the lanky raider, who exhibited good jumping skills while vaulting over Tushar Patil and Prashant Chavan in fine style.

Pune have big problems on hand now. With Deepak Niwas Hooda and Surjeet off on national duty and Ajay Thakur not finding his bearings, they will have a tough home leg coming.

In the second game of the evening, Jaipur Pink Panthers beat Dabang Delhi 39-34.
FOR INFORMATION: Gayle Davis

gdavis(at)aorn(dot)org

303-368-6225

MEDIA ADVISORY: 5000 PERIOPERATIVE NURSES EXPECTED AT AORN SURGICAL CONFERENCE & EXPO

WHAT:

This conference is the largest gathering of perioperative nurses in the world with an estimated 5000 perioperative nurses in attendance to study the latest evidence-based recommendations and resources for the care and safety of surgical patients. 450 surgical product manufacturers will occupy more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space to showcase the newest equipment and devices for the operating room.

WHO:

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) represents the interests of more than 160,000 perioperative nurses by providing evidence-based research, education, standards, and practice resourcesincluding Guidelines for Perioperative Practice -- to enable optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.

WHEN:

April 3-6 Surgical Conference & Expo

April 3 4:30-7 pm Exhibit Floor Opening Event

April 3-6 OR Executive Summit

April 3-6 Leadership Development Summit

WHERE:

Anaheim Convention Center & Arena

800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802

Press Registration

Writers, editors, and producers who cover surgical subjects are invited to attend. To register: Email Gayle Davis, gdavis(at)aorn(dot)org and provide your name, outlet, title, email address and telephone number.
In 2011, Rosilyn Temple lost her son to homicide. She began a personal search for justice. That search has now become her calling  and that calling that could transform cities nationwide. Temple has become a passionate leader in the fight against gun violence and homicide in Kansas City, MO.

At every homicide scene in the area, Rosilyn offers comfort and counseling to the grieving families. She helps mothers and fathers, explaining why they cant rush to the body of a fallen child. She quiets emotional crowds and asks them to let the police do their work. She will canvass neighborhoods after a violent crime, urging people to call the police with tips. In so doing, Rosilyn fills a dire need  a terrible gap between the police departments and the families who are struck by violence. Rosilyn also founded the Kansas City chapter of Mothers in Charge, an organization whose mission is violence prevention, education and intervention for youth, teens, families and community organizations. In that capacity, Rosilyn works with the KCPD, FBI, ATF, Jackson County Prosecutor's Office and the US. Attorney's Office.

Her efforts are now being recognized nationwide. Rosilyn travels the county spreading her message, and her work is becoming a model for other community activists. She was recently named the 2015 Citizen of the Year by the Kansas City Star, and awarded the FBI Kansas City division's Directors Community Leadership Award.

Filmmaker Jon Brick is extremely honored to tell Rosilyns story. Brick, a Kansas City native, has worked with Emmy- and Oscar-winning filmmakers, television networks, and world-class clientele including; Real Time with Bill Maher, Yahoo! News, The Charlie Rose Show, Nickelodeon, Getty Film, and The White House.

To tell Rosilyns story, Jon has been filming her work for more than a year, documenting Rosilyn's groundbreaking work with grief-stricken families and community leaders. Now, Jon has begun a Kickstarter funding campaign to help raise awareness of this important film. With the funds raised, Brick will complete editing, submit the work to film festivals and seek distribution channels.

The goal of the film, Brick says, "Is to inspire people to take a stand against violence and homicide. If one woman can make a difference, imagine what could happen if individuals and communities everywhere take a stand against violence. Rosilyn is proof that, with passion, determination and faith, one woman can make a major impact. 

To learn more about this potentially transformative film, contact Jon Brick at:

Web: http://www.jonbrick.com

Phone: 415-806-0915

Email: jonbrick(at)gmail(dot)com

Or visit the Kickstarter page at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2140503256/mother-in-charge and the film's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/motherinchargefilm.
The Women's Business Council  Southwest (WBCS) announces the award winners honored at the Parade of Stars Awards Gala, an evening honoring Womens Business Enterprise (WBE) and Sustaining (Corporate) Members who go above and beyond to ensure the successes of women-owned businesses. These members support Womens Business Enterprises through advocacy, volunteerism and sponsorships, and were stars for the night! It also recognizes the corporations and government agencies that provide Womens Business Enterprises with growth opportunities in todays competitive marketplace. The event was held on February 4th at 6:00 p.m. at Renaissance Dallas Hotel.

The following awards were presented:



WBE Rising Star presented to Dramatic Conclusions, LLC.

WBE Advocate of the Year presented to Jennifer Schaumburg, Fuse Solutions, Inc. of Dallas.

Corporate Advocate of the Year presented to Suzanne Cruz-Sewell, Assistant Vice President, Business Diversity & Development at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Buyer of the Year presented to Brian Schrader, Procurement Manager at Texas Instruments of Dallas.

WBE of the Year  under $5 million in revenue  presented to Peck Training Group, LLC of Allen.

WBE of the Year  over $5 million in revenue  presented to Pinnacle Group.

Corporation of the Year presented to Oncor Electric Delivery of Dallas.

WBE Volunteer of the Year presented to Jennifer Blakeney, Owner of Guaranteed Express, Inc.

Corporate Volunteer of the Year presented to Grace Hastings, Supplier Diversity Manager at Oncor

Regional Volunteer of the Year presented to Dallas Judd, of Bullseye Database Marketing.

This year, WBCS announced an expansion to the Parade of Stars Awards program to honor the outstanding efforts of their Sustaining (Corporate) Members. For the first year ever, it also recognized its top corporations in two categories: Leaders and Trailblazers. Leaders have well established supplier diversity programs and have shown an unwavering commitment towards the inclusion of women-owned businesses in their supply chain. Trailblazers have broken through industry standards and raised the bar for supplier diversity and procurement programs across the nation.



Leaders  American Airlines, Dell, Inc., Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo, Inc., Texas Instruments, Toyota

Trailblazers  Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, BNSF Railway Company, Brinker International, DFW International Airport, Energy Future Holdings, Oncor

Sponsors of the program include Oncor, Energy Future Holdings, ICON Information Consultants, Pinnacle Group, Luminant, TXU Energy, Alcatel-Lucent, Argent Associates, BNSF Railway Company, Brinker International, CFJ Manufacturing, DFW International Airport, Ericsson, FedEx Office, Fluor, KARLEE Company, Real Time Resolutions, Software Professionals, Texas Instruments, Trans-Expedite and UPS.

About WBCS

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, WBCS is dedicated to increasing mutually beneficial procurement opportunities between certified woman-owned businesses, corporations, businesses, government entities, institutions and other organizations. With more than 1,000 WBE members and nearly 100 Sustaining (Corporate) Members, WBCS is in its 21st year of providing national certification to women-owned businesses. To find out more about the WBCS, please visit http://www.wbcsouthwest.org. WBCS is a regional affiliate of the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) covering Oklahoma, north central Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico. Founded in 1997, WBENC has become a powerhouse organization for women entrepreneurs across the country.
Attorneys J. Francisco Tinoco and Mario Flores There was a need to provide comprehensive services across a wider area, which was a great opportunity for our services to merge, creating the Abogados Migracion partnership. Knowing how to better service your clients is always our main goal. -Mario Flores

Attorneys J. Francisco Tinoco and Mario Flores have merged legal specializations to create Tinoco, Flores & Asociados, an immigration law firm with two primary locations in Austin and McAllen, Texas designed to service a larger area.

Offering a wide range of services, the associates at the firm are entitled to practice in all subjects at the local and federal level throughout Mexico; in New York, Texas, and Washington, DC at the state level; and federal level issues throughout the United States.

We understand the complexities of immigration law, says Attorney Mario Flores. There was a need to provide comprehensive services across a wider area, which was a great opportunity for our services to merge, creating the Abogados Migracion partnership. Knowing how to better service your clients is always our main goal.

One of the leading law firms in Texas, the firm has three locations: The newly opened Austin location as of January, 2016, the McAllen location and office in Brownsville, Texas. Catering to a specific clientele, the firm consists of bilingual lawyers who speak fluent English and Spanish, offering a personalized approach for clients who may need the assistance of a translator. Practice areas include: work visas, investor visas, fiancee visas, permanent residence citizenship, delayed action, student, tourist and business visas, and other specializations.

The attorneys at Tinoco, Flores & Asociados come from humble backgrounds, which has helped them provide the most comprehensive representation available for their clients. They have extensive experience in working with students, families, companies and corporations of all sizes, and have represented clients before judges and representatives of other federal agencies, including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR); and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They also work with asylum cases, and have worked with clients from Mexico, Latin America, China, India, Europe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines on the pardons process, other permanent residence and citizenship complications as needed for a successful immigration process.

For more information on Tinoco, Flores & Asociados and their services, visit the website at http://www.abogadosmigracion.com, or call the Austin, Brownsville or McAllen offices to speak to an associate.

About Tinoco, Flores & Asociados

Tinoco, Flores & Asociados is an immigration law firm in Texas with locations in Brownsville, McAllen and Austin, Texas providing comprehensive legal services in both English and Spanish.
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)  Marco Rubio faced withering criticism of his readiness to be president and his policy depth in the last Republican debate before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and other candidates launched an aggressive campaign to slow the Florida senator's rise.

Rubio's responded with an uneven performance on Saturday night that could hurt his bid to emerge as an alternative to Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

If anything, his showing gave new hope to Christie, Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, all of whom need strong finishes in New Hampshire to keep their White House bids afloat.

Cruz, the Iowa caucuses winner, also took criticism at the debate for controversial political tactics, with one candidate disparaging him for having "Washington ethics" and being willing to test the campaign's legal limits.

New Hampshire's primary could further winnow an already shrinking GOP field or leave the primary muddled. Hard-fought, expensive and far-ranging, the campaign has become a fight for the future of the Republican Party, though the direction the GOP will ultimately take remains deeply uncertain.

Rubio, a first-term senator from Florida, has sought to appeal both to mainstream Republicans and those eager to upend the status quo. But his rivals, particularly Christie, have been blistering in their criticism of what they see as his slim qualifications to serve as commander-in-chief.

"You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable," Christie said. "You just simply haven't."

Christie has built his closing argument around his criticism of Rubio, and he kept up that approach on the debate stage. He accused the senator of being a candidate governed by talking points  then pounced when the senator played into his hands by repeating multiple times what appeared to be a planned response to criticisms about his qualifications.

"That's what Washington D.C. does," Christie said. "The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him."

Rubio wavered in defending his decision to walk away from the sweeping immigration bill he originally backed in the Senate  perhaps the legislation he's most closely associated with  and said he wouldn't pursue similar legislation as president.

"We can't get that legislation passed," Rubio said of the bill that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the United States illegally.

The senator found his footing later in the debate when outlining his call for more aggressive action to fight the Islamic State and emphasizing his anti-abortion stance.

Cruz was the victor in Iowa, triumphing over billionaire Trump by drawing heavily on the support of evangelical voters. But he's faced criticism for messages his campaign sent to voters ahead of the caucuses saying rival Ben Carson  another favorite of religious conservatives  was dropping out and urging the retired neurosurgeon's supporters to back him instead.

Cruz apologized for his campaign's actions Saturday, but not before Carson jabbed him for having "Washington ethics." Those ethics, he said, "say if it's legal, you do what you do to win." Trump was back on the debate stage after skipping the last contest before the Iowa caucuses.

After spending the past several days disputing his second-place finish in Iowa, he sought to refocus on the core messages of his campaign, including blocking Muslims from coming to the U.S. and deporting all people in the country illegally, all while maintaining he has the temperament to serve as president.

"When I came out, I hit immigration, I hit it very hard," Trump said. "Everybody said, 'Oh, the temperament,' because I talked about illegal immigration."

Kasich, who has staked his White House hopes on New Hampshire, offered a more moderate view on immigration, though one that's unpopular with many GOP primary voters. He said that if elected president, he would introduce legislation that would provide a pathway to legalization, though not citizenship, within his first 100 days in office.

The debate began shortly after North Korea defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

Asked how he would respond to North Korea's provocations, Bush said he would authorize a pre-emptive strike against such rockets if it was necessary to keep America safe. Cruz demurred, saying he wouldn't speculate about how he'd handle the situation without a full intelligence briefing. And Trump said he'd rely on China to "quickly and surgically" handle North Korea.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and its path was tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea; no damage from debris was reported. At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the country's president called the firing an "intolerable provocation."

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, trumpeted the beauty of the launch's "fascinating vapor" as the rocket cut through the clear blue sky and said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The firing came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning. It follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions. The United States and Japan quickly requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, said Sunday that ruling Workers' Party policies were responsible for the rocket's success.

The statement praised "the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star." Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rocket's first stage fell off North Korea's west coast at 9:32 a.m. and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

The South Korean government couldn't immediately confirm reports by Yonhap news agency and YTN TV that the rocket might have failed.

The U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japan's NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an "intolerable provocation." She said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people."

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that "North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the U.S., South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The U.N. Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the U.N. to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The North's recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Mohammad Mr Reza Nematzadeh, Iranian minister of industry, Dr S Reza Norouzzadeh, deputy minister of commerce, mines and trade and chairman of IDRO, and Alstom chairman and CEO Mr Henri Poupart-Lafarge.

Alstom says the aim of the MoU is to "initiate discussions for an industrial cooperation as well as train production and maintenance in Iran to better address the country's needs for mainline and urban transportation."

The creation of a joint-venture to implement these projects is also being considered.

"This MoU reflects the strong desire of the Iranian authorities to develop the country's railway sector and Alstom is looking forward to accompanying Iran in its transformation" Poupart-Lafarge says.

In a separate agreement, which was also signed in Paris on January 27, French National Railways (SNCF) will support Iranian Islamic Republic Railways (RAI) in the redevelopment of key stations, suburban rail projects in major cities, Iran's high-speed programme, and the organisational restructuring of RAI.
Currently racking up large audiences at home for the lavish production based on Tolstoys classic novel, the BBCs War And Peace is now gaining traction outside the UK.

War and Peace is a BBC Cymru Wales Drama, in partnership with The Weinstein Company and BBC Worldwide/Lookout Point. The corporations commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, has revealed that Russias major free to air broadcaster Channel One is the first to acquire the show, which had a weekly series average of 7.2 million (24.4% share) viewers in the UK.It is fitting that Russian audiences will get the chance to enjoy this thoroughly modern adaptation of Tolstoy's classic novel, commented Paul Dempsey, president global markets, BBC Worldwide . They'll join millions of viewers around the world who have been enthralled by Andrew Daviess stunning interpretation of War and Peace.The drama has also been sold to LeEco in China; ELTA in Taiwan; Indias Vuclip; KBS and SK in South Korea; ABS and CBN in the Philippines.BBC Worldwide previously announced the epic series had presold to Estonia (ETV), Greece (OTE), Lithuania (LNK), Israel (YES), Australia, Benelux (BBC First), Sweden (SVT) and Denmark (TV2). The Weinstein Company has licensed the series to the flagship channels of A+E Networks  Lifetime, A&E, and History  in the US.
The Killid Group, February 7, 2016

Power supply lines from Uzbekistan to Kabul shut down after pylons in Baghlan were sabotaged in two attacks, which the government has blamed on Taleban. As the Afghan capital plunged into darkness, there are growing fears about the future.

Hamid, 18, is waiting to migrate. When I see the situation here, I say to myself that sudden death is waiting for me today or tomorrow. What difference is there between being killed here or on some border somewhere? At least there is hope that I may find shelter (in some country) and live without fear.



Afghan migrants are detained in Hungary after crossing the border from Serbia. (Photo: Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Afghan migrants are detained in Hungary after crossing the border from Serbia. (Photo: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Security concerns have increased as the new year has progressed.

US army General John F. Campbell has warned 2016 could turn out to be as bloody as the previous year if steps for peace are not taken in the next two months. What is not being said is that authorities in Pakistan and Afghanistan have precious time to lose before the start of the spring offensive by the Taleban.

Some lawmakers have expressed worry about the lack of a serious strategy to combat the governments armed opponents who seem to have created a safe route south of the Amo river in provinces like Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan. There may be new links between them and Daesh in Faryab province, says Muhiuddin Mahdi, Member of Parliament from Baghlan.

Interior Minister Nurulhaq Olomi has outlined ongoing military operations. We started our winter campaign in Kunduz, and have operations in the south and east of Helmand to prevent the movement of the enemy at the end of winter, he says.

Acting minister of defence Masoom Stanekzai told the media that troops were in posts and reserve units were being brought forward to repel attacks. Security on the highways has also been strengthened in the winter operations.

Meanwhile, the induction of 700 new armoured tanks from the US has started. The air force is going to get 28 stable wing airplanes; pilots and staff are undergoing technical training. The air force is promised hardware worth 2.5 billion USD this year.

Masoud Andarabi, acting intelligence chief, wants security forces and officials to work hard. The enemy is determined to continue the war, he says.
"A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.  Madeleine L'Engle
Property details:

5 Acres vacant land in the San Luis Valley near the base of Mount Blanca, the 4th tallest peak in Colorado. Beautiful views. This is a down payment auction. THE BID IS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ONLY ! The winning bid will be deducted from the full price of $2,600 and the balance will be paid at $200 per month at 0% interest. Winning bid must be paid by check or money order within 7 days of close of auction. Winning bidder needs to contact me after auction is over for contract information and payment arra...

Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Colorado State/Province: Colorado City: Blanca Location: , Blanca, Colorado

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby Blanca
Time must be hard for businesses in Connecticut. According to Courant, in mid-January. General Electric Co. had announced that it will be leaving its headquarters in Fairfield after 42 years and will be transferring to Boston. Since then, many officials and locals are concerned that sooner or later another major business might go out of state and leave hundreds jobless.

To add to the state's anxieties, Aetna Inc. reportedly announced recently that the only community where it operates its government-related work will be Louisville, Kentucky. According to Courant, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini has told investor analysts that Humana, the site in Louisville which Aetna is offering to buy for $34 million, is where Aetna plans to establish as its headquarters for Medicare, Medicaid and other government insurance plans.

Bertolini said, "Louisville is actually the only community where we've made a real estate commitment." he said.

He added, "But we've made a commitment to only one community as a location for the most important part of our business, and that's Louisville."

Earlier, according to Hartford Courant, Aetna has admitted that Obamacare policies suffered losses of 3 to 4 percent in 2015. After that the company's chairman and CEO reportedly had said one of the issues that the need to address is where the employees could transfer to once the merger with Humana materializes. Bertolini said that the merget has been approved by seven states.

About 5,000 employees in the Aetna headquarters in downtown Hartford must be feeling anxious about this news. If Aetna transfers its headquarters to Louisville, 5000 people in Hartford might be left with no jobs. Wedbush analyst Sarah James, according to Hartford Courant, believes that the merger is most likely to close in the latter half of the year.
When discussing people with disabilities, it can be all too easy to focus on their challenges. Extra Special People, an organization that works to improve the lives of children with development disabilities, will instead be addressing the talents of people with disabilities in their annual showcase, Big Hearts on Feb. 13 at the Classic Center.
Mark Proctor had big plans when he relocated his outfitting business, On The River Supply, from Colorado to Redding a year ago.

But months after opening in the Shasta Center off Churn Creek Road, Proctor closed the store and left Redding. He has renamed the business and resurfaced Feb. 1 in Mill Creek, Washington, as On The Water Supply.

"I had what I think is a better opportunity for a more prosperous business," Proctor told me last week by phone from Washington. He declined to elaborate.

It didn't take long to fill the empty space in the Shasta Center.

Scandalous Boutique, a lingerie and adult accessories store that opened nearly two years ago on Victor Avenue, has relocated to the former river rafting space, between Palm Beach Tan and Suzie's Shop on the Corner.

Amanda Spaulding and boyfriend Robert Dunham own Scandalous. Spaulding was a waitress and Dunham did auto body work before they decided to open a lingerie shop.

Their new store is nearly twice the size of their Victor Avenue location. They also think it's a better location.

"It seems like there is more females who shop at this shopping center," Dunham.

About half of Scandalous' customers are women. The other half is split evenly between men and couples.

"We love helping couples," Dunham said. "We like helping people build confidence in their relationships."

Scandalous opened Jan. 4. Spaulding and Dunham are thinking about celebrating their second anniversary in March with a re-grand opening.

COTTONWOOD EATERY IN ESCROW

Tango Tacos is in escrow to buy Cottonwood Eatery.

The taco truck, which also runs a catering business, announced on Facebook Feb. 1: "We are in the process of purchasing the Cottonwood Eatery. Please watch our Facebook page for updates."

Tango Tacos did not return a phone message I left last week. If you've had a Tango Taco, send me an email with your thoughts.

Cottonwood Eatery co-owner Nanette Berning-Pate said she doesn't know when escrow will close. Meantime, the diner will continue to serve and will host Haven Humane Society's "Second Tuesday" fundraiser this week.

Berning-Pate and her husband, Jim Pate, are retiring. They opened Cottonwood Eatery on Front Street in 2009, taking the place of Old Towne Eatery, which closed that same year after operating in Cottonwood since 1996.

Berning-Pate said Tango Tacos will keep much of the Cottonwood Eatery menu but integrate Mexican cuisine.

"It will be the best of both worlds. They will be keeping their catering," Berning-Pate said. "They are very, very experienced and they have a successful food truck."

She is going to miss her customers, who she considers her extended family. But she's also eager to leave the fast-paced restaurant business.

"We want to enjoy our retirement," Berning-Pate said. "I have a horse and dogs, they are seniors, so I am going to miss spending time with them if I don't start enjoying life."

A LOT OF FIRSTS IN ANDERSON

Andersons' first Arco AM/PM, first ARCO car wash, first Dutch Bros., first Chicken Shack and first Pop's Chilly Cheese Steak will open this month.

Workers last week were putting the finishing touches on the development, which is off Highway 273 in front of the Walmart Supercenter shopping center.

Expect at least a portion of the Arco center to open this week. The entire complex should be open by Feb. 15, developers Jaspal Singh and Davinder Singh said.

Chris and Erin Resner, who own the Dutch Bros. franchise in Shasta County, have been eyeing Anderson for some time. This will be there eighth location. They currently have six in Redding and one in Palo Cedro. They opened their first Dutch Bros. in 2004 on Churn Creek Road near the Redding Post Office.

For Chicken Shack, this will be its second location. The restaurant opened two years ago in Redding near the corner of Cypress Avenue and Churn Creek Road. Chicken Shack opened a second location in Redding in the Placer Heights center at Buenaventura and Placer. But it recently closed.

EL NINO, THE CRIME FIGHTER

So says Redding Vice Mayor Brent Weaver.

I interviewed Weaver for last week's update on the Redding Inn, which was sued by the Shasta County District Attorney's Office in November.

I mentioned to Weaver that at least one merchant believes all the rain has helped conditions in the area surrounding the downtown motel.

"I think, personally, El Nino is one of our strongest crime deterrents," Weaver said. "So much rain for such a long time, it probably has an effect on some of these individuals and where they hang out."

As for the weather, it's expected to hit the high 70s Monday.

Reporter David Benda can be reached at 225-8219 or david.benda@redding.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS.
People look at floral tributes laid next to a mural of British singer David Bowie by artist Jimmy C in Brixton, south London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with his creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-spanning persona he christened Ziggy Stardust, died of cancer Sunday aged 69. He was born in Brixton. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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By THOMAS ADAMSON, AP Fashion Writer

PARIS (AP)  David Bowie  with his outrageous alter egos  was famed as much for his image and powerful influence on fashion design as he was for his music.

From the much-copied lightning flash face paint of Aladdin Sane, the oversize shoulders and white shirt collars of "Thin White Duke" to the trilby hat and floppy fringe of the alien he played in the movie "The Man Who Fell to Earth," Bowie for decades boldly broke boundaries in style and gender with his influential looks.

Then there was, of course, 1972's flame-orange haired Ziggy Stardust  his most recognizable invention.

While Bowie died of cancer at age 69 on Sunday after just having released a new album, he is as alive and young as ever on the high fashion catwalks.

Bowie "was a great artist and a timeless fashion icon... who will remain a reference," Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld told The Associated Press.

Such was Bowie's unique style that by 1992, when he married Somali-American fashion model Iman, his "relationship to fashion had already been sealed long before," according to prominent fashion blogger Diane Pernet.

Some observers say that only Lady Gaga has come as close as Bowie did in seamlessly merging pop music and fashion.

Jean Paul Gaultier, Dior, Saint Laurent and Dries Van Noten and fashion-conscious actresses such as Tilda Swinton all owe Bowie a lot. The check list includes bold hair color, sometimes slicked back, golden makeup, high shoulders, space themes, wide lapels on big monochrome or yellow jackets or sheeny playsuits with a deep cleavage.

Trends in recent seasons have turned the clocks back to the glam rock of the 1970s and '80s  a Bowie signature.

A recent Gaultier ready-to-wear show in Paris entitled "Rock Stars" paid homage to the man by recreating Ziggy Stardust on model Hannelore Knuts  who donned a one-legged, star encrusted net catsuit to applause from guests.

Gaultier told The Associated Press Monday that "personally he inspired me by his creativity, his extravagance, his sense of fashion that he was constantly reinventing, by his allure, his elegance and his androgyny."
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Q: We live in a residential subdivision in Gualala in Sonoma County and there is a wild male pig rooting around the homes. This pig is making himself at home and rooting up the unfenced ground around our home. Most everyone who lives around here has had this pig at their home. This is a 2- to 5-acre residential zoning, so we cannot shoot him, not that we want to. He follows the same evening route just before sunset. I have no objection to California Fish and Wildlife setting a trap box here. We don't venture around our place after sunset. This pig has been sighted in the past two weeks by about six people. We have weekly garbage service, which no doubt is an attraction and our homeowners' association has notified its membership. What can be done to stop this marauding pig that's wreaking all of our landscaping?

Jeff W., Gualala

A: First I suggest you make sure no garbage or artificial food attractants are being left out to draw the animal into your neighborhood. Talk to your neighbors about this and make sure your homeowners' association spreads the word, too.

Homeowners' associations differ from place to place, but most are within a designated city limit and most cities impose firearm discharge restrictions for the general populous. Thus, this would make shooting the pig unlawful in most situations. As such, hunting and immediate take are not options. Landowners or your housing association can apply to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for a depredation permit and then contact a local pig removal company or a federal trapper through USDA Wildlife Services, who operate in select California Counties (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/) to trap and remove the pig.

Q: While buying my license recently, I was told by the vendor that we no longer need to carry our fishing licenses with us. He said wildlife officers can now scan people's California driver licenses to verify the purchase. Is this true?

 Rick B.

A: No, you are still required to have your actual sport fishing license in possession while fishing and to present your actual license upon request to any wildlife officer who asks (FGC, section 2012). CDFW wildlife officers do not carry CDL scanners.

Q: When reading CDFW regulations, I find a shotgun is limited to three rounds of ammunition, but I cannot find anywhere how many rounds of ammo a rifle or automatic rifle is limited to. I'd like to know as I want no trouble when I go squirrel hunting with my AR-type gun.

 Robert K.

A: There are no restrictions in the California Fish and Game Code on the number of rounds a rifle can hold while hunting. Rifles sold in California for the past several years are restricted to a 10-round capacity. This is due to other firearms laws in the Penal Code.

Q: There are scopes with range-finding capabilities for compound and crossbows available on the market. Is it legal to have one of these scopes mounted on a bow or crossbow in areas where I am legally allowed to hunt in California?

 Tim

A: Scopes with laser rangefinders are not prohibited. Just be sure the device doesn't project any visible light or electronically intensify light for the purpose of either visibly enhancing an animal or providing a visible point of aim on an animal. These devices may be used only for the take of non-game and fur-bearing mammals as provided in the Mammal Hunting Regulations.

Q: I have a friend who lost some livestock to either coyotes or a mountain lion. He wants to protect the rest of his animals and was advised to contact the local government trapper. How can a person become a licensed trapper authorized to track down and remove these problem predatory animals?

 Anonymous

A: Contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The mission of this agency is to provide federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist. For more information, visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/.

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@wildlife.ca.gov.
SHARE Jesse Beauregard Date of birth: June 18, 1975 Vitals: 5 feet 10 inches; 160 pounds; brown hair, hazel eyes Charge: False ID to peace officer Christina Lee Brand Date of birth: Sept. 26, 1987 Vitals: 5 feet 5 inches; 105 pounds; brown hair, blue eyes Charge: Revocation of probation Amanda Chantel Dearman Date of birth: April 9, 1984 Vitals: 5 feet 1 inch; 170 pounds; blond hair, green eyes Charge: Fraud to obtain aid Katrina Marie Deshetres Date of birth: Sept. 9, 1985 Vitals: 5 feet 2 inches; 130 pounds; brown hair, blue eyes Charge: Grand theft

By Staff Reports

Shasta's Most Wanted, featured in the Record Searchlight in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, targets people who have failed to show up in court for sentencing after being convicted of crimes.

A milestone was reached in December, when the 500th arrest was made since the program was begun in September 2013. As of Friday a total of 545 arrests have been made through the Most Wanted program.

Authorities say they have seen an increase in criminals failing to appear in court since the onset of Assembly Bill 109. Also known as prison realignment, the state program shifted certain state prison inmates to county supervision.

Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti said court appearances have been going up since the rollout of the program.

Five new people are added each week. Those caught will be held until at least their next court appearances. Shasta County Secret Witness is offering a reward of up to $250 for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call 245-6540 or 243-2319.

The feature appears Sundays in the Record Searchlight's Northern California section and on Redding.com.
This artistic rendering of a proposed apartment complex for veterans in Shasta Lake shows the view from the southwest.

SHARE This artistic rendering of a proposed apartment complex for veterans in Shasta Lake shows the view from the west. Image by Nichols, Melburg and Rossetto This artistic rendering of a proposed apartment complex for veterans in Shasta Lake shows the view from the south.

By David Benda of the Redding Record Searchlight

When the federal government gave the Veterans Resource Centers of America property in the Mountain Lakes Industrial Park in north Redding, the plan was to build a resource center and affordable housing for military personnel.

That was more than 15 years ago.

Today, the four parcels on Mountain Lakes Boulevard, which sit between Industrial Welding and the Mountain Lakes Contractors Storage Yard, have gone back to the federal government, which plans to sell them.

After receiving the land, the Veterans Resource Centers discovered the property wasn't zoned for housing. Plans for a resource center there died when officials couldn't get the necessary funds.

But the housing project has resurfaced in Shasta Lake.

The Shasta Lake Housing Authority in May approved an agreement to negotiate with the Veterans Housing Development Corp. to develop the Shasta Lake Veterans Village, a three-story, 31-unit complex behind Dollar Tree off Shasta Dam Boulevard. Shasta Lake Housing Authority owns the property.

Now the veterans group is waiting to see whether it gets Proposition 41 funds so it can build the complex. Proposition 41, or the California Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act, was approved in June 2014.

In November, the Shasta Lake Housing Authority approved the transfer of the property to Veterans Housing Development Corp. at no cost, contingent upon the group getting the necessary money and entering into an agreement with the Housing Authority outlining conditions of the sale, Shasta Lake Development Services Director Carla Thompson said. Among those conditions would be ensuring the apartments remain affordable to lower income residents for at least 55 years.

Peter Cameron, president of the Veterans Resource Centers, said they expect to hear whether they will get the Proposition 41 money, about $6 million, in March.

Cameron's group serves more than 15,000 veterans in three states and has nine offices in California.

"In many of these communities, there is a need for affordable housing, but each community is different," Cameron said.

Cameron believes the group's inability to build something in Mountain Lakes Industrial Park highlights the challenge it can be to find land appropriately zoned and then getting the money to build.

"We can't just go in there and say, 'We pick this neighborhood.' We got to talk to the neighbors and work with the city and county," Cameron said. "These things are really done in partnerships."

Brad Long, Veterans Resource Centers site director in Redding, said there was some discussion about going for a zoning change to build in Mountain Lakes Industrial Park.

"We kind of talked about it but we found there was much easier property to work with as opposed to that one," Long said.

Meanwhile, the Veterans Resource Centers opened a transitional housing complex in the Park Marina area of Redding last year. The house is at Park Marina Drive and South Street, Long said, adding the facility can accommodate up to 12 veterans.

The Veterans Resource Centers operates 104 beds of transitional housing in its network where homeless veterans can stay up to two years.
'Slinging mud:' Supervisor candidates trade charges ahead of election

Kevin Crye, 46, is making his first run for political office, while Erin Resner, 37, was first elected to the Redding City Council in 2018.
Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight One SAFE Place Executive Director Jean King (center) talks with Anderson Rotary members Jeff Hall (right) and Dennis Patterson (left) on Saturday as they get prepare for the popular Saturday evening crab feed at the Shasta District Fair grounds in Anderson.

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By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight

ANDERSON  More than 1,200 people packed One SAFE Place's 29th annual crab feed at the Shasta District Fair grounds Saturday night.

The sold-out event attracted people from all parts of the community, who came not only to show support for the Redding nonprofit, which works to support victims of domestic violence, but to have their fill of crab.

"It's our largest fundraiser of the year," said Patty Price, Sierra Center coordinator at One SAFE Place.

It's also one of the many events, along with Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and Dancing with the Stars, that the organization hosts to raise money for its services at its new building at Benton Drive.

The secure two-story building  known as the Sierra Center  opened in October 2015.

At this year's feed, a number of local businesses donated goods to be auctioned off or as raffle prizes, such as jewelry, art, cooking goods and vacation getaways. More than 250 volunteers came together to help set up tables and later clean up.

Angela Jones, deputy director of One SAFE Place, said there were 24 sponsors for the event. The organization hoped to net approximately $80,000 to $130,000, which would pay for all of its direct services to clients.

"We're so fortunate to have all the sponsors come forward," Jones said. "We have such a generous community."

Crabs and clam chowder were the two main dinner courses for the evening. For more than 15 years, the Anderson Rotary Club has donated its services to cook for all the attendees, and the clam chowder recipe remains a popular item on the menu. Some 120 gallons of the chowder were prepared for the event.

Mike Sharrah, 51, a commercial fisherman in Alaska, cooked the clam chowder recipe 15 years ago at the Anderson Rotary Club's crab feed event. Over time, his 85-year-old father, John Sharrah, perfected the recipe, which continues to be a hit at crab feed events.

This year wasn't without challenges though. In December, crab collected from the southern Oregon border to the southern Santa Barbara County line were deemed toxic and unsafe for consumption by the California Department of Public Health. The crustacean was found to have high levels of domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin.

But much like the Anderson Rotary Club's crab feed event, R&R Meats of Redding stepped in to provide 4,400 pounds of dungeness crab from elsewhere on the West Coast.

"We tried some of the crab. So far, so good," said Joe Kneer, 58, of the Anderson Rotary Club during preparations earlier in the day.
Stethoscope wrapped around hundred dollar bills

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By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency is urging residents to fill out a community health survey to help determine what matters most to Shasta County residents, in terms of being healthy.

Terri Fields Hosler, branch director of the county's Public Health Department, said gathering quantitative data from the community will aid in creating a Community Health Improvement Plan. The results also will help in prioritizing what health issues need to be addressed first for residents.

"Any way you slice it, we have a lot of health challenges in Shasta County," she said.

The 13 questions in the survey ask community members about issues that may affect their family's health and whether they consider Shasta County a good place to live and the places they usually go for fun.

Public Health Department Deputy Branch Director Brandy Isola said the overall purpose of the survey is to measure the "community experience." She said in order to have a good grasp on how to improve health, it was important for the department to design a survey that focused on community issues.

In the survey, people can choose what community issues affect them most, such as unemployment, homelessness, isolation, sexually-transmitted diseases, hunger and more.

"We want to focus on what makes things challenging in the community when it comes to achieving healthiness," Isola said.

It's also an initiative on the part of the Shasta County Department of Public Health to receive national accreditation. And in order to achieve that, the department must show it has engaged the community and the partners in a health assessment.

The accreditation process is relatively new, Hosler said, and so far, the Ventura County Public Health Department is the first and only in California to receive accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board.

By putting together their Community Health Improvement Plan, the department's next step is to create "action teams" to focus on issues that matter to people most, Hosler said. In order to do that, people must log on to the Health and Human Services Agency's website and take the survey, which is available for all of February.

"I'm really proud of the way we're trying to engage the community, but we're also concerned about the common voice," Hosler said. "It will really help us listen to the community,"
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Awards ceremony held in Redding

By Sean Longoria of the Redding Record Searchlight

Redding firefighters face faster-moving home blazes with less manpower than 30 years ago, so honoring their work is all the more important, Fire Chief Kevin Kreitman said Monday at his department's annual awards ceremony inside Redding City Council chambers.

Kreitman and his fellow firefighters were joined by a nearly packed house that included city officials, council members and citizens.

Fire engineer Corey Welch receive the 2011 Firefighter of the Year Award, presented by the chief and Ryan Nardo, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1934 union.

Fire Capt. Cullen Kreider said Welch, who joined the Redding Fire Department in 2004, received the award because of his professionalism and involvement in the Redding Firefighters Association, Honor Guard, Apparatus Work Group, Driver's Training Cadre and other work.

Welch also volunteers time with the Salvation Army, Make-a-Wish and the Special Olympics, Kreider said.

"'He has a positive attitude, great work ethic and is a good problem solver. He understands what it means to be a professional firefighter,'" Kreider said of Welch, reading the words of fellow firefighters.

Fire Capt. Rik Valles, who also was honored for his 15 years of service, received the Chief's Award of Excellence for Community Service. Valles is involved in fundraising with the Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels Organization and area Make-a-Wish groups, Kreitman said.

Fire Capt. Steve Howard received the Pride and Ownership Award for his work with the department's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting operations. Howard ensured firefighters had completed that training to the satisfaction of the Federal Aviation Administration, Kreitman said.

Newly retired Battalion Chief Jon Bauer was recognized for his work, and Kreitman also took the opportunity to thank the handful of retired fighters at Monday's 1 p.m. ceremony.

"Your time that you spent before us has really set the course for us today," Kreitman said.

The department also honored:

Newly hired firefighters Allen Gunderson and Chance Karlgaard.

Battalion Chief Steve Reilly; fire captains Chris Peters and John Richey; and engineers Mike Loew, Bryan Gibbons and Ron Krznarich for their promotions.

Fire captains Sean Coleman and Don Lacy and Fire Inspector Dean Herzberg for 25 years of service.

Fire Capt. Mike Holst and engineers Lance Beatty and Andy Townley for 20 years of service

Fire Capts. Buck Cogle, Steve Cramer and Ryan Hoberg; engineers John Clark and Tim Wedan; and Fire Inspector Craig Wittner for their 10 years of service.

Engineers Mike Blair, Kevin Fogarty, Sam Hunt, Ron Kzrnarich, Mike Loew; and firefighters Mike Henry, Craig Martin and Ross McFaull for their five years of service.

The Redding Fire Department Color Guard opened the ceremony, which featured a short video of local firefighters in action across the city.
Composite Image of a Chart and a Richter Scale

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By Rosanna Xia and Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times

Hours after a magnitude-6.4 earthquake destroyed buildings in Taiwan, four state lawmakers said they want California to help pay for an earthquake early warning system, which has been stalled by a lack of funding.

Theres no valid reason not to make this relatively small investment in an early warning system that has the potential to save the lives of Californians, state Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat, said in a statement.

Sen. Bob Hertzberg, also a Democrat and a former speaker of the state Assembly, said, Its crucial that we fund a statewide earthquake early warning system and get it in place right away.

The voices of support for the warning system mark a change in tone at the State Capitol, where there had been few supporters of the system in recent years. On Wednesday, H.D. Palmer, deputy director of the state Department of Finance, said Californias policy is to not use money from the general fund for the early warning system.

The cost of building the system across the West Coast would be $38 million, plus $16 million a year to operate it. For California alone, the cost is $23 million to build the network, and $12 million annually to maintain it.

Congress and President Barack Obama have already kicked in about half of the annual cost to operate the program, but federal elected officials have said California, Oregon and Washington should contribute substantial amounts of money for the network.

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., praised the interest of state lawmakers in the system.

Im thrilledIm really encouraged by whats happening, Schiff said in a telephone interview Friday. It was all the more apparent this week that we need the full buy-in by the state of California, and now we have some very influential lawmakers who are making earthquake preparedness and the early warning system one of their real priorities. I think were really gaining traction now, and its great news for California.

The prototype early warning system has shown promising results in its test phase, giving 30 seconds of warning to downtown L.A. before the ground shook from a magnitude-4.4 earthquake last month. In 2014, the system gave researchers in San Francisco eight seconds of notice before the shaking arrived from a magnitude-6.0 earthquake that began in Napa.

But the system doesnt yet have enough seismic sensor stations  1,000 more need to be built or upgraded across the West Coast, added to the existing network of 650 facilities, which have been largely focused on the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas.

Other countries have developed earthquake early warning systems after earthquakes killed thousands of people. Mexico City has had a system since 1991, built after a 1985 earthquake killed at least 9,500 people.

Japan built a nationwide early warning system after 1995 Kobe earthquake killed more than 5,000 people. When the magnitude 9 earthquake hit east of Japan in 2011, many people in Tokyo, 200 miles away from the epicenter, had 30 seconds of warning that the shaking was coming.

The warnings would allow elevators to automatically open at the next floor before shaking arrives, tell surgeons to halt surgery, and slow down trains to decrease the risk of derailment.

The early warning system works on a simple principle: The shaking from an earthquake travels at about the speed of sound through rock  slower than the speed of todays telecommunications systems. That means it would take more than a minute for, say, a 7.8 earthquake that starts at the Salton Sea to shake up Los Angeles 150 miles away.



2016 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

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Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Sunday said that in case Delhi police fails to submit data as sought by it on crimes against women, it will exercise its powers of a civil court.

The DCW had last Tuesday summoned Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi to appear before it on February 8 at 4 pm for producing the required records and explaining the unreasonable delay in sharing the data.

The DCW does not intend to prove a point by ensuring the presence of the police commissioner at its office and has, in fact, informed he may send his deputy to the summons, but must under all circumstance provide the data else the Commission will exercise its powers of a Civil Court, Maliwal said.

The failure to present data sought by the Commission constitutes an offence under Section 176 of the Indian Penal Code, which is punishable with a jail term of one month and/or fine, she said, asserting that neither the DCW nor the women of Delhi are powerless.

The DCW has powers to requisition data from police under Section 10 of the DCW Act, 1994, for the purposes of investigating and examining matters related to womens safety, etc., Maliwal said.

The Commission had to resort to issuing summons to the Delhi police after repeated attempts to elicit data proved futile, she said.

In its letter, Delhi police has stated that information sought on crimes against women was publicly available on its website, which is not the case, Maliwal claimed.

Strangely, in the same letter, they have also stated that if the data is revealed to the DCW, it would cause a law and order problem in Delhi, she said.

The commission has informed the Delhi police that it is conducting a detailed study on womens safety in the national capital for which it needs information to make recommendations to the government, she said.

Exercising the powers of a civil court, the DCW can summon and enforce the attendance of any person from any part of India and examine him or her under oath. It can also requisition any public record.
David Coleman Headley would depose before a special Mumbai court on Monday and reveal the sequence of events and planning behind the 26/11 terror attacks, said senior public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

"It is for the first time in the Indian legal history, one foreign terrorist would give his evidence through video link and his evidence will be recorded. And I feel his evidence is most useful because that may unfold many things behind the terror attack of 26 November, he said.

Highlighting the importance of the evidences that are expected to be brought to fore by Headley, Nikam said, The evidence of David Headley is important for two reasons -- One of the Indian terrorists Abu Jindal who was in Pakistan and against whom the trial is pending. So, David Headley may give the broader aspect of the criminal conspiracy. The second aspect of the evidence of David Headley would be that why the conspiracy was hatched, who were the persons behind the criminal conspiracy and how it progressed with ultimately a huge death toll of 160 persons."

We expect that David Headley would give his revelation. Because on oath he is going to give the revelation as he has made a commitment before the American court, he added.

Headley, 55, was pardoned on December 10 and made an approver by additional sessions judge G A Sanap who presides over special cases related to terrorism, including those under the now repealed Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

Headleys maps and videos helped ten Pakistani fidayeens land by sea on Mumbais shores and launch one of the audacious attacks on the financial capital, killing over 166 people and injuring 300.

Between November 26 and 29, 2008, terrorists rampaged through two five-star hotels Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace, Jewish outreach centre at Nariman House, Cafe Leopold, all in Colaba, besides Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Cama and Albless Hospital.

While nine terrorists were killed during the response operations, a lone gunman Ajmal Kasab was tried and hanged on November 21, 2012 at Pune's Yerawada jail.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Headley in October 2009 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago while on his way to Pakistan.

United States district judge Harry Leinenweber of the US District Court for Illinois in Chicago sentenced him to 35 years in prison for his role in Mumbai attacks on January 24, 2013.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches a long-range rocket launch on Sunday. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters



North Koreas rocket launch, after which the country said it has successfully put a satellite into orbit, has been widely condemned as a ballistic missile test for a weapons delivery system to strike the US mainland.

The launch, which violated multiple resolutions of the United Nations, amounted to the country doubling down against major world powers already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its hydrogen bomb test.

There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although a US defence official said the launch vehicle appears to have reached space.

An earlier unconfirmed report from South Koreas Yonhap news agency had suggested the second stage may have malfunctioned.

In a special state TV broadcast, it was announced that the launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, had successfully put our Earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4 into orbit.

While stressing that the launch represented the legitimate exercise of North Koreas right to the peaceful and independent use of space, the female announcer also noted that it marked a breakthrough in boosting our national defence capability.

North Koreas scientists would work towards further satellite launches in the future, she added.

Condemnation from the international community was swift, with the United States calling the launch destabilising and provocative and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slammed it as absolutely intolerable.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced the launch and asked North Korea to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations.

Condemning the launch as deeply deplorable, the UN chief said it was in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

It is deeply deplorable that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions despite the united plea of the international community against such an act, Ban said in a statement.

In New York, diplomats said the UN Security Council would meet in emergency session later on Sunday.

China, which is North Koreas sole major ally and main trading partner, also expressed regret over the launch. The relations between the two have been strained in recent years by Pyongyangs ongoing nuclear programme.

With regards to the DPRKs insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition, China expresses regret, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was quoted as saying on the ministrys website.

Russia also condemned North Korea's launch, saying the move was a serious blow to regional security.

Condemning the launch as a senseless provocation, France called for a rapid and tough response from the UN Security Council.

'France condemns with the utmost firmness the new flagrant violation by North Korea of the resolutions of the Security Council,' the presidential Elysee Palace said in a statement.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said the Council should respond quickly with strong punitive measures against what she called a grave challenge to global peace and security.

The pre-orbital flight arc of the rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, was planned to traverse the Yellow Sea and further south to the Philippine Sea, with both South Korea and Japan threatening to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Multiple UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Koreas development of its ballistic missile programme.

Despite Pyongyangs insistence on a peaceful space mission, its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States, along with allies like South Korea and Japan, had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with launch, but analysts said the Norths timing was carefully calculated to minimise the repercussions.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidates lashed out at President Barack Obama and his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who is aspiring to succeed him, for the North Korean missile test which, they said, is the result of their incompetence.

I think we have a president who is totally incompetent, and he doesnt know what hes doing. I think he has no idea what hes doing. And our country is going to hell, Donald Trump, the front runner Republican presidential candidate said.

Trump said he would get on with China, and solve that problem.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who had an impressive performance in the Iowa Caucus and is being billed as the Republican establishment candidate, agreed with Trump that China does have a lot of influence over North Korea.

And he (Obama) should be leveraging our relationship with the Chinese to ensure that North Korea no longer has access to the resources that have allowed them to develop long range missiles already capable of reaching the west coast of the United States potentially, he said.
The battle for Maihar in the upcoming bypolls is crucial for the Congress as well as the BJP. Heres why.

The February 13 bypoll to Maihar assembly seat, part of the Satna Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, is crucial not just for the Congress, but also for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, because of the prestige of the people involved. How the seat fell vacant is an interesting story. It revolves around Narayan Tripathi, a man of many parts.



Although in 2013, the BJP won over two-thirds majority in the state assembly elections, it was the Congress that bagged the Maihar seat in an electoral anachronism. Exactly how or why Tripathi, the Congress member of the legislative assembly from this seat, shifted sides ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections is not known, although speculation is aplenty.

What is known is that even two days before he changed sides in 2014 and joined the BJP, Tripathi had been by the side of Congress leader from Satna-Rewa, Ajay Singh, the son of former Union minister and former chief minister Arjun Singh.

Not only had Tripathi campaigned for the Congress, he had also been the Congress' Sherpa in the region in the election, accompanying Union minister Rajiv Shukla as well as actor Amisha Patel, who were campaigning for the Congress.

On the other hand, those who know Tripathi say his defection was hardly surprising: He was earlier with the Samajwadi Party and joined the Congress months before the 2013 assembly polls. As the Lok Sabha elections came close, a swathe of Congress leaders queued up to join the BJP. Tripathi was one of them.

Not surprisingly, Tripathi negotiated with the BJP to get the assembly ticket again.

Naturally, the Congress is livid. We are going to teach party hopper Tripathi a lesson this time, Singh was quoted as saying by the PTI from Maihar.

The BJP has also realised its mistake by taking him into its fold, as Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had earlier announced that he will be in Maihar since the beginning for campaigning, has not yet arrived here. Now, we have heard that he will be coming only for the last three days of electioneering, which shows that the fight is not going to be easy for them, Singh said.

Why is the Maihar seat, just another among the 230 seats in the assembly, so important?

One, because of where it is located. The Satna-Rewa region is supposed to be a Congress bastion and a defeat -- that too at the hands of a defector -- would be a major setback for the reputation of Singh, the MP from the Satna parliamentary seat.

But recent history also comes into play.

In November 2015, the Congress won a stupefying victory in another by-election, in Ratlam, in the same state. That was a Lok Sabha seat, and a by-election was necessitated by the death of Dilip Singh Bhuria, who had been a traditional Congressman, but had joined the BJP and had won the seat -- for the first time, for the BJP in recent history.

Then Kantilal Bhuria contested and won the seat back for the Congress in a by-election -- thus raising the number of MPs the party has in the Lok Sabha from 44 to 45.

If the Congress is able to pull off another victory by ensuring Tripathis defeat on the grounds that he is a serial defector and ought to be punished, it could mark a new turn in the politics of the state.

The Ratlam Lok Sabha seat was won back by the Congress by a margin of nearly 90,000 votes: this, months after the party lost the seat by a similar margin. If it wins Maihar as well, the party will see this as an endorsement of its campaign: that widespread rural distress and migration from the state suggest a crisis for the ruling BJP.

Congress has given the ticket to Manish Patel to consolidate backward class votes in the Brahmin-dominated seat. Patel is not a loyal Congressman: he joined the Congress after quitting the Bahujan Samaj Party.

But campaigning is in high gear. It is not about the numbers -- with two-thirds majority already under its belt, the BJP doesnt need additional MLAs. It is more about the high stakes for the Congress that the seat represents.

One swallow does not a summer make. One assembly seat more or less will not put Chouhans popularity in question. But if the BJP loses this seat -- the second election in four months -- it could force the chief minister to review and update some of his policies.

In a world dominated by low agricultural prices, Madhya Pradesh has also been hit by erratic rainfall all through 2015. In fact, so concerned was Chouhan about the political fallout of the failure of the monsoon that he had to adopt a prime ministerial tactic: He took to broadcasts on All India Radio asking farmers to be patient, not lose hope and be courageous and convened a special session of the assembly in November to get the House to approve the disbursal of enhanced relief to them.

The Maihar assembly election will be watched closely: not for the outcome of the election alone but also whether it represents a new trend in the politics of the state.
Application for student loan forgiveness plan is available: Here's what to know
For years, evangelical Republicans have prayed for a 'true conservative,' one who could inspire enough Democrats and independents to help hold the ladder for a right-wing candidate's ascension through the presidential pearly gates. The clouds have parted and Donald Trump has appeared as an answer to prayer, but many evangelical voters are being seduced by the anti-Republican, Ted Cruz, who slithered up from behind to beat Trump in Iowa.

Cruz grew horns on live TV while on the Senate floor when he unfairly accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of being a liar. McConnell only bent the truth a little to revive the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which was created by executive order via New Deal Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt back in 1934. Cruz proved to be argumentative when disparaging a fellow Republican for a little white lie.

Like McConnell, Trump will artfully capitulate to cooperate when brokering deals between Democrats and establishment Republicans instead of being a wrench-thrower like Cruz, who would rather stand on an outdated Constitution than make a deal. Trump knows how to go along to get along, which is rooted in Trump's deeply spiritual desire to reach out to politicians across the aisle, such as Hillary Clinton. Trump not only showed Hillary love when donating $10,000 to her Senate campaign, but generously donated between $100,001 and $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation, according to their donor list.

Trump loves Democrats and Republicans alike due to his godly, spiritual convictions. His relationship with the Almighty is so deep that when asked by the Family Leadership Summit's moderator, 'Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?' Trump's response was, 'That's a tough question ... I'm not sure I have ... I don't think so ... I don't bring God into that picture.' Imagine what it's like being Donald Trump  so close to the Lord that you don't even need His forgiveness.

When asked on Bloomberg Politics to name 'one or two of your most favored verses,' The Donald deftly deflected with, 'Well, I wouldn't want to get into it because, to me, that's very personal ... So, I don't want to get into verses.' Trump clearly couldn't pick a verse because all Bible verses are his favorite  'the Bible is the best.' Since then, Trump has referenced 2nd Corinthians as 'Two Corinthians,' demonstrating his theological prowess by referencing scripture in British fashion.

Trump's spiritual insight helps him size people up in a heartbeat without even giving them much thought. He ferreted out that GOP candidate Ben Carson was feigning his Christianity in exchange for votes when Trump told CNN viewers, 'I have known of Ben Carson for a long time and never heard faith was a big thing until just recently when he started running.' Trump knows how to spot Christian posers such as Carson and Cruz. This is no more a case of the pot calling the kettle black than when Trump described Cruz as 'a nasty guy ... Nobody likes him anywhere once they get to know him.'

Preach it, Brother Trump!

Trump and the revered Republican John McCain both have labeled Ted Cruz a 'whacko.' Only a whacko nerd would waste his time memorizing the U.S. Constitution word for word as Cruz has done. And for a guy who taught Supreme Court litigation for six years at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, one would think Cruz would have won more than five out of the nine cases he has argued before the conservative Supreme Court.

And when it comes to appointing future justices to the Supreme Court, Trump won't discriminate against Democrats and pro-aborts as Cruz would. Trump's judicial wisdom was evident when he proudly proclaimed that his pro-partial birth abortion appellate judge sister, Maryanne Trump Berry, would make a 'phenomenal' Supreme Court justice  'I think she would be one of the best.' Trump has proved he is open-minded, unlike Ted Cruz, who is rigidly stuck in an 18th century interpretation of the Constitution rather than bending it to fit a more modern morality.

The Republican Party needs new blood like Donald Trump, someone who has the skill set to make a deal with the devil yet come out shining like an angel of light. In contrast we have the divisive Ted Cruz, who clings to an outdated Constitution, his guns and a 10 percent flat tax that benefits the rich.

Can't you recognize a Wolf of Wall Street in sheep's clothing when you see one?

Email Lance Voorhees, a former Hollywood actor and radio talk show host, at Lance@LanceVoorhees.com or follow him on Twitter: @LanceVoorhees.
Barbarians at the gate usually don't bring down successful civilizations. Nor does climate change.

Even mass epidemics such as the plague that decimated sixth century Byzantium do not necessarily destroy a culture. Far more dangerous are institutionalized corruption, a lack of transparency and creeping neglect of existing laws.

All the euros in the world will not save Greece if Greeks continue to dodge taxes, featherbed government and see corruption as a business model. Even obeying minor laws count. It is no coincidence that a country where drivers routinely flout traffic laws and throw trash out the window is also a country that cooks its books and lies to its citizens.

Mexico is a naturally rich country. It is blessed with oil, precious minerals, fertile soils, long coastlines and warm weather. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens should not be voting with their feet to reject their homeland for the United States. But Mexico continues to be a mess because police expect bribes, property rights are iffy and government works only for those who pay kickbacks. The result is that only north, not south, of the U.S.-Mexico border can people expect upward mobility, clean water, adequate public safety and reliable power.

In most of the Middle East and Africa, tribalism and bribery, not merit, determine who gets hired and fired, wins or loses a contract, or receives or goes without public services and food.

Americans, too, should worry about these age-old symptoms of internal decay.

The frightening thing about disgraced IRS bureaucrat Lois Lerner's knowledge of selective audits of groups on the basis of their politics is not that she seemed to ignore it, but that she seemingly assumed no one would find out, or perhaps even mind. And she may well have been right. So far, no one at the IRS and Congress has shown much, if any, remorse for corrupting an honor-based system of tax compliance.

Illegal immigration has been a prominent subject in the news lately, between Donald Trump's politically incorrect, imprecise and cross stereotyping of illegal immigrants and the shocking killing of a young San Francisco woman gunned down in public by a Mexican citizen who had been convicted of seven felonies in the United States and had been deported five times. But the subject of illegal immigration is, above all, a matter of law enforcement.

Ultimately, no nation can continue to survive and thrive if its government refuses to enforce its own laws. The general public wonders why some are selectively exempt from following the law, but others are not. If federal immigration law does not apply to foreign nationals, why should building codes, zoning laws or traffic statutes apply to U.S. citizens?

But why single out the poor and foreign born? Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton once pocketed a $100,000 cattle-futures profit with help from an insider crony. Hillary then trumped that windfall by failing to pay taxes on her profits, and was only forced to address that oversight years later. Why did Hillary, during her tenure as secretary of state, snub government protocols and violate federal law by using a private email account and a private server to conduct U.S. State business, It is highly improbable that some of those emails did not contain classified information.

For those of you who do not have the United States Code committed to memory, here's what it says:

Title 18. Section 2071

(a) Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years or both.

(b) Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his or her office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.

Why did then-Secretary of State Clinton knowingly violate federal law by using a private email account and a private server to conduct official business? Hillary apparently long ago concluded that laws involving her were to be negotiated, not obeyed.

Civilizations unwind insidiously not with a loud, explosive bang, but with a lawless whimper.

Scotty Daniel lives in Rotan.
UPDATED at 2.15 a.m. EST on 2016-02-07

Defying international warnings, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday just a month after testing a nuclear device, the governments of neighboring South Korea and Japan said.

The two governments and the United States as well as the international community condemned the launch, which North Korea said had successfully put a satellite into orbit.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signaled that the U.N. Security Council would take "significant measures" to hold Pyongyang to account for its action, viewed by Washington and its allies as a covert ballistic missile test.



The Security Council could meet as early as Sunday in an emergency session to discuss the launch, which Kerry said was a "flagrant violation" of U.N. sanctions against the hard-line communist state.



"This is the second time in just over a month that the DPRK [North Korea] has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," he said in a statement.



Kerry said the United States would work with its partners and members of the U.N. Security Council "in a firm and united way" to address North Korea's pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.



U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called on the international community to stand together and demonstrate to North Korea "that its reckless actions must have serious consequences."



'Provocation'



Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch "absolutely unacceptable," while South Korean President Park Geun-hye said it was "an unforgivable act of provocation" and called on the U.N. Security Council to swiftly adopt strong sanctions.



The move has been anticipated as North Korea updated on Saturday a notification sent earlier to UN agencies that the launchviewed by many as a long-range missile testwould take place between February 7-14, instead of the previous schedule of February 8-25.



North Korea declared the launch of the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, as a "complete success." A state TV broadcast carried still pictures of a rocket lifting off cheered on by Kim's son and current leader Kim Jong Un surrounded by military officials.



The rocket was launched at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory, according to Reuters news agency.



Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea. The U.S. Strategic Command said it had detected what it called a missile entering space, appearing to quash earlier media reports indicating it might have failed during flight, Reuters reported.



A South Korean defense official, speaking to the Associated Press, said the rocket disappeared from South Korean military radars around six minutes after its launch.



Barred under sanctions

Nuclear-armed North Korea is barred under U.N. sanctions from using ballistic missile technology. The rocket launch Sunday is seen as another serious violation of Security Council resolutions, coming closely after its nuclear test on Jan. 6.



Pyongyang, which had said that the rocket would carry a satellite, offered no specific reason for changing the launch dates, but a forecast of clear weather was believed to be the most likely factor, Agence France-Presse reported.



North Korea says its space program is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and its allies believe the rocket launches are aimed at developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

North Korea's top ally China "expressed regret" over the launch.



"With regards to the DPRK's insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition, China expresses regret," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was quoted as saying on the ministry's website.

"The DPRK has the right to the peaceful use of space, but that right is limited by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions," she added.



U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday had agreed to respond to North Korean "provocations" with an "impactful" U.N. Security Council resolution, the White House said.

Xi told Obama in a telephone call that China is committed to the goal of the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and to maintaining peace and stability, China's state news agency Xinhua said on Saturday.



"The Chinese side supports safeguarding the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and the international nonproliferation system," Xi added, Xinhua reported.



North Korea announced its rocket launch plans during a visit to Pyongyang by China's top envoy to North Korea, Wu Dawei, in what was seen as a snub to Beijing.



'Belligerent step'



Ed Royce, the head of the foreign affairs panel of the U.S. House of Representatives, said the rocket launch shows that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "has taken yet another belligerent step threatening the interests of the United States and our allies."



"As North Korea works to build a nuclear arsenal capable of hitting the United States it is clear the Obama administrations policy of strategic patience has failed," he said. "This latest aggression underscores the importance of enacting my legislation to strengthen targeted sanctions against this brutal regime.



Reported by RFA's Korean Service. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai and Richard Finney.
Media reports claim the Czech government paid a $6 million ransom to kidnappers to secure the release last year of two Czech women abducted in Pakistan.

The weekly Respekt magazine reported on February 7 that negotiations with the kidnappers on the payment of a ransom were carried out by the Czech State's Security Council.

Czech students Hana Humpalova and Antonie Chrastecka were seized by armed men in March 2013 in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province, near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

The pair, both 24 at the time, had entered Pakistan from Iran as tourists.

In a video released shortly after their kidnapping, the women had pleaded for the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, jailed in 2010 in the United States on charges of terrorist links.

The Czech government announced the women's release and return to Prague on March 28, 2015, after two years in captivity.

The AFP news agency quoted government spokesman Martin Ayrer as saying Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka "will not be commenting on this report."

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told EU leaders on October 20 that Russian attacks that have destroyed a large portion of Ukraine's energy infrastructure are aimed in part at provoking a new wave of migration of Ukrainians to EU countries.



"Russian terror against our energy facilities is aimed at creating as many problems as possible with electricity and heat for Ukraine this fall and winter, and for as many Ukrainians as possible to go to your countries, he told an EU summit in Brussels.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

This should be "answered immediately," primarily by more air defense systems sent to Ukraine, the president said.



"We must do everything possible to make it completely impossible for Russia to destroy our energy system with missiles and drones," Zelenskiy said in a virtual speech to EU lawmakers, calling on Ukraine's partners to provide systems "to create a truly reliable air shield."



Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian civilian and infrastructure facilities since October 10, mainly using kamikaze drones that Ukraine and its Western allies say are Iranian-made. Moscow and Tehran have denied the accusations.



Zelenskiy also warned that Ukraine suspects Russia has mined the dam and units of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant on the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine, and if it were blown up, more than 80 settlements, including Kherson, would be in danger of flooding.



Zelenskiy said Ukrainian workers have been thrown out of the facility, leaving Russians in control. He asserted that Russia "has already prepared everything to carry out this terrorist attack."

He called for an international observation mission and the return of Ukrainian personnel to ensure the mines are removed from the dam and its units.



Zelenskiy's comment came two days after Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed head of the Kherson region of Ukraine, announced an "organized, gradual displacement" of civilians from four towns on the right bank of the Dnieper River to the left side.



Saldo accused Ukrainian forces of planning to destroy the dam and also warned of "an immediate danger of flooding."



The Moscow-installed authorities of Kherson said on October 20 that about 15,000 people had left the region.

The Moscow-appointed deputy head of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, encouraged people to cross over to the left bank of the Dnieper River and posted a video of a column of buses on Telegram.



Kyiv has denounced Moscow's move, calling it a "deportation" of Ukrainian civilians to Russia.



But Stremousov said people should follow the evacuation instructions and leave Kherson, one of four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Russia.



"Give the military a chance to do what they have to do," he said, claiming that the Russian army will not surrender Kherson.



Zelenskiys office said that Ukrainian forces on October 20 had mounted 15 attacks on Russian military strongholds in the Kherson region. Russias Defense Ministry spokesman said the Kremlins forces repelled Ukrainian attempts to advance with tanks on three Kherson villages.



Another Russian-installed official in the region, Vladimir Leontyev, said Ukrainian forces had launched five missile strikes against the Kakhovka dam.



Ukraine earlier on October 20 began restricting electricity consumption for the first time since the start of Russia's invasion as the country sustained serious damage to its infrastructure following waves of Russian air strikes targeting its electricity grid ahead of the onset of winter.

Oleksandr Kharchenko, an adviser to the energy minister, said on October 19 that there would be outages, including some that are scheduled.



"Unfortunately, according to new data, about 40 percent of the total infrastructure is seriously damaged. Repair and connection work is ongoing, but outages are expected today and tomorrow," Kharchenko said on Ukrainian television.



The supply restriction started at 7 a.m. (0800 Prague time) and was due to last until 11 p.m. Grid operator Ukrenergo urged Ukrainians to charge their mobile phones and have blankets on hand for warmth.

In the latest Russian attack, an energy facility was struck and damaged in the Kryvorizka district of the Dnipropetrovsk region, the head of the regional administration, Valentyn Reznichenko, reported on October 20.

Earlier, a missile strike hit a major coal-fired power station in the city of Burshtyn in western Ukraine, the region's governor said.

"Our region experienced missile fire today. The Burshtyn thermal power station was hit, which caused a fire," Svitlana Onyshchuk, governor of Ivano-Frankivsk region, said in an online video statement.

The Burshtyn power station supplies electricity to three western regions and 5 million consumers.

Ahead of the summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed lawmakers in Berlin on October 20, condemning Russia's latest drone attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine and saying that "such scorched-earth tactics will not help Russia win the war."

Scholz said such tactics by Russian President Vladimir Putin would "only strengthen the resolve and the will of Ukraine and its partners to persevere."

"In the end, Russia's bombing and missile terror is an act of desperation -- just like the mobilization of Russian men for war," Scholz said. "He wants to sow fear, divide, and intimidate. He is speculating on our weakness, but he is wrong -- we are not weak."

Scholz said the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war would be a "generational task in which the entire civilized community of states must join forces."



In London, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace will also make a statement to parliament on Ukraine later on October 20, the House of Commons said on Twitter.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and BBC
An Afghan army commander says a key district in the southern province of Helmand is on the verge of being overrun by the Taliban.

The unidentified commander told the BBC that most of Sangin district had been capture by the militants.

He said the government still controls a few key locations in the districts main city, Sangin, but warned that those areas are under imminent threat.

The commander said repeated Taliban attacks on government positions had killed a number of soldiers in recent days.

He also claimed there had been no reinforcements for days and rations are low.

Last month, Helmand's police chief, Abdul Rahman Sarjang, said the Kabul government had sent reinforcements to the districts of Gereshk, Marjeh, and Sangin amid reports that the Taliban were threatening to capture them.

Based on reporting by the BBC
BOGRAD, Russia -- Obstetrician Vladimir Vinter has been delivering babies in this small Siberian town for more than four decades.

Today, his maternity ward, once echoing with the clamor of crying newborns, is eerily silent. Authorities in the southeastern Siberian republic of Khakassia shut down the facility on January 1 despite angry protests by local residents.

"I am barred from practicing my profession," Vinter sighs as he strides down the hospital's empty corridors.

Women in Bograd, a town of 15,000 inhabitants, are equally distressed.

To give birth they must now travel to the city of Chernogorsk, 76 kilometers away. Some villages in the Bograd district lie as far as 150 kilometers from Chernogorsk, although expectant mothers can in certain cases request to give birth in another, closer city in a neighboring district.

Those are considerable distances for a woman in labor, especially during Siberia's harsh winters when snow and ice can slow traffic or make stretches of road impassable.

While most pregnant women in Russia don't have to travel this far to reach a maternity hospital, the demise of Bograd's ward is not an isolated case.

"This is Russia," cautions Aleksandr Saversky, the head of Russia's League for the Protection of Patients' Rights. "Traveling 150 kilometers in winter there is not the same as on European roads."

In recent years, Russian health workers have been denouncing a controversial reform to "optimize" health care that has dramatically slashed the number of state-run medical facilities across the country, particularly in rural areas, and left thousands of doctors without a job.

According to government statistics, the number of health facilities in rural areas fell by 75 percent from 2005 to 2013, from 8,249 to 2,085.

Health experts say patients are paying the price.

"In 2015, the mortality rate in Russia rose for the first time in 10 years," says Saversky. "In the absence of any new factors that could affect people's health, we see this as a result of the health-care system's optimization."

Bograd residents have fought hard to preserve their maternity ward.

Protests began as soon as the decision to close it was announced last summer.

In January, about 200 residents of Bograd again took to the streets to protest the closure, holding banners with slogans such as "The maternity ward's optimization is an affront to women," or "Don't touch rural medicine!"

Raisa Frolova, the driving force behind the rallies, says the town's administration simply chose to ignore the protests. Pointing to a thick pile of papers, she says a petition to the Russian government in Moscow signed by more than 1,000 residents has also gone unanswered.

"No one pays heed to the population's opinion nowadays," she says gloomily. "There are spheres of medicine where no one should be counting money and deciding whether or not it's unprofitable -- otherwise we simply become biological waste."

Bograd is not a wealthy town.

Many women there work throughout their pregnancies, and few can afford to wait for their baby's arrival at a hospital in Chernogorsk.

Vinter warns that expectant mothers living in villages around Bograd are particularly unlikely to travel all the way to Chernogorsk to give birth.

"They don't even come to our district hospital for their scheduled checkups," he says. "When we ask them why they don't come, they say they have no means of transportation or no money. As a rule, they arrive here only once labor has begun."

Vinter says some of the women who risk the trip to Chernogorsk may not get there in time, especially those who have already had children and can expect a quicker childbirth.

Doctors can still examine patients and follow their pregnancies at Bograd's gynecological ward, which remains open, but they can only deliver the babies in emergency cases when the life of the mother or child is at risk.

Vinter worries that women will endanger themselves trying to obtain emergency births in Bograd. He and his team have already performed three emergency deliveries since the maternity ward's closure.

"They will find ways to give birth here, they will wait until the last moment," he says. "This will end badly."

According to Vinter, the hospital has not actually been paid for January's emergency deliveries. He says officials have told the doctors that from now on they should regard deliveries in Borad as "humanitarian help to women."

Vinter is also concerned that he and his colleagues in Bograd could be held responsible if a woman in labor comes to harm on her way to Chernogorsk.

"Let's say that I examine a woman, that it looks like I shouldn't send her there because she might not make it in time but that I do so anyway, and something happens," he says. "In the criminal code, this is called leaving a patient in danger or failure to render assistance to a person in danger."

There are currently three pregnant women on bedrest at the Bograd hospital.

One of them, Tatyana Azhirevich, gave birth to both her sons here. She says she has no intention of trusting the life of her third child to anonymous doctors in Chernogorsk.

Azhirevich is determined: She won't trade "her Vinter" for any other obstetrician.

"I will wait until the last moment at home," she pledges. "I don't care if they bring me in an ambulance and if I have to lie on some couch, I want to give birth in our Bograd hospital."

Like Azhirevich, many of Vinter's patients are wary of giving birth in Chernogorsk's maternity ward, where they believe doctors will be too busy to offer them quality care.

The Bograd hospital, in contrast, used to deliver an average of two babies per week.

"A lot depends on the situation, if you are alone or if there's someone to support you," she explains. "Here, the doctor pats us on the back and reassures us."

The quiet pace at Bograd's maternity ward is precisely the reason cited by Khakassia authorities for its closure. Officials have branded the ward "unprofitable." Others have pointed to its higher-than-average infant mortality rates.

This claim riles local doctors, who say the rates include babies up to 12 months of age who die at home, as a rule in underprivileged rural families.

As an inspector for juvenile welfare, Azhirevich knows about the situation firsthand and hotly defends Vinter and his team.

"I see how these doctors chase alcoholic pregnant women," she explains. "They bring them to the maternity ward so they can sober up a little before giving birth."

With the maternity ward now officially closed, she fears Bograd's obstetricians will leave the town for good.

"Women will give birth at home," she warns. "And then you just watch what kind of infant mortality rates we will have."
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has dismissed plans to build a wall around the capital.

"Baghdad is the capital for all Iraqis, Abadi said in the statement released late February 6. "There can be no wall or fence to isolate it or prevent other civilians from entering it."

He said Baghdad would be secured by reorganizing checkpoints and closing gaps in the security perimeter while easing transit in and out of the city of around 4 million.

The Iraqi military had said on February 3 that preparatory work for a security barrier around Baghdad was underway in a bid to prevent attacks by the Islamic State (IS) group.

IS militants seized large swaths of territory north and west of Baghdad in 2014. They have claimed several attacks in recent months in the capital, mainly targeting security forces and the country's Shiite majority.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
The UN Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea's rocket launch and said it would adopt a new resolution with "significant" new sanctions.

The statement was backed by China, Pyongyang's ally, and the 14 other council members during an emergency meeting on February 7, following North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket into space.

The closed-door meeting was requested by the United States, South Korea, and Japan to agree on a collective response to Pyongyangs move.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the new UN resolution targeting North must be adopted very quickly and include "unprecedented measures" that Pyongyang doesn't expect.

Japanese envoy Motohide Yoshikawa, too called for heavier sanctions, saying, "the existing sanctions have not stopped North Korea from developing nuclear weapons."

But China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi said the resolution should "do the work of reducing tension...and of encouraging a negotiated solution."

North Koreas state television said the launch -- ordered by leader Kim Jong Un to put a "satellite" in space -- was a complete success.

It said a North Korean satellite called Kwangmyongson-4 is now orbiting the Earth every 94 minutes and that the North would continue to launch satellites in the future.

But critics said the launch was a cover for testing a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead -- a test that is banned by multiple Security Council resolutions.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket into space early on February 7, raising nuclear concerns in neighboring countries and in Washington.

It followed North Koreas claim in January that it tested a hydrogen bomb.

Condemnation after the February 7 launch was swift, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling it deeply deplorable and said the rocket used ballistic-missile technology. Ban also said North Korea must stop provocative actions.

Russia said Pyongyang once again demonstrated a flagrant disregard of norms of international law."

"Such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole...[and] inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

China's Foreign Ministry said it "expresses regret" about North Korea's "insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition."

France's presidential Elysee Palace condemned North Korea's "senseless provocation" and called for a "rapid and tough" response from the UN Security Council.

Britains Foreign Office also warned of a "robust response" if Pyongyang continues to violate UN resolutions.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry responded to news of the launch by reaffirming Washingtons defense commitment to Japan and South Korea.

Kerry said the United States will work with the UN Security Council on significant measures to hold Pyongyang accountable for violating UN resolutions.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Strategic Command said that its systems had detected and tracked what it believed to be a North Korean missile launch into space.

In a statement, the U.S. Strategic Command said defense officials tracked the launch in a southern trajectory from North Korea over the Yellow Sea.

It said the North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, determined that at no time was the missile a threat to North America."

Japans national broadcaster, NHK, broke into its normal programming to quote a Japanese government statement that said the rocket passed over the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.

Japanese television broadcasts showed U.S.-supplied Patriot missile defenses on Okinawa poised to shoot down any debris from the launch that might fall on populated areas of Japan.

But authorities in Tokyo said no defense missiles were fired.

Also on February 7, a senior South Korean Defense Ministry official announced that Seoul and Washington had agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of an advanced missile-defense system in South Korea.

Yoo Jeh-seung told reporters that the system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), would bolster South Korea-U.S. defense in the face of escalating North Korean threats.

China and Russia have argued that the deployment of the THAAD system to South Korea would undermine stability and could trigger an arms race in the region.

Chinas Foreign Ministry said on February 7 it was "deeply concerned" at the decision to begin official negotiations.

"The U.S. promises to deploy a missile-defense system in Korea are not a move in our favor, Russian State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Vladimir Komoyedov told Interfax. This is a threat to us, in particular, to our nuclear forces.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, BBC, CNN, NHK, and Yonhap
During the mid-1980s, when the criminal justice world was abuzz about a new procedure called DNA testing, Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Bernard Ira Robb Robertson quietly wrote a paper for a graduate college class that forever revolutionized the way to buttonhole criminals in Virginia and beyond.

Emphasizing the need to identify and stop career sex offenders, he examined the feasibility of and proposed setting up an automated state database accessible to law enforcement personnel who were investigating sex offenses. The database would be a repository for evidence found at crime scenes culled from tests done on blood serum and bodily fluids such as semen and saliva. Profiles of perpetrators would be created. Investigators could compare profiles and evidence.

Although there are two other preparers listed on the paper, the idea was his, said his wife of 17 years, Victoria Williams Robertson. Her husband died last month at 66.

The Virginia Department of Corrections had profile information but not in a searchable form, said retired Virginia State Police Maj. Larry B. Mitchell, who was a supervisor in the office where Mr. Robertson was assigned. His vision was that (information about) those fluids could be identified, stored and put in a database that could be searchable.

Mr. Robertson, a quiet man not fond of attention, let Mitchell read his completed paper, and the subject was dropped.

The paper was written before the first criminal case in which a conviction based on DNA evidence was awarded, according to Mitchell. That was in the Circuit Court in Orange County, Fla., which in November 1987 convicted a rape suspect based on a DNA match, according to a Jan. 6, 2005, article in Forensic Magazine.

DNA made news again in the 1988-89 Virginia murder trials of Southside Strangler Timothy Wilson Spencer. They were the first U.S. cases in which DNA evidence led to guilty verdicts resulting in the death penalty, according to the Wake Forest Law Review of fall 1999.

Probably about a year after I read (his paper), (R.) Beasley Jones, a delegate from Dinwiddie, called me and asked if he could present any legislation to the General Assembly for us (the state police), said Mitchell, who remembered Mr. Robertsons paper and gave it to Jones in 1988. Jones had Mr. Robertson speak to lawmakers about his idea.

In 1989, the Virginia Division of Forensic Science became the first U.S. state crime lab to implement DNA testing in its criminal investigations.

Later that year, Virginia became the first state to have appropriate laws passed to set up the database, Mitchell said. People were demanding that a database be developed. That spread like wildfire across the United States. I consider B.I. to be the father of DNA in Virginia.

In 1989, Virginia recorded another milestone: The General Assembly became the first U.S. legislature to pass laws that required sex offenders and certain violent felons to submit DNA samples for its database.

A year later, the law expanded to require that all felons provide DNA samples for the database and that all felons held in Virginia prisons provide samples at their release. In 1996, the state began to require juvenile offenders older than 14 who had committed crimes that would have constituted felonies had they been older to submit DNA samples.

What Mr. Robertson envisioned for the database  that data on crimes committed in the past might help solve crimes of the future  was realized in 1991, when evidence was collected at a crime scene and matched to a criminal profile in the database. A suspect was found when no suspect had been known, Mitchell said.

Mr. Robertson, a Chesterfield County resident who died Jan. 4 of lung cancer in a Richmond hospice facility, was born in Richmond. Drafted into the Army in 1969 shortly after graduating from George Wythe High School, he served as a Ranger and earned a Bronze Star fighting in the Vietnam War.

Returning home, he became a crime scene investigator with the State Corporation Commissions Arson Division, which was transferred by law in 1974 to the Virginia State Police.

He earned a degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University.

He was a criminal investigator his entire police career and had worked on high-profile cases, including the Briley brothers.

He worked narcotics and would go out with the guys he supervised and do drug busts, his wife said. He worked with bombs  had to defuse a few of those.

He wasnt afraid of much, I can tell you that.

After retiring in 2004, he was a Realtor until he developed a rare kidney disease. He went on dialysis in 2007, then went on and off a kidney transplant list as he also fought prostate cancer and lung cancer, finally getting a kidney in 2014. He had hoped to pass on his new kidney at his demise, but that did not work out, his wife said.

A man known for his perennial smile and positive attitude, in hospice he still was upbeat, although he knew his situation was critical and his life situation down to days. He still smiled, Mitchell said.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Christopher Robertson of Richmond; a daughter, Amy Whitehurst of Glen Allen; two sisters, Linda Flournoy of Chesterfield and Brenda Craft of Chester; two brothers, Gary E. Robertson of Chesterfield and Stephen L. Robertson of Dinwiddie; and three grandchildren.
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Helen Hatcher Dyson, 89, died on Friday, January 29, 2016, in Richmond following a long illness.Mrs. Dyson was a native of Troutville, Va., and was preceded in death by her parents, the late Arthur and Georgia Hatcher; her husband, the late Robert Dyson; and by four sisters and four brothers.She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Annis Hatcher and Mary Hatcher, both of Richmond; and by numerous nieces, nephews and their families.Aunt Helen, as she was known affectionately by her nieces and nephews, resided in Troutville for 86 years, living in the same house for over half a century. She graduated from Troutville High School and for many years was employed in Roanoke as a medical assistant for Dr. Charles Young Sr. and Dr. Charles Young Jr. in their practice of ophthalmology.She was a member of Troutville Baptist Church from her youth. She was active in all ministries of the church, including singing in the choir, serving as church historian and chairing the Board of Deacons. She also served as one of the church's Trustees. The congregation honored her for her servant spirit by naming her Deacon Emeritus.Helen was the last surviving sibling in a remarkable generation of the Hatcher family who grew up under the nurture of a strong matriarch and who embodied the values of hard work, service to others, thrift, fidelity to family, faith in God, and unrelenting good humor. She will always be remembered as devoted to her immediate and extended family, a loyal friend to neighbors and the citizens of Troutville, tireless in placing the needs of others ahead of herself and faithful in her relationship to God.Services honoring her memory will be held at Troutville Baptist Church, 5520 Lee Highway, Troutville on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Troutville Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home, 630 Roanoke Road, Daleville on Monday, February 8, 2016, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Troutville Baptist Church.Online condolences may be made to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.
SWIMMING pool staff made a splash by turning their waters pink to raise awareness of cervical cancer  and theyre planning a special scarlet day today.

Rotherham Leisure Complex was the scene of the rose-tinted waters, with 140 women taking part in aqua-aerobics classes in aid of Cancer Research UK and raising just shy of 160 by snapping up poolside cupcakes.

Louise Padgett, from the NHS cervical screening programme in South Yorkshire, thanked the centre for hosting the event and urged women to be screened for the disease, which is the most common cancer in women under 35.

Emily Newman, development manager for Places for People, which runs the centre, said: The aim of the event was to get more women active in a fun, enjoyable and energetic environment while working alongside the cervical cancer team raising awareness for National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week.

The event had such a great atmosphere and everybody that attended seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.

More information about what to expect at your cervical screening appointment can be found at fearorsmear.dbh.nhs.uk.

Meanwhile, the Rotherham centre  along with those in Maltby, Aston and Wath, will be turning red today (5) to back the British Heart Foundations Wear it Beat it Heart Day.

Staff will be wearing red  and encouraging customers to follow suit  and showing off their baking skills in a Crumb Dine with Me bake-off featuring healthy treats to raise awareness of heart health issues and raise cash for the BHF.

Free health checks will also be on offer.
Camping Quelle region privilegier pour des campings calmes ? Combien coute en moyenne une location de mobil home pour une semaine dans le Sud ? Quel camping conseillez-vous a Argeles ? Quels pays sont les mieux equipes en campings ? Connaissez-vous des campings avec plage privee ? Dans quelles zones le camping sauvage est il autorise ? La communaute repond a vos questions. 378

Camping-car Comment laver au mieux son camping-car? Quel camping-car pour voyager a deux ? Quelle assurance pour voyager a letranger avec un camping-car ? Quels accessoires sont indispensables pour voyager en camping-car ? Est-il possible de trouver des bouteilles gaz dans toute lEurope ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 5861

Croisieres 1384

Expatriation

Envie de partir Est-il facile de sinstaller au Portugal ? Quel pays anglophone choisir pour apprendre langlais ? Quel pays pour un travail de fille au pair ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Envie de partir vivre a letranger , en expatriation, en Erasmus, au pair ou en volontariat international ? La redaction vous donne toutes les formules et astuces de financement. 672

Le Guide du Routard Est-il possible davoir des reductions grace au guide du routard ? Est-il necessaire davoir le guide de lannee en cours ? Comment trouver les derniers guides ? Existe-t-il une version en ligne des guides ? Quelles sont les prochaines destinations choisies par le guide du Routard ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 420

Moto Quels documents sont necessaires pour louer un scooter ou une moto en Thailande ? Quelle agence choisir pour faire un road trip en moto aux Etats Unis ? Est-il facile dacheter une moto en Australie ? Connaissez-vous un bon garage au Vietnam ? Quel permis est necessaire pour louer une moto en Espagne ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 239

Routard.com Comment supprimer mes messages ? Comment creer un carnet de voyage sur le site ? Comment participer aux differents concours ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 45

Ou et quand partir ?



Ou partir en ete a moindre cout ? Ou faire un road trip ou un citytrip ? Quelles sont les destinations les plus festives ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! Ou et quand partir en vacances pour trouver du soleil ? La redaction de routard.com vous indique les meilleures destinations pour chaque mois. 1254

Photo Quels sont les meilleurs blogs de voyage ? Routard.com a-t-il un concours photo ? Quel appareil photo conseillez-vous pour un safari ? Quelle camera choisir pour immortaliser une plongee ? Quels sont les plus beaux comptes Instagram de voyage ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 188

Plongee



Tous les conseils pratiques de la redaction pour la Quels sont les plus beaux spots de plongee au monde ? Quelles palmes utiliser pour une plongee dans les Caraibes ? Ou faire un bapteme de plongee ?Tous les conseils pratiques de la redaction pour la plongee sous -marine , et notre selection des plus beaux spots de plongee et de surf dans le monde. 145

Reveillons

, pour Noel et/ou pour le Nouvel An ? Lumiere sur les plus beaux marches de Noel en France et en Europe, et cap sur les reveillons les plus fous de la planete. Ou faire le reveillon a letranger a moindre cout ? Quel restaurant choisir a Barcelone ? Quelle est lambiance a Budapest pour le reveillon ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! Ou partir en decembre , pour Noel et/ou pour le Nouvel An ? Lumiere sur les plus beaux marches de Noel en France et en Europe, et cap sur les reveillons les plus fous de la planete. 219

Ski

et aux sports dhiver ? On vous donne nos idees de destinations sports dhiver, et nos conseils pratiques pour les amateurs de glisse. Tout schuss ! Quelles sont les stations les plus enneigees ? Ou faire du ski a moindre cout ? Quelle station de ski familiale dans les Alpes ? Ou faire du ski de fond ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! Ou partir au ski et aux sports dhiver ? On vous donne nos idees de destinations sports dhiver, et nos conseils pratiques pour les amateurs de glisse. Tout schuss ! 265

Tour du monde

Retrouvez aussi les Existe-t-il un circuit a privilegier pour un tour du monde ? Existe-t-il un visa multi-destinations ? Conseillez-vous un tour du monde en camping car ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Retrouvez aussi les conseils et infos pratiques de la redaction : bons plans billets tour du monde, et idees de voyages inoubliables. 889

Trek

Tout savoir sur la Quels sont les meilleurs spots de treks du monde ? Quelles agences specialisees pour faire des treks a letranger ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Tout savoir sur la randonnee en France et les plus beaux treks du monde : conseils pratiques, materiel et accessoires, et idees de circuits. En route ! 568

Velo

La redaction a teste pour vous Quel equipement choisir pour son velo ? Comment transporter son velo par avion ? La communaute repond a vos questions !La redaction a teste pour vous les plus belles pistes cyclables, veloroutes, randos a velo et itineraires cyclotouristiques en France et en Europe. Tous en selle ! 449

Voile Comment sorganiser pour faire un tour du monde en voilier ? Y a-t-il un club de voile a La Reunion ? Ou louer un catamaran en Grece ? Quels sont vos conseils pour acheter un voilier ? Est-il possible de faire une excursion en voilier en Polynesie ? Quels sont les meilleurs spots de voile en Amerique du Sud ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 112

Voyager avec son animal Comment voyager en avion avec son animal de compagnie ? Faut-il payer un supplement lorsquon voyage en avion avec son chien ? Est-ce prudent de voyager avec son animal a letranger ? Quels sont les hotels autorisant les animaux ? Comment faire du backpacking avec son chat ? Est-il possible demmener son chien en Thailande ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 108

Voyage de noces



Faites le plein d Quelle destination choisir pour un voyage de noces ? Y a-t-il des agences de voyage specialisees ? Quels sont les plus beaux hotels du monde ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Faites le plein d idees de destinations romantiques ou roucouler a deux, en lune de miel ou en week-end en amoureux. 108

Voyage en famille

Vous partez en Quelles compagnies aeriennes ont les tarifs les plus avantageux pour les enfants ? Voyager en Asie avec des enfants en bas age ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Vous partez en vacances en famille ? La redaction vous donne des idees de voyages en famille, et des conseils pratiques pour voyager avec les enfants. 875

Voyage en solo Comment trouver des compagnons de voyage ? Quelle assurance de voyage conseillez-vous pour voyager seul ? Est-il prudent de faire un road trip seul en Amerique du Sud ? Avez-vous des astuces pour un voyage en total itinerance ? Quel itineraire conseillez-vous pour un voyage seul en Europe ? Est-il prudent quune femme voyage seule en Asie du Sud-Est ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 606

France Vous preparez un voyage en France ? La communaute Routard repond a vos questions. 9

Albanie Un road-trip en Albanie ? Navette centre-ville - aeroport de Tirana ? Circuler en bus ou voiture ? Les plus belles plages de la rivieira albanaise ? Rejoindre la Grece depuis lAlbanie ? Changer euros contre leks ? Comment visiter le Teth ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 488

Allemagne Quel est le plus beau marche de Noel ? Que faire a Munich et Francfort en un week-end ? Visite des chateaux de Baviere : ou loger ? Ou trouver un logement pratique et pas cher pour Oktoberfest ? LAllemagne a velo, ou et comment ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 654

Andorre 86

Angleterre 865

Armenie Ou faire de la randonnee en Armenie ? Location de voiture ? Hebergement ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 234

Autriche Quelle station de ski dans le Tyrol ? Quel itineraire choisir pour du camping-car ? Quels conseils pour de la randonnee en Autriche ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 441

Belgique Combien coute le parking de laeroport de Charleroi ? Quels sont les meilleurs restaurants et bars de Belgique ? Que visiter a Bruges ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 702

Bielorussie Comment se loger en Bielorussie ? Quel itineraire emprunter de Vilnius a Minsk ? Ou obtenir des renseignements sur le visa ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 71

Bulgarie Que visiter a Sofia ? Comment aller aux Sept lacs du Rila ? Ou trouver des aires de camping-car en Bulgarie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 435

Chypre Quel est le meilleur itineraire pour voyager du Nord au Sud de Chypre ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages de Chypre ? Les lieux incontournables a visiter ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 310

Croatie Visiter lile de Brac ou lile de Korcula ? Quelle agence de location de voiture choisir ? Ou loger dans Dubrovnik ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2776

Danemark Le meilleur circuit dans Copenhague ? Quel budget pour un road trip au Danemark ? Quel ferry pour aller aux iles Feroe ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 281

Ecosse Est-il possible de faire du bivouac sur lile de Skye ? Que visiter a Edimbourg ? Faut-il partir avec un passeport en Ecosse ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2308

Espagne Quelle destination choisir en Espagne ? Les bonnes adresses de Barcelone ? Les plus beaux parcs de Madrid ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1808

Estonie Quelle est la meilleure periode pour aller en Estonie ? Comment aller dHelsinki a Tallinn ? Les meilleures compagnies pour une croisiere ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 68

Finlande Trouver une bonne station de ski ? Le meilleur spot pour voir les aurores boreales ? Quels vetements porter en Finlande ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 568

Georgie Quelles activites faire a Tbilisi ? Le meilleur passage frontiere Russie-Georgie ? Ou se loger en Georgie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 252

Grece Quel ferry prendre pour aller sur lile de Santorin ? Quelles iles des Cyclades choisir ? Ou se baigner a Athenes ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 9571

Hongrie Quel est le cout de la vie a Budapest ? Ou obtenir des billets pour un tour du lac Balaton en train ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 157

Irlande Quelle agence de voiture choisir ? Faut-il un visa pour entrer en Irlande ? Que voir a Dublin en une journee ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2558

Islande Quand partir en Islande ? Ou voir des baleines ? Se baigner au Blue Lagoon ? Dans quel sens faire le tour de lile ? Quand voir des aurores boreales ? Quelle voiture louer ? 2893

Italie Quelle agence choisir pour visiter Milan ? Quel itineraire dans la region des Pouilles ? Ou loger dans les Cinque Terre ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4146

Lettonie Que voir a Riga ? Les meilleures plages de la Baltique ? Un road trip a travers la Lettonie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 111

Lituanie Quels sont les specialites de Lituanie ? Trajet Klaipedia - Vilnius en bus ? Quel itineraire dans les pays baltes ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 100

Luxembourg Travailler au Luxembourg ? Les meilleures adresses de restos et dhebergements ? Un weekend a Luxembourg-Ville ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 68

Macedoine Comment organiser un voyage en Macedoine ? Quel avion prendre ? Que faire a Skopje ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 41

Malte Ou loger a Gozo ? Est-ce interessant de faire un sejour linguistique a Malte ? Ou se procurer un plan de transports ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 726

Montenegro 377

Norvege Quelle periode pour voir des aurores boreales ? Changer ses euros en couronnes norvegiennes avant de partir ? Que voir a Bergen ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2337

Pays-Bas Comment aller aux Pays-Bas ? Faire une randonnee a velo en Hollande? Visiter Amsterdam ou Rotterdam ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 310

Pays de Galles Transport pour Cardiff ? Quelques jours dans le Sud du Pays de Galles ? Randonnee dans Snowdonia et Pembrokeshire ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 58

Pologne Comment aller en Pologne ? Quelles activites a Varsovie ? Quel transport de Cracovie a Auschwitz ? Visiter les mines de sel ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 850

Portugal Visiter le Douro ou lAlgarve ? Trouver une location ou un camping au Portugal ? Ou faire du canyoning, du surf ? Les peages electroniques ? Quoi voir a Porto ? Quelle location de voiture ? 2419

Republique tcheque Que faire en Republique tcheque ? Trouver un logement a Prague ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 144

Roumanie Louer une voiture en Roumanie ? Quels sites pour un logement sur Bucarest ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 665

Russie Itineraire pour aller a Saint-Petersbourg ? Billet de train pour Moscou ? Vetements dhiver en Russie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1304

Serbie 109

Slovaquie Les incontournables de Bratislava ? Trajet France-Slovaquie ? Quelles activites faire ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 89

Slovenie Ou observer les ours en Slovenie ? Comment acceder au parc national du Triglav ? Randonnee ou road trip? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 326

Suede Est-il possible de faire du camping sauvage en Suede ? Faut-il changer ses euros en France ou sur place ? Que voir a Goteborg ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 398

Suisse Vivre en Suisse ? Quels cantons choisir ? Trouver un logement et sinstaller ? Que faire au Lac Leman ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 727

Turquie Quel visa pour la Turquie ? Visiter la Cappadoce ? Quel circuit suivre ? Quelle est la monnaie utilisee ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1674

Ukraine Visiter Kiev ou Odessa ? Visa pour voyager en Ukraine ? Quel itineraire en Ukraine ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 500

Afghanistan 11

Azerbaidjan 24

Bangladesh Est-il possible de voyager au Bangladesh avec des enfants ? Existe-t-il un train de nuit pour faire Katmandu-Dhaka ? Fau-il un guide pour visiter le pays ? La Communaute repond a vos questions 37

Bhoutan Comment organiser son voyage au Bhoutan, quelle compagnie aerienne pour y aller, quelle est la meilleure periode pour visiter le Bhoutan, pour quel budget ? 35

Birmanie Faire son e-visa pour la Birmanie, choisir son agence de voyage, organiser ses activites sur le lac Inle, a Bagan, au Rocher dOr, changer sa monnaie 2663

Brunei Organiser son sejour au Brunei, combien de temps y rester, comment sy rendre par voie terrestre 13

Cambodge Une, deux ou trois semaines au Cambodge ? Posez vos questions sur votre itineraire et vos trajets au Cambodge, les meilleurs periodes pour visiter Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, les temples dAngkor, les plages de sable blanc ou encore les iles ! 3168

Chine Acheter ses billets de train en Chine, aller a la Grande Muraille, quel itineraire au Yunnan, visiter Xian, trouver un bon restaurant a Pekin 2300

Coree du Sud Comment sexpatrier en Coree du Sud ? Quel budget prevoir pour un voyage de 1 mois ? Faut-il louer une voiture pour visiter lile de Jeju ? La Communaute repond a vos questions 889

Inde Quelle agence choisir pour visiter le Rajasthan ? La foire de Pushkar est-elle interessante ? Quel climat au mois daout ? Quelles sont les etapes necessaires pour obtenir un visa en Inde ? La Communaute repond a vos questions. 6451

Indonesie Ou loger a Gili Air ? Que faire a Flores ? Est-il possible de visiter 3 iles en 15 jours en Indonesie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions. 2912

Japon Est-il interessant dacheter le JR Pass pour se deplacer dans le pays ? Quel itineraire pour 15 jours au Japon ? Que visiter a Osaka ? Existe-t-il un un moyen de voyager en shinkansen pour faire Tokyo, Kyoto et Mont Fuji ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4499

Kazakhstan 44

Kirghizistan 152

Laos Quel climat au Laos ? Faut-il payer en Bath ou US dollars ? Combien coute le visa on arrival ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1569

Malaisie Ou aller pour un premier voyage en Malaisie ? Les iles Perhentian valent-elles le detour ? Que faire a Kuala Lumpur ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2297

Maldives Ou sejourner aux Maldives ? Quel spot choisir pour faire du snorkelling ? Que faire a Male ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1273

Mongolie Ou acheter un velo en Mongolie ? Faut-il un visa pour voyager en Mongolie ? Quelle agence de voyage choisir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 469

Nepal Quel equipement prendre pour faire le tour de lAnnapurna ? Quelle agence de trek choisir ? Que visiter a Katmandou ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1693

Ouzbekistan Obtenir soin visa pour lOuzbekistan, faire la Route de la Soie, choisir une agence locale pour voyager en Ouzbekistan, visiter Samarcande, Boukhara et Khiva 448

Pakistan 31

Philippines Quel transport privilegier entre Manille et Palawan ? Que faire a Cebu Island ? Quel itineraire choisir pour 15 jours de voyage aux Philippines ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2035

Singapour Quand visiter lUniversal Studio Singapore ? Ou trouver un logement pas cher dans la ville ? Prix du transfert entre laeroport de Singapour-Changi et le centre-ville ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 353

Sri Lanka Obtenir lETA pour le Sri Lanka ? Comment trouver un chauffeur-guide ? Quel itineraire ? Ou voir des elephants ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? Voyager en famille au Sri Lanka ? 4580

Tadjikistan 36

Taiwan Comment assister au festival des lumieres a Taipei ? Quelle plage privilegier a Taiwan ? Quelle agence de location de voiture choisir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 190

Thailande Quelles sont les plus belles plages de Thailande ? Ou trouver un hotel les pieds dans leau ? Un visa est-il necessaire ? Quel trek a Chiang Mai ? Quel budget ? 14785

Tibet Quel budget prevoir pour un voyage au Tibet ? Est-il obligatoire de voyager avec un guide ou une agence ? Quelles sont les formalites pour rentrer au Tibet ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 114

Turkmenistan 10

Vietnam Vietnam nord ou sud ? Quand visiter la Baie dAlong ? Louer une moto ? Quel trek a Sapa ? Partir seule au Vietnam ? Quoi visiter a Hanoi ? 6907

Antigua-et-Barbuda Quelles formalites pour visiter Antigua ? Quelles activites et excursions sont recommandees ? Presence dalgues sargasses ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4

Argentine Quel budget prevoir pour 1 mois en Argentine ? Faut-il privilegier les voyages en bus ou en avion ? Est-il possible de reserver a lavance un hotel a Salta ? Comment sorganiser pour sexpatrier en Argentine ? Quelle agence pour visiter la Patagonie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions. 2099

Bahamas Comment se deplacer entre les iles ? Comment rejoindre Miami depuis les Bahamas ? Voyage de noces : ou sejourner ? Les plus belles plages des Bahamas ? Ou se loger a Nassau ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 156

Barbade Comment circuler a la Barbade ? Quel budget prevoir ? Comment rejoindre les Antilles depuis la Barbade ? Ou faire de lapnee ? Ou se loger ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 22

Belize Combien de temps rester au Belize ? Autotour ou chauffeur-guide ? Les meilleurs spots pour faire du surf, de la plongee ou du snorkeling ? Quel itineraire et excursions prevoir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 200

Bolivie Quel itineraire pour 1 mois en Bolivie ? Existe-t-il un bus direct pour faire Uyuni-Copacabana ? Quelle agence choisir pour louer un 4x4 ? Quelles iles du Lac Titicaca privilegier ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 976

Bresil Comment se rendre a Ilha Grande depuis Rio de Janeiro ? Quel guide pour faire un trek a Lencois Maranhenses ? Est-il possible de voyager seul(e) ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 3022

Canada Quelles sont les formalites pour entrer sur le territoire canadien ? Comment organiser la visite des chutes Victoria ? Que voir a Vancouver ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2770

Chili Quelle agence pour visiter le Chili ? Quel transport pour aller de laeroport de Santiago a Valparaiso ? Quels sont les prix pour les campings a Pan de Azucar ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1362

Colombie Des infos sur le carnaval de Baranquilla ? Preparer un trek en Amazonie ? Se deplacer entre Cartagena, Cali, Medellin et Bogota ? Bus ou taxi en Colombie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1740

Costa Rica La cote caraibe ou la cote pacifique au Costa Rica ? Faut-il louer un 4x4 ? Comment visiter le Costa Rica hors des sentiers battus ? Ou voir des aras et des tortues ? Quel budget ? 2095

Cuba Reserver une casa particular a La Havane ? Rapporter des cigares de Cuba ? Faut-il prendre un guide ? Comment obtenir la carte touristique ? Quel cayo visiter ? 6037

Dominique Ou faire de la randonnee, trek et plongee en Dominique ? Se deplacer sans voiture de location ? Ou est la plus belle plage de lile ? Quelle formalite pour entrer ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 113

Equateur Faut-il prendre de la malarone pour visiter lAmazonie ? Quelle est la meilleure periode pour visiter lEquateur ? Quand voir les baleines a Puerto Lopez ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 845

Etats-Unis Quelles formalites pour entrer sur le territoire des Etats-Unis ? Ou aller pour feter Thanksgiving ? Quelle voiture louer pour faire un road trip ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 5394

Grenade Visiter les Grenadines ? Quelle croisiere choisir ? Algues sargasses a Grenade ? Activites faire en famille ? Le meilleur spot de plongee ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 19

Guadeloupe Aller sur les iles des Saintes ou sur lile de Marie-Galante ? Ou loger pour visiter la Guadeloupe ? Y a-t-il des sargasses en Guadeloupe ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 3985

Guatemala Des questions securite au Guatemala ? Shuttle aeroport et bus : ou et comment reserver ? Ou retirer de largent ? Organiser un trek dans la jungle ? Besoin dun guide pour lac Atitlan, volcan San Pedro et de Fuego ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 594

Guyana Quel visa pour Guyana ? Quels sont les risques niveau securite ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2

Guyane 407

Haiti Quelle agence locale choisir a Haiti ? Bus ou voiture de location ? Faire sa demande de visa ? Loger a Port-au-Prince ? Expatriation : que prevoir ? Des questions securite ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 74

Honduras Loger a Roatan et Utila ? Quoi visiter a Tegucigalpa ? Combien de temps pour visiter le Honduras ? Ou faire de la plongee ou du surf ? Quel transport pour traverser le pays ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 49

Iles Vierges Quelle croisiere choisir pour les Iles Vierges ? Ou louer un catamaran? Quelles sont les liaisons avec Saint Barth ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 6

Jamaique Trouver un guide local francophone en Jamaique ? Navette aeroport vers les grandes villes ? Combien de jours pour visiter Ocho Rios, Kingston et Montego Bay ? Monnaie locale ou dollars ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 245

Martinique Quelle agence choisir pour louer une voiture en Martinique ? Quel temps fait-il en septembre ? Ou loger a Sainte-Luce ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2554

Mexique Quel itineraire dans le Yucatan ? Louer une voiture ou prendre les transports en commun pour visiter le Mexique ? Quen est-il de la securite au Mexique ? Ou loger a Cancun ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4082

Nicaragua Des questions securite ? Ou voir des tortues ? Liaisons Nicaragua  Costa Rica ? Masaya ou Granada ? Corn Islands : passage oblige ? San Juan del Sura ou Leon ? Ou surfer ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 370

Panama Que voir sur les iles San Blas ? Possibilite de sexpatrier au Panama ? Que visiter dans la province de Bocas del Toro ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 477

Paraguay Combien de temps pour tout visiter au Paraguay ? Que voir et ou sortir a Asuncion ? Expatriation : comment sorganiser ? Comment se rendre a Iguazu ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 47

Perou Que visiter a Arequipa ? Comment sorganiser pour visiter le Machu Picchu ? Ou loger a Lima ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 3412

Porto Rico Ou sortir et prendre des cours de salsa a Porto Rico ? Quelles sont les activites a faire a San Juan ? Foret tropicale : El Yunque ou Toro Negro ? Ou faire son shopping ? Ou se loger pas cher ? Sy installer ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 51

Republique Dominicaine Quelles sont les plus belles plages a Punta Cana ? Quel budget prevoir pour 1 semaine a Bayahibe ? Quel tarif pour un voyage entre laeroport Santo Domingo et Puerto Plata ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2384

Saint-Barthelemy Comment sexpatrier a Saint-Barthelemy ? Possibilite de partir avec un bebe ? Quelles formalites pour aller a Saint-Barthelemy ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 54

Sainte-Lucie Ou loger a Sainte-Lucie ? Faire une randonnee avec un guide francophone ? Changer ses euros en dollars sur place ou en France ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 70

Saint-Martin Ou faire de la plongee a Saint-Martin ? Quelle agence choisir pour louer une voiture ? Excursion sur lile de Saba ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 175

Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines Quelle agence choisir pour faire une croisiere en catamaran dans les iles Grenadines ? Quel budget pour 2 semaines ? Ou manger a Kingston ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 98

Salvador Taxe de sortie a laeroport de Salvador ? Ou se loger pas cher ? Ou changer ses euros ? Itineraire pour un road trip ? Se deplacer en bus ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 12

Surinam Ou et quand faire sa demande de visa ? Que faire et voir a Paramaribo ? Faire un raid en kayak ? Rejoindre Guyana, Cuaracao ou le Mexique depuis le Surinam ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 9

Trinite-et-Tobago Des conseils pour preparer le carnaval ? Trouver un logement pas cher a Trinite-et-Tobago ? Location de voiture ou scooter ? Rejoindre le Venezuela depuis Port of Spain ? Des questions securite ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 27

Uruguay Sexpatrier et travailler en Uruguay ? Ou changer et retirer de largent ? Combien de temps rester a Montevideo ? Organiser un road trip en bus ? Quelles sont les villes incontournables ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 72

Venezuela Taux de change officiel ou officieux ? Quelle est la situation actuelle du Venezuela niveau securite ? Que voir a Merida ou Margarita ? Avec quelle agence partir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 224

Afrique du Sud Est-il possible de conduire avec un permis international en Afrique du Sud ? Quel est le prix du billet dentree au Parc Kruger ? Est il possible de faire un safari self drive ? Quels sont les incontournables a Johannesburg ou au Cap ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 5292

Algerie Quel est le niveau de securite a Djanet et Sahara ? Que voir a Tlemcen et a Alger ? Ou changer des euros ? Quelle agence pour visite du desert algerien ? 696

Benin 341

Botswana Quel itineraire privilegier ? Ou et quand reserver un safari pour le Botswana ? Auto tour ou guide ? Ou dormir dans le parc Moremi ? A quelle periode partir ? Quels vaccins prevoir ? 262

Burkina Faso Quel est le niveau de securite au Burkina Faso? Faire du tourisme humanitaire ? A la recherche dun chauffeur-guide ? Quel vaccin et visa prevoir ? Quelle compagnie aerienne choisir ? Ou se loger ? 276

Cameroun 284

Cap-Vert Quelles iles visiter au Cap-Vert ? Ou trouver un bon guide ? Quelle est la meilleure saison ? Les meilleures randonnees de Santo Antao ? Quels spots de plongee ? 1334

Congo 70

Djibouti 37

Ethiopie Comment trouver une bonne agence locale en Ethiopie ? Comment trouver un guide pour un trek dans les montagnes de Lalibela ? Quelles visites interessantes a Addis Abeba ? Quel logement choisir a Bahar Dar ? Comment voir les hyenes dHarar ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 458

Gabon Quel visa pour le Gabon ? Ou et comment obtenir le e-visa touristique ? Vivre et travailler a Libreville ? Comment se rendre au Parc National de Loango ? Quels sont les incontournables et quelle ville choisir ? 117

Gambie Le visa est-il gratuit pour les courts sejours ? Quel guide choisir pour la Gambie ? Peut-on voyager en toute securite en Gambie ? Acheter une voiture en Gambie ? Dans quelles villes sejourner ? 32

Ghana Quel visa et quel vaccin pour le Ghana ? Quel est le cout de la vie ? Ou loger a Accra ? Quels sont les bons plans a voir et a faire ? Ou retirer et changer de largent ? Des idees de circuits ? 60

Guinee Quel est le cout de la vie a Conakry ? Ou changer de largent ? Quel est le niveau de securite ? A la recherche dun guide ? 120

Ile Maurice, Rodrigues Quelle est la plus belle plage pour faire du snorkeling ? Quelles sont les excursions a faire ? Comment trouver un taxi a lile Maurice ? Quelle est la randonnee incontournable ? Le meilleur logement est il les maisons dhotes a Rodrigues ? Quelle cote choisir ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2719

Kenya Quelle agence choisir pour un safari au Kenya ? Ou peut-on observer des lycaons ? Comment trouver un super guide ? A-t-on besoin dun visa ? Que visiter a Nairobi ou Mombasa ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 985

Lesotho Quel itineraire choisir ? Ou faire du trek et de la randonnee ? Quel guide choisir pour le Lesotho ? Quel est letat des routes ? Quel climat prevoir ? 39

Liberia 7

Libye 8

Madagascar Est-il dangereux daller a Madagascar actuellement ? Quel moyen de transport utiliser ? Comment trouver un bon chauffeur guide a Antananarivo ? Ou faire une mission humanitaire ? Quel itineraire est conseille ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2663

Mali Quel est le niveau de securite ? Quel visa et quelles formalites pour aller au Mali ? Ou se loger a Bamako ? Sinstaller au Mali ? Traverser le pays en voiture ? Comment voyager en securite ? 129

Maroc Comment trouver un guide pour faire un trek dans lAtlas ? Quel itineraire est conseille pour visiter les villes imperiales du Maroc ? Comment visiter Fes ? A quel climat sattendre a Agadir en hiver ? Est-il possible de louer un 4X4 pour aller dans le desert ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 4934

Mauritanie Quel visa pour la Mauritanie et quel prix ? Quel est le niveau de securite ? Quel itineraire pour traverser le pays depuis le Maroc ou le Senegal ? 227

Mayotte Est-il facile de sexpatrier a Mayotte ? Comment trouver un bon guide de randonnee ? Quel est le cout de la vie a Mayotte ? Est-il necessaire de faire un traitement antipaludeen ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? Ou se loger, gites ou maison dhote ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 236

Mozambique Quel est le meilleur spot pour faire du surf a Maputo ? Est-il possible de rejoindre le parc Kruger en voiture ? Ou plonger au Mozambique pour voir des requins ? Bilene - Inhambane ou Vilanculo ? Quel est le cout du visa ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 132

Namibie Est-il necessaire de passer par une agence pour un voyage en Namibie ? Comment acceder aux Victoria Falls ? Quels sont les temps de trajet ? Est-il preferable de louer une voiture ? Quelles sont les taxes dentree dans le Parc Etosha ? Quel itineraire pour acceder au desert du Namib ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 3655

Niger Quel est le niveau de securite ? Quel visa pour le Niger ? Quel budget prevoir pour un voyage au Niger ? Ou se loger a Niamey ? Quelle compagnie aerienne choisir ? 16

Nigeria 14

Ouganda A la recherche dun guide en Ouganda ? Quel tour operateur pour faire un trek safari ? Ou louer un 4x4 ? Ou observer des gorilles ? Quels vaccins sont recommandes ? 125

Reunion Quelles sont les randonnees incontournables a La Reunion ? Quel est le bon plan pour louer une voiture ? Quel gite choisir ? Lascension du Piton de la Fournaise est-elle exigeante ? Quels spots pour la plongee ? Ou faire du canyoning ? Comment trouver un bon guide pour aller au Piton des neiges ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2491

Rwanda Des idees ditineraires ? Ou observer les gorilles ? Ou faire sa demande de visa ? Besoin dinfos pratiques pour votre voyage au Rwanda ? Comment se rendre au parc des volcans ? Conseils pour visiter le Nyungwe ? 95

Sao Tome et Principe Quelles sont les excursions a faire a Sao Tome et Principe ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? Est-il possible de louer une voiture sur les iles ? Est-il preferable dopter pour un chauffeur ou un guide ? Y a-t-il des vaccins obligatoires ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 129

Senegal Quel est le meilleur moyen de se rendre en Casamance ? Quel transport utiliser depuis laeroport de Dakar ? Trouver un bon guide ? Comment trouver un logement pas cher au Senegal ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2080

Seychelles Est-il possible de trouver un hebergement chez lhabitant aux Seychelles ? Quelle est la meilleure periode pour partir ? Quel hotel choisir pour un voyage de noces ? Quelle croisiere choisir ? Quel est le meilleur club de plongee ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1323

Swaziland Ou dormir dans la reserve du Hlane ? Quelles sont les visites incontournables ? Quels parcs visiter ? Peut-on traverser le Swaziland sur une journee ? Quel est letat des routes ? Par quels postes frontieres passer ? 68

Tanzanie Comment trouver un bon chauffeur guide en Tanzanie ? Quelles sont les agences conseillees pour un safari ? Est-il possible de faire un safari en bivouac ? Quel itineraire est conseille pour acceder au Kilimandjaro ? Comment aller a Zanzibar depuis la Tanzanie ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1517

Tchad Quel est le niveau de securite au Tchad ? Circuit et trek en toute securite ? Quel visa pour le Tchad ? Que faire et ou se loger a Ndjamena ? Comment rejoindre le Soudan depuis le Tchad ? 14

Togo Ou obtenir un visa pour le Togo ? Que faire a Lome ? Comment se deplacer au Togo ? Ou se loger ? Quelle association pour faire du tourisme humanitaire / solidaire ? Location de voiture ou chauffeur-guide ? 293

Tunisie Quel est le meilleur moyen de transport pour un transfert de laeroport de Tunis a Hammamet ? Comment trouver un guide a Djerba ? Quelle temperature fait-il en Tunisie en hiver ? La carte didentite est elle suffisante pour aller en Tunisie ? Que visiter a Monastir ou a Sousse ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1808

Zambie Quels parcs visiter en Zambie ? Voir les chutes Victoria cote Zambie ? Quelles formalites pour passage frontiere Zambie  Zimbabwe ? Ou changer des devises ? 47

Zimbabwe Est-il possible de visiter le parc Hwange en louant une voiture ? Quel moyen de transport utiliser entre lAfrique du Sud et le Zimbabwe ? Quelle est la meilleure periode pour visiter les Victoria Falls ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 83

Egypte Quelle agence propose une excursion Hurghada - Louxor ? Comment trouver un guide pour une visite du Caire ? Est-il possible de reserver une croisiere sur le Nil a la derniere minute ? Combien coute une excursion pour les pyramides depuis Le Caire ? Quel horaire est le plus propice pour visiter les temples dAbu Simbel ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2771

Emirats arabes unis Est-il aise de sexpatrier a Dubai ? Le Dubai city pass est-il rentable ? Dans quel quartier loger ? Quelle monnaie est acceptee ? Est-il necessaire de reserver ses billets pour le Louvre Abu Dhabi ? Ou louer une voiture ? Quels sont les horaires pour visiter la tour Burj Khalifa ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 252

Iran Quels sont les delais pour obtenir un visa touristique pour lIran ? Quelles tenues sont appropriees pour des touristes en Iran ? Quels sont les bons plans hebergements pour Shiraz ? Quelles sont les possibilites de transferts a laeroport de Teheran ? Quel est le meilleur quartier pour lachat de turquoise a Kashan ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1110

Israel, Palestine Comment circuler dans Jerusalem ? Ou loger a Tel Aviv ? Y a-t-il des bus entre Nazareth et Jenine ? Y a-t-il des transports en commun efficaces en Israel ? Quelles sont les difficultes pour aller en Palestine ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 921

Jordanie Quel chauffeur choisir en Jordanie ? Quel itineraire est optimal pour une semaine en Jordanie ? Est-il necessaire de prendre un guide pour visiter Petra ? Quelle agence choisir pour une excursion a Wadi Rum ? Quels sont les incontournables a Amman ? Y a-t-il des problemes de securite en Jordanie ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1108

Liban Le visa pour le Liban est-il gratuit ? Combien de jours sont necessaires pour visiter Beyrouth ? Quelles langues sont parlees au Liban ? Ou loger a Tripoli ? Est-il facile de sexpatrier au Liban ? Quelles sont les plus belles randonnees ? Quel est le climat en Hiver ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! La communaute repond a vos questions ! 173

Oman Quel visa est necessaire pour aller au sultanat dOman ? Est-il facile de louer un 4x4 a Oman ? Ou faire de la plongee ? Quel moyen de transport utiliser pour un transfert depuis laeroport de Mascate ? Comment trouver un guide francophone ? Quelle agence choisir pour une excursion dans le desert de Wahiba ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 675

Qatar Quel transfert choisir depuis laeroport de Doha ? Est-il facile de sexpatrier au Qatar administrativement ? Laeroport de Doha est-il agreable pour une longue escale ? Quel est le souk le plus traditionnel du Qatar ? Etes-vous satisfait de la compagnie Qatar Airways ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 101

Syrie 21

Yemen 19

Australie Quel est le meilleur moyen de transport pour faire un roadtrip en Australie ? Comment optimiser mon itineraire sur la cote ouest ? Quel hebergement a Sydney ? Est-il facile dacheter une voiture en Australie ? Le visa est-il payant ? Combien de jours pour visiter Melbourne ? Comment aller en Tasmanie ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2066

Iles Fidji Quel est le meilleur spot de plongee aux Fidji ? Quel sont les transports pour aller aux Fidji depuis la Nouvelle-Caledonie ? Quel vol choisir pour aller aux Fidji ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 29

Nouvelle-Caledonie Est-il facile de sexpatrier en Nouvelle-Caledonie ? Quelle compagnie aerienne choisir ? Quel transfert a laeroport de Tontouta ? Quel budget prevoir pour un sejour de 3 semaines ? Suffit-il dune journee pour visiter lile des Pins en bateau ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! La communaute repond a vos questions ! 475

Nouvelle-Zelande Quelles sont les plus belles randonnees en Nouvelle-Zelande ? Le permis international est-il indispensable ? Quelle agence locale utiliser ? Quand reserver ses billets pour voir un match des All Blacks ? Quels sont les incontournables a Christchurch et Auckland ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1080
Japan will on Monday release December figures for current account, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic data.

The current account is expected to show a surplus of 1.051 trillion yen, down from 1.143 trillion yen in November.

Japan also will see January numbers for bank lending and the eco watchers survey. In December, lending both with and without trusts was up 2.2 percent on year, while the eco survey for current conditions had a score of 48.7 and the outlook was 48.2.

Australia will provide January figures for job advertisements; in December, job ads eased 0.1 percent on month.

Finally, most of the regional are closed on Monday for the Lunar New Year holiday, including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. In addition, New Zealand is shuttered in observance of Waitangi Day.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
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Throughout the world in the SSPX's seminaries, a total of 45 seminarians have taken the cassock, or clerical habit, during the 2015-2016 academic year. We offer some news and images of this important event, a formative step towards the ultimate goal of the sacred priesthood.St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Winona, MN, USAOn February 2, Bishop Bernard Fellay (the SSPX's Superior General), blessed the cassocks for 10 seminarians and gave the clercical tonsure to 8 other young men during the Pontifical Mass of Candlemas. He was assisted by Fr. Yves le Roux (seminary rector), Fr. Jurgen Wegner (U.S. District Superior), and Fr. Patrick Abbet (seminary vice rector).Despite the the snowfall of 10 incheswhich made travelling difficult for various familiesthe sacred ministers and servers did make a short procession outside with the lighted candles, celebrating Our Lord as the Light of revelation for the Gentiles.On February 2, Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais blessed the cassock for 9 seminarians and gave the clerical tonsure to 7 as announced by Fr. Franz Schmidberger (seminary rector). The day after the bishop gave the minor orders to 7 others, with 3 becoming porters and lectors, and the other 4 being ordained exorcists and acolytes.In the absence of Bishop Alfonso de Galarretawhose attendance was prevented by a last minute difficultyFr. Niklaus Pfluger, the SSPX's 1st Assistant, blessed the clerical habit for 12 seminarians of the first-year: 4 Swiss, 3 Frenchmen, 2 Italians, 1 Gabonese and 2 Nigerians. He was assisted by Fr. Patrick Troadec (seminary rector) and Fr. Prudent Balou Yalu (prior of the St. Pius X Mission in Libreville, Gabon).Interesting statistics have been published by Fr. Troadec. Since 1996, 347 candidates have entered the seminary to become priests or brothers; i.e., an average of 20 per year. The average age is 21-years old. Candidates consistently come from large families (with an average of 5.8 children ) where 80% of the mothers are mothers at home. 73% of the French candidates come from SSPX schools.More than 50% of the candidates have received a first calling to the priesthood or religious life before the age of 12 either when serving Mass, helping in the sacristy, or on the day of their First Communion. Many of these seminarians have said that the education received in the family prepared them to make this choice, or they remember being impacted by the good example of a priest or a brother in their surroundings.After a period where the idea of being fully consecrated to God has faded during their teenage years, a second call comes around the age of 19, which eventually leads them to the seminary or brothers novitiate.
Rawlins Cross sails into the Sunrise on new album, tour around the East Coast

Rawlins Cross has been on hiatus before, once for nearly a decade after a successful run during the 1990s as one of Atlantic Canadas most popular modern Celtic bands, but never one that was imposed by an outside force of nature. In the spring of ...
By SA Commercial Prop News

Sam Leon, Non-Executive Director of IAPF, said Investec Australia Property Fund is a unique investment opportunity, offering South African investors direct exposure to the Australian property market and currency.



Investec Property Australia, a division of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, today announced its plans to list Investec Australia Property Fund (IAPF) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

The Fund, which is expected to list on 24 October 2013, will be listed under the Real Estate Holdings and Development sector.

Sam Leon, Non-Executive Director of IAPF, said: Investec Australia Property Fund is a unique investment opportunity, offering South African investors direct exposure to the Australian property market and currency."

The objective of the Fund is to invest in high quality, sustainable and well diversified real estate in Australia.



IAPF is an Australian domiciled real estate investment trust (REIT) with a property portfolio which consists of a diverse mix of industrial and commercial assets (eight in total) located across Australia. The properties are well located in major metropolitan cities or established commercial precincts in Australia and have long-term leases and quality tenants in place.

Furthermore, the Fund will be managed by an entrepreneurial management team on the ground in Australia.

Graeme Katz, CEO of Investec Australia Property Fund, said: The Australian property market has attractive opportunities and with a long term view, we are confident in the Funds ability to enhance value and deliver sustainable returns and long term capital growth for prospective unitholders.



The Funds board comprises of an team, with a mix of South African and Australian members.
By SA Commercial Prop News

MEC Qedani Mahlangu proposes energy innovation ranged from using cities solid waste sites to make bio-coal for use with current coal-fuelled power stations, localise wind turbines and solar panels that generate electricity on site for everyday use



Gautengs Infrastructure Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu proposes energy innovation ranged from using cities solid waste sites to make bio-coal for use with current coal-fuelled power stations, localise wind turbines and solar panels that generate electricity on site for everyday use.

Gautengs development blue-print for the next 40 years, the Gauteng Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, is set to take shape over the coming months, says Infrastructure Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu.

The MEC said this following the staging of the Infrastructure Master Plan Workshop in Sandton.



The visioning and consultative workshop brought together local and international academics, researchers, as well as industry experts from fields, including demography, economics, ICT, energy, water and the environment.



Inputs included projections by demographers and actuaries on current and future population trends of South Africas most populous province, as well as innovations in urban planning, water use, public transportation and renewable energy.



Gauteng has the potential to be a smart province in which to live, work and play. We have the responsibility to make sure we achieve that. If we do this master plan very well, it will be there long after we are gone, said Mahlangu.



Proposals in the area of energy innovation ranged from using cities solid waste sites to make bio-coal for use with current coal-fuelled power stations, to localised wind turbines and solar panels that would generate electricity on site for everyday use by households.



We must work vigorously to ensure that we drive the green agenda. Gauteng needs energy security and we must make sure that we work hard to attain it.



We are aware of our constraints around water resources. It is crucial that we respond decisively to these if we are to continue to be South Africas economic hub, said Mahlangu.



The workshop also heard a plethora of ideas around water management and use. These included proposals for large scale harvesting, storage and use of rain water, treatment and use of acid mine drainage water, as well as the integration of water into future urban planning.



Mahlangu was particularly pleased with the quality of presentations and discussions among the experts.



The discussions will now be distilled to frame the terms of reference for the authors of the provinces Infrastructure Master Plan, who will be appointed soon.



Once completed, the Gauteng Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan will be adopted and gazetted to ensure that it guides development plans of the entire provincial government as well as municipalities.
A first-of-its-kind journey along India and Pakistan border

What binds the two most talked about nations - India and Pakistan together? What makes the
The Marinwood CSD did not want to share it with the public. As a continuing public service, we will post videos of our local CSD meetings...
Researchers at the University of Delaware are one step closer to developing an online map that would help Mid-Atlantic fishermen avoid catching Atlantic sturgeon.

The research team, led by Matthew J. Oliver, Patricia and Charles Robertson Professor of Marine Science and Policy, found they could make useful predictions about sturgeon locations using satellite measurements of ocean color and temperature. They reported their findings Feb. 3 in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

The researchers believe this to be an important step toward helping both fishermen and the vulnerable fish. If they can reliably predict where sturgeon or other "species of concern" are congregating or migrating, they can relay this information to fishermen through a daily fishing forecast, similar to a weather forecast.

Fishermen sometimes accidentally catch sturgeon while targeting other species. Known as bycatch, this occurrence affects the species and can impact a fisherman's allowable catch of other fish.

"This gets us closer to using habitat preferences as a guide to help fishermen be successful while reducing harm to non-target species," said the paper's lead author, Matthew Breece, a doctoral candidate in UD's School of Marine Science and Policy, which is housed in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. "It's surprisingly accurate, and we see a lot of options for making it even better."

Sturgeon select seascapes

Where exactly sturgeon swim in the marine environment is a big unknown in the coastal ocean. On land, researchers use features of the landscape to predict where a species will be found. The UD team set out to do something similar using "seascapes," or zones of the ocean that can be readily identified.

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The research team studied the Delaware Bay and nearby coastal waters in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. By analyzing 10 years of satellite data, the researchers classified adjoining ocean areas with similar color and temperature. Their analysis identified six seascapes that form strips roughly parallel to the coast and can be anywhere from one mile to 20 miles wide. Local currents, tides and winds affect the seascape's location, which can vary as much as 10 or more miles in a single day.

The researchers combined these time-dependent seascape maps with locations of individual sturgeon. They determined locations using tags implanted in sturgeon that can be detected by a set of 94 stationary acoustic sensors arrayed along the coast.

According to Breece, the maps show that sturgeon seem to prefer a narrow corridor identified as Seascape E, which generally sits near the coast but sometimes expands into open waters south of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Half of the sturgeon detections were in that seascape, even though it covered only 35 percent of the available area, indicating selection for environmental factors over geography.

To test this hypothesis, the team deployed an autonomous underwater vehicle called a glider in 2013. The glider was equipped with telemetry detectors that enabled the researchers to actively look for the tagged sturgeon.

"We expected to see the sturgeon closer to shore. For 7-10 days the glider did not detect any sturgeon, despite being in regions of the water where we had seen sturgeon in the past," said Breece. "I actually thought the glider might be broken or the sensors might be damaged."

As soon as the glider arrived in Seascape E, however, it started detecting tagged sturgeon -- 62 of them actually -- some from as far away as South Carolina.

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"That's when it sunk in that the sturgeon were cuing in on this particular seascape, even though it moves around," Breece said.

The scientists aren't sure why the sturgeon prefer this seascape. Sturgeon are typically bottom feeders, eliminating the idea that they may be chasing prey that is moving with the seascapes.

"It could be a foraging preference, or it could be that the seascape acts like a 'turn signal,' telling the sturgeon that it's time to turn toward the Delaware River and return home to spawn. We don't know," Breece said.

Future research will focus on characterizing the water properties in the preferred seascape and exploring whether other cues in the water can be read from satellite or oceanographic data.

"We still have work to do before this is ready for fishermen," Oliver said. "But this gives us the scientific basis to build something really useful and to expand from sturgeon to other species."

Co-authors on the paper, titled "Dynamic Seascapes Predict the Marine Occurrence of an Endangered Species: Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus," include Oliver, Dewayne Fox (Delaware State University), Keith Dunton and Mike Frisk (Stony Brook University), and Adrian Jordaan (University of Massachusetts Amherst).

The research was funded in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System Observing System (MARACOOS) and the Lenfest Ocean Program.
As the world grows more connected, "out of sight, out of mind" looms as a perilous consequence of globalization. A sustainability scholar presents an integrated way to track the many footprints that are made in global transactions in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment this month.

Jianguo "Jack" Liu, the Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability at Michigan State University, has been putting the award-winning telecoupling framework to the test to examine the often unseen and unaccounted for consequences, good and bad, that come with distant human-nature interactions. The telecoupling concept, introduced by Liu in 2008, allows scientists from many disciplines to examine how distant environmental and socioeconomic actions lead to reactions and feedbacks -- and then to more repercussions that reverberate globally.

He says that the level of global connectivity -- brought by increased travel, lightening-fast communication via the internet and cell phones, vast exchanges of goods and services, and many human activities -- has come with certain myopic perception of what it all means.

"More than ever in our world, supply and production is separate -- often by thousands of miles -- from the places that demand and consume resources," said Liu, director of MSU's Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability.

In the paper "Framing Ecosystem Services in the Telecoupled Anthropocene," Liu and his colleagues apply the telecoupling framework to ecosystem services. Ecosystem services -- the benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, such as clean water and food -- are unevenly distributed across the world. Human demands for distant ecosystem services have increased drastically.

The authors give a detailed example of how expansively China's South-to-North Water Transfer Project reaches into all aspects of life not only in China but also in many other parts of the world.

The sheer magnitude of the world's largest and longest interbasin water transfer is overwhelming. The full project brings 11.8 trillion gallons from the Yangtze River in southern China to water-stressed regions in the north by 2020 at projected cost of some $80 billion. The telecoupling framework shows even complex events that span great distances and time can be systemically analyzed to understand what they truly mean to the world.

"The telecoupling framework helps scientists untangle complexity, which in turn will help people better understand the world around them and make better decisions," Liu said.

In the paper, authors -- Liu, Wu Yang and Shuxin Li, note the water transfer project causes both positive and negative environmental and socioeconomic effects -- climate, ecological patterns and processes, hydrological cycles, and socioeconomic conditions. Moreover, it alters water availability distribution, soil moisture, water and energy balance between the land surface and the atmosphere, livelihoods of resettled people, and communities receiving resettled people. The project literally and figuratively will flood the world with change -- and the telecoupling framework helps navigating the expansive change systemically for more effective policy and management.

The work was supported by the National Science Foundation, Michigan State University, and Michigan AgBioResearch.
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Caltrans is investigating possible corrosion in the Bay Bridges Yerba Buena Island tunnel after a chunk of the concrete wall tumbled into the roadway and narrowly missed hitting a motorist, officials said.

The semicircular piece of the wall, about 2 feet square and as much as 3-inches thick, fell into the path of a car in the slow lane of the eastbound, lower-deck tunnel the afternoon of Jan. 30. The car, a Ford Fusion, suffered scrapes and a blown tire when it ran over the concrete, but the driver escaped injury.

Of concern to Caltrans, and to an expert who examined a photo of the damage, is whether the incident is a sign that water is causing more widespread problems in the 80-year-old tunnel.

Corrosion fears have been among the construction issues Caltrans has been working to alleviate on the new eastern span of the bridge. Anchor rods in the tower and on seismic-stability structures, as well as the spans cable, have been the focus of such concerns.

The spot in the tunnel where the concrete fell away, however, is some distance from the new span. The failure occurred at a point where the ceiling of the lower deck  which serves as the deck for the westbound lanes above  is connected to the tunnel wall.

Safety is first

Although Caltrans is still investigating, an agency official said, first indications are that it was an isolated case of corrosion that caused the concrete to fail.

Safety is first for us, so this was not a good situation at all, said Caltrans Deputy District Director Dan McElhinney. We are lucky that it wasnt more severe.

These are opportunities to figure out what is going on with our aging infrastructure, he said. This wall has seen many, many years of service.

To further investigate, Caltrans is planning to shut down at least one lane of the eastbound tunnel in the next few days to allow crews to check the entire area. The immediate focus of the agencys investigation has been where the concrete fell away  on the south side of the tunnel, about a third of the way in.

They havent determined the exact cause of it, Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus said Friday. They last inspected it in July, and they found no obvious problems.

The nearly 1,800-foot-long tunnel opened in 1936 and remains the longest, largest single-bore tunnel in the world. The five-lane structure knifes through the solid rock of Yerba Buena and was lined with concrete casing during construction, then was split into the upper and lower halves.

There are apparent water stains where the piece broke away, along with a crack where fractured concrete remains in place. There is evidence of more concrete cracking that is obscured by the tunnel ceiling.

The possibility of water damage is one of the many factors that they are going to be investigating, Haus said. They are looking at the whole gamut of potential issues.

He added, One of the reasons we have these investigations is to determine the cause, so this kind of thing doesnt happen again.

Corrosion signs

Larry Kahn, a Georgia Tech professor who specializes in corrosion and concrete structures, examined a photograph of the tunnel and said the concrete showed signs of corrosion damage.

One likely explanation would be water invading the concrete, causing rust in the steel framework, he said. Eventually, Kahn said, the steel would expand and push against the concrete, ultimately causing it to fail.

We call it a pop-out, where you have some type of metal embedment that is corroding, causing it to expand, Kahn said. Then all of a sudden, it falls apart.

He added that the photo showed at least one other spot nearby where the concrete appears to be at risk of failing abruptly and hitting the road.

This is probably due to long-term deterioration, he said. Corrosion is very, very slow, but it can be extremely dangerous  I would go through that whole tunnel and find out if there is more corrosion.

Kahn added, Some mitigation work should be performed very quickly  structural engineers should be out there very soon and be investigating the entire wall. You want to mitigate the problem and not have it happen in another place.

McElhinney said he is optimistic that Caltrans can avoid more such failures.

At least at this point in time, theres nowhere else in the tunnel where there is an issue, McElhinney said.

But, he added, the more we keep our eye on this, the better.
Richmond now boasts the first emergency dispatch center in Northern California to accept 911 texting, but officials warn that in most cases the finger-typing smartphone messages are no substitute for old-fashioned landline voice calls.

Dispatchers believe the new system will be particularly helpful to people with hearing or speech impairments, who previously had to go through a third party to report emergencies. Victims of domestic violence or kidnapping also may benefit from the texting option, but dispatchers urge the community at large to use the service only in instances when a voice call would put their lives in peril.

Weve all gotten calls where someone says something like, I cant talk right now, Aunt Betty, and we know somethings not right, said Michael Lusk, a Richmond Police Department dispatcher who has taken about six 911 text messages since the service went live at the end of January. In situations where callers are not at liberty to describe aloud whats happening, he said, texting may prove useful.

But voice calls to 911 have an array of benefits that text messages do not, officials say. For one, its much faster for dispatchers to elicit answers over the phone, and calls from landline phones immediately inform dispatchers of the callers location. Background noise, too, is particularly useful in assessing an emergency and can later be entered into evidence in court, dispatcher say.

If placing a voice call is going to endanger yourself or others, please text us, said Deana Norton, a communications shift supervisor for the Police Department. She added that texting the location of the emergency is crucial.

To report an emergency via text, users simply type 9-1-1 into the space where a friends phone number would usually go. On the other end of the signal, dispatchers log into a website where they can view texts sent to 911. The screen, which resembles a chat messaging platform, has a drop-down menu for dispatchers to choose prewritten common responses, like do not move the patient unless its absolutely necessary.

20,000 calls a month

Richmond Police Departments 911 center, which takes about 20,000 calls each month, also serves San Pablo, El Cerrito, Kensington and Contra Costa College, according to Michael Lambton, a communications shift supervisor. Some cellular towers, though, bounce 911 text messages from Kensington to cities that do not accept them.

Since Richmond launched the technology, dispatchers have received fewer than a dozen texts to 911. Most werent emergencies  Norton recalls a music complaint  though Lusk answered a text reporting shots fired.

Jung Pham, an attorney with Disability Rights California, applauded the new technology. He recalled hearing a story from a deaf woman whose husband was suffering from a medical condition in one room, but her TTY phone to connect with a dispatcher was in another room. Those kinds of scenarios, he said, would greatly improve with the ability to text 911 so that the caller can stay with the patient.

475 centers use text

In late January, about 475 of 6,000 call centers in the country reported to the Federal Communications Commission that they were using the texting technology.

Richmond began testing the service in November, but needed to wait for T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and AT&T to adopt the technology. Those who use other providers are not able to text 911 and will receive an error message, Norton said. And non-English speakers still need to make voice calls to 911, which transfers them to an interpreter.

Were hoping that its useful for the right people, Lambton said. We dont want people texting 911 with nonemergencies.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
Two lanes of traffic eastbound on the Bay Bridge reopened after being blocked Saturday afternoon, officials said.

A report at 12:20 p.m. said a big rig was stuck and blocking the off-ramp to Treasure Island, said Officer Andrew Barclay, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.
In a prologue to Yann Martels chart-busting 2001 Life of Pi, now also a film, the purported author explains that he was originally writing a novel set in Portugal in 1939, but because he was feeling restless and because a novel set in Portugal in 1939 may have very little to do with Portugal in 1939, he flew to Bombay to work on it.

There he got distracted by an account he heard of a young man who crossed the ocean in a life raft with a Bengal tiger. Weve heard that story. Perhaps Martels current novel, which is three linked novellas set in Portugal, in 1904, 1939 and 1981 respectively, is what became of the original project.

Homeless, the 1904 section, is at once terribly sad and disarmingly goofy. Its protagonist is an assistant curator at the Lisbon Museum of Ancient Art named Tomas Lobo, who has lost his wife, young son and father in the space of a week. He has taken to walking exclusively backward, that is, heels first, which he sees as a manner of objection: Because when everything cherished by you in life has been taken away, what else is there to do but object? Or why face forward when nothing good is ahead? (Dead wives, dead children, walking backward: not the last we will see of these.)

Tomas has become obsessed with the description of a religious artifact hes read about in the diary of a 17th century Portuguese priest posted in Africa. It has ended up, Tomas suspects, in a church in the High Mountains of Portugal. These are not mountains at all, as more than one character will discover, but grassy steppes with large boulders poking out.

Tomas makes his pilgrimage to find the treasure in a very early model motor car, started by a crank, provided by his uncle. It is the first car hes ever seen, much less driven, and the pitfalls and absurd difficulties of his trip provide slapstick distraction from the weighty matters on his mind  but also lead to one additional tragedy.

Homeward is set in the 30s, and its main character is pathologist Eusebio Lozora, working late on New Years Eve in his office in Tuizelo, the little town in the High Mountains of Portugal that was Tomas destination. This section contains enlightening, if somewhat excruciating, detail about autopsies and what happens to the body after death, and is also blessed with a delightful monologue, perhaps my favorite part of the book.

Sra. Lozora, paying a late-night visit to her spouse, makes an extended case, both whimsical and profound, that the works of Agatha Christie are the modern version of the Gospels. Why would Jesus speak in parables? Why would he both tell stories and let himself be presented through stories? Why would Truth use the tools of fiction? she asks. This mystery will be solved with the help of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, and will apply to the parables of Martel as well.

The 1981 section, Home, stars a widowed Canadian senator named Peter Tovy, who chucks his miserable life, spends $15,000 to buy a chimpanzee named Odo he encounters on a visit to an animal research center, and moves with his new friend to Tuizelo in the High Mountains of Portugal, of course. Like Life of Pi, this part of the book shines with Martels genius at describing animals and the possibilities of our relationships with them. Here again, man and beast will share an unlikely conveyance; in The High Mountains of Portugal thats just the beginning of their domestic partnership.

But what you really want to know is, is it as good as Life of Pi? The answer is not quite. Its just as ambitious, just as clever, just as existential and spiritual, and also concerns characters facing unutterable loss. But though Pi comes packaged in postmodern layers (the authors note mentioned above, the exit interview at the end), at its core is a story of such dazzling simplicity that it seems hard to believe it sustains a novel. A page-turner, even. The High Mountains of Portugal is a much more complicated creation, with three stories full of dramatis personae, events and situations, magical realist flourishes, much reliance on surprising twists and recurrences, and frankly, more dry spells in the narrative.

And yet, it is a book that rewards your attention, giving you much more to think about than most other novels you might read. For this reason, it would be an excellent book club choice. It might also create a run on the works of Agatha Christie.

Marion Winik has reviewed books for Newsday, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and other publications. E-mail: books@sfchronicle.com

The High Mountains of Portugal

By Yann Martel

(Spiegel & Grau; 332 pages; $27)
Dan Hicks, the Arkansas-born musician known for his wide-ranging musical and personal style, the wit and outright humor of his songwriting, and his role in the San Francisco folk and 60s rock scene, died Saturday in Mill Valley after a long battle with throat and liver cancer. He was 74.

News of his death was posted on his web site and on social media by his wife, Linda CT Hicks.

Mr. Hicks emerged in the San Francisco folk scene in the late 50s and in 1965 became the drummer for the Charlatans, an early folk rock band. Two years later, he formed Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, the group with which he was best known.

The Charlatans never achieved the success of other bands of the era, but as time went on, their significance as an influential part of the scene in the mid-60s was widely acknowledged. The Charlatans became the house band for the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada.

Former Chronicle pop music critic Joel Selvin summarized the groups status in a 2015 article for the paper:

Today the band is little recalled by those who weren't there, but the Charlatans were the first important new rock band in San Francisco when LSD first rolled through town and things started getting weird. When the five-man band of Edwardian dandies in immaculate vintage wear returned from playing all summer 1965 at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, the Charlatans were the headline attraction at A Tribute to Dr. Strange, the Longshoreman's Hall dance/concert that was ground zero for the '60s San Francisco rock scene. ...Farther down the program that evening was another new band just starting out at a former pizza parlor in the Marina with the peculiar name of Jefferson Airplane.

Selvin interviewed surviving members of The Charlatans in Sonoma as they were about to gather for a kind of Last Waltz performance at the Red Dog.

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks first became the opening act for The Charlatans and then took off on its own. The Hot Licks signed with Epic Records, but their first album, Original Recordings, was a flop. After a label change, though, the band scored critical success with the albums Wheres the Money?, Striking It Rich and Last Train to Hicksville.

Mr. Hicks pulled the plug on the band in 1973 because of personal and business pressures. He later said the reason he disbanded the Hot Licks was simply that he didnt want to be a bandleader anymore and called himself essentially a loner.

Over the next several decades, Mr. Hicks enjoyed success first as a solo artist, then as the founder of the Acoustic Warriors in the 80s and 90s, before releasing Beatin the Heat in 2000, with a revival of the Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks name.

Mr. Hicks celebrated his 70th birthday in 2011 with an all-star concert at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, and two years later, released a recording of the evening, Live at Davies, with guests Rickie Lee Jones, Tuck and Patti, Van Dyke Parks, David Grisman and Ramblin Jack Elliott.

In 2014, despite undergoing cancer treatment, Mr. Hicks performed a tribute to Fats Waller at SFJazz, telling Jesse Hamlin,  "You do it, you get through it, especially when you have an obligation, when you made a deal. A deal is a deal."

Daniel Ivan Hicks was born on Dec. 9, 1941, in Little Rock to Ivan and Evelyn Hicks. When he was 5, the family moved to California, settling in Santa Rosa. He began playing drums in elementary school and by the time he was a teenager, was playing paying gigs. He also had a 15-minute radio show in high school called Time Out for Teens.

He enrolled at San Francisco State University in 1959, where he later earned a degree in broadcasting. Around this time, he also began to play the guitar and was soon active in the area folk scene.

Over the next 50 years, Mr. Hicks remained defiantly impossible to categorize. He described his music as folk jazz, which comes as close as any description. Musically, he was a free spirit, and that earned him a fiercely devoted fan base.

His songs were often laced with tongue in cheek humor, evident in the titles How Can I Miss You When You Wont Go Away, I Scare Myself and Canned Music and Santa Lost a Ho.

A true original throughout his long, rich career, Mr. Hicks was acknowledged for his influence on other musicians such as Tom Waits and Elvis Costello.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor of The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV
Dan Hicks, the Arkansas-born musician known for his wide-ranging musical and personal style, the wit and outright humor of his songwriting, and his role in the San Francisco folk and 60s rock scene, died Saturday in Mill Valley after a long battle with throat and liver cancer. He was 74.

News of his death was posted on his website and on social media by his wife, Clare CT Wasserman.

Mr. Hicks emerged in the San Francisco folk scene in the late 50s and in 1965 became the drummer for the Charlatans, an early folk rock band. Two years later, he formed Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, the group with which he was best known.

The Charlatans never achieved the success of other bands of the era, but as time went on, their significance as an influential part of the scene in the mid-60s was widely acknowledged. The Charlatans became the house band for the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nev.

Former Chronicle pop music critic Joel Selvin summarized the groups status in a 2015 article for the paper:

Today the band is little recalled by those who werent there, but the Charlatans were the first important new rock band in San Francisco when LSD first rolled through town and things started getting weird. When the five-man band of Edwardian dandies in immaculate vintage wear returned from playing all summer 1965 at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, the Charlatans were the headline attraction at A Tribute to Dr. Strange, the Longshoremans Hall dance/concert that was ground zero for the 60s San Francisco rock scene. ... Farther down the program that evening was another new band just starting out at a former pizza parlor in the Marina with the peculiar name of Jefferson Airplane.

Selvin interviewed surviving members of the Charlatans in Sonoma as they were about to gather for a kind of Last Waltz performance at the Red Dog.

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks became the opening act for the Charlatans and then took off on its own. The Hot Licks signed with Epic Records, but their first album, Original Recordings, was a flop. After moving to a different label, though, the band scored critical success with the albums Wheres the Money?, Striking It Rich and Last Train to Hicksville.

Mr. Hicks pulled the plug on the band in 1973 because of personal and business pressures. He later said the reason he disbanded the Hot Licks was simply that he didnt want to be a bandleader anymore and called himself essentially a loner.

Over the next several decades, Mr. Hicks enjoyed success first as a solo artist, then as the founder of the Acoustic Warriors in the 80s and 90s, before releasing Beatin the Heat in 2000 with a revival of the Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks name.

Mr. Hicks celebrated his 70th birthday in 2011 with an all-star concert at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, and two years later, released a recording of the evening, Live at Davies, with guests Rickie Lee Jones, Tuck and Patti, Van Dyke Parks, David Grisman and Ramblin Jack Elliott.

In 2014, despite undergoing cancer treatment, Mr. Hicks performed a tribute to Fats Waller at SFJazz Center, telling music writer Jesse Hamlin, You do it, you get through it, especially when you have an obligation, when you made a deal. A deal is a deal.

Daniel Ivan Hicks was born on Dec. 9, 1941, in Little Rock, Ark., to Ivan and Evelyn Hicks. When he was 5, the family moved to California, settling in Santa Rosa. He began playing drums in elementary school and, by the time he was a teenager, was playing paying gigs. He also had a 15-minute radio show in high school called Time Out for Teens.

In 1959, he enrolled at San Francisco State University, where he later earned a degree in broadcasting. Around this time, he also began to play the guitar and was soon active in the area folk scene.

Over the next 50 years, Mr. Hicks remained defiantly impossible to categorize. He described his music as folk jazz, which comes as close as any description. Musically, he was a free spirit, and that earned him a fiercely devoted fan base.

His songs were often laced with tongue-in-cheek humor, evident in the titles How Can I Miss You When You Wont Go Away?, I Scare Myself and Canned Music.

A true original throughout his long, rich career, Mr. Hicks was acknowledged for his influence on other musicians such as Tom Waits and Elvis Costello.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor of The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV
IOWA CITY, Iowa  More than a dozen states have strengthened laws over the past two years to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, a rare area of consensus in the nations highly polarized debate over guns.

Lawmakers and governors of both parties have supported bills stripping gun rights from those who have been convicted of domestic-violence-related crimes or are subject to protective orders. The measures have been backed by victims advocates, law enforcement groups and gun control supporters who see easy access to firearms as a major contributor to domestic violence killings.

Similar proposals are expected to be debated in several states this year.

Domestic violence is definitely an area where there is the most agreement between the gun lobby and gun-violence prevention advocates, said Allison Anderman, staff attorney with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in San Francisco.

The National Rifle Association has taken a cautious approach toward such bills, opposing the farthest-reaching measures but staying neutral or negotiating compromises on others. For example, the NRA has fought provisions that would require people to surrender their guns before they have a chance to contest allegations made in a request for an emergency protective order.

The push in the states is driven by stories of women and children killed or wounded by known abusers, and by statistics showing that hostile relationships often turn deadly when guns are present.

An average of 760 Americans were killed with guns annually by spouses, ex-spouses or dating partners between 2006 and 2014, according to an Associated Press analysis of FBI and other data.

The total is an undercount because not all law enforcement agencies report such information, and it doesnt include children and other bystanders who were killed. More than 80 percent of those killed were women.

In announcing executive action on gun control last month, President Obama said protecting domestic abuse victims is one of his goals. His changes include strengthening the federal background check system, which has denied gun sales 120,000 times since 1998 because of domestic violence convictions.

Federal law has long prohibited felons, those convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse crimes and individuals subject to permanent protective orders from buying or owning guns.

States have been passing their own laws to match or exceed the federal prohibitions, delighting gun control advocates.

Weve passed them in blue states, red states and purple states, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. We believe they are absolutely lifesaving.
Washington State and southern Brtish Columbia have experienced a very wet fall so far, with the atmospheric river of last weekend causing su...
It was a sea of black and teal mixed with orange as the Super Bowl bonanza gathered energy outside Levis Stadium Sunday, with music and chanting, people walking around in costume and on stilts, and swag-carrying fans  many of the Peyton Manning devotees  predicting victory for their side in the hours before before kickoff.

Oh my God, this is the time of my life. They just painted me gold and told me to walk around on stilts, said Lo Yee, 19, who greeted the crowds, posed for photos and gave high fives. Yee, from the Orange County city of Aliso Viego, works for All Wheel Sports, which was hired to entertain the masses.

Hello Miss, she said to a Carolina fan wearing large teal glasses with a Panthers logo. Woo hoo. High five!

Nearby, John Pace posed with fans in his white-studded, combination Carolina Panthers-Elvis Presley outfit.

This just gave me an opportunity to get out and dress up and bring attention to the Panthers, said Pace, 59, of Hendersonville, N.C. I dress up like this about once or twice a year at Panthers games. (Now) Im taking it nationwide!

Pace wrangled tickets for his son, Ellis, and a friend of his wifes, Ronda Peterson, who has terminal liver cancer and wanted to see her hero, Peyton Manning, one more time.

People from all over the country, and some from Europe, mingled in the crowds in the parking lot.

Were here from Toronto and were rooting for the Broncos because they beat our favorite team, the Patriots, when we went to a game in New England a couple of years ago, said Dan Ross, 54, a police officer from Toronto wearing and orange Broncos jersey. I think this is awesome, and there is tight security, which is also fantastic since we are police officers.

There were long lines to see the Vince Lombardi Trophy and several places to grab rally towels for either team. Only a few people were allowed through the gates to the exclusive Super Bowl tailgate party nearby, which required special passes.

For fans whose allegiance lay with other teams, choosing a side was a necessary part of the festivities.

Raiders! Raiders! fans shouted at Brad Mackey and his three sons, who leaned against a railing outside the stadium, decked out in silver and black.

Weve been harassed by some Denver fans, but its not bad, said Mackey, 52.

Three of the Mackey contingent said they would root for the Panthers. The outlier of the family, 25-year-old Max Mackey, said he was pulling for Peyton Manning because Its going to be his last game and I respect him.

Ashley Freeland, a Niners fan from Chicago who flew into the Bay Area with her husband, Mike, was going with the Broncos as longtime Manning fans.

Being in Levis made it even better, she said.

About a half-dozen protesters showed up near Levis Stadium to let the streams of fans coming off light-rail trains know their position on a critical Super Bowl issue.

Stop Circumcision! the group chanted. Three thousand boys will be strapped to a board, offered protester Shannon Perkins of Dallas.

At PrimeSport.coms Pre-game Fan Bash, in a parking lot on the far side of the Great America amusement park, Panthers and Broncos took up opposite sides of the landscape. The big draw on the Carolina end, with its blue table cloths and black chairs, was a blue margarita dubbed Panther Juice.

As they downed the booze, fans in the Panther tent spontaneously broke into chants of Keep pounding!  a phrase coined by a Panthers player to keep pushing on, not keep drinking, the crowd said.

On the Bronco side, a pair of fans dubbed the Bronco King and Queen strolled around in gaudily festive gear. The King, Paul Delvecchio, sported an orange goatee and top hat, and the Queen, Bookie Louise, had big Bronco boots and an orange shirt-dress.

They said that when they flew in from their home in Gunnison, Colo., it was 25 degrees below zero. Now theyre in sunny California, and the welcome theyve had from locals has been just as warm.

That was clear from the first time they walked into San Franciscos Johns Grill, and got a bit of an ovation from the patrons.

People applaud wherever we go, said Delvecchio.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Kevin Fagan contributed to this report.

Peter Fimrite, Vivian Ho, Sam Whiting and Evan Sernoffsky are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, vho@sfchronicle.com, swhiting@sfchronicle.com esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite @VivianHo @SamWhitingSF @EvanSernoffsky
Two Republican governors whose White House dreams hinge on Tuesdays New Hampshire primary were the biggest winners at Saturdays GOP debate, while first-term Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been surging in recent polls, saw his hopes damaged when he was exposed as being overly scripted and inexperienced.

While Donald Trump returned to the debate stage after dodging the final Iowa one, his opponents largely avoided engaging him. Trumps toughest opponent was the audience, which booed him several times  and he ripped right back.

A confident Ohio Gov. John Kasich stood above his rivals by sticking to a positive, inclusive message, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie  like Kasich lagging in the polls and nearly out of cash  scored big by lampooning Rubios propensity to robotically repeat talking points.

Christie pounds Rubio

Slightly muting his usual bluster, Christie called out Rubio  a first-term senator  for not being involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable. You just simply havent. Christie then pounded Rubio for repeating by rote a memorized, 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him.

Moments later, when Rubio said President Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world and repeated the phrase, this notion that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing is just not true, that he had said seconds earlier, Christie pounced.

There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech, Christie said. There it is, everybody.

On a major issue where Rubio briefly showed leadership during his four-year Senate career  a bipartisan immigration plan that included a pathway to citizenship  Christie said Rubio didnt fight to save the measure when the politics turned against him.

A leader must fight for what they believe in, Christie said. Not handicap it and say, well maybe since I cant win this one, Ill run.

Christie had little to lose by going after Rubio hard in Manchester. The governor is one of several candidates who will probably be out of the race if they dont finish in the top three Tuesday.

Funders  both large and small  will close their wallets if a candidate hasnt either won or surged in the polls after New Hampshire. And without money  the lifeblood of any political campaign  it will be time for some to go back to their day jobs  or become a contributor on Fox News.

Joining Christie on the life-support list are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Kasich and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who was the only candidate not invited to Saturdays debate, even though shes polling above retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson in the latest Real Clear Politics average of major polls in New Hampshire. That bar is low: Fiorina is pulling only 3.9 percent there.

Christie confronted his presidential mortality recently, telling the Washington Post that Ive got to beat Jeb and Kasich here, and if I dont beat Jeb and Kasich here, I have to think long and hard about whether I go forward or not.

Thats because Christies campaign has $1.1. million cash on hand, the least of any active candidate. He has made 70 visits to New Hampshire since the start of 2015  more than any other GOP hopeful according to WMUR, a New Hampshire TV station. But even though voters see a lot of Christie, they dont particularly like him; hes only pulling 4.9 percent in the state, good for sixth place.

Kasich, who has made 68 trips to New Hampshire and has $2.5 million in the bank, also may be headed back to his day job in Columbus, Ohio, if he doesnt place high Tuesday. Currently, hes tied with Cruz for third in New Hampshire, pulling 12 percent there according to RealClear.

Kasich stood above the field Saturday by being the only candidate to talk repeatedly about bringing people together. Within the first 100 days of his administration, Kasich promised to bring a bipartisan immigration plan to Congress that included a pathway to legal status, not citizenship, in sticking with the GOP guardrails on the issue. He talked about reaching out to people who live in the shadows. I believe we need to help the mentally ill, the drug addicted, the working poor.

Asked how how he would, as president, bridge the divide between law enforcement and families who have been the victims of excessive force, Kasich sought a middle ground where his rivals didnt.

We love the police, but weve got to be responsible to the people in the community, Kasich said. We have to do all of that.

That was a far more inclusive answer than the one given by Trump, who firmly sided with law enforcement.

I have to say that the police are absolutely mistreated and misunderstood, Trump said.

Even though Trump is leading the polls in New Hampshire by a wide margin, his opponents barely scraped him Saturday, allowing the developer and reality TV star to remain above the fray.

Audience boos Trump

Instead, Trump tangled with the audience, which booed him several times. When they jeered him as he defended the value of eminent domain in building infrastructure, he accused the audience of being full of Republican donors.

The reason theyre not loving me is, I dont want their money, Trump said. He was also booed, in what may be a debate first, during his closing statement, when he began by accusing Iowa caucus winner Sen. Ted Cruz of getting Carsons votes in Iowa by spreading false information that Carson was suspending his campaign. Early in the debate, Cruz apologized to Carson but blamed CNN for not promptly clearing up a report that Carson had left the race. The nonpartisan factchecking site Politifact rated Cruz's explanation as false.

The audience didnt have a problem with Trumps response to a question about whether waterboarding was torture. Trump said the practice was necessary as a response to the savage beheadings that the Islamic State group was conducting on Western captives.

I would bring back waterboarding, Trump said, and Id bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

Joe Garofoli is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@joegarofoli
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The Big Game, Big Give party  a $3,000-a-ticket event, the steepest of the week, hosted by venture capitalist Jillian Manus, co-chaired by former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and former San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Williams  continued to give guests their moneys worth once they entered.

Inside Manus Atherton home, a California theme prevailed  in honor of the state where the Super Bowl is occurring.

A person dressed in a bear costume greeted guests in the foyer, a band that looked like the Beach Boys played in the kitchen, where a sand castle towered over guests from a counter top, and a beer pong room featured foods of Santa Cruz. A Rodeo Drive room featured the fine gems of Peninsula jeweler Stephen Silver, while a Central Valley room featured a Donald Trump impersonator.

In a big tent in the backyard, a massive mock Golden Gate Bridge towered over the guests  from Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and her husband, Zach Bogue, to former football players Scott Fujita (a former Cal Bear and New Orleans Saint), and former 49ers Steve Bono, Randy Cross and Bryant Young, to Tina Frank, chief operating officer of the Koret Foundation  while Bay Area restaurants such as La Folie, Slanted Door and Dosa served bites from their menus.

Jay Leno emceed a live auction in the backyard. A chance to visit the set of Blade Runner 2 in Budapest went for $65,000, one of the highest lots of the night. And barefoot singer-poet-rapper Michael Franti, known for using his music for positive change, was a hit with the crowd, singing and dancing among the guests who jumped up and down to his music.

It was a night for wacky fun, the sort that Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, usually dont have on a Saturday.

Saturdays, he said, are usually date nights at home in Marin.

Welcome to weekends, Silicon Valley style.

Carolyne Zinko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: czinko@sfchronicle.com
In 2016, Fall Out Boy might be a world-class rock band, but fifteen years ago, they were just a bunch of kids playing pop punk in a sleepy Chicago suburb.

While many in the audience at their Friday concert at the Regency Ballroom might have been too young to remember the earworm hooks of 2003's "Take This to Your Grave" or any of the band's earlier EPs, the excitement of having the four-piece play such a relatively small venue was not lost on them.

Still, the group, led by vocalist and composer Patrick Stump and bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, paid tribute to their earlier material, opening with 2005's "Sugar, We're Going Down," a song from the sophomore album that introduced the band to many of their longtime fans.

Since it was recorded, the band has made significant strides professionally. Stump's voice has strengthened considerably, and the group's live delivery has become more relaxed. Most importantly, their songwriting has evolved to be friendlier to a demographic outside the pop punk/emo fandom culture.

Fall Out Boy played five tracks from "American Beauty/American Psycho," their sixth studio album, and perhaps best known work. That record is indicative of their current scope: powered up stadium pop rock, accessible and appealing to anyone with a radio.

However, there was probably no track that moved the audience so much (literally) as an older one: "Dance, Dance." Wentz stood atop a platform at the front of the stage to pick the track's trademark bassline, and a pit emerged in the crowd.

That excitement was closely matched again later when Stump hushed the room to thank all the group's early fans. "If you know this song, it's your civic duty to sing along," he announced, before beginning the a cappella intro to "Grand Theft Autumn."

The group's final number, "Saturday," was an appropriate bookend. From their first studio album, the song is no doubt one close to their hearts, and one that defines the raw energy that made them famous.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: The Lumix produces excellent photos and video; it has an expansive feature set to satisfy snapshooters and enthusiasts; it offers a lot of direct access to important settings and has a fantastic electronic viewfinder.

The bad: Its maximum f/2.8 aperture is only available at its widest focal length. The plastic body and large lens makes it feel a bit off-balance. Controls and shooting options might be intimidating.

The cost: $619 to $800

The bottom line: With excellent photo and video quality and a deep feature set, it is the perfect mix if you want DSLR-like controls and better than point-and-shoot performance with the convenience of a single fixed lens.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: It delivers really good photo and video quality, a great set of features, and class-leading performance.

The bad: Its got a fixed LCD and the lens really needs a hood to minimize flare.

The cost: $524 to $799

The bottom line: With really good photo and video quality, a great set of features and generally class-leading performance, the Panasonic is probably one of our favorite compact cameras ever. Its not for the inexperienced, though.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: It delivers excellent photos, speedy performance and a broad feature set in an attractive, compact package.

The bad: The camera tends to clip bright highlights more than we typically see, and the slippery body lacks a grip. Plus, the lack of a manually triggered macro mode might put off some fans of close-up photography.

The cost: $449 to $596

The bottom line: The Sonys looks, speed, flexibility and photo quality make it a great choice for enthusiasts who can afford the price.

Nikon D5500

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: It delivers excellent photo quality as well as a performance that can keep up with your kids and pets.

The bad: The redesigned grip may not be comfortable for people with large hands, and Nikon really needs to update its Wi-Fi app.

The cost: $560 (refurbished) to $850

The bottom line: Lightweight and compact with everything the family photographer needs, the Nikon maintains its position as a great general-purpose DSLR.

The following Cnet staff contributed to this report: Joshua Goldman, Lori Grunin and Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.
TAINAN, Taiwan  Rescuers were searching late Saturday for more than 100 people still missing after a powerful, shallow earthquake struck southern Taiwan before dawn, causing a high-rise residential building to collapse and killing at least 14 people and injuring hundreds.

More than 340 people were rescued from the rubble in Tainan, the city hit worst by the quake. About 2,000 firefighters and soldiers scrambled with ladders, cranes and other equipment to the ruins of the 17-floor residential building, which folded like an accordion onto its side after the quake struck.

The spectacular fall of the building immediately raised questions about its construction, and Taiwans interior minister said there would be an investigation.

The official CNA news agency reported that the quake killed 14 people and injured 484 others, according to statistics by Taiwans rescue authorities. Most of the injured had been released from hospitals by Saturday night.

CNA said 153 people remained missing and that rescuers were racing to find them. Taiwans SETV reported that 101 adults and 41 children were missing. The number of missing was expected to drop because some of those listed might have been listed twice, hospitalized or not in the building at the time of the quake.

President Ma Ying-jeou visted a hospital and the emergency response center in Tainan before rushing back to the capital, Taipei, to attend a briefing on the situation.

Rescuer Jian Zhengshun said the rescue work was difficult because part of the high-rise building was believed to be buried underground, with the quake loosening the earth. He said rescuers had to clear rubble for passages to reach people who were trapped.

The quake came two days before the start of Lunar New Year celebrations that mark the most important family holiday in the Chinese calendar. The collapsed building had 256 registered residents, but far more people could have been inside when it fell because the population might have swelled ahead of the holiday, when families typically host guests.

Local media said the building included a care center for newborns and mothers, and a newborn was among those confirmed dead in the disaster.

Most people were asleep when the 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit at about 4 a.m., 22 miles southeast of Yujing. It struck only 6 miles underground, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Shallow earthquakes generally cause more damage than deeper ones.
BEIRUT  Turkey came under mounting pressure to open its border Saturday as tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing a government onslaught sought entry and the European Union called on Ankara to grant them refuge.

As many as 35,000 Syrians have massed along the closed border, according to Suleyman Tapsiz, governor of the Turkish border province of Kilis. He said Turkey would provide aid to the displaced within Syria, but would only open the gates in the event of an extraordinary crisis.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said thousands of Syrians have arrived at seven of the main informal camps close to the Turkish border. The group said the camps were already at capacity before the latest influx, and that aid groups are working around the clock to deliver tents and essential items to the displaced.

Filip Lozinski, an NRC supervisor in the area, said that many refugee families were forced to sleep out in the open, some under trees, because they could not find shelter.

At a meeting in Amsterdam between EU foreign ministers and their Turkish counterpart, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged Turkey to open its borders to Syrians in need for international protection, and said the EU is providing aid to Ankara for that purpose.

EU nations have committed $3.3 billion to Turkey for helping refugees as part of incentives aimed at persuading it to do more to stop thousands of migrants from leaving for Greece.

Turkey already hosts some 2.5 million Syrian refugees.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that his country maintains an open border policy for these people fleeing from the aggression of the (Syrian) regime as well as air strikes of Russia.

He said Turkey had already allowed in more than 5,000 recently displaced Syrians, but did not address the restrictions along the border.

Some of the refugees found shelter in Afrin, a Kurdish enclave to Aleppos north controlled by a militia known as the YPG, said a Kurdish official, Idris Naasan. The militia hoped to prevent a humanitarian disaster and help those stuck at the border, he said.

Syrian President Bashar Assads forces have been advancing across the north in recent days behind a curtain of heavy Russian air strikes, and could soon encircle rebel strongholds in Aleppo, once the countrys largest city and commercial hub. This week alone, Russian warplanes hit close to 900 targets across Syria, including near Aleppo.

Those living in parts of the city held by the rebels since 2012 fear they could be the next victims of siege tactics used across Syria by all sides in the war, which have caused widespread malnourishment and starvation.

Syrias Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said government forces were on track to end the conflict following the recent gains around Aleppo.

Like it or not, our battlefield achievements indicate that we are headed toward the end of the crisis, he told a news conference in Damascus. He called on rebel fighters to come to their senses and lay down their weapons.

Saudi Arabia, a key backer of the opposition, meanwhile said it is ready, in principle, to send ground troops to Syria, albeit in the context of the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State group.

But al-Moallem warned that Saudi or other foreign troops entering his country would return home in wooden coffins, a line he repeated three times during the one-hour news conference.
DO YOU have a Boulevard Aristide-Briand near you? Or do you send your child to school in a Jules-Ferry or a lycee Emile Combes? If so, you are already familiar with key names in the construction of the French Republic.

Between them, these three politicians were responsible for free state schooling, obligatory education for girls and the rock of state neutrality towards religion on which la Republique is built: the principle of laicite.

The term is very much in the news, with a new laicite charter being introduced into schools this autumn alongside classes in morale laique. Presenting the charter, Minister for Education Vincent Peillon explained: Everyone is free to have his own opinions but no one has the right to contest teaching content or miss a class in the name of religious precepts.

Public debate over the Muslim community in France pops up in the news regularly and is nearly always related in one way or another to perceived challenges to this element of the Constitution. Peillons remarks refer also to repeated evangelist pressure to alter class content, in particular regarding the theory of evolution. A recent example was the proposal to swap two Christian holidays with Jewish and Muslim ones: confusing whether France was secular or multi-religious.

Left and Right politicians often unite to initiate laws to protect laicite. Once the source of conflict with the Catholic Right over private education funding, the principle, an important element in the integration process, regularly generates ill feeling these days among extremist sectors of the Muslim community. That is why, a century after the original 1905 law, several new laws have been passed to protect it.

First, a few explanations. Laicite does not translate well. Secularity is close but confusing. Laicite is not easy to define either. It has evolved over two centuries and is evolving still. The concept was born of the Revolution, which guaranteed freedom of conscience to all and first separated State and Church.

Napoleon backtracked, signing a concordat with the Vatican in 1801 that was to poison Church-State relations during the 19th century and put laicite on the back burner for much of it. (For historical reasons, this concordat still applies in Alsace and Moselle.)

Having been suppressed by the Vichy regime (along with liberte, egalite, fraternite  without which laicite could not function), the principle was cast in the constitution of the Fourth Republic in 1946  the State is indivisible, laic, democratic and social  and remains firmly in that of todays Fifth.

To understand the concept is to go a long way towards understanding the French. Maybe it could be defined as their permanent search for a delicate balance between sharing what they all hold in common, the Republic, and catering for diversity.

It is the principle that protects both personal and collective liberty and, as such, is the responsibility of both State and citizen. The indivisibility of the State is the States refusal to recognise any religious or ethnic community. France is one. There are two major dates in the history of laicite: 1881 and 1905. In 1881-82, Minister of Education Jules Ferry decreed school to be publique, gratuite et laique  state-run, free and non-clerical.

Teaching in French to a national programme provided children, whatever their linguistic background or beliefs, with the theoretical possibility of equal opportunity.

It created a framework in which adults could bring no pressure to bear on pupils to adhere to any philosophy, religion or political idea. That remains the basis of the French educational system today.

The 1905 law, engineered by Emile Combes and Aristide Briand, enforced the neutrality of the State and State institutions through the separation of the Churches and the State. Since that date, the State recognises no religion and therefore cannot directly fund any either.

If the same law grants the individual total liberty and privacy regarding beliefs, there is one condition: they must not disturb public order.

Given the repeated trauma that religion has caused in Frances recent history  from the Wars of Religion to the expulsion of the Huguenots and the Dreyfus affair  this means no proselytising and nothing that could be remotely interpreted as such.

It also explains why, in France, religious belief is far more than a private matter. Things spiritual belong to the realm of intimacy. It is extremely unusual to see anyone wearing any conspicuous religious symbol in public. To do so is perceived as a deliberate act, a message to others.

It is unthinkable to ask someone what their religion is and most people will be frankly embarrassed by anyone saying what theirs is. When Nicolas Sarkozy publicly announced he had appointed Frances first Muslim prefect, he sent shockwaves throughout the land.

Knowing this helps in understanding intense French reaction to young girls wearing veils. It is seen not only as an unacceptable way of bringing religion into the public sphere, but also a form of peer pressure on other girls to do the same. Which takes us back to Jules Ferry and neutrality in the classroom.

This insistence on the privacy of beliefs was of course also reinforced after World War II by the fate of Frances Jews under the Vichy regime, and the obligation to publicly show their religion by wearing the yellow star. As a result of the trauma of State responsibility in their deportation and extermination, no statistics may be made regarding peoples religious beliefs, ethnic origin or colour.

All citizens are not only equal, but remain neutral in the eyes of the State.

The mosque debate

The 1905 law was finally well accepted by both Catholic and Protestant churches in France, who benefited financially when the State handed existing buildings and their costly maintenance over to local authorities. But the State cannot fund new religious buildings.

Hence the mosque-building debate and recent legislation allowing local authorities to contribute. For with generous donations from Saudi Arabia and Muslim foundations abroad pouring in, the inherent risk of encouraging fundamentalist movements to develop in France is obvious.

Under the Nicolas Sarkozy government, the training of imams in France to Republican principles was considered.

But the State cannot finance religious education either. The impasse has been paradoxically circumvented by the Catholic University offering courses, and Algerian imams due to work in France being trained in French and laicite at the government-funded Institut Francais in Algiers.

Conspicuous symbols and full-face veils

After a number of potentially inflammatory cases in which some schools were confronted with Muslim girls wearing Islamic headscarves, legislation was passed in 2004 banning the wearing of any conspicuous religious symbol or sign in state schools. Never specifically aimed at the Muslim community (kippas, large crosses and Sikh turbans fall under the same category), the new law, despite fears it would be perceived as discriminatory and arouse further reaction, had the almost immediate effect of calming the situation, though some veiled Muslim girls and turbaned Sikhs found their way to private schools.

But this legislated solely for public schools, not privately run establishments. In March of this year, Fatima Afif, an employee dismissed in 2008 from the privately run Baby Loup creche in the Yvelines for refusing to remove her headscarf, won on appeal for wrongful dismissal on the grounds of religious discrimination.

New legislation is now under consideration to cover pre-school structures and religious symbols in the workplace, none of which are currently covered by law.

When, in late July, a police officer in the town of Trappes stopped a fully veiled young women for an ID check in the middle of Ramadan, he did not know he was unleashing days of rioting. But Cassandra, 22, was not infringing any law on laicite. This time it was the one against dissimulating the face in the public sphere, put into effect by the Sarkozy government in 2011.

Introduced ostensibly as anti-terrorism legislation, many felt its real purpose was more anti-veil. In fact, the number of women in France wearing the niqab is extremely small, and the number of women fined likewise.

Laicite with an adjective

The latest solution of Frances politicians to calm the debate has been to add adjectives. Sarkozy invented laicite positive, in which the government took into account the existence of religious groups in France.

He created a representative Muslim council, through which to address the Muslim community in France. Representative of only a portion of Frances Muslims, many of whom are non-practising, it has created more problems than it has solved.

The Hollande government has coined laicite apaisee, a low-profile approach in which negotiation would replace legislation as the best way of winning over those who regard the principle with suspicion.

True laicistes believe the principle cannot survive any moderating tags. It must exist alone.

Universities oppose campus headscarf ban proposal

In early August, Le Monde published a report signed by members of the Haut Comite de lIntegration (HCI), a body no longer briefed to deal with laicite since the creation of a separate mission last April. It called for a Muslim headscarf ban in universities.

Government replies were swift but hardly in unison. Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls stated evasively that the subject needed to be considered, while Genevieve Fioraso, Minister for Higher Education, warned that we should avoid problems where there are none.

For Gerard Blanchard, president of La Rochelle University, and vice-president of the national CPU, Conference des Presidents dUniversite, laicite is not an issue on his campus or anywhere in France. We have 14% foreign students in La Rochelle, mostly from South East Asia, and we only ask women students to take off their veils in science laboratories, for safety reasons. That has never posed a problem.

The University Presidents Conference has issued a public statement against any specific university ban. For Blanchard, the over-mediatised debate that burst upon us mid-summer is without foundation. He is adamant that he has never had a complaint from a teacher. An environmentalist, he is far more concerned by pressure that could be brought on teachers to introduce non-scientific versions of the origins of the universe into the syllabus. No university teacher should ever have to submit to any pressure on the content of his teaching.

Jean-Loup Salzmann, president of the CPU, and president of Paris XIII, in the heart of Seine- Saint-Denis, one of the most multi-cultural universities in France, firmly believes in laicite, but sees no need for new laws on the campus. His main concern is elsewhere. He is angered by the incongruity of the State promoting laicite on the one hand, while financing the Catholic universities on the other.

Expressing a personal opinion, he said: The main issue for these young Muslim women, who have enough problems coping with family pressure, is to achieve independence and emancipation through their studies, whether they wear a veil or not. An anti-veil law would achieve the opposite of what we want. Many of these women would then not have access to university at all.

How the principle of laicite is applied today

NICOLAS Cadene, chairman of the Observatoire de la Laicite, a watchdog committee created last April by President Francois Hollande to report on how the principle of laicite is applied in France today, spoke to Connexion.

Can you define this difficult concept for our readers?

Laicite is a principle which allows us all to live together. It is not a ban on religion or religious practices. On the contrary, it guarantees believers and non-believers alike the freedom to express themselves, to practise or not to practise a religion as they choose, on condition that public order is not disturbed. The State adopts an attitude of total impartiality towards citizens, who are all equal in the eyes of the State.

Do the current religious bank holidays not favour one religious group?

Christian festivals have, for the majority, become traditional holidays with little religious significance. Still, the State does not want to be seen as favouring one religion over another. In 1905, there was no Muslim population. But I dont think this poses a real problem. Employees can use their RTT (recuperation of unpaid overtime in the form of days off) as they wish. The Stasi Commission (set up by President Jacques Chirac in 2003) went a long way towards identifying issues in the workplace. We shall build on that.

The conspicuous religious symbols ban was seen as directed only at women. Is that not a form of discrimination?

If people set out to present themselves in a way which is obviously a proselytising or a provocative attitude, that is not acceptable. It is not so much what people wear or their physical appearance, as the reason behind the choice. This is one of the subjects we shall be working on.

Islam has no clerical hierarchy. Isnt the laicite legislation trying to apply to individuals a law aimed at an institution? Doesnt the 1905 law need to be adapted?

Not at all. The principle enables us all to live together. But, of course, we must avoid situations in which one group feels stigmatised by the law. That is one of our major subjects of reflexion. But there is no question of adapting the principle to new circumstances. It is one of bringing people to understand that laicite is not a ban on religious practice but a system of personal freedom and helping them to adapt to the principle.

There has been talk in the press over banning the Islamic headscarf at university. [The full-face veil is already banned anywhere in public].

The State has a duty to protect minors from any form of ideological persuasion, hence the headscarf ban in schools. University is a world of adults. But the Republic has a duty to protect its citizens against the dangers of extremism. Some people attribute to laicite powers it simply does not have. There is an urgent need for strong political action, at state and local level, in order to resolve the many problems the threat of extremism has brought to certain sectors of society.

The Observatoire has published its first report, a history and background to the concept. What else has it achieved?

We helped draw up two important documents: the laicite charter and the syllabus for non-religious morality for schools. Both take effect this year. In addition, our report has pinpointed situations needing close attention in public administrations and local authorities (non-Metropolitan France included), as well as in the private sector.

How do you see your work developing?

We need a better definition of laicite that reiterates the States position of neutrality and is more clearly understood by all, in France and at an international level. We are drawing up guidelines for the application of laicite and religious practice in the workplace, and in the wake of the Baby Loup issue [see main article], for pre-school structures. We must show people how to react to situations. Overreaction is one of the major problems we face, when so much could be achieved by negotiation and taking things calmly.
sailors two

Historic photo of retired seamen at Sailors' Snug Harbor in Livingston. (Staten Island Advance file photo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- "We were forbidden to talk to the Snuggies," recalled Joyce Tidd Rowan, who grew up in the 1930s on Bard Avenue in Livingston.

She was using the word that she said was in popular use at that time to describe the retired mariners who called Sailors' Snug Harbor on Richmond Terrace home.

Rowan vividly remembered the Harbor's bucolic, farm-like setting, with horse stables, grazing cows, a pig pen where the Little League field is now located, and cornfields along what is now Snug Harbor Road.

The Governor's residence at Sailors' Snug Harbor in Livingston. (Courtesy of NYPL Digital Collections)

The Harbor "was our playground," Mrs. Rowan said in an interview with this reporter in 2012.

"We'd go to the lawn by the old Governor's house and count the water rats" that invaded the property after the Edison Electric Company -- an electricity-generating plant on Richmond Terrace -- was torn down, she said.

Some of the retired sailors "had electric cars, and drove down Bard Avenue," Mrs. Rowan noted.

'LONELY' SAILORS



So flash forward to the mid-1950s.

Leonard Applebaum -- who lived for part of his youth on Rokeby Place in nearby West Brighton -- remembers the Harbor's "lonely" old sailors.

The drug store at the corner of Henderson and Davis avenues was "where I had my first job as a teenager, earning $1.15 per hour plus tips (which were very rare), delivering prescriptions by bicycle to a territory that included Sailor's Snug Harbor," Applebaum told SILive.com.

"I remember really feeling sad for the lonely sailors, who would often literally try to grab me and engage me in conversation, wishing I could dawdle a bit longer and listen to their tales of adventures on the briny deep," he recalled.

Click here to take our historic-photo walking tour of Sailors' Snug Harbor.
NYC Mayor New Streetcar

In this artists rendering provided by the New York Mayor's Office, a proposed light rail system is shown in Brooklyn.

(Associated Press)

Let's say right off the bat that it is highly unlikely that the pricey new waterfront trolley system serving Brooklyn and Queens that Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed as part of his ambitious State of the City agenda on Thursday evening will ever become reality.

Right now, it seems that it will ultimately fall down the same rabbit hole as his proposal last year to start a citywide fast-ferry system linking all the boroughs. (The plan is to develop a system would initially serve the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Staten Island's token share would come in the second phase of the plan, with fast-ferry service to Stapleton, which is less than a mile from the world-famous Staten Island Ferry.) Haven't heard much about that one lately.

Come to think of it, even the mayor's compromise proposal to move to cut the number of horse carriages by half, restrict them to Central Park and move the horses their current stables on 11th Avenue to a new $25-million stable at 86th Street fell through on the very day he presented his wishful State of the City address. Even his former allies in the Teamsters union threw him under the bus on that one.

In fact, it looks more and more as if the trolley idea is a "Hail Mary" pass the desperate mayor pulled out of his playbook as he suddenly finds himself already well into the lame-duck portion of his embattled mayoralty.

The Brooklyn-Queens Connector

For Brooklyn and Queens residents and officials, at least, there's a lot to like in Mr. de Blasio's proposal.

The 16-mile Brooklyn-Queens Connector, as it's called -- it already has a snappy shorthand moniker, "the BQX" -- will run along the East River-Upper Bay waterfront of those two boroughs. It's intended to augment the existing transportation infrastructure on that stretch of waterfront to meet current and anticipated job and housing growth. Advocates say it will serve shore-front neighborhoods that subway lines miss. The BQX is expected to have a weekday ridership of 24,500 and cut almost 20 minutes off the commute on existing transit.

Supporters are also eager to point out that the new line, which would link 15 subway lines, 30 bus routes and 10 ferry landings, would increase property values in those neighborhoods, and the increased tax revenue from those enhanced properties would pay for the project. Great, huh?

The whole thing would cost $2.5 billion, but that's just the administration's current working projection.

"This is about equity and innovation," the mayor declared in a statement. "We are mapping brand new transit that will knit neighborhoods together and open up real opportunities for our people."

As the Church Lady would say, "Well, isn't that special?"

Where's our light-rail line?

As much as we had to be the skunk at the picnic, but we can't help but point out, that the proposed BQX is really a surface light-rail system, the kind of thing Staten Islanders have been calling for for years. Mr. de Blasio may recall that just a couple of years ago, Borough President James Oddo asked the city to study the possibility of a operating streetcar to serve the North Shore. That idea was "summarily rejected" Mr. Oddo said.

In fact, as underserved by mass transit as Staten Island has, all it has in terms of new mass transit is vague administration talk of fast-ferry service to Stapleton someday. There's also an ongoing $5-million Metropolitan Transportation study for Bus Rapid Transit to serve the North Shore (after almost two decades of pleas from Staten Island political and civic leaders). Other worthy proposals, including a West Shore Light Rail line, fast-ferry service for the South Shore and roads through Freshkills Park have gone nowhere, thanks to colossal official indifference.

But we do have the Staten Island Ferry, emphasized de Blasio spokesman Wiley Norvell, who added, "From funding new Staten Island Ferries, to investing in the borough's roads, to planning better transit on the North Shore, we are putting real resources and energy into improving the borough's commutes."

What "real resources," exactly? "Planning better transit"? Where might that be?

Certainly nothing specific like the $2.5-billion light-rail system the mayor proposed for two boroughs already flush with mass transit options. (Did anyone in Queens or Brooklyn ever even ask for such a light-rail line?)

North Shore Councilwoman Debi Rose, usually a supporter of the mayor, lamented, "As I heard the mayor's proposal last night, I wondered if he meant to say Staten Island, instead of Brooklyn and Queens."

'Transformative' project

An angry Mr. Oddo pointedly threw one of the mayor's pet buzzwords back at him, saying, "While we don't begrudge residents of Brooklyn and Queens for this project, it does make one wonder what we have to do on Staten Island to get the city to take our pleas for transformative transportation projects seriously."

Maybe Mr. Norvell should remind the BP again that Staten Island does have the ferry.

The typically sententious theme of the mayor's address was "One New York, Working for Our Neighborhoods."

Some neighborhoods, Mr. Mayor. Some neighborhoods.

Ask the weary commuters in Mariners Harbor or Rossville or Bulls Head if they feel part of Mr. de Blasio's "one New York" after this blockbuster announcement.

No, the $2.5-billion BQX will probably never get built, but it has provided Staten Islanders with a priceless glimpse of the de Blasio administration's priorities.
The Disney Sweepstakes List is full of current sweepstakes to win free Disney vacations, sweepstakes offered by the Disney company, and more. Disney sweepstakes give you and your family the chance to win a trip to Disney World or Disneyland, a free Disney cruise, or other great prizes without paying a cent.

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2016 SkS Weekly Digest #6

Posted on 7 February 2016 by John Hartz

SkS Highlights... El Nino Impacts... Toon of the Week... Quote of the Week... He Said What?... SkS in the News... SkS Spotlights... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... 97 Hours of Consensus...

SkS Highlights

Industrial-era ocean heat uptake has doubled since 1997 by Rob Painting and Fox News Republican debate moderators asked a climate question! by Dana Nuccitelli (Climate Consensus - the 97%, The Guardian) both attracted the highest number of comments of the aricles posted on SkS during the past week.

El Nino Impacts

Toon of the Week

Quotes of the Week

James Hansen, a former NASA scientist known for his testimony to US Congress in 1988 that arguably put concern about climate change on the map, said he was stunned by the announcement.

"Holy shit! That is unbelievable," he said. "Is a conservative denier government in power?

"This seems to be a clear-cut case of shooting the messenger with the bad news. However, the messenger is needed to figure out what to do about the problem."

'Misleading, inaccurate and in breach of Paris': CSIRO scientist criticises cuts by Adam Morton, Peter Hannam & Marcus Strom, Brisbane Times, Feb 5, 2016

The general rule is, at a global scale, if youre a nation that is going to suffer from climate change, youre very likely not contributing to the problem, says James Watson, a professor in the school of geography at the University of Queensland in Australia who also works with the Wildlife Conservation Society on climate change. Watson conducted the study with two colleagues from the University of Queensland.

Thats the general rule that we found, Watson continues. But its completely inequitable.

Why climate change is really, really unfair by Chris Mooney, Energy & Environment, Washington Post, Feb 5, 2016

He Said What?

I dont subscribe to the politicization of the environment, because thats what leads to things like the Clean Power Plan, Carson responded. The EPA has said that if we implement every aspect of the Clean Power Plan, it will lower the temperature of the Earth by 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit  thats the benefit. The cost is billions of dollars and millions of jobs. That doesnt make any sense, because that is ideologically driven.

Ben Carson gets called out on climate cluelessness by Iowa voter by Katie Herzog, Grist, Feb 1, 2016

SkS in the News

Very impressive indeed!

As Professor Bishop points out, while such attacks are abominable, and take time from academics that could otherwise be spent on research (not to mention the personal cost to them and their families, from defamatory comments all over), in the end the truth will out. Remember, Recursive Fury bounced back stronger than ever in the shape of Recurrent Fury. And for all the efforts of Richard Tol and some grad student from the USA to suppress it, John Cook and co's 97% paper has been downloaded 449,069 times! [our bold]

Judith Curry attacks open data advocates and encourages people who try to suppress science by Sou, Hot Whopper, Feb 3, 2016

SkS Spotlights

The Conscious Elders Network (CEN) is an educational, non-profit organization fostering a budding movement of vital elders, dedicated to growing in consciousness while actively addressing the demanding challenges facing our country. We work inter-generationally for social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and sound governance. We bring our multiple talents and resources, offering these in service to the goal of preserving and protecting life for all generations to come. We invite you to join us in this monumental endeavor!

Coming Soon on SkS

No climate conspiracy: NOAA temperature adjustments bring data closer to pristine (Dana)

(Dana) Daffodils in bloom, the warmest ever December: how worrying is the worlds strange weather (John Vidal)

(John Vidal) The New Age of Climate Exploration (Joseph Robertson and David Thoreson)

(Joseph Robertson and David Thoreson) Onset of Eocene Warming Event took 3-4 millennia (so what were doing is unprecedented in 66 million years) (Howard Lee)

(Howard Lee) Guest post (John Abraham)

(John Abraham) 2016 SkS Weekly News Roundup #7 (John Hartz)

(John Hartz) 2016 SkS Weekly Digest #7 (John Hartz)

Poster of the Week

Source: What on Earth? comics

SkS Week in Review

97 Hours of Consensus: Philip Mote

Philip Mote's bio page

Quote derived with author's permission from:
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About Kate

Why this blog?

Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked.

This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me."

(goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated!



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What They Say About SDA

"Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert

"I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick

Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick

"The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle

"Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group

I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs

"You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella

"Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky

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SDA: Reader Occupation Survey

Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop

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All Your Weather Are Belong To Us

Song Of The Sled

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Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl

Trudeaupiate

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Child Labour

I Concede

Small Dead Feminist

Protein Hoser: THK Interview

The Werewolf Extinction

Dear Laura (VRWC)

We Wait

Blogging The Oscars

Jackson Converts To Islam

Just Shut The HELL Up

Manipulating Condi

Gay Equality Rights


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Slowing demand in China - the world's largest consumer of raw materials, and the buyer of 54pc of Australia's resources exports in 2015 - has led to dizzying price falls in coal, iron ore, zinc, nickel, copper and bauxite, all minerals mined Down Under. Instead of cutting production and shoring up the price of their product, miners are taking a counter-intuitive tack, and boosting their output. Closing down mines is an expensive business and companies would rather cling on to their market share than cede ground to their rivals. Yet "the increase in volumes is unlikely to be sufficient to offset the effect of lower commodity prices", Mark Cully, chief economist at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, warned in December. He calculates that Australia's earnings from mining and energy exports will fall by four per cent this year as lower prices bite. Earnings from mining and energy exports are forecast to drop four per cent.

Giant miners such as Rio and BHP believe their low-cost models will enable them to survive while higher-cost competitors go to the wall. However, in common with their peers in the FTSE 100, they have been punished by investors, with their shares tumbling 40 per cent and 50 per cent respectively in the last year. While Rio's balance sheet is regarded as the stronger of the two, both are under pressure to cut their dividends. Analysts expect Rio to unveil a 46 per cent slump in pre-tax profits when it reports its full-year results this week. BHP, which announces its half-year results on February 23, is facing a 56 per cent tumble in profits for the year. Meanwhile, the wider Australian mining industry is stripping out costs and "cutting staff to the bone", as Nellist puts it. One simple way for miners to save money is to stop exploration work. As a geologist, Nellist was charged with finding new mineral deposits to build up his employer's resources. He lost his job when his company cancelled this work - a move that is storing up trouble for the future, he argues. "There are many mines in operation that have less than a 10-year mine life. Yet very few are exploring for their next resource."

Spending on exploration fell 32 per cent in the year to September, hitting its lowest level in more than five years. While output is growing, the mining industry is shedding employees. At its peak in 2012, the Australian mining sector employed 275,000 people. Since then, it has lost close to 75,000 jobs. Mining may only account for around two per cent of the country's workforce, but it punches above its weight - not just in terms of its contribution to economic growth, but in what goes into employees' pockets. Including bonuses, overseas workers in the mines can expect to earn an average of $218,600. In 2011, around 11,000 people of British origin worked in the mines - this included those with leave to remain in the country, and holders of Australia citizenship. A minority were on sponsored visas, imported by the industry to fill particular roles. "At the peak of Australia's mining boom we were actively recruiting candidates from all over the world for employers in search of specific skills," says Chris Kent, regional director of recruitment firm Hays Resources & Mining. "This is no longer the case."

The number of British workers on sponsored visas in the mining sector has nearly halved. From July to September 2012, there were 1,858 British workers on sponsored visas in the mining sector; in the most recent quarter for which data are available, that had tumbled to 1,002. Sponsored visas across the industry fell by 42 per cent last September - the steepest drop of any sector. Miners don't need to import as many staff from abroad because there are enough qualified locals available, Kent explains. "As a result, employers are able to demand previous local mining experience," he says.

Moreover, most contracts in the mining sector are short-term and for specific projects. "While mining does continue to deliver jobs and economic benefits, it does so at a declining rate than seen at the height of its boom," says Kent. Far more Britons on sponsored visas now work in financial services, healthcare, IT and retail, reflecting the fact that the Australian economy is now service driven. Such a shift comes at a cost, however, as service jobs have lower productivity growth. "Australia is losing ground to comparable countries such as the United States and further reforms are needed to boost its productivity levels," warned Culley last year. In the face of a tougher jobs market and rising house prices, some expats are naturally considering whether to move back home. The number returning from Australia to the UK hit 18,000 in 2013, the highest level since 2001.

Not all are returning because of the end of the mining boom. "It was always really hard to find work in the mines anyway and only a few did -those that happened to be in that type of geologist occupation," as one expat points out. Still others cite homesickness and even bad Australian TV for wanting to come home. Yet the signs are that life in the sun is no longer the one-way ticket it once was. "We've seen a 40 per cent increase year-on-year in inquiries for people wanting to leave Australia and return home. UK and Ireland dominates this return traffic," says Ben Tyrrell, head of relocation firm MoveHub, which carries out 200,000 house moves globally each year. "Going to Australia, we did about 8,000 moves; traffic the return way is tracking at broadly similar numbers."

Irish workers who once flocked to Perth are now looking at opportunities elsewhere. For Eimear McGlinchey Beattie, founder of the Irish Families in Perth association, the warning signs came when people started putting their cars and household items up for sale. "The dynamics have certainly changed in the last 12-15 months," she says. Many Irish people are seeking job opportunities in Canada, New Zealand and London.

"Australia and especially Western Australia gave them the promise of great job opportunities and high salaries. The slump in the mining industry has basically put an end to much of this," she says. The extent of the mining slump, and its duration, remains hotly debated. "The temptation in some quarters [is] to downplay mining's contribution to Australia's current and future growth prospects," says John Kunkel of the Minerals Council of Australia, pointing out that the industry contributed almost half of Australia's 0.9 per cent GDP growth in the quarter to September. Rio Tinto boss Sam Walsh was equally bullish at the company's last results presentation in October. "Low commodity prices make it easy for pundits to tell sorrowful stories about our sector," he said. Australia's GDP is still forecast to grow by 2.5 per cent this year, extending 24 years of growth - but this is a full percentage point below the 20-year average. The economy is in a "state of transition", according to Cully, and "must now look to other sources of growth" to replace the shortfall in mining investment.

Australia is pulling other levers to ensure its growth: a free-trade pact with China came into force in December, under which 85pc of its exports will enter the country duty- free; it has similar deals with Japan and South Korea and signed the Trans Pacific Partnership deal last week - all designed to boost its services sector. Such moves are scant consolation for those laid off in the mining sector. Chris Nellist, who last month defaulted on his mortgage, is now desperately hunting for a job in the UK. "Even if I don't find something, we are likely to have to move back eventually as the bank system here is fairly harsh and we are likely to lose the house in the next 80 days," he says. "In hindsight, moving to Australia was a huge mistake for us and has been a financial disaster."
WASHINGTON: Seven years after the United States banned waterboarding as an interrogation tactic, two Republican presidential candidates say they would revive its use.

One of them, billionaire businessman Donald Trump, would go even further.

"I would bring back waterboarding and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding," Trump said during Saturday night's Republican debate on ABC, days before New Hampshire holds its primary for the November 8 election.
Lunar new year is a time of renewal, marked by huge festivals and celebrations for the millions of people around the world who mark the annual transition.

Events are more low key in Canberra, and come from even more humble beginnings.

Admiring the Mai flower, which is said to be lucky, at the Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre are, from left, Peter Zhao,13, Hong Pham, Phuong Phan, Cindy Zhao,12 and Jade Tong,11, all of Monash. Credit:Melissa Adams

When Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre founder Quang Ba Thich arrived in Canberra more than 30 years ago, the lunar new year celebration was a small crowd of 100 people, all squeezed into a "temple", at the time a rented house.

Now, depending on the weather and day of the week, Most Venerable Thich expects more than 1000 people to come to celebrate at the Lyneham Buddhist centre.
Mathematics should be compulsory during all of high school to help address a skills gap in analytics in the marketing industry, according to Association of Data-driven Marketing and Advertising chief executive Jodie Sangster.

Ms Sangster, who also represents the Institute of Analytics Professionals of Australia (IAPA), said there has been constant feedback from members who are having problems filling jobs with people who have the right skill sets in data and marketing.

Local chief executive of LinkedIn, Cliff Rosenberg, has said that 17 of the 25 hottest skills on its social networking site were technology related in 2015. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

"The outcome of the research confirmed what we thought; that we do have a skills gap in marketing and a lot of the reason being is that we've got traditional marketing skills being taught and we've got traditional marketing skills in our marketers," Ms Sangster told Fairfax Media.

"But, really the skills required by a marketer now have changed dramatically and that new skill hasn't really been adopted and the investment being made in people to make sure they have the right skills."
When someone preaches about saving more for retirement, I usually think of my dear, dead mum, and decide to spend more instead. I buy a lotto ticket and waste hours dividing up the $4 million I have next to no chance of winning.

My mother was felled by cancer at 62, well before she got to spend her savings. Her truncated life presents a compelling argument in favour of spending now over saving for later, in case death defeats your plan for a life lived long and moneyed. There is no bankruptcy for the dead, live in the now.

Those opposed to compulsory super put too much faith in people making rational decisions about their money and their future. Credit:Josh Robenstone

Increasingly, however, I find myself agreeing with whoever is giving the warning, even if its someone whose livelihood depends on skimming a percentage of my money every year for managing it.

I start to fear an impoverished future of redeeming coupons at the supermarket, of worrying about the power bill, of never being able to follow the route Napoleon took from Paris to the gates of Moscow. (This is less of a nightmare for my husband.)
David Opat was as tough as old boots. "Just have a glass of vodka," was his prescription should you have an upset stomach. "Kills everything down there." Many a (tipsy) friend found that he was right. Having survived wartime Poland, David rejoiced in the freedom of Australian life, working hard to build up his international painting and decorating business while indulging his vivacious wife Miriam in the travel and social events they both enjoyed.

Ever the genial hosts, the couple would treat invited guests to weekends at their Portsea holiday home where David would start most days cooking up a giant frypan full of kippers. A glass of vodka, to wash it all down, was not far away.

Devoted to Miriam until the day she died in 2013, David had an earthly wisdom and tolerance that had been hard-earned  after the Germans invaded Poland in 1939, triggering World War II, David's elder sister died fighting for the Polish resistance. His parents and younger sister were eventually gassed in the Nazis' notorious portable death vans.

In 1939, at the age of 18, he was captured by the Russians and imprisoned for five years. He turned his prison experience into a positive one, regaling friends with tales of his exploits during incarceration and of the ingenuity that had been needed  making chess pieces out of stale bread, creating sewing needles out of fish bones and stealing flour from hidden caches right under the guards' noses. After the war, David returned to Poland for two years before moving to Paris where he worked for another two years.

David's father had been a painter, as his father's father had been, and David followed the tradition. He expanded his painting skills to the creative, producing theatre sets and pictures. David arrived in Melbourne by ship as a migrant in 1949, one of the classic Australian rags-to-riches stories. After working with the Rockman painting company for just three months, he launched his own firm and for the first four years worked ten hours a day, seven days a week, painting shops and houses. People were impressed by the quality of his work and as the business expanded he was able to employ staff. He also changed his birth name from Opoczynski to the simpler Opat.

With contracts rolling in and tenders for large commercial buildings being accepted, Opat Decorating became an industry leader in Australia with offices on the east coast of Australia, New Zealand and Guam. Known for excellent quality and professional craftsmanship, Opat's projects include the Melbourne Arts Centre, Naru House and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
It's an important thing to keep in mind, since the Senate inquiry on Friday heard evidence about that little kerfuffle last May in which Australian authorities gave US$32,000 cash to people smugglers to return to Indonesia. The government doesn't deny that Border Force officials made the payment, but they insist everything they did was legal (which is let's go with "dubious") while refusing to answer direct questions and bickering over whether people on the boat were left on deck overnight in pouring rain because it would make them easier to rescue if the ship sank, or left on deck overnight in pouring rain because the officials were throwing their weight around. Either way, they were left on the deck overnight in pouring rain. At least we know that. No comment

Major-General Andrew Bottrell repeatedly refused to answer any questions from Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young in said inquiry, leading an exasperated Labor senator Katy Gallagher to fume "We've got the government talking to the government, taking legal advice from the government, which then advises the government that what the government is doing is in accordance with the government policy." Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, as always, claimed "public interest immunity" in order to give no answers to anything - because ol' Duffer needs as strong a cloak of secrecy as he can get, since it's not as though he can rely upon a cloak of competence. And make no mistake: this inquiry goes to the heart of whether the government is genuinely fussed about stopping people smuggling. After all, if you want to discourage someone from a course of action, paying that someone to do that precise thing seems a somewhat counterproductive strategy. The report will come down in March, and ought to be an illuminating read about just how gosh-darn concerned the government is about Saving Lives At Sea. The turning of Turnbull

And this mess is just one of the several things that is weighing the Turnbull government down as we trudge to the next election. The problem that the PM has is that he promised an agile, consultative government that would clearly explain the need for reformist policy. At the same, he also pledged to adhere unreservedly to the existing policies of his predecessor - which is a bit of a problem, especially since those policies played an important role in his downfall. So we have the ridiculous sight of the PM committing to a $160 million plebiscite on marriage equality, despite his outspoken opposition to having such a thing - and that the vote will be non-binding, with several members of the government openly declaring that they have no intention of respecting a yes vote and will oppose marriage equality regardless in the subsequent Parliamentary vote. Oh yeah: while the plebiscite is designed to avoid a parliamentary vote, there still has to be one in order to change the law - and the issue of cost is pitting the "the government shouldn't be wasting taxpayer dollars!" conservatives against the "but I just want to ensure gay people don't get civil rights regardless!" ones. Either way, a sizeable group is going to disagree, leading some to ask whether we should maybe not bother.

Taxing times And then there's the GST, and whether or not it should be raised to 15 per cent - which is already pitting Treasurer Scott Morrison (who wants it) against the PM (who made clear on Sunday that he's hastily backing away from the idea). And this is going to be a problem, because - as m'colleague Peter Hartcher has eloquently pointed out - it gives Malcolm two choices. He can risk losing the unloseable election by embracing a GST rise and weathering the public discomfort with the idea, or go for a timid reform strategy that looks all but identical to the one Abbott was planning and give ammunition to those who are already asking "given the current raft of policies, what was the point of replacing the leader, again?" Not least to those who'd rather like the last PM back. You know, like the last PM himself. Man, it's going to be an interesting year!
Via Correio de Brasil: Virus zika esta fora de controle, alertam cientistas.[Zika virus is out of control, scientists warn] Edited excerpt from the Google translation:

In an article published in March 2002, the professors Maria da Gloria Teixeira and Mauricio Barreto, then respectively deputy and owner of the Public Health Institute of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), wrote:

Brazil had already been free of this vector (Aedes aegypti mosquito) for years. If measures had been taken at the time of its re-introduction in the country in 1976, perhaps we would not today face epidemics of such gravity. However, at that time, the dictatorial government treated the issue as secret, a matter of "national security." Since then, errors in decision-making and government action have accumulated, resulting in the growth of the spread of mosquitoes and recurrent epidemics of dengue, making it impossible for to eliminate them.

Only in 1995 did this problem receive attention reflecting its seriousness. The initiative fell to the CNS (National Health Council), which appointed a committee aimed at preparing proposals on ways to avoid more severe epidemics. This initiative resulted in the development of the Master Plan for the Eradication of Aedes aegypti (PEA), which was immediately welcomed by the then Minister of Health, Dr. Adib Jatene.

Since the beginning of the preparation of the PEA, experts involved in the process have understood that the desired solution required actions that would exceed the original chemical fight against mosquitoes, through more comprehensive proposals on determining the existence and proliferation of this vector in the cities.

In February 2016, the cities are at such high levels of Aedes aegypti mosquito infestation that it would be impossible to eradicate them completely. To complicate matters, Aedes aegypti is not only the vector of dengue virus and yellow fever, but also chikungunya and Zika viruses, recently introduced in Brazil.

"The plan [proposed in 1995] went no further because there were no resources," professor Gloria Teixeira told the Health Blog. "At that moment, 1995/1996, infestation levels of Aedes aegypti were much smaller than the current and most cities in the country were not yet infested."
Rob Shehadie, one of the creators of Here Come the Habibs, says there was never a plan to make the show about "Anglos versus Lebs". He just wanted to make a "clean family comedy" that would appeal to the same diverse audiences that attend his stand-up comedy shows. The slapstick comedy Acropolis Now was a childhood favourite of show creator Rob Shehadie. "I've seen all types of nationalities at my shows, and I've seen them all laugh," he says. "People are starved for comedy these days. We grew up in an era of Paul Hogan making fun of everybody  no one had any issues. I make fun of Lebanese, and of all other nationalities, but I don't do it in a degrading way. I touch on their childhood growing up in an ethnic family with lots of food, and that touches their emotions and they really enjoy it." As a child he watched Acropolis Now, a slapstick sitcom about a Greek family, and after a brief career as a rugby league player wrote scripts for Fat Pizza, a slapstick sitcom about all sorts of immigrant groups. Monika and Duane are a couple seen tying the knot in Hatch, Match and Dispatch. with Registrar Amanda in the background. Credit:ABC

"I remember our whole family would sit down together and watch Acropolis Now. It was a Greek show, we were of Lebanese background, but we would sit there and laugh because we could relate to it. In this day and age, people don't sit down as a family. A lot of multicultural parents don't even watch commercial television. "If this was on SBS or ABC, everyone would be embracing it. When it goes to a major network, people are quick to knock. That's our style, I guess, in Australia now: to be a nation of knockers. "People need to look at the most important thing here, which is that [co-creator] Tahir Bilgic and myself have created a lot of jobs, kept the work in Australia, and Channel Nine are supporting local talent and not buying shows from overseas. "This whingeing is just bizarre. When the Habibs comes out, a lot of these guys will be silenced." Here Come the Habibs starts on Tuesday, February 9, at 8.30pm on Channel Nine.

Wed, bed, dead Amanda Ianna, the NSW Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, has been previewing the episodes of the new ABC series Hatch, Match and Dispatch to make sure they are accurate. She has trouble retaining her objectivity. "Watching it, I've been through every different emotion," she says. "I think it's beautiful. I've been able to laugh, cry, everything. I reviewed an episode last night and I had tears running down my face." That's partly because she's seeing the lives of her colleagues on screen. During the four months the camera crew spent at the registry, Ianna's assistant Monika married her sweetheart Duane. That was filmed, and went into an episode. "There are several funerals in the show as well," Ianna says. "We lost a staff member during the filming, and there will be an episode that's dedicated to him, because his wife works here. It was a really hard time for all of us."
The 52-year-old Englishman revealed he had been turned down after approaching Australia's Got Talent's executive producer Julie Ward for a production-based role on the program.

Ian 'Dicko' Dickson created Can of Worms, won Celebrity Apprentice and has judged both Australian Idol and Australia's Got Talent.

In an interview with TV Tonight , the former record label executive bemoaned the fact he was too experienced and had too high a profile to work as a producer.

He's a judge on Australia's Got Talent, a former record label executive and a one-time Celebrity Apprentice champion, but Ian 'Dicko' Dickson isn't happy.

"I spoke to Julie and said, 'Give me a chance to work as a producer on this show!'"

Australian Idol judges Kyle Sandilands, original winner and guest judge Guy Sebastian, Marcia Hines and Ian "Dicko" Dickson.

"But she said, 'I think you're a bit too senior for that! And that's a bit of a problem because of who you are.'"

"That's a shame because I'd like to learn from the person who I regard as one of the finest producers in Australia.

Despite working as a producer in the past, including creating Can of Worms, Dickson felt his tenure as the face of television shows had pigeonholed him. He described it as a plight many men in the entertainment industry were facing.
It's the $191 billion question that bedevils Australia's military planners and diplomats.

Just how much commercial shipping trade from Australia sails through the South China Sea, where the US Navy is in a dangerous dance with China over the construction of artificial islands?

Defence Minister Marise Payne exaggerates the volume, according to former Royal Australian Navy commodore Sam Bateman, with the government's repeated claim that 60 per cent of Australia's $318 billion exports pass through these turbulent waters. It's a figure she uses to justify Australia's national interest stakes in the US-China tussle and support of the principle of freedom of navigation at sea.

"The number of ships can be a clue," said Professor Bateman, now with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at the University of Wollongong.
The prospect of a GST hike is looking more unlikely after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was not convinced the measure would deliver enough economic gain, raising the chance that the scare campaign underpinning Labor's election platform will soon be disabled.

Should Mr Turnbull rule out a GST rise it would head off a backbench revolt by government MPs who either oppose the notion of tax hikes, or fear an electoral backlash in their marginal seats.

But the move would overrule Treasurer Scott Morrison who is said to be determined to deliver signature tax reforms by raising the GST, and would leave unresolved the question of how the government intends to solve Australia's fiscal challenges.

Speaking on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday, Mr Turnbull said he must be satisfied that raising the consumption tax would be equitable, as well as drive jobs and growth.
Under siege from a rampaging Turnbull government and an exodus of members, Australia's once mighty trade unions are secretly examining radical changes including dollar-a-week memberships in a bid to survive and then regain their industrial and political clout.

In what would be an extraordinary departure from more than a century of practice, senior union figures are urging a fundamental rethink of what union membership means which could see dues slashed to as little as a dollar-a-week, as well as half-memberships at cut rates, and even individually tailored services for an increasing disaggregated and isolated workforce in which many people "have no employer" per se.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull renewed his warning to Senate cross-benchers to pass the government's Australian Building and Construction Commission bill. Credit:Andrew Meares

Exclusive collective bargaining agreements where only members benefit from any hard-won pay rises and other improvements are also being examined.

The ideas are among many canvassed in a confidential draft policy paper intended for the ACTU and obtained by Fairfax Media.
Despite splashing out half a billion dollars on property acquisitions last year, one of the nation's largest privately owned development companies, Dyldam, is claiming it is too cash-strapped to pay money to the widow of one of its four owners.

In April 2010, George Khattar was in Melbourne on business when he died from a heart attack.

Maria Fayad and her husband Sam Fayad. Credit:Facebook

At the time of his death Mr Khattar, who was 44, was a director of more than a hundred companies, many of them Dyldam-related entities worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

However, it is almost six years since her husband's death, and apart from a monthly allowance and school fees, his widow Carol Khattar and her two daughters are yet to receive their share of Mr Khattar's estate.
Home-schooled students perform "significantly better" in almost all NAPLAN tests than students in mainstream schools and they do as well as their peers in HSC English, new research from the state's exam board reveals.

A NSW Board of Studies' analysis found the average NAPLAN scores of students who were educated at home were about 70 marks higher than the NSW average, particularly in reading, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.

Home-schooled students scored about 40 marks higher in spelling and 20 in writing.

Students who were previously home-schooled but were now studying in a classroom also scored "significantly higher" in the reading and grammar and punctuation tests than the NSW average, while in HSC 2 unit English (advanced and standard), there was no statistically significant differences between students who had been home-schooled and the average results for the whole HSC cohort.
A 23-year-old man has plunged to his death off a waterfall on the Central Coast on Sunday.

The man fell roughly 10 metres from Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park, about 75 kilometres north of Sydney and 10 kilometres from Gosford, just before 5pm.

He landed on the rocks below the falls, sustaining severe injuries in what police believe was a tragic accident.

"Upon arriving at the scene, police and ambulance paramedics attended to the man, however he was pronounced dead at the scene," police said.
As Haymarket wakes up to the Year of the Monkey, the change that has crept over the inner-city suburb throughout the last few decades is developing into a brisk march.

In its north, the final notes of Elton John's last show at the Entertainment Centre rang out last December, and the precinct is now undergoing a complete facelift.

To the west, pedestrians strolling along the six-month-old Goods Line look over architect Frank Gehry's Sydney debut, the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at UTS.

Soon, light rail will stretch from Central through Chinatown to Circular Quay.
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A demolisher could move into Highgate Hill early Monday morning and destroy two homes listed on Brisbane City Council's heritage register.

One of the two homes in Highgate Hill's Jones Street is Keddington Villa, which was built in 1882 and occupied in 1883.

Local historian Peter Marquis Kyle said the history of the curious U-shaped building warranted the home's protection.

"I have lived across the road from Keddington Villa since 1983," Mr Marquis Kyle said.
Brisbane's first street art festival is now under way a week after the city's local government took a prominent street artist to court for graffiti.

Last week in a high-profile case, Brisbane street artist Anthony Lister was found guilty of five counts of wilful damage by graffiti for putting street art on five walls in the Brisbane suburbs of Fortitude Valley, Paddington and Brisbane city between 2009 and 2014.

Lincoln Savage and David Don, directors of the Brisbane Street Art Festival, with artist Joel Fergie. Credit:Glenn Hunt

This week Brisbane City Council  which has for the first time has a street art budget  is backing and approving walls for Brisbane's first street art festival.

Internationally-respected Anthony Lister, Guido van Helten and Fintan Magee are three big names in Brisbane's street art world, who have already had success overseas but there are others under the mainstream media eye.
"You make your gin to be distinctive whereas with vodka you make it to be the same as everything else so if you are interested in flavour then gin is always going to be your favourite," he says. Bob Laing, right, runs a master class at the Bass & Flinders Distillery. Credit:Eddie Jim Gregor started Four Pillars in 2012 with fellow wine industry veteran Cameron Mackenzie and brand guru Matt Jones after starting off making wine. "Over the years we had drunk a lot of gin and we thought that making it would be a bit of fun," Gregor says. Caroline Childerley writes the popular blog The Gin Queen.

The trio raised funds by "hitting up 20 mates", giving their friends a small equity position in the business and "putting in a fair bit ourselves". Gregor estimates it cost close to $1 million all up to buy a still, make bottles, get a distributor and pay for marketing and design. Bass & Flinders founders Wayne Klintworth and Bob Laing swapped retirement for gin distilling. Credit:Katherine Jamison There are people jumping on the bandwagon. It's interesting because there is no money in it. Caroline Childerley Four Pillars sold its first batch of gin in 2013 through a crowdfunding campaign on Pozible and sold out of its 450 bottles at $75 each in four days.

"It was fantastic because it gave us confidence and belief that people might be interested because we hadn't even made the gin at that stage," Gregor says. "We thought shit people might actually want this stuff." Gregor says crucial to building the business has been a "really good distributor" and a direct route to market. Four Pillars inked a distribution deal in the United States last week and exports to New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, the United Kingdom and Denmark. The business recently opened a distillery and cellar door in Healesville "to have a home and show where we are from" and now turns over more than $2 million a year.

Gregor says the one thing holding Four Pillars back is Australia's "ludicrous" excise regime which adds more than $24 to each bottle of Four Pillars gin sold. "The simple fact of the matter is it 10 times more than it would be in the United States and it is the highest in the Western world," he says. Gregor says the excise is stifling growth in gin distillers as it's difficult to make a profit and so difficult to reinvest in the business. "We would very much like to take this gin around the world," he says. "This is the advanced manufacturing that the government talks about, it is exactly what should be encouraged." Bass & Flinders

Wayne Klintworth and Bob Laing's thoughts of a quiet retirement have been side tracked after the pair founded Bass & Flinders distillery in 2009. "We both had holiday houses at Shoreham [on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula] and we were looking at what we would do after we retired," Laing says. A friend who is a master distiller in South Africa and a trip to Spain opened their eyes to the opportunities in gin. The pair spent $250,000 to set up the business and are now growing at about 50 per cent a year with a turnover of more than $600,000. "We aim at the quality end of the market, you won't see us in Dan Murphy's or Liquorland," Laing says. "We are not interested in the volume end of the market, we produce seasonal gin."

Bass & Flinders runs master classes allowing people to blend their own gins in order to raise awareness of its products and its latest release is the Angry Ant gin which features gin distilled from native botanicals and 20,000 ants. "It's incredibly hard work," Laing says. "I work a lot harder now than I did before I retired. You have to be a master of many skills." Laing says the excise paid on gin and other spirits "seems unfair" but it will not be an easy exercise for the government to reduce it in a fair way. "For a craft distiller like us price narrows the market but once people understand what you do and how you do it we can see that there is quality there," he says. The Gin Queen

Caroline Childerley writes popular blog The Gin Queen and says while Australia was traditionally a brown spirit country now "we are in the middle of a global gin boom". She says the Australian craft gin industry is still in its infancy as the laws were only changed to enable spirits to be distilled on a small scale in 1992. "There are people jumping on the bandwagon," she says. "It's interesting because there is no money in it. The excise situation at the moment means to be able to pull off what distillers like Four Pillars and Archie Rose have done you have to have some serious capital behind you." Childerley says while small Australian gin producers are competing internationally on the quality of their product the majority struggle to make a viable business out of their passion. "It's hard graft," she says. "It's not like flicking on a kettle and walking away. It's long hours and they work really, really hard so I think they need more incentive."
To be a sheep is to follow the mob but there is one animal that defied its stereotype by wandering off and living a mystery life for two years. But now, after relying on its innate GPS, the ewe has amazed us by making the 20-kilometre journey home.

Farmer Matthew Cleve owns the family property Gracedale in Darraweit Guim, west of Wallan, and when fire struck on February 9, 2014, he lost 400 sheep due to the blaze, euthanasia or from wandering off.

Yet one independent sheep made an unimaginable return, carrying 20 kilograms of wool on her back, just in time for the fire's two-year anniversary and an urgent haircut.

Mr Cleve would be familiar with Little Bo-Peep, the nursery rhyme character who lost her sheep, didn't know where to find them but left them alone so they could come home. And with a mountain more than three bags full in Baa Baa Black Sheep.
More than half the people who responded to a trade union report on insecure work say they fear losing their jobs if they speak up about pay or conditions.

Trade unions estimate hundreds of thousands of Victorians are working insecurely as businesses and employers increasingly casualise and outsource their workforce.

Ramandeep Dhaliwal, a casual worker who was a victim of sham contracting. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Almost 4 million workers nationwide, or 40 per cent, work as casuals, labour hire workers or "sham contractors".

An analysis of more than 600 responders to the report also found 86 per cent did not feel confident about their futures, half didn't have a predictable roster or felt able to ask for leave and many struggled to pay for food, rent and bills.
On Monday, a nurse will wake Anthony Virgona at 5.30am to travel to the Royal Melbourne hospital for the kidney dialysis that has kept him alive for the past three years. This time he will not be going.



Instead, he'll pack what's left of his belongings into cardboard boxes. Last to go will be the framed photos of his Mum and sister and the red-and-black Bombers memorabilia  posters, stickers, a cap, clock and blanket  scattered around the small room at the end of the corridor.



Then, some time later in the day, Mr Virgona's one remaining kidney will start to fail and his body will begin to shut down. His death might be quick, it could take weeks. The staff at Cyril Jewell House, the suburban nursing home he was moved to more than a decade ago, will do their best to keep him comfortable.



"It's not the coward's way out," Mr Virgona says, softly. "I've spoken to a lot of medical staff including psychiatrists and they all think I'm in the right frame of mind. Most have been quite moved and tell me I've been so brave."

Anthony Virgona shortly after he was married in late 1981.

Mr Virgona has multiple sclerosis. At 55, he has spent more than a third of his adult life in residential care. He can no longer walk and his organs are failing. His short-term memory is gone. A team of carers wash, dress, feed and toilet him.



Mr Virgona does not want to die the way those around him have. Mute, unable to eat or swallow. Crippled by muscle spasms. Mind and mobility lost for good. If all goes to plan, he will be dead within three weeks. He'd like it to be much sooner.

Anthony Virgona, 55, in his room at Cyril Jewell House in Keilor East. Credit:Pat Scala

Mr Virgona is telling his story because he believes people who are suffering from a degenerative condition, extreme disability or terminal illness should be able to choose when and how they die. He would prefer to take a pill and go to sleep, rather than die slowly from renal failure.
If you've ever had a question about Muslims but were afraid to ask, a Brunswick cafe owner is here to help you.

Chef Hana Assafiri is holding free fortnightly Speed Date a Muslim events on Sunday afternoons at her Moroccan Deli-cacy cafe in Lygon Street, as her own contribution to world peace.

Amina Sadikay and Hebba El Masri at the Moroccan Deli-cacy cafe, taking part in Speed Date a Muslim which is to become a regular event. Anyone can come along and ask a Muslim woman questions about their religion and culture. Credit:Penny Stephens

Rather than a traditional romantic speed date, it's a forum for non-Muslim men and women to ask Muslim women about their faith and their culture. With free coffee, tea and sweets.

"The idea is in keeping with the spirit of speed dating, the open heart and mind that's necessary to get to know another," Ms Assafiri says.
The latest Republican debate was a train wreck before it had even begun as the conservative candidates, and potential future leaders of the free world, struggled to follow a simple staging cue: when your name is called, walk out.

The GOP candidates started banking up in the wings, knocking shoulders and sharing awkward smiles as the televised debate went live on US channel ABC in the lead-up to the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday (AEST).

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made it to his podium without incident, striding onto the stage when his name was called by co-hosts Chris Muir and Martha Raddatz.

But second cab off the rank, Dr Ben Carson, missed his cue and was left standing at the edge of the stage, hands folded in front of him, waiting patiently.
suspect assisting Gendarmes with investigation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A woman went berserk on Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of French Quarter Post Office when she stabbed a man identified as Albert Cocks aka Albero/Smuth who was bleeding profusely from the wounds he received. According bystanders the suspect was a Rasta looking woman of Haitian decent who stabbed Cocks who was in front of the restaurant parking lot. Cocks is well known to almost everyone in French Quarter as he cleans fish under the tree for a living and also now working as security at Suki Supermarket. SMN News understands the woman is of unsound mind as only recently she was evicted from her home in the projects in French Quarter and her two children were taken away from her.

Captain of the Gendarmerie Emmanuel Maignon confirmed the stabbing incident. The second in command at the Gendermerie said the victim was stabbed on his hand and in his stomach while he was also hit in the head. Maignon said the victim was taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment while the suspect who remained on the scene until the Gendarmes arrived there is assisting with the ongoing investigation. The Gendarmes also managed to recover the knife the woman used to inflict the injuries on Cocks.
Amsterdam:---- Vice Chairman of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and manager of the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Tadzio Bervoets attended the Annual Dutch Postcode Lottery at the Carre National Theatre in Amsterdam where he accepted a donation on behalf of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) is a nonprofit organization created to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable management of natural resources on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. The NPL also supports the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance Save our Sharks Project.

The National Postcode Lottery supports the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and its mandate of Nature Conservation on all islands of the Dutch Caribbean. During the charity gala, the lottery proudly announced that thanks to its 2.7 million participants, who bought more than 4 million lottery tickets collectively, a total of 328 million euros will be distributed to non-governmental organizations in 2016. Keynote speaker at the event was actor and social rights activist George Clooney.

It was an honor to attend this charity event and to receive the continued support of the National Postcode Lottery in our efforts to ensure Nature Conservation not only on St. Maarten where I am the most active but on all islands of the Dutch Caribbean which we all feel so passionately about. This continued support will allow the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance to continue work to safeguard and support nature conservation organizations on all islands, organizations which are often underfunded and work very hard to protect Nature with a minimal of staff, commented Bervoets.

The pristine nature of the Dutch Caribbean contains the richest biodiversity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The diverse ecosystems are a magnet for tourism and at the same time the most important source of income for the islanders. Nature on the islands is unique and important but it is also fragile. The lack of sustainable funding, policy support and adequate spatial planning pose the most significant threats.

The Dutch Postcode Lottery has been raising funds since 1989 to support organizations working towards a fairer and greener world. Fifty percent of the lotterys annual turnover goes to charity. The lottery has steadily grown to become the biggest charity lottery in the Netherlands and supports 95 non-governmental organizations. Since its founding, the lottery has dispensed over 4.7 billion euros to its beneficiaries.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee will meet in session on February 8th and the Minister of Finance will be present.

The Central Committee meeting has been set for Monday at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is the draft National Ordinance to establish the National 2016 Budget.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com and via www.sxmparliament.org.
Dia de los Muertos in South Bend: Here's how you can celebrate

Unlike the city's Day of the Dead events in the past, this one has broader community involvement.
I continue to be aghast at our Washington legislatures ongoing machinations to repeal the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as Obamacare.

As a retired healthcare executive with a masters degree and 50 years of diverse experience in the field, I personally witnessed the arbitrary decisions and unfair behavior of the health insurance industry prior to the ACA becoming law, and have seen many of those offenses eradicated since its passage. I agree that the ACA needs to be fine-tuned through a process that any complex, comprehensive piece of legislation must undergo once its in place, but to repeal it while suggesting no viable alternative is unconscionable. It appears that the steady drumbeat of disparagement surrounding the ACA has warped public opinion, despite the significant benefits and overall cost savings that same public has gained.

More of us should be aware that much in the ACA was originally advocated by a well-known, decidedly conservative Washington think tank, the Heritage Foundation. In 1993, as an alternative to Bill Clintons universal healthcare proposal, a Republican plan was proposed that took many ideas from the Foundations, and the ACA incorporated many of those ideas, as well. Both plans include a mandate to purchase health insurance, and stipulate that it should be available at an affordable price. No mention was ever made back then that such a program could be unconstitutional.

While rhetoric from those who oppose the ACA is riddled with inaccuracies, the facts are these: individuals with pre-existing conditions are finally protected, health care costs now are no higher for women than men, seniors have access to free preventive services, Medicare beneficiaries get prescription discounts, and coverage is available for eligible young adults on their parents policy until age 26. Whats more, with upwards of 16 million Americans now gaining access to healthcare, the uninsured rate has plummeted to the lowest level ever recorded.

In just two years, the ACA has saved Medicare over $400 million, and more than 30 states have adopted the ACAs Medicaid expansion. While its true that premiums have increased for some, 7 out of 10 insured individuals have seen their premiums reduced. And while double-digit annual increases in premium costs used to be the norm, since the ACA was enacted that annual increase has been reduced to an estimated 7.5%.

Did you know that the ACA requires insurance companies to expend 85 cents of every dollar on actual health services, or else issue rebates for the difference to their subscribers? Pre-ACA, there was no such standard, so millions of dollars were used instead for excessive executive perks and lobbying.

So, with all these clearly demonstrated benefits, why do members of Congress keep trying to dispose of all the progress we have made? Heres what we can expect if the ACA is repealed: 22 million Americans would lose coverage for their healthcare, 11.4 million would lose Medicaid coverage, close to 400,000 women would lose access to cancer screenings and preventive care, and hundreds billions of dollars would be added to the federal deficit.

In this presidential election year, more and more people are engaging with the political process, but it would be a mistake to let the presidential race obscure the importance of those we elect to Congress.

Before the ACA, healthcare insurance premium rates were escalating at a fearsome rate but have now slowed to a historic low, while billions of dollars and thousands of lives have been saved through such measures as lowering error rates and re-admissions to hospitals.

Furthermore, if not for GOP opposition on the matter of finally allowing Medicare to negotiate more reasonable prices for drugs (just like other healthcare insurers can), $141 billion could be saved over the next decade. Our nations healthcare system has taken a critical step forward with the ACA  but this step must be followed by further progress.

And for that to happen, we need advocates, not opponents, of that progress.

Tanya Wagner, R.N., served as President, District XV, and member of the Nursing Practice Commission of the PA Nurses Association. She resides in Hampden Township and serves on the Executive Board of the PinnacleHealth Auxiliary.
Oak Creek to host outdoor 2022 World Cup watch party

A partnership between Morans Pub in South Milwaukee and the city of Oak Creek will offer residents food, drinks, music and games on Nov. 25.
Union Government to set up National Organic Farming Research Institute in Sikkim

Published: February 6, 2016

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has decided to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI) in Sikkim.

Decision in this regard was taken by Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh after he met Sikkim Agriculture Minister Som Nath Paudyal in New Delhi.

The NOFRI will be established by upgrading the existing Gangtok based Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Apart from this, Union Government also has assured State Government to help in sustaining the organic farming and also in marketing of the States organic products.

Background

In January 2016, Sikkim was officially declared as first fully organic state in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The state has achieved this feat by converting around 75000 hectares of land into certified organic farms by following the guidelines prescribed by National Programme for Organic Production.

For more details refer: Sikkim becomes Indias first fully Organic State

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016

Topics: Agriculture  Current Affairs 2016  Organic Farming  Sikkim

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Circuit City and Radio Shack were the big names in gadget stores of the 80s and 90s. And while they both rose to the top of the mass electronics field, neither could keep it up forever. Circuit City abruptly went bankrupt in 2008, due to the inception of the financial crisis and changing customer demands.

This past October, New York retail executive Ronny Shmoel bought Circuit City from Systemax, and named himself CEO. Now he's aiming to bring back the once super brand. According to Mashable, Shmoel believes that Circuit City has shed some of its negative image by staying out of the spotlight, and that the brand is still very recognizable to people ages 25 to 35. (He himself is "on the cusp of being a millennial" at age 38.)

Building an Online Presence

Shmoel plans to reintroduce physical Circuit City stores, but he also wants to build a significant online existence. Part of his plan to do so means changing the product line and focus. The new emphasis will be on items in gaming, wearable devices, 3D printers, and tablets, among other gadgets.

Additionally, the brick-and-mortar stores will not be the large electronics entities from the glory days  they will be much smaller to ensure they are more easily managed.

Part of Broad Push to Revitalize Retail

Shmoel also states he wants to revive retail in general. He notes that the retail we were familiar with has declined in the last five to seven years, but champions a modern retail, one "infused with the omni-channel of online."

Readers, are you excited for a new and improved Circuit City? Will you be shopping in the stores or online? Or do you think it's too little, too late? Sound off below!




Note: As with all pilot shows, information is subject to change. It is accurate at the time of posting.





Victoria Harker - Lead Actress. A private detective from New York whose father went missing. Her search brings her to Transylvania where she discovers he was on the hunt for the illusive Wolf Man. She is a strong, smart and capable woman who can see the deeper meaning hiding within each case.Marius Rieekan - Mayor in his early 30's. Wants the mysterious cases resolved and doesn't care how it's done. Assigns Lestrade to work with (and learn from) Victoria. He's a charming virtuous man but a shrewd politician when he needs to be.Godrey Lestrade - Constable Inspector of Transylvania. A non-believing drunk who doesn't buy into the rumors of the locals. He is logical and by-the-books which constantly puts him at odds with the townsfolk and Victoria. He is still new to Transylvania, having only been there for 2 months when Victoria arrives.Victor Frankenstein - Not yet a doctor. In his early 20's with lots of enthusiasm and ego which masks a hint of rage. He is responsible for the intake of bodies found in Transylvania which he uses in his research.Coriander - A resident of Transylvania who is at odds with both Marius and Lestrade. She doesn't think Lestrade will last much longer and believes that Marius is harboring her brother Cal. Fluent in Romanian. Deep down she hides a dark secret.Cal - Coriander's brother. As Victoria searches for her father she discovers Cal hidden in an alleyway with bruises all along his neck. After discovering the secret of his family, he assists Victoria with information about her father.Father Maltara - King of the Szgany and your worst nightmare. Appears to be within his 60's. He talks with the voice of a devil in languages other then English. Upon encountering Victoria he orders his followers never to harm her. While secretly fearing what he see's within Victoria.
Nazi propaganda photo depicts friendship between an "Aryan" and a black

woman. The caption states: "The result! A loss of racial pride."

Germany, prewar.  US Holocaust Memorial Museum This article first appeared on The Conversation.





The fact that we officially commemorate the Holocaust on January 27, the date of the liberation of Auschwitz, means that remembrance of Nazi crimes focuses on the systematic mass murder of Europes Jews.





The other victims of Nazi racism, including Europes Sinti and Roma are now routinely named in commemoration, but not all survivors have had equal opportunities to have their stories heard. [For more information on the Nazi persecution and slaughter of homosexuals, read American historian Gerard Koskovich's conference "From Eldorado to the Third Reich, The Life and Death of a Homosexual Culture" here -- DPN.]





One group of victims who have yet to be publicly memorialized is black Germans.





All those voices need to be heard, not only for the sake of the survivors, but because we need to see how varied the expressions of Nazi racism were if we are to understand the lessons of the Holocaust for today.





When Hitler came to power in 1933, there were understood to have been some thousands of black people living in Germanythey were never counted and estimates vary widely. At the heart of an emerging black community was a group of men from Germanys own African colonies (which were lost under the peace treaty that ended World War I ) and their German wives.





They were networked across Germany and abroad by ties of family and association and some were active in Communist and anti-racist organizations . Among the first acts of the Nazi regime was the suppression of black political activism. There were also 600 to 800 children fathered by French colonial soldiersmany, though not all, Africanwhen the French army occupied the Rhineland as part of the peace settlement after 1919. French troops were withdrawn in 1930 and the Rhineland was demilitarized until Hitler stationed German units there in 1936.





Denial of Rights and Work





The 1935 Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their German citizenship and prohibited them from marrying or having sexual relations with people of German blood.





A subsequent ruling confirmed that black people (like gypsies) were to be regarded as being of alien blood and subject to the Nuremberg principles. Very few people of African descent had German citizenship, even if they were born in Germany, but this became irreversible when they were given passports that designated them as stateless Negroes.





In 1941, black children were officially excluded from public schools, but most of them had suffered racial abuse in their classrooms much earlier. Some were forced out of school and none were permitted to go on to university or professional training. Published interviews and memoirs by both men and women , unpublished testimony and postwar compensation claims testify to these and other shared experiences.





Employment prospects that were already poor before 1933 got worse afterward. Unable to find regular work, some were drafted for forced labor as foreign workers during World War II. Films and stage shows making propaganda for the return of Germanys African colonies became one of the few sources of income, especially after black people were banned from other kinds of public performance in 1939.





When SS leader Heinrich Himmler undertook a survey of all black people in Germany and occupied Europe in 1942, he was probably contemplating a round-up of some kind. But there was no mass internment.





Research in camp records and survivor testimony has so far come up with around 20 black Germans who spent time in concentration camps and prisonsand at least one who was a euthanasia victim. The one case we have of a black person being sent to a concentration camp explicitly for being a Mischling (mulatto) Gert Schramm , interned in Buchenwald aged 15comes from 1944.





Instead, the process that ended with incarceration usually began with a charge of deviant or antisocial behavior. Being black made people visible to the police, and it became a reason not to release them once they were in custody.





In this respect, we can see black people as victims not of a peculiarly Nazi racism, but of an intensified version of the kinds of everyday racism that persist today.





Sterilization: An Assault on Families





It was the Nazi fear of racial pollution that led to the most common trauma suffered by black Germans: the breakup of families. Mixed couples were harassed into separating. When others applied for marriage licenses, or when a woman was known to be pregnant or had a baby, the black partner became a target for involuntary sterilization.





In a secret action in 1937, some 400 of the Rhineland children were forcibly sterilized . Other black Germans went into hiding or fled the country to escape sterilization, while news of friends and relatives who had not escaped intensified the fear that dominated peoples lives.





The black German community was new in 1933; in most families the first generation born in Germany was just coming of age. In that respect it was similar to the communities in France and Britain that were forming around families founded by men from the colonies.





Nazi persecution broke those families and the ties of community. One legacy of that was a long silence about the human face of Germanys colonial history: the possibility that black and white Germans could share a social and cultural space.





That silence helps to explain Germans mixed responses to todays refugee crisis . The welcome offered by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and many ordinary Germans has given voice to the liberal humanitarianism that was always present in German society and was reinforced by the lessons of the Holocaust.





The reaction against refugees reveals the other side of the coin: Germans who fear immigration are not alone in Europe. But their anxieties draw on a vision that has remained very powerful in German society since 1945: the idea that however deserving they are, people who are not white cannot be German.









Related articles:
A llegations of rapes and sexual assaults linked to online dating have soared sixfold in five years, figures from the National Crime Agency (NCA) show.

The NCAs Serious Crime Analysis Section said in 2014, 184 people reported being raped by someone they had met on a dating app or website - up from 33 in 2009.

A total of 85 per cent of the victims are women, with 42 per cent between the ages of 20 and 29 years old.

The data was published in a NCA report published today, titled Emerging new threat in online dating: Initial trends in internet dating-initiated serious sexual assaults.

The report highlights the growing problem of stranger rape and the NCA has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of online dating.

Sean Sutton, head of the NCAs Serious Crime Analysis Section told the Press Association that rapes are significantly under-reported and the number of people being attacked could actually be 10 times hire.

He said part of the new campaign was to encourage people to come forward, with an emphasis placed on the police taking reporting seriously and dealing with them sympathetically.

Asked what was fuelling the rise in sexual assaults linked to online dating, Mr Sutton said developing a pseudo-closeness before meeting could be to blame.

He told Press Association: This pseudo-closeness can happen very, very quickly, and we are saying you could be talking to a 14-year-old boy or a 60-year-old woman.

Come back a step and take it on a face to face basis when you meet in public for the first time.

More than nine million Britons have signed up to dating websites, but the NCA stressed while it is not claiming they are inherently dangerous, users should take better safety precautions.

George Kidd, chief executive of the Online Dating Association (ODA), said: Sexual assault or abuse is never acceptable. Even one incident of harm is one too many.

The NCA is right to look at what happens online and the ODA are already working with them in getting the right messages out to people.
A frustrated Met police officer has live-tweeted their six-hour battle to find an available mental health bed in London for a man who was a danger to himself.

In the extraordinary sequence of messages, the unidentified officer said they were "ringing every mental health unit in Greater London" but were struggling to get the man admitted as no-one seems interested in helping.

They took to twitter on Saturday to hit out at mental health cuts and expose the difficulty faced by police in getting proper care for patients, due to a scarcity of beds in London.

The sergeant, tweeting from the official account for Lewisham police (@MPSLewisham), said officers had sectioned the man under the Mental Health Act after finding him having a crisis in the street.

Officers have sectioned a male as he is a danger to himself & there are no beds at any secure unit in South East London, enq cont.... #SgtD  Lewisham MPS (@MPSLewisham) February 6, 2016

They said: "Officers have sectioned a male as he is a danger to himself and there are no beds at any secure unit in south-east London.

No space anywhere in the south. No-one seems interested in helping, officers and I are ringing every mental health unit in Greater London.

They continued to tweet over the course of the afternoon and evening, saying they were being rebuffed by a number of facilities.

We have a direct number for the south-east bed manager but on this occasion not very helpful, they wrote.

A unit remaining nameless in north London refused as the subject is too far away.

Still trying, I got numbers of every unit. A unit remaining nameless in https://t.co/9IjgJoM5v8 refused as the subject is too far away #SgtD  Lewisham MPS (@MPSLewisham) February 6, 2016

The messages were accompanied with the hashtag #CutshaveConsequences.

After more than three hours, the officer said they had at long last found somewhere other than a police station to take the man, so he could receive the proper care.

However, they then faced a wait of several more hours outside the facility before the man could be admitted.

Still no happy ending in sight, officers are sat with the subject outside the unit and wont be admitted till after 9pm, they wrote.

It was not until 9.45pm, apparently more than six hours later, that officers and London Ambulance Service staff were able to leave after the man was admitted.

The sergeant said it was "totally unacceptable" that the man had to wait six hours, before eventually posting: "Finally the subject has been admitted and all officers and @Ldn_Ambulance staff are leaving."
A teenager has been charged with murder after a man was stabbed at a park in east London.

The 27-year-old victim, whose identity has not been released by police at the request of his family, was found wounded in Plaistow Park on Friday, January 29.

He died in hospital three days later and a post-mortem examination gave a cause of death as a stab wounded to the abdomen.

Detectives investigating the death today charged 18-year-old Kaleb Amponsah, of Roberston Road, E16, with murder.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Monday.

Two 16-year-old boys previously arrested in connection with the death have been bailed until a date in April, pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8345 3775 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
T he union behind a planned junior doctors strike is behaving in a totally irresponsible way, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt alleged today.

Thousands of medical professionals are set to stage a 24-hour walk-out on Wednesday - when only emergency care will be provided - as part of a bitter dispute with the Government over new contracts.

Ministers have said the move will enable them to deliver on a commitment to a seven-day NHS. But junior doctors have stressed they already work long hours, including on evenings and weekends, and argue the new contract will worsen conditions for staff and increase risks for patients.

Speaking on BBC1s Andrew Marr show on Sunday morning, Mr Hunt acknowledged that work was needed to improve morale but claimed the BMA's actions over the contract dispute had made medics feel "devalued".

He accused the medics union the British Medical Association of behaving in a "totally irresponsible way" and "spreading misinformation" about the proposed deal.

Heartfelt: Vanessa Redgrave addresses a rally of junior doctors in London on Saturday / Dominic Lipinski/PA

He said: "What we will end up with is a contract that is better for patients but also better for doctors."

But confronted with quotes from junior doctors raising issues about low morale and potentially unsafe working conditions, Mr Hunt acknowledged there was anger within the workforce.

Contract row: Jeremy Hunt appeared on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday / Jeff Overs/BBC

"Quite outside the contract, we need to do a number of things to improve the morale of junior doctors. I think there is a lot we can do in respect of the training.

"But what I would say is one of the reasons for that anger - and there is anger there - is because they were told by the BMA that their pay was going to be cut. It isn't.

He added: "And if you are told by your union that the Health Secretary wants to do these awful things, of course you feel devalued.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chairman, said no doctor wants to take industrial action and stressed their door was also open to talks.

He went on: "Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract. If the Government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it.

"Rather than addressing these issues, Jeremy Hunt is instead ploughing ahead with proposals that are unfair and could see many junior doctors voting with their feet.

Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said Mr Hunt was behaving like a recruiting sergeant for Australian hospitals and called for a negotiated solution.

She told Sky News's Murnaghan programme: "I can understand the anger and frustration of the junior doctors in this whole dispute and I think they feel as if they have got no other option about getting their point across. I just think that the way the health secretary has behaved in all of this, it's been a sort of game of brinkmanship and that is no way to conduct negotiations or to run the NHS.

"He has to stop behaving like a recruiting sergeant for Australian hospitals and start behaving like the secretary of state for our NHS."

Additional reporting by PA
A commuter has told how he faced a year of hell after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Waterloo station.

Mark Pearson, 51, crossed paths momentarily with the alleged victim in the busy London station during rush hour in December 2014 and was later singled out as the perpetrator despite having no physical contact with the woman.

CCTV images obtained by the Mail on Sunday show Mr Pearson walking through the station with a newspaper in one hand, and his other placed on the strap of his bag.

The alleged victim, who is in her 60s, went to the police after saying she was sexually assaulted for two or three seconds but was unable to pick out her alleged attacker from an identity parade.

Mr Pearson, an artist, said he was singled out by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) despite doing nothing wrong and there being no witnesses or forensic evidence.

He was charged with sexual assault by penetration and stood trial at Blackfriars Crown Court last week, where it took a jury just 90 minutes to find him not guilty.

Mr Pearson told the Mail on Sunday: One of the many frightening aspects is that this could have happened to anyone.

I was just one of those commuters  in the wrong place at one moment in time.

For me, half a second turned into a year of hell. I feel I have undergone a form of mental torture sanctioned by the state.

He said despite doing nothing wrong, he feared he may end up being sent to prison.

He told the newspaper: It is horrible and frightening to contemplate going to prison for a crime you havent committed. Particularly a sex crime.

The artist said the CPS did not use common sense when deciding to pursue the case against him and branded the decision bizarre.

A CPS spokesman said: There was sufficient evidence for this case to proceed to court and progress to trial.

We respect the decision of the jury.
A double-decker bus was blown up in central London today as part of a stunt for a new Hollywood blockbuster.

Emergency services took to Twitter to reassure Londoners and tourists that the explosion on Lambeth Bridge on Sunday morning was set up for filming and was not a threat to the capital.

The Metropolitan Police Services Marine Policing Unit (@MPSonthewater) posted: Dont be concerned if you hear or see explosions on Lambeth Bridge today, filming is taking place including loud special effects.

And Lambeth firefighters (@LambethFire) said they were on standby near the bridge in case they were required.

While signs were placed up near the bridge ahead of the filming, some social media users were left feeling uneasy after hearing the explosion.

Author Sophie Kinsella said: Hey film types next time you blow up a bus on Lambeth Bridge maybe tell us first so children in park arent freaked?

Lowri Peploe-Williams tweeted: Just watched a bus blow up on Lambeth bridge to find out its for a film.

Film set: The bus on Lambeth Bridge / Steve Parsons/PA Wire

The explosion was filmed for part of The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan, which is set to be released later this year.

Just another day on the River... pic.twitter.com/Ts3bojblmk  LAMBETH FIRE (@FireLambeth) February 7, 2016

Ahead of the stunt, the films production company posted on Twitter to say the explosion was controlled and operated by the special effects them.

The statement added: Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of the people in the area.
P rince George is obsessed with airplanes and wants to become an air cadet, his mother the Duchess of Cambridge said today.

Kate was speaking as she took part in a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the RAFs Air Training Corps.

The Duchess, on her first engagement as the corps first female honorary commandant, told cadet Lucinda Conder, 19, that she had shown George, who is two and a half, pictures of Spitfires after a royal engagement.

He is now obsessed with the air cadets and wants to join, she told Ms Conder, from Hammersmith in west London, who was the top female cadet of 2015. We are going to have to push that one when he gets to age 12.

Ms Conder, who is in her second year of studying medicine at UCL and wants to join the RAF as a medical officer, was the last cadet to wear the Dacre brooch which the duchess was wearing today.

It is quite an honour - I was the last cadet to wear it, and now she is wearing it. It is the best accessory.

The Duchess of Cambridge is the first female Honorary Air Commandant since the founding of the Air Training Corps.

She took over from the Duke of Edinburgh, who held the position for more than 60 years.

She was joined at the service at St Clement Danes, the RAF church in the Strand, by the Commandant of the ATC, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, and the organisation's ambassador Carol Vorderman, who was wearing RAF uniform in her position as an Honorary Group Captain.

Smiling: Kate joined members of the Air Cadets to celebrate the 75th anniversary / EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

In a message in the order of service the Duchess said she was proud to be associated with the cadets.

"The Air Cadets bring genuine benefit to our young people and indeed wider society," she said.

The Duchess wore an air force blue Alexander McQueen coat with the diamond and ruby Dacre brooch.

The brooch was given to the best female cadet from when they were first admitted in 1982 until last year, when it was agreed that they should receive a sword like the boys. Her hat was by Lock & Co.

Carol Vorderman, who is a qualified pilot, said she had been fascinated by the RAF ever since she was at Cambridge University, when she was not allowed to join the air squadron because they did not admit women.

"I was not happy at the time, as you might imagine," she said.

She said that the duchess was an ideal figurehead for the cadets.

"Her husband is a pilot. Her brother-in-law is a pilot. Her father-in-law is a pilot. Her mum used to work in an airline. She obviously has a great appreciation of the military and enthusiasm for youth."
N orth Koreas launch of a long-range rocket could leave the nation facing further sanctions, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said as he summoned Pyongyang's ambassador in London for a dressing down.

It comes as the UN Security Council holds an emergency meeting over the firing, which critics have suggested was a ballistic missile test.

The Foreign Secretary, who was warned that North Korea's actions present a "threat to regional and international security", said economic sanctions would require the agreement of the international group.

Setting out the UK's response, Mr Hammond said: "We will work with other partners, we have already strongly condemned North Korea's actions, we will be taking appropriate bilateral steps - summoning the North Korean ambassador as we always do when they carry out one of these tests.

"But we will be working with other partners, particularly the US, Japan, South Korea, in the United Nations, to take additional steps, additional measures against North Korea, stepping up the pressure on that country."

He added: "We are all focused on looking at additional economic sanctions which could be applied against North Korea."

Mr Hammond said the latest test did not mark a change in approach from North Korea, but was a continuation of "destabilising" behaviour.

North Korea under leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse its government.

Four weeks ago the country claimed to have held its fourth nuclear test, which also violates UN resolutions.

Additional reporting by PA
Mumbai: Actor Aditya Roy Kapur will start shooting for his next film 'Ok Janu', co-starring Shraddha Kapoor, next month. The 30-year-old actor, who is currently busy promoting his upcoming release 'Fitoor', is thrilled about the project which reunites him with his 'Aashiqui 2' co-star.

A remake of the Tamil hit OK Kanmani, the movie will be directed by Shaad Ali. I will start working on OK Janu next. Shaad Ali is directing the film and we will begin the shoot in March. I am working with Shraddha again and very thrilled about the project, Aditya told PTI. The film revolves around the lives of two young lovers and deals with the issues like live-in relationships.

Mani Ratnam helmed the original, starring Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menon. Aditya, who was last seen in 2014 film 'Daawat-e-Ishq', says he wants to do more films. I am not happy about my career going slow. I want to do more film. I am not laid back or taking my time. There has been a long gap between my previous film and 'Fitoor' this is really not the best thing. I want to do more films. At least two films a year. Not because that is important for me, but because I am the happiest when I am on a set, he said.
R escue workers have pulled more survivors from the rubble of a tower block which collapsed during the earthquake that hit Taiwan.

The 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck before dawn on Saturday, killing at least 26 people.

The government in Tainan  the worst hit city  said more than 170 people had so far been rescued from the 17-storey apartment block which folded like an accordion.

A total of 91 people rescued remain in hospital.

Tainan mayor Lai Ching-te said authorities estimated that 124 people were still trapped, many at the bottom of the wreckage.

Collapsed: Rescue workers recover bodies from the building which "folded like an accordion" / SAM YEHSAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images

He said rescuers were able to reach those who were trapped by using information about possible locations of those still inside from residents who escaped.

The collapse of the high-rise building, which was built in 1989, has raised questions about the construction of the apartment block.

Tainan's government said the building had not been listed as a dangerous structure but Taiwan's interior minister, Chen Wei-zen, said an investigation would examine whether the developer had cut corners.

Among those to be pulled from the rubble was Huang Guang-wei, who lived on the eighth floor. He was rescued on Sunday morning from a different section of the building to where he lived.

Rescuers said they could see Huang through a 10cm crack and it took almost eight hours to rescue him.

The city government said that 24 of those confirmed dead were from the building collapse.

Thousands of rescuers worked on different levels of the folded building on Sunday, with steel pillars supporting the remainder of the structure.

The quake came two days before the start of Lunar New Year celebrations that mark the most important family holiday in the Chinese calendar.

Additional reporting by agencies.
A cting veterans and rising stars were out in force at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

The great and the good of the film world gathered at Television Centre in White City for a ceremony hosted by comedian Simon Amstell on Sunday night.

Stars including Tuppence Middleton, Matthew Perry, Stanley Tucci and Vanessa Redgrave took to the stage to present awards to the likes of Maggie Smith and Idris Elba.

This years contenders battled it out in categories including Best Film, which went to Best Film and The Editor's Award, won by 45 Years.

Check out all the action as it happened at the ceremony.

Maggie Smith, Charlotte Rampling, Emily Blunt and Saoirse Ronan will be competed for Best Actress, which was picked up by Smith while Idris Elba beat Michael Fassbender and Tom Courtenary to win Best Actor.

Other categories included Blockbuster of the Year, Best Screenplay and Rising Star.

ES Film Awards Best Film nominees

Established back in 1973, the awards have been re-launched this year after a three year break.

Sarah Sands, editor of the London Evening Standard, said: Were delighted to be relaunching the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

"Britain has always been, and continues to be, the bedrock of the global film industry and this paper is immensely proud to support it.

The talent in this years shortlist is exceptional and we are pleased to be shining a light on Britains outstanding creativity by celebrating the British film industry at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.
Mumbai: Filmmaker Karan Johar says Bollywood is self-sufficient and is the only film industry that has not needed Hollywood backing. The 43-year-old 'Student of the Year,' director said he feels proud that Indian actors and actresses are able to make a mark in Hollywood. I do not think, they (Hollywood stars) could do very much in our cinema. I am proud that there are more eyeballs to Indian actors and actress in Hollywood. This makes me feel proud of their achievements, Johar said in response to a question on the success of Priyanka Chopra in the American film industry.

The filmmaker was scheduled to deliver keynote address on The # (Hashtag) Democracy at the annual Indian Conference 2016 of the Harvard University. He instead opted to address Indian students at a jam-packed auditorium at the Harvard Kennedy School on the Indian film industry. India is one of the leading film making nations of the world. It is the only kind of film industry of the world that has never needed any kind of Hollywood money or from the outside. We are self-sufficient. We have a great domestic film economy. We stand tall.

They (Hollywood) came to India. All of them, Fox, Disney and when they came to India. I met them and told them things work differently in Bollywood. We are a proud film making nation, he said. The producer-director said, Bollywood sell dreams like no one does, but agreed that the Indian film industry does not acknowledge the writers. The most important thing to do in the film fraternity is to empower our writers. We do not empower our writers. We have the technology; we do not have the writing talent, because we do not empower our writers.

We need to pay them much more. We need to give them that sense of power, entitlement. It becomes all about movie star in our country and that is not the right way forward. Calling the hierarchy of Bollywood inaccurate, Johar said writer and director should come before the popular movie stars. If we want our cinema to progress, we have to empower the writer, then the director and then the movie star in that order. We do it all wrong. Our food chain is all-wrong. And thats why our films suffer. When our focus becomes the movie star, our attempts fail. We need to go beyond that and push behind the tropes.

Replying to a query on why Bollywood movies are dominated by Hindu characters and have very less of Muslim leads, the filmmaker said his upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has a Muslim female lead. I am going to reveal something to you today about my next film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil the name of the hero is Aayan he is Hindu in the film and she is Alizeh. She is Muslim in the film and there is no conflict in the love story.
Actress Katrina Kaif today refused to join the league of those colleagues of hers who feel there is rising intolerance in the country.

New Delhi: Actress Katrina Kaif today refused to join the league of those colleagues of hers who feel there is rising intolerance in the country, saying India is very tolerant and she wants to live here all her life.

Many top names like Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have in the past expressed their concern over the incidents of "growing intolerance" though others such as Anupam Kher and Madhur Bhandarkar have openly shunned the debate.

"I'm not completely aware of the intolerance debate but I feel India is a very tolerant and a special place," Katrina told a news channel while promoting her upcoming romance movie 'Fitoor'.

"When I came to India, I felt I came back home. The warmth here can't be experienced anywhere else. Want to live here all my life," she said.

The 32-year-old 'Bang Bang!' star also spoke about her former boyfriend, superstar Salman Khan, who launched her in the industry.
The actress Kaif is a frequent visitor to the dargah, and Arshad Faridi, a descendent of Salim Chishti, said that it was her sixth trip to the shrine.

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif today visited the holy shrine of Salim Chishti in Fatehpur Sikri to pray for the success of her upcoming film 'Fitoor' and seek blessings.

The actress, clad in a white salwar-kurta, made a flower and chaddar offering at the dargah, near here.

Kaif, 32, is a frequent visitor to the dargah, and Arshad Faridi, a descendent of Salim Chishti, said that it was her sixth trip to the shrine.

Earlier, the actress refused to join the league of those colleagues of hers who feel there is rising intolerance in the country, saying India is very tolerant and she wants to live here all her life.

The film is all set to hit the theatres on February 12, 2016.
If there is a single person in Nebraska who believes our property tax is set at the appropriate level, please raise your hand.

Seeing none, I conclude; we have a problem!

If there is a single person in Nebraska who thinks this hasnt been a problem for the past 30 years, raise your hand.

Seeing none, I conclude; we have a problem with the State Legislature.

I am disappointed with the actions of Governor Ricketts who ran for office promising to bring sound business practices to state government. He also has repeated almost daily the number one concern of citizens of our great state is high property taxes.

I will acknowledge Ricketts has brought some accountability measures to state agencies and I believe he will continue to expand on those principles. Most folks believe we need more accountability of the way the state spends our money.

But his solutions to the property tax issue are mere Band-Aids on a 30-year open wound.

Back in 1987, Nebraska, realizing it had inequities in our tax policy, commissioned an exhaustive study, referred to as the Syracuse Study. In 2013, another committee was formed to look at much the same thing. In fact, this new study said of the 1987 study, The main focus of the Syracuse study was Nebraskas higher than average use of property tax in its tax system. Syracuse authors recommended reducing the role of property taxes in financing government services. The main policy option they identified was an increase in state aid to local governments. Even the 1987 Syracuse study recommended that an increase in aid and state sales or income tax revenue sharing be implemented.

Now, 29 years after that 1987 Syracuse conclusion, we find ourselves struggling with the same problem. Why? Is it the lack of will? I dont think so; most senators want to address the problem. Is it a lack of courage? Yes, it is. Most senators do not want to go through the lengthy and painful process of updating our 1960s tax code in Nebraska.

Over the last 50 years, we have done what governments do; we have succumbed to special interests and over time have written so many exemptions into our tax code that to try and untangle the mess we made would have hundreds of businesses, groups and individuals screaming, Dont gore my ox! Tax everyone but me!

So what are we about to do? Exactly what we shouldnt do; Governor Ricketts and the Senators are going to put another Band-Aid on the wound, tell us to take two aspirins and say, come back and see me in 20 years!

Listen folks, you and I know, the governor and the legislature knows we are going to have to open up Nebraskas tax codes, at least the three major tax codes  property, sales and income  and equalize this tax base the right way.

In 2013, then Governor Dave Heineman tried to do exactly that. In a bold move he suggested we do away with most of the sales tax exemptions and eliminate Nebraska Income Tax. I supported that concept, not in its entirety, but I applauded Heineman for being courageous enough to float such an idea. He said at the time, It has been nearly five decades since Nebraska had a serious debate about its overall tax system. He was right!

But just 30 days later, after being pummeled by dozens and dozens of special interest groups, Heineman came out and said, Big business with their highly paid lobbyists are trying to protect their special interest exemptions. I understand that. In the end, the lobbyists won, and we were back to Band-Aid tax policy.

Only one good thing came out of Heinemans bold move, and that was the 2013 Nebraska funded Tax Modernization Committee. They too did an exhaustive study. Want to know what they found out? You already know that answer, basically the same thing the 1987 Syracuse study found out.

Nebraskas reliance on property tax to fund the majority of local governments like cities, counties and independent school districts is too high and should be offset with additional aid from the state coffers. Everyone knows this, but our current leaders are reluctant to fix it.

Two things must happen to get us on the right path. Fifty years of special tax exemptions must be scrutinized one by one and most of them eliminated, and the state must step up and share the additional revenues with the local governmental bodies, like cities, counties and schools, relieving most of their dependence on property taxes once and for all. And two, the Legislature must have the willpower to not fold under the pressure of the special interest groups and start to screw it up all over again.

Governor Ricketts, lead this effort to reform Nebraskas tax code and not merely put another Band-Aid on the wound. Be bold and come out with meaningful and long-lasting solutions to a decades-old problem and give the citizens of Nebraska the property tax relief you campaigned on. Its time.

If our Star-Herald readers have additional solutions to the property tax problem, I want to know. Please, lets put all our ideas together and send them to Lincoln.
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City of Toronto and the Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation on Saturday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on common interests in the creative screen industries, including studio production, post-production, visual effects and interactive/digital media.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) highlighted their collaboration to help Indian filmmakers bring their work to international film festivals.

These new partnerships will enhance the relationship between Ontario and Indias film industries and pave the way for more collaboration between producers, directors and artists from both regions.

Filmmaker and chairperson, MAMI, Kiran Rao said, The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the worlds most dynamic and prestigious film festivals. I had the good fortune to have my film Dhobi Ghat premiere there and it was a wonderful experience for me. TIFF has always been generous to MAMI and we are happy to be growing our association with them. We hope to bring some of the expertise and excellence of TIFF to the Jio MAMI.

Ranveer Singh, who was also present at the event said, Toronto was a memorable experience  one of my debut awards and my first live performances in front of around 50,000 people. It was an overwhelming experience to see the kind of love that the Indian diaspora has for our films. I am a proud member of the Hindi film fraternity and I would love one of my films to open at TIFF. We are all lovers of films and I am happy that this association is happening. It will ensure positive growth for all around.
When people think of retirement savings, they dont think about their company health insurance plan. Maybe they should.

For some people  but not others  a buck placed in a health savings account will produce more bang at retirement than money in an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. That can be true even when the employer matches your 401(k) contributions.

So says Greg Geisler, associate professor of accounting at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Hes done the math on HSAs, and the results often surprise people.

They say, Gee, these things are way better than any other kind of retirement account, says Geisler. Again, thats for some people.

Credit the lovely tax treatment given HSAs, Geisler says. Money isnt taxed on the way in, or the way out, as long as its used for medical expenses. That gives it a leg up on retirement savings plans.

Thats the good part. Heres the bad: To open an HSA, you have to have a high-deductible health insurance plan, and thats certainly not for everybody. The deductible must be at least $1,300 for an individual and $2,600 per family. Many companies have even higher deductibles.

Out-of-pocket maximums  the most a family must pay for care in a year  can be gigantic. The legal limit is $6,500 for an individual and $13,100 for a family.

So, high-deductible plans with HSAs are best for people who stay healthy, and people who could pay the maximum out-of-pocket if hit by a truck. For those who stay healthy, the money in an HSA stays put and grows until retirement. Sick people spend it to pay those big deductibles.

If youre running to the doctor frequently, better pick a lower-deductible plan, even though youll pay a higher monthly premium. Ditto if youre living paycheck to paycheck and cant afford to fund a health savings account.

HSAs have a particularly sweet tax treatment. Not only do savers avoid income taxes on contributions, they also avoid the 7.6 percent Medicare and Social Security payroll tax.

Savers who use 401(k)s skip only income taxes as the money goes in. At retirement, 401(k) savers pay income taxes on the money they withdraw.

HSA savers will pay taxes if they use the money for anything besides health care, plus a 20 percent penalty if theyre under age 65. But they owe the government nothing on money used for medical stuff.

You will probably need lots of money for medicine when retired. Fidelity Investments estimates that a retired couple will spend $245,000 on Medicare premiums and things Medicare doesnt cover before they die.

You can use HSA money to pay the premiums on Medicare hospital, doctor and drug coverage. You can use it for deductibles and other expenses that Medicare doesnt cover, and for long-term care insurance, all without paying taxes. But you cant use an HSA to pay for private Medigap insurance, without paying taxes on the money.

Savers in a traditional IRA may or may not get to deduct their contributions going in, but theyll pay taxes when they withdraw the money at retirement. Roth IRA savers pay taxes on the way in, but withdrawals at retirement are tax-free.

The free-in, free-out benefit gives HSAs the edge in most cases, says Geisler. In fact, it often holds up even considering that employers contribute to workers 401(k) plans. Often, but not always.

It works best for workers in higher tax brackets and for workers with stingy bosses who contribute little to worker 401(k) accounts. (See accompanying fact box.)

Sometimes, the best strategy involves putting enough money in a 401(k) to get the complete company match, then pushing other savings toward the HSA, says Geisler.

To work out the numbers, Geisler had to make certain assumptions, and those wont fit all savers. He assumed that the money stayed in the HSA until retirement, instead of being spent on illness.

He also assumed that the HSA saver got the same return on investment as in a 401(k) or IRA. Thats not always possible. Some companies offer investment options for an HSA that are similar to a 401(k). But others dont.

Lots of times, its a savings account with a very low rate of interest, says Geisler.

Contribution limits are lower for HSAs than with retirement plans. The HSA limit is $3,350 for an employee-only plan and $6,750 for a family. People over 55 can save an extra $1,000.

People with IRAs and 401(k)s can pull money out without a penalty when they turn 59 and a half, although they still must pay taxes. The penalty-free age for nonmedical expenses is 65 for HSAs. Theres never a penalty for medical expenses.

HSAs are different from flexible spending accounts, which are tax-free accounts offered through employers to fund medical, child care and other expenses. For one thing, money in an HSA can be carried over from year to year without penalty or expiration.

Of course, people who get no health coverage at work can buy a high-deductible health plan and open their own HSA.
Americans are in no mood to accept happy talk.

Most of them have become deeply distrustful  distrustful of government, distrustful of financial companies, distrustful of employers and distrustful of most authority that has derived power in the past by virtue of being big or having elite positions.

If you want an explanation for Donald Trump, this is it, said Richard Edelman, president of the Edelman public relations firm that has been surveying trust levels for about two decades.

Edelman is alarmed by the recent erosion of trust he uncovered in the U.S. and around the world.

This is huge, with implications far beyond politics, he told hundreds of business executives at Chicagos Executive Club recently. You might have little authority; youve lost your influence.

Distrust is profound  infecting the entire globe.

Edelmans findings are not surprising. After all, people discovered in the financial crisis that every major institution failed them and put the world in danger of a global depression. Congress, President George W. Bushs administration, and the Federal Reserve failed to police financial institutions despite loads of warnings from consumer groups. Wall Street went wild turning mortgages, and even imaginary pieces of mortgages, into securities and made a fortune selling them around the world to large institutions that should have been doing their homework. As the poison infected the worlds financial system, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke assured Americans that the problem was contained and soon afterward begged for an emergency $700 billion bank bailout.

Now most people are skeptical that they will ever share in the wealth held by what Edelman calls the elite. Among 85 percent of the population, trust levels have not budged since the Great Recession, and there is now a great divide in the perceptions of the masses and the people with the highest 25 percent of incomes.

In the past, Edelman found that people did not resent the wealthy and powerful because they assumed that if they worked hard, they would ultimately share in the wealth in the future. Now that belief has melted away. Besides income inequality, Edelman has found inequality of trust. Yet, he warns, elites are still convinced the masses will partake in their success and follow their lead, while the masses no longer believe in traditional authority.

There is a grand illusion at play, said Edelman. Theres a lingering notion that elites continue to lead and the masses will follow. This historic model of influence was predicated on the belief that elites have access to superior information and their interests are interconnected with those of the broader public.

Hes warning business and government leaders that the trust of the mass population can no longer be taken for granted. After the revelations of greed and misbehavior people have seen the last few years, any continuation of the grand illusion is dangerous.

Why should you care? he asked business leaders. Because if you arent trusted, you cant sell products, hire people or attract or keep investors.

Economists have been troubled throughout the recovery that even though incomes were slowly rising and households should have more pocket money now that gas prices are low, spending hasnt followed the expected trend. Consumers are increasing their saving and being careful about spending  perhaps the behavior of people who feel like they cant trust their jobs, government or business the way they once did.

Edelman told business leaders theyve been hiding the last few years, as they have hacked away jobs. Now, you have to lead and talk with employees.

There is a fear of innovation because people are afraid of job loss, he said. So employees will fight innovation and put up roadblocks. You have to reassure them and then you can sell products.

Have very frequent talks with employees because they are your best allies, he said, drawing a comparison to families: When you dont talk to your kids, you have a breakdown in the family.

He warned CEOs that philanthropy alone is inadequate in these times for building goodwill.

He lauded Starbucks Howard Schultz as an example of the new leadership  a person who led a teen employment effort. It was an extension of values. People want CEOs to be trustworthy, competent, ethical and transparent. He praised Allstates Tom Wilson, for efforts to fight violence, and Citadels Ken Griffin, for early childhood development.

In its global survey on trust, Edelman conducted 20-minute online interviews with 33,000 people.

Gail MarksJarvis is a personal finance columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of Saving for Retirement Without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery.
Lauren Michelle Tracy

Age  36

Home  St. Louis, but from Cape Girardeau, Mo.

What she makes  Indigo batik textile designs on silk scarves, pillows and clothing.

How to buy  Shop select items from her collection at Union Studio, 1605 Tower Grove Avenue; call 503-475-1179 to arrange a visit to Tracys studio at Historic Lemp Brewery or visit her website at laurenmichelletracy.com

Artistic rebellion  I didnt want to go to college. Not at all. So I applied to one college, Savannah College of Art and Design. It was there or nowhere, Tracy said with a little laugh. I was attracted to the weather, and my parents said I could go if I majored in architecture. Tracy agreed, but after one architecture class she devoted her study to art classes in sculpture and textiles. Later my parents were like, Whats fibers? Tracy said with a louder laugh as she explained her degree in fiber arts with a minor in sculpture. Shed always loved the interplay of design and textiles. In high school she taught herself to sew patchwork dresses, and in college she says, I just kind of fell in love with the idea of designing my own fabric.

Therapeutic detour  After she earned her bachelors of fine arts degree in sculpture, she went to graduate school at Marylhurst University in Portland. I never envisioned myself in graduate school, so its hard to believe that I did it, but I loved Portland so much, Tracy said. It felt like for the first time I was home. I just felt like I fit in, but then I also really got this feeling of being kind of on an island  isolated. She said she didnt like being so far away from her family. Eventually, she worked her way back and landed in St. Louis. She was working as an art therapist after graduate school and accidentally ended up specializing in treating people suffering from eating disorders. One job at a treatment center led to the next. It was really, really, really intense.

Accepting resistance  Tracy creates her batik prints by pouring wax from special copper pots with different sized spouts onto fabric to create design lines, then the cloth is dyed a shade of indigo (her signature color). The parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the original fabric color. After the tricky wax removal process, the waxing and dyeing can then be repeated. The biggest thing to learn is to just go in and go for it, Tracy said.

Batik philosophy  Its intimidating to hold a steamy container of wax and begin dripping it onto pure silk, but if you hesitate, a big blob will come out or the line is shaky. Thats why if I do batik all day I wouldnt do coffee because that little bit of variance would show up in my line work, so I feel like everything I create is a direct extension of whatever is going on with me that day. Its a real honesty, you know. This is my hand, this is the wax and this is the line and you have to accept not always being in control of what happens. Its a rush and then you just have to go with it. You have to go with the mistakes too and not get super aggravated if it doesnt look exactly like you wanted it to. Sometimes you end up with something thats better than you would have planned and sometimes (laugh) ... you know its kind of an important lesson, and that has crept over into other aspects of my life, too. Just going with it.

Study vacation  Tracy is flying to Jakarta and Bali in the coming weeks to visit a friend and then spend a month exploring Indonesia. Im really looking forward to the fabric part. Im just going to kind of go with it and see if I can work with someone whos a batik master. She said that shes also packing an extra empty bag to reserve just for purchases. Im expecting to find stuff that Ill be bringing back and taking pictures and having experiences and soaking it all up, she said.
Forceps helped bring Cristin Taylors first child into the world, a joy that outweighed the pain of the fourth-degree tear Taylor suffered in her perineum during the birth. The wounds closed, but Taylor still struggled with urinary incontinence. Shed leak when she ran, coughed or brushed her teeth.

A decadelong battle with her bladder raged through Kegel exercises, the birth of another daughter and physical therapy (not with a pelvic floor specialist). Taylor resorted to surgery to insert mesh support, in hopes of correcting what had been diagnosed as a tilt in her bladder neck. After six weeks of recovery, the incontinence continued  now accompanied by numbness that dulled her sex life. It was like a foot that had fallen asleep.

In 2011 Taylor and a friend tried a new fitness class at a gym near her home in Satellite Beach, Fla. Called Fluidity, the class uses an adjustable-height barre to strengthen all muscle groups but particularly the lowest and innermost structures of the core, what Fluidity founder Michelle Austin calls the inner unit.

Michelle talked a lot about the pelvic floor and alignment awareness, Taylor said. They had three classes a week, and I came every time I could. Within six months, I was noticing huge changes in my life, including a wonderful, more connected sex life with my husband.

Women like Taylor were the original target for Austins Fluidity regimen, which has been taught at gyms and rehabilitation centers around the country for over a decade. But in the last year Fluidity has been noticed and recommended by Microgate USA, a company that specializes in movement analytics to help everyone from professional athletes to the elderly and Parkinsons patients.

Anyone can benefit from the regimen, Austin said, which revolves around a barre with a backboard that rises from the floor. The ability to adjust the Fluidity barre to hip height is key, Austin said, because it reduces the tendency to perform exercises in a posterior tilt, which compromises alignment and effectiveness of some barre workouts.

Fluiditys goal: to correct pelvic instability that can contribute to chronic complaints such as incontinence, back pain, sexual dysfunction and loss of balance as we age.

The concept emerged from Austins resolve to rehabilitate herself after cancer and a full hysterectomy at age 42, combined with her training in the Lotte Berk barre method, which Austin taught in the 1990s in New York City.

In hysterectomies, theyre taking out an organ, if not several, and theres no rehab, Austin said. Its ridiculous.

Fluidity classes now are held at rehabilitation centers and gyms around the country. An at-home counterpart includes a collapsible barre, DVDs, mat, ball and bands.

The pelvic-floor muscles often become dysfunctional after childbirth, gynecological surgery, illness such as urinary tract infections, or just from disuse, says Cindy Neville, a physical therapist specializing in womens health who is on clinical faculty at the University of Northern Florida.

That dysfunction can contribute to pelvic organ prolapse, where the vaginal walls or cervix drop, as well as incontinence, estimated to affect 30 to 40 percent of middle-aged women and 30 to 50 percent of elderly women.

Many women suffer in silence. If they seek treatment, doctors sometimes recommend a surgery like Taylors. Of the 400,000 pelvic floor surgeries annually in the U.S., 120,000 of those are repeats, Neville said, suggesting that surgery isnt solving the problem.

But people are afraid to talk about the pelvic floor muscles; its like breast cancer 20 years ago; to say the word breast was almost pornographic in our culture, she said.

Neville recommends Fluidity to some of her patients.

In Fluidity theres not an emphasis on bending forward or rounding forward, its more balanced with the front and back of the body, versus always being the front of the body, which so many things focus on, Neville said. The neutral pelvis and engaging the deep core, including the pelvic floor, are very effective.

Peter Gorman, the president of Microgate USA who holds several patents on heart rate monitors, met Austin at a deli counter in Florida over Thanksgiving in 2014.

I didnt know what Fluidity was, but she and I were speaking the same language, he said. As you lose integrity in your core, especially your inner core, things happen; you can get physiological changes from anatomical deficiency.

He was curious enough about her method to observe her Fluidity class, where Austin guided participants into what she calls the neutral pelvis position: Wrap thumb and index finger around the right hip and around the left hip and tilt the pelvis all the way forward and all the way back. When you find the position where the wrist feels relaxed between those two places, thats neutral pelvis.

In that position, the muscles can contract and relax more effectively to not just tone the body but re-establish the stability of the inner core and pelvic floor.

Gorman thinks the Fluidity regimen has applications beyond fixing incontinence, which he views as an early warning sign for problems that become life-threatening as we age.

As we march through life, we lose our balance control, Gorman said. The average 53-year-old should be able to stand on one leg with eyes closed for 15 seconds. If she cant, shes at a higher risk (of deadly falls). So, what if we put her in a program where besides just feeling good and losing some pounds  hey, lets all go to Ipanema together!  but also, her balance, timing and coordination improved? By doing that shes basically learned to grow younger.

A year after starting Fluidity, Taylor visited a cranial sacral therapist who evaluated her muscle control.

She reported I have 360 degrees of strength in my pelvic floor, which to her was phenomenal, regardless of what I recovered from, Taylor said.
Actress Radhika Apte has joined Rajinikanth for the final schedule of his upcoming Tamil gangster drama Kabali in Malaysia. Radhika posted a still from the film and wrote on Twitter, Malaysia. #Kabali. Last schedule (sic). Sources say that besides canning action sequences, other important scenes between Rajinikanth and Radhika will be shot in this schedule. Also we hear that this will go on for nearly three weeks in Malaysia.

Kabali will see Rajinikanth as the ageing superstar, while Radhika plays his wife in the film.

Directed by Pa Ranjith, the film also features Malaysian actors, and is loosely based on real-life don Kabaleeswaran. Slated to release in May, Kabali also features Dhanshikaa, Attakaththi Dinesh, Kalaiarasan and Madras fame Ritwika in important roles.
Shortly after I was diagnosed with cancer last fall, I found myself in Denver. I visited a marijuana shop. Of course, I was well aware that marijuana, even for medicinal purposes, is illegal in Missouri, but before anybody applies for a search warrant, let me point out it is not against the law to look.

Frankly, I was curious. I lived in Arizona in the early 70s when a 1-ounce baggie  a lid  cost 10 bucks. Sometimes there were lots of seeds and stems, sometimes a lot of leafy material. Buds were prized, but relatively rare.

What did I see at the shop in Denver? Buds! Nothing but buds behind the glass. In fact, the clerks are called budtenders.

A budtender with a bright blue streak in her otherwise jet-black hair approached me. I must have looked lost. That is not surprising. I have always looked lost. When I was a student in Arizona, young women used to approach me on campus. They were members of the Rev. Sun Myung Moons Unification Church, and their mission was to find students who looked lost and befriend them and invite them to the Moonie house for dinner. At dinner, the Moonies would fuss over the lonely people. They called it a love buzz. They were looking for recruits.

I was always a little taken aback that the young women thought I appeared lost. That was not my self-image. On the other hand, a free dinner seemed nice.

Can I help you? asked the budtender.

Again, my self-image took a hit. I am far from lost in a marijuana shop. I no longer subscribe to Furry Freak Brothers, but I once did.

Somehow, though, the budtender had picked me out. Maybe she was the daughter of one of the Moonie girls.

Its not like I was the oldest person in the marijuana shop. Actually, the customers were a cross-section of the population. I looked around and thought, This could be Schnucks.

Ill soon be undergoing chemotherapy, I said. Id welcome any suggestions.

She thought for a moment.

Blue Skunk, she said. Its good against nausea. It increases appetite. Its perfect for chemotherapy.

I hesitated. A woman with a blue streak in her hair was recommending Blue Skunk.

Anything else? she asked.

Gummy bears, I said. I hear theyre good.

In the Edibles Section, she said. Next to the watermelon crests.

By the way, I happened to hit the shop on a day in which jars of gummy bears were on special. Buy one, get one free.

For legal purposes, I am not going to say whether I did or did not buy anything. I will just say I looked.

In recent days, I have had occasion to think about my trip to the marijuana shop.

I thought about it when County Executive Steve Stenger and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar faced public criticism for writing letters in support of a young man who was part of a marijuana distribution network that engaged in kidnapping and firebombing. Most people were not really troubled by the pot. It was the gangster stuff that concerned people  the kidnapping and the firebombing.

That kind of activity happens only because pot is illegal.

Nobody I know suggests that legalizing pot would be a panacea, only that it would be better than the present situation. The parallel is with alcohol. Did the end of prohibition solve all our problems? No, but it put Al Capone out of business.

Thats really the question: Would you rather have Al Capone or Gussie Busch? El Chapo or Tom Schlafly?

There is much to be said for the order of law. We saw that in St. Louis when InBev took over Anheuser-Busch. Two great cartels faced off. They had lawyers instead of gunmen.

Then there is the less radical notion of medical marijuana.

My colleague Tony Messenger wrote a column Friday about the overprescription of opioids. People are getting hooked on prescription drugs. Theyre going from prescription drugs to heroin. Its a national problem, but apparently particularly acute in Missouri. Thats because this is the only state that does not have a monitoring program for prescription drugs.

A monitoring program would be good, but what if a person had a choice and could opt for medicinal marijuana instead of an addictive narcotic? Wouldnt that be better?

Finally, I thought about Colorado when I read the story in last weeks paper about the Missouri Legislatures plan to fix our roads and bridges with money saved from cuts to welfare programs. One such cut is expected to remove 6,400 children from public assistance.

Maybe thats good policy, but the sad truth is well soon run out of poor children to take benefits from. What do we do then?

Let me suggest taxes on marijuana. Medicinal or recreational or both. Maybe double taxes on gummy bears. Id gladly pay.
KIRKWOOD  A car that crashed into a utility pole late Sunday morning was believed to have been fleeing after striking a Rock Hill police officer about a mile away, officials said.

Officer Steve Sperber was stable at a hospital, suffering from a head injury sustained when he was hit by a car about 11:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Tavalon Avenue in Rock Hill, said the citys administrator, Jennifer Yackley.

Sperber, 46, has been on the force 13 years, she said.

She provided no information about the four occupants of a gray Pontiac G6 that ran off Manchester Road near Dickson Avenue about the same time, struck two cars in a sales lot and crashed into a utility post.

Bystanders said a male and female had to be extricated by firefighters from the front seat, and that two males who ran away from the back seat were arrested and taken away in a police vehicle.

Police there said the two in custody were juveniles.

Yackley said no one had been charged in the Rock Hill incident.

Asked if the vehicle in the Kirkwood crash was the one that hit Sperber, she said, We believe that, but we cannot confirm that at this time.

She also said she could not confirm reports that the car was stolen.

Yackey said Sperber had been investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle when a different car  ostensibly the Pontiac  hit him in the street and left the scene.

Witnesses said the Pontiac that crashed was heading west on Manchester at high speed when the driver tried to avoid traffic and lost control. It clipped a Porsche and Audi on the sales lot of Dean Team Volkswagen of Kirkwood, then rammed a pole.

Yackey said the Pontiac was not being pursued by police when the crash occurred. The witnesses said the same.
In response to recent infections and deaths from tainted medical scopes, U.S. lawmakers are wrestling with how to keep other potentially dangerous devices from harming patients.

Members of Congress, federal officials and health-policy experts agree that the Food and Drug Administrations surveillance system for devices is inadequate and relies too heavily on manufacturers to report problems with their own products.

But fixing the federal warning system to enable more timely identification of risky scopes, implants and surgical tools means overcoming significant challenges in Congress, from partisan divisions to the need for more government funding. Even then, it could take years for a new system to be up and running.

Patient advocates are skeptical of the FDAs commitment to reform. Federal auditors have criticized the agencys oversight of devices since the 1990s.

The latest push for changes came from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who issued a report Jan. 13 exposing failures by the FDA, device makers and hospitals that contributed to the nationwide spread of antibiotic-resistant infections from a gastrointestinal scope, called a duodenoscope. Senate investigators cited 19 superbug outbreaks in the United States that had sickened nearly 200 patients from 2012 to 2015.

The Senate report faulted the FDA for taking 17 months to investigate before issuing its own warning in February 2015. In the meantime, seven more hospitals suffered outbreaks and 68 patients developed dangerous infections.

Data-driven effort

Murray has called for an entirely new medical device tracking system, akin to the way prescription drugs are monitored. It would draw primarily on insurance claims data to supplement the industrys injury reports, which are often cursory and filed months late, if at all. President Barack Obamas nominee for FDA commissioner, Robert Califf, has endorsed that data-driven approach.

Part of that proposal, putting bar codes on every instrument for the first time, is already being phased in over the next few years. But experts say those unique identifiers will be of little use unless Congress requires hospitals and doctors to include them on insurance claim forms.

Researchers say claims filed with private insurers and Medicare are useful because they give close to real-time data on a large population. By tracking device IDs, such as the vehicle identification numbers on cars, regulators could spot patients across the country coming into an emergency room or developing infections after a procedure.

Those red flags could trigger further investigation and perhaps a safety alert  without the need to wait on incident reports from manufacturers or hospitals. The data also would help find patients who have implants that were recalled, or assist hospitals in pulling defective equipment out of service quickly.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate health committee, said the investigation into superbug outbreaks uncovered disturbing facts about the FDAs response. But he and other Republicans appear intent on making sure regulators are using the powers they already hold before embarking on a new government program.

Republican lawmakers have pointed out that the FDA can impose civil and criminal penalties against manufacturers for failing to report injuries or deaths, but the agency rarely uses those powers.

Expensive and complicated

Budget hawks are likely to resist funding a new medical device monitoring system. It could cost up to $250 million to implement and maintain a new system over the first five years, drawing on government or private-sector funding, according to a Brookings Institution report last year.

Gregory Daniel, one of the reports authors and now deputy director of the Center for Health Policy at Duke University, has been working with the FDA, hospitals and device makers, planning and designing a new tracking system.

Its expensive and complicated, Daniel said. Most people think this is already being done, but we dont have the fundamental ability to link devices to their outcomes, like on the drug side.

Representatives of the device industry said they welcome the debate, but they too emphasize that regulators have plenty of authority already.

The FDA has extensive post-market authorities  including requirements for quality systems, adverse-event reporting, mandatory recalls, corrections and removals  to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical technologies once they are on the market, said J.C. Scott, senior executive vice president for government affairs at AdvaMed, an industry trade group. He didnt address the Senate reports recommendations directly.

After safety problems with certain drugs a decade ago, Congress helped establish the Sentinel program, which analyzes claims data on more than 170 million Americans from large health insurers, dozens of hospitals and disease registries.

Califf, the nominee to lead the FDA , said during his confirmation hearing that regulators needed a Sentinel-like system for devices, too.

We have plans to do that, but we are going to have to work with you on how to fund it, Califf told senators at the Nov. 17 hearing. Imagine with these duodenoscopes, if there had been such a system, we would have seen the problem very early. We could see it independently of industry and act on it much more rapidly.

An FDA spokeswoman said the agency was carefully considering the recommendations in the Senate report and was already taking steps to address some of the issues raised, such as notifying the public sooner about suspected problems. By the end of this year, the agency said, it hopes to gain access to 25 million electronic patient records containing bar codes on the devices used.

Families affected by the recent superbug outbreaks support such changes but are skeptical about the FDAs role, given its track record.

For months, Glenn Smith of Woodland Hills, Calif., saw his son, Aaron Young, 19, battle a superbug infection. He got it from a contaminated scope at UCLAs Ronald Reagan Medical Center in 2014.

Something needs to be done, the father said, but Im wary of the FDA being in charge of anything until it gets its own house in order. They were very slow to react.
The National Registry of Exonerations reported last week that 2015 was a banner year for clearing prisoners wrongfully convicted of major crimes, including homicide and rape. Last year, 149 prisoners across the country were excused. Good news for them, but awful news for the integrity of the nations criminal justice system.

The fact that 149 people went through the dreadful ordeal of arrest, arraignment, prosecution and imprisonment  for crimes they did not commit  is shameful. The registry, produced by the University of Michigan Law School, underscores the need for significant criminal justice reforms to minimize the chances of wrongful prosecution in the future.

Some might dismiss such goals as a liberal utopian ideal, but the fact is that criminal justice reform is being embraced nationwide by tea party conservatives. Why? Because few things exemplify the overreach of an all-too-powerful government than one that yanks away an individuals freedom without legal justification.

The GOP-dominated Missouri Legislature needs to get in step. Conservatives in the heavily Republican Texas Legislature have embraced some of the most far-reaching criminal justice reforms in the country, according to the New York-based Innocence Project. And they did so even when Democrats were the authors and sponsors of reform bills.

Were talking about such measures as easing prisoners access to DNA evidence in the appeals process, ensuring poor defendants have access to high-quality public defenders and radically altering the weight given to eyewitness lineup identification. Texas also has dramatically increased the compensation to prisoners whose freedom was wrongfully taken away.

One of the two Missouri cases listed in the National Registry in 2015 involved an eyewitness who identified the wrong person  Cornell McKay of St. Louis  in an armed robbery case. He had faced a sentence of 12 years in prison until St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce dismissed the charges in May because the actual perpetrator had admitted committing the crime, and investigators reportedly hid their suspicions that they had the wrong man.

The other was a botched murder conviction that landed Russell Faria, of Troy, in prison for life. Exculpatory witness statements and evidence were hidden from Farias attorneys before trial. In Texas, prosecutors who hide exculpatory evidence in order to win a conviction now can face disbarment and prosecution.

Connecticut, likewise, has implemented impressive reforms that repealed the death penalty and modified sentencing guidelines so that nonviolent drug offenders no longer face mandatory prison time.

Theres always room for improvement. This states record on racial disparities in the prison population, particularly in the over-representation of African Americans from low-income backgrounds, suggests more-than-ample room exists to level the playing field through reform. Let conservatives lead the way.
Filmmaker Adhik Ravichandran who made heads turn with his debut adult comedy Trisha Illana Nayanthara is all smiles. Reason? He managed to convince Simbu with his script! Yes, if everything goes well, he will be directing Simbu soon once the latter completes his existing projects including Gautham Menons Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada.

I met Simbu a while ago and narrated the script. He loved it and gave his nod immediately. However, we are yet to make this information official. The film would be a full-on commercial action-packed entertainer with equal doses of romance and comedy  catering to the youth, says Adhik, and adds, Simbu will be essaying three roles in the film, which will have three heroines, one of them from Bollywood  talks are on to zero in on the cast.

Cinema has always fascinated Adhik since childhood and doing a film with an established actor like Simbu is indeed an advantage.

I wanted to make it big in the industry some day. All I am doing now is working towards it. For the moment, that alone matters, he smiles.

Ask him why Simbu, Adhik tells us, When Trisha... released, he was the first person in the industry to call and congratulate me. Moreover, the script needed Simbu and I am glad that he agreed with me. We are yet to fine-tune further details  by mid June, everything will be finalised.
After finishing up the Latin American portion of their Connect: Don't Give Up tour, OMEGA X is now playing shows in the United States. This segment of their tour includes an Oct. 10 concert at Chicagos Concord Music Hall, as well as dates in Dallas and Los Angeles. Im still in awe of the great passion and amazing support by Latin American fans, said Jehyun, one of the South Korean groups 11 members. Im truly thankful for them enjoying our concerts as passionately as we do! The entire group participated in this interview from Bogota, Colombia. For more information about OMEGA Xs tour, check for their updates on Twitter.
Possibility of Zika being sexually transmitted adds a new dimension to the threat the disease poses. (Photo: AFP)

Condom makers including Ansell Ltd (ANN.AX) are offering to help Zika-affected countries after the first case of the virus being sexually transmitted added to growing concerns over the spread of the disease.

The virus, which is spreading quickly across the Americas, is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. But, the first known case contracted in the United States was a person infected after having sex with someone who had returned from Venezuela.

World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Gregory Hartl stressed that "almost a 100 percent of the cases" are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.

However, the possibility of Zika being sexually transmitted adds a new dimension to the threat the disease poses.

"Ansell will be approaching regional associations in Brazil and other countries to offer its assistance and expertise in alleviating this major public health issue," Jeyan Heper, president and general manager of the Australian company's sexual wellness global business unit told Reuters in an email.

Ansell, which makes Skyn and Lifestyles condoms as well as industrial and surgical gloves, said it provided nearly 1 million surgical gloves to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.

Female Health Co (FHCO.O), which makes condoms for women, said it has been in contact with various health agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO, and has seen a growing number of enquiries.

"We are working with the local health ministers at these countries to help provide the product that they will either be distributing or recommending to the public," Michele Greco, chief financial officer of the U.S.-based company told Reuters.

Trojan condom maker Church & Dwight Co Inc (CHD.N) said it has been in touch with various public health agencies for regular status updates and that it would continue to monitor the situation closely to determine appropriate next steps.

The WHO said at least 26 countries in the Americas have a Zika outbreak, and countries such as Ireland, Australia and Canada have reported cases of travelers testing positive for the virus after visiting an infected area.

Companies ranging from vaccine developers to mosquito repellant makers have come under the spotlight after the outbreak, as they work with government agencies to combat the rising threat.

Durex condoms maker Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (RB.L) did not respond to emails and calls seeking comment.
Wellesbourne Airfield

In total, eight new recruits (pictured) turned up, dressed in bee keeping protective outfits and learnt more about bees, their habits and their hives which can contain 50,000 bees plus a queen.

We decided to run a taster session to help people understand how bee keeping works. If they like the starter day they can sign up to our bee keeping course which lasts for seven sessions, I think once they get started people do find bees fascinating, Mike Osborne from Stratford Beekeepers said.

Bees collect pollen and nectar on their hind legs, which they take back to the hive to help feed young bees. They communicate using pheromones and when they discover a new area rich with pollen they return to the hive and perform a vibrating figure of eight dance in the dark which tells fellow bees at what angle they have to fly to find the new pollen source.

Stratford Beekeepers introduction to beekeeping course begins on Tuesday 16th February and costs 75. Anyone interested in attending can contact Mike Osborne on telephone 01789 731745 or email: mjrosborne@btinternet.com
Wellesbourne Airfield

Jack Williams, 20, of Redlands Crescent, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Kayleigh Louise Woods, 22, of Hertford Way, Stratford-upon-Avon, will appear at Warwickshire Magistrates' Court in Leamington Spa.

Bethany was found with wounds to her neck at an address in Hertford Road on the evening of Wednesday, 3rd February.

An area in Brookfield Court, off Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, has been searched as part of the investigation.

Additional safer neighbourhood officers are also on patrol in the area.

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: "Warwickshire Police offer their deepest condolences to Bethany's family who have asked for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.

"Anyone with any information relating to this case is asked to contact police on 101 and quote the incident reference 339 of 3rd February.

"Information can also be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via their website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org"
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/07/16 -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX VENTURE: MMY)(FRANKFURT: D7Q1) ("Monument" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into an "Earn-In and Shareholders Agreement" (the "JV Agreement" with Afrimines Resources S.A.R.L ("Afrimines") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Regal Sud Kivu S.A.R.L ("Regal") to earn up to 90% joint venture interest in the Matala Gold Project ("Matala Project" or "Matala"). Afrimines and Regal are both incorporated and operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC"), where Regal holds a 100% interest in the Matala.

The Matala Project comprises 14 exploration permits covering 1,970 square kilometers in the South Kivu Province, DRC. It is situated within the Kibaran gold belt which hosts Banro Corporation's Twangiza and Namoya deposits, both of which are already in production. Significant anomalies have been identified at the Ngoy and Matala Prospects of Matala by previous exploration. A resource estimate on the Ngoy Prospect of the Matala Project has been prepared by CSA Global Pty Ltd. reporting an inferred resource estimate of 2 million tonnes at 3.3g/t Au for 213,400 ounces of gold using a 0.5g/t Au cut-off grade from the Kadutu and Nyamikundu deposits.

President and CEO Robert Baldock commented "this move is in line with the Company's growth and diversification strategy of building a pipeline of operating projects in different regions to have several operational cash flow and profit generating areas to diversify risk. Monument has been studying opportunities in the DRC since late 2014 and notes that several significant listed mining operators have successfully developed and operated substantial gold producing projects in the DRC in recent years. Through their announcements, a number of multi-million ounce deposits have been discovered and accumulated into their substantial gold inventories".

Earn-In and Joint Venture

Pursuant to the JV Agreement, Monument has the right to earn up to a 90% interest in Matala (a "JV Interest") by increasing its holding position of Regal, a joint venture company incorporated in the DRC, through exercise of several earn-in options at its sole discretion; and Monument can terminate the earn-in obligations at any time during each earn-in period with no further obligations.

In order to exercise the first option and earn a 50% JV Interest, Monument must spend US$1,000,000 in exploration and development expenditures at Matala and pay US$200,000 cash to Afrimines within 12 months from the date ("Effective Date") of obtaining final acceptance of the transaction from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), of which US$50,000 was already advanced, US$50,000 must be paid within 6 month of the Effective Date and US$100,000 must be paid within 12 month of the Effective Date.

Subject to satisfaction with the exploration results, Monument may exercise a second option to earn an additional 20% JV Interest by spending a further US$4,000,000 in exploration and development expenditures at Matala within 3 years of the Effective Date to increase its JV Interest to 70%. Monument has a third option to acquire an additional 10% JV Interest by paying $US15 million to Afrimines should the results from the exploration be satisfactory to Monument. Monument has the right to acquire further 10% JV Interest, bringing the total JV Interest in Matala to 90%, under certain conditions by paying cash to Afrimines for such 10% JV Interest in an amount to be determined by an independent valuation.

Afrimines will not, at any time, be required to make contributions to the exploration or development costs on the Property and its remaining JV Interest will not, at any time, be subject to dilution. The JV Interests of Monument and Afrimines will be subject to any interest granted to the DRC government should it be required by applicable law. All qualifying costs incurred by Monument on Matala, other than those required in order to exercise the first option and the second option, will be treated as an interest-bearing loan to the joint venture, which will be repaid to Monument from profits generated on Matala prior to any profits being distributed to Afrimines.

The right to earn up to a 90% interest in Matala was originally owned by Patane Ltd. ("Patane"), a company registered under the laws of Austria. In conjunction with the JV Agreement, Monument has entered into an agreement (the "Option Assignment Agreement") with both Afrimines and Patane under which all of Patane's rights in relation with Matala are assigned to Monument. Pursuant to the Option Assignment Agreement, Monument must, subject to approval of the TSXV, issue 25,000,000 fully paid shares in the Company at a deemed price of $0.25 per share to Patane, upon the receipt of Exchange acceptance. Of those shares, 20,000,000 will be held in escrow and will be released upon Monument exercising the first option on Matala.

Subject to the acceptance of the Exchange, Monument will pay a cash finder's fee of $133,750 to Axino Capital AG in respect of the JV Agreement and Option Assignment Agreement.

Upon entering into the JV Agreement, the Company will be appointed the Operator of the project and will establish itself with a corporate office in Kinshasa and an operational office in or near Bukavu in South Kivu Province approximately 200 kilometers from the Matala project to facilitate drilling programmes and studies required to achieve the above objectives.

Background and exploration plan of Matala

The Matala Project hosts the Ngoy and Matala Prospects within 14 tenements as shown in Figure 1. Monument has budgeted one million American dollars to complete drilling programmes at the two Prospects and to set up early operations in South Kivu.

Figure 1: Matala Gold Project - Democratic Republic of Congo: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure_1_Matala_Gold_Project.jpg

Following the completion of drilling programmes at the Ngoy and Matala prospects as discussed below, Monument will also study the database to identify additional targets for follow up on the remaining licenses within the Matala Project area.

Ngoy Prospect ("Ngoy")

Ngoy is located within PR4799, which covers 156 square kilometers of prospecting land. The inferred mineral resource estimate on Ngoy is summarised in Table 1:

Table 1: Ngoy Gold Prospect - Mineral Resource Estimate (January 15, 2016)

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ngoy Gold Project - Mineral Resource Estimate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tonnes (Million Au Oz. Deposit Classification Tonnes) Au g/t ('000's) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kadutu Inferred 1.8 3.2 186.9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nyamikundu Inferred 0.2 4.3 26.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Combined Total Inferred 2.0 3.3 213.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: The Mineral Resource Estimate was estimated within constraining wireframe solids based on a nominal lower cut-off grade of 0.4g/t Au. The Mineral Resource is quoted from all blocks above a lower cutoff grade of 0.5g/t Au. Differences may occur due to rounding. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is January 15, 2016. There are no known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, social-economic, marketing, political factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate. The reported Mineral Resource estimate is not affected by metallurgical or infrastructure factors.

Resource Model, Methodology and Estimate

The drilling database for the Ngoy Gold Prospect used for the resource estimation consists of 51 diamond holes for 8,768.4 meters. Drill holes are on nominal 50m spaced collars up to 10m apart on section and drilled approximately perpendicular to strike of the mineralisation zones.

Mineralised drill hole intercepts have been incorporated in the resource modelling for Kadutu and Nyamikundu. The gold mineralisation was modelled on a nominal 0.4g/t Au cut-off, using the geological interpretation and honouring structural trends interpreted during geological modelling. A total of five mineralised zone envelopes were defined that were intersected in 40 diamond drill holes. Two of the interpreted wireframes form the more southerly Kadutu prospect, while three wireframes define the more northerly (along strike) Nyamikundu prospect.

The Kadutu modelled mineralised envelopes are roughly 5-10m thick on average with the depth extent interpreted to between 75m and 100m. The mineralisation extends for approximately 800m along strike. Both deposits are still open along strike and at depth.

The drill holes were composited down-hole into 1m lengths within the mineralised volumes. Following detailed statistical analysis, top cuts of the mineralised grade populations were applied.

The spatial continuity (variography) within the mineralised zones was analysed, and a 3D block model was constructed with parent cell dimensions of 5m x 20m x 5m (X x Y x Z) nominally based on the average drill spacing with reference to a Kriging Neighbourhood Analysis (KNA). Sub-blocks down to a minimum of 0.5m x 2m x 0.5m were used to honour the geometry of the mineralised zone.

Ordinary Kriging (OK) was used to complete the grade estimation using hard boundaries between all lenses. The tonnages are estimated on a dry basis.

QAQC

Galen White, Principal Geologist, CSA Global (UK) Ltd, and a Qualified Person, has undertaken sufficient QAQC and data validation to verify the integrity of the assay data from the drilling. In addition, Dr. Simon Dorling, Principal Exploration Consultant, CSA Global Pty Ltd, has had historical involvement in the project between 2012 and 2013 where, during three visits to the project, logging of drill core, review of sampling procedures, reviews of drilling activities and geological modelling was undertaken.

Validation of the block model was completed and validation results are considered acceptable for the current level of advancement of the Mineral Resource.

The following procedures were adopted for the analytical data used in the estimation of Mineral Resources: Samples weighing 2 - 3 kg were transported to the ALS sample preparation laboratory in Mwanza, Tanzania. Samples were crushed so that 70% passed less than 2mm and the coarse crush samples riffle split and pulverised (85% less than 75 microns). Pulps pulps were sent from there to ALS Laboratories in Johannesburg, South Africa for analysis by fire assay with an ICP-AES finish. Phase 1 over-limit drill samples (greater than 10 ppm Au) were analysed gravimetrically, however following QAQC review, this method was shown to be under-reporting gold grades relative to an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. High grade samples were subsequently analysed using an AA finish. Multi-element (35 elements) analysis was conducted using aqua-regia acid digestion with ICP-AES finish.

Certified Reference Material from African Mineral Standards, blanks and coarse crush duplicates were included with the drill core samples. Field duplicates were included with the trench and surface samples. CSA generated QAQC reports regularly and any issues were queried and resolved with the laboratory. Check assay samples (50 samples) were sent to Genalysis Laboratory (Johannesburg, South Africa). None of the laboratories used have any relationship to the issuer (aside from normal commercial terms)

Data from the drilling campaigns was hosted remotely by CSA Global (UK) Ltd in a SQL relational database between 2011 and 2013. Assay results were received directly from the laboratory and merged into the database from the original laboratory assay certificates.

The data was considered suitable for inclusion in subsequent Mineral Resource estimation work, being of acceptable accuracy and precision to be of a suitable standard for use in a Mineral Resource Estimation study.

Drilling Plan

The Company's drilling plan at Ngoy includes a total of 1,000 drill meters to 200m depth aimed to expand the current resource by testing down-dip and strike extensions to known mineralised zones and by testing regional structural geophysics-geochem anomalies.

Matala Prospect

The Matala Prospect is located on PR4809 which covers 189 square kilometers of prospecting land. It presents, in Monuments opinion, significant, continuous gold in soil anomalies greater than 100ppb Au at the "Temo Temo" location over 1km strike and the "Kanana" location over 3km strike. Both anomalies are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Gold in soil anomalies and channel sample results at the Temo Temo and Kanana Prospects: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure_2_Gold_in_soil_anomalies.jpg

Channel samples were collected from rock exposures along 4 section lines across the Kanana Prospect. These are summarized in Table 2 and include 17m at 2.51g/t Au, 12m at 3.03g/t Au and 6m at 4.27g/t Au.

Table 2: Significant assay results for Kanana channel sampling using 0.2g/t cut-off.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel_ID Easting Northing RL Length Dip Azimuth ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR001 523060 9582711 1176 666.00 -12.00 265 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 522532 9582932 1056 578.30 -12.00 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 523062 9581818 1200 853.20 12.00 66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 523062 9581818 1200 853.20 12.00 66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 523062 9581818 1200 853.20 12.00 66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 523062 9581818 1200 853.20 12.00 66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 523598 9581546 1183 390.10 12.00 52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 523598 9581546 1183 390.10 12.00 52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 523598 9581546 1183 390.10 12.00 52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 523598 9581546 1183 390.10 12.00 52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 522096 9584360 1152 363.00 15.00 218 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 522096 9584360 1152 363.00 15.00 218 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 522096 9584360 1152 363.00 15.00 218 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 522096 9584360 1152 363.00 15.00 218 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 522096 9584360 1152 363.00 15.00 218 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 521919 9584152 1225 148.00 15.00 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 521919 9584152 1225 148.00 15.00 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 521919 9584152 1225 148.00 15.00 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 521919 9584152 1225 148.00 15.00 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 521919 9584152 1225 148.00 15.00 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Interval Channel_ID mFrom mTo (m) Au_ppm Comments ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR001 496.70 498.70 2.00 11.65 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 89.00 91.00 2.00 0.38 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 99.00 103.00 4.00 0.46 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 Includes 2.00m 107.00 116.00 9.00 4.53 @ 19.70 ppm Au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 124.00 126.00 2.00 0.30 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 202.30 204.30 2.00 0.89 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 210.30 212.30 2.00 6.52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 240.30 242.30 2.00 0.95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 252.30 254.30 2.00 0.55 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 258.30 260.30 2.00 6.96 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 Includes 2.00m 288.30 300.30 12.00 3.03 @ 16.50 ppm Au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 322.30 324.30 2.00 7.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 Includes 2.00m 372.30 378.30 6.00 4.38 @ 12.20 ppm Au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 410.30 412.30 2.00 2.85 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 416.30 418.30 2.00 1.63 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 548.30 550.30 2.00 3.47 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR002 570.30 572.30 2.00 0.35 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 6.00 8.00 2.00 3.83 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 174.00 176.00 2.00 4.09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 352.50 354.10 1.60 0.34 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR003 371.60 373.60 2.00 12.95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 104.70 105.70 1.00 2.74 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 125.70 126.70 1.00 0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 137.70 139.70 2.00 0.42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KANTR004 149.20 150.20 1.00 0.23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 4.00 18.00 14.00 0.53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 110.00 112.00 2.00 0.47 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 132.00 134.00 2.00 0.27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 154.00 156.00 2.00 0.86 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR001 224.50 226.50 2.00 0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 2.00 4.00 2.00 0.80 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 18.00 20.00 2.00 0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 32.00 34.00 2.00 0.20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 86.00 88.00 2.00 0.51 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEMTR002 112.00 118.00 6.00 0.29 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Criteria used in the significant intercept table as follows:

-- Minimum intercept of 1 m -- Maximum internal waste of 3 m -- Cut-off grade of 0.2 ppm gold

Monument considers the Matala Prospect to be highly prospective. Good potential exists for a new discovery and the Company has plans to conduct a 1,000m drilling programme across the Kanana soil anomaly to determine stratigraphy and test width of mineralisation on the best part of the anomaly over 800m strike at the NW, and to test the high grade gold soil mineralisation greater than 100ppb Au at the SE end of the anomaly.

Drilling Plan

Upon completion of the drilling programmes, the Company plans to undertake follow-up soil sampling and follow-up on a number of historic soil anomalies aimed at generating a pipeline of additional drill targets.

Qualified Person Statement

Scientific or technical information in this news release are compiled by Michael Jackson, an independent geologist with BCs (Hons) Geology, reviewed and approved by Mr. Galen White, Principal Geologist, CSA Global (UK) Ltd. Mr. White is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. White consents to the inclusion in this report of the technical information, in the form and context in which it appears.

About Monument

Monument Mining Limited (TSX VENTURE: MMY)(FRANKFURT: D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is advancing several exploration and development projects including the Mengapur Polymetallic Project, in Pahang State of Malaysia, and the Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company employs approximately 300 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities. Monument intends to commence operations in the DRC in the short term as a result of the above JV Agreement.

Robert F. Baldock, President and CEO Monument Mining Limited Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the resource estimate described in this news release and the timing and results of proposed drilling programs and other events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: unexpected problems with local infrastructure, security and political developments in the DRC; all of the risks inherent in estimating mineral resources; risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: management's expectations regarding infrastructure, security and political stability in the DRC; assumptions used to generate the resource estimate on the Matala Project,, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Company's projects; assumptions regarding the future price or gold of other minerals; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Contacts: Richard Cushing MMY Vancouver +1-604-638-1661 x102 [email protected] Wolfgang Seybold, Axino GmbH +49 711-82-09-7211 [email protected]

Source: Monument Mining Limited
Smoke billows from a house fire in New Lynn.

One person is being treated for smoke inhalation after escaping a house fire in Pukekohe, South Auckland.

The Fire Service was called to the Kitchener Road address at 5.41 on Sunday evening.

When they arrived the top level of the house was well ablaze. Six fire crews were still attending the scene at 6.15.

FAIRFAX NZ Fire services were notified of the blaze on Waiheke Island around 4.15.

An ambulance was also in attendance to treat one of the house's occupants for smoke inhalation and shock.

The other occupants escaped unharmed.

The Pukekohe fire was the third major house fire in Auckland on Sunday.

Fire crews extinguished a blaze at a house on Great North Road in New Lynn at 3.30pm on Sunday.

A Fire Service spokesman said the house was "well involved" by the time fire crews arrived.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, the spokesman said.

New Lynn residents reported seeing smoke from several blocks away from the house.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the New Lynn fire.

Another house burnt to the ground on Waiheke Island early on Sunday morning.

Fire Service northern shift manager Steve Smith said no one was hurt in the blaze, but the house had been entirely burnt down, and nearby scrub damaged.

"The house caught fire, and then the scrub caught fire as well."

Fire services were notified of the blaze around 4.15am on Sunday, and rushed to the address on Hunterville Road, Orapiu soon after.

A helicopter was initially called out to the scene, but was stood down.



Smith said the fire had been put out, but fire services remained at the scene in case of any further spark-ups.
The Coastguard Lake Taupo crew searched the river on Saturday night for the man thought to have gone missing.

The search for a man believed missing in the Waikato River at Taupo has been called off.

Swimmers at the Spa Thermal Park area on Saturday night said they saw a man disappear from view about 200 metres downstream.

Police divers and Coastguard Lake Taupo spent Saturday night and Sunday searching for the man, but found nothing to indicate where he might be.

Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said the search had currently been called off and they would reassess on Tuesday what further action might be taken.

READ MORE:

* Search for believed missing swimmer

* Retired lifeguard rescues tourist

Police believe it is possible that the man successfully swam from Spa Park to Reids Farm, a popular freedom camping area 1 km downstream.

"No one has contacted to say someone's reported missing, and if this guy did swim to Reids farm, he hasn't come forward either," he said.

The natural hot pool at Spa Park is where the Otumuheke Stream flows into the Waikato River, and is a popular attraction for Taupo locals and visitors.
An elderly victim of a scam reads through the list of withdrawals against her card.

Two people police believe were involved in an elaborate scam targeting the elderly have been arrested and remanded in custody.

Police say a tip-off from the public led them to Denise Cherelle Greig, 29, and Henry Edward Halliday, also known as Samuel Edward Taylor, 26, in Christchurch on Sunday night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Ford said a person saw them spending a "reasonable sum of money" at a bar in Linwood and alerted police.

The pair were wanted in connection with a scam targeting the elderly in Canterbury in recent months.

They both faced two charges of intent to obtain pecuniary advantage dishonestly and, without claim of right, using Westpac and Kiwibank cards.

Ford said the pair allegedly defrauded a 94-year-old woman on January 31 and another elderly person in a separate incident.

"Police are working hard to identify other people involved in this scam and further arrests are likely," he said.

The pair were arrested about 6pm Sunday, and appeared before a Justice of the Peace in Christchurch District Court on Monday.

Greig, whose occupation was not given, and Halliday, a caregiver, were remanded in custody until February 22 and 25, respectively.

"The 22nd, that's ages; can't I get a date this week?" Greig asked before she was stood down and left the court.

Police have received at least a dozen similar complaints about con artists targeting the elderly in Canterbury since November.

The alleged scam involves a man pitching a bogus story, often about an unpaid electricity bill, over the phone to try to convince a person there is a fault with their bank debit card.

A woman visits the victim's home, asks for the card and provides a replacement, which is actually a New Zealand Post Prezzy Card. The thieves use the victim's bank card to go on a shopping spree.

The 94-year-old woman, who lived alone in south Christchurch, was convinced to hand over her bank debit card on the evening of January 31. The alleged thieves withdrew $20,000.

It was unclear whether the victim would get any of the money back.

Anyone with information was asked to call police on 03 363 7400, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Rio De Janeiro: In a sign of mounting global concern over the Zika virus, health officials warned pregnant women to think twice about the lips they kiss and called on men to use condoms with pregnant partners if they have visited countries where the virus is present.

U.N. officials also called on many Catholic-majority countries in Latin America to loosen their abortion laws to allow women to terminate pregnancies if they fear the fetus may be at risk for a rare birth defect that causes brain damage and an abnormally small head, which may be linked to the virus.

The flurry of recommendations began in Brazil, where a top health official warned pregnant women to be cautious with their kisses.

Paulo Gadelha, president of the Fiocruz research institute, told a news conference that scientists have found live virus in saliva and urine samples, and the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids requires further study.

He said that calls for pregnant women to take special precautions, and suggested they avoid kissing people other than a regular partner or sharing cutlery, glasses and plates with people who have symptoms of the virus.

"This is not a generalized public health measure, for the love of God," he added, stressing both the seriousness of the discovery and reality that it was too soon to say how it could impact the epidemic.

Friday's announcement coincided with the start of Carnival, a five-day bacchanalia that sees millions of people take part in alcohol-fueled parties where kissing as many people as possible is a top pastime. Gadelha underscored that the discovery needn't alter Carnival plans for anyone but pregnant women.

He also stressed that the Aedes aegpyti mosquito, which spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever as well as Zika, remains the virus' main vector and said the fight against the mosquito should be a top priority.

The Fiocruz team studied samples from two patients who showed symptoms of Zika and tested positive for the illness. Tests on cell cultures showed the virus in the samples was capable of damaging the cells, meaning it was active.

Myrna Bonaldo, who headed the Fiocruz team behind the discovery, said she was particularly surprised the virus was found in urine because Zika is generally thought not to thrive in acidic mediums.

"Each discovery is a surprise and a new find for us," she said. "For us scientists, it's extremely challenging to understand Zika virus."

Experts greeted Friday's announcement with caution, saying the sample size was small and noting little is known about how the virus spreads.

Still, Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, a professor of infectious diseases at Dartmouth College, said it "does create further concern."

"This virus is clearly throwing one curve ball after the other," she said.

Asked about the guidance to pregnant women, Dr. Susan Donelan, medical director of the epidemiology department at Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital, said: "I can understand the Brazilian Health Ministry being concerned about not leaving out any potential mechanism for transmission, even if it's theoretical."

"Brazil is in a particularly difficult position" given the scope of the country's microcephaly outbreak, she said.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights was asking governments in Zika-affected countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to repeal any policies that restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion.

"How can they ... not offer (women) ... the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish?" she said.

Pouilly gave the example of El Salvador, where about a quarter of women had experienced physical or sexual violence in the past year.

"So that also shows that many of these pregnancies are out of their control and countries obviously have to take that into account," she said. Pouilly said that safe abortion services should be provided to the full extent of the law. "The key point is that women should have the choice and (make) informed decisions," she said.

The National Conference of Bishops in Brazil, the South American country hardest hit by Zika, had no immediate comment on calls to loosen abortion laws. However, in a statement issued Thursday, the bishops said that the World Health Organization's declaration earlier this week that Zika was an international emergency didn't justify abortion.

Meanwhile, U.S. health officials said men who have visited an area with Zika should use condoms if they have sex with a pregnant woman  for the entire duration of the pregnancy.

The guidance issued Friday also says men might consider abstaining or using condoms even if they have sex with a woman who isn't pregnant.

Zika virus disease is mainly spread by mosquitoes. But U.S. health officials detected a case of sexual transmission of the disease in Texas this week and in Brazil, officials said they had confirmed the virus was contracted via blood transfusions. For most people who catch the virus, it causes mild or no symptoms.

U.S. officials have recommended pregnant women postpone trips to more than two dozen countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Several Latin American nations have urged women to postpone pregnancies.

To date, the mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas.

One of those is Colombia, where health officials announced Friday that three people had died of Guillain-Barre syndrome after contracting the Zika virus. The country's National Health Institute director, Martha Lucia Ospina, said all three victims were confirmed to have been infected with Zika, adding that their deaths show the virus can kill.

Still, most international experts are cautious about whether Zika can trigger Guillain-Barre, a rare syndrome that causes paralysis, because other infections and conditions can lead to the illness.
And now for the other independence View(s):

Another independence day  the 68th since we gave the British the brush off or so some say  has come and gone. The bugles are silenced. The swords are back in their scabbards, the soldiers back in their barracks. The high and the mighty who sat on the stage on Galle Face Green have returned to their state  provided homes in Colombo or wherever, their duty seemingly done. The countrys freedom and sovereignty are in safe hands.

There was some early flutter in the official dovecotes when it was deduced that the suns rays would get in the way of public appreciation of the nations great leaders as they sat on stage with the solemnity the occasion demanded or when they sang the national anthem in two languages for the first time since the days of Don Stephen Senanayake, independent Ceylons first Prime Minister.

The public of course might have a different view of things. The public might see it as a blessing in disguise had the faces remained unnoticed or unrecognisable. For then the citizenry would be spared looking at those who pledged from other platforms a year or more ago they would ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.

The rhetoric in independence day speeches would wish us to believe that the country is on the march to the sound of horn and drum to greater glory as a united nation where every race and religion and every individual would be treated equally and with dignity, in which the law will prevail over the lawless and political delinquency would be replaced by adherence to a strict code of moral values.

But as T.S Eliot said about the plays of John Webster one must look at the skull beneath the skin. Alas, the skull on view is not a pleasant sight. It seems that independence is not just a highly misunderstood term but deliberately twisted and turned to suit the cravings and desires of individuals and groups. Freedom to perform some actions is often equated with the independence to do anything.

Some days ago the Daily Mirror, the sister paper of the Sunday Times, carried two news reports of hotels and restaurants in southern Sri Lanka that cater only to foreigners and refuse to provide service to Sri Lankans. Last Sunday this newspaper carried a further report of the national/racial discrimination that Sri Lankans suffer in their own country at the hands of owners and staff of hotels and restaurants, especially in Mirissa which was the local area in the spotlight.

Maybe it is happening elsewhere too but has not been highlighted in the national media. There was a time when local people complained they had not been admitted to some tourist hotels and cafes located in the Galle Fort.

The most recent news reports were accompanied by photographs which displayed the names of the businesses that refused to serve local customers. Incredibly the picture of a place called Rams Surfing Beach carried with the Sunday Times story unashamedly stated on its name board by the roadside that it was for foreigners only.

While the leaders of this country join hands to celebrate our freedom from colonial rule, they seem unable to free their people from national (one presumes) entrepreneurs who are permitted free rein to turn Sri Lankans into second class citizens in their own country.

This is apartheid of a special kind where presumably local owners of these establishments refuse to serve local people while pandering to the needs of foreigners. This type of discrimination against Sri Lankans has been practised for several years. But it was mainly in the first two or three decades after independence. There was a time when the Colombo Swimming Club in Colombo 3 would not admit locals as members.

If I remember correctly this issue of discrimination against local citizens was raised in the old parliament by the sea. After much agitation when the doors of membership were finally thrown open to all it was W.P.G Ariyadasa, who was then either the Minister of Health or Local Government who became president under the new dispensation.

The Queens Club on New Bullers Road was another exclusive club that did not admit locals. Eventually that too had to change its colonial ways, white faces giving way to an occasional brown/ coloured one. If my memory serves me correct the Queens Club premises was later the venue for the sittings of the Criminal Justice Commission trying the JVP leaders of the 1971 uprising.

It was understandable that in post-colonial times there would still be a club or two (the Nuwara Eliya Hill Club was one such I think) that were the exclusive preserve of the white business community, the planter class and western diplomats. But under political and social pressures they underwent change and adapted themselves to the new circumstances. What is happening at Mirissa and other such places is to reverse history by once more establishing preserves for foreigners to the total exclusion of the people of this country.

It is shameful and disgusting that 68 years after freeing ourselves from Western rule some Sri Lankans are still bowing and scraping before foreigners under one dubious excuse or another. It raises a very fundamental issue. The Sri Lanka constitution forbids discrimination on grounds of race, religion, gender, colour etc. If that is so, how are those who run these tourist places allowed to violate the very basic law of this country with such impunity that they could advertise their discrimination so publicly or at the doorstep when locals seek service?

The state institutions that are mandated to supervise the tourism industry in this country and ensure that they adhere to a code of conduct seem to be looking the other way if they look at all.

If these authorities argue that there is no code to prohibit hotels and restaurants from declining to serve a particular class of persons or that they are not parties to such a code if it exists, then should they not be required by law to fall in with a code of conduct that should be established to prohibit such blatantly unacceptable behaviour?

How such hotels and restaurants, because they cater to foreign tourists, can be allowed to brazenly violate the constitution without any state institution hauling them before the law is shocking and is an insult to the people of Sri Lanka.

If nothing else at least fundamental rights cases should be filed against the owners and managers of such establishments to stop them from getting away with such despicable conduct.

There are also those in saffron-coloured robes who use the sanctity of their attire as a convenient cover to sow mayhem on the streets and the law courts. They exploit the respect that local people have for the robes of a monk to violate not only the sanctity of the teachings of the Buddha himself but also the laws of this country in the name of freedom and the independence to act as they wish because they belong to the monkhood.

One is constrained to ask what value could be attached to such freedom if those who are supposed to preach the value of moderation, non-violence and compassion as taught by the Buddha actually preach hatred and engage in violence by word and deed while others in the name of protecting Sri Lankas image openly discriminate against the majority of its people.

As for the trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns and others who somersault with such dexterity performing on the political stage the less said the better for the mental health of the nation.
Meeting a deepening challenge of credibility View(s):

The 20th century essayist and philosopher George Santayanas caustic observation that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it may well have been specifically tailored for Sri Lanka. This is true not only for politicians who are generally characterised by a singularly bovine stupidity but also for many others whose capitulation to political agendas is deplorable.

A common focus in securing justice

Last year, with the routing of the Rajapaksas, the several United Nations Resolutions committing Sri Lanka to securing justice for war time atrocities remained a foremost challenge. Ideally this should have been coupled with a strong law centered determination in bringing corruptors to justice. Both aspects may have been part of one process, bringing the people into the centre of change. Public support for this would have been overwhelming across the country, with the firm relegation of the Rajapaksa support base to the sidelines.

There is an important common focus in both processes. This is the cleansing of the defiled Augean stables of Sri Lankas police and prosecutorial agencies. In that regard, I do not use the term defiled lightly. This is not to say that honourable individuals do not serve in these agencies. On the contrary, the system works in such a manner that honour and dignity have little place in decision making. Currently there is public scrutiny of the pending appointment of Sri Lankas Attorney General. The subversion of the prosecutorial role is neither recent nor intermittent. It has been well documented before courts as well as during Commissions of Inquiry, most recently by a senior police officer who pointed to the active role played by a particular senior state law officer in obstructing the inquiries of the 2006 Udalagama Commission.

The conflict of interest arising by a state law officer advising failed police investigations and then assuming the role of chief legal advisor of the very body mandated to inquire into those investigations was obvious. This was stressed by two retired judges of Sri Lankas Supreme Court who gave a legal opinion at the time. It is regretful, however, that none of the Commissioners possessed the basic courage to speak forthrightly on these matters, either then or later. This is what the culture of silence means in this country.

Isolation of honourable state and judicial officers

That said, we would be fooling ourselves to think that a single appointment (even that of the Attorney General) would dent Sri Lankas impunity culture. Last year, state officers who acted in accordance with the law retreated in disorder under the yahapalanaya (good governance) establishment. When state counsel demanded answers from the army in inquiries of gross human rights abuses of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims (examples being Ekneligoda, Thajudeen and the several enforced disappearances of Tamil civilians), outrageous pressure was brought to bear on them.

Comparably, several brave magistrates have distinguished themselves in their refusal to yield to crude pressure. One example is the Homagama magistrate who meted out appropriately severe treatment to the leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), following his threatening the magistrate, the lawyers and the wife of the victim in the Ekneligoda disappearance case. The judicial officer publicly lamented the pressure that he had been subjected to. These were unprecedented assertions given that judges generally observe the highest rectitude on the bench.

Credibility of the political authority

Above all, the Ministries of Justice and Law and Order which stand in an immediately supervisory position to these agencies, need to be like Caesars wife, not only above suspicion but seen to be above suspicion as well. But even given Sri Lankas torrid past, the Wickremesinghe-Sirisena coalition Government has not succeeded very well in that respect. The Avant Garde controversy cast serious aspersions against the previous holder of the Law and Order Ministry and the incumbent Minister of Justice. These controversies are still unresolved.

But we see the denial of systemic impunity at the very highest levels of the political authority. President Sirisenas recent denial to the BBC that the army high command was obstructing inquiries into highly controversial cases is a case in point. By scornfully dismissing concerns raised by family members and even by the court as wrong, the President pandered to domestic politics and abandoned the mandate on which he was elected.

If more decisive political leadership had been evidenced, President Sirisena may have been justified in claiming to foreign news agencies that Sri Lanka has sufficient local independent mechanisms to ensure accountability. But his administrations performance during the past year has not proved that claim. Sri Lankans themselves can scarcely be blamed for feeling legitimately skeptical.

Fundamental challenges before us

As much as we may want it, Constitutions alone cannot solve the countrys problems. And we appear to have perfected the art of impeccably drafted laws which defeat considerations of justice in their practical workings. Esoteric constitutional reforms are always rendered helpless when confronted by structural impunity

It must be recognised that the report of the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) on which the 2015 United Nations Resolution was based, was not of such a gentle nature as is sought to be made out. The OHCHR concluded that horrific crimes of a systemic nature had occurred both during conflict and afterwards which if established in a court of law, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, and give rise to individual criminal responsibility.

These are not conclusions that can be shrugged aside with an airy wave of a Presidential hand. While symbolic gestures such as the national anthem being sung in Tamil on Independence Day is well and good, these are not the hard questions before us. Indeed, the very fact that there is a debate on this is due to the monumentally racist idiocies of the Rajapaksas. Energy need not be wasted overmuch on the same. There are far more serious tasks in hand which also cannot be glossed over by the arrest of a Rajapaksa sibling or two.

Undoubtedly the key challenge for this Presidency and this Government is how to meet public expectations if it is to avoid a deepening crisis of public credibility emanating from the North to South. In the alternative, Sri Lanka will be once more swamped by internal crisis and external pressure which, in the midst of a worsening economy, will certainly have catastrophic consequences.
And now for the other independence THOUGHTS FROM LONDON BY NEVILLE DE SILVA View(s): View(s):

Another independence day  the 68th since we gave the British the brush off or so some say  has come and gone. The bugles are silenced. The swords are back in their scabbards, the soldiers back in their barracks.

The high and the mighty who sat on the stage on Galle Face Green have returned to their state  provided homes in Colombo or wherever, their duty seemingly done. The countrys freedom and sovereignty are in safe hands.

There was some early flutter in the official dovecotes when it was deduced that the suns rays would get in the way of public appreciation of the nations great leaders as they sat on stage with the solemnity the occasion demanded or when they sang the national anthem in two languages for the first time since the days of Don Stephen Senanayake, independent Ceylons first Prime Minister.

The public of course might have a different view of things. The public might see it as a blessing in disguise had the faces remained unnoticed or unrecognisable.

For then the citizenry would be spared looking at those who pledged from other platforms a year or more ago they would ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.

The rhetoric in independence day speeches would wish us to believe that the country is on the march to the sound of horn and drum to greater glory as a united nation where every race and religion and every individual would be treated equally and with dignity, in which the law will prevail over the lawless and political delinquency would be replaced by adherence to a strict code of moral values.

But as T.S Eliot said about the plays of John Webster one must look at the skull beneath the skin. Alas, the skull on view is not a pleasant sight.

It seems that independence is not just a highly misunderstood term but deliberately twisted and turned to suit the cravings and desires of individuals and groups. Freedom to perform some actions is often equated with the independence to do anything.

Some days ago the Daily Mirror, the sister paper of the Sunday Times, carried two news reports of hotels and restaurants in southern Sri Lanka that cater only to foreigners and refuse to provide service to Sri Lankans.

Last Sunday this newspaper carried a further report of the national/racial discrimination that Sri Lankans suffer in their own country at the hands of owners and staff of hotels and restaurants, especially in Mirissa which was the local area in the spotlight.

Maybe it is happening elsewhere too but has not been highlighted in the national media. There was a time when local people complained they had not been admitted to some tourist hotels and cafes located in the Galle Fort.

The most recent news reports were accompanied by photographs which displayed the names of the businesses that refused to serve local customers.

Incredibly the picture of a place called Rams Surfing Beach carried with the Sunday Times story unashamedly stated on its name board by the roadside that it was for foreigners only.

While the leaders of this country join hands to celebrate our freedom from colonial rule, they seem unable to free their people from national (one presumes) entrepreneurs who are permitted free rein to turn Sri Lankans into second class citizens in their own country.

This is apartheid of a special kind where presumably local owners of these establishments refuse to serve local people while pandering to the needs of foreigners.

This type of discrimination against Sri Lankans has been practised for several years. But it was mainly in the first two or three decades after independence. There was a time when the Colombo Swimming Club in Colombo 3 would not admit locals as members.

If I remember correctly this issue of discrimination against local citizens was raised in the old parliament by the sea. After much agitation when the doors of membership were finally thrown open to all it was W.P.G Ariyadasa, who was then either the Minister of Health or Local Government who became president under the new dispensation.

The Queens Club on New Bullers Road was another exclusive club that did not admit locals. Eventually that too had to change its colonial ways, white faces giving way to an occasional brown/ coloured one.

If my memory serves me correct the Queens Club premises was later the venue for the sittings of the Criminal Justice Commission trying the JVP leaders of the 1971 uprising.

It was understandable that in post-colonial times there would still be a club or two (the Nuwara Eliya Hill Club was one such I think) that were the exclusive preserve of the white business community, the planter class and western diplomats. But under political and social pressures they underwent change and adapted themselves to the new circumstances.

What is happening at Mirissa and other such places is to reverse history by once more establishing preserves for foreigners to the total exclusion of the people of this country.

It is shameful and disgusting that 68 years after freeing ourselves from Western rule some Sri Lankans are still bowing and scraping before foreigners under one dubious excuse or another.

It raises a very fundamental issue. The Sri Lanka constitution forbids discrimination on grounds of race, religion, gender, colour etc.

If that is so, how are those who run these tourist places allowed to violate the very basic law of this country with such impunity that they could advertise their discrimination so publicly or at the doorstep when locals seek service?

The state institutions that are mandated to supervise the tourism industry in this country and ensure that they adhere to a code of conduct seem to be looking the other way if they look at all.

If these authorities argue that there is no code to prohibit hotels and restaurants from declining to serve a particular class of persons or that they are not parties to such a code if it exists, then should they not be required by law to fall in with a code of conduct that should be established to prohibit such blatantly unacceptable behaviour?

How such hotels and restaurants, because they cater to foreign tourists, can be allowed to brazenly violate the constitution without any state institution hauling them before the law is shocking and is an insult to the people of Sri Lanka.

If nothing else at least fundamental rights cases should be filed against the owners and managers of such establishments to stop them from getting away with such despicable conduct.

There are also those in saffron-coloured robes who use the sanctity of their attire as a convenient cover to sow mayhem on the streets and the law courts.

They exploit the respect that local people have for the robes of a monk to violate not only the sanctity of the teachings of the Buddha himself but also the laws of this country in the name of freedom and the independence to act as they wish because they belong to the monkhood.

One is constrained to ask what value could be attached to such freedom if those who are supposed to preach the value of moderation, non-violence and compassion as taught by the Buddha actually preach hatred and engage in violence by word and deed while others in the name of protecting Sri Lankas image openly discriminate against the majority of its people.

As for the trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns and others who somersault with such dexterity performing on the political stage the less said the better for the mental health of the nation.
Poaching crisis: India admits strain on relations with Lanka By Chris Kamalendran and S. Rubatheesan View(s): View(s):

India yesterday admitted that the issue of its fishermen poaching in the Palk Bay was a strain on Indo-Lanka relations and decided to hold bilateral talks in New Delhi to find a solution before the end of the year  perhaps even within three months.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who co-chaired the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting on Friday said India recognised that the goodwill and friendship between the two countries had suffered a setback in recent years due to the poaching crisis.

Sri Lankas Fisheries Ministry Secretary W.M.M. Adhikari told the Sunday Times that Ms. Swaraj was of the view that a permanent solution should be found since the poaching was also destroying the marine resources of Sri Lanka.

As the fresh step to find a solution, Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera will lead an official delegation to New Delhi early next month.

Earlier several rounds of discussions on the poaching crisis were held by organisations of fisher folks of the two countries but without success. Now the talks are to be upgraded to ministerial level. Minister Amaraweera said that earlier there was a proposal by the Indian government that a three year grace period should be given to resolve the poaching issue. We cannot wait for such a long period, as we have been affected due to the poaching issue for more than 30 years, he said.

Ministry Secretary Adhikari said that at Fridays Joint Commission talks there was agreement on the need for a crackdown on bottom-trawling  a harmful fishing method where nets are drawn along the sea bed damaging marine resources.

We insisted that the poaching by Indian fishermen must stop at the very earliest, since it was affecting the livelihood of the local fisher folk while at the same time destroying valuable marine life in the Palk Bay and elsewhere, she said.

Ms. Adhikari said Sri Lanka hoped that the New Delhi talks would pave the way for a road map to end the crisis.

Meanwhile in a separate meeting held with the main opposition Tamil National Alliance, Ms. Swaraj had assured that poaching by Indian fishermen would be stopped within three months, TNA spokesperson M.A. Sumanthiran told the Sunday Times.

Mainly affected by the poaching are fisher folk from the North.

Mr. Sumanthiran said the TNA had raised several issues, including the loss of revenue to the local fishermen and damage caused to marine life. Meanwhile some 15 Indian fishermen and more than 70 vessels are in Sri Lankas custody after beingcaught fishing in Sri Lankas waters.
President calls for unity and brotherhood 68th Independence Day celebrations View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankas 68th Independence Day was celebrated on Thursday with a simple but colourful ceremony at the Galle Face Green in Colombo, with President Maithripala Sirisena calling on all citizens to work collectively in harmony, friendship and brotherhood to face the decades ahead.

President Sirisena in his address to the nation, recalled that, those who fought for the freedom of the country belonged to all communities and they all fought together, shoulder to shoulder in unity and brotherhood to win independence for the Motherland.

At this moment, when we have spent 68 years for the task of building our country, after the victory we achieved as a result of the struggle carried out by the national heroes of the decades of 1930s, and 1940s, in unity, irrespective of their religion, race or caste, we have to ask the question from our own conscience whether we have solved the problems left for us by those who invaded our country? he said.

The President said that, Almost every government which came into power gave priority to develop physical resources and to build the economy, but if they had fulfilled the task of building unity, reconciliation, brotherhood and friendship, the terrorism that affected the country for 26 years could have been avoided.

He also had a special word of praise for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives and limbs to defeat LTTE terrorism, and praised them for their courage, self-confidence and determination.

Over 9,000 military personnel representing the three Armed Forces, Police, Civil Security Dept, National Cadet Corps and the National Youth Corps participated in the National Day parade. A parachute jump by members of the armed forces was the highlight of the celebrations and was received with tremendous applause from those present.

A cultural show was held in the evening at Galle Face Green, as part of the National Day celebrations.

National Anthem in Tamil: Step in right direction, say Tamil politicos Sri Lanka Thaayae, the Tamil version of the National Anthem Sri Lanka Maatha was sung at the Independence Day celebrations in Colombo after a lapse of 64 years.Schoolchildren representing all communities sang  Sri Lanka Thaayae at the closing ceremony bringing to end weeks of speculation as to whether both versions of the National Anthem would be sung. Even though there was some opposition to it being sung in Tamil, the move was widely welcomed by the main Tamil Political Party the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran was so moved by the gesture that he visited the Naga Viharaya in Jaffna town and offered flowers and prayed at the temple. He told journalists, If the Sinhalese people take one step in the direction of the Tamil people, my people would take ten steps in their direction. National Dialogue Minister Mano Ganeshan was among those who welcomed the move. Yes its a very small act, but one that goes long way forward, he said on Twitter. Namo Namo Maatha was adopted as the National Anthem of the country in 1952 and it was translated to Tamil by M. Nallathamby, a famous Tamil poet. The words were changed from Namo, Namo Maatha to Sri Lanka Maatha in 1961 and has been sung so since then.

Unity in diversity: Scenes from the cultural showPopular singer Sunil Perera and renowned opera singer Kishani Jayasinghe two of the performers at the cultural show that saw many dance items too (right). Pix by Anuradha Bandara
Letting the music take control Dr. Tanya Ekanayake talks to Namali Premawardhana about her original compositions in her debut album, Reinventions: Rhapsodies for Piano View(s): View(s):

Tanya Ekanayaka, Sri Lankas linguist-musicologist-pianist-composer based in Edinburgh is getting great reviews for and made it to the Naxos Critics Choice page in December 2015 with her debut album Reinventions: Rhapsodies for Piano.

The album was composed, performed and produced in its entirety by her. While Tanyas compositions are solid in their classically-influenced structure, and brilliant in their performance, they are also uniquely endearing and nostalgic in their Lankanisms.

So far, my works have evolved spontaneously when I am at the piano and have remained frozen in my memory thereafter, she says, describing what seems like an instinctive process of receiving compositions. They are not written down in any way.

Despite the seemingly mystical (hence Rhapsodies) nature of the process, Tanya points very confidently to a musical principle which forms the basis of the compositions in this album.

This principle, which is explained in detail in the album booklet, is a short and clear motif in each composition that brings together tonal centres of a number of well-known classical pieces which she may put together for a particular performance.

These pieces include works by Bach, Chopin, Ravel, Debussy and a host of other loved composers, and so each of my works may serve to facilitate connectivity between other potentially diverse works of a performance, she explains.

But Tanyas work brings not only diverse classical works together, but also cultures and genres. The compositions which make up Reinventions are heavily classical in their structures and devices (Tanya was trained as a classical pianist from a very young age), but ring clearly of Sri Lankan melodies.

Dhaivaya especially seems almost simply a re-arrangement of the popular Danno Budunge also known as Hymn for Sri Lanka.

Vannam (Gajaga, Mayura and Hanuma) and You on the other hand takes three vannam which are overused as compositional centres in Sri Lankan music, and plays refreshingly with the tonal and rhythmic possibilities they offer.

There is a flirtatiousness and lightness of drama in this piece which we are not used to associating with these vannam, creating the sort of healthy disconcerting any intelligent work of art should produce.

To me it is simply a reflection of the homogeneous manner in which different kinds of music reside within a person, she says, speaking of this amalgamation of genres and styles found in her compositions.

Traditional and popular Sri Lankan musics were very much a part of my wonderful school environment, Tanya reminisces. Similarly, western classical music, jazz, country and pop music were among the main genres constantly playing at home.

It is these memories from her childhood and youth at home that form the primary source of emotional inspiration for the composer.

I find myself travelling through a series of sometimes unrelated personal narratives whenever I play one of the works, she explains.

There is one [piece] in which I find myself as a young girl perched on an Araliya tree moments before discovering an unusual multi petal Jasmine flower and next find myself an adult in Edinburgh staring at the hues of the rainbow which greeted me on my first morning in this city.

I grew up in a Sri Lanka at war and so there is also a work in which I relive my own experience of the war in Sri Lanka as well as my first-hand experience of the insurrection in 1989.

These memories Tanya describes are charged with diverse emotions, giving the album a pattern of highly dramatic moments intertwined with mellow singing ones.

I never set out to evoke any particular emotions, she says. Whatever evolves does so from deep within me as part of a very natural inclination and is almost beyond conscious control

And so she waits for the music to take control, to be ready to record again, before thinking of another album. Teaching and performing are all part of my life, she says, speaking of her plans for the near future.

I also hope that I will have an opportunity to further develop my Sri Lanka Music Composition Project this year.

Tanya is currently in Hong Kong adjudicating the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival and will return to the UK to give a solo recital at the Turner Sims Concert Hall and possibly conduct a master class for music undergraduates in April as part of the University of Southampton Concert Series.

Tanya Ekanayakas debut album Reinventions: Rhapsodies for Piano was commissioned as part of the Naxos Grand Piano label and is available for download at www.naxos.com.
There are expats who arrive in India and ensconce themselves in a bubble of comfort, usually in gated communities until it is time to return to their respective home countries. And then there are those like Benjamine Oberoi who are not fazed by the rich chaos that is India, choose to embrace the local culture, and impact the lives of the poor by empowering them, either directly, or through NGOs.

This week, H E Francois Richier, Ambassador of France to India, bestowed her with an award  the French Honour of Officer of the National Order of Merit in recognition of the work she has been for the past 35 years.

The intimate ceremony, held at the Bangalore French Consulate in the presence of her friends and family was a grateful acknowledgement of her work that has spanned decades, countries and continents. The sentiment that came through to the gathering, as the French flag fluttered on the open terrace of the consulate and the Ambassador pinned the medal on her lapel was that one can be an ambassador of change despite linguistic and cultural differences.

It has been 37 years since the French born, Bejamine first came to India. A brief visit in 1978 was soon followed by a scholarship programme at NIMHANS as part of her PhD on Child Develop-ment and Psychology. She met and married her husband, Bhushan Oberoi, a restaurateur and soon after started two foundations; Objective France-Inde (OFI), in 1998, registered in France and Casa Foundation in 2011, registered in India. Chanelling the services and skills of volunteers and donations, she collaborated with organizations like SEVAI, HUT, BOSCO and GRAMIUM, OFI, in Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu. The Oberois also run a bed and breakfast in a charmingly restored heritage home, Casa Cottage in the heart of the city.

Clad in a cotton salwar kameez, over six feet tall, blonde and with a distinctly foreign accent, Benjamine cuts an incongruous figure, whether she is cuddling HIV-infected children or striding through the fields of Tiruchirapalli, to supervise the watershed management projects. Language is never a barrier. There is always someone to translate, she shrugs, I am also a consultant for funding agencies, I work closely with NGOs, I monitor the progress of the projects we work on and keep abreast of government schemes and help NGOs leverage them effectively. Our guests at Casa Cottage donate Rs 100 towards the Casa Foundation. If every business gave a tiny portion of their income towards a cause we would have enough to go around, she says earnestly.

Her journey thus far has not been easy. There are myriad challenges  finding the right people to keep the projects up and running, travelling to remote areas in the scorching heat, creating a synergy for international agencies and interns to pool in their resources, all the while running her business in Bengaluru full time.

But her enthusiasm is apparently limitless. Every little bit adds up. And it also helps that I see things not as they are, but as they could be, she signs off.
Divyansh's father claimed that injuries were found on the body of his child and accused the school authorities of shielding the accused in the case. (Photo: Twitter)

New Delhi: Delhi government on Sunday said that it will recommend a CBI probe into the death of a Ryan International School student following his father's allegations that he was sexually assaulted and then killed.

A magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi Government into the case said that "deliberate" inaction by the school authorities amounted to "gross criminal negligence" which led to the death of the child.

"We will definitely recommend CBI probe into death of Devansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe. Devansh's parents levelled serious allegation," Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said.

Sisodia, who has the education portfolio, had said on Saturday that the magisterial probe into Devansh's death indicated towards a "heinous crime" and that the investigation so far has "ignored" the observations of the child's parents.

Read: Ryan student's father says he was sexually assaulted

He also claimed that no police official has met the parents of Devansh so far. A senior government official said that "Once Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal comes back from Bengaluru, which is scheduled today, the CBI probe will be recommended after proper consultations".

Father of the boy, Ramheet Meena had on Saturday alleged that injury marks were seen on his body including on private parts. Meena said he saw cotton swabs on the child's private parts and alleged that the principal of the school has threatened the family to keep quiet over the issue.

He reiterated his demand for a CBI probe into the case. "I saw the body. There were some injury marks and cotton on his private parts. The principal has been threatening me since the beginning saying that keeping quiet will be good for me," he said, demanding cancellation of the school's license.

However, a senior police officer, handling the probe, had ruled out sexual assault on the basis of the initial post- mortem report and investigation so far.

Devansh was found dead in the reservoir under the amphitheatre of the school located in South Delhi, on January 30. The initial postmortem report suggested he died of drowning and no external injuries were found, police had said.
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The Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca County is the largest operating landfill in the state. An employee was killed in an accident there Saturday morning, police said.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com)

SENECA FALLS, N.Y. -- An employee was killed Saturday morning in an accident at the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca County, authorities said.

Seneca Falls police said that just before 11 a.m. officers were called to the landfill at 1786 Salcman Road in the town of Seneca Falls. The Seneca Falls Fire Department, North Seneca Ambulance, state troopers and the county coroner also responded.

An employee was hit by a tractor-trailer combination that was unloading at the site, police said. The victim was not identified pending notification of family.

Police said they are investigating the incident with the cooperation of the Seneca Meadows Landfill. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating the fatality.

Seneca Meadows is the largest operating landfill the state and a major employer in Seneca County. The 2,600-acre site has several facilities including a 350-acre solid waste landfill that accepts trash from several states.
Bee3.jpeg

Lizzie Lucas faced off against Griffin Marriner for 10 consecutive rounds.

(Photo by Dan Poorman.)

From left: Spelling bee coordinator Justine Leathley, 2016 winner Lizzie Lucas, host Lena Pringle, 2016 runner-up Griffin Marriner and word pronouncer Johanna Keller.

After a grueling 17 rounds, an eighth grade student from Christian Brothers Academy won the oral round of the WCNY/Syracuse.com/The Post-Standard Spelling Bee Saturday afternoon.

Lizzie Lucas, 12, managed to defeat Griffin Marriner, a seventh grader from Fulton, who faced off against Lizzie for 10 head-to-head rounds after the bee's first seven.

"We've got two excellent spellers here," word pronouncer Johanna Keller announced at around 4:30 pm. "We're in overtime. Isn't it exciting?"

Thirty-five students from Cortland, Madison, Oswego and Onondaga Counties competed in this afternoon's bee, which clocked in at almost three hours.

Lucas will represent the CNY region and compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. this May.

"I'm in shock," Lucas said. "I can't wait to go to Washington, D.C."

To prepare, Lucas said she studied words in Scripps' official Spell It! packet, as well as a list of difficult outlying words prepared by her mother, Deborah. She added that she and her family also watched the 2006 film "Akeelah and the Bee."

"That was our main spelling bee pump-up movie," Lucas said.

Lucas, who turns 13 Sunday, said winning Saturday's bee was the perfect birthday present. Her winning word was "seismism," a noun with Greek origins meaning "earthquake phenomena," as defined by Webster's Third Dictionary, page 2057, column 2.

"We just learned about earthquakes in science class," Lucas remarked.

Lucas was quick to congratulate Marriner after their suspenseful 10-round volley. Marriner said this year's words were significantly challenging, and that he surprised himself.

"I was amazed that I didn't come in second earlier," said Marriner, who added that he intends to qualify and try for first prize at next year's bee.

Both spellers' parents said they were "incredibly proud" of their daughter and son.

"We're overjoyed," Deborah Lucas said.

The spelling bee was broadcast live on WCNY. Judges were Tom Boll, representing the The Post-Standard | syracuse.com, Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College and Mark Murphy representing The Post-Standard I syracuse.com. Lena Pringle was the host.

Spelling Bee Round-by-Round Placement

35. Katie Purcell - misspelled "poi" in Round 1

34. Sehej Bajwa - misspelled "Slav" in Round 1

33. Caleb Porter - misspelled "cockatoo" in Round 1

32. Regan Dauenhauer - misspelled "maraca" in Round 2

31. Grace Bauman - misspelled "cleanser" in Round 2

30. Daniel Zhang - misspelled "access" in Round 2

29. Victoria Sgarlata - misspelled "pitchblende" in Round 3

28. Carter Leonard - misspelled "rhetoric" in Round 3

27. Cooper Ponto - misspelled "provolone" in Round 3

26. Devin Kobasa - misspelled "vernacular" in Round 3

25. Samantha Engst-Mansilla - misspelled "hypocrisy" in Round 3

24. Alea Denny - misspelled "chassis" in Round 4

23. Angelique Young - misspelled "babka" in Round 4

22. Lukas Ward - misspelled "koan" in Round 4

21. Rebecca Blumental - misspelled "blitzkrieg" in Round 4

20. Eric Leubner - misspelled "cynical" in Round 4

19. Delia Fedele - misspelled "perturbed" in Round 5

18. Shivam Nanavati - misspelled "harrumph" in Round 5

17. Jake Nardozza - misspelled "accrual" in Round 5

16. Joshua Wilk - misspelled "stomacher" in Round 5

15. Afiya Rahman - misspelled "tartan" in Round 5

14. Lauren Gascon - misspelled "insincerity" in Round 5

13. Xavier Plourde - misspelled "axiom" in Round 6

12. Jonathan Clarke - misspelled "pillory" in Round 6

11. Brian Kenny - misspelled "beneficence" in Round 6

10. Giorgio Rawda - misspelled "balkanize" in Round 6

9. Chloe Devendorf - misspelled "hotelier" in Round 6

8. Michael Jia - misspelled "presentiment" in Round 6

7. Snigdha Patra - misspelled "dyspeptic" in Round 6

6. Bianca Gascon - misspelled "commodore" in Round 6

5. Rory Mastine - misspelled "acuate" in Round 7

4. Thomas Stamey - misspelled "histamine" in Round 7

3. Jessica Georges - misspelled "cinnabar" in Round 7

2. Griffin Marriner - misspelled "codicil" in Round 17

1. Lizzie Lucas (winner) - correctly spelled "seismism"


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Syracuse City School board member Dan Romeo stands in front of Fowler High School, where he volunteered numerous times, including as a chaperone on a field trip to Green Lakes State Park.

(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Dan Romeo took a crash course in the Syracuse City School District as he pondered running for a seat on the board of education last spring.

Romeo signed up as a volunteer with the district. His journey into 17 of the district's 34 schools involved taking out trash, monitoring halls and chaperoning field trips.

Sometimes he just observed students in class or teachers conferring among themselves.

The 25-year-old city firefighter, who has lived in Syracuse all his life, ran for school board because he is "genuinely interested in the future of our city," he said. "I think our schools drive how our community does."

A Catholic school graduate himself, Romeo readily admits he had a lot to learn about the district of 21,000 students. He said he couldn't picture himself seated alongside fellow board member David Cecile, a former Syracuse high school principal, unless he did his homework.

Romeo's time in the schools made him optimistic about serving on the board, to which he was elected in November. Romeo soaked up a lot of information but didn't see anything that couldn't be fixed.

Here are six lessons he learned:

Disruptions

During one middle school visit, where Romeo was observing a classroom, a girl kicked a box of books at him.

She had been in a verbal dispute with other students, kicked the box, and the books went flying in his direction. She left the classroom in a huff. Romeo followed her into the hall to see what was wrong and she quickly apologized.

Romeo said he thought this behavior was representative of a larger problem plaguing Syracuse schools: a bad environment in which to teach and learn. Throughout his visits, he had several books and pens thrown in his direction, he said.

He was also in school buildings during more serious incidents, including one time when a teacher was punched by a student, he said. The majority of the problem, according to Romeo, was a general environment of "disruptiveness."

Restorative Justice

Romeo attributed the disruptive environment in many schools to tensions arising from the state's order for the district to change its discipline policy.

Syracuse schools were suspending students, particularly black and disabled students, at disproportionate rates. In response, the district adopted a new code of conduct that embraced "restorative justice," a discipline philosophy that emphasizes repairing damage done by bad behaviors over punishment, or a "zero tolerance" policy.

Romeo saw restorative justice in practice in Behavior Intervention Centers, known as "BIC rooms." Students involved in conflicts spend time in BIC rooms writing reflections, talking to teacher's aides, or taking part in restorative justice circles, where victims, perpetrators and witnesses talk through conflicts. Romeo did not observe a circle.

Romeo is a supporter of restorative justice. Without a background in education, he said he didn't feel comfortable evaluating whether restorative justice as he saw it was effective, but he said he was glad to see the system in place.

"At least we are trying something, and we're trying to make a difference here," he said.

He said a lot of the feedback he'd received from school staff was that there weren't enough of those rooms, resources and staff.

"I understand that the people in the schools just don't feel supported. They just struggle."

Construction affects education

West Side Academy at Blodgett is scheduled for a $17.9 million partial renovation during the second phase of a schools construction plan funded by the state.

Thank goodness, Romeo said.

Blodgett was passed over in the first phase of the construction plan, though it was widely considered to be in the worst physical shape of all the district's schools because of decades of neglect.

Romeo said the building is old and outdated. It's not just that the physical structure is in rough shape, he said, but it's not conducive to learning in the 21st century.

Other buildings, like Henninger High School, were built in the '70s, when windowless, open concepts were in vogue. Walls were later added to those buildings to divide them into classrooms, but there are still few windows.

You can feel the difference between those buildings and others that have been remodeled, Romeo said.

"It looks great, it feels great, it has things that make learning and teaching more fun," Romeo said. "They are wonderful places to be in."

Extended day is exhausting

Research presented at school board meetings (which Romeo has attended since he started volunteering in the schools) led Romeo to think extended learning time was a great idea.

Yet, seeing extended schools days in practice, Romeo was concerned about how exhausted teachers appeared and how zoned out students became.

The 12 city schools to add extended learning time to their schedules have hired community partners like Red House Arts Center and the Museum of Science and Technology to teach classes to students while teachers attend training.

Most of the schools keep an 8 a.m. to 3:30 or 4 p.m. schedule under the extended day.

"I see that everybody's working hard," Romeo said. "But especially the length of the day, teachers and students are just exhausted. Kids ... can't pay attention for that long."

Rigid curriculum saps creativity

In a kindergarten class, Romeo saw a teacher struggling with an English language arts lesson.

Afterward, the teacher told him of her frustrations over changes to curriculum under the state's Common Core standards.

"They felt very limited, and said, 'I don't necessarily agree with this way of teaching. My freedom, my ability to teach the children in this classroom is conflicting with the fact that I have to follow these guidelines.' "

Romeo said the experience will help him, as a board member, to consider whether grants and initiatives pushed by the state would be appropriate for Syracuse schools.

"We have enough challenges in the district," he said. "Why are we making more change, more work for ourselves? OK, we may get a ton of grant money but what does that do for us when things are constantly changing and we're at [the state's] mercy?"

What to do with a school board member?

When Romeo set up his visits with school principals, many welcomed him and put him to work, but others weren't sure what to do with someone running for school board. Some schools contacted district administration.

According to Romeo, the district's central office told him he was making school staff feel uncomfortable, and that he couldn't spend the whole day in a school.

District policy states:

"Unless specifically authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Education, an individual Board member has no right to make an official visit to the schools for the purposes of inspecting the schools, gathering information, or giving directions to any employee of the schools."

Romeo said he hopes the board discusses the policy.

"As a board member, if I don't go into the school ... I would never have understood the real situation, just based on what I hear in meetings," Romeo said.

You've heard Romeo's experience visiting Syracuse schools. What has yours been? Leave a comment below or email jmcmahon@syracuse.com.

Reporter Julie McMahon covers public education and Syracuse city schools. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
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TALLAHASSEE  Skyrocketing health care costs paid by taxpayers and minimal contributions from Florida's 173,000 state workers and retirees have prompted the Legislature to search for ways to bring down costs for health insurance.

This year, taxpayers contributed $1.7 billion toward the State Workers' Health Self-Insured Trust Fund to cover the health care costs of public workers and retirees  nearly double what they spent a decade ago. But state workers contributed only $167 million toward their own health insurance coverage, according to a report prepared in August by the Legislative Division of Economic and Demographic Research.

The staggering increase in the cost of health care routinely has depleted reserves in the trust fund, and lawmakers regularly add extra cash for a quick fix, but now they are looking for a long-term solution.

POSSIBLE REMEDIES

One remedy is sponsored by Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, and would offer state workers options of less costly insurance with a much higher deductible than the most popular plans currently offered by the state.

'If you're 24 or 25, and you don't need a Cadillac plan like a full-blown HMO, then maybe you can save a little money and take a lower-level plan,' Brodeur said. 'The point is we want to give people a choice other than two plans that cost exactly the same.'

Proponents of the bill say it could save state workers from facing increased premiums. Matt Puckett, director of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Brodeur's plan would allow the 4,000 law enforcement officers he represents to avoid seeing cost increases similar to the private sector.

'Eventually that problem will be passed on to our members,' said Puckett.

Opponents say the state was luring people into plans that would limit access to health care. Jamie Court, president of the insurance advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said a high deductible plan that saves the state money might seem attractive on paper, but it could leave someone with few options when they get sick.

'Higher deductibles are usually a bad omen of things to come,' Court said. 'I think the higher deductibles are there to create a disincentive to not get medical attention, but what's worse is the size of the network they give you.'

insurance PLANS COMPARED

Like the state, private employers paid more for health insurance over the past 10 years, but those increases were shared with employees. A report by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation showed the cost for health insurance carried by private employers nearly doubled for employers and employees from 2003 to 2013.

The state of Florida currently offers two plans  an HMO and a PPO  that come with the same monthly fees of $50 for a single enrollee, $30 for a spouse and $180 for a family. The HMO carries no deductible, but it will only pay for medical providers within a network. The PPO is more expensive, with a $250 deductible for single enrollees and $500 for a family. Unlike the HMO, the PPO will cover some costs for visits with providers outside a network.

Both plans also include largely the same co-payments and prescription plans. The vast majority of the 360,821 enrollees and family members covered by the state's group insurance plan are in the HMO and PPO plans.

There also are high deductible versions of the HMO and PPO plans, but only 700 people have applied for them as of this year. Premiums for those plans paid by employees are about half as much, but the state pays the same price.

'Something tells me that there's something wrong if no one is applying for those high deductible plans,' Brodeur said. 'That tells me we need a change.'

HB 7089 offers four levels of plans  bronze, silver, gold and platinum  that are defined by cost. Platinum plans would be similar to the state's current HMO and lower level plans will offer lower premiums for less coverage and higher deductible. Prices for the plans will be determined by an independent benefits consultant.

DEFICITS LOOM

The State Employees' Health Self-Insurance Trust Fund serves as a clearinghouse for medical claims made by state workers and it's facing dreary predictions due to an unexpected 14 percent increase in claims for pharmaceutical drugs and an increase of about 1,000 dependents in the HMO plan. Those issues left the fund with no reserves for the coming fiscal year 2016-17, and a potential $76 million deficit in fiscal year 2017-18.

Lawmakers each year regularly balance the fund with more cash from taxpayers, but the size of the deficit is still predicted to grow. It could face a $977 million deficit by fiscal year 2019-20. A decade ago, the projected deficit was about $200 million, according to a legislative report.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said the Legislature is on track to keep up with the fund, but change will be required for the long run. An option would be to offer plans that could slow expenses to the trust fund.

'Health insurance continues to go up whether it's Medicaid or private sector or state group health and the ability to fund them is getting much more difficult,' Lee said. 'I think there's a lot of smart ideas coming out of the House that will help people choose the best plans for themselves and their families.'

Lee went on to say he has no interest in raising rates for state workers.

'While the cost of health care continues to go up  and there are some structural issues about the size of the burden  I think the idea is to make sure we don't raise the cost of the plans,' Lee said. 'There are other ways to address that type of problem.'

OTHER STATES IN SAME BOAT

Florida is not alone in its bid to revamp its state worker health insurance. Like Florida, other states see benefits as a way to keep employees on board. A stronger economy has led to more private sector jobs, which left public sector jobs struggling to persuade employees to put up with notoriously low pay, said Joshua Frenzel, vice president of research for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence in Washington, D.C.

'If you look at the lower unemployment rate, the job market has become more competitive and so have some of the benefits packages,' Frenzel said. 'If you're a public sector employer, you're at a strategic disadvantage in the labor market, so it may be a way to retain some advantage.'

An analysis Frenzel published in June showed that since 2011, 53 percent of 336 state and local hiring managers across the country switched from legacy insurance plans similar to Florida's for more comprehensive packages.

This is Brodeur's third try at the bill, which failed last year because it did not have a Senate companion. It's paired this year with SB 1434 by Jeff Brandes, R- St. Petersburg, which has yet to be heard in a committee hearing.

The bill passed its first hearing Jan. 21 in the House Health and Human Services Committee that Brodeur leads, with a vote of 17-3.

Arek Sarkissian covers the Florida Statehouse for Treasure Coast Newspapers, the Naples Daily News and the Tampa Tribune. Contact him at arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com.
Sources informed that security has been tightened around the premises of his residence and police is also trying to keep sharp vigil on some of his family members. (Representational image)

Patna: In a major crackdown against Naxalites the state police on Sunday picked up Tilka Manjhi University proctor from his residence for questioning.

According to reports Dr Vilakshan Ravidas was detained after two hardcore Naxalites took his name during interrogation. Though the Professor has denied all allegations, according to the police, he was picked up for giving patronage to Naxalites; we are trying to establish his links with the two arrested Naxa-lites.

The two Naxalites were picked up from Bhagalpur in the morning after which during a long interrogation they informed the police regarding professors role.

The police later raided the professors private residence from he was picked up. According to sources the two nabbed Naxalites also identified the room in which they along with other Naxalites had stayed during their visit.

The police also recovered a pistol, few cartridges and Maoist literature from the possession of the two arrested Naxalites. Sources informed that security has been tightened around the premises of his residence and police is also trying to keep sharp vigil on some of his family members.
A dreadful virus is currently destroying bee populations all over the world, and its spread is being blamed on the transport and trade of bees for crop pollination.

Millions of bees are being wiped out by the deformed wing virus, a devastating disease carried by honeybees' worst enemy - the Varroa destructor mite.

In a new study, scientists have discovered that the Apis mellifera, a European honeybee, is the source of the terrible bee disease. How so? The global trade of bee population plays a crucial role in the disease's transmittance.

Dr. Lena Bayer-Wilfert, the study's lead author, said bees are traded as a commodity to improve stock quality or start new bee colonies.

"Whole hives have also been moved as part of a kind of developmental aid - this is actually a great thing, but historically has contributed to the rapid spread of Varroa," explained Bayer-Wilfert.

What Humans Can Do To Save the Bees

Experts have been looking for effective ways to save the declining population of these insect pollinators.

In May last year, the White House unveiled its plans to reverse the trend of dying bee populations.

As part of their initiative, the White House will seek to increase the size of pollinator inhabitants, establish seed banks for bee-friendly plants, and encourage the training of bee scientists.

In a letter, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Gina McCarthy of the Environmental Protection Agency said that expanding the conversation about the condition of bee populations through education and outreach contribute to reversing pollinator declines.

Aside from that, their strategy will involve building public and private partnerships in order to engage all sectors of society. Working together will be essential in achieving the goal.

There's good news, too. A study published in October last year found that a key ingredient found in beer can save the population of bees. The ingredient has the ability to kill Varroa destructors.

Still, Bayer-Wilfert said eliminating Varroa or introducing resistant honeybees is impossible to do at such a short duration, but the control of these mites and good beekeeping practices can limit its negative effects. She also suggested that international regulations on honeybee movements should be adhered to.

A Global Collapse

Researchers have linked the Varroa destructor mite to a phenomenon called "colony collapse disorder," in which a bee colony mysteriously dies off.

According to scientists, the Apis mellifera on its own does not threaten the bee population, but when the Varroa destructor mite strikes and eats the bee larvae, the virus hits the bee and ends its life.

If the virus were occurring naturally, it would have taken place between countries with close geographical proximity. The deformed wing virus, however, was located in New Zealand.

Apparently, the virus was transmitted through the international shipment of the Apis mellifera from Europe to the Pacific country.

"This is the first study to conclude that Europe is the backbone of the global spread of the bee-killing combination of deformed wing virus and Varroa," said Bayer-Wilfert.

The sudden death of millions of bee populations has severe economic and ecological consequences. Plant populations that depend entirely on honeybees to produce fruit generally suffer as a result of the colony collapse disorder.

At the same time, honeybees are extremely important to the pollination of human food crops. According to the White House, more than 90 percent of commercial crops in North America rely on honey bee pollination.

Without these insects, global food production would also crumble.

Photo: Karunakar Rayker | Flickr

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google currently buys data center server chips from Intel. However, it may replace Intel with chipmaker Qualcomm if the latter's chips meet performance standards.

A report cites sources familiar with the matter and says that Google may publicly confirm support for Qualcomm chips soon.

"Google, the main unit of the world's most valuable company and biggest buyer of processors that run server computers, is planning to publicly give its support to early versions of Qualcomm's chips at an investor event next week, according to people familiar with the matter," says the publication.

The demand for personal computers has been decreasing in the last few years, adversely affecting Intel's revenues. Loss of business to Qualcomm may damage the company even more.

Qualcomm is the biggest mobile phone chip provider in the world. Qualcomm currently produces chips used in most of the non-Apple smartphones. Smartphone sales have been constantly increasingly in the last decade and analysts suggest that by 2018 the smartphone market will witness sales of up to 1.8 billion units.

Qualcomm's entry in the in the data-center market will open new business prospects for the company. Analysts estimate that Google's decision in choosing a new chip-maker for its data centers will have a significant impact on both Qualcomm and Intel.

Google has been making investments in its data centers and 2016 will be nothing different. Analysts predict that Google could purchase up to 1 million server units in 2016, with each server containing two processors. However, it is highly unlikely that Google will use Qualcomm's chips in all its servers.

Currently, Intel supplies over 99 percent of all processors used in servers. Entry of new players such as Qualcomm will result in lost sales for Intel. Google opting for San Diego based-Qualcomm chips will have an adverse effect on Intel's business and analysts forecast the chipmaker's revenue to decrease by up to $1.3 billion or about 10 cents per share.

Half of Intel's operating income comes from the server business. Bloomberg cites IDC data and reports that Google purchases about 300,000 computer chipsets every quarter from Intel, making it the biggest customer to Intel after Hewlett Packard and Dell.

Although competition between Intel and Qualcomm is expected to increase in the near term, Google may benefit from nurturing rivals and keep its expenses down.

Google has not yet officially confirmed if it will start procuring data center server chips from Qualcomm, so such rumors should be treated with a pinch of salt.

Photo: Maurizio Pesce | Flickr

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The 2016 edition of the Samsung Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 handsets recently went through Bluetooth SIG certification, meaning that the two devices will roll out soon.

It is no secret that the first edition of Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 was a success, marking Samsung's dedication to developing markets. The two smartphones hit the shelves in the summer of last year.

This year's Galaxy J5 and J7 appeared in vast number of leaks, the latest of which indicates that the phones passed through the Bluetooth SIG page. The J5 and the J7 were sent for certification at the beginning of 2016, which means that they will be market-ready in a few months.

The initial J5 and J7 came out in June 2015, and there are reasons to believe Samsung will give its customers one year between the new models arrive.

Looking at the rumored specs, the Galaxy J5 (2016) will probably host a 5.2-inch display capable of 720p resolution. It will take processing power from a four-core Snapdragon 410 CPU and 2 GB of RAM. Galaxy J5 (2016) should have a camera combo made of a 5-megapixel front selfie snapper and a 13-megapixel main camera on its back. The videos and photos that users will take will find their place in the 16 GB of storage of the device.

Specs of the Galaxy J7 (2016) are slightly more powerful. The phone purportedly features a 5.5-inch screen that displays 1080p resolutions, 2 or 3 GB of RAM and a formidable 4,300 mAh battery. There are two possibilities when it comes to the CPU of the J7: either it will be a Snapdragon octa-core or the new Exynos 7870 processor from Samsung. Some insider information points at the possibility that the device will sport a fingerprint sensor.

The Galaxy J5 and J7 from previous benchmarks show Android 5.1.1 as well as Android 6.0.1. Seeing how the devices could enter stores in June 2016, we might see Android Marshmallow loaded on them from the get-go.

If the two new models will take notes from the sleek design of the Galaxy J3 and will offer bang for the buck, Samsung might set a powerful foothold in up-and-coming markets.

As soon as we have more details about the affordable devices from Samsung, we will let you know.

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Edgar Mitchell passed away on Feb. 4, 2016 on the eve of the 45th anniversary of his moonwalk in 1971. His passing made Mitchell the fifth moon walker to die since the Apollo project ended. In all, 12 people, all astronauts from NASA, walked on the lunar surface 1969 and 1972.

Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the Moon, passed away on Aug. 25, 2012, at the age of 82. The NASA astronaut and Perdue University graduate was 38 years old when he made his famous giant leap for mankind on July 21, 1969.

Buzz Aldrin followed Armstrong down the steps of the Eagle during the Apollo 11 mission. After returning to Earth, the Air Force pilot went back to the service in a managerial position. However, struggles with depression and alcohol drove the former astronaut back into private life. Aldrin has been a popular guest on interview shows, talking about his travel to the Moon. He also helped launch the graduate program in space studies at the University of North Dakota, and assisted in the development of a video game in 1993, Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space.

Pete Conrad was the third man on the Moon, setting down on Nov. 19, 1969 during the Apollo 12 mission.

As commander of Gemini XI, Mr. Conrad helped to set a world's altitude record. He then served as commander of Apollo XII, the second lunar landing. On Mr. Conrad's final mission, he served as commander of Skylab II, the first United States Space Station, NASA officials report on his official biography page for the space agency.

He passed away in July 1999, at the age of 69, from injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident.

Alan Bean accompanied Conrad on the mission, and he later went on to serve as spacecraft commander of the Skylab Mission 2 from July to September 1973. He retired from NASA in 1981 to dedicate his life to painting. The 83-year-old Navy veteran is still alive today.

After the successful failure of Apollo 13, Alan Shepard, the first American in space, touched down on the Moon's surface on Feb. 5, 1971, along with Mitchell on the following flight. The trip to the Moon was just his second time in space. After his return home, he continued to serve NASA until 1974. He passed away in July 1998, at the age of 74.

David Scott was the first Apollo 15 astronaut to touch foot on the Moon, on July 31, 1971. He was one of just three Apollo astronauts to orbit the Earth, as well as travel to the Moon.

James Irwin accompanied Scott on the mission. After the flight, NASA discovered the crew brought stamps onboard the flight without permission. Some of these were sold to a German stamp dealer in order to provide a trust fund for the children of the crew. The space agency assigned them to non-flight positions. Irwin passed away in 1991, following a series of heart attacks.

John Young of Apollo 16 was one of two astronauts to fly the first space shuttle mission, once again making history.

Charles Duke, now 80 years old, accompanied Young on Apollo 16. Both astronauts, who walked on the lunar surface in April 1972, are still alive in 2015.

The last flight to bring humans to the Moon, Apollo 17, touched down in December 1972. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, the only scientist to walk on the Moon, are still alive, and retired.

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Rumor mills suggest that it is almost time for gravitational waves aka ripples in fabric of spacetime

For quite some time now, rumors are swarming on social media that the newly upgraded Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), has finally seen the gravitational-wave signature of two stellar-mass black holes spiralling together and merging. Looks like the scientists behind the LIGO are finally getting ready to reveal their latest findings.

The author says he got the information from people who have seen the manuscript of the LIGO paper that will pronounce the discovery.

This is just from talking to people who said theyve seen the paper, but Ive not seen the paper itself, says Clifford Burgess, a theoretical physicist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in nearby Waterloo. Ive been around a long time, so Ive seen rumors come and go. This one seems more credible.

According to Burgesss email, which found its way onto Twitter as an image attached to a tweet from one of his colleagues, LIGO researchers have seen two black holes, of 29 and 36 solar masses, swirling together and merging. The statistical significance of the signal is supposedly very high, exceeding the five-sigma standard that physicists use to distinguish evidence strong enough to claim discovery.

LIGO consists of two gargantuan optical instruments called interferometers, with which physicists look for the nearly infinitesimal stretching of space caused by a passing gravitational wave. According to Burgesss email, both detectors spotted the black hole merger with the right time delay between them.

In an email to Geekwire, Fred Raab, the head of the LIGO laboratory in Hanford, Washington said, As we have done for the past 15 years, we take data, analyze the data, write up the results for publication in scientific journals, and once the results are accepted for publication, we announce results broadly on the day of publication or shortly thereafter.

That would be significant, in part because it would confirm one of the most elusive predictions of Einsteins general theory of relativity, and it would also open a new field of cosmic observation: gravitational-wave astronomy. It would also open up a new gap on extreme cosmic phenomena, including merging black holes and clashing neutron stars.

All of this as of now remains speculation until the LIGO team announces its latest resultswhich according to Burgess, could possibly happen next week. If this is true, then you have 90% odds that it will win the Nobel Prize in Physics this year, Burgess says. Its off-the-scale huge.

On being questioned why he sent an email to his entire department, Burgess told Science that he particularly wanted to share his excitement at the news with students. Its one of those big events where the students may be a little bored by what they are doing in class but they may be excited by this, he said.

Source: Sciencemag
Mumbai: Ahead of his disposition before a special Mumbai court on Monday with regards to the 26/11 terror strike, the main accused in the case, David Coleman Headley, has reportedly confessed Pakistan armys role in the attack.

According to reports, Headley, revealed to the NIA during an interrogation that the terror strike was conducted with the help of Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed.

Adding that attacks were executed with the help of ISI, who provided the finance for recce, Headley said that residence of the Vice President, India Gate and CBI office in New Delhi were other potential terror targets that he had surveyed.

Revealing that he was handled by Pakistan ISI's Major Iqbal and Sameer Ali, he also said that LeT's Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi's handler was ISI Brigadier Rivaz.

Headley is set to depose before a special Mumbai court on Monday and reveal the sequence of events and planning behind the 26/11 terror attacks.

It is for the first time in the Indian legal history, one foreign terrorist would give his evidence through video link and his evidence will be recorded. And I feel his evidence is most useful because that may unfold many things behind the terror attack of 26 November, senior public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

Highlighting the importance of the evidences that are expected to be brought to fore by Headley, Nikam said, The evidence of David Headley is important for two reasons. One of the Indian terrorists Abu Jindal who was in Pakistan and against whom the trial is pending. So, David Headley may give the broader aspect of the criminal conspiracy. The second aspect of the evidence of David Headley would be that why the conspiracy was hatched, who were the persons behind the criminal conspiracy and how it progressed with ultimately a huge death toll of 160 persons.

We expect that David Headley would give his revelation. Because on oath he is going to give the revelation as he has made a commitment before the American court, he added.

Headley (55) was pardoned on December 10 and made an approver by additional sessions judge G A Sanap who presides over special cases related to terrorism, including those under the now repealed TADA.

Headleys maps and videos helped ten Pakistani fidayeens land by sea on Mumbais shores and launch one of the audacious attacks on the financial capital, killing more than 166 people and injuring 300.

Between November 26 and 29, 2008, terrorists rampaged through two five-star hotels Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace, Jewish outreach centre at Nariman House, Cafe Leopold, all in Colaba, besides Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Cama and Albless Hospital.

While nine terrorists were killed during the response operations, a lone gunman Ajmal Kasab was caught alive, tried and hanged at Punes Yerawada jail on November 21, 2012.

The FBI had arrested Headley in October 2009 at OHare International Airport in Chicago while on his way to Pakistan. US district judge Harry Leinenweber of the United States district court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago, sentenced him to 35 years in prison for his role in Mumbai attacks on January 24, 2013.
KOCHI: Senior congress leader A.K. Antony has finally rallied behind Chief Minister Oommen Chandy by stating that he would not like to trust the allegations leveled by a person accused in several criminal cases.

Speaking to reporters in Kochi on Saturday, the Congress Working Committee member chided the Opposition for demanding the resignation of the government and obstructing public functions of Mr Chandy.

"The Opposition should have the tolerance to wait for the report of the (Solar) commission. It is a basic democratic propriety as the commission was set up on the demand of the opposition," he said.

The Congress leader also insisted that all matters connected with the allegations can be discussed in the Assembly. "The Opposition has every opportunity to raise these matters in the Assembly and they should show the patience to listen to the reply from the government," he added.

Describing the five-year rule of Mr Chandy as the best in terms of economic development of the state, Mr. Antony said that the UDF is poised to come back in to power.

"People are watching everything and I am sure that they would make judgment after comparative assessment of the achievements of the government and the Opposition. In such a situation, the UDF will be given a chance by the people," he said.

Mr Antony, who evaded all pointed questions against the Chandy regime by taking refuge in the submission of the report by the commission, however said that the BJP will be politically irrelevance for the forthcoming assembly elections in the state.

"The contest is between UDF and LDF. BJP is not anywhere near winning elections in the state. They are struggling to open an account in the state", he said.
Gadkari said the vessels built at Cochin Shipyard would be of international standards. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: All set to make its maiden foray into catamaran manufacturing, Cochin Shipyard will build four such popular vessels, used for cruising and other purposes, for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

This follows the state-owned company's recent feat under which it will build cryogenic carriers that transport natural gas frozen in liquid form after a pact with GTT France, the world leader in design and technology provider of containment systems for transportation of LNG.

"Cochin Shipyard is building four catamarans for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The vessels should be ready in about two to two-and-a-half years," Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari told PTI.

This is done under 'Make in India' drive and the vessels would be used for cruising and other purposes, Gadkari said. The cost of the vessels, according to an official, is estimated at about Rs 1,400 crore.

The move will not only ease transportation hardships faced by the people of Andaman and Nicobar but would also give a fillip to cruising in the area. No new ships were acquired during the last 10 years by Andaman and Nicobar administration and the situation led to difficulties for passengers as well as tourists.

Gadkari said the vessels built at Cochin Shipyard would be of international standards.

Catamarans are popular among charterers, cruisers, and even casual sailors and have a multi-hulled watercraft design featuring two parallel hulls of equal size with much space.

Cochin Shipyard, incorporated in 1972, can build and repair the largest vessels in India. It can build ships up to 1,10,000 DWT and repair ships up to 1,25,000 DWT. The yard has delivered two of Indias largest double hull Aframax tankers each of 95,000 DWT.

Cochin Shipyard has secured shipbuilding orders from major companies from Europe and Middle East and is nominated to build the country's first indigenous Air Defense Ship.

Gadkari has recently urged US industrialists to invest in seaplanes in India, saying, "We want to encourage seaplanes. A small nation like Maldives has a fleet of 47 seaplanes but

India despite having vast potential has none. I urge industrialists from the US to come to India in the area. Here is the potential."

He said developing waterways would be a game changer for the Indian economy and his government was according top most priority to develop inland waterways comprising rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and backwaters which extend to about 14,500 km across the country.

Gadkari said that a number of steps were taken to bring India among the league of advanced nations whose economy thrived on waterways development.

Despite waterways being a cleaner and cheaper mode of transportation, unfortunately only 3.5 per cent of the cargo is transported through this mode in the country as against 44 per cent in Japan and Korea, 40 per cent in Europe and 47 per cent in China.
Experts say that a ban on plastic bags will also help combat air pollution. ( Representational Image)

New Delhi: The city government is open to allowing "biodegradable" plastic carry bags in the national capital and may convey this to the Delhi High Court which had stayed a complete ban on their use in 2012.

The Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government had issued a notification in October 2012 banning manufacture, sale, storage, usage, import and transport of all kinds of plastic carry bags.

The notification was challenged in the High Court by plastic manufacturers and the government is awaiting orders of the court so as to be able to implement the notification effectively, a government official said.

The AAP government wants a review of the decision which it said is being exploited to encourage rampant use of polythene bags. The court is slated to hear the matter soon.

"Delhi is a big consumer of plastic carry bags. It is not only choking drains and subsequently the Yamuna but also adversely affecting the functioning of water treatment plants. We are open to all solutions like allowing the use of biodegradable bags if that helps in reinstating the ban," a senior government official said.

The 2012 notification had expanded the scope of the ban and had done away with distinction between degradable and non-biodegradable plastic carry bags.

The former are built with material which let them degrade in the presence of oxygen and sunlight. Although a few studies in the US and UK have disputed the claim, saying that lack of sunshine and high humidity comes in the way of their molecular breakdown.

"A city-based scientist has informed us that under available technology in India such plastic bags have to be burnt under 100 degrees Celsius for seven straight days for them to degrade. We will consult other experts," an official said.

Experts say that a ban on plastic bags, which is already in force in neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, will also help combat air pollution as garbage lands up in landfills which add to levels of particulate matter as well as noxious fumes when fires are lit there.
Arturo Murillo swindled the Bolivian state in 2019, when the U.S.-backed regime was trying to repress workers, farmers, and students. | Read More
New Delhi: Forcing a transgender person into beggary may soon be treated as an act of "atrocity and violence" against them.

In a significant move, a chapter detailing a series of offences which shall be treated as atrocity and violence against trangender people has been added to the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015, redrafted by the Social Justice Ministry.

The offences include forcibly removing clothes of a person of the transgender community, parading them naked or committing any act that is derogatory to human dignity, and compelling or enticing a transgender to beg or do similar forms of forced or bonded labour other than any compulsory service for public purposes imposed by government.

It also includes wrongfully dispossessing a transgender from his or her land or premises and forcing or causing a transgender to leave house, village or other place of residence.

Intentionally insulting or intimidating with intent to humiliate a transgender person in any place within public view, assaulting or using force on them to dishonour or outrage their modesty, denying the right of passage to a place of public resort and preventing them from using such a resort which others members have a right to use or access will fall within the ambit of atrocities.

"The Bill has been redrafted and new chapters and provisions have been included following inputs from stakeholders concerned during the pre-legislative consultation meeting held on January 18. The Bill will now be sent to Law Ministry," said a senior official of the Social Justice Ministry.

Besides, as per the redrafted Bill, the Union government will, by a notification, constitute a National Council for Transgender Persons to advise central and state governments on the entire gamut of issues related to transgenders for improvement of their quality of life.
Lucknow/New Delhi: Government on Saturday dismissed as "false and baseless" the allegation of senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met underworld don Dawood Ibrahim during his Lahore visit.

"There are some statements alleging that the Prime Minister met Dawood Ibrahim in Lahore at the residence of PM Nawaz Sharif. It is unfounded, baseless and false," an official spokesman said on Saturday reacting to Mr Khan's statement.

While the BJP attacked Mr Khan, even a Congress spokesperson attached no importance to it saying it cannot be believed.

"Prime Minister visited Pakistan by breaking international laws. He also met Dawood there. Let him (Modi) deny. I will give evidence. Who all did he meet behind closed doors?" Mr Khan said.

He said besides Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, his mother, his wife and daughters, Dawood Ibrahim was also present when PM Modi met Sharifs during his surprise visit on Christmas last year.

BJP's Sudhanshu Mittal asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to "immediately" dismiss the minister. "If Akhilesh means business, he should immediately dismiss him for disturbing communal harmony and brining shame to the nation. I am shocked," he said.

Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said Mr Khan has been in public life for a long time and he should not have made the statement without substantiating it.

"We may have differences with a lot of personalities but that does not mean we believe in whatever is said," he said adding that Mr Khan is the same person who asked UP policemen to trace his buffalo.
Congress accuses TRS of EVM tampering

Hyderabad, Feb 7 (INN): Having suffered a humiliating defeat, the Congress party on Sunday accused the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi of tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the GHMC elections.



Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, TPCC Chief Spokesperson M. Shravan Kumar and ex-Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy alleged that there were sufficient reasons to suspect that the EVMs used during GHMC polls were tampered. They said that the EVMs were not enabled to get connected to a printer while all other EVMs, used in other parts of the country, have that facility. They said all EVMs used in Bihar and Delhi elections were connected to a printer. They alleged that the ruling party tampered the EVMs to turn the results in its favour.



The Congress leaders also accused the TRS of indulging in large-scale irregularities. They said a complaint has already been lodged with the Central Election Commission in this regard. They also condemned the non-availability of NOTA (None of the Above) option in the GHMC elections.









News Posted: 7 February, 2016








Under tight security and in the presence of French President Francois Hollande, the Stade de France opened its gates on Saturday for the first time since the stadium was targeted in the deadly attacks which struck Paris in November.

Around 64,000 rugby fans gathered to watch the Six Nations match between France and Italy at the country's biggest sports venue, situated in the Parisien suburb of Saint-Denis.

Hollande had been rushed out of the stadium during an international soccer match on the evening of Nov. 13 last year, when coordinated attacks claimed by Islamic State on bars, restaurants and a concert hall killed 130 in the French capital.

That night, three suicide bombers also blew themselves up outside the stadium where the game between France and Germany was being played.

"I wanted to come back for the first event since these terrible attacks because life must go on, we must not give anything up, and at the same time we must be even more rigorous in terms of security," Hollande told France 2 television at half-time.

Ahead of Saturday's match, side accesses to the stadium, located to the north of the city, were blocked and all spectators were searched twice before entering the premises as dozens of riot police vans were parked outside.

"I feel safe because we've been searched several times, it's a good thing. Life goes on, there's a good atmosphere," Salvatore Signorelli, an Italian national who lives in France, told Reuters. Frederic Boeuf, 50, said: "It's important that you can go to a stadium safely. Sometimes you go to a stadium, to an event where everyone goes through without being searched. At least here you can come with your family." "We're not used to seeing so many riot police vans ahead of rugby games but its reassuring," said Gerard Risacher, president of the French rugby fans associations.
By Neelima Choahan and Josh Gordon

Murrumbeena residents will launch a second day of protests over the Andrews government's plan to build what they call a "shoddy" elevated railway line nine metres above street level in Melbourne's south-east.

Dozens of bureaucrats scrambled to door knock more than 500 houses on Saturday night just hours before the state government announced plans for the massive rail viaducts.

The elevated rail lines will be part of a $1.6 billion project to remove railway crossings on three sections of line from Caulfield to Cranbourne and Pakenham.
Nasreen said that a democracy based on pseudo-secularism was not a true democracy at all. (Photo: PTI)

Kozhikode: Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen does not feel that India is an "intolerant" country and wondered why secularists in the country were questioning only Hindu fundamentalists.

She also said that a democracy based on pseudo-secularism was not a true democracy at all. "I don't think India is an intolerant country. Most of the people are quite tolerant for each other's faith, I think", she said at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode last evening, joining the debate over 'intolerance'.

The author, living in exile in India after incurring the wrath of fundamentalists back home over a novel written by her in 1994, said, "The laws in the country (India) do not support intolerance. But there are so many intolerant people in the country."

Responding to a question, she said, "Why secularists in India were questioning only Hindu fundamentalists while leaving alone Muslim fundamentalists."

"True conflict in India was between secularism and fundamentalism, between innovation and tradition and between people who value freedom and who do not", she said.

"All religions were anti-women though distortions caused by fundamentalists added to it", Nasreen said explaining her struggle against fundamentalism. Holding that religion should be kept separated from government, she said influence of religion in lawmaking has caused "oppression" of both Hindu and Muslim women in Bangladesh.

More than 150 writers of national and international repute are taking part in the four-day festival, which concludes on Sunday.
The second plot Mr Valls cited involves a 27-year-old Chechen arrested in December in the town of Tours, who had featured in a video threatening to attack police. French police officers patrol on the Champs Elysees in Paris. Credit:AP "Networks have been disrupted. Numerous individuals have been identified and placed under surveillance," Mr Valls said. He insisted that the government's proposals would "in no way alter the conditions that currently justify imposing a state of emergency - on the contrary it will place strict controls on the motives for instating and prolonging it". A man identified only as Younes, 29, who says he is unjustly under house arrest, in Goussainville, north of Paris. Credit:AP

The declaration of emergency rule, based on a 1955 law, has given the French Interior Ministry and security forces unprecedented powers to ban demonstrations, carry out warrantless raids and restrict people to their homes and neighbourhoods under "assigned residency" without judicial oversight. The measures had an impact on public events surrounding the recent Paris Climate Conference. Planned rallies expected to include hundreds of thousands were cancelled using powers to restrict public gatherings. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve visits Rue de la Republique in Saint-Denis, France, on November 18 after a raid on an apartment there which killed a number of those suspected of carrying out the November 13 Paris attacks. Credit:Getty Images Twenty-six climate activists were confined to their homes for the duration of the summit without warrants or charges being laid. In total around 400 people have been subjected to assigned residency since the November attacks, according to Amnesty International. French authorities claimed this was necessary because dealing with the climate protesters would distract them from preventing further terrorist attacks.

Investigating police officers inspect the body of a victim of the November 13 attacks outside the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, France. Credit:AP Mr Perolini said that Amnesty's research has found the emergency powers have been used in many cases with very little evidence. The evidence is often provided by France's intelligence services and Interior Ministry and is rarely challenged by the courts. "There are people being targeted for house searches and assigned residency on the basis of very vague reasons. There was the case of a person targeted for assigned residency accused of being an Islamist who was not even Muslim. Another person is a freelance consultant and he is now under assigned residency and cannot leave his town to work." A protester holds a banner reading "Stop the state of emergency" in Paris. Credit:AP The consultant, a father of three, who spoke to Amnesty under the name "Karim", is suspected of having contact with people involved in militant activity in Syria whom he claims to barely know.

More than 3200 warrantless searches of properties have been carried out since the attacks, according to Amnesty's research. So far only three terrorism-related investigations have resulted from these searches and charges have been laid in only one case. Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll on Wednesday defended plans to renew the emergency period, stating "it has been useful and must continue to be. The terrorist threat is still very high". Another proposed amendment for French dual nationals convicted of terrorism to be stripped of their citizenship led to the dramatic resignation of justice minister Christiane Taubira, who refused to support the measure. Laws to strip dual citizens of their citizenship are already in place in Australia. Mr Valls said the rule would apply to all citizens "without distinction based on birth, the way nationality was acquired or holding one or several nationalities", without offering more explanation.

Prominent Australian barrister and refugee advocate Julian Burnside was in Paris during the Charlie Hebdo shootings a year ago and compared the reaction to that attack and the November 13 atrocities. "The response to Charlie Hebdo was surprisingly peaceful, rational and restrained in contrast with the reaction in November. You don't defend your freedom by giving it away. There's a real risk this will become the new norm," he said. Dr Burnside also voiced suspicion of the French government's linking the use of its new powers to prevent demonstrations and restrict activists to their homes during the Paris Summit to the fight against terrorism. "If they did that in the immediate aftermath of an emergency situation, it seems like a plausible explanation. If they keep on doing it, it gets less and less plausible. That excuse can only last for a fairly short time," he said. To be adopted, the constitutional amendments will require either a three-fifths majority in the National Assembly or a successful referendum.
Rather than shooting or poisoning foxes at Jerrabomberra Wetlands, land managers are learning to live with them.

Dr Mike Braysher, who led tours of the wetlands on Sunday, says foxes like living with people, and in the wetlands cannot be poisoned because of risks to other animals.

Sophia Kesina, 8, of Chisholm, has a view of the wetlands from a bird hide. Credit:Graham Tidy

Ninety per cent of the fox population was waiting in reserve in case any of the top order ones died or left their territory, Dr Braysher, of the wetlands nature reserve's management committee, said. Take one out and there were many more young foxes to replace them.

Dr Braysher said research into a four-year intensive baiting program elsewhere in Australia showed no impact on fox numbers. "All that happened was a massive re-invasion," he said during one of the tours that marked World Wetlands open day at Jerrabomberra Wetlands.
The public would be "appalled" to know that the government was subsidising such an "inhumane and unethical" industry to the tune of $1 million a year, he said.

"Greyhound racing is an outdated industry that promotes the exploitation of dogs, endorses cruelty to animals and encourages problem gambling," Mr Rattenbury said, calling for the ban at a rally at Glebe Park on Sunday.

ACT Greens parliamentarian Shane Rattenbury is calling for a ban on greyhound racing in Canberra and an end to the $1 million in government subsidies to the industry each year.

Mr Rattenbury holds the balance of power in the ACT parliament, with the Labor government relying on his vote to stay in power. He said the Greens membership was pushing for the ban, and he would now take it to cabinet to try to persuade Labor.

Shane Rattenbury has called for a ban on greyhound racing in Canberra. Credit:Karleen Minney

He would also consider a private member's bill and said he wanted the issue dealt with before the election if possible.

Given his crucial role in the Labor Government, Mr Rattenbury has the power to force decisions, but he said his approach was to use persuasion rather than "the nuclear option" of felling the government to get his way.

"It's a matter of convincing colleagues that these are the right steps to take to deal with this," he said. "What we want to eliminate is the profit side of greyhound racing, which is what drives these unethical practices in my view."
As the deadline nears for an appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport ban on the "Essendon 34", an AFL review of captain Jobe Watson's 2012 Brownlow Medal is expected to be delayed.

The Essendon supplements scandal appears set to continue for at least another year, with legal counsel for some of the banned players indicating they will appeal before the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

Banned Essendon player Jobe Watson with his 2012 Brownlow Medal. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

An appeal must be lodged by Wednesday.

After the CAS decision was handed down in January, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the commission would consider the Brownlow issue in February.
West Coast's prodigal son Ben Cousins is not taking on any kind of permanent role with his former club - but recently returned to the fold to support the child of another former Eagles favourite, the late Chris Mainwaring.

Social media clicked into overdrive in late January, when star Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui posted a photo to his 62,000-plus Instagram followers of a fit and healthy looking Cousins in West Coast gear.

At the time, West Coast said there was nothing unusual in Cousins' visit and that he regularly popped in to club headquarters.

But WAtoday understands Eagles officials were surprised to see the 2005 Brownlow medallist and that the visit coincided with a West Coast father-son day.
The Federal Court judgment, granting Dick Smith's administrators a six-month extension on holding its second creditors' meeting, included some interesting details.

According to the court documents, the Dick Smith directors, including chairman Rob Murray and former chief executive Nick Abboud, have fallen behind with their homework and have yet to provide a report as to the affairs of the failed companies in the group.

Dick Smith CEO Nick Abboud was appointed by Anchorage in 2012. Credit:Louise Kennerley

"The administrators have granted an extension to the directors until 29 January, 2016, to do so. The directors have submitted a request for a further extension until 19 February, 2016. The request is currently under consideration," said the court document.

The RATA might come in handy as the administrators try to determine what went wrong at the group "and to determine whether funds are available to be recovered or claims pursued".
Norway's influential sovereign wealth fund asked mining companies in its investment sphere to consider spinning out their coal assets in 2015.

The fund, which is a top five shareholder in BHP Billiton, made the request just months before BHP spun out South32.

The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has not named the miners it has asked to consider spinning out coal assets, but the list is likely to include BHP and Anglo American. Credit:Rob Homer

The coal push was revealed in the fund's 2015 annual report.

It also shows the fund divested from 73 companies in 2015 for ethical and governance reasons.
Elaine Gray, a 75-year-old retiree, received a letter from her employer of more than 20 years in late November 2014  and it wasn't an early Christmas card.

Inside the envelope were two bills from cleaning and catering company Spotless, totalling $12.54 and a letter saying she had been overpaid.

Elaine Gray, 75, with the final notice she received from Spotless' debt collectors for a bill that she had already paid. Credit:Pat Scala

Ms Gray was surprised to hear from the company, considering she had retired from its Cleanevent division four months earlier. But perhaps Spotless  the shares of which have more than halved since December after it warned investors of a big profit plunge  received a greater shock when she issued a bill of her own, and for a much greater sum.

Ms Gray is part of scores of employees who were underpaid by Spotless after it failed to pay them public holiday or shift allowances working at Flemington Race Course or the Australian Grand Prix during a 10-year period.
The lack of racial diversity in this year's Oscar nominations has generated a massive debate in the United States. Even in Australia, hours of media time have been spent on the controversy and yet few have asked the most relevant question: How is Australia faring on this issue? To quote an Academy Award-winning movie: "Houston, we have a problem."

Like America, Australia is a new-world country built on the back of successive waves of immigration. And like America, we are one of the most ethnically diverse nations on the planet.

But sadly Australian film and television still suffers from the "whitewash" effect, where programs have very limited cultural representations, and when they are made, they are blatantly tokenistic. Does anyone in Melbourne or Sydney live in an area as Anglo as Ramsay Street or Summer Bay? It is an Australia that no longer exists.

Except that in the real world we find the senior ranks of Australia's professions, parliaments, governments and companies are still largely a White Sausage Club. We don't just need more gender diversity, we need more diversity across the board. In the land of the "fair go" a person's race and gender is still a strong predictor of a person's success in life, or lack of it. In 2016, that is embarrassing and unacceptable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Bhubaneswar. (Photo: Twitter)

Bhubaneswar: Highlighting the importance of innovation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that innovation is the need of the hour, for every society and every era.

The Prime Minister also lauded scientists and professors for innovating newer ways of doing things.

"Our scientists and professors are always thinking about doing something or the other that is new. They are researching and innovating always. India's space mission has made a mark across the world. The moment innovation stops, systems lose their life. Innovation is the need of the hour, for every society and every era. Innovation is a need of every society and every generation," he said.

"It is important to develop scientific temper among our school students. This institute can play a major role in this," he said.

Modi, who was addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Jatani, Bhubaneswar, said that the campus must focus on contributing to saving the environment.

"Let us make this campus India's greenest campus. Apart from greenery, this campus should think about solar technology, zero discharge," he said.
Julian Assange's portentous announcement on Thursday that he would walk out of the Ecuadorian embassy and into the arms of the wallopers if the United Nations ruled against him achieved two things.

First, it reminded us that four years after Mr Assange sought and obtained asylum with the Ecuadorians in their pleasantly located mission near Harrods, he's still there, maintaining his role as the world's most awkward house guest.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's announcement that he would walk out of the Ecuadorian embassy achieved two things. Credit:Getty Images

Second, it established a perfect observation platform from which to marvel afresh at the rich impotence of the United Nations.

The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which has been investigating for some time Mr Assange's complaint that the Swedish and British governments' treatment of him amounts to an unfair deprivation of liberty, in fact ruled in his favour on Friday.
"I was well known around then because I had all these drug cases. If there was a drug case in the Northern Rivers, I was the one acting, and that was simply because I was a surfer and I was known, and it was surfers getting busted for marijuana," Brien told the writer Tim Baker. But it was not all drugs. He also got Byron surfer Garth Murphy off after Byron police had charged him for "exhibiting" an obscene article  he'd inadvertently left a key ring at the Bangalow post office bearing the image of the Charles Schulz hound Snoopy accompanied by the words "f--- off". Writer/photographer John Witzig recalled sitting next to an officer in the public gallery who whispered: "This is one place the surfies aren't going to take over." Local police were tough on four-letter words and stoned surfers but tended to be ignorant of the cultural change that was going on under their noses. Profits were so astronomical that the drug drug lifestyle transmogrified into the drug industry. However, it was not until the 1977 disappearance of Griffith anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay that Macquarie Street belatedly decided organised crime had a piece of the action and needed to be brought to heel. The following year, the Woodward royal commission into the NSW drug trade came to Byron Bay to investigate.

Brien was the star exhibit. He was accused of allowing his trust accounts to be used as a banker or financial agent for local drug traffickers and known drug offenders. Counsel assisting the NSW royal commission alleged Brien had put more than $6 million through his trust accounts, a huge amount of money at the time. Further, Brien was also accused of assisting a criminal client, Lawrence Hargraves, to remain at large by lying to the commission and destroying evidence. Locals were never sure whether the hearing were serious or theatre. For a start, some clients had particularly dodgy names: Lawrence Hargraves took his inspiration from the Australian kite pioneer, and nobody on the commission seemed to think it could have been code for "high as a ...". Brien did little to disabuse his fellow legal minds that they were players in a satire, performing like a slightly unhinged stage lawyer, later deeming the commission a "Star Chamber with little of the principles of British justice" and refusing to hand over his files, arguing they were privileged information.

His performance went down a treat with the locals who never forgot his heroics, but he was thrown into jail. Really Brien was between breaking rocks and hard men and he chose prison over being assaulted or worse. He served six months in 1979 after being convicted of contempt. He spent time in Long Bay and Grafton before being sent to a prison farm at Glen Innes. In prison, Brien was accorded "respect" by fellow inmates for not squealing. "I was fortunate, I suppose, in that I went in in the best possible circumstances. That is, I went in, from the crim population's point of view, for failing to give someone up  almost unheard of among solicitors. So I was seen as what they called 'staunch'," Brien recalled. Jenny stayed with him during the hard years after prison but the relationship eventually broke down and they parted in 1986.

Struck off the roll of NSW lawyers after being jailed, Brien made some money selling real estate to newly arrived New Agers. He achieved a sort of red neck notoriety in the early 1980s when he flogged off waterfront acreage called Black Stump south of Byron that he had astutely acquired years earlier while in the legal trade to the American actor Shirley MacLaine for $350,000. One of the first high-profile New Agers to hit town, MacLaine wanted the beach for her personal use alone but the locals went ballistic, the government stepped in and the land is now defined as the Broken Head reserve. "I told her they'd be unlikely to agree," Brien said in 1993. "It would've meant cutting a road through a national park ... she later bought another property at Tallows Beach, where a similar thing happened. In the end, she sold both places and was never seen again" Brien never lost his 1960s pioneering surfer mien of doing things his way. He was a regular critic of the growing tendency by many new arrivals to Byron Bay to turn Green on any issue and was a faithful letter writer to the local newspaper. He remained a strong advocate of shark netting.
NSW Premier Mike Baird has announced the formation of special taskforce to crack down on the growing number of wines being enjoyed by the glass.

The $150 million project will see up to 100 officers assigned to the special division, which will come into force later this month.

Enough is enough.

Identifiable by specially-designed burgundy uniforms, the officers will patrol inner-city wine bars, restaurants and bistros with special powers to shut down a glass of wine before it is poured.

Funds will also be used to purchase equipment that can identify wine blackboards, wine lists and glassware.
The Turnbull government has made much of being the agent for a new age of enlightenment, believing in rational discourse and promoting "agility and innovation". How is the dismantling of the best climate science monitoring personnel, some of our brightest scientists, enlightened, progressive or rational? It seems like a great leap backwards. Surely it is, at best, extraordinarily unwise to sack the experts in the frontline. It will be difficult for others at the frontline  farmers and firefighters  to be "agile" in their planning if they no longer have the best scientific data and predictions available. Richard Davies, Burwood East Spinning around Malcolm Turnbull demonstrates such dizzying agility. In debate with himself, within one week, he has detailed first the pros and then the cons of a 15 per cent GST. On sending refugees back to Nauru, he has reiterated his determination to continue cruel deterrents while declaring compassion for those so treated. On science he defends cutting hundreds of scientists from CSIRO while asserting innovation and STEM are Australia's only hope for our exciting innovative future. Superannuation policy is simply spiralling as he ruminates on the run. Stop spinning, Mr Turnbull, lest you just make us sick, giddy and confused. Abbe Hartley, North Balwyn

Bring in the GST rise Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has done a great job in putting the GST and tax up for discussion. His comment that with any change the total tax collected will be the same disturbs me. Commonwealth tax receipts have been less than expenditure for some time, hence our massive interest bill. How can the budget balance unless more tax is raised? Increased tax from overseas companies is unlikely in the short term. Negative gearing is not being discussed seriously, no doubt because of politicians' self-interest. Even with reduced (eliminated?) benefits for high-income earners' superannuation contributions and increased demands for more health and education expenditures, which are really state responsibilities, it is hard to see the Commonwealth budget balance can come without increased tax receipts. A GST rise will assist greatly and once done it should stay for decades. It might also allow for a change in the cruel reductions in assets required to qualify for the pension, recently announced for application from 2017.

Howard Brownscombe, Blackburn Cut power ties Sam Dastyari hit the nail on the head by exposing the influence of 10 large corporations on Australian politics ("Labor senator Sam Dastyari claims 10 companies have taken control of Australian politics", 6/2). Hopefully more people will realise that democracy is not ensured just by voting in elections. The corporate interests that run the country are happy to pull the strings of their puppets we vote for, while they set the political parameters to ensure the continuation of their privileges. Despite the so-called tax debate, the tax system that protects the elite minority remains unchanged, having wasted millions of taxpayers' money on review committees. We need more voices to resist the tide and reduce the political and financial influence of corporate masters. Fethon Naoum, Portland Choppy seas ahead

"Police order Australian crew off ship" (6/2) is a sad tale of a federal government determined to destroy Australia's high-quality shipping industry in favour of cheap foreign labour. We will pay a huge price if we turn over this dangerous and essential transport industry to underqualified, underpaid and ill-experienced foreigners. My family has a long tradition of sea faring. Great Uncle Alan Villiers started in sailing ships between Hobart and Antarctica. My husband retires this month after 36 years as a master mariner on our coast and the Geelong tugs. Our son carries on the tradition, studying for his Master 1 ticket. To what avail? Where will all this hard-won Australian expertise end up? How short-sighted is this government when our country, without its own maritime workforce, remains isolated and vulnerable? Will it take a fuel embargo or a massive shipping disaster before we wake up? Marianne Messer, Anglesea Blackened hearts

Waleed Aly ("Nauru: How long can we keep lying to ourselves?", Comment, 5/2) talks of the horror of returning a five-year-old boy to the scene of his alleged rape on Nauru, and the even greater horror of how we have become "addicted to the fictions that justify it". This recalls Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, his indictment of colonial-era crimes in which "civilised" countries were responsible for the "the horror, the horror" that Kurtz came to inflict on indigenous Africans. Australia has created its own hearts of darkness on Nauru and Manus Island on the spurious basis that our "deterrent" policies serve to reduce loss of life at sea when, on the contrary, they are likely to endanger more lives through turning back boats, forcing refugees to stay in war zones or detention camps with conditions that will kill them even more surely than the waves. The astonishing indifference of the 40 Labor and Liberal senators in voting against a Greens' Senate motion (4/2) for amnesty for the threatened 267 asylum seekers (including 37 babies) shows the continued heartlessness of our major parties, more concerned about fanning public fears and misconceptions than showing basic humanity and decency. Not in our names do you inflict such horror, Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten. Michael Hamel-Green, Coburg Poor comparison I wonder on what information Collin Simmons (Letters, 7/2) bases his assertion that we run detention centres indistinguishable from concentration camps. As a survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, I have yet to see evidence of gas chambers, dogs trained to kill, high-voltage electric fences and control towers manned by guards, also trained to kill, with machine-guns.

Gert Silver, South Yarra A uniting force? It is unfortunate that the Melbourne Anglican diocese has chosen to distance itself from the heroic offers of sanctuary to the 267 asylum seekers made by other Anglican and Uniting churches in Brisbane and Sydney ("Anglicans say they are not equipped to help", 5/2). Futile appeals for compassion from the Prime Minister will fall on deaf ears and will fail to fan the encouraging flames of public sentiment in support of these people. Equally unfortunate is the silence of the Catholic Church. Patrick Seal, Kallista Bring Pell to account

Cardinal George Pell's doctors advise against a long-haul flight as it would present a "serious risk to his health" ("Pell's health 'at risk"', 6/2). The Catholic Church is not doing itself any favours and lapsed Catholics like me will never return to the fold while the hierarchy in Rome continues to hide the truth. I suggest the royal commission sends someone to Rome to hold Cardinal Pell's hand while he testifies via a video link. He must be brought to account. John Cummings, Anglesea Cowardly act The lives of many victims of clerical abuse are at risk. Still, they bravely appear before the royal commission. However, for Cardinal George Pell, that most delicate of petals, the prospect of a snooze on a first-class jet liner may "endanger his health". Was it Jesus who said, "Be strong and courageous"? Neil Hauxwell, Moe

Bully force In 1987, our family migrated to Australia  then a vibrant, community-minded, relaxed nation of a "fair go". Yesterday, I returned from a trip to Ireland and Britain. I passed through Dublin, Stansted and Abu Dhabi airport security a number of times. Low-key, unobtrusive police presence in each of these. I was appalled upon arrival at Melbourne to see security people with the word "Terrorism" emblazoned on their uniforms. Living in Ireland until 1987, travelling between there and Britain regularly, there was never anything like this. Rather, plain-clothes police, dedicated to their task, using the best method: surprise. Why are we allowing our great nation to be cowed by bullying, inane politicians? Declan Foley, Berwick Scourge on our city As a hire-car driver, I see a lot of Melbourne and I can't believe how much graffiti is out there. Why isn't the government taking action to curb this ugly practice? I feel ashamed when I pick up international tourists and drive them through graffiti-riddled landscapes. Premier Daniel Andrews, look to Singapore for inspiration, please.

Graham Kelly, Glen Waverley Gen awesome Allan Carter (Letters, 6/2) was left speechless when met with utterances of "wow" and "awesome" from a young person. I had a similar experience when speaking to a young man at a call centre. When asked to confirm my birthdate he replied "awesome". Was he truly expressing overwhelming reverence that at my age (mid-60s) I could still remember such details? Or should I get a new dictionary? Leigh Fitzpatrick, Daylesford Losing it

This pedant has found a new phrase to add to the language debate. During the Australian Open none of the players lost a match. They were "bundled out". A bundle as defined by my dictionary is "a number of things gathered loosely together". This type of abuse is enough to make me drop my bundle. Christine Hurwood, Newport AND ANOTHER THING ... The economy

The Hazelwood mine fire and the Black Saturday fire initiated by power lines. Benefits of privatisation? Ross Crawford, Korumburra The easiest way to eliminate bracket creep is to the index the tax brackets to wage increases. End of story. Brendan Coyne, Hoppers Crossing Flexible, nimble? As far as tax reform, Malcolm Turnbull is beginning to look like Houdini.

Joan Segrave, Healesville Politics If only our esteemed CSIRO climate scientists enjoyed the same level of job security as that of the delusional deniers in the media who mock their sacking ("Spooner's View", 6/2). Lee Murray, Kew The article by Manus Island detainee Behrouz Boochani ("The day our hopes for justice shattered", 6/2) should be compulsory reading for politicians.

Jenny Gibbs, Portarlington If only the Aborigines had been able to stop the boats; what a different place this would be. Paul Drakeford, Kew George Pell If Cardinal Pell is too sick to fly, put him on a boat ("Pell's health 'at risk"', 6/2). After all, he is carrying a lot of cargo.

Jacki Burgess, Port Melbourne Christ carried his cross to Calvary; Cardinal Pell can't bear a first-class flight. Bryan Power, Gisborne Send a medevac plane to bring Cardinal Pell home. I, for one, would be happy for the taxpayers to pay for it. Reg Murray, Glen Iris

Hasn't Cardinal Pell always had heart problems? Jan Wositzky, Campbell's Creek Salad The dodgy salad mix was not "pre-packaged" ("Sick salad cases likely to increase", 6/2). It was packaged. Pre-packaging, it was growing, being harvested and washed. Vikki O'Neill, Ashburton
In an astonishing report, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has accused Sweden and Britain of arbitrarily detaining WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange because of a sexual-assault investigation against him in Sweden.

To be sure, it's unknown whether he's guilty of the charges. Likewise, it's impossible to know whether Assange criminally conspired with US Army Private Chelsea Manning (then known as Bradley) to steal classified material, or whether Assange and Wikileaks simply published that material in a manner that should be protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

But what seems highly likely is that Assange's detention is anything but arbitrary  it's because of the investigation of serious crimes.

The report recites the basic facts: Swedish prosecutors began to investigate Assange in 2010 "based on allegations of sexual misconduct", which is a bit of an understatement because the charges were for rape. The prosecutors issued an international arrest warrant. Assange was detained by British authorities in Wandsworth Prison, and apparently held in isolation for 10 days. Then Assange was put under house arrest for 550 days. Given that he was a flight risk, home detention seems like a proportionate and humane response to the situation, not a rights violation.
Part of the problem is, as Marchant reveals in her compelling sweep of the recent science, so much in medicine is now driven by the big business of Big Pharma. Modern drugs have saved millions of lives, yes, but researchers doing promising work in the so-called "mind-body" medicine arena struggle to get funding to pursue properly the clinical questions they think are worth asking. There's little money to be made in the relatively low-tech field of mind-led medicine, and the poorer are we for that, Marchant suggests. "Despite their best intentions, medical professionals are working within a system that prioritises access to medical technology, and allows increasingly little space for the human aspects of care," she writes. "...This paradigm has been less successful at warding off complex problems such as pain and depression, or stemming the rise of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia." However, short of an explanation that belongs somewhere in the sixth dimension, how might our thoughts or even a "mere suggestion" materially influence our biology? Do they only affect our perception of the symptoms we experience or can they shift things at the cellular level too? And, how much is attributable to the power of the therapeutic relationship  the influence of receiving good care from a good doctor? The evolving science explored in Cure is intriguing and trailblazing, and Marchant's account of its pursuit is often gripping. We now know that our nervous system and our immune system talk to each other. Previously they were thought to function entirely separately in the body and any suggestion otherwise was shunned as pseudoscience.

Today the work of people such as neuroendocrinologist Bruce McEwen proves to us that chronic stress, through the action of the hormone cortisol, produces inflammation in the body, which in turn can trigger disease. Australian Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn's work on the parts of our chromosomes called telomeres is also showing that life stress in its many guises ages us prematurely. Marchant's pursuit takes her far and wide  from volunteering at Lourdes to meditating beachside in Santa Monica; scaling the Alps in Italy to floating through a virtual reality ice canyon. She meets people with chronic pain, Parkinson's Disease, fractured spines, altitude sickness, chronic fatigue syndrome, parents of children with autism, and beyond  along with the doctors and scientists who are studying and treating them. And she casts an even wider net across the course of all our lives, investigating the long-term physical impacts of poverty and stress in childhood; the biology of social connection, the visceral role of empathetic, comforting conversation on our physical recovery or during palliative care; the models of care we receive during childbirth and why they matter for health outcomes (her account of the very different births of her own two children is striking). One of the most exciting areas of investigation is the role of placebo treatments  fake pills and sham surgeries  in improving our health when we're sick. Extraordinarily, it appears that here the active ingredient could be "meaning". And no one placebo fits all  we all respond differently. Beyond placebo treatments changing our subjective experience of illness, scientists such as pioneering placebo researcher and neuroscientist Fabrizio Benedetti, are revealing more. Benedetti has "chased a belief right down to an individual cell  demonstrating that in Parkinson's patients, motor neurons fire more slowly after injection of a placebo, exactly as they do in response to a real drug".

Traditionally, placebo treatments have been used in randomised clinical trials to help eliminate any biases in the interpretation of results and to test that a drug is working better than a placebo or control intervention. The idea is to eliminate the placebo effect, not foster it. Controversially, though, there are medicines that make it to market today that work no better than placebo alternatives. Some mainstream antidepressants are an example, a fact only revealed after freedom of information requests for raw drug-company data. Even more mind-boggling is that some mainstream medicines appear to function solely through the placebo effect themselves. Benedetti's earlier work demonstrated this with certain painkillers. If we expect pain to ease, that can be enough to trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. One of the ethical barriers to studying the placebo effect has been that patients have had to be told the treatment they are taking is real  a lie. But now "honest" or "open label" placebos are being tested too, and patients (like "Linda" with a miserable, intractable case of irritable bowel syndrome) are experiencing surprising benefits through the work of Harvard's Ted Kaptchuk. "You know I'm a deviant," says Kaptchuk playfully when Marchant visits him at his home in Massachusetts. The conclusion that often gets drawn from work such as this is that if mind-body interventions work then the conditions themselves must be made up, or the person malingering. The physical has cachet over the psychological. But Marchant's exploration of the latest science of stress shows us this disconnect is now misguided.

"What is psychological is physical, and what is physical has a psychological perception to it," says British scientist Peter White, who works on one of the most complex conditions of all, chronic fatigue syndrome. Part of the problem is we're drawn to dichotomies. We take comfort in their siloed simplicity. Binaries such as Nature versus Nurture; Art versus Science; Rational versus Emotional; Good versus Evil form the frontiers of the most fractious and enduring knowledge wars. Likewise, the historical separation of the mind and body is another we're struggling to let go of. The French philosopher Rene Descartes famously cleaved the two apart, and centuries later, modern medicine is still reluctant to reconcile them as one despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Cure could engage more deeply and rigorously with the arguments made by prominent sceptics of mind-body medicine. At times Marchant skates over critiques of specific research too hastily. As with everything, the devil is in the detail. That said, the same claim could be applied to many doubters, who often look at this field with their blinkers firmly on. There's a lot to this impressive book, and it has the potential to have the same dramatic impact on our understanding of our self as Norman Doidge's blockbuster, The Brain that Changes Itself.
Stiller hammed it up in Sydney last month. Credit:Brendon Thorne/Getty Images It's something that has influenced the longevity of Zoolander, Stiller says. "It's a strange thing because that selfie culture that has evolved is such a Derek thing. The self-obsession and narcissism that Derek has really relates now to all of us, and it's hard not to if you have this mirror [he holds up his phone] in front of you all the time, or now with social media, this sort of need to have to say, 'OK, this is happening and I'm filming it and showing myself here, and this happened and I'm telling everybody.' The trio at the core of the story, from left: Owen Wilson as Hansel, Ben Stiller is Derek Zoolander and Penelope Cruz plays Interpol agent Valentina Valencia in Zoolander 2. Credit:Wilson Webb "Look, I mean, I do it. I get it. It's exciting sometimes to say, 'Hey, look what's happening right now and where I am'. But then I look at my kids' generation and it's just part of their being."

Zoolander No.2 updates Derek's world with many aspects, including selfie sticks and social media. Derek and his "so hot" friend and fellow model Hansel (Owen Wilson) are drawn to Rome to help tackle a plot to "kill the world's most beautiful people", victims of which include Justin Bieber, who meets a grisly end, but not before posting a "blue steel" selfie. The Zoolander walk-off scene job applicants had to re-enact. What people enjoy seeing is these people who are very serious figures in the fashion world, who have to take themselves seriously to be taken seriously, but they get that it's all kind of a game, too. Ben Stiller Elsewhere, Penelope Cruz steps up as a Bond girl-esque Interpol agent and Will Ferrell reprises his role as campy villain Mugatu.. In common with the original is a long line of celebrity cameos (no Kardashians, however). US Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour not only features (and has her fearsome reputation mocked), she also put Stiller and Cruz on her February cover, in a shoot by Annie Leibovitz recreating some of fashion's most iconic images of all time.

"Anna was always supportive of the first movie and kept on asking me over the years whenever we crossed paths, 'When are you going to make a second one'," Stiller says. "So when we finally decided to do it, I reached out to her and said, 'Hey, I'm going to do this', and she was just really an incredible partner and really helped us get a lot of people to be in the movie, and then she was kind enough to do the cameo." The fashion world, it appears, is now in on the joke. "I think they are," he says. "I think they all have a sense of humour about themselves and that's what's really fun to see. What people enjoy seeing is, like, wow, these people who are very serious figures in that world who have to take themselves seriously to be taken seriously in the fashion world, but yet they also get that it's all kind of a game, too." The framework of fashion is aThe selfie lmost incidental to the charms of Zoolander No.2, however. Stiller, who in person is warm and engaging, says when writing the sequel and remembering what is at the heart of the original's popularity, it was down to one thing. "I kept coming back to the characters, rather than the actual satire of the fashion world and the parody of that, because I felt that's what people connect with in a movie, really, is the people. "So as we were thinking, 'We've got to do something that has to do with social media and who's the new designer and all those things', those were all important but ultimately it was what's going on with Derek and Hansel and their relationship. And it always felt to me like Derek's son would be part of the story, and then Mugatu, the idea of him coming back and what happened to him after the first movie and his revenge plot was always something I felt was a good thing to hinge it on."

Derek Zoolander was created by TV writer and comedian Drake Sather, a friend and collaborator of Stiller's, as a couple of skits for the VH1 fashion awards in the late 1990s, with Stiller playing the model. Sather also co-wrote the screenplay for Zoolander, but sadly took his own life in 2004. It's one of the reasons a sequel was so long in the making. "As time went by, I think that's when it started to feel like, 'OK, there's a way to approach this', but almost out of respect I felt like I couldn't just jump back into it." Zoolander No.2 is dedicated to Sather, marked by a tribute in the credits. "When we finally did get around to making the movie, I felt like there just had to be a sense of acknowledgement that the character in the movie wouldn't exist without his talent," he says. Stiller's company Red Hour Productions, in addition to both Zoolanders, has been behind a number of comic favourites, such as Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Starsky & Hutch, Tropic Thunder and quirkier offerings such as Submarine and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Late last year, Red Hour struck a deal with independent company Bold Films to finance its films, effectively shifting it outside the mainstream studio system and opening up new pathways for Stiller. "It's a chance to do a lot of types of movies and for us just to work with people that we really want to work with," he says. "[It's] a big difference than having to, say, take something to a studio and go, 'Hey, do you want to make this?', especially in this day and age, where studios really are not interested in making interesting, different kinds of movies for the most part. "They want to make genre films, they want to make franchises, they want to make sequels, and it's become very corporate. So to be able to work in this type of situation for us is really exciting." Zoolander No.2 is a welcome sequel, however. "I was really just trying to think about people who were fans of the first movie," Stiller says of bringing it to fruition, "to try to make it with them in mind, because it's hard to think about how to make it for anybody else really, because it's such a unique reality."

Zoolander No.2 is out on February 11. Best in satirical show Parody is not just for ridiculously good-looking people. We delve into the alternate realities of some of comedy's best spoof movies. Flying High! (1980)

Still consistently ranked as one of the funniest films of all time, this disaster movie parody is overloaded with iconic quotes, visual gags and memorable moments. I am serious. And don't call me Shirley. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

The alpha-spoof. When this parody of over-inflated rock documentaries came out, many thought it was real, including Ozzy Osbourne, no less. Director Rob Reiner stars as director Marty DiBergi, following David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls and Nigel Tufnel, played respectively by Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean, and their glorious rock anthems, including Lick My Love Pump, Big Bottom and the magical Stonehenge.
Bass prodigy headlines jazz festival

American bass prodigy Esperanza Spalding will open this year's Melbourne International Jazz Festival at the Forum on June 3.

Esperanza Spalding will open this year's Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

Miles Davis sideman and Weather Report founder Wayne Shorter will close the festival with his killer Quartet at Hamer Hall on June 12, the saxophone legend's first return since 2005.

In what promises to be a spectacular opening event, Spalding will perform as her alter-ego Emily in a staging of her latest album, Emily's D+Evolution: a dream-inspired series of musical vignettes using text, body movement and video.
Screen stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson have been handed new roles  as visiting fellows at Oxford University.

Sherlock actor Cumberbatch and Watson, who made her name as Hermione in the Harry Potter series, are among 11 notable non-academics to have accepted appointments at Lady Margaret Hall.

Benedict Cumberbatch has been outspoken about Syria and the refugee crisis. Credit:Robert Viglasky

Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant, film director Beeban Kidron  who helmed Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason  and former children's laureate Malorie Blackman have also accepted visiting fellowship roles at the college.

Cumberbatch, who recently earned positive reviews for his role in Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Barbican Centre in London, has shifted to the centre of political debate with his impassioned comments on the Syrian conflict and the ensuing refugee crisis.
Scandal is threatening to engulf another Turnbull government minister, with Labor accusing Stuart Robert of potentially breaching frontbench rules over his role in a mining deal between a major Liberal Party donor and China.

Mr Robert has admitted travelling to Beijing in a "private capacity" to attend an August 2014 signing ceremony between Nimrod Resources' Paul Marks and Communist Party officials from the Chinese government-owned company Minmetals.

Then assistant defence minister in Tony Abbott's government, Mr Robert was on leave at the time and paid for the trip himself. But a Minmetals press release from the time says Mr Robert was there on behalf of the government and made a speech.
Accident in Madurai Madurai: The wreckage of the bus which collided with a truck in Madurai, Tamil Nadu on Saturday. (Photo: AP)

Madurai: Fourteen persons died in a collision between a government bus and a lorry at Paraipatti on national highway-208 near T. Kallupatti, 60 km from here, on Saturday.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the head of the lorry driver was almost completely severed from his body, which was found crushed inside. Bus driver Murugesan (45) who sustained grievous injuries died on the way to hospital.

Thirty-seven passengers who sustained injuries were rushed to GRH in Madurai after first-aid. Bus conductor Rathinaswamy (45) who was not aware of his colleagues death said, Till the last minute, we tried to avoid the accident, but it appears that the lorry driver was sleeping at the wheel.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Governor Rosaiah condoled the death of passengers and expressed their sympathies with the families of the deceased.

She directed a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each be given to the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured persons undergoing treatment. In a statement she said she had asked the Madurai district administration to ensure the best medical treatment for the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery.
More than 3500 swimmers took part in the Cole Classic ocean swim at Manly on Sunday, raising more than $125,000 for charity.

Now in its 33rd year, the event has grown to become one of Australia's largest ocean swims. For the first time, a 5km race was introduced alongside the traditional 2km swim. Participants in the popular 1km swim are allowed to use fins or a swim buddy.

Competitors hit the water at the start of the swimming races at Shelly Beach before crossing the finish line on Manly's foreshore in the 33rd year of the event. Credit:Katherine Griffiths

All three races started at Shelly Beach and finished on Manly Beach with competitors following a loop along Sydney's northern beaches.
An MP and a revenge porn victim have hit out at the the federal government for leaving reform in the area to an intergovernmental forum.

Brisbane woman Robyn Night suffered online abuse for years. She was described as a "gangbang slut" and "no limit slave" who deserved "extreme punishment" on sex site profiles without her knowledge before men were invited to her home address for sex.

Police charged a 41-year-old Redland Bay man with stalking over the alleged offences in October.
The doctor at the centre of the baby death scandal at Bacchus Marsh Hospital has broken his silence, defending himself and other doctors who worked for him during a series of "catastrophic" failures.

In his first interview since the Victorian government revealed seven babies' deaths could have been prevented in 2013 and 2014, Surinder Parhar, the hospital's former director of obstetrics, said he had been unfairly targeted and that he wanted to move on.

Police are investigating after a baby was left on the verandah of a Herston home. Credit:Nicolas Walker

On Sunday, the former obstetrician said he had provided a service to the community for 35 years and that the doctors working under him had been competent. Despite dozens of families seeking legal advice about potentially inadequate care delivered under his watch, Dr Parhar said he and his team frequently reviewed things that went wrong to improve their practice and tried to manage high-risk women appropriately.

In response to criticism that the hospital was caring for women delivering babies at 34 weeks when they should have been transferring them to more specialist hospitals, Dr Parhar said sometimes it was too late to safely transfer them.
Three Melbourne men who pleaded guilty to gang raping a 17-year-old backpacker in Croatia but avoided a trial by paying $30,000 have sparked fierce debate about making financial settlements with victims of sexual assault.

Fairfax Media can reveal that Dylan Djohan, 23, Ashwin Kumar, 23, and Waleed Latif, 21, all from Melbourne, were handed a one-year prison sentence, which was then immediately commuted to a five-year good behaviour bond.

Under a deal between Croatian prosecutors and their defence lawyers, the young men were required to pay the Norwegian girl 20,000 (about $31,500).

The rape happened in July 2015 at a late-night bar in the resort town of Split on Croatia's Adriatic Coast.
Enter the horror room, where limbs are suspended from flesh hooks, blood drips down the walls and a skeleton hangs from a chain.

On the top shelf, a row of soft core porn films sit beyond the reach of curious children.

Eddy Stefani, owner of Video Vision in Balaclava. The store is closing after almost 20 years. Credit:Joe Armao

Exit the horror room at Video Vision in Balaclava and you'll see the "chick flick" and "dick flick" (think Chuck Norris) sections, cheekily arranged side-by-side so couples can hold hands while perusing the DVDs.

The rental outlet stocked an astounding range of art house and foreign films among its 65,000 titles, which also included mainstream films and television shows.
Rome: A prominent and outspoken British member of a papal advisory commission on sexual abuse by the clergy on Saturday refused to step down despite a no-confidence vote, and said only Pope Francis could dismiss him.

A Vatican statement issued earlier said that "it was decided" at a commission meeting that Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence. Mr Saunders, head of Britain's National Association for People Abused in Childhood, would now "consider how he might best support the commission's work", it said.

But Mr Saunders, who as a child was abused by two priests, told a hastily called news conference: "I have not left and I am not leaving my position ... the only person who can remove me is the person who appointed me, the Pope."

Mr Saunders said he had not been aware of the Vatican's statement until after it was issued.
Bangkok: Mystery has deepened over the circumstances in which almost $US700 million ($990 million) was secretly deposited in the personal bank account of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The country's attorney-general, Mohamad Apanda Ali, has declared the money was a donation from one of the nine sons of the late Saudi king Abdullah, but insists the motive is nobody else's business.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has returned almost all the money given to him by a Saudi prince, according to his attorney-general. But questions remain over the motive and nature of the "donation". Credit:AP

"Why are people asking for the reason for the donation? You have to ask the donor. He has billions in his coffers  if he wanted to give the money, what's the problem?" Mr Apandi told the Sin Chew Daily newspaper.
Chetak choppers of Indian Navy fly past the Talwar-class frigate of Indian Navy, INS Teg, during the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. (Photo  DC)

Visakhapatnam: The City of Destiny will witness an Operational Demonstration (Op Demo) and the International City Parade at the picturesque RK Beach on Sunday evening. The exhilarating 30-minutes Op demo will showcase multi-dimensional operational tasks undertaken by various arms of the Indian Navy.

Several warships, submarines, aircraft as well as Marine Commandos will present an action-packed display of the capabilities of the Indian Navy. The demonstration will culminate with an address by the Chief Guest of the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who would also release a book Maritime Heritage here.

This will be followed by one of the highlights of the IFR - the International City Parade. The marching contingents -- Army, Air Force, State Police, NCC, foreign navies and marching bands from the three services and visiting countries will be participating in the parade along with the host, the Indian Navy.

A hornpipe dance will be performed by the Sea Cadet Corps and tableaux will add vibrancy and colour to the event.

The unique Parade will be conducted after sunset which will be followed by illumination of ships, pyrotechnics culminating with a light and sound show by Scandinavian Airshow team.

The parade will end with a reception hosted by the Chief of the Naval Staff, in honour of the Prime Minister.

The Parade will be held on the lines of the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. The RK Beach road in the city which will be dressed up at its best for the spectacular show will have a semi-formal festive parade, with each participating foreign navy also showcasing its cultural heritage and marching under their respective national colours.
Beijing: More than 100 people remain unaccounted for in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan after a powerful earthquake caused an apartment building to collapse. The death toll had climbed to 18 by Sunday morning, local authorities said.

Search and rescue teams have worked around the clock since the magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck before dawn on Saturday, its efforts centred around the collapsed 17-storey Wei Guan residential building, where at least 15 of the deaths have occurred. Among them was a newborn baby, just 10 days old.

Sonar equipment and sniffer dogs had found signs of life from at least 29 people trapped in the rubble, officials said, while local media reported an 11-year-old boy was communicating with family and rescuers through Line, a popular mobile chatting application.

Rescue crews have already pulled 247 survivors out of the building, among 340 rescued throughout Tainan, where nine other buildings collapsed and numerous others were severely damaged.
Russell Tovey had an intimidating task ahead of him: In less than two weeks time he had to make himself a part of a company that had been performing together for nearly a year. In his words, he pulled his "underwear up tight," and dove headfirst into rehearsals for the Broadway mounting of Ivo van Hove's radical reimagining of Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge.

The former History Boy and Looking star plays the Italian immigrant Rodolpho, whose arrival marks the beginning of the downfall of protagonist Eddie Carbone (Mark Strong). It's a role that requires Tovey to participate in one of the most shocking onstage moments in many years, one that causes the audience to "literally scream." Here, Tovey looks back on such vociferous reactions  and the fan art they make for his French bulldog Rocky.

Russell Tovey (rear) as Rodolpho, with Mark Strong as Eddie Carbone, in Ivo van Hove's Broadway revival of A View From the Bridge.

( Jan Versweyveld)

1. What is your favorite line that you deliver?

"You think we have no tall buildings in Italy?" It feels like a very cheeky, patronizing line. It's like, "Italy isn't this hovel that I've come from." That line epitomizes so much about the assumptions that people have [about others].

2. Everyone loves inside jokes. What is the best one from your show?

The very end of the play, when the lights go down, there's a moment where we drop our characters. We all look at each other like "ugh" and then we bow. Everyone sort of stands up and goes, "Ugh."

3. What was the most "interesting" present someone gave you at the stage door?

My dog Rocky is with me during the run. Someone gave me a French bulldog cookie jar. I've received artwork of Rocky, French bulldog-inspired artworkThere are a lot of Rocky fans out there. Somebody [also] bought me moisturizing body cream that arrived yesterday.

My character #Rodolpho in #aviewfromthebridge imagined as a Disney prince by the genius @tatto_olive - with my little dock side companion #Rocky #wow #thankyou :) A photo posted by Russelltovey (@russelltovey) on Jan 12, 2016 at 4:05pm PST

4. Who is the coolest person that came to see your show? (You can't say your family!)

Daniel Day-Lewis was here the other day. Jake Gyllenhaal. Frances McDormand. Emma Stone. These are the people I've been most excited about. It's been a great run of people coming backstage.

5. What was it like to slip into a company that had been doing the play for more than a year with only nine days' rehearsal?

Luckily, everyone is welcoming and open and giving and generous. Because they're a British cast, we knew of each other. It was nerve-wracking, but it's good to test yourself, isn't it? Especially being creative; it's good to put yourself on the line and have to man-up in that moment. It felt like, "pull your underwear up tight and take a first step out and go."

6. How do you feel about having the audience onstage with you?

It's the best. You only know what a play is by the audience. To have the people onstage that close, you can feel their energy and tension, and have their moments of gasping right next to your ears. It feels like you're performing a very, very intimate domestic drama with all of these people. I don't know why more people don't do it.

7. Which scene in the production elicits the most vocal reaction?

It's the kissing scene [where Eddie kisses both Catherine and Rodolpho]. The screams! We have shows where people literally scream. It's nectar. It's heaven when you get that reaction. It means they're with you and totally know the dynamics of the characters. They understand the enormity of the action that Eddie does. There are always gasps, but some people are like "OH MY GOD!" and catching their breath, subconsciously letting out this noise that they don't mean to. The theater can move you to a place where you're unaware that you're making a noise.

Russell Tovey (left) and his fellow History Boys in a promotional image for the 2006 film adaptation of Alan Bennett's play, in which they all appeared.

( Twentieth Century Fox)

8. You made your Broadway debut in The History Boys in 2006. How is this Broadway experience different from that one?

I feel like I'm a grown-up now. Interview me in ten years and I'll say, "I was a child when I was doing A View From the Bridge." For me, it's a whole new show and a whole new run. [The other cast members] did it a hundred and fifty times [before coming to New York], where when I came to Broadway with History Boys, we had all performed it like three hundred times. I was younger and now the City feels different. I feel incredibly welcomed by the city. Not that I didn't before, but at that point in my life, I missed home. I miss home now, but now, the City has grabbed me by the balls.

9. How many times have you had to bleach your hair during this run? Will you stay a bleached blond when it ends?

We do it every three or four weeks. I have done it four or five times, and I think I've got one more dye session. If a part comes up and requires it, I'll maintain it. Otherwise, I'll let it grow out and go back to my regular dirty-brown mess.

10. You spent time during this run going back and forth to California shooting the Looking film. What was that like?

I thought I would be going back and forth on my Mondays off, but they managed to shoot all of my stuff in one day. It was one twelve-hour day in San Francisco. I was devastated that I wouldn't be able to do [Looking initially], but they accumulated all of my stuff for one day. I was over the moon that I was able to do both projects.
Robert Falls and Seth Bockley's world-premiere of 2666 begins performances tonight at Goodman Theatre.

Based on Roberto Bolano's epic novel of the same name, the show spans nearly 80 years, moving back in time from the 1990s to World War II. In five distinct parts, it moves from Spain to England to Mexico to Germany, beginning with the four European academics searching for a German author, Benno Von Archimboldi. From there, it travels to Santa Teresa, a fictitious Mexican border city, inspired by the real city of Ciudad Juarez, where hundreds of women have been mysteriously murdered. The adaptation mirrors the book's effort to encompass the dominant themes of Bolano's work.

The five-hour (three-intermission) adaptation is the work of artistic director and Tony winner Robert Falls and playwright in residence Seth Bockley, both of whom direct the production. The 15-member ensemble cast, who play dozens of roles throughout the production, features Charin Alvarez, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Yadira Correa, Sandra Delgado, Alejandra Escalante, Sean Fortunato, Henry Godinez, Larry Grimm, Eric Lynch, Mark L. Montgomery, Adam Poss, Demetrios Troy, Juan Francisco Villa, Jonathan Weir, and Nicole Wiesner.

"2666 is the culmination of a deep collaboration between myself and Bob and between us and the novel. Bolano asks everything of his readers, and this collaboration has asked a great deal of us," said Bockley. "This is an immense and ambitious book  by turns tragic, comic, horrific and transformative  in which Bolano describes the contours of the universe of human experience. We are attempting to bring his novel's singular vision to the stage, using all the tools we haveThe vagabond anarchist spirit of Bolano is alive and well in the world; we are trying to honor it with a big, wild, faithful but free adaptation."

The creative team includes Walt Spangler (set design), Ana Kuzmanic (costume design), Aaron Spivey (lighting design), Richard Woodbury and Mikhail Fiksel (sound design and original music), and Shawn Sagady (projection and video design).

Performances will run through March 13.

For tickets and more information, click here.
History shows that successfully becoming a multinational bank operating in many countries is difficult.

While many banking skills are transferable across national borders, there are institutional and cultural impediments to overcome. And as ANZs strategy shift away from Asia announced last week might demonstrate, the regulatory barriers are significant, particularly for expansion into Asia.

First among these is the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework (ABIF) initiated at the end of 2014. This involves the designation of banks headquartered in the ASEAN region as Qualified ASEAN Banks (QABs).

Such a designation  not available to Australian banks  means that they will be able to operate in other ASEAN countries under exactly the same regulatory arrangements as domestic banks. While the specific competitive advantages this will provide over non-QABs are unclear (and may vary from country to country), this is in essence a barrier to entry for banks from outside the ASEAN region.

It remains to be seen whether the ABIF will succeed, given the vast differences in banking structure and stgelopment across the region, not to mention political factors. Nevertheless, the stgelopment is not conducive to an Asian expansion strategy for Australian banks.

A second factor is the regulatory arrangements driven by the Basel Committee, and implemented in Australia by banking regulator, APRA. Capital requirements associated with offshore subsidiaries or joint ventures can be higher than for purely domestic operations.

The Australian banks have complained about this in the past and given bankers aversion to higher capital, that also creates a disincentive to offshore operations. (Given generally poor experience with bank offshore expansion over the years, that may be a good result for bank shareholders arising from such regulation).

A related regulatory consideration is the imposition of higher capital requirements on banks which are regarded as systemically important. The major Australian banks are already subject to a higher capital charge for being Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBS), but offshore expansion could ultimately lead to a Global SIB categorisation and further capital imposts. In general, the thrust of post-crisis regulation is towards disincentives for banks becoming too big.

A final factor, virtually unique to Australia, arises from tax considerations. An increasing share of earnings generated offshore would reduce the ability of Australian banks to pay fully franked dividends. This is equivalent to banks facing a higher cost of capital for overseas activities than for domestic activities.

For shareholders (such as this writer) in ANZ or other Australian banks, this would mean that offshore expansion would need to be even more profitable than domestic activities to be value adding. Then, and it is an unlikely outcome, higher partially franked dividends could be paid to offset the reduction in franking.

So: the cost of capital is probably higher for overseas versus domestic activities of Australian banks (due to dividend imputation); capital requirements are a bigger problem; and the ASEAN region is putting some potential roadblocks in place which hinder ease of foreign bank entry and competitiveness.

And added to all that is the massive potential disruption to traditional banking being posed by innovation and Fintech, requiring a focused response to preserve competitive advantages in existing markets and products.

Retreat to Australia sounds like a sensible response for Australian banks.

>> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter

Courtesy of The Conversation
File photo of Jayapalan being taken away by cops after he threatened to commit suicide from a mobile phone tower. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Engineering graduate Jayapalan, who threatened to jump from a mobile phone tower and commit suicide on February 1 in depression after he was sacked reportedly along with 300 of his colleagues in Chennai, has now been admitted to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Kilpauk.

This was because he continued with his violent behavior after being released on bail.

He was enlarged on bail on Wednesday and went missing the day forcing his relatives and members from Forum for IT Employees (FITE) to run from pillar to post looking for him. He was finally located at Tiruvanmiyur on Thursday.

Police stopped him when he was found roaming. When his family tried to take him to his native place in Tiruchy on Friday, he became violent. He told his family members that they never bothered to look for him and never came to meet him in jail. When he became violent, the family members sought police advice. Police then got him admitted to the IMH where he is expected to undergo a treatment for 3-4 days, a FITE member said.

Jayapalan, 27, came to Chennai in September last and was working in a company in Ramanujam IT city on OMR for a monthly wage of `8,500. The company operating from an IT park reportedly sacked about 300 workers without paying their salaries last month.

He climbed the mobile phone tower with a suicide note in his pocket. The note talked about the grievances of the sacked employees.

He had also elaborated in detail about the pay anomalies within the company and the threats employees had to face when they asked for their salary. Jayapalan was whisked away from the spot to Saidapet police station.

A fact-finding report by Knowledge Professionals Forum (KPF) says he was keen on getting media attention towards layoff and the injustice that happened to him and his colleagues.

Jayapalans father was working in BHEL, Tiruchy, and died in an accident. He did his engineering with his sisters support. After studies, he came to Chennai for job. His mother told KPF that Jayapalan was not paid two months salary and overtime he did during rain.

What happened to Jayapalan is not an isolated issue, many of his colleagues have faced this issue but he alone brought it to light, said the KPF report.
If Marco Rubio suddenly hits a wall at next weeks New Hampshire primary, his performance at Saturdays Republican debate will be the reason why.

Fresh off his strong showing at the Iowa Caucus, Rubio has been positioning himself as the establishment alternative to Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Hes been rising in the polls and has secured the endorsement of big-name Republicans like Rick Santorum, South Carolinas Tim Scott, and Pennsylvanias Pat Toomey. But on Saturday he didnt look like the frontrunner-to-be. He was stilted and continually retreated to well-worn talking points. He looked nervous, off his game.

And it all started with a grilling from Chris Christie, a candidate whos been lagging in New Hampshire polls even though hes practically set up residency in the state.

The New Jersey governor saw his chance to strike after Rubio, a first-term senator, attempted to dodge a question regarding his relative inexperience from moderator David Muir. Rubio tried to dismiss the question, saying that while President Obama was inexperienced before he was elected to the White House, hes done a very good job at changing the country for the worse, and that politicians like Joe Biden shouldnt be president despite spending decades in the Senate.

Lets dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing. He knows exactly what hes doing, he said. Barack Obama is undertaking an effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world.

Muir then noted that Christie has attacked Rubios lack of executive experience. And Christie, right on cue, pounced.

You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable, he said. You just simply havent. And the fact iswhen you talk about the Hezbollah sanctions act that you list as one of your accomplishments, you werent even there to vote for it. Thats not leadership; thats truancy.

Rubio quickly replied that New Jerseys bond rating got downgraded a bunch of times during Christies tenure before pivoting again to Obama.

Lets dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesnt know what he's doing, Rubio said, falling back on the talking point hed used just moments earlier. He knows exactly what hes doing. He is trying to change this country.

Christie basically rolled his eyes.

This is what Washington, D.C., does, he said. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him. Marco, the thing is this: When youre president of the United States, when you are a governor of a state, that memorized speech doesnt solve one problem for one person.

A visibly shaken Rubio hastily replied, Chris, your state got hit by a massive snowstorm two weeks agoyou didnt even want to go back. They had to shake you into going back. You stayed there for 36 hours and then he left and came back to campaign. Heres the bottom line: This notion that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing

Then Christie interrupted.

There it is, there it is, he said. The memorized 25-second speech.

It was a brutal moment, and Rubio was left stammering on the stage.

It was more than an ill-timed stumble for Rubioa candidate who has been behaving like the frontrunner even though he came in third in Iowa. The exchange wasnt just a bad debate momentit magnified a vulnerability that his campaign has worked hard to dispelled: that hes just not ready to be president.

And Christie wasnt done.

Rubios major policy weak-spot throughout the primary has been his co-authoring of the Gang of Eight comprehensive immigration reform package, which would have provided a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally. When Muir asked him if he had abandoned that legislation due to pressure from conservatives, Rubio again attempted a dodge, saying that his bill didnt work because Americans dont trust the federal government to secure the border with Mexico. After Muir tried to get more of an answer from the Florida senator, Christie stepped in and nailed Rubio for not answering the question.

This is the difference between being a governor who has to be responsible for problems and not answering a question, Christie said, tearing in. The question was, did he fight for his legislation. Its abundantly clear that he didnt. Its abundantly clear that he didnt fight for the legislation.

Even when Christie wasnt charging in to him, Rubio was off his game, and when faced with an answer he didnt know the answer to he kept going back to President Obama.

I think anyone who believes that Barack Obama isnt doing what hes doing on purpose doesnt understand what were dealing with here, OK? Rubio said, after looking down at his notes, in what essentially amounted to a non-sequitur later in the debate. The audience, apparently tiring of the talking point, began to boo.

Barack Obama is, indeed, trying to redefine this country, he added.

It wasnt all bad for Rubio. He still clearly knows his stuff when it comes to foreign policy and handled a question on abortion rights well enough. But for a guy who had seemed to play the expectations game so well in recent weeks, he sure didnt meet them Saturday night.

Betsy Woodruff contributed to this story.
Deadpool knows youre watching him. Thats part of the charm of the wisecracking antihero, who commented on his own adventures from the pages of Marvels comics and does just that throughout Foxs R-rated superhero stand-alone of the same name. As he slices and snarks his way through his first starring vehicle, the meta-gaze takes on a life of its own. Are we watching Deadpool watching us watching him?

Deadpool is at once a welcome antidote to the played out superhero universe and an anomaly, destined to be trapped in its spandexed outliers as a stand-alone even if future X-Men ensembles dare to weave him in for jokey ensemble asides and fourth wall breaks. Compared to the market-dominating blockbusters of Disneys Avengers franchise, the Batman and Superman-led flicks hot on their heels at Warner Bros., Sonys Spider-Man reboots, and Foxs own X-Men films, its wildly subversive, if slight when it comes to story.

Ryan Reynolds nails it as Wade Wilson, the ex-Special Forces mercenary with a stellar kill record and quick wit who finds himself facing an impossible fate. The vain but likable douche has recently let love into his life, in the form of a feisty but damaged hooker named Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). But just when he asks her to marry him, hes diagnosed with cancer.

Rather than let his lady watch him wither and die from the disease, Wilson runs away into the sinister arms of a laboratory whose shady operators promise a cure. They pump him full of chemo-like chemicals and subject him to extreme physical torture to trigger the mutation that will ultimately save him. Alas, when Wilson wakes up cancer-free and indestructible, he discovers a trade-off that horrifies him: His entire body is so scarred, he looks like someone peeled the skin off a human grape.

Worse, the guy who did it to him is a sadistic and utterly handsome science bro named Ajax (Ed Skrein), himself a graduate of the Weapon X program. As he plots to make Ajax give him back his hot bod, Wilson takes the name Deadpool and sews himself a red-and-black body suit while performing his own rap theme song in a lively montage. (Mercifully, the film chooses to ignore the first time Reynolds played Deadpool as a sort of mute superhuman brute in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.)

The constant barrage of self-referential dialogue and gag pop culture references veer from grating to lukewarm to inspired. Liam Neeson, Rosie ODonnell, and rapper DMX get memorable shouts-out from Deadpool in his impish Canadian lilt, Reynolds a natural fit for this kind of winking deadpan dialogue.

T.J. Miller is even better as Deadpools bar owner bestie Weasel, who delivers a barrage of seemingly improvised, straight-faced digs at his friends new baconface. When a shadowy figure enters the joint looking for Wilson, Weasel drops a throwaway line thatll earn chuckles from the audience. I dont know, he shrugs, pointing Wilson to the stranger wholl recruit him for mutation therapy. It might further the plot.

Ajaxs special powers include not feeling emotiona super masculine power, indeed. The neurotic Deadpool clearly feels too much. The self-conscious shame he feels for his new body fuels his decision to stay away from Vanessa, who thinks hes dead. Instead, he applies himself to becoming a hero by default, vengeance in his long-game sights, by taking his frustration out on bad guys as he kills his way back to Ajax.

Point in fact: Deadpool refers to himself not once but twice as a butterface, making this the first superhero movie to explore the ramifications of alpha male insecurity and suggest that, perhaps, hes overcompensating by cutting a violent swath through countless criminals.

Deadpools world opens up with the arrival of X-Men staple Colossus (voiced by Stefan Capicic), the hulking, metal-skinned hero assigned to stop Deadpool from wreaking too much havoc in his vengeance quest. He brings with him a young charge, Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianne Hildebrand), a pouty Hot Topic millennial mutant with the ability to conjure devastating nuclear firepower.

Colossus makes a memorable entrance as he arrives with NTW on a carnage-strewn bridge to keep an eye on Deadpool, who doesnt realize his is the side adventure of a fringe character. This quest, and this film, might be Deadpools defining adventurebut its just another dutiful weekday chore for the X-Men.

The film stretches a lot of movie out of Deadpools fairly conventional origin plot, jumping back and forth from the bridge to the past to the present to a big set piece at the end that, in any bigger superhero tent pole, would feel criminally minor.

In the films press notes, Deadpool himself (at least, a marketing dept. version of Deadpool) describes the film as a moderately priced, three-quadrant, February-opening, tent-pole blockbuster superhero movie. It feels far less grandiose in the theater, where the constraints of a relatively small budgetby superhero movie standardsand the legal mess of making a Marvel film outside of Disney are not only written onscreen, theyre written into the script.

The best parts of Deadpool arent watching Reynolds bask in the characters snark or the underwhelming, over-CGIed, soft-R fight scenes. Like Deadpool, audiences are smarter than most studio blockbusters give them credit for being. (Is it sexist to hit you, or is it more sexist not to hit you? he asks a female villain, mid-battle.) And in the age of peak schadenfreude, the most satisfying bits of Deadpool land when Deadpool throws shade at all those other, bigger, more popular superhero franchises.

Spider-Man, Wolverine, and X-Menthe franchise Deadpool is being shoved into as Fox charts a course in parallel to Disney, Warner Bros., and Sonyget the Deadpool treatment, because even in his own movie, Deadpool knows hes the studios bastard superhero stepchild. Screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese perhaps deserve the most kudos for these insidery jokes, including a knowing line Deadpool drops when he shows up at Professor Xs mansion to fetch Colossus and NTW for his ultimate missiononly to find none of the other X-Men are home.

If you get bored with the simplistic plot and tired of Deadpools constant running commentary, consider the curious questions raised by the performative awareness of Marvels truthseer, who breaks the fourth wall as many times as he, in one cringe-inducing scene, breaks his own appendages. Is heDeadpool, Wade Wilson, Ryan Reynolds, whoeverplaying up the Merc with a Mouth persona because we in the cineplex are watching? Is the audience just another of the myriad voices yelling in Wade Wilsons schizophrenic brain? Will the Hollywood movie machine ever again truly know such purity between message and receiver, or watch a superhero take a night off to spank it on the couch while wearing a pair of Crocs?
It was a long ride for a quarter. The water taxi, an old launch painted up and glassed in for three quarters of its length  slid up and down the swell now with a sinister smoothness, like a cobra dancing  The red neon pencils that outlined the Royal Crown faded off to the left and dimmed in the gliding gray ghosts of the sea, then shone out again as bright as new marbles  Then all this faded into remoteness and another, older, smaller boat began to sneak out of the night toward us. It was not much to look at. A converted seagoing freighter with scummed and rusted plates, the superstructure cut down to the boat deck level, and above that two stumpy masts just high enough for a radio antenna. There was light on the Montecito also and music floated across the wet dark sea. The spooning couples took their teeth out of each others necks and stared at the ship and giggled.

From Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler

Sometime during the stormy night of Dec. 31, 1936, the SS Monte Cristo ran out of luck.

Battered by 15-foot waves, the gambling shipa floating casino anchored in the Pacific Ocean three miles west of San Diegotore loose from its moorings. Two caretakers, the only people on board, were powerless to control the ship, and by dawn on New Years Day, the storm had driven the Monte Cristo onto shore just south of the fabled Coronado Hotel.

Scavengers wasted no time looting what was left of the ship, which had broken apart in the night. They made off with roulette wheels, furniture, whiskey bottles, dice, slot machines, and the silver dollars that lay scattered across the deck. They even stripped out the long leaf Oregon fir used to build the upper-deck dining room.

Authorities confiscated what was left, because once the ship touched California soilindeed, once it left international waters and crossed the three-mile limiteverything about it was illegal in a state that forbade the gambling and prostitution peddled on board.

No one came forward to claim the wreck, and there she's remained for almost 80 years, buried in sand and seawater, save for those rare occasions when an extremely low tide revealed glimpses of the derelict hulk.

Then came this winters violent El Nino-driven storms that abraded the California coast. Since last week, thanks to those scouring storms, the skeletal remains of the Monte Cristo are suddenly back in the public eye, one last ravaged reminder of an era when the Worlds Greatest Pleasure Ship, as it was billed, offered drinks, dice, and dolls to 15,000 customers a week.

Even now, after the last storms, theres not much left to see of the wreck. Saltwater and the ebb and flow of the tide do a pretty thorough job on everything man-made in the ocean, says local historian Joe Ditler.

And what the sea hasn't whittled, local authorities have. At the lowest tide of the year, the City of Coronado brings a big utility truck down on the beach and workers cut away any metal shards or rebar that stick up, Ditler says. They've cut away tons over the years, and all you can ever see is the deck and the hatches that lead below, although they don't go very deep before you hit sand again.

Despite its Ozymandian state, you can still get a good idea of the original ship's immensity: It was as long as a football field. You can walk out on the deck and look into the hatchways, Ditler says, but theres nothing exciting there other than an occasional fish or seashell.

SS Monte Carlo was not unique. During the 20s and 30s, there were as many as 10 gambling shipssin ships, they were called, and hell boatsup and down the coast from San Diego to Los Angeles. Run by gangsters, they had names like The Lux, The Rex, and the Johanna Smith, and all had been refitted for the gambling trade after former service in fishing fleets, the lumber business, and the military. Moored in international waters, they drew the ire of preachers and district attorneys, whose attempts to shut down the gambling inevitably proved futile.

For most people, though, these floating pleasure domes shimmered with a sort of disreputable glamour, and they quickly became a staple of hardboiled detective fiction and films. Cary Grant starred in not one but two movies about floating casinos, Gambling Ship and Mr. Lucky, which later became a television series.

Open for business 24 hours a day, the ships catered mostly to middle-class customers. Inducements often included free water taxi rides, free drinks and meals, and live orchestras for dancing, all to get customers in the mood for roulette, poker, blackjack, chuck-a-luck, Chinese lottery, and the slots. Wireless radio transmission also allowed people to bet on boxing matches and horse and dog races.

Illegal alcohol sales were a big part of the ships allure, but they thrived even after Prohibition ended in 1933, and might be thriving yet had not the boundary for international waters been extended from three miles to 12 in the mid-20th century. That proved just too far for most people to go to gamble (the three-mile limit, by the way, was set originally because that was supposedly as far as a cannon could fire from shore).

The Monte Carlo was also not the only ship to meet a violent end. One of the ships in the gambling fleet caught fire and burned to the waterline, and another, employed by the U.S. Navy in World War II, was sunk by a German submarine.

The biggest of the gambling ships, the Monte Carlo was built for the U.S. Navy as an experimental ship constructed of concrete, which explains, Ditler points out, why its taking the ocean longer than normal to eat away at it. It was intended for service in World War I, but it was not completed until after the war ended. The U.S. Quartermaster Corps used the ship for two years, and then it was sold to a West Coast oil company. In 1932, she was sold again, rechristened Monte Carlo , outfitted for the gambling trade, and moored off the coast near Los Angeles. In 1936, eight months before the storm that ended her career, the Monte Carlo was moved down to San Diego, where rumors still circulate about a fortune still on board.

I was told by a man who as a child retrieved an enormous amount of silver dollars off the wreck that first year, that he believed there was $100,000 in silver dollars still buried on the lower decks, Ditler says. Of course, no one can confirm that now, and hes the only eyewitness Ive interviewed who actually crawled on board the ship and retrieved items. I knew him quite well in his older years, and I have no reason to believe he made any of that up. I still have a silver dollar he gave me from the wreck.
If I told you a provocative burlesque show at Northwestern University was being restructured in response to student complaints, you would probably assume a handful of whiny, sex-averse conservatives had complained. But nothe event has infuriated left-leaning students who insist that it isnt going to be inclusive enough.

Since perpetrators of non-inclusivity on college campuses are all but tried at the Hague for war crimes these days, the burlesque shows student-organizers are desperately trying to switch up the performance roster. In doing so, they hope to reestablish a safe space for students who felt marginalized by the first round of casting choices.

In other words, not getting a part in a school productiona fairly typical life experiencenow counts as a microaggression.

NU Burlesque will host its fourth annual show in April. Previous incarnations of the production have unfolded during Northwesterns transgressive sex week, alongside such events as Reclaiming Pornography One Orgasm at a Time and Bad Ass MCs and Big Booty Beauties: A Panel on Women, Sexuality, and Hip Hop, according to Campus Reform.

Its entertaining. Its educational! But its also highly triggering for students who didnt get a solo.

Thats right: This year, burlesque show directors invited students to audition for individual, duet, and trio performances. All students are guaranteed a role in the production, but not all students are guaranteed their very own musical number. Thats just life.

But when the casting decisions were shared with the would-be performers, they revolted. Apparently, they didnt think the directors choices were diverse enoughmarginalized experiences were not sufficiently represented in the selected acts, reported The Daily Northwestern.

It was brought to our attention that there are people in our community who feel that those solos and duets and trios are not best representing what the Burlesque community is, [NU Burlesque co-director Avril] Dominguez said. We do have a very inclusive and representative cast at large (and) were taking that criticism into account and really trying to reestablish a safe space.

But Dominguez may be too lateseveral performers have already quit the show. Others, like student Genesis Garcia, decided to stay on in order to make sure people are being held accountable.

Its not exactly clear which diversity boxes the directors failed to check off, though the Northwesterns story suggests to me that at least some students merely read the names of the chosen solo performers and assumed they werent diverse. Theres something mildly, ahem, problematic, about such assumptionsnames dont always give away a persons ethnicity, for instance, and they have nothing to do with a persons orientation.

In any case, the directors are working tirelessly to un-hurt everybodys feelings, and have restructured the show to make room for more solo acts. But the irate performers demand more:

Even though this is something new that were being confronted with, that doesnt make it any less valid, said one student told the Northwestern. Its very important that we are always consciously thinking of deliberate ways to uplift people that are not uplifted in society.

Another student said burlesque show rehearsals will strive to be more intentionally inclusive from now on. The group is apparently drafting some kind of constitution, which will presumably enshrine their right to unimaginable levels of inclusivity.

Look, American burlesque has a long, celebrated history of advancing social progress by empowering peopleof all genders, orientations, colors, shapes, and sizesto celebrate their bodies while provoking the censors. This form of expression has played an important role in subverting societys expectations of conformity and morality. Theres never been anything particularly safe about burlesque. Its edgy! Its radical self-expression! It inspires people to think and behave differently! It provokes! It challenges!

But for some reason, a whole bunch of todays college students dont merely run from challengesthey demand repayment, a formal inquiry, and federal legislation to remedy any instance of provocation. All too often, these are the liberal kidsthe ones who are supposedly tolerant and open-minded. Recall what happened last semester at Colorado College, when the screening of a pro-gay film was protested, not by social conservatives, but by the campuss LGBT+ group, because it didnt feature a sufficient number of transgender characters. For these students, perfect is truly the enemy of good.

Of course, it seems like theres also something a tad ordinary going on here: Some students are experiencing a brush with disappointmentpossibly their firstat having lost out on a juicier role in the production. It might be better for these students if the directors didnt erect a safe space to shelter them from reality. As The College Fixs Dave Huber wrote, A Broadway director, or better yet, an employer isnt going to care one whit about some snowflakes feelings of exclusion. Meanwhile, the show must go onbut only if everybody is 100 percent comfortable with it at all times.
The Internet was abuzz in the past week because of The United States of Crazy Laws, an Olivet Nazarene study charting the bizarre legislation still in place across the land of the free. Many of these regulations seem bizarrein Arizona it is illegal to keep your donkey awake near a bathtub and in Connecticut a pickle must bounce in order for it to legally be considered a picklebut others are just niche concerns. That it is illegal to ride a horse while intoxicated just makes more sense in Colorado, where youre statistically more likely to ride a horse than in New Jersey. And the prohibition against waking a sleeping bear to take a photo in Alaska is a well-intentioned effort to save tourists and social media hawks from themselves (and a mauling).

What even the most obscure and peculiar sounding laws have in common, though, is a very particular and often forgotten history. Each piece of legislation was conceived because of a particular event. The origins of Connecticuts pickle law were forgotten until reference library Steve Rice found an article about pickle rustling in a 1948 article. According to the Hartford Courant, pickle packers Sidney Sparer and Moses Dexler were arrested for selling pickles unfit for human consumption. The then-Connecticut Food and Drug Commissioner Fredrick Holcomb told reporters that a real pickle should bounce when dropped on one foot. Residents of the Nutmeg State should feel assured that regulations governing the production and sale of food have grown more sophisticated in the past 60 years.

At least one of the more peculiar laws on the books has its roots in religious principles. In New York State it is illegal to walk around with an ice cream cone in your pocket on Sundays. To be sure carrying a quickly melting sticky substance in ones clothing seems inadvisable on any day, but the specific regulation against carrying an iced dessert on a Sunday may be tied to puritanical concerns. From the colonial period onwards Blue Laws were enforced in order to promulgate religious behavior on the Sabbath. These laws promoted church attendance but alsoin the pastprohibited certain profane activities like indecent bathing" (Georgia), attending a concert (Connecticut), fishing (Delaware), and the sale of candy (Maryland). And in Evanston, Illinois, the Womens Temperance Union succeeded in banning the sale of ice cream on Sundays.
As the 25th anniversary of the end of the Gulf War approaches, the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is showcasing a special exhibit and bringing panels of military members and scholars to College Station to discuss the conflict that unified the largest military alliance since World War II against Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Active hostilities during the Gulf War ended Feb. 28, 1991, soon after a tank offensive that ended in a decisive victory for U.S.-led Coalition forces. President George H.W. Bush was commander-in-chief at the time.

David Anaya, marketing and communications director for the library and museum, said the historical significance of the Gulf War and Bush's role makes it a great subject to showcase.

He said guests to the museum can visit a new exhibit on the Battle of 73 Easting, the tank offensive that led to the end of the Gulf War. Items soldiers wore will be on display and a video will show the entire battle -- from the people involved to actual military strategy.

"It's really interesting," Anaya said. "It would give the public insight of what was going on on the ground at the time."

In addition to the exhibit, several panel discussions will be taking place at the Bush library to coincide with the Gulf War anniversary. All are free and open to the public, but registration is highly recommended, Anaya said. Receptions will follow each one.

 Thursday: Author and Gulf War veteran Stephen Wiehe will visit the library to discuss his book G-Day: Rendezvous with Eagles. It is a first-hand account of his experiences with the 101st Airborne Division during the combat phase of the Gulf War. His book has been named one of the best first-person accounts of the conflict and is featured at the 101st Airborne Museum in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

 Feb. 18: The Bush School of Government and Public Service will host a symposium on the Gulf War at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center from 4 to 7 p.m. The symposium will bring together scholars, journalists, diplomats and students to discuss the war and lessons learned from it. The symposium will begin with a capstone presentation from a group of Bush school students, who will then travel to Kuwait to present their work as part of Kuwait's 25th anniversary commemoration.

After the presentation, scholars will discuss the causes and consequences of the Gulf War, followed by a talk with Bush School Dean Ryan Crocker and Washington Post reporter Caryle Murphy. Crocker was the director of the Iraq-Kuwait Task Force in the State Department during the crisis. Murphy reported from occupied Kuwait during the early stages of the conflict.

 Feb. 25: Military leaders and tank crewmen will discuss the Battle of 73 Easting at the Annenberg center, sharing first-hand stories of what Anaya called the last great tank battle of the 20th century.

The Gulf War ended soon after the Battle of 73 Easting, after the outnumbered U.S.-led forces wiped out Iraq's and allowed for the negotiation of a cease-fire.

Anaya, who spent 22 years in the military starting shortly after the Gulf War, said the panel discussion will let people see the mindset of the decision-makers involved in the conflict.

He said aside from World War II, "it's hard to even remember the last time you had a tank battle."

"I'm really interested in the Battle of 73 Easting," he said. "I'm interested to see what their mentality was going into there."

Registrations for the events can be made at bush41.org.
New Delhi: when Sudhir Tailang wielded his brush like a weapon the ink could turn to blood. His was not an easy job, he would say. On his blog he repeated one of his favourite lines, that though he had to work very hard he could always count on the politicians to work for him full-time.

PMs and Presidents would ask him for copies of his drawings. During Kandahar episode he drew Jaswant Singh in Taliban attire and, Sudhir said, the then minister, far from offended, sought the signed original.

But my favourite was the one that showed Lalu Prasad Yadav, his hair like a pile of hay, looking around and saying Fodder? What fodder?

He began with Indira Gandhi early in his career and thereafter spared no one. No subject was taboo and even an incomplete list of his assassinations would require a lengthy chargesheet.

Sudhir would have wanted us to find some humour even in his death. I have tried, unsuccessfully, for the better part of the day. Many artists are cut down in their prime but Sudhir would have known, as many of his breed do, that he would live in his work.

He believed there were few real cartoonists left. Actually, by his death that special species is extinct. We revelled in his fame for he belonged to us. God is laughing up there now that he has him for company.

He will find out sooner than later that Sudhir Tailang is used to having the last laugh. Rest in peace, my friend...
He was blond and couldn't have been cuter. But he was such a little fellow, he couldn't climb over the five-inch-tall concrete threshold at the front door of his new family.

Donna and I had been blessed to be with Dick and Mary when they picked Brock up at the breeder's home. They had agreed to acquire him well in advance. But as a measure of our friendship, they had delayed by one week the day when they picked up their new golden retriever puppy so they could continue hosting us on our vacation, touring Ontario with them.

We first laid eyes on Brock late on an afternoon in August 2010. He was in a pen in the front yard of the breeder's home and was delighted to see us, even though we were strangers at that point.

All of his siblings had already gone to their new homes; he was the last of his litter. His mother, frankly, seemed relieved for us to take him off her hands. He was the last member of her last litter; she appeared eager for retirement: "Hi, nice to meet you! Yep, here's my son. Enjoy him! All the best! I've gotta go."

So Dick and Mary scooped up the golden retriever puppy, placed him in a dog carrier and put him in the back of their SUV. Then we started motoring to their home.

Brock was quiet for a while. About an hour into the trip, he began whimpering a bit. We pulled over and let him out for a few minutes in the parking lot of a Canadian fairgrounds. He sniffed around, peed a little and, without complaint, allowed himself to be put back in the carrier for the final 15 kilometers to his new home. He didn't issue another complaint.

Mary hurried inside and took a picture of Brock, partly obscured by the concrete theshold at the front door and looking hopeful but a little uncertain. I think Dick scooped him up and placed him inside the house.

And, with that, Brock was a member of the Lee family. Their son Brian completed his name: Brock O. Lee. Like the vegetable.

Brock is, in fact, named for a Canadian military hero: Gen. Isaac Brock, who defeated Americans at the Battle of Fort Detroit in the War of 1812.

(It is hard to comprehend this today, but there was a time when America and Canada were not fast friends; Canada, with good reason, expected the United States to invade and take territory  like the U.S. seizing Texas from Mexico. Unlike Mexico, Canada utterly repelled the American advance and maintained the border. Today, the U.S.-Canada border is lauded as the longest undefended international border on Earth. This is in part because of Gen. Isaac Brock. I think it says a lot about Canadians that they don't routinely shove up in Americans' face that the U.S., at best, fought the War of 1812 to a standstill, albeit it one in which our president's house was set ablaze. After hostilities ended, we white-washed the president's residence and office. Today it is called the White House.)

Brock, for all his dignified lineage, was still a puppy. That first night, I sat down on the kitchen floor to play with him. Within a few moments, I felt my trousers growing damp. Turned out, Brock had piddled on the floor. I called it my baptism.

In all, Donna and I spent just 24 hours with Brock before we flew home. On the way to the airport, Dick and Mary stopped at store, so we babysat Brock in a shady, grassy spot of a shopping center. It was our final one-on-one time with him for months to come.

And so, late summer yielded to autumn, and autumn to early winter. Dick and Mary traveled south to their winter home in Henderson.

We drove over to their house. We had no expectation that Brock would remember us.

We came in the backdoor, as good friends do. A much bigger dog than we had last seen three or four months earlier took one look at us. Then he proceeded to go into a doggy conniption fit.

His tail wagged. He spun in circles around us. His toenails clicked on their hard kitchen floor.

And most of all, he squeaked.

We have, over more than half a decade, learned that when Brock is delighted, excited beyond measure, he squeaks.

Dick, appraising the scene with the measured eye of the engineer that he is, declared: While Brock had spent a mere 24 hours with us months earlier, there was no question that he recognized us.

We were members of Brock's pack.

The scene has been repeated many times since then. He and his parents travel often, so we are often separated. When reunited, Brock squeaks.

His pack is large. He has two "brothers" and a "sister" (Dick and Mary's adult children), all of whom have spouses or partners, and he has doggy cousins (or is it nieces or nephews?).

At a family wedding, Brock had been kenneled overnight. The next morning, someone went to break him out of jail.

He arrived to a scene of 50 or 60 of his favorite people and doggy cousins, and thereby commenced a display of leaping and sprinting and squeaking like you have never seen.

It was one episode of what we call "Brock's Magical World." He might be traveling with Dick and Mary on a seemingly mundane journey. Then the door opens and  WOOF!  there is a long-lost member of his pack, and a joyful reunion follows.

Dick, Mary and Brock traveled out of town for a few weeks recently to lay eyes and hands on their first grandbaby. Shortly after their return, Donna and I happened to be driving down Main Street when we spotted Mary walking Brock. We pulled over and called for out goddog.

Brock hadn't been advised in advance. He had no warning, no notion. In an instant, he heard his name. He turned. He recognized. And then he nearly pulled Mary's shoulder out of its socket as he dragged her toward us with the determination and power of a huskie during the Iditarod.

He squeaked. He ran circles around us. He leaned on our legs with enough force to topple us. He gazed up with adoring eyes.

Like lightning from a clear sky, a rolling metal box pulled up beside a sidewalk where he was being walked, and from it emerged his godfather and godmother.

It was just another day that worked out nicely for that handsome fellow.

Welcome to Brock's Magical World.

Chuck Stinnett can be reached at chuck.stinnett@gmail.com.
The Henderson Journal of Nov. 16, 1894, carried this image of Henderson's County's first courthouse. It was replaced with a brick structure in 1814, which drew admiring comments in a Nov. 20, 1816, story in the Lexington Reporter. Another courthouse followed in 1843 before the current building opened in 1965.

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A telling look back at Henderson 200 years ago

Today I'm going to step outside my normal format and talk about Henderson as it was 200 years ago.

My entry into Henderson of 1816 comes from Francele Armstrong's column in The Gleaner of Feb. 16, 1941. It seems a Lexington woman named Ila Earle Fowler had been doing some research and ran across an article describing Henderson in the Nov. 20, 1816, edition of the Lexington Reporter.

Fowler wrote a letter to Librarian Susan Towles, which Armstrong quoted liberally in her column. The gist of it was that Henderson was shedding the rough bark of its frontier childhood, so to speak, and beginning to gain some polish.

"First we are struck with the cultural influence already at work in this new town. A seminary was flourishing under the leadership of 'a gentleman of science' who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church and president of the Public Library." Well. That's interesting. I didn't know Henderson had a library that early.

That seminary was the Henderson Academy, the first school in Henderson County that was the equivalent of a high school. It was built at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets in 1814. Young E. Allison described it as a spacious two-story log house of large rooms and small windows that later became overgrown with wild blackberry vines. Called Blackberry Hall, it operated until 1843 and was razed in the early 1880s.

Henderson had made considerable progress in 10 short years, if you compare the Lexington Reporter's story to an 1806 book called "Travels in America" by Thomas Ashe. It was very much a frontier town in 1806.

"Henderson consists of about 20 houses, and inhabited by a people whose doom is fixed," Ashe wrote in Vol. 3 of his work. "I never saw the same number of persons look so languid, emaciated, and sick. The whole settlement was attacked in the spring by the ague, which subsided in a nervous fever, and is now followed by a violent and wasting flux."

Diamond Island, on the other hand, was by comparison a paradise inhabited by "a few French families, who live nearly in the original Indian state and bestow very little labor on the ground. They have planted a few peach orchards, which thrive well."

By 1816, however, well-do-do families from North Carolina and Virginia were beginning to settle here in larger numbers, and brought with them a more high-toned way of living.

Hard money was scarce, however, according to E.L. Starling's history, which prompted organizing of the Bank of Henderson in 1814, which operated out of a log cabin. In 1818 it began building a three-story brick building, but the bank failed in the Panic of 1819 before it could be completed, so only two stories were finished. It later became a tavern.

One civilizing influence on early Henderson  and one I think deserving of more attention  was the Rev. James McGready, who moved to Henderson about 1806 and died here in February 1817. He was one of the guiding lights of the Great Revival of 1800 and performed many of the first marriages recorded here. He even married the parents of Ann Rutledge, who became Abraham Lincoln's first love. It's embarrassing that I can't even find his grave.

Henderson was also at the forefront of technological change two centuries ago. The Pike, the first steamboat built in Kentucky, was placed in the Ohio River at Henderson in 1817.

It was built by David Prentice, who was John James Audubon's steam engineer, and traded between Louisville and St. Louis, although it also ranged as far as Pittsburgh. Its full name was the Zebulon M. Pike, and it was the first steamboat to reach St. Louis on Aug. 2, 1817.

Armstrong also noted the 1816 Lexington Reporter article pointed out that Audubon's steam mill, which was built that year, did more than grind wheat and corn. "Strangely enough, the steam mill possessed a cotton gin, which indicates there must have been some cotton raised here in the county at that date." A cotton gin in Audubon's mill? That's another new one on me.

That experiment with cotton was unsuccessful, of course, but not for lack of slaves to cultivate it. The county was 43.7 percent slave by 1820, its highest percentage ever. It had been 32.2 percent in 1810.

The county still had a bit of a frontier feel, in that men outnumbered women  except when it came to the slave population. There were 1,821 white males and 1,598 white females in 1820, compared to 1,106 male slaves and 1,159 female slaves.

But the women of Henderson County apparently impressed the Lexington Reporter, judging from the end of its story:

"Thus has a wilderness, but a few years since inhabited by the pests of society, been converted into a town and plantation of industry and wealth, of refined education and polite accomplishment, which the ladies must be said to possess in an imminent degree.

"To conclude, it is here that polite strangers of both sexes can find an accomplished social circle, the industrious poor sufficient encouragement, and the man of business a prospect as fair as he could desire."

100 years ago

The funeral procession of Mary Frances Walden, daughter of farmer B.F. Walden, had to be conducted by boat because of high water, according to The Gleaner of Feb. 10, 1916.

She had died of diphtheria, and flooding prevented an undertaker from preparing the body for burial. The family laid her out, and a large skiff took the place of a hearse.

50 years ago

Pfc. Hugh Westerfield apparently was Henderson's first casualty in the Vietnam War, according to a Gleaner story of Feb. 5, 1966.

Westerfield, 22, had been lost a finger and suffered a broken kneecap in a mortar attack that killed seven of his fellow soldiers about 10 days earlier. He was recovering in a hospital in Saigon.

25 years ago

Henderson-Union RECC, now known as Kenergy, was preparing to build new headquarters on the Southern Bypass, according to a story in The Gleaner of Feb. 12, 1991.

The co-op was seeking bids for a building of approximately 44,574 square feet.

Frank Boyett is on Facebook and can also be reached on Twitter at @BoyettFrank.
Witnesses begin testifying in West Burlington pool shooting trial

Testimony began on Wednesday in the trial of the man accused of attempted murder after a shooting at the West Burlington Swimming Pool in June.
On Saturday morning police arrested Vishnu while he was hiding at his friends residence in Banjara Hills.

Hyderabad: A 29-year-old techie who allegedly raped a 32-year-old woman techie, whom he met on a dating website a few months ago, was arrested by the police on Saturday.

The accused, M. Vishnuvardhan, and the victim went for an outing on Tuesday. Later, he took her to his home and gave her a soft drink mixed with alcohol. After she became unconscious he raped her, police said.

M. Vishnuvardhan, 29, is a resident of Friends Colony in Tolichowki and is working as a software engineer at SpinSci technologies in Banjara Hills. Police said that his parents stayed at Madhapur and that he stayed alone in a rented flat near his office.

Six months ago he met the victim, 32, who is also a resident of Tolichowki on the dating website Tinder.com. She is working as a software engineer in Madhapur and is unmarried. After becoming friends they communicated with each other on Facebook. Later, they exchanged phone numbers and started communicating over the phone and Whatsapp.

On Tuesday, he took her for an outing on his bike and both came to Vishnus flat in Tolichowki. At home he gave her a soft drink mixed with alcohol. She became unconscious and he raped her. The victim realised it when she woke up next morning, said inspector Khaleel Pasha.

Based on a complaint from the victim, a case of rape under the Criminal Amendment Act 2013 was registered and the victim was sent for medical examination. On Saturday morning, police arrested Vishnu while he was hiding at his friends residence in Banjara Hills. He was produced before court and remanded to judicial custody.
NORWALK  A Norwalk man, who is vice president of tax at Stamford-based Harman International Industries, was arrested on Friday on charges of securities fraud.

Deirdre M. Daly, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that Dennis W. Hamilton, 45, of Norwalk, was arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with insider trading.

Following his arrest, Hamilton appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was released on a $2 million bond into home confinement with electronic monitoring.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, Hamilton was employed as vice president of tax at Harman International Industries, Incorporated ("Harman") in Stamford. Harman is a publicly held company whose shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HAR."

Beginning in 2009, Harman allegedly allowed directors, members of its executive committee and certain other insiders to buy or sell Harman securities in the public market only during a declared trading window period. In August 2013, Hamilton was included on Harman's insider trading list, and he was allegedly subsequently notified when the window in which he could engage in open market purchases of Harman securities was open, and that all trades must be cleared in advance with Harman's general counsel.

On Sept. 27, 2013, Hamilton and other Harman employees were reportedly advised via email that the "window period" within which they may engage in open market purchases or sales of Harman securities had closed.

In October 2013, Hamilton allegedly received material, non-public information about Harman's financial results for the first quarter for the fiscal year ending 2014, including drafts of Harman's Form 10-Q filing and an earnings press release. The complaint further alleged that Harman executives also participated in a conference call with Harman's Audit Committee, during which a draft resolution declaring a quarterly cash dividend on Harman's common stock was discussed.

On Oct. 30, 2013, Hamilton, an alleged insider in possession of material, non-public information, allegedly purchased 17,000 shares of HAR for between $72.07 and $72.67 per share, through a Charles Schwab account in the name of Hamilton and his wife. On Oct. 30, 2013, the closing price of HAR was $72.02. On Oct. 31, 2013, Harman reportedly announced positive first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2014. On that date, the closing price of HAR was $81.02.

Between Oct. 31, 2013 and Nov. 5, 2013, through his Charles Schwab account, Hamilton allegedly wrote at least 200 covered calls on HAR at a strike price of $70 with an expiration date of Nov. 16, 2013 for a premium of $203,366. Through the use of some of these covered calls, the complaint alleges that Hamilton realized a gain of $131,958 on the 17,000 shares of HAR he had purchased on Oct. 30, 2013.

The complaint charges Hamilton with securities fraud-insider trading, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission today announced related civil charges against Hamilton. (Securities and Exchange Commission v. Dennis Wayne Hamilton, 3:16-cv-00192)

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance from Harman International Industries.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.
DARIEN  At a time when American politics are playing out on stage, the Darien Arts Center is bringing audiences back to the politics and intrigue of the Elizabethan period. Shakespeare and the Heart's Desire, a play written by Mary Jane Schaefer, and the third part of Schaefer's trilogy based on the life of Shakespeare, is being brought to life in a one-night staged reading at the Darien Arts Center.

DAC Stage is delighted to welcome back Mark Graham to direct this stunning tale of intrigue on Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. Graham previously directed the successful DAC production of God of Carnage, which garnered rave reviews, and delighted audiences.
PRESEVO, Serbia -- Rasul Orwani thought he had faced the worst after braving cold, rough seas in a rickety wooden boat to travel from Turkey to Greece, then came the Balkans.

After arriving in Macedonia with dozens of other migrants, the group crossed into Serbia on foot in the middle of the night, icy snow stinging their eyes and lacing the children's faces with tears.

Their heads bent low to protect from the cold, the migrants trudged slowly through the snow, carrying babies, small children and belongings along the 2-kilometer (1.2 mile) stretch of the road over the so-called green boundary between the two Balkan nations. A 10-year-old boy took a blanket from his shoulders to wrap it around his younger sister as they walked across the frozen landscape hand in hand.

Even as winter bears down on Europe and European Union countries set up new administrative hurdles for their entry, tens of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia have been desperate enough to embark on the weeks-long journey across the Aegean Sea and along the so-called Balkan migrant corridor where frigid weather and stricter border controls have turned an already tough journey into an even more treacherous one.

Safe in the Serbian town of Presevo on the border with Macedonia, Orwani said there was no turning back.

"Our trip is very dangerous and risky," the 20-year-old Orwani said. "We crossed the sea, we were in a boat, and the waves in the sea could easily sink us in the water."

While Europe took in more than 1 million people in 2015, EU countries have been struggling to limit the biggest migration to the continent since World War II. Some countries along the migrant route have said they want to slow the influx or even completely block it. Some of the nations imposed new, stricter regulations for those transiting toward their ultimate goal, Germany or other rich west European countries.

As a result, dozens of refugees have been turned back from the borders amid freezing winter temperatures, while others have faced border closures and long hours in registration centers and refugee camps. Experts say the measures are unlikely to stop the flow, but could instead prompt the refugees to again start using illegal routes over razor-wire border fences and through forests, pushing them into the hands of ruthless smugglers.

Aid groups say migrants passing through the Balkans have faced difficulty traveling in the snow and ice, and there has been a surge in cold-related illnesses.

Women, children and babies, in particular, are in danger of hypothermia, according to the Save the Children aid group. It said migrants have been arriving in Serbia with blue lips, distressed and shaking from the cold. Exhausted mothers have told the group's aid workers they are unable to keep their babies warm and dry, and are stumbling while carrying them on the icy roads.

Saymira, from Afghanistan, crossed into Serbia with her husband and two young children just days before Orwani. Two months before her father and young sister died in the sea trying to reach a Greek Island from Turkey.

"Now I am very sad, I cannot tolerate this situation," she said while pushing a baby stroller through the snow on the border path between Macedonia and Serbia.

Saymira said she was on her way to Germany because she has relatives there.

Most refugees are not used to winter conditions, and many set off from home countries without warm clothing. Mirjana Milenkovski, the spokeswoman for the U.N. Refugee Agency in Serbia, said refugees are being provided heated shelter, bus transfers, warm drinks and clothes as they pass through Serbia and other countries.

From Serbia, migrants pack trains and buses to get to Serbia's border with Croatia. There, they again wait in refugee centers to head to another registration center in Croatia, where authorities go through the lists and check their refugee papers.

From Croatia, migrants go on to Slovenia and after more registration and checkups, they move on to Austria and then Germany. Dozens drop out along the way, with authorities in each of the countries conducting their own selection procedures.

The International Organization for Migration said 368 people died trying to cross the Mediterranean in January, nearly one in six of them children, as minors make up a growing percentage of those making the treacherous trip.

As Orwani made it to the Greek shores last month, dozens of others weren't so lucky. Two other unseaworthy boats carrying migrants sank, killing 46 people -- many of them children -- and highlighting the plight of people ready to risk their own lives and those of their children to start a new life somewhere free of war and poverty.

Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia first said they were letting in only people from war-ravaged Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. New restrictions were imposed in January with only those seeking asylum in Germany or Austria being let through. This means all others are sent back from the borders, where they often seek smugglers' help to continue through clandestine routes.

Macedonia has recently started periodically closing its border with Greece, leaving thousands of desperate migrants stranded for days in a makeshift camp without any official word when they could continue their journey.

In addition, anti-immigration sentiment has been on the rise throughout Europe since the terror attacks in Paris in November and the New Year's Eve assaults on women in Germany. Austria said it will take 37,500 refugees this year and a total of 127,500 through 2019. Countries like tiny Slovenia have urged immediate EU action to control the flow -- or even stop it completely on the Greek-Macedonian border-- before the expected spring surge of asylum seekers when the weather gets warmer.

In the Presevo refugee center, Orwani was waiting patiently for his turn to register. He said he wanted to go to Germany, which -- since he's from Afghanistan -- means he might be allowed through. After crossing the Aegean Sea, Orwani said nothing else can be nearly as hard.

Orwani said he had never seen the sea until he boarded a small wooden boat in Turkey last month and set off with dozens of other migrants determined to reach Europe. The sea was rough and cold and Orwani's boat had engine trouble, barely making it to a Greek island. But, he says it was worth the risk.

"It was very dangerous, and our engine had a problem. We were frightened and it was really risky," Orwani said. "But, because we had such a bad situation (at home), we accept the risk."
NORWALK -- Internship programs at both city high schools are looking for local businesses to provide internship opportunities for high school seniors this spring.

With a total of 175 seniors ready to participate in this year's programs, the goal is to provide students with work opportunities that will give them hands-on experience in their areas of interest.

The Senior Internship Program at Norwalk High School is in its third year, while Brien McMahon High School's Volunteer Internship Program (VIP) is in its second year.

The four-week internships will begin in mid-May. Students would work six hours a day, 30 hours a week.

"Most of our internships are self-designed, where we are helping young people contact businesses to ask if they would be willing to take on an intern," said Lisa M. Rivieccio, School-To-Career Coordinator at Norwalk Public Schools.

"We have a lot of students that want to do this, yet they don't know how to go about finding an internship or securing an opportunity. We need our local businesses to be aware that there's an opportunity where they can have students who are looking to be exposed to the world of work."

To participate in the internship program, students must have a 2.7 GPA or higher, with good attendance records and no disciplinary actions.

Local businesses and organizations that have participated in the internship programs include The Hour Publishing Company, Norwalk Hospital, PDC International Corporation, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and the Public Defender's office.

Former interns with teaching aspirations were placed at various city schools such as Brookside and Naramake Elementary Schools.

"We're looking for authentic environments where students are going to be given projects. We focus on project-based learning in the classroom so it's really important that we find opportunities that takes those skills and makes it real," said Rivieccio. "We also want our students to understand how communication plays a role in how successful they are."

Internships are unpaid and students do not receive academic credit, however students are required to detail their experiences in weekly journals to discuss challenges and lessons learned.

Rivieccio hopes to establish a network of companies and organizations that can be used to pair students with their interests.

This year's program will have 125 seniors from Brien McMahon High School and 50 seniors at Norwalk High School.

For organizations interested in participating in the internship programs, email Lisa Rivieccio at schooltocareer@norwalkps.org.
ELLINGTON -- Six weeks after a mother-of-two was found shot to death in her north-central Connecticut home two days before Christmas, relatives are frustrated and some town residents are worried as state police have yet to announce an arrest or any details of the investigation.

Connie Dabate, 39, was found dead and her husband, Richard, was found wounded when authorities responded to a burglary alarm at their Ellington home shortly after 10 a.m. on Dec. 23. State troopers also said there was smoke in the home. The couple's two sons, ages 9 and 6 were in school at the time, officials said.

The medical examiner's office later determined that Connie Dabate died from multiple gunshot wounds to her head and abdomen. Richard Dabate was treated for undisclosed injuries at a hospital and discharged.

"It's a shock to everybody," Ellington First Selectman Lori Spielman said Friday. "Everybody is always wondering what's going on, but they have to let the investigators finish investigating."

Trooper Kelly Grant, a state police spokeswoman, said there was no update to report and detectives are still investigating. State police previously said there was never any threat to the public or community during the incident, but declined to elaborate.

Relatives of Connie Dabate said they're frustrated that no one has been arrested yet, but the family is doing OK amid the uncertainty.

"Of course we all want to know, but we're getting by day by day," said Leslie Garabedian, Connie's sister. "It's all difficult."

Richard Dabate did not return phone and Facebook messages seeking comment.

Some town residents said they are worried that the killer won't be caught, and a lack of an arrest is fueling speculation.

"Somebody has to be held accountable," said Cathy Howat, who lives a few miles from the Dabates' home. "Somebody gets murdered like that and you want to have information."

Ellington, about 20 miles northeast of Hartford, is a quiet bedroom and farming community of about 16,000 people.

"It just seems strange that nothing's been done," said Carol Palmer, 80, who owns a horse farm less than a mile from the Dabates' home.

Connie Dabate, a pharmaceutical sales representative, grew up in Vernon and Ellington and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1999, according to an obituary prepared by her family.

In a Facebook post last month, Richard Dabate said his wife touched the lives of many people.

"Many questions, unanswered, but we are all doing our best to move forward, as impossible as it seems," he wrote. "We try to stay strong, for the boys."
STAMFORD -- The Rotary Clubs of Lower Fairfield County held a community conversation last Tuesday night to dispel many on the growing misconceptions concerning refugee resettlement in the United States.

The event featured an hour-long discussion with Chris George, the executive director of the New Haven-based Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), which welcomes 230 refugees to Connecticut every year.

George, who has spent a majority of his professional life living in, or working with, the Middle East, brought some unique insight into the refugee crisis that is currently making so many headlines across the globe.

According to George, fear-mongering and anti-refugee resettlement propaganda can be traced back to a few misconceptions about refugees. For one, George believes that the very definition of what it means to be a refugee is slightly misunderstood.

"The international law definition, which is the same definition that the United States uses, is that a refugee is a person who has fled his or her home country because of persecution. It's persecution that distinguishes a refugee from that much larger category of immigrants or migrants," said George. "A refugee is someone who was forced to run for his or her own life, because of their race, their religion, their nationality, their social group, or even their political opinion."

George implied that by lumping refugees into the larger category of immigrants, a severe injustice is done to these individuals. These are not just individuals who are simply looking for a new environment or better job opportunities -- in fact, he says, refugees will often try to "tough it out" in refugee camps, living in what George likens to "limbo," for four or five years to try and wait out whatever turmoil it is that they are escaping in their home countries.

While many of the 19 million refugees worldwide hold out in the hopes of repatriation, oftentimes the conditions in refugee camps force a majority of them to either integrate into the countries in which they have sought asylum or to try and resettle in another country that will permit them.

In the past, George says, the United States had set the standards for refugee resettlement, allowing about 70,000 refugees into its borders every year, which was better than all other nations combined. However, he says, in the midst of the largest refugee crisis since World War II, the U.S. has dropped the ball because of misguided public backlash and the resulting political trends.

"We've been shouting to anyone who can hear us over the past few months, especially to Washington, to bring more refugees to the United States. We have a vast network in place that can handle much more refugees than we are getting," said George.

To anyone who would argue that the U.S. shouldn't allow more refugees entry into the country because they could somehow be a security threat, George has a simple answer: you're wrong.

George points to the extensive and intensive two-year vetting process that each refugee must undergo at the hand of the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security in order for the government to determine the veracity of the refugee's backgrounds.

"The United States has the most rigorous screening process in the world. We are not admitting any security threats into the U.S.," said George.

According to George, these investigations leave no stone unturned, and if there are any doubts surrounding a refugee's accounts then they will not be eligible for resettlement. In fact, the U.S. tends to only select nuclear families for admission -- families that are particularly vulnerable to persecution.

Even upon being admitted to the U.S., these refugee families will not suddenly be living on easy-street. Before refugees even get on the plane to come the United States, they must sign a promissory note so as to pay for their own airfare. Upon arrival, the U.S. government will give refugees a one-time gift of $950 per person and IRIS will have an apartment ready for them in the area furnished with used and donated furniture, but beyond that these families often have to scrimp and save to get by. While agencies like IRIS can help to support families for four or five months, after that it is up to the family to make ends meet.

While George paints a fairly bleak picture for resettled refugees, he says that the overwhelming support from states such as Connecticut gives him hope that increasing the amount of refugee resettled by the system in place is possible.

"Connecticut has probably been one of the most welcoming states to refugees in the past few months," said George. "From all around the state people have stepped forward, not just individuals, but community groups, churches, synagogues, mosques, rotary clubs, all have come up and said 'we want to support refugees.'"

George said that within a given year, only two or three groups will approach him about sponsoring a refugee family. In just the past three months, however, he has been contacted by upwards of 60.

"You hear the government and you hear the fear that a lot of folks have, but these refugees have been vetted extensively and have been given passports. In actuality, these people are probably among the safest coming into our country," said Jean Meyer, who is spearheading one such community group, an interfaith council in Stamford that is interested in becoming an IRIS co-sponsor for any refugee families looking to relocate to Stamford.
New Delhi: Minutes after the women and child development (WCD) ministry announced actor and social activist Nandita Das as the ambassador for the ministrys campaign to save the girl child, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, twitterati lashed out at minister Maneka Gandhi, slamming her and the ministry. The actress had campaigned openly nationally and internationally to stop Narendra Modi from becoming Prime Minister.

Asking why someone who signed Kasabs mercy petition be the face for the campaign, twitterati called the actress venom spewing, with some saying: Why should Nandita Das accept the offer which as per her is led by Hitler. Many asked for her removal, recommending the names of sportswomen like Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom for the campaign. People also said that presenting real stories of brave girls is more powerful than random quotes by celebs. Actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Sushmita Sen and Madhuri Dixit have also been selected for the campaign.

One Anshul Agrawal said that the campaign deserves better brand ambassador than Nandita Das. Another, Ajit Sahu, said: Shame on ministry of WCD @PMOIndia abusers getting rewarded. The outrage continued for a few hours, pushing the ministry to delete the tweet and the actress herself tweeting: Is it time to calm fires online and share ideas with an open mind? Is it time to be part of solutions and not just the problems?

Ms Das had been trolled on Twitter earlier too for her supposed statement that men are potential rapists.

The quote had gone viral, leading to the online community, especially men, condemning it. After realising that the topic had created a furore, the actress clarified that she was falsely quoted.
Forensic experts and bomb detection squad looking for clues at the scene in Nattrampally in Vellore where a meterorite fell with an explosion (Photo: DC)

Chennai: With the State government on Sunday confirming that the mysterious explosion in Vellore, which claimed a life and injured three others, was the result of a meteoroid strike, experts from all over the country were alarmed and expressed their concern over the inability to track these foreign objects hitting the Earths surface.

With the advancement of the technology like long range radars and telescopes, there has to be a way to pin down these burning objects penetrating through the atmosphere, said Dr W. Selvamurthy, former chief controller of DRDO and space enthusiast.

Dr Selvamurthy said the incidents of meteorites hitting the land seem to be on the rise. We cant sit tight saying meteorites cant be tracked when people are dying. A bigger meteorite can cause serious damage. I am sure organisations like ISRO and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) has the capability to develop a defence mechanism. NTRO has developed an anti-satellite mechanism where it can target and destroy space satellites in orbit. Why cant we predict these objects and judge the velocity at which they are falling and where it would impact, he said.

The most recent meteorite impact happened was at Iran on July 30, 2015 and its size could be more than two meters long and most recent impact in India was at Kerala on February 27, 2015, and its size is unknown, probably less than a meter. Nobody was harmed during both the impacts unlike Vellore impact.

Associate professor S.P. Rajaguru of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru told Deccan Chronicle that most meteoroids that enter the earths atmosphere are so small that they vaporize completely and never reach the planets surface. Unless we actually see the blast remains in Vellore and analyse the samples, we cant confirm whether its a meteoroite or any other object like satellite junk. There are many objects moving around in the space in the form of debris. If it a meteorite, it can reveal something about early solar system period, the chemical composition of plasma etc.

Sources in the Indian Institute of Technology, Indore said that a group of astrophysicians are working in a project to build long-range telescopes specifically to track even the small objects like meteoroids.

Mr Prabhakaran, an astrononmy educator from SPACE Technology Education Pvt. Ltd, said Im quite afraid about the consequences of the impact because even a 1 meter sized meteoroid releases huge amount of energy. The amount of energy released by an impact depends on the size of the impacting body and its velocity. An impact like the one that struck the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico about 65 million years ago, thought responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs and numerous other species, created the Chicxulub Crater, 180 km in diameter and released energy equivalent to about 100 million megatons of TNT.

He said in order to protect the Earth from such kind of impact, monitoring the asteroids and making predictions of possible impact is necessary, but it is difficult to predict meteoroid impacts due to its small size. We teach students about meteoroids and asteroids about its threat to our planet and we also conduct an Asteroid Search Campaign in India called All India Asteroid Search Campaign to the school students across pan India to discover asteroids.
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Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

The Sleman Police in Yogyakarta reported on Saturday that 17 people, most of them university students, had died after consuming oplosan (bootleg liquor) at separate venues in the province earlier this month.



Sleman Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yulianto said each of the victims had died between Thursday and Saturday despite receiving intensive medical treatment at local hospitals.



'The victims were rushed to the hospitals after they suffered from severe pains from consuming oplosan in several places in Sleman, Bantul regency and the Yogyakarta municipality,' he said.



Yulianto said that, as of Saturday, 15 other people were still under intensive treatment at Bethesda Hospital, Dr Sardjito Hospital and Syarif Hidayatullah Hospital, for consuming a similar type of liquor, which allegedly contained a mixture of 96 percent alcohol, water, sweetener and fruit flavoring.



'We have sent the sample of the oplosan to the Central Java Police's forensic laboratory in Semarang. They will confirm the substances used to make the liquor,' he said.



In response to the incident, Yulianto said the Sleman Police had so far arrested S, an oplosan maker and vendor from Sleman, who allegedly produced the oplosan.



Further investigation, he added, would determine whether the victims had died because of certain substances in the oplosan or from other possible causes, including excessive drinking.



'During interrogation, S claimed that he regularly drank his own oplosan and never had any medical issues. He also claimed that none of his regular costumers died due to his product,' Yulianto said.



Although the police have revealed the identity of the victims, they have not provided any details on where these victims studied or worked.



The majority of victims are between 19 and 28 years old.



Separately, a morgue worker at Dr Sardjito Hospital said that two of the victims who had died on Saturday

at Yogyakarta's biggest hospital were students from Papua and West Kalimantan.



Oplosan has gained popularity in Indonesia as it is much cheaper than any branded liquor product. A bottle of oplosan, which contains 300 milliliters of liquor, for example, is sold for between Rp 15,000 (US$1) and Rp 20,000 in Yogyakarta.



An oplosan maker usually runs his or her operation at a small-scale level, allowing only regular customers to have access to the product. The police have claimed that this secluded, customer-based operation made it difficult for them to crack down on the entire distribution of the illegal product.



Dr Sardjito Hospital spokesperson Trisno Heru Nugroho said oplosan was dangerous for the body.



'Just like poison, oplosan will make human organs, like kidneys and liver, become dysfunctional,' he said.



Hundreds of people die every year across the archipelago due to oplosan consumption.



The West Java Police, for example, revealed that more than 80 people had died throughout 2015 after consuming oplosan. Most of the victims were under the age of 20.



The highest number of victims, 12, died in Garut regency in September last year. Each were found to have consumed a mixture of energy supplement drink and bootleg liquor, reported to have been 70

percent pure, a purity level generally reserved for antiseptic purposes.



Another deadly incident occurred on Dec. 20 in Jatinangor district, Sumedang regency, in which seven people died following a drinking spree at an ojek (motorcycle taxi) shelter. The victims died despite having received emergency hospital treatment.



Last year, all 10 party factions at the House of Representatives agreed to continue deliberating on the alcohol prohibition bill. Lawmakers who support the bill have argued the country requires a stronger legal standing in order to control the production and consumption of illicit alcohol.

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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta, Central Java  Sun, February 7, 2016

In the Central Java town of Surakarta, the celebration of the Lunar New Year, locally known as Imlek, has become a model of Chinese-Javanese cultural harmony.

Harmonious Chinese-Javanese culture in Surakarta, Central Java was reflected in Grebeg Sudiro ' a parade of mountain-shaped piles of Chinese cakes ' held around Pasar Gede in the Sudiroprajan subdistrict.



Sudiroprajan is where the first Chinatown area, Kampung Balong, was located.



An expert in Chinese history, Yohanes Setiawan, said the Chinese were estimated to have settled in Kampung Balong in 1745 and 1746, not long after the Mataram Kingdom moved from Kartasura to Surakarta, its present location.



Their descendants later mingled and interacted with Javanese people who inhabited other districts.



For more than a century, ethnic Chinese and Javanese communities have been coexisting harmoniously and generating, through mixed marriages, multiethnic, multicultural and multi-religious families in Surakarta.



'In Sudiroprajan, tolerance is accomplished, with no more Chinese-Javanese racist sentiments. Today, Chinatown is not only Balong, but has spread over other adjacent areas like Mijen, Kepanjen, [eastern] Sama'an and [central] Sudiroprajan,' said Sumartono, a Chinese figure in Surakarta.



With a population of around 4,000 evenly divided into the Javanese and Chinese, Sudiroprajan has thus become a zone of acculturation, eventually developing a series of traditions to welcome Imlek, from the Buk Teko thanksgiving ceremony, the Umbul Mantram ritual, to Grebeg Sudiro.



'All three constitute a communal, artistic and cultural assimilation. For example, ampyang, as one of the snacks served, is composed of groundnuts representing the ethnic Chinese and palm sugar the ethnic Javanese,' said Henry, chairman of the Imlek organizing committee.





The Buk Teko ceremony was held recently to commence the celebration by offering prayers while walking around Sudiroprajan. This tradition dates back to the period of Surakartan King Pakubuwono X (1893 to 1939). 'It was the embryo of a Javanese-Chinese inter-ethnic dialog,' said Henry.



Following was the Umbul Mantram ritual at Buk Teko, the bridge near Pasar Gede, involving not only Sudiroprajan people but also those living outside Chinatown.



After saying prayers, ritual participants scattered seeds and fish along the Pepe River, a tributary of the Solo River.



Finally, Grebeg Sudiro topped the celebration events, held on Jan. 31 on Sunday, with around 2,000 Surakarta residents joining the parade from the front of the Pasar Gede and Tien Kok Sie Chinese temple to the zone of Sudiroprajan, covering a distance of 5 kilometers.



Before the parade, two gunungan (mountain-shaped) piles of kue keranjang (Chinese cakes made from sticky rice and palm sugar) were taken into the temple for a prayer ceremony, accompanied by dragon and lion dancers.



In the procession, the two big piles of kue keranjang spearheaded the march, followed by other gunungan with agricultural produce and snacks typical of both ethnic groups, including onde-onde (Javanese round cakes filled with mung beans) and bakpao (Chinese buns filled with meat).



Apart from food, Grebeg Sudiro was also enlivened by the art performances of both ethnic communities. Dragon and lion dances appeared in collaboration with reog (tiger mask) and topeng ireng (black mask) dances, typical of the slopes of Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi.



Thousands of Surakarta residents packed the area around Pasar Gede as well as the main roads passed by the parade. Many of them even took selfies with the dragon and lion, the Chinese monkey king Sun Go Kong and the Chinese cakes.



'This tradition eliminates ethnic, social and cultural division. There's no Javanese, no Chinese, all of them are Indonesians. It's our heritage,' said acting Surakarta mayor Budi Yulistyanto.





Grebeg Sudiro was wound up with hundreds of spectators scrambling to the gunungan piles of food near the Tugu Jam clock tower, Pasar Gede. The two heaps with 3,000 Chinese cakes each were littering the road and grabbed by residents.



Apart from the parade and ritual, two weeks before Imlek, which falls on Feb. 8, Surakarta was already adorned with thousands of lanterns along the way between Pasar Gede and Tien Kok Sie temple.



A Lunar New Year Festival was held at Vastenberg Fort and tourist boats invited passengers to sail along a 300-meter stream of the lantern-studded Pepe River.



'Sailing along the small river created a sensation of its own. I felt as if I had been cruising in China with the lanterns hanging over the river,' said a Surakarta resident, Regina Rere.



' Photos by JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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Linkedin Ken Thomas (The Jakarta Post) Henniker, New Hampshire  Sun, February 7, 2016

Hillary Clinton sought to summon another New Hampshire primary comeback on Saturday but faced blunt questions about her trustworthiness and explanation of the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi.

Clinton campaigned throughout New Hampshire's voter-rich southern belt in hope of overcoming rival Bernie Sanders' steady lead heading into Tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary. The former secretary of state claimed a razor-thin victory in the leadoff Iowa caucuses last Monday but is trying to prevent a blowout that might reset the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"You vet us. You take second, third and fourth looks," Clinton told supporters during a rally in Concord. "And I hope you will look hard at this."

New Hampshire was the setting of Clinton's upset victory against then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 primary and it remains sacred ground for supporters of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, whose second-place finish in the 1992 primary led to his self-applied nickname of the "Comeback Kid." But Sanders, who as Vermont senator is no stranger to the state, has built a strong advantage here and hopes to push back against Clinton's argument that she would be the most electable Democrat in the November election.

Sanders was heading to New York City for an expected cameo appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Comedian Larry David, who has portrayed Sanders as an impassioned underdog shouting for revolution, was scheduled to be the show's host in an event bound to give the senator a positive spotlight in the days before the primary.

Sanders, campaigning in Rindge, expressed confidence in Tuesday's contest while noting that Clinton prevailed in the 2008 New Hampshire primary. "If we can bring out a decent vote on Tuesday, I am confident we're going to win," he said.

Clinton, meanwhile, faced a tough crowd of voters during an afternoon town hall meeting at New England College in Henniker.

Her first question came from a young man who asked about how she responds to people who distrust her in light of controversies over the Benghazi attacks and her use of a private email server at the State Department.

Clinton said she has had a long history of taking on the toughest issues while many of her opponents try to "sow doubts" about her. "I know that I am viewed as a direct threat to the forces that call a lot of shots in this country," she said.

A woman who said she worked for Clinton's 2008 campaign in New Hampshire told the ex-secretary of state her explanation of the Benghazi attacks "continues to give me some doubts." She also wanted to know why Clinton felt compelled to delete so many personal emails from her private account as secretary of state ' "everybody knows you can't write 30,000 emails to your yoga instructor."

Clinton said the attacks in Libya that killed four Americans happened under a "fog of war" and people on the ground had worked hard to understand what was happening as the attacks unfolded. Clinton said she regretted that it had been used as a "great political issue."

When another questioner asked why Sanders had so much momentum, Clinton said she was pleased he had attracted so many young people to his campaign but made the case that her policy proposals on health care and college affordability were superior.

Clinton said she respected the "very strong passion that Senator Sanders brings to his critique of the economy and his critique of Wall Street. I happen to share it." But she said "that's not the only problem we have in America," and the nation needed to address "all the barriers that are holding people back."

Clinton's top supporters in New Hampshire said the state had a history of unpredictability and expressed hope that a major organizing push in the final weekend would make a difference.

__

Associated Press writer Catherine Lucey in Rindge, New Hampshire, contributed to this report. (**)
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Linkedin Tama Salim and Syofiardi Bachyul Jb (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Padang  Sun, February 7, 2016

The Health Ministry has stepped up efforts to mitigate the outbreak of dengue fever, which has in some provinces prompted local authorities to declare an emergency.



Health Ministry spokesman Oscar Primadi said the ministry had dispatched technical teams to regions across the country for epidemiology studies and to conduct preventive measures, including fogging to exterminate the Aedes mosquito responsible for the vector-borne disease.



'For early detection, the Health Ministry has sent rapid diagnostic tests [to the regions]. Logistical support will be provided by the central government to provincial administrations based on demand, as several regions already have their own equipment,' he said on Saturday.



Data from the ministry's directorate of contagious vector-borne and zoonotic diseases shows the fever has claimed 25 lives out of the 492 people who contracted the disease throughout January.



The ministry said 11 regencies and municipalities in seven provinces had declared dengue outbreak 'extraordinary occurrences'.



The regencies and municipalities are Tangerang in Banten; Lubuklinggau, South Sumatra; Bengkulu; Denpasar and Gianyar in Bali; Bulukumba, Pangkep, North Luwu and Wajo in South Sulawesi; Gorontalo; and Kaimana in West Papua.



'Several locations with extraordinary occurrences, such as Kaimana, have already asked for additional rapid diagnostic tests to hasten early detection. Right now, there are no more dengue hemorrhagic fever cases in Kaimana,' Oscar said.



However, Oscar said in some places, like Banten, dengue continued to occur, and the ministry would keep distributing vector-control equipment along with the technical team.



Meanwhile, the head of the blood transfusion unit at the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in Padang, Widiarman, said on Friday there was an extreme shortage of blood supply, which could complicate efforts to tackle dengue. 'We are asking for donors or relatives to overcome the deficiency,' he told The Jakarta Post.



The West Sumatra Health Agency has stated that 150 of the 700 cases of dengue in the province had occurred in Padang. Four fatalities were recorded in Padang and one in Bukittinggi.



Separately, Hanny Moniaga of the Indonesian Diaspora Global Network Health (IDGNH) said the government had not been effective in its dengue mitigation efforts as it continued to rely on a singular approach.



Hanny said the government needed to look beyond the scope of health in mitigation efforts and treatment. 'The problem has always been the same, and dengue fever should not be considered an issue that only officials from the Health Ministry can deal with,' Hanny told the Post on Saturday.
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Linkedin Marcos Aleman (The Jakarta Post) San Salvador, El Salvador  Sun, February 7, 2016

Salvadoran police have arrested four former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests during the Central American country's brutal civil war, officials said Saturday. Five of the priests were Spanish and their killings sparked international outrage.

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren later called on the military officers still fugitive in the case to turn themselves in to authorities.

"There are people who have hidden; we don't know if they have left the country, but my recommendation is that they turn themselves in to justice," he said. "We need to know the truth about what happened in the past, but we also need justice as well as pardon."

In a Twitter post Saturday, El Salvador's national police said the four ex-soldiers were arrested at the behest of Interpol in an operation that began Friday night. They were identified as Col. Guillermo Alfredo Benavides Moreno and soldiers Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, Angel Perez Vasquez and Tomas Zarpate Castillo.

It's now up to El Salvador's Supreme Court to rule on the extraditions.

Lawyer Lisandro Quintanilla, who represents 13 of the military suspects indicted by Spanish judge Eloy Velasco, called the arrests of the four "arbitrary" and said authorities have 72 hours to present them to a Supreme Court judge.

Salvadoran police said an operation was continuing to locate and arrest the remaining suspects.

The arrests in El Salvador came soon after a judge in North Carolina cleared the way for a former Salvadoran colonel to be extradited to face charges in Spain in the case.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kimberly Swank ordered that US Marshals take custody of Inocente Orlando Montano Morales so he can be turned over to Spain, pending final approval by State Department. The step is largely seen as a formality because lawyers for the diplomatic agency already reviewed the case before turning it over to federal prosecutors.

The unusual extradition fight began in 2011 when the Spanish judge issued an indictment charging Montano with the murder counts. Nineteen others were charged by Spain, with most still living in El Salvador.

Montano, 73, has denied involvement in the killings.

Court documents say that early on the morning of Nov. 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran military killed the six priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at a university in the country's capital. The priests had been calling for discussions to end the fighting, with one of them serving as an intermediary between the government and a leftist group.

The killings helped erode US support for El Salvador's right-wing Salvadoran government.

An amnesty that followed the 1992 peace agreement ending El Salvador's conflict hindered prosecutions. While two officers served short sentences in El Salvador, Montano and other high-level officials were never charged by authorities there in the priests' killings.

"This is an important step in terms of justice, but we still are not talking about the intellectual authors" of the killings, said Andreu Oliva, rector of the Central American University "Jose Simeon Canas." ''It is a failure for Salvadoran justice and society that justice is only being sought in Spain." (**)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

A weakening currency and unsupportive government regulations have forced PT Mabua Harley-Davidson, the sole dealer of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Indonesia, to let its agency license expire.

The company says that since 2013, it has been burdened by the constant weakening of the rupiah exchange rate, which has dropped by 40 percent, and tax increases imposed on them by the government.

"We deeply regret to announce that PT Mabua Harley-Davidson and PT Mabua Motor Indonesia will not extend their agency licenses starting from Dec. 31, 2015," PT Mabua Harley-Davidson president director Djonnie Rahmat said in a statement on Friday.

For the time being, he said, the dealer would still provide service support and spare parts for Harley Davidson customers in Indonesia for the next several months.

Djonnie said unsupportive tax regulations the government had issued over the last three years had burdened the company.

In 2013, he said, the finance minister's regulation (Permenkeu) No.175/2013 increased vehicle component import tariffs to 7.5 percent from 2.5 percent. In 2014, government regulation (PP) No.22/2014 increased the luxury goods tax from 75 percent to 125 percent. In 2015, Permenkeu No.90/2015 imposed a 5 percent tax on big bikes with a capacity of over 500 cc while Permenkeu No.132/2015 increased the import tariff on big bikes from 30 percent to 40 percent.

'The total amount of taxes for importing a big bike has increased by up to 300 percent. This has not yet included the costs involved in making license plates and certificates. Those factors have caused the market to lose interest,' said Djonnie.

As stated on its official website, PT Mabua Harley-Davidson has nine outlets, comprising five stores in Jakarta and four others in Denpasar, Medan, Semarang and Surabaya.

Founded in June 13, 1997, the dealer is a part of PT Mugi Rekso Abadi (MRA Group), a holding company of lifestyle, media, food and beverages, hotel and automotive companies. The group is focused on high class consumer segments, holding licenses for magazines like FHM, Harper's Bazaar and Esquire. It also owns Hard Rock Cafe, Hard Rock FM, Bulgari Hotel Bali and holds dealer licenses for luxurious products, namely Ferrari and Bang and Olufsen.

The company's founders include Soetikno Soedarjo, Adiguna Sutowo, Hutomo Mandala Putra and Onky Soemarno. Soetikno is the son of the late Soedarjo, the owner of the now defunct newspaper Sinar Harapan. The Soedarjo family also owned PT Jaya Agra Wattie Tbk., a rubber and oil palm company.

Adiguna Sutowo is the son of the first president director of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina, Ibnu Sutowo. The Sutowo family is famous for owning Hotel Sultan. Hutomo Mandala Putra, or Tommy Soeharto, is the youngest son of the late president Soeharto, while Onky Soemarno is the older brother of State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno. (ebf)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has granted financial investment portal Bareksa a mutual fund selling agent (APRD) license.

'This is the first time an IT based company has obtained an APRD license. This is proof of OJK's commitment to reach a target of 5 million investors as soon as possible,' Bareksa CEO Karaniya Dharmasaputra said on Saturday.

Prior to 2014, with the exception of investment managers, only banks and securities were allowed to sell mutual funds. However, at the end of 2014, the OJK announced a new regulation allowing post offices, pawn businesses, insurance companies, financing companies, pension funds and other financial agencies to be granted an APRD license.

As an integrated portal, Bareksa provides news, tools and ratings to help investors choose mutual funds, Karaniya said, adding that investors could directly inquire to buy mutual funds from the portal, especially the highest rated mutual funds.

Until now, in selling the mutual funds, Bareksa has joined with brokerage company PT Buana Capital.

Increasing the number of investors in Indonesia remains the main concern of the OJK. To that end, the OJK has begun to intensify its joint efforts, holding workshops and training, especially for investors from outside Jakarta, together with other parties such as the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), banks and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN).

"The number of investors in the market has reached a mere 500,000. If investors in mutual funds are included, the sum reaches 1 million. This is still small compared to the country's population of 250 million," KADIN chairperson Rosan Roeslani told thejakartapost.com.

By increasing domestic investor numbers Indonesia would be less dependent on foreign investors who, representing two-thirds of transactions, currently dominate the market. (ebf)
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Linkedin Foster Klug (The Jakarta Post) Seoul, South Korea  Sun, February 7, 2016

North Korea on Sunday defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the US mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and its path was tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea; no damage from debris was reported. At an emergency national security council meeting in Seoul, the country's president called the firing an "intolerable provocation."

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, trumpeted the beauty of the launch's "fascinating vapor" as the rocket cut through the clear blue sky and said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The firing came about two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning. It follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider it a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions. The United States and Japan quickly requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear armed long-range missile arsenal. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, said Sunday that ruling Workers' Party policies were responsible for the rocket's success.

The statement praised "the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star." Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rocket's first stage fell off North Korea's west coast at 9:32 a.m. and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

The South Korean government couldn't immediately confirm reports by Yonhap news agency and YTN TV that the rocket might have failed.

The US Strategic Command issued a statement saying it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory but it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japan's NHK broadcaster showed footage of an object visible in the skies from the southern island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. Japanese chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no debris fell on Japanese territory.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the launch was an "intolerable provocation." She said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people."

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that "North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests ' including the security of some of our closest allies ' and undermine peace and security in the broader region."

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket tests since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. North Korea says its rocket launches are satellite missions, but the US, South Korea and others say they are a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The UN Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The Jan. 6 nuclear test has led to another push in the UN to tighten sanctions. North Korea in 2013 also did a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the US and Seoul.

The Korean border is the world's most heavily armed and the rivals' navies occasionally trade gunfire near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

North Korea has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation. The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The North's recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

Under Kim Jong Un, a February 2012 deal for the United States to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities collapsed after a rocket launch by the North that April.

___

Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Yuri Kageyama and Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Lolita Baldor in Washington, and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. (**)
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Linkedin Kim Tong-Hyung (The Jakarta Post) Seoul, South Korea  Sun, February 7, 2016

North Korea's neighbors began an uneasy waiting game Sunday, the start of an eight-day window for a planned North Korean long-range rocket launch.

Any such launch, which the North says is an effort to send a satellite into orbit, would be in defiance of repeated warnings by outside governments that suspect it is a banned test of ballistic missile technology.

North Korea originally told the International Maritime Organization and other agencies that it would attempt a satellite launch between Feb. 8 and 25. But on Saturday it changed the launch window to Feb. 7-14. It did not inform international organizations of any other changes in its plan, and the rocket's expected flight path remains the same, said South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun.

No reason was given for the change of dates, but some outsiders have speculated that it was meant to beat bad weather.

North Korea's launch declaration came just weeks after it conducted its fourth nuclear test. Outside experts and officials say that each nuclear test and long-range missile launch brings the North closer to creating a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on an intercontinental missile capable of reaching targets as far as the US West Coast.

South Korea believes that the North has completed all launch preparations, including strapping the rocket onto a launch tower and injecting fuel, and that there is a high possibility the launch will take place on Sunday, Moon said.

He said that a possible explanation for the date change was that Sunday's weather conditions were forecast to be favorable for a launch.

Recent commercial satellite imagery analyzed by US researchers showed tanker trucks at the launch pad at North Korea's Sohae facility, which likely indicates the filling of fuel and oxidizer tanks in preparation for the launch.

While the timing of the launch will be mainly determined by conditions such as weather, South Korean analysts had speculated that the North might attempt to pull off the launch ahead of Feb. 16, the birthday of late dictator Kim Jong Il, the father of current leader Kim Jong Un.

An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration, South Korea's weather agency, said that rain or snow was expected in the North Korean region where the launch pad is located on Monday, Thursday and next Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.

North Korea previously tested nuclear explosive devices in 2006, 2009 and 2013, and claimed it successfully delivered a satellite into orbit in December 2012, the last time it launched a long-range rocket.

Following the announcement that the window had been moved up to begin on Sunday, Japan's Foreign Ministry immediately set up an emergency response desk to monitor and prepare for the launch. Japan has already deployed Patriot missile batteries in Tokyo and on the southern island of Okinawa to shoot down any debris from the rocket that might threaten to fall on Japanese territory.

The launch will surely amplify calls by the US and South Korea for more stringent trade and financial sanctions against North Korea. However, skeptics question whether sanctions will ever meaningfully influence one of the least trade-dependent economies on the planet.

Most importantly, China, North Korea's only major ally, is unlikely to support stronger punishment against Pyongyang over fears of provoking a regime collapse, and potentially a stream of refugees across the border, analysts say. China is also responsible for about 70 percent of the North's trade volume, according to South Korean estimates.

Seoul's Defense Ministry said that South Korea and the United States, which stations more than 28,000 troops in the South as a buttress against any North Korean aggression, are deploying key military assets, including the South's Aegis-equipped destroyers and radar spy planes, to track the North Korean rocket after its launch.

The South is also prepared to shoot down any rocket or debris that infringes on its territory, the defense ministry said, although security experts believe the country's Patriot missiles, with an interception range of about 15 kilometers (9 miles), would be ill-equipped for the job.

___

Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to this report. (**)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

Streaming video service Netflix has extended its free trial service period for one month due to technical problems that have affected its customer service delivery.

Netflix said it had sent apology letters via e-mail to customers concerning troubles they had faced accessing the company's free trial service. To take responsibility, the company said it had decided to extend its free trial service period for one month, starting from Friday.

'A number of customers have recently experienced troubles accessing our [free trial] service. To compensate, we are extending our free trial service for you for one month,' the Netflix team said in an e-mail on Friday.

It further said the free access, which would last until March 6, would be provided not only for the company's existing customers but also for new subscribers.

Earlier, state-owned telecommunications company Telkom Indonesia reportedly blockaded access to Netflix. Recently however, some Netflix videos could reportedly be accessed once more via Telkom, although the number of videos made available was lower than the number made available to customers from other providers.

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said Telkom's move to shut down access to Netflix was a corporate decision, not a government decision.

"Other internet providers are still open to Netflix. It [access or closure] is Telkom's right," he told thejakartapost.com.

The incident has convinced many parties that Netflix is not yet ready to open its office in Indonesia.

The Communications and Information Ministry said that currently, Netflix had obtained a principal license only, which meant that subscribers could access the company's services but the company was not yet allowed to generate revenue until it first established an office in Indonesia.

"Any subscription broadcasting company that is still under a principal license is prohibited from charging fees," Ismail Cawidu, the ministry's head of information and public relations, said in a statement. (ebf)
There was no special provision of such nature, the government spokesperson said (Representational photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Haryana government on Sunday clarified chief minister Manohar Lal Khattars remark that the state would offer special license for foreigners to consume beef, saying it would be possible only if any such provision was there in the act.

There is a ban on liquor in Gujarat. But there is a special permission under which foreigners can consume alcohol. Likewise the Haryana CM was asked whether there would be any special permission under which foreigners could eat beef in the state to which, Jawahar Yadav, officer on special duty (OSD) to the Haryana CM, told ANI.

He further said that to the question, Khattar had said, People of Haryana do not eat beef and are against cow slaughter. But it would be possible only if there is any provision in the act.

Yadav also said that according to his knowledge, there was no such provision in the act which allows for any special permission.

Khattar has said that it was an issue of the analysis of the act and if there is any such provision, then the decision on this regard would be made accordingly, he said.

Khattar had said the opposition to eating beef was not about anyone in particular, but reflected the feelings of the society. Foreign expats working in the state could get a special license for eating beef.

The Haryana government had introduced a stringent law banning the sale and eating of beef as well as trafficking and slaughtering of cows, with rigorous imprisonment of 3 to 10 years for violations.

President Pranab Mukherjee had approved the law in November 2015.
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Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

The Foreign Ministry said that as of Saturday evening, no Indonesian citizen had been reported killed in a powerful of 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Taiwan before dawn on Saturday, the start of the Lunar New Year holidays.



Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office (KDEI) in Taipei was coordinating with local authorities amid rescue efforts in the Tainan City districts of Yongkang, Xinhua and Guiren, which saw severe damage by the earthquake that hit at around 4 a.m. local time.



'Evacuations in Xinhua and Guiren have completed, and there is no Indonesian citizen killed there,' Retno said on Saturday evening.



Retno added that the KDEI team dispatched to Tainan was still gathering information as the evacuation in Yongkang district continued on Saturday evening.



The China Post reported that the extensive damage in Tainan included at least eight toppled high-rise apartment buildings.



In the district of Yongkang, a 17-story apartment complex lay horizontally on Yongda Road. According to local media, rescuers safely evacuated 220 people and sent 29 to hospitals for treatment. More than 250 people are registered residents in the building.



At the Daren Street and Xinyi North Road intersection in Guiren district, a seven-story crumbled into a four-story building. Rescue teams safely rescued all 34 people trapped in apartments on the third floor. Collapsed buildings were also reported in the districts of Zhongxi, Shanshang and Rende.



Associated Press reported at 9:51 p.m. that the death toll had increased to at least 14, including nine people whose bodies were found in the ruins of the fallen 17-floor building in Yongkang.



Taiwan's emergency management information center said rescuers pulled 248 survivors from the collapsed building, according to AP. Meanwhile, according to the city government, a total of 337 people were rescued throughout Tainan.



The emergency management information center said 1,236 rescuers from outside Tainan were deployed, including 840 from the army, along with six helicopters and 23 rescue dogs, AP reported. Tainan's municipal government said it had mobilized nearly 600 professional and volunteer firefighters.



'We are still monitoring developments,' Retno added.



The Foreign Ministry referred to KDEI's hotline in Taipei at +886979407214 for those seeking further information.



Reuters reported that President Ma Ying-jeou visited an emergency center and hospital in Tainan, while President-elect Tsai Ing-wen canceled other appointments to help coordinate rescue efforts.



China has offered Taiwan rescue assistance if needed, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.



According to China Post, public transportation was stepped up to send travelers home for the holidays on Saturday in the wake of the earthquake.



A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck central Taiwan in 1999, killing more than 2,300 people.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

The Jakarta Police, together with the Indonesian Military and the city administration, are set to deploy 3,300 personnel in an operation codenamed Liong to secure Chinese New Year celebrations, set to fall on Monday. The operation will be held from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8.

'We will focus on securing venues hosting Chinese New Year celebrations and public places like shopping malls,' Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday.

Tito said the police had prepared for all security disruptions, including terror threats.

Apart from securing Chinese New Year celebrations, he further said that the police would also monitor traffic flows, especially on toll roads, because the celebration would fall on the day after the weekend.

Tito said the joint security personnel would focus their attention on monitoring inner city toll roads, the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, the Jakarta-Merak toll road, the Jakarta Outer Ring Road, the Cikunir-Serpong toll road and the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport toll road.

Separately, Jakarta Police traffic chief Sr. Comr. Risyapudin Nursin said cargo trucks would be prohibited from passing toll roads, starting from Feb. 6 and running through to Feb. 9.

The police further said that security personnel would also secure public spots like temples, offices, vital objects and tourist attractions. (cal/ebf)
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Linkedin Elly Burhaini Faizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

The double burden of malnutrition, which comprises under-nutrition and over-nutrition, has become one of key development challenges faced by Indonesia. Under-nutrition in children usually occurs during their first 1,000 days of life, beginning from pregnancy until their second birthday. This is a critical period of brain development in children because any failure in this stage cannot be corrected.

Under-nourished children will suffer physical growth disorders and metabolism problems. Once children live in a condition with easier access to nutritious foods during their adulthood, they will be very susceptible to obesity because of their inability to properly digest the nutritional elements of food such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This will make them prone to non-infectious diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

As it leads to illness, disability and even death, the double burden of malnutrition has become a crucial problem in Indonesia, and one that demands a greater degree of attention.

Malnutrition remains a serious challenge for Indonesia despite ongoing efforts to tackle nutrition-related problems. According to the 2013 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) released by the Health Ministry, the prevalence of underweight children under five years of age in Indonesia stands at 19.6 percent, up from 17.9 percent in 2010 and 18.4 percent in 2007. With such a figure, the research report concludes that undernourished children under the age of five remains a major public health concern in Indonesia.

The 2013 Riskesdas further reveals that the prevalence of fat children aged under five years of age stands at 11.9 percent, down by 2.1 percent from 14 percent in 2010. Nationally, however, the percentage of fat children aged between 5-12 years stands at 18.8 percent, which is quite high.

'While under-nutrition has not yet been completely tackled, Indonesia is facing a growing problem of obesity,' said Soekirman, a professor of nutrition from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) in Bogor, West Java, recently in an interview.

Soekirman said Indonesia's improved incomes, which led people to a wider access of food, had triggered a higher consumption of foodstuffs that were high in fats and carbohydrates. There has been a higher consumption of processed food as well, especially among people in urban areas. A lack of physical exercises and a sedentary lifestyle, in which children go to schools by private vehicle or public transportation instead of by walking, have worsened the situation.

'What our country has to deal with now is much more complicated. Over-nutrition, which emerges simultaneously with under-nutrition, is an old problem that is not yet completely resolved,' the expert on nutrition said.

Soekirman said many government policies were not precise enough to address nutrition-related problems. 'The problem of underweight children is often perceived as merely a food problem, although wasting can also be a sign of infection,' he said.

The nutritionist further said that it was unfortunate to see that in Indonesia, malnutrition was still perceived as a problem in the health sector. In fact, according to the 2014 Global Nutrition Report, the health sector contributed only 30 percent to the overall effort conducted by stakeholders from all developmental sectors, including clean water and sanitation, he added.

'As long as people live with poor access to safe water, nutrition problems will easily occur,' said Soekirman.

Combating all forms of malnutrition is one of 17 goals (SDGs) to be achieved in the post 2015 development agenda, adopted last year during the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York, the US, from Sept. 25 to 27.

Indonesian Women's Coalition for Justice and Democracy (KPI) general secretary Dian Kartikasari said unlike MDGs, civil societies had participated actively in identifying key issues countries must highlight in the post 2015 development agenda.

'We do hope that the government has a policy framework on how best to implement SDGs. The most important thing is to ensure that both government and local administrations can include SDGs in national and regional development planning documents,' said Dian in an interview.

She said there should be a mechanism to monitor the government work plan, including on how it involved local administrations in the implementation of SDGs.

'Among serious problems that have hampered the implementation of MDGs was local administrations' poor capacity in integrating the global development agenda into their mid-term regional development plans,' said Dian, adding the government also needed to help local administrations to involve civil society groups in implementing SDGs from the very beginning.

International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) executive director Sugeng Bahagijo said there should be non-state efforts to accelerate Indonesia's progress toward achieving its SDG targets.

The involvement of citizens and civil society groups could ensure that the post-2015 development agenda would put forward inclusive economic growth, social protections and environment sustainability, all important for Indonesia today and into the future, he said.

'There is one key word needed in the implementation of SDGs, and that is accountability. It is accountability, including in the implementation of public participation, which will bring pressure on the government to work to achieve the SDG targets,' said Sugeng.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan and Desy Nurhayati (The Jakarta Post) Medan/Denpasar  Sun, February 7, 2016

With the Chinese New Year, or Imlek, falling on Monday, regions across the archipelago are organizing various events to celebrate the annual holiday with local residents regardless of their ethnic background.



In North Sumatra, the Chinese community and local residents in Simalungun regency are jointly organizing an Imlek fair in Parapat, a famous resort area located beside Lake Toba, the world's largest volcanic lake, on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate the holiday.



Denny Azin Sinaga, one of the organizers of the event, said on Saturday that the two-day event, called the 'Lake Toba Imlek Fair', was scheduled to start the day after Imlek so that people from outside the Chinese community could have the opportunity to enjoy the holiday's festivities.



'During the event, we will make Parapat become a festive Chinatown,' he said, adding that visitors could enjoy various shows during the fair, including marching bands, vocal groups performing mandarin songs and the barongsai lion dance.



Laksamana Adiyaksa, a local Chinese-Indonesian, welcomed the local community's support for Imlek, the festivities of which usually last until the 15th day after the holiday, or Cap Go Meh.



'Many more events are also waiting during Cap Go Meh,' he said.



Meanwhile in Semarang, a group of local foodies is organizing a culinary festival in the Central Java provincial capital to introduce traditional foods with pork as their main ingredient to the public.



'Apart from celebrating the Chinese New Year, the festival is also held to introduce the public to various kinds of local Semarang dishes because many are still unknown among the general public,' said Semarang Culinary Community co-founder Firdaus Adinegoro as quoted by tempo.co.



Pork has long been known as a popular food ingredient for the Chinese community. It is considered haram (forbidden), however, for Muslims, who make up the majority of the Indonesian population.



After decades of official discrimination, Chinese-Indonesians were finally allowed to celebrate Imlek openly after former president Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, lifted a ban on Chinese cultural and linguistic expression in Indonesia in 2001. The next year, the government declared Imlek a national holiday. This year, Imlek falls on Feb. 8.



Meanwhile in Batam, Riau Islands, thousands of travelers on Saturday flocked to Hang Nadim International Airport, with many of them hoping to spend the long weekend in their respective hometowns.



In Denpasar, the management of Ngurah Rai International Airport reported some 200 chartered flights transporting 5,000 Chinese tourists had requested permission to land in Bali this month alone.



Speaking earlier to The Jakarta Post, Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali chapter chairman Ketut Ardana said the number of Chinese tourist arrivals to the popular resort island usually increased significantly during the Imlek celebration.



'Based on data from previous years, the Imlek celebration see an increase of around 20 percent in Chinese tourist arrivals,' he said, adding that Chinese tourists spent an average of four nights on the island during the Imlek holiday.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

"Ma'am, a table for two persons," a middle-aged woman told the receptionist of Olivier Cafe at Grand Indonesia on Friday afternoon.

"I'm sorry. We have to put you on a waiting list. The place is fully booked," a thin, long-haired female receptionist replied.

Indeed, the woman was not the only customer who would be left to wait for half an hour or more for the chance to enjoy a meal at Olivier Cafe on Friday.

Some decided not to wait in the queue.

"I cannot wait that long. I have a meeting at 3 p.m.," a young male executive complained.

The phone at the receptionist desk kept ringing. Patiently, the receptionist noted down the guest names on the ever-increasing waiting list.

"It's almost the weekend. Customers have come in throngs. That's why the cafe is so full," the receptionist explained to another customer.

Inside, as a jazz music recording played out across the room, an unusually relaxed atmosphere was to be observed among the bustle of the Friday afternoon crowd.

Despite the ongoing investigation into the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin, the young woman who died after consuming a cyanide-tainted Vietnamese coffee at Oliver Cafe in early January, there appears to be a gaping hole in the atmosphere where a sense of trauma or sadness is oft found.

Arguably, everything looks fine.

Customers come and go, taking it in turns to sit at table number 54, the table that bears witness to the last conversation between Mirna and her two companions.

Amid this scene, the cafe manager and employees are careful when responding to questions raised by journalists. As if reading from the same script, all waiters reply watchfully and with like-minded answers.

"I'm sorry we cannot talk to the media now. We wish to continue to show our sympathy to the family [of Mirna]," said a male waiter who had neglected to wear his ID badge.

Another waitress conveyed a similar statement.

"We cannot serve any interview," replied the young waitress respectfully.

Between noon to 1 p.m., the cafe announced that it had sold out of Vietnamese coffee. But, at around 2 p.m., customers were invited to order Vietnamese coffee again.

"We stopped the operation of our coffee machine for an hour because it had overheated. Many customers came here just to order this coffee," a waiter said, adding that he did not know how many Vietnamese coffee had been ordered.

Some customers said that it was curious that the Vietnamese coffee sold out so fast.

'Me and my friend ordered Vietnamese coffee before 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Unfortunately, a waiter told us that the coffee was sold out and said that Oliver had sold over 100 Vietnamese coffee before we ordered,' said Trinzky Syulivany, an Olivier CafA customer, on Saturday.

As with other visitors to the cafA recently, Trinsky and her friends were put on a waiting list during their Wednesday visit and, although they had been made to wait for some time, they failed to taste the coffee.

'I came to Olivier CafA because I was curious what it looked like. The cafA was so crowded so I couldn't imagine that such an incident could happen there. It was like nothing had happened,' Trinzky added.

Another customer Jefri Moses Kam, who visited Olivier with his colleagues on Friday, also said that he was curious about the so-called Vietnamese coffee. Before Mirna's death, Jefri had visited Olivier CafA only to order cocktails. And yet, following the incident, Jefri tried to order the coffee.

'If you want to be energized, Vietnamese coffee is a perfect choice. Mirna's death did not make us fear tasting the coffee,' Jefri said as the cafe's waiters passed back and forth with Vietnamese coffee on their trays.

The Jakarta Police last week named Jessica Kumala Wongso a suspect in Mirna's death. In its investigation into the case, the Jakarta Police have carried out a series of reconstruction processes at the cafe. The police analyzed the difference between a normal coffee and one that had been tainted with cyanide and examined and filed each step of the coffee making process, starting from when the coffee pack was opened until the Vietnamese coffee, ordered by Jessica, was served.

After the murder, the cafA has been visited by a variety of guests, from coffee lovers and new clientele to journalists, prosecutors, and even police officers, most of whom are said to have come out of uniform.

While the cafe management welcomes every visitor, it does not want to reveal anything about the incident. To date, the cafe management have remained silent about the cyanide-tainted coffee but said that they plan to hold a press conference, together with the police, but gave no further details.

As the hopeful guests continue to crowd the Olivier CafA reception area, it's is plain to see that business has not been affected much. With the significant increase in orders, it would appear that the mysterious case of Mirna may have transformed Vietnamese coffee into a cult-favorite. (ebf)
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Linkedin Dwi Atmanta (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, February 7, 2016

After nearly 18 years of reform, public recognition of the Indonesian Military (TNI) as both defender of the state and a choice for national leadership has barely changed, although the once mighty force has stepped away from practical politics.



Candidates with military backgrounds have marked political contestation ever since democratic elections were held in 1999. Many still believe Indonesia needs the guardianship of military figures, as civilian politicians are often perceived to be unprepared to lead the nation in the face of global challenges.



After 10 years under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, once billed as a reform-minded Army general, Indonesians almost put their trust in another general, Prabowo Subianto, in the 2014 election. Prabowo eventually lost the race to up-and-coming local politician Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, but clearly the public psyche of looking to a leader with a military background remains alive.



A recent national survey of 1,225 eligible voters in all 34 provinces between Jan. 4-15 by an organization called the Segitiga Institute found that the current TNI chief, Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, could be a serious contender for president against incumbent Jokowi if the two were to go head-to-head in the 2019 election.



Previously, the more prominent polling organization Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) discovered in its survey that the TNI was considered the country's most credible institution, eclipsing the President, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police and the nation's political parties. The majority of some 1,200 respondents surveyed chose the TNI, identifying them with peace and stability, SMRC executive director Djayadi Hanan said.



We may argue with the validity of those findings but nevertheless, many seem to dream of a president with a military background for various reasons. Reformasi has stripped the military of its political powers, but definitely not its influence.



The military has accepted the principle of civilian supremacy. But supremacy has turned into inferiority, as evidenced by the reluctance of the civilian regime to make the military fully committed to the universal rights that characterize democracy.



Look at cases of gross human rights violations that dragged a number of Army generals to the ad hoc human rights court. All the officers on trial were acquitted, despite mounting pressures to end impunity.



A much-awaited formal investigation into alleged atrocities committed in the aftermath of the Sept. 30, 1965, aborted coup blamed on the communists looks unlikely to materialize, although the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has submitted its report to the Attorney General's Office.



In countering the demand for justice from victims and families of the 1965 tragedy, active and retired generals have repeatedly warned of 'a communist resurrection'.



Even the Defense Ministry launched last year a state defense program in which civilians ' including students, workers, government employees and taxi drivers ' undergo a month-long military-style training program to strengthen patriotism and fight 'foreign ideologies', including communism.



Painstaking efforts to amend a law to bring military soldiers accused of ordinary crimes to civil courts have so far failed. Military resistance has stood in the way of revising the Military Tribunal Law.



The system has also kept the military safe from the radar of law enforcement institutions like the KPK, although the defense sector is highly prone to corruption because of the huge amount of money involved.



In its latest survey, the global watchdog Transparency International placed Indonesia among countries with a high risk of corruption in arms procurement due to a lack of transparency and accountability.



The TNI's absence from practical politics is by no means a setback for the military. Instead, the move away from practical politics has allowed the military to avoid corruption investigations and the protracted bickering that has tainted lawmakers as well as their political parties.



History reveals much about why the public still longs for military figures to lead the nation. The TNI typifies the characteristics of what some scholars define as a 'political army'. The TNI has been involved in and has developed a close connection with all stages of the evolution of the country, similar to military regimes in other developing nations.



Since the birth of this nation, either in war or peace, the TNI has never lost its relevance. It is this historical presence that has made it unlikely, for instance, for Indonesia to promote national reconciliation, despite demands for justice for victims, survivors and relatives of 1965.



Each stage of modernization, or development, leads to an opportunity or the perceived 'need' for military political intervention. Development needs stability and the military will fulfill it; and when a crisis happens, the military jumps to the rescue.



Recently the military deployed its personnel to help farmers in many parts of the country support the government's food sufficiency program.



Not only will the program close the gap between grassroots people and their 'protectors', it will also help the military keep its relevance and credibility intact.



The two surveys carry a stern warning for civilian politicians ' they must address their inferiority complex to regain public confidence. With bickering civilian politicians constantly seeking figures in uniform to boost votes, people are left with more credible-looking alternatives, like active or retired officers, regardless of whether or not they have a blood-stained past.

_________________________________



The author is a staff writer at The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) South Tangerang  Sun, February 7, 2016

As Lunar New Year draws near, youths from the Boen Hay Bio temple in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten, are busy preparing performances of Chinese lion and dragon dances, locally known as barongsai and liong.



'We have been in the temple since 5 a.m. for the preparation of today's performance,' Oky Chendana, 20, a board member of the Boen Hay Bio Liong and Barongsai Association, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday while he and some other members were taking a practice break.



Oky explained the community had accepted offers to perform in several places of South Tangerang and Jakarta to welcome Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 8.



On Saturday alone, the community had to perform at two shopping centers in South Tangerang, in addition to a shopping center in Pejaten, South Jakarta, he said.



Oky explained the community had to split into two teams to be able to meet demand for the dance performances.



Boen Hay Bio Liong and Barongsai, Oky explained, was established in 2004 to accommodate youths living near the 300-year-old temple who wanted to learn about the barongsai and liong dances as well as Chinese drum performances.



Twelve years after its first appearance, the group now has 32 members ranging from 13 to 28 years of age.



With some members of a productive age, Oky explained the community had to adjust their practice and performing schedule to members' personal schedules.



He disclosed the community typically earned around Rp 2.5 million (US$183) for a performance.



'We then divide the income for the costs of accommodation and member payments. If there's any spare cash, we put it to the community's savings,' Oky said. He added that even in the peak season of Chinese New Year, they did not charge higher prices.



Asked whether the payment was fair for the community members, most of whom still go to school, Oky said money was not a major concern, adding that all members viewed their participation in the group as a hobby and a way to conserve the culture represented in the performances. They did not look at it as a job.



'We perform for the social rather than the business aspect. Therefore, we can always negotiate about the payment with those who hire us,' added Oky, who joined the community 12 years ago.



Fellow member Budiyanto, who lives in Sampora, roughly 3 kilometers from the Boen Hay Bio temple, confirmed he was not in it for the money. He decided to become a lion dance performer six years ago because he was attracted to the beauty of the dance moves. He added that as a Chinese-Indonesian, joining the community would allow him to conserve his culture.



He was committed to his choice, so he did not find it hard to manage his time around studying and practicing.



'If I have to practice in the evening, I will study, including doing my homework, the next morning. I am used to managing time now,' Budi said.



According to Mardi Liem, a Chinese-Indonesian culture expert, the lion dance, which is accompanied by Chinese drums, depicts the story of repelling the evil Nian, represented in the lion. Meanwhile, the dragon dance is seen to glorify Thian, or god, in Chinese culture.
As we have been reporting throughout the week, Manhattan Democrats will meet this afternoon on the Lower East Side to pick Assemblyman Sheldon Silvers likely successor. Members of the Democratic County Committee in the 65th Assembly District will gather at the Manny Cantor Center at 2 p.m. to select a nominee for an April 19 special election. In the lead-up to the big vote this weekend, theres been a flurry of activity from candidates maneuvering for position.

Last night, Yuh-Line Niou announced a new endorsement, from the Working Families Party. In a statement, the organizations New York director, Bill Lipton said:

While this was a tough decision, a majority of WFP leaders decided that she is the right choice to provide the strong, progressive leadership the working families of the 65th district need. New Yorkers can count on Yuh-Line to be a strong advocate for affordable housing, for immigrants and seniors, and for efforts to clean up our corrupt campaign finance system. We proudly support her.

Niou, chief of staff to Assemblyman Ron Kim of Flushing, last week received the endorsement of city Comptroller Scott Stringer. Shes also being backed by the United Democratic Organization in Chinatown, one of four political clubs which hold sway over the County Committee.

The New York Post today is highlighting a $50,000 loan Niou made to herself. We first reported this as part of a roundup of the most recent campaign finance filings. Heres the tabloids take:

A Democratic candidate for disgraced Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silvers seat has loaned herself $50,000 despite earning little more than that as a state worker. Yuh-Line Niou, who is paid $75,000 as a staffer for Assemblyman Ron Kim, gave herself the loan on Jan. 11. Niou, 32, insisted to The Post that the loan was her own money and that she had saved for years.

Earlier, the Post floated allegations that Niou might not meet the 5-year residency requirement to run for the Assembly seat. Her campaign called the accusations bull after rival candidate Jenifer Rajkumar raised the possibility of a lawsuit if Niou is selected by the County Committee today.

In other campaign developments, candidate Don Lee released a statement saying he would not participate in this afternoons undemocratic process to choose a nominee. Lee criticized the governors decision to call a special election rather than to hold the office open until Septembers primary election. The statement read, in part:

Despite the best effort of the County Committee staff to make presentable and respectable Sundays selection of the Democratic nominee for the special election, it remains a selection by a chosen few and not by the people. A campaign for public elected office should be about public service and the public must be involved While I have been active in working with local elected officials in my activism I was not involved in party politics per se. In a contest controlled by party operatives and those who pull their strings, average citizens such as myself are at a complete disadvantage.

In addition to Niou, Lee and Rajkumar, other contenders for the seat include: Alice Cancel, Paul Newell and Gigi Li. Cancel is considered a leading candidate today because she has the backing of Lower East Side Democrats, her home political club.

All eyes will be on the Truman Club, Sheldon Silvers political organization. Its members could very well push one candidate to victory. The nominee will only emerge after gaining the support of 50% (+1) of the 186-member body. The meeting is open to the public. The Manny Cantor Center is located at 197 East Broadway.

Silver was, of course, forced out of office after a federal jury found him guilty on corruption charges.
New Delhi: Noted alumni of St Stephens college including historian Ramachandra Guha and Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian were denied entry into the campus to attend a condolence meeting for a popular dhaba owner Rohtas, as no prior permission had been sought for the event.

College Principal Valson Thampu said the college was not a public park anyone could walk in without following the protocol.

65-year-old Rohtas, who was loved by generations of Stephens alumni for his samosa and gulabjamuns, died last week due to tuberculosis and pneumonia. Around 100 alumni of the institution had gathered outside the campus on Saturday for a prayer meet for Rohtas but they were denied entry by the guards.

Rohit Bansal, a former trustee of the St Stephens College Alumni Foun-dation Trust who was among those who had gone to pay their tributes to Rohtas, said they were not allowed to go for the prayer meeting and were told to state a different purpose for the visit.
New Delhi: BJP Chief Amit Shah on Sunday held deliberations with the party's Uttar Pradesh leaders as he seeks to firm up the electoral strategy for the politically crucial state, which goes to the polls early next year.

The party is yet to announce its state unit president as it grapples with the challenge of identifying a suitable candidate for the job. Shah deliberated on several issues in his meeting with the core group of state leaders, including UP party chief Laxmikant Bajpai, whose term in the post had ended in mid-December, and Om Prakash Mathur, party sources said.

Shah is meeting party leaders from states where assembly polls are due next year. He had met Punjab BJP leaders on Saturday and will meet those from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the coming days.

UP holds key to BJP's fortune as its stupendous performance in 2014 Lok Sabha election paved the way for it to form its first majority government at the Centre. SP and BSP have recovered ground after being swept aside by the 'Modi wave' in 2014, making the assembly polls a tough battle.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice President Rahul Gandhi at the Patiala House Court after a hearing in National Herald Case. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Congress has come out with a set of Frequently Asked Questions to present its side of the story regarding the National Herald issue as the party said that the Gandhis have not benefited financially from Young Indian Ltd.

The party also dismissed as absolutely false the claim that Young Indian (YI) Ltd, the company formed in the wake of financial troubles concerning Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), was a real estate company.

Congress also underlined that there is no restriction in law on political parties giving loans and the Election Commission had issued a clear order in this regard in November, 2012.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had sought derecognition of Congress on this ground but his complaint was dismissed by a full bench order of the Election Commission at that time, AICC said.

On whether Sonia or Rahul Gandhi benefited financially from Young Indian, it said, No. As directors or shareholders of Young Indian, a non-profit, Section 25 company, they are prohibited by law from drawing (and have not drawn) any financial benefits from the company. It also denied that any assets were transferred from AJL to YI.

All the assets and the income of AJL remain with the company. Not a single paisa has gone to YI, YI Directors or YI Shareholders, it said in the FAQs on its website under the heading, National Herald.

Theres a section on National Herald case on the website of Indian National Congress. (Website screen shot)

It rejected as false the claim that YI was created to usurp the property owned by AJL.

On the contrary, Young Indian, being a non-profit Section 25 company, as the major shareholder AJL, in fact, enhances the safeguards on the properties of the AJL, it said.

On the claim by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that YI is a real estate company, it said the statement was absolutely false.

Absolutely false. YI does not own a single real estate asset or immoveable property. AJL continues to own all its assets. The allegation is, therefore, completely baseless, it said.

Congress also denied claims that YI now owns the property of AJL.

No, both Young India and Associated Journals Ltd are separate entities. All assets and properties of AJL continue to remain with AJL. This allegation is akin to falsely alleging that a shareholder in Indian Hotels Ltd. has rights on hotel properties of the Taj Group and owns a particular hotel or can move into it! the party said.

On the justification behind Congress giving loans of Rs 90 crore to AJL, the party maintained it has financially supported AJL over several decades through the financial ill-health of the company.

This reflected the partys commitment to support AJL, the voice of the freedom movement, it said.

No commercial bank was willing to lend a single rupee to AJL due to the negative worth of the company, its meagre income and its over-leveraged balance sheet, it said.

According to Swamys complaint, all who are named in the case were directors of YI, a company that was incorporated in 2010 and took over the debt of AJL, the publisher of National Herald.

Sonia and Rahul last week moved the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of the criminal case and summons issued to them and five others on several grounds, including that the complaint by Swamy in the National Herald case was a political move aimed to defame them. PTI SPG KKM SC Congress also denied claims that YI now owns the property of AJL.

No, both Young India and Associated Journals Ltd are separate entities. All assets and properties of AJL continue to remain with AJL. This allegation is akin to falsely alleging that a shareholder in Indian Hotels Ltd. has rights on hotel properties of the Taj Group and owns a particular hotel or can move into it! the party said.

On the justification behind Congress giving loans of Rs 90 crore to AJL, the party maintained it has financially supported AJL over several decades through the financial ill-health of the company

This reflected the partys commitment to support AJL, the voice of the freedom movement, it said.

No commercial bank was willing to lend a single rupee to AJL due to the negative worth of the company, its meagre income and its over-leveraged balance sheet, it said.

According to Swamys complaint, all who are named in the case were directors of YI, a company that was incorporated in 2010 and took over the debt of AJL, the publisher of National Herald.

Sonia and Rahul last week moved the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of the criminal case and summons issued to them and five others on several grounds, including that the complaint by Swamy in the National Herald case was a political move aimed to defame them.
BREAKING: Long-tail boat full of Chinese tourists sunk by large waves near Phi Phi, casualty

KRABI: One 64-year-old Chinese woman is dead while her 66 year old husband of the same nationality is in critical condition, after the long-tail boat they were traveling on was sunk after it was struck by 2-3 meter waves near Koh Phi Phi this afternoon in Krabi.



By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 7 February 2016, 09:41PM

The couple was part of a group of six Chinese tourists, including two children who were brought out on the 'Nong Sun' boat by 32-year-old Niyom Seubhed, who revealed that at about 3 p.m. today February 7 the boat had been struck and capsized by waves of between 2 to 3 meters in height, when the group was in the area between Koh 4 and Koh 5 islands in the Noparat Thara - Moo Koh Phi Phi Islands National Park in Moo 2 of Ao Nang. Luckily for the group a speedboat named as Wind Gust 5 was nearby and came to their rescue after about 20 minutes floating following the boat sinking, said Mr Niyom. The 64 year old woman was pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital while the 66 year old man is being monitored closely by doctors. The other four passengers reported to be in a weak condition but safe.
Helmetless Thai moped driver dead after collision with car driven by Russian man

PHUKET: Police have yet to appoint blame in an accident that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old Thai man near Surin Beach this morning.

transportdeathRussian

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 7 February 2016, 10:02AM

Police and First Responder personnel were alerted at 8am to the accident, which occured at a bend in the road, about 300 metres from Laem Sing cape, near Surin Beach in Cherng Talay.

Upon arriving to the scene, volunteers helped collect the body of 20-year-old Sa-gone Kun-nui, who was lying lifeless in a pool of his own blood on the pavement.

Nearby was the white Honda MSX moped-style motorbike that the victim had reportedly been riding.

Police questioned the Russian driver of a black Mazda 3 car, named as 36-year-old Mikhail Cherkasov of Moskovskaya, Russia, who was waiting at the scene with some aquaintances.

Mr Cherkasov was invited him to the Cherng Talay Police Station for further questioning, where he gave report that he had been driving from Kamala when he came to the bend in the road, where the victim, who had been coming from the other direction, lost control of his own bike before smashing into the front of his car, causing him to fly off onto the road, where his unprotected head met the pavement.

The investigation is continuing.
Meet The Natives: Thailand's favourite songbird, the red-whiskered Bulbul

Last Saturday, my family spontaneously stopped at the popular Bang Pae Waterfall, in northern Phuket. It was a typical weekend scene, crowded with local teens and tourists out for a hike or swim in the stream.

animalsnatural-resourcesenvironment

By Steven Layne

Sunday 7 February 2016, 06:37AM

We managed to find a quiet spot aside the stream and as we were relaxing, splashing about, I spotted a little bird out the corner of my eye, or perhaps I heard him first. It was quite surprising to see wildlife at such a busy nature site dominated by loud groups of teenagers and tourists stomping up and down the stream-side path.

I grabbed my camera and started snapping this rare sighting, and then out of nowhere came this teen male, 17, maybe 18 years old I reckon. Prowling in the streamside brush quietly, he proceded to catch the small bird with his bare hands in a single swoop, before casually walking away with the bird, rejoining his friends on the path above.

In hindsight, I suppose it was his own domesticated bird, and perhaps he had lost it and came to collect it when he saw me snapping away. Regardless, its his now.

After I posted the photos on Facebook, a friend pointed out that the bird was a bulbul, the kind that locals use in bird-singing contests. A google search verified that the bird was indeed a Red-whiskered Bulbul, or Pycnonotus iocosus in Thai, Nok Prod Hua Khon Krao Daeng  or Nok Hua Jook   names which help identify the bird easily by its red face patch (Hua Khon Krao Daeng) and/or its spiked head (Hua Jook).

And yes, its one of the most popular caged songbirds in South and Southeast Asia. So I feel very blessed to have seen it in the wild, even if only for a flash.
Practise yoga this month with unconditional love

Hello and welcome to February. This month is all about love! I dont really believe in one single day being THE day to celebrate the one you love. I believe every day should be like that, but it is good inspiration for this months article.

health

By Kim White

Sunday 7 February 2016, 10:00AM

This month I would like to talk about a technique that I use in every single asana that I practise and teach. I am hoping that you will also practise your yoga this way from now on. This technique is literally called Love, but to be very precise, it is actually the practise of Metta, a Pali (Buddhist language) word that describes unconditional love and kindness.

Let me explain. You know when you have to take medicine that you already know tastes yucky? Your face screws up and the body is all tense and before you have even taken the medicine, you can already taste its awful flavour in your mouth? Well, this is how a lot of people go through their yoga practise.

Scared of the stretch, tense and afraid before they have even started, frightened of being an embarrassment and of course not in the best frame of mind to practise yoga.

Lets flip this idea on its head. When yoga time arrives, view your body and YOUR practise of yoga with unconditional loving kindness, allow yourself to accept your limitations but understand that with time and patience, there will be change.

When the heart and mind are soft and focussed on love and kindness, the physical body will follow in kind. Soft minds will create soft bodies, on the same token that frustrated and fearful minds will create frustrated, fearful bodies.

The habit of practising patience and loving kindness to release physically tight and tense situations on the yoga mat will also follow you into tight and tense situations in everyday life. You will find you have a better tolerance and a happier outlook in stressful situations.

So, please for the rest of the year, let us practise yoga with mettaand enjoy a happier and stress-free year.

Metta,

Kim oxo
Seven Thais set for big meet

GOLF: LPGA Tour rookies Budsabakorn Sukapan and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras have been granted exemptions to play at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2016 in Chonburi later this month, organisers said on Tuesday (Feb 2).

Saturday 6 February 2016, 03:04PM

Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, right, and Papangkorn Tawatthanakit, centre, are interviewed at Tuesdays press conference.

Teenagers Budsabakorn and Pannarat, who turned professionals less than a year ago, join 10 players who have been invited to take part in the US$1.6 million at the Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya from Feb 25-28.

Other invited players are Thailands Thidapa Suwannapura, Moriya Jutanugarn and amateur Papangkorn Tawatthanakit, 2010 Honda LPGA Thailand winner Ai Miyazato of Japan, JLPGAs No.1 Shiho Oyama, South Koreas Lee Bo-Mee and Chun In-Gee, and Spains Beatriz Recari.

The announcement has risen the number of Thai players in the 10th edition of the tournament to seven as LPGA members Pornanong Phatlum and Ariya Jutanugarn had already qualified through their money list rankings.

Budsabakorn and Pannarat are among four Thais to have earned LPGA Tour cards for this season through the Q-school.

I am very excited to join the tournament again after playing as an amateur last year, said Chiang Rai native Budsabakorn, who has won two titles in her short professional career.

I thank all the sponsors for their support. Playing in front of the local fans, I will give it my best shot.

Pannarat, who turned 18 last month, said it is like a dream come true.

I used to follow this tournament every year but had never thought that one day I would be playing in it, said Pannarat.

I am preparing hard to get on with the LPGA Tour season and also to play in front of the Thai fans at this tournament.

I want to prove that Thai players have the potential to win titles at big events.

Amateur Papangkorn, who will be taking part in the tournament for the second year in a row, said she has learned a lot from last years event and Ill be better this time around.

She added, It is tough to perform consistently over four rounds and keep hitting good shots. I am better prepared this year to cope with the demands of the event.

I am targeting a better result this year after sharing 43rd place last year.

Thailand has yet to win an LPGA title and its best chance came in the 2013 edition when Ariya blew a big lead to finish runner-up after picking up a triple bogey on the last hole.

A total of 70 players will be competing at the no-cut Honda LPGA Thailand 2016, featuring big names like former champions Park In-Bee (2013), Tseng Yani (2011-2012), Anna Nordqvist (2014) and defending champion Amy Yang.

Major winners Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer have also confirmed their participation.

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Chief Operating Officer of Honda Automobile (Thailand), said it was the 10th consecutive year for Honda to be the title sponsor of the tournament.

He said, The previous editions were very successful and this years edition promises to be even better.

To mark the 10th anniversary, we have increased the prize money from $1.5 to $1.6 million this year. The special hole-in-one prize of Honda Accord will be offered on the par-3, 16th.

LPGA Tour commissioner Michael Whan said, Over the years, this tournament has developed into a great event on the tour.

It has had an incredible impact in the last 10 years. Ten years ago, there was no Thai on the LPGA Tour. Now they have many players including the ones from last year's Q-school.

I am excited to see what we have achieved together over the last 10 years.
Hyderabad: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday accused the Congress of being "intolerant" towards mandate of people and indulging in excuses to block the bills and the Parliament proceedings.

"... there is no excuse at all...Congress should stop making excuses and blocking the bills. Obstruction and blocking of the bills is blocking progress of the country. And it is Congress which is making excuses saying we are being not consulted," the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

"We never ignore anybody, we are consulting all parties. Umpteen number of times, Congress has been spoken to. Even Prime Minister has invited Congress president and even I have been to the house of Congress President twice...there is no question of ignoring," Venkaiah said.

"What we inherited from Congress party is fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, trade deficit, current account deficit and above all trust deficit. Now those deficits are over and India is moving forward and they should recognise that and should not find excuses to block the bills and block the Parliament," he said.

The senior BJP leader accused the Congress of being "intolerant" to people's mandate and asked the party to realise it and support the government.

"They (Congress) should function democratically and they should understand the spirit of democracy and respect mandate of people. They are intolerant towards the mandate of the people. Mandate is for Modi, mandate is for development and mandate is for good governance," he said.

Let the Congress also realise this and support the government, instead of bringing lame excuses, Venkaiah said.

He sought to know where are the excuses (from the government side). Prime Minister Narendra Modi is moving ahead and now international recognition and respect has come to India, he stressed.

Venkaiah said worldwide economy has slowed down, but India is moving forward. India is the most favourite destination, according to World Bank, ADB, IMF, World Economic Forum and everybody is saying with one voice.

"(There is) International slow down, China is going negative and India is moving forward...where is the question of finding excuses?" the Union minister asked.

He was reacting to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's recent comments that the PM should stop making excuses and start running the country.

Social security measures are being taken up, he said, adding that 20 crore bank accounts were opened and PM crop insurance scheme has been launched.

On the forthcoming Budget session, he said, "In the upcoming Parliament session my priority is GST bill, Real Estate Development bill, Bankruptcy bill. There are few more bills. I only hope the Opposition parties also join hands together to pass these progressive bills which will help the country," Venkaiah said.

The GST in fact will increase the GDP by 1.5 to 2 per cent. That being the case, I don't think why anybody should oppose the bill, except for political reasons, he said.

"Obstructing the bill is obstructing the progress and growth of the country and affecting the poor and common people. I hope the political parties understand this and come forward to support," he added.
South Dakota high school football playoffs scores and schedule: Oct. 20

The South Dakota high school football playoffs start tonight with the Class 11B and 9-man teams facing off in the first round.
SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OFFor North Koreas propaganda machine, the long-range rocket launch Sunday carved a glorious trail of fascinating vapour through the clear blue sky. For South Koreas president, and other world leaders, it was a banned test of dangerous ballistic missile technology and yet another intolerable provocation.

The UN Security Council responded at an emergency meeting Sunday by issuing a statement strongly condemning the rocket launch and pledging to expeditiously adopt a new resolution with significant new sanctions.

The rocket was launched from North Koreas west coast only two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning, its path tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea. No damage from debris was reported.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A U.S. official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The launch follows North Koreas widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider the rocket launch a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions.

The UN Security Council held a closed-door emergency meeting at the request of the U.S. and Japan. The statement approved by all 15 council members underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle contribute to North Koreas development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons. It stressed that using ballistic missile technology is a violation of four Security Council resolutions dating back to 2006.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the Norths ultimate goal of a nuclear armed missile that could hit the U.S. mainland. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kims government. Diplomats are also pushing to tighten UN sanctions because of the Norths Jan. 6 nuclear test.

In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defence Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile defence system in South Korea. North Korea has long decried the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and Beijing would see a South Korean deployment of THAAD, which is one of the worlds most advanced missile defence systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

In a statement, North Koreas National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, praised the fascinating vapour of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star. Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rockets first stage fell off North Koreas west coast at 9:32 a.m., and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

The U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying that it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory, but that it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japanese broadcaster NHK showed video of an object visible in the skies from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. South Koreas Yonhap news agency later backed away, without elaborating, from a report that said the rocket might have failed.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an intolerable provocation. She said the Norths efforts to advance its missile capabilities were all about maintaining the regime in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people. U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the Norths missile and nuclear weapons programs a serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies.

The Foreign Ministry in China, the Norths only major ally and its protector in the UN Security Council, where Beijing wields veto power, expressed regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies. A statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the rocket launch, calling on the North Korean leadership to think about whether the policy of opposing the entire international community is serving the interests of the country.

South Korean opposition lawmaker Shin Kyung-min, who attended a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service following Sundays launch, said the NIS believes that the rockets payload satellite was about twice as heavy as the 100-kilogram (220-pound) satellite it launched in 2012. The NIS estimates that if the rocket would have been used as a missile, it would have had a potential range of about 5,500 kilometres (3,417 miles), Shin said.

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the Norths four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. The UN Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

If North Korea has only nuclear weapons, thats not that intimidating. If they have only rockets, thats not that intimidating, either. But if they have both of them, that means they can attack any target on Earth. So it becomes a global issue, said Kwon Sejin, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

In 2013, North Korea conducted a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the U.S. and Seoul.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons. It has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation.

The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multi-stage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The Norths recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Koreas nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

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Hyderabad: IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, who is all set to assume charge as the minister for municipal administration in a day or two, faces the onerous task of checking corruption in municipalities.

The portfolio is being held now by Chief Minister K. Chadrasekhar Rao since 20 months. Last week he announced that he will hand over the portfolio to his son after the GHMC elections.

The audit ordered by the Chief Minister revealed large scale financial irregularities and corruption in all the 16 municipalities across the state. Crores collected from people as taxes in these municipalities were siphoned-off by officials but the government is yet to initiate action or recover the amount from the staff.

The CM had himself admitted large scale corruption in GHMC and other municipalities openly during the TRS public meeting at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad last week. He said he would hand over municipal administration department to his son who had seen for himself the problems being faced by people during the GHMC poll campaign to get approvals from municipal department due to large scale corruption.

The CM hoped that Mr Rama Rao would reform the department and make GHMC and other municipalities corruption-free. The municipal administration department is yet to be handed over to me. It may take two-three days. Once I assume office, my top priority will be to make all municipal corporations and municipalities people-friendly and check corruption. Since, I am also the IT minister, I want to use information technology to achieve these goals, Mr Rama Rao said.

The audit revealed heavy corruption and large scale irregularities in the municipalities of Mahbubnagar, Wanaparthy, Suryapet, Bhongir, Kamareddy, Armoor, Siricilla, Jagitial, Sathupally, Khammam, Madhira, Tandur, Mancherial, Bhainsa, Nirmal and Sangareddy. In Nalgonda alone, Rs 3.32 crore collected from people as taxes was found siphoned off by staff.
The crisis in Syria worsens by the day. The civil war rages on, peace talks are faltering, Islamic State jihadists terrorize much of the country, cities lie in ruins, millions of Syrians have fled into exile, and aid is in short supply.

As United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon put it, its as close to Hell as we are likely to find on this Earth.

Faced with a tragedy on this scale, theres only so much the world can do to help. Even so, its good to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau drawing up a more ambitious, better-integrated plan to address this calamity as the UN chief prepares to visit Ottawa next week to discuss Syria and Iraq, refugees, and other issues.

As Trudeau says, Canada can play a positive role in pushing for peace and stability that goes well beyond bombing jihadists. More than anything, the war needs to be brought to a close. Peace talks and ceasefires are critical. Until then, millions will need food, shelter, medical care and schooling. Airstrikes against the jihadists, however necessary, are just part of the mix. Forceful diplomacy, robust aid and building up local forces complete the bigger picture.

To Syrians who bear the agony of this conflict, Canadas most useful contribution to date has been our generous aid and resettlement policy. Largely on Stephen Harpers watch weve provided nearly $1 billion in humanitarian, development and security assistance since the start of the conflict five years ago, $650 million of it in aid alone. Moreover, the Trudeau government is now resettling 25,000 or more Syrian refugees here. Weve already taken in almost as many Iraqis.

By any standard, Canada is pulling its weight and more. But as the crisis worsens the need grows for a coherent, whole-of-government effort, on the scale Trudeau has been contemplating.

As the Stars Mitch Potter reports, UN efforts to raise $9 billion (U.S.) for Syrian relief in 2016 at this past weeks London donors conference fell a discouraging $3 billion short. And Ottawa held off making its payment known until the government lays out a new military, political and humanitarian strategy in the coming days.

What should our contribution be?

Weve been giving about $200 million a year in aid, development and security to help ease the suffering. That should be upped to $250 million, to make up for the recent sharp slump in the value of the loonie. And given the crying need, theres a strong case to be made for more. As before, most should go to aid and development.

Politically, Ottawa should use whatever leverage it can muster with Bashar Assads regime, Russia and Iran (especially now that Ottawa is rightly reaching out diplomatically to Tehran, and easing economic sanctions), to push for an end to the siege on Aleppo and other hostilities, and a start to serious peace talks.

In terms of battling jihadists, Trudeau has been heavily criticized by the Conservatives for planning to withdraw our six CF-18 fighter-bombers based in Kuwait as their mission expires on March 31. But the American-led coalition has more air power than it needs. There are other, arguably better, ways we can contribute.

Reports out of Ottawa suggest the government plans to deploy more Special Forces to help train Kurdish fighters in Iraq. Thats a riskier mission than most of our allies are shouldering.

Ottawa is also expected to deploy a strong contingent of military trainers to the region, heeding U.S. requests for more help from allies. That too makes sense. Blunting and reversing the jihadist threat can only be done by well-trained, well-equipped and highly-motivated Iraqi and Syrian forces on the ground.

And we are expected to leave our Aurora surveillance aircraft stationed in Kuwait, along with a Polaris refueler, to support strikes against the jihadists.

Its past time the Trudeau government rolled out this plan, and not just to put the contentious issue of the CF-18s behind them. Syrians deserve more Canadian support, both military and humanitarian. A bigger package makes sense.

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Jammu: National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah made it clear today that his party is not ready to support BJP in case the PDP-BJP alliance snaps in the state.

Abdullah also said that PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti must break her silence as she cannot keep the entire state guessing on government formation.

"Mehbooba Mufti has been quiet for long and she can no longer remain silent. She must clarify her stand on two-three issues and clear the air as to what are those CBMs and how long she will wait for those Confidence Building Measures and why did the need of CBMs suddenly arise after the demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Jammu.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said that although an elected government is not in place, the alliance between PDP and BJP is still intact.

"The agreement as far as our knowledge is concerned, the alliance (between BJP and PDP) still exists. We haven't heard either from BJP or PDP that alliance has been broken, so the alliance exists and if the alliance exists, then why not government (is formed).

"Agenda of the alliance was formed and Mufti sahab was made the chief minister. What has changed in the past ten months that today even though they have numbers in the assembly they are not ready to form the government", he said.

Abdullah said that National Conference has been telling them time and again that if they are not ready to form the government, they should be bold enough to break the alliance.

"We will go back to the people, but I am unable to understand the way of their leadership. They ask for Confidence Building Measures, but I am not sure that within the party people know or not, but outside nobody knows what they have asked for," he said.

He said that even BJP was not aware of what PDP was asking for. "Even as BJP has said that please clearly tell us what you are asking for, so we too would want to know what are the CBMs which Mehbooba Mufti is asking for, and did they keep a time-frame, a deadline," he said.

Abdullah said, "Even if Mehbooba has demanded some CBMs then she should tell the people that what are the CBMs and should also fix a timeframe as the state is not going to wait for them forever.

"They should have a timeframe and say if in so many days we don't get a reply, then this alliance is finished and we will go to the people."

Asked whether his party would support BJP if the latter approaches it for government formation, he said that his doors for BJP were closed a year ago and they remain closed even on Sunday.

"Earlier also BJP had explored those options. I have time and again said that National Conference as of today is not willing to form any relationship with them (BJP). I am not even ready discuss this issue. We closed the doors for BJP a year ago and the doors continue be to closed even today", he said.

On his party's alliance with BJP when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, Mr Abdullah said that BJP has changed over the years.

"That alliance did not convert into an alliance for the state as that was restricted to the Centre only and there is a huge difference between BJP of Vajpayee and that of today," he said.

Mr Abdullah said that his party is ready to go to the people as it always wanted BJP to be kept out of government in Jammu and Kashmir and that was the reason that his party had offered unconditional support to PDP after the Assembly polls.

"We are ready to go to the people. We had made an offer a year ago that if Mufti sahab wanted to be the chief minister, National Conference was ready to offer unconditional support as we did not wanted to see BJP in the government in the state and we knew that with the coming of BJP, the situation in the state will not improve and will worsen and that is evident from the past ten months, be it in Jammu or in Kashmir," he said.
More Indian students are going out seeking better education

Enhancing international contacts of higher education institutions was one of the measures that the Kerala State Higher Education Council had envisaged in 2011 as part of its effort to increase quality of higher education in Kerala.

An International Relations Group was established and universities were funded to create courses for foreign students and to produce special brochures. An international meet on transnational education, held in 2014, issued a Thiruvananthapuram Decla-ration on various aspects of internationalisation and the government, the Council and the universities initiated several steps.

The Global Education Meet 2016 was held on January 29-30 to take the process of enhancing international linkages to a higher level to make Kerala a hub for international education. In addition to traditional activities like twinning, academic exchanges etc, the proposals of the government of Kerala to establish an Academic City and International Higher Academic Zones were added to the agenda of GEM. All these were within the existing regulations of the Centre and the State and no change in policy was envisaged.

The agenda of GEM did not include either introduction of foreign universities into India, which is under the purview of the Union government or permission to set up private universities in Kerala, which is within the competence of the government of Kerala.

The outcome of the GEM is contained in the Kovalam Declaration, which has 32 recommendations, dealing with all aspects of internationalisation. It reflects the collective view of the meet that the government of India should pass the Education Bill pending in Parliament and that the government of Kerala should implement the report on private universities.

For the rest, the recommendations deal with academic travel, the visa regime, training of faculty etc. It makes the point that an increasing number of Indian students are going out of Kerala and out of India seeking better education facilities and they will stay back if equivalent education is available here.

Moreover, with the new scholarship programme, even poorer sections of the community can enjoy better education in the new institutions. The most important benefit from the meet was the opportunity it gave our academicians to meet a cross section of the scholars from foreign universities. Our experts were able to acquire information first hand to see the potentials of cooperation with them.

The exchanges at the GEM on the Academic City and International Higher Academic Zones with experienced educationists from India and abroad resulted in new perspectives for our planners.

The recommendations of the meet are like the other reports the Council has submitted to the government on the other aspects of modernization of higher education. The government will take appropriate decisions on the recommendations meet after wide consultations.

India's demographic dividend dictates that we equip our young people with skills to do jobs that do not exist now. A new system of education needs to be evolved through collaboration with private and foreign partners if we have to keep pace with the world and provide the intellectual support to the coming fourth industrial revolution. The GEM was a modest beginning to start thinking of strengthening such collaboration.

T P Sreenivasan (The writer is a formar diplomat and vice-chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council)

GEM has eerie similarities with failed models of US and UK

It is a no-brainer that Kerala has an acute problem in its higher education system, and needs urgent redressal. However, in my view, the official declaration of the Global Education Meet 2016 (GEM 2016) gets both its diagnosis and prescription wrong. Its implementation would only increase the choas in Kerala's higher education; it threatens to transform higher education into an exclusionary sphere, even into an "enclave economy".

The state should not subsidise intellectual curiosity, Ronald Reagen had said before dismantling public higher education in the United States (U.S.). Reagen cut by half the share of federal budget spent on education. Today, higher education in the US is increasingly beyond access for the middle class and poor. If tuition was free at the University of California at Berkeley in 1960, the tuition fee in 2014 was $12,872, excluding the $14,414 charges for room and board.

Similar was the experience in the United Kingdom (UK) under Margaret Thatcher. The golden age of universities in the UK, initiated by the Robbins report, was cut short after 1979. Government funding for universities was cut by 20 per cent; and tuition fees shot up with no proportionate rise in quality.

It is no surprise that both Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn owe their popularity largely to their pledges to abolish tuition fess in the universities. The GEM 2016 declaration has eerie similarities with the failed privatisation models of U.S and U.K. Its striking feature is that the central role of public universities is consciously undermined and sidelined.

It looks at new private universities as the harbingers of quality and exhorts the government to legalise private universities. It emphasises on internationalisation of higher education. Internationalisation refers to three aspects: international collaborations; establishment of an Academic City and allowing International Higher Academic Zones.

These steps are supposed to retain students in Kerala who would otherwise study abroad, increase employability and create world-class entreprenuers. The Academic City and Zones are supposed to make Kerala an attractive destination for foreign investment and international students (as in Dubai).

The problems with such an approach are obvious. Education is not seen as an instrument of national development but as a commodity. This approach has its genesis in the WTO negotiations. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in WTO considers education as a globally tradeable service; under GATS, the opening of a WALMART store is no different from opening a university.

On the one hand, the Nairobi ministerial agreement of WTO would force India to open doors to higher foreign investment in education. On the other, expenditures on higher education have been sharply cut in India to achieve fiscal compression targets under neo-liberalism.

Nowhere in the world has such a policy raised the quality of higher education in any substantive way. It is a myth that foreign universities bring in improved quality. Educational institutions in developed countries are, thanks to scarcity of funds, forced to move into greener pastures to shore up revenues.

They are enticed by the vast and unmet higher education market in countries like India. Given the inevitability of expenditure compression, countries like India end up opening up higher education to foreign investment. An Academic City or an Academic Zone, as envisaged in GEM 2016, will thus be no different from a cement factory in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ): a proposition to make quick and large profits.

A casualty here would be students. A business proposition has to be profitable. Fees rise would become unbearable. Students find higher education increasingly difficult to finance. Neo-liberalism has an answer to this too: educational loans. Global experience shows that student debt cycles are vicious; within educational loans in India, a good proportion are already classified as bad debts.

Policies as advocated by GEM 2016 would only exacerbate such burdens on students. A university is a site of critical thinking. But under the dominance of commerce, it ceases to be one. GEM offers us this grim prospect.

(R. Ramakumar is Professor and Dean at the School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai).
New Delhi: Mobile phone manufacturing in the country may reach 500 million units in coming two years on the back of good base of talent and an incentive policy, a top Department of Telecom (DoT) official said on February 7.

This year, India produced 100 million phones as compared to 45 million last year. "The number of phones being manufactured was 10 million sometime back (which increased) to 45 million last year and 100 million this year. The time has come when we will reach 500 million, may be in 2 years," Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said here.

He was speaking on the second day of a seminar on Telecom and Broadcasting theme  ART (Adjudication, Regulation, Telecommunication) of Convergence, TDSAT. He added that apart from phones, the differential tariff is helping domestic manufacturers to get into other areas like medical electronics, consumer electronics as well as broadband equipment, set up boxes.

"Today with base of talent and incentive policy, India is becoming a global hub for manufacturing of phones and specially low-end phones," he added. The government is making efforts to reduce imports of electronic products and meet requirement of domestic market through indigenous production. The government has received proposals worth Rs 1.13 lakh crore in the electronics manufacturing segment from major brands under the modified special incentive package scheme (M-SIPS).

M-SIPS has been extended till July 2020, which was earlier valid till July 2017. The scheme offers capital subsidies to large investments in electronics manufacturing and system design. The Secretary also said that making high-speed broadband available to individuals in rural areas is a priority of the government. According to a survey, he said, while Internet users may have touched 400 million, broadband users are in the range of 40-50 million and growing very slowly in rural areas. "May be 7 per cent people in rural areas use Internet. More importantly, it's the issue of digital divide. We have only 14 per cent rural households which are digitally literate...this needs to change," he said.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Washington: The sister-in-law of dreaded Islamic State supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is being held in a Kurdish prison following a failed suicide bombing attack several years ago, according to a media report.

The 24-year-old woman, Duaa Amid Ibrahim, is the sister of one of Baghdadi's three wives, and has been held by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces since she was caught entering Erbil with a suicide vest beneath her burqa, the Fox News reported.

Kurdish authorities say she was sent by al-Qaeda on a mission that long predated her brother-in-law's rise to power. With Baghdadi now becoming arguably the most dangerous terrorist in the world, Ibrahim appears to have major clout behind bars, the report said.

"Her mind might have changed from wanting to be a suicide bomber, but her ideology is still the same. She is very popular, the other women really like her," a KRG official, was quoted as saying.

Years behind bars has done nothing to soften her radical beliefs, the official said.

Ibrahim was a teenage widow of an al-Qaeda fighter when she was arrested.

A high-ranking intelligence and security official from Erbil's security agency Asayish was quoted as saying that Ibrahim's case is still proceeding through the legal system, although it is likely she will receive a life sentence.

Ibrahim is regularly monitored by the international Red Cross along with dozens of other jailed female jihadists in compliance with international laws.

She even has a television in her cell that allows her and other inmates to follow the bloody exploits of ISIS and the international community's efforts to stop the black clad jihadist army, the report said.

ISIS' Iraqi stronghold in Mosul lies just about 90 km west of Erbil, and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces clash almost daily with ISIS along the frontlines.

Ibrahim's brother-in-law rose through the ranks of al-Qaeda's Iraqi arm following his release from the US-run Camp Bucca detention center in southern Iraq in 2004. Baghdadi announced his split from al-Qaeda and the formation of ISIS in August, 2013.

Even as the terrorist group seized power, land and international headlines, the Kurds had no idea that the failed suicide bomber they had captured five years earlier was a close relative of Baghdadi. The connection was made soon after the Lebanese Army detained Baghdadi's wife and son as they crossed from Syria in late 2014, the report said.

Despite periodic rumours of his death, Kurdish officials believe Baghdadi is alive and shuttling between the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Ramadi.
New York: A team of biologist travelled to Alaska where from the windows of their truck looked out across the undulating foothills toward the Arctic Ocean. Instead of seeing snow as like we had in years past, they were greeted by a landscape already green with spring.

According to The New York Times, sharing their experiences, we flew by helicopter to a remote camp and shed our heavy parkas. The fish we came to study had already disappeared downstream to spawn. We now realise that what we saw last May was historic  the hottest May for Alaskas North Slope during what scientists recently concluded was the hottest year on record for the earth. We also saw the future.

Last year, the earths temperature passed the mark of 1 degree Celsius above preindustrial levels. Civilisation took 165 years to reach that mark, and now the increase could reach 2 degrees Celsius in just 30 more years, a point at which the risks from sea-level rise, drought and other effects could increase significantly.

Despite promises made in Paris to cut greenhouse gas emissions, we will still need to make it through the hottest years of a looming global heat age. Along with the many challenges we face, we must figure out how to protect ecosystems and the benefits they provide. Each spring for the last 30 years, our team of biologists has travelled to remote field camps in Arctic Alaska. The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else in the world as seawater replaces sea ice, painting the Arctic Ocean blue and fueling a dangerous feedback loop. The white sea ice reflects the suns energy back into space through what is known as the albedo effect. But as the ice melts, the dark Arctic seawater is now absorbing that heat, turning up the earths temperature. With the early spring, snow melted roughly two weeks earlier than in the past and plants turned green soon after.

Lakes thawed about 10 days earlier, and Arctic grayling, a fish, bred weeks earlier. An early spring has long-term consequences. When grayling breed three weeks earlier, for instance, their offspring get a head start on feeding and grow nine times larger. This might seem like a good thing, until you consider that the same warmer temperatures dry the rivers that enable these grayling to swim to lakes where they spend the winter. As these fish wait in shallow pools for the rivers to flow, bears and birds enjoy a captive feast. If rivers do not flow before winter, the fish freeze. The drying of these rivers could threaten some grayling populations.Last Mays warmth deceived white-crowned sparrows into breeding earlier than usual. When a snowstorm roared in, the sparrows abandoned their ill-timed nests, leaving their eggs behind to perish.

Thunderstorms also raged over our camp. These storms used to be rare in the Arctic, but they strike often now. Lightning has set fire to the tundra, releasing into the atmosphere huge stores of ancient carbon from the permafrost. Sinkholes are also opening up in the thawing tundra. Walk up to one, and you will hear the trickle and clatter as heat dissolves permafrost into cascades of ice age mud and stones.

We are only just beginning to understand these changes. Ecosystems involve a complex web of connections among species and the physical environment. Climate change alters these connections in ways that can surprise and baffle us.

For example, scientists thought they understood Arctic streams until we added nutrients to one to mimic what happens when the tundra thaws. A rare moss materialized and blanketed the streambed. A new set of insects appeared, but they sheltered in the moss instead of drifting into the waiting mouths of hungry grayling. So in a roundabout way, a more productive stream made for skinnier fish.

The surprises pose serious risks because we cant prepare for what we dont know. We can no longer be satisfied to watch and document these changes. We must predict and prevent them.

Sustaining life through the coming heat age will require tough decisions as we triage the rising number of climate casualties. We cannot hope to save all species when we havent even figured out how many species there are.We might focus initially on protecting those with the greatest importance to other species and ecosystems, the so-called biotic multipliers of climate change. For instance, top predators are often sensitive to climate change and magnify climate effects by yanking hard on the threads that connect them to other species in the food chain.

Our current approaches to identifying which species and ecosystems are most at risk are primitive. Most predictions rely on the correlation between a map of an animals range and a few climate factors. As biologists, we need to develop forecasts that rely on causes, not correlations, as our colleagues studying the atmosphere did years ago. This will require an enhanced effort to comprehend how species survive, reproduce, evolve and move across landscapes, and how changes in the climate alter each of these factors.

We also need experiments that replicate a warming environment. Scientists know how to heat small plots of tundra with open-topped plastic enclosures and forests with heated cables. But the small size of these efforts limits our ability to understand consequences for larger animals and ecosystems. We need to engineer ways to warm bigger ecosystems experimentally by heating up entire lakes, streams, fields and even forests.

We plan to return to the Arctic again in May. This year is predicted to be even hotter than the last. Well be ready this time. We understand now that we have already entered the heat age.
After last night's contentious Republican debate, the race for the GOP nomination seems up for grabs.

Candidates participated in their eighth showdown of the election season over the weekend, giving New Hampshire voters their final look at the field before heading to the polls Tuesday. Going into the event, a victory for Donald Trump in the Granite State appeared a near inevitability, with Florida Senator Marco Rubio, considered by many to be the leading establishment choice gaining momentum.

What a difference a night makes.

"It was a good night for several people and gives them cause for hope they can cash in on this second chance that New Hampshire provides them," said Henry Barbour, a Republican strategist based in Mississippi.

Chris Christie was one of those people. The New Jersey governor has concentrated much of his campaign efforts on New Hampshire (last night he claimed to have spent 70 days in the state), and he knows Tuesday's primary is a make-or-break moment for his bid. Saturday, he came out swinging, and, ultimately, pummeling Rubio.

In one of the most heated moments, the junior senator repeated four times a well-rehearsed line that President Barack Obama "knows exactly what he's doing," and Christie made him pay dearly, exposing what is thought to be one of Rubio's main weaknesses, that he is too rehearsed and fake.

"There it is. There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody," Christie quipped.

A U.S. Newsheadline Sunday read "Christie Scorches Rubio," and Politicowrote "Rubio chokes." The Daily Beastcalled it "a brutal moment."

And while the Rubio camp may hope that the debate's Saturday night scheduling means many voters weren't watching, the moment also got picked up online. A @RubioGlitch Twitter account was even created mid-debate. Of course, the gaff seemed perfect for Vine, the looping six-second video social networking site that has risen to prominence this election cycle.

In New Hampshire, it's possible Saturday's debate will boost Christie a bit, said Middlebury University political science professor and expert in presidential politics Matt Dickinson, but it won't make an enormous difference for Rubio locally. "He had already peaked in New Hampshire, which isn't a great state for him anyway because of his very conservative social views," he said.

Nationally, we'll have to wait and see. Christie's offensive may not be enough to get him the nomination -- he boasts just 3% support nationally, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls -- but he may have successfully knocked Rubio down a peg or two and proven he may not be the GOP's best hope of an electable establishment candidate come November.

Saturday was a good night for the other governors in the race as well.

"The other two candidates who I think benefited from last night are John Kasich, who made a very clear pitch to attract New Hampshire's unaffiliated voters, and Jeb Bush, who is mainly courting mainstream Republican voters," said Dickinson.

Bush got what Slatecharacterized as his "first-even point" against Trump on the issue of eminent domain.

When asked about the issue, real estate magnate Trump called eminent domain an "absolute necessity" for a country. "Without it, you wouldn't have roads, you wouldn't have hospitals, you wouldn't have anything," he said.

Former Florida Governor Bush took advantage of an opening to attack Trump about an attempted eminent domain seizure of the home of an elderly woman named Vera Coking in Atlantic City in 1993. "That is not public purpose, that is down right wrong," he said.

The two engaged in a heated exchange, with Trump trying to shush Bush and claiming the booing audience was made up of all Bush's "donors and special interests out there."

Of course, as much as Bush was able to score points, it was also a win for Trump, who thrives playing the villain on stage.

John Kasich, who has painted himself as the GOP's nice guy this season, may have picked up some votes Saturday, too. The Ohio governor showed why he has received endorsements from The New York Timesand The Boston Globeand according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls is tied for third in New Hampshire with Ted Cruz.

Kasich touted his record in Ohio, saying that while he's not a moderate, he can "bring people together to solve problems." He also laid out his plan for his first 100 days in the Oval Office: legislation to freeze regulations, reduced state and corporate taxes, a plan to balance the budget and a start for fixing Social Security.

"If I get elected president, head out tomorrow and buy a seat belt," he said.

As for Cruz and Trump, the top two finishers in the Iowa caucus, they had a relatively quiet night.

In the wake of a kerfuffle this week that Cruz's camp had spread false rumors that Ben Carson had dropped out of the race in Iowa, the Texas senator appeared less confrontational and more reserved than in previous debates. He backed down from an opportunity to attack Trump early on and offered Carson an apology, which the retired neurosurgeon essentially brushed off.

Trump, who skipped the last debate, was back to his usual, over-the-top self. It didn't always play great with the New Hampshire audience, which booed him on more than one occasion. A few even chuckled when he talked his plan to repeal and replace Obamacare "with something so much better."

For many Republicans, a less-than-stellar performance from Cruz and Trump -- the party's most two most worrisome fringe candidates -- was welcome.

"We need a consensus candidate to emerge who can push past Trump and Cruz to give us a nominee who can win the general," Barbour said.

Saturday proved that whatever consensus was forming around Rubio, the race is far from over.
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The parents of Divyansh, who was found dead in his school last week, has alleged that their son was sexually assaulted before his death.

The victim's father Ramheet Meena while talking to media has alleged that he saw injuries on private parts of his son in the hospital and that he suspects some foul play in his boy's death.

"I saw the body. There were some injury marks and cotton on his private parts. The principal has been threatening me since the beginning saying that keeping quiet will be good for me...," he was quoted as saying in an IBN Live report.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, meanwhile, slammed police for allegedly ignoring to investigate Divyansh's death from sexual assault angle.

Sisodia also said that the Delhi government would recommend a CBI probe into the case.

The Delhi police has accused Ryan International School of serious lapses, including running the school for more than 20 years without the completion certificate. The school management has been charged on several counts of criminal negligence that led to the death of a 6-year-old.

Meanwhile, the police have sent notices to top officials of Ryan Group asking them to explain on the underground reservoir at the school and operating procedures at the time of emergency.

The initial forensic and autopsy report has not found any sings of sexual assault of the victim. However, police are awaiting for the final post-mortem report to widen the investigation. .

The police had arrested school's principal Sandhya Sabu, a class teacher and three non-teaching staff on the charges of negligence causing death of the Class I student.

Last week, Divyansh was found dead in his school's underground reservoir. The management, at first, sought to blame the hyper-active behaviour of the child for the tragedy.
Seoul: A month after shocking the world with its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has followed through with its plans to fire a long-range rocket, defying outside governments that see the launch as a banned test of ballistic missile technology.

Each nuclear test and long-range rocket launch brings the North closer to creating a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a missile that could strike the mainland United States.

A look at some key developments in North Korea's nuclear weapons and long-range missile programs:

Feb. 7, 2016: North Korea launches a long-range rocket.

Feb. 6. 2016: North Korea moves the rocket's launch window to Feb. 7-14.

Jan. 6, 2016: North Korea conducts its fourth nuclear test and claims it successfully tested a "miniaturised" hydrogen bomb. Many outsiders are skeptical.

Feb. 13, 2013: North Korea conducts its third nuclear test.

Dec. 12, 2012: North Korea launches a long-range rocket carrying a satellite. The US North American Aerospace Defense Command says the North appears to have put an object into space.

April 13, 2012: North Korea launches a long-range rocket that fizzles shortly after liftoff. North Korea says it failed to deliver a satellite into orbit. The US announces it will not carry out the food aid deal.

Feb. 29, 2012: North Korea announces a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests in food aid deal with the US .

May 11, 2010: North Korea claims to have succeeded in nuclear fusion reaction, leading to speculation that the country was attempting to build a more powerful bomb. Outside experts doubt the North's claim.

June 13, 2009: North Korea says it will start enriching uranium in addition to its plutonium-based program.

Feb. 15, 2009: North Korea claims it has the right to "space development.

April 14, 2009: North Korea quits six-party nuclear disarmament talks and vows to restart nuclear facilities in protest against international condemnation over its rocket launch.

April 5, 2009: North Korea launches a long-range rocket said to be carrying a satellite. The North claims success, but US North American Aerospace Defense Command says no satellite reaches orbit.

May 25, 2009: North Korea conducts its second nuclear test.

Oct. 11, 2008: US removes North Korea from list of states that sponsor terrorism after the North, which had stopped disablement moves to its plutonium plant, agrees to resume disablement and allow access of US inspectors.

July 14, 2007: North Korea shuts down its main Nyongbyon reactor, later starts disabling it.

Feb. 13, 2007: North Korea agrees to disable its main nuclear facilities in return for energy aid and other benefits.

July 5, 2006: North Korea fires a three-stage rocket with a potential range of 6,700 kilometers (4,100 miles), but it fizzles after liftoff, according to South Korean and US officials. North Korea has never acknowledged the launch.

Oct. 9, 2006: After citing "extreme" threats of a US nuclear attack, North Korea detonates a nuclear device for the first time.

Oct. 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts a resolution condemning the test, imposing sanctions and banning North Korea from activities related to its nuclear weapons program, including "their means of delivery and related materials."
A radioactive material has been detected in the groundwater below a nuclear power plant north of New York City.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that water contaminated by tritium leaked into the groundwater at the Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, 40 miles north of Manhattan.

Officials say the contamination has remained contained to the site and theres no risk to the public.

Cuomo says the states environmental conservation and health departments will investigate.

A spokeswoman for Indian Point hasnt responded to a request for comment.

Elevated levels of tritium were found in two monitoring wells at the plant in 2014. Officials said then the contamination likely stemmed from an earlier maintenance shutdown.

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO REGARDING INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR FACILITY

Yesterday I learned that radioactive tritium-contaminated water leaked into the groundwater at the Indian Point Nuclear facility. The company reported alarming levels of radioactivity at three monitoring wells, with one wells radioactivity increasing nearly 65,000 percent. The facility reports that the contamination has not migrated off site and as such does not pose an immediate threat to public health.

Our first concern is for the health and safety of the residents close to the facility and ensuring the groundwater leak does not pose a threat.

This latest failure at Indian Point is unacceptable and I have directed Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos and Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to fully investigate this incident and employ all available measures, including working with Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to determine the extent of the release, its likely duration, cause and potential impacts to the environment and public health.

The Governors letter directing Acting Commissioner Seggos and Commissioner Zucker to their begin investigation is below:

Dear Commissioners Zucker and Seggos:

I am deeply concerned to have learned that radioactive tritium-contaminated water has recently leaked from operations at the Entergy Indian Point Energy Center (Indian Point) into groundwater at the site. This is not the first such release of radioactive water at Indian Point, nor is this the first time that Indian Point has experienced significant failure in its operation and maintenance. This failure continues to demonstrate that Indian Point cannot continue to operate in a manner that is protective of public health and the environment.

The levels of radioactivity reported this week are significantly higher than in past incidents. Three of forty monitoring wells registered alarming increases. In fact, one of the monitoring well increased nearly 65,000 percent from 12,300 picocuries per liter to over 8,000,000 picocuries per liter.

Our first concern is for the health and safety of the residents close to the facility and ensuring the groundwater leak does not pose a threat. As such, I am directing you to fully investigate this incident and employ all available measures, including working with Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to determine the extent of the release, its likely duration, its causes, its potential impacts to the environment and public health, and how the release can be contained. We need to identify whether this incident could have been avoided by exercising reasonable care. We also need to know how a recurrence of this episode can be avoided by specific steps that Entergy should be taking.

Please report back at the completion of the investigation.

Sincerely,

ANDREW M. CUOMO

(AP)
With wet snow already ankle deep and falling fast, Dave Chiokadze and James Radcliffe trekked down one long driveway after another in search of potential votes for Donald Trump.

Its like the Revolutionary War, joked Chiokadze as they made their way house to house along a Londonderry street, knocking on doors that were flagged by a smart-phone app and leaving long lines of footsteps in their wake.

The 22 year olds, out-of-state volunteers involved in politics for the first time, are on the front lines of Trumps effort in New Hampshire, where the Republican presidential candidate is hoping for his first victory of the 2016 campaign in the states primary on Tuesday.

Trump had a disappointing runner-up finish last Monday in leadoff Iowa, which has a byzantine caucus process that puts a premium on organizing supporters to make sure they turn out. Now, he and his team are intent on making a greater push to get out the vote in the opening primary state

Look, Ive never done this before. Ive been a politician for seven months. Im against governors and senators. Theyve done it their whole lives, Trump said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday. It would seem to me that people would just go out and vote.

Trump said he never realized the need to encourage supporters to actually take part in the caucuses. Now, I think were going to have an OK ground game.

Or at the very least, one that Trump is willing to show off.

His campaign shrouded its Iowa operations in secrecy. In New Hampshire, it has opened the door to what appears to be more robust effort to ensure his legion of supporters becomes an army of voters.

At his state headquarters in Manchester, volunteers were hard at work on two recent weekdays. They made calls using an automated phone dial system in a room decorated with black-and-white photographs of the man theyre working to elect.

Malcolm McGough, 58, a volunteer from West Hartford, Connecticut, said he had been working 13-hour days making calls.

Its really about asking them whether theyre going to get out and vote on Tuesday and whether they support Mr. Trump, McGough said. He said he had made 1,150 calls for Trump on Wednesday alone.

Kevin Bray, 51, another volunteer, said he had driven more than 20 hours in the rain from Nixa, Missouri, after seeing the results in Iowa.

Iowa happened and I woke up really irritated, he said. I said, you know, I want to make a difference. He said he arrived on Wednesday morning and told Trumps team to put him to work.

In a back room of the office, a white board displays ambitious goals for each day.

On Thursday, the team aimed to make 30,000 calls and knock on 2,500 doors. By early afternoon, campaign officials said they were partway to their goals. Their seven teams of volunteers sent to neighborhoods across the state had reported knocking on 823 doors so far.

On Friday, campaign staff hoped to boost the number to 5,000, as more than 100 new volunteers arrived from states such as New York and Pennsylvania to help. The team has run out of the 20,000 cards it printed to hand out during visits and was printing 25,000 more.

I think look, well take nothing for granted, said Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, a New Hampshire resident overseeing the effort.

Were going to do everything we can to try and talk to every voter possible. So weve made a lot of phone calls and knocked on a lot of doors and were going to do a lot of stops.

And obviously, Lewandowski said, Mr. Trump gets the biggest crowds, so he gets to see the most people.

He said the outreach was aimed specifically at voters identified as having a high likelihood of being open to supporting Trump. Volunteers said they included many independent voters and those without a history of voting in the primary.

Steve Duprey, a political professional in New Hampshire who helped shepherd GOP Sen. John McCains winning 2008 campaign in the state, described the Trump ground game as aggressive and sophisticated.

I think they have a first-rate operation in New Hampshire and I think they were under the radar for a couple of months, Duprey said.

To be sure, Trump hasnt completely changed his approach in the wake of his Iowa defeat.

He skipped town for a rally in South Carolina on Friday and has largely forgone the small-scale town halls and meet-and-greets that are the usual fare for potential presidents in Iowa and New Hampshire. Thats something some of his supporters in Iowa said was a hurdle to success there.

It was challenging, said Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, a prominent Trump supporter. Everybody talks about the 99 county tour. I think if we could have gotten him there more often, it would have increased his numbers.  I wanted him to do smaller events. We could not get that done.

The winner in Iowa, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, did visit all those counties. Cruz also developed and relied on a sophisticated, data-driven approach that targeted specific, individual voters.

In New Hampshire this past week, many voters interviewed said they had yet to receive mail or phone calls from Trumps campaign.

Even as Trump acknowledged that investing additional time and money in Iowa may have helped win the caucuses, he continued to boast about spending less than the other candidates. Trump spent just $1.2 million on consultants in areas such as field operations in the final four months of the year, along with $235,000 to the data firm L2.

Cruz spent more than $3 million on data provider Cambridge Analytica alone in the quarter, and $900,000 on political strategy consulting.

Trump also continues to be badly outspent on television by candidates of significantly lesser means, advertising tracker Kantar Medias CMAG shows.

The $3 million hes spent so far on TV and radio ads in New Hampshire is eclipsed by groups backing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

In South Carolina, the next state to vote after New Hampshire, hes getting outspent 9 to 1 by Rubio and groups supporting him.

Still, Duprey cautioned against betting against Trump and his unorthodox approach.

Just because it hasnt been done this way before, doesnt mean it dont happen this time, Duprey said.

(AP)
The Simon Wiesenthal Center blasted Hungarian officials for their failure to stop a Neo Nazi event in the city of Szekesfehervar, where a proposed statue to honor Balint Homan, a major Hungarian anti-Semite and Nazi collaborator was recently halted following an international outcry. Mark Weitzman, the Wiesenthal Centers Director of Government Affairs, who helped spearhead the international protests against the monument, declared This weekends scheduled event in Szekesfehervar featuring a SS veteran and neo-Nazis followed by a concert (See Flyer) is another blatant attempt to honor and glorify the perpetrators of the Holocaust. For such an event to be allowed to go forward without any condemnation in the country that is currently chairing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and has a law against Holocaust denial, is an exercise in political and historical hypocrisy.

When I met with the mayor of Szekesfehervar in December regarding the proposed Homan statue, he expressed his concern that Szekesfehervar would remembered for that controversy. In light of this weekends planned event, we can say that it is clear that Szekesfehervar will be notorious from now on as a city that allows the glorification of Nazis, Weitzman concluded.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A 65-year-old southern Kibbutz resident was the victim of a Shabbos afternoon terror attack in the Bedouin community of Rahat. The woman was shopping in a street market when an illegal PA (Palestinian Authority) resident stabbed her and fled. She was listed in moderate-to-serious condition with knife wounds to an ear and her neck. She was transported to the trauma unit of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.

Rahat Mayor Talal al-Kirnawi told the media the attacker who fled was not a community resident, but a resident of the PA. the search for the terrorist continues.

The victim explained she was shopping when suddenly felt a pain in her neck area and then saw the blood flowing.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
There have been no higher stakes on a Republican debate stage in the 2016 campaign for president than there were Saturday night.

Seven GOP Republican hopefuls faced off just three days before a make-or-break New Hampshire primary that some of them are not likely to survive.

Coming off a strong Iowa finish, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio tripped up early under attack from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who are jockeying for the same Republican voters.

At the same time, the candidates on the still-crowded stage seemed unwilling to mix it up with Donald Trump, the national front-runner for months who needs a win in New Hampshire on Tuesday to avoid starting the 2016 race with two consecutive losses.

And then there was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the champion college debater who shared a deeply personal moment during an otherwise forgettable night while trying to build on his victory in the Iowa caucuses.

Here are some takeaways from Saturday nights GOP debate:

___

RUBIO STUCK IN A LOOP

Rubio experienced his worst moment in a presidential debate at the worst time, stumbling badly when forced to answer the fundamental question posed by rivals of his candidacy: whether he has the experience necessary to lead the nation.

As a first-term senator with no executive experience, Rubios resume is remarkably similar to Barack Obama before he became president. Rubio tried to turn the question around by charging that Obama knows exactly what hes doing by undertaking a systematic effort to change this country.

The answer was quickly challenged by Christie: I like Marco Rubio, and hes a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States.

A clearly rattled Rubio responded by delivering the same line about Obama not once, but twice. And Christie made sure New Hampshire voters knew it: There it is. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody.

It was a cringe-worthy moment for Rubio three days before a New Hampshire contest in which he hopes to knock Christie, Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich from the race. Even if it doesnt significantly change the contest in New Hampshire, the moment raises questions about Rubios readiness to take on Democrat Hillary Clinton in a general election debate.

___

CHRISTIE PULLS NO PUNCHES

He is barely registering in recent preference polls, but the New Jersey governor was the toughest candidate on the debate stage Saturday night. And thats no small feat with the tough-talking Trump at center stage.

At seemingly every turn, Christie zeroed in on Rubio, pelting him with zingers about his inexperience and record in Washington. Calling out Rubio on his missed votes in the Senate, Christie charged, Thats not leadership. Thats truancy.

And when Rubio didnt answer a moderators question about why he backpedaled on an immigration proposal hed helped write when it appeared to become politically unpopular, Christie called him out.

The question was, did he fight for his legislation. Its abundantly clear that it he didnt. Then he twisted the knife: Thats not what leadership is. Thats what Congress is.

It was a performance Christie badly needed as he teeters on the edge of irrelevancy in the crowded Republican contest. Is it too little too late to rescue his campaign?

___

TRUMP LEFT ALONE  MOSTLY

Trumps rivals barely laid a glove on the frequent New Hampshire poll leader.

The decision to withhold fire was evident right from the start, when Cruz declined to repeat his assertion this week that Trump didnt have the temperament to be commander in chief. Cruz dodged, saying everyone on the stage would be better leader of the U.S. military than Obama and Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Pressed by a moderator whether he stood by his words that Trump was too volatile to be president, Cruz said simply, I think that is an assessment the voters are going to make. Trump noted that Cruz refused to answer the question.

Bush was the only one who took it directly to Trump. After the billionaire real-estate developer defended the use of eminent domain as a necessary tool of government, Bush said the businessman was downright wrong when his company tried to use eminent domain to build an Atlantic City casino.

Trump scoffed, saying Bush wants to be a tough guy.

Bush fired back, How tough is it to take property from an elderly woman?

It was the only moment in which Trump flashed any of the rhetorical jabs hes become known for on Twitter. For the most part, Trump was content to lay back and let those chasing him in the preference polls fight amongst themselves.

___

A COMFORTABLE CRUZ

The champion college debater wasnt much of a factor after a rough start to the debate, when he was asked about Trumps temperament and allegations his campaign team engaged in deceitful behavior by suggesting in the moments before the Iowa caucuses started that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was leaving the race.

When this transpired, I apologized to him then and I do so now, Cruz said. Ben, Im sorry.

Cruz returned to prominence when asked about substance abuse, and gave an answer that will be hard for some voters to forget.

The Texas senator shared the deeply personal story of his sisters overdose death. He told New Hampshire voters, and a national television audience, that he and his father pulled his older sister out of a crack house. They pleaded with her to straighten out for the good of her son. But she didnt listen.

She died, Cruz said.

It was a very human moment for a candidate sometimes criticized for not being likable.

And it was in line with his tone all night long, as he consistently rose above the mud-slinging, despite his near-daily attacks on his rivals on the campaign trail.

(AP)
When this Long Island village switched on its ring of steel last fall, it knew it was getting a potent policing tool. The system of 27 cameras would scan the license plate of every single vehicle that rolled into town. If a wanted criminal drove through, the system would sound an alert. If someone burglarized a house, the data could be mined to see who was on the road at the time.

Police werent prepared, though, for the firehose of less-valuable intelligence generated by the $750,000 system.

Since the scanners went live Nov. 2, they have been triggering an average of 700 alarms a day, mainly about cars on the road with expired or suspended registration stickers. Officers have impounded 500 vehicles. Theyve written more than 2,000 court summonses, mostly for minor violations.

It is a tremendous amount of workload that has been increased due to this new technology, said Miguel Bermudez, police chief in the town of Freeport.

Mayor Robert Kennedy dismissed any notion that the system may be diverting the departments attention from more serious offenses while Bermudez noted that it quickly became clear his 95 officers would be unable to respond to every ping signaling an infraction. After overtime expenses jumped at least 20 percent, the department has lately adjusted its approach, responding only to higher priority alarms.

But the chief is still talking about hiring another six to eight officers who would be dedicated solely to traffic duties and responding to license plate scanner alerts, in part because there have been some major successes.

In January, an officer responding to an alert about a stolen car discovered that the man behind the wheel, Tremain Williams, was wanted for killing a man in Norfolk, Virginia. Police found an M-4 assault rifle in the trunk. Williams has pleaded not guilty; his attorney declined to comment.

In its first 90 days of operation, 15 stolen cars were spotted and returned to their rightful owners.

About two dozen other crime suspects have been arrested, including two men suspected in a series of armed robberies who were in a stolen car as well as a man wanted for allegedly burglarizing local churches.

Kennedy would not say how much money has been generated through the village system, noting that it has only been up and running for about 90 days and it isnt possible to determine what the cost has been beyond the installation fee.

The use of license plate scanners has been proliferating at law enforcement agencies nationwide.

A 2012 study by the Police Executive Research Forum, a research and policy group, found that about 7 in 10 law enforcement agencies nationwide have at least some access to the technology.

Some departments mount scanners in patrol cars that capture data as officers drive around town. Others buy access to databases maintained by private companies that mount plate scanning cameras on tow trucks.

Civil liberties advocates have raised some privacy concerns. They say the cameras capture the movements of millions of drivers, regardless of whether they are being investigated by law enforcement.

Freeports cameras have the capability of scanning about 2,000 cars per minute. So far, the village system has scanned plates more than 15 million times.

Different states and jurisdiction have different rules about how long collected plate data can be stored and when it may be accessed.

Jason Starr, the Nassau County chapter director at the New York Civil Liberties Union, said he is concerned that Freeport has yet to provide detailed information about who has access to the information.

This is data that can be abused, he said. There needs to be really tight measures on who has access to this information.

(AP)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Speaking at a Shabbos culture event in Beersheva, Minister of National Infrastructure, Water & Energy Dr. Yuval Steinitz explained that Egypts flooding of Gaza terror tunnels was done at Israels behest. He explained that Egypt agreed to comply with the request and the flooding was done in cooperation with the IDF.

The minister explained that for now the flooding is a good solution as Israel is trying to avoid another round of Gaza warfare. He added that despite reports to the contrary, Israel is not ignoring the tunnels but rather working hard to address the problem and there is no reason for residents of border communities to be afraid.

There were reports that Egypt flooded Gaza tunnels at the Rafiach side of the border a number of months ago and since then there have been rumors that Egypt has secretly been working with Egypt to prevent Hamas from rebuilding the tunnels.

It is added that despite Steinitzs words, the actions of Egypt are also to the benefit of Egypt as Hamas military wing and ISIS in Sinai maintain close ties to Egypt is pleased to do what it can to cut ties between Gaza and Sinai for doing so is in Cairos interests no less than Israels.

Photos: One tunnel between Gaza and Rafiach that was detected.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)
My father, HaRav Tzvi Mordechai Felder, ztl, was a Rav for more than 60 years, and in that capacity he was called upon to officiate at numerous funerals. Over the years, our community said goodbye to many Jewish men and women who had been born in Europe, but when my father saw the passing of a frum and eirliche Yid who had been raised in America, his praise was even more effusive. Why? We all know why. Spiritually speaking, the challenges here in the Land of the Free are very strong.

If I may be so presumptuous, I dare say that my father would have seen the American roots of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Yisroel Belsky, ztl, as particularly noteworthy. That a man who was born and raised here in America could have reached the heights usually associated only with previous generations who learned in Europeeducating and influencing so manyis, on its own, singularly praiseworthy.

I had the honor and privilege of being one of the HaRav Belskys many talmidim in Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Vodaath for many years and I was delighted to take advantage of my proximity to the Rosh Yeshiva to ask him sheilos. On one occasion, I began speaking and the Rav immediately said, Dont talk! You have Laryngitis! I smiled but continued. Rav Belsky stopped me again. Im serious, he said. Dont talk or even whisper. Sleep near a hot water humidifier for a few days and youll feel better IYH! I made an appointment with the well known ENT specialist Dr. Allen Goldstein, ztl, who diagnosed my condition exactly the same way and advised me to do precisely the same thing that Rav Belsky recommended.

Of course, HaRav Belsky was well known and respected not only for his bkius in all four Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Halachah and Hashkafah, but also for his vast knowledge of science. At his frequent Ask the Rav sessions, listeners were amazed at his wide-ranging and in-depth knowledge of many intricate and arcane subjects. Consequently, after being elected to serve on the NYC Council, Rav Belsky was frequently who I turned to when complicated communal sheilos arose. Not only was the Rosh Yeshiva able to understand the issues complex technicalities and discern the impact on the Klal, but also he would authoritatively give a very clear and definitive psak.

When Water Copepods became an issue, New York Citys Environmental Protection Agency experts spent many hours going over every minute detail with HaRav Belsky, and he in turn explained what he had learned to other poskim. Some ultimately had a different psak but HaRav Belsky was relied upon for his universally acknowledged expertise.

The mayors issue with Metzitzah Bpeh was another great challenge to our community. I was determined to do everything in my power to prevent the City from interfering with our religious observance. Once again, our community had a great champion in HaRav Belsky who had extended, arduous discussions with NYC Health Department officials. I recall my pride in witnessing such a public Kiddush Hashem, listening to HaRav Belskys learned, insightful and unhesitating back-and-forth with New Yorks health experts on abstruse medical issues. The New York City officials may have disagreed on how to proceed, but never once did they question the Ravs grasp of the issues involved.

Like those European giants who he learned from, HaRav Belsky was truly a wise, caring, dedicated soul whose tireless efforts on behalf of Klal Yisroel were voluminous. We have lost a great luminary, and I have lost a trusted, valued friend and Rebbi.

May his memory be a blessing.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A South Korean man watches a TV news program with a file footage about North Korea's rocket launch at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: AP)

Seoul: North Korea launched a long-range rocket today carrying what it has called a satellite, but its neighbours and Washington denounced the launch as a missile test, conducted in defiance of UN sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.

The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit, quashing earlier media reports indicating the it might have failed in flight.

North Korea said the launch of its satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a "complete success" and that it was making a polar orbit of the earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by his son, leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33 years old.

Read: US denounces provocative' North Korea rocket launch

Japan PM Shinzo Abe calls North Korean launch 'absolutely intolerable'

China expresses regret over North Korea rocket launch

North Korea's state TV carried still pictures of a white rocket that closely resembles a previously launched rocket, lifting off, and Kim surrounded by cheering military officials at what appeared to be a command centre.

North Korea's last long-range rocket launch, in 2012, put what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but no signal has ever been detected from it.

"Everything we have seen is consistent with a successful repeat of the 2012 (launch)," said US missile technology expert John Schilling.

"But it's still too early to tell for sure," said Schilling, who is involved in the "38 North" North Korean monitoring project at Johns Hopkins University.

The rocket was launched at around 9:30 am Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

North Korea had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

Read:

Developments in North Korea nuke and missile programs

UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on North Korea

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said.

The United States tracked the rocket launch and said it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies, defence officials said.

Isolated North Korea had initially given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but on Saturday changed that to February 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather today.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration called the launch "an epochal event in developing the country's science, technology, economy and defence capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

'Flagrant Violation'

The United States will work with the UN Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for its launch, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

Calling the launch a flagrant violation of UN resolutions on North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology, Kerry reaffirmed "ironclad" US defence commitments to allies Japan and South Korea and called the launch a destabilising and unacceptable challenge to peace and security.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an unforgivable act of provocation. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said there will be stepped up effort with the United States, Japan and Australia on sanctions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch "absolutely unacceptable", especially after North Korea had tested a nuclear device last month.

"We will respond resolutely, coordinating closely with the international community," he told reporters.

Japan had said that it was ready to shoot down the rocket if it had posed a threat to it but did not take any action, Japan's NHK reported.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the launch and urged North Korea to "halt its provocative actions".

China expressed regret and called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from taking steps that might further raise tension on the Korean peninsula.

China is North Korea's main ally, although it disapproves of its nuclear weapons programme.

"China expresses regret that North Korea, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

North Korea has said that its fourth nuclear test, on January 6, was of a hydrogen bomb. However, the United States and other governments have expressed doubt over that claim.

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.

It has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the US West Coast, but there is no evidence the missiles have been tested.

North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme.
What a pigs ear this Government is making of our pensions. Heaping mess upon mess. Already waiting in the wings for committed savers is a cutback in the amount they can save before the taxman comes knocking on their door for a slice of the action  the so-called lifetime allowance, which is being reduced by 20 per cent to 1 million from the start of the new tax year in April.

There is also a looming reduction in the amount additional rate taxpayers can contribute towards a pension. In some instances, this will come crashing down from 40,000 to 10,000 a year.

All this horribleness is happening irrespective of what changes (reductions) the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes to the tax relief that savers currently enjoy on pension contributions. Details of this bombshell will be revealed next month when George Osborne delivers his spring Budget. Tin hats at the ready, a la Dads Army, I would say.

'We're doomed': Did Dad's Army stalwart Private Frazer (pictured left) foresee George Osborne's plans?

In light of this bad news, it is not surprising to learn that the Governments ongoing assault on pensions is already having an adverse impact on the propensity of people to save and build funds for the time when they work no more. Is that really what the Government wants? More of us saving less, more of us becoming a burden on the State? If so, its a crazy policy.

A report on key pension trends issued in the past few days by the Association of Consulting Actuaries makes for depressing reading. If you care to read the report, please dont do so just before you go to bed because it is guaranteed to give you nightmares (I did and woke up at 3am in a cold sweat, convinced Osborne was in my bedroom wielding an axe).

The report confirms that nearly one in three companies has witnessed employees on higher incomes leave their schemes because of the reduction in tax relief and the complexities of the pensions regime. According to the association, constant chipping away of tax relief undermines faith in the [pensions] system and erodes the belief that saving for old age is appropriate.

There is plenty more in the report that will get you reaching for the valium. For example, one in five employers running defined benefit pension schemes open to future accrual, plans to pull up the drawbridge in the new tax year. Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen, defined benefit schemes in the private sector are going the same way as the dodo.

Shortly, they will remain the exclusive domain of public sector workers, including those who serve us and ultimately determine pensions policy in this country. I am referring, of course, to MPs.

Shameful, to add to the shambolic state of pension affairs we currently find ourselves in through no fault of our own.

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One other acerbic view on pensions (that Osborne nightmare has left me in a bad pensions mood). To deflect its spiteful attack on pension savers, the Government prattles on about the wonders of auto-enrolment. A project designed to ensure more of us in work contribute to a pension.

Only a week ago, Baroness Altmann, Minister for Pensions, was waxing lyrical about the fact that 5.8 million workers have been auto-enrolled into a workplace pension. By the time all companies have fulfilled their duties, this figure will leap to nine million. Fine and dandy, but lets not go overboard about the wonder of auto-enrolment. For many it will make little difference.

The ACA says as much in its report, indicating that many employees are paying the bare minimum  less than one per cent of total earnings  into their pension. Employers are topping up by the same meagre amount.

One of the reasons why many workers will have no chance of building a half-decent retirement fund is because of the rules governing how contributions are calculated under auto-enrolment. They are based on earnings between 5,824 and 42,385. These lower and upper limits should be scrapped with contributions calculated on an employees full salary. Only then can Ministers talk about auto-enrolment making a real difference.

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Experts at uSwitch tell me there are 39 energy deals cheaper than the one that charity Age UK has recently been urging pensioners to sign up to (the Age UK Fixed 2 Year v6 tariff, with energy supplied by E.on) in the interests of filling its own coffers.
Small firms across Britain are tearing their hair out as they are forced this year to offer all their staff a pension. The topic of auto-enrolment may seem soporific, but right now it is keeping tens of thousands of bosses awake at night.

As my colleague Jeff Prestridge writes this week pension savers are facing a squeeze from the Chancellor. Small company bosses are having to tackle a pensions minefield for their staff too as they are required this year to set up pensions for their employees.

One director at a small family firm I spoke to last week is utterly exasperated. Her business employs less than a dozen staff  some part-time, some on variable hours  and the work involved in getting the pension issue right is taking up hours of management time. Hours that most small or medium-sized company bosses simply do not have. I am terrified of getting it wrong, she declared.

In the firing line: George Osborne urgently needs to think long and hard about how in this Budget he can show our small and medium-sized companies that his concern for them is more than just words

And thats not surprising. More than 1,000 small firms have already been hit with fines for missing their auto-enrolment deadlines. The scale of this should also not be underestimated. In total, about half a million companies will have to set up a pension arrangement for staff this year, in a series of stages. The first of those involves 100,000 firms which have until the end of March to get it sorted  seven weeks.

The pained small business boss I chatted to is not reluctant to offer staff a pension. In fact, bosses see plenty of value in loyalty and goodwill if they do so  they just cannot find the time or support to get it done right and on time.Recognising the problem, the Pensions Regulator has now launched a YouTube video explaining how to do it.

But the real nightmares lie in the detail.Working out which staff are eligible; making sure offers are made to those staff; adjusting payroll systems. That is before the company decides whether and how much it would like to initially contribute to staff pensions.

Small businesses are often lauded as the workhorses of the economic recovery, but it seems right now that they are being flogged to death. The National Living Wage which is coming in almost simultaneously for some firms is another administrative burden. Then there are business rates  on which The Mail on Sunday has campaigned now for several years. As we report this week, the CBI has launched its clearest demand yet for dramatic change in the forthcoming Budget.

It may now be too late to save the half million companies facing the auto-enrolment nightmare.
Despite oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell surprising some financial commentators by maintaining their quarterly payouts last week, the outlook for UK dividends is not particularly rosy.

Capita Asset Services, part of business outsourcing giant Capita, is among the pessimists.

Though it predicts that the 3.9 per cent income yield from UK shares this year will still compare well against other asset classes such as bonds (1.9 per cent), savings income (1.3 per cent) and UK property (3.5 per cent), its latest review of the dividends generated across all UK firms indicates that payouts this year will fall by 0.9 percentage points, the first drop since 2010.

For most investors who depend on equity income to supplement their finances in retirement, dividend cuts are bad news. But there are fund managers who will bend over backwards to protect their payouts to investors.

For example, a few investment trust managers have, by smoothing the payouts, managed to increase dividend payments every year for the past decade. Some, such as The City of London and Bankers, have managed to do this for more than 40 years.

Then, there is a select band of investment fund managers who use complex financial instruments to boost payouts, even if some of the extra investor income is at the cost of capital return.

David Jehan is the derivatives expert behind Fidelity Enhanced Income, an investment fund with one of the highest yields  6.7 per cent  to be found in the 82-strong UK equity income fund sector.

Premium: David Jehan sells short-term options on funds holdings

With co-manager Michael Clark, he uses covered call options to provide the fund with its income lift. These give the buyer the right to any increase in a shares price beyond a set level. Jehan sells short-term options on a number of the funds key holdings, typically FTSE 100 stocks. The fund gets an initial premium from the buyer, boosting its income.

Once the option has been sold, the premium cannot be taken away. But the maths only really works if the share price of the firm the option is written on moves in the right direction over the options life, which is usually three months. When Jehan sells the option, a strike price is agreed with the buyer  a financial institution  which in effect determines the maximum profit Jehan can get.

If the share price at the end of three months is lower than this strike price, the option has no value to the buyer, which loses out and Jehan is quids in. But if it has risen, the fund forfeits all the gain above the strike price.

Jehan says: The key is to avoid selling call options on cheap stocks that are likely to go through the strike price. We also only sell options with short maturities nothing longer than six months. And we also spread our risk by choosing option expiry dates across different time periods.

Clark, who picks the funds holdings, also runs Fidelity MoneyBuilder Dividend, another UK equity income fund.

It has a lower yield than Enhanced Income, it does not use options to boost income and it has a better overall record over the past five years.
Rolls-Royce, Britains premier aircraft engine and defence supplier, is poised to slash its dividend this week  the first time the blue chip giant has cut its payout in almost a quarter of a century.

The favourite of small investors, and a major contributor to FTSE 100 dividend earnings, will also report that it expects profits to halve this year. The City believes Rolls-Royce is likely to slice its dividend by more than a quarter from 23.1p per share to 16.97p, cutting total payouts to investors by more than 100 million.

Some analysts believe it could axe its 435 million dividend entirely before embarking on a fundraising to shore up its balance sheet.

Problems: On Friday, chief executive Warren East (pictured) will unveil annual results for 2015 and he will also issue guidance on likely profits in 2016

The Derby-based manufacturer  popular with institutional investors such as pension funds  has not reduced its payout to shareholders since the slowdown of 1992. It has an advance order book worth 70 billion, but has issued five profit warnings since the start of 2014.

On Friday, chief executive Warren East will unveil annual results for 2015 and he will also issue guidance on likely profits in 2016.

The City expects profits for last year to amount to 1.3 billion, but the figure for this year is predicted to fall to just 673 million.

East, who took over last summer following the departure of John Rishton, is in the process of restructuring the 9.6 billion company. He aims to cut its cost base by 200 million a year by 2017 and has axed nearly 4,000 jobs.

Rolls-Royces problems stem from its decision a few years ago to withdraw from supplying the narrow-bodied passenger jet market, which subsequently grew quickly as low-cost airlines flourished. The firm has instead been concentrating on supplying engines for wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft, a market in which it has a 50 per cent share.

More of its older engines, which provide income through maintenance contracts, are being taken out of service while Rolls-Royces newer engines have yet to take up the slack.

Rolls-Royce supplies the reactors for nuclear submarines and the Government retains a

golden share in the company to prevent its acquisition by a foreign firm. It limits foreign investors to a 15 per cent stake.

Last year, the Government reportedly drew up contingency plans to take control of Rolls-Royces nuclear reactor operations if its performance weakened further, allowing its aero-engine arm to be sold or for a foreign investor to take a larger stake.
The drinks industry has reacted with dismay to the Governments proposed new guidelines on drinking, describing them as scare-mongering and confusing.

In the biggest shake-up of drinking advice for 30 years, chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies last month issued new recommended limits for drinkers, saying men, as well as women, should have just 14 units a week, and warned no level of drinking is safe.

Tequila sunset: No level of drinking is safe, the State says

Dame Sally told MPs last week that she considered the risks of breast cancer when deciding to have a glass of wine.

The proposals are up for consultation until April 1.

Henry Ashworth, head of the industry-funded alcohol responsibility body Portman Group, said: They could be counterproductive. If they are not credible or put in context, people will ignore them. For example, setting the same limit for men and women doesnt pass the common sense test.

He added: Without setting the risk against that of other everyday activities it will just worry people.
Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester is on course for a final payout from the bailed-out organisation of up to 500,000  more than two years after he left.

RBS will also confirm next month that it awarded Hester 1.7 million in shares last March under a previous incentive plan, taking his total pay for five years at the helm to around 13 million.

The payouts come despite an expected eighth year of losses at the Edinburgh-based bank and with the taxpayers stake worth less than half the amount the Treasury paid for it.

In the money: RBS will also confirm next month that it awarded Stephen Hester 1.7 million in shares last March under a previous incentive plan

Hester is the beneficiary of long-term incentive plans put in place before he was ousted as chief executive in June 2013.

RBSs last annual report revealed that Hester had received an 859,000 share award under the 2011 long-term incentive plan.

The report also said that executives benefiting from the 2012 plan had met enough performance conditions to be awarded almost two-thirds of the maximum number of shares they had been allocated.

For Hester that meant picking up 480,000 shares worth 1.7 million. The bank is expected to confirm the payout in this years annual report due next month.

He will receive a final allocation of up to 323,000 shares in March as part of the 2013 plan. Indications from last years annual report suggest that executives benefiting from the 2013 plan will get similar allocations to last year  meaning Hester will collect 200,000 shares worth 480,000.

Hester left the bank in June 2013, after a disagreement with the Chancellor over the banks strategy. His pay was a long-running sore and Hester  who now runs insurer RSA  gave up a series of bonuses in the face of public anger.

He earned an annual salary of 1.6 million at RBS, took one 2 million bonus and picked up 3 million from the long-term pay plans.

The banks pay packages are less controversial than they once were. Top executives are not paid bonuses any longer and chief executive Ross McEwan has given share-based allowances  awarded to him by the board and approved by shareholders  to charity. The banks bonus pool this year is nevertheless expected to run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

Both the bank and Hester declined to comment.

Meanwhile, RBS is facing a fresh legal attack in the Far East from Taiwanese shipping magnate Hsin Chi Su  widely known as Nobu Su.

Su, whose TMT shipping group was a customer of RBS in the years leading up to the crisis, filed a claim last week in the Singaporean High Court alleging that RBS temporarily transferred more than $400 million (276 million) from his company to an account in New York without his permission.

Su claims the move was carried out so RBS could use the money as collateral to help access low-cost loans from the New York Federal Reserve.

His multi-billion dollar business came close to collapse during the financial crisis.
People watch a TV news reporting a rocket launch in North Korea, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. For North Korea's propaganda machine, the long-range rocket launch Sunday carved a glorious trail of "fascinating vapor" through the clear blue sky. (Photo: AP)

Seoul: For North Korea's propaganda machine, the long-range rocket launch Sunday carved a glorious trail of "fascinating vapour" through the clear blue sky. For South Korea's president, and other world leaders, it was a banned test of dangerous ballistic missile technology and yet another "intolerable provocation."

The rocket was launched from North Korea's west coast only two hours after an eight-day launch window opened Sunday morning, its path tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea. No damage from debris was reported.

North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after lift-off. It vowed more such launches. A US official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.

The launch follows North Korea's widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider the rocket launch a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions. The United States and Japan quickly requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches.

North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as crucial steps toward the North's ultimate goal of a nuclear-armed missile that could hit the US mainland. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy meant to collapse Kim's government. Diplomats are also pushing to tighten UN sanctions because of the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test.

In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defence Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile defense system in South Korea. North Korea has long decried the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea, and Beijing would see a South Korean deployment of THAAD, which is one of the world's most advanced missile defence systems, as a threat to its interests in the region.

In a statement, North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, praised "the fascinating vapour of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star." Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the Feb. 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said a South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer detected the North Korean launch at 9:31 a.m. The rocket's first stage fell off North Korea's west coast at 9:32 a.m., and the rocket disappeared from South Korean radars at 9:36 a.m. off the southwestern coast. There was no reported damage in South Korea.

Read: North Korea rocket launch a 'direct violation' of five UN resolutions: NATO chief

The US Strategic Command issued a statement saying that it detected and tracked a missile launched on a southern trajectory, but that it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

Japanese broadcaster NHK showed video of an object visible in the skies from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. South Korea's Yonhap news agency later backed away, without elaborating, from a report that said the rocket might have failed.

The global condemnation began almost immediately.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an "intolerable provocation." She said the North's efforts to advance its missile capabilities were "all about maintaining the regime" in Pyongyang and criticized the North Korean leadership for ignoring the hardships of ordinary North Koreans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to "take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people." US National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the North's missile and nuclear weapons programs a "serious threats to our interests - including the security of some of our closest allies."

The Foreign Ministry in China, the North's only major ally and its protector in the UN Security Council, where Beijing wields veto power, expressed "regret that, disregarding the opposition from the international community, the (North) side obstinately insisted in carrying out a launch by using ballistic missile technologies."

South Korean opposition lawmaker Shin Kyung-min, who attended a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service following Sunday's launch, said the NIS believes that the rocket's payload satellite was about twice as heavy as the 100-kilogram (220-pound) satellite it launched in 2012. The NIS estimates that if the rocket would have been used as a missile, it would have had a potential range of about 5,500 kilometers (3,417 miles), Shin said.

Kim Jong Un has overseen two of the North's four nuclear tests and three long-range rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. The UN Security Council prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity. Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

"If North Korea has only nuclear weapons, that's not that intimidating. If they have only rockets, that's not that intimidating, either. But if they have both of them, that means they can attack any target on Earth. So it becomes a global issue," said Kwon Sejin, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

In 2013, North Korea conducted a nuclear test and then unnerved the international community by orchestrating an escalating campaign of bombast, including threats to fire nuclear missiles at the US and Seoul.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons. It has said that plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex are in operation.

Read: North Korea launches space rocket in defiance of sanctions threats

The North is thought to have a small arsenal of crude atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver its bombs to faraway targets.

After several failures testing a multistage, long-range rocket, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

The North's recent activity comes amid a long-standing diplomatic stalemate. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.
People watch a TV news program showing an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: AP)

North Korea on Sunday had defied international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United Nations and others call a cover for a banned test of technology for a missile that could strike the US mainland.

The rocket was fired from North Korea's west coast and its path was tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea.

We take a look at the reactions from around the world on North Korea's rocket launch:

United Nations

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today in New York over North Korea 's launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said.

The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States , which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Britain

Britain strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday and warned of a "robust response" if Pyongyang continued to violate UN resolutions.

"I strongly condemn North Korea's ballistic missile technology test," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement.

"This is a clear and deliberate violation of a number of UN Security Council resolutions. North Korea's actions continue to present a threat to regional and international security."

"In conducting this provocation, North Korea has clearly demonstrated that it is intent on prioritising the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes over improving the well-being of its own people."

Russia

Russia condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, saying the move was a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang.

"It is obvious that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole...(and) inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia, which is one of the few backers of the isolated Stalinist country and with which it shares a border, said that Pyongyang had once again demonstrated "audacious disdain for the norms of international law."

"The course chosen by Pyongyang cannot but cause a decisive protest," the foreign ministry said.

"We urgently recommend that the North Korean leadership think whether the policy of placing yourself in opposition to the international community is in the country's interests."

United States

The United States has denounced North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as "destabilising and provocative."

"North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests including the security of some of our closest allies and undermine peace and security in the broader region," White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.

Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket and said it was a violation of UN Security resolutions.

The launch was "absolutely intolerable," Abe told reporters as it came despite repeated protests by the international community. He also called it a "clear violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.

Taiwan

Taiwan said its security had not been affected by North Korea's launch of a rocket carrying what North Korea has said is a satellite.

The launch could advance North Korea's long-range missile technology after its fourth nuclear test on January 6.

China

China "expressed regret" over North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, after Pyongyang said it successfully put a satellite into orbit.

China is North Korea's sole major ally and main trading partner, but relations between the two have been strained in recent years by Pyongyang's ongoing nuclear programme.
Syrians fleeing the northern embattled city of Aleppo wait in Bab al-Salam, near the city of Azaz, northern Syria, near the Turkish border crossing. (Photo: AFP)

Beirut: Russian and Syrian government forces on Saturday intensified an assault on rebel-held areas around the Syrian city of Aleppo that has prompted tens of thousands to flee to the Turkish border to seek refuge.

The assault around Aleppo, which aid workers have said could soon fall to government forces, helped to torpedo Syrian peace talks in Geneva this week. Russias intervention has tipped the balance of the war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, reversing gains the rebels made last year.

Any hopes of a ceasefire were dampened by Assads foreign minister, who said it would be all but impossible to stop the fighting while rebels were able to pass freely across the borders with Turkey and Jordan.

Taking full control of Aleppo, Syrias largest city before the civil war erupted five years ago, would be a huge strategic prize for Assads government in a conflict that has killed at least 250,000 people across the country and driven 11 million from their homes.

Advances by the Syrian army and allied militias, including Iranian fighters, are threatening to cut off rebel-held zones of the city, still home to around 350,000 people, while more than a million live in government-controlled areas.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, foreign minister of Turkey, which has already taken in 2.5 million Syrians, said up to 55,000 were now fleeing to the frontier.

Camps on Syrian side

Cavusoglu said the border was open, but at the Oncupinar crossing near the Turkish city of Kilis, which has been largely shut for nearly a year, refugees were being shepherded into camps on the Syrian side.

The local governor on the Turkish side of the border, Suleyman Tapsiz, said around 35,000 Syrians had reached Oncupinar in the space of 48 hours.

Our doors are not closed, but at the moment there is no need to host such people inside our borders, he said.

A Turkish aid official said the refugees on the Syrian side were safe and being given food.

One camp was teeming with women and small children, some of whom carried bottles of water or played in the mud. Some of the tents were ripped and dirty while others, provided by a Turkish aid organisation, appeared new.

One refugee, Muhammed Idris, said he had fled from the nearby Syrian town of Azaz, counting on the open-door policy touted by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. After four days, he was still waiting to get in.

Before, Tayyip Erdogan was saying on TV that Syria and Turkey are brothers, but now he is not opening the doors, he told Reuters. Our houses are destroyed and we came to his house. Where else should we go?

A Reuters reporter at Oncupinar could hear occasional shelling and saw several Turkish ambulances cross the border.

On the Turkish side, dozens of refugees who had already made it in queued up to beg the authorities to allow their relatives in, or to cross the border in the hope of bringing them back.

Thousands waiting

Sitting in his car with his four children just inside Turkey, Ahmet Sadul, 43, was hoping to get back into Syria to look for relatives from Azaz.

Now there are thousands of people from Azaz all waiting on the other side. They escaped from the Russians. I want to go and get my relatives. They are bombing Syrians all the time.

Many people have left Aleppo. But still there are many civilians there. If Russia is successful, we are all dead.

Russia denies targeting civilians and says its actions are aimed at shoring up Syrias legitimate government and combating terrorism. The West and Turkey, which want Assad to step down, accuse Moscow of using indiscriminate force.

Syria has been emboldened by Russias intervention. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told a news conference on Saturday that Damascus would resist anyone who launched a ground incursion into its territory.

Those (who do so) will return to their countries in coffins, he said, adding that no ceasefire would be possible unless borders were sealed.

The comments appeared to be aimed at Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which said this week they were ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria that the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq decided to mount.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collates witness reports, said fighting continued in areas north of Aleppo, and that government and allied forces were also attacking villages to the east of the city and to the southwest, around the main highway to Damascus.
BHALEKANE  Philip Lushaba, head teacher of Bhalekane Nazarene Primary School, has been suspended from work after he confessed to the Ministry of Education and Training, that he illegally used over E70 000 of school funds.



These were part of the funds paid to the school by both government and parents for the over 700 pupils education. Primary school head teachers are paid about E14 500 per month  on government salary scale D5.

The Times SUNDAY has documents confirming that towards the end of last year, Lushaba wrote a letter in which he confessed to have misappropriated funds from the schools account.



He addressed the letter to Fanyana Mabundza, Nazarene Schools Manager (Grantee) where he explained how he misused the funds for his personal gain and asked for forgiveness for his transgression.

He confessed to have used an amount of E58 149.50, from school funds to pay his private medical bills. He misappropriated the above funds from the school account within a period of three months, July to October 2014.



He also claimed to have also misappropriated a sum of E13 900 from the school account, as presented in the schools bank statement of March 2015. On November 26, 2015 Macanjana Motsa, the Ministry of Education and Training Undersecretary (Schools Manager), responded to Lushabas letter.



According to the Schools Acco- unting Regulations of 1992, school funds should be used for schools related expenditure and no funds should be advanced to head teachers at any given period. It is, therefore, not proper to ask for forgiveness in this matter, as these are public funds that have to be spent transparently for school related matters, reads Motsas letter in part.



Lushaba has subsequently been suspended and the ministry appointed its official investigator, Knowledge Ngwenya, to investigate the issue further. It is against this backdrop that the ministry is compelled to institute a comprehensive audit of the school, with the view of finding out how funds are utilised at the school, continues Motsas letter.



Mabundza, Nazarene Schools Ma- nager, also wrote a letter on January 20, 2016 where he also rejected Lushabas apology and said his explanation for misusing the school funds was unsatisfactory.

Due to your unsatisfactory response, I am left with no choice but to forward the matter to the Teaching Service Commission for its consideration.

The Times SUNDAY visited Lu- shabas school last Wednesday.



Reporters found the embattled administrator in his house, within the premises of the school.
Muslims consider the love for death as the proof of faith. The Quran says: then seek for death, if you are sincere.(Q.2:94) In another place Muhammad challenged the Jews to desire death in order to prove that they are truthful. Say: O ye that stand on Judaism! If ye think that ye are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of (other) men, then express your desire for Death, if ye are truthful. (Q.62:6)



It is a mistake to project our own values on others. Muslims are very different people. They come from a parallel universe where nothing is what it is because everything is what it is not. They will never integrate, will never assimilate and as soon as they become strong they will subdue their hosts and kill them and rape their women as they did in Medina and virtually everywhere else they conquered, either through invasion or through immigration.



The belief that Muslims can integrate or that they want the same things that others want is fanaticism because it is not so. It is prejudice because it is based on ignorance. And attacking those who know better is bigotry. This belief is a lie and is deadly.

Bigotry.
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By Madina Toure

As the warning period alerting motorists to new camera installations along the route of the Q44 Select Bus Service is currently underway, community leaders and elected officials are casting a wary eye on the bus lane cameras.

The Q44 SBS, which replaced the Q44 limited bus route from Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica to the Bronx Zoo, started Nov. 29, serving 42,000 commuters daily. In September, Community Board 7 voted against the SBS proposal.

The route includes off-board fare collection and dedicated bus lanes. Riders have to either insert their MetroCard or coins in a machine to get a ticket.

A DOT spokeswoman said the Q44 SBS bus lane cameras are currently issuing warnings to motorists who are driving or standing in the bus lane during its designated hours, as a form of public education for motorists to be aware of regulations and avoid being issued monetary violations.

Camera enforcement will begin on the route this spring, the spokeswoman said.

Although the spokeswoman could not disclose the number of cameras on any route, she said there are 4.4 miles of bus lanes on the Q44 route, all with varying hours of operation. There are also signs that indicate the bus lane hours.

Motorists who drive or stand in the bus lane during designated hours after the waiting period, which lasts 60 days, will receive $115 violations. Since violations are issued against the vehicle instead of the driver, points are not deducted from motorists licenses.

Gene Kelty, CB7s chairman said the route is commercial, with people constantly making deliveries and dropping people off and that the road is tight. He said people will be confused by the cameras.

I think theyre going to snap a lot of pictures, Kelty said. I think a lot of people are going to be affected by it in Flushing.

But he said he feels he cannot do anything about it, noting that the elected officials in the area supported the SBS proposal, which he views as support for the bus lane cameras by default. He said the route will not produce better bus service in the area.

We got the cameras because of the bus lanes, he added.

Borough President Melinda Katz, for her part, is still worried about impact of the cameras.

Borough President Katz remains concerned about the details of the camera technology for the dedicated bus lanes, namely whether it effectively curbs the potential for abuse and for irregular enforcement, her spokesman said in a statement.

The DOT started issuing bus-lane camera violations along the M60 125th Street SBS route Monday. It is the first bus lane to have cameras enforcing the regulations, following state authorization allowing the expansion of the citys bus-lane camera program to 16 total routes. DOT also works with the NYPD to implement bus lanes citywide through long-established methods.

Camera enforcement has already been in effect on five other routes, two in the Bronx, two in Manhattan and one on Staten Island.

The DOT said that on the five routes that have issued enforcement, it has found that the average violations have dropped since the cameras were first installed.

An independent AAA report issued last summer found a significant drop in violations, with 118,646 bus lane camera violations issued on the five routes in 2015, the DOT spokeswoman said.
Disillusioned Iraqi Migrants Are Volunteering to Be Flown Back Rather Than Stay in Belgium



On Monday, Belgium repatriated by charter plane 106 Iraqi migrants  but they were not being sent back after being rounded up by law enforcement. They had volunteered to be flown back to Baghdad, as part of a government-led initiative.



Jointly managed by the International Organization for Migration and FEDASIL, the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum-seekers in Belgium, the program has been described as the first of its kind in Europe. Usually, migrants who elect to return home are flown back to their country of origin on commercial flights, but this is the first time a government charters a plane.



...Belgian State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration Theo Francken was at the airport Monday to wave off a new batch of returnees. "If people want to go home, I'm not going to stop them," he told local television channel RTL-TVI.



...Before boarding the plane, one Iraqi national told Flemish television channel VTM that he would rather "die in Iraq than stay in Belgium." Another migrant told reporters he had spent $6,000 just to reach Belgium.



According to Francken, this chartered flight is costing the Belgian taxpayer 100,000 euros ($109,000). But the minister says the program is worth it, since, according to him, asylum seekers cost the state 50 euros ($55) per day....
By Prem Calvin Prashad

Queens reputation as the forgotten borough never seemed more pertinent until the weekend before last, as we dug out of record snowfall and waited well into the work week for the plowing of tertiary streets. While the mayor toured Ridgewood and Sunnyside, offering a mea culpa, members of the Queens delegation wrote op-eds and held press conferences, bringing attention to the situation. Despite loud complaints from at least two elected officials in southeast Queens, many residents felt their anger was not heard at City Hall.

Its a familiar scenario for the communities that live in Council District 28, which encompasses parts of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, perhaps illustrated at a town hall held by the mayors office on Liberty Avenue a year ago. Frustrated residents who had come to hear about new initiatives such as IDNYC instead began to speak on transit, homelessness and safety issues plaguing the community. For many, it was the first time they had been able to express their views to a public official.

Much has been written on the legal woes of Jamaicas politicians, particularly when dealing with discretionary funding. In addition to alleged mishandling of campaign funds, Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) of CD28 has been under indictment for allegedly pocketing part of a discretionary grant from the state. In light of these allegations, the City Council stripped Wills of the right to allocate discretionary funding to groups in his district in 2014, sending that obligation to the Speakers office and the Queens delegation.

Discretionary funding, or as the layperson may know it, pork, is allotted annually to council members that make decisions on which groups in the district to support. This allocation is available publicly on the Council website. The current Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, overhauled the controversial process, after her predecessor was accused of punishing dissenting council members by reducing their discretionary funding. To date, 28 councilmembers have introduced participatory budgeting, a process that allows residents more say in how discretionary funding is spent.

As we are not privy to the decision-making process, it would be irresponsible to make specific critiques of the current allocation of funds for CD28. Those tasked with this have the unenviable role of determining the best services for a community they do not directly represent. In fact, many organizations have the citywide scope and experience to deliver excellent services in communities where they are not located.

Yet, the continuation of this status quo is not acceptable. Of the 75 awards totaling $1,293,794 doled out in Council District 28 in fiscal year 2016, many went to large organizations outside the district that promised to provide a specific service or program in the district. While this work is certainly valuable, it would appear, based on provided addresses, that none of the recipient groups were in Richmond Hill or South Ozone Park. In addition, despite the heavily South Asian and Indo-Caribbean population in the district, just three recipient organizations make discreet reference to South Asian or Hindu affiliations. The neighborhoods Sikh community appears to be largely left out.

Councilmember Eric Ulrich (R-Howard Beach) in neighboring Council District 32 allocated funds for groups in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, including a few located beyond the district borders. His office represented a majority of the twenty-nine grants specifically designated for groups based in the neighborhood.

Many quality organizations depend on discretionary funding to provide vital programs, like mentoring and tutoring, noted Richard David, a member of Community Board 9 and former vice president at the New York Economic Development Corporation. When your council member is the only one who has been unable to do so, over multiple years, it hurts the organizations and the people they serve, especially communities of color, he continued.
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I don't need extra incentives to splurge my children's inheritance, which is why I'm not a betting man. But if I was, I would place a hefty wager right now that the 2017 Oscar winner for Best Picture will be "Hail Caesar!" I haven't seen it, because it doesn't open until tomorrow (I'm scribbling this late Thursday night). But if you happen to be the kind of skunk who doesn't mind squandering your little darlings' milk money, you should consider going all in on "Hail Caesar!" even if we don't yet know who the 2016 winners are. There are two reasons: A) It's gotten good reviews. B) It's about Hollywood. There's nothing Hollywood likes more than movies about itself.

Case in point: the 2015 Oscars. The movie that should have won Best Picture  the humane and insightful "Boyhood," directed by Texas filmmaker Rickard Linklater over the course of 12 years (it was deeply moving to watch the cast change with age)  was beaten by a frenetic movie called "Birdman," about a washed up and delusional Hollywood actor. Or take 2013, when the nominees included one of the great historical films of all times (Stephen Spielberg's "Lincoln"), the filmed version of the most popular musical ever ("Les Miserables"), and the conscience-provoking paean to the hunt for Osama bin Laden ("Zero Dark Thirty"). The winner? "Argo," about the American hostage crisis in Iran. It wasn't bad, but it won in large part because it depicted a Hollywood producer and special effects technician as the brains behind the rescue of six Americans from the Canadian Embassy (the heroic Canadian ambassador barely got a nod). Remember the Best Picture from 2012 (no one would blame you if you don't)? It was "The Artist," a silent, black and white French film about the early days of  you guessed it  Hollywood. I could go on and on. How about 1998, the year of the classic "Saving Private Ryan," which alerted a new generation of Americans to the sacrificial gallantry of many of the doddering old men around them? The Best Picture that year was "Shakespeare in Love," which was less about the Bard himself (in the movie, he was a nonentity whose muse was a bearded Gwyneth Paltrow) than it was about the exasperations of putting on a show. Granted, the Globe Theatre wasn't Hollywood, but it was the closest equivalent the early 17th century had. Given half a chance, Hollywood will always celebrate itself.

Maybe that helps explain this year's kerfuffle about the lack of diversity in the Academy Awards. How come all of the nominees for the major awards were white? What could explain the absence of a great movie like "Creed?" For those who haven't seen it, "Creed" is about the aspirations of a young black boxer named Adonis, the out-of wedlock son of the long-dead Apollo Creed (Rocky Balboa's best friend and rival in the early "Rocky" films). "Creed" didn't spring from the mind of Sylvester Stallone, the muse and star of all the previous Rocky movies. Instead, its African-American writer-director, Ryan Coogler, had a vision, co-wrote a script, and eventually won Stallone's support and backing. The movie was great; so was its lead actor, Michael B. Jordan. In a supporting part, Stallone reprised the role of Rocky, who trained the young fighter. Stallone deservedly won a nomination for Best Supporting Actor (and for sentimental reasons will probably win). But it's more than a little noteworthy that in an inspirational movie written and directed by an African-American, with a cast predominantly populated by African-Americans, the only nomination went to the white guy. Could the demographics of the voters have had something to do with it? The people who vote for the Oscars belong to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which had nearly 5800 members in 2012, of whom (according to the Los Angeles Times), 94 percent were white, 77 percent male, and 54 percent over age 60. Are the nominations based strictly on the merits, or are rich, old, white artsy types a little unsure when it comes to a movie about young black fighters in a rundown part of Philadelphia? It may not be fair to think that way, but it's not illogical. Consider the current Supreme Court. Of the nine justices, six are men and three are women. Six are Roman Catholic and three are Jewish. There is one African-American. Five of the current justices went to Harvard Law School, three to Yale Law School, and one to Columbia Law School. Seven are millionaires. The average age of the court is 70. The court has no Protestants, no Asian-Americans, no one economically middle-class, no one who went to law school outside of the Ivy League, and no mothers. Could these factors play into some of the decisions? Or are the justices simply a collection of judicial tablulae rasae  blank slates  whose upbringing, social setting and education have no bearing on any decision they render?

The great unanswered question in the 2004 presidential race had to do with the fact that the two nominees, George W. Bush and John Kerry, were both members of Yale University's secret society, Skull and Bones, and their tenures overlapped. That means that if you were a member of Skull and Bones you were 100 million times more likely to be nominated for president than if you were a member of Sam's Club. Or maybe it was just a great big coincidence. And maybe unicorns grow on trees.

The fact is, all of us base our decisions in large measure on where we come from and how we were raised. That means that proximity to the rich and famous increases the opportunity to be rich and famous, and lack of proximity diminishes it. The great social escalators in American history  the true meritocracies that enabled people of ingenuity and energy to transcend their roots  have traditionally been the military, the benevolent support of an affluent patron, and the public school system. Only two of those have been constant, and one of those two is in jeopardy.

For many in America, the deck seems to be stacked, the glass ceiling turning into iron.

But does it have to be? Is it possible to acknowledge privilege without taking refuge behind it? Is it possible to acknowledge the intrinsic worth  to see the face of God  in those who look least like ourselves? Is it possible for us to love someone utterly unlike ourselves? I don't know. It would be so strange, so out of place.

It would be something like God washing feet.
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Music, magic part of YSO fundraiser

The Wichita Falls Youth Symphony's fall fundraiser, "The Magic of Music," will feature musical performances, magic demonstrations, a catered dinner and a live auction.

The $40-a-ticket event will start at 6 p.m. March 5 at the Kemp at the Forum, 2120 Speedway.

A sit-down meal will be catered by Two Black Ducks. Musicians of the Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform, and magician Diamond Jim Tyler will be the featured entertainer.

Proceeds benefit the youth symphony, a group of about 60 young symphonic musicians from Wichita Falls and the surrounding communities. Members of the arts organization perform a free-admission fall and spring concert, as well as perform with the Wichita Falls Symphony for is Christmas concert.

For tickets, call 723-6202 or email Jodie White, executive director, at jwhite@wfyouthsymphony.org.

Prints by Oaxacan artist on display

An exhibit by Irving Herrera is on display through Feb. 26 at the Juanita Harvey Art Gallery at Midwestern State University.

An artist's reception is slated from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

The exhibit will feature a number of relief prints by the Oaxaca, Mexico, artist, who was born in 1984 in Huajuapan de Leon in Oaxaca and studied etching and painting.

He was a founding member of ASARO, a group of artists who covered Oaxaca with stencils and etched posters during a time of conflict in the city in 2006. At that time, Herrera's developed his street art sensibilities.

Admission: Free.

Information: 397-4264.

Improv your Valentine's Day

Backdoor Theatre's next Improv Night will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-13 at the downtown community theater's facility, 501 Indiana.

It's when the actors are "making this stuff up," as the theater says, and creating performances on the spot.

Bring-your-own beverage to this event, which is for theater adherents who are 18 years old and older.

Admission: $10.

For tickets, go to www.backdoortheatre.org.

Make reservations for bus art tour

The next "Exploring the World of Art" bus tour will be Wednesday to Fort Worth's Kimbell Art Museum and Modern Art Museum.

The Wichita Falls Museum of Art, 2 Eureka Circle, will open at 7 a.m. for a continental breakfast, and the bus will leave at 7:45 a.m.

Attendees will arrive at the Kimbell at 10 a.m. to view "Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter's Eye," the first major U.S. retrospective of the artist's work in 20 years, featuring 50 of his most important paintings of Paris and its environs.

Lunch is on your own at noon at The Kimbell or The Modern.

At 1:30 p.m., tourgoers will walk to The Modern for "Highlights from the Permanent Collection," a new installation of the permanent collection, consisting of treasured favorites, rarely seen works from the vault and new acquisitions.

The bus will depart for Wichita Falls at 3:30 p.m. with complimentary wine and snacks.

Arrival at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art is 6 p.m.

Seating is limited.

Price: $45 for the bus ride, Kimbell Museum audio tour and docent tour of the Modern Museum. Cost is transferable but not refundable.

The event is organized by the WFMA and Kemp Center for the Arts.

Information: 767-2787.

Actress Bahr to talk to symphony league

The Wichita Falls Symphony League's spring fundraiser will feature a program by Susan Mansur Bahr.

The talk, called "From Pearls to Pembroke ... With Stops in Between," will be 5 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Kemp Center for the Arts, 1300 Lamar St., and will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine.

Bahr has worked on Broadway, in film and television. Her first Broadway show was "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," in which she played Doatsey Mae, the lonely waitress. Many other off-Broadway and Broadway shows followed, including "Steel Magnolias," "Ruthless," "Smoke on the Mountain," "Damn Yankees," "Hello, Dolly" and "White Christmas," to name a few.

She has done more than 50 TV commercials and regularly performed on soap operas. Since moving back to Texas, she has worked in Dallas and Austin. Two of her independent films, "Five-Time Champion" and "Abel's Field" with Kevin Sorbo can be seen on demand.

Cost: $40 per person.

Information: Call Marie Donnell for reservations at 613-8973 or Karen Bacus at 782-4246.
By Lauren Roberts

Nocona ended its three-day Mardi Gras celebration with beads, music and hearty helpings of food. The final day started with a pancake breakfast and a 5K run and ended with a parade, gumbo and music by The Mullet Boys.

About 50 colorful floats along with five car clubs, ATVs and horses made their way through downtown Nocona throwing beads out to the thousands in attendance.

Janet Keck rode on the King and Queen float throwing out beads to those in attendance. Keck said, "I ordered a bulk supply of beads and spent $300 in shipping."

Wanting to bring family-friendly fun, the Nocona Chamber of Commerce brought the New Orleans Mardi Gras to Nocona in 2012. This year Mardi Gras week had about 3-5,000 people attending from as far away as Florida, Georgia and Louisiana, which more than doubled the population of the small town.

Rachel Johnson, a student at Midwestern State University, attended the parade for the first time with friends.

"It's so cool that they have this here," Johnson said. "I really like the small-town feel."

Alicia Carter has been in the parade every year as a member of the Nocona High School marching band up until this year. Carter said this was the first time she was able to watch the parade as a spectator.

"The band leads the parade and we would end back at the band hall. I like it much better now since I can actually see the floats and watch the entire parade," Carter said.

Patty Fenoglio, the first Nocona Mardi Gras queen, said, "This is so good for Nocona. That first year we had 15 floats enter the parade and now we've grown to 50. The events have gotten bigger and bigger."

The lead float held the 10 current and previous kings and queens. This year the king and queen is Pete Horton and his wife Barbara.

Carroll Keck, the 2013 Nocona Mardi Gras king, said, "Once a king, always a king."

The king and queen is decided by the Chamber of Commerce and the winners were announced two weeks ago at a grand ball.

"Next year we'll have to make changes to meet the bigger crowds," Fenoglio said.
SHARE Courtesy photo Brad "Papa" Costello, shown with his grandchildren Ruby Ann and Matthew, lost a county tax payment days before the bill was due. After a fruitless search and a weekend of fretting, Costello discovered that a compassionate stranger mailed his tax payment, on time, with a note, "Found in Market Street parking lot."

By Deanna Watson of the Times Record News

A lost county tax payment can weigh heavily even on the mind of an 11-year-old, especially one enlisted in the search of such an important missing envelope.

"Well, how much was the check written for?" asked Brad Costello's grandson, Matthew, who joined 4-year-old Ruth Ann on Papa's errands last Saturday.

More than $3,000, Costello told Matthew.

Costello, of Iowa Park, could see the wheels turning in his grandson's mind.

"Man, that would sure buy a lot of Legos," the youngster finally said.

That bit of perspective was a glimmer of levity in an otherwise stressful weekend.

That bit of information would also buy a lot of angst for Costello, who remembered putting two envelopes on the dashboard of his truck.

"One was for my (Wichita) County taxes and the other for my city/school taxes," Costello said. "My intention was to drop them in the mail sometime Friday so they would be postmarked before Jan. 31.

Costello couldn't really tell you how the envelope lost its way. And he cannot tell you how the envelope ended up exactly where it was supposed to go.

He does remember the mail falling to the floorboard at some point, thanks to a blustery North Texas wind that swept through his truck as he and his grandchildren stopped off at United Market Street in Wichita Falls.

Papa was slightly distracted, you could say, by Ruth Ann, a granddaughter who prefers to go without shoes when riding in shopping carts.

"As I debated the necessity of shoes and shopping carts with a 4 year old, apparently the envelope blew out of the truck," said Costello, an administrator in the Bowie school district.

Once he arrived home, Costello reached for the envelope under his seat, where he thought it would be. No envelope.

"You can imagine the thoughts that were going through my head as we drove back to Market Street's parking lot," he said. "The biggest worry of someone finding the check and somehow managing to get it cashed over the weekend, or using the bank account numbers for some devious actions. Lots of things. My signature, home address, taxes not being paid on time, so the fee associated with paying late. Lots of nagging thoughts.

"Just a mess."

He and his grandson made the trek back to Market Street, where Matthew pondered how many Legos $3,000 could buy.

"We searched the parking lot for over an hour, driving back and forth, up and down every aisle looking at every scrap of paper that even vaguely resembled an envelope We decided to leave before someone called the police about the 'old bald guy and kid' perusing the parking lot and headed home empty-handed."

Customer service knew Costello by name. No sign of the missing envelope.

On Monday, Costello called his bank, Union Square Federal Credit Union, to cancel the check. And, after learning the deadline had been extended to Feb. 1, he made his way to the tax office to pay the county bill in person. His wife drove to where she could pay the city and school taxes. That's where she learned of the kindness of a stranger.

"My wife called and said that the envelope we lost arrived in the mail at the tax office that morning with 'found in Market Street parking lot' written on the back," Costello said.

He was overwhelmed with relief and appreciation.

"So the joy I felt wasn't so much that the issue had been addressed, but the fact that someone, someone that didn't have to take the time, someone that cared, someone that could have just as easily dropped the envelope in the trash and never given it a second thought had done the right thing."

Costello also loved what the experience taught his grandson, who was along for the stressful and informative ride.

"Someone had made my comment to my grandson come true," he said. "Someone had taught us all a lesson about being good and doing the right thing. That was what made this entire experience worth the worry."

Costello wants that someone to know just how much that single gesture meant to him and his family.

So a huge thank you to whoever helped show the next generation that people do care and are willing to help a complete stranger. A small act, but so powerful in what it says about the people of Wichita Falls. Thank you so much!
Fighting flu starts with a shot, and it's time for Texans to get one
Albany

The last time Chris Gibson geared up to run for a new office, he formed his campaign committee in March, leaving him roughly 8 months until November.

This time, he's said to be doing it in February  more than two years before the office he is considering seeking is up for grabs again.

A Gibson aide confirmed Sunday evening that the Kinderhook Republican, who has held the 19th Congressional District seat since 2011, will file paperwork Monday to create a Gibson for New York committee to explore a bid for governor.

The move is hardly a surprise and comes more than a year after Gibson announced he would not seek re-election as he sought to grow the Republican Party in New York. He has expressed many times over that he is considering a gubernatorial run in 2018.

The formation of the committee comes well before any candidate would think to begin campaigning in earnest. But it does allow Gibson to begin cobbling together the assets needed as a foundation for any campaign: money.

"It makes sense for a candidate who is serious about running statewide to get out there early, to raise money early because one of the keys in any election, unfortunately, is money," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg told the Times Union Sunday. "Neither of (Gov. Andrew) Cuomo's general election opponents have been able to compete with him financially. Given the Republican enrollment disadvantage, there has to be some way for the Republican to compete financially if he or she is going to break through with voters."

To be sure, the 2014 Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino (who hasn't shut the door on a 2018 run of his own) put it in even more succinct terms last week at the state Conservative Party's annual conference, where both he and Gibson were featured speakers. If a Republican doesn't have the resources to drive his or her message, he said, voters can't hear the message.

"If they can't hear you, they can't love you," Astorino said.

State Board of Elections filings show a stark contrast between Astorino fundraising and Cuomo fundraising in 2014, when the Republican waited until March to jump into the race. Take just the 32-day pre-general election filings for both men, with each candidate having the same amount of time to raise funds. Astorino pulled down nearly $1.5 million to give him about $1.3 million in the bank after expenses. Cuomo, who had just spent money brushing back a primary challenger, raised almost $572,000 to give him $23.7 million cash on hand after expenses.

Yet Gibson already has some help in the fundraising department: Outside spending group Empower New Yorkers  which states it "support(s) people like Chris Gibson who are leading on the challenges of our time"  filed with the state Board of Elections in January. (Its filings showed on Sunday only one contribution of $5,000 received this month from Thomas D'Ambra, chairman of the board for Albany Molecular Research Inc.)

Gibson has taken advantage of free advertising through the media since announcing he would not seek a fourth term in Congress last year. He told WAMC's Alan Chartock in November that he sees Cuomo as a "bully" who already is vulnerable ahead of the election. He told WCNY's Susan Arbetter a week later that he would seek to close the so-called limited liability company loophole (and wouldn't take LLC donations in any re-election campaigns if successful in 2018). He reiterated his opposition to the SAFE Act to the Times Union's Chris Churchill in December, saying "the knee-jerk reaction for gun control has never delivered, and it won't deliver."

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Gibson was unavailable for an interview Sunday.

A Cuomo campaign spokesman declined to comment.

How Gibson's formal step affects other possible 2018 primary candidates' thought processes (assuming any of them run) remains to be seen. Astorino has kept active, sending his latest general fundraising appeal to supporters on Friday. Also mentioned as possible contenders are Harry Wilson, the GOP's 2010 comptroller candidate, and Carl Paladino, the Buffalo businessman who lost to Cuomo in 2010.

"Rob Astorino, if he chooses to run, as the person who ran last time would certainly have the ability, one would think, to get on the ballot and wage a primary," Greenberg said. "Carl Paladino, if he decides to spend the money, could certainly get on the ballot and run a primary. Do they decide to do that? Way too early to know."

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
I think Donald Trump is more full of it than a Christmas turkey but he is right about China having influence over North Korea. North Korea should be a problem for China, not for the United States. South Korea can defend themselves, do not need the United States to be there. How long is the USA supposed to stay in Korea? Been there for over 60 years.



North Korea is not a threat to American national security. It is a dinky craphole country and that piece of crap missed can be easily shot down. North Korea knows if they really start an aggression, it will be the end of them. North Korea is basically ran by gangsters. Rich gangsters who do not want to give up what they have. They want to make fake money, crystal meth, export slave labor to other crap countries.



But again, North Korea should be a China problem. The Chinese created this country by defending North Korea in the Korean War, there wouldn't be this mess if it were not for them. Send American troops home and quit worrying about these bastards. Screw them.
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Top Haitian leaders have reached an agreement to install a provisional government less than a day before President Michel Martelly is scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Special mission leader Ronald Sanders said the interim president will be elected by Parliament for a term of 120 days. He said Prime Minister Evans Paul will remain in his position until lawmakers confirm a prime minister in upcoming days.

The interim government will continue an electoral process that began last year. It will hold a second round of presidential and legislative elections on April 24. A new president is scheduled to be installed on May 14 and will rule Haiti for the next five years.

"The country now has an opportunity for a fresh start," Sanders said, adding that Parliament would invite nominations for an interim president soon.

The deal, if it holds, will prevent an institutional vacuum when Martelly leaves office on Sunday and creates a roadmap for an elected leader to replace him in a few months. But there appeared to be no break in opposition protests in the capital Saturday and recent violence suggests discord is likely to continue.

Sanders said the deal was signed overnight following "very animated" negotiations on Friday between Martelly, the two leaders of Haiti's bicameral legislature and numerous lawmakers. Sanders, an Antiguan diplomat, is mission leader and chairman of the 35-nation OAS' permanent council.

A senior member of Haiti's ruling party who was not authorized to talk to the media told the AP that lawmakers will meet on Sunday to start the process to elect an interim president.

The OAS mission had been observing negotiations to resolve a standoff over a disputed round of voting in August and October that led officials to suspend a runoff election that had been scheduled for Jan. 24.

Opposition leaders have repeatedly said Martelly could not be part of the process, but Sanders, who stressed he was a witness and not a participant in the talks, said the deal was reached by elected officials who have the authority to do so.

"I don't think that anybody could say that it was a cooked-up agreement because it was done by people who didn't have the right or the authority to do it," Sanders said. "Indeed, there are no other two sets of entities in this country that could have signed a legitimate agreement."

When asked if a commission would be set up to verify results of the contested Oct. 25 vote, Sanders said: "I would not discount the idea that there would be some form of verification."

Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council has repeatedly rejected opposition demands for an independent review of the election results, fueling suspicions of vote-rigging.

OAS officials have held more than 25 meetings since they arrived last Sunday, but never met with Jude Celestin, a candidate who had been boycotting the presidential runoff, despite numerous invitations to him.

Celestin did not immediately return a call for comment.
Something strange was happening in August in the maternity wards of Recife, a seaside city perched on Brazil's easternmost tip, where the country juts into the Atlantic.

"Doctors, pediatricians, neurologists, they started finding this thing we never had seen," said Dr. Celina M. Turchi, an infectious diseases researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.

"Children with normal faces up to the eyebrows, and then you have no foreheads and very strange heads," she recalled. "The doctors were saying, 'Well, I saw four today,' and, 'Oh that's strange, because I saw two.'"

Doctors were stumped.

They did not know it then, but they were seeing the first swell of a horrifying wave. A little-known pathogen  the Zika virus, carried by mosquitoes  had been circulating in Brazil for at least a year. It would become the chief suspect in the hunt to find what had happened to those newborns.

Since then, those tiny babies have led the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency. They have prompted warnings to pregnant women to avoid countries where the virus is circulating and refrain from unprotected sex with men who have visited those countries, following a report of sexual transmission of the virus in Dallas last week.

They have led health ministers of five countries to say something so unthinkable that none had ever uttered it before: Women, please stop having children.

Those babies stricken with microcephaly  abnormally small heads  have doctors everywhere asking: What is this virus? How could it have been around for almost 70 years without them realizing its power?

"This epidemic is an unfolding story," said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "As with Ebola, this virus is something that could exist for years under the radar, and we don't know until we get thousands of cases what it really does."

To doctors in Recife, whatever was striking the babies seemed a bolt from the blue. In reality, it had been building for months.

A year earlier, the first patients had started trickling into public hospitals in Natal, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Many patients lived on the city's margins, others in settlements dotted across the sertao, northeast Brazil's arid hinterland.

Almost all had the same symptoms: a pinkish rash, bloodshot eyes, fever, joint pain and headaches. None were desperately ill, but the similarities were striking.

"That scared some patients and doctors, and my team," said Aline Bezerra, a nurse and the municipal epidemiologist. "We knew nothing other than that it might be some kind of light dengue."

Tests ruled that out, along with other common viruses, but the patients kept coming.

"We alerted the federal authorities that we were dealing with something urgent and new," said Dr. Kleber Luz, an infectious diseases specialist at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. "But their reaction was sluggish."

By March 2015, the spread of the mystery disease had become impossible to ignore. It appeared in two more states nearby. Then it reached Salvador, a city of 2.5 million.

"People were claiming it was polluted water," said Dr. Gubio Soares, a virologist at the Federal University of Bahia in Salvador. "I began thinking it was something transmitted by mosquitoes."

Working in his modest lab with a colleague, Dr. Silvia Sardi, he kept testing blood samples for the culprit. Other doctors were doing the same; more than 6,800 samples were tested.

Finally, in April 2015, Soares and Sardi were sure: It was Zika.

"I actually felt a sense of relief," Soares said. "The literature said it was much less aggressive than viruses we already deal with in Brazil."

In the capital, Brasilia, the health minister at the time, Dr. Arthur Chioro, felt the same way.

"Zika virus doesn't worry us," he told reporters in May. "It's a benign disease."

But on ProMED Mail, an online service run by the International Society for Infectious Diseases, the reaction was not so sanguine.

"The arrival of Zika virus in Brazil is not good news," wrote Thomas M. Yuill, an emeritus professor of veterinary science and wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Not only did Brazil have "abundant mosquitoes and a large population of susceptible people," he wrote, but so did much of the Americas.

The first case of Zika infection detected in New York City was found in December 2013  six months before the virus is thought to have reached Brazil  in a 48-year-old American who has asked to remain unidentified.

When he walked into Traveler's Medical Service on Madison Avenue, he had just returned from a long trek through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Easter Island and Hawaii, with a stopover in French Polynesia. Dyan J. Summers, the nurse who first saw him, said he had a pinkish rash.

"I took one look and said, 'Dengue fever,'" she recalled in an interview last week. "He said, 'I'm not so sure. I think it's Zika.'"

Summers was startled: "I'd heard of Zika, but nobody was thinking about Zika."

"What's weirder," she added. "He knew there were cases of Guillain-Barre connected to it."

Their exchange was strangely prophetic.

At the time, Polynesian and French doctors were just beginning to diagnose Guillain-Barre syndrome, a form of temporary paralysis that starts in the hands and feet. Along with infant microcephaly, the syndrome has turned out to be one of the Zika epidemic's chief fears.

In May, after it was confirmed that Zika was circulating in Brazil, it took only a few weeks for doctors to suspect that Chioro was mistaken. There were hints that the virus was anything but benign.

In early October, the national health ministry asked Turchi to investigate. Zika's connection to microcephaly was suspected but very difficult to confirm. Turchi set up a quick "case control" study, the epidemiologist's classic tool, comparing babies born with the condition and those without it.

Turchi called every scientist she knew, and they came from all over Brazil. One flew in from London. Turchi gave the group a name: MERG, the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group.

A turning point came in early November: Dr. Adriana Melo in Paraiba State, just north of Recife, had drawn amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman and found Zika virus in it. Then brain tissue from two stillbirths was tested. Again, Zika.

"At last we had a road to follow," Turchi said. "A map."

Loosed on a continent where no one is immune, Zika has the potential to infect tens of millions of people. It is now being transmitted in 33 countries with about 600 million inhabitants, the WHO says. Health officials in Brazil are investigating thousands of reported cases of microcephaly that may be linked to the virus.

Now a bright spot has appeared.

In Recife, and Pernambuco State around it, microcephaly cases have been declining for about three weeks. It is unclear exactly why, but researchers are starting to wonder if the epidemic has peaked.

Zika was just getting started there a year before the microcephaly cases began. And now the virus is virtually everywhere south of Florida and Texas.

Now that the world is alert to the danger and is fighting back, and women are even contemplating delaying pregnancies, scientists say it is unlikely that Brazil's national nightmare will be repeated elsewhere on such a scale.
Noela Rukundo sat in a car outside her home, watching as the last few mourners filed out. They were leaving a funeral - her funeral.

Finally, she spotted the man she'd been waiting for. She stepped out of her car, and her husband put his hands on his head in horror.

"Is it my eyes?" she recalled him saying. "Is it a ghost?"

"Surprise! I'm still alive!" she replied.

Far from being elated, the man looked terrified. Five days ago, he had ordered a team of hit men to kill Rukundo, his partner of 10 years. And they did - well, they told him they did. They even got him to pay an extra few thousand dollars for carrying out the crime.

Now here was his wife, standing before him. In an interview with the BBC Thursday, Rukundo recalled how he touched her shoulder to find it unnervingly solid. He jumped. Then he started screaming.

HANDOUT/Washington Post

"I'm sorry for everything," he wailed.

But it was far too late for apologies; Rukundo called the police. The husband, Balenga Kalala, ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison for incitement to murder, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the ABC).

The happy ending - or, as happy as can be expected to a saga in which a man tries to have his wife killed - was made possible by three unusually principled hit men, a helpful pastor and one incredibly gutsy woman: Rukundo herself.

Here is how she pulled it off.

Rukundo's ordeal began almost exactly a year ago, when she flew from her home in Melbourne with her husband, Kalala, to attend a funeral in her native Burundi. Her stepmother had died and the service left her saddened and stressed. She retreated to her hotel room in Bujumbura, the capital, early in the evening; despondent after the events of the day, she lay down in bed. Then her husband called.

"He told me to go outside for fresh air," she told the BBC.

But the minute Rukundo stepped out of her hotel, a man charged forward, pointing a gun right at her.

"Don't scream," she recalled him saying. "If you start screaming, I will shoot you. They're going to catch me, but you? You will already be dead."

Rukundo, terrified, did as she was told. She was ushered into a car and blindfolded so she couldn't see where she was being taken. After 30 or 40 minutes, the car came to a stop, and Rukundo was pushed into a building and tied to a chair.

She could hear male voices, she told the ABC. One asked her, "You woman, what did you do for this man to pay us to kill you?"

"What are you talking about?" Rukundo demanded.

"Balenga sent us to kill you."

They were lying. She told them so. And they laughed.

"You're a fool," they told her.

There was the sound of a dial tone, and a male voice coming through a speakerphone. It was her husband's voice.

"Kill her," he said.

And Rukundo fainted.

Rukundo had met her husband 11 years earlier, right after she arrived in Australia from Burundi, according to the BBC. He was a recent refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and they had the same social worker at the resettlement agency that helped them get on their feet. Since Kalala already knew English, their social worker often recruited him to translate for Rukundo, who spoke Swahili.

They fell in love, moved in together in the Melbourne suburb of Kings Park, and had three children (Rukundo also had five kids from a previous relationship). She learned more about her husband's past - he had fled a rebel army that had ransacked his village, killing his wife and young son. She also learned more about his character.

"I knew he was a violent man," Rukundo told the BBC. "But I didn't believe he can kill me."

But, it appeared, he could.

Rukundo came to in the strange building somewhere near Bujumbura. The kidnappers were still there, she told the ABC.

They weren't going to kill her, the men then explained - they didn't believe in killing women, and they knew her brother. But they would keep her husband's money and tell him that she was dead. After two days, they set her free on the side of a road, but not before giving her a mobile phone, recordings of their phone conversations with Kalala, and receipts for the $7,000 in Australian dollars they allegedly received in payment, according to Australia's The Age.

"We just want you to go back, to tell other stupid women like you what happened," Rukundo said she was told before the gang members drove away.

Shaken, but alive and doggedly determined, Rukundo began plotting her next move. She sought help from the Kenyan and Belgian embassies to return to Australia, according to The Age. Then she called the pastor of her church in Melbourne, she told the BBC, and explained to him what had happened. Without alerting Kalala, the pastor helped her get back home to her neighborhood near Melbourne.

Meanwhile, her husband had told everyone she had died in a tragic accident and the entire community mourned her at her funeral at the family home. On the night of Feb. 22, 2015, just as the widower Kalala waved goodbye to neighbors who had come to comfort him, Rukundo approached him, the very man whose voice she'd heard over the phone five days earlier, ordering that she be killed.

"I felt like somebody who had risen again," she told the BBC.

Though Kalala initially denied all involvement, Rukundo got him to confess to the crime during a phone conversation that was secretly recorded by police, according to The Age.

"Sometimes Devil can come into someone, to do something, but after they do it they start thinking, 'Why I did that thing?' later," he said, as he begged her to forgive him.

Kalala eventually pleaded guilty to the scheme. He was sentenced to nine years in prison by a judge in Melbourne.

"Had Ms Rukundo's kidnappers completed the job, eight children would have lost their mother," Chief Justice Marilyn Warren said, according to the ABC. "It was premeditated and motivated by unfounded jealousy, anger and a desire to punish Ms. Rukundo."

Rukundo said that Kalala tried to kill her because he thought she was going to leave him for another man - an accusation she denies.

But her trials are not yet over. Rukundo told the ABC she's gotten backlash from Melbourne's Congolese community for reporting Kalala to the police. Someone left threatening messages for her, and she returned home one day to find her back door broken. She now has eight children to raise alone, and has asked the Department of Human Services to help her find a new place to live.

And lying in bed at night, Kalala's voice still comes to her: "Kill her, kill her," she told the BBC. "Every night, I see what was happening in those two days with the kidnappers."

Despite all that, "I will stand up like a strong woman," she said. "My situation, my past life? That is gone. I'm starting a new life now."
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Health care is where the job opportunities lie in the Capital Region.

While the number of jobs overall is projected to grow by 12 percent over the years to 2022, jobs in the health care industry are expected to increase nearly 21 percent, according to the state Department of Labor.

And that has colleges and universities, vocational schools, pharmaceutical companies and health insurers all scrambling to keep up.

The Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, has boosted demand for services, now that millions of previously uninsured people now have coverage and can seek care before their problems become a crisis.

More for you New urgent care and other practices in the region

"More people can afford access to health care," said Judith DeLorenzo, who chairs the dental hygiene department at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

The Affordable Care Act is just one of several factors behind the sector's growth, said Kevin Jack, chief of the bureau of labor market information at the state Department of Labor.

Other factors include the aging of the baby boom generation and its growing need for care; the development of expensive new drugs and technologies; and rising incomes that have boosted disproportionately spending on health care.

The retirement of the baby boomers also requires new candidates to fill thousands of vacant health care jobs.

In the Capital Region, health care provided 62,300 jobs in the second quarter of 2015, state labor markets analyst Jim Ross said. That compares with 437,500 jobs overall in the region.

Demand for health care also has a spinoff effect, with such companies as Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in East Greenbush and Albany Molecular Research Inc. in Albany, providing more than 1,000 additional local jobs.

Medical equipment manufacturers, from GE Healthcare in North Greenbush to AngioDynamics in Colonie, contribute hundreds of additional jobs.

Other job producers range from Wadsworth Laboratories at the state Health Department to various locally based health insurers.

Albany Medical Center alone will add the equivalent of 200 full-time employees this year, spokeswoman Sue Ford said. About half will be physicians/faculty, residents, nursing and other mid-level clinical providers, while the rest will be in technical and other support services.

Hospitals paid some of the highest wages in 2014, averaging $70,000 statewide, according to Jack. Less lucrative were home health care jobs. While they were by far the fastest growing sector, with a nearly 48 percent increase in employment from 2009 to 2014, they also paid the least of any health care sector, averaging $27,500 last year statewide.

"Ambulatory care is where a lot of the growth is," said Ross, pointing out the expansion of urgent care centers throughout the Capital Region.

At HVCC, DiLorenzo said many students are pursuing careers in fields they may not have even heard of in high school.

"Students who didn't get into the nursing program right away" may decide to become cardiovascular technologists instead, she said.

Many other health occupations at HVCC can pay anywhere from $50,000 to as much as $70,000 a year.

"For a two-year degree or a certificate," DiLorenzo said, "these salaries are impressive."

It's not surprising that her applicant pool includes people with bachelor's or master's degrees, she said.

Elizebeth Spain of Wynantskill is an older student who has returned to HVCC to become a dental hygienist.

Now in her 50s, she previously worked as a certified nurse aide.

She has three separate dental board exams to pass when she graduates in May.

After that, Spain said she may want to work with an oral surgeon, something less traditional than a dental office.

She may also consider work in a hospital or public health setting, she said.

Median pay for dental hygienists in the Capital Region is $65,260, according to the state Department of Labor.

While such positions pay relatively well, "health care as a whole isn't a high-wage industry," Ross said. "But it's very diverse."

He said that home nursing aide jobs can be difficult to fill when the economy is healthy, as workers opt for jobs with better hours and working conditions in such areas as retail.

But demand is also strong for physician assistants, a sector projected to grow by more than 35 percent in the years through 2022. Median pay: just under $95,000 in the Capital Region, according to the state Labor Department.

The number of nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 31 percent. Median pay: $99,230 in the Capital Region.

Both jobs typically require at least a master's degree.

eanderson@timesunion.com  518-454-5323
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Troy

As the temperature dropped to 18 degrees one night recently, folding cots packed a dining room, conference rooms and lounges at Joseph's House & Shelter, where 67 homeless people occupied every available sleeping space, including couches and love seats.

One resourceful fellow slept on a pool table.

The Ferry Street homeless shelter is designed to hold half that number, but a Jan. 3 executive order issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that required local governments to bring homeless people off the streets into shelters when the temperature drops to 32 degrees F. caused a spike in the number of people seeking a warm refuge. Previously, the so-called Code Blue emergency regulations required area shelters to house all comers at thresholds ranging from 10 degrees to 20 degrees F.

More Information For those wishing to make a contribution: Joseph's House & Shelter in Troy (www.josephshousetroy.com) 272-2544 Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless in Albany (www.interfaithpartnership.com) 434-8021 Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany (www.capitalcityrescuemission.com) 462-0459 Homeless and Travelers Aid Society in Albany (www.hatas.org) 463-2124 City Mission of Schenectady (www.citymission.com) 346-2275 See More Collapse

Cuomo's order has strained staff, budgets and facilities at the Capital Region's 16 homeless shelters. A steady overflow has forced cash-strapped shelters to incur tens of thousands of dollars of unexpected costs, despite a mild winter.

The governor's mandate did not include additional funding and was overshadowed by Cuomo's feud with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio over homeless policy.

It also spurred tension in overcrowded shelters.

"We've had some spats because there are so many people packed in here. Luckily, nothing serious yet," said Terry, 40, a homeless man from Albany who asked that his last name not be used.

He had a falling-out with his family and ended up on the streets. He's been staying at Joseph's House & Shelter for nearly two months while working full-time as a warehouse laborer through a Schenectady temporary employment agency. He's trying to save up enough money for a security deposit on an apartment.

He shares a small bedroom with a man who sleeps on a cot on the floor. The shelter's other bedrooms have been doubled-up, too.

"We just can't absorb all the additional costs," said Kevin O'Connor, executive director of Joseph's House & Shelter, an independent not-for-profit agency. It spends almost $1 million to provide shelter to 600 men, women and families each year. The other week, those sleeping in the shelter ranged from a 3-week-old baby to a 67-year-old man.

The shelter also tapped the basement of nearby St. Paul's Episcopal Church and set up 15 cots for emergency overflow space.

"We're co-ed and have young children, so we had to pay for additional staff to ensure everyone's safety with this many people," O'Connor said. "Our food budget has also gone way up."

Cuomo's order will cost the Troy shelter nearly $30,000 more in extra staffing, food and supplies. The Seymour Fox Foundation, a Troy philanthropy created in memory of the late civic-minded Troy attorney Seymour Fox, stepped in with a creative fundraiser. It teamed up with WAMC-FM and its fundraising drive last week and raised $26,000 for Joseph's House & Shelter and also gave the public radio station a boost.

"We're grateful to the Fox Foundation while we patch together a plan to handle the steady overflow," O'Connor said.

He offered this snapshot of shelter residents: Two-thirds are men, one-third are women and the average age is mid-40s. The average stay is 21 days for single adults and 28 days for families. About 20 percent have spent years on the streets and suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health problems.

The other 80 percent are episodically homeless because they lost a job, were evicted from an apartment or had a family clash. Many work at low-wage jobs but don't earn enough to pay an apartment security deposit.

"I think people would be shocked to find out their local convenience store cashier or fast-food worker is in a homeless shelter because they can't afford rent," O'Connor said.

He praised the dedication of volunteers, donors, local restaurants and supermarkets that donate food items and cooked meals.

"It's sad how many homeless people I see in Troy, and I wanted to help," said Ryan Collier, of Troy, a chef at an Albany nursing home. He cooks on his days off at Joseph's House & Shelter on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last Thursday he helped make pork chops, yellow rice and mixed vegetables.

Meanwhile, at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless in Albany, Cuomo's order upended a prior 10-degree "Code Blue" policy, strained resources and led to more than $25,000 in additional costs for staffing and extra meals.

"Everyone panicked when we heard the governor's 32 degrees order," said Janine Robitaille, executive director of Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, which runs a 30-bed shelter on South Swan Street and an emergency safe haven in a nearby building that can hold up to 50 people on cots. Both have been at capacity on recent cold nights.

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Robitaille and her staff are mulling plans for fundraising events and will ask the state for more funding to cover the budget shortfall. "We'll figure out a way because we'll never turn people away," she said.

"This is not another unfunded state mandate, and I'm confident Gov. Cuomo will come through with additional funding," said Liz Hitt, executive director of the Homeless and Travelers Aid Society, an Albany umbrella organization that helps coordinate emergency placements among 16 homeless shelters across the Capital Region.

Since Cuomo's order, HATAS increased staff to handle a 20 percent increase in 6,000 calls annually for emergency assistance on a 24-hour hotline.

Hitt, who was homeless herself many years ago in Colorado, believes Cuomo's heart is in the right place. She praised his abiding commitment to combating homelessness that began as a young aide to his father, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo. In 1986, when he was in his 20s, Cuomo founded the Housing, Shelter and Prevention Programs, or HELP USA.

It's now run by his sister, Maria Cuomo Cole, and runs shelters and services in 38 states.

Cuomo also focused on homeless issues when he was secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton administration and helped open the Marrilac family homeless shelter on Washington Avenue Extension in Albany.

In his State of the State address, Cuomo proposed $10 billion for housing for the homeless, including 20,000 units of supportive housing and 1,000 emergency shelter beds, but offered no specifics on funding the initiative. A Cuomo spokesman could not provide details, but said: "The state plans to continue working with all localities that need assistance or support in implementing the order."

"I was doing this work when Andrew was helping his father and they did a lot of good for the homeless. I support his mandate," said the Rev. Perry Jones, longtime executive director of the Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany, the region's largest homeless shelter. It's been averaging about 250 men on cold winter nights, up slightly from the number before Cuomo's mandate. They were at 20 degrees previously for a Code Blue emergency. The not-for-profit Christian organization does not receive government funding.

"We've far exceeded our food budget and we're trying to figure out ways to raise more funds," said Liz Chamberlain, director of development of the City Mission of Schenectady, which has put mats on floors for an average nightly overflow of 12 men and six women on recent cold nights. Its 76-bed men's shelter and 33-bed shelter for women and children are full.

"We'll keep bringing in more mats and will make sure everyone has a safe, warm place to sleep," Chamberlain said. "When people are in need in Schenectady, this community comes through time and again. It's humbling."

pgrondahl@timesunion.com  518-454-5623  @PaulGrondahl
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Hoosick Falls

Lawyers? In Hoosick Falls, there are suddenly plenty from which to choose.

Residents can align with the Manhattan firm that brought Erin Brockovich to town. They can go with the Rochester firm that's partnering with the Philadelphia firm.

Or they can choose one of the hometown teams  the trio of prominent attorneys who have joined forces, or the lesser-known firm out of Albany that's trying to compete.

More Information Contact Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse

Lawyers, lawyers everywhere. The water in Hoosick Falls has been contaminated with a toxic chemical, likely for many years, and somebody should pay. The sharks smell blood. Somebody call John Grisham.

Now, the easy thing to do here would be to make a few lawyer jokes, work in that famous Shakespeare line about what we should do with them all and call it a day. Lawyers are easy to mock, until you need one.

Unfortunately, the people of Hoosick Falls need all the legal help they can get.

If not for the courts, how will the people of the small Rensselaer County village achieve anything close to justice? Money can't bring back a family member lost to cancer, or account for a parent's worry over a child's future  but it's the only redress available.

It's also painfully clear that the residents of Hoosick Falls can't depend on government alone. Remember that the state Department of Health said for more than a year that the public water system contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, was safe for normal use, a position that changed only after a federal agency declared otherwise in November.

It was a terrible failure, but one that's all too common.

"It's unfortunate, but it often takes attorneys to force private companies and the government to do what should have been done in the first place," said Albany Law School professor Laurie Shanks. "The attorneys are the safety net."

So let's review the players.

In one corner, we have Weitz and Luxenberg, a Manhattan firm that employs nearly 90 lawyers. In another, we have Farici Lange, out of Rochester, which is partnering on its Hoosick Falls effort with Williams Cuker Berezofsky from Philadelphia.

Then we have the local power trio of E. Stewart Jones, Stephen Coffey and Donald Boyajian, who are working with attorneys based in Hoosick Falls. Lastly, there's Flint and Granich, a small Albany firm.

Phew. That's a lot of names. I apologize if I've left somebody out.

Many of the firms are running radio, newspaper or Web ads aimed at the people of Hoosick Falls. It's a competition for clients that looks unseemly.

Jones, the well-known attorney based in Troy, suggested that Coffey and Boyajian got involved, in part, to protect Hoosick Falls residents from predatory lawyers.

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"Those people suffered real harm," Jones said. "We just want to make sure that no one is left out, forced to do something they don't want to do, or forced to go with a firm they feel uncomfortable with."

I also spoke with Stephen Schwarz, managing partner at Farici Lange, who acknowledged that this isn't an appealing part of the process. He compared it to a presidential primary in which the candidates are fighting among themselves, but will ultimately unite to tackle their true opposition.

"I understand that people don't like lawyers, but this is a time in their lives when people in Hoosick Falls need a good law firm," Schwarz said. "This is not going to be an easy fight. Nobody is just going to lay down and just pay people, I can guarantee you that."

The case is complex. First, while it's believed that the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant is the source of the pollution, that has yet to be proven. The plant has also had multiple owners, and it may turn out that the water was contaminated by several sources.

It'll take deep pockets to sort through all that  which, in many respects, is the beauty of the oft-criticized tort system. The lawyers provide the money needed to uncover the truth, resources that ordinary citizens don't have. They take on considerable financial risk, with no guarantee of reward.

Of course, the considerable legal interest in Hoosick Falls certainly suggests that the lawyers see a path to a payday, even if it won't come quickly. Everybody expects a long, drawn-out legal fight.

The big question, then, regards how much of that payday, if it comes, will benefit the people of Hoosick Falls. Will the victims be helped, or will they be victimized again?

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Showing friendship between a tiger and a goat could violate Russia's gay propaganda law



Media coverage of a tiger and a goat that delighted animal lovers after forming an unexpected friendship is being investigated for a potential violation of Russias ban on gay propaganda.



Prosecutors in the Primorsky region are investigating whether coverage of the relationship between Amur the tiger and Timur the goat, who are both male, infringes on laws protecting traditional values following a complaint by a lawyer that the animals friendship could harm children.



Alexei Krestyanov, a lawyer from Novosibirsk, wrote to prosecutors asking them to investigate the coverage of the relationship between the two animals at the Far East Safari Park, which have since had a falling out and are now living in separate enclosures.



He wrote on his Facebook page: ...I believe that the positive coverage of this topic is nothing but an interference with the privacy of underage Russian citizens, which is a hidden propaganda, as a public, active solicitation of homosexuality and the information on it.



Krestyanov added that the contents of the coverage could have a negative impact on the formation of the child's personality, including questioning his sexual identity and generating an interest in non-traditional sexual relations.
UP to 40 canvassers from Protect Rural Ireland targeted Environment Minister Alan Kelly in his Tipperary constituency over what they say is his inaction on the wind turbines issue.

The protestors gathered at the Nenagh railway station before dispersing door-to-door across the town. They also fly-posted cars in the local church grounds.

Protect Rural Ireland (PRI) is a national alliance of community groups who intend to unseat a number of key politicians in the upcoming general election.

It claims Minister Kelly has not acted to halt the construction of wind farms and pylons in County Tipperary and in the countryside at large.

Nor has he introduced safe set back distances between turbines and homes across Ireland.

Tipperary was the latest constituency to be targeted in a nationwide PRI campaign against turbines and pylons that involves canvassing, flyers and social media.

Spokesman Henry Fingleton said: The fact that up to 40 people turned out on Saturday to canvass in Alan Kellys home constituency sends a clear message to him.

He has turned his back on rural Ireland. Promises about robust wind guidelines have turned out to be nothing but hot air and bluster.

As Minister he could have sorted the set back issue. Instead, he did nothing.

The campaign places the protection of Irelands landscape, environment and people centre stage, and in turn seeks to protect Irelands tourism, agriculture and equine industries.

Craft artist Edel Grace faces losing her home at Milestone, Thurles, after unsuccessfully challenging a proposed 70m wind farm development in the High Court.

She said: My family, friends and neighbours face the prospect of a future living inside a 22-turbine wind farm. We have spent the last two years fighting to stop this development.

So far our fight has not been successful. We are not giving up. Our homes and our lives deserve protection and respect. Alan Kelly, as Minister for the Environment, should be key to ensuring that protection.

With the stroke of a pen he could have, and should have, signed new wind energy guidelines which would offer protection to people. Instead he sits on his hands and thereby ensures that we are left to the mercy of the developers and landowners.

No amount of spin can ever justify Minister Kellys inaction.

She added: Tipperary is known as the Premier County. I am Tipperary born and bred and believe that we have so much to offer the world as a place and as a people.

To allow our beautiful landscape, our historical sites, our wild places to be overrun by industrial development is a shame. It is something that will haunt us for generations.

When we have filled all our hills with concrete, killed our birds and bats, taught our farmers that this is the way forward, split our communities and forced homeowners to leave, will we still lay claim to the title the Premier County?
Here's how much your natural gas bill will go up this winter
Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.

This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media  main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.




Employability grades

The story: South Albany High School has begun issuing "employability grades" in addition to regular letter grades for the subjects students take. Scored on a scale of 1-5, the grade is a rating that takes into account how well students work cooperatively and complete tasks, how often they are absent or tardy, and how many behavioral referrals they have. The number is meant to represent the "soft skills" employers say they want when reviewing potential job candidates.

The latest: South Albany High School Principal Brent Belveal spoke about the grades to close to 70 people Jan. 21 at the Albany Chamber Greeters. Belveal said employers present were "incredibly positive and supportive" and agreed to begin to ask for this score as part of their hiring practice. "They would like to see every student in the region earning an E-Score so that they could universally ask for this piece of information as they looked at hiring people," he said.

Jennifer Moody

Downtown hotel

The story: Corvallis River Run LLC plans to build a seven-story, 176-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel on vacant land on Southwest First Street between Washington and Adams avenues. The project is valued at $24 million, and investor Vern McDonald said the new hotel should be open by late summer of 2017.

The latest: Contractors for Corvallis River Run have been working on public infrastructure improvements connected with the project, such as curbs, gutters, sidewalks and utility connections in the public right of way. Now the city has issued a building permit for the next phase of the project, which will involve site clearance, grading, and concrete work for the foundation, footings, and some of the walls.

Bennett Hall

Community Development candidates

The story: Ken Gibb left the city of Corvallis post of Community Development director on June 30, 2015, after 19 years in the position. Interviews produced a finalist pool of three candidates that participated in a meet-and-greet Sept. 15. The person who was offered the position, however, chose not to take it. City staff has selected a second pool of finalists that the public got a chance to meet Feb. 4 at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.

The latest: The five candidates that participated in the meet-and-greet were Paul Bilotta, community development director in Roseville, Minnesota; Jason Greenspan, manager of regional sustainability for the Southern California Association of Governments; Bryan Pohl, community development director in Tillamook; Stuart Ramsing, building and permit services division manager in Eugene; and Derrick Tokos, community development director in Newport.

James Day

OSU planning review

The story: The city of Corvallis formed a task force early in 2015 to review comprehensive plan changes that will be required to sign off on the upcoming Oregon State University District Plan. The task force met 17 times and forwarded its recommendations after its Sept. 17 2015 meeting.

The latest: City Manager Mark Shepard has announced a tentative schedule for further review of the recommendations. The Corvallis Planning Commission will hold a work session on the changes March 9, a public hearing on March 16 and deliberate April 6. The City Council then would begin its work at an April 19 work session with a public hearing and possible deliberations May 16. The OSU plan will guide university development for the next 10 years.

James Day
Downtown hotel

The story: Corvallis River Run LLC plans to build a seven-story, 176-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel on vacant land on Southwest First Street between Washington and Adams avenues. The project is valued at $24 million, and investor Vern McDonald said the new hotel should be open by late summer of 2017.

The latest: Contractors for Corvallis River Run have been working on public infrastructure improvements connected with the project, such as curbs, gutters, sidewalks and utility connections in the public right of way. Now the city has issued a building permit for the next phase of the project, which will involve site clearance, grading, and concrete work for the foundation, footings, and some of the walls.

Bennett Hall

Employability grades

The story: South Albany High School has begun issuing employability grades in addition to regular letter grades for the subjects students take. Scored on a scale of 1-5, the grade is a rating that takes into account how well students work cooperatively and complete tasks, how often they are absent or tardy, and how many behavioral referrals they have. The number is meant to represent the soft skills employers say they want when reviewing potential job candidates.

The latest: South Albany High School Principal Brent Belveal spoke about the grades to close to 70 people Jan. 21 at the Albany Chamber Greeters. Belveal said employers present were incredibly positive and supportive and agreed to begin to ask for this score as part of their hiring practice. They would like to see every student in the region earning an E-Score so that they could universally ask for this piece of information as they looked at hiring people, he said.

Jennifer Moody

Community Development candidates

The story: Ken Gibb left the city of Corvallis post of Community Development director on June 30, 2015, after 19 years in the position. Interviews produced a finalist pool of three candidates that participated in a meet-and-greet Sept. 15. The person who was offered the position, however, chose not to take it. City staff has selected a second pool of finalists that the public got a chance to meet Feb. 4 at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.

The latest: The five candidates that participated in the meet-and-greet were Paul Bilotta, community development director in Roseville, Minnesota; Jason Greenspan, manager of regional sustainability for the Southern California Association of Governments; Bryan Pohl, community development director in Tillamook; Stuart Ramsing, building and permit services division manager in Eugene; and Derrick Tokos, community development director in Newport.

James Day

OSU planning review

The story: The city of Corvallis formed a task force early in 2015 to review comprehensive plan changes that will be required to sign off on the upcoming Oregon State University District Plan. The task force met 17 times and forwarded its recommendations after its Sept. 17 2015 meeting.

The latest: City Manager Mark Shepard has announced a tentative schedule for further review of the recommendations. The Corvallis Planning Commission will hold a work session on the changes March 9, a public hearing on March 16 and deliberate April 6. The City Council then would begin its work at an April 19 work session with a public hearing and possible deliberations May 16. The OSU plan will guide university development for the next 10 years.

James Day
LEBANON  Lebanon Police Sgt. Jeremy Weber is being credited with notifying a sleeping family of five early Sunday morning that their home was on fire, even before their smoke alarms went off.

The fire that caused extensive damage to a home at Foxfield Mobile Home Park on Vaughan Lane is believed to have started as a wiring failure in a hot tub on the back porch, according to the Lebanon Fire Investigation Team.

The fire has been ruled accidental and not suspicious in nature. Damage estimates were not available.

The Lebanon Fire District Facebook page offers the following account of the incident:

Lebanon Police Sgt. Jeremy Weber was patrolling on southwest 5th Street and was headed toward Vaughan Lane at 2:45 a.m..

He noticed a glow coming from the Foxfield Mobile Home Park area.

Upon arrival, he found that a carport and the south end of a house were heavily involved with fire. Weber raced around the corner and came to a stop in front of the home.

There were three cars in the driveway, Sergeant Weber said, adding that no one was outside the house standing on the sidewalk. The place looked like a ghost town. I thought there had to be somebody inside.

Weber ran to the front door of the home, which was located opposite the side that was on fire and spreading.

He began pounding on the door to wake up the residents. After about a minute he heard the smoke alarms begin sounding inside, and somebody pulled open the front door.

Weber shouted for everybody to get out of the house. The occupant ran back into the house and started collecting his family members and pets. Everyone made it out safely. There were no injuries.

When Lebanon Fire District staff asked the occupants how they got out on time, they said It was Sgt. Jeremy Weber. He saved our lives.

According to a Lebanon Fire District press release, firefighters also reported seeing a glow from the intersection of Crowfoot and South Main Road, about a half mile away from the first incident.

After arriving, firefighters aggressively attacked the largest bulk of the flames coming from the shop.

Prior to arrival, flames had moved into the main house by traveling beneath the breezeway roof structure. At approximately 3:20 a.m., a second-alarm was struck by the incident commander.

Both structures sustained heavy damage and three vehicles were destroyed in the fire.

The Lebanon Fire Districts Fire Investigation Team was on the scene for much of the morning trying to determine the cause of the fire. A total of 11 units from four jurisdictions responded.

Lebanon firefighters were assisted crews from Albany, Brownsville and Sweet Home, as well as the Lebanon Police Department.
Events

TODAY

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sweet Home Elks Lodge, 440 Osage St., appointments only, 541-258-4919; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave. S.E., walk-ins and appointments, 541-917-7760. Free tax service open to taxpayers of all ages and backgrounds, with special attention to those 60 or over; AARP membership not required. Information: 888-227-7669 or www.aarp.org/taxaide.

All Things Chocolate, noon, kitchen, Calapooia Center, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany. Work with chocolate to make a variety of desserts, garnishes and confections. Cost: $59. Registration: 541-917-4840, Albany@linnbenton.edu or www.linnbenton.edu.

Bingo, 6 p.m., American Legion Post 184, 339 N. Main St., Brownsville. Cost: $1 a game.

Brunch, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Albany American Legion Hall, 1215 Pacific Blvd. S.E. Cost depends on purchase.

CPR class, 8 a.m. to noon, room 212, Calapooia Center, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany. Cost: $95, including supplies. Registration: 541-917-4923 or ottor@linnbenton.edu.

Dinner, 5 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 584, 1469 Timber St. S.E., Albany. Open to public. Info: 541-928-7925.

Goods from the Local Woods, 8 a.m. to noon, Santiam Building, Linn County Fair & Expo, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. Wood product fair and sale. Sponsored by the Linn Chapter of the Oregon Small Woodlands Association and the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Karaoke, 6:30 p.m., Lebanon Moose Lodge, 4070 S. Santiam Highway.

SUNDAY

Breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m., Santiam Post 51 American Legion Hall, 480 S. Main St., Lebanon. Cost: $5. Info: 541-451-1351.

Breakfast, 9 a.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Linn Post 584, 1469 Timber St. S.E., Albany. Info: 541-928-7925.

Country Breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m., IOOF Hall, 38952 Oregon 226, Scio. Cost: $5 adults, $3 children under 10.

Karaoke, 5 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 584, 1469 Timber St., Albany. Info: 541-928-7925.

Public Bingo, noon to 4:30 p.m., American Legion 1215 Pacific Blvd. S.E., Albany. Cost: $11 for single package, $22 for double package. Info: 541-926-0127.

Public Bingo, 6 p.m., American Legion Hall, 480 Main St., Lebanon. Sponsored by Forty et Eight. Info: 541-451-1351.

Sunday Breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m., Sweet Home Elks Lodge, 440 Osage St. Cost: $5. Includes eggs, pancakes, ham, sausage, biscuits and gravy, coffee and juice. Info: 541-367-3559.

White Out? The Future of Racial Diversity in Oregon, 2 p.m., Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. Emily Drew of Willamette University will facilitate a conversation about the challenges and opportunities in creating racially inclusive communities. Everyone age 15 or over is welcome. Information: 541-609-8420 or corvallissurj@aol.com.

Organizations

TODAY

Albany Magic Club, 1 p.m., upstairs conference room, Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave. S.E.

Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, 10 a.m., 101 N.W. 23rd St., Corvallis.

Linn Genealogical Society, 1:15 p.m., meeting room, Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave. S.E. Professional genealogist and consultant Hannah Allan will present History for the Genealogist and How to Use Historical Societies. Allan will explain why general history may be the key to solving a genealogical mystery. Information: 541-791-1618 or www.lgsoregon.org.

Santiam Spokes, 9 a.m. Bicycle ride. Info: 541-967-3295 or www.santiamspokes.org.

Vietnam Veterans of America, 9 a.m., American Legion Post 51, 480 S. Main St., Lebanon.
This is the conclusion to our series on Stewardship, which we have seen over the last 8 weeks, is a very important aspect of the Christian ...
Lincoln, Nebraska Journal Star: James Conley: Justice served in Finn case

"In December of 2015, I announced that Bishop Robert Finn, the former bishop of Kansas City, Missouri, would serve as the chaplain to a community of religious sisters, his long-time friends, in the Diocese of Lincoln. In 2012, Bishop Finn was convicted of a misdemeanor for failing to report a priest in possession of child pornography.





"Because of serious acts of negligence under his leadership, Bishop Finn faced serious penalties. He faced a criminal court, and served the sentence he was given. He resigned his leadership position in the Church. He also accepted responsibility for his actions, and he has expressed sincere regret to those whom his negligence may have harmed.





"Justice required serious consequences, and justice was served. There is a point, however, when demands for justice can become something much less worthy, and far less worthwhile."

Kansas City media was quick tofrom locals who hounded the cleric throughout the Midwest.The arguments resonated with Kansas City media watchers concerned about the Church's penchant to relocate priests who have encountered problems.However . . . A faith community leader in Cornhusker State is addressing the criticism head on and Kansas City newsies have failed to report this call to forgiveness.Accordingly, TKC follows the other side of the story with help from our blog community and posts the other side of this story as well.Take a peek . . .Quote:Readers and the faithful must judge for themselves who is right or wrong but realize that local media rarely follows up on these stores that are more complicated than headlines or talking points.You decide . . .
"New grassroots feminist group Squad of Sisters takes on Return of Kings at Memorial Park in Kansas City! Even though the Squad of Sisters made it clear there would be no violence these "kings" of Kansas City did not show up. Apparently the idea of just talking to women was so nerve wracking, they decided to cancel their plans at the memorial and meet up elsewhere. Undeterred, the energetic group hit Westport. After holding signs and engaging passers by for a bit, they headed for the bars to make sure the sisters inside were all doing ok. Expect more great work from this amazing group of women who have organized to put a stop to the crisis of mass rape and sexual assault in Kansas City #BeASister #SquadOfSisters #WatchingYou #HeySisterYouOK?"

Great reporting sent our way shows Kansas City ladies working to counter recent "men's rights" talk allegedly advocating legal rape.Here's the word:You decide . . .
Energean Oil & Gas, said it will continue its investment program for increasing production at the Prinos field, despite the drop in oil prices

Greeces only oil producer, Energean Oil & Gas, said it will continue its investment program for increasing production at the Prinos field, despite the drop in oil prices, the companys Chief Executive Officer Mathios Rigas said in a speech at the 2016 Athens Energy Forum.

Despite the large drop in oil prices which has even touched 75 pct in a year and a half, Energean Oil & Gas continues to invest in Prinos, having created about 150 jobs and having multiplied the countrys known oil reserves of 2 million barrels to 30 million barrels in seven years, Rigas said.

The very existence of these proven reserves, but also the particularly low breakeven - even below $25 if we achieve the objective of increasing production to 5,000 barrels a day  which characterizes the operation of Prinos is the main incentive for the continuation of investments which are taking place for the past two years and focus on the 15 drillings which Energean Forces drilling rig has started in the Gulf of Kavala, he added.

Rigas also urged the banks to support the businesses which invest in the countrys prospects so that they can acquire the know-how in the operation of new sectors, such as the research and utilization of hydrocarbons in Greece.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Gulf Industry Fair, the Northern Gulf region's biggest showcase for the industrial sector, will host the inaugural 'Innovation for Industry Forum' on February 10 in Bahrain.



The forum will add an important dimension to a show format that is already renowned as a valuable showcase for Northern Gulf industries - from world-scale manufacturing plants to specialist equipment suppliers, distributors and agencies representing the key segments of aluminium, energy and environmental protection, steel and alloys, industrial processes and manufacturing, ports, industrial facilities and logistics, training for industry; and industrial security and safety.



The regions premier industry fair will take place at Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre from February 9 to 11 under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, said the event organiser Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).



The invitation-only forum is being held under the patronage of Zayed Al Zayani, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, on the second day of the show.



It will see experts sharing their professional knowledge on topics such as incubating innovations in industry, cyber security and the eco-industrial development.



The Ministry of Industry and Commerce considers events such as Gulf Industry Fair to be important platforms to showcase the achievements of the private sector and build their business strategy for the present and the future.



The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism regards high innovation performance as a contributor to economic growth and job creation, said the event organiser.



Alzayani will also be presenting the iTech Awards which recognise innovation and best practices within the information and communications technology (ICT) sector as it serves businesses.



The instruments for growth and renewal are vital in this period of difficult economic and societal challenges.



The Innovation Forum will highlight two global products "made in Bahrain". Taha International will promote the innovative use of scrap aluminium (dross) for fertiliser that is used in the farms of New Zealand, said the statement from HCE.



Ahmed Hussain of IPIFI will preview a unique IP identification and security system, developed by his company and implemented at leading financial institutions and industrial companies in the GCC and globally.



On the inaugural forum, Jubran Abdulrahman, the managing director of HCE, said: "The forum is committed to starting a discussion by the industrial leaders of the region about innovative approaches to increase to the added value products of business and companies."



Gulf Industry Fair is supported by some of Bahrains most high profile industrial organisations, including the National Oil & Gas Authority (Noga) in association with Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), who will, respectively, sponsor the energy and aluminium sectors.-TradeArabia News Service
Oman Air, the sultanate's national carrier, has chosen Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance to provide flight hour support for the CFM56-7 power plants that equip the airlines Boeing 737NG aircraft.



The long-term contract was formally signed in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, by Oman Air chief executive Paul Gregorowitsch and Ton Dortmans, the executive VP at KLM Engineering and Maintenance in the presence of Mohammed bin Harub bin Abdullah Al Said and KLM president and chief executive Dr Ing Pieter Elbers.



Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance is a major multi-product maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider.



On the deal, Gregorowitsch, said Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance has a well-deserved, outstanding reputation for maintaining CF M56-7 power plants and we are pleased to be signing this new contract with the company.



"Oman Airs over-riding priorities are the safety of its passengers and crew, the reliability of its aircraft and an excellent on-time performance. The Air France KLM's expertise and professionalism will help us to maintain our unblemished record in each of these vital areas," he noted.



Franck Terner, the executive VP said the MRO has been working regularly with Oman Air for several years.



"I am very pleased that the airline has now shown us this mark of trust by opting for our engine know-how," he added.



The new partnership has been sealed even as Oman Air continues its ambitious programme of fleet and network expansion.



This will see the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman increase its fleet size from 30 aircraft at the start of the programme to 70 aircraft by 2020.-TradeArabia News Service
India-based Electrosteel Castings, the worlds third largest producer of ductile iron (DI) pipes and ancillary products, has inaugurated its new BD2.5 million ($6.6 million) warehouse in Bahrain, said a report.



The new warehouse will be a one-stop-solution for water projects in the Bahrain and Middle East markets, said the Bahrain News Agency report.



The Bahrain facility will act as the companys regional hub for sales and distribution activities to the Northern Middle Eastern markets, it added.



The companys inauguration was attended by Osama Al Arrayed, undersecretary for Industrial Affair at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; M K Jalan, director, Electrosteel; Piush Lohia, vice president of Electrosteel; and Khalid Al Rumaihi, chief executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB).



EDB provided the support and advice to Electrosteel throughout their registration and setting-up process.



Electrosteels Jalan said that the business of distributing the companys products is logistically demanding, and involves a high cost with transporting huge volumes of cargo.



He noted that Bahrain was selected due to its strategic location and its strong transport network and infrastructure, which link it to other countries in the region.



Additionally, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Al Arrayed said that this development is a valuable addition to the logistics sector in Bahrain as the presence of large trading companies provides an impetus to the transportation and logistics sector.



Al Rumaihi said that Electrosteels announcement reflects the growing investment by Indian firms in Bahrain, and the efforts being made by these companies to take advantage of the growing demand within the larger region.



He added that Bahrain can offer the company low operational costs and 100 per cent ownership on real estate and assets, and also a highly educated and bilingual local workforce, which will be invaluable as the company continues to expand across the region.
Some of the leading industrial companies from the UAE will showcase their products at the Gulf Industry Fair 2016 taking place in Bahrain this week.



Dubai Cable Company (Ducab), Middle East Specialized Cables (MESC), and Palletco will be showcasing products vital to the industrialisation of the regions economies at the show.



Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will run from February 9 to11 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The showcase for industrialisation is sponsored by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) under the support of the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) and Alba.



Mohammed A Al Mutawa, chief commercial officer, Ducab, said: The growing market landscape in Bahrain is an important one for our products in the Northern Gulf region. As the first cable company to have its products Environmental Management System certified, our participation at the Gulf Industry Fair is an opportunity to share our vast experience and expertise on eco-industrial development with the decision makers in the industry.



Palletco, the UAEs leading manufacturer and supplier of plastic packaging and storage crates for airports, aeronautics, pharmaceutical, food processing, agriculture, petrochemicals, warehousing and logistics sectors, is looking forward to building on the business successes of its participation at Gulf Industry Fair 2014.



We have consolidated on the business opportunities that we obtained at the previous Gulf Industry Exhibition, and are looking forward to showcasing our latest range of products," says Haroon Haroon Elikkottil, marketing manager of Palletco.



Middle East Specialized Cables (MESC), exhibiting at the Gulf Industry Fair for the first time, will showcase its range of cable solutions, designed and manufactured to international standards.



In addition, the Embassy of Poland in Abu Dhabi will promote five of Polands leading industrial companies at the exhibition.



The increased presence and interest from UAE companies shows the confidence in the Gulf Industry Fair as a regional value proposition for boosting business opportunities," said Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), the event organiser. - TradeArabia News Service




Almajdouie Logistics has said higher fuel costs will eat into margins but that the company will leverage its expertise and assets to fulfil its commitments.



The Dammam-based company, which celebrated its golden jubilee in 2015, has some of the largest transportation fleets in the Middle East, terminals in key areas in Saudi Arabia and joint ventures and strategic partnerships with experienced international firms.



Almajdouie pointed out that the fall in oil prices was reflected in the Saudi fiscal deficit, resulting in price hikes for fuel and utility services.



These unfavourable economic factors will definitely impact our operational costs and result in the fall of our margins. Having said that, as we are an asset-owned company with the largest fleet and facilities, we will be able to leverage our resources to fulfill our commitments to the main industries that are driving the Saudi economy and the region, said Almajdouie Logistics chief executive Baheej Beqawi.



We understand that 2016 presents us with even greater challenges in the ever-changing business and economic environment. As a result, we have to keep our prices competitive while maintaining the added value services we provide our clients, commented Beqawi, who took over last year, in remarks to Gulf Industry magazine.



Beqawi also said the company would continue to focus on developing its human capital and invigorating the safety culture.



Almajdouie offers complete onshore services ranging from transportation and freight forwarding to warehousing solutions and caters to diverse industries including oil and gas, petrochemical, infrastructure, utilities and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG).



Over the past two years the company added new clients to its portfolio in various sectors but acknowledged these growth areas did not warrant the cash flow fluctuation due to delays or postponements of various infrastructure projects.



Some 60 per cent of its business comes from handling logistics for the petrochemical and oil and gas industries, 20 per cent for FMCG and 20 per cent for others.



For petrochemical firms, Almajdouie provides on-site logistics, starting from silos and baggage management to production, planning, warehouse management, container-handling, drumming and filling, bulk loading, storage and shipping.



Our joint venture with Sumitomo Warehouse Company of Japan  Rabigh Petrochemical Logistics (RPL)  has been instrumental in PetroRabighs expansion plan and the development of King Abdullah Economic City, said Beqawi.



Another joint venture, MdR, is also active in the petrochemical industry. MdR, a JV between Almajdouie Group and De Rijke Group, is considered one of the largest petrochemical logistics firms in the world, handling over 10 million tonnes of product annually. It is also active in piloting Responsible Care in the region.



For FMCG, Almajdouie has been providing total supply chain solutions from inventory control, packaging and labeling to palletising.





PROJECTS SUCCESS



A highlight of 2015 was outsourcing by Sadara of its solids packaging centre activity to MdR.



Sadara, a pivotal joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Co of the US, is investing $20 billion on 26 plants. MdR is managing all on-site logistic operations, such as unloading of raw materials, internal transport, packaging and storage of finished products, loading of finished products and handling of containers and cargo for railways.



Almajdouie also has a hand in the logistics side of Maaden Alimunium where its services include transportation and warehouse management.



Almajdouies role in the Saudi Eastern Provinces and the GCCs logistics industry goes back to the 1970s. The company executed major cargo projects in the Eastern Region and has some ongoing.



The Saudi Western Region has also been an area of accomplishment for the company as it has participated in some of the largest projects in Jeddah, Jazan and Yanbu. Project cargo in the region accounted for more than 80 per cent of all such consignments handled in 2015.



The company is esteemed for its expertise in receiving and delivering project consignments, some of them very heavy and oversized. In fact, in 2012, it got itself into the Guinness Book of World Records for transporting the worlds heaviest item weighing 5,391 tonnes by road freight.



Last year it moved three transformers weighing 450 tonnes each and a 395-tonne generator from Jeddah Port to the Jeddah South Power plant, near Almajdouies Khura Terminal.



For the Shuqaiq steam power plant in Jazan its solutions comprised inter-coastal RoRo barge operations numbering 25 voyages. The services included customs clearance, handling transport and barge equipment, engineering, sea fastening and ballasting.



For a recent Clean Fuel Project in Kuwait, it offered fast and effective customs clearance, despite limitations in port infrastructure. Services included land transport of break bulk and containerised cargo and heavy lifting equipment. Typically, Almajdouie provides not only transportation of sometimes very heavy equipment but also installation.



In 2015, the company executed major cargo projects in the Eastern Region for clients such as Sadara, Kemya, Ras Al Khair, Shaybah, Wasit Gas Plant, Tasnee and Maaden Aluminium.



This year it moved 34 heavy and oversized units by road from Jazan Port to Jazan Economic City, 140 km away. It was part of a contract that included the moving of 20 units in 2015.



In addition to a large fleet of cargo vehicles deployed in hubs, Almajdouie has sky terminals covering a total of around 2 million sq m across Saudi Arabia. The company is also designing, developing and delivering best-in-class automation and optimisation solutions for new hospital concepts, warehouses and distribution centres.





JVS AND OPTIMISM



As well as MdR and RBL, the company has JVs including Star Marine Services, Sinotrains-Almajdouie Middle East, MaxxLogistics, Petrology and Almajdouie Kazemi. It also has strategic partnerships with Intrerbulk and Swiss Log, among others.



Petrology was launched in 2015 as a JV in Bahrain between Almajdouie Logistics, De Rijke and Sumitomo Warehouse. In the same year, Almajdouie Kazemi, operating from Kuwait, came into existence. The company also opened an office in Japan.



Other Almajdouie highlights of 2015 were the initiative Amaan to reinvigorate the safety culture at work and at home, winning of the Scata manager of the year award and certification as an Integrated Management System (IMS) company.



Despite the latest economic troubles, Beqawi exuded optimism: With our 50-year-old legacy of being resourceful and reliable  the foundations of our success  we are able to fulfill our vision to be the regions most trusted partner.  TradeArabia News Service
Responding to one of Anderson Coopers softball questions, socialist Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told the CNN Town Hall on Wednesday night that he lives a frugal life and indicated that he doesnt care about money or status. I have a small Chevrolet, he said. It is one of the smallest Chevys that they make. He said it was about five years old.

But James OBrien, a political consultant and former publisher of Campaigns & Elections magazine, says the career politician, who has been a mayor, member of Congress and U.S. senator, has achieved the financial status of a millionaire.

OBrien has analyzed the financial status of Sanders and his wife, including their financial disclosure report, and has concluded they have a net worth in the range of $1.2 to $1.5 million, not the $700,000 or less that is usually reported by the media.

Equally significant, his wife, Jane OMeara Sanders, left her position as president of Burlington College under controversial circumstances and is now being accused of federal bank fraud. She left her position at the college and was given a severance package known as a golden parachute that also benefited Senator Sanders personal wealth.

Brady C. Toensing, a partner with the law firm of diGenova & Toensing, has filed a legal complaint with federal authorities requesting an investigation into apparent federal bank fraud committed by Ms. Sanders. His complaint was sent to Eric S. Miller, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, and Fred W. Gibson, Jr., Acting Inspector General with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

A Sanders spokesman told the Burlington Free Press that the complaint was an effort to throw mud at the presidential candidate.

OBrien says that Sanders financial disclosure forms are incomplete. For someone who doesnt care about money, he goes a long way to cover up his true net worth, he says. Bernie does not disclose the value of real estate holdings. He can. He is not required to, but he could if he chose. It is known that he and/or his wife own at least two homesone with rental income in Vermont and one near Capitol Hill where the median home value is $722,000.

OBrien bases his conclusions about Sanders millionaire status on what is known and can be estimated about his salary, the income of his wife, joint income, investments, pension, and value of his real estate properties.

On top of this, OBrien notes that Sanders benefits from a multi-million dollar U.S. Senate staff and a multi-million dollar U.S. presidential campaign staff.

In addition to the questions about his real net worth, Jane Sanders exit from Burlington College continues to generate controversy, even scandal. She was president of the college from 2004 until 2011.

Federal officials have acknowledged the complaint about Jane Sanders from attorney Brady C. Toensing, but they wont say whether they are going forward with an investigation.

Although Senator Sanders frequently complains about the corporate media that are supposed to have a bias against his candidacy, the necessary task of digging into the finances of his wife has been left to the conservative media and some local Vermont news organizations.

At the very leastas noted by Bruce Parker, a Vermont reporter for Watchdog.orgSenator Sanders should be asked to explain how his opposition to severance packages for corporation executives squares with his wife getting a cushy severance of $200,000.

In a story headlined, Bernie Sanders Wife May Have Defrauded State Agency, Bank, reporters Blake Neff and Peter Fricke of the conservative Daily Caller News Foundation reported the essential facts of the case, noting that she nearly bankrupted Burlington College when she took on $10 million in debt to finance the purchase of a new, far more expansive campus. The move backfired massively, leading to Sanders departure from the college and the near-collapse of the institution, Neff and Fricke report.

By any standard of fair and objective news reporting, a candidate who promises free college to Americas young people should be asked to address the issue of his wifes financial shenanigans almost bankrupting an institution of higher learning. But it hasnt been raised in the debates.

At one point it was reported that Burlington College was fighting for its very survival. As a result of its financial woes, Burlington College is on academic probation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, reported VTDigger.org, a statewide news website, in 2014.

VT Digger confirmed the nefarious role played by Jane Sanders, noting that she overstated donation amounts in a bank application for a $6.7 million loan that was used by the college to purchase a prime 33-acre property on Lake Champlain in 2010. Jane Sanders resigned under pressure from the Burlington College board of trustees nearly a year after obtaining the multi-million dollar loan, the site reported. After both sides lawyered up, the board gave Sanders the title of president emeritus and a $200,000 severance package.

A Republican activist named Skip Vallee produced a 60-second television advertisement entitled, Bernies Golden Parachute, describing the nature of the $200,000 severance package and making the point that while Sanders was planning a presidential run on a theme of railing against golden parachutes and excesses on Wall Street, he took his own golden parachute through his wifes curious dealings with the cash-strapped college.

The ad features the S in Sanders in the shape of a dollar sign and shows Sanders saying the rich in America manipulate a rigged system and benefit from golden parachutes.

On top of this scandal, The Washington Free Beacon has reported that Senator Sanders used campaign money to benefit members of his family, and that Jane Sanders directed six-figure sums from Burlington College to her daughter and the son of a family friend.

Getting money out of politics is one of the planks in Sanders presidential campaign platform.
For months youve read about EmailGate in this column . Ive elaborated how Hillary Clinton, the apparent Democratic frontrunner for President this year, put large amounts of classified information at grave risk through slipshod security practices by herself and her staff. Now that scandal has taken a significant turn for the more ominous.

Last Friday afternoon the State Departments latest court-mandated release of Hillary Clintons emails from when she was Secretary of State caused a new political firestorm. While many more emails were released by Foggy Bottom, some with redactions due to classified materials they contained, twenty-two emails totaling thirty-seven pages of text were withheld entirely at the request of the Intelligence Community. Those twenty-two emails, deemed unclassified by Ms. Clinton and her staff, were judged to be Top Secret in reality.

Since Top Secret is the U.S. Governments highest official classification level, this revelation exploded months of denials from the Clinton presidential campaign that Hillary had done no wrong. The Federal government defines Top Secret materials as information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security. The disclosure of Top Secret information is a serious criminal matter that normal Americans face prosecution and substantial jail time for perpetrating.

Discussions with Intelligence Community officials have revealed that Ms. Clintons unclassified emails included Holy Grail items of American espionage.

Nevertheless, Hillary Clinton over the weekend continued to deny any wrongdoing in EmailGate, painting the scandal as just more political theater by her enemies. Echoes of the vast right-wing conspiracy, the Clintonian 1990s bogeyman, are now distinctly audible. Moreover, she compared the story to the attack on our Benghazi consulate in 2012, which may not help her politically, given the lingering problems that tragedy still causes Ms. Clinton in certain quarters.

Most controversially, Hillary and her mouthpieces have kept pushing the line that none of this information was marked classified when it appeared in her personal emails, despite the fact that this claim, even if true, does not mitigate any disclosure of classified information. Her defense seems to be that neither she nor anybody on her staff were able to recognize that Top Secret information was actually Top Secret, which is hardly a ringing endorsement of Hillarys qualifications to be our next commander-in-chief.

Mysteries abound in this latest trove of emails. One of the big ones is that four emails from Sidney Blumenthal, Hillarys close friend and factotum, were withheld by the Intelligence Community because they were judged to be entirely classified. How Mr. Blumenthal, who held no U.S. Government position after January 2001, when Bill Clinton left the White House, had access to classified information a decade after that is not explained.

This column has previously detailed how Mr. Blumenthal was running an impressive private intelligence agency for the Secretary of State, and that his emails to Ms. Clinton inexplicably included highly sensitive Top Secret Codeword intelligence from the National Security Agency. Since Mr. Blumenthals emails were illegally accessed by a private hacker , they can be safely assumed in to be in the hands of numerous foreign intelligence services. Theres a lot here that the FBI needs to unravel to understand EmailGates full complexity  and illegality.

Nevertheless, Hillary has upped the ante by demanding that the twenty-two Top Secret emails that have been withheld by the State Department be released to the public so Americans can see that they are in fact innocuous, as Ms. Clinton and her defenders maintain. Yet this is pure political theater: she surely knows that the emails are not going to be released on security grounds anytime soon, probably not for several decades, at least.

 overclassification  as her last line of defense in EmailGate, notwithstanding thats the choice of any officials in Washington, DC, who have broken secrecy laws and have no leg left to stand on. What, then, is in those twenty-two emails? Contrary to the assertions of Team Clinton that the information was benign, a nothing-burger to cite her allies, implying that the overzealous Intelligence Community has classified information that doesnt need protection, their contents are Top Secret with good reason. Hillary has opted for cries ofas her last line of defense in EmailGate, notwithstanding thats the choice of any officials in Washington, DC, who have broken secrecy laws and have no leg left to stand on.

Today FoxNews has reported that those twenty-two Top Secret emails included operational intelligence that involves espionage sources and methods, adding that lives have been put at risk by Hillarys mishandling of this information.

At a minimum, valuable covers have been blown, careers have been ruined, and lives have been put at serious risk.

I can confirm that the FoxNews report, which lacks any specifics about exactly what was compromised, is accurate. And what was actually in those Top Secret emails found on Hillarys unclassified personal bathroom server was colossally damaging to our national security and has put lives at risk.

Discussions with Intelligence Community officials have revealed that Ms. Clintons unclassified emails included Holy Grail items of American espionage such as the true names of Central Intelligence Agency intelligence officers serving overseas under cover. Worse, some of those exposed are serving under non-official cover. NOCs (see this for an explanation of their important role in espionage) are the pointy end of the CIA spear and they are always at risk of exposure  which is what Ms. Clintons emails have done.

Not only have these spies had their lives put in serious risk by this, its a clear violation of Federal law. The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982, enacted due to the murder of the CIAs station chief in Athens after his cover was blown by the left-wing media, makes it a Federal crime to divulge the true identity of any covert operative serving U.S. intelligence if that person has not previous been publicly acknowledged to be working for our spy agencies.

People really go to jail for breaking this law. John Kiriakou , a former CIA officer, recently emerged from two years in prison for unauthorized disclosure of classified information, including exposing the identity of an Agency colleague who was serving under cover.

Anyone possessing political memory will recall that this law was also the centerpiece of the 2003 scandal surrounding Valerie Plame, a CIA NOC officer whose identity appeared in the media after it was exposed by the George W. Bush White House. Ms. Plame became a liberal icon of sorts, complete with high glamour , while the affair became an obsession for much of the mainstream media, despite the fact that the spy was physically unharmed by the leak.

Indeed, Valerie Plame parleyed the ruckus into a successful post-CIA career and she remains in the limelight. In a perverse irony, last weekend she was in New Hampshire campaigning for Hillary Clinton . Neither Ms. Plame nor much of the media seem interested in their candidates far greater compromise of classified information, including the identities of NOCs like Valerie Plame once was.

Hillarys emails also include the names of foreigners who are on the CIA payroll, according to Intelligence Community officials. Since it can be safely assumed that several foreign intelligence agencies intercepted Ms. Clintons unencrypted communications, this directly threatens the lives of the exposed individuals. Its a death sentence, explained a senior Intelligence Community official: if were lucky only agents, not our officers, will get killed because of this. (Agents are foreigners working for U.S. intelligence while officers are American staffers.)

CIA and the entire Intelligence Community are in panic mode right now, trying to determine which of our intelligence officers and agents have been compromised by EmailGate. At a minimum, valuable covers have been blown, careers have been ruined, and lives have been put at serious risk. Our spies greatest concern now is whats still in Hillarys emails that investigators have yet to find.
http://donpolson.blogspot.com/ Bringing you the very best information, analysis and opinion from around the web. NOTE: For videos that don't start--go to article link to view.
For many Israelis, the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 marked a grim turning point for their country. In the words of the commission set up to investigate the murder, "Israeli society [would] never be the same again. As a democracy, political assassination was not part of our culture."





In the eyes of most people, the murder ended all hope for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process through the Oslo Accords and altered the course of history.





I have been quite skeptical on the prospect of a lasting peace to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since at least 1977 when the Likud Party of Menachem Begin came to power. For peace to really work, it requires justice, something that has never been in the DNA of the Zionist founders and leaders of Israel . They saw Palestine as a colonial enterprise, which was to dispossess and rob the indigenous population, one way or another. Negotiations were only ploys to justify illegal annexation and used to hoodwink the world community, and nothing else.





The more I read about Zionism the more I felt hopeless realizing that the right-wing Likudniks would never go back to the pre-1967 border and would do everything possible to hold onto the Occupied Territories , the so-called Judea and Samaria . Without those occupied territories, the dream of an Eretz Israel is incomplete. The toxic influence of Ze'ev Jabotinsky (1880-1940)  the iconoclastic founder of Revisionist Zionism - loomed very high on the Likud Party.





And yet, in my heart I hoped for a miracle of sort that the bad Zionists would evolve into real human beings feeling the pain and suffering of the dispossessed Palestinians and would compromise so that the holy land can be shared by all its peoples amicably. Prime Minister Rabin presented himself as a person who seemed serious about a two-nation solution to the decades-old problem. But when he was assassinated on November 4, 1995, all such daydreams of mine faded away. I believed that the rightwing Likud politician Benjamin Netanyahu was not just a direct beneficiary of that assassination but that he had triggered the very event by creating an environment of hatred and animosity in which Rabin had to die for Bibi to shine in Israeli apartheid politics.



Recently, in early November, 20 years to the day after the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin by a right-wing religious extremist, Amos Gitais mesmerizing and disturbing new film Israel today, not to mention the context of the Middle East and the world. Its a mixture of drama, documentary and meticulous re-creation of Rabins life. Recently, in early November, 20 years to the day after the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin by a right-wing religious extremist, Amos Gitais mesmerizing and disturbing new film Rabin, the Last Day premiered in Tel Avivs symphony hall  about 200 yards from the spot where Rabin was shot. According to movie reviewers, its no ordinary movie in the context oftoday, not to mention the context of theand the world. Its a mixture of drama, documentary and meticulous re-creation of Rabins life.





Gitai is both a living legend of Israeli cinema and a highly controversial cultural figure, and with Rabin, the Last Day he seized the third rail of Israeli politics with both hands. He set out to prove in his brave and provocative new film, Rabin's assassination was not just the act of one fanatic Yigal Amir, an orthodox Jew. Rather, it was the culmination of a hate campaign that emanated from the rabbis and public figures of Israel 's far right, esp. the likes of Netanyahu.





Israel would have been rare. Consider, for instance, the religious Israel and the Nations, Rabbis Yitzhak Shapira and Yosef Elitzur declared, The prohibition Thou Shalt Not Murder applies only to a Jew who kills a Jew. It is worth recalling that up until 2013, Od Yosef Chai yeshiva received government funding and support. It has also received money from American donors. As I have stated many times, Zionism has betrayed Judaism. It has created a breed of rabbis that are bigots and racists to the core. Without their blessings, Jewish terrorism or so-called vandalism against the unarmed Palestinians insidewould have been rare. Consider, for instance, the religious legitimacy for attacking Arabs given by the prominent rabbis at Od Yosef Chai to the hilltop youths. In their 2010 book, The Kings Torah (Torat Hamelech), Part One: Laws of Life and Death betweenand the Nations, Rabbis Yitzhak Shapira and Yosef Elitzur declared, The prohibition Thou Shalt Not Murder applies only to a Jew who kills a Jew. It is worth recalling that up until 2013, Od Yosef Chai yeshiva received government funding and support. It has also received money from American donors.





Israel 's Israel should beat back any hint of Palestinian nationalism with the threat of enormous suffering. He passed these poisonous beliefs on to his son Bibi Netanyahu, who like Jabotinsky, is a brutal, racist, territorial maximalist who allows no concession in his aspiration to guard the pariah Jewish state by crushing the Palestinians. This should come as no surprise. After all, the Likud Party of Bibi Netanyahu upholds Ze'ev Jabotinskys principles. Jabotinsky organized Irgun Zvi Leumi, a terrorist military organization, which fought against the British and the Arabs in the pre-partition days. He died in 1940, eight years before the birth of the Israeli state. His legacy, however, was carried on by's Herut party, which merged with other right wing parties to form the Likud Party in 1973. It is also worth pointing out that Benzion Netanyahu, the current prime ministers father, was Jabotinskys disciple and private secretary. The elder Netanyahu said as recently as 2009 that the Arabs existence is one of perpetual war and argued thatshould beat back any hint of Palestinian nationalism with the threat of enormous suffering. He passed these poisonous beliefs on to his son Bibi Netanyahu, who like Jabotinsky, is a brutal, racist, territorial maximalist who allows no concession in his aspiration to guard the pariah Jewish state by crushing the Palestinians.





Jerusalem , we will add thousands of housing units, and in the face of all the (international) pressure, we will persist and continue to develop our eternal capital, he said. He also vowed in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa (a Jewish settlement that Netanyahu helped to build during his first term as prime minister in 1997; the sprawling district now houses more than 20,000 settler residents) that Palestinian state would not be established if he was elected. It is not difficult to understand why the peace process has been dead since Bibi came to power again. Netanyahu is opposed to the two-nation solution of the deadlock. Remember his election promise last year? He vowed to increase construction in the Occupied East Jerusalem, and said the city would never be divided. We will continue to build in, we will add thousands of housing units, and in the face of all the (international) pressure, we will persist and continue to develop our eternal capital, he said. He also vowed in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa (a Jewish settlement that Netanyahu helped to build during his first term as prime minister in 1997; the sprawling district now houses more than 20,000 settler residents) that Palestinian state would not be established if he was elected.





Recently, Netanyahu announced that the Israelis shall "forever live by the sword  a Biblical phrase going back to the admonition of Avner, King Sauls general, who cried out to King Davids general Yoav "Shall the sword devour for ever?"





Thus, under Bibis watch the illegal settlements for the Jewish settlers in the West Bank have become the norms rather than exceptions. As the apartheid Israeli state constructs new illegal colonies, it demolishes Palestinian homes forcing their eviction. Last Tuesday, for instance, the Civil Administration in the West Bank demolished 23 Palestinian homes and three outhouses in the southern Hebron hills villages of Jinba and Halawa. And surely, those crimes wont be the last ones in the Jewish state!





Jerusalem 's Dormition Abbey. The Benedictine monastery abutting the walls of Jerusalem 's Old City has been the target of repeated anti-Christian vandalism and in February 2015. The vandals wrote anti-Christian slogans on the edifice's walls and doors using red and black markers. These included: "Christians to Hell", "May his name be obliterated" (a supposed Hebrew acronym of Jesus' name in Hebrew), "Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of Israel ", etc. Last month Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon approved the establishment of a new settlement inside a church compound in the West Bank, about which the U.S. state government was "deeply concerned" . Jewish vandals, likely religious right-wing extremists, vandalized's Dormition Abbey. The Benedictine monastery abutting the walls of'shas been the target of repeated anti-Christian vandalism and in February 2015. The vandals wrote anti-Christian slogans on the edifice's walls and doors using red and black markers. These included: "Christians to Hell", "May his name be obliterated" (a supposed Hebrew acronym of Jesus' name in Hebrew), "Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of", etc.





Israel . Even the U.S. ambassador had to confess that Israel has legal West Bank . Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference in Tel Aviv, Dan Shapiro said "Too much Israeli vigilantism in the West Bank goes on unchecked," adding that "there is a lack of thorough investigations at times it seems Israel has two standards of adherence to rule of law in the West Bank - one for Israelis and one for Palestinians." Such hostile activities, of course, are discomforting to some highly placed friends of. Even theambassador had to confess thathas legal double standard in. Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference in Tel Aviv, Dan Shapiro said "Too much Israeli vigilantism in the West Bank goes on unchecked," adding that "there is a lack of thorough investigations at times it seems Israel has two standards of adherence to rule of law in the West Bank - one for Israelis and one for Palestinians."





The peace process has been deadlocked since a US peace mission collapsed in April 2014. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has been a failure to make a difference. He rightly said Friday that he was "ashamed" at the lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. "I feel guilty, ashamed of the lack of progress," he told an event organized by the United Nations Association - UK in association with foreign affairs think-tank Chatham House in London . "Basically it's up to the leadership of Israel and the Palestinians to put an end to the conflict," he said.





UN diplomats say Ban is hoping to get peace talks moving again before he steps down as secretary-general at the end of the year.





Israel continue to control the Israeli politics and have powerful international supporters. They know their strength and are willing to exploit such to extract further concessions from their backers. It was no accident that Jonathan Pollard, the American spy who leaked highly sensitive defense and national security info to Israel, had to be freed by President Obama in the days leading up to peace negotiations with Iran. He was serving a long prison term, until, of course, lately. And yet, Benjamin Netanyahu was not fully satisfied. He US military aid because of the Middle East , though it has never declared it, strongly opposed the accord and labeled it a "historic mistake." I don't see any hope of a peaceful solution as long as the dreamers of Eretzcontinue to control the Israeli politics and have powerful international supporters. They know their strength and are willing to exploit such to extract further concessions from their backers. It was no accident that Jonathan Pollard, the American spy who leaked highly sensitive defense and national security info to Israel, had to be freed by President Obama in the days leading up to peace negotiations with Iran. He was serving a long prison term, until, of course, lately. And yet, Benjamin Netanyahu was not fully satisfied. He told the World Economic Forum in Davos that his country will need moremilitary aid because of the nuclear deal with Iran . Netanyahu, whose country is the sole nuclear power in the, though it has never declared it, strongly opposed the accord and labeled it a "historic mistake."





Israel 's Iron Dome missile defense system.



Well, with the Israel-first 'Amen Corner' placed inside the Capitol Hill the pariah state does not need too much patting on the shoulders to get what it wants. And I am sure the US government will again comply with Netanyahu's request, esp. coming as it does in an election year. All the presidential candidates in the major two parties  Republican and Democratic  from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump (let alone evangelicals and born-again Christian fundamentalist candidates) - are unabashed supporters of Israeli hegemony and Palestinian marginalization. Israel is currently negotiating a new 10-year military aid package with Washington that it says will need to grow beyond the $3.1 billion yearly currently provided by the United States. The figure excludes US spending on projects including's Iron Dome missile defense system.Well, with the Israel-first 'Amen Corner' placed inside the Capitol Hill the pariah state does not need too much patting on the shoulders to get what it wants. And I am sure thewith Netanyahu's request, esp. coming as it does in an election year. All the presidential candidates in the major two parties  Republican and Democratic  from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump (let alone evangelicals and born-again Christian fundamentalist candidates) - are unabashed supporters of Israeli hegemony and Palestinian marginalization.





Palestine

Thus, the prospect for a real peace inseems improbable. Truly, we may never see it in our lifetime. That is a sad commentary, but a realistic one.
Two years ago, the Time magazine depicted saffron-robed Wirathu, a Buddhist monk from Mandalay in Myanmar ( Burma ), as the Face of Buddhist Terror. It was a very candid description of the terrorist Buddhist monk who was convicted of inciting deadly anti-Muslim pogroms in 2003. After serving only seven years of his 25-year prison term behind the bars he was released in 2010 by Thein Seins government reportedly to act as its hound-dog, a task which he had loyally performed ever since. He has been the driving force behind the fascist Buddhist organization  Ma Ba Tha  that has played a major role in genocidal activities directed by Buddhists against Muslims of Myanmar.





Myanmar . It was among four race and religion bills championed by Ma Ba Tha and signed into law last year despite opposition from the NLD party, led by Suu Kyi. Although his racist, bigoted and In January 2015, Wirathu called Yanghee Lee, a U.N. special envoy on human rights, a "whore" and a "bitch" after she criticized a bill restricting interfaith marriage and religious conversions in. It was among four race and religion bills championed by Ma Ba Tha and signed into law last year despite opposition from the NLD party, led by Suu Kyi. Although his racist, bigoted and sexist rants and criminal incitements have been condemned in many quarters Wirathu remains very popular amongst many Buddhists, not just inside his native Myanmar but also outside in places like Sri Lanka.





Presiding over some 2,500 monks at Masoeyein monastery in Mandalay , a Buddhist monastery, Wirathu has thousands of followers on Facebook and his YouTube videos have been watched tens of thousands of times. It would be no hyperbole to state that he and his band of criminal Buddhist monks have hijacked Buddhism and poisoned the political discourse inside Myanmar .





Ma Ba Tha uses the news of the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman allegedly by Rohingya Muslims in Arakan in 2012 to paint a very damning picture of the divide between "us" and "them". And such a nasty propaganda, a false one, which I must remind our readers, has worked because people are always willing to believe the worst about one's enemies if they are programmed as such.





For too long, in the context of Burma , her various ethnic and racial groups were poisoned to hate each other, which only helped the divisive forces inside, let alone the military that ruled the fractured country with strong arms tactics and brutal strategy. Wirathu and the hateful, xenophobic monks like him were used as the willing partners to prolong this environment of hatred and intolerance against the minority Muslims, esp. the Rohingya people, and strengthen the grip of the military that ruled and other divisive forces within the country to arrest a change for the better in the political scene.





Fortunately, even though most Muslims were barred from voting and participating in the latest election process, people inside Myanmar have spoken loud and clear. They have rejected the criminal messengers and propagators of hatred and dehumanization.





It is high time to stop Ma Ba Tha once and for all time. This would require not only serious efforts within the movers and shakers within the poisoned society, esp. those with some authority, e.g., the NLD and various political parties that represent the very mosaic of Myanmar but also a brave intelligentsia that knows its historical role to correct the wrongs and create an environment of inclusion, tolerance and hope.





Surely, such an endeavor is never going to be an easy one, but we can all try our best with our limited resources to make that happen, and multiply our voices as change agents for the better.





This process can start by educating the broader public about the falsity of the very narrative that Ma Ba Tha has been exploiting to poison Buddhist minds. Burmese human rights activist Dr. Maung Zarni was able to expose that there is no truth to the claim that the Rakhine Buddhist woman was raped and killed by Rohingya Muslim(s). He wrote that the rape narrative of the Rakhine woman - the late Ma Thida Htwe - raped by 'Bengali men' was patently false, but spread by President Thein Sein's men the likes of Major Zaw Htay (Hmu Zaw), Colonel Ye Htut (now deputy information minister) as a trigger event to set the fire of genocidal hatred towards the Muslims. Ma Thida Htwe was NOT raped but was simply murdered - the doctor who examined her body told Ko Zaganar [a popular comedian], in no uncertain terms, that there was absolutely no evidence of rape on Ma Thida Htwe's dead body. The doctor was forced to sign the medical report which claims falsely she was raped. The rape story was spread by government agents on the social media and was used as a launching pad to start waves of mass killings against the Rohingya and the Muslims across Burma or Myanmar . Within a month of his death - when [Maung Thura] Zaganar attempted to meet Htet Htet's wife, writes Dr. Zarni in his blog, she was found dead in a village well. How convenient! It is believed amongst the independent analysts that NASAKA security forces killed Ma Thida Htwe and possibly Htet Htets wife.





Rumors around rape of Buddhist females by Muslim males have often been used inside Myanmar to unleash ethnic cleansing of the latter. There is no truth to such allegations. In 2014, Muslim shopkeepers were similarly accused of the rape of a Buddhist woman in Mandalay, reports of which were spread on social media by Ma Ba Tha members, triggering three days of deadly riots in that city. The allegation was later found to be groundless, resulting in 21-year jail terms for five people convicted of spreading the false rumor. The previous year, similar communal riots saw a Muslim orphanage razed to the ground in Meiktila.





Burma (or Myanmar ) owed their As subsequent inquiries have proven most of the anti-Muslim pogroms and genocidal activities inside(or) owed their origin to the government  central and local. These crimes were sometimes scripted and often times sanctioned by the government.





I can only pray and hope that the upcoming NLD government will take a different course than its predecessors thereby making the country a safe and secure one for all its people  Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.




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U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle was present at the Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony in Kaduna, Nigeria, in late January, for Routine Immunization in Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Bauchi states.

I am proud that the U.S. government is joining the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dangote Foundation in the strong pursuit to end vaccine-preventable child deaths in Nigeria, said Ambassador Entwistle. Under this partnership, we are helping Sokoto State to increase and sustain high immunization coverage. This occasion demonstrates the willingness and commitment of your governments and organizations to tackle the challenges to achieving these goals.

The United States provides significant resources, more than half a billion dollars annually, for programs to address serious health issues, such as child mortality, maternal and newborn health, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

These MOUs offer the model platform to capitalize on the prospects of evidence-based approaches, said Ambassador Entwistle. Results will include stronger systems for immunizations, equal access to routine immunization services, and building capacity for Nigerian states like Sokoto to lead in developing solutions for its people.

Perhaps even more importantly, these agreements serve as a model on which to base future partnerships between development partners and the Government of Nigeria.

Ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of this program, demonstrates the pledge of the Governments of all the states involved to ensuring they meet their responsibilities to their constituents. Essential health services, like routine immunization programs, can only be provided when all partners are coordinated and committed in this manner.

Immunization represents one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. Routine immunization services, when sustained, reduce maternal and child illnesses and deaths and free up other resources for economic development.

Under this partnership, the U.S. Government will maintain its focus on Sokoto State, offering quality technical assistance in support of the partners harmonized work plan in that state.

Our ultimate goal, said Ambassador Entwistle, is to end preventable child and maternal deaths and to achieve an AIDS-free generation.
Today, the Voice of America Creole Service celebrates its 30th anniversary. The service started as a five-minute news feed in the early 1980s with one broadcaster, and it became a regularly scheduled broadcast on February 7, 1986, when a popular uprising forced Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Baby Doc Duvalier into exile.

As democracy emerged in Haiti, VOA Creole Service continued to meet the information needs of the Haitian people. VOA has long been the leading international broadcaster in Haiti.

For the past 30 years, the Creole Service has covered many stories of significance to the Haitian audience, including elections and changes in governments, migration issues; the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States; and the January 2010 earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands and left more than a million homeless in Haiti.

In addition, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State and other agencies, the VOA Creole Service provides training for Haitian journalists. Since 2008, VOA Creole has trained more than 100 Haitian journalists.



In February 2015, the Creole Service began to televise one of its radio shows in an effort to reach Haitis predominantly young audience. TV stations in all ten regions of Haiti carry VOA Creole Service broadcasts.

From the day they opened their microphones in February 1986, VOAs Creole Service has been a true champion of democracy in Haiti.

From the day they opened their microphones in February 1986, VOAs Creole Service has been a true champion of democracy in Haiti, said Broadcasting Board of Governors Chief Operating Officer and Director John Lansing. For more than 30 years, the Creole Service has time and time again proven invaluable to the people of Haiti, providing them with high-quality, professional journalism through six presidential elections and life-saving information after the 2010 earthquake. Their impact in the lives of Haitians cannot be overstated.

VOA Creole remains among the most reliable and trustworthy sources of news and information for Creole speakers in Haiti. A 2012 study by the International Broadcasting Bureau indicated 81.6 percent of weekly listeners trusted the news and information received from the VOA Creole Service.

As U.S. State Department Haiti Special Coordinator Kenneth Merten noted: For thirty years, Voice of America Creole Service has provided straight-forward and unbiased news, bringing to the remotest corners of Haiti the first draft of history as it unfolds. The quest for truth 24/7 by journalists worldwide is outstanding work we should not take for granted.
One of architect Paul Rudolph's biggest and most important projects, the Burroughs Wellcome headquarters and research center in Durham, North Carolina, is being demolished. According to the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation*:

"It is one of Rudolphs largest constructed projects: So one sees, substantively, how a brilliant designer worked out his ideas about siting, planning, spatial organization, interiors, and finishes in a comprehensive, large-scale way, and over a variety of conditions and spaces."

The current owners, United Therapeutics, called it unsafe, not environmentally sound, and functionally obsolete. But don't worry, according to the Herald Sun, when they build a new structure on the site "there will be a Paul Rudolph Foyer inside."

Treehugger has written many posts about the loss of Paul Rudolph buildings, asking a decade ago "why are so many Paul Rudolph buildings being torn down?" One reason so many of his Florida buildings have been lost is that he was a master of melding "modern modularity and technology with sensitive siting, daylighting, natural ventilation, and aggressive shading against the relentless sunshine." This made them hard to air-condition and after Columbine, hard to secure. But his buildings were light and airy and used materials sparingly.

Burroughs-Wellcome Dining Area. Paul Rudolph Foundation

As I noted in my review of the Walker Guest House: "During World War II, Rudolph had worked as a naval architect and learned about thin-shell construction, the economy of means, and the efficient use of space. 'I was profoundly affected by ships,' he said. 'I remember thinking that a destroyer was one of the most beautiful things in the world.' He took what he learned in the shipyards and applied it to his post-war houses." You can see that in Burroughs Wellcome. He also designed it to last a long time, certainly longer than it did; according to the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation, it was a design for growth.

"Rudolph was concerned for the future  of cities, homes, education, and of individual buildings. He knew that, in very tangible ways, buildings are never finished, and must be flexible to accommodate the future. Rudolph designed Burroughs Wellcome with change and expansion in mind: its striking geometries and planning were designed for growth. In fact, this was not just one building, but a growing complex: the main building being designed in 1969; and with extensions added in 1976, 1978, and 1982  that latter date including work on a master plan for the site. [In architecture, as in other fields, theres no greater compliment than repeat business.]

The building is part of the Research Triangle Park, developed in the early sixties as the largest research park in the USA to be a "brain magnet." The building itself was prescient of all those modern management ideas about offices as places where creativity comes from interaction. According to the Foundation:

"Rudolph sought to create spaces of variety and richness, ones which would allow for varying uses and inspiring experiences. Moreover, he saw that overlapping spaces had the potential to increase communication among a buildings users  a significant advantage in a building for research, corporate coordination, or education."

29 November 2020 demolition progress. Getharding via Wikipedia

"Renovation is always a better use of resources than demolition and replacement."

That's a quote from architectural critic Alexandra Lange, from our discussion of the loss of the Union Carbide Building in New York City. The owners of the Burroughs Wellcome building claim that it is not environmentally sound, but replacing an existing building often creates more upfront carbon emissions than are emitted from building operations.

That's why the Architects Declare document calls for architects to recognize they must "upgrade existing buildings for extended use as a more carbon-efficient alternative to demolition and new build whenever there is a viable choice."

Paul Rudolph Foundation

But this is even worse, taking down such an important, special building. As the president of Burroughs Wellcome noted at the opening ceremony: "This building is an exciting and ingenious combination of forms [in which] one discovers new and different qualities of forms and spaces . . . a splendid climate for scientific scholarship and for the exchange of ideas."

In these times, that is exactly what is needed.

Screen capture. Architects Journal

In the UK, the Architects Journal has started the RetroFirst campaign to promote renovation and change the rules; owners of buildings write off a portion of the value every year, and eventually, it becomes worth their while to knock it down. Will Hurst writes:

"It doesnt have to be this way. And, in light of the climate emergency and the UKs legal commitment to a net-zero economy by 2050, it cannot remain this way. The AJs RetroFirst campaign proposes a major reduction in the consumption of raw materials and energy in the built environment through the adoption of circular economy principles. It opposes unnecessary and wasteful demolition of buildings and promotes low-carbon retrofit as the default option."

It doesn't have to be that way in North America either. This building could have and should have been saved. We need a RetroFirst campaign here too.

See also: Happy 100th Birthday, Paul Rudolph

*This article previously credited quotes to the Paul Rudolph Foundation, a different organization. They have been revised to the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 18 years and 38,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going.
Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 6

Having started its door-to-door campaign from today almost a year ahead of the Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party began directly reaching out to each household much ahead of other political parties. The party aims to connect with as many as 70 lakh families in 12,000 villages and towns across the state in a matter of just 20 days in their Parivar Jodo Campaign.

Nearly 350 party leaders given the title of speakers assisted by 15-20 volunteers will be covering 30 to 40 villages each. In a way in the next 20 days, the party will be able to get the database of as many families all across the state which its social media group will use for getting connected with them for spreading across any message in a matter of seconds.

Punjab Youth wing president of AAP Harjot Bains shared the plan, It will be the Speakers duty to collect the contacts and other social media account details from each house so that we can correspond with them through social media in future. We will be able to tell them about our policies, activities, campaigns and meetings in Punjab and any development steps taken by our party even in New Delhi in future. It will not just be through Whatsapp but also automated call system that we will be using to remain connected with them.

The drive is surely going to rattle all other parties which usually begin such an exercise in the last two months of the polls or may be even only when the candidates have been announced. AAP convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur has already announced that the process of selection of candidates for the 117 Assembly segments would begin around March and get finalised by April-May, clearly giving the candidates a long time to show their worth in their respective areas.

The party volunteers have already begun uploading pictures of their door-to-door visits on social media including Facebook and Twitter trending it as #PariwarJodoCampaign. Sukhdeep Apra, secretary, Youth Wing Punjab, and a Speaker under the project, said, I have spent three hours in Shahkot and I have been able to contact 57 families this evening. From tomorrow, we will be working full day.

To collect student data also from 100 campuses

AAP, which already has a very good presence among the youth, has also begun its student interaction programme in the canteens of varsities and colleges of the state. Having held its first session as a part of Punjab Student Dialogue at Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, AAP Youth President Harjot Bains said, We intend to spend a whole day with the students at each of the top 100 campuses of the state. We will make them speak their mind, while trying to dig out the key issues affecting them and will accordingly charter our manifesto for them.

AAP leaders also said that they are also getting a feedback form filled from them to have their viewpoint of certain issues. We will also be taking their contacts on our forms for our student database. As of now, we are not concentrating on any membership for our Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti as is in Delhi, added Bains.
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 7

In a major decision, the State Administrative Council today announced that all government offices in Jammu and Kashmir would have an Aadhaar-based biometric attendance system by March 31.

The council met under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra for the first time after its constitution on February 4 at Raj Bhawan here.

It decided that all administrative secretaries would personally monitor the implementation of all state plan and centrally sponsored schemes with special focus on flagship schemes of the Government of India.

Keeping in view the ensuing closure of the financial year, the secretaries would ensure timely utilisation of funds available under various schemes.

They would ensure that utilisation certificates were timely forwarded to central authorities concerned. This would facilitate timely release of central scheme funding in the next financial year, the council decided.

It decided that the secretaries and department heads would undertake physical and financial monitoring of various programmes and the work being implemented on the ground.

The meeting was attended by Parvez Dewan and Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Advisers to the Governor; BR Sharma, Chief Secretary; and BB Vyas, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department.

The Governor stressed the need to ensure punctuality and discipline in attending office by government functionaries and proper functioning of institutions, including schools, colleges, hospitals and ration shops.

High priority must be given to ensuring that offices and institutions which are concerned with the delivery of public services run honestly and efficiently, he said.

The council decided that the two Advisers and the Chief Secretary would identify all priority issues pending for decision and bring those before future meetings of the council.

The Governor stressed on the Advisers, Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner to advise all administrative secretaries to pay attention to various issues requiring policy decisions and ensure timely processing for approval.

Special emphasis will be laid on timely finalisation of SRO-43 cases and the basis of the policy underlying this order would be reviewed to identify if any other or supplementary approaches can be followed to meet the objective of compassionate support in all such cases, the Governor said.

The SRO-43 is a scheme to provide immediate succour to the next of the kin of the deceased and mitigate hardships caused to the family due to loss of breadwinner.

The council said all necessary measures would be timely finalised for the conduct of elections to local bodies and panchayats.

It was decided that systematic attention would be given to ensure proper maintenance of official record and time-bound listing and digitalisation.

The Governor laid emphasis on timely dissemination and issuance of early warning being made by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment and the Indian Meteorological Department to people with regard to any extreme weather events.

The Governor stated that Divisional Commissioners, Inspector Generals of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police should remain alert and prepared to meet any emerging disaster situation.
Mona

When this young boy got into college, he left soon after to do something different. He was certain that if he completes his graduation he will be forced to be an IAS by the family, something that has long become the genetic make up of Bihar. College left, he followed his passion and is doing different in an industry where much of work has been dictated by formulas. You wouldnt see any usual song or dance sequences in Prakash Jhas films; he writes, directs and produces flicks that work on BO; established stars become part of his hard-hitting, real journeys; and in next one you will see him act too.

When established Bollywood director came calling to Chandigarh on Sunday, he was face to face with some 150 women police officials. In Jhas upcoming film Jai Gangaajal it is a woman cop taking the story forward; there was an interesting conversation that flowed with Jha narrating his view on police and policewomen their take on the life in uniform excerpts

Let the police be

Prakash, is desh main policing nahi hai (Prakash, there is no police system in this country), became the trigger for Jai Gangaajal. Jha picks up his stories from society and system around, seeing how policemen are bound to politicians signals made him follow this lead. So motivated is our police force, just give them independence to follow law and see them put this country on track in a weeks time, says Jha who feels for the forces who under appalling conditions are supposed to maintain law and order. Look at our constables. In most our states their accommodation is comparable to hell, health deteriorating and 14-18 hours duties. Top it with common people, media, higher ups - not anyone with one good word to say.

PC fits the bill

Jha has been touring different cities, minus his protagonist Priyanka Chopra. Quiz him on her absence, he points to her life size poster in backdrop. Why Priyanka? Why not Priyanka, he shoots back. Jha needed a calm, composed person for this one, PC fitted the bill. Post Raajneeti, the duo had been talking of working together for long. On one chance meeting, I narrated the story to her for 15 minutes and she said, The only one doing this role is me, says Jha who is happy the way PC has matured as an actor. Accompanying Jha on Chandigarh visit were Rahul Bhat and Vega Tamotia, the director explains, Rahul is a hero in his own right, I needed someone strong for a guest appearance, he agreed. Jha met Vega in New York and as Vega puts, Maine besharam ho kar role maang liya (I requested him for a role blatantly), Jha takes it forward, I met her in the US but here she plays role of a village woman who is not ready to give up her land in order to educate her brother.

We need no censor board

Censor Board and Jha have not been on best of the terms, and the director explains, I dont think we need censor board. Society itself is a check. If porn films are made and showed in cinemas, you think people will go and watch it? Those who watch would go but that they do it in privacy anyway. Now that the board is there, Jha is all for rational and interpreting cinema in context.

Jai Gangaajal hits the big screens on March 4, Jha is working on another story on politics. It wouldnt be a prequel or sequel of Raajneeti. I feel political scenario is in a state today that that it calls for a narrative, says Jha getting up for yet another selfie with ecstatic women police officials , You should see Diya aur Baati on TV, you should make a film on Chandigarh police versus rest of Indian police we hear them suggest the master filmmakerwe wonder

mona@tribunemail.com
LAS VEGAS | As convicted felons with criminal histories including violence against former domestic partners, neither Keith Junior Barlow nor Robert Brown Jr. should have had a gun.

But both did, according to criminal charges against them, and both are accused of shooting ex-girlfriends to death in Las Vegas in attacks that law enforcers and gun safety advocates say illustrate a terrifying pattern of repeat domestic violence.

"A history of abuse is highly suggestive of future abuse," said Ted Alcorn, research chief for the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. He pointed to FBI data that found that more than half of women slain with guns in the U.S. in 2011 were killed by intimate partners or family members.

Other FBI data analyzed by The Associated Press shows that in Nevada, 94 people were shot to death by a spouse, ex-spouse or dating partner from 2006 to 2014, including 71 in the Las Vegas area.

Brown's case dates to December 2012. He's accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, Nichole Nick, and wounding Nick's mother. Police also reported finding a bullet hole in the bed of Nick's 3-year-old niece, who wasn't wounded. Brown was arrested a little more than a year later in Los Angeles.

Barlow allegedly confronted his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend in February 2013 in an alley behind a convenience store and warned that he'd be back. Two hours later, he kicked in an apartment door and shot Danielle Woods and Donnie Cobb to death with a .40-caliber handgun he got from a friend, according to the criminal charges against him. The gun owner later reported the weapon had been stolen.

Repeat violence involving domestic partners is an issue that state lawmakers tried to address last year, passing a law banning anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence in Nevada or any other state from possessing a gun.

The law went into effect with Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval's signature in June. It also prohibits people from buying a gun if they've been ordered by a court to stay away from their estranged partner.

The new law made Nevada one of 13 states to tighten restrictions in the last two years to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, according to the AP survey. Such laws are a rare area of consensus in the nation's highly polarized debate over guns.

In Carson City, Democrats lost a bid to go further. The GOP-controlled Legislature rejected a stricter measure that would have required people to turn over guns they already have if a restraining order is filed against them.

Nevada's domestic violence gun ban was part of a wider law hailed by the National Rifle Association as a victory for law-abiding gun owners. It also eliminated a registration requirement for gun owners in Clark County, home to Las Vegas and some 2 million of the state's 2.5 million residents. The law extended from homes to vehicles the reach of the so-called "castle doctrine" or stand-your-ground right to use lethal force for self-defense.

No permit is required to obtain most firearms in Nevada, and guns can generally be openly carried, although buying high-powered weapons may require a federal permit.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, the top prosecutor in Las Vegas, said enforcing the domestic violence gun ban hasn't been easy. But he said people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence are being informed in court  in writing and by a judge  that they can't possess a gun.

Both Brown and Barlow have pleaded not guilty in their cases. Brown's defense attorney didn't respond to messages. Barlow's lawyers declined to comment.

Prosecutor Richard Scow, who is handling both cases, said Barlow had prior convictions in Nevada in 1987 for shooting at a former girlfriend and her new boyfriend and in 1997 for shooting at Woods.

Brown was convicted in Los Angeles and sentenced to prison in 1998 for felony carjacking and corporal injury to a spouse in a case arising from allegations that he stabbed and slashed his then-wife. Attempted murder, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon charges were dropped.

With his felony convictions, Brown wouldn't have been able to purchase a gun under the new law or the old law, Scow said.

____

Associated Press writer Michelle Rindels in Carson City, Nevada, contributed to this report.
Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 7

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, often in news for standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers, saw the first-ever joint tactical exercise between the two armies to tackle natural disasters.

The day-long humanitarian relief exercise conducted in sub-zero temperature in the remote Chushul-Moldo area of Jammu and Kashmir saw soldiers jointly conducting rescue missions, casualty evacuation and providing humanitarian aid in a situation of calamity striking areas close to the LAC.

At the height of 4,360 m, Chushul is prone to cold and snow-related disasters. The exercise assumes significance in the backdrop of recent avalanche in Siachen. Soldiers guard remote outposts in the area and several small nomadic settlements are present on both sides of the LAC.

The Indian team of 30 Army personnel was led by Colonel Ritesh Chandra Singh, while the Chinese team was led by Colonel Qu Yi.

Chushul is one of the four officially agreed BPM (border personnel meeting) points for regular interaction between the two armies to defuse tension.

The joint exercise was based on a situation of a national disaster occurring on the border and the subsequent coordination for a rescue mission by joint teams of both countries. As previously agreed, the exercise focused on actions to be coordinated to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief, said a defence spokesperson.

India shares 3,488-km de facto border with China and is divided into three sectorswestern sector (between Ladakh and Aksai Chin plateau); central sector (between Uttarakhand and Tibet) and the eastern sector (covering Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh). Jammu and Kashmir has seen frequent transgressions over the past few years.

The joint exercise, Sino-India Cooperation 2016, complements the Hand-in-Hand series of India-China joint exercises and the recently conducted border troops joint exercise in Sikkim.
New Delhi, February 7

The 39 Indians taken hostage by the ISIS more than a year-and-a-half ago from Mosul in Iraq were alive, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told their families here today. The assurance was based on her recent meetings with Arab and Palestinian leaders who indicated to that effect, sources said.

Swaraj, who had sought a meeting with the families (ninth since the abduction in June 2014), also assured the families them that the government was fully and continuously engaged and every possible effort was being made to ensure the release of those taken hostage.

The Minister told them that during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader informed her that the Indians are alive and made to work in war-torn Iraq as per his governments intelligence information. Swaraj visited Palestine and Israel on January 17 and 18.

The Minister also referred to her visit to Bahrain on January 23 for the first India-Arab League Cooperation Forum and said during the meeting, a declaration was adopted that said, The two sides expressed concern at the kidnapping of 39 Indian workers in Mosul in 2014 and three Indian workers in Sirte (Libya) in 2015.  PTI
New Delhi: After months of strain in bilateral ties, Nepals Prime Minister KP Oli would visit India on February 19, his first foreign trip after assuming office, during which the two sides would seek to rejuvenate age-old warmth between them. Sources said India hopes Oli's engagement with its leadership will help take the ties, under strain due to the prolonged agitation by Indian-origin Madhesis for greater Constitutional protection, to 'new heights'. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told visiting Nepalese Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel that India was looking forward to Oli's visit as it could 'further strengthen' the bilateral ties. Poudel reportedly voiced his country's keenness to deepen security cooperation with India. PTI
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 6

The joint statement issued today at the end of Foreign Minister Sushma Swarajs two-day official visit to Sri Lanka finds no mention of Indias consistent demand for the political devolution of rights for the Tamils.

While issues ranging from fishermen to Indias assistance in building homes for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) find significant mention in the statement, the rights of the Tamils is a loud omission. Sources privy to the discussions said the omission was a deliberate attempt by both the Indian and Sri Lankan Governments. Sources add that Sri Lanka feels Indias insistence on demanding political rights for the Tamil minority is not viewed positively by the people of Sri Lanka. On the contrary, it is often viewed as another example of Indias interference in Sri Lankas internal matters.

In March last year, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka, he had said: We stand with you in your efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka. We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process.

For the last few years now, India has been pressing Sri Lanka for an implementation of the 13th amendment, which will ensure equal rights to the Tamils. Sources in South Block maintain that under Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka deliberately moved slowly on the implementation.
Visakhapatnam, February 7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged the threat of sea-borne terror and piracy as two key challenges to maritime security even as he pitched for respecting freedom of navigation against the backdrop of South China sea dispute. In an apparent reference to the audacious 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Modi said, The threat of sea-borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger regional and global peace and stability.

He said piracy also remains a strong challenge against the backdrop of Somali pirates targeting merchant vessels, including those of India. Addressing the valedictory function of International Fleet Review, Modi also made a veiled reference to the South China Sea dispute, saying countries must respect and ensure freedom of navigation and cooperate, not compete.

After hosting the 3rd India-Africa Summit and the India-Pacific Island Cooperation, the country would now host the first-ever global maritime summit in April.

Referring to his governments ambitious Make in India initiative, Modi said 37 of the Indian warships participating in the fleet review were made in India and their numbers would surely rise.

He said the nations ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rested on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain. The threat of natural disasters such as tsunami and cyclones is ever-present. Man-made problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain, he said.

A peaceful and stable maritime environment was critical for regional and global security, he added. It is also a must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems, he said.

Modi said Indias 1,200 island territories, and its huge exclusive economic zone of 2.4 million sq km made clear the economic significance of the Indian Ocean. For us, it also serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. In March last year in Mauritius, I spelt out our vision for the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean region is one of my foremost policy priorities. Our approach is evident in our vision of sagar, which means ocean and stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region, he said.  PTI
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, February 7

Four drug smugglers were shot dead during an encounter with BSF troopers of the 191 Battalion near the Mehndipur border outpost here today.

RK Thapa, DIG, BSF, said five Pakistani intruders had come up to the barbed wire fence near border pillar 165/18 at 4.30 am. Two of them came forward and three stayed back. Their three Indian assistants also arrived to receive the consignment. The BSF jawans challenged the smugglers, who opened fire. The troopers retaliated and gunned down two Pakistani nationals and two Indian smugglers, the DIG said.

He said during a search operation, 10 packets of heroin (10 kg), two 9 mm Chinese pistols, a country-made pistol along with 54 cartridges, Pakistani currency and SIM cards were seized. Some Pakistani cigarette packets were also found.

Bodies of the Indian drug peddlers had been handed over to the police to ascertain their identity. Two days ago, the BSF had seized 2 kg of heroin and arrested two Indian smugglers, Rashpal Singh and Jodhbir Singh, from Kamal Singh Wala border outpost.
Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 7

Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport has been listed as the top loss-making airport in the country by the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Latest data, released by the AAI, pegged its loss at Rs50 crore per year. The airport has been incurring losses for several years. The situation aggravated after several airlines discontinued international flights.

The Singapore Airlines had launched thrice-a-week Amritsar-Singapore flight on October 1, 2004. The service ran well for around five years before it was discontinued in early 2009.

The national carrier, Air India, discontinued its Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto flight, which used to witness over 90 per cent occupancy, on October 31, 2010.

The British Midland International (BMI) pulled out its Amritsar-Almaty-London flight in October 2012. Later, Jet Airways launched Amritsar-London flight only to withdraw it after sometime.

Talking to The Tribune, airport advisory committee member APS Chatha said: Amritsar hosts more than 35 million pilgrims annually. It is a preferred destination for the Punjabi diaspora and foreign tourists who come here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. He lamented that the holy city had lost many significant air links over the years.

At present, Qatar Airways, Uzbekistan Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines and Air India are operating international flights from here.

Airport officials claimed that the losses would come down as Malindo Air had launched Kuala Lumpur-Amritsar flight and SpiceJet Dubail-Amritsar flight only couple of months ago. Two more international airlines may soon start operations from the holy city, they said.

The Union Government with an investment of about Rs150 crore has set up state-of-the-art infrastructure and established the airport building in consonance with the contemporary architecture.
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 7

A moneylender, Raghubir Singh from Kurali village near Lambra in the district, was allegedly shot dead in Manila today.

Raghubir Singh moved to the Philippines around 14 years ago where he started his money-lending business.

Sources said the victim was on his way to work when some unidentified persons opened fire at him. Raghubir sustained four bullet injuries and died on the spot. His body will be brought to his native village.

A number of Punjabi moneylenders have been killed in the Philippines and several others abducted in the past couple of years.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 6

The Uttarakhand Transport Corporation will get 400 new buses by May this year. This was revealed at a meeting of the State Transport Corporation presided over by Chief Minister Harish Rawat here today.

The Chief Minister was informed that 500 new buses would be equipped with GPS system and CCTVs.

He said all transparency must be maintained in purchase of new buses. He stressed on providing incentives to bus drivers and conductors, who performed excellently under extreme circumstances. He said efforts should be made to increase the revenue of the State Transport Corporation.

He said the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation needed to act more professionally. He held that scrap of old buses must be auctioned as per the norms. He said fitness test on buses should be done on a regular basis.

It was also informed in the meeting that an agreement linked to plying of buses had been done with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab and similar agreement were in the pipeline for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh, Uttarakhand State Transport Corporation Advisory Board vice-chairman Anil Gupta and Uttarakhand State Transport Corporations managing director Brijesh Sant were present at the meeting.
Cicloperiodismo. Images of Guatemala prodigy, guitarist Hedra Ramos during the presentation of Super Cola, soft Guatemalan company that incorporates photography Ramos in their cans, recognizing talent in music Hedra Ramos.Hedras Ramos is an autodidact guitar prodigy born in Guatemala in 1992, at age 17 won second place in the famous Guitar Idol contest in London, England, competing with over 1200 guitarists worldwide. He has produced three albums, "New Sounds", "TheHolyGift of Shred" and "Atoms and Space", where collaborated artists such as Andy James, Billy Ashbaugh, Jennifer Batter, who was guitarist for Michael Jackson, among others. One of his collaborations most important was the legendary Hollywood star, Sir Christopher Lee, in his heavy metal album, "TheOmens of Death" and their own versions of songs from the video game Rock Band Games. Hedras Ramos has participated in festivals, concerts and clinics , sharing the stage with icons like Kansas, Die TotenHosen, Switchfoot and White Cross; He was chosen by Axl Rose, to open the tour of Guns N 'Roses, "ChineseDemocracy" in Guatemala City. His most recent tour in May 2014 in Asia, was sponsored by the manufacturer of the world's largest guitar Cort Guitars. Recorded in Guatemala City on Tuesday, January 9, 2016.Honored RAMOS, DANDO LAZY
Just when the few remaining residents of the poverty-blighted town of Masons Bridge, North Carolina, think things cant get any worse, Lila Wilson comes back to town.

Lila was last seen around these parts when she was a girl in high school, when her out-of-wedlock pregnancy made her the focus of scorn among the towns high-minded and self-righteous. Kicked out of school, publicly humiliated by the minister in front of the entire congregation, disowned by her draconian daddy, Lila lit out for parts north, ending up in Brooklyn.

In the intervening years, Lila has become something of a real estate tycoon, and her return to her hometown coincides with the local bank foreclosing on several neighboring farms, whose beleaguered owners are up to their arrears in debt.

That is the set up for Woman from the Town by Samm-Art Williams, being presented at the Tulsa PAC by Theatre North.

Williams, whose play Home earned Tony and Drama Desk nominations for best play in 1979, wasnt apparently working at as high a level a decade later when he wrote Woman from the Town. The play is wildly uneven in tone  swinging from stark drama to buffoonish comedy  and is larded with some bizarre flashback scenes that arent as illuminating as they are repetitious and puzzling.

Theatre Norths production, which opened Saturday, doesnt try to even out the scripts problems in tone and consistency. Instead, first-time director TerJuana Townes lets each scene just happen, and if someone says something funny, some much the better. There is no sense of pace or rhythm, and with a script as scattershot as Woman from the Town, thats a problem.

That said, Saturday nights audience certainly appreciated the funny stuff, especially when Pamela Johnson-English was on stage as Sissy, who has been shacking up with the local minister, up until the time said minister committed suicide. Johnson-English misses no opportunity to milk a line for a laugh or to monopolize a scene just a little too long.

Kimberly Manning is the best of the group  she does an excellent job as Rita, the now-grown daughter of Lila, who wants to have nothing to do with her mothers hometown or whats left of her mothers family.

Lila is an opaque character to begin with  her changes of attitude come out of the blue  and SynCeerae Robbins struggles to give some kind of shape to this role. Sharon Louie, as the bitter Laura Wilson, who was left to work the farm after Lila ran away, gets the self-righteous anger across, but she and Robbins have little sisterly chemistry.

Sterling Matthews, as the duplicitous Cousin Buddy, is effective, even if he has difficulty getting through a scene without fiddling with his pants. Marla Taylor as Hazel, one of Lilas foreclosure targets, does a decent job with the characters prayer-like monologue.

Woman from the Town continues with performances at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at the Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. For tickets: 918-596-7111, myticketoffice.com
TULSA -- AVB Bank's Ted Cundiff was selected Citizen of the Year while Sergeant Keith Cook (Police) and Robert Goode (Fire) took home the top safety awards during the 2016 Annual Chamber Awards Banquet at the Hard Rock Resort and Casino Saturday night.

Cundiff received his award from Tiffani Bruton. Earlier, Bruton won the Chairman of the Board Award presented by Cundiff.

Firefighter Goode was honored for his water rescue of three teenagers last year. Cook was spotlighted for his work in all things related to Broken Arrow's growing traffic issues.

The Business of the Year went to Chinowth and Cohen Realtors.

The night featured two songs by talented Broken Arrow High School senior Maddie Taylor. Taylor got a great introduction by Mark Frie, who predicted a Broadway-style future for her.

Frie was back as the emcee following a year's absence.

Here are the rest of the honorees:

Police Officer of the Year -- Sergeant Keith Cook

Firefighter of the Year -- Robert Goode

Volunteer of the Year -- Mike Scrimsher

Committee Chair of the Year -- Mark Frie

Elected Official of the Year -- Mayor Craig Thurmond

TRC Top Total Producer -- Mike Scrimsher

Chairmans Award -- Russell Gale

Citizen of the Year -- Ted Cundiff

--Arrowhead Business Award Winners--

Community Advocate of the Year -- Luke Owens, The Hub Gym

Restaurant of the Year -- Oklahoma Joes Bar-b-que

Manufacturer of the Year -- Zeeco

Professional Business of the Year -- The Persimmon Group

Non-Profit of the Year -- The Museum Broken Arrow

Retailer of the Year -- The Vintage Phoenix

Small Business of the Year -- Newave Solutions

Woman Owned Business of the Year -- Big Red Fasteners/Shawna Clark

Business Person of the Year - Lisa Riley, Power of Three Investments, LLC. Dba Pinots Palette

Business of the Year -- Chinowth & Cohen Realtors
A 2009 internal investigation was a cursory look into the treatment of former Reserve Deputy Robert Bates that was buried in the dead files before concerned Tulsa County Sheriffs Office officials were forced to acknowledge its existence nearly six years later, testimony to grand jurors shows.

Testimony reviewed by the Tulsa World indicates that four key former employees  Sheriff Stanley Glanz, Undersheriff Tim Albin, Maj. Shannon Clark and Capt. Billy McKelvey  had knowledge of the investigation at varying times before it surfaced in media reports. McKelvey came into possession of a copy of the investigation report when he stumbled upon it in a computer file in 2012.

A snapshot of testimony McKelvey gave about the investigator and author of the 2009 report reveals a private conversation in late 2010 in the Internal Affairs office that proved prescient.

(Robbie Lillard) told me that, and I cant quote it because its been so many years, but he told me that Bob Bates would be the end of Stanley Glanz, McKelvey told grand jurors in August.

The 341 pages of sworn testimony from three witnesses in the grand jurys 2015 inquiry into the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office help fill significant voids in the public knowledge of the history of the 2009 Bates investigation amid the fallout from his fatal shooting of Eric Harris on April 2.

The 2009 report contains detailed allegations of falsified records, intimidation of subordinates and special treatment favoring Bates, laying the blame at the feet of Albin and former Maj. Tom Huckeby.

The transcripts of testimony were ordered by the district court to be prepared at the request of prosecutors arguing the case against Glanz after the grand jurors issued two misdemeanor indictments against the former sheriff.

Glanz, who resigned following the grand jurys unfavorable findings, is trying to have one of the charges dismissed. That charge alleges Glanz withheld the 2009 report despite lawful requests for the document.

In addition to hearing from McKelvey, grand jurors heard testimony from Clark and Lillard, who is now a major and commands the Uniformed Operations Division. McKelvey was demoted and then left for a private-sector job. Clark was fired by Glanz and has filed a tort claim alleging wrongful termination.

Testimony suggests that Albin was shown the report in 2009 when the inquiry was conducted and that Glanz likely had seen it as well. The testimony painted a picture to grand jurors of the Sheriffs Offices scramble to handle the growing crisis  particularly when it came to shielding Bates and why the investigation was suppressed.

Lillard had knowledge of the 2009 report because he was the person who conducted the investigation at the request of then-Undersheriff Brian Edwards.

McKelvey revealed to grand jurors that Lillard first spoke to him about the investigation and report soon after McKelveys transfer into the Internal Affairs unit in June 2010. McKelvey said it was his impression that Lillard was presenting him with a teaching moment that when you do these investigations you need to keep your mouth shut, work them close, and just turn them in to who they need to be turned in to.

McKelvey described Lillard as being visibly upset and acknowledging verbally that he was indeed upset.

It appeared  it appeared that (Lillard) was upset because the undersheriff (Edwards) had showed it to a person that was  highly involved in the case, and that was Tim Albin, McKelvey told the grand jurors.

McKelvey noted that he had seen the document but not read it in its entirety.

He described how he came to possess the computer file containing the report. Lillard, his direct supervisor, often would be out of town for training and whatnot and would give McKelvey access to his computer, he said.

McKelvey testified that Lillard often shared documents with him. In one instance in late 2010 or early 2011, McKelvey copied an entire folder containing letters to use as an ongoing reference to obtain a better understanding of how Edwards preferred the letters to be written.

McKelvey said he had trouble writing conclusions to investigations.

And then in 2012 I was going through that folder and I found this  I found a document, named Special Investigation, opened it up, and it was the Bates case, he said.

Glanz and Albin

During an April 10 news conference in which video of the fatal shooting of Harris was released, McKelvey and Albin denied knowledge of any concerns regarding Bates training.

Before the Bates internal investigation report surfaced in the media two weeks later, Clark described for grand jurors walking into an ongoing meeting April 14 in which Albin was stressed.

Clark testified that McKelvey had presented a copy of the report to Albin, whose body language showed concern.

McKelvey testified that Albin looked at the report during the meeting and stated he didnt remember having seen it before.

McKelvey described to grand jurors Albins reaction when McKelvey told him that Albin had seen the document before because Lillard had been upset that he had seen it at all.

Umm, (Albin) really didnt say too much, but his body language was, Im  oh, s---, this document is out, McKelvey testified. Thats how I took his body language.

McKelvey said the only verbal response then from Albin was that he was going to show the 2009 report to Glanz.

Some time later, McKelvey recalled, he and Clark had a brief meeting with Glanz in which Glanz commented that he didnt remember having seen the document.

McKelvey testified that both Glanz and Albin had made public statements denying the existence of the report.

Major Clark and myself had discussed on a couple of times that the Sheriffs Office needs to get in front of this information because it was out and we needed to own it and say this is what it is, McKelvey said. This is when it was worked.

And get in front of  get in front of it versus continuing to say it does not exist and it didnt happen.

The news conference

Clark described to the grand jurors how the Sheriffs Office hired a public relations firm to guide it through the storm. There was a meeting the morning of April 20 with all the key players present in which the sheriff was to be briefed before holding a news conference for the first time since Harris was killed.

One of the members of the PR firm began talking with Glanz about prepared comments, which set off Glanz, Clark said.

And the sheriff become very outraged and angry and made a comment something to similar, This isnt my first rodeo,  Clark testified.  Ive been doing this for years. I know what Im doing. 

Most were made to leave the room  including the public relations professional, who was immediately fired just a few minutes thereafter, Clark said.

No more than an hour later, Glanz stood alone at a lectern in front of a gaggle of local and national journalists after Clark told the reporters Glanz had been briefed by his staff.

In response to a reporters question, Glanz acknowledged, There was an investigation that occurred under Undersheriff Edwards.

A follow-up question asked for the outcome of that investigation.

Im not sure, Glanz said. I believe that they found that there was no special treatment.

The dead file

During testimony, Lillard said the 2009 internal investigation was a cursory look into two key questions after concerns were brought to Edwards attention:

Was Bates treated differently from other reserves?

Was pressure exerted by supervisors on subordinates to aid Bates?

A cursory look comes before an actual Internal Affairs investigation to determine whether there is any basis for a probe, Lillard explained. He described for grand jurors the response he received a week or so after submitting his report to Edwards:

Question: When you got the response, what was it?

Lillard: It went to the dead file.

Question: Nothing was done?

Lillard: Nothing.

Lillard testified that he put the 2009 report in the designated secure area in the Sheriffs Office basement with other files that had gained cursory looks, where it ostensibly stayed until it surfaced in the media nearly six years later.

Lillard addressed his thoughts on whether he believed that Glanz and Edwards had discussed the Bates investigation in 2009.

Absolutely, I would think they would have, Lillard told the grand jury. Why would (Edwards) not tell (Glanz) that? I dont know firsthand. Im not privy to that. Youll have to ask them.

Do I believe it based on what Ive seen and what Ive lived for the time Ive worked there? Yeah. Absolutely.

Lillard testified that he was uncomfortable writing the report and fearful, saying he had never experienced anything like this before because typically misconduct allegations came at lower ranks and not employees as high up as Albin and Huckeby.

The lack of action on the Bates investigation became a turning point for Lillard, he testified.

Im  Im losing a little faith here, Lillard said. All right. You profess these things, integrity, honor, but this is in the dead file.
Former Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz once drove his county-owned vehicle to a conference in Houston, rather than fly, in part so he could bring back several bottles of wine that he couldnt purchase in Oklahoma, according to grand jury testimony obtained by the Tulsa World.

The details of Glanzs use of the county vehicle while also accepting a monthly vehicle stipend were mentioned by at least two witnesses who testified before a grand jury investigating operations of the Sheriffs Office in the wake of the April 2 fatal shooting of Eric Harris by former Reserve Deputy Robert Bates.

Witnesses told the grand jury of the steps that were taken to keep Glanzs usage of the vehicle out of the publics eye.

However, Glanz apparently talked openly among some staff about his use of a county-owned vehicle. Once during a staff meeting, Glanz supposedly predicted that some day others would come after him for his acceptance of a $600 monthly stipend he received in lieu of using a county vehicle.

A grand jury indicted Glanz on Sept. 30 on a charge of refusal to perform his official duty and willful violation of a law, the latter charge dealing with acceptance of the vehicle stipend while also using a county vehicle. Both offenses are misdemeanors.

Shortly thereafter, Glanz announced his resignation from office effective Nov. 1. He had been Tulsa County sheriff since January 1989.

Former Maj. Shannon Clark, who was fired from his job May 29, testified to the grand jury this past summer about Glanzs use of the vehicle and on a range of other topics.

According to Clarks testimony, Glanz has driven a number of county vehicles over the years  including a minivan, a Ford and, most recently, two Chevrolet Tahoes.

Clark testified he was called into Glanzs office once after a media report quoted him as describing a vehicle at the county as his Tahoe.

Glanz and former Undersheriff Tim Albin were at the meeting, according to Clark.

I was criticized for using the term his Tahoe,  Clark told the grand jury.

Clark said the phrase his Tahoe came up when he mentioned that Terry Simonson, currently the Sheriffs Office director of governmental affairs, was now driving Glanzs old county-owned vehicle.

Clark testified that Albin told him during the meeting: No one is supposed to know that belongs to him.

Clark told the grand jury that the vehicle Glanz drove was not assigned to the sheriff specifically.

It will show as a pool car or it will show as assigned to the Court Operations Division, but youll not find it in fleet record where its assigned to him, Clark told the grand jury.

During the meeting with the sheriff and Albin, Clark testified that Glanz told him to never to use the term his Tahoe. 

Clark said Glanz drove a Tahoe that was specifically ordered for him with all the bells and whistles.

Clark said Glanz and his wife, who works for County Assessor Ken Yazel, would carpool to work every day in their personal vehicle.

And the sheriff gets here at 8 oclock, Clark said. He gets in his Tahoe and then he drives it all day long. And then he parks it at night and then rides back home with her.

The Tahoe had a white pinstripe down the side so it wouldnt look like a law enforcement vehicle, Clark testified.

Thats his goal is he didnt want people to see  he didnt want anything he drove to make  have an appearance of a police package or police vehicle, Clark said. But, yeah, the ones he drove they had the GPS. They had all carpet, surround-sound, Clark said, noting that some regular law enforcement vehicles had vinyl floors.

Clark said he was with Glanz on a business trip in Houston once when the sheriff drove the Tahoe. Clark said he took a flight to Houston for the conference, and Glanz drove.

While in Houston, Clark said, he and Glanz drove to Galveston in the Tahoe to eat dinner with Glanzs brother, who lives there.

On the way back, Clark said, Glanz stopped at a store to purchase about 20 bottles of wine that he said is only available in south Texas and that was one of the reasons he told me he drove the vehicle is so he could get that wine because he couldnt bring it on the airplane.

Former Sheriffs Capt. Billy McKelvey also testified during the grand jury regarding the use of the vehicle, among other issues.

McKelvey was demoted in July from captain before resigning Aug. 31.

McKelvey told the grand jury that he had heard Glanz speak about the monthly vehicle stipend during a staff meeting.

During the staff meeting it was brought up  it was about the time the city and the county was in heated discussions concerning payment of city inmates in the county jail, McKelvey said.

And the sheriff made a comment in this meeting that one of these days theyre going to come after me for my vehicle stipend.

Prosecutors have charged that while Glanz accepted the $600 monthly stipend from January 2014 until just before he left office, he regularly used a Tulsa County owned and fueled 2013 and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe for travel within the county for regularly scheduled official business.

Glanzs annual salary as sheriff was about $104,500. He also draws a pension as a 23-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Two new Democratic lawmakers from the Tulsa area say they are reminded repeatedly that the next state budget will be short by as much as $1 billion.

But that isnt keeping them from sharing the needs, particularly in education and corrections, with the majority Republican legislators.

Former teacher J.J. Dossett, 32, is a new state senator from Owasso. In a mid-January special election, Dossett won the Senate District 34 seat to fill a vacancy created by last summers resignation of Republican Rick Brinkley.

Last summer, Regina Goodwin, 53, won the House District 73 seat, defeating six other Democrats. The seat came open when Tulsa Democrat Kevin Matthews resigned to run for state Senate.

Goodwin was born and raised in Tulsas historic Greenwood neighborhood. A longtime community activist, Goodwin said she is glad to be representing an area where her family has been a prominent presence.

The Goodwin family has been active for decades in running the Oklahoma Eagle newspaper.

Goodwin said education and corrections are high on the list of needs. She has been helping those in the community dealing with crimes.

Goodwin said that when she was campaigning in the neighborhood, she encountered a man sitting on his front porch who said he had successfully completed a 35-year prison term. But he didnt know why he still wasnt able to vote.

Goodwin looked further into the laws intent. She has filed a bill to clarify that those who have successfully completed prison sentences are entitled to vote.

Im not for passing a brand-new law, said Goodwin, whose intent is to make sure that the law makes it clear that voting rights are assured.

Goodwin is an artist who loves to work with those who want to learn more about painting. She is also known for creating greeting cards that she sends to friends and relatives.

Goodwin has worked on a dozen or more projects where those attending her classes learn the techniques of drawing. She also has spearheaded a move to paint a mural on the outer wall of a longtime grocery/convenience store.

The African-Americans in the mural are united to show the love for the community where longtime black families still live.

Dossetts victory a few weeks ago has prompted some Democratic leaders to speculate that the party is on the road to eventually winning a majority in the House or Senate, or taking the governors office.

Dossett was a teacher and coach at Owasso High School. He resigned his post because he was no longer eligible to be paid both as a teacher and legislator.

Dossett noted that his wife, Ashley, teaches second grade in the Owasso system, and both his parents and several of his in-laws have been teachers.

He and his wife have two sons: Kain, 7, and Kash, 5. Dossett is a member of the 219th Air Guard military unit out of Tulsa and has served two six-month tours of duty overseas, including one in Afghanistan.

Five years ago, Dossett was on duty in Iraq when his second son was born.

He and his wife are expecting the birth of their third son in late February. The due date is Feb. 25, a Thursday when the Legislature will be meeting.

Dossett said his wife has made it clear that she expects him to be present for this birth.

Even if the Legislature is meeting, Im gonna have to go home, Dossett said.

Dossett and Goodwin agree that lawmakers must help the children of Oklahoma in educational pursuits.

If we dont take care of education, we dont take care of Oklahomas future, Dossett said.
Child welfare involvement prior to the deaths and a near death of four children since 2014 involved complaints of an unclean house, questionable broken leg, four referrals at the home of a 10-year-old Carter County girl and a trial parental reunification turned violent, according to reports from the Office of Juvenile System Oversight.

The reports were released last week by the Oklahoma Commission on Youth, which houses the Office of Juvenile System Oversight.

The law allows for summary reports of prior involvement by the child welfare division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and judicial proceedings be made public in cases where a child death or near death resulted in charges filed against their primary caregiver.

Rogers County

On July 10, 2014, emergency crews were called to the home of 7-month-old Alex Legates on a report he was not breathing and turned blue. Medics found the infant with no cardiac activity, cold and purple. The crew was able to get a heart beat, but he was still unresponsive when the ambulance left the home.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the baby was in critical condition. Blood found from his rectum indicated internal bleeding due to low hemoglobin levels.

His mother, Crystal Hoglan, told officials she was sleeping in the same bed with the baby when she rolled over on him. Later, it was determined they were not co-sleeping. DHS removed the siblings, a 3-year-old and 7-year-old.

When Alex died four days later, DHS found the family home in deplorable condition: Piles of trash, dirty dishes, cockroaches and flies throughout the house and stained mattresses covered with dirty blankets.

The family gave conflicting stories, such as the mother saying the baby was found on the bed but others say he was on the floor by a wood-burning stove. At times, they denied knowing anything.

Medical officials found ligature marks around the baby's neck and numerous bug bites and scratches on his body. The Medical Examiner's Office ruled it a homicide with the probable cause of anoxic encephalopathy due to ligature strangulation.

Hoglan, 30, pleaded guilty to murder in the first degree and four counts of child abuse. The father, Jimmy Legates Sr., 36, pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse and a judge made a finding of guilt on a murder in the second degree charge. Both are set for sentencing on April 11.

The order made by Judge J. Dwayne Steidley described the home as "a living hell" and "incubator for disease" not suitable for a sick child. He states the parents for three days made no effort to get medical attention until the boy was unresponsive.

"The final act being to feed formula to the child to get him to sleep in a filth laden bedroom wrapped in a filthy pink baby blanket," the order states.

DHS had a prior referral with the family on Sept. 30, 2011, which was before Alex's birth. Child welfare workers received an allegation of inadequate and dangerous shelter of children and placed it as a priority assessment.

The home was found "filthy and covered in roaches," including on the ceiling above their 4-year-old's bed. The family agreed to stay with a relative until they could find another place to live or clean up their current home with an extermination for bugs.

DHS followed up four days later and found the family "had made substantial progress" with a clean kitchen and roach bombs throughout the house. The worker observed some roaches in the home but they were dying off from the bombs. DHS closed the assessment stating the children were safe.

Oklahoma County

A 2-year-old boy from Bethany died after suffering from a fractured skull, brain injury, internal abdominal injuries and bruises on multiple areas of his body. Prosecutors say his mother's boyfriend beat Kreedin Brooks to death, and medical officials found older injuries consistent with physical abuse.

Dustin Melvin Davison, 22, is charged with first-degree murder. His case is set for a jury trial Dec. 5.

Davison originally claimed to medics that he was the babysitter and hit Kreedin with a pillow, and the boy fell on a coffee table. He told police he was in the shower when the injury occurred. Court records show he admitted to smoking marijuana the previous night.

The mother, Jennifer Young, stated he had been her boyfriend, roommate and babysitter. She said Davison had abused her on three or four prior occasions, so she ended the romantic relationship months before her son's death. However, she allowed Davison to live in the apartment and watch Kreedin while she worked.

Court records show Davison was on probation for a 2011 burglary conviction.

DHS substantiated the allegation of abuse by Davison and also a neglect-failure to protect by Young. The agency also substantiated the claim of neglect for inadequate or dangerous shelter against Davison and Young.

Young is not charged in the death.

Previously, DHS screened out an allegation of physical abuse on Nov. 20, 2014, after Kreedin was taken to the hospital for a leg fracture. On Oct. 23, 2014, the child arrived at his child-care provider complaining of pain in his right leg, which could not bear his weight. His mother told workers he must have fallen at a park the day before, according to the juvenile system oversight report.

Young then took the child to a hospital where a cast was put on the leg. A doctor told DHS that the injury could have been caused by a fall and did not appear to be abuse, but it was hard to tell. DHS interviewed Young, Davison and a step-grandfather and generated a report on the unsubstantiated claim.

Comanche County

Three months before an 18-month-old girl was beaten nearly to death on Sept. 28, 2015, she and her three siblings in Lawton were reunited with their parents after being in foster care.

The state law does not allow for the release of records in child deaths or near deaths related to previous removals, under the argument those do not relate to the death or near-death incident.

The report only states the judicial proceedings found the parents had been actively working on their service plan and demonstrating behavioral changes to regain custody. On June 17 last year, the children were placed back with their parents for a trial reunification.

Known only as "L.C." in the report, the girl was taken by ambulance to a hospital after a call of a unresponsive child. L.C. underwent surgery for a subdural hematoma, and doctors found other retinal hemorrhages not consistent with accidental injuries. Other injuries were a bump on her forehead and bruises on her upper left arm, back, buttocks, sides, neck and along her jawline. The neck bruising is consistent with being grabbed, according to the doctor.

DHS placed the siblings with a relative with the stipulation of no unsupervised contact with the parents  Joann Faith Garza or Eddie Pette Cano. Cano at first denied involvement, then said he spanked her with a sandal 10 or more times. Garza said she knew Cano disciplined the child but didn't know about the bruising or forehead bump.

Cano, 25, is charged with two counts of child abuse by injury. Garza, 24, is charged with one count of enabling child abuse by injury. Both have pleaded not guilty and will appear in court on May 13.

DHS substantiated findings as abuse for the near death to Cano and threat of harm to children for both parents. The agency recommended a "shocking and heinous" petition by filed on both parents and termination of parental rights to not reunite the family. The children are in foster care.

Carter County

DHS investigated four abuse and neglect allegations of Ashley N. Milligan, of Wilson, before her 10-year old disabled daughter died in their home. Jacee L. Sanner weighed 23 pounds at a height of 43 inches when brought to the hospital on Aug. 10, 2014.

Jaycee had a normal birth, but a fever at 6-months-old led to seizures and a traumatic brain injury. She had multiple handicaps that left her completely reliant on others to survive.

Emergency medics found the girl wrapped in a blanket with rigor mortis setting in and lividity present. She had not seen a doctor in more than a year. Her mother said she did not seek medical attention for fear officials would think she was starving her daughter and lose custody of her children. The last doctor's visit in June 2014 showed Jacee weighed 48 pounds.

Jacee had lived with other family members from August 2012 to August 2013. Then, she returned to her mother's care. There is also an older sibling and two younger siblings.

Previous DHS referrals have similar allegations as those surrounding Jacee's death. No judicial proceedings were instigated prior to Jacee's death.

 June 11, 2011: An allegation that 6-year-old Jacee had a large scab and scrape on her chin and carpet burns wrapped in gauze on her knee. Her mother said she was cooking dinner when Jacee rolled on the couch and received the injuries. Child welfare workers determined those non-life threatening but recommended contacting the Developmentally Disabled Services Division for assistance and work with the school counselor for education home visits.

 Sept. 29, 2009: Allegation that 5-year-old Jacee was neglected by her mother and stepfather due to confinement, failure to provide medical attention, failure to provide adequate nourishment and inadequate physical care. Workers found the girl weighing 26 pounds, the start of a bed sore on her tailbone from not being moved and insect bites on her body. The mother stopped seizure medication a year earlier resulting in at least 30 seizures a day. Workers noted the girl was "skinny" but observed her eating oatmeal. A physician evaluated the bed sore but said it was not a concern. Workers closed the case noting the children were safe.

 Feb. 2, 2009: A complaint was lodged that Jacee was receiving inadequate physical care. DHS workers found that the children's primary care was being handled by other family members and "all needs are being minimally met." It was recommended Jacee attend school more regularly, receive DDSD services and be taken to the doctor more often. The conclusion was the children were safe.

 Sept. 9, 2008: An allegation was made that Jacee and her siblings were being neglected and living in a filthy house, and Jacee was malnourished DHS workers found the home to be cluttered but had no safety threats. Jacee's mother and father said she could eat on her own but not drink. No other people were contacted during this investigation, and workers concluded the children were safe.
The global spread of a virus that deforms the wings of honeybees and kills them in droves was caused by humans, new research has found.

According to the study published last week in Science, the problem dates back to the mid-20th century when Asian honeybees traded widely in the former Soviet Union were introduced to Europe and paired with honeybees there. For centuries, Asian honeybees had learned to fend off a mite that used them as a host while feeding on their blood, but European honeybees did not recognize them as a pest.

The mite compounded a problem that some European honeybee colonies had learned to live with for centuries, a virus that deformed their wings, now known as DMV. Before the introduction of the mite, the virus existed on the body surface of the European honeybees. But the biting mite picked up the virus and injected it into the bees bloodstream, making the problem far worse, said Lena Wilfert, a lecturer at the University of Exeter and the lead author of the study.

When European honeybees were introduced to the Americas and other parts of Asia in subsequent years, a localized endemic in Europe evolved into a global pandemic that led to bee colony collapse disorder and is threatening agriculture that relies on pollinating honeybees to grow food crops.

Making matters worse, honeybees are spreading the virus through their saliva and feces to plants used by other pollinators, such as bumblebees and other solitary bees. DWV has been detected in various insect groups that play dramatically different ecological roles, including insect predators and scavengers, pollinators, and pest species that live inside the colony, according to a Science article that announced the study.

We really see this as a multi-host problem, Wilfert said. Its really up to the beekeepers. When they keep their bees healthy, they also keep the wild pollinators healthy. The virus can be transmitted by a plant indirectly. Mites that leap from bee to bee quickly die when they slip or fall, but the virus can contaminate flowers through pollen, Wilfert said. Bees dont have toilet, so theres fecal transmission and oral transmission.

To better understand how the mites spread the virus, the researchers used molecular sequencing of the virus and mites from 32 locations in 17 countries. By studying how the host behaved in different geographic regions, they determined the major routes of the viruss spread.

The mite is a natural pest called Varroa thats native to Southeast Asia. The virus is a strain that emerged in Europe. Both existed separately as manageable local problems likely for eons. But human trade transformed them into invasive species that are wreaking havoc from the United States to Chile to New Zealand. Massive honeybee die-offs were first detected in the United States in 2006.People didnt on purpose do this, said Wilfert, who authored her paper with seven colleagues. People dont go to the trouble of sending bee queens to the States for stupid reasons. They do it to get better hives or honey, to get more pollination. Until recently we didnt understand how common it is to spread diseases that way.

But humans wade into complicated ecosystems and disrupt them with little knowledge of how they work. Wilfert said the spread of deformed wing virus is a man-made thing mostly done without evil intent. However, she said, somewhere we have messed up the ecology. We need to be careful with this stuff. The more complex the systems are, the more unpredictable.

The spread of the deformed wing virus fits with a familiar global trade narrative involving animals and disease. There are invasive pythons from Burma destroying native species in the Everglades, invasive Asian stinkbugs laying waste to crops in the Mid-Atlantic, invasive zebra mussels and dozens of species of fish such as the Northern snakehead and Lionfish muscling out native fish in the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay.

Wilfert said her team has moved on to another study of islands around Great Britain and France to compare those where the Varroa mite exists and where they do not to determine how they affect different habitats.

The next step for the honeybee trade is clear, she said. Trade should be thoroughly policed at national ports to keep the problem from worsening.

If there are any mites around, theres no question they shouldnt be traded at all, Wilfert said. In general only trade queen bees. They need to all be screened for known diseases. Something thats perfectly fine in Europe might not be perfectly fine in Chile.
This Morning Edition, we are joined live on set by Kenneth Butcher, one of the candidates fo
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The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with veteran right-hander David Aardsma, the team announced on Friday.

The deal is said to include an invite to major league spring training where the 34-year-old will have a chance to fight for a spot in the bullpen. The news of Aardsma comes just a day after having signed another veteran in right-handed pitcher Gavin Floyd, who signed a one-year, $1 million major league deal.

Given this addition, Aardsma joins a team with a re-built bullpen. He will look to pitch alongside Drew Storen who was acquired from the Washington Nationals earlier in the offseason in exchange for Ben Revere. Other bullpen pitchers include: Aaron Sanchez, Roberto Osuna, Brett Cecil, Jesse Chavez and Drew Hutchison. Aaron Loup, Bo Schultz and Ryan Tepera will be fighting for spots as well, but might find themselves starting 2016 with Triple-A Buffalo.

Aardsma spent 2015 with the Atlanta Braves after leaving opting out of his deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who sent him to the minors. In Triple-A, he proved that he has the ability to pitch at the big league level. However, after not getting promoted to the majors, he decided to walk out and pursue another opportunity.

Over the span in which he spent with Atlanta, Aardsma made 33 relief appearances where he pitched a 4.70 ERA in 30.2 innings. His fastball averaged just 91.5 miles per hour last year, but he still managed to generate swings and misses on 14.8 percent of pitches.

Aardsma is a former first round draft pick (22nd overall) of the San Francisco Giants in the 2003 amateur draft and he made his MLB debut a year later. Over his career, Aardsma owns a 4.27 ERA and a 16-18 record over 337.0 innings pitched.

The relief pitcher, who is a client of TWC, has previously played for the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. Looking back at his best season, that would be in 2009 when he saved 69 games for Seattle.

Aardsma has had health problems in the past, including his arm, which required Tommy John surgery and a torn labrum in his left hip in 2011-12, which have slowed down his career. Now, he is back to full form and looks to be a crucial piece to the Blue Jays as 2016 approaches.
Yahoo has plans of reorganizing its core business cutting its workforce number and concentrating on fewer products such as Yahoo Mail and Tumblr. Due to decrease in sales and shares, the Board of Directors considers selling the Internet company to potential buyers like Verizon. Verizon CEO shows his interest for a possible buy-out deal.



Simultaneously, the company gets stressed from activists shareholders to think of other choices to bring back the company's value. As of the moment, the company has a market value of $27.4 billion, which is down from $42.4 billion a year ago, according to USA TODAY.

The company mentioned that it is a part of their "strategic alternatives" to regenerate their operation. The move on cost-cutting is somehow the first stage that will cease the company from selling its core web business.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer states that she believes the company's mobile search function will further enhance. However, the week's earnings gave the Yahoo board the signal to consider the selling of the internet company, Benzinga reports.

Many qualified buyers are on Yahoo's list. Such big firms that show interest include big media and communication companies like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Alibaba to name a few. As per the RBC Capital Market's note, the list of Yahoo's buyer will get longer if Yahoo decides to separate its core business in few numbers. In such case it will become smaller and the deal size would be reduced.

"Given our base case does not value any individual display asset over $700M, a much wider range of companies can be bidders for YAHOO's individual properties," RBC's note said.

So far, Verizon has remained quiet despite its CEO's keen interest of having a buy-out deal with Yahoo. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam quoted at a conference, "it turned out that parts of it, or all of it were for sale, we'd look at it like anything in the digital media area at this point, because it's so hot.", as reported by South China Morning Post.

Although a lot of giant companies show interest in acquiring Yahoo, Verizon tops the list as one of the potential buyers. On Wednesday, Yahoo shares dropped 4.75% to $27.68. Its stock has fallen 36% over the past year. Yahoo's core business can be sold from $4 billion to $8 billion as determined by the buyer.
KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Margaret Johnson, 80 and diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, naps at home in Santa Paula where her husband Delton Lee Johnson cares for her with the help of an aide.

SHARE Delton Lee Johnson, 84, caresses the hand of his wife, Margaret, at their Santa Paula home. She has Alzheimers. He has been her caregiver for more than 14 years. KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Delton Lee Johnson holds a photograph of himself and his wife, Margaret, taken at the South Korean border to North Korea in 2003 when symptoms of Alzheimers disease affected her sense of direction. KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Aide Lourdes Velazquez coaches Margaret Johnson as she prepares to lift her into a reclining chair. KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Lourdes Velazquez, a part-time caregiver, says goodbye to Delton Lee Johnson, 84, as she prepares to go to another clients house.

By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star

Delton Lee Johnson stroked his wife's cheek. He cooed to her.

"Margaret, are you happy, dear?" he asked of the woman he married 58 years ago at a Methodist parsonage in Osage City, Kansas.

She didn't answer.

Margaret Johnson, once a partner, a mother, a campaign manager and an artist, never really answers anymore.

Seized by late-stage Alzheimer's disease, she sat in a wheelchair facing a window in the two-story Santa Paula hillside home that has been hers for 41 years. Her face was stern. Her thin painter's fingers twitched.

Delton Lee, 84 and on this day complaining of vertigo triggered by a recent illness, spoke for her.

"We're OK here," he said in a phrase repeated like a mantra. "Better than most people think."

At least 14,000 people in Ventura County have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. As the disease assaults communication, memory and everything else, it coerces spouses and children to decide if their loved ones should stay home or placed in residential care.

Their ability to care is often thwarted by a progression that means every task, from a trip to the bathroom to a spoon of oatmeal, requires their help.

"Their instinct is to try to take care of them at home," said Monica Schrader, regional outreach director of the Alzheimer's Association. "I don't think they realize how difficult that will be."

Delton Lee started providing care for his wife more than 14 years ago and now leans on an aide. His eldest son, who once pressed for assisted living, now supports the decision to keep his mother, now 80, at home.

Truth is it was never really a decision. Even before he began tucking notes with phone numbers and addresses in his wife's purse during a trip to Korea almost 13 years ago, Delton Lee knew he would always take care of her.

"She likes it at home," he said in a living room decorated with hand-carved antique chairs, Christmas poinsettias and pillows that say, "50 years together: Lee & Margaret."

"She wouldn't want to be separated," he said. "I wouldn't like it either. I want to have her with me."

$411 and A box



They sat at the same table at a convocation at Emporia State University in Kansas. A Navy corpsman during the Korean War, he was attending school on the GI Bill. She was president of a Methodist students group.

They married two years later, the day before Thanksgiving in 1957. He was working on a master's degree in industrial education. She taught science.

"Margaret said, 'Let's just go to California,'" he said. "We got here with $411 and a kid in a cardboard box."

They settled eventually in Santa Paula, paying $38,500 for a house that is still home.

They raised two children. He taught in middle school. She managed political campaigns and painted scenes of countrysides and flowers that still fill their home.

She was quiet. He was not. They were a team that tiled floors together and formed a business selling books and collectibles.

The doctor trips and the search for answers started some two decades ago. She lost her ability to smell. Confusion and memory loss came five years later.

One day, Margaret was driving in Santa Paula and stopped when the light turned green. She turned left when it turned red.

"That was the end of the driving," said Delton Lee.

Medication helped but the erosion continued. Delton Lee bought a van to make it easier to transport her. He bought diapers. He remembered the day he heard her going down steps to the garage and rushed to find her.

"I hurried and broke my leg," he said, "That's when I got an aide."

'The Best We Can'



People make decisions on whether to keep a person home based on money, available options and emotion.

"When you get married that's the obligation," said Leo Bartley, one of Delton Lee's best friends. He's 96 and cares for his wife who has dementia.

"We do the best we can," he said.

Others opt for residential care because of the chance of injuries at home, loved ones who turn aggressive and a caregiver's life that can morph into a black hole.

"There are so many different responsibilities," said Alisa Mahrer, a social worker at Oxnard Family Circle Adult Day Health Care. "It's overwhelming. You know where it's going. It's not going to get better."

Resources Alzheimers Association: http://www.alz.org/cacentral/; Help line, 1-800-272-3900.



Resource finder: http://www.communityresourcefinder.org



Caregiver support groups: http://bit.ly/1nJIekD. Or call 1-800-272-3900.



Adult day health care centers: http://bit.ly/1SLtWvn. Or call the above help line.

Caregiver services: http://bit.ly/1X6eN8v.

Or call the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging at 477-7300. Caregiver Support Center: bit.ly/1nJKuIq.

Or call Senior Concerns in Thousand Oaks at 1-855-318-5921.



Pre-placement residential care counseling: bit.ly/1KsGxlT.

Or call Long Term Care Services of Ventura County Ombudsman Program at 656-1986.

During the war, Delton Lee evacuated people from the battlefield. In his classroom, he prepared children for the future.

He helps people, said Mark Johnson Roberts, eldest son and an Oregon attorney. It's who he is.

At first, Roberts counseled his father to consider assisted living. Now he's glad the idea was rejected. His mother is where he thinks she wants to be and where he knows Delton Lee wants her.

"This is the thing we all live in fear of: Watching our spouse slowly be consumed," he said, later referencing his father's mantra.

"He says he's happy. I believe he's happy."

Changed lives



Margaret wakes up in the hospital bed paid for through Medicare at 8:30 a.m. She showers every other day.

Breakfast is oatmeal. Afterward, she sits in the living room decorated with her paintings. Delton Lee sits with her, talking to her or holding her hand.

"Are you OK?" he asks, then turning to a visitor. "Sometimes, Margaret says 'OK.' That's about all we have now."

She stays in her wheelchair until 10:20 a.m. An aide wraps her in a bear hug and lifts her into a reclining chair where she's secured with a restraining belt. She stays there until afternoon, sleeping or tapping her foot to swing music from a television.

If Delton Lee goes upstairs or outside, he carries a smartphone with an app that relays images sent by the 15 cameras in the house.

If Margaret moves, his phone rings.

When he was younger, the 5-foot-7, 170-pound man lifted his wife himself. Age and open-heart surgery two years ago changed that.

Now he relies on Lourdes Velazquez, an aide from Ventura hired nearly four years ago. She comes in the morning and again in the afternoon, seven days a week.

Velazquez helps Margaret shower. She grinds melatonin and Alzheimer's medications into yogurt. When Delton Lee was incapacitated because of surgery, Velazquez lived with the family for nearly a month.

Delton Lee cycled through several aides over the years. Some, like Velazquez, have been lifesavers. Some didn't last long.

He pays Velazquez about $32,000 a year, withholds 3 percent of that money in a retirement plan and then matches that with an annual payment.

The money to pay the salary comes from his investments and his pension from teaching.

Life on an island



Parts of the morning routine are repeated at night. Just before 7:30 p.m., Velazquez lifts Margaret into bed. She sometimes doesn't fall asleep until Delton Lee comes to hold her hand.

He goes out for lunch with Bartley. He attends Democratic club meetings. But his can be a lonely life with a singular focus.

He does it because he promised to in wedding vows. And if he didn't do it, she would know.

"She knows she's with people who love her," he said.

He told a reporter they're happy. He said it in person. He said it in phone calls. He said it an unsolicited text sent at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Ask him how he knows the mantra is accurate.

"How does anyone know?" he said. "I'm pretty content."


On Thursday, Feb. 11, from 12 p.m.. to 4 p.m., ZBoutique at Zappos invites the community to welcome the Year of the Monkey with a Chinese New Year celebration and art exhibition.

On view will be artwork by Australian artist Laurens Tan, Las Vegas artist Justin Favela and ZBoutiques Artist-in-Residence Miguel Hernandez. Also on display will be 10 images of Lunar New Year celebrations around Las Vegas photographed by the Las Vegas News Bureau.

Kicking off the festivities, 22 performers from the Hunan Dance Troupe from China will perform at noon.

Attendees that day will also witness a traditional Chinese dragon dance, tea ceremony and live painting by Hernandez.

We embrace a climate of creativity at Zappos and were gratified to include the community in this is multi-cultural celebration, says Brian Paco Alvarez, art curator, corporate historian and ZBoutique Buyer, Zappos. Laurens Tans is the first international artist weve welcomed to Zappos. Together with Justin Favela, whose whimsical pinata-inspired work is beloved on the Las Vegas scene, weve created an exciting and surprising visual experience I personally cant wait to share with everyone.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Saturday that more than 3,100 pregnant women in his country were infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

But Santos, speaking on national television, said there was no evidence yet definitively linking the virus to the devastating fetal developmental disorder known as microcephaly, which leaves newborns with deformed skulls and underdeveloped brains.

There is no vaccine or treatment for the virus, and scientists have not yet established a direct link between Zika and a spike in birth deformities reported in neighboring Brazil.

In his address, Santos also said U.S. medical investigators would soon arrive in his country to help probe the virus, which he said had most likely infected more than 25,600 Colombians. On Friday, Colombian officials linked Zika to the paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome, which authorities said had killed at least three people in the country.

Santos' address came as health officials in Brazil continued to voice strong suspicions that Zika has triggered a dramatic increase in microcephaly cases.

Brazil's Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported 4,180 cases of Zika-related microcephaly since October, while just 147 such cases were recorded there in all of 2014.

The spike has triggered worldwide alarm and warnings for pregnant women to avoid traveling to Latin American and Caribbean countries where Zika cases have been reported.

Live virus in saliva, urine

On Friday, Brazilian health officials said they had found live samples of the Zika virus in saliva and urine samples  a discovery that prompted official warnings that casual kissing "increases the risk" of infection.

However, researcher Paulo Gadelha stopped short of calling for an "anti-kissing" policy, and said colleagues were still trying to determine whether body fluids could spread Zika to new patients.



Brazil entered the alcohol-fueled Carnival season Friday, a time when people commonly kiss strangers they meet at huge street parties.

In other recent developments, the World Health Organization has advised health personnel across the globe not to accept blood donations from people who recently returned from countries affected by the Zika virus.

For its part, the United Nations has urged the Latin American countries affected by Zika to provide women, men and adolescents access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception and safe abortion services.

Zika has spread to 24 countries in Latin American and the Caribbean. There have been a small number of cases reported in the United States, and experts say they expect to see small outbreaks of Zika in several states bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

However, authorities do not expect widespread U.S. outbreaks, in part because human exposure to mosquitoes is limited in the United States by the widespread use of air conditioning and window screens.
Global reaction to North Korea's announcement of launching a long-range rocket has been swift and created universal international outrage.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement condemning Pyongyang for a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions related to the use of ballistic missile technology.

Susan Rice, the U.S. national security advisor, said, "North Korea's launch using ballistic-missile technology ... represents yet another destabilizing and provocative action and is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions."

Rice said the North Korea's weapons programs "represent serious threats to our interests, including the security of some of our closest allies."

U.S. Congressman Ed Royce, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said, "This latest aggression underscores the importance of enacting my legislation to strengthen targeted sanctions against this brutal regime.

'Direct violation'

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday blasted North Korea's launch as a "direct violation" of five U.N. Security Council resolutions and demanded Pyongyang comply with international law.

In a statement, Stoltenberg said he strongly condemned the launch, which entailed the use of ballistic-missile technology and came after a widely condemned nuclear test on January 6.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the rocket firing an "intolerable provocation."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.''

The European Union lashed North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as "yet another outright and grave violation" of its obligations and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with the international community.

"These actions represent a direct threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond, and they further aggravate tensions on the Korean Peninsula to the detriment of all," EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

'Clear and deliberate'

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called the launch a "clear and deliberate" violation of a number of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

France called the launching of the long-range rocket "a senseless provocation" and called for "a rapid and tough response from the international community at the Security Council."

The U.N. Security Council is meeting Sunday to discuss the North Korean rocket launch at the request of the U.S., Japan and South Korea.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described North Korea's move as "deeply deplorable" and "in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions."

Russia, which shares a border with North Korea and is one of the country's few backers, said Pyongyang displayed "audacious disdain for the norms of international law."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said, "We urgently recommend that the North Korean leadership think whether the policy of placing yourself in opposition to the international community is in the country's interests."

Beijing responded to Sunday's launch, expressing "regret" the North disregarded the opposition from the international community.

Julie Bishop, Australia's foreign minister said North Korea is a "threat to world peace" and condemned North Korea's "provocative, dangerous and destabilizing behavior."
U.S. Republican presidential candidates talked tough on foreign policy and launched fierce attacks on their rivals as they faced off at a debate in New Hampshire Saturday.

The debate took place just three days before New Hampshires presidential primary  a crucial election that could make or break several of the candidates presidential bids.

Apparently sensing that pressure, several of the lesser-polling candidates came out swinging at their opponents as soon as the debate began.

None was more aggressive than New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who took aim at Florida Senator Marco Rubio early in the debate. He simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions, said Christie of Rubio, a first-term senator.

Christie accused Rubio of repeating a memorized 25-second speech he uses at campaign events, and said the senator has accomplished little during his time in Congress.

Rubio appeared rattled by the attack, but he instead focused on criticizing President Barack Obama, who he said was embarking on a systematic effort to change America.

Rubio is seen as a favorite of the establishment Republican wing, especially after he secured a better-than-expected third-place finish in Iowa last week, the nations first nominating contest.

Trump focuses on issues

Donald Trump was center stage at the debate.

The real estate mogul leads polls in New Hampshire and needs a good result there after his disappointing second-place finish in Iowa.

Apparently wanting to protect his New Hampshire lead, Trump was less combative than usual, focusing more on policy than on the signature personal insults he has relied on in the past.

Trump defended his tough proposals on immigration, including building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. He also said he would ramp up the fight against Islamic State. Youve got to knock the hell out of their oil, said Trump. He also vowed to bring back the use waterboarding while interrogating terror suspects. And Id bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding, Trump added.

Cruz defends carpet bombing plan

Texas Senator Ted Cruz also vowed to bring back whatever enhanced interrogation methods are necessary to keep the country safe, but not in any sort of widespread use.

Cruz stood by his recent calls to carpet bomb Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq. He said the airstrikes would not be indiscriminate, but would instead target specific, strategic sites.

The Texas senators campaign has been on the upswing since his surprise win in Iowa. But the evangelical Christian, who calls for a radically smaller federal government, faces a tough challenge in New Hampshire, where voters traditionally prefer more moderate candidates.

Given those voter preferences, several more centrist and low-polling Republican candidates have staked their entire campaigns on doing well in the so-called Granite State. That group includes Christie, ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Carson attacks Cruz

Also struggling to keep his presidential bid alive is retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Once a favorite of many evangelicals, Carson has seen his standing in the polls consistently deteriorate in recent weeks.

Carson used the debate stage to attack Cruz, whose staffers incorrectly spread reports last week that Carson was dropping out of the race. The move is an example of Washington ethics, Carson said. Thats not my ethics. My ethics say, Do whats right.

In response, Cruz portrayed the incident as a misunderstanding, saying his staff had seen a media report implying that Carson had dropped out.

In reality, Carson had temporarily stepped away from the campaign, purportedly so the candidate could return home and get a fresh set of clothing.

Trump has also repeatedly criticized the Cruz campaign over the matter, even arguing that the Texas senator stole the Iowa vote, and Trump is threatening to legally challenge the result.

During his closing statement, Trump again brought up the issue, saying that Cruz only won Iowa because he got Ben Carsons votes.

North Korea

The seven presidential hopefuls also addressed the threat of North Korea, which minutes earlier reportedly carried out a ballistic missile test in violation of U.N. sanctions.

Jeb Bush took the firmest stance against Pyongyang, saying if a preemptive strike (against the North) is necessary to keep us safe, then we should it.

Cruz refused to make such a promise, instead saying he would first need to see intelligence briefings.

Trump said his Pyongyang strategy would start with China, North Koreas closest international ally: Let China solve that problem. They can do it quickly and surgically, he said.

They do not understand anything but toughness and strength, said Christie of North Koreas government. We need a strong commander in chief who will look these folks in the eye and say, We will not put up with this.

WATCH: Young Voters at Debate Party Enthusiastic About Election

Shrinking field

The debate, held at Saint Anselm College in Manchester and televised nationally on ABC, was the eighth time Republican candidates have faced off at such a forum. This is the smallest group of candidates of any of the debates, thanks to a shrinking field of candidates.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum all dropped out of the race following disappointing results in Iowa.

Democratic race

The remaining candidates are competing to become the Republican Partys nominee and face off in Novembers general election against either former secretary of state Hillary Clinton or Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Polls show the self-described democratic socialist Sanders with a big lead over Clinton in New Hampshire, which neighbors his home state. The senator is also closing in on Clinton in several recent national polls.

Both Democratic candidates held rallies across New Hampshire Saturday, making their final arguments to undecided voters.

A confident-looking Sanders made an appearance at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire, where he repeated his call for a political revolution.

If we can bring out a decent vote on Tuesday I'm confident we're going to win," Sanders told the group of several hundred mostly young people.

Clinton toured the states southern region. At a rally in Concord, she fended off a voter question over her trustworthiness. You vet us. You take second, third and fourth looks,'' Clinton told supporters during a rally in Concord. "And I hope you will look hard at this.''

Clinton, whose victory in the Democratic race once seemed certain, has been dogged by a controversy over her use of a personal and unprotected email server during her time as the top U.S. diplomat.
Hundreds of migrants and refugees waited on Sunday in slow-moving queues at the border between Greece and Macedonia as heightened security measures put in place by Macedonia increased registration times.

All refugees entering Macedonia are now required to undergo a 30-minute interview at the border to prove their nationality, as Macedonia only permits refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan to continue their journey.

Those without valid travel documents, or documents suspected to be forged, and those who cannot document their country of origin would not be allowed through.

Some turned away

One woman, who a Reuters witness said police suspected of being an economic migrant from Morocco, was turned back.

Children warmed themselves by playing around a fire near rubbish bins as their parents, loaded with backpacks, waited in line.

A new, 37-kilometre fence is being erected at the border and 54 police officers from Slovakia and the Czech Republic have arrived to help the Balkan country control the influx of migrants attempting to reach rich northern European countries.

Once registered, refugees at the camp at Gevgelija wait to be put on a northbound train, of which there are two a day.

Strike actions on both the Greek side and the Macedonian side have caused a bottleneck of refugees in the camp, which can host up to 1,000. More than 2,500 were stuck there on Sunday.

"These couple of days the numbers of the refugees are increasing, not only because the more people are arriving, but considering the situation that we had strikes on the Greek side, the transportation has been stopped, and that is one of the purposes of the influx of refugees is growing these days," said Hana Habahbeh, a field coordinator for the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.

False documents

Habahbeh added that the number of false documents was on the rise, hence the need for additional security.

"The measures are uprising in order to check the documents and everything because of the, as you know ... for the last couple months because of the stopping the influx of the refugees, it's only the three nationalities from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria ... the police are having too many false documents, too many illegal migrants, that's why these cautions are taken these days," she said.

Younis, a Kurdish refugee from Iraq, said he understood that people's identification needed to be checked, but said the number of people in the camp was overwhelming.

"It's quite normal. For example when you want to go abroad legally, you need to go the embassy and stamp your passport. And all of the documentation is here. And just the problem here ... the huge number of refugees and it's a big problem, and for both the refugees and the staff," said Younis, who hopes to join his brother in Germany.

More than 1 million people fleeing poverty, war and repression in the Middle East, Asia and Africa reached Europe's shores last year, most heading for Germany. More than 62,000 arrived in Greece last month.
Niger has gained the release of an elderly Australian woman kidnapped last month along with her husband by jihadists in neighboring Burkina Faso.

Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou introduced Jocelyn Elliott at a news conference Saturday in the southwestern Niger city of Dosso. He did not reveal events leading to her release, but said authorities were intensifying pressure on militants for the release of her physician husband, Ken Elliott.

The couple, both in their 80s, were abducted January 15 from the northern Burkina town of Djibo, where they have operated a 120-bed medical clinic since the early 1970s.

Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said Friday that it had kidnapped the couple and would release the woman unconditionally, after hundreds of local protesters angered by the abductions launched several public rallies aimed at gaining the couple's release.

The Elliotts were seized on the same day that al-Qaida extremists launched deadly raids at a restaurant and hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, killing 30 people, many of them foreigners.
South Korea and the U.S. will formally discuss deploying a missile-defense system known as THAAD, after North Korea claimed to have launched a satellite into space.

A joint statement by both militaries said the talks will "explore the feasibility of THAAD deploying to and operating on the Korean Peninsula at the earliest possible date."

According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) has a truck-mounted launcher that can fire interceptors that destroy ballistic missiles "inside or outside the atmosphere."

"It has been decided to formally start talks on the possibility of deploying the THAAD system to South Korea as part of steps to bolster the missile defense of the Korea-U.S. alliance," said Yoo Jeh-Seung, Seoul's deputy defense minister for policy.

"The Korea-U.S. alliance had no choice but to take such a defense action because North Korea staged a strategic provocation and is refusing to have a genuine dialogue on denuclearization," Yoo said in a joint briefing with Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army based in South Korea.

But the system is unpopular outside Seoul. Three years ago, when South Korea discussed purchasing the U.S.-developed system, China objected, citing a risk to its security.

Beijing once again objected Sunday, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman saying the country is "deeply concerned" over the announced negotiations. Hua Chunying said the missile defense system will escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

China is North Korea's primary trading partner.
A new UNESCO publication says thousands of African children lack textbooks or must share them. Education experts say that along with skilled teachers, textbooks are essential for meeting the U.N.-backed Sustainable Development Goals, which call for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

The recent Global Education Monitoring Report published by UNESCO discusses the extent of the shortages and proposes solutions.

It says that in Cameroon, one study showed there were 12 students for one reading book and 14 to a math book. In some parts of Uganda, there were up to 30 pupils per textbook.

Asma Zubairi, a researcher for the report, said shortages could be particularly acute according to primary grade level and location of the school.

The provision of books in the earlier grades, she said, should be paramount because its where the largest impact on learning can take place  where many children are without access to textbooks. Similarly, schools in remote or rural areas often face the largest book shortages.

Budgets and earmarks

The World Bank recommends that 3 to 5 percent of a countrys education budget be spent on textbooks. But the report found that in reality, a very small amount is earmarked for such purchases. In fact, UNESCO said that in Burundi and the Central African Republic, the figure is only 1 percent.

Other problems contribute to the shortages. Money promised to schools for books and materials in the approved budget may arrive late or be diverted for other uses. Also, some African officials try to save money by purchasing books with poor quality paper and binding.

[In one example] in Ethiopia, said Zubairi, secondary school textbooks were being printed on poor paper and poor binding, although they were being produced quite cheaply. But this meant the textbooks were having to be replaced more frequently. This, coupled with poor distribution and storage facilities, meant that many children were being left without books.

Solutions

Remedies for the shortages include increasing the share of education budgets spent on textbooks and improving transparency.

Zubairi said Africa could make use of a model created in the Philippines, where at one point, 40 percent of book deliveries were not accounted for. The problem was solved with improved monitoring and transparency, thanks to the cooperation between civil society groups and the Ministry of Education.

Commercial distribution systems should also be more efficient. Zubairi said that books used to cost 50 percent more in Kenya than in neighboring Rwanda. Rwandan publishers delivered textbooks directly to the schools, while Kenya used booksellers acting as middlemen.

The number of people it has to go through as far as distribution, she said, adds to the cost. So cutting through the number of actors involved in delivering to schools could be one way distribution costs could be lowered.

Assessing demand

The UNESCO report also says funding can be made more available  and costs contained  with improved forecasting of the number of books needed over a multiyear period.

Zubairi said Gavi, the international vaccine alliance, has a forecasting system that could be used as a model.

As the health sector has demonstrated with demand forecasting for vaccines, she said, it not only leads to more predictable funding but also reduces wastage. Its something the textbook sector should emulate to ensure theres not a shortage or surplus of stock, which can lead to the increased cost of textbooks.

Zubairi said a proposed Global Book Fund could help estimate Africas book needs over the medium term. It would encourage donors to pool resources and make bulk purchases of textbooks.

If it works as well in the education sector as it does in the health sector, the plan could attract sustainable funding over a multiyear period and encourage private investors to take part in the book market.
A U.N. watchdog committee says many African countries are not living up to their obligation under the 1990 Convention of the Rights of the Child.

It says harmful cultural traditions, as well as other forms of human rights abuses continue to be widely practiced throughout Africa.

The U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors implementation of the Convention, has just completed its latest three-week session in Geneva. The 18 independent experts have examined the records of 14 states, including five African countries: Benin, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The committee found harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage are still being practiced in the countries examined. And, in the case of Kenya, the experts expressed concern about beading of girls, a form of sexual enslavement within families that often leads to rape.

Albino children



The independent experts condemned the killings and trafficking of albino children for body parts in Kenya, some of which is committed by the family members. But the experts note this horrific practice goes on in 16 African countries.

Committee Chair Benyam Mezmur tells VOA albinism often is linked to political elections because it is thought the body parts of children with this condition bring good luck.

For instance, during the elections in Kenya, there have been incidences where [in] some of the countries in the region, the number of attacks have actually gone up," said Mezmur. "The instances of local elections and national elections in a neighboring country have had a negative impact on the rise of attacks and the rise of killings in another neighboring country.

Mezmur says attacks against albinos are not an issue that can be addressed by one country. He says it requires a coordinated response.

Voodoo convents

The committee singled out an initiation ceremony in the West African country of Benin for particular rebuke. Mezmur says children, especially girls, are taken away from their families and sequestered in so-called voodoo convents.

In these instances, their access to education, their access to contact with their family, their access to health and so forth is almost close to non-existence. Certainly, there are instances of ill-treatment, but also sexual abuse that actually goes on in these convents, said Mezmur.

The committee is calling on the government of Benin to remove children from voodoo convents and provide psychological, social and financial assistance to help them recover from their traumatizing experiences.
The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) has commended the South African government for making changes to its asylum seeker permit procedures that have been introduced by the Department of Home Affairs at Marabastad Refugee Reception Office.

Gabriel Shumba of the ZEF said, Not only do these changes make the application for asylum easy and convenient, they also remove rampant touting and corruption that was being experienced outside Marabastad.

Shumba said some asylum seekers were paying up to R500 in order to for their applications to be processed by a center gripped by alleged corruption.

The newly-introduced procedure for asylum seekers requires the applicants to deposit their identification in a designated box and wait to be called by name before they can go into the Refugee Reception Centre.

There have been allegations of rampant corruption in the past with reports that asylum seekers who pay R500 each are given first preference as there was no clear criteria in processing applications.

Long queues had become the order of the day at the refugee center with civic society organizations calling for a better way of processing applications.

Zimbabweans who are processed on Mondays and Tuesdays have been known to queue for weeks before they are interviewed by relevant officials. This scenario has led to untold hardships where women have allegedly been raped and various people being robbed while exposed to the harsh weather as they slept outside the center for many days.

Shumba said, ZEF is requesting that the DHA implement longer validity asylum seeker permit periods so that applicants are not forced to frequent Refugee Reception Offices. To reduce corruption even further, we urge the Department of Home Affairs to introduce a uniform period of extension for the permits.

We urge the DHA to adjudicate refugee applications in the shortest possible time as some applicants have been on asylum seeker permits for over fifteen years and this leaves their lives in a limbo. Lastly, we thank the Department and all its officials for an improved system of consultation with civil society organizations to introduce efficient and smoother procedures in the asylum and refugee process.
An online Zimbabwean publication, NewZimbabwe.com, reports that a member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has taken President Robert Mugabe to court demanding that he should step down due to old age and poor health.

The publication reports that the matter was taken to court Friday in Harare by Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, a Zimbabwean based in the United Kingdom.

In his papers, Chinyoka argues that Mr. Mugabe is no longer capable of ruling Zimbabwe following his recent blunder in parliament where he read an old speech, alleged memory lapses and stumbles  including the one in Harare where he fell in front of his supporters.

Chinyoka further claims, according to the publication, that remarks by his wife at a rally that Mr. Mugabe will rule Zimbabwe, even if he is wheel-chair bound, are a clear indication that there could be something wrong with his health and this makes him ineligible to rule the country.

The publication quotes Chinyokas court application, which is said to read in part, On or about 4 February 2015, while returning from a trip to Ethiopia, First Respondent fell awkwardly while descending from a podium at the airport.

From the pictures of the event, there does not appear to have been any obstacle that caused this fall, and the awkwardness of the fall appeared to be inconsistent with this obstacle-free environment.

... The suggestion from this episode is that First Respondent may no longer be physically fit, thus putting into question his fitness for the job of President of the republic.

Respondents of the application are Mr. Mugabe, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also Zimbabwes vice president, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and Senate president Edna Madzongwe.

Critics say this application stands no chance in a court of law as President Mugabe cannot be removed from power through such means or mere public petitions.

President Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe attained independence from British rule in 1980.

Section 97 of Zimbabwes constitution stipulates that a president can be removed from office if the Senate and the National Assembly, by a joint resolution passed by at least one-half of their total membership, "may resolve that the question whether or not the president or a vice-president should be removed from office for a serious misconduct; failure to obey, uphold or defend this Constitution; willful violation of the constitution; or inability to perform the functions of the office because of physical or mental incapacity...

Upon the passing of a resolution in terms of subsection (1), the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders must appoint a joint committee of the Senate and the National Assembly consisting of nine members reflecting the political composition of Parliament, to investigate the removal from office of the President or Vice-President, as the case may be.

It further states that if the joint committee appointed in terms of subsection (2) recommends the removal from office of the President or Vice-President; and the Senate and the National Assembly, by a joint resolution passed by at least two-thirds of their total membership, resolve that the President or Vice-President, as the case may be, should be removed from office; the President or Vice-President thereupon ceases to hold office.

Experts say parliament is unlikely to take this action as of now since Zanu PF currently holds a clear majority in both houses.
In Tom McCarthys Oscar contender Spotlight, theres a scene where one of the films crusading journalists, played by Brian DArcy James, discovers that a house in his neighborhood is being used by the Catholic Church to house disgraced priests accused of molesting children. Its a chilling moment, but also an odd one: In a film thats otherwise quite generous with its characterizations and meticulous in its narrative, its weird to have an element like that turn up, like some kind of grisly, real-world haunted house. Watching the otherwise excellent Spotlight, I found myself wondering about what exactly goes on in a sad, condemned place like that.

And now, as if on cue, comes Pablo Larrains disturbing film The Club, which is set in and around a small home for disgraced priests in a remote seaside village in Chile. The men, who appear to be overseen by one outwardly pleasant but ruthlessly efficient nun, Sister Monica (Antonia Zegers), spend their days eating, praying, walking the beach, and training their beloved greyhound. Theyre not allowed to spend much time alone, or in town; Sister Monica is soft-spoken and helpful, but she also keeps them on a tight leash. Larrain shoots in muted colors and soft light, and the quiet, curiously desolate surroundings feel hesitant, temporary, unreal. Which makes sense: This is a place for people nobody knows what to do with  a land of physical and spiritual exile.

One day, a strange drifter shows up outside the house and starts to bellow drunkenly, in explicit and gruesome detail, about the horrific abuse he experienced as a child at the hands of one of the priests. (How did he even find this place in the middle of nowhere? One does not ask such questions of elliptical, symbolic movies.) The outcome of that confrontation  which I will not give away here  results in a visit from a younger Church emissary, Father Garcia (Marcelo Alonso), who begins to grill the men about what happened, and about what theyre there for. We begin to understand that the men are guilty of a variety of crimes: one took children from mothers to give to other families (among the more grotesque crimes perpetrated during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile). One claims to have memorized the confessions of soldiers who tortured and murdered civilians during the dictatorship.

Larrain shoots these exchanges in frontal close-ups, so that the characters almost seem to address the camera. It works with the general austerity of his approach (and it evokes the frontality of religious icons), but it also adds to our unease. Especially because we dont quite know the reason for Father Garcias visit. Is he there to bring one of the priests back to the public, as a sacrificial lamb? Is he there to help them? To close down the house and cast them into the wind? The men all distrust Garcia  Youre a Vatican bureaucrat who flies first class and stays in five-star hotels, one of them says, before correctly identifying Garcias fancy cologne. How long have you been in a parish with poor people? The push-pull of identification here is almost nauseatingly discomfiting as it goes back and forth: We sometimes feel bad for these seemingly helpless, broken monsters, but we also cant help but understand Father Garcia when he responds to one of their desperate admonishments with a very calm, Has it ever occurred to you that youre a criminal?

What to make of a movie like this? The Club isnt really about molestation or politics so much as it is about the mysterious netherworld of guilt, shame, fear, and righteousness, and how those things sometimes become tangled together. Its occasionally beautiful, but just as often stomach-turning. You watch it at a remove, but still with a dull combination of pity and horror and regret. Maybe thats the idea. For a brief, agonizing moment, you share the spiritual quicksand with these disgraced men.
Photo: Beyonce/YouTube.

By now youve seen Beyonces instant-classic Formation video hundreds of times. The fashion! The quotes! The middle fingers! Its impossible to look away  or to watch without wanting to know more about every little detail. Whats this fuss youve likely heard about stolen footage? And who are those people not named Beyonce slaying all over the track?

To answer those questions and more, Vulture did a quick investigation into all things Formation. Lets get information!

Director

Though originally misreported as having been self-directed by Beyonce, Formations actual director is none other than Melina Matsoukas. She won a Grammy for directing Rihannas We Found Love video, and has directed eight other Beyonce videos since 2007, most recently Pretty Hurts. Matsoukas has also directed videos for Solange Knowles (Losing You, I Decided) and Jay Z (Run).

Her work on Formation, however, has not been without controversy. Shortly after the videos release, producer Chris Black accused Matsoukas and Beyonce of stealing footage from Abteen Bagheris 2014 SXSW selection The B.E.A.T. (see below), about New Orleans bounce music and queer culture. Black claims that Bagheri did not give Matsoukas permission to use clips from their documentary  which include the opening shots of a half-submerged house, bounce dancers, and several exterior shots of NOLA  with Bagheri later tweeting and deleting, My response was Beyonce doesnt need our charity. But here it is. No credit. No surprise.

In a statement to EW, Beyonces reps confirmed that The documentary footage was used with permission and licensed from the owner of the footage. They were given proper compensation. The footage was provided to us by the filmmakers production company. The filmmaker is listed in the credits for additional photography direction. We are thankful that they granted us permission. Matsoukas later tweeted her thanks to Bagheri, who responded with his own thanks for the credit, seemingly resolving the copyright issue.

Location

The video was filmed, at least partially, on location in New Orleans. (Back in December, Beyonce was seen filming at the Superdome, though that footage does not appear to be in the video.) She is seen sitting and standing atop a New Orleans police car, while parts of Katrina-affected New Orleans are featured throughout the video, as are several local spots (including a beauty store).

Fashion

The video, which features a number of fresh Beyonce hair looks (not to mention Blue Ivys fro!), was styled by the Cut contributing editor and former Cosmopolitan fashion market director Shiona Turini; Nigerian-American designer Ade Samuel; and stylist Marni x Marni. Both Beyonce and her dancers are reportedly wearing Gucci throughout the video. The song itself includes the instant quotable: Im so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress.



Choreographers

Those literal formation lines? They are the work of choreographers Dana Foglia, whose dance company worked on Beyonces 2014 VMAs performance; JaQuel Knight, who choreographed Beyonces classic Single Ladies video; and Chris Grant, who has choreographed for Beyonce in the past.

Producer and Songwriters

Though you wont hear his famous drop on the beats introduction, Formation was produced by Mike WiLL Made-It, who tweeted after the songs release, Always wanted to work with Beyonce and after working with her I respect her on even more levels than I knew she was on Real ARTist Fr. The song was co-written by Swae Lee of rap duo Rae Sremmurd (who are signed to Mike WiLL Made-Its label), a credit which drew small controversy from Hot 97 and Beats 1 radio host Ebro  he has previously accused Rae Sremmurd of not writing their own songs, and sparred with Mike WiLL Made-It on Twitter over Swae Lees participation on Formation.

The Voices

Formation opens not with Beyonce singing but with a voice-over from a popular New Orleans figure. What happened at the New Wilins / Bitch Im back, by popular demand are the words of Messy Mya, a New Orleans bounce artist and social media celebrity whose 2010 murder has been mired in controversy. The sample used at the songs intro comes from Messy Myas 2010 viral video Booking the Hoes From New Wildin (see below). The only other artist featured on the song (though not credited as such) is New Orleans bounce icon Big Freedia, whose instantly recognizable booming growl youll hear flexing: I did not come to play with you hos, haha. I came to slay, bitch! I like cornbread and collard greens, bitch! Oh yas, you besta believe it.

And those voice-overs you hear at the end saying, Girl, I hear some thunder / Golly, this is that water boy, oh lord as Beyonce drowns herself with the NOPD car  thats a sample from Tia Lessin and Carl Deals acclaimed 2008 Katrina doc, Trouble the Water.
Gas prices continue to plunge, with the average price of regular unleaded dropping another 3 cents statewide

Thats good news for many families wanting a break at the pump, but some economists are suggesting a recession could loom if prices continue to fall. They warn of more layoffs in the oil patch and at refineries and caution that Americans are spending a relatively high percentage of their gas savings to pay down debt or sock money away for a rainy day, according to published report. Consumers are not necessarily pumping new money into the economy with purchases that would create jobs in other sectors.

President Barack Obama has proposed a $10-per-barrel tax on oil, possibly thinking that consumers who are now paying 35 cents per gallon less for gasoline than they were this time last year would be more willing to accept a small spike at the pump such a tax would create.

The levy would provide nearly $20 billion a year to help expand transit systems nationwide and more than $2 billion a year for research into cleaner energy.

But U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, a Republican whose district includes Waco, said in a release the proposed tax would quickly die on arrival at the U.S. House.

It is clear that in his last year in office the president is more concerned with his radical climate policies and pleasing special-interest groups than providing economic stability for hardworking American families, Flores said in the statement. This proposed tax will do nothing more than raise costs on consumers, who are still struggling with stagnant wages.

He went on to say that Obama and Congress should work together on a strategy to lower costs, improve the economy and achieve American energy security.

President Obamas proposed $10 tax on each barrel of crude oil produced in the U.S. is another needless attempt to strangle an industry that is critical to our nations economy and national security, said George Rogers, chairman of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. A $10-per-barrel tax on an industry already in a deep decline would be a death sentence. The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers will vigorously oppose this tax increase.

Karr Ingham, an Amarillo-based economist who writes the Texas Petro Index and prepares a monthly economic snapshot of Greater Waco, said statewide oil and gas industry employment has declined from a record 306,330 jobs in December 2014 to about 234,150 jobs in December last year.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar recently met with Texas Oil and Natural Gas Association president Todd Staples to discuss the situation.

Hegar released a statement saying: Were in turbulent times for oil and gas, no question. Saudi Arabia is gambling that keeping prices at rock bottom will kill off the American shale revolution, and theres no doubt that were feeling the effects. But the genies not going back into the bottle. The brains and technological innovations that renewed the American energy industry arent going anywhere. When prices rise again, so will Texas oil production.

Hegar said state sales tax revenue in January totaled $2.47 billion, down from 4 percent compared to January 2015.

As expected, reduced spending in oil and gas-related sectors resulted in a fall in total sales tax revenue, Hegar said. Collections from industries mainly driven by consumer spending, including retail trade, restaurants and services, continued to grow, as did receipts from the construction sector.

Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in January 2016 was down 2.8 percent compared to the same period a year ago, primarily due to less activity in the oil patch. Thats significant because sales tax revenue is the largest source of funding for the state budget, accounting for 56 percent of all tax collections.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded has slipped to $1.55 locally, and prices below $1.50 can be found at convenience stores on many corners.

Fuzzys Taco Shop

Renovations have begun on a vacant space in the building at University Parks Drive and Mary Avenue, home to Bangkok Royal and Bicycle World.

Fort Worth-based Fuzzys Taco Shop is taking space there to sell Baja-style tacos and burritos. The permitting process recently began, according to the local franchisee, Casie Cernat. Local diners can expect the new restaurant to open in May or June, Cernat said.

In addition to renovating interior space for Fuzzys, construction will create a large patio area to accommodate 400 to 700 square feet for outdoor dining.

Cernat described Fuzzys Taco as fast casual, and said a full meal costs about $9.

Trent Weaver, who owns the building where Fuzzys Taco will operate, said although Wild West nightclub recently announced it will close its establishment there, it still has lease time remaining and he would not feel comfortable discussing a potential new tenant.

Weaver said he does not think he will have trouble finding a user considering the buildings proximity to downtown, Baylor University and Lake Brazos.

Golden Chick

Golden Chick has opened a new restaurant at 1524 Hewitt Drive, next to a Whtaburger.

The chain has grown to nearly 150 locations and also lists four sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where it is coming soon.

Golden Chick specializes in chicken tenders that it makes from what it calls the tenderloin of the chicken, which it marinates, hand-batters and then cooks. That could make it a competitor for Raising Canes Chicken Fingers, with locations at 4212 Franklin Ave. and 1501 Hewitt Drive and plans to place a third location next to the new Freddys Frozen Custard and Steakburgers at South Eighth Street and Interstate 35.

The Golden Chick menu includes tenders, roasted chicken, salads and sides.
Organizers of the Really Big Fishing Event for Very Special People expect about 3,000 people passed through this year and about 2,000 of them caught a trout to fillet and take home.

Founder and organizer Travis Bailey said the event, now in its 29th year, has kept growing from its start as an outdoor fishing tournament. This years event in the Extraco Creative Arts and Exhibits Building at the Extraco Events Center featured a dance floor, karaoke and fair-style booths.

Thanks to all the people helping, we just seem to get bigger every year, Bailey said.

The event is open to anyone with a disability, and he said this year, even the Waco Veterans Affairs Hospital sent a bus of participants. But most attendees are young adults with mental or developmental disabilities, and they come from facilities such as the Mexia State School. But some families bring individuals from as far away as Dallas.

The event is a public festival where the very special people are the only guests of honor. Its the only event of its kind that many of the guests get to attend, and many come back year after year, Bailey said.

And it doesnt cost any of them a penny, he said.

He started it as a modest two-day event with only a fish tank before he retired as a McLennan County constable. Through the years, it evolved into a one-day indoor festival, and eventually, Bailey added a karaoke feature.

I noticed right away that was more popular than the fish tank, he said.

Alcoa Fastening Systems & Rings designed a collapsible 60-by-12-foot fish tank now used only for the Really Big Fishing Event, and its still the centerpiece of the day, with people standing elbow-to-elbow to cast flies for 2,000 10-inch trout purchased by the Optimist Club of Waco. The tank is still the focus, despite the karaokes popularity.

Each disabled angler is accompanied by a guide. When they catch a fish, the guide takes the person with the catch to a station, where other volunteers clean it for the person to take home with his or her caregivers. Most of the guides and other volunteers are among the 700 to 800 Baylor University students who typically devote a day to the event.

Baylor freshman Emily Honeywell said she was hanging out for the day with her friend Jason, who had just caught a fish but didnt have much to say about it. Honeywell said this was her first time to volunteer at the event.

I dont fish myself, so this is an adventure, she said.

Were having a lot of fun with our guests. Thats what really counts, said Bri Maito, another Baylor freshman.

Bailey said the fish tank is carefully stored so it doesnt mold and stays structurally sound year after year.

From time to time, I get requests to loan it out, but have to decline because the Alcoa people did such a perfect job of it, Bailey said.

But while the fish tank remains the centerpiece of the day, it stands partitioned off at a relatively quiet end of the building, while the rest of the event is dominated by a dance floor and a dozen or so booths offering games and other activities along with food service and tables.

Baylor students, still assigned to their guests of honor, danced with them in the hours leading up to a dance contest with several dozen names entered. During the competition, the guests danced without partners. Some of the dancers moved slowly and slightly, but some showed style and rhythm, moving without inhibition for the sheer fun of it.

Jason Vreeland of Apex Productions has been providing sound and recorded music for the event for 19 years.

Money for the people

It takes us four days to get everything set up here. Ive done work for about 400 nonprofits, and with some, you see about 10 percent of the donations go to actual services for the people, with the rest of it going for overhead, including expensive parties for the workers and donors, Vreeland said. This is the only one Ive worked for where everything goes into services for the people.

Bailey said he is committed to keeping everything free for participants.

As long as Im in charge of it, none of the people were serving will ever pay a dime for anything we offer, Bailey said.

He said the only major new item this year was an overhead screen projecting activity on the dance floor.

Last year, I noticed the crowd was so thick that most people couldnt see what was going on, so we needed this, Bailey said.

He said he and his volunteers, who have several planning meetings through the year, already have started lists of materials needed next year.

Other organizations providing donations and assistance are Coca-Cola; Dr Pepper; Atmos Energy; Bugs.com; Reddy Ice; Oak Farms Dairy; Greater Hewitt Area Post 6008 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, whose personnel prepare fishing equipment for the guests; and the Heart of Texas Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center, whose professionals help supervise the guests and deal with minor emergencies such as seizures.
Its known as New Dallas Highway, but U.S. Business 77 is no longer new and no longer the favored route toward Dallas.

It looks like a freeway in places, with frontage roads and triple-decker interchanges, but it carries only a quarter of the traffic for which it was designed. The wide river of asphalt cuts through a sparse landscape of trucking companies, honky-tonks, thrift stores and by-the-week motels that thrived before Interstate 35 superseded the highway more than four decades ago and left it without a clear purpose.

But local transportation planners are developing a radically new vision for New Dallas Highway that involves shrinking it, bringing it down to ground level and replacing the interchanges with a series of traffic roundabouts.

The plan, refined by consultants this week in a series of public workshops, envisions a landscaped boulevard with bike lanes and sidewalks, reconnecting the neighborhoods it has divided for decades.

For planners, this is really a fun project, said Chris Evilia, director of the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization, which commissioned the $180,000 study by Freese and Nichols. Its very much a transformational project. It turns it into a more traditional boulevard section thats more visually appealing than what we have right now. The hope is that this makes it a more attractive corridor for businesses, offices and employment centers to come along the corridor.

The study is to be completed and presented to the MPO this summer for approval, but implementation likely will be gradual during the next 25 years, as funding becomes available and the road system deteriorates to the point of needing replacement.

Our concept was that we probably wont see anything go forward until we see structural issues with the facility itself, Evilia said.

He said many of the structures are more than 65 years old and could need replacement in the next 20 years. Evilia estimated that replacing all the existing structures as currently configured would cost more than $100 million  several times more than the Freese and Nichols plan will likely cost. A simple overpass could cost $10 million to $15 million, while a roundabout costs about $1 million, Evilia said.

One of the first projects to take shape may be the Texas Department of Transportations plan to take Business 77 down to ground level at Interstate 35, where it is the middle stack of a convoluted triple-decker spaghetti bowl.

The seven-mile study corridor for Freese and Nichols begins at the Brazos River and cuts under I-35 northwest to Lacy Lakeview before joining I-35 north of Texas State Technical College. The highway is also known as La Salle Avenue, New Dallas Highway, South Loop, North Loop and Lacy Drive.

Only way north

For much of the 20th century, Highway 77 was the only practical route for traffic headed to Dallas. The state built the northern half of the highway in 1920 along the line of the Texas Electric Railway and built the southern route in the late 1930s, extending it down La Salle Avenue to the traffic circle. In 1950, the state built Potts Interchange, the triple-decker interchange with Highway 84 and its access roads. Frontage roads were added in 1954, and through the 1950s it evolved into a freeway with overpasses at Old Marlin Highway, Orchard Lane and Waco Drive.

The road was busy with cross-state traffic as well as workers from General Tire, airmen from James Connally Air Force Base and patrons of restaurants such as Leslies Chicken Shack. North of Potts Interchange, out of the dry precincts of Waco, were liquor stores and honky-tonks brimming with country and rock n roll.

That era ended when I-35 was completed north of Waco in 1972, siphoning off the traffic from New Dallas Highway and assuming the mantle as the new Highway 77.

Traffic counts have continued to decline on Business 77 during the past decade, dropping to about 11,000 vehicles per day around Potts Interchange in 2014, Freese and Nichols consultants said. For comparison, thats about as much traffic as the boulevard section of University Parks Drive between Franklin Avenue and I-35 .

Evilia said the Business 77 envisioned for the future would be a minor arterial route, looking more like University Parks and less like a midcentury freeway.

Bike-pedestrian connectors, perhaps even a bike superhighway, could be built down the middle of the boulevard. (Freese and Nichols image)

Features of plan

The plan is still in flux and was refined during this weeks public input process but would likely include the following features:

 More traffic roundabouts could be added at Craven Avenue, Crest Drive and Loop 340 in Lacy Lakeview, which are now intersections with traffic signals.

 Some frontage roads would be removed, while others would be deeded to adjacent industrial property owners that need them for driveways.

 In places, the main lanes would be reduced and pushed to the edges to create landscaped medians.

 Bike-pedestrian connectors, perhaps even a bike superhighway, could be built down the middle of the boulevard.

 Old Dallas Road, which runs parallel to the highway on the west side, could be improved for better local access to homes and businesses.

 At Lacy Lakeview, the eastbound and westbound lanes of Loop 340 could be consolidated into a two-way road that met Business 77 at a roundabout. The current westbound lane could be turned into a local street, and the wide expanse between them could be sold or redeveloped as a park or a walkable urban-style business development.

At Lacy Lakeview, the eastbound and westbound lanes of Loop 340 could be consolidated into a two-way road that met Business 77 at a roundabout. The current westbound lane could be turned into a local street, and the wide expanse between them could be sold or redeveloped as a park or a walkable urban-style business development. (Freese and Nichols images)

Waco Mayor Malcolm Duncan Jr. said he agrees with the prescription for downsizing the road, and he would like to see it done sooner rather than later.

Its not only old and out of date but it completely divides the neighborhood, Duncan said.

City Center Waco executive director Megan Henderson said the redesigned roadway would help connect neighborhoods and create opportunities for redevelopment.

The current design is really inaccessible, Henderson said. So much of it is elevated. It doesnt provide a lot of access to businesses that are fronting it. . . . You have much more access to businesses along the corridor if you have a flat boulevard feel.

Bellmead City Manager Bo Thomas took part in the workshops this week and said they assuaged his concerns that the plan would hamper traffic flow or business access on Business 77.

I dont think it would have any adverse effect to any of the adjoining businesses, Thomas said. Anytime you can take something like that and simplify it, its probably a good thing in the long term. . . . It could have the effect of rerouting some traffic, but I dont see that anything theyre talking about is going to lengthen anyones travel time.

Roy Hawkins, co-owner of Fridays Seafood and More on Business 77 south of Behrens Circle, said he just hopes the Business 77 plan wont affect traffic in front of the restaurant and store.

Hawkins and his wife, Friday, bought a vacant nightclub four years ago and now sell fresh fish, oysters, boudain sausage and alligator there, with a soundtrack of zydeco playing in the background. He said customers from across the Waco area and even out of town manage to navigate the interchanges to get to the shop.

Its confusing

They said its confusing, Hawkins said, referring to the Potts Interchange. I guess it is depending on how long youve been here. . . . A traffic circle would probably be worse than what theyve got there now. Taking it down to grade wouldnt be so bad. I dont see it changing anything for us.

Rebecca Arrellano, longtime counter worker at Torres Meat House near Hogan Lane, agreed that its still possible for businesses to thrive on New Dallas Highway if it provides what people want. The decades-old business, which was recently purchased by Antonio Torres, sells hand-cut steaks, Czech and German sausage and seasoned fajita meat.

I know all the customers by name, Arrellano said as a regular from Crawford placed his order. We have a bunch of regulars and most of them are in here every week. We get them coming in from Valley Mills, Clifton, even Meridian. . . . I think were going to be around a long time.

Calvin Hodde, mayor of Lacy Lakeview, wasnt able to attend the meetings last week but said he hopes to have more discussion about the plan before its adopted.

Hodde said he agrees that much of the frontage road can be abandoned, but he is skeptical about turning separated interchanges into roundabouts.

Wed have more crashes than we have police, Hodde said.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Director Evilia said old-fashioned traffic circles like the one on La Salle Avenue do have some traffic safety issues. He said the Waco circle has too many roads that connect to it, and its circumference is too wide, allowing people to go too fast around it. But Evilia said traffic studies show that smaller modern roundabouts are effective at slowing traffic without requiring a full stop. He said the structures are safe and efficient for traffic flows of up to 30,000 vehicles per day.

Even the old Waco circle has some safety advantages in that cars that do crash tend to meet at a shallow angle rather than a 90-degree T-bone, Evilia said.

Even though theres a number of crashes at the current traffic circle, they tend not to be severe, he said. Everyones walking away from it.

One unresolved issue concerns access from Elm Avenue to Business 77 and I-35.

The historic East Waco street connects with the massive interchange between those highways and continues on to Bellmead Drive.

TxDOTs current plans would cut off northbound Elm Avenue traffic to the interchange, though drivers could veer off west to Hillsboro Drive to get onto Business 77.

Preserving Elm access

Mayor Duncan has asked TxDOT to look at other alternatives that would preserve or even improve access between Elm and I-35, but Evilia said theres no easy answer.

The segment of Elm Avenue connected to the I-35 interchange sees only about 2,000 cars a day, which Evilia acknowledged seems minimal if you assume nothing is ever going to change.

But the argument is being made by the city and City Center Waco that a lot of efforts are being made to change whats happening on Elm and to create some destinations for people to go to, Evilia said. We need to make it easy to get to it from the interstate.

Presentation
Rayford Brown had been forced to bail out of his F-4 Phantom II jet into the jungle of Laos on the second day of 1971. Lost and alone, he had been able to make radio contact with his base, but he was in unfriendly territory with night fast approaching.

While Temple resident Rayford RK Brown was stranded in the jungles of Laos, his wife, Kathleen, was waiting at home in the compound in Korat, Thailand, on that long night. It was during the last three months of his deployment.

Kathleen, or Kathy as she was called then, spotted the Air Force car immediately when it pulled up to the curb. When the wing commander and others got out, she knew something was up.

She wrote of her experience (as did Browns brother, a captain with the U.S. Army) in the book, The Tiger FACs: A Dance with the Devil, by Don Bell and Tiger FACs, where Rayford had included his experience.

As they came up the walk and I opened the door, my heart was beating out of my chest. The first words out of their mouths were RKs plane has gone down, but weve been in contact with him and hes OK. However, we had to bed him down for the night. Well pick him up, first morning light. 

What that meant was that everyone was in for a long night. I was relieved when they said he was down, but talking, she said.

Not that rescue attempts hadnt been made. Brown had made contact with a pilot, Charles E. Engle, a Raven Forward Air Controller, who had marked his location. Within 15 minutes after ejecting from his plane, Brown had air support, with members of the Search and Recovery (SAR) laying down fire for over two hours. At times the fire got too close for comfort.

A final attempt at pickup was made before dark, but just as Brown spotted the helicopter, it turned back. Apparently, both Jollys had taken fire and a parachute rescue jumper was wounded.

Radio silence led to MIA status

When he knew he would be there for the night, he turned his radio off to save the battery for the critical moments of the rescue. That decision resulted in him being reported as missing in action to his parents when he couldnt be reached.

It can be a bad sign when you no longer have contact with the person on the ground, Brown said.

Brown had a .38 revolver ready if needed. At various times, he could hear voices, and once, dogs barking. He didnt plan to be taken alive. He spent a fitful night listening to truck traffic of the enemy moving supplies while he was pressed against the side of a rock wall under some vines. It was the coldest night of the year.

Pilot and navigator rescued

The following morning, as the enemy returned to cut down his parachute, Brown waited for rescue. One U.S. pilot had received incorrect coordinates that took him five nautical miles past his target. It was Raven 26 (Engle) from the night before who finally ended up coordinating the pickup, first of Alpha (pilot Harvey Weir) and then Bravo (Brown, the navigator).

When Brown was finally rescued, his wife was waiting at the airport. Other than a few bumps and bruises, he was unharmed. He turned down the offer of any decorations, as he said he couldnt justify it for putting others in harms way. Raven 26 was put in for the Air Force Cross. Sadly, Engle was later killed in action over Laos.

Despite his early experience, Brown went on to have a long career with the Air Force, even returning to Udorn and serving a stint in the Philippines. On Dec. 31, 1978, he resigned his regular commission and joined the USAF Reserve, which lasted until 1988. He was on active duty tour with the National Guard Bureau as the commandant of Academy of Military Science. He became a member of the Air National Guard as a liaison officer in a joint task force of counter drug operations at the National Air Station out of Key West. He retired two-plus years later as a lieutenant colonel. He had his last ride in an F-4 in February 1988.

Brown started a video production company and worked in that field for about three years, but in 1996, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer (shes now a 20-year survivor), so he retired to care for her. He also became a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 59, and served in the Civil Air Patrol, among other duties. He and Kathleen have been married nearly 48 years

Over the years, Brown came to regret his service due to problems with the civilian leadership, he said, but hes grateful for his wife. While I was down she didnt cry or break down in public, Brown wrote. She conducted herself like the brave solider that she is.

Im proud of both our services, Kathleen said. The families staying home are serving. You never know when somebodys coming home.

Voices of Valor, which features stories about Central Texas veterans, runs on Sundays. To suggest a story about a Central Texas veteran, please email voicesofvalor@wacotrib.com.
Waco Police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton, 54, spokesman for the police department who gained national prominence in last springs Twin Peaks shootout, is running for sheriff in the March 1 Republican primary election. Swanton has the endorsement of the Waco Police Association. He says he was first approached about running by people impressed with his communication skills and ability to handle a crisis after he handled press briefings in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company on April 17, 2013.

Q Youve lately served as information officer and spokesman for the Waco Police Department. So what prompts you to want to run for the post of county sheriff? The sheriffs post is quite different in terms of protocol and culture.

A Without a doubt. But the No. 1 reason is because I love this community. I believe policing is more of a calling than a job. For me this has been a career. You know, somebody very wise told me, Find a career where you enjoy going to work and youll never have to work a day the rest of your life. And thats been true for me. Certainly there have been good days and bad days. In 35 years of law enforcement, youre going to have bad days. But I believe I have a lot to give to this community, and I want to continue giving to this community. I know that city policing is different from the sheriffs office and, without a doubt, Ive got a little bit of a learning curve there. But Im ready for that challenge. Im still young. Im 54 years old, and I believe that my qualifications make me the best, the very best candidate, for this job.

Q You have a daughter whos now in the

A My daughters in the Waco Police Department. I will tell you that the first time she came in and approached us with that idea, told us that this is what she wanted to do, I was pretty excited about it. Mama, not so much. And then that first night that she actually came by in uniform  well, I knew it was real and then I was not so much excited about it. Thats when the worries set in.

Q And your daughter obviously tells you whats going on in the streets now. I know you talked about your background the other day at the McLennan County Republican Women candidate forum. But youre in police administration now. Do you see changes in the city? Are things more challenging on the streets of Waco than they were when you started out?

A Yeah, without a doubt. You know, I think the attitude toward law enforcement has changed throughout our country. For our community, not really so much. There is a little bit of that here, but policing in and of itself has changed. Technology has changed. The way that we communicate and deal with our public has changed. And thats one thing that I found in law enforcement work  that if you dont keep up with that and you dont train every day and you dont continue to go to courses and classes and education, youre behind the curve. And thats one thing I think youll see with my training record. Throughout my entire career, I have over 3,800 hours of law enforcement training. That is going and sitting in class. Im a negotiator. I have a basic, intermediate and advanced certificate in hostage negotiation. And I know you think Im in administration, but thats not necessarily true. The good thing with my position is that the chief trusts me enough to do my job and do what you need to do. Part of that is being out in the community as well. I still go out and teach classes. I teach at Baylor University. I go out and give presentations to groups. I go out and ride with our traffic unit. Every once in a while Ill try to grab Assistant Police Chief Ryan Holt and well go out and do a tweet-along  or a virtual ride-along  as I call them. I like patrol work. I got my start actually working the streets. Did that for about 14 years total. So I dont consider myself administration, especially being over our hostage negotiation team. We still do call-outs, we still do training, and I like getting out there on the streets.

Q The past few years weve been inundated with controversial police shootings nationwide. It seems like a bad time to be in law enforcement. What can police do to improve attitudes about all this?

A Well, I think you need to look specifically at what you just talked about  police shootings. Barring the one incident that we cant talk about  that our attorneys believe we cant talk about [the May 17 Twin Peaks shootings]  as a rule were transparent about what has happened. Were immediate about what happens. I run our Facebook page, our social media page, our Twitter account. Soon as I get to a scene, were promptly trying to put out information and inform our public  sometimes even before I tell yall [at the Trib]. I know you dont like that, but I think the public can get it a little bit quicker if we dont have a go-between on some things. And I think what you see with our officer-involved shootings is we didnt have issues here because our community trusts us, they believe in us, and they respect us.

Q Doesnt it have something to do with the Waco Police Department protocol also?

A I think without a doubt we have one of the finest trained police forces in the state of Texas. We have good quality officers here. I think youll find that with any organization, group or entity where you have people involved, there are going to be individuals who go astray. Weve had that. Ive had to work those cases. Hated it. Probably the worst part of my career was putting one of our own officers in jail. Hated doing that. But you know what? Our community expects that. If we cant police our own, then we dont need to be trying to police the citizens  and thats what we did.

Q Theres talk nowadays about the so-called militarization of law enforcement and whether its necessary.

A Yeah, but I think you have to look at where we are as a society today. Society has changed. Criminals have changed. I can tell you that when I first came out on the streets in 1980, we worried about a dope dealer on the street corner possibly carrying a little Raven .25. Today theyre carrying Glocks. Today theyre carrying .45s. Theyre carrying semi-autos. Theyre carrying AK-47s in their cars. We have to be very cautious to balance that. But one difference youll see between me and the opposition for the position that Im running for is Im very community-oriented and I think that the opposition touts how we throw people in jail. Or, Our arrests are up 300 or 400 percent. Thats a little bit of a fear tactic.

Q Youre talking about the sheriff saying that?

A Yeah, youre seeing an increase, but a lot of those warrants are Class C warrants. And I think we can do better than just throw people in jail. I think we need more community policing. I think how you gain the respect of this community is policing with a heart and thats what Ive done. One thing Ive always tried to do in my law enforcement career is treat people that Im dealing with like I would want law enforcement to treat my mom and dad. Or my sister. Or my daughter. And I think you can do that. You have to police with compassion today or youre going to fall too deeply into that sole perspective of, We got guns and we got tanks and we got helicopters and we got new rifles. I mean, yes, we do have to have these to be able to match up with the criminal element today, but I dont think thats necessarily something we should be bragging about.

Q I wouldnt normally think to raise this question except that a year or two ago we had some trust issues develop between the Waco Police Department and District Attorney Abel Reyna. But it is a relevant question. Does the police department find the sheriffs department a cooperative and competent force to deal with when your duties increasingly overlap?

A The frontline men and women of the McLennan County Sheriffs Office and Waco Police Department work very well together. I certainly see some things I will do different in the leadership position in my role as sheriff. I dont believe in policing inside the city limits unless were asked to do so. I dont think you come into a neighboring agency city and set up camp and try to increase your warrant numbers. And thats happening now. I believe you need to have your deputies out in the areas where there isnt law enforcement. I think our citizens deserve that. We have good police forces here in Waco. We have good police forces in Hewitt and Woodway and Robinson. If they need help, absolutely, I think we need to be there for them. Otherwise, we need to be out in the unincorporated areas where there is no law enforcement. And thats where our deputies need to be.

Q During the McLennan County Republican Womens candidate forum the other day you cited a large number of assignments and duties youve had with the Waco Police Department. Is there one of these many assignments and duties you would say is pivotal in what you hope to be doing in January 2017?

A Id say 35 years of real law enforcement experience  and what I mean by that is that every step that Ive taken has prepared me for the challenge of being McLennan County sheriff. I have a wide range of very diverse backgrounds in law enforcement. Ive been to two supervisory schools. Ive been to an FBI leadership school and a college management institute school in Dallas. I think everything that Ive done in 35 years prepares me for where Im going next. And, you know, if you ask about the SWAT team or the DARE [Drug Abuse Resistance Education] program, I think all these have contributed to what I am today. And I think thats instrumental because I am so diverse in my law enforcement background  everything from street cop to teacher of DARE to hostage negotiator to SWAT operator.

Q You have made some statements suggesting that your chief opponent got his job as a deputy U.S. marshal partly because of family connections and that in many instances he was more of a glorified bailiff. Do you want to explain what you mean by these concerns?

A Absolutely. I think if you look at the two, compare what I call real street law enforcement experience  working calls, working bank robberies, working bar fights, working car crashes  Ive done all that. Mr. McNamara hasnt done that. Certainly what he did was an important part of what he did. He was a bailiff, he transported criminals from Point A to Point B. Somebody needs to do that. That was Mr. McNamaras job. That is not real frontline law enforcement work.

Q The sheriff is very proud of his work regarding the 1992 capture of serial killer Kenneth Allen McDuff.

A Kenneth Allen McDuff was not arrested by Parnell McNamara. Mr. McNamara went and transported Kenneth Allen McDuff back to Waco. He was arrested off the back of a trash truck in Kansas City, Missouri. He [McNamara] had absolutely nothing to do with arresting that man and I think thats called embellishment. Hes a good salesman. I think he embellished a little bit on some things and its hard to backtrack once you do that. Im not going to do that. If I didnt do something, Im going to tell you I didnt do it. If I did something, Ill tell you I did it and Im going to be proud of it and Im going to stick with what I have done.

Q Whats something you see changing on your very first day as sheriff? That is, what will be your priorities?

A I think one of the first things is getting deputies back out in the county where they belong, where there is not law enforcement at present. The response time right now to calls out in the county is not good. I can tell you from personal experience that theyre answering some calls over the phone. And I dont think we ought to be doing that. I think you need to have a deputy out knocking on doors and showing up at your house if you call.

Q Where are those county deputies now?

A Theyre in the city limits of Waco trying to arrest people on warrants because its all about numbers. I think percentages  and yall know as well as I do  percentages and numbers can say anything. But thats not the real story about whats going on. So I want to get deputies back out, I want to provide some stability in that organization. In three years, he [McNamara] has lost a chief deputy who was his best friend, who left because of reasons that he talked about to your reporters. [Matt Cawthon in October 2014 refused to confirm or deny rumors that he and McNamara disagreed over discipline of staff with Cawthon citing only basic philosophical differences in police management.] He has lost a senior captain over the jail that was probably one of the best law enforcement officials in this community. Another captain resigned because of disciplinary issues that were not being addressed and then a third captain had to be demoted because he was not effective in doing his job. Theres no stability there. And one thing I want to bring back is stability.

Q So what is causing that instability?

A I think its the lack of leadership from the current sheriff. I think Mr. McNamara doesnt let people do their job as theyve been trained to do. He cant make up his mind. I think the first thing he said is he wanted to be a frontline lawman. The last time that he talked I think he talked about, Well, Im an administrator too now. Well, you know, which one is it? Youve got to be able to trust your organization enough and I think hes got good people there who will make decisions, and youve got to allow your executive staff to help you lead. And I dont think thats occurring in that organization. My goal would be to let people help lead that organization. Where I want to leave it, whether its in four years or eight years or 12 years, is as an organization that can run itself without me being there.

Q What makes you think youre going to be qualified to handle the amount of money for the jail and the different departments?

A Oh, without a doubt, that would be a huge learning curve for me. But thats where you surround yourself with good quality key people who help you learn it and you learn and you learn every piece of the puzzle and you make it fit. I think there are some things that we can do to save our taxpayers money. I think our citizens need to question why we dont have an officer from the sheriffs department involved with the U.S. Marshals Task Force. I think that would be a huge savings to be able to get an officer in there and work side by side with them. You free up some of your people who are in an organized crime unit who are now serving warrants to be able to go back to patrol. I think that would be of benefit to our citizens and youve got a huge amount of resources when you work in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Task Force.

Interview condensed and edited by Bill Whitaker.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has all but ruled out a cut in income tax funded by an increase in the GST and has instead challenged state governments to impose land taxes in order to cut stamp duties.

As cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos dismissed talk of increasing the GST for the sake of it, saying it was not something you would do just "to prove you're macho" the prime minister said the decision would be based on analysis being prepared by the treasury with outside assistance.

"You have to be satisfied that it is actually going to deliver an improvement in GDP growth," he said. "Unless you can be satisfied that it's going to do that, and that it's going to be fair, of course, which is equally important, then you wouldn't do it."
NSW school children are facing unprecedented hurdles to get into ethics classes in schools, the state's provider of ethics classes has warned.

For the first time this year parents of kindergarten students do not have to be informed of the availability of ethics classes by the school principals until after they have been through at least four different steps.

"It's blatant discrimination based on religious grounds," said the chairman of Primary Ethics, Bruce Hogan.

New department guidelines say parents who leave their child's religious persuasion blank on the enrolment form should first be sent a letter by the principal advising them of all the religious education options available at the school. If parents choose not to select a religious denomination, their child will then be engaged in "meaningful activities" such as sitting in the library. Only then will they be informed of the availability of ethics classes and formally able to enroll.
Four Tripod Farmer salads have been recalled. "Victorian health authorities had reported 54 cases of Salmonella anatum infection linked to the consumption of mixed salad products. This figure has, of today, increased to 62 cases." "Food histories" were yet to be conducted to establish any links to the mixed salad products. One of the Coles salads included in the recall. "Other states and territories are examining up to 30 possible cases of Salmonella anatum infection."

But it is yet to be determined if these cases were linked to the outbreak strain in Victoria. One of the Coles salads included in the recall. The salads were sold at Coles, Woolworths, Bi-Lo and other grocers as Coles 4 Leaf Mix, Woolworths salad mix, SupaSalad Supamix and Wash N Toss salad mix. Woolworths Gourmet mix 100g, Supa Salad ALH, 1kg, Clear Film Blend, Clear Film Spinach and Clear Film Cos were also added to the list on Friday. Tripod Farmer's SupaSalad Supamix has been recalled.

The contaminated products had best-before dates up to and including February 14 and were sold in all mainland Australian states and territories except Western Australia, though Victoria was worst affected. Lite n' Easy, Aussie Farmers Direct, Mentone Girls' Grammar and 7-Eleven were some of the other outlets who had sold food containing the infected products. Earlier, Tripod Farmers managing director Frank Ruffo said authorities had inspected its Bacchus Marsh processing plant and no further contamination had been detected. Consumers are advised not to eat the recalled product, and to return it to the place of purchase for a full cash refund. If concerned, they should also seek medical advice from their doctor. Paul Brockhoff said his entire family had been sick after consuming Coles baby spinach leaves. He contracted food poisoning on January 21 and was unwell for four days.

On Wednesday, his two children, aged six and four, also came down with the illness, and his wife soon followed. "We haven't been able to isolate it to any of the identified products, though we have a bag of Coles baby spinach leaves in the fridge that we are eyeing with growing suspicion," Mr Brockhoff said. "The children had some of that and some salami, so we initially thought it might have been down to the cold meat." Vicki Norman said she had to be rushed to the hospital after having eaten a baby spinach and salad mix from Woolworths. "I have a spinach omelette nearly every day," Ms Norman said.

"Last Friday night, I started to feel unwell, really bad headache, vomiting the whole time, went to the doctors on Monday ... I am still unwell. "I feel like I am dying." Ms Norman said she was yet to get a conclusive stool test, but her doctor had said the symptoms indicated food poisoning and could take up to 21 days to clear. "It is horrific," she said. "The chest pain makes you feel as if you are having a heart attack."

Tripod Farmers managing director Frank Ruffo said the company had suspended some "farming and processing" operations while investigations were continuing. "Tripod Farmers is expecting further test results early next week in its search to determine and fix the cause of salmonella contamination," Mr Ruffo said. "The detections of salmonella were part of routine testing on product as part of the company's standard food safety and quality program. "In the interests of public safety, we have recalled the entire production batches from which the positive samples were detected." Mr Ruffo said they were working closely with health authorities to determine the cause and extent of the problem, and with their customers to manage an effective recall.
If you're trying to get pregnant, stop drinking. And if you're sexually active and drink alcohol, it's best to use contraception. That's the advice from health experts to protect unborn children from lasting damage, as new research reveals that millions of women risk exposing their developing babies to alcohol.

Drinking during pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)  lifelong physical, intellectual and behavioural disabilities  with a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighting that damage can be done before women even realise they are pregnant.

The report estimated 3.3 million American women risked exposing their developing baby to alcohol because they were drinking, sexually active and not using birth control. Three in four US women who intend to get pregnant do not stop drinking alcohol when they stop using birth control, according to the report.

After a widespread backlash labelled its advice condescending and impractical, the CDC defended its recommendation that women abstain from drinking alcohol if they could get pregnant. The CDC's principal deputy director, Anne Schuchat, said the intention was to show that alcohol-related harm was completely preventable, not to prescribe a lifestyle or suggest women "plan their entire lives around a hypothetical baby."
The Greens have chosen a female native title lawyer to contest Tanya Plibersek's federal electorate of Sydney as the party prepares to target what it believes are five winnable lower house seats in NSW and Victoria this year.

Sylvie Ellsmore, a lawyer and Marrickville councillor, won preselection for the Greens on Thursday night.

Tanya Plibersek's stance on a binding vote for Labor MPs on same-sex marriage did her untold damage. Credit:Andrew Meares

Ms Ellsmore is a former NSW Greens campaign co-ordinator who worked for a decade as an Indigenous rights advocate.

She prevailed over Bruce Knobloch who had originally set his sights on contesting Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler before the Greens chose former fire brigade union boss Jim Casey as its candidate.
A Sydney drag queen has found himself centre stage in a major police-harassment scandal after a magistrate threw out the case against him, ruling the NSW Police Force failed to follow the law.

After an image of a Newtown-based police officer temporarily appeared on a gay dating website under the prank profile of "Captain Moonlight", Aaron Manahan found himself charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend.

Aaron Manahan, aka famed Sydney drag queen Ms Aaron Manhattan, found himself centre stage in a major police harassment scandal. Credit:Louise Kennerley

But when Sydney Local Court heard of the manner in which police had gathered alleged "admissions", including an acknowledgement from a detective senior constable that he was "unaware" of his professional obligations under the Commonwealth Crimes Act, magistrate Janet Wahlquist excluded all evidence as "inadmissable" and dismissed the case.

"'The law is there for a reason. It has to be complied with," she said, adding: "There are special circumstances. But police not knowing the law is not a special circumstance."
The chair of Calvary Health Care, John Watkins, said the plight of the asylum seekers could not be ignored.

St Vincent's Health Australia and Calvary Health Care have offered to provide medical support to any of the 267 asylum seekers facing imminent transfer to Nauru and are encouraging other hospital groups to do the same.

Two of Australia's largest Catholic healthcare organisations have offered medical support to hundreds of asylum seekers applying for church sanctuary as they face deportation to Nauru, saying it reflected their "sacred duty" as healing organisations.

"Let's be clear: Nauru and the conditions in which these people were detained either caused or exacerbated their ill health," he said. "Many of this group are still wrestling with their illnesses or are traumatised at the prospect of their return and need medical attention.

"Samuel" soon after he was born in Australia.

"Sending them back to Nauru will only make them sicker and put them at risk of disease, violence and mental illness. We can't stand by and watch that happen  we have to become involved."

The offer came after churches around the country took the extraordinary step of offering sanctuary to asylum seekers facing deportation after the High Court upheld the legality of the government's offshore processing regime. Churches invoked the ancient Christian tradition to offer protection to the 267 people - including 37 babies - facing imminent transfer to Nauru.

However, experts have warned there is no legal basis to offer sanctuary to asylum seekers and church leaders who do could face criminal sanctions.
Queensland Health is boosting its Zika monitoring and management program by $1.4 million, including a $400,000 expansion of Townsville testing facilities where the risk of infection is greatest.

The expanded, more rapid testing program, to begin on March 1, was announced as health authorities confirmed a second positive test for the virus in Queensland.

Health Minister Cameron Dick and chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young. Credit:Jorge Branco

A Brisbane child admitted to hospital for testing on Thursday was confirmed on Saturday as Queensland's second case of Zika infection this year.
Some of the residents who spoke at the meeting said they felt betrayed by the lack of consultation, especially from their local member, Oakleigh MP Steve Dimopolous. The proposed elevated rail line that would be built in Heatherton. The residents said the community was being used as a guinea pig by the state government to try out the project. Construction on three sections of line from Caulfield to Cranbourne and Pakenham will begin on the line this year, according to the state government. An artist's impression of the proposed new Murumbeena railway station.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said it was amazing to see the spontaneous protest. Mr Guy said everyone wanted to see the level crossings removed, but it needed to be done in a "proper way". "A proper way is to do it underground," he said. The Murrumbeena Road level crossing is notorious for creating long traffic jams. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones "Level crossing removal is the right thing to do, but doing it on the cheap at communities' expense is not. "You need to stand united, and together and make sure this campaign continues because otherwise this proposal that has been put forward - it's no guarantee it won't follow its way down the Frankston line, through sections of the Hurstbridge line ..."

A new park that would be created under the planned rail line. Mr Guy's comments were met with loud cheers and applause an shouts of "hear, hear". Cassandra Williams who was there with her husband, David, and three children said the consultation process had been a joke. A map of the sections of proposed elevated rail line. "We are not directly on the train line ....[but] a nine-metre structure, you are going to see it for kilometres," she said.

"To have a nine-metre structure smack bang in the middle of our community is horrendous. It will be here for 100-plus years. Glen Eira Environment Group co-ordinator Paul Caine said the park had Red River Gums that were of significance and needed to preserved. "Whether the rail goes over or under, they should be retained," Mr Caine said. "They bring a wealth of bird life to the area." The proposal has already drawn criticism, with some affected residents holding a community meeting in a Murrumbeena park on Sunday to discuss how to prevent the project.

No Sky Rail president Karlee Browning said she had grave safety concerns regarding the proposal. Ms Browning, who lives one metre from the existing railway corridor, said at least 200 houses in just her neighbourhood would be affected by the proposal. "The thing that no one has talked about so far is ... that there could be a freight-train derailment," she said. "We are talking 80,000 tonnes of fully laden freight potentially falling from a nine-metre-high elevated lines onto homes." Ms Browning said she also had fears about privacy and the effect on property prices.

"I am also concerned about how this would impact my overshadowing," she said. "I have got $6000 worth of solar panels on my house that actually face the north, which is where this would come. "You'll directly look from top of this nine-metre structure into my swimming pool, where my children and my family play in the backyard. "I am worried about the safety and privacy of my children, that they are not going to be preyed upon by paedophiles looking into the pool when they are swimming." Ms Browning said she also feared that the current rail line would be turned into car parks, rather than the promised parks.

"I want [the government] to take it back to public consultation on whether we want an above-ground or below-ground [train]," she said. Ms Browning said a petition with 2200 signatures would be presented in the Parliament on Monday to let the government know that "2200 people to date do not want this". "They [the residents] have had no consultation, they have not been asked, they have had no say," she said. Three sections of the railway line along the Dandenong railway corridor will be replaced with new elevated tracks - dubbed 'sky trains', but not to be confused with an airport line - that would run along the viaduct above the existing railway line. Premier Daniel Andrews said the project would create a quieter rail line. In a statement, he said community consultation had been ongoing since April, with more than 1500 pieces of feedback informing the designs that were released on Sunday.

Mr Andrews said the next phase of consultation would begin immediately, with the project team speaking to thousands of locals about the designs and giving the community a say on uses for their new open spaces. Nine level crossings will be removed and five new stations will be created as part of the project at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Clayton, Hughesdale and Noble Park. A consortium of CPB Contractors and Lend Lease have been awarded the contract to build the project, which is due to be completed by November 2018, in time for the next state election. As the elevated rail lines would be built above existing railway lines, the existing train services would not be disrupted by the construction. The elevated railway line would also free up public open space, Mr Andrews said.

"This tired and ugly rail corridor will become one of Melbourne's largest community open spaces, with room for parks, playgrounds, netball courts and thousands of new car parks," Mr Andrews said. However, the state opposition has already criticised the elevation proposal. When it was first proposed in January, the Opposition said it would create vulgar "eyesores" several storeys high that would divide neighbourhoods. The Victorian government has promised to undertake community consultations to refine the designs and determine how the new public space underneath the railway would be utilised, but local residents have already written petitions to state MPs to be presented when Parliment resumes on Monday, claiming the empty space under elevated railway lines will become ghettos and havens for crime. Elevated rail lines can be less intrusive than building a trench to remove level crossings, according to RMIT urban designer lecturer Ian Woodcock, who told Fairfax that in cities like Berlin and Vancouver elevated rail lines actually "maximises the connection at ground level".

Elevated rail already exists in sections across Melbourne, including between West Richmond and Clifton Hill, through Hawthorn on the Lilydale/Belgrave lines and through Balaclava on the Sandringham line. Under the plans, the longest section of elevated rail will run over 3.5 kilometres built between Grange Road in Carnegie and Poath Road in Hughesdale. A 2.7-kilometre stretch of elevated rail will be built between Corrigan and Chandler roads in Noble Park. A further two-kilometre elevated structure will run through Clayton between Clayton and Centre roads. Barricades will also be put in place to ensure passengers on elevated trains cannot see into nearby houses.
By Laura Schaumburg Oswald, Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau Feb. 07, 2016 | 08:05 AM | PADUCAH, KY

Paducah has joined the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5) national research study conducted by Americans for the Arts to measure the economic impact of nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences.

Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) signed on as a study partner to demonstrate the value of the city's cultural assets and to expand advocacy for local arts organizations that support jobs, generate revenue and are the cornerstone of creative tourism.

"Arts and cultural activities contribute greatly to Paducah's economic, cultural and social development," said Mary Hammond, Paducah CVB Executive Director. "The AEP5 analysis will produce updated figures that quantify the economic impact local cultural assets and boost arts and cultural organizations as they pursue funding and community support."

AEP5, conducted by Americans for the Arts, the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America, is the fifth national study over the past 20 years and the largest ever with more than 300 U.S. communities participating in 2016.

"Our Arts & Economic Prosperity series demonstrates that the arts are an economic and employment powerhouse both locally and across the nation," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "Leaders who care about community and economic vitality can feel good about choosing to invest in the arts. Nationally as well as locally, the arts mean business."

The 2012 Arts & Economic Prosperity study found that nonprofit arts and culture are a $39.8 million industry in Greater Paducah  one that supports 533 full-time equivalent jobs and generates more than $2 million in local and state government revenues

Paducah CVB is the official Destination Marketing Organization for Paducah/McCracken County. It exists to create new economic opportunities through destination marketing, management and tourism development. For more information, visit www.Paducah.Travel
By Kim Hamby, Mayfield Independent Schools Feb. 06, 2016 | 11:05 PM | MAYFIELD, KY

After missing three days due to snow, the Mayfield Independent School District is announcing the dates to make up missed instructional time.

Following the approved 2015-2016 district calendar, the missed days will be made up and students will be in school on February 15, March 31, and April 1. Students will not attend on February 12, as previously scheduled, as it will remain a teacher workday.

For any questions about the changes in the school calendar, contact your childs school or the district office of Mayfield Independent Schools at (270) 247-3868.
By Joe Jackson Feb. 06, 2016 | 11:32 PM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY

One person was injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Graves County.

According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, the wreck happened at 4:15 pm at the intersection of KY 440 and KY 945. Deputies said a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Alexander Kennedy was eastbound on KY 945, when he pulled into the path of another vehicle driven by 27-year-old Justin Landers of Melber, who was southbound on KY 440.

Landers was unable to avoid a collision and struck Kennedys vehicle in the front left. Deputies said the impact caused Kennedy's engine to become dislodged from the vehicle.

Kennedy was taken to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Landers refused treatment at the scene. Police said both drivers were wearing their seat belts.
By The Associated Press Feb. 06, 2016 | 03:23 PM | LOUISVILLE, KY

Jefferson County Public Schools has announced it is not requiring teachers to give students diagnostic tests for the rest of the year.The Courier-Journal reports that JCPS made the decision recently in response to concerns about over-testing students. Under the changes, a third grader could be subjected to eight fewer diagnostic tests through the end of the year.JCPS says diagnostic tests are basically pre-tests at the beginning of each unit to use as a starting point for the students' knowledge.Superintendent Donna Hargens says the move will put the district more in line with its new strategic plan, which calls for the district to "reduce, revise and refine" its assessments.A JCPS spokeswoman says the district will later review whether it wants to continue making the diagnostic tests optional in future school years.

On the Net:
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 06/02/2016 (2448 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police are investigating after a woman was seriously injured in an assault early Saturday.

Officers were called regarding the incident to a home in the 500 block of Stelle Avenue at around 5 a.m.

An adult woman was taken to hospital by paramedics.

Five homes in the block were blocked off by yellow police tape Saturday afternoon.

The Winnipeg Police Service is asking anyone with information about the incident to call investigators at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

David Liponowski / The Winnipeg Free Press
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 07/02/2016 (2447 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DERRY, N.H.  A key to understanding the 2016 U.S. election lay beneath the stage where two of its principal antagonists were standing the other night.

Two storeys below the hall where Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders last debated, theres a museum display chronicling the de-industrialization of Derry, N.H.

It shows machines from old shoe factories that have disappeared, supporting jobs that have disappeared, held by people now disappearing: well-paid, low-skilled American workers.

Local historian Rick Holmes, seen here in Derry, N.H., on Feb. 6, 2016, examines an old machine that once belonged to his town's now-extinct shoe-making industry. Holmes runs a museum chronicling the de-industrialization of the town, two storeys below the opera-house stage where Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders last debated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexander Panetta

The local historian who runs it recalls a once-bustling main street. Its filled today with a high-end shop here, a pawn shop there, and an empty storefront or two in between.

These were all factories. Shoe factories. Gone, Rick Holmes said, gesturing at the street.

Gone, with the middle class.

New Hampshire clearly counts as an economic success story. Its among the richest states. It has a microscopic unemployment rate of 3.8 per cent.

But pop open the hood and underneath those numbers youll find the same engine powering the discontent now threatening to overrun the establishment of both political parties.

This state has bled middle-class manufacturing jobs, like much of the country. And the two insurgent candidates who could win Tuesdays primary have seized upon that sense of loss.

Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are leading big in New Hampshire polls, to the mortification of a political establishment that has derided both as unelectable.

The rumpled socialist and the bewilderingly coiffed billionaire may be different personalities, with different worldviews, proposing different solutions.

But theyre pointing to the same problems, real or alleged: trade deals, decent jobs shipped overseas or replaced with machines, and an indifferent political class distracted by the priorities of its mega-rich campaign donors.

Sanders proposed fix? A drastically expanded social-safety net: free college tuition, Canadian-style health care, and paid parental leave. Trumps? Kick out millions of illegal migrants from Mexico, who work under-the-table for cheap salaries. And protect existing social programs.

They have one major policy in common: ripping up trade deals.

Holmes predicts theyll do well Tuesday.

They both come across as angry men. And I think many of their voters are also angry, he said. Theyre frustrated, trying to balance the family budget.

Signs of change surround his town. Around the corner, the last of the old abandoned factories is about to be demolished after its stripped of salvageable scrap metal.

Down the street in a popular diner, one waitress says every person she knows is voting for the one of the two candidates: All Bernie. And all Trump, Amanda Parker says. One or the other. Its strange.

The diner manager says people are struggling paycheque to paycheque, and politicians dont listen because theyre too busy squabbling over side-issues: People are concerned, said Linda Guilnet. People want to get back to where they should be. Instead of struggling.

This Boston bedroom community is surrounded by evidence that many people have benefited greatly in this increasingly digital, global, service-oriented economy.

Its dotted with McMansions erected during the dot-com and real-estate booms of the last two decades.

But the prevailing negative mood is amply chronicled in numbers  in national economic data, the census, and surveys:

More than 60 per cent of Americans believe their childrens generation will be worse off  the opposite of how people feel in growing economies in Asia, according to a Pew survey.

The middle class is shrinking. Pew described a historic tipping point in another study: it said poor and rich people now outnumber the U.S. middle class, with middle-tier earners shrinking nine per cent since 1971. The result is a more unequal country  with many rising to the top tier, and about half falling the other way.

The biggest losers include two groups: the less-educated, and the young. People with only a high-school diploma have seen their share of the national income fall a whopping 22 per cent since 1971, and young 18-to-29-year-olds have seen it drop five per cent.

Take a wild guess who those groups are supporting.

Sanders took 84 per cent of the youth vote in Iowa, according to exit polls that showed Clinton winning richer, older voters. As for Trump, polls have shown him dominant among Republicans who never went to college. With those who have a degree, hes a fourth-place also-ran.

An expert on public opinion at the University of New Hampshire says the two men are appealing to very distinct subsets among the frustrated.

The same economic angst underlies voters in both parties, Andrew Smith said. But I dont think there are many people saying, Hmm, should I vote for Sanders or vote for Trump? The tone certainly is different.

A Sanders fan concurs, brushing off a comparison between the socialist who blames billionaires, and the billionaire who blames foreigners. Kim De Lutis says: They are polar opposites. Trump divides, Bernie unites.

But theres enough anger at politicians for them to share. The approval rate of Congress is languishing in the teens, down from its historical trendline between the 20s and the 50s according to Gallup surveys.

Holmes has prepared for the future. Hes built an additional floor above his home  for his kin to live in, with his grandchildren.

(In the old days) everybody who worked could afford a house. Today, I dont think thats true, he said.

A lot of people  feel left out. (They feel), We are not part of what is happening to America anymore. America has changed. (And) theyre lashing out.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 07/02/2016 (2447 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  A military law expert says fallout from the lurid spectacle of the Jian Ghomeshi trial could make the Canadian militarys effort to stamp out sexual misconduct much harder.

Retired colonel Michel Drapeau says the grilling that the alleged victims received in the witness box will almost certainly give pause to women thinking about stepping forward to report a crime, particularly those in uniform.

The trial will probably set back the clock for victims that might be thinking of coming forward, said Drapeau.

Former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi leaves a Toronto court after day four of his trial on Friday, February 5, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

One of Ghomeshis accusers is former actress Lucy DeCoutere, who is also now a training and development officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force and based in Halifax.

Ghomeshi has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

DeCoutere faced tough cross-examination about her relationship with the 48-year-old former CBC Radio host, and the trial comes as the military struggles to get more alleged victims of sexual misconduct to come forward through a newly established crisis centre.

The countrys top military commander, Gen. Jonathan Vance, has made it clear there will be zero tolerance for abusive behaviour of any kind within the ranks, and he recently released an update that says eight investigations into inappropriate actions have been launched.

Vance declined comment on how the Ghomeshi case might affect the militarys effort, citing the ongoing court case.

The progress report from National Defence shows the crisis centre received 206 phone calls, emails and texts, of which 99 were requests for information  a figure Drapeau interprets as a sign that victims are still hesitant.

He says reluctance to report sexual violence or inappropriate advances is more intense for people in uniform because theres a greater potential impact on the victims careers than there would be in the general population.

There is also the added disincentive that members of the military are not covered by the federal Victims Bill of Rights, introduced by the former Conservative government, Drapeau said.

Military tribunals such as courts martial are deliberately excluded under the law. Through the legislation, victims of crime can expect to be kept informed by authorities about the progress of their case. Theyre allowed to speak in court and give victim impact statements.

Drapeau says its sad and ironic that people who fight for freedoms overseas are disenfranchised at home.

A spokeswoman for National Defence, Maj. Holly-Anne Brown, says the military justice system has safeguards and procedures built into it that are meant to protect victims rights, including written policy directives that require uniformed prosecutors to consider victims views in the handling of a case.

Last June, the Conservatives introduced legislation that would have created a military victims bill of rights, but the legislation died when the election was called.
Joyce M. Lilla, Feb. 28, 1918 to Feb. 3, 2016.

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, was a blue sky and sunshine day for Joyces reunion with her family in heaven. She was just three weeks shy of her 98th birthday when she left this earth to join her family in heaven: her parents, John and Erma Kasten; her husband and the love of her life, Ed (her Eddy) Lilla; son-in-law, Martin Kleinschmidt; grandson, Brian Bening; sisters, Wilma (Denny) Dennison and Virginia (Rev. Howard) Nelson; and brother, Lloyd (Phyllis) Kasten.

Survivors are her daughters, Joanne (Martin) Kleinschmidt and Kathryn Bening; granddaughters, Chris (Bill) Rickoff, Cathy (Chris) Gardner and Caroline (Scott) Flatten; great-grandchildren, Alex, John and Jenna Rickoff, Olivia, Luke and Abbey Gardner, Jacob, Emily, Ben and Nathan Flatten; nieces and nephews.

Joyce worked as an expert Cutter at the Winona Knitting Mills for 36 years. She proudly displayed the plaque given to her by co-workers thanking her for being their teacher, counselor, guide and friend. When she retired from that career, she embarked on a second one as our family artist. A gifted artist, she spent the next 20-plus years using her extraordinary talent to paint more than 100 pictures. Her favorite subjects were animals and landscapes, but she did portraits as well. She was pleased by requests to buy her paintings, but preferred to freely share them with family and friends. Hobby Lobby was her favorite destination. She knew the art supply section by heart.

Her artistic talents expanded to include making photo albums a work of art. She generously shared these, creating heirlooms for her family.

She and Ed greatly enjoyed the outdoors and took their family to the cabin every summer for over 20 years. Memories of boat rides with dad and grandpa, swimming in the lake, grandmas famous cookies, fireworks with grandpa and fresh fish dinners will live in our hearts forever. Thus began a legacy of family vacations.

She loved to dance. Patience was the byword when she taught Ed to polka. Joyce brought sunshine wherever she went. Her smile lifted hearts and her kind and caring nature greeted all who met her. To those that she couldnt greet in person, she sent her sunshine by U.S. Mail. She was an avid letter writer and kept the U.S. Postal Service busy as long as she was able.

She was devoted to her faith and family. She will be missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, her family respectfully requests considering a donation to Winona Area Hospice Services at 175 E. Wabasha St., or the Winona Area Humane Society at 1112 E. Broadway, Winona, Minn.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka, with visitation one hour prior to the Mass at the Basilica. Monsignor Thomas J. Hargesheimer will officiate. Joyce will be laid to rest in St. Marys Cemetery.

Memories or online condolences may be left for Joyces family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.
The Zika (ZEE-ka) virus is very much in the news. But where did it come from, and how does get around? The quick answer is it flies. I mean via mosquitoes. So how does it get from country to country on different continents? What kind of disease does it commonly produce?

Zika virus was first discovered in 1947. Scientists at the Yellow Fever Research Institute, now called the Uganda Virus Research Institute, isolated it from a research rhesus macaque monkey that had been placed in a cage in the Zika forest, hence the virus name. The Zika forest is the property of the Institute. The monkey was bitten by mosquitoes, developed a fever, which prompted the blood study that found what seemed to be a transmittable infection. The actual virus was described in 1952.

Zika virus is biologically related to the dengue (den-GAY), yellow fever, West Nile, chikungunya (chi-koon-goon-ya, nothing to do with chicken gumbo), and Japanese encephalitis viruses. The bugs may not know it, but we have classified them in a group called flaviviruses. The word for yellow in Latin is flavus. The yellow fever virus, long and too well known, often causes a hepatitis and yellow jaundice. It was the first infection shown to be transmitted by mosquitoes. The above named infections often cause very different symptom pictures.

Zika is not as well studied as some of the others because it is thought to produce symptoms in only 1 of 5 infected people. The picture is usually a mild fever, headache, a non-specific measles-like rash that can itch, red eyes, and joints and muscle aches. This is easily confused with a milder form of dengue (breakbone) fever. It lasts about 4-7 days. There are virtually no deaths documented, but its true potential is yet unknown. The recent explosion of cases in Brazil particularly has shown a strongly suspected association between a pregnant woman being infected followed by delivery of her baby with a small skull and brain, called microcephaly (MIK-ro-SEF-a-lee), a very serious and usually life limiting birth defect.

The spread and infection potential with these flaviviruses is totally dependent on certain mosquito breeds. The primary varmint is Aedes (ah-AI-deez) aegypti. A sinister sidekick is Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. These inhabit most areas of the world where it is tropical or somewhat so. The number of infections they transmit among primates is remarkable. And, the infected skeeters stay alive (darn!). Their food/blood source is primarily primates. During dining they may inject any of the viruses they carry into our blood stream.

We help spread these infections from country to country by travel. But remember, if we get infected in one country, and travel elsewhere with the virus, nobody is going to get it directly from us. However, if the area has Aedes type mosquitoes there already, these could feed on us, become infected with the virus, then inject it into another person, who in turn becomes a new source of virus. We do not get infected from each other, except perhaps on very rare occasions. Based on 2 documented cases, it is suspected that it may pass from male semen to females through intercourse. The virus has been found in semen of infected men.

Zika virus stayed pretty confined to a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia until 2014, when it appeared in the South Pacific islands. From there it hopped to Easter Island, then to Mexico and Central America. Mosquitoes can travel as stowaways on ships, a long known way for them to colonize new territories. In the southern U.S we have A. aegytpti. The A. albopictus has a greater range in the US. These will do their dining in the daytime, more in the morning and toward evening. In the winter, not so much, especially in Minnesota.

The types of mosquitoes which transmit the virus have not been detected in our area. It is only speculation whether our Minne mosquitoes could acquire the virus from infected humans. (You can have our mosquitoes. I dont want them!)

There seems to be a strong association between microcephaly and the Zika virus in Brazil because of the remarkable increase in the number of cases of both. Going from about 150 new microcephaly babies a year to almost 4,000 is red flag. However, a true cause and effect relationship has yet to be proven. This situation has set in motion global concerns since nobody has any idea how these cases increased, and what more will develop.

Our perspective needs to be one of concern but not fear, and for now to heed the advice to limit travel to countries reporting the virus infections if you are female and able to get pregnant. Nothing more than that for us Mineesohtans so far. I am going to repeat a question Ive asked in the past: why didnt Noah just swat those two mosquitoes?
Six weeks, more or less, until spring. Whos counting? I am, but I have a stack of books to see me through.

If you need suggestions for your own reading list, here are nine good prospects, all new in paperback, all stories that will keep you absorbed, regardless of the wind and weather. All quotes are from Seattle Times reviews.

Fiction

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (Back Bay Books, $17.99). This book has a backstory  its a sequel to Atkinsons masterpiece, Life After Life, the story of Ursula, an English girl fated to live her life over and over again. A God in Ruins takes up the story of Ursulas beloved younger brother Teddy  poet, pilot, husband, father, grandfather  as he survives World War II, only to face a confounding and uncertain future. Transcendent, said reviewer Moira Macdonald.

Funny Girl by Nick Hornby (Riverhead, $16). Need a mood-lightener to get you through until spring? Try out this story of a young working-class Englishwoman and her transformation into a 1960s British television star. Adam Woog wrote that Hornby knows a thing or two about vivid, incisive, unpretentious storytelling. Funny Girl proves it  his fluent voice, sincere love of popular culture, and very big heart come through loud and clear in a Times review.

Black River by S.M. Hulse (Mariner, $14.95). A former prison guard returns to his Montana hometown to attend the parole hearing of a convict who held him hostage during a prison riot. Times reviewer Barbara Lloyd McMichael called Black River one of the best books of 2015. Hulse lives in Spokane.

World Gone By by Dennis Lehane (Morrow, $16.99). The third in Lehanes noirish trilogy about Joe Coughlin, a Florida businessman/gangster, who thinks he has cemented his place in the legit world. Complications ensue. A dark book to be sure, but the writing is taut, suspenseful and intense. Stephen King called it the best gangster novel since The Godfather.

Prudence by David Treuer (Riverhead, $16). This lyrical and suspenseful novel begins with the discovery of a young Indian womans body near a rustic Minnesota resort, then flashes back through World War II and its impact on the lives of whites, Native Americans and a German POW imprisoned in the area. Reviewer Agnes Torres Al-Shibibi wrote that Ojibwe author David Treuer (Rez Life and The Translation of Dr. Apelles) beautifully captures a place and an era.

Nonfiction

Leaving Before the Rains Come by Alexandra Fuller (Penguin, $17). Fuller, author of the unforgettable Dont Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight, continues her string of compelling memoirs with an account of the disintegration of her marriage, tracing the threads back to her African childhood. In a review, Brian Thomas Gallagher said that Its rare that a life can bear more than one, let alone three, memoirs, but such is the power of Alexandra Fullers story  and her way of telling it.

Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink (Broadway Books, $17). This is the harrowing true story of what happened at a New Orleans hospital after Hurricane Katrina, when exhausted doctors and nurses struggled with life-and-death decisions. Fink won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting for The New York Times article that Five Days at Memorial is based on; the books many honors include the National Book Critics Circle Award. Fink is a physician and medical journalist whose work with her New York Times colleagues on West Africas Ebola outbreak earned another Pulitzer.

Bettyville: A Memoir by George Hodgman (Penguin, $17). Bettyville tells what happens when a cultured, gay Manhattan man returns to his hometown of Paris, Mo., to become caretaker for his mother Betty, a woman of indomitable will and wit who is hanging on to her (and Hodgmans childhood) home for dear life. A most remarkable, laugh-out-loud book, said The New York Times. Hodgman discusses his book, one of this years National Book Critics Circle finalists for memoir., at 7 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 3 at Seattles Elliott Bay Book Co. (206-624-6600 or elliottbaybook.com).

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer (Anchor, $16.95). Former Seattle resident Krakauer investigates a string of rapes in Missoula, home of the University of Montana. He tells an unflinching story of the skepticism of the cops and courts toward the victims stories, their determination to push their cases forward and the price they paid.
There have been plenty of changes in Winona over the past 30 years.

The city has seen business growth, the Pelzer Street overpass, the creation of a business park in what used to be swamps on the east end, the interstate bridge project, work to revitalize downtown Winona, and more.

Winona city manager Judy Bodway has been at the center of that growth and change.

Bodway will end her over 30-year career with the city this month, with her last day set for Feb. 19. Bodway, 63, spent the majority of her time serving cities in Winona  27 years  working first as the citys Community Development Director, starting in 1984.

Prior to that she worked as a city planner in Rockford, Ill., after graduating from the University of Minnesota in Duluth with a degree in urban development.

Bodway was the first to hold the position of the citys community and economic development director, one of several firsts she marked in the community over the years.

Eric Sorensen, city manager from 1987 to 2010, said he discovered Bodways capabilities immediately after being hired.

She was excellent at her communitys development, Sorensen said. She was considered one of the best community developers in Minnesota.

Bodways ability to collaborate with local and state interests was part of the decision to made the director of community development the overseer of economic development, planning and building inspections, so they could be more streamlined.

Bodway said she enjoyed working in community development, which kept her around longer than the five to 10-year stop she imagined when she arrived in Winona.

I came here and I loved it, Bodway said.

She hadnt planned on making a change  but then an opportunity arrived.

When Sorensen retired, his successor lasted less than a year in the city manager role, and in 2011 the Winona City Council asked Bodway if she would consider serving as the interim manager.

Bodway hadnt applied to be considered for the job.

I was happy in what I was doing, Bodway said. And not looking to make that change.

But she took the position, and was soon named to be be the manager permanently, in the process becoming the Winonas first woman city manager.

I was honored to be asked, Bodway said. Ive been blessed to work as city manager as long as I have.

Bodway said there are many projects shes been involved with that stick out, including cleaning up and reusing old industrial sites through Winonas Port Authority, developing the commercial east end, and seeing rounds of redevelopment downtown in recent years, including at Levee Park.

Were now recognized as a regional community, Bodway said.

Lucy McMartin, who took over for Bodway as Economic Development Director, said while working with Bodway for almost 30 years she has learned a lot.

Judy is excellent to work with, McMartin said. Its been an honor to work with her and learn from her. She definitely served as a mentor to me.

McMartin said they have had similar careers and worked together in housing, community and economic development, and the Port Authority.

She has a passion for development, McMartin said. Thats her love, I think, the development side of things.

McMartin said Bodway always had a desire to continue learning about business needs and oppurtunities.

Now, Bodway said, that passion will be directed at continuing improvements in the community of Winona, where she plans to stay.

Bodway was the first woman to become a member of the Winona Rotary Club, which she hopes to continue to work with, in addition to picking up other projects.

Bodway said that volunteerism was always a part of her interests here, as its allowed her to meet people and connect with the community.

She said her decision to leave at this time was what felt right. The city had just finished a budget cycle, and it would be a good time for someone to come in.

I thought it was time for me to be done, Bodway said.

Bodway said she hopes the city can continue its momentum in growth and economic development, particularly given the perennial challenge of being landlocked.

If you want to continue to grow, Bodway said, that has to be a serious discussion.

I was honored to be asked. Ive been blessed to work as city manager as long as I have. Judy Bodway, retiring Winona city manager
IOWA CITY, Iowa  More than a dozen states, including Minnesota, have strengthened laws over the past two years to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, a rare area of consensus in the nations highly polarized debate over guns.

Lawmakers and governors of both parties have supported bills stripping gun rights from those who have been convicted of domestic violence-related crimes or are subject to protective orders. The measures have been backed by victims advocates, law enforcement groups and gun control supporters who see easy access to firearms as a major contributor to domestic violence killings.

Similar proposals are expected to be debated in several states this year.

Domestic violence is definitely an area where there is the most agreement between the gun lobby and gun-violence prevention advocates, said Allison Anderman, staff attorney with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in San Francisco.

The National Rifle Association has taken a cautious approach toward such bills, opposing the farthest-reaching measures but staying neutral or negotiating compromises on others. For example, the NRA has fought provisions that would require people to surrender their guns before they have a chance to contest allegations made in a request for an emergency protective order.

There is no evidence that simply taking away peoples guns without a fair hearing makes the victims any safer, NRA spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen said.

The push in the states is driven by stories of women and children killed or wounded by known abusers, and by statistics showing that hostile relationships often turn deadly when guns are present.

An average of 760 Americans were killed with guns annually by spouses, ex-spouses or dating partners between 2006 and 2014, according to an Associated Press analysis of FBI and Florida data. Floridas statistics are not included in the FBIs report, which covers all other states and District of Columbia, but were analyzed separately by AP.

The total is an undercount because not all law enforcement agencies report such information, and it doesnt include children and other bystanders who were killed. More than 80 percent of those killed were women.

The system failed my son, and I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure it never happens to another child or another woman, said Hollie Ayers, 44, a Pennsylvania woman whose 2-year-old son, Michael, was shot and killed in front of her by her abusive ex-husband in 2013. Michaels life to me was priceless. If you can at least reduce the amount of homicides, this is a no-brainer to me.

Ayers, who was shot in the face and the leg, said she constantly thinks about her son, who loved tractors and puzzles. Her ex-husband killed himself after the rampage.

Ayers had warned that he had guns and had said that he, his ex-wife and the child would be better off dead before she obtained a permanent protection-from-abuse order, court records show. But the judge did not order her ex-husband to surrender his weapons, even after he violated the protective order.

Hollie Ayers is pushing for a Pennsylvania law that would require people to turn over their guns when judges issue protection orders against them.

Kim Stolfer, president of the Pennsylvania group Firearms Owners Against Crime, said his organization isnt on board with the idea yet. He said such legislation could be exploited by vindictive ex-spouses who level false allegations of abuse.

We need some balance, and its rapidly going the wrong way, he said.

In announcing executive action on gun control last month, President Barack Obama said protecting domestic abuse victims is one of his goals. His changes include strengthening the federal background check system, which has denied gun sales 120,000 times since 1998 because of domestic violence convictions.

Federal law has long prohibited felons, those convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse crimes and individuals subject to permanent protective orders from buying or owning guns. Critics say the federal law is too weak because it does not apply to dating relationships, does not ban guns during temporary protective orders and does not establish procedures for abusers to surrender firearms.

States have been passing their own laws to match or exceed the federal prohibitions, delighting gun control advocates.

Weve passed them in blue states, red states and purple states, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. We believe they are absolutely lifesaving.

Some of the strictest state laws create processes for seizing firearms from abusers and extend gun bans to stalkers, abusive dating partners and those who are subject to temporary protective orders.

Studies by public health researchers have generally concluded that such laws, when properly implemented, can reduce deaths.

Gun rights advocates say some of the laws are applied too broadly.

It encompasses everybody who has a one-time blip in their life, and all of a sudden their gun rights are taken away forever, said Wes Dunbar, an Iowa lawyer who has represented defendants upset over losing their ability to hunt.

There is no evidence that simply taking away peoples guns without a fair hearing makes the victims any safer. Catherine Mortensen, NRA spokeswoman
Strong quake hits Taiwan, killing 3; 221 rescued from rubble  TAIPEI, Taiwan  Rescuers in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan pulled out 221 people and three dead from a residential high-rise complex that collapsed when a shallow 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck before dawn Saturday, leaving still others trapped inside. Firefighters and soldiers scrambled with ladders, cranes and other equipment to the building that folded like an accordion in a pile of rubble and twisted metal and extracted dazed survivors. The emergency response center told The Associated Press that three people were killed, including a 10-day-old infant, a 55-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man. Taiwans official news agency said the infant and the man were pulled out of a 17-story Wei Guan residential building and that both were later declared dead. The agency said 256 people were believed to have been living in 92 households.

Former soldiers clash with protesters; 1 dead  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  A band of former Haitian soldiers clashed Friday with a far larger gathering of anti-government demonstrators in the troubled countrys capital, resulting in the killing of an ex-member of the abolished military amid an ongoing political crisis. About 100 veterans of Haitis disbanded military and some younger supporters paraded through downtown streets of Port-au-Prince on Friday. A number wore faded green uniforms and carried rifles and pistols. When the ragtag group of ex-soldiers in pickup trucks passed near an anti-government protest with a couple thousand participants the two sides shouted insults. Some protesters hurled rocks at them, prompting a few former soldiers to fire their weapons. It was not clear if any protesters were wounded.

Thousands more Syrians rush toward Turkey to flee fighting  BEIRUT  Thousands of Syrians rushed toward the Turkish border Friday, fleeing a fierce government offensive and intense Russian airstrikes near Syrias largest city of Aleppo. Turkey, an ally of the Syrian opposition, promised humanitarian help for the displaced civilians, including food and shelter, but it did not say whether it would let them cross into the country, already burdened with hundreds of thousands of refugees. The attacks and bombings by the Russian planes and the Syrian regime have left our brothers with nowhere else to go, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu said in a televised speech. The U.N. estimated that nearly 40,000 newly displaced people have massed in recent days in several border areas of northern Syria, including about 20,000 near the Bab al-Salam border crossing.
The goal of the Manufacturing Business Alliance of the Dodge County Region is to get more high school students to think about entering the field of manufacturing as a career.

There seems to be a disconnect with students at the high school level or recent graduates where there is a lack of interest in manufacturing careers, said Pam Korth, chair of the Manufacturing Business Alliance of the Dodge County Region.

In the past three years the alliance has ramped up tours of area manufacturing businesses as part of Manufacturing Days for area high school students. They also meet regularly with area schools, non-profit organizations and Moraine Park Technical College to talk about increasing the interest in manufacturing careers for high school students, Korth said.

What can we do to share our resources together and sustain the business growth in our region, MPTC dean of the Beaver Dam campus Matt Hurtienne said. Out of that came the Manufacturing Business Alliance.

The MBA continues to network and collaborate and recently worked with the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin to design and develop a poster campaign highlighting career opportunities in manufacturing. The posters were distributed and are on display at area schools, Korth said.

We have a need for people to enter the skilled trades and to stay in the area, Korth said.

It is not only in Dodge County alone, Hurtienne said. It is a national problem. We need educators and the business community to educate the youth about the great opportunities in manufacturing.

In addition to skilled trades positions, manufacturers hire a full array of positions including engineers and accountants.There is a whole range of opportunities in manufacturing, Korth said.

Manufacturing environments are brighter, more technical environments nowadays than people might realize, Hurtienne said.

The purpose of a technical college is to help support the economic needs of the district by providing training opportunities, Hurtienne said. A technical education is a great opportunity for students.

One opportunity started at MPTC over the last few years is Career Pathways. Through the program students in high school can begin classes at the school and work toward a technical degree, and maybe even a four-year degree.

There is a road map that is used so a student can visualize their career path, Hurtienne said.

A student will typically have a basic set of skills when they enter a career pathway, Hurtienne said. As they build on their skills they earn a certificate that will allow them to gain an entry level skills job. As the student continues to advance his/her education they then have the opportunity to earn money.

For example, if someone wants to become an automotive technician, he/she can first obtain a certificate to be a lube technician or automotive service attendant. This allows the student to be employable in his/her chosen field. He/she may then continue his/her education to be an automotive technician.

MBA will also be working with local high schools this August as teachers and staff have the opportunity to tour manufacturing facilities.

We need to continue the conversation, Hurtienne said.

One opportunity MPTC is offering is a Discover Moraine Park event, which will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Beaver Dam campus.

High school students, displaced workers and people looking to change careers are invited to attend. The event is free. Participants will learn about different programs of study offered at the college.

For more information about the event or to register, visit morainepark.edu/discover. (Registration is not necessary but is appreciated).




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By Pamela Toler (Regular Contributor)

As the official superintendent of the Union Armys newly minted nursing corps, Dorothea Dix had a clear vision of what her nurses should look like. Only women between the ages of thirty or thirty-five and fifty would be accepted. Neatness, order, sobriety and industry were required; matronly persons of experience, good conduct or superior education were preferred.

Dix turned away many able applicants because she thought they were too young, attractive, or frivolous. Twenty-three- year-old Cornelia Hancock, for instance, was preparing to board the train to Gettysburg with a number of women many years older than she was when Dix appeared on the scene to inspect the prospective nurses. She pronounced all of the nurses suitable except for Hancock, whom she objected to on the grounds of her youth and rosy cheeks. Hancock simply boarded the train while her companions argued with Dix. When she reached Gettysburg, three days after the battle, the need for nurses was so great that no one worried about her age or appearance. Too inexperienced to help with the physical needs of the soldiers, she went from wounded soldier to wounded soldier, paper, pencil and stamps in hand, and spent the first night writing farewell letters from soldiers to their families and friends. When wagons of provisions began to arrive, Hancock helped herself to bread and jelly, then divided loaves into portions that could be swallowed by weak and wounded men.

She quickly became accustomed to the realities of the battlefield, telling a cousin in a letter written on her second day in the field I do not mind the sight of blood, have seen limbs taken off and was not sick at all. In fact, she proved to be such a dedicated nurse that the wounded soldiers of Third Division Second Army Corps presented her with a silver medal inscribed Testimonial of regard for ministrations of mercy to the wounded soldiers at Gettysburg, Pa. -July 1863. (She also had a dance tune named after her, the Hancock Gallopa tribute that I suspect none of Dixs middled-aged matrons received from the soldiers under their care.)

Hancock worked as a nurse for the rest of the war, tending the wounded after the battle of the Wilderness, Fredericksburg, Port Royal, White House Landing, City Point and Petersburg. She was one of the first Union nurses to arrive in Richmond after its capture on April 3, 1865.

After the war, Hancock helped found a freedmans school in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where she taught ex-slaves for a decade. (At one point those who objected to the concept of education for black children riddled the schoolhouse with fifty bullets.) When she moved back north to Philadelphia, she helped found the Childrens Aid Society of Pennsylvania.

Hancock became a posthumous best-selling author in 1937, when her charming and insightful letters from the battlefield were published under the title South After Gettysburg. They are now available under the title Letters of a Civil War Nursewell worth the read if you are interested in Civil War nurses or daily life in a Union army camp behind the lines.

Wonders and Marvels is pleased to have several copies of The Heroines of Mercy Street by our own Pamela Toler for give away. Sign up below before 11:00 PM EST on February 29 for a chance to win. Please note can only ship to US addresses at this time.




Taffy Timbrelee Wheeler

By: Wayne Morin

(Scroll down for video) A woman was arrested on a charge of filing a false police report of a felony after allegedly making up a story about being raped in order to hide an affair from her husband, police in South Carolina said.

Myrtle Beach police said that they have arrested 31-year-old Taffy Timbrelee Wheeler, after being accused of making up a story about being raped by four man at the beach.

Wheeler was charged with one count of filing a false police report of a felony. She was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, and her bail was set at $1,000.

If convicted, Wheeler faces up to five years in prison and up to a $1,000 fine. According to the police investigation, Wheeler arranged to have sex with a coworker with whom she spent the night.

When she came home early in the morning, she told her husband that she was raped by four man during an early morning walk on the beach.

She called the police and reported the rape. Detectives became suspicious of her story during follow-up interviews. The information provided by the victim changed with each officer who spoke with her, police said.

Wheeler showed police where the rape occurred, but there were no signs of an assault occurring there. The sand was not disturbed and the impressions on the ground were foot prints.

Police also observed that the victim had no signs of physical injury. The victim said her face was forced into the sand, but there was no sand in her hair or ears when she was treated at a hospital.
UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned North Korea's latest rocket launch and urged it to "halt its provocative actions," Ban's press office said in a statement on Saturday.

"It is deeply deplorable that (North Korea) has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions on 6 February 2016 despite the united plea of the international community against such an act," the office said.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has said is a satellite. The UN Security Council plans to hold an emergency closed-door session on the North Korean launch on Saturday at 11am ET (4pm GMT).
SEOUL/TOKYO - North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has alledged is a satellite. However, North Korea's neighbours and Washington have denounced the launch as a missile test which has been conducted in defiance of UN sanctions, and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.

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The US Strategic Command reportedly detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit, quashing earlier media reports indicating that the rocket might have failed in flight.

North Korea said the launch of its satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a "complete success," and that it was making a polar orbit of the earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean missile launch (Photo: Reuters)

North Korea's state TV carried still pictures of a white rocket lifting off, and also pictures of Kim surrounded by cheering military officials at what appeared to be a command centre.

Kim Jong Un surrounded by military leaders (Photo: Reuters)

North Korea's last long-range rocket launch, in 2012, put what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but no signal has ever been detected from it.

"Everything we have seen is consistent with a successful repeat of the 2012 (launch)," said US missile technology expert John Schilling.

"But it's still too early to tell for sure," said Schilling, who is involved in the "38 North" North Korean monitoring project at Johns Hopkins University.

The rocket was launched at around 9:30am Seoul time (12:30am GMT) in a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

North Korean long range missile launch (Photo: Reuters)

North Korea had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said.

The United States tracked the rocket launch and said it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies, defense officials said.

Isolated North Korea had initially given a Feb. 8-25 time frame for the launch but on Saturday changed that to Feb. 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather on Sunday.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration called the launch "an epochal event in developing the country's science, technology, economy and defense capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

'Flagrant Violation'

The United States will work with the UN Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for its launch, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

Calling the launch a flagrant violation of UN resolutions on North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology, Kerry reaffirmed "ironclad" US defense commitments to allies Japan and South Korea and called the launch a destabilizing and unacceptable challenge to peace and security.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the launch an unforgivable act of provocation. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said there will be stepped up effort with the United States, Japan and Australia on sanctions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch "absolutely unacceptable", especially after North Korea had tested a nuclear device last month.

"We will respond resolutely, coordinating closely with the international community," he told reporters.

Japan had threatened to shoot down the rocket if it posed a direct threat, but in the end did not take any action, Japan's NHK reported.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the launch and urged North Korea to "halt its provocative actions".

Alledged North Korean ballistic missile as seen from China (Photo: AP)

China expressed regret and called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from taking steps that might further raise tension on the Korean peninsula. Although China is North Korea's main ally, it disapproves of its nuclear weapons program. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement, "China expresses regret that North Korea, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch."

North Korea has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the US West Coast, and

is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile.

Meanwhile, North Korea maintains that it has a sovereign right to pursue a space program.
Joint Arab List MK Haneen Zoabi was convicted on Sunday of insulting a public official and received a six months suspended sentence as part of a plea bargain.

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Zoabi was also slapped with a NIS 3,000 fine after she verbally attacked Arab police officers outside a courtroom.

According to the charge, on July 6, 2014, Zoabi was present during remand extension hearings at the Nazareth Magistrate's Court for two suspects arrested in the rioting that followed the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir.

Zoabi at court (Photo: Noam Moshkovitz)

Two Arab police investigators, Ehab Haddad and Bushur Amer, were at court to represent the police.

During a break, the two were standing outside the courtroom with Zoabi. She raised her voice and said that they were traitors who were sent to gather information and eavesdrop on people.

Zoabi then called out in Arabic to those present that they should work against the police because the two police officers were "Arabs in the service of the state."

The indictment also claims that Zoabi urged those present to spit in the policemen's faces, and said: "They are against our sons and daughters, they should not be among us. They should be afraid of us, of our youth that have been arrested because of the information they send."

As part of the plea deal Zoabi signed, the more serious charge of incitement was removed from the indictment, and the firebrand MK had to apologize.

Judge Lili Jung-Goffer stated that: "The fact the defendant was upset does not justify such a serious outburst against police officers. It is expected, especially from a public representative, to show restraint and take responsibility for the things coming out of her mouth, the results of which could be catastrophic."

The judge went on to say that "The defendant's claims that she has no personal interest in one police officer or another, and her interest is strictly political, do not detract from the severity of her words, as even if, according to her, she has no personal interest in the police officers, the harm caused to them was of personal nature, which is directly connected to these specific police officers and their identity as Arab police officers, and for that she needs to be punished."

Zoabi said that "this is an unnecessary decision, this entire trial is unnecessary. You're not going to find a lot of trials against MKs and public officials over insulting a public worker, there aren't any. That is why this is pure incitement. I'm fighting against the oppression of the regime, we're fighting against a racist policy, we're not fighting against people, which is why I apologized. It's unnecessary. We're standing up for our right to fight. These are police officers, anonymous, minor, who implement policies. I have nothing against them, that's why it's all unnecessary."

Zoabi made headlines last week as well after she and her Balad colleagues Jamal Zahalka, and Basel Ghattas met with families of terrorists , leading many in the public and political spheres called to revoke their immunity.

On Sunday, Zoabi insisted that "Bodies are bodies and need to be returned to the families. It doesn't matter if it's the body of a Jew or an Arab."

"There are bodies held by Israel for four months now," she bemoaned. "We've spoke to Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and confronted him. We hope he'll meet our demands."

She angrily evaded the question of whether Hamas needs to return to bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, captured during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit instructs police to examine the possibility of taking disciplinary action against Balad MKs Jamal Zahalka, Haneen Zoabi and Basel Ghattas, after the three met with the families of terrorists who attacked Israelis.

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The meeting, held last week, began with a minute of silence in memory of the shahids (martyrs) - the terrorists - whose bodies have still not been returned by Israel, Palestinian media reported.

Attorney General Mandelblit will examine whether the meeting included displays of support in terrorism, which would warrant a criminal investigation by the police, or whether to keep the issue within the purview of the Knesset's Ethics Committee. The MKs, meanwhile, deny that they had any criminal intent.

Balad Party MKs Haneen Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka and Basel Ghattas meet with relatives of terrorists (Photo: Arab media)

Mandelblit's examination will focus on the fact the Balad party advertised the existence of the meeting on social media.

Legal officials said Saturday night that it is unlikely that a criminal investigation will follow, as the matter is one of unbecoming, provocative and insensitive conduct, which appears to be within the limits of free speech and the MKs' immunity. It seems that the MKs' immunity also covers the moment of silence at the meeting.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Marc Israel Sellem)

Mandelblit was instructed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to examine what legal actions may be taken against the MKs.

The harshest punishment the Ethics Committee can impose is banning the MKs from parliamentary work for a period of up to six months, excluding voting.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein asked the public to file formal complaints to the Ethics Committee. Close to 200 complaints have been filed, and in an unprecedented action, Netanyahu and Edelstein also plan to file a harsh personal complaint against the three MKs.

It is the right of anyone who was offended to turn to the Knesset for an inquiry, Edelstein said, noting that the meeting was a serious blow to the Israeli Knesset and the State of Israel.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Meanwhile, at the Knesset, more and more calls have been made to revoke the immunity of the three MKs.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on Saturday said that, the Balad party members use their parliamentary immunity to incite and support terrorism. There is no doubt that this is an abuse of their parliamentary immunity as Knesset members in a democratic country. We must not accept this.

Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabai stated that he will not cooperate with Balads MKs in any Knesset activity, while Meretz MK Ilan Gilon, said that the MKs belonging to Balad have gone off the path. I am saddened that in their way they decide to weaken the voices calling for peace and its supporters in Israel.

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman mocked MKs and ministers starting with the prime minister and downward, including the ministers from the Likud and Bayit Yehudi who he said did not support his legislation proposals against Zoabis running for Knesset, and in a post on Facebook he even posted a picture of Netanyahu with the Arab MKs.

The Balad MKs claimed at the end of last week that they answered the families call to meet in order to discuss the ways to bring the bodies of their children to burial.

We just met with the families to solve a human problem, Ghattas said. In our eyes. they are shahids. This is our culture. We are a people under occupation that is fighting for its freedom - anybody who is killed in order to be free of occupation is called a shahid.

MK Zahalka claimed on Saturday that the meeting was not to offer their condolences, accusing the prime minister of incitement. We went just to deal with the return of the bodies, Zahalka told Yedioth Ahronoth.

He also claimed that every meeting and gathering starts with a minute of silence to honor the Palestinian fallen, whoever they may be.

Zahalka expressed regret that the meeting was made public, we wanted to solve the problem, not to cash on anything.

The Joint Arab List, of which the Balad members belong to, rejected the incitement and attacks against the MKs and called for the release of the bodies. The meeting was intended to advance a humanitarian issue of the first degree. Burial of the dead, whoever they may be, is a humane and religious commandment in the three religions, and thus we are calling for the release of the bodies as soon as possible.

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, who is in charge of returning bodies of Palestinians from the West Bank, and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who is responsible for returning the bodies of Israeli Arabs living within the Green Line, disagree on whether or not to return terrorists bodies for burial.

Erdan supports delaying the return of the bodies in order to prevent the funerals from turning into displays of hatred and incitement for terror. Erdan conditions the return of the bodies in the families committing to hold a quiet and small funeral at night in exchange for a financial guarantee. On the other side of the divide, the IDF's policy is to return the bodies of terrorists to the Palestinians, claiming that holding them would only encourage unrest.
President Reuven Rivilin will open the Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynet Conference on the Fight Against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction Movement (BDS), it was announced on Friday.

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The conference take place on March 28 at the International Convention Center (Binyanei Hauma) in Jerusalem. The event is open to the public, and it is possible to register for the event by clicking on this link.

Swedish call for boycott against Israel (Photo: Shutterstock)

The international conference is part of the campaign the newspaper launched eight months ago to combat BDS. Yedioth Ahronoth published several articles under the headline "Fighting the Boycott," which feature interviews with the people on the front line in the fight against the boycott movement and those who are adversely affected by it, in depth investigations revealing the inner workings of the movement, and a useful guide for Israelis living outside of the country on how to combat and deal with BDS organizations.

The goal of the conference is to discuss the fight against BDS, and to give the attendees the tools with which to battle the movement in various ways, including: politically, economically, culturally, through the use of the law, and hasbara (public relations).

High ranking ministers, scientists, and key figures in the fields of diplomacy, academia, culture, and the economy and law from Israel and around the world will also speak at the conference, alongside journalists and analysts from Yedioth Ahronoth.

The conference will feature lectures, panel discussions, and workshops on different subjects affected by the fight against BDS. The various speakers will discuss what can be done in terms of fighting the boycott on its different fronts - including threat emanating from the European market, dealing with the movement on the campuses of prestigious universities in the US, fighting the pressure on artists not to perform in Israel, and even the fight against the de-legitimization of Israel in the halls of international justice at The Hague.

Those who have experienced first hand the academic, economic, and cultural boycott will speak about the dire implications of the movement - not only the personal implications, but the national implications as well. There will also be group discussions on various subjects, including determining where to draw the line between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and questioning the legitimacy of the existence of Israel.

Related stories:

Over the last decade, the BDS movement has been taking hold of politicians throughout the Western world, and has created serious issues for the State of Israel and its citizens. Protests against Israel are becoming more common at leading universities in the West, and it is not unlikely that the students who today scream against the "apartheid" and "genocide" which they allege Israel of committing will become key political and economic figures in the future.

The "silent boycott," which is being carried out by a host of leading academic institutions, threatens to close off Israel from the world of academia, and put a stop to cooperation in the field of scientific research. Europe's decision to label products produced beyond the Green Line is just one example of the economic and commercial boycott against Israel, which is beginning to tighten and strengthen. The cultural boycott, whose prime propagator is Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters , only serves to magnify the feeling of frustration from the movement.

Those involved in this fight warn that these are critical moments in the war on BDS. However, it is not too late to establish an organized, all-encompassing answer to the movement, using all the tools available. A worldwide call to arms must be issued, as the battle will be conducted at all levels: through quiet and overt diplomacy, harnessing countries with whom there is a strategic partnership with Israel, legislative initiatives in different countries, increasing hasbara efforts, and recruiting the Diaspora and other communities around the world, just to name a few. It is the hope that this conference will be the first shot in the war against the BDS movement, a war where there is no other option but to win.

The availability of seats at the conference is limited, therefore participation is dependent upon prior registration.
The Islamic authority that oversees a sensitive Jerusalem holy site said Sunday it opposes a new prayer area for non-Orthodox Jews at the adjacent Western Wall. "We will never accept it," said al-Aqsa compound director Omar Kiswani.

Kiswani said a complaint was filed with Israeli police and further steps were being considered.

The Waqf's rejection may present an obstacle for Israel which has tried to defuse tensions with more liberal streams of Judaism who have demanded the right to pray at the wall according to their customs. After three years of negotiations, Israel announced the creation of the new prayer area last week.
Less than half of the Palestinians support a third intifada, a recent poll has shown, compared to 63 percent who supported the violence at the beginning of the current escalation.

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According to the survey, conducted last week in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, only 42 percent of Palestinians support a third intifada, a sharp drop from the 63 percent who supported it in November.

However, the question that was posed to respondents focused on an intifada that has not yet erupted. Perhaps the intention is for an armed intifada similar to the second intifada.

Palestinian riots in Bethlehem (Photo: Reuters)

The survey was conducted by Awrad, a Palestinian research institute that is considered reliable and prestigious, and whose publications are taken seriously.

Despite frequent threats by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other officials in the Palestinian Authority to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and return control over the territory to Israel, the survey found that only 14 percent support such a move, while 79 percent are against it.

The survey also examined the politicial views of the Palestinians, finding that if elections were held today in the West Bank and Gaza, Fatah would win over Hamas. In the presidential elections, Abbas would win 36 percent of the vote compared to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who would only get 22 percent. But none of them should rest on their laurels, because 41 percent of the Palestinians said that they have yet to decide for whom to vote or whether to vote at all.

Even in the parliamentary elections, if they were held today, Fatah would defeat Hamas. According to the survey, 39 percent would vote for Fatah compared with only 17 percent for Hamas. Here also, a number of undecided voters who are did not decide or those who said they would not vote is high, at 34 percent.

This statistic that should worry Hamas in Gaza is that 92 percent of Gazans support holding elections, suggesting dissatisfaction on their part. Another factor that strengthens this belief that 56 percent of Gazans agree with Abbas's claim that Hamas is not interested in establishing a national unity government and holding elections.

Two terrorists who carried out an attack at the Damascus Gate. Support is waning. (Photo: )

The survey further found that 58 percent of Palestinians are unconcerned about a scenario in which Abbas resigns. Two-thirds of them believe that if they do so, the preferred option is to conduct elections in order to find a replacement. A solid majority also believes that there is a need to resume the post of vice president, which is not currently manned. According to the Palestinian constitution, the vice president replaces the president if he resigns, dies, or is unable to fulfill his duties.

In general, most respondents believe that Palestinian society is not going in the correct direction. Two-thirds of West Bank residents indicated that they feel that the security situation has deteriorated in their area of residence.

This survey is likely to be met with relief at the Muqata in Ramallah, after a poll conducted by another surveyor, Khalil Shikaki, published in December raised the alarming claim that two-thirds of Palestinians support armed struggle against Israel and showing a steep drop in support for Abbas.

Shikaki's survey shocked Ramallah and led Abbas to make series of statements signaling hope and appealing to the younger generation. It contrasted with the despair expressed in his speech in the UN General Assembly that according to some estimates was one of the catalysts that led to the outbreak of escalation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on the world to condemn an arson attack against a makeshift synagogue in the West Bank where Torah scrolls were burned.

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The scrolls were stored inside a tent that was used as a synagogue near a West Bank outpost that overlooked the site where the bodies of three Jewish teenagers were found in June 2014. Their abduction and murder was carried out by Hamas terrorists and set off a series of events that ultimately led to that summer's 50-day Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.

Netanyahu said this weekend's desecration of the makeshift synagogue that was named after the teenagers was a result of the type of Palestinian incitement that has fed the current five-month-long wave of Palestinian violence.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Emil Salman)

"We will do everything to find who did this and bring them to justice but I expect all those, here and around the world, who justifiably condemn any desecration of a mosque ... to equally cry out about this heinous act," he said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting.

On Sunday, a Judea and Samaria Police Fire Department team determined that the fire at the makeshift synagogue was the result of arson.

Vandalism of mosques and churches, mostly blamed on Jewish extremists, have been a common occurance in Israel, but attacks on synagogues have been rare.

The Anti-Defamation League, a US group that battles anti-Semitism worldwide, called the incident "an act of anti-Semitism."

Education Minister Naftali Bennett said that "the images of burnt holy books in a synagogue are taken straight out of the darkest nights of our people's history."

The violence continued Sunday with an IDF soldier stabbed in Ashkelon and his attacker shot dead.
Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz on Saturday implied that there is official cooperation between the Israeli and Egyptian governments in the fight against Hamas, saying that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi "flooded part of the Hamas tunnels, to a certain extent at the request of Israel." Steinitz soon backtracked, saying his remarks had been misunderstood.

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Egyptian children walk on the remains of a flooded tunnel

Israel and Egypt have been trying for months to downplay the security cooperation between the two countries and dampen any news on the subject.

Steinitz's comments came after he was asked at a Be'er Sheva event about the problem of tunnels in the south and contacts with Egypt. According to the minister, "flooding is a good solution for that area. This is not a solution for an area of 70-60 kilometers. Al-Sisi did that, to some degree to our request. "

Minister Yuval Steinitz (Photo: Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90)

Steinitz referred extensively to the links and security coordination with the Egyptians, which he said have greatly improved in recent times. "The security coordination between Israel and Egypt is better than ever," he said, adding that Israel "will not necessarily know about each and every tunnel and shaft." He added that "there is a tremendous effort to produce a technology that copes with the underground threat."

President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (Photo: AP)

Steinitz declined to comment on whether Israel has had a part in the collapse of Hamas tunnels in recent weeks, in which members of the special tunnels unit established by the Hamas terrorist organization in recent years were killed. When Steinitz said that Egypt flooded the tunnels to some extent at the request of Israel, he violated military censor guidelines . Steinitz is at present an observer at the Political-Security Cabinet without the right to vote and is privy to every secret discussion in the restricted forum. Prime Minister Netanyahu is interested in promoting him to full membership, but this initiative has not succeeded yet.

After Steinitz's remarks received broad attention, the minister was quick to declare that people interpreting him as saying that the Egyptian flooding was the result of Israeli prodding had misunderstood him.

This denial of the statements that were made before cameras and a crowd of hundreds of people is rare, and there were those within the political system who wondered whether this announcement folloewd a rebuke from the prime minister for embarrassing the Egyptians. Steinitz's office and the Prime Minister's Office denied that the minister was reprimanded.
DUBAI - There are several detained dual citizens in Iran, most of whom face espionage charges, the judiciary spokesman was quoted as saying on Sunday, although he did not give details of any individual cases.

The comments come after an Iranian-British former BBC journalist, Bahman Daroshafaei, was detained last week in Tehran. His family said on Saturday they had not been informed of any charges against him.

"We have several dual citizens in jail. Their charges are mostly the same (as Rezaian's)," the judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.
A new music video aired on Sunday on Hamas's al-Aqsa TV network urges the resumption of suicide bombings on Israelis. The video shows portraits of Yahya Ayyash (Hamas's deceased chief bombmaker) and the murderers of the Henkin couple, and a blackened Egged bus billowing smoke.

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The Lebanese band responsible for the video, the Promise of Islamic Art, was formed in 1992, and is affiliated with Hamas. It has written numerous songs that support the organization and its military wing.

X

Last week, Hamas praised the attack in Jerusalem that killed 19-year-old Border Policewoman Hadar Cohen, one of the most well-organized attacks in recent months: "We welcome the action that the three heroic fighters performed in occupied Jerusalem.

Rising smoke

"This is a blow to the Israeli security forces, as the three heroes came from Jenin to Jerusalem and were able to enter the city despite roadblocks that are spread throughout the West Bank," continued the Hamas statement. "This operation proves that the Palestinian people insist on continuing the Intifada despite all obstacles, and is also a clear message to the occupation, whereby further harm to the Al Aqsa mosque will not quietly be ignored. "

"Egged Transportation" written on the bus

The infammatory video comes at a time of mounting tension on the Gaza border. Ismail Haniyeh recently hinted that Hamas was digging tunnels towards Israel east of Gaza City, while another Hamas official said that the tunnels have already crossed the border into Israel. "The tunnels reach a depth beyond the Gaza Strip," said Zahar. "The land that was occupied in '48 is not safe.
While fellow members of the Joint Arab List have been visiting terrorists' families, MK Ahmed Tibi has been meeting over the past few days with White House and State Department officials in Washington, DC.

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"Simultaneously with our struggle within Israel, the Knesset and outside it, it is necessary to spread the word regarding the Arab public's situation and distress to the international community, including the United States," said Tibi.

Tibi met with Robert Malley, President Obama's chief advisor on the Middle East and other senior officials. At the State Department, Tibi met with Frank Lowenstein, special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations, and Christopher Henzel, director of the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs.

MK Ahmed Tibi

Tibi also met with Arab ambassadors in Washington and asked them to help develop and strengthen Arab society.

Tibi focused his comments on what he termed "the institutionalized discrimination against Arab citizens in all walks of life, including the demolition of homes, the lack of employment and racist legislation.

"Once again I found a lack of knowledge on our social and political situation, and this requires all of us to increase our efforts in the important international forum," he said.

Tibi's hosts wanted to hear his evaluation of the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the MK said that "there is not a single member of the current Israeli government, including Netanyahu, who publicly supports the vision of the two states and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, whereas all the Palestinian ministers support that vision."
Gaza-based Palestinian terror group Hamas on Sunday executed a member who allegedly gave Israel the hideout of Mohammed Deif, leader of the group's military wing, during 2014's Operation Protective Edge.

Hamas announced that they executed Mahmoud Eshtewi because of what they dubbed offenses of conduct and ethics. The nature of the offense was not given, but it is likely that Eshtewi was suspected of collaborating with Israel.

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Hamas operatives about to execute 'collaborators' (Archive photo)

Eshtewi , a well-known commander from the eastern Gaza neighborhood of Zeitoun, was a battalion commander of the Hamas military wing. Eshtewi was arrested over a year ago as part of the investigation inyothe attempted targeted killing of Deif. During his lengthy detention, his family held several protests in front of the house of Ismail Haniyeh, deputy political leader of the group, until they were attacked by Hamas security forces.

Mohammed Deif

This is a family that has had deep historic roots in the military wing of Hamas ever since its inception. Ashtiwi began a hunger strike during this detention. The execution was the first time that the military wing of Hamas publicly announced such a proceeding against one of its own members.

During Operation Protective Edge, Israel launched several missiles at a house in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in which Deif was believed to be holing up. Hamas claimed that the attack, which killed Deif's wife and son, was a breach of the ceasefire between the two sides. Israeli officials have confirmed that the Dief was targeted but declined to speculate on whether he had been injured in the attack. To this day, his fate remains murky, and Hamas insists that the master terrorist is alive and well.

Aftermath of strike on Deif's residence, 2014 (Photo: AFP)

Hamas said in a short Twitter statement that Eshtewi was killed after he confessed. It said the decision to kill Eshtewi, who was detained in January 2015, was taken by its "military and religious judiciary," a previously unheard-of department.

Deif survived four previous assassination attempts that left him crippled. In 2001, Israel tried to eliminate Deif for the first time, but he escaped and survived. A year later, the second attempt was made: an IDF Apache helicopter fired two missiles at the Deif's car. One of them hit a vehicle and Deif was wounded in the head and in other places, and went through a rehabilitation process underground.

In 2003, a few months after he had slowly returned to action, a secret meeting of the Hamas leadership convened at the home of Marwan Abu Ras in Gaza City. The meeting was attended by Deif, Ismail Haniyeh and Ahmed Yassin, among others. Following information obtained by Israel, a fighter jet from the Air Force flew to the Gaza Strip and fired a rocket at the house, but the missile hit the wrong floor of the building and all the senior leaders, including Deif, survived.

The last attempt to eliminate Deif occurred in 2006. In the middle of the night on July 12, just hours before the abduction of IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser by Hezbollah in Lebanon, the heads of the Hamas military wing met in a house in the Gaza Strip. The conference was held on the lower floor of the house, assuming it was the safest floor in case of an air attack. After the resulting defense intelligence on the existence of the meeting, a fighter plane was sent and dropped a bomb on the house. Ten people who were killed in the attack, but the military wing's leaders survived. Deif was wounded again, and apparently some of his arms and legs were amputated.
The United Nations Security Council on Sunday condemned North Korea's latest rocket launch and vowed to take "significant measures" in response to Pyongyang's violations of UN resolutions, Venezuela's UN ambassador said.

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this launch," Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, president of the council this month, told reporters. He said the launch was "a serious violation of Security Council resolutions." US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters: "We will ensure that the Security Council imposes serious consequences. DPRK's (North Korea) latest transgressions require our response to be even firmer."
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Over the last year, consumers have witnessed Google tie-up with tech-leaders like LG and Huawei to launch their 2015 Nexus phones, LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P, respectively.

Though others might be seeing that Google will continue with its foregoing strategy of partnering up with other manufacturers, some sources are likely to tell otherwise.

To take full control of what Apple does to it devices, this year might not yet be the best time for Google to follow that scheme.

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Pocket-lint revealed in its report that although full control over the Nexus might not be Google's plan for this year, the tech-giant is eyeing to be taking a larger control rather, both in hardware and software design. The report also stated that it would be partnering up with HTC to manufacture the two upcoming smartphones.

It can be recalled that the Google-HTC partnership wouldn't be a first for the 2016 Nexus as HTC also manufactured the first Nexus phone, Nexus One, in 2010 and the first Nexus tablet, Nexus 9 last 2014, MobiPicker reported.

As for the release date, Nexus smartphones are usually unveiled together with the new Android OS so it is most likely that the same thing will happen for 2016. Pocket-lint suggested the announcement may come sometime in September and the phones will finally be out by October.

For the specifications of the new Nexus phones, there hadn't been any clear details regarding this information but Pocket-lint claimed that a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor might appear in one of the devices as well as an ID sensor, a USB Type-C and a reliable camera.

According to MobiPicker, the two smartphones will obviously come in different screen sizes, one in a 5-inch display and the other in a 5.5-inch screen, with the latter having the most advance specifications and the former being the more affordable option.
This month the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) will consider the proposed second dry cask storage pad at Vermont Yankee. This concrete pad would support the remaining reinforced concrete and steel casks containing spent reactor fuel.Vermont Yankee plans to self-finance the $145 million project, and is willing to begin the fuel transfer two years earlier than planned. The pads approval was a condition of the 2013 Entergy/State of Vermont Settlement Agreement providing $50 million of redevelopment funds to Vermont.This pad is a very big deal for all concerned. Without it, the decommissioning cannot proceed as planned and recently found acceptable by the USNRC. A PSB denial could conceivably place at risk the Settlement Agreement and all of its benefits. Although Vermont Yankee does not produce electricity anymore, approving this spent fuel storage site is an important next step in the decommissioning process.Ironically, this pad at Vermont Yankee shouldnt be necessary. Thirty years ago, Congress promised Americans a national spent fuel repository. Billions of dollars have since been collected from the industry, but no repository has been opened. Spent fuel at all U.S. nuclear plants remains onsite.Recently a faint light appeared at the end of this long, dark tunnel. Two high-level nuclear waste storage sites have been proposed in the American southwest. One or both sites could open within 5-10 years, according to State Nuclear Engineer Anthony Leshinskie. This plan merits the support of Vermonts federal delegation. Meanwhile, the spent fuel storage site should equally be supported by the PSB.Guy PageCommunications DirectorVermont Energy PartnershipThe Vermont Energy Partnership ( www.vtep.org ) is a diverse group of more than 90 business, labor, and community leaders committed to finding clean, affordable and reliable electricity solutions. Its mission is to educate policy makers, the media, businesses, and the general public about why electricity is imperative for prosperity, and about the optimal solutions to preserve and expand our electricity network. Entergy, owner of Vermont Yankee, is a member of the Vermont Energy Partnership.
Without physically being in a battlefield, the chaos and brutality of war can often seem abstract and remote to us. The concept of collateral damage during a war can also become merely statistics and headlines. That detachment is completely diminished when you watch Danish writer-director Tobias Lindholm 's third feature(Krigen | Denmark 2015 | in Danish | 115 min.). Nominated for best foreign language film Oscar , this intelligent and thought-provoking film vividly decodes those concepts with a story in Afghanistan's war zone, and shows us how the war continues after the soldiers come home. You can't help but wonder what you would do if you were in the same position as the film's protagonist.

Stationed in a remote village in Afghanistan and led by Commander Claus Pedersen (Pilou Asbk), a Danish company routinely patrols the empty mountain roads to keep Taliban out of sight. When a soldier is blown up by an IED, the entire team is devastated, especially Lutfi "Lasse" Hassan (Dulfi Al-Jabouri) who is visibly shaken. One soldier bluntly complaints to Claus that the patrol is pointless and only exposes them to grave danger. However, Claus sees it differently. He believes their presence outside the camp is crucial for the locals to feel safe from the Taliban.

Back home, Claus's wife Maria (Tuva Novotny) struggles to take care of their three young children. Claus's absence in their daily routines starts to show significant impact on their growing up. Despite the difficulties Claus's young children may face, their lives exhibit a sharp contrast to the lives of the children Claus encounters in Afghanistan.

One day, when Claus leads his company into a village, they are under furious attacks from the Taliban and Lasse is severely injured. Desperately trying to end the enemy fire and to save Lasse's life, Claus calls for air support which leads to tragic consequences that everyone must confront.

After making acclaimed "A Hijacking" (Kapringen 2012), the writer-director Tobias Lindholm once again tells a gripping story by taking us right next to those soldiers as if we were the cameras mounted on their helmets. The hand-held camera's violent moves mirror the nerve-wrecking atmosphere perfectly. Everything looks like a threat even in a deserted location and even during an encounter with children. The edgy feeling of sensing that something bad is going to happen is almost unbearable. A soldier declares: "You can't imagine what it's like out there." The film realistically shows what it's like out there.

During the second half of the film, the physical war in Afghanistan is carried over to the mind and soul of these soldiers after they return to Denmark. Although it is a different kind of war, its intensity is never eased. The moral and ethical compass is challenged following the aftermath in the war zone. The war never ends, it simply changes its battle ground.

The film does not speak loudly with an anti-war message, but it makes you wonder if these soldiers should get involved in the Afghanistan War in the first place. Everyone seems to have the best intention, but the brutal war continues to create so-called collateral damage both physically and mentally, abroad and at home.

"A War," a Magnolia Pictures release, opens on Friday, February 19, 2016 in San Francisco Bay Area.
"We should always remember that the danger to societies from security services is not that they will spontaneously decide to embrace [Stasi style] mustache twirling and jackboots to bear us bodily into dark places, but that the slowly shifting foundation of policy will make it such that mustaches and jackboots are discovered to prove an operational advantage toward a necessary purpose. ~ Edward Snowden





"America: just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable." ~ Hunter S. Thompson



"Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws." ~ Mayer Rothschild



"News is what somebody does not want you to print. All the rest is advertising." ~ LACUNA



"What matters in journalism isn't politics, which are as universal and inescapable as breathing. What matters -- along with a fundamentally adversarial attitude toward government, without which "journalism" is simply public relations -- is integrity, transparency, evidence, coherence, and principle. These are the principles on which we should evaluate the quality of journalism, and their absence is why some journalists are so desperate to get you to focus on something else." ~ Barry Eisler



"There is no inverse relationship between freedom and security. Less of one does not lead to more of the other. People with no rights are not safe from terrorist attack." ~ Molly Ivins



"The brain of our species is, as we know, made up largely of potassium, phosphorus, propaganda, and politics, with the result that how not to understand what should be clearer is becoming easier and easier for all of us." ~ James Thurber



"The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plane....When you hold up your arm and swear to uphold the Constitution, you dont say, 'Except in wartime.'" -- George McGovern



"Ill believe that corporations are people when Texas executes one." ~ Bill Moyers






New Delhi: In a shocking incident, body of a third year Delhi University student was found at her boyfriend's residence in New Delhi on Saturday evening.

The deceased, identified as Arzo Singh, has been missing for past two days. Her parents failed to trace her after which they filed a missing complaint at a police station in New Delhi.

"Arzu was in a relationship with Naveen Khatri and they both wanted to marry each other. However, the proposal was turned down by Naveen's parents. For past few days, Arzu was quite depressed due to her strained relationship with Naveen," a relative revealed.

"If Naveen's family thought that Arzu would create problem at his wedding, which was on February 4th, they should have approached us instead of doing this to her," the relative added further.

Arzu had gone missing on February 2, while returning from her college. A police report said that Arzu visited Naveen's house after which they had a heated argument with each other. Naveen killed Arzu on February 2, Tuesday and married a girl of his parent's choice, two days later.

Her body was discovered in the ventilation shaft of Naveen's house at Shakti Nagar, north-west Delhi on Saturday evening following which police took him under their custody.
New Delhi: Keeping up the pressure over the Gujarat land row, Congress today demanded setting up of a Supreme Court-monitored SIT to go into all allotments of government land during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the state Chief Minister.

"The Special Investigative Team monitored by the Supreme Court should cover all the allotments and grants of public land when Anandiben Patel was the Revenue Minister and Modi was the Chief Minister," party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters in Delhi.

He alleged that there was plunder of public land and forest land during Modi's tenure as Chief Minister as they were given for a "pittance" to "corporate cronies" and others without following due procedure.

In 2010, Gujarat government is believed to have allotted 250 acres of land next to Gir Lion Sanctuary to Wildwoods Resorts and Realties Pvt Ltd (WWRRPL)for setting up a resort which was allotted at a price of Rs 15 per square metre or Rs 60,000 per acre.

Asking Modi to "come clean" on the issue, Sharma sought to know from him whether he was aware of "clear conflict of interest" of the then Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel while allocating government land near Gir Lion Sanctuary to the company which allegedly has close business links with her daughter Anar Patel.

"Was this allocation based on a Cabinet decision and endorsed by (then) Chief Minister (Modi) and whether conflict of interest, if any, was disclosed?" asked Sharma.

In her second Facebook post in two days, Anar Patel admitted that owner of the company which purportedly got the land was her "business partner" in another firm but she had nothing to do with WWRRPL.

"I, Anar Patel, am neither a director nor a share holder in WWRRPL, Anil Infraplus and Parshvatexchem. I don't have anything with WWRRPL, anybody can check with government authority," she said.

"Indeed, Daksheshbhai (Dakshesh Shah, who owns WWRRPL along with Amol Shripal Seth of Anil Infraplus) is my business partner but that doesn't mean that I am there in all his companies. He is a self-made businessman and is in business since last 22 years," she wrote.

"We started a company named "Anar Projects" seven years back with business interest in retails and services. We never took any favour from any government organisation, we strictly followed all rules and regulations in all manners," she said.
New Delhi: Foreigners who have a special craving for beef and live in Haryana will soon be able to gorge on their favourite meat as the government is considering to issue special permits for such people in the state.

According to the Indian Express newspaper, the Haryana government is working on a proposal to issue beef licenses to foreigners in the state.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar is reportedly open to giving special relaxation to foreigners who want to eat beef in the state.

Currently a strict beef ban is in place in the state keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the people.

If we have to work out some facility for them (foreigners) to be able to (consume beef) we will do it. It could be a special licence (as) whatever is licensed, no one can oppose (under) the law, the report quoted Khattar as saying.

Everyone has a personal lifestyle for eating and drinking, especially those who come from abroad we dont have any opposition to that. In fact, we are not opposing this for anyone, Khattar added.

In a controversial statement in October in 2015, Khattar was quoted as saying that Muslims will have to give up eating beef if they wanted to live in India.

In March last year, the Haryana government had passed the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan legislation that strictly bans cow slaughter.

As per the law, cow slaughter in Haryana will invite rigorous imprisonment ranging from three to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

Any person who attempts to export cows for slaughter would be imprisoned for not less than three years and up to seven years.
Bogota: More than 3,100 pregnant Colombian women are infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Saturday, as the disease continues its rapid spread across the Americas.

Brazil is investigating the potential link between Zika infections and more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by an abnormally small head size that can result in developmental problems. Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infection in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly.

There are so far no recorded cases of Zika-linked microcephaly in Colombia, Santos said. The government is now uncertain about a previous projection for up to 500 cases of Zika-linked microcephaly, based on data from other countries battling the disease, he said.

Graphic: Spread of Zika virus reut.rs/1NXQCCf

Much remains unknown about Zika, for which there is no vaccine. An estimated 80 percent of those infected show no symptoms, and those that do have a mild illness, with a fever, rash and red eyes.

There are 25,645 people infected with Zika in Colombia, Santos said during a TV broadcast with health officials. Among them are 3,177 pregnant women.

"The projection is that we could end up having 600,000 cases," Santos said, adding there could be up to 1,000 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can weaken the muscles and cause paralysis. Scientists are studying a possible link between the disorder and Zika.

The Colombian government will be working across the country to fight mosquitoes - fumigating and helping families rid their homes of stagnant water, the president said.

The province of Norte de Santander, along the eastern border with Venezuela, had nearly 5,000 Zika cases, the highest in the country, an epidemiological bulletin from the national health institute published on Saturday showed. That province also had the highest number of pregnant women with Zika - nearly 31 percent of total cases.

Colombia`s Caribbean region, which includes popular tourist destinations Cartagena and Santa Marta, had more than 11,000 cases of the virus, according to the bulletin.

The government has said pregnant women with Zika are eligible to access much-restricted abortion services.

Many women struggle to find abortion providers even when they meet strict legal requirements and illegal abortions are widespread. On Friday, local media reported the first abortion because of Zika infection.

Colombia`s health minister, Alejandro Gaviria, has said he believes three deaths are connected with Zika.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met the family members of 39 Indians who were held hostage for over a year by the notorious ISIS terror group in Iraq and said that the entire Arab world has promised to help us in securing their release.

Up until now, we were getting info indirectly but when I visited Bahrain I received information directly, the union minister said.

Last year, the ministry had said that all 39 Indians held hostage in Iraq by the Islamic State are alive.

On Sunday, the minister met the families members of the hostages for the eighth time since their abduction in June last year from Mosul.

She reassured them about the well-being of the nationals on the basis of information received from multiple sources.

Swaraj who was accompanied by union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, assured the families that the government was making all sincere efforts for the safe and early release of the Indian workers.

According to official sources, the minister told them that though there was no "first-hand confirmation" about the well-being of the 39 nationals but multiple sources have indicated that they were being made to work in Iraq.

Earlier, Swaraj had spoken to her counterparts in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as other friendly countries in the region for their assistance in the safe release of Indians in captivity.

The minister also assured the families, that as soon as some concrete proof on the well-being of the workers is received by the government, it would be shared with them.
New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down four smugglers at Punjab's Khem Karan sector near India-Pakistan border on Sunday early morning.

The encounter took place in Mehndipur village.

Two of the dead smugglers are from India whereas, remaining two are from Pakistan. Initial reports suggest that the Pakistani smugglers were in India to deliver drugs to their Indian counterparts when the encounter took place.

"Out of 4, 2 were recipients from Indian side and 2 were Pak smugglers who were to deliver contraband narcotics," said Anil Paliwal, IG, BSF.

BSF has also recovered about 10 kg of heroin and two pistols from their possession.

The BSF personnel belonging to 191 battalion spotted some movement near the Mehndipur border outpost in Ferozepur sector at about 4:40 am and opened fire, Deputy Inspector General of BSF RK Thapa said. One of the intruders is believed to have fled back to the Pakistan side, the DIG said.

The two Indian nationals are yet to be identified, he said, adding that investigation is underway.

Following the Pathankot Air Force base terror attack last month, the BSF is on high alert against any cross-border infiltration attempt.

The borders' security agency has been facing criticism after the reports that Pathankot attackers had sneaked into the Indian side through Indo-Pak border in Punjab, which is guarded by the BSF.
Visakhapatnam: Terming the recent death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche on the Siachen glacier "painful", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that withdrawing troops from the world's highest battlefield could not be a solution.

"This incident is painful to me personally, but the solution that is suggested is not a proper analysis," he said, referring to demands that Indian soldiers be withdrawn from the glacier.

Asked if the proposal to convert Siachen into a "peace mountain" still exists, the minister said: "The decision (on deploying troops) on Siachen is based on the security of the nation."

He said the loss of human lives on the Siachen had come down in recent years due to improved facilities.

"We have lost thousands of soldiers to get control (of the glacier)... The loss of life is less in the last few years," he told reporters on the sidelines of an International Maritime Conference here.

He said the incident had nothing to do with preparedness. "I don`t find any loose ends. It`s an avalanche... These are unpredictable in nature."

Parrikar said the search operation was on though there was little hope of survival of the soldiers.

"The hope of any survival is nil. They are covered in tonnes of ice," he said.

Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggested in 2005 that the world`s highest battlefield be converted into a "peace mountain" without redrawing the boundaries between India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan maintain permanent military presence at heights of over 6,000 metres or 20,000 feet. Both have lost many men to extreme cold in the area where temperature can dip to minus 50 degrees Celsius.

The army has meanwhile deployed advanced equipment to search for its men. These include wall penetrating radars.

Ten soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were buried on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their post located 19,000 feet above the sea level on the southern side of the glacier.
New Delhi: In a major development, the Delhi government on Sunday said that it will recommended a CBI probe into the Divyansh's death case.

Earlier, on Saturday, the father of six-year-old boy, who was found dead in a water reservoir at Ryan International School, had alleged that there were injury marks on his body including private parts and that the principal has threatened them to keep quiet over the issue.

"I saw the body. There were some injury marks and cotton on his private parts. The principal has been threatening me since the beginning saying that keeping quiet will be good for me...," Ramheet Meena, the child's father, said, as he renewed the demand for a CBI probe.

The aggrieved father also demanded that the licence or registration of the school be cancelled.

Divyansh was found dead last Saturday in the reservoir under the amphitheatre of the school located in South Delhi. The initial post-mortem report had suggested he died of drowning and no external injuries were found.

Principal Sandhya Sabu had claimed that Divyansh was a "hyperactive" child who had "tendency" of running away from the classroom.
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday witnessed the operational demonstration by the Indian Navy at the International Fleet Review here.

The 30-minute long operational demonstration showcased multi-dimensional operational tasks undertaken by the various arms of the Indian Navy.

Several warships, submarines, aircraft as well as Marine Commandos presented an action-packed display of the capabilities of the Indian Navy.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral RK Dhowan, were also present on the occasion.

Following is the full Text of PM Modi's address at International Fleet Review, 2016:

I am privileged to visit Visakhapatnam. The city has a special place in the heart of all Indians.

My last visit to Vishakhapatnam was in October of 2014.

At that time, Cyclone Hudhud had left the city shattered in pieces.

But, the people of Vishakhapatnam smiled in the face of adversity.

It is a tribute to the city that within 14 months, you have risen against all odds to welcome the Navies from across the continents in this International Fleet Review.

A little over a year ago, we saw the full fury of the ocean. Today, thanks to the spirit of the people of Visakhapatnam, we are discussing how the oceans can be a source of economic prosperity for all of us.

For its courage and resolve, we all salute the city of Visakhapatnam.

My profuse thanks to the men and women of the Indian Navy for their tireless dedication for making this Fleet Review a truly historic success.

My sincere gratitude also to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naiduji for his strong support for this international event.

For me personally, witnessing the harmony among the best of International Navies here has been a rewarding experience.

Just over three months earlier in October, we welcomed in Delhi, for the first time ever, all the 54 African nations, including over 40 Heads of State for the 3rd India-Africa Summit.

A few weeks earlier in August 2015, India had hosted in Jaipur 14 Heads of the State for the Second Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation.

Just day before yesterday, we welcomed all the SAARC countries for the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati.

And today it is our pleasure to welcome 50 foreign Navies from every corner of the globe at India's second International Fleet review- the first one on India's East Coast.

Your participation is a message of cooperation and friendship that we deeply cherish.

On behalf of my countrymen, I thank you all for accepting our invitation and joining in this event with such spirit.

To build on the gains from today's gathering, India would host the first ever Global Maritime Summit in April this year.

Its priority would be to scale up and strengthen the vibrant trade / investment / technology and commercial linkages between India and other maritime nations.

Friends,

The oceans and worlds waterways are global commons. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam the concept of whole world as a family  is perhaps most vividly witnessed on the oceans of the planet, that connect us all.

The last time India hosted the International Fleet Review was in the year 2001, in the city of Mumbai.

The world of 2016 is vastly different.

Its politics is turbulent, and its challenges complex.

At the same time, the oceans are the lifelines of global prosperity. They present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations.

Over 90% of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans.

Over the last 15 years, its value has grown from about 6 trillion dollars to about 20 trillion dollars.

Oceans are critical for the global energy security as over 60% of worlds oil production moves through sea routes.

Our ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rests on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain.

The threat of sea borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger the regional and global peace and stability.

Piracy too remains a strong challenge.

The threat of natural disasters like tsunamis and cyclones is ever present.

Manmade problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain.

A peaceful and stable maritime environment is, therefore, critical for the regional and global security. It is also a must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems.

Given the scale and complexity of modern day challenges, the international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of a single nation.

It has to be a shared goal and responsibility of all the seafaring countries.

To this end, the Navies and maritime agencies of the world need to work together, and engineer virtuous cycles of cooperation.

But, where necessary, they also need to act to secure the international sea lanes of communication.

I believe that if oceans were to propel our economies, then we must:

 Use seas to build peace, friendship and trust, and curb conflict;

 respect and ensure freedom of navigation; and

 cooperate, not compete in responding to the challenges in the seas.

The large presence of foreign Navies at this Fleet Review is a confirmation of our shared urge to walk the pathways of peace and cooperation to keep the maritime domain safe and secure.

Friends,

India is, and has always been, a maritime nation.

India's ancient Sanskrit texts also refer to the oceans as the storehouse of Chaturdashanam Ratnanam, the 14 gems.

Surrounded by sea from three sides, India has a long coastline of over 7500 kilometres.

We have been blessed with a rich maritime heritage ever since .Lothal in Gujarat became one of the earliest sea ports of the world.

Indias central location in the Indian Ocean has connected us with other cultures, shaped our maritime trade routes, influenced Indias strategic thought, and defined our maritime character.

Since the days of the Indus Valley Civilization, India has maintained an extensive network of maritime links, including with Africa, Western Asia, the Mediterranean region, the West, South East Asia and the Far East.

We are delighted that the Navies from all these regions have joined in this Fleet Review.

(Courtesy - PIB)
Gurgaon: Aarsha International School director-principal has been arrested by the Palam Vihar Police in connection with attempt to rape on an eight-year-old girl of his school here.

Station House officer of the Palam Vihar Police Station Sandeep Kumar told ANI that police on Saturday arrested and booked the 72-year-old accused, Ramgopal, a former air force officer, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following the complaint by the victim's parents.

The incident came to light on Saturday when the girl refused to go school in Ashok Vihar, Phase 3, here and after her parents asked her about the reason, she told them about the incident that took place the previous day (on Friday), said the SHO.

The victim purportedly told her parents that the accused called her in his camber during the school time and attempted to rape her.

The father of the victim is an auto-rickshaw driver and they live in the same locality.

The SHO said they would produce him before the Duty Magistrate on Sunday, and would seek his remand.

The incident came close on the heels of the parents of six-year-old Divyansh, a Class 1 student at Ryan International School in Vasant Kunj area in Delhi, writing to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, demanding a CBI probe into the death of their child on the school campus, whose body was found in a water tank under the school's amphitheatre on January 30.

Hinting a possible sodomy in the case, Divyansh's father claimed that injuries were found on the body of his child and accused the school authorities of shielding the accused in the case.
New Delhi: Pakistani-American terror agent David Coleman Headley on Sunday has reportedly confessed that 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks were masterminded by Pakistan's terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba and had approval of Pak's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).

According to an exclusive report by CNN-IBN, during an interrogation with NIA, Headley revealed that he was handled by Pakistan ISI's Major Iqbal and Sameer Ali and that LeT's Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi's handler was ISI Brigadier Rivaz.

Making a shocking revelation about Pakistan-backed ISI and Pak Army, Headley reportedly revealed that ISI chief Sujha Pasha had visited Lashkar-e-Taiba top terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, after the latter was arrested in connection with 2008 terror attacks case.

Headley further divulged that he was also given money by the ISI for recce. Another disclosure made by Headley reportedly says that he had recced the Indian vice-president's residence, India Gate and CBI office in New Delhi before the 2008 terror attacks were executed.

Exposing Pakistan's role in the 26/11 attack, Headley also revealed that Mumbai terror attacks carried out in India in 2008, had the support of Pakistan government, the report said.

According to Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, Headley will depose before the Indian court on February 8, Monday, in exchange of pardon. The deposition is likely to be done through video conferencing and would continue for few days from Monday.

David Coleman Headley was originally charged under 11 counts, relating to planning and executing terror-related activities against India. Headley, who is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the 2008 attacks case, had initially refused to depose before the court.

It is believed that NSA Ajit Doval has big hand in turning Headley an approver in the case. As per reports, Doval met some top United Nation officials four months ago and had been putting pressure on the US government to make Headley depose before the Indian court in the 2008 terror attacks case.

It was not long before when United States President Barack Obama sent a strong message to Pakistan government to take strict action against those using its land for carrying out terror-related activities.
New Delhi: Amid a raging debate on India being intolerant, controversial writer Taslima Nasreen on Saturday stated that most of religions are anti-women and fundamentalists are only making it worst.

The Bangladeshi author was speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival where she questioned why the secularists in India criticise only targeted Hindu fundamentalists but at the same time ignore Muslim fundamentalists.

While calling India a tolerant land, Taslima agreed that there were few intolerant people in the country who are responsible who create hurdles.

"I think most people are quite tolerant of each others faith. The laws in India do not support intolerance. But there are so many intolerant people in this country'', she said. Taslima also stated that hat the presence of such pseudo secularism is an aberration for a true democracy.

She also added that at present, India is waging a battle between secularism and fundamentalism, between innovation and tradition, between humanity and barbarianism, and between people who value freedom and who don't.

Taslima condemned the 2015 Dadri mob lynching incident, in which a man was beaten to death over allegations of consuming cow meat, Taslima said, "Killing a person on the suspicion that he ate beef is cruel because it is an affront to his right to eat food of his choice. Fundamentalists everywhere are against plurality".

Talking about her novel 'Lajja', Taslima said that it s faithful representation of Bangladesh after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. "Many Hindu shrines and shops were attacked and Hindu women raped," Taslima quoted and added that even now, the plight of Bangladeshi minorities has not improved.

"In Bangladesh, you are not permitted to write about your body or your desires. If a woman writes about her body, it is termed pornography but when a male writes on the same topic, it is called literature," she asserted.
Delhi: Doubts have been raised about the number of terrorists who were involved in last months terror attack at Pathankot airforce base.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, the National Security Guard (NSG) had said that it had killed six militants. They had led the counter-terror operation after the terror attack.

The Daily quoted a senior home ministry official requesting anonymity as saying, "After neutralising four terrorists, the second encounter with two more terrorists took place on the ground floor of a two-storey building at the airbase. Since the building was demolished, we could find only ashes which may have pieces of flesh from the bodies of the dead terrorists. The ashes have been sent for forensic analysis to look for human DNA.

But the question is why not even a single shred of cloth worn by the terrorists was found in the ashes? When the bodies of terrorists would have fallen, at least the pieces of clothes on the underside should have survived. During the mopping up operation, shreds of heavy bedclothes were found, but there were no fragments of garments like the military dresses that the other four terrorists were wearing, he was further quoted as saying by the Daily.

More light can be thrown on the matter once results of the forensic analysis are out.

The report also said that National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the case may re-evaluate the evidence gathered.

NIA chief Sharad Kumar may visit the Pathankot airbase next week again to have fresh look at the evidence gathered in the case by his investigators, the official added.

Seven security personnel were killed and several others were injured when militants, suspected to owe allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, stormed the Pathankot air base.
Bhubaneswar: PM Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Odisha, will attend two programmes on Sunday, besides visiting the Lord Jagannath temple at Puri.

PM Modi will inaugurate the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Jatni on the outskirts of the state capital on Sunday.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to interact with students and faculty members of NISER and will leave for Puri to pay his obeisance to Lord Jagannath.

"Will offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri during my Odisha visit on the 7th," PM Modi had tweeted.

Later, the Prime Minister will leave for Paradip to inaugurate IOCL's refinery project at around 1 PM and will address a public meeting there.

"In Odisha, I will dedicate the National Institute of Science Education and Research and Indian Oil Refinery, Paradip to the nation," Modi said in his tweet.

DGP K B Singh reviewed security arrangements at Paradip, while other senior officers are camping at Puri and NISER to ensure full security of the Prime Minister.

"All arrangements are made as per the rule book," Singh said, adding about one lakh people are expected at Paradip.

For the PM's visit, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration has decided to keep the temple doors closed for one hour.

The Archaeological Survey of India, which is repairing the temple complex, will suspend the work to facilitate entry of Modi into the sanctum sanctorum.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) also reviewed the security arrangements at Paradip, Puri and NISER ahead of Modi's visit.
Lucknow: Ahead of Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali's concert in Lucknow, Shiv Sena's UP Chief Anil Singh has been put under house arrest but the latter has asserted that protests against the singer will be carried out in the city.

"Our soldiers are dying and the UP Government wants to rolls a red carpet for Ghulam Ali. On one hand our artists are not being given a visa by Pakistan and on the other hand we are welcoming their artists. That too artists who belong to a terrorist nation, a nation from which we should sever all ties," Singh told ANI here.

Accusing the UP Government of 'hurting' the sentiments of the Hindu community, he added that the Shiv Sena will not tolerate this 'betrayal' and will prevent the concert from being performed at any cost.

"Earlier also, I had notified the state government that there was no need for such an event. Why do we need a Pakistani artist in our country right now especially when the situation is so tense already? If you want a Muslim artist then we already have plenty in the nation. They can house arrest me or crucify me but we will continue with our protests," Singh added.

He also claimed that his 'constitutional right' to protest was being denied to him and warned that the state government will face the consequences in the 2017 elections.

Earlier today, Ghulam Ali arrived in Lucknow to perform on the culminating day of the Lucknow Mahotsava.
Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said that Supreme Court's observation calling for examining the Islamic law to do away with discriminations against Muslim women was legally not appropriate.

Senior member and spokesperson of the board, Mohammed Abdul Rahul Qureshi said to India TV, "The Supreme Court order is legally not appropriate because the Muslim law is an integral part of the religion. The right to freedom of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution."

He also said that a woman was free to do second marriage after talaq once the iddat (period of waiting) was over.

Qureshi was further quoted by the website as saying: "It is necessary to understand the concept of talaq. After talaq, a woman is free to marry another man. After talaq, second marriage for a woman is permissible. Talaq doesn't mean that she can't marry again or be locked in a room."

On triple talaq system, he had this to say - "It will not make any difference whether you practice triple talaq or single talaq. After the waiting period of single talaq or triple talaq, your wife is free. What is the difference? Where is the difference? There is no difference at all. In fact, in the triple talaq practice, if a man feels he has taken this extreme step mistakenly, he can take back his wife during the iddat (period of waiting)."

Qureshi had more to say on the matter and was quoted by the website as folllows - "If a woman wants to initiate divorce, she can approach to the Khula but talaq is only given by the man. The woman has to justify why she wants talaq. Since there are no Islamic courts, imams can be contacted for this. Everything in Islam is governed by family and family is an institution. Each institution is headed by only one person. So it is obvious that that head of family will have some liberty," he replied when pointed out that don't you think there is a discrimination in the process."

At the same time he pointed out that talaq delivered through social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, SMS, email or phone calls were valid.

"A man has authority to divorce his wife. Only thing is required that two should recognise each other," Qureshi said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on February 05 permitted an intervention application by the Jamaat-e-Ulema-Hind contending that Muslim personal law was protected by the right to freedom of religion guaranteed under constitution and there was sufficient protection for women`s rights under it.

A bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur, Justice AK Sikri and Justice R Banumathi permitted the organisation of Muslim clerics to intervene in the matter relating to gender equality of Muslim women that was directed to be taken up a PIL by one of the benches of the top court.

Since Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi was not present during the hearing and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has yet to take a position, the court had adjourned the matter for six weeks.

A bench of Justice Anil R Dave and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel had by their October 16, 2015 order issued notice to Rohatgi and NALSA as it directed the separate listing of a PIL addressing the question of the rights of Muslim women.

Referring to the suggestion by some lawyers that a separate PIL may be registered to go into the question of rights of Muslim women, the court had said: "We are of the view that the suggestion needs consideration in view of earlier decision of this court. The issue has also been highlighted in recent articles appearing in the press on this subject," as per IANS.

While directing a separate PIL, the court had referred to an "important issue of gender discrimination" which was not connected with the matter being dealt by the court but was raised by some lawyers concerning the rights of Muslim women.

The court noted the submission by the lawyers which said that "inspite of guarantee of the constitution, Muslim women are subjected to discrimination. There is no safeguard against arbitrary divorce and second marriage by her husband during currency of the first marriage, resulting in denial of dignity and security to her".

The court by its October 16 order had noted that several times the issue of safeguarding the Muslim women from arbitrary divorce had come up before the court but every time it was said that since the challenge to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 was pending before the constitution bench, there was "no reason to multiply proceedings on such an issue".

The court`s view came in the second part of its judgment in a batch of matters on the issue whether Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, had retrospective effect.

(With Agency inputs)
Jammu: Putting a question mark over the existence of an alliance between the PDP and BJP in the state, former Jammu and Kashmir chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah on Sunday asked that why there was no government in the Valley and said Mehbooba Mufti should break ties with the saffron party and go for fresh polls.

What has changed in last 10 months that despite the numbers in the assembly they (PDP-BJP) are not ready to form government, ANI quoted Abdullah as saying.

He further said that although an elected government is not in place, the alliance between PDP and BJP is still intact.

"The agreement as far as our knowledge is concerned, the alliance (between BJP and PDP) still exists. We haven't heard either from BJP or PDP that alliance has been broken, so the alliance exists and if the alliance exists, then why not government (is formed). Agenda of the alliance was formed and Mufti sahab was made the chief minister. What has changed in the past ten months that today even though they have numbers in the assembly they are not ready to form the government", he added.

In the backdrop of a 'reported' sour relationship between the top brass of BJP and PDP, Abdullah said, "I am not even ready to discuss any relationship with BJP at this point of time."

He further hit out at PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and said that it high time that she must break her silence as she cannot keep the entire state guessing on government formation.

PDP leader "Mehbooba Mufti has been quiet for long and she can no longer remain silent. She must clarify her stand on two-three issues and clear the air as to what are those CBMs and how long she will wait for those Confidence Building Measures and why did the need of CBMs suddenly arise after the demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Omar also said that National Conference has been telling them time and again that if they are not ready to form the government, they should be bold enough to break the alliance.

"We will go back to the people, but I am unable to understand the way of their leadership. They ask for Confidence Building Measures, but I am not sure that within the party people know or not, but outside nobody knows what they have asked for," he said.

He said that even BJP was not aware of what PDP was asking for. "Even as BJP has said that please clearly tell us what you are asking for, so we too would want to know what are the CBMs which Mehbooba Mufti is asking for, and did they keep a timeframe, a deadline," Omar said.

The PDP, with 27 MLAs in the 87-member assembly, and the BJP with 25 legislators ran a coalition government headed by Mufti Sayeed for 10 months.

The state is without an elected government since January 7 when former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away in New Delhi. Governor's rule was imposed in the state on January 8.

Governor NN Vohra on Thursday appointed two retired IAS officers as his advisors, a move seen as another indication that Jammu and Kashmir might remain without an elected government for long.

(With Agency inputs)
Mumbai: Two-wheeler pillion riders too will now have to wear helmets in Maharashtra with the state Transport department on Saturday issuing a circular to this effect as per the orders of the Bombay High Court.

"The Bombay High Court had made it compulsory for bike riders and those riding pillion to compulsorily wear a helmet.

It's the government's responsibility to ensure that HC's orders are implemented," stated the circular issued by Transport department.

"To ensure that the order is implemented effectively, those wanting a new license will have to submit in writing that the two-wheeler rider as well as the pillion rider will wear helmets," it added.

The circular also directed all two-wheeler dealers to sell not one but two helmets to customers.

Regional Transport Offices (RTO) have been directed to ask dealers to produce the proof of supplying two helmets to the rider at the time of registration, besides other documents.

However, the decision by the Shiv Sena-led Transport Department has evoked a sharp reaction from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

"Instead of issuing such orders, the government should first concentrate on improving the existing condition of roads.

"Issuing such guidelines to make both rider and the person riding pillion to wear helmets means the government wants helmet selling companies to make more profits,especially when basic facilities are not being provided to citizens," Mr Thackeray said.

However, Transport Minister Diwakar Raote said that if anybody has a problem with the government's order they can approach the court.
Chandigarh: Air force authorities have asked Pathankot district administration to remove "encroachments" near the airbase, in the wake of the last month's terror attack.

The Air force has written to Pathankot administration to remove encroachments near the airbase a couple of days back, a senior official of the Pathankot Municipal Corporation told PTI over phone.

As per rules, no construction can take place within 100 metres from the airbase and no structure can come up to 900 metres around the ordnance depot.

Though Pathankot Municipal Corporation has said that it was "not easy to remove old houses", it has initiated the process of surveying the area to identify the "unauthorized structures".

"We have launched a survey to identify structures around the air force base in Pathankot," the official said.

Pathankot Mayor Anil Vasudeva said, "We are looking into the matter. It is not easy to remove old houses. While taking any decision, the interest of all stakeholders will be kept in mind."

However, he said if there is any illegal construction in the area, it will certainly be removed.

The Municipal Corporation is trying to identify houses and other structures to ascertain how many had come up before the airbase was commissioned and how many after its commissioning.

"First we will see whether these structures (houses) fall in the municipal corporation jurisdiction. Then we will see if these structures were in existence before the Air force base came up here," the official said.

The authority will also ascertain whether the owners of buildings had got the maps passed before undertaking construction or not and if they had obtained an NOC from the Air force authorities, the official said.

"There is panic among people who have been living there for the last several years," the official said, describing the issue as "complicated" .

Most of the areas of the airbase fall in Dhaki, Dhangu and Dhira villages and several villagers have been living there even before the Air force base came up.

The Pathankot authorities will also have to check records of Gurdaspur district from which it was carved out as a separate district in 2011.

Pathankot Air force station is one of the strategically most important forward airbases in India and houses fighter jets and helicopters.
Niamey: An elderly Australian woman kidnapped with her husband in Burkina Faso by a group affiliated to al Qaeda has been freed, neighbouring Niger`s President Mahamadou Issoufou said on Saturday.

Issoufou presented the woman, Jocelyn Elliott, at a news conference in Dosso, southwestern Niger, and said authorities were intensifying efforts to secure the release of her husband.

The pair were seized on January 15.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said on Friday it had kidnapped the couple and would release the woman unconditionally due to public pressure and guidance from al Qaeda leaders not to involve women in war.

The circumstances of her release and how she arrived in Niger were not immediately clear.

For over 40 years, Dr. Ken Elliott and his wife, who are in their 80s, have operated a 120-bed clinic in the town of Djibo near Burkina Faso`s border with Mali.

Their children in Australia said they were "deeply grateful for the safe release of our mother Jocelyn".

"We are trusting that the moral and guiding principles of those who have released our mother will also be applied to our elderly father who has served the community of Djibo and the Sahel for more than half his lifetime, they said a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thanked the governments of Niger and Burkina Faso for their assistance and confirmed that his government had spoken to Jocelyn Elliott following her release.

The Elliotts were abducted from the town the same day al Qaeda fighters raided a restaurant and hotel in Burkina Faso`s capital, Ouagadougou, and killed 30 people, many of whom were foreigners.
Ontario: One hundred days after Justin Trudeau `s Liberal government was sworn in, the still-popular Canadian prime minister faces mounting criticism, against the backdrop of a floundering economy and terror fears.

The 44-year-old Trudeau -- a former schoolteacher and the son of a popular prime minister -- immediately saw his international profile rise upon taking office on November 4, and he still enjoys strong support at home.

He has touted a multilateral foreign policy, and a more transparent governing style than his predecessor Stephen Harper , who was seen as prickly, awkward and more at home plowing through economic theory than glad-handing voters.

"Canada is back!" the youthful-looking prime minister with a broad smile, a twinkle in his eye and a thick mop of curls told world leaders at summits, looking to recast the image of the world`s fifth-largest oil producer from climate laggard to environmental champion.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon is expected to praise Canada`s shift in a visit to Ottawa on Thursday.

The economy, however, has cast a pall over Trudeau`s self-professed "sunny ways."

Canada emerged from a mild recession in September in the middle of the election campaign, but consumer confidence soon faded as oil prices and the Canadian dollar sank to new recent lows, leading to thousands of job losses in the country`s oil and gas sector.

Attacks in Jakarta and in Burkina Faso in January that left seven Canadians dead, meanwhile, raised fresh security concerns.

The new government was forced to backpedal on its pledge to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 and on its fiscal plans, while taking heat over its climate and counterterrorism strategies.

In parliament, opposition leader Rona Ambrose accused the government of "stepping back from the fight (against the Islamic State group) when our allies are stepping up."

"The reality is that when we talk about Canada`s new approach to fighting ISIS, Canada is not back, Canada is backing away," she said.

The husband of a Quebec woman shot dead by Islamist gunmen last month in Burkina Faso hung up on Trudeau when he called to offer condolences, while criticizing the prime minister`s dovish world view in the local press.

"I hung up in his face, and it felt good," Yves Richard told a local radio station.

The Liberals were able to push back their Syrian refugee intake without much controversy because of widespread calls to slow resettlement amid domestic and US security concerns in the aftermath of deadly attacks in Paris.

But ordering the pullout of fighter jets from Iraq and Syria without so far announcing a new strategy to combat the Islamic State group has left them vulnerable on security.

Still, polls show a majority of Canadians are satisfied with Trudeau`s performance in office. Nanos weekly surveys show a 15 percentage point bump in support since the election, to 50 percent."I don`t think voters blame the government for the economic situation," commented University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business economist Werner Antweiler. "They realize much of it is due to outside influences."

He noted, for example, that "the government can`t fix the oil price."

The Canadian energy sector accounts for 10 percent of nominal GDP and 300,000 jobs, according to Natural Resources Canada estimates based on 2014 Statistics Canada data.

Observers say the real test will be when the rookie government unveils its first budget in the coming months.

Trudeau pledged to run several "small" deficits in order to build new bridges, transit and other infrastructure before returning to balance at the end of his four-year mandate.

But a dimmer economic outlook since the October 19 legislative elections has raised the specter of ballooning deficits.

"The budget will be key," Duff Conacher, a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa and co-founder of Democracy Watch, told AFP.

"The Liberals have to signal in the budget that they`re addressing all the problems they promised to address."

The Liberals have so far reduced taxes for middle income earners, assigned an ex-cop to draft rules for legal marijuana, announced an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women as part of a rapprochement with indigenous peoples, and signed a Pacific trade pact negotiated by the previous administration.

A further 200 pledges are either in progress or have not started yet.

Conacher noted the Liberals won the largest majority (54.5 percent of seats in the House of Commons) with the smallest number of votes (39.5 percent) in Canadian history.

"They`re going to have to walk the talk or they will be accused of selling false hope to people and Canadians will turn on them," he said.


Washington: While a defiant North Korea on Sunday claimed that its space programme is for peaceful purposes, many analysts worry that it is designed to mask testing of inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could threaten the US mainland.

Developing successful ICBM technology capable of transporting a nuclear payload accurately over vast distances is no easy feat. It demands sophisticated technology only achieved through intensive testing, experts say.

Testing rockets through satellite launches would provide invaluable data for potential future ICBMs, according to a 2015 report on Pyongyang's space programme by 38 North, an analysis website run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

"Even failed satellite launches would be a learning experience," CNN quoted aerospace engineer John Schilling as saying.

Schilling said that a key sign to look out for in future North Korean satellite launches would be attempts to test an advanced re-entry vehicle, vital for an effective ICBM.

North Korea's state TV today announced the nation has successfully put a satellite into orbit, "legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

Experts say a key step towards a successful ICBM programme would be miniaturising nuclear weapons, making them light enough to fit on top of a rocket.

Pyongyang claimed in May last year that it had successfully miniaturised a nuclear weapon, in an announcement that was met with skepticism from US officials.

While the White House was adamant that North Korea did not yet have the capability, other experts were not so sure.

US Army General Curtis Scaparrotti, the commander of US forces in Korea, had said in October 2014 that he thought Pyongyang was capable of miniaturising a nuclear device.

Miniaturising a nuclear weapon is one key part of building a nuclear-armed ICBM. The nuclear device also needs to be tough enough to be able to withstand the flight on a ballistic missile, experts say.

The Taepodong rocket, currently under development in North Korea and closely related to the Unha device used to launch Pyongyang's satellites, is believed to have a range of up to 9,000 kilometers, putting most of Western Europe, Asia and the western US under threat.

While an ICBM is vital if North Korea wants to threaten the US mainland, American military bases in Asia are likely well within range of existing technology, to say nothing of Tokyo or Seoul, the capital cities of two key US allies.

Analysts agree that Pyongyang already possesses a nuclear arsenal of around a dozen nuclear weapons.

North Korea has also carried out submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) testing, which would make it far more difficult to detect launch the vehicle. And it would also reduce the range its missiles would need to travel.

If confirmed, such a capability would threaten Hawaii and other US Pacific territories, the report said.
Moscow/Seoul: North Korea intends to continue to launch rockets carrying satellites into space, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted the North Korean embassy in Moscow as saying in a statement on Sunday.

"The state agency on space exploration, following the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on giving priority to science and technology, will continue to launch more man-made satellites," the embassy said in a statement, according to Interfax.

North Korea on Sunday launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite, but its neighbours and the United States denounced the launch as a missile test, conducted in defiance of UN sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.

The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit.

North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a "complete success" and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by his son, leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33 years old.

The launch prompted South Korea and the United States to announce that they would explore the feasibility of deploying an advanced missile defence system in South Korea, which China and Russia both oppose, "at the earliest possible date."

North Korea's state news agency carried a still picture of a white rocket that closely resembled a previously launched rocket, lifting off. Another showed Kim surrounded by cheering military officials at what appeared to be a command centre.

North Korea's last long-range rocket launch, in 2012, put what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but no signal has ever been detected from it.

"If it can communicate with the Kwangmyongsong-4, North Korea will learn about operating a satellite in space," said David Wright, co-director and senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"Even if not, it gained experience with launching and learned more about the reliability of its rocket systems."

The rocket lifted off at around 9.30am Seoul time (0030 GMT) on a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

North Korea had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the launch, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said.

Isolated North Korea had initially given a Feb 8-25 time frame for the launch but on Saturday changed that to Feb 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather on Sunday.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration called the launch "an epochal event in developing the country's science, technology, economy and defence capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

The launch and the January 6 nuclear test are seen as efforts by the North's young leader to bolster his domestic legitimacy ahead of a ruling party congress in May, the first since 1980.

North Korea's embassy in Moscow said in a statement the country would continue to launch rockets carrying satellites, according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

New missile defence?

South Korea and the United States said that if the advanced missile-defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was deployed to South Korea, it would be focused only on North Korea.

South Korea had been reluctant to discuss openly the possibility of deploying THAAD.

"North Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, and it is the responsibility of our Alliance to maintain a strong defense against those threats," Gen. Curtis M Scaparrotti, US Forces Korea commander, said in a statement. "THAAD would add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense."

China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, repeated what it says is "deep concern" about a system whose radar could penetrate its territory.

South Korea's military said it would make annual military exercises with US forces "the most cutting-edge and the biggest" this year. North Korea objects to the drills as a prelude to war by a United States it says is bent on toppling the Pyongyang regime.

The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

US secretary of state John Kerry said the United States would work with the UN Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for what he called a flagrant violation of UN resolutions on North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology.

South Korea's navy retrieved what it believes to be a fairing used to protect the satellite on its journey into a space, a sign that it is looking for parts of the discarded rocket for clues into the isolated North's rocket programme, which it did following the previous launch.

China expressed regret over the launch and called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from steps that might raise tension. China is North Korea's main ally, although it disapproves of its nuclear weapons programme.

Russia, which has in recent years forged closer ties with North Korea, said the launch could not but provoke a "decisive protest", adding Pyongyang had once again demonstrated a disregard for norms of international law.

"We strongly recommend the leadership of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea think about whether a policy of opposing the entire international community meets the interests of the country," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the launch and urged North Korea to "halt its provocative actions".
Seoul: North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has said is a satellite, South Korea's defense ministry said, in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

The US Strategic Command said it had detected what it called a missile entering space, appearing to quash earlier media reports indicating it might have failed during flight.

The rocket was launched at around 9:30am Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

South Korea said it was trying to determine whether the launch had failed.

North Korea, barred under UN sanctions from using ballistic missile technology, had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

The UN Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, diplomats said.

North Korea had initially given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but changed that to February 7-14 on Saturday.

The United States was tracking the rocket launch and said it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies, defense officials said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch "absolutely unacceptable", especially after North Korea had tested a nuclear device last month.

"To launch a missile after conducting a nuclear test goes against the UN resolution. We will respond resolutely, coordinating closely with the international community," he told reporters.

Japan had said that it was ready to shoot down the rocket if it threatened the country, but did not take any action to do so, Japan's NHK reported.

North Korea has said that its most recent nuclear test, its fourth, was a hydrogen bomb. However, the United States and other governments have expressed doubt over that claim.

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.

It has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the US West Coast, but there is no evidence the missiles have been tested.

Isolated North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme. It last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending into orbit an object it described as a communications satellite.
New Hampshire: Surging Republican hope Marco Rubio wilted under stained attack in the last US presidential debate before the New Hampshire primary as frontrunner Donald Trump insisted he could be commander in chief.

The telegenic, 44-year-old Florida senator, who polls suggest would have the best change of winning the White House for the Republicans, was savaged by his governor rivals for his lack of experience, appearing to flounder on a debate stage where he often shines.

If Rubio puts in a strong showing however at the polls, capitalizing on his strong third-place finish in Iowa, it will likely confirm him as the establishment candidate of choice for the nomination.

He has announced a string of new congressional endorsements all week, including former governors of Louisiana and New Hampshire on Saturday, projecting a sense of confidence and mainstream electability.

The most sustained attack was waged by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose presidential dreams depend on outperforming him on Tuesday and who has denigrated Rubio for being controlled by his team.

"I like Marco Rubio and he`s a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions," said Christie.

"Marco, the thing is this. When you`re president of the United States... the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn`t solve one problem."

Rubio was booed for lashing back by accusing Christie of dragging his feet over leaving the campaign trail when his state was hit by a deadly East Coast snowstorm last month.

"You didn`t even want to go back. They had to shake you into going back. You stayed there for 36 hours and then he left and came back," Rubio said.Christie returned fire laden with sarcasm: "It gets very unruly when he gets off his talking points."

Jeb Bush, whose dreams of following his father and brother into the White House will likely live or die on Tuesday, sharpened his performance, questioning Rubio`s experience and butting heads with Trump.

"Leadership. You learn this, you learn it by doing it. It`s not something that you just go up, and on the job do it," said Bush.

In New Hampshire, Trump commands 35 percent of support among likely Republican voters, a 21-point lead over Rubio on 14 percent, according to the latest 7News/University of Massachusetts Lowell poll.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the evangelical conservative who won the Iowa caucuses was on 13 percent, but with nine percent undecided, there is everything to play for.

New Hampshire`s famously independently-minded voters are proud of the role they play in the first primary that gives the winners enormous momentum going forward and can mortally puncture losers` ambitions.

Even if Trump does win the Republican primary, the eyes of the party establishment, appalled by his insults, incendiary rhetoric and lack of political experience, will likely focus on his moderate rivals.

Bush, Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich must make a mark in New Hampshire and deflate the growing bubble around Rubio if they still have a chance to capture the support of establishment Republicans.

Bush, whose mother has fondly chastised him for being too polite, laid into Trump for allegedly trying to take the property of an elderly woman in Atlantic City. "That is downright wrong," said Bush."Jeb wants to be a tough guy tonight," shot back Trump, who is chasing a win in the primary after finishing second in the Iowa caucus this week.

"How tough it is to take property from an elderly woman?" replied Bush.

"Let me talk. Quiet," replied Trump to boos.

Kasich urged voters to pick him.

"If I get elected president, head out tomorrow and buy a seat belt, because there`s going to be so much happening in the first 100 days, it`s going to make your head spin," he said.

Trump, who boycotted the previous debate, stood center stage determined to cement his lead in the local polls even if a Quinnipiac University poll says 30 percent of the party would not support him.

"I actually think I have the best temperament," said Trump, kicking off the debate when asked about criticism from Cruz that he would be too eager to press the nuclear button if commander in chief.

The real estate tycoon has whipped up a passionate following among white blue collar Americans, fed up with career politicians and increasingly frustrated by struggling to make ends meet.

"We have galvanized and created a movement," said Trump when asked how he would counter Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton`s quest to make history by becoming the first woman president of the United States.

jm/oh
Seoul: South Korea on Sunday announced the start of official negotiations with the US on possible deployment of an advanced US missile defence system after North Korea`s nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

The start of talks about deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system to US forces in Korea (USFK) came just hours after Pyongyang announced the successful launch of its Kwangmyongsong-4 Earth observation satellite into orbit in defiance of international warnings, Xinhua reported.

A rocket carrying the satellite was seen by Seoul and Washington as a long-range ballistic missile.

UN Security Council resolutions ban Pyongyang from testing a rocket by use of ballistic missile technology. On January 6, North Korea tested what it claimed was its first H-bomb.

Yoo Jeh-Seung, South Korea`s deputy defence minister for policy, said Seoul and Washington had shared a view that North Korea`s recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch are a serious threat to peace and stability in South Korea and the entire Asia-Pacific region.

To respond to the mounting North Korea threats, South Korea and the US decided to kick off negotiations on the THAAD deployment to enhance a joint missile defence posture between the two allies, Yoo said.

The decision was made after USFK commander Curtis Scaparrotti requested it, Yoo said, noting that the talks are aimed at jointly seeking possible THAAD deployment and its operational capability at the earliest.

Repeated tests by Pyongyang of its nuclear devices and long-range rockets are believed to have advanced its capability of miniaturising a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a long-range missile that can strike the US mainland.

Pyongyang had conducted nuclear tests and long-range rocket launches almost simultaneously. About a month after the fourth nuclear test, the Kwangmyongsong rocket lifted off from North Korea`s main Tonchang-ri launch station on the west coast.

Two months before the third nuclear detonation, North Korea launched a three-stage Unha-3 rocket into space for the purpose of what it claimed was to deliver an observation satellite.

South Korea and the US will form a joint working group that would first review an appropriate site for the THAAD deployment.

If the THAAD is deployed in the northeastern coastal region of South Korea, it can intercept ballistic missiles launched from DPRK submarines, a South Korean defence ministry official said.

North Korea reportedly test-fired its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) three times in 2015.

The SLBM is seen by some as the most serious threat as a submarine-carried ballistic missile is much harder to detect in advance.

The THAAD is an advanced US missile defence system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km. A THAAD battery is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 missiles and airborne radar and fire control system.

The US had expressed its willingness to deploy one or more batteries in South Korea.

One THAAD battery, valued at about 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion), is capable of covering two thirds of South Korea, according to Seoul`s defence ministry.

The South Korean military has no plans to directly purchase the US missile defence system, and possible deployment will be made to US troops stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.

If deployed, Seoul would bear the costs for the site and infrastructure, while Washington would cover costs for the deployment and maintenance.

The THAAD will be operated against North Korea alone, according to Seoul's defence ministry.

The ministry believes that it can shoot down an estimated 2,000 North Korean ballistic missiles, including Scud, Rodong and Musudan.
Oncupinar: Aid trucks and ambulances entered Syria from Turkey on Sunday to help tens of thousands of people who have fled an escalating government assault on Aleppo, as air strikes targeted villages on the road linking the city to the Turkish border. Rebel-held areas in and around Aleppo, Syria`s largest before the war, are still home to 350,000 people, and aid workers have said they could soon fall to the government.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said air strikes, thought to be from Russian planes, hit villages north of Aleppo on Sunday including Bashkoy, Haritan and Anadan, the latter two near the road to Turkey. Russia`s intervention has tipped the balance of the war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, reversing gains the rebels made last year.

Advances by the Syrian army and allied militias, including Iranian fighters, are threatening to cut the rebel-held zones of Aleppo off from Turkish supply lines. "In some parts of Aleppo, the Assad regime has cut the north-south corridor ... Turkey is under threat," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by the Hurriyet newspaper as telling reporters on his plane back from a visit to Latin America.

Turkey has given refuge to civilians fleeing Syria throughout the conflict, but is coming under growing pressure from the United States to secure the border more tightly, and, from Europe, to stem the onward flow of migrants. It is already sheltering more than 2.5 million Syrians, the world`s largest refugee population.

But at the Oncupinar gate, which has been largely shut for nearly a year, the newest arrivals were being shepherded into camps on the Syrian side, where Turkey says they are safe for now.

The local governor of Oncupinar said on Saturday that around 35,000 had reached the border in the space of 48 hours. "If needed, we will let those brothers in," Erdogan was quoted as saying.

Aid officials at Oncupinar said they were focusing for now on getting aid to the Syrian side of the border, where Turkish agencies have set up new shelters. "We`re extending our efforts inside Syria to supply shelter, food and medical assistance to people. We are already setting up another camp," an official from the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) told Reuters.

At a camp at Bab al Salama, on the Syrian side of the border, children played in the muddy lanes between rows of tents lashed by rain. Some were ripped and caked with mud, but others appeared to be newly set up.

A flag of the opposition Free Syrian Army fluttered over the road leading out towards the Syrian city of Azaz, along which many of the displaced have travelled in recent days. Opposition fighters armed with Kalashnikovs wandered nearby. "Syria is finished now," said Dilel Cumali, who has been sleeping at the camp for the past month. "All we want is to get inside Turkey."

Taking full control of Aleppo would be a huge strategic prize for Assad`s government in a five-year conflict that has killed at least 250,000 people across the country and driven 11 million from their homes.

"Assad teaming up with Russia is trying to annihilate us," said Kasim, 21, an opposition fighter lying in hospital in the Turkish town of Kilis, one of a few dozen wounded combatants and civilians let in through Oncupinar in recent weeks.

"But they won`t succeed. I will get better and go back to war and fight to the last drop of my blood to see Bashar toppled." While areas to the northwest of Aleppo are held by Syrian opposition forces and Kurdish groups, the territory to the northeast is held by the militant group Islamic State.

The Observatory said there had been fierce clashes in that area, and state media said government forces had wrested a strategic hill in the eastern Aleppo countryside from Islamic State.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it was ready to send ground troops into Syria as part of an international coalition fighting Islamic State, provided Washington took the lead, echoing an offer made last week by its fellow Sunni Arab Gulf power Saudi Arabia.

Erdogan said Turkey`s armed forces had the full authority to counter any threats to its national security, although senior officials have said the NATO member does not intend to mount any unilateral incursion into Syria. Syria`s foreign minister said on Saturday it would send any invading forces home "in coffins".
United Nations; The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today in New York over North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said.

The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States, which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Tokyo and Washington called the consultations over the launch of a "so-called 'satellite' by North Korea in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions," in a letter to the Venezuela mission currently holding the council presidency.

The resolutions bar Pyongyang from any ballistic missile or nuclear activity.

The unpredictable hermit state made good on its threat to launch a satellite-bearing rocket, despite US and South Korean warnings, the South Korean military confirmed.

The launch took place as the international community was still struggling to reach consensus on how to respond to Pyongyang's detonation of what it claimed was a powerful thermonuclear bomb on January 6.

The White House and its allies want to respond with a UN resolution that would slap more sanctions on the North.

But they must first win the backing of UN veto power China, which has in the past shielded its neighbour and close ally.

The North is already subject to numerous UN sanctions over previous rocket launches and three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algerian lawmakers passed constitutional reforms on Sunday proposed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after the 2011 "Arab Spring" uprisings, including reinstating a two-term limit for the presidency and boosting parliamentary powers. Government officials said the amendments fulfilled Bouteflika's promises to strengthen democracy, but opposition leaders dismissed them as superficial tweaks to a system long dominated by the ruling FLN party and the military. The FLN along with the RND and other pro-government parties hold a majority in both chambers of the parliament and 499 out of 517 lawmakers present voted in favor, with 16 abstaining. Several opposition parties boycotted the vote. "The reforms we have started allow us to move to a new political and constitutional phase, based on democratic principles," Bouteflika said in a statement read by the senate chief on his behalf. Approval of the reforms should prompt the naming of a new government cabinet by Bouteflika, an independence-era veteran whose has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 despite re-election in 2014 to a fourth term. The constitutional reforms were approved at a delicate time for the North African OPEC member, whose government is facing a sharp slide in oil prices that has slashed its revenues and forced it to trim spending. The amendments limit presidents to two terms in office, reversing a reform Bouteflika's government introduced in 2008, allowing him to be re-elected in 2009. According to the reforms, the president must now consult with the majority in parliament when choosing a prime minister, and create an independent election monitoring body. "The constitutional revisions contain some positive things and improvements, but they do not reflect any real political reform," Djelloul Djoudi, a member of the opposition Workers' Party, said. The amendments also officially recognize the Amazigh language spoken by Berbers, the original inhabitants of North Africa before the seventh century Arab invasion. In 2002, the government recognized Amazigh or Tamazight as a national language, meaning it could be taught officially in schools in Berber-speaking regions for the first time. But Berbers had pushed for Tamazight to gain official status, meaning it would also be used by the administration and appear in documents. (Reporting by Patrick Markey and Hamid Ould Ahmed; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Chinese PresidentXi Jinping(C) and other top leaders attend a reception to extend Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people as they meet with more than 2,000 members of the public in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2016.Li Keqiang,Zhang Dejiang,Yu Zhengsheng,Liu Yunshan,Wang QishanandZhang Gaoliwere also present. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping and other top leaders extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people Saturday as they met more than 2,000 members of the public at a reception in Beijing.

Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were also present.

Premier Li Keqiang delivered a speech at the gathering, greeting all Chinese in the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and at abroad.

Li also sent condolences to Taiwan compatriots for the strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Kaohsiung earlier in the day and has left 11 people dead.

Some major natural disasters and public security contingencies in the past year have brought the people's hearts closer together and authorities have put the people's security as top priority all the time, Li said.

"Over the past year, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the General Secretary, China's reform and development has braved the storms and maintained medium-to-high growth despite the sluggish world economy," he said.

The country has kept advancing the structural reforms and created more than 13 million jobs. People's incomes have increased in sync with GDP, according to the premier.

In the new year, development remains the primary task, he said.

While appropriately expanding the aggregate demands, China will strengthen structural reforms, especially the supply-side reform, which are expected to remove hindrances to the development, motivate the creativity of hundreds of millions of people and foster new growth drivers, said Li.

He said the government will spare no efforts to resolve issues bearing on the immediate interests of the people, fighting poverty and bringing them care and opportunities to build fortune.

"All this will serve to deliver to the people a happier life with more secure jobs, greater confidence in the future and a stronger sense of satisfaction," Li said.

He finally urged all people to unite under the CPC leadership and strive for the nation's great rejuvenation.

This year's Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 8.
DRESDEN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA movement staged rallies in several cities across Europe on Saturday to protest against the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. The movement, whose name stands for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West, originated in the eastern German city of Dresden in 2014, with supporters seizing on a surge in asylum seekers to warn that Germany risks being overrun by Muslims. After almost fizzling out early last year, the movement has regained momentum amid deepening public unease over whether Germany can cope with the 1.1 million migrants who arrived in the country during 2015. The alleged involvement of migrants in assaults on women in Cologne on New Year's Eve has also spurred PEGIDA, which says it is proof that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming stance to refugees is flawed. "We must succeed in guarding and controlling Europe's external borders as well as its internal borders once again," PEGIDA member Siegfried Daebritz told a crowd on the banks of the River Elbe who chanted "Merkel must go!". Police in Dresden declined to estimate the number of protesters. German media put the number at up to 8,000, well below the 15,000 originally expected by police. Hundreds of counter-demonstrators also marched through Dresden under the motto "Solidarity instead of exclusion", holding up placards saying "No place for Nazis". Far-right groups see Europe's refugee crisis as an opportunity to broadcast their anti-immigrant message. There were 208 rallies in Germany in the last quarter of 2015, up from 95 a year earlier, Interior Ministry data showed. CALAIS, PRAGUE Protests also took place on Saturday in other cities, including Amsterdam, Prague and the English city of Birmingham. In Calais, in northern France, more than a dozen people were arrested during a protest that was attended by more than a hundred people despite being banned, local authorities said. Thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East camp out in Calais, hoping for a chance to make the short trip across the English Channel to Britain. In Prague, an estimated 2,200 people including both supporters and opponents of Pegida held a series of rival demonstrations around the Czech capital. Police had to intervene in one march when supporters of the migrants came under attack from around 20 people who threw bottles and stones. Later, around 20 masked assailants threw Molotov cocktails during an attack on a center that collects donations for refugees, forcing the evacuation of the building and injuring one person who was hit by glass, police said. In Warsaw, hundreds of people waved Polish flags and chanted "England and France are in tears, that's how tolerance ends". "We're demonstrating against the Islamisation of Europe, we're demonstrating against immigration, against an invasion," Robert Winnicki, leader of Poland's far-right Ruch Narodowy (National Movement), told demonstrators. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland have together taken a tough stance on migration and have been largely opposed to taking in significant numbers of refugees. (Reporting Caroline Copley and Reuters TV; Additional reporting by Wiktor Szary in Warsaw, Petra Vodstrcilova and Michael Kahn in Prague, Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris, Estelle Shirbon in London and Pierre Savary in Calais; Editing by Gareth Jones and Toby Chopra)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria will extend its border controls if Turkey does not take back refugees picked up at sea on their way to Greece, Chancellor Werner Faymann said in an interview with the daily Oesterreich, being published on Sunday. He had earlier said that migrants picked up at the Greek external EU border should be sent back directly to Turkey because this was the only measure that would make a radical enough impact. Austria is set to introduce a new border management system at Spielfeld, a key crossing point on its south-eastern border with Slovenia, which aims at speeding up applications and making the country less attractive to asylum seekers. More such border management facilities on other routes may be needed if Turkey does not respond to his proposal, the chancellor was quoted as saying. Faymann said Turkey must make a decision by Feb. 18, when EU leaders meet for a summit. It would not be a solution if Turkish border controls led to 10,000 refugees arriving at EU borders instead of 20,000, Faymann was quoted as saying in the interview. "Then we must secure our borders even more," Faymann said. "To protect internal borders is a makeshift solution. But we have to be prepared." Ankara and Brussels agreed to slow down the flow of migrants in a Nov. 29 deal, but refugees continue to stream into Greece. Austria, which has a population of 8.4 million and last year received 90,000 applications for asylum, has said that the number of refugees it will accept this year will be limited to 37,500. More than one million people arrived in Europe last year, fleeing war and failing states in the Middle East and Africa. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian health officials said on Thursday they have confirmed two cases of transmission of Zika through transfusions of blood from donors who had been infected with the mosquito-borne virus that is spreading rapidly through the Americas. Marcelo Addas Carvalho, director of the Blood Center at the Sao Paulo state University of Campinas, said genetic testing confirmed that a man who received a blood transfusion using blood from a donor with Zika in March 2015 became infected with the virus, although the patient did not develop symptoms. Earlier, the health department of Campinas, an industrial city near Sao Paulo, said a man with gunshot wounds became infected with Zika after multiple blood transfusions in April 2015 that included blood donated by an infected person. Carvalho said the infection of the wounded man was most probably caused by the transfusion but genetic tests have not yet been conducted to confirm it. He said it was very unlikely the infection was caused by a mosquito bite because the patient was in a hospital intensive care unit for three months. The patient later died from his gunshot wounds and not the Zika infection, local health officials and Carvalho said. "The two cases can be considered transmission of the virus through blood transfusion, with greater certainty in the first because we did genetic sequencing comparing the virus in the donor and to the virus in the recipient," he said by telephone. Zika is usually contracted via mosquito bites, so transmission of the illness through blood transfusions adds another concern to efforts to contain the outbreak. Some countries have tightened procedures for blood donations, to protect blood supplies. Zika has been reported in 30 countries since it first appeared in the Americas last year in Brazil, where it has been linked to thousands of babies being born with microcephaly. This is a condition where infants have abnormally small heads and often have underdeveloped brains. Brazil's Health Ministry, leading efforts to contain a public health emergency in the country worst hit by the virus, emphasized in a statement that the recipient died of his wounds and not from the Zika infection. It said it was reinforcing instructions to blood banks that people infected with Zika or dengue not be permitted to donate blood for 30 days after full recovery from the active stage of Zika infection. On Tuesday, the American Red Cross urged prospective donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to wait at least 28 days before giving blood, but said the risk of transmitting the virus through blood donations was "extremely" low in the continental United States. The agency asked donors who give blood and subsequently develop symptoms consistent with Zika within 14 days to notify the Red Cross so the product can be quarantined. Also causing concern is the possibility of transmission through sexual contact. Health officials in Texas reported on Tuesday that a person in Dallas became infected after having sex with another person who had traveled in Venezuela, where the virus is circulating. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Will Dunham, Frances Kerry and Bernard Orr)
CBC

The City of Charlottetown is still in the midst of heavy cleanup operations after post-tropical storm Fiona swept away hundreds of trees, but is already making plans to keep at least some of them out of the landfill. "It's slow going. There's lots of debris, lots of downed trees that we've been cleaning up, there's a lot of roadside trees, residents have been cleaning up their private yards," said city public works manager Scott Adams. "We are still trucking away every day more and more tree deb
Rumble

The idea of making cheese at home can be really intimidating. Cheese feels like something you have to buy at the store or the farmer's market. But not anymore, you can make fresh cheese at home with four simple ingredients: whole milk, lime juice, apple cider vinegar and sea salt. Queso Fresco translates from Spanish is "fresh cheese." It has its roots in Spain but has been popularized by Mexican food culture. It's mild taste is a perfect canvas to bold build flavour profile. This video shows you how to make Queso Fresco three different ways: sweet, savoury and spicy. Bon Appetit! check out my first novel. https://www.amazon.co.uk/KAT-Matthew-... Whole milk 2L - 3.5 pints Lime 1 large Vinegar 120ml - 1/2 cup - 4fl oz Salt 2 tbsp Heat the milk gently to 77c - 170f, squeeze in the lime juice and stir with a slotted spoon. Keep heating to 87c - 190f and add the vinegar. Turn off the heat and stir occasionally for 15 minutes, strain into cheese cloth sitting in a sieve or colander and leave to drain for between 30 minutes and 2 hours. The cheese remaining will be quite firm, turn into a bowl and beat with a fork or your hand with the salt for a few minutes to create a smoother mixture. Muy caliente chopped pickled chilli pepper, garlic, hot sauce and coriander Honey and rosemary Basil and sun-dried tomato (fresh and puree)
Rumble

This video shows the incredible behaviour of a caring mother elephant on high alert, quickly stopping her adorable baby which was curiously straying away from her towards a vehicle full of safari tourists. Going on safari in the Kruger National Park is a life changing experience. Driving around multiple tarred roads, slowly scanning a massive area of wilderness is all part of the thrill. You never know what will be around the next corner or what animal will suddenly appear from the bush onto the road. Its an exciting experience and one of the must-see animals for most tourists are elephants. Not only are they the largest land mammals on our planet and fairly intimidating, elephants are also one of the most intelligent and emotionally intelligent animals that roam this planet. Seeing these giants in the wild is always a sight to remember. The video shows an incredible moment filmed in the Kruger National Park when a safari vehicle full of tourists found a large elephant cow and her adorable calf next to the road. The safari vehicle stopped and it looked like the mother elephant and her baby wanted to cross the road. The baby elephant was the cutest thing alive in the wild right at that moment. While the elephant cow remained focussed on crossing the road, her baby took notice of the safari vehicle and curiously started straying away from its mother towards the vehicle. The caring mother elephant immediately went into high alert and quickly took her trunk and stopped her baby from going any closer to the safari vehicle. The mother elephant gently used her trunk to guide her baby back and into the right direction. It was incredible to see how quickly the elephant cow became protective over her baby. The elephant calf listened to its mother and in a well-behaved manner, walking on the opposite side of its mother, continued to focus and follow its mother as it should. This is crucial for the survival of the calf in the wild. The gestation period of an elephant is twenty-two months, so it is very understandable that an elephant calf is seen as a huge investment and there will always be a mother around, ready to protect her calf from any potential danger. Even though the tourists were not a direct threat, the mother elephant knows all to well that there are humans that still pose a danger for them in the wild. The mother of such a small calf is definitely not something to mess with at all and its best never to get too close to a mother and her calf.
BEIJING, Feb. 7 -- China expressed regrets after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched an earth-observation satellite Sunday morning, calling for calmness to avoid further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"The DPRK should have been entitled to peaceful use of outer space, but this right is currently restricted by the United Nations Security Council resolutions," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, in response to a question on the DPRK's announcement on the launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong-4.

China was regretful that the DPRK insisted on launching the satellite, based on the ballistic missile technology, despite universal opposition of the international community, the spokesperson said.

Hua called all sides concerned to "remain calm, act cautiously, prevent from taking moves that could further increase tensions on the peninsula, and make joint efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability."

"China always holds that the way to long-lasting peace and stability on the peninsula can be found only through dialogues and consultations," Hua said, urging all sides concerned to resume contact and dialogue as soon as possible.
New research has suggested that the smoking ban has seen a drop in heart disease in people affected by passive smoking.

Results from 77 studies from 21 countries around the world concluded that banning smoking in public place does cut the harm from breathing in second hand smoke.

Two thirds of the studies reviewed on heart disease alone found that there was a significant reduction once the band had been enforced.

And one study from the University of Liverpool found that heart attack rates for men fell by over 40% once the smoking ban in England was introduced in 2007.

Researchers also found that the greatest reduction in hospital admissions for heart disease following smoking legislation was among non-smokers.

Review author Professor Cecily Kelleher, from University College, Dublin, said: The current evidence provides more robust support for the previous conclusions that the introduction of national legislative smoking bans does lead to improved health outcomes through a reduction in second-hand smoke exposure for countries and their populations.

Heart disease risks: Research suggests passive smokers have fewer health risks since the smoking ban (Rex)

Charities have welcomed the results of the research, saying it reinforces the reasons for banning smoking in public places.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "This review strengthens previous evidence that banning smoking in public places leads to fewer deaths from heart disease and that this effect is greatest in the non-smoking population.

"So, in public health terms, this has been a successful piece of legislation. Smoking is bad for smokers and for those around them.

"Reduced exposure to smoke leads to fewer fatal heart attacks.

However, pro-smoking groups have questioned the legitimacy of the research.

Ban: Smoking in public places was outlawed in 2007 (Rex)

Simon Clark, director of the smokers group Forest, said: "Its very difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the impact of smoking bans on peoples health, especially non-smokers.

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"Its true that the number of heart attacks went down in some places following the introduction of smoking bans, but in other areas the number went up or stayed the same.

"Clearly there are factors other than second-hand smoke that must be taken into account because most smoking-related diseases are multi-factorial, but smoking is an easy target.

Mr Clark added that a previous study concluded that the link between second-hand smoke and coronary heart disease and lung cancer may be considerably weaker than generally believed.

Top pic: Rex
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed in Syria, arguing that Moscow and Damascus were together responsible for 400,000 deaths there, Dogan News Agency reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart while on a state visit to the West African country, Erdogan also said Russia was engaged in an invasion of Syria and accused it of trying to set up a "boutique state" for its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad. "Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders," Dogan quoted him as saying. "By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000." His comments are likely to further enrage Moscow. Relations between Turkey, a NATO member, and Russia hit their worst in recent memory in November after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane Ankara said had violated Turkish airspace from Syria. The two are on opposing sides of the five-year-old Syrian civil war, where Russia's intervention with airstrikes to help the Assad regime has tipped the war in Damascus' favor, reversing gains rebels made last year. Russia has accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Ankara has dismissed this as propaganda intended to conceal Russia's own "crimes". Turkey, which has taken in more than 2.5 million refugees fleeing the Syrian war, wants Assad out and says only his removal can bring long-term peace. (Reporting by Asli Kandemir; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Ralph Boulton)
Veteran Yukon musher Ed Hopkins has learned a few things along the rugged, 1,600 kilometre Yukon Quest trail, which he'll be racing down for the eight time this year. Mostly, he's learned to be ready for anything and everything.

"There's all sorts of things you're going to be going through. The gamut of emotions, you know  happy, sad, laughing, crying," he said.

"You just have to be mentally tough to be a musher."

Hopkins is one of four Canadians in the race which begins Saturday in Fairbanks, Alaska. A total of 23 mushers are registered, including last year's champion Brent Sass and 2015's second-place finisher, Allen Moore. There are mushers from Japan, Sweden, and France, but most are American, including Sass and Moore.

The race's executive director in Yukon, Natalie Haltrich, said the trail appears to be in decent shape this year, although it "can change in an hour, with a storm, or wind, or you name it."

One part of the trail, near Dawson City, has been re-routed because of ice jams along the Yukon River.

Haltrich said there are "challenging sections" of the trail, and parts with relatively little snow  such as the homestretch from Braeburn to Whitehorse.

"What we have will suffice," she said. "It's been worse."

Warmer weather

The Yukon Quest is not the most famous sled dog race  that would be Alaska's Iditarod  but it's arguably more challenging than the Iditarod, with fewer checkpoints, higher-elevation terrain, and an earlier winter start.

This year is not shaping up to be terribly cold, but that's not necessarily good news, said musher Luc Tweddell of Whitehorse.

"The warm weather's going to be quite something. It's hard on the dogs," Tweddell said.

"On the musher it's fine, but on the dogs it's harder to get food into them and stuff like that. So we'll see."

Tweddell has run the race once before  seven years ago  but decided to try again at the urging of his teenage daughters, who hope to follow in his footsteps once they're old enough.

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"They told me that, already. Hopefully they'll change their mind," he said, laughing. "Maybe we'll enter, the three of us. We'll see."

In the meantime, Tweddell said he'd like to finish in the top 10 this year, but he'd be happy simply to finish the race with all his dogs.

"That's my main priority," he said.
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By Robin Emmott AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Ukraine must uphold its part of a peace deal with Russia by modernizing the country or risk a collapse of support for EU sanctions against Moscow, Denmark's foreign minister said on Friday. The European Union is pressing Kiev to overcome political feuding and implement reforms to bring Ukraine out of Russia's shadow and into the West, but the resignation of Ukraine's frustrated economy minister has underlined the difficulties. "If Ukraine doesn't come through with the reforms linked to the Minsk peace process, it will be very difficult for Europe to continue united in support for sanctions against Russia," Kristian Jensen told Reuters, referring to the peace deal agreed by Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany last year. Jensen was speaking on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Amsterdam. Maintaining unity is crucial for Europe's efforts to put pressure on Moscow to help end the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014. The European Union, along with the United States, imposed economic sanctions on Russia in July 2014, targeting its energy, banking and defense sectors. Sanctions expire in July and can be extended. But countries with a closer relationship with Russia including Cyprus, Italy and Hungary could argue that if Ukraine is not abiding by the Minsk peace deal, the process no longer holds. Reforms tied to the Minsk accord include changing Ukraine's constitution to decentralize government, something foreign investors say would greatly speed up decision-making. Minsk was extended beyond its end-2015 deadline and although it does not have a new, formal deadline it is not open-ended. "Ukraine has a deadline. They need to push those reforms now, they can't wait," Jensen said. With some 100 Danish companies in Ukraine, Copenhagen has sought to seize the initiative after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Ukraine in December to call for reforms. Denmark pushed EU foreign ministers to discuss Ukraine at their last meeting in January, the first debate in almost a year. In Kiev, the economy minister's shock resignation this week raised concerns over the government's ability to deliver change, especially as political rifts within the ruling Ukrainian coalition appeared to have been calmed when it agreed a 2016 draft budget in late December. Jensen said Aivaras Abromavicius decision to step down was also a warning that Europe needed to help more. The European Union and other Western governments are pouring money into Ukraine to reform the police, customs and the energy sector in one of the world's most corrupt countries. "We are all running around with our own small, pet projects. Many of them are good but none of them are sufficient to make a visible change in Ukraine," said Jensen, who visited Ukraine in September. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Alison Williams)
PARIS (Reuters) - France's National Front is sticking to its opposition to the euro, its secretary general said on Sunday after top officials met to discuss the party's strategy ahead of next year's presidential race. Criticism of the National Front's anti-euro stance has been growing among party officials, who fear the position is a key reason the party is failing to turn growing popularity into election victories. "We must restore a currency that is a tool of our economy," National Front Secretary General Nicolas Bay told iTele news channel. "We have a system that is not viable, which is against our interests, we have a trade balance with a deficit of tens of billions of euros, it would obviously be in our interest to have a weaker currency," he said. Bay said the party would not impose a sudden exit of the euro zone and that the matter would be submitted to a referendum. In a statement the party said that the main lines of policy had been reaffirmed at the meeting, including national, economic and monetary sovereignty. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Stephen Powell)
Oncupinar (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkish humanitarian groups set up camps in Syria and sent in truckloads of aid Monday for tens of thousands of people stranded on the border after fleeing a Russia-backed regime offensive on the northern region of Aleppo.

Turkey, which has long pushed for a safe zone on the border, has vowed to help an estimated 35,000 people amassed on the frontier, many of them women and children.

But so far it has has kept the border closed despite warnings from aid groups of the desperate situation the Syrians were facing.

"Turkey has reached the limit of its capacity to absorb the refugees," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN Turk television.

"But in the end, these people have nowhere else to go. Either they will die beneath the bombings... or we will open our borders."

Aid agencies have warned of a desperate situation among the crowds queueing in the cold and rain at Bab al-Salama frontier post, which faces Turkey's Oncupinar crossing, and begun setting up camps on the Syrian side.

Many refugees are reportedly sleeping in fields and on roads.

The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which is providing food for 20,000 refugees, said it had set up a new camp with a capacity of 10,000, in addition to eight it already operates near Bab al-Salama.

"Our operations are aimed at taking care of people inside Syria," Serkan Nergis, a spokesman for the foundation, told AFP by phone.

"The numbers could soar and we are looking at how we can provide shelter for Syrians in safe areas."

Despite already hosting over 2.5 million refugees from Syria's civil war, Turkey has come under pressure to take in those fleeing the latest flurry of bombardments, while also being squeezed by European leaders to prevent those who cross into Turkey continuing on across the Mediterranean to Europe.

A Turkish official said the border crossing was open only "for emergency situations," adding that several injured people have been taken for treatment to Turkish hospitals.

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- Turkey will 'let brothers in' -

Dozens of aid trucks were seen crossing into Syria on Monday, along with medical teams and ambulances.

Mohammad Rahma, a 15-year-old who was blinded in a Russian air strike a month ago and wore bandages on his eyes, was among those allowed cross into Turkey for treatment, accompanied by his father Ahmad.

"We've been living out in the open because we don't have any place to stay," Ahmad, who came from Azaz, about 30 kilometres from Aleppo city, told AFP.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has received over one million migrants in the past year, many of them Syrian refugees, was due in Ankara Monday to press the government to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.

Merkel was to hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has warned that Turkey is "under threat" from the refugee tide but said that "if necessary, we have to, and will, let our brothers in".

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that Turkey had already received 5,000 people fleeing the Aleppo offensive and another 50,000 to 55,000 were on their way.

Medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said three MSF-supported hospitals in the Aleppo region had been bombed.

- 'Situation desperate' -

"From what MSF can see the situation in Azaz district is desperate, with ongoing fighting and tens of thousands of people displaced," said Muskilda Zancada, head of the group's Syria mission.

"We... have seen problems with lack of space to accommodate people, and insufficient water and sanitation in many areas."

The EU has promised three billion euros ($3.3 billion) of aid in return for Ankara's help in staunching the flow of migrants landing on Greece's shores in packed boats from nearby Turkey.

But residents of areas along Turkey's border with Syria -- where most of the Syrian refugees in Turkey are living -- fear being overwhelmed by a fresh wave of new arrivals.

"Life here would be paralysed in the face of a mass exodus," said Tugba Kaya, from the border town of Kilis.

- 'Survival and dignity' -

Top diplomats from countries trying to resolve Syria's five-year conflict, which has claimed 260,000 lives and displaced half the population, are set to meet pm February 11 after peace talks collapsed last week.

The latest crisis began as Syrian government forces closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Russia intervened in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

Regime troops advanced Sunday towards Tal Rifaat -- one of the last rebel strongholds in Aleppo province, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city.

Opposition forces and roughly 350,000 civilians inside rebel-held parts of the city face the risk of a government siege, a tactic employed to devastating effect against other former rebel bastions.

On Sunday an aid convoy entered the regime-besieged town of Moadamiyat al-Sham near Damascus, in a new joint operation organised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned North Korea's latest rocket launch and promised to take punitive steps, while Washington vowed to ensure the 15-nation body imposed "serious consequences" on Pyongyang as soon as possible. "The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this launch," Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, president of the council this month, told reporters. He said the launch was "a serious violation." He added that the 15-nation council "restated their intent to develop significant measures in a new Security Council resolution in response to the nuclear test" in January, as well as Sunday's rocket launch. He said they would work "expeditiously." Standing alongside her Japanese and South Korean counterparts, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters: "We will ensure that the Security Council imposes serious consequences. DPRK's (North Korea) latest transgressions require our response to be even firmer." North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006. It has conducted three more atomic tests since then, including the one last month, along with numerous ballistic missile launches. The sanctions ban its work in nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, blacklist a number of individuals and entities and bar the country's leadership from importing luxury goods. The United States and China began discussing a resolution to expand the existing sanctions after Pyongyang's atom bomb test on Jan 6. Power said she hoped the council would have a draft resolution to vote on "as quickly as possible." "It is urgent and overdue," she said. "We are hopeful that China, like all council members, will see the grave threat to regional, international peace and security, see the importance of adopting tough, unprecedented measures, breaking new ground," Power added about her hopes for China in discussions on new sanctions on Pyongyang. Diplomats say Washington is closely consulting with Japan, South Korea, Britain and France on its discussions with China, while Beijing is keeping in close contact with fellow veto power Russia. Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said the draft under discussion would have "much more strengthened measures" against Pyongyang. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one senior Western diplomat said he hoped the council would be able to vote on a new sanctions resolution this month. He said the Americans had been pushing for tough new measures that went beyond targeting North Korea's atomic weapons and missile programs, while China wanted any future steps to focus on the question of nonproliferation. One diplomat told Reuters that Washington was hoping to tighten international restrictions on North Korea's banking system, while Beijing was reluctant to support that for fear of worsening conditions in its impoverished neighbor. "There will eventually be a sanctions resolution," the diplomat said. "China wants any steps to be measured but it wants the council to send a clear message to DPRK (North Korea) that it must comply with council resolutions." China expressed regret and concern over Sunday's rocket launch, which employed ballistic missile technology. China is North Korea's main ally but it disapproves of its nuclear weapons program. Speaking to reporters ahead of the closed-door session, France's U.N. ambassador, Francois Delattre, described North Korea's launch as an "outrageous provocation." British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Sunday he had spoken with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, and both had agreed the council should take strong action. (Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
DRESDEN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA movement staged rallies in several cities across Europe on Saturday to protest against the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. The movement, whose name stands for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West, originated in the eastern German city of Dresden in 2014, with supporters seizing on a surge in asylum seekers to warn that Germany risks being overrun by Muslims. After almost fizzling out early last year, the movement has regained momentum amid deepening public unease over whether Germany can cope with the 1.1 million migrants who arrived in the country during 2015. The alleged involvement of migrants in assaults on women in Cologne on New Year's Eve has also spurred PEGIDA, which says it is proof that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming stance to refugees is flawed. "We must succeed in guarding and controlling Europe's external borders as well as its internal borders once again," PEGIDA member Siegfried Daebritz told a crowd on the banks of the River Elbe who chanted "Merkel must go!". Police in Dresden declined to estimate the number of protesters. German media put the number at up to 8,000, well below the 15,000 originally expected by police. Hundreds of counter-demonstrators also marched through Dresden under the motto "Solidarity instead of exclusion", holding up placards saying "No place for Nazis". Far-right groups see Europe's refugee crisis as an opportunity to broadcast their anti-immigrant message. There were 208 rallies in Germany in the last quarter of 2015, up from 95 a year earlier, Interior Ministry data showed. CALAIS, PRAGUE Protests also took place on Saturday in other cities, including Amsterdam, Prague and the English city of Birmingham. In Calais, in northern France, more than a dozen people were arrested during a protest that was attended by more than a hundred people despite being banned, local authorities said. Thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East camp out in Calais, hoping for a chance to make the short trip across the English Channel to Britain. In Prague, an estimated 2,200 people including both supporters and opponents of Pegida held a series of rival demonstrations around the Czech capital. Police had to intervene in one march when supporters of the migrants came under attack from around 20 people who threw bottles and stones. In Warsaw, hundreds of people waved Polish flags and chanted "England and France are in tears, that's how tolerance ends". "We're demonstrating against the Islamisation of Europe, we're demonstrating against immigration, against an invasion," Robert Winnicki, leader of Poland's far-right Ruch Narodowy (National Movement), told demonstrators. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland have together taken a tough stance on migration and have been largely opposed to taking in significant numbers of refugees. (Reporting Caroline Copley and Reuters TV; Additional reporting by Wiktor Szary in Warsaw, Petra Vodstrcilova in Prague, Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris, Estelle Shirbon in London and Pierre Savary in Calais; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Australia's highest court Wednesday opened the way for hundreds of asylum-seekers to be transferred to a remote Pacific outpost, including women allegedly sexually assaulted there, when it dismissed a challenge to a hardline immigration policy. The High Court case was brought by a Bangladeshi woman who arrived on an unauthorised boat and was dispatched to the tiny island republic of Nauru before being brought to Australia for urgent medical treatment during a pregnancy. She sought a declaration that Australia's conduct in sending her to Nauru was unlawful in a challenge seen as a test case for more than 260 asylum-seekers, including 37 babies born in Australia and 54 other children, lawyers said. But the court ruled six to one that the Australian government's arrangements for offshore detention on Nauru did not breach the law. Canberra's tough immigration policy ensures that asylum-seekers arriving in Australia by boat are sent to Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Even if the detainees are subsequently found to be genuine refugees they are denied resettlement in Australia -- a policy designed to stop people-smuggling boats which has drawn international criticism. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the court had found the existing process "legally and constitutionally valid". But he told parliament: "The people smugglers will not prevail over our sovereignty." "Our borders are secure. The line has to be drawn somewhere and it is drawn at our border." The Human Rights Law Centre, which brought the case for the woman, said the mother and her husband -- with a one-year-old baby -- were now terrified of being sent back to Nauru where some 537 asylum-seekers are currently housed. A further 922 men are held on PNG's Manus Island. "The legality is one thing, the morality is another," said the centre's Daniel Webb. Webb said that among the group at risk of being transferred to Nauru were women who had allegedly been sexually assaulted on the island as well as 37 babies born in Australia. "Ripping kids out of primary school and sending them to be indefinitely warehoused on a tiny remote island is wrong," he added. - 'Risk of rights violations' - Webb would not comment on the case of a five-year-old boy who was reportedly brought to Australia after allegedly being sexually assaulted on Nauru. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said he was seeking more information on that case, but stressed it would be considered compassionately. "We are not going to send kids into harm's way," the minister told Sky News. "But we are saying very firmly that if you don't have a legitimate claim for refuge in Australia then we want to help you go back to your country of origin." Australia has long defended its policy saying it has prevented the deaths of asylum-seekers at sea and secured its borders. Under the previous Labor government, at least 1,200 people died trying to reach Australia by boat between 2008 and 2013. But refugee advocates slammed the prospect of asylum-seekers being returned to Nauru, from where allegations of abuses, including rape, have arisen. Sending vulnerable and abused people back to "where they will suffer indefinitely would be callous and cold", said Paul Power, chief executive of the Refugee Council of Australia. The UN children's agency UNICEF said returning minors to Nauru not only placed unreasonable pressures on the developing state but also put children at risk. Amnesty International also joined the chorus of disappointment, saying those sent back would be at "real risk of serious human rights violations" in a place where many resorted to self-harm. The Refugee Action Coalition called for protests around the country later this week after the court's decision which it said hid behind a legal technicality. "It avoided the substance of the challenge by finding that the asylum-seekers on Nauru are detained by the Nauruan government," it said.
Chinas foreign exchange reserves have fallen to their lowest level in more than three years, the central bank said Sunday, as Beijing sells dollars to stop the yuan from depreciating further. The world's largest currency hoard shrank by $99.5 billion in January to some $3.2 trillion, the Peoples Bank of China said on its website, the lowest since May 2012. Worries about China's economy have pushed the yuan to a five-year low. The country saw its first-ever annual decline in foreign exchange reserves last year as Beijing tried to prevent a more drastic devaluation. The PBoC is selling dollars to buy yuan amid a capital flight spurred by the slowing growth in the world's second largest economy. But some analysts predict a more drastic weakening of the yuan this year and question China's ability to continue rapidly shedding the reserves. "While the remaining reserves represent a substantial war chest, the rapid pace of depletion in recent months is simply unsustainable," IHS Global Insight economist Rajiv Biswas told Bloomberg News. Outflows increased "as expectations mount that the PBoC will eventually be forced to capitulate once its reserves are sufficiently depleted", he added. George Magnus, economic commentator and associate at Oxford University's China Centre, wrote on Twitter: "China's fx reserves fell another $100bn... clearly this can't go on for long." The pace of decline in the reserves in January was slower than December, which at some $108 billion was the largest monthly drop on record. China has also tightened some capital controls to try to curb outflows. "The smaller decline in the reserves suggests that some capital outflow restrictions imposed in January worked," Shen Jianguang, chief Asia economist at Mizuho Securities, wrote in a note. The drop in February will be much smaller, he added. China has set its growth target for this year at between 6.5-7 percent, the top economic planner said Wednesday, an acknowledgement that expansion -- already at its slowest pace in 25 years -- will continue to weaken. Global investors are closely watching the slowdown in the world's second largest economy, which has created turbulence in world markets.
BOGOTA  The mosquito-borne Zika virus sweeping through Latin America has claimed three lives in Colombia, as the United Nations urged increased access to abortion because of fears of severe birth defects.

In the first direct statements from government health officials blaming Zika for causing deaths, Colombias National Health Institute (INS) said Friday that the patients died after contracting the virus and developing a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Cases of the syndrome  in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, causing weakness and sometimes paralysis  have increased in tandem with the Zika outbreak, fueling suspicions that it is a complication of the otherwise mild tropical fever, which is also blamed for causing brain damage in babies born to infected mothers.

Other cases (of deaths linked to Zika) are going to emerge, said epidemiologist Martha Lucia Ospina, director of the INS. The world is realizing that Zika can be deadly. The mortality rate is not very high, but it can be deadly.

Most Guillain-Barre patients recover, but the syndrome sometimes causes paralysis or even death.

Citing the rise in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, the UN human rights office urged countries hit by Zika to give women access to contraception and abortion.

Womens reproductive rights are a touchy subject in largely Catholic Latin America, but the UN human rights office said countries urging women to avoid pregnancy  a list that comprises Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica and Panama  had to give them ways to control their fertility.

How can they ask these women not to become pregnant, but not offer... the possibility to stop their pregnancies? spokesperson Cecile Pouilly told reporters.

Many Latin American countries outlaw abortion or allow it only if the mothers life is in danger. In El Salvador, one of those warning against pregnancy, abortion is punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

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Honduras, which earlier this week declared a state of emergency after tallying some 3,700 cases of Zika since mid-December, said it is planning a full day dedicated to eradicating the mosquitoes that carry the virus.

President Juan Orlando Hernandez has allocated an initial tranche of $10 million in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus.

Safe sex or none at all

Health officials in Brazil and the United States meanwhile warned that sex or even kissing could potentially spread the typically mosquito-borne disease.

Brazils top research center, the Fiocruz institute in Rio de Janeiro, said Zika had been detected in urine and saliva.

The scientists were careful to clarify that there is no proof the virus can be transmitted through those fluids, but said people should take precautions, especially expecting mothers.

Avoid sharing glasses, silverware, contact with someone who has symptoms of a possible infection. Dont kiss, obviously, said the institutes director Paulo Gadelha.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for their part urged people to use condoms or abstain from having sex if they live in or have traveled to Zika-infected areas.

Earlier this week, US health officials confirmed the first case of sexually transmitted Zika  a person who had traveled to Venezuela and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon return.

In the US territory of Puerto Rico, officials declared a health emergency over Zika and confirmed a pregnant woman had been infected, bringing the number of cases on the island to 22.

The emergency measures included freezing the price of condoms and combatting mosquitoes.

Calls for more research

The World Health Organization, which has declared the rise in Zika-linked birth defects an international emergency, warns that Zika could infect up to four million people in the Americas and spread worldwide.

The WHO has advised countries against accepting blood donations from people who have traveled to affected regions.

The new warnings on intimate contact highlight how little is known about Zika, a virus that was first identified in Africa in 1947 but had been considered relatively mild until the current eruption of apparent complications.

Both the US CDC and Fiocruz in Brazil said more research was needed on person-to-person transmission.

Brazil has been the country hardest hit by the outbreak, with an estimated 1.5 million cases. Colombia is next on the list, with more than 20,000 cases.

Zika often goes unnoticed, and causes a relatively mild fever and rash in those who do develop symptoms.

But Brazil sounded the alarm after recording a surge in babies born with microcephaly. It has registered 404 cases since October and 3,670 suspected cases, up from 147 in all of 2014.  AFP
One hundred days after Justin Trudeau's Liberal government was sworn in, the still-popular Canadian prime minister faces mounting criticism, against the backdrop of a floundering economy and terror fears. The 44-year-old Trudeau -- a former schoolteacher and the son of a popular prime minister -- immediately saw his international profile rise upon taking office on November 4, and he still enjoys strong support at home. He has touted a multilateral foreign policy, and a more transparent governing style than his predecessor Stephen Harper, who was seen as prickly, awkward and more at home plowing through economic theory than glad-handing voters. "Canada is back!" the youthful-looking prime minister with a broad smile, a twinkle in his eye and a thick mop of curls told world leaders at summits, looking to recast the image of the world's fifth-largest oil producer from climate laggard to environmental champion. UN chief Ban Ki-moon is expected to praise Canada's shift in a visit to Ottawa on Thursday. The economy, however, has cast a pall over Trudeau's self-professed "sunny ways." Canada emerged from a mild recession in September in the middle of the election campaign, but consumer confidence soon faded as oil prices and the Canadian dollar sank to new recent lows, leading to thousands of job losses in the country's oil and gas sector. Attacks in Jakarta and in Burkina Faso in January that left seven Canadians dead, meanwhile, raised fresh security concerns. The new government was forced to backpedal on its pledge to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 and on its fiscal plans, while taking heat over its climate and counterterrorism strategies. In parliament, opposition leader Rona Ambrose accused the government of "stepping back from the fight (against the Islamic State group) when our allies are stepping up." "The reality is that when we talk about Canada's new approach to fighting ISIS, Canada is not back, Canada is backing away," she said. The husband of a Quebec woman shot dead by Islamist gunmen last month in Burkina Faso hung up on Trudeau when he called to offer condolences, while criticizing the prime minister's dovish world view in the local press. "I hung up in his face, and it felt good," Yves Richard told a local radio station. The Liberals were able to push back their Syrian refugee intake without much controversy because of widespread calls to slow resettlement amid domestic and US security concerns in the aftermath of deadly attacks in Paris. But ordering the pullout of fighter jets from Iraq and Syria without so far announcing a new strategy to combat the Islamic State group has left them vulnerable on security. Still, polls show a majority of Canadians are satisfied with Trudeau's performance in office. Nanos weekly surveys show a 15 percentage point bump in support since the election, to 50 percent. - The economy - "I don't think voters blame the government for the economic situation," commented University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business economist Werner Antweiler. "They realize much of it is due to outside influences." He noted, for example, that "the government can't fix the oil price." The Canadian energy sector accounts for 10 percent of nominal GDP and 300,000 jobs, according to Natural Resources Canada estimates based on 2014 Statistics Canada data. Observers say the real test will be when the rookie government unveils its first budget in the coming months. Trudeau pledged to run several "small" deficits in order to build new bridges, transit and other infrastructure before returning to balance at the end of his four-year mandate. But a dimmer economic outlook since the October 19 legislative elections has raised the specter of ballooning deficits. "The budget will be key," Duff Conacher, a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa and co-founder of Democracy Watch, told AFP. "The Liberals have to signal in the budget that they're addressing all the problems they promised to address." The Liberals have so far reduced taxes for middle income earners, assigned an ex-cop to draft rules for legal marijuana, announced an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women as part of a rapprochement with indigenous peoples, and signed a Pacific trade pact negotiated by the previous administration. A further 200 pledges are either in progress or have not started yet. Conacher noted the Liberals won the largest majority (54.5 percent of seats in the House of Commons) with the smallest number of votes (39.5 percent) in Canadian history. "They're going to have to walk the talk or they will be accused of selling false hope to people and Canadians will turn on them," he said.
By Jeffrey Dastin Reuters - The rapidly spreading Zika virus is discouraging many Americans from traveling to Latin America and the Caribbean, with 41 percent of those aware of the disease saying they are less likely to take such a trip, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows. The poll is the latest sign the virus, suspected to be linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil, could depress travel to popular cold-weather getaways in the coming months. Airlines and cruise ship operators have yet to report drops in bookings because of Zika, and analysts have downplayed the impact that newly sedentary parents-to-be could have on their revenue. Still, awareness of the mosquito-borne virus has surged to nearly two-thirds of Americans, according to the poll of 1,595 adults in the United States conducted Feb. 1-5. That compares with 45 percent who had heard of Zika in a Reuters/Ipsos poll from late January. "I am actively trying to get pregnant with my husband, so I am a little bit concerned," said Erica, a respondent who said she was bitten by a mosquito during a January trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Zika has been reported. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with an active outbreak of Zika, and the World Health Organization has declared an international emergency over the disease. Erica, who asked only to be identified by her first name for personal reasons, said she no longer plans to visit Jamaica this summer to celebrate her wedding anniversary. "Weve definitely gone back to the drawing board on that," she said, referring to the island, which is on the CDC warning list. Of those aware of the virus, 41 percent said they were less likely to travel to Puerto Rico, Mexico or South America in the next 12 months because of Zika, the poll found. Some 48 percent said Zika had not changed the likelihood of their visiting those destinations, while others did not know. Six out of 10 Americans aware of Zika said the virus concerned them, including 18 percent who said they were very concerned, according to the poll. "It's contagious, and it's new," said respondent Toni Brockington, 42, who lives near Fort Bragg, California, and had considered visiting Mexico before learning about the outbreak. "The virus, along with the reports of violence and drugs and tourist ransoms, is making it less and less attractive." Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes the birth defect microcephaly. Brazil is investigating the potential link between Zika infections and more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can result in developmental problems. Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infection in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly. The poll of Americans' concerns and travel plans have a credibility interval - a measure of accuracy - of 3.8 percentage points. (Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in New York; Editing by Christian Plumb and Lisa Shumaker)
DUBAI (Reuters) - The head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard said on Saturday Saudi Arabia lacked the courage to go through with a plan to send ground troops to Syria, and warned they would be wiped out if they went in. Mohammad Ali Jafari's blunt words on the Fars news agency were Iran's first official reaction to a statement from its regional rival Saudi Arabia this week that it was ready to join ground operations in Syria if a U.S.-led military alliance decided to start them. "(The Saudis) have made such a claim but I don't think they are brave enough to do so ... Even if they send troops, they would be definitely defeated ... it would be suicide, Jafari was quoted as saying. Iran has already sent forces to Syria to back its ally President Bashar al-Assad in his country's five-year-old civil war. Washington and its allies have backed rebels fighting Assad and say he must eventually step down. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
By Yimou Lee TAINAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - Before their apartment tower collapsed in a Taiwan earthquake at the weekend, a young couple living on the 14th floor had already been given a clue that the building was unsafe. But it came too late. Chen Yi-ting and her husband bought the apartment in the centre of Tainan city five years ago, having relocated from an outlying district. They had a small hiccup with the mortgage -- the first bank they approached had declined their loan application without stating why -- but they found another lender and moved in with their infant daughter. Soon after, according to Chen's mother, one of the couple's friends, who had ties to the first bank, told them that it had a policy of refusing loans to residents of the 17-storey Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building, due to its poor construction. Now, Chen, 35, and her husband, Lin Wu-chong, 38, are in intensive-care in two separate hospitals in the southern city. She has a cracked skull and he has damaged lungs. Their seven-year-old daughter is dead. "People from outside of the town, people like them, had no idea what was going on before they moved in," Chen's mother, Kuo Yi-chien, explained as she waited in a hospital corridor outside the intensive-care unit where her daughter is. "They did not know the building was completed by the second developer after the first one went bust. They only found out after they signed the contract." The two-decades-old building is at the centre of rescue efforts after the 6.4 magnitude quake struck before dawn on Saturday, with at least 24 known to have died there and more than 100 still missing deep in the rubble. It was the only major high-rise building in the city of 2 million people to have completely collapsed. Its lower stories, filled with arcades of shops, pancaked on top of each other before the entire U-shaped complex toppled in on itself. Sixty-one-year-old Kuo said residents of the building had long complained of many problems before the quake, such as tiles falling from walls, malfunctioning lifts and blocked pipes. The couple paid 3.5 million Taiwan dollars ($105,000) for the apartment. "We are simple minded people. We did not think it (the initial loan refusal) might have been for some other reason," Kuo said. Tainan's government says the building had obtained its construction permit legally and withstood a much more destructive quake in 1999. Centred in central Taiwan, that tremor killed 2,400 people and caused damage across the island. "In the city government's record, there was nothing wrong with it," said Wu Chong-rong, chief of Tainan Public Works Bureau. Hsu Yin-hsuan, an architect hired by Tainan's government to investigate the collapse, said the government had spent money after the 1999 disaster to buttress official buildings so they would be better able to endure future quakes. But, Hsu added: "Nothing similar has been done to privately owned buildings." The Wei-guan Golden Dragon building secured its construction licence in 1992 and building was completed in 1994, according to government records. Two main firms that built the tower, Wei-guan Construction and Da Hsin Engineering, have since gone out of business. Reuters witnesses at the scene of the collapse saw large rectangular, commercial cans of cooking-oil packed inside wall cavities exposed by the damage, apparently having been used as building material. This was a problem found in some of the buildings that collapsed in other parts of Taiwan in the 1999 quake. The destruction at that time revealed that cooking-oil cans had been used as filler inside the walls of some buildings. Tainan Mayor William Lai said he had asked prosecutors to investigate and that the government had hired three teams of civil engineers to inspect the building's structure. "When it's completed, we'll punish those who should be held accountable," he said. Seventy-year-old retiree Yang Shu-mei, who lived next to the building, said she had witnessed its construction and that she and other neighbours had always doubted the workmanship. "When it was being built, I looked at it and thought, only people from out of town would buy it. We local people would never dare to," she said. ($1 = 33.3 Taiwan dollars) (Additional reporting by J.R. Wu, Jeanny Kao and Faith Hung; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Mark Bendeich)
By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it called a satellite, but its neighbours and the United States denounced the launch as a missile test, conducted in defiance of U.N. sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test. The U.S. Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit. North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a "complete success" and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by his son, leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33 years old. The launch prompted South Korea and the United States to announce that they would explore the feasibility of deploying an advanced missile defence system in South Korea, which China and Russia both oppose, "at the earliest possible date." North Korea's state news agency carried a still picture of a white rocket that closely resembled a previously launched rocket, lifting off. Another showed Kim surrounded by cheering military officials at what appeared to be a command centre. North Korea's last long-range rocket launch, in 2012, put what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but no signal has ever been detected from it. "If it can communicate with the Kwangmyongsong-4, North Korea will learn about operating a satellite in space," said David Wright, co-director and senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Even if not, it gained experience with launching and learned more about the reliability of its rocket systems." The rocket lifted off at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) on a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea. North Korea had notified U.N. agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test. The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said. Isolated North Korea had initially given a Feb. 8-25 time frame for the launch but on Saturday changed that to Feb. 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather on Sunday. North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration called the launch "an epochal event in developing the country's science, technology, economy and defence capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes". The launch and the Jan. 6 nuclear test are seen as efforts by the North's young leader to bolster his domestic legitimacy ahead of a ruling party congress in May, the first since 1980. North Korea's embassy in Moscow said in a statement the country would continue to launch rockets carrying satellites, according to Russia's Interfax news agency. NEW MISSILE DEFENCE? South Korea and the United States said that if the advanced missile defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was deployed to South Korea, it would be focused only on North Korea. South Korea had been reluctant to discuss openly the possibility of deploying THAAD. "North Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and it is the responsibility of our Alliance to maintain a strong defense against those threats, Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, U.S. Forces Korea commander, said in a statement. "THAAD would add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense." China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, repeated what it says is "deep concern" about a system whose radar could penetrate its territory. South Korea's military said it would make annual military exercises with U.S. forces "the most cutting-edge and the biggest" this year. North Korea objects to the drills as a prelude to war by a United States it says is bent on toppling the Pyongyang regime. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would work with the U.N. Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for what he called a flagrant violation of U.N. resolutions on North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology. South Korea's navy retrieved what it believes to be a fairing used to protect the satellite on its journey into a space, a sign that it is looking for parts of the discarded rocket for clues into the isolated North's rocket programme, which it did following the previous launch. China expressed regret over the launch and called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from steps that might raise tension. China's Foreign Ministry said late on Sunday that it had summoned the North Korean ambassador to "make representations and make clear China's principled position". China is North Korea's main ally, but it disapproves of its nuclear weapons programme. Russia, which has in recent years forged closer ties with North Korea, said the launch could not but provoke a "decisive protest", adding Pyongyang had once again demonstrated a disregard for norms of international law. "We strongly recommend the leadership of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea think about whether a policy of opposing the entire international community meets the interests of the country," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the launch and urged North Korea to "halt its provocative actions". South Korean President Park Geun-hye said it was an unforgivable act of provocation. Australia condemned what it called North Korea's dangerous conduct while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch was "absolutely unacceptable", especially after the North's nuclear test last month. North Korea has said that its fourth nuclear test was of a hydrogen bomb. The United States and other governments have expressed doubt over that claim. North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to put on a missile, but many experts say it is some way from perfecting such technology. It has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the U.S. West Coast, but there is no evidence the missiles have been tested. (Additional reporting by Jee Heun Kahng in SEOUL; Shinichi Saoshiro, Leika Kihara, Nobuhiro Kubo and Olivier Fabre in TOKYO; Megha Rajagopalan in BEIJING; Morag MacKinnon in PERTH; Louis Charbonneau at the United Nations; Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom and Paul Simao in WASHINGTON; Alexandra Winning in MOSCOW; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Ralph Boulton)
Haitian politicians inked a last-minute agreement to install a transitional government Saturday, just hours before President Michel Martelly was scheduled to step down with no replacement in line. The agreement, signed by the presidents of both chambers of the National Assembly, keeps the country from plunging into an immediate power vacuum on Martelly's exit, after an election to choose his replacement was postponed over fears of violence. "It wasn't easy, but like I said, I wasn't going to leave this country on uncertain terms come February 7, so we worked non-stop these past three weeks," Martelly said during an official ceremony to sign the document. In light of the annulled vote, which would have occurred on January 24 and given the country time to put a new leader in power, Parliament will elect an interim president, with a term of up to 120 days, the four-page agreement said. The January vote, a runoff between Martelly's favored candidate, Jovenel Moise, and opposition flag-bearer Jude Celestin, was called off following violence and opposition protests by demonstrators alleging that foul play had helped the government candidate take the first round. "On Sunday morning, we will hold a joint (legislative) session ... to note the end of President Martelly's term and to ask the prime minister and government to remain in office to settle current affairs," Senate President Jocelerme Privert told AFP. "The election of the interim president will take place later." The country's runoff election is now scheduled for April 24, with the new, permanent leader to take power on May 14, but Privert stressed those were only proposed dates. "We are pleased that the stakeholders have all committed themselves to democracy, peace and stability, amid a constitutional vacuum created by the absence of an elected president to replace Mr Martelly," said Ronald Sanders, head of the special Haiti mission of the Organization of American States. While consensus was reached in a "brotherly atmosphere," Martelly stressed that this did not mean the political crisis had been resolved. "We must remain vigilant... I am asking for all those responsible to help maintain stability in Haiti," the president said hours before the end of his mandate. "I ask the various actors, especially those who resort to violence, to understand that each time there is violence, Haiti takes a step backward." On Friday, a man was killed during clashes in Port-au-Prince between hundreds of opponents of those in power and former soldiers and youths seeking to restore the army, which was dismantled in the 1990s. Since 1986, when president-for-life Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier fled a revolt, the Caribbean island nation has struggled repeatedly to hold credible elections. Haiti is also wracked by poverty and the aftereffects of a devastating 2010 earthquake.
North Korea said Sunday it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards developing a missile capable of striking the US mainland. The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, amounted to the North doubling down against an international community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test barely a month ago. The UN Security Council met behind closed-doors in New York to issue unanimous condemnation of the rocket launch, but a new sanctions resolution under negotiation for weeks has yet to be put to a vote. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye urged the Security Council to respond quickly with "strong punitive measures". In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un, as a major success. There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although the US Strategic Command said it had tracked "the missile launch into space". Condemnation was swift, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon calling the launch "deeply deplorable" and US Secretary of State John Kerry denouncing a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions. Permanent Security Council members Britain, France and Russia all expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret". A draft UN resolution prepared by Japan, South Korea and the United States has been in negotiations since the nuclear test carried out on January 6. But Beijing has been reluctant to back measures that would take aim at North Korea's already weak economy. "China calls for more dialogue. What we need is no longer dialogue but using the pressure", said Japan's Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikawa. China can use its veto power to block any resolution that would significantly scale up sanctions against Pyongyang by, for instance, barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries. A surge in military tensions on the Korean peninsula looked likely, with South Korean and US defence officials announcing talks on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system in South Korea to counter the growing threat from North Korea. "It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea. As well as North Korea, China and Russia are both strongly opposed to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the region. "When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair others' security interests," said China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying of the defence system, adding such moves would escalate tensions on the peninsula and damage regional peace and stability. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, meanwhile, said upcoming South Korea-US military exercises, which infuriate Pyongyang every year, would be the largest ever held. - Tightening sanctions - Sunday's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time (0030 GMT) and, according to state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later. Both South Korea and Japan had threatened to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory. Four UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of ballistic missile technology, and its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications. The United States and its allies had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with the launch, but analysts said the North's timing was intended to minimise the repercussions. "North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's. While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border. North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, placing a similar Earth observation satellite in orbit. Western intelligence experts say that satellite has never functioned properly, fuelling suspicion of the mission's scientific veneer. Despite Pyongyang's bellicose claims to the contrary, the North is still seen as being years away from developing a credible inter-continental ballistic missile.
By Faith Hung and Yimou Lee TAINAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake struck Taiwan early on Saturday killing at least 12 people, most in a 17-storey apartment building that collapsed, with some people still known to be missing in the ruins of the complex as night fell, government officials said. As rescuers searched for survivors, questions were raised about the construction of the Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building in the southern city of Tainan, with its floors that pancaked down on each other when the 6.4 magnitude tremor hit at around 4 a.m. (2000 GMT), at the start of a Lunar New Year holiday. Ten of the dead, including a 10-day-old girl, were from the apartment building. The baby was found in her dead father's arms, media reported. Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the ruins, plucking survivors to safety, with hundreds taken to hospital, though many were quickly released. An 18-year old man was found alive and conscious shortly after dark, and rescuers were working to get him free, while a 30-year-old woman, a nine-year old girl and a male toddler were pulled out alive, Taiwan television said. Buildings in nine other locations in the city of 2 million people had collapsed and five were left tilting at alarming angles, a government emergency centre said. But a fire department official said rescue efforts were focused on the apartment block, where a child's clothes fluttered from a first-floor laundry line and the smell of leaking gas hung in the air. "I was watching TV and after a sudden burst of shaking, I heard a boom. I opened my metal door and saw the building opposite fall down," said a 71-year-old neighbour who gave his name as Chang. A plumber, he said he fetched some tools and a ladder and prised some window bars open to rescue a woman crying for help. "She asked me to go back and rescue her husband, child, but I was afraid of a gas explosion so I didn't go in. At the time there were more people calling for help, but my ladder wasn't long enough so there was no way to save them." The quake was centred 43 km (27 miles) southeast of Tainan, at a depth of 23 km (14 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said. Earlier in the day, an elderly woman, wrapped in blankets, was strapped to a board and slowly slid down a ramp to the ground as the cries of those still trapped rang out. Rescuers used dogs and acoustic equipment to pick up signs of life in the rubble. Authorities said there were 96 apartment units in the Golden Dragon Building and 256 registered residents, though more were in the building when it collapsed. Late in the day, city mayor William Lai said 5 people were missing there. Rescuers clad in red and yellow overalls pulled over 240 survivors from the ruins and later inserted huge supports under slabs of leaning concrete to buttress the ruins as they searched for more. SEVERAL BUILDINGS DAMAGED City officials said it was too early to determine if poor construction was a factor in the building's collapse. Liu Shih-chung, city government deputy secretary general, said television footage of the ruins of the commercial-residential building suggested the possibility of structural problems related to poor-quality reinforced steel and cement. The construction and engineering companies that built the complex are no longer operating, records showed. Two neighbours said they had felt nervous about the construction when the building was going up in the early 1990s. "I looked at it and thought, only people from out of town would buy there. We local people would never dare," said one of the neighbours, Yang Shu-mei. A major earthquake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed about 2,400 people and caused damage across the island, which lies in the seismically active "Pacific Ring of Fire". President Ma Ying-jeou visited an emergency centre and hospital in Tainan while President-elect Tsai Ing-wen cancelled appointments to help coordinate rescue efforts. China's Taiwan Affairs Office, which is in charge of Beijing's relations with the self-ruled island, said China was willing to provide help if needed, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said. Beijing regards Taiwan as a wayward province. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker and supplier to Apple Inc, said some wafers made in Tainan had been damaged, affecting no more than 1 percent of first-quarter shipments. Other major Apple suppliers in Taiwan reported no impact on operations. (Additional reporting by J.R. Wu, Carol Lee, Pichi Chuang, Eric Walsh, Eric Beech, Elizabeth Dilts, Jeanny Kao and Ben Blanchard; Writing by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Robert Birsel and Elaine Hardcastle)
By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Reuters) - Hundreds of hardline nationalists gathered outside the United Nations' office in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Saturday to protest against a visit by the U.N. human rights chief who will assess Sri Lanka's progress in prosecuting alleged war crimes. The U.N. says both Sri Lanka's military and the Tamil Tiger rebels most likely committed war crimes during a 26-year war which ended in 2009. A U.N. resolution calls for post-war reconciliation and that all alleged war crimes be investigated and tried in special courts by international judges. However, many Sri Lankans oppose foreign involvement and supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa believe the U.N. resolution aims to punish the military unfairly despite defeating the Tamil Tigers. Although the coalition of President Maithripala Sirisena has agreed to the resolution, the visit by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein follows comments by Sirisena saying that foreign participation was not needed for an impartial inquiry into the war. Al Hussein began his four-day visit to Sri Lanka by visiting the U.N. office in Colombo to meeting U.N. officials. Hours afterwards, protesters outside shouted "Al Hussein, hands off Sri Lanka" and "where were you when people in Afghanistan and Iraq were killed?". Some held banners which read, "no war crime courts, no foreign judges" and "don't send the military to guillotine". They also set posters bearing Zeid's face on fire and threw shoes and slippers at his image. "We will not allow to set up courts to fulfill the need of Western nations. Al Hussein has come here to take our war heroes to guillotine, but we won't allow that to happen," Wimal Weerawansa, the NFF leader told the gathering. Al Hussein said soon after his arrival he would meet Sri Lanka's highest officials as well as representatives of all communities. "I will be listening to everything that they have to say and look forward to a very constructive discussion in the days to come," he told reporters. (Additional reporting by Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria will resist any ground incursion into its territory and send the aggressors home "in coffins", its foreign minister said on Saturday, in comments clearly aimed at Sunni Arab countries that have said they were ready to join such an operation. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem also told a news conference a ceasefire in the Syria conflict would be virtually impossible while rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad's government were able to pass freely across the borders with Turkey and Jordan. "Any ground intervention onto Syrian land without the agreement of the Syrian government is an act of aggression ...and we regret that those (who do so) will return to their countries in coffins," he said. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, both ruled by Sunni Muslim monarchies, said this week they were ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq decides to start such operations. "I don't think they will do what they say about using ground forces, but at the same time, when I look at their crazy decisions made not just in Yemen but in other areas nothing can be ruled out," Moualem said, alluding to a Saudi-led military campaign against Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen. Moualem also cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who recently said a ceasefire in Syria was very unlikely until the borders with Turkey and Jordan have been sealed. Rebel groups fighting Assad have received supplies via both Turkey and Jordan. Russia's military intervention in the Syrian conflict in support of Assad has helped Damascus to reclaim territory previously lost to rebels. (Reporting by Mostafa Hashem in Cairo and Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Robin Emmott AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Europe needs Turkey to dramatically cut the number of migrants reaching Greece within weeks or the pressure for more border closures and fences will grow, the EU's top official in charge of ties with Ankara warned on Saturday. Frustrated that refugees continue to stream into Greece despite a Nov. 29 deal between Ankara and Brussels to slow down the flows, European Commissioner Johannes Hahn said Turkey must show results by the time EU leaders meet for a Feb. 18-19 summit. "This action plan was agreed more than two months ago and we are still not seeing a significant decline in the number of migrants," Hahn, the EU's enlargement commissioner, told Reuters after an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Amsterdam attended by Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu. "Turkey could do more, I have no doubt," Hahn said, adding that Ankara's need to shift forces to curb violence in southeastern Turkey was "no excuse" for not patrolling its western coast and cooperating with Greece. The European Commission, the EU executive, is set to publish on Wednesday a report on Turkey's progress in implementing the migrant deal. While Turkish police targeting people smugglers have made arrests and Turkey has introduced a limited work-permit scheme for Syrian refugees, the Commission report is likely to be critical. "We need results before the EU summit to show leaders that this is working," Hahn said. "I am concerned there's not enough time." More than one million people arrived in Europe last year, fleeing war and failing states in the Middle East and North Africa. Numbers show little sign of falling, despite the winter. Asked to detail the cost of a failed deal with Turkey, Hahn said: "It increases the pressure to find other solutions," referring to border fences that go against EU rules on the freedom of its citizens to move across frontiers to live and work. Hahn's warning of the consequences of inaction was highlighted by a call from Hungary and Austria at the Amsterdam meeting for fences on the Macedonian and Bulgarian borders with Greece and between Austria and Slovenia to stop migrants. Hahn said if such fences were built it would only create a "domino effect" with many EU nations closing their frontiers and putting at risk the bloc's passport-free Schengen zone. Six Schengen members, including Germany and four other EU countries, have resorted to reinstating temporary border checks in the passport-free area. They can stay in place until May. The EU has agreed to give Turkey 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) to keep Syrian refugees on its soil in return for an acceleration of the EU accession talks and speeded-up visa liberalisation for Turks visiting Europe. The deal is contentious because while EU countries now recognise they need strategically important Turkey, they are concerned about what they see as President Tayyip Erdogan's growing authoritarianism. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
Turkish humanitarian groups set up camps in Syria and sent in truckloads of aid Monday for tens of thousands of people stranded on the border after fleeing a Russia-backed regime offensive on the northern region of Aleppo. Turkey, which has long pushed for a safe zone on the border, has vowed to help an estimated 35,000 people amassed on the frontier, many of them women and children. But so far it has has kept the border closed despite warnings from aid groups of the desperate situation the Syrians were facing. "Turkey has reached the limit of its capacity to absorb the refugees," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN Turk television. "But in the end, these people have nowhere else to go. Either they will die beneath the bombings... or we will open our borders." Aid agencies have warned of a desperate situation among the crowds queueing in the cold and rain at Bab al-Salama frontier post, which faces Turkey's Oncupinar crossing, and begun setting up camps on the Syrian side. Many refugees are reportedly sleeping in fields and on roads. The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which is providing food for 20,000 refugees, said it had set up a new camp with a capacity of 10,000, in addition to eight it already operates near Bab al-Salama. "Our operations are aimed at taking care of people inside Syria," Serkan Nergis, a spokesman for the foundation, told AFP by phone. "The numbers could soar and we are looking at how we can provide shelter for Syrians in safe areas." Despite already hosting over 2.5 million refugees from Syria's civil war, Turkey has come under pressure to take in those fleeing the latest flurry of bombardments, while also being squeezed by European leaders to prevent those who cross into Turkey continuing on across the Mediterranean to Europe. A Turkish official said the border crossing was open only "for emergency situations," adding that several injured people have been taken for treatment to Turkish hospitals. - Turkey will 'let brothers in' - Dozens of aid trucks were seen crossing into Syria on Monday, along with medical teams and ambulances. Mohammad Rahma, a 15-year-old who was blinded in a Russian air strike a month ago and wore bandages on his eyes, was among those allowed cross into Turkey for treatment, accompanied by his father Ahmad. "We've been living out in the open because we don't have any place to stay," Ahmad, who came from Azaz, about 30 kilometres from Aleppo city, told AFP. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has received over one million migrants in the past year, many of them Syrian refugees, was due in Ankara Monday to press the government to stem the flow of migrants to Europe. Merkel was to hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has warned that Turkey is "under threat" from the refugee tide but said that "if necessary, we have to, and will, let our brothers in". Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that Turkey had already received 5,000 people fleeing the Aleppo offensive and another 50,000 to 55,000 were on their way. Medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said three MSF-supported hospitals in the Aleppo region had been bombed. - 'Situation desperate' - "From what MSF can see the situation in Azaz district is desperate, with ongoing fighting and tens of thousands of people displaced," said Muskilda Zancada, head of the group's Syria mission. "We... have seen problems with lack of space to accommodate people, and insufficient water and sanitation in many areas." The EU has promised three billion euros ($3.3 billion) of aid in return for Ankara's help in staunching the flow of migrants landing on Greece's shores in packed boats from nearby Turkey. But residents of areas along Turkey's border with Syria -- where most of the Syrian refugees in Turkey are living -- fear being overwhelmed by a fresh wave of new arrivals. "Life here would be paralysed in the face of a mass exodus," said Tugba Kaya, from the border town of Kilis. - 'Survival and dignity' - Top diplomats from countries trying to resolve Syria's five-year conflict, which has claimed 260,000 lives and displaced half the population, are set to meet pm February 11 after peace talks collapsed last week. The latest crisis began as Syrian government forces closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Russia intervened in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad. Regime troops advanced Sunday towards Tal Rifaat -- one of the last rebel strongholds in Aleppo province, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city. Opposition forces and roughly 350,000 civilians inside rebel-held parts of the city face the risk of a government siege, a tactic employed to devastating effect against other former rebel bastions. On Sunday an aid convoy entered the regime-besieged town of Moadamiyat al-Sham near Damascus, in a new joint operation organised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday it was ready to supply ground troops to help support and train an international military coalition against Islamic State in Syria provided such efforts were led by the United States. Asked whether the UAE could be expected to send ground troops to Syria, and if so under what circumstances, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said: "I think that this has been our position throughout ... that a real campaign against Daesh has to include ground elements," he said, referring to Islamic State's name using the Arabic acronym. Saudi Arabia, one of several Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states, including the UAE, who are opposed to Islamic State, said last week it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants decided to start such operations. Gargash said that any potential supply of troops would not be particularly large. "We are not talking about a thousand troops but we are talking about troops on the ground that will lead the way, that will train, that will support ... And I think our position remains the same and we will have to see how this progresses." "Of course an American leadership in this effort is a pre-requisite," Gargash said. He added that the UAE had been frustrated at the slow pace of the international efforts against Islamic State "although there has been some progress in Iraq recently, of confronting Daesh." Gargash said the UAE had always stated there also needed to be a "genuine political process in Baghdad that will encompass the Sunnis" in Iraq, which has a Shi'ite-led government. Following Saudi Arabia's announcement, Syria's foreign minister said on Saturday Damascus would resist any ground incursion into its territory and send the aggressors home "in coffins". Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia and most other Gulf states are opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russian and Syrian government forces have intensified an assault on rebel-held areas around the Syrian city of Aleppo, prompting tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the Turkish border. On Sunday, aid trucks and ambulances entered Syria from Turkey to deliver food and supplies to those fleeing the escalating government assault on Aleppo. (Reporting by William Maclean; writing by Yara Bayoumy; editing by Clelia Oziel)
Ukraine faced the prospect Thursday of a fresh political crisis sparked by its reformist economy minister's resignation in protest at alleged influence-peddling and state graft. President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk hastily arranged a meeting with ambassadors from the G7 nations after the envoys expressed deep concern at Aivaras Abromavicius's shock decision to step down. Poroshenko held last-ditch talks with the Lithuanian-born minister Wednesday in a bid to change his mind and reassure him that all his charges would be investigated in full. But parliament began debating the 40-year-old's future in a tense session that saw one deputy raise the prospect of holding a vote of no confidence in the government as a whole. "It is clear to everyone that we are entering a serious political crisis," parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Groysman told reporters. Western frustration has been fanned by the fact that Abromavicius is the fourth reform-minded minister to tender his resignation since Ukraine's 2014 revolution broke its ties with Russia and set it on a European course. Parliament never approved any of their dismissals and they still remain acting ministers in their posts. Yet the attempted flight of cabinet members charged with putting the war-scarred nation of about 40 million on a transparent path toward growth highlights the problems Ukraine faces in fulfilling its dream of joining the EU. The G7 envoys emerged from their talks with Ukraine's two top leaders and Groysman without divulging much about what was discussed. The Ukrainian leaders "assured us that they will work together, will work in unity for the reforms in the country," Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi said on behalf of the foreign group. But the European Business Association on Ukraine openly called the economy chief's resignation "an appalling symptom, which is likely to have very negative repercussions." - New vested interests - Abromavicius levelled his most serious charges against a top Poroshenko party member named Igor Kononenko -- a figure the Ukrainian media often refer to as a "grey cardinal" who implements the president's political will. He accused Kononenko of trying to push his own people into economy ministry positions that oversee the cash flows of Ukraine's vast but notoriously opaque defence and energy industries. Abromavicius had tried to remove figures tied to vested interests from state corporations that have been bleeding money due to suspected corruption and complex offshore schemes. "I expected this," Abromavicius told the Novoye Vremya weekly's website just hours after his decision to quit. "But I expected this to come from the old interests (of ousted Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovych) and not the new ones," he added. "It came as a big surprise when certain new politicians tried to get their hand on state companies." - 'Western confidence low' - Kononenko himself denied the charges and said he was ready to step down from his senior post in Poroshenko's parliamentary faction if his fellow deputies do not trust his work. But some political analysts said the entire scandal had already undermined Ukraine's reputation and threatened the disbursement of essential assistance tentatively promised by Ukraine's Western allies and the International Monetary Fund. "Regardless of whether Abromavicius stays or goes, this domestic political crisis is likely to have major repercussions," Anders Aslund of the US-based Atlantic Council wrote in a report. "The confidence of Western governments in the current Ukrainian administration is running low," Aslund added. "The International Monetary Fund, the United States, and the European Union had been expected to provide a total of $4 billion (3.6 billion euros) in credits later this month, but none are likely to contribute unless the Ukrainian government shows real commitment to fight corruption."
By Alexandra Ulmer CARACAS (Reuters) - Construction worker Roberto Miguez has been lying in a hospital bed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in Venezuela's muggy Anzoategui state since Friday as his family desperately hunts for immunoglobulin to treat the condition. Guillain-Barre, a rare disorder in which a person's immune system attacks nerve cells, has been linked with the mosquito-borne Zika virus spreading through the Americas. Shortly after exhibiting signs of Zika infection three weeks ago, a tingling feeling spread from Miguez' feet up to his legs, hands and tongue and ultimately left his face paralysed, according to his sister Laura. To recover, Miguez, 32, needs intravenous immunoglobulin therapy - but severe medical shortages in crisis-hit Venezuela are impeding that, she said from a state hospital in the city of El Tigre. "Authorities say it's on its way, that we should wait, but nothing has arrived. This is urgent," added Laura Miguez, whose family has written e-mails, made calls and logged urgent pleas on social media. Authorities said last week there are around 255 cases of Guillain-Barre in Venezuela potentially linked to Zika. Some 22 other people suffering the syndrome in Caracas are unable to find immunoglobulin, according to Jose Manuel Olivares, a radiation oncologist and opposition lawmaker. Amid a punishing economic crisis, Venezuela is suffering a roughly 80 percent shortage of medicines, according to a leading pharmaceutical association. The scarcity, which also includes repellent and fever relievers, is stoking fears about Venezuela's ability to respond to the Zika outbreak. "Prompt and immediate treatment is critical," said Carlo Tornatore, Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, about Guillain-Barre. "Delaying treatment can result in profound neurologic damage including paralysis of the face, arms and legs, loss of sensation in the extremities and respiratory failure requiring intubation and admission to an intensive care unit for a prolonged period (weeks to months)." State-run pharmaceutical company Quimbiotec, the only local maker of immunoglobulin, has not produced it since August, reportedly in part due to lack of materials. It said recently that operations will start up again soon. A company spokesperson said requests for comments had to go through the government. A spokesperson at the health ministry was not available for comment. Authorities said last week there are around 4,700 cases of suspected Zika, which has also been linked to birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil. Venezuelan Health Minister Luisana Melo said on Wednesday there may actually be as many as 20,000 as most cases show no symptoms. Doctors accuse Nicolas Maduro's leftist government of drastically underestimating the figures, and say cases likely range between 240,000 and 500,000. (Additional reporting by Corina Pons in Caracas and Sarah Marsh in Montevideo; Editing by Bernard Orr)
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DRESDEN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA movement staged rallies in several cities across Europe on Saturday to protest against the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. The movement, whose name stands for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West, originated in the eastern German city of Dresden in 2014, with supporters seizing on a surge in asylum seekers to warn that Germany risks being overrun by Muslims. After almost fizzling out early last year, the movement has regained momentum amid deepening public unease over whether Germany can cope with the 1.1 million migrants who arrived in the country during 2015. The alleged involvement of migrants in assaults on women in Cologne on New Year's Eve has also spurred PEGIDA, which says it is proof that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming stance to refugees is flawed. "We must succeed in guarding and controlling Europe's external borders as well as its internal borders once again," PEGIDA member Siegfried Daebritz told a crowd on the banks of the River Elbe who chanted "Merkel must go!". Police in Dresden declined to estimate the number of protesters. German media put the number at up to 8,000, well below the 15,000 originally expected by police. Hundreds of counter-demonstrators also marched through Dresden under the motto "Solidarity instead of exclusion", holding up placards saying "No place for Nazis". Far-right groups see Europe's refugee crisis as an opportunity to broadcast their anti-immigrant message. There were 208 rallies in Germany in the last quarter of 2015, up from 95 a year earlier, Interior Ministry data showed. CALAIS, PRAGUE Protests also took place on Saturday in other cities, including Amsterdam, Prague and the English city of Birmingham. In Calais, in northern France, more than a dozen people were arrested during a protest that was attended by more than a hundred people despite being banned, local authorities said. Thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East camp out in Calais, hoping for a chance to make the short trip across the English Channel to Britain. In Prague, an estimated 2,200 people including both supporters and opponents of Pegida held a series of rival demonstrations around the Czech capital. Police had to intervene in one march when supporters of the migrants came under attack from around 20 people who threw bottles and stones. Later, around 20 masked assailants threw Molotov cocktails during an attack on a centre that collects donations for refugees, forcing the evacuation of the building and injuring one person who was hit by glass, police said. In Warsaw, hundreds of people waved Polish flags and chanted "England and France are in tears, that's how tolerance ends". "We're demonstrating against the Islamisation of Europe, we're demonstrating against immigration, against an invasion," Robert Winnicki, leader of Poland's far-right Ruch Narodowy (National Movement), told demonstrators. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland have together taken a tough stance on migration and have been largely opposed to taking in significant numbers of refugees. (Reporting Caroline Copley and Reuters TV; Additional reporting by Wiktor Szary in Warsaw, Petra Vodstrcilova and Michael Kahn in Prague, Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris, Estelle Shirbon in London and Pierre Savary in Calais; Editing by Gareth Jones and Toby Chopra)
By Lizbeth Diaz and Simon Gardner MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis will visit some of the poorest and most violent corners of Mexico on his first visit as pontiff, and will also head to the northern border to address the plight of migrants trying to reach the United States. More than 100,000 people have been killed in Mexico's drug wars over the last decade and its reputation was battered by the case of 43 students abducted and apparently massacred in 2014. President Enrique Pena Nietos government botched the investigation, and relatives of the victims are looking to Francis for help in getting to the truth. "The pope ... is coming to see how institutions have sought to forget the case of our children and leave it in impunity. He will see how drug gangs have infiltrated the government," said Meliton Ortega, whose son Mauricio is among the 43. So far, the remains of just one of the students has been positively identified from charred bone fragments the government says were recovered from a garbage dump in the restive state of Guerrero in southwest Mexico. A team of international experts probing the case has rejected the government's version of events. Relatives of the students will be among those attending a Mass the pope will say in Ciudad Juarez, on the border with Texas, which was for several years one of the world's most violent cities. He will also celebrate Mass with indigenous communities in Mexico's poorest state, Chiapas, speak with young people in Morelia, the capital of violence-torn Michoacan state, and visit prison inmates in Ciudad Juarez. There is no private meeting planned between the students' relatives and the pope, although such encounters are often organised at the last minute. Ahead of his visit, which begins on Friday, Francis urged Mexicans to battle against corruption and drug gang violence. "The Mexico of violence, the Mexico of corruption, the Mexico of drug trafficking, the Mexico of cartels, is not the Mexico our Mother wants," the pope said in a video released by the Vatican last week, referring to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who Roman Catholics venerate as the patroness of Mexico. "Of course I don't want to cover up any of that. On the contrary, I exhort you to fight every day against corruption, against trafficking, against war, against division, against organised crime, against human smuggling." Pena Nieto's government has drawn criticism for failing to go after corrupt politicians, even those indicted in the United States. He, his wife and his finance minister have all been embroiled in conflict-of-interest scandals over houses purchased from government contractors. Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the Pope wants to visit parts of Mexico a pontiff had not visited before, and that the Mass in Ciudad Juarez "is a symbol of his concern for migrants". Illegal immigration is a major issue in the U.S. presidential election campaign with Republican hopeful Donald Trump vowing to put up a wall along the border if he is elected and forcing Mexico to pay for it. "The Mass is being intentionally held right on the border so that it will be visible from both sides," Lombardi said. "Its a fence, its not a Chinese wall." The Vatican expects a crowd of at least 200,000 on the Mexican side and of 50,000 on the U.S. side. (Additional reporting by Philip Pullella in Vatican City and Anahi Rama in Mexico City; Writing by Simon Gardner; Editing by Kieran Murray)
By Joseph Guyler Delva PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haitian leaders have agreed to install a caretaker government to take over from President Michel Martelly when he leaves power this weekend without an elected successor, a move that failed to calm protesters who clashed with police again on Saturday. The agreement was reached less than 24 hours before Martelly steps down. Under the deal parliament will elect an interim president for a four-month term. The temporary president, expected to be chosen in the next few days, will be committed to holding delayed presidential elections by April 24 and handing power to the winner the following month. A presidential runoff due to be held last month was scrapped after opposition candidate Jude Celestin threatened to boycott the vote over allegations of fraud in the first round, and protesters took to the streets in force. Port-au-Prince has seen almost daily protests by both opposition and government supporters since January, culminating in the lynching of a former soldier during a march on Friday. The agreement did not placate all sectors of the opposition. During the signing in an annex of the presidential palace that survived a devastating earthquake six years ago, small groups of anti-government protesters clashed outside with riot police who used a water canon and tear gas to disperse them. "Despite this agreement, we will need to continue to remain vigilant because there are people who won't agree," Martelly said at an event with foreign diplomats at the palace. "Every time they exercise violence Haiti makes one step backward," Martelly said of the protesters. Any caretaker government will have to overcome deep disagreements about how the election should be organised and which candidates can participate, since many opposition politicians are convinced the first round vote was riddled with fraud that favoured ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise. The government denies the allegations. A senior adviser to Celestin, Gerald Germain, told Reuters his camp had yet to study the agreement in depth and would make its position known later. Martelly's own election five years ago was seen by many in the opposition as being facilitated by foreign pressure. His departure from office coincides with the 30th anniversary of dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier's flight from the country. Instead of stable democracy, the years since the end of the Duvalier family's 29-year regime on Feb. 7, 1986 have been marked by frequent coups and transitional governments. The impoverished country has had a chequered experience with caretaker governments, which in the past have lingered longer than expected. When Haiti was left without an elected president after Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced from power in 2004, it took the transitional administration two years to organise elections. The failure to organise clean elections before Martelly's term ended means Haiti is again left bitterly divided and beset by unrest. Sandra Honore, who heads the United Nations peacekeeping mission that has been in Haiti since Aristide's ouster, called on all sides to support the agreement. The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Peter Mulrean, said the United States was fully supportive of the new election calendar and called for protesters to eschew violence. "The streets should not be deciding what happens next, elections should be deciding, and this agreement will allow the elections to go forward," he said. (Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Additional reporting by Herbert Viillarraga; Editing by Tom Brown)
By Joseph Guyler Delva PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti slipped deeper into unrest on Friday as former fighters roamed the capital and a mob of protesters stoned one of them to death, days before President Michel Martelly is due to leave office with no elected successor. Reuters witnesses said a crowd attacked an unarmed man wearing green military-style clothes, who was among the retired paramilitary fighters in the streets on Friday. Such fighters toppled former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in a 2004 coup. "We are ready to fight the former military, they killed us in 2004, we will never let that happen again," said opposition protester Wesner Morin, 37, from the Bel Aire slum. Martelly is due to leave office on Sunday but squabbling politicians have failed to organise an interim government to replace him, after the runoff election to choose his replacement was scrapped last month amid violence and fraud allegations. The crisis has reopened old divisions in Haitian society, with mainly poor opposition protesters calling for the leftist Aristide to be brought back as an interim leader and the former fighters appearing in support of Martelly's camp. The Caribbean nation, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has been trying since the 1980s to build a stable democracy in the wake of the decades-long rule of the Duvalier family. Aristide disbanded the army in 1995 in an attempt to end military dominance over Haitian politics stretching back to independence two centuries earlier. Martelly last year energized former fighters by taking steps to revive the army. The groups of ageing former gunmen drove through the capital in convoys on Friday, some waving weapons and firing into the air. Until police took away his body, the dead veteran lay on the street in a pool of blood, his boots removed by protesters. A small card bearing the image of ruling-party candidate Jovenel Moise was stuck to the back of his crushed head. The latest political crisis has distracted from ongoing efforts to rebuild a nation shattered by an earthquake six years ago that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Haiti held the first round of the presidential election in October, but opposition candidates have since claimed it was tainted by major fraud. An independent commission that investigated the election cited serious irregularities. A runoff vote scheduled for January was scrapped when the opposition candidate, Jude Celestin, threatened to boycott the process and sporadic violent protests swept the country. With no solution to the impasse, protests have intensified in recent days in the lead up to Martelly's expected departure. Politicians are discussing a range of options, including appointing a supreme court judge or a new prime minister to run an interim government. Martelly said in a statement on Friday that he would soon choose one of the options. The United States, which spent some $33 million on the election, fears an interim government might linger for years, leaving Haiti without a democratically elected president, a situation the country suffered after Aristide was toppled. (Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Sandra Maler)
TAINAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - A total of 132 people are still trapped beneath the rubble of a Taiwan apartment tower that collapsed in a powerful earthquake on Saturday morning, a local government official said on Sunday. The total is much higher than authorities had first estimated on Saturday as rescuers combed the wreckage of the 17-storey building in the southern city of Tainan with sniffer dogs and acoustic equipment, looking for signs of life. Rescue crews believed 29 of those still trapped could be reached more easily than the rest who were buried deeper in the rubble, said the official from the Tainan city government. (Reporting by Yimou Lee; Editing by Mark Bendeich)
By Tom Perry, Jack Stubbs and Estelle Shirbon BEIRUT/MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it suspected Turkey was preparing a military incursion into Syria, as a Syrian army source said Aleppo would soon be encircled by government forces with Russian air support. Turkey in turn accused Moscow of trying to divert attention from its own "crimes" in Syria, and said Aleppo was threatened with a "siege of starvation". It said Turkey had the right to take any measures to protect its security. In another sign of the spreading international ramifications of the five-year-old Syrian war, Saudi Arabia said it was ready to participate in ground operations against Islamic State in Syria if the U.S.-led alliance decided to launch them. The United States welcomed the Saudi offer, which together with any Turkish incursion would further embroil regional powers in a conflict that pitches Sunni-backed fighters against Damascus and forces backed by Moscow and Shi'ite Iran. The United Nations on Wednesday suspended the first peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the start as the war raged unabated. Washington said on Thursday however it was hopeful they would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that no later than Feb. 25. Donors convened in London to tackle the refugee crisis created by the conflict. British Prime Minister David Cameron said they raised $11 billion for Syrian humanitarian needs over the next four years. Turkey said at the conference up to 70,000 refugees from Aleppo were moving toward the border to escape air strikes. BORDER MARCH Footage online showed hundreds of people, mostly women, children and the elderly, marching towards Turkey's Onucpinar border gate, carrying carpets, blankets and food on their backs. Four months of Russian air strikes have tipped the momentum of the war Assad's way. With Moscow's help and allies including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, the Syrian army is regaining areas on key fronts in the west. Russia's defence ministry said it had registered "a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces for active actions on the territory of Syria". Any Turkish incursion would risk direct confrontation between Russia and a NATO member. "The Russians are trying to hide their crimes in Syria," said a senior official in Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office. "They are simply diverting attention from their attacks on civilians as a country already invading Syria. Turkey has all the rights to take any measures to protect its own security." In London, Davutoglu said the "humanitarian logistic corridor" between Turkey and Aleppo was "under the invasion of these foreign fighters and regime forces (with) the support of Russian warplanes". "What they want to do in Aleppo today is exactly what they did in Madaya before, a siege of starvation," he added. Davutoglu pledged that whatever the cost Turkey's door would remain open to all Syrians. It has already taken in more than 2.5 million. Relations between Russia and Turkey have deteriorated badly since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border in November. State Department spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on Turkish military operations on the Syrian border, saying only: "They are working to secure that stretch of border, but I'm not going to comment on specific military activities of another nation inside their borders." ALEPPO, STRATEGIC PRIZE Aleppo, just 50 km (30 miles) south of the Turkish border, is a major strategic prize in the war and is currently divided into areas of government and opposition control. Many of the rebels fighting in and around the city have close ties to Turkey. This week, three days of intensive Russian bombing helped the army and allied fighters to sever a major supply line to the northwest of the city, in the process reaching two Shi'ite towns loyal to the government for the first time in 3-1/2 years. The army source said operations to fully encircle Aleppo from the west would be launched soon. A senior, non-Syrian security source close to Damascus said Iranian fighters had played a crucial role. "Qassem Soleimani is there in the same area," said the source, referring to the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds force responsible for overseas operations. Residents thanked Assad, Iran and Hezbollah in celebratory scenes from the Shi'ite towns of Nubul and al-Zahraa broadcast by Hezbollah's al-Manar TV. The powerful Kurdish YPG militia, which controls wide areas of northern Syria, meanwhile added to the pressure on insurgents, capturing two villages near Nubul and al-Zahraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The Syrian Kurds have consistently denied opposition claims that they cooperate with Damascus. In the south, the Syrian army and its allies recaptured a town near the city of Deraa, building on gains made last week and also backed by instensive aerial bombardment. The seizure of Ataman would allow the government to reassert control over most parts of Deraa, near the Jordanian border. All diplomatic efforts towards ending the conflict have failed. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the latest steps in peace talks were undermined by increased aerial bombing. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura announced a three-week pause. "I think the special envoy decided to suspend the talks because the organisation did not want to be associated with the Russian escalation in Syria, which risks undermining the talks completely," a U.N. official told Reuters. Mohammad Javad Zarif, foreign minister of Iran, called in London for the talks to resume and for an immediate ceasefire. But he said later that should not mean stopping military operations against "recognised terrorist organisations", naming the Nusra Front and Islamic State. REBELS HOPE FOR MORE WEAPONS U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had agreed on the need to discuss how to implement a ceasefire in Syria during a call on Thursday. The State Department said later Kerry would travel to Munich next week to seek an agreement on a ceasefire after assurances by Lavrov that Moscow was committed to a political solution in Syria. The State Department's Kirby, however, said that Russia's pledges to end the Syria conflict through political dialogue did not match its military actions on the battlefield, where it continued to bomb opposition positions. "Were certainly seeing, at least in the very recent past, discordant messages" by Russia, Kirby added. Rebel commanders said they hoped the peace talks' collapse would convince their foreign backers, including Saudi Arabia, that it was time to send them more powerful and advanced weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles. Assad's foreign opponents have been funnelling weapons to vetted rebel groups via both Turkey and Jordan. One rebel leader said he expected "something new, God willing" after the failure of the Geneva talks. Another rebel commander said: "They are promising to continue the support. In what form, I don't yet know ... How it will crystallise, nobody knows ... We need to wait." Both spoke on condition of anonymity. While vetted "Free Syrian Army" rebels have received weapons including U.S.-made guided anti-tank missiles, their calls for anti-aircraft missiles have gone unanswered mostly because of fears they could end up in the hands of powerful jihadist groups such as the Nusra Front, which are also fighting Assad. A Russian defence ministry spokesman said a Russian military trainer was killed in a mortar attack on Feb. 1. "They (Russian military servicemen) are not taking part in ground operations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We are talking about advisers. This is linked to teaching Syrian colleagues to operate equipment which is being delivered to Syria under existing contracts." A Saudi general said the kingdom was "ready to participate in any ground operations that the (U.S.-led) coalition (against Islamic State) may agree to carry out in Syria". Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, who is also the spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Iranian-backed forces in Yemen, was speaking to Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed the Saudi offer. (Additional reporting by Istanbul, Washington and Dubai bureaux; Editing by Andrew Roche and Lisa Shumaker)
By Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - As senior British Conservatives prepare to take sides in a referendum on European Union membership, some will be more focussed on their own future - and their chances of succeeding Prime Minister David Cameron - than that of the country. While Cameron will allow his ministers to choose whether they support the 'in' or 'out' campaigns for the upcoming national vote, those hoping to become the next Conservative leader face a dilemma. If they come out in favour of Britain remaining in the bloc, they risk alienating the party's largely eurosceptic membership. But if they opt for a British exit, they will find themselves campaigning against their own leader - something that is likely to hurt their ambitions if they end up on the losing side. A draft deal on Britain's future published by the EU on Tuesday still has to be accepted by the other 27 member states. However, Cameron's support for the proposals has effectively fired the starting gun on the campaign for the referendum which he says could be held within a few months. Cameron reminded his ministers this week that they must back his renegotiation effort until a final deal is reached, something he hopes to achieve at a summit of EU leaders on Feb. 18-19, but the British media are looking for signs of which way they will swing. Eurosceptic Conservatives predict four or five cabinet ministers could back an 'out' vote, adding weight to their campaign. But with a leadership battle on the horizon, Cameron may have contained the risk of high profile splits. Potential successors have been manoeuvring since Cameron said he would not stand again at the next national election in 2020, and what they say and do on Europe will be closely watched by the lawmakers and ordinary members who will choose the new party leader. "The people who are thinking about going for the party leadership don't want to muck up their pitch," said Simon Usherwood, a fellow on the UK in a Changing Europe academic research programme. Any senior Conservatives campaigning for Britain to leave would be following a high risk strategy. "They are going to have to go against Cameron and only one of them can win," he said. Cameron once insisted his ministers would have to campaign for a collective cabinet position in the referendum but, faced with a likely eurosceptic rebellion, he dropped this demand. Usherwood believes the prime minister has strengthened his hand by getting some wavering ministers involved in hammering out the deal with Brussels on revising British EU membership terms. "Cameron has done a good job of making sure that he has dipped any number of people's hands in the blood of the renegotiation so that for them to then stop and say 'this (deal) is rubbish' becomes effectively impossible," he said. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who previously said he would vote to leave if the EU refused to change, has indicated he plans to back the 'in' campaign, saying he would find it difficult to oppose the government position and describing the draft deal as "a framework for substantial change". GAME PLAN Finance minister George Osborne, a close ally of Cameron, is the frontrunner for the party leadership, with flamboyant London Mayor Boris Johnson and interior minister Theresa May also among the favourites to be one of the two candidates chosen by Conservative lawmakers to go forward to a vote of party members. A YouGov poll of 1,003 Conservative Party members in September found 33 percent would back Osborne for leader, compared with 31 percent for Johnson and 17 percent for May. As Osborne has closely aligned himself with Cameron's position of staying in a reformed EU, the issue could give the more eurosceptic Johnson and May an opportunity to differentiate themselves. But the 'out' campaigns' hopes of securing their backing could be thwarted by personal ambition. Johnson, a former Brussels correspondent for The Daily Telegraph whose father was a member of the European Parliament, has the potential influence to sway the outcome of the vote. Polls show he is one of the most well-known politicians in the country and voters trust his opinion on the EU. He has also proven he has broad appeal, twice being elected mayor in the opposition Labour stronghold of London. Johnson, who is not a member of Cameron's cabinet and can therefore speak freely on Europe, has flirted with backing 'out' but the risk of ending up on the losing side after campaigning against his leader is likely to prove too much of a barrier. "His game plan, I think, is to be slightly more eurosceptic than Osborne and that is all he needs to do to make the eurosceptics feel that he is a better bet," Johnson biographer Andrew Gimson told Reuters. "He doesn't have to go the whole hog and take an enormous risk." Johnson, who is due to step down as mayor in May, has been careful to talk up Cameron's renegotiation efforts. "He makes apparently loyal remarks which are actually raising the bar of what Cameron can be expected to achieve," said Gimson. TOO ENTHUSIASTIC Lawmaker Steve Baker, co-chairman of the eurosceptic group Conservatives for Britain, predicts 50-70 of the party's 330 lawmakers will campaign for 'out', but acknowledges top cabinet ministers may hold back. "I am prepared at this point to go into the campaign without any cabinet big beasts," he told the BBC. House of Commons leader Chris Grayling and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, are among those tipped to campaign for 'out', and reported by the British media to be increasingly frustrated at not being allowed to air their views in public yet. Despite talking tough at last year's Conservative conference on Britain's need to be able to curb immigration, interior minister May has largely stayed out of the EU renegotiation, keeping her cards close to her chest. Once tipped as a leader of the 'out' side, some commentators now predict she could keep a low profile during the campaign and then portray herself as the best candidate to bring the party back together afterwards. May has described Tuesday's draft proposals as "a basis for a deal". With polls showing a majority of party members favour leaving the EU, would-be successors must still tread a fine line if they decide to campaign for 'in'. "I imagine they are game playing it," said Steven Fielding, professor of political history at the University of Nottingham. "None of those people can afford to be too enthusiastic if they want to win over Conservative members." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, editing by Elizabeth Piper and David Stamp)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will work with the United Nations Security Council on "significant measures" to hold North Korea to account for its launching of a rocket, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday. Calling the launch a flagrant violation of UN resolutions on the countrys use of ballistic missile technology, Kerry in a statement reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. defence commitments to Japan and South Korea and called the launch a destabilising and unacceptable challenge to peace and security. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Writing by James Dalgleish; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 7

By Umid Niayesh- Trend:

The amount of the compensation which French auto manufacturing company Peugeot-Citroen PSA should pay Iran is over 200 million euros, Hashem Yekeh Zareh, the CEO of Iran Khodro Industrial Group (IKCO) said.

Yekeh Zareh said that that a supportive-compensational package is forecasted in the Peugeot- IKCO recent deal, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Feb. 7.

He further said that the package envisages cash payment for compensation.

A day earlier Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh announced that Peugeot will be obliged to make up for the losses Iran suffered due to the company's violation of its previous commitments.

Peugeot, an arch-partner of the Iranian auto industry, suspended sales in Iran in 2012 due to international sanctions.

Nematzadeh underlined that Iran's losses due to the suspension of the previous contract will be compensated for in the new deal with the French company, however he refused the unveil further information, saying the details of the contract are confidential.

The French carmaker earlier announced that it had finalized a binding contract with Iran's leading automobile manufacturer Iran Khodro over the production of cars in the country.

The contract whose value stands at 400 million envisages the investment by Peugeot in modernizing platforms, particularly in the main Iran Khodro site near Tehran. The investment will also allow for the export of vehicles to the region.

PSA will begin by producing 200,000 cars a year in a 50:50 joint venture, producing the Peugeot 208, 2008, and 301 models. Vehicle production will start in the second half of 2017.
By Martin Petty HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's Communist Party re-elected to its central committee key policymakers and ministers of the current government on Tuesday, signalling wholesale changes may not ensue after Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's political exit. The party congress vote also saw re-election to the committee of several politicians considered by experts as allies of Dung, maintaining the possibility of roles in running a fast-growing country that has committed to major trade pacts and economic reforms. Their inclusion in the new 200-member central committee is no guarantee of cabinet posts, however, which would be decided later this year. Ministers have traditionally come from within the central committee and politburo. Congress allowed Dung to decline his nomination to the committee on Monday, ending speculation of him contesting a party leadership that has only one candidate, incumbent Nguyen Phu Trong. Dung was popular among businessmen and known for his decisive approach and his departure has raised questions about reform momentum. Analysts say Dung's ambition may have been his undoing and his omission from the politburo's nominations for four key leadership posts reflected concern among the party's old guard about his growing influence. His opponents, say experts, accuse his administration of graft and mismanaging state-run firms, including a massive debt default by shipbuilder Vinashin in 2010. The economy is now in better shape and grew 6.7 percent in 2015, the fastest in five years, with record figures for foreign investment inflows and mergers and acquisitions. Sixteen of the 28 incumbent ministers, including Dung, were not re-elected, and all but one were over 60, the standard retirement age. Dung's son, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, 39, retained his committee seat, moving from an alternate to a full member. Others re-elected were Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang and deputy prime ministers Vu Duc Dam and Pham Binh Minh, who is also foreign minister. Also included was Nguyen Van Binh, the governor of a central bank praised for restructuring of a banking sector that was until recently engulfed by non-performing loans. Trinh Nguyen, senior economist at investment bank Natixis, said there was still uncertainty about the economy, even though Trong looked set to remain party boss. "The air over the succession is tense and it is over whether the country will have the leadership required to help the economy reach escape velocity to avoid the middle-income trap," she said in a research note. (Reporting by Martin Petty; Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen, My Pham and Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Published On Feb 07, 2016 07:03 PM By CarDekho

To Transform Customer Relations for Dealers through its New Technology

Partners FADA at ninth Auto Summit to underline the significance of Digital in auto

Indias leading online automobile portal CarDekho in partnership with FADA presented the Ninth Auto Summit, themed on Digital Dealer  Accelerate Opportunities. The biennial conference underlined the standing of Digital ecosystem in todays automobile business. The summit focused on various B2C technologies like virtual showroom and augmented reality platforms along with several B2B technologies solutions like lead management system, branding solutions, digital marketing and other cloud solutions.

The Auto Summit 2016 is one of the largest conferences that facilitate dealers and OEMs to learn and enhance their knowledge on new technologies to run their businesses efficiently. The theme this year stresses on the importance of adopting digital technologies or going digital in the backdrop of an increasingly digital era. Close to 600 auto dealers from all over India and many OEM manufacturers attended the event.

The event unfolded with an inaugural session and a welcome address by Mr Jayant Sinha, Honble Minister of State for Finance, Government of India; followed by addresses by Mr R C Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, Mr Rajan Anandan, Vice President & Managing Director, Google South East Asia & India, Mr Ravi Pisharody, Vice President SIAM & ED Tata Motors, CVBU, Mr K V S Prakash Rao, President, FADA and Dr Kailash Gupta, Chairman Auto Summit 2016.

The speakers in their address to the dealers and the automobile fraternity brought out the necessity of proactive presence in digital space having become imperative for a competitive edge in the digital and communication era. Digital intends to help acquire new customers and provide support in plugging leakages in order to improve productivity and efficiency.

Jayant Sinha, Honble Minister of State for Finance, Government of India lauded the automobile Industry and mentioned the vitality of GST in India as it would lead to removing a lot of tax related anomalies attached to the industry.

KVS Prakash Rao, President FADA in his welcome address urged the government to give emphasis to the Auto Retail sector. He said, The organised retail for other sectors has received attention of the government agencies; we would also want it to focus on auto retail which is one of the largest employers and has a significant turnover. The auto market is passing through a developmental phase and there is a need to appreciate the members of the ecosystem like manufacturers, OEMs, dealers and the disruption that is caused by the e-commerce companies.

Rajan Anandan, VP & MD, Google South East Asia and India, Software can reinvent industries, in a few years to come internet will impact businesses which do not actually have a digital product. Consumer experience would change massively in the coming years owing to internet. As OEMs we would have to transform dealership, service experience through imbibing technology. 75% buyers do online for the car purchase and 54% change their consideration after research. They search for right affordability, dealership and service and it is important to exploit the opportunities of internet.

Padma Bhushan, RC Bhargava, Former CEO and Chairman Maruti Suzuki opined that the automobile will lead Make in India. He also said that there are considerations the ecosystem has to take into account and that it is making efforts towards the issues of pollution and safety.

Amit Jain, MD and CEO, CarDekho.com, gave a comprehensive understanding about the measurability and efficiency of the digital media. He emphasized, We are on a digital mission and I urge the OEMs and the Dealerships to go Digital. Every single expense gets measured through digital usage and also gets a dealer the best ROI. The cost of leads generated through digital media is approximately 10 to 12 times lower as against the conventional sources such as print media and marketing initiatives. With the potential of online dealerships we have geographically covered the zones without a requirement of any capital expenditure.

The audience present were enraptured by, Amit Jains demonstration of the use of Digital Technology through indigenously developed solutions such as Feel the Car with Touchscreen, Virtual Showroom using 3D modeling Technology as well as mobile apps to dramatically increase efficiencies in a dealers customer acquisition process.

Umang Kumar, President, CarDekho commented, Driving digital adoption at dealer partners to improve their sales and profitability is key focus area for us. We are deeply excited to partner with FADA to bring this digital transformation to Indias dealers to deliver a differentiated buying experience and increase their engagement with customers leveraging technology.

The sessions were themed around key topics which help direct impact to the stakeholders present at the conference these were. The Digital Dealer: Glimpse into the Future, Where are my Leads, Digital Marketing, and Improving Dealer Profitability through Digital. The sessions, laid strong emphasis on the importance of digital for brand building, buyer search, lead generation and conversion of sales and service.
Modified On Mar 01, 2018 04:59 PM By Arun

If there was one manufacturer Id have to credit for being outright blunt about bringing in a change - it would have to be Tata. Now, lets discount the Safari for a bit and look at what they brought to the table at the 2016 AutoExpo. Cover the Tata badge for a bit and youd be easily fooled into thinking the car is from some other, possibly European brand (well, almost!). Tata has positively shattered the norm that Indian cars cannot be as well designed as their European counterparts.

Three really, really interesting Tata cars that will go into mass production were showcased at Tatas massive pavilion. Lets see why theyre the best weve seen!

Tata Kite5 (now called the Tata Tigor)

Watch our quick review to know about the Tigor in under 300 seconds. Scroll right down to the bottom for a more in-depth review.

The Kite5 is the sedan derivative of the Zica hatchback. While the face is unmistakably Zica, the side shows off, what is, in all probability - the best silhouette weve seen on a compact sedan. The notchback approach to the sub 4 metre dilemma is clever and needless to say, impressive looking. Round to the back, the sleek tail-lamps flow into a large slab of chrome. Viewed dead on from the rear, it does not look disproportionate at all (like the Zest does, for example).

Tata Nexon

Tatas Nexon practically screams for attention. Honestly, we think it deserves all the attention it demands. In person, the Nexon is beefy and appeals to both the loony 5 year old, as well as the practical 35 year old. This is something that very few designs manage to pull off. The flared proportions, split colors and that friendly Tata face goes is amongst the cleanest and hatke designs weve seen.

Tata Hexa

I never thought it was possible, but Tata have managed to make the Aria look good. The reworked front now houses smoked out projector headlamps, theres plenty of faux bashplates around, the 18 inch wheels look gorgeous...the list goes on and on! Out goes the van-like styling, only to be replaced by a fresher SUV-inspired Crossover design.

What do we like?

All three cars are in-line with their new Impact design language that debuted with the Zica. All three cars are amongst the best designs in their respective segments. The lines are clean, choice of colors are spot on and the stance is just right.

Then there are likeable quirks in every design, be it the spoiler spats on the Zica hatch, the kink in the window line of the Hexa or the high waistline on the Nexon. These little additions go that extra mile in completing the design. Attention to detail - key takeaway here.

With a double whammy of misses in the form of the Bolt and the Zest, these three (and the Zica, of course) have a lot to carry on their shoulders. And we are positive these will. Tata has upped the ante. There's no other way of saying it.

A special mention to Pratap Bose and his team on the design and execution of the Impact philosophy. We can only pray these cars sell well - simply because they deserve to! Way to go, Tata!

Must See: Tata Nexon Gallery: Don't Miss It!
Tehran, Iran, February 7

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

A number of Iranian companies have recently held talks with Apple, Sony, and HTC for direct representation branches, according to Chairman of Iran Telecommunication Devices Association Qolamhossein Karimi.

After the removal of sanctions off Iran, local companies have decided to use the opportunity and start connecting with the outside business. Iran's economy suffered a certain amount of hard blows, and it is now on the recovery path.

Qolamhossein Karimi stated that the mentioned brands had an indirect representation in Iran. The companies used to offer service to the Iranian market via Hong Kong or Dubai bases, Fars news agency reported February 5.

Huawei, ZTE, LG, and Samsung already have official representatives in Iran.

According to Karimi, the Iranian Samsung, LG, and Huawei branches are considering the import of parts in the form of SKD or CKD and then their assembly inside the country.

The official added that if the latter companies can provide for 20 percent of their market delivery in the form of production or assembly, Iran can consider cell phone exports to neighboring countries.
The settlements are expanding Tedr77 [at] aol.com) by Ted Rudow III. MA

As Israel faces international condemnation over its plan to build 153 new settlement homes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the watchdog group Peace Now reports Israels defense minister has approved the construction of the new Jewish-only homes last week.

The plan sparked swift criticism from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who called the settlements "an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community." In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Ban Ki-moons criticism gives "a tailwind to terrorism" and that the "U.N. lost its neutrality and moral force a long time ago." This comes as President Barack Obama spoke at the Israeli Embassy to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, saying, "We are all indeed Jews." The history and consequences of decades of Israeli settlement construction on Palestinian lands.



The state of Israel, acting behind the governments back, illegally, but with the involvement of various government ministries, settlers, local councils in the territories. They are the ones that used state funds to build those outposts, and all of this was done illegally. The illegality was institutionalized funds to build those outposts, and all of this was done illegally. While we hear a lot about whats happening every day, how 400,000 Jews came to settle in these Jewish-only communities in the occupied West Bank is critical to understand today. The settlements are expanding, are flourishing.



More and more people are moving into the West Bank. The push to the settlement enterprise, it forces the state of Israel to hold a strong grip with the occupation of the West Bank. Thats what really is relevant. This small hundred houses or less, thatsit seems to me, thats not the issue. We have to have a more far-reaching goal and moreThe Israelis have got everything their way right now! Theyve got all of Israel and theyve got all of Jerusalem and they want to keep it all and they dont have any intention of sharing it with anybody.



Ted Rudow III, MA


Tehran, Iran, February 7



By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:



Iran sees the export of gas profitable even against the backdrop of Qatar's heavy dumping, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Hamid Reza Araqi said.



"Iran is producing most of its gas from joint fields, therefore any sort of export is beneficial," he stressed, Fars news agency reported February 5.



Qatar has been selling gas at a very low price in Indian and Pakistani markets. The country shares the world's largest gas field the South Pars (aka North Dome) with Iran.



The official said the global gas market is getting more and more complicated, adding that Iran needs to further investigate markets in order to adopt policies as to exporting the product.



The South Pars is estimated to hold about 19% of the world's total gas reserves.



Iran's South Pars gas field produced 95.18 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the first ten month of the current Iranian fiscal year (March 21, 2015-Jan. 21).



Iran expects that the figure to reach 130 bcm by the end of current fiscal year (March. 21, 2016).



The Islamic Republic is producing 420 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of gas from South Pars, located in southern regions, while the production level is projected to surpass 700 mcm/d by late 2018.



South Pars, divided into 24 development phases, contains 40 trillion cubic meters (tcm) of natural gas.



Regarding the swap of gas with Russia, Araqi said negotiations are still ongoing between the two countries.



No agreement has yet been made, he noted, adding that the operation of swap depends on how the negotiations progress as well as the price of LNG.



CEOs of both Russian companies were in Iran with the a delegation headed by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak late summer 2015, where the issue of oil and gas swaps was discussed.



Prior to the introduction of sanctions, Iran was an active participant in swap operations, which began in 1997 on the basis of signed contracts.



From 1997 to 2009, total income received by Iran from these swap transactions reached some $880 million.



However, this is first time that Iran is preparing to start gas swap with Russia.



Novak said earlier that Gazprom has offered gas supplies to Iran under a swap arrangement, delivering gas to Iran's northern regions and taking Iranian LNG in the Persian Gulf.



Iran has an LNG plant, developed by 50 percent with 10.5 million tons (or above 14 billion cubic meters natural gas) of production capacity annually, which is expected to become operational by 2019.
Speak Out Against TasersPolice Commission MeetingWednesday, February 10, 5:30 PMCity Hall, Room 400According to a Feb 3rd SF Chronicle, http://tinyurl.com/z3hrhpa , Police Chief Greg Suhr plans to reintroduce equipping officers with stun guns at next weeks Police Commission meeting (Wed, Feb 10). In the article Suhr says he believes that if the five officers who shot Woods had a Taser, Woods would not be dead.Mayor Ed Lee and Police Chief Greg Suhr are cynically trying to use our outrage over the SF Police Departments execution-style murder of Mario Woods to push for arming SF police with tasers. They claim that if the police had tasers, it would not have been necessary to kill Mario. Its outrageous enough for Suhr to suggest it was necessary to gun Mario down like a mad dog. But hes also lying again. He's saying that in a life-endangering police confrontation, when its now necessary to kill us, that using a taser would make it "unnecessary" to kill us.This is a deliberate lie, because police training procedures explicitly say that in a life-threatening situation, officers are *NOT* to use tasers; they are to use guns instead. So this same racist routine of police killing people of color they say are endangering them will continue, whether cops have tasers or not. In fact, a UCSF study showed fatal police shootings increase after police have tasers.Instead, tasers will just be another weapon police have to terrorize us unto submission. 80% of taser use is against unarmed victims, frequently in handcuffs or hog-tied. Tasers are used against people who disturb the orderly flow of public meetings, as we did to stop the new jail. Or women who don't put out their cigarette, as with Sandra Bland. Police use tasers disproportionately against Blacks, Latins, people with disabilities, homeless, and the mentally ill. In San Diego Blacks and Latins are twice as likely to be tased as whitesAnybody who's been downtown during Superbowl week or seen videos of it, guards with submachine guns all over the place has gotten a visceral idea of what increased police presence means. After the Superbowl, when things "calm down," things will not be as they were. San Francisco is hiring up to 400 new police at the same time that people's anger and outrage is growing over evictions, displacement, luxury condos, and gentrification. We need justice, not tasers. Please come to the Police Commission next Wednesday, February 10, 5:30 PM in City Hall, Room 400.
2016 Folsom Black History Month ~ Roots, Wine and Reggae by Khubaka, Michael Harris

The past, present and future of the Great State of California are connected in a wonderful way. Honorable Mervyn M. Dymally offered AB 59 an amazing legislative opportunity to showcase the contributions by people of African ancestry throughout the State of California, his legacy is alive. Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. continues to demonstrate the amazing potential of equity and equal opportunity. In the spirit of our mixed Caribbean extended family, 2016 Folsom Black History Month ~ Roots, Wine and Reggae will bring us together in a good way...

2016 Folsom Black History Month ~ Roots, Wine and Reggae is poised to mark a new beginning, building on the solid foundation of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr., (1810-1848) a prominent civic leader and founding pioneer in the successful quest for California to become the 31st state of the United States of America.



William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was born in St. Croix, Danish Virgin Islands, in October 1810 to Anna Marie Sparks, of African Cuban ancestry and William Leidesdorff, of Danish Jewish ancestry.



He owned the largest home in San Francisco, was elected City Treasurer, constructed the City Hotel, built the first commercial shipping warehouse and wharf in S.F., elected President of the first California School Board and donated the land to build the first public school in California, owned and operated his 35,500+ acre agribusiness, Leidesdorff Ranch in Sacramento County.



In 1834, Leidesdorff was naturalized a U.S. Citizen and began to develop a lucrative maritime shipping business based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Negro Seamen Acts, at the second busiest port in the United States, New Orleans and a lengthy Federal lawsuit, on top of the tragic ending to his love affair forced William to relocate to the Pacific Rim with a fresh start.



In 1840, Leidesdorff traveled to New York, NY and on his final plans east coast voyage he sailed through the ports in Cuba, Virgin Islands, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Hawaii relocating to Alta Mexican California.



In 1841, Leidesdorff sailed the first United States shipping vessel, the Julia Ann, into the sleepy Mexican fishing Village of Yerba Buena, modern day San Francisco, to establish a world maritime center.



In 1843, he was naturalized as a Mexican citizen in order to facilitate acquiring a vast land grant from the Mexican authorities, and was an early advocate of creating dual United States citizenship.



In 1844, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. obtained title to Rancho Rio de Los Americanos, well over 35,000+ acres of prime real estate along the south bank of the American River. His global trade and commerce projects financed, developed, and helped stabilize the Sacramento Valley.



In 1845, he accepted the position of United States Vice-Consul to the Mexican Alta California region; as such, he became the first African-American diplomat, affectionately known as "A Founding Father of California."



In 1846, he was an active leader in the Bear Flag Revolt during the Mexican-American War. He went on to captain the first and only steam ship in California prior to the Gold Rush of 1848, the Sitka. His maiden steam voyage up the Sacramento River is immortalized on the California State Seal and recognizes his vision for increased maritime transportation of California's agricultural products to world markets.



In 1848, prior to his untimely death from brain fever, he received official notification of vast quantities of gold on his immense cattle and wheat ranch along today's Route 50 corridor. May 18, 1848 he was buried just inside the front entrance of the Roman Catholic Church, Old San Francisco Mission Delores Basilica.



In 2004, a 15 mile portion of US Highway 50 was officially designated the William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. Memorial Highway by the California State Legislature and highway sign installations occurred Spring of 2005.



In 2007, the State of California, California Farmer, California Farm Bureau, California Chamber of Commerce and California State Fair inducted Leidesdorff Ranch into the prestigious, California Agricultural Heritage Club.



During California Black History Month 2008, River Bend Park became the official name of Goethe Park, on Historic Rancho Rio De Los Americanos continuing to cloak the rebirth of the Golden Legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.



January 2010, the Congress of Racial Equality, during its 25th Silver Anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 52nd Street at Seventh Avenue, New York, NY honored Tova Leidesdorf and the legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.



In 2011, Leidesdorff Ranch/Negro Hill Burial Ground Project achieved a major victory by removing the wicked, demonic language from the grave markers of the early California pioneers of African ancestry.



2016 Folsom Black History Month, Roots, Wine and Reggae will offer a mutually beneficial path toward reconsideration of AB 59 a seminal piece of legislation authored by Honorable Mervyn M. Dyamally, let us come together in the spirit of Roots, Wine and Reggae.




Washington, DC Olympus Corp. has announced a voluntary recall of its Olympus Corp. has announced a voluntary recall of its duodenoscope , which has been linked to serious infections in patients who underwent procedures using the device. Endoscopes and other medical devices have come under fire recently for increasingly complex designs that make proper sterilization of the devices almost impossible. In the case of the Olympic duodenoscope, reports indicate that Olympus will redesign a portion of the device to make it easier to disinfect.

The(1/15/16) reports that Olympus announced the voluntary recall in January 2016, which followed a report from a US Senate committee that 25 outbreaks and three deaths were linked to dirty scope devices made by three manufacturers, including Olympus. Thereported that Olympus knew about issues with its scope by spring 2012, but took no action to report the issue to medical care providers or officials.Since Olympus learned of the issue, more than 140 patients in the United States have reportedly developed serious infections, mostly the deadly carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Prior to announcing the recall, Olympus had blamed improper hospital cleaning procedures for the outbreaks.Regulators have taken device makers including Olympus to task for their role in the outbreaks. The US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee recently released a report titled Preventable Tragedies: Superbugs and How Ineffective Monitoring of Medical Device Safety Fails Patients. The 301-page report cites numerous serious infections linked to duodenoscopes and blamed device makers for failing to meet their regulatory obligations, including not properly seeking FDA clearance before selling their duodenoscopes and not properly testing whether the scopes could be adequately cleaned in real-world settings. The Senate report also took the FDA to task for not having a proper reporting system for medical devices.Worldwide, according to the report, there were more than 25 incidents of antibiotic-resistant infections affecting at least 250 people.The manufacturers listed in the report (Olympus, Pentax and Fujifilm) failed at every level to meet basic expectations of transparency and openness and to actively engage with FDA to address contamination issues, the report states. This disregard for the spirit, and sometimes the letter, of the law resulted in potentially preventable serious and potentially fatal illnesses in hospitals around the world.The report argues that because the FDA did not have adequate information regarding the cause or nature of the outbreaks, it was unable to effectively investigate the issues and take necessary action. But rather than being a victim of inadequate reporting, the FDA has set up a flawed device reporting system, according to the Senate committee, which allows these situations to occur.Lawsuits have been filed against Olympus, alleging patients suffered serious health problems as a result of the use of the Olympus duodenoscope.
Miami, FL Plaintiffs embroiled in a Plaintiffs embroiled in a Lender insurance lawsuit against PNC Bank NA will have the opportunity to avoid the rigors of a trial and still receive what has been described as an excellent compensatory agreement following final approval of a settlement worth $32.3 million.

The settlement will benefit some 130,000 plaintiffs who allege they were hit with hazard, flood-gap and/or lenders insurance against wind damage that was both excessive, expensive and provided less coverage than standard policies, or so it is alleged. Whats more, plaintiffs alleged in their Force-placed insurance lawsuit that various kickbacks were involved, serving to further drive up the costs to homeowners.According to court documents, plaintiffs who had mortgage agreements with PNC Bank NA noted that the bank required homeowners to maintain hazard, wind and on occasion flood insurance on the mortgaged property. Agreements also provided PNC Bank with the right and obligation to force-place coverage on the property if it were determined that existing insurance coverage was either inadequate or had lapsed.The agreements indicated that the financial obligation for the Force-Place Insurance would be the responsibility of the homeowner.While the capacity for a lender to ensure adequate insurance to protect the investment is perfectly legitimate and without debate, plaintiffs note that mortgage agreements are alleged to have included language that suggested the cost of coverage could significantly exceed any cost associated with a homeowners voluntary coverage.That opens the barn door for excessive forced-placed insurance terms. And it is alleged that excessive fees resulted. It is alleged that plaintiffs not only endured having Lender insurance forced onto their properties, fees are also alleged to have included kickbacks that insurance companies allegedly paid to PNC for referrals, and for services that were below cost.A number of other Forced-Placed Insurance Lawsuits were settled in similar fashion in recent months, paving the way for final approval of the $32.3 million settlement in the PNC Bank NA case.The plaintiffs motion for final approval, submitted in late January, noted the $32.3 million in monetary relief constitutes 50 percent to 100 percent of the best-case scenario damages recoverable by the class had the parties proceeded to trial.This result is all the more extraordinary because it involved the resolution of complex issues against a rising tide of adverse decisions from federal district and appellate courts - decisions class counsel would certainly distinguish, but their opponents would just as vigorously assert, their motion said.Lead plaintiff in the lenders insurance class-action lawsuit is Enrique Montoya. The Force-Place Insurance class action isCase number 1:14-cv-20474, in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
- The ex-president believes some of the girls may have died or married off

- Admonishes younger politicians to have 'clean hands'

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo says anybody promising to rescue the missing Chibok girls in insincere.

Nigeria's former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has categorically said that nobody can rescue the missing Chibok girls, Leadership reports.

The one time military ruler, who made this startling revelation while responding to questions during a programme tagged: '7th Roundtable with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo' focusing on the theme: 'Reflections Of An Elder Statesman: An Evening With OBJ' organised by the Staff Club of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, noted that promises to recover the girls could not be fulfilled considering the length of time they have been away with the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

He said: "Seventy-two hours after the Chibok girls were adopted was too late for their rescue, talk less of getting to two years by April this year. So if any leader is promising to bring back Chibok girls now, he is lying."

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Awujale disagree over creation of Ijebu state

While attributing the loss of the young girls to the nonchalant attitude of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Obasanjo stated that anybody who has promised to bring back the missing Chibok girls almost two years after their abduction, was not sincere.

Stating that majority of the girls would have died or some others married off, the Owu high chief stressed that sexual violence and human trafficking would have affected others.

Obasanjo further urged budding politicians to disregard political godfathers but work hard to gain recognition and not get their hands dirty and their feet wet before major opportunities come their ways in politics.

He said: "You have to get your hands dirty and your feet wet in politics before you can make it. So, I admonish you to work hard in order to gain ground and not rely on godfathers because I never had any" while also commending the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari.

On the lingering discord between him and Nobel Laurete, Professor Wole Soyinka, the ex-president said Soyinka "Is no man to be trusted. I will trust Wole Soyinka as an 'aparo hunter' rather than trusting him as a political analyst. I have no issue with him."

Meanwhile, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has, in the wake of the ongoing probe of corruption in Nigeria, called for the immediate probe of the Obasanjo-led administration.

Source: Legit.ng
- Senator Ben Bruce and a top blogger Japeth Omojuwa are in the war of words

- The senator critically assessed the point made by President Buhari in an interview with Telegraph UK

- JJ. Omojuwa defended the president

Senator Ben Bruce reacted to a controversial statement by President Buhari on Saturday, February 6. In the interview with Telegraph UK, published on Friday, the leader of the nation has warned his fellow citizens to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be "accepted" abroad.

"But why will a president go abroad to say with his mouth that his people have a reputation for crime? If you don't believe in your people, who will?" Ben Bruce wondered.

He also referred to a 2008 article on Thisday, reminded that Buhari earlier "believed that we were not criminals".

The reaction to these posts by JJ was almost immediate:

However, the senator was not really impressed:

READ ALSO: Ben Bruce calls Nigerias attention to a looming catastrophe

Omojuwa further explained why he is tired of seeing endless critical remarks to actions and words of the new president and his administration:

"You lose the moral authority to praise a leader when they get things right when you defend them when they get things wrong.

"We did not vote a perfect man as president. He will get some things wrong. No shame pointing them out.

"Until we unite to condemn our leaders when they are wrong irrespective of whether we voted them or not, Change'll be an illusion.

"I do not have the ability to defend what is wrong. It does not matter how much I love or respect who is wrong. I don't have that ability.

"For every Nigerian criminal out there, there are legit Nigerians in droves. Every conversation on the former must be balanced by the latter."

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce represents Bayelsa East senatorial district. The chairman of Silverbird Group also runs a commonsense campaign on social media the assesses all the crucial decisions by the new administration.

Japeth J. Omojuwa, a renowned blogger, socio-economic and political expert, remains the strong supporter of the ruling All Progressives Congress. He contributed a lot to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the March 2015 presidential election.

Source: Legit.ng
Industry, Mines and Trade Minister said that Iran is of geopolitical importance for Kazakhstan as it helps the Central Asian country to get connected to the high seas, Irna reported.



'Iran is the link for Kazakhstan due to its strategic situation and its closeness to the Persian Gulf,' Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said, addressing Iran-Kazakhstan Trade and Investment Seminar in Tehran on Sunday.



The Iranian industry minister reiterated that Iran's geopolitical location and it link to the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea has provided our country with special privilege.



Nematzadeh pointed to the ongoing visit of a 260-member Kazakh delegation to Tehran, and said, 'This is the biggest trade delegation from Central Asia visiting Iran and I am confident that given the two countries' track record of cultural, religious and historical relations, this visit will help to the trade promotion.'
- The Senate president, Saraki was disappointed last week when the Supreme Court ruled that his corruption trial at the CCT should continue

- Senator Marafa said while the trial continues, Saraki should save the image of the National Assembly by resigning

- Another senator, Dino Melaye said there was no need for the Senate president to resign

Senator Kabiru Marafa, a leader of the Unity Forum has urged Bukola Saraki, the Senate president to resign honourably while his corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) continues, before he is disgraced out.

The Unity Forum, a caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) opposed to the emergence of Saraki as the Senate president also includes Suleiman Hunkunyi and Ahmed Lawan,who was the favoured candidate for the position by the party.

Speaking on Saturday in an interview with Premium Times, Marafa said Saraki had the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise; yet, he said before he is disgraced out he should honourably resign to save the image of the National Assembly and salvage national pride.

The outspoken senator was reacting to the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the trial of the Senate president at the CCT.

The Senate should have understanding with Senator Saraki. Whats happening at the Code of Conduct Tribunal has nothing to do with the Unity Forum; its between him and the state and countrys law says hes presumed innocent until proven to otherwise.

READ ALSO: CCT trial: 8 strong witnesses to testify against Saraki

By reason of omission or commission, Saraki has pushed himself to a position of disadvantage. By moving from one court to the other up to the Supreme and got himself knocked out, what it portrays is that the Senate under Senator Saraki is fast losing credibility.

The most honourable thing for Saraki is to resign and face his prosecution. If he wins, the seat is always there and he can be re-elected again if those that supported him truly believe he is the best person for the position. And if not, he will remain a senator like he was in the 7th Assembly. Is it a must that he becomes Senate President? he queried.

Saraki had said he was disappointed with the court shortly after the verdict was given. Reacting to this, Marafa said the Senate president had no respect for the Supreme Court as the chief lawmaker of the country.

According to him, Saraki had done a lot of damage to the Senate, saying, How do you feel to see your number 3 man being docked for corruption charges.

In response to Marafas comments, Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi State), who speaks for the Like Minds caucus, a pro-Saraki group of lawmakers said there was no cause for Saraki to resign.

He said: Marafa is a clown and perhaps lives on cheap drugs. The case at the CCT is not about Saraki; rather, its about the Senate. And we will not fold our arms to mess up with the Senate. The Senate is stable and Saraki has the support of most of the Senators.

READ ALSO: Mixed reactions trail Supreme Courts verdict on Saraki

Saraki is facing a 13-count charge of false assets declaration, which he allegedly made in 2003 as governor of Kwara state before the CCT.

He had approached the apex court to halt his trial at the CCT by the federal government, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction to try him and that it was not properly constituted.

The Supreme Court had on Friday, February 5, dismissed Sarakis appeal against the competence and constitution of the CCT to try him for a 13-count charge of false asset declaration.

Source: Legit.ng
Nigerian movie star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a year older today February 7, and it is a double dose of celebration as it is also her daughter Meraiah Ekeindes 16 birthday.

Both mother and daughter are Knorr brand ambassadors and looking at Meraiahs pictures, one can easily tell that she is like her mother in many ways, because as they say an apple does not fall far from the tree.

Meraiah Ekeinde graduated from Chrisland college Lagos, and she was the Head Girl during her time as a student.

READ ALSO: What my grandmother did for me to get fame  Nollywood veteran

She is currently studying outside the country, reportedly in the United States of America.

On her part, Omotola is accomplished in many respects earning both local and international acclaim for her craft.

In 2013, she was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama and Beyonce Knowles.

In recognition of her inputs towards building the Nigerian movie industry, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2014 by the federal government.

As expected, her daughter Meraiah is fast taking after her. The 16-year-old is already carving a name for herself with her beauty and sense of style, and if she continues at this pace, then it is safe to say she is going to be just as much a star as her mother.

See 10 totally cool pictures of Omotola and daughter Meraiah below:

1.

Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

9.

READ ALSO: Incredible story of how bread seller became model, found her way to fame

Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

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Actress Omotola Ekeinde and daughter Meraiah. Credit: Omotola.tv

Omotola Ekeinde, who just turned 38, is married to a pilot, Captain Matthew Ekeinde.

The couple has been married since 1996 and they have four kids  Princess Ekeinde, 19, M.J Ekenide, 18, Meraiah Ekeinde, 16 and Michael Ekeinde, 14.

Source: Legit.ng
Maverick's life has never been easy. The 12-year-old German shepherd has been abandoned, hit by a car and caught in a raccoon trap. When he finally found his forever home, Maverick probably assumed that his troubles were finally over. Until he fell into a sinkhole.

Dodo Shows Little But Fierce Pocket-Sized Kitten Grows Up To Be A Wild Woman

Maverick went outside to use the bathroom at his new home in Missouri late last month and never came back. Somehow, he was able to break free of his invisible fence and fell into a sinkhole hidden on the side of the road, accidentally burying himself alive. Maverick's family and community searched for him for three days with no results. They were worried he might have fallen into the lake near their house and drowned - until finally, Maverick's owner Lisa Van Valkenburgh heard him crying out for help.

"I had to go look one more time and heard a faint howl," Van Valkenburgh wrote in a Facebook post. "5 ft down and underground there was my little old man." When the family discovered what had happened they tried their best to get Maverick out themselves, but were afraid the sinkhole might collapse further and kill the senior dog. "He must have stepped on it went in hind quarters first but the more he moved the more he sunk in," Van Valkenburgh wrote.

Finally, with help from the local fire department, Maverick was pulled up to safety after a 2-hour rescue mission, proving yet again that he will never, ever give up.

The poor dog was rushed to the vet, where it took them an hour just to stabilize him. Though he spent several days at the vet recovering, Maverick survived with just a few minor injuries and somehow came out of the ordeal relatively fine. Last week he was finally able to return home again. Hopefully Maverick has now filled his quota for near-death experiences, and can live out the rest of his life in peace.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 7

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on women to show high turnout in the upcoming elections to be held on Feb. 26.

Rouhani said that we should accept the capabilities of women and we should accept that the women are capable of playing important roles in the society, science, economy, politics and art as same as men, president's official website quoted him as saying at a national conference named "women, moderation and development" on Feb. 7.

President added that it is the government's duty to pave the way for women to take advantage of their capacities in the society.

Rouhani went on to criticize those who express extremist opinions and said he has received messages ahead of elections about the outstanding shortcomings in the country.

"I am aware of all problems and I understand that many of peoples' demands have not been fulfilled so far but we should have an eye on our long-term goals ... we should not forget about our main goal," he added.

"Although sometimes it is difficult to make a choice, everyone under any circumstances should go to the polling stations on 7 Esfand (Iranian calendar Feb. 26)," Rouhani said.

Iranians are getting ready to elect both law makers for parliament and clerics for the Assembly of Experts on February 26.

Earlier in Jan 21, President Rouhani criticized the conservative-dominated vetting body of the Guardian Council for failing to qualify a large number of reformist candidates to run for the Feb. 26 parliamentary election.
The city of Manassas is bringing art to downtown streets with its Little Bits project. Michele Frantz created Bit of Arcadia in the alley next to Allyssa Bryn Accessories. (Sarah Lane/The Washington Post)

A meadow with a winding azure stream has taken root next to the Allyssa Bryn Accessories store, where there once was a desolate alley.

A Dalmatian-print fire hydrant squats in front of Okras Cajun Creole restaurant.

And a small bird peeks out of one of the bricks in the Manassas City Hall building.

These are just a few of the art projects popping up across historic Manassas as part of Little Bits, an ongoing project that allows artists, with city approval, to paint municipal structures throughout the downtown area. The temporary pieces are intended to be a surprise as people walk through town, said Patrick Small, the citys economic development director.

The project was spearheaded by an ad hoc committee that originally formed to apply for a Bloomberg arts grant, Small said. Although the city didnt win the $1 million grant, the group continues to meet to promote the arts and to make Manassas a destination for artists and arts patrons.

Local artist Michele Frantz, who sits on the committee and painted the meadow, titled A Bit of Arcadia, said it took less than a month to get approval for her design. Because it was proposed for private property, she also had to receive approval from the Architectural Review Board. Gaining the citys support was the easy part, she said. Tackling the project was more challenging.

To paint on the asphalt, Frantz used a striping paint that comes in only six colors and is thinner than acrylic or oil. Using a different medium was an adjustment. She said painting the mural was also physically exhausting, especially as the weather got colder. She recommends artists take on projects that can be finished in a few hours.

Mike Flynn, who painted the fire hydrant, worked with limited colors, as well. He said hes figuring out how to expand his palette for his next hydrant project, a colorful gumball machine at West and Prince William streets, behind the train station.

Response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive, said Patty Prince, the communications manager for the city of Manassas.

Frantz said she has had people stop and take photos of her work.

People really started to enjoy it as they figured it out, she said.

This project is just one arts initiative gaining momentum in Manassas, Small said.

The lobby in the City Hall building has been turned into a gallery, with exhibits rotating monthly.

In addition, Historic Manassas Inc. launched a banner art competition last year inviting artists to submit designs, with a chance to win a $1,000 prize. For this years contest, HMI received 95 submissions, 60 of which will be selected to be hung throughout downtown Manassas in the spring.

The city is also working with Zachary Jackson, an assistant professor of studio art at the Woodbridge campus of Northern Virginia Community College, to install his students sculptures in town. Concrete pad sites will be installed by the city to exhibit the work beginning in April, Small said.

And plans are underway for a three-day event next year, featuring juried art displays, demonstrations, performing arts and activities for children, Prince said.

All of these efforts aim to bring more art and more visitors to Manassas.

With art, you get business and economic development, Prince said. It draws a lot of enthusiasm.

For information on Little Bits and the banner art competition, go to visitmanassas.org.
I cant think of an international development more helpful for American education than the growing ties between the United States and Asia  particularly with China, India and South Korea. We Americans see ourselves in economic competition with those countries, but in reality, our cultures are becoming interlocked in ways that help schools on both sides of the Pacific.

I learned this from education scholar Xu Zhaos new book, Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Education, based on research sponsored by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Zhao reveals that China and the United States are seeking a balance between mastering academics and preparing for life. The Chinese dont appear to be doing any better at this than we are.

Many Americans assume that our students test scores look bad compared with Chinas because that countrys government pushes students to study harder. Not so. Since the late 1990s, Chinese leaders have asked their schools to take a relaxed, American-like approach. Zhao noted that was the message of the official Reduce Academic Burden: Ten-Thousand Miles Journey campaign announced in 2013.

But those attempts have been no more successful than American efforts to raise academic standards with more challenging tests. Our schools have gotten a bit better, while the Chinese are at least talking more about reducing cutthroat student competition. But the Chinese effort has been no more satisfactory to them than ours has been to us.

U.S. political leaders have called for less stress on standardized school tests, but what we have  even our angst-ridden SAT and ACT tests  looks like playing Trivial Pursuit with your grandma compared with Chinas two-day gaokao university entrance exam. That test includes exams in Chinese, math and a foreign language (usually English) plus additional subjects such as biology, physics and history.

About 10 million 12th-graders take the gaokao to compete for 6.5 million university seats, only a million of them in the first category research universities. This produces a horrific competition to get children into the best primary and secondary schools so that they can be ready for the test.

Chinese students spend most of their waking hours on test-preparation tasks, Zhao writes. Chinese parents spend a tremendous amount of money and energy on selecting regular schools, tutorial schools, and private tutors to help their children do well on the exam.

That explains in part why Washington-area parents who grew up in China are more obsessed than native Americans with getting their kids into selective high schools such as Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County. Chinese education leaders envy the more-relaxed attitude of American students, but Zhao vividly demonstrated why Chinese students dont take that approach, even when their government asks them to do so.

Shanghai mothers told Zhao why they discouraged their children from having friends. It takes time from study, and only the strongest friends will be good influences. If their kids have extra time, mothers told Zhao, they should use it to improve their artistic skills or spend time visiting grandparents.

One of the few mothers who encouraged her daughter to have friends did so because she was a Buddhist and believed people get what they deserve.

Zhaos research showed that the feverish student competition fostered a suspicious or cynical attitude toward altruistic values such as friendship, compassion and civic participation. Chinese rulers may welcome headlines about Shanghai students acing international tests, but individualism does not fit the Communist Partys insistence on working hard for a greater good.

Asian and U.S. differences often nudge us in useful directions. The arrival of millions of Asian immigrants has helped make U.S. schools better and has given them some, dare I say it, productive competitive urges. The United States success at winning Nobel Prizes while rejecting much of the rote memorization that rules Chinese schools gives education bureaucrats in Beijing an argument for improving the way their teachers do their jobs.

Such rivalries can be creative, even if made to look more threatening than they are.
Thousands of Teach for America alumni flooded the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the organization, which is known for placing striving, idealistic and inexperienced teachers in some of the nations neediest schools.

The D.C. conference featured hundreds of speakers, including some of the most prominent names in education reform such as acting U.S. education secretary John King, former New York City schools chief Joel Klein, D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson and her predecessor Michelle Rhee.

Also on the agenda was a panel of speakers including Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers and a frequent TFA critic. The TFA  lauded for attracting high-achieving college graduates, and criticized for underplaying the importance of poverty in schools and placing novice teachers with the neediest children for only two-year stints  has been trying to shed its reputation as a polarizing force in education.

We have people who are not Kool-Aid drinkers, which is great, and people who are Kool-Aid drinkers, which is great, TFA chief executive Elisa Villanueva Beard said of the conference.

She said the summit comes at an inflection point for the organization and for education reform at large. Although there has been progress toward equity in public schools, she said, there hasnt been enough, and TFA is trying to be very clear-eyed about what its going to take to move the needle.

Wendy Kopp founded Teach for America 25 years ago. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

In a sign of TFAs political firepower, President Obama recorded a congratulatory video message to be played at a Saturday night gala. He listed the many ways in which TFAs 50,000 alumni exercise influence, from continuing in the classroom as teachers to starting their own schools to running for political office.

There are even TFA alumni working for me in the White House, Obama said.

Saturdays sessions dealt with a wide range of issues, including how to better serve Latino students, the need for more diverse educators, the role of white leaders in education reform, and rural education. Two leaders of the national Black Lives Matter movement  Brittany Packnett, executive director of TFAs St. Louis office, and DeRay Mckesson, who last week filed papers to run for mayor of Baltimore  spoke about connections between education and civil rights.

And in one popular session, hundreds of alumni listened to speakers discuss how to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, a discussion that began with a challenge and a criticism from one of TFAs own.

Here is the inconvenient truth: Education, including education reform, is part of the problem, said Cami Anderson, the polarizing former schools chief in Newark, N.J., and a 1993 TFA alumna. We have not made a dent in the problem, and in some cases weve made it worse.

[Chris Christies Newark schools chief steps down following years of turmoil]

Anderson said that the reform movement of which TFA is a part has for too long turned a blind eye to complaints about schools quietly pushing out the most difficult kids, meting out excessively harsh discipline and having high rates of suspension and expulsion.

Why has the school reform community been largely silent about the school-to-prison pipeline? she said.

Erin Stauber, who served with TFA a decade ago in the Mississippi Delta, said afterward that she appreciated the challenge. Stauber is still in the classroom, teaching third-graders at a D.C. school, and said she came for the chance to reconnect with TFAs network and its message about the need for educational opportunity.

[The next education secretary: Polarizing, powered by personal story]

King, the acting education secretary, also addressed the school-to-prison pipeline, calling it a civil rights issue that can be solved only with more equitable schools, a more diverse teaching force and criminal justice reform.

He spoke of the importance of second chances in his life: After he was orphaned at age 12, King made it to Phillips Academy Andover, the prestigious New England prep school, only to be expelled.

I acted out. I made bad choices. I got kicked out of school, and folks could have given up on me as we give up on so many young people, he said. Instead, he said, adults in his life did not give up on him, and he went on to earn three Ivy League degrees.

King also co-founded Roxbury Prep, one of a new class of no excuses charter schools in Massachusetts that serves mostly minority students, has strict discipline codes and a high rate of suspensions. He did not talk about Roxbury Prep on Saturday.
Prince William County Schools Superintendent Steven L. Walts last week proposed a $1.08 billion budget for the next fiscal year that includes money for class-size reduction and a salary step increase for employees.

The spending plan, which represents a 3.9 percent increase over the current budget, was calculated assuming that $536.6 million in local tax revenue would be devoted to education. Reaction to the proposal was generally positive after Walts unveiled it at a school board meeting Wednesday night.

The superintendent said that per-student funding in the county is expected again this year to be the lowest of any school division in the Washington area. For example, he said, Prince William would have needed more than $170 million in additional money last year to equal the per-student investment made in Loudoun County.

Still, we aspire to provide every student with an education and foundation for success that matches and sometimes exceeds what our neighbors provide, Walts said. We have room for improvement but plenty of reason to be proud of the value that students and residents of Prince William County are getting for their education dollars.

Those education dollars would include $4.5 million in new spending to reduce class sizes, according to the superintendents proposal.

In recent years, Prince William has had the highest average class sizes in Virginia. The division has the largest middle and high school classes in the Washington region, and its elementary classrooms are the second-most crowded, according to the annual Washington Area Boards of Education statistical report, which was updated last month. There are about 30 students per teacher in the countys middle and high school classrooms, and nearly 23 pupils per teacher in elementary classes.

Waltss budget calls for adding more than 80 teaching and instructional positions across all content areas to further the goal of trimming class sizes in the second-largest school division in the state, behind only Fairfax County. Student enrollment in Prince William is expected to top 88,000 in the next school year.

The spending plan also would allocate $18.6 million for a salary step increase for employees, an average raise of 2.8 percent.

That potential boost in pay pleased Jim Livingston, president of the Prince William Education Association, which represents educators in the county.

When interviewed after the school board meeting, Livingston said he was a bit disappointed that the budget didnt also include a cost-of-living raise. But he called Waltss proposal positive in a lot of ways.

School board Chairman Ryan Sawyers (At Large) said he would like to see whether theres a way to increase the pay of employees who didnt receive step increases in past years, when county finances were tight.

In addition, as board members discuss the budget over the next few weeks, Sawyers said he wants to explore expanding Prince Williams pre-kindergarten program.

The more kids that we can impact, the better, he said.

School board member Gil Trenum (Brentsville) mentioned the class-size reduction measures as being among the good points of Waltss plan. They would continue efforts begun last year, when the board allocated nearly $3 million for the cause.

I think thats an important thing going forward, Trenum said.

A public meeting on the budget will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Rd., Manassas.

The school board is expected to vote on the budget March 16, and the Prince William Board of County Supervisors is slated to approve an overall spending plan for the locality April 26. That will specify how much local tax revenue will go to the school division in the next fiscal year.

Hunley is a freelance writer.
An Amber Alert for a Virginia toddler was canceled Sunday night after the child was found. She is safely in law enforcement custody, the Fluvanna County sheriffs office said.

Virginia State Police had asked the publics help in locating the 3-year-old girl who they said may have been abducted by her father over the weekend.

State Police issued an Amber alert on Sunday in the case of Haven Melina Moses, who was last seen at a caretakers home at 5128 West River Road in Scottsville, Va., authorities said. The girl was described as 3 feet tall and 30 pounds, with straight blonde hair and blue eyes.

Police said Haven may have been abducted by her father, James Arnold Moses III, 25, of Lyndhurst, about 8:30 Saturday night.

The sheriffs office said about 5:50 p.m. Sunday that she had been found.

A news release from the Fluvanna County Sheriffs Office said James Moses picked up his daughter from the residence in violation of a protective order. The father was driving a light-colored sedan, possibly a Honda, the Sheriffs Office said.

The sheriffs office said he might also be driving a brown Ford Explorer with a Virginia registration of VKS6171, and was believed to be in the Augusta or Rockingham area of Virginia, or possibly in West Virginia.

James Moses was described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and 130 pounds with brown eyes and straight black hair.

The Sheriffs Office had said the girl was believed to be in danger.
Citing an increase in hoarding and bedbugs among older residents, advocates are pushing the District to allocate more money to combat both. The two often go together and can create a Catch-22.

We cant get home and health services to go into a bedbug-infested apartment, but in order to get anyone to come in and clean on a regular basis, youve got to get the place clean first, said Fiona Druy, a gerontological nurse practitioner with Iona Senior Services, one of eight nonprofit lead agencies that work with the citys Office on Aging in providing services for seniors. Its a costly and challenging problem.

The citys Office on Aging already sets aside $47,000 a year to deep-clean hoarders homes but does not earmark money specifically for bedbugs. At a senior roundtable in December held before the city councils committee on housing and community development, advocates requested that a fund be created for bedbugs and that additional money go toward hoarding.

Were seeing more cases of both, said Jennifer Berger, supervising attorney of AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, which provides free legal and social work services to District residents 60 and older. Ninety percent of the cases that our social workers see have housekeeping or hoarding issues, and about 20 percent of that group have bedbug issues. Her organization alone counted 92 new hoarding cases in the past two years, in addition to unresolved cases from earlier years.

Bedbugs do not cause or spread disease, but their bites are itchy and irritating, and the social stigma can be severe. For older, low-income adults, they can be especially hard to combat. Clothes, furniture and carpeting must undergo a deep cleaning or disposal before pesticides can be applied, posing a challenge to those unable to move heavy items, launder all their possessions or buy new furniture.

A bedbug is displayed at the Smithsonians Museum of Natural History in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

While landlords of multi-unit buildings are generally responsible for treating infested units, it is often up to the tenants to remove and clean their belongings. Preparing a one-bedroom apartment in advance of extermination averages $600  a daunting amount for those on a fixed income.

Hoarding, a behavioral disorder causing people to fill their homes with untenable amounts of possessions, often requires counseling before a resident will allow decluttering and cleaning to take place. Hoarders run a higher risk of fires or in-home accidents, as well as eviction. The citys fund pays for a onetime heavy cleaning that costs $675 to $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, or $1,400 if a Dumpster is required, according to Sally White, Ionas executive director.

Iona, which serves Ward 3, and the other lead agencies can draw from small discretionary funds meant to help with such issues as overdue rent, cut-off utilities or urgent plumbing needs, but in the past two years, they say, much of it has gone toward bedbugs.

Mattresses alone are a few hundred dollars, said Anita Ballantyne, program director for tenant services at the nonprofit Housing Counseling Services, which works with tenant groups in the District. In every building we have, theres always somebody with bedbugs.

If the city had a fund for bedbugs, she said, there would be such a run on those funds. . . . People would definitely use it.

City officials say they are open to the idea of additional funds but have not received a concrete request for fiscal year 2017.

Laura Newland, acting executive director for the Office on Aging, said that several months ago she requested a proposal from LCE and from Iona, outlining the need.

The mayor is reviewing proposed budgets from agencies now, although Newland said she could still amend hers. The oversight hearing is Feb. 12, and the budget hearing is in April.

Berger said her office is still assessing the need and planned to submit a proposal soon. She estimated that they would likely seek at least an additional $50,000 to alleviate bedbugs and hoarding.

Left untreated, bedbugs can easily permeate walls and spread to adjoining units  and sometimes invade entire apartment complexes. Tenants unable or unwilling to do the prep work can face eviction. And the problem may soon get stickier: A study published recently found that many bedbugs have built up resistance to some of the most widely used chemicals.

The department of health offers education to residents about preventing and controlling infestations, and trains home health aides to spot signs of bedbugs.

We try to teach people some simple methods, low-cost ways that they can help themselves, said Gerard Brown, program manager of the departments rodent and vector control division. If they put that stuff in a dryer for 20 minutes it will kill them, and we tell them to vacuum a lot. However, he said, some seniors cannot accomplish those tasks.
The source of the oil spill into Roaches Run Wildfowl Sanctuary and the Potomac River remains a mystery four days after the spill was first reported.

While the Coast Guard and the Districts Department of Energy and Environment reported Saturday that the oil sheen which had coated the Virginia side of the river last this week had largely dissipated ... with minor wisps and streaking observed intermittently for eight miles south, other observers saw evidence of the oil along the shoreline and in bays as far south as the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

As advocates for the preservation and restoration of one of the last tidal wetlands int he DC area, we are ... concerned that whatever substance it is could cause harm to the birds and fish and whatever the waterfowl eat, said Glenda Booth, president of the Friends of Dyke Marsh.

The Coast Guard, which is serving as the leader of a multi-agency response team, had booms and absorbent pads in place primarily at Roaches Run, which they have identified as the place where the oil is first appearing.

On Monday, the Coast Guard, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Arlington County plan to trace the storm drain systems, as part of the investigation into the original source of the oil. Those systems drain into Roaches Run. The authorities said they do not know if the oil came from a single site, or if it was runoff from streets and parking lots that was caught up in the large volume of snow left by the late January blizzard.

Responders have been on scene since daybreak and noticed the sheens have mostly dissipated except for a few pockets, which are protected from the elements, said Lt. David Ruhlig. Although the sheen covered such a large span of water, the amount was so small it has been difficult to collect any. Even at the outfall, the sorbent pads and boom in fact had trapped mainly dirt.

The smell of oil in the water was strong at times however. The muddy edges of the tidal lagoon was strewn with trash, mostly empty water bottles and beer cans, but just a few feet away, a rainbow of oil shone on the water. People at Gravelly Point, watching commercial jets headed into Reagan Washington National Airport, expressed concern about the nearby spill.

Its concerning. If its contaminating our water in some way, we need to know, said Letti Aguilar, who was at the park with her son and two neighbor children.

I feel bad for the fish, said Maria Diaz of Laurel, Md., who was watching the water and jets. Its more pollution.

If its mineral oil, Im not too worried, said Walter Wilson, a D.C. resident who often shoots photos of incoming jets. But if its something else, Ill have a concern.

Oil recovered by investigators has been sent to the Coast Guard Marine Safety Laboratory for analysis, official said, and no new oil was been detected coming into Roaches Run Saturday.
People have all sorts of reasons for hating Washington  the cost of living, the traffic, the summer humidity  but near the top of the list is this: In Washington, the first question people ask when they meet you is, What do you do?

The implication is that youd only ask this if you wanted to quickly assess whether its worth your time to converse with such a person. How important are they? Can they further your career?

WAMU 88.5 recently broadcast an in-depth examination of that question and how some Washingtonians are pushing back against it. Congregants at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, for example, are discouraged from asking What do you do? Some people prefer questions like what are you passionate about or what brings you joy?

Just dont answer my job, because you know where that might lead: Oh, really? What do you do? Then youre out on your ear.

I dont see anything wrong with that question. Sure, we shouldnt be defined solely by how we earn a paycheck, but a job still tells us a lot about a person. Even if you dont like your job  Im a congressman from Texas but my real passion is decorative tole painting  its an entry point to further conversation.

Ive been pondering this since reading SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, a wonderful new book by Cambridge University classics scholar Mary Beard. In one section, Beard writes about how proud ordinary Romans were of their jobs. We know this because they were quite specific about it on their tombstones. Some Roman tombs featured elaborate carvings depicting the deceased at work, surrounded by the tools of his or her trade: shoes if he was a cobbler; knives if he sold cutlery; skeins of wool if he was a purpurarius, a person who dyed cloth purple (an exacting and important job in a society where only senators and the emperor were allowed to wear the color).

Such trimmings dont appear on the tombs of Romes uppermost echelons, Beard told me when I phoned her in England. But, she said, when you actually look at how those people lower down the social ladder actually chose to memorialize themselves, or would memorialize their parents or their loved ones, you find a whole culture in which the idea of work  of what you do, of what you make, of what you sell  is really, in a sense, part of who you are. . . . In many ways, the ancients were much more talkative about themselves than we have become.

Not all of them. The Romans we know best  Cicero, Pliny  would have looked down their Roman noses at anyone so declasse as to actually work. They defined themselves by the vast tracts of land they owned, by their speaking skills or political influence. At parties attended by the Roman elite, no one was asking, What do you do?

Said Beard: We dont actually know what people said at parties lower down. If only we did, it would be really great. The evidence that we have suggests that you were very up front about it. Youd say, Im Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, the baker. You came out with your trade or your craft as part of your identity.

And that identity was celebrated after your death. The tomb of Eurysaces  a successful high-volume baker and, Beard writes, likely an ex-slave  is incredible. It resembles bread-making equipment and is topped by friezes illustrating the bread-making process.

I like these Romans. Last week in my column, I mentioned a man named Joseph Krause, who in 1881 sailed to the Arctic to help search for a missing expedition. On his return, he joined the post office and spent his entire career delivering letters by bicycle.

Imagine what a Roman tombstone maker could have made of a life like that: the icebergs, the envelopes, the wheels. Instead, Krauses tombstone at Walker Chapel Cemetery in Arlington, Va., is a slab of granite inscribed with little more than his and his wifes names.

Its really interesting that modern tombstones, even of the relatively wealthy, tend now to be quite succinct, Beard said. We expect on a modern tombstone to have the date of birth, date of death, the name and perhaps what they did  perhaps. But ancient tombstones, including  perhaps especially  those below the elite, dont have the date of birth and death. They probably had no clue when they were born. But they do really invest in the jobs that they did, in a sense talking about themselves as craftspeople.

Im going to continue behaving like a Roman, unafraid to ask people what they do. And though I hope I wont be in the market anytime soon, I can see myself in a tombstone decorated with notebooks, rollerball pens and tape recorders. And chiseled alongside of them: a newspaper and a computer screen.

Twitter: @johnkelly

For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 7

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

An Iranian commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned Saudi Arabia over any possible military intervention in Syria.

"We have presented Saudi politicians with an ultimatum and they are well aware of the unpleasant consequences of intervention in Syria," Tasnim news agency quoted the deputy IRGC Commander, Brigadier General Hossein Salami, as saying.

He further said that the Syrian army and its allies have advanced in fight against terrorism forecasting further victories for government backed groups in fight against the IS terrorist group (ISIS,ISIL, Daesh).

Over the past week Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced readiness for dispatching ground troops to Syria. Reacting to the Saudi plan Ira's IRGC chief commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said that Saudi Arabia would not dare to dispatch troops to Syria and if the kingdom goes through such a plan, it would be suicidal.



Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem also reacted to the Saudi announcement and said if foreign ground troops enter Syria they would "return home in wooden coffins".



A UN Security Council resolution on in December last year approved a draft resolution on peace process in Syria. According to the resolution, Syrian government and opposition groups should attend peace talks to find a solution for putting an end to the crisis.

However just a few days after launching the talks, the UN suspended peace talks suggesting that they will resume since Feb. 25. Syrian sides keep blaming each other for the collapse of the talks.

Over 250,000 people have died and at least 11 million have been displaced in Syria, since the crisis broke out in 2011.
NATION

Laws strengthened to keep guns from abusers

More than a dozen states have strengthened laws over the past two years to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, a rare area of consensus in the nations highly polarized debate over guns.

Lawmakers and governors of both parties have supported bills stripping gun rights from those who have been convicted of domestic-violence-related crimes or are subject to protective orders. The measures have been backed by victims advocates, law enforcement groups and gun control supporters who see easy access to firearms as a major contributor to domestic violence killings.

Similar proposals are expected to be debated in several states this year.

Domestic violence is definitely an area where there is the most agreement between the gun lobby and gun-violence prevention advocates, said Allison Anderman, staff lawyer with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in San Francisco.

The National Rifle Association has taken a cautious approach toward such bills, opposing the furthest-reaching measures but staying neutral or negotiating compromises on others. For example, the NRA has fought provisions that would require people to surrender their guns before they have a chance to contest allegations made in a request for an emergency protective order.

The push in the states is driven by stories of women and children killed or wounded by known abusers, and by statistics showing that hostile relationships often turn deadly when guns are present.

An average of 760 Americans were killed with guns annually by spouses, ex-spouses or dating partners between 2006 and 2014, according to an Associated Press analysis of FBI and Florida data.

 Associated Press

9/11 memorial fire may have been caused by smoking material: Discarded smoking material is strongly suspected as the cause of a 2014 fire that struck the Flight 93 National Memorial, according to a report released Saturday that cited other factors believed to have contributed to the blaze. It destroyed hundreds of original photographs and items found at the crash site that were linked to the passengers and crew of the plane as well as a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 2001.

Suspect in crime spree arrested in Florida: The surviving suspect in a multistate crime spree has been booked into a Florida jail. Records show that Brittany Nicole Harper, 30, faces felony charges of robbery, kidnapping, vehicle theft and home invasion. Her boyfriend, Blake Fitzgerald, died during a shootout Friday in the Florida Panhandle. During the standoff, authorities said, Fitzgerald betrayed his girlfriend and unsuccessfully used her as a human shield. She was wounded in the leg and hospitalized. The couple allegedly committed crimes in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The U.S. Marshals Service called them a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde.

Chicago police officer sues estate of man he shot: A white Chicago police officer who fatally shot a black 19-year-old college student and accidentally killed a neighbor has filed a lawsuit against the teenagers estate, arguing that the shooting left him traumatized. The officer, Robert Rialmo, is seeking $10 million in damages. His attorney, Joel Brodsky, said it was important in the charged atmosphere to send a message that police are not targets for assaults and suffer damage like anybody else.

 Associated Press
Republican presidential candidates argued over lack of experience, waterboarding and even the Super Bowl at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., three days before the New Hampshire primary. Here are the key moments in less than three minutes. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Republican presidential candidates argued over lack of experience, waterboarding and even the Super Bowl at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., three days before the New Hampshire primary. Here are the key moments in less than three minutes. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

It was a tough night for front-runners in New Hampshire and a good night for governors.

Marco Rubio hit a wall named Chris Christie. Donald Trump couldnt put down an aggressive Jeb Bush. And Ted Cruz had to issue a public apology to Ben Carson.

Christie was the relentless prosecutor. Bush was knowledgeable and, in contrast to some earlier performances, tough and direct. Ohio Gov. John Kasich carved out space as a candidate ready and willing to work across party lines.

Given the timing and the state of the Republican nomination contest, few debates have had the potential to shape the order of finish in a primary campaign more than Saturday nights forum at Saint Anselm College. Trump holds a big lead. But the competition underneath him is fierce, and the outcome Tuesday likely to be consequential. Those with the most to lose were the ones who tried to make the most out of their time on stage.

No one had a rockier night than Rubio, the senator from Florida whose strong third-place finish in Iowa made him the candidate on the rise in the Republican presidential race. But under a blistering attack from Christie, who characterized him as a politician with no notable accomplishments who had run away from the immigration reform bill he had co-sponsored, Rubio faltered.

1 of 27 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  GOP presidential candidates face off during the ABC News debate in New Hampshire View Photos Seven Republicans shared the stage for the final debate before the crucial New Hampshire primary. Caption Seven Republicans shared the stage for the final debate before the crucial New Hampshire primary. Feb. 6, 2016 Presidential candidate Donald Trump takes the stage for the ABC News Republican debate at St. Anselm's College Institute of Politics in Manchester, N.H. Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

Rubio knew the attacks were coming, but instead of answering them directly, he sought to change the subject. Once, twice, three times he offered a quick counterpunch and then slid off the criticisms to turn to an attack on President Obama, repeating his language almost word for word and drawing boos from the audience.

When he accused Christie of having to be shamed into going back to New Jersey to deal with the recent snowstorm, Christie came roaring back. Thats what Washington, D.C., does, Christie said. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him.

What was most striking was the fact that Rubio played directly into the criticism that, while he is a gifted and natural communicator, he is overly scripted and returns to his standard stump speech as quickly as he can.

The strategy has worked for him in past debates, but repetition got the better of him on Saturday. Rubio wanted to debate Obama and Hillary Clinton, warning time and again that the president has deliberately led the country in the wrong direction and that Clinton would extend those policies. Those kinds of attacks bring cheers at his campaign rallies but were far less effective during Saturdays debate.

In the later stages of the debate, Rubio seemed to regain his footing both on foreign policy and on a question about abortion in which he talked about the balance between a womans right to make her own decisions and the right of an unborn child to live.

Even when Bush drew a distinction with Rubio over whether there should be exceptions for rape, incest and life of the woman, which Bush favors, Rubio said he would sign a bill as president that included those exceptions but that he still stood by his personal convictions. Rubio said he would rather lose an election than be wrong on the issue.

Trump struggled when the subject of eminent domain, a hot-button issue for many conservatives who dislike government, was introduced. The billionaire builder initially offered a ringing defense of the practice of government taking private property for such projects as roads and bridges.

The candidate introductions at the ABC News GOP debate in New Hampshire did not go smoothly. (Phoebe Connelly,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Bush countered, initially agreeing that eminent domain is necessary for the public good but then attacking Trump for attempting to use the practice to take property from an elderly woman in Atlantic City, N.J., for the purpose of a parking lot for one of his casinos.

Trump reverted to attacks he has long leveled at Bush  that he lacks strength or energy. He wants to be a tough guy, Trump said dismissively.

But Bush came right back at him: How tough is it to take away a property from an elderly woman? he said sarcastically.

When Trump told Bush to keep quiet, the audience let out another round of boos, to which Trump said, Thats all his donors and special interests.

Cruz, who won the Iowa caucuses, had two difficult moments at the start of the evening. The first came over criticism Cruz leveled at Trump earlier in the week, saying, I dont know anyone who would be comfortable with someone who behaves this way having his finger on the button.

Trump was given the first word and defended himself. He reminded everyone that he had opposed the war in Iraq, adding, Im not the one with the trigger.

Other people up here, believe me, would be a lot faster, he said.

When Cruz was asked to explain why he thought Trump lacked the temperament to be president, he ducked. The assessment the voters are making here in New Hampshire and across the country is they are evaluating each and every one of us, he said.

Reminded by ABC News anchor David Muir that he had not explained why he had made the earlier comment, Cruz ducked again.

Trump responded: He didnt answer your question. And thats whats going to happen with our enemies and the people we compete against. . . . People back down with Trump. And thats what I like, and thats what the country is going to like.

That didnt end the early hazing for Cruz. He was asked why his advisers had called Iowa volunteers on the night of the caucuses to say that Carson might be quitting the race and to encourage voters to back the senator from Texas.

Cruz blamed the problem on what he said was a misleading news report on CNN that he said was not corrected for several hours. But he also apologized to Carson and said he had done so the day after the caucuses.

Carson, in his typically quiet way, accepted the apology but not the explanation. In fact, the timeline indicates that initial tweet from CNN was followed by another one within one minute that clarified that I was not dropping out, he said.

More than in other previous debates, this one turned into governors against the others. The three share common experiences, and when they talk about one another, its clear there is mutual respect, though they are in a battle in which they cannot all survive. And whether by design or accident, the three seemed to reinforce one another in taking down the candidates who finished first, second and third in Iowa.

Christie delivered one of the strongest performances of the campaign, clearly determined to knock down Rubio, whom he described this past week as a boy in the bubble. Fighting for his political life, he was merciless in attacking Rubio for lacking the courage to fight for the immigration reform legislation that passed the Senate but faltered in the House.

Rubio countered by attacking Christies record in New Jersey, noting that the state has gone through repeated credit downgrades during his two terms. The audience seemed to side with Christie. Whether voters will do the same is the test for the next three days.

Kasich was the happy warrior, a governor who stressed jobs, the economy and dealing realistically with issues, not on the basis of pure ideology. Bush has tried for many months to make his record in Florida the centerpiece of his candidacy. Only now in these closing days has he appeared more comfortable as a candidate.

Saturdays debate here offered a last opportunity for candidates to make a persuasive argument before a primary election likely to winnow the field of realistic hopefuls to four at most.

The New Hampshire electorate is famously fickle for upending front-runners and defying conventional wisdom and turning its back on winners in Iowa. A more charitable description is that this is a state where voters keep their options open as long as possible.

While its true that many voters have been locked in for weeks or months, a sizable number are spending these last few days shopping and pondering. They are at every rally on this final weekend, looking for that connection that tips them firmly in one direction or another.

That makes pollsters nervous and campaigns hopeful. The candidates know lightning can strike, and they grasp for every sign that it is happening to them. In the days after Iowa, there has been some movement in the polls but nothing definitive yet.

What makes this years GOP primary distinctive from past campaigns is the number of candidates on this final weekend who still think they have a chance to move on to succeeding rounds of primaries and caucuses. Saturdays debate underscored both the sense of possibility and the sense of urgency that surrounds the last days of campaigning here.
This was supposed to be the strongest Republican presidential field in memory, but with two days remaining before the New Hampshire primary, cracks are showing.

Each of the top three finishers in Iowa  Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), billionaire developer Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.)  will begin the final push here with important questions surrounding their candidacies. Trailing them are three governors whose campaigns have not lit up the GOPs restless and disaffected grass roots.

Republicans look at the other side and see flawed Democratic candidates: in Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state who lacks the trust of many Americans, and in Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), a democratic socialist who would be the most liberal nominee since 1972, when George McGovern lost in a landslide. Thats some comfort to Republicans  but only if they can find their strongest candidate for a general election.

Saturdays GOP candidates debate was the most potentially damaging for Rubio, whose performance was widely considered his worst of the campaign. He withered in the face of unyielding attacks from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and drew attention to the biggest question about his candidacy: Is he ready to be president?

The battering came at a moment when Rubio was viewed as the candidate on the rise coming out of Iowa. He won the night, if not the vote, in Iowa with some well-executed stagecraft, appearing before Cruz got to claim victory and acting as though he were the winner.

1 of 51 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What it looks like on the ground in New Hampshire leading up to the primary View Photos Following the Iowa caucuses, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates flocked to New Hampshire in the run-up to the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Caption Following the Iowa caucuses, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates flocked to New Hampshire in the run-up to the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Feb. 8, 2016 A Scottish Highland steer wears a Bernie Sanders campaign sticker in Manchester. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

Rubio has been campaigning in New Hampshire with confidence and drawing big crowds, including one Sunday morning at a high school in Londonderry. At that event, he blew past the debate performance with barely a nod, saying that, despite being criticized for being repetitious in his attacks against President Obama, he will continue to repeat them at every stop.

The debate was just two hours in the arc of a longer campaign here, and he could hold on and finish ahead of all of the governors  Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

Rubio strategist Todd Harris sounded a defiant note Sunday in the face of the overnight criticism, saying he doubts the debate will have any impact on Tuesdays results.

Lets take a look at what actually happened in that moment, he said. Marco said repeatedly what every Republican primary voter deeply, deeply believes, which is that Barack Obama is attempting to fundamentally change the kind of nation that we are. The media may not like us saying that over and over again, but its the core of our message and were not going to stop talking about it.

How much the debate will affect Rubios standing on Tuesday is anybodys guess. But even if he does well, the question about his readiness  to serve as president and to go up against Clinton, if she is the Democratic nominee, will linger.

Trump continues to lead the polls in New Hampshire and could be on track to score his first victory of the campaign. That would put some wind at his back heading into what is likely to be a raucous primary in South Carolina on Feb. 20.

A week ago, there was talk that if Trump won Iowa and New Hampshire, he could be on an unstoppable march to the nomination. That talk has cooled, but he could put his campaign back into high gear with a big victory Tuesday.

That, however, wouldnt settle the question of his ultimate strength as a candidate. What lurks beneath the hoopla of the candidacy is the reality of GOP voters resistance to him becoming the partys nominee.

Trump has been the master of the media, a reality TV star who knows above all how to dominate modern political communication and commentary. It was that skill that vaulted him to the top of the polls. Since the Iowa caucuses, Trump seems a far less dominant politician.

His debate performance was a mixture of good moments and not-so-good ones. Overall he did not command the stage. Usually its good enough when front-runners dont stumble in debates, but its clear that the other candidates consider him less formidable today than they did last fall.

A few weeks ago, it appeared as though there was something between acceptance and resignation within the GOP establishment about the possibility of a Trump nomination. Today there is considerable resistance to his candidacy among those elites and many rank-and-file Republicans.

In a field of a dozen candidates, Trumps support has looked daunting. His followers are intensely loyal. But advisers to other candidates think that in a smaller field he will be a far more vulnerable opponent, exposed on issues and less able to hector a rival into silence, as he tried with Bush without real success on Saturday night.

There was a little-noticed finding in the last Des Moines Register-Bloomberg Politics poll in Iowa a week ago. Given the choice between Trump and Cruz, in a hypothetical two-person final for the nomination, Cruz trounced Trump by 53 percent to 35 percent.

That represents a flashing yellow light for Trump. Is he capable of expanding his appeal or is he at or near his ceiling?

Because of his Iowa win, Cruz has earned his pass to South Carolina, regardless of his finish here. But his post-Iowa victory lap has been marred by controversy.

Cruz has been dinged for campaign dirty tricks against rival Ben Carson. On the night of the caucuses, his aides undertook what appeared a brazen attempt to dissuade Carson supporters from voting for him by suggesting he was quitting the race.

Cruz offered a lawyerly defense of his campaigns actions, blaming media reporting for the mistake. He also apologized to Carson. But the low-key retired neurosurgeon sliced apart Cruzs defense with a quiet but deadly response that completely undermined the senators argument.

Cruzs goal has been to consolidate the entire conservative coalition  evangelicals, tea party activists and the smaller pool of libertarians. Getting into a fight with Carson wont help him do that.

In Iowa, Cruz won 34 percent of the evangelicals, who made up 64 percent of the electorate. Among non-evangelicals, he got just 18 percent and ran behind both Trump and Rubio. He won 44 percent of the 40 percent of Iowa Republican caucus attendees who described themselves as very conservative but just 19 percent among the 45 percent who called themselves somewhat conservative.

Cruz has argued that he is a conservative candidate unlike others who have won Iowa only to stumble later. He says he has the money and infrastructure to wage a longer and more successful campaign. But can he truly consolidate the hard right? Can he prosper in states where the share of evangelicals is below 45 percent or 50 percent?

Advisers to Bush, Christie and Kasich were ebullient after Saturdays debate. They now have just two days to capitalize. The fact that these candidates have been struggling to break out only highlights their limitations.

The nominating contest has a way of sorting out questions. The eventual nominee will look stronger by June than any of the GOP candidates look today. But on the eve of the nations first primary, its not clear which of them will rise to the challenge.
Correction: This story has been updated. The original version stated that officials decided not to add an anti-corrosive agent to Flints water supply in order to save money. Officials disagree about why the agent was not added, but according the office of Gov. Rick Snyder, cost-cutting was not the reason. The original version also stated incorrectly that state efforts to help Flint have diminished since the start of the crisis.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton made a quick detour Sunday afternoon from the campaign trail in New Hampshire to express her outrage directly to the residents of this struggling post-industrial city over the scandal that poisoned their municipal water supply.

I want you to know that this has to be a national priority not just for today or tomorrow, Clinton said from the pulpit of the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church. What happened in Flint is immoral. The children of Flint are just as precious as children anywhere else in America.

Clinton has repeatedly described the water crisis in Flint, where a majority of residents are African American, as an example of the nations struggle with economic and racial inequality. She did so again Sunday morning at a Dunkin Donuts in Manchester, N.H., where, with just two days to go before that states presidential primary, she stopped to say hello to voters before flying west to Michigan.

Clintons trip comes at a critical time in her campaign  after barely eking out a victory in Iowa and when her poll numbers are dramatically behind Bernie Sanderss in New Hampshire.

Her campaign has pointed to her outreach in Flint as an example of her problem-solving approach to leadership. She takes credit for goading the Republican governor to accept federal help, and she cast her trip Sunday as a chance to explore what else she might do.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses the congregation about the Flint water crisis at the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Mich. on Sunday. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

The trip could reinforce her support among African Americans, already far stronger than that of Sanders, a senator from Vermont. African Americans begin voting in large numbers in several Southern states later this month and in early March, and the timing of Clintons trip is a signal that she is looking past her probable loss in New Hampshire.

Clinton spoke for only about 15 minutes Sunday. She received an exuberant embrace from the churchs mostly black congregation, and her pitch was serious and even subdued compared with the boisterous cadences of the pastor who introduced her.

Clean water is not a luxury, my friends, she said. If what happened in Flint had happened in Grosse Pointe or West Bloomfield Hills, it would have been fixed yesterday.

She continued: I will fight for you in Flint no matter how long it takes. This is, for me, a personal commitment. I will stand with you every step of the way. I will not for one minute forget you or forget about your children, because what happened here should never have happened anywhere.

Clinton offered no new solutions or proposals and tossed precious little political red meat, a disappointment to some of those who wanted her to chastise Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and the GOP-led state legislature, whose policies have been blamed for the fiasco.

Democrats at every level have blamed Snyder and other Republicans in part because it was a GOP-appointed emergency manager who oversaw the switch from Detroits water supply to the polluted Flint River water in April 2014. Over the subsequent 18 months, both the manager and the states Department of Environmental Quality repeatedly dismissed concerns of Flint residents that the water smelled and tasted bad. A local pediatrician, some activist parents and a researcher from Virginia Tech found conclusive evidence that poison in the water had served up unsafe levels of lead to the entire community.

[Hope, and clean water, remain elusive in Flint]

Last fall, the state finally reconnected the system to Detroits water, but by then the Flint water had so corroded lead pipes that that water, too, was poisoned. It was later discovered that, at a cost of about $100 a day, an anti-corrosive chemical could have been added to the water to prevent leaching.

Both leading Democratic presidential contenders have proclaimed solidarity with Flint. On Friday, Sanderss staff announced the opening of a campaign office here. Clinton supporters are quick to note that she was the first to bring up the issue on the trail.

In contrast, the Republican presidential candidates were not asked about the crisis at their debate Saturday night in New Hampshire, and none have expressed much interest in the matter. Rather than attack a Republican governor from a neighboring state, Ohios John Kasich pivoted when asked about Flint during the Jan. 28 debate in Iowa to talk about his own handling of a water problem in Toledo.

Snyder accepted responsibility during his State of the State address last month and promised to fix the problem, but many here feel the states actions remain slow and ineffective, even after a rush to canvass more than 30,000 homes over two weeks that included deploying the National Guard to deliver faucet filters and bottled water.

The governor this week announced the firing of the Michigan Department of Environmental Qualitys water quality chief and called on the state legislature to approve a $30 million appropriation to pay off Flint residents water bills or reimburse the residents.

Among the efforts Clinton said Sunday that she supports are programs for early-childhood education and interventions known to diminish the impact of lead poisoning on developing brains. She said she favors the decision by Michigans two Democratic senators, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, to block progress of the Senates sweeping energy-policy-reform bill unless hundreds of millions of dollars are added for Flint relief. She suggested that Americorps volunteers be deployed here to work with children suffering from lead-related problems and called on the state to be more transparent about its efforts to resolve the problem.

Clinton did not call for the resignation of Snyder, as rival Sanders has done. If anything, she seemed content that her presence itself had helped as national interest in the problem waned. Im pleased the press is here because we have to keep the spotlight bright, said Clinton, flanked by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, who was elected in November as local anger boiled over about inaction at the city, state and federal levels.

Snyders office has repeatedly dismissed Clintons outspoken concern for Flint  and issued a statement this week accusing her of politicizing the matter.

Nonetheless, the crowd was firmly on her side, starting with the Rev. Kenneth L. Stewart, who essentially endorsed her as the 45th president when he introduced her, saying: Were waiting for nine months from now. Thats how long it takes to have a baby. Were all hoping its a girl.

The crowds enthusiasm for Clinton was emphatic. Shes my star, said Daniella McMillan, 45, of Flint, who is raising twin 1-year-old grandchildren and is watching every breath closely, even though theyve tested negative for lead poisoning. She cares about us and she cared about us before this happened to us.

Store clerk Markus Brown, 60, said Clintons early interest in the crisis sold him. I went with Obama in 2008 because, obviously, hes the first black president, but I liked her then, he said. Im glad to hear from her here, although its too bad it took this problem to get her to my town.

Clinton closed her talk by vowing to return. It was an easy promise to make because she and Sanders are set to debate here on March 6, two days before the Wolverine States primary.

Anne Gearan in New Hampshire contributed to this report.
Gas is at $1.76 per gallon in New Hampshire. The nations unemployment rate has just hit an eight-year low.

Obviously, this is a country in dire need of a big change, said Charles Pewitt, 47, a New Hampshire businessman standing inside a political rally on Friday.

To say that the unemployment rate is low, and gas is cheap, so everybody should be, Happy days are here again  doesnt ring true, Pewitt said. He is voting for billionaire Republican Donald Trump. I dont think a lot of people, voters, especially Trump voters, they dont respond to that. The [response to] that argument is going to be, No, no, no, we see things out in the distance which arent so bright. 

This is a strange, restless time in New Hampshire, whose first-in-the-nation primary elections are on Tuesday.

In spite of much evidence that times are good, many voters here said their dominant emotion was not ambition or optimism but fear  and the distrustful sense that they were being kept in the dark by somebody. The good-looking unemployment figures were faked, they said. The good-sounding politicians were bought. The economy was rigged.

The result has been that New Hampshire voters  famous as the practical head to Iowas idealistic heart  have swung behind two candidates whose appeals are based not on pragmatism but on wildly ambitious, under-detailed plans to remake the nation.

Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Even if they cant do what they promise, voters say, at least they seem to be appropriately worried.

Honestly, what I hope happens is that Bernie wins this time, said Eric Gleason, 30, of Sandown, N.H. He is a sales representative for a military contractor and says he feels that the Democrat would serve as a rebuke to the GOP. He cant do all the socialist stuff hes talking about, but Republicans will have four years to sort themselves out.

This election comes at a frustrated moment in the countrys political history: With President Obama in the White House and Republicans controlling Congress, both sides feel that their agenda is largely blocked.

A recent national survey by The Washington Post and ABC News showed 71 percent of Americans were dissatisfied or angry about the way the political system works. The all-time high was 80 percent in 2011, the first bitter year of this period of divided government. The sentiment crosses party lines, with 60 percent of Democrats, 77 percent of independents and 81 percent of Republicans saying they are dissatisfied.

The problems of America seem so tough that even choosing a president doesnt seem like it might help.

I dont know if the changes I want to see in society are directly affected by the White House, said John OConnor, who had gone to see Ohio Gov. John Kasich in Hollis, N.H. I think the president has his hands tied as much as the general population.

Among New Hampshire voters, one major cause of apprehension was  paradoxically  the low unemployment rate, which is 4.9 percent nationally but even lower here at 3.1 percent.

Both Trump and Sanders have raised questions about it, saying that the number cited most frequently doesnt count people who have stopped looking for work. Therefore the real unemployment rate is much higher: Trump has claimed, without any apparent proof, that the real rate is north of 20 percent.

Thats a double-whammy for alienated voters: It tells them things are worse than they thought and that somebody is trying to keep them thinking otherwise.

Thats fiction, Tim Anderson, 56, a retired special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, said of the official rate. Anderson and his family had driven from Rhode Island in a snowstorm to see Trump in Londonderry, N.H. Trump canceled because his private plane couldnt land in the storm. Those are manipulated to look like theyre better than they are.

Anderson was particularly worried about another, broader measure that includes people who have stopped looking for work and people working part-time when they dont want to. It stands at 9.9 percent, though that figure is also hovering near its lowest point since summer 2008.

There were also concerns about money in politics  and a lack of faith in the systems built to track that money and rein in its influence. Both Trump and Sanders have tried to tap into this anxiety by promising to abstain: Sanders says he doesnt have a super PAC (although he does have other peoples super PACs supporting him). Trump says hes self-funding (even though hes actually taking donations).

Ray Breslin, of Londonderry, said he feels like Trump is doing the right thing there.

But does that mean he believes only the very rich can run for president without being bought?

Unfortunately, things have come to that point, said Breslin, who had also come to the Trump-less event in Londonderry. He said he had come to support Trump because Trump understood the same constellation of worries that bothered Breslin: jobs shipped overseas, gas prices depressed by foreign countries (Im not sure I know what the hell theyre doing, Breslin said) and government bureaucrats going overboard on regulation.

Of course, I have to wonder if thats all bluster. And how is he going to be able to accomplish it once he gets in? Thats the quandary, Breslin said. Because hes saying things that I believe in.

Both Trump and Sanders have dealt with voter anxieties about the complexity of governing in a system of checks and balances by  in essence  trying not to deal with it.

Trump has said he would get his ambitious, expensive plans to build a border wall and deport millions of illegal immigrants passed. How? Just trust him. Believe me, dont worry, were gonna get such great deals, he said in one recent appearance in Nevada.

This approach still appears to be working, in New Hampshire and other places. During a Trump event in Florence, S.C.  home to the GOP primary after New Hampshire  Mary Dittman, 46, said she likes his style.

I dont know if I want a president thats that angry, Dittman said. But I do like him.

Sanders also has a very ambitious agenda: He would give everyone free government-run health care and free tuition to public colleges. How would he get that through a Republican Congress?

Sanderss answer has been to say that thats a question for another time.

I believe we need to lift our vision above the obstacles in place and look to the American horizon, he says in a radio ad airing in New Hampshire. Sanders has also talked about bringing on a political revolution that would remake Congress so that it was friendlier to his ideas. But that sort of success seems unlikely, given the Houses large Republican majority and rampant gerrymandering that has made districts less likely to change hands.

But still. Sanderss supporters say they believe a straight-talking outsider could change the system with his honest, heartfelt opinions.

What I do think Bernie would do is speak truth to power, said Rebecca Foster of Charlotte, Vt., who came to see Sanders at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. With him, theres no nuance. Hed get more allies by speaking straight and not playing the political game.

In New Hampshire, this impatience with government has become an obstacle for other candidates who built their campaigns on their experience making government work.

Either you run towards the heat or you run away from the heat, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) told an audience in Henniker, N.H., last week. This was him laying out his value proposition  or, at least, what he thought voters were going to value. I run towards the heat. Its how Im built. Its what I like to do.

Kasich, the Ohio governor, and former Florida governor Jeb Bush have also struggled to break into the top tier with similar pitches.

Christie, running last of them all, has now tried out a more radical message  aimed at those worried voters of New Hampshire, who feel beset by problems even when times seem good.

Hes trying to reach people who want a fireman in Washington  and those who want an arsonist.

I want to burn Washington down [too] because its so damn ineffective, Christie said last month in New Hampshire, according to the news website NJ.com. But whos going to rebuild it?

David Weigel, Dan Balz, Katie Zezima, John Wagner and Jose A. DelReal contributed to this report.
Republican presidential candidates argued over lack of experience, waterboarding and even the Super Bowl at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., three days before the New Hampshire primary. Here are the key moments in less than three minutes. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Republican presidential candidates argued over lack of experience, waterboarding and even the Super Bowl at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., three days before the New Hampshire primary. Here are the key moments in less than three minutes. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Marco Rubio came under withering assault in a debate here Saturday night as opponents for the Republican presidential nomination sought to cut down the senator from Florida over his relative inexperience and for abandoning his push for comprehensive immigration reform.

Donald Trump, the races national front-runner, also was put on the defensive by a newly invigorated Jeb Bush, who accused Trump of taking advantage of an elderly woman by using eminent-domain laws to take her Atlantic City, N.J., property as part of a casino development.

But it was Rubio, riding momentum after a surprisingly strong third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, who became the top target in a rollicking ABC News debate that veered  sometimes chaotically  from Islamic State terrorists and North Korea to health care and immigration.

In an urgent bid to slow Rubio down ahead of Tuesdays New Hampshire primary, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie savaged the 44-year-old senator for never having made a consequential decision, lacking principled leadership on immigration and being unprepared for the presidency.

I like Marco Rubio, and hes a smart person and a good guy, but he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions, Christie said, reiterating points he has made all week on the campaign trail.

The candidate introductions at the ABC News GOP debate in New Hampshire did not go smoothly. (Phoebe Connelly,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Likening Rubio to President Obama, Christie added: Weve watched it happen, everybody. For the last seven years. The people of New Hampshire are smart. Do not make the same mistake again.

Rubio appeared rattled by the assault, which came chiefly from Christie but was echoed by former Florida governor Bush. Rubio defended his Senate experience and suggested that Christie and other critics were discounting Obamas skill in navigating Washington.

In one damaging exchange, Christie pounced on Rubio for repeating talking points within minutes  seeming to support Christies characterizations of Rubio as an overly scripted boy in the bubble.

Lets dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing, Rubio said early in the debate. He knows exactly what hes doing. He is trying to change this country.

Rubio repeated the same answer moments later  nearly verbatim, down to its cadence  leading Christie to mock him.

There it is, the governor said. The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody.

Rubio repeated similar phrasing two more times more during the night.

1 of 51 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What it looks like on the ground in New Hampshire leading up to the primary View Photos Following the Iowa caucuses, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates flocked to New Hampshire in the run-up to the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Caption Following the Iowa caucuses, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates flocked to New Hampshire in the run-up to the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Feb. 8, 2016 A Scottish Highland steer wears a Bernie Sanders campaign sticker in Manchester. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

He also came under criticism for his position on abortion. Rubio opposes abortion without exception for rape and incest, something Bush said was an extreme position that would make him vulnerable in a general election.

Rubios retort: I would rather lose an election than be on the wrong side of this issue.

It was a difficult night for the freshman senator, who has shown himself in the previous seven debates to be an agile and prepared performer but had never faced such an onslaught from Christie and Bush. Both are desperate to revive their candidacies in New Hampshire or face the prospect of dropping out.

Trump, seeking to rebound in New Hampshire after a humbling Iowa second-place finish, returned to the debate stage after skipping the last event in Iowa because of a feud with the Fox News Channel. He ran into an uncharacteristically feisty Bush, who lashed out at him over the eminent-domain issue.

Asked by co-moderator David Muir whether he supported the use of eminent domain, Trump said that he did. The Keystone Pipeline, without eminent domain, it wouldnt go 10 feet, okay? You need eminent domain, Trump said, adding that without eminent domain, you dont have roads, highways, schools, bridges or anything.

But Bush interjected to call out Trump for blurring the differences between eminent domain for public and private use.

What Donald Trump did was use eminent domain to try to take the property of an elderly woman on the strip in Atlantic City, Bush charged. That is not public purpose. That is downright wrong.

From there, Trump and Bush shouted over each other. He wants to be a tough guy tonight, Trump said. Belittling Bush, Trump held his index finger over his lips and said, Let me talk. Quiet.

The audience booed Trump.

Thats all of his donors and special interests out there, Trump said, noting that many debate tickets go to party benefactors. The reason theyre not loving me is, I dont want their money. Im going to do the right thing for the American public.

Other candidates did not confront Trump as aggressively as Bush did. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has eviscerated Trump on the campaign trail, whiffed when Muir asked in the opening question whether he stood by an earlier comment that he thought Trump lacked the temperament to be commander in chief.

Trump pounced, suggesting Americas adversaries would shrink as Cruz had should they face a President Trump.

If you noticed, he didnt answer your question, Trump said. Thats whats going to happen with our enemies and the people we compete against. Were going to win with Trump.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich  one of three governors clawing to get a ticket out of New Hampshire when the campaign moves next week to South Carolina and beyond  avoided confrontation with the other Republicans.

Instead, he sought to project a sunny disposition and talked about his record of cutting taxes and balancing the budget in his state. He also said conservatism should be defined by helping people who live in the shadows.

If I get elected president, head out tomorrow and buy a seat belt, because theres going to be so much happening in the first 100 days, its going to make your head spin, Kasich said. Were going to move America forward. I promise you.

The candidates reopened a polarizing debate over George W. Bushs counterterrorism policies, particularly the former presidents authorization of waterboarding, which has been criticized as torture.

Trump defended his earlier vow that he would deploy the tactic to extract information from potential terrorists.

Not since medieval times have people seen whats going on, Trump said. I would bring back waterboarding, and Id bring it back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.

Other candidates who were asked about the matter said they would abide by congressional restrictions on the practice, while Cruz said he would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use.

Rubio embraced another Bush administration idea: opening the detention center used to house suspected foreign fighters at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Obama long has wanted to close the center, but Rubio said, We should be putting people into Guantanamo, not emptying it out.

Cruz also was asked to explain his statement that he would authorize carpet bombing as a way of attacking Islamic State terrorists, which some have criticized out of concern that such action would kill innocent civilians.

Cruz stood by his phraseology but said that he meant he would authorize the bombing of targeted roads and other facilities as well as what he called a university for terrorists. He then said that he would wait until freshmen matriculated.

Early in the debate, Cruz was led by Muir to apologize for what Ben Carson viewed as dirty tricks at the Iowa caucuses. Cruzs campaign representatives suggested to caucus-goers that Carson was suspending his campaign minutes before the caucuses, which may have helped move some of Carsons supporters to caucus for Cruz.

Cruz said he didnt know about the matter at the time. Turning to face Carson, Cruz said: When this transpired, I apologized to him then, and I do so now. Ben, Im sorry.

In the debates later, more substantive exchanges, Carson, a soft-spoken retired neurosurgeon, was largely absent. At one point, he remarked, Im not here just to add beauty to the stage.

The candidates viewed Saturday nights debate, held here on the small campus of Saint Anselm College that has quadrennially hosted presidential debates going back decades, as their most urgent of their eight debates so far.

A discussion about the heroin epidemic that is especially destructive in New Hampshire elicited a powerful, emotional moment for Cruz, as he talked about his sister, Miriam, who died from a drug overdose.

His voice cracking, Cruz described how she was addicted to painkillers, went to bed one night and never woke up.

This is an absolute epidemic, Cruz said. We need leadership to solve it.

David A. Fahrenthold in Goffstown, N.H., contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton had a chance to put to rest swirling questions about her paid speeches to groups such as Goldman Sachs during last weeks final debate before Tuesdays primary in New Hampshire. She pointedly refused to take it.

Heres the key exchange between Clinton and moderator Chuck Todd.

Todd: Are you willing to release the transcripts of all your paid speeches? We do know through reporting that there were transcription services for all of those paid speeches. In full disclosure, would you release all of them?

Clinton: I will look into it. I dont know the status, but I will certainly look into it. But I can only repeat what is the fact that I spoke to a lot of different groups with a lot of different constituents, a lot of different kinds of members about issues that had to do with world affairs.

I will look into it means, of course, no way, no how, not ever.

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders started the MSNBC debate in Durham, N.H. sparring over foreign policy and campaign finance reform, but ended the night on a friendly note. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

But why did Clinton respond that way?

Theres the possibility  though I think its very remote  that Clinton simply wasnt expecting the question and didnt want to commit to anything in the moment. I say I think thats unlikely because Clinton is (a) always very, very well prepared for debates and (b) Bernie Sanders has been hitting Clinton on her paid speech to Goldman Sachs for much of the past two weeks.

Assuming Clinton wasnt simply surprised by Todds question, then she and her team had, at some point in the not-too-distant past, made the conscious choice not to release the speeches.

There will be a tendency, particularly among Republicans, to assume that Clintons unwillingness to release her speech transcripts is evidence that she was up to no good in those addresses, conveying some sort of secret information that she shouldnt have been.

I struggle to imagine that someone as savvy and political  and politically savvy  as Clinton would do anything even close to that. Shes just too smart  and too cautious.

I generally take Clinton at her word when she describes what her speeches were about: Recounting high-profile events and her role in them. I probably described more times than I can remember how stressful it was advising the president about going after bin Laden, she told Todd on Thursday night.

That makes perfect sense to me; if you are paying several hundred thousand dollars to hear someone such as Clinton speak, what you generally want to hear is what it was like to be her in a variety of big or important moments. These speeches, I bet, are largely just a string of anecdotes by Clinton. I remember when . . . and So I said to the president . . . and the like.

Why not release them, then? Wouldnt they reaffirm Clintons argument during the nomination race that she has been there and done that at the highest level of national and international diplomacy?

My guess is that in the speeches, Clinton acknowledges her various friends and acquaintances at Goldman Sachs (and other Wall Street firms) and praises them for the work they are doing. You guys get a bad rap but . . .

Yes, its standard-issue small talk. But it could look really, really bad in the context of the campaign. Imagine a transcript of Clinton speaking to some big bank or investment firm, thanking a litany of people shes been friends with forever and praising the broader enterprise for all you do.

In the hands of Sanders and his campaign team and supporters, that sort of thing could wind up being problematic for Clinton as she attempts, already clumsily, to cast herself as a true progressive fighter for the 99 percent against the 1 percent. It might even prove fatal to those attempts.

The key for Clinton to win  or, truthfully, fight to a draw  in this dispute over her alleged closeness to Wall Street is to preserve the idea that while she took the financiers money, she also told them hard truths about their business and why it needs to change.

I was the one saying youre going to wreck the economy because of these shenanigans with mortgages, Clinton said in Thursdays debate. I called to end the carried-interest loophole that hedge fund managers enjoy. I proposed changes in CEO compensation.

Anything that suggests she didnt do that  or didnt only do that  presents a major issue for her.

So, no speech transcripts. Not today, and my guess is not ever.
Many locals, particularly older ones who remember the aftermath of World War II, are opposed to the massive expansion at Camp Scwab and say Okinawa shoulders too much of the burden of Japan's security alliance with the United States. (Yuki Oda/The Washington Post)

Many locals, particularly older ones who remember the aftermath of World War II, are opposed to the massive expansion at Camp Scwab and say Okinawa shoulders too much of the burden of Japan's security alliance with the United States. (Yuki Oda/The Washington Post)

Neither snow nor cancer nor the threat of another arrest keeps Hiroji Yamashiro from protesting against the planned expansion of a U.S. Marine Corps base on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

Every day, he arranges anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred protesters in rows outside the gate of Camp Schwab, a base in the rural northern area of Henoko where runways are being built out into the sea.

Under Yamashiros direction, about 30 people assembled before dawn on a recent day  Day 576 of the protest  were outnumbered 2 or 3 to 1 by police officers from Okinawa and Tokyo as they tried to stop the construction trucks from entering the base to start their workday.

[Protest voices: Okinawans have been treated like we are disposable for too long]

Victory is within our grasp. Dont resist, Yamashiro said into his microphone, wrapped in plastic against the rain, as one protester after another was carried away, some still in their camp chairs.





Protect the people! Control illegal construction! Control illegal land reclamation! one shouted as he was carted off.

Yamashiro, a gregarious 63-year-old Okinawan, is the public face of this islands resistance to what many residents see as an ongoing American occupation, more than seven decades after the end of World War II. He and his fellow protesters are a thorn in the Japanese governments side  and, by extension, in the United States side, too.

The postwar U.S. occupation of Japan officially ended in 1952, but it continued in Okinawa, the island prefecture about halfway between the Japanese mainland and Taiwan, for 20 more years. Today, there are 33 U.S. military facilities and about 28,000 U.S. military personnel here.

[Okinawa governor revokes permit for construction of new U.S. Marine base]

The most contentious facility is the Marine Corps air station at Futenma, a complex about twice the size of Reagan National Airport on an elevated patch of prime real estate in the most developed part of an island about the same size as Los Angeles.

Two decades ago, the United States and Japanese governments agreed to replace Futenma with a new facility in the much-less-

populated area of Henoko.

But the relocation project didnt start until mid-2014, and with it came renewed protest. Okinawans contend that they shoulder too much of the burden of Japans security alliance with the United States, saying they account for 1 percent of Japanese territory but host 73 percent of the bases. The U.S. military disputes the latter figure, saying that only 39 percent of its exclusive use facilities are on Okinawa.

Okinawans like Yamashiro want Futenma moved out of their prefecture entirely, rather than to the Henoko area. The plan calls for two long runways to be built out into Henoko Bay, which local residents say would destroy coral and kill off the dugong, an endangered manatee-like sea mammal.

At the end of 2014, Okinawa elected a new governor, Takeshi Onaga, who promised to block the construction at Henoko, and Tokyo and Okinawa have been locked since then in a string of administrative and court battles. Onaga has used his authority to overturn the permit allowing the central government to reclaim land for the runways and has prohibited earth-moving on prefectural land.

But the central government, which cut its annual subsidy to Okinawa by 5 percent after Onagas election, is using the courts to push ahead with construction, obtaining orders to override the revocation measure and allow construction to proceed.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scored a victory last month when he backed Atsushi Sakimas reelection as mayor of Ginowan, the city around the Futenma base. Sakima supports Futenmas closure  but has avoided taking a stand on Henoko  and there is talk of opening a Disney or Universal Studios resort on the land once it is returned.

A top aide to Abe said Sakimas election showed its obvious that not everyone in Okinawa is against the bases relocation to Henoko.

But here at the protest site, the sentiment is universal.

The reason why everybody comes here is because everybody is worried that we will become involved if there is another war in this region, Yamashiro said in one of the protest tents opposite Camp Schwab.

Protesters have built a long encampment at the site , with fake flowers in bamboo vases and lettuces planted along the curb. Signs and banners scream No base and Marines out.

[In Japans Okinawa, saving indigenous languages is about more than words]

Only a handful of people come to protest every day, like Yamashiro, but many come once a week. On occasion, as many as 1,000 attend. Protesters even showed up last month when subtropical Okinawa experienced its first snow in 50 years.

Most of the protesters are senior citizens, and a few can even remember the Battle of Okinawa, the bloody episode near the end of World War II during which a quarter of the islands population was killed at the hands of both U.S. and Japanese troops. On weekends and public holidays, younger locals and families attend.

The people who are protesting are the children of the people who experienced the war, said Yamashiro, who grew up in central Okinawa listening to the gruesome stories told by his father, who was a soldier in the Japanese Imperial Army and spent two years as a prisoner of war in Hawaii.

Yamashiro has been arrested twice since construction at Henoko began in earnest in mid-2014, and he had to take five months off last year while he was treated for lymphoma. But he was soon back at the encampment.

Im angry with the Japanese government and the American government for trying to use Okinawa for war-related causes rather than using it for the Okinawan people, he said. I want Okinawa to be freed of this and to become a peaceful island.

The shadow of war indeed hangs over daily life on Okinawa. Driving through residential and shopping districts in the islands crowded center, its normal to pass huge military vehicles being driven by helmeted U.S. Marines.

Meanwhile, the roar of jets from Kadena Air Base in the skies above is constant and deafening. In addition to the usual deployments, Okinawa has seen an influx of U.S. jet fighters and stealth bombers since North Korea conducted a nuclear test last month.

The long-range rocket North Korea launched Sunday passed over Okinawa.

The central government appears to think it can outlast the protesters, said Douglas Lummis, an American political scientist who has lived in Okinawa for 16 years and regularly visits the protest site.

When Governor Onaga said last year that he wouldnt be able to cancel the [reclamation] permit until July [2015], it made me angry because I thought the protest would fade out, Lummis said. I was completely wrong. Its getting larger and stronger.

Indeed, Yamashiro vows to continue, even as the central government pushes ahead. The government in Tokyo has been trying to make us give up for a long time, he said. But weve been pushed around for 70 years, and were not going to take it anymore.

Yuki Oda contributed to this report.

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Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 7

By Fatih Karimov- Trend:

The fresh round of high-level talks between Iran and the EU will be held in Tehran on Feb. 8, Iran's deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi said.

The talks will be held with the presence of a European expert delegation led by the EU Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Helga Schmid, Iran's IRNA news agency quoted Takht-Ravanchi as saying Jan. Feb. 7.

Takht-Ravanchi, who will lead Iran's delegation in the talks, further said that the two-day meeting will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers.

The talks are planed to be held every six months in Tehran and Brussels, he said, adding the negotiations will cover various fields in Iran-EU relations, including energy, trade, banking and financial cooperation, environment and fighting drug smuggling.

The regional developments such as terrorism and extremism which affect the whole region as well as the EU also will be discussed in the mutual talks, the top Iranian diplomat said.

The talks come after implementation of the nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers, which led to removal of international sanctions on Iran.

Iran and the P5+1 group of countries (the US, France, the UK, China, Russia and Germany) in July 2015 agreed on a landmark nuclear deal to curb Tehran's sensitive nuclear activities in return for the lifting of international sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The implementation of the deal started on Jan. 16, 2016.

Takht-Ravanchi further said that after the conclusion of upcoming meeting a number of European commissioners will visit Tehran.

The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also is planed to pay a visit to Iran, he added.

The exact date for the Mogherini's visit is not clear yet, the Iranian diplomat said, adding it will take place in the near future.

Mogherini earlier paid a one-day visit to Tehran on July 28, 2015 following the historic nuclear deal. During the visit, Iran and the EU agreed to start talks on how to confront regional crises, such as terrorism.
Bernie Sanders takes the oath of office to become the mayor of Vermont's largest city, Burlington, on April 6, 1981, two decades after he spent time on an Israeli kibbutz. (Donna Light/AP)

 The residents of this crunchy Israeli farming commune, with its milk cows and solar panels and lefty vibe, were both pleased and surprised to hear their home may be the mystery kibbutz where presidential contender Bernie Sanders spent a few formative months in the 1960s.

The old-timers confessed Sunday that they didnt remember Sanders. It was a long time ago. The senator from Vermont isnt talking. And the kibbutz archives have yet to reveal any evidence that Sanders was a volunteer here, said Yair Merom, chairman of the community, who nevertheless did interviews with Israeli radio and TV after news broke that this might be Sanderss former kibbutz.

There was a Bernard, recalled Albert Ely, 79, who used the French pronunciation of the name. Ely was just sitting down to a heaping plate of rice and beans in the kibbutz cafeteria. But I dont know if he was the famous Bernie from America.

Ely arrived at the Shaar Haamakim kibbutz in 1957, fresh off the boat from Egypt. He said record-keeping in the old days was spotty. Volunteers from Europe and the United States came and went, brought to the farming community by Jewish youth movements.

They picked pears, Ely said.

The volunteers slept in cabins, ate their breakfasts in the orchards, did menial labor.

And they lived socialism  the dream and the reality.

[Why Bernie Sanders doesnt participate in organized religion]

In the heady days of the 1960s, the Israeli kibbutzim were an accessible laboratory to observe social democracy in action  where children, even babies, were raised communally in nurseries and dormitories away from their parents, where work and reward were shared, and where momentous decisions about who went to college or who mucked the barn were made by the group, not individuals.

Journalists have been on a hunt in recent weeks trying to solve the mystery of which kibbutz Sanders visited. There were tantalizing clues, good guesses, dead ends. Was the kibbutz near the sea? Were there Argentine volunteers? Was it Marxist or Labor?

Sanders and his campaign staff have repeatedly  and somewhat inexplicably  declined to say which kibbutz.

Then on Thursday, the Israeli columnist Yossi Melman dug up an article he had written in 1990 for the daily Haaretz. In the piece, headlined The First Socialist, about his first campaign for the Senate, Sanders told Melman that in 1963 he spent time at Shaar Haamakim as a guest of the Young Guard, a socialist Zionist youth movement called Hashomer Hatzair in Hebrew.

Mystery solved, the news media trumpeted.

[The kibbutz Bernie Sanders stayed in may have been revealed]

A very political thinker

Larry Sanders, Bernies brother, isnt so sure.

When he heard the name Shaar Haamakim, it didnt ring a bell, he said in a telephone interview.

He emphasized it was a long time ago  more than 50 years. But of one thing he was certain: The date of the visit was later than 1963.

Bernie Sanders and his first wife, Deborah Shiling of Baltimore, were married after Sanders graduated from the University of Chicago, in September 1964, Larry said, and their visit to Israel was part of their honeymoon tour.

The newlyweds visited Larry Sanders in England that fall and stayed in London, where Bernie Sanders, a convinced socialist at that point, and learning a lot, followed the British elections, which the Labour Party won that October. Larry also remembered his brother's interest in Britains system of socialized medicine, the National Health Service.

He was a very political thinker already, said Larry Sanders, who is almost seven years older than his brother and has lived in England since the late 60s, where he is a Green Party member and former county councilor.

The young couple went from England to Israel, probably making other stops on the way, and would have arrived, Larry Sanders estimated, in late 1964 or early 1965 and spent about three months or so at the kibbutz.

It was a formative time for Bernie, his brother said. Larry Sanders also stayed in Israel  but on a different kibbutz.

Bernie, he said, met and talked with other volunteers, several from Argentina who used to speculate whether a similar rural agrarian system might work on a larger scale in South America if they were to live through Che Guevara-scale change.

Those kinds of conversations, Larry Sanders said. He was thinking not only about the day-to-day but the larger socioeconomic kind of viewpoint.

He was interested in daily life and in the big picture. That was very important to him.

[Bernie Sanders opens up about his Jewishness]

Larry Sanders doesnt look back on their visits to kibbutzim as Zionist acts. Although staying at kibbutzim became more popular after Israels victory in the 1967 war, it wasnt uncommon, he said.

Most were not planning to stay; in that sense they werent Zionists, he said. And a kibbutz was an easy place to visit for young people traveling overseas for several months without a lot of money.

As for the other person who could solve the kibbutz mystery? Sanderss first wife, Deborah Shiling, lives in Vermont. They remain good friends, Larry Sanders said. But, he warned, she is very protective of her own privacy.

The Washington Post had a brief conservation with Sanderss former wife, now Deborah Messing, on Sunday.

Its already been published, she said.

Asked to verify that Shaar Haamakim was the correct name, she hesitated.

I dont know, Messing said. I cant think.

Communal living

The residents of the kibbutz, whose name translates as the Gate of the Valleys, are not trying to claim Bernie Sanders as one of their own.

These are mellow old socialists, happy to admit past mistakes, but proud of their accomplishments and the role the kibbutzim played in the founding of Israel.

Several members suggested it didnt really matter which kibbutz Sanders visited in 1963 or 1965. What was revealing and important is that he visited one.

The Shaar Haamakim kibbutz was founded in 1935 by Jewish immigrants from Romania and Yugoslavia and was affiliated with Mapam, a left-wing, pro-Soviet workers party  but not Marxists. About 700 people live in the commune, which grows wheat and fruit but is best known for its solar-powered water heaters, which ship internationally.

It was different back in the old days; it was true socialism, said Amalia Alva, who arrived in 1971. Everything was shared.

There was a gas station, but no one owned the gasoline. Cars and tractors were communal property. Housing was distributed by need or seniority. Children were raised by the village.

Now, looking back, its funny how we lived. Babies being raised in the childrens house. I dont want to go back, but we look back with respect, said Yoki Zuk, a sculptor, who was born on the kibbutz in 1946.

The members were Jewish and Zionist, but decidedly secular. They celebrated the holidays, but in their own way. There were no rabbis and little traditional prayer. We got rid of religion, Alva said. We didnt care if people believed or not.

We were young. We liked the work, we liked the life, said David Sivan, 80, who tended the fields in the 1960s and would have worked beside Bernie Sanders if Sanders had been there, but says the name doesnt ring a bell.

Ely, who doesnt remember Sanders, either, said that the kibbutzniks like what they hear about this famous foreigner.

I will be very happy if he is elected president, Ely said. Not because he visited here, but because of his ideas.

Sellers reported from Washington. Ruth Eglash in Israel and Michelle Boorstein in Washington contributed to this report.
Motohide Yoshikawa, Japan's ambassador to the United Nations, spoke to the media before a Security Council meeting at the U.N. headquarters on Sunday. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

The United Nations on Sunday condemned North Koreas satellite launch as a dangerous and serious violation of international restrictions, and threatened new sanctions aimed at dissuading the rogue nation from building missiles capable of delivering weapons against distant adversaries, including the United States.

The launch followed North Koreas detonation of a nuclear device last month, putting new pressure on the United States and its threatened ally South Korea to take steps that could include deploying a missile defense capability that is firmly opposed by China.

After an emergency meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Sunday, members of the Security Council accused North Korea of defying repeated warnings with an action that constitutes a clear threat to international peace and security.

[North Korea says it has conducted a successful hydrogen bomb test]

The members of the Security Council strongly condemn this launch, the council said in a statement read by Rafael Ramirez, the Venezuelan ambassador at the United Nations. Dismissing the Norths claim of peaceful intent, he described the satellite launch as a provocative step toward the development of nuclear weapons delivery systems.

1 of 50 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What life looks like inside North Korea View Photos Scenes from inside the hermit kingdom. Caption Scenes from the hermit kingdom. April 14, 2016 A girl dances ballet at the Mangyongdae Childrens Palace in the Pyongyang suburbs. The large facility, opened in 1989, has hundreds of rooms for various activities, including mathematics, chemistry, computer science, sports, music and dance practice. Franck Robichon/European Pressphoto Agency Wait 1 second to continue.

But the Security Council provided no details on the nature of any new sanctions it may pursue against the country, which has ignored an array of existing punitive measures with a series of long-range rocket launches and nuclear weapons tests in recent years.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the launch was deeply deplorable, carried out despite the united plea of the international community against such an act.

The denunciations were accompanied by other signals that the fallout in the region may go beyond diplomatic measures.

The United States and South Korea signaled new interest in exploring the installation of a sophisticated U.S. antimissile system  a step that Seoul previously had resisted under pressure from China.

South Korean and U.S. military officials said Sunday that they had agreed to begin negotiations for the earliest possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system that uses ground-based launchers to shoot down missiles.

North Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and it is the responsibility of our alliance to maintain a strong defense against those threats, Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said in a statement. THAAD can add an important capability.

Missile experts said the THAAD system is regarded as an effective defense against short- and medium-range missiles, meaning that it could protect South Korea from attack but would be of little use against long-range strikes, such as a missile aimed at the United States.

[More about THAAD]

Saturdays launch was widely seen as a cover for North Korean efforts to acquire intercontinental capability, although bringing a warhead back down through the atmosphere to hit a distant target is significantly more complex than sending a satellite into space.

The renewed discussions of deploying the THAAD system reflect rising anxiety in South Korea, where leaders may be less inclined to comply with warnings from China or trust Beijings assertions that it can keep North Korea in check.

The anti-missile system has been controversial in South Korea, which has increasingly close economic and diplomatic ties with China. South Korean officials worry that hosting the anti-missile batteries would annoy Beijing.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, told South Koreas Yonhap News Agency last month that China hoped that South Korea will handle the matter prudently.

Beijings position was that all countries should consider the national interests of other nations in taking their own security into account, she said.

Russia also opposes the deployment of THAAD in South Korea.

It would appear that South Korea has had enough, said Thomas Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

South Koreas reluctance to allow the missile defense system has everything to do with the politics and pressure that China has been putting on its southern neighbor, Karako said. But the back-to-back nuclear test and satellite launch by the North is likely to drive the United States and South Korea much closer together and further mute the effect of Chinese objections.

China does not seem particularly keen to crack down on its neighbor. A commentary run by the state-run Xinhua news agency immediately after the launch said: Amid criticism and condemnation, what should be borne in mind is that negotiations are the only viable solution to the predicament on the Korean Peninsula, as China has repeatedly pointed out.

North Korea said Saturday that it had fired a Kwangmyongsong-4 (the name translates as lode star), a newer-model satellite than the one launched three years ago and one that it said was equipped with devices for Earth measurement and communication.

The rocket went missing from South Korean military radar in the sea near Jeju Island at 9:36 a.m., defense ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said, but the Japanese government said that the rocket passed over the southern islands of Okinawa at about 9:41 a.m. There were no reports of any debris falling on land.

It cannot be business as usual, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters. Whats important is that the Security Council unites. We are hopeful that China, like all council members, will see the grave threat to regional and international peace and security, see the importance of adopting tough, unprecedented measures, breaking new ground here, exceeding the expectations of [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un.

Anna Fifield reported from Tokyo.
North Korea on Sunday declared that it had successfully put an earth observation satellite into orbit under the direct orders of leader Kim Jong Un, and said it planned to launch many more.

Both the South Korean defense ministry and the Pentagon said that the rocket, launched at 9 a.m. North Korean time from a launch pad near the Chinese border, appeared to have successfully reached space.

The United States, Japan and South Korea immediately condemned the launch, a move widely seen as another step toward North Korea mastering the technology for making a missile capable of striking the mainland United States. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for later Sunday to discuss how to respond to the countrys latest provocation.

But North Korea gloated about its most recent advance into space. It said it that it had fired a Kwangmyongsong-4 (the name translates as lode star), a newer-model satellite than the one launched three years ago and one that it said was equipped with devices for Earth measurement and communication.

Todays success is a proud result of scientific achievement and an exercise of our legitimate right to space, Ri Chun Hee, North Korea's most famous newsreader, who was brought out of retirement to announce last months nuclear test, declared in a special broadcast from Pyongyang following the launch.

An image from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows the launch of Kwangmyong 4 from an undisclosed location. (KCNS via KNS/AFP/Getty Images)

The success of Kwangmyongsong-4 launch is a groundbreaking event. The National Aerospace Development Administration plans to launch many more satellites following our national policy of focusing on the importance of science and technology, she said.

Kim, the 33-year-old third-generation leader of North Korea, personally signed the order to launch on Saturday, Ri said. The satellite entered orbit after nine minutes and 46 seconds, she said in the broadcast on Korean Central Television.

The launch took place half an hour before the Republican presidential debate started, and candidates Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) both urged China to get tough.

[North Korea announces plan to launch rocket carrying observation satellite]

The rocket launch was expected  Pyongyang had given warnings to maritime and airspace authorities, and analysts had detected movement at its launch site  but coming just a month after a nuclear test, it nevertheless showed Kims continued willingness to defy the international community.

The rocket was projected to fly down South Koreas west coast, with the first stage expected to splash down near the southern island of Jeju, while the second stage was forecast to go over the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa and in the sea east of the Philippines. Television stations in Japan and South Korea showed footage of the rocket flying through the sky.

The rocket went missing from South Korean military radar in the sea near Jeju Island at 9:36 a.m., said defense ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun, but the Japanese government said that it passed over the southern islands of Okinawa at about 9:41 a.m. There were no reports of any debris falling on land.





We can definitely say that this was an attempted space launch, said Melissa Hanham, a nuclear expert at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

North Korea previously fired a Kwangmyongsong-3 on an Unha-3 (galaxy) missile into orbit in December 2012, the month that North Korea marked the first anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il, the current leaders father. Kims regime had said it would launch the same kind of satellite into orbit between Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, and the launch came a few hours after that window began. Sundays launch also coincides with another key date: North Koreas celebration of Kim Jong Ils birthday, Feb. 16.

North Korea has said the launches were of satellites intended for scientific purposes, but analysts and many governments see this as a disguised missile test. North Korea has successfully launched short- and medium-range missiles but has been working to develop a reliable long-range intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States.

This kind of rocket is designed as a space launch vehicle. Before we can consider it an intercontinental ballistic missile, there are a number of modifications that have to be made, Hanham said. A space rocket goes into the atmosphere to launch a satellite into orbit, but an intercontinental ballistic missile needs to return to Earth from the atmosphere to reach its target  and deliver a warhead.

Jim Walsh, a research associate in the Security Studies Program at MIT, said that even though most of North Koreas rocket and missile tests had been failures and Pyongyang was still using liquid-launched rockets, a technology now considered archaic everywhere else, there was still reason for concern.

This doesnt mean that theyre not making progress. The more tests they do, the more they learn, and theyre beavering away trying to improve their technology, he said. And it also means that at some level, theyre still able to evade sanctions.

Nevertheless, the international community immediately resumed calls for North Korea to face strong punishment for its actions through more sanctions.

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the launch deeply deplorable and exhorted North Korea to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations. Both South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called emergency meetings of their national security councils, during which both said they could not accept such a provocation.

From Washington, Susan Rice, President Obamas national security adviser, said that the launch using ballistic missile technology, following so closely after North Koreas fourth nuclear test, represents yet another destabilizing and provocative action and is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests  including the security of some of our closest allies  and undermine peace and security in the broader region, she said in a statement.

[China backs U.N. move to denounce North Korea over nuclear test]

Rice also reiterated calls  mainly directed at China, North Koreas closest ally and a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council  for the international community to stand together and demonstrate to North Korea that its reckless actions must have serious consequences.

But China does not seem particularly keen to crack down on its neighbor. A commentary run by the state-run Xinhua news agency immediately after the launch said: Amid criticism and condemnation, what should be borne in mind is that negotiations are the only viable solution to the predicament on the Korean Peninsula, as China has repeatedly pointed out.

A series of U.N. resolutions has prohibited North Korea from carrying out nuclear or ballistic missile tests, but Kims regime has shown little regard for these orders.

Yoongjung Seo in Seoul and Yuki Oda in Tokyo contributed to this report.
Peter Saunders, a prominent British member of a papal advisory commission on sexual abuse by the clergy who has been outspokenly critic of the Vatican, has left the group. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

Pope Franciss sex-abuse advisory committee voted Saturday to sideline one of its members, a high-profile abuse survivor who had clashed with the panel over its mission.

Peter Saunders, a British advocate for victims, had been highly critical of the Vaticans slow progress in taking measures to protect children and punish bishops who covered up for pedophile priests. He also wanted the commission to intervene immediately in individual cases, rather than just craft long-term policies to fight abuse.

During a commission meeting Saturday, it was decided that Mr. Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence from his membership to consider how he might best support the commissions work, the Vatican said.

The decision is a blow to Franciss efforts to show that he is tough on abuse, since the presence of Saunders and another abuse survivor, Marie Collins, had given the commission credibility.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Saunders said commission members, with one abstention, asked him to step aside after concluding they could no longer trust him to work within the scope of the commissions mandate.

Saunders said he was surprised by the Vaticans statement and denies that he had agreed to take a leave of absence. He said he remained a member of the commission and was considering his options. But he added that the Vaticans inaction in the face of continuing cases of children being raped and molested made me lose faith in the process and lose faith in Pope Francis.

His departure leaves Collins as the lone abuse survivor on the commission, which was formed in 2013 to advise the Vatican on protecting children, educating church personnel and parishioners about abuse, and keeping pedophiles out of the priesthood.

Collins told the Associated Press it was a sad day for the commission. She acknowledged Saunderss complaints about the pace of work but said the overall mission is still important.

It is slow. Its not going to make changes overnight, she said. And there are frustrations in that. But if we can change policy and get policies put in place that will stick around the world that will make children safer in the future, then its worth making time to get it right.

The commission was formed after victims groups questioned whether the Argentine pope, who had never dealt with an abuse case, really understood the scope of the scandal. It was slow to get off the ground, but took a big step last year when it successfully proposed that the Vatican create an in-house tribunal to hear cases of bishops accused of failing to protect their flocks. No bishops are known to have been tried.

The commission had been highly critical of Franciss decision to appoint a Chilean bishop despite allegations from abuse survivors that he had covered up for the countrys most notorious pedophile, the Rev. Fernando Karadima.

One of Karadimas victims, Juan Carlos Cruz, joined Saunders on Saturday in Rome in hopes of speaking to the commission but was refused. Cruz had been proposed as a possible commission member, but emails published in the Chilean media showed how the Chilean church hierarchy worked to keep him off the panel.

The head of the commission, Boston Cardinal Sean OMalley, said after Saturdays vote that Saunders had been asked to consider forming an external group of survivors to help advise the commission.
Yoo Jeh-seung, right, South Koreas deputy minister for policy, and Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal, commander of U.S. Forces Koreas Eighth Army, announced Sunday that their countries would start talks on deploying an anti-missile defense system. (Yonhap via EPA)

North Koreas latest rocket launch has helped South Korea overcome some of its hesitation about hosting a sophisticated American anti-missile system on its soil, a move that could anger China.

South Korean and American military officials said Sunday that they had agreed to begin negotiations for the earliest possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, known as THAAD.

The announcement came hours after North Korea put a satellite into orbit, a launch widely viewed as part of the regimes efforts to develop its inter-continental ballistic missile technology.

North Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and it is the responsibility of our alliance to maintain a strong defense against those threats, Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said in a statement. THAAD can add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense.

THAAD is a land-based system designed to shoot down incoming short-, medium- and intermediate-range missiles. According to the Defense Departments Missile Defense Agency, each THAAD battery includes a mobile, truck-mounted launcher, with eight interceptors that can be fired and rapidly reloaded and a transportable radar surveillance system.

Although South Korean officials have been considering the system, it has been a controversial topic, largely because of the countrys increasingly close economic and diplomatic ties with China, which opposes the idea of anti-missile batteries in the Korean Peninsula.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, told South Korea's Yonhap News Agency last month that China hoped that South Korea will handle the matter prudently.

Beijing believes all countries also should consider the national interests of other nations when taking their own security into account, she said.

Russia also opposes the deployment of THAAD in South Korea.

The joint U.S.-South Korean statement stated explicitly that if THAAD was deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it would be focused solely on North Korea.

North Koreas rocket, an Unha-3, was launched Saturday from a site near the Chinese border. It flew down the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, with debris from the first stage falling near the southern South Korean island of Jeju. The rockets second stage continued over the southern Japanese island of Okinawa before landing in the East China Sea.

Japan had Patriot surface-to-air missiles poised in Tokyo and Okinawa to shoot down the rocket.

If the THAAD deployment proceeds, South Korea will provide the land for the system while the United States would fund its operation. One THAAD battery costs about $1.3 billion.

There had been speculation in Seoul that Korean President Park Geun-hyes government was inching closer to discussions about the anti-missile system. Local media have been reporting on visits over the last month by officials from THAAD manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
Ghana President John Mahama plans to visit Iran next week at the top of an economic-political delegation, Irna reported.



He has been invited by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and plans to meet with senior Iranian officials, ISNA reported.

He is the first African president visiting Iran after implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Mahama will be accompanied by a number of ministers and private sector businessmen during his visit to Iran.
On Friday, the United Nations issued a public statement finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been subjected to arbitrary detention through the collusion of the British and Swedish governments.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) is an expert group, founded in 1991 with a mandate to investigate allegations of individuals being deprived of their liberty in an arbitrary way or inconsistently with international human rights standards, and to recommend remedies such as release from detention and compensation, when appropriate.

Following the release of the UNs opinion, Assange made a statement to the media via a video feed from the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he has sought sanctuary for more than three and a half years. He said that in total he had now been detained for five and a half years: Today that detention without charge has been found to be unlawful. I consider the outcome a vindication. The issue was now a matter of settled law, he added.

Releasing its findings, UNWGAD explained that they are legally-binding to the extent that they are based on binding international human rights law, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It added, The Opinions of the UNWGAD are also considered as authoritative by prominent international and regional judicial institutions, including the European Court of Human Rights.

In a manner that has characterised their actions from the very beginning of their witch-hunt of Assange, the UK and Swedish governments refused to abide by international law and rejected the UNs verdict. The UK Foreign Office said, This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention.

The opinion of the five-person UNWGAD panel consists of just five paragraphs, but is a devastating indictment of Assanges illegal detention, carried out by the UK and Sweden, in alliance with the United States government.

Assange has been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth prison which was followed by house arrest and his confinement at the Ecuadorian Embassy, UNWGAD said. Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the Working Group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr. Assange.

Assange has been detained in violation of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). UNWGAD states that it found Assanges detention is in violation of Articles 9 and 10 of the UDHR and Articles 7, 9(1), 9(3), 9(4), 10 and 14 of the ICCPR...

The Working Group calls on Sweden and the UK to ensure Assanges safety and physical integrity and to facilitate the exercise of his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner, and to ensure the full enjoyment of his rights guaranteed by the international norms on detention.

The statement is based on the Working Groups Opinion on Julian Assanges case, adopted December 4, 2015. The 18-page document represents the findings on the application submitted to them in September 2014 by Assanges legal team. The UK and Swedish governments also presented their case to UNWGAD. The conclusions of the Working Group are a crushing rebuttal of every claim made by the UK and Swedish authorities that Assanges arrest and detention was in any way conducted according to international law.

The December opinion states, Assange has not been guaranteed the international norms of due process and the guarantees to a fair trial during these three different moments: the detention in isolation in Wandsworth Prison, the 550 days under house arrest, and the continuation of the deprivation of liberty in the Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in London, United Kingdom.

It notes, The Working Group is concerned that the only basis of the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Assange appears to be the European Arrest Warrant issued by the Swedish prosecution based on a criminal allegation. Until the date of the adoption of this Opinion, Mr. Assange has never been formally indicted in Sweden . [emphasis added]

The opinion concludes: Assange has been denied the opportunity to provide a statement, which is a fundamental aspect of the audi alteram partem principle, the access to exculpatory evidence, and thus the opportunity to defend himself against the allegations; (2) the duration of such detention is ipso facto incompatible with the presumption of innocence.

Fridays UNWGAD statement declares, In that [December] opinion, the Working Group recognized that Mr. Assange is entitled to his freedom of movement and to compensation.

The UNWGAD reached its verdict by a 3-1 majority. It noted, Given that Mr. Assange is an Australian citizen, one of the members [Ms. Leigh Toomey] of the Working Group who shares his nationality recused herself from participating in the deliberations. This was in accordance with rule 5 of its Methods of Work, the UNWGAD said.

The lone dissenting opinion was made by Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian prosecutor. Tochilovsky claimed that Assange was not being detained, so the UNWGAD had no mandate to even hear his case. The Swedish government supported Tochilovskys spurious opinion.

There is no doubt that the Working Groups verdict was made in the teeth of bitter opposition from the, US, UK and Swedish governments.

The former UNWGAD panel chair, the Norwegian lawyer Professor Mads Andenas, told the Guardian Friday, Im absolutely convinced that [the panel] has been put under very strong political pressure. Andenas completed his term in office last summer and was involved in earlier stages of compiling the report on Assanges detention.

Andenas supported the panels findings in favour of Assange, adding, This is a courageous decision which is important for the international rule of law.

The hypocrisy of the imperialist powers, which have often used the findings of the UN panel on arbitrary detentions for their own predatory purposes, is staggering. Andenas correctly observed, If this finding had been made against any other country with a human rights record that one does not wish to compare oneself with, then these states [Sweden and UK] would have made it clear that the [offending] country should comply with the ruling of the working group.

The bitter hostility of the UK and Swedish governments, in collaboration with the Obama administration, to the rule of international law is at one with their assault on the fundamental social and democratic rights of the working class, made necessary by their pursuit of savage austerity at home and imperialist war abroad.

The UNWGAD report demolishes the pretence that the legal vendetta against Assange had anything to do with the pursuit of justice for his Swedish accusers. Swedens prosecutors could have easily, with Assanges full compliance, have interviewed him at any point since his December 2010 arrest in London. That they didnt was because they wanted to ensure that he was extradited to Sweden, in order to ship him to the US where he would pay, perhaps even with his life, for what they view as his real crimeWikiLeaks exposure of the heinous acts committed by the US and its allies in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and throughout the world.

Workers and young people in the UK, US, Sweden and internationally must work for the defeat of the efforts to silence Assange and demand his immediate freedom.

The author also recommends:

Stop the persecution of Julian Assange!

[5 February 2016]
Bernie Sanders took a quick break from the campaign trail in New Hampshire to travel to New York City to dispel a rumor thats been dogging his 2016 presidential bid: That he is actually comedian Larry David.

The Vermont senator and Democratic hopeful appeared side by side in a sketch with David on NBCs Saturday Night Live, proving once and for all that Sanders and David are, in fact, two different people.

The pair played passengers aboard a sinking cruise ship, with David arguing that his personal wealth should entitle him to a seat alongside the women and children in the lifeboat.

Hold on! Hold on! Wait a second! I am so sick of the one percent getting this preferential treatment! Sanders said, repeating a common refrain from his stump speeches. Enough is enough! We all need to unite if were going to get through this!

Sounds like socialism to me, David quipped.

Democratic socialism, Sanders shot back.



Earlier in the show, David revived his Sanders impersonation  and his own Curb Your Enthusiasm character  in the pretaped spoof Bern Your Enthusiasm.

In it, Davids Sanders stumbles into a series of Larry David-style predicaments, like not shaking the hand of a woman on the rope line after a rally because she had just sneezed into it.

For David, who was a writer on Saturday Night Live in the mid-1980s, it was his first time hosting SNL"  and third time doing his Bernie Sanders impersonation, a role some critics have said was tailor-made for him.

Later, Sanders helped David introduce the evenings musical guests, The 1975.

"How are things going up in New Hampshire? David asked his muse before the band came out.

O.K., Sanders said.

Just O.K.? David asked.

Well, its pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good, Sanders replied.

Sanders, who flew from Manchester, N.H., to New York on Saturday afternoon, returned to the Granite State early Sunday morning.



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In an interview that aired on CNNs State of the Union Sunday, Sanders insisted he never saw a similarity between himself and the "Seinfeld co-creator.

I admired him, I loved his television show, Sanders said. But no. I did not make the connection between Larry David and myself.

The Vermont senator has appeared on numerous late night shows since announcing his candidacy, but had yet to appear on Saturday Night Live. Sanders Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, has appeared on SNL several times, most recently in October.

On ABCs This Week With George Stephanopoulos Sunday, she was asked how she thought Sanders did.

Well, I didnt get to see it, but its always a fun experience, Clinton said. Im sure he did great. You know, its a wonderful forum. Its a crash course in trying to figure out how to do live TV. And I had a great time doing it.


Former President Bill Clinton at a rally on Friday in Las Vegas. (Photo: John Locher/AP)

PAHRUMP, Nev.  While Hillary Clinton was going door-to-door through the snowy streets of Manchester, N.H., Saturday, in a last-ditch effort to stir up support ahead of Tuesdays primary, her most valuable asset with voters was taking the stage in a tiny elementary school here nearly 3,000 miles away.

A couple of hundred people had turned out to hear former President Bill Clinton campaign on behalf of his wife  a substantial crowd in this sparse desert town about an hour west of Las Vegas. Though Nevadas Democratic caucuses arent for another two weeks, the former president was dispatched here to rally the troops in what could be a crucial state for Hillary Clintons bid for the nomination  especially if she loses in New Hampshire to her rival Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, as many polls suggest she will.

Nevada has long been considered an easy win for Hillary Clinton, but given the split vote in Iowa and Sanders gains nationally in recent weeks, her campaign no longer seems willing to leave anything to chance. On Friday night, President Clinton held a rally at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters training center in Las Vegas, which was followed less than 24 hours later by a swing through this former gold-mining town, which backed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 caucuses.

Taking the stage on Saturday, Bill Clinton sought to cast his wife as someone who has the best vision for the presidency. But he bluntly acknowledged the tough race his wife faces in winning the Democratic nomination. He spoke of the anger among voters that has changed the dynamics of the campaign  and openly worried that it could negatively impact the future of the country if voters vote based on emotion rather than reason. And though he did not identify any candidate by name, he warned those here of being influenced by politicians intentionally stoking voter anger in order to win.

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Most people dont make good decisions when they are mad, Clinton said.

Look, he later added. I understand why weve got a race on our hands, because a lot of people are disillusioned with the system and a lot of young people want to take it down.  I understand what its like for people who havent had a raise in eight years. There are a lot of reasons [to be angry]. But this is not a cartoon. This is real life.

Throughout his stops here, Clinton repeatedly spoke of his own time in the White House  recalling how his administration had helped bring the country back from the brink of financial disaster, and implying his wife could do it again. Several times, he spoke of the important role Nevada played in his own political rise. Defying political odds, Clinton said, he won the state twice in the general election.

And when people started to applaud at one point, the former president abruptly interrupted.

I dont want you to clap for me, Clinton said. I just want you to give me credit for having the good sense about what is good for you in this election.
BEDFORD, N.H.  Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush did not appreciate being asked about his Jeb! campaign logo at an event here Saturday afternoon.

Bush, who has been relentlessly mocked as low energy by his rival Donald Trump, argued the country may in fact need a quieter president. He made the case for serene leadership while delivering an indictment of President Obamas foreign policy.

We need a president who doesnt talk a big game. In fact, I would argue that the next president needs to be a little quieter, Bush said.

Bush proceeded to give a litany of criticisms of the Obama administrations positions.

No more red lines with no backing it up. No more calling Russia a regional power. Howd that work out, Mr. President? Bush asked, adding, No more reset buttons with great grandiosity with nothing to show for it. No more pivoting to Asia, and Asian countries wondering where the pivot went, and the rest of the world wondering, Why have you pivoted away from us? No more trash-talking. In fact, what we need to have is someone who quietly goes about the business of rebuilding our military.

Given Bushs argument for quiet leadership, Yahoo News asked if he still feels his campaign logo  Jeb!  and its exclamation point is the best representation of his candidacy. He brushed off the question.



Take a hike, man, Bush said.

Bush, who has struggled in the polls and landed in sixth place at the Iowa caucuses last week, is hoping to improve his standing in the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9. The Granite State electorate is widely thought to be more friendly toward his relatively moderate brand of conservatism.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Moments after the Republican debate ended Saturday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie walked over to Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, shook his hand and offered some customary words of encouragement.

Rubio stared mutely back, looking flummoxed, Christie told close aides moments later, according to one Christie adviser who was in the room.

Christie and his team were buoyant after the New Jersey governor mauled Rubio in a one-on-one face-off in the first half-hour of the debate, repeatedly mocking Rubio for what he called his lack of experience and accomplishments. It was, clearly, a bad night for Rubio. The question now is: Who benefits from the fallout?

Rubio came into the debate with momentum, following a surprisingly strong third-place finish at the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1. But he got in trouble Saturday starting with the very first question that came his way, which was about readiness to be president. The senator, who said he was proud of his record, then attempted to shift the discussion to President Barack Obama.

Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio speaks during the Republican debate in Manchester, N.H., on Saturday. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Reuters)



Lets dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing. He knows exactly what hes doing. Barack Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world, Rubio said.

The moderators then turned to Christie to ask about his criticisms of Rubios experience. When Christie doubled down, Rubio returned to his line about Obama three more times. He kept repeating the comment even as Christie mocked him for resorting to a memorized sound bite.

Slideshow: The 8th GOP debate >>>



I want the people at home to think about this. Thats what Washington, D.C., does, Christie said of Rubio. The drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information, and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him.



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In the spin room afterward, Rubios communications director, Alex Conant, denied that the comments about Obama were scripted.

Everywhere that Marco goes, he focuses on Barack Obama and uniting the country, Conant told Yahoo News, adding, I mean, you werent allowed notes in that debate.

Rubios aides in the spin room argued that he had put on a strong performance, despite the attacks from Christie. Conant said the senator expected to take fire from several other candidates.

Look, we knew that they were coming after us tonight, Conant explained. The goal for us was surviving. We certainly did that.

Rubios senior adviser Todd Harris echoed the notion that Rubio had weathered the storm.

Every other campaign said before this debate started that they had one singular goal, which was to take out Marco Rubio. They threw their best shots, and they didnt do it, Harris said. There was a big rough-and-tumble at the start, Marco got stronger every single minute, and by the end of the debate, we raised more money during this debate than weve raised during any other debate.



New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question during the Republican presidential primary debate on Saturday in Manchester, N.H. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

When asked about the campaigns fundraising haul, Harris said the campaign would probably give out numbers tomorrow.

Rubio is widely seen as being in competition for votes with his rivals from the more mainstream Republican base: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Christie. Each of these three finished behind Rubio in Iowa. Harris said Rubios team particularly expected Christie to take aim at the senator during the debate.

Chris Christie said, My goal is to take Marco out, because he has to, because hes running on fumes, because hes on life support, Harris said. This was his one chance to inflict mortal damage on Marco Rubio. He took his best shot, and he failed.



Backers of Kasich, who is hoping to benefit from the support of independent voters here Tuesday, said Christies attacks on Rubio would hopefully benefit their candidate.

"I thought it was tough for both of them. I think any time you go negative, there are a certain number of voters who dont react well to that, and I think the attacks on Rubio probably take some toll, said Kasich adviser Bob Walker, a former congressman from Pennsylvania. Negative campaigning works. But were focused on saying theres a positive way of approaching presidential elections, and we think thats actually a winning agenda.



Christie finished in 10th place in Iowa, but his allies have predicted he will be one of four or five candidates to emerge from New Hampshire. Christies senior strategist Mike DuHaime told Yahoo News that Rubio had unquestionably had a bad night.

It was comical how many times he repeated himself, DuHaime said of Rubio. When you get accused of saying the same speech over and over again and your response is to say the same speech over and over again  it was pretty laughable. So, you know, it was a bad  it was a really bad performance. I dont think anybody can say it was anything but a really bad performance for Marco Rubio tonight. Hes usually a very good debater, so the standards are high, but it was a bad performance tonight.

Yahoo News attempted to get another contender, Donald Trump, to weigh in on Rubio. As is his custom after debates, Trump took the high road when asked if he thought Rubio did badly.

I dont know, Trump said of Rubio. Youd have to ask him.
BEDFORD, N.H.  In his first public appearances the morning after a terrible debate performance, Marco Rubio tried to push back Sunday against the idea that he lacks accomplishments as a lawmaker, a key part of the argument being made against him by rivals who say he is too inexperienced to be president.

On a morning talk show, the U.S. senator from Florida argued that no one on that stage last night has more experience or better understands the national security issues before this country than I do.

And at a town hall event here, Rubio asserted that among Republican presidential candidates, he is the only whos ever done anything meaningful about dismantling Obamacare.

Rubio was referring to his opposition to a $2.5 billion provision in the presidents health care law that Rubio refers to as a taxpayer-funded bailout. Some experts dispute this characterization, and the details of the provision are arcane and likely not accessible to many voters.

The problem for Rubio is that his role in the Obamacare fight that he is touting is bound to become bogged down in a debate over the risk corridors in the law that were central to the issue. This does not present Rubio to voters as the clear-cut kind of anti-Obama crusader that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who shut down the government in 2013, was.

Slideshow: The 8th GOP debate >>>

But after a Saturday night debate in which Rubio was mauled by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie  who asserted the first-term senator is not ready to be president  Rubio needs to do something to reverse the impression that he is a lightweight.

Its a real problem for me, Ari Pollock, a 43-year-old real estate attorney, said of the experience issue. Pollock stood waiting in a crowded middle school cafeteria for Rubio to arrive at the town hall meeting.

Im still trying to figure out if [Rubio] can really lead, said Lauren Keeler, an interior designer who moved to New Hampshire from Vermont three years ago.

Story continues

Pollock, the real estate lawyer, said he had been leaning toward voting for a governor in Tuesdays New Hampshire primary until Rubio came in a strong third in the Iowa caucuses last Monday, and began to surge in the polls. After Iowa, Pollock said, Rubios momentum got me more interested. But when Christie took Rubio down in the debate Saturday night, that shifted Pollocks support away from Rubio.

I thought [Rubio] had a tough time of it and the governors raised some good points about experience, Pollock said, referring to Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Pollock said he is leaning toward voting for either Kasich or Bush.

Slideshow: The battle for New Hampshire >>>



If Rubio were to walk in, admit he didnt do well at the debate and vow to do better, Pollock said, then Ill start listening again.

But that did not happen. Rubio spoke for about 15 minutes and then took only a handful of questions, apologizing for leaving so quickly because he had another town hall event scheduled.

Rubios opponents were all too happy to pile on.

He is totally exposed, said a Bush supporter in New Hampshire from out of state. Take Nolan Ryans fastball from him and he would do poorly. Same thing with Marco. His super power of memorizing a couple pivotal lines and saying them flawlessly has been taken away because people will be looking for that.

Bush also, on Fox News Sunday, pinged Rubio as totally scripted and kind of robotic because Rubio repeated the same phrase three times within the space of a few minutes during the debate as Christie pressed the attack against him.

And Christie himself on Sunday morning used the debate performance to further call into question the conventional wisdom that Republicans who do not want Cruz or businessman Donald Trump to win the nomination must unite behind Rubio.

All week, the media is trying to make that we coalesce around Marco Rubio, Christie said on Fox News Sunday. After you saw that performance last night, do you think they should be coalescing around Marco Rubio? Do you think thats the kind of performance, thats the kind of leadership that we want to see on the stage against Hillary Clinton?

Of course, there were plenty of Rubio supporters who were not deterred from supporting him by the debate performance.

I thought he was flustered, but he did well, said Jeremy Pollard, 36. Hes the only one who can beat the Democrats. Theres enough people out there who dont like Trump or Cruz.

But for voters like Pollock, who were undecided about Rubio but were taking a second look after his Iowa win, the debate debacle will undoubtedly linger in their minds as they go to the polls on Tuesday.

In the larger scheme of things, that could benefit Cruz more than anyone else. Many observers see Cruz and Rubio as the two Republicans most likely to be left standing if the primary becomes a two-man contest.

On the other hand, another scenario thats just as possible is that Trump wins New Hampshire Tuesday  as all polling so far has predicted he will do  and the primary strings out as a three-man or even four-candidate race well into the spring, and possibly to the convention.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday denied the military's reports of plans to build a security wall around Baghdad in order to protect the city from attacks by Daesh militants.

The Prime Minister said in a statement that the idea of fencing off the capital of Iraq from the rest of the state is not worthy of consideration, despite continuous assaults by Daesh.

"Baghdad is the capital of all Iraqis," he claimed. "There can be no wall or fence to isolate it or prevent other civilians from entering it."

Al-Abadi's statement contradicts a prior announcement by Baghdad Operations Command on February 3 that preparatory work for a concrete wall around the city was underway.

The Daesh terrorist group has occupied vast territories to the north and west of Baghdad since 2014 and has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly assaults in the capital in recent months. At least 18 people were killed in the last attack that occurred on January 11 at a shopping mall, according to local police.

Instead of fencing off Baghdad, Iraqi authorities plan to secure the capital by reorganizing checkpoints and sealing gaps in the security perimeter while also easing transit in and out of the city, according to al-Abadi's statement.

Some of the city's areas are already barricaded with a set of fences that were constructed some ten years ago during a fierce conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.

Iraqi army soldiers and allies from Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back the areas under control of the extremist group in joint operations.
By Claude Salhani - Trend:

As the Syrian government and opposition groups convened in Geneva for a new round of peace talks under UN auspices the meetings intended to bring about peace, unleashed a deadly spurt of renewed fighting as each side wanted to display its position of power.

Opposition delegate Bassma Kodmani said the bombings had increased in the last week. "In preparations for the negotiations, everything has intensified. The sieges have become total," she said.

On Sunday, the United Nations said that Mouadamiya, a rebel-held town of 45,000 on the southwestern edge of Damascus, faced a new siege by government forces.

Meanwhile, more than 60 people died last Sunday when the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack in the Sayeda Zeinab district of Damascus, according to Amaq, a news agency that supports the militant group. It said two operations "hit the most important stronghold of Shi'ite militias in Damascus." The Britain-based Observatory put the death toll at over 60, including 25 Shi'ite fighters.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the attacks were "clearly aimed to disrupt the attempts to start a political process" to end a conflict that has killed more than 260,000 people.

France and Britain have accused the Syrian president of undermining the talks to favor the military solution. The opposition too, are sticking to their guns, so to speak, as this latest round of negotiations was stillborn before it even started.

The dilemma in the Syrian conflict is this that there can be single winner either on the battlefield or at the negotiating table.

After five years of continued violence that has completely destroyed the country and created a refugee crisis of horrific proportions, turning half its population --10 million people -- into refugees, scattering them across the globe, hope that the Geneva talks would bring peace closer has evaporated.

The president, who rules over only the small percentage of what was Syria before the war, believes he is in a position of force, now that he has the support not only of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, but support of Russia as well.

Syria today is not the Syria of pre-war. The country is now occupied by forces of the so-called Islamic State, and other parts of the country are under control of various rebel forces, and still, President Bashar Assad, refuses to concede and leave the presidency.

In Geneva where the Syrian peace talks were to take place, the opposing side would not even convene in the same room, instead the UN negotiators would shuffle back and forth, relaying demands and counter demands.

The Syrian peace talks today are probably as complicated as were the Lebanese peace talks held in the luxury of a five star hotel in Lausanne in 1984. The sheer number of parties involved, each armed with their own list of demands, and expectations contribute to the complexity of negotiations.

At one point in the 15 year Lebanese civil war there were no fewer than 98 different armed groups of various sizes and importance, some controlling no more than a single street, others welded more power than the national army.

In Syria too, the opposition is divided and composed of a multitude of parties and armed militias who spend as much time fighting each other as they do the central government they want to overthrow.

Claude Salhani: journalist, author, political analyst and TV and radio commentator is one of the most knowledgeable voices on the Arab-Israeli issues, the Greater Middle East, Central Asia, terrorism, and political Islam.

Claude Salhani is the author of the newly released novel, Inauguration Day-a thriller. On sale now at Amazon.com.
Israel is reviewing the possibility of launching two pipeline ventures to export gas to Turkey and Greece, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Sunday, Sputnik reported.



In late January, Tel Aviv, Nicosia and Athens agreed to work on joint projects to export gas from the Eastern Mediterranean's gas reserves discovered in the seas belonging to Israel and Cyprus to Europe.



"If things improve with Turkey... gas could both be sold to Turkey, and to Greece via Turkey," Steinitz told the Greek Kathimerini newspaper.



The Israeli minister added that the discovery of strategic gas reserves in Israel and Egypt would justify the costs of building a major pipeline to Greece.



Ankara has been in talks with Israeli firms over a potential pipeline to carry Israeli natural gas to Turkey for several years, but the negotiations reached an impasse as relations between the two countries deteriorated.



Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one under Turkey's flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, with eight Turkish citizens being killed.



Currently, Israel's Leviathan gas field, first drilled in 2011, is one of the largest young gas reserves in the world, with some 3,450 trillion cubic meters of natural gas of undiscovered reserves.




The White House condemned the Sunday launch of a long-range rocket by North Korea, expressing its commitment to security of regional allies.

Earlier Sunday, North Korea launched a long-range rocket from the country's northwest.

"We condemn today's launch and North Korea's determination to prioritize its missile and nuclear weapons programs over the well-being of its people, whose struggles only intensify with North Korea's diversion of scarce resources to such destabilizing activities," National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.

According to Rice, the launch is a "flagrant violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.

"The United States is fully committed to the security of our allies in the region, and we will take all necessary steps to defend ourselves and our allies and respond to North Korean provocations," Rice said.
The UN Security Council may shortly hold an emergency meeting after North Korea conducted a rocket launch on Sunday, a diplomatic source in the United Nations said.

Earlier Sunday, North Korea launched a long-range rocket from the country's northwest.

The source told RIA Novosti that the session, likely to be held Sunday, was being convened on the initiative of the Western members of the council.

The exact time for the consultations is not known yet.
Workers at Google Ireland, the search group's European sales hub, earn less than half the 160,000 average wage of colleagues in London - despite the British sales team only providing a supporting role to their Irish counterparts, The Guardian reported.

Google bosses will be grilled by parliament's public accounts committee this week over how they have managed to continue with their controversial Irish tax structures in the face of repeated promises from politicians to close these arrangements down.





The relationship between Google sales teams in London and Dublin are likely to be at the heart of MPs' questioning.

Google Ireland booked 5bn in sales from UK advertisers last year, but paid no tax in the UK. The search group's controversial corporate structure means the UK subsidiary provides "marketing services" to Google Ireland. Meanwhile, UK customers buy advertising exclusively from the Irish company.

Four years ago, Matt Brittin, Google's European sales boss, told MPs that staff in the UK only "encourage" British advertisers to buy from the search group, but the advertisers ultimately buy "from our expert team in Dublin."

He stressed: "Anybody who buys advertising from us in Europe buys from Google in Ireland from our expert team."

Despite the expertise of Google Ireland's workforce, latest accounts show the business paid 2,577 staff wages totalling 244m for 2014 - giving an average wage of 94,590, or 72,783.
The UN Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea's long-range rocket and satellite launch, which came in serious violation of the council's previous resolutions, the council's President Rafael Ramirez said Sunday, according to Sputnik.



"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this launch, as well as any other DPRK launch that uses ballistic missile technology...even if characterized as a satellite launch... [It] is in a serious violation of the Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013)," Ramirez told reporters after the close of the council's emergency meeting held Sunday.



The council reaffirmed the existence of a continued threat to international security in the light of North Korea's recent nuclear test, he added.



"Members of the security council will adopt...a new security council resolution with such measures in response to this dangerous and serious violation," the president concluded.




Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing waves after a news conference in Hong Kong on Jan. 9, 2015. (Photo : Reuters)

Asian mogul Li Ka-shing came out strongly against European regulators on Thursday, Feb. 4, with his assistant defending a proposed $15 billion to purchase U.K. cell phone operator O2.



The managing director of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd., Canning Fok, said in a statement that the coming together of O2 and Three, CK Hutchison's existing British carrier, would come along with a five-year price freeze for clients, according to The Wall Street Journal. Furthermore, the combined firm would invest $7.3 billion in the venture over the same period.



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Fok pointed out that Li's Hong Kong-based flagship firm would also allow competitors to purchase fractional ownership shares in its U.K. mobile network, as opposed to purchasing wholesale network volume. The move would get rid of the intermediary and allow rivals on CK Hutchison's mobile network to give lower prices to customers.



In a note, an analyst at CCS Insight, Kester Mann, wrote: "CK Hutchison's move is the opening salvo in what is likely to be a long and intense period of negotiation with the European Commission. Today's announcement is the first step, but it is unlikely to appease (the commission's) competition chief Margrethe Vestager, who has adopted a hard-line on in-market mergers."



Last week, the CEO of U.K. telecommunications regulator Ofcom issued an alarm that the proposed merger could heighten prices for consumers and hurt competition among mobile carriers in the U.K.



However, Mann said that CK Hutchison's propositions came ahead of an expected statement of objection from the commission that is likely to "raise significant concerns over the prospect of negative outcomes for consumers." He said that a similar warning affected a planned merger of two Danish carriers in 2015.



According to a statement from the European Commission in Oct. 2015, the agency had opened an investigation into the sale of O2 to CK Hutchison, indicating that the merger could result in increased prices and reduced choices for U.K. consumers, China Technology News reported.



The central antitrust regulator of Europe later declined a request from Britain's competition authorities to review the deal, asserting that Brussels was in a better position to evaluate the deal's effect on clients.


There are people in Fujian and Taiwan who worship the Monkey King. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese worshipers of the Monkey King are eagerly awaiting the upcoming Lunar New Year on Feb. 8, which marks the start of the Year of the Monkey, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency.



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Those who consider themselves followers of Qitian Dasheng (literally Great Sage Equal to Heaven), the title given to the Monkey King, hope the Lunar New Year will improve temple attendance, expanding the influence of its culture within and outside Fujian Province in Southeast China.



"We are planning the largest-ever celebrations in the Year of the Monkey. We've hired musicians for the parade and other events," said You Xiang, part of the management committee of the Ruyi Hexin Temple in Fuzhou, Fujian's capital.



The Monkey King, a powerful demon slayer in the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," is also known as a guardian of families in Fujian and Taiwan, where he is worshiped, a fact many people in other parts of China are not aware of.



A record number of the Monkey King's believers are projected to join this year's "parade of God," which will happen shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, said You.



During the parade, temple workers will carry a statue of the Monkey King sitting on a wooden throne around several streets, lighting firecrackers and banging gongs in the process. Locals who believe in the Monkey King will welcome him with tables full of vegetarian food as tribute before taking part in the parade.



The temple is also being renovated for the Lunar New Year, according to You.



The excitement for the upcoming festivities is being felt across several of the more than 700 Monkey King temples in Fuzhou.



"Many believers have visited the temple wishing to bring the King (statue) back home for the Year of the Monkey," said Wan Congyuan, head of the management committee of the ancestral temple on Pingshan Mountain.



The religion is growing as the Monkey King is gaining ground as a cultural icon all over the country.



The character has inspired numerous films, cartoons and TV dramas.



Folklorists believe that the Monkey King could stem from a pre-historic worship of apes that dates back before the emergence of the novel.



"The novel made the belief more popular, as it transformed the local's image of a fearsome god into a demon slayer and protector of the people," said Li Linzhou with the religious affairs bureau of Fuzhou.


China is seeing an increase in outbound tourists as incomes increase and visa restrictions ease. (Photo : Reuters)

It is expected that the number of Chinese outbound tourists will set a new record during the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, with neighboring countries like Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea being the major destinations.



The latest data provided by Ctrip.com, one of the largest travel service sites in China, reveals that the number of Chinese tourists going abroad during the Lunar New Year holiday will hit 6 million, which is more than the previous numbers.



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"During the seven-day national holiday, Chinese tourists will cross more than 100 countries and regions, with the South Pole being the farthest point," noted Ctrip.com.



The most popular destinations for Spring Festival among tourists from China are South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, China's Taiwan Province, Indonesia, the United States, Australia and Malaysia, according to China Daily, citing data collected by major online travel organizations in the country.



Neighboring states in Asia are enjoying surging popularity among Chinese tourists. Hong Kong is slowly regaining its appeal to tourists in the mainland, with its latest booking number ranking second among all places.



A new report released by LY.com reveals that Chinese outbound visitors spent about five to six days on their trips during the festival, accounting for 42.9 percent of their yearly travel time. The publication added that package tours are still the most preferred, with DIY trips accounting for a little bit over 21 percent of travel.



Reports indicate that the demand for products associated with overseas travel is on the rise, including WiFi eggs, tickets and vehicle services. Chinese outbound tourists are spending more as well, with the aggregate expenditure hitting over 4,000 yuan ($609).



Several reasons play central for the boost of outbound tourism, including relaxed visa regulations, increased international flight routes, and travel expenditure discounts in addition to allowances offered by online travel organizations.


To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry.

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Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.
Egypt's antiquities ministry denies that the rectangular leg statue of god Amun-Re at Karnak Temple has been restored recently, saying an image circulating showing it with cement legs is 50 years old

Social media and Twitter users have been making jokes about a limestone statue of god Amun-Re in Karnak Temple on Luxors east bank. The statue was shown with cement legs.

Mostafa Waziri, director of Luxor's antiquities, told Ahram Online that the photo of the statue, while real, was from when the statue was restored more than 50 years ago, when using cement in restoration was not prohibited.

Waziri told Ahram Online that the antiquities ministry is now only using safe materials in restoration that never negatively affects monuments.

Waziri asserted that the statue was unearthed inside the temple by a French mission more than a 50 years ago and was restored at that time.

Abdel Naser Ahmed, director of restoration at Karnak Temple, said that three years ago some of the black cement used in the original restored cracked, and that the ministry in collaboration with a French mission filled the cracks, in order to protect the statue.

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After Egypt President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi apologised for not finishing the reconstruction work of Christian properties damaged in the aftermath of Islamist president Mohamed Morsis ouster in 2013, the engineering unit of the Armed Forces immediately started cooperating with Coptic authorities to wrap up the pending renovations, religious Coptic figures said.

While visiting Cairo's St. Mark Cathedral on Christmas Eve, El-Sisi apologised to the country's Christians over the delay in the completion of renovations, which he says will be done by the end of 2016.

The churches undergoing renovation were attacked in August 2013 on the day of the dispersals of pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo, with the ensuing hours seeing sectarian attacks against Christians in Upper Egypt, where the Coptic population is relatively large.

El-Sisi, who was defence minister at the time, immediately announced that the Armed Forces would pay the costs of renovating and rebuilding all churches damaged in the attacks, which lasted over 12 hours.

In October 2013, the Egyptian Family House called for an initiative to renovate the damaged houses of worship and opened a bank account to receive donations.

The Family House is an authority launched by Egypt's Al-Azhar  the country's highest Muslim Sunni authority  and all Egyptian churches immediately after the deadly 2011 bombing of the Two Saints Church in Alexandria, one of the most infamous attacks on churches in the country's modern history.

The Family House's mission is to unite Muslim and Christian Egyptians to ease sectarian strife.

Safwat El-Bayadi, the former head of Egypt's Evangelical Church and a member of the Family House, told Ahram Online that "unfortunately, we only received EGP 9 million and $8,000 since the initiative started, which is a very small amount of money in relation to the damages."

Restoration work sponsored by the Armed Forces will cost some EGP 200 million ($25.5 million).

"I appreciate so much the president's promise to continue the restoration process this year," said Bishop Macarius of Minya in a phone call with Ahram Online.

He also thanked "the Armed Forces for their effort in renovating the churches to return them to the way they were before the attacks, or even better, and also the efforts of the Muslims who protected churches from attacks and provided refuge for their Christian neighbours to save their lives."

"14 August 2013 marks the worst attacks in the Church's modern history, as all Christian lives were threatened," Macarius added.

"They lost their properties in seconds, but thank God despite all the sectarian incidents and discrimination, Christianity in Egypt not only remains, but flourishes."

Although Christians only make up roughly 10 percent of the Egypts 90 million people, many Islamists blamed Copts for the massive, nationwide protests that preceded Morsis ouster on 3 July 2013.

The attacks following the dispersal of two pro-Morsi sit-ins targeted churches and Christian religious institutions, as well as Coptic-owned properties including six Christian schools, 60 houses, 85 shops, three hotels and 80 vehicles.

A number of Christians were also killed in the attacks.

According to a report issued by Coptic rights group Maspero Youth Union (MYU), supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Morsi hails, destroyed and set fire to around 65 Churches. Some these churches, according to the report, dated as far back as the fourth century.

Bishop Pimen of Upper Egypts Naqada and Qus villages, who is also the head of the crisis committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church, said the engineering unit of the Armed Forces has set a three-stage plan to renovate and rebuild the churches, monasteries and other institutions.

"The first stage, which included 20 churches with renovations costing EGP 70 ($8.9) million, and the second stage, which included 21 churches costing EGP 9.5 ($1.2) million, are already finished," he said. "Now we are working on the third stage, which includes 24 churches at a cost range of EGP 118-125 ($15-16) million."

"There are criteria in choosing the churches for each stage based on the security conditions and the level of damages, Pimen added. The first stage included completely devastated churches that needed a lot of work. This has led to the delay of the second stage, which included less damaged churches."

Evangelical pastor Refaat Fekry told Ahram Online that the number of Evangelical churches damaged in the attacks was less than Orthodox churches.

"In the first and second stages, the armed forces restored four churches, he said. We now have three churches and a church-owned boat to be restored in the third stage."

Father Botros Danial, president of the Egyptian Catholic Cinema Centre, said "two churches and a school have already been rebuilt, and we still need to restore two other churches in the third stage."

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Talks will focus on Egypt's role in the region, and the strengthening of ties between Egypt and the EU

A European parliament delegation headed by the chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok arrived in Cairo Saturday for talks with Egypt's parliamentary speaker Ali Abdel-Al.

Talks will focus on Egypt's role in the region, and the strengthening of ties between Egypt and the EU.

The eight-member delegation will also meet with a number of officials and with civil society representatives.

Since the Egyptian parliament first convened on 10 January, Abdel-Al has met with a number of ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Korea, and Spain.

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Tuk-tuks, or motorised rickshaws, are often blamed for traffic congestion on main roads

Tuk-tuk drivers will have official stops on secondary streets and will be banned from entering main streets in a decision coordinated by Giza's traffic administration and the governorate, Ahram Arabic website reported.

Head of the media and public relations department at the traffic administration Ayman Abdel-Qader said tuk-tuk drivers were told to not drive on the main roads. Violators of this new traffic law will face fines.

Abdel-Qader added that the stops will be located only 150 meters from the main road and that the decision aims to reduce traffic congestion often caused by tuk-tuks.

Head of the planning department at Giza's traffic administration, Wael Taher, said six stops will be built at the entrances of streets Zaghloul, Ezeldin Omar, Othman Moharram, Al-Tawabeq in Faisal and Al-Eshreen, and Al-Matbaa streets.

Taher added that one of the stops is currently being built.

Last August, Cairo governorate banned tuk-tuks in 15 districts and said it would impose a fine of EGP1,500 on violators.

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Shoukry is scheduled to meet with top US officials to discuss several regional and international issues

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry traveled early Sunday to Washington for three days for regional and international talks with top US officials, a statement by the Egyptian FM read.

The statement read that Shoukry's three day visit will witness meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry, US security advisor Susan Rice, along with a number of congressmen.

Shoukry will also meet with heads and members of intelligence committees, the military, and the Senate during his trip.

This is the first visit by Shoukry to the US since the election of the House of Representatives, the last step in Egypts political roadmap.

Yet this is not Shoukry's first visit to the US. His latest was in June when he held "strategic dialogue with his counterpart Kerry.

Cairo and Washington are long-time allies but relations soured following the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Tensions have now eased, with the US resuming its $1.3 billion in annual military aid to Cairo in March 2015, having partly suspended it in the aftermath of the ouster.

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The three countries will discuss technical offers by French firms BRL and Artelia to carry out impact studies

Fresh talks between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia will begin on Sunday in Khartoum to discuss the technical offer from French firms BRL and Artelia on impact studies of Ethiopia's controversial Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD).

During the three-day talks, the countries will also discuss the offers with the two firms representatives, state news agency MENA reported.

In late January, Egypt announced that it had received the firms offers, and that it was reviewing them ahead of the tripartite meeting.

Although Egypt has repeatedly expressed concern over the dam's possible effect on the country, Ethiopia insists it will not negatively affect Egypt's share of Nile water.

In December 2015, President El-Sisi addressed the public saying that there is no reason to worry about the dam and that the matter would be resolved.

"I totally understand the concern of Egyptians as water is a matter of life or death," El-Sisi added.

The dam, scheduled to be completed in 2017, will be Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant with a storage capacity of 74 billion cubic metres of water.

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El-Adly served as Mubarak's minister of interior from 1997 to 2011

Cairos criminal court banned on Sunday Mubarak-era interior minister Habib El-Adly from travelling outside Egypt and ordered the freezing of his assets in the case known in the media as corruption at the interior ministry.

El-Adly, along with 12 other former ministry officials, are being tried in criminal court over charges of illicit gains.

The defendants are accused of using their influence to acquire illicit gains amounting to more than EGP 2.4 billion (close to $305 million) when El-Adly was minister of interior.

The court also froze the assets of El-Adlys family and ordered the freezing of all other defendants assets.

The court adjourned the case to 28 April on Sunday's session.

Following the travel ban, renowned lawyer Farid El-Dib, who defends Al-Adly in this case, told reporters that "the travel ban ruling means that the court became an investigative party, which is legally not permissible."

In December 2015, a court ended a freeze on the assets and properties of El-Adly following his acquittal from charges of killing protestors.

El-Adly served as Mubarak's minister of interior from 1997 till the 2011 revolution.

He is currently out of jail as he was released from detention in March after being acquitted on charges of using his political influence to acquire illicit gains amounting to EGP 181 million.

Last year, he was acquitted along with six of his aides and former president Hosni Mubarak on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the January 2011 uprising.

In a separate case, El-Adly also saw an initial 12-year sentence and EGP 15 million worth of fines dropped over charges of corruption and money laundering.

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The preliminary sentence followed a conviction on charges of planning attacks on officials, including military and police personnel

Egypts military court handed eight defendants preliminary death sentences on Sunday after they were found guilty of planning attacks on Egyptian officials, including military and police personnel.

Their case has been referred to Egypt's Grand Mufti for further deliberation before the court issues its sentence.



Egyptian law requires that the defendants case be referred to the Mufti, a senior Muslim cleric, for a consultative review. His opinion is non-binding on the court.

The eight defendants were also found guilty of carrying out attacks, "as per instructions of the Muslim Brotherhoods international organisation", which destroyed electricity and communication pylons.

The verdict can be appealed in front of the military court of cassation.

The court will issue its ruling for the rest of the defendants, 20 in total, in the next court session once it receives the Muftis opinion on the death sentences.

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While nothing in the villages around Chaambi Mountain in southwest Tunisia suggests an underlying extremism, marginalisation may lead locals to turn a blind eye to the influx of outside terrorists

The Chaambi Mountain area in southwest Tunisia lies 280 kilometres away from the capital Tunis and is only 80 kilometres from the border with Algeria.

The Chaambi Mountain has been repeatedly mentioned by newspapers and TV channels  domestically and internationally  describing it as a stronghold for militants, including those affiliated to the Islamic State group.

Bolaaba village, located in the foothills of the mountain, became one of the most well known villages because of militant attacks that took place in areas close to it.

The last attack, witnessing the death of four police officers, occurred in February 2015, though the most large-scale attack took place in 16 July 2014, in which 15 military soldiers lost their lives.

On Bolaaba's outskirts

The distance between Bolaaba and Kasserine governorate is less than 10 kilometres. Between them, one passes through an industrial zone.

However, a taxi driver said that the industrial zone is "basically nothing but a signboard." "Investors don't come here, and terrorism made the situation much worse," the driver said.

Bolaaba has a population estimated at 1,800 people. Its dusty, arid lands and single-floor buildings indicate poverty and limited opportunities for agriculture.

The only activities that are conducted are logging, pasturing cattle and sheep, and cultivating olive bushes on the mountain's foothills. Many suspect it works as a hub for smuggling goods though the Algerian border.

Although among those interviewed no one admitted to such, other suspicions involve selling basic goods and food to militants who started to spread in the area by the end of 2011.

Ziad Jahri, a 26-years-old man who lives in Bolaaba, complains of the lack of job opportunities in the village. The average age of marriage, he said, has increased to 35.

"I travel to the capital to work as casual labour for a month or two, and then I return back  More than 80 per cent of the young people of the village are unemployed. The agricultural land is at risk due to the lack of irrigation water and money needed for the cultivation process."

The number of permanent employees in education and local administration does not exceed 20 in the whole village, according to Jahri. However, the state speaks about the increasing the number of employees in the administrative sector, especially after the revolution.

Residents of Bolaaba also complain of undrinkable water with high degrees of salinity, which increases rates of kidney disease. They wait impatiently for water tanks that come twice a month, from which they buy the drinkable water they need.

The village has a small medical clinic visited by a doctor once a week, while the nearest hospital is located in Kasserine. Sanitation is a constant problem.

While Bolaaba doesn't have problems with electricity, the streets are without lamp posts, a matter that impels the sole cafe in the village to close before 9pm. Women refrain from going out when it is dark, Fatima Al-Amiri, 30, told Ahram Online.

A mosque and a shrine with no visitors

Near the entrance to the village lies a mosque that had a very small number of worshippers following the Duhr prayer. The mosque was built in 1985 and is named after a pious Muslim man from the same area. The shrine of the pious man, which is now closed. There are no visits or yearly celebrations.

The imam of the mosque, Mahfouz Bin Nasr, who was appointed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs five years ago, said the mosque has not been affected by extremism. We have never had takfiri people here; there has never been any contact with them. None of them ever disagreed with what we say during Friday sermons, Bin Nasr said.

Bin Nasr explained the small number of worshipers as being due to the coldness of the weather, as the mosque has no heating.

The manager of the village youth club said that the youth of the village are moderately religious and not at all extremist. Fatima, who does not think about taking on the veil, said that women in the village were not affected and have not been forced to wear the veil or the niqab.

Militants stealing pasta and tomatoes

Outside the village, on the Wadi Haffa cliff, the commander of the National Guard, who wished to remain anonymous, said that militants hide in the mountains.

He added that the safety of the mountains, villages and valleys are the responsibility of the army.

Some terrorists from this area have joined foreign arrivals, and hid in caves and mountains. The foreigners are usually Algerians, he said.

The commander added that the most wanted militant in Chaambi is Algerian leader Mourad El-Shayeb, known as Abu Auf. The numbers of the militants is approximately between 100 and 200, while some of them bring along their wives and children.

There are cluster organisation groups that inhabit the caves: some are affiliated with Ansar Al-Sharia, Al-Qaeda loyalists, and others are affiliated with the Okba Ibn Nafea Brigade, who are Islamic State group loyalists.

On their relations with the people of Bolaaba and other villages, the commander explained that they are trying to exploit the poverty of the people, luring them with money.

The people dont deal with them anymore, as they began attacking the shepherds at night and stealing their sheep and supplies, like tomatoes and pasta," he said.

Understanding the mountain

Is Chaambi Mountain a stronghold for terrorists? Why do terrorists take cover in the mountain area? Ahram Online spoke to experts on this phenomenon in Tunis.

El Hadi Yahmid, the author of the book Tunisia Under the Banner of Punishment, said that, In in the past few years, terrorists in Tunisia have been centered in impoverished and marginal areas surrounding the major cities, such as the mountain area of Tunis in the west, as it is hard to monitor the Tunisia Algerian border due to its rugged terrain.

Chaambi is the extension of the Aures Mountains, which start off from Morocco passing through Algeria, he asserted.

Yahmid added that there are groups in Chaambi that are affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the Islamic State group.

In the beginning, there was Ansar Al-Sharia group, who swore allegiance to Al-Qaeda. Later on, some split forming the Okba Ibn Nafea Brigade. From this brigade, the Islamic State group affiliated Jund Al-Khilafah, which claimed the three major terrorist attacks in Tunisia in 2015  of the Bardo Museum, the Sousse Hotel, and the presidential guard  arose. 

Speaking to Ahram Online, Mohamed El-Haj Salem, editor of Salafi Jihadism in Tunisia, published by the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies, said that, Of course, there is an incubator environment for terrorists because of poverty and marginalisation. There are some residents of these areas that provide logistical support and information, whether for money or convinced by the agenda of these radical groups."

"There is also a relation between drug dealing and smuggling of goods and commodities and terrorism. Most of these terrorist groups use smuggling and drugs as a resource for living and saving money. In turn, the terrorist groups facilitate the protection of smugglers and drug dealers," added Salem, who was head of the Salafi Jihad Unit at the institute from 2012 to 2014.

Resisting through culture

Passing through the city of Kasserine, Ahram Online gained a copy of the 19 October 2015 decision to launch a unit to follow up on development and cultural activities in the mountain villages.

However, no one in the village of Bolaaba and its environs spoke about the unit or any of its activities. There was also no presence of the 200 political parties that emerged in Tunisia after the revolution, neither of civil society organisations whose number increased to 18,000 officially licensed.

The villages in the foothills of Chaambi Mountain pose another paradox. Plagued by unemployment, poverty, marginalisation and terrorism, they had the largest number of martyrs in the Jasmine Revolution  even compared to neighboring Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the Tunisian revolution.

As in Sidi Bouzid, time passes and little changes.

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An Israeli soldier was stabbed and lightly wounded in the southern city of Ashkelon on Sunday and the assailant was shot, Israeli police said.

It was the latest incident in an almost four-month long surge of Israeli-on-Palestinian deadly repression met with violent responses by Palestinians against settlers and Israeli soldiers.

Another soldier grabbed the wounded soldier's gun and shot the attacker after the stabbing near a bus station, the police said, without providing further details on the assailant's condition.

Police said it was a suspected "nationalist" attack -- the phrase used by Israeli authorities for Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

The recent surge in violence has raised concern of wider escalation, a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided.

Since the start of October, Israeli occupation forces have killed at least 160 Palestinians. Meanwhile, almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by frustrated and unarmed Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and a US citizen.

The current wave of protests by Palestinians and repression by Israeli occupation forces started in late July when toddler Ali Dawabsha was burned to death and three other Palestinians were severely injured after their house in the occupied West Bank was set on fire by Israeli settlers.

Settlement-building, racial discrimination, confiscation of identity cards, long queues at checkpoints, as well as daily clashes and the desecration of Al-Aqsa mosque, describe Palestinians' daily suffering.

The anger of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem has increased in the last three years after the Israeli authorities allowed increasing numbers of Jewish settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa mosque.

The surge in violence has been fuelled by Palestinians' frustration over Israel's 48-year occupation of land they seek for an independent state, and the expansion of settlements in those territories which were captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

Palestinian leaders say a younger generation sees no hope for the future living under Israeli security restrictions and with a stifled economy. The latest round of US-brokered peace talks collapsed in April 2014.

*The story has been edited by Ahram Online.

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An air strike hit a hospital in Derna in eastern Libya on Sunday, killing four people including a woman and her child and two anti-government fighters, a doctor said.

"There are four dead -- a nurse, her 10-year-old son and two members of the Shura Council," radiologist Dr Mohamad al-Jeddayimi at Al-Wehda hospital told AFP.

In its own statement, the Mujahedeen Shura Council said the attack was in the area of the Faculty of Medical Technology Science in the Bab Tobruk district of eastern Derna came at 0400 GMT.

The Mujahedeen Shura Council of Derna is a coalition of Islamist militias in the city.

It was formed to oppose forces of the controversial General Khalifa Haftar, head of forces loyal to the internationally recognised authorities based in the east.

Jeddayimi said the nurse and her son were killed in a direct hit on Al-Wehda hospital's urology department, adding that the unit was "completely destroyed".

The hospital is near the medical faculty in Bab Tobruk.

No claim of responsibility has been made, and forces loyal to the recognised government did not report any air strike in the area on Sunday.

The coastal city of Derna is 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.

The Mujahedeen Shura Council of Derna that controls it is a motley mix of Islamist militias that include Ansar al-Sharia, which is close to Al-Qaeda.

Derna has also come under regular attack by the Islamic State (ISIS) group which has positions on its outskirts after being ousted from the city itself in July last year.

On January 21, ISIS again tried to enter Derna but was repulsed by local forces.

The militant group moved into Libya in 2014, becoming yet another player in the lawless North African state where rival governments and militias are battling for control of territory and major oil reserves.

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A man who stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli occupation soldier on Sunday in the southern city of Ashkelon before being shot was a Sudanese national who has since died of his wounds, police said.

Police initially said the incident near a bus station was suspected to be part of a wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks that erupted in October. The motive for the stabbing is now unclear.

It was the latest incident in an almost four-month long surge of Israeli-on-Palestinian deadly repression met with violent responses by Palestinians against settlers and Israeli soldiers.

The recent surge in violence has raised concern of wider escalation, a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided.

Since the start of October, Israeli occupation forces have killed at least 160 Palestinians. Meanwhile, almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by frustrated and unarmed Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and a US citizen.

The current wave of protests by Palestinians and repression by Israeli occupation forces started in late July when toddler Ali Dawabsha was burned to death and three other Palestinians were severely injured after their house in the occupied West Bank was set on fire by Israeli settlers.

Settlement-building, racial discrimination, confiscation of identity cards, long queues at checkpoints, as well as daily clashes and the desecration of Al-Aqsa mosque, describe Palestinians' daily suffering.

The anger of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem has increased in the last three years after the Israeli authorities allowed increasing numbers of Jewish settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa mosque.

The surge in violence has been fuelled by Palestinians' frustration over Israel's 48-year occupation of land they seek for an independent state, and the expansion of settlements in those territories which were captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

Palestinian leaders say a younger generation sees no hope for the future living under Israeli security restrictions and with a stifled economy. The latest round of US-brokered peace talks collapsed in April 2014.

*The story has been edited by Ahram Online.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would advance legislation enabling the suspension of parliamentarians for "inappropriate conduct" after Arab MPs met relatives of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces.

"In a meeting with heads of the coalition parties, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on formulating a bill that would enable the Knesset (parliament) to suspend a member over inappropriate conduct," a statement read.

Such a suspension would need the approval of 90 out of the parliament's 120 members.

Netanyahu's declaration came after three Arab Israeli lawmakers visited relatives of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces, drawing harsh condemnation from most of the political establishment.

Basel Ghattas, Jamal Zahalka and Hanin Zoabi of the Balad party attended a meeting initiated by a Palestinian committee seeking to retrieve the bodies of attackers killed by Israeli occupation forces.

While the bodies of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank killed are returned within hours or days, Israel currently retains those from east Jerusalem, saying this discourages violence.

Since the start of October, Israeli occupation forces have killed around 165 Palestinians. Meanwhile, 25 Israelis, an Eritrean and a US citizen are killed by frustrated and unarmed Palestinians.

Of the Balad visit, Netanyahu earlier on Sunday said he would "examine new and reinforced legislative changes to ensure that anyone who acts in this direction will not serve in the Israeli Knesset".

He also asked that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit examine the legality of the MPs' visit.

The justice ministry said on Sunday that Mandelblit had requested that police collect information to determine whether a crime had been committed.

Channel 2 political reporter Amit Segal said he doubted the feasibility of legislation that would allow parliament to suspend a member.

Such a provision already exists for the president and the Knesset speaker, but while the latter are chosen by parliament itself, "a Knesset member is elected by the public", he said.

"That's what the High Court of Justice will say when it strikes down the law," Segal wrote on Twitter.

The only way to currently suspend or disqualify a member of parliament is if he or she is convicted of a crime.

Also on Sunday, Zoabi was given a six-month suspended sentence for insulting police officers and ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 shekels ($770, 690 euros) for calling two Arab Israeli police officers "traitors" in 2014.

Arab Israelis hold Israeli citizenship but largely sympathise with the Palestinian cause.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online.

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South Korean and US defence officials said Sunday they would begin formal talks on the deployment on the Korean peninsula of a US missile system strongly opposed by China.

The announcement followed a North Korean rocket launch that the US and its allies condemned as a covert ballistic missile test.

"It has been decided to formally start talks on the possibility of deploying the THAAD system to South Korea as part of steps to bolster the missile defence of the Korea-US alliance," said Ryu Je-Seung, policy director at the defence ministry in Seoul.

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North Korea said Sunday it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as a disguised ballistic missile test for a weapons delivery system to strike the US mainland.

The launch, which violated multiple UN resolutions, amounted to the North doubling down against an international community already struggling to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test a month ago.

There was no immediate external confirmation that the final stage of the satellite-bearing rocket had successfully achieved orbit, although a US defence official said the launch vehicle "appears to have reached space."

In a special state TV broadcast, a female North Korean announcer, wearing a traditional Korean hanbok dress, hailed the "epochal" launch, personally ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un.

While stressing that it represented the legitimate exercise of North Korea's right to the "peaceful and independent" use of space, she also noted that it marked a breakthrough in boosting national "defence capability."

Condemnation was swift, with US Secretary of State John Kerry calling the launch a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying it was "absolutely intolerable".

In New York, diplomats said the UN Security Council would meet in emergency session later Sunday to discuss what UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described as a "deeply deplorable" development.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said the Council should respond quickly with "strong punitive measures".

South Korean and US defence officials said they would immediately start formal discussions on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system in South Korea to counter the growing threat from North Korea.

"It is time to move forward on this issue," said Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea.

China has already voiced stiff opposition to any such deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system so close to its border.

Sunday's rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, took off at around 9:00 am Pyongyang time (0030 GMT) and, according to state TV, achieved orbit 10 minutes later.

Both South Korea and Japan had threatened to shoot it down if it encroached on their territory.

Multiple UN Security Council resolutions proscribe North Korea's development of its ballistic missile programme.

Despite Pyongyang's insistence on scientific space missions, its rockets are considered dual-use technology with both civil and military applications.

The United States, along with allies like South Korea and Japan, had warned Pyongyang it would pay a heavy price for pushing ahead with launch, but analysts said the North's timing was carefully calculated to minimise the repercussions.

"North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test," said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's.

North Korea's chief diplomatic ally, China, which has been resisting the US push for tougher sanctions, reacted briefly to the launch with a simple expression of "regret".

While infuriated by North Korea's refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China's overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, placing a similar Earth observation satellite in orbit.

Western intelligence experts say that satellite has never functioned properly, fuelling suspicion of the mission's scientific veneer.

Despite Pyongyang's bellicose claims to the contrary, the North is still seen as being years away from developing a credible inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM).

A key challenge it faces is mastering the re-entry technology required to deliver a payload as far away as the United States.

"An ICBM warhead, unlike a satellite, needs to come down as well as go up," said aerospace engineer John Schilling, who has closely followed the North's missile programme.

"North Korea has never demonstrated the ability to build a re-entry vehicle that can survive at even half the speed an ICBM would require," Schilling said.

"If and when they do, what is presently a theoretical threat will become very real and alarming," he added.

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France condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday as "senseless provocation" and called for a "rapid and tough" response from the UN Security Council.

"France condemns with the utmost firmness the new flagrant violation by North Korea of the resolutions of the Security Council," the presidential Elysee Palace said in a statement.

"The launch... is a senseless provocation," it added, saying "France calls for a rapid and tough response from the international community at the Security Council" meeting in New York later Sunday.

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NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday blasted North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket as a blatant breach of five UN resolutions and demanded Pyongyang comply with international law.

In a statement, Stoltenberg said he strongly condemned the launch, which entailed the use of ballistic missile technology and came after a widely-condemned nuclear test on January 6.

"This launch is in direct violation of five United Nations Security Council Resolutions," he said.

Those resolutions "repeatedly call for North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme, to re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching and not to conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology," he said.

"NATO continues to call on the North Korean authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, not to threaten with or conduct any launches using ballistic missile technology and to refrain from any further provocative actions."

North Korea earlier announced that it had placed a satellite into orbit under its right to the "peaceful and independent" use of space.

But the launch breached multiple UN resolutions aimed at preventing North Korea from acquiring a missile capable of carrying out a long-range strike, in addition to its suspected quest to build a nuclear arsenal.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the launch "deeply deplorable" while US Secretary of State John Kerry denounced a "flagrant violation" of UN decisions.

Among the other permanent Security Council members, Britain, France and Russia expressed anger and concern, while North Korea's main diplomatic protector China voiced "regret".

The European Union described the launch as "yet another outright and grave violation" of North Korea's obligations and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with the international community.

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Some 2,000 people, mostly women, protested on Sunday in downtown Sarajevo against a recent ban on wearing a hijab headscarf in the majority Muslim country's judicial institutions.

"We gathered to protest against prejudices, discrimination and marginalisation," Samira Zunic Velagic, one of the protest organisers, told the crowd.

"The ban of wearing hijab in judicial insititious is a serious attack against Muslim honour, personality and identity, a violation ... aimed at depriving them of their right to work," she added.

The protest was sparked by a recent decision of Bosnia's high judicial council, a body tasked with supervising the functioning of the judiciary, to ban "religious signs" in judicial institutions.

The decision which concerns judges and other employees in the sector, but does explicitly mention hijab -- a scarf which covers hair, ears and neck -- was strongly condemned by Bosnia's Muslim political and religious leaders as well as numerous local Muslim associations.

The protestors marched for around an hour through the capital's centre carrying banners that read "Hijab is my Daily Choice," "Hijab is my Right" or "Hijab is my Life."

"We came here to say that we are not the victims of this scarf. We came to defend our rights. It is our crown, our liberty, our honour," Elisa Hamovac, a 33-year-old stay-at-home mother, wearing a light blue hijab, told AFP.

Muslims make up around 40 percent of Bosnia's population of 3.8 million and are mostly followers of a moderate form of Islam. The others are mostly Orthodox and Catholic Christians.

Hijab was banned by the communist authorities while Bosnia was still part of the former Yugoslavia until 1992 when it proclaimed independence.

Today many Muslim women wear hijab, with some being completely veiled. However, most are not veiled.

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Egypt will approve imported wheat shipments that have passed quality tests in the country of origin, Egyptian Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafy said on Sunday in an attempt to reassure the country's suppliers.

"From now on, any shipment which is approved by technical experts in its port of departure will be approved in Egypt," Hanafy told Ahram Online after a joint press conference with Minister of Agriculture Essam Fayed to clarify Egypt's position regarding the permissible level of ergot fungus in its grain imports.

Officials in Egypt's agriculture ministry had ignited confusion among international suppliers of the world's largest wheat buyer by claiming that Egypt had a zero-tolerance policy for the presence of the fungus in its imported wheat, while the state's grain buyer maintained that it had accepted a 0.05 percent internationally-respected limit.

The contradicting statements came after a 63,000-tonne shipment of French wheat that arrived in December was rejected by ministry of agriculture inspectors upon arrival for containing traces of the fungus.

"Nothing has changed at all, the same rules, the same standards are applied," Hanafy told reporters in response to a question about the confusion surrounding the acceptable level of ergot fungus in wheat shipments.

The French shipment was exceptional, as inspectors had found a level of ergot exceeding 0.05 percent, he said. Both ministers declined to specify the exact percentage of ergot discovered in the shipment when asked by reporters.

The confusion has caused weariness among suppliers, who boycotted a wheat purchase tender last Tuesday, and Egypt called off another one last Friday after receiving higher-than-usual prices from the four bidders who participated.

Asked why the shipment received approval in France before being rejected in Egypt, Fayed said that Egypt is "investigating" the matter.

Egypt relies heavily on wheat imports to feed its population of 90 million. Wheat imports for the 2015/16 marketing year are estimated at 11 million tonnes, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) wrote in October 2015, "about the same as the previous year and the average for the last five years."

The rejection of the French shipment will not affect Egypt's wheat reserves, said Hanafy, which are enough to meet the country's needs until mid-May.



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Shamma, world renowned on oud, is scheduled for two concerts at El-Sawy Culturewheel in Zamalek

Renowned Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma is scheduled to give two concerts at El-Sawy Culturewheel, on 29 February and 1 March.

The 29 February concert marks the 13th anniversary of the birth of El-Sawy Culturewheel, an important platform for young musicians.

Shamma has been a regular performer at El-Sawy Culturewheel since its inception in 2003.

Shamma is most celebrated for giving the traditional string instrument a more contemporary sound.

Shamma established Beit Al-Oud Al-Arabi (The Arabic Oud House) to teach people how to play what he calls the "grandfather" of stringed instruments. He has introduced the oud to dozens of young musicians, with many of them describing Shamma as a "free spirit" and innovative, open and "forceful artist."

Programme :

8pm, Monday, 29 February

8pm, Tuesday, 1 March

Wisdom Hall, El-Sawy Culturewheel, 26 July Street, Zamalek, Cairo

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Archaeologists and antiquities lovers are upset at the lack of security in the Giza Plateau, and the breaking off and sale of pieces of the pyramids

In a video that went viral online, four people were shown breaking off and selling pieces of one of the Giza pyramid blocks, leaving archaeologists and antiquities lovers up in arms.



Privately owned Egyptian news site Dot Masr decided to investigate media reports that pieces of the pyramid were being sold, resulting in the video of the sale, the website said.

The editors of the website were able to buy a piece of the pyramids for EGP 300 following an agreement with one of the men, who is now in police custody, to buy chunks of the pyramid in order to send to a friend abroad.

The video sparked outrage on social media, with many users calling on the antiquities and tourism ministries to save the pyramids.

Hussein Bassir, director of Giza Plateau, told Ahram Online that the incident happened in a remote area south of the Menkawre Pyramid, which is off the tourist track. Tourists normally visit areas around the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Khafre Pyramid and the Sphinx.

Security personnel, Bassir continued, are always available around the plateau, but could not be expected to be everywhere, as the plateau is vast and difficult to control.

"The blocks shown in the video are authentic, but have fallen from the pyramid complex across the span of time and have not been broken off by thieves," he said.

"The criminals seen in the video were arrested and detained for four days on charges of vandalism, trading in antiquities, and fraud.

"The journalists shown in the video may also face charges of owning and trading in stolen antiquities," Bassir added, saying that their good intentions in reporting the incident is not sufficient to annul charges against them.



"The pieces of the pyramids are still in their possession. If they had handed over the blocks to the police immediately after receiving them, their situation may have been different."

He went on saying that the immediate response of the tourism and antiquities police was a "major element in catching the criminals rapidly".

Salah Al-Hadi, coordinator of the Archaeologists' Syndicate, argues that security has to be tightened in all archaeological sites, especially in open air sites such as the Giza Plateau and Saqqara Necropolis.

He said that the mission of an archaeologist is on site, and not inside the ministry's offices.



"The ministry should put into effect judicial decisions, to stop encroachment on monuments. Penalties under the antiquities law have to be stiffened," Al-Hadi asserted.

Archaeologist Mohamed Fawzi believes that poor security measures are behind what happened, as well as the encroachment on several archaeological sites.

"The low salaries of ministry employees led some of them to become careless in their work," he said.

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A zinc production facility in Magu

(Beijing) -- For more than a decade, many residents in Aweizhai, a small village deep in the mountains of Magu Township, Hezhang County of Guizhou Province, have complained of intense pains in their shoulder muscles, arms, lower back, legs and knees. They've been diagnosed with rheumatism by local doctors.

However, a 2007 study by researchers at Guizhou Academy of Environmental Science and Design found the soil in Hezhang contained excessive levels of cadmium. Caixin learned from local villagers that roughly 1,200 mu out of the total 25,500 in Magu Township were used for zinc extraction plants or waste dump sites. Local authorities have refused to release precise figures for polluted soil area, but experts say the symptoms that the villagers feel are similar to that of cadmium contamination.

Plagued Land

Hezhang County has been a mining area for decades. Rich in minerals, the county has an estimated reserve of 4 billion tons of coal and 405 million tons of iron ore. Its lead and zinc reserves rank first in the whole province and its germanium reserves are the largest in Asia.

Since the 1980s, the local government has promoted the growth of the zinc-processing industry. Government figures released in the 1990s showed Magu Township, with a population of only 40,000 residents, had a projected output of 18,000 tons of crude zinc, estimated at an annual value of more than 400 million yuan.

At the peak of the zinc-processing industry, crudely-built furnaces could be seen in every household even along the expressway running through the province. At night, the burning stoves were called "ghost fires."

Since then, mineral extraction and processing has become the sole pillar of the local economy. Meanwhile, dense smog that covers the town is rumored to have caused trees to stop growing and the death of livestock.

The smelting was put to an end in 1996 but zinc production was reignited in 2003 when the price of zinc and iron soared on international commodities markets. In 2006, the government mandated the closing of zinc production facilities.

Rejected by the Military

Officials from Hezhang told Caixin that from 1986 to 1996, not a single young man was approved for military service because lead and cadmium concentrations in their blood exceeded acceptable levels.

The Liu sisters run a restaurant in the center of Magu and say they have long been tortured by rheumatism. "There are pains in the joints and hands and sometimes I can't even fall asleep. The pain is like someone is pricking you with a needle," said the younger Liu.

Chen Daxing, a Magu farmer in his 50s has had rheumatism for more than 20 years. He said apart from the pain in his knees, he also feels numbness in his legs and feet as well as dizziness. Now he has to leave all his land unfarmed and relies on income from children working in another city.

Despite the widespread suspicion that the rheumatism is closely connected to pollution, Chen Qingbi, chairman of the NPC Magu Township Committee said the illnesses are a common disease triggered by the humid environment in the southwest part of China and there no proven linkages to heavy metal contamination
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a panel of independent experts, issued a statement early Friday, saying, "The various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention."

British officials have dismissed the UN ruling and say it will arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy.

Assange wants to leave the embassy where he has sought refuge for nearly four years, but faces arrest by British police. Sweden wants him for investigation of rape, an allegation he denies.

The panel ruled Assange has been arbitrarily detained since 2012.

Speaking by video from inside the embassy, Assange said it is "now a matter of settled law" that he has been wrongly detained.

A UN panel's finding that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained is a "vindication," said the WikiLeaks founder Friday from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has been living to avoid extradition.

 Not Legally Binding

The panel called for him to be released and compensated for time lost; but, the ruling Friday is not legally binding.

Sweden says it plans to keep up its investigation of him. Britain and Sweden on Friday said Assange sought refuge at the embassy of his own accord and has not been detained.

Britain's foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, dismissed the UN panel's ruling, saying it was "frankly ridiculous."

Assange earlier said he intended to leave the Ecuadorian embassy on Friday. His supporters said he would hold a news conference at the Frontline Club, a London press club. Instead, he spoke from the embassy, where hundreds of reporters monitored his remarks from the street. Later, he emerged onto the embassy's balcony and read a statement to his supporters, calling the ruling a "historic victory."

Assange, an Australian national, has said he wants his passport returned and a termination of all attempts to arrest him.

 Release of Secret U.S. Gov't Files

The former computer hacker angered the United States by releasing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. government files.

He has since been linked in Sweden with a number of crimes, including one of rape in 2010.

The statute of limitations has run out on the other allegations, but the one on rape stands and Swedish officials have said a UN ruling would have no impact on their investigation.

His supporters say the Swedish woman in the rape case has said Swedish police "railroaded" her into accusing him.

That is not the view of the woman's lawyer, who called Friday's ruling "insulting and offensive."

In a statement, Elisabeth Massi Fritz criticized the UN ruling, saying the panel appeared to not understand that rape "is one of the most serious abuses and violations of human rights." She said she is relieved that the ruling is not legally binding. She said Assange should "pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor."

Among the secret files that his website published were hundreds of thousands of documents detailing U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It also released a video of a 2007 U.S. helicopter gunship attack in Baghdad that killed 12 people, including two staff members of the Reuters news agency.

 WikiLeaks Back Story

Documents leaked included thousands of diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies around the world dating back several decades. Those cables, in some cases, contained details of what U.S. diplomats were saying about other world leaders; revelations that embarrassed U.S. officials.

In the United States, a grand jury is still investigating the leaks.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday said Britain and Sweden would have to resolve Assange's case.

"It's unclear to me exactly what impact a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on this situation," Earnest said.
U.S. defense authorities tracking the rocket's trajectory say it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies. In 2012, North Korea also successfully launched a three-stage rocket putting a satellite into orbit.

Japan reportedly did not take action to shoot down the North Korean rocket, despite warnings that it would and putting its ballistic missile defense units on alert.

The U.S. Strategic Command detected what it called a missile entering space, also indicating the launch was successful. South Korea's Yonhap news agency had earlier reported the rocket failed to reach orbit and instead fell into the sea near South Korea's Jeju islands.

North Korea later released a statement through its official state news agency KCNA confirming the launch. "Scientists and technicians of the DPRK have completely succeeded in entering an Earth observation satellite called Gwangmyongsong-4 into an orbit, which has been developed according to the nation's five-year space development plan of 2016," said a KCNA announcer.

The rocket was launched Sunday morning from North Korea's Tongchang-ri satellite launching facility near the northwestern border with China. The rocket headed on a southward trajectory passing over Japan's southern Okinawa islands.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket Sunday, carrying what it said is a satellite in defiance of UN sanctions barring it from using ballistic missile technology.

 Launch Denounced



Pyongyang says the rocket launch is part of its peaceful space program to deliver Earth observation satellites into orbit. The North's space program, however, has been widely denounced as a hostile pretense to advance its nuclear and ballistic missiles technologies, which are banned by UN resolutions.

South Korea and the U.S. have decided to begin discussions about deploying a U.S. missile system to South Korea. The comment was made Sunday by Ryu Je-seung, a South Korean Defense Ministry official, in a joint news conference with Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army based in South Korea.

The UN Security Council will meet Sunday to discuss the North Korean rocket launch at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was "deeply deplorable that [North Korea] has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement condemning Pyongyang for "a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions" related to the use of "ballistic missile technology."

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on the UN Security Council to quickly act. "With an understanding that North Korea's nuclear and missile threat is an actual threat against the international community and in opposition to world peace, the UN Security Council must make a strong measure immediately," said Park.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also denounced the North Korean launch and promised to "take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people."

China's official Xinhua news agency Sunday expressed concern that the North Korean rocket launch will worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula and urged "all relevant parties" to exercise restraint.

 Increased Sanctions

The long-range rocket launch follows North Korea's fourth nuclear test conducted on Jan. 6. In response to the nuclear test, the United States and its allies are already advocating for stronger international sanctions against North Korea to impose real economic pain by restricting shipping, aviation, and trade of resources, including coal and fuel.

The U.S. Congress is also working on unilateral sanctions legislation that would target third parties companies and banks -- many in China -- that do business with North Korea.

South Korea is reportedly considering closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to the North's rocket launch. The jointly run Kaesong project, that employs over 50,000 North Koreans, is the last surviving inter-Korean development program. Virtually all other inter-Korean ties and assistance programs were severed in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a navy warship and killing 46 sailors.

For any sanctions to be effective China's support, as the North's chief benefactor and trading partner and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is considered essential.

But Beijing has been reluctant to support harsh punitive measures on Pyongyang that that could lead to instability and further increase regional tensions. Instead it wants all sides to resume international negotiations.

Beijing responded to Sunday's launch, expressing "regret" the North disregarded the opposition from the international community. Pyongyang says its nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense and non-negotiable.

In early 2009 Pyongyang withdrew from "six party talks" with Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic assistance and security guarantees

Sunday's launch occurred in the first hours of an accelerated Feb. 7-14 launch time frame Pyongyang announced Saturday. Earlier it had alerted international meteorological and telecommunications agencies the launch would take place Feb. 8-25.

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology. North Korea is believed to have over 1,000 Soviet model missiles that can reach targets in South Korea and Japan, and enough plutonium to make eight to 12 nuclear bombs.



Last year U.S. military authorities said they believe North Korea has the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to fit on a KN-08 long range missile, although North Korea has not yet demonstrated this capability.
Biodiesel plant explosion in Spain kills two, seriously injures one

2016-02-07 09:26

MADRID, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion in a biodiesel plant in the town of Algemesi in east Spain on Saturday.

The explosion happened around 11:00 a.m. local time in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Algemesi, 33 km south of Spanish port city Valencia.

The two victims were workers who were reportedly to be in their 40s, while the injured person had burns on 80 percent of his body, according to Marta Trenzano, the mayor of Algemesi.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been found. Some believe the accident could be caused by people soldering a storage silo, which contained residual flammable gas.

Local authority has declared Monday as a day of mourning for the victims.
China to donate 10,000 tonnes of food to Syria refugees: FM

2016-02-05 13:47

LONDON, Feb. 5, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to the media after attending the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Britain, Feb. 4, 2016. China will donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Wang Yi announced here Thursday. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China will donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced here Thursday.

Speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Wang said China endorses this conference aimed at increasing humanitarian assistance to Syria, and hopes the gathering can make new efforts to realize peace and stability in Syria and help ease the humanitarian situation.

Solving the humanitarian problems in Syria, Wang said, necessitates not only emergency aid, but also needs to eliminate their root causes.

Currently, the most urgent task is to ensure the basic living conditions of the Syrian refugees and the displaced people, Wang noted.

Different parties in Syria should implement relevant UN resolutions and provide humanitarian access to those in need and ensure the swift delivery of humanitarian supplies, said the Chinese foreign minister.

Different countries should also lend a helping hand and provide emergency aid to Syria and its neighboring countries that have sheltered Syrian refugees, and take action to help the refugees find jobs and help the children receive necessary education, he said.

The UN should sum up its experience, design a comprehensive roadmap and mobilize resources globally to cope with the situation, the diplomat suggested.

Wang stressed that the international community should also step up efforts to seek a political solution to the Syria conflict, which is the ultimate way of solving the country's humanitarian crisis.

The resumption of peace talks is a key part of this political process in Syria, and the warring parties should give priority to the overall interests of their country and their people, and seize the opportunity of peace talks to show their goodwill and sincerity, Wang continued.

The foreign minister said China has been providing humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region through various channels.

At the G20 summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an additional 100 million U.S. dollars humanitarian assistance to help improve the living conditions of the refugees and the displaced people.

Xi, during a visit to the Middle East last month, also promised 230 million yuan of additional humanitarian assistance this year to the people of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Yemen.

China will further donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Wang announced Thursday.

China will continue to offer its help to the Syrian people and the refugees, and make positive contributions to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and play a constructive role in facilitating a political solution to the Syrian crisis, he said.

Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nations co-hosted the Supporting Syria and the Region in London Thursday to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected.
2015 Global and Chinese Think Tank Rankings announced

By:Jiang Wenran | From:english.eastday.com | 2016-01-28 23:11

Yu Xinhui, Professor, Party Secretary of Shanghai Academy of Social Science (SASS) presided over the conference. (Photo: SASS)

Shanghai, January 28- Think tank related issues become hotly discussed during the last year. Various think tanks are playing important roles in analyzing social issues and providing solutions. 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report by Think Tanks & Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and 2015 Chinese Think Tanks Report by Think Tanks Research Center (TTRC) of SASS were jointly announced yesterday in Shanghai. The latter was also announced simultaneously at the United States by James McGann, director of the TTCSP at the University of Pennsylvania.

High-end think tanks have made progress on new thoughts, academic achievements, talents and innovation of system and mechanism; while the number of non-governmental think tanks, university think tanks and other professional think tanks increased rapidly recently years, Wang Ronghua, honorary director of TTRC noted that the international influence of Chinese think tanks is steadily on the increase.

Li Yihai, vice chairman of TTRC announced authorized 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (Chinese Version). (Photo: SASS)

According to the report, there are 6,846 think tanks in total throughout the world in 2015, in which North American has the largest number of think tanks with 1931 in total; while Europe has 1770 and followed by Asia which has 1262. The US is still the country with the largest number of think tanks in the world, which has 1835 in total and China ranks the second with 435 think tanks.

Global Think Tank Top 175 was also released with Brookings Institute (United States) staying the first place in 2015. 9 Chinese think tanks are listed: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Institute of International Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Development Research Center of the State Council, Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Unirule Institute of Economics, Center for China and Globalization, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China.

Global Go To Think Tank Report is aiming to understand think tanks role in governments and civil society. We hope, through this kind of report, to help increase their quality, ability and performance, James McGann addressed in his video.

Huang Renwei, chairman and director of TTRC, vice president of SASS. (Photo: SASS)

2015 Chinese Think Tanks Report was then announced by Huang Renwei, chairman and director of TTRC, vice president of SASS. According to the Top 15 Chinese Think Tanks Ranking of Comprehensive Influence, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Development Research Center of the State Council and Peking University are listed in the Top 3, and two think tanks from Shanghai- Fudan University and SASS are listed in Top 10.

Based on the current situation of the development of Chinese think tanks and closely connected with the actual demand of China's reform, innovation and transformation, the report makes comprehensive, scientific, objective and accurate observation and evaluation of present situation of Chinese think tanks development, characteristics, trends and their influence and put forward the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions to further increase influence and international voice of new think tanks with Chinese characteristics

It is worth mentioning that in addition to the comprehensive influence ranking, the report also includes International Influence Ranking and International Relations Ranking respectively in specific influence sector and professional influence sector, which highlights the requirements for Chinese think tanks going abroad and enhancing their international influence under the new situation. Wei Jianguo, vice chairman of China Center for International Economic Exchanges pointed out that think tanks strengths are of much more importance than think tank rankings. The existing think tanks mechanism and system must be reformed so as to build new think tanks with Chinese characteristics.

TTRC and TTCSP established long-term extensive academic contact. The two sides began to cooperation as early as 2010 and recent years have seen more close exchanges. The two sides have made major breakthroughs in jointly promoting the internationalization of Chinese think tank studies, especially in forming and improving Chinese think tank rankings. Chinese Think Tanks Annual Report enjoys a certain reputation and influence in think tank circles from both home and abroad and has important theoretical value and practical significance in exploring new think tanks with Chinese characteristics and their decision-making consultation mechanism, innovating think tank researching content as well as standardizing think tank development directions.
The three accused filed a petition challenging their 12-day custody and said they were being subjected to third-degree torture.
#stocks-summary Seoul shares down for 2nd day on rate hike woes South Korean stocks retreated for a second straight session Thursday, as investor sentiment worsened on concerns about aggressive rate hikes. The Korean won fell against the U.S. d...
As we reported a while back, a Trainspotting sequel is officially in the works with Danny Boyle onboard and the majority of the cast set to return.

The news was announced shortly after Steve Jobs, Boyle's Oscar-bait drama about the founder of Apple, opened widely in the US. For his part, Boyle has been open about how long it took for him to return to his Scottish roots and the pressure that surrounds the film.

In a recent interview, author Irvine Welsh dropped a few tidbits of information about the status of the sequel. Amongst other things, he confirmed that he's due to reprise his role as Mikey Forrester and is also serving as an executive producer on the film as well.

Welsh also confirmed that the crew and cast behind the film have been locked in with a shooting date of May 16th confirmed. The sequel, based on Welsh's novel Porno, picks up almost twenty years after the events of the original and finds that Renton's crew of misfits haven't really changed all that much.

A readthrough of the script has already taken place, with Robert Carlyle saying that it's "honestly one of the best thing I've ever read." There's no release date confirmed as of yet, however we can guess that if the filming is due to begin in the middle of May, we won't see this on our cinema screens until at least early 2017.

In the meantime, let's watch some clips and remind ourselves just how good the first one was.

Via PenguinHouse.co.uk
After the roaring success that is Room, it's quite clear that Lenny Abrahamson has his pick of projects.



As he mentioned in our podcast interview, Abrahamson's got a few things lined up and now, he can add breaking into US television to his to-do list.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Kem Nunn, Chance follows a neuropsychiatrist, played by Hugh Laurie, who's drawn into the underbelly of San Francisco when he becomes involved with one of his patients who may or may not have multiple personality disorder. Her spouse, an abusive, tyrannical police detective, is intent on destroying Laurie's character and chases him across the city.

The series has been taken on by US-based streaming service, Hulu, for a two season order of ten episodes apiece, with Abrahamson signed on to exec-produce and direct several episodes.

As it stands, Laurie is the only actor attached to the project, however more are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the series is expected to debut later in 2016. Kem Nunn, although primarily known as an author, has some truck with high-end television.

Nunn was directly involved with HBO's Deadwood, alongside David Milch, and worked on Sons of Anarchy's fifth season. Joining Nunn in adapting his novel is Alexandra Cunningham, who served as an writer / producer for Desperate Housewives and also worked on HBO's Rome, NYPD Blue and the US version of Prime Suspect.

It's not yet known if Chance will be broadcast on Irish screens as Hulu is, for the moment, only available (legally, anyway) in the US.
As we all know, Larry David is now the go-to impersonator of Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders in the same way Kate McKinnon is the go-to for Hillary Clinton.

So, with Larry David hosting last night's Saturday Night Live, you'd have to expect one of two things - a sketch involving Bernie Sanders and a sketch referencing Curb Your Enthusiasm, David's brilliant HBO series that followed Seinfeld.

Sure enough, we got both with Bern Your Enthusiasm, following Bernie Sanders during the Iowa Caucuses and just how exactly how he managed to lose by 2% to Hillary Clinton.

It's actually pretty amazing how they managed to work the two separate threads together; showing just how good SNL can be when they have the right material and the right guest-hosts working with them. Also, how good was Cecily Strong as Susie Green? She nailed it, right down to the hair.

For the moment, this is as close as we'll get to a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, despite the fact that Larry David says he hasn't given up on the possibility of a ninth season.

Via vid.me
As the Irish general election is now firmly underway, we're expecting a huge debate on the issues concerning the nation and what kind of country we want to live.

LOL JK, it's a national bloodsport and we want to see politicians make donkeys of themselves in the most obvious way possible. Although there's been a few gaffes here and there - Micheal Martin allegedly got lost in a lingerie department ala Father Ted - this one from Sinn Fein takes the biscuit.

Yes, that flyer in the header image above apparently went out to constituents of Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin Central and needless to say, Twitter's been all over it with #BoobySands trending in Ireland for the past few hours.

#BoobySands somewhere out there, there's a proofreader being given a new identity.  Gerry McBride (@GerryMcBride) February 7, 2016

This is the best thing since the Shinners commemorated "executed" Republican leader O'Donovan Rossa, who died of dementia at 83. #BoobySands  Donal O'Keeffe (@Donal_OKeeffe) February 7, 2016

Just think, there's probably a serious political argument going on right now in a backroom with politicians and advisors pouring over this. Irish politics is amazing.

Via Twitter
This summer Im taking my mom bod to the pool in a bikini. Let me back up and say that because of my very long torso Ive always been a big fan of the two-piece swimsuit out of necessity. But I sort of assumed that after having a baby you were bound to a life of one-piece swimsuits forever and ever, either out of a duty to modesty or a desire to hide things that had stretched and expanded or contracted in funny ways.

Let me take a quick detour to say that Im incredibly excited that in recent years there has been a resurgence of the one-piece, and I sincerely hope I can find one that works with my body type because there are so many pretty options. I actually have this one on order right now because its beautiful and the reviews say it runs long. Fingers crossed!

But after having a baby, I wasnt quite ready to give up two pieces forever. Ive always loved wearing a bikini, not because I have the most amazing body (I dont) or because I look like a supermodel when I wear one (spoiler: not true!) but because Ive always enjoyed wearing them. I think back to summers spent on the beach in Florida, two summer trips with my family to the Bahamas, endless vacations to warm-weather locals where beach-lounging, swimming and reading was always on the list.

I wore a bikini on every one of those trips and felt so free doing so. While I was never one of those stick-thin high schoolers, putting a bikini on always gave me a sense of carefree confidence. So you can see why the idea of hanging the two piece up forever made me incredibly sad.

A few weeks back it was determined that if I was going to wear a two piece suit post-baby, then it was sure as heck going to be a high quality suit that fit well. Ive been eyeing the Mara Hoffman bikinis for years, so this January I bit the bullet and ordered 10 different suits online so I could try them all on at home. Ladies? Let me tell you that there is no other way to go swimsuit shopping. Its much less painful to try them on in the comfort of your own home.

The winner out of all 10? This suit, which fits so well and is so incredibly comfortable. Worth every penny!

As one of my amazing Instagram followers put it

Moms should totally rock bikinis! Its the only time in my life Ive been confident enough to wear one proudly!

So, mommas, heres to finding a bikini that makes you feel and look great and not hanging up our two-pieces quite yet.

Madison
(Adds details on rival drugs, first U.S. biosimilar Zarzio)

By Ransdell Pierson

Feb 5 (Reuters) - U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff members on Friday said clinical data from Celltrion Inc's biosimilar form of blockbuster arthritis drug Remicade indicated it is "highly similar" to the branded product in terms of safety, purity and potency.

FDA scientists released their supportive findings ahead of a scheduled meeting on Tuesday of an independent medical advisory panel to the agency. The panel will decide whether to recommend approval of the biosimilar, called Remsima, to treat rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease.

South Korea's Celltrion and U.S. partner Pfizer Inc want to sell Remsima in the United States as a cut-price copy of Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co's Remicade, or infliximab, which had global 2014 sales of almost $10 billion.

"In considering the totality of the evidence, the data submitted by Celltrion show that (Remsima) is highly similar to U.S.-licensed Remicade" in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and a related condition called ankylosing spondylitis, the FDA briefing paper said. It cited only "minor differences in clinically inactive components."

Celltrion presented the FDA with data on the use of Remsima against rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, but the agency staff said it would be reasonable to assume that it is also effective and safe for other conditions for which Remicade is approved, including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Celltrion already sells the moncolonal antibody in dozens of other countries.

Remsima would become the second approved biosimilar in the United States, following Novartis AG's September introduction of Zarzio. That drug is a version of Amgen Inc's Neulasta antibody, which boosts infection-fighting white blood cells in patients who have undergone chemotherapy.

Antibody medicines, which are grown in living cells, are among some of the world's biggest-selling medicines. They are used to treat diseases ranging from cancer to eye disorders.

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The potential of biosimilars to wrest sales from original blockbuster brands was a key factor behind Pfizer's decision last year to buy hospital products company Hospira. The deal gave Pfizer U.S. marketing rights to Remsima and rights to other biosimilars.

Remicade, like Amgen's Enbrel and AbbVie Inc's $14 billion-a-year Humira, reduces inflammation by blocking a protein called Tumor Necrosis Factor. The injectable drugs, however, can increase the risk of infection.

(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
An Iran Khodro Dena sedan at the Tabriz auto show on October 14, 2014 (AFP Photo/Atta Kenare)

Tehran (AFP) - French carmaker Peugeot is to provide Iran Khodro with 427 million euros in debt waivers, bonuses and discounts under their first post-sanctions deal, the Iranian manufacturer said Sunday.

Iran Khodro signed a deal with Peugeot during President Hassan Rouhani's trip to France last month to form a joint venture that is expected to invest up to 400 million euros ($436 million) over five years.

Peugeot is the first Western carmaker to announce a return to Iran since many economic sanctions against it were lifted last month upon implementation of a landmark nuclear deal with world powers.

"To compensate for suddenly leaving Iran under sanctions", Iran Khodro CEO Hashem Yekkeh Zare said Sunday, Peugeot has agreed to waive 80 million euros of outstanding debts and provide free car parts worth 25 million euros, and a free production line for the Peugeot 207 model worth 11 million euros.

Peugeot will also offer 311.6 million euros in discounts, he said, including 140 million euros in royalty fees for cars made under Peugeot's name.

Instead of 100 euros, "Peugeot will receive 30 euros in royalty for two million cars," Yekkeh Zare said.

As part of last month's deal, Peugeot and its French partner Citroen will work with Iran Khodro to eventually produce 200,000 vehicles a year using parts manufactured in Iran.

The aim is to make the Peugeot 208, the 2008 sport utility vehicle and 301 compact models, with the first vehicles expected to roll off the production line in 2017.

The joint venture will export 30 percent of its production, and the remainder will be sold in the domestic market.

Peugeot spokesman Olivier Salmon told AFP the deal with Iran Khodro was "a balanced agreement".

"The joint venture that will be established will help to provide vehicles to Iranian customers for sustainable mobility," Peugeot added.

Yekkeh Zare added that talks were under way with Germany's Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen as well as Italian carmaker Fiat.

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Iranian conservatives have been critical of Rouhani's government for restoring trade with Peugeot and other foreign firms whose departure under sanctions dealt a blow to the economy, saying the international partners proved themselves unreliable.

But when Peugeot pulled out of Iran in 2012 it was a major loss for the French company as the Islamic republic was its second-largest market, after France.

With the lifting of the sanctions, Iran has signed a raft of commercial deals, including one to buy 118 Airbus aircraft worth about $25 billion.
A logo is pictured on a Peugeot 208 car parked at the PSA Peugeot Citroen plant in Poissy, near Paris, France, April 29, 2015. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

DUBAI (Reuters) - French car-maker PSA Peugeot Citroen will pay Iran over 400 million euros ($446 million) in compensation for losses after it quit the country due to sanctions, the managing director of the country's largest carmaker said on Sunday.

Peugeot, the biggest-selling European carmaker in pre-sanctions Iran, suspended sales in 2012 when an international boycott against Iran due to its nuclear program was extended to the automobile sector. Most sanctions were lifted in January.

"Based on the deductions ...427.6 million euros of compensation will be paid by Peugeot to Iran Khodro because of the losses," Hashem Yekke-Zare, managing director of Iran-Khodro Company, was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying.

Yekke-Zare said the compensation would be mostly in services and discounts, including auto parts for current models being produced in Iran and devices for Peugeot 207 models.

Peugeot had also written off 11 million euros of Iran Khodro debts plus 65 million euros in royalties owed between 2012 and 2016, he said, adding 317 million euros would be in the form of future co-operation, including training.

Peugeot declined to comment on details of the deal on Saturday but its spokesman told Reuters that "the deal signed with Iran is a good and balanced one".

Last month, Peugeot and IKCO signed a joint-venture deal to produce latest-generation vehicles in Iran.

For Peugeot, the factory tie-up is important. When it suspended sales in Iran in 2012 it lost nearly 10 percent of global deliveries and interrupted a relationship dating back more than 50 years.

Four million Peugeot cars are currently on the roads in Iran.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Susan Thomas)
U.S. President Barack Obama (L-R) arrives with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry to deliver a statement on the Keystone XL pipeline at the White House in Washington November 6, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

In a Washington press conference shortly after peace talks over Syria's future fell apart earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry again called on Syria's government and its supporters to end their military campaign and pursue a political solution to the conflict instead.

Days earlier, Gareth Bayley, the UK's special representative for Syria, told reporters in Geneva that "there is no military solution" to the conflict.

As the diplomats called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, however, pro-regime forces were encircling Aleppo  Syria's largest city  aided by heavy Russian airstrikes that are estimated to have killed scores of civilians.

Some experts now say the line often repeated by Kerry and many of his western counterparts  that there is "no military solution" to the crisis in Syria  has actually allowed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies to pursue such a military solution with impunity.

"Moscow has used its 'co-convener' status of the Vienna peace process (which mandated the Geneva conference) as a cover to distract and occupy Washington and the West," Fred Hof, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and former adviser on Syria under the Obama administration, wrote on Thursday.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif makes a pledge makes a pledge during the second makes a pledge during the second 'Thematic Pledging Session' at the donors Conference for Syria in London, Britain February 4, 2016. REUTERS/Matt Dunham/pool

That, Hof continued, has allowed Russia to pursue its own "political-military objective: neutralizing the armed nationalist opposition to create for the West  for Washington in particular  the horror of a binary choice between Bashar the Barrel Bomber and Baghdadi the False Caliph."

He was referring to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the terrorist organization ISIS.

Analysts generally agree that any attempt to pursue a political solution while the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran pursue a military campaign is doomed for failure.

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But the Obama administration has so far failed to put adequate pressure on the Syrian government to stop its aerial bombardments and sieges of rebel-held areas. Those, incidentally, were two of the opposition's conditions that, because they were not met, compelled them to walk away from negotiations last week.

"It will take Russian and Iranian pressure for the regime to negotiate in good faith with the opposition," Hof said in an email to Business Insider. "But Russia and Iran both want Assad to prevail militarily against the nationalist opposition."

He added: "The Assad regime, being borne aloft militarily at the moment by Iran and Russia, is not very interested. Kerry is trying hard to talk them out of this. But each is interested in forcing the West into a binary choice between Assad the Barrel Bomber and Baghdadi, the ISIS 'caliph.' And both are confident that the West  led by the US  will reconcile with their guy, Assad, if Baghdadi is the only alternative."

russianairstrikesyria feb1 2016

Jeff White, a defense analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that while Russia, Iran, and Assad are not interested in a political solution, pretending that they are while pursuing military objectives on the ground has come to form the core of their war strategy.

"The regime and allies are in it to win, not to negotiate a 'transition,'" White said in an email to Business Insider last week. "Negotiations and fighting are related parts of their war strategy."

He added: "The war will keep going until the regime prevails, increasingly likely, or Assad's allies abandon him, unlikely for the foreseeable future."

Nubl and Zahraa Syria

It is especially unlikely, given the Assad regime's recent battlefield victories.

Government troops, accompanied by Iran-backed Shiite militias and Hezbollah forces, reached the cities of Nubl and Zahraa outside of Aleppo last week. As such, the regime "succeed[ed] in a few days in what it had failed to do for over three years" thanks to heavy Russian air support, according to an Atlantic Council analysis by Faysal Itani and Hossam Abouzahr.

The offensive, moreover, was a huge blow to Turkey  a staunch opponent of Assad  as it effectively cut off Ankara's supply line to the rebels it had been supporting in Aleppo.

A scathing op-ed published by The Financial Times days earlier seemed prescient following the successful government offensive.



"Mr. Putin is treating Geneva as a smokescreen behind which to keep up his offensive," the editorial board wrote. "Instead of bullying rebels to attend the talks, the US and its allies should back their demand that Russia and the regime cease bombing the Syrian people. Geneva will otherwise be the venue for a third failure to end this pitiless war."

NOW WATCH: FMR. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Obama hurt US credibility after Syria crossed his red line'





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Aleppo rubble

Over the past week, the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad seized several villages north of Aleppo, the country's largest city and one of the last remaining strongholds of Syria's non-jihadist rebels, in a development that threatens to escalate the horrors of the Syrian civil war.

Thanks to heavy Russian air support, the regime "succeed[ed] in a few days in what it had failed to do for over three years," according to an Atlantic Council analysis by Faysal Itani and Hossam Abouzahr. It severed rebel supply lines into Turkey and threatens to encircle the remaining opposition-held territory.

Aleppo was always a checkerboard of military forces, divided between regime, opposition, and jihadist zones. No one camp has had the ability to fully control a city that had a pre-war population of more than 2 million.

As it is, the Assad regime has suffered from manpower and budgetary shortages. And Assad's Iranian allies have taken substantial losses of their own, including several high-ranking Revolutionary Guards Corps officers. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, Iran's proxy force in neighboring Lebanon, may have had one-third of its fighters killed or injured in Syria.

But the regime is making progress even amid this ambiguous ground-level situation. And a humanitarian catastrophe might be in the offing:

In recent days, thousands of people have reportedly fled Aleppo. Video posted on social media has shown civilians streaming out of the city:

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Civilians fleeing #Aleppo after #Assad's Iranian and Russian backed loyalists look to set siege to it. #SawaAlAssad pic.twitter.com/HIcyI7ot7l  Mr. Green (@Mario_Greenly) February 4, 2016

Reuters put the exodus in the "tens of thousands," citing an opposition source claiming that Russian aircraft had carried out 250 strikes around the city in the span of a single day.

The Assad regime is now in a position where it could try to recapture the city. Itani and Abouzahr said they believe Assad could decide to "freeze the Aleppo city frontlines" and refocus on other pockets of non-jihadist resistance as part of a larger strategy of "isolating the opposition into manageable pockets and dealing with each individually."

As Aron Lund, editor of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Syria in Crisis website, explained to Business Insider, the Assad regime isn't in immediate danger of recapturing the country's largest city  although its battlefield tactics would be highly destructive.

"I imagine a government reconquest of Aleppo would be a slow process involving both military assaults and bombings, siege tactics and pressure on the civilian population, and, ultimately, political deals with those factions willing to bargain," Lund told Business Insider in an email, adding that it's conceivable it could take the regime "many years" to fully retake the city.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen during an interview in Damascus with the magazine, Literarni Noviny newspaper, in this handout picture taken January 8, 2015 by Syria's national news agency SANA. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters

But Assad might not even need to conquer Aleppo to achieve its most important battlefield objective: crushing the country's non-jihadist resistance, leaving western powers without an anti-regime force they can support and cornering the international community into a de-facto alliance with his regime.

"If the government manages to retake and secure eastern Aleppo, which is still a big if, I think the rebels are pretty much out of the game  as long as the government itself remains in the game," Lund said. A rebel defeat in the city "would presumably have a devastating effect on international and Syrian confidence in the rebels' ability to win the war or even wring real concessions from Assad," he added.

A regime victory in Aleppo could be the final defeat to any remaining US or Western strategy of propping the country's non-jihadist opposition groups.

"I can't imagine that anyone seeing Aleppo slip out of rebel hands after these past four horrifying years would just say, well, bad luck, let's send some more guns into Syria and have another go at it," Lund told Business Insider.

Assad troops

The regime's Aleppo encirclement motions toward what once seemed to be an unthinkable endgame in Syria: the permanent partition of the country between regime and jihadist-held spheres, with Assad as the country's most seemingly viable source of long-term authority and no remaining force committed to the idea of Syria as a unified or coherent national entity.

But it would be a mistake to think of such a scenario as an "endgame." Even if Assad prevails in Aleppo, his regime will still be fundamentally weak and almost totally dependent on the direct military support of outside powers. A possible rebel defeat might also work to the advantage of jihadist groups like Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS, which are still committed to fighting the Syrian regime, and which continue to control substantial territory.

The regime has had moments of relative strength and impending collapse throughout a now four-plus-year-long conflict  none of which have made the Syrian civil war any shorter or less deadly.

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A week before Bernie Sanders came within a sliver of beating Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucuses, he was in Mason City, Iowa, along with one of the campaigns more outspoken celebrity surrogates, Susan Sarandon.

As the crowd at the venue, Music Man Square (named for the towns famous native Meredith Willson), began to chant Bernie! Bernie!, the candidate, backstage starts his own playful chant. Susan! Susan!

Dont get nervous when you go out and talk to people, Susan. I know this is Sanders tells her.

No. I dont like talking to people as myself, Sarandon responds.

Then Sanders makes her aware of a camera capturing their conversation, pointing to it and quipping. Just look into the camera, and youll be fine.

The camera on this candid moment was from the new Showtime series The Circus, a non-scripted, non-fiction series which is taking each week out of this years presidential campaign and crafting them into half-hour narratives. The idea behind the show was to capture the dramatic feel and elements of a behind-the-scenes campaign documentary, ala Primary and The War Room, but to do it for the age of Twitter, meaning as close as possible to real time.

The three stars of the show  guides who take viewers through the process  are Mark McKinnon, the political strategist, and Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, the co-authors of Game Change and Double Down who host Bloomberg TVs daily With All Due Respect and are regulars on MSNBCs Morning Joe.

Much of the coverage out on the campaign trail is run and gun, Halperin says. It is embeds with tiny cameras, or pool crews who stand and shoot from the riser head on. So one of the founding theories of this is to put great, really skilled documentarians out in the field, put us out there as people who know the story and know the people, and take viewers inside rooms, on the ground, where the campaign is actually happening.

As much as campaigns want to humanize their candidates, they also are on guard, especially for the embarrassing moments that become viral sensations. Access is an issue.

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Among other things, The Circus has featured an interview with Jane Sanders, Sanders wife who is just now gaining prominence on the campaign trail; been on the campaign bus with Ted Cruz, relishing in a tweet he sent of Fonzie jumping the shark, a dig at Donald Trump; and spent time with Jeb Bush, doing prep for an interview with Hugh Hewitt.

These unscripted moments may not have been so candid as to immediately alter the trajectory of a campaign, but it is a start. The show is still framing the race, like the relationships between the candidates, their families and their staffs. The focus may be widened in future episodes, to spotlight donors, the media, even voters.

We have been pretty happy with the access we have gotten so far, and yeah, we hope to [have even better access] by the time we get even deeper into the nomination fight and into the general election, Heilemann says. You send these crews out and they spend time with these candidates all day long. They get to know them. They get comfortable with them. They start to know the cameramen by name. It just makes people more comfortable going on.

Halperin says, Here is how revealing we think this can be. I learned stuff about Jane and Bernie Sanders myself. I learned stuff about Donald Trump in doing this show. I learned stuff about all the candidates, because there is no substitute to documenting what they are like in this environment. So the challenge is to show the sides of people you dont normally see, and I think we are doing pretty well.

According to Showtime, The Circus averaged about one million viewers across platforms on premiere week.

The idea for the show came from McKinnon, who has advised candidates such as George W. Bush and Ann Richards, who said that he had for years wanted to produce a documentary about a political campaign. But I also thought that the key to success would be to roll it up in real time, so that viewers are literally seeing the campaign unfold as it happens, he says.

He says that the production challenge is monumental.

Networks usually have weeks to see and approve content, but in this case only have hours, which just terrified most television executives, McKinnon says. But not [Showtime chief] David Nevins. He got it immediately and went all in.

As footage is shot throughout the week from the campaign trail, the files are transmitted to editors in New York. The editors review and cut clips throughout the week, assembling the episode and tying it in to the weeks general outline and theme.

The shows uniqueness may be in the goal of creating an entertaining storyline week-to-week, without the gimmick of fictional characters interacting with real ones, ala Tanner 88, or the mock campaign of Showtimes 2004 reality show American Candidate. The most recent episode was called Tension City, the name that George H.W. Bush gave to Des Moines in the buildup to the caucuses.

Final edits are typically done on Saturday, and completed episodes are shipped off by noon on Sunday for airing later that evening. They do cut it close: Tension City featured footage of the results of the Bloomberg/Des Moines Register poll being announced on Saturday night, for inclusion in the final edit.

Some of the best behind-the-scenes campaign documentaries, like Robert Drews Primary (1960) and Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebakers The War Room (1993) had deeper, fly-on-the-wall access to candidates and the inner sanctum of campaign strategists, but also the benefit of time. They were released after the risk to a campaign had dissipated.

Heilemann said that they see as precedent the case of Mitt, the 2014 documentary about the 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who granted extensive access to filmmaker Greg Whiteley, but with conditions on when footage could be used. There was an internal debate within the Romney campaign on whether to allow the movie to be released before the election, Heilemann notes, but Romney said it should wait even though he was comfortable with the filmmaker.

Then the movie came out after Romney lost, and many people, even Democrats, would come up and say, If I had seen that version of Mitt Romney. I like that guy a lot more. Hes more human. He seems more approachable, more natural. I might have voted for the guy if I had seen that version of Mitt Romney, Heilemann says.

Romney himself, I believe, has publicly said that they had put the movie out earlier I think for a lot of campaigns, having seen Mitt and having seen that dynamic, they look at this and say, Oh, I understand that, and why it may be a value to be able to present a more approachable human image of our candidate or the candidates spouse and other people around them to the public in real time, as the campaign is going on.'

Some candidates will be less guarded than others. Sanders has done interviews, but Heilemann says that hes been told that the campaign has turned down requests for cinema verite feature documentaries.

The most recent episode of The Circus featured some comments from Hillary Clinton, who answered questions from a rope line as she was shaking hands and taking selfies, as well as from her husband Bill, who shouted answers from afar as he was walking out of an event.

She is always going to be a little more guarded, Halperin says. She has Secret Service protection, so that adds another layer. We are respectful of the fact that she is a different kind of candidate, but we will be just fine.

The show also intersperses footage from Halperin and Heilemanns nightly show, With All Due Respect. They also are managing editors of Bloomberg Politics.

That vantage point raises the prospect of an interesting twist for The Circus. What if Michael Bloomberg, said to be weighing an independent presidential bid, were to enter the race?

He will be a character in the show, Halperin says. But our analysis, irrespective of who our employer is, is that it is pretty unlikely. He will only run if he thinks he can win and if he can get in in time, and our sense is that it will be hard to look like he can win 270 electoral votes in time to run. If he runs, just like in our other job, we will cover him like the other candidates.

Photo: John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Mark Halperin.

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Beirut (AFP) - Thousands of Syrians braved the freezing cold at Turkey's border after fleeing a regime assault that threatens a new humanitarian disaster, as Damascus warned Riyadh and Ankara not to send in troops.

The government said any uninvited foreign soldiers who enter Syria would go home "in a wooden coffin", following reports that Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which support rebel forces, could deploy troops.

Tens of thousands of people have fled fierce fighting as government forces backed by Russian air strikes advanced this week against rebels, severing the opposition's main supply route into the northern metropolis of Aleppo.

Turkey's Oncupinar border crossing, which faces Bab al-Salama inside Syria, remained closed Saturday, an AFP correspondent said.

The United Nations said some 20,000 people had gathered at Bab al-Salama but the governor of Turkey's Kilis border province, Suleyman Tapsiz, said at least 70,000 may head for the frontier.

Tapsiz said the displaced were being accommodated in eight camps on the Syrian side and that Turkey -- already home to 2-2.5 million Syrians -- was also able to take care of 30-35,000 refugees inside Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country would keep its "open border policy" for Syrian refugees.

"We still keep this open border policy for these people fleeing from the aggression, from the regime as well as air strikes of Russia," he said.

"We have received already 5,000 of them; another 50,000 to 55,000 are on their way and we cannot leave them there."

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, around 40,000 Syrian civilians have fled the regime offensive.

- 435 killed -

"Thousands have been sleeping in the open, in fields and on roads," on the border and in the nearby Syrian city of Azaz, said Mamun al-Khatib, director of the Aleppo-based pro-rebel Shahba Press news agency.

"And because the main rebel supply route between Aleppo and Turkey has been cut, the price of oil, foodstuffs and baby milk has shot up in the north of Aleppo province," he added.

Story continues

The Observatory said 435 people have been killed since the regime offensive began on Monday, including 71 civilians, most of whom had died in Russian air strikes.

Also killed were 124 regime forces, 90 jihadists from Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front and 150 other rebels, it said.

Riyadh on Thursday said it would "contribute positively" if the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in Syria decides on ground action.

Russia, a key ally of the Damascus government, accused Turkey of "preparations for an armed invasion" of Syria, a claim that Ankara dismissed.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem issued a stiff warning against any such move.

"Any ground intervention on Syrian territory without government authorisation would amount to an aggression that must be resisted," he said.

"Let no one think they can attack Syria or violate its sovereignty because I assure you any aggressor will return to their country in a wooden coffin, whether they be Saudis or Turks," he added.

- Iran warning -

The head of the elite Revolutionary Guards of Iran, another key Syrian regime ally, mockingly said Saudi Arabia would not dare send in ground forces.

"I don't think they would dare do that... If they do, they will inflict a coup de grace on themselves," Major General Ali Jafari said.

Turkey last faced such an influx in 2014 when 200,000 refugees fled the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane over three days as IS and Kurdish fighters battled for control of it.

Trucks were seen on Friday carrying tent parts to the refugee camp near the border gate on the Turkish side, and at least four more were seen returning to Turkey after delivering food in Syria.

More than 260,000 people have been killed in Syria's conflict and more than half the population has been displaced.

Also on Saturday, the mother of President Bashar al-Assad, Anissa Makhlouf al-Assad, died at the age of 86, state media reported.

She was the widow of president Hafez al-Assad, who ruled the country with an iron fist, but she kept a low profile and was rarely mentioned in the media when her husband was in power or during the country's nearly five-year war.
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Somehow, I really don't trust these fellows in government, right now. They've done nothing to impress upon me they in any way understand taxation. Or even representation. They don't understand governing, whatsoever, to be honest.A $1.9 billion surplus when they'd forecast a $2 billion deficit? Seems shady. Something stinks of a lie.The most likely reason is the government is excluding something from the budget.Some thing or things totaling $3 billion in spending, not being accounted for by this Conservative government. It'd be nice if we had a budget officer who'd have already looked into the numbers to announce whether the government was being honest or not.The Military, Veterans Affairs, the CBC, Air Canada, the NFB, healthcare, Canada Pension Plan, ect, and ect.Somebody, the press and opposition parties, needs to look into these numbers, and do it quick, because they stink of fudge.Thankfully and surprisingly the Ottawa Citizen has.......Lee Berthiaume reports (link is external) on the $8.7 billion budgeted but unspent by the federal government over the past year. And if the Cons want to try to claim credit for the government's fiscal position, then surely they have to answer a couple of key questions for the money that went unspent:What caused them to decide between 2014 and 2015 that the funding they themselves included in the budget shouldn't be used? And if they're on such an unsound fiscal footing that they feel the need to slash this much within a year of passing their preferred funding amounts in a majority Parliament, why would anybody take their platform numbers and promises seriously?more
2015 federal election cost taxpayers $443M, up 53% from 2011 election

Stations that were running low on ballots.

Smudged or pre-marked ballots.

Problems with new personal identification requirements.

Accessibility at voter stations (3,085 complaints from disabled Canadians).

Pilot program

Notable trends

Advance polls

The price tag for the 2015 federal election has come in at $443 million, up 53 per cent from the $290 million the 2011 election cost taxpayers, according to the Elections Canada preliminary estimate.Part of the reason for the increased cost was the unusually long campaign period of 78 days, almost double the length of the previous election. There were also 30 new ridings in play.Broken down, that cost is about $17 per voter, compared with $12 in the previous election.The independent agency doesn't yet know how many millions it will have to pay out to political parties and their candidates, who are eligible for rebates of up to 50 per cent and 60 per cent respectively for their campaign expenses.Elections Canada estimates that rebates topped $60 million after the 2011 election  a figure that's bound to be higher for the 2015 vote, since the unusually long campaign meant spending limits for parties and candidates were effectively doubled.The preliminary cost estimate is contained in an Elections Canada report on the Oct. 19 election, tabled today in Parliament.Elections Canada recorded a number of serious problems at the polls and is currently investigating the incidents that will be detailed in a later report. Some of the complaints included:For the first time, Elections Canada opened satellite offices at university, college and CEGEP campuses as well as friendship centres and YMCAs. The 71-location pilot program was launched to make it easier for students, First Nations and young people to vote.More than 70,000 people cast their vote in these locations, which were open from Oct. 5 to 8 for about 10 hours a day.Another 22,000 Canadians voted in hospitals, including 764 in acute care facilitiesA number of trends emerged in this election. For example, the percentage of prisoners who voted in the election was greater than the proportion of Canadian Armed Forces members who voted .A total of 50.5 per cent of Canadians behind bars in federal prisons or provincial jails voted, up from 39.9 per cent in 2011, while 45.7 per cent of Canadian Forces members voted this time, compared with 40.9 per cent in 2011.The actual numbers of prisoners who cast ballots in 2015 was 22,362, while the number of Canadian Forces members who voted was 29,247.Among Canadians living abroad who were eligible to vote, 70.5 per cent cast ballots, up from 59 per cent in the last election.There was a huge spike in the number of voters who cast ballots in advance polls.Nearly 21 per cent of Canadians voted before election day  about 3.7 million voters  and that marks an increase of 74 per cent from 2011, when 2.1 million people voted in advance.source: 2015 federal election cost taxpayers $443M, up 53% from 2011 election - Politics - CBC News
Fire office hired sex offender to meet kids

The Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner hired a registered sex offender last summer whose duties included talking to school children in up to 30 communities across Manitoba.The man visited schools in Winnipeg and in First Nations, along with a female employee, on behalf of the Office of the Fire Commissioner. They travelled from Altona in the south, to Cross Lake in the north, as public educators for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, according to a newsletter posted on the office of the fire commissioner website.No offences are known to have occurred.The 30-year-old man was convicted in Brandon in 2010 for possessing child pornography.He pleaded guilty to possessing seven child pornography videos he downloaded from the Internet, Manitoba court documents show. The videos showed children ages eight to mid-teens, including children performing sex acts. He spent 90 days in jail followed by two years probation, and was placed on the national sex offender registry for 10 years.The Office of the Fire Commissioner fired the man last December after eight months employment.The provincial government said it would not comment on specific personnel matters.However in response, the province said it is committed to strengthening its current policy to ensure all departments that require child abuse checks are doing so for all employees who work with children, including students hired through STEP Services, the official student employment placement service for the Government of Manitoba."The provinces policy around the requirement for background/security checks (depending on the role or responsibility of the employee) has been in place for some time," said government spokesman Shane Gibson in a prepared statement. "We are strengthening our policy to explicitly outline this approach."A spokesman for the Office of the Fire Commissioner made a similar commitment."The Office of the Fire Commissioner has now committed to ensuring those checks will be followed for any new STEP student hiring where the position puts the employee in contact with vulnerable persons such as youth or other students," said the spokesman in a written statement.The Canadian Centre for Child Protection wouldnt comment on a specific case either but expressed alarm that any government agency wouldnt perform background checks for job postings that deal with children."You will find people brazen enough with a background in sexual offences against children applying for jobs where they can gain access to children," said Signy Arnason, director of cybertip.ca"Its imperative people do criminal record checks and child registry record checks," said Arnason.The child protection organization has exposed 43,000 unique images of child pornography from its tip line between 2008-2015, and 80 per cent of images involve prepubescent children, and 50 per cent show explicit sexual activity."When people have convictions related to child pornography, this is not an individual looking at teenagers having just slightly slipped an age category," said Arnason. "The younger the kids, theres an incredible likelihood the images involve sexual assault."
Copy/Paste (not sure of its accuracy?)

--------------------



Subject: Japan some interesting facts ...





Japan - some interesting facts.



* In just ten years??? Hiroshima returned to what it was: economically vibrant, before the fall of the atomic bomb.



* Japan prevents the use of mobile phones in trains, restaurants and indoors.



* For first to sixth primary year Japanese students must learn ethics in dealing with people.



* Even though one of the richest people in the world, the Japanese do

not have servants.The parents are responsible for the house and children.



* There is no examination from the first to the third primary level because the goal of education is to instill concepts and character building.



* If you go to a buffet restaurant in Japan you will notice people only eat as much as they need without any waste because food must not be wasted.



* The rate of delayed trains in Japan is about 7 seconds per year!!

The Japanese appreciate the value of time and are very punctual to minutes and seconds.



* Children in schools brush their teeth (sterile) and clean their teeth after a meal at school, teaching them to maintain their health from an early age.



* Japanese students take half an hour to finish their meals to ensure proper digestion because these students are the future of Japan .



The Japanese focus on maintaining their culture. Therefore,



* No political leader or a prime minister from an Islamic nation has visited Japan not the Ayatollah of Iran , the King of Saudi Arabia or even a Saudi Prince!



* Japan is a country keeping Islam at bay by putting strict restrictions on Islam and ALL Muslims.



1) Japan is the only nation that does not give citizenship to Muslims.



2) In Japan permanent residency is not given to Muslims.



3) There is a strong ban on the propagation of Islam in Japan



4) In the University of Japan , Arabic or any Islamic language is not taught.



5) One cannot import a 'Koran' published in the Arabic language.



6) According to data published by the Japanese government, it has given temporary residency to only 2 lakhs, Muslims, who must follow the Japanese Law of the Land. These Muslims should speak Japanese and carry their religious rituals in their homes.



7) Japan is the only country in the world that has a negligible number of embassies in Islamic countries.



8) Muslims residing in Japan are the employees of foreign companies.



9) Even today, visas are not granted to Muslim doctors, engineers or managers sent by foreign companies.



10) In the majority of companies it is stated in their regulations that no Muslims should apply for a job.



11) The Japanese government is of the opinion that Muslims are fundamentalist, and even in the era of globalization they are not willing to change their Muslim laws.



12) Muslims cannot even rent a house in Japan .



13) If anyone comes to know that his neighbor is a Muslim then the whole neighborhood stays alert.



14) No one can start an Islamic cell or Arabic 'Madrasa' in Japan ..



15) There is no Sharia law in Japan .



16) If a Japanese woman marries a Muslim, she is considered an outcast forever.



17) According to Mr. Kumiko Yagi, Professor of Arab/Islamic Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, " There is a mind frame in Japan that Islam is a very narrow minded religion and one should stay away from it."



The Japanese might have lost the war, but they are in charge of their own country.



There are no bombs going off in crowded business centers, "honor killings", or killings of innocent children or anyone else.



Something to think about.
Bighorn sheep in B.C. dying from domestic sheep pneumonia

Separating the sheep

A -1 from Courious CND, I think someone is a Sheep Shagger.. get those rubber boots out.

A bighorn sheep herd in B.C.'s interior is in trouble after coming into contact with domestic sheep and the contagious disease they carry.The Chasm herd near Clinton, B.C. has lost more than two-thirds of its members since 2013, with the population decreasing from 110 to 28 members at last count. Scientists say bighorn sheep are dying from a particular type of pneumonia that domestic sheep are immune to but that wild sheep are not.Separating the two species is key to the survival of bighorn sheep, an animal that is featured in B.C.'s coat of arms."If we keep the two species separated, that's our ultimate goal. If we can achieve that, we'll have healthy wild sheep and healthy domestic sheep farms," said Chris Barker, director of the Wild Sheep Society of B.C.A bighorn sheep can die within five days after coming into contact with a domestic sheep carrying this particular pneumonia bacteria, according to Barker.Building barriers between domestic and bighorn sheep may be the most effective way of keeping the wild populations safe, says Jesse Zeeman with the B.C. Wildlife Federation.But the pneumonia bacteria is airborne, which means farmers will have to build a dual fence, about 30 feet apart, to prevent the disease from traveling herd to herd.If even one farmer doesn't build a fence, that could spell disaster for the already fragile bighorn population.Wild sheep that do come into contact with domestic sheep have to be killed to protect the rest of the population."We have a policy in place that if wild sheep have contact with domestic sheep, then you phone a conservation officer," said Barker."The conservation officer will go out and take that animal out of the equation so that it doesn't go back and actually endanger the healthy sheep population."The town of Clinton, B.C. is holding a public meeting on Sunday to raise awareness about the issue.>>>>>>>>>>>>>I understand you Curious Cdn.. :lol:
Utah legislators back plan to declare porn a health crisis

SALT LAKE CITY -- A state senator in the predominantly Mormon state of Utah wants to declare pornography a public health crisis, echoing an argument made by many conservative religious groups as porn becomes more accessible on smartphones and tablets.Republican Sen. Todd Weiler, a Mormon, contends children are being exposed at young ages to pornography, leading them to engage in riskier sexual behaviour. He has said recent research from the United Kingdom found that people who compulsively view porn showed similar brain activity as seen in drug addicts.Weiler's proposal wouldn't regulate or ban anything, but it has attracted attention, including being debated on talk show "The View." He said he's been "mocked internationally" but feels it's triggered an important conversation."It's not just a kooky thing that some, you know, politician from Mormon Utah came up with," Weiler said. "When I was a kid, people might sneak a Playboy magazine and look at it. Now, you've got all kinds of horrible, graphic images that are available to anyone with an Internet connection one or two clicks away."Four Republicans and one Democrat on a Utah Senate health committee agreed with Weiler and endorsed the resolution Friday afternoon in Salt Lake City after an hour-long meeting where they heard from anti-pornography activists, a marriage therapist and residents who said they or loved ones struggled with pornography addictions.More than half of Utah's 3 million residents belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among religions in recent years that have worked to shed light on what they consider the harms of pornography. Here, the cultural aversion to scantily dressed women is evident. Magazines or TV commercials featuring women wearing low-cut shirts or bikinis are considered by some to be soft pornography, and lingerie catalogues have been called "gateway porn."Republican Gov. Gary Herbert supports Weiler's resolution. This week he suggested it may be worth developing a 12-step program for porn addicts.Dr. Carl Shubs, a psychologist in Beverly Hills, California who specializes in issues of sexuality, said calling pornography a public health crisis is "way off on so many levels."Shubs said anything can be addictive, but that many people find pornography enjoyable and use it in a healthy way. Some couples watch it to enhance their relationships, and some without partners use pornography to fill a void, he said.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last year expressed distress over what it considers the widespread problem of pornography in American culture. It reiterated that making or watching pornographic videos is a sin.The Mormon church launched a website in 2013 devoted to helping its members overcome pornography addiction. Last year, the religion made a video to give children tips to avoid pornography.In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics offered guidance that parents should keep phones out of children's bedrooms, in part to stop them looking at pornography.
Don't worry it's just a Jackie Chan film! Moment a London bus explodes yards from Parliament on Lambeth Bridge as crews film scenes for his new film The Foreigner

By Matt Hunter For Mailonline7 February 2016Daily MailTourists and Londoners had a shock in the capital today when a bus exploded on Lambeth Bridge - but there was nothing to fear as it was only a film crew shooting the latest Jackie Chan film.It wasn't the typical glamorous location for the veteran film star who is starring in the movie, called The Foreigner, with Pierce Brosnan.Transport for London warned travellers that Lambeth Bridge would be closed during the filming. Flames shot up in the air when the explosion broke the roof of the bus on the bridge. A large fire then engulfed the vehicle spreading debris across the road.Shocked people took to Twitter, Sophie Kinsella wrote: 'Hey film types, next time you blow up a bus on Lambeth Bridge maybe tell us first so children in park aren't freaked?'Alex Donaldson tweeted: 'Curious re who approved blowing up a #LondonBus...in the name of a movie #scaredthedaylights'.Another user said: 'Was far enough away from to see bus blow up but not why, genuinely felt it in pit of my stomach.'LowriPeploe-Williams was scared when she saw the explosion. She said: 'Just watched a bus blow up on Lambeth bridge to find out its for a film.'Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston posted a video of the explosion with the message: 'Anyone worried about the exploding bus on Lambeth Bridge just now? It was just for a movie.'Tweets were posted and warning messages published on TfL's website informing people of what was planned for the bridge.The message said: 'Filming will take place within the lane closure at the bus stop next to the palace from 11am-12noon.'A spokesman for the Port of London Authority also confirmed it was a stunt for a film and that the bridge was closed off. But the scene took some by surprise.In a notice warning residents about it, film producers described the film as a 'gritty action thriller'. It is directed by Martin Campbell, who was behind James Bond films Casino Royale and GoldenEye.The notice, posted on Twitter, stated: 'The explosion is controlled and operated by our special effects team.'It added: 'Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of the people in the area.'Brosnan's role in the film is as an ex-IRA government official who let Chan's family die.And former Bond star Brosnan has been feeling nostalgic for his first team-up with director Campbell back in 1994, sharing a throwback shot on his Instagram page from around the time he wrapped filming on his Bond debut.The stunning photo shows the handsome star posing with his then girlfriend and now wife Keely Shaye Smith, alongside the caption: 'I had just finished Goldeneye and we went Bora.'Chan, 61, has in the last few days been seen taking to the streets of Balham, south London, where fans have been capturing photos of him on social media.Read more: London bus explodes on Lambeth Bridge for Jackie Chan's new film The Foreigner | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Evaluating the free market by comparing it to the alternatives (We don't need more regulations, We don't need more price controls, No Socialism in the courtroom, Hey, White House, leave us all alone)
thoughts on life, movies, books... through the eyes of a modern orthodox single woman
The second largest Taiwanese airline EvaAir, which is a Star Alliance member carrier just like Turkish Airlines, started codeshare flights in 2015. And now from March 5, 2016, EvaAir will start its direct flights from Taipei to Istanbul.

When EVA starts daily Taipei  Istanbul flights on March 5, the two airlines will further collaborate to efficiently use Istanbul as a hub for travel to destinations that are even more distant. With the code-shared flights and commercial agreements for beyond Istanbul, EVA will offer passengers more convenient choices to Europe.

The carrier, which will have 4 flights a week, has announced a promotion of 50% off flight upgrades. Infinity MileageLands members can enjoy upgrades for just 50% percent of the mileage normally required.

If you have purchased an eligible ticket class fare and have a confirmed reservation, you will be able to enjoy this offer. You must apply for the upgrade and complete the mileage deduction between Oct 20, 2015 and Mar. 4, 2016. To make an award upgrade reservation and redeem your miles, please call your local EVA Air reservation office. Ticketed passengers with confirmed reservations made via the EVA Air internet booking system can also make award upgrade reservations by logging in to the Infinity MileageLands area of the EVA Air website. Except for the reduced mileage requirement, standard terms and conditions of award upgrades apply.

Promotion details:

Eligible flights: Scheduled flights to Istanbul operated by EVA Air. You must have a confirmed reservation with an EVA Air flight number

Effective application dates: From Oct 20, 2015 to Mar. 4, 2016

Eligible flight dates: From Mar. 5, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016

Eligible ticket classes: Elite Class (K/L/T) and Economy Class (Y/B/M)

Upgrade mileage requirements (one-way):

Cabin Elite Class

 Economy Class Royal Laurel / Premium Laurel 

Elite Class Royal Laurel / Premium Laurel



Economy Class 10,000 miles (usually 20,000 miles) 15,000 miles

(usually 30,000 miles) 25,000 miles

(usually 50,000 miles)
Europes Leading Airline and flag carrier of Turkey, Turkish Airlines received its 300th aircraft. With the addition of its 300th aircraft, Turkish Airlines wishes to serve its customers with Europes youngest and most modern fleet.

The addition of the 300th plane was celebrated with a ceremony that was held on Friday, February 5, 2016 at Ataturk International Airport in the new hangar of Turkish Technic Inc.. The ceremony included the participation of Turkish Airlines Board Chairman, M. Ilker Ayc, Turkish Airlines CEO, Dr. Temel Kotil, Airbus Regional Sales Director/Middle East and Europe, Douglas Anderson, and Airbus Contracts Director, David Bonnel as well as a large number of business partners and media representatives.

Turkish Airlines Board Chairman said, Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Turkish Airlines today is a 4-star airline with a fleet of 300 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 284 destinations worldwide -235 international and 49 domestic-. Turkish Airlines received its 100th aircraft in August 2006, 73 years after its establishment. Nearly seven years later, in March 2013, its fleet reached 200 aircraft. With 300 aircraft in our fleet today, we are the world's 13th largest airline in terms of fleet size, and with 39 new aircraft to be added by the end of this year, Turkish Airlines will be even more prominent at the international level with its young fleet.

Douglas Anderson, Senior Sales Director of Airbus commented: We would like to congratulate Turkish Airlines on the milestone of increasing its fleet to 300 aircraft and we would like to express our gratitude for their confidence in Airbus aircraft. Ten years ago Turkish Airlines was operating with only 7 wide-body aircraft and today they have more than 70. We are honored to be a partner in their growth and look forward to be a part of their growing fleet in the coming years."

The aircraft was then handed over to Turkish Airlines. Powered by CF6-80E1 engines, the A330-300 is the first aircraft to be equipped with galleys from TCI Turkish Cabin Interiors- and economy class seats from TSI Turkish Seat Industries- all manufactured in Turkey. The new aircraft will be deployed on existing medium and long-haul routes from the Turkish Airlines Istanbul hub, adding more capacity to enhance the airlines growth strategy.

Airbus has a long-standing relationship with Turkish Airlines dating back to 1984 when it added the first A310. Today the carrier operates 159 Airbus aircraft including 53 A330 variants.

Airbus is well positioned to meet the demand for Turkish Airlines ambitious growth strategy with its eco-efficient, modern family of aircraft. Turkish aerospace companies benefit from this growth through long-term industrial partnerships with Airbus.

The A330 family includes freighters, VIP, and military transport/tanker variants, and has now attracted more than 1,600 orders. Over 1,200 A330 aircraft are flying with more than 100 operators worldwide. Having an operational reliability of 99,4 percent, the A330 is one of the worlds most efficient aircraft with best-in-class operating economics. The A330 belongs to the successful group of Airbus Widebody aircraft, which consists of the A330, A350 XWB and A380, uniquely spanning the 250 to over 500 seat market segment.
Preparations for Carnaval - Flour and spray foam!

Okay, so sometimes things just make me a little crazy and then I rant. (Photos shamelessly stolen from: http://richandnancy.blogspot.com/2012/02/carnaval-2012.html!)#1 - Why do female detectives on TV wear high heeled shoes? You see them running through cobble stoned streets and when they stop they're wearing 3 inch stilettos...please...at least wear shoes you can actually run in. (Yes, I've run in high heels, but not at a full out tilt that I can only manage in runners.) A little realism/practicality please.#2 - Why is it a kindness to put down a suffering animal, but not a kindness to do the same for a terminally suffering human? And please don't tell me because we intellectually understand what we're going through...does that make the pain any less? No.#3 - Why are so many TV female super heroes stick skinny? All the male superheroes are cut like nobody's business, but the chicks are anemic. (Again...realism...!)#4 - Why do the posts on Pinterest obsess both with weight loss and dessert recipes? I feel so conflicted when I look at it!#5 - People from the US accuse Canadians of saying "aboot"...we do not...Scottish people say "aboot" we say "abowt". Where this idea came from, I have no idea, but please stop saying it.#6 - Reality TV is an oxymoron. It isn't real and is only encouraging people to bad behaviour. It's so rampant that many viewers actually think that acting like a jerk and "winning" are all that matters. It will be the downfall of our society.#7 - Corporations and share holders expect profits to continually rise. This is impossible that's why they call it a business "cycle". For the love of God, plan for the downturns, stop firing the people on the ground, doing the real work, and get rid of one or two of your useless fat cat executives.That's it. All the little bees I have buzzing around in my bonnet. Maybe the irritants have gone away because it's Carnaval here and kids are spraying each other with foam and water, running around like made things and have a wonderful time. Things like that can buoy my spirits, even while chewing on some "friendly" fire soap bubbles.
ARLINGTON, Texas, Feb. 07, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Troupe Eyecare is reminding Texas residents about the risk of eye issues related to dry conditions during the colder months of winter. Specifically, dry eye syndrome tends to be more prevalent during this time; however, there are things that Texas residents can do to minimize their risk while maximizing eye health and optimal vision.



Dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome is sometimes called keratitis sicca, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dysfunctional tear syndrome. It is caused by a chronic deficit of moisture and lubrication on the eyes surface. Dry eyes are often irritated, red and itchy, prompting sufferers to rub their eyes and often make the condition worse. Consequences can range from chronic irritation to major inflammation of the eyes. Left unchecked, abrasion and scarring can result, affecting eye health and vision going forward.

Dry eye syndrome is very common and one of the main reasons people visit the eye doctor. Around half of all American adults experience dry eye symptoms regularly. Besides irritation, redness and itching, symptoms of dry eye disease may also include a burning sensation, inflammation, aching, eye fatigue, eye strain, a heavy feeling in the eyes, overall soreness, blurry vision and photophobia (light sensitivity). Foreign body sensation may also be reported, which refers to feeling as though something gritty is in the eye. Reflexive eye watering may also be a symptom, although the tears produced do not remain in the eyes long enough to correct the condition of dryness.

Left untreated, dry eyes can lead to permanent damage to the eyes surface. The outcomes of cataract surgery or LASIK may also be affected. Other factors that can contribute to dry eyes include contact lens wear, digital device use, aging/menopause, smoking, and frequent flying in an airplane.

Dr. Amanda Troupe explains, The drier, colder and windier conditions of the winter months can both lead to new cases of dry eye syndrome and exacerbate existing ones. The winter months of the year often bring drier conditions both indoors and out in the state of Texas, and this in turn increases the likelihood of associated risks and symptoms.

Preventing and addressing dry eye syndrome can be accomplished by making some simple lifestyle changes. Using artificial tears regularly, taking breaks during electronic device usage and blinking more frequently can all help. In some cases, in-office procedures and prescription eye medications will be required to address existing cases of dry eye syndrome.

Troupe Eyecare has locations in both Arlington and Keller, Texas, and serves clients in the adjacent areas of these two cities. Those in the public who would like more information or advice about avoiding winter dry eye can call 817-562-2010 or visit the Troupe Eyecare website to see their full suite of services.
UN decision is a victory not only for Assange, but for the right of whistle-blowers everywhere to be protected from persecution, and for the victims who benefit from their work.

Julian Assange, pictured on the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, with the UN report that says he is being 'arbitrarily detained' by Britain and Sweden. In September 2014, Julian Assange filed a complaint against Sweden and Britain with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD). In a landmark opinion issued on February 5, 2016, WGAD upheld Assanges complaint that he is a victim of illegal and arbitrary detention, and thereby dispelled the myths that Assange chooses to remain in the Embassy or that he is a fugitive from justice.

Following nearly two years of deliberation, a prominent panel of the world's top legal body at the United Nations confirmed what many observers have long suspected: dissident publisher and founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange is being arbitrarily detained by the UK and Swedish governments.

The 17-page opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) accords with the UN's Human Rights Council stated brief of "independent fact-finding and monitoring" of alleged human rights violations. The WGAD's decision is monitory democracy in action. Unsurprisingly, it sparked an instant global media event, with several million published reactions, including bitter backlashes in high circle

The UK's foreign minister Philip Hammond tweeted that Assange is "a fugitive from justice, voluntarily hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy". No signs of mercy there, or in the reaction of the Swedish government. Ignoring the real danger of extradition to the US, and certain arrest by the London Metropolitan police, it said that Assange "is free to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy at any point in time". Australia's Science and Innovation Minister Christopher Pyne compounded the mockery by describing Assange as a troublemaking "no hero" responsible for putting "a whole lot of people's lives at risk".

Hypocrisy of democracies

The strange thing about these reactions to the WGAD decision is their inconsistency. Some would use the stronger word hypocrisy to grasp the odd fact that the Swedish and UK and Australian governments are themselves signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 9 and 10) and several articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on which the Working Group based its opinion. The inconsistencies run even deeper.

Think on these facts: Assange has never been formally charged with any crime. WGAD plausibly defines his arrest as dating from 7 December 2010: including today, two leap years and a 10-day period of solitary confinement, that's 1,887 days by my calculation, a much lengthier punishment than he would have received if the Swedish courts had issued charges, found him guilty and sentenced him to prison. During this period, the Swedish legal authorities have bungled badly. Not only have they failed to issue criminal charges. Since 2010, they have refused Assange's offer to provide evidence and denied him access to exculpatory counter evidence. They have thus voided his legal right to defend himself against rumours in a fair trial. That's not the end of the inconsistencies.

Rumour justifying arrest

The WGAD judgment notes that since July 2014 UK domestic law bars extradition where no decision to bring a person to trial has been made. In other words, bare accusations and rumours are no longer grounds for dragging someone across borders and into court. The WGAD further complains that in matters of criminal administration both governments have demonstrated 'a substantial failure to exercise due diligence' and consistently violated "the rule of proportionality".

The summary recommendations of the WGAD expert panel are far-reaching. They call on the Swedish and British authorities to end Assange's confinement, to return his passport and to grant him freedom of movement, with "an enforceable right to compensation". Assange expressed immediate delight at the ruling. "How sweet it is", he said, standing defiantly on the balcony of the Ecuador Embassy, glancing at a London sky he rarely sees. During a press conference held shortly after the WGAD ruling was formally published, he described the decision as much more than a moral victory. It is "legally binding", he said.

His legal team was similarly fulsome in its praise of the work of WGAD. The celebrated Spanish jurist Baltasar Garzon said the time for "indefinite procrastination" was over. Continued arbitrary detention would amount to a justiciable form of "torture and inhumane treatment". Melinda Taylor, who led Assange's case before the UN panel, concurred. She said the historic ruling showed "there's light at the end of the tunnel".

Fight over Assange's fate

The sad truth is there's probably another tunnel at the end of this moment of light. The hostile reactions of both the Swedish and UK governments suggest not only that legal appeals and battles are far from finished. Their swank and swagger potentially set a dangerous precedent. Their swashbuckling writes "a pass for every dictatorship to reject UN rulings", as Edward Snowden tweeted. The verbal bravado of the Swedish and UK governments equally confirms that the drawn-out drama featuring Assange centres ultimately on the vexed relationship between state power and the rule of law.

"Macht geht vor Recht," ("might before right") runs the old German proverb: in the real world of power, the ability of rulers to boss and bully others typically trumps ethical and legal standards. The governments desperate to get their claws into the anarchist flesh of Assange seem determined to follow that proverb. They are finally showing their hand. Put bluntly, they have opted for arbitrary power. In effect, they have declared themselves enemies of democracy as we know it.

Can they be persuaded to back down and draw back? Might they come to their senses, by embracing the legal principles to which they have freely given their consent? Will they desist from breaking their own laws? Or will their inaction add to the creeping lawlessness of our 21st-century world? We don't yet know. Just one thing is certain: politics, not law, will hereon decide whether Assange is released, finally freed from his rotten fate of miscarried justice and arbitrary detention.

John Keane is professor of politics at the University of Sydney and the WZB Berlin. Among his many works is the first full-scale history of democracy, The Life and Death of Democracy (Simon and Schuster 2009).
Governor Cuomo has announced a series of new measures aimed at banning "conversion therapy," a psychiatric pseudo-treatment that claims to change a homosexual patient's sexual orientation, turning them straight. "Conversion therapy is a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice that is counter to everything this state stands for," Cuomo said. "We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being who they are."

Such conversion therapyespecially when administered to minorshas been widely denounced by medical professionals. The American Psychological Association and Human Rights Campaign have both explicitly decried the practice.

Governor Cuomo's plan to curb the practice statewide will be a multiform push. Both public and private health care insurers will be banned from covering the costs of conversion therapy for patients under the age of 18. In addition, the New York Department of Health will make it illegal to cover the practice under Medicaid. Finally, the state's Office of Mental Health will ban conversion therapy at any mental health facility that it currently licenses, funds, or operates.

"New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decadesand today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example," Cuomo said. "We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being who they are.

In a statement, Mayor de Blasio commended the Governor's proposed ban, calling it "exactly the right one to make."

"No amount of therapy can fix something that isn't broken," de Blasio said. "No public or private insurance plans should encourage a practice found to be damaging to LGBT young people who, like everyone else, are searching for love and acceptance. The medical profession is about saving lives, not tearing them apart.

The new measures would severely restrict conversion therapy as a supposed "treatment" for homosexuality. However, State Assembly Member Deborah Glick expressed worry that Cuomo's efforts wouldn't be able to stop independent mental health counselors from attempting to convert patients. "Any avenue that you can close off for this pernicious practice is a good thing, Glick told the Times. "I'm just saying I don't think it gets the largest number of practitioners."

California, Oregon, Illinois, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. have all outlawed the practice of conversion therapy. Unsurprisingly, the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family has come out in opposition of Cuomo's proposed ban. In an email to ABC News, the group's public policy vice president Carrie Gordon Earll claimed that minors "should have access to professionally based, ethically directed care that assesses, clarifies and aligns with their deeply-held values, faith and life goals."

However, support for conversion therapy outside of the religious right is in short supply. "No young person should be coerced or subjected to this dangerous so-called therapy," Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign said in a statement.
Police are looking for the suspect who raped a woman in her Bronx apartment building's stairwell last month.

According to the NYPD, the incident occurred around 9:44 p.m. on January 5th. The victim, whom the Daily News says is 56-years-old, entered her building on East 183rd Street in the University Heights neighborhood "when an unidentified male followed her into the elevator. As the elevator door opened the male grabbed her from behind and began to assault her. The unidentified male then removed cash and two cellphones from the victim and then raped her in the stairwell."

The suspect fled and the victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Police described the suspect as being about 18-years-old and 5'8"; he was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.
Groundwater at the Indian Point nuclear plant has tested for "alarming" levels of radioactive contamination, spurring Governor Cuomo to call for a new investigation. Three of the 40 monitoring wells at the power plant were found to be contaminated with tritium, yielding a 65,000 increase in radioactivity, according to a report by the plant's owner, Entergy Corporation. Officials stress though that there is no significant risk to the public at large.

In a statement Saturday, Cuomo stressed that Indian Point's new contamination woes have been contained within the site itself, posing no immediate threat to the public. The governor went on to call for a full investigation: "We need to identify whether this incident could have been avoided by exercising reasonable care." Entergy says that the plant provides New York City with a quarter of its electricity

The Indian Point nuclear plant is located near Buchanan, NY, roughly 30 miles north of New York City. In the past, it has been plagued with maintenance woes and environmental scares, including a transformer explosion that sent thousands of gallons of oil into the Hudson River last May, and caused a "relatively minor" reactor shutdown in December.

"This latest failure at Indian Point is unacceptable," Cuomo wrote in a letter demanding new investigations of procedures at the nuclear plant. "This failure continues to demonstrate that Indian Point cannot continue to operate in a manner that is protective of public health and the environment."

In a statement, Entergy asserted that the spiking tritium levels are still more than a thousand times below federal limits for radioactivity and have not contaminated the public drinking supply. Nevertheless, the company acknowledged that the radioactive groundwater is "not in accordance with our standards."

Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told the News that the new leak was the result of a overflowing drain that failed and overflowed while workers transferred radioactive water.


Honest reviews of Hawaii restaurants and travel experiences from the Santos family in Honolulu, Hawaii. Please join to follow this blog and leave comments about the places you read about. Click on "Older Posts" at the bottom of each page to continue your adventure. This blog is for fun only. I am not a food critic. Just call them like I eat them. Enjoy! Email:greateatshawaii@gmail.com Instagram @greateatshawaii
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VIDEO: Sheikh Sultan inspects progress of 'Hanging Gardens' project

Sheikh Sultan was briefed on the plans for the remaining stages in the implementation of the project, which extends over an area of one and a half million square feet, listening to the progress of work and the most important completed and remaining stages.
Hands Across the Sea is a non-profit organization serving children and their families in Haiti. Founded and run by Karen Huxter, HATS includes an orphanage, a school serving children from preschool to grade 10, serving over 400 children, many of whom are sponsored by individual donors in Canada and the U.S. The children receive a high-quality nutritional drink and a hot lunch each school day. Finally, HATS-Haiti provides ongoing support to families in the community with financial aid in times of crisis, nutrional support, clothing distribution, and assistance with medical costs at the nearby hospital.






Bolt Mobile is a fairly new cellular phone business in town. They are your AT&T, Verizon and prepaid phone company. They are located at 1516 N. Montana Avenue. Give Gary Gavin a call at 437-3187 to check out current specials!

Also new to Helena is Premier Global Capital owned by Banner Demers. This business helps with business start-up capital and assists with loans for other businesses that might need working capital or expansion financing. They offer free consultations and work with more than 50 lenders that specialize in their respective niches. They are at 314 N. Last Chance Gulch Suite 202 and their contact is 465-4137

Goodwill is planning a new, larger building just north of their present location  near Rods and Dogs. It has been amazing over my 17 years in Helena to see the number of gently-used goods locations continue to grow. Im sure with the costs to families continuing to rise, the ability to purchase good used items has become more important. I know that all of the non-profit stores like Goodwill, depend greatly on donations in order to keep their operations solvent and helping the community. Remember these are tax-deductible donations!

Helena is special in many ways and I feel blessed to live in such a wonderful community. Many of my peers from other urban centers in Montana and beyond are very jealous of something Helena has: Hometown Helena." Hometown Helena started nearly 30 years ago by the Helena Ambassadors and is the most amazing organization." I say that lightly since it is not an organization with members, dues, or such. It is open to the public and they have regular meetings every week (except Thanksgiving or Christmas weeks) on the seventh floor of the Montana Club. These 7 a.m. meetings are every Thursday and are attended by community leaders, elected officials, community members, business owners, and retired citizens, you name it -- a wide variety of Helenans. Most weeks have a scheduled presenter/speaker on topics of interest to the group and is always an open forum for attendees to share and discuss whats going on in Helena, in the state, nationally or even world-wide.

For many of those 30 years, two people have run the show - Jim Cottrill (retired realtor) and Ron Mercer (retired Airport Director). Jim runs the meetings and Ron schedules most of the programs. Helena Civic TV records and airs the presentations. It is quite remarkable and they deserve recognition for this huge effort. All in the name of a strong community -- this group is the showcase for why Helena is the great community it is. The public is welcome to attend these meetings!

The Helena Chamber held its largest membership event this past week with the 2016 Annual Banquet. This event had more than 700 business people attend. It is just amazing to see this large number of business people supporting the Chamber. The large amount of donations for the fundraising side of the event is tremendous. The event featured a keynote address by Gov. Steve Bullock and also there was a lot of time allotted for networking and socializing. Kudos to Chili OBriens for an excellent meal and to Big Bull Bar and Grill for catering the bars  they even brought four beautifully handmade bars to set up! The fairgrounds was, as usual, a very nice venue with plenty of room for all to move around and enjoy the evening. K&J Convention Services (Chris and Stacey) made it elegant with their pipe and drape deco. All in all, a grand event!

Events like this help the chamber to operate and provide all the business advocacy and business support throughout the year. Accolades to Mike Mergenthaler, Chamber Vice President, who heads up this huge event and to the entire chamber staff for their hard work to make it successful.

Thanks to the Independent Record for the excellent Report to the Community for the Chamber that was in your paper last Tuesday. We appreciate their support and the opportunity to let the community know about all the accomplishments and work of the chamber.

Cathy Burwell is president/CEO of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce.
New farmers and ranchers face numerous challenges when getting an operation off the ground and into the field.

Finding land for lease or purchase, securing financing and accessing markets are just a few of the necessities agricultural industry newcomers must learn. A new service, called Farm Link Montana, is looking to become a one-stop shop for help with those challenges.

Wed hear from a lot of beginning farmers that knew these resources were out there, but didnt know how to track them down, said Annie Heuscher, program director for Community Food & Agriculture Coalition in Missoula. There are so many resources out there and we wanted to create something user friendly and Montana specific.

The coalition secured a $250,000 USDA grant to launch the website farmlinkmontana.org. The website includes information on production planning, financials and marketing, along with links for internships, mentorships and a land link to provide a venue for land seekers and providers to find each other.

A lot of our information is more business oriented, then trying to connect people and encourage them to reach out to their county extension agent to give them more knowledge and connections about where they want to go, Heuscher said.

Farm Link Montana also provides some free, in-person classes geared toward agricultural business and marketing. More classes will be offered throughout the state this year, with hopes to have a class in Helena by next winter, she said.

We developed this business curriculum, which is fully on the site now for those who want to self-guide when a workshop isnt offered, Heuscher said. But with a lot of the financing and marketing, it helps to have someone there with these workshops.

Lewis & Clark County agricultural extension agent Brent Sarchet says the MSU Extension Service has had limited involvement thus far, but has helped teach or host some of the beginning farmer classes.

I have been testing the water in the Helena area to see if there is interest in such a workshop/program, he said. I think we will offer a course next year.

While anyone hoping to start farming and ranching can benefit from the information, Farm Link Montana may be most useful to those interested in selling at farmers markets or community supported agriculture programs, Heuscher said.

The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is not affiliated with Farm Link Montana, but according to director of member relations Sue Ann Streufert, helping young farmers and ranchers get started is a priority for the future of the industry. The federations board of directors may look at supporting the program in the future, she said.

Its great these guys are tackling this issue.  To do it well is a full-time job, and theyve dedicated themselves to this one mission, she said.

MFBF has looked at ways to incentivize transitioning agricultural land between retiring landowners and new producers interested in continuing the legacy. What the federation found, Streufert said, was a capital gains tax hit that consistently became a stumbling block.

We have looked into this in the past, and what we really got stuck on is where we felt there should be some kind of tax incentive or credit, she said. I think a concept like this could really grow if we could figure that missing piece to incentivize retiring producers giving a young farmer or rancher a leg up.

Building up the land link feature that brings land seekers and owners together is a major priority for Farm Link Montana over the next year, Heuscher said. The interest from seekers has been very strong with a lot of them looking to start cow-calf operations, but not enough land available for all the interest, she added.

Farm Link Montana is also looking to build its business sponsorships going forward. The USDA grant funds the project through 2017, and sponsorships will be necessary to keep the site and services free, Heuscher said.
The violent capture of the leaders of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation in Oregon two weeks ago and the continued siege of the federal refuge by four armed militants is an ill-conceived move to draw national attention to an issue that has plagued Montanans and other Westerners for the past four decades. Unfortunately the sentiments that led to the occupation and the heated discourse that fueled it continue to persist.

The demands that the federal government give over its land to the states is a movement that has roots back to the early 1900s when the federal government first began setting aside large swaths of land in the West for the public use and wildlife habitat protection. The Sagebrush Rebellion gained steam in the 1970s and 80s after key pieces of environmental legislation passed Congress, including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act.

The sentiment fueling the uprising then has not died away: How can the federal government know what is best for the land and the communities who depend on them?

Weve written this before and repeat it again here: The vast public lands in the West are one of Americas best ideas and valued treasures. There was a time at the turn of the 20th century when presidents were tripping over each other to establish the forest reserves, which would eventually become the national forests we know today. The designation of Western federal lands began an important discussion about how they should be managed. Today that discussion involves landowners, local governments and a wide variety of interest groups.

The conversation must be open, honest and free. Our society cant afford for this debate to be hijacked by radicals, like those who took over the Oregon federal wildlife refuge.

As the statewide political races begin to shape up, discussion about natural resource development and federal land management will be a focal point. We hope these conversations focus on ways to improve the system, not dismantle it.

But voters should know that even though public sentiment around the state seems to strongly support federal lands staying under the ownership of the federal government, interest groups will be pushing hard to get those lands transferred to state ownership. Leading the charge will be the American Lands Council and its leader, Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls.

Fielder represents the constituents who elected her to office in Senate District 7. She also represents the interests of the ALC and has sponsored legislation in the past promoting the federal land transfer.

With a citizen legislature, not one comprised of professional politicians, lawmakers come to Helena with varied interests. Our Legislature consists of many people who serve not only their constituents, but often their industries and personal causes as well. Hopefully, these interests are well-known to the voters who send them to Helena.

In this respect Fielder is no different. What may be different here is the ideas she promotes as a legislator and as the head of ALC are incredibly unpopular with the majority of Montanans who value their public lands and the legacy they have in Montana -- a state known for its breathtaking beauty, abundant fish and wildlife habitat and ample recreational opportunities. We are suspicious of people and organizations who see these lands as simply an opportunity to expand the state economy. These lands are already the economic engine of our state -- just ask the software developer in Bozeman, or the doctor in Helena or the restaurateur in Kalispell. They live here and make their living here because of the tremendous access to our public lands and the resources those lands offer.

And it doesnt matter who is making the argument: transferring these lands to state ownership will cost taxpayers far too much money, and the only way out will be to sell the most valuable pieces to private owners. Federal ownership prevents this.

So again, lets focus our discussion on ways to improve management of federal lands. Lets push lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to pass legislation and funding to better address the needs of communities who depend on these lands for recreation and commerce. But lets not waste any more time on figuring out how to take them out of public hands.
Transparency. Montana voters are likely to hear that pledge time and time again in the coming months. Campaign finance law is complicated, with more loopholes than a Swiss cheese, and the voters and the media should demand that each candidate define publically what he or she means by a pledge of transparency. Even then, I suggest that whatever the candidates definition, voters should take the pledge with a good deal of skepticism.

Heres the problem in a nutshell. First, according to the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United, contributions paid directly to a candidate breed corruption quid pro quo  in other words, I give you money; I buy your vote. Back in the day, it was called bribery. Thats why contributions and coordinated communications are subject to limits imposed by law.

However, that same court decreed that expenditures made on behalf of a candidate do not have any such corruptive effect because the individual or entity expending the money is simply providing the public with information about a candidate or issue. These sorts of independent expenditures are unlimited.

Second, under Buckley v. Valeo, a decision predating Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court held that money is a form of and counts as speech. The Court stated that: A restriction on the amount of money a person or group can spend on political communication during a campaign necessarily reduces the quantity of expression by restricting the number of issues discussed, the depth of their exploration, and the size of the audience reached. And, [t]he electorates increasing dependence on television, radio, and other mass media for news and information has made these expensive modes of communication indispensable instruments of effective political speech.

Third, the law provides that with respect to these independent expenditures, those cannot be made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, a candidates authorized committee, or their agents, or a political party or its agents."

Now, if a candidate wants to tear up or return direct contributions lawfully made to his or her campaign, by all means, shred or return away.

But, when it comes to expenditures made on behalf of his or her campaign by individuals, corporations, special interests or super-PACs, Citizens United guarantees that the candidates wishes, pledges, promises or disavowals dont mean much.

For one thing, as noted above, the law requires that the candidate have absolutely nothing to do with the independent expenditure  thats why its independent. If he or she violates this law, then the Commissioner of Political Practices gets involved  as per recent stories in the print and broadcast media.

On the other hand, if XYZ Corporation, or super-PAC Americans for Motherhood and Apple Pie wants to make an independent expenditure to fund a slick TV campaign for Candidate A, Candidate As disavowal and pledge not to accept institutional or PAC money is smoke and mirrors. The reason? Because, under Citizens United, the independent expender has a First Amendment, free political speech right to inform the electorate, and the electorate has a right to be informed  irrespective of whether Candidate A agrees or not. Indeed, if its a true independent expenditure, the candidate cant stop it  even if he or she is self-funding his or her own campaign. And, if there is no disclosure of the names of the individuals actually behind the independent expender, then we have dark money.

Remember, according to the Supreme Court, a contribution corrupts; but expenditure has no corruptive effect. For those living in a parallel universe that nuance may make sense, but, in the reality of the information age, it is a dichotomy grounded in a consummate fiction. By either definition, the contributor or expender is using money to influence an election and to secure a vote in favor of or against a candidate.

Aside from fools or the Citizens United majority, does anyone actually believe that candidates are oblivious to who is expending money for or against them? And, can any thinking person doubt that when millions upon millions of dollars are expended on behalf of a candidate, that he or she is bought (bribed) as surely as if the office-seeker were handed a bushel basket of cash under the table?

In short, voters should be skeptical of a candidates pledge to not accept PAC and special interest money. Frequently, wrapping oneself in the mantle of transparency is a cloak that is anything but transparent.

Jim Nelson is a retired Montana Supreme Court Justice. He lives in Helena.
When Montana Democrats gather at Fairmont Hot Springs next month for a caucus retreat, a tally of names on the attendance sheet will dictate whether the meeting is open to the public. Either way, the topics of discussion  preparing a coordinated message for 2016 campaigns and drafting priorities for the 2017 legislative session  will be the same.

It is tricky to delineate between political strategizing and public business, Sen. Mary Sheehy Moe. D-Great Falls, said.

I see the caucus as a political body, not a public one, Moe said, personally disagreeing with Montana courts that have ruled caucuses are indeed public. Like many political bodies, we often deal with public business.

After a 2015 court case, some now worry open government gains made in the 1990s might be ignored and that legislators will not notify the public in advance about caucus meetings.

Longtime state government reporter Chuck Johnson, who is now retired but continues to serve on the Montana Newspaper Associations Freedom of Information Hotline board, remembered the discussions that led 22 Montana news outlets to file suit in 1995.

Actions were occurring in caucus that made the discussion and votes on the floor a formality, Johnson said. We felt sometimes that the majority party, that was the Republicans at the time, had already had their discussions and made up their minds.

The lawsuit sought public access to legislative caucuses -- gatherings of each political party to set priorities and strategize -- citing a section of the Montana constitution that all legislative meetings are open to the public. The case concluded in 1998, with District Judge Thomas Honzel finding the public has a right to observe their discussions. Specifically, the public has the right to attend any meeting where enough legislators gather to constitute a quorum, whether in a Capitol hearing room or a residences living room.

Just before the 2015 session, Republican legislators gathered in the basement of a restaurant without notifying the public in advance as required by open government law. The meeting was cut short when two reporters, who learned of the caucus, showed up to cover the gathering. Montana news media followed with a lawsuit seeking to hold the caucus in contempt of the 1998 ruling. District Judge Kathy Seeley dismissed the case in January 2015, saying that caucus meetings must be open to the public but that the 1998 ruling did not specifically require caucuses to provide advance notice to the public.

After Seeleys ruling, public notice requirements remain a gray area, Rep. Jennifer Eck, D-Helena, said.

Helena attorney and open government advocate Mike Meloy disagreed, arguing the dismissal does not constitute a reversal of the 1998 ruling.

She did not in that case, nor has she ever held, so far as Im aware, that notice of caucuses is not required, Meloy said. (Honzel) held they were subject to open-meetings laws and therefore must be noticed. ... Our Supreme Court has said if the meetings are open to the public they must be noticed. Thats the law in Montana.

Johnson defended the importance of open caucuses, which courts have affirmed in several other states, as critical to earning public trust in government and providing accountability for the actions of elected officials. For instance, he recalled House Republican leader Mike Lang cursing Gov. Brian Schweitzer in 2007 after negotiations had fallen apart and in the final days of the 2015 session when Rep. Art Wittich called for fellow Republicans to kill the infrastructure funding bill because it might be the partys only victory.

Leaders of both parties have argued that having public caucuses deprives members of the forthright conversations of their peers and slows down efforts to coordinate. They say that private gatherings allow legislators to be frank and sometimes vulnerable as they hash out difficult party and policy decisions. In open caucuses, many members instead hold back and carefully craft their words for fear that the opposition or media could use a remark out of context.

Montana State University Political Scientist David Parker agreed.

The parties should have room for conversations outside the public view to make difficult decisions, he said.

In some cases, Parker said open meetings laws have had the opposite effect. Rather than making government workings more transparent, he said they sometimes lead to elected leaders finding new, even less transparent ways, to meet.

Johnson said the 1998 ruling could be an example of winning the battle but losing the war, noting that the substance of legislative caucuses did change after the case: less strategizing and more press conferences.

The party leaders would start meeting with five legislators at a time in their offices, to avoid triggering a quorum, Johnson said.

Much the same strategy is at play in planning the upcoming meeting of Democrats at Fairmont Hot Springs, too. Just to be safe and head off transparency concerns, Eck said Democrats will issue public notice about their Feb. 6 gathering and open it up to the public -- but only if a quorum of the House or Senate caucuses is reached. To date, however, she reports just a handful of reservations and is not certain enough members will attend to require public access.

Its not unheard of for one too many people to show up to a caucus gathering and, rather than opening the meeting to the public, someone will turn around and drive home to keep the count shy of a quorum. Or, a legislator will decide not to attend at all, knowing only a few can, even though they would like to be part of the discussion.

It makes it difficult to strategize, Moe said. I dont think that serves the public.

Johnson disagreed, saying secrecy does not serve the public interest.

We have one of the strongest state constitutions on the right to know, he said. Anything involving legislative decisions are public.
MISSOULA -- Montana Rail Link wont be hiring this year.

BNSF Railway's system-wide capital expenditures plan for 2016 is a 25-percent cut from 2015.

BNSF isn't saying how many of its Montana workers have been laid off this winter. A spokesman said MRL has furloughed two dozen as we adjust employee levels to meet our customers needs.

For now at least, those needs are dramatically fewer than a year ago.

Montana Rail Link is a short-line railroad headquartered in Missoula and owned by billionaire Dennis Washingtons Washington Companies. Texas-based BNSF, one of the nations Big 4 railroads, is wholly owned by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which bought it for $44 billion in 2010.

Though neither claims to be in crisis mode, both are feeling the pinch of a freight recession thats battering the rail industry.

The Bakken oil boom has busted. Even as the Obama administration imposes a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands -- a move already being challenged in Montana and elsewhere -- overseas markets for coal from southeast Montana and Wyoming are turning to dust. China alone reduced coal imports by 30 percent last year.

Nationwide, coal shipped by rail was down by nearly 700,000 carloads in 2015 -- a decline of 12 percent from 2014. And its only going to get worse in 2016.

At this point we expect coal shipments on MRL to decrease 50 percent over volumes experienced in 2014, said Jim Lewis, Rail Link's chief sales and marketing manager.

If that comes to pass, Montanans along the Rail Link's main route through Billings, Bozeman, Helena and Missoula will see 70,000 fewer carloads of coal this year than they did two years ago.

Compounding the outlook is the global call for renewable energy. The spending bill passed in Congress late last year extended two key federal tax credits supporting wind and solar energy. In his final State of the Union address this month, President Obama said, Weve got to accelerate the transition away from old, dirtier energy sources, and asked, Why would we want to pass up the chance for American businesses to produce and sell the energy of the future?

As a pundit pointed out, you cant haul sunshine on a train.

The 2015 numbers are startling.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said this month that freight rail traffic in the U.S. in 2015 was down more than 900,000 carloads -- 6.1 percent -- from the year before. In the first three weeks of 2016, its dropped 16.6 percent compared to the same three weeks in 2015.

Other than a rock-bottom year in 2009, when U.S. rail carloads dropped below 14 million, the 14.3 million loads shipped last year were the fewest since the AAR started keeping track in 1988. The peak year of 2006 leading up to the nations recession was the only one above 17 million carloads.

For MRL, the 2015 plummet was steep -- 15 percent fewer coal cars and 10 percent of its total volume of the year before.

That, said Lewis, was before Cloud Peak Energys Spring Creek strip mine in Decker announced it wouldnt be shipping 4 million tons of coal to export destinations in 2016. And it was before the same company laid off 66 workers from its underground Signal Peak Mine in Roundup at year's end and nixed the shipment of 1.5 to 2 million tons of coal.

According to Lewis, that equates to some 50,000 fewer carloads -- a 42-percent drop from even a lean 2015.

BNSF, which operates in Montana and 27 other states as well as three Canadian provinces, reported relatively flat freight volumes in 2015, Matt Jones, the company's director of public affairs for Montana, said in an email Friday.

However," he said, "we have experienced lower than expected freight-transportation demand from our customers, and the economic outlook is uncertain as we head into 2016.

The weakening demand isnt limited to coal, but the coal industry faces several significant headwinds that are reducing U.S. coal transportation demand, said Jones.

Those headwinds include additional regulations, low natural gas prices, and a strong dollar, and Jones said they impact rail demand for other commodities like grain, steel and crude oil as well.

BNSF is adjusting (its) workforce demand numbers down to match volume and the work required to move that volume, he said. Consequently, in 2016 we will satisfy additional needs by bringing back furloughed employees.

Jones said he doesn't know the numbers of workers BNSF has furloughed, but they arent concentrated in any one geographic area.

The railroad began handing out furloughs last April. News outlets reported in December that 100 BNSF employees had been laid off at three locations in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Ron de Yong worries that Montana railroads will use declining volumes to justify raising their rates.

Everythings relative, the state's director of agriculture said Friday from Helena. When you say 'not a good year for producers,' theyre actually losing money. 'Not a good year for railroads' means theyre not going to make quite as much profit as they did before.

Just a couple of years ago, the railroads were having entirely different challenges, de Yong pointed out.

They shipped huge volumes. They couldnt keep up with volume, he said. Coal, oil, agriculture -- we were all having service problems, and the railroads made a lot of money. But their rates didnt go down.

The rail industry tracks car-load numbers in 20 commodity groups, and across the U.S. all but five showed declines in numbers in 2015. The biggest single exception was grain, which shipped some 36,000 more car loads than in 2014, an increase of 3.4 percent. Car loads in grain mill products also showed a slight increase.

The temptation is to balance the books and, as de Yong said, satisfy shareholders demands by charging more when youre hauling less. He fears grain trains are attractive targets.

Lewis said that even though MRLs regional shipments were down, its 150 on-line customers in Montana experienced 5-percent growth in 2015.

One of his short lines biggest hits is in intermodal cargo, those big industrial containers and trailers. To compete with the Union Pacific Railroad, its Big 4 rival in the West, BNSF spent nearly $3.5 billion during the past few years to provide expedited service for intermodal and standard traffic between Chicago and Seattle. It launched the service in September.

Lewis said BNSF is now routing a majority of intermodal traffic along its Hi-Line route instead of the tracks its leases to MRL across southern Montana. Its no coincidence that Rail Links intermodal shipments fell 17 percent in 2015.

Both of Montanas largest railroads stress their investments in capital improvements and focus on safety.

President and CEO Carl Ice unveiled BNSFs capital expenditure plan for 2016 on Tuesday. The $4.3 billion budget is a big drop from the $5.8 billion spent last year.

Our railroad is in the best shape it has ever been, Ice insisted in a press statement. Each year our capital plan works to balance our near-term need to regularly maintain a vast network that is always in motion with the longer-term demand outlook of our customers.

Its not yet known how much money BNSF will spend in Montana in 2016. Jones, whos based in Bozeman, expects to have those numbers in coming weeks.

He said BNSF spent a record $15.3 billion in capital investments in 2013-15, including $450 million in Montana.

According to Lewis figures, Montana Rail Link invested $50 million in capital improvements and maintenance in 2014 and $62 million in 2015. That will be trimmed to $40 million this year.

He said that will cover the cost of such items as replacing 133,000 ties, installing 22 miles of new rail, and resurfacing another 245 miles of track despite rail volume being on a downward trend, he said.

He called the investment in infrastructure evidence of MRLs commitment to the people and land of the state we call home.

Montana's two biggest railroads say theyll ride out their freight recession just as they did an even bigger one following the peak in 2006.

MRL is accustomed to the peaks and valleys of the U.S. and global economy, Lewis said. Although the current economic environment will certainly be a challenge for us and some changes will likely be necessary to adjust to current freight volume levels, we will continue to be focused on safety, efficiency and providing the best rail service in the industry.

Lewis is not alarmed about plummeting costs and government incentives for wind and solar production.

We value the global and local environment in which our employees live, work and play, he said. MRL hauls many different commodities, including wind-power towers/blades and other products related to renewable energies and recyclables.

Typically, when volumes of one commodity shrink, growth occurs in another sector.

MRL stands ready to haul whatever commodity groups are in demand, Lewis said.

The great stabilizer, de Yong said, is agriculture.

The railroads got started with agricultural commodities, and at the end of the day, there are going to be agricultural commodities again, he said. Thats what built the railroads.
LASALLE (AP)  Blowing snow and biting wind did not steal the moment last month when the Simonson family saw their dream come true at Starved Rock State Park.

Their family's White Oak Campground is now the 51-acre Curt & Helen Simonson Canyon Unit of Starved Rock, which will become a day-use area for park visitors. The land had been in the Simonson family since 1835.

"This is awesome," said their son, Curtis Simonson of Pittsfield. "You can't ask for anything more or anything nicer than this."

Curtis Simonson was joined by family members, park staff and Illinois Department of Natural Resources officials including IDNR Director Wayne Rosenthal for a dedication.

"IDNR has been working to acquire this land since August of 1985, so this has been a long time coming," Rosenthal said. "We are very appreciative to the Simonson family and their mother and father for the opportunity to acquire this property."

The land, north of Grand Bear Lodge along Illinois 178, is on a wooded bluff surrounded by steep hills, ravines and a canyon with a waterfall.

IDNR bought the site for $900,000 in the fall of 2013 from the estate of the late Helen M. Simonson, Ottawa, who along with her husband, Curtis, owned and operated the campground from 1965 to 2002.

Curtis Simonson died in 2002 and Helen Simonson died in 2011. Their surviving children, Curtis Simonson, Laurie Cunniff of Ottawa and Dawn Swanson of Streator, continued managing the campground before selling it to the state, which was their parents' wish.

The site was originally owned by the children's great-great-grandfather Col. Daniel Hitt, the state's first land surveyor who bought Starved Rock and surrounding land for a reported $85 in 1835 from the U.S. government. In 1891 Hitt sold a parcel to Ferdinand Walthers, who in turn sold the land for $146,000 to the state, leading to formation of the state park in 1911.

The campground land remained in the family. Andrew Hitt named one canyon "Hitt" and another "Curtis" for his wife's family. The land was passed on to Ethel (Hitt) Simonson, to Curtis Simonson and lastly to the children who sold it to the state.

The land is contiguous to the Starved Rock Nature Preserve and will protect against incompatible development, Rosenthal said. The site is classified as a land and water reserve and will offer hiking, nature observation and bird watching, he said.

"The acquisition of the property also was important for the preservation of archaeological sites and threatened and endangered species," Rosenthal said.

The state must finish developing and implementing plans for the area before it is opened to the public, said Todd Rettig, director of the office of land management.

Curtis Simonson told a story at the dedication about an important artifact from Starved Rock, a cross worn by Jacques Marquette, who with Louis Jolliet were the first Europeans to discover the area in the 1670s.

"Our grandmother, Ethel (Hitt) Simonson, gave that cross to the Illinois State Museum, and it was held in a depository there for many years but we could never find it," he said.

The cross was later found in the museum's collection, and a replica was made, which is displayed at the park visitor center, Simonson said.
MACON  Emma Fisk, a Meridian Elementary School first-grader, noticed she was coughing a lot last summer.

For a year, her mother, Heather, watched the little girl grow more tired.

She had no energy and slept 14 hours a day, her mother said.

When Emma began to have chest pain, her mother visited a local hospital. She eventually would be moved to the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. It was there the family received the care that their daughter needed.

Cardiologists and others in the field are promoting education of the pediatric heart defects during Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, Feb. 7 to 14. Many local schools have been participating in fundraising events, such as the American Heart Association's Hoops for Hearts and Jump Rope for Hearts.

The donations help patients and their families at a very difficult time. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital heart defects affect one in 100 births each year. As the most common birth defect, they are also very costly.

The Fisks benefited from the generosity of others during Emma's surgery in September to replace a valve. If I didn't have that surgery, I wouldn't be here, Emma said.

Emma was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a condition with a combination of several congenital heart defects.

She was born blue, her mother said. Oxygen wasn't mixing with her blood.

The family was aware of their daughter's condition only after she was born. At 3 months old, Emma had her first surgery. Her mother remembers the first support she received during that emotional time.

I had a lot of people to cry on their shoulder. Heather said.

Emma grew to become a normal little girl. Then in August 2015, the family saw a difference. Emma couldn't keep up with her 2-year-old little brother, Mason. She would always sleep, said her grandmother, Carol Henry.

Before her recent surgery, the staff at the children's hospital informed Emma, as well as her family, what the doctors would do.

When the doctor took her into surgery, he said he had never had a kid that would smile while going to surgery, said her grandfather, Michael Henry. She knew exactly what was going to happen. She wasn't scared.

The family believes Emma's recovery was due in part to the amount of preparation she was given. They taught her some things, Heather said. Because she wasn't quite sure what they were going to do.

Emma knew that to leave the hospital she would have to follow the doctor's and nurses' orders, such as eat and drink without fussing. She also knew she would not feel well. But she has a high tolerance for pain, Heather said.

The hospital was also able to help the family with their own suffering. You are helpless, her grandmother said.

The family also received support from the hospital staff during their stay, in the form of food and a place to stay.

But they felt they were more fortunate than others. Some people don't have the gas or the money for a place or food, Carol said.

Donations help families for medication, transportation and a place to stay.

Even if they don't have money, they can donate blankets, coloring books, movies, toys, Heather said.

Anything to take the burden off everything else so they can concentrate on what's going on, Michael said.

Emma understands the fear and struggles her family went through five months ago, but she chooses to remember the good memories. They were very nice, she said. And I got Popsicles.

She's my hero, her mother said.
DECATUR  Jarmese Sherrod grew up in a family where what happened in the home stayed in the home.

That's why she's not a fan of oversharing on social media. Speaking at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Black Heritage Breakfast on Saturday, Sherrod said when used wisely, social media and the Internet can be useful tools, but it's the wisely part of the equation that trips up so many people.

Everybody is not saved, she said. There are people out there waiting to steal your information.

Problems with Internet use range from Internet addiction, where people spend far too much time online, depression from using Facebook too much, sexting, cyberbullying, trolling and criminal activity. She doesn't allow her children to use the Internet unless she is nearby and can monitor what they're doing. When they complain, as youngsters will, she has an answer for them.

I don't need to be cool, she said she tells them. I'm your mama.

Good uses of the Internet, she said, include some of the things she uses it for. She found scholarships and grants to help her get through college and graduate school.

She promoted her business and watched it grow with the help of the Internet. She found a job overseas in Germany and arranged travel to other countries while she was there. She found her job at Richland Community College, where she is English alignment coordinator, by searching on the Internet.

People who are 65 and older, whom she calls seasoned adults, shouldn't be afraid to learn new things like how to use the Internet, because social media and technology can reduce isolation and help them keep in touch with far-flung family. When she was in Germany, she Skyped with her grandmother to stay close.

You're never too old to do something new, especially if it's connected to education, Sherrod said.

During her time at Richland, Sherrod has helped improve the efficiency of the English and summer bridge program. In 2015, 90 percent of students passed freshman-level English courses and 90 percent of students in the remedial summer classes passed developmental English classes, so they could avoid taking noncredit classes to improve their skills.

Sherrod said some students are so far behind that they spend two years at Richland just getting up to freshman skills, when ideally they would graduate with a degree in that same amount of time.

Doniquea Luter, president of the Richland Media Club, credits Sherrod with giving her the courage to pursue her dreams. Luter had planned to study dentistry, she said, because she was thinking about how much money she would make, when her heart lies in a career in media. Sherrod told her to follow her passion.

She said if you really love something, you should do it, Luter said. She's amazing and encouraging. She's caring. You find professors and teachers who don't actually care. They're like, 'You need to get your degree, but I already have mine,' and she's not like that.

"She actually wants you to do things. She'll push you until you do. You have no choice but to do it. She's very influential.

The NAACP sponsors the Black Heritage Breakfast annually and is also celebrating its 101st anniversary, said Deborah Ford, vice president of the Decatur branch.
As reported by WisPolitics.com, the Joint Finance Committee approved redirecting more than $21 million in bonding to offset rising costs for Milwaukee and Racine counties as they build new facilities for young offenders. Meanwhile, one committee member warned inflation will likely raise the 
BLOOMINGTON  Stephen Robinson, sociology teacher at Normal Community High School, eagerly accepted a student's invitation to learn about a different religion.

Robinson is Buddhist. The student is Muslim. The invitation was for Saturday's open house at Masjid Ibrahim mosque, 2407 E. Washington St.

About 100 Christians, Buddhists and atheists filled the mosque to learn more about the Islamic faith from their Muslim neighbors.

We hope people will use this event to learn more about Islam personally, rather than to only hear whats reported in the media, said mosque president, Mohammed Zaman.

Robinson and his partner, Jaime Breeck, attended with their 2-year-old son, Avram.

We wanted to support the Muslim community and have a better understanding of their faith, said Breeck.

We are conscious of the discriminatory culture we live in," added Robinson. "We brought our son here because we want him to learn about all different people and cultures so he can decide what he wants in life.

Zaman said one of the event's main goals was to dispel myths about Islam.

Many think the two words that should come after Muslim are terrorism and violence, but it is a very peaceful religion, said Zaman.

Guests were greeted at the door and asked to remove their shoes. The mosque provided lunch and reading materials; visitors could ask questions and watch prayers. Each was offered a copy of the Quran to take home.

Director Sabeel Ahmed of Gain Peace, a nonprofit Chicago organization whose goal is to educate the public about Islam, was the main speaker.

We are all a part of this wonderful country and we hope many will leave this event as friends," said Ahmed.

He explained the basics of Islamic beliefs and how closely the religion is tied to Christianity.

We believe in one God and we worship him as the creator, not creation itself, just like Christians, said Ahmed.

During his studies of the Bible, Ahmed found most of the Scriptures to be the same. Muslims believe in Jesus as a prophet and accept him the same way they accept Mohammed as a prophet. They believe Mohammed to be the last prophet of God, with Jesus before him.

Powerful is not he who knocks the other down. Indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger, said Ahmed, quoting Mohammed.

Kelley Becker, associate minister at First Christian Church in Bloomington, attended with church members. Becker, who works with Not In Our Town of Bloomington-Normal, said NIOT is working with local Hindu and Jewish temples on more open houses.

Its hard to hate people when you come face to face and listen to their stories, said Becker. We all see God similarly and we all want the same things for the world and our families.
If you attend a Republican presidential event on the campaign trail, you may come to wonder if you made a wrong turn and ended up in church. If you are not a believer  an evangelical Christian believer, that is  you may feel ever so slightly unwelcome.

The deity-centric approach is working for Ted Cruz, who began his victory speech in Des Moines on Monday by pointing heavenward, pursing his lips and uttering an especially unctuous line: "To God be the glory."

Among all the glorious wonders that his Creator has wrought, delivering slightly more than a quarter of the vote in an Iowa caucus has to fall pretty far down the list. You would think the Almighty would be powerful enough to produce a comfortable majority, or even a unanimous vote.

Cruz finished first on the strength of his appeal to evangelicals, who made up two-thirds of all caucusgoers. His success was not entirely the work of the Big Guy Upstairs. During the campaign, Cruz has done everything but run ads identifying him as "The Official Candidate of the Son of God."

He launched his campaign at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, where he celebrated "the transformative love of Jesus Christ." During the campaign, he has missed no chance to quote the Bible and hoist the cross.

Ben Carson said he would not accept a Muslim as president, but Cruz goes even further. "Any president who doesn't begin every day on his knees isn't fit to be commander-in-chief of this nation," he thundered. That rules out atheists, agnostics, non-Christians and any faithful churchgoer who feels perfectly capable of praying while seated.

At one event, the Texas senator urged his audience to pray every day as follows: "Father God, please, continue this awakening. ... Awaken the body of Christ, that we might pull back from the abyss."

With his trademark gift for hilarity, he said the job of a military chaplain "is to be insensitive to atheists." If this political gig doesn't work out, he'll do fine as a televangelist.

Though Cruz is the most overbearing candidate in his religiosity, his general theme is not unusual. Marco Rubio explained why his faith will play a large role in how he will govern: "Because in the end, my goal is not simply to live on this Earth for 80 years but to live an eternity with my creator."

He put out a video of a town hall encounter he had with a man identifying himself as an atheist. The senator insisted he would respect the guy's right to disbelieve, while somehow managing to make it sound as though he posed a threat to Rubio's religious freedom. The ad could have been titled: "St. Mario vanquishes the infidel."

Mike Huckabee is a former Southern Baptist minister whose announcement speech last summer recalled the good old days when students were taught the Lord's Prayer in public school. He also insisted that its liberal enemies are on the verge of "criminalizing Christianity."

The contenders often frame their sectarian appeals as promises to protect religious liberty. But when they talk about threats to religious liberty, they aren't thinking about municipalities blocking the construction of mosques or a Jewish student being forced to listen to Christian prayers at public school events. Christian religious liberty, expansively defined, is their sole concern.

About the only consolation for non-Christians in this campaign, a very small one, is the popularity of Donald Trump, despite his impious lifestyle and obvious indifference to religion. But even Trump made the obligatory pilgrimage to Liberty University and touted his endorsement by President Jerry Falwell Jr.

The problem is not that politicians invoke faith to bond with audiences, attest to their good character and explain their motivations in public life. Even Hillary Clinton has been known to do that. So has Barack Obama. But they don't use it as a club against those whose beliefs are different.

Republicans often convey the impression that God is their exclusive property and that everyone else doesn't belong. But treating Christianity as a de facto requirement for office amounts to making nonbelievers second-class citizens. It suggests that Christian candidates owe nonbelievers no logical rationale for the policies they champion.

The Constitution, which Cruz and his rivals claim to revere, forbids any religious test for office and makes no claim to fulfill the word of God. Somebody ought to take the hint.
Contracting Zika virus isn't a big deal for most people. Spreading it is.

Zika, a disease that had long been contained to Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, has swept through South and Central American in the past year. While the illness is usually mild, there is an association between Zika virus infection in pregnant women and subsequent birth defects.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "It's unlikely that we will see widespread transmission of Zika in the mainland United States."

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, two pregnant Illinois residents who recently traveled to countries where Zika virus is found have tested positive. Physicians are monitoring their health and pregnancies.

Zika is spread primarily by the Aedes mosquito, though it can also be spread through bodily fluid.

"Though there have been cases where it's been spread sexually here and there -- traces of the virus can be found in bodily fluid -- an outbreak like they've had in Brazil isn't likely," HSHS Medical Group Infectious Disease Doctor Jignesh Modi said.

Following the first known infection to happen within in the United States -- from sexual contact in Texas -- U.S. health officials issued guidelines Friday to prevent the sexual transmission of the Zika virus. Men who have been to outbreak areas are advised to use condoms during sex with pregnant women.

The guidance also suggests the men might consider abstaining or using condoms even with a partner who isn't pregnant. It doesn't recommend that men without symptoms be tested for the virus.

The case in Texas seemed to confirm two earlier scientific reports suggesting sexual transmission of Zika is possible although considered rare. It's the same with transmission through saliva, though health officials on Friday warned pregnant women to also consider not kissing anyone who has been in areas with Zika outbreaks.

The Aedes mosquito is still considered the most common transmitter. Modi and Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said that mosquito isn't common in the United States or Illinois.

"They like stagnant, standing water, and that's much more common in Brazil," Modi said. "I've heard they have military people going door to door asking people to get rid of any standing water."

Arnold said even if the Aedes gets to Illinois, it wouldn't survive the winter.

"The Aedes mosquito possibly could be imported to Illinois in containers or objects, like tires, coming from locations where Zika virus has been found," Arnold said. "However, the mosquito would only survive during the summer and warmer temperatures."

The CDC has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing, including: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

This alert follows reports in Brazil of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant.

"There is a clear association," Modi said.

The CDC recommends that pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women, women trying to become pregnant or women who are thinking about becoming pregnant and must travel to one of these areas should talk with their doctor or other health care provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.

"I'd advise avoiding travel there if possible, especially for pregnant females," Modi said. "If someone does go, they should be sure to wear long-sleeve clothes, use mosquito repellents, do whatever they can do to stay away from bites and practice safe sex."

The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Symptoms can last from several days to weeks. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika virus infection.
A $250 million cut in state funding to the University of Wisconsin System over the next two years could do great harm to Wisconsins economy, Madison area tech leaders said.

At the same time, they said, more incentives are needed to lure investors to put money into local startups.

Seven executives met for a recent roundtable discussion at Wisconsin State Journal offices, one year after they gathered for a similar exchange, to see if conditions in the areas tech industry have improved or slid backward.

Both meetings were organized by the State Journal and Wisconsin Technology Council president Tom Still, and were moderated by Still and State Journal editor John Smalley.

The consensus seemed to be, as Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce president Zach Brandon put it: I think weve made progress. But theres still a lot of work to be done.

The (technology) ecosystem just gets richer and stronger as time goes by, said entrepreneur Sikes, who has started several art-related businesses. But $58.9 million worth of severe cuts to the UW-Madison budget, authorized by the Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker, are a dark cloud, she added. Everybody in this room is affected.

To me, that is the biggest thing that happened in the last year, said Neis, whose firm focuses on early-stage companies. I have tremendous concerns about the future of the university and the impact of the depth of the cuts.

Recruiting and retaining the best faculty members are important for innovation to continue, said Neis. It is such a powerful force in this ecosystem, he said.

The changes wont be felt right away, he said. Rather, the impact on research projects might be felt over the course of a decade. And Im worried, two years out, that some could argue that, See, the sky didnt fall, everythings OK, when, in fact, it is falling and we just dont notice it, yet.

Neis said some of Venture Investors portfolio companies that were trying to work with the UW on clinical trials or contract research have encountered lengthy, unanticipated delays.

They were burning through cash with their monthly expenses and left unable to progress to the milestones their investors expected on time and on budget, he said.

Eversoll concurred, saying shes experienced the opposite at UW-Whitewater. You just get on the phone (and call a professor) and you get interns (candidates), she said.

Conroy, whose company has developed a test to screen for colorectal cancer, said word of the reduced funding gets around.

I think the perception, around the country, is that this is bad for the University of Wisconsin and its bad for business; its bad for economic development. This is a tragically poor decision on the part of policymakers in this state to take one of the very, very best public universities in the world and start to diminish it, he said.

When the best faculty members leave, that affects the entire states economy, Conroy said. And if we want to succeed as a state and grow our economy, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is going to play a role, he said.

Brandon said local leaders have to convince the rest of the state of Madisons significance in the state economy.

He said the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce held its first legislative day at the State Capitol this year.

Wisconsin has to acknowledge that we cannot succeed without Madison, Brandon said. We have to show them that whats happening in Madison solves problems in the world ... The state benefits by (Verona electronic health records company) Epic having coming up on 10,000 employees. The state benefits by having Fujifilm acquire CDI (stem cell firm Cellular Dynamics International).

Neis said Venture Investors met with an institutional investor group in northern Wisconsin.

One member said he views Madison as Moscow on Mendota. Neis said his firm brought the investors to Madison and took them to companies here. The gap between their perception of what Madison was all about and what they saw was huge, Neis said.

Attorney Lynch said he is not as pessimistic as the others. The areas underlying strengths are still there, he said.

Awareness about the potential of Madison has gone up, said Eversoll, who has founded four local tech companies.

Bakken said with the growing prominence of local companies such as Epic Systems Corp., the perception of Madison from around the country has shifted. There really is a lot of credibility right now ... Madison and Wisconsin (have) a lot of the raw ingredients that are coming together right now.

Sikes said two important things are happening: small investment funds, such as Bakkens HealthX, are forming and more entrepreneurs are seeking out investors in Chicago and on the coasts. That change in attitude is going to bring more money into Wisconsin, she said.

As for what can be done to attract more investment into the Madison area, some suggestions included:

Adding direct flights from Madison to San Francisco and Boston.

Raising the investment total that qualifies for a Wisconsin tax credit from the current $8 million to $12 million.

Removing the requirement that Wisconsin companies eligible to offer investors a tax credit  but incorporated out-of-state  must pay Wisconsin taxes on the investments they receive.

Organizing more events that bring together entrepreneurs with experienced businesspeople.

Establishing stronger business connections with Milwaukee and other parts of the state.

The Midwest has no real entrepreneurial hub, the Chambers Brandon said, suggesting Madison could fill that role.

We want to be the entrepreneurial and innovative hub of the U.S., he said.

I love that mission, said Sikes, but if we cant get there, Madison already is epicenter of health care and health care IT (information technology).

Conroy said Exact Sciences, which moved to Madison from Massachusetts in 2009, could not have grown in another city as it has in Madison.

The company has more than 700 employees, with 450 of them in the Madison area, an increase of 275 positions during 2015.

We can do it here because of the quality of life, the quality of the workforce, he said.
Cars lined the streets surrounding Sector 67 on Saturday as if the circus was in town.

But there were no tents or clowns in sight. Just a group of metal-working artists brought together by their exuberant ringmaster, Alisa Toninato, for the 7th annual Pourn Yer Heart Out event dedicated to the art of iron pouring.

Toninato runs FeLion Studios, which specializes in iron art, with her partner Andrew McManigal. FeLion Studios presented the Pourn Yer Heart Out event in collaboration with Sector 67, a nonprofit collaborative space for artists to gather and work at 2100 Winnebago St. on Madisons East Side.

Some attendees had created molds at a class in January. Others were able to purchase heart-shaped molds from FeLion Studios before the event. The molds were filled with molten iron to create various works of art.

Last year, about 70 heart molds were purchased, Toninato said. This year, FeLion Studios declared the molds sold out after 160 were sold.

Metal-working artists from Chicago, Minneapolis and parts of Wisconsin also attended the pour to help create iron forms for participants and fire molds of their own.

Toninato anticipated that there would be 2,500 to 3,000 pounds of iron cast by the events end on Saturday night.

After the molds were prepped and the iron was poured, the iron was given time to cool. Once it hardened, artists carefully broke the molds away to reveal the small, metal form inside.

Its a cross pollination of art and industry, Toninato said.

This is the fourth year that Pourn Yer Heart Out has taken place in Madison. Before that, it was in Milwaukee, where Toninato lived at the time.

This years turnout was beyond Toninatos expectations. She credits a partnership with Duluth Trading Company, which ran stories about her work on its website and blog.

Its a fascinating process, said Diane Michener of Madison, who attended the event for the first time with husband Lon Michener, a metal-working artist and a member of Sector 67.

Alisa credits me with teaching her how to weld cast iron, Lon Michener said.

During the event last year, one of the iron pieces  a cast of GIR, the robot from the Nickelodeon series Invader Zim  broke after being removed from the mold. Michener helped a distraught Toninato repair the robots broken antennae.

Toninato bopped around exchanging hugs and high-fives and talking passionately about metal-working with anyone interested so that spectators would gain a greater understanding of the uncommon art form.

It helps people get more connected with something that is not a typical craft in Madison, she said.
After years of debate and numerous court challenges, 2016 is the year the rubber hits the road for voter ID in Wisconsin.

The voter ID requirement takes effect in a statewide election for the first time this year.

The state elections board has created a Bring It To The Ballot voter ID website as a public resource on the requirement.

Here are some questions and answers on how voter ID affects you:

When do I need to show an ID?

Every time you head to the polls to vote, starting with the Feb. 16 spring primary. Voters must also be registered prior to voting.

Why now?

Voter ID in Wisconsin isnt new; Republican lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker enacted it into law in 2011.

But the law has been on hold, with a few brief exceptions, since that time while a series of legal challenges to it filtered through the courts. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the law, paving the way for voter ID to be implemented.

What if Im voting absentee?

Youre still required to provide an ID. If youre voting absentee in-person at your local municipal clerks office, you can show your ID then. Or if youre requesting an absentee ballot by mail, email or fax, you must provide a copy of your ID with your request.

There are exemptions from this requirement for military, permanent overseas and confidential voters.

Theres also an exemption for voters who are indefinitely confined  meaning they would have difficulty getting from their home to the polling place on Election Day due to age, illness or disability  or living in care facilities such as nursing homes.

What kinds of IDs qualify?

You must bring one of a list of IDs sanctioned under state law. The following are acceptable if theyre current or recently expired  meaning they expired after Nov. 4, 2014:

Photo IDs issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, including driver licenses, state ID cards and learner permits.

Military IDs issued by a U.S. uniformed service.

U.S. passports and passport cards.

An ID issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (acceptable even if expired before Nov. 4, 2014).

The following IDs also are acceptable.

Certificates of naturalization issued not earlier than two years before the date of the election in which youre voting.

A driving receipt or ID card receipt issued by the Wisconsin DOT no more than 45 days ago.

A citation or notice of intent to revoke or suspend a Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license dated within 60 days of the election.

You also may use some student IDs from colleges, technical colleges or universities, though that makes things more complicated.

What are the strings attached to a student ID?

In addition to the student ID, you also must provide a separate document, such as a tuition statement, that proves your current enrollment at the applicable college or university. Also, the student ID must expire no later than two years after it was issued.

Another wrinkle is that the IDs issued by some public colleges and universities dont comply with the requirement.

For example, UW-Madison student IDs are good for five years but dont include a signature of the ID holder, as required under the law. UW-Madison will issue a different, voter-ID-compliant ID to students who want one, but they must request it.

What if the address on my ID is out of date?

It does not matter if the address on your ID isnt the same as where youre registered to vote. Youre using your ID to prove your identity, not where you live.

What if I dont have one of these IDs?

You may obtain an ID from the state Division of Motor Vehicles for free. Be sure to check the box that says you need the ID for voting.

When you go to your local DMV, youll need to bring documents that prove your name, date of birth, identity, citizenship or legal status, and Wisconsin residency.

According to the Bring It To The Ballot website, most people will be fine if they bring a certified birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a utility bill or cell phone bill.

You must bring the original documents; copies wont work.

What if I dont have a birth certificate?

You will need to bring the documents you do have to the DMV office, where they will help locate your birth record for free.

As part of the process, you must fill out an application claiming that the documents you need are unavailable.

The information provided on this form is used to communicate with state and federal partners to verify unavailable documentation, according to the state DMV. Once that verification is made, the ID will be processed and mailed to the applicants address.

What if I go to vote but forget my ID?

You have the option to vote without your ID by casting a provisional ballot.

But theres a crucial catch: your vote wont be counted unless you return to show your ID.

If you can return to your polling place on Election Day with your ID, you can do so any time before 8 p.m.

If you cant return to your polling place the same day, you have until 4 p.m. on the Friday after Election Day to visit your local municipal clerks office to show your ID.

Can I vote now?
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CHICAGO  A couple of first-generation college grads recently wrote to The Ethicist advice column in The New York Times Magazine with a familiar moral quandary:

We are struggling with choosing a public school for our son, who will enter kindergarten this year. ... Do we let our neighborhood kids and our own values down by fleeing to a higher-testing public school in a richer part of the city? Or do we let our son down by sending him to the neighborhood school, which we fear will not put him on solid educational footing?

The Ethicist responded: You dont owe it to all the other children in your neighborhood to give their interests the same weight as their parents do. Your special obligations are to your own child. ... And what you owe is not heroic commitment, turning the school around by your own efforts.

Predictably, some commenters on the article were disappointed with this advice. They wondered what it would hurt to take a chance and see how it goes; maybe try to make a difference for all the kids at the school.

Trust me, it hurts.

My husband and I were that same couple, years ago. Thinking we could make a difference, we chose to put our sons into our local school  in a district whose student body was nearly 70 percent low-income and had performed so poorly for so long that it had been taken over by the state.

We believed what we did at home  reading to our kids nightly, modeling good study habits, providing enrichment activities such as traveling and extracurricular music, swimming and martial arts classes  would easily overcome any challenges associated with attending a failing school district.

And we committed to elevating the system.

We attended parent meetings, filled out school-improvement surveys, kept in close touch with teachers, principals, administrators and the district superintendents to address issues from poor teaching to nightmarish transportation (our older son, on his first day of kindergarten, was brought home by the police because of the inept school-bus system). We complained about the junk food served every day for breakfast and lunch. We donated money for programs and scholarships. I ran (unsuccessfully) for the school board.

All that effort amounted to nothing.

Our kids sat in classes with children whose parents simply didnt have the social capital, income, savvy or time to make a difference in what happened at school. Year after year, instead of getting better, the district  located in a community with a fair amount of middle-class families who started jumping ship for private schools after the second grade  just stayed bad.

The stories my children told after school were outrageous.

Teachers who showed videos most days, out-of-control classrooms, kids tossing off insouciant one-liners like: You didnt actually expect me to do my homework, did you? Middle school brought fights, gang activity and an increased police presence.

When it was time for my older son to start high school  the very school I had taught in for a year and knew prepared no more than 24 percent of its graduates to be college ready  we fled.

It took a move of less than half a mile to a neighborhood with significantly more expensive homes to get my sons into one of the best public high schools in our state.

Last month, however, I learned how long the effects of a poor educational environment in the early years linger.

My younger son  who benefited from a better school starting in seventh grade,  is underperforming compared to his high school, district and state peers in both English and math, according to the results of his latest standardized test scores. Luckily, hes doing well in his classwork.

Good intentions and even good actions are not enough to transform a poorly performing school into one that can provide an adequate education for your kids. School systems take decades to turn around  and require a long-term investment plus local and state political pressure to act  while our childrens formative years fly by.

Its sad, but do not be ashamed to send your kids to the best school you can possibly afford. Youll likely regret it if you dont.
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-07 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] All eyes on Nikaia, Larisa as farmers harden their stance [01] All eyes on Nikaia, Larisa as farmers harden their stance ANA-MPA -- With farmers throughout the country hardening their stance and escalating their mobilisations, moving from brief, symbolic blockades of national highways to extended blockades of up to 12 and 24 hours, all eyes were on a crucial meeting at Nikaia in Larisa on Sunday. Representatives of farmer road blocks throughout Greece, from Evros down to Crete, were meeting there at noon to discuss how to coordinate their action from here on and further escalation to more hardline action. Notable for their absence are the representatives of the militant Tempi block, where farmers ended a 24-hour blockade of the national highway at noon and will leave it open for six hours, before resuming another full blockade for another 24 hours. The farmers are still demanding that the government convene a cross-party committee, where parties will be represented at the highest level, in order to deal with their demands. Farmers at the two road blocks in Fthiotida, on the Athens-Lamia stretch of the national highway, also opened the road to traffic on Sunday afternoon and allowed hundreds of trucks that had been trapped in the roads around Lamia to slowly head toward their destination, though the backlog is expected to take some time to clear. Tractors were also withdrawn at the Atalanti road block, at the 140th kilometre of the highway, in both directions but remained on the motorway at the 210th kilometre of the highway near Anthili, though they have been withdrawn from side roads, allowing traffic to get through slowly. Similar action was taken by farmers in Messinia on Saturday, who closed roads for up to 12-hour stretches, and in other areas of the Peloponnese. The Tripoli-Corinth highway at the Nestani tolls remained "indefinitely closed" on Saturday, as was the Athens-Corinth national highway at the Isthmus tolls, while the old national roads were closed at Mylous in Lerni, Corinth and Laconia. In the north, the Krystallopigi customs on the border with Albania and the Niki customs post on the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) were closed for 24 hours at noon on Saturday, as were the roads at Neapoli in Tsotyli, Argos in Orestiko and for shorter periods on other parts of the Western Macedonia road network. Large gatherings of 700-plus tractors also carried out 24-hour blockades from noon on Saturday at Aiginio and the Alexiadi bridge in Pieria and for 12 hours at Servikia bridge in Giannitsa. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
by L.J. Devon

The establishment mainstream media continue to parrot the same hysteria regarding the Zika virus  that its causing birth defects  but there is so much information intentionally being left out.

The mainstream medias false narrative is causing the public to fear a benign, asymptomatic viral infection, as the true origins of birth defects and brain damage go unstudied.

Also, the mainstream media fails to tell the whole story of why Zika has become such a big problem in Brazil in recent years and how the outbreak is connected to the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in 2012.



Why is Zika being blamed for birth defects?

As Zika becomes the newest health scare, health authorities are urging women to delay pregnancy. News reports are multiplying the scare tactics, warning people not to travel or procreate. Pictures of babies with shrunken heads and small brains are flashed across the screen as Zika virus is blamed for causing a record number of birth defects called microcephaly.

The birth defect is real, with affected newborns heads measuring 32 centimeters or less in circumference, but the causes are not fully understood. The causes are varied and more likely resemble chemical toxicity, jjab damage, pesticide exposure and drug interactions.

Of the initial 4,180 suspected cases of microcephaly, only 270 cases have been confirmed by Brazils Health Ministry as actual microcephaly.

Of the 270 cases, medical researchers could only correlate six cases of microcephaly to the Zika virus. This means 264 confirmed microcephaly cases didnt even show a trace of Zika virus! So why is Zika virus being blamed for the birth defect?

Is Zika a bio-weapon?

Zika was first isolated in 1947 by scientists working for the Rockefeller Foundation. Zika was discovered in a rhesus monkey that was being held in captivity. Many people still wonder if Zika was created in the lab for experimental purposes.

For decades, Zika transmission was extremely rare. The virus didnt start spreading until after 2012  right after the biotech company Oxitec released genetically modified mosquitoes en masse in Brazil.

Zika outbreaks quickly exploded from sites where genetically modified mosquitoes were released to combat dengue. Zika has now spread to 21 other countries and territories.

Whats appalling is that Zika virus (ATCC VR-84) can be purchased from ATCC labs. It was deposited by Dr. Jordi Casals-Ariet of the Rockefeller Foundation and sourced from the blood of an experimental forest sentinel rhesus monkey from Uganda in 1947.

The question remains: Is Zika virus a bio-weapon, intentionally released via genetically modified mosquito?

Perhaps it wasnt intentionally released but instead was an unintended consequence of releasing GM mosquitoes into the environment to eradicate dengue.

Maybe this Zika strain is a resistant, mutant viral strain  the evolution of a mosquito-borne virus caused by a biotech experiment gone bad?

The most likely cause behind the spike in Brazilian infant birth defects

In the wake of Zikas spread, Brazil is now mobilizing 220,000 soldiers to try and eradicate mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus. This means that tons of insecticide will be sprayed in and around homes, further exposing pregnant women and young children to brain-damaging chemicals.

In 2014, the Brazilian Minister of Health mandated that all expectant mothers receive the new Tdap jjab.

This meant that, at 20 weeks gestation, a vulnerable, developing young life would be exposed to aluminum adjuvant, mercury preservative, formaldehyde, antibiotics and a host of other chemicals that could damage a fetuss developing brain.

Its no coincidence that birth defects have spiked in Brazil because of the toxic elements that fetuses have been exposed to.

Its also very obvious why Zika is being blamed for the birth defects. The biotech industry is using Zika virus to cover up three science experiments that have gone bad (Tdap jjabs, insecticides, GM mosquitoes).

In this way, nature can be blamed, more insecticides and jjabs can be sold, and more GM mosquitoes can be released. The public is taught to fear nature even more and stop reproducing.

Dont buy into the propaganda!
The movie Thank You, Dad by Hrach Keshishyan tells a story of an American-Armenian girl, named Virgy. Although, she had hardly ever see...
Vinay Kumar Mahato, a student class 8 of Sapphire International School in Ranchi was today found dead in his residential school campus with grievous injuries to his face.

By India Today Web Desk: A 12-year old boy was today found dead in his residential school campus in Ranchi, following which the police detained three teachers for questioning.

Vinay Kumar Mahato, a student class 8 of Sapphire International School and son of Manbahal Mahato of Chandaghasi under the Jagannathpur police station area, was found dead in the school campus with grievous injuries to his face and the detained teachers were being quizzed, a police officer said quoting the FIR lodged by Manbahal Mahato.

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A case has been registered under Bariatu police station area on the basis of the statement given by Manbahal, who said his son was studying in the school since 2007 and was meritorious.

The police are also looking into the possibility of the boy having been subjected to sexual assault.



Ranchi: Police team inspects school premises where a boy was found dead under mysterious circumstances. pic.twitter.com/7Zp5b456DY ANI (@ANI_news) February 7, 2016

In his FIR, Manbahal stated that he received a call on his mobile from the school at around 3.15 am today.

The caller asked him to reach the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, where Vinay was rushed to after he suffered minor injuries after he fell.

When he reached the hospital, he saw his son lying dead in a stretcher, the FIR stated.

School Principal Dhruva Das said, "He was a fit boy and his parents were also fine, they had no problems. His brother also was in our hostel. We never felt that his life is in danger.""

The police are trying to figure out why Vinay, who stayed in the boys' hostel, walked all the way to the teachers' flats which are located nearly six to seven hundred metres, beyond midnight. His body was found in the approach to the lobby with injury marks on and around his face and jaw.



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A headless body of a woman wrapped with a sheet was found on the road pavement near Porur - Ramapuram stretch on January 5 close to a garbage disposal bin.

By Pramod Madhav: A headless body of a woman wrapped with a sheet was found on the road pavement near Porur - Ramapuram stretch on January 05 close to a garbage disposal bin.

Police were unable to trace the identity of the body even after ?fingerprint search and Aadhar cross checking for missing person in Tamil Nadu.

Sasirekha's headless body was found on the road pavement near Porur - Ramapuram stretch on January 05.

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The break in the investigation occurred when the police looked into a complaint by Sasirekha, a film actress who accused her husband Ramesh Shankar of kidnapping her son and forcing her to act in short films and cheating her of lakhs of rupees. She lodged a complaint last year seeking action against Shankar after which she went missing.

Ramesh Shankar went incognito until the cops nabbed him from an apartment near Sholinganallur. There was another woman with him, Lawkiya, during that period whom he introduced as his sister.

Later, investigation revealed that they had killed Sasirekha, cut her head off and threw it into a lake at Kolapakkam.

Ramesh Shankar was already married and his first wife committed suicide due to loan issues. Lawkiya who is from Kerala, ran away from her home to escape marriage and decided to become an actress.

Ramesh Shankar extorted money from various people claiming that Lawkiya was the heroine for a movie he's going to direct.

Even while they were having an affair, Ramesh introduced Lawkiya as his sister to the visitors. If anyone asked Ramesh Shankar for their money back, they were threatened using guns and knives.

Sasirekha, was also married earlier and has a 7-year-old son from the first marriage. She too was interested in acting. Ramesh took money from her promising that she will be casted as heroine in a movie which he would be directing.

Sasirekah's husband Ramesh Shankar.

Last year Sasirekha married Ramesh Shankar and was shocked only to find out later about his affair with Lawkiya and a few other women. And that's when she filed a complaint against Shankar at Madipakkam police station.

Incidentally they came to a compromise and started living together. Trouble arose again when Sasirekha got pregnant. Shankar accused Sasirekha of infidelity and that she bearing someone else's child and the situation turned ugly.

In a fit of rage Shankar hit Sasirekha and injured her gravely. She fell dead on the floor.

Not knowing what to now, Ramesh Shankar and Lawkiya sketched a plan to make the police believe that Sasirekha was raped and murdered. They stripped her naked and chopped her head off. They later moved the body, wrapped in a sheet, using a car and disposed it near a garbage disposal bin.

Ramesh Shankar's girlfriend Lawkiya. Ramesh Shankar's girlfriend Lawkiya.

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To avoid suspicion, they maintained that Sasirekha left for an outdoor shoot and will return in some days and left her son Roshan with his grand parents.

They kept Sasirekha's head for two days locked inside a bathroom in their house before throwing it into a lake.

All this was reveiled during the police investigation.

Shankar and Lawkiya were arrested on Friday and were produced at Ponnamallee court in Tamil Nadu.

Sasirekha's movie, "Naalai muthal kudika maaten" was released on Friday and the very same day her killers were caught.

The police got a break on the case when they found a burn mark on Sasirekha's hand which was done to protect her from Jaundice. It is practice in South India to burn self with hot iron as a cure to Jaundice. Inspector Ayyapan identifed the mark from the day when she came to the police station to file a complaint against Ramesh Shankar.





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BSF today killed four international smugglers in Punjab's Khem Karan sector near the Indo-Pak border.Out of the four, two smugglers were Indian and two Pakistani nationals. They were trying to smuggle heroin.

By India Today Web Desk: Border Security Force (BSF) today killed four international smugglers in Mehndipur village of Punjab's Khem Karan sector near the Indo-Pak border.

Out of the four, two smugglers were Indian and two Pakistani nationals. They were trying to smuggle heroin.

BSF IG Anil Paliwal said, "Out of four, two were recipients from Indian side and two were Pakistani smugglers who were to deliver contraband narcotics".

2 pistol were recovered from Pak side, one weapon was recovered from Indian side, search ops underway- Anil Paliwal pic.twitter.com/gpDoRB6Y1jANI (@ANI_news) February 7, 2016

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Almost 10 kg of heroin and two pistols have been recovered. Search operation is underway.

Earlier on Saturday, the BSF troops recovered a hand grenade from Simbal post, located 60 kms from Pathankot in Punjab. The grenade was found without lever pin during patrolling.

The paramilitary force has been more vigilant post the Pathankot attack after the role of BSF men on the ground was put under scanner by MHA.

(More details awaited)



Also Read:

Pathankot terror attack fallout: BSF DIG, Commandant shunted

BSF jawan held for helping arms, drugs smugglers infiltrate into Punjab



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Yadav Singh had a free run since 2008 when the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was in power and it continued till 2014 even as the Samajwadi Party (SP) formed the government.

Former Noida chief engineer Yadav Singh was arrested after a detailed questioning regarding his business links and beneficiaries who were allegedly involved in bribery. He now faces two separate CBI cases.

By Abhishek Bhalla : The alleged rip-offs by Yadav Singh, former chief engineer of Noida, continued unabated in Uttar Pradesh irrespective of the government in power.

Singh had a free run since 2008 when the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was in power and it continued till 2014 even as the Samajwadi Party (SP) formed the government. The tainted official continued to receive kickbacks worth crores for awarding construction contracts.

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Singh handed out contracts worth Rs 3,500 crore between 2008 and 2014, including a whopping 1,280 contracts worth Rs 950 crore within eight days of being let off by the court in April 2014, as the UP Police failed to press charges against him.

After arresting Singh on February 3, the CBI is now probing his political and other high-profile links. Sources said he is being grilled about his well-established network and whether he enjoyed the patronage of higher-ups. His possible nexus with politicians and bureaucrats is also being probed, sources said.

Defence lawyer Amit Khemka questioned the CBI's decision to arrest the former Noida engineer.

"My client has visited the CBI office in Delhi nearly 30 times to answer their queries. He has not given it a miss even once and was cooperating with the probe agency and providing all relevant documents. Except creating sensation, nothing has been achieved (by his arrest)," Khemka said.

Singh, now in custody of the CBI, is alleged to have given contracts to some of the contractors without completing the tender formalities.

Raminder Singh, a project manager earlier arrested in connection with the case, revealed to investigators that a 5 per cent commission was taken for every contract.

Sources said based on Raminder's disclosure, a rough estimate of the swindle will come close to Rs 200 crore as of now. Raminder has revealed to the CBI that he worked closely with Yadav Singh and would always keep him informed about the contracts and kickbacks.

The UP Police had filed an FIR against Yadav Singh within months of Akhilesh Yadav taking over as the chief minister on June 13, 2012, to probe tenders awarded by him in 2011 when BSP chief Mayawati was heading the state.

Curiously, a few months later, a closure report was filed on January 3, 2013, by the UP Police that was accepted by the court on April 27, 2014. As the allegations surfaced, Yadav Singh was demoted to the position of project manager, but after the UP Police's closure report was accepted, he once again rose to the position of chief engineer.

Singh is facing two separate CBI cases alleging amassing disproportionate assets and high-level corruption in awarding contracts. The cases are related to allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. He was arrested after a detailed questioning regarding his business links and beneficiaries who were allegedly involved in bribery.

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ALSO READ

How Noida Authority's ex-engineer Yadav Singh awarded 1,280 contracts worth Rs 950 crore in just 8 days



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The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mumbai (MRCC) on Saturday received a distress call from FB Nixymol at 10 pm reporting water flooding due to crack in the boats' hull.

ICGS C410 was promptly sailed out from Goa at 11:45 pm to rescue FB Nixymol.

By India Today Web Desk: The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mumbai (MRCC) on Saturday received a distress call from FB Nixymol at 10 pm reporting water flooding due to crack in the boats' hull.

The SOS call was made when the fishing boat when it was 46 NM, approximately 80 km north of Goa. The situation was assessed at MRCC in Mumbai. In pics



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Coast Guard (CG) district headquarters in Goa was alerted and the vessel was directed to come close to the coast.

ICGS C410 was promptly sailed out from Goa at 11:45 pm to rescue FB Nixymol. The ship cruised at top speed and located the distressed boat.

In the meantime, constant communication was maintained with the fishing boat and owner to provide support which was directed to bail out water regularly to avoid it from entering the engine and to keep propulsion functioning.

The Coast Guard ship reached distressed fishing boat at 1 am quickly assessed the situation after which 11 fishermen were shifted to the CG Ship and the boat was towed with three fishermen onboard the fishing boat.

ICGS C410 reached Goa harbour safety with all 14 fishermen at around 5 am on February 7. The fishing boat has been tied alongside Coast Guard jetty at Goa and water is being pumped out it by a CG team prior further repairs of the boat.

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The body of a third year female student from Delhi University was on Saturday found at her boyfriend's house in Model Town area of Delhi.

By India Today Web Desk: The body of a third year female student from Delhi University was found on Saturday at her boyfriend, Navin Kumar's house in Model Town area of Delhi.

Family mourns death of Delhi Univ student who was found dead at her friend's residence in Delhi's Model Town area pic.twitter.com/ZyWwaPQUzk ANI (@ANI_news) February 7, 2016

The deceased, Arzu Singh, had been missing for past two days. When her parents searched Navin's house last evening, they discovered her body ventilation shaft. Navin has been arrested by the police

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"Police raided Navin's house and they found her body fully burnt. When we reached there, her hands were tied at the back and her body was swollen. We are not even able to recognise her," Arzu's sister said.



Navin killed Arzu on February 2 and married another woman two days later.

"Arzu and Navin wanted to marry each other, but Navin's family did not approve," her sister said. "If his family thought that she would create problems at the wedding, they should have approached us instead of killing her," she added.

Arzu's body was sent for post mortem last evening.

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Some species of migratory ducks, which used to arrive in thousands, have trickled down to hundreds.

By Baishali Adak: While the Capital's citizens could not experience the trademark Delhi chill due over the winter months, the flip-flop winter seems to have baffled its winged guests as well! Some species of migratory ducks, which used to arrive in thousands, have trickled down to hundreds.

Experts said the arrival of these birds was also delayed and this is being attributed to the lack of snow in their homelands in Europe and central Asia. Some of the migratory birds that did arrive this season, apparently, are ready to leave. Adding to all the 'confusion', a few birds that breed only in summer, are nesting and pairing up in January, a phenomenon usually witnessed in April, say experts.

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However, it may be too soon to press the climate change alarm, caution some birders adding that any change in migratory behaviour could have resulted from the disturbed habitats in the city.

Dr Sumit Dookia, Assistant Professor at the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, says, "We have barely seen 250-300 Bar-headed geese at the Najafgarh Lake this fall. Traditionally we would get to see 1,500 plus. They also came in pretty late, only around the last week of November.."

Dookia also reported 'confused behaviour among the birds' saying that they were 'frequently flying out to nearby wetlands of Basai and Sultanpur'. "When it snows heavily in China and Siberia, they escape to India. However, they need constant warm temperatures to stay put. We assume that since both the geological regions displayed unusual winters this time, significant changes in bird behaviour are visible," he explained.

Bird watcher Wing Commander Vijay Sethi noted a surprising find of Ruffs already gathering in thousands at the Dhanauri Kalan wetland in Greater Noida, a sign that they are about to leave. "Otherwise, they stay scattered across the waters," he said.

JNU zoologist Dr Surya Prakash echoed this view. "We have, indeed, seen lesser number of the winter bird Red-crested pochard at the Yamuna Jagatpur Khadar" Prakash told Mail Today.

Red-crested pochard

"On the other hand, some summer birds like the Indian Courser, a local migrant, can already be spotted at the Sultanpur flats. Coppersmith Barbets, which otherwise mate in April, can already be heard making courtship calls at the JNU campus, Bhati mines etc. The case of the Common Hawk Cuckoo is also the same ," he added.

Faiyaz A Khudsar, scientist in charge at Yamuna Biodiversity Park (YBP), however, has different views. He said, "A few species may be up or down in number, but the usual bird diversity is visible. We have had a large number of Garganeys and Common Teals at YBP. This goes against any argument of weather-related change in bird behaviour. Also, this is a subject of 'phenology' which is studied over at least 30-50 years and cannot be analysed over only a year's observation."

Bar-headed geese Bar-headed geese

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Another avid birder KB Singh attributed altered bird activity to troubled bird habitats in the city. He said, "Najafgarh is a beautiful site for birds, but thanks to its location close to the upcoming Dwarka Expressway, it is highly disturbed. This is the case in the Basai wetlands as well."

ALSO READ

Erratic Delhi weather leads to drop in Swine flu cases



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A 72-year-old principal and director of a Gurgaon-based private school, Aarsa Public School, in Ashok Vihar, was booked under the POCSO Act for allegedly attempting to rape a 9-year-old minor girl.

72-year-old principal and director of a Gurgaon-based private school, Aarsa Public School, in Ashok Vihar, was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

By Ajay Kumar: A 72-year-old principal and director of a Gurgaon-based private school, Aarsa Public School, in Ashok Vihar, was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly attempting to rape a 9-year-old minor girl on Saturday.

The shocking incident came to light after the victim refused to go school on Saturday. When her mother asked her the reason behind her refusal, the minor narrated her ordeal.

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As per the complaint registered in the sector 5 police station by the victim's mother, the accused had called the Class 2 student to his office after the lunch hours to commit the crime.

"My daughter was scared after this incident. She does not want to go school. The principal called her inside his office while he was alone and committed the crime. The accused left her in his office after committing the crime over fear of being getting caught redhanded as my daughter cried after the incident," the victim's mother said.

"We have arrested the accused, Ram Gopal, a retired Air Force personnel, and we are investigating the matter," said Hawa Singh, the PRO of Gurgaon police.

Meanwhile, a 44-year-old tantrik (occultist), who allegedly raped a woman and duped her of Rs 35,000 on the pretext of solving all the problems has been arrested, police said on Saturday. The accused has been identified as Sanjay Kumar, a resident of southeast Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar area. He is married and has four children, DCP (Central) Parmaditya said.

According to the police, the complainant in the case is a resident of central Delhi who did not have a good relation with her husband apart from some other problems in life, for which she approached the tantrik. The tantrik allegedly took advantage of her vulnerability and persuaded her into conducting a ceremony which he claimed required the burning of an intoxicating substance.

During the ceremony, the woman fainted and when she regained her consciousness, she realised that she had been raped. The tantrik had also charged her Rs 35,000 for the ceremony, claiming that it was the solution to all her problems in life. Based on a tip off, police laid a trap in Ambedkar Nagar and Sanjay Kumar was arrested on Friday. Kumar told the police that he targeted depressed persons who came to him for solutions.

ALSO READ

Minor raped: Youth gets 5 years rigorous imprisonment



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David Coleman Headley has reportedly confessed that 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were masterminded by Pakistan's terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).It had also approval of Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).He further confessed he was provided financial support by ISI for recce of Mumbai.Headley would depose before a special Mumbai court on Monday and reveal the sequence of events and planning behind the 26/11 terror attacks.

By India Today Web Desk: A day before 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks convict David Coleman Headley is expected to depose in Mumbai court, he has reportedly confessed that 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were masterminded by Pakistan's terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and also had approval of Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).

According to an exclusive report accessed by CNN-IBN, during an interrogation with NIA, Headley reportedly confessed the attacks in Mumbai were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on the approval of Hafiz Saeed and with the assitance of ISI.

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He further confessed he was provided financial support by ISI for recce of Mumbai. Besides, he also recced Vice-President's residence, India Gate and CBI office in New Delhi before the 2008 terror attacks were executed.

David Headley to depose before special Mumbai court on Monday

David Coleman Headley would depose before a special Mumbai court on Monday and reveal the sequence of events and planning behind the 26/11 terror attacks, said senior Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

"It is for the first time in the Indian legal history, one foreign terrorist would give his evidence through video link and his evidence will be recorded. And I feel his evidence is most useful because that may unfold many things behind the terror attack of 26 November," he told.

Headley is currently serving 35 years in an American prison after being convicted of being involved in the planning and execution of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, in which 166 persons were killed and 300 injured..

While nine terrorists were killed during the response operations, a lone gunman Ajmal Kasab was tried and hanged on November 21, 2012 at Pune's Yerawada jail.

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By India Today Web Desk: Giving some serious competition to the Old Joe in Birmingham and Big Ben in London will the tallest free-standing clock tower in Mysuru that will be built by IT giant Infosys.

The tower is likely to be 135 meters high, defeating the 100 meter high Old Joe and 96 meter high Big Ben by quite a margin.



However, the tower is still two years away from being the tallest clock tower in the world.

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It will be designed by architect Hafeez Contractor, who designed the 345 acre Mysuru campus with structural engineering consultancy provided by New York-based firm LERA and built by Bengaluru-based KEF Infra.

The tower too will be inside the campus on 22x22 meters base in Gothic style and have state-of-the-art digital technology.



It will have 19 floors and a boardroom on the 7th floor as well.

"Towers are a common site in many campuses and they get a sense of academic breathing to the campus. To instill a similar feeling, we are constructing this classical clock tower with a digital time piece in our Mysuru campus. It will be built in a Gothic style to match the classical look of the other buildings in the campus. The tower will also aim at combining tradition and modern technology. With large digital screens on all four sides, it will also be used to display messages on important occasions," says an Infosys spokesperson.

The project is estimated to cost about Rs 60 crore.

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IRCTC launches four special packages from Delhi and Chandigarh, that will take travellers to some of the most popular destinations in south India.

By India Today Web Desk: Most of us would agree that travelling is one of the most beautiful ways to celebrate quality time with our loved ones. Understanding the importance of this, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced the launch of four Bharat Darshan train packages from Delhi and Chandigarh, that will take travellers to some of the most sought-after destinations in the southern part of India.

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Starting on February 14, the Valentine's Day, these all-inclusive train packages will take travellers to an interesting mix of destinations, including beach havens, wildlife favourites, heritage sites, and pilgrimages, among others. There are two packages each from Delhi and Chandigarh, and travellers can avail each of these all-inclusive packages costs Rs 830 per day per person. Each package, having multiple city pickups, will stretch from mid-February through mid-April.

Also read: IRCTC introduces new booking rules for train travellers



Here's a quick look at the packages:



Package 1 from Delhi (13 nights/14 days): The journey will start from Delhi's Safdarjung station on February 14 and will conclude on February 27. The destinations included in this package are Goa, Ernakulam, Padmanabhan Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram-Ramnath temple and Tirupati Balaji. The train will travel through places like Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Bina and Bhopal.



Package 2 from Delhi (12 nights/13 days): The journey will start from Delhi's Safdarjung station on March 16 and will conclude on March 28. The destinations included in this package are Tirupati Balaji, Kamakshi temple, Rameswaram, Ramnath temple, Meenakshi temple, Kanyakumari, Mysore and Bengaluru.



Package 1 from Chandigarh (12 nights/13 days): The journey will start from Chandigarh station on March 1 and will conclude on March 13. The destinations included in this package are Tirupati Balaji, Kamakshi temple, Rameswaram, Ramnath temple, Meenakshi temple, Kanyakumari, Mysuru and Bengaluru. The train will make its journey via places like Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi Cantt, Rewari, Jaipur, Agra Cantt, Jhansi, Bina and Bhopal.



Package 2 from Chandigarh (13 nights/14 days): The journey will start from Chandigarh station on March 31 and will conclude on April 13. The destinations included in this package are Goa, Ernakulam, Padmanabhan temple, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Ramnath temple and Tirupati Balaji.



All the above-mentioned packages include confirmed train tickets, sightseeing, accommodation and vegetarian food, along with facilities of security guards and housekeeping.

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By India Today Web Desk: Leonardo DiCaprio's lack of an Oscar has been joked about across all social media platforms. From memes to gifs, all of it seems to capture the tiresome process of delivering an outstanding process yet going home empty handed when it comes to bagging an award.

But more than him, his fans are desperate for him to possess a golden statue.

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To ensure that, a group of Russians in Yakutia is gathering gold and silver so that it can be melted down and an Oscar statuette can be made out of it. DiCaprio's Russian fan club sure is the greatest of all!

A campaign called "Oscar for Leo" was started by a woman named Tatyana Yegorova who discussed the idea with other fans as well. But it was only after his latest movie, The Revenant that they decided to finally implement the idea.

The statue will be a little different from the original one as instead of grasping a sword, the Yakutia Oscar figure's head will look towards the sky. It will also hold a Choron, a traditional three-legged goblet symbolizing peace and expressing the people's love for the actor.

Nearly 100 fans have donated so far and the statuette is likely to be 12 inches tall.

Despite being nominated six times, DiCaprio's luck has always failed him when it comes to an Oscar.

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By Sneha Agrawal: Kamaljeet Singh and his wife have not met their son in seven years. Charged with the non-bailable 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), their son has been legally advised to not return to India from Canada, where he now resides, to avoid arrest.

The septuagenarian couple are running from pillar to post to get justice for themselves and their son, in what they claim is a false case.

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Without the physical and emotional support of their son, the couple said that they have become too weak to fight the battle alone and want the legal proceedings to come to an end. "My wife is a cancer patient and also has heart problems. We are growing old and are incapable of handling the proceedings alone. At a time when we need our son the most, he is not with us because of the law. There is no legal remedy for us," he said.

According to men's rights' activists, NRIs who have been implicated under 498A (Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act) are legally advised to not enter India to prevent arrests. They also prefer to not fight the case to avoid frequent traveling, possibility of losing jobs and humiliation at large. While this advice may auger well with actual criminals, it makes lives of those who have been falsely implicated, more difficult. Legal experts say that avoiding legal proceedings for long can complicate matters further.

Anindya Chatterjee, an NRI based in the USA, was recently acquitted from a false case of 498A slapped on him. He runs a group called Justice2NRI that has nearly 100 families from UK, Australia, Canada, Mexico who have all been implicated under 498A.

Chatterjee was slapped with 498 A, a look out circular (LOC) was issued against him and he was also declared an absconder. LOCs are issued to airports and various points of entry at international borders to arrest people who have been proclaimed offenders, upon an attempt to enter or to leave India. Chatterjee chose to stay away from the legal battle for a while, but soon he realised that if he was to free himself of the false allegations, he would have to come back and fight.

"My wife and I had compatibility issues from the very beginning. Within a few months of marriage she went back to India to pursue her career. After a while she started forcing me to quit my job and return to her. I told her that quitting my job would negate all the hard work I had put into my career. Eventually, I was slapped with 498A. I got to know about these charges when I came to India for work and my parents informed me about it."

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However, Chatterjee was not arrested at the airport as the LOC came into effect three days after he landed. He confronted the police and was told that he could not leave the country without permission from court. "I lost my job in all this trouble. The police never completely probed and accepted the charges based on my wife's complaint. Later on, I fought the case and was eventually acquitted. I went back abroad and got a new job," he said.

Dr. Surat Singh, advocate and an expert on International Law, told Mail Today, "In India, when a case like 498A is filed against an NRI they face a lot of problems in terms of access to documents. Huge costs are involved in legal proceedings and travel. The FIR copy is not entitled to the accused on time which leaves them with barely any opportunity to prepare their case. This non-bailable warrant should not be issued against the NRI without giving them an equal opportunity to have their say in the matter. Courts should make the documents accessible online so that the accused can seek legal remedy. This would also increase transparency."

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Rescuers in Taiwan pulled a young man alive from a collapsed apartment tower on Sunday more than 24 hours after a strong earthquake shook the island, and kept searching for more than 130 people believed trapped in the ruins of the building.

Rescue personnel work at the site where a 17-storey apartment building collapsed during an earthquake in Tainan, southern Taiwan on February 6, 2016. Photo: Reuters

By Reuters: Rescuers in Taiwan pulled a young man alive from a collapsed apartment tower on Sunday more than 24 hours after a strong earthquake shook the island, and kept searching for more than 130 people believed trapped in the ruins of the building.

The 20-year-old was identified by Taiwan media as Huang Kuang-wei. He was taken to hospital.

Firefighters, police, soldiers and volunteers combed through the ruins, some using their hands, watched anxiously by dozens of the victims' family members who wore thick jackets, woollen hats and scarves on a chilly morning.

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"She's not answering my phone calls ... I am trying to hold my emotions and stay strong. I'll do that until I find her," said a woman surnamed Chang, 42, waiting to hear from her 24-year-old daughter who lived on the fifth floor of the complex.

"Nothing matters but to get her out. The lady living across the hallway was rescued yesterday. I know they will find her, but I have also planned for the worst. It's been more than 20 hours now."

At least 18 people are known to have died in the quake, which struck at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, at the beginning of a Lunar New Year holiday, including 16 found in the collapsed Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building in the southern city of Tainan.

A total of 132 people are still beneath the rubble of the commercial-residential block, said a city government official surnamed Chen, with all but about 30 of them trapped deep in the wreckage.

The building's lower floors pancaked on top of each other in the 6.4 magnitude quake and then the whole structure toppled, raising immediate questions about the quality of materials and workmanship used in its construction in the 1990s.

Questions

Tainan Mayor William Lai told reporters that efforts were focusing on 29 people who are closest to the rescuers, with lighter equipment like drills being used.

"The other 103 are believed to be at the lower floors of the building, and we can't find an accessible route to those areas at the moment."

The extent of damage to the Golden Dragon Building has raised questions.

Liu Shih-chung, Tainan city government deputy secretary general, said television footage of its ruins suggested the possibility of structural problems related to poor-quality reinforced steel and cement.

However, city officials have said it is too early to say for certain if poor construction was a factor in the collapse.

The dead taken from the collapsed apartment block on Saturday included a 10-day-old girl who was found in her dead father's arms, media reported.

Authorities said the building had 96 apartments and 256 registered residents, though more people were inside when it collapsed.

Rescuers wearing red and yellow overalls pulled more than 240 survivors from the ruins and inserted huge supports under slabs of leaning concrete as they searched for additional survivors.

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Buildings in nine other locations in the city of 2 million people had collapsed and five were left tilting at alarming angles, a government emergency centre said on Saturday.

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Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today made it clear that his party is not ready to support BJP in case the BJP-PDP alliance breaks.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that although an elected government is not in place, the alliance between PDP and BJP still exists.

By India Today Web Desk: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today made it clear that his party is not ready to support BJP in case the BJP-PDP alliance breaks.

Abdullah even said that Mehbooba Mufti should break her silence as she cannot keep the entire state guessing on government formation.

PDP leader "Mehbooba Mufti has been quiet for long and she can no longer remain silent. She must clarify her stand on two-three issues and clear the air as to what are those CBMs and how long she will wait for those Confidence Building Measures and why did the need of CBMs suddenly arise after the demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed," he said.

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Abdullah said that although an elected government is not in place, the alliance between PDP and BJP still exists. "The agreement as far as our knowledge is concerned, the alliance (between BJP and PDP) still exists. We haven't heard either from BJP or PDP that alliance has been broken, so the alliance exists and if the alliance exists, then why not government (is formed).

"Agenda of the alliance was formed and Mufti sahab was made the chief minister. What has changed in the past ten months that today even though they have numbers in the assembly they are not ready to form the government", he said.

The National Conference chief said that the party has been telling them time and again that if they are not ready to form the government, they should be bold enough to break the alliance. "We will go back to the people, but I am unable to understand the way of their leadership. They ask for Confidence Building Measures, but I am not sure that within the party people know or not, but outside nobody knows what they have asked for," he said.



ALSO READ | Omar Abdullah dares Mehbooba Mufti to form govt or face new elections in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir crisis deepens, PDP stalls govt formation



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North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has said is a satellite, South Korea's defense ministry said, in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

A flying object soars into the air above North Korean territory as seen from the Chinese border city of Dandong, in this photo taken February 7, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Kyodo

By Reuters: North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has said is a satellite, South Korea's defense ministry said, in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

The US Strategic Command said it had detected what it called a missile entering space, appearing to quash earlier media reports indicating it might have failed during flight.

The rocket was launched at around 9:30am Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

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South Korea said it was trying to determine whether the launch had failed.

North Korea, barred under UN sanctions from using ballistic missile technology, had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

The UN Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, diplomats said.

North Korea had initially given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but changed that to February 7-14 on Saturday.

The United States was tracking the rocket launch and said it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies, defense officials said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch "absolutely unacceptable", especially after North Korea had tested a nuclear device last month.

"To launch a missile after conducting a nuclear test goes against the UN resolution. We will respond resolutely, coordinating closely with the international community," he told reporters.

Japan had said that it was ready to shoot down the rocket if it threatened the country, but did not take any action to do so, Japan's NHK reported.

North Korea has said that its most recent nuclear test, its fourth, was a hydrogen bomb. However, the United States and other governments have expressed doubt over that claim.

North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.

It has shown off two versions of a ballistic missile resembling a type that could reach the US West Coast, but there is no evidence the missiles have been tested.

Isolated North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme. It last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending into orbit an object it described as a communications satellite.

Also Read:



Time for criminal charges against North Korea leadership: UN



--- ENDS ---
The rocket was launched at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

The rocket was launched at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea. (Reuters)

By Reuters: North Korea's state television said a long-range rocket launched on Sunday, ordered by leader Kim Jong-un to put a satellite into space, was a "complete success".

The satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4, is orbiting the earth every 94 minutes and the North would continue to launch satellites in future, an announcer said on the North's state television broadcast.

The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit, quashing earlier media reports indicating the it might have failed in flight.

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China's Foreign Ministry on Sunday expressed regret at the rocket launch adding that it called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from taking steps that might further raise tensions on the Korean peninsula.

"China expresses regret that North Korea, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch," said ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

She added that dialogue is the only way to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has said is a satellite.

The rocket was launched at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.

North Korea had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test.

The UN Security Council is likely to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the launch, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said.

The United States was tracking the rocket launch and said it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies, defence officials said.

Isolated North Korea had initially given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but on Saturday changed that to February 7-14, apparently taking advantage of clear weather on Sunday.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration called the launch "an epochal event in developing the country's science, technology, economy and defence capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes".

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By India Today Web Desk: In an unfortunate series of events, the crew members of MTV's popular show Roadies, met with an accident while at Pesok's view point in Darjeeling.

Reportedly, the incident took place on Saturday February 6, 2016 and left a total of 12 crew members seriously injured. Confirming the piece of news, Amit Javalgi, superintendent of police, Darjeeling district was quoted as saying,"This morning, a vehicle carrying crew members of Roadies met with an accident. As many as 12 were seriously injured in the incident and have suffered injuries to the arms and legs. They were given primary treatment and have been taken to the Kalimpong and Siliguri hospital. All kinds of assistance have been extended to them."

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BollywoodLife reports that post the accident, "locals swung into action and took the injured to the main hospitals in Kalimpong and Siliguri."



The list of injured crew members includes Magen Basu Matary (36), Ashis Ansari (24), Akash Patel (25), Surendra Pradhan (35), Sidarth Soni (24), John Britto (33), Sandeep Bamkar (29), Bijoy Kumar Panday (32), Rabi Rajan Kumar (24), Santosh Jaiswal (35) and Gawrab Pazoz (32).

This year's edition of Roadies, will reportedly trail a journey from Darjeeling to Bhutan and will have Karan Kundra, Neha Dhupia, Rannvijay Singh and Prince Narula in its judges panel.





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The police claim that the school doesn't have a completion certificate despite functioning for over 20 years now.

By Mail Today: Investigations into the death of six-year-old Divyansh Kakrora, whose body was found inside a water tank at Ryan International School, Vasant Kunj, have now led the police to alleged negligence of the school management. The police claim that the school doesn't have a completion certificate despite functioning for over 20 years now.

The Delhi police have sent notices to two top officials of Ryan Group, questioning them on the underground reservoir at the school where Divyansh's body was found, and guidelines for handling any emergency.

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"Notices have been sent under relevant CrPC provisions. We have sought information on the charter of duty and construction of the underground water reservoir where the boy was found dead," DCP (South) Prem Nath said on Saturday.

A senior officer confirmed that the notices had been sent late on Friday to Ryan International Group's Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Pinto and northern zone head Francis Thomas.

The police said they found during investigation that the school flouted several norms. "It did not obtain a completion certificate. We are planning to write about it to the concerned department," a police officer said.

When Mail Today tried to contact the school management to get their version, there was no response.

Sources have also confirmed that cops will soon question senior management authorities about their involvement in functioning of the school and their duties.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also hinted towards a big criminal conspiracy in the case and said, "Parents allegation of possible sodomy was ignored by the Police. Something is wrong and the case needs to be probed".

Sisodia, who met the aggrieved family of Divyansh Kakrora earlier this week, has extended his full support to the family and said that he will definitely recommend CBI probe. Divyansh's family has written to the HRD Minister Smirti Irani asking for a CBI probe in the case.

Inquiry by an independent agency like CBI can only bring out the truth of the matter: Divyansh's father pic.twitter.com/kRRghAwgFs ANI (@ANI_news) February 7, 2016

I saw the dead body, there were some red marks & private parts had cotton on them: Father of Ryan student who died pic.twitter.com/OQb5eQ3hKgANI (@ANI_news) February 6, 2016

On Thursday, the police had arrested the school's principal Sandhya Sabu, a class teacher and three non-teaching staff under "charges of negligence causing death of Class 1 student Divyansh Kakrora at a water reservoir under the school's amphitheatre on January 30."

Central forensic teams and senior police officers have conducted detailed inspection of the spot thrice. During investigations, it also came to light that children often went near the water reservoir, which had no cautionary signages nearby, but no untoward incident had taken place till Divyansh's death.

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An officer privy to the investigation said the questions on the charter of duty are related to responsibilities of the staff members employed by the school's management and the protocol to be followed at times of emergency.

According to the police, so far it has not found that Divyansh was victimised, though cops are waiting for the post-mortem report. "The actual reason of his death will be clear once we the get the post-mortem report. Also, it will give a pause to every allegation levelled by various people, including parents. So far we have not found any sign of sexual assault," a police officer said.

Sources revealed that initial reports suggested that the body of Divyansh had no sign of sexual assault and there were no major injury marks which could be the reason of death.

Six-year-old Divyansh was found dead last Saturday at his school. He was to participate in a poetry competition the same day.



Police, who have also analysed Divyansh's notebooks, said he was a bright student as his notebooks revealed he had received several smileys for his work, showing that his teachers were happy with him. "Divyansh used to get smileys for his work from teachers. There is hardly any adverse remark found in his notebook. He was not a bad student and used to study properly," the police officer added.

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A look at Divyansh's school diary had also revealed that he kept "running out of the class", but instead of keeping an eye on him, his teachers passed the buck to the parents by repeatedly writing remarks in the school diary.

ALSO READ

Ball, spectacles in Ryan school tank show other kids may have escaped tragedy



REVEALED: Divyansh's school diary shows Ryan International School's negligence

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We have decided to recommend a CBI probe into death of Divyansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe, said Manish Sisodia.Divyansh's father had also written to HRD minister Smriti Irani, seeking her intervention in ensuring handing over of the case to the central agency.The child's parents have alleged that their son may have been sodomised before his death.

By India Today Web Desk: The Delhi government today said that it will recommend a CBI inquiry into Divyansh Kakora's death. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Delhi government will soon recommend a CBI probe into Divyansh's death, a demand made by the boy's father.

"We have decided to recommend a CBI probe into death of Divyansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe.

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"Divyansh's parents have levelled serious allegation," Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said.

Separately, the father of the child sent a letter to HRD minister Smriti Irani, seeking her intervention in ensuring handing over of the case to the central agency.

A copy of the letter was also sent to Prime Minister's Office.

In the letter to Smriti Irani, the parents alleged there was a "conspiracy" behind the incident and demanded action against the school management.

"Divyansh's death was too suspicious and the reasons have still not been cleared by school authorities. I am sure about some conspiracy against my child.

"Being a father, I just request you to please try to hand over this case to CBI so that proper investigations can be made in this case, otherwise I know this case would suppressed by the school administration,"Divyansh's father Ramhit Meena said in the letter.

Ryan International student's death: Father alleges boy was sexually assaulted

In a new twist to the Divyansh death case, the child's parents have alleged that their son may have been sodomised before his death.

The six-year-old's father, Ramhit Meena, has alleged that there were injury marks on the child's body including his private parts.

Meanwhile, the police is waiting for the final postmortem report. The fresh allegation by the parents has come after a magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi government nailed Ryan School for glaring lapses.

As per the magisterial probe, there was deliberate inaction by the school authorities amounting to gross criminal negligence which led to the death of the child.



Also Read

#RyanSchoolDeath: Ryan International didn't have key permit to run school



Ball, spectacles in Ryan school tank show other kids may have escaped tragedy



REVEALED: Divyansh's school diary shows Ryan International School's negligence

--- ENDS ---
Solar Eclipse will be Nasser's fourth English film and second Hollywood production. The film also stars Indian actors Om Ouri, Rajit Kapoor and Ananth Mahadevan.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Veteran Tamil actor Nasser will be essaying the role of a Superintendent of Police in upcoming Hollywood production Solar Eclipse, which also features Indian actors Om Puri, Rajit Kapoor and Ananth Mahadevan in key roles.

ALSO READ: Dhanush's Hollywood debut doesn't excite him as much as this does

ALSO READ: Kolaveri boy Dhanush goes to Hollywood



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"This will be his fourth English film and second Hollywood production. He will join the sets in Sri Lanka on February 17," Nasser's wife Kameela told IANS.

The film's story is based on a conspiracy theory about Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. It is said that even before the assassination, the police were aware of some plot being chalked out to kill Gandhi. The film explores such controversial information with many fictional elements.

Currently busy shooting for superstar Rajinikanth's Tamil outing Kabali in Malaysia, Nasser will directly join the team of Solar Eclipse later this month.

"The principal shooting of the project starts on February 16. A day later, Nasser will join the team and shoot for one day, before returning back to the sets of Kabali. He will shoot major portion of his role in March," she said.

In the film, Nasser will play a character called Ashok, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting Mahatma Gandhi from any attack by assassins.

The film, which will focus on the life of three police officers during the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, also stars Hollywood actors Vinnie Jones, Alessa Novelli, Bobbie Philips and Bo Svenson among others.

International actor Jesus Sans will play Mahatma Gandhi in the film, which will be directed by Karim Triadia. Produced by Nugen Media, the film will have music by Prashant Pillai and choreography by Saroj Khan.

Nasser, who has over 200 films across multiple languages to his credit, has also worked in English films such as Fair Game, Nothing But Life and Morning Raga.

--- ENDS ---
In response to an RTI query filed by Sukhdev Jain, the varsity has said, "For the academic session 2015-16, total number of 980 candidates were admitted in Jamia schools of whom 17 were granted admission on recommendation of the Vice Chancellor".

By Press Trust of India: In a violation of the university statutes, Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad nominated 17 students for admission to Jamia schools during 2015-16, an RTI query has revealed.

In response to an RTI query filed by Sukhdev Jain, the varsity has said, "For the academic session 2015-16, total number of 980 candidates were admitted in Jamia schools of whom 17 were granted admission on recommendation of the Vice Chancellor".

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In the same response, the university has also admitted that "there is no Circular/Order/Memo/Notice or Resolution explicitly empowering the Vice Chancellor, who is the Principal Executive and Academic Officer of the university, to nominate candidates for admission on rolls of Jamia schools".

There are five schools run by the Jamia administration- Jamia Senior Secondary School, Syed Abid Hussain Senior Secondary School (Self-finance), Jamia Girls Senior Secondary School, Jamia Middle School and Mushir Fatma Nursery School. The admissions to these schools are made on the basis of performance in a written test and an interview.

The RTI response maintained that the recommendations are "marginal" and have had no impact on the sanctioned strength of admissions.

"Admissions for sanctioned strength of intake of seats in the Jamia Schools is not disturbed by any marginal recommendations by the Vice Chancellor for admission over and above the sanctioned intake in any special exceptional cases," it added.

The university authorities, however, maintained that though there is no official rule, the Vice Chancellor has an "implied" discretion to do so.

"There is an implied discretion that the Vice Chancellor can recommend admissions in exceptional cases vis-a-vis students coming from exceptionally weaker sections of society or first generation learners in pursuit of community development," Jamia spokesperson Mukesh Ranjan said.

The issue of "backdoor entries" to Jamia schools also figures in the allegations raised by Obaid Siddiqui, a Mass Communication professor, in his petition to President Pranab Mukherjee, who is Visitor to the university.

Siddiqui, was suspended last week by the university

for the "misconduct" of approaching the President without having articulated his concerns before the varsity administration.

--- ENDS ---
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Last month, New York artist Katie Merz came to Lincoln to install her show at Fiendish Plots. But Merz only brought a couple sheets of black paper covered with hieroglyphic images with her.

So she spent three nearly sleepless days and nights making the piece that covers three walls of the gallery, working on the floor and walls of the industrial building turned artists studio turned temporary gallery, using white oil stick to create the series of graffiti-like images that run across giant sheets of tar paper.

The images, arranged in horizontal lines, came from Merzs nearly word-by-word or phrase-by-phrase reflections on or illustrations of a poem by Lincolns Grace Bauer, creating a narrative from the artists mind thats titled MEAN/TIME.

Visually striking and nearly overwhelming, the piece is covered by thousands of signs and signifiers, symbols and formulas, faces, figures and forms -- all somehow related and connected, even for the viewer who has no idea what theyre supposed to mean or say.

Stylistically, the imagery brings to mind the 80s work of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, an active, urban amalgam of quickly made, expressive sketches. Only Merzs images dont stand alone or career across a canvas. Theyre arranged like text, creating a sort of reproduction of a printed poem, albeit huge and entirely in symbols.

At the shows Jan. 15 opening, Bauer read the poem that Merz reacted to, another about Marcel Duchamp and a new composition shed written in reaction to seeing Merzs work -- completing an art-about-art circle that jumped between media but felt connected and of a whole.

The aural element really drove home the connection between Merzs piece and Bauers poem and demanded contemplation of the links that can be made between art forms and how art can inspire more art -- which is part of the mission of Fiendish Plots, which shows some of the best contemporary art to come to Lincoln four times a year and conducts an ongoing multidisciplinary critique group.

Even though the years just over a month old, MEAN/TIME is sure to be among the top, most innovative contemporary art exhibitions in Lincoln in 2016. Its on view at Fiendish Plots through Feb. 21 and needs to be seen -- and be sure to read Bauers poem while youre there.

Art historian to talk 'salon style' at Sheldon

The Sheldon Museum of Art has hung one of its permanent collection galleries salon style, recreating the 19th century method taken from the salons of Paris of hanging art from eye level to the ceiling.

At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, art historian and author Debra Mancoff will deliver a lecture at Sheldon titled Framing the Salon in Victorian Society which explores the cultural context of hanging works of art in the Victorian-era style.

The talk is free and open to the public. A time-lapse video of the museums recreation of a 19th-century salon is available at go.unl.edu/salon-style.
It took her own type of courage -- the courage of a mother and a sister -- for Deborah Whitt to talk to the Judiciary Committee about veterans who end up facing prison time.

The mother of an Army National Guard veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and sister of a Vietnam veteran was nervous as she sat down in front of senators and others at a Friday afternoon hearing.

But she spoke right up.

Many families of military veterans dont know how to help their loved ones when they return from combat missions, she told them.

Some veterans have mental and emotional scars that, when untreated, lead to alcoholism and dependence on drugs, she said. They behave in ways they would not have but for those marks of war.

My mother could have testified 50 years ago before this very committee about her son, and all the sons she knew who came back from combat and were not the same as before they had left, Whitt said.

Years later, here was the daughter, putting in her own plea for a bill (LB915) that would create a veterans treatment court pilot project in Douglas County, with the hope it could lead to establishment of others. The bill was introduced by Omaha Sen. John McCollister.

A growing number of combat veterans are returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, joining a sizable number of those who have served in other conflicts, most notably Vietnam.

The Veterans Administration estimates 700,000 military veterans are in this countrys jails and prisons. Many of those served by the VA have averaged seven prior arrests, and 20 percent have spent a year or more behind bars.

Across the country, 11,000 veterans are being diverted from prisons by more than 220 treatment courts, according to the Council of State Governments.

While most veterans return home strengthened by their military service, McCollister said, one in five have symptoms of mental disorders or cognitive impairment from combat experiences. Post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, major depression, anxiety and insomnia often go unrecognized and unacknowledged.

Self reliance is ingrained in those who serve and is critical in battle, but not easily turned off, said Mick Wagoner, founder of the Nebraska Veterans Legal Support Network. Many feel that reaching out for help for their mental wounds means they are a failure to themselves or those they support.

Some self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, he said.

Ive seen these wounds firsthand, and I want to tell you they are real, they are hidden and they take time and professional help to diagnose, he said.

Eighty-one percent of veterans who end up in jails or prisons had a substance abuse problem, and 25 percent were diagnosed as mentally ill.

When we consider what our veterans have done for us, it becomes imperative that we not ignore the challenges they may experience from their military service, McCollister told the committee.

Eric Dillow, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and military court judge, said veteran treatment courts can be effective because they tap into a veteran's sense of duty, honor, discipline and the unyielding sense of accountability they share.

A veterans treatment court would add to the state's other problem solving courts, including 14 adult drug courts, two juvenile drug courts, six family courts and a young adult court.

District Court Judge James Doyle of Lexington, judge of the Midwest Nebraska Drug Court and chair of the state Supreme Courts committee, believes in problem solving courts. With them, he sees repeat offenders less often, he told the committee.

With traditional sentences of probation and prison time, some offenders would return again and again.

The driver was addiction, and the driver was mental illness. The driver was alcohol and drugs, he said.

Byron Engler, a disabled Vietnam veteran who served from 1970-74, said many who serve in combat come back from war, but the war never leaves them.

He was injured in 1972, he said, which led him into alcoholism.

Last May, he said, he landed in jail for being verbally abusive to his wife.

I am not proud of that, he said. At 63, the first time I was even thrown in jail. Its scary.

He entered a diversion program and has learned a lot in the past nine months, he said. He supports a veterans treatment court from which all veterans could benefit.

We wouldnt leave our veterans on the battlefield, he said. Why would we leave them on the battlefield of life?
PLATTSMOUTH -- It appears Southeast Community College has a site for one of its planned learning centers.

The Plattsmouth City Council approved a special use permit Monday night that will enable SCC to occupy a building on Main Street.

Russ and Kim Kathol, owners of the Dovey Building and Main Street Jewelers, requested the permit. The Kathols have been negotiating a 5- to 7-year lease with SCC.

Were excited, Kathol said. Weve been working with Southeast Community College on a long-term lease. They are looking at many years in Plattsmouth."

Kathol said his family and SCC will be making a substantial financial investment in the building to create spaces the college needs.

According to a memorandum to the mayor and council members, the college will only utilize the building's first floor. The interior will be built to accommodate SCCs needs. Design plans are preliminary. Final design will be determined subsequent to City Council approval, the memorandum states.

The SCC plan includes creating three classrooms, each with a capacity for 20 people; a computer lab with an undetermined number of stations; office space for two staff members; a coffee shop open to the public, staff and students; and restrooms.

The coffee shop space will be operated by someone other than SCC, according to the memorandum.

Kathol assured council members that renovations to the building will meet all building codes.

Kathol said he realizes people are concerned the building will not be devoted to retail businesses and that student parking will significantly limit spaces for vehicles.

Traffic is a good thing, Kathol told the council. We need to have people walk by and see what the stores in Plattsmouth have to sell.

Main Street Association Executive Director Charles Jones said his group supports the plans.

Jones noted the Dovey Building has been vacant for nine years. The college brings great dignity to that location, he said.

City Administrator Erv Portis said SCC will make a substantial financial investment in remodeling the building.

As part of its five-year strategic plan, SCC is looking at creating education and training sites in multiple areas to be more accessible to students and business and industry.

Learning centers that will offer continuing education and noncredit courses are also planned for York, Wahoo, Nebraska City, Falls City and Hebron.

Portis added that the city already has an investment in the Dovey Buildings facade, which was restored with Community Block Grant Development funds.

As for parking, Portis said 365 stalls exist within 500 feet of the Dovey Building, not counting private parking spaces, the parking lot behind city hall or another city parking lot.

Most often there is less that 44 percent of the stalls occupied, Portis said.
The recent seizure of hundreds of pounds of marijuana in Lincoln, apparently harvested in states where it can be grown legally, raises the question of how long the country will tolerate the current patchwork of laws.

In one case deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriffs Deputies seized 1,517 pounds of pot worth an estimated $7.5 million. The marijuana was stuffed into 39 duffel bags in a rental RV traveling from Oregon, where marijuana can be grown legally, to Georgia.

In another case deputies discovered 515 pounds of marijuana in a pickup truck driven by a resident of Colorado. The pot, packaged in heat-sealed pound bags, had a resale value of $2.5 million, deputies estimated.

The cases are similar to others recounted in an Associated Press story last month that concluded that illegal drug traffickers were growing weed among the state-sanctioned marijuana operations and shipping it out of state. Marijuana purchased legally in Colorado also has been seized in states where it is banned.

The state of affairs prompts these observations:

--When the Obama administration announced its hands-off approach to marijuana enforcement in states where it was legalized by voters, it added that it might reconsider if it appeared federal priorities were threatened. Listed specifically as a federal priority in a memo from Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole was preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states. Willl the presidential election lead to a change in policy?

--The lawsuit by the attorneys general for Nebraska and Oklahoma might bring the issue to a head. Earlier this year Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and Oklahoma Attorney General urged the U.S. Supreme Court to do take the rare step of taking original jurisdiction and settling the dispute between states.

The attorneys general minced no words, accusing the state of Colorado of operating a massive criminal enterprise that exported thousands of pounds of marijuana to 36 states in 2014. If this entity were based south of our border, the federal government would prosecute it as a drug cartel, they said in a written argument.

--The experiments with legal marijuana provide concrete data for the argument that states can benefit by moving marijuana operations into the above-ground economy. Colorado took in about $130 million in tax revenue last year. The State of Washington will haul in an estimated $60 million in the current fiscal year. Initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana in California may make to the ballot this year. Advocates say the revenue windfall there could be as high as $1 billion a year. The state legislative analyst said legalization would save about $100 million by eliminating the cost of prosecuting marijuana charges.

So far efforts to legalize marijuana in one form or another in Nebraska have mustered little support. But pressure to resolve the difference between states will continue to build, as the piles of marijuana in police evidence get higher and higher.
On January 25, the Journal Star characterized Sen. Kintner's bill to hold agencies that work with our government at least partially responsible for their actions if their actions result in the entry of dangerous migrants into the US ("A nasty bill from Kintner"). Why should these organizations be exempt from liability? Are not physicians, architects, engineers, contractors, accountants and others liable when the actions of their trade brings harm to others, whether intended or not? Are not many of these professions required, by law, to buy insurance to guard against such malpractice? And are they not sued, sometimes often, for such malpractice?
Deal Nebraska Democrats in.

It's less than a month until their March 5 presidential caucuses, and it sure looks now like the contest between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders still will be in full bloom.

Gearing up, the Nebraska Democratic Party announced last week that there will be caucus sites in all 93 counties this year.

Clinton already has made an appearance in the state, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha in December with campaign workers on hand harvesting names and recruiting volunteers.

A chunk of the state party's top leadership already has signed on to support the Clinton campaign.

Eight years ago, Sen. Ben Nelson, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler all endorsed then-Sen. Barack Obama over Clinton prior to the caucuses. This year, Rep. Brad Ashford, the top Democratic officeholder in the state, already has signed on to the Clinton campaign.

A Clinton campaign staffer has been living and working in Lincoln for some time.

Less than a month out, advantage Clinton.

But what if Sanders comes to the UNL campus, attracts one of his huge and exuberant crowds and ignites a huge outpouring of young caucus participants?

March 5 is a Saturday, so neither school nor work should get in the way for most Democrats who want to make their preference known.

Obama won in Nebraska eight years ago. He addressed an enthusiastic rally in Omaha, Michelle Obama came to the UNL campus, Clinton sent her daughter Chelsea as a surrogate campaigner and Nebraska Democrats had their moment in the sun.

Nebraska doesn't matter much in terms of national convention delegates, but it can help nudge a candidate forward as it did with Obama eight years ago when he was racking up clumps of delegates in the smaller states.

On March 5, Nebraska will be sharing the Democratic stage with only Kansas and Louisiana.

It's a brief moment in the spotlight and an opportunity for Nebraska Democrats to catch a little lightning in the bottle once again.

****

The New York Times categorizes Nebraska as a potential Marco Rubio state if the Republican presidential contest stretches into May.

Nebraska Republicans will not have an opportunity to express their presidential preferences until the May 10 primary election.

The issue usually is settled long before then, and Nebraska's Republican voters traditionally have cast a majority of their votes for the candidate who already has locked down the nomination. Game over.

But if Rubio can survive the grind ahead long enough and the nomination remains unsettled three months from now, the Times suggests, a pathway begins to open for him in states farther down the long GOP presidential march.

In its assessment, Nebraska would be one of the states that might offer Rubio a helpful nudge.

***

Roll Call has spotlighted Jeremy Nordquist as a "major political asset" for Brad Ashford in gearing up his re-election bid.

The Washington-insider publication described Nordquist as "one critical piece" in securing a second Ashford term this year.

Nordquist resigned from the Legislature to become Ashford's chief-of-staff and since his arrival, Roll Call stated, Ashford has experienced "a significant boost in fund-raising" and his congressional race has moved from toss-up territory into the category of districts that "tilt Democrat."

Ashford and Nordquist served together in the Legislature prior to Ashford's election to the House in 2014.

***

Finishing up:

* John Murante and Heath Mello have reached final agreement on proposed legislation that would distance state senators from congressional and legislative redistricting decisions.

* Last week's big fuss over 6 to 8 inches of wintertime snow in Lincoln is another reminder that there's no way we could settle the West today.

* Uh, more than 2,000 empty seats at the arena for Maryland, a Top Four opponent?
Legislative hearings are open to the public to listen or comment. All hearings are in the Capitol and begin at 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Exact order of scheduled items is subject to change. For more information on bills and other proposals, check nebraskalegislature.gov.

NOTE: Tuesday hearing times adjusted to make up for last week's snow day.

MONDAY

Appropriations (Room 1524)

Agency 25  Health and Human Services

LB911  State intent relating to fund transfers for behavioral health systems of care

LB923  Stinner Appropriate funds for federally qualified health centers

LB931  Provide for financial incentives for certain assisted-living facilities and change distribution of the Behavioral Health Services Fund

LB988  Change distribution provisions for the Health Care Homes for the Medically Underserved Fund

LB1030  Change an expenditure limit relating to amino acid-based elemental formulas

LB1093  Eliminate cash funds, create programs, and transfer funds

Banking, Commerce and Insurance (Room 1507)

Appointment  Booth, Patrick, Nebraska Exchange Stakeholder Commission

Appointment  Flowers, Shari, Nebraska Exchange Stakeholder Commission

Appointment  Rieker, Edward (Ed), Nebraska Exchange Stakeholder Commission

LB770  Change the termination date of the Nebraska Exchange Transparency Act

LB1020  Provide for amendments to declarations to correct scrivener's errors, omissions, or errors in the declaration under the Nebraska Condominium Act

LB1096  Change provisions relating to amendments to declarations regarding unit boundaries under the Nebraska Condominium Act

Business and Labor (Room 2102)

LB836  Adopt the In the Line of Duty Compensation Act

LB821  Adopt the Workplace Privacy Act

LB743  Clarify compensation for shoulder injuries under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act

LB1001  Change provisions relating to a compensation schedule for injuries resulting in disability

LB1005  Provide for an evidence-based drug formulary under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act

LB983  Change the definition of disability under the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act

Education (Room 1525)

LB1049  Redefine terms to include students in virtual schools in the state aid formula

LB1004  Change provisions relating to the Community Eligibility Provision and provide duties for the State Department of Education

LB1065  Change school provisions relating to the community eligibility provision

Executive Board (Room 2102)

* Hearing begins at noon

LR403  Provide the Executive Board of the Legislative Council appoint the Election Technology Committee as a special committee of the Legislature

LR413  Create the Task Force on Behavioral and Mental Health

LR418  Provide the Executive Board of the Legislative Council appoint a special committee to be known as the ACCESSNebraska Oversight Committee of the Legislature

Transportation and Telecommunications (Room 1113)

LB872  Change a provision relating to the use of blue and amber rotating or flashing lights

LB799  Include capital acquisition costs in the Nebraska Public Transportation Act's assistance program

LB973  Change penalty, permit, and notice provisions relating to electric utility lines, poles, and structures

LB996  Change provisions relating to the Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Act

TUESDAY

Agriculture (Room 2102)

Appointment  Kircher, Christopher P., Nebraska State Fair Board

Appointment  Minert, Lowell, Nebraska State Fair Board

LB945  Adopt the Nebraska Healthy Food Financing Initiative Act

Appropriations (Room 1524)

* Beginning at 9 a.m.:

Agency 50  Nebraska State College System

Agency 51  University of Nebraska System

Special hearing on AM1897 to LB 560

LB713  State intent relating to appropriations for the Access College Early Scholarship Program

LB852  Appropriate funds for aid to community colleges

LB755  Appropriate funds to the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges

LB858  Create the University of Nebraska Facilities Program of 2016

* Beginning at 2 p.m.:

Agency 13  Department of Education

LB800  State intent relating to an appropriation to the State Department of Education for job-driven training and education

LB838  State intent relating to an appropriation to the State Department of Education for an educational specialist

LB1053  Appropriate funds to the State Department of Education

LB1074  Appropriate funds to the State Department of Education

Banking, Commerce and Insurance (Room 1507)

* Beginning at 9 a.m.:

LB794  Change provisions relating to the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act and corporate occupation taxes

LB817  Adopt the Direct Primary Care Agreement Act

LB1036  Change provisions of the Credit Services Organization Act, the Delayed Deposit Services Licensing Act, and the Nebraska Installment Loan Act

* Beginning at 1:30 p.m.:

LB706  Define habilitative services for purposes of insurance

LB801  Require educational material and a report relating to long-term care insurance

LB1060  Adopt the Pharmacy Benefit Fairness and Transparency Act and provide duties for the Director of Insurance

Education (Room 1525)

* Beginning at 9 a.m.:

LB1086  Change provisions relating to student self-management of asthma or anaphylaxis

LB1052  State intent relating to appropriations for the Nebraska Whole Child Project and change provisions relating to school funding

LB1002  Permit educational service unit boards to pay membership dues to associations of school boards

* Beginning at 1:30 p.m.:

LB959  Change and eliminate provisions relating to school funding, budgets, and levy authority

LB882  Change provisions relating to school budgeting

LB883  Provide for foundation aid pursuant to the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act

LB1063  Change provisions relating to state aid to schools

Nebraska Retirement Systems (Room 2102)

* Hearing begins at noon

LB1069  Provide duties for the state investment officer relating to investment in energy-related companies or funds

Transportation and Telecommunications (Room 1113)

* Beginning at 9 a.m.:

LB989  Change provisions relating to motor vehicles

LB669  Update certain federal references and change from a secondary to primary offense certain occupant protection system enforcement requirements

LB668  Change certain federal references and provisions relating to provisional operator's permit restrictions, use of interactive wireless communication devices, and occupant protection system enforcement

LB768  Provide for Choose Life License Plates

* Beginning at 1:30 p.m.:

LB795  Establish the Wireless in Nebraska Program under the Nebraska Telecommunications Universal Service Fund Act

LB1003  Change the prepaid wireless surcharge determination under the Prepaid Wireless Surcharge Act

LB994  Change provisions under the Motor Vehicle Registration Act relating to financial responsibility as applied to nonresident owners

Urban Affairs (Room 1510)

* Beginning at 9 a.m.:

LB860  Add a type of economic development program under the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act

LB808  Change provisions relating to amending an economic development program under the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act

LB1059  Require certain disclosures under the Community Development Law and the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act

LB1012  Adopt the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act

* Beginning at 1:30 p.m.:

LB719  Change provisions relating to undeveloped vacant land under the Community Development Law

LB1042  Change provisions relating to tax-increment financing

LR399CA  Constitutional amendment to require cities and villages to obtain voter approval before pledging taxes for the payment of indebtedness related to redevelopment projects

LR394CA  Constitutional amendment to authorize taxing bodies to exclude their taxes from pledges made by cities to pay indebtedness on redevelopment projects

WEDNESDAY

Appropriations (Room 1003)

Agency 78  Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Agency 46  Department of Correctional Services

LB733  Appropriate funds to the Department of Correctional Services

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs (Room 1507)

LB912  Change requirements for presentation of identification for purposes of voting

LB1109  Change public records provisions and provide for an enhanced public scrutiny process for certain University appointees

Health and Human Services (Room 1510)

LB1032  Adopt the Transitional Health Insurance Program Act and provide duties for the Department of Health and Human Services

LB696  Provide for a Medicaid state plan waiver to provide coverage for treatment of opioid abuse

Judiciary (Room 1113)

LB984  Change provisions relating to mandatory minimum sentencing and sentencing of habitual criminals

LB1106  Change civil forfeiture provisions as prescribed

LB1108  Require reporting to the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Legislature regarding civil forfeiture proceedings

LB980  Change penalty provisions for certain violations relating to or committed by persons experiencing or witnessing a drug overdose

LB843  Change provisions relating to prostitution

LB1079  Redefine law enforcement agency and change provisions relating to law enforcement officer jurisdiction

Natural Resources (Room 1525)

Appointment  Maricle, Hilary K., Environmental Quality Council

LB1038  Change water appropriation application provisions

Revenue (Room 1524)

LB951  Adopt the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act

LB1048  Adopt the Nebraska Agriculture and Manufacturing Jobs Act and provide tax credits

LB812  Provide a sales tax exemption relating to custom software

THURSDAY

Appropriations (Room 1003)

Agency 9  Secretary of State

Agency 10  Auditor of Public Accounts

Agency 14  Public Service Commission

Agency 24  Department of Motor Vehicles

LB715  Provide for transfers from the General Fund to the Nebraska Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund

LB789  Change provisions regarding appropriations for the installation of art in public buildings

LB1018  Appropriate funds to the Nebraska Arts Council

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs (Room 1507)

LB754  Create the Commission on Military and Veteran Affairs

LB1073  Authorize the display of the Honor and Remember flag as prescribed

LB878  Provide and change rulemaking duties relating to veterans homes and the Veterans' Homes Board

LB877  Change a provision relating to review of proposed subdivision plats by certain county planning commissions

Health and Human Services (Room 1510)

Special DHHS Division of Behavioral Health Annual Committee Briefing

Appointment  Dawson, Sheri, Department of Health and Human Services

LB985  Provide reporting duties for regional behavioral health authorities

LB804  Adopt the Investigational Drug Use Act

LB891  Adopt the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information and Support Act

Judiciary (Room 1113)

LB892  Change provisions relating to intimidation by telephone call

LB757  Change provisions relating to personal property exemptions in cases of forced sale or execution or attachment

LB829  Adopt the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015)

LB1075  Change provisions of the Disposition of Personal Property Landlord and Tenant Act

LB947  State intent relating to professional or commercial licenses for certain aliens

Natural Resources (Room 1525)

Appointment  Rundel, John Arley, Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

LB1071  Adopt the Solar Energy Economic Development Act

LB1101  Require the Department of Environmental Quality to examine the status of solid waste management programs

Revenue (Room 1524)

LB1013  Change tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products and provide for distribution of proceeds

LB949  Change the commission allowed to cigarette stamping agents

LB950  Allow a bad debt deduction relating to cigarette and tobacco product taxes
Mr. and Mrs. Benny Morelli of 500 172nd Ave., Union Grove, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Jan. 31 during a blessing of their marriage planned by their children at St. John the Baptist Church, Paris Township, where the couple are members. A supper followed at Infusinos.

Morelli and the former Marlene Schattner were united in marriage on Jan. 28, 1956, in St. John the Baptist Church. A dinner and reception was held at the Eugene and Julia Morelli residence following the nuptial. The couple recalls a bad snowstorm prevented them from leaving for their honeymoon.

The couple met at Ehleiters barn dance in Caledonia where Mrs. Morellis brother Bill Schattner pushed her in the car with Morelli.

Morelli, a Paris Township native, was employed by AMC/Chrysler Motors for 30 years until 1989, and was a truck driver for CPI Somers branch until his retirement in 2000.

He is a retired member of Local 72 and is an usher at church when needed. Morelli is a toy tractor collector and enjoys listening to Polka music.

Mrs. Morelli, a native of Caledonia, worked for 28 years as a waitress at Callens Restaurant in Union Grove and 13 years at Ben Franklin/Swantz Hardware, from where she retired.

She stays busy with her sheltie Tyler, and her numerous indoor and outdoor kittens. Mrs. Morelli is also active in her church as a lay minister, working with the various fundraisers and cleaning the church. She is nicknamed Martha Stewart because she constantly organizes her drawers, closets, etc. Mrs. Morelli enjoys baking, playing board games, word searches and bingo.

Both agree that communication, strong faith in God and family have kept their marriage solid and lasting.

The Morellis have four children: Mary Morelli, Dolores Morelli, Benjamin, and Debbie (Allen) Dawson, all of Paris Township. They have one grandchild.
RACINE  When House Speaker Paul Ryan stepped to the podium at the Racine County Republican Partys Lincoln Day dinner Saturday, it had been exactly 100 days since he ascended to the most powerful position in Congress.

I kind of feel like the dog who caught the car that wasnt chasing it in the first place, Ryan joked to a crowd of a few hundred at Memorial Hall, 72 Seventh St. This was never my plan, but it obviously is now.

Ryan, who had always resisted the job, said he took it because it was clear to me our party was starting to turn on each other. He believes Republicans have turned a corner as they set out to recapture the White House and keep their majorities in Congress this year.

To do that, Ryan urged Republicans to articulate their agenda on health care, foreign policy and the economy. They also must hold their fire against one another, he said, noting the contentious battle for the Republican presidential nomination and arguments among some conservatives about tactics.

When Republicans and conservatives stand in a circular firing squad and shoot each other, you know what that guarantees? That guarantees the left wins by default, said Ryan, whose district encompasses Racine County.

Ryan added that he believes the party is beginning to see unification even with key primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina coming up.

Ryan said he is gunning for a mandate election to ensure conservative reforms are put in place.

My belief and confidence is that if we all unify  and offer the country a clear and compelling choice, we will win that choice, he said.

A state Democratic Party spokesman did not return messages seeking comment.

Republicans also heard from Navy Seal Chris Heben, the nights keynote speaker, as well as Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, who is facing a tough re-election battle against former Sen. Russ Feingold.
RACINE  Returning to the state Capitol in 2011 after a 24-year hiatus was a shock, to say the least, for Tim Cullen.

The Democratic state senator from Janesville was first elected in 1974, eventually rising to Senate majority leader. He left politics after the 1986 election to work for Blue Cross, but returned 24 years later when the Senate seat became vacant. He found himself in an entirely new landscape and was immediately thrust into the debate over Act 10, Gov. Scott Walkers signature initiative that brought hundreds of thousands of protesters to Madison.

Cullen compares the experience of then vs. now in a new book, Ringside Seat: Wisconsin Politics, the 1970s to Scott Walker. On Thursday before a book-promotion event at Wilsons Coffee and Tea, 3306 Washington Ave., he sat down with The Journal Times to talk about the book and his life in politics.

The following Q&A is condensed and edited for clarity.

1. What made you want to write the book?

I served in the Senate in two different eras. I was elected in 74 the first time, and served for 12 years, five of them as majority leader. And then I went into Tommy Thompsons cabinet for two years, and then I was gone for 20 years, working for Blue Cross. I never expected to be in politics again.

When I got back in 2011, politics and everything about it was so different. Walker was so different than every other governor. I started thinking, maybe theres a story that needs to be told here about what it was like then versus what it is like now. What is Walker like versus his 12 predecessors. So that sort of became the book.

2. When you were comparing Walker and other governors, what stuck out to you as the biggest differences?

Two big ones. The first thing is, we went back and looked at his 12 predecessors  six were Democrats, six were Republicans. Those 12, regardless of party, governed somewhere near the political center. Republicans governed center-right, Democrats governed center-left. Of course, Walker immediately began governing strictly from the right. He rejected the judgment of his 12 predecessors.

The second one is that of all of his predecessors, none of them dropped, using his words, bombs (referring to a comment Walker made about Act 10). They wanted change  thats why they ran for governor, of course  but they never surprised the electorate with bombs. They would utilize blue-ribbon commissions, study groups. They would often announce plans during their campaigns.

3. Why did Walker govern so differently?

He was inclined to go to the right anyway  thats his comfort zone. Thats what his appeal was going to be in the presidential race, he thought. The other thing that made it a little bit easier for him was, if you look at the make-up of the legislators back then versus legislators today, the legislators were much further to the right themselves. And the Democratic legislators were further to the left than the ones I (previously) served with.

4. Is there something about this era that makes it so polarizing?

Most of the stuff occurs gradually. I was sort of watching politics when I was at Blue Cross but I wasnt there. If you were there all the way through those 24 years I was gone, you may not have noticed it as much. When I came back, it smacked you right in the face how different it was.

As an example: When I was there the first time, interest groups  whether they were Democratic- or Republican-leaning groups  they only had to hire one lobbyist. By the 2000s, you had to have two lobbyists  you had to have a Republican lobbyist and a Democratic lobbyist.

The question I ask in the book is, did these groups follow the movement or did they create the movement? I didnt write it in the book, but my instinct is that they follow the movement, rather than creating it. It would generally be in their interest to get along with whoever is in power, to protect their interests.

5. What was it like as a Democrat serving in Republican Gov. Tommy Thompsons cabinet, as secretary of Health and Social Services?

What I say in the book is that people who are only alive to watch one of these two eras really cant believe the other one. If you only know about these last five years, and I try to tell you what it was like then, you go, youre kidding me. And people back then, like retired senators I run into, they cant believe this era. It was not at all unusual then to have a cabinet made up of at least one or more members of the other party. It was sort of a politically smart thing of governors then.
The Morning Show This Week

KENOSHA  WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio. For an updated schedule, visit its website at www.wgtd.org.

The Morning Show airs every weekday morning between 8:10 and 9 a.m. Following is a schedule of show topics for the coming week:

Monday  Carthage College professors Jeffrey Roberg and Penny Seymoure talk about their recent trip to Cuba. Several students will join them.

Tuesday  Debbie Clarke Moderow Fast Into the Night: A Woman, Her Dogs, and Their Journey North on the Iditarod Trail.

Wednesday  From the archives: David Hajdu author of Heroes and Villains: Essays on Music, Movies, Comics and Culture.

Thursday  The monthly visit of the United Environmental Council with Nan Calvert

Friday  Gateway Technical College president Bryan Albrecht discusses The Gateway Promise.

Saturday  Programming includes Financial Overview at 9 a.m., Breakfast Bytes at 9:45 a.m., Education Matters at 10:30 a.m. and Community Matters at 11:15 a.m.
Its irritating to read about a teenager who is so entitled and spoiled that he can literally get away with murder.

But that is 18-year-old affluenza teen Ethan Couch in a nutshell, or at least what the courts were led to believe.

According to reports, he drove himself to school at age 13, but when questioned about the practice his father threatened to buy the school. At age 15, he was cited for consumption and possession of alcohol after he was caught in a parked truck with a naked, passed-out 14-year-old girl. He was sentenced to probation and community service.

Then, his actions hit an all-time low in 2013. At age 16, Couch got behind the wheel of a Ford F-330 with drugs and three times the adult legal driving limit of alcohol in his system, drove off the road and killed a motorist outside her disabled car and three good Samaritans whod stopped to help her.

At that point, the courts should have stepped in and taught him a lesson and hopefully put him on the right track. That didnt happen.

He pleaded guilty to intoxicated manslaughter, yet again he was sentenced only to probation. His attorney argued he didnt know any better because he lived a life of extreme wealth and privilege  he called it affluenza  without his parents instilling in him the proper values.

Over the past two months, Couch has again made headlines for reportedly violating his probation and again snubbing the law.

As a condition of his probation, he was not allowed to drink alcohol. But this December a Twitter video surfaced of Couch at a drinking party and just afterward he and his mother fled to Mexico  again trying to get away with whatever they could.

He has since been deported back to America, but its uncertain if he will face consequences in juvenile or adult court.

When judges sentence criminals they are supposed to consider multiple factors, among them the seriousness of the crime, whether the offender was a repeater, and the need to rehabilitate and punish.

Clearly, Couch has shown he hasnt learned his lesson.

Couch, fortunately, has been transferred to adult jail but the courts have not yet determined if he will be tried in adult or juvenile court.

Without question, he needs to learn there are consequences for his actions and he cannot run from them.

The affluenza argument never should have been accepted in court in the first place.

People, including 16-year-olds, are supposed to know right from wrong. If they dont because of their background or whatever else, then our justice system puts them behind bars until they learn their lesson.

If they come out and commit another crime then they should serve more time, not get a second chance.

Hopefully this time the courts get it right and teach this adult an adult lesson.
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[JURIST] A Kenyan member of parliament (MP) on Friday evening called for all judges of the Kenyan Supreme Court [official website] to resign after it was recommended that a tribunal investigate Justice Philip Tunoi for allegedly accepting a Sh200 million bribe. MP Olago Aluoch of Kisumu West said [Daily Nation report] the recommendations by the Judicial Service Special Committee had confirmed confidence crises within the Judiciary. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Friday afternoon made the recommendation to President Uhuru Kenyatta [BBC profile] to form a tribunal to investigate Tunoi. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga stated that the JSC received a report investigating bribery allegations against Tunoi, and concluded that

inappropriate interaction and communication occurred between Tunoi and an agent of a litigant in a matter that was pending before the Supreme Court. On Sunday Tunoi turned down [Standard Media report] all calls for him to resign from the bench.

Kenya has been the target of international criticisms regarding corruption and other illegal activity over recent years. The International Criminal Courts (ICC) investigation and prosecution of the Kenya Situation [ICC backgrounder] has been ongoing since 2010. Last month Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto appeared [JURIST report] before the ICC to argue for the dismissal of the charges of crimes against humanity filed against him and his co-defendant, broadcaster Joshua Sang. In March the ICC withdrew its charges [JURIST report] against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was accused of crimes against humanity for post-election violence, but indicated it would renew the charges if presented with enough evidence. In regards to corruption, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said [JURIST report] in November that corruption is a standing threat to our national security. Noting that the bribe accepted by an official can lead to successful terrorist attacks that kill Kenyans, Kenyatta said that the fight against corruption must be met with a multifaceted approach.
[JURIST] Pennsylvanias Supreme Court [official website] on Friday refused [opinion, PDF] to reinstate Attorney General Kathleen Kanes [official website] law license while investigations persist into her alleged leak of grand jury materials. Kane requested that the court reinstate her law license while she fights the charges. In support of reinstatement, Kane argued [AP report] that Justice Michael Eakin should have been prevented from taking part in the vote to suspend her license, due to connections to an email scandal. The court found that Kane failed to seek Eakins recusal at the earliest possible time, leaving her unable to object to the courts unanimous September decision at this time.

Kane, 49, was elected in 2012, becoming the first Democrat and the first woman to become attorney general since the post became elective in 1980. In August prosecutors filed criminal charges [JURIST report] against her for allegedly leaking grand jury documents to the media to embarrass a critic, and then giving false testimony to a grand jury to cover up her actions. Last May a state judge appointed a Special Prosecutor to investigate allegations that statewide, confidential grand jury information may have been leaked to the media. After a 7 month investigation, the investigating grand jury recommended criminal charges against Kane. A criminal complaint [text, PDF] has also been filed against one of Kanes aids. Kane has refused to resign, claiming that a resignation would be an admission of guilt.
[JURIST] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] on Saturday called on [statement] North Koreas government to stop violating international obligations after a missile launch conducted by the country. The launch, which the statement calls deplorable, violates relevant Security Council resolutions according to Ban. He further reiterated his call on the country to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations, while reaffirming his commitment to reduce tensions and help create the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The launch was also condemned [UN News Centre report] on Sunday by members of the UN Security Council [official website] following an emergency meeting, where members restated their intent to develop significant new sanctions against the country. The launch on Saturday used ballistic military technology, and has been called destabilizing and provocative action.

The recent nuclear test in North Korea is cause for international concern due to the countrys human rights record and instability. In January the US House of Representatives approved [JURIST report] legislation that would increase sanctions against North Korea for its continuation of nuclear testing. In November Japan and the EU circulated [JURIST report] a draft UN resolution condemning North Koreas human rights abuses and encouraging the UN Security Council to refer the country to the International Criminal Court [official website], noting reports of torture, limits on freedom of mobility, restrictions on freedom of speech, restrictions on freedom of religion, privacy infringement, arbitrary imprisonment, prison camps and more. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea Marzuki Darusman expressed deep concerns [JURIST report] regarding human rights violations in the country just a month earlier. In November 2014 Darusman said that there is enough evidence to hold Kim Jong-un responsible for massive human rights atrocities [JURIST report] committed in the country. In response to these concerns, the UN in June opened a new office [JURIST report] in Seoul to specifically monitor human rights in North Korea.
Morcha protestors chased away in Birgunj, LPG bullets enter

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5 tankers enter through Birgunj

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Burkina Faso: Kidnapped Australian woman freed

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Contractor reluctant to install new conveyor belt

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FinMin Poudel steps up political meetings in Delhi

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Fire incidents in Ktm up

Firefighters point out public carelessness during and after load shedding hours
Inmates happy at Bhimphedi

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Italy demands answers as student's body flown in from Cairo

Italy demanded Saturday that Egyptian authorities swiftly determine who was responsible for the torture and slaying of an Italian doctoral student researching Egyptian labor movements and other social issues in Cairo.
Nepal requests Bangladesh to hold postponed meeting

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One day in Kirtipur

If we turn universities into power camps, we will destroy Nepals tertiary educational system
SLMM in quandary over next move

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US military abuse scandal: Pentagon releases 198 prisoner photos

Nearly 200 photographs linked to allegations of abuse by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan over a decade ago have been released by the Pentagon.
Veep Pun taken ill, admitted to Army hospital

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Zika virus discourages many Americans from Latin America travel

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1. Yes. Its important to cast my votes early and avoid the lines on Election Day.

2. Yes. With nearly two weeks of early voting, its a more convenient way to take part.

3. No. Its better to wait until Election Day, in case any last-minute information surfaces.

4. No. Im not planning to vote early or on Election Day. It isnt worth my time.

5. Unsure. It depends on how the campaigns are shaping up. Ill play it by ear.

Vote

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